"First check out the rest of the house I think, but yes, I too prefer staying in here tonight, we should find a bedroom upstairs that we could make use of, setting watches when we rest of course. Tomorrow we head for that platinum mine that caved in. I think we will find more answers there." Ludolf suggests. If they are ready with investigation the rooms on the ground level he motions for Daventry to move upstairs, following closely behind. Stealth: 17 Perception: 4 Investigation: 16

"I should think the mine still holds plenty of platinum ore but it's likely that someone has a lawful claim to that, we'll see I guess." Ludolf comments.

"Maybe. You find a ship adrift at sea without a soul aboard, or a wreck cast on an island, salvage goes to that crew who sighted it first." Daventry shrugs, as she begins to move to the stairway. "Given I've seen a ship dashed on rocks that's more intact than this place, I think the same might apply, for what we can carry at least."

"As for resting, well, I'm not feeling tired yet and we've light enough. Let's clear the house as best we can before we start making camp in some monster's refuse pile."

With that, she goes to ascend the stairs, stepping carefully.

Perception (loose boards/traps and lookout for baddies): 5

Stealth (quiet steps, no creaks): 16

You very quietly and carefully make your way up the stairs. Given the state of most of Vermeillon you are perhaps a bit surprised in the quality and sturdiness of the stairs. As you ascend not so much as a creek is heard from the finely crafted wooden stairs. The upstairs is similarly dark illuminated only by Daventry's weapon. Shadows again dancing along the walls you arrive safely and quietly on the second floor landing (H6). 

Daventry-- You don't see anything of danger in the house or on the stairs but what you do notice is that something has been in the house recently. The dust that covers most everything seems to be disturbed along the stairs. There are very very subtle markings in the wood that almost look like fresh claw marks. 

Four closed doors lie before you, and a large entryway gapes from across the hall to the south which opens up to a private office and library (H9). Shelves filled with books line the walls of this library, and four wingback chairs sit around a low table in the center of the room. The wide bank of windows in the south wall affords a panoramic view of the dilapidated houses beyond the twisting branches of the tree in the front yard. 

Ludolf investigates the books in the library. Investigation: 11 "A bit more light over here perhaps." He says and motions for Triäsa to come and join him.

Triäsa follows Ludolf with her dagger carrying the Light spell.  "I really think we should check out the other doors before we tarry too long looking at books Ludolf," she says quietly to him.  But she does stay with him, not letting him out of her sight. 

"Umm, yes you're right of course Triäsa, I just saw these books and...anyway, pick a door Daventry." Ludolf says and readies himself to follow.
Prerception: 11 Investigation: 11

Before anyone opens any of the doors, assuming Daventry told them of the claw marks, Pardot, clearly a bit nervous, goes up to each of them and quietly listens through the doors for any sounds of movement. ((27))

"Ludolf, there's something that's gougin' out the wood like a knife through butter. Eyes up until we've cleared the space."

Daventry continues the search, once Pardot has finished his examination of each door. She'll pick either a door he says is quiet, or barring any other input, start with the Northeast.

Pardot goes door to door, carefully pressing his ear to the wood. He actually finds the wood to be worn and cracked at each door so much so he can actually see a bit into each room. There is no noise coming from any room, complete silence. It strikes Pardot as odd, all the strangeness chasing you through town but it seems to be quiet since leaving the blacksmith. As he peers through the cracks in each room there is no sign of movement in any of the rooms. Each has the general appearance of a bedroom though more than that is difficult to say through the cracks.

Assuming you go to the northeast door and open it you will find it swings in easily. This dim room holds nothing but a bed, partially coated in debris from the collapsed chimney. Cold air gusts in through the gaps. There are a few broken dolls strewn along the floor. A through search of the room reveals nothing of interest otherwise in the debris.

"Well, if there's nothing in this room then try the next?" Triäsa asks. She is keeping her eyes scanning around looking for any sign of danger.  But she also is keeping a close eye on Ludolf.

(Perception: 5)

@Klin you do not find anything of note or value in the room. You recall from Ludolf's reading that the Mayor had a daughter and a son. You would guess this was a girl's room perhaps around 8 years of age.

@Triäsa You don't see anything either when you look over your shoulder for Ludolf you don't see him right away either after a brief moment of panic you find him on your other shoulder. 

"Next room perhaps?" Ludolf suggests, turning to the door to the northwest, eager to get back to investigating those books as soon as possible.
Perception: 17 Investigation: 17

(I made a small mistake on directions. The description I initially gave you was for the northWEST room (H7). This room will be the northEAST as Daventry initially wanted to go to. My apologizes.)

Ludolf approaches the northeast door carefully. He does not notice anything unusual about the door itself but Pardot had already cleared each one of any traps or dangers. This bedroom (H11) has a tall chest of drawers made of dark wood in the corner across from the door. Farther into the room, a small desk sits between two windows, with a large bed to the left of it. The sheets and blankets on the bed are rumpled. One moth-eaten pillow lies on the floor beside it, the other on the mattress where it belongs. Under the bed Ludolf finds a stuffed Bugbear toy. On the tag in faded markings is the name Tavin, the mayor's son.

Daventry picks up the small bugbear toy. "Hmm. I hope poor Tavin didn't meet his end in this town. I don't like it when foul ends find a kid." She tucks the bugbear in her belt for now.

"Excellent, soon you have a doll each to play with." Ludolf says and opens the southeast door, mostly to check for monsters and not so much for dolls.
Perception: 16 Investigation: 10

(@Pardot -- I let you check all the doors off your crit earlier. No traps and you didn't see any monsters or people in the rooms between any of the cracks.)

As Ludolf enters the southeastern room you see a plain room with little decoration. Empty except for a bed and a fireplace, this room is cold and has an air of loneliness about it. That is until he looks close toward the fireplace. Just in the shadow he sees a tall, slim figure with elongated arms and pale blue eyes. The figure smiles. The toothy grin contorts and bends beyond the normal limits possible of any human mouth. The figure appears to be dressed all in black and his outline blurs strangely with the darkness around him. He wears a strange black suit with deep black bowler hat on his pale head. As the smile recedes the figure steps backward into the darkness and disappears.

With Ludolf in the doorway no one else would see the figure.