Corvus takes the dagger without a problem. [Private to Corvus: Feels like any other dagger really except it has a curved blade and appears to be quite rusty. It's already been seen to shed a reddish light.]

From the vantage point the small ruined fortress is little more than a stone manor and a walled courtyard with a tower, now collapsed. The upper story of the manor has fallen in entirely. It was apparently made mostly of wood, and only smashed and charred timbers remain. The condition of the manor’s interior is questionable. All is quiet other than the buzzing of mosquitoes (which are thick), since little life makes its presence known around the moathouse.

The main path leads to a rotten, slightly bowed drawbridge that crosses the water. Four new planks lie atop the rotted wood. On the other side of the drawbridge are two gates leading into the moathouse. One stands open, and the other lies on the ground, just as your previous visit.

Further scouting shows the wide courtyard is paved in cobblestones, although over the years grass and weeds have grown throughout the area. Rubble from the collapsed wall and destroyed upper story still litter the open space. A brown smear spreads across the middle of the courtyard, up the stairs, and into the open doorway at their top. A curved dagger lies near where the smear begins.

The collapsed section in the north east corner appears to have had some work done recently - large pieces of rubble have been shifted to effectively block that as an entry point (could be cleared given an hour or two and several very strong men, but not without making a lot of noise).

A quick inspection from a distance reveals the collapsed section at the northeast corner is blocked so Wonnilon is forced to enter the moathouse via the drawbridge after all. If the approach seems clear and he doesn't spot anyone hiding inside after he enters the gates he will step back out and wave the rest of the party forward.

"It's quiet. Too quiet."

Wonnilon is soon spotted waving...
This message was last updated by the GM at 12:31, Fri 12 Feb 2016.

"Perhaps, but standing here will do us little favor."

At Wonnilon's wave Corvus moves across to join him at the gates.

With his bow in hand and an arrow ready, Ronalt moved quickly to join Wonnilon.
He moved next to the wall so not to profile himself for any inside the ruined moathouse.

Sir Luthien isn't at all happy about how this went...but he doesn't seem to be able to enforce his will on the others when it comes to ethics, so he'll have to let it go for now.

When the others start to arrive at the drawbridge and gates, Wonnilon moves inside into the courtyard. He stays close to the left wall of the courtyard and swiftly works his way around to the steps at the northeast corner of the courtyard. He will pause at the foot of the steps to see if he can spot anyone up there or hear any sounds of any kind before climbing up the steps to peek in through the double doors at the top of the steps.

With the rest of the party waiting in cover at the gates, Wonnilon scampered around the courtyard to the doors, pausing to listen before looking through the smashed doors into the once great hall.
[Private to Wonnilon: The brown smear from the courtyard through the doors is gore, possibly human. Whoever, whatever it's from was not in a good way when dragged inside.
He hears the sound of the wind rushing back and forth, back and forth. It's almost like breathing, but what has lungs THAT big?
Then something inside shifts. Is it just the rubble settling, or a huge creature stirring?
Also, roll 1D20 :p
At this point he's yet to peek inside.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:42, Mon 15 Feb 2016.

Wonnilon paused at the foot of the steps, listening, then backed up a pace or two back behind the corner of the wall.

He turned towards the rest of the party back at the gates and began a bit of a mime act. He put one hand to his ear while pointing toward the double doors at the top of the steps. He made an exaggerated show of taking huge breaths in and out, in and out, then stretched his arms wide like a fisherman boasting about the size of the fish he caught.

[Private to DM: Wonnilon rolled 17 using 1d20.]

Ben shuffled his feet nervously.
[Secret to not Brother Yew; not Wonnilon: "Something's really not right about this."]

"What in the hells is he on about? Damn gnomes been eatin' those funny mushrooms again!"
[Private to Wonnilon: Damn, why couldn't you roll low... :p]

Ronalt harshly whispered to his companions, "Quiet down Ben and Rolf."
"Everyone find cover and spread out."
Ronalt bluntly signaled to Wonnilon to come back to the group.

In reply to Ronalt de Gault (msg # 247):

Takes Ronalts orders to heart keeping as quiet as possible as he finds decent cover to conceal himself in.

"I think he means something big is sleeping behind that blockade, perhaps guarding it," whispered Corvus. He made no move, waiting as he was for the gnome to return.

Wonnilon nodded in response to Ronalt's gesture. He cautiously made his way back around the edge of the courtyard again to return to the rest of the party at the gate.

When he got back he whispered his report.

"I could hear a sound like wind rushing back and forth, back and forth, like something really huge breathing. Then something inside shifted. I suppose it could just be the rubble settling but I thought it sounded like a huge creature stirring. With the damage we saw in the tunnel down below I can't help thinking some huge creature has crawled in there and decided to make this its new home. I would love to know what it is but I don't want to risk disturbing it. I don't suppose either of you mages has a familiar that could sneak in there and confirm there really is a huge creature in there, do you?"

[Private to GM: Is there any sign of any 'burrowing mammals' around here that Wonnilon could talk to?]

"Familiars are for hedge magicians, circus acts," remarked Corvus with noticeable disdain. "And I have no spells for detecting such things. Perhaps our gallant knight or one of the priests might be able to detect evil?"

Looks to Corvus trying to remain quiet as he speaks softly"No familiar here however I do have a few tricks up my sleeve.  If there are any kind of magical illusions present I could possibly dispel them.  Or if you wanted something a bit more subtle I could conjure a wall of fog which could provoke a response if something were indeed there."

In reply to Corvus (msg # 251):

Arek shook his head then looked pointedly at Sir Luthien.
[Private to Sir Luthien: Note the courtyard is about 60' across. You can detect as far as the door from the gate, but no further. To do so would mean exposing yourself and moving about halfway across the courtyard.
Alternatively you could go to where Wonnilon found the hole in the wall shored up (north east corner) and try detecting through the stone wall.]

"Ronalt, can you find any burrowing animals around here for me. I could speak to them and ask them to explore a bit for us." Wonnilon suggested.

Ronalt whom had been observing the inner part of the moathouse, turned to Wonnilon.
"The trail sign I saw while sneaking in this far was days old and it was leaving the moathouse area."
"It seems like everything that lived nearby has cleared out recently."
Pausing for a moment, "it is eerily quiet, no birds song. Only mosquitoes."

"Wonnilon the sound you heard was breathing?"

"He said it sounded like breathin. Coulda been bellows?"

Sir Luthien would, in the course of prudence, use a hole in the wall. With the principles of arrow slits, if there's something there. If that doesn't work, he'd try again from cover. Boldly going forth is option 3, if both of the other methods come up blank.

Noting Wonnilon's desire to talk with the local critters, speaking quietly to his companions, "Looks like we do it the old fashioned way with our eyes and ears."
"Cover Wonnilon and I as we cross the open area. We will listen and peek. Come if we signal. If arrows and such start flying, that wall of fog Rondo to cover our passage."
Ronalt looked to Wonnilon, "lets go before we loose more daylight."
when the gnome was ready Ronalt scarpered quietly across to the far side of the courtyard to the place, Wonnilon heard the breathing. 'please don't be a dragon' he thought to himself.

Wonnilon equipped himself with short sword and shield first.

"Ready your bows, those who have them, in case the creature charges out at us," he suggested.

Then he followed with more emphasis on stealth than speed.