From being an Abandoned who had rarely left the Hollowed Grounds, to embracing the call of adventure, to dying and being reborn first as an Ascended and then as an Ancient, Maea has gone through quite the amount of changes in her life. One thing remains common, though, in her attempts to find out just where she belongs; she’s always had a craving for knowledge which has brought her to so many places and to meet so many people here in Caido. We can’t wait to see what else is in store for her!
Congratulations, Maea!
Credits
Court of the Fallen was created in October of 2018 by Odd, Honey, and Crooked.
Skinning and hosting by the epically talented Kaons, and functionality fanciness by the coding magic of Neowulf. If you ever see either of them around, make sure to show them some love!
The excitement of revelation and new discoveries easily drowns out the trepidation she had felt when staring down the doorway alone. With Wessex and Rexanna at her back, both powerful Ascended women in their own right, she doesn't fear what lies beyond. She was the squishy human of the bunch, she needed the closest thing to bodyguards she could get if she had to face some sort of monster hiding in the depths of the Queen's house.
Wessex eagerly - or as eagerly as the woman could get - gestures for her to proceed, and Evie rips the door open with one last heave at the ancient, stubborn thing. The dust within makes her eyes water, but not enough to conceal the excitement as she takes in the secret room that opens up to them. They all stride inwards, taking in the size, the placement of random items that catch her eye.
Of course she is instantly drawn towards the books, blowing off the dust with a whoosh of air and trying to read the faded titles on the spines. Evie can't help but be curious what lies inside, especially with the little spy-hole in the wall. Secrets? Gossip? Something more sinister? Turning to the pair she smiles, feeling accomplished with what they have all collectively achieved. "It could be a good secret escape route too, it seems like it follows the outside of the house. Or just a hideaway!" She prayed it would never have to be used for such things - especially if Wessex didn't put in an external door to preserve the secrecy of the room. The idea of busting through the walls physically to escape someone definitely didn't seem appealing. But, well, the Queens of the Grounds didn't seem to have much luck in their ruling.
Well. The existence of a room purposefully for spying makes Wessex think she’s absolutely chosen the right place to live. It’s perfect. Perfect for her silent feet and not needing to breathe, or eat, or drink. As the Queen inspects the room and its peculiarities, she begins to smile in satisfaction. And those books - who knows how long they’ve been here. She allows Evie to paw over them but makes sure the woman doesn’t take them out of the room. She’ll be back to read them later tonight.
“Very me,” Wessex jests when Rex points out the small skeletons. The seat of Ascended power (for now), complete with everyone’s real and imagined skeletons in the closet walls. And Evie’s idea has merit, though Wessex has a feeling she won’t implement it exactly as the younger woman sees fit. “Mmmm, a definite possibility,” she agrees in a very diplomatic and non-committed fashion. An escape route for her perhaps, a tunnel dug under the room to meet up with the cellar… she’ll have to look at the structure of the building to see if the foundations will support such a move.
But the sun is rising and Wessex is a tired monarch; she’s done more than enough in darker hours and her bed calls. Making much to-do of a yawn, Wessex goes to shoo the other two out (keeping an eye on the books, there will be no pick-pocketing here, thank you) of the room, and when they exit, she finds the bottle of alcohol left by the stairs. Presenting it to Evie, the Ascended says, “I found this in the cellar. It’s probably well-aged alcohol and all that I can offer right now in thanks. But you’re welcome to it.” And then to Rex, as Wessex takes her hand and squeezes it, hoping her sister will be a familiar presence in its halls once its rooms are restored and in the kitchen in working order. “Bed time for me, I'm afraid. Thank you both for helping.”
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This PQ is finished! Wessex has a house/seat of government!
WESSEX
come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts unsex me here
She gives Wessex a knowing nod in response to the skeletons, slinking over toward the books and the rest of the room with interest. But after a bit of looking around, she too finds she’s tired – and could likely use a shower after ushering the bats out the window from upstairs. She’s thankful when Wessex suggests it before she has a chance to – and she watches as the Queen offers Evie a bottle of old alcohol, a perfect gift in her opinion.
And when Wessex turns her attention to the Penumbra, she gives her sister a bright smile, squeezing her own hand back gently. “Mhm, I agree with that!” She concludes as well, shooting a glance toward Evie with a slight fanged smile. “It was nice meeting you. Enjoy that for us.” She teases with a wink before she slips out the manor and heads home before the sun has a chance to fully rise and cause her all sorts of messy problems.
Though Evie is curious about the books, she's just as easily distracted by the invigorating secrecy of the room, eyes cast about in survey of its hidden options. Still, she knows they are all tired, she perhaps more than the other two in their Ascended glory. Trailing behind them as they all exit through the narrow passageway, Evie pulls cobwebs from her ginger hair and stifles a yawn that makes her eyes water.
The distraction of Wessex presenting a bottle to her makes her eyes widen, an instinctive smile appearing as she receives the bottle into her hands. It's clearly well-aged, and though not much of a drinker, Evie is certain she'll enjoy the exquisite drink. Cheeks perhaps a tad pink at the gratitude displayed, she tilts her chin in deference to Wessex and pulls the bottle closer to her breast, afraid of dropping it.
"Thank you, this is more than enough. I was happy to help." Though the labor wasn't exactly exciting, it brings Evie a certain sense of accomplishment to help others. Especially those she wished to know better in the first place. With a grin spared for Rexanna as well, she releases one hand to give a small wave goodbye. "It was nice to meet you as well," she assures, and with one last wave for Wessex she follows the Penumbra out into the streets, dawn hanging heavy on the horizon. Her sleep schedule will suffer a tad, but the bottle in her arms makes it worth it.
