" Is there anywhere on that map that looks like a more.....settled....place to spend our time?"

Sadly, the previous owner of the map did not mark it to indicate where you are now before he expired.

Zefla shakes her head as they pour over the map and then jumps down from the chair she was standing on.  Leaving the others to discuss where their current location is, she heads out the door by the tapestry and opens the door by the stairs, peering in...

After puzzling over the map and hearing the conversation, Giles finally straightens up and gathers himself, “Times a waistin” he thinks to himself.  “Well, once we are safe and out of here, we can investigate all of these places in more detail.  But to be honest, I’d like to get back to our quest for werewolves, back to the places I know rather than this mysterious and strange place.  Something just doesn’t feel right here, I can’t put my finger on it.”  He stops and locks down at the man on the table.  “And that’s even before we met… him.”  

Becoming more practical, and making sure no one else wanted them, Giles gathers up the flask of holy water, the set of manacles, the steel mirror, and the flask of oil.  “Zefla has the right idea.  We need to get on from here…”

Soren nods and pulls himself away.  Still, he takes the map and the letter on instinct.

As Zefla checks the eastern door, he checks the middle door they had skipped - though there only seems to be a small space it could lead to.

Soren at first suspects his door is locked, but it is merely stuck.  A hard pull pops open the door to a cloak closet.  This door hasn't been opened in many years... decades, perhaps.  the musty scent of old fabric and cigars fills the air.  A few moth eaten cloaks and fur scarves hang from hooks.  On a shelf sits an old dusty top hat.  Otherwise the closet is empty.

Zefla cracks open the last door and peers into the kitchen.  This area is damp and the walls are rotten.  A cabinet has come down off the wall, spilling dishware, cookware, and utensils along the tiled floor. A worktable has a cutting board and rolling pin atop it. A stone, dome-shaped oven stands near the east wall, its bent iron stovepipe connecting to a hole in the ceiling. Behind the stove and to the left is a thin door leading to an empty pantry.

Behind a small door in the southwest corner of the kitchen is a dumbwaiter—a 2-foot-wide stone shaft containing a wooden elevator box attached to a simple rope-and-pulley mechanism that must be operated manually.  Hanging on the wall next to the dumbwaiter is a tiny brass bell.  Opening the door spills cold water full of leaves, slime and debris that had pooled at the bottom of the shaft.

Zefla takes one sniff of the room, and holds her breath.  She takes a cursory look, makes a face and leaves the area.  "Nope, that room is disgusting."  She leaves the door open for the others if they wish to check it out then heads to the base of the stairs.

"When you guys are ready to climb these steps let me know, I wonder if anything in this house is any good."

Soren sees nothing of interest among the old clothes and hat in the closet and closes the door again.  He climbs the stairs behind Zefla.

"I think we will need to rest the night here.  So we might as well make sure this man-lair is not occupied by anyone or anything other than the corpse of Raquon of Greyhawk who it seems willingly drank Strahd Von Zarovich's poison wine rather than face his other horrors, whatever those are."

As he goes, the unnatural sense he gets from this abandoned den makes him reach for Silvanus' Guidance on himself like a child clutching a doll.

Giles follows through the kitchen and back into the main hall, walking up to the fireplace.  He holds his light up, looking through and trying to determine if anyone else had been here more recently.  From the fireplace, he looks directly to the right, looking for any other doors that have been missed.  

When they mention going up the stairs, he listens to Soren and says “Yes, I could do with a rest.  if you think it is safe.  This place gives me the creeps.  But maybe it holds some additional clues.  I’m looking for any signs recent activity, should we encounter any unexpected guests..” 

" I'll check upstairs.", Burr ventured.

The marble steps are slick with old rainwater and mildew.  You must all hold tight to the banister to assure your footing.  Rounding the spiral stairs, you slowly come up to the second floor.

Unlit oil lamps are mounted on the walls of this once elegant hall. It is in many ways a twin to the main hall below.  A large, cold fireplace sits on the wall opposite the stairs.  Hanging above the mantelpiece is a wood-framed portrait of a noble family: a lord and lady, posing with flat, mirthless expressions beside their two grinning children, an older girl and a younger boy.

Standing, life size wooden carvings of knights flank double-paneled oak doors in the walls to your left and right. Each carves warrior clutches a spear and has a visored helm shaped like a wolf’s head. The doors are carved with dancing youths.  Another smaller door sits immediately at the top of the stairs.

The far side of the hall is mostly dry but water leaks down from the stairs leading up to the third floor, and from underneath the small door beside you.

The red marble staircase that started on the first floor continues its upward spiral, but you notice the marble is replaced here by red carpeting, disintegrating and growing moss in places. 

The wood floor beneath your feet creaks loudly.  At that moment, through the double doors on your left, you hear the sound of a piano; just a few chaotic, disjointed notes, like a child playing with the keys.  It is jarring in the otherwise quiet stillness of the old house.  As the sound fades, the silence returns.

(Ooh, delightfully creepy)

Zefla struggles on the slick marble stairs, hanging on the bannister tightly as they make their way up.  Just as she is about to check out the small door by the staircase, the piano keys ring out.  She pauses, looks to the others, and changes course towards the sound.  She tries to quietly open up one of the double doors and peek in.

Stealth  15

Giles tip toes up the stairs, his curiosity has the best of him now, once he hears the piano notes.  He is scared and his hand goes down to his dagger hilt reflexively, but he keeps walking up the stairs, behind Zefla and Burr.  “What was that…” he whispers.

Zefla steps softly toward the doors on the left, doing her best to avoid any loose-looking floor boards.  [Keep in mind, any skill checks for Zefla should still be at disadvantage until she gets a long rest.]

She opens the door a crack, but old hinges fail and the door settles to the ground, upright, with a clunk.  After a breathless second, there is no further sound from the room beyond.  Through the partially open door, she can see the interior.

Where once gossamer drapes had covered the floor to ceiling windows of this elegantly appointed hall, now there are only whisps and threads fluttering in the breeze from an open window.  Outside, you can see that dusk is settling in on the grey forest which surrounds you.   The remains of a brass-plated chandelier lay smashed upon the floor in the center of the room. Upholstered chairs line the walls, and stained-glass wall hangings depict beautiful men, women, and children singing and playing instruments.  Strewn about in the corners of the room are tufts of twigs and leaves, reminiscent of bird nests.

A grand piano with a bench rests in the corner straight ahead from the door. Near the cold, empty fireplace is a large standing harp. Alabaster figurines of well-dressed dancers adorn the mantelpiece, a few broken upon the floor at its base.

" Of course...", said Burr drolly.

He stepped into the room and headed towards the piano.

Investigation:1

Stealth:5

Soren wonders what became of the family depicted in the portrait.

They must already have been gone by the time Raquon of Greyhawk came here?  I wonder where they went.  The children look fun, at least.

He stands ready and casts Guidance on Zefla for any possible Perception or Investigation needed beyond the doors to the left where she is peeking.  Where the strange not-music had come from.

(Sorry!  I can't seem to remember that one!)

Zefla follows Burr into the room, confused by the music they had just heard and the empty room in which she stands.  Now that she is fully in the room, she takes a better look around.

Perception w/disadv + guidance: 9 + 1

She then heads over to the harp and gives it a good strum.

( Could all our rolls be worse....FFS....)

Burr addresses the problem head on.  He pushes open the door and strides toward the piano, broken crystal from the chandelier crunching underfoot.  Nothing out of the ordinary here.

Zefla follows Burr's suit and approaches the harp.  Its definitely seen better days but it looks like it was once of the finest quality, with carved wood and brass fittings.  She delicately plucks a string... and the string snaps with a thunderous 'br-oink!'

In that instant, the piano seems to explode at Burr....

[Suprise Round for swarm of rats... ]

A swarm of rats erupts from under the piano's lid, savagely defending their nest from the plodding giant Burr.  Tufts of fur, fleas and rat bedding fly as though shot out of a cannon.  They practically envelop Burr, biting and scratching at any exposed bit of flesh they can get at.

Attack: 14 Piercing Damage: 4 

ROUND ONE

1. Giles
2. Soren
3. Zefla
4. Burr
5. Swarm of Rats