Prologue - Death House

"Find peace." Narissa whispers and follows the others out of the children's tomb.

Taniwha looks at the others, I think we should see if we can sweep in behind of the chants, so head east then south. Hopefully we’ll find away round, Less direct."

As you lay the bones in their final, proper resting places, you each feel a cold draft swirl into the room and eddy the centuries of dust on the ground. Faintly, the ghostly forms of Rose and Thorn drift over their coffins for a moment, and you hear a whispered "Thank you."As a reminder, the chanting is coming down the hallway from the west. At that end of the hall is a cavernous dining room, featuring a wooden table and benches among an ankle-deep carpet of bones. The room is all jagged, maniac angles: the rough, careless cut of the slabs of wood; the grasping shards of bone, rib, and skull; and the jutting, crumbling points of stone wall. All of these cast deep, undulating shadows in the torchlight.

At Taniwha's suggestion, Abraham pauses before shaking his head. "I cannot. I mean, I'm physically capable, but I cannot. Besides..." he uses the pommel of his sword to tap his breastplate lightly and continues, "Stealth is not my forte, and I refuse to be a liability for those who excell at it.

So, let me suggest this. I will take up position not too far from the entryway. I'll wait a short while to allow the rest of you to find a more suitable position, and then I'll go in and introduce myself. I'm sure I'll have their rapt attention."

Narrisa hesitates to speak up, she’s only known the these people a very short time, her opinion won’t matter. "I don’t know that we should leave anyone alone in this place." Her voice is quiet when she speaks, easy to miss.

"I appreciate your concern, but I am never alone. Lathander walks with me," Abraham says reassuringly, offering a smile.

"Besides... the tactical advantage offered by a pincer attack should not be underestimated."

"Ahem, I can be your shield Abraham, if you like. I wouldn't say I'm designed for stealth either."

She switches out her warhammer for a crossbow.

"Hm, but if you still wish to go on your own, I'll make sure we take out as many as we can on our side."

Taniwha nods his agreement with the two warriors and the lack of stealth abilities, "How about we move into this next room and look down the corridor, if there appears to be a way around we’ll split, otherwise we’ll all head west together?"

The Monk moves off into the bone covered room, head up and silently as possible . . .

With a shrug, Narissa moves quietly as she can and follows Taniwha. She can be stealthy, sometimes, but it’s not her strong suit either. She’s a bit envious of Abraham, never being alone sounds nice.

"If you think sticking with me is best, feel free Amalthea." Turning to the Tiefling monk, he nods. "Fair enough," Abraham replies, following after Taniwha.

"All right, sticking with you then."

Amalthea brings up her shield and takes the last spot, following the stealthier Taniwha and Narissa.

The bone-covered room is a wide dining hall with a wooden table flanked by long benches. The bones which carpet the floor belong to animals, humans, and elves; all are covered with teeth marks and mold. Wooden beams hold up the stone ceiling. In the south wall of the room is a dark alcove, completely hidden by shadow . . . yet something deep within glints in the torchlight. To the north is a passage that heads five feet before turning right. Straight ahead is another passage which does the same thing.

Amalthea detects neither the chime of good nor the stench of evil.

EDIT: Taniwha and Narissa feel a weight settle in their stomachs and a dread on their shoulders, the distinct feeling of being watched.

"I feel eyes upon us." Narissa whispers to those around her.

Amalthea's eyes widen as she hears Narissa whisper. She whispers back, "My spell is not identifying any good or evil creatures at least."

Taniwha always had that feeling of being watched but this was different, more present. He moved deeper into the room towards the table dominating the middle of this room, jumping up upon it and laying his quarter staff down. The Tiefling draws his dagger with a sleight of hand as he turns towards the dark alcove. Suddenly, Whispers is a low dark voice speak in babble from within the folds of the alcove.

As Taniwha faces the alcove, the glint shifts. The whispers grow louder and louder, then a huge shadow tumbles from the alcove, bleating and gibbering. The torchlight shines along its slick, fleshy, green bulk, the wormlike body ending in a beaked mouth ringed by four barbed tentacles. As big and heavy as a wolf, the creature launches itself at Taniwha.

Taniwha was hoping to flush out what was hiding but this is not quite what he was expecting, he examines the creature searching his brain for recognition.

Seeing this...thing... move aggressively, Abraham moves forward.

Amalthea's head snaps towards the creature pouncing forward from the alcove. She silently curses her inattentiveness in Dwarvish as she brings up her shield and warhammer. She intends to step forward to take the brunt of the attacks.

Round One
Taniwha cannot tell what the wormlike creature is, but it rears up and hisses as Amalthea steps up and raises her hammer.