OOC: Feeling magnanimous, I'll allow the spell to work on the whole bag of daggers.
Stepping onto the dock from your respective boats, you find it solidly constructed and well maintained. A stone path leads from the end of the dock to some steps that lead up to a large covered porch on the front of the house. An orc in uniform similar to that of the messenger seems to be waiting at the front door of the house for you. While there is no overt threat to you, it is obvious that there are murder holes in the ceiling of the covered porch and that armed men are behind the fortified area above watching you from the time you approached the island. The large birds can be circling high overhead, presumably to make sure no one else is trying to slip ashore.
As you top the steps the orc greets you, "Welcome gentlemen to the residence of Count Valdimyr Zarovych. Please come in." The orc glances west at the darkening sky and raps on the door. With an audible 'clank' a massive iron bar is drawn inside and the door swing open on well oiled hinges. It is as dark as a tomb inside, but almost immediately there is a flare of light as a guard lights a torch from a tindertwig. He holds it to another mounted on the wall and preceeds you a narrow switchback hall an entry room again designed for defense with arrow slits and murderholes. The stone floor rings hollowly in a way that suggests pits below. However, once you pass the massive doors leaving the entry area the stark militarism gives way to a more comfortable rustic decor.
Soon you find yourselves in a spacious dining hall that could be envy of any country house in the Empire. It is decorated with the stuffed heads of numerous beasts and monsters as well as weapons including rifles and blunderbusses, paintings and tapestries of hunting scenes and an enormous antler chandelier. The room is lit from above and by a fire in the huge hearth as well as candles on the table. There are no windows suggesting that this in an interior room. There are three doors in addition to the one you came through. The places at the table would suggest that in additional to yourselves you will be dining with your host and two others. A sideboard is set with glassware, a bucket of ice and numerous bottles of liquor and wine. A pair of small casks have been tapped as well. A tray filled with a yellow and a blue cheese, some thin slices of dark bread and small dark garlicy sausages complete the offerings.
The orc bows, "The Count will be joining you shortly. Please help yourselves to drinks from the sideboard. We are very informal here."
[sblock=Gnurl]The artwork is of excellent quality and you recognize the artists mark on a couple of pieces as a well known masters. The sausage is of gnomish origin made with garlic, mushrooms and wild boar meat. The selections of wine and liquor are varied and expensive.[/sblock]
[sblock=H'Roosh]As soon as his feet touch the ground here, H'Roosh is immediately aware that this island is like the one where he trained, Chelestra, in that is floats rather than being fixed to the ocean floor.[/sblock]
[sblock=Zurrik]It strikes Zurrik that typically, when one has this kind of wealth there are usually some magical convinces about, but this place seems decidedly unmagical.[/sblock]
[sblock=Radoon]The guards are armed with bows, long orcish hunting knives and spears. They are lightly armored in fine quality studded leather under their uniform tunics. They seem comfortably familiar with their weapons. These are seasoned warriors, none under thirty years old. [/sblock]
[sblock=Geoffrey]Geoffrey does not note any religious symbols good or bad anywhere.[/sblock]
Spot check 15+ [sblock]Amongst the impressive collection of beast and monster heads is one that makes you pause and stare. There can be no doubt that your host is a hunter of considerable skill. The head of a mature green dragon looks down from a place of prominence over the hearth.[/sblock]
