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!
My heroes had the heart to lose their lives out on the limb
Light spilled from windows into the blue twilight, illuminating a light snowfall that had begun to cover a dormant garden. The Guardian's Treehouse had been decked out in lanterns and wreaths, a line of torches guiding visitors away from the main road, up the winding stairs and in through the front door. Warmth was the first thing greeting the guests, as lit candles, lanterns and fairy lights combined with a roaring fire in the hearth banished the season's chill. Every square inch of the room within had been scoured, cleaned and decorated with evergreen wreaths, lending a festive air to the open space. In the new workshop upstairs, a dance floor had even been prepared. While small and as of yet unfurnished, the hired troubadour struck up a merry tune whenever someone stepped inside, and the fireplace kept the space just as comfortably warm as the rest of the house.
On the dining table, a feast was being set out. The hostess was not known for her cooking prowess, so the dishes remained modest in nature; but there was plenty of it. Hearty venison stew and mushroom soup sat alongside a tray of flaky hand pies filled with juniper-spiced boar. There was a green salad with kale, apple and walnuts tossed in honey vinaigrette and a mound of fresh bread pulled from the oven, alongside crocks of butter, berry preserves, syrups and other dressings. With young mead and fruity cider and fresh spring water spiced with mint and cinnamon to wash it all down, and dessert still baking in the oven, surely there was something for everyone, so that no one would leave hungry.
It was a celebration of the past season's bounty, and of her decision to put down roots in this house, in this forest, together with Liam. For the longest time Maea had wished to share her joy with the people she cared about, and now was the time. Bustling to and fro in the kitchen dressed in a cozy knitted dress of midnight blue with embroidered chamomile falling from one shoulder, she greeted any new arrival with a warm smile and open arms.
"Welcome! Thank you so much for coming - make yourself at home!"
And for every new guest, a candle was lit within an arrangement set out on a side table; a nudge of magic applied in honor of the guests, and to confirm to herself that she really could do more with it than hurt and destroy. Had all the food not been prepared with the aid of her flames? Was it not a source of joy, and warmth, and beauty? Thus she would celebrate her magic, too, if in a quieter, more personal way, this evening.
----------
Welcome to Maea's belated housewarming event! Anyone she knows or have met will have received an invitation and plus one's are also most welcome. There's food and drink to go around, so make yourselves at home!
Emotional Perception | The user can read surface level emotions of those within a 15 foot radius. Control is moderate. Note: "Surface level emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
Type: Grey | Rank: Upgraded
Emotional Telepathy | The user can read deep emotions of those within a 5 foot radius at will. Control is excellent. Note: "Deep emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
Type: Grey | Rank: Mastered
And I can still see it all In my mind All of you, all of me Intertwined
Liam was - perhaps unsurprisingly - the first guest to arrive, bearing a basket of goodies that he rather hoped Maea would enjoy: packets of herbal teas, a few different kinds of coffee, some hot chocolate, a couple of matching mugs, and some candles of varying scents were arranged artfully on a bed of Deepfrost greenery. While the soldier couldn't take credit for the arrangement itself, he had chosen each of the items specifically to appeal to his partner, and he was eager to see how she would react to the gift. If only he had finished his quest before she'd decided to host a housewarming gathering! But alas, he hadn't been able to do so, and so a nice basket would have to suffice for now.
Entering the treehouse, Liam spotted Maea and called out a greeting. Setting his basket down on the first open space he could find - somewhere he hoped was out of the way enough as to not interrupt the festivities - he shrugged off his coat before rolling up his sleeves. "Anything you need help with, love?" he asked as he approached to steal a kiss. It might not be his house yet, but with as much time as he and Maea spent together, he rather thought that he could help with anything she needed.
I once believed love would be Black and white But it's golden
Liam
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Liam.
Nova bursts into the room like a shooting star, streaking across to claim Maea in a brutal hug. Glitter puffs in her wake to mix with the bits of starlight trailing her vibrant, rainbow flannel dress with silvery threads woven in. The sleeves billow when she moves to embrace her friend, leaving no room for escaping the affection. "Maea!!" She holds tight, giggling as she gives a small bounce.
She doesn't acknowledge Liam at the woman's side when she leans back to get a proper look at her, gasping at the chamomile flowers. "I love your dress! And the space is so cute!" Her eyes roam the room, taking in the twinkling lights and abundance of greenery. It's not her choice of decor, but at least there's some color and a blissful lack of black. Still, she grins as she steps back, giving a small twirl in the space. "But I'd love to make you some curtains to liven up the place! Maybe something cream or lacey?" When her blue eyes turn to the Ancient again, they're brimming with excitement, a sort of childish glee at getting to design something.
I drift in, feeling typically out of place at a party—though less so here in the woods. I grew up out in the wild with my parents: an apartment here, a cabin there, a tiny almost-cottage, camping under the stars. I’m in a simple flannel a little too big, well-fitted pants tucked into my boots, and a big jacket. The soft light and pretty clothes hit me and… yeah. I’m very, very underdressed.
Shit.
My cheeks burn. I want to melt into the shadows like my mom can…but no. I wanted to be here. I heft the gift in my arms: a huge, fluffy, inexplicably heavy blanket. Mateo showed me the basics last season; I stitched this one—simple, black, sturdy.
I clock Nova (thank gods, more flannel—even if she makes it actual glitter-art), and the man from the hunting trip whose name I never got (what's he doing here?). But Maea stands out—pale and lovely in that dress.
I stride over and greet her warm. "You totally undersold the treehouse—this is amazing," I say, and then I offer the blanket, awkward but earnest. "I made this for you. Two layers for LongNight. The weight’s from sand sewn into the inside in little pockets in the inside layer." I rub a thumb over a seam, a thumb I'd pricked too many times while trying to finish this in time, nerves slipping out as a grin. "My mom made me one like it. I don’t sleep better than under that kind of weight. I thought… new home, good sleep."
A beat; I glance down at my flannel, then back up. "If the plain black isn’t your thing, I can add trim later. Or—" a quick flick to Nova, "Maybe Torchline's best designer can make it something to look at."
Theea
dreams of a brighter day
Force and magic can be used against Theea without permission.
bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones.
You've encountered the OG random event! This allows you to skip one levelling requirement with the character in this thread. (Unfortunately does not count for characters over level 10, how sad.)
Damien paused at the bottom of the stairway, boots crunching through the kind of snow that wasn’t quite Halo’s. Softer here, muted by the canopy and lantern-light. Aria bounded ahead, pale fur catching the glow as she leapt two steps at a time, tail flicking with curiosity. He followed at his own pace, a small bundle wrapped in cloth tucked carefully under his arm.
Inside, the warmth hit him first. Too many scents, too much brightness. A feast that could have kept a Halo household through the better part of Deepfrost spread across the table, laughter and chatter filling the rafters. Damien shook snow from his shoulders and paused near the threshold until the prickle of instinct eased enough to step forward.
He set the bundle down with a practiced care, peeling back the cloth to reveal a wooden box no bigger than two hands. The grain was smooth under his thumb where he’d sanded it clean, the lid snug to the base, lines sharp from a steady knife. Around the edges, simple carvings ran in bands: evergreen boughs, a curling line of snowflakes, a small flame in one corner (some details are cleaner than others, as he is not the best at it). Not art for art’s sake, but enough to catch and hold the eye.
“House looks good,” he said, his voice carrying toward Maea as she turned from another guest. “Figured you could use somewhere to keep things. Whatever you don’t want lost.” He didn’t explain the carvings, or why the flame sat alone against the plain of wood. Just left the box there on the table, plainspoken as always.
Aria, less restrained, was already weaving her way through the crowd, nose twitching at stew and cider before darting toward a familiar figure. She nosed at Theea’s boot, then reared up against her leg with a soft chuff, demanding attention. Damien’s mouth twitched at the sight, the faintest ghost of a smile.
Aria (snow leopard cub) is always with Damien unless stated otherwise.
Nova steps away to make room for Theea, but she doesn't go far, watching the presentation of the simple blanket with interest as she pops over to the table of foods. She's immediately stuffing her face with warm bread slathered in sweet berry preserves, but her ears perk at the suggestion of designing something, her eyes widening to something near comical as she bounces in place. "OOOH!! I'thd lub tvo!" The words come out warbled around the food, but there's no joking in the way she looks at Maea for permission to glamify her new blanket.
She only gets distracted when a fluff of white is at Theea's feet. Nova washes down the giant bite of bread with some cider before moving to crouch next to the creature with a small gasp. "You're so cute!" Her arms wrap around her legs, reaching out a hand in hopes of touching the soft spotted pelt. "I love your fur! You'd make a very cute coat!" Not saying she'd hurt it, but Nova would love to shave it replicate its coloring and texture.
