Renny watches the prestidigitation not work... she takes one of the little pebbles she collected and flicks it toward one of the girls.

Renny, the pebble passes right through the girl child. You see the same slight flicker of the girl's form when it does. 

The younger, smaller boy child says "Hey! Don't throw stuff at my sister!" and looks quite sad.

Renny steps closer, very cautiously, trying to figure them out, "They're illusions.. or ghosts.. I guess."

Perception: 9

Investigation: 8

" Spirits....either of those that died in the house or formed by the house to lure folks in...either way there's nothing to be gained from them"

" This baby troubles me more than the monster, we should head up first..."

She tromped towards the front door.

Renny - you assume they are illusions, or ghosts, but can only assume this because of what happened with the pebble.

Ignatia, the girl child looks to you and says "Yes... head up first, then go and get rid of that monster in the basement!"

Both of the children smile at you as you walk past them towards the front door. Can I please have a Perception check as you get closer to the main entrance - actually, anyone else who is going to go to the front door, please roll the same check. 

Perception:18

Perception: 5

All of you, including Hilvira, plod up to the front gate, past the 2 children. "Oh, thank you, thank you! We will wait outside while you go on in then." the older girl says as she and the younger boy smile at you as you walk by and make it to the house entrance.

A wrought-iron gate with hinges on one side and a lock on the other fills the archway of a stone portico. The gate is unlocked, and its rusty hinges creak when the gate is moved. Oil lamps hang from the portico ceiling by chains, flanking a set of large oak doors which are open and lead into a grand foyer.

Ignatia, you notice in the foyer that there are portraits on the wall of stony faced aristocrats, and a shield with a coat of arms engraved into it (a red windmill).

What do you want to do? Let me know any specific checks, etc. you might want to do as me move through the house as well. 

Also, let me know your thoughts on the general marching order. I am thinking Hilvira likely would be first to go barging through the place :) but let me know your thoughts. The house is tight in some areas, and I'm not sure if you guys will want to split up or not, but for normal progression marching order let me know where your character likely would be situated.

Updated Map:

Renny takes a moment to get a look at the portraits, "They seem nice..." not the least amount of sarcasm there..

She looks at the interior door, is it cracked open at all? Any signs of damage or other weirdness unbecoming of a door?

Renny, it's a mahogany framed double door, set with panes of stained glass. No particular weirdness. It's actually quite beautiful. For a door. 

It is also closed.

Ignatia reached out to push the door open...

Ignatia, you push the door, and it opens indeed. creeeaaaakkkk

From standing just in front of the doorway, you see what seems to be the main hall of the house. From where you are currently, you don't get any other details other than this map update.

For the sake of the story with Hilvira, we will assume that her entire interaction (and existence) never happened. Only the 3 of you have been hired (as you know of....)

Regarding the lighting - it's still a bit bright outside due to the intense sunset which is causing the house to light up quite nicely, so you all can see clearly with no night vision or light source requirement needed.

For now.

Flynt - since the characters haven't moved into the next large room yet, feel free to role play your entrance into the house anytime now as you meet up with the 3 others in the room with the portraits.

Ignatia, Karlina and Renny - before you are able to enter the next room, you suddenly hear (and see) a Dragonborn coming into the house behind you.

"Hold there! Who are you?" Karlina questions the dragonborn, one hand reaching for her axe.

Renny turns sharply at the sound of Karlina yelling at someone, raising her hands to be ready to cast, "Ghost?!"

 Flynt holds his hands up and shows his symbol of Bahamut. "I am not ghost," he answers in a stoic, deep voice. "I am Flynt Silverflame, a servant of Bahamut. I am here to aid you."

" Right. Not a ghost. Good enough for me."

" Ignatia. This is Firebug and Blondie."

She pushed through the door in front of her and turned towards the stairs, her eyes scanning the area.

Investigation: 20

Perception:19

Stealth:12

Ignatia, you confirm this is the main hall of the house as you quite quietly enter the room. The walls are wood paneled with ornately sculptured vines and flowers. There's a black marble fireplace to the west, with a longsword mounted above it. To the east is a sweeping red marble staircase. It's quite majestic actually. It seems to run up the entire house... or at least to the top floor.

You notice there are a bunch of doors as well in all directions. They are all closed (oddly enough).

You don't hear anything right now, except for the odd songbird outside catching the last sunlight of the day.

Updated Map:

Renny looks at Ignatia, "Blondie?" she pulls a bit of brown hair up to look at it, as if double checking.

She looks at the new dragonborn, "I'm Renny."