C1E2 - Saving an Innocent Soul

Elemental Beacon

Uneasy, our heroes exit the hunter’s lodge and face a dilemma. Four more doors line the wall across the room and a large staircase leading to the upper floor on their right. After a short debate, each one picked a door and tried to eavesdrop and look through the keyhole. Nyrus needed very specific instructions on how to do this without breaking a door, which he eventually did a little later, despite the team's efforts to be stealthy. Franz on the far left, Witch Chop on the one next to him, Nyrus next, and Nehemia with Raegar on the far right. They heard something behind the door that Nyrus and Franz were trying to eavesdrop on. Light footsteps, moving too fast to be human.

Nyrus broke through the door, while Franz cautiously opened his, to reveal a Dining room with a long table in the middle. Looking around, they couldn’t see anyone, until they shed light under the table and discovered a scared dog. Franz caught the dog and tried to calm it… but scared it more at first. Nothing a little food cannot solve - he was occupied with the dog, naming it Bobby in the meantime, while the others went on, to explore the room. They moved the painting above the mantelpiece with magic, the curtains, even the cutlery - some of which Nyrus decided that it was a good idea to “borrow”. Nothing of use or clues about the baby Walter, or a monster.

Witch Chop had an intimate moment by staring at the charcoal, then dashed out to check his door - it had no keyhole. He opened it to reveal a cloakroom that had several black cloaks and a top hat, which quite a few of our heroes wanted to try on.

Only one door remained and Raegar took point and checked first. Not much could be discerned aside from part of a worktable. Nyrus took his favorite position, the one of the violent door opening. Most definitely his favorite room, the kitchen. After checking the stove and oven for some bread, Nyrus, Raegar, and Nehemia examined the dumbwaiter. Nothing there either. There was one more door in the kitchen. Nyrus followed his nose in search of food and discovered the pantry and not only. Hiding behind some crates, a very pale human, dressed in all white, extended his hand, and rapier in greeting. While not appearing friendly, the stranger didn’t appear to mean harm. He did leave his mark on Nyrus’ hand though. Introductions were made and the newcomer goes by Dalayur of Mount Celestia. When Witch Chop heard the stranger’s voice, he hid immediately in the cloakroom, while Franz, finally calming somewhat Bobby, went to join the others.

All care for stealth went awry when the group tried to find Witch Chop which was nowhere to be found. He eventually emerged from his hiding place, wearing one of those black cloaks, yelling triumphantly “WITCH CHOOOOP”

With everyone together now, an alliance is formed and everyone agrees that baby Walter needs to be found as soon as possible and get out of this house. Also, everyone is curious why Franz got Bobby to tag along and he explained that it is peculiar that the only living being they have found so far is a scared dog. With a makeshift rope leash and a piece of meat for the kitchen, Bobby is following along.

The only way to go now was up the staircase. The upper hall was lined with suits of armor with wolf-adorned helmets leading up to a mantelpiece. Hanging above, is a painting of a family, with two children, that look like the ones crying for help, and the father cradles a baby - which the mother is looking at with disgust. While inspecting the armors and realize they are as inanimate as they should, the group enters the first room with a small door. It appears to be a servants' room, where the dumbwaiter is connected. Nothing to see here.

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