"Or I could unlock the door at a safe distance away using my spells," Jim replies. "It would be much quieter and less likely to draw attention."

"Excellent idea, let's do that.  We'll just say we found it open if someone gives us any grief about it."

Jim nods his head in reply to Sleet, then takes a few steps back away from the door. He waits for the others to join him before concentrating on casting his spell.

Once more the spectral hand appears in the air before him. Jim directs the hand to collect the set of thieves' tools from his pocket. From there he directs the hand to begin working on picking the lock to the door of the mansion.

(Thieves' tools: 14)

Caine raises an eyebrow as Jim sets his magical hand to work on picking the look on the manor door.

"It's a big place," Caine says quietly. "Might be taking a few seconds for anyone to get to the door."

He scratches the back of his neck.

"I didn't actually try the door to see if was locked."

laughing...

"After my recent embarrassment, I would recommend checking it first, quietly though, otherwise it may appear we are trying to break in.  I mean we are but best look like we aren't."

"Clever use of the Mage Hand spell, Jim," Nelyna murmurs approvingly. "But yes, perhaps we should try simply knocking or trying the door first?"

Noticing that his companions have moved on, Razi once again thanks the kindly old pie-mistress and hustles down the road to catch up.

"Is this the only door?  Maybe they have a side entrance we are supposed to use?"

"Well, if it was locked, I don't it is now," Jim replies. "On the other hand, if it was already unlocked, it is probably still unlocked."

He then moves the hand back to him to place the set of tools back into his pocket. Then dismisses the hand.

"The only question now is, do you want to wait out here or go inside anyway?"

Caine looks around for something to use as a wedge; a large rock, sturdy bit of wood, etc - something that can be used to prop the door open and keep it from locking behind them.

"Going into someone's home didn't go too smoothly last time," Caine says as he does a quick search of the area. "If we're going in, it might be nice to make sure we have a way out."

"Good idea, we should look for alternate ways out as we move further in too."

"Let's go inside, but you're right. We should be cautious and always keep an eye to our exit," says Nelyna, still thinking about how horrible it had been to be possessed. There was really no other word for what had happened.

Caine walks back and grabs hold of the dislodged right gate and drags it back to the front door.

He then opens the door, and wedges the broken gate into the doorway, preventing the door from closing or moving. He gives it a couple of kicks to make sure, then brushes the grime off his hands.

He then takes a look inside the doorway.

”Anyone home?” He calls inside.

"You know", Jim begins. "I'm not entirely sure calling out into a possibly abandoned mansion is such a good idea. Then again if this place is not abandoned, then it's a good choice."

Nelyna eyes the marks on the outside of the manor. "More giant claw marks," she murmurs. "I don't like this. How long before we encounter the owner of the claws?"

She walks up beside Caine and peers inside as well. "I'm getting a feeling of deja vu here," she says. 

"We need to find some answers, no way I am staying in this dung heap of a place."

Jim looks to Sleet, "Well, we already spent a night in the town. Unless you mean this mansion. It can't be any worse though, right? Unless it is haunted as well."

Caine looks down at the burgomaster in the coffin. He taps the coffin side with his boot.

"You asleep or dead?" he asks. 

He then looks around the room a little more and back out into the other parts, noticing the holy symbols.

"Not thinking those did much good for whoever that guy in the coffin is."

He pauses at that and rubs the sudden prickle on the back of his neck.

"You don't suppose someone else put all the holy symbols up in here because of whoever's in the coffin, do you?" he asks the others.