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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!
karma's a relaxing thought, aren't you envious that for you it's not?
Mid-morning light filters through the glass dome overhead, bright but not yet punishing, and Flora positions herself and the gathered crowd deliberately in the shade where the sea breeze can still slip between the columns and cool the edges of LongHeat’s insistence. Sweet and savoury brunch offerings have been laid out on tables, as well as an assortment of drinks. Her curls are piled up off her neck in a loose, strategic twist, gold glinting at her fingers and throat, feather-daggers resting hidden but certain against her hips. She lets the low murmur settle before stepping forward, chin tipped high enough to catch the light.
"Alright," she begins, voice carrying clean and bright through the garden without strain, "Torchline is finally going to start its regional quest for cannons!" There’s a flicker of satisfaction in the way she says finally, her hands folding loosely at her waist, rings flashing as she shifts her weight. "The first thing we need to decide," she continues, gaze sweeping the gathered faces, "is where we’re putting them."
She lifts one hand, ticking the options off on her fingers. "The docks. Up high in the floating part of Haulani. Or in the water."
"Our resident cannon expert, Melita, and I talked it through, and we think the docks make the most sense. If anyone sails in, I want them to see exactly what’s waiting for them the second they look up. A very clear message about what happens if they decide to fuck around.
Putting cannons in the water sounds clever," she goes on, shoulders lifting in a small shrug, "but then we’d need people strong enough to haul them around, and we’d be limited by whoever happens to be nearby when we need them. I don’t love the idea of our defence depending on who skipped arm day." Or, y'know, if her parents were around rather than being on newborn duty.
"And yes, placing them up on the floating level would give us more range, but they wouldn’t be nearly as visible and I think that matters. Half of defence is making sure no one wants to test you in the first place." She glances around again, slower this time, reading posture, tension, curiosity, dissent. "If anyone has another idea, or if you think there’s something we haven’t considered, now's the time to speak up."
ME RQ to determine where TL's cannon will go! Flora thinks it should go on the docks, but if you have another idea, feel free to say so!
This ME needs to be completed before the PQ can begin, so be sure to get your posts in quick if you need this for levelling because we don't want it left open forever.
Eating fire is your ambition to swallow the flame down
Normally the Honeybee was the type to flicker and bob about in the background; illuminate her theatrics and wiles into the more common circumstances of regional quests. Not that she was shy, far from it, but often figured her opinion was notable enough – in this case though, with cannons on the line, she wasn’t about to let that go quietly into the night. While Melita had already offered her two cents into the armament foray (most of which was excitement and violence), she’d certainly come for the food, to support Flora, and ensure their plan would go off without a hitch. Marching in and winking at the Doubletake, she slid in amongst the others, snagging at a plate and then finding herself a table, propping her feet up on another chair to revel in the incoming nuances.
Hooting and hollering at the initial announcement, the Honeybee settled in, taking a sip of some wonderful brunch mimosa before she’d begin her echoing sentiments. “Torchline is amongst the best Caido has to offer, and we want to be able to defend it." Make the world fear ever crossing the region. "If you’re bothered by the thought of it on the docks, we’ve also discussed upgrading it in the future, for potentially longer, bigger, and better range.” More power, more might, more precision; and the multitudes of others backing it.
to be lit up from within, vein by vein to be the sun
Remi arrives without spectacle, as he tries to do more and more these days, a drink finding its way into his hand almost absently as he listens. His gaze rests on Flora with quiet pride, softened at the edges in a way that has nothing to do with the heat. One hand drifts through his curls as she outlines the options, an old tell of thoughtfulness rather than unease, and when she finally opens the floor, he shifts his weight slightly but does not step forward, content to let his voice travel rather than his body.
"The docks make sense. Visibility is a weapon in its own right." He lifts his glass slightly, not quite gesturing with it, but punctuating the thought. "Is this cannon going to be the sort of thing anyone can use?" His brow tilts faintly. "Or will it be like the stargate, where only Torchline's council can operate ot?" There is no challenge in it, only practical curiosity. "If the point is deterrence, accessibility may matter just as much as placement." But then, Torchline had about as many grudges as it did cocktail bars.
Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!
Speaks with a thick Italian accent.
Force and magic can be used against Remi without permission.
Isla also arrives without fanfare, but that's mainly so she doesn't risk waking her daughter. The steady rhythm of her footsteps has proven to be a perfect lullaby for the infant, and so with Fern wrapped cozy and sleeping against her chest, she passes into the Court of the Stars like any other attendee. Collecting a glass of iced tea just as the floor opens for discussion, the Remedy is drawn, naturally, to the sound of her best friend's voice, and she drifts towards Remi to arrive at his side.
"I agree that the docks sounds like a good idea," she says, speaking loud enough to be heard without shouting, not wanting to startle the baby in her arms. "I assume we won't be putting it too central to any of the ships and businesses, though? I daresay cannonfire might be detrimental to their livelihoods." Not, as others have already pointed out, they are expecting to need to use the cannons much, but even so.
With her point made, she glances up to smile at the Bastion now. "Hey," she whispers. "You're a sight for sore eyes."
And there's a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you, dear Have I known you twenty seconds or twenty years?
On this particular morning in Leafchange, Lyra finds herself back in Torchline. She's been traveling for the better part of the past few seasons, and coming home is comforting, but strange. It's almost like her roots here are growing fragile as she begins to see what else the world of Caido has to offer. Still, she is firmly a Torcher at heart, and at the news that there is to be a meeting to decide upon the future of the region, she shows up with interest to hear what their queen has to say.
It appears that their current regional quest is for cannons, and Lyra cannot think of anything to add to the discussion. "The docks sound like a good place," she says. "But I agree that placement should be strategic. If there were an attack, the cannons would be a target, and therefore anything around them would possibly be damaged by attempts to disable them." So, in other words, she's in favor of avoiding any ships and businesses, to the extent that it's possible to do so.
karma's a relaxing thought, aren't you envious that for you it's not?
Flora listens as the voices rise and settle around her, her gaze moving easily from one speaker to the next while the conversation gathers shape. Melita ’s enthusiasm draws the faintest curl of amusement at the corner of her mouth, the Honeybee’s hooting enthusiasm as predictable as the tide and just as welcome. Remi ’s voice lands softer but carries weight in a different way entirely, the question tucked inside it practical rather than challenging, while Isla and Lyra follow with the same quiet sort of caution that speaks less of doubt and more of care for the people who make their lives along the harbour.
"Okay," she says at last, when it seems there's no more to be said on the matter. "Docks it is." Her gaze shifts briefly toward the open view of the harbour beyond the columns, the faint glitter of water just visible in the distance before she looks back to the group. "And I agree about the placement. We don’t want them right in the middle of businesses or trying to shoot through the harbour." Her hands spread slightly, palms angled outward as if laying the harbour out between them. "So maybe right at the start of the port? Far enough out that they can target anything coming in before it reaches the docks themselves."
Pausing for a second, Flora's brows lift a touch as she circles back to Remi's question. "Who do we think should actually be able to fire the cannon? If anyone can do it, that definitely makes them more useful, but obviously opens us up to issues of people using them for their own personal gain or settling scores." One shoulder lifts in an easy shrug. "Whereas if it's just the council, that means right now it's only Ronin or I who can use them. I know we're both normally around, but if we ever aren't..."
Who should be able to fire the cannon?
And there's a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you, dear Have I known you twenty seconds or twenty years?
Lyra listens as voices rise and fall around her, cresting like the ocean waves that represent their region. Her suggestion is met with little criticism, and a small part of her that fears that perhaps she doesn't know enough to be speaking on the subject relaxes as Flora agrees with their caution. With the placement of the cannons decided upon, that leaves the question of who can fire them - and Lyra can see the pros and cons of both sides.
"Is there a way to assign a sort of key to them?" she asked, genuinely curious. "So, let's say that you and Ronin each have a key. If you leave Torchline, you could leave your key with a delegate. Whoever holds the key can fire the cannons. Although," she muses aloud, lost now in the logistics of it all. "That does mean that someone could try and steal a key..." So maybe it isn't the best idea. Oh well, she tried.
Remi has been listening—or at least he had been—at least until Isla’s voice rising beside him pulls his attention sideways, and he turns automatically, expecting to find her much as she had been the last time he saw her: round with pregnancy, steady and glowing in that particular way of women who are carrying entire futures beneath their ribs. Instead, what he sees is a small bundle sleeping quietly against her chest and for a moment, the Bastion simply blinks.
His mouth opens into a soft, silent O, surprise blooming so quickly across his face that it chases every last strategic thought straight out of his head. Cannons, councils, keys, all of it vanishes like mist in sunlight as his gaze drops, utterly transfixed, to the tiny creature tucked against Isla. "Oh—"
The word escapes him under his breath, no louder than the whisper of the sea through the columns, and he immediately leans a little closer, careful not to crowd them but entirely unable to help himself. His large hands hover uncertainly at his sides as though they might reach out and then think better of it, the corners of his eyes crinkling with unguarded delight.
"And who is this?" The question is pitched in a conspiratorial whisper, the travelling tongue softening the edges of it into something warm and curious as he peers down at the sleeping baby with the same fascinated reverence one might give a newly discovered star. Only after a lingering moment does he glance back up at Isla, his expression bright with affection. "You look very well," he murmurs, the smile that follows boyish and sincere.
Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!
Speaks with a thick Italian accent.
Force and magic can be used against Remi without permission.
"The start of the docks seems like a good idea," Isla confirms with a gentle nod. And as for who ought to be able to fire said cannons...
"Perhaps it should take a certain number of Torchers to activate them - three, for example," she suggests. "That way we aren't reliant on you or Ronin being in the area, but it reduces the likelihood of someone deciding to set them off out of personal spite." Of course there's always the possibility of three disgruntled Torchers deciding to fire cannons as a group, but it feels as though cannons come with some level of risk by their very nature.
Leaving the final decision to Flora's discretion, Isla falls quiet just as Remi's shadow starts to fall over her, and she gazes up at him with a grin that doesn't try to hide her delight or her joy to be able to share her daughter's arrival with him. "This is Fern," she whispers back, brushing a careful finger across the baby's soft cheek. "Would you like to hold her?"
To hear that she looks well has the Remedy scrunching her nose at him playfully, giving him a gentle nudge. "Flattery will get you everywhere."
Eating fire is your ambition to swallow the flame down
With the docks firmly in place, Melita settled further back into her chair, listening. While Remi seemed distracted by Isla (and oh look another baby), Lyra persisted, and Flora extended the next round of thoughts and notions. “Sounds good to me,” when it came to port regards; having no intention of damaging Torchline itself when it came to defensive and offensive measures, despite her trickster status.
As for who would be firing the cannons, the Honeybee wanted to desperately raise her hand and volunteer for all hours, but knew better. Tilting her lead to listen, she wasn’t certain she liked the idea of just the council, for precisely the reasons Flora listed. What if her and Ronin were gone, representing them somewhere else, and Torchline was assaulted? Humming a little under her breath, she built her ideas on Lyra and Isla’s inputs. “Or something like a password? Only those trusted enough to know it can activate the cannon?” It had the potential to lead to other issues, she supposed, if there was some betrayal measured…but she shrugged, willing to listen to all the other proportions.
to be lit up from within, vein by vein to be the sun
karma's a relaxing thought, aren't you envious that for you it's not?
Flora listens as the suggestions gather and braid together, her gaze moving easily between Lyra, Isla, and Melita while each offers their own solution to the question she’s just thrown into the air. One of her rings spins slowly beneath her thumb as she considers it all, the gesture absent-minded but familiar, the way someone might trace the edge of a coin while thinking through a gamble.
Lyra’s idea earns an approving tilt of her chin, thoughtful rather than dismissive. "Keys could work," she says, though the faint wrinkle at the bridge of her nose suggests she’s already spotted the trouble lurking behind the elegance of it. "But yeah like you said, they could be lost or stolen." Her gaze flicks briefly toward Melita as the Honeybee offers the password variation. "And passwords get told," she adds, spreading her hands in a small, helpless gesture. "Or overheard. Or passed along after someone’s had one too many drinks and decides they trust the wrong person, or even just someone trying to be helpful."
Her fingers tap lightly against her chin now, thoughtful, the breeze lifting another stray curl as she tilts her head. "I think Isla might be onto something. If the cannons require a certain number of Torchers to activate them, it means we’re not relying on Ronin or me being physically present, but it also makes it a lot harder for someone to just wander over and start firing for fun." Her gaze drifts across the gathered group again, weighing the shape of the idea as it forms. "So...how many, do we think?"
She lifts a brow slightly, the corner of her mouth tilting as she thinks it through out loud. "Two? Three?" Her shoulders rise in a small shrug. "Obviously the more people it takes, the less it can be abused. But if something is actually attacking us like during a KQ it might be hard to peel three or four people away from whatever’s going on just to fire a cannon."
Last round!
Lets do x number of Torchers to fire the cannon! But how many should it be?
The moment Isla offers, Remi doesn't hesitate, instead nodding with quiet eagerness already lighting his face, setting his drink aside almost absently as he reaches out with the careful confidence of someone who has held very small lives before. His large hands slip beneath the tiny bundle with surprising gentleness, lifting Fern away from her mother and immediately tucking the baby close against his chest.
A soft breath leaves him as he draws her nearer, the Bastion lowering his head instinctively to breathe in the warm, powder-sweet scent of a newborn. For a moment the entire meeting dissolves into irrelevance around him; cannons, councils, harbour strategy..all of it fades beneath the simple gravity of a sleeping infant curled against his heart. "Isla, she's perfect," he murmurs as his thumb adjusts the edge of the blanket. Fern’s smallness seems to delight him endlessly, and he studies her face with open fascination before glancing back up at Isla.
An indulgent sigh slips out of him then, his lips curving crookedly as one familiar dimple appears in his cheek. "It was not just flattery," he says softly, the travelling tongue warming the words as his gaze flicks over her with gentle appraisal. [asy]"You do look very good for someone who has just given birth."
The conversation drifting through the courtyard barely catches his attention now, his focus lingering far more on the tiny life resting against him than on the logistics of Torchline’s defence. Still, when Flora’s voice reaches him again, asking for numbers, Remi glances up toward his daughter with the distracted ease of someone half listening and his shoulders lift in a small shrug. "I think two sounds fine," he offers mildly, already looking back down at Fern as if the cannons of Torchline cannot possibly be as interesting as the steady rhythm of a newborn’s breathing. "If anyone uses them inappropriately, it is not like we are lacking for ways of tracking them down."
Remi thinks 2 is fine because threats will keep people from abusing the system.
Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!
Speaks with a thick Italian accent.
Force and magic can be used against Remi without permission.
And there's a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you, dear Have I known you twenty seconds or twenty years?
Lyra is once again pleased when her suggestion is met with approval, albeit with some constructive criticism that she herself has already identified. She feels out of her element in a meeting like this, so used to living her life and going with the flow of things that speaking up to help shape her region feels foreign. Still, that doesn't make it bad, and as the conversation flows on around her, she finds herself glad that she came.
The question, in the end, comes down to how many Torchers should be required in order to fire the cannon. Lyra drums her fingers idly on her leg. Three seems more sensible to her, but as Flora has already pointed out, in any kind of disaster requiring the use of cannons, finding three free and able Torchers to fire them might be difficult. "Two sounds good," she echoes. "I agree with Remi. One person might be crazy enough to try, but it seems unlikely that two people would conspire to use the cannons for illicit activity, when the potential consequences are rather... unpleasant."
"I know." It isn't often that Isla will openly boast about anything, but on the subject of her daughter's perfection, the whisper leaves her freely around a warm smile. Surrendering the baby to Remi's waiting arms and using the opportunity to enjoy a long sip of iced tea and a chance to straighten up properly, she all but beams up at the Bastion. "Well if it isn't just flattery, I definitely have Torchline and its fountain to thank for it," she adds, stepping a touch closer to gaze down at Fern with adoration; to see her with Remi has her heart hurting in the best way, and she has to force her eyes back up to address the decisions being made around them.
"People argue that three is the magic number," she says with an amused smile. "As much as they say that people have partners in crime. But you're right of course - anyone silly enough to use the cannons for their own gain might get what they need in the moment, but they won't be enjoying it for very long. Two is just as good."
Isla leans towards three people, but is content to go with the majority!
