What do you get when two ruthless assassins raise their daughter travelling through the wildest reaches of Caido? Take one look at Theea and you'll get a pretty good idea. Cheerful and tenacious in equal measure, and curious beyond all else, she began her journey on a mission to find those her mother once called family. And find them she did, soon rubbing elbows with demigods, leaders and even ghosts from the past. Her determination is resolute, her thirst for knowledge unmatched. We can't wait to see where her next adventure takes her!
Congratulations, Theea!
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 got it," he agreed to the Doubletake's plan, suiting actions to words with satisfying results. He didn't have anything better to suggest at the moment, though they should probably think about how to avoid the roots soon--
Aaaand there they went. Noah was still on the menu and Tal winced as the demigod lit up with pain and anger and divine light. "Nope," he agreed grimly with Flora, hot on her heels as they chased after the Forsaken and caught up with the Wild Thunder.
"Let go o' him," Tal yelled in the general direction of the chittering laughter, using his Dagger to punctuate his request as he aimed at the base of one of the roots holding on to Noah. Tal follows Flora and stabs at one of the roots holding Noah with his Dagger.
Type: Grey | Style: Offensive | Level: Mastered
Special Delivery Dagger | A carefully crafted dagger veined with crimson markings, decorated with the foot of a blink hare. Upon making a stabbing motion in the air, the dagger may damage a target up to 30ft away from the user.
Type: Dark | Style: Offensive | Level: Mastered
Honed by Nightmares | A curious silvery coating covers the Special Delivery Dagger. Causes extra physical damage at an Mastered level.
Type: Grey | Style: Defensive | Level: Mastered
Rockhide Vest | An armoured vest flecked in black and white and lined with cool, fur-like material. This item blocks physical damage. Requires a 2 post cool-down between uses.
Type: Grey | Style: Defensive | Level: Upgraded
Hands off! | Silver striping covers the Rockhide Vest. When successfully struck in melee combat it deals lightning damage at half the wearer's damage stat.
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Basic
Lucky you | A wishbone earring blessed by Mort, that when worn grants +5 luck. Must be included in all PQ/PQ+/KQ/DROP posts to be counted.
Sah reacts quickly, his hand crackling with energy as he sends a blast of lightning at the roots holding Noah. The lightning strikes true, and the roots shudder violently, loosening their grip just slightly. Flora, not one to be left behind, hurls another dagger into the fray. Again the blade misses its mark, disappearing into the darkened canopy above. Talyson is close behind, his blade flashing as he hacks at the tendrils, severing another section of the writhing roots and freeing the Forsaken.
But the Mathair is nothing if not cunning. The moment she senses Noah 's shield, her attention shifts, and her hunger turns to Flora. A vine, dark and pulsating with violet energy, snakes out from the shadows. It lashes forward, quick as a striking serpent, wrapping around Flora's waist. There's barely time to react before it yanks her off her feet, dragging her through the underbrush.
The forest seems to part for her, branches bending away as she's pulled deeper and deeper, the laughter of the Mathair echoing louder with each passing moment. The vine draws her closer, until Flora finds herself face-to-face with the ancient tree. The Mathair towers above her, her bark twisted into what almost resembles a face - hollow eyes that seem to stare into Flora's very soul, and a gnarled mouth that curves into something like a cruel smile.
The great mother tree - a goddess in hiding - leans closer, her branches reaching down as if to caress Flora's face. The void pulses through her, a dark, sickly energy that seems to thrum in the very air. The Mathair has her now, and she has no intention of letting go.
Welcome to the Key Quest. This is a hard Level 12 key Quest.
Void Mathair: 1124.5/1569
Your randomly assigned posting order is: Sah 684/684 Noah 302/560 Flora 346/504 Talyson 780/780
Remember to include a summary at the bottom of your post with all action taken. If weapons/upgrades/abilities/items/shifts/etc are used, please include their desc. from your profile at the bottom of your post as well.
REMEMBER: KQs are rewarding but dangerous. They may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters.
Sah hummed, satisfied as the roots gave under his lightning and Tal’s dagger. He had his confirmation. His lightning did do more damage than air. Air’s higher energy effectiveness be damned. Now with Noah feeling, they could regroup.
Except of course things went from bad to worse. The Wild Thunder’s eyes widened and he was moving before he even fully processed Flora being dragged away. If she was dragged beyond their reach, he feared that they’d never find her again. Not alive at least.
As soon as Sah caught up and saw the situation, his lightning resurfaced, echoing his adrenaline as it sparked to life. He quickly sent a bolt at the Mathair, being careful not to get Flora in the crossfire.
~
Sah runs after Flora and uses his lightning magic! (Being careful not to hit Flora)
Regional Score bonus: +9 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +9 should be included)
Lightning manipulation: Can create and control Lightning. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Dark | Rank: Mastered
Magic: Overcharge: adds additional lightning damage at mastered level on a successful hit when Sah uses his lightning magic.
Type: Dark | Rank: Mastered
Type: Light | Style: Defensive | Level: Mastered
Starmour | Beautiful lightweight armour that glistens faintly with starlight. This item blocks physical damage at the wearer's Mastered level. Requires a 2 post cool-down between uses.
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Upgraded
Lucky Star Earring: A studded star earring that grants the wearer +2 luck when worn. (Made by Sah)
I think therefore I am, But what if all I do is bleed?
Minor powerplay allowed without permission. Feel free to use force/magic on Sah without killing him.
Magic: Cold Resistance (Passive) | Can comfortably exist in temperatures as low as -45c. Will experience colder temperatures as if they were -30c cooler (i.e., -60 would feel like -30) Type: Grey | Rank: Upgraded
"Hear one positive and one negative accounts of the Voice, Safrin, Ludo, or Frey from 8 different characters who have met them personally:
? I would like to Skip with MP"
That's the price you pay Leave behind your heart and cast away
The vines and roots holding him did not seem to want to ease. He could feel the vehemence and rage through their pulsing, violet tendrils. Thankful for this shield, he didn’t seem to sustain any more damage. Thankful, too, for his comrades that freed him with their attacks not unlike they had done just weeks ago in the infected jungle.
Dropping to his feet Noah gathered his breath again just to see Flora get grabbed and dragged past him. ”Shit!” he said as he, like Sah, took off running after the queen. His heart pounded in his chest as he ran, knowing how those vines and roots felt for him — they could only be worse for the accepted.
”Now would be a good time to channel!” he called, slowing near Sah and sending his spirit stag towards the tree that now looked nothing like he remembered, but instead was something out of a nightmare.
—
Noah runs after Flora and when he believes he’s in the best range he attacks using Spirit Stag
Magic: Spirit Stag | Can summon the spirit of a mighty stag; an echo of Noah's former shift. This will last for 1 post per thread and appears to be made of pure sunlight. Noah can direct the stag to charge at a target, dealing fire damage and causing disadvantage on their next roll.
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
Regional Score bonus: +9 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +9 should be included)
Just another product of today Rather be the hunter than the prey
Sunlit Shadows (mastered) | The user can read the surface thoughts and emotions of those within a 60ft radius. Control is excellent. Note: "Thoughts and emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
Type: Grey | Style: Offensive | Level: Mastered
Deadly Recall | Can recall 1, or 2, or 3 of her feathers to her hand, within a range of 30ft. Recalled daggers do 1/2 damage when recalled.
Rescue (Mastered) | Remi can bring a fellow Old God demigod to his side in a time of crisis for three concurrent posts. One use per thread. If the summoned demigod also has mastered this ability, they can remain until the end of the thread.
11-14-2024, 03:34 PM (This post was last modified: 11-14-2024, 03:35 PM by Court Official.
Edit Reason: tag closed
)
you look like my next mistake
Flora's annoyance at having missed once again is short-lived as thick vines wind around her waist, tightening far past the point of being friendly or even pleasurable. Yanked off of her feet, the queen has only a second where she's able to cry out, before her body is rag-dolled through the Greatwood's dense foliage. Branches and thorns cut at her exposed skin as she's bounced through the underbrush, though it was the crushing pain around her ribs that was the real worry.
Blinking through the daze that has settled over her thoughts like a fog as she's finally brought to a halt, it takes Flora several seconds to understand what—who—was before her. "You." Barely able to breathe, the queen croaks out the word, blue eyes wide with understanding.
And then terror.
The Mathair was known to be a cranky bitch on the best day, but if she'd been taken over by the void?
Recalling what Tal had said earlier and hoping he'd be on the same wave length when (if) he followed her into the woods, Flora closed her eyes and channelled. "—Vi—" If anyone had the power to make the Mathair heel, surely it would be him. "Free her—" Or, if that wasn't a possibility, then fucking stop her.
Flora channels Vi (or saffy) (hopefully w/ Tal).
Regional Score bonus: +11 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +11 should be included)
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Basic
Lucky you | A ring that when worn grants +3 luck. Must be included in all PQ/PQ+/KQ/DROP posts to be counted.
Accepted Channeling: Allows an Accepted the opportunity to channel one of the gods during a time of crisis (2x a season). Can be combined with other accepted channeling to increase power. If combined with another mastered channeling, increases the odds of a Big God answering to 15 %
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
They freed Noah! Teamwork really was making the dream work! And Tal was allowed to believe that for a whole warm and fuzzy 0.5 seconds before Flora got grabbed and they were back on the nightmare rollercoaster once more.
"Flora!" he yelped as she was yoinked out of reach, his free hand grabbing only air as he tried to slow her queennapping. Joining the rest of the team, he charged after the retreating branches and their flaxen-haired hostage until they reached the clearing where the Mathair held court. Except the ageless tree, infected the last time he'd seen it, was now awake and NOPE.
Tal skidded to a halt, already drawing breath and leaning into his connection to the gods. He and Flora hadn't had time to work things out, but since she hadn't suggested otherwise, he was going with his first instinct. "Vi, help them!" he prayed, throwing his whole heart into the plea for seasonal goddess and queen to be released from their respective Void-touched conditions - even if Flora's condition was more physical than spiritual at the moment. Tal follows Flora's path and channels for Vi (with Flora)!
Accepted Channeling: Allows an Accepted the opportunity to channel one of the gods during a time of crisis (2x a season). Can be combined with other accepted channeling to increase power. If combined with another mastered channeling, increases the odds of a Big God answering to 15 %
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
Type: Grey | Style: Defensive | Level: Mastered
Rockhide Vest | An armoured vest flecked in black and white and lined with cool, fur-like material. This item blocks physical damage. Requires a 2 post cool-down between uses.
Type: Grey | Style: Defensive | Level: Upgraded
Hands off! | Silver striping covers the Rockhide Vest. When successfully struck in melee combat it deals lightning damage at half the wearer's damage stat.
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Basic
Lucky you | A wishbone earring blessed by Mort, that when worn grants +5 luck. Must be included in all PQ/PQ+/KQ/DROP posts to be counted.
Alas it isn't Vi who appears, but Safrin. Though the goddess doesn't have quite the same ability to instill fear in those around her with a simple gaze the way Vi does (good as she is at it), that doesn't mean she is without her tricks--as everyone in attendance is aware.
Tutting under her tongue to see Flora bound against the tree, Safrin waves a hand, bathing the tree in starlight. It doesn't damage the Mathair of course, we've all learned that, but as the light sinks into the black and violet bark, it wraps around something deep within: the Mathair's very soul. Whether this is meant to save the seasonal diety or kill her remains to be seen.
As for the second part of being channelled the rest of the group? Tossing her hands above her head, yet more starlight appears, descending around in a 60ft radius of protection. "It won't last, but for the next two rounds a moment, you'll be safe. Whatever you're going to do, I suggest you do it now."
As Flora gazes at the tree, this hollow-eyed, cruel-smiling entity, she'll find it's a far cry from the Mathair she remembers. The void has twisted her into something else, something vengeful and corrupted; an ancient hunger, and a malice that stretches through every branch and root.
Suddenly Sah 's lightning crashes into her trunk, splintering bark and sending an eerie wail through the forest. The void energy pulses violently, recoiling from the strike as if in pain, and the Mathair seems to shudder, her branches curling inwards, her form quaking from the force of the critical fail blow.
A second impact ripples through the air as a beast made of fire charges into her trunk, causing the darkened tree to sway, her hollow eyes narrowing in a mix of fury and hate toward Noah.
But then, before the Mathair can lash out again, a new light floods the forest as Safrin appears, her presence as ethereal as the starlight that follows her. As the goddess's starlight seeps into the bark, and slowly winds its way into the very heart of the tree, it wraps around the Mathair's soul, shielding it from the corruption of the void.
The Mathair thrashes, her branches whipping violently as she tries to shake off the starlight, subsequently dropping Flora as her hollow eyes fill with rage. But Safrin's light holds firm, and the tree's movements grow more frantic, more desperate, as she realizes she cannot break free.
The forest falls quiet, save for the creaking of the Mathair as she struggles, her branches curling and uncurling, her roots digging into the earth in her anger. For now, the group is safe.
Welcome to the Key Quest. This is a hard Level 12 key Quest.
Void Mathair: 832.2/1569
Your randomly assigned posting order is: Sah 684/684 Noah 302/560 Flora 346/504 Talyson 780/780
Remember to include a summary at the bottom of your post with all action taken. If weapons/upgrades/abilities/items/shifts/etc are used, please include their desc. from your profile at the bottom of your post as well.
REMEMBER: KQs are rewarding but dangerous. They may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters.
It was a relief that they were able to catch up to Flora. Sah could hardly believe the form that the Mathair had taken, but it certainly stopped any guilt from forming as his lighting struck true once more. But Flora was still trapped. But before he could try and come up with a strategy to get her away from the Goddess, Safrin appeared, and Sah felt instant relief.
He took a deep breath as his sworn Goddess's power washed over them and aided Flora. "Thank you, Safrin." She'd given them time, an incredible blessing given the way this fight had gone so far.
With a snarl, the Wild Thunder called upon his lighting yet again. With the intention of making the most of Safrin's gift, he sent another bolt of lightning at the corrupted deity.
~
Sah attacks the Mathair with his lightning!
Regional Score bonus: +9 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +9 should be included)
Lightning manipulation: Can create and control Lightning. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Dark | Rank: Mastered
Magic: Overcharge: adds additional lightning damage at mastered level on a successful hit when Sah uses his lightning magic.
Type: Dark | Rank: Mastered
Type: Light | Style: Defensive | Level: Mastered
Starmour | Beautiful lightweight armour that glistens faintly with starlight. This item blocks physical damage at the wearer's Mastered level. Requires a 2 post cool-down between uses.
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Upgraded
Lucky Star Earring: A studded star earring that grants the wearer +2 luck when worn. (Made by Sah)
I think therefore I am, But what if all I do is bleed?
Minor powerplay allowed without permission. Feel free to use force/magic on Sah without killing him.
Magic: Cold Resistance (Passive) | Can comfortably exist in temperatures as low as -45c. Will experience colder temperatures as if they were -30c cooler (i.e., -60 would feel like -30) Type: Grey | Rank: Upgraded
"Hear one positive and one negative accounts of the Voice, Safrin, Ludo, or Frey from 8 different characters who have met them personally:
? I would like to Skip with MP"
That's the price you pay Leave behind your heart and cast away
His heart pounded as the accepted called out for Vi. He wanted his patron to come and bring a divine end to this situation and help them in their quest to bring this land back to the realm and control of the old gods. He didn’t notice the way he held his breath until he let it out in relief of seeing Safrin.
She wasn’t Vi, but Noah had never had anything but good—no, a better word for that that he couldn’t think of right now—with the herald. While she didn’t offer any healing, she did offer protection. Breathing out his thanks, with a silent prayer between them alone that he knew she would hear and understand, he gritted his teeth and set to attack.
”Get behind me after this!” because he wanted to roar. For now, he summoned and sent his spirit stag again.
—
Noah says next round get behind him and sends his spirit stag again.
Magic: Spirit Stag | Can summon the spirit of a mighty stag; an echo of Noah's former shift. This will last for 1 post per thread and appears to be made of pure sunlight. Noah can direct the stag to charge at a target, dealing fire damage and causing disadvantage on their next roll.
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
Regional Score bonus: +9 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +9 should be included)
Just another product of today Rather be the hunter than the prey
Sunlit Shadows (mastered) | The user can read the surface thoughts and emotions of those within a 60ft radius. Control is excellent. Note: "Thoughts and emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
Type: Grey | Style: Offensive | Level: Mastered
Deadly Recall | Can recall 1, or 2, or 3 of her feathers to her hand, within a range of 30ft. Recalled daggers do 1/2 damage when recalled.
Rescue (Mastered) | Remi can bring a fellow Old God demigod to his side in a time of crisis for three concurrent posts. One use per thread. If the summoned demigod also has mastered this ability, they can remain until the end of the thread.
If you haven't been dropped by a tree as if you were nothing more than a sack of potatoes, Flora can confidently tell you that it's worth trying to avoid.
Hitting the ground with an ooooooooomphf that had all the air violently thrust from her lungs, the queen scrambled back (behind Noah) from the Mathair as quickly as she was able, caring little about the way the dirt and brambles were ruining her clothes. Sucking in hasty sips of air, she did her best to position herself behind Noah, before closing her eyes and once more calling out for divine intervention.
Much as she normally wasn't one to call upon Frey, based on what they'd seen of the different abilities that seemed to hurt the void, air was all she could think of. "Frey...air...please," she croaked, her lungs still unhappy about the way the Mathair's vines had so brutally constricted them.
Flora channels FREY for some air magic!
Regional Score bonus: +11 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +11 should be included)
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Basic
Lucky you | A ring that when worn grants +3 luck. Must be included in all PQ/PQ+/KQ/DROP posts to be counted
Accepted Channeling: Allows an Accepted the opportunity to channel one of the gods during a time of crisis (2x a season). Can be combined with other accepted channeling to increase power. If combined with another mastered channeling, increases the odds of a Big God answering to 15 %
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
dance beneath the stars as you drink in the night let the thunder overtake you as lightning fills the sky.
Sadly it seems that Flora's prayers never quite reach those that they're meant to. Fortunately for her, this time her call is heard by someone with the power to do much more than stir a simple breeze.
Appearing on either side of the Mathair, Rae places their palms against the tree's writhing bark, immediately calming the feral goddess within. "The seasons must remain in balance." The declare, twin sets of eyes meeting across the Mathair's trunk. Joining their hands, their fingers splay, revealing a perfectly white lily, gilded with gold. "However temperamental your nature, this is not you." They say to the tree directly, before kneeling and embedding the reaching roots of the lily directly at the base of the tree before vanishing without another word.
feel the force of nature penetrate your skin, spin with the world as the magic sinks in.
It wasn't Vi, but Safrin was a very welcome sight indeed as she settled her starlight over the Mathair. He couldn't really understand what she did to the tree-goddess, but he definitely noticed the shield that shimmered over them. The courier's eyes lit up with gratitude and he called a hurried "Thanks, Safrin!" to her before she vanished.
The tree dropped Flora and Tal hurried forward to help pull her back behind Noah at the demigod's warning. He heard as much as saw Sah and Noah go on the offensive and he readied his Dagger, planning to join them in piling on--
And then the second (third?) god of a day appeared and Tal's jaw dropped wide open. He was lucky there were no Wisps to try and fly in at the moment as Rae made their observations and planted a Lily at the Mathair's roots. It was a good couple of seconds after they poofed before the courier shook off his daze and reached for Flora's arm, activating his Ring of Mending as he helped her up. "When y'summon a god, y'really summon a god!" he said admiringly. Tal gets behind Noah with Flora and helps her up while using his Ring of Mending on her.
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Mastered
Ring of Mending | A silver ring imprinted with gold, as if it has been kissed. Capable of delivering Mastered Healing to one target of the wearer's choosing.
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Basic
Lucky you | A wishbone earring blessed by Mort, that when worn grants +5 luck. Must be included in all PQ/PQ+/KQ/DROP posts to be counted.
The Mathair continues her furious struggle against the starlight that binds her, her branches creaking and thrashing, her hollow eyes blazing with rage. Another bolt of lightning crashes into her, splintering her bark further, and the void within her seethes and recoils. The spirit-stag collides once more, its fiery form scorching her darkened wood, but the Mathair's wrath is unyielding. She is old, ancient, and her hunger is vast - she will not be undone so easily.
But then, amidst the chaos, Flora whispers a prayer. The words slip through the air, almost lost in the fury of the forest, but they find their mark. The forest stills for a moment, the thrashing branches pausing as if the world itself holds its breath.
A light begins to bloom at the base of the Mathair, soft and pure, a green glow that seems to pulse with the rhythm of life itself. The air grows thick with magic, the scent of fresh earth and blooming flowers filling the space. And then, with a presence that makes the very ground tremble, Rae appears. The twins of nature steps forward, in their palms, a lily; their touch is gentle as they plant it into the darkened soil. The effect is immediate. Light surges from the lily, spreading through the roots of the Mathair, rushing up her trunk and out through her branches.
The void screams as it is burned away, the corruption fleeing before the power of life itself. The Mathair's branches arch upwards, her form trembling as the light purges the darkness from within her. The forest seems to sigh, a deep, relieved breath as the void is expelled, leaving only the ancient power of the Mathair, cleansed and reborn.
But...are you safe?
Welcome to the Key Quest. This is a hard Level 12 key Quest.
Void Mathair: 0/1569
Your randomly assigned posting order is:
Sah 684/684
Noah 302/560
Flora 406/504
Talyson 780/780
Remember to include a summary at the bottom of your post with all action taken. If weapons/upgrades/abilities/items/shifts/etc are used, please include their desc. from your profile at the bottom of your post as well.
REMEMBER: KQs are rewarding but dangerous. They may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters.
