“Nice work.  Fane are you hurt?  Tillman was there just the one spider?”  Eron looks to see if there encounter was noticed.  He is still concerned about the footprints earlier and will investigate any back entrances.

Investigation 8

“Yes, one of them got a good nip out of me. My fault really, I should have used my defenses better. Was hoping the food would avoid a fight” she says.

“I could use a short rest to regain some strength before we go in, since we’re still waiting for our audience. Also, do either of you have a short sword or dagger you’re not using, I forgot to pick up another before we came out here.”

Eron, the house appears to be just as dark, quiet and still as when you arrived.  The rear door is even less sturdy than the front door.  It is unlocked and it looks like a strong wind might be enough to finish off its hinges and send it tumbling out of its frame.

[The party can take a short rest.  There is still no sign of anyone on the road, though perhaps in another hour that may change?  Where would you go to rest and recuperate for this hour?]

As you consider what to do next and whether to rest, a light rain begins to fall, and the gloomy day afternoon grows a little darker and greyer.

"Just the one..." Tilliman replies to Eron, still staring at the well, dagger clutched in his hand... "...but one was enough." He adds, under his breath...

As he moves to recover his bow he keeps his eye on that well, never releasing his death-grip on his shortsword... A moment after recovering the weapon, Fane's request finally registers for the gnome. "Oh..." He says, drawing one of his daggers and offering it to the wizard. "Here."

He then falls in line behind Eron and watches him studying the rear door. "So, erm..." Says Tilliman, adjusting his spectacles, not entirely loving the looks of this "haunted" house now that he's here. "Should we, eh... Go in, I suppose?" He asks with a swallow.

”Let’s not be in too much of a hurry give Fane a bit to clean up,  I can put them weasel carcasses near the road.  Then perhaps we check out this back entry?  I bet these were the source of all the rumors and superstition.”

In one fluid motion after cleaning his blades they both slide into sheathes with a satisfying snap.  Then Eron drags the weasel bodies into clear view of the road.  Once Fane has a chance to rest and bandage, he is ready to enter the back door.

[The party may take a Short Rest.  I believe Fane is the only one with a need to spend hit dice or recover spells.  Please make any HD rolls on your character sheet and post the results here.]

As Fane is finishing up bandaging herself, a heavy wagon rolls past, escorted by eleven dwarves.  They watch the house nervously as they pass, many of them making 'evil eye' and other hand gestures.  They note your presence with curiosity, as well as the small mountain of dead weasels by the roadside, but they do not pause to talk.  Instead they hurry past the house with all the speed the wagon can muster.  You do see many of them looking back at you and talking among themselves as they pass out of sight. 

It seems you have completed the first part of Manistrad Copperlocks assignment - be seen in the process of investigating the house.

Returning to the rear of the house, Eron approaches the door.  It unlatches easily and pushes open with a low creaking sound.  Beyond, a narrow hall leads into the damp and dilapidated interior of the home.

[Do you proceed inside?  What is your positioning/marching order?]

“Well Tillman would you happen to have a torch or lantern by chance?  I’d be happy to lead the way.  Just be cautious there may be weakened floors and ceilings in here.  And we may flush out a squatter.  Alright here goes.”

If Eron can see he will try to carefully/stealthily proceed.

stealth 7 as the floor creaks and a random bit of plaster fall loose, “Shhh.”

Fane recovers 6 HPs during the rest.

She will use Arcane recovery to regain a spell slot, and then use it to cast Mage Armor.

“Thanks!” she says to Tilliman. “Once I’m able to get another short sword I’ll return your dagger. Perhaps we’ll find one in this house.”

Fane waves at the dwarves, and has Leo give a flyby of their wagon, giving a friendly hoot.

“OK, I’m ready to go in” she says, sword and dagger in hand. "If you want to lead, I can pick up the rear, unless you prefer the rear Tilliman? Remember we have Leo and she is an excellent scout if we need her. It maybe a bit cramped for her to fly in there, we’ll see.”

For now Leo will rest on Fane’s shoulder.

Tilliman searches through his pack and replies, "No torch I'm sorry to say. Never had much use for them myself." He finally produces a candle and extends it to Eron. "I have a few of these though. Not sure how much good they'll do you, but better than nothing I suppose. Would you like me to light one for you."

Responding to Fane, he says, "The scouting owl might not be a bad idea, at the very least to inspect the weakened floors our dear friend Eron mentioned."

He looks back to Eron. "That being said, I'm a fairly experienced investigator myself and rather perceptive of potential dangers. So, I'd be happy to take point and keep watch for anything-er... out of the ordinary... But if you'd rather lead, my friend, I'll defer and follow directly behind."

[OOC: Considering his dark vision, high passive investigation and perception, I'd recommend letting Tilliman take the lead. He's also fairly adept at running to take cover behind tougher folks if needs be. So, if we encounter a scrape, he's more than happy to let Eron be the front line defense]

OOC: Fane has dark vision also. She also has torches (starting equipment!) and can give Eron some. We may not need torches? It's daylight and I think we were able to see through some windows, so hopefully it's light inside?

I have no problem with Tilliman leading. With three of us, we should be able to maneuver pretty well.

“Oh ah yes maybe you would be better suited to scout ahead here, good idea Tillman and Fane I guess hang on to the torch unless we need it, one wrong move here and the place could go up in flames.”  Eron is a little surprised by Tillman’s offer but accepts without hesitation, if there is adequate light Eron will be looking for tracks or signs of activity.  survival 14

Tilliman seems to swell with enthusiasm as he steps forward, drawing his two daggers... Checking the straps on his armor and adjusting his spectacles.

"Now then..." Says the gnome. "Let's see what goodies we can find, shall we?"

He starts by peeking down the southern hallway without progressing down that way. Assuming it's clear, he'll also check the door to the north, looking for any evidence that the door has been used recently... footprints... a change in pattern of the gathered dust... any traps built by squatters who might want to assure their privacy is maintained...

Investigation, if needed:

With the overcast skies and rotting drapes covering many of the windows in the house, the interior [but for certain rooms where it will be noted as either dark or fully lit] is in dim light. 

Entering the back door, the party proceed into a narrow hallway that soon makes a lefthand turn toward the front of the house.  Looking down that way, they see another pair of doors before the hall opens up into a wider entryway and the front door of the home.  There is a strong odor of must and decay.  The walls are bare, and bits of smashed furniture lie upon the floor.

The floor creaks in protest as the heavier Eron walks slowly upon it.

Tilliman has no trouble picking out that there are indeed tracks though the thick layer of dust on the floor.  Footprints lead back and forth down this hall, between the front of the house and a nearby doorway.  Opening the door, Tilliman finds a kitchen.  

This kitchen is dirty and damp, with patches of gray mold and cobwebs on the floor, walls, and ceiling. In the southwest corner is some rusted iron cooking equipment with a chimney above. Next to it, under the window, is a cracked and discolored stone sink.  To the right of the sink, a small, closed wooden cupboard is fixed to the wall about five feet above floor level.  Against the far wall, a flight of wooden stairs leads upward from west to east; the woodwork of the staircase is decayed, and a few of the treads are missing. 

There are tracks all over this room, with some leading upstairs and other going through a closed doorway to the right.

[To where do they proceed from here?]

Eron tries to determine the most recent tracks and where they are headed, if he can he will whisper this information to Tillman.

Unless he wants to light a torch, Eron’s rolls will be at disadvantage from the dim light.

Quote from Bartjeebus >>

Unless he wants to light a torch, Eron’s rolls will be at disadvantage from the dim light.

Perception.  15
Survival.  12

 

Tilliman, ever focused on "the good stuff" shows no interest in inspecting the cupboard or the door that, most likely, leads into the pantry. However, he wont object if others want to take a look.

He turns to the others and asks in a whisper, "What say you? Shall we clear this floor before we move upstairs? Ensure we're not cornered up there if there are any, erm... unfriendly folks we encounter?"

“To properly clear the house, we probably should open every door and check out every room. We may as well start with this door in the kitchen, then move to the south, clear this whole floor first as Tilliman said.”

As Eron inspects the footprints, it is hard to tell with absolute certainty.  It appears all these tracks were made around the same time, within the last few days, after no one had been in here walking around for some time... perhaps weeks or months.  Arrow to his head, Eron would decide the tracks here in the kitchen are the newest layer, above those in the rest of the hallway.

Opening the side door within the kitchen, they look into an old scullery room.  This room displays the effects of damp and decay more than most.  Mold grows in patches on the floor, walls, and ceiling.  A large copper cask, split, discolored and empty, stands under the window, with a small heap of crockery shards on the floor beside it.  Stairs lead down into what is presumably a cellar.  The tracks that passed through this door come and go down these cellar steps.

After a passing glance down the stairs, Tilliman looks to the others to confirm. "Same plan still though, yes? Sweep this level before we go about inspecting another?"

If the others agree, he'll continue back down the hall, examining as much as he can without opening any other doors, keeping a keen eye out for any further evidence of anyone who might be currently occupying the first floor.