Ulysses pops the chest open with ease, but immediately wishes he'd paid closer attention as a hidden bolt fires and lodges deep into his shoulder just under the collarbone . True to form fir traps, it was definitely coated with something...
Whatever it was, Ulysses shakes it off.
Inside the chest, you find 20 small gold ingots, each bearing a seal. Each look to be worth 25gp.
You find a magical headband stuffed inside the dead hornet's nest.
".... ow."
"Headband! HEADBAND! These are always good. Nevai, any ideas?"
Nevai concentrates on the headband.
He sighs and shakes his head. "I am not very good at this."
"Oooh!" Filibus exclaims, plucking up an ingot and inspecting it. "The seal of the Keleshite sultan in charge of the Osirian Satrapy during the Plague of Madness! Damn, what was that guy's name?" He drifts off into mutterings, listing off half a dozen Keleshite names and immediately discarding them with a shake of his head as the group leaves to look at the final room in the House of Pentheru.
As soon as you open the doors, the smell of rot immediately strikes your nostrils. The walls of the room are decorated with a scenic vista of a river valley running through a desert, resplendent with verdant life and greenery near the shores. Only a few pieces of lacquered furniture remain in the chamber. A faint, musty odor of decomposed wood and fabric lingers somewhere under the more pungent scent of decaying flesh. Sprawled against the far corner is a headless corpse in an advanced state of decomposition.
This body is not very old. In fact, he seems to have died within the past year or so.
Clumps of hair are scattered around the stump of the neck on the body. The flesh around the neck is soft and weak, like the corpse downstairs.
Putting two and two together, you realize both this corpse and the one downstairs fell victim to the vargouille's Kiss. One of the three vargouilles you fought infected them and they succumbed. Perhaps the div's compulsion powers coerced them to stay instead of find help for their infection.
On the body, you find basic breaking-and-entering equipment, including 50 feet of hemp rope, a grappling hook, and basic thieves' tools. There is also a wedding band on his left hand.
The band is worth 50gp, but you notice an inscription inside: "To Akar from Panhet, love eternal."
Nevai drops a spell to cast cure moderate wounds on Ulysses.
He glances at the corpse to see if he can determine what in the world happened here.
Ulysses smiles and winks at Nevai.
Ulysses looks at the body thoughtfully. "So we have two beheaded bodies that are less than a year old, a shrine defiled with Abyssal writing, and a div and its minions taking up residence. I feel like there is some connection that I am missing." He looks at the ring's inscription again. "Nevai, do these names mean anything to you?"
Nevai shrugs. "That his name is Akar, and he has a wife. Perhaps one who would be grateful to know of her significant other's fate."
Ulysses rolls his eyes. "Most enlightening. Thank you. Let's go to the temple."
Nevai glares at the gnome. "What exactly were you expecting to learn from a wedding band, gnome? The secrets of the Multiverse?"
He storms off down the stairs.
The party makes their way out of the House of Pentheru. Nevai stops to check on the gathered corpses from the estate's first floor, which he neglected to mention to the Voices of the Spire yesterday; he makes a mental note to do that this time, since it's the only way to destroy that haunt.
It is late afternoon as you make your way toward the main gates of Vizier Hill, the high sun cooking the desert city. As the badly wounded and diseased group grumbles and slouches through the imposing heat, the sounds of battle carry to you from nearby. You are already fairly near; the smell of rot reaches your nostrils even from this far away. Rounding a corner, you see a whole mess of ghouls accosting an adventuring party. It doesn't take you long to figure out which one: a large-brimmed, befeathered purple hat stands out among the living participants in the battle. Apparently the Scorched Hand has run afoul of an impressive pack of ghouls; you see at least a dozen. They appear to be holding their own for now, but surely such numbers will overwhelm them? Neither the Scorched Hand nor their adversaries seem to have noticed you yet.
Among the grunts and shouts, you can just barely hear a "Haha!" and a "En guarde, you filthy creature!" For some reason, Falto is in that mix somewhere as well. You don't see or hear any of his other party members, though.
A look of raw hatred comes over Melech's face. "Ghouls. Let's go." He pulls a holy water out of his bandolier and hands it to Ulysses, then turns to begin running in that direction, not really waiting for any objections.
Dammit, I have nothing left.
He grabs the holy water from Melech, shoots a worried look at Nevai and Filibus, and begins following Melech as quickly as he can.
Nevai doesn't even see Ulysses' concern. As soon as Melech says "ghouls," his holy symbol is in hand and he's following the slayer into the fray.
A quick glance shows that none of the nearby creatures are ghasts, which is good, but he also knows that this many ghouls together means a nest, and a nest means at least one ghast in charge, so there is more than likely at least one on the field somewhere. Ghouls have lots of fun abilities, like paralyzing you with their touch, or spreading ghoul fever via their bite. And while none of their attacks do huge amounts of damage, three attacks per round means they can turn the average person into shredded beef in no time. Overall, one ghoul can be dangerous. This many is terrifying. But you're pretty sure at least one of the Scorched Hand's number had the vestments of a cleric of Nethys, and Nevai still has plenty of positive energy left to channel. Easy peasy... Right?
As Melech and Ulysses close, of the ghouls hiss and come bounding toward you.
[color=green]
Nevai (24/27 hp, lookin rough)
Melech (30/37 hp)
Filibus (0 dmg)
Ghoul 1 (0 dmg)
Ghoul 2 (0 dmg)
Ulysses (23/24 hp)
Ghoul 3 (0 dmg)
Ghoul 4 (0 dmg)
[/color]
Melech steps up to the ghoul nearest him, sneering at the abomination.
The ghoul doesn't quite explode, but it's a near thing. Melech cleaves all the way down from the collarbone to the pelvic bone of the ghoul, both bifurcated halves sizzling, popping, and smoking, as the ghoul dies in horrid, screaming agony cut short by its lungs being severed.
Nevai has some serious frustration to vent. He looks incredibly pallid, and a couple strands of hair drift off his pate as he walks. He more stumbles than strides forward into the pack of ghouls and unleashes Horus' blazing fury against the monsters with a furious bellow.
Nevai's holy symbol bursts like powerful light glinting off polished metal, and the ghouls within a 30-foot radius all shriek as their skin begins to boil and cook. Two of them look badly blackened by the energy; their necromantic resistances did nothing against the onslaught. The other ones all took less damage however. Three of the ghouls attacking the Scorched Hand--all of them with burn marks on them--turn to look at the newcomers with a hiss. Two of them disengage and come at the party.
Filibus moves up next to Melech and fires his crossbow at #2, lodging a bolt directly in its throat. It clearly wounded it, but it seems unperturbed by that fact.
The ghoul with the crossbow bolt in his throat lumbers away from Nevai and moves up to Filibus to bite him. It takes a chunk out of his shoulder and the wound looks nasty. Filibus immediately seizes up with a groaning whimper of "Aw, not again..."
[color=green]
Nevai (24/27 hp, lookin rough)
Melech (30/37 hp, infected wound)
Filibus (9 dmg, infected wound, still sick?, diseased, paralyzed 3 rounds, f&~+ this one guy in particular I guess)
Ghoul 1 (18 dmg, so ded zomg)
Ghoul 2 (8 dmg)
Ulysses (23/24 hp)
Ghoul 3 (4 dmg)
Ghoul 4 (8 dmg)
Ghoul 5 (8 dmg)
Ghoul 6 (4 dmg)
[/color]
Ulysses thinks Melech has his single ghoul handled, so he runs toward Nevai instead, mentally taking inventory of what he can possibly do as he goes.
This holy water, a couple of grenades, and... a crossbow. Yikes.
Two ghouls descend on Nevai and unleash their terrified fury on him, but the cleric manages to fend off all but one claw.
Its paralyzing touch starts to make his muscles seize but he fights through it!
Two more disengage from the warrior woman from the Scorched Hand (Idorii, you think her name was), prompting her to swipe at both. Only one hits, but her khopesh swipes off its head in an almost disdainful fashion before she returns to the fight in front of her.
The remaining ghoul takes a bite at Nevai.
The ghoul rips into his arm, tearing out a huge chunk of muscle on the way out. Nevai screams in agony.
His scream is cut short as his throat begins to clench from the paralysis. He is paralyzed for rounds.
[color=green]
Nevai (18/27 hp, lookin rough, diseased, paralyzed 5 rounds)
Melech (30/37 hp, infected wound)
Filibus (9 dmg, infected wound, still sick?, diseased, paralyzed 3 rounds, f!#& this one guy in particular)
Ghoul 1 (18 dmg, so ded zomg)
Ghoul 2 (8 dmg)
Ulysses (23/24 hp)
Ghoul 3 (4 dmg)
Ghoul 4 (8 dmg)
Ghoul 5 (18 dmg, ded)
Ghoul 6 (4 dmg)
[/color]
On the other side of the battlefield, Khelru unleashes a wave of positive energy and one of the ghouls that was already injured falls to the ground, screaming as it burns with divine fire. The one flanked by Idorii and Khelru falls to the ground in six pieces as she unleashes her khopesh and kukri on it. Azaz blasts a spell through a doorway outside of the party's view. Velriana glances toward the sound of additional battle and eyes your group warily before returning her attention to the ghoul between her and another figure you can't see. This ghoul looks bigger and nastier than the others; a ghast, for sure! She aims her wand at the creature, ignoring its clumsy swipe at her that bounces off some magical barrier, and unleashes a ray of pure flame on it. It roars at her and swipes again, but can't seem to penetrate her defenses.
From the other side of Velriana, a familiar voice challenges the beast with, "En guarde, you fiend! Haha!" as a rapier pokes into view and stabs the ghast in the back. What in the Nine Hells is Falto doing here??
Melech does not take the time to study the ghoul in front of him because he needs to get to Nevai before he is overwhelmed. He also pulls back on the power a little bit to gain a little accuracy; he doesn't think it will take much to kill this one after Nevai's channel.
On the bright side, Melech has drawn the creature's attention away from the easy prey to the dangerous slayer right next to it. The creature unleashes its teeth and claws against the slayer but only the bite hits. Unfortunately, Melech knows that's the worst of the attacks to get hit by.
Melech not only feels something burning in the wound, but he suddenly goes as rigid as Filibus and Nevai...
[color=green]
Nevai (18/27 hp, lookin rough, diseased, paralyzed 5 rounds)
Melech (23/37 hp, infected wound)
Filibus (9 dmg, infected wound, still sick?, diseased, paralyzed 3 rounds, f$*~ this one guy in particular)
Ghoul 1 (18 dmg, so ded zomg)
Ghoul 2 (8 dmg)
Ulysses (23/24 hp)
Ghoul 3 (4 dmg)
Ghoul 4 (8 dmg)
Ghoul 5 (18 dmg, ded)
Ghoul 6 (4 dmg)
[/color]
Ulysses can feel the fight slipping away. He desperately searches his bandolier and pockets and pouches and is amazed to find that he does have the materials for one more bomb. Maybe Nevai won't die today!
He aims for the one closest to him. The one on the other side of Nevai would be better because it would hit all three ghouls but it is more important to hit some of them than to risk missing all of them.
The bomb strikes true, and rips one of the ghouls to shreds. It is still up, but hanging on by a thread. The one next to it avoids the worst of the splash damage but is still looking rough.
The ghoul takes a look at the tiny creature that nearly gave it the Final Death, and screams in rage and fear before bolting off down an alleyway to flee for its unlife.
The other one hisses at Ulysses and runs up to swipe at him, but it doesn't even get close to the alchemist. He sidesteps the attack easily.
The third ghoul on Nevai looks around. No enemies immediately near it. A paralyzed prey next to it. A wicked grin spreads across its pale, hideously stretched face, and it licks the cleric's neck, as if tasting a delicacy before digging in, then viciously tears its claws across Nevai's throat.
The aasimar's eyes go wide as the claws take a massive chunk out of his neck, so large that his head wobbles as the muscles holding up his spine are almost entirely gone. Great arterial spurts of bright red blood erupt from the wound as the cleric falls to the ground dead.
The ghoul chuckles sinisterly and licks the gore off its disgusting yellow talons.
Further off, Khelru sends out another burst that destroys another ghoul. He glances questioningly at Idorii before nodding in the party's direction. She shrugs and moves forward to rip into the ghoul attacking Ulysses. She doesn't get the flank but still hits with ease and cuts the ghoul in half with her khopesh. Azaz turns his attention to the ghoul next to Velriana and a bolt of force flies out to strike it. A rapier carves into the ghast and pierces something vital, and the creature falls. Velriana steps away from the remaining ghoul and blasts it with another ray of fire, and it collapses.
[color=green]
Nevai (dead)
Melech (23/37 hp, infected wound)
Filibus (9 dmg, infected wound, still sick?, diseased, paralyzed 1 round, f%#* this one guy in particular)
Ghoul 1 (18 dmg, so ded zomg)
Ghoul 2 (8 dmg)
Ulysses (23/24 hp)
Ghoul 3 (12 dmg, fled)
Ghoul 4 (8 dmg)
Ghoul 5 (18 dmg, dead)
Ghoul 6 (16 dmg, dead)
[/color]
Melech screams in anger and frustration, knowing a kill when he sees one, and swings his falchion almost recklessly at the ghoul in front of him.
Filibus' fingers and eye twitch spastically, and finally he stiffly moves his limbs.
The ghoul who murdered Nevai turns its claws and fangs against Melech, but is immediately disheartened to realize the slayer is not so easy to kill; his armor protects him from the whirlwind of the ghoul's attacks.
[color=green]
Nevai (dead)
Melech (23/37 hp, infected wound)
Filibus (9 dmg, infected wound, still sick?, diseased)
Ghoul 1 (18 dmg, so ded zomg)
Ghoul 2 (23 dmg, dead)
Ulysses (23/24 hp)
Ghoul 3 (12 dmg, fled)
Ghoul 4 (8 dmg)
Ghoul 5 (18 dmg, dead)
Ghoul 6 (16 dmg, dead)
[/color]
Ulysses moves forward and throws the holy water at #4.
The holy water strikes the ghoul directly in the face with divine force; perhaps Horus Himself guided your hand to enact divine vengeance for His servant's brutal death, but the holy water strikes the ghoul's face like a hammer blow, and its face goes concave as it ignites in blue-white fire. It claws at its ruined face as it gurgles some horrid attempt to scream and collapses to the ground.
Idorii gives the gnome an appraising glance before hustling back toward her party, drawing a chakram as she goes and lobbing it at the remaining ghoul. There is a wet squelching noise as the chakram lodges in its guts and the fiend falls dead to the ground.
COMBAT OVER!
The dust finally settles, and the combatants all take stock. Falto saunters over, laughing jovially as he wipes off his rapier with a dirty cloth. "Well! That was bracing, eh frien--" He stops when he sees the cleric's corpse, and all the color drains from his face. "Oh, gods," he whispers.
Khelru hustles up after checking to make sure Azaz is okay, but it's clear from his face that he saw the kill and already knows what he's going to see. He gently closes Nevai's eyes and places the aasimar's hands over the holy symbol on his chest, the sacred Eye of Horus. "May Anubis judge you well, friend," he says sadly. He glances at Melech and Ulysses. "I am sorry for your loss. I thank you for your intervention; it may have gone poorly for us had you not."
Idorii looks awkwardly at the duo, as if she knows she should say some platitude but has absolutely no idea what aught to be said, so she heads off to fetch her chakram from the ghoul corpse.
Velriana doesn't come over; she barely even registers that she realizes Nevai is dead. She glances disdainfully at the corpse before she sheathes her wand and moves from ghoul to ghoul, taking pieces of their tattered clothing from each one.
Melech drops his falchion and drops to his knees next to Nevai. He takes the cleric's hand in both of his and whispers, "I am sorry, my friend. May the Lady guide your soul to its final rest." He kneels there a few moments longer, then kisses the back of Nevai's hand and places it back on his chest. He grabs his falchion and stands, fury behind his eyes. He doesn't answer Khelru, instead asking, "Is there a temple of Horus in the city?"
Ulysses looks anywhere but down at Nevai. He has never been comfortable around death, and he certainly doesn't know what to say. Once the shock of the violence and suddenness of Nevai's death passed, his brain immediately went to questions like what are we going to do for healing? He knows that isn't the "right" reaction, but he also knows that he isn't going to change after 107 years.
Instead, he looks to the others. "What happened?"
Holding Nevai's hand, Melech thinks back to another hand held many years ago, one held even more tenderly, that was ripped from his grasp by a violent and cruel master. A lovely face never to be seen again.
And now another face, torn from his life too soon. Will everyone he knows die before him? Is this his fate?
Khelru shakes his head at Melech's question. "A small shrine is all there is, to my knowledge. I believe there is a proper temple in Sothis, but in Wati, no. The shrine is in the Brickworks, I think. Odd place for a shrine to the god of rulership, but time has not been kind to the old gods." He falls silently introspective at his own words.
When Ulysses asks what happened, Falto looks absolutely stricken. "This... this is all my fault... My group stumbled upon a massive ghoul's nest under the brewery we were exploring and we were separated. I tried to lead them away and toward the main gates, but I got turned around, ran smack into these fellows on their way back from their own site. If I had just gone to the main gate and not got my idiot self lost..." He looks on the verge of tears. "I... I'm sorry..." He wanders away, looking absolutely miserable.
Velriana comes up and doesn't even look at the party. "We should move. No telling if more will come, and it's going to take us at least an hour to make our way out of the city. We don't want to be trapped in here after sunset or we'll all share the same fate." She doesn't ask if the others are ready; she simply begins striding away, toward the exit of Vizier Hill. Idorii falls in next to her. Khelru frowns at her retreating form, but not out of anger; he appears pensive about something. Finally he turns back to Melech and Ulysses. "If you will permit us, Azaz and I will be happy to help carry your friend out and to the Grand Mausoleum."
Azaz looks momentarily surprised that he was volunteered, then grudgingly nods.
Melech shakes his head and holds his hand up to Azaz. "No. Thank you, but I must do this." He sheathes his falchion, then kneels next to Nevai and nods to Khelru.
It is a slow progression to reach the gates of the Dead City, but you manage to do so before sunset. As you close on the gates, you can hear the sound of angry shouting. It soon becomes apparent why: a fair-sized crowd of citizens have gathered at the necropolis gates, and appear to be on the verge of rioting. The ire seems directed at the Voices of the Spire guarding the gates, of which there are several more than there were when you entered this morning.
Four of them break off as you approach. Two you recognize from the group that tried to arrest you the other day. If any of the previous animosity remains, they are doing a fine job of not showing it. As soon as they see the body, they glance meaningfully at each other. "We are sorry for your loss, but... There is a problem. You will not be able to reach the Grand Mausoleum to take your friend there. This mob is a fraction of what surrounds the Mausoleum. We are doing our best to keep order, but even we cannot reach our headquarters due to the lockdown. The city is about to riot."
A second Voice nods. Her jet-black hair is cut into an ugly bowl, which seems wildly out-of-place with her strong, handsome features. She is clearly younger and less experienced than the other three. "It's bad. The city guard are trying to keep the people from swarming the place and burning it to the ground. People are angry at the destruction being caused by so many foreigners in our city. Ironoic, considering what they want to do in response."
One of the older Voices gently chides, "That is enough, Bal Themm. Our job is not to speculate, but protect the dead." He turns to Melech. "If you will allow us, we will guard your friend. We have magics to preserve his form so he does not begin to decompose before he has been prepared for burial. Bal Themm and Hiram Tulsa will guide you through the crowd. Once you are on the other side, they should leave you unmolested, but I do not trust them to do something foolish in their anger as you pass through."
Melech looks from the Voices to the gathered crowd to his companions, trying to figure some way, any way that they can take Nevai with them. Finally, his shoulders slump in acceptance. "It seems we have no choice. Thank you for watching over him; he died fighting a nest of ghouls. We will return when this unrest has quieted down to retrieve him."
After leaving Nevai's body, Melech remembers something. "Oh. Nevai said he needed to tell the Voices about a haunt at the Pentheru house. There are guards' bodies there that must be given a proper burial to put the haunt to rest. Do not enter through the front door! That triggers the haunt. We placed all the bodies together, so with luck, they simply need to be gathered and buried." He looks to where Nevai rests. "I hope that I am not forgetting anything. Filibus?"
Filibus looks up from staring blankly at their companion's body. "Huh? Oh. Uh. No. I don't think so."
The historian still looks absolutely terrible. Between his usual bright red sunburns, his skin is deathly pale, and he is sweating even more than usual. He only just got bitten by the ghouls, so if he contracted ghoul fever he wouldn't be showing symptoms yet. And so far as you could tell, the vargouilles were unable to infect him with their Kiss.
Combined with his vomiting during the vargouille attack, your first thought is that he's having an allergic reaction to contact with the vargouille. While extremely uncommon, it's not unheard of. You suspect with a few herbs and salves you could remedy his symptoms.
The younger Voice nods. "I understand your hesitation. You will not need to come back to the gates to retrieve him. The moment the way back into the Grand Mausoleum is open, we will bring him there so you may prepare him for interment as you wish. If you leave us the inn where you stay, we will send word as soon as that happens."
Once Melech gives her the information, Bal and one of the other Voices lead the group out of the necropolis and through the crowd. Falto and the Scorched Hand remain silent throughout, but it's clear they are eager to be out of the necropolis and back into the city proper. As you pass through the crowd, they shout and jeer at you, screaming "Interlopers!" "Despoilers!" and "Grave robbers!"
The Voices actually draw their weapons, commanding "Back! Now!" The citizens of Wati reluctantly acquiesce, but they continue their angry taunts and vitriol.
When the party is well away from the crowd, the Voices bow and return to their posts. Velriana walks away as if absolutely nothing has happened, and after a moment of consideration, Idorii falls in behind her. Azaz quickly follows suit. Khelru holds back a moment, however, frowning at the retreating backs of his companions. "Forgive our leader's callus demeanor. She is a foreigner, and doesn't understand the sacred importance of funeral rites. Again, you have my deepest condolences." He gives the trio an appraising glance before adding, "You all look in desperate need of powerful healing. Unfortunately it sounds like no one is getting near the Grand Mausoleum right now. I suggest heading to the Sanctum of Silver and Gold in the Sunburst Market. Abadar's faithful are certainly not likely to give you any discounts, but on the upside, they are also probably not surrounded by an angry mob." He shrugs. "Good luck, friends."
Falto stares at the Scorched Hand as they retreat into the bustle of people on the street, some of whom pause to stare at the angry mob not far from you, but most of whom seem to be actively ignoring it as if hoping the embarrassment will go away. The rake turns his bloodshot eyes to you, but can't look anyone directly in the eye. "I'm going to the Tooth and Hookah. See if I can find the rest of my team. I... I need a drink."
Filibus nods. "Oh gods, me too. But we should look into some healing first. These infected wounds are freaking me out a little."
Falto gives a half-hearted wave and slouches away, loosely following the Scorched Hand back to the Tooth and Hookah.
The three of you now stand alone, despite being surrounded by dozens of people bustling from one place to another, chatting energetically or hiding their faces under veils and scarves as they slink from one location to another, the party has never felt quite so alone. Yet the whole experience has also left them feeling... enlightened somehow. Stronger. Levely-er.
"Let's go to the Sanctum. Hopefully they can help us with these... ailments." He appraises Filibus. "I feel terrible, and you look even worse. We need to get this taken care of, whatever the cost."
Filibus waves a distracted hand. "Oh, don't worry about me. I have a little money saved up, I'll get myself sorted. You guys just worry about yourselves."
When you arrive at the Sanctum of Silver and Gold, it's not quite the building you were expecting. It looks to have had dozens of renovations over the decades, with wings being added, then abandoned, then reopened and expanded, giving the building an asymmetrical, disjointed look that is not in the least bit pleasing to the eye.
While there is no mob on the verge of rioting here, there are a fair handful of angry merchants, loudly complaining to a man at the top of the steps leading to the gold-trimmed double doors of the temple. He is an Osirian man in his mid to late sixties, with a mop of silver and white hair and sun-baked skin. His ears reach slight points, indicating his half-elf heritage. Crow's feet spread from his small, tired eyes as he listens as patiently as he can to everyone's complaints. The general consensus is "adventurers are killing the economy by flooding it with treasure."
After a moment he raises his hands. "Please, friends, be calm. I know it is frustrating, but the market will return to normal in time, and our economy will have benefited immensely from the Ruby Prince's decree. It already happened once, do you recall? Seven years ago, when he opened the sites south of Sothis, a similar influx caused a fair hiccup in the local markets there for a few weeks, but in the end the market came back stronger. The same will happen here; you must be patient."
"But some bloody Chelish nutter nearly burned down my stall with his magic! They're a menace!" Some angry muttering of agreement follows.
The man nods soberly. "Indeed. I understand, I really do. But the foreigners will also trickle out in time, and leave the great profits of culture and money behind when they do. As to any destruction to your property, you should absolutely let the Precint of Left Eyes know. Give a full and detailed description; don't just say 'some Chelish nutter.' While accurate, it is not helpful." There is a small round of chuckling at this. "A free market sometimes means fluctuations not in your favor, it is true. But you must trust in Abadar's wisdom, that the scales will balance in your favor again in due time. Thank you, all."
With this, the crowd begins to disperse. A few still look salty, but most of them appear to be mollified. The man notices your approach and waves you forward. "Ah, speaking of adventurers! My, you lot look like you have seen better days. Where are my manners? I am Anok Tejuht. I am more or less in charge here. Now, let me take a look at you."
He looks over each of you in turn with a scrutinizing eye. "Mmhmm. Vargouilles, right? We've had a few vargouille attacks in town over the years. Not surprised they were hiding out in the necropolis; explains why the city guard never seemed to be able to nip them in the bud no matter how many were caught and destroyed. I think I can help with those bites." He checks Melech's lymph nodes and pupils. "Say 'ah'... Oof. And ghoul fever? You've been through the wringer, for sure. Come on in, we'll get you all sorted." He leads you into the temple.
You enter into a large, spacious entry hall, with several desks set up along the outsides where bankers are busily counting coins or helping people with monetary exchanges, letters of credit, and other matters of money. The walls are green marble with silvery-white veins running through them. Two rows of marble columns trimmed with an exorbitant amount of gold hold up the ceiling high overhead. Considering the bizarre hodgepodge of architecture outside, the entry hall is surprisingly ostentatious--much closer to what you'd expect from a temple of Abadar than its exterior.
Anok leads Melech and Filibus into separate rooms. He calls on an acolyte to tend to Filibus, but sees to Melech himself. "Tough infection to break, that varg bite. I'd best handle it myself." On the very first try, Anok's channeled energy manages to burn out the potent extraplanar infection and the bites seal up.
He then checks you over with a spell. "Just making sure I'm right and it's ghoul fever, one moment..." He frowns, running a hand over your chest. "That can't be right. You have two diseases. And the other is..." He looks up at you incredulously. "How in the world did you contract a two thousand-year-old disease?" He shakes his head, clearly incredulous. "Well, one spell should still do the trick."
He mutters an incantation, and you feel a burning sensation in your mind and your gut. It becomes almost unbearably uncomfortable before finally fading away. He scans you over again and nods. "Got it. I suggest picking up a few antiplagues from our stores before you leave. You seem to be running into all kinds of odd diseases in the necropolis. Hopefully your fellow adventurers are as diligent about seeing us as you; we don't need a new Plague of Madness spreading through Wati."
Melech looks at Anok sheepishly. "I rolled a natural 1 on my save. A haunted wedding ring. When I picked it up, it overtook me and my compani... oh s%!!! The ring is still on Nevai's body! I hope the Voices don't go through his stuff." He shoots Ulysses a worried look. "I suppose we couldn't get it to the Mausoleum today anyway, and I certainly don't want to carry it around. It may actually be safest with Nevai for now; we just have to hope the Voices are honorable and will refrain from looting the dead."
He pays and thanks Anok, then gathers Filibus and Ulysses to head out. "We can't get to the Mausoleum to turn in our findings and get a new assignment, so I suppose we should try to do some shopping?"
Ulysses nods. "Those merchants seemed pretty angry, but I am sure I can make them see reason." He flashes his biggest Ulysses smile.
Anok shakes his head at Melech. "While I mostly agree with our honored Pharaoh's decree, it has certainly had unexpected consequences. But where there is a problem, there is an opportunity to solve it, as my dear mother used to say. As to the Voices, I would sooner bet on a Taldan noble giving away all his worldly possessions than a Voice of the Spire despoiling the dead." He frowns and purses his lips. "Then again, I would have said the same thing about the necropolis being opened up for exploration to foreigners. Strange times. Still, I think your friend's possessions are probably safe. And my condolences for your loss."
At Ulysses' words, he chuckles. "Indeed? Well, I wish you luck on that. I've heard it's quite hard to unload the items found in the tombs at the moment, and it probably will get worse before it gets better. Nature of the market, you know. But, ehm..." He clears his throat. "Look, try not to spread this around just yet. But I've been in discussion with Ptemenib, an elder priest of the Grand Mausoleum, to set up an auction to move some of these goods. I want as much as anyone for these relics to remain in Osirian hands, and with the market flooded at the moment, some of these items may be taken off to Avistan or gods-know-where. I had the thought that a private auction can help move some of the more expensive items. Granted, most of that money will go into the hands of the wealthier Houses in Wati, but at the very least it will stay in the city. And like as not most of it will land in the hands of the Okhentis, and they're rather loose with their expenditures. It should make its way back into the economy quick enough."
He digs up a scroll of parchment from a nearby desk and scribbles quickly onto it, signs it, then folds it up and seals it with a lump of soft colored wax nearby. The symbol is that of the golden scales of Abadar. He hands it to Ulysses. "After the explorations have completed, look for Ptemenib. He's an older gent at the Grand Mausoleum. He's hard to miss--he's a bit, erm... touched. Some say Pharasma talks to him. I don't know about that, but regardless he's harmless. Give him this and tell him you wish to engage in the auction. At the very least you should be able to get standard market price for some of your heftier finds. And who knows, you may get more!"
He claps his hands. "Well, I have a great many things to get to, but it was a genuine pleasure to meet you, gentlemen. I hope the rest of your explorations treat you better. I will offer a prayer to Pharasma that your friend's passage is a gentle one." He bows deeply, then heads out.
Melech thanks Anok and they leave. "I suppose we should at least try to sell some of what we've found. Maybe the magical armor?"
"Whatever we do, I need to stock back up on alchemical supplies. That house used up near everything I had."
"Now that I'm feeling better, I'm going to go find a drink. I need it. I'll see you guys later." Filibus wanders off in the vague direction of the Tooth and Hookah.
Ulysses takes a stroll around the market, chatting up merchants and trying to get someone to buy anything we have (maybe the armor, if the economy is flooded with art items right now?) and looking for somewhere that will sell the alchemical items he needs at a fair price.
You manage to convince a shopkeep to do a little business before she closes up for the gathering tensions in Wati, and pick up your alchemical items. She has no interest buying any of your goods. No one is buying at market value right now, even non-relic goods like armor or weapons; whether that's due to the flooded market, or the general displeasure with adventurers, it's impossible to say.