And shrugged off Hun is with surprising ease! "Half a ton?! Huh... hm.... gonna have to do a few calculations then..." He exclaimed at first, before trailing off muttering to himself while taking up the bead. "Uh, but, yes, yes. What Mr. Yully said. Rest of you can get to work on that while, uh... prepare things. Ahem. Mr. Thicc!" Hun carries on ordering the construct to carefully move Volo to the entrance of the Temple.  

Meanwhile, the kobold took a bit of time studying the bead, trying to gauge or recall any information that might suggest being able to divide it without destroying its contents or rupturing the magic prematurely... after a bit of juicing again to further focus his mind. 

Arcana: 11. 
(self guidance included)

If able to do as much, his thoughts drift towards the bowl itself, and following some mental calculations that strained even him a little, he'd break out one of his sharper implements to partition the bead and place what he gauged to be the appropriate amount to fill it up. 

General Intelligence: 7. (Guidance re-upped as needed)
(OOC: Not sure what skill might apply for "math-ing" out volume(quantity? Liter!?! I don't know math!), BUT if any might apply, feel free to add the appropriate bonuses DM)

OR if such a thing would not be possible by his understanding, Hun would wait until everyone else was done and Mr. Thicc returned to personally assist him before making one last mental prayer to Gond, looking to see everyone else appeared ready, then finally release the pellets contents into the offering bowl!

Hun momentarily gives into his kobold instincts and lunges at Rhogal to get his attention somewhat aggressively. Although he gets easily swatted away, the kobold's message gets through to the dwarf and the dry bead is passed along.

Yulmiath argues for a pause while the rest of the group gets ready to face what could be a insurmountable amount of water. Kairus, Krodhen, Rhogal, and Mr. Thicc move all the way to the entrance, the last one of them carrying the fragile Volo, who is eventually passed on to Krodhen. After ropes are tied and adventurers are secured, the construct returns to the central chamber to assist Hun and Yulmiath in tricking the sacrifice mechanism. Hun had used the extra time to study the bead a bit but he end's up wishing the item was slightly less magical and a lot more mechanical. As is, the bead's workings remain a mystery to him.

The artificer shrugs and slams the bead into the bowl while Mr. Thicc acts as a buttress and Yulmiath puts weight on the chain and hook. The bead instantly expands into what initially seems to be an immeasurable amount of water. The bowl is filled instantly with just a fraction of the bead's contents. The chain clicks into place and so does the bowl. A second later, Hun, Mr. Thicc, and Yulmiath are all sloshed about as the water continues to expand.

DEX saving throw {DC 12} or take 22 bludgeoning damage or half on a success:

• Hun: 18 (18) 
• Mr. Thicc: 6 (6) 
• Yulmiath (Danger Sense): 13 (13)   

Fifteen cubic feet of water is a lot of liquid for a single bowl, but the entire chamber is much larger in volume than that. After the initial water explosion, things calm down very quickly, though the floor and piles of bone and bone dust are quite wet now. The three individuals closest to the explosion can't help but feel some of the blast. (Hun takes 11 bludgeoning damage; Mr. Thicc takes 22 bludgeoning damage; Yulmiath takes 11 bludgeoning damage.)

By the time the water reaches the entrance, it is absolutely harmless. Although there is some delay, the stone serpent's maw begins to slowly reopen. The trick worked and the water begins to flow out at a manageable flow rate.

Too much water gets into Mr. Thicc's inner workings and the construct goes on the fritz (unconscious, incapacitated, and prone.)

(OOC: This was a great solution to the problem. Everyone gets a DM's Inspiration token if they don't already have one.)

"Woo-hoo! You did fool the god!" Kairus was very excited but his happy smile quickly turned into a concerned expression. "You OK, grandpa?" He squinted and the clearly battered kobold and concluded: "You are not OK. But let's get out of here and then tend to our wounds".

The next few minutes were devoted to getting out of the cave everyone and everything (mostly referred to Mr. Thicc). If the construct was too heavy for transportation, the levitation spell should have helped (even with someone on top of the improvised balloon, if necessary). "Do we take the statue with us? For the sake of someone else getting caught in here?"

Once back to the sky and fresh air (Kairus was not claustrophobic - not with his origin - but appreciated breathing as anyone else) he could help to tend the wounds. Actually, a simple rest with calming melody had to do the trick.

(Song of Rest:  If you or any friendly creatures who can hear your performance regain hit points at the end of the short rest by spending one or more Hit Dice, each of those creatures regains an extra 1d6 hit points.

Coughing and hacking, Hun eventually sputters out from the ground, "Told'ja!", before being once more overwhelmed for a few seconds. Before long however, the Kobold musters the strength to actually get up and look around. The sight of Mr. Thicc's busted up form elicits a click of the tongue and discontent murmurs. Yet for his grumbling Hun dug out a few smith tools to properly terminate and force a hard "reboot" of the construct's system.

A process that appeared to anyone else looked to be giving the construct a few hard wacks to his helmeted head while chanting some brief arcane phrase. "That should do it. He'll be back on his feet within a minute." Looking then up to the Triton, Hun grinned and finally said, "I'll survive, but for now, but can't agree with you more. In fact better yet, once we're out of here... well, will cross that bridge later. For now we leave it in until the mouth is fully open, just in case there's any weird failsafes to stop it short." He firmly asserts before half-limping his way out to freedom. Despite such urgings however, once both artificer, construct(eventually), and Volo is out of the temple, absolutely effort is put into reinforcing his stance. 

Once finally back out in the open, the Kobold largely insisted on seeing to his own treatment, but wouldn't deny Kairus the chance to sing his young little heart out. Seeking his creator, Mr. Thicc soon joins him outside. The construct would still look plenty banged up all things considered, but most of it would seem more superficial than anything.

-> Expending a spell slot as per Steel Defender feature to revive Mr. Thicc at full hp after a minute. Since I don't think it necessarily makes death saves or anything. :|a)

Picking himself up from the floor, Yulmiath shook himself much like a dog would after emerging from a body of water.  Slightly drier for it, he held his breath as he turned back towards the cave entrance.  Seeing the light pouring back into the cave, Yulmiath allowed himself a few gulps of air in celebration.  Joining the other Packers, Yulmiath wonders about what will happen next.

"So next stop: Ahoyhoy? Or do we have a few more jobs here to see off? There's the mysterious key - what does that unlock? Were these two sitting on somekind of embarrassment of riches? Also, are we taking the statue? Are we going to do a little smashy smashy before we go?"

(OOC - If we're short resting, Yulmiath is happy to pick a likely looking rock to either sit on or lean against for a short rest to spout his list of queries.  Rolling one hit die for 7 (11) plus 5 (2) from song of rest.)

(OOC: Whoops! Forgot to roll actual short rest healing. xD)

-> SR Healing(2): 22. 

HD: 10

Hit Dice: 10

"Ahoyhoy, and on the double once we're all have a breather. Volo is out of the proverbial fire, but not quite out of the woods yet!" Hun exclaimed, jabbing a finger in the air, only to hunch over rubbing at his shoulder from a jolt of pain. "... As for the statue, it..." He hesitates, and from his seat on the ground by that point, looked back up towards the ruins. "-it needs to be destroyed. But I ain't going back in there even for treasure. That's how they get ya! But if the rest of you want to hoping to find where that key belongs, then I ain't gonna stop ya. Just, uh.. make sure you take the statue out 'fore you destroy it, in case the temple starts collapsing or whatever."  Hun on that note turned his attention more fully on self-maintenance and cleaning up the salt water on both his and Mr. Thicc's armor plating, least it began rusting prematurely. 

OOC: Krodhen could/would have used his last point of Lay on Hand to revive Mr Thicc if needed....

Seeing the success of the action, Krodhen lets out relieved "Yes, thank the gods" as the stone barrier slides away, leaving the path out of this lair open to the group.

For his part, he moves out of the caves just as soon as possible, wanting nothing more to do with the altar room "Ca'n't agree with you more, we need to get outa here...": and he immediately starts walking, Volo slumped over his shoulder in a fireman carry, eager to get a rest just as soon as they are someone a little "safer"

The serpent's mouth opens slowly but completely. The group is finally no longer trapped. Kairus proposes that the first item on the group's agenda be leaving the shrine and resting outside. Krodhen does not need asking twice, and the group treks back to where they had left their canoe a bit ways off the shrine entrance. Without any specific need to rush, and five capable bodies available, the party has no trouble bringing Mr. Thicc and Volo with them, even if it were to take more than one trip. That said, after a minute or so, Mr. Thicc reboots successfully and no longer need assistance in reaching the resting spot.

During their resting period, the group discusses whether they should bring the statuette with them, or perhaps even destroy it. Yulmiath expands the discussion and wonders if they should go back inside and look for more than just the statuette. In fact, he wonders if there is anything else to do in this parts. The dragonborn's sense of adventure is tingling. Hun metaphorically poops on that party by reminding the group of Volo's critical condition, and they agree to return to Ahoyhoy after their rest. Nonetheless, should anyone want to go back in, the artificer lets them know he is not going to stop them.

A restful hour passes, during which the Snackers tend to their wounds, drink some water, eat some rations, and consider their options. Yulmiath finally shares that coconut with Volo, though the man is barely reacting.

SHORT REST

• Yulmiath recovers 13 HP.
• Hun recovers 22 HP, and Mr. Thicc is back to full health.
• Kairus recovers 10 HP.
• Rhogal recovers 16 HP.

(OOC: So, is anyone going back inside the shrine during/after the rest?) 

"Agree on both - the haste back to the village and the statue destruction. Can Mr. Thicc pick it up?" The construct proved to be capable of a lot of things but maybe such a complex command was too much for it still. "I'll go. In the worst case, you will have to dig me out."

Kairus checked if he had enough water in his water skin to repeat the trick should he get stuck too, and walked back to pick up the dangerous artifact.

"Eh... It's not entirely impossible I suppose. Though-..." Hun looks worriedly to the construct. By all accounts, Mr. Thicc appeared to be again in perfectly functional order barring the purely superficial "scars" of previous engagements. And yet, the Kobold "hmm'd" and "hawed' and in the end hesitated to the point Kairus volunteering startles the Kobold. "What? Dig? I, uh, er, n-now h-hold on a second! U-uhm."

Hun looks frantically looks between Triton and Construct before with a huff he bids the Mr. Thicc to follow after Kairus and obey his instructions. "Th-there. This way you can give him a bit more precise instructions in case anything goes side ways. But be prepared to run out of there immediately if things go hanky panky." He warned, calling out after the Trition if he had to make sure he was heard. 

Yulmiath nervously watches as the pair re-enter the cave. Should anything look like it is even remotely going to close in, the dragonborn will look to buy as much time as possible for them using his most muscly muscles.

Athletics - 16

Kairus and Mr. Thicc head back inside. Apart for the splashing of water beneath each of their steps, much of the tunnel looks the same. There are piles of bones that were undone and shifted, and some puddles of water have become saturated with bone dust. The same can be said about the main chamber.

The center mechanism is as it was left, a bowl-full of water and all. Keeping their mission in mind, the triton and the construct work together to reach into the bowl and twist the icon off. Aside from the expected snapping click, the shrine reacts indifferently to the removal of the statuette at first. A minute later, once the duo is already walking back through the tunnel, they can hear the shifting stone sounds of the cage/alcove/bowl mechanism sliding back to its original position partially underground.

Yulmiath had placed himself in-between the stone snake's jaws, but his muscles are not called into action. A few minutes later, all Snackers are reunited at their chosen resting place, along with a decrepit Volo and a canoe. The party exchange looks, wondering if their earlier conversation about smashing the icon is about to come to fruition.

(@Blue: Kairus suspected the key he found was magical. Would he have inspected it during the short rest?)

(@All: Let's say it is now sometime in the afternoon. What are the plans for the trek back to Ahoyhoy?)

Absolutely! He could play for an hour, of course, but that was not required. So, he let the sounds of nature to play their pleasant tune while he, himself, was studying the newly founded key. 

Glad that the return journey into the cave was uneventful, Yulmiath took up the reassuring weight of the canoe as the Snack Pack headed back to Ahoyhoy.

If needed, he would point the way, or features that the group has passed before. They had walked this route a number of times now and it was starting to become familiar.

Survival - 19

 Rhogal takes the time to look around to see if any "friendly" locals are lying in wait.

Perception: 18

Hun remained true to his word, but erred on the side of caution for the sake of all. "Wait here a moment." He asked as he and Mr. Thicc stepped a good twenty-five feet away from the group while staying at least relatively in view, as much as either of them could in the moment. Hun takes a moment thereafter to try and shield himself with a tree, before with a barked command from the Kobold, Mr. Thicc does his upmost to crush the idol completely between weave enforced hands until the idol shattered, or the constructs limbs proved to be in danger of doing so first. 

In the latter's case, Hun grumbles something about "accursed" things before seeing Mr. Thicc added the idol to his bag of holding once more. But if otherwise successful, at least a single piece(if any remain unintentionally so) is still put back in the bag. If asked by the others on that point, he'd frankly state, "Worry not of it. Once I'm back in Waterdeep I plan to pay the House of Inspired Hands a visit to make sure any power this thing might actually have is well and truly removed from this world." 

Regardless of outcomes in the end, Hun intended to return to the group eager to be off and away to Ahoyhoy!