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Jacques spins round from peering back into the fog and stares intently at the chimney.
I think you're right Gerthi. It seems someone is home. Could it be family of yours perhaps, Mr Devendell?
"Are you two sure? I cannot make anything out"
"I can't see anything either." It was possible that something was there, but no matter how hard Sakina looked, she couldn't make it out.
"I can see the smoke too," says Senjak.
"We knew someone or something was bound to be inside. I still say we make a circle around the mansion as best we can and see what we see before we enter,"says Senjak.
Jacques spins round from peering back into the fog and stares intently at the chimney.
I think you're right Gerthi. It seems someone is home. Could it be family of yours perhaps, Mr Devendell?
Devendell looks worried.
"No one should be home... In any case, there's a basement entrance and a side servant's entrance."
"Sounds fair. I'd be very much interested. Let's just say the old family has never been quite the homely type of late."
"Lets go check out the servant's entrance," Senjak says.
"I know it's going to sound familiar, coming from a Dwarf and all, but I'd be happier taking the basement. That way we can presume that no one is behind us. But I'll accept the servant's entrance if that is the will of the group.
"By the way, Mr. Devendell, will you be accompanying us into the mansion house?."
"I'd like to check out the servant's entrance as well," Sakina replies.
"Well, so far it seems most of us feel more strongly to the servant's entrance. And yes, Miss Stensikker, I shall be accompanying you. I am not without my own protection."
"And on what side of the mansion is the servant's entrance located?" replied Sara stiffling a yawn.
"I apologize, I forgot to mention it! The servant's entrance is just around on the eastern side. We'd have to cross through the old rose gardens though."
"Wake up Cabbage" Jacques says, smiling at Sara.
"A stroll through the rose garden sounds lovely. Shall we get going?
"Yes, we should go." Lorin says, staying near the group.
"Is there a problem with the rose gardens Mr. Devendell?"
"No... at least there wasn't when I used to live here. Let's just say most of the house will not be as I last saw it. It wouldn't surprise me if the rose garden was no longer quite as enjoyable as before."
Heading down the path that takes you around the house into the gardens, you notice a rather large raven perched on a wooden post.
"Oh don't mind him, that's just Sir. He's the house raven."
Ken looks back at you.
"He's stuffed."
The rusted gate ahead leads into the rose garden. Large vines grow all over, dwarfed by a towering hedge of leafy bushes, blocking much of the garden ahead from view.
"Thank you, I'll see to it as soon as possible"
"Well, I was waiting on others to see if everyone was ready. So, who will lead the way? Form up men! And women... I doubt this garden is as tranquil as I remember."
Simply put where in the "adventuring line" you want to be. Front line, middle or rear guard for example.
"We best let Gerthi go in front, otherwise she won't be able to see anything." Jacques says, smiling. "I'll watch the back, in case any of Mr Devendell's roses try to get the drop on us." he adds, quietly sliding his knives into his hands.
"Let's keep the marching order the same as before," Senjak says and begin to head out with Gerthi.
Gerthi glances coldly at Jaques, her narrow eyes searching for... something... before she breaks into a broad smile. "Lucky for you, boy, that you surfacers's sense of humour´ is one of the things I love about this damned roofless world! Come on then, fall in behind me and Senjak.
The dwarven paladin's left hand grips the heavy hammer she carries, and the right arm tenses and relaxes behind the great metal shield.
"Let's see what's taken hold while Mr. Devendell's been away from his garden. Lorasaadi? A word, if I may?"
The child looks up to Lorasaadi, and back to Jaques offering both a faint smile.
I'm ready
The rose garden is eerily silent. The cry of a raven pierces it for a half-second before being muffled.
"I feel this is but the start of out troubles..."
Walking past rows of desiccated rose hedges, guarded by stone statues of weeping children, you advance into the garden.
Ahead of you, a door leads inside.
Lorin looks around for any present danger.
Sakina takes her place beside Lorin as the group heads through the rose garden towards the servant's entrance. While walking, she looks around, alert for any signs of danger.
Gerthi checks her stride until she is alongside Lorasaadi, and whispers casually.
"Ho there, Mr. Devendell. What in the world caused you to have statues of weeping children in your garden? 'Tis a most unusual thing."
Looking around, Sara whispers to no one in particular,
"stupid flowers"
Jacques studies the statues and then slowly turns around, looking back into the fog behind the party.
He says nothing.
"Well, these statues were hand carved by the late Mikhael Evenburger... I believe he owed my uncle a favor and this collection largely covered it. In any case they aren't exactly my favorite."
You see a movement within a rose bush... and it's moving towards Mr. Devendell
"What's that? In that bush?" says Jacques urgently, pointing at one of the rose bushes.
Pushed back by Jacques and Lorasadi, a large thorn-covered vine lashes out and barely misses Devendell's head.
"What in the blue blazes...!" he exclaims.
The vine seems intent on ripping off his head.
"Looks like you need a new gardener Mr Devendell."
"I should hope not, Micel was always very good at his job..."
Gerthi rushes to one side of the angle of attack from the vine so that her shield is between her and the bush, and stands poised to swing her trusty hammer should it attempt to strike again...
Senjak rushes sword drawn to attempt to attack the vine.
initiative:
"What the...."
"I'm sorry I called you stupid..."
Angry Plant 20
Jacques 19
Gerthi 17
Lorasaddi 16
Lorin 15
Sara 14
Senjak 12
Devendell 8
===
The plant lashes out viciously at Devendell.
The plant nevertheless misses, and coils back in on itself, writhing just inside the bush.