Once Ma'kirr had scouted out up ahead and reported back that the stairs looked clear, you pressed on upwards.
The rest of the climb was rather uneventful, if tiresome. Eventually, though, you reached the top of the stairs, coming out into a high hallway. There were no fire bowls or braziers to shed light here, leaving most of the place shrouded in darkness. You could just make out a second stairwell across the hall from you, heading down, though no telling where it went. Immediately to the right, though, the hallway opened up into a vaulted circular chamber, ringed with pillars, with a shallow water-filled pit in the middle. On the far end of the chamber was an open balcony - the only source of light here, though with the storm brewing outside that light was barely enough to let you see the room. Heavy dark-red curtains hung down on either side of the chamber, no doubt blocking off additional balconies.
You weren't quite alone here, though. Standing in front of the balcony doorway was a man - or at least it looked like a man at first glance, clad in plate armour, with a large halberd clasped in one hand. Quite a tall and imposing figure... and one aware of your presence. As soon as you all had climbed the last stair, he turned around to face you. You could just make out two faint points of white light shining under his helmet.
"So... you are the would be heroes? You have been quite the thorn. Still, if you turn back now, you may get to keep your heads... for a time," he said, his voice hollow and grating to the ears.
