There were indeed tools of nearly every shape and sort in Arthuro's bazaar.
The halfling warily looks around the fence's domain.
Dagobert starts to look but gets abruptly sidetracked by memories of the bats.
"Those little chaps were flying rats. I wonder if there's another way to deal with them."
He sinks into a rodent-filled reverie.
Returning to Arthuro's bazaar shows that The Fence is at least somewhat a man of his word. There is no sign of your previous struggles other than the faintest whiff of otyugh stench. Arthuro, however, is currently nowhere to be found.
Dannad's searching turns up a few useful tools that show signs of wear, but seem sturdy enough. These include a crowbar, a thin metal prybar, a shovel, and a pickaxe; all of a serviceable condition.
Hawkseer hefts the pickaxe, then silently holds it out toward Vandis.
Vandis accepts it and nods to someone to pick up the crowbar.
Galad picks up the crowbar.
Dannad picks up the prybar and slides it between his back and his pack.
"Now maybe we can see about takin' down that door...."
Galad attempts to heave the door out of his hinges and it creaks and groans with the effort. Several cracks begin to splinter the wood but the door stays solid.
Dagobert pokes experimentally. And gets in the way.
The door finally cracks and away from the hinges and splits into several pieces. Though the pieces are still held up by the bar on the other side, they can easily be moved out of the way.
With the barrier gone, several voices can be heard on the other side speaking in harsh whispers.
The harsh whispers come from raspy throats, only bits and pieces can be made out and it's what you could have suspected.
"Ya' hear that? They're comin'."
"Get ready, there's a lot of 'em."
"These the ones that killed..."
"Shhh, they'll hear ya'."
Hawkseer smiles.
"I think we've alerted the nest," mouths Dagobert.
The courtyard is muddy from the pouring rain. Bits of trash, broken bottles, and cast-off crates stand in the corners of the yard. A pair of double doors stands open at one end of the courtyard. In addition to the drum of the rain, you see several scraggly men hiding behind boxes and peering out at you.
Dagobert takes a quick look and shakes his head sadly, muttering to his friends
"Sad specimens, as poor humans as those rats were poor rats. It's a shame to hurt them."
Raising his voice, he adds for benefit of the scraggy listeners,
"We're engaged in a professional de-infestation operation. Are you going to be a nuisance, or just go away without interfering?"
"Just let 'em walk out o' here all scot free?" The halfling whispers. "If we weren't twixt 'em and the exit, I might could be convinced more toward it."
Fingering his knife, he watches from behind Vandis', the barbarian's larger form mostly shielding the small thief from view.
"Hope they're like that first lot if they don't take up your kind offer, Dag."
"They's spotted us!"
"What now?"
"We're supposed to kill 'em."
One of them peeks out over the boxes, brandishing a crowbar in his hand.
"Best be gettin' outta' here," he says. "We're meant to give you a wallop if you try anythin'."
"Seems like a standoff, then," Hawkseer answers calmly. "Any time you care to charge us is fine."
"Or you could just be on your way. I'm a noticing sort of chap and I've noticed that bad things are tending to happen to people who meet us. It would be very nice if someone showed a bit of sense. Rats wouldn't do this, you know," he adds to the world in general.
"Shut. Up. Dwarf."
"He's quite touchy. Foreign, you know."
"Maybe we'll just get Mother Zeb'oltha to take care o' ya'. She's not far, ya' know. Best just get outta' here before ya' get over yer' heads."
"Hmm. Thank you for the warning; that means we should dispense with you before she gets here." Turning to his allies, "Shall we?"
"Everything is always over my head. It's a genetic issue."
Vandis growls, both at Dagobert and the men.
Currently you are all outside, and the sun is rising further overhead. It is still obscured, however, by many rain clouds, and a slight drizzle has started up again.
The party prepares to take on the toughs, but the situation changes as the sounds of other voices from inside the warehouse can be heard near the door.
"They're here!"
"Get Zeb'oltha!"
UPDATED MAP (Click image for full scale)
Party Hit Points
Dannad
Galad
Beggar 1
Beggar 2
Beggar 3
Beggar 4
Beggar 5
Beggar 6
Beggar 7
Beggar 8
Beggar 9
Beggar 10
Hawkseer
Vandis
Dagobert
The spirit forms near the nearest beggar and slashes at him.
Dagobert peers through his taller comrades and observes the oncoming hordes with resignation.
"They just will not learn, will they? What a pity."
Dannad moves up and tosses a dagger to test B1's defenses and realizes B1 practically has no defenses, felling him instantly.
UPDATED MAP (Click image for full scale)
Party Hit Points
Galad
Beggar 2
Beggar 3
Beggar 4
Beggar 5
Beggar 6
Beggar 7
Beggar 8
Beggar 9
Beggar 10
Hawkseer
Vandis
Dagobert
Dannad
Several more men pour out of the warehouse to join their companions, though they quickly realize they're over their heads as the spirit companion takes swings at them with its' spectral sword as they run by.
B2, B3, and B6 attempt to damage the spirit companion but their weak attacks are useless.
B4 and B5 let out yelps as B1 goes down and start running for the stairs. B5 makes it to the door at the top and flings it open with B4 right behind him.
The remaining men run out of the warehouse but have no choice but to run through the spirit's defenses.
UPDATED MAP (Click image for full scale)
Party Hit Points
Hawkseer
Vandis
Dagobert
Dannad
Galad
Beggar 2
Beggar 3
Beggar 4
Beggar 5
Beggar 6
Beggar 7
Beggar 8
Beggar 9
Beggar 10
Galad's companion swings swiftly through the wave of oncoming bodies, chopping two of them down at the doorway. The rest circle around unharmed.
Hawkseer
Vandis
Dagobert
Dannad
Galad
Beggar 2
Beggar 3
Beggar 4
Beggar 5
Beggar 6
Beggar 7
Beggar 8
Hawkseer slips into the room and cuts down the begger that slipped around the spirit.