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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!
11-16-2025, 08:16 AM (This post was last modified: 12-21-2025, 05:36 PM by Melita.)
mama bore a girl with a gun for a mouth
Hanging out in the Greatwood and presiding amidst the muck and grime for a bit left the Honeybee wondering if she should implement some other level of fun and amusement. After all, suffering in the mud could only get people so far, and this seemed like a good opportunity for some Ludo-inspired entertainment.
Making her way over to a section of the Sidhe Village that wasn’t under current duress of rain (but still, plenty of sludge), she cupped her hands together, figuring yelling would attract and entice local children or younger, more-inclined adults to come participate. “Hello! Come one, come all, for a riveting game of Freeze Tag!” She’d gained some attention from kids nearby, who clearly weren’t invested in shopping and their parents would be glad to be rid of them for ten more minutes. “If you don’t know how to play, it works like most other tag games, except when you’re tagged, you must remain frozen in place. Someone can unfreeze you if you’re tagged by another who isn’t it.” She didn’t add the additional part about being heavily bogged down by the memory forces on the ground, but figured that went without saying.
Then she waited, smug and daft, for anyone to come over.
--
Welcome to a part of Mel’s Ludo quest and Tag game! You may also use this as an SE. Arrive at the PQ site ready to roll. NPCs will be joining so there will be plenty of opportunities for nonsense.
In the middle of the night, in my dreams You should see the things we do, baby
Having been summoned by Melita via letter, Aithne slogs through Sidhe Village with a wicked, gleaming grin upon her face. Her horns glint even in the overcast light, and her tail flicks behind her lazily, like a cat approaching a mouse. The rain is a shame, the mud even more so, but she's eager to join in whatever shenanigans the demigod has planned. Which, as it turns out, appears to be a game of Freeze Tag.
"Ooooh," she gasps as she appears beside Melita. "Way better than an egg toss." Then, appearing to think for a moment, she adds, "Unless there are eggs to toss at the frozen players. You know, just for fun." Winking, Aithne takes her place among the masses, waiting to see who would become 'it' first.
In the middle of the night, in my dreams I know I'm gonna be with you, so I take my time
Aithne
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Aithne.
there's so much time for me to speak up, but i keep quiet
The Greatwood was still as muddy as it was when she faced that mud monster not that long ago – but she’s brought herself back here purely from morbid curiosity to see what else was in store within the village. She finds just as much mud but a space that harbored a bit less rain and a fiery haired woman calling out for people to approach.
Once again her curiosity gets the better of her, the game of freeze tag something that sounds silly but amusing regardless and really she could use a way to bump up her blood pressure. She watches presumably an Ancient step up and throw her hat in the ring, and Caly follows shortly after to flash a bright sunny smile despite the rain and the mud clinging to her boots. “Fuck it, why not? Count me in!”
The suggestion of tossing eggs at people, frozen or not, didn’t go unnoticed – a catlike grin to match Aithne as she appeared alongside. “I like it. I’ll mull it over,” established with a wink, before Calypso made an appearance as well. Before long, they had a nice little group gathered, hardy and ready to face whatever the fuck occurred. “All right, I’m It first!” She bellowed – watching as everyone began to scatter.
It'd be difficult to deny that Melita was fast, but the muck was still going to be an issue. She raced first towards smaller kids, because no one was going to be taken lightly in this threshold, extending out her longer limbs and bopping them on the head. “Gotcha!” She sang, picking her feet up through the grime and racing towards Calypso thereafter, hoping to be within reach as used those long strides to aid her.
--
Melita is It first! Help unfreeze the little kids she’s already tagged, impede her coming towards you, or find a way to make yourself not a target!
there's so much time for me to speak up, but i keep quiet
The crow Melita sparks to claim that she’s It first is one that Caly finds surprisingl amusing, but it’s the beck and call of a whistle being blown as she bolts, trying to avoid the worst of the mud like the kids do so her boots don’t get stuck. Sticking to the less heavier traveled section of the village, she looks up just in time to spot Melita heading toward her.
A playful shriek leaves her as she starts to speed up, dodging the pools of mud where she could and cuts in front of a couple of smaller kids that she hopes she can use as a distraction to keep from getting caught herself.
Caly cuts in front of some smaller kids hoping it’ll distract or make it so Melita doesn’t catch up to her!
In the middle of the night, in my dreams You should see the things we do, baby
Aithne grins in response to Mel's approval, but before she can make any additional suggestions to make the game even more interesting, a group has assembled and the game has begun. With Melita as 'It' first, the Ancient scatters along with the rest, running in the opposite direction of some smaller kids and a pretty adult woman who looks about her age.
Hoping that her tactic of avoidance would keep her out of Mel's line of sight and, therefore, remove herself from the potential of becoming a target, Aithne bobs and weaves through the trees, aiming to tag some of the young kids Melita has already frozen in place.
---
Aithne runs away from Caly, then tries to unfreeze some of Mel's victims.
In the middle of the night, in my dreams I know I'm gonna be with you, so I take my time
Aithne
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Aithne.
The chaos was quick to follow in a revelry of amusement and screaming. Calypso was smart to try and use the kids – unfortunately, Melita just barreled right through. Not only did she knock and pounce upon a few more littles, but she also sprung upon the Attuned, tapping at her shoulder with glee. Within a moment, half the field had been wiped out, frozen and stuck in place due to the Honeybee’s antics.
When she turned, looking out for Aithne, she hissed under her breath – the Ancient had been cleverly bopping and unfreezing the counterparts – so now the kids were running amuck again. “All right,” she preened and growled, running headlong towards the younger woman, fully intending to reach for her as well, and hopefully start another round soon thereafter.
--
Melita has tagged Calypso, but while Mel was taking out the kids, Aithne was unfreezing them! Mel is heading for the Ancient now.
You can call for help, continue to unfreeze little kids, impede her way, use some magic/trickery, etc.
there's so much time for me to speak up, but i keep quiet
Oh, the attuned really does try to evade Melita’s touch – but evidently, it’s nothing for Ludo’s demigod as she darts in and out of varying groups of littles. The tap to her shoulder is one that has her freezing in place – a laughed out curse escaping Safrin’s daughter as a smile blooms. She looks over to see Aithne unfreezing a few children, but with Melita’s attention on her she very much probably can’t come and unfreeze her.
“Oy, help a girl out?” She calls out quieter to some of the children, trying to convince them to unfreeze her so that she might be able to help them unfreeze more of the little ones while the honeybee’s distracted.
In the middle of the night, in my dreams You should see the things we do, baby
Success!
Sweet victory curves a fanged smile onto Aithne's mouth as she dodges gracefully hither and thither across the field of play, unfreezing various kids left in the Honeybee's wake. She's laughing as she goes, gleeful and enjoying herself immensely - only to pause, grin turning wicked, as Melita turns her attention to the Ancient.
"Catch me if you can!" she crows triumphantly, before darting away with a squeal of joy. Sorry, Calypso, but you're on your own for now - Aithne's focus is entirely on evasion, no longer interested in unfreezing the others on the playing field. She bobs and weaves among the children, aiming to use them as a barrier between herself and the Honeybee.
---
Aithne tries to use the children as a shield.
In the middle of the night, in my dreams I know I'm gonna be with you, so I take my time
Aithne
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Aithne.
Calypso had the right idea – striving to enable the kids into presiding in her direction, potentially freeing her from the current predicament. Alas, between Aithne ‘s goading and Melita’s demigod speed, the mere thought of reprieve was shortlived. The Honeybee intentionally took out every child on the way to squandering the Ancient, leaving the Attuned to stand there amidst the other youthful players pouting and some probably crying.
When Melita eventually tagged Aithne, she let out a round of applause and a yell for herself, hands thrown in the air in triumph. “That means a new tagger!” At which she closed her eyes, spun around, and pointed, her extended finger eventually pointing towards Aithne. “Looks like you’re up!” before the rest of them scattered – screaming, hooting, and striving not to be frozen once more.
--
Melita has wiped out the field, and Aithne is the new It!
there's so much time for me to speak up, but i keep quiet
Aithne doesn’t make an attempt to come and untag her, and for that Caly remains frozen in place a touch longer with her eyes following Melita as she chases after the rest of the contestants. Sighing slightly when Melita wins and tags everyone, leaving them frozen before the applause breaks out from the demigod and a yell and Caly snorts, sighing a little as she shakes out her arms.
With the next person as it, Caly looks toward Aithne before she begins to bolt opposite of the Ancient, using the same tactics as before as she passes by the slower children in the hopes that it’ll cause enough of an obstacle that the other woman wouldn’t be able to reach her as quickly as Melita had.
Caly's back to using other participants as blockades!
In the middle of the night, in my dreams You should see the things we do, baby
Aithne's success is short-lived, and her crows of victory promptly turn to playful pouting as she is tagged by the faster demigod. Freezing in place, she remains still for but a moment before the field is wiped out and a new 'It' is elected - this time, Aithne herself. With an almost feral grin, the girl nods her agreement before the field explodes into activity once more, and the Ancient pounces into action.
Melita is closer to her than Calypso, and therefore becomes the immediate target. As Aithne follows after the demigod, she tags children to freeze them in place, hoping to narrow the playing field down to her two more capable targets. She considers, briefly, shifting into her fyrhund form, but at the last moment elects not to lest she burn everyone she tags. Ah well. Something to try another time, perhaps.
Left to her own two feet, all Aithne can to is attempt to catch up to Melita as she tags at the nearby children.
---
Aithne tags children and chases Melita, trying to tag her.
In the middle of the night, in my dreams I know I'm gonna be with you, so I take my time
Aithne
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Aithne.
With a great laugh, Melita simply disappeared. A vanishing act, courtesy of her invisibility magic, permitted her escape from Aithne’s outstretched hands, especially as she darted around, unbeknownst to the Ancient. Some children screeched “Cheating!” but the Honeybee didn’t think so, carrying on until she was halfway round the muddy field before reappearing again – giggling all the while, deeply amused at her own antics.
The kids, however, were plucked off one by one by one, left to pout, frozen in place, on their smaller legs as Aithne tagged them, while the older individuals rampaged – and with those participants as blockades for Calypso, she could decide whether to unfreeze fellow imps, or let them remain as barricades and barriers to Aithne ‘s current reign. A difficult choice, especially as Melita had begun to sneak around once more.
--
Aithne has tagged the kids, but they’re barricades between herself and Calypso. Melita is using her invisibility on and off to be a twit.
there's so much time for me to speak up, but i keep quiet
It works out well – the children kind of becoming a barricade. But it wouldn’t do them much good if Aithne managed to tag all of them. Smirking slightly as Caly watches the events unfold and the two of them chasing after another. The attuned kicks up mud as she continues sprinting, taking the moment to take pity on her barricades and tries to sneak up around the other side of where the Ancient is continuing ot tag people.
In her dash, she tries to unfreeze as many of the kids as she can, feet sticking a touch in the mud as she continues to bolt through, snickering slightly to herself as quietly as she can – finding that she is actually quite enjoying this game.
