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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.
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06-12-2025, 01:20 PM (This post was last modified: 06-12-2025, 01:20 PM by Sunjata.)
SUNJATA
the flood
anyway, you say you're too busy saving everybody else to save yourself
He’s picked New Haven for the most central, bustling portion of King’s End at present (with the influx of Dragoons mostly settling here). Signs have been posted for the meeting and when the day arrives, Sunjata’s ensured he’s gotten help from his fellow Enders with providing plenty of options for food and juices and water. Awnings have been placed to keep the sun away from roasting those in attendance and it makes for a relatively relaxing meeting, in the early afternoon where the heat isn’t too much and the breeze is just perfectly cool enough to drift through the buildings.
Waiting for everyone to arrive, Sunjata stands before all the chairs collected and the booths, holding a cup of coffee that he sips from, nodding to everyone that shows up. And once everyone’s had a chance to snag food and drinks, he clears his voice to speak.
“Thanks for coming, everyone.” He starts off, his smile softening. “Frey is helping us protect King’s End again from the void. Now, for those who are new here, we know the circumstances aren’t ideal, but.. We’re happy to have you here for however long you stay. But that also means you all get to help decide which portion we’re going to protect. At this present moment, the Barrows are protected from the creatures. Queen’s Gambit, Mourn, and the Boondocks are not.” Pausing to let everyone take in this amount of information, he continues. “This next venture will keep the Family out. So.. We have to decide if we want to protect the Barrows further to make it completely safe, or if we should focus on the south which encompasses Queen’s Gambit, Mourn, and the Boondocks. I’m happy to answer any questions you have.”
Gesturing for the discussion to begin, Sunjata sips from his coffee and waits for opinions and ideas to spark.
Hey everyone!! Here’s the mini event for us to decide whether we protect the North (Barrows) or the South (Queen’s Gambit, Mourn, and the Boondocks)!
Feel free to have a discussion about it and Sunjata will answer any questions anyone has!
and you don't want no help, oh well that's the story to tell
No permission needed for power play!
Feel free to use magic/force on Sunjata, without killing him <3
Sunjata speaks with an Australian accent and has a passive magic that makes him produce a subtle scent that matches exactly to whatever those around him most desire him to smell like.
Alys arrived early, Sascha padding alongside, to assist with arranging food and drink for not only the existing Enders, but for the new arrivals as well. It was important, she thought, to make them feel welcome. Now that the meeting was set to begin and she was surrounded by people and their emotions, she thought that it was the right call. There was too much fear, and anguish, and anger in the air - they would need to do all they could to calm it.
This meeting, though, might not be the thing to do that - no matter how important it was. Alys understood, of course; they needed to determine how to proceed as a region, and that included their new arrivals. But the timing of it, and the potential for conflict amongst themselves... well, they'd just have to see how it went. Alys had never considered that she might want magic that could influence emotions, but she did now, if only for the reassurance that the meeting wouldn't descend into chaos.
But maybe she was getting ahead of herself. Maybe they could come to a consensus more easily than she thought.
As the meeting began, Alys took a seat in the front row. Her companion lay at her feet, as relaxed as could be expected under the circumstances. The seer and her bonded felt Tal and Boreal's absence like a physical thing - but in order to save them, Alys and Sascha would need to continue living their life. They couldn't afford to fall apart.
And no matter Alys's personal feelings on the subject, she had to think of what was best for everyone. "It's tricky," she said when Sunjata opened the floor. "It makes sense to protect the Barrows so that it's fully protected against anything the Family can throw at us, but we arguably have more to protect in the south. I just wonder what use it is to have one area protected against their creatures and one protected against the Family, when either or could just attack the unprotected region. I vote for the Barrows."
---
Alys votes Barrows!
sometimes i think all i'm ever doing is trying to convince myself i'm alive
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Alys.
Emotional Telepathy | The user can read deep emotions of those within a 5 foot radius at will. Control is excellent. Note: "Deep emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
Emotional Perception | The user can read surface level emotions of those within a 15 foot radius. Control is moderate. Note: "Surface level emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
06-12-2025, 09:05 PM (This post was last modified: 06-12-2025, 09:05 PM by Colt.)
COLT
I wish words were like little toy guns No sting, no hurting no one Just a bang, bang rolling off your tongue
The sound of Sunjata's voice calling order to the meeting has Colt's conversation with a leatherworker dropping into silence, a promise to resume later unsaid between them. She leans back against a far wall, one leg crossed over the other at the heel. Her thumbs are hooked in the belt loops of her jeans, head tilted just enough to allow her to watch from under the brim of her hat. She might look the picture of casual disinterest, but she's invested in this conversation, she just doesn't wanna draw attention to herself more than is needed.
Sunjata's news makes her straighten up. Keep the Family out? Her gaze narrows on him, disbelieving a bit. How could he manage it? He'd been a man incensed at the beach, and while just outright rage at the Family seemed more than appropriate, had something more come about? Or is he just managing the repercussions of such unbridled fury?
Her fingers tap along her pant leg, her mind already set before Alys even finishes.
For King's End, she rather thinks the South would be the wiser choice. It's got their skyport and their main city, all reason enough. Even if it's still polluted with void creatures, they have managed with such villainous wildlife for a while, and she'd much rather face such beasts than the Family themselves. It's that exact thought though, that makes her selfishly desire to protect her most important land, which is in the North.
Her home, her life is there, and she has never left those grounds for long, nor does she intend to do so any time soon. She cannot realistically herd all her animals into the city. She’d have to sell off cattle before market weight, cut shit deals on unicorns just to pare down. Then after, assuming there comes an after, she'd spend years rebuilding. Alternatively, she could stubbornly remain. After all, she's ranched at the risk of Family infiltration all these years, what's a few more?
The broadcasts have increased though, and the Family's patience seems to be wearing down. They might have gone unnoticed before, but Sunjata stabbed them. She has to protect it or leave, if she wants a chance in hell at living to see next year, that seems to be the cards on the table now.
"Barrows." There's an edge to it, like she just might consider anyone who disagrees an enemy.
No smoke, no bullets No kick from the trigger when you pull it No pain, no damage done
Received a Gilded Market wig from Remi that resembles her usual hair and is enchanted to stay on better than most wigs | has a reverse centaur tattoo on her left hand with the legs going down her pointer and middle fingers that looks like this.
Lena sat very quietly. This world was not her own – and she knew her status as a visitor, a refugee, and had no intention of making herself a burr or thorn in anyone’s side. So she was wide-eyed but intrigued, absorbing the information readily available as the discussion flowed and roamed. Stormbreak, unsurprisingly, wasn’t guarded for anything related to the void, given who led and bombarded upon it, and to hear how often and how much and how far regions had gone was inspiring – even if it lacerated her heart…that’d they been unable to do the same for the floating isle kingdom.
So instead of bending towards anything, she asked a simple inquiry, finally finding her voice, directing it towards Sunjata. “Are there plans to protect the other portions of King’s End in the future?” She couldn’t quite imagine the amount of effort it would entail – this sovereign was massive, but it would affect her decision as well – to know that intervals for the provinces and territories might also be guarded in the interim, from either the Family or the void creatures.
Deeds will not be less valiant because they are unpraised.
Of the same mind as Lena, Zavien did his best not to impose any more on their new hosts, dipping his head politely as he chose not to take any food. Instead, he settled in the chair next to Lena, leaning forward to prop his arms on his knees as he listened closely to Sunjata.
Having been one of the many to settle in New Haven, Zavien wouldn't deny his bias towards the first option. He might not have spoken up if the consensus was leaning in the other direction, refusing to sway opinions when he didn't have any right, but when others seemed to agree and Lena asked her question, he nodded along in support. "It sounds like the Barrows is a good idea, but I'd also like to know what future plans may entail and what we can do to help." How they could repay the kindness and what efforts might be made for the unprotected areas.
Thorn arrives with an easy smile offered to Colt, Alys, Lena, and Zavien. But he busies himself with the rest of those that had come from the House of Midnight, helping hand out the donated packs for those that need anything extra, ones they’d worked on diligently to distribute and get put in such a way to help those that have just arrived. Only once the meeting starts does the courtesan take a seat off to the side, a space that’s closest to the little booth they’re working out of so he can hop back up to take the reins of if need be.
His brows lift, eyes widening a touch to hear that this is even a possibility, and while he contemplates the options at hand and listens to the questions get raised and others vocalize their questions. And for the second time Thorn finds himself at odds with the rest of their little region when it came to figuring out just what the best next step was.
“There is more t’protect the south from ‘em.” Agreeing with Alys, the smile he offers her is small and gentle, because he knows what reason she might have for not wanting to pick. “I’m gonna say the south if you think you’re lucky enough t’get more of whatever it is you’re doin’. If not, then the Barrows.” If they could eventually be completely protected, then Thorn thinks taking out the largest first is the best idea.
If it’s unrealistic? Then definitely the space already half safe. The place he lives, even.
Thorn votes for the south only if Sunjata thinks that he can get what they need to make it all safe. If not, he's voting Barrows!
anyway, you say you're too busy saving everybody else to save yourself
Interjecting only to offer help and answers to the questions that flare, he already makes those mental notes of what everyone’s voted for so far. So to Alys, first, Sunjata nods his understanding - the very same dilemma he’d had when trying to decide. He hadn’t expected Frey to be able to make an entire half of their region safe from the Family when he’d made his request. Yet here they are. “I don’t want to say that the creatures would be easier to fight if they come, but.. There’s a noted success rate against them versus the Family.” To this, he winces, because if any of them had been there to witness it recently, they’d know he knows from firsthand experience what it was like to take a hit from one of them.
Let alone the whole being infected business.
Ahem, anyway.
To Lena’s question, Sunjata nods, figuring he can answer both hers and Thorn’s thoughts at the same time. “It’s all a matter of what I can get my hands on for it, but that’s the hope. Protecting against the Family is much riskier to obtain.. And we won’t be able to do further protections until next year. I’m hoping to have something by then to protect against the creatures at least.” They’d already gotten as much help as possible from Frey this year. So if it influences more of the votes, Sunjata understands.
and you don't want no help, oh well that's the story to tell
No permission needed for power play!
Feel free to use magic/force on Sunjata, without killing him <3
Sunjata speaks with an Australian accent and has a passive magic that makes him produce a subtle scent that matches exactly to whatever those around him most desire him to smell like.
Kaisel feels distinctly weird about this. He had attended gatherings like these when he was younger, before the Family took over his home, but he'd always been just a teenager then, too young to really lend his voice to such decisions. By the time he was finally old enough, these had already stopped happening in Stormbreak—so this is, really, his first actual big boy meeting. His first—and it's with a bunch of strangers, in a marginally creepy place he can't bring himself to call home, and about something fucking really important. Keeping the Family out—Flora had told him, after the fact, about the attempts at the pool party to accomplish this very thing. A barrier she can enter.
"Sorry... it just doesn't make sense not to protect the South. Your Skyport's there, and your largest city and commerce area." Unlike the others, who’ve chosen their words delicately because they feel like visitors here, Kaisel isn't so convinced this will be just an extended holiday. He's already steeled himself to the idea they could be here for years. Even though this might not be home (yet), even though he doesn't remember half the names of the people gathered, they welcomed him, and he’s already put his feet up enough to leave a scuff on the desk. "There's still the beasts, sure, but the Family is smart. They'll cripple your chance at aid, so they're the ones we need to keep out of your most important places. It'd take too long to depend on the other options you could get from the North, if it came to that." To war. To a siege. Because he can imagine it, trapped in their bubble, less a sanctuary and more a prison with the Family lurking on the perimeter like vampires begging someone to let them in.
Kai votes South
You was talkin' shit in the beginning Back when I was feelin' more forgivin' I know it piss you off to see me winnin'
Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!
Wearing a watery blue, faded and stretched-out sparkling hair tie on his left wrist
Deeds will not be less valiant because they are unpraised.
Zavien gave acknowledging nods to Hawthorn and Kaisel in turn, listening stoically to their opinions. It wasn't necessarily that he disagreed with their thoughts, but if what Sunjata said was true and there wouldn't be a chance to protect the other half of the region for a while longer, he didn't know if it was the best idea to split the defenses.
He knew he shouldn't sway the decision, that he shouldn't impose on the people who were already showing them such grace and kindness, but he'd hate for them to make a poor choice without considering all the options.
Sighing, Zavien ran a hand through his hair before adding, "Perhaps, but I think a giant Void dragon would disrupt the skyports just as much as a member of the Family. They don't need to be the ones physically stepping into the region. It might be better to have one area completely protected that two partially protected." He tried to make his tone as neutral as possible, even if his own opinion on the matter was unmistakable. As if it might make the words less persuasive, the Dragoon gave a light shrug of his shoulders.
Zavien still votes Barrows but leaves it for the others to decide.
Koa shows up late, slipping in to stand with Kaisel, though he nods to Zavien and Lena. They're in an odd position here, being refugees, but they also have the unique experience of having lived through the loss of their home and safety, and Koa is invested heavily enough to not want to see the same thing happen again. He catches Sunjata's comments about the creatures being easier to fight than the Family, nodding agreement with this assessment, and readies himself to speak. But Kai beats him to it, and Koa feels pride grow fiercely in his chest as his cousins steps up and voices his opinion - an opinion he happens to agree with.
"I agree with Kaisel. Protecting the more populated areas - like New Haven and the Boondocks - that's the most important. The Barrows already have the Refuge, and Sunjata, you're seat's in House of Midnight, right? So there's safe areas already established there." He glances at Zavien, not wanting his friend to think he's stepping on his toes. "We can have the Dragoons step up patrols at the borders, to keep an eye for any creatures who might try to cross through. But my vote would be to protect the South."
A smile softened along her dignified expanse towards Zavien, but then she was all ears. A route of information ambled forth, and gods, didn’t she feel presumptuous – for even believing she’d be helpful in aiding a decision for a region she hardly knew.
The risk of obtaining said protections had been noted during the party, and she nodded, eyes shuffling downwards as she listened to the rest. Kaisel wanted southern portions, other want the Barrows, the back and forth over protected portions and those half-way veiled and shrouded and secured – her fingers twitched a little, and she grasped them together. Koa wanted more patrolling for areas not wholly safeguarded, and she took an inhale, watching others, trying to gauge reactions.
There could be other methods beyond the skyports. People could still traverse via the docks, and Attuned measures. They wouldn’t be completely stuck – as far as she’s aware. “Not to displace people further,” because she and Zavien would be amongst them, “but I think it might be wise to completely protect one area first. Then you know for certain you have something completely off-limits.” To the void and to the Family. “More could move into the Barrows area, temporarily,” because she knew what that meant, but the tone was gentle, sincere. “Then, perhaps next year, continue working on shielding the others, and in the meantime, persist with the patrols,” as she nodded to Kaisel and Koa.
anyway, you say you're too busy saving everybody else to save yourself
Quieting as he hears more of those gathered make their points – he understands it. “I understand the worries revolving the Skyport." He confirms, nodding to Kaisel and Koa. And with Koa’s follow up, Sunjata’s smile twists a touch sadly. “The Refuge does nothing against the Family. Not without what we’re doing right now. And while my seat is in the Barrows, it would only be safe from the creatures.” Not that he says it to try and sway opinions. It’s just matter of fact. He kept it safe as could be, yes, but it was never truly safe. And with being previously infected, well, that only meant that the Void inflicted even more damage against him.
He knows, he could feel it with each of Pierce’s punches.
“And, while most of you know, some of you do not. I was infected by the Family for.. a long time. What I can say from that unfortunate experience, is that they have multiple ways about getting in and out.” The Skyport probably wasn't a huge target. Sure, they could take it out, maybe, but it didn’t hold any power. It held people. And from his experience, which notably had only really been Dahlia, she tended to go for the throat. It's why Halo's springs were destroyed. It had actually posed a threat.
Taking another sip of his coffee, he regards everyone and the decisions, counting out each one that went for the Barrows versus the South. “That makes it four in favor of protecting the Barrows. Three for the south. So.. If there’s no changed minds, it sounds like Barrows is the one that will be completely protected. And in the meantime, while we work to get everything else we need, the Dragoons can focus on stations in the Boondocks and Mourn? And with the Barrows safe, the Refuge would already be available for those that want to move temporarily until we can make the rest of it safe.” His question is directed to Koa, leaving it for him to decide how best to do it in regards to the Dragoons, but ensuring that their most populated places would be the most protected by their hard work, while it drifts away to everyone else for the idea of the space he'd created for the last war, still standing strong, still mostly empty just in case.
Four for Barrows, three for the South! If there's no changes in opinions, then it sounds like we're going with the Barrows
and you don't want no help, oh well that's the story to tell
No permission needed for power play!
Feel free to use magic/force on Sunjata, without killing him <3
Sunjata speaks with an Australian accent and has a passive magic that makes him produce a subtle scent that matches exactly to whatever those around him most desire him to smell like.
He turns his gaze to each voice that speaks out afterwards. There's a certain warmth that floods his chest when Koa agrees with him, like this is a test and he picked the right answer, because if he's gonna cheat of anyone, Koa would be it. Still, he can appreciate the threat Zavien points out, and doesn't disagree with Lena's suggestion. Ultimately, he doesn't have a very strong opinion on the matter, he just wanted to stake a bit of claim in the matter, since it had been asked.
"Happy to help however we can," Kaisel agrees when Sunjata lays out the final votes and plans. Koa would be the one to decide the patrols and the station, but Kaisel will do whatever it takes to help King's End erect this barrier.
You was talkin' shit in the beginning Back when I was feelin' more forgivin' I know it piss you off to see me winnin'
Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!
Wearing a watery blue, faded and stretched-out sparkling hair tie on his left wrist
I wish words were like little toy guns No sting, no hurting no one Just a bang, bang rolling off your tongue
Her jaw works silently as she hears some opposition, but she figures it's in everyone's best interest if she doesn't put words to her mind right now. So she stays occupied by wiggling her boot against the other, thoughts spinning over all the possibilities of either moving her ranch, the House of Midnight, Sunjata's office, and other homes to the south, or the opposite. The Barrows are a bit less tamed, admittedly—she likes it that way. It'll be possible, but not easy, to set up houses and shops along the Barrows. The only thing they can't easily move is the sky port, but as mentioned earlier, that is not their only means. An important one, she doesn't disagree, but not worth the risk of leaving them half exposed.
She exhales through her nose as Sunjata tallies the votes, lifting her head. Closer than she liked, but still leaning for the Barrows. Good. Once the meeting is fully over she'll slip away, no longer interested in chats about leather or pretending she can put on a smile and hold back her tongue any longer. She just wants the quiet of her home and the bite of some drink. Wants to watch the horses run and the dogs play fight. Wants to believe they can actually survive all of this.
No smoke, no bullets No kick from the trigger when you pull it No pain, no damage done
Received a Gilded Market wig from Remi that resembles her usual hair and is enchanted to stay on better than most wigs | has a reverse centaur tattoo on her left hand with the legs going down her pointer and middle fingers that looks like this.
