Play@YSDC

Although the tracks are more than 24 hours old, Ascot can see signs that something has moved to and from the tree. He can’t however determine what type of creature left the tracks.

"Let's follow the tracks back to the beastie's lair," says Bonnie.

1d%LLd25%

OOC:   Big fail!

Ascot studies the tracks, scratching his head. "Well, I've got no idea what made those tracks."

"Let's see if we can follow them, ja?" Ascot attempts to follow the tracks...

The tracks lead in the direction of the house but were then lost on the hard surfaces like the paving slabs that surrounded it. Ascot picked up the trail again on the other side but then lost it as it disappeared into the trees that sat between the house and the village.

Ascot looks at the manor with evident distaste. He is happier outside. "Shall we circle the manor from the outside, looking inwards? We might see some indications of what this animal is. If we have no luck there, I suppose we should think about looking around inside, ja?"

BoyBlunder78 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 1:58 pm " I think thats a sound idea, getting a better understanding of our surroundings as well as looking for any signs of this creature is a good plan Ascot. Shall we split up to.cover the ground quicker?"

Fatther Ó Shaban was considerably negative of the declared idea.

"But sir, if we sebarrate, ze creature could attack us by sebarate. A grreat ze zat is, yes? Inshallah, but we shall walk togezer. If ze plan to catch ze eater beast, we will use ze mezods to find a bait, but until zen, being eaten by ze african prredator, is not ze plan, yes?"

"I agree," Bonnie says to Ascot. "Let's all stay together. We might regret it if the beastie attacks just two of us."

Ascot looks apologetically at Doctor Douglas. "Sorry, Doc, the majority have requested we stay together. Safety first."

Ascot will lead the way towards the front of the manor, intending to circle clockwise around it from the outside, looking inwards.

Befitting the original purpose of the building, the windows were narrow, akin to arrow slots seen on castles. Moving around, anyone attempting to look inside could see very little because of the darkness inside. It wasn’t a particularly large building so it wasn’t long before they came across an old-fashioned wooden door that appeared to have broken drown some time ago.

Dr Douglas shrugs, cradles the shotgun and follows the others. He takes a close look at the door, to see if there are any signs of disturbance, and also see if there is any change to the plant life around the area.

Spot hidden: 30%
1d100

Natural World 30%
1d100

OOC:   Fail Spot hidden. Hard success Natural World.

The weathering on the door suggested that it had been broken in some years before. There was nothing out of the ordinary about the weeds that grew through the cobbles around the entrance, except that one of two looked like they had been broken off recently, most likely caught by someone walking past.

" Look here Ascot." Pointing to the broken weeds, " Do you think these were broken recently or possibly by the deceased or the accused?"

Ascot nods in interest. "Well spotted. Now, I believe it was seven days ago that the murder was discovered. I imagine the police would have come and gone a bit the next day, last Sunday. My only question is could this be more recent?"

"Shall we finish the full lap of the house then come back to here?"

"Aye, let's," says Bonnie.

A quick circuit of the house revealed a few more of the arrow-slit windows but no other ways inside.

Returning to the doorway and looking more closely at the weeds, it seems that whatever disturbed them, it wasn’t that recent as the breaks to the stems had had time to dry out.

Father Ó Shaban seemed to think for a moment and spoke while looking at the weeds and the talk about someone passing by recently.

"Gud fellows. Ze man brisoner forr ze murder slept in ze house. Ze brobability for zat man leaving his trrace is quite ze reasonable conclusion, yes?"