Prologue - Death House

"I would suppose that all depends on how things play out. I assume Lathander was providing me a refresher on humility," Abraham says with a soft chuckle. "Hopefully I will not need any remedial instruction moving forward."

Narissa quietly follows the group. Rolling the information about the house over in her mind. How none of them knows how they got here or where here even is. She poses a soft question to the air, "If everyone that has been met so far is a ghost... it may not be beyond the realm of believability that we're all... like that too."

The second floor is black without a fire to light it, forcing Drina to make use of her lantern. The main hall on this floor is 20' long and ends in a black marble fireplace. To the east and west are sets of double doors flanked by rusty suits of wolf-headed armor, each with a spear. Also in the east wall is a side door by the stairs.

There are unlit oil lamps around the room, and mounted above the fireplace is a family portrait. In it are Gustav and Elisabeth Durst, dressed in resplendent suit and dress, and two smiling children, Rose and Thorn. In Gustav's arms is a bundle that looks like a swaddled infant; while Gustav is beaming with pride, Elisabeth looks at the swaddle with clear disgust.

Narissa will toss a fire bolt into the fireplace she can see, to give those that need it light.

Amalthea stops in her tracks when she sees the wolf-headed armors, staying as far back as possible to prevent potentially activating them.

"OK, any suggestions on taking down those things? Maybe knock out a leg so they can only hop, heh?"

Amalthea smiles a little, but her eyebrows are knitted together in worry.

"We know what they are this time, we won't be caught off guard by them again," Abraham replies as he eyes the two suits. "And we have light. This fight will go very differently."

Narissa's words troubled the young ranger more than she wanted to admit. Could her companions be ghost...or worse, had the gypsy succumb to the same fate as her parents leaving her younger brother on his own? No! It couldn't be possible. With her own emerald eyes, Drina had seen these people bleed. Plus if there was one enemy the ranger knew and could feel in her bones: it was undead. Trust yourself.

Reapproaching the second landing, Drina drew the bow string taunt to her ear creating the tension needed to launch arrows down the entire length of the hall. "Still, I would rather deal with these suits on our timing than them close in behind us. Shall I take some target practice?"

Agreeing with Drina’s logic of the situation Taniwha quickly follows the Rangers bow shot, hurling his dagger at the same target . . .

Drina's arrow punches through the chest plate of the armor at the same time as a dagger knocks against the helm. The thing topples over, seemingly lifeless, but at the moment it crashes to the floor the empty helmet turns to face you and shatters to pieces.

Any inspection of the other suits of armor will reveal that they are just as lifeless . . . or appear to be. In any case, nothing jumps out at you and hall is yours to explore.

Narissa will open the first door to her right. Cautious but curious. "I'm unsure of where you have already been? Are there any places you know you haven't been yet?"

Amalthea's tense shoulders sag in relief as Drina and Taniwha's attacks incapacitate the armor. It appears it was lifeless the whole time, but better to be safe than sorry in her mind. She readies her shield again and follows the new tiefling.

"Eh, we can follow your lead for now, lass. We explored the top floor and most of that first floor. We have yet to check on this floor and are told of monsters in the basement. I believe the plan is to finish checking this house, find the treasure in the library, then take the passage from the top to reach the basement."