Nomen Infernale XLVI: The Leech Hath Two Daughters Crying "Give, Give!"
General Summary
With the great lizard slain, Theo called out to Yahi with honeyed words to calm him from his terror. He sucked in breath through now stifled sobs and ran to Alex who had come the door to check it for traps. Yahi hugged Alex who was discomfited by the reminder that he was not a boy, but not yet a man and that they had taken him from one danger into a new one. Alex comforted him for a moment and then gave him short actionable instructions to help Alex and Riven search for traps that Yahi might have something to focus on. The door was neither trapped, nor locked. Alex and Riven glanced at each other over the curious development, but the poisoned wind had grown greater and the surprisingly pristine statues flanking the door provided little protection. Kegho opened the door and the party stepped inside.
Inside the vestibule the sound of howling wind outside gave way to pleasant music and a lit hall. The sound of water tinkled and bright mosaics in the ancient Khemian style led to a doorway at the top of the hall. Alex was excited to find Ancient Khemian text, but it was much older than that which he had learned at Adza and it was much slower trying to decipher it. The members of La Compagnia were suddenly keenly aware of how long it had been since they had slept or eaten. They briefly debated napping in the entry way, but the signs of habitation proved too intruguing for them to ignore. They made their way into an impluvium filled with running water and lotuses even though the ceiling was not open to the sky, and up some stairs to a hallway with running water. Asbjørn splashed in it to wash some of the dust off.
Theo kept an eye on Sitre, who led the way. He could not shake the talk of the witch Kirke the night before and he noticed that she seemed more intent on the party than the surroundings of this grand palace she had supposedly not been to before. He was certain she was leading them to ruin.
Kegho moved up and to the right, past a doorway with a bronze lock and into a room where a woman languidly swam in a pool. She rose out of the water on Kegho's entry—nude and exceedingly pulchritudinous. As she stepped from the pool runnels of water accentuated her soft face, the curve of her ample bosom and the curvature of her hips which rocked dangerously with each step of her beautifully lithe legs. She was unperturbed and unsurirpsed by the intrusion and indicated her name was Khat Nofer by pointing a finger that had never done a day's work at her chest and saying "Rani Khat Nofer. Khat Nofer." Alex Came shortly after with Elissa just behind. Elissa instinctively put a hand to cover Alex's eyes, but stared slack-jawed herself. Theo and Yahi came into the room and Yahi acted as translator noting how old-fashioned Khat Nofer sounded.
Khat Nofer told the party of her wicked father, Nakh-ti who had warped the powers of the Rusat to his own ends and had trapped her in the palace, destined to live her mortal life in a gilded cage; the statues they had seen on entering were meant to trap her and bring her back should she try to leave. Theo, though distracted by her form, manages to ask her how long she had been trapped and about where the Rusati were now. She says that the Rusati often come to the oasis, and was evasive about how long she had been trapped. She offered all of her father's wealth for the party's assistance in destroying the statues and led them to a chamber filled with untold riches.
Alex realized that she was conning them, but found this very endearing.
She swept out of the room all swaying hips and supple limbs. She brushed past Asbjørn and he reddened filled with giddy infatution. He guiltily looked at Lunja, but she is entirely entranced by Khat Nofer. On seeing the glittering light of the gems and Asbjørn, Alex, Elisssa and Teleptyon became overwhelmed by fantasies of what they could do with so much wealth and rush in to greedily pocket anything not not nailed down. Theo, Kegho, Riven and Yahi were surprised by the mindlessness of their companions actions. Khat Nofer smiled a wicked smile and all the lights, including the ones granted by Theo's theurgy blinked out. Khat Nofer disappeared and Kegho felt something brush past him in the dark. He shot where he thought she'd gone with his sturdy horsebow, but hit nothing but wall in the darkness. Theo cried out for sanctuary and gives the barbarian space. Yahi flees the room, stumbling in the darkness. The clink of gems and coins being thrown into sacks echoed in the darkness. Khat Nofer asked Kegho to help protect her from such brutish looters, but her charms failed to turn him against his companions. Theo lights a torch and Kegho sees for the first time her true form, still buxom from her ribs up, her face now feral with sharper teeth and her lower body the sinuous form of a serpent. "So nice to have you over for dinner." he heard in a mocking voice in the Ashkuzi tongue as she attacked him but missed. Sitre cries out and attacked Riven but she loosed an arrow that sliced into her left breast, stopping her heart instantly.
The charm of the room wore off and Alex could see the serpent form of Khat Nofer and after mumbling "well, it wouldn't be my first snake-person" he lit a torch to give the rest of them light.
From his position of Sanctuary Theo prays for the strength of Ator to smite this abomination. His mace glows and the hammer of Ator sails through the air to strike at the creature. Red-black blood trickles down her beautiful but wild face and a forked tongue flicked out and tasted it. She smiled. Asbjørn is filled with rage at having his mind manipulated strikes out at her, but as he swings a gout of flame erupts around her and she is no longer there.
