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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!
They stepped out of the Hollow Forest and onto the permafrost field of the Frostfields. His boots crunched in what little snows remained despite the Longheat sun. It broke the awkward silence that slowly crept as Zavien tried to find the right words, his face warming from more than just the sunlight.
"I have an... unusual request for you..." He cleared his throat, kicking a section of snow as he walked. "My anniversary is coming up with my girlfriend, and I haven't - we haven't -" His voice stuttered, the 'action' he had difficulty spitting out being very obviously sex by the vibrant red of his face. It was hard to glance at Liam, but he did briefly, trying to gauge whether the man understood without him saying. "I mean - you were married, so I wanted to know - I guess I'm just wondering if you have any... advice." Sol gave a playful cry in the distance as he dove into a pile of snow, a momentary distraction.
Running a hand through his hair, Zavien looked fleetingly towards him again. "Obviously you don't have to answer if you're not comfortable. It's just... hard to talk about with other people." And he got the feeling that the older gentleman wouldn't be as judgmental about everything. It might even help that they didn't have such a close relationship, making the topic a little less personal.
Stay focused on your mission, remain steadfast in your pursuit of excellence, and always do the right thing.
Fortunately for Zavien, Liam didn't find the silence awkward at all - although he might have, had he known what his fellow soldier was gearing up to ask him. He simply walked along, hands in his pockets, his gaze roving over the Frostfields as their boots crunched in the remnants of snow that coated the ground in patches.
Before long, Zavien broke the silence to ask for Liam's advice - and the older man blinked with surprise at the direction the conversation had taken. His cheeks took on a faint reddish hue, and he found himself momentarily unable to meet Zavien's gaze, focusing instead on Sol, where the dragon dove playfully into a pile of snow. He took the moment to organize his thoughts, and when he spoke it was without a hint of judgment - although with a fair bit of shyness. "Congratulations on your anniversary," he said first. "It's a big milestone. But my first piece of advice would be not to rush into anything just because of a date on a calendar. There's no time limit - or, I guess there shouldn't be one, not in a healthy relationship."
He paused, thinking, hazel eyes roaming the countryside. "I think... the most important thing is communication," he offered. "I was only ever with my wife. We met when we were young, and I never even dated anyone else. It was... a lot of trial and error, for both of us." A ghost of a smile appeared on his face at the memories - not just of sex, but of the conversations that were had along the way. "Being able to talk about what works for you both, and what doesn't - even if it feels uncomfortable at first - is crucial."
Smiling gratefully at the congratulations, he tried again to wrap his head around the idea that it had been a year since they'd started dating. He still felt giddy around her, like it was only yesterday, making it all the more heart stopping to think that they'd be at an inn together. "I guess it's not so much the 'date,' but the fact that we're going on a trip to the Grounds... and we'll be staying in a room together..."
Zavien cleared his throat around the embarrassment. "I don't know if anything will happen, but I -" Blushing deeper, he looked out over the landscape, suddenly very fascinated by the piles of snow as he muttered softly, "I'd like it to." Contrary to what people might think, it was all for various pure-hearted reasons, the main of which being that he loved Lena and wanted her to know that in every manner possible.
At the comment about 'communication,' his head came down in a nod, remembering what Thorn had said over and over and over again. Shrugging his shoulders, he explained, "That's what my friend said too. I just can't believe it's going to be that simple." Like talking was going to make him any better at it. He laughed, running a hand through his hair as they walked, starting to get the idea that it was inevitable.
Stay focused on your mission, remain steadfast in your pursuit of excellence, and always do the right thing.
Liam listened thoughtfully, but there was nothing judgmental in his face as he considered. As long as Zavien and his girlfriend were both willing participants, and not operating based on some imagined pressure, then that, at least, was a good start. The soldier nodded, understanding on his face at the other man’s admission. He remembered when he and his wife - not that they’d been married at the time, not yet, anyway - had been intimate for the first time. It had been as intimidating as it was exciting, and Liam remembered being so nervous that he wouldn’t be able to please her.
”Communication isn’t always simple,” Liam pointed out gently. ”Sometimes, it can be really challenging. And it’s only one piece of the puzzle. A very important piece, mind you, but there’s certainly more to consider.” He paused, his gaze skipping across mounds of snow and landing on Sol. ”What is it that you’re most nervous about?” Perhaps if he could give more specific advise, he could put Zavien’s mind at ease.
You know how sometimes you step outside and the cold just catches your lungs? And you cough and gasp and desperately try to inhale more oxygen?
Congratulations! You probably just wandered into a breath snatch!
Yeah, that glittering cloud of glittering frost wasn’t friendly either. Who knew?
You’ve encountered a Breath Snatch. This counts as an uncommon creature encounter for the purposes of levelling, but does not count as a Random Event for levelling or MP. There will be no further admin/re intervention. If you choose to follow this creature, you do so at your own risk, however, just having it in this thread is enough to satisfy your levelling requirements. (You may not kill this creature without admin permission. )
Breath Snatch (uncommon) - A minor Halo nuisance, the Breath Snatch is a small elemental spirit that lingers in open areas on cold days. They're easiest to notice on bright days, a concentrated cloud of glittering frost lingering in the air, but if not noticed and walked into, the elemental will disperse in a puff of freezing air, often freezing the breath in the lungs of whomever was unlucky enough to come across it. It doesn't seem to possess enough sentience to be truly malevolent. Large groups of the spirits are rare, but potentially deadly if walked into unknowingly.
It all seemed to boil down to communication again, and Zavien nodded his head, hoping he'd be able to find the words when the time came. Yet, when Liam asked him about his fears, speech suddenly abandoned him. His breath froze in his lungs, refusing to accommodate the desire to gasp at the icy sharpness holding him captive. Sol gave a rumble of worry from his perch on a snow pile, but just as soon as it came, he'd stepped through the cloud, the inhale feeling quick and shaky when he rubbed a hand on his chest.
He laughed, partially to warm the air in his lungs and partially to minimize the weight of his anxieties. "Being a fumbling idiot." The smile on his face was bright before softening to something more uncertain. "I'm pretty sure I'm the only one between us that hasn't done it before, and I'm worried that when we start, I may be.... too eager." And unlike every skill or technique he'd ever trained for, Zavien couldn't practice this time, he couldn't go through the motions on his own until he was ready for the real deal. He had to go in with what little preparation he could gather and just go with his instincts. But would that be enough for Lena? Would his instincts guide him in the right direction?
His boot crunched in the snow as he finally said, "I don't want to disappoint her." It was more of a whisper now, the truth soft and vulnerable in the cherished breaths. There was no laughter to lighten the sentiment, just pure affection tinged with worry.
Stay focused on your mission, remain steadfast in your pursuit of excellence, and always do the right thing.
Liam was unfamiliar with Halo, and therefore unfamiliar with the breath snatch. As a result, he walked right into it alongside Zavien. He might have gasped for breath, but it was so, so cold, and nothing happened for a moment; then he passed through the cloud, and warmer air flooded his lungs once more. The breath snatch wandered off, likely laughing to itself, and Liam watched it go, bemused and annoyed in equal measure.
But that didn't last long, for their conversation continued. And as time went on, and Liam grew more thoughtful, it became a little less awkward for the soldier. When Zavien admitted to not wanting to be a disappointment, Liam reached out to clap him on the shoulder. "I think a lot of us feel that way, the first time," he offered. "I wish there was some easy answer - do this and it's guaranteed to work - but... from what I understand, everyone is different. What one person enjoys might not be as pleasurable for someone else. If it makes you feel any better, the experimentation to figure out what you enjoy most - both as individuals and as a couple - is a lot of fun." After one got past the nerves, that is.
Sol still pounced and pranced through the snow piles, too familiar with Zavien's recent embarrassments to give it much thought, preferring to blast a section of ice with his fire and dance around the billowing steam that followed. It helped that Liam's calm demeanor and putting more distance between them and the breath snatch was making it easier to relax into the conversation.
The Dragoon blushed at the clap on his shoulder, but the laughter flowed as the man spoke, feeling at ease to know he wasn't alone in the fears, to know he wasn't the only one who thought he might fail at something so natural. It was sometimes hard to believe when he was best friends with one of the most confident and famous heartbreakers in all of Stormbreak - Koa Carpenter.
At least Liam gave him some hope, a light at the end of the tunnel still filled with anxieties and unknowns. Chuckling, he ducked his head. "Thanks for sharing. Let's hope I can get to that point." Where he could feel comfortable enough to laugh and play like that with Lena.
Stay focused on your mission, remain steadfast in your pursuit of excellence, and always do the right thing.
Liam watched Sol's antics with curiosity, laughing outright when the dragon spit out a burst of fire just to wallow in the steam it created from the snow. With the breath snatch seemingly gone and the conversation winding down, things were growing more comfortable for the soldier. He only hoped that he had given Zavien some good advice, and that the poor man would be able to calm his nerves. Sex, after all, was supposed to be fun - especially when it was with someone you loved.
"I believe in you," Liam said, smiling encouragingly at the dragoon. "I'm sure that, whatever happens, you'll be just fine. Now, tell me if all dragons are as playful as Sol..." And with that, the men dove into a conversation about the various dragons they'd encountered, comparing their personalities and habits as they made their way across the Frostfields.
