Tressa nodded as well and said, "The servant's entrance it is." The tiefling found Teodor's response quite reasonable, particularly for him, and should have let that be a warning to her.
"Tasteless party? Ooooh! Why didn't you say so?!? Tasteless how?"
Then, to Callie: "I am Teodor Niculescu, prophet and evangelist of the Lord. I bring the good news to the people of Korvosa. The good news of Lord Groetus." Teodor smiles a yellow, crooked smile.
"It was a 'forget the plague' party. You know, show up and spend excess on food and booze while people starve and die of disease outside." She rolls her eyes. "Sad thing is, I've heard of worse."
One eyebrow raises slightly at his introduction. "Groetus? The... lord of end times? That doesn't bode well for Korvosa if he's taken an interest." She pauses. "Or perhaps it does. Sometimes things need to end for others to begin. Anyway, ah... pleased to meet you, Teodor. I guess."
"Oh, an important and wealthy house. We must be certain to be VERY careful."
Any proper meaning flies over Callie's head, as she is focused on most efficient means of entry. "Well, of course we should be careful--we need to be quiet. We don't want other nobles in South Shore reporting us for breaking and entering."
When the others agree on it, she looks for the pathway that should lead to the kitchen, that would be taken by delivery caravans and low-class visitors.
As they pass she also looks for last known signs of life--how overgrown is the landscaping, any signs of footprints or other passage?
Deyanira hesitates when Callie makes her offer, then nods slowly. "I...thank you, Callie. I wouldn't be much use to you out there, anyway. I'll wait for you to come back." She takes a deep breath. "Be careful if you do find anything amiss--I don't want anyone getting hurt for my sake!"
Kroft, before leaving, takes the coffers in her hands. "Well, I'll have a look and see what we can tell you. This one looks just like the one you found that infected the Soldado girl--but this one's not the same design. It's a watertight chest, if I'm not mistaken. Maybe there'll be something useful in it, once we get it open." Tucking the boxes under her arm, she nods and takes her leave.
Although it would be perfectly reasonable to expect the manor to have a kitchen entrance, this particular building seems to lack one...down the edge of the property is some sort of outbuilding that lacks windows and might be servants' quarters, so any servants the Carowyns keep could be live-in. The manor appears deserted, though not untended--peering through the hedgerow, both Korriban and Callie can see a nicely manicured lawn with a fishpond. This also reveals that there's a sharp-pointed iron fence in the center of the hedgerow, which could be painful if you try to climb over it and slip. The fence surrounds the property, except where the walls of the buildings themselves interfere.
"Does anyone hear anything?"
Riceak was a bit puzzled as to why there were no guards and whispered his puzzlement to the others.
"Even a servant entrance would have a guard stationed nearby. But there's no one here. Not even a servant taking a break or a guard dog or anything. I don't like this. May the empyreal lords grant us strength and courage as we enter this mysterious place," the swordsman whispered.
He tightened his grip on his sword as he double checked the weapon cord that kept his weapon from being snatched away from him.
Korriban says to Kroft as she leaves with the coffers, "Be careful. Of both disease in the boxes and the Doctors."
Korriban frowns at the fact there appears to be no servant's entrance. He frowns at the spikes. "That doesn't seem to be a good option. We don't want anyone stuck on those spikes. I could probably make it."
When it comes to the door, Korriban's eyes widen. He slowly draws his rapier. "I hear something. Thumps and shuffling. Almost like someone's mechanically walking across the floor."
Callie is puzzled. "No side entrance? Would they have expected a 'commoner' like Ruan to come through the front door with all the nobles? That's odd in itself, especially for snobs like them. And I wonder where they take deliveries? Surely Lady Carowyn would never stand for a 'dirty' deliveryman tromping with his milk and eggs through the front foyer to the larder. Though perhaps they're extravagant enough they pay to have everything teleported in." She chuckles, and talks fast, as she continues to think aloud. "Perhaps even the commoners. That way they don't have to risk seeing them at all!" She looks around. "Sadly if they really do do that I don't know how they do it. I'm curious about that outbuilding, though. They CAN'T possibly let employees--like invited ones like Ruan--through the same door they'd greet noble guests. I wonder if the outbuilding is connected to the main house underground or something. But then, there's no external entrance to that one, either. Maybe they're just different from what I've seen. Maybe I didn't know what I thought I did. Maybe I'm talking too much."
She frowns at Korriban when he reports the noises. "Well, that's not good. We don't whatever that is just waiting for us--if we've got to tangle with it, it needs to be on our terms. I feel like window or balcony is the way to go. Or maybe try to climb the outbuilding and get in from there--the spiked fence doesn't extend to it, and it's shorter than the manor itself, I think. I don't suppose anyone's got a grappling rope?"
Korriban looks at balcony and the fence. "That's an idea. What concerns me is if one of us lands on those spikes. As for rope or a grappling hook, I don't have any. I could take a rope, climb up there, and tie the rope to something. Maybe start with getting a look to see if anything's up there waiting for us." He shrugs. "I also got some tricks up my sleeves. Explosives, bombs, alchemists fire. We could open the door and I could throw something in there. But, that might be a waste for resources for me and it might put any survivors in danger. I could open the door and see what's exactly on the other side."
"Or we could kick down the door. Whatever is going on here is starting to send chills up my spine and I'm not liking that," Riceak said.
"And if it helps I'll pay to have the door fixed. We could always say that we thought there was attack on the manor and we um, jumped the crossbow if you get my meaning."
"But before we do any of that, maybe we could look through the keyhole and see if we can see what's only on in there."
He then said, "I have a grappling hook but no rope. My rope got destroyed when I had to help my third cousin and his family escape a mob during the rioting. Had to cut it to keep the mob from coming up after them."
He shows the others the grappling hook with a bit of rope still on it although it was cut.
"Also I don't like the idea of sending one person in alone. If you go in, then it would be best for someone to come along. I'll do that. I can climb quite well even in this armor."
Korriban nods at Riceak's suggest of kicking down the door. "That. Or I could pick the lock. I think we'd get into a lot less trouble for that." He pulls out his masterwork thieves tools from his pocket.
"Also I don't like the idea of sending one person in alone. If you go in, then it would be best for someone to come along. I'll do that. I can climb quite well even in this armor."
Korriban's eyebrow quirks in confusion as he eyes the man up and down, taking in the bulky armor. "Really? How does that work?"
Smiling at Korriban's question, the swordsman replies, "Not all Varisians are skilled in song, harrow card reading, or sleight of hand, my fellow Varisian. Some of us are skilled in protecting the caravans. I fall in that category. I have honed my talents in wearing armor so that it does not impend my movements much. Plus, my magical armor is specially crafted in a manner that allows extra maneuverability for such physical activities like climbing or swimming. And my shield is made of mithral so it is extra light. Protecting the caravans does have it benefits of course."
Nodding at the man's suggestion of picking the lock the swordsman adds, "That works. But again peek through the keyhole and see if you can see anything. At the very least it'll give us some idea of what to do and what we might face once inside."
"Looking through the keyhole doesn't hurt, but I still would rather not kick in the door, if there's something moving right behind it. That just screams 'trap' and not the kind someone can disarm ahead of time. If we can secure a rope to the top--by grapple or Korriban--all of us can climb up. I was never suggesting only one person go in alone."
"Has anyone noticed anything...odd? This is a party and all so why don't we hear any laughter or merry making? I tell you something is definitely wrong here. And wouldn't anyone have noticed us sneaking around? We haven't really bothered concealing our presence here you know," the swordsman pointed out. He gripped his sword even tighter.
"The party itself was a few days ago. Deyanira became alarmed because Ruan should have come home after it ended, and he never did."
Seeing no one else take action, Callie backs up about 50 feet then runs and builds up to attempting a leap that may allow her to grab onto an upper part of the outbuilding to see if she can pull herself up onto the roof.
Korriban is about to check the keyhole when Callie begins to jump for the roof. As she lands, Korriban says, "Nice try, Blue. Give me a moment." He then tries to peek through the keyhole.
After that, he turns to Callie. "Okay. I say I unlock the door and Riceak enters. If you still want to go for the roof, I'll help you get up there after I unlock the door." He kneels in front of the door and lays his rapier down on the ground. He pulls out his masterwork thieves tools and begins to unlock the door, whistling while he works.
Having kept her peace for now Lantressa helped keep watch for any potential trouble while Korriban worked on the lock. She was ready to try and intercept anyone who might attempt to interfere, whether by spell or word was of little importance.
Riceak nodded.
"That works for me. But I will keep my sword and shield at the ready for still this place causes me to have grave concerns. It continues to send chills up my spine. It is just...too quiet. As I said, even if the party was a few days ago, wouldn't there have been any guards? What with the plague and riots going on there should be guards posted. Nobles are a suspicious and paranoid lot so it makes sense. But anyhow, unlock the door. I'll go in first. Await my signal which will most likely be me fighting with whatever is in there. If you don't hear my signal then that means everything is alright and I'm talking with the nobles," he said.
Callie takes a running jump and very neeeeaarly grabs the lip of the roof's edge. Scowling in frustration, she rejoins the group as Korriban begins work on the lock. He nearly breaks one of his tools on the first attempt, but after a good ten minutes of fooling with it he manages to align the tumblers and the lock clicks open.
Riceak pushes the door open and steps through quickly. Even as he steps through, you know something's wrong: a hideous stench like rotting meat wafts through the just-cracked door.
Inside, Riceak stands, shocked for a moment. A massacre took place here. Upon the marble floor and heaped in the corners lie more than a dozen corpses, each clad in outfits of sequined velvet, revealing silk, and colorful feathers. Masks of all shapes and sizes--each competing with the last in elaborateness--adorn the dead. In several cases, though, these fanciful adornments have fallen away, revealing withered flesh covered in nauseating facial tumors. Most horrifyingly, upon a blood-slick space cleared at the room's center sway three couples, jerking like hellish dancers, all obviously dead. They appear to have noticed Riceak's entrance--several of them have turned their heads toward them--but they continue their weird, shuffling attempt at dancing.
Teodor is the first to respond to Riceak's call!
Initiative
Teodor<-----
Foes
Callie, Korriban, Lantressa, Riceak
Corpses: HP: 12 | AC/T/FF: 12/10/12 | Fort +0 Ref +0 Will +3 | DR 5/slashing
Teodor dances while displaying his holy symbol. "Pfffft. This party's dead."
Callie looks through the door past Riceak and gags in shock at the sight. "Gods have mercy..." She whispers. Seeing their flesh sear by the Groetian's channeled energy, she hopes they don't need to take much more damage to bring them down. She draws a dagger while moving in ahead of Riceak and throws one at the nearest undead creature.
Once the dagger leaves her hand, she draws her sword with lightning speed in case any move toward her.
Teodor dances through the doors and into the hallway, unfazed by the dead and waltzing past the shocked Riceak. As the light from his holy symbol washes over the undead, they stagger and recoil, starting to turn toward him. Before they can do, though, Callie darts forward. Her dagger thunks into the nearest creature, but just sticks into its thigh without harming it...
Initiative
Teodor
Foes
Callie, Korriban, Lantressa, Riceak<----
Corpses: HP: Red and Orange 1, others 7 each | AC/T/FF: 12/10/12 | Fort +0 Ref +0 Will +3 | DR 5/slashing
"...In other cases, a weapon can deal either of two types of damage. In a situation where the damage type is significant, the wielder can choose which type of damage to deal with such a weapon."
And with that, the leading corpse, looking faintly surprised, slumps to the ground as Callie's dagger finishes cutting through the tendons in its legs. It twitches for a moment, then lies still.
Lantressa moved in and saw the strange dance that was occurring on the gore covered floor. It was highly disturbing, but not the worst she'd seen, after all she had grown up near the Wound. She got into position and chanted and gestured ending with her finger pointed at one of the zombies and a ray of scarlet energy shot forth from her claw and headed straight at the zombie.
Riceak quickly moves towards one of the other undead 'partygoers' as he swings his sword at the strangely dressed zombie.
"I told you something was wrong with this place! All of the guests are dead!"
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"KILL THE RICH! AGAIN, I GUESS!"
Korriban smirks as the lock opens and puts his tools and away and picks up his rapier.
Korriban watches as Riceak opens the door. His face scrunches in disgust as the smell of rotten meat hits him. He quickly takes off his bandana and ties it over his nose and mouth. That disgusted look turns to shock as he sees the bodies all over the floor. His sight is then drawn to the undead dancers. Korriban is shaking a bit as his grip on his rapier tightens. He groans in frustration. "Great. Bad enough that they're walking around. But, now they've decide to cut a jig. Just great. Fantastic... F**k..." Seeing Teodor waltzing into the room, Korriban stares at him deadpanned before shrugging. "If you can't beat them, join them." He then proceeds to dance into the room.
He waltzes into the room (though with the blood on the floor and his lack of dancing skill, it looks more like he's stumbling around). When he gets to the zombie in orange garb, he uses his movement from his spin to stab into it.
Lantressa, darting forward, takes a pot shot at one of the zombies but only succeeds in scorching a hole in an expensive-looking tapestry in the far wall. Riceak bisects one of the moldering corpses, while Korriban (almost falling in his face) jigs forward and stabs another directly through the thorax!
...it doesn't seem to really bother the corpse, though, given the irrelevance of its organs.
Initiative
Teodor<-----
Foes
Callie, Korriban, Lantressa, Riceak
Corpses: HP: Orange 1, others 7 each | AC/T/FF: 12/10/12 | Fort +0 Ref +0 Will +3 | DR 5/slashing
Teodore continues his giddy dance.
As the light of Groetus washes over them, the corpses writhe--the one Korriban stabbed collapses outright, going still. The one closest to Riceak lunges at him, but the armored man manages to fend it off--Korriban is not so lucky, as one of the two across the room staggers forward and introduces a meaty fist to the side of his head. The remaining zombie stumbles up against the back off, and then around, the one assaulting Riceak, moving slowly.
Initiative
Teodor
Foes
Callie, Korriban, Lantressa, Riceak<----
Corpses: HP: Yellow 5, blue and purple 3 each | AC/T/FF: 12/10/12 (blue 11/9/11) | Fort +0 Ref +0 Will +3 | DR 5/slashing
Seeing one appear in the corner by Riceak, Callie steps forward while swinging her magic blade down toward the dancing zombie.
"Is it just me or do these undead have the same skin affliction as the drowned cultist you found," he asked as he swung his sword at the neck of the zombie attacking Korriban.
Korriban sees the other two zombies go down. He decides to move past the last zombie. He cartwheels past it.
Flanking with Riceak, Korriban is in a prime position to deliver the most damage he can. He stabs at it!
Lantressa, seeing the last zombie fall, breathed a sigh of relief, "Well, I'm glad that's over with." She began to enter the room, stepping gingerly around the gore stains as best she could. "So what now?"
Teodor swings his flail onto one of the dead rich dicks, giggling.
"Hey!" Callie snaps at Teodor. "These dead are already desecrated enough, don't you think?"
"Is the priest...always like that," Riceak asked Korriban.
As Teodor swings the flail into one of the deceased's skulls and Lantressa approaches, a voice speaks suddenly from the stairs:
"Five little mousies came into the house!
Crushed a dead man like a louse!
But five little mousies'll soon be only three...
Come on babies, scream for meeeeeee!"
As the last word is shrieked out, it's joined by a sudden wailing shriek and a crossbow quarrel seems to sprout from Riceak's shoulder, causing the armored man to gasp in pain! At the top of the stairs, an elf in hideous makeup carrying a crossbow appears out of thin air, cackling with laughter. She leers down at the group. "C'mon, c'mon new friends! It's been a couple of days since I had anyone to play with! And now you can all see my work! I've got so much stuff to shooooooow yoooooooouuuu...catch me if you can!" And, with a cackling laugh, she dashes up the stairs and out of sight onto the second-floor gallery!
Initiative
Teodor
Foes
Callie, Korriban, Lantressa, Riceak<----
Corpses: HP: 12 each | AC/T/FF: 12/10/12 | Fort +0 Ref +0 Will +3 | DR 5/slashing
Crazy Elf: HP: 52 | AC/T/FF: 21/15/16 | Fort +4 Ref +10 Will +4 | CMD: 21 | evasion, uncanny dodge
"Hey!" Callie snaps at Teodor. "These dead are already desecrated enough, don't you think?"
"On the contrary, they haven't been desecrated enough."
Then, after the elf appears, "By the End, I think I'm in love."
Teodor also heals his fighty friends.
Callie raises an eyebrow at Teodor, but the surprise attack of the mad elf means there is no time for a conversation. She is relieved, at least, to see him heal Korriban.
"Well, we've already walked into one trap, why not a second?" Sword still in hand, she casts expeditious retreat upon herself and dashes down the stairs with magically enhanced speed . When she gets to the bottom of the stairs, she moves up far enough to try to see where the elf has gone without provoking attack from the additional walking corpses she sees before her.
"More shamblers!" She calls upstairs.
The elf giggles as Callie appears at the top of the stairs. "So glad you could join us! I call this one, 'The Contemplation of Art!'" She gestures at the three shambling husks, which appear to be miming the inspection of the finely framed works of art that cover the walls of this gallery, looking down on the floor below. Great windows look out to the west and south, and an alcove to the east is set with chairs for musicians. In a mockery of the room's beauty, several non-moving corpses have been posed around the room like grotesque statues.
"Get her!" the elf shrieks.
"Argh! By the stars of Desna!"
Riceak yanks the crossbow bolt out of his shoulder and after tossing it aside, goes after Callie.
"Best get behind me," he says as he raises his shield before him, "This might get...messy."
Lantressa nodded and began to follow Riceak as he went up the stairs leaving space for Callie to get between them should the woman choose to.
Lantressa wasn't happy with this woman that was attacking them and she was determined to make her displeasure known. Getting a good view of their enemy she said a few words and gestured ending with her fingers pointed at the woman and sent a beam of red energy at her.
As he said that, he swung his sword at the zombie that was just about to flank him.
Everyone charges up the stairs after the crossbow-wielding elf. As everyone gets to the top, though, it becomes clear that there are more immediate concerns: like the three zombies approaching. Korriban somersaults around the slow-moving zombie that Riceak's facing into a flanking position just as Teodor approaches and heals them.
The zombie that Riceak and Korriban are surrounding launches itself at Riceak, but the big man fends it off with his shield. The other two zombies stagger toward Callie--one manages to land a solid blow on her, but she twists away from the second, which nearly gets tangled in the banister.
The crazy elf, meanwhile, just beyond the zombies, digs into her belt pouch, pulls out a small vial and, grinning at Callie, downs it...and vanishes.
Riceak, irate, chops into the zombie he and Korriban are flanking.
Initiative
Teodor
Foes
Callie, Korriban, Lantressa, Riceak<----
Corpses: HP: Blue 9, others 12 each | AC/T/FF: 12/10/12 | Fort +0 Ref +0 Will +3 | CMD: 14 | DR 5/slashing
Crazy Elf: HP: 52 | AC/T/FF: 21/15/16 | Fort +4 Ref +10 Will +4 | CMD: 21 | evasion, uncanny dodge