Of course, I have maps of the canals, maps of the temples, maps of wineshops, the always useful general map, and maps of the homes of famous residents! Do not be followed by mountebanks and tricksters hocking their wares on the street corners, my maps are the real thing!
What? A star map! That's no proper map at all, not at all. People who use the stars to navigate are simply those who have no proper sense of the purpose of maps. You'd need an astrologer, or one of those astronomers if you don't fancy mysticism like me, to interpret one of them. Plus you have to go outside at night to use them, and there's such a thing as vampires you know!
Well, did you want to buy a city map perhaps? Plenty of people seem to be wandering around confused?
Nah, he is just speaking rubbish. Albus says to Dwalindor trying to calm the dwarf before continue.
I will take your city map and the temple one. Do you know what is making the dead rise from their graves here in the city latetly?
"He doesn't want it Dwal. He says we should seek out an astrologer or an astronomer about this map and now Albus wants to buy other maps from the man." Takara summarizes for the less verbally-inclined.
Well, you know how the undead get raised - some necromancer gets off his rocker and then starts animating corpses to do something silly like build a monument or wreak vengeance or conquer a small nation so he can have peace and quiet. You just can't trust people who'd animate the dead - bad apples the lot of 'em. Plus, as one of the recently differently-living I take exception to their troublemaking. But thank goodness I still have my maps.
He'll pull down two maps for you.
Now, that'll be 10 gold pieces for both maps. These are good maps too, fine papyrus rubbed smoothed with leather backing so you won't have to worry about about it ripping. You get quality goods here!
Don't forget to tell your friends we're open for business! Thank you for your custom!
So you're off to the Pyramid of Arithmetic Bliss?
Albus pays and picks up the maps.
You do realise you are an undead yourself, right?
He says to the skeleton before leaving.
Oh, of course sir. But that's no reason not to provide a valuable service like map making. It's actually a bit of an advantage provided I don't find no paladins coming around I can make maps forever - the world's always changing you know!
He'll wave cheerily as you leave, then hoist the ironwood door and put it back on the hinges. He does so with terrifying ease.
As you again wander through the city, you find yourself moving towards the largest building in the Necropolis - the Pyramid of Arithmetic Bliss. A huge trapezoidal roof stands out against the skyline, decorated with a compass and square, with Ancient Osiriani glyphs circling the roof. An opening in a tall wall leads into a courtyard.
So what happened? I heard lots of babble
Thorpe asks when they come out
Undead guy selling maps. This place gets more weird by the minute. Albus shrugs.
percep
A long neglected garden and thirty-foot-tall obelisks decorate this broad, walled-in courtyard. Several squat outbuilding stand near the western wall, but a sprawling sandstone building with a steeply pitched pyramidal roof and elaborate reliefs dominates the property.
As you enter the courtyard you don't find anyone skulking around, but you do see tracks moving into and out of the building and gates - someone has been using this building recently.
Thorrpe takes to the shadows
"Let's move in quickly to avoid unwanted attention. I'm sure that your encounter with an ex-lover was no accident." Takara states straight-faced at Dwalindor.
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Dwalindor stares back at Takara, straight-faced as well.
"She was no lover of mine. The only loves in my life are Lucy and Amanda." he says as he pats the head of his Lucern hammer and Adamantium blade. There may be a hint of a smirk at the last part.
"But you are right, we don't need no unwanted attention from others like her."
He will check the tracks to see if there is a main area of concentration.
+2 vs undead
The footsteps are too regular to be undead tracks - instead of shambling drag you see firm, purposeful footsteps moving into and out of the courtyard.
Thorpe attempts to hug Shad to show that he is the only one for him, but does so from his hiding spot, while he waits for the leaders of the crew to decide where to go
Takara moves up to knock on the door to the Pyramid, bolstered by Dwalindor's examination of the tracks. "Hello?"
There are doors remain shut, and no one answers your calls.
Takara motions to Dwalindor and Thorppe. "Time for a little forced entry?"
Albus moves besides Dwalindor ready to break down the door if needed.
dd
Then he ducks next to the door hidden taking 10 on stealth for a 26
Deep niches line the walls to either side of this wide passage, dividing blocks of detailed hieroglyphs. Scrolls and loose bits of parchment lie scattered across the floor.
Nothing leaps out at you.
If nothing is stated to be inside, Takara will follow Dwalindor inside. "Let's see if there is information to aid our cause." she reasons, looking at the dishevelled state of the room.
As Dwalindor and Albus step into the hall two ghostly forms rise out of the floor. Malignant clouds of shadows boil in the air, their skeletal maws eerily babbling as the creatures' claws manifest from the darkness.
Thorrpe 5 ft steps to the east while drawing his wand of magic missile and sends a missile at the creature t M10
UMD
As Thorrpe aims his wand Shad seems to appear and launch a crossbow bolt that swerves unerringly, through Dwalindor's legs and strikes the ghost, or whatever it is, in the face
Takara studies the creatures to learn of their weaknesses.
Albus attacks the creature using his wand of scorching ray.