purifier: (Default)
Zahliya ([personal profile] purifier) wrote in [community profile] sticksandbones2024-08-12 10:02 am

[CLOSED] Zahliyaquest...2

Who: Zahliya, Luca, Joshua, Wolfwood, Dipper, Mamika, Siffrin, Loop, & Kiera
What: A gargoyle needs task-doers for character development
When: Mid-August, yes during the rainstorms, good luck
Where: ??? :)
Warnings: Typical Sticks trigger warnings apply, suicide, time loops resulting in multiple character deaths, Wolfwood just shot someone executioner style, more to be added


OOC notes, here is a rehash of your rules:
  • Mod tags will come either a) after everyone involved has tagged in or b) after 24 hours have passed since the last mod tag. This means if you are absent for any reason, the thread WILL move on without you.
  • Interaction in this log will be redeemable for MAIN AC, not just Bonus AC like most of our NPC threads.
  • This questline will shape Zahliya's outcome for the rest of the game, and may or may not result in an almost-full Corruption cure and therefore gamewide impact. I will let people know midway through the quest if he's currently aimed at aggression/confidence/staying in the Grove, or if he's on passive/indecisive/leaving the Grove.
  • The old OOC plotting post for this is here!
unheiring: (Black Lungs For the Young)

[personal profile] unheiring 2024-08-29 05:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[Luca watches the tree, bracing for impact. It surprises him that it goes sideways, realizing just a few seconds too late who its aiming for instead. He tries send fire out at it, hoping to burn it before it could reach, but his own blow goes sideways.

Instead, he can only hiss sharply, turning just for a second as he contemplates going to check on her. Panic surges through him, a war roiling within his mind. Zahliya can certainly protect himself, this is true, but by stepping away, he leaves the Gargoyle open for attack. Mamika, on the other hand, might be hurt by what's been thrown. And while he can be there to support her, he can't heal her. Crowding her when someone else might be able to help doesn't seem the best.

He turns his head deftly, barking over it to whoever is listening:]


Someone help Mamika!

[He's weaponless, now, but not defenseless. He summons flame to his hands, but finds it flickering. The Phoenix presses harder into his mind. Don't be a fool it urges. He tries to push back, but there's only so much he can do. Nevertheless, he stands strong. He ignores the strange woman before him in favor of turning back to Zahliya.]

She will not touch you again.

[His voice doesn't lack confidence, at least. He stands with many other capable people. He knows the depth of Kiera's talents. He's watched Dipper fire the gun and strike true. Siffrin had their magic. Mamika was capable of protecting herself, provided she was okay. Wolfwood's gun certainly wasn't anything to sneeze at. The others he knew a touch less, but he doubted they were weak by any stretch.

They stood a chance. Probably.]
ghostharasser: Art by me! (236)

[personal profile] ghostharasser 2024-08-29 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[Three straight years of combat training is finally coming in handy, which is nice. He's glad to see that he hits his mark, but he doesn't waste any time afterwards and is already reloading. He has five more rounds left, he'll make them count.]

I think if you want to talk, you'd better start talking.

[While injuring the enemy garg is good, to Dipper the Warden is a huge problem that's going to keep getting in the way the real fight. He empties another round at the massive creature in an attempt to either take it down, or draw it's ire.]

[He can't exactly back up to check on Mamika so he hopes to hell someone is listening to Luca. The best he can do is try and put some distance between its warpath and the others.]
lupusxylem: (tao0oxo0ma @ twitter)

[personal profile] lupusxylem 2024-08-29 10:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[Wolfwood is lost. Lost in his own mind. Trapped back in a world he never thought he'd have to be in again. He's wrestling with the two halves of his brain that are currently fighting for dominance: the one that is usually in control, capable of rational thought and reason, and the other that just wants to catastrophically implode because this is all just too much for him to handle. He can hear and even see the chaos of the fighting around him, but he can't do much to affect it or be particularly helpful at all. He's just half crouched there, barely able to keep his head above water, fighting to re-ground himself.

As he watches the scuffle without fully seeing it, he sees the Warden conjure up more trees to hurl in Luca's path after his assault, only to course-correct and throw one towards Mamika instead. Mamika, who Wolfwood has not yet seen perform pretty damn powerful feats of magic when they were separated. Mamika, who is just a kid who shouldn't even have to be here in the first place.

He moves without thinking, throwing himself at Mamika with his arms wrapped around her torso, literally hauling her up off the ground in a full-body catch-tackle that will undoubtedly send them both tumbling, but at the very least she will end up on top of the heap halfway in his arms, and instead of having been crushed under the weight of a flying tree.]
cryopathy: (😒)

[personal profile] cryopathy 2024-08-30 01:13 am (UTC)(link)
[everyone's engaged by now. good. the few seconds have been invaluable in kiera finding their feet again, their vision and mind sharpening quickly in the midst of the struggle. as long as the adrenaline is flowing, and the groups' lives are in danger once more, the... experience inside the temple can just be shoved away into a dark recess of their mind and never brought up again. ever.

as quick as they can, they move to luca's side at the forefront, shielding zahliya and holding ground with their brother. they don't bother offering verbally; kiera simply unsheathes their rapier and shoves the hilt into his hand.]


Don't argue, and try not to melt it.

[unlike luca, kiera's magics aren't dependent on the whims of a beast. they're perfectly capable of forging a dagger-shaped icicle in their hand. unlike their sibling, they don't make a move to attack just yet, giving the gargoyle woman that chance to speak if she wishes.]
magicalsplashflare: (103)

[personal profile] magicalsplashflare 2024-08-30 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
[ Mamika gets fuckin' decimated. RIP.

Not actually, of course! She notices the tree being redirected towards her instead, and she has the reaction time well enough to fling her wand out, but before she's able to blast the tree, there's one entire Wolfwood. She goes toppling to the ground with an "oof!!", but at least comes out mostly unmarred. A few scuffs here and there... but...

She holds her breath for just a moment when she looks at Wolfwood and... then gives him a hug. And after a moment she floats up and hoists him with her so that he's back on his feet. She stays in the air and turns her attention back to the Warden and the new Gargoyle. ]


If you had a good reason for doing this, you would've told us by now, wouldn't you have?! We are defending someone we care about! What are you doing?! "Taking care of a problem..." as if the forest is not the problem?!

[ Mamika brandishes her wand, clearly preparing herself for the worst. ]

There's no reason for you to be working for it, you know? Miss Gargoyle, or you, Mister Warden! We don't have to fight! What would the forest give you that you couldn't find with us??
theuniverseleads: fall in love with who you’ll one day be (023)

[personal profile] theuniverseleads 2024-08-30 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
[They were ready to throw out another scissors spell, but Wolfwood jumps in the way first—better to let him handle it than chop them both in half by mistake. Cool!

They move closer to Zahliya, still keeping an eye on the Warden in particular... the other gargoyle seems to be talkative, so that's fine, but they don't trust the other one. Looks too much like a senseless monster to them, and its behaviour has yet to convince them otherwise. They grip the knife in their hand tightly.

... but there's a brief moment of respite, and Zahliya is still looking pretty bad. They raise their other hand in a cup-like gesture, a shimmer of light pouring down to the injured garg. Enjoy some Regener-ade, buddy, try not to die or whatever.]


"Taking care of the problem"... and what problem are you thinking of, I wonder? Doesn't sound like it's an "us" problem.
leggierissimo: (My socks are better than everyone else's)

[personal profile] leggierissimo 2024-08-30 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
[ Everyone is engaged... except for Joshua, who is doing a damn fine job of watching. It's what he's good at! And besides, it seems like everyone else has this well under control.

Until they don't. But that's a bridge they'll cross if and when they get to it.

Still hovering slightly above the ground, he crosses his arms over his chest, "sitting" back into an invisible chair and crossing one knee over the other. ]


You know, all things considered, it might be you that's the problem here, just judging by the outpouring of heroic fury you're getting aimed at you.

[ While he talks, he's keeping an eye on the Warden. Something about that one... ]
start_again: (sif91)

[personal profile] start_again 2024-08-30 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
[In the shadow of a tree, Siffrin catches a glimpse of the tree getting thrown at Mamika, and for a moment he nearly abandons the whole plan. But fortunately, this time around, he isn't the closest person and others are able to get there faster. He holds his breath as Wolfwood tackles her and only releases it after the tree has sailed over their heads and they're both getting back up, unharmed.

Stars, this situation is already a mess.

Siffrin continues on, hugging the treeline as they wind their way around the clearing as subtly as possible. Luckily, it's easy to go unnoticed when there are goddamn trees being tossed around, even when one is dressed in so much white. They circle around to behind the winged lady and draw their dagger.

There. When he spies an opening, Siffrin darts in with his enhanced speed and strikes directly for the belt holding the two swords' sheathes, aiming to simply slice through it and abscond with both at the same time. And if the lady herself gets a little cut up in the process, well...sucks for her. He's certainly not trying to be very delicate about it.]
unheiring: (It's Enough To Plague A Saint)

[personal profile] unheiring 2024-08-30 09:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[Luca feels metal slide into his hand. The weight and balance of a rapier is familiar enough that he recognizes it immediately. He clenches his fist, holding it tight for just a second, before loosening his grip once more. He glances toward his sibling, offering... not quite a smile, but certainly a less terse acknowledgement of their effort -

And then something catches his eye. He spots Zahliya struggling, the familiar and comforting flame failing to manifest. For the first time in ages, he places his trust in Kiera and her ability to get something done, and falls back. He kneels beside the gargoyle. One hand twines between those desperately flickering fingers, before his own flame manifests between them.

They've done this before. They'd combined their flame together, watching deep orange and red intermingle with green. He knows the close proximity won't hurt Zahliya, immune to flame as he is. Luca only hopes it provides him with the inspiration he needs.

And as he hopes, he turns his attention to Zonari and... simply laughs. He glances toward Kiera, a smirk upon his lips. He speaks to a Zonari he knows... probably isn't listening. But for his sibling's sake, it needs to be said.]


You are not wrong that we are siblings. But we are not bound by blood. We, like many others, are free to choose their family. And like those others, we are also free to cut away the rotten branches that seek only to harm us.
Edited 2024-08-30 21:51 (UTC)
ghostharasser: Art by me! (196)

[personal profile] ghostharasser 2024-08-31 12:41 am (UTC)(link)
[Dipper would be hollering in agreement to Luca for his speech, but unfortunately, or fortunately, his plan worked and he’s got the Warden’s attention. That’s fine, that’s good because the tree comes down like thunder on Dippers head while he looks on in horror-]


[click, ka-schunk, BLAM!]

[With blood running down from his eye and a flurry of feathers at his feet, Dipper stands instead at the warden’s nine o’clock, and unloads his third round into his armor.]


C’mon, you’re not nearly as scary as half the crap I’ve fought back home.

[Despite that show, he’s also starting to feel the strain of using his powers. Still, he reloads again. Three more rounds.]
lupusxylem: (37)

[personal profile] lupusxylem 2024-08-31 12:49 am (UTC)(link)
[So hey, does the temple group remember waay back before you guys got killed a lot how Wolfwood took a moment to readjust his Punisher, clicking the skull-shaped dial into place at the front and leaving it that way?

It was done for a reason, and he hasn't had the need to use it. At least, not until now.

There's a brief moment of blind panic in which it genuinely looks like Dipper just got squashed flat by that tree in front of him, only for it to quickly dissipate when he hears gunfire and sees him over on the warden's other side. Jesus CHRIST kid-

...but then he ALSO sees the way Dipper's eye is bleeding and mother fucker. He's going to GET you, if they make it out of this alive.

He spits into the dirt, kicking the bottom of his gun with his heel to throw it up into his arms, lifting it up underneath one as he widens his stance. The warden is far back enough from the group that he feels confident in doing this and, well, he's not going to do this without giving them a bit of warning. That warning will come in the form of the way the gun literally begins to glow a blinding blue at the tip, humming audibly as it revs. Thank God he has one charge left.

Now he just has to make sure he hits his target.]


Better duck, kid!!

[Dipper probably won't need to, he's not in the line of fire, but at the same time also he might want to get out of the way juuust in case because Wolfwood is about to attempt to blast the fucker's armor clear off its "body".]
leggierissimo: (How do you play ping pong handcuffed?)

[personal profile] leggierissimo 2024-08-31 01:20 am (UTC)(link)
[ Well, while everyone else is on the offense, Siffrin is running off with exactly what they came out here to get. He got the prize, and he's about to get obliterated for doing it. Luckily, Joshua is watching!

Before any of that fire can even touch Siffrin, it's instead slamming against an invisible barrier that shimmers briefly with a hexagonal pattern before fizzling into nonexistence. Joshua grunts softly, arm outstretched in the direction of the scuffle - that was a powerful attack, to break his shield like that. If he's going to help Siffrin get away unscathed, he's going to have to put more up right as the others go down.

Nothing he can't handle, though. He'll just have to keep a close eye on it. ]
theuniverseleads: to dream in place of living (038)

[personal profile] theuniverseleads 2024-08-31 01:38 am (UTC)(link)
[Ahhh yes, a cute little villain monologue! Just like they'd hoped for. They're content to let Zonari speak as much as she wants—while she goes on, they give Zahliya a thumbs up before stepping a little ways away, not wanting to make him any more of a target. Dipper and Wolfwood seem to have a handle of the Warden (probably), so their gaze flits back to the gargoyle.

All this talk of family... hah, it doesn't mean much to them! But they can take offence at ripping out memories, like she has any right to decide what isn't important enough to remember. Like anyone should have that right, to decide that for someone else.

There's a lot they could say in reply, but they opt instead to simply look very smug leading up to the moment Siffrin robs her ass.]


Who were you calling insignificant again~? [lmao loserrrrrr

The counterattack comes fast, though. They only panic for a second when the flames start pouring out, shooting a look at Josh when the stream is blocked by a barrier. Ah, they'll have to praise him later, too...

But for now, they they don't want to give Zonari another chance to attack their stardust. They snap their fingers, charging ahead to attack her side while she's distracted—hand curled into a tight fist, echoing the forceful slam of an invisible boulder, flickering black sparks dancing around the impact zone. Uncomfortably close to the flames, but hey, it'll be fine, probably.

They only need to knock her off her feet, buuuuut they're also not being very delicate about it. Sucks for her!! Get rocked, idiot!!]
Edited (i forgot the word but its fine i found it) 2024-08-31 01:53 (UTC)
cryopathy: (disgustion)

[personal profile] cryopathy 2024-08-31 03:30 am (UTC)(link)
[diplomacy won't exactly work if everyone keeps fucking aggroing the other party. kiera figures they and mamika are just about the only godsdamned people here who haven't attempted to land a blow on either the warden or the gargoyle, even if the aforementioned doesn't seem quite predisposed to speech.

it's true that kiera themself prefers to talk their way out of situations for the sake of ease, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't gladly beat zonari into the ground. so long as the gargoyle is in a mood to talk, though, they'll try.

they start by focusing on dousing what fire they can from trees lit up by the black flames. conjuring enough snow to fill an inn room should theoretically be enough for at least one tree at a time.]


I'm willing to bet your father will put you down like a rabid cur the moment you cease being useful to him. We've all seen what happens to those he "loves," and I've survived his like. [nene and her choking vines, her puppet strings. luca's mention of chosen family and culled branches.] You don't matter to him, Zonari, and he won't extend the same mercy we offer to you.
start_again: (sif52)

[personal profile] start_again 2024-09-01 02:58 am (UTC)(link)
[The swords come lose and Siffrin catches them, turning immediately and taking off back towards the rest of the group. The enraged screaming from behind him suggests he probably shouldn't waste time looking back. He's fast, but he can feel the heat of her fire bearing down on him regardless, and he winces as he braces for the inevitable burning.

But it never comes. Siffrin exhales a held breath as the barrier blocks the oncoming flames and takes advantage of the cover to dart back over to the others. Unceremoniously, they toss the swords to Zahliya. They don't necessarily trust him, but at this moment it seems like probably the wise move to arm him properly.]
magicalsplashflare: (60)

[personal profile] magicalsplashflare 2024-09-01 06:11 am (UTC)(link)
[ Oh, Mamika hates this. She hates that she has to try to be the voice of peace while everything around her is destruction and violence. The fact that this has happened way too much at this point should mean that she should be used to it, but she's not sure she'd ever really get to that point, no matter how much it comes up. Her wand is clenched so tightly in her hands that her knuckles have turned white, and it's taking everything she has to not just...

'Talking things through only works when both sides want to.'

You're wrong.

'You could stop the fight if you used your full power.'

You're wrong!! Words are powerful! She never wants to use her magic to force people to listen ever again! She just has to speak up! She just has to say the right thing! She just has to speak to their hearts!

She doesn't want anyone to get hurt... ]


That isn't true! How could you say we've taken anything when he's taken these people from their homes?! [ Deep breath. ] We are trying to stop him from taking! We are trying to make sure he doesn't hurt people anymore! Even the things he cares about he's done nothing but hurt! If you really want to help someone like that, father or not, you'll only get hurt, too!

Miss Gargoyle, Mister Warden, please listen! We don't have to take from each other! We can give! We can help! We can make sure everyone gets a happy ending! You have that option!! If you continue to fight us, then no one gets a happy ending!
leggierissimo: (There is a tambourine down my pants.)

[personal profile] leggierissimo 2024-09-01 09:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[ With the blades safely in Zahliya's hands and so many attacks coming from so many angles, it's the perfect opportunity for Joshua to finally get to play the way he wants to. The mind is one hell of a weak point, after all. A little Imprint here, digging his fingers in there... It's been too risky to try thus far, but now that distraction is in play, he has his chance.

Zonari's mind isn't difficult to locate out of the rest. He's familiar enough with the others by now, and the Warden is... well. Different. Zahliya and Zonari are the outliers here, and there's no mistaking one from the other. It certainly isn't as easy breaking in as it is with others, but Joshua does his best to break through. With how angered she currently is, thoughts he may previously have had to dig around for might be at the surface, and that's just less work overall for him!

First, though, comes the Imprint. A subtle, crawling feeling that someone is behind her, watching her, that he aims to make an overwhelming itch the longer she ignores it. After that will come the skimming - just what is it that makes you tick, Zonari? ]
unheiring: (To Kill the Weeds)

[personal profile] unheiring 2024-09-01 09:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[Luca comes... dangeroulsy close to laughing his attempt off. After all, how could love and a little sentimentality ever overcome what had been done to Zahliya? But no sooner than the thought hits his mind, Luca watches the gargoyle, his gargoyle, leap into action. The flurry of blows is almost difficult to follow, especially over the massive laser that shoots over the fight and cracks the warden in twain.

Truthfully, Luca knows not what to do next. Zahliya is back on his feet, stronger than ever it would seem. His heart briefly swells, before another gout of fire shoots off of the tangled limbs of the quarreling siblings. Part of him thinks about joining the fight, before the bristling at the back of his mind reminds him that beyond conjuring a few miniscule flames, he's not to partake in this fight.

Run then? Hide and stay out of the way? That hardly seems like him. But what was there to do?

It takes Mamika's words, processing all she has to say, and Zonari's response in kind, for him to remember the promise he'd made. Maybe he even feels guilty for casting the first blow. At first, he still balks at the idea of simply talking things out, not after what Zonari had done. But even Zahliya had given his blessing, so...]


Then tell us! We can all - agree to lay down our arms if it means coming to a better understanding, yes? [He glances first to Mamika, an assurance that despite the misstep, he still has her back. And then he looks to the others. They will be... slightly less easier to convince. Never mind the fact that he's claiming for a ceasefire when he was the one to begin the fight itself. Then again, that really isn't the point here. Rather...]

Or maybe... the truth is that even you don't know. That despite your screaming and shouting, you don't know what he wants either. [Luca's words are halting. Stumbling. Once, he'd been good with people, a natural charmer. The last few years have truly done away with that. But gods, is he still trying.] Believe me, I know what it feels like, to question what your deity, your creator, truly wants with you.

[personal profile] cryopathy 2024-09-01 10:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[kiera, at least, still doesn't deal blows to either zonari or the warden, though at this point they're wary of the amorphous entity that pours forth from the warden's shell. they stay at luca's side, trying to show him that they at the very least have his back.

their gaze, though, keeps trained on the warden, in case it takes the opportunity to attack. yes, there are others engaging it, but one sly trick could easily overwhelm them all.]

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leggierissimo: (Sitting in the hallway in assless chaps.)

gasp, a mini adventure

[personal profile] leggierissimo 2024-09-03 07:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[ shh shhhhhh it's okay you are allowed to be dead

But good! That's good! If even his itching Imprint is going ignored, that's a good sign for his little stint of dumpster diving. He might even be able to dig deeper than he'd hoped.

All the surface thoughts are par for the course, though. Yes, yes, of course you're edgy. Goodness, he hasn't seen this amount of edge since the last time he'd prodded around in a teenager's mind. Don't cut yourself, dear.

It's an interesting lead, though. He has some guesses, but it's far more worthwhile to find out for sure. He'll follow that trail of breadcrumbs for now, digging in a bit more firmly. Just like with any one of his Players, he's looking for something. What does Zonari value the most in life? A person, a memory, something about herself? Whatever it is, it says a lot about the person in question, and finding entry fees is always his favorite part of the process outside of watching his Players actually play. Any little inkling here will be his light in the darkness. ]

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magicalsplashflare: (Default)

gagtag 2 electric boogaloo

[personal profile] magicalsplashflare 2024-08-29 08:10 pm (UTC)(link)