**Realising too late, I've missed out on a lot of the character building early on. If you do wish to use this, please look through the cast and help get the players known to them, as to use later in various situations. I'll add some here and there, but they players should have at least met all the main npc's before the first casualty**
***Also, a good way to get players into the feel of the session, is to get them to describe their actions, as certain parts of the story (such as the screaming woman on the 2nd floor) will work better that way.***
You've been invited to the house by a long separated relative who wishes to reunite with her family. She gives all the details of where to find the family house and gold for travel.
When the hero's arrive they find a huge, grand mansion. Outside, two men are arguing, one short dressed in very fine clothing, the other tall and slender, dressed in plain clothing. They seems to be arguing about the roll of the shorter gentleman, who breaks off grumbling and forces he way past the heros.
The taller man apologises and introduces himself as Reece. He talks to the adventures, being nice and answering as much as possible. He explains that the shorter man was William, son of Bathroy, and that he doesn't like him at all. He then asks who the adventures are, before letting them into the house and calling for Amilia. She comes, and takes you to lady Bathroy, answering any questions as she goes, but avoiding saying too much about Bathroy or William.
Once at Bathroy's room, she will knock twice and open the doors, introducing you as the people the Lady sent for.
Lady Bathroy seems happy to see you all, and states how she's beside herself to finally meet her remaining family. She explains how she's distantly related to them all and that, with her age and lack of deserving heir, she will be passing the house and land to one of them. Joseph Sedman, who up until this point has been sat silently in the corner of the room at a small desk, then stands and explains that if all goes to plan one or more of the players will inherit something from Bathroy when she passes.
The day goes on, and Bathroy answers as many questions as possible, stopping to enjoy a meal served by Toby (the house's finest cook), before calling a servant to take you all to your rooms. All the servants seem pretty happy and content working here, and they all seem to be smiling and getting on, if wincing when hearing William's name. The night goes mostly without problem, with Bathroy's horrible singing occasionally filling the hall, before a piercing scream wakes everyone. Those who investigate find the corpse of a servant who has fallen off one of the banisters on the top floor. He died when he hit the floor, but not before he managed to scream.
Most people come to find what happened, with most turning away from the veiw, but a medium investigation will reveal that William is not there. Bathroy plays it down as an unfortunate accident, and states she will send someone to fetch the guard in the morning. She orders someone to cover the body, then returns to bed, after collecting some scotch.
A high investigation of the body will reveal that there is a stiletto style puncture wound, and a medium medicine check will reveal it punctures the heart. The staff, if told about this, will react differently, some believing it, others not. None will look under the cover.
The players can return to bed, or explore a bit. Those who explore will find more little disturbances. Maybe a broken window, or a kitchen draw left open with a knife missing. Candles going out or randomly igniting.
After a bit of tension building, this who are exploring find themselves in a room with windows, in which the candles all ignite and several birds shatter through said windows. Looking outside will reveal a thick fog has descended, and a medium perception will reveal a hulking body moving toward the house. If they wait long enough they will see a servant move to greet him, only to recoil in horror when close, before being grasped by the head and slammed to the ground. Waiting longer will show the servant standing, some of the fog seeping into his body. Any actions by the players which would reveal they are watching results in the large man swinging his head in their direction before retreating into the fog, with the body if the servant managed to greet him.
