Doctor divides team with wounded Warlock

The Doctor’s bowler hat rests forgotten on the gravel path after being dislodged during the struggle to carry Warlock. Its neat black shape stands out against the uneven stones, a symbol of his humanity amid alien peril. Sarah glances back once before vanishing through the gate, leaving the hat in isolation as the final earthly remnant of the Doctor.

Warlock’s chest wound bleeds profusely, darkening his jacket and staining his hands as he moves. The Doctor supports him bodily, both men’s clothes visibly marked by the injury. The wound’s severity halts movement frequently, underscoring the immediate danger to Warlock’s life. Blood drips onto the gravel path as they progress slowly toward the lodge.

The Lodge at Priory Gardens serves as the only beacon of civility and defense in the immediate area—a sturdy stone building where Scarman’s Marconiscope hums with unstable energy. Sarah races inside seeking allies, trusting its walls will offer sanctuary and information. Within, wounded Warlock will receive medical attention, and reinforcements may be marshaled before Sutekh’s influence reaches critical mass.

The open Priory Gardens form a perilous transit zone between danger and safety—wide paths expose movement to long-range sightlines from the lodge windows, while overgrown grass conceals uneven ground and old foundations. The ivy-choked ruins loom like silent witnesses as the Doctor and Warlock pass through, their progress visible and vulnerable. The damp earth and crushed thyme release sharp scents in the chill air.