Sterling Heights sure was tall. I know you’re probably thinking ‘Well Isaac, it’s in the name’ but it only got taller and taller as we got closer. It was like the whole hotel was looming over Mothlight, but I don’t remember ever seeing it in the skyline. The cat had turned a corner and POW it was there.

The cat dropped us off near the entrance to the hotel, which had a cast iron gate that reminded me of the one at the manor. When we opened the gates and stepped through, the lion head door knockers whispering “Enjoy your stay.” as we did, that is when the hotel really started to loom.

The sky clouded and lightning crackled, sparking the silhouette of the hotel into the night, making it look almost as if it was slicing into the heavens. 

“Woooooah.” Hildr whistled, craning her neck, the sound causing Cornelius to look up from what crumbs remained he stubbornly tried to peck at. It almost looked like he scowled at Hildr for distracting him, however, and he returned to the crumbs.

I had turned however, frowning, because on the other side of the gate, the sky was still clear. I frowned, in contemplation. This was a ghost thing, that much I was sure of in my bones. My necromantic bones, the ones in my components pouch. But it seemed benign, not worth stopping.

“Let’s go meet with the Proprietor.” I decided, turning back towards the entrance. The doors were opened by a somewhat scrawny gray and white firbolg in a red and gold bellhop uniform.

“Mr. DeWinter?” He asked, eyes moving to Hildr holding the container that Cornelius still sat in, though had finished his meal. “And uhm...plus two?”

“Just Isaac is fine.” I insisted, holding a hand out to stop that, than gestured to my friend and familiar. “This is Hildr and Cornelius. They’re going to help me...” I looked down at Cornelius. “To varying degrees.” He squawked indignantly at me.

He grinned. “Sounds good to me, Isaac. I have no idea what’s going on, this is just a job so I can save up for next semester. Proprietors at the front desk though.”

The lobby looked like any decadent foyer for an old high end hotel or manor, with gold and red flooring and wallpaper, and intricate patterned seating near tables and fireplaces. However, every time the lightning struck outside, the palette of the room shifted into a neon purple and green, before shifting back.

Along the walls there were numerous paintings of whom I really hoped weren’t past me’s but they all had the staff so that was probably most likely. Also every time lightning flashed, it showed how they died.

Did not like that.

Across the foyer, at the far end of the room, was the front desk, with hundreds of hooks lining far up along the back wall with a key in each. And behind the desk stood a lanky pale man with wispy hair and full black eyes that leaked some sort of ichor smiling at us with all pointed teeth. 

“Good evening, Master Isaac and....guest. I am...the Proprietor, and I have been very excited to meet you.” He said in a creamy somewhat sinister tone, his crooked grin growing. “Please...come forward, so that I may have a closer look at you. Do not worry...I don’t bite.”

Hildr and I looked at each other, then approached the front desk, as Cornelius flew off and perched on one of the chairs near the fire, beginning to clean his feathers.

“That’s right. Just like that. Approach the front desk, just a little closer.” the Proprietor encouraged with villainous glee. “There we areeeee.”

Hildr and I once again looked at each other for a second, while the Proprietor loomed over us. Finally, Hildr cleared her throat and the Proprietor's head slowly turned to her, making a bone cracking sound as it did. “So what’d you need us to do?”

“An excellent question my dear.” The Proprietor grinned, tapping his fingers together. “The situation at the hotel has become...dyer. Strange occurrences have begun to appear all over the hotel that are outside of the norm.”

“Do you need me to remove ghosts or poltergeists or...” I asked, with a raised brow.

“Oh no, certainly not, Master Isaac.” The Proprietor sounded aghast, though the smile never left their face. “Any and all ghosts, ghouls, goblins, aberrations, poltergeists and zombies are Sterling Heights valued...employees.” He looked me in the eyes with an impish glee. “This is a haunted hotel after all. That is half the charm.”

“Oh I get it.” Hildr gave a soft snort. “It’s your gimmick.”

His head cracked towards her. “Exactly.”

“So I need to find the strange thing that's happening in the haunted hotel that isn’t anything to do with the undead?” I frowned.

“If you wish for us to stay....active.” The Proprietor said, turning to me. “You would reap the...benefits of our continued....existiiiince.”

“Alright.” I sighed, one fist on my hip. “Where should I start?”

The Proprietor's grin widened to an unnatural length.