The next morning was spent discussing plans with Wrendells guide Sallah. We asked about the Gravebinders and where they might be found. He told us of a local cemetery called the Necropolis which was a few hours walk. "I'm not going anywhere in this heat." said Lea. "I think I'll stay here and take advantage of the Mid-Morning-Massage. You boys take care, don't get sun stroke." By early afternoon we had left the city and took the Northern road up to the necropolis. It was at this point that Samba caught up with us with his tale of intrigue. He was taken to the Watch-house and put in the holding cell. Surrounded by the poor and the wretched he dazzled all in his presence with his light and wisdom. He recounted how everyone in the jail was enthralled by his words and had soon talked his way into the hearts of all those present. The guards actually released him when once the news of his glorious return had made it to the streets, and his followers returned him to a temple in his name. The Adelphi Lounge was a palace of luxury for like minded people to relax and unwind. Samba hosted a banquet and made multiple blessings then sadly a shadow was cast over the evening. The so-called leader of the Adelphi Club known as Apostle Bi-Ran offered his apartment up for Samba to rest during the night. During his sleep Samba felt an evil presence as if the cries of his followers woke him from his blissful dreams, and sure enough he was stirred from his sleep just as killers entered the room. Samba jumped up from his bed glowing brightly and rising up into the room and managed to strike awe into the would-be assassins. Bi-Ran shouted a curse at him but Samba resisted any harm and, so insulted, flew out the window, off into the darkness. He then spent the rest of the night at a quiet inn considering his next move and how to vanquish his new nemesis, the Turncoat Apostle, Bi-Ran. "Bi-Ran's dissidence will not go unanswered but I think it more prudent to deal with it unequivocally. I am going to need my most trusted allies in this. Right now though we have other issues to resolve. This matter with my blasphemous brother will wait." Ahead I saw the walls of the necropolis appear from the desert haze. "Lo. Our destination is at hand. Let me make a prayer of solemnity to those left behind. "Zee Row Wan Zee Row Zee Row Wan Wan Wan Wan Zee Row Wan Zee Row Zee Row Wan Wan Zee Row Wan Zee Row Wan Zee Row Zee Row Wan Wan Zee Row Wan." "The road is quiet today my friends." said Sallah. "Mourners usually would be in multitudes. Maybe the rumours of trouble in the underworld are valid." The gates to the Necropolis were standing open with a view of tombs and monuments receding up the hills in the distance. Entering the grounds, a palpable silence fell upon us. No prayer bells or wailing at all; Samba's banter seemed almost thunderous in contrast. I kept a close eye on our surroundings, half expecting a crow to be watching us again. Looking up, something caught my eye, a winged silhouette, then darkness. A mysterious hooting howling sound almost overwhelmed me as the cold of fear closed in. Someone screamed, "They're coming from the skies, watch out!" and the battle was on. I moved out from the darkness to see a flock of half a dozen humanoid owl monsters. Their screeching was deafening and the talons were devastating. We managed to defend ourselves and slowly defeated the harpies. First one then another fell but this only enraged the rest of the flock. Samba was savagely attacked and the Harpy picked him up in her claws and flew away to the west towards a tower where presumably the nest was. Chasing the harpies through the lanes we converged on the tower. Our archers peppered the harpies and another one fell screeching. Wrendell flew about smashing another. Samba was badly wounded but managed to take another one with eldritch blasts. I climbed the precarious tower to raid the nest for treasure and returned to the ground with a grand hoard of coins and a local holy symbol, the Ankh, cast in platinum. It looks very impressive now mounted on my breastplate. Once we had ourselves sorted we continued up the main road into the Necropolis. We started to notice another sound nearby and soon came across a Troll digging a grave. "Good day to you. We seek the wisdom of the Grave Binders but find the necropolis a dangerous place these days. Can you point us in the right direction?" "The Gravebinders eh? Hmm, They's a private bunch they is, though you seem like good folk. I saw the way you took care a dem Harpies. They've been a pain in me arse for a while now so I feel like I can trust ye. If ya want ta find em, their Hall is right down the West Road near the gate. And one more thing, you might want to talk to the sphinx if it's wisdom ye seek. Good luck, now let me get back to work, I need this finished before nightfall." We took the Western road and sure enough we reached the Hall of the Gravebinders. After a short meeting with one of their number and relating our story and purpose we were told some bad news. The power we sought, to be unseen by the dead, is nothing but legend. "Our skills are more limited than you wish." the gravebinder said. "We have troubles of our own that need resolving. The restless dead have stopped following the ancient codes and pacts that have been in place since the old days. Something has riled the ghouls and now they are becoming problematic. The elders here have made a valiant effort to research a path forward but to no avail as yet. Perhaps if you can assist us here in the Necropolis we could find some time to help you in your quest." It was decided that we needed to think about this prospect some more. We would return to Siwal and return to the Necropolis in a day or so with the aim of helping. We traveled back to the city to find Lea still in the guesthouse in a state of almost total relaxation. She lay on a chaise being fanned by bronze adonises eating dates and drinking wine. Upon our entry Lea looked over to the doorway. "Arrggh, Is that a cloud I sense descending on my silver lining?"
