They appeared to be fashioned of black marble, and the banister was seamless ivory carved into the form of a sinuous anti beautiful serpent. The staircase seemed to ascend forever, up to the very top of the manor. I easily avoided the occasional missing step. Once I even paused to drop a "rat" through one of the gaps onto a patrolling terrier far below. The little rotter ran howling down the hall like the very devil himself was on its back.