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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!
Soh was growing increasingly annoyed with Kaisel, until he passed her off to some nearby dragoons. She might have made her irritation known, except for the young man leaving her alone was precisely what she wanted, so she waited until he’d left before turning a charming smile onto the soldiers. ”I’m perfectly fine,” she told them, her voice clear and precise. ”You don’t need to babysit me. I’m off to find a friend.” And then she was on her way, leaving behind a group of bemused dragoons who didn’t seem to know what to do next.
In any case, Soh made her way through the party until she found her best friend - easily recognizable with her blonde curls, revealing outfit, and scratches down her back. The Luminary slipped away with Flora into the trees, where they could hopefully chat in peace - Kaisel be damned.
And you kiss me in a way that's gonna screw me up forever
Sohalia
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Sohalia.
He'd busied himself with gathering plates of food, a few pieces wrapped up and put into his pockets to bring home to Goose later, although Ludo saw fit to pilfer those without his notice. Goose would absolutely go into a fit later about it, smelling the residual promise on Iskra's clothes. For now though, he's content with his own plate of goods, and finds himself drifting towards Deimos, though he never quite breaks into the conversation between the Sword and the Alys before Melita returns.
She seems in a better mood now, as if a vampire who must feed not on blood but chaos, and now satiated has discovered she'd been nothing but hypoglycemic the entire time. "Impressive restraint, I figured there'd be at least one yelp from the crowd." He grins around a strawberry as he pops it into his mouth, quietly extending a plate he'd arranged just for her, in case she wanted it. "What did you get up to?" he asks, 'brow rising. "Heard a few people gasping when they'd go for a drink."
Iskra
I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, I shake it off
He arched a brow at Alys, though it’d be another indistinct movement beneath his mask – she’d be able to pick up on the vague amusement nonetheless. “Eh, mundane compared to everything else.” Couples scurrying out of the woods had made him laugh – but otherwise, nothing that bothered, rankled, or intrigued. Difficult to gossip over, though, when one couldn't tell which was which. Evie would be disappointed.
Though she didn’t seem quite so keen to talk much more, so he dusted his hands off, finishing the food he’d snagged earlier, and pondering whether to retrieve any further goods (not that it would much matter; for they’d be picked away soon after). “Likewise. Have a good time,” he nodded, before persisting down the lanes again, making a circle around the party itself, before calculating the timeframe, and the inevitable swing of heading home.
Already rewarded with her efforts, and would be riding high on the compliments of terror inspired by Kaisel, she grabbed one of Iskra 's extra strawberries, nodding enthusiastically as she popped it in her mouth. “Mm! I’ll show you!” Rummaging through her pockets, her eyes narrowed – suspicious, since she could’ve sworn she had more in there. Maybe her improper sewing and hemming, and all the subsequent distractions, had left a gaping hole in the seams. No matter.
Shrugging away the confusion, she snagged at an extra glass of something nearby – before dropping the tiny snake sponge in her hand directly into the liquid. It began to grow, rapidly, and she grinned, showing off the movements.
i'll use you as a warning sign that if you talk enough sense then you'll lose your mind
Sunjata’s smile brightens toward Nikandr at the mention of Flora and the Sugar Tide. Content to hear that he might make a trip his way he nods. “Just let me know when, I’ll make sure to be around.” To show him around, if he wants that, of course.
When it comes to the boxes, Sunjata nods once more, head tilting shortly after as he considers. “I’m not sure when exactly I’ll need it, but I’ll drop by if I need it sooner rather than later.” Shipping times and all that (ha).
He downs the rest of his drink, scanning the party once more (and completely missing the snack he’d snagged from the table that was in his pocket which he’ll find out about later), when Colt appears. She strides up to him with purpose, a bright smile on her masked face, and at her request he can’t help but to oblige her.
It’s been a little while since he’d danced, but he’s sure they could make it work. Saying a quiet goodbye to the group he’d joined up with, he turns his attention fully on Colt as he sets his empty glass down on the table, extending his lightning scarred hand toward her. “I dunno about stealing, but you can absolutely have one.” Flashing her a wink and his lopsided smile, he’ll take her over to the dance floor just as one song ends and the next begins to rumble through the woods.
and i'll use you as a focal point so i don't lose sight of what i want
No permission needed for power play!
Feel free to use magic/force on Sunjata, without killing him <3
Sunjata speaks with an Australian accent and has a passive magic that makes him produce a subtle scent that matches exactly to whatever those around him most desire him to smell like.
Her grin is absolutely full of delight at Sunjata's response, a laugh skipping free, warm with several bouts of liquor and a cloud she's adamant about shrugging off. Taking his hand and threading through the crowd to the floor where he guides them, she slips into the easy embrace of the music and the sway of bodies. "Let's see if you dance as well as you fly," she teases, though she'll match his rhythm and not surprise him with any exceptional flourishes. It's supposed to be fun for the both of them, and unlike with Thorn she has no intention of teaching anything tonight, she's aiming to forget a little bit.
Between songs she presses into his chest for a moment, trying to catch a breath. For once he doesn't smell like peppermint, he smells like home. Like the wildflowers that bloom outside her bedroom window, and the jasmine and the sage around her porch, the lemon zest from the tree in the back, chocolate chip cookies fresh out of her oven, and alfalfa and the bit of dust from walking through the barn. It's as if every scent tugs her through another room she loves, never jumbled or too much, just home in all its different ways. She smiles against him, the comfort of it tucking in gently around the sting of what had just been raw. "This cologne is your best one yet," she sighs against him, a touch of longing to it.
Maybe she ought to call it a night, check in on Thorn and make sure he's set, then head back. There's work to be done tomorrow, after all, no sense in staying out until the will-o-wisps wink out.
Colt
Don't be a bitch, come take it to the floor now
Received a Gilded Market wig from Remi that resembles her usual hair and is enchanted to stay on better than most wigs | has a reverse centaur tattoo on her left hand with the legs going down her pointer and middle fingers that looks like this.
Braved the forests, braved the stone Braved the icy winds and fire Braved and beat them on my own
The proceedings are interrupted by the sudden appearance of a colossal black dragon - Maea - which scatters tables, knocks food and drink aside, and scares a large number of the participants and sends them running.
Ludo steps in and kicks both Maea and Thalassa out of the masquerade for fighting and causing needless damage. Perhaps a lesson, in future, about subtlety and consideration when attending an event hosted by a herald.
Once they have departed, on the ground, one of Vi's Roses has been left behind for someone to claim.
Maea and Thal have started a fight in Carnival of rust - see Ludo's post for a full description of what occurred!
They have now been banned from the festivities. A Vi's Rose is up for grabs - first dibs!
Vi's Roses (rare): A beautiful crimson flower with thorns of deep gold, it is rumoured that these roses are coloured with Vi's lifeblood. When planted, they have the ability to cleanse the area around them.
The commotion tears through the masquerade like a rip in fine silk; flame flaring bright, shadows bending in impossible shapes, and then the hulking black form of a black dragon surging into view, scattering tables and guests alike. Flora’s first instinct is to brace, weight shifting to her heels as her gaze snaps between the chaos and the retreating crowd. The heat licks her bare shoulders, the air tasting faintly of scorched fruit and spilled wine.
Ludo’s presence cleaves the moment in two, spectral and absolute, its voice cutting through the din with the kind of authority that leaves no room for argument. Flora feels her spine straighten, an almost reflexive flicker of deference threading through the wariness in her chest. She watches as both Maea and Thalassa are dismissed swiftly, decisively, and without ceremony. In her experience, few things end a party faster than destroying part of a party.
As the Flora begins to breathe again, the churned grass catches her eye. Just beyond the trampled edges of an overturned table lies one of Vi’s roses, luminous against the wreckage. The sight tugs something taut in her, the thought of the Cordillera and the void’s lingering grip sparking before she even registers the movement of her own feet. Even if someone else has the same idea, Flora doesn't reach for her daggers, trusting her words to be more than sharp enough if it comes to it.
Florida goes for the rose!
Regional Score bonus: +17 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +17 should be included). Residents cannot be cursed at shrines in this region.
Lucky you | A ring that when worn grants +3 luck. Must be included in all PQ/PQ+/KQ/DROP posts to be counted.
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Basic | Cost: Other
some real big things I still gotta figure out
Code 100% taken from the queeeeeeen herself, Sky <3
Remi doesn’t have time to respond to Ronin ’s bed-invitation with more than a low, helpless laugh before clever hands are already slipping beneath his rags, hunting through pockets meant for snacks, secrets, and now evidently foreplay. "You say that like I don’t already find you in bed more than anyone else in Torchline," he murmurs, leaning into the kiss pressed just behind his mask, a touch of sweetness wrapped in black silk and sharp smiles. "But yes. That would make me happy."
His head tilts toward Flora again, catching the same flicker of nerves beneath Ronin’s attempt at neutrality. But the the air shifts before it's tearing; a jarring ripple across the fabric of the masquerade as fire and shadow crack like whips through the clearing. The hulking form of a black dragon crashes through the tables, toppling food, upsetting drinks, scattering guests. Reflex sharp as breath, Remi pulls back just half a step and casts out his magic like a net, invisible but firm, shielding the closest guests behind a glimmer of unseen force.
Only when Ludo appears—impossibly tall, smoke-wreathed, the sound of it heavier than any presence—does he allow himself to breathe again. "That is not good," he mutters, voice still low, relief and exasperation braided tightly together.
His eyes follow Flora without hesitation as their daughter suddenly moves like she’s been struck by something important, and when Remi spots the gleam of crimson and gold nestled in the wreckage, he understands. "This...feels like it might be our cue to leave," he adds, voice tilting wry as he watches their daughter’s form blur against the fading chaos.
Who are you? They ask. Death? Sometimes... I say. But not today
Speaks with a thick Italian accent.
Force and magic can be used against Remi without permission.
"There is nothing I enjoy more than making you happy," Ronin says with an adoring smile that Remi will hear rather than see, and he ensures that he gives the Bastion's pockets a thorough rifling before his hands withdraw (with a chocolate bar as well as having copped a feel, naturally). Said bar of chocolate has just been unwrapped when all hell breaks loose, and it slips from Ronin's fingers as he feels his husband surge into action.
Whilst Remi casts his magic across those in attendance, Ronin is already pulsing with radiant light, and a trio of firebolts prick to life around him, aimed and ready for release.
They die instantly, of course, with the sound of Ludo's voice; flinching back towards Remi automatically, it doesn't matter how long it's been since he was the herald's chosen or what terms they might be on now. Call it habit, but Ronin will never not want to protect his husband from Ludo, and an arm slips around his waist to draw him snug against his side.
"I couldn't agree more," he mutters, already pushing his mask back from his face and nodding towards Remi. Checking the crowd to ensure no one is injured and that his nearest and dearest are alright, only when he's satisfied does Ronin turn to guide them out of the proceedings. Sometimes enough is enough at a party like this.
Ronin and Remi out!
soft spoken with a broken jaw we step outside, but not to brawl
The sudden emergence of a dragon and the ensuing chaos is enough to draw Colt a step behind Sunjata, clutching his arm cautiously, woefully unprepared for a fight. Fortunately, it doesn't seem to be coming to that, not with Ludo stepping it, but it's still enough to have fully ruined the mood of the event. Yeah, she's decided, nothing sounds better than home right now.
"I think that's a sure sign that it's closing time," she mutters, relenting her hold and hiding. "Dunno about you Flood, but I'm gonna hit the road." She pauses just long enough for his response, but either way, she also needs to check on Hawthorn and ask him the same thing. Alone or not, she's Done, capital d.
Colt is out
Colt
Don't be a bitch, come take it to the floor now
Received a Gilded Market wig from Remi that resembles her usual hair and is enchanted to stay on better than most wigs | has a reverse centaur tattoo on her left hand with the legs going down her pointer and middle fingers that looks like this.
Before Calypso can respond or he can properly take them to the dance floor, the party erupts with the discord of a dragon and upset tables. It's startling, particularly because at first it is unknown, and he hasn't come packing heat to a festival other than his left and right fists. Some sort of sound makes its way past his lips as he spins around to block Caly with an arm, his body a shield for whatever the fuck is going on.
Ludo's quick interference and the clarity of what's happening have him straightening up soon after though, and for a moment he's too stunned to speak. Much like a record scratch in a movie though just before the MC explains why they're in a hairy situation, everything is very much frozen and fucked. It looks like showing up to a party six hours late and all the food's been picked through and the drinks are almost all empty and the décor is scattered as a tell tale sign of the fun times had without you.
"Uhhhh," he manages finally, scratching at his chin. "Maybe I just walk you home?" he offers instead to Caly.
Kaisel and Caly out!
Kaisel
Enjoy the life, it's a great day to be alive
Wearing a watery blue, faded and stretched-out sparkling hair tie on his left wrist
He watches Melita rummage around in her pockets and grab a drink, leaning in to peer at the shape dropped into the liquid. Steadily, the lump begins to unfurl and grow, taking on the shape of a turtle, it's little legs becoming chubby. He smiles at the simplicity of it and her eagerness for all the surprises she'd sprinkled into everyone's drinks. Hopefully no one had swallowed it by mistake, it might continue to swell inside their stomachs, much like eating a watermelon seed means one will grow there.
He stiffens at the chaos that ensues not long thereafter, suddenly very glad that Mel had brought her daggers, since as she pointed out, this is Caido. No Family threat or uninvited boar hellbent on destroying what it couldn't attend, just a dragon that seemed not to recognize it's own weight and carelessly set about destroying a portion of the party, Ludo soon after it like a bouncer. "Well," he says once his eyebrows have climbed down from his hairline. "Seems the party might be over after that."
Iskra
I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, I shake it off
