Before long those in the kitchens have eaten their fill and the second pot of tea has been poured. Elsbeth sits outside cradling Laddies head, and enjoying the sensation of being out in the open again after all of these buildings, and Ravn searches the other building for slots for the moonstones in vain.
Clearing away the dishes and scrubbing them clean doesn’t take Peter long, and then he stows the rest of the foodstuff in his pack for later. "So what’s it to be? The door stairs down from the lord’s tower, or the other set of stairs?" he asks the room in general - but more directed towards Rolf than the others.
Having eaten his fill, Rolf feels more relaxed than he had for a good while, not since yesterday in fact. Rolf helps fetch water for Peter's efforts at cleaning the dishes. As the sage asks, Rolf says, "The ones from the lord's tower. If there is anything of interest, I'd wager it's there."
"Makes sense .." responds Peter as he follows Rolf towards the Lord's tower.
Yuri takes up a guard position in the main room again and watches the other file through.
OOC - lets have a marching order for you going down the stairs, I think ...
Kerim's bird-enticing efforts are, alas, doomed to failure, for Edgar has eaten his full, and if the raven even notices the carefully placed meat strip, he gives no sign.
Curiosity overcoming any concerns he might have about delving underground, Edgar resumes his place atop Mandrake's shoulder and waits for the troops to assemble at Rolf's command, pecking half-heartedly but nervously at the ribbon at his breast.
Feeling a worldly debt to his friends, who have just spent so much effort saving his life, Kerim volunteers for a bit of scouting.
However when he considers darkness he attests that perhaps someone else would be more suited, though he doesn't name any names. He's a touch crestfallen about his inability to repay the debt, well as he sees it (hey, he's a businessman and keeps tabs on things like this without realising).
Still, he does what little he can, and that is calling for silence to listen very carefully for anything that might lie in wait that is careless enough to let itself be heard.
If left to his own devices Kerim will follow up the rear somewhere, hopefully near Elsbeth.
Every one falls quiet at Kerim's reqest, but he can't detect any noises emanating from the stairs.
Callum eats a prodigious amount and then declares himself satisfied with a loud belch. "Aye, ye're a fine cook, Peter! Now, let's be about our business."
He looks around and his brow knots. He wanders out of the front and calls to Elsbeth. "Are ye well, lass? We're away to check the last of the cellars!"
"I think perhaps, this is an area where I would be more suited my friend." volenteers Mandrake.
"The dark holds nothing no fear but that which is unknown, and when your are able to see in that darkness, then less is unknown."
Shifting his load, Mandrake moves to the fore and prepares to decend the steps, shortsword in hand. He then pauses a moment and looks back at the others considering whether to ask them to hold here for a while in the interest of stealth. "Perhaps I should go a little ahead and quietly. I'll call if there is need, though with our previous commotions I expect that any residents have fled already."
As Mandrake moves quietly down the stairs, his eyes adjust to the new light levels. Nearing the bottom, he can see an archway leading into a quiet chamber, lined with what appears to be racking. There are more of the racks arranged systematically throughout the room.
Zhiri fidgets, keeping as quiet as she can, crouching down and whispering to her strange companion in a foreign tongue. It is clear she's not used to having to be silent.
Elsbeth shakes her head with a sigh, standing. "I'm bein' well enough," she replies to Callum with a toss of her hair. "Never you fret."
She goes to join the group, bringing up the rear, the wolf padding along beside her.
Perched on Mandrake's shoulder, Edgar endures the descent into darkness.
Lacking the gnome's abilities to see in the dark, he can discern naught with his eyes, but his hearing is keen, and so he sits, silent as the grave, filtering out the sound of Mandrake's soft footsteps as he listens intently.
Rolf waits what he deems is a suitable time, and then begins to move in after Mandrake. He wasn't so adept at moving quietly upon stone steps, but a lifetime spent stalking game in the wood has given him some skill at moving without excessive racket.
Even Edgar's sensitive hearing can detect no noise in this room, it is almost completely dark down here with just a little light seeping down the stairs from the dimly lit chamber above.
Mandrake looks out over the rows of racks.
"You know Edgar, I believe that we have found the wine cellar.
"If just half of these racks contain any bottles, then the conditions seem good and the vintages should also be so if the others riches are anything to go by.
Mandrake calls back to the others "A wine cellar I believe and all seems quiet."
As he does so, he is alert in case anything stirs, but does not feel overly worried. He also half expects to have to duck a flight of fleeing bats.
"Indeed ?" replies Edgar with some interest. "I have heard tell that men favour wine for it brings them closer to the gods ..."
"Really?" Zhiri says with a look of astonishment. "Fasting and prayer seem a much surer way to win the attention of the gods."
She gives Edgar a closer look.
"Your people must be strange indeed."
Peter strikes a light to a candle and follows the others down the stairs .....
Kerim's face takes on a new cast, not yet seen before.
"Drink little of what is found I say, for it may fetch us more at trade than what will please the palette."
An eye for an easy bargain Kerim realises that there are many forms of gold. However he retains his place in the rear of the group, near the doorway down.
OOC: I wonder if Trading skills suffice for wine appreciation skills in D&D?
Well it would let you value the wine - not sure it would do much for the palette though :)
I am a trader, I know that what tastes good to me or what I consider aesthetically pleasing to the eye is not necessarily what sells well.