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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!
He had visited the Archive once before. It had been a time before starlight burned in his blood and the dark of the new moon had become reflected in the hearts of the emeralds of his eyes. Then, he had been learning a great deal about the histories of the landwalkers and their wars. Their conflicts and Blights, and the cures for such things, in the hopes that they might once again provide answers.
He had been right to seek such knowledge, and his studies had led to a timely understanding of Roses and Lilies, but his limited time had prevented him from exploring the grounds any further. He had moved with purpose from the Eye to the Archive with no time for dawdling in between, knowing he had but one night a month in which to pursue his research.
Though he would not claim himself a scholar in any traditional sense.
He had gradually become used to traveling the streets in daylight, but it was still impressive to see the size of the Collegium without the shadows of night to obscure its towering spires and vast bulk against the clouded sky. Passing through the gates, he looked around in bemusement as several pairs and gaggles of scholars argued about various topics in spite of the brisk and damp weather, though students wove through them with single-minded purpose. Running errands for professors, perhaps. Or simply trying to get to class before the next bell rung.
"It is busier than I expected," he murmured quietly to Maea, eyes scanning the grounds for shades of violet amid the returning green.
And I hope that you don't suffer But take the pain
"Yeah, it really is." The short woman looked a bit uncomfortable to be surrounded by so many strangers. While initially she had walked the streets of Stormbreak with confidence, the long stares of people unused to the odd or the new was having an effect on her. Sticking close to her tall friend, she had glamoured away all signs of the Ancient being and was pulling the hood up on her cloak to hide even the bright whiteness of her hair and skin, so striking in the sunlight.
Gazing around, she tried to imagine what it would be like, studying in a place like this. More than once she was tempted to linger near a group of elderly scholars to hear what they were discussing. Every time she was dissuaded by the laughter and boisterous conversation between youths however, and after a while she was shaking her head.
"How do they get anything done? These students seem more intent upon one another than on any subject of learning..." It was a far cry from the cool silence of the Atheneum, or indeed the sussurating stillnes of the Greatwood with its birdsong and sighing canopy.
04-05-2025, 08:08 PM (This post was last modified: 04-07-2025, 02:05 PM by Hadama.)
He remembered when they had trained in the street outside the temple here one foggy night, a lifetime ago now. How confident Maea had been then, and how willing to flaunt her Ancient features and powers in this land which had once feared and shunned Abandoned and hated and hunted Ascended. She had been fearless then, unapologetic in her reborn skin and unashamed of her horns and tail. Seeing her now when he glanced down to speak and finding her in his shadow, hooded and glamoured, struck a chord in him.
It was dissonant. Sharp. And all that he could do was to move with careful deliberation to keep himself between her and the gazes of the curious faculty and students who occasionally looked up from their discussions to watch the visitors to their hallowed halls with open curiosity.
He could not hide his height, or his muscular build, so instead he pulled the masking cap from his head, tucking it into a pocket of his coat and tugging his braid free so the thick length of metallic steely strands could catch the faint light that cut through the heavy Flowerbirth clouds. He drew their stares and bore them with the calmly stoic patience of a King as they strolled around the grounds, and the cloaked shadow that ghosted along beside him was largely ignored in favor of the striking demigod.
"Mmh. That is also a subject of learning," he replied to her exasperation, a soft thread of amusement curling through his quiet voice, pitched for her ears alone. "Perhaps they are more studious when they are indoors?" It certainly seemed to be the way of most young creatures of his experience. Though he tended to avoid children on general principle, he had theoretically once been a child himself and had memories of that time.
And I hope that you don't suffer But take the pain
Hastily glancing at him - had that been a pique for her as well? - Maea hummed and turned her gaze back to the school. Seeing Hadama take up space so she wouldn't have to left her feeling... off, somehow. Frustrated, might be the best word for it, because it was a reminder of how far she'd fallen, and how long a way remained to return to where she had been in terms of confidence and courage. Even being grateful - and she was, truly - didn't sit right, when she shouldn't need to be the recipient of any favors in the first place.
Yet she still kept her hood up and huddled in his shade. It was hard to tell what she thought of the Collegium with her face shaded like it was. "Do you wish to go inside?" she merely asked neutrally, letting Hadama take the lead and go where curiosity called. If she had anything she'd like to discuss with him, it wouldn't be brought up while they were in Stormbreak; it likely didn't matter where they were, but somehow it seemed less... on the nose, to talk about the enemy on their own territory.
Had it? His subtle smile made it hard to tell whether his words had been innocent or teasing, but as he realized that the stares of the students and faculty were making her uncomfortable he acted. It was not, perhaps, the wisest choice, or the kindest - though it was kindly meant - but it was what he could do for her in the moment.
Even if it was not she wanted of him.
They walked the grounds of the Collegium, with its cobbled paths between soaring buildings and the little courtyards and nooks where trees and small gardens grew, oases of burgeoning green amidst the grey and bricks of the stately old edifices. There was a stately grandeur to it that the chattering, laughing, lively students ignored with the ease of familiarity, but which Hadama nonetheless appreciated, seeing it with fresh eyes as he did.
At his companion's question, however, he paused to consider how far they had come and what remained of their day. The students - young and old alike - were beginning to vanish into various doors, and a few moments later the bells began to toll the hour. By the time they finished there were only a handful of running figures left outdoors, and Hadama found his answer.
"No. We would only cause more disruption inside." A distraction to those who had need of focus if they were to grasp their futures. He turned instead to his friend and tilted his head down at her curiously. "Are you hungry? Perhaps we can look for a place to have dinner while we walk." There was no rush to it; the day was passing with their exploration and the afternoon was moving on. It was early yet for the final meal of the day, but not so early that they could not begin searching for recommendations of where to go.
And the Silk Houses - where he had heard some of the finest entertainment and dining in the city were to be had - were quite a distance away. By the time they reached the pleasure district it would likely be well and truly into the dinner hour.
And I hope that you don't suffer But take the pain
Like most places she'd seen in the floating city, the Collegium had a strict, stiff sort of elegance to it that reminded her of the Temple as it had been before it became a place of Dygra worship, and of the Atheneum before the war had altered its structure. Echoes of ancient times lingered in chiseled details, whispering of more prosperous times now long since forgotten, and it made her feel small, though not in the liberating kind of way. Especially after the time spent in the Greatwood, what little vegetation had been given leave to sprout between columns and paved pathways looked constricted and faded to her eyes, like a hedge pruned into shapes so artificial it grew difficult to tell what its natural form had been.
Or maybe it was she who felt stifled, and only saw what she wanted to see. Regardless, Maea was glad that the tour didn't involve going inside. She would brave the damp winds for however long if it meant staying outdoors for a while longer.
"I'm not hungry yet, though likely I will be by the time we get to a restaurant," she replied, with a brief smile for her friend. "Did you have a place in mind? I trust your taste in food more than your fashion sense regarding hats..."
Gently teasing the mer, their stroll led them away from the house of learning and deeper into the city. With the easing of the stares she eventually shrugged the hood back from her head; whether Hadama had meant it or not, she took his words to heart about practicing her social skills. If that meant toughening her skin against unwanted attention... at least she was in good company for it.
