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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!
the ocean does not apologize for its depth and the mountains do not seek forgiveness
It’d only been a few days, but making his way home lifted the state of determination settled into his ribs. The landscape was a harsh and stark reminder of what they’d lost in the springs, but also a hastened platitude of might and strength, and they would need ample amounts in the coming seasons.
He checked in with his family, ensured they were well, rested, then started the day once more – the spring sun pressing across the Citadel, information and sagacity in his head, and branches hastened to be fit across the boundaries of their region.
Streams of cold air lacquered to his features and he smiled, perhaps for the first time in a long while, and went towards the boughs, beginning to place them in equal groups, waiting for the others to arrive. By the time Elizabeth and Sah had joined him, there was enough portioned outward for multiple sleds. “Hope you are doing well,” he hastened, tilting his head to study both briefly. “We have a lot to do and go over. I think we have some plans in store.” But he gestured to the first sled. “We can grab these and start in the corners near the gates.”
--
Round One
This is the RQ/PQ to place boughs all around the borders of the Citadel! Please post your character arriving and grabbing some branches! We’ll talk on the way!
Sah arrived, tired but determined. Sleep had been fitful and far in-between since Luka was attacked. There was a new tension in his shoulders that had yet to abate and would likely remain until Dahlia had somehow died. An event that he couldn't foresee happening in the near or even somewhat distant future. Shoving the complex emotions down and away from the Attuned bond, he approached and gave both Deimos and Elizabet a nod. At the Sword's question, he let out a sigh, "As well as I can be. How are you both holding up?"
There certainly was an immense amount of work ahead of them, and vital things to discuss. With another nod, Sah began to grab boughs to begin the work.
~
Sah arrives and grabs boughs!
I think therefore I am, But what if all I do is bleed?
03-11-2025, 05:42 AM (This post was last modified: 03-11-2025, 05:43 AM by Elizabeth.)
Elizabeth
Arriving with her usual bundle of comforting foods and drinks in tow, Elizabeth gave both men a warm smile. Something seemed more tense than before, shoulders tight and smiles drawn. She wondered if something had happened during LongNight to elicit such a response - other than the Springs of course. That had been quite a loss, and with the recent attacks in general, she puzzled if that might be the reason, yet maybe it was the darkness in Sah's eyes that made her suspect there was more.
Not wanting to assume or pry, Elizabeth simply offered the goodies to the men along with a polite, "Good morning." She hoped the warm coffee or tea might soothe some of their stresses, while the muffins or scones might fuel their energy for the task at hand. Grabbing her own mug of tea, she took a sip before setting it aside to grab a section of boughs. "I'm doing well. Ready to get this quest finished." She chuckled lightly, knowing that Deimos and Sah would agree after all the drama it had caused thus far (and that's just what she knows about).
Elizabeth arrives and gathers her section of boughs.
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
the ocean does not apologize for its depth and the mountains do not seek forgiveness
Uncertain how much Sah had told Elizabeth about attacks upon Luka, he had no intention of airing out those notions. That would be up to the Wild Thunder. So as they dragged branches via sled or hand towards the gate corners, he gave a slight smile in response to Elizabeth’s notions. “Sounds like I will have to travel elsewhere to ensure it is finished,” just as they’d discussed some weeks ago, hoping she took the meaning. “We have a team ready to go once we have ahold of some other necessities.” Like flowers. In multitudes, unfortunately.
Taking hold of a few, the Sword began to spread the portions of the branches outward, so the needles, spines, and fresh scent of pine spread outward by the entrance. “There were more assaults over LongNight in other regions – King’s End, Torchline, and the Grounds, as far as what I heard.” He’d let that digest while they maneuvered things around.
--
Round Two!
Spread out the branches across the gate area and to the corners!
Sah considered telling Elizabeth what had happened, concluding from her demeanor that she hadn't heard yet. It warmed the hybrid to know that his closest neighbors had been discrete like he'd requested. Still, he'd need to inform the therapist at some point. Elizabeth needed to fully understand just how dangerous the Family could be. With a grateful nod, the Wild Thunder retrieved a coffee and a croissant. He wasn't in the mood for anything sweet right now. When he finished his breakfast, Sah focused on spreading branches.
Listening quietly as he did so, Sah froze when Deimos spoke. "I'd heard about one of them happening in King's End, but there were others?" Forcing himself to keep placing branches, the younger hybrid's brow furrowed. "How many causalities?" Gods, he hoped it was a low number.
~
Sah spreads the branches!
I think therefore I am, But what if all I do is bleed?
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes, knowing it must have been a difficult decision for Deimos to choose the riskier path. Had something changed? Or perhaps he didn't want to deal with Dahlia's threat directly? Whatever the reason, he seemed set in the chosen path, and she would not argue with him. "I see. Please be careful." Her voice and expression were warm with genuine hope that he might succeed unharmed.
As she began laying out the branches, she tilted her head to frown at the news of attacks. By 'other assaults' did he mean large scale attacks like what they had seen? Or was that perhaps the piece she was missing in everything? Elizabeth scanned the two men, noting the way Sah blanched. She filed the information in her mind for later, but let the strategy and information drive the conversation rather than emotion. "Do we know if it's the usual suspect?" There was a high likelihood, although there was always the possibility that another adversary had arisen.
Elizabeth helps lay out the branches.
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
the ocean does not apologize for its depth and the mountains do not seek forgiveness
While the notions were appreciative, Deimos was also too wired to let anything settle; preferring action over any sustenance. Perhaps when they were done, he’d be able to let the trepidations go. “I do not have all the numbers yet – supposed to be meeting with Danta later.” Somewhere; the Ancient hadn’t been entirely clear where. He took Elizabeth’s regards with a nod, and a very subdued notion of the road ahead. As for the suspect? He snorted – dragging another few branches to spread amidst the stone walls of the Citadel. “Very likely.”
As they shifted and turned and maneuvered pieces around, Sah might have noticed he had a straggler; a ningo, who had decided its newest nest was amidst the boughs. He could either decide to leave it behind, as it didn’t seem to be bothering anyone, or chase it off.
Content with how they’d progressed around the opening portions, he nodded, pulling at the sled once more. “We can head down the eastern side.” He took another breath, letting the vapor pulse back into the air. “As I am sure you can imagine, we are going to need plenty of flower collectors.” Mostly for Elizabeth’s sake; he’d already discussed portions of it with the Wild Thunder, after the springs had been destroyed. Then, clenching his jaw, he unfurled another sigh. "And Ronin has been infected."
--
Round 3
Sah has found a ningo friend! He can either leave it alone or chase it off! Continue on to the eastern side with branches!
It was sad to think about how many people may have lost their lives during LongNight without anyone knowing. Had everyone who'd died had their bodies found? It seemed unlikely, which meant there were probably multiple lost souls who'd died alone without anyone to mourn them.
Taking a sip of her tea to wash down the sour taste in her mouth, Elizabeth turned back to laying the branches, following Deimos's lead on the direction and placement. She only paused when he mentioned Ronin. Having met him before, her eyebrows rose in shock. "I'm surprised they were able to get to him." With Ronin being one of the strongest, most famous demigods in Caido, she thought him nearly untouchable. Had he been somehow swayed? Had he joined them willingly?
Elizabeth continues laying branches on the eastern side.
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
Sah listened intently as Deimos answered his question, "I hope the meeting goes well." He didn't know the Grounds' leader well, but surely the man was stressed at the moment. How could he not be in the wake of an attack?
The Wild Thunder blinked as he spotted the ningo, having been lost in thought. The bird didn't appear to be disrupting the placement of the branches and given that the quest was for Vi, the hybrid saw the avian's presence as a good omen. With a small grin, he gave the bird a few more branches for its nest before moving to focus on the eastern side.
As he did so, Deimos dropped horrifying news. Sah's eyes widened, and he glanced over, "He is? Fucking hell." With a tense jaw, the younger hybrid shoved down the flood of unease and anger before it could touch the bond. "I hope his resurrection ability doesn't work on Family members." Surely an ability granted by Vi himself would recognize friend from foe, even if its holder was infected?
~
Sah lets the ningo be and continues to place branches.
I think therefore I am, But what if all I do is bleed?
the ocean does not apologize for its depth and the mountains do not seek forgiveness
As they spread branches outward across the landscape, Deimos tilted his head, listening to their responses and trying to ensure he remained outwardly neutral and composed. Elizabeth might have been surprised, but given everything that had occurred, in recent bouts and years, Deimos could only clench his jaw, and offer brief explanations. “His magic is not effective against them.” Hence why the rapier had been snagged and taken, and he’d likely been incapacitated with Dahlia.
He nodded at Sah’s notions just the same, watching as the ningo was left to its own devices. The resurrection ability countering favor elsewhere made him grimace, and there wasn’t a way to cease that movement away from his face. “Hopefully he is healed before we find out.” Besides, they’d yet to truly maim any of the Family anyway.
With the eastern portion done, they could head along the rest of the wall, and down the southern wake. Of course, along the way, some other holes and portions were spotted, classic tribulations where their weather was concerned. “We can go towards the south, and we can repair these on the way.”
--
Round 4
Help repair the holes in the walls as everyone heads to the southern portions!
She found the Family fascinating. Perhaps it was dangerous, but she couldn't help the way her curiosity flared whenever she discovered something new about them. What were their motivations? Where did they come from? Why did they choose to proceed in such a peculiar fashion? And now: what were their abilities? How were they different from everyone else? Elizabeth took another sip of her tea, choosing which of her questions to voice. "I didn't realize they were immune to different magics. Do we know which?" It seemed the most logical concern, if things really were as bad as everyone thought. And if they now had the Ronin to do their bidding... She didn't miss the grimace that spread across Deimos's face.
Content to listen and nod along with things beyond her own faculties, Elizabeth gathered the boughs in her arms to patch any holes that she noticed. Her 'handyman' skills weren't the best, but she tried to assist the others by holding things in place or offering supplies with hands or magic.
Elizabeth helps repair the holes.
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
Sah nodded and continued to place branches as Deimos responded to Elizabeth. "We do. And they know that we know as well." Vox had made the fact that he was listening in on that meeting crystal clear. After taking a moment to recall the meeting and the notes that he'd taken, the Wild Thunder brought the younger mage up to speed, "They're immune to celestial, earth, and ice damage. Air and gravity magic are most effective against them. Normal water and everything else seem to just cause typical levels of damage." He hypothesized that the Family was from a place without air or gravity and that was why they were weak to it. And given that they were from a place closer to the stars, it made sense then that they'd be immune to celestial magic. He didn't fully understand the ice bit though. If their home was cold, maybe. But ice was still water.
With this section of the circle complete, Sah moved to assist in fixing the holes. Using a blend of telekinesis, earth magic, and physical labor, he did his best to patch and reinforce the wall.
~
Sah repairs holes!
I think therefore I am, But what if all I do is bleed?
the ocean does not apologize for its depth and the mountains do not seek forgiveness
Here was where Deimos and Elizabeth’s opinions differed. He found the Family to be a parasitic, scavenging lot of lowlifes, intent on domination simply because they could. The way they ravaged, savaged, and beat apart the world to acquire what they wanted was nothing short of bullying, and the Sword had no predilections towards tyrants and oppressors.
But since Sah answered the question, he let it be, settling into repairing the holes alongside them, watching as the creation, earthen, or tools settled back into rock and crevasse. “I think we need to assume they can hear everything,” figuring Vox would find a way to materialize through the either whenever he liked.
Once the portions of the wall were patched, they could keep spreading the branches out along the borders – ensuring none of the spots were left absent or vacant. “There. That looks good,” he responded to both in kind. “We can spread these out along the walls now.”
--
Round 5
Spread the branches again along the southern parts! Be careful not to leave anything open!
Elizabeth listened intently to Sah's words, taking note of each immunity and weakness, even if she had no idea if she'd ever use them. Either way, it meant that her own lightning magic would be just as effective as usual, and she nodded her head, tapping a finger against her chin as she considered it all. "I wonder why that is?" Whether where they came from gave them their immunities, or whether it was something in their biological structure. It was all very curious. And dangerously fascinating.
Similarly, the idea of them being able to hear their words, no matter the distance, had her head tilting. "Well, that's not discomforting at all." Although the sarcasm was thick, there was still an ounce of professional intrigue that made her want to investigate further. But for now, she gathered the branches and began setting them out along the walls, making sure not to miss any spots.
Elizabeth helps spread the branches!
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
