Chapter 16

Carl's group executes a deception plan to board the flying fortress Wasteland by posing as healers and servants. They present a resurrected zombie version of Wynne (the Commandant's uncle) to Leon, a Level 44 Negotiator gnome, while concealing Katia (disguised as furniture) and orchestrating a coordinated ambush with archers positioned for immediate attack once they board the balloon.

Carl opens loot boxes from defeating Ruckus, obtaining surefires and enchanted duct tape. He uses the tape to bind Wynne's resurrected corpse, which Donut has brought back for only thirty minutes via her Second Chance spell. The group departs the town with six archers, heading toward the descending Legate Balloon from the Wasteland. Leon, the gnome negotiator, arrives to verify Wynne's identity and negotiate his retrieval. Carl and Donut (using actress Katia's voice) claim to be healers and mechanics offering services in exchange for passage onto the Wasteland. They present a fake watch to satisfy Leon's demand for proof of identity. Throughout the encounter, Katia remains hidden as part of the chariot, and Firas kills the fake Henrik (actually Svern the changeling's corpse) to maintain the deception. Leon casts changeling-detection spells on the group, all passing. As Donut's resurrection spell expires mid-encounter, Katia regenerates Wynne's head unnoticed. Leon agrees to the deal, demanding Carl administer the "potion" (actually Mountain Dew) to calm the zombie gnome before boarding. Carl lifts the duct-taped Wynne onto his shoulder and trudges toward the basket with Donut, while Louis remains with the chariot and archers prepare to attack on signal.