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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!
As she and Lyra worked side by side, the work flew by, vines vanishing from the porch with the ease of four hands (and magic) to assist their removal. When the last vine fell away, she stood with her hands on her hips, a tired smile on her face as she admired their work. That smile turned towards the other woman as she gave an approving nod of her head. "Nice job. We make a good team."
And with that part done, they were free to join Maea down below. Elizabeth spent an equal amount of time admiring the Ancient's cleared stairway, impressed with how much the stripping of plants had transformed the house thus far. But she didn't linger long, already setting her sights on the dangling bits of foliage that peeked from beneath the structure. Pushing up her sleeves, she joined the other women in clearing through the same means as before.
Elizabeth helps clear out the underside of the porch!
Lyra and Elizabeth clear the porch with zeal, and their efforts leave the house looking transformed. So, too, does Maea’s work on the stairs. When they descend, Lyra looks up to admire their work so far. If she hadn’t seen the house before, she wouldn’t even believe that it was the same place. She grins at the other two women. ”Almost done, and it’s looking amazing!” Even if the vines had added some natural charm, she can see how much better everything will be without them.
Following the others beneath, Lyra sets to work using the same methods as before. Borrowing the ladder, she reaches up with gloved hands to pull carefully at the thorny vines, clipping and trimming away with her pruning shears.
They hit surprisingly few problems when dealing with the vines. It appeared that the most of the tangles had occurred above the boardwalk, and from below it was a simple matter of dragging everything down so that the structure of beams that supported the porch and part of the treehouse itself was freed. Examining the wood as it was stripped of climbers, Maea was grimly satisfied with her decision to deal with this problem now; in places the wood had grown spotty with mold and a few bolts were coming loose. Nothing that couldn't be fixed with some work, but certainly the pebbles that would have brought a rockslide over her head over the next year or two.
"You ladies are a godsend," she gushed, once the job was done and the Treehouse sat fresh and newly shaved, windows gleaming in the sun. "That would have taken me ages on my own. What do you say we make a burn pile of these cuttings - then we deserve a break. And some snacks!" Call her a glutton, but she'd been salivating at the thought of those pastries for the latter part of the job.
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Last round! Gather up the debris and burn it, then enjoy the rewards of your hard labor <3
Maea
// I threw stones at the stars but the whole sky fell //
Joining the other below the porch, she pulled and clipped to a low hum. It wasn't hard, just peacefully busy in a way that left her feeling satisfied. The work was even easier with three people, and Elizabeth barely felt the time pass as the vines fell away. Before long, Maea was singing their praises, and she gave the Ancient a warm smile. "I'm always happy to help."
She turned her attention to the scattered debris, gathering it with a combination of hands and magic to move it. Elizabeth knew Maea could probably burn the pile without a second thought, but when it grew large enough, she let a small spark of lightning catch against some dry leaves, stoking the ember with a gentle breath before offering it to the vines and branches.
Elizabeth helps gather debris then lights a fire with her lightning magic.
As the last of the vines fall away, Lyra pauses to swipe the back of a gloved hand across her forehead. It might not be a particularly warm day, but the physical labor has brought a light sheen of sweat to her face, and she laments the fact that maybe she isn't as in shape as she thinks. Walking over flat terrain is one thing, in Torchline, but doing manual labor? This is something entirely different than what she's used to.
Not that she's complaining. She's found the work rather enjoyable, especially seeing as she's had good company.
"Any time," she adds to Elizabeth's assurance, then turns to the job of hauling vines and debris to a burn pile. When the fire is lit, the woman continues to toss remnants of the vines onto it, stoking it higher and building a nice little pile nearby to avoid the fire growing too much too fast. When they're finished, she can't wait to partake in the pastries that have been calling her name since she first arrived, but for now, she's content to continue to help.
Before long, the ground beneath the Treehouse was free of vines and bramble. Thanks to Elizabeth a crackle of fire was rising within the pile and while Lyra helped adding on to the pyre, Maea simply made sure to control the sparks flying off the green wood so that it wouldn't spread. It was an easy task, one she was quite capable of doing whilst also setting up the drinks and treats Elizabeth had brough for them all.
When all that remained to do was watching the fire burn down, she called for the others to help themselves to the treat. They had done good work and Maea kept smiling everytime her eyes fell on the house. It did look tidier now, she had to admit, and while she had liked the overgrown look, perhaps it could be replicated using other plants and flowers. It was a thought for later, however; right now, her attention returned to the friends who had helped her and the sweet reward of a job well done.
[FIN]
Maea
// I threw stones at the stars but the whole sky fell //
