"I'd say that it is better to activate them when we want rather than having them fall into our backs when we least need it," argues Tex with respect to the statues. "For sure for the first blow they aren't moving."

He considers their options, and says, "I'm not sure if it is the best to make ourselves known here just yet. It looks like no-one noticed us despite the ruckus. Perhaps we can manage to find the important bits without cleaning out the entire mansion. Didn't one of you, Zane?, say that there are tracks in the previous room? The obvious ones lead here but might be some others could indicate a secret door there? Then, we could go up these stairs and check the next floor."

"That depends on our goals here." Lana stopped pondering about the activation of statues and joined the discussion of direction. "Sooner or later we will run into the current inhabitants of the manor. Do we want to ambush them and fight right away? Then we indeed better clean up "safe" rooms first. But if we want to openly confront them or talk, we might reconsider trashing down the house and maybe do just that - walk in and talk. We do represent the powers of the city - I mean, you do - if it helps."

Rel looks at the statues again, and at the dead bats.  Her whisper sounds resigned.

"Thus far, without initiating combat ourselves, we have been attacked by life-stealing fog (two of them) and a swarm of screeching bats.  The statues which fought us, I can put aside, as they may have been magically set to guard against intruders.  But given the hostilities to this point, something tells me that any talk we have with those inhabiting this house is also going to be hostile.  Likely a hostage or standoff situation if not an outright fight."

She sighs and continues in a whisper.  "Jarsali Firahel told us the mayor is having this building demolished within the week.  So I am not worried about trashing it.  As annoying as it sounds, it may be best to eliminate the two statues at our back before continuing."

(It looks a little strange, these words coming from Rel's current appearance as the brown-haired woman in the hat and violet with gold trim.)

Zane says, "I have exactly the ingredients to disable these statues."

He walks warily up to the western statue, pulls out a sack and puts it over its head. Then he takes some rope and ties it around the legs.. and after a moment of thought takes the other end to the dining hall and ties it around one of the table legs.

He comes back and looks at others, "Remove the weapon part first, then take the rest apart? Ready?"

“Good thinking, Zane,” Tex exclaims. “Now it will be easier for us should it really wake up.” Tex and Lizzy prepare to strike as hard as koboldly possible at the weapon arm of the statue. 

Lana nodded. "Looks like everyone but Zane is for slow search and cleaning up before meeting with the inhabitants. Demolition it is, then!" She smiled. "Sounds like a good description of the team."

She joined Tex and Zane who gave their opinion and moved on to the practical implementation without wasting time for further discussions. "Do you think if we simply topple the statue it will break? Never dealt with animated statues before, can not tell for sure." She moved her mark (visible only to her, but very much existing) over the designated "enemy" and prepared to shoot should the statue animate.

Bellamy stands back in case the statue decides to animate and attack "Well I hope your plan works and I will be here in case something happens" says Bellamy

The combined strikes of both Tex and Lizzy cause the statue to crumble and fall over, breaking apart to pieces on the ground. Tex, you can see there is no longer a magical aura remaining on the statue.

(Presumably after Zane or anyone else similarly secures the other remaining statue).

Rel swings her black warhammer at it, through the weapon arm and into the body.  The weapon seeming to move more lightly in her hands than it should.

Warhammer (hex weapon) to hit last statue (at advantage due to paralyzed condition):  17
Warhammer bludgeoning damage (auto-crit due to paralyzed condition):  18

“I wonder if the same truck works for the painting in the previous room,” Tex suggests. “There is evocation type magic in it, or behind it, but it is securely locked in place and we couldn’t see behind. There could be something hidden behind, or it explodes in our faces if we touch it.”

Zane grins with excitement, "I love it when a plan comes together!"

He untangles the sack and rope from the rubble while listening to Tex.

"We can try it from a safe distance, give me a moment."

He goes into the dining room, uses his rapier to puncture the painting in the corner closest to the doors (to foyer) and ties his rope to it, then backs all the way out to the foyer himself.

He keeps grinning, "Lets pull and find out what shakes out?"

No kind of shooting was necessary, both statues crumbled to pieces before Lana could even take aim. "Wow, you were not joking about trashing!" Lana commented on the painting now. The last memory of the Briarwoods was about to be torn apart. "Evocation means explosion?" She glanced at Tex and stepped farther away from the potential big boom.

“Uh, I was speaking metaphorically,” Tex replies to Lana. “But yes, that is one possibility. Or an electric discharge. Not that this would be more pleasant, though.”

Zane pulls on the rope, athletics check: 14.

(could probably use Help from someone, but lets see)

Edit:16 total after help

Zane and Lana grab a hold of the rope and pull it taut. The others watch as they begin to pull. The large portrait of the Briarwoods, though, does not pull from the wall very easily. It appears to be secured very well and the frame itself does not break either. Together though, they pull even harder and the frame begins to give, breaking apart as it does and revealing a large opening behind the portrait. From where you stand you cannot see inside.

“Huh, that looks promising! Well done, friends,” Tex says enthusiastically. “Shall we have a look inside?” And he moves (with the others) closer to see if there is still a magical aura while describing his observation to the others.

Zane looks at Tex, "Is the magic gone?"

“Since nothing happened,” Tex replies, “my gut says the aura might be even stronger now. Let’s go have a look.”

"If you need any help let me know. Darn I should have learned the identify spell, but certain circumstances cut short my education." says Bellamy

“I feel you, Bellamy!” Tex says. “I do know the spell, but couldn’t afford the pearl yet.”