Seeing Silthras help to warm food and drinks, Usul smiles and does the same, saying with a big smile "We learned a few things back training under a wizard."

Pondering approaching the town, Usul says, somewhat somberly "We can be quite quiet... and are willing to try to scout ahead. But... there are a lot of those...creatures... in there."

Silthras considers for a moment, his eyes flickering between the gnome and his mount.

"How quickly can you move? If -- or when -- they see you, you might be able to draw some away for us all to kill at our leisure, or if they all follow, allow us to get into the village -- then you could circle back and we could ambush them from within buildings and rooftops..."

His gaze settles on the large dog, "But that would depend on how far and how fast he could carry you."

Kal listens to the other two discuss their plans, watching the undead mill about the settlement. Idly, his hand goes to a pipe instrument hanging from a cord around his neck. "How musically inclined are you Usul?"

He lifts the pipes from around his neck, holding the Pipes of Haunting out to him. "If you can play them correctly, it should send the creatures running...If you're unable, lead them back to us if you're spotted. I should be able to frighten quite a few of them long enough for us to clean up the rest."

"Musical? Us?" Usul asks, laughing. "Not really at all! Though perhaps it'd be even more frightening if we played it poorly?! hah! Though... can these... things... even be frightened?"

Looking to Silthras he says thinking back "Even without Muad here..." patting his dog "we're pretty quick! Ya gotta be when the guards are chasing you!" He adds with a smirk.

Silthras:
Observing the small village closely, you're actually able to make out a thin smoke column in the air. You cannot directly see the building, but you estimate it's somewhere near the center of the village. While the undead are numerous, you can see conceivable paths through the village to travel undetected, if one is careful. You get the feeling that most any disturbance would almost certainly to bring hordes of the walking dead bearing down on you however.

Kal:
You can't really think of any reason why the undead couldn't be frightened. But it's not something you're absolutely certain on.

Silthras sits back on his haunches, obscured behind one of the trees they are using for cover.

"Well, that's tricky" he says.

Shaking his head, he glances at each of his companions in turn. "Looks like there may be people still alive. I guess that's good news, depending on your moral compass, and sense of self-presrvation."

"The bad news is that they are at the centre of town, surrounded by gods know how many undead."

His gaze settles once more on the gnome, "Usul...this may come down to you..." he sizes up the gnome, hoping the flippant facade is just that. His eyes move to Maud. He likes dogs. And  the dog seems to trust him. Always a good sign.

"I'm not saying this is a good plan, but...if we try to sneak we risk bringing the lot of them down on us and whatever survivors remain..." he grimaces and shakes his head, "But, if you sneak to a good -- and safe -- location, preferably in sight of the centre, then shoot in one of them with whatever in the hells that is you weild...then flee and eventually circle round, we may be able to get to the centre, and get whoever is there to help you make a speedy return...either that or the undead leader in the centre kills us both, and you ride back to Sybil and relate our sad fate..."

He shrugs, then grins rakishly, "I hope one of you has a better idea."

Listening closely, Usul nods and says "Being quiet is one thing we do very well. We may also be able to create a distraction that could help." Snapping his fingers a faint POP! sounds near by. "Either way, we need to find the entrance of the cave. If someone is still there, they can likely help direct us." Pausing for bit at the last thing Silthras said he replies somewhat hesitantly "do... do the undead we dealt with before have leaders?"

"Sybil did say they were starting to show tactical intelligence, using flanking attacks and ambushes in Silverfair. It's possible someone has taken control of them, though I'm not sure how likely it is that we find them in this settlement." 

Silthras nods, "I wouldn't like to guess if the intelligence behind them is another undead or, perhaps worse, one of the living who is working to an unknown purpose. Perhaps even the recently dead -- often soldiers -- bring their expertese...whatever it is, we have to hope they are not currently focussed on Feycrest..."

Nodding, Usul says “We shall keep our heads down and head to the smoke. Wait here.”

He then starts heading towards the town on Muad, keeping a close eye to his surroundings. Once he gets closer he gets down, looks to the dog and quietly says “Let me lead for now buddy. Stick close.” There is then a small scurry as the weasel that had been hidden under his cloak comes out and runs down his arm to perch himself on Muad’s head. “Dib, keep your nose and ears out. Let me know if something comes close.” He then approaches the town, staying low and behind bushes or trees until into the town. Once there, he tries to duck around buildings keeping himself low and as quiet as possible. His current goal is the house with the smoke coming from it, but will occasionally peak into windows to see if he sees anything interesting ((for Usul that’s things that are alive, or things that are shiny)). If it would be helpful, he would use Minor Illusion to create the sound of movement in the direction opposite where he is heading.

A wandering trio of undead forces Usul off the road before he can reach the town proper. Using the brush and trees available to him, the gnome is able to slip through the unfinished barricade on the east side of the town, just south of the road. Staying low, he hurries to the nearest building, a simple wood and stone construction with a thatch roof. It sits at a fork in town's road, one path heading southwest deeper into town, and another starting south around the outskirts.

Standing on his toes to peer inside the window, he would see a simple abode with few furnishings. Consisting of a single room, containing a bed, desk, some shelves, and a chest at the foot of the bed. On the opposite wall, you can see the door has been busted off of its hinges. Clothes, gear, and random objects are strewn across the floor - indications of a struggle. The chest at the foot of the bed is closed, and you can see it is secured by a simple iron lock. Dib begins digging his paws furiously into the gnome's hair, signalling Usul to duck beneath some bushes lined up against the home. A few moments later, there's a low groan as a pack of undead shuffle by on the road, heading south.

Seeing the chest, Usul looks around, and knows he could get into it, but feeling Dib warn him of the passing undead realizes that perhaps this isn’t the time. He makes note of the houses location if there is time and opportunity later, but continues towards the smoke.

After waiting for another group of undead to pass, Usul flits across the dirt road with haste, moving further west towards the town center. On the other side, he comes to the burned out husk of another residence. The east and north walls have completely collapsed, the stones blackened and covered in ash. It is similar in construction to the previous home, but this one contains no chest that you can see yet. Among the ashes spread across the floor, you can make out a set of charred bones.

Further to the west, you can see the cluster of buildings that must be the town center, and the column of chimney smoke rising high in the sky. To your dismay, the quickest path to the center is an open field and more undead, without so much as a shrub for cover. Buildings are clustered together more directly north of your current position though its difficult to know what may lie in wait. The road to the south looks like it may eventually wrap around to the town center, and on both sides it is flanked by trees, buildings, or more residences. But you've seen several small groups of undead shamble down that path already.

Taking a deep breath to help steady himself, Usul heads south. The longer, safer road is bar far the better choice than going straight in. And so far, with his magic and friends, he’s been able to stay clear of the roving bands to death. He keeps his head down and focuses on the road ahead for the time being.

Sprinting from hiding place to hiding place, Usul makes his way south, following the road but not quite traveling on it. He passes half a dozen buildings along the way, some with undead lumbering about inside, some with grisly scenes where townsfolk were caught off guard, or left with no where to run. After about ten minutes of careful travel(stopping to wait for undead to pass, or back tracking to find a safer way forward), he arrives in a small plaza.

Besides the road he followed in, the only other road is one that leads out slightly (north)west, towards the town center once more. This plaza seems to be where many merchants set up shop, you can see a smith shop, a general goods store, and a cobbler. A few undead wander aimlessly in the middle plaza, but your eyes are drawn to the southeast corner.

A sizeable number of the walking dead(you count at least fifteen) have gathered around a particular building, scratching at the door, walking along the exterior walls and banging on them. Peering closely, you are able to catch glimpses of a sign on the door through the sea of undead bodies, Mell's Apothecary.

Usul again makes note of this. Maybe there is someone still alive in there. Why else would they all be scratching at the door to get in? He then continues towards the square and the smoke.

Utilizing the shadows cast by the other buildings in the plaza, Usul creeps through until he's able to make it onto the northwestern road. He makes one final push towards the town center, the path to which is strangely empty of undead. There are a few wandering between buildings here and there, but nothing like the roaming bands seen earlier. Rounding a final corner, you finally come upon the source of the chimney smoke.

A building much larger than any other, multi-storied with a shingled roof and attached stables. Smoke rises from a chimney on the south side of it.  It doesn't take much brainpower to guess this is the town's inn. Currently facing the southeast corner of the building, you immediately become aware of two things. You can see few undead around the building's area, which is unexpected. The eastern edge of the town's center that you were able to glimpse earlier before entering the town appeared to be swimming in the living dead. By contrast, only a scant few pepper the space between you and the inn. All of the first floor windows that you can see have been boarded up. Secondly, you can see a face peering out from an open window on the second floor of the south wall. They appear to be looking at the direction you came from, but not directly at you. In fact, they don't seem to have noticed you.

Looking around him to ensure there aren’t any undead immediately around, Usul peeks his head out just a bit and looks towards the face behind the window. Reaching into a small pouch at his side he pulls out a small copper wire and sends a message to the person at the window. “Hallo!” And seeing the face jerk back in surprise adds “Ah sorry! We’re not dead! Not yet at least! Hehe.” As the face comes back to the window he says “We’re just outside. Look back. Down... to the right... yeah!” And once the face is looking back his direction he pops out of hiding just enough for the person to see him wave, and then ducks back down. He the adds “We come from Silverfair. We were sent to investigate the mines and saw your smoke. You seem to be the only one alive. Can you open a door so that we may come in and get warm and away from the zombies?”

There is a long pause, and then a young feminine voice speaks in a panicked whisper, "No! Don't come any closer! Reiner and Sammie are still out there, if you attract any of the zombies...They won't be able to make it back in safely." From the voice and features you can make out from this distance, you estimate this a human girl, around the age of twelve or thirteen.