Team? Kozibi made a very soft scoffing noise out of her earshot - he thought. They were just the unlucky individuals more competent than an average townsperson and had the stupidity to run towards danger instead of away from it.

...he was no hero.

He hung back a bit and kept his senses alert for any danger outside while the door was opened. Magic locket? His interest was piqued a little. But it just...glowed? He tried to stifle his disappointment.

"Anything else interesting in there?" He stayed outside and kept on guard.

"We should take the locket.  There might be someone in town who may know who these people are, and I'm sure that the other would like to know what happened."  Bellinha said.  If no one objected, she would offer to take the locket, if only because it was her suggestion.  "We can lay this body to rest at a later time.  Our mission should come first."

Looking at the blocked door, Bellinha frowned.  "We are not getting through that any time soon.  Better to find another way in.  Perhaps the front door?"

Heading around the outside of the cabin, you can see several windows, but the shutters on them are drawn and locked from the inside.  A dim light, like maybe from a lantern, peeks out from the cracks in the shutters.  You can't see much through those cracks.  The inside looks empty from what you can see.

The front door does not appear to be locked.  There are some indications someone wearing boots has been by here, but not just recently.

You cannot hear anything from inside.

Gripping the front door, the undine pauses. He glances at the others and goes to pull it open but stepping off to the side to use the door as a shield in case something bad occurs.

Ordin and Dillow stood ready in the case that something was inside and Zale would need assistance.  The wizard certainly was an asset that should be protected for them to complete their mission.

In reply to Ordin Oakbranch (msg # 83):

The door comes open with a creeeeeeeeaaaakkkk that comes out of a bad bard's story.

"Wow," mutters Moon.  "Kozibi! I'm suddenly reminded of that story you were telling at the tavern last week!"

The source of the light is quickly apparent: a lantern is set on the ground.  The shutters on it are partly open, letting the light spill out.  The light inside does not seem to be from a wick.  Instead it seems to be an enchantment causing the light to shine forth.

It's apparent that the room has seen recent use. The room is surprisingly tidy.  Not much dust.  A newish broom is leaning against one corner.  The sheets on the two cots smell recently laundered.

There are two trunks at the foot of each cot.  One of the trunks is open, the lid thrown back and leaning against the baseboard of the cot.  Inside look to be some clothing, a dagger in a whaleskin sheath, a pair of boots, and two teak wood cups with some fancy, carved dice inside.

The other trunk is locked.

There doesn't seem to be anything else inside the cabin.

Not seeing an obvious threat on the inside of the shack, Ordin turns around and faces out with his bow still in hand.  The place looked to have been used and that means the user must be around here somewhere.  Who was it, Ordin wondered to himself....

"I will keep a watch out here while you all check it out,"  Ordin called over his shoulder.

Bellinha approached the open trunk, and started to poke through the contents.  "Is anyone good with a lock?" she asked the others.  "The best that I could do would be to bash it in.  That's always an option but maybe this is a time for finesse rather than brute strength."

In reply to Bellinha Grunnel (msg # 86):

Moon steps forward.  "I'm not great at it, but I can give it whirl..."

She pulls what looks like an unbent fishing hook from the hem of her jacket and squats in front of the locker.  After a while she nods and opens the lid.

Inside are some more clothes.  Men's.  A couple of shirts, a pair of trousers, and some socks.

Nestled into one side is a small book.  Opening it up shows most of the pages blank.

The first page has a scrawled note in very bad handwriting

Bilkok, don 4git them pazzez agin. Kurby wil hov ur hed

After that, there is a folded sheet tucked inside the book.  The sheet has more writing, this in a much more legible and educated hand:

Rotate the sequence based on the day of the week.  First day is rum day. Second is cleaning duty. Last is coin day.  Get it right you dumb bastards.

Under that it reads

Green

Brown

Blue

Furrowing his brow, the undine takes the two parckments if allowed. He tilts his head and puts them down "Maybe a pass is needed to enter the estate. But isn't it empty?" Zale seems to be not at ease.

Ordin listened as the book is read and then the much clearer note.  Before he could say something Zale asked a question he wanted to answer first.  "It is supposed to be empty, but since it is far from the city anything and anyone could have moved in.  Only way for us to know for sure is to check it out."

"There really isn't much else here, so having something in the main house would make sense.  That makes our next destination obvious."  Bellinha said.  "Let's make our way to the main house."

The manor squats like a fat toad on top of a brown lily pad on a scummy pond.  The stone walls still stand upright mostly.  Most of the windows still have glass in them.  Most.

The manor is basically a rectangle with a tower perched on each corner.

Please refer to the map in the Almanac

From what you can tell there are two obvious ways in:  the main foyer Area 1 and some stables around the other side Areas 8-9

Ordin, you recall one of the ground floor windows has been completely busted in.  A quick check confirms it The window into area 16 is completely broken open and can be climbed through

Of course you can bust out the glass in any of the other windows.

You do not see any signs of life from the outside.

Let me know if there are questions and which way you want to try to enter through.

Thanks

Taking a deep breath, Zale starts to head towards the stables-if there is anyone inside, spotting a horse or some other thing to ride on would be ideal despite the area seeming to be deserted. Never know the undead can rise up from the ground and kill everyone....

Just a thought.

In reply to Zale Morcant (msg # 92):

The stable has three sets of doors.  Two larger ones on each side and a main gate.  The main gate is closed while the two side doors are each partially opened.

Judging by the smell, there aren't any recent livestock in residence.  The air is stale but no odors of animal or manure.

Peeking in, you can see eight stalls, four to each side of a door leading into the manor.

There is no sign of life inside.

Ordin, you do notice one thing that seems odd.  There are sets of tracks which can't be more than a week old.  They are coming out from the manor door and headed towards one of the stalls to the north.  It seems there was a lot of traffic that way at one point in recent time.

That is what you see from the doorway.  I am not assuming anyone has gone inside yet.

Thanks

In the spirit of 'Sticking together', Bellinha follows Zale to the stables.  Not seeing anything from the entrance to the stables, she takes a firm grip on her sword and slowly walks in, moving from stall to stall to see if there were any items of interest.

In reply to Bellinha Grunnel (msg # 94):

The stalls are empty <purples>Bellinha</purple>.  Currently.  You can see signs they were not empty recently.  Tracks.  Imprints left from barrels and crates in the soft ground.  There are a couple of small crates, empty now, in one stall.

You also find fresh rope, casks of oil, a bucket of nails, hammers, and some wooded planks in one stall (the one you see activity going to and from Ordin)

The sorcerer waits, looking inside for a moment. He steps in after a moment, the otter curiously going from stall to stall and stops at Bel's feet. It looks up at her, tilting its head before rushing back to Zale. Odd creature. Zale taps his spear "Nothing?" He asks.

Ordin pointed out the tracks to the others to make sure they knew that there had been activity recently.  Once it seemed like there wasn't anyone in the stables Ordin said in a soft voice just loud enough for the others to hear.  "I am not sure but it seems like there has been quite a few people here and judging by the prints they probably aren't dead.  The work supplies and such are telling me that something is being built inside.  I saw a broken window earlier that we may be able to get through to get inside without going in the front door.  What do you all think?"

Bellinha looked down at the otter, and gave it a small friendly wave with a couple of her fingers.  It was a cute animal.  She watched it run back to Zale before speaking.  "I have to admit that I had expected more dead things and less....building materials.  Maybe we should take a look inside and see if your hunch is correct Ordin.  Let's try the broken window.  I don't hear anything but that doesn't mean that the manor house is empty."

Heading around the outside of the building, you move north and come to the busted out window.

It was a large picture window at one point in time.  Now it's just a gaping hole.

Beyond it is what must have been a servants' barracks at one point in time.  Old cots are lining the wall, each so decrepit they would probably fall apart if anyone laid in them.

There's a door into the room right across from the window.  Ordin, you also recall there's supposed to be a trick door in one wall.  It leads into the room to the west.  Some kind of old office if you recall correctly.

There's no sign of life inside the barracks.  And no sounds from inside the mansion. At least none you can hear through the shut door to the south.

Please see the map. This is area 16.  I am assuming no one has ventured inside yet.

Thanks

As they made their way inside ORdin looked around and saw the barracks.  He tried to remember something about a door but it escaped him at this time though he made mention to the others softly.  "I believe there is a hidden door on one of the walls.  We can assume that it isn't the one with the other door so that leaves the one on our right or the one on the left.  We can try the main door there."  Ordin pointed, "or we can try to find the hidden door."

Bellinhas eyes briefly flashed with excitement at the mention of a secret door.  "A secret door might give us an advantage on anyone else in the manor house.  I say we take the secret door."

In reply to Bellinha Grunnel (msg # 101):

Stepping carefully inside over the window sill, you enter the room.

It manages to smell both mildewy and dusty at the same time.  There doesn't seem to be anything of interest under the old cots.  You would guess passers by have picked this room clean over the years.

The secret door is relatively easy to find.  A section of the wall is slightly open.  Pushing on it causes the wall section to groan slightly but swing with some difficulty.  On the other side of it is what was once a larger bedroom Area 15 on the map

A desk is tucked into the northeast corner of the room.  A bed is set against the western wall. Between them is a large table.  Remains of several chairs are strewn beside the table

The desk seems well preserved.  An old oak monstrosity, it looks like the kind of desk a bureaucrat who was full of themselves would own.  The drawers have all been pulled out of the desk and lay on the floor around it.  Scraps of mildewed paper lay here and there.

The bed seems to be in better condition.  An old but still servicable looking quilt covers it.  The quilt is decorated with odd red and gold squares and patches, giving it the illusion of flickering flames.

The table is bare.

There is a large picture window on the northern wall.  A door leading out to the hallway is to the south.

Again, assuming no one has entered the room yet.

Glancing around the room after everyone enters through the secret passage, the undine looks at them. He then starts to head towards the door and leans against it probably to hear if anyone is anywhere around despite being in a old, delapiated home. He ponders something, and glances at the others.

12:34, Today: Zale Morcant rolled 14 using 1d20+3.  Perception for the heck of it.