Ulric, followed by Desmond, enters the mess hall, and then steps out into the dark, wet courtyard, where he immediately starts getting wet in the rain. However, it is only half a dozen quick paces across the yard and into the gate arch.danhem wrote:Ulric heads out into the rain to inspect the presumably lowered portcullis.
Here, even in the dark, Ulric can see the damage. The portcullis is indeed down, along with a rough pile of a dozen of so great blocks of ancient stone which have tumbled out of the arch itself.
The pair frown at this for a moment, before hopping back into the warmth and light of the mess hall, eager to be out of the wet.