[Video]// backdated to the first liminal space

[neverfeltthatway]

...I found the King's sigil again.

[Armin projects a brief look around, so people can know where he is, and then looks down to a manhole cover in one of the underpasses - where, just as he said, the golden sigil sits. Uncharacteristically, his tone is short and abrupt.]

Avoid this place.


[Private to Leo]

I'm not sure the same protections will work here, with all the traffic. Any ideas?

Comments

<3

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin normally wouldn't be hesitant about entering the workshop, but somehow it feels different when he's visiting Leo. A little hesitantly, he makes his way into the room.]

I... it's about the sigil. I know you're doing your best, but... it's too dangerous to have only one person who knows how to contain it. [He takes a deep breath.] Last time it appeared, you told me you could teach me the protections?

[howexciting]

[Two, he wants to correct, but it is Sabetha's own choice whether or not to mention this to the rest of the Travelers or not.]

... why yes, I did. I had nearly forgotten. Come, I will show you.

[He then creates a large piece of paper over the patio table, like a tablecloth, with several pens of varying styles (ballpoints, quills, fountain pens).]

[neverfeltthatway]

[Obviously, she hasn't told Armin yet - and he has no reason to believe anybody would be hiding that knowledge. He nods and comes up quietly up to the table and stands attentively, only just short of standing at attention.

Old habits die hard.]

[howexciting]

... would you like to sit?

[neverfeltthatway]

Oh! Umm... [Armin blinks, blushing a little. After a moment, however, he gives a small nod, and does indeed sit down.] Th-thanks.

[howexciting]

[That does draw the smallest of smiles to his lips, despite how tired he feels right now.]

The Sign of Koth, first, I think.

[He draws a symbol with a fountain pen, then, making it upside-down so that Armin can best see it.]

This seals portals opened to the Old Ones' domains. It can also be used on doors, entryways, thresholds... and the Old Ones and their minions cannot cross it, or open a door marked with it, as long as the symbol remains intact. If the door is open, it will not stop them. And their mortal cultists can still cross the sign of Koth, and destroy it if necessary. If, for some reason, you do not have time to apply it, you may hold your hand like this...

[He puts his hand palm-out toward Armin, fingers straight, thumb curved inward toward the palm of his hand, mimicking the sign.]

... and it will act as a Sign of Koth for as long as you hold your hand thus.

[neverfeltthatway]

...What will the sign of Koth do when it's on your fingers? [He looks a little confused.] You said it sealed portals. Do you have to be standing in a doorway?

[howexciting]

Not necessarily. It depends on what you wish to do. It will temporarily seal a portal so that nothing else may come through... it will increase the strength of a threshold as long as you hold it, such as in a doorway, or temporarily create a threshold in something like a hallway, an interior space... and, of course, in the case of our drain. This does not mean they cannot advance until that point... but it may give us the few seconds of time we need.

While they cannot cross that threshold, however, they can still possibly influence you - hence why it is best to be used as an engraving or a drawing upon doors. But it will work in a pinch.

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin listens carefully, and eventually nods.] All right.

[Armin looks back to the table and studies the symbol for a long moment, then painstakingly copies it, line for line. He pauses a moment, looking up - and if it meets with Leonardo's approval, he'll cover the symbols already drawn with a nearby book, and try drawing it from memory. If not, he'll copy it directly, again and again until he gets it right.]

[howexciting]

[Leonardo does his best to make sure the process is smooth. His instruction in apprentices helps, thankfully, for this purpose. Any time Armin makes a mistake, he can point it out readily. It does not take long for the two of them to get the written sign of Koth imprinted into Armin's mind.]

Bene. Now the Elder Sign, if you believe you have the sign of Koth memorized sufficiently?

[neverfeltthatway]

I think so.

[And given both his lack of confidence in himself, how quickly he'd managed to pick it up, and how many times he insisted on drawing it even after he'd managed it perfectly, that's probably an encouraging answer.]

[howexciting]

[Leonardo nods, resolutely, and then proceeds to draw two symbols, one next to the other.]

This is the greatest weapon we have against the Old Ones. The Elder sign. It will protect you from their influence, as they cannot touch you nor your mind. It will also banish their weaker subordinates. It will further protect you from any indirect influences, such as a cultist's magic, or curses. There is also a hand gesture, as with the sign of Koth.

[He places the pads of his little finger and thumb together over his palm, pointing upward, his other three fingers straight up behind them.]

As long as you hold it, it will protect you. However, the Old Ones' human followers can disrupt it, just not with their magic.