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!
It's all gotten a bit ridiculous now, and while you know very little about fighting fires, you do know about saving animals. And grabbing at it as if it were some baseball or other sporting-sphere tossed into a crowd to be fought over is fairly ridiculous. But then, you're on fire, so you've got to deal with that first.
Using your earth magic to tug at the soft mossy and moist soil within the ground, you try and smother that which lingers on you.
"Given its elemental nature, it might be plausible that its life is tied to those flames. If you want to save it, you might rethink what you're doing." Or, think at all. "Communicating with each other rather than running around and obfuscating efforts might prove useful as well."
You glance towards Kai and offer him a sooty smile. Turning towards the luxere you realize that it likely doesn't understand you, and so you try and soothe it in other ways: by creating the illusion of a wave of fire. You mean for it to splash over the creature that will likely be comforted in its own element. The ground beneath it hopefully licks happy flames that will make it feel grounded and less out of control with all these idiots around.
Oia offers commentary from the peanut gallery, and then uses mastered illusion to make a wave of fire wash over the luxere and then splash around its hooves to try and calm it down using its own element.
i think i'll pass on the summer
don't wanna fall for it this time
there's no time to be bored in a world such as this
Wow, humans are really quick to jump into action in the most chaotic possible way, aren't they? You manage to get a good number of the plants out of the way, so hopefully the fire won't spread as fast, but before you have a chance to calmly approach the luxere there's a woosh and people are running past you and everyone is moving very, very fast.
So you back up toward Oia, tilting you head curiously and observing the people. Your twin makes sense - she usually does - but nobody seems to be listening, so you simply nod along, patting her gently to remove any lingering flames. "It's prolly gonna get scared from all the commotion an' water," you comment, feeling somewhat overwhelmed yourself.
For now, though, you just observe, not really sure what action would be helpful. Besides, this is a great opportunity to watch the communication and coordination of the human-animals - or really, the lack thereof.
Kai steps back and puts out any remaining fire from Oia. He observes everyone without taking any action.
Neron had showed up because he had promised to stop any wildfires in the Hollowed Grounds. Now this was technically the Greatwood, and really he could just leave, but there were a few issues with that.
First, the luxere were all but a revered species in Halo, and it would be a sad thing to see one perish like this.
Also his brother was grabbing it and it was on fire. For fuck's sake.
Neron redirected his efforts to the Mathair and the surrounding area, hoping to create a barrier of ice that the flames couldn't spread over.
Neron continues to try and abate the flames, creating a barrier of ice to prevent them spreading further.
legends are slippery little things. for the glory that coats them
hides the pain, suffering
It was a frenzy – and before they could even contemplate action upon action, flame and screams and anything else associated with the notions, there was a corresponding shuffle of movement and more chaos. At the first note that the fire’s rampage was tied directly to the deer, potentially to its existence, he sighed, calculations amongst the uncertainty rolling and curling through his mind. Perhaps the action had been taken care of for him in his predilections and scrutiny, bedlam and mayhem striking out over, and before long the luxere was either caught and snagged by others, or likely terrified. The fiend wouldn’t be surprised if there was some other assault from its elemental range after all of this. Zuriel offered some sort of compassionate nicker, but it likely wouldn’t have mattered over all of the other noise and actions.
So he clenched his jaw, aiding where he could, bending his fire manipulation techniques in hopes of smothering the blaze intertwining along the Mathair, intending to avoid more calamity and contortions throughout the Greatwood.
--
Deimos tries to control the blaze along the Mathair.
There are more successful efforts to douse the fire, each one leading to another bleat of pain and unhappiness from the little spark. Loren's water, Jigano's beetles (RIP), Neron's ice, Deimos' control- each one lessens the hungry spread, but you have to wonder at what cost?
Perhaps Oia's illusion and Jigano's soothing would have had a greater effect, were there not those who reached for the ember, trying to take flame into their hands and risking smothering it in the process. Loren lunges, and Wessex teleports - but not before a wicked arrow arcs out from the trees, striking her squarely in the left side of her chest with a marksman's accuracy. The woods seems to whisper with unseen voices, and the Wraith may pick out some small figures in the foliage, their expressions furious and hard. You were told not to come here, Ascended Queen.
Of course the luxere is surrounded by fire, and throwing yourself at it will only serve to burn. Moreover, no wild animal responds well to being grabbed. With a panicked scream the little luxere lets out a burst of fire, catching both Loren and Wessex. And though the scale does indeed take Wessex into the place between portals, causing her to vanish, it does nothing to move the fiery fawn. Trying to grab it will only leave Loren's arms covered in burns.
As though compelled by the luxere's panic the fire roars and strikes out harder. It has already retaliated against Loren and Wessex, and now more flames lash out like whips, striking Oia'i'o and Abasi as well. The others remain untouched - for now - and the Mathair appears generally unfazed as the shrub around it burns.
Loren, Jigano, Neron, and Deimos succeed in lessening the fire.
Wessex is hit by a Fae arrow! They do not want Ascendeds in the woods!
Loren and Wessex are badly burnt trying to grab the luxere.
Oia and Abasi get hit by the fire.
The flames seem to be responding to the luxere's emotions and actions.
You have 48 hours to reply. Please summarize any action your character takes at the bottom of your post. Please remember that you may withdraw your character at any time, however if you do so they will not receive credit for this drop.
Alright, running at the fiery luxere had been a bad idea, especially as a wave of fire washed over him and burned him. The scent of burning flesh and hair filled the air as pain coursed up and down his arms. He ignored it as he came to a stop and backed away slightly from the scared animal.
Then he tapped into his summoning magic.
A phoenix exploded into being. He sent it slowly towards the panicked luxere, trying to envelop it with comforting wings of fire. Regardless of whether or not it succeeded, he would order it to turn around and start flying slowly away from the Mathair.
The summoner made sure his voice was low and soothing as he spoke to the panicked creature, the way he would’ve spoken to a spooked animal back when he was a farmer. ”Hey, it’s alright. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. You’re alright. You're gonna be alright. You like fire, right? Why don’t you follow the nice phoenix?” With that, Loren made a gentle shooing motion. If the luxere responded positively, he would continue attempting to coax it away from the Mathair through a combination of his phoenix and his words.
Loren tries to lure the luxere away with calming words and a phoenix.
It was chaos all around - flames and the screaming Luxere and too many people trying too many things to solve the problem. Abasi's own hands on the Mathair's trunk seemed to do very little so after a moment he stepped away, trying to turn and look into the woods for an idea; falling back as the flames reached him and his legs automatically tried to stumble away.
Peering about from his position tossed on the ground, he was mystified as to why no one was trying to kill the beast that was so ruining the landscape. To him it seemed that the answer was to slit it's throat before it could burn anything else, to take the antlers and find a way to use them for their flames later. Yet, no one else thought the same way, apparently.
Doubting he'd be able to fight with the many trying to save the Luxere (his own Loren among them) to impose his own viewpoint, he instead tried to focus on keeping himself alive throughout this ordeal. Closing his eyes, Abasi pressed his hands to his burns and focused, trying to use his healing magic to mend at least some of the damage.
---
Abasi tries to heal himself using his basic healing magic!
legends are slippery little things. for the glory that coats them
hides the pain, suffering
Bedlam, mayhem, descents into conflagrations and madness; the more they instigated, tried, or strived, the worse it seemed to become. Zuriel tucked herself close to him, soft nickers still extending, attempting to be soothing, noble, mythical creature desperate to convey dulcet, calming things to another f the same ilk; but the Sword’s eyes were on the multitude of flames bursting from the luxere, from the panicked screams, from the wounds likely mauling on Wessex and others.
Perhaps it was time to attempt something else.
While he sent Zuriel off to see anyone who required healing, the beast conjured his fire manipulation once more – but in a different tact. Instead of smothering or diffusing the situation, he simply attempted to maneuver the flames elsewhere, away from the Mathair, away from brush, away from anything else yearning to be engulfed. Intending to draw them together like a shield, like a ferocious, unwinding force, he aimed to insinuate them around the luxere; as if to calm, pacify, and soothe (not that he would know any different; not a creature of such contortions or creation, meant to devastate and plunge). He wasn’t certain if that would make things any better or any worse, but it was worth the effort.
--
Deimos attempts to manipulate the fire away from the Mathair, and instead of smothering, diminishing, or dousing it, tries to maneuver it around the luxere as a way to soothe or pacify it.
He sends Zuriel over to anyone who requires healing.
As someone who had not yet tasted the flames surrounding the luxere, Neron was feeling confident in his actions thus far. Yes, the creature seemed to be hurting, and yes that was a shame, but ultimately the forest could not be left to burn. (Later he would realise, of course, that the Greatwood was not the Hollowed Grounds, and he could have let the mother tree incinerate freely).
For now though he dug deep, growing his icy wall and attempting to curve it, creating a domed shield against any creeping fire. "Loren, that phoenix is going to cause more damage, surely!" he called.
Neron grows his ice wall into a domed shield against the flames and sasses his brother.
dont know where the lights are taking us but something in the night is dangerous
At least she can’t feel any of the damage.
When the Snake Guardian scale takes her to the in-between of the portals, Wessex refrains from returning to the Mathair, choosing instead to go to the Grounds and seek faster healing from the Voice for her multiple injuries than her nanites could probably accomplish.
--------------
01-19-2020, 05:31 PM (This post was last modified: 01-19-2020, 06:49 PM by Jigano.)
Between Deimos's fire control and Neron's ice wall, Jigano hoped the Mathair would be safe enough. It didn't seem to be in any greater danger than it had been before, at least, and if he wasn't careful Neron's ice wall was going to trap him inside it with the tree. A quick look around showed Kai's sister looking a bit worse for wear, and it seemed a good time to focus on calming and healing. Trusting Loren and Deimos with helping the luxere's fire gather around it - indeed, it looked as though there was even more fire than he'd thought, with waves of it flickering at the little one's hooves (if only he knew it was illusion) - he escaped the ice wall and approached Oia'i'o, offering his hand to the woman who had tested the companions' bond. "I can offer Healing for your burns, if you would like?" If she accepted he would use Mastered Healing to help her.
For what it was worth, he continued to send soothing thoughts and emotions to the little luxere through his Beastmaster ability, sending thoughts of warmth and safety and hoping to combine efforts with the others to calm it down and let them figure out how to help it without sacrificing the forest to its fear.
Jigano offers to heal Oia'i'o with Mastered Healing (if she accepts) and continues uses his Beastmaster ability to try and calm the luxere with mental sensations of warmth and safety.
You flinch at the offered help, but then, your skin feels scalded and bits of your hair are still merrily singeing away. Nodding towards Jigano, you grit your teeth to endure whatever physical contact this will likely take. Living though is part of your job, insofar as it allows you to complete the rest of your obligations.
"They are so selfish." You mutter unhappily. "The luxere was fine before we all arrived. This woods can endure a bit of fire."
Playing off of Loren's idea though in a way that won't actually add additional fire, you create an illusion of a small herd of young fire-branded luxere. They frolick and buck, flames licking up their young thighs as they prance merrily about. One turns and calls to the luxere who has caught everyone's attention, beconing it to run and play with them.
Oia accepts jigano's healing. She uses mastered illusion magic to create 3 young fire-luxere romping around who try and get this luxere to play with them!
i think i'll pass on the summer
don't wanna fall for it this time
there's no time to be bored in a world such as this
You watch your twins little illusions fondly, following them closer to the luxerw with slow, measured movements. You're pretty good at interacting with frightened animals - it's kinda your thing - so you follow their lead, sitting on the ground a careful distance away, arms extended and hands upturned, not making eye contact at all.
If it wants solace in a physical human, you are there without complainant. If not, well, that's okay too.
Kai follows Oia's illusions and sits quietly, inviting the luxere to approach
The combined efforts of the group at last seem to quell the luxere's anxiety. It settles down thanks to the soothing presence of fire and friends and voices in its mind. The three illusion fawns in particular seem to catch its attention, its antlers brightening excitedly as it sees this facsimile of its kin.
It seems, for a moment, that all would be well.
Which of course means it will not.
The thing about fire is that it does not care about your intention. Fire is hungry. Fire consumes. Fire is so very easy to extinguish when it's small the way this little luxere is.
So can the fire be blamed for lashing out, striking at those who tried to hurt it?
Maybe Neron's ice wall sets it off, or maybe it can sense Abasi's murderous thoughts. Perhaps it knows it is about to be claimed, chained, bound to another soul, and this is the last hurrah as it were, the final outcry of its wild, frozen heart before it is, at last, contained.
And oh, what a hurrah it is. The fire blooms in incandescent brilliance, lashing out with whip-like tongues to slap and slice at those who remain. It is a final burst of utter glory, a spectacular inferno that leaves the observers singed or seared in equal measure. Only Jigano remains untouched as the mystic fire lands its final strike before subduing as quickly as it appeared, dissipating into the ether and leaving only the little luxere in its wake, ready to be bound to one of you, a soulmate for the remainder of your life.
But was it worth the cost?
For though the luxere follows the illusions toward the one soul that has won its heart, making a beeline for the oft-burnt Oia and pressing its nose into her hand, all is not well. In the wake of the excitement, in the ashes of the fire, one figure does not rise from the dust.
Never quite adapted to this world, Abasi will nevertheless leave it too early, his body covered in blistering welts, letting off the acrid aroma of seared hair and singed skin. He who had ever worshiped death will find himself soon in Ludo's embrace, and when Abasi breathes his last it shall be a familiar face that meets his consciousness, taking him to that distant rest the undertaker so wholly deserves.
Wessex has left the drop!
Deimos, Oia, Kaimana, Neron, Abasi, and Loren are all struck by the fire and Abasi is KILLED.
For not fighting the fire Kaimana and Oia earned +1 in the drop. For soothing the luxere Deimos, Oia, Kaimana, Jigano, and Loren earned +1 in the drop.
FINAL HP
Deimos: 189/196
Oia'i'o: 38/50
Kaimana: 46/54
Jigano: 340/340
Neron: 58/75
Abasi: -4/26
Loren: 79/140
Congratulations to the above characters for completing this drop! The luxere has been calmed and the fire stopped. If you were listed above you've earned credit.
Unfortunately Abasi has taken a fatal amount of damage. He may make one more post in this thread before dying.
