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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!
11-06-2025, 10:59 AM (This post was last modified: 11-15-2025, 09:26 AM by Odd.)
Rain laces through the Wildwood in a soft but ceaseless curtain, each droplet caught in the glow of drifting will-o-wisps as if the forest itself were strung with liquid light. Beneath the canopy, the air hums with Flowerbirth; the wet sweetness of moss, the musk of bark drinking deep, and the ever-present squelch of the earth giving way underfoot. The Wildwood is never still at the best of times, but Flowerbirth has made it mischievous. Roots shift, paths double back, and every living thing seems to breathe a little louder.
This year, though, the Greatwood has become something of a running joke across Caido. Travellers swap muddy horror stories over pints, and merchants curse this season with the reverence usually reserved for gods. The culprit: memory mud. Sticky, sentimental, and far too alive for comfort.
It starts as a rumble beneath the trees. A shudder rolls through the soaked ground, followed by a low, sucking groan. From a clearing slick with rainwater, the Wildwood's mischief takes form. A creature heaves itself from the muck, immense and uneven, as if sculpted by an artist who lost patience halfway through. Its forebody swells into the rough suggestion of a dragon’s chest and wings, but the rest trails off into shapeless globs, melting and reforming as it moves. Where a head should be, twin hollows glow faintly gold, catching the light like trapped lanterns.
Around its lumbering bulk, smaller shapes squelch and roll through the underbrush. Little globs of half-formed creatures: dogs, birds, snowmen, all trying to remember what they were supposed to be. The forest itself seems to sigh in response, leaves trembling as the great mud-beast drags itself forward, each footfall leaving behind a puddle that hums with its own half-life.
Welcome to a SORT OF BIG GROUP KQ!
You will all arrive together, and based on level, the KQ will be split into a group taking on the Big Mud Monster and a group taking on its little counterparts. So you will all be in the same vicinity, but broken up into two threads to keep things balanced. There is no maximum on how many characters (who need KQs to level) can join.
You have 48 hours to post your character arriving. So that nothing is missed, please include a quick summary at the bottom of your post, including any items that you're bringing with you. Items on your profile are always assumed to be with you (unless stated otherwise), but anything else needs to be listed in your opening post or it will not count for future posts!
REMEMBER: KQs are rewarding, but dangerous. They may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters - join at your own risk!
The Wildwood may be wet, but a little rain had never been something upon which Liam could blame complacency. He'd risen this morning, just as he had every other, and gone on his morning run, completed his daily workout, and even run to the market. He'd returned home briefly, but even that brief reprieve had not allowed him the chance to dry out. Wondering wryly if his fingers would ever lose their seemingly permanent pruning, he'd gone out into the downpour once more. This time, it was to go on a hunt.
He'd left Prim and Vale behind, and the two dragonlings were more than happy to remain warm and dry by the fireplace. Liam felt their absence keenly as he walked down the winding, changing paths of the Wildwood, having grown used to Prim's sass and Vale's steadiness, constant presences in the back of his mind. Still, it was better for them to remain at home in this weather, and he couldn't begrudge them their comfort.
A sudden rumble stopped the man in his tracks, and he frowned out over the forest as he waited, watched. He'd never felt anything quite like that in all his time here, and a sense of foreboding reared its head, alarm bells blaring in the back of his mind. It was then that it came into view: a great, lumbering mammoth of a creature seemingly made of mud, with two glowing eyes and an army of smaller minions swarming through the woods with it.
Liam swore. He was, as far as he knew, out here alone - but he could no more allow such a menace to wander free than he could fly. Ducking behind a tree, he peered out at his surroundings, assessing. Maybe they hadn't seen him yet, and he could take a moment to strategize.
---
Liam arrives and ducks behind a tree to assess the situation. He has everything on his profile, but Primrose and Vale are not present. He also has a bow, a quiver of 12 basic arrows, and a basic dagger.
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Liam.
Sometimes, Noe has to wonder just how she gets herself into these situations.
It's not like she goes looking for trouble. She just tries to live her life, and trouble finds her. First, it was the Family. She's had a lot of time to think about it, and she's decided that it was really her fault for trying to host a taco party in Stormbreak. If it hadn't been for that, Vox wouldn't have hugged her, and she wouldn't have been infected. Of course, then she wouldn't have gotten to know the strange eldritch creature who had become a very dear friend by the time he had to leave. She still misses him, by the way.
Now it's a mud monster - which, by the way, was not listed in any of the travelers' guides she'd read on the way over, trying to prepare herself for the Greatwood in spring. It had seemed like a good idea at the time - an escape to nature, if you will - but now she's regretting it immensely.
When she sees the beast stomping through the trees, she considers turning tail and running away. But she'll probably just get lost in the woods if she does that, and then where will she be? Lost in a forest with a giant mud monster on the prowl, and probably stuck out after nightfall, too. No, it's her best bet to stick close, even if that means that she has to fight.
She doesn't have much with her by way of weaponry, and she winces as she realizes just how underprepared she is for a fight. She really should do something about that, if she manages to make it out of this alive. At least Mika is back in the village, where it's safe. She only needs to worry about herself.
Peering out from behind a bush, she spots others, almost as though the Greatwood has led them all to this place to deal with the menace stalking its pathways. Well, at least she's not alone. Still, she's not about to make the first move, not when she hasn't a clue what she's doing.
---
Noe arrives and watches to see what everyone else will do. She has everything on her profile (lol), but Mika is not here. Noe has two basic daggers and a basic sling.
Regional Score bonus: +17 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +17 should be included). Residents cannot be cursed at shrines in this region.
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Noe.
She was supposed to be helping out – only until she unfortunately got lost amongst the trees and the paths, avoiding the mud like it’s a plague that might bring her downfall should she slip and fall. She still isn’t too sure if that isn’t the case, given the way she has to hop over the pooling mud into the squelch of muck.
Eventually, though, she feels it. Everything is different and Caly gasps a little in her surprise – drifting a little closer because curiosity killed the cat, obviously. Speaking of which, the attuned shifts to her tide jaguar shift, carefully picking her path to try and blend in with the trees and shrubbery (which doesn’t do well given her pale coat and golden spots), pausing to see what was coming closer.
She sees Liam nearby her in the brush, but she drops to the ground to focus on the lumbering creatures and what they might do next.
Caly arrives in tide jaguar form in the shrubs and brush to see what’s coming.
She has everything in her profile with her!
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). Residents cannot be cursed at shrines in this region.
That’s the first thought that leaves Thorn’s mind as he feels the ground shake, as something rises underfoot, as he’s forced to grow far more careful with the steps he picks through the pathways. Creeping closer to follow the movement, he spies a few people heading in one particular direction, hiding in the brush aside from a tall horned Ancient by the looks of him, standing out in the open, all aimed one way.
Following the direction they’re all focused on with his gaze, the courtesan sees the mud monsters arrive with little grace and a whole lot of purpose and he grits his teeth with a soft hiss. “[say]Shit.[/say]” Thorn whispers under his breath, trying to prep himself for the next step – now willing to run away from the fight if everyone else was staying.
Thorn arrives with a small backpack that has water in it, sandwiches, and a box of matches.
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). Residents cannot be cursed at shrines in this region.
11-06-2025, 01:54 PM (This post was last modified: 11-07-2025, 02:04 PM by Damien.)
The sound hit first—a low groan that felt like the forest itself was turning in its sleep. Then came the movement. Roots shifted underfoot, rain-slick mud pulling like it wanted to keep him there. Damien steadied himself with a hand on a tree trunk, eyes narrowing toward the clearing ahead.
He wasn’t alone. Shapes moved through the rain; some familiar, most not. He caught sight of Hawthorn among them, that faint, grounding recognition in a place that didn’t much care for strangers. The rest were strangers to him, but the kind that looked like they’d seen trouble before. Good.
The thing clawing its way from the muck didn’t look like anything a man could reason with. Too big, too wrong, its form slipping between shapes like it hadn’t made up its mind about being alive. When he noticed the smaller globs forming into half-creatures, his jaw set and he loaded a bolt into his crossbow.
He kept a wide berth and steadied his breath. He could wait for it to come to them.
Damien arrives with a backpack containing food/water and rope, a small shovel, Brambleshot [crossbow], and an axe on his belt. Aria is not present.
Damien loads a bolt into his crossbow and waits, trying to give the mud monsters a wide berth.
Brambleshot | A sturdy wooden crossbow strung with reinforced sinew. Fires leafy vines that can coil around a target to restrain them harmlessly. Has a range of 10ft. Requires a STR check on a successful hit to see if the target is grappled.
Type: Grey | Style: Defensive | Level: Basic | Cost: Action
The Wildwood seems to hold its breath. Rain whispers against the canopy, and the will-o-wisps drift slow and watchful above the muck.
From the edge of the clearing, one of the smaller mudlings—a squat, sloshing heap barely holding its shape—lurches toward Hawthorn . It raises an arm-like lump and tries to hurl a piece of itself, but the motion proves its undoing; the throw splatters halfway through, its body shearing apart in two sloppy halves it rolled a critical fail. Both globs plop into the mud with an undignified squelch before beginning the slow, pitiful crawl back toward one another. Every step is a wet, sucking noise as it tries to reform, more puddle than predator now.
Across the way, another mudling gathers itself into a wobbling sphere and fires a wet glob of clay toward Damien. The shot sails wide, striking a tree with a hollow thud before dribbling down the bark. The ooze lets out a faint, almost offended gurgle, its featureless face sagging into what might be disappointment—if blobs of sentient mud could feel such things.
You have 24 hours to respond before you are skipped. 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.
This scene feels like what I once saw on a screen I searched 'aurora borealis green'
Liam watched as others began to appear. Some he recognized; others he didn't. For the most part, he ignored the group as he watched the mud monsters creep ever onward. His attention was broken only by the Maea's shadow, and he glanced up, heart sinking, as he realized that his partner would also be entering the fray. But if he was going to be any use at all, it wouldn't be by focusing on someone else, even someone he loved so dearly. So he tore his eyes away from the great black dragon and focused on the scene once more.
The smaller mud monsters approached. As they flung mud, squelching unpleasantly, Liam had to wonder just how painful it would be to be hit by the muck. Was there something special or magical about it, or would it simply muddy one's clothing?
Well, only one way to find out, he supposed.
Stepping out from behind his tree, he unsheathed his Oakblade, hefting it easily in his hands. The mud creatures were too far away for him to strike using his sword, so he opted instead for channeling. Focusing on Memory Mudling 1, he gave a shout. He wasn't sure if any of the others around were Accepted, but if they were, maybe they could help. "I'm going to channel!" Hopefully some passing spirit would slow at least one of the mud monsters down, or immobilize it, or - if he was really lucky - harm it in some way.
---
Liam stands about 30 feet from Memory Mudling 1 and channels a spirit to hopefully hurt it, or at least slow it down/immobilize it. He also announces his intentions to the group.
Channeling (Accepted): Allows an Accepted to channel a spirit during a time of crisis (1x a season). Can be combined with other accepted channeling to increase power.
Type: Light | Rank: Basic | Cost: Action
I've never seen someone lit from within Blurring out my periphery
Liam
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Liam.
don't talk 'bout me like how you might know how i feel top of the world, but your world isn't real
More people arrive right within view, though the tide jaguar’s focus is still entirely on the mud monsters. The largest of them seem to have their own little gathering of people to fight it off (and a dragon??) which leaves her focusing on the smaller of them – one half breaking itself apart and the other slowly rolling toward someone she doesn’t recognize.
Then, she hears someone say they’re going to channel and her golden eyes focus on the mudling that she’s sure that Liam is focused on, deciding to take advantage of the situation for when he channels to prep and launch herself from the underbrush at the mudling carved in half, claws extended out to slash at it and try to make it more difficult for it to pull itself together again.
Caly focuses on memory mudling 1 after hearing Liam say he’s going to channel and she pounces out to rake at it with her claws!
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). Residents cannot be cursed at shrines in this region.
The courtesan seems to hold his breath a touch, confusion flaring in his face as he watches one of the mud creatures roll toward him, shrinking a little to see its arm sweep up like it’s about to throw something at him – only to watch as it cleaves itself apart. Thorn’s nose wrinkles, hearing belatedly the mention of channeling and watches as a pale feline lunges from the underbrush.
Moving his hands in a swift motion, Thorn taps into the air magic in his veins, snagging at the breeze with it as he focuses intensely, trying to launch the gust of wind at the mudling to try to keep it from knitting itself back together, hoping he’s aimed it well enough that it won’t hit any of his allies.
Thorn sends a gust of wind at mudling 1 to try and immobilize it from forming back together!
Air manipulation (Abandoned/Hybrid): Can manipulate the air. Must be within a 30ft radius and allows the user to levitate medium-large sized objects up to 5ft above the ground . Control is excellent.
Type: Grey | Rank: Upgraded | Cost: Action
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). Residents cannot be cursed at shrines in this region.
Draw the cat eye, sharp enough to kill a man You did some bad things, but I'm the worst of them
Two smaller mudlings break away from the behemoth, which seems to be focused on some of the others who have gathered. Noe thinks that she sees Sohalia in the fray, but she can't tell if she recognizes anyone else. Instead, she focuses her attention on the mudlings traipsing towards her group, seemingly attempting to hurl mud balls at them.
Now, Noe is not one who is well-versed in battle, and she eyes the lumbering creatures warily as they grow ever nearer. She backs away, trying to maintain some distance as she stoops to pick up a rock. There's a shout from one of the others, a blonde man who seems like he must know more about fighting than she does, and she remembers, suddenly, that she can channel, too. She looks around hurriedly. One girl has turned into a tide jaguar, and one man seems to be doing something with the air - but the last, another stranger (Damien) might work. "Hey, you!" she shouts. "If you can channel, help me out!" Then she takes aim at the Memory Mudling 2. She's never done this before, so she concentrates and yells, "Hey, uhhh, a little help?"
---
Noe tries to maintain distance between herself and the mudlings, and holds her action to see if Damien will channel with her. Either way, she's aiming for Memory Mudling 2 with her channeling.
Channeling (Accepted) : Allows an Accepted to channel a spirit during a time of crisis (1x a season). Can be combined with other accepted channeling to increase power.
Type: Light | Rank: Basic | Cost: Action
Regional Score bonus: +17 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +17 should be included). Residents cannot be cursed at shrines in this region.
Sometimes I wonder which one will be your last lie They say looks can kill and I might try
Noe
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Noe.
Two spirits ripple into existence like the rain itself has remembered faces it once knew. Their shapes are fluid and faintly luminous, drifting just above the ground—half smoke, half water, with eyes like shards of distant lightning. One streaks toward the mudling 1, clawing itself back together, plunging through its chest in a burst of pale light; the other glides across the clearing toward mudling 2, its touch sending ripples through the creature’s sludge-like hide before vanishing back into the mist.
Calypso bursts from the thicket in a flash of motion, her tide-slick pelt gleaming beneath the will-o-wisps as she arcs through the rain. Her claws scythe toward the mudling, but the creature’s body ripples like a wave struck by wind; her strike passing harmlessly through the spray.
Hawthorn's reply i immediate: the air whirls around him, gathering speed until it roars forward in a spiralling gust. It catches the half-reformed blob squarely, scattering chunks of living clay through the clearing like a storm tearing petals from a flower.
The first mudling staggers upright and flings itself at Calypso, missing as she sidesteps with a hiss of spray and claws. The second gathers a glob of its own body and launches it toward Damien; the projectile slams into his shoulder with a wet, concussive crack, bursting apart and streaking him in steaming clay that pulses faintly before cooling to dull, gritty sludge.
Your randomly assigned posting order is Liam, Calypso, Hawthorn, Noe, Damien.
Remember you have 30ft of movement per turn and keep in mind the range of any weapons you're using!
You have 24 hours to respond before you are skipped. 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.
This scene feels like what I once saw on a screen I searched 'aurora borealis green'
The clearing descended suddenly into chaos, with spirits appearing, a tide jaguar attacking, and wind whipping. Liam watched it all with a grim sort of determination, sword in hand, pleased to find that Memory Mudling 1, at least, was looking the worse for wear. Later, he could curse himself the fool for not attempting to rally others to channel with him, but for now, his attention was entirely on the battle at hand.
A battle that he entered with a wordless war cry, sprinting towards Memory Mudling 1 with sword held high. As he approached, he swung Oakblade down in a wide arc, careful of Calypso but aiming to take Memory Mudling 1 out at the knees. Then he attempted to dart back and out of the way of any of his fellow warriors, offering them a chance to attack next.
---
Liam runs towards Memory Mudling 1 and uses his Oakblade to attempt a downward strike to take the mudling out at the knees. Then he tries to move out of the way of the others to give them a chance to attack without hitting him.
Oakblade | When sheathed, this longsword feels as light as a feather, but upon being unsheathed, it instantly adjusts its weight to the wearer’s intent, allowing for devastatingly heavy strikes.
Type: Grey | Style: Offensive | Level: Basic | Cost: Action
I've never seen someone lit from within Blurring out my periphery
Liam
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Liam.
