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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!
“Unarmed, as far as I am aware, means both parties.” The butcher says, already knowing it would be hand to hand with nothing else required of him. As such, the butcher positions himself in a space that would make it easier for them not to run into anything on his desk or take down any other bone chimes. “I will go easy on you, darling.” The butcher winks, his smile a touch too sharp.
He is very experienced with it, at least. It wasn’t every time that the butcher pulled out the threaded cane, nor was it every time he utilized his magic just to pull people out of the Dusklight without being too over the top. Just enough to get the point across most of the time.
Either way, his dark gaze tracks Kaisel as he steps in and aims his hits to make an opening later. It’s a move the butcher knows all too well given he’s done a few himself. He blocks the hand that aims for his chest, sweeping in like they’re at the start of a tango to only barely get tapped by the punch aimed at his gut – glancing off his side as he absolutely invades Kaisel’s space with a punch to his side – completely ignoring his head that’s protected – and a long leg that steps out in the hopes to trip the soldier if he steps back.
1/4 Asta blocks the hit to his chest and maneuvers so that the punch to his gut glances off his side and steps into Kaisel's space and punches at his side and slips his leg just behind his own in case he tries to step back he might trip.
// hot blood, these veins, my pleasure is their pain //
”No need, I can take it!” he grins out, utterly self-assured. The words come just before swinging into his punches, not as surprised by their failure as he is by Astaroth’s fluid countering of them. For such a tall and old man, Astaroth moves with an effeciency and grace akin to the shadow puppets he always keeps on hand. It’s all Kaisel can do to shift into a roll, ducking his body away from the strike that suddenly sweeps in too close for comfort.
He might have succeeded with a clean evasion too, if not for Astaroth’s lanky ass deer leg sliding into place behind the very foot Kaisel’s trying to slide out and step into. His torso twists away from the strike, knuckles glancing off his abdomen, but his balance is left stumbling for purchase as his foot catches on Astaroth. It’s a graceless hop to untangle himself from the surprise, nearly eating it entirely, and a blocking hand is surrendered as a counter balance in the process. Kaisel grunts through it, tugging on the uncertain momentum and transforming it into a low kick that snaps out at Astaroth’s shin in retaliation, trying to keep the man at bay while Kaisel regroups his form.
2/4 tries to dodge the hit by rolling into a side step, and does get his torso turned out of the way, but stumbles over Asta's leg. Once he regains balance he kicks out at Asta's shin.
Here only the strong survive
Wearing a watery blue, faded and stretched-out sparkling hair tie on his left wrist
“Are you positive you can, Kaisel, darling?” He asks as a tease – unsure how much Kaisel knows about the butcher, but one thing will become apparent during this spar for the young soldier. The butcher has one hell of a pain tolerance. If he’s impressed by the way the younger man slips out of the main range of the attack he aims at his side, he doesn’t show it. He just keeps that shark toothed grin on his face as Kaisel stumbles over the leg that was definitely positioned for such a result.
The graceless hop gives the butcher time to recenter himself, winding up for a kick that hits the butcher square in the shin but it seems to not phase him in the advance. After all, Asta was a swarmer to start, a brawler at heart. He’s always been fine taking the punishment to get close and allow his wind up to be one hell of a suckerpunch.
As such, if Kaisel hasn’t regrouped while Asta simply takes the bruising to his shin, the butcher doesn’t give him a second to wait. He aims a hard punch directly at the soldier’s chest, hoping to knock the wind out of him.
2/4 Asta takes the hit to his shin so he can get close and kinda smother Kaisel and immediately punches at his chest to try and knock the wind out of him.
// hot blood, these veins, my pleasure is their pain //
Kaisel is finding he's clearly underestimated both Danta and Astaroth when it comes to the ring. Maybe ancients are just built Ford tough, all the chaos and the blood and the stone waiting to creep up, or maybe it's these two men in particular that require a bit more respect than he'd considered after dealing with their dicks first. "Don't worry about me," he exhales around a grin, fully in his element now, even if it doesn't mean he's easily standing victorious. Kaisel might not boast the same pain tolerance as Asta, but he's thick-headed enough to take the beatings and stubborn enough to keep standing for them. Underestimated ever since he can remember, Kaisel is most inclined to thrive when he's outmatched and held down.
The strength of resolve can only make up so much ground though, and Astaroth has not only gapped him in experience and height, but levels sheer talent. That's clear now when his kick does little to rattle the haunting man, barely affording Kaisel the time to bring his balance back under control before Astaroth is suddenly there, upon him like a shadow cast from a light. "Fu—" he bites out, body bowing away from the punch with muscle memory, his arm swinging down from his head in a sideways collision with the strike to try and redirect it. Even if his instinct is right, his timing is too late, and he doubles over a bit as the fist lands hard and solid into him.
Grimacing out a breath, Kaisel clamps down with his other hand onto Astaroth's wrist, trying to twist it off to the side and thrust Astaroth off with it. The inhale he drags in is not sufficient, but he sips in what air he can and forces himself to step in and drive an uppercut with the returning hand that failed its block, aiming for Astaroth's ribs.
3/4 Kai tries to evade and block but ultimately fails and takes the majority of the strike. He grabs at Danta's wrist and tries to forcefully twist it and shove him back, stepping in to uppercut at his ribs with his other hand, but is stuggling with his breathing.
Here only the strong survive
Wearing a watery blue, faded and stretched-out sparkling hair tie on his left wrist
Asta has also been an underdog before – mainly when trying to prove himself to the Ancients when he’d newly joined their ranks. He’d had to work hard to prove himself, to become their punisher and hunter. And he’d done it well. This version of Astaroth is far calmer, more open with those close to him than he ever would have dared to back at the Climb. But it doesn’t mean that old habits don’t die hard.
“I won’t, darling.” The butcher purrs with a breath and a grin that mirrors Kaisel’s own grin as they spar. The hit lands despite Kaisel’s attempts to avoid it, and he hears the bit out curse with a bit of satisfaction. He doesn’t admit as much, but he does appreciate it regardless. Now – as his wrist is grabbed, the butcher doesn’t immediately pull his hand away to try to break the contact.
Instead, he tries to figure out what Kaisel’s goal is, and with the over extended punch that Kaisel tries to twist out – he’ll find it goes about halfway (mostly willingly), for the uppercut to try and slip in and aim for his ribs. It’s about now that he tugs hard where Kaisel has his wrist still clamped, trying to pull him in so the punch to his gut isn’t as hard but it does hit and try to steal some breath from his lungs. It’s with a hiccupped sound that the butcher intends again to trip up the soldier – his tail sweeping out, aiming to wrap around Kaisel’s leg to tug it forward while he pushes back to knock him off balance.
3/4 Asta tries to avoid getting hit harder by Kaisel’s punch by tugging him closer with the hand Kaisel’s gripped. He also wraps his tail around Kaisel’s leg and pushes him back to try and knock him off balance.
// hot blood, these veins, my pleasure is their pain //
Astaroth's height advantage is certainly working against him with how easily the ancient can position around his own body, not nearly fast enough to escape the reach. This would be a better opponent to face long range, but Dygra should be pleased with the chaos of the hand to hand quarters for such unmatched foes.
The balance Kaisel had just fought for leaves him again as Astaroth surprisingly yanks him forward, the illusion of control over Astaroth's wrist proving to be just that. His hit does land, but without the full power as he jerks forward against his will, body already in motion. He wrenches himself back, and like an expected dance, Astaroth is already waiting, tipping him opposite with his tail and adding more tilt with the upper shove. Kaisel goes down with a wide-eyed wail, aware of his condition and what awaits him, but without the means to change it now.
The ground greets his back hard, and this time the wind is well and truly stolen from him. He gasps, but while his lungs fight for air his legs kicks wildly around him, trying to fend of Astaroth before the man can descend upon him and pin him. There's no aim, little thought, just a flail of defense as Kaisel tries to regather himself.
4/4 Kaisel is knocked to the ground where he flails at Asta with his legs to keep him at bay and tries to get his breath back to then work on standing, but is still down.
Here only the strong survive
Wearing a watery blue, faded and stretched-out sparkling hair tie on his left wrist
The nice thing is that Asta’s been this height for quite some time. Enough to practice and ensure he knows precisely where each part of his body is and how close it might be to getting hit. Sure, his ribs still hurt from the punch he’d taken, but it wasn’t enough to stop him or keep him from double downing on Kaisel.
Which is evident as he uses the over extension to pull the soldier toward him to use his tail and shove back and he smirk a breathy, low laugh as Kaisel falls. Once he hits the ground, though, the butcher watches as Kaisel’s legs start kicking out, trying to pinpoint just how to evade the flailing legs to pin him.
So it’s with a split second motion that his hands snap out, trying to grab the soldier’s legs and twist him so he’s on his back, so Asta has a chance to put his elbow into the small of the soldier’s back, wondering if he’s successful enough to get Kaisel to yield.
4/4 Asta tries to snag Kaisel’s legs to flip him and pin him to the ground with an elbow into the small of his back.
// hot blood, these veins, my pleasure is their pain //
He knows he's short on time and options before Astaroth will make a move and restrict his choices even further. His kicks don't land though, and he's straining for air and a plan. Not wanting to expend more energy than he already has, Kaisel instead rolls to his side, arm bracing on the ground, head popping up and craning a wary eye towards Astaroth as he wheezes in a breath. The looming figure of the shadow-puppeteer is far closer and much more intent than he'd like, hands reaching out for the tail of Kaisel's wild sweep of a leg. He comes terribly close to getting the hold he seeks, but with a better view, however slanted, Kaisel yanks his feet in as if recoiling from Astaroth.
Shaking his head he taps the ground beside him with an open palm. "Alright, alright, I think that's enough of a sweat." He is, indeed, prespiring like a motherfucker now. The fire might have dropped lower earlier at Astaroth's command, but it's still lit, and this room is still hotter than his tastes allow.
Scrabbling back to his feet, Kaisel sighs out a recovering breath. "Certainly clear why you have the job that you do," he admits, on hand dusting off and smoothing out his fit. "Tail sure comes in handy for the close quarters," he says with a wry laugh. Brushing a hand through his hair to resettle it, he reaches for his backpack. "What do you say to catching a drink instead? I've stolen enough seconds from you and I don't know about you, but I could use a treat about now." He'll gladly lead the way out of this office, and starts to. "Appreciate the help, and the workout."
[FIN]
Here only the strong survive
Wearing a watery blue, faded and stretched-out sparkling hair tie on his left wrist
