What do you get when two ruthless assassins raise their daughter travelling through the wildest reaches of Caido? Take one look at Theea and you'll get a pretty good idea. Cheerful and tenacious in equal measure, and curious beyond all else, she began her journey on a mission to find those her mother once called family. And find them she did, soon rubbing elbows with demigods, leaders and even ghosts from the past. Her determination is resolute, her thirst for knowledge unmatched. We can't wait to see where her next adventure takes her!
Congratulations, Theea!
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!
06-09-2025, 06:54 PM (This post was last modified: 06-09-2025, 08:28 PM by Odd.)
// And it's our time now if you want it to be //
"I didn't realize how cool the desert could get," Koa murmurs to Zavien as they walk through the pre-dawn chill, the grey light casting long shadows ahead of them. The clear sky promises a radiant dawn, but they've sill got some time before the sun appears, time Koa intends to take advantage of to better avoid the crippling summer heat. He reaches up to run fingers through Pipsqueak's fur, relishing the warmth of her body on his neck. Both are on high alert, two sets of eyes scanning each horizon for any sign of their prey.
The team he's assembled is one he trusts implicitly... or, well, most of them are. Zavien, of course, has become one of Koa's best friends and most trusted comrades; he glances at the other man, head jerking in a nod as their eyes briefly meet. And as mercurial as she may be, Melita is as fine a fighter as Koa has ever known, the Honeybee having earned his respect long before they became friends.
And then there's Astaroth. A wild card, the Ancient is nonetheless highly recommended, and had proven himself to Koa in their last shared fight. Plus even if he had any lingering misgivings, it's too late to switch the party out now: he has to trust the crew he's assembled, 'cus it's the one he's got.
They've stopped at an outcropping of stone, taking advantage of the protection it offers to do final checks on their gear. "Okay. Everyone set?" Koa asks as he tightens his bracers over his wraps, adjusting his rings and scale shirt and glancing over his team, his hand raised to shield his eyes as he cranes his neck to spot Mel in her ship. "Pip, scout ahead. Stay high, and if you see anything dangerous you come right back, okay?" He brushes a finger over the wyrm's nose, a silent warning for her to keep herself safe sent down the bond before she takes off high into the cloudless sky. "Remember, we play it safe and smart. Don't rush in. Support each other. Communicate. If you're hurt, back off to the Firecracker to heal. Let's show these fuckers the mistakes they've made, thinking they could take over our continent."
KQ to cleanse the Void from Hak Etme! The participants are Koa, Zavien, Melita, and Astaroth. It's a bit before dawn, so not too hot yet.
Pipsqueak is scouting ahead. She's staying high to avoid being in range of anything on the ground, and will retreat if she spots anything sus in the air.
Items
Type: Light | Style: Offensive | Level: Basic
Static Electricity | A ring that when worn adds lightning damage to whatever item is held in that hand (or to an unarmed strike).
Type: Grey | Style: Defensive | Level: Basic
Mothman Scale Shirt | A soft, lightweight shirt made from the scales of a slain mothman. Blocks Physical damage and downgrades incoming Upgraded dark magic to Basic level. Can be used 1x per thread.
Type: Grey | Style: Other | Level: Upgraded
Taijitu Boxing Wraps | When landing an attack on an enemy (via an unarmed strike), may EITHER cause Upgraded Damage to the enemy, OR may give Upgraded Healing to the user.
Type: Grey | Style: Defensive | Level: Mastered
Starlit Bracers | Bracers that when activated extend the movement of the user's hand to 15ft total. Includes effects from items/weapons.
Type: Dark | Style: Offensive | Level: Mastered
Gravitine Band | A ring made out of dark starlight that inflicts gravity damage on a successful hit.
Regional Score bonus: +1 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +1 should be included). Residents cannot be cursed at shrines in this region.
Koa
// Maul the world like a carnival bear set free //
Skip a levelling requirement (100x the requirement level. Skipping a requirement at level 2 costs 200, at level 10 costs 1000)
Skipping a req for level 4
Skip a levelling requirement (100x the requirement level. Skipping a requirement at level 2 costs 200, at level 10 costs 1000)
Skipping a req for level 4
am i the wolf or the savior? is my smile too sharp or just my teeth?
He doesn’t mind being the wild card in this little gathering. In fact, he expects it, but they all have a shared goal. Asta, with the quiet thrumming vengeance over Thalassa’s infection leads him to think that striking out at the void in the ways that he can are better than nothing. So he arrives with the rest of them, the heat of the desert not a concern for the Ancient, and yet he still wears white to ward away any heat. Flexible clothing at odds with the usual finery he typically wore, but he wants as much movability as possible.
The cane clicks against the sandy ground as he joins the group, both hands resting on the crest of it as he looks to Koa when he speaks. “I am prepared.” He confirms, flashing his too sharp smile and an incline of his head to the rest of those arrived (Zavien and Melita), tail sweeping low by his ankles before he looks past their little gathering point, rolling his shoulders to loosen him up.
Astaroth arrives with everything in his profile.
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Mastered
Revivify Feather | Can bring a character back from the dead so long as it's used within 24 hours of their death.
Type: Grey | Style: Defensive | Level: Upgraded
A pocket mirror that when placed on the ground duplicates the user's appearance exactly. Duplicate cannot speak or leave their place and appears as if the user is simply standing still. Lasts 2 rounds in combat. Must be picked up to be re-activated.
Type: Dark | Style: Other | Level: Basic
Crow Charm Bracelet | A braided leather bracelet decorated with the feathers of a gore crow. It contains all of the emotional trauma sustained as a result of Astaroth's interactions with corvids. If the bracelet is broken or removed, all of the emotional consequences and damage will return to Astaroth instantly.
Type: Dark | Style: Offensive | Level: Basic
Threaded Cane | A metal walking cane which, at the press of a button, breaks into conjoined shards to form a serrated whip. The range of the whip is 10ft. Should the cane be used as a weapon on its own, it will only ever do Basic damage.
And for the Citizenship Abilities in cases anything comes right out at them >.>
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.
"It's definitely colder than I've felt it before," he agrees. Zavien shifts the light layer he wears over his leather armor, checking the straps for the millionth time before tipping his cowboy hat reflexively. His hand tremors slightly, but he slows his breathing, latching to the companion bond as Sol trots diligently next to him. There had been no convincing him to stay behind, especially after his recent 'successful mission,' but Zavien can't find it in him to be upset. His nerves are wound tight, scanning the dark horizon for dangers in the early morning light.
He still gives Koa a subtle nod in return, doing his best to disguise the fear of losing his friend in the coming fight. His eyes pass briefly over the Ancient, having not met Astaroth officially before today; however, if Koa trusts him enough, he's willing to do the same. It helps that there's a determination in his eyes along with a calm steadiness that he suspects will carry into the chaos. Next to Melita's fiery unpredictability, he notices that they have quite the variety of characters. With any luck, it would only improve their effectiveness and cooperation.
Following the others to the rocky outcropping, he crouches to check his straps again then move down his arms to the various bracelets and rings, ensuring everything is ready and in place. Letting out a heavy sigh, he nods his head. "I'm as ready as I'm going to be." Which honestly feels like very little.
Zavien levels his gaze on his own companion, making sure the golden dragon sees as much as feels how serious the situation is. "Sol, follow Pip's lead and don't get into trouble. Only scouting." He lets out a little grumble but seems willing to do what the older dragon does and quickly takes to the skies. The Dragoon watches him leave before turning to the group, his green eyes narrowing. "No risks. We watch each other's backs, and we all make it out of this." Unlike last time.
Not wanting to think on that, Zavien does his best to smile, shooting Melita a thumbs up for encouragement and signal that they're ready when she is.
Zavien arrives with everything on his profile in addition to Lena's staff - which he has placed on Melita's boat - and a bag of basic travel supplies (food, water, rope, first aide, a dagger, etc). He ensures his cuff is activated and all armor is in place.
Sol flies ahead with Pip to scout the area, staying alert and high enough to avoid attacks from the ground, with instructions not to engage any suspicious activities.
On boat:
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Upgraded
Healer's Staff | A wooden staff that continues to bloom and grow leaves despite having been separated from its mother tree. Capable of delivering Upgraded Healing to one target.
---
Type: Light | Style: Defensive | Level: Basic
Dragon Shield Bracelet | A shield contained within a golden bracelet shaped with a dragon's head clasp. Blocks magical damage at a Basic level. May be used 1x per thread.
Type: Grey | Style: Other | Level: Basic
Starlight Cuff | A leather cuff intertwined with threads of starlight that when activated, extend the movement of the user's hand to 5ft total. Includes effects from items/weapons.
Type: Light | Style: Offensive | Level: Upgraded
Starblade | A sword that glows with inner starlight and burns on contact.
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Basic
Golden Healing Ring | A golden ring capable of delivering healing via touch.
Type: Light | Style: Defensive | Level: Basic
Leather Armour | Leather armour capable of blocking physical damage. Can only be used 1x per thread.
---
Regional Score bonus: +1 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +1 should be included). Residents cannot be cursed at shrines in this region.
Mastered Item:
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Mastered
La Verbena | A personal skyboat (schooner) capable of travelling at 2x wagon speeds over most types of terrain. Can accommodate 2 people onboard during flight.
they should have checked the ashes of the women they burned alive
Melita arrived entirely on her own, and didn’t mind at all. It gave her a few moments to gather herself, to compose, to unfurl the sails and listen to the segments of breeze wafting through. Conquering the desert’s insipid infection had been one of her goals. It had gone on for far too long in its infested state, and with everything warping, shaping, and configuring to a finer point, there wasn’t much time to spare or lose.
She’d packed a few necessities within the Firecracker as they drifted overhead, including a rope ladder for either evasion or tactical purposes (she could see several of the men she was with either launching themselves wholeheartedly over the side, or just not even thinking about it), the borrowed healing staff, and an assemblage of bandages, canteens, and of course, her range of weapons bagged away and ready. Fangorn and Sila weren’t there though – she’d seen enough risky endeavors with companions to avoid the precariousness.
Not privy to the conversation though, she could only give a thumbs up to the gathered below, waiting out the signs of the desert, the impending arrival of something looming and dangerous.
--
Melita flies overhead with the Firecracker. She has the healing staff on her boat, as well as a rope ladder, canteens, bandages, and her weapons. Everything else listed on her profile is with her (except for her companions).
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Mastered
Firecracker | A personal skyboat (schooner) capable of travelling at 2x wagon speeds over most types of terrain. Can accommodate 2 people onboard during flight.
Regional Score bonus: +15 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +15 should be included). Residents cannot be cursed at shrines in this region.
because it takes a single wild ember to bring a whole wildfire to life
The desert gives no warning save for silence—eerily absolute.
Then the ground shudders.
A tremor rolls across the sand in a low, guttural growl, distant at first but rapidly growing in strength. Loose grains of Hak Etme’s white dunes leap like startled insects, cascading down the outcropping where Koa’s team is gathered. Far above, Pip and Sol will see it first: not a figure, but a disturbance—the earth itself shifting in rippling concentric circles, like raindrops in a puddle. Except this puddle is an endless sea of sand, and something beneath it is moving fast.
And then—
The fin.
Jagged, obsidian, and impossibly large, it slices through the desert surface like a blade through silk. Cloaked in shadow and glimmering with residual voidlight, the massive dorsal fin cleaves a path toward them, kicking up plumes of dust and static-charged grit. Pip’s warning cry crackles across Koa’s bond just as the fin begins to tilt—
The desert explodes .
With a roar of air and sand, the Abyssal Leviathan breaches. A vast, void-slicked body bursts from beneath, more suggestion than creature, its silhouette riddled with writhing distortions of darkness and fins that seem to fold and reshape midair. It crests sixty feet from the outcropping, its maw wide enough to swallow a wagon whole, rows of teeth spiralling into nothingness.
And just as fast—it crashes back down, slamming into the earth with the force of a falling star.
Sand surges outward in a blinding cloud, and for a moment all is lost to the choking roar of its return to the subterranean dark. Only the heavy, vibrating quiet left behind tells them:
The hunt has begun.
Welcome to the Key Quest. This is a very hard Level 8 Key Quest to try and cleanse Hak Etme.
Remember to include a summary at the bottom of your post with all action taken. If weapons/upgrades/abilities/items/shifts/etc are used, please include their desc. from your profile at the bottom of your post as well.
REMEMBER: KQs are rewarding but dangerous. They may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters.
Abyssal Leviathan (Rare/Mythical - The Hollowed Grounds, Hak Etme): The subterranean lair of the Land Shark echoes with void energy, transforming unlucky sharks into the Abyssal Leviathans. Rising from the depths with an otherworldly hunger, this creature now possesses a shadowy, void-shrouded exterior. Its hunts are not merely for sustenance but to absorb the essence of those it captures, bringing the taint of the abyss to the surface as it returns to its lair to sleep in the void's embrace. The land above quivers with the unsettling presence of the Abyssal Leviathan, a creature that bridges the realm between the subterranean and the void-touched darkness.
Mastered Item:
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Mastered
La Verbena | A personal skyboat (schooner) capable of travelling at 2x wagon speeds over most types of terrain. Can accommodate 2 people onboard during flight.
they should have checked the ashes of the women they burned alive
The landshark wasn’t a large shock to her. In fact, it seemed par for the course, an inevitable piece of the desert. Unbothered for the moment, and tapping the rope ladder over the side, she hollered down to the men below. “If any of you want to come up, now would be a good time,” there’d be enough room for them to motor upwards, and with the Firecracker up around ten feet, still a fair distance away and amidst the action simultaneously.
“I’m going to fire the cannons a little ways from the rocks – see if we can lure it up!” Or, at the very least, it might spring up nearby, instead of directly underneath those remaining amidst the sand.
With that plan in place, the Honeybee readied the cannon, aimed, then pulled the string, intending for the siege to hit and vibrate the ground around fifteen feet from the lads’ rock outcropping.
--
Melita yells some instructions and ideas to the group, then fires a cannon fifteen feet away from the rocks (where the rest of the group has gathered). The Firecracker is currently ten feet in the air.
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Mastered
Firecracker | A personal skyboat (schooner) capable of travelling at 2x wagon speeds over most types of terrain. Can accommodate 2 people onboard during flight.
Type: Dark | Style: Offensive | Level: Basic
Poprock Cannons | The Firecracker has been equipped with cannons. Curiously, they sound a bit like popping candy when they fire. Range: 10ft
Regional Score bonus: +15 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +15 should be included). Residents cannot be cursed at shrines in this region.
because it takes a single wild ember to bring a whole wildfire to life
Koa growls the last word under his breath, his eyes wide as he takes in the subterranean monstrosity. They'd thought about this as a possibility, but fuck is it infinitely more terrifying than he'd expected, all gnashing teeth and void ink and the promise of gleeful malice. But he doesn't have time to think about how scared he is; there's a fight beginning, and Koa a plan to enact. "Get off the ground!" he calls to the others, scrambling up onto a boulder of his own. "It hunts through vibration!" The last thing they need is their footsteps giving away exactly where they are.
Which leads to step two. "Pip, rocks!" The dragonet trills, swooping down to collect as big a rock as she can fit into her claws. Then she rises until she's fifteen feet beyond the boulders and thirty feet in the air, yeeting the stone down as hard as she can. The action is followed by an immediate retreat, the little dragon quite literally high-tailing as she takes off into the sky.
Meanwhile Koa looks to Zavien. "Ready?" he asks, waiting for confirmation before turning his eyes up to the sky. Reaching to that divine connection that hums like starlight within him, Koa tugs with an ardent prayer: "Safrin, My Lady, we could use your help! If you could trap this monster above the ground, I'd love to give it a taste of your power." A wicked grin flashes over his face as he rubs at the gravetine ring that vibrates in anticipation against his skin.
Koa climbs up onto a boulder to avoid creating vibrations with his footsteps, and co-channels Safrin with Zavien! They are asking her to immobilize the Leviathan above ground.
Pipsqueak flies 15 feet ahead of the rocks and 30 feet in the air, and throws/drops as big a rock as she can (approx football size) at the ground. She immediately flies tf away.
Channeling (Accepted) : Allows an Accepted to channel a herald/demigod/spirit during a time of crisis (2x a season). Can be combined with other accepted channeling to increase power.
Type: Light | Rank: Upgraded
Regional Score bonus: +1 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +1 should be included). Residents cannot be cursed at shrines in this region.
Koa
// Maul the world like a carnival bear set free //
Skip a levelling requirement (100x the requirement level. Skipping a requirement at level 2 costs 200, at level 10 costs 1000)
Skipping a req for level 4
Skip a levelling requirement (100x the requirement level. Skipping a requirement at level 2 costs 200, at level 10 costs 1000)
Skipping a req for level 4
am i the wolf or the savior? is my smile too sharp or just my teeth?
The sound of the ship arriving causes Asta to nod his greeting to the fiery woman within it - knowing her, perhaps, the most out of the rest of the trio he’s found himself with. His gaze flits to Zavien next, watching with a hint of boredom the he keeps masked behind the ever present shark-tooth grin flashed his way as he hears the soldier speak. A short nod is about all he manages before the ground shudders.
Immediately swinging his attention and narrowing his gaze, the butcher remains still for the moment, spotting the eerie black fin that juts out of the ground and races toward them. The grin turns sharper, more calculating, tracking its movement as it breaches the sand and everyone starts to move. Now, he knows that it’s both stupid and better for him to be on the ground, if only to have the maximum amount of room to try and hit this massive thing. And when it dives back down below, into motion they all go.
The information about the vibrations has Asta immediately noting it and making quick work of his movement onto one of the shorter, flatter boulders that makes up the outcropping he’d seen Koa climb up. Nestled on top of the rock that isn’t on the sand, he grips the cane tighter. “I will try to draw it up!” He calls to any of those who might be listening, before he’s utilizing the new magic within his soul.
The shadows around him warp and grow, extending harmlessly across the sand, growing larger until its claws can rake across the sand in the distance, hoping it’s enough to draw it up without taking out any of them.
Asta steps up onto one of the shorter boulders where Zavien and Koa are above, but remains underneath the outcropping they’re on. The shorter boulder is 1.5ft off the ground and he extends his clawed shadow out as far as he can reach (~30ft) to dig the claws into the sand to try and draw the landshark up at a 20 degree angle away from them so it hopefully doesn’t land on the outcropping if it rises.
Haunt (Ancient): Can distort their form and the surrounding environment within 30ft to reflect their most monstrous, primal self. Type: Dark | Rank: Mastered
Citizenship Ability:
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.
A lot is happening all at once. He feels Sol give the warning just as the ground beneath his feet begins to tremble, Koa shouting about Landsharks and vibrations, Mel firing off a canon. Zavien doesn't hesitate to jump into action, trusting his friend to know what to do. He follows him up the rocky outcrop, spotting the purplish-black fin in the corner of his eye - how easily it splits through the dirt like water. A shiver runs down his spine, but he doesn't stop, scrambling to the top to get a better view of the land and minimize his vibrating visibility to the monster.
Zavien sends his own commands to Sol as he climbs, instructing him to follow the same method as Pip: snagging a rock that he might use as weapon or distraction. Trying not to look down, the Dragoon watches the golden dragon flit over the desert just as a set of creepy shadow claws spread across the sand, digging bone-thin claws into the ground with the kind of threatening movements that leave him glad Asta is on their side. He doesn't have time to thank him, so he settles for an approving nod and a quirk of his lips.
Once he reaches the top, he takes a deep breath to clear his head then gives Koa a knowing look. Grinning, he unsheathes his sword, physically and mentally ready for battle as he calls on the herald. "Safrin, you heard Koa. Let's show this thing how powerful you are by stopping it in its tracks." It won't do them any good if they couldn't see or target the thing, so he prays Safrin answers in brilliant fashion.
Zavien joins Koa at the top of the rocks to minimize his footsteps then co-channels Safrin to bind/immobilize the Leviathan above ground!
Sol flies to sneakily retrieve a large rock (about football size) alongside Pip then flies back up and out of the way with plans to throw it next turn, keeping his eyes peeled for danger the entire way.
Channeling (Accepted) : Allows an Accepted to channel a herald/demigod/spirit during a time of crisis (2x a season). Can be combined with other accepted channeling to increase power.
Type: Light | Rank: Upgraded
---
Type: Light | Style: Defensive | Level: Basic
Leather Armour | Leather armour capable of blocking physical damage. Can only be used 1x per thread.
Regional Score bonus: +1 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +1 should be included). Residents cannot be cursed at shrines in this region.
Starlight blooms. It blossoms above them in the blank, yawning sky, unfurling in spirals like a new constellation being born. From the heart of it descends their goddess—not in fury, but in glory. Safrin’s form is resplendent, her silhouette wreathed in soft radiance, hair rippling in weightless waves, and her gown made of some impossible weave of stars and horizon light. She does not speak right away, but her eyes gleam as they find the two Dragoons. She beams at them—genuine, proud.
"Hello boys," she purrs, voice echoing with the hush of deep space. Her hand extends toward the dunes, fingers splayed, and the sky sings in response. The sand begins to shift—not from below this time, but from above. Tendrils of silvered starlight pierce the earth like spears through silk, threading into the abyssal dark. There’s a moment of stillness, of held breath—before the desert bursts again, this time not from the leviathan’s doing.
The Abyssal Leviathan rises, wrenched skyward by ribbons of cosmic force that wrap around its massive form. Shadowy voidlight coils and writhes, but it is no match for her. The creature is suspended—weightless, as though the gravity that once bound it has forgotten its name—hovering six feet above the dunes. Its limbs twist, thrashing against the bonds, but the tendrils hold fast, shimmering with a light that the void cannot consume.
"There," Safrin murmurs, casting a wink toward the Dragoons. "Now give it your all."
Safrin holds the leviathan above the ground roughly 40ft away from the group where it had been beneath the sand. It will be held there for 2 turns.
The desert reacts before the eye can confirm it—subtle, tremoring ripples fanning out from the Firecracker’s impact site. Melita ’s cannon thunders, the projectile landing short of her intended target and kicking up a small geyser of sand. Still, it’s enough. Beneath the dunes, something moves. Something massive.
The sand doesn’t settle.
Instead, it swells.
Pip and Sol, both too small and too swift for the chaos unfurling below, dive toward the ground with wings tucked. Their talons close around jagged rocks and grit-streaked stone, but there’s no time for more. Both dragons remain grounded—exposed on the desert’s surface, each one silhouetted against the grey-gold horizon as vibrations skitter along the dunes like spider cracks in glass.
Astaroth ’s shadows stretch like great black talons across the sand, raking through empty space with eerie elegance. The illusion is perfect—menacing, theatrical—but without the magic to disturb the ground itself, the Abyssal Leviathan pays it no mind. At least, not at first.
Her light is not warmth, but presence, immediate and immense. When her tendrils pierce the earth, the effect is near-instantaneous. With a groaning, suctioning wail, the desert splits wide once more—and this time, the hunter does not choose to emerge.
It is dragged.
The Abyssal Leviathan rises in a cyclone of sand and shadow, its slick, void-dripping hide coiling in protest. Long fins slap at the air, rows of impossible teeth gnash and twist, but the creature is held fast—suspended a full six feet above the ground like some great corrupted marionette. Silver starlight binds its limbs and coils around its vast neck, forcing its bulk to remain exposed.
It writhes. It thrashes. It screams—not in sound, but in thought. An oppressive mental pressure washes over the team, an oily sensation sliding behind the eyes, as if the beast is trying to fill their minds with panic.
Voidlight curls within its throat, the makings of a beam gathering with lethal intent. Its head twists toward the Firecracker, preparing to fire—until Safrin’s light lashes tighter, spiralling around its face. A brilliant flare snaps across its jawline as the starlight slams its mouth shut, cutting the attack off in a ripple of choked, sizzling void.
The creature screams—not in sound, but in thought. An oppressive mental pressure washes over the team, an oily sensation sliding behind the eyes, as if the beast is trying to fill their minds with panic.
But Safrin only winks.
Welcome to the Key Quest. This is a very hard Level 8 Key Quest to try and cleanse Hak Etme.
Remember to include a summary at the bottom of your post with all action taken. If weapons/upgrades/abilities/items/shifts/etc are used, please include their desc. from your profile at the bottom of your post as well.
REMEMBER: KQs are rewarding but dangerous. They may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters.
Abyssal Leviathan (Rare/Mythical - The Hollowed Grounds, Hak Etme): The subterranean lair of the Land Shark echoes with void energy, transforming unlucky sharks into the Abyssal Leviathans. Rising from the depths with an otherworldly hunger, this creature now possesses a shadowy, void-shrouded exterior. Its hunts are not merely for sustenance but to absorb the essence of those it captures, bringing the taint of the abyss to the surface as it returns to its lair to sleep in the void's embrace. The land above quivers with the unsettling presence of the Abyssal Leviathan, a creature that bridges the realm between the subterranean and the void-touched darkness.
Mastered Item:
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Mastered
La Verbena | A personal skyboat (schooner) capable of travelling at 2x wagon speeds over most types of terrain. Can accommodate 2 people onboard during flight.
they should have checked the ashes of the women they burned alive
Melita watched as her cannon didn’t quite go as to planned (which meant future upgrades in mind; should she survive this outing) – brows furrowing slightly, as the tremors began. Then there were motions from the men – channeling – and Safrin’s machinations unfurled, leaving the creature unearthed, and bound.
So now was their chance.
The beast’s frustration loomed and washed over her, but she couldn’t be dissuaded – not in these precious few moments. Narrowing her eyes as if that would help the concentration over the sudden and wearing mental fatigue, the Honeybee flew into action.
Giving a quiet little whoop, she loosened the sails and moved the Firecracker forward ten feet. Later on, and likely soon, she’d have to be very careful about the close proximity (she’d seen the gaping maw targeting her lovely boat), but for the present, this would have to be enough.
Thereafter, she grabbed hold of her bow and quiver, drew a favored fire arrow, and aimed at the beast, letting it fire and rain down in hopes of hitting and pummeling.
--
Melita moves the Firecracker ten feet forward towards the Abyssal Leviathan, and shoots a fire arrow at it (putting Melita thirty feet away from the monster).
Type: Light | Style: Offensive | Level: Mastered
Bowstring Bracelet | At first this bracelet appears only as a length of intricately braided bowstring, adorned with vinelike patterns and tiny, fanged charms. But with an arrow in hand, upon miming the action of knocking and drawing it, the user will feel a bow beneath their fingers, as if it was there all along.
Type: Dark | Style: Offensive | Level: Mastered
Fire/Lightning/Ice Quiver | A magical quiver with two compartments. In one, it turns any arrow placed within into a flaming projectile when shot. In the other, the arrow becomes imbued with electricity. (Made by Remi)
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Mastered
Firecracker | A personal skyboat (schooner) capable of travelling at 2x wagon speeds over most types of terrain. Can accommodate 2 people onboard during flight.
Regional Score bonus: +15 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +15 should be included). Residents cannot be cursed at shrines in this region.
because it takes a single wild ember to bring a whole wildfire to life
Koa lets out a gleeful whoop as Safrin drags the leviathan out of the earth, delivering it like a trussed turkey for the crew to attack. It's everything he could have possibly asked for, and his appreciation for his goddess has never burned so hot and raw, cutting through the oily sheen the beast has left on his mind. "Oh, fuck yes!" the young man grins, hurtling himself off his boulder. "Safrin, you're an absolute miracle!"
Now it's their turn.
Boots pound on the desert sand as Koa sprints toward the bound monster, skidding to a stop once he senses it's in range of his bracers' reach. Grinning fiercely, he winds his arm back, muscles tight with potential energy. "Time to taste starlight, fucker." The muscles release: he sends his arm swinging forward, aiming a gravity-enhanced extended punch toward the left eye of the monstrous beast.
Pip, meanwhile, has made a smart choice and flown up into the sky, though not so far that she can't feel Koa's mental pull. She still holds her stone, just in case. Never know when you'll need to throw a rock
Koa sprints toward the left side of the bound Leviathan. He stops when he gets within 15 feet and PUNCHES, aiming specifically for its left eye!
Pipsqueak flies 30 feet up in the air with her emotional support rock.
Type: Grey | Style: Defensive | Level: Mastered
Starlit Bracers | Bracers that when activated extend the movement of the user's hand to 15ft total. Includes effects from items/weapons.
Type: Grey | Style: Other | Level: Upgraded
Taijitu Boxing Wraps | When landing an attack on an enemy (via an unarmed strike), may EITHER cause Upgraded Damage to the enemy, OR may give Upgraded Healing to the user.
Type: Dark | Style: Offensive | Level: Mastered
Gravitine Band | A ring made out of dark starlight that inflicts gravity damage on a successful hit.
Type: Light | Style: Offensive | Level: Basic
Static Electricity | A ring that when worn adds lightning damage to whatever item is held in that hand (or to an unarmed strike).
ARMOR
Type: Grey | Style: Defensive | Level: Basic
Mothman Scale Shirt | A soft, lightweight shirt made from the scales of a slain mothman. Blocks Physical damage and downgrades incoming Upgraded dark magic to Basic level. Can be used 1x per thread.
Regional Score bonus: +1 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +1 should be included). Residents cannot be cursed at shrines in this region.
Koa
// Maul the world like a carnival bear set free //
Skip a levelling requirement (100x the requirement level. Skipping a requirement at level 2 costs 200, at level 10 costs 1000)
Skipping a req for level 4
Skip a levelling requirement (100x the requirement level. Skipping a requirement at level 2 costs 200, at level 10 costs 1000)
Skipping a req for level 4
am i the wolf or the savior? is my smile too sharp or just my teeth?
He grits his teeth as his shadows pull back into himself, watching as the leviathan is dragged out of the earth. The appearance of Safrin is one that he appreciates, coming down from the sky not unlike how she’d done so to heal him when he’d fought the void infected wicker woman. But this leviathan land shark was not a wicker woman. And that maw was one even his most horrifying primal self couldn’t come close to the rows of teeth settled into it.
Then, everything runs into motion. Arrows falling, Koa running toward it to punch it, and Asta? The butcher’s hopping off the rock to join the dragoon - kicking up sand as he gets into range. And all the while, flame sparks at his fingertips, illuminating the butcher’s bare hands once he’s tucked the cane safely into the crook of his elbow.
Looking up at the monolithic beast, the butcher aims and shoots, launching a white and orange, incendiary fireball at the menacing head of the land shark, hoping it hits with all the blazing anger thrumming through the butcher’s veins.
Astaroth runs forward to get within 30ft of the beast and shoots a fireball at its face.
Scorch (Ancient): Can generate and manipulate flames within a 30ft radius, pulling heat from the environment or their own body.
Type: Dark | Rank: Mastered
Citizenship Ability:
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.
