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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!
"I never see you at the club!" Okay? I never see you at the creek
For a few delirious seconds, Damien felt like he’d outpaced gravity itself. The sled screamed down the slope, runners skimming more air than snow, wind howling past his ears. Whatever he’d called—whoever—had heard him. He just wasn’t sure it knew the meaning of moderation.
The world blurred. Snow exploded around him, the rush of speed so fierce it stung his eyes raw. He crouched low, muscles straining to keep the sled steady, and dared a glance behind him. The field was a storm of movement—some guy (Astaroth XD), Melita, Deimos. He barely had time to register them before the ground ahead buckled and rose.
Ice. Wall-high, glittering, doom-shaped.
He swore, short and sharp, and dug his heels to steer. The slope funneled straight into the blockade. Behind, he could feel the heat blooming—a fireball—and from the corner of his eye, a snowball arcing toward him like the universe’s cruel joke.
But Halo didn't raise no bitch! The cold bit at his skin like an old friend as he shifted his weight and braced. Instead of slowing or veering, he leaned in—trusted the ice, the wind, and whatever mad spirit had hitched itself to him. He hoped the runners might catch the lip of the blockade, and maybe the whole thing would go jolting skyward.
Whatever waited at the bottom, he intended to meet it first.
Damien uses his Citizenship Ability to try to ignore the environmental hindrance/use Deimos’s blockade as a ramp.
Citizenship Ability
Halo has hardened you against her weather and her terrain. Once per PQ/PQ+/KQ/Drop, you can ignore an environmental effect that would otherwise hinder you (rough terrain, cold, wind, etc). (In order to use this ability, you must put a clear note in the bottom of your post immediately following the effect you want to ignore).
Regional Score bonus: +13 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc.
As people go flying off the track, Nova doesn't seem to make much headway and her attempts to disrupt Melita go unsuccessful. It's very frustrating for someone who likes to win. There's a very obvious scrunch to her face before she's huffing a small breath of dismissal and lowering her head, ready to get down to business.
She traps her tongue between her teeth, narrowing her eyes against the chilly wind that tugs mercilessly at her cheeks and hair. In a mix of water and air magics, she shoves herself forward, doing her best to blast off from the retreating ground behind her.
Nova tries to boost herself with a blast of air and water!
Air manipulation (Abandoned/Hybrid): Can create and control the air. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered | Cost: Action
Water manipulation (Abandoned/Hybrid): Can create and control water. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered | Cost: Action
Regional Score bonus: +3 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +3 should be included). Residents cannot be cursed at shrines in this region.
Perhaps she'd thought darting would be instantaneous in comparison to her creeping speed, but apparently physics are not in her favor and it leaves her momentarily suspended, letting Maea of all people pass her. She doesn't look behind her, doesn't want to know how terribly she's fairing in the race (ie dead last). It's pretty clear Asta is going to win their little bet anyways, so she focuses on the person in front of her.
The spray of snow doesn't discourage her - if anything, it frustrates her more. Gritting her teeth against the cold, she decides that if she's going down, she'd like to return the favor and deal with the consequences later. So she gathers her fire and launches it to the sled ahead of her.
Scorch (Ancient): Can generate and manipulate flames within a 30ft radius, pulling heat from the environment or their own body.
Type: Dark | Rank: Mastered | Cost: Action
The world is new to you, and you to it. During PQ/PQ+/KQs/Drops, you roll with advantage on luck-based rolls and receive an extra name during drops. (In order to use this, make sure to note the ability at the bottom of each post)
Regional Score bonus: +5 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +5 should be included). Residents cannot be cursed at shrines in this region.
There's CHAOS on the track towards the back of the race. Maea shoots herself forward using her Scorch, but Thalassa is hot (lol) on her heels, managing to swerve and dodge the flurries of melting snow that are kicked out behind the pale Ancient's sled. And evidently Thal has revenge on her mind, because she wastes no time in tossing a fireball of her own towards Maea. Unlike the latter, though, there's nothing accidental about the captain's attack, and it clips the back of her opponent's sled, sending her spinning off in an arc, directly out of the race!
(Her exit looks fun, at least).
Meanwhile towards the front, Melita's snowball goes wide just as Damien focuses on the blockade created by Deimos. And wouldn't you know, Halovian born and bred, where some might see a hindrance, he sees a ramp. Deimos ought to be proud, because Damien gets MAD AIR as he sleds up and over the blockade--
Just in time to get his shit rocked by a fireball from Astaroth.
And thus Damien, like Zavien before him, learns the price of that initial burst of speed. (It's that everyone wants you dead afterwards, apparently).
Finally, Nova, who is actually focused on the race, manages to jet forward and overtake Mel to reach third place!
Up ahead, the remaining contestants will be able to make out a few cheerfully billowing flags representing the finish line. You're on the home stretch!
Maea and Damien are OUT of the Drop! The leaderboard now looks like THIS:
If her efforts hadn't worked, Nova might have been more inclined to resume her assault on Melita, but her magic blasts behind her in a flurry of air and snow, shooting her forward and past her nemesis. She lets out a small "WHOOOO!" as she rushes by, lowering her head as she tries to gain even more speed. After all, there are two more people ahead of her, and Nova isn't about to settle for a disgusting bronze medal (she at least wants silver).
So she narrows her eyes, a bright and dazzling grin on her face as she places her eyes on the prize and the finish line ahead. The magic behind her roars a little higher, a whirlwind of power working to propel her into a streaking rainbow down the snowy white hill.
Nova tries to boost herself with more air and water magic!
Air manipulation (Abandoned/Hybrid): Can create and control the air. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered | Cost: Action
Water manipulation (Abandoned/Hybrid): Can create and control water. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered | Cost: Action
Regional Score bonus: +3 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +3 should be included). Residents cannot be cursed at shrines in this region.
She might not be winning, but damn does it feel good to watch Maea go flying. Her grin flashes a little too sharp, knowing it won't help her relationship with the woman, but not finding that she cares much at the moment - not when the blast of snow and embers are already disappearing in her peripheral. She's no closer to winning, but she's having her own kind of fun now.
That's why her eyes are suddenly set on Melita's red hair trailing ahead like a banner. They've interacted enough times that Thal knows her actions won't go unpunished despite the demigod's mischievous nature, and yet there's little reason to suspect they won't laugh about it once the scores are settled. Hence the fireball that is flying very intentionally towards the woman's sled, intent on taking at least one more with her in the end so she has something entertaining to share when she's buying Asta his drink.
Thal attempts to knock Melita out of the race with a fireball!
Scorch (Ancient): Can generate and manipulate flames within a 30ft radius, pulling heat from the environment or their own body.
Type: Dark | Rank: Mastered | Cost: Action
The world is new to you, and you to it. During PQ/PQ+/KQs/Drops, you roll with advantage on luck-based rolls and receive an extra name during drops. (In order to use this, make sure to note the ability at the bottom of each post)
Regional Score bonus: +5 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +5 should be included). Residents cannot be cursed at shrines in this region.
Like some child possessed, the beast howls in my veins
Her eyes narrowed dangerously as Nova passed by – that age-old bitterness creeping up into her spine and notching along her mind. But the sound of a fireball coming, and apparently her way, was enough to gauge her attention away from the hybrid advancing – she had to save herself first.
Within a breath the demigod rendered herself invisible and shifted her sled slightly to the left, hopeful that perhaps that would be enough to waylay the impending circumstances. Maybe the embers would simply land in the snow.
Thereafter though, she could chuck a snowball towards Nova, hopeful it’d knock her out. Out of the race or in general. Melita wasn’t picky.
--
Melita turns invisible and shifts the sled to avoid the fireball, then throws a snowball at Nova.
• Magic: You Didn't See Anything | Melita is rendered invisible, leaves no footprints/fingerprints, and cannot be detected via other senses (e.g. smell, sound).
Type: Grey | Rank: Mastered | Cost: Bonus Action
• Magic: Didn't see that coming | First attack after becoming invisible has advantage
Type: Light | Rank: Basic | Cost: Feat
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.
// tell me i'm forgiven, say you'll always be mine //
The butcher watches with a certain kind of intensity to his gaze as Damien finds the blockade that Deimos crafted, watching as he launches his fireball and the Halovian ascends at a rapid speed off the launch. And he watches, simultaneously, as his fireball smacks into the back of his sled, shooting him off course in quite a display of air.
Gods, how satisfying. He can’t hide the laughter that bubbles out of him, focusing on how much more of the race is left. There isn’t much, judging by the flags, but the butcher sinks down low to remove some of the air drag off of him and surges forward, hoping that it’ll be enough to get him to win.
And honestly, even if he doesn’t? He still had plenty of fun.
Asta lowers himself in the sled to reduce air drag and tries to win!
The world is new to you, and you to it. During PQ/PQ+/KQs/Drops, you roll with advantage on luck-based rolls and receive an extra name during drops. (In order to use this, make sure to note the ability at the bottom of each post)
Regional Score bonus: +5 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +5 should be included). Residents cannot be cursed at shrines in this region.
Astaroth
// say that everything is over, tell me i'm fine //
Deimos had to give Damien kudos for the clever alteration of the Sword’s snares – and impending launch into the sky. It was an impressive sight, and he found himself watching as the fellow Halovian soared above, only to be immediately blasted with a fireball.
He swung his head, shaking it with barely muffled laughter, to glance back at Astaroth, wholly respecting the sled maneuvers and subsequent aim with a respectable nod.
But then the finish line was near, in reach, and he had to focus and hone his concentration on these portions. Surprised no one had aimed at him, considering he was back in the lead, he didn’t have to reach for any defensive maneuvers, and instead, snagged at the threads and tethers of his Air magic again. Striving to ensure they contorted behind him and pushed him forward, faster and swifter, attempting to stay ahead as they headed towards the flags.
--
Deimos uses his Mastered Air to push him forward and faster, trying to stay in the lead.
Air manipulation (Abandoned/Hybrid): Can create and control the air. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Grey | Rank: Mastered | Cost: Action
Regional Score bonus: +13 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +13 should be included). Residents cannot be cursed at shrines in this region.
If Vox were here commentating, he'd say something about the race heating up (and then probably list the atomical properties of snow). But he isn't, so the only sound is the strange, vague roar of fire lancing through the air and the whoosh of snow and air as it bursts from the backs of sleds. Thalassa's fireball goes wide, but Melita, employing every trick in the book (and Ludo would be proud) with her speed and invisibility - and no shortage of luck - manages to take Nova out of the running!
The finish line is almost upon the competitors, and it's getting closer and closer. A fluttering ribbon tied across two flagpoles is all that stands between you and sweet victory. There are mere inches between the sleds now, until, finally...
It's Melita from the back, streaking through the snow into first place despite all odds!!
The non-existent crowd goes wild!
Congratulations to MELITA who has won the Drop and receives the following:
Snowswift Sled | A one-person sled decorated with go faster stripes. It propels itself effortlessly across snowy terrain without need for other means of momentum.
