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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!
She came at night after the last light of the sun had burned out in the west. A warm breeze chased clouds across the sky and set the stars shimmering, breathtakingly beautiful the way they could only be at this time of year. Stepping through a fold in the fabric of reality, night followed the starchild as she stepped on light feet through the grass. She carried a bowl in her hands, of wrought clay infused with black sand and tiny pieces of quartz that glimmered like a reflection of the night sky. She had filled it with water, and drifting across the surface were a few tiny flowers, so faintly pink that they appeared white in the low light.
The surface rippled as Seren placed it down upon the shrine. Blowing gently so that the water rippled, she sat down with crossed legs and breathed out a long, contented sigh.
"I think I know where I keep tripping up, now," she murmured. "It's that I know what I should be doing... but I'm not doing it. Does that make sense?" Speaking to her mother as if picking up a conversation dropped mere moments ago, she had do doubt that the goddess would be listening. She always had. Always would. "And I am still impatient. That has not changed at all. Do you think there is a way for me to be helpful to others, and still fulfill my role? I think I would really like that."
The torturous stars are taking every breath I wish I held The love in my heart is never ending
If Safrin was surprised or upset to find Seren so far from home in a land ruled by a certain pair of demigods, as she appeared there was no indication of it on her porcelain features. With a warm smile, the goddess knelt down at her daughter's side and reached to place her fingertip in the middle of the bowl. Small waves began to roll and stretch across the water as if they were viewing the ocean from high up in the sky, as moonlight beamed brightly down upon the flowers.
Chuckling warmly, Safrin raises a knowing eyebrow as she nods. "It's one of the traits you've inherited from your father." The goddess muses with a small shrug; mortality, she means. Human nature. Knowing but not doing. "Help them? In what way, my little star? Would you protect them? Heal them? Lead them?" Reaching out Safrin softly combs an errant strand of raven hair from her daughter's face. "There are many ways to be helpful. Perhaps deciding on one would help your feet want to walk the path?"
Brightening as her mother appeared by her side, an adoring smile spread from her lips to sky-blue eyes. Delighted to see the water come to life, Seren breathed a contented sigh and leaned lightly into Safrin's side.
"It might, indeed," she agreed. Watching how mirrored stars rippled and swayed in the miniature ocean, she considered. "The vast majority of people I have met are very competent," she reflected. "Often far more than me, and while there is no competition, it does make it difficult to lend practical aid - even healing does no good if I cannot be with them on the battlefield." And it would be a long time before she was ready to do that, if she was to at all.
"I think... what I really would like to do, is to protect those brave and determined people who do put themselves out there. If I could create something that they can carry with them, that takes damage in their place... do you think that would be just a little bit useful?" It might scratch her itch to help as well as offer her the satisfaction of handing out gifts. And if they wound up relying on her, and coming back for more... that wouldn't be the worst, either.
No doubt that was a side of her that Seren had inherited from her mother.
The torturous stars are taking every breath I wish I held The love in my heart is never ending
Pressing her shoulder affectionately against her daughter's, Safrin shifted so that she could lean against the stone ring of the altar. "I'm not sure I know what you mean, my love." In her mind's eye Safrin imagined Seren pulling small stars from her pockets and handing them out, then, at a later time, those same stars silently imploding as they took damage in place of someone else. Glancing at the bowl of water, the goddess waved her hand that her daughter might see what it was she was imagining. "Is it something like that, you had in mind?"
If the ability was at all subtly selfish in nature, Safrin certainly didn't seem to mind and indeed what she could gleam from her daughter's mind only made her smile inwardly with pride. Certainly there was nothing wrong with Seren wanting to make herself invaluable to those around her.
Following her mother's guidance, Seren brightened with excitement. "Yes! Perhaps with a bit more artistic flair going into the creation of the stars themselves, but that aside - yes. You understand me so well!" Impulsively she leaned her head down against Safrin's shoulder, affectionate and adoring.
"What do you think? Would it make a difference?" Of course she would have to work on improving both herself and mastering the ability for it to live up to its potential, but more than anything Seren wanted it to actually be useful. Otherwise she may as well just send along pretty baubles and her good wishes, for all the good it would do.
Plucking a strand of grass, she wound it around her fingers, absently tying it into the shape of a star like one might with paper strips.
The torturous stars are taking every breath I wish I held The love in my heart is never ending
"Artistic flare?" Safrin repeats, her smile growing catlike and clever as small lines of amusement ripple by the corners of her eyes. "You certainly are your father's daughter." She muses affectionately. "What did you have in mind?" Stretching out an arm to hold her daughter close, the goddess lets her fingertips trickle up and down Seren's arm as she leans in to listen.
"Of course it would. The line between life and death is very thin, even the smallest amount is enough to keep someone on the right side of it." Safrin says with a gentle shrug. "And if it's one of your stars that keeps the light in their eyes a little longer, all the better."
