The Bulwark Abandoned - Lucius Fallen
An army is on the move, and Lucius is at its head. Liam's blood has made the scope of the journey possible. Many of Karm have been mobilized in order to udnertake a great task: securing the Bulwark for good and all.
The trek through shadow is simple enough - but entering the Bulwark is a challenge. The existing guards stationed within the relative safety of the Bulwark are beset by foes from without. Demonic things, writhing with tentacles, wings, superfluous limbs and drooling ichor have surrounded it. From atop a rocky outcropping, Lucius and a precious few survey the scene.
Pascal leans against his staff as he looks down over the outcropping, frowning. "Really should have paid more attention to mother," he says. "So, ahh, cousin, these things aren't vulnerable just to fire or silver or something of the sort, right?"
Catriona is there with Lucius and Liam, numbered among the few, the Countess dressed and lightly armored for combat. Her dark eyes are troubled as they swing over the view, taking in creatures that should never have escaped. Pascal's words have her lips tipping wryly, but it's not a real smile and she remains silent as the grave.
Liam is riding a different horse through Shadow than his usual mare, Rutabaga. He looks a little bit dubious the ride out here but he does his Pattern Walker best to lead the Karms through Shadow to where they need to go.
"Steel seemed to work well enough on the beasts from before," Adrianna murmurs, from where she stands. She's looking to a set of golden fobs in her hand, rather than the creatures. "But these ones are slightly different. I am not sure."
Lucius grunts to Pascal, as Adri speaks. He indicates the focus of their enemies' wrath: a sturdy bastion against the raging horde. The Bulwark stands resolute, but is taking a vicious battering.
Lucius has told those with whom he travels that this shall be the ending of the threat. He seems dangerously determined to resolve it by force, where investigation has provided little. After a long look, he backs off, and regards the small group aroudn him. "We must relieve the contingent within. I intend to use our forces to divert the assault, while we enter the Bulwark amidst the melee. Comments."
Liam makes a religious sign from somewhere out in Shadow over his forehead and chest. He says, as he pulls on the reigns of his horse, "There is something very wrong about this place. I don't know what it is, but there is something very deeply wrong here and I cannot shift it away."
"It's the Nameless One," Adrianna murmurs, glancing towards Liam as she does. "Nameless One. Sometimes I wish I could jump back in time and slap our ancestors for providing such useless information. I like to call him Anthony." There is just a hint of madness in her eyes, faint. "I can burn the world down around us. That will give you enough of a distraction, perhaps, to gain the Bulwark."
Catriona's head whips about to Liam's pronouncement, any comments she may have falling to the wayside. "I could hazard a guess," she mutters, dark eyes narrowing on the Bulwark in the distance. "The plan is sound but if-" she stops herself, and amends, "once we reach the Bulwark, what is our plan, Lucius? Do we have substantial numbers to win this thing?"
Lucius nods to Liam. "The Nameless One. That is why we have come. It drives the others on, and shall endanger more than this shadow if not dealt with." He looks over Pascal. "You have not journied with us before. Know that anything is possible here, and all is dangerous. Be prepared."
He looks over the group. "Very well. Adrianna shall use fire. The troops shall run a spearhead with me. Everyone enter as an opportunity presents itself. Leave the Grey Guard without to deal with the threat. Those of the blood /must/ enter, and settle this." To Cat, he gives a grim look. "I believe there is a way. We shall discuss it within."
Lucius moves to the troops, and begins to rally them. He gives a short speech while the others prepare. He looks to Adrianna to begin.
Liam is not of the blood. He's merely a guide through Shadow. He peels his mount away from any sort of main assault so that he is out of the way of the action.
Pascal grimaces, looking at his staff, before shrugging and nodding to Lucius.
Catriona catches Lucius' look and it becomes contagious, the Karm looking troubled. "All right. We'll show them who put them in there in the first place, shall we?" She looks to Adrianna as well, waiting on the other woman even as she produces a candle from her satchel, leaving it unlit for now.
It starts with a spark, a small bit of flame that comes to life in Adrianna's right hand. She steps away from the rocky outcropping, to where there is a small amount of dry grass. It is soon flaming grass, and quickly spreading at that. "You'll want to charge quickly. Before I make the flames grow too much." She steps to the left, to light another patch. Flames lick along her hands, bright enough to nearly hide them from view.
Liam wheels his horse around so that he's closer to the Karm attack formation but he is very careful to be far enough away that he is not underfoot and doesn't present a hazard.
A call is sounded. Mounted troops rush in first, with Lucius at their head - lit candle in his hand blazing like a sun. Spearmen and archers follow, spreading wide. The horde is attracted to their presence, and changes focus - hungry for flesh and pain.
They are unorganized, and that is their weakness. Lucius and his wedge of horsemen split them apart, only to be savaged by squat black flying things swooping from the air. The remainder of the troops close in, and support the beleaguered cavalry.
As the only one of the blood here not able to light those candles, Pascal nonetheless lifts his staff as he charges in after the cavalry with the remainder of the foot troops.
Catriona's candle is lit before the charge, lengthening in her hand to become a large blade made of snapping green fire. She is by no means weak, swinging the blade with vicious fervor, the flames reflected in the depths of her eyes as she follows Lucius.
Behind the charge, the fires grow higher, walls of flame springing into life. At the ends, they nearly give the appearance of phoenix wings. Bright, dangerously burning, and following Adrianna as she makes a march forward--flaring up, to incinerate one of the flying creatures above.
Lucius's enormous blade is wielded one-handed. He cleaves the demons apart like a man possessed. Those close to him remain relatively untouched - but those beyond his reach are horribly ravaged by the beasts. They are numerous, and know no mercy. Some merely seek to blind their foes, and relish the morsels found thereby.
A scream is heard above the din: "Karm!" Lucius has dismounted now, by the great doors of the Bulwark. He holds it, and dissects the demons within reach - a glowing blue ring encircling him, and keeping the beasts at bay. He beckons for the others to enter the door he has opened. The demons are /very/ interested in getting through that door. However, the fires worry them - the march of certain death closes with Adrianna's every step.
"Get... lost!" Pascal cries out at the demon's harrying him as he dashes for Lucius' circle. He's aquitted himself well thus far, managing to at least beat back those that want his flesh. Nonetheless, when the safety of the blue circle presents itself, he makes his way for it, and the door beyond.
It's not a mad dash, though Catriona does prolong shedding the blood of their enemy as much as she deems appropriate. She slashes angrily, madly, but with an undeniable force alongside Lucius, until Adrianna, in all her flaming glory, reaches the Bulwark.
Liam looks confused and lost by the battle and, for a moment, he looks like he is going to lead Rutabaga back out into Shadow to wait until it is over and come back to pick up the Karms -- or assume they are going to trump home. Then he decides against it for the moment and leads his horse closer to Lucius's circle.
Adrianna's fires lash out, attempting to take out as many of the demons as she can, on her route to the Bulwark. When she reaches the door, the flames are given a last flare, a surge, before she drops her control of them. They'll remain surging for a few moments afterwards, then will return to normal fires.
The troops and demons scatter away from the flames, skirmishing wherever they might find respite from certain death, and into uncertain death. Lucius leads the group into the Bulwark, ensuring they are within before following.
Within, the remains of the Grey Guard stand watch. A large group was brought to the Bulwark, but of those only a few remain. There is blood here: handprints on the walls - streaks down the hallway floors. Dominating the centre of the room is a massive seal, with numerous small seals about its circumference. The troops are ghoulish and their eyes bespeak horror unsaid. But they stand at attention when the group arrives, and salute - though it seems a struggle to muster so much.
Pascal takes a step toward the seal, leaning heavily on his ichor-stained staff as he does so. "What now?" he asks, before glancing to the Grey Guard. "And... can we do anything for them?"
"This is what they are trained for," Catriona offers to Pascal with a firm reassurance, even as she turns her eyes upon the seal. "They will be taken care of, when we finish this."
Adrianna looks to the seals upon the ground with something that is more than idle hatred. "A psych ward, perhaps," is her reply to Pascal's question. "They've spent too much time here, though Walter and I had tried to keep them on a rotation. This place brings madness, when stayed in for too long." Not that she knows first hand, or anything. She takes strides towards one of the smaller seals, frowning.
Lucius looks about, and approaches the highest ranking Grey Guard. "Report, Sergeant."
The sergeant replies hesitantly, shamefully. "We've lost thirty-seven, milord." He grimaces. "To madness. We've been battling one another as the demons have been attempting to breach the defenses." The sergeant, a hardened veteran, seems about ready to break down.
Lucius lays a hand on his shoulder. "You've done well, sergeant. We'll take it from here." With that, he indicates positions about the great seal, where smaller seals lay. "Adrianna, Catriona, Pascal. Take a place, and one of these." He offers several small black knives.
He speaks levelly. "We do not have all of the answers. But what has been found so far indicates a Greater Seal involves those of the blood, and a mutual effort." And sacrifice. But that remains unsaid. "There is a ritual. We shall make the attempt." He looks to Liam. "And you shall remain aside, to help us should we need it." Or to run, screaming, as they all die a bloody and horrifying death.
Liam has left his horse somewhere safe and what he's done is just move into a corner completely out of the way, but instead of a weapon he has his trump deck out. He's clearly preparing to just grab random Karms and stuff them through trumps back home.
Pascal steps forward solemnly to take his knife, looking over it carefully. "This is looking lovelier by the moment," he says,before tossing his staff aside, in Liam's direction. "Look after that for me, would you?" he asks as he walks to his position.
Liam also takes up Pascal's staff.
Catriona crosses to Lucius, taking up the last of the knives with no hesitancy. Her pivot leads her to Adrianna, handing off one of the blades to the woman wordlessly, and then taking up a space at the smaller seal next to her.
Adrianna takes the knife from Catriona with a nod. She looks to the larger seal, and lets out a soft breath. "Lead on, then," she murmurs. A glance is given towards Catriona's forearms, in what may be a suggestion.
If Catriona's pale head tips in the barest of nods, it may only be visible to Adrianna.
Lucius looks about, and takes a steadying breath. He holds out his knife, and cuts his forearm. The blood trickles down onto the smaller seal he straddles. "Karm lets flow its blood, to this seal. I name you, O Nameless One, the corrupter of time and memory. I name you enemy of Karm. I name you Yor'suggoth - murderer of history and knowledge. You make an enemy of the Lock, and so the Lock finds you. Sleep forever more, never to wake. No nightmare shall touch our soul. No memory shall be lost. We are the Lock, and you are That Which Must be Sealed."
The seal begins to rumble, as if in protest. The walls shake and rumble. Lucius kneels, and begins drawing arcane designs with his blood - reinforcing the glyphs of the ancient seal.
Catriona watches Lucius with a sense of trepidation, and perhaps a vague foreboding. The black blade is clenching in her fingers, white with the terse effort of it. When she takes it up, the young Karm is careful to apply pressure so that the tattoo upon her forearm remains intact. Kneeling, she allows her blood to run freely upon the smaller seal.
Pascal grimaces as he lifts his own blade to his forearm, and holds a moment before cutting a gash in his skin, and allow his blood to drip down on the seal beneath him. He looks up and to his relatives, as if for a cue.
Adrianna's blade is drawn across her skin, and her blood is fed to the seal at her feet. She keeps her gaze on the center seal, as she reinforces the unknown one that she's chosen.
The floor cracks, and Grey Guard rush in - tired but true. They ring the seal, spears at the ready. The rumbling seems an earthquake, but Karm holds fast. Cracks web across the floor, but slow, and stop. Lucius continues to etch his blood into the power of the seal. Wherever blood was spilled, the seal remains relatively intact. The Seneschal spreads his blood to the central design, building on the smaller seals along its exterior. All is quiet now, save for arcane words, and the distant din of battle without.
Catriona massages her upper arm, promoting the crimson stream of her blood to flow faster, dark eyes glazed with the power that thrums through the room. She looks to each Karm shedding their blood, the sense of invincible kinship stronger than anything else, even the rumbling underfoot.
Pascal hisses as his own blood spills over the seals, and he smears it over what patterns he can reach with his unwounded arm. Having picked up on what he needs to do, he keeps focused on reinforcing the seals, and staying focused enough to do so.
Silver and black and red. Those were the colours. They were the colours of the tendrils that erupted so suddenly from the central seal. They were the colours that ensconced Lucius. They were the colours that took his essence, and consumed it for dark purpose.
A horrible scream erupts from Lucius' throat, as he is suspended above the design of the central seal by multi-coloured serpents. His voice booms inhumanly within the chamber.
"You misspeak by name, Blood Traitors. You mispeak my purpose and power." Lucius is set down upon the stone, standing. His empty eye socket has sprouted tendrils that crawl across his face. His armour is webbed with them: his hands driven. "Now, you shall suffer."
His knife flickers, and lands squarely in the forehead of a Grey Guard - killing him instantly. Then, his blade flashes, and two others are cut down. Blood sprays, and he laughs. "The Lock is OPENED! All Blood Traitors shall fall!"
Catriona leaps from her knees as the thing takes Lucius, swaying with the amount of blood lost. "No!" comes her scream, the reaction quick as she flings herself in his direction, tattooed arms outstretched to try and snare the creature inhabiting Lucius between her arms.
"Lucius!" Pascal cries out, going wide-eyed, before he too runs forward, not for Lucius, but for Catriona. "Keep away from him!"
"Lucius!", Adrianna echoes, taking a half step back as tenticles sprout from his formerly absent eye. She withdraws her sword, though turns it so the hilt seems more the intended weapon than the blade itself. "The Lock shall be shut," she says, with all the florish of an elegantly worded curse.
An armoured boot kicks Catriona in the face, cartwheeling her backwards. The keyblade slices through more Grey Guard, and fends off Adrianna's merciful attempt. Lucius makes his way to the exit. "I shall burn your kingdoms. I shall murder your sycophants. And when they are all gone, I shall come for you. I shall drink of your failure, and reclaim the True Blood!" Body parts litter the floor, and what was once Lucius bursts through the remaining Grey Guard, and opens the fortified door. Hell floods in, and he is lost in the midst of it.
Pascal reaches out to catch Catriona, crying out, "Do /none/ of us know what we're doing? Liam!"
Liam watches the thing that used to be Lucius Karm run out into hell itself and says: "I strongly suggest that we take the trump express out of here."
Adrianna's attempt may not be have been one of mercy-- That's definitely some arcane Karm Seal etched into the hilt, thruming with magic. Some things are worse than death, or at least more painful.
Catriona spins backward with the force of that blow, her hands bracing her own fall as she lands in Pascal's arms. It doesn't slow her more than a few dazed moments, and when she pushes away, a candle is grasped in her hand rapidly becoming a flaming sword. "Follow him!" she calls out. "Slaughter them!" And she charges in to the onslaught of creatures with a determined, blazing fury, her sword laying about them with unanticipated strength.
Hell roars about the group, as the battle from without floods in. The Grey Guard left outside chase the demonic hordes as they enter. Those who remain try to reach the core group, and defend them. Blood flows, and battle rages. Lucius is gone, and the Bulwark begins to tremble as it is assaulted from all sides. The walls crack and shudder, and the structure groans.
"Damn charging!" Pascal roars after Catriona. "Now is the time to /retreat/. We don't have the manpower to fight this." Himself, he runs back to grab his staff. "Get over here! We need to get out!"
Adrianna starts to follow Catriona, but as the walls of the Bulwark begin to shake, she halts. "You know how I hate to agree with people, Catriona darling, but we should make our exit, lest we all become trapped here."
Liam acts like every other Royal in Shadow -- giving the terror half a look while he flips through his trump deck. He has out his trump of the Amber Northern Gates, and he looks like it would be simpler just to shift away. Interestingly, while the building shakes and people fight around him, nothing touches him and nothing comes near him.
"I -won't- leave them," Catriona roars out to Adrianna and Pascal, gesturing her flaming sword to the remnants of the Grey Guard. "So long as they fight for us, I fight for them!" Her sword cuts through the demon flesh surging in, holding the horde at bay as best she can, alongside the men still left to fight.
Demon and man entangle in death. Men throw themselves before claw and fang for the Karm group - trading their lives for seconds of precious time. They are losing, and time grows thin.
Pascal lifts his staff and says. "Get back here now or by the Unicorn I swear I will beat you senseless and drag you to the Mandrake hospital. We can grab whoever's nearest, but right now, we need as much Karm blood alive as possible to seal that thing."
"If we do not leave now, Catriona, their sacrifices would have been in vain," Adrianna says in a hiss. "We need to regroup." She moves towards Liam, and mutters something under her breath about warnings and bastards.
Liam has his trump out. Now he's just waiting for the Karms to collect around to pull them out of here.
Catriona looks torn, enraged, the fire burning behind her eyes brightly. But finally, silently, she falls back, sword blazing at her side, ready in case anything leaps past the men valliantly defending.
The Grey Guard invoke the name of their House, even as they die. The few that remain circle the group - a fragile ring against the tide of horror encroaching upon them.
Pascal lowers his staff, giving Catriona an apolgetic look as he reaches out to touch Liam. "I'm sorry."
Liam concentrates upon a Trump, and begins to fade away.
Pascal grabs ahold of Liam and begins to fade.
"You will not be forgotten," Adrianna offers to the Grey Guard that have fought to keep the group of Karms. She reaches over to touch Liam's shoulder.
Adrianna grabs ahold of Liam and begins to fade.
Catriona snaps off a salute to the brave men, as if she could give to them her bravery to face certain, horrifying death in that one acknowledgement. Then she grabs on to Liam.
Catriona grabs ahold of Liam and begins to fade.
The group trumps out, as the defenses of the Bulwark fall, and the Grey Guard lay down their lives for Karm's future. They are the Lock.
Liam fades into nothingness, leaving behind a rainbow afterimage.
The trek through shadow is simple enough - but entering the Bulwark is a challenge. The existing guards stationed within the relative safety of the Bulwark are beset by foes from without. Demonic things, writhing with tentacles, wings, superfluous limbs and drooling ichor have surrounded it. From atop a rocky outcropping, Lucius and a precious few survey the scene.
Pascal leans against his staff as he looks down over the outcropping, frowning. "Really should have paid more attention to mother," he says. "So, ahh, cousin, these things aren't vulnerable just to fire or silver or something of the sort, right?"
Catriona is there with Lucius and Liam, numbered among the few, the Countess dressed and lightly armored for combat. Her dark eyes are troubled as they swing over the view, taking in creatures that should never have escaped. Pascal's words have her lips tipping wryly, but it's not a real smile and she remains silent as the grave.
Liam is riding a different horse through Shadow than his usual mare, Rutabaga. He looks a little bit dubious the ride out here but he does his Pattern Walker best to lead the Karms through Shadow to where they need to go.
"Steel seemed to work well enough on the beasts from before," Adrianna murmurs, from where she stands. She's looking to a set of golden fobs in her hand, rather than the creatures. "But these ones are slightly different. I am not sure."
Lucius grunts to Pascal, as Adri speaks. He indicates the focus of their enemies' wrath: a sturdy bastion against the raging horde. The Bulwark stands resolute, but is taking a vicious battering.
Lucius has told those with whom he travels that this shall be the ending of the threat. He seems dangerously determined to resolve it by force, where investigation has provided little. After a long look, he backs off, and regards the small group aroudn him. "We must relieve the contingent within. I intend to use our forces to divert the assault, while we enter the Bulwark amidst the melee. Comments."
Liam makes a religious sign from somewhere out in Shadow over his forehead and chest. He says, as he pulls on the reigns of his horse, "There is something very wrong about this place. I don't know what it is, but there is something very deeply wrong here and I cannot shift it away."
"It's the Nameless One," Adrianna murmurs, glancing towards Liam as she does. "Nameless One. Sometimes I wish I could jump back in time and slap our ancestors for providing such useless information. I like to call him Anthony." There is just a hint of madness in her eyes, faint. "I can burn the world down around us. That will give you enough of a distraction, perhaps, to gain the Bulwark."
Catriona's head whips about to Liam's pronouncement, any comments she may have falling to the wayside. "I could hazard a guess," she mutters, dark eyes narrowing on the Bulwark in the distance. "The plan is sound but if-" she stops herself, and amends, "once we reach the Bulwark, what is our plan, Lucius? Do we have substantial numbers to win this thing?"
Lucius nods to Liam. "The Nameless One. That is why we have come. It drives the others on, and shall endanger more than this shadow if not dealt with." He looks over Pascal. "You have not journied with us before. Know that anything is possible here, and all is dangerous. Be prepared."
He looks over the group. "Very well. Adrianna shall use fire. The troops shall run a spearhead with me. Everyone enter as an opportunity presents itself. Leave the Grey Guard without to deal with the threat. Those of the blood /must/ enter, and settle this." To Cat, he gives a grim look. "I believe there is a way. We shall discuss it within."
Lucius moves to the troops, and begins to rally them. He gives a short speech while the others prepare. He looks to Adrianna to begin.
Liam is not of the blood. He's merely a guide through Shadow. He peels his mount away from any sort of main assault so that he is out of the way of the action.
Pascal grimaces, looking at his staff, before shrugging and nodding to Lucius.
Catriona catches Lucius' look and it becomes contagious, the Karm looking troubled. "All right. We'll show them who put them in there in the first place, shall we?" She looks to Adrianna as well, waiting on the other woman even as she produces a candle from her satchel, leaving it unlit for now.
It starts with a spark, a small bit of flame that comes to life in Adrianna's right hand. She steps away from the rocky outcropping, to where there is a small amount of dry grass. It is soon flaming grass, and quickly spreading at that. "You'll want to charge quickly. Before I make the flames grow too much." She steps to the left, to light another patch. Flames lick along her hands, bright enough to nearly hide them from view.
Liam wheels his horse around so that he's closer to the Karm attack formation but he is very careful to be far enough away that he is not underfoot and doesn't present a hazard.
A call is sounded. Mounted troops rush in first, with Lucius at their head - lit candle in his hand blazing like a sun. Spearmen and archers follow, spreading wide. The horde is attracted to their presence, and changes focus - hungry for flesh and pain.
They are unorganized, and that is their weakness. Lucius and his wedge of horsemen split them apart, only to be savaged by squat black flying things swooping from the air. The remainder of the troops close in, and support the beleaguered cavalry.
As the only one of the blood here not able to light those candles, Pascal nonetheless lifts his staff as he charges in after the cavalry with the remainder of the foot troops.
Catriona's candle is lit before the charge, lengthening in her hand to become a large blade made of snapping green fire. She is by no means weak, swinging the blade with vicious fervor, the flames reflected in the depths of her eyes as she follows Lucius.
Behind the charge, the fires grow higher, walls of flame springing into life. At the ends, they nearly give the appearance of phoenix wings. Bright, dangerously burning, and following Adrianna as she makes a march forward--flaring up, to incinerate one of the flying creatures above.
Lucius's enormous blade is wielded one-handed. He cleaves the demons apart like a man possessed. Those close to him remain relatively untouched - but those beyond his reach are horribly ravaged by the beasts. They are numerous, and know no mercy. Some merely seek to blind their foes, and relish the morsels found thereby.
A scream is heard above the din: "Karm!" Lucius has dismounted now, by the great doors of the Bulwark. He holds it, and dissects the demons within reach - a glowing blue ring encircling him, and keeping the beasts at bay. He beckons for the others to enter the door he has opened. The demons are /very/ interested in getting through that door. However, the fires worry them - the march of certain death closes with Adrianna's every step.
"Get... lost!" Pascal cries out at the demon's harrying him as he dashes for Lucius' circle. He's aquitted himself well thus far, managing to at least beat back those that want his flesh. Nonetheless, when the safety of the blue circle presents itself, he makes his way for it, and the door beyond.
It's not a mad dash, though Catriona does prolong shedding the blood of their enemy as much as she deems appropriate. She slashes angrily, madly, but with an undeniable force alongside Lucius, until Adrianna, in all her flaming glory, reaches the Bulwark.
Liam looks confused and lost by the battle and, for a moment, he looks like he is going to lead Rutabaga back out into Shadow to wait until it is over and come back to pick up the Karms -- or assume they are going to trump home. Then he decides against it for the moment and leads his horse closer to Lucius's circle.
Adrianna's fires lash out, attempting to take out as many of the demons as she can, on her route to the Bulwark. When she reaches the door, the flames are given a last flare, a surge, before she drops her control of them. They'll remain surging for a few moments afterwards, then will return to normal fires.
The troops and demons scatter away from the flames, skirmishing wherever they might find respite from certain death, and into uncertain death. Lucius leads the group into the Bulwark, ensuring they are within before following.
Within, the remains of the Grey Guard stand watch. A large group was brought to the Bulwark, but of those only a few remain. There is blood here: handprints on the walls - streaks down the hallway floors. Dominating the centre of the room is a massive seal, with numerous small seals about its circumference. The troops are ghoulish and their eyes bespeak horror unsaid. But they stand at attention when the group arrives, and salute - though it seems a struggle to muster so much.
Pascal takes a step toward the seal, leaning heavily on his ichor-stained staff as he does so. "What now?" he asks, before glancing to the Grey Guard. "And... can we do anything for them?"
"This is what they are trained for," Catriona offers to Pascal with a firm reassurance, even as she turns her eyes upon the seal. "They will be taken care of, when we finish this."
Adrianna looks to the seals upon the ground with something that is more than idle hatred. "A psych ward, perhaps," is her reply to Pascal's question. "They've spent too much time here, though Walter and I had tried to keep them on a rotation. This place brings madness, when stayed in for too long." Not that she knows first hand, or anything. She takes strides towards one of the smaller seals, frowning.
Lucius looks about, and approaches the highest ranking Grey Guard. "Report, Sergeant."
The sergeant replies hesitantly, shamefully. "We've lost thirty-seven, milord." He grimaces. "To madness. We've been battling one another as the demons have been attempting to breach the defenses." The sergeant, a hardened veteran, seems about ready to break down.
Lucius lays a hand on his shoulder. "You've done well, sergeant. We'll take it from here." With that, he indicates positions about the great seal, where smaller seals lay. "Adrianna, Catriona, Pascal. Take a place, and one of these." He offers several small black knives.
He speaks levelly. "We do not have all of the answers. But what has been found so far indicates a Greater Seal involves those of the blood, and a mutual effort." And sacrifice. But that remains unsaid. "There is a ritual. We shall make the attempt." He looks to Liam. "And you shall remain aside, to help us should we need it." Or to run, screaming, as they all die a bloody and horrifying death.
Liam has left his horse somewhere safe and what he's done is just move into a corner completely out of the way, but instead of a weapon he has his trump deck out. He's clearly preparing to just grab random Karms and stuff them through trumps back home.
Pascal steps forward solemnly to take his knife, looking over it carefully. "This is looking lovelier by the moment," he says,before tossing his staff aside, in Liam's direction. "Look after that for me, would you?" he asks as he walks to his position.
Liam also takes up Pascal's staff.
Catriona crosses to Lucius, taking up the last of the knives with no hesitancy. Her pivot leads her to Adrianna, handing off one of the blades to the woman wordlessly, and then taking up a space at the smaller seal next to her.
Adrianna takes the knife from Catriona with a nod. She looks to the larger seal, and lets out a soft breath. "Lead on, then," she murmurs. A glance is given towards Catriona's forearms, in what may be a suggestion.
If Catriona's pale head tips in the barest of nods, it may only be visible to Adrianna.
Lucius looks about, and takes a steadying breath. He holds out his knife, and cuts his forearm. The blood trickles down onto the smaller seal he straddles. "Karm lets flow its blood, to this seal. I name you, O Nameless One, the corrupter of time and memory. I name you enemy of Karm. I name you Yor'suggoth - murderer of history and knowledge. You make an enemy of the Lock, and so the Lock finds you. Sleep forever more, never to wake. No nightmare shall touch our soul. No memory shall be lost. We are the Lock, and you are That Which Must be Sealed."
The seal begins to rumble, as if in protest. The walls shake and rumble. Lucius kneels, and begins drawing arcane designs with his blood - reinforcing the glyphs of the ancient seal.
Catriona watches Lucius with a sense of trepidation, and perhaps a vague foreboding. The black blade is clenching in her fingers, white with the terse effort of it. When she takes it up, the young Karm is careful to apply pressure so that the tattoo upon her forearm remains intact. Kneeling, she allows her blood to run freely upon the smaller seal.
Pascal grimaces as he lifts his own blade to his forearm, and holds a moment before cutting a gash in his skin, and allow his blood to drip down on the seal beneath him. He looks up and to his relatives, as if for a cue.
Adrianna's blade is drawn across her skin, and her blood is fed to the seal at her feet. She keeps her gaze on the center seal, as she reinforces the unknown one that she's chosen.
The floor cracks, and Grey Guard rush in - tired but true. They ring the seal, spears at the ready. The rumbling seems an earthquake, but Karm holds fast. Cracks web across the floor, but slow, and stop. Lucius continues to etch his blood into the power of the seal. Wherever blood was spilled, the seal remains relatively intact. The Seneschal spreads his blood to the central design, building on the smaller seals along its exterior. All is quiet now, save for arcane words, and the distant din of battle without.
Catriona massages her upper arm, promoting the crimson stream of her blood to flow faster, dark eyes glazed with the power that thrums through the room. She looks to each Karm shedding their blood, the sense of invincible kinship stronger than anything else, even the rumbling underfoot.
Pascal hisses as his own blood spills over the seals, and he smears it over what patterns he can reach with his unwounded arm. Having picked up on what he needs to do, he keeps focused on reinforcing the seals, and staying focused enough to do so.
Silver and black and red. Those were the colours. They were the colours of the tendrils that erupted so suddenly from the central seal. They were the colours that ensconced Lucius. They were the colours that took his essence, and consumed it for dark purpose.
A horrible scream erupts from Lucius' throat, as he is suspended above the design of the central seal by multi-coloured serpents. His voice booms inhumanly within the chamber.
"You misspeak by name, Blood Traitors. You mispeak my purpose and power." Lucius is set down upon the stone, standing. His empty eye socket has sprouted tendrils that crawl across his face. His armour is webbed with them: his hands driven. "Now, you shall suffer."
His knife flickers, and lands squarely in the forehead of a Grey Guard - killing him instantly. Then, his blade flashes, and two others are cut down. Blood sprays, and he laughs. "The Lock is OPENED! All Blood Traitors shall fall!"
Catriona leaps from her knees as the thing takes Lucius, swaying with the amount of blood lost. "No!" comes her scream, the reaction quick as she flings herself in his direction, tattooed arms outstretched to try and snare the creature inhabiting Lucius between her arms.
"Lucius!" Pascal cries out, going wide-eyed, before he too runs forward, not for Lucius, but for Catriona. "Keep away from him!"
"Lucius!", Adrianna echoes, taking a half step back as tenticles sprout from his formerly absent eye. She withdraws her sword, though turns it so the hilt seems more the intended weapon than the blade itself. "The Lock shall be shut," she says, with all the florish of an elegantly worded curse.
An armoured boot kicks Catriona in the face, cartwheeling her backwards. The keyblade slices through more Grey Guard, and fends off Adrianna's merciful attempt. Lucius makes his way to the exit. "I shall burn your kingdoms. I shall murder your sycophants. And when they are all gone, I shall come for you. I shall drink of your failure, and reclaim the True Blood!" Body parts litter the floor, and what was once Lucius bursts through the remaining Grey Guard, and opens the fortified door. Hell floods in, and he is lost in the midst of it.
Pascal reaches out to catch Catriona, crying out, "Do /none/ of us know what we're doing? Liam!"
Liam watches the thing that used to be Lucius Karm run out into hell itself and says: "I strongly suggest that we take the trump express out of here."
Adrianna's attempt may not be have been one of mercy-- That's definitely some arcane Karm Seal etched into the hilt, thruming with magic. Some things are worse than death, or at least more painful.
Catriona spins backward with the force of that blow, her hands bracing her own fall as she lands in Pascal's arms. It doesn't slow her more than a few dazed moments, and when she pushes away, a candle is grasped in her hand rapidly becoming a flaming sword. "Follow him!" she calls out. "Slaughter them!" And she charges in to the onslaught of creatures with a determined, blazing fury, her sword laying about them with unanticipated strength.
Hell roars about the group, as the battle from without floods in. The Grey Guard left outside chase the demonic hordes as they enter. Those who remain try to reach the core group, and defend them. Blood flows, and battle rages. Lucius is gone, and the Bulwark begins to tremble as it is assaulted from all sides. The walls crack and shudder, and the structure groans.
"Damn charging!" Pascal roars after Catriona. "Now is the time to /retreat/. We don't have the manpower to fight this." Himself, he runs back to grab his staff. "Get over here! We need to get out!"
Adrianna starts to follow Catriona, but as the walls of the Bulwark begin to shake, she halts. "You know how I hate to agree with people, Catriona darling, but we should make our exit, lest we all become trapped here."
Liam acts like every other Royal in Shadow -- giving the terror half a look while he flips through his trump deck. He has out his trump of the Amber Northern Gates, and he looks like it would be simpler just to shift away. Interestingly, while the building shakes and people fight around him, nothing touches him and nothing comes near him.
"I -won't- leave them," Catriona roars out to Adrianna and Pascal, gesturing her flaming sword to the remnants of the Grey Guard. "So long as they fight for us, I fight for them!" Her sword cuts through the demon flesh surging in, holding the horde at bay as best she can, alongside the men still left to fight.
Demon and man entangle in death. Men throw themselves before claw and fang for the Karm group - trading their lives for seconds of precious time. They are losing, and time grows thin.
Pascal lifts his staff and says. "Get back here now or by the Unicorn I swear I will beat you senseless and drag you to the Mandrake hospital. We can grab whoever's nearest, but right now, we need as much Karm blood alive as possible to seal that thing."
"If we do not leave now, Catriona, their sacrifices would have been in vain," Adrianna says in a hiss. "We need to regroup." She moves towards Liam, and mutters something under her breath about warnings and bastards.
Liam has his trump out. Now he's just waiting for the Karms to collect around to pull them out of here.
Catriona looks torn, enraged, the fire burning behind her eyes brightly. But finally, silently, she falls back, sword blazing at her side, ready in case anything leaps past the men valliantly defending.
The Grey Guard invoke the name of their House, even as they die. The few that remain circle the group - a fragile ring against the tide of horror encroaching upon them.
Pascal lowers his staff, giving Catriona an apolgetic look as he reaches out to touch Liam. "I'm sorry."
Liam concentrates upon a Trump, and begins to fade away.
Pascal grabs ahold of Liam and begins to fade.
"You will not be forgotten," Adrianna offers to the Grey Guard that have fought to keep the group of Karms. She reaches over to touch Liam's shoulder.
Adrianna grabs ahold of Liam and begins to fade.
Catriona snaps off a salute to the brave men, as if she could give to them her bravery to face certain, horrifying death in that one acknowledgement. Then she grabs on to Liam.
Catriona grabs ahold of Liam and begins to fade.
The group trumps out, as the defenses of the Bulwark fall, and the Grey Guard lay down their lives for Karm's future. They are the Lock.
Liam fades into nothingness, leaving behind a rainbow afterimage.