Stan stands next to Roth and nods his agreement, trying to convey a calm and non-confrontational attitude.

May I ask you a question good sir? Says the enthusiastic halfling. Would you happen to know where we are?

The man seems to want to listen to Roth, but is visibly put-off when the elf mentions his "friends."  He clutches his axe tighter and locks his eyes onto Roth and the approaching Stan.  "Stay back!" he shouts again, on the verge of losing control.  "If you are in league with the creatures and this is a trick, I swear to all that is holy I will cut you down.  I will cut you all down!"  As he speaks, he indicates the dozens of bodies littering the hallway.  You do not doubt the man's skill, or the state of his mind.
He doesn't respond to Chubbs' questions either, but gives pause at the off-setting, tiny halfling.  "I have not heard of Snake Tongue," he finally responds.  "But I recognize the insignia on that one," he says indicating Garret.  He must mean the etchings of a rose on the cleric's armor.  "Are you truly of The Order?"
"I am," Garret replies.
"Can this be a trick?  Would the devils of Tharür impersonate a Rose?" he wonders aloud.
"I do not know, but you must allow us to speak.  You are injured and no doubt tired.  Allow me to inspect your wounds, friend?"

The stand-off continues for some time, but Garret is able to finally calm the man.  The cleric closes many of his wounds, an act of good-faith, and hopes to open meaningful conversation between him and the others.  No doubt this man can help them.

---

In their initial meeting, Hennesey allows the strange group to help him, but is strictly protective of his fallen comrades, the boys in his charge.  He explains that the many of the undead that haunt these halls are capable of raising the recently slain as walking dead.  He also tells the party that he as been lost in the halls for a long time, possibly weeks, searching for the band of adventurers he led here.  He found their bodies, luckily all, before they were turned.  He has been looking for a way out ever since.
When asked where they are, where Tharür Castle is exactly, he reveals a map from his pack of the world (image pending).  According to the map—hand-drawn by Hennesey himself—the ancient kingdom of Tharür is located in the southern lands of the western continent, Tænia, and several hundreds of miles south of the Sässeriné Provence and Skyway City.
Also on the man's map, Porto notices a point labeled "Redmoor," but it is on the other (eastern) continent, duely labeled Andun.  A curious look adorns his face.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:13, Tue 09 Nov 2010.

"We seem to keep finding places that should be destroyed," Shirok muttered to himself as the man related his story. "My own map may aid us in getting out, but it requires more time to redraw itself. In the meantime, we should either find a way out, or a place to secure ourselves."

Ilsa came up beside Shirok and Neya. "I fear if we camp here, we'll never leave." She wasn't going to rest until they were outside and back under familiar stars.

And you are right to think that. We must leave this evil place immediatly. Lest you all be driven nearly mad as I've been driven. It was good to finaly talk to people who were not undead noir raising them. Now to find a way out with his new "allies".

So you didn't leave a trail of breadcrumbs did ya? Porto asks thinking back to some old tails his mama used to tell him.

Considering Hennesy's fracturing state of mind at his recent experiences, Garret decides not to offer the man the possibility of resurrecting his fallen companions, and prudently so.  In fact, the whole idea of resurrecting a living thing after it had died, whether naturally so or not, never sat well with the cleric.  Certainly he could do it, as an instrument of his faith; but he remained a firm believer in its unnaturalness.  The few times he had been asked to perform such a feat, he had tried to council the afflicted parties against it.  He found it rarely remedied any grief associated with death, and only prolonged it at best.
In any case, the cleric tends to the broken man's wounds and does what he can to get the party moving once more.
□     □     □     □
Once they are all ready, the newly formed party begins their search for a way out of the dungeons below Castle Tharür.  Hennesy carries a body, as does Shirok, and Ilsa carries two.  Together, they move through the twisting corridors and ask Hennesy if he remembers the way.
He doesn't.
Given the situation (and no point of reference), the party is forced to wander the dank halls.  Hennesy does recall, although having suffered a bout of madness, that they are on a sub-level of the dungeon, perhaps the second or third level below the surface.

---

THE HALLS OF THARÜR CASTLE (possible EL 5)
You all must select a PC to "follow" as you all attempt to find your way out of this dungeon.  The "leader" will roll one skill check (search, knowledge (dungeoneering), or survival) to find a quick and safe way out.  Success advances the story, whereas failure results in an additional encounter before the story can be advanced.  Other PCs may aid the "leader" (DC 10)
**Hint: A PC with the Track feat would be a good choice to designate as your "leader" for this encounter.  Please feel free to RP the decision making process. =)
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:17, Thu 11 Nov 2010.

Ilsa carried the bodies and resisted the urge to use them as puppets. She followed Shirok and Neya. "Can you smell fresh air, Neya?"

"Have you considered burning your friends' bodies? It will prevent the undead from reaching their flesh. There is no dishonor in a cremation properly done."

As they moved through the catacombs, Stan whispered to Garrett. He also took time to quietly share his suspicions with Roth and with Shirok. The wizard had an uneasy feeling, as though something were watching him. It could just be the mood of the castle, but Stan had been in scary places before and this felt like something more actively malevolent.

"In any case," he said to everyone, "I think Neya's nose can lead us out of this place."

He ran his hand along the wolf's fur, petting her for the first time. "Isn't that right, girl?"

The massive wolf calmly accepted Stan's pat, her tail wagging slightly at the mention of her name. She reached out and began sniffing the new human, the bodies that were being carried by Shirok and Ilsa. Lots of things in this place stunk of death, but the new human still left a trail of life, and his dead pack was fresh enough for her to learn their scents underneath the rot. Sadly they were a bit too deep to smell fresh air, but the human and his pack had still left a trail; blood from being wounded, sweat tinged with fear, movement through air that still remembered their passage.

Neya wuffed slightly, and Shirok nodded. "She has a scent."

I have thought of that, but these are just boys.  Wealthy boys with wealthy, and powerful parents. I'm just.... I'm... I just think that they would want the bodies of thier children. He said after serveral pauses to find the right words. I think if I were to've cremated them, then showed up in my current state of mind, then I would be labeled a madman and locked away for thier murders. If it comes to that, then we shall do it outside of this vile place. I fear that thier souls would somehow become trapped in here and tormented for an eternity....

Thats a very fine and beutiful wolf companion. He says to Shirok. No doubt a master of scents. If she can lead us out of here, then I will follow her and lend what knowledge I have to her.

With a body over each shoulder, Ilsa was anxious to be rid of her load. A corpse made a lousy weapon, but it's what she'd have to use should they get ambushed. "Then go!" she grunted as she followed Neya.

"I undestand, er, not sure I caught your name, actually. Mine's Stan."

He offered the man a hand, hoping that he wouldn't bite it off.

Hennesy extends his hand and shakes it.The names Hennesy, Hennesy Rydell.  Pleasure to meet you all, and I want to thank you all for your help. I wasn't sure how much longer I was going to be able to keep my sanity back there.

Neya wuffed again, sniffing the air a few more times before advancing down one of the corridors, followed closely by Shirok.


01:29, Today: Shirok Rezkala rolled 15 using 1d20+11. Survival.
I guess anyone that can make an aid another check, go ahead.

Hennesey does his best to remember both his way though these halls, and recall all his times underground to aid Neya's keen nose.

02:05, Today: Hennesey Rydell rolled 12 using 1d20+3. Knowledge[dungeoneering]
Survival check = 16
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:05, Sat 13 Nov 2010.

While the others deliberated over Neya's nose, Roth quietly made use of his sciences.  He scooped up and handful dust and splinters from the floor and dropped it--watching the patterns and direction of its fall.  He analyzed the origin directions and death patterns of the re-slain, and even licked his finger and held it up in the air to analyze humidity--and grimaced when he tasted where his hand had been.  Roth concluded his analysis with a shrug, "Lead on, pup."

17:07, Today: Roth Daos rolled 3 using 1d20-2. Survival.

"She's not a pup. She's a warrior," Ilsa said, somewhat defensively, but mostly proudly.

20:47, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 23 using 1d20+4. Survival.

Without much debate, if any at all, Neya catches a scent and begins to follow it.  Shirok leads the party as they make their way through the twisted corridors of the ancient dungeon.  The druid and the wolf have grown together over the years and nearly share the same mind.  Shirok does his best to interpret the signals his oldest companion gives him.
At one point, they find themselves at something of a fork in their path.  Neya turns one corner; however Hennesy remains adamant that she has gone the wrong way.  A few moments later, the wolf pops out down a side tunnel connecting with the passage Hennesy indicated.  It is obvious that Neya is following a path something took earlier, whereas Hennesy is trying to backtrack to the upper levels.  Strengthened by the sign, the party trudges on.
The party finds the passage to the upper levels after avoiding more than a few bands of shambling undead.  So far, so good.  Once on the upper level, Roth attempts to determine how close they are to the surface.  He appears to know what it is he is doing, and he might actually know; however, in the end, he is unable to assist in the party's progress.
Further on, Ilsa works to clam Neya as she seems a bit overwhelmed.  Apparently she has happened upon the site of previous combat.  The barbarian offers their lupine tracker a playful nudge.  However, Shirok is there to reel her back into her task at hand.  She rediscovers the scent, and is able to follow it out of the chamber.  The party continues on.
As they make their way out, Ilsa corrects Roth in her assertion that Neya isn't a "pup" and nearly trips over a body as she does.  Random bodies are something of a common occurrence within these horrid halls; however this one doesn't squish like one can imagine it ought to.  Instead, it rebounds oddly and lets out a frightening gasp!  It reaches up to make a grab at Ilsa's leg, all the while more screams echo down the halls...

Initiative + 1 Rounds' Action(s)
**Note: Undead have Surprise Round

Still burdened by the load she was carrying, Ilsa kicked at the undead.

14:19, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 11 using 1d20+2. Initiative.
14:20, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 25 using 1d20+9. Boot to the head.
14:22, Today: Ilsa Redeye rolled 8 using 1d3+5. Boot damage.

Not again, Hennesey mutters to himself. He drops the body from over his shoulder and perpares for whatever they will encounter next. Standing ready with his great axe.

18:46, Today: Hennesey Rydell rolled 8 using 1d20+7. Init

Stan was almost getting too good at reacting to sudden ambushes. With a flick of his wirst, he shot a magical blast at the undead thing. Magical guidance would ensure the missile found its mark, even with the creature grabbing at Ilsa.

19:05, Today: Stan Fetchin rolled 21 using 1d20+5. Init.
Standard: magic missile
Edit: 19:09, Today: Stan Fetchin rolled 6 using 2d4+2. Damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:10, Tue 16 Nov 2010.

Porto lets the others pick the obvious choice of candidates to lead the way. He finds the scenery a bit dreary but even more so when they get some unfortunate visitors. Porto begins to sing a melody to lift your spirits.

Inspire Confidence

23:17, Today: Porto 'Chubbs' Brandybuck rolled 20 using 1d20+3. init.

Roth hardly bats an eye at the attacking corpse after the sickening scrap in the zombie pit in Redding and calmly prepares for fight--lowering his goggles over his eyes and drawing both the Crystal Knight's sword and a spare dagger.

00:49, Today: Roth Daos rolled 13 using 1d20+4. Init.