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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.
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07-05-2024, 03:24 PM (This post was last modified: 08-22-2024, 09:04 AM by Safrin.)
DEIMOS
ache first, but then let the cuts close spit out the blood
The new season brought multitudes of things to be done – and Deimos was never without his mantle of responsibility. But he also had one to Safrin, especially after specifically requested items, and so when spring arrived, he maneuvered towards the Citadel’s shrine as well, a host of objects and experiences nestled within.
Items recalled – utilizing the power of his Air incantations to snag and grasp and hold firm, and then portions of his own making or finding: a copy of the indestructible book he’d found in Stormbreak, and then his own manifested and blended portion of tea (uncertain just how good it was; but a lesson in something unknown nonetheless).
Bowing his head before the mantle, the deep rumble pierced through his throat again. “Safrin, I have completed my tasks.” Placing the book and tea in front of him, he also extended additional offerings; miniature mirrors with stars inlaid, and several notes from citizens, regarding the wondrous beauty and power of the divine herald.
"Deimos," the goddess purred warmly as she stepped forward from a shaft of light, her arms already outstretched to greet him. Where Deimos might not have been the most conventional of Safrin's followers, one of the few to have ever turned down her advances offers of power, he continued to fill his role as faithful acolyte better than most.
"How did you fair over LongNight? I hope your new babe wasn't too frightened by the lack of light." She muses softly before pulling away from him and letting her gaze fall lovingly over the offerings he'd brought for her. "I suppose it can be as scary a time for a child as it can be for a new father. All that unknown. All that darkness."
Deimos has received
Starlit Tether | An invisible strand of starlight that connects to the Gambler's Gloves. When activated it glows golden and returns the gloves to Deimos' hands within 10ft.
ache first, but then let the cuts close spit out the blood
His head maneuvered upwards as soon he heard her voice, a smile softening the corners of his mouth as her arms outstretched in greeting. “It was far better than other years,” as the horrors of the Grounds’ LongNights under the throes of the Voice were difficult to forget, no. matter how much time spanned in between. “He did well, under the circumstances.” But then there the fringes and touches of darkness, of the unknown, of well past fatherhood and into the traipses of the turmoil resting and brewing and brooding over the surface. Perhaps what awaited them, and the potential of disaster and ruin all over again.
The intangible tether between gloves and starlight was enough to signify the heart of the matter, and his eyes narrowed, uncertain if she’d be able to answer the inquiries laden within his mind. “Some of us had dreams about Starfall.” And if she wished, she’d likely be able to see the sentiments replay throughout images in the machinations of his skull. “Were these the same sort of things you saw?” When she’d placed herself in danger, to strive and stop the perils before they’d arrived? The weird crystals…the being much like Vi, Rae, or Mort?
watch your body pull itself back together then let your soul do the same
"Yes, LongNights in Halo probably seem quite mundane compared to the way things once were in the Grounds." The goddess muses with a soft nod.
"Oh?" His consent, tacit as it might have been, is enough for Safrin to help herself to the images locked behind his stoic gaze. The winding pathways. The caged beings. The flicker of some creature in the centre. Unable to help the scowl that drifted across her lips, the goddess straightened, folding her arms across her chest. Her animosity wasn't directed toward her Sword of course, but instead at the audacity of the Family to bring their own god onto Caido's shores.
"No," she murmured stiffly. "In space they were all..together. What I see in your mind makes it appear as though they might have brought more of their kind with them, though why they aren't awake yet..." She gave her head a little shake.
ache first, but then let the cuts close spit out the blood
The curiosity, and the scowl, extended meant, at least to him, that she hadn’t known – eliminating a potential source of the dream, and leading him down a road of possibilities and calculations that had his jaw clenching. “More time, perhaps. Or they need something…” he started, eyes narrowing on nothing, while his mind spun. They’d already taken over multitudes of the Wild regions, and gaining closer access to Torchline, then already snagged a leadership role in Stormbreak…and this bizarre message only made him wonder if they were putting themselves further adrift.
Eventually, his gaze wandered back to Safrin. “Is there a possibility that this dream was a trap?” A lure, a snare, to get them to Starfall?
watch your body pull itself back together then let your soul do the same
Safrin nods thoughtfully as Deimos lists the various possibilities that the incubating pods could imply. "They mean to take over all of Caido, I'm quite sure of it. From what we've seen—and heard—" Safrin might not have heard Vox in her head the way the others did, but that didn't mean she was ignorant of its broadcasts. "—they grow stronger with every region. I wonder if they intend to take over the totality of the Wilds before trying to claim another habitable region?"
Sighing, Safrin gave her head a little shake. "It could be, but then..." Her expression changes, growing suddenly bright but wary. "..Caido has been known to communicate in dreams like that before." Dreams that had no shape or context, dreams with meaning blurred at the edges, dreams with multiple dreamers.
ache first, but then let the cuts close spit out the blood
Strength with every region – a growing surge with each new area snagged. Which meant the Family’s fortitude and might was reaching grander scales and heights, and the rest of Caido seemed to be at a standstill; besides the regional fortifications. Pondering further, his head tilted, thinking over the lands that had fallen, and if there was a way to claim them back. “Would there be a way to regain those regions?” A long slog of a fight (a level 15 KQ)? Or was it something to be considered gone and done, and their focus should’ve been maintained strictly on Starfall itself?
It was a conundrum building and he wanted enough information to bring to whatever pending meeting they were bound to have, though the aspects of Caido communicating via dreams beforehand brought down the level of suspicion. If only just; because his dread and consternation was still flowing through the machinations and possibilities.
watch your body pull itself back together then let your soul do the same
"I'll leave the strategy of that up to you, but yes, there is." If they wanted to whittle down their opponent's strength first before attacking, that was certainly one option. As was going to Starfall before the Family was able to get more of a foothold. With a sigh the goddess explained the various ways it could be done: one which required strength, one which required luck, and one which required teamwork and resources.
"I'm sure many will ask if a better strategy isn't just to protect the areas that haven't been touched to prevent the Family from taking them." Leaning forward, Safrin reaches down to press her palms against Deimos' cheeks, guiding his forehead down to touch her own. Who was listening, or how, even the goddess couldn't say. Rae's lilies are found in Frey's Breath, but Vi's Roses? If the Greatwood remains lost, they stay lost as well.
Heather has used critical plot info for this!
In order to reclaim an infected region, you must complete a number of 'cleansing' tasks related to the size of the region. The number is listed below.
1. Completing a Very Hard level 15 KQ in an infected region counts as 1.
2. Bringing one of Vi's Roses counts as 1.
3. Bringing one of Rae's Lilies counts as 1.
3. Completing an RQ from either Rae/Mort/Vi counts as 1.
Hak Etme / Feverlands / Oerwoud (1)
King's End (2)
Greatwood (2)
Stormbreak (4)
Halo/Climb/Torchline (4)
Hollowed Grounds (4)
Draig Cordilliera (5)
ache first, but then let the cuts close spit out the blood
His eyes widened as she relayed the information and circumstances; fortune, strength, resources, capabilities they could muster to gain back what had been lost. But as she pressed her palms to his cheeks and her forehead to his, the notions of other things discarded, waylaid, and potentially just gone marred; and he nodded, understanding, comprehending, locking it all away in his mind. He’d be able to relay the information in the upcoming meeting, and then they could decide from there – on how best to tackle the situation.
“All right,” he murmured. “I will pass this on and see what we can do.” Maybe it would be best to dispatch teams to mire their way through Frey’s Breath, while some of them infiltrated Starfall. Perhaps they’d be able to formulate stems of strategies and wind their way back into success, rather than continuing to falter and lose. “Thank you for everything.” For the information, for the starlight tether, and for being willing to continue to believe in them.
[FIN <3]
watch your body pull itself back together then let your soul do the same
