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 Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2025 1:03 pm
[b]The Gargoyles[/b] (1) : Even when you thought you’d seen the last of them, it seems like you’re never really in the clear. A while back, there was an infestation of awful gargoyle creatures–and while every Star Festival had its fair share of oddities, this one seems to have introduced a permanent infestation upon the city. Maybe you see them perched on the roof, or hiding in the shadows, but not all of these grotesque creatures are satisfied with just escaping their interdimensional prison–some of them still have a bone to pick. They seem stony; some of them will watch with a penetrative gaze and never strike to attack, but some of them will dive down to target anyone who gets too close. The monsters come in an array of sizes and shapes, but they are no more than half the size of their target. Their goal is uncertain, but they will crumble into a pile of rocks and dust if struck hard enough. Aberdonia didn't pay a lot of attention to the news. Well, hadn't, really, not until the beginning of this year, when the city's odd propensity to attract disasters suddenly gained an explanation--the kind most people really didn't want to know about, if they wanted to stay in a state of bliss and ignorance.
Which was all well and good, until something supernatural decided you looked like an ideal snack.
He vaguely recalled reports of gargoyle sculptures being weirdly more common around Halloween, and had shrugged it and the rising rate of ambulance sirens off as a coincidence born of peoples' desire to have the coolest decorations (even if gargoyles didn't usually feature that highly, maybe the churches were just getting into the spirit of the season?), and an annual crime spree brought on by the fact that there were just some people who needed help, and were also probably beyond helping, if their pranks put people on a hospital gurney.
Thus, he had gone out on patrol on a bright, sunny fall afternoon, minding his own business, not anticipating anything particularly out of the ordinary, when he'd looked up and realized he'd wandered into a neighborhood absolutely rife with these gargoyle statues. Which had been weird, until one of said statues had started moving, and began swooping toward him.
Oh, SHI-- he thought as he ducked the initial attack, diving into a thicket of blackberry brambles, devoid of fruit now that summer was well and truly over. The gargoyle swooped away, flapping lazily on the gusty October breeze, circling above the area where he had taken cover. Looking at it in more detail, it looked a bit like a mid-sized owl, mixed with draconic features, forming a vaguely demonic-looking griffon of stone. Even its shriek of rage was the low, grating sound of stone in a mortar and pestle. If it hadn't been trying to kill him, it might have been cute.
And it was swooping toward him again.
Desperate, he called out, "Papyrus Protection!" The sheltering reeds of his magic abruptly shot up around him, granting him a temporary reprieve as the little gargoyle scraped across the top of the reeds, crying out angrily.
It wouldn't buy him a lot of time, but he could either call for help, or figure out a solution. At times like these, Aberdonia really, really hated being so strongly focused on defensive magic.
So caught up in his own worries was he that he didn't immediately clock the unpleasant-feeling aura approaching him, drawn by the sight of one or more gargoyles on the warpath.Quote: Papyrus Protection!Aberdonia calls out the name of his attack and conjures a shield made from papyrus; it is six feet wide and six feet tall. He can cast the shield on himself or on someone else. Once cast, no one can enter or exit the shield and it will move according to the location of the target. For thirty seconds, it will block all first stage attacks (including magic and weapons). It can reduce damage from second stage attacks and may deflect magic or physical attacks. It cannot defend against attacks from third stage or higher. This magic can be used three times per day.
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Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2025 8:11 pm
Lena Roze Normally Ako gathered energy at night, under the blanket of darkness and easy protection the shadows provided. Today, however, she was irritable and restless. She'd argued with her brother and was between projects so her hands were idle, so going out for gathering energy sounded like the most sound idea. Heels clicked on pavement as she walked along alleyways and back lots, looking for an easy mark. Her path was disturbed, however, by the unyielding “bright” sensation of an order senshi, and she sighed. Maybe she could harvest from them if they were dumb enough. Rounding the corner, her steps came to a stop as she watched the scene unfold. Gargoyles. The same godsforsaken abominations she had seen…..last year. Emotions flooded her as the memory replayed in her head. A beautiful, tall, confident woman grabbing her to protect her. The way her heart did summersaults. The damned godsforsaken pain that came later. Her feet moved on their own, carrying her swiftly towards the young senshi. Catching his arm with her hand, she yanked him back and delivered a swift kick to the creature, heeled boot planting firmly into the creature's face. ”You good, kid?” She spared him a glance, vivid caramel orange eyes appraising him. He seemed of basic level and decidedly young. Had it been anyone else to find him, she was sure that he would have been a lovely target. But for her, all she could see was herself a year ago. elfstar89 Aberdonia looked up when he felt his arm being yanked and glimpsed a booted heel impacting the gargoyle’s beaky muzzle. It was then that he clocked the unpleasant, almost acidic aura coming from the person holding him. Whoever they were, they were chaos, and dressed like a senshi, with long hair, dark clothing, and cracks at her crown and heart. Oh, no. No no no no no. A corrupt senshi. There were two stripes on her collar and skirt…so was she a corrupted super senshi? This was bad. This was bad on so many levels. Sure, Aruna had told him not all agents of chaos were bad, some were quite honorable, but he didn’t know to what extent he could trust the woman who’d just fended off the gargoyle–
Nope. Screw it. She’d fought off a gargoyle with one kick without hurting him, he could stuff the moral dilemma for later.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” he replied, as a couple more gargoyles, of differing designs from the first, but still vaguely demonic-looking, and none bigger than a very large imp, left their perches on other buildings, screeching their displeasure and offense in the same, grating, stone-on-stone voices. Greeeaaat. The one they’d fended off clearly had friends…which sort of begged the question of whether any of the gargoyles had been decorative. Was this going to be like with the leech-like starfish again? That had sucked some serious popsicle.
“I think we can save the detailed introductions for later, and can narrow the questions down to this: A) This isn’t the first time the gargoyles have been predatory, is it, B) Is there anything in particular that works, and C) I’m mostly defensive, do you want me to use myself as a form of bait that might actually survive being used as bait, because I haven’t exactly spent a lot of time learning non-magical combat.”
He noticed that all three gargoyles were wheeling in for another attack…and it looked like most of the others in this neighborhood had turned their heads to watch what was going on. “You might want to answer quick, as I don’t think we have a lot of time for complex strategy.” Lena Roze “Yeah, I dealt with these ******** last year.” There was something bitter and acidic in her voice as she glared at the creatures. “A good strong hit will break them apart. My magic isn't the best for it, but it might disorient them.” Because rock definitely wasn't flammable, last she checked. “Don't use yourself as bait for anybody, kid. You're worth more than that, alright?” She absently ruffled his hair as she kept her eyes on the circling monsters. “Ako. I'm Ako.” She turned her head to give him a slight smile, deep red lips curving upwards. “Don't worry, I've got no intention of ******** with you.” Sighing, she made a face. “Hope you're good at physical fighting, kid. If not, just stay behind me and be my eyes.” elfstar89 Aberdonia blinked at the level of consideration from the corrupted senshi…before catching her name. Ako. Aruna had said Ako was a decent sort of person, as agents of chaos went. Of all the chaos warriors of any type he could’ve run across, it was someone he had had vouchsafed for him by a senshi he trusted.
He nodded. “Aberdonia, and much appreciated, both the promise, and the advice. If there’s a tree branch or an aluminum baseball bat, I could make do with either of those, but in the meantime, I can spot for you, and do a little more shielding, if anything.” It wasn’t very often he wished he participated in one of the sports with actual equipment that could be used to hit people. Maybe, once today was over, he’d consider investing in an aluminum baseball bat, just as insurance. He’d noticed his strength was a bit better as a senshi than as a regular person.
Stepping behind Ako as he scanned the ground, he spotted, on one of the driveways ahead, a pile of stuff left out on the curb for disposal. Including the remains of a metal chair. “Actually, I found something I can use. Distract them for me for a few seconds while I go get it?” he asked, starting to sprint toward the trash pile.
Above, the gargoyles wheeled, and a few more launched themselves into the sky, circling overhead, crying out angrily. Lena Roze “Mm. If you find something I can use too, toss it this way.” She returned her attention to the creatures and sneered. “You ******** wanna play? Flash storm!” A ring of flames surrounded the area and clouds gathered overhead, lightning illuminating them as wind gathered. Hot ash rained down on the creatures, though it seemed to do little more than distract them. “Shinjimae,”[/i ]she sneered at the gargoyles, her vibrant eyes hard and cold. These gargoyles clearly raised some ugly emotions within the corrupted senshi. elfstar89 The gargoyles, being not entirely bright, snarled and charged the storm above for the falling cinders, which…were the gargoyles looking slightly melted??? No, bad, not the time for those thoughts, Aberdonia told himself as he sprinted toward the trash, ripping free…one half of a metal chair.
Well. That it explained why it was in the trash.
Transferring one half to one hand, he reached into the pile for the other half, and sprinted back toward Ako.
Right as the gargoyles realized that the real threats were down below. “Oh, sodding heck,” he swore softly, and shouted, “PAPYRUS PROTECTION!” as he pelted onward, skidding to a halt in front of Ako, the reeds shooting up and following him, as the gargoyles harmlessly slammed against the papyri. Dropping one half of the chair next to her, he hefted the half he kept, preparing to use it as an unwieldy bat the moment the first one struck.
Which would inevitably come as soon as the wall dissipated. Lena Roze In any other situation, Ako would have been amused at the half chair dropped at her feet. Right now? Right now it simply made her lips curve into a wicked smile. Muscles flexing as she picked it up, she rolled her shoulders as she prepared to use it like a bat. ”Think you can manage to hit them like that?” She peered at Aberdonia out of the corner of her eye. elfstar89 Aberdonia shrugged, swinging his half like the kludgy baseball bat it was, and connecting with the skull of one of the gargoyles, shattering it, leaving the rest to smash into the side of a nearby garage. “I think I’ll focus on doing my best,” he replied modestly, shifting so he’d be a bit more back-to-back with the corrupt senshi as he lifted his half chair threateningly again.
He smiled a little as he did so. A little funny, how a random flock of monsters aligned with neither side could unite the various factions in the cosmic war. But that had happened with the Calamitous Hollow, too, hadn’t it? While he wasn’t sure he’d ever trust chaos on a regular day, sometimes, on a day like today, or during a time like with the Hollow, or, heck, even during a mutual holiday, it was just best to let go of your biases and preconceptions, and accept gracefully the aid and collaboration of even enemies. Lena Roze One by one, the gargoyles fell to the duo and their makeshift weapons. When the last one finally crumbled, Ako seemed to visibly relax. Whatever aggression she had had towards the gargoyles, she seemed to simply be tired now. “Damned things … two damned years in a row. Ugh.”Dropping the half of the chair she had been wielding, Ako rolled her shoulders and neck before turning to look at Aberdonia. ”You okay? Didn't get hurt or anything right? I don't have healing magic or anything, but I do have a med kit with bandaids and stuff.” Her eyes looked over the boy, checking for any sounds that might need treating. ”Just because we're on opposite sides doesn't mean I'm heartless or anything, after all.”elfstar89 There was something sort of cathartic about dropping the gargoyles by improvised weapon and watching them shatter. Note to self, if we see gargoyles around town next Halloween, just go get a weapon and start smashing them, don’t let them get the drop on you, he thought to himself as he tossed aside his half of chair.
Looking up at Ako, he shook his head. “Nope, all good, beyond a few scratches from the blackberry bushes, and they were pretty surface level,” he said. That said, he was still going to clean up as soon as he got home. “The offer, though, is very much appreciated, regardless of our respective affiliations.”
Pausing, Aberdonia looked around, and spotted something shining on one of the laws, near the shattered remains of one of the gargoyles. “Huh. What’s that?” he asked, half to himself, not realizing he said it aloud.
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