[ There is a light 'clink' from the vicinity of the Medicine Seller's sash. At some point, the sword of exorcisms had made its way from his box to his hand, and then was tucked snugly into the fold of the red brocade.

The mouth of the odd pommel is closed, accepting the truth of their foe's Form. ]

...The wards will not hold forever.

[ A good rain would see them washed away for starters - if they even held against Nergal's onslaught for that long. They are designed to be temporary, to buy the Medicine Seller time to suss out the being's truth. And even then, a sufficiently powerful and motivated creature could burn through them. ]

Is there a more secure location we can take the children? I may have something that can counter the creature's mark.