Ari grunts, "You're no guard! Who are you?"

The man's face goes pale behind the hood, as he drops the lantern for a moment - catching/dropping it on his foot fortunately, so it manages to just roll off rather then break, as he speaks:
'P...wha..eeerm...please don't hurt me! I'm just a thief! I surrender!" Then, as halfing's words in particular reach him 'Adventurer?'

Quobbles narrows his eyes.  "How long have you been down here and what have you stolen?"

Ari sheathes his weapons and approaches, "Yes stranger. Tell us your story."

Ari glances down the stairs past the stranger to see what he can see...

'Well, erm, uh....' He seems to take a deep breath, before he continues to speak in a hushed whisper 'Since you gents lowered your weapons so nicely, I suppose no harm in saying I've not been here too long, and I hadn't yet luck to stumble upon anything worth taking. I suppose you're not the guards as well, seeing how you didn't skewer me, so who are you lads' he stops for a moment as he again looks over your weapons and equipment 'if you don't mind me asking, of course?'

Ari nods, "If you've only just arrived then you are in time to work with us if you wish. This foul temple is the lair of the Brotherhood of the Black Circle and their demon master.

We are here to destroy it if we can.

The Brotherhood has abducted my uncle and likely murdered him. For this I will make them pay dearly. If your own reason for being here concerns coin then that is your affair - as long as you fight when the time comes.

Will you add your blade to ours?"

Taking a look over your weapons, he shrugs a little and adjusts his hood. 'Not like I have much of a choice, eh? Besides, safety in numbers and all that. As long as I get a fair cut of the loot, I don't mind company. Name's Charlie by the by, and I suggest we scuffle off, we made enough noise to attract attention.'

Ari nods to Brogar, retrieves his torch, and once again begins to descend the stairs.

In passing he murmers, "Good to have you on board Charlie. Just pick a place in the ranks that makes you happy."

Quobbles nods curtly at Charlie.  "Just don't block my crossbow and we'll be friends."

OOC:  Pretty sure everyone's ready to head further down the stairs.

Descending the final few steps of the stair way, you have the uneasy sense that you aren't exactly sure just how far down you have gone. The stairs rather abruptly give way to a corridor. It is perhaps twenty feet wide with a high vaulted ceiling. The walls are covered in cracked in faded murals, once bright and vibrant now dull and damaged. The scenes depicted are of the various hells and their infernal masters, twisted grotesques, and all manner of depictions of the various exploits of lower spirits.

The air is dank, and their is a faint dampness to the cobbled stone floor. It is dark save for the light of your torches, the corridor goes forward as far as your torches illuminate, further than that, who knows?

OOC: sorry for the delays here latley guys, I have been kinda side tracked but I am back now.

Ari hisses, "This place holds the foul odor of every breath this demon has exhaled!"

After glancing back to make sure the others are still behind him, he begins moving forward again as far as he can go, all the while keeping a wary eye out for doors, other corridors, traps - or ambushes...

Brogar follows along, his spear ready and his shield up.

As the party moves along, Quobbles peers in for a closer look at the depictions of the hells on the wall.

Charlie takes the spot behind the halfing, drawing his bow from his back and readying it.