Dragon of Icespire Peak - Campaign 2

(Wait, I thought the door was already opened? And we saw the dwarven skeleton?)

(DM boogered. Misinterpreted. As per conversation in Discord, we will continue with Lilly peeping into the Northern door at the end of the hall. Apologies for the confusion.)

Lilly immediately stepped back, leaving the door cracked open, and whispered to the group. "Someone is in there! A person! Standing in the dark!"

Dazzlyn and Norbus followed the adventurer's sure to keep them in their sights as they investigate the ruins. Each dwarf had their own air to them. Refusing to acknowledge Onu's courage to lead the way into the one room with KD, Norbus, still the same old grumpkin, sticks to watching their backs. He grumbled all the while with his arms crossed. Dazzlyn however, buzzed with excitement. His theory was correct! Just how far did it go? He hovered close to the groups large, yet tender Paladin while he and the brave halfling press deeper into the cave accompanied by their feathery friend.

"Someone is in there! A person! Standing in the dark!"

tck. tck. tck. tck.
tcktck. tcktck.
tcktcktcktck...

By the time one would find the source of the sound, Rasmus had already lowered himself down Demetrios onto the floor, snuck by Lilly and through the crack of the door. He was in the room just out of Lilly's reach, even with her ladle.

Map Update

“Ou! Piece of candy!” Rasmus chimes.

tcktcktcktcktcktcktcktck...

The sound of avian feet pitter pattering on the floor, scurrying further into the room towards the figure.

KD's head pops up, looking to where the party is now fixated. She pauses and raises a finger, then bends down and fiddles in her massive bag, and pulls out a small chunk of interlocking metal pieces. She bends over it, whispering, or blowing? and fiddles with a few panels and sits back, considering. Nothing happens and her face falls aa bit, and she bends down to retrieve the large gadget, but before she can, it moves. Unfolds and rises on three stalks. One tail-like, two leg-like, with fingers. The "body" is long and rectangular, rising at an angle to about her knee, and two arms with more fingers begin to gesticulate. The head with two faintly glowing green eyes is similar to a small monkey, for those who have seen one.

She bends down with a smile and mutters, "well there you are!" The figure nods once. KD's hand reaches out and almost caresses the side of its face, the figure's whole head leaning into the gesture. "The timing's odd, and we'll do more of this later, but for now, would you like to help?" Another nod. KD stands and pulls her much-lighter bag onto her shoulder and gestures down the hall. The monkey-like gadget moves surprisingly gracefully ahead of her, eyes alert. KD barely remembers to warn the others. "She's with me, you should be able to trust her."

The Steel Defender proceeds toward Lily and Demetrios, nudging past Dazzlyn and Norbus.

Perception: 10
Using reaction to deflect attack of anyone who is attacked.

"Wow!" The mechanical creation was so great it made Lilly forget about the suspicious figure in the dark. Trust was not an issue here - if it's KD's creation what's to be mistrustful about? - and for a few moments, the halfling stared at the metallic monkey like any kid would stare at such contraption in some funfair. "What can it do? Can it dance? Play dead? Oh! Can it talk?" Rasmus's careless bravery returned the girl to reality. "Rasmus! Wait! We don't know who is that!" Lilly did not know what to do here and just in case prepared the magical wand - as a distraction, nothing else.

Onu continues to stare at the necklace on the corpse until he hears KD rustling about and sees her Steel Defender take off down the other hallway.  

Worried for his friends, but hemmed in by the narrow passage, he simply spins on his heel and pulls his blade free of its' sheath in case he needs it

Complete silence would fall over the area after Lilly's whispers.

There was no further movement when Onu would come to settle with the group.

More silence.

Although mixing in with the shadows of the room, Lilly figures Rasmus must have stopped. Right?

tck. tck.

Little shadow creeps forward.

"Can it dance? Play dead?" The halfling's whisper would echo in the room ahead. "who is that!"

tck. tck.

The shadow leans to the base of the figures.

pck. pck.

"Play dead?"

Pause.

Flutter. Flutter.
tck. tck.

“Ou! Piece of candy!” Rasmus' chime echoes in the room.

Dazzlyn had been listening intently from behind most of the group. If this is similar to the other chamber... He looked thoughtful. Then he inhales a sharp breath through some clenched teeth. "Oh my..." The dwarf clears his throat and lifts a finger to make a suggestion. "I'd stop that bird of yours..."

"Rasmus!" Lilly forgot about the mechanical monkey and called after the bird again, almost crying. "Please return! It's dangerous! Here, some crumbs! Come, stay with us." The wand was still pointing at the unmoving figure in the dark. Come to think of it, it could be just an innocent statue - this was the temple, after all, statues are natural here, right? But the general creepiness of the place and dwarf's words made little halfling shiver with fright.

Demetrios' lips thin when the dwarf speaks. After Lilly's beckoning, he follows up with a whistle and says, "We have lots of crumbs here and wouldn't you rather look at yourself than some boring ol' statues? Come back here, Rasmus!"

Animal Handling (if applicable, I'll roll twice in case Lilly's calling could also count as help?): 7 | 9 

He also silently uses his Divine Sense!

tck. tck.

Pause.

The little shadow heard Lilly. It considered.

tck.

Demetrios adds to Lilly's calls. The little shadow paused it's reachy step.

Silence falls.

...

Flutter. Flutter.

tck. tck.

Rasmus' head pokes around the door and quirks, looking up innocently at the shiny paladin and halfling. 

tck. tck.

He steps his body into view of the door crack, casting a dramatic shadow into the room beyond. Rasmus would take a moment to preen a couple feathers before he'd wiggle his head like he was throwing hair back. Looking back up at them, he'd blink "Pretty bird...?" The same woman's voice.

Dazzlyn would exhale a breath of relief while Norbus snapped his fingers in disappointment.

Lilly definitely grabbed the birds attention, but it was Demetrios' persuasive add on that must have baited him back.

In hindsight, Lilly felt pretty positive now that her epiphany of it being a statue was correct. Even more so when Demetros said it. There was no doubt about it.

Extending out his divine sense, the paladin comes up clear. There were no magical spells, celestials, fiends or undead within the room ahead. Only silence and darkness at this time. Even KD's passive investigation clears the doorway to be free of any traps. With entry into the room scouted, blanketed in magic and reviewed by an engineer, it appeared all the group has to do it brave the fear of the 'shadow'(statue) within.

“Good Rasmus,” Demetrios says down to the bird once its returned to them. “You’re welcome back on me or on Miss Lilly for the time being.” His gaze goes back to the room, hoisting his shield in front of him after giving himself a little boost (5 points LoH). “I’ll go on ahead.” 

He then carefully makes his way forward, ready for any surprises. If Rasmus decided to perch on him, he’ll ensure the birds safety before going forth.

Perception: 8

"See, just the statue!" Lilly stepped after Demetrios (between fear and curiosity, the latter always win) but curious or not, kept strictly behind the paladin.

Onu slides through the crowd and deftly maneuvers to get in front of Lily 'You, my dear, are far too valuable to take point and face the dangers of the unknown alone.  Here, allow me...'

Big round green eyes blinked at Onu several times. Then Lilly blushed. "Me?" Sure, grandma Melissa called her "my precious flower", and Lilly always felt like her favourite out of all 15 granddaughters, but valuable... That was new and pleasant. "I'll be careful," promised little halfling, making sure Demetrios is between her and the unknown danger ahead.

Demetrios pushes the door open fully, allowing KD's light to fill the room. It takes a moment for your eyes to adjust and slowly but surely you all enter the large somewhat octagonal shaped room. An alcove in the east wall holds the rubble of a shattered statue while the alcove to the west holds a statue of a dwarf with horns, which stares greedily at a glowing red gem in its hands.

"Interesting... Very similar..." Dazzlyn muses to himself as he makes some notes.

"Can it dance? Play dead?" Rasmus begins to pace on Demetrios' shoulder. "who is that!" He chimes in Lilly's voice before he starts bobbing in visible excitement. "Ou! Piece of candy!”  He begins to repeat in the other voice. "Ou! Piece of candy! Ou! Piece of candy!”

Map Update

Onu leans over to KD and whispers 'Let me know if I can Help you check for traps or investigate in any way.  This place worries me'

At Onu's prompt, KD's trained eyes (passive investigation active) take a quick glance over the statue staring greedily at the gem. There was definitely a trap, but there also appeared to be more. From afar the artificer would be able to notice there's a break in the statue, not from natural wear, but intentional, crafted. It was as if it could twist or pivot at the waist. It seemed as though one could push the arms away and turn the statue around, bringing the thought to mind: What if you 'denied' the gem?

There was a long silent pause amongst all of you, as if time stood still to assess you, and your intentions, in and out of this place. Then, a sensation similar to the weight of someones hands resting on your shoulders. Nothing alarming, quite the opposite actually. It was comforting and reassuring, encouraging you to continue exploring the path you've set yourself on. Someone? Something? Was listening, watching and nudging you to seek out your answers.

Taking a closer look
(If you wish to investigate further with Onu's help.

Investigation Check: DC16

On Success

"I think what Rasmus means here," began Lilly still from the safety of the spot behind the paladin, "is that some more gems are waiting for us ... somewhere. I mean, somewhere here. Maybe if we turn the statue?" The bird definitely tried to communicate something, and Lilly deeply regretted she is not a druid to make full sense of it.

KD frowns, lost in thought, and starts when Onu suggests she take a closer look. She nods and peers closer, one hand holding the elbow of another arm, whose hand cradles her chin, finger tapping her lips, eyes darting around, trying to draw up the likely mechanisms in play here. She'll approach as she feels confident, touching things that seem safe. She absentmindedly plays with a dreadlock with a wrench.

Investigation: 23

She casts a special eye on what might trigger any movement, not just the statue itself.