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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!
Making her way through the Inner Quarter, Thal felt aimless, wasting time as her crew enjoyed themselves on bars and women. She drifted through the crowd, hood raised like a wraith through the cold night. Few glanced her way, used to the shadows moving and shifting amongst the streets. They instead focused on the shops lining the square, filled with food, clothes, and trinkets. Preferring not to waste time in lines, she snagged a treat from the cookie shop without so much as a pause to her step. No one called out, too distracted in conversation to see the hooded figure munching on the sweet dessert while walking down the street.
Time passed, and just as she took the final bite, the captain found herself before an inconspicuous tent advertising 'tarot card readings.' Thal scoffed at the sight, ready to walk away without another thought. However, what else did she have to do with her time? It seemed like something that might entertain her with its absurdity. So why not? It's not like any of it's real. And with that thought in mind, she made her way inside, taking in the dark interior and the person occupying it.
She recognized the woman.
Choosing to keep her hood up for anonymity's sake (and not because she'd been sharply vicious last time), she wondered if she might get away with it. Although the woman may recognize Thal's voice, the captain chose not to let it worry her, asking 'politely,' "Are you the fortune teller?" Her voice was dark and mysterious, adding to the vibes of it all.
And you understand now why they lost their minds and fought the wars
Alys was rarely in the Hollowed Grounds unless she had to be, but Tal's deliveries had taken them there, and so here she was, sitting in a tent in the Inner Quarter, waiting for tarot clients to appear. She'd had a few already that day, but not as many as she might find in King's End or Torchline. Halo was the worst as far as interested clients went - many Halovians were too skeptical to buy into the art of the tarot - but the Hollowed Grounds was a close second, with many residents too leery of magic to express interest in anything occult.
A hooded figure strode into the tent, drawing Alys's attention away from the halfhearted self-reading she'd been working on to pass the time between clients. When the stranger spoke, it sounded vaguely familiar, but Alys had had so many clients lately that she couldn't quite place where she'd heard them speak before. Choosing instead to focus on the task at hand, Alys offered a practiced, welcoming smile. "I am. Are you interested in a reading?"
And why I've spent my whole life trying to put it into words
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Alys.
Emotional Telepathy | The user can read deep emotions of those within a 5 foot radius at will. Control is excellent. Note: "Deep emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
Emotional Perception | The user can read surface level emotions of those within a 15 foot radius. Control is moderate. Note: "Surface level emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
'Interested' was perhaps a little optimistic, although Thal couldn't find a reason to say no now that she was here. She nodded in confirmation, stepping further into the room. Realizing that the fortune teller probably couldn't see the movement, Thal said, "I suppose I am."
With obvious reluctance, she knelt down to prepare for whatever nonsense this woman decided to spew. She kept her hood raised along with her guard but tried to get as comfortable as she could despite the tingling beneath her skin. Her eyes ran over the cards with suspicio. What could it hurt after all? It wasn't like it was real or anything. With such an obscure past, it did make her wonder if her future might turn out to be a similar void of darkness.
And you understand now why they lost their minds and fought the wars
The stranger wasn't one for words, but that had never bothered Alys before. What irked her now was that the voice was so familiar. Perhaps if the stranger took off their hood, she would recognize the face behind it. With that in mind, Alys gestured to the chair across from her at the little table she'd been reading on. "Please, make yourself comfortable." As they settled, Alys gathered up the cards she had laid out and set them aside, pulling out a second deck from a bag she'd left nearby.
With the two decks displayed on the table, she said, "Pick a deck; choose the one that calls to you. This is often the one your eye is drawn to or the one you instinctively want to pick. There are no right or wrong answers." Although Alys would stop the stranger if she went to touch the cards - it could tamper with the energy of the reading - it was clear enough that one was darker and moodier, and the other was lighter and more ethereal.
And why I've spent my whole life trying to put it into words
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Alys.
Emotional Telepathy | The user can read deep emotions of those within a 5 foot radius at will. Control is excellent. Note: "Deep emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
Emotional Perception | The user can read surface level emotions of those within a 15 foot radius. Control is moderate. Note: "Surface level emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
Thal shifted to take her place across from the fortune teller, settling into the chair. Although 'comfortable' probably wasn't the right word. As much as she wanted to lounge back in complete nonchalance, the unsettling possibility of her identity being discovered gave her hesitation. She sat at the edge of the chair, her posture confident and relaxed despite the tension lingering just beneath the surface.
Not expecting to be presented with an option so soon, Thal leaned forward to inspect the choices before her. Feeling that she had no right to a 'light' future, Thal raised her finger reluctantly to point at the darker deck of tarot cards, even as her eyes were drawn to the bright colors of the other. Perhaps if she'd had more time to heal from the new revelations of her past, she might have had the strength to pick what she really wanted, but the shadows still guided her decisions for now.
And you understand now why they lost their minds and fought the wars
Alas, Alys was not a mind reader, and the stranger was a convincing actress. The seer knew nothing of the inner turmoil faced by the hooded figure: not of the tension underlyinng her confidence, nor of her wish to use the lighter deck in place of the darker. Had she known, perhaps she would have gently nudged the stranger in that direction; the cards could sense when someone was reluctant, and it sometimes affected the reading in one way or another. As it was, though, Alys simply collected the lighter deck and stowed it in a silken pouch, tucking it away before beginning to shuffle the darker deck.
"Is there anything in particular you wish to know?" she asked, as easily as though she had done so a thousand times before. "Some people wish to know more about their love life, or their career, or any manner of other things. Others just want a general reading for the season. Either way, the cards will reveal what you need to know."
And why I've spent my whole life trying to put it into words
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Alys.
Emotional Telepathy | The user can read deep emotions of those within a 5 foot radius at will. Control is excellent. Note: "Deep emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
Emotional Perception | The user can read surface level emotions of those within a 15 foot radius. Control is moderate. Note: "Surface level emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
Watching the lighter deck vanish from the table, Thal pushed aside any lingering regret to focus on the reading to come. She leaned forward onto her forearms to observe the process more closely, always suspicious that something deceptive might occur. And this seemed like the perfect opportunity.
The questions gave her pause, even as the request quickly revealed itself. "What do they say about my purpose?" Whether the woman took that in terms of 'career' or not was up to her. Thal had been feeling doubtful about her role as a pirate captain, but it didn't seem like she had anywhere else to go or turn. She was even more adrift than usual, which was hard to imagine when she rarely had a direction or goal to strive towards. Although she doubted the cards would be able to give her the answers she sought, the hope stubbornly hung to the recesses of her subconscious.
And you understand now why they lost their minds and fought the wars
Ah, yes: questions about one's purpose were all too common in Alys's line of work, and although her cards rarely offered the concrete answers her clients sought, they did often provide guidance in how one might find the answers on their own. She nodded in response to the stranger's request - perhaps quieter than she might expect a fortune teller to be, given their propensity for asking questions to reveal little details they could use in their readings. But Alys had need for none of that.
She shuffled the cards, first riffling them, and then overhanding until it felt right. Then she cut the deck, set it down, and drew the first of three cards. "Justice," she said, showing the stranger the card, which depicted a woman holding a sword in one hand and a set of scales in the other. "A sign to seek balance and truth. You are being called to account for your actions and make the fairest decision. If your future is in question - if you are hunting for your purpose - then this card suggests that you search for the answers with logic and reason rather than emotion."
And why I've spent my whole life trying to put it into words
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Alys.
Emotional Telepathy | The user can read deep emotions of those within a 5 foot radius at will. Control is excellent. Note: "Deep emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
Emotional Perception | The user can read surface level emotions of those within a 15 foot radius. Control is moderate. Note: "Surface level emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
Looking closely at the card, Thal puzzled over the reading, more confused than anything. Sure, she hadn't been 'good' in the past few years - being a pirate captain and all - but that didn't mean she felt that there were any reparations to be made. Most of her actions didn't harm people, snagging a purse here or storming a ship there, but she rarely drew blood unless her lust was at its peak. Which brought forth the memory of when she'd first met this fortune teller. Was this her way of telling her she recognized her and wanted an apology? If so, this wasn't the way to get it.
The other point of the card, focusing on 'logic and reason rather than emotion' was something that made her eyes narrow under her hood. Despite her suspicious and cunning attempts, she couldn't deny that emotions often drove her actions. Although it pained her to admit, it may benefit her to pay closer attention to what she was basing her decision on.
Thal let the information wash over her as she waited patiently for the seer to reveal the next card.
And you understand now why they lost their minds and fought the wars
There was no judgment in Alys's face or tone, nothing to suggest that she felt any kind of way about the card that had been offered to the stranger. And she truly didn't have an opinion. She was here to interpret the cards, not to give her thoughts on how they should apply to the querent. When the stranger remained silent and offered no feedback or questions, Alys continued on.
She drew the next card, showing it to the stranger. The depiction on it was a knight charging into battle, sword held aloft. "The Knight of Swords," she said. "Determination, ambition. This suggests that you are brave and decisive, able to make swift course corrections on the fly. Paired with Justice, this suggests that perhaps some of your decisions in the past have been too quick. Are you quick to judge? Perhaps the cards call you to a more measured approach."
And why I've spent my whole life trying to put it into words
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Alys.
Emotional Telepathy | The user can read deep emotions of those within a 5 foot radius at will. Control is excellent. Note: "Deep emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
Emotional Perception | The user can read surface level emotions of those within a 15 foot radius. Control is moderate. Note: "Surface level emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
As the woman presented the next card, Thal noticed that it all started out positively. 'Determination.' 'Brave.' 'Decisive.' None of which she would consider negative qualities. After all, how could determination be a bad thing?
It wasn't until she started combining it with the previous card that she started to see the connection. Her eyes narrowed at the implication that she's unnecessarily rash. As a Captain, she was often called to make quick judgements and decisions. She couldn't afford to hesitate, and she didn't think she'd change that anytime soon.
Her only indicator of acknowledgement of the information was a tilt of her head, permission to continue to the next card.
And you understand now why they lost their minds and fought the wars
The woman remained silent, and Alys gave a mental shrug. Perhaps she was simply here to pass the time, or to satisfy some curiosity about what a tarot reading was like. If that was the case, then this was likely not the reading she'd expected to receive. After all, Alys provided a real reading, rather than what the querent wanted to hear, like some other fortune tellers tended to do.
She pulled the next card. "The four of wands," she said, showing an image of a celebration on the card. "Attainment. Peace, prosperity, and rest after labor." She paused to consider the combination of cards. "Taken together, the cards suggest that one way or another, you will find your way. Perhaps you have some work to do on yourself, but the outcome will be positive. You will find peace." Overall, a rather positive ending, even if Alys suspected that the stranger might find it a little too vague.
And why I've spent my whole life trying to put it into words
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Alys.
Emotional Telepathy | The user can read deep emotions of those within a 5 foot radius at will. Control is excellent. Note: "Deep emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
Emotional Perception | The user can read surface level emotions of those within a 15 foot radius. Control is moderate. Note: "Surface level emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
Despite having entered with a high level of suspicion, Thal found herself looking for truths within the fortune. She certainly had work to do on herself, even if she didn't quite agree with the assessment of what; however, Thal couldn't argue that she was quick to be decisive. Hadn't that been one of the reasons her and Maea had fought? Did she need to take more time to consider others?
Whatever it meant, she felt that the reading had come to an overall positive end. And perhaps things would work out just as the woman said. Which she tried to keep that in mind as she sighed, more tired than when she'd entered. "I see." Not that seeing meant she really understood. It seemed to her that she had much more to process in the coming weeks.
Thal rose from her seat, pulling a few coins from seemingly nowhere. As she set them on the table, her voice was gentle, bravado melting into sincerity, no matter how uncertain. "Thank you." The following dip of her head might be enough for the seer to recognize the blue eyes hiding beneath, but the softness in them would be unfamiliar, a new feeling of vulnerability that Thal chose not to push aside.
And you understand now why they lost their minds and fought the wars
Throughout the entirety of the reading, Alys had been under the impression that perhaps the stranger was unimpressed with the process, but when she stood and thanked the seer, it was with an unexpected sincerity. "You're welcome," she replied simply, accepting the payment with a grateful nod. "I return here frequently, if you ever have an interest in another reading," she offered as she returned the pulled cards to the deck.
Once the stranger had gone, Alys quickly put the interaction from her mind. Perhaps they would meet again; perhaps they would not. Either way, the woman had been just another client, the reading just another in a string of them. She hoped that her words had given the stranger something to ponder, but all she could do was offer them. What the woman chose to do with them was up to her.
fin
And why I've spent my whole life trying to put it into words
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Alys.
Emotional Telepathy | The user can read deep emotions of those within a 5 foot radius at will. Control is excellent. Note: "Deep emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
Emotional Perception | The user can read surface level emotions of those within a 15 foot radius. Control is moderate. Note: "Surface level emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
