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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.
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09-02-2024, 09:33 AM (This post was last modified: 09-02-2024, 07:06 PM by Sah.)
Sah
Sah had been very purposeful in coming all the way out here to practice his lightning. Ever since the Tournament, he'd been terrified to use his lightning against an ally, and even practicing it in public training grounds gave him pause. It was just too risky. Thus, he'd turned to a quiet clearing in the Greenwing where he could use creation magic to make as many non-sentient targets as he wanted and rebuild them as he pleased.
Taking a breath, the sky above the Wild Thunder darkened, clouds swirling to the beat of his heart. With a flick of his wrist, the sky opened up and a volley of lightning strikes came down and decimated the targets that encircled him. Rolling his shoulders, the Abandoned quickly repaired the targets and moved them further away with telekinesis.
Elizabeth was drawn by the lightning strikes that suddenly peppered the sky, their accompanying thunder shocking her as she gathered her notebooks in her arms. Curiosity piqued her interest enough to guide her feet towards the clearing, just in time to spot the volley of lightning attacks hitting their targets. Her eyes lit with excitement and she rushed forward to meet the source, even more pleased to see that it was a recognizable face.
"Sah! What a pleasant surprise!" She hadn't seen him since the clean-up after LongNight, and even then, she hadn't gotten a chance to get to really know the man. Glancing at his stance and focused attention, she thought this might be a great opportunity for them to bond. Her smile was eager as she asked, "Did you do that? Could you teach me? I haven't been able to train with another lightning user!" Elizabeth flinched slightly, hoping she wasn't being too overzealous, but she would never learn if she didn't ask!
Sah heard someone approach and turned to immediately dispel the lightning he was about to call down. His wariness turned into a warm smile as he recognized the woman, and her enthusiasm washed over him. "Hi, Elizabeth." He had actually been hoping to train with her at some point as a fellow lighting user, so this was perfect for him.
"I'd love to." His tone shifted slightly into something a bit more serious as he switched into a more 'teaching' mode. He'd trained others before, but not in his core element. "Lightning is one of the most lethal elements, and it's certainly important to master it as soon as you can."
The Wild Thunder waved his hand two of the targets moved closer to stand 30 ft away from them. If he recalled correctly from their fight with the luxere, Elizabeth's control hinted at her not being a beginner, but she hadn't been able to create her own lighting. Holding out his hand, Sah let sparks form around his knuckles before he sent out a small but powerful lightning bolt that pierced the center of one of them.
"How about we start with you replicating that? Try to be precise and hit as close to the center as possible." He held out his hand to her where lightning flickered into existing, dancing along the lines of his palm. The Wild Thunder had no qualms about being her source of power for this lesson. This first exercise would be a good indicator of where she had room to grow.
I think therefore I am, But what if all I do is bleed?
Grateful to see that Sah wasn't put off by her enthusiasm, Elizabeth's smile became more confident, eager to begin the lesson. The man's shift in countenance was surprising as she hadn't been expecting him to look so relaxed in a teacher position. He obvious had experience with these kinds of situations. It made her all the more excited to absorb his knowledge. Especially as he landed a perfectly placed hit on his target. Elizabeth nodded her head determinedly, hoping not to make a fool of herself in comparison. "I can definitely try!"
When he offered a handful of sparking lightning, she gave him an appreciative look before turning to the target. Pulling from his source, she extended her hands towards the left target, redirecting the buzzing tendrils outwards. They went in the right direction, making contact with the entire surface with fizzling severity, however, they also singed the grass around it and reached towards the right target. It may have hit, but it was weak next to Sah's. Laughing lightly, she looked to her instructor. "I don't think that went very well."
Sah watched closely as Elizabeth attempted the maneuver. Her accuracy was solid but just as he suspected, her precision needed some work. He shook his head at her laugh, "No. That was an excellent start." He let the lightning in his hand die down and reset their targets, placing them 10 meters closer. As an afterthought, he walked over and made the targets bigger as well.
"Let's give it another shot, alright? We can slowly work on pushing them further away and aiming for smaller bullseyes. Watch."
Calling forth his magic again, the Wild Thunder sent another bolt into the bullseye of his target. This time, he went slower, trying to make his form more replicable. He stepped back afterward and gave his fellow Abandoned an encouraging nod. "Lightning may burn like fire, but it moves like water. It's not something you shove more so as something you direct."
Sah offered Elizabeth another handful of lightning to work with, "You've got this."
I think therefore I am, But what if all I do is bleed?
The encouragement was great, even as she saw the evidence before her. Hopefully, it would be as easy as he said. Watching the shifting position of his body, she watched as the lightning traveled along his body like a single pathway towards his intended target. And although she had seen it just before, his precision impressed her immensely.
When he turned back to her, she focused on his words, letting the idea of a flowing river lead the sparks across her skin. It drew from his hands, down one arm, across her chest, along the other arm, and eventually off the tip of her finger, the single strand of lightning arcing towards the target with much more accuracy than before. A large smile spread across her face as it hit the edge with more power and control than before.
Jumping up, she looked to Sah, grinning stupidly. "It worked!" Remembering the feeling, a thought came to mind. "Is it the same concept with redirecting a lightning attack? Could we try?" Elizabeth imagined that a battle between skilled lightning users would look more like a dance than a battle, sparks flowing and trading between them.
Sah grinned widely, "Well done." Elizabeth was showing great promise, and she listened well to his instruction. Sah had no doubt that she'd master the element soon.
Her request gave him pause, and he only just barely managed to restrain a flinch, his mind quickly came up with a compromise. "I try to avoid using lightning on allies, but we can certainly practice bouncing it between us." Like, catch, Sah supposed. That should be safe enough. He'd never let a situation like with Melita happen again.
Shoving down his uncertainty so that Elizabeth could learn, the Wild Thunder walked a short distance away before forming a ball of lightning in his hand. When his fellow Abandoned gave the cue that he was ready, he let the element arc over to her, keeping its initial speed gentle.
He wanted to give Elizabeth ample time to gain control of the bolt. Simultaneously, he kept his own grip on the lighting, ready to redirect it should Elizabeth fail to grasp control and risk being struck.
I think therefore I am, But what if all I do is bleed?
The praise was much more warranted and welcomed this time, and Elizabeth gave Sah a large grin of satisfaction. "Thanks! It's because I have a good teacher!" He'd explained the concept so well, that her brain had easily been able to apply it. Now, she'd just need practice to hone the skill further.
And when he agreed to bounce the lightning between them, she got even more excited shuffling her feet as she waited for him to get in position. Once he'd formed the lightning sphere, Elizabeth settled into a comfortable pose, ready to receive and redirect it. So, when it came slowly her way, she was easily able to gain control of the orb, letting the electricity in her veins sing with the source. Her hands came around in a smooth, graceful motion, slowly guiding it around her body and back towards Sah. It was a little off target, but at least it was heading in his general direction.
Sah blinked in surprise before letting out a soft laugh, "Thank you." It was fun to teach others about magic, even though he was always learning more about it too. There was just so many possibilities and applications that there'd always be more to discover.
An invisible weight lifted from the Wild Thunder's shoulders when Elizabeth managed to catch the lighting without getting hurt. She sent it back to him and he only had to take a few steps to the side to reach it. The lightning sparked as it reached his hand, seeming to enjoy the game as well. Letting it flow around him, Sah called out, "I'm going to send it faster this time. Be ready." With that warning, he let the element flow and once more head in Elizabeth's direction. He still kept a grip on the volatile lightning, ready to pull it back if needed.
I think therefore I am, But what if all I do is bleed?
The warning proved extremely useful as she prepared to receive the lightning. It almost didn't help as her grasp nearly fumbled the sphere. Sparks casted out as it dropped in elevation drastically. But before it could hit the ground, Elizabeth regained her composure, tightening her hold on the magic with a deep breath. Her chuckle was forced and nervous as she let the orb flow around her body again.
The tight-knit glowing ball of dangerous electricity crackled more against the flow of her movements this time. However, Elizabeth didn't give up, reminding herself of the flowing river, easing the ball back in the direction she wanted. It proved more difficult than the first time, the speed making it more volatile, yet as she released it back towards Sah, the path looked closer than before. A success in her book.
Sah almost took control of the lightning completely when it looked like Elizabeth might lose her grasp on the magic. Thankfully, she kept her grip, and the lightning made its way back to him. There was a clear improvement in her aim, and he nodded approvingly as he closed his hand around the orb and let it dissipate into sparks.
"Very well done. You're a natural. Let's stop there. I don't want to overdo it." He hummed in thought, "Your accuracy is solid, and if you keep working on your precision, you'll improve rapidly. Mastery is only a matter of time now that you've grasped how lightning behaves." A warm smile stretched across his face, "I'm always willing to train more if you need further instruction."
Using his creation magic, Sah cleaned up the targets as he spoke before sending a glance at Elizabeth, "By the way. I know we haven't spoken much, but as a fellow Abandoned and Halovian I feel inclined to ask." His eyes softened, "Are you okay? I know since Starfall everyone has been stressed and that anxiety is leaching into everyone regardless of their involvement." There was a tension in the air that was unescapable, and he had a feeling it would only get worse in the coming seasons.
I think therefore I am, But what if all I do is bleed?
Elizabeth listened intently to his compliments and advice, nodding her head and taking mental notes. When he'd finished, she gave Sah a warm smile. "Thank you! Hopefully next time we meet, I'll have made even more progress, but I'll definitely take you up on the offer for future sessions!" She spared a revengeful glance towards the targets, determined to show them who's boss next time. They wouldn't embarrass her again.
She laughed lightly at the question looking back to the other Abandoned,. Usually she was the person asking that. "I'm doing better than I would've expected for the end of the world." At least that's what it felt like with people suffering and Void creatures multiplying by the day. Tilting her head to the side, she considered the man. "I'm sure you're probably more involved than me. How are you doing?"
Sah's lips twitched as Elizabeth reprimanded the targets. It was a relief to see her in high spirits despite the danger rising around them, "Good."
She then turned his question on him and it caught the older Abandoned off guard. How was he? That wasn't a question he was asked all that often. The Wild Thunder fell quiet for a moment, taking internal stock before sighing. "I'm okay. Not fantastic. But better than I was before the last war." Sah was more powerful now and had the capability to truly defend his family. The danger was worse now, but he still felt more prepared than he had been a few years ago. "Thank you for asking."
Sah ran a hand through his hair and hummed, "So much has happened since Starfall, and things are bound to get worse." He playfully smirked at Elizabeth, "But that's why we train." With every individual improvement, their collective strength grew. Halo had never stopped, even after the war. They'd continued to push themselves and complete regional quests to bolster their region's defenses and strengths. Out of all of the regions, Sah firmly believed that Halo was the one that was the most primed for war.
I think therefore I am, But what if all I do is bleed?
Elizabeth didn't know how well she liked his words. 'The last war.' As if this chaos was anything like the organized conflict of war. It was hard to call it such when they didn't know who their enemies were and armies weren't nearly as effective. How were they even supposed to tell when it started or ended? Whatever the case or what they decided to call this(insert flailing hands), she kept her mouth shut, simply nodding her head and saying, "Of course. I'm always here if you need to talk." It may have sounded like an offer of her services, but the warmth of her gaze was more the offer of a friend than a therapist.
Sah's reflection had Elizabeth thinking about her own progression since Starfall. Her parents had decided to retire in Torchline, and she'd finally decided to strike out on her own, opening her business and tackling the unforgiving habitat of Halo. It wasn't obvious, but she'd grown a lot since moving. She'd met plenty of people (a few just like herself) and faced dangers like nothing she'd seen before, showing her what it means to live. Sah may be right about the world getting worse, but they were getting stronger with it. Smiling, she said as much. "We'll be ready. There's no way we won't be. We've come too far."
