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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!
Her eyes scanned the towering ice walls that glittered in the Flowerbirth sunlight. People milled about, taking advantage of the recent reveal of the sun's warm rays. Although the weather was still cold, Halovians were accustomed to it. They didn't embrace the change of season for its warmer weather, but the optimism each glittering beam brought with it.
Elizabeth closed her eyes to listen to the milling of people, excitement coursing through her veins. She'd finally been able to request a meeting with the co-Warden of Halo. After hearing so much a little about her from Deimos, she had no doubt that they would get along. She had high hopes that Evie would be willing to take her under her wing and show her the ropes. And today was supposed to be their first lesson. Her brown hair was drawn back in a ponytail that barely brushed her shoulders. The cold had enticed a light redness to brush her cheeks and nose, which happened to match the pink gown that flowed down to her ankles. A large tan jacket hung loosely over the top and her scuffed travel boots peeked out from beneath.
Realizing that she was standing in the middle of the walkway, Elizabeth stepped to the side and waited impatiently patiently for the woman to arrive.
07-15-2024, 06:56 AM (This post was last modified: 07-23-2024, 10:20 PM by Evie.)
Evie
i'll plant a row of daisy seeds in the space beneath each eye
Evie had been delighted and intrigued to hear about Elizabeth from Deimos, and admittedly had been plainly excited to discover that the woman wanted to meet her. Warden requests are plentiful in her daily life but they’re far from personal, and even though there had been accompanying threads of Academy interest it had felt more promising on a personal level. Maybe she simply misses Hadama and aches with conflict over whether to contact him yet. Maybe Evie just hates to admit she doesn’t have very many friends.
Jogging up (as much as she can with a baby on her hip) with her fiery hair in a similar ponytail and a bright grin, Evie waves a hand to catch Elizabeth’s attention and slows to a more leisurely pace as she approaches. Micah bounds at her side, colorful rosettes shifting like oil-slick in the sun. Once she’s close enough she extends her hand, freckles prominent on slightly pink cheeks. “Elizabeth, right? It’s nice to meet you! I’m Evie and this is Micah, my companion. And of course my son, Erebos.” She knows everyone has a passing knowledge of her name and face at minimum as Halo’s Warden, but introductions still feel appropriate when meeting as individuals.
so they'll remind you of your beauty when they bloom each time you cry
She spotted the stream of red hair first as it billowed behind Evie's head. With a bright smile, she waved a greeting back. When she finally stopped next to her, Elizabeth responded in kind. "Nice to meet you, Evie! My name's Elizabeth." Looking to the little bundle of sunshine in the woman's arms, she crouched down with pure joy evident on her face. Her voice didn't quite reach the level of baby-talk, but her pitch did increase with excitement. "Hi, Micah. I like your hair." She let the smile warm her eyes in an open expression of safety for the child, secretly hoping he might send a smile back her way.
Eyes lingering on the baby, she stood to address Evie again. "Thanks for accepting my invitation! I've been looking forward to meeting you." Although her invitation had been framed as an interest in the Academy, Elizabeth was more excited about making a connection with someone similar. They were both Abandoned healers (in a way) who lived in Halo, and even though she had a lot to learn, she hoped they would be fast friends.
"I didn't pull you away from any important work, did I?" She remembered how Deimos had been preoccupied when she'd interrupted him all those weeks ago. If the Warden was, then maybe this was an opportunity to step away from the desk.
i'll plant a row of daisy seeds in the space beneath each eye
Evie doesn't even try to hold back her proud smile as Elizabeth bends down to coo her introductions to Erebos, the baby gurgling a happy sound in response while reaching either toward her face or hair. Evie rocks her hip back just enough to dissuade the action, smile becoming affectionately apologetic. "I swear his hands aren't as sticky as most children, but I'm sure you don't want them in your hair anyway." He's a gentle baby, but enamored with all aspects of life it seems, and Elizabeth's hair is unlike hers or Deimos' so it's no surprise he's enchanted.
"Deimos told me a little about you, I've been looking forward to it just as much," she reassures. Any interest in the Academy is a boon, but Abandoned feeling comfortable in Halo is her number on priority. It's easier here than the other regions given Halo has always had the highest number of Abandoned and little anti-Abandoned sentiment, but as a native Grounder she'll never shake the worry of failing them all somehow. Herself among them.
"Oh, not at all! I handled everything ahead of time, and this is usually my jogging time so most people know I'm unavailable. I like paperwork unlike Deimos, so it's not a hassle for me." Winking, she grins as she waves down a Shield she's familiar with and asks him to watch Erebos while they spar. Micah is a sufficient babysitter (and quite dedicated to the task, with how the jaguar lingers at the Shield's feet) but Erebos' crawling abilities are beginning to outpace companion-level babysitting, so better to be safe than sorry. Hands now freed, Evie turns back to Elizabeth and cocks her head slightly. "So what were you thinking for our spar? I want this to be entirely in your hands, whatever you're comfortable with." If she wants to be challenged then Evie can do that, but if she simply wants to stretch her legs so to speak then the Evergreen can adapt to whatever her comfort level is right now.
so they'll remind you of your beauty when they bloom each time you cry
Elizabeth laughed lightly at the reaching hands, not concerned in the slightest about losing a few strands of hair as a sacrifice to the baby. Especially if it meant hanging out with him a bit longer. Contrasting, the thought of Deimos telling Evie about her elicits an obvious blush. She didn't have any inkling as to what he might have said other than mentioning her overall lack of skills and blatantly green nature. He might have said something about her profession? Or maybe her willingness to help the community? Elizabeth just hoped it wasn't anything too embarrassing.
She didn't miss the contrast between Evie and Deimos, returning the knowing grin. Obviously the two complimented each other in terms of Warden duties. They made a formidable power couple to say the least. Her thoughts lingered on Erebos and what sort of childhood he'd have being raised by such influential parents. But she didn't have long to linger on the idea as she regretfully watched the baby get carried off to the side with the Shield, the protective jaguar not far behind.
Not delaying any longer, Elizabeth shuffled her feet subtly. "Honestly, I don't have a lot of skills overall. My only magic is lightning." She felt the familiar tingle of her veins at being mentioned. "But I'm having difficulty finding ways to utilize it. It's not like there are many lightning storms around here." Her tone was humorous and a chuckle followed. Because of all the restrictions, there hadn't been many opportunities for her to practice her abilities. Shrugging her shoulders, she gave Evie a warm smile. "Until I can make it myself, I might just have to work on my staff skills." Elizabeth lifted the staff at her side for emphasis. Even if she couldn't fully control her magic yet, she needed to be able to defend herself somehow.
i'll plant a row of daisy seeds in the space beneath each eye
Evie’s eyes are bright and focused as Elizabeth shares her reflections. Elemental magic is one of the hardest to be born with because it needs the base element present to even showcase itself. Evie idly wonders how many Abandoned don’t discover their heritage until their abilities mutate or strengthen, too infrequently exposed to the proper environmental conditions.
m“I always recommend weapons training, weapons or no. During the war, a strange mist rolled in on the frontlines that made my magic almost impossible to use. It was eye-opening really,” she shares freely, grateful that she had already trained in alternative methods and had various weaponry present on that fateful day so she and Talyson made it out alive. “But I think with a bit of creativity you can absolutely use your lightning even without training it to a higher level!” That would be the ideal scenario of course, but life does not always wait for you to be stronger before throwing a curve ball your way.
Evie lifts her bare hands and begins to rub them briskly together. “What is lightning but electricity? It’s the same type of energy - which means you can alter it at any level.” Evie doesn’t have lightning magic to utilize as a teacher but strangely enough that’s helpful here - Elizabeth will have to be creative all on her own. With static electricity building with the friction of her skin, the equation simply needs to be completed for a good zap.
so they'll remind you of your beauty when they bloom each time you cry
It was terrifying to think that there was anything out there that could negate magic. Not that Elizabeth had a lot of magic to lose, but it had been a part of her for so long that she couldn't imagine what it would feel like to lack the ever-present sparks that ran across her skin. Would she even be able to think? She shook her head and a shiver ran down her spine. "I would hate that." It made her admire Evie even more for surviving that time period. And it made her all the more certain that she could learn a lot from the woman.
Watching the demonstration closely, Elizabeth rubbed her owns hands together, feeling the friction awaken the magic in her veins. It gave her a small sense of satisfaction to feel the power lingering just beneath the surface. "I accidentally stumbled upon the same idea when I was out with Deimos on our Void hunting mission with Hotaru, although I'd used the rubbing of my sleeves together to generate the electricity." She gave the Warden a smile, remembering how she'd been able to help defend against the Void foxes. Her staff wouldn't have been very useful in that situation, so it'd been a stroke of luck that she'd felt the static build.
With their options laid out before them, Elizabeth brandished her staff. "All things considered, I agree that working on my weapons skills would be best for now. Would you be willing to attack first so I can practice my defensive movements?" She settled into a rudimentary defensive stance for emphasis, letting the staff point towards Evie in preparation and giving the woman an excited grin.
i'll plant a row of daisy seeds in the space beneath each eye
Evie's smile is an expression of strained agreement. "It was a horrible feeling. And a grave wake up call." She'd hidden her magic for so long as a young woman that it had never grown, but she'd become dependent on it without knowing after years of strengthening and broadening her arsenal. Such is the folly of magic - it makes you believe human rules don't apply to you.
Pleased that her advice is meaningful even if Elizabeth kindly doesn't take the silent offer of a free attack, Evie flicks her fingers out to banish the strange tingle of friction and steps back to summon her own weapon with a touch of telekinesis. It's a simple training staff from the weapons wall, but it will serve its purpose well. "Of course, though I hope you don't mind if I add some magic in as well?" Nothing she won't be able to defend against with a physical attack, but it will be more effective training. Battles are not like structured spars after all.
Striking with her staff with both hands in a wide grip for a simple close-range attack toward Elizabeth's left shoulder, Evie simultaneously summons water to pool in a thin puddle in a half-circle around them on the opposite side. Not enough to touch their boots yet, but hopefully enough that if Elizabeth has to side-step away from her attack, it will drive her into it to teach her environmental awareness and get her practicing calculating that at the same time as calculating defensive maneuvers.
so they'll remind you of your beauty when they bloom each time you cry
Watching Evie produce her own staff with magic, Elizabeth’s nerves rose slightly. ”I would expect nothing less.” Her smile was easy and excited despite her tensed muscles. She didn't know if she would have an opportunity to try out her own magic, but she knew it was important to be able to defend herself against all forms of attack. Plus, she pretty much never got a chance to try things out. And then the sparring commenced.
Her staff came up instinctually to block the incoming blow to her shoulder. As her body shifted, she took a step to the side to widen her base. It helped combat the incoming force, but she noticed a splashing sound at the same time and her eyes diverted to take in the new puddle that surrounded them. Elizabeth laughed at the obvious lesson, nodding her head. "Point taken." Whipping her staff around, she counterattacked with a swipe to Evie's left hip, stepping out of the water simultaneously.
i'll plant a row of daisy seeds in the space beneath each eye
Elizabeth is sprightly and quick to react, which is enough to compliment already. The staff is an unassuming weapon but it's positively deadly in the right hands. Evie wonders if she'll stick with it as the years go on, or if something else will call her name in time.
Echoing Elizabeth's laugh with an unrepentant giggle of her own - tinged with mischief and pleasure at having succeeded - Evie has to move quickly to block the counterattack and her palms and wrists sting with the delayed response as punishment. "Oof, good one!" Stuck in a disadvantageous position, Evie calls on the wind to whip up the water on the floor and fling it toward her opponent's face, hoping to make her flinch away from the droplets instinctively and weaken her pressure so Evie can push back with her own staff and get beneath her guard.
so they'll remind you of your beauty when they bloom each time you cry
Basking in the praise, Elizabeth didn't see the water until it was splashing across her face. Spluttering, she let out another laugh. "Hey!" They may be in the middle of a spar, but she felt more like they were just kids playing at soldier. And she was losing. Her focus lapsed as the water dripped from her face and she blindly struck out.
It wasn't her best moment as she blinked quickly, trying to clear her vision while simultaneously flicking the bottom of her staff to the opposite side. It was a flimsy attempt at an attack. Even as her arms moved to strike, Elizabeth didn't expect it to land, just trying to buy a moment to regain her sight.
i'll plant a row of daisy seeds in the space beneath each eye
The adolescent foolery of it all is precisely what makes it easier to integrate as a habit, in Evie’s opinion. Dreading your workouts or skill building would only mean averting your eyes from the to-do list they collect dust on. Muscle memory is developed either way, so why not make it fun? Her mischievous grin says it all for her - and maybe more, because she’s genuinely enjoying it.
Flimsy or not, it’s the right move - and it whacks solidly against Evie’s lower leg, preventing her from pushing forward or upsetting Elizabeth’s stance. Grunting as it lands, Evie backs off by quickly side-stepping to try and strike horizontally at Elizabeth’s ribs where her staff has left it defenseless. “That one is going to leave a mark,” she laughs, voice feathery with concentration and the breath control necessary for this sort of physicality. She’ll make sure to heal them both at the end, but it was a damn good blow both in strength and technique. Clearly she’ll have to try harder to fluster the other woman.
so they'll remind you of your beauty when they bloom each time you cry
Having not expected the attack to actually work, Elizabeth was appreciative when her eyes cleared to confirm the hit. And sure enough, her staff had made contact with Evie's leg, a small victory in her eyes. Even as her smile threatened to come forward at the accomplishment, she had to contain her excitement. It was one hit. She hadn't even come close to winning the spar.
In her distracted thought process, Elizabeth wasn't paying very close attention for the counterattack. Instead, she barely registered the brown blur coming for her ribs. Unable to smoothly defend the incoming blow with her staff, she did the next best thing. She pulled her elbow down to protect the more vulnerable part of her body. It still earned her a wicked thwack and a certainty of later pain, but she chuckled through the pain. "Ohohoh-ow." Her smile was growing as she took the moment to flip the staff using her uninjured arm. As it gained momentum, she brought it down in a crushing blow at Evie.
i'll plant a row of daisy seeds in the space beneath each eye
Evie winces on Elizabeth’s behalf to see her elbow take the blow instead. Her magic will soothe any pains or injuries, but that had to hurt. At least it wasn’t the funny bone? That would have been amusing to witness but surely would have ended their spar a little early.
Evie meanwhile disengages, swiftly evaluating that the close-quarters stances they’ve ended up in won’t do her any favors. Elizabeth’s blow is less threatening as she lunges backward, but the Evergreen still has to divert it with the tip of her own staff to truly avoid getting caught by it. Grinning, exhilarated, Evie pulls her ace card to match the other woman’s successes.
The stone and earth of the training grounds buck and shift sharply, right underneath Elizabeth’s feet, as if sediment has somehow turned to roiling waves of water. Evie keeps her distance instead of closing in, watching Elizabeth’s response to better advise her at the spar’s end.
so they'll remind you of your beauty when they bloom each time you cry
