Click here for a list of weather descriptions, seasonal festivals, and a real time:site time conversion.
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!
Sah had been finishing up a hunt when he spotted the shrine. It was rare for him to pay his respects to any deity other than Safrin, but the hunt had been long and grueling. Getting the crest of a cygnata before it exploded was no joke. Feeling grateful that the task was finally complete, the hybrid decided to pay his respects to the one death deity he respected. Because fuck Ludo.
Entering the shrine, he placed the pristine skull of a fennec fox that he'd found on the way. Bowing his head, Sah gave his thanks to Mort for the gift of the cygnata's life. His client a craftsman would surely be pleased, and the hunter would walk away with fruit from the woman's wife.
All I know is this could either break my heart or bring it back to life
Rhiannon had no real business being back in the Boneyard, and yet here she was. It wasn't exactly on the way back to Halo, and the shrine there wasn't to her chosen deity. Still, it couldn't hurt to swing by and leave an offering, especially when Mort was the one god she was guaranteed to meet in this life (or, rather, after this life).
So here she was, sitting in the sand, carving designs into a femur bone she'd found on the ground. Or at least she thought it was a femur. It was certainly big enough to be.
She whittled away at the bone, gently running her dagger along the pristine ivory, attempting a vaguely floral pattern. Perhaps it was strange to carve life into death, but she hoped Mort wouldn't mind. It would be pretty, so at least there was that.
When she'd finished, she rose to her feet and made her way to the shrine, but she realized as she entered that another had made it there before her. She recognized him, she realized - Sah, Tal's friend from the Festival. She waited patiently, looking her bone over for any last imperfections, respectfully silent as Sah finished his prayer.
Got a feelin' your electric touch could fill this ghost town up with life
Sah finished his prayer as he heard footsteps approaching. Glancing up, he recognized the woman and offered her a grin. "Hey, Rhiannon. I just finished up, so the shrine is all yours." Picking up his bag, the older hybrid tilted his head, "What brings you so far from Halo, if I may ask?" From what Tal had said, she was a Shield. Hak Etme was certainly a long way for one to be. Granted, Sah had only met her once, so he had no way of knowing if she had another profession or obligation that had dragged her to the desert.
It likely wasn't the shrine itself, given that there were ones dedicated to Ludo and Mort far closer. Sah couldn't deny his curiosity. Not when she was apparently a childhood friend of sorts of Tal. The Wild Thunder would be a fool to miss out on gaining any possible blackmail on his frenemy. And what better way than someone who had known the courier when he was small and scrawny?
All I know is this could either break my heart or bring it back to life
"Hey, Sah," Rhiannon replied, smiling in return. She didn't know the man well enough yet to have his measure; the most she knew was that he was friends with Tal. At least that was enough to assuage any suspicion she might have had about a stranger. Any friend of Tal's was... well, maybe not a friend of hers, but certainly would be someone she was willing to talk to.
As for what she was doing away from Halo, she definitely didn't know him well enough to offer any sort of real answer - that is, even if she had one. So she gave a noncommittal shrug. "I was out and about after the festival and figured I'd explore a bit. Saw the shrine and figured, it wouldn't hurt to stop by." She held up the bone she'd carved. "What do you think? Good enough for an offering, or should I keep looking?"
Got a feelin' your electric touch could fill this ghost town up with life
Sah nodded, easily accepting the vague answer. "Same here. I was out hunting and saw it." At her question, he eyed the bone offering. It was beautifully carved. Glancing back at Rhiannon, he tilted his head. "That depends. If it's for Ludo, I don't know them well enough to say. But if it's for Mort, I think it'll do just fine. He's incredibly kind." The Wild Thunder would never forget the comfort that the God of Death had given him so many years ago.
How a herald as chaotic, mischievous, and frankly sadistic as Ludo was bound to a god as gentle as Mort, Sah didn't understand. But who truly understood death in the first place?
All I know is this could either break my heart or bring it back to life
Death was only constant in its certainty. In Rhiannon's (admittedly limited) experience, it could be calm and welcoming or cruel and sadistic. Some deaths were honorable, while others were vile. It wasn't often that the girl pondered death, bound as she was to the herald of life; but when she did, she wondered what hers would be like. Would she be one of the lucky ones, whose death meant something? Or would she die alone, her efforts in this world meaningless?
Considering Sah's words, she nodded to herself. "Mort it is," she said, flipping the Wild Thunder a saucy smile. "I've never met him or Ludo, so I was just taking a guess as to what might work." In fact, the only deity she had any experience with was Safrin, who she'd determined to be demanding above all else. Of course, what else could Rhi have expected from the goddess who had hybridized her?
Got a feelin' your electric touch could fill this ghost town up with life
Sah hummed, "I've only ever seen it at Festivals of Light and when channeled. But they seem to like mischief, masks, and puppets." There had apparently been a festival once where it wasn't a lantern that decided who got to meet a lost loved one, but a puppet competition. He couldn't quite recall who had won in the end.
Stepping back, he gestured to the shrine. "It's all yours. I wish you luck." Giving Rhiannon space, he exited the shrine. As he did so, all three of his companions approached, delaying his departure. Pad was uninterested but Frog was curiously eying the shrine. Picking up the pup, the Wild Thunder nuzzled his nose against the small wolf's, "Nope. Shrines are for praying. Not for exploring. I can bring you to one when you're a little older." When his curious little shadow would have the self-control to stay beside him and not inspect every single object.
All I know is this could either break my heart or bring it back to life
Sah made to depart, leaving Rhiannon to consider his words. She wasn't so sure she liked the idea of a deity that valued mischief. What kind of quest would such a god bestow upon someone? But she was interrupted from her thoughts by the approach of three wolves, one just a tiny little shadow, and she perked up, intrigued. Her offering could wait a little while. She pocketed her bone and exited behind Sah.
"You have a lot of wolves," she observed, raising a brow at him. "I don't think I've ever seen someone with so many companions. How in Caido do you manage?" Crouching, she offered a hand in the wolves' general direction. If any approached, she would greet them with scratches and admiration.
Got a feelin' your electric touch could fill this ghost town up with life
12-28-2024, 01:30 PM (This post was last modified: 12-28-2024, 01:31 PM by Sah.)
I have never feared the storm
Sah glanced up in surprise as Rhiannon followed him out. Ever friendly, Lilly eagerly trotted over to demand head scratches from the women. The hybrid chuckled as he watched, "I haven't met anyone else with three companions either. My trio's names are Lilly, Pad, and Frog." He gestured to each wolf in turn. "They can be a handful. But wolves are meant to have a pack." Pad's head snapped up and he gave Sah what could only be a wolfy look of betrayal. Snorting, he adjusted his grip on Frog so that he could reach down and ruffle Pad's ears, feeling the dark wolf's disgruntlement relax somewhat through their bond.
As Sah stood back up, Frog happily remained where he was, his small nose twitching rapidly as a flock of birds went by. Through the bond, splashes of orange and blue made his excitement and curiosity apparent. The Wild Thunder had never heard of a companion that communicated primarily with color. He was going to need to make himself a guidebook at this rate.
All I know is this could either break my heart or bring it back to life
It was interesting, to see someone so surrounded by companions, and Rhiannon nodded at the statement that wolves are meant to have a pack. She supposed that made sense. She was more of a loner, herself, but even so, she could see the appeal. Three companions - especially a shadowfang - were sure to be useful for a variety of reasons. And that was without even considering the bond that they shared and all of the beauty and love that surely came from that.
Rhiannon responded to Lilly's demand for scratches with an enthusiasm she reserved only for animals. She often liked them better than people, even if she'd never had any of her own. She had human friends mostly for what she could get from them, but animals were pure and innocent. They deserved affection simply for the sake of it. "Well, they are all beautiful," she offered. "I'm sure they keep things interesting for you."
Got a feelin' your electric touch could fill this ghost town up with life
Sah smiled softly as Rhiannon spoiled Lilly. The silver she-wolf's joy at making a new friend warmed the bond and pulled a light chuckle from her bonded. "Thank you." Snorting a laugh, the older hybrid nodded, "They certainly do." Frog nuzzled into his chest and Sah could feel the small wolf drifting off to sleep.
"I think I need to get this one back to our camp for a nap." The pup was barely keeping his eyes open. Eying Rhiannon, Sah tilted his head. "I know we often don't get to choose who our companions are. I didn't at least. But if you ever have the opportunity to gain one, I highly suggest taking it." His trio were his everything, right alongside his biological children.
All I know is this could either break my heart or bring it back to life
Finishing with Lilly, Rhiannon stood, dusting off her knees from where she'd knelt in the dirt. She nodded at Sah's advice. "Thanks," she said. "I'll keep that in mind." She watched as the four of them departed for their camp, wondering if she would ever have the opportunity to gain a companion - or, for that matter, if she even wanted it. She supposed they were wonderful additions, but she'd grown used to doing things on her own. How would she ever wrangle something bonded to her, heart and soul?
Shaking her head, Rhi returned to the shrine, pulling out her carved bone as she went. She laid it down before bowing her head respectfully and saying a silent prayer - just in case Sah was close enough to hear. Mort, please accept this offering. I don't ask for anything in return for myself, but please help the people I love to stay out of your halls for a while longer. When she was done, she departed the shrine, and Sah was no longer anywhere to be found.
fin
Got a feelin' your electric touch could fill this ghost town up with life
