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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!
Feeling relieved to have the window in place without any further sprays of glass or raccoon antics, Ronin dismisses his duplicate and heads back down to the porch to meet with the others. Smiling to Flora and seeming relieved (and unsurprised) that she'd managed to conquer the kitchen infestation alone - or with Spice's help, rather - the Knight hears Theea out for the next set of tasks and offers an immediate smile over his shoulder at Remi when she mentions the artwork.
"We'll take the paintings," he decides, moving to the canvas to take a peek at Ashe's old work, nostalgia in every touch of his fingers and in the smile on his face.
He decides, ultimately, that the stormy ocean belongs in the living room, the forest where Theea's bedroom will be, and the strange, wall-lined skyline in the entryway. If it were up to him he might have debated on its inclusion entirely, but it likely doesn't hold the same memories for her as it does for the Taliesins.
lately i've been leaning on what she swears is a feeling
Her smile remains, warm and easy as she stands there by the porch, hands clasped behind her as she waits to hear what the next tasks were. Once again, she watches as everyone picks their tasks, lifting an amused brow to see Damien volunteer Theea to help him with the couch, and while the rest of them pick wind chimes and paintings, Caly hops up for a little bounce on the tips of her toes. “I’ll take stockin’ the kitchen.” She flashes another smile before she dips into the house.
Heading straight for the kitchen, she sees the mess that was made by the raccoons and with a fond laugh of amusement for the small creatures, Caly begins to organize the mess so she can haul the box in to start stocking the supplies into the kitchen. She ensures each item has its own place but in a way that makes it make sense. And a few of Theea's more personal items get set on shelves to add some additional personality - a nice little touch, as far as she thinks.
Flora’s voice drifts soft and bright as she strings the windchimes, explaining that Vai taught her how to make them. My heart swells, sharp and aching in the best way, because I’ve never had that kind of shared kinship with anyone before—and Flora, from the very beginning, has wrapped me in warmth and made me family. “My mom taught me,” I say, almost reverent, reaching out to touch the bottom of one of the shells. It sways, and the sound rises, clear and soft, like the ocean itself breathing. “She said she learned from Vai. It’s a good way to keep honoring her.”
And then Damien volunteers me—again. I blink at him, then through the open door where the ruined couch slumps like a dying whale. “Me?” I look at myself, petite and wiry, no real strength to boast of. Still… if he’s sure, then I’ll muscle up.
I glance to my uncles and offer a grateful grin. “Thanks for the paintings.” I don’t miss the way Ronin looks at them, nostalgia written plain across his face. I smile to myself—I don’t need to explain who painted them. They know. These three are all that survived the years of salt and storms breaking into this place, and it feels right they’re in his hands.
Inside, I lead Damien and Caly both, reaching out to squeeze her hand with a laugh. “Thanks for helping, and sorry it’s such a mess. I didn’t realize there’d been a whole family of raccoons squatting in here.” I point out which cupboard is which, remembering somehow from childhood, like muscle memory.
I stride toward the couch, leaning both hands on its arm and peering at it like it’s a foe we’re about to fight. “Alright, what’s the plan? Didn’t think you’d ask me to help with this one,” I admit with a smirk. “I’ll do my best to lift though.” I bend, grip, and haul—and gods, I do manage to get one side up, but the effort burns hot down my arms. I set it back down with a thud. ”Yeah! Totally got this.”
The couch proves stubborn, ruined fabric catching on the floorboards as if even in death it doesn’t want to leave. But between Damien ’s steady heft and Theea’s stubborn streak, the bulky thing is finally wrestled out the door. It thuds into the sand nearby the firepit with a groan of wood and springs, a final protest before it’s abandoned to be broken down and burned later.
In the kitchen, Calypso makes quick work of restoring order. The crates and sacks Theea had brought are unpacked one by one, every jar, tin, and bundle finding its place on clean shelves. She wipes down the counters with practiced efficiency, her touch warm and deliberate as she arranges the space not just practically, but with a splash of personality—small touches here and there to make it look like a home again rather than a ransacked shack.
On the porch, Flora and Spice work in easy tandem. She strings shells and seaglass high enough to chime but not to tangle, placing each set of windchimes with care. The salt air tugs through them as she ties the last knot, the soft clattering ringing like laughter across the beach. When she steps back, curls wild in the sea breeze, the porch is already alive with song.
Ronin and Remi, for their part, make quick and careful work of hanging the paintings. The stormy sea finds its rightful place in the living room, the forest hangs where Theea’s bedroom will be, and the strange skyline settles into the entryway, each frame straightened and secured. Sunlight spills across the colors, faded but defiant, breathing life back into walls long stripped bare.
Together, their efforts transform the house piece by piece, every corner touched by care, memory, and laughter—each addition turning the once-abandoned place into something undeniably whole again.
Round 6:
TLDR:
Everyone was successful! Though Theea had a Time, and definitely threatened Damien not to laugh. She tries her best.
Time to report back to Theea by the fire with your success and for some hot cider if you want it!
lately i've been leaning on what she swears is a feeling
Squeezing @Theea’s hand back, she shoots her a warm smile that’s edged with the chime of a laugh, her head shaking slightly. “That’s okay. I’m used t’stubborn messes.” She teases her friend while reflecting on the amount of glitter in her house that’s stained into the floorboards from Nova’s chaos.
They part, though, and she finds that the work goes quickly in the kitchen. Of course, it helps having a task that makes it so she can be so focused. Box after box, Caly organizes and places, and before long it looks warm and inviting, like someone lived here rather than it having been forgotten. And when she runs out of boxes, the young attuned steps out, finding Theea by the fire pit outside.
“Kitchen’s all set up. I’ll bring ya something’ special to add to it. I think it’ll give it a nice flair.” She’s already imagining the perfect fit - something similar to that shell she’d found when they’d found the house. A perfect little piece to add to the kitchen for spoons to rest on that glitters with the oil sheen of a dark mother of pearl. It’s a thought that lingers as she snags another cup of cider to cradle between her hands.
Caly tells Theea that the kitchen was a success and snags some cider!
08-20-2025, 09:52 PM (This post was last modified: 08-20-2025, 09:53 PM by Damien.)
Damien
oh, let's take a chance and roll the bones try to forget all them enemies and debts
Damien wipes the sweat from his brow, smirking as he steps back and takes in Theea bracing herself like a warrior facing down the couch. “Plan? Mostly… move it without tossing you across the room,” he quips, leaning into the heft again. His hands find the worn wood, testing its weight. “But since you’re asking... I lift, you lead.”
He gives her a brief, approving glance as she hauls one side up, feeling the burn in her arms. With a grunt, he shifts his grip, angles the couch, and together, with Theea’s stubborn streak leading half the effort, they finally get the cursed thing out the door. He exhales, a rare, quiet laugh escaping him. “There. It is defeated.”
He allowed himself to keep a small smile as he followed her toward the fire. When Calypso came out mentioning the kitchen was done, Damien’s gaze turned to look back through the door, noting the little details she'd seen to, the way she brought life back to the space. A few gears turned in his mind, wondering what housewarming gift he'd be sending Theea as well.
Finally, he let himself pour a mug of cider, the warmth seeping into his hands and throat. He exhaled slowly and then lifted the cup toward Theea. “To a house that won’t fight back next time,” he said with a dry chuckle, then took a careful sip.
Damien helps Theea conquer the couch and grabs some cider to give a lil toast!
Carefully cleaning and dusting each painting before mounting it, Ronin is more than satisfied with the work he and Remi do by the time they're finished, though it's with a soft smile that he watches the light filter through the windows and onto the faded colours. Perhaps he could work with Theea and Ashe in the future to come and touch them up and add some fresh additions? Thoughts and plans for later, certainly.
Returning to the fire to see the couch gone and with the sound of windchimes gently tinkling in from outside, Ronin offers Theea a warm smile and collects a cup of cider as well. "Paintings are up and straight as arrows," he promises, handing a cup to Remi as well and raising his own in a toast. "And to a maybe-housewarming party on the horizon," he agrees with a wink.
Ronin confirms his success with the paintings and gets some cider for he and Remi!
Flora dusts her palms together as she steps back from the rafters, curls wild from the breeze and a grin as bright as the shells now singing overhead. The porch hums with a new kind of life, soft music strung between sea and sky, and she can’t help but beam at her cousin as she returns to the others. "They should be out of the way up there," she says warmly, aqua eyes sparkling. "But if any break, let me know. We can make more together." There’s an unspoken promise tucked into the words—that they'd be able to carry forward everything Vai and Ashe had taught them—even as she hides her smile behind a sip of cider.
Beside her, Remi loops an arm easily around Ronin’s waist, the gesture boyish in its affection as he lifts his mug of cider in a quiet toast toward Theea. "And if you ever need anything," he adds with a grin that softens into something earnest, "we’re just down the coast. Don’t hesitate."
We need love, But all we want is danger We team up, Then switch sides like a record changer
I light up when Damien actually laughs, the sound rumbling out of him as we drop the couch by the firepit. I can’t help but laugh too when he declares, “There. It is defeated.” I throw my arms up in mock triumph. “Nice try, couch!” I cheer, punctuating it with a kick to the side of the ruined thing. (And no, I definitely don’t hurt my foot doing it—shut up.) When I look up again, my eyes glimmer with mirth as they meet Damien’s, catching that rare lightness in his dark stare. It’s casual, fleeting, but gods it feels like treasure.
Calypso steps out, and I bounce right up to her, grabbing her hand in mine with a big grin. “Thank you. Seriously. And I’ll bring something homemade to the Hanged Man, promise.” I gesture to the house beyond. “I saw you put up my things too—"—the carvings, that hagstone too big for windchimes, the handful of items I could carry with me on the road——it’s perfect. Just feels strange knowing I can… collect what I want now.”
When my uncles arrive, I grin wide at them too. “I love the spots you picked,” I tell them earnestly, glancing at the house again. “I want to add more—not just from Mom, but from everywhere. Fill this place with pieces of everywhere I’ve been.” I look at Ronin and then Remi and say, "Maybe I can show you a few places we lived over the years."
My gaze lifts to the rafters where the windchimes sing in the breeze, and all the sharp edges in me soften. For so long, making those chimes was the only thread I had to Vai, the only way I could feel close. I glance at Flora, my voice warm and certain. “Let’s make a couple together for the Sugar Tide. No need to wait for one to break.”
When Damien raises his glass, I chuckle. When Ronin talks about a party, I beam. When Remi promises help, my chest feels too full. I lift my mug high, grinning at all of them. “To you you all.” The words come out simple, but they hold everything.
I pause before I drink, catching sight of the couch slumped by the firepit, the pile of palm fronds in the sand. My brows bounce, mischief curling in my grin. “Housewarming party. I’m thinkiiiinnngg..." I twist back to the others, brows up, and a little smile pulling at the corner of my mouth. "...bonfire party?”
Quest success! The house is livable, and she can take it from here.
