Fire.
It had not yet truly encountered the stuff before, especially not of the corrupted variety. But something deep and primal reacted to the scent of smoke and burning flesh before Creosote itself even registered what was happening. Terror made it run away from the thrashing, rapidly combusting being and the fire (it shouldn't look like that, shouldn't be so cold, but Creosote didn't know why) it ran until it met a wall and then pressed against it as it watched the fire grow and the fleshy form of it's opponent diminish into red, meaty stone.
The first time that Effluvium had ever protected it. Nobody tell the poor thing that it wasn't even intentional.
It reacted with just as much displeasure and confusion to Nemean's lights and fireworks as it had the previous times. It ducked away from the crown, all of it's squinted eyes darting around. Through the lights and still-dissipating smoke it saw the hole it had exited from, what had lead it to this place and what would lead it out again.
Safety.
Like any sensible creature, it darted towards the safe little nook as fast as it could.
I observed my skin get redder