"Can you take it away please," says Basilly, still looking worried. "But be careful. I do not think it is a cat at all."

"I'll take it back upstairs if I can. Is there some water around."

There is silence for a moment at Guilliame's question and then the sheriff says, "Look in the kitchen. There must be water there."

Go to the kitchen and check around for water and a saucer.

[OOC: Before Guilliame goes looking for the kitchen, a little character housekeeping and setting updating needs to be done.

Guilliame is currently carrying Brassman's book and the papers Dora gave him when they were upstairs. What does he do with them now?

Also, is Dora going to continue to carry the lamp she took with her upstairs?

While the two characters were upstairs, it seems that someone went into the back of the house and lit at least one other light source because there is now light coming from the back area of the house that was previously in darkness, though the two of you still don't know what is there.]

Put the spell book and papers next to Bassily. Is the light coming from what looks like the kitchen?

Quote from Guilliame >>

Put the spell book and papers next to Bassily. Is the light coming from what looks like the kitchen?

[OOC: Guilliame can't tell, but it would certainly make sense that that was the case given the ground floor is the general living area of the house and there is no kitchen upstairs.]

When Guilliame puts down the book and the papers, the cat walks over to him and begins rubbing up against Guilliame's legs again.

Basilly is still looking at the cat every moment or so as he hurriedly continues with his ritual; fortunately, it looks like this is a ritual he has performed many times.

The sheriff, in a grim attempt at humour, comments, "That cat has no loyalty at all, except to food. One mention of the kitchen and it forgets all about its old master."

[OOC I forgot about the lamp but lets say that Dora collected it when she led Guilliame downstairs. She continues to carry it for the moment.]

To the Sheriff "only the cat and some papers that Guilliame would like Basilly to check, do you mind if I continue my examination of the victims?"

If the Sheriff agrees, I walk to the kitchen to find a basin of water and some cloth so I can clean and examine the wounds on the victims.

The sheriff gives a nod to Dora's request and then turns back to the conversation he has been having with Handleader Ahman.

Dora leads the way into the kitchen with her lamp.

[OOC: I have updated what your characters know about Brassman's house here.

The yellow spot on the bench to the left is a half-burnt candle in a candlestick that someone has relit while the two of your characters were upstairs.]

[OOC: More on what your characters see.

The furniture in the kitchen mainly consist of bench tops with shelving and cupboards below. The bench tops are all nice and tidy with kitchen utensils neatly arranged. As both of you are looking for water, you notice the large pottery jug sitting on bench closest to the door in the right-hand wall. There is also a blackened kettle hanging on a hook in the fireplace in the top right-hand corner.

The cat has followed Guilliame into the kitchen and while it is being friendly with Guilliame it is keeping a wary eye on Dora.]

OOC Are there other exits from the kitchen?

Quote from Guilliame >>

OOC Are there other exits from the kitchen?

[Closed doors are dark brown rectangles set in walls.]

Look for a saucer or some water receptacle and a source of water.

With the cat moving around his feet as he does so, Guilliame begins searching the kitchen in the light from Dora's lamp and the candle on the bench.

For Guilliame:

[OOC I don't understand the stairs. Are the stairs on the ground floor map simply going up to the first floor, or is there a cellar as well. There is a door indicated which I would actually take to mean there is a cellar as I do not think there would be a door in the stairs going up.]

I check the jug and kettle for water. While I am checking the kettle, I feel the ashes in the fires to see when it was last used. I look for containers, a cloth and any food suitable for the cat.

Check whether backdoor is bolted closed or has been tampered with in any way. If not bolted then secure it in some way (hopefully with a bolt - otherwise prop a chair or move something in front of it.

Put down a couple of pieces of dry meat and a plate with some water for the cat.

"Oh, you found some food, good!"

Quote from che_ja_pa >>

[OOC I don't understand the stairs. Are the stairs on the ground floor map simply going up to the first floor, or is there a cellar as well. There is a door indicated which I would actually take to mean there is a cellar as I do not think there would be a door in the stairs going up.]

[OOC: Sorry. Long day, which I have only just finished, so I will need to do some catching up.

There are two doors in the kitchen, one in the right-hand wall and one that must be either a cupboard under the stairs or lead down into another part of the house.

Constantine is built on a river delta, so underground rooms are not common in the city because the water table is generally too high. However, to enter this building you walked up some steps, which is a possible indication that there might be something beneath the floor of the kitchen.]

I check the jug and kettle for water. While I am checking the kettle, I feel the ashes in the fires to see when it was last used. I look for containers, a cloth and any food suitable for the cat.

[OOC: The ashes in the stove still have some heat, so it is likely have have been used this night. You also find a relatively clean cloth folded neatly on one of the benches.

However, despite Andrew's move (see below), you find no food that is obviously the cat's.]

Quote from Guilliame >>

Check whether backdoor is bolted closed or has been tampered with in any way. If not bolted then secure it in some way (hopefully with a bolt - otherwise prop a chair or move something in front of it.

[The door in the right-hand wall has a latch and is in the closed position, so there is no need for a chair. A cursory inspection shows no signs of it having been tampered with. There is also a shuttered window in this wall (sorry, should have mentioned this previously), which is a good indication that the right-hand wall is indeed the back wall of the house.]

Put down a couple of pieces of dry meat and a plate with some water for the cat.

[OOC: There is meat already laid out for the cat next to a dish already containing water on a mat on the floor. Your quick search for more dried meat finds no readily available supply of this 'cat food'. Also, considering its lack of interest, it is clear the cat is neither hungry or thirsty. It is currently mainly interested in rubbing itself up against Guilliame's legs.]

A voice calls from the front room, it is Basilly's.

"Guilliame?" he cries. "Are you alright? Is that thing, that cat, still with you?"

[OOC do I find a large bowl that can be used to wash the wounds on the corpses?]

Before undertaking forensic examination of the corpses, I decide to check the door that is under the stairs. I draw my scimitar and hold the oil lamp out in front of me. Then turn to Guilliame, "Guilliame old horse would you mind opening that door and then moving away quickly?"