A Curse of Strahds [IC]

“You gotta be kidding me...” Lae sighs. “Shall we see to this as well?”

Here we go again. Let's check out this house. You kids stay here. If we don't come back out run and get help. Zander is going to get behind Lae and draw his bow. He will get behind anyone else that wants to get in melee as well, but he'll be the first ranged.

Lae readies his mace and tries the door.

 The girl says, "We won't go back in there anyway, until we know the monster is gone. Our parents keep it trapped in the basement."

As you head towards the front door, you notice the ever-present mists coming closer and surrounding the outside of the property, but coming no closer. Oil lamps hang by chains from the stone portico ceiling, flanking a set of oaken doors that open (easily) into a grand foyer.

On the south wall of the foyer is a shield emblazoned with a coat of arms  (a stylized golden windmill on a red field), flanked by framed portraits of stony-faced aristocrats. Mahogany-framed double doors leading from the foyer are set with panes of stained glass.

The dog, whether for fear of the mists or reasons of its own has followed you inside.

Embir holds her holy symbol tight as she follows them, albeit a tad bit nervous (A lot nervous).

Your parents are keeping it on purpose? What is it? And where are they?

"They only keep it there to keep us safe from it. They must be downstairs now, keeping guard."

Let's get down there then.

“Something seems off about this place... do you entirely believe these children?”

Not sure, that's why we should be cautious.

Lae takes a closer look at their surroundings in an attempt to discern if they’ve just walked into a dangerous situation.

The room here show no sign of dust or age. The floorboards and wall panels are well oiled, the drapes and wallpaper haven't faded, and the furniture looks new.

The children remain out in the portico, as they will still not enter the house while the monster is there.

“Hrmm .. looks realitively Iively in here.. let’s go straight to the basement to see what monster these children might be referring to.”

Right behind you.

Zennas is going to make note of any exits, hidden doorways and of course, anything of value.  I will also ready my bow and attempt to keep myself in formation with the party but offset so as to keep clear line of sight of any threats. 

(You are in an entryway as described above. There is a double door with panes of stained glass, but that is all you see.)

I guess we go to the double doors then.

You enter a wide hall the runs the width of the house with a black marble fireplace at one end and a sweeping, red marble staircase  at the other. There are four doors leading off the far side of the room (two in a small alcove), as well as one nearly adjacent to the one you just entered through.

It's a little nicer in here than I expected, for a house with a monster. Which door is the basement, you think?

Zander listens to figure out if there's noise coming from anywhere. 4 Perception

You hear what sounds like a faint chanting that seems to becoming from somewhere below you. The staircase in this room, however, leads up.