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!
08-25-2021, 09:10 PM (This post was last modified: 08-27-2021, 06:39 PM by Court Official.)
yet my blood renders me a King
Sah stood at the entrance to the Fangs, eyes scanning his surroundings cautiously. There was truly no need to be wary. He'd taken numerous hunting trips up here so no one in Halo would be thrown if they saw him out here. Still, the objective of the day was not to be taken lightly. Given the coming war he'd decided to search for mageglass. The edge it would give him and his allies was worth facing the many dangers the Fangs had to offer. An added means of protecting their loved ones and safeguarding their own lives. Truly worth it.
Sah wasn't naïve enough to go alone though. He'd requested Deimos' aid, dangerous in itself given his exile, but the Abandoned knew that the Sword would have his back. Sah had left the recruitment of any others to Deimos and he was curious as to who the Sword had chosen.
For now though, he'd wait for the others to arrive and double check his supplies. Hunting and camping gear, his sword, daggers, bandages, and rations. They'd hopefully be set. It was strange to be out here without Lilly but Sah had chosen to leave his pup safely at home.
The sound of iron shots is stuck in my head The thunder of the drums dictates
These actions weren’t without risk or danger, on a normal basis, much less given repercussions of exile, banishment, or evading political imprisonment. But Deimos was just seditious and bold enough to unfurl into other tactics to make their mark and indulge in trying to snag at mageglass. Perhaps it was spite. Perhaps it was tactical. Maybe it was everything all rolled into one.
With no need of utilizing the portal (given Amalia’s abilities), and covering them with the invisibility cloak well before motioning along the snow, the furtive maneuvers persisted and continued as he curled the air around them, behind them, intending to leave no trace of footprints behind as they pressed into its threshold. Sah is up ahead he ushered silently to Amalia, a thread of composure maintained in his motions, a bob of his head in the direction of the familiar silhouette of the hunter. Beneath the veneer, he shifted his bag (containing various odds and ends – but rope, canteens, food, and bandages too, just in case) and weaponry into place, following after the Abandoned. Quiet and measured.
And how to signal their presence without giving way to anyone else? With earthen incantations, that perhaps had been blown in by the harsh winds (or the strong Air manifestations), he formed a rocky, pebbled ornamentation of a wolf, similar to Lilly, at Sah’s feet. Strange and bizarre, but given the circumstances, introductions and voices could be tethered elsewhere, deeper into the fold of the Fangs. If anything, it was a signal that they were ready.
--
Deimos has covered himself and Amalia in his invisibility cloak, and used Mastered Air to try and move the snow and cover their tracks.
Type: Grey
Invisibility Cloak | (Upgraded) Ornate, detailed cloak, that when worn, renders up to two individuals (or a rider on a horse) invisible.
Air manipulation: Can create and control the air. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Grey | Rank: Mastered
Deimos is bringing all items/abilities/magic listed on his profile. Included in the bag of holding is a rope, canteens, food, and some bandages.
The rhythm of the falls, the number of dead The rising of the horns, ahead
Hiding is hardly something Amalia is built for, at least not these days, but it with a strange sort of familiarity that she finds herself tucked against the Sword, falling into an easy stride as they had so often before. You trust him? she asks as they walk through the snow, not for the first time, nor the last. Yes, she is here to aid Deimos and his quest, but more - she does not want any new power to fall into the hands of Halo's leaders, not when they have clearly shown where their allegiance lies.
But Amalia trusts Deimos, and so she must trust Sah. She is clothed lightly beneath the cloak, her long hair tied back in a plait. Leopard fur keeps her warm enough, eliminating the need for bulky layers - a good thing, for she has much to carry already. As always, her shield hangs from her back and Nova at her side. She would rather not this subterfuge, but it sets Deimos at ease; and so she watches, dark eyed and alert, glancing from the young man to the little stone wolf and then to the black caves that stretch ahead of them, yawning like the jaws of old regrets.
In addition to her abilities, Amalia has:
Type: Light
Stabilization Ring | Once a year, this ring will automatically stabilize the wearer should they receive a life-ending blow. (If HP drops below 0 from one hit, the ring will cause the HP from that hit to stay at 1). Made by Safrin.
Type: Light
Nova (upgraded) | A beautifully slender sword perfectly crafted for Amalia. The cross-guard is carved from luxere antlers (These antlers glow a soft red despite being detached from the luxere. They provide constant light and protect anyone who holds them during LongNight), imbued with minor healing abilities (upgraded level). The sword will never deal a killing blow, leaving an enemy on 1HP.
Type: Dark
Magical Crystal | When (abandoned) magic is cast at this device, it can store the power and reuse it as controlled by the wielder. (Made by Remi)
Type: Dark
An ornate titanium shield covered in star sigils. When (abandoned) magic is cast at this device, it can store the power and reuse it as controlled by the wielder. (Made by Remi)
Type: Light
Star Charm | A silver charm in the shape of a star. When activated, it projects a 1ft barrier of starlight all the way across the user. (Made by Deimos)
Type: Grey
Magic Bracer | A leather bracer that can be worn by an attuned that allows them to transport their currently-held items when shifted (small-medium items on their person) (Made by Remi)
Type: Grey
Horn of Plenty | Truly magnificent to behold, this minotaur's horn is decorated with a simple amber stone. When filled with liquid, the horn will never run dry - so be careful what you choose to pour in! --- filled with water from Frey's Breath
Type: Light
Snake-Guardian Scale: A palm-sized opalescent scale from one of Rae's portal guardians. When used, it will take the holder from their current position into the portalling dimension regardless of where they are. Once it has been used, it will disappear.
It's like the start of a bad joke. A hunter, a demigoddess, and an exiled hybrid walk into the Fangs...
I can't wait to see what the punchline is.
As you enter the caves, the darkness around you becomes nearly resplendent in its depth. Presumably, eyes will shift to allow for sight or items will be pulled out, so we'll not dwell on that.
Ahead, there is a path that wombles upward into some dark cavern above. There is also the path you're currently on that descends into the heart of the cave system, or another just to your right that winds downward toward gods know what with stairs made of ice.
Which way will you go?
You have 48 hours to reply. Please have one member of your group post IC. You may use your discord PQ+ chat to discuss.
08-26-2021, 10:28 PM (This post was last modified: 08-26-2021, 10:33 PM by Sah.)
yet my blood renders me a King
Sah nodded as Deimos and the woman appeared. "I'm Sah, nice to meet you." He greeted, eyeing Amalia curiously. He'd never seen her before but if the Sword had brought her, then he'd trust her. As far as he knew, Deimos wasn't the kind to bring an unknown into a potentially dangerous situation.
Determined, the Abandoned analyzed their three potential paths. Glass was likely in the lower sections of the cave and those stairs just screamed 'trap' to him. That just left their current path. Given how dark it was they'd likely need some light. Sah turned to Deimos, "Mind making us some torches real quick? I'd use my lightning but I don't want to accidently bring anything down on our heads."
Assuming the torches were created, Sah began to lead them down the center path, using his telekinesis to keep the torch floating a few feet in front of him. That way his hands would be free should he need them.
Sah leads the way down their current path. The one that leads to the heart of the cave system. He's telekinetically leading the way with a torch created by Deimos.
Telekinesis: Can move medium objects, in a 30ft radius
Type: Grey | Rank: Upgraded
Type: Grey
Electrical Sword | Using Sah's own elemental magic, this sword has the power to electrify those it hits. (Made by Deimos)
It doesn't take long before you come to a door. There are a number of letters on recessed pathways carved into the stone. They glitter under the torchlight. Beneath are spaces for words to be entered, but what words?
You have 48 hours to complete this puzzle. Only one member of the group needs to post your answer.
Rules: You may not use any letter more than once. You may not overlap pathways. You must create one continuous sentence using one continuous line of letters. All letters must be used.
The sound of iron shots is stuck in my head The thunder of the drums dictates
Invisibility cloak removed, introductions and torches made, and some reassurance bolstered towards Amalia (yes, he trusted Sah) – the Sword stepped forward towards the door. While the light bobbed and weaved, he studied the recessed pathways carved and sculpted into stone. Something to be admired, perhaps, were they not within a dangerous, treacherous proportion of land.
So instead of pondering over how it’d been made and orchestrated, Deimos followed the letters. In conjunction with the group, per some hasty discussion, he entered the words within the provided space. Hopefully the message didn’t signify something else altogether.
And then there were none.
--
Deimos enters the words ‘and then there were none’ into the provided space.
The rhythm of the falls, the number of dead The rising of the horns, ahead
No sooner is the last e added, the door swings open.
The tunnel continues and it's lucky that you brought light with you because even down here an ascended would struggle to see. Eventually however you come to a new obstacle. The following words have been written with chalk on the slate of a door.
Sah stared at the new door, his eye nearly twitching. All he could think was, Why? The Outlander was only recently literate after all. So yes, he could read and write a letter. But solving a complex word sequence puzzle? He was half tempted to break the door down with a surge of lightning instead.
Yet the promise of potential mageglass kept him in check. Instead of wreaking damage upon the door, he instead studied it for a long moment. Repeating the words in a whisper in the hopes of having an epiphany. Just as he was growing frustrated an idea came to him and he took another look at the sequence. Picking up the chalk he held it up to the door and in surprisingly neat handwriting wrote, 'leaven'. He hoped that he'd interpreted the puzzle correctly.
As the group warbles between answers like kevin, slevin, etcetera, the air seems to tense. What might have happened? We'll never know.
As Sah writes leaven on the slate, a handle appears and the door opens.
Down and down and down you go until you've reached what? Another puzzle of course. This one has crude stick-figure drawings of the gods and various flora and fauna with the following:
Vi can but Safrin can't.
A white dragon can, but not a purple dragon.
Ludo can't, but a whisper fish could.
Rae's lily's and Vi's roses can, but not a luxere.
Can a land shark?
Can the kingmaker?
Can each of you?
You have 48 hours to complete this puzzle. Only one member of the group needs to post your answer.
Sah read the words, his brow furrowed. This puzzle was even more confusing then the last. Reading it over to himself, an idea began to form. The ability to preserve? Vi was the merciful God of life. Her certainly could preserve life. As the Goddess of Stars, Safrin couldn't. White dragons are greedy and preserve treasure and artifacts but a teleporting purple dragon doesn't preserve teleportation. Ludo guides souls, he doesn't preserve them. And whisper fish preserve stories. Rae's lily's and Vi's roses could both heal and thus preserve life. Luxere couldn't heal or preserve anything.
So if the ability to preserve was the key, then out of a land shark, the Kingmaker, Deimos, Amalia, and himself.. only Amalia could. Sah began to write his answer, 'The ability to preserve. A land shark, the Kingmakers, Deimos, and Sah can not. Amalia can.'
Sah writes: 'The ability to preserve. A land shark, the Kingmaker, Deimos, and Sah can not. Amalia can.'
Failing to post an answer means the KQ is automatically failed. Providing the wrong answer to any puzzle three times, means the KQ is automatically failed.
The sound of iron shots is stuck in my head The thunder of the drums dictates
They waited. No release of a door. No creak of ancient things maneuvering. Nothing happened. Deimos narrowed his eyes, curiosity and some amount of frustration warring over attuned proportions and feelings. Their combined platitudes and intellect had sought out similar notions and factions, but clearly not enough.
Pausing and stepping forward, he examined the crude drawings again, the angles of the stick-figures, pondering over what they’d missed. Had they entered something incorrectly? Were their proportions not executed precisely? His gaze swept over proportions, back and forth, striving to take in anything they’d lapsed upon; furrowing brows, mind reeling and whirling. In true form, the Sword simply took a moment to think.
--
Deimos is using INT 1 to gain another hint/clue for the puzzle.
The rhythm of the falls, the number of dead The rising of the horns, ahead
Sah snarled under his breath when the door remained shut. What had they misinterpreted? The Abandoned was about to suggest they restart when Deimos began to study the door. Falling silent, Sah was content to wait and see what the Sword would discover. It took some reconvening but soon a pattern emerged. If it wasn't about the meaning of the words, then the letters? No. The syllables? Yes.
Sah felt himself grin when it clicked. Words or word clusters with odd syllable counts could. Vi, Whisper fish, etc. Words and word clusters with even syllables could not. From there the answer was clear. A land shark can't and the Kingmaker can. As for the group? Amalia and Sah can but not Deimos. Stepping forward, Sah wrote his answer.
Sah steps up and writes, Odd syllable counts can and even counts can’t. A land shark can’t. The Kingmaker can. Amalia and Sah can, but not Deimos.
