Pizazz's Ravenloft and Beyond

Ulthan nods at the healing "thank you". As before Ulthan tries to stay as far back as possible but still have line of sight into the room that they're getting into but up to 45 feet away from the group, just outside fireball blast... he's had enough of those to last a lifetime.

You pull open the amber door. Stone blocks resembling tables stand in the center of this room covered in dust. Carved into the stonewalls are niches filled with hundreds of dusty bottles. Cobwebs hang from wooden ladders that lean against the walls. There appear to be no exits or creatures here. The ceiling is 15 feet high. 

"Empty. And I do not see anything suspicious." Still, just to be sure, Lionel stepped inside and slowly looked around (Perception 17 )

The small bottles appear to have perhaps been potions that have long ago since dried into nothing. The ladders that help reach the higher cubby holes are rotted and don't look like they'd hold weight. In the back right corner he looks at the wall and it seems clear that a hidden door slides open.  He pushes on a section and the door grinds open.  He swings it open.  Inside there is a small hallway.  On the other side is clearly another secret door into another room.  To the right is a normal door.  To the left is a stairway that spirals downwards. 

"Ulthan thinks no go down so no behind, finish up here first." Nonetheless he waits for the group and looks like he'll still follow.... for as long as the healing lasts...

"I agree.  We should clear at least these rooms here before moving further into unknown territory."

"Secret doors... I did not check it there... We have to get to the room with the statue!" not very comprehensively exclaimed Lionel, walking to the other door (the one opening in the most northern room out of 3 in the "skulls hall").

The 2nd door in the "skulls" hallway opens up to reveal a hallway that ends in a door. You check and sure enough it opens up into the same location as the secret door.  You head to the last door and push it open. Dominating this room is a twelve-foot-tall model of a dark castle with high walls and tall spires. Behind it, tucked in a corner, are some ruined furnishings and a wooden chest. The castle is obviously a replica of castle Ravenloft.  The ceilings here are 15 feet high.  Based on the secret door in the other room you quickly find the secret door that leads back into the hallway with the stairs. 

For the next several minutes Lionel was lost for the world, studying the castle. Even if only from outside, even if he himself said no one is going to storm the castle, still, the general idea what is what here could be useful. If during this time no one opened the chest, Lionel will do it too. Unlikely The Sword ended up here, but - let there be no stone unturned!

Mordekai will suggest that Meepo check out the chest, looking to see if it's a) locked, and b) trapped.  As for himself, Mordekai will join Lionel studying the Castle.  (Is it just a sculpture of the outside, or is it a model like in the evil house with a representation of the inside layout of the castle, too?)

First, in the potion bottle room, Meepo sends Rat up to look in the cubbies at the top of the rotten ladders.  If the fmailiar finds anything there Meepo would pause long enough to retrieve it.

In the castle-room, Meepo nods to Mordekai.  His eyes would have already been on the chest regardless.  Moving over he casts detect magic as a ritual, then checks the chest for traps.

Investigation: 26

Rat is on Meepo's shoulder in the castle room, aiding with the investigation attempt, and also keeping an eye out for invisible creatures within 30 feet of Meepo himself.

Meepo and his companion check the tops of the potion shelves, but sadly they are all long ago dried to scum and dust. 

In the castle room Lionel and Mordekai begin investigating the replica which does have an inside and, pulling off certain sections gives you access to see the inside but sadly the internal layout is not represented like it was in the childrens house, it's just a large empty inside. 

Meepo moves over to the chest.  He carefully checks it over, casting detect magic.  It seems safe and opens easily enough. Old map cases fill this chest but the maps within, you quickly learn, have long ago fallen to dust. However your detect magic reveals something beneath the bottom of the chest and a few moments later you pull aside the false bottom to reveal a book. It's magic makes Meepo's fingers tingle. Flipping through some pages, it seems to contain words that discuss insight and have exercises to help develop insight. 

"Clear. If nothing comes up from that stairs we seem to be safe. I would keep door closed, though. Well, dining room then. And then to the balcony." Lionel led the way to the big room with tables and food on it.

As you push open the double amber doors you find yourself in a lit room. Torches in sconces illuminate a dining table in the center of the room. Covering the table is a magnificent feast that fills the hall with the rich smells of cooked meat, sweet vegetables, piping hot gravy, and wine. The ceilings here are 20 feet high.  There are double doors exiting to the right, which you know leads out onto the crumbling eastern back balcony in the main temple room. 

Lionel ignores table completely - please, everything is crumbling and frozen, nothing but skeletons and dead bodies around, yet, here it is a fully served table! Besides, he did not expect to find The Sword at the bottom of the gravy boat. What he hoped to find is a secret door leading to the room with the statue - if it existed, it had to be on the wall opposite to the skull hall. Perception:  14

Ulthan's stomach grumbles a wee bit... but is just too weary of this place. Perception 19. Yay, you can now roll on the character sheet!!! oh.. wait... does not actually show up here... whoops, please add 2 to the result above, accidentally rolled init rather than perception. So 17 for Perception.

Lionel and Ulthan examine the room, but can't locate any secret doors.  And aside from the feast on the table with silver cutlery, fine china, a full gravy boat (too small to fit a sword hilt) and carafe's of wine, the room is empty.

Meepo frowns at the book and shrugs.  He puts it in his pack and moves on to join the others.  "Go back to room fight barbarians?"  Meepo asks the group.  "From there take door to statue room..."

Ulthan nods, seemingly content for others to take the lead. He watches the back and even when entering the room, he finds a corner, bow in hand and scans the room paying attention not just to sight but sound as well in case something wants to come up from behind.

I think Lionel is looking for the room he woke up in, with the cursed small statue, not the main room.  Also Lionel knows that through those double doors lead into the main temple room, out onto the broken north west balcony, and there are double doors there that lead through into the smaller cursed statue room where he awoke.  Though, I believe he's looking for a secret door so he doesn't have to go through the main temple room.  However that's all just DM conjecture.  Either way.  Here's a map!