Onu stumbles, driving his knee into the fallen dwarf, but quickly recovers and gets himself out of the way as KD goes to work. 

As the sound of tumbling rocks comes from near the paladin, the dapper half-elf would move to cover the warriors flank in case a threat emerged.

"Good as new!" To much Lilly's relief, the spell worked as intended (actually, she felt more and more confident in using her magic. There was definitely something in those journeys!). But now someone behind seemed to fall, or stumble into something, or... "Are you alright back there?" Lilly made a step toward the exit of the room.

Rustle. Rustle. Rustle. Pause. Rustle. Rustle. Rustle. Pause. Rustle. Rustle. Rustle. Pause.

Tension in the air builds as Demetrios prepares and Onu comes rushing over in support. Eyes locking on the pillar, pulling them in to peer.

"Ou! Piece of candy!" Rustle. Rustle. Rustle. Pause. Clink! Tumble. A shiny red gem rolls by.

It was the raven. The paladin's initial instinct was correct. Sure enough, staring back up at Demetrios and Onu from the pillar rubble was the raven. It's head would quirk from the pairs intense body language. "What a strange little bird..."

"Ou! Piece of candy..." It turns back to the rubble. Rustle. Rustle. Rustle. It pulls out another shiny red gem, pauses and tosses it towards the other. Clink! Tumble. "Ou! Piece of candy..." Rustle. Rustle. Rustle. Pause. Clink! Tumble. Shiny green gem joins the pile. "Ou! Piece of candy..." Rustle. Rustle. Rustle. Pause. Clink! Tumble. Now a pearl. Rustle. Rustle. Rustle. Pause. Rustle. Tumble. Pebble. Rustle. Tumble. Pebble. Rustle. Tumble. Pebble. Rustle. Tumble. Pebble. Rustle. Rustle. Pause. "Ou! Piece of candy..." Rustle. Rustle. Rustle. Pause. Rustle. Rustle. The raven pops out of the pile of rubble with a silver chain loosely looped over its neck. A pendant hung from it. The bird would puff itself up with pride, dip to take hold of the pendant in it's beak. Then with a little flourish, it'd flick it over it's shoulder and strut off to go stand with the rest of its treasure pile at the boys feet.

"Good as new!" The raven would chime back to Lilly from its perch.

Treasure Perch

Dazzlyn watched the raven with anyone else. "Does it have a name?" His brow would pop and he'd look to Demetrios, Onu and Lilly with disbelief that they didn't know this raven. The dwarf would visibly relax remembering Lilly's assurance on Norbus. He'd give her a friendly smile.

Still wide eyed, Norbus would look to KD, patting himself down frantically. "Thank ye, lass..." He'd grumble under his breath as he'd try to pick himself up. Seeing the colour of the jellies so close by he'd flinch and scramble a few feet away before being able to pick himself up off the ground. The 'mighty' dwarf would clear his throat, dust off his acid burnt clothes and correct his posture. "Gud as new! Aye. Ya." He'd nod along in agreement even though his old bones would scream he should go take a nap. Norbus' eyes would shift around, then he'd turn around a few times to make sure nothing was behind him. Coast was currently clear.

Map Update

Onu would reach down and scoop up the gems the strange bird had dug out of the rubble, smiling inwardly to himself as he does. "Well now, our little friend here is quite the treasure hunter!' Extending his hand he'd offer the gems to the paladin 'Perhaps you'd be so kind as to hold these for us until we can get somewhere quiet and figure out how to split them up appropriately?'

KD peeks around the corner with Norbus. Then says, "lets get you back with the rest of the group and return with everyone. Don't want you attracting more trouble, right?"

"Aw! You are so helpful." Lilly searched her backpack, got out a ration, crashed part of it to the crumbles and offered to the bird on her palm. "Can I touch your feathers?" She still could not decide if it's truly sentient but just in case asked first - the desire to stroke those feathers was irresistible. "We don't know your name," she looked back at Dazzlyn and shook her head - no, he is not ours and we truly do not know, "but can I call you Rasmus? You look like Rasmus." Lilly touched the bird again and repeated "Rasmus." 

"I think he wants to come with us." The absurd idea of the raven spying on the group for some inconceivable reason was completely forgotten. "So, what was in that room that that strange jello guarded?"

Demetrios' defensive stance is dropped when he realized it was only the raven gathering up random valuables strewn about the area. Truthfully, it was a bit reliving it was only that, and seeing the gems the bird had gathered was a pleasant surprise. When Onu picks them up, and offers them to him, he gives the man a confident nod and takes them in his possession, sorting them into a separate pouch for safe keeping.

Like Lilly, when asked if the raven had a name, he shook his head. He wasn't really entirely sure when the little bird began following them and why. Perhaps it was looking for an adventure itself? "He's welcome to come with us," Demetrios nods. It was just a cute bird after all, what was the worst that could happen? "If he would like." He glances down to the raven before crouching down. "You're also welcome to perch yourself on me for safety, but if any dangers come about, please fly away. I wouldn't want you to get hurt."

The paladin stands back up. "I think it's safe to continue, if we're all well enough to push forward. I'll take the lead."

Once everyone was ready to move on, Demetrios pushes forth into the hallway, sword and shield at the ready in case any more strange creatures decided to pop out and attack.

Norbus would cross his arms and grumble at KD. When she'd turn away to peek around the corner, he'd make a face behind her back. Then he'd walk over to follow her. KD would return back with the group shortly after Onu's exclamation. He and the others, including the raven were huddled.

The raven would blink as if it were offended at Onu's 'audacity' to just scoop up 'it's' treasure. The monk's enthusiasm softened the newly crowned treasure hunter enough to clear the stink eye. At least it still had it's silver bling around its neck. However, Onu could swear the raven made a gesture with it's talons as if it were watching him.

But it was Lilly who knew how to butter up a bird. She complimented it, offered it snacks and even asked for consent to admire it's pristinely preened feathers! "Ou! Piece of candy." Not even thinking twice that a chef was offering to 'fatten it up', the raven sped waddled over to accept her gracious treats from her hand. After pecking a bit, it'd pause to give Lilly it's permission to pet it. "Pretty bird." It'd do a little twirl and a dip for Lilly before fanning out it's wings to show them off, the pendant from its new find resting on its back. It'd glint, reflecting light as it'd strut about. When Lilly would think it was done with it's snacks, that'd be when it'd scurry back to pick at it. When she'd look to Dazzlyn to say they didn't know it's name, it's beak would open as if it were going to say something, but then the super nice lady would look back at it and ask if she could call it Rasmus. It's head would tilt in consideration. Then she sprinkled it with a little compliment and repeated it one more time. "Rasmus." It'd repeat, this time in Lilly's voice and not the same woman's voice it has been using out side of those in the group. "Good as new!" It'd chime right before it'd begin whistling innocently at Lilly's words that followed. It'd start suspiciously? side stepping towards Demetrios when he piped up to add to the conversation.

When the big paladin would crouch down and welcome the newly named Rasmus up onto him, they'd absolutely take advantage of riding a big shiny people shield. "Ou! Piece of candy." It'd clamour on up Demetrios' armour, using its beak to help pull itself up when there wasn't much grip on the metal surfaces. Wanting to be above them it all, Rasmus continues up the mans arm and shoulder, then proceeds to comtinue further climbing up onto his head. Trying to find footing in his hair, the raven seems displeased that it doesn't have a nesty perch conveniently available there. Unsatisfied, it'd walk back down to Demetrios' shoulder. After finding a good spot it could stare at it's reflection when it wanted, it'd finally settle.

Looking to Lilly, Dazzlyn would respond to Lilly, "This is just a connecting secret hallway that connects to another corridor that was collapsed. We cleared the way in one direction, which is what opened up to the Hall of Greed that had the statue with the green gem. It's in that same collapsed hallway that I think there may be another we haven't uncovered." He'd do his best to explain. "These Ochre Jelly, to me, are proof that we in fact did not search this whole place!" He'd say with some excitement. Norbus on the other hand groaned.

"These jellies. They're remnants of the priests that did no die upon impact during the collapse of the temple." Dazzlyn would begin to explain. Norbus would shudder. "During solar eclipses, Abbathor is appeased with sacrifices of blood and gemstones. On one occasion, the god found the sacrifices of this temple's priests lacking, so he caused an earthquake and avalanche that collapsed parts of the temple and buried the settlement. The priests in the temple who were not killed outright were transformed into ochre jellies—debased reflections of Abbathor's hunger and greed."

KD listens to the history lesson, tongue poked between teeth, making notes on some thin parchment. "Huh. Theory? Proof?"

Lilly visibly shuddered. "They were people?! Terrible! Why would some even want to serve a god that turns you into... this for just "not doing enough". So cruel." She looked at the remnants of the pitiful deadly things with the mix of disgust and regret. "Let us go further then." She walked after Demetrios trying to be quiet and attentive.

Perception: 7

Onu would shake the last of the debased priest remains off his boot, careful not to let the ooze hit anyone else.  Straightening his jacket he'd slot the gleaming sword back into it's wooden sheath and prepare to take up a rearguard position as the paladin led them forward.

'Hunger and greed, eh?  Those seem like pretty normal motivators don't they?  Hard to see how they could lead to something as foul as those things.,,,;

“Oh silly me. Yammering away and not going anywhere.” Dazzlyn bops his forehead with his palm.

”Can’t walk n’ talk this one…” Norbus grumbles as he rolls his eyes. Turning on his heel he coaxes his companion to follow. 

The group is lead back east through the connecting corridor and to the not-so-secret secret passage way. With her observations Lilly comes to notice stones neatly lined up along the walls as if they’d been cleared to make room through the hallway. It’s about 40 feet long. About 15 feet in there’s a door to the north and a door to the south. All the way at the end of the hallway to the east is the cleared doorway to what Dazzlyn referred to as the Hall of Greed.

Lilly, at about 35ft down the hall, just a few feet short of the Hall, she’d notice something odd. On the north wall near the ceiling, she sees gaps between the rubble.

KD grabs a pebble from the ground, focuses on it, and it illuminates, emitting light for about 5 feet. She looks to the group and unless someone stops her, tosses it down the hall (what's the lighting situation in here?).

The light contoured the strange gap Lilly was looking at, proving it was not her imagination, and she pointed at the anomaly. "That gaps... You think it is even safe to open the door? Looks like the wall is about to collapse." (Lilly did not know much about stonemason but the word "collapse" sounded great) "Or do you think the gaps leading somewhere else?"

Once Rasmus had made themselves comfortable on Demetrios' person, the paladin runs a hand through his dark brown locks (to fix what the raven had ruffled) and just before pushing forth, picked up his javelins he had chucked just a few minutes before. With those squared away, he keeps a keen eye out while leading the group, and listened intently to the dwarfs words. Upon hearing of Abbathor's punishment inflicted on the priests, a sneer makes its way on his features. Pathetic...

His expression returns back to one of focus when KD illuminates a stone. While he didn't have any troubles seeing in the dark, he knew some of the others might have been struggling, and he makes no indication of wanting to stop her from throwing it down the hall. When Lilly points out the gap, he brings his attention to it with thinning lips. "It... could lead elsewhere. But we won't really know until we investigate further..." He looks over the group to see what they would prefer to do.

KD can't see in the dark (though I'm assuming there's some kind of lighting in here), but part of her thinking behind the luminary tinkering is if there is anything lying in wait, it would be startled or distracted by such a ruse and give itself away through movement or sound. If there is no such thing, she will listen to Lilly's observation and trying to investigate whether any obvious or subtle traps could be lying in wait. This was the Hall of Greed, after all.

Some of this line of thought is actually detectable by others by the half-audible patter of phrases and observations and thought trees she's saying to herself, eyes dancing around the hallway.

Investigation: 18

The ceilings throughout the temple are 10ft high and flat where things have not been damaged by the collapse. All doors are made of carved stone with stone pins for hinges. There are no original light sources in the temple. The natural light lit up the main area just enough for it to have not been noticeable until the group started traveling deeper within the tunnels. The dwarves had carried on completely forgetting that others may not possess the ability to see in the dark. KD's light would be a welcoming sight for those without.

KD shines some light on the subject. Tense silence followed the tumbling of her tossed pebble down the hallway. Nothing appeared, nor jumped out from that end. Lilly soon points out the gap, prompting a good discussion amongst the gathering group. Immediately Dazzlyn perked up with excitement, looking back over his shoulder to Norbus with looks of 'See! See!'. Turning back to watch the investigation unfold, the content cleric rocks from heel to toe.

Map Update

Moving in closer to stand with Lilly, KD focuses on analyzing what the halfling spotted. The artificer first checks diligently for any traps as she'd take in everyone's thoughts for consideration. Eyes would narrow in concentration. Ever since Demetrios came to a stop in the hallway the raven was uneasy and rustling. It'd shuffle from his left shoulder to his right, away from the North door. It's fluttering was a bit distracting when she was trying to do some work.

However, KD could confirm there were no manufactured traps here. She could also say with confidence that the collapse in this section of the temple appears to have buried a hallway that was originally missed, and Lilly was able to find it! With a quick guesstimate, the artificer figures that they could probably clear the path by hand in about an hour or... maybe a small localized blast in the sweet spot could do the trick...

Should KD think about the potential explosion out loud, Lilly would equally loudly express her concern. No, she did not know much (or anything, really) about explosions, but something about these two words "explosion" and "tunnels" did not sit well with her.

KD absolutely voices her analysis out loud, or at least sotto voce. Would a fire bolt do it?

'Ohhhh, I'm not sure an explosion here is a good idea.  We have two of the finest stoneworkers in the world here with us and plenty of willing hands and strong backs.  We should be able to clear the passage in no time.'

If the group is willing, Onu would set about organizing the work, keeping up a steady stream of encouragement and chatter as the group sets to work.  He'd make sure they set a rearguard to ensure no-one took them by surprise.

Anyone paying close attention would notice that Onu's feet and mouth were busy, but his hands were surprisingly empty as the rest of the party moved the rocks bit by bit...