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!
Burning down Neverland, scatter the ashes White lines, black tar, the matches
The Eye of the Storm had always been one of Liam's favorite places in Stormbreak, and in his years spent in the Greatwood, that opinion had never changed. Today, the hot springs were just as beautiful as ever: greenery surrounded the crystalline pool, blooming in brilliant shades of green, and the water itself was a perfect, clear turquoise that called to Liam invitingly. There weren't even that many people around - evidence, perhaps, of the mass exodus that had occurred in recent weeks, after Dahlia had destroyed the Tower.
The Tower had always been too rigid and cold for Stormbreak. He didn't miss it.
He was taking the opportunity to get to know a new friend - Thalassa, who had helped him meet Dahlia. In a way, it was she who had opened his eyes to the Family's finer qualities, and he couldn't be more grateful. They made their way to the Eye of the Storm together, Liam pointing out some of the landmarks he could remember of the city as they went, comparing notes with what Thal knew of the region and updating his mental map.
"Here we are," he said as they followed a wooden bridge across a section of the springs. "If it's anything like I remember, the water will be the perfect temperature." Hot, perhaps, given that it was the middle of Longheat, but Thal would probably like that. Liam, on the other hand, would have to be sure to stay hydrated.
Is this another dead by misadventure? Tell me what you got, what you really got, hey, hey
06-05-2025, 09:00 PM (This post was last modified: 06-06-2025, 08:11 AM by Thalassa.)
Thalassa
Too intoxicated to be scared
The black of her eye was healing after the fight in Torchline, a purplish hue still lingering as a streak beneath the blue of her eyes, giving her a more brutal look than usual. What remained of the Breaker population flinched first at the sight of her, worried whatever trouble followed her might latch onto them as well; however, when they felt their mutual 'connection,' the people relaxed, even granting her smiles which made her flinch in turn. Luckily, Liam was a welcome distraction, taking it upon himself to be her tour guide in Stormbreak and all its growing glory.
Her eyes scanned the giant pool of water, pleased to see the expanse of open sky beneath its steaming surface. She smiled, already pulling off her cloak to set it aside. "Mmm. I'll be the judge of that." Glancing mischievously at Liam, she quirked a teasing grin and slowed the progression of her disrobing to straps and buttons. "Are you sure you didn't take me here just to see me in a bikini again? After all, you were a little late to Pierce's party." He hadn't gotten to see her in all her flaunting and sharp confidence, and Pierce had been too busy to give her any compliments. It felt like she'd missed out on getting the recognition she truly deserved. Maybe this was her opportunity.
Burning down Neverland, scatter the ashes White lines, black tar, the matches
Liam watched Thalassa's interactions with the remaining Breakers with a grin, finding the entire exchange amusing. Still, it had grown boring by the time they reached the Eye of the Storm, and the soldier was relieved to find that they had the place mostly to themselves. As Thalassa pulled off her cloak, Liam tugged his shirt over his head, revealing tanned skin and hard muscle. He snorted at the captain's question. "You caught me," he said, letting his gaze rake over her body. "I just couldn't resist the temptation." Then he winked and turned back to the hot springs.
He slipped into the water, sighing softly as the warmth soaked into his bones. Gods, but he'd needed this. Just a chance to relax and reset before going back out into the world to do... something. What, he wasn't exactly sure of yet. But he wanted - needed - to find some way to help, to make a difference for the Family. For now, though... he glanced up at Thalassa. "You coming?" he asked, nonchalant as he waited.
Is this another dead by misadventure? Tell me what you got, what you really got, hey, hey
Her smile sharpened a little as she appreciated the hard lines of his body, immensely pleased with his answer and the display he provided. She certainly loved a man with muscle, and she decided at that moment to test the chivalrous limits she'd glimpsed before, after all, he didn't need them anymore.
Letting her various straps and daggers fall to a heap on the ground, Thal chuckled, dark and sultry. "Well, if you went through all the trouble..." She then moved with all the slow, teasing movements of someone who not only knew how attractive they were, but just how to flaunt it with trailing fingers and wiggling hips. Each removal of clothing revealed more curves, more skin, and more hints at the sexy black bikini beneath.
Thal paused with her long sleeve black blouse hanging over her, staring intently at Liam before letting it slide from her shoulders. Smirking, she sauntered closer to stand at the water's edge, steam coiling around the seductive sweeping of her tail, twisting it around the curves of her body and the little bits of black fabric.
She waited a moment to let him admire her before she dove in with the grace of an arcing blade, sharp and elegant as the water split around her. The heat was a warm embrace, any hint of stress leaching from her bones as she floated over the clear underside of the springs. It made her feel like she was flying without any effort, weightless. If she didn't already have plans for their trip, she might have been content to let her breath run out, watching the world below.
But she did have plans, and Thal turned her blue eyes back towards the surface.
Resurfacing closer to Liam, she tilted her head up as water dripped from her dark lashes to take him in, solid muscles and all. She drifted nearer, dragging a delicate finger over his chest with a disarming smile that encouraged him to relax a little further. "You seem tense. What's running through your mind?"
You find an ancient book lying where it shouldn’t be. As you open it, the pages twist into living nightmares, each word a blade that cuts at your reason. The book’s whispers coil around your mind, trapping you in corridors of fear with no exit.
For a Friend of the Family, the book’s pages lie calm and still. As you read, they reveal lost lore and hidden truths—insights stitched from the void itself—guiding your steps through uncertainty rather than ensnaring them.
As Stormbreak has been taken over by the Family, remaining in this area will be dangerous as the flora/fauna will continue to grow increasingly hostile toward you unless you're a FotF!. Remaining in this thread for a prolonged period of time will likely trigger a KQ.
You’ve encountered a Void Whisperer. This counts as an uncommon creature encounter for the purposes of levelling, but does not count as a Random Event for levelling or MP. There will be no further admin/re intervention. If you choose to follow this creature, you do so at your own risk, however, just having it in this thread is enough to satisfy your levelling requirements.
Void Whisperer(Uncommon): Originally a sentient book, the Void Whisperer has been tainted by the void. Instead of transporting people to fictional worlds, it now traps them in nightmarish realms filled with distorted realities and haunting echoes. Those who venture into its pages may find themselves lost in the twisted corridors of their own fears.
Burning down Neverland, scatter the ashes White lines, black tar, the matches
Liam's gaze lingered on Thalassa as she stripped off her straps and daggers, shimmying out of her clothes with slow, sultry movements that certainly had the soldier intrigued. A slow, almost wicked smile tugged at his lips as he watched her disrobe, until she stood on the edge of the springs in nothing but a sexy black bikini. She was all smooth curves and seduction, and the combination would no doubt be intoxicating to any man.
She dove in, graceful and dangerous, lingering beneath the surface for a moment before coming back up. He waited patiently, arms outstretched along the edge of the pool, content to enjoy the warmth sinking into his bones. She would return when she was ready. There was no rush. They could take their time here today, enjoy themselves.
When Thalassa reappeared, closer to him than she'd been when she dove in, Liam regarded her with eyes that had half-closed in his relaxed state. He didn't move as she drifted closer, tracing a finger over his bare chest. He was silent for a moment, considering her question. It seemed like too many thoughts were running through his mind to possibly put them in any semblance of an order to share. "Just thinking about how to get people to understand that being a Friend of the Family is an improvement," he said finally, leaning his head back against the springs' edge.
Is this another dead by misadventure? Tell me what you got, what you really got, hey, hey
A random book appeared at the side of the water when she surfaced - although her eyes were focused elsewhere. It should have been suspicious in its oddity, but the dark purplish-black cover looked like soft velvet that might whisper secrets in the most delicious way, suggesting that it was no threat to them.
Planning to explore the pages when she was done playing with Liam, Thal tilted her head at his words. They weren't what any woman wanted to hear after she'd just stripped in front of a man. The fact that his mind was on anything but her was more than a little annoying and she let out a long, heavy sigh, staring down at his chest while she splayed her fingers flat like she might reach forward to his heart that beat just beneath her grasp. "Some people are too stuck in their ways. That doesn't mean we have to spend our own time and energy worrying about changing their minds." There was a hint of bitterness in her tone, experience painting her own opinion on the matter.
The shrug of her shoulders shifted the inky wet strands of her hair, their wavy ends floating on the surface of the rippling water. "Let them do what they want, and we can do what we want." It was dismissive and curt with a hint of mischief as she lifted her eyes back to him, teasing. "What do you want, Liam?"
Burning down Neverland, scatter the ashes White lines, black tar, the matches
It wasn't Thalassa's fault that Liam's thoughts were elsewhere. She was lovely, and he was sure that she would be fun, but despite the Family's influence running through his veins, he was still him. And he was very much hung up on Maea - and, even if he wasn't, he had never been prone to more than the occasional flirtation. So Thalassa's advances - much like the strange book that had appeared - went ignored.
He wished very much that things would be as easy as Thalassa described - that he could simply let others be and do as he wished, with no thought to the consequences. But alas, that wasn't his nature. Now that he was a Friend of the Family, and understood that it was the better way to be, he wanted to share that knowledge with the rest of the world. And so he worried, and overthought, and everything else that went along with it.
But Thalassa's teasing didn't go unnoticed, and Liam quirked a brow at her. "I'm not sure," he answered honestly. It had been a while since he'd allowed himself to really consider what he wanted for himself. And the answers he could come up with seemed too big, too serious, to voice here and now. "What is there to want?"
Is this another dead by misadventure? Tell me what you got, what you really got, hey, hey
It was obvious to her that Liam still needed some help breaking out of his stiff shell. He couldn't even see the amazing benefits right in front of him. Luckily, she knew just the trick.
The dark line of her eyebrow lifted, a mirror of his doubt written in quiet certainty across her own features. "There's still plenty to want; the Family's made sure of that." She still refused to believe that her allegiance with them was anything but natural - or that it had changed her in any way - but it felt safe to admit to Liam that the Family was leading the world in the right direction, that they had a variety of things to enjoy like new friends, pretty purple foliage, delicious foods, exciting parties, chaos around every corner, and most importantly: the sex was better.
Determined to show Liam exactly how he could pursue all his deepest desires, Thal gave him a mischievously fanged grin. With her hand still pressed to his chest, she leaned close enough that her breath mixed with his, lips hovering seductively - enticingly - as she whispered, "Why don't you let me show you?" There was sugary suggestion in her words, an offer for all the sweet delight that came with being Friends with the Family.
Tilting her head, she bypassed his mouth for the curve of his jaw as her body brushed soft against him, letting the siren song of her voice curl into the curve of his ear. "It worked out for you last time, didn't it?"
Burning down Neverland, scatter the ashes White lines, black tar, the matches
For his part, Liam was remarkably unchanged by his allegiance to the Family. He was as loyal and steadfast as ever, and his heart remained firmly with Maea. So despite the flirtation that he had engaged in, and even though he wasn't as flustered as he might normally have been by Thalassa's advances, he found himself now in a position where he felt like he should politely decline.
But despite everything, he was a man, and there was no mistaking the arousal that having her pressed close to him created. Shifting slightly away, Liam reached up to take her hand, removing it from his chest. "It's not that you aren't lovely, Thalassa, but it's not that simple," he said, not unkindly. "I'm not looking for more than friendship." And as that was what the Family had offered him, that was all he expected from her.
Is this another dead by misadventure? Tell me what you got, what you really got, hey, hey
She would be more offended if she couldn't feel effective her efforts had been - despite how Liam pulled her hand gently from his chest. Her lips curved up in a coy, knowing grin as she leaned her head back to look at his face. A playful gleam glitters the blue of her eyes. "Who said I was looking for anything more than friendship?" There wasn't any need to include feelings or other complex emotions, just the pleasure that came with the purple hues coating their minds. They could have plenty of fun if he'd just loosen up.
Thal didn't move away, but she didn't creep any closer, head tilting in an almost predatorily feline way as her voice turned venomously sweet. "Tell me, does this have anything to do with a pale, stubborn Ancient?" Maea had spoken about him a few times, yet she'd always wondered if the feelings were mutual - no longer out of friendly concern, but morbid curiosity at this point.
Burning down Neverland, scatter the ashes White lines, black tar, the matches
Loosening up was not on the agenda for Liam today - or any other day, in fact. He'd never been one for casual flings, and despite the violet haze that colored his thoughts these days, that was something that hadn't changed. Even if a small part of his brain wished that he was different, he couldn't bring himself to give in to that voice.
Then Thalassa mentioned Maea, and Liam stilled. The Ancient's voice had turned dangerously sweet, and knowing what he did about how things had ended last time she and Maea had met, he wasn't sure he liked her tone. "I don't know what you're talking about," he lied coolly. It had everything to do with Maea, of course, but Thalassa didn't need to know that. And if lying about his feelings was what he had to do to protect Maea until she was a Friend of the Family, well, that was what he would do.
Is this another dead by misadventure? Tell me what you got, what you really got, hey, hey
Even if she wasn't actively touching him, Thal could see the tension run down his body at the mention of Maea. A mischievous smirk made her fangs more prominent against her lips, a teasing sort of wicked satisfaction filling her. "I think you do." And she wasn't going to let him out of the topic so easily.
If only to keep herself from further annoying rejection, she moved out and back into the water, dipping low so that only her head bobbed above the surface. "You know, she told me about you." There was a trap laid, a little kernel that invited Liam to ask what might have been spoken - although it truthfully hadn't been much. It was one of the many reasons their relationship had grown bitter: the woman couldn't be honest with herself.
The shrug of her shoulder sent ripples through the water as she said nonchalantly, "We were friends after all." As if it was that simple, and death and mistakes and history and allegiances hadn't torn their relationship to shreds, leaving nothing but blood and festering wounds in its wake. The memories alone threatened to spark her anger, but the purple swell made the emotion harder to flare, a sliver of possibility making her head tilt curiously. "It might be nice to be friends again one day." If Maea was ever able to change.
Burning down Neverland, scatter the ashes White lines, black tar, the matches
Thalassa, it seemed, was not unlike a terrier with a bone, unwilling to part with a topic once she'd sunk her teeth into it. Liam watched as she moved away, dipping into the water as she offered a tantalizing trap - one that the soldier recognized even as he realized he wouldn't be able to avoid its lure. "Did she?" he asked, hoping that it came out nonchalant, as though he couldn't care less about the answer (spoiler alert: it did not).
As for whether or not Thalassa and Maea could ever be friends again... Liam eyed the Ancient, curiosity sparking in his eyes. "Do you want to be?" he asked before he could stop himself. He knew about their falling out - at least from Maea's perspective - and he had to wonder if theirs was a friendship that could even be salvaged.
Is this another dead by misadventure? Tell me what you got, what you really got, hey, hey
