You move into the next room. Cabinets full of curiosities line the northern wall of this room. The strange items on display here include a stuffed pheasant, a sextant dressed as a doll, and a plaque with insects mounted on it. The insects are wearing tiny top hats.  There are double doors to the south, with a shining set of antique plate armor on either side of them. To the east is another door.  

When ready to proceed to the east, you find yourself in another kitchen. It is stocked very similarly to the previous kitchen, including the pair of crossed sabers on the north wall. 

If you continue out of that kitchen to the east, you find yourself in a hallway mirroring the one on the west side of the mansion. Four carved marble busts of androgynous figures bedecked with jewelry set on gilded pedestals are here a well.  While not the same as the ones in the other hall, they are very similar. 

Going back around towards the entrance, is another lounge. This cozy drawing room holds bookcases as well as a number of easels folded and tucked in beside them. In the northeast corner, an easel is set up with a blank canvas. 

The stairs going upstairs are here as well, running along the east wall. 

(OOC - Feel free to let me know if there is anything in particular you wish to look at or if you simply wish to head up the stairs.) 

"I'm afraid I can't." The purple-skinned tiefling says quietly and a bit awkwardly, wishing the petite oracle was here with them now. "I think we must assume there are quite a few things that might animate and protect the manor if we come in close proximity to them tonight so better stay clear of those blades and those suits of armour." He continues quietly, nodding towards the shining sets of antique plate armor.

Although not being in a hurry, Malvyn would eventually continue upstairs and try for a similar tour there, although he fully expects there are more areas that are not open to the students there. In particular he is still looking for anything that might be a security device of some sort, along with the entrance to the attic.

Heading upstairs, you see a long hall with several doors on either side. As you are standing looking down the hall, you see a tall tabaxi student step out of the second door on your left (the bottom part of the map).  There is a bearded dwarf, seemingly a professor, speaking to her from the doorway as she heads out.  The dwarf slips back inside, closing the door, while she starts to head in your direction.  

Guardok moves along the corridor, looking out for anything that might be animated up on this level, and takes a look at the tabaxi student as well. He is checking whether they are in a first years uniform, or if they have chosen a college yet.

Either way, he will wander up to them and say hello. "Hey there. Was that Professor Ghostforge?", he asks.

Malvyn too walks along the corridor as if he had business there, looking for any plaques by the doors that would reveal whose office it is, but in particular he looks for the way to the attic.

Perception if relevant: 11

The tabaxi is dressed in a Prismari uniform. She seems a tiny bit surprised when Guardok speaks to her. "Oh. Yes, that was Professor Ghostforge. Were you looking for him?" She pauses a moment, looking at the genasi. "I'm... not sure if he was free now or not. I don't think he had another appointment right at the moment though."

Malvyn notices that what appears to be a large structural column set to the right side of the long hallway, right at the midpoint. But you also quickly note a small crack of what appears to be a partly opened secret door on that column.  You also note that there are metal plaques adjacent to the doors on the left side of the hallway. You can't make out what they all say, but the door nearest to you is labeled "STUDY". The door across from that has a similar plaque labeled "TEA ROOM".  However, the room near you in the corner seems to have no plaque. 

"Ah great, thanks. He is one of my Professors and I thought I recognised his voice. I didn't realise you need an appointment, it can wait until class tomorrow", Guardok replies vaguely. "I see you are a Prismari, I am considering that as my college for next year. How are you finding it? What year are you?", he says, pivoting the conversation away from the Professor and trying o steer the tabaxi away so Mal can have a good look around. 

"Oh, I didn't mean you needed an appointment. Just that he didn't seem to have any meeting going on," the tabaxi says sheepishly. "Maybe I misspoke. Uh... sorry about that. But yes, I am Prismari, though I'm finding there are a number of Lorehold classes I'm interested in too. That's why I've been working with Professor Ghostforge. You know he is the person that first came up with Pastraising? It's kind of fascinating really."  A second later she adds, "Oh, I'm in my third year! But yea, I like Prismari but am pulled towards historical research that Lorehold does too." 

She is definitely more focused on Guardok, and may not have even realized Malvyn is there. 

Meanwhile the purple-skinned tiefling takes the given opportunity to take a closer look at the partly open secret door in the column, peeking inside to see what can be seen.

Malvyn sees a spiral staircase heading up. 

"That's interesting. I have a friend who can see the future, but raising the past is cool too. I came to Strixhaven fully intending to join the Prismari College, but having joined the Playactor's Drama Guild I am not so sure any more. How you decide when you have two passions?", Guardok replies as he moves down the corridor away from Mal. "I guess I have time to decide, right?", he asks.

When they reach the corner where the stairs are, and the after the tabaxi has replied, he will say his goodbyes and turn to look back at Mal and see what his friend has discovered. 

Content and quite convinced that these stairs indeed led to the attic, Malvyn decides to not venture further on his own. Instead he casually walks on and takes a peek inside the room with no plaque.

As Guardok continues speaking with the tabaxi student, Malvyn proceeds back from where the staircase to the door at the far end that did not have a plaque. As you walked, you would have noticed that the door after the Tea Lounge has a plaque that reads "GRAND LOUNGE". 

Opening the unmarked door, you see a room filled with a few crates, loose parchment, books, and poorly filed paperwork.  It seems rather messy. 

The student Guardok was speaking with seems to catch a glimpse of Malvyn standing at the door. She puts up a hand to pause her conversation and calls over to the tiefling. "Oh, my pardon! But that door doesn't lead anywhere, it's just storage I think. Can I help you find something?"

"Oh", Guardok says quite disappointed that the tabaxi became distracted rather than answering him. Both because he wanted an answer, and because they had noticed Mal which is what he was trying to avoid.

Thinking quickly, he makes his stomach growl rather loudly.

"Oh my, I didn't realise how hungry I am. Is there a snack shop around here?", he says pulling on their shirt sleeve.

"Hmm?" the tabaxi responds when Guardok asks his question. "There is no snack shop here. I'm afraid you'd have to go to the Biblioplex. Although..."  She pauses a moment as she looks into her bag. She pulls something out. "Here it is. I had an extra scone but you're welcome to it."  She hands you a small scone neatly wrapped in a waxy sort of paper.  "I'm... not sure you can eat in here. We could step outside?  I know I had a hard time picking a college too.  Prismari was really what I was interested in, but then Lorehold seemed very intriguing. I went back and forth a lot." 

The bulk of her attention seems to have drifted away from Malvyn, but she still seems to be wondering what he's doing. 

Guardok smiles as the tabaxi produces a scone.

"That is most kind", he replies. "Yes, let's head out then", he adds, moving towards the stairs opposite to where Mal is and starting to head down, hoping the tabaxi would follow.

Malvyn turns briefly and gives the tabaxi a grateful nod for her information and then stays put until his shorter friend has lured the feline woman away. As soon as he is alone in the corridor he makes another attempt to peek inside the room with no plaque.

Malvyn still sees a messy room filled with a few crates, loose parchment, books, and poorly filed paperwork. (OOC - Is there anything specific you are looking for or wish to look at closer? Or do you go into the room?) 

The tabaxi heads with Guardok down the nearby stairs. "My name is Rain in Summer. But most call me just Rain." As the two continue to walk she asks, "Did you mention Prismari? What other school are you interested in? Or are you just not sure?"  Soon you are headed outside. 

"Oh, I'm Guardok", Guardok replies as they walk. "Yes, I came to Strixhaven planning to join Primsari. But am wondering about Silverquill after having joined the Playactor's Guild", he explains.

"You see, my purpose for being here is to gain skills to take back home. My family own a travelling circus, and if I can learn enough here I can elevate us from performing in town squares to Castles and Palaces! At least, that is the idea. I do wonder about my college, because Prismari will teach me how to enhance our performances and make eye catching spectacles for those lords we want to perform to, but Silverquill will allow me to bring to life elegant dramatical performances and bring depth to our shows which might appeal more to those same Lords", he explains, in his very open and honest manner. He is clearly struggling with the decision.

As soon as they reach outside, he tucks into the scone.