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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!
Sah can't be mad at Noah for hitting him while he was still invisible, but he sure as fuck can be angry that the Demi-god injured Tal when the courier was already down. Surely Noah could have taken another few steps forward to ensure that Tal was outside his attack's range? But now isn't the time to be angry. "On it!" The fact that Ludo had apparently shrunk the bear is tucked away to process later, alongside his urge to throttle a certain Demi-god.
Shaking off his own bruises and sending Evie a thankful nod, Sah moves closer to Tal. Once he's in range and between Tal and the bear, he focuses his still budding magic to do as he wishes. The mageglass warming at his neck is reassuring, and he can only hope it'll be enough to get his frenemy back on his feet so that they can put some distance between them and the ursur. All void creature wounds seemed to have invisible and painful effects. The Wild Thunder can only hope that whatever this infected user has done, it's not permanent and can be healed by conventional means.
~
Sah thanks Evie and moves closer to heal Tal! (He keeps himself between Tal and the bear). His mageglass is active.
Healing: Heals minor wounds at basic level.
Type: Light | Rank: Basic
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Mastered
Mageglass Necklace | A pendant made of mageglass. Will amplify the magical abilities of Abandoned by one level. (Basic becomes upgraded, upgraded becomes mastered, and mastered adds on an additional increment of damage)
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.
Regional Score bonus: +3 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +3 should be included)
I think therefore I am, But what if all I do is bleed?
Ludo hadn't helped at all. The Evergreen had abandoned him. Noah had attacked him, treating him no different than the Voidshade Ursur, and that betrayal hurt almost worse than being hit by the bear's abyssal roar.
But that purple energy cascading over him hurt a fucking lot. The courier had never been hit so hard in his life, and the despair that swallowed him down felt like the end of the world. Or at least, the end of his world as he felt himself knocked back, trying to protect his face with his arms but without any energy to do more than that. Ice crawled under his ribs and over his heart and coated the back of his throat and he had never wanted to just lay down in the snow and stop fighting the way he did now.
Was this how it ended? With roar and then a whimper?
But there was a sudden wash of warmth through his body easing some of the pain, and Tal blinked his eyes open to see a familiar back standing between him and the bear. He blinked again and then coughed, drawing in ragged, gasping breath as a modicum of self-preservation forced its way through the black depression that had claimed him.
He didn't even try to stand up. He just scrambled back behind the battle line and activated his Ring, trying to stay alive and pull himself together in spite of the full-body throb of bruised bones and the taste of blood on the back of his tongue.
Tal backs up behind Sah and Noah and activates his Ring of Mending!
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: 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.
Evie movies closer to Sah to heal him, who then backs up to heal Talyson, who then backs up to heal himself. This might have placed the Evergreen in the incredibly unfortunate position of being left closest to the bear if Noah hadn't marched right toward the creature's side to pull its focus.
Having been raised as a hunter and not a cowboy, the varyring misses its mark, sailing through the air and landing harmlessly upon the snow by the ursur's feet. With no time to activate his shield (one action per turn bby), as the creature turns toward the Foresaken it parts its jaws, unleashing another hellish blast of void energy. Perhaps because he'd seen this twice already from the creature, that Noah is able to get out of the way of the sickly violet light.
Your randomly assigned posting order is Evie, Noah, Sah, Talyson.
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.
Oh you were feeling void-abandoned, Talyson? Evie, who’s been trying to stay mobile and single-job-focused, admittedly wants to tear her hair out when she ends up at the front of the pack and only Noah’s missed throw spares her the bear’s attention. Not that she’s going to risk it again - she twists her ring to activate her invisibility, and abandons the Varyring for now. The chances for use are likely better with magical aim or grappling and she can’t waste an action time trying.
Evie heads for the two men swiftly, and her invisibility hides the angry doctor’s stare she’s got pretty fiercely going on. “Sah can you get that ring around its mouth maybe? Or suffocate it?” Deimos had said air worked on Seren’s orb right? “I have Talyson, I need you to back up Noah.” Much as she’d love to do it herself, given her power ranking she needs to be support and not offense if they want to do more than chip away at the Ursur’s health.
Reaching to heal Talyson again, Evie holds out her shield-arm in silent offer for the courier to decide if he wants to take it off her and plant it in front of the two of them to hunker behind.
- - -
Evie activates her invisibility and runs to Sah/Tal. She attempts to heal Talyson while offering him her shield if he wants to plant it in front of them while he’s downed.
Type: Grey | Style: Other | Level: Basic
Evie’s Engagement Ring | Turning the top of the blossom-designed ring will render the wearer invisible until it's turned once more.
A snarl of frustration left Noah's mouth as the Varyring went flying over and away from the target. He knew it had been a long shot, anyway, but he had tried. Celestial energy glowed and flowed around Noah's body as his passive magic engaged. He was a beacon, now, ready to keep the ursur's attention on himself and off the rest of his comrades.
He surged out of the way of the ursur's attack and another growl left him, gritted teeth muffling the sound. Then his stag appeared -- brilliant and beautiful and daunting as it charged and lowered its great antlered head to ram straight into the voidtouched ursur's side. He could hear Evie saying something, but couldn't make out every word, and so he lifted his voice to remind them of their attacks against the orb: "Air! Use Air!"
Noah attacks with his Spirit Stag, trying to keep the ursur's attention off the rest of the pack, and tells them to use air magic.
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: Upgraded
Magic: Wise Hunter (FEAT) | Animals roll with disadvantage against Noah.
Regional Score bonus: +3 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +3 should be included)
Type: Light | Rank: Basic
i'd fashioned my own cross been crushed by its weight there's no stronger message than dirt in your face
Sah hadn't meant to move so far away from Evie, but in his rush to help Tal, he'd misjudged the distance. Thankfully, she's ok, and the courier is in better shape. She then gives him the start of an idea and Noah finishes it.
"I'll give it a shot!" For a moment, he considers trying to steal the air from the bear's lungs, but with its tainted nature, it might not do anything. If air is a weakness, it might have already gotten rid of any that remained in its body. With a plan forming, Sah calls on his magic and his mageglass warms as he raises a hand at the beast.
This is by far the most inhumane and gory thing he's ever attempted to do with magic. He'd feel guilty and downright disgusted with himself if this wasn't a void creature. As it is, the Wild Thunder takes a breath and attempts to drown the ursur with the air itself, forcing as much into its lungs and body until it either suffocates from lung damage, pops, or shows some other sign of injury.
~
Sah attempts to overload the bear with air, forcing as much into its lungs and body as possible. Mageglass is active!
Air manipulation: Can create and control the air. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Grey | Rank: Mastered
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Mastered
Mageglass Necklace | A pendant made of mageglass. Will amplify the magical abilities of Abandoned by one level. (Basic becomes upgraded, upgraded becomes mastered, and mastered adds on an additional increment of damage)
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.
Regional Score bonus: +3 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +3 should be included)
I think therefore I am, But what if all I do is bleed?
So he could hear Evie but he couldn't see her. Still, there was something about the Evergreen bossing Sah around that pulled Tal out of his black despair enough to uncurl and look around for the source of that voice. He didn't find it, of course, but the glow of healing energy that filled him and pushed back the soul-numbing weight of the Void far enough for him to begin thinking again meant she was nearby.
His expression went through several interesting and improbable contortions when he realized who he owed for that, resulting in a mumbled "...'anks," as he pushed himself to his feet. Unfortunately, the side effect of being invisible was that he couldn't see Evie's shield arm, but he could see Sah and Noah still struggling with the Ursur.
Tal had just recently told Zavien that he wasn't a leader and he knew he was about to demonstrate why, but fuck it. Maybe it was hopeless, but they all had family in the Citadel. His sisters were there. And they couldn't just give up and let the Ursur rampage its way through the gates. Even if it was on a much shorter rampage now (thanks, Ludo, I guess?).
He couldn't see what the hail Sah was trying to do on account of air magic being invisible, but he scowled at the other man and caught the Varyring glinting in the snow. The fuck is that...? Whatever, it'll do."Sah, use your 'kinesis t'shove that ring thing over its mouth!" he yelled, gripping his shaking hand around his Dagger again. "Noah, now's a great time for your healin' dome thingy!" he continued, grimacing as he tried to steady himself against the lingering malaise in his will. "Evie! Uh... keep healin' an' runnin'!" His grimace turned to a stubborn scowl at the bear as his voice dropped to a under-his-breath grumble. "...an' breathin'." He might never like her, but it didn't mean he wanted to see her dead.
It was now or never, and though the memory of the Ursur's last attack turned his limbs to jelly he managed to force himself to slash with his Dagger at the bear's head. He didn't trust himself to aim for the eyes at the moment, but he'd settle for cutting across its brows or forehead to try and blind it with its own blood.
Tal stands up, yells some orders he doubts anyone will listen to, and slashes with his Dagger at the Ursur's head to try and make it bleed into its eyes and blind it!
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: Basic
Honed by Nightmares | A curious silvery coating covers the Special Delivery Dagger. Causes extra physical damage at a Basic 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.
Evie heals Talyson as Noah sends out a glistening stag of fire towards the ursur. Smaller in size though it might be, the void-touched creature is able to dodge out of the way of Noah's attack with a snarl. Sah 's blast of air, while it lands, is perhaps not as effective as the group might have expected it to be (though certainly, everyone present had participated in enough experiments to have known better).
Talyson has better luck this time perhaps owing to the way the overwhelming feeling of despair has faded with the shift in the ursur's attention, and as he slashes the air his dagger gouges into the left eye of the ursur, leaving it a weeping hole of purple blood.
With Noah still the closest, the bear parts its jaws once again and unleashes a blast of sickly purple light towards the hunter, however with its vision now muddled thanks to Tal, the blast goes wide.
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.
Evie’s blood boils. Her teeth clench so hard they ache, and for the first time in her life she considers setting aside her strongest ability just to prove it isn’t all she’s good for. They’re so close though, and Evie can only do the same as Sah is already trying with his air magic (though she’s working on word of moth not experiments thank you very much) so it’s still the right course.
Some people are able to choose to look past personal feelings, and the courier is lucky she’s a damn good healer and can. His mumbled appreciation isn’t enough. Not this time.
Healing Talyson once more, Evie unlocks her jaw to speak directly to him. “You’re the most wounded, I’ve got your back.” No more running unless someone usurps Talyson as most critical patient, so they’d better make these next hits count. “Aim for neck or lower this time.” She won’t waste time on explaining why, but if Sah takes Talyson’s advice and they aim for the same spot it will be a mess. And if her Varyring gets cut, it won’t be any use to anyone.
Once more, Noah was able to dodge out of the way of the ursur's attack. His stag dissipated in a flash and twinkle of brilliant sunlight, having done its job. Sah and Talyson both attacked and although the men's efforts were there, this bear still seemed to be able to push through whatever they threw at it. Talyson shouted out more commands, and he could hear Evie again but not pinpoint what she was saying to them. Whatever it was, he was confident it was logical and sound and correct.
He wanted to tell the courier to shut it and stay out of the way because of his injuries, but there was no time, and maybe Evie had already done so. "No. Keep back!" He commanded, voice ripping through gritted teeth as he released his Roar once more towards the bear. Evie could continue to heal, and Noah needed to focus on the bear. His Divine Opposition would do no damage. He knew that. Celestial magic had no upperhand over these void creatures.
Noah tells everyone to stay back and uses his Atomic Roar.
Magic: ABILITY: Atomic Roar | By way of manipulating atoms, Noah creates an invisible blast of energy that damages those within a 60ft cone. Those effected have to beat a STR save or be pushed back 10ft.
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
Magic: Wise Hunter (FEAT) | Animals roll with disadvantage against Noah.
Type: Light | Rank: Basic
Regional Score bonus: +3 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +3 should be included)
i'd fashioned my own cross been crushed by its weight there's no stronger message than dirt in your face
They aren't doing enough damage, but at least no one is on the brink of death now. Tal's idea isn't bad, but Sah doesn't think he can pull it off logistically. Not with Noah opening his mouth and unleashing that powerful attack again. "I can't! Not while Noah's roaring!" The roar would surely make something with that much finesse fail. But a more general attack should still land, right? And he could aim lower, as Evie suggested.
Taking a sidestep so his attack won't hit any of his allies, Sah calls forth his magic. Lightning crackles to life across his skin as he sends a bolt straight at the bear's chest. If it doesn't kill it, the Wild Thunder can only hope he'll get it to the brink for one of the others to finish off. Though, it'd be a lie to say he doesn't want to kill this fucker personally.
~
Sah sidesteps so that he won't hit any allies and sends a bolt of lightning at the bear, aiming at its chest. His mageglass is active.
Lightning manipulation: Can create and control Lightning. Must be within a 30ft radius.
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: Mastered
Mageglass Necklace | A pendant made of mageglass. Will amplify the magical abilities of Abandoned by one level. (Basic becomes upgraded, upgraded becomes mastered, and mastered adds on an additional increment of damage)
Regional Score bonus: +3 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +3 should be included)
I think therefore I am, But what if all I do is bleed?
He and Sah both manage to hit and damn but if it didn't feel good to finally get a bit of his own back. Tal drew a breath as his hands steadied under the healing warmth that was being poured into him, the despair lifting enough that he felt like they actually had a chance now that the Ursur was down to one good eye and Noah was able to keep dodging it.
He couldn't help but bristle as an invisible Evie ordered him around, but since she was also keeping him alive and had promised to back him up, he couldn't exactly argue. "... yeah, okay," he muttered, setting himself for another stab--
And then Noah was setting up to fucking Roar again?? Words and implications that had flown past him when he'd been sunk in his black funk finally clicked into place and Tal had to resist the urge to throttle the Forsaken. Instead he tried to use Evie's voice and his Goggles (if he was close enough) to orient himself and use his body and armour shield her from both friendly fire and Void blasts.
"Y'daft-- This thing isn't fuckin' Family," he hollered to the group as a whole. "'s just a fucked up Void critter! Everythin' works on critters! No better an' no worse!" Celestial, earth, fire, maracas (if you hit hard enough with them) - the stupid bear would take damage from them all, or he'd eat his left boot!
Tal attempts to shield Evie this round from whatever damage comes her way! Also, more yelling.
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Mastered
See-Right Goggles: Reinforced goggles capable of seeing with perfect clarity regardless of conditions, up to 30ft. This includes magical darkness. Can see through illusions at 5ft, and be aware of illusions under 10ft.
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.
Evie once again heals, and is shielded by Talyson.
This time as Noah uses his magic none of his allies are caught in the crossfire. As the blast hits the creature it's thrown back 10ft, its large claws scraping across the ice as it struggles against the sudden propulsion. Perhaps this is what causes Sah 's lightning to miss its target, leaving only the smell of ozone in its wake.
Still the closest target, the bear's jaws part once more, though this time the Foresaken is shrouded in its purple blast. Not only will he experience the physical effects of the void blast, but will be overcome with an overwhelming sense of despair as well.
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.
Well, she'd been advising Talyson, but so long as something works (and she can at least grudgingly appreciate Tal abandoning his chance in order to cover her) it doesn't really matter. The Ursur catches Noah in its blast this time, but it's bleeding and half-blind and they need to end this.
"Again, Sah! Distract it from Noah!" Her voice rings out from behind Talyson's shoulder, all too aware of the burn of a missed attack, but the despair of the void that had taken the courier down and may yet do the same to Noah. If he ends up incapacitated, they need to make up for his fire power and protect him from further damage. With the Ursur distracted and her magic having boosted Talyson enough to chance things, she decides to add her own power to the fray. "We all have to hit at once," she urges to Talyson, and twists her ring to end her invisibility - unaware of his goggle's ability to see through it, simply wanting to avoid a literal knife in the back.
Moving from behind the courier only far enough to get within her 30-foot range since the bear was shoved backward, the Evergreen commands the earth beneath the bear to spike up in permafrost-encrusted arrays around its paws and belly, hoping to lacerate and puncture with prejudice.
She can't heal two men at once; either they muster up their combined luck and force to take it down here and now, or the likelihood of one of them ending up dead will practically double. As much as she appreciates the others helping to shield her, they need a collective moment of bravery - she just hopes it pays off.
- - -
Evie turns off her invisibility and moves from behind Talyson just enough to get within magical range to try and spear/lacerate the bear from below with earth spikes.
Earth Manipulation: Can create and control the earth. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Grey | Rank: Mastered
Regional Score bonus: +3 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc.
