Talion looks around, at the room then back to Erven, "Aye. That's the next step."

With that, he moves back into the main room and waits at the foot of the stairs, waiting for the others to begin the ascent.

(( I am assuming all doors have now been investigated ))

"I second the upstairs. But be ready since we have heard the strange crying like sounds coming from." Bertolt will ready his crossbow once more, moving towards the staircase.

Onyx continues to cover the party.  While he was confident in his sword arm, the others had shown almost supernatural insight and care as they all collectively delved into this place.  He does not take point, but tries to stay light on his feet to rush to the aid of his allies.

Erven takes point and this time with stealth he heads upstairs, quiet as he can be to look around.  If he sees no movement / creatures he motions his companions to come up.

Before departing the kitchen, Talion picks up one of the cleavers and tests it's weight, then a grin appears on his face. "Now, this brings back memories!" he says before looking sheepishly at his new companions, "...not good ones, ok?"

@Erven
You go ahead and head up the stairs on your own.  Your footfalls are breathing are in sync and light - and your steps make no sound on the steps.  Unlit oil lamps are mounted on the walls of this elegant hall. Hanging above the mantelpiece is a wood-framed portrait of what you guess to be the Durst family: Gustav and Elisabeth Durst with their two smiling children, Rose and Thorn.  They look genuinely happy and cheerful - a far cry from the images you viewed outside only a short time ago. Cradled in the father's arms is a swaddled baby, which the mother regards with a hint of scorn.  Standing suits of armor flank wooden doors in the north and south walls. Each suit of armor clutches a weapon: spear, longsword, javelin, short sword.  The armor with the swords also have shields.  They all have  visored helms shaped like a wolf's head.

You creep up to near the top of the stairs and stop.  Looking around, you don't notice any movement or anything out of place, and nothing to denote a threat.  Looking from afar at the two doors, you can tell there is something carved into the doors but from here you can't tell.  There is another small door just off to the side of the stairs.  It is smaller and less ornate than the north and south doors.  The red marble staircase that started on the first floor continues its upward spiral to the next floor. A cold draft can be felt coming down the steps....an icy whisper on the nape of your neck...

Not seeing anything of danger, you motion your companions up.  As soon as you are all up the stairs, the crying begins again, and it's much closer and coming from up the stairs...

MAP

Talion stops as soon as he sees the armour, he holds a hand up to stop everyone, then motions them to back away, down the stairs. "After the wolves...I don't trust those things", he whispers, pointing up the stairs. As he speaks, a spectral hand appears in front of him and he turns to Bert, "We could try to take their weapons...the two nearest, then the two farthest?"

"But...before we do that we should work out what the plan is, if they all attack us. On the stairs, we can use bows and magic, and they will be limited to one attacker."

Seeing Erven signalling on the stairs, Sho walks up the stairs with the others. Approaching the source of the cry, the painful wailing drifted further and further away like a mist, then hovered closer like a tired bird returning to the mountains. The joyful smiles on the faces of the two children, as the family portrait hangs on the wall, are so different from the illusion outside the house that they give a poignant meaning to the passage of time.

Eyeing the armour stands equipped with weapons, Talion’s reminder of the mounted wolves made connections between the two. “Not a bad idea. We should keep some distance.” Sho agrees with his suggestion, as he moves up on the stairs, keeping his distance while carefully observing the armours.

Bertolt nods and once more summons up his Mage Hand, sending it out towards the armor to either take or at least move its weapons out of reach.

When everyone has moved back down the stairs, Talion nods to Bert, "Shall we?"

He slowly climbs up the stairs until the right-hand set of armour as visible, staying as far away as possible. He points with his spectral hand, "I'll take that one's weapon. You try the other..." he whispers.

He waits for Bert's agreement, then says "On three! One, two, three..." and moves his spectral hand to the weapon that his chosen armour holds, seeking to carry it towards himself, and, depending on what it is send it down the stairs to one of the others (if it's a short sword, he will keep it).

(( Pretty sure that the plan if going to have something go wrong, so stopping now! ))

Erven stands at the end of the hall as well, takes out the light crossbow and waits as the spectral hands move.  He trains the crossbow on the weapons and armor, just in case.  He has the whip and dagger nearby in case ...  whatever .... comes within range.

[you can decide which weapons you take]

You both work your mage hands to the weapons of your choice but find them a bit stuck.  Both Talion and Bert roll DEX or STR checks (DC12) please.  

Talion is pleased to see that his selected target has a short sword. 10

...but struggles to get it loose. He glances at Bert to see how he is going, and if he succee, asks him for "a hand"...

Quote from Ereshion >>

Talion is pleased to see that his selected target has a short sword. 10

...but struggles to get it loose. He glances at Bert to see how he is going, and if he succee, asks him for "a hand"...

 Talion manages to free the short sword from the grip of the standing armor but in doing so, the mage hand knocks against the gauntlets a bit too hard and they and The vambrace, elbow, and pauldron crash down on the the wooden floors with a crash!

 Talion winces at the sound, then tenses, ready for all the nine hells to break loose. As he realizes nothing seems to be happening, he looks to see if Bert needs help. If not, then he waits again, and prepares to do the same with the next set of weapons.

(( Does the armour/status have scabbards...if so, he might brab that first? ))

Bertolt nods as he moves his Mage Hand towards the other set of armor, doing his best to carefully pull it free.

Dex: 7

@Bert
Similarly, you try to navigate the mage hand to do what you want it to.  Unfortunately, you are not deft enough with the hand, and the armor - including breast plate (cuirass) and the helmet - go tumbling onto the floor.  The helm, in fact, rolls towards both of you at the top of the stairs.

Do you go after the other two weapons as well?  If so, make your rolls...

 @Talion - yes, the swords have scabbards.

Talion eyes the scabbard greedily, ready to reach for it, but stops himself. Focus. Focus on what we came for. Always good advice. With one more glance more closely at the suits of armour, wondering what else thay might contain, he nods to Bert again, and they reach for the other weapons.

Dex: 22

(( @DM: The description says, the "suits of armour" have "spear, longsword, javelin, short sword", and that one of the armours had a cuirass...are they varied? eg. might one also be studded leather? ;-). And is the Cuirass like a breastplate, or just a part of a suit of full plate mail? ))

Erven whispers to Talion "A shield.   A shield would be good."  He pauses, looking around for any signs of movement.  "That was a lot of noise, and we are still in one piece.  Should we go and pick them up?"  

 Talion shakes his head, "Stick to the plan. Take the weapons first, then...we can gather anything else. Onyx and Sho might like the armour."