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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!
As always, it seemed to be going so well. Fire scattered the Crows and gravity struck the corrupted tree with satisfying devastation, and for a moment it seemed that they had things under control.
Until, of course, they didn't.
"Thalassa!" he called out, for a moment knocked back to night in the Oerwoud when he had watched the feathered form of Ray fall from the sky, lifeless and broken. The spike of fear was only partially allayed as the Ancient shifted and fled, and relief filled the Tidebreaker's chest and sharpened his focus on keeping her safe.
Melita's attention was on their opponent, pulling his own back to the ongoing fight with a very pertinent question. "I do not," he admitted grimly, but Aurelia stepped up then, literally as she moved to the Honeybee's back. Fire blossomed around and above them as well as in the earth at their feet and he gave a shake of his head at her beckoning. "After Thalassa is safe." If the fleeing Ancient was the only one unprotected, it was not hard to guess where the tree's attention might go.
And besides, he was perfectly content with his feet in the boggy waters as he gathered the warping weight of the moon into three spheres above the Hanging Tree. They lanced down once more, aiming for where it had been previously damaged. Hadama stays where he is (outside of Aurelia's shield) to try and keep the Tree's attention away from Thalassa, and keeps his feet in the boggy water. He uses three Gravity Spikes to hit the same spot from last round!
Magic: Hydrated | (FEAT) Has Advantage while in water
Type: Light | Rank: Basic
Magic: Gravity Spike: the user borrows a sliver of the moon's power to summon up to three gravity lances that appear above a target within 60ft. Control is excellent.
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
Type: Light | Style: Defensive | Level: Upgraded
StArmour | Armour created from owlbear down. When not in use, retracts as a silver serpentine bangle etched with constellation and can be activated telepathically. Blocks physical damage. Has a 3 post cooldown
Regional Score bonus: +11 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc.
The tree groaned in response, feeling Melita ’s fiery arrow bite deep into its bark, but the void's corruption within it seethed, resenting the flames that crawled across its surface.
Thalassa, her wings beating hard against the thick, humid air, carry her away from the tree's relentless reach. The void-touched roots, slow to react, thrashed uselessly beneath her as she escaped its grasp.
Meanwhile, a dome of fire encased Aurelia and Melita; within its swirling heat, visibility vanished. The flickering walls blocked out the outside world entirely, isolating those inside from the danger lurking just beyond.
The Hanging Tree’s roots twisted in frustration, as one thick tendril lashing out toward Hadama. But in its blind fury, it missed, crashing into the swamp with a heavy splash. The tree groaned once more as the mermanta's gravity lances struck true, splitting its bark deeper and forcing dark, viscous sap to ooze from its wounds. Still, the tree writhed, its void-tainted hunger reaching through the swamp, determined to claim them all.
Welcome to the Key Quest. This is a hard Level 4 key Quest.
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.
they should have checked the ashes of the women they burned alive
Oh sure, there was a haze of smoke and fire and shit (honestly, Melita didn’t care, ordinarily she might admire it and think it was pretty damn neat) – and yeah, she had technically called for a shield. It could’ve been worse. It could’ve been better too.
Opting to sidle out of the smoky haze as best she could (she hadn’t anticipated any shield doing more harm than good, live and learn one supposed), so that she could actually target their opponent, Melita’s eyes narrowed, focused on might and precision. With another quick inhale, she grabbed the same fiery element out of her quiver, notched it along her bow, and fired towards the menacing tree.
--
Melita tries to get out of the smoke/haze, and shoots another fire arrow at the tree.
Type: Light | Style: Offensive | Level: Mastered
Bowstring Bracelet | At first this bracelet appears only as a length of intricately braided bowstring, adorned with vinelike patterns and tiny, fanged charms. But with an arrow in hand, upon miming the action of knocking and drawing it, the user will feel a bow beneath their fingers, as if it was there all along.
Type: Dark | Style: Offensive | Level: Mastered
Fire/Lightning/Ice Quiver | A magical quiver with two compartments. In one, it turns any arrow placed within into a flaming projectile when shot. In the other, the arrow becomes imbued with electricity. (Made by Remi)
Regional Score bonus: +11 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +11 should be included)
because it takes a single wild ember to bring a whole wildfire to life
hear those bells ring deep in the soul chiming away for a moment
Aurelia quickly realized her fire dome wasn’t working. Hadama had chosen to stay outside its protection, and the thick haze was making it impossible for Melita to aim her arrows. Not wanting to leave Hadama exposed or hinder Melita’s attacks, Aurelia began to break down the dome, pulling the flames together.
With intense concentration, Aurelia began to draw the flames inward. The fiery tendrils coiled and swirled as they spiraled toward a single point above her. She raised her hands, guiding the flames as they merged into a massive, roiling orb, its surface flickering with flashes of orange and red, like molten lava contained within.
The heat pulsed in waves, distorting the air around it, casting a dim, eerie glow across the swamp. Aurelia’s eyes narrowed, locking onto the towering tree ahead. With each steadying breath, she funneled her energy into the orb, feeling its weight; its raw, untamed power. Then, with a sharp inhale and a wordless shout, she thrust her arms forward, hurling the blazing sphere straight at the tree's trunk, the fiery mass streaking through the air like a comet.
Aurelia dismantles her fire dome and unleashes a massive flaming orb at the tree's trunk!
Fire Manipulation: Can create and control flames. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Dark | Rank: Mastered
Regional Score bonus: +11 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +11 should be included)
feel your breath course frankly below see life as a worthy opponent
Hadama did not flinch as the root lashed towards him, though he did brace himself. The impact never came as the attack went wild, and there was a grim satisfaction in his eyes when the splash subsided and revealed the weakened state of the Void Guardian. Thalassa had vanished into the sky, safe from the current danger, and as he took in the state of the battleground Melita and Aurelia struck at the Hanging Tree with cleansing fire.
A formidable duo. And he was pleased to follow their lead in pouring his strength into finishing what they had begun.
The damage from his Gravity Spikes was gratifying to see, and he lashed out with it once more, hopefully for the last time, as he aimed for the violet heartwood. Third verse same as the first! Hadama stays where he is in the bog and bats any cleanup that might be needed by using Gravity Spike.
Magic: Hydrated | (FEAT) Has Advantage while in water
Type: Light | Rank: Basic
Magic: Gravity Spike: the user borrows a sliver of the moon's power to summon up to three gravity lances that appear above a target within 60ft. Control is excellent.
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
Type: Light | Style: Defensive | Level: Upgraded
StArmour | Armour created from owlbear down. When not in use, retracts as a silver serpentine bangle etched with constellation and can be activated telepathically. Blocks physical damage. Has a 3 post cooldown
Regional Score bonus: +11 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc.
The Hanging Tree groans, its ancient form buckling under the onslaught. As Melita darts through the fiery haze, she'll feel the burn of Aurelia's flames lick across her skin, however her arrow flies with deadly precision, embedding deep into the tree’s void-blackened heart and striking something dark and purple. The Hanging Tree lets out one final, tortured creak as the void’s grip loosens. The branches twist and shudder violently, black sap oozing from its wounds. Then, as if imploding from within, the entire trunk crumples inward.
As Aurelia draws the dome of flames inward, swirling it into a massive, pulsing orb above her head just as Hadama summons another strike of his gravity lances, the combined assault surges forward in a wave of raw power.
But the tree is already dead.
A thick, purple-black haze pours from the tree’s withering form, tendrils of void energy dissolving into the swamp like smoke carried away by the wind. The heavy, rotten stench of decay fills the air as the once-mighty branches shrivel, shrinking into nothing.
The ground quakes beneath them, a final gasp of void-tainted life slipping away, until the Hanging Tree is no more—only a cloud of eerie, purple mist remains, swirling in the gloom before vanishing into the darkness of the Feverlands.
The Feverlands have been cleansed of the Void Infection! This thread will remain open for 24hrs for closing posts!
Feverlands Void Guardian: 0/750 **Killed by Melita for levelling purposes
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.
hear those bells ring deep in the soul chiming away for a moment
The last wisps of that purple-black mist curled away into the damp air, vanishing like something that had never really existed at all. Aurelia watched it go, her muscles taut, not quite ready to believe it was over. The fire still smoldered in her hands, flickering against her palms, but she let it fizzle out. The swamp was quieter now, unnervingly so, as if it, too, was holding its breath.
She stood there, the silence crawling under her skin, the ground still trembling slightly beneath her boots. The tree was gone, the void had loosened its grip, and yet there was something... wrong. Or maybe it was just her. That weight in her chest hadn’t disappeared; it lingered, heavy and solid, like the ghost of something that wasn’t supposed to leave.
Aurelia’s gaze dropped to the scorched earth where the tree had stood. There was no satisfaction in watching it crumble, only the hollow realization that even when the enemy was gone, the battle never really ended. The void had seeped into this place, and something about it—something about the way it faded so easily—made her uneasy. The scars were still there, in the land and in her, etched deep.
She glanced at her companions. They were safe. Thalassa too, somewhere. For now, that was enough.
"Let's get out of here," she said, her voice quiet but firm.
feel your breath course frankly below see life as a worthy opponent
10-17-2024, 02:47 PM (This post was last modified: 10-17-2024, 02:57 PM by Hadama.)
He would not say that the Guardian had gone down easily - not with how it had nearly killed Thalassa in a single hit - but he was still surprised when it subsided without doing further damage to those who remained. He continued to look around warily, as if expecting the roots to return or the tree to morph into a second, more powerful form.
But all was silent in the aftermath of their overkill, even the violet fog dissipating into nothing.
"Thank you," he rumbled to his allies who remained when no new threat was forthcoming. "I will go after Thalassa. We will join you back at the ship later." Leaving the boat for Aurelia and Melita, Hadama bowed deeply to them both in gratitude and then turned to forge into the swamp in the direction the lyvern had fled.
they should have checked the ashes of the women they burned alive
Other than taking a hoard of fire for her troubles, Melita was elated. A broad grin encompassed her features – bright, brilliant, and full of its own wicked flames. It said any number of things with naught - take that Fam or go fuck yourselves, void shits - and while others might have been worried and concerned, filled with relief or trepidation, the Honeybee remained proud and seditious.
Thalassa had made it away, after all, and they’d succeeded. With her middle finger raised towards the Feverlands and vacant tree in general, she turned to head back with the others, finally without that hinge of defeat that had pressed on her spine since her death.
[FIN]
because it takes a single wild ember to bring a whole wildfire to life
