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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!
A high wind was in the trees, blowing in across the woodland realm from the sea. The sun smiled down over the Sidhe Village, but it's light and warmth seemed a distant thing this morning. Clouds chasing across the sky warned of inclement weather to come, a storm brewing to the east that would swallow the sun as the day wore on. But at least for now it was only windy.
Pink petals torn from flowering cherry trees scattered before a gust of wind as Maea made her way towards the simple training grounds, where she would meet up with Liam. She regretted leaving her coat behind. It had seemed a perfectly lovely day from the shelter of her house, but as fingers of cold air slipped beneath her collar she shuddered with the realization that summer remained a ways off still.
Picking up the pace into a jog to keep herself warm, Maea was pleased to find her way unobstructed by tree shenanigans. Slowly the forest seemed to accept her among its denizens; the times it led her astray had grown infrequent over the past few days; perhaps it would stop altogether before the year was over.
Dressed for the physical activity to come, she had donned the leather trousers Liam had helped her shop for, and the faded old shirt that survived the destruction of her old camp. The long hair bounced from a loose braid resting between her shoulder blades; practical and relaxed, just like the well-worn boots on her feet. A splash of color was a new addition to the ensemble. The scarf wrapped around her neck held a vibrant crimson hue, it's fine quality contrasting greatly against the otherwise ordinary garments. Another thing that was new was a polearm carried in her hand, resting against the shoulder. The glaive was a simple yet elegant piece of weaponry, unadorned yet of excellent quality. Maea had brought it along in place of her chakram; as this one wasn't enchanted, she figured it would even the ground between herself and the dragoon during this first spar between them.
This scene feels like what I once saw on a screen I searched 'aurora borealis green'
Liam made his way to the training grounds, jogging through the wind-blown trees. He’d dressed practically this morning, although it wasn’t much different from his usual attire: dark, comfortable pants and a well-fitted shirt - long-sleeved, to ward off the lingering chill. Summer, it seemed, was not inclined to show its face today, and Liam wondered if Maea would be warm enough.
A simple sword was strapped to his belt - nothing fancy, just a plain longsword that he’d had for years. It had always served him well, even during his days as a Dragoon. He hoped that it would be enough to keep him from embarrassing himself today. He wasn’t sure what Maea’s preferred weapon would be, but he was certain that she would be skilled with whatever it was. She had to be able to take care of herself, to have been through all she’d been through and come out the other side.
As he came upon the training grounds, he slowed to a walk and raised a hand in greeting to the Ancient, who had beat him there. She carried a glaive, a long, bladed polearm, and Liam immediately began planning a strategy. He wouldn’t be able to fight up close and personal if she held onto her weapon; it certainly made fighting with a sword more of a challenge. He grinned. He’d never backed down from a challenge before.
”Hey,” he said as he approached. ”How’s it going?”
I've never seen someone lit from within Blurring out my periphery
She had barely arrived herself when he showed up. Maea had been going over the ground of the sparring ring, kicking aside loose stones and fallen twigs and looked up with a smile as the heard Liam approach. Her eyes were bright, alert despite the early hour.
"Good morning. I'm good - slept really well, unusually. You?"
Taking in his appearance with a glint of appreciation, she especially noted the sword strapped to his waist. Maea had seen it before and paid it little attention, but now that she would make close acquaintance with the blade it seemed prudent to take notice.
"I feel I should warn you, I've got a new weapon that I have only tried a few times before. If I do poorly today, that will be my excuse."
Letting it slip from her shoulder, the blade whooshed through the air as she attempted to twirl it between her hands. Unlike a plain staff the glaive had a higher center of balance, and it would take some getting used to before she grew confident in its use.
This scene feels like what I once saw on a screen I searched 'aurora borealis green'
As he approached, Liam saw Maea going over the training ground, kicking aside loose stones and sticks to clear a space for their spar. He joined her, taking over a portion of the field with a smile. "Good. I'm glad to hear it." He supposed that was what having a comfortable bed and a roof over one's head would do - she had to be sleeping better than she had in her tent, in any case.
As they finished clearing space, Liam grinned at Maea's warning. "I'm honored to be among your first opponents," he teased. He wondered how much he’d have to adjust his fighting style to not only a polearm, but to a weapon with which Maea was less familiar.
As Maea twirled her weapon, Liam drew his own, lifting its weight in his hand and twisting it comfortably in an arc by his side. He tried a few simple passes, watching Maea from the corner of his eye and trying to glean any information he could on her abilities as they both seemed to warm up. ”Ready when you are,” he said, taking a guard position as he prepared for the inevitable onslaught.
I've never seen someone lit from within Blurring out my periphery
"Hooe you still feel that way by the time we're done," she teased back with a quiet laugh. Bending down to pick up a wooden sword someone had left in the dirt, she tossed it aside outside the perimeter and nodded that she was done with her half.
Finding that the glaive fit nicely in her hands, Maea stopped the weapon in her hands and rolled her shoulders to ease the muscles as she stepped up to meet Liam in the ring. Her movements were fluid and graceful, speaking to a well muscled body that could flex and bend at will. Despite the short stature that didn't even let her reach his shoulder, there was a competency in the way she shifted her weight forward, bending the knees while she began to step around him.
The grin faded into a look of concentration. Paying close attention to the angle of the blade and the force she put into it, she made the first move by aiming a thrust towards Liam's core. If they'd been of equal height it would have been a straight thrust; but given Maea's height, shehad to angle her attack upward, right for the solar plexus.
This scene feels like what I once saw on a screen I searched 'aurora borealis green'
From Liam's guard position, it was easy enough to parry the incoming jab; Liam knocked the blow aside, deflecting it to the right and upward, hoping to catch Maea off guard and send her careening off balance. That would, of course, be too easy, and he didn't really expect it to work. If he'd learned anything, it was that he shouldn't underestimate her. But even so, he had to try.
From his block, he moved fluidly into a strike of his own, driving forward with a sideways cut, sweeping for her side. When fighting against a weapon like a glaive, he had two choices: stay away and fight from afar (which he couldn't do with a sword) or stay very close quarters to make it awkward for her to wield her weapon effectively. Either option had its drawbacks, of course, but he would do his best to avoid any potential pitfalls.
I've never seen someone lit from within Blurring out my periphery
The main difference between their fighting styles was Liam's classical training - the efficient soldier versus the unpredictable street fighter. She had learned to expect a certain pattern from those who had been formally trained, and he was no exception. Fully expecting him to parry, Maea switched her grip on the shaft, let the impact of his sword carry her glaive up and aside, and used the butt of the pole to block his swipe at her side, deflecting the sword downward.
Taking a step back as he pressed forward, she knew it would be important to maintain distance. Her longer weapon made up for what she lacked in reach, but that only made them even; it only gave her a moment to twist the shaft between the palms and bring the curved edge of her blade down towards Liam's shoulder in a slash from above.
So far so good. They were being careful; no real weight put in yet, and the speed was moderate. Testing the mettle of her opponent. Testing herself, and enjoying the feeling of moving in synch with the dragoon. Like a dance.
This scene feels like what I once saw on a screen I searched 'aurora borealis green'
The thing about having been a soldier in Stormbreak was that he was trained to keep the peace - which meant fighting against those who hadn't necessarily been formally trained. Liam had his fair share of experience against street fighters, and it was that experience that he leaned into now as it became clear to him that what Maea might lack in formal training, she made up for in other skillsets. She blocked him easily and stepped back, keeping him at a length that would be beneficial to her - and frustrating to him. Still, although he very much wanted to win their little spar, he couldn't help but grin at her. It was a good strategy, and one he could respect.
Maea's blade arced in from above towards his shoulder, and Liam swung his blade up to deflect the blow. Rather than catch her glaive on his sword, which would cause him to lose momentum and speed, he directed the blade to the side and down, hoping to create an opening into which he could dart, aiming a jab at Maea's hopefully exposed side.
I've never seen someone lit from within Blurring out my periphery
He was good. The scrape of metal against metal grated on the ears as Liam caught her glaive on his sword and redirected it downward. Realizing too late that she'd left herself open, the impact against her ribs drew a whoosh of air out of her, and with a faint grimace Maea danced backwards, out of reach.
"One point to you," she admitted, rubbing at the spot - she'd get a bruise for sure, though nothing seemed broken or bleeding. "You're doing good, soldier boy. Best of three?" Answering his smile with a cheerful grin, Maea didn't even feel winded yet, though a light sheen of perspiration on her brow lingered as proof that she was taking him quite seriously. Either her lack of experience with the glaive showed through, or he wasn't half as rusty as he claimed; either way, she was thoroughly enjoying herself.
This scene feels like what I once saw on a screen I searched 'aurora borealis green'
Liam's jab hit, and he immediately pulled back as Maea danced out of reach, making sure that he hadn't really hurt her. This was, after all, just a spar - a test of strength and wills, when it came down to it. So when she grinned cheerfully, he relaxed, though he didn't lower his blade from the 'guard' position. "Winner buys dinner," he agreed with a wink. Then he readied himself for the next round.
When Maea was prepared, Liam struck. He used the flat of his blade to attempt to knock the glaive aside, darting forward to throw a punch at what he hoped would be Maea's unprotected arm. If he could get her to drop her weapon, that would make this a quick round, indeed.
I've never seen someone lit from within Blurring out my periphery
"Deal," she chuckled, already sinking back down into her ready stance, gripping the glaive with both hands. This time when Liam tried knocking her weapon aside she held it firm, capturing his blade with a strength that was surprising given her slender build. With no opening to strike at his punch caught on the shaft of the polearm, and in swift retaliation Maea leaned back and aimed a swift kick towards his gut.
The pale tail slashed the air behind her, aiding in maintaining her balance even when off center; it had taken her months to get used to the altered center of gravity the wide horns and new appendage had caused, but these days it was as easy as breathing to move however she wished. With the tail being so prehensile, it could even double as a weapon on its own - though that meant turning her back on the opponent, which felt imprudent while they were still testing each other's limits.
This scene feels like what I once saw on a screen I searched 'aurora borealis green'
Liam was rusty, it was true, but there was something to be said for years of training. His body knew the moves to make before he did, flowing fluidly from one stance to another with hardly a thought. In a way, sparring felt like coming home. His blood sang with the exertion, his focus narrowed entirely to the fight, for once unable and unwilling to focus on anything but the present moment.
Maea captured his sword with a move that brought a grin to his face, even as his punch connected with the shaft of the glaive. He withdrew quickly, and Maea’s kick glanced off his forearm as he moved instinctively to protect his gut. Now, though, he was on the outside of her range with the polearm, and he circled her warily, looking for an opening. This time, he was prepared for her strength when he tried to knock the glaive aside, reaching out to try and grip the shaft with his off hand. If he was successful, he could try and wrench the weapon from her as he spun, aiming his blade again for her exposed side.
I've never seen someone lit from within Blurring out my periphery
Her kick only glanced off an arm, hardly the result she had been hoping for. Quick to regain her footing, Maea sank back into the ready stance as Liam backed off, her eyes fixed on him to attempt to predict his next move. Despite that, she was surprised when he seized her weapon and tried to yank it out of her hands. Only the firm grip she had and the kind of stubborn, tough strength earned after years of clinging to life prevented him from succeeding.
She was pulled off balance though. Instead of trying to to regain her footing though, the slender woman threw her own weight into the shifting momentum. Stepping sideways and turning so that she wound up almost side by side with him, she thought it must be awkward to keep holding on to the pole like that - and like a pale whip her tail lashed out against the back of his knees, attempting to if not topple him, then at least stagger the soldier so that Maea could reclaim her glaive.
This scene feels like what I once saw on a screen I searched 'aurora borealis green'
Liam’s grip on the polearm was not, alas, strong enough to break it free from Maea’s grip. He’d never doubted her strength, but she was stronger still than he’d been expecting, and faster, too. She stepped easily out of the way of his strike, leaving him in a vulnerable position - and he’d forgotten about her tail. It lashed out at his knees, hitting him in just the right place to sweep his legs from beneath him. Down he went, crashing against the ground.
Somehow, he managed to keep a hold on his sword - though he’d released Maea’s glaive as he fell - and he used the momentum of his fall to roll back to his feet. ”Nice,” he said approvingly. Now that there was a long weapon once more between he and his opponent, he paused. She wasn’t going to lose the glaive, he knew that now, and so his strategy needed to change. For the moment, he waited in a ‘guard’ position, trying to draw Maea into an attack that might give him an opening.
I've never seen someone lit from within Blurring out my periphery
