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Character of the Season
Once known as the Butcher of Whitebrim, he's now The Butcher of Dygra, stepping forward as the first created demigod of the Ancients. There is no question that Astaroth casts an intimidating silhouette. Tall, domineering and dangerous, if looks could kill you'd be dead already, but to get up close and personal with the Grounds' resident cannibal tells a much different story. Dripping with charm and clad in only the finest attire, Asta is a gentleman monster, as polite as they come and committed to his role as security for the Dusklight and those who have earned his loyalty. Be careful of that smile, though - those teeth are sharp.
Congratulations, Asta!
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!
Ronin ascends the steps to the top of the lighthouse in quiet solitude. It isn't that he's feeling particularly solemn, but the soft music of waves crashing against the shore, of seabirds wheeling overhead and the faint call of voices from the coast is enough, sometimes, especially after stepping from a houseboat of diminishing space and abject chaos. Even at the memory of what he'd left - Carlo and Calan attempting to make a fort in a space so small it already really counts as one - has a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth; only when he arrives at the shrine properly does Ronin school his attention back to his patron.
"Vi," he says softly, head bowed in respect, before setting out his offerings with steady hands. "It has been some time, I know. I was hoping I might petition you for some help with my family's living situation, but I also wished to ask about the strange things happening in the Oerwoud. It may just be Rae at work, which would be a relief, but after The Family I can't help but feel paranoid about change."
As he speaks the Knight sets out three candles - one white and decorated with clear quartz, one black and adorned with onyx, and a third, green, enriched with jade.
Vi arrives without fanfare, appearing in an amalgamation of the afternoon light spilling in through the lighthouse window; a sun made solid, his warmth ignites the three candles before Ronin in silent acceptance of the offering. Their teardrop flames remain still despite the breeze that plays through the shrine, and he regards his White Knight with steady, dark eyes before seating himself against the shrine altar.
"It may just be Rae at work," he agrees. "In which case there is little they will do about it." His tone suggests that he is not ignorant of the changes in the Oerwoud, but neither have they set off any alarm bells in the way The Family's arrival did. "You may wish to speak with Ludo's chosen, however. Mort informs me that it has not been seen in some time - he had to respond himself to Melita when she approached the shrine at the docks."
Whether the two events are related is also not something that Vi considers under his domain, but the assistance costs nothing to give to a demigod charged with guarding lives. "As for your current living situation, you do seem to have grown your family beyond your vessel's current capabilities. What did you have in mind?"
The candles light of their own accord, illuminating Ronin's face in flickering gold and yellow, and as always he's left feeling as if he's been able to take a real, full breath for the first time in a long while as he settles himself before the God of Life. Keeping his head bowed and his hands resting atop his knees, only when Vi starts to speak does the Knight gaze up at his patron, listening to all he has to say as if it's freshly written gospel. (Which - as good as it gets, honestly).
"Ludo is missing?" he repeats, brow furrowing as if he's trying to make himself connect dots that are reluctant to form a cohesive picture. "...I see. I'll catch up with Melita, yes. What's happening in the Oerwoud managed to make its way to Hak Etme, too, by the look of it. But as you say, if it is Rae related..." Ronin trails off. It would be worth speaking with Sunjata too, perhaps, to see if there is any further knowledge to be gleaned there.
As for The Northaven, Ronin has to force himself not to wince with embarrassment to bring up his home when there are clearly larger things at work, but he forges onward regardless. "Having the houseboat means a lot to us. It lets us move around if we need, but it is too small for us currently. It would be nice if it could be larger, if only on the inside...?" Weight isn't a problem, so long as it wouldn't sink the vessel; kraken or leviathan would still be able to ferry it about, he thinks.
"It would hardly be the first time that Rae's experiments have evolved past their intended habitats," Vi agrees with a solemn furrow of his brows, as though what his demigod has to say is getting stored away somewhere even if it all turns out to be nothing. "...But yes, do." Catch up with Melita, that is. "Ludo is not our concern, but it is not typical, either, for it to ignore Mort's calls." And whether or not the trickster herald is their responsibility, Mort's happiness and wellbeing is definitely of interest to Vi.
Back to The Northaven, though. "Larger on the inside but unchanged outwardly?" He inclines his head in a nod. "Certainly possible. You will need to provide some materials and prepare your home - once that is in place, return to me and we will see it done."
Ronin has received a quest from Vi:
1. Encounter (don't kill!) a Mirage Crab, taking particular note of the illusion it creates around itself to appear as something other than what it is.
2. Collect memory mud and use it to create a mini Northaven, no larger than the palm of a hand.
3. Encounter (don't kill!) a Penolaeth and witness it relocating from a smaller skull to a larger one.
4. Host a PQ spring cleaning The Northaven, creating as much extra space as possible.
The Northaven will receive the following property on completion:
Bigger on the Inside | The Northaven is much larger inside than it appears, and adjusts to produce as much space and as many rooms as necessary depending on those living within it.
Nodding, both at the prospect of all of this being little more than one of Rae's experiments and at throwing out some feelers to connect with Melita to help with the Ludo of it all, Ronin also makes a mental note to bring it up to Remi. He might have heard similar if he'd seen Mort, granted, but a little extra communication never hurt anyone.
With that squared away, though, the Knight can't help but brighten to hear his request accepted, a small smile lingering at the corners of his mouth to hear Vi's stipulations. Needless to say, it's been a while since Ronin was charged with a quest, and he'd be lying if he said he wasn't looking forward to getting stuck into it, especially when the end result is a better life for his family.
"Thank you," he says, "for everything. I'll see it done."
