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Nevai nearly screams. He has almost no spells left, his hands are shaking, Melech is on the verge of death, and Ulysses is still cowering from imagined horrors. Meanwhile, his own face leers at him with jagged yellow teeth and a ghoul's tongue lolling out of it and what in the Nine Hells is going on?? Panicking, he lashes out in horror at his own face.
Nevai feels his bowels liquefy as the old fear returns. Not again. Not again. The paralysis. Watching helpless as the creature creeps toward him and tears his throat out, and he can't so much as blink. But he fought through it. Maybe this time... maybe... He lifts his holy symbol feebly into the air and whispers, "Horus... save me... please..." Sunlight bursts through the marketplace one last time, searing undead flesh in all directions.
Also eager to have this fight over with, Nevai steps up, drawing Natron Fang as he goes, and swipes once at Azaz.
Feeling like the battle is finally in hand, Nevai moves over to Melech and places a hand on the big man's shoulder, pouring more positive energy into him.
Nevai feels his stomach sink when Melech falls. He's in dreadful shape; if he channels to bring him back up--his last channel of the day, too--it might be disastrous. At least Melech is no longer a target at the moment. Maybe if he can just bring this zombie down... He calls down a prayer to Horus, pointing his finger at the woman, and snarls, "Begone, abomination! Feel the wrath of Horus-Re!"
Finally with some breathing room, Nevai begins moving the long way around and raises his holy symbol over his head. "Horus, show these abominations the terror that is the light of day!" Golden light spills out of the symbol to burn the flesh of Cass and Azaz.
Nevai grits his teeth. What can he do? If he doesn't heal Melech, she might pummel him into meat in seconds. If he does, he can't do anything about the mummy chasing after Ulysses--never mind whatever the Hells that thing is in the metal bindings. He can only hope Ulysses survives a little longer. "Horus, keep him in the fight!" He touches Melech and fills him with more positive energy.
Trying very hard not to panic, the cleric reaches out and touches Melech, pouring positive energy into him in hopes of keeping him alive long enough to move.
Nevai's stomach turns as he sees what this creature has done to Melech. He scrambles on top of the nearby cart so he can reach both his allies and touch them. "Not today! Horus protect us from these vile fiends!" A thin layer of light bathes all three of the party before vanishing into an invisible barrier of protection.
Nevai has the same reaction to the woman's words as Ulysses: daughter? As angry as he is with Melech, he pushes it aside. This creature and her strange cronies endanger all three of them--not that he'd leave Melech to face this alone even if that was an option. He can do nothing from all the way back here, however. He rushes forward to be closer to the action. "Stay close!" he says as he comes up behind the gnome. "I have a spell of protection."
Nevai hurries after Melech angrily. "Hey! What are you, a gods-damned child having a tantrum?? Get back here and talk to me! Your outburst put the whole party in jeopardy, you don't just get to walk away and act like you're in the f&!+ing right. I'm sick of this naive, narrow-minded behavior! The world doesn't jump when you say so just because you think it should. Gods dammnit Melech, stop already!" He stops not far from the gates of the Dark Folk's hideout, and he plants his feet. He's damned if he's going anywhere with Melech until he addresses what he's done.
Nevai stares gape-mouthed at Melech, then snaps it shut, jaw clenched. "That," he says to Melech, "was unnecessary. Did it not occur to you that she may have had a point? Did it not occur to you to see things from her perspective? Our city shuns and reviles her kind. Even Sebti, who knew for a fact they were allies of Ptemenib, was loathe to suggest seeking them out. Why would she help out a city that spat on her and her people? You seem to think everything is black and white, but there are shades of gray in everything. There is no simple answer to any question when it comes to people. I wish you would get that through your head." He starts to storm off, then stops, turns, and sighs. "You're a good man, Melech, but if you're only doing good in expectance of receiving good in return, then yes. You will absolutely be disappointed. Every day. Do good for the sake of doing good, or do not do it at all." He turns back to the gates and steps out of the estate grounds, eager to be away from the now-hostile Creeper guards. "Well, I have no idea where to sleep safely in an undead-infested necropolis. Where do we go now?"
Nevai frowns. He certainly doesn't begrudge the woman her sentiment, but Melech's frustrations aren't exactly misplaced, either. "Miss Harmony, I fear I must intercede. I do not think it is fair to make presumptions of my friend just because he is rightly frustrated at the situation. You must understand, we have felt pushback from every corner of the city in the middle of a crisis. No one wishes to work together, even other surface dwellers. You can see how that would make our task tedious, yes?"
Nevai frowns, something in her words nagging at the back of his mind for a moment before it clicks. "Wait!" he calls. "Please. A moment. You say you have a lot on your plate. May I ask what? Perhaps we can come to a mutually beneficial arrangement."
Nevai shrugs helplessly to the others to indicate that whatever this language is, he doesn't speak it.
Nevai follows close behind the others, Natron Fang stowed but shield in hand just in case.
Nevai hands the magical lenses to whoever wants them--they seem equally useful to both Melech and Ulysses--and sighs at the news about yet another smashed elegiac compass. "I am beginning to think these compasses will not end up helping us. Perhaps we should go speak to these 'Dark Folk'? Maybe they have information about the happenings in the necropolis that we do not. I suppose we could try for the last compass before nightfall and see if we can trek safely through the Dead City back to the Dark Folk. If they're truly friends of Ptemenib, they are likely to grant us shelter overnight. I just don't know if we want to risk hoofing it through the necropolis that close to nightfall. Gods know how much worse this place gets at night."
Nevai attempts to identify the lens.
Nevai is still too weirded out by talking tumors to put up an argument and lugs a few steps behind the others, worried his clumsy gait and bulky armor is giving away the position of his otherwise stealthy companions.
Nevai tries very hard not to flinch at the gnome's touch, as if he too might get a talking tumor just from physical contact. "Thank you," he murmurs. He glances distractedly at Melech. "Uh? Oh, erm. Well, the magic is still there, but I know nothing about traps. Ulysses would know better." He moves over to the corner alcove to look at the magical game board stowed there.
Nevai shrugs. "It is a senet board, but it radiates magic. I do not know what it does. Take it, if you wish. Sebti did grant us the same rights of finding as during the exploration, so long as we respected the three rules. And with that..." He moves back to the sarcophagus and pushes the heavy stone lid closed once more. Over at the compass, he sighs. "Another dead end." He considers it for a moment, rubbing his chin. "The others were so damaged or stripped as to be worthless. Maybe if we find another one not too badly damaged, we can use it and this one to repair one? It looks heavy, but it may be worth hauling around."
Nevai stares at Ulysses for a long moment before saying, "I thought you were joking." He swallows. "Are... are you... okay?" The word "tumor" is more than a little alarming. He steps back from the alchemist's approach, mostly because he plans to channel Horus' divine energy to heal them, but also because he's a little afraid of the gnome. He looks pleadingly at Melech, as if the slayer can do anything to alleviate his discomfort, then sighs and grasps his holy symbol. He has little of this power left, but that wave of flame hurt them all.
Nevai is struggling to understand the spell over the body when he's knocked backward by the force of a massive blast of flames over him. Agony wracks his face and limbs as his skin bubbles and peels. He opens his mouth to curse when the strange voice cries out from... Ulysses'... stomach? Pain momentarily forgotten, Nevai blinks at the alchemist. "Ulysses? Why did your stomach just yell?"
Nevai sweeps the room with detect magic. "I sense magic from the compass in the corner," he says dubiously, "and from the sarcophagus. But the magic on the compass is fading. I fear it may be another dead end, but we should take a look just to be certain." He points to the sarcophagus' open lid. "And that must be rectified. It is clear desecration to simply leave his sarcophagus open to the elements like that."
Nevai notices the look of frustration on Melech's face as he surveys the carnage and places a hand on his shoulder. "I know. It seems... stupid. The things we mortals do to each other. But remember we are complicated creatures, and that is not a good thing, most days. We are pulled in a thousand directions by a thousand motivations. Food, fear, sex, hate, loyalty, duty, love, compassion. No one feels none of these things unless they are already dead. I do not speak of my god often, for I am not one to proselytize. Father was much better at that. I prefer actions. But I will say that the reason Horus places so much emphasis on leadership and order is because these are the crook and sword that fights back the chaos caused in our wake. We make the madness of the world with our convolutions, and order and a firm hand are all that hold it back. If I am to be truthful, I think it is a futile battle. We will never hold back the chaos long enough to survive. But for the sake of the innocent and the good, we must try anyway. We cannot save everyone, but we can restore order to this city. I have faith in us, and Horus has faith in you." He puts his hand down and clears his throat. "That is enough preaching out of me. Sorry. Let us look at the map." Once the map is in front of everyone, he points out the nearest "X" marks. "Looks like Maatya's tomb is closest, but going there next would put us further from the Dark Folk. I am inclined to believe Ptemenib when he says they are potential allies, though I doubt their aid will be free. When is it ever, mm?" He shrugs. "If we hit the tomb next, we will be able to loop around roughly in a circle, since another of the elegiac compasses is supposed to be very close to where the Dark Folk reside. Thoughts?"
Nevai shakes his head. "I'll have to study its magics for a bit before I can figure it out."
Nevai glares at Worm. "I do not like it," the cleric grumbles. "You speak of not wanting people to die, yet you help produce a drug that destroys people and turns them into undead fiends who murder indiscriminately. Gallons of blood are on your hands." He closes his eyes and takes a deep, calming breath before turning to face the others. "Unfortunately, I think you are right, Melech. There is no way we can escort him to the church to face justice, and I will not play executioner. That is the job of the appointed officials of the Wati City Watch. I think his plan is sound." He turns back to Worm, glaring daggers. "But know this, Worm. If I ever find you, I will use any and all means necessary to drag your ass to the Precinct of Left Eyes to face justice for the life you have led. Loyalty and profit are no excuse for the reckless endangerment of other people's lives." He steps back, eyeing the corridor behind them. "I suppose we should finish checking this place out before we go, to make sure there is no compass here. I didn't exactly get a chance to look while we were fighting that abomination."
Nevai takes them gratefully. "I wasn't much use against that horde of snakes. Maybe these will help if we come across anything else like that."
Nevai sighs and says, "Let us take a look around, now that the threat is neutralized. Perhaps there will be some clues in here somewhere. And I would like to look at Bheg's robes. They seemed... unique. Perhaps even magical." He first sweeps the front of the shop with detect magic.
Nevai watches Melech leave, then stands up, but he wavers uncertainly. He steps over to Bheg's corpse, shaking violently from head to toe, and kicks him viciously in the face. Something crunches under his boot, and Nevai takes a deep breath before following the slayer out into the room. After checking on the other two men and finding one very dead and one stable, he stands back and watches the door for more danger.
Nevai sits in the corner, knees drawn up, head hung in shame. What can he say to make this right? He gave into cowardice. Strength is a core principle of Horus' teachings, and he was weak. He couldn't even blame magic; it was simply mundane cowardice. "I... I am sorry..."
Gods help me, Nevai thinks, and it is his last coherent thought before he drops his shield and flees through the beaded curtains to get away from the ghoul.
Nevai considers their options. He doesn't have many channels left in him, but good gods, what better circumstances to use it in? He raises his holy symbol in a tremulous hand, and nearly screams, "Begone, fiends! Trouble n-not this world again!" Once more, burning yellow light explodes from him, carrying with it a dry, hot smell like the burning desert sands.
Nevai grips his shield tight enough that his knuckles whiten, sweat pouring down his face. He glances through the beaded curtain and can see the shapes of his most feared enemies swarming into the shop. The three men out there tried to kill them. They tried to burn them alive and throw whatever was left at their cohort-turned-ghast. Ghouls are swarming into the shop. He wants to scream and hide. Instead, he does math. The counter looks just about thirty feet away from him, and there's one ghoul in range if he... yes. YES. F&*$ THESE BASTARDS. Screaming in terrified defiance, Nevai rushes through the beaded curtains, stowing Natron Fang as he goes. In the next room, he raises his holy symbol. "Horus-Re, Sun Above, burn the heretics who stand outside the Cycle of Judgment! Let none escape your wrath!!" Light like the blazing rays of a desert sun tear through the room, bursting through the beaded curtains to strike Bheg and the lone ghoul in range.
Frustrated and terrified, Nevai steps forward, drawing Natron Fang and swings down at Bheg's head with a hesitant, clumsy strike.
Nevai recovers enough to act. He begins making complex gestures with his free hand, keeping his shield raised against further blows, and casts shield of faith on himself.
A rippling barrier of sacred force energy surrounds him, giving his mail and shield a slight shimmer as if glistening in the desert sun.
Nevai is caught in a sticky wicket. An unknown enemy is rushing them from the beaded curtain, but three--wait, two??--enemies await in the back room. He decides that whatever this "Bheg" has become, it's a greater threat than the front room--for now. If a bunch of ghouls come piling in, that will probably change. He shudders at the very thought. He hesitantly steps through the beaded curtain to face whatever lies beyond... ... and immediately freezes in fear. No. Not again. Horus help him. Not another ghoul. He drops the holy symbol from his shaking fingers and holds up his shield, as if it will ward off the hideous creature.
Nevai eyes the three men with clear concern, but he shrugs at Melech helplessly. They have to go back there and check, regardless. "Ready when you are." He leaves Natron Fang on its frog, but he grips his Eye of Horus holy symbol almost subconsciously, ready to blast holy energy at a moment's notice.
Nevai exchanges a worried glance with the other two. If Bheg was bit almost a week ago... He glances down at Worm, frowns, and kneels next to the small man. "Worm. Look at me. Focus on my voice." When the man finally does so, Nevai pulls a healer's kit from his pack and starts tending to Worm, making a cold compress and placing it on his forehead to cool his feverish mind. He glances at the others. "Cabin fever," he says dismissively. "It will pass once they're out of here." He turns to Oshwyt. "Your group has been missing since the end of the lottery. It was assumed you were killed by whoever was attacking the other adventuring groups in the Dead City." Already suspicious, Nevai gives furtive glances at Oshwyt as he explains his story.
Nevai nods, then realizes he's nodding at a closed door and shakes his head with a sigh. "I am also a healer, a man of Horus. I can tend to any wounds, if need be."
Nevai nods. "Sounds like a plan. Lead the way, friend."
Nevai clambers out of the hole, smashing a random pot, accidentally kicking a half-broken pane of glass, stumbling through a pile of pots and pans (WHO EVEN PUT THESE HERE) and slipping on a piece of rubble that causes a minor avalanche of debris to collapse into the hole with a massive crash. He stands up, dusts himself off, and puts his hands on his hips. "I meant to do that."
Nevai claps his friends on the back. "Thank you. That was harrowing. It turns out that being bitten by fifty pit vipers at once is quite dangerous. Who knew?" After sweeping the room with his magical senses, he sighs and shakes his head. "I suppose it would have been too easy to step into the Dead City and instantly find what we were looking for, intact and ready to use."
Now Nevai is puking up blood as well as fire. Panicking, he finally manages to quell his stomach after the horrid sensation of slithering bodies passes from him, and he clutches his holy symbol, croaking a prayer to Horus and channeling energy. This time, however, the channeled energy doesn't burst outward. It ripples along the aasimar's body in shimmering waves, and has no visible effect on the cleric's wounds. His internal damage from the venom, however, begins to vanish.
Nevai stumbles away, puking up burning bile thanks to his spell. It spills across the ground, sending roiling licks of flame across its surface before dissipating harmlessly. He moves feebly toward Ulysses.
Nevai continues to stumble away while puking on his shoes, acutely aware of how his freaking spell is completely going to waste.
Nevai stumbles out of the pile of vipers, pumped full of venom and feebly throwing hissing, biting danger noodles off him while glaring murderously at the unscathed gnome. Gnomes seem to get all the damn luck.
As Melech opens the door, Nevai whispers a prayer to Horus and his gut begins to glow a dull, angry reddish-orange through his armor.
Nevai shrugs. "I have a spell to breathe fire. I will ready it for when you open the door. Otherwise, I fear I would not be of much use. Of course, with Ulysses' explosives, I suspect this fight will be over quickly regardless."
Nevai waves off the holy waters. "They're better in your hands than mine. I can channel energy to deal with undead and incorporeal threats. These holy waters are your best defense against them."
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