The Karcist and the Lord
a S.C.P. Foundation Mythos x M.G.E. crossover
Chapter 21: Fractures
Royal Makai
The capital of the Mamono was exuding a frantic air of panic and fear. When Aries' spell was removed from the world, Royal Makai itself was not affected directly, but word had spread fast about how around the world, Human men and Incubi were suddenly seized upon by violent and destructive mental breakdowns, attacking the Monsters around them and those husbands of the Mamono who retained their sanity. The Monster Lord had to immediately run back to her castle, when Adeline contacted her for help, and having confirmed that this was happening after coming from Lescatie. Adeline was now preoccupied with an emergency meeting with the advisers of the Lord and King to discuss what to do.
"So far, the initial shock and awe effect has been stopped, however, there are reports I have been getting in concerning the Order. And I am afraid it has to concern both the new wave of violence that has been unleashed, the Pantheon, and what we know now is the Cult of Nalka." A Vampire named Ezelia said. She was in charge of the spies and 'assassins' of the Monster Lord, and wore a black and blue dress that would fit in the 17th century, and white gloves. She had a baby on her lap, who was currently napping while Ezelia brushed a lock of platinum blonde hair away from her face. She had explained when questioned about this that an older sister had to fight her chosen husband, the sibling in question at the being in a city called Helias. The city was converted some fourteen years ago into a Demon Realm, and had been devastated when everything went to chaos.
"What is it?" Adeline asked, sitting and speaking for the Monster Lord. Ever since her husband came back to Royal Makai instead of Lescatie as he said he would, the two haven't been seen since then. Adeline had stepped in to do her duties in her absence, something that has got her catching political flak from some of her more secretly... ambitious siblings. Through Druella thankfully has been of some help, she herself has some issues to deal with. When the Fourth-born was taken to Alice, who has imprisoned the Many-Armed Mage in an undisclosed location, she found that Druella's entire skeleton was fused into one piece, freezing her body in place.
"My spies within the Order-aligned nations have reporting that the Cult of Nalka is appearing in the remaining Order territories in the mainland, and is reestablishing communications between them. Not only that but their God, this Grand Karcist Ion, is being declared as the Orders new God of War, both by the Karcists who lead the Cult of Nalka, and the Order priests themselves. Aries is being declared a dead God, a heretic who was rightly punished by being fed to Ion for betraying the Chief God. And that is not all." Ezelia explained, as the Mamono listening to her went wide eyed in shock. "The Chief God has also cast out Hel the God of Death, Dionysus the God of Wine, Hera the God of the Hunt, and Eos the God of Love from Heaven. Now they are considered traitor Gods, and many temples and holy places have begun removing their statues, defacing their symbols, and hunting down anyone with close ties to them. The Cult in Nalka is also establishing Brood Nests, attacking our people and dragging them away to these nests. I do not need to remind you what was found in the first Brood Nest." The Vampire said, the memory of the Monster King carrying his daughters into the castle fresh in the memories of those who saw. The group had a moment of silence, before the Lilium spoke.
"This is not good, we must begin preparations to hold our ground. Anything else?" she asked, as Ezelia shifted nervously.
"Yes, that it gets worse from there." she said. "The Cult of the Fallen God is openly advocating for open and total war against the Cult of Nalka, its followers slaughtering and killing all the Humans in several Brood Nests already, as well as burning down and sacking Order settlements near said sites. A public reprimand has been issued, but the Fallen God herself has responded by saying while she had her army attack the Cult of Nalka, they never went after the Order, claiming that is the work of Ion. They are among our strongest allies, but their continued refusal to cease and desist has radicalized Order nations everywhere to embrace the Cult of Nalka, and canonize Grand Karcist Ion as their new God of War." the vampire explained, as her co-members in the counsel absorbed this info.
"That fool. What does she think she is doing?" A Lich named Ikai muttered in shock.
"How do we know this is not a trick of the Cult of Nalka?" Afit, a Succubus asked.
"The reports of the attackers match that of the Fallen Gods' servants, with the notable thing about them is that said raiders often wear masks to hide their identity, but cannot hide the fact they are in fact Mamono. So unless the Cult has something up their sleeve they have somehow hidden from us, we are now having to ask ourselves one question." Ezelia said. She then turned to Adeline, and sighed.
"I'm sorry to put this burden upon you, but since you are in command until your mother and father are done mourning, I must ask you this: Shall we cut ties with the Fallen God, and declare her a traitor to our cause?"
**POV SHIFT**
Sun Gold Mountains, Zipangu
As Saigo and his escort of Samurai were road down the road leading to their village on horseback. They were told to expect one of Ions' priests by yesterday, but he hadn't shown up. Saigo as a result decided to do a patrol and meet them halfway, and to see if anything had happened to him. While the Daimyo was in deep thought, the priest next to the Daimyo rode up beside him. Unlike the others, the priest carried only his sword, while Saigo and his men also brought their yari, a bladed staff weapon used both on horseback and on foot in a similar manner to spears, but made for slashing instead on stabbing. He drew his sword as he spoke. He then gestured to a turn they were about to take. A faint clanking sound could be heard, which Saigo only just now became aware of.
"My liege, I can sense the Karcist of Ion up ahead around the corner. He is currently engaged in battle with a Mamono. While powerful, he is still on his own, likely separated from his own escort." the holy man said. Saigo nodded, then brought his hand up and pointed it forward, giving the signal to hurry up. His men made a Hi-yah! sound as they urged the horses onwards, and when they rounded the corner, and saw a Sarkic surrounded by Mamono. The Sarkic priest in question visibly resembled a native man from the deserts, but he had a tail that was currently cut off, leaking black pus-like fluids. Karcist Enoi was also nursing a broken arm, had part of his skull missing, as well as several slash and bite marks on his body, and was currently cornered into the wall while generating a shield of some kind from his good hand.. His escort could be seen strewn about, dead or close to it. The Sarkic was currently being attacked by two Amazons, a Kitsune, and several Zombies wearing the Fallen Gods' black clothing, which had semi-modest armor that mostly covered their bodies. The Zombies were still beating against his shield, but the Kitune turned around and saw the charging horsemen, along with the Amazons. She lost focused on her assault on the wounded Karcist, who was on his knees at this in a puddle of his blood. Enoi took advantage of this, and blasted it forwards, forcing the nine tailed fox-woman to turn around and ignore the interlopers while her Mamono sisters tried to fight back. Saigo trampled a Zombie underneath his horse, and swung his yari into another one, nearly bisecting with one cut. His turned to his right see one of his men get hit with an arrow from one of the Amazon, and the Samurai grunted in pain as it glanced off his shoulder pad, but still hit with more force then a normal arrow would. The other Amazon was more accurate, as she got another man to his left in the leg, and he fell on top a Zombie that caught him as she rolled downhill with him crying out for help. As another one of his Samurai was about to go after him, Saigo stopped him.
"Don't split up." the Daimyo said, then swiped at one of the Undead creatures, missing with the blade but still caving in its head with the staff. He spun it forwards to make sure it was free, then tugged upwards to cut down the middle of the face of a fourth Zombie, and she slightly recoiled, pushed by the force of his blow.
"Wwwhhhyyyy?" was all it said in a dead, emotionless face as it fell back, tears in the Undeads eyes as the Daimyo then had his horse stomp on it, silencing the Monster. Now seeing the odds were against them, the Mamono fell back, the Kitsune teleporting away with the Amazons, and the Zombies scattered by running down the hill the road was on. It was steep enough that they fell and took some injuries, but now Saigo wished he had a bow and arrows, as the Undead healed just enough to get up and flee. If the Samurai chased them by going downhill, they would likely also fall, and do so right into the Zombies. Going by the road meant the Zombies would hear them, and do the same thing again.
When he looked back, most his men had dismounted, and began inspecting the dead while the Karcist laid down against the wall, breathing heavily as a Samurai applied some first aid by putting his arm in a splint. As the Daimyo walked up to him, Karcist Enoi looked up at him. Saigo now could see he had a black beard which covered his his upper lips and cheekbones.
"Ah, so you are Daimyo Saigo, yes?" he asked fluently in the language of Zipangu, causing the men around him, including the priest to stop and pause. They were used to people from outside struggling to communicate, wither in speaking or in writing, and thus the Zipangu Order nations were mostly operating on their own.
"Uh, yes. That is who I am." Saigo responded. "You are surprisingly... well..."
"Well versed in your tongue? Yes, I always did have a knack for picking up the tongues of my brethren. I myself have often found amusement when one of then thinks he is being clever by insulting me, only for me to turn around and insult them back in their own tongue. As you already aware, I am Karcist Enoi in the flesh. Well, in so far as what is left of it." the Sarkic said, chuckling at his jest. "I am thankful for your assistance, and for the aid your men are giving to me. Now, shall we go to your village?"
"Are you sure you're alright? You did get a massive chunk smashed out of you." Saigo asked.
"It is fine. I will be fine by tomorrow." the Karcist said smiling, as he tried to get up and fell over face first. He was then picked up to his feet by one of the Samurai. As the group looked around, Saigo addressed his men.
"Soldiers of the Order! We're heading home now, and taking Karcist Enoi and what remains of his escort with us." Saigo then turned to Enoi. "I will have my best docters take care of you while we are there."
"Oh alright." The Sarkic conceded at last, seeing there was no way to change his mind. With that, the group went off to the Sun Gold Mountins village, and set their negotiations for a later date. One Samurai suddenly stopped and looked at the nearby brush.
"See something?" one of his fellow Order soldiers asked, while everyone else paused.
"Thought I did." the first Samurai said, before setting his yari back on his shoulder, and went back into formation. As a precaution, the group stayed in a ready formation to charge, but made to the village without encountering any other Mamono.