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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!
The scared, nervous ambitions of a youth faded away mere moments after his intention and aspiration had come true. Well, soothed, he supposed, given the shock and awe of it all. The Sword had granted every amount of advice he could as they’d wound their way back home, and Erebos had altered from apprehensive lad to excited, ebullient, and triumphant little demon.
So much so that the moment they touched down outside of the Ignatius homestead, the youth was bounding on his long, lanky limbs to the door and opening it well before his father had a chance to take a singular breath. There might’ve been some response coming thereafter, but the boy wouldn’t have heard it, snagging at his frost fox in both hands and leaping through the aperture. “Mom! Mom!” He announced, hands already full of the creature, who’d seemingly settled in well to the thought of being bonded to a tiny human (at least enough to settle into the kid’s arms, no matter the sudden speed). “Guess what I got!”
Come rest your bones next to me And toss all your thoughts out to the sea
Evie is cuddled up with Micah in her favorite armchair, trash dime novel in hand, when her companion’s head rises and turns toward the front door with an abruptness that brings the Evergreen to attention too. “Is it the boys?” she asks him mildly, even as he nimbly hops out of her lap (one of her legs is numb from his weight) and goes to investigate. Evie marks her page and stretches her leg with a hiss as the pins and needles set in, faint healing magic easing it away faster so she can stand and stretch, careful of her growing belly.
Before she can make it more than a few steps the door blows open, permitting an excited child whose loud voice fills the previously quiet space with immediate life that brings a smile to Evie’s face.
“Ooh, what did you -?” the rote, playful response is cut off by her gasp as she spots the fox kit in his hands, delight bringing her swiftly before him to kneel and grab him by the shoulders with a beaming, surprised smile. “Oh my goodness! Look at them! You’ve bonded!” Micah bounds around them, Evie’s excitement infecting the bond and riling him up until he’s nudging underneath her elbow like a furry crowbar, trying to peer at the newest addition to the family.
I'll pull up each of our anchors So we can get lost, you and me
Deimos came close behind and shut the door from the Halovian cold, shaking his head in either disbelief or amusement, hiding his grin as the excitement came in waves, hanging his jacket and furs, along with the ones Erebos shed mere seconds before. The latter half of the pair was ecstatic, though mindful of his mother’s space, holding up the frost fox proudly, grin wide and ebullient, while the creature had seemingly already taken to being manhandled. “I did! His name is Orsino! And I get to keep him!” Or, at least, that was the logical framing of what had occurred.
Bounding in further so he could settle Orsino into his arms, the fox gave an enthusiastic ‘yip’ that sounded like crackling ice, while Micah strolled around feet and then towards Evie’s elbows. Having taken several modicums of impulse and boldness, the youth was at a loss for what to do next – even if it had been reiterated several times over by his father. “What should I do next?”
Come rest your bones next to me And toss all your thoughts out to the sea
Assured that Deimos is handling all the minutiae of their son's whirlwind, Evie only spares a moment to shoot him a grin over Erebos' shoulder before devoting the entirety of her attention back to the boy and his new bonded. It's adorable to see a bond at this young - they're perfectly matched! Instead of an adult taking care of a young animal unexpectedly tied to their soul, these two are peas in a pod, both as confused as the other but with no context or history to lend fear or trepidation to the event.
The newly dubbed Orsino yips in what sounds like emphatic agreement moments after Erebos' declaration. Really, what else could she possibly say even if it was a stray and not a companion? It's too cute!
"Yes you do! Forever, because your hearts and souls are tied together forever-n-ever," she assures, voice and smile both softening with each word. Let there never be fear of any other fate for these two.
Readjusting so that kneeling hurts a bit less given her protruding stomach, Evie taps her chin while humming as if this is a grand mystery for them to pair up and solve. "Well, let's think. What do you normally want and need when you first come home? Or what do dad and I normally do for you that's part of your routine?" Things like food, bathing, bonding time - things that will prompt him to tune into his companion's needs and become accustomed to taking care of one another.
I'll pull up each of our anchors So we can get lost, you and me
You are interrupted by a sharp, high-pitched screech, accompanied by a dazzling fork of lightning that leaves its image burning behind your eyes for a long time afterwards.
You swear the afterburn looks almost like a face, the mouth stretched wide in an agonised scream. If you blink too quickly in the wake of it, the face starts to look like someone you might know.
You have encountered one of the Scream Rain SE serendipities! You may use this to complete requirement 1. of the seasonal event. Please note: this serendipity CANNOT be used for levelling purposes.
His grin was an ebullient, bright thing; punctuated ever further at his mother’s compliments and agreements. When his question was met by a series of her own, however, his brows furrowed in an imitation of both parents, nose wrinkling as he began to study Orsino’s fur in thought. “I do like to eat. And you make me take a bath.” If it were left up to his own devices and motives, the youth would probably be constantly covered in a state of dirt and snow. After backtracking over those notions, he went with the logical first choice. “Okay, food then! You like meat and stuff, right boy?” Orsino gave a tiny yip again in response, and Erebos figured Micah and whomever else was around would like a hardy bit of snacks before they meandered to avoiding getting clean.
Meaning to turn abruptly towards the kitchen, he had no expectation of the sudden, high-pitched scream looming outside. Both of them jumped simultaneously, and he immediately tucked himself straight into his mother, cautious of her belly but seeking comfort just the same. “What was that?!” He’d already heard of his father’s tales of the ridiculous weather, but he hadn’t been in the threshold of afterburnt features and faces beforehand either. Rationality, in the fixation of screeches,
