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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!
Eating fire is your ambition to swallow the flame down
Not ignoring Noe, the smuggler grinned. “Of course.” She handed all of the ducks over to Noe, who seemed to appreciate them the most, before arching her brow at Koa’s insinuation. Which, truth be told, hadn’t been entirely unfounded. “It’s nice to have a variety,” she huffed, though layered on another Cheshire grin.
Blinking at Kaisel, she wasn’t quite certain what to make of the younger Dragoon. Watching him imitate a duck made her snort, though she shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t need the ducks to be terrifying anyway.” Her own brand of chaos, combined with mischief and all the power within herself and her items, made the Honeybee a bit of a force to be reckoned with – by her standards – and even if the bath toys couldn’t replicate and intimidate, she could find other ways to do so. “I’ve thought about setting a giant one free in the ocean though and seeing if it ends up somewhere." She could see people in several locations being weirded out. Just enough to amuse.
The implications of a pending food fight though, and that they shouldn’t all be close due to further risk of bedlam, gave her all the machinations she needed. “Gods, you’re right. In that case,” she grabbed one of the smaller, candied fruits she hadn’t bothered to eat yet off her plate, and chucked it at Koa ’s forehead.
to be lit up from within, vein by vein to be the sun
"Mm, not on purpose," Danta says of knowing more people than Astaroth - and he'd not call it a perk either, if you asked him. Opting to follow suit with one of the juicy barbecued ribs, the Maverick is sinking his teeth into the tender meat as Thalassa appears in his line of sight, and he waves the half eaten rib in greeting given that his hands are full.
"Oh, very much so," he assures her, stripping the rest of the meat from the bone and licking his fingers as he sets it down on the edge of his plate. (For gnawing on later, perhaps). "I think this might become a tradition - coming to Torchline on vacation during Longheat. Cocktails always taste better in the sun. How are you finding the beach?"
Dantalion
// with every step that I ran to you //
Horns: Diamond - they look very similar to #2 in this image.
"I thought so too." Ronin beams at Hadama, only to raise his eyebrows and grin across at his husband as Nova takes his apron literally, the Knight offering his cheek for the kissing. "You are very welcome," he assures her, briefly saluting her with the spatula and letting both sisters go on their way. "Here," he adds to Remi, offering his other cheek, "because I know you'll get jealous otherwise, overqualified as I am."
Accepting his beer and taking a break from being master of the meat to enjoy a long, cold sip of his drink - giving Thalassa ample time to snag what she wants from the grill without him noticing her (or her current purple status) - Ronin scoffs to hear the Bastion's willingness to fight someone just for the insult of Sunjata being able to step into his place.
"No chance," he assures the other man, leaning in to snatch a bite of the meat he's skewered with a claw, chasing it with another drink of beer. Raising it in a cheers and taking a second to snag a chicken wing and a handful of tempura shrimp, he rumbles a laugh at the idea of dinner and a show. "Just make sure it's somewhere I can see you," he tells Remi. "Or I'll be stuck behind here and I'll miss everything."
Sah is fashionably late, having had to complete a commission before gaining the downtime to join everyone. The hunter had been uncertain at first if he even wanted to attend the event, but after the debacle with Iskra, he needed a change of pace. There were many familiar faces in the crowd. Nova, Sohalia, Hadama, and Calypso all receive smiles and nods as the hybrid makes his way through. Filling his plate with a burger and various sides, he finds a quiet corner to enjoy his meal.
Spotting Melia in the corner of his eye, Sah makes sure to choose an area as far from her as possible. He's not in the mood to deal with that right mess of a situation at the moment. Choosing a spot under the shade of a palm tree, the Wild Thunder lets himself relax. The food is delicious and even if he prefers the cold, even Sah has to admit that the warm sun and gentle breeze feel good.
If Kaiden ever turns down free food, then all of Caido knows something is horrifically wrong. It took some bullying, but they managed to get one of the other partygoers to fill up a plate for them. Munching on some kind of smoked meat, the mer glares at Flora. It was only after the quest was completed that Kaiden learn just what they had been gathering stones for. The betrayal from the Queen and the guilt of knowing that they hurt the family is horrible. It almost makes them sick enough to lose their appetite. Almost.
They can't do anything from the water, so Kaiden munches angrily, splashing water at anyone who gets to close as they daydream of murder on the beach.
The idea of a party isn't particularly appealing to Zen but he's curious enough to make the trip. He nods at those he knows including Calypso and Vesper when he sees them. The sight of Nova however puts a small smile on his face. The trio seems to be having fun and he briefly debates joining them before deciding against it.
Snagging a burger, the Demi-god eyes the crowd as he takes a bite, getting a feel of the energy around him. People seem to be in high spirits. Spotting yet another familiar face, one avoiding most of the people, Zen makes his way over to Sah. Joining the hunter under the tree, the Demi-god simply nods at the man before tucking into his meal. He knows that the Wild Thunder won't prompt him to speak all that much, which is exactly what Zen is in the mood for.
so what, my friend, whatever will it be? i can give you what you crave, just not for free
Asta absolutely intends on gnawing on the bone when he’s done, just as Danta’s actions suggest, moving onto the other items he’d plucked to have a taste of all of them when Thalassa joins them. Politely waiting until he’s finished his bite, the butcher flashes her a bright smile. “This is our second year of indulging in the heat. It is lovely as always.” He informs her with a low rumble of a laugh and a knowing nod.
A hum of agreement passes the butcher’s lips as he considers the idea of cocktails for the moment, focusing otherwise on yet another piece of meat from his plate, dark gaze sliding toward Thalassa to hear what she thinks of the beach. He imagines it’s another day for her – though Torchline certainly had its perks for them this time of year. Perhaps she indulges a little bit more time amongst the heat like a lizard with a hot rock – just like Danta and he often did.
Dragging her fangs over the bone of the wing, she casts Dantalion a grin. Cocktails aren't usually her thing, preferring the ambers over clears most days, but Thal can't say she disagrees. "Liquor does seem to have a bit more bite in the sunlight." Her blue gaze then turns fondly to Astaroth as she says, "I always like my time here, but I'd personally recommend Torchline in Deepfrost. You don't have to deal with snow, it's still warm enough for us, and there aren't as many tourists." She flashes them a playful wink. Tourists might be fun to take advantage of (or terrorize), but having the beach to herself can be fun as well.
Thal places the clean bone in her hand, exchanging it for the next as she leans forward, her arms draped casually off her legs like a cat in sunlight. "You guys should let me know when you're here. I could show you the best spots to hunt - or there's a lovely sailing vessel that the captain might let you board." There's a mischievous smirk on her lips as she looks to the men, already imagining how her ship might be used as for cocktail hour and whale watching.
Tal was most definitely unfashionably late, but that had never stopped him before. He knew better than to swing by the party before he'd finished the day's deliveries, though, and he'd never been one to put pleasure before business. So it wasn't until his hold was empty and his packages all put safely in the hands of their intended recipients that he made his way down to the beach. Boreal was nowhere in sight - the courier had some small sense of self-preservation, and keeping the dragon from trying to faceplant into the meats awaiting Ronin's tender ministrations upon the grill would have kept him from getting to enjoy even a moment of the day.
So, flying solo, he threaded his way through the throng and flashed Ronin a grin, with Remi receiving a respectful bob of his head as he snagged a plateful of rhampire ribs and the grilled leg of some kind of bird and then made his retreat.
He was looking for a quiet place to sit, out of the way and far from the thick of the festivities when he somehow ended up near a familiar face. "Hey, Sah," he called, plunking himself down beside the hunter. "What're y'doin' back in Torchline?" Not the usual place to see his Halovian frenemy in the brutal heat of summer!
And now they're throwing food at him. Koa scowls as the potato salad thwips wetly on his chest. "Dude, c'mon, this is a nice shirt!" Fishing a napkin out of his pocket, his plans to blot off the worst of the side are thwarted when something sticky hits his face. "Wha-!? Are you serious?!" He reaches up, plucking off the peach that's congealed to his cheek and flicking it back Melita's way.
Pulling his lips to a tight line, Koa shakes his head. "Kaisel, as a junior Dragoon I expect better behavior from you." But he the serious tone cannot conceal a competitive gleam dancing in his copper eyes. "At least go for something that leaves more of a mark." As he says so he snaps his own fork out, sending a pattering of baked beans toward his cousin's face.
Let the record show that if this turns into a juvenile food fight, it is not Koa's fault.
Koa
When I kiss your lips I want to sink down to the bottom of the sea
Flora doesn’t dare glance too long toward the chaos unfolding across the sand—where, unless her eyes deceive her, Koa has just hurled beans directly at Kaisel’s head. Her jaw twitches like she’s debating whether or not to get involved, but ultimately? That way lies madness, heartbreak, and possibly condiments in her hair. "Nope," she mutters; not today, satan.
Instead, she tightens her arms around Sohalia and Theea and pivots with the grace of a woman who is absolutely not avoiding anything. "Come on, queens. Time for a royal introduction."
The crowd by the grill is already thick—half the party seems to be orbiting the gravitational force of Ronin and @Remi—but Flora doesn’t hesitate. She strides through like she owns the place (which, okay, she kind of does), her curls bouncing, lips freshly glossed, cherry-red and unapologetic.
And then she stops, dramatically clearing her throat like a herald before a court. "Daaaaaaaads," she calls, flashing a megawatt smile at the pair currently being sickeningly adorable with each other, before her eyes glance toward Sunjata because he's basically her dad too now. "If I could tear your attention away from your ongoing PDA for just a moment—"
She turns to gesture with a theatrical flourish toward Theea, one hand out like she’s unveiling a masterpiece. "May I present to you: the one, the only, Vai’s granddaughter." Her voice is rich with emphasis, warm with pride, and just a little bit teasing. She doesn’t mention Ashetta, if only because Flora had obviously never met her cousin's mom, but Vai loomed large in her heart and mind.
"Also, be chill about it you too and don't overwhelm her."
I trace the evidence, make it make some sense why the wound is still bleedin'
“Wait, hang on—” I get out, half-choking around a bite of grilled chicken before Flora’s arm links through mine like a hook and I’m already moving. The meat is incredible, sweet with a little fire—definitely a dish worth dying for—but my hands are too full of nerves to carry a plate, so I set it down on the edge of a table as I’m swept after her, chewing fast like it’ll keep me grounded.
Turns out, it doesn’t.
The crowd thins and thickens in bursts, voices and laughter rippling like waves through warm air, and I’m swept straight into the undertow. Before I know it, I’m standing in the orbit of two men whose names might as well have been stitched into the sky. Flora announces me like a royal debut, her voice rich with warmth and a little mischief, and I can’t even roll my eyes—because my heart is hammering against my ribs like it wants to climb out and introduce itself first.
Vai’s granddaughter. The name lands like a stone in my chest—familiar, aching. My memories of her are more ghost than real. But my mother told me her laughter could clear a cloudy sky. How she made lovely wind chimes with shells and seaglass.. How she would’ve loved me if things had turned out differently.
I barely have time to process the ache before my eyes lift—and there they are.
Ronin and Remi fucking Taliesin.
It should be overwhelming, but somehow—like gentle sunlight filtered through palm leaves—it isn’t. It’s just… real.
I swallow the last of the chicken and find my smile before it can get lost in my nerves. It tugs crookedly across my face, wry and a little breathless. My voice isn’t steady, exactly, but it finds its footing.
I'm just a cherub riding comets through the night sky
Vesper hears them—of course he does. His sisters’ voices wind through the air behind him like sunlight through windchimes: bright, sharp, impossible to ignore, especially Nova's prickly outrage. He doesn’t turn, just lets a slow smirk tug at the corner of his mouth as he tips his head a fraction closer to Mateo instead.
"Messy," he murmurs at the explanation, his gaze trailing toward Koa with lazy interest. "Sounds like a recipe for someone endin’ up single...or stabbed." His tone stays level, dry as summer sand. "Could be both. Hope he brought a get-well card and some ice cream."
There’s movement at the food table then—sudden, chaotic—and Vesper’s gaze cuts toward it just in time to see a very suspicious flick of someone’s wrist. There’s a blur of beans and poor choices brewing. He sighs, long and theatrical, before rising fluidly to his feet. "Far be it from me to interrupt culinary warfare," he drawls, brushing a bit of sand from his shirt, "but I’d rather not spend the rest of the afternoon wearin’ shrimp salad."
His eyes flick down to Mateo, catching the glint of pineapple between his fingers. "Can I tempt you away from here?" he asks, tone low and suggestive beneath its casual veneer. "Could set up somewhere quieter. Fewer bits of food flyin' around. Better view."
And then, because he’s never above giving his point a little more weight, he adds with a lazy smile, "Promise not to throw anything unless it’s compliments."
VESPER
Styling stolen from Sky (obviously)
☆ has a pale star tattoo beneath his left eye, and freckle-sized constellations move across his skin
☽ hair changes from bleached blonde to brown
☆ telepathic: Sunlit Shadows | The user can read the surface thoughts and emotions of those within a 60ft radius. Control is excellent. Note: "Thoughts and emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
Tell the tales of the trail of dead Lovers learned from slower hands
Liam joined Hadama under the tree. A question from the merking had him opening his mouth to reply, but then a volleyball came flying past, making Liam blink with surprise. He watched, bemused, as someone ran past to fetch the ball, waving apologetically. These were not the dangers he was used to in the Greatwood, and it showed in his suddenly wary expression.
As he picked up the thread of conversation, he kept one eye on the volleyballers. "I have, thank you," he said. "The Greatwood has been very busy these past few seasons. It's been a welcome change." Somewhere in the party, it seemed that a food fight was starting, and Liam watched this unfold, feeling very old. "And yourself?" he asked Hadama, hoping that the merking had been well all these seasons.
