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!
my whole life is mine, but whoever says so will deprive me,
for it is infinite.
Despite the recent eruption and Ascendeds' less than stellar reaction to fire and heat, Amun found himself hiking up Apopo with Bastien and Rexanna in tow. It had been a task and a half convincing the other two to join him on this excursion, but he'd managed. It had helped when he'd revealed this was a task he'd gotten from the Voice directly.
After waiting for night to fall, he'd led the other two up the slopes. The damage from the eruption was still evident, but in this particular case that was going to help them. Thankfully, they didn't need to breathe, and no one sane was venturing up this far.
Stopping where several streams of lava had obviously flowed before being dropped into the earth, he halted. There was a pack on his back and two pickaxes looped onto it. Shrugging it off, he deposited both on the ground. "Let's get on with it then." With that, he grabbed one of the picks and headed a short distance away from the other two, though they were still within earshot and sight.
Raising his right hand, he pointed it a short distance away from him. He fired one of his flash bangs, on the off chance it might dislodge some stone. However, it proved ineffective and just announced their presence to anything nearby. Hopefully it would be a deterrent. Sighing, he hefted his pick. Then he swung in a practiced stroke, breaking off a chunk.
With his and Rexanna's weakness and the baby on the way, Bastien had been hesitant to agree to this mission. In some ways it seemed foolish to go to a volcano that had only just erupted when he knew that they were both weaker - Amun had told them this was a job for the Voice though, so under very strict conditions he had agreed: it had to be at night, and if anything dangerous came their way, he and Rexanna were going to run and leave Amun to work things out for himself. He could not risk himself or his love right now, when so much was on the line.
At least their lack of a need to breathe and improved physical ability meant the hike was less of a pain than it might have been and before long it seemed Amun had found what he needed. For the moment Bastien just watched from a distance, waiting to find out what it was he was being expected to do here. It seemed Amun had it under control.
We're aware they're trying to take away our dreams
sometimes we break so beautiful and you know you're not the only one
i breathe you in so sweet and powerful
Agreements had been settled, and already she was exhausted – perhaps a bit complain-y considering the fact that she’s the Queen of the Hollowed Grounds and still manages to find herself wandering in Torchline when all she wants to do is curl up beside Bastien in their large bed and rest and talk the night away. But it’s for the Voice, at the end of the day, and she begrudgingly hikes with them, perhaps a bit more bitchier than she usually was.
Finally, finally, they reach wherever it is and Rexanna sighs quietly. “Oh thank the Voice.” A quiet murmur under her breath as she pauses, recouping, verdant gaze following the flashbang as it moves, watching as Amun hefts the pickaxe. And well? She’s really not interested in helping out with wielding it – grabbing a bag and slipping up behind where Amun had been to gather the pieces that come off of it.
my whole life is mine, but whoever says so will deprive me,
for it is infinite.
Honestly, Amun was surprised by both Bastien and Rexanna. Pausing in his swing, he glanced over his shoulder at the two of them. "Alright, out with it. What's going on with you two?" Shaking his head, he swung the pickaxe again, breaking off another chunk.
"You're tired, you're irritable, and refused to help me until I told you it was the Voice's orders. Not exactly the support from the family I was hoping for." Strangely, his tone was far too upset for their reluctance.
He'd channeled a bit too much of his annoyance, anger, and sorrow into his swing and managed to shatter the piece of rock he was aiming for. Growling, he turned to face another chunk and swung at it less vigorously. "I know why I'm upset, because someone very, very close to me just died and I'm still mourning her. Yet I'm still doing what I can. What's your excuse?" This time, he actually broke off the chunk he'd been aiming for.
When Amun began his tirade Bastien raised an eyebrow and heard it out, unable to at first believe what he was hearing. They had traipsed up a mountain for him when they were clearly tired, and he had the nerve to speak like this? Looking to Rexanna for just a moment to make sure she approved of his calling this out, he stepped forwards.
"We are tired, we are irritable. You didn't think to ask why though, did you?" He shook his head. "How dare you complain about our family when you haven't even bothered to think why your fellow Ascended might be weak? Me and Rexanna are making a sacrifice for something very important to us and we have chosen to help you. Be grateful or I will walk down this mountain right now and leave you to do it all yourself, Amun."
Grumbling he leaned forward to help Rexanna hold the sack, but it was clear he wasn't happy about the work. "I am sorry about your friend. But don't take out your mourning on us."
We're aware they're trying to take away our dreams
04-08-2020, 04:41 AM (This post was last modified: 04-08-2020, 04:41 AM by Rexanna.)
sometimes we break so beautiful and you know you're not the only one
i breathe you in so sweet and powerful
Oh how Amun didn’t quite know where to pick his battles, so it seems. All she can do is quietly roll her eyes at his response, muscles clenching in her jaw as she refrains from lashing out at the fellow Ascended – her brother of a sort – while he goes on his tirade. And when Bastien turns to look at her with just as much bewilderment at the outburst let alone the frustration within that look, her chin dips in a swift nod – reaching forward to pick up the piece that had fallen off.
And gods how she loves this man. But of course, he hadn’t been too specific, and she isn’t quite thinking when she goes to add to it, despite the approving and loving look she sends back toward Bastien. “The Voice took some of our power.” She explains, though her tone is flat and full of exhaustion before her verdant gaze flits up to try and capture Amun’s attention with all the precision their race is wonderful at. “We’re expecting.” A tilt of her head as if it was all the explanation required, a cock of her brow as if she dared him to argue with her and Bastien about it.
my whole life is mine, but whoever says so will deprive me,
for it is infinite.
Amun rolled his eyes at Bastien's protests. Once again, the potter found himself swinging his pickaxe with almost wild abandon. At least this time he didn't totally shatter the rock he aimed for, just broke off a smaller chunk than he'd been intending. "Considering I haven't really seen or spoken to either of you in over a season, don't give me that bullshit about family. Plus I thought you would explain to me why you couldn't do this if it was a problem for you." However, he went entirely still.
Forcing calm on himself, he took a deep and unnecessary breath. "Sorry. I'm not at my best these days. And thank you." As the Queen began to speak, he turned to face her. Frowning at the word expecting, he raised his eyebrows. "What are you talking about?"
Then, as comprehension dawned, his jaw dropped. "You're having a baby?!" A stupid grin spread across his features. "That's incredible!"
Bastien opened his mouth to respond to Amun's further bickering, but then the man seemed to purposefully calm himself and step back; Bastien swallowed his words too, not wanting to fight when he didn't have to. As much as the tiredness and irritability that had been laid upon them desired an outlet, he knew it wouldn't be productive to let it out on their Ascended brother.
Besides, it seemed when Amun actually realised what was going on, he was happy enough for them and a reminder of what they were actually doing all of it for made Bastien smile in turn. "We are, yes." Leaning over to put an arm around Rexanna for a moment he squeezed her close. "The Voice is creating us a child using a combination of our energies. She says we can expect the baby sometime in the middle of Deepfrost." A winter birthday: fitting for a baby that would come to be from mechanical means.
Letting go of Rex and holding out the sack for Amun, he adopted a more sombre expression: "...Which friend of yours has passed?"
We're aware they're trying to take away our dreams
sometimes we break so beautiful and you know you're not the only one
i breathe you in so sweet and powerful
She very pointedly ignores Amun’s tirade until the realization hits. He was mourning, they were irritable. It was a bad combination of everything. Still, he reads between the lines Rexanna has given, a soft exhale of sound leaving her as she picks up another small piece of rock to add to her bag, mulling over how to reply to that and the bright charming grin that crosses his face. Bastien picks up the response easily, however, and she stands to nestle in beside him briefly with the hug offered, before nodding in agreement.
Rexanna picks up her bag once more, moving to pick up a few stray pieces that might have slipped off while Bastien asks, Rexanna’s gaze flickering up toward Amun with some hint of sorrow and sadness glimmering within her emerald eyes. “I’m sorry Amun.” She offers quietly – too wrapped up in her own exhaustion to think to have asked about it.
my whole life is mine, but whoever says so will deprive me,
for it is infinite.
Now that everyone had (hopefully) revealed the explanations for their bad moods, Amun was feeling much less irritable, and more than a bit guilty. Bending down, he picks up the rock he'd broken off and puts it in the bag Bastien was holding. "Congratulations. That's....well it's literally a miracle." Again, he grinned, more than happy to celebrate this with his Ascended kin.
However, that happy expression was wiped away immediately when the other man asked who the potter had lost. Swallowing, he turned back to his work. "Maea." Swinging the axe, somehow controlling it even as his features contorted into a mask of grief, he broke off one more stone. "We...considered each other family."
Bending down to pick up the stone he'd secured with his latest efforts, he added it to Bastien's bag as well. Then Amun grabbed a few smaller pieces and slipped them inside as well. Straightening up, he slipped his pickaxe back into its holster. "The Voice didn't say how much rock to collect, but I think that's plenty. I can carry it back." An olive branch of sort, after his previous outburst.
"Yes, well..." Bastien smiled, but tried to tamper his excitement, remembering what the Voice had said. "We are hopeful and expectant, but nothing like this has been tried before - we must wait to see what the result is." Of course, he did not know of Osozo, the 'child' the Voice had made from absolutely nothing, not even the energy of her Ascended; he assumed their child would be the first Ascended not brought from a living being already.
Bastien stood with the bag and tried to give Amun a sympathetic expression, though he had never met Maea one on one or been especially close to her he knew she had been well-liked by many around her. "I am sorry, Amun: perhaps you could put up a lantern for her at the festival." It was a season of mourning at the moment at least: an appropriate time to feel this kind of pain, if there ever was one.
He was not going to argue with Amun carrying it back and gladly gave over the bag, rubbing his arms. Normally the weight would hardly have bothered him, but in his exhausted state it felt like carrying the entire volcano in the bag. "What is this rock for, anyway..?"
We're aware they're trying to take away our dreams
sometimes we break so beautiful and you know you're not the only one
i breathe you in so sweet and powerful
She lets Bastien speak to the comment of their child, finding nothing else to add that her husband hasn’t covered. So she focuses instead on the mention of Maea, dark brows furrowing as surprise and sorrow crosses along her face. “Maea?” She repeats, lips curling into a frown as she folds up her bag and remains crouched before the rocks they work on.
“She was considered a friend to me as well.” Though the last time they’d spoken, she’d rescued the girl from the scorching sun of LongHeat, given her food, played with magic with one another before she’d gone on her way. “Is there anything we can do for you? To memorialize her other than a lantern?” She asks, wanting to help Amun in whatever way she could.
And she grows silent again when Bastien asks what it’s for, tying off her bag and preparing to heft it over her shoulder.
04-11-2020, 09:02 PM (This post was last modified: 04-11-2020, 09:09 PM by Amun.)
my whole life is mine, but whoever says so will deprive me,
for it is infinite.
Still grinning at Bastien and Rexanna, Amun nodded in understanding. "Let me know if there's anything I can do to help, either before or after." It was a genuine offer.
"I'll put up a lantern. And I'm already planning to make a memorial for her in Torchline." He took a deep (and unnecessary) breath and let it out in a sigh. "But thank you." Having trouble mustering up the requisite gratitude, he smiled sadly.
Unfortunately, there was nothing the other two could do to help the potter with this other than give him time.
Shoulder the packs with ease, he gestured for the his fellow Ascended to begin making their way down the mountain. "The Voice told me these items would help her make a shrine in Torchline. Like the one we made in Halo." With that, he began to escort Bastien and Rexanna down Apopo and, hopefully, through the portal without incident.
