diff --git a/src/mudlib/commands/examine.py b/src/mudlib/commands/examine.py
index 6fc5f2e..4e1e703 100644
--- a/src/mudlib/commands/examine.py
+++ b/src/mudlib/commands/examine.py
@@ -3,50 +3,55 @@
 from mudlib.commands import CommandDefinition, register
 from mudlib.entity import Entity
 from mudlib.player import Player
+from mudlib.targeting import find_entity_on_tile, find_in_inventory, find_thing_on_tile
 from mudlib.thing import Thing
 from mudlib.zone import Zone
 
 
-def _find_object_in_inventory(name: str, player: Player) -> Thing | Entity | None:
-    """Find an object in player inventory by name or alias."""
-    name_lower = name.lower()
-    for obj in player.contents:
-        # Only examine Things and Entities
-        if not isinstance(obj, (Thing, Entity)):
-            continue
+async def examine_target(
+    player: Player,
+    target_name: str,
+    *,
+    prefer_inventory: bool = True,
+) -> None:
+    """Resolve and describe a target for examine/look style commands."""
+    zone = player.location if isinstance(player.location, Zone) else None
 
-        # Match by name
-        if obj.name.lower() == name_lower:
-            return obj
+    # look <thing> should prioritize entities/ground; direct examine keeps
+    # historical inventory-first behavior.
+    ordered_finders = []
+    if prefer_inventory:
+        ordered_finders.append(lambda: find_in_inventory(target_name, player))
+    ordered_finders.append(lambda: find_entity_on_tile(target_name, player))
+    if zone is not None:
+        ordered_finders.append(
+            lambda: find_thing_on_tile(target_name, zone, player.x, player.y)
+        )
+    if not prefer_inventory:
+        ordered_finders.append(lambda: find_in_inventory(target_name, player))
 
-        # Match by alias (Things have aliases)
-        if isinstance(obj, Thing) and name_lower in (a.lower() for a in obj.aliases):
-            return obj
+    found: Thing | Entity | None = None
+    for finder in ordered_finders:
+        found = finder()
+        if found is not None:
+            break
 
-    return None
+    if found is None:
+        await player.send("You don't see that here.\r\n")
+        return
 
+    if isinstance(found, Entity):
+        if getattr(found, "description", ""):
+            await player.send(f"{found.description}\r\n")
+        else:
+            await player.send(f"{found.name} is {found.posture}.\r\n")
+        return
 
-def _find_object_at_position(name: str, player: Player) -> Thing | Entity | None:
-    """Find an object on the ground at player position by name or alias."""
-    zone = player.location
-    if zone is None or not isinstance(zone, Zone):
-        return None
-
-    name_lower = name.lower()
-    for obj in zone.contents_at(player.x, player.y):
-        # Only examine Things and Entities
-        if not isinstance(obj, (Thing, Entity)):
-            continue
-
-        # Match by name
-        if obj.name.lower() == name_lower:
-            return obj
-
-        # Match by alias (Things have aliases)
-        if isinstance(obj, Thing) and name_lower in (a.lower() for a in obj.aliases):
-            return obj
-
-    return None
+    desc = getattr(found, "description", "")
+    if desc:
+        await player.send(f"{desc}\r\n")
+    else:
+        await player.send("You see nothing special.\r\n")
 
 
 async def cmd_examine(player: Player, args: str) -> None:
@@ -55,26 +60,7 @@ async def cmd_examine(player: Player, args: str) -> None:
         await player.send("Examine what?\r\n")
         return
 
-    target_name = args.strip()
-
-    # Search inventory first
-    found = _find_object_in_inventory(target_name, player)
-
-    # Then search ground
-    if not found:
-        found = _find_object_at_position(target_name, player)
-
-    # Not found anywhere
-    if not found:
-        await player.send("You don't see that here.\r\n")
-        return
-
-    # Show description (both Thing and Entity have description)
-    desc = getattr(found, "description", "")
-    if desc:
-        await player.send(f"{desc}\r\n")
-    else:
-        await player.send("You see nothing special.\r\n")
+    await examine_target(player, args.strip(), prefer_inventory=True)
 
 
 register(CommandDefinition("examine", cmd_examine, aliases=["ex"], mode="*"))
diff --git a/src/mudlib/commands/look.py b/src/mudlib/commands/look.py
index 9bb344b..a096a89 100644
--- a/src/mudlib/commands/look.py
+++ b/src/mudlib/commands/look.py
@@ -37,52 +37,11 @@ async def cmd_look(player: Player, args: str) -> None:
         player: The player executing the command
         args: Command arguments (if provided, use targeting to resolve)
     """
-    # If args provided, use targeting to resolve
+    # If args provided, route directly to examine behavior.
     if args.strip():
-        from mudlib.targeting import (
-            find_entity_on_tile,
-            find_in_inventory,
-            find_thing_on_tile,
-        )
+        from mudlib.commands.examine import examine_target
 
-        target_name = args.strip()
-
-        # First try to find an entity on the tile
-        entity = find_entity_on_tile(target_name, player)
-        if entity:
-            # Show entity info (name and posture)
-            if hasattr(entity, "description") and entity.description:
-                await player.send(f"{entity.description}\r\n")
-            else:
-                await player.send(f"{entity.name} is {entity.posture}.\r\n")
-            return
-
-        # Then try to find a thing on the ground
-        zone = player.location
-        if zone is not None and isinstance(zone, Zone):
-            thing = find_thing_on_tile(target_name, zone, player.x, player.y)
-            if thing:
-                # Show thing description
-                desc = getattr(thing, "description", "")
-                if desc:
-                    await player.send(f"{desc}\r\n")
-                else:
-                    await player.send("You see nothing special.\r\n")
-                return
-
-        # Finally try inventory
-        thing = find_in_inventory(target_name, player)
-        if thing:
-            # Show thing description
-            desc = getattr(thing, "description", "")
-            if desc:
-                await player.send(f"{desc}\r\n")
-            else:
-                await player.send("You see nothing special.\r\n")
-            return
-
-        # Nothing found
-        await player.send("You don't see that here.\r\n")
+        await examine_target(player, args.strip(), prefer_inventory=False)
         return
 
     zone = player.location
@@ -220,7 +179,7 @@ async def cmd_look(player: Player, args: str) -> None:
         output.append(render_nearby(nearby_entities, player))
 
     # Exits line
-    output.append(render_exits(zone, player.x, player.y))
+    output.append(render_exits(zone, player.x, player.y, player))
 
     # Send to player
     player.writer.write("\r\n".join(output) + "\r\n")
diff --git a/src/mudlib/render/room.py b/src/mudlib/render/room.py
index 443be91..db24a7f 100644
--- a/src/mudlib/render/room.py
+++ b/src/mudlib/render/room.py
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ def render_nearby(entities: list, viewer) -> str:
     return f"Nearby: ({count}) {names}"
 
 
-def render_exits(zone, x: int, y: int) -> str:
+def render_exits(zone, x: int, y: int, viewer=None) -> str:
     """Render available exits from current position.
 
     Args:
@@ -94,7 +94,6 @@ def render_exits(zone, x: int, y: int) -> str:
     exits = []
 
     # Check cardinal directions
-    # NOTE: up/down exits deferred until z-axis movement is implemented
     if zone.is_passable(x, y - 1):  # north (y decreases going up)
         exits.append("north")
     if zone.is_passable(x, y + 1):  # south
@@ -103,6 +102,11 @@ def render_exits(zone, x: int, y: int) -> str:
         exits.append("east")
     if zone.is_passable(x - 1, y):  # west
         exits.append("west")
+    # Vertical exit is based on current altitude state.
+    if viewer is not None and getattr(viewer, "flying", False):
+        exits.append("down")
+    elif viewer is not None:
+        exits.append("up")
 
     if exits:
         return f"Exits: {' '.join(exits)}"
@@ -111,6 +115,7 @@ def render_exits(zone, x: int, y: int) -> str:
 
 _POSTURE_MESSAGES = {
     "standing": "is standing here.",
+    "sleeping": "is sleeping here.",
     "resting": "is resting here.",
     "flying": "is flying above.",
     "fighting": "is fighting here.",
diff --git a/tests/test_look_command.py b/tests/test_look_command.py
index e7149d5..daf38d7 100644
--- a/tests/test_look_command.py
+++ b/tests/test_look_command.py
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ async def test_look_includes_exits_line(player):
     """Look output should include 'Exits:' line."""
     await cmd_look(player, "")
     output = get_output(player)
-    assert "Exits: north south east west" in output
+    assert "Exits: north south east west up" in output
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
@@ -169,14 +169,36 @@ async def test_look_shows_portals(player, test_zone):
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_look_with_args_routes_to_examine(player, test_zone):
     """look <thing> should route to examine command logic."""
-    # Add an item to examine (location param auto-adds to zone)
-    Thing(name="sword", x=25, y=25, description="A sharp blade.", location=test_zone)
+    called = {}
+
+    async def fake_examine(p, args, *, prefer_inventory=True):
+        called["args"] = args
+        called["prefer_inventory"] = prefer_inventory
+        await p.send("examined\r\n")
+
+    import mudlib.commands.examine
+
+    original = mudlib.commands.examine.examine_target
+    mudlib.commands.examine.examine_target = fake_examine  # type: ignore[invalid-assignment]
+    try:
+        await cmd_look(player, "sword")
+    finally:
+        mudlib.commands.examine.examine_target = original
 
-    await cmd_look(player, "sword")
     output = get_output(player)
+    assert called["args"] == "sword"
+    assert called["prefer_inventory"] is False
+    assert "examined" in output
 
-    # Should see the item's description (examine behavior)
-    assert "A sharp blade." in output
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_look_flying_shows_down_exit(player):
+    """Flying players should see down as a vertical exit."""
+    player.flying = True
+
+    await cmd_look(player, "")
+    output = get_output(player)
+    assert "Exits: north south east west down" in output
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
diff --git a/tests/test_room_render.py b/tests/test_room_render.py
index cf26eed..c846bfd 100644
--- a/tests/test_room_render.py
+++ b/tests/test_room_render.py
@@ -126,6 +126,30 @@ def test_render_exits_partial():
     assert result == "Exits: north east"
 
 
+def test_render_exits_includes_up_for_grounded_viewer():
+    """Grounded viewer should see up as a vertical exit."""
+    terrain = [["." for _ in range(3)] for _ in range(3)]
+    zone = Zone(name="test", width=3, height=3, terrain=terrain, impassable={"^"})
+
+    class Viewer:
+        flying = False
+
+    result = render_exits(zone, 1, 1, Viewer())
+    assert result == "Exits: north south east west up"
+
+
+def test_render_exits_includes_down_for_flying_viewer():
+    """Flying viewer should see down as a vertical exit."""
+    terrain = [["." for _ in range(3)] for _ in range(3)]
+    zone = Zone(name="test", width=3, height=3, terrain=terrain, impassable={"^"})
+
+    class Viewer:
+        flying = True
+
+    result = render_exits(zone, 1, 1, Viewer())
+    assert result == "Exits: north south east west down"
+
+
 def test_render_entity_lines_empty():
     """render_entity_lines returns empty string when no entities."""
     assert render_entity_lines([], None) == ""
@@ -169,3 +193,7 @@ def test_render_entity_lines_postures():
     # Unconscious (stamina <= 0)
     mob_exhausted = Mob(name="Goku", x=10, y=10, stamina=0)
     assert render_entity_lines([mob_exhausted], None) == "Goku is unconscious."
+
+    # Sleeping
+    mob_sleeping = Mob(name="Goku", x=10, y=10, sleeping=True, resting=True)
+    assert render_entity_lines([mob_sleeping], None) == "Goku is sleeping here."