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!
They won't stop our evolution. Who do you think we are?
Loren's notice had immediately caught Morgan's attention. When she had seen the lily in the Climb, she had known it had to serve some higher purpose; it had not worked for Neron, but new hope bloomed within her at what Loren had written. Perhaps, if this method worked, it could rescue all those ill. It hurt, to let herself rise again on another wave of hope...but she had to keep hoping, keep trying. Determination and resilience was how she'd always proceeded.
With the near-death experience she'd had last time, Morgan was not entering the climb alone. Chulane, who had come on the first mission, then Loren and Deimos, both of whom were temporarily well enough to accompany her. Hopefully, if they found enough lilies, they might be able to permanently cure them soon; she could only pray for that. Now that she knew the way, the trip was easier than it had been, Morgan speaking to her council on the way down softly about what needed to be done, what they all knew.
Finally they arrived at Frey's Breath, at the pools spread before them. Wiping sweat off her brow, Morgan turned to the three men. "The lilies seem to grow along the shore of these springs. I recommend we split into two groups of two and go in different ways, meeting on the other side."
Fight against your execution. Who do you think we are?
Another day, another expedition, and another attempt at unraveling the shambles and mess of the current bedlam. New information, new sources, and new outliers presenting themselves were a step in the right direction, and while irritated other attempts had failed to produce anything of value, this could be something worthwhile. He could apply strength, diligence, and might into that – action, multitudes of machinations, beyond the anguish, the melancholy, the bestial weight pummeling down shoulder blades and spines.
The lilies were reminders from days of the blight, where they carried roses in their hands and lacerated friends with thorns; though perhaps this method would be kinder, gentler, and a way to appease the searing masses. He made no mention of his current state either; feeling the rush of the sickness coiling back upon him, the pitch and rise of something looming down his spine, a warning, a refrain, a coming of moments, time, ample cues, where he could only manage and hold back the ailments for so long. Perhaps his movements towards the supposed healing sanction would be able to provide segments and extensions, before he collapsed back into that mired threshold. He didn’t long to return to the delirium, the lunacy, the aches, or the unknown.
Morgan led them through the Climb, and he followed amongst the rest, eyes taking in surroundings, memorizing footfalls and placements, in case future trips were required. In case something else went awry. Preparation and machinations were a key aspect of his existence, and he relied upon them now – as eyes widened at the sight of the springs (at the sudden longing for the Aurora Basin – at the bizarre pang of homesickness clawing over his heart). He would’ve stood there in reflection, in repose, had the directions not been applied towards them – his gaze instantly going to the Chief. “Chulane and I can go this way,” a gesture of his jaw, segmenting and pointing towards the right.
under the bludgeonings of chance my head is bloody, but unbowed
Loren was not at all surprised by the small group that ended up going to search for lilies. With Morgan leading the way, the journey was rather uneventful. Mostly, he kept quiet during the trek. Astra was by his side and he kept one hand in her fur most of the time, scratching behind her ears.
When they arrived at the hot springs, he smiled. Nodding at both the Warden's words and Deimos' suggestion for dividing the groups, the healer glanced at the Glacier. "Guess that leaves me with you."
Turning, he called out to Deimos. "Hey, even a little bit of water on your skin should extend the effects of it." That being said, the Firebrand went to the nearest pool and dipped his hands in. He sipped from them and breathed out a sigh when he finished.
look at how a single candle can both
defy and define the darkness
Back to the Climb. Back to a world of false turns, of caverns, of eerily glowing lava. This trip was less eventful than the last, though the Chief was still on high alert, well aware of the limited time they had with Loren and Deimos being coherent.
They were travelling with renewed purpose now, as Loren had uncovered information that boasted a cure. Of course Chulane would come, would be involved, even if it left Halo with only one council member. Noah was more than capable of stepping up for this limited time though, Chulane trusted that, at least.
"The lillies are white, veined with gold and turquoise," he supplied before they all split. "The one I found was hanging over the edge of a pool - I was in my eagle shift at the time." Then, he followed Deimos, and called up the very eyes that he'd just mentioned. He couldn't help but grin at Loren's remark about the water.
"The water really is amazing," he concurred quietly to the new General, before his mood became more sombre. "She would've loved it here."
They won't stop our evolution. Who do you think we are?
It seemed the group approved of her suggestion to split up between them, so Morgan was happy to go with whoever was left; surprisingly, Deimos seemed to immediately choose Chulane (she wasn't even aware the two knew each other, but she had no objections to her council getting friendly), so she was to walk with Loren. "I suppose so." She set off, watching Loren yell to Deimos and nodding, hoping the General would get some of the water.
"You were sick as well, weren't you? Have you got something to take some more water back with you?" She asked, looking him over to see if he'd brought a bottle. "I wish we could take more back for the Ascended. It just...doesn't seem to work. I tried to feed Neron a petal of one of the flowers, and that did nothing either." Morgan sighed and shook her head, going into a quiet thoughtful silence for the rest of the walk.
No luck this time. They'd have to go further afield. Once the group met again, they agreed to explore more, determined to find some lilies.
{FIN}
Fight against your execution. Who do you think we are?
