[WIS saves:  11, 4]

Vilka looks at the pan in her hand, looks at Giles, and drops it to the stone floor with a ringing clatter.  "Oh my.  I'm so sorry, Father.  I don't know what came over me."

Meanwhile, the cook looks hurt.  "The candied yams were the dessert.  Are they not to your liking?  I assure you, they're quite rich."

"Oh hush now, Amalthia.  Don't get yourself worked up," says Vilka.  "Come now, lets serve the Father.  He looks quite peckish."

The others see Father Giles return from the kitchen, with Vilka and the cook, Amalthia, in tow.  On another cart they have a large dish of sweet potatoes and sauce.

After setting the food out on the dining room table, the stand at attention, answering Father Giles' questions, though they continue to look nervously toward the others.  "The Lady's book club meets - met - in the cellar.  There is a hidden door in the back closet.  Oh, but don't go down there.  It's dangerous.  She bound some hostile ghosts down there."  

"No, we haven't left.  I... I guess I was hysterical," Vilka says.  "I ran and grabbed Amalthia and we hid in the storage room."  She turns red.  "I just feel so silly about the whole thing."

Giles turns to Amalthia and says “Oh you dear lady, I would love to sample your wonderful candied yams!  Oh Soren, Burr, Zefla, and Ernst, we have candied yams in here!  Come have some!”  When Soren gets close, he says “Please, do ask Vilka and Amalthia all the questions you would like!  This is the manner in which I was planning to conduct the evening….”  Giles sits back down at the table and puts his napkin tucked into his shirt, takes several large spoonfuls of candied yams onto his plate and starts to dig in with a spoon, inviting everyone to join him.

(Prior to Giles leaving and returning):
Soren looks at Ernst Larnak flatly.  "You should stop talking about heroism now.  With how quickly you changed your chosen pack, I think you must be engaging in the city-folk custom of flattery.  We are not heroes.  Lady Wachter was an eager and willing servant of Strahd, who despoils this land and orchestrated the massacre at the Cathedral.  I hold her complicit and she had to die, though I doubt my companions agree with me on that.  It is the same when necromancers and undead encroach on a forest and begin their slaughter and corruption, or fiends and aberrations and those who consort with them.  They must be destroyed utterly, without hesitation or reservation if possible, or fled from if not.  There is nothing heroic about it."

Soren stares at the spy directly, letting his Moonbeam go.  Instead, he prays for Silvanus' Guidance.

"And now we must know your mind.  We are not here to slaughter innocent children or terrified servants.  Tell us everything you know of Lady Wachter's association with Strahd.  Do not leave anything out, including your part in it.  And tell us where each of these keys allow entry to."

Soren picks up the iron key ring and attempts to get a read on the accuracy and truthfulness of Ernst's answers:  Insight plus Guidance:  15 + 4 = 19

To his companions, he adds:  "I heard Vilka screaming inside the house.  She has not gone to summon the town guard.  You tell me - do the town guard have any reason to come here if no one has summoned them?  I am not even sure if the Baron would object to Lady Wachter's death.  Would he?  Or perhaps he secretly would rejoice at the demise of his rival, yet still punish us as an example?  In any case, he does not know yet."

To Burr, he whispers:  "'Recall one of Madame Eva's prophecies.  'There is another item... its nature is hidden from us; it can help you, but how? Look for a wealthy woman. A staunch ally of the devil, she keeps the treasure under lock and key, with the remainder of an ancient enemy.'  We must follow where this ring of keys leads and attempt to find this treasure before leaving this house."

(After Giles returns with the servants):
Sensing Vilka is like a flighty prey animal, perhaps a deer, he shuts the door to the den to block any view of the corpse, speaking to Giles through the door.  "Perhaps I was wrong, but I did not think your charms were likely to work on one such as Lady Wachter, not-Father.  Nor would they prevent her from continuing to aid Strahd in the future.  This had to be done.  Yet we should certainly investigate this cellar Vilka speaks of where the book club meets."

Burr nodded to Soren, " Understood.   But I now have a fourth person I wish to see free and clear, Miss Wachter."

" And I need to make my peace with the two sons.  They are owed a bloodprice."

Burr glanced outside trying to determine whether the body was in plain view of passersby, despite the dark, or if it could remain there for a bit.

Burr - the den is toward the back of the house, away from the street.  No one is going to see the body unless they walk up to the window.  On the other hand, the broken window is visible, and though it appears no one has left to summon the guard, there was the sound of two windows breaking in the evening, and raised voices.

"Right, right... whatever you want.  You're the boss," Ernst says in response to Soren's questioning.  

He goes on to tell you everything he knows about Lady Wachter's association with the Devil Strahd.  She claimed to sometimes receive visions from him, but most often they corresponded via letters.  She always burned them after reading, and seldom shares the particulars with Ernst.  Whenever she had reason to write to him, a night caller would arrive to pick up her letter, or sometimes a bat would fly in through the window and carry it off.  

Apparently, Strahd had kept close ties with the Wachter family for generations.  Once, while deep in her cups, she had confided in Ernst that the Devil had courted her as a young woman, but she saw him as a troubled soul and felt she could do more for him as a friend and confidant than as a consort.  She did not regret that decision, as she claimed several other young woman of Barovia had temporarily held the Count's gaze, never to last long before he tired of them.  

Recently, she had appealed to him for aid in removing Baron Vallakovich once and for all, but he had replied with a cryptic message that he 'helps those who help themselves.'  She interpreted that as a signal that she would need to spur the revolution on her own until such time as Strahd would intervene.  Strahd's recent interest in you four had left her hopeful that the time was finally right.  Woops.

Beyond that, Ernst knows little of the Darklord.  Ernst is - was - primarily involved in her day to day work inside Vallaki.  He would be her liaison with the Vistani one day, while helping her rabble-rouse another.  Always, he was digging up dirt on the Baron.  Of chief concern was finding proof of whatever it was that the younger Vallakovich had done to young Stella.  He had heretofore learned little, which was a source of strife between him and Lady Wachter.  What he did know, was that it was known within the Vallakovich household, but that the guards had been sworn to secrecy, on pain of exile.  There was a rumor that it had involved not only the Baron's son, but also the Baron's chief henchman Izek Strazni, but it was just that - a rumor.

Soren:

Zefla takes a seat at the table with a big thud, especially coming from such a small frame.  She holds her face in her hands and takes several long slow breathes.  She sits there while others talk and Giles comes and goes.  She overhears Soren and Burr admonish the servant for suggesting killing the children and she's at least glad for that.  How did it come to this?  She doesn't even know where to start.  

As dessert is served she ignores it and once she finally feels she has control over herself, she gets up and starts heading up the stairs.  She doesn't talk to anyone, but the whole sleeping with the corpse thing?  She's gotta see this and maybe there is more to it?  If she reaches the second floor, she starts checking rooms.  But keeping her ear open.

Perception:  23

As Soren interrogates Ernst and Giles entertains the help with his enjoyment of dessert, Zefla, disenchanted, explores the upstairs alone.  Trudging up the long, creaking stairwell, she finds herself on the second floor.  An upstairs hallway with a window at each end wraps around the staircase railing.  Framed portraits and mirrors festoon the walls, surrounding you with judging looks and dark reflections.

A closet at the south end of the hallway holds blankets and linens.

There are two unlocked bedrooms upstairs.  They both contain nothing out of the ordinary: a neatly made bed, a table with an oil lamp on it, a handsome wooden chest, a slender wardrobe, and a window box with drapes.  The wardrobes are packed with neatly hung men's clothing, and several pairs of shoes and boots rest on the chests near each bed.  One of the bedrooms has several well-read novels about sailing resting on the night table.

The other doors are all locked.

Zefla hears something scratching at one of the many doors.  When you approach, the scratching stops, and you can hear something retreat from the door, paddling softly along the floor on the other side.

Noting Zeflas departure Burr moved to the stairs to back her up in case there was something more upstairs than they had been told.

Zefla hears someone following her and when she turns and sees that it is Burr, she nods her head and puts her finger up to her lips to signal quiet.  She decides to check out the locked double doors before seeing to the scurrying noise.  Pulling out her thieves tools, she smiles to herself.  She caresses the finely made items as she selects the ones she wants, noting how long it has been since she has pulled them out.

Once satisfied with the right ones, she attempts to unlock the double doors.

Sleight of Hand:  nat 1 - apparently quite rusty!

Frustrated, she heads to the southern locked door and tries again, thinking she might just need some practice...

Sleight of Hand:  20

As he hears Zefla first sit heavily at the dining room table, then depart up the stairs, Soren wants to call after her.  Wait.  I have keys!

Still, not wishing to raise his voice, he stops himself, instead asking Burr and Ernst's help to carry Lady Wachter's corpse behind a couch in the den so it is not visible through any of the windows or the door.  He considers removing the rings and other possessions on her person, but vaguely remembers that city-folk frown on taking things from the dead.  I wonder why?  Corpses no longer have any need for such...

"Burr, it sounds as if your planned sharp conversation with the Baron's son about anything he may have done to Lady Wachter's daughter may need to be directed instead at Izek, the Baron's large henchman, who may be to blame.  Remember, he met as at the Baron's door during our foray that first stormy night?  Hackles up and angry, yet wanting our silvered weapons.  The son... he seemed different at the square today.  As if he did not share his father's conclusions about our former tiefling comanion, but rather a keen interest in learning more about her..."

(The above observation may occur a bit later if Burr is already out of the den).  As he moves towards the door (with Lady Wachter's body out of sight), Soren turns back to the spy.  "Ernst Larnak.  Since you are familiar with this territory, you can be our guide as we explore it.  I also have more questions."

"First, what doors do these keys open?  Second, are you aware of where Lady Wachter may have kept... 'the remains of an ancient enemy'?  Or have stored any type of bones recently for that matter?  Third, what was that small, flying invisible creature in the dining room which attacked Zefla before vanishing again?  It looked unlike any bat or bird I have seen or heard of.  An abomination..."

He summons Ernst to come with them, not trusting the spy to be alone, unguarded.  Headed upstairs to follow Zefla, keys in stowed away but ready.

Working on the double doors, Zefla presses too hard.  Perhaps she is still upset about the goings on downstairs.  She feels something break.  Withdrawing her tools, she sees they are still intact, which means it was something within the lock itself that is broken.  It might not be possible to unlock this one, even with a proper key.

Moving on to the southernmost door, and calming herself first, the lock gives way easily.  The door creaks open to reveal a dimly lit master bedroom.  Across from the door, a fire sputters and struggles for life in the hearth, casting dancing shadows around the room.  Above the fire hangs a framed family portrait: a noble father and mother, their two young sons, and a baby daughter in the father’s arms.  The sons are smiling in a way that suggests mischief.  The parents look like uncrowned royalty.

Wood paneling covers the walls of the room.  A closet and a framed mirror flank a curtained window to the south.  To the north, a wide, canopied bed lies pinned between matching end tables with oil lamps.  Burr and Zefla are almost startled to see a sleeping man stretched out on one side of the bed.  He is dressed in a fine black suit, his dress boots still on.  Remembering what you heard downstairs, you take a closer look.  It soon becomes clear he is not breathing, and his eyes are each covered with a copper piece.  His skin is cool to the touch; room temperature.  He bears a striking resemblance to the father in the painting here, and the portrait downstairs.

Back downstairs, Soren continues to question the spy.  Ernst holds up his hands at the question of the keys.  "They're her house keys, as far as I know.  You'd do better asking Vilka, she has her own set.  I've seen her use them to go in and out of the upstairs bedrooms and the library... other than that, I can't tell you which key is which."

"'The remains of an ancient enemy?'  No.  I've never seen anything like that.  Maybe down in the cellar.  That's where she holds her little cult meetings.  I make it a point never to go down there.  But that's where I would look."

"Oh," interrupts Vilka.  "Don't go down there," she says to Father Giles, plaintively.  "If you must... remember the words, 'the dead should remain at rest.'  The Lady and her friends would speak that whenever they went down there.  They claimed it kept the vengeful spirits at bay."

"Hah," Ernst says to Soren's last question.  "You got a look at Majesto, did you?  Yeah, he is - was - Lady Wachter's pet.  Some kind of devil gifted to her by the Darklord, I guess.  A little prankster, that one is.  He is actually rather cute, once you get to know him.  Loves grapes."

While Father Giles continues to eat, Soren leads Ernst upstairs at owl-point.  They eventually join Burr and Zefla in the master bedroom.

Burr looks at Zefla, " Do you want me to force that door? I'm just worried about startling the daughter if she is in a.....delicate....state."

"After all the ruckus downstairs?  I'm sure the daughter has been assuredly roused by now."  Zefla walks over to the closet in the master and checks it out, as well as the bedside tables to see if there is anything upon them.

Seeing Soren join them as they look around the master, she slips by him and looks at the door where the sound was.  Turning to Burr, "She might be behind this door?  Not sure what else would have made that sound."  Pulling out her thieves tools again, she attempts to unlock the door.

Sleight of Hand:  17

Giles finishes the last bite of candied yam, reflexively rubbing his stomach.  “Mmmmm, Amalthia that was good.  I haven’t had something that good….. *thinking and staring off for a moment* .. since I’ve been here!  And that’s the proverbial “Here” if you know what I mean.  No, I don’t suppose you do.  Anyway, spot on!  Those yahoos upstairs missed out on it, but I made up their portion in triplicate.  So.  Now.  Now we are down to it.  “The dead should remain at rest, eh?”  Thank you for telling me.  Anything else to know what lies downstairs?”  Giles turns and looks at Vilka as well.  “Or what those keys open?  By the way, Vilka, be a dear and lock the front door for us, thank you ever so much!  Then have a seat back at this table and let’s chat some more.”  Giles stands and walks to the stairs, saying softly upstairs  “Vilka, Amalthia and I are having a nice chat down here.  Please let me know if you need me….”  

“Now Vilka.  Did Lady Wachter have any after dinner digestifs?  Any Cognacs, or Scotch?  If so, please do be a dear and pour me one… we are really getting to know one another, aren’t we!”

Soren shakes his head in disgust at Ernst's revelation about the invisible devil.  (He has no concept of how a devil can be 'cute').

"So Lady Wachter did not just serve Strahd, she had a pet fiend in her service too?  Are there other fiends or undead around waiting for us?"

As Zefla uses her Thieves' Tools and Burr suggests forcing the doors, Soren looks baffled.  "Should we not try using these keys first?"

He holds up the ring of keys, offering them.  Moving to the southern master bedroom that Zefla had already opened, the druid shakes his head once more.

"Is this the dead husband you said she sleeps with, Ernst Larnak?  Is this truly city folk custom, to keep the corpse of one's mate within one's den... preserved somehow?  Lying on a bed?  How long has he been here?"

Sensing that Lady Wachter's bedroom may be a prime location for belongings, Soren prays for Silvanus' guidance and tries, with Nettle, to make as thorough an inspection as he can of the entire room to see whether he can spot any secret doors, compartments containers, or items of any sort.  Searching the walls, in and around the closet, around the mirror, the curtains, the fireplace, the painting, and even the bed itself.

Soren Perception plus Guidance:  16 + 4 = 20 (dirty)
Nettle Perception at advantage from Keen Hearing and Sight:  13 (apparently even less accustomed to searching inside human homes than druids).

Burr takes the ring of keys and tries the door Zefla couldn't open.

Burr, taking the ring of keys from Soren, approaches the door Zefla had tried to open, without success.  Though he tries all of the iron keys, and even the little silver key, it is to no avail.  A few of the iron keys almost seem to fit, but the lock won't turn, as if stuck or broken.

Ernst denies direct knowledge of any other fiends, but he does share that the late Lady's 'book club' meetings often spoke of summoning devils in the basement.  At the same time, Lady Wachter was always slyly smiling about the whole thing, and Ernst suspected it was all some sort of scam, but he never had any inclination to look into it any further than that.  

Upstairs, he looks at the body on the bed.  "Uh... yup.  That would be the late Nikolai Wachter Sr.  And no, this uh... this is not city custom.  This is pretty far from custom.  And he passed before I came into Lady Wachter's service.  And that was... five years ago?  So a few years longer than that, I believe.  Not quite sure how she keeps him looking so fresh..." he reaches out and pokes the body a few times, hesitantly as though he fears the dead man might reach up and grab his finger.

In the master bedroom, Soren finds little of interest until he enters the closet.  It contains shelves of fancy footwear and many fine garments, including a black ceremonial robe with a hood.  The overwhelming majority of the clothes are women's cuts and sizes, though there a few more suits of they type the corpse on the bed is wearing.  Behind the clothes and under a shelf, though he finds something more promising.  A large iron trunk is secured beneath a shelf in the back of the closet.  It can't be opened while under the shelf, and it takes a great deal of effort for Soren to slowly drag the large trunk out of the closet and into the bedroom.  It is locked.

Downstairs, Giles continues to be the life of the party.  Vilka informs him that, regretfully, there are no spirits stronger than wine in the house.  The Lady used to have a larger collection of alcohol, but she sold it off when she converted the basement to... its current purpose.  Of the basement, Vilka seldom ventures down.  The Lady's followers would come and go at all hours, chanting and hollering down there, then come upstairs, heady and excited with grisly tales of communing with dark powers from beyond the mists.  Vilka shudders perceptibly.

Zefla tries her hand at the final locked door, where she had heard something before.  This lock resists her at first, but she is eventually able to find the sweet spot and the lock clicks open.  The door creaks open slowly to reveal a musty, dark room. 

An iron-framed bed fitted with leather straps stands near a wall.  The place has no other furnishings.

Scurrying away from you on all fours is a young woman in a soiled nightgown.  She leaps onto the bed and hisses like a cat.  Arching her back, she crab-walks sideways off the bed and hops toward you, hissing and swiping at you with a clawed hand.  Then, sensing you are alone at the door, she scampers forward and attempts to leap past you to freedom.  Acrobatics:  14

The young woman is unable to get past Zefla.

Hearing the commotion Burr moves up next to Zefla, his face concerned when he sees the state of the young woman.....

Giles hears commotion upstairs and says quickly to Vilka and Amalthia, “Who is upstairs again?  Is there anyone that stays upstairs?  Please be a couple of dears and wait here at the table for me, I wish to talk a little more to you after I’ve checked this out and made sure everyone is safe…”. Giles stands and quickly moves to the stairs, climbing after he hears their response.

”What’s going on, I heard something up here?” Giles says after he climbs the last stair -