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!
He examines the throwing knife that Kiada’s offered, and she settles back a bit in the seat – a sip from the wine once more. Her gaze lingers on him, on the reaction he might give as he thinks about what he could see himself using, and after a few moments, her head tilts a small amount once more as their eyes meet and he begins to speak. “Really?” A quiet prompt. “What made the steel special?” She asks, brows furrowing a small amount in her confusion.
But the comment of knights and whether they existed or not, has her snorting lightly in a small amount of understanding – recalling when she had been a child and wanted to be queen of something. A conversation with a friend while she was still young and vibrant, bloodthirsty and vengeful. ‘Do you wish to be a queen that’s loved or a queen that’s feared?’ and she hadn’t quite known the answer to that at the time.
Now, now Kiada doesn’t want or crave any sort of power in that regard. She’s focused too much on losing everything she’s ever gotten – afraid that she might fall through this world as she has the others as well. It’s hard to get attached. “It’s a good thing I know a few places we might be able to give you a shot at a variety.” She smirks to him, a huff of a chimed laugh leaving her lips. “Think on it and let me know so I can bring something back from the Grounds with me.” She offers, a beaming smile to him. She already plans on bringing her armor, her weapons, whatever other things she’d need to learn and train with. Adding a few more that the Grounders might be able to bring and practice with, too, wouldn’t be too bad of an idea.
and a voice cut from steel
features born from thunder and battle
KIADA
Kiada has a large X scar on the right side of her neck.
No permission needed for power play!
Feel free to use magic/force on Kiada, without killing her <3
"Magic," I respond with a grin, chuckling softly. "The stories said that the blades were forged in the breath of dragons and with magic folded into every edge," I offer an easy shrug as I too sit back and get comfortable. I let the memory of the stories linger in my thoughts, wondering if I was indeed living them, to an extent, now. I had heard in passing that there were dragons in this world too, and I knew there was magic - who knew the limits of possibility here? "It is said the steel is stronger than any other, able to break through any material, and even enchantments." They were still just stories to me, epic tales of love and disaster, of adventure and valiant knights and warriors rising up to defeat evil, of kings and queens rising and falling - but with Kia's reaction I realise perhaps there is something more behind these tales, at least in this land, such tales didn't seem so far away from reality.
"That is a good thing, and very generous - thanks," I am sure to keep my manners as I continue to find my feet in this world, at the mercy of everyone's generosity, I find myself feeling indebted to many. One day I would find a way to sufficiently return the favour, though perhaps if I were to follow the warrior's call, I would be able to do that through the strength of my arms, the accuracy of my shield or arrow. Or perhaps I would provide help in the way of medical assistance - or perhaps a blend of both.
"I'll be sure to let you know," I reassure her, smiling at the thought of future contact with the woman who was proving to be more and more interesting the more we converse. And to think, I had her picking up vegetables on the street!
"Are there any magical weapons in Caido?" I ask, curiosity bringing the thought from before back to the front of my mind, wondering if Kia had heard of such a thing before, or if her earlier interest was due to its uniqueness.
Magic. He says, and somehow it clicks. Remembering all the trinkets she’s had made due to magic. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that magic is what makes the blade so uniquely special that it can do everything Chulane says it can. And the realization causes a brighter smile to cross her face, a sort of… Clarity to her iceberg gaze as she bobs her head in agreement. “Interesting.” She muses, because it absolutely is, wondering subconsciously if Deimos could craft something like that for her at some point.
But there’s a knowing nod, a dip of her head in response to his thank you – finding unfair or unkind about it. As far as Kiada was concerned, the more people that were prepared in the event of failure of something, the more life would be spared, the more people protected because they knew how to handle the situation and beat the monsters that came after them. Still, the question rings in her mind – of whether there were magical items in Caido.
And her bright smile shifts to another feline smirk as she nods her head in agreement. “There is.” She chimes at first, pausing to take a sip from her drink, considering him once more as she focuses on what items she personally has. “I have a breastplate of armor that can shift with my attuned forms.” To protect the vital organs like her heart, after all, whether she’s herself, a vulture, or a caracal. “There’s also an item my guild has. It’s a cloak, but when you stand in the shadows you seem to disappear.” And my, how that had been fun. A worthy item, as far as Kiada was concerned.
“There’s more like those, but I haven’t heard of it being imbued into steel. A good idea, I think.” She offers with a bob of her head and another bright, winning smile, stomach and body warm with the wine and the heat from the fireplace within the sitting room.
and a voice cut from steel
features born from thunder and battle
KIADA
Kiada has a large X scar on the right side of her neck.
No permission needed for power play!
Feel free to use magic/force on Kiada, without killing her <3
Armour that can shift with her attuned form, a cloak of near-invisibility - I was living in a fantasy realm, no doubt about it. Fortunately, I was an avid reader of fantasy, and have engaged in many a Dungeons and Dragon campaign, and so as long as I could relate the information I learned here, back to something along those similar veins, I think I would cope alright. I had so far, after all.
While I hope there is little need for me to possess such items, I feel it would be foolish to go without them, to assume that a simple healer's life would be sufficient. When playing Dungeons and Dragons, a healer was always needed, but they were expected to pull their own weight along too, and contribute to more than just replenishing a character's HP. And so I easily donned the idea that that is exactly what I would be - a field medic, a healer who could defend himself and those who needed it, but also heal the wounded.
While I specialised in animal care on Earth, I had a feeling that my attention would be pulled to the healing of various humans in this world. Who knew, though? Many had companions here, and I wondered if pain inflicted to one bonded affected the other - yet another question to store away for another day.
"Perhaps it is something we can research. I was a scientist before, a doctor, though primarily I cared for animals, I hope that my knowledge can be applied to this world in some capacity." I offer the information easily, perhaps also explaining why the world of weaponry and combat was so utterly foreign to me. "This world has so much to offer - hopefully one day I'll find a place in it for myself."
There were a variety of other magical items as well – ones she had seen but hadn’t quite gotten as her own. These were just the ones that she knew worked. Ones that were within her possession, things with her name written right on it. Well, perhaps not literally, but close enough. And with it, she focuses on him as her smile softens a bit – a gentle addition to give him her full attention while Auni begins to snore beside her, antlered head bumping against her leg as he sleeps.
“Perhaps so.” She agrees, leaning forward a small amount again to focus on him. “Ah, it’s no wonder why you knew the way to Auni’s heart, hm?” She teases, nose scrunching a small amount as she offers a chime of a laugh. “I don’t imagine it’s too different, from animals to humans, is it? We are animals too are we not?” A raise of her dark brow toward him with the question before she settles again.
He tells her that he hopes to find a place in Caido for himself, and it’s so endearing that Kiada can’t help an almost softer, more personal smile granted his way with it, a gleam to her eye that seems to suggest that he absolutely would if she had any say about it. She doesn’t, but gods how she wishes she does. The fact that someone so… Kind, ended up here, spoke volumes to the imbalance she feels when she thinks on the blood on her hands.
Perhaps when he finds out about that, he might look at her in a different light. Today, however, is spent with wine and good company, and she tries not to let the darker thoughts flicker over her face. “You will.” She says instead, before looking toward the glass that’s nearly empty, momentarily before Auni begins to snore a bit louder. “Oh, you should know as well, but if you’re shifted and you take a blow that might be deadly, it won’t kill you. You’ll shift back into yourself… In pain, of course, but it certainly beats being dead.” A small tidbit in case he found himself in trouble.
It absolutely couldn’t hurt.
and a voice cut from steel
features born from thunder and battle
KIADA
Kiada has a large X scar on the right side of her neck.
No permission needed for power play!
Feel free to use magic/force on Kiada, without killing her <3
The thought of having something specific to research gave me purpose, a vision, a target to aim for and achieve. It was what I needed, what would get me through this transition to this new world - I wanted to know all I could about it, and yet sometimes that was casting too broad of a net, reeling in too many answers that I overloaded the little tugboat that was my mind. Enchanted items were interesting enough to garner my focus, and another thought crossed my mind - would the potential to hold healing magic within an item exist?
Cue mental images of me dressed as Gandalf with a badass staff, driving away a dark curse that had taken a noble king of the realm.
Yeah, I was going to have to learn more about this.
"You're not wrong," I agree with a soft laugh, "though sometimes animals are easier to diagnose - they don't have egos and pride that cause them to hide their pain." It was a trait humans evolved with, really, so that they did not appear weak to things that would hunt them - and I knew that, scientifically. And I knew I was just as prone to it as most humans - I still preferred to treat animals over humans, however.
I feel like Kia is as hopeful as I am for being able to find a place within this world, and a warm emotion blossoms within me at the thought that I might have the beginnings of a support network, a friend who would help me get there (wherever there is).
Then she drops an absolute bombload of information at me and I cannot help the surprise that causes me mouth to fall agape and my eyes to simply stare at her, my amazement quite clear.
"For real?" I ask after my thoughts have enough time to catch up with my body and make the talking function start working again. "That's… that's incredible!" My hands fly up to grasp my head for a moment as I try to steady the flow of thoughts that have accelerated through my mind, trying to puzzle out the full impact of her words in as little time as possible.
"Wow," I summarise, as I process the implications. "Wait -" a realisation hits me amidst all the other tidbits of information, "- have you experienced that?" I refocus my icy gaze upon her, a brow lifted in genuine, almost concerned, enquiry.
“That’s true.” Kiada agrees easily, a light laugh leaving her throat with the idea of it. If animals could talk. The closest that she could get was with Auni, being her companion here in Caido. And with it, a barrage of pictures and feelings rather than words themselves. It was… Kind, gentle, sweet. Right now there was nothing there but the sweet expanse of a soothing rest, and Kiada’s own gentle and amused words given toward Chulane about the creatures themselves and their attuned shifts.
The surprise that crosses his face is reflected on her own in a wide smile and a grin sent toward him with that, a dip of her head to agree on it. “Yes.” She agrees quietly, at least until the concern flashes along his face and she chimes a huff of laughter into the air with a shake of her head. “No, not really.” She explains, palm flattening along the top of the table as she pushes the empty glass away and lifts the other hand to rest her chin on as she focuses on Chulane.
“I haven’t been hit that hard. Got my ass kicked pretty good last year, though. Aside from that? No near death experiences so far in this world.” A shrug granted, a smile sent his way to try and alleviate any of his worries.
and a voice cut from steel
features born from thunder and battle
KIADA
Kiada has a large X scar on the right side of her neck.
No permission needed for power play!
Feel free to use magic/force on Kiada, without killing her <3
My concern abates as she reassures me that she hasn't experienced the (near-)death of her attuned form, and I visibly relax a bit more, my mind awhirl still at the implications of this information. A rather morbid experiment idea came my mind - what would happen if I were to leap in my leopard form from a height that would surely cause it to perish? I would revert back, very much sore and sorry for myself, to a bruised human form, no doubt still injured but alive? It was baffling, and I had to tell myself rather harshly that it was something one did not want to mess around with - surely it was all part of the 'gift' that whatever god has bestowed upon the attuned, the ability to shift to their animals form(s), and an extra chance, a lucky charm to save one from death. Did it have a limit as to how many times one could risk their animals forms before you did succumb?
Questions. Always so many questions. I'd have to hit Jigano up for more answers next time I saw him.
"This world, huh?" I bite at her tantalising hint, gladly letting the conversation move on from one thing to the next. Rather belatedly, I notice that she has finished her drink, and I ask: "Need a refill?" as I gesture to the cup. I also remember where my cup is, by my feet, and I reclaim it to take a sip, silently marvelling at all I have learned since I put it down there.
"Did you… leave family behind when you came through the portal?" I ask after I have resettled from topping up the drinks, my tones and attitude notably calmer than before, knowing that once again I might be breaching into a topic that contained sensitive information, and emotions along with it, and wanting to show respect for that fact.
Yes, this world. Where the previous world she’d been in, the Rift, had done everything it could to slay her down. Had her walking into the equivalent of the river of Styx, watching herself die all in order to save a false god. A wrong god. But she doesn’t delve too far into that, she doesn’t know Chuy all that well aside from his recent arrival, and tendency to try to carry more than he could handle.
She didn’t mind, it helped her meet someone new.
So she nods, a quiet snort leaving her. “That’s a story for next time. I have to keep some of the things about me to myself to bother you later with.” She teases, a hum of laughter leaving her throat as she nods to him for the refill — likely not needing it but she was comfortable here. When was the last time she could effectively say that and truly mean it?
He returns quickly though, poised with another question that has her glacial gaze drifting along him as she takes the glass and leans forward along the table toward him again as she nods. “I have a twin. Not sure where he went in the shuffle. A few other siblings as well that have been lost.” An easy explanation, before her gaze flickers along his face a bit more intensely, as if she’s searching for something when all she’s doing is thinking through the memories. “My mother is here, though. A different version of herself. And I’ve been adopted I suppose you could say, by someone who was from my first world.” She offers, lips curving into a smile.
Because she wasn’t alone, not really, even if it felt like it in the dark of night.
and a voice cut from steel
features born from thunder and battle
KIADA
Kiada has a large X scar on the right side of her neck.
No permission needed for power play!
Feel free to use magic/force on Kiada, without killing her <3
Scientists since forever have been looking at the stars from my world, looking and wondering at what could exist out there, what other creatures, other worlds, other civilisations could thrive, just as we had on Earth. It was yet another idea, another thought that would no doubt keep me awake at night, as I now lived here, on another planet, another realm, a parallel universe?
Who knew? Certainly not me, though I would continue to ask the question.
I chuckle softly as she keeps some information from me, with promises to tell me another time, my hunger for information not outweighing my pleasure at the thought of a future interaction with this charming woman. She does speak about her family though, and I empathise with her as she speaks of losing some, and raise a brow at her comment of her mother - though I don't question it further, at least out loud.
I am glad that she has a base, a support network - I know it was one of the hardest parts about this life that I was facing, but with chance encounters like today's, I wasn't completely devoid of hope. I held her gaze while she used me to order her thoughts, unable to resist arching a brow with gentle curiosity as she did so.
"Will they be coming to Halo for Deepfrost as well?" I ask, wondering if all of the Grounders would be migrating for the season based on her recollection of events that had unfolded in the past.
She takes a long sip from the refill, though it’s slow, letting the drink whirl around her tongue a brief moment as she considers all she’s told him. She hasn’t started the whole diving into her issues and problems, the whole dark image painted beneath the surface of someone that might seem a bit rough yet kind. Perhaps it’s better that way, to pretend like it doesn’t matter in the end and hope when it comes to light that she’s made enough of an impression that it doesn’t matter anymore.
She sets the glass down when his question is aired, her icy gaze lingering on him before she shakes her head and her other hand continues to stroke Auni’s head. “Nope, just me and a variety of the Grounders.” She shrugs to that. It shouldn’t matter much to her, knowing that Amalia and Deimos would stay behind, but it does.
And she worries, quite deeply for it.
“They can’t come. Amalia, my adopted mother in a way, is part of the Grounds council and has to be there for those who wish to stay. Same with my mother. She’s… well, she’s the queen.” Another shrug granted to that, reaching for the glass to down the sour taste in her mouth.
and a voice cut from steel
features born from thunder and battle
KIADA
Kiada has a large X scar on the right side of her neck.
No permission needed for power play!
Feel free to use magic/force on Kiada, without killing her <3
I watch her with quiet curiosity - almost admiration? There is much she is not telling me, that much I can only assume, but I have never been one to press for more information on a subject if the owner of that information is unwilling. Data provided from an unwilling host is tainted, inherently dishonest, wrong - it was far better in my mind, to ask only enough so that a base understanding can be formed, a direction that helps to guide where further digging can uncover further information at a future time.
Idly, I hope to one day learn more about this fascinating woman, no matter what that means.
Eyes that match my own bore into me, and I meet them welcomingly, hoping only warmth and acceptance is portrayed on my face. I nod as she speaks of those remaining behind, a brow raising at her shrug, though I do not question it - I can recognise feigned nonchalance when I see it, even if I am an expert in reading animal behaviour moreso than human behaviour (it was that pesky pride getting in the way, I was quietly certain of it).
And just as casually, she mentions that she's the daughter of the queen, though my mind reflects that this is a mother who exists as a different version of the mother that birthed Kia, I am still rather intrigued by the comment.
"I have faith in their strength and experience that they'll be safe," I offer, hoping the authenticity of my words is properly intoned, before allowing a devious smirk to shadow my lips. "The queen, huh?" I ask with a teasing tone, hoping I wasn't causing offense to royalty, but trusting that the nature of our interactions so far permitted me this jest. "If I'd known I was meeting a princess I wouldn't have made her fetch vegetables from the snowy street outside!"
“Me too.” She agrees easily, flashing him a small smile in response to it. Amalia was beloved by Safrin, brought back because of her devotion. Deimos, her sword, wouldn’t let anything happen to her. And Deimos himself was growing stronger every season… But the Grounds was dangerous during Deepfrost and the fact that she knew they could handle themselves still didn’t alleviate the worries.
So she focuses on the next comment, rolling her eyes playfully before shaking her head to him. “I was born as a princess. My father was a king in the first world I was in.” She explains, giving him an amused look, a playful bubbling feeling that drifts down the bond toward him. “It’s not like it means anything.” She winks. But it’s true. She’s heir to nothing anymore, never was in the first place. It was simply a title that was often attached to those that would prefer to avoid the mess of things.
Kiada herself was quite terrible at avoiding getting into the middle of anything. “Besides, had you not run into me then the vegetables wouldn’t have gone flying.” She teases him, fully a jest as she offers a chime of laughter, a slight wrinkle of her nose.
and a voice cut from steel
features born from thunder and battle
KIADA
Kiada has a large X scar on the right side of her neck.
No permission needed for power play!
Feel free to use magic/force on Kiada, without killing her <3
Kia declares her bloodline unimportant, and seems to shrug the entire concept off it meaning something, anything. "Hey now," I say, refusing to accept her abject dismissal of her own bloodlines so easily. "It's good to know and remember where we came from, so that we can measure how far we've come," my words are given earnestly, with the intent to compliment, to reassure, though she hardly seems to need it, I stand by them all the same.
I laugh as she retells the incident on the street that led to our meeting. "I say we blame the bag holding the veggies - clearly it knew we should meet." I wink conspiratorially at her, grinning all the while, evidently pleased to accept the "bag's" opinion.
More time passes, more conversation had, more laughter and general merriment. It was easy to pass an afternoon in her company, though I sadly noted the darkening of the skies and expressed my concerns about her returning before the light and it's associated lingering vestiges of warmth faded for the night. I was never one to be overly forward in inviting a lady to stay, and as this small lodge was at full capacity already, I simply assumed she would make her way to the rooms the palace had prepared.
I linger at the doorway as she is leaving, a sad smile on my face. I reach for her hand before it ventures outside the reach of my own, before bowing like a member of the gentry would before a member of their royalty. As I rise, I lift her hand to my smiling lips and press a kiss to it. "See you at training, princess."
