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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!
Torchline may have been protected from the creatures of the Void, but Hadama did not rest easy. He would not show how badly the deaths of Seren and Nysadeia had shaken him, but in the wake of their loss he found renewed determination to act. For the moment that meant gathering information on what else had changed over LongNight. Over the last several seasons that he had been reacting rather than stepping to the fore.
The giant in Halo had shown him that while the Family might remain out of his strength, the other creatures of the Void were assuredly not.
Which did not mean that he took foolish chances.
A hippocampus swam through the Maria Mundi, chestnut scales fading to a black behind his ribs as his body flowed into the powerful piscine half that propelled him through the deep. He was easily recognizable by the silver dorsal-rayed fin of his mane, the golden scars that crossed his body, and the shifting expanse of night sky that glimmered beneath the darkness of his scales. He brought starlight to the depths as he patrolled outside of the demesne of the Arclight where Vi's Shield still held sway. He was more concerned with how far the corruption had spread beyond those shields.
The Merfolk's main city was protected, but there were many who lived beyond that shield. Others such as Nysadeia...
It was her death that had brought him to the Brizo today, seeking any sign of the corrupted creatures that may have taken her life as he cruised through the playful waters, sharp-eyed and wary of what other predators he might find.
Kaiden swam through the water, happily approaching the purple tinged creatures that he passed. A pod of enshadowed delphinids
had been following the mer for a while, playfully nudging up against their side Kaiden had indulged them in a game of tag for the better part of the afternoon before joining in as they feasted on a school of tuna. Why had the mer ever feared the Family? Their creatures were more welcoming to them than the non-infected animals ever had been.
Reluctantly, Kaiden eventually parted from their new friends and swam along the current in search of a place to nap. As they exited a coral cluster they spotted a familiar figure. Hadama! Cheerfully, the mer sped up with a thrash of their tail, coming to a stop in front of the Demi-god.
He was not entirely surprised to be greeted beneath the waves; other Mer than Nysadeia had made their homes in and around King's End. Being called by name drew his attention without alarming him, and he paused his momentum, twisting to face the oncoming mershark. Ever the wanderer, Kaiden's presence was not unusual this far from Torchline, though the cheerfulness in their voice was certainly... unusual.
Hadama was gratified to receive it.
Kaiden, he called in greeting, inclining his equine head and then tilting it to better examine the other mer for any fresh injuries or new scars. It is good to see you. How was your LongNight? This close to the surface the light filtered down brightly through the small waves, though the water was still quite brisk this early in the season. For mer used to plunging into chilly depths, however, it was quite tolerable - if not as pleasant as more southerly waters.
Hadama would find Kaiden entirely unscathed but far more wiggly than normal. The mer couldn't seem to stay still, happily swaying in the water. At the question, a pleased hum went through the bond, Wonderful! I made friends with a ghostwhale. It was a fond event to recall, even if Kaiden had been unnecessarily afraid at first. They hoped that they'd be able to reunite with the whale one day, perhaps even take another nap tucked against one of the creature's massive ribs.
How was yours? It's weird seeing you so far from Torchline. LongNight had only just passed. At least they think so. The days were blurring a bit. Regardless, Kaiden would have assumed that Hadama would have stayed close to home for at least a little while longer. If only to clean up the mess from the region's traditional parties.
Kaiden's energy was not unusual. Hadama was used to his friend's restlessness and wandering nature. This cheer, however, was new, and if he was not carrying the weight of so much grief he would have been more inclined to pursue the reason for it. As it was, the mention of the ghostwhale gave the unflappable hippocampus pause. He shook his head, sending a ripple down the fin that ran the length of his arching neck. I... do not think I heard you correctly, he admitted cautiously. You encountered a... ghost whale? The creatures did not even seem to be friends with each other, though admittedly they were less dangerous to Merfolk than airbreathers.
The question that came in turn dimmed the light in emerald eyes and Hadama gave a stronger flex of his tail that sent him through the water at a momentarily greater speed as he continued his patrol of the coast. My friends were killed by the Void. His mental tone was not simply calm but flat, a rare pulse of grief washing through the bond in a quiet wave. One was killed within the Refuge in King's End. A Merfolk. He did not wish to receive that particular letter from the Archon ever again. I am here to investigate. And to cleanse any creatures of the Void he encountered in the course of his search.
Kaiden nodded rapidly, Yes! A ghostwhale! I thought he was going to eat me at first but nope! The mer puffed out their chest proudly, head held high. We're friends now.
The mershark had to surge forward to keep pace with the suddenly agitated king. Before they could ask what was going on, Hadama explained. Kaiden frowned, sending a gentle wave of sympathy through the bond. That's rough. Sorry for your loss. The mer couldn't stop the confusion from flickering through their mind and into the bond, I wonder what happened. Usually, if you leave the Void alone, it doesn't bother you. It was a little fuzzy for Kaiden to recall, but that had been the case before they became a Friend, right?
Still having some trouble keeping up, the mershark started scanning the area to try and help the King investigate.
It was one of the stranger things that Hadama had heard in recent years, and given that recent years had included Vox that was saying quite a lot. He digested the news in silence before nodding his equine head once, sending an eddy through the water behind his sleek, scaled form. I see. Perhaps I could meet him someday. I would like to meet a friendly ghost whale.Oh you sweet summer child.
The mershark's sympathy was accepted with gratitude, a pulse of acknowledgment returned through their Bond as Hadama forged ahead - though he slowed a bit so that his friend could keep up more comfortably. The unexpected claim drew a much longer silence, however. Though he kept the bond still as a quiet pond there was a strange flick of his flukes as he shifted closer to the coast. Have you forgotten the enshadowed delphinids that attacked you at the Rainbow Road? The question was genuine, caution and uncertainty combining in sudden concern that the mershark may, in fact, have some sort of head wound or concussion from their new 'friend.'
It would explain their uncharacteristic cheerfulness, if so.
Kaiden nodded, I'll let you know if I see him. They were sure that the King would adore the giant whale once the great creature opened up the man's eyes. Just like it had done for Kaiden.
Hadama's question was strange and the mershark couldn't quite wrap their mind around it. What was the confusion? Well yeah, now that you mention it. But enshadowed delphinids are very territorial and we were in their territory. Of course they attacked. That was what had happened from what the mershark could recall, even if some part of them was uncertain about their own words. But it had to be a territory thing. There was no other logical explanation. It could never have been the delphinids fault. Nothing was ever the Family's fault.
The silence in the Bond after Kaiden's statement was a complex thing, many-layered and rich in several alternative replies that the King might have made. He swam in silence for long minutes, rolling one emerald eye to give the mershark a look that mingled disbelief and concern with a decidedly equine cast. Finally the hippocampus snorted and shook his head, the supple fin that ran the length of his neck rippling with the passage of the water against it.
Mmh. Perhaps this is a discussion for later. Perhaps Kaiden's new 'ghost whale friend' had hit them harder on the head than they realized. The other Mer seemed otherwise fine, however, swimming easily and well and speaking clearly, but strangely that did not allay the coil of uncertainty in the Tidebreaker's stomach. I am heading towards the Refuge now. But I would like to see you again. If you make your way north I will be in the Spillwave for a time. Patrolling the edges of the Greatwood islands, seeking signs of Roses on the shore - or signs of Void corruption in the waters to root out.
The big hippocampus twisted to swim a slow circle around the mershark, checking Kaiden over in his farewell. Seeing no injuries, however, he made his goodbyes and went about his grim task.
He would have more time to worry about his friend once he had tended to the passage of his subject.
