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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!
In answer to her question, Asta's cane(?) severs the remaining wing from its body. The twitching comes to a stop, the cooling corpse falling limp into the damp soil where it doesn't stir again, almost as if the thought of living without flight was too much to bear.
Knell watches it for another moment, but when it doesn't move, she pokes it again, rolling the body over to inspect the glittering underbelly of scales. Up close, they're a beautiful latticework of gem-like discs, overlapping to create a layered skin that shimmers ever after death. They're raised in small bumps and divots that rise and fall beneath the pad of her finger, attempting to catch at the skin when she moves the opposite way. She wonders at the muscles and blood that hides beneath, the miniscule puddle of red seeming too little to cause death.
When Asta crouches next to her - or maybe he'd been there for a moment - Knell reaches for the wings, doing her best to be delicate despite her clumsy limbs. "Where should we put them? Should they be up high for Ghilio to find?" The pair rotate between her fingers, catching the light like stained glass windows with small veins spiderwebbing through each color.
// as long as there's bread and as long as there's an appetite //
He lets her poke and prod at the remaining, flightless body of the tree flit as he gets the cane back in order, cleaning it up a touch on a pant leg before it becomes a shiny, glorified walking cane. He’s just about to reach for the wings when she finishes her inspection, but he leans back as he watches her reach for them instead.
“Perhaps we place them high and leave the berries directly below it.” If she wanted to lure Ghilio toward their bounty, perhaps the shining and stained glass reflective appearance of the bright wings might capture the deity’s attention enough to come near and smell the sweet fruit they’d collected. “Where would you like to put them?” He asks, angling his head toward her with his easy, sharp smile.
Astaroth
// as long as everyone you need is stepping in line, you are camouflaged //
Smiling at the trap plan coming together, Knell holds the wings in her fingers, her tail raising behind her. "Okay!" She scans the surrounding forest, the body forgotten as she twists the colorful wings thoughtfully.
Trees rise all around them, branches and trunks bifurcating into smaller limbs that create the the thick canopy blocking out the majority of the sunlight. Leaves weave between each other in various shades, but Knell spots a small section of splitting bark cast in bright light, high above their heads.
She points to it. "What about up there in that tree?" Blue eyes look to Asta, hope and intrigue lifting them wide when she asks, "Can I put them up there?" How is something she'll have to figure out, but it sounds like fun, setting the final piece of the puzzle.
// as long as there's bread and as long as there's an appetite //
He watches as she perks up with the idea of making the offering/trap, letting the smile bloom a bit wider on his face as she twists the wings in her small hands in childish wonder. His attention averts to their surroundings, all vibrant yet still muted with the cold that continues to latch on, foliage and trees greeting them. And before he has a chance to make any suggestions, she’s pointing to a beautiful little spot that Asta can’t quite reach himself, but perhaps if he picked her up she could tack the wings into the bark.
“Of course, my dear.” He hums, stepping forward to inspect the height of the tree. It’s above him, but perhaps not enough that he couldn’t hoist her up there and make sure she didn’t fall in the process. “Would you like me to lift you up?” He asks, ensuring she was okay with it before he sets the cane against the trunk of the tree in question and bends at his knees, arms out to take her into them so he can hoist her up toward that bright spot of sun-illuminated bark.
Astaroth
// as long as everyone you need is stepping in line, you are camouflaged //
Her chin lifts, eyes shining bright despite the shade. She moves closer to inspect the spot, already thinking about how to get up there - maybe climbing? - when Asta makes his suggestion. It's the perfect solution that's rewarded with a wide grin. "Okay!"
Knell stands, glancing between Asta and the ultimate goal. Her arms raise so he can get to her waist and lift her up, but even prepared and watching for it, she still lets out a small giggle when the ground vanishes from beneath her feet. She keeps her hands firmly grasped on the wings until she's eye level with the sunny gap in the bark. The base of the wings fit snuggly into the space, the light coloring her hands as they work to secure them.
When she's certain that they won't fall, Knell releases her hands, smiling and looking down at Asta. "How's it look?"
// as long as there's bread and as long as there's an appetite //
Sending a sharp grin back her way, the Butcher easily hoists her toward the little hole in the trunk of the tree where the ray of sunlight captures it perfectly. And luckily for them, the combination of his height and her arms manage to reach it without too much trouble. Her giggle sparks a soft hum of a laugh from the Butcher himself, though once she shifts a little and he looks up at her to see her looking down at him, he lowers her back down to the ground so he can get a good view.
The sun filters in, glittering against the treeflit’s wings, sparkling and shiny. “That looks beautiful, darling.” Always a fan of things that glittered and were distractingly vibrant, it has the ancient’s approval. “Now, we just need to put the berries in place.” He reaches for the little handkerchief bag he’d made with the ruby fruits, snagging one of two to nestle into the branches close to the wings – almost like decorating a Christmas tree, sure that Knell will manage to get the berries nestled in on the lower parts of the foliage.
Astaroth
// as long as everyone you need is stepping in line, you are camouflaged //
Once her feet are back on the ground, Knell gazes adoringly up at the colorful streams of light, the wings refracting the gemstone colors in all directions. Despite the various shades and hues of the forest, she has no doubt that the vibrancy will attract anyone's attention - hopefully even that of a sleeping god.
Beaming under Asta's praise, she turns her smile to him. "We make a good team!" But they aren't done yet, and Knell shoves her hands into her bulging pockets to pull at the handful of berries. Some spill onto the forest floor, but the majority are cupped in her palms when she lifts them to tangling system of roots at the base of the tree. Their smell is strong where a few have broken, painting her fingers red again when she displays them in a pile that will certainly look enticing to any weary or drowsy soul.
More berries tumble from her pockets when she stands, the tan color of the jacket staining. "How will we know if it works?" she wonders aloud, pursing her lips when she looks upon the trap offering, from the shimmering wings to the clusters of sweetness. Would they ever know if it succeeds? Should they come back and check later?
// as long as there's bread and as long as there's an appetite //
“Yes we do.” Asta confirms, lips stretching in a wider smile. “Though I suppose that is a given, for us both being Dygra’s demigods.” He bounces his brows playfully – knowing it hadn’t been exactly a secret since he’d joined her ranks, though perhaps the first time he’d audibly said it to her. He’s sure she would have heard about it from her mother, though, which is why he didn’t feel the need to bring it up so far.
But for now, he returns to the little tree they’re decorating with berries and glinting treeflit wings, placing them up high as a guide to those vibrant wings as its focal point. Like the star of a Christmas tree, Asta tries to keep the trajectory of the red berries into guiding one’s eye toward them. And as he steps back with his empty handkerchief, he starts to fold it as he takes in her own work.
“Mm I would say we leave it and check back in later to see if they are gone. Or, hope that perhaps the weather warms up soon.” Either way could be an indicator they had a hand in waking the Flowerbirth deity. And honestly? The Butcher prays silently for the warmth to return to Caido.
Astaroth
// as long as everyone you need is stepping in line, you are camouflaged //
The mention of his new status earns the brightest smile yet, rivaling the wings with how the expression dazzles. "Right! You're like my brother now!" Knell's tiny had grabs at his coat, red stains sure to follow. "What cool magics did she give you?" He's older and stronger, so obviously that would be reflected in the abilities he has, just like his new title: The Butcher. So cool.
While she gushes over his awesomeness, Knell finishes with the berries, spreading them with a careless precision that can only be understood by a child's chaotic mind. She just hopes it works, inspecting the various elements that might catch the god's attention. "Warmer weather sounds great. Jackets are heavy," she mutters, flapping her arms and the thick material that covers them. With any luck, Torchline will be warm enough for her to shed a few layers for the first time.
// as long as there's bread and as long as there's an appetite //
“Yes.” Asta hums with a soft laugh and a grin, and when she asks what kind of magic he’d been granted, he looks to her with a twitch of his lips and a playful grin. “Do you recall how impressed I was with your fire magic?” The different shade it harbored, how enamored he had been to witness it. “Dygra has blessed me with my own.”
His hand comes out between them, and with a small snap of his fingers, green ghoulish fire comes to life in a swirling ball of lime-green heat. He lets her inspect it for however long she’d like, letting it reflect on both of their faces and washing them in hues of an almost sickly green and yellow hue. “Yes they are, my dear.” He agrees with a warm chuckle about the heavy jackets – even though Asta tended to wear quite a few layers regardless of the season, always wanting to appear prim and proper regardless of the occasion.
Astaroth
// as long as everyone you need is stepping in line, you are camouflaged //
Her head nods excessively, curls flying wild in her determination to reassure Asta of her studious memory. It only stops when his hand raises, fingers snapping with a flare that makes her gasp. "Wow! It's green!" She releases his jacket to reach out a hand, the neon coloring painting her skin a creepy shade that elicits a giggle. Having her hand over his, her own fire rises in response, warring for dominance in a dance of blue and green between their palms. It's a fascinating display that gilds the brightness of her eyes when she glances up at Asta again. "What else did you get?"
Continuing to play with the contrasting fires, Knell raises and lowers her hand experimentally over his. The flames compress into a vibrant teal color then separate into tendrils of blue and green, flickering when she moves her hand side to side. Although distracted, she asks hopefully, "Will Longheat be warmer?"
// as long as there's bread and as long as there's an appetite //
It creates a brilliant hue of teal as their flames combine and Asta is quietly charmed by the warmth hers injects into it – the heat certainly something they both can appreciate from the flame with how cool the start of the year has been. “I got a different kind of bloodbane, however I cannot use it just yet.” He offers to her, hiding the wince that wishes to cross along his face. Instead, he lets the green fire bloom a bit brighter for her to play with and inject her own, keeping his hand still as she moves hers above and under it.
The separation of the ghoulish green and the brilliant blue are complimentary of one another in a way that almost makes it look like seaglass. “It should be much warmer. It is the best season for us.” He hums, shooting her a vibrant grin that seems to suggest it’s his favorite season out of them all.
Astaroth
// as long as everyone you need is stepping in line, you are camouflaged //
The red berry juice turns to flakes of ash on her fingertips, floating peacefully into the air before drifting to the ground. She lifts her other hand to do the same, wiggling her tiny fingers so that the fire flickers and bends around each sweeping motion. As if she can catch the fire by surprise, Knell pulls one hand away then throws it back over Asta's with another flash of blue flames that momentarily shove the green downwards.
Balance returns as she plays with the fires, wondering at the bloodbane magic he can't yet wield. Her head tilts, a hum preluding her thoughts. "Mm. How will you know when you can use it?" How could she figure out what magics she couldn't use yet? And more importantly, when would she be able to use them?
Another question floats up, eyes snapping up in a flash of concern. "Do you still have your deer shift?"
// as long as there's bread and as long as there's an appetite //
He watches her play with the fire on their fingertips, the way she tries to hide away for a moment before flaring it back to life, pushing the green down until It surges back up, winding around its twin flare to create that vibrant teal again. “Hopefully soon.” He answers, though he doesn’t know exactly how he’d know. Probably when it felt like he could withstand the health required. As it stands right now, he feels as though he might perish just at the mere thought of using it. “However, seeing as it requires me to injure myself, the ascension of becoming a demigod has made me weaker and I do not wish to test it out until I become stronger.” Though, he supposes, he could test it in the rage room…
That’s a thought for later, though, and with different company. Instead, he caches her gaze as it snaps up to him with her question and the Butcher rumbles a warm laugh and a nod. “Yes. Darling Dygra let me keep that one.” He’d lost all the others, but the deer had become ingrained these days and Asta can’t help but to be at least a little relieved he was able to keep one.
Astaroth
// as long as everyone you need is stepping in line, you are camouflaged //
