Your attempts at stealth are, once again, fruitful... In fact, as you take your place beside Sharille, it almost feels as if the building has been emptied out completely. No maids, no butlers, no workers in the kitchen... like an empty shell of a nobleman's manor.<br/><br/>"Alright... If we're upstairs, I think we only need to look for the largest rooms. A study, a bedroom... anything like that would be a good place to find our guy."<br/><br/>With that, the halfling rogue leads on her own version of the silver-piece tour of the mansion... a quiet, padding walk through hallways of a man blessed with more money than most adventurers see in their lifetime. For someone whose family failed in a coup, the guy certainly seems to be doing fairly well for himself... you see books and tapestries that a collector would kill for, and even an ancient sword with the markings of the dead Azlanti race carved into its blade. With wealth like this, it's hard to imagine that anyone would want to ally themselves with creatures like the goblins and Jack o' the lanterns...<br/><br/>Perhaps it is the emptiness, or the ease with which you have accomplished your goals so far. Perhaps it is just nerves catching up to her. Whatever the reason, though, your search takes an abrupt turn when the halfling woman ahead of you tosses open a door... and finds herself looking at the point of one of the guardsmen's swords. From your place a few feet back, you can make out what looks like five shadows, stretching out like some dark hand to grasp the startled halfling woman.<br/><br/>"Shit..." She manages to utter.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button"> OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">You have an opportunity to make a stealth check here, since Sharille stepped through teh door first as the "guide." Otherwise, now is a good time to roll initiative and take your surprise round against the guards. </div></div>