Delve #1

Sarrgul falls in behind Albrecht to be able to see beyond the door once opened.

Elias steadies his breathing as the anticipation builds.

"Prepare yourselves, cast your spells and let's go. You go first, Elias. We'll be right behind you!"

Elias lifts the bar and carefully sets it down. Then, he cracks the door open and ducks through.

The room is in stark contrast with the bleak and rough corridor. It is a small space, granted - 20' by 20', but well-furnished, clean and tidy. And the light! There is a window opposite the entrance, overlooking a small courtyard. The bright sunshine coming from the outside illuminates the whole room.

The interior includes a bed with embroidered covers, a large chest next to the bed, and a writing desk with several small drawers. There is a painting easel in the far right corner, with an empty canvas. On a stand next to it there are various paints, brushes, oils in jars.
Framed paintings hang on the walls. Most of them are landscapes, with views of Lake Hornsee and the mountains of the surrounding area. One painting depicts the Hornfell Estate, the very building you are exploring now, but before its destruction.

When Elias steps in, he is overcome with a weird sensation. His superior attentiveness lets him notice a vibration or shifting in the air. A human silhouette, barely visible, flickers before his eyes, but then it's gone.

Seeing no one around, Albrecht creeps into the room and checks both the chest and drawers for traps.

Albrecht finds no traps, and all the containers seem to be unlocked.

However, while creeping around, he knocks over a jar standing next to the easel. Bright red paint spills all over his clothes. The paint, surprisingly, seems to have been prepared recently.

Brothers, it appears someone lives here.

"Someone is here right now." Elias growls. Addressing the half-sensed presence, "Show yourself. Make yourself known."

There is no answer or reaction. Elias cannot sense the presence anymore. Perhaps it was merely a trick of the light?

Sarrgul looks over the room, his eyes darting from object to object.

There is a small set of books on the desk, neatly stacked, which Sarrgul inspects. Most of them are popular romances and poetry.

The last book in the pile is, however, a journal. The title page is signed by one Gedeon Hornfell. Sarrgul flips through the pages. The journal entries are painfully boring and mundane. They detail daily walks in parks, the anticipation of meeting with a lady called Sophia.

The last entry is from 12 years ago: "Lovely weather today, not a cloud in sight! After supper, I plan to go up to Father's observatory. I want to see the stars. On a night as clear as this, you can almost reach them! I hope Father won't be there to sour my joy."

Albrecht hastily wipes himself clean from as much of the paint as he can, then proceeds to open the chest and drawers.

This journal may be of interest to our patron.

Sarrgul slides the journal into his bag.

Albrecht's search turns up more drawing implements (chalk, charcoal, ink and quills), stacks of papers with sketches of landscapes and portraits (mostly of a fair-looking young lady), but also a small pouch of gold coins.

The chest next to the bed holds neatly folded clothes, sewn from very nice materials, silk kerchiefs, and a set of ornate brooches and pins. The Highwayman's trained eyes quickly appraise the brooches and pins - these small items might be worth about 30 gold pieces.

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Sarrgul wanders over to the writing instruments and papers, Brothers, I would like these if no one objects.

"Sure thing" says Albrecht as he pockets the valuables.

Elias has no interest in money and baubles. He stands in the center of the room, wondering about the presence that he feltupon entering.