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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!
08-09-2024, 01:57 PM (This post was last modified: 08-09-2024, 02:02 PM by Aurelia.)
Aurelia
The Ahi Coast shimmered under the midday sun, all turquoise waters and powdery white sands. Tiki torches, their flames glowing a cool white in the daylight, lined the shore like watchful sentinels, their presence a promise of warmth and celebration when darkness fell. The distant melody of a ukulele drifted on the breeze, blending with the rhythmic crash of waves against the shore.
Aurelia walked along the water's edge, her bare feet sinking into the cool sand with each step. The sun kissed her skin, a welcome contrast to the damp chill of the Oerwoud.
As she strolled along the shoreline, her gaze drifted towards the horizon, where the crystalline waters met the endless expanse of the sky. A lone swimmer, cutting through the shimmering waves towards the beach, caught her attention.
Curiosity sparked within Aurelia. Who was this solitary soul? She quickened her pace, her footsteps leaving ephemeral trails in the pristine sand as she moved towards the figure in the water.
Upon getting closer, she saw the telltale signs of nothing short of a merfolk! Her eyebrows raised up in surprise. They seemed purposeful in their movements and, as she watched, she noticed something.
"Hey! Careful of those rocks," Aurelia called out in warning, pointing towards a cluster of jagged formations just below the water's surface, "The currents can be strong around here." As if she had been around lately... and as if a merfolk wouldn't know better. But she knew the coastline well, regardless. Had spent many a day and night on these beaches. She only meant to help.
"What are you doing so close to the shore? Is something wrong?" She asked, raising her voice above the crashing waves.
What is clear is what is gold You're only human after all
He was not one to take offense at help offered in the spirit of sincerity, though her voice was nearly lost in the crash of surf along the rugged stretch of shore. The knife-edged rocks were no strangers to him by now, not after the past year of patrols along every inch of the coastline of his home, seeking out Void corruption to root out and destroy or send into flight. Still, the reminder did no harm and he raised a hand in acknowledgment before he ducked fully beneath the waves.
Easier to navigate the hazard when he could see it, and closer to the sea floor, even in the shallows, the currents were not as strong as they were near the surface. A more slender - or more adventurous - Mer might have swum through the middle of the spires, dodging between them in the shortest path to the shore. Hadama - broad of shoulder and chest and not as young as he had once been - opted for the slower but safer route around the outside of the formation, his precious cargo tucked safely in a net bag attached to the harness that criss-crossed his torso, holding several smaller pouches and tools.
It was the trident that was slung across his back that would make his allegiance evident when he surfaced again, this time on the edge of the beach. Its tines were made of starlight and the intertwined gold-and-coral of the rest of its shaft was made by no mortal hand.
His skin was a rich brown, with numerous scars that had been tattooed over in gold so that he evoked a sense of living kintsugi. From his dark complexion his gem-like emerald eyes were striking and the steel-silver of his hair held a metallic sheen only found naturally among the Mer. He paused as he partially beached himself upon the strand, muscular blue-black tail flexing as he steadied himself in the shallow foot of water just off the dry sand and pebbles a body length away.
"No," he reassured the human woman, in a voice as deep and low as distant summer thunder. "I came to shore to plant a seed." And one was faintly visible in the net bag at his side, its golden rind gleaming in the sun past the sturdy strands of twisted kelp. "Have you been to the tree in Hak Etme?" It would save him an explanation if she was already familiar with the unexpected arboreal blessing that Caido had bestowed on them.
08-10-2024, 06:15 PM (This post was last modified: 08-10-2024, 06:16 PM by Aurelia.)
Aurelia
Aurelia's eyes widened as the merman surfaced. The ornate trident strapped to his back, gleaming with an otherworldly light, spoke of power and authority. His scarred skin, adorned with golden tattoos, hinted at a life lived beneath the waves, a life of battles fought and challenges overcome.
But it was his eyes, piercing and emerald-bright, that held her attention. They spoke of wisdom, a deep understanding that both intrigued and intimidated her.
As he spoke of the Hak Etme tree and the golden seed, a puzzled expression befell her freckled face. Her own green eyes stared back at his. "To be honest with you, I'm pretty out of of the loop. Haven't been around Torchline or, any civilization, for a long time... I've just returned from the Oerwoud. Some strange, dark shit's been going on, corrupting the ecosystem. I know that much. But I've got no idea what tree you're referring to." (Because she goes to the tree after this because I'm not efficient oops) Her tone was somewhat flat, unhappy, clearly not proud of herself but willing enough to be honest - even with a stranger. What was the point in pretending?
Let him judge her now, rather than later - when it would hurt more.
"You're the King of your people?" She asked, or asserted, a flicker of awe crossing her features.
What is clear is what is gold You're only human after all
He studied the woman in turn, taking in her own scars and the curious whorls of ridged skin over what could be seen of her arms and shoulders. Her frame was spare but strong, and her green eyes were clear and sharply intelligent in her freckled face.
A warrior, perhaps. Or at the very least, a survivor.
One who was, it seemed, rather out of touch with the world, and Hadama inclined his head in acknowledgment of that information. "The corruption is called the Void," he rumbled. lifting the golden seed from his pouch and holding it up so she could see it more clearly. "There is a tree in the Suvahasi. Its seeds are... unusual. We hope that they may slow the Void's advance." There had been no announcement made, only a sense that the tree itself was of Caido - and its appearance seemed to be a direct response to the Void's encroachment through the Wilds.
Sometimes hope was all they had.
But her question caught him off guard, so rare was it these days. His solemn expression did not change but he did pause to gather his thoughts before answering, inclining his head in courteous greeting. "I am Hadama," he confirmed. "King of the Merfolk, and co-ruler of Torchline." There had been a time when he had been King of both, but that had been over a year ago. Emerald eyes once more settled on the stranger, calm and patient, but making no assumptions that the introduction would be reciprocated. In Torchline especially, people needed their privacy.
Though whether she was some new agent of the Family was yet to be seen.
"The Void," she echoed, her voice roughened by years spent in the wilderness. A flicker of anger crossed her features, but it was quickly replaced by a steely resolve. "I've seen its work myself. It's a plague on this land."
Her jaw clenched. "I won't let it spread any further," she declared, her voice steady and unwavering. Realizing she had yet to introduce herself, she tempered her spirit.
She met Hadama's gaze. "I'm Aurelia," she said simply, extending her hand in a gesture of both greeting and alliance. "And I've come back here to help in whatever way I can."
She nodded to the seed he had with him, "I can offer my assistance with planting that, if you need. Can you...leave the water, or..?" Her lips quirked to the side awkwardly, thoughtfully, before she explained, "Sorry if I'm a bit ignorant. I don't have much experience with merfolk. Even before I left, I had only met one. And she was a bit shy, didn't tell me much." Though Aurelia was curious to know more.
Of course, she understood the basics. But beyond surface level knowledge, she wasn't sure what was rooted in myth or what was true. She'd heard many stories of mermaids and sirens in her youth, how they enchanted and lured people to their deaths, but her home world was quite different from Caido. Assumptions were best left out of things.
What is clear is what is gold You're only human after all
"Indeed." An agreement, though his tone was neutral as he considered her words. The Void had been a plague for the past year, and in that time many had made promises of stopping its spread. Few enough had been strong enough to back up their words, and so Hadama merely accepted the stranger's declaration without comment. Perhaps she would prove the exception to the rule. Perhaps she would not. But even if that were the case she would hardly be alone in it.
"A pleasure to meet you, Aurelia." Hadama inclined his head in courtesy, though her phrasing - back - tugged at his memory. It was a name he knew he had seen before...
Before he could place it she spoke again, and the mermanta accepted with a partial bow from his awkward seated position in the shallow water. "Thank you. It is appreciated." He did not smile at her admission of ignorance, but there was a hint of a gleam in emerald eyes as he considered what she knew and did not. After a few moments of silent thought he shifted in the waves, tail splitting into legs clad in black leather trousers stitched with hand-sewn silver stars. He stood, taking the three long strides that put him on dry sand before he answered.
"Safrin has given me the ability to leave the water at will." And this time there was definitely a crinkling at the corners of his eyes in spite of his stoic serenity. "So I am no longer... typical of my people."
That tingle of memory tugged again and he contemplated her from his new angle before he spoke again, his words slow and chosen with care. "Aurelia... I have seen the name on the Notice Board in Haulani. A former Queen of Torchline. Are you her?"
"A pleasure to meet you, Hadama," Aurelia replied, mirroring his courteous nod with a slight bow of her own. She felt a prickle of awareness at his scrutiny, his words suggesting a recognition she hadn't anticipated.
His revelation about Safrin's gift brought a flicker of surprise to her eyes. A mer-king walking on land, proof of the goddess's capricious will and the unpredictable tides of fate. "That's quite a... blessing," she remarked, choosing her words carefully.
The weight of his question hung in the air, a silent challenge that demanded honesty. Aurelia met his gaze, her own eyes reflecting the vastness of the ocean.
"I am," she admitted, her voice steady but tinged with a hint of melancholy, "or at least, I was. For a brief time."
A bittersweet smile played on her lips, a reflection of the complexities of her past. "I was lost on a quest, ended up in the Feverlands," she explained, her gaze briefly clouding with the memory of the ordeal, "An injury, an infection... it clouded my mind, made me see things that weren't there."
Her voice gained a steely resolve as she continued. "I returned, but then... Milo... he disappeared." She paused, her throat tightening with the unspoken weight of his loss. "I couldn't stay. Not then. I needed time, space, to heal."
Her gaze met Hadama's, "This time, my absence was a choice," she admitted, her voice unwavering. "A mistake, perhaps, but one I made in the hopes of finding my way back to myself. But the world kept turning, and I... I wasn't there when I was needed."
A flicker of regret crossed her features, but it was quickly replaced by a renewed sense of purpose. "I'm back now," she declared, her voice ringing with conviction. "And I'm ready to fight for this world, for its people, for hope. I may not be a queen anymore, but I'm still a warrior. I still have skills and strengths to offer."
What is clear is what is gold You're only human after all
He could appreciate someone who spoke with care, and he nodded once at the mention of his blessing. "Indeed," he agreed, a gleam of mischief in emerald eyes that did not make it to his serenely stoic face. It was a subtle humor that could not last, however, in the face of the more serious questions that followed and the answers that were forthcoming.
She was a former Queen in her own right, and Hadama listened in solemn silence to the story that unfolded. Some aspects were familiar - she was not the only Queen to become lost and sickened in the Fever Lands, resulting in the abdication of her crown - but the name of 'Milo' was unknown to the Tidebreaker. He inclined his head in respect for her loss, and when he raised it again she met his eyes directly.
She owed him no explanation; he had not yet come to the surface during her reign, but he granted her the same patient acknowledgment and acceptance that he had given two previous co-rulers who he had shared crowns with. The responsibility was not easy to shoulder, especially in times of unrest in the world, and it was even harder to carry when weighed down by personal loss.
"Thank you. We are in need of warriors again," he agreed, giving a small bow at her offer. "And willing hands." He paused, glancing down at the seedpod in his own hand before tilting his head at Aurelia in polite query. "Though at the moment a shovel would be more helpful than a sword."
my heart turns as if a tide. let anything happen, it says wash me on the stones, curl me from the edge, cut me from the bone
"A shovel, you say?" Aurelia mused, a playful lilt in her voice. "While I possess the gift of magic, I cannot conjure objects from thin air." She flashed a reassuring smile, "But, I can lend a hand, or rather, a paw, to the digging. Let's find an adequate spot to plant it, first."
With a purposeful stride, she led the way towards the tree line, her keen eyes scanning the dappled shadows for a suitable spot. "Here," she declared, halting beneath the sheltering canopy, "Sunlight and shade in harmonious balance. A perfect sanctuary for a fledgling tree."
A tangle of vines and undergrowth, however, marred the otherwise idyllic clearing. Aurelia extended her hands, and without much else in the way of warning, flames lashed from her fingertips, their hungry tongues devouring the encroaching vegetation. She wielded the fire with practiced precision, leaving a circle of fertile earth untouched.
"There," she announced, pulling back the flames and dissipating them, a hint of satisfaction in her voice, "that should do nicely. Now..."
With a deep breath, she shed her human form. She stood before Hadama on four powerful legs, her striped coat gleaming in the dappled sunlight. A Siberian tiger, she surveyed her surroundings with a newfound clarity and intensity. A low growl rumbled in her throat, a primal sound that vibrated through the air.
Her still-green gaze fell upon the ashen clearing. With a purposeful stride, she approached the center, her massive paws sinking into the soft earth.
She began to dig, her claws effortlessly slicing through the soil. She pushed and piled the earth, creating a gentle mound at the heart of the clearing. Then, with meticulous care, she sculpted a shallow moat around it, her powerful paws shaping the earth.
When the task was complete, she stepped back, her tail swishing gently as she surveyed her work. A sense of satisfaction mingled with a quiet anticipation. The stage was set, the earth prepared. It was time for the seed to take root, to unleash its potential.
Her eyes, gleaming with an expectant light, lifted to meet Hadama's.
A magic wielder and a shapeshifter? Only his familiarity with Deimos and long association with Hotaru kept him from being surprised, though he tilted his head in curiosity. He followed her confident stride in silence, content to let her lead them away from the water and towards the trees - an area without Shadowed Pineapples, Nether Veil Palms, or Voidbark Dudes, he was relieved to note.
Her declaration was met with an agreeable inclination of his head; the conditions for growing land-plants were not ones that he was overly familiar with, and he was content to rely on a landwalker's expertise in the matter.
It looked like it would be difficult to dig up the area, but Aurelia clearly had a plan of action and he watched her wield Fire with a calm and steady confidence that he could respect. Her magic quickly reduced the plants and living debris to ash that would enrich the soil before they whisked out without endangering the nearby trees. "Indeed..." he agreed, a subtle note in his voice revealing how impressed he was at the display of power and control.
Showing that she had the best of both worlds, she slipped from two legs to four, her feline form equally admirable. Even growing used to the molten tiger shifts of the Ancients as he was, it was still a magnificent shape. Hadama considered her size and musculature calmly in spite of the growl, and as she went to work with paws and claws he studied what she did.
Thank you, he rumbled through the Attuned bond when she finished, and gave the tiger a small bow of gratitude for her part in preparing the soil. Stepping forward, he knelt in the moat and used his hands to press the seedpod into the softened earth of the mound before covering it over once more. May it help to keep the Void at bay. As much prayer as wish, but as he stood and dusted his hands on his trousers he stood a little taller, as if a small weight, at least, had been lifted from his broad shoulders.
Emerald eyes turned back to the tiger's gaze and he tilted his head at her in thoughtful consideration. "Will I see you again soon?"
my heart turns as if a tide. let anything happen, it says wash me on the stones, curl me from the edge, cut me from the bone
A subtle tremor rippled through the attuned bond, a flicker of astonishment emanating from Aurelia as he spoke directly into her mind.
Aurelia, for now, chose not to mirror his method, a silent nod of her massive feline head serving as her sole response. Her eyes, sharp and observant, remained fixed on the freshly planted seedpod, a silent vigil filled with anticipation. Would something miraculous occur? Would the earth tremble, the sky crack open, heralding the seed's power? But the world remained still, the only sound the gentle lapping of waves against the shore. Patience, she reminded herself.
Hadama's voice broke the silence.
Surprise flickered across her feline features, her whiskers twitching with curiosity. She hadn't expected such a direct invitation, a desire for further connection. A warmth spread through her chest.
I will be here, she replied, her thoughts imbued with a newfound confidence, I've always been fond of the beach. I find solace in the rhythm of the tides, the vastness of the horizon. A playful purr rumbled in her throat, a hint of a smile in her telepathic voice, You will see me again if you wish. You need only look for me.
