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!
Eating fire is your ambition to swallow the flame down
Eternally an emboldened sort, there’d been enough stories circulating around Torchline to make the youth insistent on seeing particular things. Dangerous? Check. Maybe a threat to others? Check. Wanting to see it simply for the sake of saying you had? Check! Were these great, grand motivations? Probably not – but the honeybee had just the right amount of chaos, power, and impulsive designs to crave the potential.
“All right,” she turned to the assembled – one Accepted she’d never met but was willing to interact with because her friendly, outgoing nature insisted new friends were made even in the foreboding calamity, and Maeve. “The Ceffyl Dŵr is supposed to be around some mountain pools and waterfalls,” she read off her notes, looking back and forth at them from her parchment – the morning sun not quite glimpsing through the jungle warren. They’d be able to set off without the heat of the day pressing in on them; although the youth had already tied back her long, wild locks. “Got all your weapons ready, just in case?” A bright, broad grin enveloped over her features, before she secured her own quiver, bow, and staff. “Let’s head off!”
And so she stuck along a trail, winding their way upon the path, Fangorn bumbling behind her.
--
Come on in, secure your weapons (hope you brought some!) and we’ll go searching for stuff!
Intent on learning more about this new world she had recently found herself in, Lilliane had decided to join in this search without much of a second thought. After all, it would certainly be a way to both learn more about the creatures living here as well as get to know some people. And a water horse sounded like something amazing to see.
Now, surrounded by the noises of the jungle, she was not sure whether all of this was a good idea any more.
"Weapons? I thought we were just going to look for a horse?" Lilliane asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice. She had expected there to be some dangerous places within Caido, but to think that she might have walked into one without knowing was exactly her luck. "I mean, I guess I could try using a branch or something if it comes to the worst." It wasn't like she had no fighting experience, after all.
But now that she'd come here, she sure as hell wouldn't go back without at least trying to find that Cef-something.
I get them all worked up and down on their knees, you see
Maeve treks along behind Melita, her pack secure across her shoulder and her bow in her hand as they press through the thick foliage, whistling lowly to Aidon to scout ahead. The dragon swoops down, snagging playfully at Fangorn with his claws, but careful not to hurt him as he trills and gives his best impression of a grin. The dragon flies ahead of the group, searching along the somewhat cleared path for any signs of danger, occasionally sending flashes back to Maeve.
The Nightshade checks that her whip is secured to her hip as well, glancing over at the newcomer, "It's unlikely that we'll have too much trouble, but just stay behind us. Aidon will watch your back." She says of her companion, offering the girl a smile before turning her attention back to the honeybee girl, "Lead the way, Mel."
Maeve has her bow, whip, a pack with basic adventure supplies, and Aidon with her!
Eating fire is your ambition to swallow the flame down
Even with Maeve’s assurances, Melita’s smile turned into a broad, Cheshire grin towards the stranger, grabbing hold of a spare dagger from her calf. “Here you go!” With a sunny little hum, she maneuvered onward, eyes watching as Aidon hovered above, filling in Lilliane as best she could with the information passed by word of mouth. “Yes, but this is a dangerous water horse.” If that continue to give the poor Outlander misgivings, Melita’s skipping along the trail probably didn’t help.
Of all of them though, it was Lilliane who would notice something first as they neared the falls. A glimpse, perhaps, of the aforementioned creature, slipping in amongst the trees, brushing over fern and bracken, before twisting and turning into the fog. The billowing mist unfurled from the falls, leaving a distant, muted roar to pervade through their ears, and the chaotic youth ceased her humming to listen. “Let me know if you spot or hear anything,” and she tightened her grip along her staff, hastening forward, into the haze.
--
Lilliane has seen something! Melita has also given her a knife to use!
Keep on going into the mist!
to be lit up from within, vein by vein to be the sun
Follwing her two companions, Lilliane felt at least somewhat reassured by Maeves words, responding with a smile in turn. The same smile was given to Melita as well. "Thanks." She took the dagger, weighing it in her hand for a moment. Not too different from the knife she had used in the past. "How is it dangerous? Will it attack us?" she asked, slightly nervous yet still determined.
When they neared the falls and the mist thickened before them, Lilliane started to keep a closer eye on the surroundings. A short nod followed Melittas statement. Somewhat more cautious, Lilliane followed into the mists slowly. It was in that moment, the mist still thin around her, that she saw movement in the distance. Only for a moment, she saw a creature. Definitely something like a horse, though it was too short to be sure whether it was truly the water horse.
"There! I think I saw something, maybe the horse." she exclaimed in the type of loud whisper people usually do when they want to be heard yet are afraid to be heard by the wrong people. Pointing in the direction where she saw the creature vanish into fog, she then continued on deeper into the fog, towards the place where the creature seemed to have gone.
I get them all worked up and down on their knees, you see
Maeve trains her eyes ahead, narrowing them slightly to look through the mist, sending a silent command to Aidon to follow the movement up ahead. The dragon swoops into the dense fog, wings stirring up the clouds, orange eyes scanning for any sign of the creature they're looking for. "They're known to be dicks." Maeve huffs through a laugh, slowing her steps to walk beside the other Accepted, "They'll let you ride them, but are rumored to disappear at impromptu times and drop you to your death." Rather grim for a water horse.
Nothing really surprises the queen anymore, though. "I'm Maeve, by the way." She doesn't add her title, assuming that the woman likely already knows who she is. Most people did.
Maeve sends Aidon forward to scout and introduces herself.
Eating fire is your ambition to swallow the flame down
“Ooh, good eye,” she whispered to Lilliane, an encouraging, ferocious little force as they followed after the supposed trail. As for the treacherous proportions of the water horses, she unfolded another broad grin, once Maeve had described exactly what they sought. “Right. So we don’t ride them, we’re good to go.” In the simplest terms, of course. Maybe that was her emboldened, audacious personality shining through, or the confidence in her weapons training.
All three managed to catch sight of a trail (a tail, maybe?), ducking along lower branches, getting closer and closer to the mist and fog, and then it loomed before them – an endless abyss.
Aidon’s scouting measures would come in handy above the swirl – he’d be able to see a glimpse of a corporeal body from over the haze, deeper and deeper into a southern corner of the embankment. If Maeve alerted them, surely the rest of their gaggle would be able to wander down and catch a glimpse of this mystifying creature.
--
Aidon has spotted the horse!
to be lit up from within, vein by vein to be the sun
Lilliane nodded to the explanations of the two women. "Just don't ride the horse. Noted." Unless it had some kind of magic to draw them in, she thought to herself. It wouldn't surprise her. Then again, with everything being new to her, everything was surprising and yet not at the same time.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Lilliane." She gave Maeve a warm smile as she introduced herself before focusing back on the trail they were following. Wandering into the mist and ducking beneath branches, she tried to stay behind one of the women, which proved no difficult task, with Melita as energetic as she was. She'd rather not be at the front and run headfirst into danger. Worst case, the other two would have to save her and she didn't want to cause them trouble.
--
Lilliane introduces herself and stays behind one of the other two.
I get them all worked up and down on their knees, you see
Aidon sends her a flash of color, trilling above them as he dives into the mist, intent on trailing after the beast. The Nightshade slows, brows drawing together as she puts two and two together. "Aidon saw it. He's pursuing now." Maeve informs the two other girls, glancing over at Melita with a grin, a sudden flash of mischief in her gaze. She pulls an arrow from her quiver, knocking it just in case, "Race you."
She goads, taking off into the mist after Aidon, following the swirling clouds that gave away where the horse had disappeared. Despite her speed, the queen was careful, keeping her eyes peeled for any danger.
Maeve sends Aidon after the horse and goads Melita into a race.
Eating fire is your ambition to swallow the flame down
Had Melita introduced herself? Or had she gone in, full tilt, without the sense of manners? Probably the latter, and so she laughed in spite of it all, committing the other Accepted’s name to memory. “I’m Melita!” And then they were back to scuttling their way through branches, bramble, and mist, following after Aidon’s wings and tail tips.
The mischief, and the goading, was enough to spur her into further action. Was she easy to rile, invoke, and incite? Absolutely. Did it mean she would do something stupid? Probably. The length of her Cheshire grin unraveled into devilish proportions, and without further delay, she whipped her long legs into multitudes of frenetic display, jumping and launching over pathways, using her staff to brandish and break through some of the undergrowth. Poor Fangorn was left to bumble around and roll his eyes.
Even with their speed though, it’d be Lilliane who’d see the latest glimpse of the animal – coasting in mid-air, before diving headlong into the lake. Maybe it’d been alerted by the noises they made, or the excitement in the vestiges. Maybe it was poor luck. Maybe that was going to happen all along.
--
Well, now what will you do?
to be lit up from within, vein by vein to be the sun
With both of the other two picking up in speed, Lilliane struggled to keep up with them. Several times she had to jump or evade in the last moment, lest she'd run into something appearing out of the mist. Racing through the mist like that, it was stupid and crazy. Yet at the same time strangely exhilarating. Lilliane couldn't help but smile.
It was by mere chance, that she looked in the right direction at just the right time. Only to see the anmal they'd been chasing all along moving through the air for a moment and then diving into the lake. "In the lake!" she exclaimed. Slowing her pace down, she headed to the shore of the lake. There she looked at the other two. "Do you think we can lure it out? Is there something it likes?" They probably knew more about this creature than she did.
I get them all worked up and down on their knees, you see
It was all rather silly. Chasing a mist horse and racing through the jungle, but Maeve needed a bit of silliness. She laughs, sprinting after Melita and vaulting over fallen limbs, pushing through greenery, and giving chase to the Honeybee rather recklessly. Perhaps it was their childish antics that sent that horse further into the mist or perhaps it would have chosen to go that way anyway. It didn't matter one way or another.
Aidon, noticing that Fangorn was left behind, circles back to swoop down and pick his friend up in his claws with a trill. He gives the gourd the equivalent of a grin, head hanging down as he ducks and weaves through the trees, orange eyes bright.
Only when they all reach the edge of the lake do they slow down. Maeve plants her hands on her knees, peering out into the mist as the water ripples, "I wonder if it likes fish or something? Maybe we can lure it out that way."
Eating fire is your ambition to swallow the flame down
A pause after the racing, the exhilaration, the audacity, the emboldened efforts – and she concocted a bright grin on her features just the same, even if they lost sight of the creature. She shielded her eyes from the sun drifting its way through the mist and clearing, toes inching along the shoreline. There was half a moment where she distracted by Aidon and Fangorn’s antics (shaking her head), but then there were other notions to consider. At both suggestions, the honeybee shrugged her shoulders, spirited and unafraid, undaunted and unbothered. “We can try it!”
So she went along the lines of subtle forest until she found some decent sticks, peeling away from twigs from their dried adornments, ensuring they became some makeshift spears for the simple, little quest. “We can use these,” and she handed one to each of them in turn, before returning to the embankment, peering over the edges, looking for some fish to bludgeon.
--
Try spearing for some fish!
to be lit up from within, vein by vein to be the sun
I get them all worked up and down on their knees, you see
Maeve huffed out a laugh at Aidon and Fangorn, watching the two as her companion swooped back down, placing the vampire gourd gently onto the shore once more. They really were a pair. The Nightshade took one of the makeshift spears, stepping towards the edge of the water, jade eyes scanning for any shimmer of scales to aim at. For a moment there is nothing. Until there is suddenly something. A flash of silver beneath the surface of the water. She struck, sending her spear through the surface in an attempt to get one of the fish on the end of it, jaw set in determination.
