G would accept Morticia’s hand up, using their hair to shield the rising redness in their cheeks from their poor attempt at parkour. They’d clear their throat and adjust their stance. “Thank you.” The paladin would then follow along with the others.

At the announcement of puzzles, G would scratch the back of their head. “Ready for a puzzle?”

"Ooh, I've never been good at puzzles..." Morticia frowns from the back. "But, um, maybe with all our heads together, we'll figure them out?" The rogue sounds slightly hopeful in their odds.

"Do you have the first one? How does this work?" Mallet asks.

(Also, Mallet, before going to sleep the night before, would have cast goodberry and given three berries to each party member and kept one for herself. Not sure how much time has elapsed since then but assume they still last a bit longer.)

Corinne looks around the underworld manor with sparkling eyes, enjoying the vibe of the place.

at the portrait’s introduction, she would respond, “oh? Puzzles.. this sounds interesting but, what was that about dangerous creatures??”

"I will tell you of the creatures after the first puzzle has been completed." The image of Kishokish waves its' hand, causing an image to appear (see the images channel in Discord for the puzzle) “There are two tasks here: first, tell me the proper order of these images, and second, draw for me the image that would follow next.”

After Morticia swaps the position of the second and first image, and the third and fourth image, Mallet smacks her forehead and grins at her. Then she purses her lips for a bit and traces a figure of a circle with a bumpy bottom, topped with a vertical line and then a horizontal line across the very top. She raises her eyebrows.

“Excellent deduction! First, vital information: Every shoki carries a staff that can contain a single soul within it. The leader of the sahkils—a grasshopper-headed monstrosity named Vithiz—trapped Kishokish’s soul within his own staff! You must—ngh! That’s all I can say before you complete another puzzle.”

G would stand in silence. They’d blink a few times and squint. They’d even tilt their head almost a full 90 degrees as they’d stare at the puzzle. Even after Mortician solves it, it takes them until someone says something that things would start to clink. One by one as the realizations hit, their mouth begins to gape. Their mind was then blown at how apparently simple the puzzle was, yet they had not even the slightest clue. G r not smrt. The paladin was quite thankful for accompanying those with a brain. G would look up to the puzzle pusher with pleading eyes. Not another one! Then they’d look at the others with a look of concern. They’d try to help in what way they could. 

(I dont hate puzzles! Lol G is like not smart. -1 int)

 "There is a chalkboard hanging in the garden with several numbers etched on it. Circle any six digits that add up to 23." See images section in Discord.

"Well done!" The portrait exclaims as Mallet solves the second puzzle. “Vithiz lurks in the ballroom, but the magic of Nine-Eaves protects it there. The sahkil carries Kishokish’s staff. You could slay it to free Kishokish, but the sahkil is powerful, and there is another way: if you can wrest Kishokish’s staff from Vithiz and touch the sahkil with the staff, Vithiz and Kishokish will swap places—imprisoning it within the staff and freeing the rightful master of Nine-Eaves. My master’s glove in his bedroom will help you with that task! But the ballroom is magically sealed and the key is—ugh, not again! I’m sorry. I can’t say more yet.”

Shi, plunged deep into her own thoughts, suddenly looks up and blinks. A puzzle. They're talking about a puzzle. She thinks. She's not very good at puzzles...but fortunately, she's not the only person available. As she reaches into her memories for the right death, she feels a niggle at her thoughts. Someone else is trying to push through. She sets the unruly spirit aside, promising they can come out later as her eyes turn a shimmering red and blackness sweeps across her hair.

Pain tears at my chest as the wight yanks its blade free. I whisper a quick prayer as it raises its blade and swings it directly at my neck.

A moment later, a young woman with pale skin and red eyes stands before the group, four long scars down her throat looking like they come from some kind of claws. She brushes hair out of her face and nods to the group with a quick introduction. "This is Asta. Let's hear the next puzzle."

Asta:

Also, Tales From Beyond: 4

Tale of the Clever Animal: Tale of the Clever Animal. For the next 10 minutes, whenever the target makes an Intelligence, a Wisdom, or a Charisma check, the target can roll an extra die immediately after rolling the d20 and add the extra die’s number to the check. The extra die is the same type as your Bardic Inspiration die. (To be distributed as a BA sometime in the future).

Corinne watches Mallet and Morticia solve the first puzzle, impressed at the mental acuity. When the Portrait cuts off his info in the middle of a thought, the vampire head quirks to one side in surprise, "Another puzzle? but-" before she can finish her sentence, she turns to see Mallet easily solving the next puzzle,
"Oh my... We are so lucky to have such an extremely quick-witted woman such as you.." she purrs. When, once more the portrait cuts off in the middle of a thought, Corinne stops herself from slamming into the wall,
she steps close to the portrait and intones softly,
"If you give us one more puzzle, I will see to it that your countenance is placed in the dingiest lavatory in the darkest, most disgusting tower of the most backwater land in Golarion, where NO ONE will acquiesce to another puzzle for an eternity..." the barbarian puts every ounce of venom and vampiric fury she can muster to scare the painted puzzlemaster.

INTIMIDATION: 9

Morticia feels pride run through her when she manages to figure out the first puzzle, with Mallet's assistance in drawing the next part. Her spirits only grow more hopeful when the cleric solves the next puzzle with little to no issue. She was so afraid of failure, and yet there didn't seem to be much to worry about! At Shi's shift into Asta, the rogue gives a meek little wave her way, and nods in agreeance in moving onto the next puzzle, though pauses a moment at Corrine's words.

She can't help but let out a soft giggle. "They're not that bad, I think... Maybe the next puzzle will change my mind..."

"I assure you miss, if I could give you the information necessary to save my master without having to give you these puzzles, I would. But my master is over fond of them, so I am under a compulsion that makes it impossible for me to do so. Fortunately, this last puzzle is very straightforward. Only one key will open the door to the ballroom. Among the keys hidden in the master’s desk, find the one that completes this home.” 

G would bow their head respectfully to Asta at her greeting. "Forgive my ignorance." They'd start their reply to their fellow changeling then look to the others. "I'm G."

The paladin would keep to the back of the group and try to blend in with the shadows. It was as if they were trying to bring the least amount of attention to themselves, especially avoid eye contact like one would in a class so that they wouldn't get picked. They'd focus on keeping an eye on their surroundings while the truly more intellectual individuals solve the riddles to grant them passage. If it were up to G, they may as well take up residence here.

A soft exhale of relief would escape G's lips when even Mortia shared some glee. They need not build up anxiety over it. The changeling was able to stabilize.

Asta nods. "Where is the desk?" she asks pleasantly.

"The desk is in the master's bedroom on the third floor."

Asta nods and marches briskly towards the stairs.

Mallet nods and follows, still happy to be helpful. She has guidance ready for anyone who seems like they need it. She asks, “are we likely to bump into anything along the way? And is your master find if traps?”

"My master was not fond of traps, but it is possible that you might bump into one of the creatures that Vithiz brought with him."