(You are correct! I brain farted. We shall say he provided spell guidance to Auric and verbal guidance to Onu while Hansel snuck in a little magical guidance of his own on Onu when assuaging his attire.)

After passing on his fashion wisdom, Hansel remains back with the others. Fae is amongst this group while Stacey is a few feet further back watching over the curious Nova poking around the pumpkins in a nearby patch.
(Is Hamish and KD in this group? If Mr. Dark and Xeno is still with us, I'm going to assume they are with this group as well.)

Just over 60ft away in one direction, Onu's currently still standing at the ground-floor entrance that features a double door with a giant boar’s head crudely carved into it. An unmarred double door stands closed on the balcony above him.

Over 60ft away in the other direction Auric helped himself through the back door into the kitchen. He easily determines that rats have chewed holes in the bottom of the door leading to the pantry. Taking a look inside, much of the roof above this chamber has collapsed, leaving debris scattered across the floor. Birds have made nests on the wooden shelves that line the north and south walls. Some of them rustle, sensing a presence, however remain unspooked. Rats long ago devoured anything they could reach in this panty, and all other foodstuffs have rotted away.

Leaving the pantry be and returning to the kitchen, Auric has the choice of proceeding through the other door in this room to the dining room.

KD is indeed staying back with the others, watching the building for any sign of alert or alarm - and the undergrowth outside it for any sign of ambush or return of orc allies.

Auric:

Having risked going through the open door to the kitchen, Auric is loathe to actually touch anything—and that includes any closed doors.  If the door to the dining room is cracked open, he will look through it.  Otherwise, he will head back outside and complete his recon of his side of the house.

Hamish is outside with the larger portion of the group

Onu smiles appreciatively as Hansel adjusts his collar and straightens his boutonniere.  'It's nice to have someone else who appreciates the nuances of fine tailoring!.'

He creeps forward eyes on the building, looking for any signs of life or threats to the team.  He pauses at the ground-floor entrance and looks up at the balcony.  A deep breath and the lithe half-elf leaps in the air towards the balcony rail (acrobatics 19).

Auric notices the smallest of cracks through the dining room door that he’s able to get an okay glimpse at the room prior to completing his recon. He was able to see that walls are covered with crude drawings in blood that depict boars chasing stick-figure humanoids. A fireplace dominates the south side of the room, and a smashed wooden dining table lies in a heap in the eastern half of the room, surrounded by six broken chairs.

Meanwhile back at the front entrance, Onu expertly leaps onto the side of the building, launching himself up towards the balcony where he takes hold of the railing and using his momentum, propels himself over. The suited monk lands comfortably on his feet without snagging his suit or coming into contact with any ivy. From this vantage point he could see his companions waiting below, with the exception of Auric. Before the monk is the pair of unmarred double doors on the balcony.

Onu checks the doors for any signs of alarm, traps or locks (investigation 2)

Onu notices his shoe laces are coming undone.

Auric:

Completing his circle of the property as best he can without disturbing and plants or structures (and so risking giving away his presence), Auric returns to the group and prepares to relate his findings once Onu returns as well.

Quote from ixi >>

Onu notices his shoe laces are coming undone.

 That's because he left before Hansel had a chance to straighten him out...

The fastidious monk stops in the middle of his examination of the doorway and quickly reworks his bootlaces 'over, under, under, over, wrap around the litte end....'


Once satisfied that his boots were secure - and fashionable - he'd resume his 'check' of the doors, risking turning the handle and attempting to peek inside without drawing too much attention.

Stealth 22 plus Bless (?) 1

Hamish casts Eyes of the Grave to see if there are any creepy crawlies around.

KD notices Onu starting to enter and she moves forward, Hal ahead of her, to be in crossbow range in case he needs cover fire.

Seeing that Onu is attempting to enter, Hansel turns back to Auric (and his other companions) to discuss whether they should attempt entry from the other side...

There's a word for that, I think, in strategy-speak. Is it the tweezers move? No... the forceps? The calipers? 

Onu turns the handle. The door is safe to open, swinging on it's hinges without too much effort, or squeaking. Peering into the area he finds himself looking into an upstairs hallway. The walls of this L-shaped hall are lined with closed doors and shuttered windows. Between them are hooks where decorations once hung. A fireplace along one wall has a large insectoid head mounted above it. Natural light enters through a hole in the roof at the east end of the hall. The floor beneath the collapsed roof is strewn with debris.

From down below Hamish casts his eyes upon the area, blanketing a large radius in search of the undead. Nothing pings his senses.

(OOC: @Auric: Shall we just return to the other side of the house with Auric/Hansel/Stacey?)

Auric:

Having returned back to the group, Auric speaks from the void.  His disembodied voice answers Hansel, "Let our intrepid scout complete his foray, before assaulting the facility."

"Everything alright Sir Auric?" Fae's head tilts from the change in his demeanor. "Did you discover anything?"

Auric:

”Thou givest me honors unearned with thine appellation, good lady,” replies Auric, still an invisible voice emanating nearby.

“I saw little but a disheveled kitchen and dining room, daring no further exploration lest I risk discovery,” he adds.

Hansel nods in agreement toward Auric's general direction, happy to leave the strategizing to those with more expertise in that area.

Meanwhile, as the sun slowly sets, Hansel decides instead to explore the nearby pumpkin patch. If Nova is visible, he will choose an area apart from her, and beat around the bushes with his Ugly Stick, in case any sneaky orcs are lurking within...