[i]"I baked, I did parties, I lifted spirits, I tried to make everyone smile and be happy."[/i] -Draza, page 3.

[b][center]First Blow[/center][/b]

The attack by D.H., while spectacular, was not particularly effective. Twenty four shots pierced through the air and as he attempted to control and enhance each of them, he gradually loses control and made mental errors with all of them as a whole. Some veered left, others veered right, and overall of the twenty four shots he fired, only two managed to hit their target. Atop this, only one actually detonates--he loses his influence over the other just prior to impact attempting to keep the rest from hitting incorrect targets. One detonates near Thailen's feet, but does no actual damage aside from a temporary scare for her health. The one shot that does hit and explode on target hits the gargoyle's back. The shadowy explosions didn't seem to have any effect on the outer shell of the gargoyle, though the bolt itself did manage to put a small crack in his stone skin... And it did get his attention.

Wren's expression was, initially, much the same as Alex's was at the sight of the oncoming demon... Though, when he attacked, she had a different thought in mind entirely. [b]"The enemy of my enemy is my friend, we'll deal with this later!"[/b] She does not obey Alex's order and instead turns to analyze the Gargoyle. Her eyes move over its every curve. It would take a few moments to find something, but, she was certain she would. Meanwhile, the undead gecko on her shoulder stared lifelessly at Alex, almost as though condemning him for prejudice. Its completely empty gaze, however, could mean anything. Alex's last shot manages an easy hit, after all, the creature was pretty much disabled, and he was firing only one round.

Maher's attack came next, and the Gargoyle, being made out of stone, had no real way to avoid the attack. The water gushed rapidly, striking his form, but not causing him to budge. He chuckles to himself. [b]"Aha... You don't understand..."[/b] It takes to the air, shoving Maher's attack away and gaining a few feet of altitude. It was preparing to attack again, and this time, it had its eyes on the one person who had managed to harm it thus far... [b]"... You will not get another chance, meat sack."[/b] Apparently its outer shell was protecting it from the anti-magic aura projected by Erasmus, and it had no intention of weakening itself by assaulting him. Taunts were perhaps not all that effective from someone without much charisma to back it up...

Its powerful wings make a final gust that leaves Thailen and Erasmus a little unstable underneath it, before diving for Maher. Its weight gave it added speed as it managed to slam into him. His one saving grace was managing to put up a burst of water to try and defend himself while trying to get out of the way, lessening the impact just enough to send him spiraling several feet through the air before landing behind Wren, D.H., and Alex. It glares back at Erasmus for a moment with delight. [b]"Every moment you speak, I recharge... And you... Wither."[/b]

Two of Maher's left ribs were fractured by the impact. His survival was purely and surely... By luck alone... Or perhaps, by something else entirely... In fact, he felt something familiar nearby. Something only he would know, from his old Templar days... An old friend of Taigyn and Queen Kouri...