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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!
Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.
The rain screams through the air again, Zavien's spine tensing before it passes along with the flash of lightning. It's been terrifying to listen to these past few weeks, jolting him out of sleep or startling him from deep thought - a surprisingly frequent occurrence lately. But with his biggest worry now alleviated, the rain is little more than a nuisance now.
For Sol, not so much.
The dragon dives from the sky, a flash of gold tearing down with a screech that's nearly as loud as the rain. But when he would usually find comfort in Zavien, his fear has him searching for the nearest human, which happens to be a woman walking the trail in front of them.
Spotting the mistake, Zavien gives a tug on the bond, waving his hand to draw attention. "Sol! Stop! I'm over here!" But his companion doesn't hear him before he's on the woman, shuffling between her feet with small rumbles and trills of unease. Even when he notices that the person he's cuddling up to is very much not the Dragoon, Sol doesn't bother to stop, his tail beginning to wag with something other than fear.
Grimacing, Zavien laughs and runs a hand through his hair. "Sorry. He's a little overly friendly."
03-15-2026, 05:53 PM (This post was last modified: 03-15-2026, 05:53 PM by Lyra.)
And there's a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you, dear Have I known you twenty seconds or twenty years?
The rain screams as it falls, setting Lyra's teeth on edge. Of all the weather from recent seasons, she has to admit that this is her least favorite. Memory mud she can handle. The wildfires of Longheat were unfortunate, it's true, and she wouldn't wish them on anyone - but these weeping, wailing, moaning thunderclaps are ruining rain for her.
She winds up in King's End as a training exercise, but the weather seems to have deterred her, at least momentarily. She's having a hard time finding a shop that sells maps through the dim light of the drizzle, and she refuses to wander out into the wilderness of King's End without access to one.
A shout is the only indication that something is coming, and then a golden streak is winding between Lyra's legs. Startled, the woman looks down to find that a dragon has inexplicably appeared. Stuck somewhere between laughter and concern - clearly it doesn't like the scream rain any more than she does - Lyra kneels to say hello. A man who she assumes is the dragon's bonded appears, running a hand through his damp hair. "Oh, it's no trouble!" she assures him. "This is a much warmer welcome than I was expecting, what with the rain and all."
Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.
It's a good thing that this woman doesn't appear to mind energetic dragons with a need for attention. Still, Zavien rolls his eyes as Sol paws at her pant leg, probably expecting pets or treats for his efforts. "He has that kind of effect on people." Who wouldn't feel welcome when being looked at with the biggest, roundest golden eyes.
Chuckling to watch his companion beg so openly, he nods his head in official greeting. "I'm Zavien. This is Sol." He indicates with his hand to the wagging tail and fluttering wings, ready to intervene with jerky if she shows any signs of discomfort from his antics.
His head tilts, politely curious as he asks, "Are you visiting King's End then?"
And there's a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you, dear Have I known you twenty seconds or twenty years?
The dragon paws at Lyra's pant leg, drawing a bright smile from the woman as she crouches next to it. "I'm Lyra," she says, looking up at Zavien briefly before returning her attention to Sol. "It's nice to meet you both." Unfortunately, Lyra doesn't generally carry treats on her, and therefore has nothing to offer the friendly dragon. What she has instead are gentle pets, and she attempts to scratch the dragon's head and chin.
After a moment, she gives Sol a final pat and stands, dusting off her hands as she does so. "I am!" she says. "I haven't spent much time here, but I'm trying to learn more about the area. Any chance you know where I can get a map?" She glances around, as though hoping a shop will pop up at any moment. "I thought I had things under control, but all this rain has me a little turned around."
The air grows suddenly, oppressively still around you. Caught in the eye of a storm you didn't know you were in, you almost wish for the shrieking cries, for thunderous wails of unrest.
Instead, it's a mournful, keening sound that sighs overhead, like a voice too tired to scream any longer. More human, perhaps, than any other voice in the storm, you're nevertheless relieved when it's gone.
You have encountered one of the Scream Rain SE serendipities! You may use this to complete requirement 1. of the seasonal event. Please note: this serendipity CANNOT be used for levelling purposes.
Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.
Although disappointed at the lack of treats, the woman has an adequate scratching technique that Sol greatly appreciates. He tilts his chin up, angling it for her to his just the right spot that has his tail thumping into the ground while his companion finishes introductions. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lyra," Zavien says, offering a friendly smile.
His head turns to the path they're walking and points towards a hill. "The town is just up ahead: New Haven. They should have plenty of maps there." Considering she need a map to get around, he figures it pertinent to add, "But be careful if you wander - " The rain shrieks again, cutting him off in a blistering moment of horrifying weather. Zavien winces, Sol scrambling to tuck next to Lyra's leg with a reproachful glare at the sky.
When the sound dissipates and he can hear himself think again, he gives the woman a nervous look. "You might not be able to hear angry spirits in this rain, and King's End has a lot of graves and barrows. They take respecting the dead very seriously." As much as he doesn't want to frighten the woman, he's not sure it's a good idea for her to wander around without being aware of the risks. "Supposedly, the old caregiver still roams the sites. If she catches you where you're not supposed to be..." Pursing his lips, he says, "I'd recommend sticking to the path."
And there's a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you, dear Have I known you twenty seconds or twenty years?
Lyra follows the line of Zavien's arm as he points to a nearby hill. Fortunately, she hasn't gotten hopelessly lost in her wandering thus far, if the town is just over that way. But before the man can finish saying whatever it is he means to say, a shriek cuts through the rain, the wailing, moaning cacophony making Lyra's hair stand on end. Frowning at the sky, Lyra shivers. Not her favorite thing, that's for sure.
Once the sound dissipates, Zavien continues, though to Lyra's untrained eye, he looks a bit nervous. She wonders if it's the rain or the subject matter of their conversation. "Don't worry," she says, taking the advice seriously. "I don't plan to wander without a map and a little less rain. Certainly not with all this screaming nonsense." Pursing her lips, she tilted her head to one side. "Although, that does sound eerily similar to the story of the old lighthouse caretaker in Torchline..." She wonders if there's any truth to the rumors, or if the story has simply morphed through the tellings until it is unrecognizable from place to place.
Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.
Sol untucks himself from Lyra's leg as the wind and conversation resume. Her reassurance is comforting, and Zavien relaxes somewhat to know that she won't be wandering around the countryside alone. "Good."
He blinks at her comparison to a ghost in Torchline, curiosity painting his features in a new light. "Really? Maybe they were related." Or just have equally tragic stories. Considering how the Celestine Caretaker had also died, he wonders if it's a risk of the profession.
If only to find more similarities between the two, he explains, "One of the old Barrows caregivers was supposedly killed by a daemon when she wandered too far from the path." He shrugs his shoulders to add, "People claim they've seen her patrolling, attacking anyone who strays from the path. I guess she thinks she's helping them." But the terrified reports of the people suggest otherwise.
And there's a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you, dear Have I known you twenty seconds or twenty years?
At the mention of a ghost in Torchline, Zavien appears interested, and Lyra grins at the sudden curiosity. She's not much for ghost stories - she's not sure she believes in ghosts, to be honest - but she's heard a fair few. This one, about the Barrows caretaker, does little to deter her from wandering (once she has her map, of course), but it does have her looking around, as though she might see the patrolling caretaker if she looks hard enough through the rain.
"Interesting," she says. "Our lighthouse keeper was said to have jumped from the top of the lighthouse after a quarrel with a lover - although some versions of the story suggest he was pushed. Now he wanders the beach, chasing off young couples. They say he's trying to warn them against love, but I think he just likes to make a nuisance of himself," she adds with a wink.
Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.
The more Lyra speaks of the Torchline ghost, the less he thinks they're related, even if they do like the chase people. But something sticks out to him, his quiet laughter brighter in the rain. "How come so many stories have to do with love?" Love is a powerful emotion. Perhaps it could push people to extremes, but it seems counterintuitive for something so light and positive to end in such dark violence.
"I find it hard to believe ghosts don't exist, but I understand when people are more inclined to believe that it's a disgruntled outcast or pranking teenager. Because who wants to worry about being stuck here when they die?" He'd been happy to accept his own death. Some people may have regrets, but he pities those who are so consumed by the unresolved emotions that they risk being trapped in some in-between space, unable to move on or find peace.
And there's a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you, dear Have I known you twenty seconds or twenty years?
Lyra joins in the laughter, a wry grin on her face. Love is something that she has experienced in spades, although not, perhaps, the romantic variety. A mother's love for her children is something else entirely, though, and that, she has felt more times than she can count. "I know, right?" she asks, wrinkling her nose. Shrugging her shoulders, she added, "Maybe the ghosts are just mad about losing theirs - you know, 'if I can't have it, neither can you.'"
As for believing in ghosts, Lyra pauses, not wishing to offend Zavien by her lack thereof. She's never been on the brink of death herself, but she can't imagine being stuck here instead of moving on to Mort's halls. "It's sad, really," she says of the ghosts. "If they exist, and they're really stuck... well, maybe one of Mort's demigods could help them move on. I'd hate to be stuck for eternity chasing and terrorizing people - even if the intention is good."
Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.
He doesn't agree with 'an eye for an eye' or passing on the cycle of trauma, even if they're already dead, but he can't imagine it's easy carrying that burden alone after so many years. His head tilts, an understanding smile on his lips. "No wonder they're mad. That's a depressing way to live." If being a ghost can be called 'living.'
If anyone could free them from their fate, he supposes Mort's demigod would be a smart choice. "Good point," he agrees. "I wonder if Remi would be able to. Maybe it would be as simple as putting them to rest, but I wonder if they'd be able to find peace like that? Or if they'd require a resolution of some kind?" There are certainly logistics to consider about the condition of the soul and how they would move on, but he doubts Lyra wants to stand and talk to him about that.
Laughing, he looks to where Sol has finally trotted back to his side, watching Lyra closely. "Sorry, I shouldn't be holding you up with talks of ghosts."
And there's a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you, dear Have I known you twenty seconds or twenty years?
The question of ghosts and how to be rid of them is certainly not what Lyra would consider her problem, but she can't help but muse about it anyway. At least, she carries on the conversation until Zavien seems to offer her an out. "Oh, no, you're fine!" Lyra laughs. "But I am eager to get out of the rain." Which, now that she mentions it, is coming down in buckets.
Turning in the direction Zavien had pointed her, Lyra smiles towards the man and his dragon. "Thanks for the directions. It was nice to meet you and Sol. Maybe I'll see you around sometime." Once they'd said goodbye, Lyra continues on her way towards New Haven, hoping to secure a dry place to sleep and find that map she's been looking for.
