Gilreg and the others woke up early and noticed a lot of activity from the zombies and specters in the tower. The creatures were bustling down the stairs. Gilreg was starting to recognize the subtle differences between ghouls and zombies. On appearances, the two were hard to tell apart. They were walking corpses, and that was where their similarities ended. Ghouls were faster and more intelligent and did not have blank eyes. Their glowing yellow eyes were calculating and hungry. A cruel hunger that Gilreg found discomforting.

“What is happening?” The warrior asked as his companions were up and packed.

“I can find out,” Nulrok said, and the mage moved his hands in front of him, fingers touching. A dark aura appeared, and the mage extended it toward one of the ghouls. The creature hesitated a moment and then bounded over to the group.

“Master?” It said, bowing to Nulrok.

Gilreg’s mouth opened in shock. Raine stared blankly. Booger didn’t even notice what had happened as the large prince searched for food. Shaymus fainted, and the small goblin fell to the floor as if she was hit with a tranquilizer dart. Nulork ordered the ghoul to tell them what was happening.

“A large force of adventurers are raiding the cemetery,” it hissed. The ghoul looked eager to leave. It wanted the chance to bite living flesh. Nulrok was stunned that he could sense its emotions. He let the spell drop, and the ghoul departed.

“That was cool,” Shaymus said, eying the mage with newfound respect.

“Do we aid the necromancer?” Gilreg asked.

“He seems capable without us. We have our mission,” Raine stated.

“I always enjoy a good fight. I vote we stay,” Booger said, hefting his large poleaxe.

“I got new toys I want to play with,” Shaymus said with a wicked grin while holding her blades.

Seeing that she was outnumbered, Raine joined in. “I suppose I could test my new bow,” she said and winked at Shaymus. The pale-eyed goblin cackled.

Chalal Von Issen came down the stairs. The flowing dark robes fluttered like smoke around his thin body. This time he carried a long, lean staff that was jet black in color. At the end was a fist-sized glowing purple orb. The group arrayed before him, armed and armored. Their full packs were set aside.

“You may have noticed that we have a bit of a problem this morning,” the necromancer said as a way of greeting.

“We are ready to fight,” Gilreg reported. This caused the dark mage to pause in surprise.

“I was just about to ask for your aid. This appears to be the largest Raid that we have ever experienced. I thank you.”

“What is the plan?” The goblin warrior asked.

“We wait and fight the adventurers that are able to make their way through the cemetery,” the necromancer answered.

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“What are they after?” Raine asked as she tested the string of her new bow.

“The cemetery houses numerous treasures. They could be wanting to enter any of the dozens of catacombs.”

“Has any of the adventurers ever made it inside the tower?” Gilreg asked.

“No! I would never let them defile my sanctuary!” Chalal exclaimed.

“Okay, someone is a little weird about their home where they let rotting corpses walk around in,” Shaymus mumbled, and Booger laughed out loud.

“What did you say?” The necromancer demanded of the demon-touched goblin.

“Nothing,” she answered with an innocent smile on her face.

“Have any of them ever made it to the tower?” Gilreg reworded his question.

“Very rarely. I defeat them in my courtyard outside.”

“That is not a defensible position,” Raine observed.

Gilreg was thinking. Strategies and ambush plans ran through his mind. He recalled the chamber where Salius and the vampire had ambushed them yesterday. The catacombs had narrow hallways, perfect for bottlenecking their attackers.

“Can we get a view from the top of your tower?” The warrior asked.

“I have a seeing sphere,” the necromancer answered. With a wave of Chalal’s arms, a skull-sized globe appeared. It flickered and then gave the party a view of the gates of the old cemetery where the adventurers were forming up to raid.

“We know him,” Raine said and pointed at a tall blonde human in full plate armor.

“Do you think he is after us?” Nulrok asked.

“You attracted this rabble?” Chalal demanded.

“He invaded our village. He was in search of the Chalice. I don’t know how he found us. I didn’t discern any magical tracking spells on the cup,” Nulrok explained.

“Let me see it,” the necromancer asked.

“We don’t have time. Can we hear what they are saying? The cleric is giving a sermon or speech. I want to hear if they are making a plan,” Gilreg asked. The necromancer tapped the globe, and the adventurer’s voice could be heard.

“We will rid the world of the evil that is Chalal Von Issen!” The cleric in the orb shouted.

“You are their quest item! I know how that feels,” Booger related to the necromancer.

“This is good,” Gilreg said, his hand on his chin as he thought.

“I disagree. I am the one that they are coming after.”

Gilreg paced the room. His arms crossed, with one hand on his chin, and his head was down. He turned around and walked back toward the others. A smile on his face.

“Chalal, can you direct us to the nearest catacomb that has a narrow entrance to a large chamber? Also, with a back exit for us to retreat if needed?” Gilreg asked.

“That is a very specific request. Fortunately, I know of one,” the necromancer replied. Chalal led the group out of the tower and to the entrance of a large catacomb.

The goblin warrior nodded and turned toward the others, and said, “Raine take a sack and gather as many materials you need for making traps. Shaymus will go with you. Nulrok and Booger go inside and find a defensible position.”

The goblins and the orc nodded and departed. Chalal stood by, surrounded by yellow-eyed ghouls. A steady stream of zombies was marching to engage the adventurers. Another thought came to Gilreg.

“Chalal, can you make some of the zombie’s eyes yellow?” He asked.

“Yes, but why?” the necromancer answered with a perplexed look on his pale face.

“So that they will look like ghouls, and the adventurers will waste extra resources and magical energies in destroying them.”

The necromancer nodded with a grin. Chalal waved his hands, mumbled an incantation, and bowed his head in concentration. Several zombies’ eyes turned yellow. They looked identical to the ghouls.

“Anything else?” The necromancer asked with annoyance, though he did see the value in the goblin’s stratagems.

“Yes, one last thing. We need to let the adventurers know where they can find you,” Gilreg said with a mischievous grin.