Nemeia seems to recoil as the flames flair. She pulls herself back as if trying to protect herself from a threat even though the flame seemed to only target that one area. Cali nestles against her leg in a comforting gesture. "If no one is home, should we look elsewhere?," Nemeia seems to ask with reluctance before following the others. It was clear that the tiefling had an odd fear of the fire.

9 will carefully look around and then concentrate on any sounds that she is able to hear anything at all coming from the manor.

”This whole place is a trap, isn’t it?

Perception: 11 + 4

"But it does beg the question, 'Why protect an empty house with so many traps?' I don't believe this is the entrance we should be entering from. Maybe we skirt the perimeter for signs of use at an entry and approach from there?" Kal says with only a little concern in his voice.

Sora carefully tests the tiles just past the entrance with the tip of her foot, making sure no other explosion of black firey death occurs. Once she's satisfied there's no immediate danger she steps into the house and the main hall beyond the door. Looking around carefully, she begins to respond to the others. "They wouldn't have placed traps here unless there was something to protect. All the more reason to investigate, but be careful." She looks to Kal as she continues, "For all we know that trap was set to go off if someone other then Linthe walked through that door. Regardless, not much point looking for another entrance now."

I guess there might be nothing here and it's just a death-trap, says Witt cheerily.  But what a strange thing to do.  Suppose some unsuspecting royal official or guard tried to get in and was injured or killed.  It would be terrible.  And raise suspicions - what is she hiding?  Unless of course, the trap is specifically for us.  Thinking about it makes my head hurt.  

Witt is happy to provide Guidance to anyone making any kind of investigation or stealth check, if it makes sense in context.

Moira

"Transmutation? That's the one that turns things into something different right?" As Sora starts making her way into the house Moira stops her. "Wait I can continue to help make sure we do not get hit with one of these traps for now. Give me a moment please."  She kneels down and begins to trace sigils in the air repeating Elivo erecuder aton  After a minute of this three puffs of smoke leave three new Rustys on the ground looking up expectantly. "Where would we like to search first?"  One of the three bounds up to lead the group the other two climbing onto Cali.

Sora continues to move inside the house despite Moira's attempts to stop her. "You can send them to search where ever you think would be best. I honestly couldn't tell you which way to go right now. But we can't spend all day waiting by the door, that'll look suspicious."

Moira

Following behind Sora and the others Moira sends one of the other familiars to head up the stairs. 

Khorzik turns to Witt as they make their way inside at the back of the party. "The rat wasn't real, no. Merely a magical construct. When destroyed he simply ceases to exist. Let us hope to not share its fate. And yes, we can assume the traps were placed for us - or others with a similar agenda. Once a person faces death for their alleged crimes, they have nothing to loose. Indeed, we may resort to similar methods if when no option seems viable."

Slowly and carefully the entire party begins making their way inside the large house. At first there is absolutely nothing. No movement, no sound, nothing changing. You can find no traps or dangers of any kind. Only the remains of the artwork and sculptures you saw upon first opening the front door. One of Moira's familiars runs up the stairs on the far side of the hallway without issue. The other remains with Sora who moves in first, followed nearby by Khorzik then the rest of party moving behind them, wary for anything. But for some time nothing changes.

That is until everyone is past the threshold of the doorway, just as Sora reaches the first pair of pillars holding up the balconies above. 

As it turned out the caution is vindicated. Khorzik is the first to notice as his detection spell alerts him to a flare up of Transmutation magic. The sculptures and art pieces glowing brightly with the magic. But it doesn't take long for everyone to notice as this abandoned art collection begins to move suddenly. The sculptures begin twisting and turning in jagged clumsy movements. The wooden frames of the artwork begins to bend and flex. Slowly at first but soon picking up speed, the framed art pieces, with an almost sarcastic calmness, unhook themselves from their place on the walls, landing on the floor and turning towards the party. Two of the sculptures along the walls also turn towards the party along with two more coming to life just inside a pair of alcoves on either side of the entrance way.

These strange, once beautiful, now gruesomely animated works of art now start moving threateningly towards the group.

Combat Is Starting

The Party gets to act first as you were very prepared.

Initiatives:

9 - 21
Kal'Duros - 15
Khorzik - 9
Moira - 11
Nemeia - 5
Sora - 18
Witt - 24

You may all post your actions!

Moira

Her wand already out Moira sends her familiars to act as diversions against the statues. Then let’s lose a blast of arcane energy at one her self. 

Rusty 1 will help the next attack against the top left statue. 
Rusty 3 will help the next attack against the bottom left statue. 
Rusty 2 will run down the stairs and help against the top right statue that Moira targets. 

Eldritch Blast to the top right statue : Attack: 21 Damage: 8 Force 

Sora immediately pulls out her swords and takes a split second trying to decide which direction to attack first. She decides to move the the south side of the room next to the first painting and close to the sculpture next to it. She slashes hard with her first sword against the painting then slashes again with her other sword against the sculpture.

Attack: 13 Damage: 8

Bonus Attack: 20 Damage: 11

Kal flings his robes wide as he draws two stunted scimitar's from their sheaths. With a set brow of determination the swordsman darts to the left side of the room stepping deftly passed the two magical companions next to him and sliding around the pillar. He hopes the alcove to his back is enough cover from the statue getting its bearings or that Nemia and her steel defender will be able to keep it distracted.

The scimitars join at the base of their hilts with a solid clink as Kal gives a tentative twirl. Golden fire with tinges of green lick the edges of the blades from the simple spin. Satisfied, Kal leaps into action attacking the painting in front of him. Fire etches across the blades as he brings them into an upward slash. The golden blaze washing over the painting and splashing into the statue behind it. He continues the slash into a more fervent spin of his double bladed weapon. The fire builds on the edges then bursts forward in a cone of flame that washes down the western wall engulfing two paintings and a statue. The burst of heat lasts a moment then dissipates as Kal takes a ready stance to defend himself.

Witt casts Spiritual Weapon to attack the statue on the top right:  Attack: 9 Damage: 6

Otherwise, he's in the back.  If he can see any of the statues clearly he will attack the nearest one with his shortbow:  Attack: 24 Damage: 5, otherwise he just waits and watches.

9 will start muttering prayers to the Lady and as she does, dust in the room starts swirling to form a small flock of brown ravens that start harassing the statue in front of her. Simultaneously, 9 snaps her whip at the statue with the black streaks of lighting jumping along its form. 

Whip Attack: 25 Damage: 8 and 4 thunder if the statue moves

Spiritual Weapon Attack: 22 Damage: 8

Khorzik small his old, battered shield and sets it between him and the nearest animated objects. He then reaches into one of many pouches and pulls out a small flask. A thick, grey sludge moves lazily inside as he unstoppers the flask and begins swirling it while chanting strange arcane words in goblin. As the chant finalizes, he throws the flask towards the NorthWest corner of the room. The flask shatters, and the contents rapidly expand into thick, sticky strands of webbing.

The animated artworks make their jagged, aggressive movements towards the party with clear violent intent, but the party is ready for them and attacks furiously in their defense. Magic and steel fly through the air slamming against canvas and marble. Moira and Kal land a full assault on the statues to the north end of the hall, flames and force wreaking havoc on their enemies. Witt calls upon a divine farm tool to protect his allies but the mystical translucent weapon fails to make contact with the more agile picture frame. However his arrow from his bow does strike a distant sculpture. Unfortunately it becomes quickly apparent that all of the purely physical attacks against the marble sculptures are not doing nearly as much damage as one might expect. Still their efforts are chipping away at these hard enemies. They are further hampered with Khorzik's web spell which manages to ensnare most of the enemies along the north wall.

9 wastes no time attacking the sculpture next to her, calling upon the Mistress of Death herself to attack the lifeless, fateless construct. Shadowy spectral ravens claw and bite at the marble surface as she slams it with her whip with thunderous might. By contrast the other animated enemies on the south side of the hallway prove far more agile, dodging away from Sora's powerful sword swings. They quickly shuffled around her as they come out of their corner. One of the paintings and one of the sculptures counter attack Sora while the third painting rounds around her and reaches out to slap Khorzik. The remaining sculpture to the south attacks 9 back as well, seeming almost angry by her previous assault.

On the north side of the room, the statue and painting to either side of Kal'duros try to attack him, though the painting behind him is clearly having trouble due to being stuck to the web. Likewise, being unable to move from their positions, the remaining statue and painting on the north side attack the only enemy they see near them, one of Moira's Rusty familiars.

Sculpture against Kal'Duros Attack: 13 Damage: 3    miss

Painting against Kal'Duros Attack: 13 Damage: 6    miss

Sculpture against Rusty Attack: 15 Damage: 5    miss

Painting against Rusty Attack: 21 Damage: 4    Hit!

Sculpture against 9 Attack: 22 Damage: 6    Hit!

Painting against Khorzik Attack: 10 Damage: 10    miss

Sculpture against Sora Attack: 7 Damage: 7    miss

Painting against Sora Attack: 19 Damage: 4    Hit!

Moira

The remaining familiars continue their distraction of the sculptures. Moira seeing her target is now restrained in sticky webbing lets lose another blast of arcane energy.

Help on the first attacks against the two sculptures to the left. 

 Eldriytch blast Attack: 27 Damage: 7 Force on top right sculpture

With a loud grunt of frustration, Sora whirls around and attacks the painting that moved behind her, trying to at least ensure it doesn't attack anyone else if possible. Ideally her swords will shred the ugly painting into scrap.

(Attacking the painting in the middle of the room)

Attack: 12 Damage: 7

Bonus Attack: 9 Damage: 12

Witt will send an arrow and his spiritual weapon to attack the same statue, the one in the top right:

Spiritual Weapon: Attack: 13 Damage: 9 (if advantage, then the other attack roll is 15)

Shortbow attack:  Attack: 16 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll. (advantage roll is 7)