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!
11-08-2021, 10:32 PM (This post was last modified: 11-08-2021, 11:50 PM by Odd.)
RANDOM EVENT
In the mail you receive a pair of handcuffs and a note that says simply,
Go to the Hanging Tree with your wrists cuffed. Be a team player and leave with a prize. Be the most cunning and win the prizes of everyone else. Get caught, and lose.
Morning mists have filtered into the swamp laying heavily above the putrid soil. Sounds echo around sounding both near and far. The Hanging Tree is stark against the sky, the ground poisoned by lives wrongly taken here.
Have you brought your cuffs? If so, put them on now. You're clever, aren't you? So I'm sure you'll win. You have nothing to worry about.
Welcome to the DROP where you can potentially win A TON OF STATS. You might also be temporarily cursed. But only temporarily with no lasting effects.
You have 48 hours to post your character arriving!
11-08-2021, 11:02 PM (This post was last modified: 11-09-2021, 04:06 PM by Nikolai.)
Nikolai
Not all truths Belong to the light
Swallowing harshly Nikolai arrives, freshly cuffed and rather uncomfortable. It was times like this where Nikolai was even more grateful for being an Ascended. The flush on his face was nearly invisible and for that, he was unspeakably thankful. Being handcuffed was a bizarre experience and one that he never expected to have. Shoulders hunching in, he subconsciously tries to make himself smaller.
Staying on the edge of the area, Nikolai tries to avoid the eyes of everyone else. Staring at his feet, he swallows harshly. This...this situation was...weird. And it terrifies him, but he's beginning to realize that it's not a bad weird. Do I.. like this..? OH FUCK NO. He did not have the time or energy to unpack that. Refusing to go down that train of thought, Nikolai raises his head and observes the people arriving.
Nikolai arrives while having an internal crisis.
The world is new to you, and you to it. During PQ/PQ+/KQs/Drops, you roll with advantage on luck-based rolls and receive an extra name during drops. (In order to use this, make sure to note the ability at the bottom of each post)
11-08-2021, 11:59 PM (This post was last modified: 11-09-2021, 04:07 PM by Sah.)
yet my blood renders me a King
When Sah says he hates this, he means it. The former wild monster in him is furious. Being restrained in any form, even consensually like this did not agree with him. It was wrong, twisted, and it made him grind his teeth in frustration. For the first time in nearly a year, he felt the desire to bite anyone that got too close. He really didn't like this, not in the slightest.
However, with all of the insanity of the last couple seasons, he felt the need to show up. Hearing thing secondhand of if and how this situation went south, wouldn't cut it. Sah wanted to be here himself for any of the chaos. How was he supposed to protect Halo and his loved ones if he didn't know for sure what was happening in Caido?
Even so, the Abandoned wasn't happy about this. Stepping into the area, he ground his teeth, feeling far too vulnerable with his hands cuffed. At least he could always cover himself in lightning if things turned violent.
Sah arrives. He does not like the whole being restrained bit. Not in the least.
Type: Grey
Electrical Sword | Using Sah's own elemental magic, this sword has the power to electrify those it hits. (Made by Deimos)
I'm the lesser of two evils
Or am I, am I tricking myself nice?
Gideon had never been one to step down from a challenge and when he had received the letter he had interpreted it in the much the way a Priest might be expected to - as a divine trial, some kind of test delivered from above. A way to prove himself better than those that might come against the truth and a chance to see the abilities of his enemies. It was just what he had been praying for.
He brought handcuffs, some that he had found under the Temple in the room no one but he and Cian knew of. As well, he brought his compass and staff - could never be too careful. As always, he wore his rings.
Arriving at the Hanging Tree, the only other he could see was a young man that he gave a wide berth to. Pulling the handcuffs from his bag, Gideon put the key in his front pocket where it would be easily accessible, made sure everything else was equally easy to grab on his person, either on his belt or the side of his bag, then clipped the cuffs around his wrists.
---
Gideon arrives and puts the key in his front pocket before clapping himself in the handcuffs.
He has:
Type: Grey
Order Ring | A ring that detects the presence of other Accepted
Type: Light
Capitol Compass (Upgraded) | Can travel to the political hubs in all settled lands. The needle on the compass will also seek out Ascended shrines.
Type: Light
Divining Ring | Grants Gideon insight into the divine relationship of those within 5ft of him.
Type: Light
Sunlight Staff (Basic) | A staff infused with a crystal that has been drenched in the sun's light. When the staff is struck into the ground, it will create a 5ft dome of sunlight until it is pulled free. (Will negate up to 20% of an Ascended's sunlight resistance).
If I'm a lesser of two evils
Who's this man, who's this act I hide behind?
Handcuffs and a vague letter? Sounded like the old days.
Strutting into the muck and mire like it was a black-tie event, Edy twirls the handcuffs on one finger as she eyes those in attendance. Recognizing Nikolai from #AscendedShit and Gideon as #ThatAsshole, the rapacious nevertheless decides to linger on her own.
Leaning against a tree with one boot pressed against the drunk and the cuffs still swirling on one long finger, Edy runs her tongue over her teeth before clasping the metal around her wrist with practised ease. Not a complete idiot, she locks her wrists into place in front of her body so that she'd still have the use of her hands (more or less).
You give Locke a pair of handcuffs and an invitation to a strange place? He's gonna show up. For shits and giggles mostly. Plus, they always say that curiosity killed the cat. He arrives, making his way towards the small crowd that's starting to gather. He knows none of them, save for Sah. He elbows the other man gently before cuffing himself. He tucks the key into a front pocket and looks over to Sah. Locke points towards the pocket, as if to make sure Sah saw him put the key there. Just in case shit goes south, or something. He and Sah may not be friends but he hopes they're on friendly terms at the very least.
It's a strange letter to receive, sure, but who is Nate to look a gift horse in the mouth? Honestly, Nate is positive whatever's waiting for them isn't going to be half as fun as he's imagining, but that's not going to stop him from playing into the fantasy.
The cuffs Nate's brought along aren't solid metal, but soft leather, secured in the middle with an elongated metal ring. He has two pairs, one for him and one for Sunjata, who he flies in on. They're a little ways away to start, Edy the only person he really has sight of, but her presence immediately calms him, Nate's shoulders dropping as he turns back to his husband and waits for him to shift.
Quick hands secure the leather around the attuned's wrists, Nate pulling them so they're snug but not tight before fastening his own, the straps made more difficult by the fact that he has to use his teeth. When they're both secure, Nate flashes a toothy grin at the attuned beside him and gestures towards the group, his grin slipping a little when he finally sees who's in attendance.
Of course.
Nate has the following:
Type: Dark
Fang Necklace | A necklace of sea panther teeth. These may be used once per thread to cause intimidation to nearby enemies. (Enemies will roll with disadvantage for that round).
Type: Dark
Everywhere Arrow | A sleek, obsidian arrow. Controlled by whistling, the arrow is moved and directed via a mental link with the user. Range of 15ft, works with Ascended only.
Type: Light
Feather Foot Charm | A charm which allows the user to float harmlessly to the ground from any height. One use only.
Tourniquets of velvet ropes My four-finger crucifix
Handcuffs aren’t exactly worrisome when you’re a literal acrobat, but they certainly are enticing. Harper is no Houdini, doesn’t make his mark on the basis of escaping entanglements, but mysterious letters have (oddly enough) served him well so far, so who is he to ignore a summons now?
Everyone else seems to have had the (b)right idea in handcuffing themselves and doing so in front of them. Still, it’s boring to follow the flock, and Harper wanders in with his hands already cheerily locked behind his back. Flat of his knuckles resting against his ass, and staring about with a boyish grin at those in attendance. Not too many he knows which is a shame, though he wanders closer to Gideon after seeing how many Ascended are present. Who it is he is protecting isn't really clear even to him, but hopefully they can have an uneventful evening with their mysterious benefactor.
lord don't let me break this, let me hold you lightly give me arms to pray with instead of ones that hold too tightly
It is an odd letter to receive, but truthfully? It sounds like it could be fun, too, and so with a bit of back and forth of whether or not they should go, it comes with unsurprising ease that they show. He flies in, of course, the dragon landing a ways away from the hanging tree, casting a glance toward Nate with the edge of a smirk tugging at his lips. He sees Edy too, followed by the brief glimpse of Locke and Nikolai, before he’s distracted from looking further when Nate cuffs him.
The amusement is palpable from the Attuned, rolling his shoulders and watching as Nate struggles momentarily to cuff himself, resorting to using his teeth. “Could’ve let me cuff you first.” He murmurs, an elbow nudging toward Nate with a playful wink before his gaze lands on the rest of those that have come and his amusement falters a fraction too. Ah well, at least he’s got a few things with him to make sure things don’t go too far south.
Besides, here’s hoping it’s fun.
Sunjata arrives with Nate! He brings the following:
Type: Light
Illusion Stone | A black stone that's open in the centre. When looked through, the stone can reveal even god-level illusions for what they are.
Type: Grey
hEARs | An earring that when worn, increases the sound of voices (especially whispers)
Type: Dark
Trident Daggers (Upgraded) | Two daggers perfectly weighted and sculpted for Sunjata. One can shoot fire in a 5ft arc and the other electricity.
there is a world inside of me
SUNJATA
No permission needed for power play!
Feel free to use magic/force on Sunjata, without killing him <3
Sunjata speaks with an Australian accent and has a passive magic that makes him produce a subtle scent that matches exactly to whatever those around him most desire him to smell like.
I could take all that you love We could get down fading numb
Ah, alright then. What had been alluring at first is now a daunting prospect as the Valkyrie arrives with golden head high and expression smooth and unbothered. Oh but she is. So many people, so many ties, so little time. She keeps her eyes firmly ahead of her, wrists cuffed together before her, and doesn’t even let herself look at Sah. Even that relationship, small as it had been, is strained with the abandonment she felt in the wake of Halo’s events. Though her goodbye with Sunjata had been as bittersweet as it could get, she hasn’t seen Nate since, and now isn’t exactly an ideal time.
Still, it could be worse. Hotaru is certain of that. There are people she would undoubtedly want to see even less in a place like this.
So instead Ru keeps to her own little corner, her face a crystalline mask of nothingness, placid and unchanged as she awaits the strangeness that Caido never fails to deliver.
Gasoline kiss on my lips Tell yourself you know it's me
Hotaru has a passive magic that makes her glow with an internal golden light; it makes her appear youthful and her hair seems to look like moving sunlight. Can only subtly illuminate dark spaces.
11-10-2021, 02:32 PM (This post was last modified: 11-10-2021, 04:51 PM by Wessex.)
Is she a dick for showing up? Maybe.Probably. Yes.
But this is war and if Wessex can’t have a prize then she wants to ensure that another Asended does. Not that she really has any say in the matter, but she can try. The handcuffs that arrived remind her of another pair she’s not had much use for yet, and the Wraith quickly grabs that other pair and switches them out. Who knows what kind of magic the other handcuffs have (if any) - these at least, she knows she can break tout of. The original pair of handcuffs goes into an easily accessible pocket.
Collecting her shadow cloak, the demigod teleports as far as she can go and then flits through the shadows to the Hanging Tree, coming up on the fringes of the small group. She notes who’s there - and who isn’t - and with her hands shackled in front of her, waits to see what will happen.
-----------------
Wessex has traded out the handcuffs sent to her for her own pair (but still has the mailed pair with her) and wears her shadow cloak:
Type: Grey
Restraint-cuffs | A magical pair of handcuffs that can restrain any creature with a STR of 30 or below. (Made by Remi)
Type: Grey
Shadow-Cloth | A cloak that renders the wearer invisible when in shadow. (Made by Remi)
The world is new to you, and you to it. During PQ/PQ+/KQs/Drops, you roll with advantage on luck-based rolls and receive an extra name during drops. (In order to use this, make sure to note the ability at the bottom of each post)
11-11-2021, 04:30 PM (This post was last modified: 11-11-2021, 04:38 PM by Random Event.)
RANDOM EVENT
Some of you have tried to be clever (looking at you, Wessex), some crafty (Gideon, bringing a handcuff he doesn't have). Some of you are standoffish, some gather in groups. Some are smiling, and maybe some are just a little bit excited for whats to come. Regardless, you're all in the same boat now.
The world around you disappears. There is nothing but darkness. You can scream, you can run, you can try and shift or teleport and none of it will have any effect at all. The only thing now in this world of darkness you inhabit are two buttons. One that says DEFECT and one that says COOPERATE.
Now, here is where things get interesting in a purely meta sort of way, so just go with it.
If everyone cooperates, you will ALL receive +3 stats.
If everyone defects, the defectors will be cursed.
If 5 or fewer defect, the defectors will receive +4 stats, and those who chose to cooperate will receive nothing.
If 5 or more defect, the defectors will be cursed and the cooperators will receive +2 stats.
If only ONE person defects, that person will receive +10 stats.
If only ONE person cooperates, that person will receive +10 stats.
You have 48 hours to make your choice. Do NOT post in this thread again until you're told to do so. A group DM has been set up for you.
You press your buttons. Comply, comply, defect, comply...until all of you have chosen. When the final button is pushed those who have selected to defect will feel a powerful rush surge through their fingers and race up their arm.
For those who chose to comply? I wonder what made you do it. Will you rethink this strategy in the future and opt for selfishness instead? Well, until then, you're welcome for the easiest drop thread you've ever participated in (and also the most meta).
Nate, Sah, Locke, and Hotaru have won +4 stats. The remaining participants get NOTHING.
