Having found nothing of immediate interest in the book, Khamul moves onto the other exit from the library ("In the northeast corner there yet another door leading out of the library"), again ghosting up to it and peeking into the next room...
and a further +4 to detect danger
4 ranks +3 trained +1 trait +7 warpaint
3 ranks +3 trained +4 dex +4 small
Grenz follows suit.
Khamul, with Grenz close behind him, slowly opens the door to the next room, attempting to leave the incident with the scarf behind. As it creaks open, you can spot a large dining room table, made of a reddish wood, probably mahogany, surrounded by several chairs of a similar design. On each side of the western wall stand two huge fireplaces that flank the hallway beyond. In the center of the hallway appears to be a rug of some kind. There is a door opposite the one you just opened, but the major draw of this room is the large stained glass windows in the East wall. Each one depicts a strange seven sided box opening to let out some sort of creature. The first is a twisted tree with an even more twisted face. The second is a rather large bird with beautiful blue feathers with gold stripes along its face, leading to a hooked beak. The third image is of a cross between a woman, at least her upper body, and a winged lion. The final image shows a midnight blue squid like creature with dark red eyes. The room appears to be undisturbed, even by the mold that seems to permeate the rest of the house.
Khamul spots no danger, and is intrigued by the undisturbed status of the room. He looks over his shoulder at Grenz and Idun and pauses. First he whispers (using Message) to Idun "You OK?", and then to both of his companions "I don't see why there is no mold in this room, that seems weird, any ideas?"
His brow furrows as he brings his limited psychic powers to bear encouraging his companions.
"Mmm? Just fine, nothing like a little strangulation to get the blood pumping." Caprice raises an eyebrow, her tone clearly more than a little sarcastic. "It'll take more than that. At the rate we're going, I'll probably be fine by the time we find the ghoul." She waves off the concern, this persona clearly a little more confident than Idun.
"Hmm, aesthetically, that's a poor place to stain a window. Perfect view of the coast otherwise." Caprice shakes her head at the poor interior design.
"Could this be some sort of a religious shrine or something? The lack of mold suggests a magical preservation... Wait a second - all the windows depict critters being released from seven sided boxes, and we've got this seven pointed star symbol - the Sihedron... Hold up for a minute while I sketch."
Khamul makes a sketch of the stained glass windows (the critters emerging from the seven-sided boxes) so he can show it to Quink, Gandethus, and Cai later.
Having done so, he says "Lets see what we got here..." Pausing to concentrate (casts Guidance), he searches the room...
and a further +4 to detect danger (like a trap...)
4 ranks +3 trained +1 trait +7 warpaint +1 guidance
Sunday, 20 Lamashan 4707, 3:49pm. 46 degrees, Light Breeze, Mostly Cloudy, Foxglove Manor
Khamul spends the better part of half an hour studying and drawing out the images depicted on the stained glass windows, capturing each one as best he can. None of the creatures look familiar to any of you, but it is possible there might be some records in Sandpoint regarding them, if one knew where to look.
While searching the room, you notice that even though there was no mold here, the hallway between the two fireplaces contains a rather large stain in the middle of the floor. At first it appears to be from the mold, but then you notice it has a spiral pattern to it, almost as if it were drawn that way. The rest of this room, though ominous, does not seem to contain any threats, other than those one might cause to themselves. You do however note that this room is only slightly less oppressive than the rest of the manor. In fact, it is almost as if this might be a sanctuary of sorts.
Having finished his examination of the 'shrine', Khamul continues his cautious scouting of the house, doing his sneak, listen and peek routine at the northern door...
3 ranks +3 trained +4 dex +4 small
and a further +4 to detect danger
4 ranks +3 trained +1 trait +7 warpaint
Caprice stays sneaky with Khamul.
Sneaking towards the next room to the north, you open the door, slowly, and peer inside. This room marks a return to the more moldy smell of the rest of the manor house, though it is here in spots mostly. From the looks of it, this room appears to be a lounge of some kind, due to the pair of divans that decorate it, along with a small chandelier made of crystal that hangs above the room and a small service bar built into the east wall. You notice that the single window in this room is actually open, allowing the breeze to come in. You distinctly remember that no windows were open when you scouted the outside.
Alertly, Khamul's eyes snap to the window; "That was closed when we walked around the place." Seeing no obvious threats, rather than thoroughly searching the room, he abandons caution for haste. He pads quickly through the room and to the other door . There he takes a quick listen and then peeks...
3 ranks +3 trained +4 dex +4 small
and a further +4 to detect danger
4 ranks +3 trained +1 trait +7 warpaint
"Hmm..." Caprice ponders it for a few moments and lets Khamul scout for traps before putting her hand through the window to feel the breeze. Does it feel the same as before they entered, or does the scent on the wind and the touch of the sun feel different? She wonders if this place is in a different time than the world outside.
Grenz leaves his methodic companions to search through the room. He remains on guard, particularly attentive to the window, and also at their own backs in case something or someone tries to catch them by surprise.
Khamul works his way over towards the door, abandoning caution for speed. Luckily, the door has nothing against him and it opens easily. Looking down the long hallway, he sees a door to his immediate right and two more doors flanking the end of the hallway. The floor looks lightly dusted and the walls have a bit of mold on them. At first, the hallway appears empty, but for a brief moment, he thinks he sees a small face peek out from one of the far doors. Blinking, the image disappears.
Meanwhile, Caprice walks towards the window and puts her hand to it. The breeze feels warm, more like a summer’s day rather than a hint of the oncoming winter months.
"I see the woman again" - Grenz says to his companions, and moves to the door of the room with the glass window, peering around - "Who are you? What do you want?" - he whispers.
Caprice suddenly rushes towards Khamul, her hands out as if to grab him but before she does so, she stops short and looks confused.
"Nnn, whatever old hag is still lingering around this place is still trying to mess with me. If this keeps up there's only a matter of time until it gets me. Maybe we need to search less cautiously to give it less time to act? Ah, but that'd be just the trick wouldn't it. Save the trap till your target tires of vigilance." Caprice shakes her head as if to dislodge the strange thoughts from her head.
"I think there's either something strange or illusory about time or the breeze here. The temperature isn't right and the dust doesn't move with it."
"Come, she is beckoning us" - Grenz calls his companions, then follows after the woman to inspect the area where she disappeared.
Wary as always, Khmaul turns when Idun rushes at him and stop short ... fortunately this is in time to see Grenz step back into the stained glass room. After an assessing glance at Idun to confirm she's still herself, he calls after Grenz "Wait up! We need to stay together" and hustles after him.
Caprice rolls her eyes, at the idea that trusting the ghost lady is what they should do, but nonetheless follows after Khamul. Might as well spring the apparition's trap and get it over with!
You follow after Grenz, who is following a woman he claims he sees down the hallway with the strange spiral mold stain on the floor. The rest of you can not see her. Grenz takes you to the front foyer again, and this time all of you feel the heat slowly starting to rise in the room and for a brief moment, you think you see the tail of the leonine creature in the center of the room twitch.
... you think you see the tail of the leonine creature in the center of the room twitch.
Khamul whispers through his message spell: "I saw the critters tail twitch. On 3 we violently disassemble it..." He pauses for a couple of seconds to allow objections.
"One... Two ... Three!"
Khamul jumps forward and smashes at the taxidermy...
+3 Bab +3 spirit bonus +1 str +1 enhancement
+3 spirit bonus +3 Séance Bonus +1 str +1 enhancement
"So, we've repeatedly been tricked with illusions, and you want to attack something cause it twitched?" Caprice raises an eyebrow, but also raises her sword. Then she shrugs. "Ok."
"The scarf was not an illusion..."
Sure as can be expected, as soon as Khamul reaches 'three', the creature lashes out with its tail, the stingers becoming a ball of flame that darts towards Grenz in the doorway, who seems to be staring at something besides the creature. Khamul wails on it with all his halfling muscle can bring to bear and he feels as if he is hitting something, but the thing does not seem to react.
"No!..." - Grenz was about to speak up against Khamul's actions, but he was too slow.
+1 Dodge
+2 Dex
+1 Amulet of Natural Armor
+1 Ring of Protection
+3 Wisdom
+2 Bodyguard Aid from Scourge
+4 Mage Armor
With a grunt, the half-orc sidesteps, and remembering his training launches a strong kick.
Khamul sees the opening that Grenz's sidestep gives him and takes one of his own. He lashes at the thing again with his sling-staff...
+3 Bab +3 spirit bonus +1 str +1 enhancement
Damage is Magic and Bludgeoning
+3 spirit bonus +3 Séance Bonus +1 str +1 enhancement
+4 armor +4 dex +1 small
Grenz easily moves out of the way of the incoming flaming tail, his training kicking in. He then spins and lands a foot in the side of the beast as Khamul backs him up, smacking into it with his staff. Both of them hit something solid, but instead of the give of flesh, they get a rebound of hitting something more sturdy. You suddenly realize that the creature has stopped moving and has gone back to its menacing taxidermy form. The gouges in the dead flesh of its side, where a bit of hay is now sticking out, tell you where you hit it. While the heat remains, the room is still and silent.
Khamul breaks the silence in the room: "Ok, Grenz, we have followed your ghost lady, right into this thing which attacked us. You sure following her is a good idea?"
"No... But we need to get to the bottom of this, one way or another" - Grenz grunts, then searches again the area where the woman disappeared.
Grenz looks to either side of the room, where he remembers the woman pointing. These are two sets of stairs that lead up into the next floor. While the steps do have some mold on them, they look sturdy enough.
With no further information to go on, Grenz peeks first, then takes the stairs to the right, slowly ascending as he makes sure each step can support his weight.
Khamul keeps his own counsel and follows Grenz up the stairs.
Caprice shakes her head, feeling these things attacking them aren't the true threat, but some cursed apparition's tools. Ah well.
She follows Khamul up the stairs.
You head up the stairs, following a strange presence in the house. They creak as you ascend, each one causing your body to tense, expecting yet another attack from some odd entity, but none comes. Instead, when you reach the pinnacle of the the stairs, they open into a small room that is less affected by the mold, but is covered in dust. Yet, there are footprints in the dust, as if someone else has been here recently. There is a closed door that has dried blood on the door handle. As you look around you start to hear footsteps coming from where you just where on the stairs, but no one is there.
Caprice makes her way to the door before offering the right of way to Khamul with a flourish, presuming he wishes to cautiously check for traps.
Grenz looks back when he hears the footsteps, but if he sees nothing he proceeds to investigate the dust covered room.
Grenz listens closely at the top of the stairs, and he realizes that the sounds of the footsteps almost are the same sounds that he made as he came up them. The rest of the room has a few tattered paintinga on the wall, but they seem to have been shredded by something, so it is difficult to determine what they once represented. There is nothing to be heard beyond the door.
Caprice makes her way to the door before offering the right of way to Khamul with a flourish, presuming he wishes to cautiously check for traps.
Khamul slips past Grenz to the only door out of the vestibule at the top of the stairs. He takes a quick look at it for nasty surprises...
and a further +4 to detect danger (if applicable)
4 ranks +3 trained +1 trait +7 warpaint
and then (assuming he finds nothing and it isn't locked), motions Grenz over so he can burst through it as soon as Khamul flips the door open...
The door itself, other than its age, shows no signs of ill will towards you. Upon opening, you are welcomed to a darkened hallway filled with doors. To the west, you also spot a set of stairs that go up further, though the shadows in the stairwell seem to discourage you from trying them. The hallway is empty, but the dust on the floor is being disturbed by an unseen wind. Are those footprints?
Grenz approaches to check the tracks - "Let me take a look Khamul"
Khamul holds up a hand to stop the others before things get stepped on and whispers "Look close, are those footprints in the dust?"
Khamul will focus his psychic abilities to help whoevers assessing the tracks...
The tracks seem to follow a random pattern in the floor, almost as if they are pacing, but as Grenz studies them, he suddenly stands up, a chill passing through him.
"Who ARE you...?"
"I could, but there's no way they're real-" Caprice was in the process of answering before something happened to Grenz as he took the initiative.