Death House

[Ken of Ghastria]

Vorj steps out of the bathroom and back onto the landing. "Nothing in there but broken plumbing and an old bathtub," he says. "Anything going on out here?"

[VAN]

Van checks the bathroom as well and then notices Kimber trying to listen carefully.

"Is everything ok? Have you heard anything?"

[kintire]

Kimber is listening her head tilted towards the southwest room.

"I think I hear a baby cry. Maybe its Walter that those children spoke of? But the letter said the baby was born dead..."

She looks uncertainly towards the noise, her body tense and her expression uncertain

[VAN]

Van frowns.

"Baby cry? We need to find out if is still alive or is a trap, which will not surprise me in here... Show me where you heard it please."

Van with the scimitars out heads where Kimber shows him he heard the baby cry.

[alhoon]

Straining to listen, the party can also pick up the faint echo of a crying infant's wail from beyond the door leading to the Southernmost room. It's the only sound in the house aside of their breathing and heartbeats.

[Ken of Ghastria]

"I'll open it," Vorj says quietly. "The rest of you... be ready." He walks to the door and turns the handle.

[alhoon]

Dust and cobwebs shroud an elegantly appointed bedroom and an adjoining nursery (behind closed door). Double doors set with panes of stained glass pull open to reveal a balcony overlooking the front of the house.
The bedroom contains a large bed, two end tables, and a door that leads to an empty wardrobe. Mounted on the wall next to the wardrobe is a full-length mirror with an ornate wooden frame carved to look like ivy and berries.

The baby's wail seems to come from the small adjoining nursery, which lies behind a closed door leading to the nursery.
Burdur, silent, stands behind the paladin, warm light spilling out of his holy symbol and mixing with the thin light that filters through the dusty, worn, heavy drapes over the windows. Van accompanies the cleric, standing next to him.

[kintire]

Kimber moves up behind them, ready to back them up

[VAN]

Van looks around and frowns again:

"This seems a lot like a set up to me...Burdur, Vorj do you have any spell to cast to protect or boost us? Better be prepared before go in that nursery."

[Ken of Ghastria]

Vorj frowns sadly. "The Lady Piris has not yet granted the use of spells... but I pray that the strength she's given me will be more than adequate. If you'll allow me...."

He opens the door to the nursery.

[VAN]

Van follows the paladin looking around ready to defend himself and his companions if they are attacked.

[alhoon]

As the group enters the Nursemaid's room and Vorj opens the door to the nursery, Burdur says "I have prepared a blessing. Let's pray it will be enough." and starts chanting. The light of his holy-symbol glows further and turns a warm gold color that seems to penetrate the hearts and souls of the group, bolstering their resolve. They may be in a distant, cursed land but at this time they feel sure that Moradin is aware for them and will offer his assistance for a short time.

The nursery is small dusty room. Gray light filters through the tattered, frayed drapes of the window overlooking the balcony. The room contains a crib covered with a hanging dark semi-transparent veil. From the slightly parted veil, Vorj and Van behind him can see that a tightly wrapped, baby-sized bundle lies in the crib.
The baby's wail is softer now, and clearly comes from the bundle.

[VAN]

Van slightly revealed from the blessing gets closer and looks at the baby and then around the room.

"This is pretty weird, as Kimber mentioned earlier the letter said that the baby was born dead and here we are with an apparently alive one..."

Van walks towards the balcony and looks outside to make sure nobody is hiding there.

[Ken of Ghastria]

Vorj advances toward the bundle in the crib, praying to Piris for protection for him and his companions ... and for the child, if indeed it's alive.

He places his greataxe in the sheath on his back, then he takes out a dagger and parts the veil around the crib....

[alhoon]

Both the nursemaid's room and the nursery are illuminated by Burdur's light spell. His holy symbol bathe the neglected rooms in a pale silvery light. Vorj's shadow falls on the crib, the minuscule movements of the cleric's hand making the shadows dance.

The dagger moves between the dusty, dirty, dark veil's drapes.
Kimber and Burdur in the nursemaid's room is looking nervously around. Van has his back turned on the paladin.

The dagger touches the veil of the crib.
Van, seeing nothing out of the ordinary outside except the mysterious fog, begins to turn his head towards Vorj.

Vorj gently and cautiously starts pushing the veil aside.
Burdur glances towards the mirror and freezes, his jaw opening, his eyes growing wide.
Kimber follows his gaze to the mirror. There is something in the glass, the glass that now seems smoky or foggy. Something that comes OUT of the mirror!

VIEW CONTENT:

The veil is parted to reveal that the still crying baby is wrapped in what seems to be a black burial shroud.
The translucent form of a young, thin woman in a pale cheap white dress, marred with blood by several knife-wounds floats out of the mirror's glass completely silent. Her features show pain and anger. And hate. Deep, burning hate of anything living disturbing Walter's crib, anything breathing that defiles her room.
She floats towards the nursery in complete silence before Kimber or Burdur manage to react effectively or regain their composure.
Vorj and Van are warned by the sharp, surprised inhale of the elven druid.

Vorj turns his head. Van finishes his turn.
There is an apparition in their way.


Through the angry ghost's translucent form, they can see Burdur's incredulous expression turning to resolve.

"Waaaalter" the spirit wails through lungs that can't hold breath any more.
And moves its hand to attack the paladin.