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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!
The scent of smoke and sulphur and blood still lingers on the air, drifting through the open archways of the Trinity Temple. In the distance the Tower is still alight in places, but it's nothing that won't extinguish with time or her own acts of whimsy. Dahlia sits atop the altar of a shrine towards the back of the Temple, legs swinging idly, leaning back on one hand as if waiting for a friend before going to lunch. Her hair is still wild, her face streaked with ash, and her cerulean eyes never remain in one place for too long.
Clad in a leather catsuit that hides little of her curves or the way she sits unarmed, she's nevertheless as dangerous as the dragon currently holding court over the ruin of the Tower nearby. Now that the initial itch of chaos has been freed from her blood, though, she's relatively patient as she waits for any budding Friends of the Family to show up. Or not. Provided they don't remain in Stormbreak if they opt for the latter, she doesn't much care for their choices.
Dahlia is hosting a meeting for any citizens of Stormbreak who would like to become Friends of the Family! As per this Notice Board post, any character who becomes a FOTF will also gain +30 temporary stats!
If you are already a FOTF you are of course also free to join, and if anyone would prefer a cuddle or a friendly punch to the face arm, that can certainly be arranged instead.
Those who object to the notice are encouraged not to attend for their own safety.
let me put my lips to something
let me wrap my teeth around the world
Thal walks in with a level of confidence that might suggest to others that she owns the place, but she knows perfectly well who's in charge around here, and her eyes don't hesitate to land on the woman. Dahlia. She gives her a cursory glance before her gaze roams the rubble of the Tower, a wicked grin on her face as she nods. "I like what you've done with the place." It fits her personal aesthetic perfectly, all ash, smoke, fire, terror, and chaos. Beautiful.
Returning her blue stare to the woman, she smiles, sharp but genuine. "I don't believe we've properly met. I'm Captain Thalassa Sanguis." Her head dips in the rugged, unsophisticated manner of a pirate, forgoing any flourish or pleasantry for practicality and unspoken respect. As such, she doesn't prolong the presentation, a purple gleam flashing in the delight of her eyes, a musical lilt to her tone as she says, "It felt like you weren't having the best of days, so I brought you a gift. I hope you like him." It's at this moment that she drops the foot of the form she'd dragged inside, stepping aside to reveal the limp body behind her.
Liam's a little dirty from the trek but otherwise breathing slowly in his slumbering state, a shadowing bruise blossoming on his neck. Thal might have stopped for a pretty bow if she had the time (and the city wasn't in hysterics over a little tower falling), however, she didn't want to waste a single second before bestowing Dahlia with her gift, eager to please as she watches for a reaction.
Thalassa brings Dahlia a present! Liam is passed out on the floor. XP
Blue eyes pin on the approaching figure in the doorway, like a big cat spotting potential prey, but a cursory glance over Thalassa has Dahlia relaxing once more, a smile curling across her lips in welcome. "I didn't like the idea of things going stale," she purrs, sitting herself up properly on the altar. "A pleasure to meet you, Captain. And you've brought a gift? Already I can feel my mood improving."
Her offer to make things altogether easier for the citizens of Stormbreak seems to have largely gone unanswered, and so she'd been about to grow bored enough to do something perhaps a little reckless. Enter Thal, savior of Stormbreak's infrastructure.
Hopping off the altar as Thalassa steps aside, Dahlia's eyes widen at the sight of Liam, prone and unconscious and altogether a perfect candidate to become part of their little troupe. "Poor dear," she croons, casting a crooked glance in the pirate's direction. "The journey must have tired him out. Not to worry, though - I think I know just how to wake him up."
Stepping over Liam, Dahlia crouches until she's close enough to tilt his dirty face up towards her. "Alright, handsome. You've slept enough," she murmurs, before leaning in to plant a kiss against his lips.
Dahlia uses:
Magic: Sinner's Kiss | Any recipient of a kiss on the mouth from Dahlia is rendered Infected. Infected characters/creatures are very receptive to suggestions and directions from The Family, and are eager to please them. This effect grows stronger with proximity to members of The Family. Type:Dark | Rank: Mastered
Liam has received:
Magic: Friend of the Family | Character has been Infected by a member of The Family. Character is very receptive to suggestions and directions from The Family, and are eager to please them. This effect grows stronger with proximity to members of The Family. Type:Dark | Rank: Mastered
let me put my lips to something
let me wrap my teeth around the world
When Liam awoke, it was to a familiar place with unfamiliar people.
He blinked once. Twice. He remembered one of the women from the Greatwood, he thought. He didn't know her name, but then, his memory was a little fuzzy. He was fairly certain that she was a friend.
The other woman - the one leaning over him - he knew on sight, even though there was a part of him that was certain he'd never seen her before. "You're Dahlia," he said, his voice raspy from disuse. He paused, glancing between the women, bewilderment on his face as he sat up, resting an arm on one knee and rubbing the back of his neck with the other hand. "I... can't seem to remember. What happened?"
He looked around. The nearby Tower was a pile of rubble, and his gaze suddenly sharpened as he struggled to his feet, looking around as though to search for any sign of trouble. "Are you alright?" he asked Dahlia and the other woman. It seemed like something had happened here, something that screamed danger.
And he would do anything to keep his friends safe.
She doesn't quite bask in the approval - because that's not very pirate like - but her delight is evident in the wickedly pleased smile on her face. It's only amplified when Dahlia steps closer, a gentle swell to her purple thoughts that makes her pride flare in her chest, dark and full of vicious desires. Chuckling softly, she shares a crooked grin with the woman. "I thought you might."
Her eyes glitter a bright lavender blue as she watches the exchange, fascination and excitement but a few of the emotions she can name when those soft lips brush against Liam's. She feels the shift, the slight pull of gravity that labels friend from foe. It draws her forward just enough to matter without assuming the sacred position of 'right hand' next to Dahlia. Still, she's close enough to watch as his eyes flutter open, scanning for information amidst the unknown.
Glancing to Dahlia, she spins the half-truths in a skillful web of glittering safety, her voice pitching just below her usual tone to something more... Friendly. "I'm Thal. You fainted right after we met, so I brought you to Dahlia so she could help you." Her smile simmers, warm in the heat that hides beneath the surface. "You should be feeling much better now."
His concern is adorable, innocent and genuine with naivety. Thal gets the feeling he might need a lot of guidance and coaxing to loosen up, tilting her head like she might spot the threads of his character woven through his clothes, picking which to tug gently tug first. But her fun is interrupted by his misplaced worry, and she decides to leave the honor of that question to the Reaper, feeling very much like she's the least battered of the three and lacks the authority to presume anything about their situation. However, she still listens with interest, posture attentive despite the hands she tucks into her pockets.
