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!
Another team passed by – so efficient and smooth that it would likely put other groups to shame. Regardless, Erebos hollered for them just the same, hands cupped around his mouth as his little voice echoed around their small space. Only when they’d gone by and finished their lap did he sit back down and finally realized what his father had said. “The pony?!” his head snapped back to stare at the available steeds – eyes resting firmly on the one he’d been dreading. Once black but now mottled with gray, this particular equine was about three feet into the grave and seemed to exist simply out of spite. “Aww, c’mon, not Sparkles,” he grumbled, not above whining, nose wrinkling a little while he mulled it over.
Pouting only for an instant more, because Nina seemed perplexed by the sport, he grinned, eager to explain. “Are you sure? I bet you’d have fun.” Pointing towards the next group of individuals, he went through the entire montage. “The rider and the skier have to both get a set of rings, but the rider can’t lose the skier, oop, see?” as they did just that, over the first jump, flattening out and the rope becoming just a dangling object as the horse thundered along. No one seemed worse for the wear though, already sliding off to the side for another daring pair. “And the fastest time too.” Lots to consider.
But then Amhran was strolling up, and the youth’s grin went impossibly wider. The Raeling would definitely help. “Okay!” acceptance keener once the notions were tossed over in his mind for a singular second. Launching off the box, he waved to Nina before joining Amhran, ignoring his father’s low snort as he already started heading towards the horses. “Have you ever skied before? We should go practice!”
Deimos had great difficulty in not snorting, laughing, or grinning in his son’s direction the moment the youth realized which pony he was offering. Truth be told, it was more for Erebos’ safety than anything else (and coincidentally, now Amhran’s). Sparkles wouldn’t be fond of doing much more than eating, so the mere notion of going anywhere fast or dangerous wouldn’t be very compelling. Both lads would be able to participate. A win - win.
Waving the incoming pair on and murmuring to the person timing further down the lane, he then waved back to Sohalia, Zavien, Kaisel, and Flora making their appearances, though they seemed to be in deep discussions over other matters. Nina ‘s proclamation earned another stifled chuckle, shaking his head as they recorded the minutes and seconds orchestrated. “And some fun,” he placed in addition to Erebos’ explanation; if this said anything about what the Sword found amusing. “Be careful,” he rumbled to both Amhran and Erebos as they hastened off to conduct impending mischief, and he could still see them nearby.
Glancing at the list of competitors, his gaze flicked downward, then back towards the waiting crowd – the boom of his voice carrying over the masses. “I can take whoever wants to go next!”
--
Deimos says come on up. I can roll when both members of the team are on the track~
think about this you have the ability to survive anything
i've become a master at breaking my own heart with simple thoughts,
It took a lot of work for Glas to make his way out of the house toward the festival. It’s the first one he’s been to in ages, at least. But he’d told Erebos he’d give it a shot, see if he enjoyed it as much as the youth thought he might, but as he approaches and sees those gathering to join the skijouring, Glas is absolutely avoiding the ever living HELL out of it. Instead, he keeps mostly to himself, heading over to the cocoa carts to select a big cup of it to keep his hands warm, more content to watch than say anything.
He’s dressed up in a thick green sweater with a waterproof wool jacket over it, a scarf around his neck and gloves on his hands, but it doesn’t hide the scar that gnarls and twists up the side of his face, and instead settles in to watch the game occur. He spies Erebos among the mix, but doesn’t make a point to try and get the youth’s attention, preferring in this instance to be the wallflower that observes.
Glas is just watching by the hot cocoa stand!
dreams and hopes that are impossible to achieve
GLAS
No permission needed for power play!
Feel free to use magic/force on Glas, without killing him <3
Glas has a scar on the left half of his face from the corner of his lip up the side of his face toward his ear.
Colt's answering grin to Deimos speaks volumes to understanding well what running on fumes is like. Though her newborns usually have four legs. Before she can say much more, Erebos is making his presence known alongside Liam 's approach. A short laugh escapes Colt at the obvious enthusiasm of youth, and perhaps the faintest twinge of jealousy for such spry knees and boundless energy. "Hi!" she returns brightly, but the lad's off and away before she can offer more.
Turning instead to Liam, she nods with a fond pat towards Biscuit. "I shore do, why, you know one?" The wink she shoots him in quick response relays the tease for what it is. "I'd be happy to have you with me. Can't say I've ever....uh, skijored?" Her lips work around the feel of the word as it leaves her tongue, and with all the appearance of having just bitten into a lemon she shakes her head. "I've run through snow I mean, and I can handle pulling something on the end of a rope, aaand my aim ain't bad. What I haven't done before is skiied, so I sure hope you've got a sense for the slopes." She doesn't know enough about Liam to even guess if he has or hasn't, but before long Deimos is calling them up and it seems it no longer quite matters.
"Either way, just a bit of fun, yeah?" she says lower to Liam as she downs the rest of her beverage and gets ready. "Alright, let's do this." Swinging into the saddle, she walks Biscuit besides Liam to where Deimos calls them all to order.
Colt and Liam prep to ride!
Cowgirls don't cry Ride, baby, ride It's gonna hurt every now and then If you fall, get back on again
Received a Gilded Market wig from Remi that resembles her usual hair and is enchanted to stay on better than most wigs | has a reverse centaur tattoo on her left hand with the legs going down her pointer and middle fingers that looks like this.
Wonder why I tear myself down just to get built back up again
Acquiring the bag of hot almonds encased in the perfect amount of buttery sugar, Iskra grin victoriously and shifts the bag towards Melita to snag some after popping a few in his mouth. The nutty crunch of sweetness is at once satisfying. "Yeah, made it more tolerable just for you," he jokes plainly, grin giving him away if the words and the dry tone behind them don't. Although admittedly there's an adorable charm to seeing her thoroughly bundled up here. Unable to help himself, he faintly noogies her frost fox hat, the motion endearing more than aggravating (for him, anyway).
That turns his attention away as the sound of another thundering pair of hooves, this time Luxere, stampedes past with the subtle swish of the skiier being pulled along behind. "Definitely not," he says assuredly, more nuts cronching between his teeth. "It does look fun though, doesn't it?" His gaze is glittering with the possibility of action when he turns it back to her, a question posed in the raise of his brow. "I've been on skiis like, a time or two?" He can't remember exactly, much preferring sledding if he was going to be having any fun, skiing mostly putting him on his ass for what little he does recall. "Used to be good at knee boarding back in the day," when they'd been young on the Torchline waters, and it should be worth noting, knee boarding doesn't require nearly the same skill.
As Flora and Kaisel come over with all the presence of a bet gone awry, Iskra's wandering motions pause beside Mel. "Hey, glad to see you guys here!" Halo is not exactly the Caido tourism spot in Deepfrost, but if anything would be worth the visit, this festival's activities would be it. Which seem to be the crux of the display, not some victory and loss being cashed in. "Oh, definitely not," he agrees without hesitation, having minorly dabbled in both. "The water has a lot of resistance to it, so you keep a lot of tension with your rope. The snow is smoother but...it rides different. More balance is needed."
I fill the void up with polished doubt fake sentiment
Another person flew from a snowy hill, propelled by the furry horse leading them. They flipped ambitiously through the air, Zavien holding his breath as the person rotated and flew impressively high; but when they came down into a puff of snow and skis, everyone winced. Scattered clapping and laughter still trickled through the crowd, rewarding the effort even if it hadn't gone as well as they'd hoped.
His lips pulled into an amused smirk as he watched the display. "I don't know. It doesn't seem any more dangerous than the rodeo." Meaning that he would be just as terrible at the sport but might have an equal amount of fun. Maybe if he wasn't prioritizing his time with Sohalia, he'd have considered giving it a try just for the laughs. Shrugging his shoulders, he nodded to the tent of people on standby, including unicorns and those with healing magics. "At least they've got plenty of healers around in case people get hurt."
More interested in the other activities offered by the festival, he chuckled and squeezed her hand a little tighter, a playful gleam in his eyes. "Good, because it smells so good." It would have been a pity to miss out on such a selection, especially as they got closer, spotting the various presentation of toppings and syrups next to the piping hot mugs they were passing out. His mouth was already watering, the sweetness bathing his tongue as he grinned down at Soh. "Marshmallows? Whipped cream? Flavoring?" He was already releasing her hand, reaching for two mugs of chocolatey goodness.
I've done nothing wrong Except for all the atrocities
“That is not what I said,” she uttered with a light sniff; not arrogant enough to believe an entire region would think of her - but then narrowed her eyes when she realized he was joking, snagging a few of the sugared almonds and snorting. The Honeybee hadn’t been paying attention enough to the incoming assault though, and as it were, she gave a loud grumble at the ‘noogie’, striving to duck away and around.
Iskra’s lack of skijoring didn’t seem to wholly dissuade her mind though, and with Flora and Kaisel ’s appearance, suddenly that chaotic semblance of her brain was coming up with all sorts of catastrophes and amusements. Coming to see her might not have been the greatest idea, when it came to discouraging antics. Giving a massive grin towards Iskra again, a distinct plotting face, she then turned her focus upon fellow Torchliners venturing into icy regions. “Heeeey!” she winked at Flora for good measure and stories for future endeavors. Onto present things though. “Okay, buuuut even if it’s not the same, I think we should try it.” She glanced back at the track, watching another pair fly through with little issue. Maybe she’d been too hard on this whole thing. Maybe it was just fine.
Shifting her attention away as she missed the next skier miss an entire jump and get flung off to the side, she hummed a little, devious thoughts wandering into the murk. “I could ride, if you want to ski,” she offered to Iskra, one brow arching, waiting to see if common sense won out.
Something warm about the winter when you come around
Admittedly, he should have gone about this a different way, but in his defense, he didn't think Flora would need that much convincing. She's seeing the same shit he is, right? Horse. Skiing. Not to mention all the other zoo animals romping out and about like Dr. Zoolittle meets Santa Claus. It sells itself. "Pfffft," he offers back in quick response, a pretty irrefutable argument. "Like riding a horse is hard? You just sit there. The horse does all the work." He believes he could master it as easily as he's sure he could land a skyship all on his own, with no prior piloting experience.
"Wait, the sign ups are that way!" Much like a dog recognizing the route to the vet after the first turn to the ice cream shop is missed, Kaisel realizes too late he's being steered not to adventure, but conversation. "Bayuhbe," he stresses as he teeters alongside her, arm basically in the deathgrip of the those blood pressure testing machines at the local pharmacy, "you can have the easy job of riding the horse, I'll handle the skiing. I feel like I'll be a natural!"
Delivered like a nude man ready for tar and feathering before Melita and Iskra, Kaisel offers them a sloppy smile. "What up guys," he greets, his free arm lifting and waving faintly before slipping back into his jacket pocket. The one that's manacled to his wife doesn't resist, and in fact is curled as if he means to keep hold of her as equally in return. I'm gonna ski all over your slopes tonight, he informs Flora through the bond that their jewelry has tethered for them. "Oh babe, you got something there," he tells her suddenly, reaching to brush a dusting of snow off her chest, two of the best snow hills around.. This, as she's dangling him like a pinata ripe for the beating, which Iskra doesn't seem to hesitate for. His smile gives way easily to something rich with self-assurance. "Oh, I got balance."
Attention shifting to Mel, who seems just as ready to commit herself to a body cast until they can make it to the hot springs here, Kaisel gives a loud, "YES! That's what I'm talking about killer bee!" How'd that plan work out for you? You really gonna let them beat us on bravery and fun?
Kaisel
There must be something in the water, I know you feel it too
Wearing a watery blue, faded and stretched-out sparkling hair tie on his left wrist
Amhran listens intently to the explanation offered by Erebos, his head tilting towards a rider and skiier as they race by - for a bit, anyway, until it's just the rider and a rope trailing behind them. Still, it seems fun enough, though if Sparkles is anything to go by he's not certain they'll reach even half the speed the other pair were getting. "We will," he calls over his shoulder to Deimos and waves to Nina as they depart to practice, glancing back to Erebos once they're near to the equipment stands.
"Never," he offers brightly of skiing, his smile nevertheless thrilled. "But I did learn to ice skate, and so I feel like that must be similar in terms of balancing at least, right? Skiing is the one with the big sleds on your feet and the sticks, yes?" He thinks so, but it had been difficult to tell what the man tumbling in the snow had been wearing once he'd lost the horserider.
Providing that is the case, he'll outfit himself in a pair of skiis and spend a bit of time strapping his feet into them, before grinning to Erebos as if to ask what next.
Considering Erebos had also never skied (yet), he couldn’t be disappointed – though with Amhran ’s wide and cheery smile to accompany, the boy snorted, shaking his head. “Yeah. Sure. Couldn’t be much different,” so said two individuals about to embark upon stark variances. Snagging at Sparkles and all his necessary tack accoutrements, including the ever-important rope, he led them over to a place with a mild clearing, so they’d at least have some space to strive and try before winging it out on the track.
“Okay, so, I’ll pull you, and you just try to hang on,” spoken with an air of confidence that it was a feasible act. Once he’d vaulted upon the decrepit pony, he gave a few pony club worthy kicks, at which Sparkles moved all of two feet and promptly stopped dead in his tracks. Turning his head over his shoulder, Erebos noticed the rope hadn’t gone beyond the barest slack. “Er uh, let me get him goin a bit more,” which eventually settled upon a very sedate pace, as the elderly equine had noticed some hay going by in the hands of one of the workers. “How’s that?” as they began to move along – Erebos figured he’d hear the slash of the skiis along the top of the snow and they’d be in business.
I like shiny things, but I'd marry you with paper rings
"See?" Flora beams instantly as Iskra agrees with her, triumph breaking across her face so brightly it probably qualifies as its own regional weather event, her aqua eyes cutting toward Kaisel.
The victory lasts for approximately three perfect, glittering seconds. Her smile sharpens instead of disappearing as Kai’s voice curls through the bond, his promise about skiing all over her slopes tonight sliding through her thoughts with all the subtlety of a shirtless man kicking open a door he absolutely could’ve opened normally, and though her cheeks are already pink from Halo’s brisk air, the heat that rises beneath her scarf is entirely his fault. As his hand brushes snow from her jacket, Flora glances down with theatrical innocence before looking back up at him through her lashes, her mouth tilting into something wicked and fond and dangerous enough to come with its own warning label. Here’s hoping you don’t get any frostbite, she thinks back sweetly, the words wrapped in the mental equivalent of pink ribbon and teeth.
Then Melita opens her treacherous mouth, and Flora’s attention snaps back toward the Honeybee with immediate betrayal widening her eyes. The playfully disapproving look she sends her is all wounded queen, scandalized friend, and woman who should’ve known better than to seek help from someone whose idea of a good time regularly involves explosives, monsters, or both. "Traitor," she mutters under her breath, though the word comes out with too much glitter at the edges to land as anything but affection, her arm tightening through Kai’s as if she can still hold him in place by sheer will, excellent posture, and the sort of manicured grip that has absolutely yanked worse decisions back from the brink.
Unfortunately, the brink is now wearing skis.
Flora turns to face Kaisel properly, widening her eyes at him in a look so emphatic it nearly becomes punctuation, because honestly, if he is going to stand there with that much confidence in a sport he has never tried, while Melita starts plotting and Iskra provides just enough caution to make the danger sound fun, the least she can do is make him feel her disbelief in high definition. No, she answers through the bond, before her thoughts immediately curl slyly around the edges. But I’m happy to let them beat us on a trip to see the healers so we can score all the good hot chocolate and snacks before they’re gone.
Out loud, though, Flora draws in a long breath through her nose only for it to leave her in a huff that fogs softly against the scarf wrapped around her mouth. "Do you really want to?" she asks, and despite the warning in her tone, despite the way one brow stays lifted in a final, noble attempt at sanity, her grin is already starting to turn sly, because if Kaisel is in then obviously she’s in too.
and I hate accidents except when we went from friends to this
Code 100% taken from the queeeeeeen herself, Sky <3
Wonder why I tear myself down just to get built back up again
Fairly certain his warning went in one ear and out the other, Iskra only tilts his head faintly at Kaisel's assertion of having balance, and he's tempted to ask for a demonstration. It seems they might all be getting one though as talk continues to further towards the track and pairs of skis. "You can try everything at least once," Iskra offers with a bold grin in response to Melita.
"Honeybee," he offers as a subtle correction, glancing from Kaisel back towards Mel. "Plus, worst case we just have to go soak in the hot springs." How terrible that would be. "So, definitely worth a go just for the spirit of the season," he decides with a nod, an apologetic glance shot Flora 's way as she's rapidly being outnumbered. Although it seems even she is coming around to the idea, even if it's laden with the teeth of a trap.
"You ride, I ski," he agrees to Mel, a mittened hand gesturing between them with the assignments. "I think we have to head to the track now though, I heard Deimos shouting."
I fill the void up with polished doubt fake sentiment
I've done nothing wrong Except for all the atrocities
Sometimes Melita understood the kindred spirits of diabolical, impulsive, and goading sentiments. Kaisel was easy to deploy in that manner. All fun. No worries. Not even a hint of rampant possibilities, despite the Queen’s insistence and warnings. When the provoking landed exactly where she’d wanted it, she grinned back at Flora with an indulgent wink. “It’ll be great,” even if it wasn’t, in the end, they’d at least have some hilarious story and stupid anecdote for later mischief and poorly contrived ideas.
Iskra ’s response was perfection and music to her ears, and the rush of heartfelt gratitude of his constant support (over perhaps some of the dumbest notions available) made her cheeks flush. Perhaps all of them needed a voice of reason, but it wasn’t going to happen in these moments. “You’re the best,” she granted to him with another bright grin and ways to honor that later, and by then they were hastening over to horses and skis. “See you guys out there!” with a wave to fellow Torchliners, while they geared up and made their way over to the track – excitement pulsing and pounding in her ears. No nerves. Just potential mayhem and amusements.
Once everyone was aligned on the track, Deimos nodded, and the competition was on again. Melita appeared to send the horse racing immediately, glancing back at Iskra in a wide grin for the breaking pace. Unfortunately, this meant her attention wasn’t fully on the actual task at hand, and no sooner did they reach the first ring, did she promptly realize she was going far too swift. Striving to slow down ended up with her leaning entirely too far to the right, and soon she was nearly dangling from the horse’s side and tack, eyes scanning the ground and looking like she’d be hitting it soon enough.
Unsurprisingly, Iskra would end up missing the first jump due to the mishap, and it was lucky she even managed to hang onto the rope at all. For a few seconds more the Honeybee looked as though she’d fall, but by mere fortune or strength and a horse who had yet to veer off course, she managed to swing back into the saddle. No doubt the attempts to stay on would cause some soreness later, but perhaps the antics had wowed the crowd (or dissuaded them from pursuing the actions altogether).
However, with the slower pace, they’d both recover nicely – a quick and swift lesson learned – snagging at the second ring and jump with grander style and decent air, but with massive time penalties incurred.
--
Melita misses the first ring, Iskra misses the first jump, but they both get the second rings/jumps and their time is laughable but on the whole very entertaining.
think about this you have the ability to survive anything
