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!
If only it weren't for his massive man- Locke shifts himself a little, grunting softly. How did he get stuck but not Deimos? Everyone tries their best to get him loose and he lets them help because why not? Except he's feeling no small measure of claustrophobic. He has something for this, probably. As long as no one steps on him. "Take these for a sec, would ya Jack?" He tries to hands the bags over to Jack before shifting into a snake. Surely a snake is small enough to fit through the gap he's in. Especially when Deimos is being so kind as to move the walls for him.
__
Locke tries to give Jack his bags before shifting into a rhino viper to get through.
Before he knows it, Jack is being jostled past and handed shit and there's a lot of rumbly, earth movey sounds going on. "Oi," he manages, just about, when Locke goes ahead and turns into a fucking snake anyway. "Well that's great, but we needed these in the cavern, not you," he snaps, his voice muffled by all the bags he's now holding.
If you want a job done properly and all that. Providing Deimos is able to move the rock and keep it stable, Jack will sidle through the space and into the cavern where they can finally set up this first safe house. Things will hopefully continue in this (annoying but relatively easy) vein throughout the rest of their trip. He doesn't count on it, though.
are the angels on their way? i’m in the dirt
Jack being an Abandoned is common knowledge these days, however his Telepathy remains a well-kept secret:
Magic: Passive Telepathy | The user can read the surface thoughts and emotions of those within a 30ft radius. Control is excellent. Note: "Thoughts and emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
Type: Grey | Rank: Mastered
Also branded with a small star tattoo beneath his left eye.
Really, with someone as practiced as the Sword in the group, there was very little doubt about the rock bending to his will. Things groan and glide and rearrange themselves as if they're made of butter rather than stone, providing a passage wide enough for everyone to get through safely. Fabulous.
Once things are settled, Ray will be pleased to note that this drop-off zone, at least, is as safe as they come. You're able to unload the first set of rations, blankets, medicines etc. unimpeded. Which is good, because there are still two more hidey holes to find.
As you come out of the first bolthole, there are now two options - one tunnel drops quite steeply down and out of sight, but there's a ruddy sort of glow towards the bottom. The other leads around a sharp bend, and a cool wind ruffles hair. Pick one!
Ray shifts back into her normal body and considers their two options. "I'm curious about that glow but it is rather steep. It might be difficult for some citizens to traverse. The other one has a breeze so... it might have a secondary entrance? That can be good in case they need to escape." Thinking for one more moment the herbalist nods, "I vote the one with the breeze, but majority should rule here."
Ray knows that some of the others here likely have more experience in hide-outs. If they think the steeper path is better, she'll be willing to go along with it. Still her intuition weighs heavily towards the second option.
Ray votes they go towards the tunnel with the breeze but will go with whatever the majority chooses.
Cordelia takes her supplies back from Jack, unloading it in the hidey hole as way is cleared with the aide of both Deimos and Locke. She keeps two more bundles together, shifting to join Ray with a furrow between her brows, considering her words. "I agree. I think that will be a good start. The glow could be lava or something. Deimos might be able to make the way down there easier, though." She suggests, beginning to press towards the opening with the breeze, adjusting her pack on her back.
"Deimos, do you think we could get some extra light in here?" The Attuned asks, glancing back at her counterpart with a soft smile.
Cordelia agrees with Ray's suggestion and also thinks out loud about the other option too as she presses towards the opening with the breeze.
Say something, something like you love me Less you want to move away from the noise of this place
02-14-2022, 11:11 PM (This post was last modified: 02-15-2022, 02:12 AM by Deimos.)
DEIMOS
Heave the silver hollow sliver
The motions accomplished, some proportions dropped off, Deimos meant to snag at his bag and carry on – but it turned out there were other designations to be decided upon. Not knowing the caves well, the Sword would be predisposed to going with any of the Naturals’ inklings. A glow could be any number of things, and unfortunately, due to his experiences, he presumed it was probably a monster. A lava flow. To any of those in the vicinity, he inquired. “What sort of creatures do you have dwelling here?” That they were aware of, anyway. Including the lethal ones.
He arched a brow at Cordelia’s quip, pondering the likelihood of makeshift stairs or something, but based on some deciding factors already, it may not have mattered. “If the one with the breeze is not suitable, we can try the other.” After placing his bag of holding back along his shoulders, he snorted at her suggestion, but nonetheless, began to create and outfit lanterns for all of them, including flames within, permitting the incantations to unfurl from between his hands. He’d even make them capable of being secured onto packs, for those still traversing burdened.
--
Deimos votes for the breeze option, and makes lanterns for everyone.
Creation: When combined with Mastered Air, Mastered Earth, Mastered Water, and Mastered fire, can create 2 magical items per season (with admin approval). Without mastering the four elements, can create well-made complex machines, and an unlimited number of regular items per thread limited by endurance stat. Small items last their natural lifespan. Medium and large items degrade after a season. Complex machines (a telescope, music box, etc) must be created with the knowledge of the character (i.e., cannot create a machine you don't understand/wouldn't be able to build with relevant tools)
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered.
Following up behind the rest of the group, Jack accepts the lantern that Deimos produces with a mutter of thanks, though he's more interested in the caves, in truth. He'd have suggested going ahead with the breezy tunnel, but they're already leaning towards it; colour Jack impressed, not that he looks or acts it. Raising his lantern, he squints down the steeper tunnel even as he turns towards the one they've chosen.
"Oh, all sorts," he tells the Sword. "There was a big lava octopus down here before, though I suspect that came from the Apopo. Just be careful." If it wasn't obvious. And with that weird glow from the route they're not going down, he's got a feeling that it's not the only lava monster in the area.
Jack agrees with the group and heads down the breezy tunnel!
are the angels on their way? i’m in the dirt
Jack being an Abandoned is common knowledge these days, however his Telepathy remains a well-kept secret:
Magic: Passive Telepathy | The user can read the surface thoughts and emotions of those within a 30ft radius. Control is excellent. Note: "Thoughts and emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
Type: Grey | Rank: Mastered
Also branded with a small star tattoo beneath his left eye.
Note: Locke has dropped out of the PQ+ and will not be able to use it for levelling or MP purposes.
Unanimous, then? Alright - off we go.
It really is gusty as you follow the tunnels around, and the reason why becomes clear after you've walked for a little bit. This part of Rae's Fingers twine and branch off at random, and the wind rolls through from wherever the exterior of the honeycomb maze is exposed to the sky.
It's enough to make the lanterns swing and flicker, enough to knock you about as you walk, and you'll make it to the next location with no shortage of scrapes and bruises. Indeed, Ray will likely be feeling the most worse for wear, as the wind blows her directly against a sharp crag of rock. Oops!
Regardless, though, you make your way into the next bolthole. This one needs a bit more work - it's very wet and very exposed, but there's plenty of loose stone available to shore it up.
You're a bit bashed about (especially Ray) but you make it to the next bolthole!
- Two people need to use the loose stone to shore up the entrance and any areas where wind can cut through.
- Two people need to help dry the place out.
Ray flinches when she's tossed against the rocks, "Fuck. Ow. Why?" When they enter the next section, the herbalist takes a moment to tend to her injury with the supplies she brought. It doesn't take long and soon she's moving towards the loose stone. Eying it she gives a small shrug.
Shifting into her panther form, Ray proceeds to kick and bat the stones into place with her large paws. It'll hopefully be more effective then carrying them bit by bit in her human form. And if not, it'll at least move the stones closer to the others. And Ray gets to have some fun too.
Ray takes a second to tend to her side and then shifts into panther form. She then proceeds to try and kick the stones into place.
It's a bit too cramp for her Luxere shift, but that's no problem. She has plenty of strength on her own. Cordelia moves to start shifting the loose stones along the sides, attempting to fill in the cracks and taking extra time to work the stones into all the nooks and crannies. "This place definitely needs some work." She mutters mostly to herself, pausing to situate her lantern in a spot that allows her to see what she's doing better, hoping that the spot will keep it from tumbling into the standing water.
Cordelia sets back to work, moving little by little, piling up stone after stone. Her hands slip against the stone, struggling occasionally to get a grip on them, but she manages. A sweat breaks out across her brow, threatening to drip into her eyes even with the breeze that's coming through.
Cordelia piles up stones!
Say something, something like you love me Less you want to move away from the noise of this place
He’d have a few more questions about a lava octopus, had the alterations to the terrain not come into play. Nodding towards Jack in some amount of comprehension, he trained his focus back upon the task, making a mental note about the potential for such creatures.
The wind whipped, pushing and shoving, and while he wasn’t bothered by bruises, cuts, or scrapes, he arched a brow in Ray’s direction. When she seemed to be all right and capable of tending to her own injuries, there were other multitudes to consider. Or not, based on Cordelia and Ray going towards the stones. Time to try drying the place out then.
Magic flickered against his pulse and skin, eager and willing. Utilizing water incantations, the Sword strived to pull the moisture out of the rock, crag, and surface.
--
Deimos uses his Mastered Water to try and dry the place out.
Water manipulation: Can create and control water. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
Yeah, fuck this. With equal grumbling (but less cursing, given that he's avoided being smashed into the rocks), Jack heads into the sorry excuse for a bolthole and looks around, letting out a low whistle. "What a pile of crap," he mutters, moving to lean against the cave wall and watch as the ladies shore up the entrance and the nasty little holes where wind cuts through, and Deimos does Deimos things.
"Well, you all look like you got it covered," he mutters, slotting another manta stone into a small crevice and looking, for all intents and purposes, like he's doing fuck all. This isn't true, though, Jack just has to be sneaky about it. Reaching out with his water magic, he also helps to drag away the moisture, adding to Deimos's efforts so it looks like the other man is doing all the heavy lifting.
Jack (secretly) helps to dry the place out with water magic!
Water manipulation: Can create and control water. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
are the angels on their way? i’m in the dirt
Jack being an Abandoned is common knowledge these days, however his Telepathy remains a well-kept secret:
Magic: Passive Telepathy | The user can read the surface thoughts and emotions of those within a 30ft radius. Control is excellent. Note: "Thoughts and emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
Type: Grey | Rank: Mastered
Also branded with a small star tattoo beneath his left eye.
Alright, alright, alright! Let's keep it moving kids, it's like we've been in these caves forever! (We have, holy crap). Between two masters at Water Manipulation (even if one is pretending to do fuck all, Jack) and the hard work of two badass ladies, one being a panther, the second bolthole is looking ship shape in no time at all.
You're able to drop off your welcome packs, keeping them safe and snug and dry, and there's only one more route to take. You know the one, it's the weird one with the ominous glow. Although, since you took care of the harsh wind, no one gets hurt en route this time!
There is, however, something blocking your way.
It's clinging to the cave ceiling, actually, a little globule of lava. But if you look close, it's got a bunch of legs and a weirdly egg shaped head. Go on, walk under it. Double dog dare you.
There's a lava squidling in the way to the final bolt hole!
Ray eyes the creature of a half second before instantly deciding she wants it. Partial shifting her eyes to that of her shangyagn so that she can better track any sudden movements, the herbalist reaches over and steals some rations from Deimos. Food acquired; she holds it out to the creature.
"Come here little one. There'll be plenty more food for you if you join me and let us pass through the tunnel." The herbalist keeps her tone warm and inviting, similar to how she talks to stressed children. If she's lucky, she'll befriend the creature. Less lucky, it'll be distracted and easy to dispatch. Worst case scenario, Ray gets a new face.
Ray steals rations from Deimos and offers them to the creature in an attempt to tame it. She's partially shifted her eyes to that of the shangyang to track any sudden movements from it (so she can hopefully dodge).
