Erven helps Sho to organize thoughts, occurrences, lore, and makes notes in the books to assist and help with translation of the book...

Bertolt will step forward to help with the translation of the book as well. If it is to crowded for him to do so he will sit to the side and let out a sigh. "If we are to find any of our own belonging I sincerely hope one of them is my pipe...."

Talion makes space for the Bard, clearly happy for a chance to rest and think. He rubs his wound again, doubting how quickly it will heal. Feels like a piece of me just died. He sighs, looking around the room again, his eyes coming to rest on the crib.

"Can they be lain to rest?" he asks absently, "Walter's bones were here...but that's the first remains we've found, I think. It would be good to find Esme's, too."

At the mention of the pipe, he smiles. "I'll keep a look out."

He thinks back, trying to recall if he saw a pipe in any of the rooms. It's not the sort of thing he would have collected, or mentioned, unless it was particularly ornate...

(( @DM: Just checking, we've seen no human (or other) remain at all so far? ))

Arcana (with help): 13 

"What do you think?" Sho asks Bertolt, recognizing the scholar is more familiar with arcane rituals than himself. He has the book open on his lap, and pushes it closer to Bertolt for him to have a better look for some advice.

Erven shows Bertolt his notations, observations in an attempt to help him as well.  

Seeing the remarkable enthusiasm for the book, Talion rouses himself and can not help himself but to take an interest.

(( @DM: in case his help make it easier ))

Erven, after collecting Bear and looking around Esme's suite, you notice that the full length mirror is decorated with intricate carvings of ivy and berries.  Closer inspection reveals teh berries are actually eyeballs.  FInding seams on the outside of the mirror, you also recognize the tell-tale signs of a secret door.  It is not trapped and it clicks as you push it inward.  It swings open to reveal the same stairs found earlier leading up to the attic.

Walter's remains are real and in fact are the first remains you have found inside the house so far.

Erven, you can take another intelligence check now that you have calmed down, if you'd like to remember what you know about specters in general.

As you look through the book during the short rest, your study group finds navigating the pontificating and garbled text somewhat difficult.  But as you read on, those of you with magical or divine experience find yourself shaking your heads.  What the writers say about the cult make no real sense: their rituals and practices are bogus.  You do realize, however, that bogus actions like these can have real consequences if noticed by powerful creatures.  So while invoking sacrifices and performing misinformed rituals may not have had any of the effects intended, they could have been noticed by an enterprising and opportunistic darker power waiting to take advantage of such folly.  

Intelligence check re: Specters   :  13

sorry with advantage!

2nd roll for advantage :  13

At the end of the rest Talion rises, feeling considerably better but still aware that his wound is far from completely healed. He looks around at the remains of the nursery, "All this...and all that's happened to us...because they were idiots. That letter -- from the hidden room -- it said as much, I think." He nods to Sho's backback and waits for him to dig it out, "'Cursed by darkness'. Hah! Cursed by me as well, now."

He reads a little more then snorts, "I don't believe it!" All a big mistake! "Rich people never learn". Always want more. Gets them every time. First rule of the con -- need to be corrupt to start with. He keeps reading, and frowns, "If the letter is right, there's an altar and a dungeon yet to be found. Perhaps that is where we will find Esme's remains."

He hands the letter back to Sho and stands, then looks around at his companions, "Well -- I thought we were near the end, but it seems there's more useless trinkets to pillage before we rest!", the last is said with a grin at Onyx.

With a cautious look at the dog, he nods in the direction of the corridor. "There is but one room left before we ascend" he says, indicating with a flourish, that someone else should take the lead.

"We should look upstairs.  And then, we still have yet to find the basement, where the creature who wants to "pull your eyes out" lives."  With the last, Erven imitates the mechanical odd voice of Rose and Thorn as he says "pulls your eyes out."  

"I'm not at my strongest either, and I need a longer rest to feel better.  Onyx, can you lead?"

Talion pauses, "There is still a room just around the corner" he says. "I think you had a good idea about laying their remains to rest. Esme's may be there."

Erven replies, “You’re right, I forgot that.”  He takes this moment in time to break off footboard or take apart one drawer for a piece of wood, and also fashions a crude stake.  He carves on the piece of wood with his dagger -

“Here lies Walter, the unwanted bastard son of an evil man, Gustav Durst and his mistress Esme, killed by Gustav and his cult for their purposes.  R.I.P.”

Quote from Twombley >>

2nd roll for advantage :  13

 @Erven
While still shaken, you are able to dredge your thoughts about specters.  You know all about them.  You also know that putting remains into sanctified or sacred ground, or at least removing them from the site of their demise, has the best chance of allowing any spirit to be set free.  You hear a whisper in your mind though, "The sentinel will take me for a time" - you gasp inwardly as a terrible notion assails you.  What did Esme mean - for a time?  Perhaps all that is needed is time, and the specter will be back where she was; the armor will be back where it was; the wolves, the zombies!  

@all
Yes, there is a door across from the master bedroom where Bear was hiding - do you wish to open it?

Bertolt nods as he forces himself to his feet after their small break, pulling the shortsword free from where he had made a makeshift loop for it. "I for one will second the idea of a much longer rest. I will not be contributing much more then a sword arm or an occasional crossbow bolt as my more powerful arcane abilities are no longer available."

“Is it possible to rest longer do you think?  Has the mist receded?”  Erven agrees with Bertolt, tries to recall if he noted when he put little Walter’s wrapped up body in the hall.  He sets the makeshift tombstone out by his body to carry down when they are finished.  

Talion shakes his head, "The mist is likely advancing. I think we should press on."

He pulls a healing potion from his pocket and hands it to Sho, "You should drink this before we move on though."

Sho stared at Talion's hand for a moment, a silent second or two passed until he opened his palm and accepted the potion. "I'm sorry you took the hit. I thought she would come for me." Sho offered sincerely, "I'm fine with a longer rest if you and Bertolt both need to recover."

He lowered his eyes and observed the clear liquid inside the vial, the way the enchanted liquid swirled with life force, and closed his hand, holding the glass in his palm. "I will drink it before we start out." He promised.

(Potion of Healing: 7)

Talion smiles and nods, "It's better she hit me: The blow might've killed you, which is why you need the potion. We are all going to get out of this, or none of us are!"

With that he waves his trusty meat cleaver, the smile on his face completely out of place with the grisly weapon. "One more door, then up!"