Albus gathers his new gear and gets ready to the Necropolis. Who knows, maybe it will be a cakewalk...
As you're about to leave, Nakht approaches Dwalindor and Ptemnib approaches Calin.
My friend, listen, I know like me you favor direct action so I will tell you that I believe that these activities are the result of a group that has long plagued the Necropolis: the Amushet. They are a group of lamia who disavow the divinity of any gods, including Pharasma.
He scowls at the very thought.
No matter how you make it into the Necropolis, you can find them here on your map, he points to a section of the map for you, and I believe you will solve your problem if you kill them as soon as you can.
Ptemnib crouches and puts a hand on Calin's shoulder.
Calin, I have been in the Necropolis extensively and there are a group of dark folk at Vizier's Hill in the walled off part of the city. Now, I should caution you that they are very wary of outsiders but they should be very aware of all that is going on in the Necropolis.
Speak to their leader, Unwrapped Harmony, they will know much. Also, I don't know how you are planning on entering the Necropolis but there are a number of tunnels in the Veins that should connect to the Dead City. The Silver Chain made extensive use of the tunnels themselves, perhaps there is an entrance in their base. You can also talk to Ibrahim - that man seem to knows much about the city that has been forgotten.
"There should be an entrance to the necropolis at the base of the silver chain. We should start there."
"I can cast spider climb on Tobbs so he could just walk over the wall."
If the cat can wallwalk I think we should do the climbing. I rather have daylight and open space than darkness with nasty surprises. We could pass by that gate we help defend and talk to the priestess commander there. She may know the best spot for our entry. Albus says absentmindedly while lost in thought.
Its being quite a while since I climbed those walls the last time. Feels like a life time away. I hope its like riding a camel...
"Sounds like it's decided, we climb."
As you approach the gate you see Bal has reinforced the area around the press of undead.
Large wood timbers brace the huge doors to prevent them from being broken through, and the sharpened barricades are supported by sand bags.
Her men look significantly more confident as well, with most having ankhs and the spiral of pharasma painted on their armor as a ward against the undead.
Hello again! I'm surprised to see you back here - but weren't there four of you previously?
Bal grunts.
More like the guards didn't throw their spears down and run when you approached. A novel event as it turns out.
She laughes a bit at her joke.
So tell me what brings you? Hoping to park here in case another shadow shows up?
Bal nods approvingly.
Boldly said, sir dwarf! You do the Grand Mausoleum proud by assaulting the source of the problem in its name. Tell me, what are your plans for entering the Necropolis - for that is surely what you're trying to do by coming here?
Yep, we were hoping you could provide some suggestions. Albus cuts in.
So far we are climbing in.
Bal blinks at you.
Well that's pretty bold. In case you haven't noticed the walking dead seem to have a good sense where the living flesh they crave is.
She sort of rolls her eyes at this statement, like she's repeating a piece of dogma that annoys her.
But if you want a grand entrance that's the way to do it. There are supposed to be smuggling tunnels into the Necropolis somewhere that would pop up in the middle of the Dead City.
She shrugs.
But if you have to get over the wall, if it were me I'd avoid the gates, then hop a wall near where you wanted to go - there's no buildings near the wall because we don't allow them, so you can't hop from rooftop to rooftop to avoid the shamblers.
Not much - there's rumors upon rumors. My favorite is the one about Abadar's temple is really a front for the Aspis Consortium and they're hiding a dragon's hoard they stole in the old temple inside the Necropolis. Then there's the Silver Chain - they're supposed to have tunnels all over the place to help them smuggle goods outside of the Dead City.
She shakes her head.
And of course, there's always the earth elementals who built the monuments to glorify Azghaad that roam the cities, building underground pathways for his army of magical beasts.
She wiggles her fingers at you to convey how spooky that is.
Most of it's nonsense I'd bet - well, maybe except for the Silver Chain's tunnels; they certainly gave Ptemnib fits for years trying to pin them down.
I suppose we could try the tunnels. Albus says without any joy.
Lets check for entrances at the Silver Chain head quarters.
As you approach the brickyard you see a number of city guardsmen and members of the Voices of the Spires around having secured the site. They have hauled a bunch of the contraband up and are doing an inventory.
A particularly large guard notices you approaching.
Ah, you must be the special guardsman that Sebti deputized. How can we help you?
"We're looking for the smuggling tunnels they used to get into the necropolis. Have you come across anything?"
There's some tunnels down there that head in the direction of the Necropolis, sure. We haven't had a chance to head down the main tunnel but you're welcome to explore it?
You plunge through the tunnel and are surprised by how well its kept up, although you do find it relatively easy to move down the tunnels.
As you approach what you believe to be the exit you see a passage moving off to the right of the tunnel and light filters out of the column.
After you emerge from the tunnel you come up into the light of the Necropolis.
A portion of the tunnels’ stonework has collapsed here, exposing the winding crypts beneath to the harsh sky above. Shallow alcoves line each wall, stacked high with artfully arranged human bones and skulls. In the center of this subterranean chamber, a jumble of bronze springs and copper plates lies tangled in a pile of fallen stone.
As you walk up, you hear the sound of snakes.
Do you guys hear that? Sounds like snakes in the room ahead.
No I ate some beans for breakfast today, back in the main tunnel it was a fart. Albus shrugs. But this is not it, I dont know where its coming from, near the door somewhere I guess.
Well... a good fart joke always make things better. Even a hopeless #%@$ up like this one. What do we do now? I heard lions love to eat snakes, can you send big guy first to sniff around for us Calin?