Click here for a list of weather descriptions, seasonal festivals, and a real time:site time conversion.
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!
Longheat was party season in Torchline, and the season was kicking off with a bang! Sure, the locals would probably say that every season was party season on the golden-white beaches and in the tropical waters of the Arclight, but the blazing days and warm, gentle nights were when the parties were at their peak. The torches that gave the region its name bloomed all along the crescent curves of the beaches while blue-green light sparked and danced in ephemeral display within the waves beneath the bright moonlight.
And the people were out enjoying the evening, clad in lightweight clothes at most or skimpy swimwear more often as the congregated around and moved between various bonfires along the beach. The smell of grilling fish and fruits and fresh vegetables from the jungle mingled with the salt spray of the nearby water and the smoke of the fires, and music from various instruments and singers filled the air, lifting above the conversations that buzzed and rose and fell like the sound of the surf.
One man - young-ish, with dark hair pulled back in a short tail and weather-browned skin - was definitely not taking part in the festivities, though he was following around - and failing to recapture - a glacial-pale dragon companion how most assuredly was. It helped (her) that she was a thick and muscular dragon as big as comopanions came, with a short, blunt snout and better traction with her four taloned feet in the sand than Tal could manage with his meager two.
"Boreal, drop it!" he scolded her as she scarfed down a fallen tidbit. He tried and failed to grab it out of her mouth, but she just chortled and tossed her head, swallowing the morsel whole before scrambling off to beg a treat from another nearby partygoer before he could stop her.
09-03-2024, 09:30 PM (This post was last modified: 09-04-2024, 08:33 AM by Catalina.)
Every fire burns brighter in the darkest night
Catalina nestled into the shadowy corner of the bustling festival, her vibrant red hair and freckles barely visible amidst the crowd's swirl of color and motion. The sun-kissed glow of her skin seemed almost ethereal under the flickering lights strung above the gathering. She wore simple clothing—well-worn but comfortable—perfect for blending into the tapestry of revelry.
With a contented sigh, she pulled a freshly seared piece of meat off the stick and took a hearty bite. The meat was smoky and succulent, a welcome reprieve from the excitement around her. The music was a deafening cacophony of drums and flutes, pulsating through the air and mingling with the laughter and chatter of festival-goers.
This being her first time listening to music in her life, she had felt each beat as though it were the first. Each and every second.
Nearby, the dragon darted gracefully through the crowd. Its scales were an arresting shade of glacial pale, catching the light with an almost surreal beauty. The creature weaved between people with effortless agility, its sharp eyes scanning for any morsel that might fall from the hands of the revelers. Its movements were a fluid dance, a sharp contrast to the chaotic revelry.
Catalina watched the dragon with a mixture of curiosity and amusement, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She was unaware the dragon’s owner was somewhere nearby, fumbling through the crowd in search of the elusive creature. The bustling festival seemed to mask the owner’s attempts to retrieve their companion, making it easier for Catalina to act without drawing attention.
With a click of her tongue, Catalina attempted to draw it's attention to her. Secretively, she slid a piece of meat off the stick and let it fall gently onto the ground near her feet. She continued eating as if nothing was amiss, her eyes glancing casually at the dragon's graceful antics. The piece of meat lay on the ground, a small offering to the enigmatic creature. Hearing a name being shout, and flooded through the crowd Boreal. Yet Catalina spoke no words yet. She only was tempted to see, if the sacrifice on the ground would even go noticed.
Wise in the ways of stealing treats and working a party, Boreal eeled her muscular bulk between two more groups of drinkers while her human became entangled with one as he tried to get past them and spilled a glass of something pink and fizzy. Chortling to herself, she cast about for her next opportunity and her nostrils widened as the smell of fresh meat wafted from nearby.
Her bright eyes, pale beneath her curving horns, sought out the source of the clicking that usually accompanied illicit goodies and watched with interest and draconic greed as a red-haired woman let fall a meaty treat to the sand at her feet.
The big companion didn't pounce on the tidbit, though the tip of her tail twitched in definite interest. Instead she padded over with her attention focused on the morsel and dipped her head to accept it with an almost regal dignity. Two perfunctory bites and a swallow took care of the evidence and then she looked back up at her benefactor, seeing there was more meat on the stick. She sat back on her haunches, as neat as could be, and looked up at the young woman with soulful eyes that seemed to say: in spite of what you might think, I am, in fact, a starving dragon who has never been fed, ever.
Seeing the gracious dragon accept the morsel with such ease, a grin danced along the lips of the ginger haired woman. The dragon meeting her gaze, it was almost pitiful. With a small click of her tongue, Cat looked down at the stick filled with meat. When suddenly, an even more brilliant plan began to hatch.
"Give me just a second." Cat told the winged creature, holding up a finger signaling for her to give her just one moment. The red head got up going to the neighboring hocker who had been busy searing up fresh sticks of thick cuts of meat, the smell and sizzling almost enough to make Cat herself drool. Lifting her hand to ask for two, Cat had paid for the treat with ease. It was maybe 30 seconds to a singular minute that Cat had been gone from the dragon.
Coming back holding two of the treasures in hand, Cat took a hand made wooden bowl from her belt loop that was attached by a leather strap. She had taken the third stick that had been still in her hand, and took half the meat from there and placed it in the bowl. The next thing she did? Was place all of the meat from the other stick into the bowl! Many would had probably found a begging dragon to be a nuisance, but ... Cat found it utterly adorable, and amusing. No matter how well fed she may had been. Would it hurt to seek company from the dragon for a little bit? She really didn't know many others. So, it was either her lucky day, or the dragon's. Time would only tell.
"You'd be the first one I've shared a meal with in weeks." Cat admitted to the dragon with a half hearted smile. "It's a little overwhelming. Everyone here, yet no one all at once. Odd isn't it? To be surrounded by so many people, and not a singular one say a word to you." She slid the rest of the meat into the bowl, before placing it down in front of the elegant creature. Not having her eat on the floor with that much meat, she wouldn't treat her like she was a ghastly beast. Cat plucked a peace of meat from her own stick, before plopping it into her mouth. The ginger's voice when saying that wasn't sad at all, instead, she still remained rather bubbly. Her voice oozing with amusement at the predicament she had found herself in. Unaware that the owner was still finding his way through the maze of those attending the festival.
The drums quieted down, as an announcer had stepped on the stage."As we have Longheat upon us, to celebrate such a beautiful moment in space and time, we will have a special performance by Madame Esme! Taming the world of fire, dancing with the elegance of the flame itself!"Called out the announcer. Someone had entered near the opening area, dressed in scarlet colored silk, dazzling with contrasting emeralds.
The companion might not have understood all of the words, but she was good at reading human gestures and she was even better at sensing a sympathetic soul who could be counted on for more treats. Even though she sensed her bonded making apologies and trying to extricate himself from the accident a little ways away, she waited obediently for her new best friend to return.
And she was not disappointed.
A bowl appeared - and oh, she knew what that meant, her scaly tail sweeping a serpentine wag through the sand behind her - and she straightened up even more, her front talons shifting eagerly if impatiently as the bowl was filled. But once it was put into range she didn't dive for it. Instead she crooned and bumped her broad, blunt head against the woman's leg affectionately, a low, happy rumble echoing from her deep chest. Then she dipped her muzzle into the bowl to lick up one piece of meat at a time.
The announcer's voice drew the attention of many people towards one of the nearby bonfires and the stage set up near it. That included the group that Tal had found himself embroiled with, and the courier took the opportunity to duck away and weave into the crowd himself. As the people around him began a round of welcoming applause he finally came in sight of his pale companion.
And her new friend.
"Ah, fuck, I'm sorry she's botherin' you," he apologized over the clapping and buzz of renewed conversation as people drifted towards the stage to watch the show. "Boreal! Boreal, leave that alone!" He chided his dragon with fond resignation as he headed over to try and grab her.
At which point the dragon promptly inhaled the last two pieces of meat and swallowed them without chewing, looking mighty pleased with herself.
Catalina’s gaze followed the dragon as it delightedly dove into the bowl of meat, its contented munching a testament to its happiness. The scene was a blend of simple pleasures and unexpected charm.
Her attention then shifted to the woman beside her, who was busy lighting torches and candles, the rhythmic sway of seashells on her net creating a melodic jingle reminiscent of rain tapping against tin roofs. The sound was enchanting, pulling Catalina’s curiosity even deeper.
As the woman’s music began and she started to dance with the flames, a hush fell over the crowd. They watched, spellbound, as she deftly tamed the fire with graceful movements, her performance a mesmerizing display of skill and artistry. Catalina’s appreciation for the spectacle was evident, her eyes following the woman’s every step with admiration.
However, her focus was briefly interrupted when a man pushed through the crowd, his apologies directed towards the woman. He seemed to be addressing the dragon’s actions, his expression a mix of concern and regret. The ginger-haired woman, in response, offered him a bright, reassuring smile and a gentle shake of her head.
"She’s really fine!" Catalina’s grin widened, her eyes sparkling with amusement. She gestured expansively, the gesture as much an invitation as an explanation. "She was just enjoying a snack I got her. It’s nice to share a meal with someone, after all."
She leaned down to retrieve the bowl from the ground, her playful wink directed at the dragon, Boreal. "I’m Catalina, but you can call me Cat. It’s easier to say than the full name." Her tone was warm and welcoming, her gesture open and friendly.
When the young woman smiled, clearly unbothered by his companion's naughtiness, Tal relaxed a little. As often as the dragon misbehaved for him - often just to tweak his nose, he knew - she was a perfect lady when it came to other people. And it appeared that she had charmed another willing victim as the lady explained what had been going on.
Boreal managed to look both innocent and smug at the same time as she sat back on her haunches beside Cat, chortling smokily at the wink. Tal put his hands on his hips and huffed another exasperated but fond sigh at her before looking back at the woman who was feeding her.
"Well, thanks, Cat. I 'preciate y'bein' so understandin' about it," he admitted a touch sheepishly. "You've already met Boreal, o' course. I'm Tal. Talyson Seawright, of Seawright's Delivery Service. Thanks for puttin' up with her. Not that she needs any more food," he added, trying to give the dragon a strict scowl and not succeeding very well at it. "I dunno where she puts it all!"
He glanced over his shoulder at the fire-dancer, but only long enough to see what kind of show was going on. He was too worried about losing track of his companion again to let his attention wander for long, and he quickly turned back to Cat. "Um. I can replace whatever it was she was eatin', if y'want...?" Even if the snack had been obtained specifically for Boreal, Tal couldn't help but feel a little bad about someone else feeding his opportunistic companion.
09-10-2024, 06:02 PM (This post was last modified: 09-10-2024, 06:09 PM by Catalina.)
Every fire burns brighter in the darkest night
Catalina’s smile widened as she listened to Tal’s offer to replace the snack. She shook her head gently, her expression thoughtful. “Actually, there’s no need to replace the food,” she said with a warm, reassuring tone. “Instead, if you could share some insights about Torchline with me, that would be more than enough.”
She glanced around at the vibrant surroundings, her eyes reflecting her genuine curiosity. “This is my first time here, and I’d love to learn more about the area. Any recommendations or tips you could give would be a great help. It’s the best way for me to get to know Torchline better.”
Her gaze returned to Tal, her smile sincere. “So, if you could tell me about your favorite spots or things to do around here, I’d be truly grateful. That would be a much better way to repay me than more food.”
Catalina chuckled softly, glancing affectionately at Boreal. “It’s clear that Boreal has quite the appetite,” she said with a smile. “I imagine all the running around and flying she does must burn off a lot of energy. She seems to be in constant motion, always keeping busy.”
She looked back at Tal, her expression friendly and light. “It’s impressive, really. I can only imagine how much energy she needs to keep up with such a lively lifestyle. It’s nice to see her enjoying herself so much.”
Insights? People didn't usually ask Tal for insights and he puffed up a little at the attention for a moment before deflating again almost immediately. "Well, uh... I'm not actually from around here," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "But I come through here pretty often so... I can try?"
His nose wrinkled in intense concentration as he tried to dredge up answers to her perfectly reasonable questions. "Uh... well... I can recommend not goin' anywhere near Rae's Fingers," he cautioned first. "Th'tide's real unpredictable through 'em, an' it's way too easy t'get caught with it comin' in." He nibbled his lip and dropped his hand back to his side before shoving it in his pocket. "Um. There's a fountain in Kaiholo Port that's full o' free rum. They say it makes y'lucky for a little while after y'drink some," he added, perking up a little at the mention of the free booze. "An' Th'Hanged Man in Haulani is mebbe th'best bar in Caido." He glanced around the crowded beach and then back to Cat with a rueful shrug. "Some o' th'sharpest hagglers're here in Torchline, too. Don't trust anyone at face value, an' be real careful with who y'trade favors with." It was only neighborly to pass on the warning before she got taken advantage of by a sharp merchant who figured out that she was new in town - and might be an easy mark for being swindled or cheated.
He followed her gaze to his dragon, who was happily leaning against Cat's leg as if she'd found her new best friend. The observation earned a snort of fond exasperation from the courier as he shook his head. "Oh, sure, she's always got lots o' energy for a party," he stated, teasing his companion. "But give her a nice patch o' sunshine on a warm day an' she'll be fast asleep for hours!" Even if she was warm-blooded, she shared some of the traits and quirks of her reptilian cousins!
But then he looked back at the young woman curiously, pulling his attention from his companion as he tried to guess the answer to his next question before giving up and just asking outright: "So if you're not from here, where're y'from? An' what brings y'to Torchline?"
Cat listened intently, her eyes wide with the sheer amount of information Tal was sharing. The beauty of the area seemed overwhelming but also enchanting. She brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze fixed on Tal as she took in his advice.
Her attention then turned to Boreal, and she couldn’t help but smile as she gently patted the dragon’s head. “Honestly, I can’t blame her,” she said with a soft laugh. “A full belly, warm sun, and an open field with no worries—sounds like paradise, especially compared to the cold I’m used to.” Her giggle was light and genuine.
When Tal asked where she was from, Cat’s expression brightened. “I’m actually from Halo,” she said, her tone nostalgic. “My dad prefers to live off the land, far away from all this,” she gestured around, as if to include Torchline’s vibrant hustle and bustle. “We have a small camp on the outskirts. Dad’s not too fond of company, he says people might envy our simple life.”
She looked down at Boreal with a fond smile. “I met a wonderful woman there, almost as if she was the sun itself. Her name was Flora. She told me she’s lived here for a long time, and the warmth and lively atmosphere of Torchline seemed so tempting. Just the thought of a place so different from my cold home was enough to draw me in.” It was clear that Cat was talking about the Queen, but talked as though she were just an average woman, just out of sheer ignorance.
Cat chuckled softly. “You’re actually the third person I’ve had a real conversation with outside my family. Boreal is the second,” she added with a playful grin at the dragon, clearly amused by the mischief Boreal brought into her life.
Tal straightened a little when Cat mentioned the cold, looking as alert as a hound. When she confirmed his suspicions he gave her a lopsided grin, looking more at ease than he had when his companion had been making an adorable nuisance of herself. "Yeah? Us too!" The sounds of the party nearby seemed to fade away as he looked her over with fresh eyes, trying to figure out if he'd seen her before. "Boreal'n I used t'run the Tundra dogsled route, makin' deliveries t'the people an' tribes outside o' th'Citadel. Back before th'War," he clarified hurriedly. "When it was all ice an' Tundra." He hesitated, his eagerness at meeting a fellow ex-pat fading slightly at what he had to say next. "But, uh... I moved t'King's End a year ago, just before Starfall. My sisters'n family are all still in Snowcloak, though." He gave an awkward one-armed shrug, but his lips twitched a bit at the mention of Flora.
"Flora, huh? Wonder what she was doin' in Halo..." He trailed off, giving a shake of his shaggy head, though he clearly recognized who Cat was talking about. Maybe she'd been up to Queen stuff? Though the courier didn't seem terribly impressed with her title, taking Cat's casual reference to the Doubletake in stride. He'd known her before she was Queen, after all, and the addition of a crown and a title hadn't really changed much about her in his experience.
For her part, Boreal pressed up into the head pats, tilting her broad head to encourage scritching fingers at the base of her horns. Tal was less worried about her now that she wasn't trying to con some poor soul out of their food, but he blinked in surprise to hear that he and Boreal were amont Cat's first few connections. "Oh shit, really? I mean, uh... sorry," he apologized sheepishly. "I'm... probably not th'best for that sorta thing. So, uh... don't get th'wrong idea about people on my account!" He was definitely not equipped to be anyone's second or third human contact on Caido!
Cat’s face lit up with excitement as she listened to Tal speak about his time in the Tundra. “Really? That sounds incredible! I’ve always wondered what it was like to run those dog sled routes," she chimed in. “I imagine it must’ve felt like flying across the snow, with only the cold air and the dogs to keep you company.”
When Tal mentioned moving to King's End, she nodded, her eyes showing a soft understanding. “Leaving Halo… that must’ve been hard. But I get it. Sometimes you just have to find a new path, right?” Her voice was warm, but her expression shifted quickly to surprise as she heard his next words.
“Wait, you know Flora?” she blurted, blinking in astonishment. “I only met her once, back in Halo. She seemed so… larger than life, you know? Almost like she was glowing,” Cat added, still a bit awestruck by the memory of Flora's warmth and charisma. The idea that Tal knew her seemed both exciting and bewildering. “What was she doing there? Is she… someone important?” Cat asked, her curiosity piqued. She had sensed Flora was special, but now she wondered just how deep that went.
She moved her hand to scratch Boreal behind the horns, the dragon’s affectionate nudge making her laugh. “Oh, you’re just as charming as she is,” she teased, happy to continue the scritching.
Turning back to Tal, she chuckled at his sheepish apology. “No worries! Honestly, I’m glad to meet people who aren’t afraid to just… be themselves. It’s refreshing!” She offered him a reassuring smile. “And hey, maybe you’re exactly the right kind of person for me to meet. You’ve got stories to tell, and I’ve got ears ready to listen.”
Her curiosity soon shifted to his family. “You mentioned your family is still in Snowcloak,” she said, her tone growing more serious. “How did they fare with Starfall? ” Her concern was genuine, her eyes reflecting her hope that his loved ones were safe. “It must have been tough to leave them behind during such a time.”
As the festivities had died down, it was almost like the three were the only ones left. Discussing and being in their own little world.
Cat's excitement and admiration had Tal subconsciously straightening his shoulders with pride even as he reached up to rub his nose to hide his pleased grin. "Nothin' else like it," he agreed. "We'd go days between camps, just me an' th'dogs an' th'sound o' th'runners. I wouldn't've traded it for anythin' back then... well, 'cept my skyboat. Once I had her, she made it a lot easier t'make deliveries outside o'Halo, bein' able t'fly around Caido instead o' takin' th'Voice's portals or walkin'!" But it had also made it easier to leave Halo in the end, and his grin faltered at her unexpected understanding of why he'd left his home and his family and so many of his friends. He swallowed hard and nodded as Boreal leaned more heavily against Cat's leg, chuffing a large sigh at her human to shake him free of his moment of feelings. He huffed right back at her, but it buoyed his spirits so that talk of Flora could bring the grin back - even if it was a bit more wry this time.
"Larger'n life? Yeah, that's Flora," he agreed with a chuckle. "An' if y'think she glows, wait'll y'meet her mom! Her whole damn family's demigods at this point, I think. Dunno what she was up to in Halo... leader stuff, probably," he admitted with a shrug. "Th'Void shi--uh, stuff's got everyone runnin' around these days."
Boreal, meanwhile, was quite pleased with the renewed attention and Cat's scritches in all the right places, and she rumbled happily up at the woman's teasing, much to Tal's fond amusement. "Well, me an' Boreal are pretty good at bein' ourselves. Dunno who else we'd be, but if it's stories y'want..." He shifted his hand back to his neck, not entirely comfortable with this unexpected attention but not unhappy about it.
Though mention of Starfall did sober the courier. His hand dropped back to his side as he nodded. "Yeah, my partner an' I ended up stickin' around a little bit longer t'help rebuild in Snowcloak after all th'floodin'. Our family store wasn't hit too bad, thankfully, an' my courier station made it through in one piece. But we were definitely lucky. Torchline, though..." He gestured towards Kaiholo Port and the docks there. "I ended up bringin' supplies down on my skyboat an' helpin' them rebuild their port here, too. Halo got hit bad, but Torchline was way worse. Lotta people died in both regions..." He shook his head with a grimace. "Were you an' your da affected, out where y'were?"
Catalina listened intently, her eyes widening at Tal's tales and his obvious pride in his past. When he mentioned the contrast between the quiet of the Tundra and the convenience of his skyboat, she couldn't help but smile, imagining the freedom of flying over Caido. She tilted her head thoughtfully as he spoke of Flora, her curiosity piqued.
"It's amazing to hear about her like that. I guess I had no idea her family was so... impressive. It makes sense now why she seemed like such a beacon of light when I met her." She chuckled softly, thinking back to the warmth Flora had exuded.
As Boreal leaned against her leg and rumbled happily, Catalina couldn’t help but laugh, feeling the dragon’s contentment. "She’s really taken a liking to me, hasn’t she? I must be doing something right!" She continued to scratch Boreal behind the horns, enjoying the dragon’s contented purring.
When the conversation shifted to Starfall and its aftermath, Cat’s expression grew somber. She nodded sympathetically at the challenges Tal described. "It’s heartbreaking to think of all the loss. My family and I were more fortunate than most; we were far enough from the major impacts that we didn’t suffer too much. A few damages here and there, but nothing like what you’ve described. I can only imagine how hard it was to see the devastation. Father said the house I was born in is gone, but we mainly have stayed at the camp since mother passed. Whichhhhhhh is practically all my life I guess you can say. So I didn't have any attachments to the house. So, I suffered far less than father did."
She glanced around, taking in the bustling activity of Kaiholo Port and the signs of rebuilding. "It’s good to see places like Torchline coming back to life, though. It’s a reminder that even in the face of such destruction, there’s always hope for recovery and rebuilding. Considering the damage you say that they had taken.." She gave Tal a reassuring smile, her determination and optimism shining through.
"Especially the idea of loving loved ones in the blink of an eye like that...." Cat visibly shuddered at the idea. Her idealistic side... No one would loose their loved ones, but that was near impossible.
"It's amazing to think that now you can hardly see any of the damage that occurred... If at all. Maybe it's cause of all the people.... Say, why don't we take a walk?" Cat asked him curiously.
"So I can really see what work everyone put in and really admire the work." Cat was all admiring the work. In fact.. It made her feel a little somber she was kept away from everything to where she couldn't help back then.
