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!
02-11-2022, 11:21 PM (This post was last modified: 02-11-2022, 11:24 PM by Deimos.)
DEIMOS
He allowed a laugh, and it bellowed along the bond in a wild deluge – because in his experience, nothing with deities or heralds had ever been easy. I doubt many would just hand a companion over. They would make you work for it. A quest – venturing out into the unknown, hunting something down, discovering or finding multitudes of other means and measures in preparation…the possibilities were endless, even if not steered by chance or fortune.
Following the trending seafloor upwards, spying the goal in mind as more rocks came into play, he inclined his head in the notions of Zuriel’s predilections. He’d meant it more as a joke, the self-deprecating humor coming back to haunt him as Chrys questioned the statement. Maybe. And she has certainly healed many. Not just himself – he’d lost track of how many times she’s endured and ensured his compatriots were hearty and healthy in the midst of battles and dominions. I have a peryton too. Belial. But he is quite foolish. A notion given over with a grin, as if he wasn’t really bothered by the sentiments.
who we were before bones, before dirt, before even light we have always been deep, restless souls
Chrys stayed silent for a moment, thinking about how to express what she meant. I think if you convince someone to become your companion, it's more meaningful than just being given one. Even if you have to work for being given one. It was not a matter of distrusting the gods. Rather, Chrys just liked to try things herself rather than ask for help.
The contemplative mood pushed away by yet another exciting statement, Chrys continued: Can I meet him as well? Foolish sounds fun. Like someone she could do a lot of fun things together with. What's the unicorn like? Since he'd described Belial as foolish in comparison, she'd probably be quite different.
As they were almost at their destination now, Chrys' thoughts went back to the reason why they had come here in the first place. Should we place the jar further into the water, or near the shore? Obviously she would need some water, but she understood that Deimos probably didn't want to go for a dive each time he checked for a message.
Considering the weight of her words, and the experience he’d had in acquiring his own companions, he nodded along. Perhaps. With a cheeky grin he noted another aspect. Belial bonded to me simply because I walked into his hunt. Presuming the echoing screams had been something being viciously assaulted, instead of the peryton finding his favored dinner. It likely depends on the animal. A shrug of his shoulders nestled in between moving muscles, propelling forward and onward with diligence, fortitude, and patience. In the end, it would be in whatever means Chrys thought best and suitable for her.
Sure, which meant she wouldn’t be able to fend him off anyway, already imagining the foregone conclusion. He drifted in the water for a moment, permitting the currents and tides to sweep along his frame, before continuing again in his tenacity and persistence. Haughty. Proud. A bit self-important. The Sword laughed through the bond though, tugging at memories as they swam along, recalling, recollecting, an assortment of melees and disasters. But loyal and protective.
Staring along the stone, he paused in his meandering, pondering over the other platitudes. I can loop the rope around some rocks, and here he pointed to one of the many making up the Miana Pool. It can drift there, and be easy access for both of us? He’d be able to lean down over the boulder, grab hold of the jar and pull it up, while she could tend to it from the water.
who we were before bones, before dirt, before even light we have always been deep, restless souls
True, it most likely depended on both the animal and the person bonding with them. The relationships with companions could be very different for everyone. In the end, she'd just have to find the right way for herself. She sounds fun too! came the exclamation about Zuriel. Though there was a bit of mischief in her tone. Someone haughty and proud was always fun to mess with. She'd probably regret messing with a unicorn later on, but who cared? Worst case, she could just go for a dive to get away till things cooled down.
She pondered the placement of the jar for a moment. Sounds good. Maybe we put some stones inside so that it won't be pushed around by the tides? Or storms, for that matter. It would be better if the jar was heavy enough not to be moved too much by the water. Not too heavy though, you still have to be able to pull it out of the water.
Poking a bear, or equine in this case, with a weapon already embedded along her skull wasn’t the best policy, but Chrys would likely learn from any impending mistakes rather quickly. He snorted at the mischievous intonations, familiar in his own flesh, before turning his attentions back to the matter at hand. Once he surfaced he figured both of his companions would find him anyway.
Stones within the jar, though already padded, might weigh it down and leave it less likely to become damaged, mangled, and broken before the tides even touched it, so he nodded his assent at the notions. Sure. Do you want to see if you can snag some? He wouldn’t even bother addressing the non-issue of not being able to lift it – based on his power, strength, and magic alone.
Thereafter, the Sword swam onward, finding a suitable boulder jutting out from the bottom of the sea, and clambering upward – one of the many ensuring the Miana Pool remained calm and pristine, away from the roaring currents and the strong, undulating surges. From there, he began to loop the long rope around its sanction, following its direction and expanse.
who we were before bones, before dirt, before even light we have always been deep, restless souls
Chrys nodded at his statement. Sure. She went for the seafloor to gather stones, leaving the securing of the rope and jar to Deimos. Among the many stones dropped into the Miana Pool and not carried away by the currents yet, she found a few which seemed to belong into the pool naturally. Not brightly colored or anything of the sort. She wouldn't want to take away a stone dropped in here for a wish.
The stones in hand, she swam up to the surface, emerging there after a few moments. Let's pull it up so I can put them in! They shouldn't flood the jar entirely with water after all. It would be difficult for Deimos to leave messages then. Waiting for Deimos to pull the jar up (she was holding the stones after all), she would then put the stones inside once it was at the surface. She had made sure to pick smooth stones that wouldn't damage the jar from the inside.
With everything in place, and his head bursting over the surface, he took a moment to breathe in air not orchestrated by his own magic. It filled his lungs and absorbed into his blood, his bones, with a feeling of ease; lowering the need for incantations as he sauntered towards the rocks, and ensured the line followed suit. Barefoot but stalwart, steady, on the slippery and boulder components, he snorted at Chrys’s commands, but followed suit, lifting the line upwards so she could drop the stones within the jar.
“That should do it,” he rumbled out loud, rather than over the Attuned proportions – though his eyes drifted instantly back along the pool’s edges. From there, sure enough, the distance outlined distinct, familiar silhouettes, likely following his movements and exploits through bonds and souls. Belial could be seen first, wings outstretched and a very loud hoot bellowing from his swift figure – coming in on the promise of abrupt movements.
who we were before bones, before dirt, before even light we have always been deep, restless souls
Once all the stones were safely in the jar, Chrys made sure to close it properly before letting it back down. With Deimos opting for normal speech, Chrys did the same. No reason to stay in someone's head when they didn't want that. "Yep. Let's hope it will work."
Even if she hadn't followed Deimos's gaze and seen the silhouettes approaching, the noise Belial made would have indicated their arrival. Looking at them with a slightly tilted head, Chrys asked: "Are those your companions?" It was likely since there probably weren't many perytons around, but better be safe than sorry.
“We can test it out,” he suggested, tying a few more knots in the rope, and tugging on it a few times, ensuring the pieces weren’t going to fall apart and scatter the moment he left it. Satisfied with the arrangement, he would’ve started putting together some semblance of an experimental message, but the companions were already a distraction. “Prepare yourself,” he smirked towards the mermaid – as Belial came swooping in.
The peryton glided around him at first, pleased and content and loud, wings brushing over the soldier’s shoulders. Maybe he was ensuring his bonded was all right, maybe he was making up for a lack of obnoxious behavior in the past couple of hours. Deimos reached out his hand to brush over the top of the fanged deer’s head, and satisfied, the beast swung his attentions towards the water-laden citizen.
Abruptly, eyes widening, another outcry (potentially excitement) followed, and then he pursued on swift measures, diving headfirst into the currents, to land with a vicious splash. Probably a greeting. Probably.
Zuriel, however, approached with her cautious, imperial way, and by the look she gave him, Deimos might have expected a silent lecture.
who we were before bones, before dirt, before even light we have always been deep, restless souls
At first, Chrys watched Belial and Zuriel with curiosity while the peryton was busy greeting Deimos. But when Belial plunged into the water, she laughed. Plans about messages and jars pushed aside by other, more pressing ideas, she waited for the peryton to emerge from the water again. Only to greet him with a big splash of water when he would do so.
Deimos and Zuriel seemed busy with other means after all. So what better way of getting to know someone than by a fun game. If the peryton was up to do so as well. And maybe, in the heat of the game, there would be a splash of water missing its target, instead hitting Deimos and Zuriel. Entirely by accident, of course.
The peryton proved to be a distraction from the beginning, and Deimos could only shake his head, turning around in attempts to tend to Zuriel. Patting her softly on the neck, he inspected the saddlebags too, finding his bag of holding no worse for wear, and everything else he’d left behind. A soft murmur of thanks was extended to the mare, and then a few treats furtively slipped towards her on an open palm, so Belial wouldn’t see him spoiling the other. It seemed he was entertained regardless.
The winged deer hooted loudly as the pending water splashed over him – completely unbothered by the whole thing. Shaking off the droplets, while still immersed, he utilized his feathers to spring a cascade back upon the mermaid.
The Sword narrowed his eyes as one happened to be sent his way – and the competitive edge in him re-emerged very quickly, as incantations silently churned the liquid right back to the perpetrators, intending to douse them in the element, with nothing more than an arched brow.
who we were before bones, before dirt, before even light we have always been deep, restless souls
Chrys laughed again when the water she had intended accidentally splashed on Deimos came back her way. That was a trick she'd have to learn at some point. "Sorry!" she exclaimed. Though with her grin and overall mischievous expression, she certainly wasn't.
There wasn't much time to talk though, there was still a peryton to splash after all. And with a grin, she dove beneath the surface. Only to emerge a moment later and use this to make a big wave towards the peryton yet again. Would Deimos take the bait and join in or not? Either way, she'd know soon enough.
Deimos had heard that sort of apology many a time before – and likely instigated some himself – when no one was truly sorry. He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes, perhaps interlaced with a warning of his own penchant for competition and mischief; a dastardly combination at the best of times.
Belial seemed utterly delighted at being doused and soaked though – taking the whole thing in stride as the wave curled and coiled over him. The peryton popped back up from the surface with another wild hoot, and the Sword indulged in assisting his companion.
Secretly, of course.
Without moving from where he stood beside Zuriel, there was no warning given for his next set of incantations. Within a moment, another wave started, forming, curling, and then unfurling rapidly, intending to fully breach below, sending a volley of power and strength towards the mermaid lurking underneath.
who we were before bones, before dirt, before even light we have always been deep, restless souls
Her attention focused on Belial, and not expecting anything to be underwater, Chrys was taken by surprise by the wave Deimos sent. Laughing, she appeared back on the surface. Well, who would be able to make waves underwater? "Hey, that's cheating!" she called out to Deimos. If weird things happen, blame the mage, right? Not like she was actually angry. "Come on and get me fair and square, if you dare!" Well, that rhymed. Of course, that was intentional. Absolutely.
Then again, there was no reason to force someone to join in if they didn't want to. And there was still someone who seemed eager to continue. Did perytons also get dizzy if they spun too much in one spot? Chrys grinned as she started moving, trying to circle around Belial as fast as possible, though still splashing water on him occasionally, hoping that he'll turn with her.
