A wrought-iron gate with hinges on one side and a lock on the other fills the archway of a stone portico.  The gate is unlocked, and its rusty hinges shriek when the gate is opened. Oil lamps hang from the portico ceiling by chains, flanking a set of oaken doors that open into a grand foyer, where you find yourselves.

Hanging on the south wall of the foyer is a shield emblazoned with a coat-of-arms (a stylized golden windmill on a red field), flanked by framed portraits of stony-faced aristocrats (assuredly long-dead members of the family).  Mahogany-framed double doors leading from the foyer to the main hall are set with panes of stained glass.


OOC: North is to left

Digger turns to catch Morek's eye then points at the shield. He continues to the other doors and opens them.

As they made their way into the house, Morek turned back to the kids, "Which way to get to the basement, Rose?"

Seeing the shield, Morek tries to pull it down off the wall for his own use. Hopefully the family wouldn't mind, but if they did...oh well.

Morek turns to question the children, but discovers that they are no longer there.  In their place, the mist has thickened and moved in close behind you.  It obscures everything beyond the gates of the house.

The shield come off the wall easily and appears to be in good condition.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:32, Fri 26 Feb 2021.

Kyra turns with Morek to see the mist and children gone, a furrow on her brow. She looks at the others. "Anyone else have a feeling that we've been set up here?"

She however moves between Morek and Digger, her hands twitching

Digger frowns at Kyra, "Obviously nothing is coming in behind us, so you'll be safe with Tantalus back there." He indicates Sarelor, "Let the shield and club back me up, please."

Kyla glares at Digger but says nothing.

In reply to Kyra (msg # 7):

Digger gestures for her to move back and let Morek back in his spot guarding Digger's back.

Sarelor addresses Kyra, saying, "they're humans, rushing in where elves fear to tread is their way. Of course we were set up. Do you really think those well-fed children belonged to parents living on a fallow farm?"

Sarelor continues to follow the others, taking the rearmost position and watching behind. He does offer one piece of advice, "since the wayward not-children wanted us to go to the basement, would it bother anyone if I suggested we go upstairs first?"

Kyra sneered at Sarelor's comments, clearly amused at the comments. "I have no fear, but I also know caution as well as the value of people....ALL people. "

She looked back towards tbe courtyard, then Sarelir again. "Everything about this place seems wrong....children alone outside in this barren land, parents trying to placate a monster. Something just doesn't feel right."

She none the less nodded. "The fact they wanted us to go to the basement, I agree....we go up and try to find the baby" she sighed.

"...if there is one."

A wide hall runs the width of the house, with a black marble fireplace at one end and a sweeping, red marble staircase at the other.  Mounted on the wall above the fireplace is a longsword with a windmill cameo worked into the hilt.  The wood-paneled walls are ornately sculpted with images of vines, flowers, nymphs, and satyrs.  The decorative paneling follows the staircase as it circles upward to the second floor.



This message was last edited by the GM at 03:15, Fri 26 Feb 2021.

Digger points at the sword, "Sarelor, can you use that?"

Morek focused on his spell to see if anything had revealed itself yet. If so he would point it out to the others. If not then he would continue upstairs with the others, "Going upstairs sounds good t'me."

Active: Detect Evil, 30 ft radius (including up/down)

Kyra, a few steps behind Morek and Digger, looks in the room, noting the stairs and doors. "I'm not one for tactics, but should we maybe check this floor first, or start at the top and work our way down?"