Investigate...

Sagging slightly as her plans for the night deflate, Taki steals down the hallway, avoiding the stagnant puddles that speckle the floor. The floor seems to have caved in at the far end and the chanting is clearly getting louder. As she comes to the edge she freezes, overwhelmed by a pulse of sickly energy. It was like a cloud of embers blasted across her very soul, leaving little burn marks as they passed.

Down below, a ring of maybe 50 cultists stand surrounding a stone pedestal upon which lies a mottled red shard. Taki immediately recognizes it as the source of the evil energy. It's aura subsides before pulsing again and she pulls back from the edge to shield herself from the etherial, scorching cloud. Why were they seeking such an evil object? The master surely plans to destroy it.

She hated to admit it, even to herself, but this might be the time to go for help. She could probably beat everyone in the room senseless within a minute or two but the power down there...