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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 task from his goddess. An invitation from their enemies. Hadama was not about to turn down either.
A few fliers had been posted discretely around Caido, an invitation to a lesson on how to prepare for facing Void creatures, either in general or in pursuit of Vox's tasks, and the Tidebreaker had spent a few days in the Hollowed Grounds in advance, gathering what he would need.
He had collected several pens of smaller Void creatures - alive, for the moment - in preparation for his demonstration. The Spire had hosted a similar gathering once before, he had been told, and it seemed fitting to do so once again for those like himself who had been unable to attend that day. A lesson for those, too, who had not been made aware of the Void's elemental weaknesses, or at least who had not had a chance to see it with their own eyes. And the moat of water that surrounded the Spire would prevent any Void fauna that tried to escape from reaching the rest of the Glade.
A few smaller cages held Voidweaver spiders, most skittering aggressively and bouncing off the metal wires although a few had begun spinning webs of violet and black in the corners. The larger pens caged in a handful of Void Tangleweeds that rocked malevolently, managing to glare out at those beginning to gather even without physical eyes. A few Cursed Daisies had been gathered from King's End and were kept apart in a glass box to keep their scent contained.
Hadama stood at ease in front of the unsettling collection, expression calmly stoic as he nodded at those who were arriving. He held his trident casually as he waited for the bulk of the arrivals to trickle in, ready to move quickly if any of the cages creatures should escape before their time.
"Have you fought Void creatures before?" he asked of the participants once they were settled in whatever comfort they chose.
This is an ME to demonstrate the best way to kill Void creatures! There will be opportunities to fight them for the SE (5. Fight a void creature! Go on, you can do it!).
Voidweaver Spiders (Common): The once-useful Wine Spiders have become Voidweavers, their once-drunk demeanor replaced with a malevolent hunger. They spin webs of void energy, ensnaring anything that comes too close. Their venom induces nightmares, trapping victims in a perpetual state of terror.
Void Tangleweed (uncommon - Hollowed Grounds): The normally spherical and sentient Tangleweed has been corrupted by the void. Its limbs, once resembling branches, now writhe with shadowy tendrils. Touching the Void Tangleweed not only induces numbness but also opens a temporary connection to the void, causing unsettling visions and hallucinations.
Cursed Daisies (Common): Once the calming Sweetgrass, these void-corrupted daisies emit an unsettling aura. Instead of attracting pollinators, they draw in void insects that feed on the life force of anything nearby. Their sickly-sweet scent now conceals the stench of void decay.
Zen had noticed one of the fliers and decided to make his way over to Grounds to participate. He was still uncertain about his opinion of the older Demi-god but any preparation or opportunity to kill an infected abomination was worth the trip. Arriving his eyes scanned the crowd, meeting Hadama's for a brief moment before turning to focus on the caged creatures. The younger Demi-god's jaw ticked, disgust curling in his gut as he studied them.
The question was expected, and he noted the varying reactions amongst the people. Some had fought void creatures, others not. Even amongst those confirming their experience, their expression varied. Zen himself simply shook his head. He'd yet to kill his first void creature and his fingers twitched at his side eagerly to have the chance.
Sah was uncertain if any new information about the void had emerged or if Hadama was simply trying to spread the word. Regardless, the Wild Thunder elected to join the demonstration as a show of support for his friend. He'd also have the opportunity to see just who was taking steps against the Family, even if only to protect themselves.
Nodding at Hadama in greeting, and at the question, he spotted a familiar face to his right. Safrin's newest Demi-god was also in attendance it seemed. He gave Zen a small smile, pleased to see that despite being new to Caido, Zen was already taking steps to join the fight.
Well, wasn't this exciting? Being told that learning to gather materials was any artisan's best tool, then being sent on a skyship halfway around the world to practice, then finding out that a self-defense course of a sort would be on the itinerary was not what she had expected of her time as an apprentice weaver. The more time she spent with her teacher, the more Ravenna suspected there was more to the old bat than meets the eye. Not about to complain however, she dutifully packed her bag and now found herself staring at a king-and-demi-god/demi-god/purple monstrosity and Sah, with a feeling of being waaay out of her depth.
"Uh, nope. First time even seeing one." And she could have gone without the experience, her expression seemed to say. Far more pleasing to the eyes was the young man with the strange silver eyes – she stole glances at him when she thought no one noticed, though kept Sah as a buffer between them; it felt safest that way. For now.
Don't talk like you know me when I don't even know myself
Most of those who arrived were from the Hollowed Grounds, with a smattering from King's End and the Greatwood. A few arrived from farther afield, and Hadama watched the Halovian contingent trickle in with a slight nod of acknowledgment for Zenith, Safrin's least experienced demigod, and a warmer inclination of his head for Sah and Noah's adopted daughter, Ravenna.
He was not concerned with Sah's experience, knowing and trusting the Wild Thunder well. Instead he turned his attention more fully on Caido's newest demigod and the smallest Hale - though she was quite a bit taller than the last time he had seen her, so much that he barely recognized her. At the shakes of their heads - and those of others who had gathered - he inclined his head in acknowledgment and gestured with his trident to the gathered Void creatures and plants.
"Creatures corrupted by the Void affect the minds of those they touch. Hallucinations. Nightmares. Such that you can lose your ability to tell friend from foe." He nodded to the Daisies next. "Some plants, like the Void Lotuses, are also that powerful. Others, like these Cursed Daisies, create uneasiness and fear. All affect your judgment and can make you a danger to yourselves and those around you."
His gaze swept the gathered audience, his expression grave and his deep voice solemn. "It is best to fight them from a distance. Out of their reach, or out of range of their pollen. Normal weapons will still damage them. But magic is most effective. Air magic. Gravity magic. Cast by Abandoned or imbued into items." He paused and then added, grimly: "Ice magic and earth magic can be used against these lesser creatures but will not harm the Family or their stronger servants."
He gestured to Sah, motioning the Wild Thunder forward. "Would you demonstrate an attack with fire magic first, please?" he rumbled quietly to his friend. "And then air afterwards?" When Sah was ready, Hadama used his trident to flick open the door to one of the Tangleweed pens. Needing no further invitation, the spiky, writhing ball of vegetative tentacles and malice rolled straight for the hunter, shadowy whips lashing out from it to try and grasp the Wild Thunder!
05-12-2025, 01:44 PM (This post was last modified: 05-12-2025, 01:56 PM by Sah.)
yet my blood renders me a King
Sah noted the difference in greeting and briefly wondered if the two Safrin Demi-gods had gotten off on the wrong foot. The hybrid wasn't aware of how dynamics between Demi-gods worked and trusted that the two would sort it out eventually. Or at least come to some form of agreement. At Ravenna's arrival, he flashed the teen a smile.
When prompted, the Wild Thunder stepped forward with a nod, "Of course." He was happy to help. As the void creature was freed, he readied his magic. For the sake of the demonstration, Sah made sure to hold his power back enough that the tanglweed wouldn't be killed immediately by his flames. A ball of fire formed in his hand, and he tossed it at the monster, letting Zen and Venna see how it reacted for a moment before switching things up. With a flick of his wrist, a surge of air magic slammed into the tangleweed.
The last participant to arrive was a stranger, and a young one. Zen paid her no mind as he returned Hadama's with his own. yet the Demi-god's eyes quickly returned to focus on the malignant creatures before him. They may be caged at the moment, but he didn't care to let them out of his sight.
Zen silently watched as Sah stepped forward as Hadama released one of the weeds. There was a brief flicker of concern before the hybrid attacked. The younger Demi-god had suspected that the Wild Thunder was a capable fighter, and it seemed that he had judged correctly. The knowledge eased his worry and allowed him to focus on the demonstration. The tangleweed's pain and anger at the Sah's attacks were clear. The air seemed to harm it more so than the fire and something like satisfaction curled in Zen's chest as he watched it suffer with a neutral expression.
The Wild Thunder was adept at more than just lightning magic. Fire burned the Tangleweed and it shook with hatred and pain as the red light smoldered over its vines. It curled back upon itself briefly but then used that coiling energy to spring forward--
Directly into the blast of wind cast from Sah's outstretched hand. The flames fanned higher, briefly flaring before being blown out by the power of the air magic that rushed through the Void-twisted creature. A shriek of sap turning to steam escaped, somehow sounding enraged and despairing as at made a final lash of its shadowy tendrils towards the hunter but fell woefully short. Instead it was shredded, the air magic visibly more effective than the fire had been at tearing the shadows of its substance apart and scattering them.
Hadama nodded his approval. "Thank you, Sah. That was well done." It had not been much of a fight, true, but when the power levels were so different and the Tangleweed rolled a nat 1 it was only to be expected. "I will demonstrate gravity magic, next."
Reaching out with his trident a second time, he flicked the latch on the second Void Tangleweed's enclosure. It did not wait for the door to swing fully open; instead it burst out and dodged to the left, skittering as if it would head straight for Zenith. Hadama moved swiftly, his speed belying his muscular bulk and slow way of speaking as he moved to put himself physically between the Void creature and the young man. The air above the shadowed Tangleweed warped and compacted, then lanced downwards to strike the center of the twisted creature. The Tangleweed was crushed flat at its heart, tendrils twitching in its final throes.
But one of them had already lashed out to wrap around the Tidebreaker's forearm even as he called his power. The thorny vine contracted, piercing brown skin, before relaxing in death and slipping free. Hadama grunted and looked down to see a shadowy purple weal spreading around the puncture point where red blood now welled. He closed his eyes, drawing in a slow, deep breath as he spoke carefully.
"A lesson in why it is best to destroy them from a distance," he rumbled, eyes beginning to twitch behind closed lids as the envenomed visions crawled up his veins to claw at his mind.
Now, being a former Haulani street rat meant that Venna had seen some shit already. Seedy alleyway, back of a brothel, harbor at night kind of stuff that lingered like shadows at the back of her mind, images she could taste and smell but often had no words to describe. It didn't mean she was comfortable with it, though. If anything, it only made her more sensitive to it; the violence. The screaming and thrashing of the creatures as they burned and crushed and died before her eyes.
Without meaning to or really being aware that she had moved, Ravenna found herself backing away from the carnage. Pale faced and decidedly queasy, she fisted her hands in the skirt of her apprentice smock, yet didn't even try to pretend she wasn't trembling. A weight was sinking into her gut, cold and heavy. If this is what it meant to be out in the wilds, she would probably just stay in town. Yup. No adventures for her. She could... study, instead. Books were nice and clean. Didn't try to bite you. Didn't squeal if you ripped a page. And she could grow plants for the fiber she'd need to do her job. Amhran could probably show her how. This... this fighting... it wasn't for her.
Don't talk like you know me when I don't even know myself
Sah grinned, "Thank you." A single tangleweed wasn't much of a threat against ranged magic. But up close was another story entirely, as Hadama soon proved. The second creature was slippery and shoved its way out of the cage. The Wild Thunder's eyes tracked its trajectory, and he quickly moved to try and shield the younger Demi-god. Lightning crackled to life in his hand, braced to strike if it got closer. Hadama's spikes finished the creature off first, and after a heartbeat, the hybrid let his magic dissipate.
Concern filled him at his friend's expression. "Are you alright, Hadama?" He hated seeing the man in pain. Ravenna's fear was also apparent and Sah felt his heart ache for her. She was just a kid. He side-stepped so that she was also behind his guard, giving her a reassuring smile.
Zenith's eyes narrowed at the mention of gravity magic, his attention shifting from Sah to Hadama. The King moved to free the next tangleweed and the younger Demi-god saw the danger coming as soon as the creature burst free. Gravitational magic swirled at his fingertips, itching to defend its caster. Yet, Hadama proved his experience in dispatching the tainted weed before Zen could fully summon an arrow. Sah also moved to his defense. Unsurprisingly, but still welcome.
He was about to nod his thanks to both men when Hadama closed his eyes in what appeared to be something akin to pain. The side effects of the tangleweed no doubt. Zen's eyes traced over Hadama's face, curious to see if his stoicism lasted. He caught Ravenna's expression in the corner in his eye when Sah moved. She clearly didn't seem to have the stomach for the situation, and he wondered if she would flee.
"I am... not," the big man admitted through gritted teeth to Sah's inquiry. His eyes remained closed and his muscles grew bunched and tense beneath his skin. He drew in a steadying breath through his nose, however, and a moonlit mist rose around him a moment later, spreading to each of the participants - and to the Void-touched lesson plans. Those with minor wounds, scratches, bruises, or aches would find their pain soothed away and the Tidebreaker exhaled slowly and began to relax as the nightmare visions faded.
He blinked his eyes open and only then realized that Ravenna had faded back from the front row - and that Sah had moved to protect the demigod rather than the girl. The stranger who had once boasted of being a protector and destroyer, rather than Noah's adopted daughter. Emerald eyes took in Zenith, who had not moved, then rested on his friend for a long moment, considering. But in the end he made no comment as he turned away, gesturing to the pens that remained. The Tangleweeds had been dispatched, but the purple, aggressive wine spiders remained, as did the cursed daisies. "If you wish to test your own magic or items or strength against the Void, you may do so now. Watch each other and see how they react to different types of attacks."
Some of the people rose eagerly, hungry for a little vengeance of their own or simply eager to test their spells in accordance with the demonstration. Others hung back, either more timid or less certain of their abilities, but a few of those edged towards the Daisies to test themselves against a less aggressive opponent.
Last round, for those who still need the SE req!
She didn't want to do this anymore. Between the instructor getting bit and the nasty aura emitted by both plants and animals, Ravenna had no desire whatsoever to approach them. Clutching at the cloth of her skirts, she watched the others stab and cut and slash for a while, then resolutely turned her back to the whole proceedings and took shelter behind Sah as he offered her his back as a refuge.
They could think what they wished about her green face and shaking hands. No one had told her she would have to kill or destroy things, and if being a weaver meant that she'd have to, she would change her career path. Adventuring was clearly not in her future, thank you very much.
Don't talk like you know me when I don't even know myself
Zen tilted his head as he felt what must be Hadama's magic heal a bruise on his side. The older Demi-god seemed to have recovered from the effects of the infected tangleweeds. It was then time for the crowd to test their mettle.
Considering his options, Zen decided on one of the spiders. Taking a step forward, he assumed a position as if drawing an invisible bow. A dark arrow came into existence and with a subtle movement of a finger, it flew. The Demi-god had put in significant practice with this new magic of his, but he still went through the motions of aiming and firing with care. There was no room for arrogance here, even if it was a relatively simple exercise.
~
Zen tests an arrow on one of the spiders.
Magic: Gravitational Arrow | Zenith can summon one gravitational arrow with a range of 20ft
Type: Grey | Rank: Basic
