The bird has already noticed you, yes.  Nothing seems strange about it, it’s just a big bird eating some sort of corpse.

If the bird appears hostile Rubin will pull out his hand crossbow and start shooting, otherwise he will continue along, leaving it alone if it leaves him alone.

From her perch on top of the cliff face, Kethra watches the party cautiously approach the big bird. She searches for a big stone or loose tree (that has its roots loose because of the cliff face) to pick up and toss at the bird if the party decides to attack it.

Survival: 8

"Not gonna turn an ant hill into a mole den, so I'll just say this. One, driving it off ain't gonna do much good if they use that sort for riding, I reckon. Most likely it'll buy as an hour, assuming the critter doesn't fight to the death or some such." Xanranzan whispers to Tyde. "And two, can't say I'm eager to go knock'n, but if'n ya wanna try that ya can... Just... sorta wish ya decided that 'fore we got here." He admits, before squinting at the corpse if it is at all visible from their current angle. And if not, he'll search the way that he might get an angle -- climbing the walls if need be/possible -- for a better look at the remains without disturbing the vulture further. 

Perception: 23.

"I've found that if you leave nature alone, it usually does the same. I say we leave this monstrous bird to its meal, as gross as it is, and maybe make our way back to the spire. But that's me. What's the worst that can happen if we go knocking?" He is unaware of what the group has been through and makes his observations innocently.

Without looking away from his current search, Xan says whispers offhandedly, "Wind up captured, half-naked, and hope'n that they don't feed ya to some fin head scalies. Or in this case, bein' dropped from way, way, way up high to yer inevitable death, bereft of any means of avoid it. Before ya probably wind up a meal fer that critter there. Which... all things considered, so long as ya make sure to point yerself head first to make it quick, I s'pose that's better outcome then the death by fish."

The remains seem to be human.  You seem to see that the bones are fractured as if from a fall, and guess that this unfortunate fell off of the Spire above.  Or, was pushed . . .

Does the bird look as if it will attack us, or is it going to let us be if we let it be?

The bird doesn’t seem to be making any aggressive moves, but does seem to get more agitated when Xan approaches to look at the body.

"Leave the bird to its food." Rubin calls to the others. "If it doesn't bother us, we don't need to bother it." He would continue walking down the path.

"What interests me is why a bunch of supposed knights would be pushing someone off of their spire up there." Rubin says as he starts to lead the group onward. He runs a hand over the crossbow bolts he has ready to draw at his side, and glances around as he moves. "Seems like a very un knight-like thing to be doing if you ask me."

Xan backs off as requested, not that he wanted more to do with the bird after examining the meal and site. "Shadow there does have the right of it. Even if someone deserves to die, that's a bit on the cruel side, to say the least. Question is, how ya'll wanna get inside at this point? We kick'n in the proverbial door now that we got what we got, or still try'na find a way around to climb up to the top and go from there?" He asked, before nervously looking between the party members. "Or... we still goin' with that, uh... tricksy idea?"

"Seriously, I think we should just go and introduce ourselves. They're meant to be knights afterall. Men of honour." Obviously Marros has a different view of the world than his peers. He continues with "I mean, if the choice is falling off a cliff or joining noble knights in a great spire I would think the answer is obvious. Plus, the angels would not let harm come to their Warrior of Light." His voice very matter of fact.

“We were planning on scouting out this canyon prior to doing anything else.”  RUbin said, trying to get the group back on tract.  “If we find a back passage up into the spire, then great, otherwise we just return to the front gate.”

Xan gives Marros a funny look. Then, he's about ready to gesture back to the body before Rubin chimes in with the hottakes. More than satisfied by the reminder, Xan merrily follows after the ranger by about 5ft back or so. That way when he or Merros inevitably attrack attention via the clink of their armor, at least the odds favor Rubin not immediately being caught in some crossfire.

Or... So Xanranzan figured, anyhow..

Quote from Brian_Avery >>

Tyde holds one hand up above his eyes to screen out the sun and get a good look around at the skies.

Seeing Mr. Tyde look up to her perch and raise his hand, the hooded girl timidly waves back with only her fingers, trying to minimize her movements so not  to take the big vulture's attention away from Xanranzan.

As the rest set out, Kethra continues to keep a birds' eye view on the situation (perception): 21

But also tries to keep herself hidden from any assailants above using the tree nearby (stealth): 4

(You can either head straight down or to the left from where you are currently.  You can make out a small crevice/passageway to the left, and a stream of some sort where the canyon opens up more if you go straight.)

"Sure." Rubin agrees, eyeing the crevace with a critical eye. "Just as well check that out prior to going further down." He heads in that direction.

"Should we be leaving the warrior lady alone? I mean, the further we venture the harder it will be to help her if something happens up there." Marros points back to Kethra's vantage point. "Perhaps I should return. I don't feel comfortable leaving one person alone."

Quote from See_Ess >>

Marros points back to Kethra's vantage point. 

Kethra waves back...

Quote from Brian_Avery >>

Tyde looks back again toward where Kethra is.

...then seeing both men look at her, she inquisitively points to herself, asking if she wants them to come join them. 

Then putting her hands together to resemble owl wings, she asks to send over Allistair for company if they'd rather keep her up there.