Nomen Infernale XLII: My Flesh Is Cloaked With Worms; My Skin Is Cracked And Festering
General Summary
Alex and Riven bring Elissa and Zahur with them on their business in the Palace District of Anekhsemeru. They find a Keb weapon dealer and commission a fine new spear for Elissa. The Keb is delighted to work on something in the Kharadim-style and waxes poetic about the influence they have had on Nar fighting styles. Having settled their business they make their way through the Palace district soaking in the sights and looking for the offices of the Medjay of Khemia.
When they arrive they approach an older gentleman with a cough and rheumy eyes. He introduces himself as Amdir son of Urai and asks what he can do for the odd group. Alex retells meeting Abet in Akbyset, finding his sister in Lakham Tabab what had happened to Abet. When asked for proof Alex laments that they had left his possessions with him in a marked grave and only that Abet had taught them the use of drystone, and had mentored Riven due to the historical kinship between the Medjay and the Scouts of Palesia and set a task of finding his sister clearing a creeping evil from Lakham Tabab, which Alex notes they had finished and provides details for their files including his sister's fall to the Ammolus. Riven does an excellent impression of Abet staring thoughtfully into the east which seems to convince Amdir more than anything. He asks if Riven, swears to the accuracy of this account and she does. He thanks them for bringing the information to him and says that if what they say is true they will have the support of the Medjay and the Queen if they need it, but that the Medjay do not forget and will hunt La Compagnia down if they are engaign in some kind of ruse. His rheumy eyes linger on Alex a beat too long as he says "ruse." Riven reviews a map with Amdir and describes Abet's place of rest with preternatural detail before they head back into the city.
The four of them feel unusually tired by the time they get back to their apartments and Zahur clears his throat a few times before taking a nap.
Theo reaches the Garden of the Date Palms early. He has been run ragged at the House of the Snetwa recently as more people have arrived sick and he is glad for the fresh air and natural beauty of the park. He finds Alim who steps out from a shaded spot between two trees where Theo would have passed by him without noticing. They walk together and Alim keeps the conversation light and on topics broadly theological circumlocuting aboug Hiladese Paradox and the source of Justice before segueing into a discussion of the Nosophiles, an Ouranic heresy that believes the only true justice and mercy are found in the equality of death. Theo recognizes this sentiment from the ravings and writings of Brother Urbicus. Alim notes that the Nosophiles had been persecuted out of existence after the plague which had swept through Eknopolis 300 years prior, but he believes that they have made a resurgence and had infiltrated the church hierarchy. He confides that the House of the Snetwa is losing control of the sickness and believes that if the people find out about the Nosophiles it may drive them from the Ouranic path and into the hands of the Tariqa, but if the church attempts to hide them and they find out anyway that too could drive them away. He is unsure how to resolve this quandary. He also notes that the method of containing the plague of 300 years prior was thought to be lost. Theo tells Alim of their encounter with Ghamdi the Lifetaker, who had told the party of Reshpu's creeping influence under the city. He muses that the Nosophiles maybe under the sway of that malign influence masquerading as Nexra. Alim boggles at the potential implications, but fears that they might be seen together if he tarries to long and takes his leave.
Theo returns to the House of the Snetwa and though he is weary from work he remains untouched by the worsening plague.
Asbjørn is led by his favorite wanton wench, Lunja back through the Flower House, past the drinks and the private rooms to a door. She knocks and then leads Asbjørn into an office where an Oubasti bedecked in jewlery sits, grinning a catlike grin. He introduces himself as Mar-a-Bab. "Lunja tells me you're interested in buying her contract. You've been such a good customer I'd be happy to arrange that. For an appropriate price, of course," he purrs. Asbjørn asks the price and thinks it too steep. The pimp asks if Asbjørn is of the community and he says "Of course!" and when he asks what he does for Ha'ab Asbjørn says whatever he asks, but Asbjørn is unsure which community he refers to and who this Ha'ab is. Mar-a-Bab and Asbjørn haggle for a bit. Mar-a-Bab suggests Asbjørn think on it for a few days.
Asbjørn feels itchy on leaving the Flower House. "Damn cat has fleas!" he bellows.
Teleptyon visits The Cloistered One and discusses his need to find the Rusati. She tells him of the difficulty in scrying for such a place and reminds him that nothing comes for free with members of the Collegium Arcanum. Teleptyon suggests she might examine Alex who recently contained half of the soul of the Last Djeti. She is intrigued before settling on the word "recently" and dismisses removing the soul as trivial. Teleptyon counters that the circumstances were unusual, but she suggests he try again. He offers up the plague wand. She eventually settles on the bone wand and the story of Alex's rescue. When the deal has been struck she summons an image of Tel and holds her hand above it. Her eyes roll into her head as she chants words so ancient Teleptyon can only gather the faintest meaning from them. She tells him that he must head to the place of the sun worshipers from there they may head north which is safer or south which is more dangerous but shorter. To the south lie ghouls and death. [THIS SUPER NEEDS FLESHING OUT, I TOOK SPARSE NOTES]. Teleptyon thanks her as Kalim al-Hashmi leads him out of the house saying the lady must now rest.
Teleptyon, too, seems unafflicted by the illness.
Alex spends some time training in the Oubasti quarter and getting to know The Community better. He is summoned to speak with Ha'ad Nadjat, an Oubasti with one eye and a single tooth that protrudes over his lip even with his mouth closed. They exchange pleasantries before Nadjat gets to business and tells him that Alex should not remain unaffiliated and stay in the city. Alex points out that they are preparing to leave although they will likely pass through the city again, and Alex will of course let Nadjat know of his comings and goings as is proper. Nadjat is pleased with this but pushes Alex to cease adventuring and take up a place in a city, but ideally not his city. Suggests that the rising plague would bring hard times for The Community and that some of La Compagnia's goals were to stop the plague. Nadjat agreed to keep his ears open and relay anything pertinent he might have hear.
Alex finds Yahi and hears more rumors of Amazon pirates and on the seas and caravans disappearing without a trace in the Yafwad Wastes. He hopes for Elissa's sake that the Amazon pirates include Amma and for his sake that Toebeard is at the helm.
Asbjørn revisits Mar-a-Bab and brings Alex this time. Mar asks who Alex is and Alex simply replies "I'm here to keep this one out of trouble." Mar shrugs and asks Asbjørn to remove a competitor from play. Alex smiles and asks him if this competitor is also under the protection of Ha'ab Nadjat and Mar swallows hard before saying "well..." Alex tells him that he has promised Ha'ad his party would cause the Oubasti no trouble and did not feel that Ha'ad would appreciate a pimp trying to game his way around Ha'ab's peace. Mar agreed and they discussed ways to play to Asbjørns strengths that would serve Ha'ab's interests. Asbjørn interjected into the conversation with "You talk to much. Crush bones?" And Alex and Mar smiled at one another. Yes! He can shake down deadbeats for the house. Asbjørn is delighted by the opportunity harass some stevedores. Lunja was glad to be free of her contract.
As the month wears on everyone except for Teleptyon and Theo have begun to notice itchiness, irritability and phlegmatism. Kegho smears fat on the dry stretches of his face and chest to stop a buzzing like itch in the areas affected by Reshpu's touch.
As they prepare to leave they find that Zahur and Nani have taken to bed, they are covered with boils and their limbs are at odd angles. Theo calls on Lamos to cure their disease and Nani is healed. Zahur's pustules seem like they are retreating for a moment but erupt. His limbs lock out and his face pulls back into a rictus. Nani screams and begins sobbing. The party is confused. Theo had heard rumors that some cases of this disease resisted divine intervention but he was shocked to see the vengeance with which it returned. La Compagnia hoped to get Nani out of the city with them, but she insisted her place was with her mother in law. They left her with gold and bade her stay safe.
Yahi agreed to join them as a porter and they gathered up what supplies were available and set out for Adza Oasis, the place where the sun worshippers dwell.
In the desert, Riven realized it was her birthday and got it in her head that they had a significant amount of Golden Lotus. Lunja prepared it and served it with a well-trained ritualistic flair. Alex, still bitter about being drugged by House Kerularios abstained. Kegho and Asbjørn drank deeply and drifted into peaceful oblivion. Riven drank her fill and sank into lotus-filled dreams. Elissa split the difference and drank only a little, but was overwhelmed by it anyway.
