• Dark and damp smelling.
[w] locked wooden door
[e] wooden door (which you just came from)
[n] open door leading down a corridor.
[s] Large weathered doors with brass knobs
(stolen by the other party) to the Entrance.

Wait, that's it? It didn't even look like he even tried to open the door. Was... was the door unlocked? Maybe it was just that Bartholomew had loosened it. Yeah, that was probably it.

Trying the different doors, Bartholomew identifies the locked one. Better to test this door opening fellow.

"This one is locked. Which means that it wasn't looted, which means it's where we want to go. Care to do the honors?"

”Yessir!“

*CRUNCH!*
This message was lightly edited by the player at 13:36, Sat 18 Mar 2023.

While they work on that, Smoot wanders down the open corridor to the North.

Smoot, Sparrowheart and his crew are running towards you down the hall, carrying large paintings in their arms.

"STAND ASIDE, FOOL! THE REST IS YOURS!"

Smoot is sent spinning as the garb-clad looters rush past him. He looks up just in time to gasp in terror as a pole with a hook on the end slams down on his collarbone with a sickening crunch. The hook pulls back and digs into his flesh. His body rotates like a piece of meat as he’s lifted in the air and carried off, further into the decrepit mansion.

In reply to The Conductor (msg # 6):

Thaco will shout "Smoot! I'm-a-comin fer ya!" and the old exterminator will hobble after him as quick as he can through the north hallway.

You see a large figure in a bloody leather trenchcoat walking towards the back of the house with Smoot in tow.

Tooms barks at the figure and follows, but also whimpering and afraid to strike.

Bartholomew adresses the fleeing knight as he runs towards them. He does his best to ignore the monster that definitely just killed Smoot.

"I didn't take you for a cowards, Sir Sparrowheart. Do not think it's improper to flee with your tail between your legs at the first sign of danger?"

He's already beyond the sound of your voice, the knobless double doors are left swinging open.