"My apologies young master, I did not mean to scare you. Of course I did not mean to say she was a ghost, she is fine I am sure. I am not sure whether the fog did this, but we will find answers young lady", Xai'Bo says backtracking. He isn't used to dealing with children as young as this, in a situation as odd as this.
He frowns as Rose tells them the date, or what she believes the date to be, and looks to the others in concern and waits for Mavis to let them know what is in the letter.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Mavis looks toward Sir Ruel or anyone closest to him and makes sure the children are still on the hall. He whispers almost inaudibly to those closest to him about the content of the letter.
'I fear we are dealing with something much more complicated than a simple rescue mission,' Mavis says, showing the letter to them. 'Either the fog has trapped the children out of time and just returned them, or something sinister occurred here 26 years ago that caused the children to be unbound from the passage of time, perhaps even the land of the living. If it is the latter, I do fear that the children themselves are restless spirits looking for peace. Best we keep this information from the children and tell the other discreetly.'
He walks out of the room and turns toward young lady Rose and young master Thorn, making sure to block their vision from the others still in the room. 'I like to know about random things when I come to a new land,' Mavis replies to young lady Rose. 'Dates are one such thing that differs from place to place. Some places have different days each month and different months each year. How about we asks nurse Maggie on how she is doing? Perhaps she can shed some light on where young master Walter has gone to.'
If needed to convince Rose about the reason for the random question:
Melantha, being next to the children and upon hearing Rose's answer to what date it is, looks towards Mavis...and slowly shakes their head with a concerned expression.
They remained silent as Mavis worked to convince Rose in talking to nurse Maggie.
Ruel nods to Mavis, concerned now about the contents of the letter, with it having the house seal on it he would assume that Elizabeth, was the children's mother and the talk of sacrifice gave him a knot in the pit of his stomach.
"I agree we need talk to the nursemaid to confirm the location of baby Walter at least ways get a look into that crib." Ruel paused before continuing.
"I agree there is something rotten at the heart of this house and the children are in for some painful truths."
When Mavis leaves Ruel follows to make his way towards the nursemaid.
Oron, hearing that the children themselves might be restless spirits, will approach Thorn and attempt to place his hand on the boys head. 'If he's a ghost, my hand should go right through him no?' he thinks to himself.
{{Assuming Oron, Sirron, and Ruel heard what he said and nobody took the letter}}
'This is the second time I have been out of the citadel, to be perfectly honest,' Mavis says to the children. 'I live in a place called the Citadel of Strategic Militancy near the city of Baldur's Gate, and people that passes by the citadel always tell unique stories. This is what interest me in new land and their strangeness as well as uniqueness.' He regales the children of the tales of merchants from across the world passing by the citadel to reach or leaving from Baldur's Gate and their strange way of speaking and manners as well as unique traits such as how they define time and date. It might not be a tale as good as a bard can do with how textbook his explanation is, but he hopes it will alleviate some of the children's worry as he corrals them further into the West Room.
As Mavis passes Xai'Bo, he hands over to him the letter he has found and motions him to share it with Melantha to update everyone on the situation without alarming the children. He continues onward into the West Room, knocking on the door softly and waiting just on the threshold of the room. 'Excuse me, madam,' Mavis calls into the room, 'I believe you are missing your charges? The young lady Rose and young master Thorn?'
Textbook or not, Rose and Thorn are fascinated by your tales, and you see Thorn relax and smile slightly for the first time since you met him.
The nursemaid wakes with a start, losing her ghostly appearance, now looking for all the world like one of the living. "Rose? Thorn? Why aren't you in your room?" she asks, worry in her voice, and a shadow of guilt passes over Rose's face at this. The nurse turns to face you. "I'm sorry to have bothered you. I take it that you are guests of Mistress Durst?"
Xai'Bo scans the letter, shocked at it's contents. He passes it on to Melantha as Mavis indicated and turns his attention back to what was going on. He is just in time to spot two things. Firstly Oron's hand pass through Thorn, and secondly the nursemaid seemingly coming to life and losing her ghostly appearance.
He had been alive over a century but could not recall seeing anything like this before. He racks his brain for anything that might help explain what was happening.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Melantha hesitated a bit - due to being distracted by Thorn not being solid enough for Oron's hand to NOT pass through - before taking the letter from Xai'Bo. Ghosts...if they're ghosts, then...
Xai'Bo, you remember hearing from a tired exorcist that ghosts who are in denial or otherwise unaware of their death look more alive, unconsciously changing their appearance to hide their ghostly nature from themselves.
Oron, you remember that ghosts are usually tied to the world of the living by unfinished business, and that Rose was trying to protect her brothers when you found her.
Melantha, you are reminded of the letter from earlier mentioning the "Dark Powers of this land" and of the phylacteries of liches used to bind them to the mortal realm by consuming the souls of others.
(The letter, for convenience's sake)
My most pathetic servant,
I am not a messiah sent to you by the Dark Powers of this land. I have not come to lead you on a path to immortality. However many souls you have bled on your hidden altar, however many visitors you have tortured in your dungeon, know that you are not the ones who brought me to this beautiful land. You are but worms writhing in my earth.
You say that you are cursed, your fortunes spent. You abandoned love for madness, took solace in the bosom of another woman, and sired a bastard son. Cursed by darkness? Of that I have no doubt. Save you from your wretchedness? I think not. I much prefer you as you are.
Your dread lord and master, Strahd von Zarovich
"...She's..." The nursemaid's form flickers, and for a brief moment you think you see bloody stab wounds all over her chest and abdomen. "I'm not sure. I believe she's downstairs." she says.
Xai'Bo looks at the children, they were unaware of their situation, and they should remain such.
"I think it is time we ventured downstairs to look for the lady of the house. Would you look after the children please?", he says kindly to the nurse maid.
Oron bends down in front of Thorn and smiles. "You aren't really here are you Thorn? Where is your body?" Oron asks, hoping that maybe they can get more information on what might of happened or what to expect and where.
Sirron had fallen silent upon hearing what Mavis had said, almost as if he had been lost in thought. But after a little while he seemed to snap out of it, glancing towards the floor for a moment before finally breaking his silence.
"Right, and if we cannot find her there we'll see ourselves out and return at a later date so we can speak with the lady of the house." He hummed softly, hoping that she would believe him.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Arcana:2
'Have you any idea where she would be downstairs at this time of day, madam?' Mavis asks. He is hesitant to leave the children despite confirming that they are indeed only here in spirits, but maybe it is better for them to be away in case the group discovers what happened to them. 'A private parlour or a basement, perhaps? We did pass a lot of empty rooms downstairs in our quest to return the children to their guardians or parents. We wish to talk to the parents who gave birth to these brave children.'
"My apologies young master, I did not mean to scare you. Of course I did not mean to say she was a ghost, she is fine I am sure. I am not sure whether the fog did this, but we will find answers young lady", Xai'Bo says backtracking. He isn't used to dealing with children as young as this, in a situation as odd as this.
He frowns as Rose tells them the date, or what she believes the date to be, and looks to the others in concern and waits for Mavis to let them know what is in the letter.
Mavis looks toward Sir Ruel or anyone closest to him and makes sure the children are still on the hall. He whispers almost inaudibly to those closest to him about the content of the letter.
'I fear we are dealing with something much more complicated than a simple rescue mission,' Mavis says, showing the letter to them. 'Either the fog has trapped the children out of time and just returned them, or something sinister occurred here 26 years ago that caused the children to be unbound from the passage of time, perhaps even the land of the living. If it is the latter, I do fear that the children themselves are restless spirits looking for peace. Best we keep this information from the children and tell the other discreetly.'
He walks out of the room and turns toward young lady Rose and young master Thorn, making sure to block their vision from the others still in the room. 'I like to know about random things when I come to a new land,' Mavis replies to young lady Rose. 'Dates are one such thing that differs from place to place. Some places have different days each month and different months each year. How about we asks nurse Maggie on how she is doing? Perhaps she can shed some light on where young master Walter has gone to.'
If needed to convince Rose about the reason for the random question:
Persuasion/Deception (same bonus): 11
Melantha, being next to the children and upon hearing Rose's answer to what date it is, looks towards Mavis...and slowly shakes their head with a concerned expression.
They remained silent as Mavis worked to convince Rose in talking to nurse Maggie.
Main Character: Melantha(They/She)

Ideal Voice Claim
Ruel nods to Mavis, concerned now about the contents of the letter, with it having the house seal on it he would assume that Elizabeth, was the children's mother and the talk of sacrifice gave him a knot in the pit of his stomach.
"I agree we need talk to the nursemaid to confirm the location of baby Walter at least ways get a look into that crib." Ruel paused before continuing.
"I agree there is something rotten at the heart of this house and the children are in for some painful truths."
When Mavis leaves Ruel follows to make his way towards the nursemaid.
"That makes sense. Do you travel a lot?" Rose asks, following you with Thorn in tow.
Maggie seems to be fast asleep. You'll have to get her attention somehow.
Oron, hearing that the children themselves might be restless spirits, will approach Thorn and attempt to place his hand on the boys head. 'If he's a ghost, my hand should go right through him no?' he thinks to himself.
I don't have a signature.
{{Assuming Oron, Sirron, and Ruel heard what he said and nobody took the letter}}
'This is the second time I have been out of the citadel, to be perfectly honest,' Mavis says to the children. 'I live in a place called the Citadel of Strategic Militancy near the city of Baldur's Gate, and people that passes by the citadel always tell unique stories. This is what interest me in new land and their strangeness as well as uniqueness.' He regales the children of the tales of merchants from across the world passing by the citadel to reach or leaving from Baldur's Gate and their strange way of speaking and manners as well as unique traits such as how they define time and date. It might not be a tale as good as a bard can do with how textbook his explanation is, but he hopes it will alleviate some of the children's worry as he corrals them further into the West Room.
As Mavis passes Xai'Bo, he hands over to him the letter he has found and motions him to share it with Melantha to update everyone on the situation without alarming the children. He continues onward into the West Room, knocking on the door softly and waiting just on the threshold of the room. 'Excuse me, madam,' Mavis calls into the room, 'I believe you are missing your charges? The young lady Rose and young master Thorn?'
Your hand passes through Thorn's head harmlessly. The boy doesn't seem to notice, but an unpleasant chill shoots up your arm.
(If anyone would like to check what they know about ghosts, roll for Arcana or Religion.)
Textbook or not, Rose and Thorn are fascinated by your tales, and you see Thorn relax and smile slightly for the first time since you met him.
The nursemaid wakes with a start, losing her ghostly appearance, now looking for all the world like one of the living. "Rose? Thorn? Why aren't you in your room?" she asks, worry in her voice, and a shadow of guilt passes over Rose's face at this. The nurse turns to face you. "I'm sorry to have bothered you. I take it that you are guests of Mistress Durst?"
Xai'Bo scans the letter, shocked at it's contents. He passes it on to Melantha as Mavis indicated and turns his attention back to what was going on. He is just in time to spot two things. Firstly Oron's hand pass through Thorn, and secondly the nursemaid seemingly coming to life and losing her ghostly appearance.
He had been alive over a century but could not recall seeing anything like this before. He racks his brain for anything that might help explain what was happening.
Religion: 12
Oron Religion: 14
I don't have a signature.
Melantha hesitated a bit - due to being distracted by Thorn not being solid enough for Oron's hand to NOT pass through - before taking the letter from Xai'Bo.
Ghosts...if they're ghosts, then...
Arcana: 12
...innocent sacrifice...
...that damned woman...did she--??
"Where is Mrs. Durst?"
Main Character: Melantha(They/She)

Ideal Voice Claim
Xai'Bo, you remember hearing from a tired exorcist that ghosts who are in denial or otherwise unaware of their death look more alive, unconsciously changing their appearance to hide their ghostly nature from themselves.
Oron, you remember that ghosts are usually tied to the world of the living by unfinished business, and that Rose was trying to protect her brothers when you found her.
Melantha, you are reminded of the letter from earlier mentioning the "Dark Powers of this land" and of the phylacteries of liches used to bind them to the mortal realm by consuming the souls of others.
(The letter, for convenience's sake)
"...She's..." The nursemaid's form flickers, and for a brief moment you think you see bloody stab wounds all over her chest and abdomen. "I'm not sure. I believe she's downstairs." she says.
Xai'Bo looks at the children, they were unaware of their situation, and they should remain such.
"I think it is time we ventured downstairs to look for the lady of the house. Would you look after the children please?", he says kindly to the nurse maid.
Oron bends down in front of Thorn and smiles. "You aren't really here are you Thorn? Where is your body?" Oron asks, hoping that maybe they can get more information on what might of happened or what to expect and where.
I don't have a signature.
Sirron had fallen silent upon hearing what Mavis had said, almost as if he had been lost in thought. But after a little while he seemed to snap out of it, glancing towards the floor for a moment before finally breaking his silence.
"Right, and if we cannot find her there we'll see ourselves out and return at a later date so we can speak with the lady of the house." He hummed softly, hoping that she would believe him.
Deception: 18
Arcana: 2
'Have you any idea where she would be downstairs at this time of day, madam?' Mavis asks. He is hesitant to leave the children despite confirming that they are indeed only here in spirits, but maybe it is better for them to be away in case the group discovers what happened to them. 'A private parlour or a basement, perhaps? We did pass a lot of empty rooms downstairs in our quest to return the children to their guardians or parents. We wish to talk to the parents who gave birth to these brave children.'
Oron, Thorn looks confused. "What? What are you talking about?" he asks.