To the Manor borne… (everyone)

[Mr. Handy]

"Well, we've seen some of these coffins," says Bonnie. "I wonder where the others went. Do tracks just go to the hoose, or do they go somewhere else too?"

[BoyBlunder78]

OOC:   Werw all.the coffin shelves at the sides or is there like a main coffin in the middle?

[Snapper]

Swapping his revolver for the rather battered army rifle, Ascot does a circuit of the exterior of the crypt, looking for tracks. (Anything to avoid spending more time in the crypt.)

"Unless the coffins were moved quite recently, I should think Scotland's weather would pretty much obliterate any tracks in short order, eh?"

[Philulhu]

It was clear that the coffins hadn’t been moved recently. As Ascot did his tour around the crypt, there were no visible tracks between the house and the crypt other than their own.

The crypt just has shelves with a narrow passage between. There’s no head vampire-esque super coffin in the middle.

You haven’t counted the coffins in the house but the numbers of marks on the crypt shelves are about the same.

[BoyBlunder78]

"We must be missing something. A creature large enough to spirit off sheep and deposit them in trees shouldnt be that hard to spot. By all accounts we may have found its nest/lair but still bo sign of the beast. Maybe we
issed something in the house. I wonder if the library would have the plans?" Dr Douglas says to the group.

[Snapper]

Ascot is continuing to look outwards in all directions while circling outside the crypt. "You're right, Doc. I think I have missed something. No wild animal I have ever heard of would or could drag coffins from one building into another. It makes no sense."

"Doc, were the, ah, bones in the manor the right age to be from here? All the coffins must have been placed in here over 120 years ago. Did any of the bones seem, um, newer than that?"

[BoyBlunder78]

" Without a full and proper examination i couldn't say accurately though i would say[ there is a good chance they were. The sheer amount of bones though would suggest some of them on the top floor being more recent."/color] replied Dr Douglas.

OOC:   Looking back at the first map. I think we missed a staircase. Did we go up the stairs which had the foot steps in the dust?

[Mr. Handy]

"What other structures are on the grounds?" asks Bonnie. "The beastie must have made its lair somewhere nearby."

[Snapper]

"We haven't had a look in the stables yet, we should do that, eh?
But as I say, I don't believe this is a wild animal from any continent anymore. If we rule wild animals out, the other truly dangerous animal is Man."

"And that raises problems of its own. What people could do that?" He gestures towards the crypt and manor.

"Let's go look in the stables, eh?"

[Philulhu]

Ascot lead the way to the stable block, a building that was big enough to hold a gig and a couple of horses. Of the carriage, there was no sign, but of the horses, only the weathered and gnawed bones remained.

You didn’t go up the staircase which had the footprints. You went up the other stairs (north west corner) instead.

You did go into the room at the top of the dusty staircase (the one with the statue).

[BoyBlunder78]

" Looks like ouir quarry doesnt discriminate woth it meals."Looking back up at the main building Dr Douglas " We must have missed something in the house. Strikes me as odd that a building this size would only have one staircase." Comments Dr Douglas as he extinguishes his lantern.

[Mr. Handy]

"But there was a second staircase," says Bonnie. "We should follow it all the way to the top."

[Snapper]

Ascot shrugs, unconvinced. "Animal or person, I'm pretty confident we would have been aware of their presence if they were in the manor with us. You go ahead and check the other staircase."

"In Africa, sometimes we would stake out a goat on a rope to lure a tiger or lion in. My plan is to keep tabs on the sheep in the tree. Sooner or later our mystery killer of sheep is going to come back for that." Ascot slings the rifle and pulls his new binoculars up to have a look at the sheep-bearing tree.

OOC:   Can the party see the dead sheep in the tree from where they currently are or from somewhere near the manor?

[BoyBlunder78]

" i think Bonnie is right. While we the sun we should check it out. Hopefully our quarry is nocturnal and we may catch it napoing as it were."

[Philulhu]

The sheep is visible in the tree. Ascot can see it as he walks around the crypt.

Are you heading back to the house?

[Snapper]

Ascot nods. "Sounds like a plan. I'll wait out here and watch the sheep. But I'll stay as close to the manor as I can. if you need assistance, just yell, eh?"

As promised, he heads for a point closer to the manor but where he can see the sheep.

[Mr. Handy]

"Aye," says Bonnie, "Or if it's really bad, I'll fire my rifle again." She heads back to the house.

[BoyBlunder78]

"The same for you. Be vigilant Ascot we still dont know if its a solitary beast." Dr Douglas turns and follows Bonnie.

[Snapper]

"Thank you kindly, I shall be on my guard, eh?" Ascot maintains a watch on the sheep from as close to the manor as he can manage, periodically scrutinising the dead beast through his new binoculars.

[Philulhu]

Can I have a POW roll, please?

OOC: Where are you planning to start your search?