Tarrov, other than the obvious couns-for-the-ferryman, nothing about the coins springs to mind. You do recall however that not all the ghouls had five coins. Some had four. Some three. Why some were short coins is also not obvious.

Since I heard one vote statue room and one the eastern hall, I'm assuming you studied the statue room and then doubled back to the eastern hall. And so...

The statues in the room below depict four warriors, exotic in their dress and weaponry. The swords are curved like scimitars. One statue holds a folding fan like a shield. None have proper armor but instead seem to be dressed in silks with scarves wrapped about their heads. None of the statues seem to have any kind of religious significance

Moving into the hall, you listen at each door leading off it. Silence. A quick peek inside shows:

See map for Group 1

D7 A library.Two foor-to-ceiling bookshelves decorate the south and west walls of this chamber, facing a curved north wall on which hang a half-dozen grotesque paintings depicting torture, murder, cannibalism, and even necrophilia. Two glittering chandeliers hang from the ceiling, providing more than enough lighting for anyone sprawled on the dozens of cushions strewn about the room to read by.

D8 Some kind of lounge. A long couch and two stufed chairs sit around an elegant rug on the foor of this room, the walls of which are carved in depictions of air spirits cavorting in the clouds. The scent of strange and exotic smoke lingers in the air, and four bejeweled hookahs sit in the room, two at either end of the couch, and one next to each chair. A fight of stairs leads up to the foor above, and a glass case built into the underside of these stairs displays a wide collection of cigars, pottery jars, and bundles of dried leaves in a range of colors.

D9 A trophy room. Glass cases line the north and south walls of this hallway. To the north is displayed a wide collection of exotic weapons, many of which resemble swords, spears, or starknives, hanging on the wall around a suit of bright blue leather and ivory armor. To the south is a somewhat gruesome display of a stufed tiger feeding upon a very realistic sculpture of a dead Vudran man.

The end of the hall seems to open on the front hall. Other than the luxurious red carpet, you can't see much of it through just a peek.

Questions?

"This," opined Tarrov, looking critically at the artwork in the library, "does not bode well.  Cannibalism.  Brrr."  He shivered.  "I guess at least they're well-read psychopaths."

After they looked at the trophy room, Tarrov pointed back towards the lounge.  "The stairs up," he guessed, "have a better chance of leading us to Neolandus, if he truly is here."  He glanced at Selvin.  "I think the chances are getting pretty good that we're going to need your friend.  Why don't you summon him here, then I'll cast an invisibility spell on you?"

OOC:  Tarrov has been casting Detect Magic in all the rooms to see if there are any magical items/books/traps.

Selvin shuddered slightly at the sights they were starting to see. It was beginning to look more and more like their suspicions (everyone's suspicions really about the family here were true. He didn't like this one bit.

He nodded at Tarrov's word. "Couldn't agree more. The only entertainin' I'd want t'do with these crazies will be finalizin'."

With that he sat down cross-legged on the floor and began chanting quietly, occasionally making arcane gestures with his hands, calling to his friend across the planar boundaries.

Belgar winces with twinge of horror at the sight of the painted images. "Argh... I never imagined the depravity.." he groans, "This place needs to be ash before mornin'... Let's find these monsters. "
This message was last edited by the player at 03:36, Wed 24 Feb 2016.

Zuni shared the same ill thoughts at the artwork in the library.  "This family must be very confident in their own abilities to brazenly display such images, if that is what they like to do to their guests."

The trophy room was just as disturbing with the stuffed tiger feeding on the man.  Zuni didn't feel so bad about taking those bottles of wine from before.  "can we use any of these?  A few more throwing knives wouldn't a bad idea." Zuni mused, looking over the collection of knives and armor.  Such a display was bound to have some sort of protection, so Zuni began to take a closer examination to see.

OOC:
Disable Device->24

Izzick gagged in the back of his throat, holding down bile in the worst of the rooms, near welcoming the lingering smoke just to replace the taste in his mouth. Exactly who had painted such things was nearly as disturbing a question as to why the Arkonas wanted them in the first place. "It seems like the whole party is missing. I'm wondering who else we're going to find upstairs."

The paintings are all signed by your friend,Salvatore Scream. These seem to be some of his 'better' works. They certainly leave an impression if nothing else.

Selvin, with a whoosh you once again become enveloped by Zac.


Tarrov, After casting Invisibly on the Elf/Manticore/Thing/Guy, you busy yourself detecting for magic. There is some kind of spell on the display case in the smoking lounge. Two of the items in the armory cases also set your Murder Hobo senses tingling. A suit of leather armor and a katana to be specific.

Zuni, all of the weapons seem to be of fine make. You pop the lock on one of the cases, containing the leather armor, six punching daggers, two sais, two sianghams, and a dozen daggers. The other case contains the tingly katana, a falchion, and two spears. All the weapons are masterwork. The armor is +2 fortification studded leather. Gimme a Disable device check vs DC20 to get at the katana and spears please. Thanks.

The weapons in the display case held Zuni's attention such that she barely noticed Selvin complete his summon.  She gave a low whistle at the quality of the daggers as she pulled them from the display case.  "These are all fine knives.  Well balanced and sharp.  It would be a shame to leave them here to further evil ends.  Anyone else need a dagger?"  The daggers were quickly shoved into her belt.

The once-again Thief moved over to the second case and peered at the Katana and spears.  If they were as finely crafted as the daggers, could she pass them up?  "I think that I want a closer look at that Katana."  Zuni's deft fingers began to check the case for any alarms  or traps.

OOC:
Disable Device -> 26

"Yea I'll take a couple a them daggers." he grunts as he keeps an eye out for trouble.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:18, Thu 25 Feb 2016.

Zuni, the rapier is a ghost touch +1 weapon

The stairs wind up and back, coming out onto a veranda that runs the perimeter of the garden wall. The deck winds around to the east and then south. Numerous doors open off it. See map uploaded to Group 0

Selvin's friend came through the small portal and enveloped the half-elf. Selvin smiled and stretched. "Ahhhhhh! Much better!" He chuckled. "NOW I'm ready t'go kill some evil bastards."

He turned and watched what Zuni was doing.

Zuni handed some of the daggers to Belgar and then turned her attention to the rapier.  Gingerly, she lifted it up from the display case and ran a finger lightly along the blade.  It was a finely crafted blade, perhaps even rivaling her own Aldori sword.  She gave the blade a quick flourish, spinning it about in the air before her.

Zuni grinned as she admired the rapier..  "Oh yes.  This is coming with us."  It was then that she noticed Selvin complete his summoning.  She always found his enveloping companion to be fascinating, and she gave Selvin a curious look before turning back to the rapier.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:15, Tue 01 Mar 2016.

"Let's check out that one," Tarrov suggested, pointing to the door on their left a few feet ahead of them.  "We don't know the layout here, so Neolandus could be anywhere.  And I don't particularly enjoy the idea of someone from a room we hadn't searched coming up behind us."

Zuni offered the rapier to Belgar.  "Can you use this?" she asked him.  "If not, then I can hold on to it until we can find it a suitable owner.  Can't leave such a fine weapon here where anyone can take it."  After giving a knowing wink to the Dwarf, Zuni turned towards the door that Tarrov had pointed out.

As much as she thought that she'd left her thieving ways behind her, a part of zuni was excited at the prospect of more valuables that they might find, and perhaps pilfer, in the mansion.  "Do we want to check the door for any alarms?"

Selvin listened to Tarrov's logic and gave a nod of his head along with a slight shrug of his shoulders. "That sounds reasonable." Of course, he was a bit worried that if they opened a door and someone there started yelling...

He nodded to Zuni. "Always a good idea when we have the time."

OOC: Tarrov did you cast Invisibility on Selvin? If so, he will stop talking so damn much lol.

"Checking for traps never hurts," Tarrov agreed before looking at Selvin as if seeing him for the first time.  "Oh, I forgot . . ."  He muttered some words and reached a hand out towards his companion.

OOC:  I didn't but I intended to.

Standard Action - Cast invisibility on Selvin.

The door is clean Zuni. From inside you can hear what sounds like faint snoring and the rustling of paper. Also a steady creak in the floorboard. As if someone were in a rocking chair. An odd odor wafts from under the doorway. It is a mixture of a sort of sickly sweet incense that seems to be trying to cover a sort of musky smell.

"What's this?"  Belgar examines the rapier being held out to him by Zuni.  "Lemme see that pretty little thing."  He takes it and steps back.  He holds it out at arms length.  "I've seen these used, but never swung one myself.  It's like there's nothin' there.. compared to dwarven axes.  Not bad though, we'll see if this pig sticker does any damage!"

He buckles it to his belt, along with the daggers.  Belgar then creeps low to the ground towards the door, moving quite silently for a dwarf in armor and shield...

07:19, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 28 using 1d20+11.  Stealth (w/ +4 fav terrain, -3 breastplate).

"Let me know if you need some pointers on the Rapier, Belgar.  Remember, the pointy end is sharp." Zuni couldn't resist making a teasing comment to Belgar.

Zuni pressed her ear against the door and listened.  She looked back at Tarrov and the others.  "Doors clean.  There's someone on the other side of the door.  It sounds like they might be sleeping.  we'll need to be quiet." she said under her breath.  Putting a finger to her lips, Zuni slowly opened the door.

OOC:
Stealth ->11  (Heh, so much for moving quietly)

Selvin lifted in to the air a bit since he was a bit quieter when not tromping around on four legs. He waited patiently as Zuni checked the door, and he kept an eye and ear out for anyone coming towards them, just in case.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 72):

The door swings open...

What appears to be some kind of small barracks. A thick carpet covers the floor, which is in turn strewn with throw pillows and the odd boot. Two sets of bunk beds are jammed against the wall. A man with the head of a boar is laying in one of the beds, snoring quietly. A rocking chair is set under a window and seated in it is another boar headed man, reading what appears to be a copy of Wesitez's famous treatises on the nature of dragons. A third boar man, smaller than the other two, lays on the floor examining a picture book which seems to be a treatises on large breasted halfling women.

Reader Pig and Dirty Pig look up at you. Snoozy Pig mutters something about five more minutes, blows a bubble from one of his snout nostrils, and turns over.

Belgar's jaw drops.  His eyes glaze over a moment at this sight.  He quickly appraises the situation and he lowers his new rapier, but keeps his shield up at the defense.  "Um..." he mutters as he glances at Tarrov, then back to the pigmen.  "Is that a...  is that the one with Hippa Roundbottom?" he asks the dirty pig with a sleazy wink.  Looking back to the others he shrugs, "What??"

Selvin stayed quiet and moved to where he could flying charge in to the room and attack one or more of the pigs if things went sour...but for the moment he held off to see how things went, just staying ready.

Izzick was perplexed. Firebreathing cats spawned by an imp and now pigs that looked like men. "I truly do see everything traveling with you all." Of course, with Selvin transformed, there was little to their charade. But there was also little way to take their reading material as hostilities just yet. "Are you folks our lovely party hosts?"

Snort...Hippa hadn' been hot since she shaved her pits... snorts Dirty Pig, thereby sealing the fact that yes indeedy. This is Dirty Pig.

Reader sighs and sets his book down on his knee. Well. Now that the cultural part of our program is over... He snorts as well, albeit in a more refined manner. At least none of you have asked which one of us built our house from bricks. No. We are not the Arkonas. I am assuming you are the evening's entertainment. I don't suppose I could ask you simply to retire to your room until this evening?