Party 11

[Danger Mouse]

Aramil offered a hand to help Gimbel climb down from the dumbwaiter, and waited patiently for Gimbel to make his report.

"Neither windows, nor doors?"

After taking a moment to process the possibilities, Aramil asked Gimbel, "Did you just peek out of the dumbwaiter as we had planned, or did you leave its safety? If you stayed within, could there have been a door, or window, outside of your line of sight? A room accessible only via dumbwaiter is an intriguing idea, but it does not sound like a wise one... That certainly is not how I would have designed things... Perhaps there is another hidden entrance similar to the one in the library."

Pausing just long enough to look at the faces of all those gathered to gauge their moods, Aramil offers "Let's go see what awaits us up there... I have no eagerness to meet this Beast, but this hunt grows tedious." before shifting his attention to the stairs that lead to the third floor...

 

[Danger Mouse]

Aramil's chest expands slowly as he takes in a deep breath, then it relaxes slowly with a drawn-out exhale. With a grim expression, Aramil moves quietly away from the rest of his party and towards the base of the stairs that lead up to the third floor. Pausing briefly at the base of the stairs, Aramil listens. For the count of seven breaths he simply stands there listening; shoulders square, and back straight.

With the unconscious grace only those born to this long-lived race will ever know, he moves to ascend the stairs with a quiet as eerie as that which settles over this seemingly abandoned home. One soft, quiet step at a thyme takes him further from his allies, the second floor, and safety. Alone, Aramil moves ever closer to what he believes to be the final chambers of this ominous home.

Before he even reaches the upmost steep, Aramil is listening intently, and peering about for any sign of trouble. If this ill-rumored Beast does indeed reside herein, Aramil wants to know of it long before the Beast knows of him... When his foot sets atop that final step Aramil pauses again to listen ere moving forward.........

 

[SephironNyl]

Climbing the curving marble staircase, you finally reach the top. You are now standing in a large hall, similar to the ones on the previous floors. However, unlike previously, this floor looks to be much more in line with the outside of the house. The wooden walls are cracked and splintered. The floor is scuffed, and the paint is peeling. Standing against the back wall, a suit of plate armour, battered and tarnished with age. Unlit oil lamps are mounted on the oak-paneled walls, which are carved with woodland scenes of trees, falling leaves, and tiny critters, and a thick layer of dust and cobwebs lies across everything.
Two doors sit in the wall to your right, one sits in the wall to your left, and a fourth is set into the back wall, beside the old, dented armour. This floor, like the previous ones, is still and silent.

 

[Hawk13]

Henjk looks around at the doors.

"That armor....is beautiful. The craftsmanship is astounding."

Henjk walks toward the armor to inspect it. It reminds him of his father's work.

"Let's go in the door by the armor. Maybe there is more inside"

He walks to the door and puts his ear against it, listening for anything on the other side.

 

[Hawk13]

Henjk stands at the door with his shield in his left arm pressed against it. He looks back at his party.

It is almost like they expect the worst. The house has been silent for the most part, but they know there is a creature lurking somewhere.

Henjk nods to Aramil and slowly pushes the door open...

 

[SephironNyl]

As soon as Henjk begins to push the door open, the armour jumps into action, swinging a metal first that glances off Henjk's own armour, before preparing to strike again.