"Aw, man, climbing!?" Jasun moans.

The blonde would hand Sera her gold as well as Zaf's gold so she could be the brains behind the coin. The barbarian would request as many healing potions as she would be allowed, and as Zaf requested, holy water. She would silently distribute out the potions evenly amongst everyone.

Jirel would stare up at the statues, her eyes scanning each figure, planning varying routes, with or without a load. As she did, the goliath will begin her stretching and cracking ritual. She'd begin with her neck, shoulders, fingers and legs. Making sure all possessions new and old were secure, but would pull out some rope.

The barbarian would wait for the others. She'd take a look around. No one seemed to be volunteering to go first. Jirel was willing to take one, or multiple trips, or even attempt to try to take everyone up at once, but how could she physically do that? That could be a little ambitious. Besides... She'd look around. Practically everyone here could be more than capable to achieve the climb.

Looking to Zaf first, Jirel would half expect him to scoop someone up to fly them up there. Perhaps he could do that with everyone?

She was ready to make the climb. Jirel would wait while the silence lingered, until Jasun finally broke it.

"I can climb first." She'd offer.

(12 potions is fine)

"Hhhh..." Jasun muttered. "So much for a fun academic journey. I'm just not built for this.."

Then, more loud. "I shall go second. I apologize if I fall on anyone. Truly, it will not be on purpose."

Rose gratefully takes the potions offered to her, storing them away in her bag for safekeeping to go along side the diamond she had procured for the 'just in case something really goes wrong' spell. 

Just as Jirel scans the statues, so does Rose, a worried look coming across her features. A fall from that height would certainly be fatal. Zaf could very easily fly up there, so she wonders if he could possibly carry them up, but would he be able to support their weight? She rubs her chin for a moment to think, but is shaken out of her thought when Jirel offers to climb first. The goliath was strong, so she could definitely scale upwards no problem... But what if she slipped and fell? She could grab onto something... but what if she wasn't fast enough?

Rose shook her head. She shouldn't doubt Jirel's capabilities by any means. Don't let doubt and worry cloud your mind, Rose, that'll be your downfall. 

"U-unless there is another way.... Then that's okay," Rose begins, then turns to Jasun. "Um... I think Jirel could carry you at least, Jasun. If not I can help with that. I-I have a spell I could use to help..."

"I appreciate the offer, my sweet Rose, but I will have to decline. I will, however, give it my best attempt. I was merely making a joke a moment ago." he smiles.

Being carried? PffPFf. How undignified. That's a hard pass.

Zaf stares up at the statue alongside jirel, though seemed more generally fascinated then concerned about logistics. It takes a few moments or so, but eventually he feels the staring and looks to Jirel in turn, before cocking his head to the side in confusion. "Yes?" He asked.

Whether someone eventually ask or the meaning behind the look registers, the aarakocra bowed his head slightly and shakes his head. "Even with magic, I do not believe it would be possible for me to carry anyone. Part of the reason why I initially did not wear heavier armor, though due to the blessings of my god I can, is because heavier weights interfers with my ability to fly. But, there is this one-..." He pulls out and plants the owl statue nearby, and then calls out to the spirit bound to it with an, "Arise, Owly. Owly, Arise. We have need of you!"

In moments, the statue doubles, triples, and then nearly quadruples in size rapidly as it transforms into a starry feathered Giant Owl. After a series of chirps and gestures shared between the two, Zaf further enhances the owl before stepping aside. "There. Lord Owestair can carry at least two of you at the time." He then looks to Jirel and Rose. "Well, everyone but Jirel and Rose at the same time. But it will take a couple of trips. Will this suffice as an alternative?"

The giant owl flies each of you to the top of the maiden statue. You do not see the entrance to Artrosa, but you recall Korak Kaag's words and wait for the moon to rise. As night falls, you see that the moon is in a waxing gibbous and that in about a week's time, it will be a full moon. Vertiginous cliffs surround the mesa top on all sides, though a rock wall backing the top of the figure’s head rises above the plateau, creating some cover from the cold winds blowing across the mesa. From every direction the view is dizzying, offering a clear panorama of miles and miles of Iobarian wilderness. A small copse of bare, weathered trees stands in the shelter of the rock wall, their knotted roots clinging desperately to the cold, hard stone. Dozens of bones litter the ground before the grove, some so ancient that the trees’ roots appear to grow right through them. Behind the trees, a shadowy arched opening in the wall leads deep inside the rock. Hanging from one of the trees is the gutted corpse of a centaur.

Another of the trees draws your attention.  Nearly 18 feet tall, this tree appears similar to a willow tree with a trunk in the shape of a woman. As you enter the grove and try to head towards the entrance, the tree addresses you. 

“All who seek to enter Artrosa must first present me with a sacrifice.”

It took some time. Jirel had to think on it. The only thing the barbarian had on her person that truly held any significance was the greataxe gifted to her by Rose. Not only was it the only gift she's ever received since her exile, but the firbolg had also referred to her as her friend. And since then, everyone Rose cared to protect, Jirel in turn came to want to protect them as well. It may seem strictly materialistic, but an axe was an extension of her strength. She was the weapon. So by giving up this axe, she was sacrificing her most valued possession.

As the goliath stood there preparing to give her axe, she would hesitate. If she could give up her strength itself if it meant she could keep the gift, she would. But how could she give that? Besides, her hesitation only solidified the value behind her sacrifice. Jirel may be left at a disadvantage, but they've come this far and must press forward.

Hopefully the blonde was interpreting the request correctly and not about to make a fool of herself as she consistently has been. Taking a deep breath, her chin held high and and a clenched jaw, the barbarian would step forth without a word, to present the wise willow with her greataxe + 1.

"That is not an acceptable sacrifice." The tree says in response to Jirel's offering. One of its vines points to the centaur corpse hanging in the trees, giving you all a clear indication of the sacrifice that the tree is demanding.

The firbolg had expected the axe to have been enough. It was a gift, something special, so surely something of sentimental value is what the tree had demanded of them. Though when it denies it, and shows what it truly had meant, her eyes widen in shock. "N-no..." The word comes out breathlessly last her lips. "That's... No. W-we cannot provide that type of sacrifice... Everyone here is w-worth so much..."

Teddy approaches Rose, giving her a nuzzle on the cheek. With a final look, the giant weasel presents himself to the willow.

"No--!"

Teddy is an acceptable sacrifice. The witch trees tendrils extend towards the weasel, gripping its neck. The tendrils constrict until Teddy's neck is broken. The witch tree allows you to pass into the entrance and as you do so you level up to 8, giving you more power to face whatever monsters lie in your backstories the dungeon.

Area C1

Hewn from the surrounding basalt, the walls of this large chamber have been chiseled into an incredibly intricate display of thousands of wildflowers. In the middle of each of the carvings, a wreath of pinecones encircles a life-sized carving of a young nude woman. On the north wall, the figure washes her hair. On the east wall, the figure sits staring upward at a crescent moon. On the south wall, the figure picks a bouquet of flowers, while to the west, the figure points to a triangular, knot-shaped symbol. To the north, a curving stone staircase climbs up and disappears into the western wall, while an open archway beckons in the southwest corner. There is also a large, ettin female here whose heads appear to be in an argument with each other. You can't understand a lot of what she's saying, but those of you who speak Giant are able to catch the heads saying saying "Jadrenka...can't tell her...Caigreal's intruders...angry if we don't"

However, as soon as she spots you, the heads stop arguing and attack!

Gurragurra:16
Nadya: 15

A cry passes Rose's lips as she sees the tree grip onto Teddy, and she forces her eyes to look away from the gruesome scene, but she still is able to hear that sickening sound of bones snapping as a result of Teddy's sacrifice. The firbolg merely crumbles down to the ground in sobs.

Until told that they needed to get moving, the cleric doesn't move from her spot, even if any of them had approached her, she would be still, crying at the loss of her first ever pet.

 When the group gets moving, Rose gets up with some difficulty, using her staff as a crutch to get herself back on her feet. Her sobs are rendered to nothing but sniffles every now and again. She keeps herself quiet and behind everyone else.

Sadinitive: 17

Jirel had been preparing to shift the position of her axe to present the tree with the hilt of it when Rose would speak up. And then Teddy would step up. The barbarian's eyes would waver for the firbolg and the sacrifice of her pet. Watching her friend crumble to her knees, the goliath would reach out to place a hand on her shoulder until she was ready. The warrior witnessed truth strength as the cleric would pick herself up and continue forward with such resolve. Jirel would follow.

Initiative: 15

Seraphina:18
Jasun:10

 Zafnitiative: 20.

Once Zaf had saw what the tree had intended, the aarcokra's mind is whisked to a different place and time. Within those short moments, they -- he never noticed he'd taken a step as if intending to volunteer. Not until Seraphina got a hold of him. Instinctively, he struggled for at least the first few moments, but comes too shortly looking exhausted and bewildered.

The latter even more so apparent upon having come to just in time to see Teddy's neck bent at a far too awkward angle. "Wh-wh-what?" He started, but in glimpsing Rose's state, the rest dies in his throat. It is then he buried it all beneath a solemn mask, and would proceed after most; still yet curious, but understanding now wasn't the time for it.

Zaf(20),Seraphina(18),Rose(17),Gurragurra(16)(145),Jirel(15),Nadya(15),Jasun(10)

Zaf(20),Seraphina(18),Rose(17),Gurragurra(16)(145),Jirel(15),Nadya(15),Jasun(10)

Seraphina swings twice at Gurragurra!

Attack: 20 Damage: 18

Attack: 29 Damage: 22

Zaf snaps to alertness and takes to the air alongside Owestair. Whereas the Giant Owl swooped in to claw at a face before flying away, the Owlaakocra summoned phantasmal armor to shield his form. "Are you the one responsible for the Centaur outside? Answer!" He demands as he summons some light blue flame down upon the giants.

Action(Zaf): Cast (Cantrip)Sacred Flame on Gurralaggara, inflicting 4 Radiant Damage on a failed Dexterity Save(DC 15).

Bonus Action(Zaf): Cast (1st level)Shield of Faith on self, making AC 20.

Action:(Owestair): Talon the Gurragara.
Attack: 22 Damage: 11 piercing.

Movement(Owe.): Fly away~

Rose gives a dejected sigh and casts off a dull pink Guiding Bolt on the enemy.

Attack: 9 Damage: 11

As that probably misses, the firbolg remains in the far back, mentally chiding herself.