While Le'gal is healing herself and a couple of her companions, three of the temporary familiars follow her instructions to backtrack and explore an alternative path. Soon, they report their finding telepathically. The bats fly ahead, and after passing through the portcullis, make use of their echolocation to report they have entered a large room that is a bit longer than it is wide. They also locate ten creatures within. One is humanoid in shape while the other nine are small and quadrupedal. Entering the room last, and being more intelligent than its companions, the feline creature gathers a few details that it assumes would be useful to its master: The creatures inside move as if they are being herded by the humanoid. The 'sheep' behave as if they were looking for food, while the 'shepherd' has a long beard that moves with its own intent. One of the walls displays a large relief mural similar to the one in the pool room. There are two other doors in this chamber.

The familiars then try to slow down their movement before getting any closer (Stealth checks for bats and then tressym, respectively: 7, 17, 13)

Without hesitation, the 'shepherd' quickly notices the flapping wings of one of the bats and casts Sleep: 25 

-> Rolling a DEX saving throw for the other bat and the tressym to determine how close they were to the targeted bat while trying to stealth: 6, 22.

One bat and the tressym fall victim to the spell (the feline by accident, simply from being too close to the targeted bat), falling to the ground and immediately being swarmed by the 'sheep'. The lone surviving bat manages to perch upside-down on the very corner of the room, unnoticed.

Back in the pool room, Graxximus kicks the door open and advances alongside the imp. The narrow corridor immediately turns left twice, and then makes a right turn about 35 feet farther down. Before getting too far from his companion, Graxximus turns back and reports his findings to the group. The imp does the same and awaits further others from Talon.

All info being shared, the group concludes that their current two options in the labyrinth are: 

• Turn back and venture into the room with the 'shepherd,' the 'sheep,' and the surviving bat.
• Venture further down the path Graxximus explored, making two left turns and then one right turn to find out more information about where this hallway may lead.

(@All: it is Nox's turn on the captain's seat. Feel free to discuss OOC a bit if you want but once she picks, that's where the group is going.)

Talon instructs the imp to turn invisible and follow either Graxx or Nox, whichever is in the lead, as the traverse the passage.  Talon will swim across and follow as best he can (Devil's Sight helps.)

Sigil closes in as well, warding whoever takes the lead.

Le'gal keeps to the rear after making it across, and maintains a healthy ten foot distance from those close to the lead. If it looks like Charles will be trailing behind as well however, she again scoops him up onto her shoulder without a word. Of the tressym, he alights on her other shoulder to keep on lookout for any invisible or poisonous trouble. In the meantime, her bat is left to keep watch on the shepherd and its stock for not, keeping watch until time is almost up. 

Graxximus will lead the way scanning for threats. "Onward!"

Perception:  12

Once all the information is shared and the healing is done, Nox makes the argument for going through the door on the other side of the pool instead of facing the 'shepherd' and his flock. The party agrees and begins to move out. Nox would lead the line herself, but Graxximus offers to do it instead. Fancy follows the paladin closely after turning invisible, while Sigil nominates his fellow human as his next ward. Le'gal brings up the rear, making sure that Charles just ahead of her does not fall too far behind. Talon and Sigil are in the middle.

The group follows Graxximus past the two immediate left turns, and then faces a short hallway (35 feet) before the narrow walls force you to make a right turn. Right after making such turn, Nox notices one of the stones Graxximus is about to step on is too cracked compared to others around it. The tortle's warning is just enough for both the paladin and herself to have an extra second to avoid the deep pit that is being revealed suddenly by the crumbling stones.

-> DEX saving throw {DC 13} with advantage and paladin aura:

• Graxximus: 20
• Nox: 11

Nox manages to grab Graxximus and pull him back onto solid ground, but in doing so, slips and falls. The well-timed trap reveals its finale as pieces of the ceiling fall to fill the pit up. Nox takes some fall and some crushing damage: 13 bludgeoning damage. The druid's hard shell prevents it from being crushed, but she is now trapped under rubble.

(@All: If anyone is attempting anything to change the outcome described above, please note only reactions would be quick enough to make a difference.)

After the right turn and beyond the pit, those near the front of the line see yet another fork on the road:

• 25 feet down the hall, a closed door stands to the party's left; it is a simple wooden door, but its locking mechanism looks tough.
• The hallway continues beyond the door, and after another 20 feet, one more left turn stands between the group and more exploration.

(@All: It is Sigil's turn on the driver's seat.)

Talon quickly pulls out his crowbar and starts to dig to help Nox free himself from the rubble: acrobatics 20 if athletics then -2 from that.

Charles will help Talon free Nox.

((If you need Charles to roll then here: 4 Strength Check (don't add anything for Athletics)

With both Talon and Charles helping remove rocks and stones from the pit, Nox eventually emerges a bit worse for wear.

The next decision point on the path remains:

• 25 feet down the hall, a closed door stands to the party's left; it is a simple wooden door, but its locking mechanism looks tough.
• The hallway continues beyond the door, and after another 20 feet, one more left turn stands between the group and more exploration.

(@All: It is Sigil's turn on the driver's seat.)

Whichever path Sigil decides upon, Le'gal follows along without complaint. But as a matter of precaution, she sends Misses Fluffykins on to the other path to investigate it. Quietly. And in the air, for added measure. After that scare with Nox the bugbear wanted nothing more than for her last few summons safety. 

While the others dug Nox out of the pit, Sigil walks over to inspect the door, sword still in hand. Sneering slightly, he comments “A complex lock on a wooden door. Who needs to unlock that the hard way?” Once everyone else is in position, he takes a few steps backwards before bringing his shoulder against the door. 

Athletics: 13 (if with advantage from help: 26)

If/when Sigil gets through the door, he takes a quick look around, ready to cast you thought if any attack would hit an AC above 22 and below 27.

"Shake and bake!"

As Sigil runs toward the door Graxximus will drop his sword and attempt to shove Sigil to give them extra power on the door.  Taking the Help.

Sigil takes the lead, nodding towards Graxximus. The paladin understands what is being requested, (or so he thinks) and shoves Sigil towards the door, who manages to adjust his shoulder for the perfect slam. The door shatters, though the lock is still in place. What the two of them see is a very small, 5x5-feet room. It is empty, save for a single golden coin that is by the corner. The coin seems cut to perfectly fit the corner (shaped like a quarter-pizza).

While the rest of the party watches this happening, Le'gal sends his winged-cat to explore the other path. It telepathically reports back on what it sees beyond the next right turn: a 50-foot hallway with yet another door and another turn (we'll get to this decision point if the groups goes this way. For now, we are still resolving Sigil's choice).

Talon watches the energetic pair pummel the door to pieces.  "You know, if you wanted to be a little more patient, I do have some skills with locks.  Just sayin."  Talon sends Fancy in to pickup the golden coin.

(OOC: The words from Talon are for color and in no way express any wish I might have that Talon be able to use his talents.  I'm having a blast 'watching' you guys attack the doors etc..  :-) )

Graxximus smiles under his helmet toward Talon, "You will have the honors of the next door, Talon!"

Fancy floats over to the coin and carefully picks it up, as instructed by Talon. As he does so, the coin appears to become slowly whole again as the familiar pulls it away from the corner with its delicate hands. The imp looks up, bends its head to the side, and reaches to touch the wall. Its hand disappears past the stonework.

Charles will walk in the room and look at the wall that Fancy's arm phases through. "Interesting." He will walk up and stick his head in the illusion and take a peek around.

Talon instructs Fancy to drop the coin in the room and then move into the illusion sort of like Charles is doing.  He will then use his find familiar capabilities to see through Fancy's eyes and hear through his ears.

Charles sees it first: a pile of golden coins that reaches up to his navel sitting right in the center of a 15'x15' chamber. Then, through Fancy's eyes, Talon confirms that some of the initially seen walls were nothing but illusions, and also sees their newfound treasure. A quick visual count suggests a few thousand golden pieces were being protected by the fake wall. There are no gems or art pieces this time around, but a handful of odd items poke out of the pile of gold:

• A colorful straight-horn adorned with the head of a lion at its end, including a mane in vivid orange color;
• A flanged mace mostly made out of plain, but robust steel. The handle is made out of bronze, however;
• A dark blue mantle or cloak that fastens at the neck with a clasp that depicts a strange trident of sorts.

The entire party can see through the illusory walls, now that the trick was uncovered.

Talon's eyes get big even as he is looking through the eyes of Fancy.  He dismisses this ability and walks into the room.  "So Le'gal, we are in a labyrinth and could possibly use these items" pointing ta the horn, mace and cloak " I would love to sit here for a long time and study them myself to understand what they are but I believe, like your former alter ego, you are able to identify them magically if you are willing.  Jury became a bit testy when I would ask for this help with frequency.  I'm hoping you are able to move past this and help us now."  Talon has an expectant grin on his face.

He will then turn and begin counting gold with Fancy's help.