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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!
Thal was in unknowing agreement with Maea as she saw the creature reach up a gnarled, clawed hand. She swerved despite the massive distance between them, letting out a grumbling growl that threatened violence. Perhaps that's what caused it to sprint between the trees and out of sight.
The squawking words of the white gore crow had her glancing over. There was no following the Void being for now, so she nodded her serpentine head. Her wings tilted, pulling her away from the path and towards a small nearby clearing. Since the 'thing' had been going the other direction, she figured it was safe to land.
A few powerful flaps of her wings slowed her descent, and Thal rolled out of her lyvern form and onto her feet as she waited for Maea. Rain immediately settled over her hair and cloak, but nothing else prickled her senses. Just to be safe, she palmed her daggers. With a suspicious narrowing of her eyes, she mumbled, "That was strange."
I feel it in the wind, my dear The sun is gonna reappear
Dropping down next to her friend, Maea staggered upon landing and took a few steps, regaining her balance. "Right? It's giving me a bad feeling..." Squinting into the dusky darkness beneath close canopies, her mouth was a thin line, concern warring with a reluctance to let any void creature vanish on her.
"It smacks of a trap," she finally said. "What do you want to do? We might be able to take it down..." Though a lingering doubt took away from any confidence she might portray. In this weather, with dusk not far away, and potential traps waiting to close on them...? It was not ideal. Not at all.
Shaking her head, she kept her eyes on the surrounding trees with alert diligence. "No. I'll come investigate when it's not raining, but I don't think we should risk springing whatever trap it may be." It was rare, but the storm would eventually have to stop, giving the land enough of a break to keep it from becoming a swampland. "We can spare the thing our wrath for today." She gave Maea a fanged grin, emulating a confidence she didn't quite feel.
Another bolt of lightning flashed across the sky. It drew her eyes from where the Void beast had run, back towards her apartment. "Should we fly back? You can either stay the night, or we can get back to The Marauder before it gets dark." With the creature lurking about, it might be better to wait until morning, but she'd leave it up the Maea.
I feel it in the wind, my dear The sun is gonna reappear
Was that a sigh of relief escaping the pale woman? In the rain it was hard to tell, though her tail had gone from cautiously stiff to drooping, actually dragging a bit through the mud and withered grass.
"Alright. Let's head back."
Making ready to take off again, Maea paused with her arms outstretched as she caught the question of lodging. Casting a glance at the woods, then back at Thalassa, she smiled almost shyly. "If you don't mind company, I'll stay the night... Just in case that thing comes back." Not because Thalassa couldn't handle herself. Just, with everything going on, Maea was a touch protective over her friends. She didn't have that many, and each one was precious beyond words.
Considering she'd offered the arrangement, Thal didn't mind in the slightest. She gave a warm smile as she said, "Of course. I think that's probably smart." It would give them time to rest before the journey, and maybe the rain will have stopped by then. She also liked the idea of getting to talk with Maea some more, as long as they avoided the topic of cannibalism. That seemed like a great mood-killer.
Thal gave a nod of her head, turning to the sky. "Let's go." The flight back was uneventful, and there were no signs of the Void creature. Rain continued to hound them, but luckily it wasn't a long enough trip to cause them too much discomfort. When she landed outside her apartment, she shifted back, walking up the stairs as she shook the droplets from her cloak.
Once inside, she removed it, placing it on the hook next to her door. She didn't bother removing her boots, tracking in the water and trace mud without a care. Instead, she flared the fire in her fireplace, heating the room to dry their clothes while she retrieved her scotch to warm her body. "The bed is more than big enough for both of us, but I can use my extra cot if you'd prefer." Thal motioned to the bed, then made her way to one of the plush chairs facing the fireplace. She flopped down on the cushion, leather boots hanging over the side in the leisurely confidence befitting of her station. Her eyes looked to Maea, welcoming her to join.
I feel it in the wind, my dear The sun is gonna reappear
By the time they made it back to the apartment, Maea was soaked through from the rain. Unlike Thalassa she paused inside the door and peeled off her boots, only to find her socks just as wet. Grimacing as fabric clung to her body, it took no persuation for her to join Thal by the fireside.
She glanced at the bed, unsurprised to find her gut clenching at the thought of sharing such an intimate space. Last time it happened she'd been bone tired and a bit drunk; before that, it had taken all of Harper's charm to reassure her it would be fine. It was silly, of course. Didn't mean anything, and she didn't think of Thalassa in any kind of way, and yet...
"Mh, I think I'll just sleep by the fire in my shift... Need to let my feathers dry out properly."
Sinking into the soft chair, she combed her fingers through the wet links of her hair. It coiled in the damp, reflecting ruddy firelight so that both skin and hair attained an orange hue.
"I've been thinking about how to train up my control with the bloodbane," she said after a while. "Hadama and I had a long talk about what happened in the desert, and about the need for caution when handling power..." Maea pursed her lips in thought. "I'm of a mind to refrain from using my full power against anyone I don't intend to kill. What do you think of that?"
She didn't really understand Maea' reluctance since Thal wasn't into women in that way, but she wouldn't argue the matter with a guest. However, she would argue about her friend sleeping on the floor. Her hand flicked out in dismissal that bordered on commanding. "That's not necessary. I've got plenty of dry clothes you can change into, and I really don't mind the cot. It's about as comfortable as my rack on the ship." Which wasn't saying much, but she'd spent years sleeping on the thing. It didn't bother her one bit.
Her eyes glowed against the flicker of the flames, pinching with confusion at Maea's question. "Was that not your plan to begin with?" She hadn't seemed to be using her full power when they fought on Jack Tar. After all, she remembered what that felt like. And wasn't Maea the kind of person to avoid killing anyways? They'd only just talked about the 'distasteful' practice of cannibalism and torture. It seemed like the obvious choice to Thal. Shrugging her shoulders, she took a deep sip of the scotch. "Either way, it's probably a good idea."
Logic told her to keep her mouth shut, but Thal's curiosity (and maybe some alcohol) got the better of her as she asked, "With your aversion to pain and killing, how do you manage your bloodlust?" They'd only ever hunted together once, and truthfully, she'd been too enthralled to notice the pale Ancient's actions. It made her wonder how such a stubborn person handled her own need for blood and death.
I feel it in the wind, my dear The sun is gonna reappear
"I wouldn't want to chase you out of your own bed. I can take the cot just as easily. Considering I've slept on the ground for half a year, it should be a real upgrade." A hint of a smile lurked in the corner of her mouth. Out of all the things they might argue about, who got to sleep where seemed by far the most benign. It had a domestic feel about it, like their relation wasn't at all fraught or tense. Maea could get used to it.
She did accept the offer of dry clothes however; her sodden gown felt cold even in front of the fireplace, and all her spares were packed away into the travelchest outside.
Grimacing lightly, her nose scrunched up thinking about what plans she might've had. "Honestly, I haven't planned much of anything up until now,," Maea admitted. "After being thawed out of stone, I was set on embracing my new life, my new people... I never really tried to as Ascended, but maybe this time... except, we both see how that went." She shrugged, catching her tail in her hands so she would have something to pick at. As always, the extra appendage sent a shock of weirdness down the spine, only to fade just as quickly; used to it, yet not, and perhaps she never would be, fully. "I'm probably not a very good Ancient. I don't take to change easily, casual sex doesn't appeal in the slightest, I dislike murder and torture and I insist on being all righteous and fair..." Rolling her eyes, she flashed Talassa a sharp grin. "The only thing I do well is spread chaos."
As to the bloodlust, a light shrug indicated her lack of enthusiasm. "I do it. Sometimes I even forget that I'm supposed to dislike it. I treat it like... a chore, or medication. Just gotta do it, if I don't want to lose my mind."
"All the more reason you should take the bed." As much as she wanted to just demand Maea take the bed, she settled for leaving it up to chance. "Why don't we flip a coin for it? Even odds." She lifted a silver coin, showing that it had both a head and tails. At least this way they wouldn't keep spinning in circles. While her guest decided, Thal stood and gathered a pair of dry outfits. Her own was nearly identical to what she currently wore, tight pants and a black blouse tucked under a leather vest. The other was more 'mundane,' but still black, loose pants and a long sleeve sweater. She offered the second to Maea.
Turning away from the woman for some semblance of privacy in the open room, Thal stripped out of her own damp clothes while she listened. It wasn't until she'd finished that she spoke, "Someone once told me that Dygra doesn't care about what kind of Ancient we are. We all have our own brand of chaos, no matter how separate from blood it is. That doesn't change how she feels about us." It probably wasn't wise to mention that Asta had been the one to tell her that. She shrugged her shoulders into the blouse, then the vest, tucking them into her pants to finish the task. "Although I still don't get your dislike of sex." She turned back with a playful gleam in her blue eyes. To each their own, but she certainly enjoyed losing herself in a strong, rough bout of sex, especially when teasing and sharp teeth were involved.
Now fully redressed, Thal retrieved her glass again, plopping back into her chair on the topic of bloodlust. "Fair. I guess it sometimes feels that way." Contrary to popular belief, she wasn't always in a killing mood. Sometimes she was in a 'merciful' mood, however rare it may be.
I feel it in the wind, my dear The sun is gonna reappear
Amused by the idea, Maea nodded. "Sure, go ahead." She waited for the coin to be flicked skywards, and as it spun, glittering in the firelight, she called "Heads, I get the cot." A low stakes bet, having a roof over her head for the night meant she was winning either way. It was kind of fun though, and she awaited the result with interest.
Turning her back to strip down and change into the borrowed clothes, the hung her dress up to dry. Retrieving some crackers and cured meat - and the bag of pies - she sank back into the armchair with a contented sigh. Thalassa's clothes were a bit large on her, but warm and dry, the scent of the captain's preferred brand of soap foreign enough to her senses to linger in her mind.
"Yeah? That's a comforting thought... Might have heard Danta say something similar, come to think of it. I guess I just feel... weird, compared to the rest of you. Uptight, no fun." Selecting a pie for herself and setting the bag where they could both reach it, Maea took a bite; suddenly ravenous, this time she hummed in delight as flavors erupted in her mouth.
Chewing and swallowing, she twisted a bit in her seat. "Well... it comes down to trust, I guess. I've had bad experiences. And I don't really feel attracted unless there's a connection with someone. Meaning, I gotta be halfway in love to even want to get close. It doesn't... really make for a casual experience." More like a guarantee of heartbreak. If anyone wanted to get with her, they would have to be worth the risk; and so far she'd have precious few offers.
"Have you been able to meet Dygra yet?" she asked, coming back to their goddess. "Or do you still get curses thrown your way?"
With a flick of her finger, the silver flipped over itself, catching the firelight as it arced up, up, up. When it started falling, Thal reached out with lightning reflexes to snatch the coin from the air. Slapping it onto the back of her hand, she glanced at it before showing Maea. "Tails." The grin on her face would have been enough, but she added with amusement, "Looks like you're getting the bed." Although, with all this conversation, she didn't expect to be sleeping for a while.
She shrugged her shoulders as she grabbed another pie from the bag, hoping it was the sweet kind. "Well, you are uptight." Her grin was teasing and playful when she looked to Maea, breaking the pie in half to see the inside. Apple. Delicious. "But sometimes we need someone to reel in the 'fun.' On the other hand, you have to be willing to let loose every once in a while." Because she couldn't always be the stick in the mud. It wasn't good for them, and it wasn't good for her. What the woman needed was to chill, let her hair down and stop worrying about appearances or morals or other heavy topics. Thal would obviously suggest sex as a means of doing so, but that didn't seem to be an option.
She took a bite of the apple pie, humming as she did so. "Hm. I can't say I understand, but I'm sure the right guy - or girl? - will come along." Not that she believed in love, but she assumed someone would eventually make Maea feel safe enough to offer that part of herself. Or maybe she would just relax enough not to care.
On the topic of Dygra, she let out a loud sigh. "Once. For my daggers." She pulled them out to offer towards Maea - something she didn't do with many people, a show of trust. The black obsidian reflected like glass against the fire while the red of the goddess's magic glowed along the design. "But I've been cursed twice for my other efforts. Not the most fun experiences." Although the most recent one had led to some... interesting interactions, especially with a particular shadowy demigod.
I feel it in the wind, my dear The sun is gonna reappear
Exaggerating a groan, the pale little woman rolled her eyes as if to beg the heavens to spare her. "Fine," she relented, "you win. Thanks, I guess." Poking her tongue at Thal for good measure, with the matter settled she focused on sating her hunger in the pauses between conversation.
"Hmm..." Maea gave her friend a sideways look, pursing her lips at the teasing. "I suppose you're right. Got any tips? Aside from, you know..." The one, big, glaring stop sign that was physical intimacy. At least she appreciated what sounded like reassurance; it was touching, especially given Thalassa's disregard for love.
Letting loose, though... Sometimes it honestly felt like she had forgotten how to have fun. Things that used to move her held little joy now, and with the world so fraught with danger, letting her guard down even for a second seemed either foolish or the height of luxury.
Scrunching up her nose in sympathy, Maea accepted the dagger and turned it over, examining the dark blade with appreciation. "It's beautiful. Sucks that you've had so much bad luck, though. If it's any comfort, getting cursed does get rarer with time. Not sure why that is, but it appears to be accurate." Returning the dagger, Maea reached for one of her throwing discs and offered it as well, reciprocating the trust. "What did you think of her, when you met?"
Scoffing, she shrugged her shoulders as she leaned back farther in her chair. "I don't know. Play a game, dance, sing a song, read, bake a cake, paint, do whatever. Just do something that doesn't involve thinking." Thal said the last word like it was a curse, taking a bite into the pie with a shake of her head. Honestly, it shouldn't be that hard, but Maea seemed to be approaching it like most else she did, like something that needed to be done the 'right' way. But there wasn't any set way of letting loose. It wasn't a science but a feeling.
Thal washed down another bite of pie with a gulp of alcohol, letting it push aside any lingering offense for being cursed. "Hmm. Good to know. Maybe I'll give it another try then. Hadama helped with these ones." She'd been trying to get them the ability to be recalled when she'd last been cursed, and it was still something she'd appreciate having. Plus, it'd be nice to see Dygra again. "I liked her. We didn't talk long, but she had this soothing presence that also fueled the fire in my chest. It was kind of weird."
Accepting Maea's discs, she nodded her head in approval of the weapons. They were sharp and brimming with magic. "You've met her a few times, haven't you?" After running her hands over the blades, she tossed in softly in the air before offering them back to their owner.
I feel it in the wind, my dear The sun is gonna reappear
"Right..." Maea smiled, but inwardly her stomach sank as the list was rattled off. How many times had Amun offered to teach her pottery? Harper had tried to get her to sing, and Sunjata had once set her spinning across the forest floor, dancing without a care as to who may be watching. But reading had never been quite the same after Jigano left, and though she had tried her hand at various crafts over the years, nothing really sparked that sense of joy within... "Would that I still had my old magic," she murmured wistfully. "With ice you can make almost anything... I used to have a lot of fun making sculptures out on the Tundra."
Accepting the chakram back, she set one spinning around a finger, making a game out of moving the sharp disc between digits. "Was that how you met? I was a bit surprised when he mentioned you last season... Didn't realize you were close." It was nice, though. Good to know that people she liked got along well.
"Mhm, a fair few times. She helped me with that," she said, indicating the black velvet gown, that was so much more than a dress. "Also, when we were building the portal. I wish... It would be nice to get to talk to her properly, though. So far I've just asked for things. There's so many things I don't understand... like, what is entropy? Why do we feel the bloodlust, what is really the difference between us and other people - except for the fireproof part." Gesturing vaguely to indicate the fireplace, she sighed and sank deeper into the chair, until her feet were almost in among the embers. Toasty warm, the pallor of her own skin made her think of marshmallows... "Sometimes, she has me wondering if this is what it's like to have a mother..."
