There was only one thing Kairus did before the group departed again - rations. He bought ten more. Sure, the island was throwing food at them (quite aggressive food) but some scraps lately were uneatable and you never know when the well drys up. 

Yulmiath spends a few minutes more chatting with the Tortle after pocketing his good and packing his own coconuts.

After finding someplace to sleep out of doors, he awakens and plods off to find the rest of the Pack.

"Another day in paradise, eh? We ready to tangle with those creepy bone snakes? See about Hun's human?"

Rubbing his hands in anticipation, Yulmiath starts swinging his arms and stretching his back.

"Any last Ahoyhoy errands?"

In spite of the many sacrifices made during the project, Hun ultimately found himself just standing in place at the end, marveling at the completed work. It wouldn't last, nor was it perfect. But all the same a single tear dropped over the latest achievement. "Yes, my Precious, yes." He murmured, leaving behind what little remained of a dismantled crossbow and somehow bent up crowbar to head for the sands and burrow for the night.

Even in ahoy-ahoy, Mr. Thicc is on protective standby for the Kobold. But even the semblance of safety still meant the construct needing to drag Hun the next day and actively help him wake up. "I'm certainly ready, or as ready as I'll ever be. Though that said, uh... any of you have some spare gold by any chance? I'm thinking we hire Young Green for one last escort mission to the temple. That way if worse comes worse OR something else catches our attention, she can at least get the human back to ahoy-ahoy in the meantime." He admits. "Though I'd understand if, uh, coin is a bit tight. Though! If one of ya can get me a wok of some kind 'fore we go, that'd be much appreciated, and uh... and I s'pose I'll owe ya one." 

(@Lerus: Went with his Light Crossbow(dismantled) and a crowbar which he somehow jury rigged or absolutely wrecked during the initial retrieval process.)

@Kairus: It is easy enough to buy rations at the market. They come in the shape of coconuts (flesh and water), salted fish, and an assortment of tropical fruits, all safe to eat as tested by the tortles themselves over the generations. Unless you are willing to barter for your ten servings, they you cost you the usual price of 5gp (or 50sp).

@Yulmiath: Finding a place to sleep outdoors is basically unavoidable in Ahoyhoy. You'll remember that the tortles have a thing against ceilings of any kind, the sole exception beings some ropes draped over high walls to protect the eggs in the nursery.

@Hun: As you begin talking to the group about re-hiring Eeyal, you spot the tortle just over there and approach. She clarifies that, although she feels much better thanks to your treatment, she would rather extend her rest period in Ahoyhoy for a bit before departing on the next adventure. She mentions Kwilgok hasn't returned from an overnight hunt just yet, but reminds you that old man Mudgraw had offered his guide services to the Snack Packers before. You recall that Mudgraw charges a bit more (4 gold per day), but that he is also capable of slinging some druidic spellcasting. "It is up to you," she affirms.

(@Ori: Thanks for the details. Your choices are more than fine with me.)

As the group chats to Eeyal, Yulmiath feels a pang of concern for Kwilgok and Deadly Treasure, "Do you know where he was hunting? We've run across precious little here that doesn't want to eat anything that moves.  Are they late back?"

Hun initially raises a brow ridge in suspicion of something said by Eeyal. But whatever it was, he soon enough abandoned the train of thought in a sighed, then nodded in acceptance. "You are wiser beyond your years, Young Green. We shall, uh, consider your suggestion, and hope you rest, uh, well." On that awkward ending note, Hun stepped back intending not to further interrupt Yulmiath's questioning. 

"Do we need a guide? The village is here and the shrine..." Kairus, more used to the navigation on the sea, squinted at the map but then confidently pointed at the spot not far from Ahoyhoy (after all, they were walking around these parts for days). " ... is over here. Practically next door even if through the forest. Think we can not make it on our own?"

Truth be told, he was quite short on money (his usual state) after buying rations. Kairus never haggled (unless frustrated sellers demanded it, then he saw it as a form of entertainment), so, he paid the full price for the fruits and fish.

"Worry not," Eeyal clarifies while smiling at Yulmiath. "I am told the hunting band was well-provisioned and their overnight search was planned. We are not expecting them until late today." Turning to Hun, Young Green just nods sagely.

The group reconvenes and discusses the possibility of hiring Mudgraw instead. Kairus doubts the group needs a guide to reach the Shrine of the Fang. After all, the group has either reached it or passed by it some 5 or 6 times by now. Plus, the old turtle-man charges a steep fee. Hun reiterates that his initial suggestion for a guide was more about making sure someone could escort the rescued human back to Ahoyhoy should something happen to the Snackers or their attention be driven elsewhere. Surely, Hun was counting on Eeyal's penchant for waiting outside while the group explore enclosed quarters. Perhaps that has something to do with the tortles' dislike of ceilings, and hence, their perceived need to be always bathed by either the sun's or the moon's light. If that is the case, perhaps Mudgraw would behave similarly.

Either way, the party need to make a decision.

(OOC: I encourage you guys to make a choice regarding the guide so that we can move onward.)

Despite his own misgivings, Hun but opened his mouth once as if to voice further reasoning or admonishment of the "overconfident" Triton, pauses for a moment, and then finally sigh in defeat. "Verily well, Young Blue. I shall concede on that point. But if by some miracle we wind up getting lost on the way, I am blaming you. And don't you dare try to blame the map later too!" He said, waggling his fingers up at the Triton. Afterwards, the Kobold scampers up and onto the back of Mr. Thicc. "Let's be on then! 'less the rest of you have any fondess for more things yet in need doing here." 

Somewhat relived to hear that another Tortle hasn't gotten into any trouble...yet, Yulmiath lets himself relax slightly. Maybe they'll bump into the hunting party, who knows?

"Nothing I need to do in town.  All my business is taken care of. What is it you say at times like this, Hun? Alonsy!"

"Aye, we've been all ov'r this island," Rhogal grunts. "I reckon we could make our way with - I wanna say only 'some' - trouble. That's if we be lucky."

DM's Screen:

With Kairus' point lingering in the air, and Rhogal's concurrence following shortly after, Hun relents. Old turtle-man Mudgraw will have to wait for his chance to shine. Once Yulmiath let's his worry concerning Kwilgok relax a bit, the party exchanges looks and agrees that it is time to go. They say their "see-you-soons", grab their adventuring gear, and head out of the settlement once again. Some kids follow the group for the first several yards of their trek, waving at the triton and dwarf more so than the others. 

This trip between Ahoyhoy and the Shrine of Fangs is possibly the most familiar portion of the island to the Snackers. That and the wide river separating the two locations. The walk to the river takes some time but the group is not interrupted. This will be the fourth time the group shall cross the river and, knowing this was coming, they brought along their rented canoe (I'm assuming you chose not to return it.)

Much like it is the case with scaling mountains, experience is building up. The learn-by-doing strategy is really paying off and, the river flow not being particularly dangerous this morning, the Packers like their chances for an easy crossing. Apart from the additional time it requires, the party has no trouble in crossing the river on the canoe the good old-fashioned way: using elbow grease.

A few more uneventful hours are spent reaching the Shrine of Fangs, canoe in tow. The party stops a couple of hundred yards away from the entrance to take a breather, eat their luncheon for the day, and plan their approach. It is early afternoon now and you suspect tropical showers will follow soon enough. 

Kairus finished chewing on fruits and fish first. The rations were not bad (and the triton was by far not a fussy eater) but the excitement of the situation called for haste! "Well, shall we go? I think we can just walk in now. I doubt the snakes can recharge the traps. But we can check once inside. Where is the statue? Aha! So, we walk in, present the statue, ask for the human and walk out, right? Let's go!"

Kairus was fully prepared to carry the thing and communicate with the snakes. Somehow, those ancient skeletons did not scare him and he was more curious than ever to see that human Hun was talking so much about.

(If needed Perception: 23)

Yulmiath dispenses with the leftovers of his coconut lunch, packing the dried remains of the husk into his pack.  Less keen to reacquaint himself with the residents of the temple, he urges a bit of caution to temper Karius' eagerness.

"Assume they can recharge those traps and assume they've left extra behind them too. We know precious little and we're about to go waltzing in through their front door again. We know there's two of 'em, I assume there might well be more than that. We think they have this Volo guy, we don't know that for sure and we sure as shit don't know where he's being held in there.  I don't trust things without muscles and skin holding their bodies together. I think we assume the worst and go from there."

Looking up at the sky and the darkening clouds overhead, he adds a little good news, "Might be we get a big downpour in a few hours, sound might serve to mask our approach if we're lucky and can be patient."

He lets a beat pass and then adds, "We should really agree a word that can be dropped into conversation if things are going badly and we need to get the first hit in on them."

(OOC - Survival - 4 (4) - Could Yully make an educated guess about when the storm might hit?)

Edit: NOT WITH THAT ROLL!

If Hun had been born a human, he might've gone "Ah shoot! My boi!" and went to shake Yulmiath's hand in some custom fashion. Instead... he sniffled a bit, wiped away a single tear, and looked up at the dragonborn with renewed if not further kindled respect once the dragonborn finished his spiel. "Gaggle****." Hun states plainly, recovering in due time and chiming in. "It'll be confusing enough that they won't understand the meaning, but simple enough to get attention between ourselves. And to answer your question, Kairus, I've kept it safe, but will only reveal once they either agree and show proof of light, or at least confirm whether he's still here or not." He explains further, looking from Yulmiath to Kairus each in turn before turning to the entryway.

"Not much point of masking our approach. They're deep enough inside that they won't hear until we're fairly close to that main chamber. That said if anything, we could use the storm to cover our departure should things get rough. Though it shouldn't, as it's only two them. Contrary to Mr. Yully's concern, a LOT goes into making even one of'em and the material ain't exactly the kind to line up for the procedure if I recall... But either, we proceed with caution regarding traps and be ready for the worse." With that, Hun nudges his mount, Mr. Thicc, onward for the cave entrance and down the winding tunnels; both set of eyes ever on a peel for traps along the way.

Hun's Perception: 1. (if able to use investigation instead, add +6)

Mr. Thicc's Perception: 10. 

Kairus and Yulmiath disagree on whether they should be concerned about traps on their way in, but the bard argues for a simple stroll into the shrine. Yulmiath asks for patience instead, hoping to mask the party's approach by using the inevitable rain shower sounds to their advantage. The dragonborn is absolutely sure the sudden storm is about to whip itself up any time now. Hun looks at the sky and, doubting Yul's meteorological expertise, says that is little point in being stealthy. The storm will hit today, but not as soon as the barbarian believes.

The bard asks about the statue and the dragonborn suggests an "action keyword" for the group. Hun takes on both inquiries, mentioning first that the statue is safe and hidden, and it should remain so for now. The kobold then coins a uniquely intriguing keyword for the group and trusts everyone to commit it to their memory.

Some sort of agreement reached, the party moves toward the snake's maw that serves as the entrance to the shrine. The giant carving of a snake’s head sports a forked tongue forming a ten-foot-wide, twenty-foot-high stone ramp. Beyond the ramp, the straight but corkscrewing tunnel that leads deeper into the mountain side looks familiar to the group. In the lead, Mr. Thicc and Hun keep an eye out for traps, but it would seem Kairus' hunch was correct: they were not reset recently. The tunnel ends in an unlit chamber, its fresco-ed walls broken with time and chunks of ceiling now fallen, destroying more of the chamber and giving it even more of an eerie ruins vibe. Piles of crushed bones can be spotted in several parts of the room, specially around the large chunks of fallen ceiling. In the center of the room is a cracked, bowl-shaped altar, caked with dried blood. Set into the base of the bowl is an empty niche, and hanging from the ceiling above the altar is a bloodstained iron hook at the end of a rusty chain.

Ssura and Y’zleth are seemingly not here.

Whispering under his breath, Yulmiath voices his unease, "Doesn't get any easier to be here... At least we don't have a welcoming committee this time."

Creeping around the edge of the room and giving the altar a wide berth, he extends a hand feeling for any kind of air movement that might hint at a hidden door.

Investigation - 5 (5) (Can add 2 on this one if perception is preferred.)

All the while running through Packer's allocated go word in his mind...

(OOC - That roll isn't going to achieve much either!)

Kairus walked straight to the altar and looked around. "Ssura? Y’zleth?" He tried his best to pronounce the names the way snakes did it. "We have returned with the statue as promised. Can we talk?" He listened to the echo of his voice die out hoping to hear the rustling sound of slithering skeletons approaching.

Rhogal looks around to see if there is anything different from the last time they had been here.

Perception: 8