Bell nods at the wisdom of Erudisia's words.  "How about we go back to the room with the 'star map'? "

The four companions settle down in the laboratory room. In only a few moments, Rogi is asleep. There are no sounds at all, the silence itself so perfect as to be almost dreamlike. Except for the slightest whisper of noise from downstairs, which might be someone speaking.

Eventually, a smell drifts in from somewhere, a homey, baking smell like cookies or maybe even pie. Not long after that, the downstairs clock quietly chimes one a.m.

(All may benefit from having taken a Short Rest.)

Bell will NOW use her ability - Arcane Recovery - to gain back one spell slot.

Once per day when you finish a short rest, you can choose expended spell slots to recover.
Right now, that is 1 spell slot.

Rising and stretching to get out a few kinked muscles, Bell will go over and softly shake Rogi from his slumber.   "Sorry it can't be longer.  We need to keep searching."

" Who votes to investigate that smell? I'm hungry.", Meredith said, then self conciously checks her hair in the telescope glass to see it hasn't become a birds nest in her sleep....

Bell's stomach growled louder than a feral dog.  Blushing she clamped her hands on her belly while silently mouthing, "Sorry," to her friends.

"Perhaps it is some humanoid inhabitant, but perhaps it is some animated saucepot or stovetop! I suggest we investigate cautiously," says Erudisia. 

" I wonder if it can sing.....I heard some animated things do that....well, I read......its probably not the case.....", Meredith headed off towards the sound and smells keeping as quiet as she could.

Stealth-15

Perception- 9

You retrace your steps back to the landing with its suit of armor sans helmet, the open attic door panel above it, the draped window behind it looking out on flowing purple miasma, the unopened door on the landing’s eastern wall, the stairway curving gracefully down to the parlor, and hung open each wall, the three paintings of mythical creatures.

Only two things have changed. First, the smell of baking — apple pie if you had to guess — is present here, and even stronger than in the laboratory where you first noticed it. Second, in complete silence, at the base of the stairs, a tuxedo cat is looking up at you, wide-eyed. (But it hasn’t noticed Meredith yet)

Meredith immediately melts into a pile of kitty adoration.....there's possibly a smidge of studiousness but it doesn't last long...

Sinking to her knees she whispers softly, " Come here, handsome...such a pretty kitty...." she then begins chirruping and softly headbutting the animal...

Speak With Animals.

Animal Handling- 16

At Meredith’s appearance and in response to her first words, the cat prepares to bolt, checking its options in peripheral vision. But it remains in place, its ears perking curiously at the bard's  gentle tone. In a moment (due to Meredith’s successful Animal Handling roll), the animal’s fears seem to evaporate. It sits erect and happy, curling its tail around its body and forepaw, chest arcing outward as it looks up at Meredith sensuously with half-closed eyes. It does not climb the stairs, but perhaps Meredith comes down to it, and if she does, it begins to loudly purr, arching its back and bumping softly around her legs in a tight circle. A friendly pet. The word printed on the tag hanging from its bowtie-like collar is “Pepe.”

From this spot, Meredith is only a few feet from the first doorway in the eastern ground-level hallway. The door is slightly ajar. Light from the room into which it opens cuts a bright slice across the hallway floor, and warm, dry air, heavy with the fragrance of butter, apples and cinnamon, beckons from within. Meredith also hears, coming from beyond the door, a tiny, infrequent click-clacking sound like metal against porcelain.

"Say hello to Pepe, Loopy," Erudisia says to her animated chain, as she follows Meredith down the stairs. Despite herself, and the terrible urgency of the situation, her elven nose twitches and she smells the cinammon and the apples, all the smells of home. Her stomach grumbles and, for once, her mind is powerless to stop her appetites drawing her closer to the kitchen. 

Meredith continued mewing and chirruping...

The others hear the cat purring and meowing in answer to Meredith, almost as if they are conversing. Very much as if they are conversing, in fact.

Meredith:

Quote from DandDSince1973 >>

The others hear the cat purring and meowing in answer to Meredith, almost as if they are conversing. Very much as if they are conversing, in fact.

Meredith:

“I receive the offerings and privilege which is my due as a prince among the creatures of Home. Look into my eyes and know helpless, endless love, my pet. You may kneel in obeisance if you wish, I will not stop you.

"Yes, the two winged ones who make sounds to cover my foraging are well trained and bring me food at my bidding. Water too. Milk of the great cows of the field even, if I withhold my tremendous, beautiful love. Though in truth they are mysterious creatures and sometimes dally when I require obedience.” Pepe looks at you with a conspiratorial 'so hard to find good help' kind of shrug.

Meredith kneels in obeisance and offers chin and ear scritches, and gives him her name should he choose to acknowledge it, and turns back to her companions, " Everyone, May I introduce His Majesty, Prince Pepe. He has two winged servants....who we should do our best not to harm."

" Were there any questions you had for him? Also does anyone have any valerian or catmint?"

((This is beyond adorable))

Rogi, who thinks pet ownership is just another example of narcissistic sentient exploitation — the practice of enslaving animals and telling oneself the animals are happier being thus enslaved — frowns and edges moodily around the feline dialog toward the door.

But when he peeks in, he instantly pulls back, shouting, “YO!,” when a small pair of eyes suddenly peeks back at him from the crack. A squeak of fear, “Aak!,” mirrors Rogi’s yell as the eyes pull instantly out of sight. A frantic fluttering sound and hushed whispers behind the door follow.

Pepe is now nowhere to be seen, except for the last inch of his tail poking out from behind the staircase banister. He must have stealthily leapt around the corner, startled by the exchange.

Meredith glares at Rogi in annoyance...

" That must be the Princes servants I suppose."

Erudisia whispers as Pepe and his tail vanish between the rails of the bannister. 

“Meredith, I’m not sure the cat can be a prince, unless we are the in feywild. Still, let us see to whom the handsome little man is referring.” So saying, she heads into the kitchen also. She strokes Loopy, to settle him, a shiver of jealousy jinking his chain as she compliments Pepe. 

" From my research almost all felines consider themselves royalty of some sort.........some far more than others it must be said."

Erudisia opens the door to the mansion’s kitchen. The aromas of cooking permeate the space. Not only the fragrance of the pies, which the Moonshae noble spies cooling on a countertop, but other smells too, which, whether completely familiar or not, lend to all four of the companions a sense of home, of family. A large iron stove takes up one wall, and the rest of the room is filled with large tables and racks lined with hanging pots, pans, and cooking utensils. Everything is sparkling clean and warm lamplight permeates the space. At a small table, a thin slice of pie upon a small plate sits half-eaten. There is a carved wooden door with a small window in it on the right wall, and a narrow door, perhaps to a pantry, in a back corner of the room.

All of this you notice with your peripheral vision, for your focus must be on the two tiny creatures fluttering not far from the door, embracing each other protectively though not exactly comfortably in mid-air as their little wings flap. One is dressed in an amber frock with an apron and a little white kerchief-like cap, while the other wears a tiny black suit, though in his shirt-sleeves, for you spot its jacket hung on the back of the chair facing the half-eaten slice of pie.

“Why, Cumin,” says the suited one, releasing the other, “nothin' to be afeared of. Visitors!,”

“Why, yes, Coriander! It’s been a long while, hasn’t it?,” answers the kerchiefed one. “Go on now, get your jacket on, don’t be so unseemly in front of the Lady’s guests.”

“Ay, if I’d known they were coming I’d have laid things out.”

“Your jacket will do for the time being!”

And the suited one flaps rather gracelessly to the suit jacket – which is split all the way down the back to make room for his wings, and dons the coat.

(Can everyone please make an Arcana check to identify what they are, please).