Ron, Jessica, and the others stood outside the front door of the huge manor. It had a decidedly spooky appearance, with ivy creeping this way and that along weather-worn walls and windows. The front gate itself, adorned with iron-wrought imps and gargoyles with toothy grins, would have kept any of them at bay. But the motivation for entering this place was more than any of them could resist. After all, who couldn't use a million dollars?
Ron rapped on the door with his bare knuckle. A barely-audible thud sounded. No one came to answer the door. Leaning his full 200 pounds into it, Ron gave the large door a push. It slowly creaked open.
"Are you sure we should just go in?", asked Maria meekly.
"Why not? He knows we're coming.", Ron assured her.
He led them all into the large front foyer. They ambled past full suits of armor and large paintings of the house's prior occupants. Jessica felt like she was being watched as she walked past each picture.
Finally, they all entered into the main room of the first floor. At the far end of the room loomed the largest staircase that any of them had ever seen. It started out very large at the bottom, tapering to just large at the top. Ron followed the staircase up to the second floor with his eyes. At the top, he noticed a man and a woman standing there. The man spoke.
"Welcome to my humble abode. I am James Armiston. This is my assistant, Ms. Kathleen Sharpe."
They both traveled the staircase down to the first floor, and met the group of newcomers in the middle of the room. After introductions were made, Mr. Armiston invited them all to the dining room for lunch.
