After a meal and a nightcap, you all agree to meet outside The Snapping Line in the morning to head to the old mansion on the cliffs.

You've gotten an early start, so there are not a lot of people on the street, but a handful catch sight of the group gathering up outside the tavern. As you start off, they look to tag along.

The weather was much more pleasant yesterday, but at least it is not raining. The road to the house winds through the rocky coastal terrain, often offering a view of the sea below. low clouds press upon you; occasional patches of sunlight appear out over the water. A stiff wind blows in off the waves, carrying the briny stink of churning salt water.

A local child of ten or so, who looks familiar to Sylvy, steps up closer to the halfling after a few minutes. "Gee, miss, are you folks really going to the haunted mansion?" A couple others make similar inquiries to the group.

After a couple of miles of walking along the old road, most of the townspeople have faded back toward Saltmarsh. The child and a sibling linger a little longer, until the group finally spots a large structure in the distance.

The child gulps audibly. "Well, um, time for us to get back home," he says, scurrying off the way you came.

You draw closer and see that a beaten roadway leads off the main path to the decrepit house, which sits on the highest ground in the area. Around it, a stone wall has crumbled in many places, exposing the interior grounds. An ornate metal gate lies open al the end of the road, swaying slightly in the wind. Wild flora grows throughout the inner yard, but all the years cannot hide the evidence of a well-tended garden that once sat here. Near the house, the rotted wooden roof of a water well rises out of the tall grass.

Sereyna was up just before dawn, as was her habit, to greet the sun. This was her ritual, sitting crossed legged and watching the darkness give was from the violet, to Orange, to the stark rays of yellow.

She was the first outside the inn, having paid her tab so far. The half elf wore her well worn grey leather boots, but today was armoured in a light grey studded leather armor, the studs looking like small pieces of stone or coral. At her hips were her etched dagger and a well worn scimitar. Her bag was a simple sachel worn over her shoulder, carrying rations for a day or two and some nessessaties

Sereyna greeted all as they arrived and when they left, she walked by Preston, a step or two behind Sylvy. When the children came, the woman ushered each up, and tapping into her magical talent to create little flowers for each.

As the house loomed into sight, Sereyna loomed at it with a neutral look. The house was not small, and was once bound yo be a magnificent place, but now it was in ill repair.

She looked at the place, hands on hips. "Not as bad as i was expecting..."

As the group stumps along making their way towards the old house, he sees Sereyna entertaining the children, and with a smile joins in, creating a few illusions of fairies and bright flowers along the roadway. Brightening the children's day and maybe bringing a little wonder, it seems to lighten his own spirit, at least for a bit.
As the house came into view, the joy seemed to seep away though.
Looking over to Sereyna when she spoke up he replied. "True, a bit dingy and weather worn but not horrifying. Course it's often the critters that look harmless that turn out poisonous."

Thaylan walked a bit ahead of the group. He was more used to working on his own, so wasn't as well versed in the social graces of working with a group. As they drew near the house, his pace slowed as he scanned the ground and the area around. He took note of anything that indicated someone had been up to the house recently.



00:50, Today: Thaylan rolled 14 using 1d20+6.  Investigation.

00:50, Today: Thaylan rolled 17 using 1d20+7.  perception.

Preston walked along quietly, watching the others weave their magic to occupy the children as they went. He only had a bit of a headache this morning, vowing to try a better brew the next time he was at The Snapping Line. When Thaylin walked ahead, Preston thought about catching up to him, but when they reached the house, he noticed that he was examining the area and stayed back, out of the way. Which suited him fine anyway... he was sure that he was going to have to put something to the sword before too long, and if Thaylin could give him a clue as to what it might be, so much the better.

Though Sylvy liked to hang out at the Snapping Line, she wouldn't pay for a room with good coin when a free bed awaited her. Thus, she slept in the room she had growing up. The place wouldn't be hers to use for much longer, but it was for now. Sooner or later, someone in the village would put the place to use.

Years of long habit had her up well before the sun. Her profession did its best work in the steel gray hours before dawn. Enough light for the skilled to navigate by, start still providing guidance, but the cloak of darkness to hide them. She spent a bit of time going over her gear with a rag and oil before kitting herself out for messy business and making her way to the tavern.

She nodded to Sereyna when she arrived and noted the other woman's kit. She smirked as she slid in beside her wearing leathers darkened with oil. She, too, sported a dagger sheathed on her right hip to counter-weight the quiver of bolts on the left. A hand crossbow was holstered in the small of her back. Hey long hair was tied back tightly and a braided cord circled her head.

As they walked, she smiled at the children and nodded. She knew their life; it had been hers. Any type of strange goings on in town drew attention. There was little else to distract. She smiled but was focused while her new companions entertained them.

Once the old house was in sight, she was focused like a raptor on its prey. She ran her eyes over the place carefully and even eyes the ancient garden. "Aye, looks harmless. So do I. Most days."

The half elf who was growing to like the halfling Syvly, smiled at her comment. "Things may look harmless but suprise you. At my home, there is a snail that lives by the sea with an unusual shell. very pretty, but it's secretions are poisonous. The simple foamy slime paralyses people, and many a person has drowned by their 'beauty'. Looks are deceiving, and looking at you, I can tell there is more that appears."

Thaylan pauses to take a closer look at the grounds outside the house. The crumbling wall makes it easy to see into the garden, where a few broken gardening tools and tangled weeds are all that remain of what might have been a nice, productive vegetable garden. A massive rosebush near the front gate has overgrown the wall and choked out most other plants. Thaylan notes some mounded up dirt around the base of the rosebush, likely the result of some sort of burrowing creature.

Looking toward the well, even from a distance he can see a cluster of the remains of several small animals, possibly mice, chipmunks, or something like that, in a small pile in the grass.

He sees no other particular signs of recent activity on the grounds. The air here closer to the cliffside is chillier and damper than on the main road. Gray clouds cover the sky in all directions.

Sereyna looks at teh clouds looming in the sky, sniffing. "Seems as if nature itself casts a shadow over this place." She looks at tyhe others and shrugs. "Lets just go in and see what's in there"

"Ready when you folks are." Preston readies his shield and sword. He looks over at Thaylan, and asks, "Want me to take the lead?"

Sylvy drew her crossbow and the prod of her crossbow sprang into place. She drew the cord back into the hook and set a bolt into place. With the crossbow in one hand, she drew a dagger into the other and then followed at a reasonable distance behind the larger folk.

Sereyna see's the others draw their weapons, and she shrugs, drawing her slender scimitar, stepping up beside Sylvy. "After you preston."

Seeing the others are ready to move forward, Thaylan takes the lead again. "Thanks, but best let me look for traps and suck. Just keep an eye on my back" He says in reply to Preston. He examines the door for any alarms or traps before opening it. Once open he inspects the entrance for anything out of the ordinary and gives a strong listen for any sounds in the house.




13:21, Today: Thaylan rolled 22 using 1d20+7.  perception. (Sounds in the house)

13:21, Today: Thaylan rolled 14 using 1d20+7.  perception. (The room the door open into)

13:21, Today: Thaylan rolled 15 using 1d20+6.  Investigation. (The Entrance just past the door)

13:21, Today: Thaylan rolled 22 using 1d20+6.  Investigation. (the front door)

This message was last edited by the player at 18:26, Fri 11 Dec 2020.

Thaylan takes point in approaching the house, leading the group along the path that passes through the broken gate on its way to the front door.

Just as Thaylan gets past the gate and the massive, tangled rose bush, he hears a loud scrabbling sound accompanied by the gnashing of teeth. Four massive weasels burst from the bush and the ground beneath it. They are clearly aggressive and on the attack.

Everyone roll initiative!

Rough idea of where you all are:

     Thaylan
        |
  Weasel Weasel
  Weasel Weasel
        |
     Preston
     Kerrek
  Sylvy - Sereyna

Preston half-expected something to come out of that bush, and is on his guard.

21:11, Today: Preston Severn rolled 18 using 1d20+1.  Initiative.


00:55, Today: Preston Severn rolled 14 using 1d20+5.  attack weasel.

00:58, Today: Preston Severn rolled 4 using 1d8+3.  sword damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:59, Mon 14 Dec 2020.

Sereyna heard the sound before seeing the animals, perhaps her natural instincts linked to nature, or pure chance, but she saw them come out, had her scimitar in hand ready.

She held out her empty hand, muttering in the elvish language as fire erupted from her palm. She threw the fire like a pile of cloth at the nearest, hitting it, but the damp soil and fur did little damage.

<OOC: Sereyna rolled 19 using 1d20+2.  Iniative.

Action: casts produce flame

Sereyna rolled 22 using 1d20+4.  Attack - Produce flame
Sereyna rolled 3 using 1d8.  Damage  - produce flame.>
This message was last edited by the player at 05:37, Sat 12 Dec 2020.

Thaylan curses under his breath as the animals jump out. How did I miss that? He thinks to his self. He turns pulling the rapier he has. Well this isn't good He thinks as he sees that he is cut off from the group. With out hesitation he stabs at the weasels  on his right.




With Advantage:
Hit AC 14 for total damage of 13

Without Advantage:
Hit AC 12 for total damage of 8


09:00, Today: Thaylan rolled 5 using 1d6.  sneak attack damage.

09:00, Today: Thaylan rolled 8 using 1d8+3.  damage.

09:00, Today: Thaylan rolled 14 using 1d20+5.  advantage.

09:00, Today: Thaylan rolled 12 using 1d20+5.  attack.

Thaylan:
AC: 14
HP: 8/8

EDIT: forgot to roll this

04:13, Today: Thaylan rolled 11 using 1d20+3.  Initiative.


This message was last edited by the player at 09:14, Sun 13 Dec 2020.