1) The Haunted House

[Fulci]

Jónas Gillman

Jónas applies his superior intelligence to learn at least something about the intriguing box:
Hard Int. (17) check: [4d6] = 16

Then goes to the kitchen. Always staying a few steps behind Vhing, just in case...

[OGRE MAGE]

Vhing shows absolutely no concern for his own well being once again and simply throws the scullery door open. Fortunately, there are no goblins this time.

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This room has suffered the effects of damp and decay more than most of the others you have seen in the house. Mold grows in patches on the floor, walls, and ceiling. There are many cobwebs throughout the room, though even these appear to be decaying. A large copper boiler, dented and split, stands under the window. There is a small heap of crockery shards next to it on the floor.

Small chips of plaster fall from the ceiling as you scope out the room. You can still hear the shuffling noises from the floor above you. A set of rickety stairs leads down into what must presumably be the cellar.


Injuries:
Jonas, slightly
Ben, moderately (sick, poisoned)
Vhing, seriously

[Mant72]

Keilif:

Keilif turns to his companions and suggests, "I think we should regroup and check in on the others before venturing down into the cellar, and even though the fools ran off, I still think it best that we clear this floor first." He looks to the others for their responses.

[Stirling]

Vhing Cranepool

Vhing makes a mental note of more scrap metal, the split copper boiler that he could trade in. Looking at the room it offers little else in terms of value or use. Certainly no wine to scoff."I would investigate the cellar and see if there is a forgotten cask stored away but these falling chips of plaster perturb me. I'm sure the other lads are fine, but there is someone moving above us and no sound of the guys. Maybe a couple of us can sneak up the main staircase, if unfriendlies are upstairs we can catch them in a pincer move. I'll act as bait this end to distract them."

Vhing will return to the kitchen and climbing the first few steps call out go the guys above."hey guys, you okay up there. We killed a massive spider in the chimney.'

Figuring the dead goblins could be part of a larger group, no sight of sound of the others detected; maybe goblins or ghoulies have captured them. So Vhing will use the biggest saucepan lid he can find at hand as a defensive buckler just in case he is surprised by another flurry of blows. He will go up the stairs just enough to see into the above room.

[Urson]

Alec
Ya, ve shouldt try to stay together. At least, not split more den we haff.

"De box we foundt might be a part uff something. Maybe a handle. We should keep an eye out.

[Nordbo]

Danny Cruester

coming down the stairs again, informs whoever is closest that: "We scouted the 2nd floor a bit, the landing seemed deserted but we've located the source of that whirring sound: it's coming from the attic. Umm, do spiders whirr ?"

[coil23]

Doubtful

Doubtful comes back downstairs into the kitchen, keeping an eye out to see whether Burly does as well.

To Danny's question regarding whether spiders whirr, Doubtful mutters "only the big ones."

Doubtful then quietly gathers noisemakers (not party members, mind you) quietly into a corner to be retrieved before they leave the house.

[Fulci]

Jónas Gillman

Jónas is busy figuring out the box. Judging by his facial expression, he might (or might not) have a solution to the puzzle.

[Stirling]

Vhing Cranepool

Vhing is happy to see the guys in one piece though secretly he had hoped to be surprising a couple of goblin guards. "Ben got bit by a big chimney spider but Alec and Keil splattered it. Did you find any good stuff?" he asks. "We found a treasure box and this...Vhings raises the saucepan lid,"is going to make a fine buckler, and if I just file down the edges real sharp it becomes an assasins 'Frisbee of decapitation,"he demonstrates by shouting "duck!" and skims it down the corridor.

Vhing will want to carry on up stairs to snoop around too. "Maybe the whirring is just a weathervane rooster going around the top stack in the wind. Want to check it out?"

[Mant72]

Keilif:

"If we do decide to check out the attic, let's stay together as a group! None of this running off solo again. That is a quick way to meet Shileil!"

[ravenn4544]

Ben will stay with the group - distracted by his roiling stomach to think about much else by way of helpful suggestions.

[OGRE MAGE]

The errant group heads back down the steps, minus the baker, who stayed to try on some new duds.

The large and slightly worse for ware group (except Burly) gathers in the kitchen to discuss what was found and where to head next.

The consensus is to go back up and continue checking the upper floor first.

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The stairway leads up to another empty hall that turns back towards the front of the house. A completely collapsed stairway sits in the corner. 19 It used to lead up to an attic that you can still see through the open hole. There are many holes in the roof and the strange whirring noise is clearly coming from the wind blowing through them. The noise is rather unsettling.

Vhing takes a few steps towards the first door and his foot crashes through a rotten spot in the floor.

The group can hear the happy baker humming to himself from the first room around the corner. 17

[Stirling]

Vhing Cranepool

"Great, who's coming to explore with me? Grab some of those goblin spears and bows to take along just in case of trouble. I got a torch lantern to shine about, anyone got rope?"

Vhing will move up the rickety kitchen steps and into the above room. Is Burly up there still?

Hearing Burlys' soft humming he moved to the door when his boot goes through the rotted flooring and plasterboard. He pulls his leg free but the boot remains gripped in the floor by wooden splinters. So he whacks it like 'whack-a-mole' with the hammer to send it to the room below. Lieing flat on his stomach on some safer flooring he peers through the hole."hey can one of you guys bring my boot back up with you please?".

[Mant72]

Keilif:

Keilif retrieves the half-orc's boot, (he's not too keen on the smell) and proceeds to join him upstairs.

[OGRE MAGE]

Jonas continues to fiddle with the tiny wooden box as he follows along with the group.

[Stirling]

How far up to the attic entrance? Maybe we grab a desk or cabinet to step on. With Vhing being 6'ft he may be able to reach and climb up, fix a rope over some beam and get the rest of you in?

Navigating dodgy floorboards, Vhing will see what's usefull in Burlys' room.

[hedgeknight]

Hey, fellers > look at my new duds! No need for them to mold and waste. They're a little snug, but they'll do. Who wants to help me search that chest over by the window?

[Stirling]

Vhing will help Burly search the room. Can we move the chest after to use as a step maybe.

[Mant72]

Keilif will also help Vhing and Burly with investigating the chest.

[OGRE MAGE]

The room appears to have been used for storage. A large chest sits under the window. There are three wooden chairs, all broken, two splintered wooden buckets, and a mildewed sack lying on the floor.

The chest was already opened by the baker and found to be empty. The wooden sides are badly rotten and it would make a poor stepping stool.

The opening to the attic is about 7 feet above the pile of rotting stairway.