Wyvrix grumbles, clearly irritated by your assertiveness, but the dragon relents a bit nonetheless. "But of course, esteemed guests... Fine. I shall play along. I do not know of these chambers under the temple you speak, though I have searched for them extensively... It is my belief that perhaps they are warded with ancient magic that would hide them from the eyes of dragons. The ancient architects of this place wanted to keep something hidden... And I am very much interested in finding out what it is. These foolish lizards could not find anything, but perhaps all of you can. So... let us come to a deal. You find the hidden chambers and whatever lies within, then we can discuss the divvying up of the spoils... Is this... agreeable?"

Erbert finds the dragon very difficult to read. It's one thing to interpret a humanoid's intent based on their speech and mannerisms, but this dragon is completely different. 

Adran seems more or less indifferent to Grudnik's negotiation working, but he makes no objections. "This is acceptable to me. To set a baseline for later negotiations, let us say now that treasure shall be split 50/50, plus historically significant items going to us. Of course, this is subject to change based on the difficulties we face in finding the vault. I request that we are now led to the lower levels, unless there are any objections or concerns."

Vic instinctively spread out, increasing the distance between the others when the young dragon emerged from the well.  He was quiet during what passed for negotiations, but watched the dragon and the lizardfolk carefully, looking for any signs of deception.  He wasn’t sure he believed stories of ancient magic that would keep chambers hidden from dragons, but matters of the arcane were not his specialty. 

Insight: 23 plus 1 for deductive intuition

He bows his head “A wise bargain indeed, great one.  What did the lizardfolk find below?  It may give us a head start on our search” 

Silthras smiles, "I think we understand each other," he says with a sad smile. "Very well."

He tightens the straps on his pack and armour and as he does so he asks the dragon, "In the interests of...ah...a continuing detente when we return, may I ask if there are specific things that you would like us to look for? Perhaps such things might make our return more...ah...welcome...shall we say?"

Seeing that Wyvrix is willing to negotiate, Grudnik takes a step back, indicating that he is happy for the others to take charge of the finer details of the negotiation. As Adran, Vic and Silthras do so, he stands quiet and still, waiting to be shown their path to the levels below.

Briefly he looks across to his new companions, evaluating whether they were ready for what is to come. Not every encounter will be solved with words.

Erbert continues to sketch Wyvrix and write down details of their arrangement, writing and underlining, “Treasure warded against dragons.  Why?  Wyvrix cannot see.”  He continues as the negotiations are made until he finishes his drawing, then puts his notebook back into his pack and settles himself into the saddle on Rufus.  He starts to glance around the room to see where they may begin their descent.  

Victorin, this dragon proves hard to read. You aren't able to glean much about their intent other than that is wants to acquire these artifacts. 

"Excellent... An accord is struck. You soft-skins are more reasonable than others of your kind. Come, join me below. Use your ropes to descend the well." With that, Wyvrix growls a command to the lizardfolk and they stand at ease. The high priest is disturbed by this entire proceeding, but relents nonetheless. Then the dragon descends into the depths. 

It takes some effort and time, but you descend through the well and find that the bottom has opened up to reveal a chamber beneath the temple. You land in a hallway that heads southwest and follow it into what could only be a dragon's lair. Your eyes immediately fix upon the massive skeletal dragon reclining upon a pile of treasure in the center of the room. It takes you a moment to confirm that the skeleton is, in fact, not moving. At least not yet.The treasure beneath the dragon skeleton looks to be primarily coins of silver and gold, with a few weapons and suits of armor partially submerged within mounds of precious metals. Atop the pile, a string of orblike beads glows with a faint orange radiance, as if lit by a flame from within. Near the center of the chamber sits a low stone platform 3 feet high. Atop the platform, three circular disks are arranged in a triangular pattern. The dragon Wyvrix crawls over the skeleton and perches atop it like a king on his throne.

"As you can see, soft-skins, this is the only chamber beneath the temple... the only one I can find, that is. Perhaps your eyes will see what mine cannot. Find the way forward, grab whatever seems valuable, and return. I have no clue what treasures or dangers await you beyond, but if the ancients sealed them away, they must be important. Find them. Bring them to me."

(Everyone may make an investigation or perception check)

Grudnik volunteers to go down the well first, in case there is anything dangerous down there or some kind of trap. Once they are all down, he moves into the lair and surveys the scene, noting the coins and other items. His smiths eye is drawn particularly to the precious metals, weapons and suits of armour, however he does not move towards them. He merely waits for the others to investigate the room, whilst he keeps an eye on Wyvrix.

"How much of this is as you found it, and how much have you brought here?", he asks.

Adran goes down the well directly after Grudnik, paying attention to his Watching Blade on the way down to make sure he does not get ambushed. Once within the chamber, he surveys the area for anything peculiar. As he looks, his eyes momentarily glint with a golden sheen, as he uses another charge of Divine Sense. He then mutters a short incantation, and his eyes go (and stay) a deep blue, casting detect magic on himself. He surveys the room for any magical walls or terrain, but also takes a gander at the items to discern whether anything in the hoard is magical or possesses otherworldly influences.

"This should find the lies. Hopefully."

Perception: 12 (8+4)

“Sit.  Stay.”  Erbert sets out some food for Rufus, turning to the others before they descend.  “Anyone strong enough to bring him down as you descend?  If not, I will need to leave him here and hope that they (turning and looking at the lizardfolk) don’t eat him.  Can anyone help?”

After that is sorted out, Erbert descends the rope, goes forward into the southwestern chamber, and his jaw drops.  He has never seen such as this in his travels, and instantly he pulls out his journal to jot down notes and make a drawing of the skeletal dragon and its hoard.  He draws the stone platform and the circular disks in their configuration.  He considers the string of orange glowing beads, rapidly drawing all of this and trying to make sense of it.

Investigation : 20  (13 + 7)

Silthras shrugs at Erbert's question, "I'm sure we have enough rope to tie your dog to one of us."

After the dog's fate is sorted out he descends and when he lands at the bottom he just stares at the hoard, shaking his head. After a few moments in awr he collects himself and takes in the room. He walks close to Grudnik and as he does so an illusory parchment appears in his hand. On it are written the words, "It will likely attack if we find a door, or failing that, when we return." In moments, the parchment disappears. He shrugs and moves about the room, searching.

The orb-like beads catch his eye, and he starts to ascend the pile to get a closer look.

Perception: 16

Grudnik glances down at the illusory paper as Silthras walks passed, slowly nodding his head before it disappears, at which point he directs his attention back to Wyvrix. He stands in a military posture with his glaive held upright in one hand, resting on the floor.

Silthras' warning mirrors his own concern that Wyvrix is not to be trusted, and so he remains vigilant as to the dragon's intent.

Insight: 9+1=10 (Passive: 11)

Upon seeing the skeletal form of the dragon Ancidus immediately traces a protective sigil in front of themselves and uses Eyes of the Grave to detect the presence of any undead within 60 feet (not behind total cover or protected from divination magic).

Insight check on Wyvrix's claim that it doesn't know of any other chambers: 25

Perception check, with guidance: 21

Vic slides down the rope and joins the others at the bottom of the well  “So, this is what a dragon’s hoard looks like” he murmurs “What are those orbs? Any ideas?”  Vic investigates the chamber as the others begin to look around as well.  He spares a long glance at the treasure hoard and the orbs, but his attention is focused on the platform and the three discs.  Does that hold the path to a lower chamber? He investigates the area for any sign of a door or hidden opening.  Investigation 22 plus 1 for deductive intuition. 

Anything longer than a glance at the dragon's hoard prompts a growl from Wyvrix. "Don't get any foolish ideas, soft-skins. I expect you to abide by your part of the bargain... If I find anything missing from this hoard, the deal is off and you will be dealt with accordingly. These treasures were amassed by the dragon that previously occupied this place, though as you can see they belong to me now. Nothing that you are looking for is in this hoard; I don't hoard relics of a bygone past, just things of real value."

You all search diligently, but it is ultimately Victoin and Erbert that find the secret door. It's nowhere near the console that Victorin was inspecting, but is actually set rather inconspicuously into the north wall. Once they do, a tweny-foot wide space in the wall opens up and a wide hallway stretches into darkness before you. At the end of it is a staircase that winds down deeper into the earth. Wyvrix lets out a frustrated growl.

"Something has changed, I can tell... to think that the passage I have spent years searching for was found by you soft-skins in a matter of minutes, and I still cannot see the way you opened... Curse the architects of this place. No matter. Your task is clear. Find the relics. Bring them back to me. Then discussions of how the loot is divided among us can be had... Go, now. I shall await your return."

Adran, there are a few magic items in the hoard that you can detect. One is the string of orbs, a crystal wand, and a scimitar - each bears an evocation aura.

Adran takes a mental note of the magical items in the hoard before moving to the newly-opened passageway. He'll try to be in front of the group, so long as everybody can fit within 30 feet of him while he's there.

"Now, we delve. We'll return in however long it takes to safely explore and loot these levels. Don't expect us to be swift. Oh, and do not worry about the hoard. Its previous owner was defeated, and so it is in your possession. That is the way of things, and we certainly do not wish to violate that way, especially while we have a deal. You shan't see a crown go missing from the pile under my watch."

As Adran passes through the removed wall, where Wyvrix claims to be unable to see past, he will carefully watch the dragon's eyes (heh) to see if they track his movements after he goes through the illusion, in an attempt to determine whether the claims of architectural trickery are valid or falsified.

Perception: 23 (19+4)

"Cho draguus", Grudnik says as he backs away from Wyvrix a number of feet before finally turning his back on the dragon and moving to the secret passage.

Making his way down the hallway towards the stairs, he relies on his darkvision for visibility unless one of the others produces some light.

He waits at the top of the stairs for the others to gather.

"We can either proceed with stealth, sending a small scouting party of two to check for dangers such as traps or creatures and avoid them, or we can move warily as one intending to simply deal with anything we come across", he says to the others.

"I expect we will have differing opinions on the best approach, but for my purpose I cannot protect someone who I am not with".

Erbert is pleased at the appearance of the passageway and makes ready to proceed.  He finishes drawing the items of interest in the dragon’s hoard and the whole scene in general, then makes ready to proceed to the passageway, riding on Rufus.  “I think we need to stick together, warily and with caution, dealing with anything that comes up as we need to.  That is my vote.  I am sure that further dangers await us, and I think we are better off tackling them together..”

Once everybody is gathered around the staircase, Adran adds his two crowns in how to proceed.

"I agree with Grudnik and Erbert. Splitting up would be foolish. Any traps or monsters that would endanger us as a group would endanger a scouting party more. Now, unless there are any objections, I think we should delve. The spell I cast earlier could prove useful, and it's only going to last for a few more minutes."