Chapter 3: Night One

[aine]

Isolde brings up the rear, she's trying to get a sense of the energy pathways through the house.

Spoiler:

aine rolled 1d100:
93

[Mr. Handy]

Alexander follows Vic and Harry to the back door.

Spoiler:

Natural History roll (10% base skill) looking outside:

Mr. Handy rolled 1d100:
71

[HoneyDog]

The door is unlocked and the investigators step quietly out, straining to make anything out in the darkness.

Suddenly there is a bark, and the form of Peter the bull-mastiff rushes towards the companions.

[Mr. Handy]

Alexander moves aside to get out of the dog's way. "Hello, Peter," he calls, hoping the dog will again like hearing his name.

[HoneyDog]

Peter stops, letting out another bark, but he seems mollified. Mike the setter also appears, panting and wagging his tail.

Spoiler:

Everyone can roll Spot Hidden.

[Mephistophilis]

Harry tickles Mike behind his ear, 'good boy, what have you been up to'.

Spoiler:

Mephistophilis rolled 1d100:
73

[Philulhu]

”Who let the dogs out?” asked Vic, quietly.

Spoiler:

(25%) -

Philulhu rolled 1d100:
42

[Mr. Handy]

"My guess is Fred did," whispers Alexander. He peers out into the darkness, but he can see nothing.

Spoiler:

Spot Hidden roll (67% skill) looking outside:

Mr. Handy rolled 1d100:
81

[aine]

"Maybe they roam free at night. They are obviously alert; did anyone hear them bark earlier? If not, then whoever or whatever it was didn't upset the dogs... for some reason." Isolde arches an eyebrow but it's too dark for anyone to see it.

Spoiler:

32

aine rolled 1d100:
19

[HoneyDog]

Spoiler:

In the darkness, Isolde can see an outline of a figure moving away from the kitchen window, and disappearing behind the corner of the house. It is too dark to see anything clearly, and she cannot make out any distinct features.

[aine]

"Anyway, whatever it was has gone so we should all go back to bed." Isolde says in a loud voice whilst, at the same time, holding a finger to her lips and dramatically rolling her eyes towards the kitchen window.

[Mr. Handy]

Alexander nods and winks.

[Philulhu]

Vic looks puzzled for a moment, then glances towards the kitchen window.

[HoneyDog]

Spoiler:

Are you sure you read the post correctly?

[Mephistophilis]

Harry sees Isolde's signal and looks towards the window where she is gesturing to try and see what she has noticed. He also puts his finger to his lip to signal silence and that he has understood.

Spoiler:

Isolde is trying to let us know she has spotted something without alerting the target

[aine]

Isolde points round the dark corner of the house by the window, "Someone was by the window and has just crept round that corner; take the dogs!" She whispers to Harry and Alexander. "I'm going back to bed; I'll see you all at breakfast." She says loudly and moves back to the door, "Come on, Viv, we can check inside the kitchen for clues." She whispers.

Spoiler:

Thanks, Harry, spot on!

[Mr. Handy]

"Come along, Peter and Mike," whispers Alexander. "Softly, softly, lads." He brings the dogs outside, trying to be quiet, but they're probably a lot stealthier than he is.

[Mephistophilis]

Spoiler:

Harry?

[Mr. Handy]

Spoiler:

Gah, I got mixed up. That's my character's name in a different game. I'll edit.

[Mephistophilis]

Harry hesitates for a moment, looking towards the front door and contemplating flanking their quarry. 'Probably locked' he thinks to himself and turns to follow Alexander as quietly as he can.

Spoiler:

So are we out in the courtyard near the carriage house?