Death House

[VAN]

Even if he isn't that religious person and didn't get harm from the ghost Van prays silently as well. Then drinks some water and eats bread, cheese and some fruits. He feels much better after doing so.

[Ken of Ghastria]

Vorj, still pale and shaken by the experience, nevertheless manages a slight smile. "I am... used to praying as a way to heal a damaged soul. And yes, I'll include you all in my prayers. Excuse me...."

The tall human takes a few steps to the side, gets down on one knee, and slowly brings his hands to his forehead as he closes his eyes and silently prays.

[kintire]

Kimber eats silently, looking around . She seems to meditate. If she parys she does so silently, and it does not seem to bring her much comfort...

[alhoon]

With a bit of food and water and some time spent praying or resting the party feels sufficiently invigorated. Burdur doesn't attempt to start any small-talk during this time. He just sits on the far side of the table and starts checking the papers and scrolls they retrieved from the trapped chest.
Checking the first for a few minutes, he sighs annoyed. "I could have used that to bless you and conserve my power" he says throwing Vorj and Van an accusatory look, as if it was their fault that Burdur didn't check what was in the scrolls.
After a few minutes, he pushes one towards Kimber, rolls up the other two and puts them through a wooden loop that hangs from his belt.
"This is one" he says pointing at the one he shared with Kimber, "is one we both can cast. If we survive, I want that back royalist!" he tells the half-elf.

[Ken of Ghastria]

"Curative spells?" asks Vorj, indicating the scrolls with a nod of his chin. "Good. And thank you - and you, too, Kimber - for the healing that you did. I'm feeling much better." He gets to his feet. "So the children who led us to this damn place... was that spirit their mother, too, I wonder? I only ask because knowing more about the family may help us deal with any other threats that emerge. To vanquish undead, especially ghosts, knowledge is often a better weapon than the sharpest blade."

[VAN]

Van tries to remember the ghost but fails, gotten by the encounter's adrenaline he didn't pay much attention at the details.

"I haven't gotten a good look at the ghost actually, but maybe we can find more things about the family in the books in the library. The only thing we know is that the letter was right and there was indeed a dead child...and the ghost could be his mother or someone that was taking care of it and that's why it appeared when we approached the crib and now when we got up to the third floor for example."

[kintire]

Kimber takes the scroll with a nod of thanks.

"I got a pretty good look at the ghost. It didn't look like the woman in the painting to me. It did seem concerned about the crying baby... unless that was just a lure for a trap."

[Ken of Ghastria]

"All right then," says Vorj. He's still pale, but otherwise the paladin seems to have recovered. "To the stairs behind the secret door then?"

He chuckles, but it's without mirth. "I can take the lead. I apparently have a rare ability to draw out evil."

[VAN]

"Sure thing, but we are actually altogether in here so we will have your back anyway. Lead on."

[alhoon]

As the party ascends to the third floor and enter the nursemaid's room, Walter, or whatever figment of the house stands in the stillborn's bed, starts crying again when it senses them near. The wail of the baby seems less desperate and more sad now; Walter is lonely in his death shroud.

The broken mirror, opening to the dark, cobweb filled staircase hangs like an open maw with the remaining fragments of glass like glistening, jagged, sharp teeth. And they are about to enter...

[Ken of Ghastria]

Vorj says, "One moment...."

He places his massive axe back in its harness, and he gets down on one knee to rummage through his pack. He pulls a silver pendant out and places it around his neck. Kimber, Burdur, and Van see that the pendant is in the shape of a woman with the head of a hawk. He next retrieves a small glass bottle that he holds in his left hand, and he readies his flail in his right.

"The axe could be a hindrance in the stairwell," he says, "and the liquid... is blessed."

[alhoon]

Burdur seems to notice. "Holy water! Good thing the guards did such a poor job in searching the captives. The humans lax of security procedures came in handy in this nightmarish situation."

[VAN]

"Probably they thought it was just a vial doubt they know how useful it is. Great it will be handy for sure."

Van gets his scimitars out and says:

"I'm ready when you are."

[alhoon]

The short, cobweb filled staircase's steps groan under the weight of the party as they ascent to the attic.
The party find themselves in a bare hall, choked with dust and cobwebs. The attic's roof is 13' high and is in an abandoned condition similar to the 3rd floor.
Aside of the door leading out of the staircase, there are four doors leading out of this dusty, plain, large room. One of these, the first they see as they emerge out of the staircase, is a strong wooden door with a bronze padlock keeping it locked.

[VAN]

Van tries to listen first then says:

"I will try the door, if its locked we can try the key we found earlier otherwise we can always break it...."