[KQ] Relentless you survive

i wish i could say that i am a light that never goes out

Though the sky was a remarkable shade of blue and it was already warm enough to necessitate the use of fans or other such devices to keep cool, it was a day like any other. In Haulani and elsewhere all over Caido citizens went about their daily activities having no idea that the first step towards ridding them of the violet blight upon Torchline's shores was about to be taken.

With his arms folded across his chest, Remi glared across the water. Glancing over his shoulder at Ronin, the Bastion sighs a touch impatiently, not quite able to contain the anxious energy building up in his muscles or the way it had sprays of feathers prickling out of his curls and dripping down his spine. With Deimos having arrived earlier that afternoon, all they needed was for Sunjata to meet them on the coastline before they could head out.

Shifting from foot to foot before opting to pace across the sand if only to do something, the Bastion sighs. "I'm hesitant to say much out loud, but.." Through the bond he pulsed thoughts of wings, of various shifts they all possessed, of the relative speed they could each fly at. Did they want to go in quickly as a unit? Did they want to try and stealth their way in, if such a thing was even possible?

"Also, based purely on what we know works and what doesn't, I think it's best that Ronin has this." So saying, Remi holds out his rapier for the Knight to take. "I think you can hit hard on your own, whereas most of what Ronin can do doesn't seem to work as well."

but I  f l i c k e r

from time to time

REMI

Table and Gif sniping by SKY who is eternally the best forever

I shouldn't laugh, but I know I'm a failure in your eyes

Standing well in sight of Remi on the beach, Ronin stands quietly and at rest, much like any soldier readying themselves for war. Nevertheless as his husband glances back at him, he offers him a warm smile, and were it not for the sudden and frenetic pacing, he'd have gone to the Bastion to try to smooth the feathers down and away from his shoulders. Raising his eyebrows at the images sent through the bond and glancing across at Deimos as they wait for Sunjata's arrival, the Knight nods.

Back through the bond he sends images of partially winged shifts, giving them aerial space to move without committing to something large and cumbersome. Stealth is always an option, but if they are caught then the fight will be immediate. So long as everyone is happy with that risk, though, it could be a good idea.

"Wh..." Not having expected to be handed the literal Death Rapier, Ronin doesn't fumble with it exactly, but he absolutely doesn't feel comfortable holding it. "If this goes wrong," he says slowly, attaching the weapon to his hip and staring intently at his husband. If I miss with this and hit you, you could capital-D Die. "Are you sure?"

RONIN

we must always be willing to be more savage to the angels

rip up their flesh and reveal them to be nothing

While everyone seemed quiet and somber, almost, Sunjata arrived surprisingly relaxed. Nodding his head to Remi, Ronin, and Deimos, Sunjata settles back on his heels, adorned with the brass knuckles Remi had made for him what felt like eons ago, and not much else aside from shifts and magic. Though, feeling wholly capable and not queasy with the thought, the Flood glances out toward Starfall.

Unaware of what is currently going on between Remi and Ronin and the blade, he simply turns his attention back toward the gathered group, his tattooed shoulders relaxed despite the fight that may or may not come. “Whatever you all decide, I’ll go with.” It’s as unceremonious a greeting as ever, but to be honest? Sunjata doesn’t know how this will go.

And yet he feels relatively safe all things considered, given that he is a Friend of the Family.

how willing you must be to kill angels

and how willing they must be to let you do it

SUNJATA

DEIMOS

The sound of iron shots is stuck in my head
The thunder of the drums dictates

Deimos had gone from restless doldrums to a stoic, composed, reticent figure all over again. A familiarity, with the way they marched into battle, took over from the trepidation, and all that was left in its place was a solid, stalwart wall of weaponry, armaments, and unease settling in between the bones of his ribcage. He wouldn’t share those sentiments however, staring out towards Starfall with a narrowed gaze, before his attention shifted between a passed blade.

His brows furrowed with the uncertainty layered there, but didn’t touch it with any other sentiments or tangible things. Instead, he took one long, low breath, and shouldered his bag of holding further along the plane of muscles – the ring Zavien had given him not forgotten, but laden in his pockets. “Ready when you all are,” once they made the necessary decisions and weapon transactions. “How do we want to go in?”

The rhythm of the falls, the number of dead
The rising of the horns, ahead

i wish i could say that i am a light that never goes out

"You're good at being careful, right?" Remi hums, grinning at Ronin despite the deadly threat the Knight now has hanging from his hip. I trust you. He adds silently, reaching out to give his husband's arm a soft squeeze before glancing toward Deimos and then Sunjata.

"I'll throw out my shield as soon as we're close. So long as you're all within 60ft of me, you won't feel anything." Immortal though he was, Remi certainly wasn't invincible; hopefully, Flood, Sword, and Knight could take down whatever threat was present before his health was whittled down to nothing.

"I have the flower. I suppose once we land we'll look for a place to put it?" If there was time, going unsaid. Given how quickly Dahlia had come upon him when he'd last gone to Starfall, Remi was quite certain they'd hardly have more than a second or two to breathe once landing before they were attacked if that long.

Rolling his shoulders to unfurl his wings, Remi nods.

"Ready?"

but I  f l i c k e r

from time to time

REMI

Table and Gif sniping by SKY who is eternally the best forever

I shouldn't laugh, but I know I'm a failure in your eyes

"I mean, I try my best, but if you look at my track record--" Ronin is saying, but by then Remi is already saying words that are almost guaranteed to be ironic, and the Knight is forced to bite back his refusal. Sunjata is enough of a distraction, at least, for him to let the matter drop, and he nods to the Flood and ruffles his fingers back through his hair.

"I've got a feeling that getting there is going to be a hurdle in and of itself," he says. "But yes - as soon as we land, find a place to put that lily on the shoreline. At least it means we'll have a safe haven as soon as we get to Starfall in the future." Because fuck, this isn't going to be a one and done adventure, he can tell.

"If Remi uses his shield, the rest of us should hit hard and fast. If we all focus the same target, too, we can make sure our hits count. I can Smite and I've got the Seal of the Duke with me, if we need any healing. Hopefully we won't need it." Good one, Ronin.

"I'm ready."

RONIN

we must always be willing to be more savage to the angels

rip up their flesh and reveal them to be nothing

As Remi mentions the shield and ideas of how to slip into Starfall, Sunjata nods as he hears the plan lay out. Lily on the shore, flying in as a group hopefully quick enough to not have anything notice. Yet as he glances across to the purple island in the distance, he’s thankful for the wall he’s built up in the Attuned bond that makes his side quiet to everyone else, not giving away his calm and content thoughts.

“Sounds good. I can heal with my rain magic if needed, too.” Sunjata hums, straightening up and stretching out his back before he lets the leathery wings of his dragon shift pour from his back, stretching them out to test the warm wind on them. “I’m ready.” Nodding to everyone else, he waits to trail after the three.

how willing you must be to kill angels

and how willing they must be to let you do it

SUNJATA

DEIMOS

The sound of iron shots is stuck in my head
The thunder of the drums dictates

Shields and flowers, landings and shorelines, plans put in place if they had any benefits of times, measures, and fortune; Deimos knew better than all the likelihoods panning out directly. Perhaps this would merely be a test of their skills against whatever pitfalls meandered and mauled through the isle. Would Dahlia show, given how she was meant to be pre-occupied in Stormbreak? Or would something else?

“I can be healed now,” Deimos added with a slight grin; aiming to provide some levity. Otherwise, his powers remained much the same – strong and enduring, elemental and potent. Nodding along with assent onto the other machinations and calculations, he gave one last jutting of his jawline towards Starfall. “Best be off then.” And then he prepared to shift into his own half-thunderbird proportions, massive wings outstretching and ready.

The rhythm of the falls, the number of dead
The rising of the horns, ahead

Welcome to the Key Quest. This is a hard Level 15 key Quest.

Your randomly assigned posting order is Deimos, Sunjata, Remi, Ronin

Please post your characters flying toward Starfall and reading/taking their first action, and in your summary list whatever non-items they are bringing with them (anything on your profile is automatically assumed to be with you). Items not listed cannot be used later.

Remember to include a summary at the bottom of your post with all action taken. If weapons/upgrades/abilities/items/shifts/etc are used, please include their desc. from your profile at the bottom of your post as well.

REMEMBER: KQs are rewarding but dangerous. They may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters.

DEIMOS

The sound of iron shots is stuck in my head
The thunder of the drums dictates

Other than the dream, this would be the Sword’s first-time meandering towards the dreaded isle. Trying to organize and visualize it from slumbering contortions was a mess in his head, and so he extended his wings, half-shifting into thunderbird proportions, bag of holding in his grasp and multitudes of stoic barbarity clinging to his ribs, the gloved relic on his hands.

He scanned the skies around them, readying himself for something. Surely there’d be other cretins and creatures lurking beyond just Starfall itself; after all, they’d seen many already escaping and lurking along other regions. So with that, he surged along with the others in grouping formation, elements in his soul at the ready.

--

Deimos half-shifts into thunderbird form (using the wings to fly) with the group, and concentrates on the area around them, searching for anything coming their way. He is wearing the Gambler’s Gloves.

All items are with him except for his companions. He’s also carrying the ring from Zavien/Koa/Lena.

Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Mastered
Gambler's Gloves | A pair of supple leather gloves, seemingly innocuous. Doubles the user's Luck stat.

Regional Score bonus: +9 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +9 should be included)

The rhythm of the falls, the number of dead
The rising of the horns, ahead

we must always be willing to be more savage to the angels

rip up their flesh and reveal them to be nothing

It’s a vibrantly violet streak that seems to grow as Sunjata takes to the sky with the other men. Partially shifted just as the rest of them, enough to retain his dragon wings and allow his hands to be free, the wind is warm as it meets the leathery touch of his draconic wings.

He’s still just as calm, steel eyes taking in the skyline for anything of note, curious more than anything. The hand still holding the flooded brass knuckles tightens as they fly over the water, not wanting to lose it amongst the waves down below. But other than that? Carefully concealed behind his curiosity lingers excitement, well hidden behind the wall of the attuned bond he’d been reinstating.

---

Sunjata flies toward Starfall, partially shifted so he can be mostly human and fly using his dragon wings.

He only has these items with him; and no companion!

Type: Grey | Style: Other | Level: Basic
hEARs | An earring that when worn, increases the sound of voices (especially whispers)

Type: Grey | Style: Offensive | Level: Basic
Flooded Brass Knuckles | brass knuckles inlaid with sapphires. When something is hit with these, jets of water pour from the sapphires with shocking force. Made by Remi

Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Basic
Revivify Feather | Can bring a character back from the dead so long as it's used within 24 hours of their death.

how willing you must be to kill angels

and how willing they must be to let you do it

SUNJATA

i wish i could say that i am a light that never goes out

Well...off they go, then.

Nodding, Remi exhales slowly through his nose before lifting off into the air. Already his muscles burned with nervous energy and it took a good deal of restraint to keep himself with the group rather than forcing their hand and just charging in. No doubt Ronin was right and they wouldn't even make it to Starfall before being noticed, but still the Knight's caution was wise.

Alright, I've got you all. He thinks, glancing over his shoulders as he sends out his net of protection.

For a pack of demigods (and Deimos) flying across the sea takes little effort, and quickly Starfall looms large in their field of view.

---

Remi has Spread Thin active. He has everything on his profile, except Oria and including two bottles of magic fountain water.

Magic: Spread Thin | Can soak the damage cast at all allies within 60ft. Cannot use any other actions.
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered

Magic: Don't Pick Fights You Can't Win (feat) | Characters/Creatures who have a difference of 30 STR or greater compared to Remi, roll with disadvantage.
Type: Grey | Rank: Basic

Regional Score bonus: +9 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +9 should be included)



Remi has also given Ronin:

Type: Dark | Style: Offensive | Level: Mastered
Wilde's Rapier | A beautiful rapier with a blade as black as shadow and a bone-carved hilt. When an attack is successful, there is a 1/10 chance that the blow will be a fatal one.

but I  f l i c k e r

from time to time

REMI

Table and Gif sniping by SKY who is eternally the best forever

I shouldn't laugh, but I know I'm a failure in your eyes

It's on four sets of wings - two draconic, if not in differing colours, one feathered, one sparking - that they take to the air and swoop, silent as ghosts, towards the violet isle. Like Remi, Ronin feels the urge to shake out his hands or pump his wings hard enough to make the muscles burn, just to work out the energy, but he knows better than to waste even a fraction of what they're bringing to Starfall.

Unaware of Sunjata's blocking out his Attuned bond, he sends a pulse of gratitude and affection towards the Bastion before exchanging a glance with Deimos and shifting to put himself parallel with the Sword. Given that they'll be doing much of the hard-hitting in this, he assumes, it's probably best for them to work closely together.

---

Ronin joins the group in the air, partially shifting his dragon wings to fly with them.

He has everything on his profile except for his companion, and brings two bottles of fountain water.

Regional Score bonus: +9 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +9 should be included) 

He is also carrying this, given to him by Remi:

Type: Dark | Style: Offensive | Level: Mastered
Wilde's Rapier | A beautiful rapier with a blade as black as shadow and a bone-carved hilt. When an attack is successful, there is a 1/10 chance that the blow will be a fatal one.

RONIN

There's a very slight possibility of making it to the island unseen, but already your luck is against you, and out of the violet clouds that swirl around Starfall, a dragon appears. Or rather, it certainly looks a lot like a dragon only a good deal larger than you're used to seeing.

On wings of such a dark purple as to almost look black, the creature sets its sights on Deimos, racing through the sky toward the Sword with an uncanny burst of speed for a creature so large. As it nears Deimos is able to dodge out of its way—the luck of his gloves already showing their worth. With a roar the creature banks around, its throat beginning to pulse with a dim but ominous purple light.

---

Welcome to the Key Quest. This is a hard Level 15 key Quest.

Your randomly assigned posting order is Deimos, Sunjata, Remi, Ronin


Deimos: 1155/1155
Sunjata: 1125
Remi: 1515/1515
Ronin: 900/90
Starfall Guardian: 1400/1400


Starfall Guardian (Rare/Mythical): A void-birthed creature, Starfall guardians appear like giant dragons with bodies covered in sleek scales. Able to attack with blasts of void fire as well as their teeth and claws.

Remember to include a summary at the bottom of your post with all action taken. If weapons/upgrades/abilities/items/shifts/etc are used, please include their desc. from your profile at the bottom of your post as well.

REMEMBER: KQs are rewarding but dangerous. They may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters.