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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!
11-21-2024, 09:40 PM (This post was last modified: 11-22-2024, 07:20 AM by Odd.)
The Peregrine cut through the cold Leafchange air above the Eurybia Ocean, her rigging thrumming under the pressure of the wind. It was a tricky bit of skyboat sailing to bring her down close to the water so they could approach the new, sparkling hunk of island that rose from the waves like an icy fist of stone.
But it was a fist that held something incredibly valuable in its grasp - and that Tal had been hired to recover.
He pulled the Peregrine into a slow curve around the Crag, giving Sohalia time to see the landmarks for her maps, before he followed Boreal down to land near a small, gravelly beach. He threw the ground anchor out and let down the rope ladder so they could reach the surface, and by the time he'd secured his ship he could see another sail on the horizon, rapidly approaching. It looked like a sea-going vessel rather than a sky-going one, with a small crew and a couple of passengers he didn't recognize. He hesitated but gestured for Soh to wait and see what the others wanted as the boat came close enough for the pair to disembark.
Maybe they would be up for working together to reach the prize at the end of the Eirachi's game?
Tal arrives with everything on his profile, including Boreal!
The abrupt halt of the inevitable vessel had been a moment that Eternum would cherish for an eternity. Their destination was ahead, defiantly poking it's head out from the ocean. He breathed in slow and let the crisp, salt tinged air fill his lungs for a moment..
He said aloud, his voice quiet yet carrying over the sound of the ocean, "This is... impressive." He turned to see Talyson. Eternum hadn’t really tried to socialize thus far, but better late than never. Only a moment did Eternum hesitate before stepping closer.
He spoke easily, but curiously. “this is quite the scene. Have you ever seen anything like this before?”
Her dirty paws and furry coat She ran down the forest slope
The disruption of nature - a part of the Fangs being thrown into the sea, for instance - is of course catnip to Persephone. As soon as she'd learned of the strange event she's made her way to Halo, chartering a ride on a fishing vessel to traverse the frigid sea.
Now she joins a small group of explorers, recognizing only Eternum, who she greets with a smile that's barely visible beneath the fur-lined hood pulled up against her face. "Isn't it?" the Naturalist agrees, her bright eyes glowing with fascination as she takes in the mysterious crag. "What an impressive force of magic, to move an entire portion of the world. I wonder what it's done to the local ecosystem - surely a disruption of this magnitude will lead to some long-term variation of the flora living here as opposed to that left behind!" She's speaking to herself more than anyone else, shameless in her curiosity, already pushing boldly ahead on the path leading deeper into what was once the Fangs.
Persephone
The forest of talking trees They used to sing about the birds and the bees
There is love inside this madness We are walking on the moon
It had been kind of Tal to invite Soh along on his voyage. Despite her decision to spend some time going back to her roots and practicing her cartography, she was still nervous exploring on her own. It was just lingering anxiety from her recent ordeals, and she was sure it would pass, but in the meantime, it was so nice to have someone she trusted available to travel with her. Even if she felt a little bad about taking Tal's partner's spot on the Peregrine.
By the time Tal had taken them down to land, Soh had finished packing up her parchment and charcoal, making a few final notes in the margins before tucking her supplies safely into her pack. Then she followed Tal down the rope ladder, disembarking alongside him to await the ship that had appeared on the horizon. She didn't recognize the pair that joined them on the beach, but she offered a friendly, if shy, smile by way of greeting.
Now that they were here, she was content to let Tal take the lead.
---
Soh arrives with Tarak flying somewhere above.
Though I don't believe in magic I believe in me and you
Sohalia
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Sohalia.
11-22-2024, 11:43 AM (This post was last modified: 11-22-2024, 01:11 PM by Odd.)
this sentence contains threee erors
Talyson, who'd found his way through the Fangs a time or two, would be the only one present with any experience about what to expect. Not to worry though, the way forward is obvious even if the answers aren't.
Following the only remaining pathway down into what was once a part of Halo, the group will quickly find themselves beneath the surface of the sea itself as they follow the stone steps deep into the tunnels below.
Almost immediately the path is cut off by door. Forcing your way through is not advised.
The following is carved into the stone, following by a place to write an answer.
I'm a word whose shape won't ever betray,
No matter how I move or sway.
Turn me over, or twist me around,
My form is unchanged, my meaning found.
TO ALL READING THIS: while puzzle-KQs are fun to try and figure out, please do not try and help those currently in the KQ. Not only does this defeat the purpose and make things less fun, but should the group fail and you know the answer, you can initiate a mageglass KQ of your own and succeed where they have failed! If I catch anyone sharing hints or answers OOC, there will be consequences c:
KQ Group -- there will be 4 puzzles in total. Please follow the posting instructions given per puzzle. Questions can be asked in your discord chat. You can get 3 wrong answers total before you fail the KQ.
You have 48 hours to complete this puzzle. Only one member of the group needs to post your answer.
There is love inside this madness We are walking on the moon
With Tal leading the way, Soh followed along, silent unless spoken to. As they followed the only path they could see, the ground sloped down into some tunnels. Darkness enveloped them, and they soon came across a door. There was a riddle written into the stone, and the four of them considered it briefly, conferring until they agreed on an answer. Picking up a piece of rock, Soh scratched the word “palindrome” into the stone, hoping that they were right.
—-
We guess “palindrome”!
Though I don't believe in magic I believe in me and you
Sohalia
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Sohalia.
As Sohalia steps forward, the edge of her rock tracing the outlines of letters into the stone...nothing happens. Not even when the word is complete. Then, after a moment, it simply vanishes and the door remains in place.
Tal had introduced himself to the others and they'd all trekked down into the tunnel that led below while he'd told them about the previous journey he'd made into the Fangs to find mageglass and the riddles they'd encountered - though that trip had ended in failure. Now he waited, tension in every line as Sohalia stepped forward to write her answer. He was feeling really good about it - especially after someone explained what a palindrome was - but his expression fell as the word vanished and the door remained.
"I don't really get it," he admitted, reaching down to rub Boreal's head absently. "But what if..." His dark brows drew together, beetling as his frown turned into a fiercely thoughtful scowl that he aimed at the riddle. He wasn't normally very good at these kinds of things, but maybe if he stared at the words hard enough...
Tal uses his INT 2 for a hint
Eternum frowned as he looked at the riddle. He mimed writing some words in the air… he must have gone through three dozen before he threw his hands up in frustration.
“I tried making some words work,” he said in the end, “SWIMS and NOON sound viable to me, so I guess I’ll settle on NOON.”
He furrowed his brow as he wrote in the word, hoping that it was the correct answer. If it was not, then he would feel awfully ashamed for a short while. Then again, he had tried his best – perhaps riddles weren’t exactly his forte.
This time as the words are etched into the stone, they begin to glow—as does the entirety of the door's outline—before the slab of stone disappears entirely, allowing you to proceed further.
Hopefully someone has thought to bring a lantern or something to light a fire with, because the deep you descend, the darker it predictably becomes. Eventually your path is halted once more by a door with the following etched upon it:
Harsh and biting, it fills the air,
A jest that might make the courtiers stare.
Unrefined grains that sorcerers keep,
And a hunter’s path through forest deep.
TO ALL READING THIS: while puzzle-KQs are fun to try and figure out, please do not try and help those currently in the KQ. Not only does this defeat the purpose and make things less fun, but should the group fail and you know the answer, you can initiate a mageglass KQ of your own and succeed where they have failed! If I catch anyone sharing hints or answers OOC, there will be consequences c:
KQ Group -- there will be 4 puzzles in total. Please follow the posting instructions given per puzzle. Questions can be asked in your discord chat. You can get 3 wrong answers total before you fail the KQ.
You have 48 hours to complete this puzzle. Only one member of the group needs to post your answer.
They made it through the first door! Tal grinned at Soh and gave Eternum a gruff well done at the answer the other man had come up with. Heading down into the darkness, the courier pulled his See Right Goggles down over his eyes so he could see and offered his hand to Sohalia until they came to the next puzzle. He read it aloud for the sake of anyone who couldn't see it, and then he scowled at the words, twisting them around to try and make them make sense.
"Harsh an' biting... like... smoke? Or like... a mean joke?" he asked, half-rhetorically, pushing the clues around in his overheating brain meats. Boreal whuffed encouragingly and pressed up against his side, burping a little flame to light the riddle for the others as Tal dug deep for some hint or clue to the answer.
There is love inside this madness We are walking on the moon
Their success in solving the first riddle was short-lived. They descended further into the tunnels, Tal taking Soh’s hand to lead her through the dark. Tarak perched on her shoulder, joining Boreal in occasionally breathing fire to light up their path. It wasn’t long before they came to second door, complete with a second riddle. Soh considered it, along with the others, pondering, turning over possibilities in her mind.
After a few minutes consideration, she stepped forward, relying on Tarak to light the way. ”I think it might be salt,” she told the others before writing the answer on the wall.
—-
We guess “salt.”
Though I don't believe in magic I believe in me and you
Sohalia
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Sohalia.
For the second time the etched letters begin to glow as they are entered, and for the second time the door preventing the group's progress begins to pulse with light before disappearing entirely.
Down you go, and if it wasn't clear before that you're far beneath the ocean's surface, given the plummeting temperatures, you're sure to realize it now. A few minutes walk brings you to yet another door with yet another puzzle etched into the stone.
When does adding six to nine equal three?
TO ALL READING THIS: while puzzle-KQs are fun to try and figure out, please do not try and help those currently in the KQ. Not only does this defeat the purpose and make things less fun, but should the group fail and you know the answer, you can initiate a mageglass KQ of your own and succeed where they have failed! If I catch anyone sharing hints or answers OOC, there will be consequences c:
KQ Group -- there will be 4 puzzles in total. Please follow the posting instructions given per puzzle. Questions can be asked in your discord chat. You can get 3 wrong answers total before you fail the KQ.
You have 48 hours to complete this puzzle. Only one member of the group needs to post your answer.
Eternum thought things were going swimmingly so far. It was clear there was a lot of talent in their party, and that gave him a sense of safety that he usually didn’t have. His electrical powers were still so undeveloped, so weak… he usually relied on others. He wanted to someday be relied on!
Yet he found himself saying, “Clock!” upon reading the puzzle on the door. He shivered from the cold and with a shaky hand he wrote “CLOCK” down in the designated spot. After doing so, he took a step back and crossed his fingers, hoping that he was correct.
