Once they arrive in front of the mansion, Triäsa takes a few moments just to look it over.  "Well, hopefully the ravens are just here to watch?  You think you can try talking to them?" she asks.  She then looks at Ludolf. "If we are thinking this place is somehow related to that other tale of the Vistani, then I guess we're lucky it's just ravens so far and no wolves?"   She takes a few steps towards the wagon. "Let's check the wagon first and then I guess we go inside?" 

(Investigation Check: 14, to check out the covered wagon) 

"Well this place looks even more ominous than Vermeillon. This is likely Chalet Brantifax, and the portal should then be closeby." Ludolf says slightly excited, giving Triäsa a smile.

"Wait Triäsa, don't go off on your own again, please." Ludolf says in a worried tone and joins the half-elven bard in investigating the covered wagon.
Investigation: 18 trying also to determine if the wagon is possibly a Vistani wagon.

Meanwhile Edgar flies around the mansion scanning for threats.
Perception: 5

Triäsa laughs, "Hey, if you do not want me wandering off then keep up!" She does however wait for him to join her before continuing towards the wagon.  

Daventry keeps a weathered eye at the mansion. "So this'll be what, the third semi-creepy abandoned manor we explore?" She laughs. "We should start trying to claim salvage on all of 'em. Own half the haunted houses on the Sword Coast by the end of the year."

She looks to the ravens. "Though I'm thinkin' it's time Pardot have a nice long conversation with our new observers..."

Pardot nods and reaches into his bag and his rations to find any nuts and berries* and then taking a deep breath as talking to individual animals is much more his style than such a group, looks up to the murder on the roof calling up in druidic, "Good morning! Anyone want a snack?! My friends and I are just here to look around! Mind if we check out this building? Seen anything dangerous in here?" (persuasion 12))

Ludolf perks up again. It felt good to hear Triäsa laugh after all they had been through. He chuckles briefly at Daventry's comment.
"Not sure what kind of answers we could expect from a raven but it would be helpful if they had any information on that portal." Ludolf says to Pardot before going into the covered wagon together with Triäsa.

From Ludolf's limited reading on Vistani this does seem to fit the description of a Vistani wagon though it is badly beaten by time and the elements. Searching together in the wagon you find a few odds and ends. There is a mandolin, drums and lyre, there are two broken crutches pushed against one side as well as a few dirty blankets and straw. 

Edgar takes to the sky and gets a nice view of the grounds. While half the mansion has fallen the other half appears to be rather sturdy as best as the small bird can tell. Around the back of the house is a small graveyard. The mist seems to be pouring from the ground. 

Pardot -- You reach out to the birds but you do not get a response they stare at you deeply all at once. Hundreds of beady bird eyes, all at once looking into your eyes. Having spent so much time with nature it seems highly unnatural (and highly disturbing). You do not get a feeling of malice or ill intent but the message is clear. You are being watched.... very carefully...

Ludolf holds up the instruments to Triäsa. "Do you know how to play these? Perhaps we should bring them with us." 
When they are finished in the wagon Ludolf rejoins the others, making sure Triäsa comes along. "I saw some crutches in that wagon. Made me think of the author of that book I mentioned. Could be a coincidence, but I don't think so. Not sure how that would help though, but I'm fairly sure that is a Vistani wagon." He says as he studies the manor, Edgar coming back but landing on Daventry's shoulder now, likely hoping for more walnuts. "That is loyalty right there." Ludolf says with a chuckle. "So they wouldn't share anything Pardot?" He says looking at the ravens. "Let's go inside then." He says, looking to Daventry to take point again. "Remember we are here to find that portal."
Perception with help from Edgar who eventually flies over to Ludolfs shoulder again: 13

Daventry hands Edgar another walnut. "Think your master's a bit jealous!"

She stretches her arms and neck, and draws her blade. With a pass of her hand the runes once again glow brightly and the mage hand floats in front of her.

"Once more into the breach then. Tally ho!"

Perception: 12

 Triäsa nods at Ludolf's question. "Yes, I did learn the lyre back in Silvermoon. The mandolin is basically the same family as a lute. Less strings. Brighter, louder sound."

She takes each, first trying a few notes on the mandolin,  then playing briefly on the lyre.

Once everyone prepares to head on, she moves with the rest of the group. 

Seeing Edgar perch over with Daventry, she pulls out one of the nuts she carries for the raven and offers it to Ludolf.  "Here you go. You seemed concerned that Edgar is getting all the attention," she says with a laugh.

"Um, yes, I should take better care of him I guess, thank you Triäsa." Ludolf says and a bit awkwardly tries to give Edgar a nut. "There you go Edgar." He says, ready to follow Daventry into the manor.

Carefully, you all make your way up the stone stairs to the crumbling mansion. Large double wooden doors swing loudly and freely inward to reveal a small cloakroom. On the north wall you see two black, dust covered cloaks sit on iron pegs. Next to the cloaks are two iron shovels. The south wall is a round wooden door. To the west a door has fallen off it's hinges and lie broken on the cold stone floor. You can see into the next room which appears to be some sort of den or maybe a study.

Before they go up the stairs, Pardot responds about the crows, saying, "They don't seem to want to talk... but they are definitely interested in what we are doing..."

Entering the room, Pardot looks to see if anything seems... more strange than it already does. Perhaps areas where there is not dust, which might indicate that someone had been through. He also goes up to the cloaks hanging on the wall to check them and see if anything had been left in the pockets.

Triäsa, trying not to get too far ahead, makes her way towards the fallen west door, peering inside the den to see if there is anything of interest. (Perception: 4)

Ludolf follows Daventry but keeps an eye on Triäsa, and follows her, should she by any chance diverge from Daventry's path.
Investigation: 23 Perception: 19 with help from Edgar, perched on his shoulder for now.

Daventry quietly enters the den ahead of Triasa, stepping lightly and looking out for danger.

Stealth: 18

Perception: 18

Pardot -- As you look over the coats you find them to be stiff and moldy, clearly unused for a long time. In the pocket of both you find small, platinum broaches with the same strange geometrical shape you found carved into the alters in the Meenlocks liar. As you investigate the pockets closer you also happen across a well disguised pocket on the inside of the robes. This holds a small key made of platinum, it has the geometrical shape carved into the top of it. As your eyes rest on the shapes you feel uncomfortable recalling the earlier episode.

As you all wander into the next room it is again dark and musty with a thick layer of dust. Light enters this spacious room through a bulge in the north wall, where cracked and broken windows look out over a foggy vale and cemetery. Dusty sheets cover most of the room’s furnishings. Cobwebs stretch between the antlers, wolf heads, and other hunting trophies mounted on the walls above the wainscoting. A pale rectangle above the large fireplace to the west suggests that a picture or a mirror once hung there. The mist pours in from the fireplace to cover your feet. To the south there was once a large elegant marble staircase that should lead up to a second floor but it has collapsed under the weight of time. Similarly the walls and rooms to the south have collapsed and there does not seem to be a way to access them. 

Ludolf -- as your eyes adjust a bit more quickly to the shadows near the fireplace you get a sense of a presence smiling at you. The same silhouette from before appears to be lurking the shadows, a tall thin, pale man with a bowler and exaggerated disturbing smile looking at you with an amused look to his face. You blink and he is gone.

Triäsa and Daventry -- All of a sudden the strange rhyme pops into your head. It's been awhile since you thought about it but the melody and words push their way to the front of your conscience and are utterly intrusive. You feel nearly compelled to sing out loud though you both resist the urge.

See a mother scything wheat
Forgotten husband sleeping near
With one swing she took his feet
With another took his ear

Does the shadow have a name?
SHEMSHIME
Causes grief, avoids the blame
SHEMSHIME

"Be wary, we are not alone in here." Ludolf says and explains what he just saw. He is ready to follow Daventry to investigate the rest of the manor.
(Is there a map of the place)

Daventry subconsciously hums the tune as she and Triasa look around, as her head fills with the words.

As Ludolf makes his explaination, she stops to face him. "Wait, so you're saying it's the same as the night before last? Damn it, did we miss a Meenlock?"