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"We shall." Dale says in a low voice. "Let's see where this takes us."

When the men enter the building, their eyes need to adjust to the darker conditions, but they get the impression of something moving downstairs.

Mathias nearly yells out in surprise but manages to stifle his cry to a tiny 'eep.' He takes a step back, fumbling in his robes for one of the sling stones he's been keeping as well as the sling itself. Then the obvious conclusion strikes him and he calls out in a low whisper, "Girls? It is us, do not be alarmed!"

Dale keeps his sword out and waits to see if it is the young women from their group.

Following Christopher, Saul grips his walking stick a bit tighter as he recites a prayer under his breath.

Eloise looks at her sister questioningly in the dark. "Should we answer?"

"Yes?", Thelma replies in a loud voice, "I take it that you found a way up."

Dale is listening. (( Do they hear the girls clearly? ))

As Thelma is calling out, it is no problem to hear them, as the staircase is open. The stairs are just level planks set into oblique beams. ecause of the the "hollow" acoustics, however, the men can't be sure it's her voice.

Moving to the voice, Dale says to the group. "This could be a really bad idea." However, he moves into the stairwell towards the voice.

"How do you know its them?" Eloise whispers, "They could be the bandits or anything."

[OOC:] This is very good roleplay, I'd like to see you play it out before I move on [/OOC]

(( Nudges Ali )) Dale continues to creep forward into the darkness.

"Does it really matter?", Thelma jokes in the dark. "It's a little late to do anything about it, Eloise.", she says with a joking tone to her voice.

As Dale's eyes adjust to the poor lighting conditions, he sees that the lower storey is one big rooms with four large doors, two on the long side and one each at the short side. In fact, it's the light filtering through the gaps in the door's planks and between door and wall that allow him to see anything. The landing in the middle of the building (after which the stairs go up again. presumably to the parapet) has also a broad set of stairs leading fully to the lower story. Three large wooden racks are standing on the masonry floor. While he takes all this in, he clearly hears Thelma's voice speaking and recognises it.