Okay, so we already know Tarek is attempting to be sneaky and checking for traps. What is everyone else doing as Tarek moves down the hallway?

Aluzira quietly follows the group near the middle, scanning the walls for any carvings, paintings, or inscriptions.  

11

(I just realized I forgot stealth! The first roll is perception with the 1 modifier)

Stealth: 13

Torrent is incredibly uncomfortable.  He feels closed in, trapped, and anxious.  He finds himself strangely more uncomfortable once Anakis leaves.  He is sticking close to the rest of the group, right behind of Aluzira.  He will also look around to see what he can find, focusing on looking back to make sure nothing is following them.  

Stealth 21

Perception 21

Anakis sneaks up front with Tarek, trying not to giggle too loudly at his attempts at being quiet (Stealth: 19). At each turn, she stops to score a mark in the wall. As they move, she keeps an eye out for enemies, or treasures (Perception: 16).

(not doing a great job suppressing that giggle. Haha )

Ash notices Torrents discomfort. "Focus on a single point. Ignore the walls behind you and above you. Its a tunnel, and this is the end. I used to be Agraphobic, and that usually worked the opposite way round."

Stealth: 14

Perception: 20

Okay, so that puts Ash in the back rank with Torrent, and it sounds like they're both mainly keeping a look out for hidden threats, especially any that might sneak up from behind, correct?

Also, just to clarify the situation and because it's being described in various ways, how far are Anakis and/or Tarek "scouting ahead" of the rest of the group, or are they just at the front of the group, which is pretty much all sticking together? 

I assume that Nicolas is also keeping a general lookout unless there's something in particular he'd like to do.

I'm just trying to get an idea of your general set-up for now as you're moving. Changes can be made along the way as seems appropriate.

Nicolas will try to move as quietly as possible in the middle of the group. (Stealth: 3) "Should I douse the light? It's no problem to keep it up, but as long as you all keep me on track, we might be stealthier in the dark?" Nicolas will default to the suggestion of whichever team member comments first or keep the light on if no one speaks up. Along the way, he will be searching for secret doors. (Investigation: 18)

(sounds good to me)

(I think we're all trying to stick together as much as possible.)

(OOC - my original thought was Anakis would be ahead a little, say 20-30ft, scouting and stopping occasionally to mark a trail. Though I am happy to stick together as a group, with my dark vision at the front to see/not see what is coming.)

That's what I thought too, but if you're sticking together, I'll go with that.

The passageway stretches straight out ahead of you into the darkness. As the walls on either side of you are illuminated by the torchlight, Aluzira and Nicolas, you can see that they're unadorned and somewhat primitively constructed. The walls are built with large river-stones held together with mortar, and the floor is covered by a pattern of flat but irregularly shaped stones.

As you quietly creep up the hallway, approaching the wider opening on the right, Anakis, you can see that straight ahead, at the limit of your vision, the passage turns to the left. 

After less than half a minute, you all come to the opening on the right, which is about twenty feet across and opens into a short hallway that comes to a dead-end after thirty feet. On the floor is the hilt of some ancient weapon, probably a dagger whose blade has been removed or rusted away. As Nicolas's torchlight dimly lights up the back wall of the dead-end, Aluzira, you notice that there seems to be something painted on the wall, but the torchlight would need to be brought closer to make out what it is. Anakis, however, can see that it's a message painted hastily in dripping red paint. This is what she can read:

Beware the Dead Who Consume the Living

Anakis, you also notice with your superior vision that the paint that forms this message is cracked in several places in straight lines that form right angles to one another.

Just then, something else catches your eye, Anakis, at the far end of the hallway. Rounding the left hand turn, 90 feet away, you can see a shambling humanoid form that moves haltingly with an uneven gait, seemingly attracted by the torchlight. It spots you and Tarek at the front of the group and begins to purposefully move towards you. The stench of decay hits everyone's nostrils. You have less than twenty seconds before it reaches you.

"There's something big coming," Anakis points down the hall towards the creature, "And the writing on that wall there says to 'beware the dead who consume the living'. Shall I light up whatever is coming at us?" Her hand wraps in fire as she prepares to engage the creature.

With his free hand, Nicolas begins making a series of gestures and mutters an incantation, preparing to use Sacred Flame should he see any of his party being attacked. (DC 13 Dex save if we are attacked).

"Hello?" Tarek calls out to the mysterious figure coming towards them. "Are you in need of something? Can we help you in any way?" Despite his calm words, he draws his rapier, keeping wary just in case.

Anakis wrinkles her nose as the smell starts to get to her. She looks quizzically at Tarek trying to talk the creature. "You know it's probably one of the dead that feeds on the living... right? With that smell... and that silly walk..." She looks at the creature rambling towards them and shakes her head, "I'm not going to be food," and she raises a hand towards the creature, flames wrapping around it as she does, casting a fire bolt.

Fire Bolt Attack: 23 Damage: 7

Okay, roll initiative everybody.

8

Nicolas Initiative: 20

Init: 20

(Is the smell the same as the beast from the Bog?)

Initiative: 14