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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!
Mittens had apparently decided Sol had claimed more than enough of the attention, and grumbled from over Lena’s shoulder, floating down on high and grumbling all the while. Shaking her head again, she granted the snowball another treat as well, aiming to appease both while still listening to Zavien.
Arching her brow at his response, she pondered over the myriad – and what it said about those she kept close. Trust, loyalty, and bravery went hand in hand with the Caretaker; she typically didn’t associate with those who were cruel or callous, and didn’t have time for any rampant negativity. Though his honesty had her laughing, and blushing too, cheeks a decided shade of pink under all the tanned skin and dirt. Opting to play back, rather than sit in those potentials, she laughed – poised to take her pen and place it along parchment again as he waxed poetic on all his other companions, a large grin volleyed in return. “All right, what other company do you keep?”
As long as Lena still gave him attention, Sol didn't mind the snowball's usual growls. It was becoming somewhat familiar, and he chose to ignore the sound, peering up at the Caretaker as he waited patiently for her to resume the scratching. After all, who could deny such cuteness?
Laughing at the way Lena threw the question back at him, Zavien winked playfully at her. "All kinds." Demigods, leaders, soldiers, and courtesans mixed in with the hard-working backbones of society. It's impossible to say how he'd ended up connecting with such a wide assortment, but he wouldn't trade even one of them. Leaning casually on the shovel, he tried to explain it as best he could. "You know, it's hard to say what 'kind' of company I keep, but I like to think that I surround myself with good people. You most of all." They were the sort of people that he trusted to keep him accountable and help him to make the world a better place. They reminded him how to live and enjoy life.
He cleared the last hole with a satisfied sigh, wiping his arm across his forehead. When he turned back to the Caretaker, the dirt was smeared with his sweat over his bright smile. "Do you want me to start planting any of the seeds?"
Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.
Mittens immediately claimed Lena’s shoulder, at least for a time; not yet remorseful enough to choose kindness and compassion over taciturn, withdrawn, and mercurial moods. Maybe in time the Caretaker’s benevolence would dissipate further into the reaches of the snowball’s resolve, but she’d keep trying. In the meantime, she gave one last scratch to Sol’s belly and chin, before lining up her herb cards.
“All kinds?” she hummed in return, pondering over how he didn’t give any specifics. The compliment waylaid over any lurking suspicion though, altering it back into warm and charitable laughter. “I suppose that’s what matters the most.” Not her, but surrounding oneself with the blended proportions of compassion and kindness, rather than the negative aspects of the world. People were whole and not one side or the other – nothing truly black and white. Speaking of – her head tilted vaguely, opting for an indistinct and hazy conversation, rather than something outright – not where they lived. “Did we want to schedule something with Koa to discuss the things at the Festival?” She batted her eyelashes, hoping he got the point without her having to be too direct.
Dusting off her hands, and plucking at the seeds, she nodded at his request. “Let’s start with the lavender.” Standing up, she snagged at many in her palm, then wandered back to his side, waiting for him to open his hand as well. “We’ll plant them all in the same row,” and she pointed to the first line of holes, ensuring they’d be arranged together.
While Sol seemed to settle into a comfortable doze full of soft snores, Zavien set aside his shovel to admire Lena's work. Crouching down, he gave her a playful wink. "No one you wouldn't approve of." Because even those who might be considered 'distasteful' were more than their professions or external prickliness.
He did a brief sweep of their surroundings before answering her question. His mood was a little more serious, but he tried not to dampen the atmosphere too much. "Absolutely. I've been meaning to, but with recent events, it feels like he's been finding distractions and it's been hard to catch him to schedule something. We definitely have a lot to discuss though." His eyes tried to portray what he didn't feel comfortable saying aloud: cured infected, information on the family, and eventual political propositions. There was almost too much that he still needed to tell her, and he'd been itching to do so. If Koa wasn't free soon, he'd end up just spilling everything. Chuckling, he suggested, "Maybe we should just drag him out of bed. Or training." If there was something Koa rarely missed, it was training.
Standing, he accepted the seeds, smiling warmly. "I'll try to keep it contained." Although he wouldn't mind having a constant, overwhelming reminder of their first (official) meeting by having the plant take over the entire plant box. He'd certainly come to like the plant and all the memories he was beginning to weave with the simple association.
Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.
Her brows rose significantly, but more so in the pretenses of a joke. Humming lightly, she began placing the lavender seeds gently within the soil, careful not to cover the holes yet. “Who knows. My standards could be very high.” Her smile indicated otherwise, but she persisted, committed to the gardening aspects as subjects turned.
Koa being distracted wasn’t anything new either; but then again, they all had multitudes of duties to contend with, much less focusing on their personal lives and ambitions. “May have to do the latter,” granting and giving in agreement, without uttering too many precise chords. “I can entice him with food for that as well, I suppose.” Dusting off her hands, she wandered to her pile of other seeds, beginning to sort through next portions while Zavien finished off his side of the row. “Someone else spoke to me about things too,” and she tried to wave that aside as if it were nothing – when politics were brewing beneath the surface, unaware the same thing had occurred to him. She spelled out the name briefly in the soil, enough to catch his eye, before dashing it away with her hand.
Chuckling, he almost questioned her standards considering *insert dramatic gestures at himself*. Instead, Zavien shrugged his shoulders. "I guess we'll find out." When she eventually met them throughout the course of their relationship, she'd see for herself how many incredible people he'd found. He had no doubts.
On the topic of his fellow Dragoon, Zavien tried to ignore the fact that it sounded like they were trying to plot a kidnapping (like luring a kid with candy), sprinkling his laughter along with the last of the lavender seeds. "Food is always a good motivator." Some days, it was one of the only things that got him up so early in the morning - that, and training. Being a fellow man, Koa wouldn't be any different. They'd just have to choose a time and place to catch him.
Dusting off his own hands, he made his way back to Lena for the next set of seeds. Zavien saw the name written in dirt and smiled. "Seems like some of our information may overlap then." If her conversation with Soh went anything like his, he wouldn't be surprised that the woman had asked Lena to be on her counsel. In fact, it made him that much more comfortable with the decision to accept the offer (if the time ever came). With her next to him, he knew she wouldn't let him fail despite his lack of experience or political skills. The topic did bring a question to mind as he ran his foot over the soil. "Do you think she should be included when we speak with Koa?" If Soh was about to be the head of Stormbreak again, should she be involved in their secret meetings? It was a risk, but perhaps it would make things easier for everyone.
Continuing with their work in the meantime, he gave her a soft grin as he offered his hand for the next batch. "What's next?"
Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.
She laughed at that, already beginning to grab more seeds from their small parcels. Between luring Koa and overlapping information, perhaps they’d all come together to find the knowns were more prominent than the rest. Mulling over the notions though, she remained uncertain, biting at her lip as she contemplated. “I don’t know. If we do, then we shouldn’t hold anything here.” Meaning Stormbreak at large; too many eyes, too many ears. It did leave her wondering if there was any safe place – much like Torchline or Hollowed Grounds’ quarters. Would Koa be comfortable with it? It already felt like they were springing an assortment upon him.
Shaking her head and slowly unfurling another breath, she handed over the next batch to him. “Peppermint. It can go in that row,” pointing out portions near the lavender, but not touching, from the holes already made. “I’ll start watering the lavender.” That way some efficiency could go along, while she considered all the other roots and routes. It felt like they were treading on very thin lines.
"Hmmm... good point. We'll have to scope out some safe spaces." Options for them to choose between depending on everything. Maybe the Greatwoods? Somewhere Void-less and neutral? But isn't that also where Flora had died? Then maybe Torchline or the Hollowed Grounds? Zavien's mind began to stew over options and possibilities, analyzing pros and cons. Luckily, there was still work to distract him from the steam trying to push out his ears.
Nodding to her instructions, he accepted the peppermint seeds and turned to begin laying them in the assigned holes. It didn't take long as he got the hang of their system, ensuring they were properly organized and placed. When he rose from the last hole, he took a moment to stretch and glance around. Across from the plot of soil, Zavien noticed the only window that would be supplying the vital sunlight for their plants was obscured by a thick layer of vines. The leaves only allowed a portion of the light into the space, making him frown and step forward to inspect the situation. They were securely rooted into the upper bricks and too thick to push aside. Without a second thought - or running it by Lena - he pulled out his starlight sword. A quick swipe of the blade sent them falling to the ground, sunlight spilling in to reveal their progress. A slight sizzle sounded where the ends had been charred, but Zavien pushed the pieces into their pile of weeds and garbage. Smiling, he looked to the Caretaker. "There we go. Now I can see your pretty face better." With a wink sent her way, he sheathed his sword and looked for the next batch of seeds for planting.
Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.
She didn’t voice her initial concerns (was anywhere safe?), and instead nodded, tending to the watering as she covered the seeds with soil, then allowed the liquid to gently flow. Eventually, with sun, time, and friendly encouragement, the plants would give rise to balms, salves, and herbs, intending to utilize them to aid the Dragoons in their aches and pains.
Humming as she worked, absorbed in the task, she’d scarcely noticed the creeping plants until Zavien had simply taken care of them – glancing back over her shoulder to see the task completed, rays and beams of light coming in. Giving a light laugh, she shook her head. “My hero.” But it would do the portions well, so she rose and acknowledged his sweet sentiments with a kiss to his shoulder. “Help me with the rest of these?” And by the time they were done, the garden would be tended and full – ready for seasons to pass.
