Chapter 3 - Revelations

Trapped within the net, Mr. Filmon pleads desperately, "No, don't open it! I've locked a spirit inside the chest! It's nothing that concerns you. This manor is haunted, or it was haunted. I knew that when I took over as owner. I wanted to harness that ability to bring in more guests. Everyone loves a good fright, and I was going to use that to attract mice here. I sought out the Whiskerweave Enclave to see if they could help me, and they decided to teach me some... um.. tricks. But I had to keep my part of the deal and harbor that crazed skeleton pirate. He's obsessed with treasure and thinks there is some hidden here. It's driving him mad. Please don't open that chest! It will ruin everything!"

Surprisingly, Mr. Filmon doesn't appear to be lying.

"Yes, yes, it's that stupid lost son. I thought he would be more useful, but he had the exact opposite effect of what I wanted! That STUPID SPIRIT RUINED EVERYTHING. I hid him in the basement so that no one would let him out. I don't know about the treasure if that is what you're hinting at. I couldn't find anything about it. I thought the captain might have better luck with that. The skeletons under the shed are some of the captain's old crew that I used to guard it. Don't tell the captain! He'll be furious. He still has his ghost ship, and he has the power to control the ocean waves. If he finds out, he might try to channel something and destroy everything!"

At the mention of the boy spirit, Mr. Filmon becomes more animated and angry. "There isn't much to tell. I learned that this manor couldn't keep owners because of rumors that it was haunted. Then I did some of my own research and discovered that it indeed was. There are ways of dealing with such things, and the Whiskerweave Enclave promised to teach them to me. We even worked out a deal with Captain Mortimer to help fund the purchase of the manor. When I finally found the spirit and flushed him out, I realized that he wasn't something that I wanted around. I decided that I would take matters into my own hands and work my magic to create a truly scary ambiance, so I trapped the spirit into a magical chest in the basement. Then I took some measures to make sure no one could ever free him. I've worked too long and too hard for that spirit to ruin everything I created!"

Sky
Mr. Filmon admits, "I can't do anything to break the pirate's curse. I can only help him look like he's normal. If you open the box, the spirit will be free to roam this manor once again! It will reveal itself to guests, and who knows what it will ultimately do. I don't know how to get rid of that foul spirit." He quickly, perhaps too quickly, agrees with any plan to further keep the magical chest closed.

Bay
Bay returns to her room and carefully reassembles the medallion pieces. As she clicks them together, a surge of magical energy courses through them, and the medallion briefly glows, seemingly repairing itself. It now stands as a unified and solid piece. No other noticeable changes occur.

The trio of adventurous mice release Mr. Filmon from the net, and with Sky's sword at his back, he leads them into the woodshed. He flips over the rug and deftly inputs the code to open the trap door. They descend the stairs slowly, Bay close to Sky, lighting a torch to illuminate their path. The air becomes heavy with the unmistakable scent of dampness and decay as they venture into the depths.

A room unfolds before them, centered around a murky pool that reaches waist-high. The pool's sides are slick with glistening green algae, and on the left sits a skeletal figure, one leg straight, head lolled to the side. Skeletal fingers protrude from the pool, suggesting that both skeletons have returned to their initial positions. Mr. Filmon guides the trio to the right side of the pool, steering clear of the skeletons, and they pass through into another room.

This room is plain, with a torch hanger on the wall, a stool, and a large chest. The chest stands out with its multicolored appearance and silver and steel banding. A circular depression replaces a keyhole on the chest. Mr. Filmon seizes the moment to plead with the group, "Please, don't open the chest. I can offer you money, or perhaps there's something else you desire? I only wish to manage my manor in peace."

Mr. Filmon grows quiet and meekly admits, "I don't know what happened to Blossom. I was inside the manor with you when she disappeared. I suspect the captain had more to do with that. Perhaps he felt you were getting too close to the "treasure." If she truly is dead, there is nothing I can do for her."