Ancient Cistern [Blonde Tsuill]

This was getting massively out of hand. The Gerudo was trapped against the wall until she'd realize she could climb out of the crevice in the axe, Luna was injured, Marcus was still out cold... "You stay back here," Horus said to Luna, shoving his dagger into her hand. "At least until something can be done about that arm. I don't want you taking any more hits like that."

With that, he rushed back into the fray. "Dammit Loft," he cried out, "Even Luna pays attention to her surroundings!" He then jumped between the kid and the golem's arm, deflecting a brushing hand. He'd seen that the Gerudo had gotten a few hits in on the gem at the golem's core, and much to his stupefaction, it was now blocked off by a series of bars, set too closely together for him to pry his sword in between them. "What the..."

"HORUS LOOK OUT!" He jolted at Luna's high-pitched, shrill shriek, and looked back to see her using one hand to press her cream robe over her injured arm- however she shook her head vehemently. "NOT AT ME! HORUS!"

"Gaaah!" he was sent flying by a punch to the stomach- but that made no sense- even he could have told that the golem had been incapable of reaching him where he had stood! As he fell to the floor, the wind knocked out of his lungs, he faintly heard the pounding of what had to be massive feet on the stone floor. "No fucking waaaaaay...." he groaned, struggling for air.

[[YUP this is the Koloktos fight alright. Hopefully I didn't miss anything. If I did, just PM me c:]]

Loft's brain was telling his jaw to brush the floor, but his body couldn't handle the demands of his mind, and his jaw only stretched open an extra inch. The gigantic gold bejeweled monstrosity, after smacking everyone around like flies, decided that it had gotten bored with simply sitting still on the hard floor and stood up on legs that seemed too small to be able to support its massive golden weight.

He glanced around and realized that he was standing all alone. Chimera was pinned against the wall, Horus was lying on the ground, the witch was cowering back (injured), and Marcus was probably still unconscious. The feet pounded again and again on the floor, the stone quivering as it stomped its way towards them all. Axes and swords danced through the air in dizzying harmony, making Loft's eyes spin as he tried to track them all. The scratched, pulsing ruby that Loft suspected was the golden statue's heart was only protected by bars of steel. Loft hefted his throwing knife and threw it. It sank into the ruby, and Loft did a little victory dance.

Chimera brought her arms in, pushing the axe out of the wall until she had enough room to climb out the top. She quickly dashed back into the fight, seeing the golem magically bring it's arms back, this time pulling out several massive scimitars. Horus had been knocked back, so Chimera brought her sword and buckler up, rolling right as he smash a sword down. Same as before, target the joint.

She used helm splitter on the arm, breaking it right off and sending the massive sword to a laying position. Koloktos staggered back, about to do a wide swing, when it recoiled again from Loft's knife throw, hitting it right in it's weak point. Chimera threw her sword to the ground, seeing one she'd be much better off using. Holding the massive scimitar by it's huge handle, she hoisted it onto her shoulder, exerting herself to her physical limits.

It was still staggered, so Chimera gave a primal, massive roar as she hewed along the floor, slicing the golem's legs off, then making another swing and tearing the metal bars off of it's chest. Making several exhausted breaths, she rested the sword next to her, taking a moment to get rid of the fact that her vision had gotten a bit blurry from over-exertion.

For the second time in an hour's time, Horus struggled for consciousness. He knew that if he passed out now, he was going to die a gruesome and painful death- and that wasn't even the biggest problem, the bleakest prospect was that he was going to leave Luna by herself. He couldn't leave her now, not in these circumstances. Come on, body, he thought to himself, get over yourself! Get UP!

While Horus' body refused service, Luna watched as Loft and Chimera exposed the golem's weak spot a second time. She knew she wouldn't have time to conjure up an ice spike, so instead she dived for Horus and grabbed his crossbow, enchanting it with ice and loading it with a bolt. She winced as she did so- her injured arm made it much harder than it needed to be. Or maybe it was just Horus who always made this look so easy.

She took aim, knowing she would only get one shot, and fired the bolt- only to scream in pain as the crossbow's recoil sent a wave of pain through her arms and slammed the weapon itself into her ribs.

The ribs were broken, the heart exposed. The red ruby sat still in its broken cage, but even though the bars protecting it were destroyed, the magical gemstone continued to power the golden behemoth with dark energy. His knife had only scratched it; maybe his flames would have a better effect? Loft pulled out his Red Candle and jumped as something whistled nearby. That something clanged off the statue's head, covering its face with frost and freezing it in place. A crossbow bolt clattered to the ground, its blue shine already fading to nothingness. Loft took advantage of its temporary blindness and confusion to dart forward, hold out his Red Candle, and sent a plume of superheated fire hovering inside the heart's chamber.

With it's remaining hands, Koloktos was about to take a swing at the Hylian spraying flames into it. Luckily for him, one of his own massive swords whipped through the air, cutting the arms off. Lights danced around her view as Chimera let the sword go, the thing falling to the ground with a massive bang.

Chimera looked around surprised as three zombified Bokoblins rose from the ground, shambling towards her. Smacking one in the face, it's defense was quickly lowered as Chimera made a quick, spinning cut, hewing it's head right off. The thing took a few more steps, but Chimera stabbed it in the chest bringing it to the ground. "More enemy!"

Luna was still doubled over in pain, but pulled herself together when she sensed more enemies approaching. While one of them was stopped by Chimera, another one shambled its way over to where Horus was still fighting a battle with unconsciousness. Dropping the crossbow, Luna leapt forward and positioned herself between Horus and the Zombie Bokoblin, landing her toes in its undead face and sending a piece of rotten meat flying.

The Bokoblin didn't even stagger, only raising its cleaver to take a swipe at her, but Luna was faster, pushing her arm forward and shoving it in the chest, putting her Blizzard spell through it as thought it was a sword or a spear. It slowed the Bokoblin, although the motion meant Luna had no time to dodge the cleaver. She winced, although she refused to cry out, as the rusted weapon connected with her arm.

Seconds later the Bokoblin fell back, blood spraying from its chest, and Luna saw a brief flash of black zooming by.

Horus had finally managed to will his body into moving, just as the Bokoblin had attacked Luna, and it had enraged him thus that he'd found the strength to get up, kill the Bokoblin, and head for the golem in hopes of finishing things off. "MOVE OVER!" he shouted, running by Loft and burying his sword as deep into the core as it would go- which was only about halfway, at which point the golden wall on the other side of the core stopped the weapon, producing a 'chink' that was barely audible over the noise of the battle.

The ruby core, already softened by Loft's magical flames, wasn't able to resist Horus' steel. His blade slid through the golem's heart like it was nothing but a ball of butter, destroying the lifesource powering the golden automaton. The artificial warrior immediately began to tremble and shake, bits and pieces of its form falling to the ground and clattering against the marble floor, and soon there was nothing left of the golden golem but its head, grinning like a skull up at them all.

"Mine!" Loft dove forward to grab the head. It was golden, and that made it really cool. He wanted it!

As Chimera fought off the last of the zombified Bokoblins, she looked up to see the golden figure writhing, the darkness it used as joints dissipating. The last she heard before the clatter of it falling apart was a strange laughing, almost as if from a little girl. Chimera wasn't shaken by this, but it was certainly an oddity. Chimera didn't really see anything she could use left here, so the Gerudo sat down against the wall, closing her eyes and breathing heavily.

The fight had taken a lot out of all of them, and all the fighters had some semblance of injury. It would be necessary for them all to rest before anything, even though this was likely where they would all part ways.

"Finally," Horus cried as he dropped his sword, falling to the ground. The adrenaline kick that had resulted from his blind rage at seeing Luna injured had- Luna was still injured. Whup, as soon as he remembered that he was back up on his feet, sword in hand, walking over to the Ice Mage. He passed by Loft on his way. The kid was reaching towards the golden head of the statue, at which the red-haired warrior shook his head. He let him be though; Horus had no use nor need for gold. Especially when something far more important required his attention.

"Are you alright?" he asked as he helped Luna stand up. When she didn't respond, he ran his hands over what he could non-awkwardly touch of her body, feeling even through her clothes that she shivered when he touched her ribs -when he applied pressure he didn't feel any fractures though, probably just a bruise- and taking note of the wrecked state of her left arm. "That's... nothing I guess Freddie can't fix. Unless Marcus wants to get up and do so."

As he said it though, he knew he wouldn't demand the unconscious boy to heal Luna's wounds when he was in such a poor state, himself. Instead, he knelt at the healer's body and gave him a little shake, surprisingly gently. "Hey kiddo," he then called to Loft, "does Marcus sleep in often?"

[[Rewards changed to:
Loft: Ring Box (25r)
Marcus: Jinx (30r) and -5r]]

"Sometimes," Loft said, hefting up the gold head and drooling at its beautifulness. He was going to keep this as a memento, but there were a few loose bits of gold scattered across the floor that he could sell for some quick cash. There was this Ring Box back in town that he'd been itching to buy for a while. Yeah, he was going to go get that, the moment they were done here. "Here," he said, walking up to Marcus, "this should do it." He stuck his two index fingers in his mouth and wiggled them in the sleeping boy's ears.

Soon enough, Marcus was kneeling by Luna's body, healing magic glowing brighly around his hands. "There," he said, sitting back on his haunches, "that should do it." He rubbed his eyes tiredly and reached for his bag. Something strange caught his eye: his Magic Rod, which was protruding slightly from the bag's opening, seemed different. It took his tired mind a second to realize what it was. The normally clear crystal was now filled with swirling, sickly-looking navy gas. He reached out a tentative finger and touched it, probing the susbtance gently with his power.

As if it were alive, the gas jumped at the touch and flew up the connection of energy into Marcus' body. He stiffened for a second, then breathed easily as his healing magic cleansed his system of the tainted power. He'd used so much energy earlier that he'd left himself, and the rod, in a bit of a power vacuum. This place was so permeated with unnatural, undead energy that some of it had leaked into the crystal itself, which had jumped into his warm body at the first available opportunity. That taint was gone now, but he wouldn't forget its touch. He felt strangely incapacitated, as if he were suddenly unable to do anything as simple as pick up a stick. The idea of casting spells or using the Rod seemed as alien and impossible as a Goomba.

"Anyone else need anything before we go?"

Luna tested her arm, noting that while there was still a semblance of pain, it was functional, and it didn't bleed anymore. Not bleeding was always a good thing, she knew that much. "Not really," Horus said when Marcus asked if anyone else needed anything. "Just need to get out of here and back to Ikana, I guess." As he looked around the room, he saw a door that had previously been obscured by the enormous golden golem. "...give me a hand there."

With Luna's help, he pushed the door open, immediately having to shield his eyes from the sunlight that intruded upon them. "Oh jeez!" he called in surprise, but then lowered his hand and reached into his coat. "Looks like it's stopped raining." Pulling out the map he and Luna had used to get here, he held it out to the mage. "Here. You get us back home."

While waiting or Luna to take the scroll out of his hands, he turned to the other three, making a salute he remembered from a very distant time. "May we never meet again," he said, grinning. "I think we can all agree on it that that would be best." When he turned back, he realized he was still holding the map. "Err, Luns?"

"You said I was never to hold the map again."

"Oh, come on, woman!"

Chimera stayed sitting, watching the dangerous man and mage woman leave, and let loose a heavy sigh. They were much safer now... She looked around the room, and saw Marcus and Loft, though when they looked at her, asking if she needed anything else, she shook her head. In fact... This place was nice. Chimera saw the swords scattered about the room, and stood, picking one up. "Will stay. Train. Goodbye Loft and Marcus." She said plainly, using all her power to swing the massive sword. After all, if she could swing a massive sword, she could swing her light sword better right?

After a few hours, Chimera collapsed, completely exhausted. The Gerudo laid on her back, chest heaving. She smiled as she heard that familiar voice. "Good show, lass... Clearly I left my move to the right person." She looked back up at Raggah, the ghostly figure sitting on the rubble of a broken pillar. "Now then... once you've rested up, how about a rematch?"

Apparently this is done... Approved! You are all entitled to your (in the case of Quill, new) rewards.