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Character of the Season
Once known as the Butcher of Whitebrim, he's now The Butcher of Dygra, stepping forward as the first created demigod of the Ancients. There is no question that Astaroth casts an intimidating silhouette. Tall, domineering and dangerous, if looks could kill you'd be dead already, but to get up close and personal with the Grounds' resident cannibal tells a much different story. Dripping with charm and clad in only the finest attire, Asta is a gentleman monster, as polite as they come and committed to his role as security for the Dusklight and those who have earned his loyalty. Be careful of that smile, though - those teeth are sharp.
Congratulations, Asta!
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!
- You think that you're the man. I think, therefore, I am. -
Once they'd finished with the port, word had spread of a theft from a group of nearby farmers. Supposedly, their crop of dream cactus had gone missing, leaving them distraught and desperate enough to look for help anywhere, including the rancher and her suspicious friend. Perhaps it's a good sign, an indication that they're beginning to trust Colt, or maybe they know how dangerous the thieves are, more willing to risk strangers than themselves.
Whatever the reasoning, Thal begrudgingly agrees to help in tracking down the thieves, and the two of them follow a distressed local to the plot in question. On their way, they run into a gruff looking man who Thal might have otherwise mistaken for a bear, buried in hair and hulking muscle. He even lets out a rumbling growl as he talks - albeit not much - and explains to the rancher (whom he apparently knows) that he'd been there to collect on an order from the harvest. At least that's what she thinks he says. Thal is familiar with the garbled speech of sailors, but his rolling accent is new, forcing her to concentrate slightly more to understand him.
Somewhat intrigued by his litter of scars and the primal energy he gives off, the Captain doesn't argue when he tags along, although she keeps a close eye on him for a multitude of reasons.
The plot turns out to be a portion of firmer land near Suvahasi. The green of cacti pops out violently on the sandy background, initially appearing undisturbed from a distance. However, as the farmer leads the trio closer, they notice that the succulents have been stripped of their spikes, a clear liquid having oozed and dried where the sharp points should have been. The plants are otherwise unharmed, standing tall and plump in the desert sunlight, seemingly not to have noticed the loss of their defenses.
Narrowing her eyes, Thal begins to scan the surrounding environment, a criminal mindset considering how and where the thieves would have gone. She barely glances to the others as she steps closer, flicking her tail as she says, "Spread out and look for clues. They had to leave some sort of trail." After all, the perfect crime doesn't exist.
This is a PQ to find and secure the dream cactus harvest that has been stolen from the locals!
Please post your character arriving and looking for clues around the plot.
On his way to retrieve his monthly supply of dream cacti, Grimm is informed by a nervous local that there has been a theft, leaving him with nothing to replenish his own stocks. Although the cactus makes for a great psychedelic that he's more than familiar with, when mixed with other ingredients in small, controlled doses, it can act as a powerful pain medication for those suffering from injuries in the Celestine. Its loss would be felt.
However, as he resigns himself to the disappointment, he runs into a familiar face. Huffing a breath that dismisses any annoyances from their last meeting, Grimm gives Colt a grumbled greeting, explaining in short sentences what he's after - which turns out to align with her own objectives. He doesn't recognize the other woman, but she stands with a sort of rebellion that refuses to let the world push her around, and the way she measures him is anything but friendly. Grimm determines to watch her closely, two predators working in momentary alliance until there comes a time when dominance must be asserted.
He follows them to the plot, his nose raising instinctually to scent the air, even if all he can smell is dry earth and salt. The local hadn't been lying about the theft, the cacti looking awkward with their spikes sliced cleanly off. It's more annoying than anything, an inconvenience Grimm now has to deal with.
The woman in the dark cloak appears to take the lead, seeming to have some sort of experience in doing so. Having already planned to investigate, he doesn't pay her much mind, walking a different direction as his dark eyes shift golden to look for hints of where the culprits may have gone.
Grimm arrives and partially shifts his eyes to look for clues.
With a vested interest in the dream Cacti here, planning to make it a prolific trading option for the region, she is roped into the current situation by those farmers she has been working alongside to produce even more of the desert plant. It's already a valuable source of income for the people, and its qualities are almost reverent to them, suggesting at least some self serving dosing and even ritual dependency for the plants properties.
Not accustomed to tracking people, or in the wind-burying sands of the desert, the help of everyone gathered is needed. Grimm had been an unexpected addition, and after their last run in she suspects some raised hackles from him, although she's quickly finding that's just his default. Making a mental note to herself that the caretaker might be a prime buyer in the future, Colt doesn't make note of the impending black market operation adjustments that will be on the horizon.
"My guess is they'd start to head towards one of the ports." Colt's hand brushes over the sand where she has crouched, trying to discern if she's looking at the remnant of a footprint the world has already tried to bury, or just the signs of wind and sand and bone. "Could be the addition of the skyport is making some people greedier, trying to fill ships before their own supply is ready, making them take from others.: The pros and cons of improved trade is the new abundance of people, which are arguably one of the most destructive forces to nature. The dream Cacti grow wild, but are farmed, as this plot is, and its much more efficient to steal from a farmer than to wander the Wilds.
Colt looks for footprints and suggests they headed towards the skyport
Wild horse out the gate Yeah your heart about to break She the type of woman that gon' make you lose control She something wild, you might need a lasso
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.
- You think that you're the man. I think, therefore, I am. -
Weaving between the cacti, Thal does her own sleuthing, kicking aside a piece of dirt over a partial footprint similar to the ones Colt finds. There appear to have been a few culprits - although they could have guessed at that just from the quantity stolen - but there are some odd divots in the dirt that draw her attention as the rancher talks. "Hm. Good thought," she agrees, figuring the crew must have needed a way to get out of Hak Etme to get rid of the cacti as soon as possible.
Thal crouches next to the tracks, confirming aloud, "It looks like they took a cart to the port." She rolls her eyes and stands, looking out to where the tracks lead, the new skyport beyond. "Idiots." It certainly makes their jobs easier. She wonders if they thought no one would come after them, and any other day, they might have flown off into the sunset - which would make this their very unlucky day.
Rolling her shoulders, a plan takes form. "They can't be too far." Looking between the two of them, her eyes linger on the man before looking to Colt. "I can carry one of you, or I can fly ahead to slow them down." She'd prefer to fly ahead, but being unaware of the man's abilities (if any) and without mounts, there's no telling how long she'd be on her own against the thieves.
Pick whether to send one person with Thal (in her lyvern form) or have her slow them down while the rest catch up.
Despite Grimm's impressive hunting skills, he has to admit that the women are holding their own. It's not hard to figure out what's going on, but he doesn't even have to talk while they piece together the information provided by the environment. Instead, he wanders to the edge of the plot, looking out to the direction they've indicated for the new skyport. His shifted eyes see a distant plume of dust on the horizon, barely perceptible in the afternoon sunlight. The dark-haired woman isn't wrong in her assessment.
When she lays her measuring gaze on him again, Grimm glowers back, waiting for her to say whatever it is she's thinking, waiting for her to question his ability to hold his own during this chase. She doesn't, but the option she presents is obviously aimed towards Colt, forcing her to pick between flying with this woman or trailing behind.
Confident in his own speed, his jaw feathers, eyes narrowing. "Moi shif' kin keep up." Dark eyes glance to Colt, not hesitating as he adds, "Oi kin carry Col' too."
Grimm suggests that he can carry Colt while Thal flies ahead.
05-04-2026, 10:02 PM (This post was last modified: 05-06-2026, 09:43 PM by Colt.)
COLT
It's been rough not having her horses so readily at hand while she runs amok in the desert. Many are still stabled in areas kinder than this, and those she has here she's careful with, the heat and the arid land quick to get to them. The cattle, especially, are not here yet. Today though, she hadn't planned to be traipsing over the sands, so when both Thal and Grimm pin her with an expectant look, her mouth slowly pops open with the dismay of the choice.
"Carry me with what?" she can't help but demand of Grimm, their last run in still close for comfort. "Your teeth again?" she scoffs faintly, the approval of that idea clear. Not that Thal's claws are a better comfort, admittedly. Sighing with the irritated knowledge it'd be one of the two, both of which are devilish, Colt wracks her brain for a different solution. Equally as exasperating, the only thought that pops up is how nice it'd be to have Vesper here.
"Fine," she says sharply, waving away the image of the midnight stallion with a firm tug of her hand through her hair. "I'll go with Grimm. Thal's talons seem worse." It's less about trust in his bestial mannerisms over Thal's wicked nature than it is an inclination for comfort. She might soon come to regret it, not having ridden on much besides horses. She'd be getting a good taste of the rodeo she subjected everyone to each year.
Colt will ride w/ Grimm!
Wild horse out the gate Yeah your heart about to break She the type of woman that gon' make you lose control She something wild, you might need a lasso
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.
05-04-2026, 10:36 PM (This post was last modified: 05-06-2026, 08:30 PM by Thalassa.)
Thalassa
They created the monster
Having made the suggestion more as a joke than a genuine offer - that would be a struggle - she's surprised when it looks almost like Colt plans to accept. Still, she raises an intrigued brow at Colt's reluctance to ride with the man, glancing between the two as she wonders what might have transpired to cause such a reaction. And what's this about teeth?
A tiny tug at her lips is the only sign of her amusement as she flicks her tail. "Try to keep up."
Without any more advice or warning, her spine lengthens, skin turning to scales as wings sprout from her back. A single, powerful flap of her wings propels her forward and into the sky. She doesn't look back to see if or how they manage to keep up, her eyes narrowing on the horizon where their objective grows ever larger with her streaking form.
They don't see the danger approaching until it's too late, one of the four letting out a shout as Thal descends on them. She banks hard and hovers just long enough to buffet them with air before she streaks forward to land in their path, letting out a roar that stops them in their tracks.
Thal flies ahead to intercept the thieves! Stop their wagon and retrieve the supplies!
05-04-2026, 10:48 PM (This post was last modified: 05-06-2026, 08:56 PM by Grimm.)
She's quick to assume teeth are his mode of carrying. His plan had been for Colt to ride on his back, but apparently she's still skittish from last time, balking when he even bothers to suggest it. His dark eyes narrow, irritation clear in the set of his jaw as she caves. "Foine, but no stabbin' this toime."
Still glaring, his body shifts, horns sprouting from his head and slick black fur spreading across his skin. His eyes turn golden as they watch her, making the annoyance more obvious as he slowly lowers himself towards the ground so she can climb on. Behind him, Grimm's tail flicks at the tip, haunches bunching as he prepares to catch up to the Ancient flying ahead.
He manages to hold back a growl as Colt climbs on, but his ears press flat against his head, fur bristling until she manages to secure herself on his back. Once she does so, he lunges forward, certain the rancher will have no problem hanging on as he launches into a sprint. Webbed paws pound against the dirt, teeth bared against the weight on his back despite having been the one to suggest it.
Grimm easily catches up with the lyvern, following close on her tail despite being able to see the dust plume and wagon ahead. As such, she greets them first with a mighty roar that has his ears flattening again, a tension running down his spine as he joins her in facing the group. He splits off to the opposite side as the Ancient, lowering his head in a threatening growl to keep them from escaping with the goods, and trying to keep a distance between himself and the lyvern. If Colt chooses to climb off, she'll find him ready to crouch but unwilling to move from the ground he's picked.
Grimm boxes in the thieves in his sea panther shift.
A sharp, dry laugh drags from her chest at his remark. He surely means it quite seriously, but it strikes her as far too funny, given the setting, and it unworks some of her unease. "You're lucky I didn't put my spurs on today," she offers with a wry tilt to her mouth as she approaches the large feline shape of him. Not having gotten a proper up close look the last two times he'd been in this shape, both times involving quite a bit of action, she can admire his size and prickly traits for the first time properly. Although slick for the water, spines and horns dot him as well, giving him an almost barnacled appearance at times.
For a moment she sways back and forth at his side, trying to scout the best path up and the better place to sit to avoid gouging herself on one of his sharp edges. Wishing she'd brought her enchanted saddle with her, or had some way to summon it, Colt resigns herself to the inevitable chafing with a mild sigh as she reaches up for one of the spikes. She grips it with a strength earned by holding onto things she maybe should have let go off, and with a grunt and a shuffle of feet swings herself up. It's not so fluid as on horseback, and she has to clamber the rest of the way with balance and a well placed heel on one of his side ridges, but she makes it up.
"Phew, this is new," she considers over his growl, slitting into place just behind his shoulders. The spines are naturally thinner there, better allowing the spine to move with his prowling gaits. It's lower down on his sides that she has to be careful, calves prickling on some spines and immediately pulling away only to find the tips of others. It's a very set fold of limb that she finds sits smooth and painless, and above her fingers wrap around some sizable spikes, not having any mane to thread herself into. "Okay," she tells him, evidence of her settling.
He lunges forward at once, the motion a completely different beast entirely from sitting a horse that a startled cry leaves her lips. He's like liquid over the sand, but beneath her, all that water comes to and fro like the tide. Horses are wider-back and almost have a floating quality with the way their backs stay steady, but this fells like motion barely contained beneath his hide, a rolling, expressive thing that dips and arcs and sways relentlessly. Her thighs bear down and she finds herself leaning closer to his back, hanging on for dear life to the spines.
By the time they arrive to the wagon she feels as tossed about as a ship in a storm, and the moment anything close to a pause registers she flings herself off his back. Her arms windmill and sand shoots up in high, dramatic plumes as her legs stagger to get back beneath her, but she manages not to eat shit. "Ah fuck, I think I need to be drunk if I ever do that again." Although maybe that'd be worse.
Trying to rein in her bearings as the two beasts descend violently upon the wagon, Colt settles for panting her breath back to pace, and squinting towards the wagon front. "GIVE IT UP THIEVES!" she bellows out at them, hands cupping around her mouth. "Or we'll destroy everything." Expecting they have some sense of self preservation, she angles to be the good cop here. Though she has reached down to fish out the dagger from her boot, just in case.
Colt says STOP thieves!
Wild horse out the gate Yeah your heart about to break She the type of woman that gon' make you lose control She something wild, you might need a lasso
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.
- You think that you're the man. I think, therefore, I am. -
The small band of thieves pull back the reins on their horse, the poor beast letting out a squeal for the monster in its path. A few curses echo from the four criminals, muffled by the bandanas wrapped around their faces, hats hanging low as if to shield them from the wrath about to rain down on them. Curved blades and daggers stand at the ready, every one of them standing to defend their pathetic attempt at a robbery.
Letting out a growl, scales melt into skin and wings tuck into her back, but her horns remain, a sharp, dangerous gleam in her eyes as fire sparks along her fingertips. "Including you," Thal adds for Colt, flames illuminating the wicked glint of her fangs as she stares them down. They really only have two options, and the way she angles her body in preparation for a fight suggests she would rather they give her something to sink her teeth into.
But the crew glance at each other, eyes tracking the massive sea panther - Thal will admit she's somewhat impressed - and the blonde who appears to have just as many points as the others. They exchange another look, brows furrowing in deep frustrations mixed with an ounce of fear. Is a little bit of profit worth their lives? Do they want to risk getting burnt to a crisp or torn apart?
Apparently deciding they like their limbs how they are, they slowly raise their hands, the universal sign of surrender despite the low grumbles of their discontent. "Drop the weapons," she commands, unwilling to let a single hint of compliance sway her distrust. They hesitate, obviously having held onto some kind of adorable hope that they might make it out of this if they caught the trio by surprise; however, she feels the weight of their sighs as they drop the blades, a few clanging with the impact of being discarded.
Thal grins, pleased, if not slightly disappointed that there won't be blood to spill. "Maybe you're not as dumb as you look." Addressing the others, she nods to their new captives. "Let's tie them up and put them in the back of the wagon. Keep your eyes on their hands. Who knows what they're hiding."
Tie up the crew so you can take them back to the plot for judgement and return the Dream Cacti!
The Sea Panther gives Colt a snort as if to say "Me too." Being a mode of transportation isn't on Grimm's list of enjoyable activities, and he would rather like to avoid doing that again. He can still feel the warm echo of her pressed against his back as she pinwheels to the ground, his fur giving a subtle ripple in answer to the breathability her absence brings back. He even straightens his shoulders, feeling lighter without her to weight him down.
Surprisingly, their powerful display of shifts appears to frighten the thieves - along with a convincing argument from the Ancient who looks ready to tear into them. Grimm holds his ground in case any of them get a funny idea to throw something or strike out, but the situation appears to be well under control before they know it.
Although he doesn't like taking commands from people, there is still a job to be done, and he shifts back with a glower sent in everyone's general direction. The Ancient for giving orders, Colt for daring to ride him, the thieves for inconveniencing him as a whole. But he sets his jaw and grabs a coil of rope from the back of the wagon, ready to wrangle some criminals.
The stance of movement about to snap eases from Colt's frame as the wagon hauls up and the thieves surrender with little fuss. Understandable, given they're facing down a sea panther and lyvern, although who knows what abilities the bandits have at their disposal. For this, Colt appreciates Thal's continued wariness. In her experience, thieves are not hungry to put their necks on the line, which is why they rely on stealth in the first place. If they're desperate enough though, there's no limit to what a person might do.
Yanking some of the cording from the wagon itself, where canvas is strapped down to shield from the heat, Colt sets about starting to tie up the hands and feet of the cactus rustlers. "You got eyes on the goods?" she asks Thal, a glance afforded over to her. She doesn't expect Grimm does since he's standing guard, and a prime need for it if any of the thieves think of pulling something clever.
As Colt ensures the rope is nice and tight, her handling of the person being bound not careful in the least, she narrows her gaze. "So why'd you steal from this plot rather than grow your own? Or go harvest the wild ones?" she has some ideas, but she'd like to know what sort of dream cacti turf wars there are here.
Colt starts to tie up the thieves
Wild horse out the gate Yeah your heart about to break She the type of woman that gon' make you lose control She something wild, you might need a lasso
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.
- You think that you're the man. I think, therefore, I am. -
While the Sea Panther stands momentary guard and Colt starts tying people up, Thal gets to the brunt of business. She darts forward onto the wagon, winking a burning blue eye at the closest thieve as she throws back the cloth. Buckets of prickly pieces pierce up from their containers, and she grins, tapping one with her boot as her tail waves in a pleased motion behind her. "Goods are here and accounted for."
Grabbing her own bit of rope, she approaches the thief she'd winked at, pushing on the back of their knee to knock them down before she secures them with the rope. Her skills aren't those of a rancher, but she's familiar enough with the equipment from years at sea, hands making quick work of tying his arms behind his back while keeping attentive eyes on the progress of the others.
Gazes find Colt as she asks her questions, but they don't answer the rancher, one even attempting to spit up at her before they realize they're still wearing a bandana over their mask. Muttering a profanity, they fight against their restraints. Thal chuckles, wicked amusement twinkling in her eyes. "You'll have a lot more to say when there's a dagger between your legs and a fire under your ass." There will be plenty of time for that when they get back to the plant.
For now, she ensures all the thieves are tied up and in the wagon before nodding to her crew. "Colt, you drive. We'll following close in case these idiots get anymore stupid ideas."
Great job detaining everyone! Now get back to the plot to return the Dream Cacti!
He lingers for a moment in shift, watching as the women move towards the four thieves. When one has been tied up, Grimm stalks forward, shifting to grab his own coiling of rope and nearby criminal. Other than making note of the Dream Cacti, he ignores the conversation, keeping his own focus on the threat of rebellion. It's only when one of them tries to start a fight with Colt that he pays closer attention, a deadly glare firing their direction as he tenses, ready to jump into action if necessary.
With everyone piled into the wagon, Grimm waits impatiently to hear the plans, standing so still that he appears statuesque. Only his eyes move, watching as the Ancient hops down and calls out more orders for how to proceed. Finding no grounds to disagree with her plans, he shifts back and pads silently to the wagon's side, golden gaze pinning the thieves, daring them to misbehave.
