Seeing that it is dark in the next room, Zap lights a torch then pushes the mahogany double doors open and moves into the room beyond, the rest following.
This room seems to be a wide hall which runs the width of the house, with a black marble fireplace at one end and a sweeping, red marble staircase at the other. Mounted on the wall above the fireplace is a large family portrait, the parents and two children. There is a plaque with writing on underneath the portrait. The wood-panelled walls in the hall are ornately sculpted with images of vines, flowers, nymphs, and satyrs. The decorative panelling follows the staircase as it circles upward to the second floor.
In the circular space at the bottom of the stairs is a grandfather clock.
Suddenly the front door slams shut, extinguishing Zap's torch, plunging the room into darkness. The sound of the rain outside completely vanishes, leaving the house eerily silent. Zap fumbles in the dark to light the torch again, until Einnob - who can see fine in the dark - irritably snatches it from him and does it for him, thrusting it back into his hands.
Bloody letters then begin appearing on the southern wall, just above the marble staircase. They read as follows:
"Soooo" says Danu quietly, "I'm guessing if we try the door it isn't letting us out any time soon. Monster is bound to be in the basement right? Anyone got any good gifts? Or failing that, stabby weapons? Let's find a staircase and head down".
CQ checks the plaque under the painting of the family. It reads:
Mr. Gustav and Mrs. Elisabeth Durst, with their two children, Rosavalda and Thornboldt.
The portrait is obviously Gustav and Elisabeth Durst with their two smiling children, Rose and Thorn. Cradled in the father’s arms is a swaddled baby, which the mother regards with a hint of scorn. The girl Rose is holding a smiling doll wearing a yellow lace dress.
"Does anyone else think it's weird the painting shows 3 kids but the writing on the plaque only references 2?" Danu rubs her hand across her eyes and sighs deeply before she she says "Odds on the baby being our basement beastie?"
Danu puts her first foot on the stairs. Nothing sinister happens. She can keep going up if she wants. The clock ticks really loudly when she is this close to it.
Asha muses: That riddle on the wall, the creature that feasts on blood, I don't fancy meeting him... By my count we have 6 hours to get the hell out of here, or find a gift that will appease him...
She places a foot on the stairs, encouraging Danu to press forward.
There is no reply. The next room as seen through the stained glass windows is dark.
(as discussed in chat)
Danu the halfling druid puts her hand on the wall and closes her eyes. She tries to feel the house, if it is lived in, the sense of life here.
Nature check 13
There is something... something alive but terrible, warped out of it's normal shape.. something powerful, but also not awake.
Danu can't locate it but senses it is some distance away - (ie not in the next room at least)
I lead the team into the next room
Seeing that it is dark in the next room, Zap lights a torch then pushes the mahogany double doors open and moves into the room beyond, the rest following.
This room seems to be a wide hall which runs the width of the house, with a black marble fireplace at one end and a sweeping, red marble staircase at the other. Mounted on the wall above the fireplace is a large family portrait, the parents and two children. There is a plaque with writing on underneath the portrait. The wood-panelled walls in the hall are ornately sculpted with images of vines, flowers, nymphs, and satyrs. The decorative panelling follows the staircase as it circles upward to the second floor.
In the circular space at the bottom of the stairs is a grandfather clock.
Suddenly the front door slams shut, extinguishing Zap's torch, plunging the room into darkness. The sound of the rain outside completely vanishes, leaving the house eerily silent. Zap fumbles in the dark to light the torch again, until Einnob - who can see fine in the dark - irritably snatches it from him and does it for him, thrusting it back into his hands.
Bloody letters then begin appearing on the southern wall, just above the marble staircase. They read as follows:
The grandfather clock then strikes six o’clock.
"Soooo" says Danu quietly, "I'm guessing if we try the door it isn't letting us out any time soon. Monster is bound to be in the basement right? Anyone got any good gifts? Or failing that, stabby weapons? Let's find a staircase and head down".
(from Chat)
CQ checks the plaque under the painting of the family. It reads:
Mr. Gustav and Mrs. Elisabeth Durst, with their two children, Rosavalda and Thornboldt.
The portrait is obviously Gustav and Elisabeth Durst with their two smiling children, Rose and Thorn. Cradled in the father’s arms is a swaddled baby, which the mother regards with a hint of scorn. The girl Rose is holding a smiling doll wearing a yellow lace dress.
"Does anyone else think it's weird the painting shows 3 kids but the writing on the plaque only references 2?" Danu rubs her hand across her eyes and sighs deeply before she she says "Odds on the baby being our basement beastie?"
Danu moves towards the stairs.
"Should we check upstairs first? Maybe some items or ideas to face whatever is in this basement."
CQ thinks: It's strange what's going on with that baby in the portrait...
Danu puts her first foot on the stairs. Nothing sinister happens. She can keep going up if she wants. The clock ticks really loudly when she is this close to it.
(from chat)
CQ goes to the clock and investigates (rolls a 13). It does seem to just be a grandfather clock ticking away loudly.
I move the hour hand backward to 5 o'clock
Zap opens the glass face of the clock and moves the hour hand backwards, but as soon as he lets go, it spins forward again.
(from chat)
Danu: "I don't think that clock is alive but I think it's connected to the house. Pretty sure it won't eat us."
I tip toe up the stairs carefully, pausing on each to see if anything happens before moving to the next.
Asha muses: That riddle on the wall, the creature that feasts on blood, I don't fancy meeting him... By my count we have 6 hours to get the hell out of here, or find a gift that will appease him...
She places a foot on the stairs, encouraging Danu to press forward.
*follow the rest upstairs
Unless...
9
Asha makes her way to one of the doors in the room, after noticing the others gesturing her back from the stairs.