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 ocean does not apologize for its depth and the mountains do not seek forgiveness
Deimos, fortunately or unfortunately, was a suspicious person by nature, given how his lives had gone. A warrior through and through, with a penchant for survival, machinations, and analyzing, the note he’d received had been curious at the very least. Something about having his best interest (doubtful; he could name very few who held that regard). Something about danger. Something about potential rewards. Probably laden with a trap. The usual. He probably should’ve come to expect it by now.
So with the house’s seemingly random appearance in the Feverlands of all places, his intrigue piqued. Knowing full well that it was likely a snare, he proceeded with caution and interest gathered together in slow strides and casual inspection of the outer layers.
--
Deimos walks around the house, inspecting it over.
I feel the pages turning, I see the candle burning down before my eyes
Having decided that Noah would not leave on dangerous endeavors without Deimos, meant for him the same.
Following the Sword, Noah stopped briefly to look the odd house over for a moment head on. His brows knit together and he felt the muscles between his shoulders stiffen. Taking a step forward, the Sentinel turned and took to his own inspection, going around the house the opposite way as Deimos. He left himself open over the attuned bond, his mind keenly aware should Deimos send anything his way. It was interesting, this house having cropped up from seemingly nowhere. There was no other settlement around, no other structures that gave any evidence to someone having made the Feverlands their permanent habitat. It was curious, but it had the demigod on edge.
Noah also inspects around the house, around the other side!
Perhaps Juniper should have had better uses for her time than investigating rumors in the swamp, but she really didn't mind a distraction from war preparations. Besides, she was curious. A strange house in the Feverlands? What made it strange? Why did anyone care about it? It could just be some ancient hermit's cottage.
But on flying out here, Juniper knew that was wrong -- this was truly something odd. She felt drawn to the house; a sensation almost called yearning filled her, a feeling that she would find everything she needed behind that door.
She pushed it away and focused on the others present. "Hello, Deimos, Noah."
Watching the two men do a circuit of the house, Juniper thought that seemed like a good idea. And she had wings, which might let her get a different angle -- literally. Rising into the air, she checked the roof carefully, then began to fly around the house, looking for anything out of the ordinary.
Juniper flies around the house to inspect it, with particular attention to the roof.
Juniper
"art nouveau winged fairy" by e³°°° is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit here
Wessex is already slogging through the swamp and looking for her sister, what’s a little side-quest to an odd, definitely out of place house? These random appearances have been becoming more and more… complicated and dangerous of late, but the Wraith is more protected than most. So why not? She heard the instructions, knock and off we go!
While the other three are busy inspecting the house, the ascended demigod steps right up to the front door and raps politely: once, twice, three times. With a glance around her, she then takes half a step back and waits to see what will happen.
Sah had seen the house from a distance and made his way over out of wary curiosity. As he drew near, the Abandoned's eyes narrowed. He saw Deimos, Noah, and Juniper investigating the exterior and gave them each a nod in greeting.
However, he felt that Wessex's method was likely the best course of action. Snooping around a strange house might anger the inhabitants. It seemed more logical to be direct. And so, coming up beside Wessex, he nodded respectfully and a bit warily to the Demigod as she knocked on the door, "Wessex."
Greetings made, the Outlander waited to see who might come and answer the door.
He would add this to the list of strange fucking things he's seen out here but it kind of feels almost tame. He's not sure why everyone is so suspicious of a house in the swamps. Probably some dumb ass that wanted to get away and got eaten by the local wildlife.
He spots Sah and Wessex, a pair he recognizes, if barely. Not that he could forget his little game of cat and.. snake with Wessex. Either way, he slips over to the pair, peeking over their shoulders but standing a bit of the way back. "Are we the welcoming party? Think they're new to town?" He's trying to ignore any.. unsavory feelings that might be about. He's just curious what seems to be drawing everyone else out.
______
Locke goes to bother Wessex and Sah at the door.
In disguises no one knows hides the face Lies the snake and the sun in my disgrace
Rhyming is hard, and we're not playing around any more, kids. It's just cold, hard words from here on out.
There's a great, deep knocking that reverberates throughout the rickety house, granted by all those who have decided to announce their presence. If this were a fair world, perhaps that would dictate how things pan out.
Alas, life is full of random chance and cruel fates, and so it goes like this.
The door creaks open with a sound like screaming steel, revealing a dark rectangle of black.
Only Noah, Juniper, Sah and Locke will be permitted to enter. All others will find it impossible.
Welcome to the Relic KQ!
Because this has plot ramifications, it (and all subsequent relic KQs) will be scaled based on level and more difficult than normal). Remember to include a summary at the bottom of your post with all action taken. If weapons/upgrades/abilities/items/shifts/etc are used, please include their desc. from your profile at the bottom of your post as well. If you don't do this, they won't be taken into account!
Noah, Juniper, Sah and Locke have been chosen for this KQ as part of the Random Event. These characters may choose not to participate, and may nominate someone else to step in. Please be aware that this may affect the difficulty of the KQ.
There is no post order for this round, but only those who have been chosen to participate (or those they select as their replacements) may reply.
The screeching metal and inky depths revealed send a shiver down Sah's spine. Without even looking backwards for fear something might emerge, he calls out to Lilly, "Go home pup. I'll meet you there." Lilly reluctantly obeys and disappears into the trees.
Sah however draws his sword and peers into the house. He glances at the people beside him and then steps forward. "Pardon the intrusion." He calls out into the house as he enters. Although the open-door seems like a beckoning gesture, the Abandoned would rather take all measures not to piss off the owner of the house. Not when the ominous feel in the air is obvious and his instincts scream at him of possible danger.
Sah sends Lilly home (she attempts to exit the KQ) before drawing his sword and carefully entering the house.
He has all items from his profile.
Type: Grey
Electrical Sword | Using Sah's own elemental magic, this sword has the power to electrify those it hits. (Made by Deimos)
Type: Grey
Two-way parchment | This parchment will replicate whatever is written upon it to its partner-parchment, regardless of distance.
Well, doesn't that look delightful. Juniper hesitates on the doorstep. Every ounce of common sense in her body says to turn away and leave, not move towards that ominous dark portal. Who knows what could happen in there? And she'd take this risk for what gain -- merely to satisfy her curiosity?
On the other hand, she flew all the way out here to find answers, not to circle the house and then decide not to enter. Abandoning that search felt like cowardice, especially when no tangible danger has yet presented itself. It's just a spooky house.
The sight of Sah sending away his companion does not inspire Juniper with great confidence. But still, after a long moment's contemplation, she steps over the threshold. The house seems to have chosen her, at the expense of others, and she doesn't want to deny whatever intelligence might have made that choice.
For a moment she considers trying to prop the door open -- it's so obvious that it will swing shut the moment everyone enters, trapping them within. But she has no good materials for such a doorstop, and she suspects that trying to circumvent her fate like that would only make things worse.
So, with a deep breath and a cautious stance, she walks inside, her hand on her hunting knife. Raising her other hand, Juniper sends out a few small lights into the darkness with her illusion magic.
Juniper is in!
She has the following: her bow (and arrows), hunting knife, and dagger.
She is using her illusion magic to try to light up the interior of the house.
Illusion: Can create minor sensory effects within a 5ft radius
Type: Grey | Rank: Basic
Juniper
"art nouveau winged fairy" by e³°°° is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit here
Sah waves Lilly away and he frowns. It's for the best but it doesn't bode well for the gut feeling everyone seems to have. It's just a creepy, run down house in the middle of the swamps but it can't be that bad, right? That doesn't stop him from partially shifting, jaguar ears and eyes to aid him in the darkness. He's cocky, not stupid after all. He keeps his right hand at his side, hovering but not quite holding his dagger. Surely it will come in handy but he's ignoring the way the hair on his neck raises.
He steps through the doorway after Juniper and Sah, moving slowly.
________________
Locke partially shifts (jaguar eyes and ears) and goes into the house!
He has a dagger!
In disguises no one knows hides the face Lies the snake and the sun in my disgrace
I feel the pages turning, I see the candle burning down before my eyes
As Noah inspected around the house, he briefly acknowledged those that greeted him before slinking around the back. He reappeared on the other side, only to see Lilly dart off into the forest and for Sah to move into the open door of the house. Shit. The hunter's jaw feathered and he looked to Deimos quickly, "I'll go in after him if you keep watch out here."
Climbing the stairs to the house and completely ignoring Wessex -- if she wanted to kill him today, she would have tried already -- stepped inside behind Sah and the others. Juniper seemed to be taking her own inspection, letting flickers of light enter the dark room, and Locke (the man somewhere between stranger and acquaintance) following suite. Noah shifted uncomfortably, but stood at Sah's side. He lifted the bow he was never without off of his back, calming his heart.
Noah has everything listed in his profile as well as:
Clever little things, aren't we? Juniper is right, of course, and as the party enters the house the door slams shut behind them, sealing them within. (From without, the house seems to look a bit smug, in fact, and if it were capable, it would have let out a belch of satisfaction).
And it's Juniper to the rescue again, in fact - her lights wisp through the area, illuminating an enormous, grand old staircase and two corridors spidering away to the right and the left. Something deep within the house seems to titter and giggle. Or perhaps it's distant singing? Who knows?
Pick a direction and find out.
The group has three options available to them: Up the stairs, to the left and to the right.
Because this has plot ramifications, it (and all subsequent relic KQs) will be scaled based on level and more difficult than normal). Remember to include a summary at the bottom of your post with all action taken. If weapons/upgrades/abilities/items/shifts/etc are used, please include their desc. from your profile at the bottom of your post as well. If you don't do this, they won't be taken into account!
Continuing to light the area, Juniper looks at the other explorers. Noah is the only one she recognizes, but she considers him an ally. She might have doubts about his actions in the past, after all, but they both serve the Old Gods -- whatever doubts Juniper might have these days -- and they both have the interests of their homelands at heart, interests that align.
"I don't think we should split up," Juniper says. Though she speaks to the entire group, it's Noah she intends to stick by, if the others don't agree. "My vote is for upstairs, but I'll go wherever we all think is wise."
Juniper continues to light the room as much as she can. Illusion: Can create minor sensory effects within a 5ft radius
Type: Grey | Rank: Basic
She suggests that the group stick together and head up the stairs. If the others disagree, she'll go with whatever direction the group chooses or, if people start splitting up, she'll go with Noah.
Juniper
"art nouveau winged fairy" by e³°°° is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit here
