You step through a very large and ornate door, out of the howling wind and rain and into the front hall of the iconic Iris Hill Manor. You shake yourself off hang your coat on a hook and take a step onto the red Persian rug when an older gentleman in a khaki brown suit, with a bushy grey mustache and a monocle steps into the room.

Oh! I do hope you have not been kept waiting. Dreadful weather this, reminds me of the monsoons in India-wipe your feet before you cross the threshold. Mrs. White will have a conniption if she finds any more mud on that carpet. *shakes head* I beg your pardon, I seem to have misplaced my manners in all of the confusion. I am Colonel D. John Mustard. The D is from my father's name, David; most simply call me 'The Colonel'. Oh, but what I night we are having! Perhaps you could be of assistance. Doctor Black has gone missing and I fear he is dead. Blood was found in the corridor-Mrs. White was beside herself, but I believe it was for the sake of the floor. She is a very meticulous old gel-and no one knows who has done it. *speaks in an undertone* Between the two of us, I'm not even certain of my own innocence. A souvenir of my war days leaves me blacking out on occasion. If you do discover the circumstances of Doctor Black's apparent murder, do please send me a Private Message. *clears throat* Please make yourself at home! There is plenty to be seen in the Manor on a night such as this!

Good day all, and pleased to meet you, I am sure. You may call me Mrs. Peacock, if it please you, though I shouldn't advise calling me anything else if it don't. There now, be a good little one and don't get into any trouble. Heaven knows we've enough to deal with at the moment with poor Doctor Black gone missing. Have a sesame candy, do, and run along to play. Oh! Before you go, you may want this. Do be careful with it, though, and don't break it, there's a dear!

My name is Sherlock Homes, to get to the point, it is nice to meet you Colonel. I understand traveling the world is in your blood?

I should say so! There is hardly a corner of the globe I have left unturned!

*Grumbles* Goodness knows the globe does enough turning of its own without the help of gallivanters...

"Dreadful weather indeed sir!" says a petite young girl of maybe seventeen, with a long wavy brown bob, and bright blue eyes. She takes off her yellow rain coat and hangs it on the coat rack. "I am Miss Anise, Mr. Black's neighbor. He invited me to have tea with him today, though he sent the invitation several days ago. Does he happen to be in?"

I'm afraid the good Doctor has gone missing! Perhaps you could help in the mystery.

"Missing! How terrible! When did this happen?"

At some point last night. I don't particularly remember any of the details, I'm afraid. I occasionally have flashbacks from the war, you know.

Miss Anise frowns, a little confused at the Colonel's words. "Let us start in Mr. Black's room then."

(Apologies in advance; mystery is the hardest genre for me to write in, so what I write will probably be bad.)

A lady of about 16 years old walks in, accompanied by a young man. She looks around, trying to hide the fact that she does not feel comfortable in this particular environment. She pushes the hood of her coat back, brushing wavy, light brown hair away from her face. Her blue eyes take everything in.

"I'm Alana Sulaimon; this is my friend, Roman Zanderuth." Her voice is quiet. She lets Roman take her coat and hang it up on a hook, along with his own greatcoat.

"We're investigators. Of a sort," Roman says casually. He looks around, an expression of relaxed curiosity on his face. "It's awful, all this trouble with the disappearance of the good Doctor. Here's hoping Alana and I can help in some way."

A pleasure to meet the both of you! Please, begin in any room you like.

A young lady dashes in, soaking wet. She shakes her short blonde hair of water and squeezes out the rest before removing a dark green coat and hanging it up.

Hello! I'm Nancy Drew. I heard Doctor Black has gone missing. I hope to make myself useful and help find him.

Thank you for coming, Miss Drew! Please begin anywhere you like.

A brown haired girl with sparkling eyes tiptoes through the door

"Such excitement! All these people with funny names and a mystery on our hands!" she whispers to no one in particular. "Let's see if I can make sense of it." She walks down the passage, curiously looking about her, note pad and pencil in hand.

Anise is slightly perturbed at all the new people, but decides that she would go to the lounge first, as that was the place where she was to have met Mr. Black.