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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!
There were only a few more tasks required for their regional quest, and then some semblance of the dread held in between his ribcage and shoulder blades could vanquish. Likely to be replaced by another formidable amount of trepidation, but perhaps it would be easier to carry separate threads and entanglements, rather than all knotted and gnarled in the same places.
So he took a morning to journey along Torchline’s Ahi Coast, rolling up his sleeves at the alteration in temperature and climate adjusted across his form; as the call of the ocean sparked against his mind, and he forced himself to traverse along the eaves of palms and brush. Belial was amongst and amidst too, much noisier, and the Sword had to snort as the peryton wove around from the tops of trees and swooping low to bombard and seek. “Never going to find anything with that racket,” he rumbled to the carnivorous deer. They might have to go the plant route again – since there were already several shoved into one of the rooms in the Palace, awaiting moments to turn them in.
you're all bronze and bite all venom and fistfight
Of all the things Flora expected to see when she was out for a run—drunkards, roaming mounds of void trash, Hadama having acquired even more legs after having visited Safrin—one of Halo's wardens certainly wasn't anywhere on her list. "Heya!" Waving her hand in greeting as she was still quite far down the beach, the queen put on a small burst of extra speed to bridge the distance between she and the Sword.
Coming to a halt only for Spice to breathe a fine icy mist against her back and neck to cool her off, Flora panted for a moment with her palms against her thighs. Flushed but not looking out of energy, the Doubletake reached behind her for one of her feet, stretching out the muscles of her leg as she straightened back up. "You just here for some vitamin d or should I be worried?" She chuckled brightly, unable to recall a time that she'd ever been in Deimos' company where the situation hadn't devolved almost instantly to drama. Not that it was his fault, of course, but such was the life of a leader and near-demigod.
Flora’s announcement claimed his attention for a moment, and he tilted his head vaguely, watching as she came running up the beach. Belial hooted a very loud and triumphant call of ‘hello’ to both companion and leader, and Deimos snorted in return. “No need to worry.” Not unless something else was pressing, and considering and scanning through his list of multitudes brewing in his mind, naught was coming to light presently. “I came to grab something from the void for our regional quest. We were hoping to upgrade the healing springs to help heal any infected.” Might as well spread the word now; eventually, when it was finished, he figured they’d be seeing more of others unfortunately blighted.
Pausing as he began to maneuver deeper into the coast’s brush, realizing he’d never had a full-length conversation with Ru and Remi’s daughter, despite opportunities or unfortunate interactions in meeting hells, he kept it neutral and safe. “Torchline is doing well?” He hadn’t heard otherwise.
you're all bronze and bite all venom and fistfight
Taking note of the Peryton, their kind almost never seen in Torchline, Spice murmurs a cautious greeting in return as she curls around Flora's neck. "Oh, yeah." Nodding with instant understanding having had to go through that several times herself, Flora waves a hand around as if to welcome Deimos to take whatever he liked. "There are some void pineapples that don't put up too much of a fuss." She suggests, nodding her head down the beach before turning back to Deimos with her lower lip trapped between her teeth. "Yeah...I uh...think I know of someone who might end up needing to take a dunk." She murmurs, widening her eyes suggestively for a moment.
"Yeah, more or less. You came at a good time, or..a convenient one, I guess. We're just about to start our final regional quest to protect the coastline and then hopefully—" Crossing her fingers Flora smiled dramatically. "-we can at least set our sights on the spread elsewhere."
“Void pineapples…,” he repeated before laughing, shaking his head at the thought. But Belial was on it, sniffing through the underbrush as he followed along. The other mention of someone already being infected gave him pause, brows narrowing for a moment, wondering if he should ask who, or if it was being kept furtive and secret. “Noted. We will make an announcement when it is completed.” That way everyone would be aware, and it’d be open to the masses. His recollection of the blight, and the subsequent plague, meant the amount could rise before it dimmed.
The peryton seemed to have found something, so the Sword crouched down a bit, peeling away bits of long grass with his hands while being careful and meticulous in his perusal. “Congratulations.” And he meant it; especially with their proximity to Starfall. “Will you be attending Ronin’s meeting?” Because he had information to share, if not.
you're all bronze and bite all venom and fistfight
"I know, gross right?" Wrinkling her nose and imagining suddenly Deimos drinking a cocktail with the rim lined with a glowing black slice of pineapple had Flora snickering to herself. "Cool, cool. Are you guys going to, like, have some sort of protocol, or...?" Cringing slightly, the queen tilted her head. "I just mean that people who are infected don't seem, like, inherently dangerous to those around them, but if it was me, I dunno if I'd just want them walking into my region unannounced, you know?"
Folding her arms comfortably across her chest and watching the peryton's explorations, the queen smiled proudly. "Thanks." She trilled, clearly sounding pleased. "With Starfall just right there and Stormbreak looming over us it seemed like a good idea. I think people are annoyed at the work though, so I'm glad this is the last one." She admits with a shrug, if only because Deimos could likely understand exactly the problem she was describing.
“Probably will need to,” he sighed. Another discussion to be had amongst and amidst those in Halo, or merely between Evie and himself; dependent on things. “I have not met any infected, that I know of,” the pause given as he circumvented through hordes of individuals – clearly unaware that he’d been in the orbit of two lately. “Were there any particular symptoms?” Or outward signs? Even if they weren’t or hadn’t been overtly dangerous, he still didn’t know which distinctions were held.
Belial hooted again, and Deimos paused, watching as the peryton actually became cautious (it was such a rare event that he'd have to chronicle it in his brain). Shaking his head, his hands created and manifested a jar between them, gilded incantations flickering and flowing until it was justifiably large enough to hold a void pineapple and its necessary amount of roots and plantlife.
As for people being annoyed and irritated with the work, he could only shrug – sometimes it’d been difficult to get multitudes to complete the tasks on a regular rotation. “Monotonous too?” He gave a small smile, before beginning to inspect the bizarre looking pineapple.
And “demigod” stuff made him give a brief chuckle, because he still somehow managed to be involved in all of it. “Well, Safrin gave me a list of things that can be done to reclaim the lost regions,” and he angled his jawline in the direction of the Oerwoud, jutting it towards the infected area. “If you are interested.”
you're all bronze and bite all venom and fistfight
Lifting her fingers, Flora waggles them as if in greeting. "I was infected." She says slyly before laughing. "I dunno if you saw me when I was, though." As for outward signs? "I was bitten by a void creature in the Climb. The wound just wouldn't heal no matter what I tried. Looking back I guess that should have been a dead giveaway." The queen admits with a youthful grimace and shrug. "But, uh...so Everest, you know the guy who came in with Dahlia at the meeting? Apparently he's infected." Leaning forward as if this was just a piece of hot gossip instead of something potentially devastating, Flora lifts her eyebrows. "But you wouldn't know it. He's even dating someone." Which Flora found just as weird as the infection itself.
Watching Deimos' casual magic with silent appreciation, Flora snorts her agreement before nodding emphatically. "Yep." Monotonous was certainly one word for it; bullshit was another.
Knowing how stoic the Sword could be, Flora took it as a badge of honour to have made him chuckle, however brief. Before she could inwardly gloat too much, his words had her expression turning quite solemn as she nodded vigorously. "Yeah, please. I'd love to hear." Sure Torchline might be protected soon enough, but it would be nice to have a bit of breathing room around her region.
“Then I stand corrected,” he tipped his head and gave another small smile, recalling the flurry of letters, but perhaps not the official notice of infection. And it’d been so early on, perhaps none of them had realized the true matter of implications. Continuing to peruse and study the pineapple, and ensuring he wouldn’t touch it, given his experience with the previous bouts, he took in the noted information, storing it away for future intervals. Brow furrowing, he recalled this Everest; following after Dahlia, his Attuned bombardments carrying through bonds, orders shifting as he went out with Hadama and Maea. “Hm. Is it also a symptom to be involved with the Family?” Asking Flora directly, he supposed, if she’d ever felt the inclination – as Everest apparently had.
Not knowing the individual, he couldn’t comment on the dating aspects, but did suppress a snort for Flora’s insinuations. Thereafter, utilizing his Mastered Earth, he plucked at the pineapple and its roots from underneath, curling and contorting around it so it lifted straight into the air with his other enchantments. Belial hissed at it as the Sword steadied the jar underneath all the accoutrements.
But since she was interested in the notice, regardless of circumstances surrounding the particulars, he rattled off the list as he worked, laying out the measures necessary. Some with fortune, others with strength, and the necessities with rigor and work. Waiting for a reaction from the lengthy, but still reassuring all the same (because it meant they could do something), diatribe, he then shrugged again. “I imagine many will be making a rotating pilgrimage to Frey’s Breath.”
you're all bronze and bite all venom and fistfight
Twitching her lips, Flora tried to recall what she could of the brief few weeks she'd been infected but found her memory lacking. "I...want to say no, but honestly I'm not sure? Maybe something would have happened if I'd actually been around them. You know, like their presence would have activated the infection or something? I bet someone in Stormbreak would know, though." Which came first, helping the Family or the Infection?
"Damn, that's way better than how I've been doing it." She snorts, leaning her cheek affectionately against Spice before shaking her head slightly. "Here I've just been using my daggers to stab at the earth and hope I get enough of the root." Flora muses as if all along she should have been using her mastered magical abilities as well.
Falling silent as the Sword explained, Flora felt any semblance of hope harden in the pit of her stomach. "Fuuuuuuuuuuuck." She said on an exhale when all was said and done, rubbing her fingers across her brow and then combing them through her hair. "I mean, I guess it's good that we can at least be doing something." Flora reasons, if only to try and reassure herself. "Do you think...if the Family gets stronger with every region they claim, do you think they'll get weaker if we cleanse them?"
As for Frey's Breath? "I mean, there are worse ways I can think of to help, but you do know this means just about every asshole is gonna be parading about your region now, right?"
He nodded, taking the information and regards for what it was, before stuffing the earth and pineapple into the jar with a well-mustered bout of air. “Maybe someone can ask this Everest before he is healed.” So they knew what they were dealing with beforehand – if there was any semblance of awareness at all. Deimos never felt any semblance of sickness when dealing with prior bouts, not until it was fully upon him, and the same might’ve been said for the blight.
Snorting again at Flora’s regards towards magic utilized, he topped off the lid, surveying the nasty little plant inside. Belial seemed to have calmed from snagging at it though. “Whatever works,” figuring stabbing at the damned thing also felt somewhat satisfying.
But then there were other measures to consider, and he watched as the explanations hit her. “That is what I am hoping,” and it made sense – and if they could diminish the chokehold they had over regions, then perhaps they had more than a fighting chance. “Though that leaves Stormbreak in question,” as Dahlia would likely be far more difficult to unseat from the throne than anyone else in leading parameters. "And, if we can regain these lands, making sure they do not fall again."
At the last segment though, his features fell into a dismal frown, as if dreading the very thought of having to be hospitable to impending morons. “Do not remind me,” and he wrinkled his nose, striving to already gather the patience necessary. Pausing momentarily, his head tilted again, considerations in order. “You do not need anything for your region?” He could easily pluck more pineapples.
you're all bronze and bite all venom and fistfight
"Smart." Pointing at the Sword, Flora purses her lips and nods. "I wonder if he'll go willingly or if it'll be a thing. Maybe that's a way we can tell if people are infected too." If they weren't willing to take a little dip in Hotspring, that could be immediately counted as sus.
"I uh...met with Dahlia last week." The Doubletake offers, clearing her throat and suddenly looking a touch more self conscious before straightening. "I just thought after how she acted before the Ball, that if she's going to act like a leader maybe she wouldn't mind being treated like one." And, having now gone through this a few times, Flora knew in advance to hold up her hand to stay the questions she assumed Deimos would want to ask. "Everything was fine. I asked her if Torchline and Stormbreak could remain allies and if they had any plans to attack and she said no. Or, well, she basically implied that they wouldn't be the ones to start a fight. Take that however you want." Which, presumably, was exactly what Dahlia had intended.
Unable not to laugh at the frown on Deimos' lips, Flora widened her eyes teasingly. "People walking around, stomping on your snow, leaving trash in your hot springs. It's gonna be like the day after LongNight every other week." She joked. "I'll be sure to give them hail if I see anyone doing it." Flora added with a wink.
"Nah, we're okay. Thanks though. Apparently, we can use that orb of Seren's to skip the treasure hunt portion of our next quest."
He wondered that as well – recalling in past moments of sickness, that it hadn’t been a willing venture. The plague inside many of them had been rather obstinate about not being cured or healed, and they’d fought tooth and nail unless forced. If some had already had a proper conversation with Everest about it…perhaps it wouldn’t be so condemning? He couldn’t say, and they wouldn’t know until they tried. “At least we will have an opportunity to test the theory.” As much as he didn’t want any individual to be an experiment, they’d have some distinction and recognition of symptoms.
Then Flora released another bombshell – and his eyes notably widened. Perhaps he was too overly cautious and meticulous, because he couldn’t imagine either himself or Evie asking to meet with the Stormbreak leader. She must’ve heard many lectures and inquiries already, because the moment the inquiries dared to settle behind his teeth, she’d answered them. But the gathering held a litany of information, in that Dahlia wouldn’t be the one to start a fight. He took more than a few moments to say anything – perusing through his thoughts and collecting himself. “Interesting,” because it was, as he digested everything. “We will see how that plays out, especially if we are going to have many trying to get the other lands back.” But it didn't mean Halo would be ceasing in building their own fortress and protection.
And there was the very Ru side of Flora, as the layers of teasing unfurled. On a pretense, he shuddered his shoulders, as if very bothered by the very image of it all, narrowing his eyes suspiciously on the joke. “Horrifying.” Though the other knowledge registered gave him pause – with a generous half-smile to settle thereafter. “Clever.” It would eliminate a lot of work and time on their end.
you're all bronze and bite all venom and fistfight
"Yeah, guess we'll see." The Doubletake agreed on the heels of a sigh. She was more worried about what would happen between Ever and Mateo and even Ever and Isla than about how badly the aviator might react to being told Halo had a cure for him, but she doubted if she'd be the one doing the strong-arming anyway.
"Friends close, enemies closer, right?" The girl suggested with a raise of her eyebrows, knowing that there was just as much stupidity as wisdom in the words.,
Lifting her chin with a cackle of delight that nearly had Spice falling from around her shoulders, Flora crinkled her nose up at the Sword and bounced her eyebrows. "Well, you enjoy that pineapple and maybe I'll see you in the hotsprings." Winking hard enough to have the skin over her nose wrinkling, Flora waggled her fingers at both Sword and Peryton before nudging Spice off of her shoulder so that she could continue her run.
