Quest/General Catchall Jan-Mar

[phoenixblessed]

WHO: Diluc Ragnvindr, E'kayan Tia, Guizhong, Alhaitham, Edmond, Neuvillette, Baizhu, Thanatos, and maybe YOU!
WHAT: Jan-Mar questboard and any other threads.
WHEN: January - March
WHERE: Noted in TLs
WARNINGS: Will be noted where needed

🔥 Diluc Ragnvindr	🐈 E'kayan Tia	💮 Guizhong	🌱 Alhaitham
💎 Edmond	🌊 Neuvillette	🐍 Baizhu	💀 Thanatos

Comments

💀 Thanatos

[inevitablerest]

It's Like Hell Out There

[inevitablerest]

[Thanatos is not very interested in the things going on in this all too mortal realm, but when fiends are about he does not simply sit back and allow them free rein. He isn’t doing it for the reward, but rather because these creatures should not be here, and he is quite content to send them back to where they belong.

He passes through the barrier without a hint of any kind of fear, scythe and sword in hand, and even with his native powers limited by this realm he has no difficulty in raining down death and destruction upon the creatures trying to escape from the hell dimension and into Ellipsa itself. How they look doesn't faze him, he takes down any that dare come too close and cuts a swathe across the glacier with ease.

If he happens to save someone in the middle of all of this..? Well, that was an accident, but the God of Gentle Death is not without his own chilly brand of compassion. He will pause, just for a moment, to offer a hand up to someone who might need it, or to join someone in battle if they call for aid.]

Till Death Do Us Part [BOSS]

[inevitablerest]

[There are no such creatures in Greece and yet Thanatos can recognise the aura of death around it the moment it appears. Acts of darkness and things that go against the natural order of life and souls draw him in like a moth to a flame and this is no different.

His powers being weakened as they are, the Lord Dullahan is not such an easy mark. With that taken into account, along with the knight’s armour, he finds himself well-matched with this enemy.

And he is not used to it.

Still, he fights, falling in line easily beside others who have ventured forth to take on this foe. He does not allow his allies to fall into danger should he be able to do something to stop it, utilising short-range teleports and flight to grab somebody out of harm's way should he be close enough to notice, but he is not taking so much care as to put himself at a disadvantage.

He barely notices when the Lord Dullahan’s blade scratches across one of his upper arms, drawing forth golden ichor that beads slowly and seeps down towards his elbow. He does not notice when darkness begins to slowly coalesce around the shallow wound. It would be a while before he would require immediate help for such a thing, but… better safe than sorry?]

Full Moon Edition (because I can!)

[mayoninofukucho]

[Normally, Hijikata would have stayed far away from this quest. He knows he's susceptible to fae magic! However, thanks to his trial marathon in the then-occupied fairy kingdom, he comes equipped with a bunch of talismans: A reflective shard to shield him from fae tricks, a porcelain shard to protect him from illusion magic and restore his clarity of mind after fae-induced confusion, a potion made from a golden flower to purge minor fae corruption, and crystallised water for invisibility from corrupted fae eyes.

Of course, while those helpful items enabled him to aid the group effort of taking the summoners out without being bewitched and behexed by them, he didn't anticipate their very souls to aid the rise of the lord dullahan. Joining the ensuing battle against the towering foe, he equips one of the latest additions to his vast arsenal of powers...]

Roar of the Mayo Dragon!

[A strong blast of, well, mayonnaise emanates from him and hits the oversized dullahan in the back, then whirls around and engulfs it. If this going to be lethal? Probably not. But it should be distracting enough to give other fighters, such as Thanatos (whom Hijikata hasn't properly registered for who he is yet) an opening!]

[inevitablerest]

[Hijikata could have simply faded into the background as one of many people fighting this creature, and yet...

Well, the-- whatever the hells that substance is-- does the trick in distracting the dullahan, though it also has the effect of promptly drawing all of its ire towards the most recent assault. Given the vinegary stench coming off the stuff, Thanatos is not at all surprised that the creature is immediately enraged.

It is tempting to just hang back and see what happens if he allows the thing to go after Hijikata, since he decided to pull its attention...]

[mayoninofukucho]

[Most people would probably be intimidated to see an enormous sword come down on them, but not Hijikata. Waiting until the last moment, he darts part the giant blade and into the lord dullahan's personal space, finding a gap between the segments of its armour to ram his claymore into.

Almost immediately, the enemy strikes him with a huge armoured backhand, and this time, he can't evade the blow - however, it's absorbed by his Aura, showing as a green energy ripple that runs over his body. Finding himself having to parry several follow-up blows from the dark fae's sword, he barely manages to stay on his feet, and once again his arms only hold out thanks to his invisible shield.]

Too late!! I got you!

[The wound he caused, while nowhere near lethal to an enemy such as this one, still drained an amount of life- and magical energy from the dullahan and gave him a tangible boost.]

[inevitablerest]

[Given that Thanatos is floating, he idly shifts into a seated position (looking momentarily reminiscent of his twin brother as he does so) and lays the handle of his massive scythe across his lap as he lingers at the edge of the battlefield.

Clearly his assistance is not required here - yet - but he has no other engagements, and mortals can be entertaining to observe for a time. Had it been a brighter day he may have retreated and simply allowed Hijikata to deal with this on his own.

As it is, he waits, just to see what happens next.]

[mayoninofukucho]

[Don't watch, send help..!! But honestly, no, Hijikata has this under control. More or less. Somewhat. Honestly, dullahans are tough enemies even at standard size, being resistant against much of his arsenal. He can't easily burn them thanks to their armour (how they can stand it heating up is a mystery to him), he can't drown them in mayonnaise, given their lack of a head, and they certainly aren't easy to dismantle by brute force either.

Despite fancying himself a veritable force of nature, he quickly finds himself driven into a defensive position of dodging, blocking, and evading - until the lord dullahan slips on the copious amounts of mayonnaise splattered in the previous attack. As the sizeable fae falls down, Hijikata uses the opportunity to go for its sword arm, putting all his strength (amplified by his red dragon ring) into the swing and severing the limb at the elbow.]

Here we go!!

[The huge dullahan vengefully grabs him around the leg with its remaining hand, and the force of its armoured hand's pressure sends another green ripple across him, but he yells out another Dragon Slayer spell:]

Squiggly and Squirty: Elusiveness of the Mayo Dragon!

[Continuing to play his inane powers completely straight, his now-slippery body, newly endowed with mayonnaise properties, slips from the enemy's grip.]

[inevitablerest]

[He almost feels like he should be paying to watch. Thanatos' eyes narrow a little as the man seems to begin to struggle against the creature, but then he slips free again and the faint surge of readiness in the death god fades back into nonchalance.

Thanatos is only out here because this thing is breaking laws over which he still has some remit, even here. However, Ellipsa is still not his domain and his influence is limited, and if somebody else is going to solve the problem...

Well, more power to them.

He's only going to move to step in if it looks like the people already on the field can't handle it.]

[mayoninofukucho]

[It doesn't look like anyone wants to get in between Hijikata and the lord dullahan (and who could blame them?), but other combatants do provide boosts to the former and launch remote attacks on the latter! Hijikata does his utmost to land a deadly strike, but the dark fae's torso armour holds out against even his heavy claymore, and when it delivers a kick that sends him flying (though the damage is once more absorbed by his Aura), it has an opportunity to pick its sword back up.

Despite the dullahan being forced to fight with its non-dominant hand now and Hijikata leveraging his smaller size and greater agility, after another exchange of blows it manages to wedge him in between a couple of rocks, its armoured leg, and its weapon. While he manages to maintain the deadlock of blades regardless of the strain, the dullhan's weight is pressing down on his abdomen through its foot, causing continuous green ripples to run over his body. His Aura will soon break, but he can't get out of the position he's in, no matter how slippery he makes himself.

Thanatos can see the dullahan succeed in resisting his telekinetic blasts that almost make it look like it's caught in a small localised storm, along with yet another mayonnaise swirl that engulfs it. It's determined to not let this pesky nuisance that took its sword arm get away anymore! Once his annoying shield is gone, it'll crush him like a bug.]

[inevitablerest]

[He's about to leave, somewhat irritating at having wasted his time with this nonsensical display, when he notices that the man is finally beginning to show some difficulties in his side of the fight. Thanatos watches a for a few moments longer before exhaling a sigh and shifting out of his mid-air seated position.

Fine. Fine then.

The death god vanishes in a puff of greenish smoke, reappearing a moment later much closer to where Hijikata is struggling against the dullahan. He strikes out with his scythe, a sigil forming in the space around him, and the creature immediately appears to stagger backwards.

Though his magic has been somewhat compromised by his presence in this realm, Thanatos is still a formidable opponent.]

Mortals will never learn to keep out of battles they cannot win. [He remarks dryly.] It will ready itself again. Get up.

1/2

[mayoninofukucho]

[Hijikata was rapidly leafing through the options left at his disposal, but in his trapped position, he could really only have hoped for his passive defence measures, such as his guardian spirit, to kick in - and that well mightn't have been enough to save him from a rather inglorious end under the enemy's armoured boot.

Luckily for him, a powerful ally comes to his aid! Thanatos doesn't need to tell him twice to get up; he's back on his feet in a blink. His Aura is bound to shatter with the next hit, flickering dangerously, but like hell is he going to run!]

Thank you!

[Wait a second, though. He knows that voice--!]

2/2

[mayoninofukucho]

Thanatos!! You're here!

[It's really him!! Immediately, he feels his hope and confidence soar. Sure, he charged into this battle happily enough (doesn't he ever), but it was slightly going south just now... with the God of Gentle Death by his side, the tide is sure to turn!]

Let's flank him!

[With the shoddy state of his (only!) defence, maybe he should leave the strategy to Thanatos. Just maybe.]

[inevitablerest]

[Just how this individual knows him to address him by name and with apparent relief at his presence will be dealt with after the present issue has been laid to rest. Before Hijikata can even move off to try and enact any kind of plan the god turns his scythe to the side to block his path, looking cooly over his shoulder.]

You will stay here.

[The tone of his voice leaves very little room for argument.]

Your strength is almost spent. I will deal with this.

[mayoninofukucho]

But--

[His protest dies in his throat. Thanatos is right - much as he wants to keep fighting, it wouldn't be responsible, not if he wants to keep his promise to his sworn siblings to not end up in the Flower Yard again. His nearly broken Aura aside, his mana reserves are dwindling, and he's panting from the physical exertion. As such, he ends up giving him a determined nod.]

Right.

[It seems like it's his turn to watch now, and he's eager to see what Thanatos can do.]

Trash Bins Are Back, Alright

[inevitablerest]

[It’s ridiculous, honestly. Ghosts possessing trash cans.

Ghosts are something Thanatos can deal with very well and he needs no special ability granted by Seasonal magic in order to perceive them. While they were possessing willing people indoors he stayed his hand but this nonsense is something that he will not abide.

Should he come across an unfortunate soul upside-down in a possessed trash can he will unceremoniously pull them out, possibly by their ankle, and then probably forget to put them down again while he simply exorcises the object and dismisses the spirit in a rather ungentle fashion.

The person he’s holding on to would get a good view of a seven foot tall, very annoyed-looking death god, who appears to have forgotten that there was another person involved.]

[verytired]

[ Hypnos in a half-asleep state, ended up feet-up in a trash can. He supposes that's what he gets for not paying attention. He's not there for long, as far as he can tell, someone grips his ankle and pulls him out effortlessly. He lets out a surprised noise as he hangs there, still a bit disoriented, when the spirit is sent on its way.

When he regains the smallest hint of composure, he looks at his hero - not entirely surprised because he had sensed that he was nearby. ]

Hello, brother.

[ He's teasing, just a little. ][ embarrassed huff ] thanks.

[inevitablerest]

[Of course it's Hypnos. It's only by virtue of the fact Thanatos is floating and Hypnos has a tendency to curl even while upside down that his brother does not end up with his head on the pavement, and once the spirit has been sent on its way he makes sure that the other god is not going to end up laying on the ground before he lets him go.]

I was not aware that you were so short on places to sleep that you had to resort to measures like that.

[Dryly.

He is well-aware this is probably not the case, but is also annoyed that he had to pull his twin brother out of the trash.]

[verytired]

I wasn't sleeping in it. It just -- [ he has no excuse ] well, it just happened! [ Upright, he floats next to Thanatos with a little bashful laugh. He should probably be a little embarrassed he got taken by a trash can, but it happens here. ]

I was trying to help and it went a little -- well, they weren't trying to be friends.

[ And then - well, here he is. ]

[inevitablerest]

[A small frown.]

You should know better than to assume every errant spirit is friendly. Or have I taught you nothing?

[Please, Hypnos, you're embarrassing your brother.]

You seem unharmed, at least.

[verytired]

I didn't assume they were friendly.

[ Wrong, of course. He's just a friendly guy, Thanatos. He couldn't resist the temptation to help. If someone is asking for it, he sees no reason to think that's what they want. He gets it can be dangerous, but he's also not as worried as he maybe should be. ]

Of course. All they did was pull me in. No scratches, even. You were here to help me just in time!

[inevitablerest]

And if I hadn't been here?

[He folds his arms and frowns. Given the way that Hypnos tends to slouch he usually ends up looking down at him even though his twin is the taller of the two of them.]

How long do you suppose you would have been stuck in there?

[verytired]

If you hadn't...

[ He looks thoughtful - moreso than he actually is. He hums a little, looking up towards his brother with a bashful grin. ]

Probably not too long. I'm not totally defenseless. You worked faster, though.

[ Obviously. This was his brother's area of expertise, after all. ]

[inevitablerest]

I should think so.

[Then he just sighs and shakes his head, taking a moment to rub the pad of one thumb against his temple.]

Is it too much to ask that you don't get into trouble while out of my sight?

[He grumbles because he worries.]

Wildcard

[inevitablerest]

💀 Tag with another quest!
💀 Won’t be found anywhere on purpose. If he appears it’s because he wanted to be found
💀 People sensitive to death or powerful magic may be able to get a better read on when he's nearby