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!
Chrys’ reappearance meant his incantations had worked, and he had to fight back the snicker threatening to pull at his mouth. Instead, he countered with a very vague, innocent look, which probably fooled no one. “I do not know what you mean.” He’d been known to take the upper hand in competitions simply by being an unrelenting force, though none of it had been angled to bring harm to anyone. Mischief through and through, when he was comfortable and at peace.
He snorted and blinked at the rhyme, but not before prospering another deluge intended to come along as a wave behind her – perhaps she wouldn’t even see it coming.
Belial, on the other hand, was too remarkably foolish and ill-equipped to do much else than hoot, splash, and yes, be spun. Thoroughly entertained by the entire dynamic, the peryton chose to unfurl his wings further, allowing his frame to be tossed about, and then gathering some air, spin upwards, whisking more water off his feathers in the process.
who we were before bones, before dirt, before even light we have always been deep, restless souls
It seemed that somehow - jellyfish things probably - Chrys actually noticed the wave coming up from behind her. At least, she dove down under the surface yet again to evade it. Leaving aside that diving below the water to evade water may seem a bit comical - to Chrys, it made sense. That's what counted.
And she came back up just in time to see Belial spin up into the air. Laughing as the water from his wings was whisked around, Chrys dove down yet again. Below the surface, she lurked and waited for Belial to get close enough for another splash of water. Or until she got bored. Which usually didn't take long. And if Belial wasn't close enough to the water by then, well, Deimos still didn't get payback yet.
Belial, thoroughly and easily entertained, did in fact splash around, then proceeded to earn another volley for his efforts. Hooting and beating his wings, baring his fangs, the peryton rose up into the sky again, this time intending to land with a dash somewhat along the surface – so that a ridiculous amount of spray came clattering down.
Deimos, on the other hand, eyed the intended mark for his own figure as amusing – and sent it back. It differed in these elements, however, stretched and accustomed to his abilities, molding and forming into a makeshift dragon – though not the size of the standard affair. It blew rings and cascades of water in an instant, more for show and diversion than anything else.
who we were before bones, before dirt, before even light we have always been deep, restless souls
Even though Belial did splash more water around, the moment Deimos started forming a - even if somewhat smaller - dragon out of the water Chrys's attention was caught. She watched wide-eyed in surprise and almost childlike excitement. A show it was indeed, and a diversion as well. "That's amazing!" she shouted and laughed.
Her next splash of water was directed at the makeshift dragon, hoping to elicit an evasive maneuver from it (or rather Deimos playing along with the idea). Forgotten were the earlier water shenanigans - at least for now. Maybe a chance for Belial to relax - or to start a counterattack now that Chrys was distracted?
03-08-2022, 10:43 PM (This post was last modified: 03-08-2022, 10:48 PM by Deimos.)
DEIMOS
The false dragon’s appearance served well – posing as a distraction – far more dramatic and overt than its creator would ever be. It fanned more rings of water towards the mermaid, and moved out of the way, albeit slowly, as her splash descended towards it. It whipped the proportions away with the flick of its tail, intending to rebound it back, but not without some of the droplets collecting on its frame. Deimos arched a brow, perhaps the only sign that he was controlling the entire spectacle, waiting to see how the other creature would counter the latest maneuver.
Belial, however, took ample opportunity as well. With Chrys thoroughly distracted, he stilled – becoming an invisible, intangible thing, as if he weren’t in the waves at all.
who we were before bones, before dirt, before even light we have always been deep, restless souls
With the water Chrys had splashed at the watery dragon coming back at her, she threw herself to the side dramatically. She was certainly leaning into the whole 'oh my god a dragon is attacking me' act. Maybe a bit too much.
Grinning, she dove down below and swam up to the watery dragon. Once below it, she came up to the surface with a big splash of water. Though her actual intention was to get up high enough to poke it. Why, she wasn't sure herself. Certainly not because she just had a silly idea and didn't think about it further.
Deciding it was due for the grand, dramatic oeuvre, the Sword snorted at her poke towards the dragon. If water droplets could cascade and roar, the thing might’ve done so – but he amplified effects in other ways. Instead, its head raised up to the sky, mouth open in what should’ve been a deafening howl, pierced and snagged by the triumphant mermaid. Visible pain and agony rippled across its sides, a weakness found, punctured, pierced, and lanced all within an instant. It descended in a great torrent of water – overtly falling apart, going from massive beast to nothing more than a few bubbles, all collapsing and descending towards her head, and the surface of the ocean swells.
“Slain,” Deimos uttered, shaking his head in mocking overtures.
who we were before bones, before dirt, before even light we have always been deep, restless souls
Chrys's grin widened as she watched the dragon roar and tilt its head towards the sky before it fell apart into a torrent of water. If she hadn't been drenched until now, now she would be. Undeterred, she did a little pirouette in the water. "Chrysaora the dragonslayer is here!" she shouted with glee, triumphant as if it were an actual dragon.
"Someday, I want to be able to do that as well," she said, as she turned towards Deimos. And then she laughed. "Controlling water, not poking dragons." Sure, she liked doing silly things, but she was smart enough not to poke an actual dragon. Mostly.
Snorting at the antics of the mermaid, he returned to previous measures, and sat upon the designated rock, grabbing at the string they’d utilized for the jar. Time to test the ventures they’d taken so long to adhere to. Raising his head back to where she lingered and pirouetted in the water, the curious air along his features remained. “Can mermaids have magic?” Or did it unfurl in different wakes, like the Fae?
Acquiring the vessel once more, he created a piece of parchment and charcoal in his hands, taking a moment to write a message in neat, designated scrawl, before placing it back within. In a matter of seconds, he tightened the lid on the device, then carefully lowered it back into the sea. “I suppose we should see if it works,” obliging her with a nod, hoping to see the paper had not become waterlogged or adrift instantly.
who we were before bones, before dirt, before even light we have always been deep, restless souls
At the question, Chrys tilted her head slightly. "I think it's a bit different from the magic of the landpeople. But not entirely." The way she said it, it almost sounded like a question. Then she shrugged. "But some of us can control water like that. Some can do the same with air. And some can do other things, like disappear in one place and reappear in another."
Watching Deimos write a message and place it in the jar, Chrys nodded. "Sounds good." Once the jar was lowered down to the ground, she gave Deimos a short wave, before diving down. I'll take a look at it down there! she continued the conversation as if they'd still be talking all the while.
Reaching the ground, she picked the jar up and inspected it underwater, tilting it from one side to the other. Content with her observation, she returned to the surface. "Looks good!"
From his vantage point along the boulder, he surmised her explanation with a nod, considering the weight of it, before his attention diverted back to their task. Listening as she shuffled along the sea, he waited, diligent and patient, as she tested out the jar.
“Good,” he echoed in response as the vessel worked, permitting a breath of relief and a slow smile, then lowering the rope, permitting it to bob, then sink, undetected amidst the waves churning slowly within the Pool. “I may be heading to Halo soon, but I will check this every so often.” Especially if the guild continued to be active, and if anything else might be pending towards the sea.
who we were before bones, before dirt, before even light we have always been deep, restless souls
Chrys watched as Deimos lowered the rope. For a moment, she watched the water around them, then stuck her head beneath the surface for a moment to look for the rope underwater. It seemed hidden enough. Content with the way things had worked out, she looked at Deimos.
"I'll be checking every now and then as well!" Chrys said, a wide smile on her face. Glancing up at the sun, Chrys decided she might as well take care of a few other things before it would get dark. "Maybe we can do more exploring next time," she said as she gave Deimos a little wave, planning to head off unless he said something to stop her.
With a suitable test completed, the jar capable, the rope difficult to see, and nothing more to add, they could both be on their ways. “Of course. Thank you for your efforts,” to possible ventures of exploration, uncertain when time would allot. “Take care of yourself.” And with that, he gave a nod, some semblance of a salute, and an amicable wave of his hand. Thereafter, all that needed to be done was gather his belongings and companions, setting forth back into the main disposition of Torchline, unaware of how time and action would span so quickly within less than a season’s range.
{FIN}
who we were before bones, before dirt, before even light we have always been deep, restless souls
