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 final gore crow fell before them, dust at their feet, and there was no more business here. The group carried on, Deimos at the forefront with the others following behind. Aisha left the regal unicorn to fall into step with the general, walking along the dark tunnel walls until it finally opened up into a large cavern space. Rocky pools sizzled and steamed, bubbles permeated the surface and offered a clear humidity to the room. It was beautiful here, in that feral way that the leopard so appreciated.
Aisha walked further, crouching by a pool and tentatively touching the surface. It wasn't too hot here, but she had no doubt that the temperature could spike at any time, volcanic fissures beneath erupting to boil. She turned to take the items from Deimos, "Thanks," she replied, having only brought the small water-skin attached to her belt. She began to fill her vials, corking them and placing them to side when she finished. "How many do we need?" she asked.
and it's all in the way that you talk starts with a whisper
Curls of plumes, of warmth, of generous adornments left him at the mercy of memories for a series of moments. He breathed as the first container filled, bubbling into its sanction, remembering hours spent in wakes so eerily similar that it still twisted and turned over his soul, no matter how many times he’d been here. He sighed as the second did much of the same, overflowing as he pushed it beneath ripples and currents, for how many days he’d owed this very portion of water his life, during the sickness, during a season of torment and torture. And then he raised his head, taking the rest of the world within.
Aisha and Noah stocking their own. Zuriel lingering near the embankment, curiously snorting. Belial flying higher and higher along the riches of the pool, blending between shadow and light. Seconds and instances made, carved, sculpted, and whittled not out of strife or anguish, desperation or despair – and those were to be enjoyed too. Muffling a chuckle, the Sword permitted a singular smile, raising his brows at both traveling companions. “Figure we can have three vials each. Should be enough.” And if it wasn’t, they could always return. “We can head back when we finish, or we can explore.” Opportunities they might not otherwise take or have, depending on the wake of the realm every other minute. “Up to you.”
Filling the vials was a particularly easy task. His hand gently submerged into the warm spring, lingering there even after his last vial was filled. The warmth crept up his arm and spread into his chest, bringing his bones to life. Letting loose a breath of relief, Noah leaned back on the warm stones and corked each vial, handing them back to Deimos.
While Noah wasn't, by nature, an adventuring type, the concept had grown on him in the last few seasons. Venturing to the wilds as well as other established territories had broadened his horizons, and the man wasn't as adverse to it all as he was before. So long, of course, as he could return back to his icy home. It is what mattered most to him. Although, at the question, the hunter was feeling particularly indifferent in the moment, and he turned his attention to Aisha to let her make the decision. He gave her a small shrug.
Life isn't always what you think it'd be Turn your head for one second and the tables turn
Three each was no difficult task. It wasn't long before each of Aisha's vials were full of the fresh bubbling water, and she tucked them away. Her hand lingered in the healing waters, mulling over the warmth and the way she could feel grime and wear soak away, as if the water was pulling it from her. She liked it here, a nice oasis amid the fiery hellscape around.
Once they finished there was the opportunity to continue, and while both men didn't seem keen to decide either way, Aisha was never indecisive. "What else is down in these tunnels? If this is it I don't see why we would need to go deeper," came her succinct answer. There was curiosity of course, but work to be done back home as well, more things to gather. She didn't want to dally when they could be needed elsewhere.
and it's all in the way that you talk starts with a whisper
Deimos was a little surprised at them – presuming either would want to inspect the hot springs for themselves, or to go deeper within simply by means of curiosity. Maybe he’d been mistaken – too inquiring, too interested in the unknown, for his own good. “Not much else, save for the springs,” in response to Aisha’s question, and Noah’s silence. There’d be no need to hunt down any lilies, with that adventure well behind them. The flowers could stay in their hidden dominions for another day.
So he stood from his crouch, all his vials filled, placing the toppers back upon them, and lining them carefully back into his pack. “Home it is then,” and he waited until the others had sorted themselves out, before leading them through the tunnels they’d come through – with distinctly less drama than prior movements.
