Otho staying in his spot casts mage hand to try to put pressure on A4. (Does it light up in response to the mage hand?) 

Nothing happens.

Ember watches all that unfolded.  Leaping up, he moves back to his spot of origin - A2.   

Is he going to touch the ground?

Razzec approaches the alcoves and follows suit behind everyone else.

Perception Check: 19

Yes, Ember lands on his original starting position at A2.

Quote from Wysperra >>

You are on the right side of the board.

Nico has 1A right in front of him.

Ember has 2A right in front of him.

Otho has has 3A right in front of him.

Razz appears near A6

Ember flies back to A2, lands and the square lights up white.

Ember turns to their companions, "I thought it may be chess.  Then it let us move about... but only reacted (so far) to one of us.   I am in a 'knight' position so, I will move like a knight ans see what happens."

So saying, Ember will walk two squares forward to C2 and then a side step to C3 -- waiting to see how the stepped on squares react and if the figure across the room reacts in any way.

As Ember walks, the squares light up white.

Nico watched Ember curiously, and hid his disappointment at the final square not changing color. "Alright," he announced, "I'm gonna try to 'clear' this back row. See if that does anything."

With that, he skipped past the statue on his way to run across the board again.

(( Trying to avoid touching the statue, Nico will hop from H4 to H5, then if nothing stops/attacks him, he'll run in a straight line to H8 and stop there. ))

While the others move about trying to figure out the board, Grey will begin to cast Detect Magic as a Ritual, unless others want me to cast it immediately. Hoping something will reveal itself.

Nico runs along the back row and as he moves, the squares light up white.

Grey casts Detect Magic and pretty much everything is magical of some sort or another.

Quote from Wysperra >>

Grey casts Detect Magic and pretty much everything is magical of some sort or another.

 Any magical patterns he detects on the board by chance?  [Assuming you would have mentioned, but maybe you want me to dig. :) ]

Perception: 14

Razzec says, "If this is chess, I think someone needs to step on A4 and A5 so we can have the 'King' and 'Queen' on the board.  The queen would be unblocked so could make for a quick straight line attack on the statue before it had time to react, maybe."

Quote from Razzec >>

"If this is chess, I think someone needs to step on A4 and A5 so we can have the 'King' and 'Queen' on the board.  The queen would be unblocked so could make for a quick straight line attack on the statue before it had time to react, maybe."

Reacting to the suggestion, Nico dashed in a diagonal line from H8 to E5.

(( And if he's unimpeded, he'll then run from E5 to E1. ))

When Nico steps on G7 it lights up red and the statue zaps him with lightning! Then the square turns white.

DC 12 vs 8 lightning. Save for half.

Let me know if you want to continue towards E5.

(( Nico's DEX Save: 26 ))

Yelping, but undaunted, Nico continues forward.

(( He'll continue towards E5 unless struck/attacked again. ))

Otho attempts to walk from one side of the board to the other (straight line from A3 to H3)

When Otho steps on B3 it flares red and the statue emits lightning at him!

DC 12 Dex save vs 9 lightning damage, save for half.

Then it turns white.

*You did start in the bishop space.

Quote from RodTheBard >>

(( Nico's DEX Save: 26 ))

Yelping, but undaunted, Nico continues forward.

(( He'll continue towards E5 unless struck/attacked again. ))

 F6 gets Nico a red square and another zap

DC 12 Dex save vs 8 lightning damage. Save for half.

Then the square turns white.

*You do know you started in the rook space right?