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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!
07-13-2024, 10:21 AM (This post was last modified: 07-14-2024, 07:52 AM by Court Official.)
ROAR
The tundra sprawled endlessly, an unbroken expanse of snow and ice that glittered coldly under a pale, unfeeling sky. In the heart of the Tundra, a lone figure moved with a deliberate, haunting grace. The Voidshade Ursur, a monstrous bastardization of its pale cousins, trudged across the icy plains. Its thick, shadowy fur rippled like liquid night, tendrils of void slithering from its maw, each breath an exhalation of darkness that seemed to consume the very light around it. Where its intelligent eyes once gleamed with wisdom, now there were only soulless voids, windows to an abyss that promised nothing but despair.
As it moved, the very ground beneath it seemed to shudder in its wake, the snow parting reluctantly to allow passage. The journey was a slow, inevitable march toward the palace—a distant structure, barely visible on the horizon—cloaked in the same unforgiving frost that blanketed the land.
Silence reigned supreme, broken only by the crunch of snow under massive paws and the eerie whisper of the wind. The cold was a living entity, reaching out with invisible fingers to claw at the Voidshade Ursur, but it paid no heed. It was a creature born of the void, sustained by the very chill that sought to claim it.
The level of this KQ will be based on those who join. The difficulty of this KQ is NORMAL. Please post your characters arriving and taking their first action, and in your summary list whatever non-items they are bringing with them (anything on your profile is automatically assumed to be with you). Items not listed cannot be used later.
Remember to include a summary at the bottom of your post with all action taken. If weapons/upgrades/abilities/items/shifts/etc are used, please include their desc. from your profile at the bottom of your post as well.
REMEMBER: KQs are rewarding but dangerous. They may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters.
It's when Sah has just set out on a solo hunt that he sees it. The wolves were back home, taking a well-deserved break from their last excursion. Coming over a ridge, he spots the beast below and his eyes widen. It's not the first time he's seen a void-infected ursur, but this is by far the largest. Scanning his surroundings, the Abandoned grits his teeth. This is going to be a mess, but thankfully, they're at least some distance from the Citadel. He sends a quick prayer up to Safrin for luck and a thank you that he's already wearing his armor and invisibility cloak.
Taking a breath to ground himself, the Wild Thunder calls on his lightning and sends a bolt at the bear. The mageglass at his neck warms as it activates, and Sah can only hope that his attack will land. His general position will be given away, but hopefully, with his cloak, the Voidshade Ursur won't know his exact location.
~
Sah has everything on his profile minus his companions. He also has his usual hunting gear (a rope, a hunting knife, a dagger, a waterskin, and some rations. He is wearing his armor, invisibility cloak, and mage glass. Staying a solid 20ish ft away, Sah sends bolt of lighting at the bear, with his mageglass active.
Lightning manipulation: Can create and control Lightning. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Dark | Rank: Mastered
Type: Grey | Style: Other | Level: Mastered
Invisibility Cloak | A cloak that can hide one person or medium item, conceal their scent, and muffle whispered sounds and footsteps. Made by Sah
Type: Light | Style: Defensive | Level: Mastered
Starmour | Beautiful lightweight armour that glistens faintly with starlight. This item blocks physical damage at the wearer's Mastered level. Requires a 2 post cool-down between uses.
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Mastered
Mageglass Necklace | A pendant made of mageglass. Will amplify the magical abilities of Abandoned by one level. (Basic becomes upgraded, upgraded becomes mastered, and mastered adds on additional basic damage)
Regional Score bonus: +3 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +3 should be included)
I think therefore I am, But what if all I do is bleed?
Traveling from the lodge to the citadel, Noah hoisted the luxere over his shoulder. It was hard-pressed to find one without a void infection, but he finally did. He was ready go home and see his wife, children, and Vi’dore. He and Eira had been out for some time now.
His eyes in the sky alerted him to the moving creature. Its lumbering gate took it forward with earth-shaking steps, and determination towards the Citadel. Noah dropped the luxere without a second thought and charged. Eira took a little higher to the skies for her own safety, but just as well that she could continue to lookout for her bondmate.
Bursting into the scene, the Forsaken didn’t hesitate to act — and from him Vi’s fury raged.
Like he has a thousand times, Noah would defend his home.
Noah has everything on his profile minus his unicorn. Eira is flying high in the sky. Noah appears about 60ft to the left of the ursur and attacks the ursur with his Atomic Roar.
Magic: ABILITY: Atomic Roar | By way of manipulating atoms, Noah creates an invisible blast of energy that damages those within a 60ft cone. Those effected have to beat a STR save or be pushed back 10ft.
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
Magic: Wise Hunter (FEAT) | Animals roll with disadvantage against Noah.
Type: Light | Rank: Basic
Regional Score bonus: +3 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +3 should be included)
i'd fashioned my own cross been crushed by its weight there's no stronger message than dirt in your face
Trekking back from a delivery to a hermit out on the Tundra, Tal had run across the passage of what looked like one big fuckin' ursur. Which wasn't all that unusual for where he was, but the paw prints were way bigger than anything he'd seen before and the lingering dread in its wake was something that the courier had come to associate with Void-related things. He might have left well enough alone at that point, except that the beastie was heading in the same direction he was.
Back to the Citadel.
So there really wasn't anything else to do but pull his Goggles over his eyes and follow along in the convenient path it had shoveled through the snow to figure out just how bad it was.
He caught up around the same time that lightning flashed and Noah let loose his Roar. The courier was glad he'd been hanging back so he didn't get caught in the blast, but with two of his friends in the fray he couldn't hang back any longer. With a muttered curse under his breath the Messenger closed the distance to within thirty feet of the Voidshade Ursur and sliced out with his Dagger, attempting to hamstring it from behind.
Tal waits until after Noah Roars and then closes the distance to thirty feet from the Ursur. He uses his Special Delivery Dagger to try and hamstring the Ursur!
He has everything on his profile except Boreal and the Peregrine.
Type: Grey | Style: Offensive | Level: Mastered
Special Delivery Dagger | A carefully crafted dagger veined with crimson markings, decorated with the foot of a blink hare. Upon making a stabbing motion in the air, the dagger may damage a target up to 30ft away from the user.
Type: Dark | Style: Offensive | Level: Basic
Honed by Nightmares | A curious silvery coating covers the Special Delivery Dagger. Causes extra physical damage at a Basic level.
Type: Grey | Style: Defensive | Level: Mastered
Rockhide Vest | An armoured vest flecked in black and white and lined with cool, fur-like material. This item blocks physical damage. Requires a 2 post cool-down between uses.
Type: Grey | Style: Defensive | Level: Upgraded
Hands off! | Silver striping covers the Rockhide Vest. When successfully struck in melee combat it deals lightning damage at half the wearer's damage stat.
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Mastered
See-Right Goggles: Reinforced goggles capable of seeing with perfect clarity regardless of conditions, up to 30ft. This includes magical darkness. Can see through illusions at 5ft, and be aware of illusions under 10ft.
Type: Grey | Style: Defensive | Level: Upgraded
Frostbite Cuff | Light | Defensive A fur-lined cuff which protects the user from sub-zero temperatures and extreme heat. Does not affect the environment or any environmental issues associated with the cold or heat (e.g. deep snow, icy ground, lava flows)
If you don’t get one Warden, you’ll get the other.
Evie is late to the cluster but never late to the party. Evaluating the moving pieces on what is swiftly becoming a chess board, the Warden tries to keep herself equidistant to each man as contrasting urges of offense and intervention struggle inside her chest.
Given what Deimos had told her of Noah’s abilities and her firsthand knowledge of Talyson’s more long-range style, she keeps herself a few feet behind and readies her shield in her off-hand. She might not be the key component of strength here but at minimum she can help keep all of them alive right?
On the very edge of her 30-foot range behind the three men, Evie reaches out with her magic to try and buckle the ground beneath the Ursur to make it stumble or slow so they might strike again in the early hours.
- - -
Evie positions herself at the backs of the others to be out of the damage line, readies her shield in her off-hand, and uses her earth magic to try and buckle the earth down beneath the Ursur to make it stumble/slow.
Evie has everything on her profile. Micah is not with her.
Earth Manipulation: Can create and control the earth. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Grey | Rank: Mastered
Type: Light | Style: Defensive | Level: Basic
Longtooth Shield | A fang-shaped shield crafted from the tooth of a gigantic landshark and mysterious shards of bone. It is adorned with ebony flecks of volcanic rock. This item blocks physical damage at Evie's Basic level and requires a 2 post cool-down between uses.
Regional Score bonus: +3 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc.
Though the creature lumbers slowly across the tundra, as lightning sears across the frozen distance the bear is able to dodge out of the way with a snarl of effort. Though it can't see who attacked it, or even smell Sah, it eyes the place the lightning had come from with angry violet eyes before looking towards Noah just as the Foresaken unleashes hell across the ice. Both the bear and Sah are blasted by the demigod's attack, though only the abandoned is moved by the concussion (not that anyone can see the way he's thrown 10ft closer to the creature).
Perhaps due to the aggressive contrast of black on white, as Talyson swipes at the creature he overestimates and the attack cuts through nothing but the frosty air. Though Evie upsets the frozen ground beneath the creature the ursur is able to shamble off of the groaning earth without any difficulty.
Though Sah was in fact the closest, thanks to his invisibility cloak it was upon the Messenger that the voidbound creature focused its attention. Parting its jaws the bear launched itself forward with shocking speed and agility sending forth a blast of black-purple void energy. Not only would the courier feel the staggering effects of the blast, but he'd be overcome with a glacial sense of dispair that not even his frostbite cuff could warm him against.
Remember to include a summary at the bottom of your post with all action taken. If weapons/upgrades/abilities/items/shifts/etc are used, please include their desc. from your profile at the bottom of your post as well.
REMEMBER: KQs are rewarding but dangerous. They may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters.
Cursing, Evie abandons her plans of elemental defense when the Ursur proves itself more nimble than anticipated. Talyson taking the brunt of the bear’s wrath has her swiftly extending her magic to heal him. Surely he has some sort of trick or item up his sleeve to do the same, but Evie can focus her energy and tactics into healing if the others focus on offensive measures. Though she does hurry back a few feet - though not out of the range of her magic - to try and make herself less of a target so they can retain their healer.
Unable to see Sah, she can’t estimate his level of injury, and so instead pours that effort into Talyson alone. It’s nothing noble enough for tavern tales or history books, but at least she prioritizes it over turning herself invisible too. Her shield is helpful, but Evie has no illusions that she’s capable of taking such a hit herself. Still, she can’t do both at once, though her hand goes to her engagement ring as soon as her magic tapers out to ready herself for its use.
- - -
Evie attempts to heal Talyson while back up to around 15-20ft to remain behind the offensive fighters. She preps to use her invisibility ring next round.
Chaos unfurled and through it the adrenaline that filled him was shadowed by the bolstering he felt. Evie, Talyson, and (although he couldn't see him) Sah were all here, helping to defend their home. He knew them, the ones he could see, to be fierce in doing so. Both Evie and Talyson had worked to protect Halo during the war when Noah and the rest of the divine warriors were in the Draig. Without them, the city would have fallen to ruin. Here they were again, ready to decimate and defend at all cost. The hunter could burst with pride, if not for having to keep his focus on the battle before them.
The ursur attacked Tal and Noah yelled at the man to get back, while his feet carried him swiftly and intentionally to get between the ursur and Evie. Just as he would protect Halo, he would protect his Warden. Once positioned, Noah sent a surge of an attack towards the void-stricken bear creature once more. He prepared to defend Evie from any future assaults, should it come to that, by keeping his shield magic just beneath his skin.
Noah moves to be between the ursur and Evie, and attacks with atomic roar. He prepares his celestial shield to block Evie if the ursur comes their way.
Magic: ABILITY: Atomic Roar | By way of manipulating atoms, Noah creates an invisible blast of energy that damages those within a 60ft cone. Those effected have to beat a STR save or be pushed back 10ft.
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
Magic: Wise Hunter (FEAT) | Animals roll with disadvantage against Noah.
Type: Light | Rank: Basic
Regional Score bonus: +3 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +3 should be included)
i'd fashioned my own cross been crushed by its weight there's no stronger message than dirt in your face
At first, there's relief that help has arrived. Then there's pain and regret in the knowledge that although his cloak has protected him from the bear, it's made him an unintentional target of friendly fire. Which, of course, is followed by concern when Tal becomes the bear's target. Evie moves to heal the courier and Noah goes on the offense.
"Fucking, ow." Reaching up with one hand, Sah throws his hood back to render himself visible. As he does, he sprints to avoid Noah's line of attack and uses his other hand to send a wave of telekinetic force at the bear. His mageglass warms at his neck as he does so.
~
Sah gets out of Noah's way and with one hand, flips his hood back so he's no longer invisible. With his other hand, he attempts to shove the bear telekinetically away from Tal (and everyone else).
Telekinesis: Can move large objects.
Type: Grey | Rank: Mastered
Type: Light | Style: Defensive | Level: Mastered
Starmour | Beautiful lightweight armour that glistens faintly with starlight. This item blocks physical damage at the wearer's Mastered level. Requires a 2 post cool-down between uses.
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Mastered
Mageglass Necklace | A pendant made of mageglass. Will amplify the magical abilities of Abandoned by one level. (Basic becomes upgraded, upgraded becomes mastered, and mastered adds on additional basic damage)
Regional Score bonus: +3 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +3 should be included)
I think therefore I am, But what if all I do is bleed?
"Fuckin' hail!" He missed? How could he miss??? The bear was HUGE! But the fucker was a lot faster on its feet - er, paws - than he'd guessed and boy howdy did he pay the price for it as the monster turned on him and roared.
And it was even worse than Noah's roar.
Noah's roar just hurt. This roar reached inside his chest and twisted, leaching his determination and his anger at the void and leaving a black well of hopelessness behind. Tal staggered to his knees and even Evie's Healing couldn't rouse his fighting spirit in the aftermath of the attack.
In the wake of that roar, Tal knew that the Voidshade Ursur was too much for him to handle - too much for them all - and that they were doomed. Nothing short of a miracle could save them now, and he wrapped his arms around himself and made a plea for help from a higher power to tip the scales.
"Ludo? We're completely fucked here. Please, can y'knock it down t'size or somethin'?"
Tal is overcome with despair and channels Ludo to even the odds!
Accepted Channeling: Allows an Accepted the opportunity to channel one of the gods during a time of crisis (2x a season). Can be combined with other accepted channeling to increase power. If combined with another mastered channeling, increases the odds of a Big God answering to 15 %
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
Type: Grey | Style: Defensive | Level: Mastered
Rockhide Vest | An armoured vest flecked in black and white and lined with cool, fur-like material. This item blocks physical damage. Requires a 2 post cool-down between uses.
Type: Grey | Style: Defensive | Level: Upgraded
Hands off! | Silver striping covers the Rockhide Vest. When successfully struck in melee combat it deals lightning damage at half the wearer's damage stat.
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Mastered
Type: Grey | Style: Defensive | Level: Upgraded
Frostbite Cuff | Light | Defensive A fur-lined cuff which protects the user from sub-zero temperatures and extreme heat. Does not affect the environment or any environmental issues associated with the cold or heat (e.g. deep snow, icy ground, lava flows)
Braved the forests, braved the stone Braved the icy winds and fire Braved and beat them on my own
Gather 'round children, for a lesson in being specific with your Channelling.
Ludo appears as a thin bundle of rags over the Void Ursur's shoulder, porcelain mask somehow paler than the snow, and it billows in the icy breeze. "I can do that!" it announces to Talyson, reaching out to promptly bap the creature on the back of the head.
Where it promptly shrinks down to size. To the size of their shortest party member, in fact.
With a touch to Talyson 's shoulder from the Wintergreen, Evie reduces some of the damage taken from the bear. Of course this means that the distance needed to move up to Tal and then retreat eats up her movement for this round means she doesn't get as far as she'd probably have liked, but quickly the Forsaken is there to draw the bear's focus.
Positioning himself in front of Evie, as Noah 's roar once again ricochets outwards, this time it strikes Talyson this time as well as Sah and the bear. Neither man is shoved back this time, thankfully, though the ursur is shoved 10ft in the opposite direction.
Though Sah is able to move behind Noah only after the Foresaken has attacked (sorry, post order), as he waves his hand towards the bear this time his magic finds its mark, and, amplified by the mageglass, has the void creature snarling with pain as its limbs are no longer it's own.
The bap to the back of its head from Ludo has the creature shrinking significantly—no longer the size of an elephant, now the creature stands just taller than the polar bears that wander the tundra do.
Furious at having its body relentlessly shoved around and manipulated, the ursur's violet stare once again lands upon Talyson as the courier kneels in the snow. Spreading its jaws it releases yet another blast of sickly purple energy towards the man, and perhaps it's a cumulative effect (it isn't, Tal rolled a critical fail), but this time the bear's blast is utterly staggering.
Remember to include a summary at the bottom of your post with all action taken. If weapons/upgrades/abilities/items/shifts/etc are used, please include their desc. from your profile at the bottom of your post as well.
REMEMBER: KQs are rewarding but dangerous. They may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters.
As Noah slips between her and the Ursur and releases a second attack she watches as Talyson and Sah stagger but don’t go down and thanks her lucky stars she’s staring at their backs instead of suffering the same. Evie admittedly can only stare in shock, dumbstruck and discombobulated as the bear is then shrunk down and ragdolled and - gods, Deimos is going to lose it over the lack of teamwork here.
Evie attempts to take control, closing the small distance between herself and the Forsaken as she thrusts out a gleaming rope. “Noah, take this and try to restrain it!” She has no idea if the bear will be stronger than the item’s limits, but it’s smaller now and the demigod’s attacks are too damaging to the team at this range. Even a temporary lasso might be helpful so they can attack at will.
Instead of throwing herself into the midst of what will (hopefully) soon be a tangle of Talyson-Ursur-Noah, the Evergreen catches sight of the newly revealed Sah and runs for him to try and heal him if she can get close enough to lay hands on him.
- - -
Evie thrusts her Varyring at Noah while they’re close, then runs for Sah to try and heal him if she can close the distance.
Type: Grey | Style: Other | Level: Mastered
Varyring | A golden band that can stretch up to 10m in diameter. When used to bind a creature, it can restrain anything below 15 STR indefinitely, can restrain things with 25 STR or less for 1 turn, and can make it difficult for things of 40 STR or lower to move.
More chaos ensued and Noah’s stomach dropped. Sah had been there the whole time, and Talyson didn’t fucking move. Frustration burst through him even as Ludo made their appearance and the creature lowered and lowered and lowered until a normal-sized bear was before them. Evie shoved something into his hands and Noah didn’t have much time to react.
”Get him out of here!” Noah yelled towards the Wild Thunder as he took off running, forward and headlong towards the void shade ursur that was forced back from them. Evie ran towards Sah and even though Noah didn’t like it, he kept on target.
He had never hog-tied a live ursur before, but he had to try something. Noah tried to stay out of range of the bear’s jaws and throw the Varyring over the creature like a lariat (I should have been a cowbooooy, I should have learned to rope and riiiiide plays in the background). Noah ignited his magic shield, knowing the bear’s violent void-nature would incite attack.
Noah attempts to bind the ursur with Evie’s Varyring and puts his celestial armor magic up to protect himself from ursur attack.
Type: Grey | Style: Other | Level: Mastered
Varyring | A golden band that can stretch up to 10m in diameter. When used to bind a creature, it can restrain anything below 15 STR indefinitely, can restrain things with 25 STR or less for 1 turn, and can make it difficult for things of 40 STR or lower to move.
Magic: Celestial Shield | Celestial light sweeps together around Noah to form a barrier of light, protecting him from attacks for one round. The barrier follows Noah as he moves. Lasts for 1 post, requires a 3 post cool down.
Type: Light | Rank: Basic
Magic: Wise Hunter (FEAT) | Animals roll with disadvantage against Noah.
Type: Light | Rank: Basic
Regional Score bonus: +3 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +3 should be included)
i'd fashioned my own cross been crushed by its weight there's no stronger message than dirt in your face
