Since it is the only route we can take, Uthecar votes we go there.

All is quiet as the players make their way back around to the main 'up and down' corridor. You may recall the odd passage of zigzags at the top of the corridor, further to the 'down' the corridor continues into darkness.

There are no longer noises in the darkness, no drips, dribbles or moaning gusts. Just a deep and abiding silence.

ooc: two choices: head up to the zigzag, head down into the darkness.

Uthecar leads the way up to the Zig Zagging corridor conscious that the parties own noise is the only noise he hears.  Since most of that noise comes from him, there's not much they can do about it.

Kullonar follows along, not at all eager to descend further underground.

Myrrick follows his friends quietly.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:06, Sat 29 Dec 2018.

Bruno moves in a manner similar to Uthecar. One might call it a 'Dwarven Manner': a steady, albeit careful, step that is underscored with a tintinnabulation of metal armor, weapons and his kit. Not quit a clanking and not loud, but certainly present.

He had a cousin who would become a scout and was able to move quite stealthily, but this is something he never picked up even when they would play hide and seek. It always bothered him that Brollo would win not because he could hide so well, but because he would always hear Bruno and escape again just before our hero would nab him. Still, one goes with not only with what one is best at, but with what one knows and since he knows that he does not have the gift of stealth Bruno is attentive to his surroundings and ready for whomever knows he is present to act.

Weasel seems full of anxious energy, at times excited, at other times frightened...though the run in with the ghoul from a couple days past seems to have not affected his willingness to continue on. Kullonar, scion of Cuthbert the stern, seems to have developed the reticence left behind by the young human.

For their part, the dwarves - Uthecar and Bruno, and Bruknar, are marching forward with dwarven determination, unmindful of that 'dwarvish racket.' They are followed fairly closely by Myrrick as Zan follows to the rear.

The tunnel they're following seems like a zigzag, twisting and turning for some 160' before they turn a corner to the right and find a door on their left hand side. The passage continues straight downward into further darkness. You have come to a great unknown.

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DM Note: Please note the big red 'X' as a typo on the new map uploaded in the Map Thread. The door is on your left as you follow 'down' the passage.

As the party stands around collecting themselves, Weasel studies the door for locks, traps and other sundries.

After a quick look, he glanced back at the others and said, "No traps."

His voice is firm and secure...maybe.

Weasel's done his part - how well is not yet known.

Party's actions? You can open the door, continue down a now straight passage or retreat back along the zig-zag.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:18, Sun 06 Jan 2019.

Uthecar steps up to open the door and go through to see what it reveals .

Uthecar brushes by Weasel and enters what appears to be a bedroom of sorts.

It is huge, opulent really, with a Canopy over a king sized bed on the top wall, an empty fireplace across from the door and a finely made escritoire sitting against the bottom wall. Multiple bear and cat skin cloaks are scattered along the floor, bundled together in an haphazard heap.

Upon the walls themselves are two tapestries, one on the upper wall to the left of the bed, the other on the lower wall above the escritoire. Both are fairly epic in scope, the first featuring a wizard, hands palms up, seeming to juggle glowing balls of light. The other is a portrait of a handsome man with stern features looking leftward from the creator of the tapestry.

All furnishings are covered with a thick coat of dust.

What do you do?

”Just bedroom junk.” Uthecar relates disappointed.  ”Do we search or push on?”

Myrrick starts to quickly search the room, careful to check for traps as he does so.

Eager to push on, Kullonar waits at the door and watches Myrrick closely...his morningstar is ready in case of surprises.

Zan enters, a spell on his lips just in case. He takes about three strides into the room and stands just behind Uthecar.

Bruno halts behind Uthecar and Bruknar and next to Zan.

As the party looks about the room, with Myrrick and Weasel actively searching the fringes, the  carpet of piled furs and rugs begins to tremble and shake. From the middle, a form pulls itself from the center, howling a death's call that freezes the blood. Suddenly, a noisome pall, similar to the ghasts faced earlier, but worse if it can be believed, permeates the room, leaving all of you weakened and sick to your stomachs (no penalties). It is the stench of the grave, the stench of death, the stench of despair.

A sudden, ugly laughter fills the room, a call to arms, a call to feast...perhaps both the same thing?!!!

OOC: the thing is obviously undead, though it is not a ghoul, nor is it a ghast, both of which you've seen before. Power exudes from this beast, a negative, unholy force, and in his hand is a well-wrought, mighty hammer.

pointing at the cluster of characters near the center of the room, he grins and then howls. Then he charges: Initiative: 4

Gentlefolk, please roll for initiative.

Myrrick rushes to meet the strange beast, his halberd flashing through the air with his own battle cry he entered combat with the abomination.

21:44, Today: Myrrick rolled 6 using 1d10+4.  dmg.

21:44, Today: Myrrick rolled 19 using 1d20+4.  hit.

21:43, Today: Myrrick rolled 3 using 1d6+2.  init.

Uthecar is heartened when the creature takes the initiative.  He's slow out of the blocks, but filled with enthusiasm as he swings his axe to meet the foul undead.

Uthecar Hornskin II rolled 2 using 1d6.  Initiative (not sure if individual rolls are called for).
Uthecar Hornskin II rolled 24 to hit and 13 damage using 1d20+5,1d8+9.

Kullonar & Bruno: Please roll for an idea: add wisdom and intelligence, if you roll below the total, you have an idea.

For example: pretend the character's wisdom is 12 and intelligence is 13 - if you rolled 25 or less, you would have an idea.

Post the total in your next post.

18:05, Today: Kullonar rolled 30 using 1d100.  Idea roll...again...the right way! Int+Wis = 27
12:15, Today: Kullonar rolled 6 using 1d6.  Initiative.

Feeling the queasiness from the foul beast, Kullonar pulls forth his holy symbol and brandishes it.
"In the name of the Cudgel, go back to the shadows where you belong!" he shouts.

12:18, Today: Kullonar rolled 2 using 1d20.  Turn undead.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:07, Sat 12 Jan 2019.

"By Moradin's bristling beard, what is that thing?!!!" Bruknar cries out as he lifts his axes and makes ready to dance.

Initiative 2

To hit 13, 15

Damage 9

Weasel doesn't think. Unbeknownst to the other party members, he slips easily into shadow and moves quietly behind the beast rising from the layers of carpets and throw rugs.

As the...thing focuses on the center of the room, where Uthecar, Bruknar, Zan, Bruno and Kullonar all stand, Weasel slips behind and offers the beast his best welcome:

Backstab successful for double damage!

Initiative: 7

OOC: Waiting on Zan, Bruno to take their actions.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:19, Sun 13 Jan 2019.

Bruno steps forward. Recognizing the creature as undead right away, he unstops a bottle of holy water and flings it at the beastie. Sadly, his aim is high and wide and the vial crashed against the wall.

Initiative 5

To hit roll adjusted 9 - miss.