Chapter 3: Night One

[Philulhu]

Vic rolled her eyes in exasperation but it wasn’t the time for a likely-to-get-heated discussion as to why she would be just as good, if not better, then the men at following whoever it was had been lurking outside. Sighing, she followed Isolde into the kitchen and looked around.

”Any signs that anyone got in?” she asked, moving across to the window to take a closer look.

Spoiler:

Spot Hidden (25%):

Philulhu rolled 1d100:
60

[HoneyDog]

Vic cannot see anything at the window. At that moment, Bates enters and inquires as to what is happening.

Spoiler:

Just to be clear, the companions were outside when they met the dogs and Isolde saw the figure.

[Philulhu]

Resisting the urge to reply with a flippant comment, Vic said quietly, “We heard a noise. There was someone outside. We’re checking that they didn’t manage to get inside while the men take a look outside,”

Spoiler:

Vic’s just going with the flow...

[Mr. Handy]

"Perhaps you'd best take the dogs and lead the way," whispers Alexander to Harry. "I'm about as stealthy as a bull in a china shop."

[Mephistophilis]

Harry nods to Alexander trying to move as silently as he can and stick to the shadows.

Spoiler:

Mephistophilis rolled 1d100:
22

ETA that's a hard success

Spoiler:

Mephistophilis rolled 1d100:
43

[aine]

Isolde says, "we should quickly check the other ground floor windows for ingress. Mr Bates, are any of them open because of the heat?"

[HoneyDog]

The dogs are sniffing around and wagging their tails, showing no particular interest in following Harry or Alexander.

Spoiler:

Harry manages to sneak silently to the wall. Glancing around the corner of the house, his heart thumping, he sees only the gardens, silent apart from the noise of nocturnal insects.

Spoiler:

“Mr. Forby orders everything to be locked up, and locked it is” says Bates, looking worried. “I’d better go out”.

He leaves the kitchen and exits trough the back door.

[Mephistophilis]

Disappointed Harry looks at the empty garden and signals to Alexander to join him. He strides out into the garden to look further around.

[Mr. Handy]

Alexander follows Harry and helps him look for tracks or other clues.

[Philulhu]

”You keep an eye on things here,” said Vic to Isolde. “I’ll just nip out with Mr. Bates and see how the men are getting on!”

She didn’t wait for an answer, just running quickly after the butler towards the front door.

[HoneyDog]

Vic reaches the entrance hall, but is interrupted by Gertrude, clutching a lantern and looking worried.

“What’s all of this disturbance?” she asks. “Has something happened?”

Meanwhile, Harry and Alexander peer around the garden, but cannot see anything in the shadows. Presently they are joined by Bates and soon after by Old Fred, with the dogs at his heels. Both men are excited and concerned, wanting information.

[Mephistophilis]

Harry quickly fills in Bates and Fred. 'We heard a noise and when we arrived downstairs the back door was unlocked, Miss Beauchant noticed someone outside the kitchen window heading around the corner of the house. Curiously the dogs did not seem alarmed. There is no sign of the intruder now but we should search the grounds to be sure. A bit more light on the situation would be helpful'.

[HoneyDog]

“I’ll get some lanterns” says Bates, and goes back inside the house.

[aine]

Isolde runs noiselessly up the stairs to look out the games room window to see if anything was moving on the lawns below.

Spoiler:

32

aine rolled 1d100:
48

[Mr. Handy]

"Aye, perhaps with the light and the dogs' help, we can find the intruder's tracks," says Alexander.

[HoneyDog]

Fred snorts dismissively.

”Ground's dry as a bone. We tried that before. Better to wait for daylight, we’d ‘ave more chance then.”

Nonetheless, Bates returns with some lanterns and the companions begin their search. The dogs do not seem to be picking up anything, they simply run around playfully.

[Mr. Handy]

"Well, at least it was good exercise," says Alexander. "Shall we turn in?"

[Philulhu]

Vic looks around the kitchen window, carefully examining the ground in the way that Conan Doyle’s literary detective, Sherlock Holmes, would do.

Spoiler:

Philulhu rolled 1d100:
48

[HoneyDog]

Despite her best efforts, Vic is unable to spot anything.

Spoiler:

Do you all want to move on, or are there any other actions you want to perform?

[Mephistophilis]

'Time to turn in I think, we can search some more in the morning' says Harry. 'Bates, is there any chance you didn't lock the back door? Can it be unlocked from the outside? I think we had better check whether the Forby's are all well if there is a chance someone could have entered the house'.