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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!
The scent of parchment was familiar. A silence dwelled between the pages that swallowed up the sound of her footsteps as Maea slipped down the stairs. Like a cloak it wrapped around her, soothing frayed nerves and easing the strain on hollow eyes too strained from restless nights to bear the sunlight. This was not the Athenaeum, but it was similar enough to feel safe. Books did not lie. Their authors might, but books did not shout, or threaten her in a fit of pique, or try to change her mind without listening. They did not try to shove their experiences down her throat - she was free to seek them out in her own time. On her own terms.
Varnished floorboards felt warm against her bare feet as she navigated through the shelves, searching for answers. A rumpled dress of undyed linen whispered around pale shins, showing signs of being slept in, lived in, forgotten and ignored. The journal in her hands was soon joined by nature studies, encyclopedias, a hefty tome called 'Flora and Fauna of the Greatwood' by an author whose name she vaguely recalled seeing back at home. Books on wolves, books on tigers, books on crocodiles and snakes and a far too well illustrated pamphlet on the lives and habits of spiders. Things with teeth. Things with venom. Things that crawled and slithered and went bump in the night – and with a grim sort of determination she dumped them all on a table, pulled out a chair and began to read.
If there was one thing Maea wouldn't tolerate in herself, it was ignorance. If holding on to a belief that gave her peace of mind had to cost her a friend, then she would make damned sure that she had all her facts straight. Wolves weren't Ancient, nor were tigers and spiders or anything else – but since none of them would give her answers she would have to look at the closest other thing that came close. She would start here, and then go out into the wild to study the real thing, and try – at least try – to understand what Asta and Danta and Charlie and Thalassa was talking about. So many people couldn't be completely wrong. So either they were mad, or she was, or the world was the crazy place they just had to bear up under the best way they knew how.
Reaching for the topmost volume, she opened it to page one, dipped a pen in ink and got to work. Reading. Taking notes. Scribbling comments and adding furious question marks in the margin whenever she came across a contradiction or insufficient information. The scratching of pen on paper as ink flowed down the page filled the room, warding away silent archivists from disturbing one so deeply focused on her research. They simply refilled the ink well, exchanged the lights when they burned down, and left her be.
If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense
'Quiet' is not a word that anyone would ever use to describe the young hybrid. She skipped and giggled through the shelves, flames flickering and pages rustling in her wake. Even her clothes were loud, a neon pink dress with echo sharks stitched into a pattern of dark blue waves along the hemline fluttering around her legs as her turquoise and blonde hair billow around her head. The noise and obnoxious colors earned her more than a few glares and hushing sounds, but Nova just gave them an unbothered wave and went about her merry way.
She didn't stop until she saw mention of the gods, her soft slipper covered feet skidding to a halt as she let out a soft gasp. Unlike the reverent hands of an aged scholar, tender and delicate, her grabby fingers skimmed the spines of the books like she was perusing a candy store, rough and greedy. Unsurprisingly, she picked the prettiest one, a gold filagree along the edge of a purple leatherbound book. Nova ripped it from the shelf to inspect the cover, another giggle escaping as she saw the title embroidered in gold thread: The Benefits of the Gods. Knowing there had to be a section on her mom, she spun to find a table, suddenly spotting a familiar face hunched over tomes of dusty of boring looking texts. Her face lit up, the stars on her cheeks stretching with the motion. "Hi Maea! What are you doing here?!" A low groan sounded from nearby, but Nova didn't even look, skipping up to the Ancient's table without a care.
The comings and goings of other people were as nothing to the pale little woman. As though they, or she, were no more than specters, barely even there and hardly worthy of notice.
There was no ignoring Nova for long, however. Not when she bounded up to Maea's table and cast her presence across it like a ray of sunlight breaking through a storm cloud, sudden and startling in her unabashed brightness. Like a sleepwalker Maea looked up as her name on someone's lips registered through the imagery of spider mating habits, blinking slowly at the girl.
"Hm?" What an odd question. She looked down at the books, the journal filled with animal behaviour, her ink-stained fingers, and wondered if she looked as crazed as she felt. "Reading. What are you doing?" Maea didn't bother trying to hush the girl, knowing it was futile. And perhaps she didn't want to dim that light, either. Her presence was like waking from a nightmare to find that the sun was out and everything that seemed awful and hopeless had really only been a dream. Well past the point of desperation, Maea began to shift books to clear a seat for her. Maybe it was a little pathetic, but she hoped Nova would stay for a bit. She had a sudden craving for nonsense, and fun, and anything but her own problems.
If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense
Letting out a little giggle, she wasn't the least bit bothered by Maea's sarcastic response. "Well I got that, silly. What are you reading?" She plopped down in the chair without a need for invitation, leaning over to see what books had caught the Ancient's attention. At first glance they looked like boring journals and encyclopedias, but as Nova took in the pages, she noted sketches and painting of various animals in different scenes of the food web. Some were more intricate than others, but one in particular caught her eyes: a tide jaguar lurking in the night, its teeth glinting as it lunged for an unsuspecting ramphire, the colors vibrant despite the dark setting of midnight. Nova leaned a little closer, settling a hand on her fist as she admired the work. "Ooh. That's a pretty picture."
Remembering suddenly that Maea had asked what she was doing, she sat back in her chair, excitement coursing through her. "I was just exploring but look what I found!" 'Exploring' meant that she'd wandered to gods knew where, totally ignorant of any risks or consequences. Luckily, this time found her with a familiar face and a pretty book in her arms that she smacked onto the table so Maea might see. The gold glinted in the soft candlelight, the title easily decipherable. "I thought I could find all the reasons my mom's so awesome." She shot the pale woman a wink as she tapped her foot beneath the table to release her pent-up energy.
Casting a sweeping look over the messy table with all its wealth of information, she returned lavender eyes upon the young woman, trying to gauge how much to tell her. Sensitive to the risk of being brushed off as boring and silly, she also bled from the accusation of holding things back. There was an impulse now to overshare instead, and angry frustration at being stuck like this; not knowing what to tell whom at which point in time.
"I'm studying animal behaviour," she replied eventually, settling for the obvious while choking on the reasons for the interest. "What they eat, how they live, why they act like they do..." Following Nova's interest towards a depiction of a tide jaguar, she recalled seeing her shift into one.
The book the girl slapped onto the table was one Maea had read before. Amused by the fierce loyalty Safrin's daughter displayed, it stung her chest with envy. When had she stopped being so certain of the goodness of the gods? Even now, though she didn't exactly fight the connection to Dygra, it was not a blind devotion and it did not exclude the other gods from her mind. Perhaps it was simply age that made her less prone to blind idolization. Or maybe it was the many times she'd seen what it did to others, of trials and challenges and sheer manipulation. But how did she tell a bright girl that what she would find in the book was a far less generous view of Safrin than the loving, wonderful mother the goddess no doubt could be? More nuanced by far, in addition to the protective, loving healer and star-spangled Herald of Life, it also spoke of her as fickle, jealous and manipulative.
"Mh, I see. Perhaps you would like to keep me company while we read? If you have any questions afterwards, I can try to answer them." With emphasis on try. Maea had a feeling she was the last person who should talk about understanding. The best she could offer might be sympathy.
If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense
It was a coin flip on whether Nova ever noticed sarcasm or the subtle intricacies of reluctant tones, which meant it wasn't a surprise when she failed to spot the Ancient's hesitance to disclose more than the obvious. She leaned forward, a glint in her blue eyes as she scanned the books again. "Oh. Just for fun? Or are you planning to open a zoo?" Because why else would someone feel a need to learn about animals unless they planned to care for them? Just then, another thought came to mind, and she tilted her head like an intrigued cat. "Or maybe hunt them?" Maea was an Ancient after all.
The young hybrid got the hint with the next message, understanding that they were supposed to be quiet. She nodded her head and sat back to open her book to the first page, but 'reading' and 'quiet' weren't things Nova did often - especially books without diagrams or pictures - so she was only a sentence in when she couldn't contain her boredom anymore. She placed her palms flat on the pages, her full attention on Maea as she asked, "Who's your favorite deity?" Her eyes seemed to add, 'And why is it Safrin?'
Leave it to this girl to leap for the most unexpected conclusions. "A zoo?" The concept was somewhat foreign to her as there had been no such luxuries where she grew up, and the only comparison she had was the Celestine. "Uh, no. I want to know why they hunt, and how. And what they are like when they don't. People are... complicated. I don't understand some of the choices they make. So by looking at something that acts similarly, maybe I'll be able to learn something." It had everything to do with being an ancient, and just as much to do with not feeling like one. This project of finding some a nnswer in base biology was roundabout, complicated, making it harder than it had to be - and the only way she could think of to put words on this feeling of otherness that she couldn't explain.
Thinking for a second that she could return to the books, Maea reached for the volume she had been going through, but barely had time to find the place where she left off before Nova interrupted her again. 'Be considerate of other's feelings' flashed through her mind, in an echo of Elizabeth's voice. Maea suppressed a sigh, leaning back in the chair; she might as well give up on getting anything more done while the girl was there.
"Mmh, good question. It used to be Ludo. It was the first god who ever answered my prayers. But right now... I don't really have a favorite. I do respect all of them, but I can't say I love one above any other." By virtue of being Ancient she supposedly 'belonged' to Dygra, but... that was complicated, too.
If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense
Nova didn't really get Maea's meaning, and the blank look in her eyes wasn't softened by her slow blink. "Weird. People are much more interesting to talk to." Perhaps it was rude to say as much, but the young hybrid wasn't exactly known for her filter. At least it was confusion rather than judgement, and she just shrugged her shoulders, deciding that whatever the purpose, it was beyond her simple desires. "I hope you're looking for finds you." Sure, the words were jumbled, but the sentiment was there.
Although initially pouting to hear any name other than Safrin's, Nova perked to hear another herald's name, not finding it odd that an Ancient would mention them over their own goddess. Instead, her face brightened, and she leaned forward, her book forgotten under the fold of her arms. "I heard Ludo would like me!" Particularly her delight with colorful explosives, but who wouldn't like fireworks? Giggling, she looked closely at Maea, curious to hear more about why she would dare put Mort's herald above her mom. "Why them?"
Picking up her pen to have something to fiddle with, Maea twirled it around her fingers, unaware of the ink stains freckling her clothes. "Thank you. I hope so too. And I hope you'll keep being interested in people – a lot of things are easier when you care enough to ask questions." Perhaps that was part of her problem? That she had stopped caring about people's reasons? A disturbing idea, given how her supposed overabundance of care was at the core of her struggles, but a plausible one. It lent credit to Thalassa's claims that she didn't care, explained why she could dismiss Asta as a monster, why she wasn't hounding Charlie for explanations to all the things she ruminated over. With a sinking feeling in her stomach, she traced that lack of interest back in search of a source, and found... fear. Grief. Empty chairs where people had once been. People she had been interested in, people she had invested time, effort and emotion into... and for what? To lose them again, and be forced to start over.
Teetering on the threshold of a rather painful realization, Nova's curiosity gained only slow reactions from the overwhelmed scholar. "Well... they answered my prayers," she repeated slowly, dredging her mind out of the depths like it was weighed down by lead. "Understand, I was born abandoned, in the Hollowed Grounds. The Heralds were the only ones who ever responded to any of us, and I prayed for over twenty years before any bothered answering at all. To finally be seen, after all that time... I would have done anything for Ludo for that small kindness. And, it can't be denied, I had a certain leaning towards the dark and macabre as a child. I liked scary things. I liked the idea of ghosts and spirits and things I couldn't see being everywhere around me, just out of reach. And after my family were killed... Ludo became a source of comfort. Almost a substitute - someone I could always turn to when I felt lost, or lonely. They accepted me, it seemed - even attuned me, allowing me to be what you are now. A hybrid." A smile ghosted past her lips, fleeting and sad. It was a long time ago now, yet Maea still considered it the peak of her achievements. Everything that happened afterwards... had really only gone downhill from there.
If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense
Again, the wisdom and meaning of Maea's words were lost on the young woman, her smile too light to have truly understood the depth of the sentiment. After all, why wouldn't she ask questions?
Maea had a captive audience for her story, Nova's mouth hanging open as she was taken on a rollercoaster of emotions. It had certainly been a journey for the Ancient to get to this point, especially when she looked so young! She couldn't comprehend losing her siblings, and she tried not to think of how lost she'd be without them, even if she'd always have her mother. But her thoughts caught on Maea's soft smile and the words she uttered. "Oh! Ludo made you a hybrid?! That's so cool! They must have really liked you then!" The setting wasn't something she'd taken into account as her voice rose, a low hum spreading through her body, a reminder of her own magic living under her skin.
"What kinds of shifts did you have? What kind of magic?" Unaware of any scars or wounds her questions could aggravate, Nova's eyes glittered with excitement. Other than Sah, she hadn't met any other hybrids, and although Maea might not be one anymore, she felt an unimaginable level of kinship with her.
Perhaps she should have been annoyed by the way anything she said ran off of the girl, like water off a goose. But despite her seeming youth, Maea was older now than Jigano had been when he took her under his wing, and she would repay his patience poorly if she allowed innocence to irritate her. If anything, it was refreshing. Here was someone who still had hope, who still believed in kindness and whose curiosity had yet to be dashed by harsh reactions. Maybe the questions stung – but so what if they did? It couldn't be only bad to reminisce and remember what used to be.
"It seems so," she admitted, slightly abashed yet with a glimmer of pride that rekindled a bit of spark in her eyes. "My shift was a jaguar - a regular one, not quite as pretty as yours. And I had only a few magics... Water, telekinesis, and a teleport. Ludo also gifted me with part of its rags; it was a shawl that kept me warm and free of the effects of cold, even in places like Halo. I miss it every time it snows, these days." Her mouth quirked in dry humor; no doubt Ludo would take offense to her wearing its rags now, even if she knew where they were.
If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense
A flattered giggle left her as she heard of Maea's jaguar form. It made her all the more intrigued by their similarities, although she didn't have telekinesis or teleportation. Her eyes bulged. "Wow! Teleportation? That must have been incredible! My brother can do something similar with his shadows." And she had her bracelet, but it wasn't the same, and she wondered what it must have felt like to pop in and out of places.
At the mention of a shawl, Nova was immediately drawn in again, clasping her hands together with delight. "Aww! That's so thoughtful!" She'd spent plenty of time stitching and styling her own outfits, including the dress she currently wore. If she could add magic to them... It was almost hard to contain the excitement, fidgeting with the hem of her echo shark dress as she imagined all the amazing things she could create. "I want to learn to make fun clothes like that. Where are they now?" The idea was that they might be helpful in learning how to reverse engineer such a thing.
Regretting her lack of answers for more than one reason, the pale woman shook her head. "I don't know, sadly. Last time I saw it... was on the shoulders of a fae. But she died," Maea said, almost looking at her hands like they might still be red with Nephele's blood, "so either someone else took it or it's lost somewhere." Buried with some fallen warrior perhaps, or tucked into a dragon's hoard for a braver adventurer than herself to find. Perhaps if she hadn't been so self-deprecating at the time and kept the rags like she kept the fae's weapons, she would still have them now. But that's not what happened, and regrets wouldn't keep her warm at night.
"If you figure out a way to make clothes that keep an Ancient from becoming stone in the cold, do let me know," she added, as she gave up on her old treasure as lost along with her old life. "I'd pay a lot for something like that."
If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense
Her face moved into a frown, disappointed to hear that she wouldn't be able to inspect the magical shawl. "Hmm. Pity." Although the negative emotion didn't last long for Nova, already moving on to more bright and vibrant means of entertainment. She could already picture the beautiful fabrics she would use to make such a garment, her eyes glittering with ideas as she said, "Okay! I'll let you know." And, honestly, everyone would know when Nova had figured it out.
Finally settling back down to do some 'reading,' she moved her hands to inspect the first page again. The silence lasted longer than last time, her eyes scanning an entire paragraph before the subconscious flow of thoughts burst forth again. "Have you ever - "
And so the afternoon went, moments of brief silence before Nova was peppering Maea with questions again in a vicious cycle that the Ancient may have come to quickly regret.
