[Challenge of the Frog Idol] Session #9: The Haunted House Part I

The demise of the party in the latest expedition leaves the sole survivor, the halfling Li, with the responsibility to recruit a band of adventurers. It isn't that difficult, after all, as a bunch just visited the city of Coruvon in hopes of exploring the nearby Haunted House. Rumours say that hauntings and phantasmal lights come out of this decrepit mansion, just four miles south of the city, and its owner, a notorious alchemist who conducted all sorts of sinister experiments, hid a treasure of mythical proportions somewhere in the bowels of the house. With the prospect of filling their pockets, primarily his own then his party, with gold, Li and his new companions gather resources and hire retainers for the trip. They are informed by an aged poacher of its mysterious happenings and perilous haunts, and approached by Gylain, a City Council member, who shows interest in letting the council know of able adventurers investigating the haunted mansion, also hinting at possible rewards.

The next day, the characters embark on their short journey and reach the dilapidated house at noon. A brief exploration of the surroundings reveals the two-storied house looming on a steep cliff over 30 metres above the river, and three different entrances, along with a shallow well. Intrigued by its crumbling state, the characters enter the building through a back door from a ruined patio, only to be greeted by a booming, ghastly voice welcoming them. Fear then strikes their heart, and they scatter in all directions, running for their lives. A few turns later, and after regaining their composure, the characters delve deeper into the house, encountering numerous run-down rooms that show the alchemist's apparent lavish life. A few spiders and centipedes emerge from hidden nests to pose a danger to the party, but they are dealt with rather quickly.

It doesn't take long for the characters to realise they're not alone in the mansion. Their very first encounter is with another party of seven supposedly adventurers, who claim they also came looking for the alchemist's treasure. They seem friendly, if a bit aloof and reserved. While exploring the second floor, the party comes upon a tied and gagged man, who claims he was attacked in the previous night by unknown assailants. His belongings are bundled in a nearby room. The man, who comes by the name Ned Shakeshaft, decides to assist the characters in their investigation, and warns them of another party who may be ambushing them. So far, no sign of hauntings, except for the ethereal voice, has been found nor any amount of treasure has been recovered, which make the party skeptical over the rumours.

Characters involved
Rolf the Bold, fighter 1
Aurora, cleric 1
Li, halfling 1
Yudel, dwarf 1

Elaine, fighter 1 (retainer)
Raine the Despised, cleric 1 (retainer)

The session was straightforward and bore the classic trappings of haunted house adventures: creaking floors, strange noises, otherworldly wails and a dark secret hiding under the house. While at first, players were prepared to face any dangers from the Shadowlands (the land were the spirits of the dead reside, according to my homebrewed setting), by the end of the session they were almost certain there were no such things as hauntings and wondered whether the rumours of the alchemist's treasure were true. They were faced with few and easy encounters, and any poison inflicted was weak enough to not kill a character outright.