Quillary looks up from the elvish journal at Drusk's exclamation, and glances around, noting Jorin's comment. "Haunted, or perhaps a place that has been moved, to a place on the veil. If they are dead, we would find bodies. So too, if they are undead, though those would be more, animated," she quirks a smile, then her gaze hardens. "If there are no bodies, then there is some deviltry at work we must end."

She does not seem much distressed at the thought of finding bodies. She will follow Hildigrim as he looks in another room.

"Aye, ending deviltry, a good word that, is one of my favorite things."

Drusk is already a little unsettled by the reflection from the canoe. He isn't sure what to make of Quillary's glee when she talks about bodies and undead and stuff like that.

The next workshop is for shipping peat. Strips of turf lay on racks where they have dried for processing. There’s a work table where the turf is cut into uniform sizes, before being bundled and boxed for shipment. It appears that at some point someone started shuffling the turf into the boxes uncut, still completing the task but missing all the steps in between.

(There is one more doorway at the end of the hallway.)

Jorin will move into the next room and check it out.

Quote from Guiltysparc >>

Jorin will move into the next room and check it out.

This is the kryne workshop. It has been tossed about as if a whirlwind struck: silver cabbage-like leaves coat the floor and tabletops.

A schedule on the far wall states that the kryne harvest will take place from noon to dusk at the shore.

There’s a ladder at the far end of the room leading to the attic.

Against my better judgement as a player, Jorin will continue to the ladder and take a peek in the attic.

Quote from Guiltysparc >>

Against my better judgement as a player, Jorin will continue to the ladder and take a peek in the attic.

Both Hildigrim and Quillary feel that there is something wrong here, but are not sure what. For a moment, they hold back Jorin from going up the ladder.

Jorin: "Let us hurry. There is nothing to fear here."

(halfling shoving the barbarian against the wall) "That's what scares me."

Hildigrim is a strange mixture of apprehension and excitement. "I believe my wish for a ghost hunt may have been granted," the halfling says. "Noises that can be attributed to nothing. Movement which is only seen out of the corner of the eye. Lanterns lit and jobs half done, yet no warm bodies to do the tasks." His eyes stray to the ladder, then to Quillary. "You mentioned something about a place that has been moved to the veil. Please elaborate."

OOC: I'm really curious about the attic now!

Quillary murmurs to herself a little, and answers Hildi in quiet tones. "Imagine a place of shades, about their business, unknowing that their lives are in suspense, not dead, yet no longer alive? A place between..." She is quiet a moment longer, then she smiles. "But I think this may have a happier answer. It may be that something in the swamp has taken umbrage at the harvest, the sounds we hear more the directionless creaking of a boat than restless spirits."

She looks up at the attic. "We should see what is up there."

Is the attic opening open, or is there a trap door in the ceiling at the end of the ladder?

Quote from Mingofaust >>

Is the attic opening open, or is there a trap door in the ceiling at the end of the ladder?

Trap door, closed.

Hildigrim looks at the trap door and nods, though he doesn't move.

Jorin looks at Hildi, then the trap door, then back at the halfling, and then uses the head of his axe to push the attic door open.

( Attack: 13 Damage: 9  Terrible rolls, but that is good for the players.)

Jorin is a few steps up the ladder, when he hears the "twang" of a broken tripwire. A concealed heavy crossbow fires. Fortunately, Jorin had his axe out (to push up the trap door, and is able to use the axe head as a shield. The bolt deflects off the axe blade, and strikes the ground between Hildigrim's feet.

After seeing that Jorin is not hurt, Hildi and Quillary nod in agreement. That trap must have been what felt weird about the ladder.

Hildigrim looks up at Jorin. "Please accept my humble apology," the halfling shakes his head, "I should have checked for a trap. I'm so distracted by these supposed ghosts, I didn't even think about the possibility of a physical ambush."

"Do not fret my friend, I am not hurt.  There must be something of value up here."

OoC - Did Jorin open the door?  If not, maybe Hildi should check the actual door for another trap?

Jorin opens the door, then climbs up. After checking that it is safe, he calls to the others to join him.

Creaking open the trap door to the attic reveals a scene of devastation among the stored goods. The storage goods in the attic consist of paper, dried kryne, and spare canoe parts. A cascade of withered blood permeates the far wall and windowsill, with chunks of unidentifiable flesh scattering the floor.

Behind the trap door and facing the window sits a wall mirror propped up by a storage box. Strewn about are personal belongings, mixed with the meat and mess of boxes.

(OOC: Generic search, or are people looking for something in particular?)

Climbing up into the attic, Quillary will avoid the mirror, looking in the mirror, approaching the mirror... this might explain her happenstance clothing and grooming.

She will, instead, examine the blood and meat bits. Here is a d20: 10. Add +5 for Perception, +3 for Medicine, +2 for Nature, or +0 for Investigation.

Everywhere else we've look, the mirrors have been broken, right?

This is the first intact mirror the party has seen so far. It is a half-length mirror.

Quillary finds a small journal among the flesh. The journal is difficult to crack open due to the viscous blood sealing pages together, but the most recent entries are still legible. The highlights (everyone can read it; only in "spoilers" due to the length):

OOC > This is dipping into full gothic horror just in time for Hallowe’en! I love it! I gotta ramp up the Quillary-spookiness-quotient though...