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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!
It’d been a long while since Lena had been amidst the Queen’s Gambit; perhaps not since that ill-fated moment of launching through fire and coming towards powers far beyond her comprehension or abilities. Even now, she eyed it warily, as she did with most things – taking wing to soar over it, extending long bits of silver plumage, striving to keep herself occupied while Zavien was amidst the desert, wanting to be helpful to her fellow constituents in King’s End…
So if it looked odd to peer above and see a parrot with a basket clutched in its talons, so be it.
Eventually though, she landed atop one of the long, illustrious hedges, placing the container down nimbly, before shifting into her regular, human form. Peering downwards, unbothered by the height, she shrugged, then began to search amidst the shrubbery, while Mittens scowled, hovering above and only offering mild screeches by way of communication.
Unbeknownst to both though, they weren’t alone; the subtle and slight movements of serpentine maneuvers beginning to arch its way through the bracken and ferns.
sunlight on mist; summer lightning your choices outweigh your substance
Liam was in King's End in preparation for Vox's gathering, but why he was in Queen's Gambit, specifically, even he didn't know. It was a giant maze that reminded him of the Greatwood in some ways; the hedgerows were always shifting, changing and morphing paths into something that would lead one astray sooner than not. And maybe Liam had gotten a little too used to being lost, but he found it almost comforting, in a way, to wander aimlessly in slow search of an exit.
At one point, he looked up to see a parrot, of all things, flying by with a basket grasped in its talons. Intrigued, he followed from below, following the twists and turns of the maze until he saw the bird transform into a very human woman. She searched amidst the shrubbery from above, accompanied by a creature that Liam couldn't quite identify.
Not wishing to startle her, Liam deliberately made noise as he approached, stepping on twigs from the hedges upon the ground. When he was close enough, he called out a hello: "Excuse me, but do you need any assistance?"
Mittens saw him first; casting a long, sullen-sounding screech of warning. Lena turned rapidly, blinking at the stranger’s approach – striving to figure out if the figure was familiar or not. She didn’t seem to be to him, regardless, and the question that slipped through left her brow arching; unaware of the dangers lurking within the hedge or out. “Oh, no, I’m quite all right! Thought I would collect some of this.” And then flicker downward to snag at more herbs nearby – a cheat to the maze, much like she’d done within the labyrinth of the Grounds, capable of stretching away from the cynical dead ends and things lurking in corners.
Doing exactly that, she took a sprig and deposited it in her basket with a serene smile. “Do you need help with anything?” Maybe he was there for some other reason – the Attuned would never be certain about the way legends lurked within King’s End.
And all the while, a telltale hiss threaded its way through, a slight vision of its head poking through shrubbery; it could’ve been winking at Liam, if he noticed.
sunlight on mist; summer lightning your choices outweigh your substance
The creature accompanying the woman let out an otherworldly screech that grated on Liam's ears. He raised his brows at it, wholly unbothered but wondering what, exactly, it was to make such an irritating sound. Still, the woman seemed nice enough, and Liam smiled up at her, hoping to be as unthreatening as possible. As for whether or not he needed help, he shook his head. "I'm just looking around," he said with a shrug. "I've not spent much time in King's End, so..."
A hiss caught the soldier's attention, and his gaze shifted to the hedge. Something lingered there - something that seemed, to Liam, at least, to be friendly. "Well, hello," he said to it, completely at ease with the creature's appearance. "And what might you be?"
Maybe Liam should’ve been bothered – Mittens had fully intended it that way. The snowball tilted its head, then rotated it around, seemingly glaring at the man, then looking entirely elsewhere, piecing something together. Lena, ignorant of everything else, simply smiled back at the stranger, resuming her collecting. “Ah, understandable. It really is a lovely -,” then paused, of course, because the conversation had altered.
To a creature below.
Her companion unleashed another unholy scream, and Lena had prepared herself to snag at the snowball in a cease and desist, before she glanced down, noticing the blackened head popping out. “Oh, do be careful,” she granted in a word of caution, beginning to clamber her way downward as the snake slithered out towards the stranger. “That’s likely a void viper.”
sunlight on mist; summer lightning your choices outweigh your substance
Of course Liam should have been bothered, but as a side effect of his status as a Friend of the Family, he rarely was, these days. Instead, he simply ignored the creature. It was easier that way - better than lingering upon things that didn't really matter. And, sorry, Mittens, but in Liam's mind, it didn't really matter. The soldier probably wouldn't ever see it again, anyway.
The hissing down below halted momentarily as the companion screeched, then resumed in earnest as the void viper stuck its head out of the hedge. Liam watched it emerge with an air of curiosity. Unlike the stranger, he had no qualms about being so close to a void beast - it was a friend to him, after all. "It won't hurt me," he said confidently. Still, he waited patiently as the woman clambered down. What would she do, now that the viper had revealed itself?
And therein, Lena’s nerves seared. An inherent reflex, to suddenly sink in that growing awareness that she was in the presence of someone who may very wield a threat, with the embedded infected nuance flashing across idle statements.
With all the confidence in the world – seemingly, and she glanced back, tone light, as if she wasn’t suspicious. “How do you know that?” Because the viper seemed to be slinking his way, unbothered?
And then, all of that might not have mattered at all. Mittens, bound into sudden heroics, screeched and rushed forward to clamp down the viper, dragging it out of the hedge not unlike a dog, and shaking it zealously, until the snowball could toss it – a distance spiraling outward, only a silhouette of a snake seen briefly in the sky.
sunlight on mist; summer lightning your choices outweigh your substance
Liam considered the serpent in question, which seemed to regard him in return, flicking its tongue out to taste the air as it did so. And the soldier might have answered that the Void creatures weren't so bad, if one gave them a chance, but then the strange snowball beast was screeching, rushing the viper and clamping down on its lithe form. Liam swore, stumbling away from the ensuing battle - if it could be called such - and watched as the snake went flying through the air to disappear some distance away.
Completely nonplussed, Liam looked between the victorious companion and its bonded. Not knowing what else to do, he laughed. "That was... a bit overzealous," he said after a moment of chuckling, watching the creature with a healthy respect. Then he turned his attention back to the stranger. "I'm Liam, by the way. Say - have you seen any dream birds about? I'm supposed to collect feathers from one for a quest."
Lena could only send Mittens the bursts and flares and wholly momentum of gratitude through their bond. The snowball seemed very pleased with itself, wearing a smug grin as it glared menacingly at the stranger, before narrowing its eyes and going to hover near the Attuned’s shoulder again, keeping careful watch with zero explanation.
“Or necessary,” Lena added with a shrug; a caretaker through and through, but those of the void were not in her purview, not of her gods’ making, and not relegated to her kindness. They were the products of the Family, and would be treated as such.
She watched though, as the man didn’t seem too bothered or displeased, uncertain what to make of it. “I’m Lena,” was offered in return, but she kept her basket close at hand, too cautious and guarded to offer shakes or some other form of introduction. Her head tilted at the notions of dream birds though. “Mm. There were some closer to the town. They like to linger there on the outskirts, in trees.” Pausing, she shifted her gaze. "I wouldn't mess with them too much - they would alter your dreams." Maybe he'd be able to find some feathers and plumage on the ground instead.
sunlight on mist; summer lightning your choices outweigh your substance
Ah, so this woman did not appear to be a Friend of the Family, if she thought that her companion's display was necessary. Well, that was no matter to Liam. He had his hands full trying to convince one person to join the Family, much less others. And, after all, he could be mistaken. Perhaps the snowball beast simply didn't like snakes.
In any case, Liam stuck his hands in his pockets and glanced back in the direction of town. "Thank you," he said, meaning it wholeheartedly. He'd been searching in the wrong place, it seemed. "I'll be sure to be careful. Perhaps there will be some feathers they've dropped along the way." He paused, and then, ever the gentleman: "Are you heading back to town? I'd be happy for the company, unless you've other things to do."
The snowball, fortunately or not, didn’t like many things – especially if there was any hostility towards his bonded. It made a horrific, glaring face towards Liam for the entirety, and Lena had to sigh, placing names, possibilities, and probabilities in her head; wishing she’d had their identifying ring in her current clutches. Alas, it was likely with Zavien.
Regardless, she’d be able to warn her constituents, despite the inherent apprehension of leading him back towards the town. Perhaps, in her stead, he wouldn’t be able to try anything suspicious. “Sure,” checking her basket, ensuring she had what she’d wanted to come here for anyway. Maintaining her pleasantness, she let her smile linger, even if it never quite reached her eyes. “I was just about to head back anyway. Hopefully you can find something.”
sunlight on mist; summer lightning your choices outweigh your substance
Liam eyed the snowball with a mixture of curiosity and wariness, unsure how to read its expressions but getting the distinct feeling that it was glaring at him. At least it didn't seem inclined to bite him - although he wasn't going to get close enough to test that theory. Instead, he gestured towards town in a sweeping after you motion, falling into step beside Lena as they walked.
When they neared the place where the woman had suggested he look for dream bird feathers, the soldier started to scan the ground. Fortunately, it seemed that they had, in fact, preened or molted or whatever it was dream birds did, for he was able to find a few feathers in his searching. With those in hand, he returned to town alongside Lena, already looking forward to completing his quest.
