Play@YSDC

With Ma Peter's stinging rebuke still ringing in their ears, the investigators load their supplies and set off, heading north on Boone Road. They keep a look out for the woman she mentioned, but there is no-one on the road. After about twenty minutes, they are able to see a small house atop a hill to the east, as Ma Peters described.

They turn off the main road and head towards it. Luckily the snow has been light, so the rough track to the farmhouse is passable.
The house is an 18th Century sandbox design, with one floor and an attic above. It looks okay from a distance, but as you approach you can see that it obviously hasn’t been inhabited for some time. The shutters are sagging and the roof is bowed, although the shingles are intact.

The cars come to a halt, and the heroes sit silently, regarding the house. This is the moment they have been waiting for. Are Professor Putnam’s claims true, and just the fevered ramblings of a sick and dying man?

"Well, let's go inside and start looking around," says Alice, taking out the key. "I've still got the key." She heads to the front door to unlock it.

As Alice and the others near the front door, they begin to see strange symbols carved into the lintels over all the doors and windows.

OOC,Anyone is free to make an Occult roll.

Alice has never seen anything like the symbols before.

OOC,Occult roll (5% base skill) about the symbols: [dice]0[/dice]

Henry Glynn

"I read about these while researching for my book. Some people believe they are symbols of power used to ward against otherworldly spirits."

Arthur Vivar
"So those are the symbols mentioned in the diary. But, based on what the professor said, they are now powerless."

OOC:   Arthur will approach a window nearby and peep inside, if possible

Arthur attempts to get a look through the window, although the years of grime which have accumulated prevent him from seeing much. There is no movement that he can see though, just a lot of dirt. The place seems deserted.

Henry Glynn

Henry gives the front door a little push to see if it's still locked.

The door is locked, and will have to be opened by Alice's key.

Henry Glynn

"Are you sure you wouldn't prefer to wait in the car Alice? At least until we've made sure it's safe? You too Mrs Carmichael?"

Isadora Carmichael

"If there's anyone or anything out to get us, we are just as vulnerable in the car, as in the house, maybe even more so..." Isadora answers to Glynn. "Besides, I'm dead set on hiding behind you if we are attacked."

This last sentence is delivered in a dead-pan fashion. Then Isadora returns to studying the occult signs on the lintel, maybe she can learn something more about them:

Occult 45%
[dice]0[/dice]

"Let's walk around the house first, to see if there are any more entrances..."

'Or escape routes...' she adds gloomily to herself.

Henry Glynn

Henry suddenly thinks to examine the snow for tracks.

There don't seem to be any fresh tracks by the front door. Walking around to the back, Henry and Isadora can see that the grass around the sides of the house has grown quite long, almost reaching the windows. The only signs of anything living they can spot are a few tracks which obviously belong to some kind of winter bird.

Henry & Isadora,You can both roll Spot Hidden.

"I appreciate that you want to protect me, Henry," says Alice, "but Mrs. Carmichael is right. You can protect me better if I'm inside the house where you are. Now, are we ready to go inside?" She takes out the key to unlock the door once the others are ready.

HoneyDog wrote:There don't seem to be any fresh tracks by the front door. Walking around to the back, Henry and Isadora can see that the grass around the sides of the house has grown quite long, almost reaching the windows. The only signs of anything living they can spot are a few tracks which obviously belong to some kind of winter bird.

Henry & Isadora,You can both roll Spot Hidden.

Spot Hidden 30%
[dice]0[/dice]

Henry Glynn

Henry to Isadora:

"Doesn't look like anyone has been around ... although I still think Bernard might turn up at some point. Let's take a look inside."

Balzac seizes the moment to light a Gauloises and amble around to the boot of his car. He opens it up and retrieves the double barrelled shotgun and cartridges. Breaking open the shotgun, Balzac quickly loads two cartridges and stuffs the rest in a pocket. "M. Marlowe, now might be a good time to collect your rifle." Balzac also retrieves a flashlight.

Once armed, he pauses to study the surrounding flora. Balzac is predicting slightly archaic agricultural vegetation left to run wild, combined with some native American flora.