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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!
Sol notices the change first. Before the scream sounds, there's a shift in the air that has the little dragon perking, pausing from his play date with the other companions to glance in the direction of the coming threat.
Despite the small warning bell that chimes down the bond, Zavien still jolts at the sound, his spine constricting in a moment of fear when he sees the glowing purple eyes of the mare. He has to force air into his lungs, glancing at the others to remind himself why he needs to stand strong. Weak links and hesitation get people killed, and he doesn't want any of his friends injured today, even as Kai seems intent on staring down the threat. It reminds him very much of his own actions, and he begins to wonder if holding a sword has that effect on people.
There's no time to get caught up in philosophies as he instructs Sol to do what he can to slow the charge. The dragon chirps in what can only be interpreted as 'Yes Sir!' before he takes flight, smoke already rolling from his maw. While he focuses on dipping and antagonizing, Zavien readies the dagger, waiting for the tainted unicorn to get within range for him to strike. "Spread out so it can't hit us all at once!" His voice carries as he moves, just far enough away to force a decision from the creature on who to target.
Sol distracts/attacks the mare and Zavien uses Tal's Special Delivery Dagger to attack the corrupted unicorn!
"Yeah... worth it..." Tal echoed with a wince. Not just at the memory of the multiple self-stabbings Ludo had demanded of it, but at what else the Dagger had done. Had been used to do. But luckily Koa - best wingman, even when he wasn't trying to impress anyone - gave his ego a little fluff that the courier clearly wasn't used to. He was distracted from the complex trauma of his Dagger, looking a little like a dog being offered a pat instead of a kick--
But Caido was never one to let his ego inflate too much. The shriek derailed everything and Tal's face fell into a look of first consternation and then a frustrated scowl as he turned to glare at the shadowy unicorn on the hill, outlined against the sky like some sort of full on boss battle cutscene. "Go on! Git outta here!" he yelled at it. Completely ineffectually, as it turned out and it started to charge. His hand made an abortive grab towards his hip where his Dagger kind of wasn't anymore and he found himself swallowing hard.
He waited for everyone else to step up, waited for Boreal to launch after Sol with a rumble that echoed the smaller dragon's fierce chirps, just two octaves lower so that she could join her friend in a fiery strafing run, waited for Kaisel to uh... yeah. Make that choice, and for Zavient to provide the voice of reason.
"Listen t'Zav," he echoed the steady, older Dragoon, stepping up and to the side, spreading out as commanded. "An' if y'don't have armor, stay behind th'ones that do!" Because looking over their crew, Tal was pretty sure he was the only one who had shown up dressed to tango with a physical opponent. But only because he was always dressed to tango when he left the house anymore.
And if he only had his unarmed strike and a little zappy ring to hit with? Hail. He didn't need to do damage. He just needed to keep the Void pony's attention long enough for the rest of them to pile on it. Sometimes you lean in to what the world throws at you. Caido had given him enough lemons that Tal had gotten himself a blender for making making smoothies. Full electric and everything.
"Hey, ugly!" he yelled to the unicorn, waving his arms to get its attention and setting himself to try and dodge at the last minute, punching the horse on the way past.
Or, y'know, getting hit anyways and teaching it a lesson in picking on people smaller than it. "Over here, y'shadowy hornhead! Your ma was a slutty rhinoceros and yer pa was a blind ass!"
Boreal assists Sol in distracting the mare.
Tal tries to get the unicorn to charge at him instead, intending to dodge or else take any hits on his armor - and giving it a nasty double zap for its trouble if it goes for him, with a lightning punch and his armor's retaliation ability.
Type: Grey | Style: Defensive | Level: Mastered
Rockhide Vest | An armoured vest flecked in black and white and lined with cool, fur-like material. This item blocks physical damage. Requires a 2 post cool-down between uses.
Type: Grey | Style: Defensive | Level: Mastered
Hands off! | Silver striping covers the Rockhide Vest. When successfully struck in melee combat it deals lightning damage at half the wearer's damage stat.
"Absolutely not," Koa snaps firmly at Kaisel, unimpressed by his cousin's dreams of dueling the horny horse from hell. At least Zavien and Talyson are talking sense. Nodding sharp agreement, Koa places himself in the forward ranks - he has his mothman undershirt on - and readies to punch.
The unicorn shows no sign of slowing or changing course, rage running violet down its inky hide as it thunders over the rolling hills. The boys only have room to assume their respective positions before the beast is upon them, its eyes wild, its nostrils flared, the deadly horns lowered to strike. Whether or not Kai decides to charge back and make good on his threats of a swordfight, the beast has other ideas. It barely glances toward the young Dragoon, seemingly unwilling to tangle with the blade held in his hands. The distance means Kai doesn't even have the chance to attempt a hit, for better or for worse.
Instead, egged on by a trio of dragons and the Courier's shouting, it sets Talyson in its sights. Koa and Zavien swing out with their weapons as it charges closer, gravity- and nightmare-enhanced blows doing significant injury to the creature - but it's not enough. With blood like tar streaming from one flank it continues its approach, seemingly even more enraged as it charges Talyson down. Those horns are lethally sharp and deadly, and hate shines in its eyes. It will be tricky for Tal to dodge this one.
But dodge it he does.
Armed with a minor ring and some major grit, the Messenger will feel the rush of air as the unicorn charges past him, its corrupted body mere centimeters from fully knocking the Courier to the ground. But he's able to dodge, and even land a frankly rather impressive hit given the lack of gear. The unicorn screams in anger and pain, faltering as as the fist connects with its right hind leg.
It stumbles, then falls, crashing into the ground in a spray of flowers and dust.
"Oh, fuuuuuck," Koa exhales low and slow, running his hand through his hair as he walks cautiously toward where the unicorn lies. It's breathing is laborious, shallow and strained, oily blood oozing out with every flex of muscle. It's basically dead, but not quite - and he looks at Kaisel, the one of them with a big ass blade he's been itching to use. "Right. Well. Let's put it out of its misery and then go get a drink, huh?" Or five.
Final round! The unicorn is nearly dead, put it out of its misery and then let's pack up and get out
Can't touch me, like Gojo—Look good in all my photos
"What!?" Kaisel demands back, features pulled into a taut expression of displeasure as Koa shoots his idea down and sets himself in front. The armor makes sense, Kaisel can't argue that point, but the dismissal, as if Koa has no faith, stings. The sword is new in his hands, admittedly, but there are three others able to strike and distract, it's not like he's a babe toddling out here in diapers, despite the cutting junior Koa tacked onto his Dragoon title. His family is all warriors for fucks sake, he's been training.
Exhaling steadily through his nose, Kaisel grits his teeth and prepares, staying planted behind Koa despite what he wants. He's a soldier after all, he'll listen to his commander.
So he readies, and he does—nothing. Kaisel does nothing because the unicorn can't reach him back here, or he it. Instead, the stupid horse drives for the one who isn't even a soldier, yeah that seems like a brilliant idea too, and Koa and Zavien press in with practiced cooperation, their speed and power commendable as they carve injury into the beast.
It falls and falters, more wounded than it seemed to realize, or perhaps just a last ditch effort to wound Tal on the way out. As it strains on the last dregs of life, all the fight leaves Kaisel. Now this is just a mercy kill, and he strides over to deliver it with a swift jab to where it's heart should be, but all the enthusiasm is gone. It feels like all those times as kids when Koa obviously let him win, always being older, better, more capable. A killing blow, sure, but does that matter when it's already on death's door and incapacitated?
Trying not to let the lackluster success show, Kaisel forces a smile and a cheer. "Awesome job boys!" He's already turning back to their weapon mat though, the smile instantly vanishing as he leans down to set the gleaming blade back on the sheet for Zavien to reclaim it. Koa's chakram glints invitingly there, and after a beat, Kaisel reaches for it, tucking it away in his travel pack. He's a mind to go hunt something down himself with it later, just to prove he can.
Kaisel stabs at its heart and goes to put the sword back on the mat and grabs the chakram.
Kaisel
Sexy jutsu, I feel like Naruto—Fightin' demons in my head like I'm Itadori
Wearing a watery blue, faded and stretched-out sparkling hair tie on his left wrist
Zavien can't say that taunting the creature is the best idea, but he knows Tal can handle himself and sticks with the plan to split up. He moves away from the others, gritting his teeth when the dragons do nothing to slow the charge. At least the dagger slashes true, opening a dark slice along the corrupted unicorn's flank. Along with Koa's efforts and Tal's impressive dodge/attack combo, he's relieved when the Void creature falls in an oily heap on the ground.
Although Kai hadn't been able to do much in the heat of the moment, Zavien sees the opportunity Koa gives him as he makes the final death blow. He knows it won't cool the sting of being left out of the fight, but he hopes the younger man might not take it too hard.
Leaving them to it, he flips the dagger to offer it back to Tal with an approving smile. "This thing is pretty handy. I'm definitely keeping it in mind next time I visit a shrine." Not knowing the extent of the new traumas associated with the weapon, Zavien finds the weapon to be practical and inspirational. Whether the courier acknowledges it or not, the dagger is a valuable tool, one that sparks ideas in his mind.
As he makes his way back to the table to retrieve his beer, he catches the brief fall of Kai's expression despite his previous hopes. With a rough clap on the shoulder, he gives the man a wide grin of someone who's been equally as reckless at every opportunity. "Hey. That was pretty brave." And stupid, but that's already been established. Taking a swig of his beer, Zavien squeezes his hold reassuringly. "I did something similar during our last run-in with those daemons, didn't I, Tal? Nearly got myself run over." He chuckles lightly as he turns to look at Tal, waiting for the man to confirm just how treacherous his own choices have been (recent death included).
Zavien congratulates the others and grabs a drink.
Yeah, that was way too fucking close for Tal's comfort, but he lived in King's End and he'd been dealing with the corrupted unicorns for more than a couple of seasons now. Honestly, if Kaisel hadn't tried to leap in front of everyone Tal would have been happy to hang back behind Koa and Zavien instead of acting like a damn fool, and he winced to himself as he flexed his fingers around the lightning ring.
Maybe... maybe Alys didn't need to know all the details of this little escapade...
Shaking his head, he joined the others around the dying unicorn, grimacing as Kaisel struck the final blow. "Fuck," he agreed with heartfelt sincerity at Koa's succinct summary of the situation. He slipped the ring off and tossed it back to its owner before reaching over the unicorn's steaming corpse to accept his Dagger back from Zavien with reluctant fingers. He tried a smile that was basically just an upside-down grimace and hurriedly sheathed it. "Yeah, it's, uh... it's a killer."
And Tal, socially awkward at the best of times, would have been utterly oblivious to Kaisel's sulking if Zavien hadn't proceeded to pull everyone's attention back to the young Dragoon. The courier blinked twice and then his eyes widened in understanding.
Reluctant understanding, but understanding all the same.
"Well, hail, y'kinda did," he admitted, reaching up to rub the back of his neck as he cast around for a distraction and started to help Koa pack up so he wouldn't have to meet anyone's eyes while he spoke. "Threw yourself in front o' th'King o' Torchline himself, as I recall. Not that I got any room t'talk. Y'shoulda seen some o' th'shit Sah an' I pulled back when I was in th'Monster Hunter's Guild. Dunno how many times we got called into th'Warden's office afterwards for a dressin' down on bein' too reckless."
Tal returns the ring, takes back his Dagger, and shares some stories of his and Zavien's past fuckups to try and make Kaisel feel better. Even if he doesn't realize that Kaisel doesn't understand a word he's saying.
