“What’s happening? Who’s there?” said a voice that would have put Kim Carnes to shame for its’ gravelly baritone… The party spun around to see an obese mass in a granny nightshirt and a large head struggling to emerge from the curtained four poster bed.
“Would you like some tea?” - the adventurers eyed each other. Konrad repeated his line about us being the cleaning crew. “Would you like some tea?” repeated it/she/them/the blob, fumbling towards a tray of teacups. Someone asked her who she was; “Lady Janet” it slurred. “Would you like some tea?” it repeated, dropping two full teacups down Mandras’ armor-plated chest.
Other adventurers were using the opportunity to have a quick look around. Rarder smelled roasted pork coming from up the chimney. Poking up there he dislodged an elderly woman’s body, which thumped into the cold hearth.
About this time, realisation was sinking in to Mandras that Lady Janet might be in that hearth – if so, what was pouring tea all over his chest? Ogre? – whispered Konrad. As he drew Conscientia, his magical blade to check with her, the ogre misunderstood the action and backhanded him a mighty blow. It was all over in a trice as the ogre was quickly hacked to pieces by all and sundry. A search of the room provided nothing of interest and Rarder stuffed Lady Janet’s body back up the chimney in a sense of orderliness.
The next room along the N wall opened onto another bedroom. Mandras and Konrad were in the lead. A bed held two diaphanous beings who flew out to attack them. Konrad’s elven cloak rendered him almost opaque and both wights attacked Mandras. Although he killed one, the second hit him with its dying swipe. Mandras felt a sudden weakening (he lost 10K experience and a level). Ironically, there was naught in the room but a well-built wall safe that no one felt qualified to tamper with…
Venturing to a SW door, Mandras let others take the lead. He felt well chastened. The door revealed a very large, musky smelling room, with a dozen reclining shapes on the ground. They sprang to their feet and challenged the party to leave their premises. Uncertain what form of bipedal, leather armored cat creatures they were facing, the adventurers again chose discretion over valour, though Rarder could not resist calling out “we’re just here to change the kitty litter” before slamming the door shut.
The party crossed back to the N and found another door. Peeping in Rarder saw an enormous kitchen with semitransparent hobgoblin servants preparing a meal and serving trays. One headed up a stair case that led to the passageway over the mirrored corridor. Again, the door was quickly and quietly closed. This was not going well.
At this point the door at the E end of the corridor looked inviting compared to other N and S doors. The party made a bee line for it hoping for easier opportunities to exploit. Opening the heavy door revealed a huge forested area, with 80-foot-high ceilings under glass domes. Bird song of every kind assailed their ears and the vegetation and trees were too dense to see into.
The party followed the path with Mandras again taking the lead, now that he had recovered his nerve a bit. After 10 minutes the sound of running water came from the SE. More alarmingly, a yelp came from the back of the party. They spun around in time to see a branch grab Bruce (the toothless dog) and drag him towards what looked to be a carnivorous conifer. Everyone sprang to rescue him but slowed down when the chaotic Koko expressed little sense of urgency/loss. Another branch ironically grabbed … Koko. Different tree, same appetite. Everyone tried to hew at the branch dragging Koko, who was by now badly injured. A third tree grabbed Zuhaits (Koko’s one-armed retainer) while the first two trees were being cut down. Zuhaits disappeared into the maw. Koko took more damage as his attacker keeled over. Everyone sprinted for the path and headed N for presumed relative safety.