"I wouldn't mind stopping by the lake as well. Even if Strahd's wolves aren't inclined to join the old man in "fishing", I cannot help but curious to know if its just dumb luck, or some other protection he's squirreled away for the trips." Rudick admits. But beyond as much, he got up, geared up, and looked ready follow after the others where they should desire for the scenic trip. Though as always, he kept the face place down and in place to at least alleviate some of the attention the group would not doubt incur during the little stroll.

As the party leaves the church, Father Lucian criss out, "Don't be surprised if you are invited into the Burgomaster's home today after what you did!"

 You venture outside. The town around has mostly waken from the slumber of the chilly night, and you see villagers milling about and doing their morning tasks. When you ask where the Burgomaster is, they look cautiously at you for a moment before telling you. With their directions, you make it the the mansion of the Burgomaster of Vallaki. This mention has walls of plasted stone that display many scars where the plaster has fallen away from age and neglect. Drapes cover every window, including a large, arched opening above the mansions double entrance doors. You see a woman and what you assume her young child each carrying bundle of sticks go up to the door and knock. A moment later, a maid opens the door and invites them in.

You ask another passing villager for directions to Fiona Wachter, and they too appear apprehensive before answering you. They tell you her house is called the "Wachterhouse." Following their directions, you believe you found what you were looking for. This house seems disgusted with itself. A slouching roof hangs heavy over furrowed gables, and moss-covered walls sag and bulge under the weight of the vegetation. As you study the house's sullen countenance, you hear the edifice actually groan. Only then do you realize the extent to which the house hates what it has become.

Skip apprehensively looks upon the Wachter house, looking for any signs on ingress, guards around the place, using his criminal instincts

perception 20

Alev shudders before answering Rudick's suggestion. "I agree with you in that the lake seems fishy... Not pun intended" He says. "But... I'd rather not get too close to those damn wolves again if I can help it, please. At least, not now."

When they reach the house, he notices the house's strange aura. Remembering the haunted house they dealt with at the start of all this, he looks at it trying to see any ghost inhabiting it, or to see what kind of magic could be shrouding it.

Investigation or Arcana: 1

Sergei says,

“The Wachter house seems the more deplorable of the two. But how can we get inside to investigate further?”

"Of course he will," Rudick groused after the call. Yet, seeming resigned to the projected future, it is all he would say on the matter as the group eventually made their way through town. Each time the group is met with apprehension regarding the high ranking or "potentially" high backed pair, the more the Orc grumbled and fidgeted whenever still for a moment too long.

"Hmph. For someone backed by darkness, they certainly have much to show for it." He stated flatly. Then at Sergei's question, he just looks down to Skip, "What do you think, little one? Think you can manage getting inside? Or are we to try-..." He growls and shook his head as if the next words pained him to even think. "Seek an audience, promising... assistance in changing things around here leadership wise."

"The straight-forward option is normally the best." Leann says, but will let Skip do his thing first if that seems to be what the group wants. She would rather just walk up and knock, and speak to this person, rather than skulk around.

Skip quietly pads up to the front door and tests the handle while knocking

Alev, you don't notice anything peculiar about the house. It seems old,and the weight of ages pushes down upon it. Despite its age, the surrounding gardens seem to be doing quite well.

Skip, you inspect the house as you approach dark wooden door. An oddity you notice is that the gardens are well-groomed, but the house seems almost neglected. It looks like someone has tried tidying up the house, but you can see that the quality wasn't the greatest. You also notice that a path leading to cellar doors on the house seems well-used.

You knock on the door, and you hear someone approach a few moments later. The doors open, and a young man with dark brown hair the scruffy beginnings of a beard opens the door. He wears simple clothing, and he holds a basket covered in a cloth. He seems slightly anxious about somethin, and when he sees you, he says, "If you'll excuse me, I need to get past you." With that , he attempts to move past you. 

Skip hears a woman call out from in the house, "Whoever knocked can come into the foyer. I'll be with you in a moment."

Leann would step aside for the man, then head inside, looking for a place to wait for whomever told them to come inside.

Sergei will proceed with the group, though he’s curious about the cellar.

Noting the well trodden path to the cellar, Skip cautiously enters the house as bidden. He looks to the others as they all enter the foyer, and melts back a little, doing his best to join the shadows. The jumpy guy with the basket has him in edge, as does the disparity between house and gardens

stealth 12

From the moment Rudick sees Skip knock on the door, Rudick had quietly lowered his hand into his face and shook his head. Then following a sigh and muttered "Whatever", the Orc trailed behind the others as they made to follow. Though seeing the man along the way, Rudick would use the distraction of him asking/moving past the others to try and catch a glimpse of any odd shapes poking into the blanket or sticking out of the basket itself.

Perception: 20.

And when that is likely not enough to glean much, he ask frankly after stepping intentionally in the man's path after he makes past the others, "Hold a moment. What's got you so spooked?" He asked while regarding the man closely, hoping to glean more on his state than simply nervousness.

Insight: 8.

((All right, I'm back))

Rudick, while you don't see anything curious about the basket, you do hear the faint clinking of metal coming from under the cloth as he walks.

Errand boy deception: 18

The young man pauses in his buddy to leave and says hurriedly, "Just got a lot do, that's all." Now that you look closer , you can see he is a bit frazzled and overwhelmed.

As everyone steps inside, "foyer" doesn't quite describe the small room you find yourself in. You are in a 15 by five foot room, and you can see three stained glass doors in wooden frames lead from it. You assume that two of them are closets, and the door across from you is slightly ajar. You can see past the door, a wooden staircase leads up to a balcony of sorts. The floor you stand upon is a polished gray granite with specks of minerals throughout. The walls are painted a purplish-maroon color, and it is trimmed in a handsome mahogany. Two small lamps hang from the wall on either side of the door you just entered, and a faint herbal scent drifts through the air. You hear a set of footsteps approach, and you have a moment to prepare yourselves.

Sergei, you notice something draped in a veil of illusion scamper across the ceiling with your unnatural vision. (I'm pretty sure you said you always had Detect Magic up a while ago).

Leaving the orc to interrogate the young man, Alev takes a moment to take in the beauty of the room and the nice herbal scent before he hears the footsteps.

"...Hello?" He nervously says to whoever is coming close, be Wachter or anyone else. 

Leann stands stoicly waiting for their host to arrive. She has her hands clasp behind her back, taking in the area around them, but not overly concerned with how the walls and floor look.

 (@Dimir: Welcome back, boss man.)

"I see... " The Orc replied calmly, and a hint of sympathy beneath the gravelly voice. "Very well. If you are in need of assistance then, do not be afraid to seek us out. The lady of the house and her progeny-..." He gestures back to the house with his head. "Can be overbearing, if the rumors are true. And times like these being overwhelmed is the least thing one needs to be." With that, he pats the young man on the shoulder, and starts past him.

Before fully making it that first step past however, he pauses, glances back, and says, "And be careful. Even metal should be given the respect when handled." Unless young man had more to say in response, Rudick carries on inside after the others, appearing just as weary if not moreso once inside the building. Trusting, if somewhat warily so, Leann and Sergei to handle talks, the Orc cleric stands behind the others, arms folded, and fully at attention in anticipation of the next arrival.  

What can Sergei see about the scampering thing? Is the illusion meant to make it invisible?

Sergei is otherwise content to wait for the approaching footsteps.

((I forgot to say so last post, but you don't see any creature. You instead see an aura of illusion move across the ceiling. It could be some sort of invisibility charm.))

The slightly ajar door is opened completely, and you see a young woman with braided blond hair and green eyes wearing a maid outfit before you. ((Sergei notes that she an aura of transmutation clinging to her.))

She says pleasantly with a smile, "Follow me please." You follow her through the door, and you promptly pass through another door that opens up into a large room. This room has a large table ringed with chairs before you, and two couches are near the fireplace to your right. An elaborate rug rests on the stone floor between the two areas. Dinner plates are arranged artfully upon the table, and a pretty flower arrangement serves as the centerpiece. You can see a few paintings hanging from the walls depicting mountain scenes. Between the two couches to your right is a small coffee table with a porcelain kettle complete with a set of tea cups atop it. A waft of steam curls from its spout. A fire burns merrily in the fireplace as it crackles and pops. A few decorations rest upon the mantle, and above the mantles is a large portrait of a family depicting a woman and a man both with a young boy upon their knee. Sitting upon on of the couches is an older woman who appears to be one of the people in the picture wearing a fine purple dress made of silk that clings to her thin frame. Her graying black hair is done up in an elaborate bun, and her fair skin is beginning to wrinkle. She sips from a cup held by long, delicate fingers as her pale blue eyes watch the group. As you walk in, she lowers her cup, and a warm smile that doesn't quite match the way she looks at you comes across her face. She says, "Please, sit down." She gestures at the couch across from you. As you approach, she says, "Would you care for some tea, my fine adventurers?"

"Sure." Leann says taking a seat. She accepts the tea when offered it.