Having found the secret door and opened it slightly Ordin could see inside.  He watched as Zale moved to the door to see if he could hear anything and as Zale did that, Ordin moved into the room having not found anyone inside.  He waved Dillo inside right after him.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:30, Mon 31 Jan 2022.

In reply to Ordin Oakbranch (msg # 104):

Zale, you can hear something faintly.

In the distance, it sounds like there is a rhythmic chuk-chuk sound.  You also can hear what sounds like a cat meowing. But that's further away so you can't be sure that's what it is.

Wall? Zale is by the door. He listens for a moment, and turns towards the others "Can't make it out. Sounds like clicking. And I think I heard a cat." The undine looks a bit perplexed. He decides to slowly open the door slightly....

Bellinha followed the others through the broken window.  She spent a few minutes walking around the room, using a cantrip to see if there was anything magical about the place.  She didn't expect there to be but one never could tell.

At Zales words, she turned to look towards the secret door.  "Careful, Zale." she whispered.

In reply to Bellinha Grunnel (msg # 107):

Bellinha, the quilt on the bed pings magic of some kind.

Zale, you crack open the door.

The hallway outside has obviously seen better days.  Thick dust.  Cobwebs.  Bits of the ceiling have fallen onto the floor.  But no nasties in view.

The rhythmic sound you heard earlier is clearer now.  Mechanical obviously. A clock maybe?  One of those large types that stand as tall as trees and make great gonging sounds every hour on the hour?

The meowing is more definite as well, though the clock sounds drown them out somewhat.

The clock is closer and to the southwest.  The meowing is somewhere beyond that.

The otter glances up at Zale. He furrows his brow "I am going to check it out." Despite being low on spells-he's got his spear. The undine pauses, looking back at the group but slowly opens the door fully remaing on guard.

Kozibi, for the time being, was content to follow along behind the others, especially as at least some of them seemed to have foreknowledge of things, like the secret door. He tried to stay attentive and keep his senses alert for anything coming towards them or from behind them especially, as they moved along. And he stayed silent, which was difficult for him. He loved the sound of his own voice.

11:26, Today: Kozibi Januson rolled 12 using 1d20+5.  Perception

Bellinha gave the quilt on the bed a curious look.  For the moment, she forgot about Zale and the secret passage as the hints of magic coming from the bed captured her attention.

"What an odd thing to find here..." she muttered, walking up to the bed.  "What are you, hmmm?"

OOC:
Bellinha Grunnel rolled 17 for Spellcraft to figure out what the enchantment might be.

In reply to Bellinha Grunnel (msg # 111):

Bellinha, the "quilt" actually seems to be more of a cape.  A quilted cape.  Yeah.  Apparently that's a thing.

The enchantment on it seems to be of a protective nature.  Some kind of elemental ward...

Cloak of Fire Resistance.  +3 to saves vs. flames.  Success means no damage, failed saves only net half damage

Kozibi and Zale, the two of you peer out into the hall as Bellinha and Moon examine the quilt-cape thing.  Yeah. Apparently quilt-capes are a thing.

You are at the southern door in room 15, looking out into the hall

The door lets out on to the corner of an L-shaped hall.  Directly to your right is a door that, according to the map you have, should lead into the manor's northwest tower. Area 10 on the map

To the left, the hall passes the door into the dorm room you entered through the window.  The hall crooks to the south, with a door into the northeast tower at that juncture Area 11 on the map.

Ahead of you, the hall heads to the south.  There are doors off it to the west To area 14, and to what must be the manor courtyard Area 5.

The ticking-clock noise comes from the south, straight ahead.  To the southwest from around area 3

As the undine wants to check on what is ticking and the cat, he knows not to leave anything unturned. Glancing at Koz, he nods his head and goes to the door closest to him and leans against it perhaps listening to it. The otter pads along next to him and remains there.

OOC
Listening to the door (area 10):

19:19, Today: Zale Morcant rolled 23 using 1d20+3.

Bellinha picked up the quilt...cape...thing and examined it more closely.  "Odd to find such a...garment here..." Shrugging, she carefully folded up the garment and put it into her backpack.

She motioned for Moon to follow her as she stepped as quietly as she could towards the secret door.

Finally he couldn't take it anymore and while he kept his voice pitched very low, it was almost like an audible dam bursting. "oh, didn't you hear? quilted capes are all the rage in the cities these days! it's the height of fashion!" He let out a chuckle to show he was joking, but then realized what had happened and immediately shut his mouth again.

He frowned at himself as he went to the corner of the hallway where it turned, farther away from the group, watching and listening for anything.

08:23, Today: Kozibi Januson rolled 16 using 1d20+5.  Perception.

I am assuming everyone is in the hall, outside the door to room 10. Bel, you and Moon are just stepping out after the fellas, stowing your lovely quilt-cape-thing as you go. Please let me know if there was anything else you wanted to check in the secret room (area 15).  That's where you got the quilt-cape-thing

Zale, the door into the northwestern tower is fairly stout.  It seems to have weathered the years fairly well.  Through it, you can't hear much.  What you do hear sounds like wind whistling through a hole in the wall.

Koz, you glance down the hallway as Zale listens and Bel finishes stowing her fashion accessory.  Moon is watching to the east, leaving you to glance down the hall to the south.

As you look...and it could be your eyes playing tricks on you...you could swear the next door down Area 14 just shut.  Like it had been open a crack and was now shutting.

But that's probably just your imagination.  Why would anyone be hiding in a room in a spooky old mansion that was maybe the source of a zombie invasion?  That just sounds like a plot contrivance in a poorly told tale.

Zale, you hear the soft click of a door shutting down the hallway.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:00, Mon 07 Feb 2022.

As the undine is about to open the door, he looks down the hallway. The otter glances down the hallway as well and it looks up at Zale. Gripping his spear in one hand, he holds a hand up to his lips as he looks at the others. Slowly he goes down the hallway like a shark going after its prey. Sorta.

OOC:
17:41, Today: Zale Morcant rolled 6 using 1d20+3.  Steath: Be very very quiet..

Well not very quiet!

Kozibi peered down the hallway and then stopped. He blinked a few times. Was that his imagination? Had he seen that? Actually, it wouldn't surprise him. Someone or something had to be animating or creating the undead...right? So maybe someone was there. And it didn't hurt to be a little paranoid in a spooky mansion.

He turned to look back towards Moon and Bellinha. He spoke very quietly, "i'm not certain but...I think I saw a door close down the way just now...

Bellinha finished stowing away the quilted cloak, wondering if Kozibi had been telling the truth about it being a fashion trend.  Maybe she should be paying more attention to recent fashion trends.  Her mother would probably...

Bells musings were interrupted when the Bard spoke quietly about a door closing.  "It looks like Zale is already investigating.  Let's follow for support." she replied softly.

She tried to keep her steps quiet but she wasn't the best at sneaking around.

OOC:
Bellinha Grunnel rolled 14 for Stealth

In reply to Bellinha Grunnel (msg # 119):

The door ahead seems to crack open just a thumbnail's width.  THen, when Zale steps on a loose board that creeeeeeeaaaaks like a banshee, the door shuts quickly.

You can all hear what sounds like footsteps inside the room Room 14 on the map

The footsteps seem to go away from the door but not too far.

The otter gives Zale a really odd look and seems to scold him. He grips his spear, and glances at the two others before going over to the door. Taking a deep breath, he goes to slide it open but cautiously using the wall like a blocker.

Bellinha moved closer to the wall, tightly gripping the hilt of her sword, and nodded back at Zale.

In reply to Bellinha Grunnel (msg # 122):

The door slowly opens.

Slooooooooowwwwwwwlllllly opens.

Inside is what looks like used to be another dorm room.  The cots in here have weathered the years much better in that most of them are still standing.  The dust in the room hangs like clouds before a storm.

Huddling in one corner is a halfling.  The little guy stares at you with wide, fearful eyes, his body shaking.  His wrists are bound together by manacles.  He's in his small clothes and doesn't look to have anything else to his name.  Whatever his name is.

He just stares back at you, shaking and fearful like.

Koz hesitated between continuing to watch the hallway and going in to the room, but only for a moment. Then he entered the room. He was more fascinated by who, or what, was in this place. He stepped inside and looked around slowly.

Upon seeing the halfling, he flashed his winning smile at them, but he kept his voice on the quiet side when he spoke. "Hello, I am Kozibi. May I ask who you are and why you are hiding in this...place? We thought it abandoned."

Bellinha cautiously followed Kozibi into the room, her eyes sweeping the room as she did.  Seeing the halfling cowering in the corner, she quickly sheathed her sword, hoping to appear less threatening.  Kozibi was probably the best person to reach out to the poor fellow, so she gave the halfling a small wave and what was hopefully a warm smile and let Kozibi talk.

In reply to Bellinha Grunnel (msg # 125):

The halfling shudders and balls himself up as you enter.  He then peeks at you Koz as you start to speak to him.

He nervously licks his lips and slowly says...

"So...you're not gonna kill me?

"I'm Brillum by the way.  And yeah. It's not abandonded.  This room at least.  Cos I'm here.  Me.  Brillum. Huh ha ha ha ha."

He finishes his nervous laughter and then licks his lips again. "So...you're really not gonna kill me right? Or feed me to those cats?"

"I say we use him as bait." Is Zale serious? Its hard to tell if he trusts the halfling and he's still tyed up. The otter looks at him then back at the undine. Maybe he was bluffing. Or maybe not. Again the otter looks up at Zale and walks over to the halfling. It sniffs him for a moment "Cats?" His watches the halfling.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:07, Fri 18 Feb 2022.

In reply to Zale Morcant (msg # 127):

Brillum blinks rapidly at you Zale.  He then glances at Otter and then back at you Koz and Bel.  Then back at the Otter.  Then back to <puprle>Zale</purple>.

"You...you haven't run into them?  That lady...she's crazy!  She likes to feed her cats people!  She feeds her cats people!"

He grabs the front of his face and pulls down, like he's trying to stretch his chin down to his chest.

"PEEEEEEPPPOOOLLLLEEEE!"