I'm sure the masters of this manor wouldn't mind us using these to save their lives..., Wellby downs the wine and picks up the hand crossbow and bolts leaving the glass on the table. He then heads to the other side of the main hall opening the door furthest to the left on the map.
The centerpiece of this wood-paneled dining room is a carved mahogany table surrounded by eight high-backed chairs with sculpted armrests and cushioned seats. A crystal chandelier hangs above the table, which is covered with resplendent silverware and crystal-ware polished to a dazzling shine. Mounted above the marble fireplace is a mahogany-framed painting of an alpine vale. The wall paneling is carved with elegant images of deer among the trees.
Red silk drapes cover the windows, and a tapestry depicting hunting dogs and horse-mounted aristocrats chasing after a wolf hangs from an iron rod bolted to the south wall.
Wellby takes a looksie behind the curtains before opening the next door from the left in the main hall.
Vasilios once more enjoys the nice decoration, but an idea comes to his mind
-Fellows... don't you think if there was a monster here, we would have found it already? Or heard it, at the very least...
Dinaeri spoiler
While Wellby left the room, Dinaeri was still perplexed by the Stag Trophy and just couldn't shake this vague feeling of uneasiness.
Unsure if it was the house itself, or if there was a source nearby causing him to feel this way, he took a moment to enter a brief trance-like state, attempting to tap into his Fey heritage to get a better understanding of his own thoughts and emotions, perhaps even working out what seems off within the atmosphere.
This doesn't appear to be a basement, Vasilos. If you're so concerned, help us find the stairs to the cellar. IT has to behind one of these doors...
Felix stays in the center of the group's formation, shield and holy symbol at the ready.
"I know we should search this place with caution, my friends, but I am concerned about the baby Walter."
Wellby closes the door he opened before saying, Felix, you are astute as ever. Let's head upstairs before trying to confront this monster.
Wellby begins climbing the stairs to the next floor.
-Oh, did they say anything about the cellar? I was distracted trying to find out what was familiar about them...
Alton simply follows along, working on a magnificent story about the adventure sure to come.
The red marble staircase leads to the second level, but it also spirals further upwards into the house. A cold draft can be felt rolling down the stairs.
The second floor is an unlit hallway. Two pairs of man-sized shadows loom from the darkness on either side.
Wellby lights his lantern and then (seeing the lamps), lights each torch with a small splints shaved with a dagger. He examines the hallway.
The freshly-lit lamps reveal an elegant hall. Hanging above the mantelpiece on the far wall is a portrait of a family: two humorless, aristocratic adults and their two smiling children, which you recognize as being the pair you left outside. Cradled in the father's arms is a swaddled baby, which the mother regards with the slightest hint of scorn. A plaque on the frame reads: The Durst Family.
Standing suits of armor flank wooden doors in the east and west walls. Each suit of armor clutches a spear and has a visored helm shaped like a wolf's head. The doors are carved with dancing youths.
Wellby pops into the west door and waves the latern around to see inside.
Vasilios keeps himself out of the way, leaving the experts work in peace. In his short experience, when you know you can't be of any help, don't be in the way. Now give me some vampires to burn and we're talking...
Alton moves in beside Wellby, one hand on his rapier.
Unable to place his finger on the point of origin for the feeling of uneasiness surrounding him, Dinaeri left the room and headed for the red marbled staircase.
Not wanting to stroll too far from the party, he too made his way up to the second floor and seeing the grand hallway already lit, made his way further up the corridor towards Wellby and the gang, again admiring the decor in passing.
Standing below the mantel, Dinaeri looked up, taking in the rather stern expression of the parents depicted within the painting.
Odd. The children must have had a respectable upbringing and yet the parents appear most unhappy. It's as if they regret having a family. Perhaps the woman was forced into having yet another child, which would explain the scornful expression across her face. he aired out for those around him to hear, hand on chin as if trying to work something out.
Turning to the eastern most door and nodding to Vasilios, Dinaeri pushed open the door, slowly walking in while untrusting of the armour and objects surrounding him.
Vasilios nods back, and prepares for whatever happens.
The light of Wellby's lantern reveals an elegantly appointed hall. Gossamer drapes cover the windows. A brass-plated chandelier hangs from the ceiling, glinting in the light. Upholstered chairs line the walls, and stained-glass wall hangings depict beautiful men, women, and children singing and playing instruments.
A harpsichord with a bench rests in the northwest corner. Near the fireplace is a large standing harp. Alabaster figurines of well-dressed dancers adorn the mantelpiece. Close inspection of them reveals that several are carvings of well-dressed skeletons.
There are no other doors leaving this room.
This family has a taste for the macabre... Wellby mumbles. Leaving the door again he speaks to the others across the hall, What's in the other room? This is just some musical instruments.
Wellby begins to peer up the stairs, waiting for a response before walking up the stairs.
Behind the eastern doors, Dinaeri and Vasilios find a richly appointed library. Red velvet drapes cover the windows of this room. An exquisite mahogany desk and a matching high-back chair face the entrance and the fireplace, above which hangs a framed picture of a windmill perched atop a rocky crag. Situated in corners of the room are two overstuffed chairs. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves line the south wall. A rolling wooden ladder allows one to more easily reach the high shelves.
A number of items rest on the desk.
Alton, having put down his rapier (once again) and picked up his piece of parchment, drops the parchment and runs to the harp. He begind to start plucking the strings.
Felix searches the room, first with a cursory glance, then a more elaborate inspection.
The bookshelves hold hundreds of tomes covering a range of topics including history, warfare, and alchemy. There are also several shelves containing first-edition collected works of poetry and fiction.
Doors to the north and west lay near the suit of armor. A small hallway leads off to the northeast.
Wellby will go to light the lamps.
Alton begins to tune the harp, absently humming a tune himself
Headed for the desk, Dinaeri carefully sifted through the contents sprawled across it, checking the drawers for any items that could come in handy, and as luck would have it, he did find something - A single iron key.
Perhaps this will prove of use to us, in accessing parts of this house currently locked off.
Though not a thief, it was quite apparent this home had been abandoned for quite some time. Why would two children be living alone with no guardians or parents in sight? He found it all quite perplexing, but with nothing else seeming of much use to him, Dinaeri made his way over to the book shelves, taking a particular interest in the sections relating to Alchemy and History, while simultaneously keeping an eye out for anything with the Durst Family crest on it.
This crest with the Windmill atop a rocky crag....it just keeps re-surfacing, no matter where we look. he said, once more airing things aloud for others to comment.
There must be more to this. he said, even quieter still, this time speaking to himself.
Looking at Dinaeri, Alton mutters Weird... He stops tuning the harp and picks up his piece of parchment, drawing the crest, and writing a description of it. He turns back to the harp, and attempts to finish tuning it. He then walks to Dinaeri, and begins to look around the room, looking for any secret doors.
Vasilios still waits out in the hall, ready in case someone... or something appears.
Alton begins to investigate the space around the harp looking for anything important, or even another instrument.
A plated fist crashes into your side as the armor steps down from its pedestal, threatening to force the halfling backwards and down the stairs.
-What have you found up there? We're coming up!
Vasilios diligently directs his steps to assist Wellby in whatever the matter caused him trouble.
Gah! Blast these autonomous rust buckets! Everyone there's a animated suit of armor up here, I'm coming back down, Wellby disengaged from the armor and heads down the stairs to take a more advantageous position. He does, however, set his lamp down by the top of the stairs to provide light to see the armor.
Alton rushes upstairs, mentally thinking of the spells he knew. Passing Welby, Alton shouts to his fellow halfling You ok? He then pulls out his lute, and begins to move toward the suit of armor.
The armor clanks after the rogue, reaching out to grab the halfling.
Felix moves up the stairs following Vasilios and Alton.
Fine, we will play it your way, Wellby mutters as he prepares a rapier attack.
With his search for further clues interrupted by the clatter of combat above, Dinaeri rushes out of the room, drawing his weapon as he turns the corner, heading directly down the corridor to investigate the source of the issue.
Immediately seeing Wellby in trouble, Dinaeri moved up to the Halfling, looked him dead in the face and calmly said; Step aside, my friend., before taking a swing at the Phantom Armour.
Dont mind me, master Dinaeri.
Vasilios fears that if he uses his fire magic some companion might get hurt. He decides to use the ol'good metal.
-Okaayyy... this was the handle and this the blade. Yup, I still remember, it seems...
He steps ahead and tries a thrust at the animated armour.
Armor HP - 15/33
Felix fires a ray of frost towards the armor, but the beam flies wide, covering a patch of wall in ice. Wellby and Dinaeri's attacks knock pieces of the armor free, but the automaton continues to flail against the two heroes with surprising strength.
Alton begins to inspect his scroll Ok.. Ok He quickly drops it and pulls out his lute. Stumming it a couple times, he points toward the armored knight and shouts
Wellby strikes again, aiming for the latches and straps holding the armor together.
And deflecting cleaning on the hardened plate.
Taking the hit, Dinaeri tries to once again find an opening before thrusting his blade fourth once more, this time towards the chest in the hope of perhaps catching a magical core of some kind.
Finishing his attack, his wounds closed up seemingly unnaturally. Perhaps it was the power of the fey, perhaps not.
-Ah, well... let's try it this way, then...
Vasilios grabs the dagger with the point up and tries a rising strike, from below to above, right to the abdomen.
Armor = 9/33
The armor shakes as Alton's spell hits it, throwing off its aim as Vasilios jams a knife its side. The walking suit shows signs of heavy damage, its movements becoming increasingly slow and jerky.
That worked! Ok, lets try it again!
Wellby disengages before his luck runs out.