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Character of the Season
Frail in body but dangerously quick of mind, Nikandr is the sort of character who proves that curiosity can be just as perilous as any weapon. A necromancer, inventor, and problem-solver with more ambition than self-preservation, Niki approaches the world like a puzzle box begging to be opened, even when what’s inside has teeth. Blunt, dry-witted, fiercely independent, and carrying a history best left partially buried, he has a knack for making even failure feel fascinating. Whether he’s raising the dead, moving across Caido to King's End, or experiencing a hangover for the first time, Nikandr brings a wonderfully strange spark to Caido, and we can’t wait to see what trouble his brilliant mind wanders into next.
Congratulations, Niki!
Credits
Court of the Fallen was created in October of 2018 by Odd, Honey, and Crooked.
OG Skinning provided by Kaons, with functionality and many custom plugins made by Neowulf!
It was becoming rather habitual to wind her way towards Frey’s Breath. But with nothing to show for her, and many others, efforts, the Caretaker didn’t sink into melancholy as she’d done before. If anything, it spurned her determination onward, and with her quest from the Nature aspect of her preferred herald, she’d at least have several things to do along the waters.
But she’d chatted animatedly with Koa the entire way there, going over potentials and then notions of the shared ring, before her sights set on the springs again. “Well, here’s hoping we find something this time,” she winked and grinned. “I’m going to search first, then get my other things together.” Which would be the poultice she had in mind, necessary herbs and cloth already contained in the bag along her shoulder.
Placing those downward on a now preferred rock, she pinned her hair upwards, already heading towards shallower aspects of the refreshing and rejuvenating liquid.
Words hung above but never would form Like a cry at the final breath that is drawn
"I'm beginning to feel like I see this place more than my own bed," Koa complains dramatically as the springs come into view. "Though I guess there are worse places to look for world-saving flowers. Like - in one of the other caves there's a waterfall of blood. Horrifying." He shudders at the memory of the sanguine pool, as well as the lial lurking within.
Nodding at Lena's decision to start with searching, Koa similarly slips out of his shoes, his bag deposited beside them. He's worn swim trunks covered in sunglass-wearing Hels for this occasion, not sure if Lena would be as comfortable with his nudity as another soldier might.
Wading into the shallows of the springs, Koa begins his secret side quest: wingman'ing it up. "You know, the last time I was here was with Zavien." Nonchalant as anything, the sly young man ploughs further into the water, now submerged to his knees. "It's been cool getting to know him. He's pretty great," He passes the caretaker a sidelong glance, trying to gauge her reaction, "Don't you think?"
Koa Carpenter
Mama said, burn your biographies Rewrite your history, light up your wildest dreams
Lena did laugh at the dramatics, inclined to agree but not giving him the sentiments. “Oh yes. I’ve seen the waterfall of blood." And a dead body in it. Stevie, it’d been – during a particular reign of terror. Shaking her head from that dismal reflection, she wrinkled her nose. “This is a much better location. And maybe, if we find something, we can free up the Greatwood soon and get Vi’s Roses from there too.” Just a passing thought, really; she’d be more inclined to continue their pursuits and let the ones capable handle the more dangerous aspects.
She was very thankful, if not amused, by Koa’s swimwear, grinning at the sunglass-wearing Hels. “Where did you get those? Torchline?” But then she wandering into a preferred area, tempted again by the gentle lull of the refreshing water meandering up to her calves. Her eyes immediately went to the rocks and crag, only half-listening to the Dragoon at first, trying to pay particular attention to nooks and crannies that might have held blossoms and petals.
Likely unaware of Koa’s motives, nonetheless once he started talking further, the Caretaker’s cheeks flushed and she didn’t glance his way. Partially out of her own embarrassment for the rather melancholic mood she’d set the last time she came here with Zavien, and likely for other things. “Oh. I came with him before too. Between all of us going back and forth, something should turn up.” Thinking she’d played that off pretty well, she sauntered further into the midst, until the water reached past her hips, leaning over one large rock and gently moving it around with both hands. Until there was the other question, and she answered wholeheartedly, pretending her face wasn’t still rosy and crimson. “Of course I do.”
Words hung above but never would form Like a cry at the final breath that is drawn
"Yeah, cute little stall with a bunch of novelty stuff. You like?" Koa grins in response, pulling at his shorts to better display the pattern of chaotic birds. "They have stuff for women, too." He'd thought about picking up a matching swimsuit for Flora, but ultimately decided the Doubletake probably wouldn't want to wear a one-piece covered in Hels.
The heat and steam means Lena's flush initially goes unnoticed, though Koa does raise an eyebrow at the revelation that she and Zavien have already ventured to the springs. "If we don't find something this time, I guess you guys will have to come again!" he laughs with a shrug, copper eyes twinkling in the slanting light. And though Koa may not have gotten the reaction he wanted with his first set of prodding, the next response has him glancing back at Lena, both brows raised slightly this time.
Feeling quite pleased to have his suspicions confirmed, Koa has to exert all possible self control to keep the shit-eating grin off his face. Play it cool, Koa. You're almost there. "We talked about you, actually. When we were here." Turning back toward the shore, the Dragoon wades to where his pack is, figuring flowers have forsaken them again. "About how great it's been, getting to hang out. Zav's been especially happy, spending time with you. Not that I'm not!" the young man adds with a laugh, flashing Lena a knowing grin. "But he really cares about you, Lena."
Koa Carpenter
Mama said, burn your biographies Rewrite your history, light up your wildest dreams
“Noted,” she grinned, mentally placing it in the back of her mind for the next time she ventured to Torchline. Not for the same pattern, but probably for something similar – adornments in animals seemed fitting for the Caretaker.
But then there were other things circulating through the haze and plumes, and she couldn’t help either flushing or narrowing her eyes; trying to stay occupied on the task at hand, rather than distracted by the sudden bout of discourse. When she lifted the rocks, she still found nothing, instead of ceasing though, she merely pressed on, maneuvering several other stones and motioning further into the springs. “If he wants,” she managed to respond, trying to appear light-hearted about the entire motion.
Missing the twinkling sanction of the Dragoon’s eyes, or the eager smugness, she ended up dropping the set of pebbles in her hand at the mention of Zavien and Koa talking about her. Pretending like the surprised action had been purposeful, her mind started going in random tangents (like maybe they were sick and tired of her), until Koa further announced how great it’d been hanging out. Then that final line. Taking a long, deep breath, Lena tried to summon every ounce of propriety before turning back towards her friend’s all-encompassing grin.
It didn’t work. Her cheeks were bright red, flushed right down the sides of her neck. “Oh.” Uncertain whether she wanted to even persist in the conversation, especially with Koa, if this was something either she or Zavien needed to decipher on their own, or if anything would come of it at all, the Attuned opted to play it cool. Even her features said otherwise. “Well, that’s what friends do, hm? Care about each other?” Feeling like she was fifteen years old, silly, and stupid, she hoped the mature aspects of her conversation reigned supreme over anything else.
Words hung above but never would form Like a cry at the final breath that is drawn
The quest for a flower having been yet again unsuccessful (RNG, whyyyy), Koa turns his attention to the other job he's been given. Pulling his wraps out of his pack, he lowers them into the healing water, watching as moisture stains white cloth a darker shade of grey. It keeps him from grinning maniacally at Lena, which is better for them both. Unlike with Zavien, who Koa has no qualms bullying into a confession, the young Dragoon feels he ought to treat the Caretaker with a lighter touch.
"It is," he agrees easily, flashing a languid and knowing smile up at the brunette. Then his attention returns to the wraps in the water, a play at nonchalance he's not nearly subtle enough to really pull off. "I just think... when people care about someone, they shouldn't be scared to say it. Like, if you care about him, I think he'd really want to know." A shadow passing over his face, the Dragoon adds in a softer, darker tone: "And if you don't, you should make that clear, too."
He's been burned too many times by lopsided attachment to wish it on his friend.
Koa Carpenter
Mama said, burn your biographies Rewrite your history, light up your wildest dreams
Between their efforts, it seemed to be a futile thing again. For the third iteration, Lena hadn’t found anything at all, and she could feel the frustration warring behind her eyes and over her mind, until finally she shuffled out of the water again with a heavy sigh. It seemed Koa had other motions to tend to, much like herself, and she used those quieter moments when he wasn’t grinning her way to try and parse through the wave of emotions threatening to reel back and forth.
Padding back to her own bag, she retrieved the cloth and herbs, and placed them along one of the warm stones. It was a good thing the materials and matter of rolling were coiled in her muscle memory – given the Dragoon’s words, multitudes of feelings coiling through her frame, and the subject matter, she still fumbled around. After dropping one of the herbs for the second time, she took a long and slow breath, ignoring the rush of crimson to her cheeks again, fingers placing it firmly amidst the long stalks of grass, trying to find reason in all of this. “I think it’d be best coming from each other,” she hinted, if either of them were brave enough about it. Taking Koa’s words for what they were worth were one thing – but they weren’t Zavien’s, and she’d always prefer the heart of the matter, rather than secondhand halves.
Nor was it fair to her to even suggest the latter portion – and she raised her head, brows suddenly furrowing in his direction, noticeably flinching at the insinuation of her character. “Is that something you’d think I’d do? Hurt him?” When she’d nearly spent her entire life catering to everyone else’s feelings?
Words hung above but never would form Like a cry at the final breath that is drawn
Well, yeah, but that requires saying it-- Koa doesn't answer in retort, despite his inherent desire to push his friends into a room and order them to kiss. Instead he nods, a knowing smile and a casual shrug pushed Lena's way. "Definitely," he agrees easily, because, yeah, the whole point of this was to get them to talk.
The other part, though, Koa doesn't expect, her adamance and vitriol catching him by surprise. His head snaps up in response, a flash of emotion running across the chiseled face. "What- no," he's quick to counter, defensiveness rising like a shield. But then he sighs, shaking his head, his eyes turning back to the wraps in his hand. "At least... not on purpose. But sometimes... good people can still hurt each other." His smile is sad now, crooked and broken as he looks at Lena again. "It happened with me and Soh." Misunderstandings and wounded hearts, born from the best intentions.
Anyway.
"But enough of that!" Rising abruptly and before introspection can overcome his easy mood, Koa turns in full to Lena, copper eyes twinkling in the dim light. "On the topic of telling people what we're thinking - I'd be remiss if I didn't do the same. And the truth is, Lena, I've been wanting to ask you this for... gosh, eons, now." Affecting the look of a bashful suitor, Koa takes a stride toward the Carektaker. In a swift, single move he grasps for her hand, while simultaneously falling to his knees. A beatific smile tilts up to the caretaker, mischief blooming on rosy cheeks. "Lena Magnus, will you make me the happiest man in Stormbreak and do me the incredible honor... of joining the Dragoons?"
Koa Carpenter
Mama said, burn your biographies Rewrite your history, light up your wildest dreams
But neither of them were Koa – and while he might’ve had all the valor and resolve in the world to voice every thought and every whim – not everyone was like that. Lena was subdued and kind and generous, and often put others so far in front of her own efforts and needs that sometimes hers were forgotten entirely.
And while she had no vitriol, she certainly had enough insecurities now to wonder if voicing anything was going to make things worse. If she wasn’t good enough, and even in these hints, perhaps there was an undercurrent of dismissal of her own character. Or if Koa’s projections were just rooted in other sentiments too fresh or too scarred. “Not sure if that is helping,” she admitted, pausing and trying to catch herself before she unfurled any further, fingers beginning to intertwine around the cloth. Only mere minutes ago she’d been told Zavien cared for her, and now she was being lectured on reactions she’d yet to give. “I’m sorry for what happened between you and Sohalia.” She hadn’t known, but now wondered if that clambered back to Anju’s insinuations seasons before. Her own defensiveness flared, eyes downcast again, voice calm and measured. “But we’re not the same people either. So, while I understand the warning, that is not my intention.” Perhaps that was all that could be uttered for now – her mind rattled, tossed between saying something and not maiming the situation and feeling damned if she did or didn’t.
Maybe none of it mattered for the moment – not when Koa was suddenly dropping to his knees and taking her hand and wanting her to snag a position in a guild renowned for warriors and protection. “What-,” she stammered at first, the herbs forgotten in the reel of constant emotional whiplash. “I’m flattered, truly, but what would I do in the Dragoons?” She half-laughed, caught along the bizarre intervals, especially of things he knew about her. “I’m not a fighter.” She could barely hold her healing staff in any defensive position, and readily found other solutions for incoming strife.
Words hung above but never would form Like a cry at the final breath that is drawn
Case in point of good people hurting each other without meaning to. Sensing that pushing any further will only hurt his cause, Koa simply smiles and shrugs, letting the matter drop. In his infinite need to see the people he cares about happy Koa has planted a seed. What happens from here is up to Lena and Zavien.
Besides, the young Dragoon has his own proposal to complete. Still grinning, Koa laughs, shaking dark hair against the caretaker's protests. "That's fine! We have plenty of fighters." Turns out, it takes quite a bit more than combat to manage a fighting force. "What we don't have, now that Tadros has retired, is an expert in animal care." And when nearly half your soldiers are dragons, turns out having someone who can tend to them becomes necessary, indeed. "Plus I want to expand our field medic training... and, well, really what I need is someone who isn't afraid to tell me when my head's not screwed on right."
Koa Carpenter
Mama said, burn your biographies Rewrite your history, light up your wildest dreams
A refusal had been a ready thing – not wanting anything to do with violence. There’d been enough of it in the world already, and she aimed to extend kindness, compassion, the bare bones of sagacity she held, and every other mending thing that came with it. Her place was amongst gardens and celestial zoos, trying to tend to wounds of hearts and minds, bodies and souls. So she opened her mouth to protest again, then audibly snapped it shut once Koa continued and persisted. Though she did manage to pluck her fingers out of his grasp, if only she could busy them with managing and wrapping the poultices again.
No battle lines or war-drawn scars for her; but animal care and medical training, and perhaps advice when caution was blatantly thrown into the wind.
She sighed, already feeling the weight of responsibilities churning, and the clawing need to always help. “Well, you know I’m not afraid to do that,” she chirped in response, based on their previous conversations. “I cannot promise to be able to do it full time – the Celestine will always come first.” But her mind was already spinning with how to operate it – because some could probably find her amidst the enclosures, and then she could tend to the dragons efficiently…or coasting over the guild hall on her way back and forth…”If that’s acceptable to you, I can join.”
Words hung above but never would form Like a cry at the final breath that is drawn
"I know," Koa agrees, his lopsided smile half-laughing, half-chagrined. He needs more people who aren't afraid to tell him what he needs to hear - and if he internally is wondering if maybe she should take some of that boldness Zavien's way, well, he's at least smart enough not to say it out loud.
He's already nodding away her caveats, basking in the warm glow of success. "Of course, I'd never dream of asking for anything else." The Celestine is Lena's home, after all, the same way the Dragoons are his. Besides, patrols and volunteers pass through the Celestine all the time. Koa himself is a frequent face among the enclosures and veterinary bays.
"In that case..." Rising up to a standing position, Koa snaps a sharp salute. "Lena Magnus, welcome to the Dragoons!" And because he's perpetually unable to contain himself, he follows up the induction with a swift, firm hug. "Should we head home soon? Celebrate with dinner?" Pulling back, he raises perhaps steps back into danger with a mischievous eyebrow raise. "Maybe see if Zavien's free to come along?"
Koa Carpenter
Mama said, burn your biographies Rewrite your history, light up your wildest dreams
She carefully wrapped up the remains of the poultice, attention deviating between cloth, herbs, and Dragoon, forgetting for half a moment she could call herself that soon after. She had to laugh at the sharp salute, shaking her head at the foolishness of it all, before she was suddenly swept up in his hug. “Thank you for having me,” patting him in return, then waiting for her release.
Finishing what she started, her eyes widened at his boldness again, before sighing, a bit like a someone world-weary and trying her best not to get her hopes up – not one to rashly jump into much of anything. Snagging at her tools and bag, she gave him half a smile and tapped into that boldness, useful seemingly only for Koa presently. “Sure.” To both. “And then we can tease you about your love life…,” unaware, of course, that would be having a tailspin of its own.
