[KQ] dead and gone and passed

Riding Sunjata now like a giant skate or surfboard, the Huntsman should probably have cleared this idea with his friend first. Light blinds the gargoyle, dragon, and former star as Ronin goes off yet again, healing himself and Sunjata and wounding the gargoyle. It holds on though, literally and metaphorically, with talons in Sunjata's throat. With his wings splayed and his dexterity quite good, Ronin is barely able to remain riding his friend even as the dragon thrashes around.

The gargoyle digs its claws in, thrashing upwards to try and find the placed a dragon might hide its jugular vein. The Flood's thick scales protect most of its major arteries, but that doesn't stop the creature from sinking its claws deep beneath the glittering scales, finding veins and muscles, and tearing.

Remi's starbolts once again find their target, exploding the landshark into pieces of bone and sweetly-charred meat that rains down to the desert below. Free of Sunjata's influence, the two remaining landsharks both move to target Remi. Rushing at him through the air, the alchemist will be able to evade both attacks.

---

Ronin: 594/594 HP
Sunjata: 191/407 HP
Haai: 0/37
Remi: 841/912 HP

Gargoyle: 50/1000 HP
Landshark 1: 150/200HP
Landshark 2: 143/200HP
Landshark 3: 0/200HP (killed by Remi for levelling purposes)

Welcome to the first Relic KQ!

Because this has plot ramifications, it (and all subsequent relic KQs) will be scaled based on level and more difficult than normal). 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. If you don't do this, they won't be taken into account!

Your randomly assigned posting order is: Ronin, Sunjata, Remi. You have 24 hours to reply.

Random Event

we shall heal our wounds, collect our dead

This is getting stupid, and if Ronin hadn't been having such a good-bad-sorry-Sunjata time about it all, he might have complained. Alas, all he can do it hold on for dear life while he heals them only for the gargoyle to tear chunks out of his friend again (and again, JFC). I need you to stay still, he grates through the Attuned bond, and his sense of sudden concern is projected out to Remi as well in the hope that his husband can keep the sharks at bay.

All but falling off the back of the dragon, his wings snap out to catch and reorient him, giving him some distance to consider and aim. And three more starbolts light up the desert, all of them focused on the gargoyle in the hope that they can end this soon.

---

Ronin gets into the air so he can see things better, and aims three starbolts at the gargoyle. If he misses, he would like to use:

Magic: FEAT | Luck of the Dice | Ronin may re-roll one fail per KQ.
Type: Grey | Rank: Basic

And if he manages to kill it:

Magic: FEAT | Untouchable | If Ronin deals a killing blow, he cannot be targeted for the next combat round.
Type: Light | Rank: Basic

Magic: Shooting Stars | The user may summon celestial energy as a projectile. Control is excellent, and multiple projectiles may be created at once. (In quests or other combat situations requiring dice rolling, only 3 stars may be created per post).
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered

Magic: FEAT | Now You! | When Ronin successfully hits a target, the next ally who posts gains advantage on their attack.
Type: Light | Rank: Basic

Citizenship Ability:

Animals know to respect you. During PQ/PQ+/KQs/Drops, animals roll with disadvantage against you. (In order to use this, make sure to note the ability at the bottom of each post)

THE DARK STAR

and continue fighting

A blender in a lightning storm, disguised as a blessing I'm sure

For being a whole entire dragon, he certainly feels a bit sandwiched between Ronin and the gargoyle, and while he’d hoped his thrashing would’ve caused the stony prick to let go, it hasn’t. It’s just given it a better vantage point to dig its claws into his neck more and more, the sharp shooting pain causing a loud snarl to leave him. Ronin’s voice filters through the pain and grief and panic, and he does manage to try and still himself enough while struggling to remain airborne.

Get off of me— He snarls to the gargoyle, trying to scrape at it with the clawed hands of his shift, and he starts to go down, distracted by the searing pain in his throat and his attempts to stay still. If anything, hopefully the closer to the ground he gets the more the gargoyle might try to dislodge itself from him. And if nothing else, Sunjata tries to aim for hitting the sand gargoyle first.

---

Sunjata tries to remain still but starts to go down from the air, clawing at the gargoyle the best he can with his front feet and trying to angle them so that the gargoyle might hit the ground first if it doesn’t dislodge itself first.

SUNJATA

but baby i've been here before; i've seen this room and i've walked this floor

Much as Remi might like to offer a running commentary about the gargoyle-on-dragon action with a side of Ronin-being-extra, he has two landsharks swimming his way to deal with before he has time to run his mouth. "Don't you learn? You could just go back underground." The Lullaby comments with a rueful shake of his head as he dodges away from snapping teeth.

Angling himself that any errant bolts won't hit his husband or Sunjata, Remi lets loose three more blasts of starlight. After all of this he'll have to tell Ronin how helpful it was to be able to mimic his abilities, but as with his colour-commentary, that will have to wait.

---

Remi aims three starbolts at landshark #1

Magic: Copycat | Remi can mimic the abilities from two fellow demigods (Old Gods only). In order to mimic the ability, Remi must have been damaged by it in a thread previously. Only one ability may be used per thread.
Type: Grey | Rank: Upgraded


Magic: FEAT: Aint Afraid of No Ghost | Has advantage against spirit-based creatures.
Type: Light | Rank: Basic

Magic: Kindred Spirit (Feat) | Spirit-attacks have disadvantage against him
Type: Dark | Rank: Basic

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

Animals know to respect you. During PQ/PQ+/KQs/Drops, animals roll with disadvantage against you. (In order to use this, make sure to note the ability at the bottom of each post)

Instead of focusing on how Ronin MISSED THE GARGOYLE EVEN WITH HIS REROLL, let's instead focus on the fact that Sunjata won't take any friendly fire. Besides, the Huntsman has only had wings like this for a little while. It's understandable that his aim is a bit shaky.

Well, this has all really gone from bad to worse, hasn't it? The Huntsman has only had wings like this for a little while, so it's understandable that his aim is a bit shaky. While he doesn't manage to hit the gargoyle, he does manage to hit Sunjata (and how could he not, large as he is). As the Flood shakes and dives, the gargoyle is only able to get in one solid attack before both it and Sunjata crash into the sand. Sunjata's scales will be scratched and peeled away from his chest from this crash landing, and beneath him he'll be able to feel the way the gargoyle's body breaks and goes almost limp. It's still attached to him though.

Remi obliterates Landshark 1, leaving just one remaining beast in the air. Flowing towards him the wounded landshark snaps its teeth but catches on nothing but air as the Lullaby is able to evade it once more.

---

Ronin: 594/594 HP
Sunjata: 109/407 HP
Haai: 0/37
Remi: 841/912 HP

Gargoyle: 18/1000 HP
Landshark 1: 0/200HP (killed by Remi for levelling purposes)
Landshark 2: 143/200HP
Landshark 3: 0/200HP (killed by Remi for levelling purposes)

Welcome to the first Relic KQ!

Because this has plot ramifications, it (and all subsequent relic KQs) will be scaled based on level and more difficult than normal). 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. If you don't do this, they won't be taken into account!

Your randomly assigned posting order is: Ronin, Sunjata, Remi. You have 24 hours to reply.

Random Event

we shall heal our wounds, collect our dead

From high above in the sky, Ronin swears he can hear someone screaming, as if a furious Welsh woman has just watched him fail at what should have been a sure thing you fucking dumbass. But he's busy not hitting things with his starbolts, or hitting the wrong things rather, and Sunjata and the gargoyle go splat onto the ground. Swooping down to follow after them, it's with a whispered curse under his breath that he lands beside the mess of gargoyle and dragon.

Fuck, he says eloquently. Is it dead? Jata, hang on. He doesn't have the juice for another supernova just yet, and so instead he touches his hand against his forearm, summoning the Virgo constellation to provide what little help he can to the ailing dragon.

---

Type: Light
Shackles of the Virgin: Summons the Virgo Constellation for one post. The constellation is semi-transparent and appears as a beautiful celestial figure. May heal at a Basic level. Exists as a constellation-tattoo when not in use, but manifests in golden shackles when used.

Magic: FEAT | Now You! | When Ronin successfully hits a target, the next ally who posts gains advantage on their attack.
Type: Light | Rank: Basic

Citizenship Ability:

Animals know to respect you. During PQ/PQ+/KQs/Drops, animals roll with disadvantage against you. (In order to use this, make sure to note the ability at the bottom of each post)

THE DARK STAR

and continue fighting

A blender in a lightning storm, disguised as a blessing I'm sure

While he’d anticipated more of the searing and painful stabbing of the gargoyle, what he doesn’t expect is the burning pulse of star bolts hitting him. It sparks another long rumbling cry, a jolt of pain through the Attuned bond, and Sunjata goes down and down and down. The gargoyle hits the ground (thank god) and Sunjata scrapes along the sands as well, scales tearing and more of his blood turning the pale sand below a deep crimson.

No. He snarls, rising just enough to pull himself and Haai off the gargoyle into the sand and to turn just enough to lash out with his sharp teeth again, going for the gargoyle’s neck, hoping to latch around it and bite down hard to kill the gargoyle once and for all.

---

Sunjata peels himself off the gargoyle and turns just enough to strike at the gargoyle’s throat with the teeth of his dragon shift hoping to kill it >_>

SUNJATA

but baby i've been here before; i've seen this room and i've walked this floor

It doesn't escape Remi's notice that the dragon has fallen from the sky, quickly followed by Ronin. Much as he's inclined to follow, bringing a landshark to where Sunjata has fallen? dove? crashed? doesn't seem wise. Too far away to be able to communicate his uncertainty and any other lingering feelings that are welling up in his stomach, Remi does the thing he does best: myurdur.

"You should have gone back underground." He says almost regretfully, before unleashing, hopefully for the last time, three more of his husband's starbolts aimed directly at the shark before him.

---

Magic: Copycat | Remi can mimic the abilities from two fellow demigods (Old Gods only). In order to mimic the ability, Remi must have been damaged by it in a thread previously. Only one ability may be used per thread.
Type: Grey | Rank: Upgraded


Magic: FEAT: Aint Afraid of No Ghost | Has advantage against spirit-based creatures.
Type: Light | Rank: Basic

Magic: Kindred Spirit (Feat) | Spirit-attacks have disadvantage against him
Type: Dark | Rank: Basic

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

Animals know to respect you. During PQ/PQ+/KQs/Drops, animals roll with disadvantage against you. (In order to use this, make sure to note the ability at the bottom of each post)

Magic healing light spills from the Virgo's fingertips as she drapes herself over the body of the dragon. Her cooling essence will reinvigorate Sunjata somewhat, though at this point what the Flood truly needs is for this fight to be over. Recoiling upward, Sunjata is able to curl his neck and finally, finally, sink his teeth into the creature that had been slowly clawing its way down the dragon's throat for far too long now.

In the air, the final landshark explodes with celestial light as Remi's starbolts find their mark.

Back down on the ground, Jata will feel his jaws lock upon stone that slowly begins to soften and yield. Bits of rubble will flake off in his mouth, and when eventually he pulls away, all that will be left of the creature is a rapidly ageing and decaying skeleton. The leathery substrate of its wings will rot and dissipate, and what was previously so difficult to penetrate through will away like ash. Looking not unlike the rest of the skeletons that litter the boneyard, there is one notable exception: one of the gargoyle's ribs is black, as if charred. Standing out from the rest of the smooth ivory remains, this one deathly coil beckons to be touched.

---

Ronin: 594/594 HP
Sunjata: 146/407 HP
Haai: 0/37
Remi: 841/912 HP

Gargoyle: 0/1000 HP (killed by Sunjata for levelling purposes)
Landshark 1: 0/200HP (killed by Remi for levelling purposes)
Landshark 2: 0/200HP (killed by Remi for levelling purposes)
Landshark 3: 0/200HP (killed by Remi for levelling purposes)

Welcome to the first Relic KQ!

Because this has plot ramifications, it (and all subsequent relic KQs) will be scaled based on level and more difficult than normal). 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. If you don't do this, they won't be taken into account!

Your randomly assigned posting order is: Ronin, Sunjata, Remi. You have 24 hours to reply.

Random Event

we shall heal our wounds, collect our dead

Finally. Virgo dissipates and the golden shackles around Ronin's wrists vanish as well, and as the dragon rears back and the gargoyle becomes little more than a skeleton, the Huntsman is already turning his attention from the fight (almost) to the death to his husband, still airborne and causing landsharks to explode in the sky like really grotesque fireworks. You are something else, he rumbles down the bond to Remi, sounding impressed and relieved both to see him tackling everything with ease - though honestly, he'd never had doubt in his mind.

And besides, if Remi had been in trouble, Ronin would know about it.

But there's the matter of the weird rib thing, and the Huntsman approaches to hunker down by the skeleton, his elbows resting on his knees. You might want to come and see this, he tells the Lullaby. I think it might have been what Mort was talking about.

THE DARK STAR

and continue fighting

i closed my eyes and saw my father's sins, they covered me like a second skin
i peeled them off, and sure i bled a bit, but now i'm free to sink my own damn ship

Healing flows into him and while it’s a balm, it isn’t a lot, and Sunjata finds himself doing his best to let his aggression out on the gargoyle. It works enough that he can feel when the creature dies, when the stony exterior melts like ash on his tongue and when it’s finally said and done and the skeleton is there, Sunjata has no use for the dragon shift right now.

He shifts back into himself, next to Haai, on his side as he clutches at his neck and his chest, heaving his breaths, uncaring what the black rib might be. Ronin and Remi can handle that part, Sunjata for his own part needs to focus on his attempts at recovery, at processing everything, most notably the emptiness he feels as his dragon wings spill from his back and reach for the dead griffin to tug her closer and hide her away.

i cut my branch down from my family tree to start a fire in the living room

SUNJATA

but baby i've been here before; i've seen this room and i've walked this floor

Running a hand up one of his arms, Remi's fingers come away with blood but he doesn't think it's his own. Glancing down at Ronin he tries for a smile, but something tightens his lips before he can properly beam with relief at the Huntsman. They hadn't all made it after all. What was there to smile about?

Returning to the ground, feeling out of place with his comparatively angelic-wings in the midst of draconic appendages, the Lullaby sweeps a hand across his forehead to push both curls and sweat from his eyes. "Not a pillow, then." He murmurs looking at the rib bone uncertainly. "You should back up." Remi's eyes are on Ronin, but what he really means is you should help Sunjata move back. If this goes the way of many things before, it might not be so simply as just breaking it off. And if that's the case, Sunjata certainly didn't seem to be in a position to take much more than what he already had.

we shall heal our wounds, collect our dead

"Not a pillow," Ronin echoes softly, straightening up as Remi lands and approaches the gargoyle's skeleton. He glances over his shoulder at Sunjata and winces, not just at the sight of his injuries, but at the raw grief still rocking out of him from Haai's death. "Alright," Ronin murmurs, backing up dutifully and letting his own wings stretch out, as if to shield the Flood from anything that might happen when Remi touches the blackened rib.

"Come on, Jata," he coaxes. "We'll hang out a little further back. Once this is all tied up in a bow, I think I've got one more supernova in me. Should be enough to start us on the long road home, yeah?" He doesn't need to apologise out loud - the Attuned bond does it all for him. He can't even imagine what the other man is going through - Ronin has never lost a companion, and he only knows what Remi has told him.

THE DARK STAR

and continue fighting

i closed my eyes and saw my father's sins, they covered me like a second skin
i peeled them off, and sure i bled a bit, but now i'm free to sink my own damn ship

He finds he doesn’t care, not in the slightest. The relic that may or may not be in the rib of the gargoyle that had taken so much from him. It’s only Ronin’s shielding and stirring that has Sunjata moving at all, trying to stand on pained legs, his throat burning and still torn, still bleeding, his chest red and scraped and burned.

He drags himself up, reaching for Haai, lifting her into his arms as battered as he is, but at least he’s still breathing. He stands, shivering despite the heat, his wings moving to help boost the support of holding his companion close to his chest. Okay. He manages, shuffling toward wherever it is Ronin guides him. And when they’re far enough away, he sinks down into the sand again, heaving breaths through his torn throat.

i cut my branch down from my family tree to start a fire in the living room

SUNJATA