Death House

[alhoon]

Thorn looks at the toy, scared but intrigued. He probably hasn't seen anything like it. Rose looks at Bhunder and says "Mother said never take things from strangers." She looks back at Van and Vorj expectantly "Will you kill the monster? Please? Father is rich. He will pay you."

The mist grows thicker around the group and the rain intensifies.

[steveflam]

Bhunder walsk over and picsk up the toy.


"What does this monster look like?," he asks the children. "My name is Bhunder and this is my brother Gnorric. Now we aren't strangers any more."

[alhoon]

Bhunder walsk over and picsk up the toy.


"What does this monster look like?," he asks the children. "My name is Bhunder and this is my brother Gnorric. Now we aren't strangers any more."

Thorn starts weeping again. Rose says "We haven't seen the monster. Father and Mother locked it in the basement but we heard it's howls and screams as it was banging the basement door. I fear it may break loose soon! We don't know how it got in."

[VAN]

Van's gaze goes from the old remoted house to the children and then to his companions and stands for one more second at Vorj. If something was wrong probably the paladin would have sensed it.

"We will deal with that monster as we said. Please show us the main entrance and if there is a secondary one. Then return to our camp, where you found us. Since we don't know what we will face I cannot risk have the two of you with us in the house."

Van places gently his hand at Rose's shoulder.

"Don't worry everything will be fine soon. Just wait for us to return."

[alhoon]

Rose shies away from the touch but looks at Van brightly. "The entrance is there" she says pointing at the ajar door. "We will wait for you, or our parents, over there" she says turning her head towards a large tree about 15 yards from the entrance. The thick branches provide adequate cover from the rain and the party notices that the dark bark of the tree is barely noticeable in the thickening fog.

A squak can be heard through the open entrance of the house as the door sways in a sudden gust of wind that sends the mists twirling, as if inviting them in the gloomy and silent interior.

[kintire]

Kimber looks at the door and then at the children just a little suspiciously. She open her mouth to say something, then shrugs. Even if it is a trap, what can they do? Abandon a couple of children?

She approaches the creaking doorand tries to peer past it, her eyes untroubled by the darkness, her club gripped in one hand, shield lifted in the other.

[ewancummins]

Gnorric snoops about the exterior of the house, careful not to stray out of sight of his brother,Van, or the dwarf priest.


He examines the bases of doors, any low windows, and any vents, coal scuttles, storm cellar doors, etc. Ways in or ways to spy.

[Ken of Ghastria]

On the short trip to the residence, Vorj seemed preoccupied -- and even a little shaken. But he says nothing until the children are out of earshot and the group is assembled before the house's main entrance.

"Whatever or wherever this 'Barovia' is," he says finally, "the entire land reeks of corruption. I can feel it. It's an offense to Piris and all other benevolent gods. Whether you hate me or not, believe this: Trust nothing here, not even those children. However, we've been brought here for a reason, and we likely won't get home until we see this through to its conclusion."

He takes out his massive axe and waits for the results of the others' searching before entering the house.

[VAN]

Van looks back at the children, indeed was a little odd that their parents didn't get the little one and try to escape as well once the monster was locked at the basement. But again but he was just paranoid and they indeed need their help.

Taking his own swords out he says:

"We better check for footprints near the entrance and windows, we may found something intresting. I'm not a skilled ranger but maybe we can find something about the monster's identity. It has arrived someway and entered.

[ewancummins]

After conducting his exterior search, Gnorric ambles over to his brother. He whispers,
"Bhunder, this place doesn't seem like a normal family home. Shutters stuck. The place looks like no one is keeping it fixed up. And I found marks of an arson attempt...if people live here I think somebody wanted to burn them out. Neighbors.."
He looks around the bleak woods.
"Humph. And those kids are creepy. Also, have you noticed the way the fog seems to hang thickest nearest the house? That's just weird. "

[alhoon]

By the time Gnorric returns, Rose, wet from the rain, looks up at Vorj and says "We'll be by that tree. Please, please, help us" and goes towards the barely visible tree. By the time Vorj gives his somber warning, the wall of mist is thicker. The heroes can't see the tree or the kids. Anything further than 6-7 yards away is just a colorless, featureless shadow. At 15 yards or so nothing is visible except the mists.
Van doesn't find anything.
Kimber sees

VIEW CONTENT:

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 opened. Oil lamps hang from the portico ceiling by chains, flanking a set of oaken doors that open into a grand foyer. 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.
Mahogany-framed double doors leading from the foyer to the main hall are set with panes of stained glass.

[VAN]

As completes his search Van arrives next to Kimber and sees the internal of the house. He grins as sees the shield and aristocrats portraits and exclaims:

"We suppose to save aristocrats!! You must be kidding, I prefer the cold, the rain and the mists than get in there and risk my life for saving those that for sure oppress poor people. All aristocrats are the same in my books."

Van puts his swords in the scabbards and gets closer to the gnomes.

"Feel free to enter, I will not betray my family name for saving royalists."

[ewancummins]

As completes his search Van arrives next to Kimber and sees the internal of the house. He grins as sees the shield and aristocrats portraits and exclaims:

"We suppose to save aristocrats!! You must be kidding, I prefer the cold, the rain and the mists than get in there and risk my life for saving those that for sure oppress poor people. All aristocrats are the same in my books."

Van puts his swords in the scabbards and gets closer to the gnomes.

"Feel free to enter, I will not betray my family name for saving royalists."

GNORRIC sidles up to Van.
"Good thinking."
He eyes Kimber." He whispers to the human warrior. "But if this house is inhabited by royalists, is it smart to let her just wander inside? She might betray us."

[Ken of Ghastria]

"Feel free to enter, I will not betray my family name for saving royalists."

Vorj spins out angrily. "Haven't you been paying attention?" he says through gritted teeth. "We. Are. Not. Home. We are likely nowhere close to home. 'Rebels,' 'royalists' .... your alliances are meaningless here. So stop preening yourself over your pride. If those children are telling even a version of the truth, then we may be the only force that can prevent them from becoming orphans! If you pretend to give a damn about that, then you'll help. If not, then leave."

[ewancummins]

"Feel free to enter, I will not betray my family name for saving royalists."

Vorj spins out angrily. "Haven't you been paying attention?" he says through gritted teeth. "We. Are. Not. Home. We are likely nowhere close to home. 'Rebels,' 'royalists' .... your alliances are meaningless here. So stop preening yourself over your pride. If those children are telling even a version of the truth, then we may be the only force that can prevent them from becoming orphans! If you pretend to give a damn about that, then you'll help. If not, then leave."

GNORRIC mutters something about " fanatics" and scoots behind Van.