Cybele stairs at the disembodied head, her mouth gaped. "Umm, hello?-Thank you!" She continues on to tell them the location of the helpful tools." "Is there any way we can help you before we head off?" Cybele felt sorry for the ill-fated woman. She hoped she could at least help her in some way for coming to assist them. 

(before we head off?  Lol Halei you're terrible!)

Seraphina's mouth literally drops open as the head appears and warns them of their fate up ahead.  As Cybele talks to the head, Sera starts wondering what she has gotten herself into.  How long had that scroll been in that cave?  Were the words that were written upon it something that was to come to fruition years from now or next week?  She wishes there was some timeline she knew of so they knew how much time they had to get things accomplished.  Every step of this mission they now found themselves on was getting more and more dire.  And seeing a disembodied head did not help matters at all.  Though, at least it was helpful.

She was aching to get moving, so she didn't add anything to the conversation and really hoped they would find this campsite that the woman mentioned.

("head off"...bwuahahahaha!!)

The spectral head fades away with a final warning.  "It is too late for me - I pray it is not too late for the rest of our world!"

You locate the camp without difficulty. Elra and her companions camped on a bluff that has an unobstructed view of the south wall of Delphi Mansion.  A quick search of the camp yields a backpack containing a rolled-up map of Delphi Mansion (see below). Accompanying the map are some scraps of paper with notes written on them in Common. The notes are:

• “Markos has a room on the third floor where he performs rituals.”
• “A cavernous room underneath the basement contains four large crystals—purpose unknown.”
• “Mansion windows can be unlocked using the password ‘Krokulmar.’”

It doesn't take long to descend from the bluff and walk through the woods to the three-story mansion standing alone in a clearing. It has alabaster walls, windows on all three levels, and a closed double door on the ground floor. The area around the mansion seems unnaturally quiet...the silence weighs down on you so hard you feel that you must shout just to be heard!

Seraphina stares up at the manor, a little weirded out by the unnatural quiet.  "What do you think that head meant by the house changes?   Also, think we should just knock or try and sneak through a window since we apparently have the code?  Or I could try the door and distract them while you guys try and sneak in?  Shoot, I don't know, this is all pretty new to me."

"Well, I would normally knock on the door rather than enter someone else's house univited. But if a group of adventurers were killed here, and something all jinky is going on inside, maybe we should find a quiet way in..." Meiki offers. "Let's look at the map and see if there's anyplace that looks like a good, out of the way place to go through a window..."

Cybele taps on her chin in thought. "That is a tough question. On one hand if we sneak in and are caught, that's almost certain trouble. But isn't that better then offering ourselves to a murderer on silver platter?? Probably so." 

She scans the map displaying the layout of the 1st floor. That window in the room just below the one with the staircase might be a good choice. Seems like it wouldn't be used as frequently, and gives quicker access to spy on the room with the stairs so we can get to the basement or the third floor if needed. Then we can decide how we should approach Markos. If possible, I think we should just try to talk to him first. Maybe we can solve this without conflict." Cybele struggles to keep her voice down. Both worried of being too loud in the silence, but also wanted to make sure her friends heard her clearly. 

Seraphina looks over Cybele's shoulder as the she talks about infiltrating the manor.  "Yes, that window looks good to me, and maybe we can head straight upstairs.  Or would it make sense to get those four crystals first?  Maybe a good bargaining tool or help stop with whatever is going on?"

She starts in that direction, "At least we know the password, that is very helpful."

(Are you talking the NW corner of the house, with the circular corner and a window on the west wall? Because there is also a grand staircase in the entry room in the center of the south side...)

Quote from Rhanloi >>

(Are you talking the NW corner of the house, with the circular corner and a window on the west wall? Because there is also a grand staircase in the entry room in the center of the south side...)

 Thats what I was thinking Cybele meant.

(Yes sorry, the circular stair case and its the window in the room south of it.)

(Ahh - the middle room on the western wall. You did see there is NOT a door to the circular staircase room from that room, right? From the middle room, you can only go to the southern room, and then into the main entrance. Just verifying - I'm good either way =)

(I was thinking the room with the circular staircase.  The third window counting from the south, not the second)

The group circles around the mansion, stopping outside the window of the room by the circular tower at the NW corner of the building. Using the password from the notes, they are able to undo the arcane lock and slip inside the empty 10' wide x 25' long room adjoining a spiral staircase leading up. A cold wind descends this tower staircase. There is a single door in the wall opposite the window.

(Map!)

Seraphina steps quietly up to the door and puts her ear against it, listening..

Perception  18

"Well, do we want to head to the basement first or upstairs?"

(Lol nat 1!  I knew she was the wrong person for listening!)

Meikos looks at the spiral staircase leading up, and then at the hand-drawn map. "Oh, well, I think the only way into the basement is on the eastern side of the house. Did you hear anything in the next room, Seraphina? If not, then it's probably ok to go there..."

(I typed this up and didnt hit post XD)

"We should still probably try to be stealthy just to be safe. Careful when you open the door! Don't want it to creak." Cybele takes a look around the room they first find themselves in before they make a move to the next room. She tries to look for anything that could be of use to her. Particularly something that could possibly give her insight into Markos; what kind of person he was, his personality, the things he liked and all that, as well as anything that could aide them as they sneak through the house.  

Perception: 17 

Investigation: 6    (I didnt know which one to roll.)

In the room you see that the ceiling is 20 feet high, and the room is illuminated by continual flame spells cast on candles that are mounted to the walls. There is nothing else besides the spiral stairs leading up in this room.

(Assuming Seraphina opens the door, since she's got her ear pressed against it?)  The paladin carefully opens the eastern door to the next room, where you see that several small circular pedestals dot the room, each one large enough to hold a couple of drinking cups. In the corners of the room stand four suits of armor. The two on the west side of the room nearest you are noticeably cleaner than the others. There are five other doors - double doors in the center of the south wall, a door on the eastern wall, and two separate doors to the north. (Map)

Stepping through the door, the statue to your left (NW corner of the room) animates and moves to attack! (Roll initiative and post your first round action!)
Animated armor init: 13

Initiative Roll:17 

Cybele jumps back in surprise and by reflex flings a dart at the statue. (disregard the first 2 rolls on the roll log, I accidentally rolled for wrong weapon.) (Dart hit: 9 Dart Damage 6). She jumps back with a gasp, before remembering in a flash that they were supposed to be quiet and slapped a hand over her mouth. How were they going to defeat this statue without alerting the inhabitant of the house?? The only thing she thought they could do was to defeat the statue quickly and quietly.