Oh yeah. Light is hard to create realistically with illusions. Especially at that distance so it's not that. It can be the stuff I stated above. However the way it's burning without moving, it's not a will o wisp. It's either a torch, lantern, continual flame, bonfire or stuff like that. So not dangerous by itself but can indicate danger like an ogre camp or something. Could also be something non dangerous like the noble himself.

(Thanks)

Elsara leans to the side, standing on her tiptoes to look where Val is mentioning. "Oh yeah, looks like a good place to start." Elsara carefully touches the hilt of one of the scimitars at her belt. "Just be careful, we don't want to be the moths drawn to the flame... That's the right one, right?" She checks with their resident druid before getting ready to go with them towards the source of the flames, keeping an eye out just in case this is some bizarre ambush.

Perception: 22

"I will remain behind and cover you with the bow just in case." says Val to his friends as they approach the source of the light.

Perception: 27

Stealth: 19

((Again, thank you shitty notifications for making me miss the post))

As the party slowly approach towards the light they see that the trees are getting thornier the closer you get, the fog gets thicker. Though the linear distance itself is not too terribly far, the thick forest slows the part down considerably. Soon there is a gust of wind that blows thorough the party. The sky is overcast with thick clouds that bathe the land in a dim red hue which is a trademark of the night time heavy rains of Rurik. Being so close to a moonless night, this coming has a benefit of casting a dim red light across the land, letting people see slightly better. This however also bares bad news as another cold, wet gust of wind blows through the party; a heavy rain is coming. As if on cue, the sky lights up for a brief moment as you hear the rumbling of clouds. Lightning  arcs across the red night sky. Val knows that this rain that's about to come is natural and not the result of any magical interference. 

Just as the first few drops of cold rain begin to fall from the red sky and on to the party, they reach the source of the light; a huge 3 storied mansion made of black wood. The light source were two lanterns of Continual Flame hung from the front porch of the structure. Exquisite white wood makes up the two double doors that lead inside the place. Though the mansion seemed to have suffered some amount of wear and tear, it is nowhere near the amount one would expect for a mansion in the middle of the forest to be. Additionally, a number of trees near the mansion have been chopped down, leaving the stumps. This signals that the mansion is inhabited.

Elsara looks up at the mansion, pulling her travelling cloak's hood up. "Well that's showing off." She mentions, comparing it to the more quaint and comfortable little home she made the prior night. "Do we just go and knock? I think maybe preparing to check for affectus uti might be best if you can give me a few minutes."

The mansion does not register as magical to Elsara.

"Good measure Elsara " says Val who despite to be enjoying the rain has not put away his bow. "Perhaps we should try and knock but beware. I don't like this." 

"I suppose we can." Elsara will take to the front, skipping over before politely knocking with a rat-a-tat-tat noise on the front door.

Devarus said nothing throughout the exchange. He just stared at the mansion with an expression set in a wary mask. When it became clear Elsara intended to knock, he had an arrow notched but arrow pointed to the earth for the time being. First he'd see how things played out before wariness bordering on paranoia got the better of him. 

Elsara knocks at the door. Heavy metallic footsteps can be heard. It's as if someone in a large metal armor is walking to open the door. The door is opened with a loud creak by a suit of animated armor. The suit speaks, "Welcome to the humble abode of Lord Vladimir. He would be glad to receive guests. Allow me to inform him of your presence."

It then opens the door the full extent, revealing a large entry room with a long red carpet that leads to stairs The place is illuminated by gold chandeliers burning Continual Flame. On the east and west walls are more suits of armor, animated and large windows with dark red curtains. On the north wall there are two sets of stairs that curve up to meet a large overhang from which someone can view the entrance room almost fully. At the middle of this overhang is a large arching doorway (that lacks a door). Also on the north wall are two double doors which are at the side of the stairs and at the same level as the entrance door. The Animated Armor turns its back to the party and begins walking up the stairs to go get Lord Vladimir

===DblDoor==========Arch=========DblDoor=====
=           -------------------             =
=            / ------------- \              =
=Anmtd       /   ---------   \              =
=Armr        /<---Stairs---->\              =
=            /               \              =
W                                           Wndw
=Anmtd                                 Anmtd=
=Armr                                   Armr=
W                                           Wndw
=                                           =
=                                           =
=====Wndw=========Entry========Wndw==========

“Well” mutters Val to the others “that’s something you didn’t see all days. I guess we go in and asks for our missing noble?” 

"Hi there! We were, oh, okay..." Elsara watches the animated armour leaving to find Lord Vladimir. She steps into the threshold, drying her cloak and those of the others as they wait in the main foyer. After a few seconds, her child-like curiosity takes a hold as she looks around the room, her magic senses guiding her to see if there's anything of interest around.

Investigation: 5

Runt is thoroughly confused by the living suit of armor. Do not like. Unnatural. 

Devarus returned any drying off with an appreciative grin before again scanning their surroundings. He took a moment to try and piece together if either the name of the Lord or something of the interior that he could see might give a hint into the history of the manor owner. Could they be in fact part of the reason why his mother had warned him against venturing so deep? 

History: 4.

"I imagine it would be a good idea to avoid strying while we wait. For such a being to have such beings at his beck 'n call might too have other protections in place, perhaps." He warned, even if it might've been a bit unnecessary.

Unfortunately Deva seems to not have heard of this Lord Vladimir until now. It doesn't take very long after the armor disappeared through the archway for the lord himself to approach. A very sharply dressed Drow walks through the archway atop the stairs and stands holding the railings of the elevated section atop the stairs. Looking down to look at the party due to said elevation, he greets them, "Greetings! I am Lord Vladimir and I welcome you to my home. I do not usually have guests given my isolated home but I welcome you as any drow should. I Invite you to stay for dinner so that I may show you the hospitality the Drow are famous for."

((Note: The drow in this setting are not evil and are known for being hospitable to guests))

"That's very kind of you, Lord Vladimir." Elsara replies, giving a little curtsey. "However, we're more on an errand. We were wondering if you've had any other visitors in the past couple of days. Someone we were looking for we believe came by this way, and we kinda just ended up wandering a bit off the path whilst on a lookout for them."

Valwaryn just nods in acknowledgement and grateful for the drow kindness and invitation, but let Elsara do the talking. She is infinite better that him un such endeavors. 

Devarus just stares up at the Drow for the longest moment. A few complicated emotions play on his face at the time before he finally settles for going stone faced and just letting Elsara do the talking. He's also very careful not to meet the Drow's eyes. But, he would at least give them a respectful half-bow belatedly in greeting.

The drow notices Deva's half-drow heritage and gives a short involuntary sneer that disappears as soon as it appears. Drow are hospitable and friendly to those of the surface but their society does not encourage mingling with them to too great an extent. Vladimir focuses on Elsara's words instead and answers, "Ah yes I do have a visitor. He is a high elf. He arrived not too long ago, I believe a few days at most. He is resting in his room. He seems to quite enjoy this place and I do get lonely from time to time so I do not mind him staying at all."

(Just for reference, I don't think we have a physical description of the person we're looking for anywhere, do we?)

"Oh, well maybe we can meet with them in a short while if that's okay?" Elsara asks. She gives a big smile as her eyes look up at Lord Vladimir (she has detect magic active if he has anything about his person that is magically active.)