hey soon exit the room and begin walking down the hall. The man pulls out a map once more.
"I say we should investigate one more room of this hall." Said the man in a cheery voice. The shorter silhouette paces closer to the man, pinching his cloak, tugging on it gently.
"Hmm?" the man hummed before lowering the map to their level. The silhouette leans in closely, examining it for a few seconds before turning their head up at the man, looking him in the face as they walk.
"Seems we'll have to go deeper first through a grotto before we can ascend, or is it a cavern? It's not marked on the map how precarious." Said the man, inquisitively pondering.
"Well, despite our predicament, I still suggest we look at just one more room first. What do you think?"
Grig. Shik. The little one clutched the straps of their bag tighter ever so slightly as they walked, their gaze shifting to the floor as they slightly lowered their head before giving a tender nod, rustling in their armor.
Soon, they arrive at a room just down the hall, outside a door much like the others, but the wood is brighter and warmer than that of the rooms before it.
Creegggk. Sniff Sniff. They step inside, the scents of a sweet musk with a tinge of fire and a bitter pungence waft throughout the room. They don't cover their nostrils, something about the smells is familiar.
Sniff-Sniff. The short one clad in armor sniffs the air, their nose keen.
The taller one removes the beak covering from his mask, revealing a mesh.
Shhvvvff "Ahhhhh.. a third smell buttery, earthy, fresh yet rich." He said, his voice rising in presentation. In the room one side of the entrance, a bookshelf filled with books and scrolls, next to it in a corner, a large white fluffy furry puff cushion with well-concealed stitches.
On the opposite side of the room, a desk with a lamp, surrounding it, an archway with carved in shelves. On the shelves, there were glasses, bottles, vials, and jars of herbs, ointments, and spices, each arranged neatly next to another.
Swish-Slooh. Inside some of the containers, soaked objects in various liquids, some translucent and others transparent with dull yellow sheens, deep sage green layers, blues with bubbles, amber, and light red hues that gently and slowly sloshed around their contents.
In the center of the room, a table well carved and smooth, with rails and at its sides fastening straps, atop it a mattress. Next to the table, there was a stand and above it a bright chandelier.
Swish. Ploof. The short one walks inside, taking a seat on the cozy cushion, sinking into it before looking about the room.
"My, this is very comprehensive, there must be quite the doctor here." Said the man in a mild joy.
Now, where is it? Hmmmm, I suppose they'd have those too. The man thought to himself, looking at the little knight before turning and examining the stand on it, were slender, well-made made silverish instruments: a scalpel, tweezers, forceps, a tuscher, and hooks. He perused the room for a moment.
"Do you think we'll be ready for what awaits us in that room? What do you think the vassel will look like?" The shrouded one asked with a falsely cheery voice, turning to the short silhouette for a moment.
Swish-chick. The shorter silhouette looks up, placing their index finger on the lower region of their helm, rustling in their armor. They pause for a moment.
Chick shik. They turned, looking at the cloaked one as they shrugged their shoulders.
Clatter, switch tack, tic tuck. He searches a drawer for a moment before turning around and walking over to the short one.
With both hands, he hands the short one three neatly rolled white clothes covered in moss. The little knight slowly takes them before carefully placing them in their bag. The shrouded one then pulls out a vial with transparent cream colored liquid from their pocket, carefully presenting it to the short seated silhouette.
Sniff-sniff. They lean in, looking about the vial, examining it with intrigue.
"It's the vassel's essence, it's beautiful, isn't it?" said the cloaked one in a low, grateful tone.
Pap. He takes off his large pack, opening it inside padded leather holders containing instruments much like those on the stand, bandages, and many vials and ampoules, some glass and others of wood.
"I suspect we'll need these soon." He said, pulling several of a uniform batch of ampules, their glasses thick and spiked with strings attached to each of them.
He opens his robe, revealing a long black tabard, inside lining the cloak many pockets. But at his waist, a belt with several packs on it, he secures the vials in one of them. He stands to his feet, collecting his things and reorganizing himself, securing his beak.
"Well, that's all I needed. Shall we get going then?" He asks with a warm, mild tone.
Swish-Swish. The short knight nods twice, and they exit the room and begin heading down the hall.
They approach the sloping end of the dimly lit hallway leading to a rusty, barred cell door.
Creegk. The Masked One slowly opens the door, inside it a set of stone stairs, with cracks, chips, and pebbles. Curving down a spiral, even darker than the hallway to it. The skin on their feet and toes prickled as the cold mist from its entrance greeted them,
Chi-flick. He lights the lantern on his bag and begins walking down the steps, the little knight following behind him. Odd bevels, missing bricks, and crumbling steps reveal themselves as they descend in the dungeness cavern.
Sniff Sniff. The short one's nose twitches, as they descend, the taller masked one takes a glance back at them. They walk slowly down for several minutes on end down the spiral as bits of White and lime green mildew and molds begin to appear, leeching onto the walls of the staircase. As they descend, getting ever closer, a sensation slowly washes over them, as warm as a grassy field on a spring day.
Sniff Sniff. An earthy scent with prominent undertones of wet leaves starts to creep in, carrying with it A light floral afterscent as it wafts through the moist air.
"Are we close?" Asked the Masked one, turning to the short knight.
Swish chik. The short knight nods as they walk down the spiral, getting ever closer to the bottom, something awaiting them there.