"Right." And after some quick discussion, they proceed, Liliane going first.

Zerri will be the first one to notice movement within the shrine as they enter, and soft noises almost like muttering.

She nods her head in the direction of the movement. "Uh, looks like these can talk, so that's another tick in the 'intelligent' column."

"We should try talking, then."

"Well, let's hope they're amenable to that."

She starts walking towards the source of the sound, deliberately carefully and loudly-- she doesn't want to sound like she's sneaking up.

A voice calls out from behind the closed doors in an unknown language, croaking.

Karin sighs and calls back, her throat apparently having some trouble.

"You know the language?"

"Kind of? It's related to a few other Chultan languages. They don't speak any others, and they're refusing us entry."

"Did they give a reason, or is just 'you're strangers, go away'?"

"Sounded pretty much like they don't like strangers, yeah."

"Well, I can't really blame 'em, considering where they live."

"Options? I'd rather negotiate..."

"Yeah, it'd be good to avoid making enemies we don't have to."

"I don't care as much about making enemies, but, sure, let's talk. Caril's not the most persuasive; you guys planning to just have her translate?"

"Seems reasonable, yeah. ...Is there anything they want they'd be willing to trade for passage?"

"Probably should be one of the first things I ask, yeah..."

"Trade or a favour they need done. Those both seem reasonable."

She nods, and then she and Liliane walk up, and Carillia begins translating for the paladin.

The back and forth takes a while, and involves Carillia cutting herself so Liliane can heal her, but eventually they negotiate their way through - apparently the goblins are willing to trade for a paladin's healing.

Okay, apart from the moment when it looked like the goblins wanted a blood sacrifice, that all seems reasonable. Trading for healing especially. Sure, it's  a limited resource, but it's not like the goblins can hurt them with it.

Basic injuries and some conditions she can handle effectively indefinitely with the divine energy running through her, at least - a few things are more costly, but this is going to be an extremely healthy goblin tribe with the latest in medical knowledge, a large portion of cleansed water and food, and an explanation of non-magical ways to purify water, by the time she's done.

The cube itself is easy to find; the goblins sometimes challenge themselves to retrieve it (and reset it) and are fine with showing them the trick.

What helpful goblins. So nice. So good.

They don't get any supplies or anything out of the deal, but they're happy to get away with the cube and a tribe with a positive view of them.

Cube and people who like them is good enough. (And honestly, did the goblins have anything else they might have wanted? Unlikely.)

The others agree pretty thoroughly.

Nothing else accosts them as they set out, which is another bonus.

Yay, relative peace!

...that's not likely to last long, is it?

They skirt close to the chasm as they circle the ruined palace, so they don't really encounter anything that wants to take on their group; eventually they come in sight of another temple. It's fairly distant, and the pathway to its section of the ruins is effectively single file.