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!
The council had voted for the Greenhouse, which was surely a project to bring to Frey; the portal road might have been a different story, but for the mean time Morgan supposed it was good to be going back to the same God again. While she worried it may seem demanding, it at least meant she had some familiarity with the deity, and Frey knew that she would keep up any promises made.
Chuy had come with her last time and Aisha wanted to meet the God; Morgan was glad to have two Attuned with her, still feeling somewhat inadequate as an Abandoned leader taking on these kinds of quests for her people. Hopefully, their presence would show she was willing to work with the faithful of the Old Gods, too; Halo was under Morgan's leadership a place where all could practice their faiths and act under their Gods.
Standing before the shrine, a bundle of offerings in her arms, she waited for them to arrive, anticipation in her chest. Morgan had chosen to arrive in the early evening, when the streets were quieter, the mood less frantic than it could be during the day in the Citadel. With only the noise of hub bub from the inn and occasional passers by along the road, it felt the right time to call upon something higher.
03-23-2021, 01:35 AM (This post was last modified: 03-24-2021, 03:09 AM by Aisha.)
AISHA
The greenhouse was an exciting prospect; the self sufficiency of the city, a touch of brightness and life amid the cold. Aisha had eagerly volunteered to accompany the warden to the shrine, to meet Frey if they decided to show up, and to extend her reputation beyond that of a Shield. She wanted to be more involved, to help out in anyway she could, and this seemed a good opportunity to do so. Her attuned propensity alone might bolster their chances, hopefully it would count for something in keeping the group in the Old God's favor.
Morgan arrived promptly, Aisha shortly after, adorned in sunny colors and her thick sheepskins. In her arms she'd brought a small basket of blushberries that she'd found in the Oerwoud, figuring it would be a welcome addition for the nature god. She shot the warden a smile and a dip of her head, respectful yet buzzing with excitement. Last time she'd been here she'd ended up with a nasty curse, this time would hopefully yield much better results. The woman stood next to Morgan's side, looking over the offerings and adding her basket to the altar.
03-23-2021, 11:20 PM (This post was last modified: 03-23-2021, 11:20 PM by Chulane.)
Happiness is not an ideal of reason but of imagination
Spring had sprung, at least; the Caido version of it. With it, came prolific ningos – they were clucky, horny, territorial and hungry. But with shelter, warmth and food on offer, they happily called the farm their home – even as some of them were led to inevitable slaughter for consumption.
Nothing ever went to waste, except perhaps, their waste materials. There was only so many gardens in the residents homes in Halo that needed the fertiliser. The greenhouse would be the solution – and would bring them closer to being able to have the portal accessible.
Chulane arrived with a plethora of gifts and offerings, and his usual smile and nod in greeting to the two women in attendance. Kia’s return had restored the man, had reignited his passion for life and farming and supplying the region with all it needed to survive. Though his feelings on all this gods would be forever mixed, he could not deny that he was enthralled by the prospect of seeing one again, given the opportunity.
Placing his ningo carcasses, feather-filled quilt and basket of eggs before him, he awaited Morgan to make her request.
Both Chulane and Aisha came with additional offerings, which Morgan looked over and smiled approvingly at; between the three of them there was quite the spread. With both guests by her side she took the step forward to the shrine and knelt down to lay her bundle down; flowers, wines from Torchline, fruit from the Grounds, a few wooden sculptures of various creatures. All in all, a bounty fit for a nature deity.
"Frey. We thank you for helping us with the cold barrier in Leafchange; it was a welcome change in Deepfrost, I heard from my citizens." Unfortunately she hadn't gotten to experience it this year, but Morgan was very familiar with the bite of the Deepfrost cold; a reprieve from it had to be very welcome for most in the Citadel. "We humbly approach you again to ask for your assistance in another matter, if you see fit. We have brought you gifts and of course, will follow your instructions again."
Knowing the Gods didn't like it when people dallied, she got to the point: "We would like the ability to grow our own crops here, ones that prefer softer climates. A Greenhouse in the Citadel, magically blessed to help in the development of agriculture in Halo. Your assistance in this would be very welcome." Morgan dipped her head, hoping she'd said the right things; it was always hard to know with the Gods.
Frey's voice comes from over Aisha's shoulder, funnily enough, and they lean in to grab a plump blushberry, popping it into their mouths and letting their cheeks suffuse with a warm, happy pink. Then, sweeping in front of the gathered group and sweeping the feather blanket around their shoulders, they take a seat and pat the ground beside them to invite them to get comfy as well.
"I hope you enjoyed a toastier Deepfrost," they croon. "And now a greenhouse? Why, you busy bees will be buzzing away throughout the year with such a thing." Which is certainly not a no, by any stretch of the imagination. "Such a thing may require you to go a little further afield. Would you and your citizens be willing to do that?"
Morgan did, admittedly, flinch a little as the voice of Frey came from the side, rather than before her, but recovered quickly and let out a sigh of relief as she digested the words. She was always worried about breaking some invisible rule, when it came to the Gods, but apparently they'd once again managed to navigate Frey's wishes well enough to get a welcoming audience.
She took the offered seat, leaving space for Aisha and Chulane as well. "I heard that the warmer Deepfrost was pleasant and allowed for a lot more productive time spent during the season." Morgan informed happily; she had not been there to see it in action, but the amount of things completed by the time she'd come back had been proof of it.
"We would be willing to do whatever is necessary; I will lead the operation myself. Travelling is not a problem." She promised, waiting to hear what Frey would need.
03-29-2021, 08:30 PM (This post was last modified: 03-29-2021, 09:02 PM by Honey.)
Frey
Snug under their feather cloak and with a vibrant blush suffusing their cheeks, Frey looks the picture of contentment as Morgan comes to join them. "I was so hoping you would say that," they whisper to the Warden, as if this greenhouse is suddenly a secret between the two of them. "Very well, then! Gather your best explorers, because we've got work to do, my dears!"
Tasks. There is no time limit. There are currently 11 active Halovians. This means 5 unique characters have to participate. Characters can participate more than once. Noah, Deimos and Neron must participate in at least 1 thread. Morgan must participate in 2.
1. A PQ of 4 Halovians choosing a location for the greenhouse and laying its foundations (at least 4 rounds)
2. A thread of 3 Halovians collecting hot springs water at Frey's Breath in The Climb (at least 3 posts each)
3. 3 threads: One collecting volcanic rock from Angel's End in The Climb; one collecting ash and earth from Apopo in Torchline; one collecting sentient vines in the Oerwoud (at least 3 posts per member is needed for each thread)
4. A thread of 3 Halovians collecting ice from the Sea of Glass (at least 4 posts each).
Feel free to reply once more to close out the thread!
Happy to have apparently navigated this request correctly, Morgan smiled at Frey and listened carefully to what they had to ask of her and her people; with such respect having been shown to her and Halo from a God, she knew the correct thing to do was to pay attention and fufill the instructions to the letter.
Thankfully, they were not actually too complex; nothing she felt they couldn't handle. Once the requirements were given Morgan made sure she had gotten them right then thanked Frey once more and stood, hoping Chuy and Aisha felt good about it too; she couldn't really ask them right in front of the God that had just given the quests. She would get their input later though, over a drink she'd take them for to begin to discuss the ideas and plans for the missions.
It was good to be working for her Citadel again.
(I'll archive this in a couple days - Chuy/Aisha feel free to post if you want before it ends)
Chulane was the next to arrive, carrying with him ningo carcasses, baskets of their produce and delicacies. Aisha returned his nod as he stepped in line, then she waited as Morgan made the announcement. She didn't realize she was a bit anxious, biting absently at her cheek as they waited, until suddenly a voice cooed over her shoulder. Aisha's gaze snapped towards the god, she watched them carefully at first, allowing a grin to meet her eyes when they popped one of the blushberries into their mouth.
The energy was strong, and Aisha loved what they exerted. Hazel eyes followed the deity as they circled, wrapped the feathered cloak about their shoulders then sat to luxuriate among the offerings. When the seat was offered, the leopardess obliged, plopping down and lounging amid the gifts. She listened intently as they spoke, bargaining and proposing, but her attention was so easily swept away into the mysticism of the god, of how effortlessly ethereal they were.
The deal was sealed quickly, Aisha grinned brightly as Frey agreed, taking a more serious expression as they listed the tasks. It didn't seem all too difficult, except in quantity and distance, but they had a season to make it work. Aisha was committed, eager to begin, and so as the deity disappeared she stood and made to leave with her companions, more than happy with the outcome.
