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!
As the trapped bird snapped at Alina’s spear, she danced back to a safe distance. When the woman called out to put the weapon away, the Fae glared at her. "It would be a mercy to put it out of its misery," she snapped at the dark skinned woman.
However, she did indeed lay her spear onto the ground. Of course, it was only to take out her bow instead. Knocking an arrow, she took to the sky, following the other Fae. Still keeping what the hunter hoped was a safe distance off the ground and from the trapped bird, she aimed her arrow at the bird.
She didn't fire yet, figuring that the goody-two shoes would attack her if she did. Instead, she kept it ready. If it attacked anyone else, though, she'd let the arrow loose.
Alina flies a safe distance above the L’ma and the pool. She readies an arrow, but will only fire if the L’ma attacks someone.
Things were getting chaotic and Oliver felt as though the behaviors of those around him would only make the creature before him even more stressed and upset. Seeing as people were approaching it and trying to grab at it, he chose to take a different approach. Why surround it and make it feel claustrophobic. Sure, it may want to get out of the water, but should everyone be crowding around it? That seems like a way to bring even more terror to the creature.
Instead, he chose to try and level with it, deciding his presence near it would only stress the creature out even more. He shifted down into his Leopard shift, choosing this over his fox one merely due to the worry of being crushed by everyone.
Taking a few steps forward, Oliver offered it a look of comfort, hopefully.
Oliver shifts into a leopard to try and make the L'ma feel more comfortable with a fellow creature!
So many people all moving in different directions and trying different things. Deimos created wings, but the fox didn't see how they could work to lift the great creature from the ground. Others tried to move it from the water, but he wasn't sure it wanted to be helped. That it wanted the sky, yes, but the remaining stubs of its wings would not permit that, and they looked as though they had been lost in ages past.
There was far too much activity and people getting into the water for his dragon form to cause anything other than more chaos just yet, but Evie slipped in to offer a Healer's touch, and that seemed the wisest course at the moment to him. Nosing Isuma back out of harm's away, Jigano shifted to his human form and then slipped out of the underbrush, shedding boots and tunic before hopping into the water and moving next to Evie with a nod of greeting. If the L'ma permitted, he'd try to touch it, drawing on his Healing magic to ease the hurts of body and mind while continuing to sing his soothing song through the Beastmaster ability.
Jigano shifts human and goes to join Evie in trying to Heal the L'ma of any physical and mental hurts his magic is able to affect, while continuing to sing soothingly to it through the Beastmaster ability.
It’s…. A lot. There are so many people doing things.
Wessex watches as the scene unfolds with water magic, water walkers, faux wings, and the aggressive fae (hey, that move looks familiar, threatening a mystical creature with a bow and arrow). She’s still rather useless when it comes to helping with magic, but an idea occurs to her and she winks out of sight, teleporting back to the Grounds. Once there, she commandeers the biggest sled she can find and brings it back with her. Making sure to land outside of the major crowd of people, the Wraith pulls it a little closer and quietly waits to see if the water and wings will be of any use. If not, she has option… D(?) with her.
Maybe they could pull the L’ma somewhere. If need be.
---------------
Wessex teleports back to the Ground to get a large sled in case none of the magic works or it ends poorly.
More and more show up, and Weaver supposes this is either a really popular place or the cry had been heard much farther than she’d have expected. Some of the faces are familiar, though most are not. It is Wessex who slides next to her, and Weaver nods to the woman with a smile. She is about to see if the demi-god knows what’s going on when a pulse of frustration hits her, and soon people are doing things. So many things. Someone suggests that it wants to fly and soon there’s magic flowing and people wading into the water and then Wessex just vanishes.
Well, okay then.
Weaver is not a strong swimmer (where would she learn to swim in Halo?), and so she doesn’t venture into the water with the thrashing creature. There are plenty of people in there already, and she isn’t sure any of their efforts are going to make anything better at all. Honestly, if she could talk to the creature she’d ask if it just wanted them all to go away and then try to kick people out. But she knows that’s no use.
Instead, Weaver tries to offer whatever calm she can to the L’ma, simply staying out of the way, sending good vibes (which actually turns out to be some minor healing that she hasn’t discovered yet, should it happen to have a few scratches from all that thrashing). Then Wessex, reappearing into existence with a large sled, catches her attention. Knowing there is nothing she can do to help with whatever is going on in the water, Weaver comes to join Wessex and the sled. ”Well, this is something,” she says quietly to the demi-god. She’d help with plan D, or whatever letter this plan would be, if she could.
---
Weaver uses her minor healing magic on the L’ma in case that helps calm it at all, and then goes to stand with Wessex and her sled.
weaver
-- ask no questions, and you'll be told no lies --
Or honey hope even on this side
of the grave again?
This is so far beyond Nate's sphere of experience that it's not even funny. Giant angry waterlogged birds seem like they'd be out of anyone's expertise, and yet people still try, spilling into the water and offering whatever they have. Even Maea reaches out, trying something with her magic he's sure.
Wessex seems to have some kind of plan, and with an utter loss about what to do, Nate moves towards her, offering a nod of greeting before settling in an waiting to see how the effort goes, careful to watch the people and not the creature itself.
Nate moves to stand near Wessex, prepared to help with her plan if need be, and watches the other rescue attempts.
And who could ask it to be sound
or to feel saved again?
But stick around until you hear
that music play again
"Mmm, so I've seen." Eloise chuckled towards Loren. As more and more and more begin to arrive, the illusionist huffs and unhappy breath, before fixing the summoner with a bright smile. "Tell you later, stud." She trills, before hopping into the water next to Ronin.
"Look at you, belly-deep in a new magical creature. All in a day's work, mm?" Crooked smile, Eloise raises her hands and concentrates. She creatures a complex illusion of clouds and wind, trying to lull the L'ma into thinking that, with their assistance, it is flying.
Eloise uses mastered illusion magic on the L'ma to make it think it's flying.
They already know what it wants. It wants to fly once more. Maea’s water lifts it a small amount, enough that the thrashing creature begins to calm, to let them approach without snapping at them. Jiao and Eloise’s magics are beneficial, the slight appearance of clouds beneath – but it can still feel the water along its body. It’s not enough, but it’s certainly a start. Arialla, Melita, Rance, Ronin, Harper, and Saiden are successful in getting the L’ma to shift closer to the shore.
Deimos’ wings land beside it, with a large splash, but enough that if the people that pull it to shore feel brave enough, the L’ma will let them attach it onshore.
But the creature is rather large, and the sled from Wessex would be beneficial if there were a way. Loren’s magic moves the water out of the way, and the L’ma hisses as it hits the rocks and sand beneath it. It croons, eyes those around it, before thrashing a small amount more.
It can see the shore, it can see the people awaiting it there. All it needs to do is get there. It croons sorrowfully in the meantime as it calms once more, allowing those nearby to move it.
The water is missing, making a path for the sled from Wessex. The L’ma wants to go to the shore, but is too large to get there without the water.
Libbs did not respond in time and is therefore disqualified.
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There were a mass of them helping, assisting, floundering through, maybe too much, maybe too little, maybe just a chord and mass of confusion. He landed again, pressed his talons into sand and shoal, pondering the state of wings and things. As the crowd seemed intent on hauling it to shore though, the water seemed to wane away – so he shifted back into human frames and figures, and called upon gifts of bloodlines, of stern mothers and quiet repose. Zuriel continued her soothing notions, uncertain if it was helpful, or lost in the gathering.
More water to flow, to maneuver, to allow it to come their way, intending for less force, less pressure, less strength to be required for everyone involved. Not enough to flood the area again, or to cause a great siege, but hopefully enough to get the L’ma where it needed to be.
--
Deimos tries to use his water magic to push the L’ma towards the shore.
under the bludgeonings of chance my head is bloody, but unbowed
It worked, if only a little. Raising such a large creature in the water was an effort, but the L'ma calmed enough that the ministrations of others was accepted, and for that Maea was grateful. Proud, even. She had helped, made the right call, done the right thing. Others chipped in too; Deimos with created wings, Wessex with a sled and Loren to create the path for it - she could overlook the way he ripped the water from out of her grasp, this time.
Seeing a semblance of a plan take form, Maea steadied herself and reached for the water with her magic again, meaning to assist Deimos in his intent. To let the creature ride gentle currents on to the shore, where others might get it onto the sled, might help attach those wings and maybe, maybe let this fallen denizen of the skies go home.
------
Maea attempts to assist Deimos in washing the L'ma ashore with more water magic.
Lost in a world full of non-believers Searching for smoke in a still water pond
BASE INSPIRED BY ODD <3
♦ Violence, magic, thievery is permitted with Maea at all times. DM me if you have any ideas ♦
As others use magic to coax the water, Amalia continues to reach out to the creature with her mind. Getting tacit approval for the wings, the otter swims closer to the drowning bird, taking the straps of the things in her claws. Jyoti, meanwhile, takes the other side into her mouth; together they nimbly swim around the creature, securing these new means of flight upon their fallen friends.
Tell me if this is okay, Amalia asks, reaching to the L'ma again with her mind. If there's anything else we can do to help - if there's anything you need.
Amalia and Jyoti help attach the wings to the L'ma. Amalia asks if there's anything else it needs, that they can help with.
02-11-2020, 03:26 AM (This post was last modified: 02-11-2020, 03:30 AM by Loren.)
LOREN
As his magic moved the water out of the way, Loren’s eyes widened. He honestly hadn’t been expecting it to be quite that successful, and he made sure to move it as far away as possible and keep it there. Then, however, he heard the creature’s crooning and he found himself moving towards it.
He laid a hand on its side gently. ”It’s okay. Don’t worry, we’ll get you to shore. I’m going to use some more magic, alright? Don't panic.” His words were as soothing as he could make the , the same way he’d speak to any injured or wounded animal, the tone more important than the words themselves. While he didn't know if it would work, he also pulsed reassurance and serenity through his mind, trying to reach out to the bird.
Then he tapped into another one of his magics. A dragon appeared, wings tightly folded into its sides so as not to upset the fallen and wingless bird. Gently, it tried to pull the giant bird onto the shore where the wagon waited.
Loren uses mastered summoning magic to summon a dragon to try to gently pull the L'ma to the shore.
look at how a single candle can both
defy and define the darkness
my whole life is mine, but whoever says so will deprive me,
for it is infinite.
Amun lowered his hand, blinking, as the water flowed away and the bird dropped to the ground. Apparently, his flash bang would not be necessary. Shrugging and grinning, he sidled up next to Amalia. "Come on, let's get it to shore first. Then we can worry about the fancy contraptions." He winked at the baker.
Then the potter moved to the other side of the giant bird. Taking a deep (and totally uneccessary breath) he gently slid his hands under and behind the L'ma. Bracing his legs against the ground, Amun pushed the bird towards the shore, where he knew Wessex was waiting with the sled she had brought.
02-11-2020, 03:36 AM (This post was last modified: 02-11-2020, 03:36 AM by Saiden.)
saiden
Saiden blinked at the water suddenly flowed away. Shrugging, he headed into the pool where the water used to be and the giant bird was now trapped. Reaching out with his magic, he sent a carefully controlled torrent of water to try and roll and slide the bird towards the shore.
Noticing with some approval the illusory landscape being created around the L'ma, his eyes sought out Eloise and grinned at her. Although his own efforts probably would be better served by just focusing on getting the birds out of the damn pool and onto the shore, he reached out with his paltry air magic again to try and ruffle the bird's feathers.
Saiden uses upgraded water magic to try wash the L'ma ashore. He also uses basic air magic to ruffle its feathers.
