I imagine there's probably a couple of stops along the way before the Cathedral Ward (there's a very peculiar blue lantern in the next room that Victor can't see, for instance), but I could certainly have Victor start moving and strongly encourage the characters to follow. (I won't actually make your characters follow unless you expressly give me permission to do so, or if you go missing for an extended period of time and I have no believable way to detach the character. But I can give your characters a reason to move on.)

As for the barrels, there's no need for anyone to go and check, it's quite obvious even at a glance: they are still practically overflowing with weapons, although the options appear to be limited to mundane swords, axes (hatchets, more specifically) and spears.