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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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04-02-2026, 10:54 PM (This post was last modified: 04-03-2026, 09:59 PM by Nova.)
// Live fast, die young, //
Nova leads the way this time, peeking over her shoulder as she reassures the woman, "He's close! I can feel it!" Or maybe she's just feeling the echo of where he's been, but if she believes it enough, maybe it will be true.
She's sprinting forward until stopping suddenly to gape at the tower striking into the sky. It's tall and menacing and so dark that it's ugly. "Ew. Who would build something like that?" She knew Jeff didn't have much fashion sense, but she didn't think he would be stupid enough to run towards a giant monstrosity of a building.
Pursing her lips, Nova looks towards the island, debating whether she should fly towards the tower to investigate. Maybe Jeff really is that stupid.
If Jeff has escaped into the Spire, Aithne thinks, there's a very real possibility that they'll never find him.
The building towers over the Glade, its obsidian bulk blocking out the dim light of the cloudy sky. It's a massive monolith, like a black finger pointing up to the heavens, as though daring the gods to strike it down. Aithne's never been inside, but from what she understands, it still hasn't been fully explored. Some of the rooms remain locked, and nobody knows where to find the keys.
She trails along, keeping an eye out for any sign of blue sparkle. She'd sworn that the glitter led this way, but now that they're approaching the Spire, she's wondering if this hunt is even worth it anymore. The novelty is wearing off, and while she's invested in the outcome, she's not entirely convinced she won't die of old age first.
Snorting at the woman's commentary, Aithne shrugs. "Dunno," she says. Then, eyes sparkling with mischief, she leans closer. "It's supposed to be haunted," she whispers. She doesn't know if that's true or not, but it sounds fun.
Aithne
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Aithne.
Her nose scrunches just looking at the nasty piece of architecture. Surely they could have picked any other color. Maybe silver? Or gold? At least something brighter to catch the eye. Instead, it just looks like someone cut a line through the sky, creating an infected wound that's terrible to look at.
The mention of ghosts immediately has her gasping, sharp and louder than was appropriate for someplace that might be 'haunted.' "Really?! That's so cool! Have you been inside before? Did you see anything? Have people died there?!" She asks the last question with a glint of morbid curiosity, leaning towards the woman to hear her answer. And although she's still very invested in finding Jeff, she's momentarily distracted by the enticing information the woman dangles before her.
The woman's response is not what Aithne expects, but it brings a delighted grin to her face all the same, eyes lighting with a mischievous glee. Fortunately, she's able to think on her feet. "Yes, yes, and yes," she crows, rapidly spinning a believable tale. At least she doesn't have to lie about people dying there - from the stories she's heard, that part is all true.
"I've been in there once," she says dramatically. "It's dark and creepy -" Though you wouldn't know it from looking at her; Aithne is thrilled. "- And it's basically a giant maze. It's been there forever, but there are still all these locked doors nobody can get in. Sometimes you can hear people screaming, but you can't ever figure out where it's coming from. For all we know, there could be people trapped alive in there right now."
Aithne
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Aithne.
Nova only gets more interested the more Aithne talks, her grin widening with awe and intrigue. "Woah. Why do you think they're in there? Do you think they're criminals?" Where others might feel nervous at the idea of dangerous people trapped in a tower, Nova's eyes brighten with excitement, leaning towards the Spire like she might just explore inside.
Giggling, she glances around the space as if she might see a wandering spirit drawn by their conversation. Seeing none - or any signs of Jeff - Nova rocks back onto her heels and tilts her head up, looking to the sky as a few birds fly overhead. An idea flickers bright in her mind, her magic reaching out to take hold with quiet concentration. With a slight nudge, she directs them on their new task: searching for Jeff.
Content to let the birds do her work, Nova grins. "I heard there are old catacombs under the Inner Quarter where you can still hear people crying. Sometimes people even," she lowers her voice and leans into the woman's space, "disappear." Her eyes gleam bright, finding the idea thrilling to think of people just vanishing, maybe at the hands of ghosts or creepy people lurking in the shadows.
Can compel like-minded animals for assistance (1 large, 3 medium, 5 small, from the same animal family)
Type: Grey | Rank: Basic | Cost: Other
Criminals? Aithne thinks, shaking her head somberly despite the inner delight threatening to burst from the seams. She lowers her voice dramatically. ”They say they’re lost souls now, doomed to wander the Spire for eternity.” She gazes off into the distance, as though listening for the very screams she’s referenced. ”They were just ordinary people once upon a time, though. Explorers or adventurers, looking for answers only to be trapped forever.” So sad. Very dramatic.
Anyway.
The rumor about the old catacombs under the Inner Quarter has Aithne grinning. Of course she’s heard that one by now. ”Sometimes they disappear and show up years or decades later, looking exactly the same with no idea how much time has passed.” She flicks her tail, eyes gleaming with mischief. She leans in closer. ”Nobody knows why, but some say it’s a vengeful spirit.”
Aithne
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Aithne.
Despite the woman's dramatization, Nova's interest goes up in smoke faster than flint. She purses her lips, humming a flat note. "Mm. That's boring. They're just normal people." Adventurers and explorers don't have the danger she'd hoped for, more like obnoxiously curious people who wound up stuck in a tower. However... Nova grins, tilting her head as she suggests, "But maybe they're protecting a treasure of some kind?" Now that she could get behind, and she grants the Spire another flicker of attention.
Nodding her head, her smile brightens, happy that she's not the only one who's heard of the mystery in the Inner Quarter. Obviously not enough people have vanished to concern the general public, but it's just enough to spark rumors, and theories. "Right! I wonder if they're just lonely and need a new friend every few years." She giggles, clasping her hands behind her back as she imagines an old, lonely spirit having tea with a blank-staring captive.
Aithne's brows shoot skyward as the young woman's interest evaporates, but she's quick to adjust her storytelling, making a note not to make things quite so tame in future. "Could be," she says, nonchalantly flicking her tail. "They say there are all kinds of things that haven't been discovered yet, especially the further down you go. Tombs and crypts and stuff like that. Who knows what's buried down there - or what's hidden up high, either."
As for the old catacombs, Aithne pretends to ponder. "Perhaps." She considers adding more to the story, but instead, her dark gaze traces the outline of the Spire where it spears into the sky. "Wanna check it out?" It's a challenge and an invitation all wrapped up in one. Somehow she thinks that the woman will take the bait.
Aithne
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Aithne.
Every ghost story must have a sliver of truth to it, and Nova likes to believe in the most extravagant version of them all, excited by the prospective adventure and chaos of it all. Even if the ghosts aren't those of past criminals, adventurers and undiscovered treasures is almost as appealing, and Nova nearly bursts when the woman floats the idea of exploring it themselves. "Yes!"
She bounces, ready to race down the shore towards the tower and dark secrets that await them - when a sudden awareness pricks at her mind, an inkling of something that has her jolting to a stop. "Oh wait! I think the birds found Jeff! Let's go this way!" Grabbing the Ancient's hand, she turns them away from the Spire that will have to remain unconquered for another day, heading back inland where her bird friends have found clues of blue glitter.
Excited by this opportunity, Aithne begins to take a step towards the Spire. There's plenty to get them into trouble within, if the stories are to be believed, but that's what draws the Ancient to the tower - especially since she has someone with her to try and pester with scary stories. Not that the woman seems to be easily frightened. If anything, she might be worth getting to know better, if only to have a partner in crime when Soren isn't around.
In any case, their exploration of the Spire will have to wait; the birds have apparently found a sign of Jeff, and the woman is grabbing Aithne by the hand to drag her away from the tower. Laughing, she follows along willingly, adjusting easily to this change in plans. They'll just have to come back another day to explore more thoroughly.
fin
Aithne
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Aithne.
