Effy good call, please roll a perception check. Avra sees what you are doing and joins you, so roll at advantage since she is now also silent. 

(With advantage Effulgyn rolls 11 for Perception)

You hear something but not sure what it is, or where it came from...

Avra hears it too but isn't sure either. She takes out her daggers and moves toward the stairs. Effy, you would be just behind her. Are you taking out a weapon? 

Fin you're behind Effy and have released your javelin.

Effulgyn’s eyes shoot all around the room, trying in vain to determine what he heard and where it came from. He creeps forward on Avra’s heels and readies his wand.

Avra slowly takes to the stairs leading up to a second floor, presumably where bedrooms would be. It is very dark, and the creaking of well worn stairs feels so loud it could practically be an alarm. At the top of the stairs are three rooms, all three doors closed. She goes to the nearest one, on the right, first, flings it open and readies her daggers, posed to stab anything or anyone that she meets, but there is nothing but what is clearly a bedroom. It's been ransacked though, in similar fashion to what you saw downstairs. 

Effulgyn puts a finger to his lips once again. Any sounds on this floor reacting to Avra’s opening the door?

Perception: 7

He shrugs and his eyes point to the next door, urging Avra forward. 
(Question: do the doors open into the rooms or out into the hallway / landing where they’re standing?)

The doors open into the hall. Effy, you can't hear any sounds from this room or anywhere else--maybe your breathing is too loud? How is your cardio these days? haha

Avra stands in a bit of shock for a second before making to move out of the room and back into the hall. You give her a wide birth, still ready to attack anything that comes your way. 

She steadies herself and opens the second door, this one on the left side. It's another bedroom, this one quite sparse in furnishings. Again, bedding and such strewn all over the place. 

(Lol. Nope, Effulgyn would be more comfortable organizing a race than running one.)

The young wizard goes to the next door. He says a magic word, and a drinking glass appears in his hand from nowhere (minor conjuration). He quietly presses its rim flat against the door then puts his ear to the bottom of the glass. Does this help him hear what’s behind the door?

Perception: 2

Advantage die if applicable: 8

(Lol!)

Jeez there is something wrong with your magic these days Effy, maybe you need a rest!

You shake your head to Avra who comes to stand beside you, which she takes to mean that you haven't heard anything. She gestures for you to get out of the way, and with a steady movement, both daggers in one hand, flings the door open. 

This appears to be her father's room and is again in complete disarray. But you can clearly see the form of something, or someone, on the bed. Avra takes a step forward, cautiously peering over, and then with a gasp rushes over. 

PA! She cries, reaching out to him. But he makes no move. He is very clearly dead. 

Fin followed close behind the pair, stepping carefully through the halls as they went. In this new room, he slid through the doorway and tried to call out while whispering, "Avra! Be careful! From what we've seen, there could be that mold somewhere here. I'm truly sorry, but we need go through with the utmost care."

Effulgyn stands just inside the room, his eyes reaching out to Avra and letting her take time to digest what she has just discovered. "Oh. oh no." He stands there, head bowed, stricken by what he presumes his travelling companion must be feeling at this moment.

As the three of you stand in shocked silence, something catches Fin's eye. It's a handwritten note, on dirty and rumpled paper, sitting on the man's chest. 

It reads:

HE WAS LIKE THIS WHEN WE GOT HERE 

Fin stays a clear distance away, never closer than the reach of his arm extended by his javelin, "Looters," His heart hangs heavy as he looks around with fresh perspective and realizes the disheveled state was the work of greedy opportunists, "They had the decency to leave his body in peace; Small honor among vultures. I'll leave you in peace for a few and look around outside. Take as much time as you need, but please mind the state of things. If anything seems off, please stay away for now and let us know so we can all decide on possible danger." Stepping back out through the ruined front rooms, Fin walks a lap around the house, searching for some trace of either looters or the mysterious mold.

Fin, as you leave the room please roll a perception check. 

Effulgyn’s mind was wandering far and wide, thinking about a beloved uncle whose funeral he had attended as a teenager, and is shocked to waking from his sad reverie at the firm sound of Fin’s voice.

The halfling nods to his friend, swivels to look at Avra, says “I’ll be right out here, Avra. I’m so very sorry.”

He exits the room after Fin to allow Avra privacy with her grieving, but remains in the hallway, there in case Avra should want anything and to keep a cautious eye on her. ‘This’d be a terrible blow t anyone. I’ll just stay near case she wants t talk about it, though I’m hardly more n a stranger.’