What do you get when two ruthless assassins raise their daughter travelling through the wildest reaches of Caido? Take one look at Theea and you'll get a pretty good idea. Cheerful and tenacious in equal measure, and curious beyond all else, she began her journey on a mission to find those her mother once called family. And find them she did, soon rubbing elbows with demigods, leaders and even ghosts from the past. Her determination is resolute, her thirst for knowledge unmatched. We can't wait to see where her next adventure takes her!
Congratulations, Theea!
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!
11-01-2024, 11:40 AM (This post was last modified: 11-06-2024, 11:03 AM by Safrin.)
It had been a busy Longheat. Repeated trips to the Climb to search for Rae's Lilies had been interspersed with cleansing the Void infestation from the Feverlands and refreshing the shrine at Aumakua. It had all taken time, but he had worked with his usual methodical determination to pursue his quest for Safrin in the midst of it all, and now he returned to place an offering on the underwater altar in the hopes that his goddess would approve of what he had accomplished since his last visit.
There was always more to do, but for this night he could allow himself to be selfish and bask in his lady's celestial light, away from the pressures of his mortal life.
Safrin, he rumbled, mental voice warm with the anticipation of seeing her again. I have been to the four corners of Caido, beneath your stars. May I have your blessing on my teleportation?
Large hands set his offering upon the salt-pitted stone of the altar: a round glass sphere with a small spout that held a rare, pale, sparkling Mer liquor, sweet and slightly spicy and heavier than water. Then he bowed his head, steel-shine hair drifting in thick tresses around him as he focused his thoughts in prayer.
Mastering Moon Warp Fireflies and silver moons sparkling:
Thread at night in the following regions:
North — Wildwood A darker forest
West — Edge of the Frostfields [o] Longheat chiller
East — Meadowreach [SE] to see oneself, and in the reflection stand tall
South — The Falling [SE] Long way down
As was now the norm, as Safrin appeared beneath the waves, starlight and moonshine followed her all the way down to the depths, illuminating the normally darkened shrine with a dazzling silver glow. In a gown of coral and bioluminescent algae and with her dark hair flowing out around her like a mane, the goddess looked as at home within the ocean's depths as she did lounging on clouds amidst the stars.
Indeed you may. Grinning at her demigod, the goddess reached forward to cup his face within her palms. Starlight bloomed outwards, sinking down into the Tidebreaker's bones before sparking outward, filling him with her light.
Since I saw you last there have been some changes to my family. Smiling fondly, Safrin splays her fingers; beside her, images of Nova, Vesper, and Calypso appear. The boy is a demigod. Though the triplets plan to make their own way in Torchline, it might be worth your while to meet them.
More beautiful than a sunset, Safrin appeared and would have stolen Hadama's breath if he had been above the waves. Her grin drew the smile from his heart, slow but bright as white teeth flashed from dark skin. Her hands warmed him even before her starlight filled him, a champagne fizz of power and potential that left him feeling more renewed than any mere sleep had ever done.
It was with regret that he felt the transfer end and her hands draw away, but as emerald eyes refocused on the starlit halo of her hair and the eternity of her gaze it was with a sudden sharpening of interest and curiosity. Her family...? had Seren been found...?
It was not the eldest child that appeared in the waters, but three unknown ones - though calling them 'children' might be a stretch. Outwardly, at least, they appeared adult, and there was something of Safrin's beauty in each of them. Hadama studied the trio, committing their faces to memory - especially the boy, who would likely find his path more challenging for the power and privileges of his birthright. He inclined his head in acknowledgment of her words, for it was not an onerous recommendation. He would have offered his assistance to most newcomers to Safrin's shores, but knowing these were her children certainly predisposed him towards them from the start. Thank you, he murmured into the Bond, both for her blessing and for sharing the joyous news of a new demigod and the increase in her family. What are their names? He paused, considering the dark-haired boy with curiosity before nodding at the image in the water. Which of your aspects does he embody? The stars, the gravity of night, the moon... each demigod seemed to lean into a certain facet of the goddess's domain, even if there was often overlap.
Smiling affectionately, Safrin glances toward the illusions of her children and gestures at each of them in turn. Calypso, Nova, and Vesper. Though the goddess might have warned Hadama about their penchant for chaos, she thought perhaps it best he learn about them for himself.
As for Vesper? The corners of Safrin's eyes wrinkle with silent laughter as she considers how best to describe the path her son was carving for himself. A much darker path than those who have come before him. One of shadows and moonlight, of illusions and transformation. I wouldn't take it personally if he isn't exactly...forthright with you. He takes after his father, that way. Despite not having been raised by the man, Jack had made quite the impression on his son.
He set the faces of the children - or rather, young adults, if he had understood Seren's explanation of aging outside of time in her mother's realm correctly - to memory, studying the girls first before focusing on the young demigod as Safrin answered his question. Blue eyes and cheekbones as cutting as the wind off the Sea of Glass narrowed down his tentative list, but it was the star at the corner of the youth's eye, so very similar to the one he had commented on during a recent meeting, that had him tilting his head thoughtfully. Hearing that a certain terseness was to be expected did much to confirm the direction of his thoughts. It was not unexpected, given Seren's parentage.
Though it might complicate things for Torchline's Queen...
A consideration to pursue when he was on the surface again. For now, he took the news that Vesper walked a darker path in stride, nodding slowly to acknowledge the information even if he did not fully understand it yet. These are darker times, was all he noted. Times that called for greater strength, and greater protection, but also different ways of fighting. Of resisting the encroaching Void. And though the time for this particular oasis from the dark was drawing to a close, Hadama gazed upon his goddess with quiet love in his heart. He took strength from her beauty and the purity of the starlit waters that surrounded him and washed through his gills, drawing them in deeply before bowing to the inevitable end of the too-brief time with his sworn lady.
Whereas many before him and likely many after would begin to take for granted what Safrin had offered them, would begin to let the edges of their relationship fray and grow dusty as life continuously interfered, the goddess was almost certain that she'd never have to fear that from the man before her. I would like that. She hums sweetly, reaching out to dismiss her illusions before tracing the back of one finger across the Tidebreaker's cheek.
There is a shrine high in the Cordillera. Perhaps one day we might meet there. She suggests with a mischievous wink, knowing full well that the demigod would have to work his way toward such a rendezvous, but knowing that he'd one day achieve it.
