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!
The approach of LongNight had been swift and unwelcome. Her crew had been preparing, debating on which port to whole up in for the week. Their 'business' often suffered when so few others dared to traverse the seas in the perpetual darkness. Instead, they used the time to relax and refresh from a year of hard work. So after much deliberation, they had agreed on the Hollowed Grounds for their temporary refuge. Its abundance of activities and added protection of the Inner Quarter had overwhelmed the temptation of the more familiar Torchline docks. The Marauder now bobbed in Jack Tar Landing, waiting for the sun to rise once more.
So with her schedule now wide open, Thal was anxious to find something to occupy her time. And the Dusklight had quite the reputation for 'entertainment.'
Pulling her thick hood down from her head, she glanced around the boisterous bar atmosphere. Apparently, many others had the similar idea to either pass the time completely inebriated or with intimate company. Thal grinned at the activity, excited to join in. The warmth of fire and bodies allowed her to comfortably remove her cloak and reveal the skin-tight leather attire beneath. A few heads turned to inspect the weapons sheathed against her second skin and the size of her other assets as she stalked towards the bar, swinging her hips confidently at the expected attention.
Leaning against the counter, she tucked a strand of curling dark hair behind her horn. After a wink to a particularly attractive man, she turned to the bartender to order a drink, only to be greeted by a familiar white-haired woman. Thal flashed her fangs in pleasant surprise. "Maea. What a coincidence."
And time it waits for no one It heals them when you die
Ghosts awakened with the setting of the sun. The last true day of the year had been a frantic race to make it back home from Torchline, and despite her original intention to spend the longest night safely at home, Maea simply didn't make it in time. The second best option was this. Having donned a bartender uniform she signed up for shifts and threw herself into the hectic activity of plying the guests of the Dusklight with drinks. There was work enough to go around and even with her limited experience the other workers were grateful; at least she could chip ice, pour beer and whisky, rum and gin and leave their hands free to deal with the more complicated drinks.
Staying busy was necessary. A leaden weight had settled in her gut as the stars winked out and she flinched every time someone opened the front door. Only the location of the brothel deep within the Last Whisper kept her from panicking - when a lifetime of ingrained terror clashed with the new times, challenging her perception of what was normal and safe.
And so Maea poured drinks. Cleaned shot glasses, wiped the counter, restocked the shelves and poured more drinks. Turning towards the newly arrived customer when the heard her name drop, she recognized Thalassa and flashed off a customer service smile, entirely forged.
"Thalassa! A welcome coincidence, indeed. What can I get you?" Stuck in service mode, it felt a bit strange to serve someone she knew; they both knew this was not her usual place, and it left Maea feeling like a fraud.
And soon you are forgotten A whisper within a sigh
Maea's impersonal greeting wasn't completely shocking considering their history, but Thal still cocked her head to silently communicate her observance of the tone. "Whiskey." She didn't mention the shallow smile or nervous energy, choosing to let Maea focus on her own emotions. Whether that was burying herself in work or sharing her feelings was up to the Ancient.
Taking a seat at a barstool, Thal shot another playful glance at the man down the counter. Her blue eyes flashed with dangerous interest in his chiseled jaw, cropped brown hair, and bulging muscles. He looked like he could throw her around easily - which was exactly what she wanted. Maybe when she was done with this drink, she would let him talk to her.
Until then, she looked back to Maea. Ignoring the man would only build the tension. "Keeping busy?" she asked the Loreseeker, mild interest showing through as she listened for the answer.
And time it waits for no one It heals them when you die
"Coming right up. Just a second - "Having to leave Thalassa to entertain herself as others called for her attention, it was perhaps lucky that the woman had eye-candy within easy reach. It certainly spared Maea the need to apologize for being a bit short with her.
Returning a few moments later with a glass and a bottle, she poured a measure of the amber liquid and slid it over to her young friend. "Yes, well. I'm sort of between projects at the moment... need to pay for my living somehow." Looking the woman over, she noted the practicality of her clothes and the utilitarian nature of her weapons. "How have you been since last? Not that it was too long ago." Remembering their long dash across snow-laden sea meadows softened the tension in Maea's gaze, enough to warm the smile into something far more genuine.
And soon you are forgotten A whisper within a sigh
Thal accepted the glass with a nod of appreciation, taking a large sip as she listened to Maea. The liquor seared a path down her throat, burning a comfortable pit in her stomach. At the mention of 'projects,' she was reminded of the experiment and how it had caused so much tension between them. Or the ghost before that, when they'd practically dissected the pale Ancient's dark past. They didn't seem to work well together in an official capacity, even if the Run Fountain had gone well enough. Thal made a note to stay out of Maea's projects for a while. So rather than comment on the business side, she just grinned.
Not much had happened since the hunt. She'd been preparing her crew for the approaching LongNight, putting aside her own desires to cause trouble at every waking moment. "Fine. Although sadly nothing exciting or entertaining. I could use something to get my heart rate up." Thal pointedly ignored the man but made sure her words were loud enough for him to hear.
Leaning onto the counter, she took another swig of her whiskey, letting it swish around her tongue to draw out the flavor. It had a depth that satisfied her palette and she rotated the glass to watch the amber liquid swirl. Before she had a chance to comment on the vintage, her drink was jostled, sloshing onto the counter. Quick as a serpent, she was spinning to pin the culprit with a searing blue gaze that promised death.
The man was obviously well into his cups, stumbling drunkenly and bumping into everything within reach. His more 'responsible' friends were laughing and raising their glasses at his antics. Before she could threaten violence, the man bumped into the counter, slurring a chuckle as he looked down at her. "P-prethy mermaid - " With a confused glance at her feet and horns, he cocked his head in befuddled curiosity. " - lotht your thail?" His buddies burst out in loud rumbles of laughter at his supposed insult, but he just continued to look perplexed as his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he dropped to the floor with a crash. More clapping and brutish humor ensued while Thal just glared down, kicking his arm off her barstool without a drop of sympathy. If he couldn't hold his liquor, he shouldn't be in public. It was disgusting.
She lifted her glass in pity and sighed. Giving Maea a frustrated roll of her eyes, she asked, "Could I get another?" The man's words hung oddly in the air and Thal tried to ignore the strange choice of insults.
And time it waits for no one It heals them when you die
Maea hummed, sounding amused. "You're in the right place for that, I dare say." More than one of the milling throng around the bar were casting lingering glances upon the woman, and if she was any judge there was one musclebound fellow a few stools down the counter who seemed to be paying particular attention to what they were saying. It was not Maea's first choice of 'activity', but neither did she intend to get in the way; that would be bad for business.
She frowned as the drunken man bumped into Thalassa. On the wrong side of the bar, all she could do was watch as the fool slurred something and promptly went down. Craning her neck to look for someone to haul him out of the establishment, she flagged down a bouncer - not Asta, for which she was both relieved and disappointed - before turning back to her friend.
"Of course. Sorry about that. What was he on about?"
Reaching for a new glass, it was soon placed within reach of the dark-haired woman, while Maea began to mop up the spilled whiskey with a rag.
And soon you are forgotten A whisper within a sigh
She accepted the drink from Maea, letting the bouncer remove the unconscious man from the floor. The exhausted expression on his face hinted that this wasn't an uncommon occurrence and she almost pitied the stupidity he must witness on a daily basis. Better him than her though.
Thal took a long sip from her new glass, trying to puzzle out the slurred words before shrugging her shoulders. "Not sure. I think it was something about a 'mermaid'? And a 'tail'?" The man had seemed more confused than the average drunk, as if something was familiar about her but not the same. It almost tickled the remnant of a thought, but she pushed away the peculiarity. "I'm sure he just had too many drinks. Maybe even a little something extra." Her poor excuse was halfhearted as she stared down into her drink and she attempted to chuckle at the insanity of his words to discredit whatever emotions were being stirred. Swallowing her feelings and another sip of whiskey, she deliberately ran her tongue across her lips and fangs. When she lifted her head back to Maea, she was smiling again. "But I'm sure you hear a lot of nonsense like that."
And time it waits for no one It heals them when you die
Tossing the rag into a bucket of soapy water, she wiped her hands on the apron and leaned down with her elbows against the counter. "Plenty of strange conversation, sure, but rarely anything about Mer," was her response. "They're rare in these parts."
Maea gazed thoughtfully at the younger woman. "Speaking of nonsense, I've been meaning to ask you about your past. I said I'd help you figure out what happened, right? I don't suppose you're actually a mermaid in disguise or something?"
Meant as a jest, she flashed her a grin and waved a thank you to the bouncer as the person passed by on the way back.
And soon you are forgotten A whisper within a sigh
Thal considered Maea's words. She had to admit that she hadn't seen many Mer in the Hollowed Grounds. Sure, there was water, but that didn't mean they had any reason to travel out here. Which made it even more strange for the man to have made such a comment.
She actually laughed aloud at the suggestion that she may be a Mer in disguise. Tapping her horns with a nail, she said, "No. I assure you that these are quite real." Reaching out a lazy finger towards one of the lanterns at the counter, she gave the new magic a light pull, causing the flame to flicker gently. "And Mer can't do that." Feeling that it was proof enough, Thal settled back against the counter to take another sip of her whiskey.
Maea had agreed to help her look into her past. And the empty void of her memories still taunted her. So despite the reluctance to divulge what she considered to be her weakness, Thal gave Maea all she knew. "I don't remember anything about my past. It's completely blank." Swirling her drink again, she was brought back to the day she woke up in the sand. "All I remember is waking on the beaches of Torchline, alone. My body felt different, like it wasn't quite mine. It was foreign and I had difficulty adjusting to it." She'd stumbled down the beach, confused, for almost a day, just trying to find clues as to her identity or remember something. Her mind had been so empty and lost. Not to mention the strange calling that she had towards the ocean. Shrugging her shoulders to rid the puny sentiments, Thal drew back her indifferent mask. "All I knew was my name: Thalassa." The last name, Sanguis, had come after a pirate had found her satiating her bloodlust on a jaguar. She thought it made her sound more intimidating, which she'd needed if she was going to make it in the cutthroat world of sailors and pirates. It wasn't like she had the stature going for her.
And time it waits for no one It heals them when you die
Reaching behind the bar counter for a scrap of paper and something to write with, Maea scribbled hasty yet neat notes as she listened. "Huh, the awkwardness could of course have many different causes, but it sounds a lot like what I experienced. And I'd just been made Ancient before turning to stone."
Tapping the nib against the paper thoughtfully as she considered, she turned back to Thalassa. "How long ago was this? Are we talking years or decades since you woke on the beach?" That would change her approach entirely; but either way this could prove a dicey task. Maea hoped the wouldn't end up disappointing the young woman.
And soon you are forgotten A whisper within a sigh
The scratching of Maea's notes had Thal turning her head away in embarrassment. It was one thing to discuss her past, but another to feel like she was a mystery to be solved or a scientific subject being studied. She shifted on her stool, disguising it with another sip of her drink and a postured subtle wink to the man still ogling her from down the bar top. If she could just get through this conversation, maybe she could distract herself for the rest of the night from the developing discomfort.
Maea's own account of her transition didn't give Thal any comfort. She'd felt changed. Even violated. It hadn't just been 'awkward,' it had been wrong. Not sure how to put it into words, she just nodded her head at the Ancient's words, taking another large swig of her drink to empty the glass.
Focusing her attention on the conversation, she tried to remove her emotions, remaining clinical in the facts. "A little over a year now. I want to say two Longheats ago?" The weather had been stifling, surprising her when it didn't burn her skin. That was another hint that things had changed. That she'd changed.
And time it waits for no one It heals them when you die
At this point she really was a mystery to be solved. Though Maea noticed the awkward shuffling she pretended to pay it no heed, figuring sympathy would only make it worse.
"I see! That's actually good. It means people are more likely to remember seeing you, and any potential family you have might be searching still." Looking up, the pale little ancient gave her an encouraging smile. "I guess I should ask, too - what are you hoping to get out of this? Just knowing where you come from, or reuniting with any kin..? I'll be honest, neither is any guarantee that your memories will return." Especially since they didn't know why she had lost them. Head injuries, trauma, magic and curses - the only thing they knew for a fact was that Dygra had accepted her at some point, whether from birth or as a convert.
Twirling the pen between her fingers, a movement near her elbow drew her gaze downward. Seeing a wine spider wobble drunkenly towards some droplets of spilled whiskey, Maea smiled absently at it - until she noticed something off about its legs. Scooping it up in her hands, she turned it around to check for injuries.
And soon you are forgotten A whisper within a sigh
She understood that the shorter time period might make it easier to find family and/or friends, even if she wasn't sure whether she wanted to meet them. After all, what would she say? How would they perceive her? It was hard to determine what their relationships may look like when she didn't even remember them. Especially if her memories really were permanently gone. Thal didn't know what she hoped for, except answers. "I want to know why. Why did I become an Ancient? Why did I lose my memories? Why did I wake up alone?" There was no guarantee that they would answer these questions even if they found where she came from. Perhaps only Dygra would know the full truth. But at least she might be able to puzzle out some of the reasonings.
Deep in thought, she almost jolted at the sight of the wobbling arachnid. Thal watched with cautious interest as Maea lifted the wine spider. Although they posed no threat, she despised spiders to her very soul and could not fathom why the Ancient would be picking it up. She leaned back slightly to avoid the creature, pulling her drink to her chest as if to make a barrier, trying to act as if she just wanted to give Maea space for whatever she may be about to do.
And time it waits for no one It heals them when you die
Humming in acknowledgement that she heard Thalassa, the white-horned ancient looked up over the spider. "I hear you. I'll do what I can, but please be prepared to come out disappointed, yeah? With some luck I might be able to figure out the when and where, but more than that will be difficult. Is that alright?" At least she wasn't completely without clues. The scarce number of shrines dedicated to Dygra might prove beneficial in this case; it limited options and search areas, to a point where even idiots like that drunkard could prove useful.
Looking back at the arachnid in her hands, she found that one of its legs had been bent and squashed out of shape. "Been squeezed in the bottle rack, huh? Let's fix that up, shall we," she cooed. "Can I borrow a knife?" Holding out a hand at Thal, she hoped the woman would prove amenable; it seemed like too much hassle to go and get one from the other end of the bar.
And soon you are forgotten A whisper within a sigh
