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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!
01-20-2025, 02:10 PM (This post was last modified: 01-22-2025, 08:04 AM by Court Official.)
Beneath the relentless sun, Suvahasi’s oasis appears like a fever dream of swirling colour and pollen-choked air. Gnarled roots twist through saturated soil, emerging amid emerald reeds that sway in the humid breeze. Petals in shocking pink, gold, and crimson bud in dense clusters, each exhaling plumes of fragrant yet toxic dust. The heat here is almost alive, pressing in from every side and blurring the threshold between reality and hallucination.
Slithering silently along a shallow pool, a Vernal Viper emerges from a tangle of enormous blossoms. Its lithe body gleams with shifting hues—emerald fading to saffron, then tinted with amethyst—mimicking the riotous palette of the oasis. Gold-flecked eyes flick from side to side with cold precision, and every movement of its coiled length exudes lethal grace. A swirl of dust motes stirs at the serpent’s passing, carrying faint clouds of hallucinogenic pollen. The viper’s forked tongue flickers, tasting the air for unsuspecting creatures hidden among the vines and sagging leaves. Each languid ripple of wind seems to magnify the shimmering haze, warping sunlight until it refracts into wavering spectres.
Pausing beneath a drooping cluster of deep purple blooms, the Vernal Viper melds seamlessly with its surroundings, scales shifting colour until it’s barely distinguishable from the petals. In the distance, a small creature teeters on the edge of the pool, lured by the deceptive glimmer of cool water. One false step, one moment of inattention, and the serpent’s poised strike could end any hope of escape.
For weeks now you've heard rumours of such a creature killing any who try and pass through the oasis to reach the Greatwood; will you be among those who stop the viper before it claims more lives?
Welcome to the KQ! You have 48 hours to join.
This KQ will be scaled based on the level of characters who join but is intended for those under level 5. 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.
Vernal Viper (Uncommon/Mythical)
The Vernal Viper is a brightly-hued serpent that has adapted perfectly to Suvahasi’s toxic oasis. Its scales shift in color, allowing it to blend with the lush yet treacherous foliage. On particularly hot days, the Viper slinks among flowering vines, stirring up hallucinogenic pollen clouds that blanket the area in a disorienting haze. Prey caught in these plumes often see mirages of safety or shelter, wandering directly into the serpent’s venomous strike. Despite its vibrant appearance, the Vernal Viper is notoriously difficult to spot until it’s too late—its shifting scales and the swirling pollens combine to deceive even the wariest traveler. When threatened, it can flare out a shimmering hood lined with petal-like scales, releasing an extra dose of toxic pollen that intensifies hallucinations, ensuring that Suvahasi remains its personal hunting ground.
The world's a little blurry, or maybe it's my eyes,
Having heard the rumors of a 'formidable beast' terrorizing the area, Thal decided to use her newfound desire for change as an excuse to hunt down the creature. If it was for the greater good (and not her need for chaotic violence), it had to be acceptable, right? No one would blame her for killing the thing to 'help' people, and with its vicious nature, she'd receive even less judgement on how she chose to do so.
Deepfrost made even the desert slightly colder than usual, and Thal clutched her cloak a little tighter to keep in the heat of the sun. She ran through what she'd learned about the Vernal Viper and its ability to lure people with hallucinations. Some suggested it was due to a pollen similar to what she, Tal, and Maea had experienced months ago. With that in mind, she followed similar tactics, pulling a loose cloth piece out of her pocket, soaking it in water, then wrapping it around her face to cover her nose and mouth. The nostalgia hit hard, but she pushed it aside to focus on the task at hand. Flame daggers unsheathed, she slowly made her way through the foliage, looking and listening for the slinking form of the snake.
Thalassa arrives with everything on her profile, five other hidden daggers, her cloak, and her usual no-nonsense attitude. She uses an extra piece of cloth to cover her nose and mouth while searching the area.
The world is new to you, and you to it. During PQ/PQ+/KQs/Drops, you roll with advantage on luck-based rolls and receive an extra name during drops. (In order to use this, make sure to note the ability at the bottom of each post)
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)
the friends I've had to bury they keep me up at night.
The oppressive heat pressed down on Vesper like a heavy shroud as he moved through Suvahasi’s oasis, each step careful and deliberate. The shimmering haze ahead blurred the edges of the world, giving everything a feverish, dreamlike quality. He wasn’t here to be a hero. If the rumours about the viper were true, taking it down would be messy, and Vesper wasn’t one to risk his neck for a noble cause. A trophy, though—a scale, a fang, something rare and valuable—that was worth the trouble, especially if it could be fashioned into something for his sisters. Let someone else do the dangerous part; he’d just step in when it counted.
Slipping between the gnarled roots and vibrant blossoms, he cast out his telepathy like a subtle ripple in the air. It wasn’t long before he caught the faint hum of another mind nearby: sharp, purposeful, and coiled tight with intent. His brow arched as he paused, fingers curling lightly around a vine. He didn’t recognize them, but whoever it was, they were clearly here for the same reason.
A faint smirk played at his lips beneath the shirt he’d pulled up to cover his nose and mouth, the makeshift mask doing little against the cloying sweetness of the pollen-filled air, but having plucked the idea from Thal's mind, it seemed worth doing. Staying low, Vesper adjusted his path to avoid the stranger, his footsteps soundless as he slipped through the foliage. If they wanted to play the hero and flush out the viper, that was fine by him. He’d keep his distance, let them do the work, and step in when the prize was ready for the taking.
Vesp lurks. He has everything on his profile.
Regional Score bonus: +13 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +13 should be included)
☆ has a pale star tattoo beneath his left eye, and freckle-sized constellations move across his skin
☽ hair changes from bleached blonde to brown
☆ telepathic: Sunlit Shadows | The user can read the surface thoughts and emotions of those within a 60ft radius. Control is excellent. Note: "Thoughts and emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
With her book opened to 'The Vernal Viper,' Elizabeth walked along reading softly to herself. "... brightly-hued serpent ... stirring up hallucinogenic pollen clouds ... mirages of safety or shelter ... Suvahasi remains its personal hunting ground." Biting the end of her pen in contemplation, she closed the cover and stowed it back in her bag. "Hallucinations, huh? That doesn't sound fun." And because her parents had taught her various tricks and skills to avoid some of Caido's less savory influences, she pulled a mask from her bag that she'd purchased for this exact reason.
Elizabeth used her staff to slowly push aside plants as she made her way farther into the foliage, her eyes darting suspiciously to spot any movement. She didn't want to start a fight or get involved - just observe and take some notes - but she also wasn't stupid. If things got out of hand, her magic was already tingling at her fingertips.
Elizabeth arrives with a travel pack full of notebooks and pens (and a few survival items/food), a single dagger in her boot, and her staff in her hands.
Regional Score bonus: +9 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +9 should be included)
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
A brittle wind skims the desert, swirling dust devils that dance across the horizon. In one swirl, you glimpse a pale face or mask-like shape, but when the dust settles, there’s no sign of it. An odd hush hangs in the heat, as if the entire desert is silently scrutinizing your every move. This does not count as a Random Event for levelling or MP. There will be no further admin/re intervention.
The blazing sun shows no mercy as it casts long, shimmering shadows across Suvahasi’s oasis. Amid the riot of colors and the ever-present haze of toxic pollen, the Vernal Viper eyes Vesper with calculated interest. Its scales, a mesmerizing dance of emerald, saffron, and amethyst, ripple in perfect harmony with the vibrant blooms surrounding it.
Flicking its tongue and eyeing the demigod despite his efforts not to be targeted, the viper begins its graceful approach, each movement as silent as a secret whispered in the reeds. In a flourish worthy of the most dramatic of oases, the viper releases a puff of hallucinogenic pollen toward Vesper. The particles swirl elegantly through the air, a deceptive ballet meant to confuse and disorient. The cloth does its job, though not entirely—Vesper will catch a faint hint of sweetness mixed with danger, but remains largely unaffected thanks to the shirt over his nose. It coils tighter, preparing for the final act. With a speed that would make even the most hurried desert breeze envious, the serpent lunges forward, fangs aimed with deadly precision.
But Vesper is able to sidestep the viper’s venomous embrace by mere inches.
Welcome to the KQ! This is now an easy level 3 KQ
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.
Your randomly assigned posting order is: Vesper HP: 90/90 Thalassa HP: 88/88 Elizabeth HP: 51/51
Vernal Viper: 222/222
Vernal Viper (Uncommon/Mythical)
The Vernal Viper is a brightly-hued serpent that has adapted perfectly to Suvahasi’s toxic oasis. Its scales shift in color, allowing it to blend with the lush yet treacherous foliage. On particularly hot days, the Viper slinks among flowering vines, stirring up hallucinogenic pollen clouds that blanket the area in a disorienting haze. Prey caught in these plumes often see mirages of safety or shelter, wandering directly into the serpent’s venomous strike. Despite its vibrant appearance, the Vernal Viper is notoriously difficult to spot until it’s too late—its shifting scales and the swirling pollens combine to deceive even the wariest traveler. When threatened, it can flare out a shimmering hood lined with petal-like scales, releasing an extra dose of toxic pollen that intensifies hallucinations, ensuring that Suvahasi remains its personal hunting ground.
REMEMBER: KQs are rewarding but dangerous. They may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters.
The viper’s lunge was faster than Vesper had anticipated, a blur of lethal intent streaking through the shimmering haze. Adrenaline surged through him, hot and sharp, pushing the edges of his calm facade as the serpent’s fangs came dangerously close. He darted to the side, his movements quick but not quite quick enough to feel entirely safe. The rush of air stirred by the snake's strike whispered past his arm like a taunt, its venomous precision only narrowly avoided.
His pulse thundered in his ears, and the demigod's jaw clenched as he forced himself to stay composed. With a subtle flick of his wrist and a pulse of focus, the space around him distorted, and in the blink of an eye, Vesper was gone. Misty tendrils trailed in his wake as he reappeared fifteen feet from the viper, his boots landing softly against the shifting sands.
The brief distance gave him just enough time to recover, and he exhaled a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. "Alright, you overgrown jump rope," he muttered under his breath, his voice steady despite the thrum of energy coursing through him.
Darkness unfurled from his fingertips, the shadows at his feet rising as if answering a silent command. Tendrils of inky black wove through the air, moving with a serpentine grace of their own as they lashed toward the viper.
Vesper misty-steps away (uses his feat so it doesn't cost an action), and then tries to hit the serpent with one of his shadows.
Magic: Shadow Touch | Can create and manipulate tendrils of shadow. 15ft radius. Shadows share his STR stat.
Type: Grey | Rank: Basic
Magic: Misty Step | Can teleport up to 15ft away
Type: Light | Rank: Basic
Magic: Blink (FEAT) | 2x per thread can use Misty Step without it costing an action
Type: Light | Rank: Basic
Regional Score bonus: +13 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +13 should be included)
☆ has a pale star tattoo beneath his left eye, and freckle-sized constellations move across his skin
☽ hair changes from bleached blonde to brown
☆ telepathic: Sunlit Shadows | The user can read the surface thoughts and emotions of those within a 60ft radius. Control is excellent. Note: "Thoughts and emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
The world's a little blurry, or maybe it's my eyes,
As a hunting Ancient and a cunning pirate, over the years, Thal has learned that people and creatures are not so different. Their instincts still border on primal and their over-confidence helps them ignore gaps in their armor. One such way, is that when a predator spots something they want (food, sex, treasure), their focus narrows to tunnel vision and they will often take the most direct path to their target.
When Thal spotted a glitter of scales lock onto a man nearby (where'd he come from?), she knew it would be her chance. While it went in for the kill on the wily demigod, there would be the perfect opportunity to strike. She waited patiently, daggers at the ready, eyes scanning for other threats as she analyzed the viper's movements. And when it finally moved in to attack, Thal made her move. A whip of her arm released the blade directly into the path of the lunging beast, aimed at the soft part behind its frilly head.
Thalassa keeps a safe distance and throws a dagger at the Vernal Viper.
Type: Dark | Style: Offensive | Level: Basic
Flametouch Daggers | A pair of obsidian daggers licked with crimson along the blade edge. On hit, the daggers become wreathed in flame.
The world is new to you, and you to it. During PQ/PQ+/KQs/Drops, you roll with advantage on luck-based rolls and receive an extra name during drops. (In order to use this, make sure to note the ability at the bottom of each post)
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)
the friends I've had to bury they keep me up at night.
She hadn't really expected to find other researchers out in the desert, and these two certainly didn't look like researchers. With shadows licking off one dangerously and the other with eyes intent to kill, Elizabeth assumed she'd found herself in the middle of a group intent on taking out the threat. As much as it saddened her to miss out on the opportunity to inspect its behaviors, the speed with which it attacked the shadowy man was alarming. It could be beneficial to see the viper's fighting patterns... Maybe she should help. From a distance.
Rubbing a hand down her linen trousers, she let the familiar tingle of her magic feed the static electricity it generated. Ensuring that no one was in the line of fire - and that she was a safe distance away from a strike - Elizabeth raised her hand to act as a conduit for the flow of magic. When the viper landed back in the sand, she released the lightning, directing it straight for its scaley skin.
Elizabeth uses her lightning magic against the Vernal Viper.
Lightning manipulation: Can manipulate lightning. Must be within a 30ft radius. Control is excellent
Type: Dark | Rank: Upgraded
Regional Score bonus: +9 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +9 should be included)
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
As Vesper extended his shadows, sending tendrils of darkness that lashed out and scorched the serpent’s iridescent scales, the viper recoiled, momentarily disoriented by the magical onslaught as it was slapped by patches of darkness. Seizing the moment, Thalassa was able to throw a flame dagger with lethal precision. The blades sliced through the vibrant foliage, slicing at the back of the viper's head and cutting through a few of the petals that made up its hood. Flames flickered across its shifting colors, eliciting a hissing cry of pain and irritation.
As Elizabeth raised her staff, releasing a bolt of lightning aimed at the serpent, the crackling energy arced gracefully through the air but missed its target, striking a nearby bloom instead. The flower wilted instantly, leaving the viper largely unscathed by her attempt.
Wounded and wary, the Vernal Viper retaliated by targeting Thalassa. It released a concentrated burst of toxic pollen toward her, the hallucinogenic cloud thickening the air around her. Thanks to the mask over her mouth, the toxin did nothing and she was able to move out of the cloud with ease.
Welcome to the KQ! This is now an easy level 3 KQ
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.
Your randomly assigned posting order is: Vesper HP: 90/90 Thalassa HP: 88/88 Elizabeth HP: 51/51
Vernal Viper: 179/222
Vernal Viper (Uncommon/Mythical)
The Vernal Viper is a brightly-hued serpent that has adapted perfectly to Suvahasi’s toxic oasis. Its scales shift in color, allowing it to blend with the lush yet treacherous foliage. On particularly hot days, the Viper slinks among flowering vines, stirring up hallucinogenic pollen clouds that blanket the area in a disorienting haze. Prey caught in these plumes often see mirages of safety or shelter, wandering directly into the serpent’s venomous strike. Despite its vibrant appearance, the Vernal Viper is notoriously difficult to spot until it’s too late—its shifting scales and the swirling pollens combine to deceive even the wariest traveler. When threatened, it can flare out a shimmering hood lined with petal-like scales, releasing an extra dose of toxic pollen that intensifies hallucinations, ensuring that Suvahasi remains its personal hunting ground.
REMEMBER: KQs are rewarding but dangerous. They may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters.
Much as Vesper might have liked to pause and dig deeper into Thalassa 's particular brand of psychology, given how quickly the viper was flitting through the oasis it would have been a fool's errand to do anything but give it his undivided attention.
Quite content to no longer be center of attention, the demigod pulls his shirt further up over his face as the viper blasts another stream of pollen toward the pirate captain. With the cloth hiding his smirk, Vesper sent out his shadows again, once more trying to slap at the snake but doing so from the side if only so that it wouldn't simply turn around and attack him again.
Vesp hits the snake again with his shadow!
Magic: Shadow Touch | Can create and manipulate tendrils of shadow. 15ft radius. Shadows share his STR stat.
Type: Grey | Rank: Basic
Regional Score bonus: +13 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +13 should be included)
☆ has a pale star tattoo beneath his left eye, and freckle-sized constellations move across his skin
☽ hair changes from bleached blonde to brown
☆ telepathic: Sunlit Shadows | The user can read the surface thoughts and emotions of those within a 60ft radius. Control is excellent. Note: "Thoughts and emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
The world's a little blurry, or maybe it's my eyes,
The dagger flew true, slicing through some of the petals to piss of the viper. She was already clutching at the dying flames as it rushed towards her. Holding her breath, she waited for the toxins to kick in, but her mask seemed to be doing its job to protect her from the same experience she'd seen through Tal. Vesper might spot the flash of a hysterical man screaming about a 'Wicker Woman,' but Thal herself pushed it aside.
A leaf sizzled next to her from a bolt of lightning, but she only glared at the source, trying to dampen the urge to kill the woman next. Diverting the emotions, she fueled the fire, trying to make it catch the pollen or the frilly petals to strengthen the damage to the viper. But she didn't wait to see whether it worked, choosing to move diagonally out of the snake's path, back towards her first dagger and out of the pollen.
Thalassa flares the fire around the Vernal Viper as she dodges/runs out of its path (and the pollen).
Fire Manipulation: Can manipulate flames. Must be within a 30ft radius. Control is excellent
Type: Dark | Rank: Upgraded
The world is new to you, and you to it. During PQ/PQ+/KQs/Drops, you roll with advantage on luck-based rolls and receive an extra name during drops. (In order to use this, make sure to note the ability at the bottom of each post)
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)
the friends I've had to bury they keep me up at night.
Oops. The lightning goes wide, missing the Viper, but also thankfully missing any of the other two in its midst. She grimaced slightly, trying to rally her own abilities. What had Sah said about lightning magic? 'Guide?' 'Direct?' She should have taken notes. Either way, she made a mental one now to request another session with him. She could obviously use the practice.
Elizabeth puffed out her chest a little, rubbing her hands to generate the electricity again while she tried to embody the confident posture of someone more skilled than herself. She then lifted her hand again, concentrating to avoid the shadowy man that seemed to be vanishing in and out of sight, and let the blue electricity arc from her grasp and towards the slithering viper.
Elizabeth uses her lightning magic against the Vernal Viper again.
Lightning manipulation: Can manipulate lightning. Must be within a 30ft radius. Control is excellent
Type: Dark | Rank: Upgraded
Regional Score bonus: +9 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +9 should be included)
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
01-22-2025, 10:34 AM (This post was last modified: 01-22-2025, 12:39 PM by Odd.)
The viper thrummed with heightened tension as Vesper extended his shadows, dark tendrils lashing out to strike the Vernal Viper. At the same moment, Thalassa ’s flames roared through the vibrant blooms, their fiery tongues grazing the serpent’s iridescent scales. Elizabeth, determined to make her mark, unleashed another bolt of lightning that arced gracefully and struck the viper squarely. Each attack landed true, leaving the viper with minor but aggravating wounds that flickered across its shimmering hide.
Irritated by the relentless assault, the Vernal Viper turned its attention to Elizabeth, the source of the disruptive lightning. It coiled swiftly, preparing to strike; lunging with lethal intent, its fangs aimed directly at her, it missed by a wide margin as she deftly moved aside.
Welcome to the KQ! This is now an easy level 3 KQ
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.
Your randomly assigned posting order is: Vesper HP: 90/90 Thalassa HP: 88/88 Elizabeth HP: 51/51
Vernal Viper: 94.5/222
Vernal Viper (Uncommon/Mythical)
The Vernal Viper is a brightly-hued serpent that has adapted perfectly to Suvahasi’s toxic oasis. Its scales shift in color, allowing it to blend with the lush yet treacherous foliage. On particularly hot days, the Viper slinks among flowering vines, stirring up hallucinogenic pollen clouds that blanket the area in a disorienting haze. Prey caught in these plumes often see mirages of safety or shelter, wandering directly into the serpent’s venomous strike. Despite its vibrant appearance, the Vernal Viper is notoriously difficult to spot until it’s too late—its shifting scales and the swirling pollens combine to deceive even the wariest traveler. When threatened, it can flare out a shimmering hood lined with petal-like scales, releasing an extra dose of toxic pollen that intensifies hallucinations, ensuring that Suvahasi remains its personal hunting ground.
REMEMBER: KQs are rewarding but dangerous. They may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters.
