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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!
All I know is this could either break my heart or bring it back to life
With the sun came new orders, and if Rhiannon was surprised to be sent beyond Halo’s borders come Flowerbirth, she didn’t show it. After her performance against the Void titan, she was on thin ice when it came to following her Warden’s orders, and she wasn’t inclined at the present time to test him. Not when everything seemed to be going to shit.
The orders were, on the surface, simple enough: hunt for Vi’s Roses. But after a few days and countless hours combing the Greatwood, Rhiannon had to admit that there was more to the seemingly straightforward goal. Even in the spring, when flowers were blooming left and right, roses seemed to be in short supply, and Vi’s Roses specifically were rarer still.
On this particular morning, Rhiannon scoured the Crimson Cataract - a marvel of nature that perhaps she might have spent more time examining had she not been on a mission. As it was, she’d split the area mentally into a search grid and was making her way through it meticulously, determined to leave no stone unturned in her search. Perhaps that was why it was so easy for someone to sneak up on her; she was so engrossed that she didn’t notice someone’s approach.
Got a feelin' your electric touch could fill this ghost town up with life
The Crimson Cataract had been something of a legend back in the libraries at home – but Lena never thought she’d set her eyes to it. Before, it had seemingly been a heaving, bloodied waterfall – now it roamed, a river of ruby laden amidst the Greatwood’s enigmas. She’d only taken a few short hours off from her Celestine responsibilities, because the greater part of her knew that even if they all buried their hands and carried on as if everything was normal, it wouldn’t be enough.
So she tested the boundaries and limitations, slipping away into forest eaves. She didn’t think she’d find anyone here either – so she was surprised to emerge at the edge of the babbling plains to find a familiar face. Before she could say anything though, Mittens screeched some unholy gospel, growling under its breath. “I’m so sorry,” she said on habitual-laced compassion, for she did apologize for her companion frequently. “Rhiannon, wasn’t it?”
All I know is this could either break my heart or bring it back to life
At the sound of an unholy screech, Rhiannon whirled, drawing a dagger at her hip and bracing herself for a battle. Instead of a Void creature, however, she found a... sentient snowball (?)... and its apparent bonded, who looked familiar. After a moment's hesitation, Rhiannon placed the woman at the restaurant that had hosted the bizarre murder mystery party a few seasons ago. Recognition lit the young woman's face. "Oh, hey. Lena, right?" If memory served, she'd been with a friend of Tal's at the time.
"Is that a snowball?" she asked of the screeching creature, tilting her head to the side, sending a cascade of dark locks over her shoulder. "How is it, you know, not melting?" And also, you know, alive? Sheathing her dagger, she scanned the immediate surroundings, picking up on the spot she'd left off her search. Satisfied that she could easily resume her hunt, she turned her full attention to Lena and her abominable creature.
Got a feelin' your electric touch could fill this ghost town up with life
Mittens had a certain polarizing effect on others that left Lena cringing inwardly and outwardly, not enough apologies on her lips as daggers were drawn. Her hands went up instantly in a form of mild surrender, to placate the calm atmosphere again, rather than herald another perilous storm. When Rhiannon seemed to recognize her, she took another few breaths, easing her limbs downwards and back to the basket on her arm, a slight frown directed back at her companion. It was entirely unbothered by the spectacle it had made, hovering above the crimson river and back again. “Yes, sorry,” and she gave a light smile to herald so many other things away.
As for Mittens, who always drew attention, she nodded. “An abominable snowball. I’d wager it has some sort of Caido magic,” given that it was still the only one she’d ever heard of, or come across, with such abilities. “We’re only out here to look for some flowers. I hope you don’t mind.”
All I know is this could either break my heart or bring it back to life
The snowball was fascinating, though Rhiannon supposed belatedly that it might be rude to express too much interest in someone else’s companion. She didn’t really know the etiquette surrounding such things. ”It’s very interesting,” she offered. ”Even in Halo, I’ve never seen anything like it.” And she’d have thought, if she was going to come across something like that, it would have been on the tundra.
She might have asked more questions if not for Lena’s next statement, which distracted her from the snowball and returned her attention to her task. ”Oh, me too,” she said, gesturing towards their surroundings. ”I’m having trouble finding one of the ones I’m looking for, thought.”
Got a feelin' your electric touch could fill this ghost town up with life
Lena’s features were the picture of relief as she Rhiannon added that she was also looking for flowers; as if she’d found another comrade in arms as the Family settled their overbearing hues across the world. She stepped alongside the riverbank, coaxed gently by the lull of the lazy river, eyes flickering back and forth on plants settled in between stones. “I’ve often wondered if it much like memory snow, only far more permanent.” Her eyes swept fondly to the snowball regardless, even if it was a devilish little fixture; it had begun to swoop low and spy upon fish.
“Same,” she hummed in response, and with difficulty, noted that there weren’t any here either. “I’ve had no luck in Frey’s Breath either.” Her nose wrinkled, the only sign of that disappointed that scraped away at the seams of her ichor; alongside so many other misgivings. “Should we look elsewhere?”
All I know is this could either break my heart or bring it back to life
As Lena joined her hunt, Rhiannon returned to her search, her eyes flickering over various plants before dismissing them as not what she was looking for. She continued along her search grid. ”I’ve searched that way,” she said, pointing to the east. ”But I haven’t finished this area here yet. Then I was planning to go to the Mathair.” And then on to other regions in an effort to find the flowers she sought. If they even existed. Rhiannon was starting to question it.
”I haven’t been to Frey’s Breath,” she said conversationally, moving on to the next grid of her search pattern. ”You’re welcome to accompany me to the Mathair if you’d like. Two sets of eyes are better than one, I think.” And if Lena didn’t wish to go, that was fine, too. Rhiannon would traverse the terrain regardless.
Got a feelin' your electric touch could fill this ghost town up with life
Plans – the Caretaker liked plans. It felt like determination and steadfast assurance, something brewing down in her chest with every passing day, something the Family couldn’t take away, something not funneled down into the barest minerals of the void. Even if there hadn’t been anything here, that didn’t mean it couldn’t happen elsewhere. “That would be wonderful, thank you.” The more eyes, the better, right? The ability to snatch and catch and maybe find exactly what they were looking for.
In the end, maybe her optimism had never quite faded, but simply needed another channel, another method, another means to an end.
