A stately, gabled manor along Shoreline Way, Carowyn Manor serves as the in-town home of Olauren and Ausio Carowyn. Built for entertaining, the estate includes the manor house itself, a smaller servants’ residence, and a meticulously manicured garden—complete with gazebo and pond full of Ember Lake charigs (tiny salamanders that glow in the dark).

Festooned with cinderberry garlands and bright red drapes, the limestone facade of Carowyn Manor faces Shoreline Way. It has sturdy-looking doors of Bloodsworn mahogany facing the street.

Normally a place like this would be bustling with activity. Servants running about attending to the chores or residents, gardeners making sure the meticiulous hedges are well trimmed and the doors are shut, the window curtains drawn and there is not a noise to be heard inside.

A quick bit of surveillance reveals several possible manners of entry.

• The Front Door - The most obvious entry point is to knock. Otherwise it appears they have high quality locks (DC 30 to pick) and the wood is quite solid (DC 26 to break).
  
• The Balcony - Someone of nimble nature could fairly easily find footholds and handholds to climb to the second story resulting in only a DC 15 climb check.
  
• The Hedges - As with the balcony someone could climb over the hedge at any point (only a DC 12 climb check)

This message was last updated by the GM at 21:05, Tue 01 June 2021.

As they approach, Kraw asks "exactly why are we here? Just glad we dropped the body and the evidence with Kroft before heading here."


OOC I assume that we dropped off the body and our discoveries? I cannot fathom that we would haul a dead body to a mansion.

In reply to Kraw (msg # 2):


Feeling better after having dropped the body off at the citadel, Ayeesha considers the Mansion visit.  It was a masquerade party of some sort that her brother went missing at.  Sounds like formal attire would be required.  She presses her magical arm coverings to the limit to look as proper as can be for a tatted 6'3" muscle bound, armored, great sword bearing, Shoanti tribeswoman as can be accomplished on the way there.


When they arrive Ayeesha considers the options before them.  If nothing is amiss and this is a false alarm, maybe the direct approach of a knock on the front door would be the best?  But if no one answers then a second-story-man could be in need. Hmmm maybe not a stick in their Kraw but a Kraw in their stick? Of course shes hedging her bets on this one.


"Shall we knock on the front door and see if any one is home? I think we need to tread carefully since they are an established wealthy family.  They probably have friends in high places.  Or another option?"
This message was last edited by the player at 10:41, Wed 02 June 2021.

"We might as well try knocking first. From what we were told it's not likely anyone will answer, but we should do so anyway before we start breaking down the doors or climbing the walls." Kyra says as she examines the building.

Or just fly inside. If there is no answer, Kyra could circle around the place at a safe height for some aerial reconnaissance, then tie up a rope for others to climb in (assuming we have some rope).

Yes I factored in time to stash the loot and prepare spells. You are good.

The knock goes unanswered, as does any others that follow. Kyra flies up and over the hedge looking down. She can see the garden and pool inside but again there is no sign of anyone.

However she lands on a balcony and is able to peer in as the curtains are not fully drawn here and she can see people moving around. It looks like a party is happening inside. She sees guests wearing masks and colorful outfits wandering around, talking with one another and mingling, or pointing and admiring artwork on the walls but they seem completely oblivious to any knocks or attempts to gain their attention and no matter how hard Kyra tires she cannot hear any actual voices coming from inside. No sound of any kind, actually.

Kyra spies three guests interacting but her view is limited through the crack of the curtain and with the shades all drawn it is quite dark inside. It feels off as if the party was happening there should be noise. Musicians and laughter and the sound of drinks clinking and dishes clacking. The party had been told that the missing person was a musician hired to sing so why was there no songs to be heard?
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:46, Wed 02 June 2021.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 5):

"Well I got all dressed up for the party, so lets crash it!"

Ayeesha gives Kyra her silk rope to secure and then climbs up to the balcony.



17:52, Today: Ayeesha rolled 7 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 3.  Climb chk w/rope dc5? +8-4acp=+4.

I think she struggles up the rope but makes it.

"Strange. I see a party in there, but I hear nothing at all." Kyra reports as she helps others up on the balcony. She turns again to the balcony doors and casts a quick spell to see if any magic is present here.

Detect Magic. Illusion of some kind maybe?

His other questions unanswered, Kraw says "oh! We've been invited to a party? Looks like a fancy one. Fortunately I'm prepared." He activates his Sleeves of Many Garments to robe himself in a courtly suit with top hat. He asks "who is our host? I must greet them and thank them for the invitation. Why is Ayeesha climbing a rope?"

In reply to Kraw (msg # 8):




"Friend Kraw, we are here to investigate the disappearance of a man whom is the brother of a women we met at the temple Abadar.  One Deyanira Mirukova whom requested we look for her brother who went to a masquerade party here at Carowyn Manor and never returned.  As the front door is locked and no one answers our knock, Kyra noticed the balcony is open, which I took as an invitation to the party.  May I say your outfit looks exquisite this evening."

"Now why dont you, Figus, and Alpha climb up here and we can crash this party together.
Unless you guys have better plans?"

Kraw calls up "why bother? A party like this covers up small noises like picked locks and bypassed security. Easy peasy." He pulls out some high quality tools and gets to work on the lock.


04:25, Today: Kraw rolled 19 using 1d20+14 with rolls of 5.  Disable Device .

04:25, Today: Kraw rolled 18 using 1d20+12 with rolls of 6.  Perception .
This message was last edited by the player at 11:26, Thu 03 June 2021.

Is Kraw picking the front doors or has he climbed up as well? Just noticed that the map is up, but it shows Kyra on a different balcony, the one looking over the garden. And that means that others can't join her there. So, she would have to first return back to one looking over the street to tie the rope to let others climb up.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:47, Thu 03 June 2021.

"Getting to the second floor should be easy, but why bother if we can use the front door."

Figus and Alpha are ready to move in once the doors are opened.

As he makes his attempt, Kraw mentions "oh, you know that symbol we found? Turns out it's the Holy Symbol of Urgathoa, the Goddess of Disease herself. Might be a cult of her worshippers among the Queen's physicians."

Figus stares a bit at Kraw "Yeah ... that seems to be a problem. Didn't the head physician come through a recommendation of the queen herself?"

Is Kraw picking the front door or up on the balcony with Kyra and Ayeesha?

Kyra concentrates and discovers she doesn't detect Illusionary magic but instead Necromancy...

Kraw says "this is a tough lock. I can open it with time, but it might look suspicious to passersby. Or we could climb to the second story and enter there. I vote we go up. Any other opinions?"

Kyra returns to the balcony overlooking the street to help others up and report on what she's seen. "There's definitely magic around, and necromancy at that. I have no idea what's happening here, but that can't be good."

Let's do that then. From the map there are two doors leading to the balcony, maybe one of them is unlocked?

In reply to Kyra (msg # 17):




Ayeesha will try to peek through the window to see what she can see.

10:30, Today: Ayeesha rolled 25 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 17.  perception +8 to peek in window.

Figus and Alpha head to the balcony "Come on Kraw, get up here."

Kraw nods and ascends the lowered rope.


11:42, Today: Kraw rolled 12 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 6.  Climb.

Ayeesha sees the same thing as Kyra. The other windows have their curtains drawn and cannot be peeked through. As far as they can tell all the doors are unlocked on the balcony so entrance is less of a matter of "how" and more of a matter of "where".

Check the map and decide which door you want to go in, or if you want to split the party who is going where.

(from upper left to lower right)
Door #1 leads to an unknown room
Door #2 leads to the second story party area.
Door #3 by Kyra also leads to the second story party area.


When Figus pulls himself up his superior vision lets him realize that something is wrong. While it is shadowy inside there is still some light and he sees that the "guests" are not acting normal. They seem to be drugged as their motions are jerky and haphazard and when they move around they seem to stumble around, tripping on something that can't be seen from their viewing angle.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 21):

OCC: I think we all are on the balcony at Door #2 ready to enter.

"Kyra detects an Aura of necromancy, Figus sees the guests are stumbling around in jerky and haphazard manner. I do not like the looks of this.  How do you all want to proceed?"

"We could try the other door first?" Kyra asks dubiously. She does not like whatever is happening in the party area at all.

Ok, I have no idea what is happening here, but jerky movement and necromancy sounds like some kind of undead. Zombies maybe? If there is somebody around controlling them, they could be holed up behind door number 1, as far from the entrance to the building as possible. Maybe. In any case, I'll go along with whatever the rest of you decide.

"Let us enter. We are not doing any good out here."

Figus tries door number 2 to see if it will open.