"Sounds like a plan sounds like a plan.  Tell ya what, once I see you check out that door I'll send you a quick message in the old noggin and you can let us know what you see that way.", He says to Gracy.

Archibalds prepares a firebolt just in case anything pops out in the mean time.   When Gracy checks out the door, he'll send her a message spell. "So what do you see?  You can respond to this message."

Zmeya is satisfied with the investigations her other companions have carried out. She hangs back for the moment, peering at the house and potential occupants of it. Was there anyone, perhaps, observing their actions through a window? Movement behind curtains? Smoke coming from a chimney? Anything that could disclose the presence of inhabitants?

Regardless, she follows the party's lead towards the door. "We have a task to complete - I would advise leaving the well and surrounding areas to be until it is completed. The back door may prove to be useful for an escape. I concur with that order of travel. And by the way," she says, turning to Gracy. "If that animal happens to be a giant snake, I might be able to...converse with it." 

Klaus gives a wary look back at the disturbed earth.  His pride is wounded that he is not in the vanguard with Hiramat, but even his pride can not argue with the logic of Gracy.  He walks with in a nearly sideways gait, sword in hand, looking forward and back as he shuffles his feet, his shield arm trailing behind in readiness for an attack to the party's rear.  The fact that the last intruder upon these grounds is likely dead fills the young paladin with a sense of dread.  His first real test as a servant of Helm is a test of his nerve.  

Steeling himself, he moves further into the house.

The furious planning session plays out before Wilmot, who looks on with feigned interest, nodding and "mhmmm mmhmmm" occasionally, when it seemed appropriate. In all honesty, the flurry of ideas blew right past him. He knew no matter what plan, he'd probably ignore it. That was just his nature. As the others move to their respective places, it occurs to him that he should likely do the same. He steps up behind the paladin, lurking behind him and peering past.

"This is exciting, no? Wonder if death lies ahead."

1 - ENTRANCE HALL

(Take a look at the map in Discord for reference.) 

The front door opens onto a musty, dirty entrance hall. To your left, a corridor leads into the west wing of the house. The walls are bare and bits of smashed furniture lie upon the floor. Ahead of you, another corridor leads toward the rear of the house. A staircase on the eastern wall climbs to the next story, reaching it at a balcony that overlooks the entrance hall along its north and west sides; the stairs appear safe to climb, though the balcony rail is broken in several places. Under the stairs at the north end of the hall, a third corridor leads east. The stairs show considerable wear and creak ominously when tread upon but remain strong enough to support anyone climbing to the second floor.

DC 10 Intelligence (Investigation) or Wisdom (Survival) check: ?!?!?!?

Gracy carefully enters the main hall, checking for any traps or obvious pitfalls.

Replying to the arcane message, he whispers 'all looks clear in here, I'm heading in'

With that he moves 15 feet into the middle of the entryway, pausing to listen for any signs of movement or moans.


Investigation 8

Edit: womp-womp :)

Wilmot fidgets, glancing and avoiding the foot-to-foot shuffle of Klaus ahead of him. Finally, having had enough, he leans forward nudging the paladin to step toward the door. "My friend, either nature is calling you or destiny," he says. "Either way, let us move."

The firbolg then follows the paladin into the manor, urging the others along as well. Once in, he takes a gander around the room. 

Survival: 11

Wilmot, you find two sets of recently made humanoid tracks. One set of tracks travels from the entryway toward area 9. The second leads away from the foot of the stairs and along the western corridor toward area 4.

Dun dun dun..

Archibald enters a few paces behind Wilmot and Klaus.  He takes survey of what once must have been a very eloquent home.  Maybe with a few coats of paint and some pictures it could make a nice summer escape.  But no time for that now.  Looking around he also tries to see any trace of former or present residents of the home.   

Survival: 17

Klaus attempts to listen for anything other than the sound of himself and company moving through the house:

Perception:  5 

Hiramat enters the hall with Gracy at his side, the excitement and fear of being in the vanguard, where he belongs, quickens his senses and he is acutely aware of his surroundings, sight, sound, and smell.

Survival 8

Wilmot lets out an audible, "Huh?" Pointing to the tracks, he tells the others. "Looks like we may not be alone here." He points out both sets of tracks. "Which way?"

Archibald also sees the two sets of tracks.

Archibald looks to his friends, “Well, perhaps we head to the western side of the house.  I believe that is also the location of the other entrance/exit.  Might as well check it out and kill two birds with one stone.”  He then waits for his more stealthy, and durable friends, to proceed either way.  

Wilmot nods in agreement. “I’m all for efficiency, Archie,” he says as he pats the half-elf on the head and then nudges the paladin forward. “Come brave soul, chase your destiny.”

Wilmot follows the others once they begin moving forward. 

Zmeya walks into the manor with curiosity, keeping watch over the back of the party. Growing up mainly in thatched-roof huts and houses, architecture such as this was a wonder to behold. In fact, the only thing familiar to her eyes were the tracks on the floor below. "These are recently molded," she whispers, her raspy voice sounding almost identical to the hiss of a snake. "There is a door leading out the direction the tracks to the east point towards. If someone was inside the house and noticed us enter, they would flee out that way. I say we head left first." 

Klaus takes comfort in the humor of the wise cleric.  Maybe he should ask the cleric if those herbs help him stay so relaxed during these forays.  He obliges Wilmot's command.  He proceeds in the indicated direction.  

Heading left inside the house leads you all down a long hallway with a door on either side that can lead to AREA 2, and/or AREA 3. OR, you can enter AREA 4 beyond the door at the end of the hall.

The house’s interior is dilapidated and damp, with patches of harmless mold everywhere. The woodwork is generally rotten, cobwebs and dust are thick, and rubbish is scattered everywhere. Plaster fallen from the walls and ceiling lies strewn across the floor, along with the shattered remains of vandalized furniture. All house corridors are 5 feet wide and 10 feet high; all ceilings are 10 feet high. All doors are 5 feet wide and 7 feet high, of normal wood construction; all are closed but unlocked and easy to open. Most of the window panes are broken, and all are easy to open.

Gracy heads down the hallway and checks the door to the southern room (Area 2) for traps before opening it and peering inside.

Investigation 11

The door is unlocked. Gracy peeks into the room. This room was once a library, with bookshelves around the walls. Most of the shelves are broken, and in many places they have come away from the wall. The few shelves still intact are empty, but a pile of books rests in the southwest corner. Without going further inside, you won't know more details.