Note that the general premise of this story is to try and work out which house guest 'Keedleshippe' so he (yes, it is a "he", unfortunately for any would be detectives, there are only two female house guests so you won't be making huge breakthroughs anytime soon) isn't necessarily the last person into the house. In fact, he isn't, cuz it's one of the girls…
As soon as Arvena Adas stepped through the doors of Summitmist manor she felt the scrutiny of several sets of eyes upon her. Shutting them with trepidation, Arvena offered a weak smile to the occupants of the room. Then she jumped as there was the sound of a key turning in a lock, the heavy doors confining them inside until somebody found the chest of treasure. As the doors were locked the tension inside the room lowered noticeably; this was it, the twelve could now begin their search, nobody else would be granted entry. The search wouldn't be easy, but it promised to be a fun and exciting evening.
Arvena was an apothecary and a healer of sorts, dabbling in both alchemy and magic. Though her abilities lay primarily with the former, she was no mean practitioner of the latter. Summitmist manor was a big place, Arvena wondered if either of her specialist skills would prove to be especially useful here. Arvena was slightly startled when a large man appeared smiling in front of her. The apothecary looked up; it was a Nord, and he appeared to be roaring drunk.
"Well aren't you a pretty young thing?" The Nord said with a broad grin. "I'm Boris, and is your name as pretty as you are?" Arvena laughed and blushed, prompting a roar of laughter from Boris. "You're all right young lady, I hope this sees you through well and you have some good fun!" with that Boris walked away, loudly demanding somebody showed him where the ale was.
What a strange man. Arvena mused. I don't think I'd need three guesses to figure out what he'll spend that gold on if he gets his hands on it.
Looking around Arvena saw no fewer than six people downstairs; some of them searching, some of them just holding conversations with each other, obviously believing there was no hurry. Arvena wondered if they'd be so nonchalant if somebody found the chest right away. Aside from Boris, that left another four that Arvena hadn't seen yet. One man was tough looking and appeared to be a soldier; Redguard too at that, they made some of the best soldiers in Tamriel. A second was a slender bookish sort, an Imperial by the look of him. Clenched to his chest with both hands was a massive tome, which the man seemed barely able to lift. He kept glancing around furtively, as if afraid the book would be taken. He and the warrior seemed deep in conversation, the Redguard smiling at some joke from the other.
Arvena moved across to them and sat at their table, in a corner of the room that looked like it was some sort of library. The Redguard glanced at her, but no more than that, whilst the pale Imperial gave her a small smile and offered a hand to her.
"C-Claudius M-M-Montoni, Scholar," he stammered as Arvena took his hand and shook it. Claudius was trembling all over, a willow of a man. He laid his book on the table but kept a hand on it, still suspecting somebody might take it. The Redguard rolled his eyes, didn't offer his hand then spoke to Arvena.
"I'm Kerl. I'm a soldier, plain and simple, nice to meet you…?"
"Arvena, Arvena Adas," Kerl raised an eyebrow.
"The apothecary? I've heard of you. Some of your work is quite impressive, although not really of much use in my profession," he barked a laugh, rubbing his unshaven chin then running a hand through his short, military style hair. He warily glanced over his shoulder; two of the others had moved to the opposite side of the room whilst another had disappeared somewhere, presumably upstairs too.
"Just between us, I think you should know that one of the… 'House guests' is a vampire. I saw him head for the cellar a little while back, with a bottle of something I have a horrible suspicion was blood. Watch your neck Arvena," the apothecary nodded and rubbed her throat, that was one fate she'd hate to have.
"FOR THE LAST TIME YOU ACCURSED CAT, I DON'T WANT TO BUY ANYTHING!!!" the scream was directed from the two talking at the other side of the room. An aging man was yelling at a young-looking Khajiit, who simply grinned at him, displaying his sharp teeth. "Look mangy cur, I don't need yarn, or callipers! OR A PAIR OF NEW SOCKS!!" The man, rather rotund, stormed away as the Khajiit begun to laugh. He was wearing a large coat that seemed heavy with various items, such as the callipers he was holding in one hand. Still grinning noticeably, the Khajiit came over to Arvena's table.
"M'Kasha believes fat man did not like his offer. Shame, callipers are useful tools," sprawling into an armchair like… well a cat. He was twirling a small dagger around in his hands. "M'Kasha also thinks that Kerl-human should keep a better eye on his weapons," Kerl started as his hand automatically went to his hip for a weapon; which of course was not there. M'Kasha grinned in a cheeky fashion and returned the knife to the red-faced Kerl.
"Don't do that again!" Kerl growled, as Claudius and Arvena began laughing at the sheer audacity of the Khajiit.
"M'Kasha is sorry, but he could not resist, he is a showman." The Khajiit's face seemed to grow a little more serious; although it was difficult for the humans to tell. "M'Kasha is worried that Tarli-human will cause himself illness by shouting so much, he is not healthy man," Arvena was surprised by the sensitivity shown by the Khajiit and guessed that he was not quite as uncaring as he made himself out to be.
"I'm going to see who else I'm sharing this house with, so I'll see all of you later," Arvena said, rising, receiving a nod from Kerl, a "G-g-goodbye" from Claudius and an indifferent shrug from M'Kasha. It was time to learn a little about her housemates.