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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!
Part of the negotiation for their separation includes the very important upgrade to their fashionable jewelry, and Nova takes it very seriously. Well, as seriously as Nova can take anything. Her shoulders are set with determination, an eagerness to her skips through the field, a glimmer of purpose in her eyes. Her outfit is extra bright, a blinding yellow dress that flutters around her legs with the silver hairpin from Vesper poking out from the pink streak of hair. A mist of snowflakes and sparkles encompasses her and Caly like a regal entourage to announce their arrival, shining brighter as she giggles. "I'm so excited to see mom!"
Bouncing to a stop in front of the shrine, she taps a finger to her chin and tilts her head. "What should we make her...?" However, she doesn't stay silent long as sunshine crests across her features, eyes swirling like a galaxy when the idea comes to her. "I know!"
Her hands reach out, tongue making a playful appearance as she concentrates on the idea taking form. Threads of light twist and coil around her fingers, weaving together in layers of love and glittering concepts that are nearly blinding in the Longheat sun, especially as a final pulse of energy falls away. A crystalline mug is left in her hands, the clear gem shattering the light in a world of brilliant colors. It's delicate but solid in her hands, small angles of crystal giving it a different perspective with ever shift. The best part is the 'Best Mom Ever' written in gold inlay across the side, bold and proud.
Nova giggles and steps forward to set it on the stones of the altar, glad to see other people have been praising her mom based on the various flowers and star-related gifts. Rocking back on the balls of her feet, she clasps Caly's hand in hers, sharing an excited smile before she sings out a chiming note. "Mo~om! We need help!" Thrusting her hand in the air to wiggle the dangly silver stars, she shouts, "Can you make these stronger?!"
Nova and Caly are asking Safrin for a quest(s) to upgrade their bracelets!
Never Far Bracelet | A starlight-infused bracelet that, when activated, teleports the wearer to the bracelet's twin. Must be within the same board.
Hybrids roll with +5 at all shrines. Include this at the bottom of all shrine posts.
Regional Score bonus: +5 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +5 should be included). Residents cannot be cursed at shrines in this region.
why icarus thought he'd find his place a little higher
Caly arrives in a flash of gold, drifting through the field as the warmth peppers down onto her and her sister. It’s darker than her sister’s vibrant yellow, but glittery and shiny like the sun itself could be embodied in the bodice and sheer fabric. A sundress in a way, Caly snorts a little to her sister. “Me too.” Missing her mom more than ever, it seems like, she settles by the shrine as her sister debates what to make for the offering.
While she busies herself with that, Caly sets a vial of her favorite lipstick on the shrine – one that’s glittery like the stars and a deep dark red that Caly thinks her mother would appreciate just as much. With the mug made, Caly takes it in and flashes a bright smile to her sister in clear approval. When they’re finally ready to greet their mother, she squeezes Noca’s hand and adds her own quieter prayer. “We miss you, too!” She tacks on, in case it wasn’t obvious in the core center of their hearts.
Questing to upgrade their bracelets!!
Never Far Bracelet | A starlight-infused bracelet that, when activated, teleports the wearer to the bracelet's twin. Must be within the same board.
Attuned roll with +10 at all shrines. Include this at the bottom of all shrine posts.
With so many spirits around you, you attract the attention of the gods when visiting a shrine. Roll with advantage when praying at a shrine. (In order to use this, make sure to note the ability at the bottom of your shrine post).
Regional Score bonus: +5 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +5 should be included). Residents cannot be cursed at shrines in this region.
Starlight spills across the altar in a soft cascade, silver and gold threading through the fog until it gathers into form. Safrin emerges as though she has always been there, revealed rather than summoned, her presence turning the chill air gentle and alive. Against the grave-strewn plateau, she is a study in contrast: life made luminous, warmth blooming where her bare feet touch stone.
Her eyes fall immediately upon her daughters, and her delight is instant and unguarded. "My stars," she breathes, and in the next heartbeat she is there, drawing both Nova and Caly into her arms with an embrace that is radiant and sure, light and warmth folding around them as though the world itself has narrowed to this moment. Her laughter hums softly against them, affectionate and rich, the sound of constellations aligning just so. "I have missed you."
When she eases back at last, her hands linger at their shoulders, thumbs brushing fondly as her gaze takes them in; the brightness, the glitter, the familiar spark of chaos and confidence that is so wholly theirs. Her attention flicks briefly to the altar then, the crystalline mug catches her eye, earning a pleased, indulgent smile, and the lipstick vial is regarded with unmistakable approval. Still, it is the sight of them that holds her longest. "I have been watching," Safrin says, her voice warm with pride as her eyes soften. "Since you moved away from Torchline, and all that you have been doing for the Sunbeam. You shine so brightly, both of you."
Only then does her attention shift fully to the bracelets, her expression turning thoughtful as she studies the delicate stars and dangling silver. One elegant finger lifts, nudging a charm so that it sways, catching the light. "Of course I can, my little loves, but here is what you must do for me, first."
Both Caly and Nova have been given a quest! They each need to complete the tasks, but it can be done in the same thread as one another.
1. Have a member of the Gilded Market (can be Nova) repair any wear and tear on the bracelets (must be at the guild)
2. Witness someone using teleportion that lets them travel over an entire region (or more)
3. Get somewhere faster than normal
4. Complete a thread in a board neither has been in trying to gauge how large regions really are (i.e., in the last quest you had to travel across an entire board. This time I won't make you travel across an entire region, but make a thread where they acknowledge how far travelling across a region really is).
Nova's running to Safrin before she has her arms around them, clutching their mom in a tight hug that speaks of all the turmoil coiling in her heart. It's full of longing, for her mom and easier times lost, for starlight and unburdened hearts. She buries her face in the celestial fabric of her mom's gown, breathing in the scent of home that eases the disquiet tumbling behind the loud cascades of giggles. It washes through the aches, soothing them like liquid light washing away darkness and worries.
"We miss you too."
Breathing out, she straightens to raise her gaze, the glittering smile back on her face to hear the approval. "Isn't the Sunbean awesome?! Caly is going to make it so popular! No one's going to drink anywhere else!" She giggles, throwing a proud look towards her sister. Nova may not like being separated, but she can't deny that Caly radiates confidence and ownership. Her success at the Hanged Man was proof of that, but it was just a trial run. The Sunbean is theirs, and she won't let anyone take that from her sister - herself included.
Her ears perk at the quest, positively beaming with excitement as she bounces. Fabric and sparkles shift around her, a miniature explosion of light. "You're the best, Mom!" She lunges in for another hug, focusing on the positive parts of all this change: getting to see her mom and going on another adventure with her sister. She's going to make the best of it.
why icarus thought he'd find his place a little higher
The second their mother appears, Caly’s filled with all the starlight warmth of her mother’s love. Ushered into her embrace, Caly squeezes Safrin tight like she might not be able to let go despite the fact that they inevitably have to. Her arms tighten in a light squeeze to hear the rich laughter, like everything was perfectly right in the world and nothing would stop them from being on top of the world. “We missed you too.” She says, parroting the same line at the same time as her sister – their voices echoing one another in their own little version of constellations.
Pulling back, regardless of how reluctantly it is, she watches in delight as their mother takes in their offerings and says she’s been watching. Calypso beams to hear that they’ve shone, vibrant and bright despite leaving Torchline’s shores. “It’s gonna be so great mom!” Caly chimes after her sister’s praise, absolutely letting the ego boost settle in her gut.
But then, they settle, and Caly listens as their mother lists out the tasks they need to make their bracelets into something even more than it was right now. “We’ve got this!” She chimes, lunging in shortly after to hug Safrin alongside her sister again in the most affectionate of hugs. Memories would be made once more making this adjustment, and she hopes that it helps alleviate the burn she might have caused in Nova’s heart for not joining her and Vesper in the Greatwood.
Withdrawing, she grins at her mom and takes her sister’s hand. “We’ll make ya even more proud.” She decides, full of her mother’s starlight and her sister’s vibrant sparkle beside her. There isn’t much more catching up to do as the gears start working in her mind, but she lingers with Nova as long as their mother allows before they depart to get started on the quest – lighter in her soul and beyond excited.
