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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!
"Yeah! Just maybe not too close t'the house," Tal agreed with a wry grin at his partner. "Not if it's gonna get this big! Or even half this big!" One thing for sure was that their house would be easy to find from the air if the seed pod did produce a tree even a fraction of this giant's size. Then again, a little extra shade in Longheat wasn't a bad idea. Meadowreach tended to live up to its name with lots of flowers and not so many trees.
Which was arguably still preferably to the poisonous lushness of the Suvahasi, and Tal was careful to retrace their safe path back the way they'd come.
"C'mon. Th'sooner we get these in th'ground, th'more time they'll have t'grow. An' th'harder it'll be for Boreal t'try an' eat 'em!" Always a danger with the hungry dragon! He laughed and tugged Alys with him once she had her own arms full of the pretty golden pods. "Last one back t'the ship is on dinner duty tonight?"
As the sun set on the horizon, Thal felt called to the golden tree. In the glow of the descending star, each seed took on its own light source, illuminating the barren land around it. She paused for a moment to appreciate the sight. It wasn't her usual shade of black, but it held its own kind of natural beauty that sent a ray of warmth into her chest. She closed her eyes to bask in the embrace, not caring that the world seemed to be ending around her.
After a much-needed moment, her eyes opened, surprised to find the sun disappearing behind the horizon. Even with the sunlight vanishing, the tree hummed with a pure power that enticed her forward. Although she didn't know how or why, her hand reached out to pluck a golden seed from a low hanging branch. It released into her palm like a gift of life, just waiting to be planted. Accepting the task bestowed upon her, Thal turned her mind to nurturing as she walked away.
Rumors of a golden tree had sprouted throughout the networks and she'd had to see it for herself. Even from a distance, the root system could be felt beneath her feet, disrupting the smooth surface to that of a rising and falling tide. Stepping carefully, Elizabeth approached the trunk, peering up through the branches to the blue sky above. The golden seeds dotted her vision like stars, illuminating the darkness of her mind.
With a light giggle, she reached her hand forward towards the open sky, as if she might touch the gods beyond. The snap of a twig deposited a seed into her fingers unexpectantly, yet also completely expected. What else had she anticipated from a clearly enchanted tree in the middle of a desert?
Not quite content to leave just yet, Elizabeth found a root to perch upon. Studying the tree and its contents, she proceeded to fill a page of her journal with notes from edge to edge. Only once she felt that she'd properly described and categorized each aspect did she rise to her feet. She waved a short 'thank you' to the tree and began plotting where she might plant such a magical seed.
Still on his travels to fight void, survey the damage, and find any sort of advantages against the purple nastiness, Zavien had spotted a strange golden light from the skyship (as he attempted to hold his lunch down at the sickening heights). Once he'd docked (and settled his stomach), he'd immediately set off towards the Suvahasi. He hadn't traveled out into the desert lands, finding that he didn't tolerate heat very well, but being able to dart under safe havens of tree cover had been a literal godsend. So as he made his way towards the towering tree, his shirt was only mostly soaked in sweat.
The sand shifted beneath his feet as he stepped forward to examine the tree's peculiar presence. No other plants like it were within sight and the supernatural glow of the golden seeds had him questioning whether it was even native to Caido. Lifting a hand, he easily released a seed from its hold on a branch, settling in his fingers so that he could look closer at the pure, unaffected glow of the surface. Despite being so close to the Greatwood, it didn't have a single hint of Void, almost like it repelled the thought. With an excited thought, he placed the seed into his pocket along with a few others before quickly taking his leave to spread the possible anti-Void.
reflect heavenly truth, the imagination not least.
Luckily for his hat, Ronin is in quite a good mood, and has eagerly indulged any and all questions about the various snacks they haven't brought on the trip with them. I suppose we could swing by the Grounds on the way home, he suggests. It's probably the closest region to this one. And I know they will have snacks for you. He doesn't know if they will be sour candies, but there's always a chance, right?
As the desert bleeds away into tangled roots and the sight of a large tree that looks entirely out of place but at the same time just so on the fringes of the desert, Ronin tilts his head and picks up his pace to approach. "There might be fish in there," he says of the oasis. "Or fruits. Maybe poisonous things as well, though." Grinning, he reaches up to collect a couple of seed pods, handing one to his husband.
"Only way to know for sure is to go and see, right?" And thus the Taliesins head deeper into the Suvahasi to investigate.
"I can't believe we've never come up to this part of the world before." Danta's voice is little more than a dry purr, and despite the fact that the blazing sun can absolutely burn his bare shoulders, he wants to feel as much of it sink into his skin as possible. Hence why, as he and Astaroth trail through the desert towards the line of greenery in the distance, he's shed his coat to walk shirtless in the heat.
"I think if I'd found this place before the Grounds, we might well be a desert community." Laughing to himself, he shields his eyes and nods at the large tree that seems to have sprouted out of absolutely nowhere. "That looks like the sort of shitfuckery the gods are responsible for, right?" Heading closer, the Theocrat hops up to bat at one of the seed pods to get it down, turning it over in his hands and seeming disappointed that it isn't made of gold.
'cause I'm selfish, I'm obscene
Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!
Horns: Diamond - they look very similar to #2 in this image.
// as long as there's bread and as long as there's an appetite //
“When would we have had a reason to, darling?” Astaroth responds relatively dryly. At the moment it looked like nothing more but sand and mirages for miles, with a sun that beats down onto them as Danta seems more than content to be shirtless amongst the radiating heat, and Astaroth — dressed down accordingly with shirt sleeves rolled up and shirt partially unbuttoned — in sunglasses, peering at Danta curiously as they drift closer while the Maverick shields his eyes from the sun to look up at the tree.
A small chuckle escapes him, though, pale teeth flashing at the other man as he drifts closer to the tree to inspect the pods of seeds. “At least the Grounds has buildings already. Are you positive you would have wished to start from scratch?” He points out, glancing over his shoulder to see Danta hop up and snatch a seed pod. Astaroth, at least, simply stands on his tiptoes, plucking one to inspect himself — equally disappointed that it looked surprisingly normal.
Humming a note under his breath, he pockets it and returns to Danta’s side, pushing up his sunglasses further up on his nose. “It certainly can’t hurt to try it, no? Whether it is or it is not something godly?” He muses, looking back at the massive tree curiously.
Astaroth
// as long as everyone you need is stepping in line, you are camouflaged //
Sah had heard about the strange tree that appeared in the Suvahasi. At first, he feared the worst until he heard tales of its golden coloring—gold, not purple. Curiosity and an ever-increasing number of stories had driven the hunter to make the trip. With his newest magic, it only took a few days, but now he'd arrived.
The tree was magnificent in person, and he almost hesitated to reach out and touch it. Laying a hand on the bark, Sah looked up at the golden seed pods with wonder. He didn't know what magic was a work here. Maybe Rae's? Regardless, it left him warm and feeling at ease.
With reverence, he gently picked one of the pods before safely tucking it away in his bag. He didn't know where he'd plant it yet, but it'd have to be somewhere worthy of it.
How very strange. It was all Everest could think as he gazed at the tree springing up from the desert where it had no business being. Divine intervention was all too easy to spot these days, and yet as the aviator stared up into the dense foliage, there was a deep frown on his lips that had furrows appearing across his forehead.
Watching others as they snagged seeds, Everest followed suit, though he didn't appear as immediately optimistic about possessing one as those around him seemed to be. Instead, he rolled them thoughtfully between his fingers, even lifting them to his nose to give them a brief sniff as if that might reveal some hidden property his eyes couldn't see. "Hmmmm." Doubtfully, the aviator hummed under his breath before pocketing the seeds.
even if i had to lose you to know you, i'd still be that temporary phase that you grow through
08-09-2024, 03:58 PM (This post was last modified: 08-09-2024, 03:58 PM by Aurelia.)
Aurelia
and my hands aren't clean maybe they never will be
Aurelia stood before the towering tree, its emerald canopy a defiant beacon against the encroaching lilac of the tainted Oerwoud. Golden seedpods, like captured sunlight, dangled from its branches, an invitation and a promise.
A shiver of awe ran through her. This tree, birthed overnight in this desolate borderland, was a symbol of nature's unwavering fight.
She approached, her fingers tracing the smooth bark, feeling the pulse of life beneath. A seedpod, heavy with promise, rested in her palm, its golden shell gleaming.
This was more than a seed.
With renewed determination, Aurelia turned towards Torchline. The seedpod, a precious cargo, nestled in her pouch. It was time to plant the seeds of hope, to reclaim the world from the void's clutches. The Oerwoud might be tainted, but Aurelia would not surrender. She would fight, heal, and rebuild.
but they can still carry you home when you're ready to sleep
