The windows of the 2nd floor were barred but the 3rd floor windows weren't. They weren't expecting anyone to try and come in through there.

"Oh this -- Mn!  If he wasn't asking to be shot before, he certainly asking for it now with this ruse."  Devarus proclaimed offhanded gesture towards the padlocked door. "But no, I don't think its abandoned. Not wholly. Otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered with the locks. We'll make our way inside, search for any clues to wherever else in this forest he might've run to, if not elsewhere, and then regardless..." Devarus takes a breath. "Burn it down, so it cannot be used as a hideaway again."

Bump?

So what are you doing? Also small reminder that the lock that's holding the main door shut is on the outside and not on the inside. If someone manages to unlock it or get rid of it, you'd be able to walk in through the front door.

"I could try to go up there an open one of the windows, but most of the things that impede us to enter are on the outside. I do think that they have left... otherwise how they had put the lock outside?" asks Valwaryn while looking for prints or tracks that support his theory. 

( Survival: 24 )

Looking around you find carriage tracks heading South East. Though it's clear that Vlad had left quite a while ago. He probably had quite a considerable head start compared to the party. Even with the tracks, it would be hard to find him. Things aren't looking hopeful.

“ As I feared. He has fled. We could try to find him but it will be hard” 

Devarus had been sidetracked for a bit there examining the building, and how they might just set the building ablaze. But with the news from Val, the half-drow scowled and grumbling to himself. "More than just hard. If his headed any closer to the Tyros Range, I fear we will not survive the journey to and back... even if we manage to succeed in our mission." He says solemnly. "But with the lizards and a little luck, we might just catch up. Though before we do, I still wish to explore this mansion. Make doubly sure that any trail you picked up isn't some ruse to send us to our deaths." 

On that note, unless any wished to stop him, Devarus takes out his longsword to start hacking away at the outer lock and break it off. Then, if the door itself proved locked as well, he'd start kicking away at the door to break it open as well.

(If it takes him more than 10 minutes to break his way inside by ground level, Devarus will switch to looking for alternate means of getting inside, such as the 3rd floor windows if pointed out.)

Deva, Roll STR to try and break the lock... or the door.

STR check: 21.

Deva, being skilled in breaching actions thanks to his time in the guard, hits the wooden door in a weak spot on the part which is holding the chain. With a loud crack, a chunk of the wooden door breaks and the chain and the padlock falls to the ground. The door is still closed but can now be opened with a simple push.

Devarus promptly went to open the door. Although it was with some after the fact caution, as the intent was to crack it open enough for a peek inside while keeping plenty of cover from the door. If nothing comes of that, one final good push is given while stepping through the threshold; one hand holding scattershot, and the other soon to join it to stabilize it should he need to fire in a pinch. 

It is only following a quick of his surroundings and seeing no dangers before he lowers the weapon and looks back to the others, waving them on inside after him. "We'll start up top and work our way down as quickly and as efficiently as possible. If nothing else, we may find ourselves in luck in a day not being quite enough for him to have gathered quite everything he would've wanted to. And perhaps..." He waggles a finger. "Just perhaps we might find something to use against him, or... bargain with the manipulative bastard." 

HOLD IT!

Roll Stealth to crack the door slightlly without making noise or being obvious

Stealth: 11.

Deva peeks through the door and sees that there are 8 Animated Armors inside, standing guard. 4 of them have Shields and swords, 2 of them have Lances and 2 of them on a higher elevation, furthest in the back, have heavy crossbows.

(Well, that's not good!)

Devarus freezes up at the sight and holds up a fist in warning the others to the others. Then, he backs away until clear out of view before finally breathing a sigh of relief. "It seems I wasn't entirely wrong. I counted eight of those living armors, but their may yet be more covering the entrance.... Same probably goes for the rest of the entrance, including any one kept unbarred." He rubs his chin for a bit then huffed and looked to the others. "I don't know much about things like this. But, I wouldn't be surprised if they kept to simple orders... which means setting one section ablaze to get their attention elsewhere might not quite pan out than expected in hindsight." Dev adds as an afterthought.

After a little while longer he huffs and says, "We'll have to deal with them sooner or later though. So, might as well be now. The rest of you ready?" 

"How wide are they spread? I could call upon the fury of the spring river to wash them out. Then it will be up to us to finish them off..."

Letting Deva know how wide they are spread:

The guys with the cross bows are 10ft off the ground and 65ft away from the door. They are also 10ft away from each other (Crossbow Armor- Empty 5ft space - Crossbow Armor). The crossbow guys are 25 ft away from the lance dudes and 30ft away from the shield and sword guys. The Shield and sword guys are all standing with 5ft gaps between them. So the leftmost Sword guy is 30ft away from the rightmost Sword guy. The sword guys are all 35ft from the door.

Devarus lofted a brow at the description before grinning and giving away the details. "At the very least that might very well disrupt at least some of them, and give us better odds in the fight." He looks to Runt. "Not that some of us need it, of course. Ready to work out some of that frustration, Ms. Ruu?"

"Well we're either following these tracks, which could be a red herring. If Lord Vladimir is a vampire, he'd need to ensure to keep out of the sunlight. If we're going to have a noisy entry, I could open with a lot of fire." Elsara offers.

"Then perhaps a joint effort on your two parts, then? Not sure if these, uh, spring waters will dampen the armor to the point that any flames to immediately follow might not be quite as effective. But still! If you two could synchronize your timing, then by all means!" He said. "I certainly trusts that you will be able to find a way. Then immediately after, myself and Ms. Ruu here can charge in after, and take any recovering volleys from the foes inside."