Sarge, Majest, Landric, Hulda and Inquisitor Randolpho venture deeper into the Dreen town house.
Crow remains behind in the Kitchen to watch the back entrance, though he does help out with once fight where he draws two guards into an ambush.
Beneath the house the find a concealed basement beyond the wine celler with young men from 16 to 20 dressed in rags and covered in claw and burn marks. All where once good look boys. Now there minds are broken. Randolpho intimidates one who begs not to be taken to the Mistress up stairs. The Inquisitor puts the boy out of misery with a swift short sword cut.
As Sarge Mejest, Landric and Hulda advance through the house the encounter tough looking mercenaries wearing the stained remains of Dreen's household livery. The guards are delt with swiftly but not all together quietly.
The group moves through the house searching as they do so:
Mejest finds some imported brandy worth a few coins.
Sarge finds a savage looking set of mail with fur lined collar that lets him leave bloody footprints behind or not tracks at all.
Mejest finds and ivory snuff box that when placed on a flat surface makes it translucent.
They also discover other trinkets.
Randolpho is not particularly impressed with Sarge's insistence he change armour half way through the house.
As the advance to the top floor they encounter a well-dressed servant that Sarge chops in too with his axe.
On the 2nd floor whilst checking a door to a guest bedroom a door no where near them swings open with an ominous creak.
Inquisitor Randolpho casts persistent light on his staff hoping to reveal any hidden creatures of shadow.
As they approach the door Sarge start to open a closer door but it is locked. He sets about chopping it down with his axe.
Whilst he's doing that he hears Candances voice from beyond the already open door "you don't need to do that" "I'm here, everything is ready for you", she starts to hum a wordless tune.
Sarge opens the door to find a room that smells strongly of potpourri though it doesn't quite cover the smell of blood.
The room the group enters has a hole in the north wall that leads to a girls luxurious bedroom chambers, with a four poster bed, the group cannot see the sides of the room from their vantage.
There is a bureau stuffed with writing implements, pallet knives and actual knives, there are also many of these scattered around the paint pots and such near the canvas. Wall hangings scattered Jackson Pollock style with blood sprays and a large canvas propped against a wall with a great red swirl, on the easel; Candance may be painting with "red paint" there are stains on the wooden floor boards presumably from previous victims.
Candance continues to sing her haunting melody.
As Sarge takes in the room he is surprised as a glassy eyed Landric stabs him back.