"Who says we can't hide from them?" Seherab says but then he takes another moment to look over his companions, his eyes stopping on the armored dwarf and the bouncing gnome. "Well, I guess you're right. So we'll need to find another way in somehow. Maybe we can scout the perimeter, look for an easier access."
Under paths? Wasteways? the silent monk signs, and then gestures down.
You slowly skirt the Gulla Market, trying to stay away from any prying eyes, but it seems that the market is quite literally Ghoul Market. You could potentially move to the sewers to try and find an entrance from underneath, but, without a map, you feel this would be a fool's errand.
With a few more minutes of watching from the south, you actually see that the ghoul's respond to even the smallest of living creatures as you spot a horde chasing down a rat until it disappears into a grate. Perhaps a diversion or some form of magical aid would be appropriate here.
Ankhef will use Summon Monster 1 twice to get a pair of eagles to help pull the ghouls out of our way.
As Ankhef is about to cast his spell, he realizes that the undead are not slow, but it will take longer than 30 seconds of for the crowd of undead to be dispersed, especially since he has to summon the eagles close to himself and drawing attention towards the group is not ideal.
What if we went to the real market, Seherab signs to his dwarven brothers, and bought some chickens? We could set a couple chickens loose at the edge of the market and draw the ghouls away. I remember seeing a play about a famous boxer trying to catch a chicken, it is very difficult. That or a greased pig....
He leads the party a safe distance away from the Ghoul Market and makes his proposal aloud, for the benefit of the newer members who haven't yet learned the Dwarven Sign Language.
Hogan nods at Seherab's plan.
Dwizzle claps his hands and smiles.
"I like it! Who'd have thought a group of dwarves would come up with such cunning plans! We outwit half our foes with trips to the markets!"
"Hmm. This might draw a few of them away, but more than likely it will just annoy them or provide them with a meal. We need humanoid bait to draw them away. Are any of you skilled at illusions? Perhaps we could buy a scroll or two and create the image of a desperate human wandering near the market and then running away. We will need to place ourselves where we can overlook the market and a sufficiently long road to get them running away. Maybe we can even set up a trap for them to run into, like a corral or a pit that opens up and swallows them."
Ankhef pauses for a moment to think "While undead are immune to patterns and phantasms, the various image spells should affect them normally, at least until they interact with them."
Dwizzle rubs his temples as he's reminded that these dead-walkers aren't the typical ones that would chase a chicken down the road and ignore the tasty flesh of the gnome dwarf that released the chicken.
"Perhaps we just face whatever packs intercept us head on!"
"We should lead them to an alleyway with a dead end and then trap them there. Brother."
With little else lingering in the air beyond silence and Hogan's, "Brother", Dwizzle swallows and gives a nod.
"The Paladin's Plan it is, then! Off to get their attention and to an alleyway!"
"We need something to block them off, Brother. Like barrels or boxes."
Ankhef nods, "There is much abandoned wreckage, finding some to make a blockage shouldn't be too tough."
"Then grab it so we can use it."
Happy to have direction, the silent member moves to grab wreckage under the direction of keener minds.
You find plenty of barrels and crates, though their contents have either spoiled or are absent. Most aren't very sturdy due to decay, but enough piled together could form a makeshift wall.
"Right, right. Let's block off one end and then I'll rig up some more barrels and things to drop down and block the other end off so they can't get out, at least not easily."
"Then we'll take position atop the building and Dwizzle can attract them with an illusion. Once they're in the alley, I'll close them in. We can take them out from above. Even if they try to climb at us, it should be hard for them. Make sure an escape route to the next building is available though, just in case."
"Agreed."
Ankhef nods.
Seherab spends the next several hours erecting up a barricade at one end of the alley and a falling Crate-and-Barrel trap to block the opposite. The amount of time taken is directly related to him trying to be as quiet as possible.
The rest of the Dwarven Envoy stays as lookouts on the roofs, clinging to the stoneworked areas on their bellies to avoid any possibility of detection. With a thumbs up, Seherab sends up news to Ankhef that the trap is complete and quickly hikes up to the roof with the others.
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While Seherab is finishing up the blockade Ankhef spends some time measuring out space in his head and preparing for the scam.
Alright, I can extend the illusion about 90 feet, shorter if I need it wider than 10 feet and I don't need to be anywhere near it. Ghost sound might help with the setup too, but that'll have to be more localized.
Ankhef will take a moment to explain his plan for the illusion and then baring any serious objection will implement it.
Once everybody is in place Ankhef will draw a small lump of wax and begin shaping it in his hands, as he does the light sound of scurrying comes from near the front of the alley, like a small group attempting to hide, but not being quiet as quiet as they hoped.
Of course there's nothing to find, Ankhef will just use this to support his minor image, half a dozen or so humans. Ones that look like they were once warriors but are now beaten and just desperate to escape. They'll be slowly sneaking further and further away from the alley, mostly appearing and disapearing behind debris until they are noticed and then they'll break cover and make a break for the alley.
Even from the distance, you can see the ears of the ghouls perk up as the light scratching and mumbling from the illusion seems to catch the attention of the mass of undead. The word spreads through the horde as they turn and see the tasty morsels near the alley.
Ankhef manipulates his fingers as if pulling on marionette strings as the injured warriors look crestfallen and they quickly retreat into the alley, replete with shouts of "DAMN!" and "F---!".
The mass of ghouls begin to leap and run as their tongues slaver. You can see trails of saliva left behind in the wake of the twenty or thirty ghouls as they leap over barrels, scale the sides of walls and skritch along the cobblestones.
Ankhef, masterfully manipulating his magicks, has the six men hide in the back of the alley as the horde bursts through the small opening.
As the pack is about to leap onto the men, Seherab gives a quick pull on a nearby cord.
Flick!
A small shiv is quickly pulled out from the mass of wooden detritus and the broken crates and shattered barrels plummet on the rearmost ghouls, crushing them as the rest of trapped by the plan. As they are trapped, the ghouls howl and cry out as they realize that the humans were just illusions and that there is no feast on this side of the newly formed wall, however you think that sticking around here for even a few more seconds would be death as the rest of the roving ghouls come to investigate.
Hogan nods. "This is our chance, brothers. Let's go!"
The dwarven envoy rapidly leaps from stair to stair as the race down the building's interior before rushing out the front door. The sounds of the undead are all around as you can see shuffling in the darkened alleys of the bazaar, but the group care little for that as they race on their short, stubby legs to the intended target.
Market stalls and small shops in various states of decay rise from the worn cobbles of this plaza. Rubble and bits of gnawed bone lie heaped in corners and the Windward Wend Oils Company is just ahead and you spy four ghouls scratching and sniffing around the door to the building.
With a large slam, Hogan takes his earthbreaker and smashes them down before they realize what has happened. One of them continues to moan, but Seherab quickly places a dagger into the brain cavity of the ghoul, ending its afterlife.
With a quickness, the group enters the building and a pungeant odor assaults them. The air in this shop smells of food heavily seasoned with coriander seed, garlic, and other spices, mingled with the earthy aroma of decay. Bright stains mar the gray wooden shelves on the walls. In the rear of the shop, a beaded curtain hangs over an opening that leads deeper into the building.
As you burst in, three human men leap to their feet. They don't appear injured, but their studded leather has a few rips and the maces in their hands are caked with blood. "Oi! Who are you?" yells one of them.
Ahkhef tries to answer as he catches his breath "Pahmet... We're trying... to deal with... the undead problem... We need to put the compasses back together."
"Are you fighting the undead or working for them? Tell us now! We've been sent by the church to stop this invasion. Are you with us?" Seherab keeps his hand close to his sword just in case he doesn't like their answer.
"Does it bloody look like we are having a f---ing tea party with the ghouls?" barks the same man. "D'ya think we just want to hang one of them fancy red ropes an' keep a queue fer em? That's why we kept em waiting outside, eh? Get yer bloody head on straight. No one works with the Sunset in Red." he spits.
"Now, who the f--- are you and why should we not kick you out? This is our building! We won the lottery fer this area!"
"We're tasked with fighting the undead invasion Brother. What lottery?"
Teos, concerned at the hostility in the room, shows his empty hands, mimicing gestures of peace.
With a quickness, the group enters the building...
Dwizzle stands, looking from curtain to entrance, to dwarf, to dwarf, to entrance, to dwarf.
"My... we certainly were faster than I'd expect there... I mean, for a bunch of dwarves, that is."
Returning his hat to his head, he wipes his brow and his eyes widen as he takes in the sight of the three men. He manages a flourish and a bow, trying to add to what Hogan and Seherab have already said, but with a little more charm and enthusiasm.
"Oh! Greetings good sirs. Ahem... Pardon my friends here, we have not yet made proper introductions, there is so little time for proper introductions what with all the moan, groan, brains lumbering about outside."
Clapping his hands together, Dwizzle smiles.
"Yes, well, you see, we're trying to put an end to all those shambling sorts outside. Bad for business you see, lottery officials that you are, or umm, part-time club owning entrepreneurs."
Dwizzle looks to the others for some sort of nod to acknowledge he's on the right track here.
"Well, anywho, yes, we're hear searching for a compass. Some sort of defense mechanism, and it would be wonderful if you could help us out... I'm sure that would be quicker, safer, and uhhh, healthier than the alternatives?"
"Ain't no compasses here, but the ones we brought." he states. "And you sure as hell aren't taking ours!" he adds.
Seherab moves his hand away from his sword. "Right. We're not trying to move in on your discoveries. But it'll be hard to continue and get your work out with all the undead around, right? Well, the Church has asked us to look into the matter. And there are these magical compasses that might help find the source of the undead outbreak. Now, have you seen or heard of any such thing? Or would you be willing to help us look for it?"
"Smartasses," he adds as an afterthought.
"We're just trying to make things better, Brother. So please help us."
In response to Hogan's diplomatic efforts the men appear to back down a bit. The speaker extends his free hand to Hogan and shakes before introducing himself. "My name's Date Palm. Tell me about this compass." says Date Palm as he rehooks the end of his mace to his belt.
As you explain, the other two guys appear bemused and it quickly becomes apparent why. "Ah, you were looking for that thing? We broke that down and sold it for a pretty penny." remarks Date Palm, adding. "And we were well within our rights as this is our area and those were valuable finds!"
Dwizzle was never a gnome to take a hint that he wasn't wanted around, or was taking the wrong approach to making a friend. Just as much, he wondered if the men were lying and just trying to avoid a dwarven-walloping today.
Regardless, he always wanted more friends.
"Yes, of course, that lottery. We'd uh, actually be interested in reassembling it, wouldn't we fellows?"
Dwizzle nods to the others, hoping he's on the right track now, but still looking for validation.
"You wouldn't happen to need any healing or uh, restorative services? Perhaps we could barter for a hastily scrawled list of your buyers. Bartering, of course, not being subjected to local taxes and such that would normally impede typical lottery-winning income?"
Ankhef comments "Look, nobody's saying this stuff ain't yours. What we are saying is we need to put the compass back together to seal with the undead uprising. I think you should make the deal with Dwizzle, I've been having a bad day."
Hogan shakes the man's hand.
"I know this is your area, but are you holding something back? Is something wrong?"
The silent monk, unable to vocally contribute to the discussions, takes a moment to simply look about - checking through cracks in the door to look outside and see if the ghouls having returned, looking at the men and room itself for any sign of oddities.
Teos looks around as he finds Hogan's words a bit odd, but the room appears to be a remnant of what it once was and there is little to be suspicious of in this room.
The men bristle at Hogan's accusation/understanding comment. "We are holding a lot back as we don't know you from a hole in the ground and we don't ask questions about our buyers. We just sell 'em." remarks Date Palm offensively.
Seherab speaks up at this time as he has given some thought to it after his encounter with the compass after retrieving the crystal core from the dragon's lair. "Aye, even if they had a list of buyers and we retrieved everything. I doubt that any of us could rebuild the thing, even if they were meticulous in breaking it apart."
"It was hard enough getting that last one back together. I think these fellas have really hurt our chances on this one." Seherab shakes his head and reconsiders. "You're right, you've no reason to trust us... except that we just chased that ghoul army away from your front door. You're welcome, by the way. Did I mention the Church of Pharasma sent us out here on this mission? You know, the same Church that held the lottery in the first place and has control over this whole district. But if you can't help us, you can't help us. I guess we'll be on our way. But if you'd like to get rid of the undead so you can get back to selling your wares instead of cowering in a hole, let us know anything you find out about these compasses or how to find the source of the undead." He then turns to leave, ready to let Date Palm ripen on his own a bit more.
Dwizzle crosses his arms, and gives a hmphh to punctuate Seherab's statements.
Now that's a proper dwarven argument!