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!
His eyes remained solely on the two fools, until they both seemed to finally register the Sword had meant exactly what he said. With the bait laid out, and everyone clambering up to the platforms, all they needed to do was wait.
But not for long.
The scent of blood, the sounds of movement and motion, must’ve been enough to attract them. The sand rippled and undulated with the pressing of their maneuvers beneath the ground, and for a moment, there was nothing but the constant, unwinding semblance of presences. And then they rose.
Five landsharks – all varying sizes, clambering upwards and breaching out of the dirt and dunes, snagging, ripping, and tearing at the unfortunate roadrunners. Feathers flew, decimated and destroyed, taken and ripped apart with voracious teeth. They launched again and again, permitting some measure of time for an assault and siege…perhaps…
Deimos nodded towards each in turn, encouraging them to press their abilities, their weapons into the fray – intending to keep them all safe from their vantage points. His earth incantations opened up the rest of the ground wide, so there was nowhere for their prey to hide.
But one, the biggest, simply didn’t care, thrashing its massive tail directly into Cordelia’s platform. The wood shook – threatening to crack and break under the pressure.
--
We’ll be moving this along without Noah posting. You can treat him as physically there (NPCish) for the time being!
Five landsharks have appeared! Deimos has opened up the sand, allowing for the rest of you to attack. Cordelia’s platform has been hit by the landshark and will only last two more rounds.
Please include any actions your character is taking (especially which landshark they’re aiming for) and which weapons they’re using!
Shark One (Massive)
Shark Two (Large)
Shark Three (Medium)
Shark Four (Smoll Bean)
Shark Five (A Teeny)
Tal's brown skin was looking decidedly pale as their prey was revealed and he had a very uncomfortable certainty that they'd bitten off more than they could chew. He was really wishing they'd built the platforms more sturdily - maybe out of metal? - but it was too late for regrets now. He pulled one of his throwing axes free and hefted it, eyes roving the pack - pod? school? murder? - for one he could handle.
As much as he'd wanted to show off earlier, the cold, hard reality of the situation left no room for errors of ego. Reducing the number of teeth, he decided, was more important than making the damn things madder than they already were. Taking careful aim and waiting until he had a clear shot, Tal threw the axe at the smallest shark's head in the hopes of splitting it open.
Sah's eyes widen as the sharks appear. He hadn't expected there to be so many. It's probably smart to get rid of the small ones so that they can then focus on the massive one. Seeing Tal go for the smallest, Sah hopes he's on the same page. Hoping that the courier can manage the tiniest, the Abandoned focuses on the second smallest.
Letting out a breath, Sah channels his lighting, letting it build up in strength as it crackles along his fingers. When he thinks he has a clear enough shot, he sends it straight towards the shark. Hopefully it'll hit. And if not, maybe he'll get lucky, and the sand will turn to glass on impact and scratch the creature.
~
Sah shoots lightning at Smoll Bean.
Lightning manipulation: Can create and control Lightning. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Dark | Rank: Mastered
I think there for I am, But what if all I do is bleed?
Cordelia gets herself onto a platform, bow drawn and arrow notched, taking aim as the Landsharks appear one after another. Before she can shoot, however, it's knocked by one of the Landsharks and she sways dangerously. Cordelia yelps, gritting her teeth, jaw flexing as she steadies herself again. With another breath and pause, she draws her string back, releasing the arrow and letting it hiss through the air towards her target.
"Come on.." She mutters, cutting her eyes over to Noah, "Take out the smallest first!" Cordelia calls out, taking Talyson's lead and shooting at the teeny shark first before she attempts to jump to another platform.
Cordelia shoots the teeny landshark and tries to move to another platform.
Say something, something like you love me Less you want to move away from the noise of this place
The deluge that ensued was an intriguing one, from chaotic standpoints. Deimos, ever the analytic, scrupulous individual, took note in the back of his mind on how his team operated – keeping the sand open while they worked, making use of the finer figments of time he had, before orchestrating his own motions.
Talyson, and perhaps rightfully so, aimed his thrown ax at the smallest of the lot. His practice must’ve been helping, because it pinpointed solely into the tiny cretin’s side, immediately abolishing it as a threat. It reeled and skittered around, before slowly succumbing to its wounds.
The others didn’t bother aiding their fallen comrade, for they had their own messes to deal with. Sah and Cordelia combined their efforts on the other smaller creature, with Sah’s lightning beam scorching its skin, and Cordelia’s arrow loosening, but only just skimming the top, missing narrowly. Her success could likely be measured in launching off her platform and onto Sah’s, freeing her from immediate danger (for now).
The Sword, heeding the calls, narrowed his eyes, and while still keeping the earth incantations opened, offered a last fiendish effort towards their target – utilizing a few ice shards conjured by water incantations from underneath – until that individual breathed its last as well.
Which left three landsharks to go – but they’d been rid of the weakest first.
The largest of them all, at least, was still pre-occupied by complete and utter wreckage of Cordelia’s platform, even if she was no longer there. It bit and tore at the wood, and with it distracted and deterred, Deimos didn’t worry so much about that one as the other two.
Until it shattered everything in one mighty smash…
“Pick the one you want to be rid of the most,” though his eyes were right on the gargantuan thing still eating pieces of lumber – the most ominous of the remaining threats, he’d still go with what his team wished to do.
For their parts, medium attempted to launch and bite at Talyson’s platform, and failed miserably. Large faired a bit better, chewing away at a portion of Sah’s.
--
Talyson has successfully hit Shark Five and it's dead.
Sah, Cordelia, and Deimos have ensured Shark Four is dead. Cordelia is safe on Sah’s platform, for now.
Shark One has completely decimated Cordelia’s platform and is busy eating wood.
Shark Two has attacked Sah’s platform and is chewing on the bottom. Dice roll pending, it’ll last probably three more rounds.
Shark Three tried to launch at Talyson’s platform, but has failed.
Pick and choose a new target! No post order!
Shark One (Massive)
Shark Two (Large)
Shark Three (Medium)
Shark Four (Smoll Bean) 0/25 (dead)
Shark Five (A Teeny) 0/10 (dead)
Well wasn't this going swimmingly? (See what she did there?) Regaining her footing on Sah's platform as the larger beast rocks into their current high ground, Cordelia takes a moment to take in the scene, eyes darting this way and that. Finally, she settles on the one who is currently gnawing on their platform. The other two are distracted enough that they can be left to their own devices for now. Drawing another arrow from her quiver and notching it into place, the hunter takes aim once more, raining fire from above onto the creature currently attacking their platform.
"Focus fire!" She calls out to the others, hoping that they'll be able to remove this one from the fray too with enough determination.
Cordelia shoots at Shark Two!
Say something, something like you love me Less you want to move away from the noise of this place
A bloodthirsty grin flashed over the courier's face when his axe struck true and the shark fluttered down to die in the sand. "Fuck yeah," he cheered quietly to himself, already drawing a second axe--
"Hey!" He glared down at Medium and started to aim, but Cordelia's call drew his attention and he realized her platform was gone and she and Sah were both in trouble now. He spared Medium a spiteful glare and a murmured: "Go eat your buddy, asshole." before drawing a steadying breath and releasing his axe at the one menacing his friends. Tal throws an axe at Shark Two!
Sah grins sharply when his lightning hits home. His first inclination is to continue killing them in reverse size order so that when they eventually have to deal with the largest, there'll be no outside distractions. But that plan goes out the water the moment shark two goes for his and Cordelia's platform.
They can't afford to lose more platforms, not with so many sharks still in play. So Sah nods at Cordelia's words and focuses on shark two. Channeling his lightning once more, the Abandoned attempts to send a surge down on the creature's head. If nothing else, hopefully it'll take the hint and stop chewing the platform.
~
Sah shoots lightning at shark two's head.
Lightning manipulation: Can create and control Lightning. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Dark | Rank: Mastered
I think there for I am, But what if all I do is bleed?
Focused fire could be wildly successful, decently parsed, or completely derailed. Luckily for the hunting party, it figured somewhere within the former rather than the latter.
It didn’t start off that way though – Cordelia’s arrow skimmed over a gnashing of teeth, failing to miss its mark.
But the rest of them? Whoo boy.
While Shark Two, our less favorite large friend, continued to chew on Sah and Cordelia’s platform, the volleys assaulted and sieged. Talyson’s ax hurled directly into its side, Sah’s lightning struck blow for blow in an electrifying display, and Deimos’ maneuvered ice shards rampaged into its hind.
One could say it stopped munching on the wooden proportions – seizing in death throes and thralls. Not quite done in yet, but certainly well on its way out. One exhausted, fatigued, and maddening thrash ensured its tail whipped at the platform again, weakening the structure further.
As for the other sharks? Well, luckily for this lot, the massive one was still quite distracted by munching on timber, and the medium beast was swarming around Talyson’s area, but still couldn’t properly figure out how to assault and siege. Not the brightest in the bunch.
The General glanced over their current situation – far better than what it could be – before picking over their next course of action, calling out in his deep rumble over the sounds of splitting wood and grumbling beasts. “We can split tactics – two to finish that one,” pointing to Shark Two, “while we manage with the other. Save the biggest for last.”
07-06-2022, 05:50 PM (This post was last modified: 07-08-2022, 05:54 PM by Talyson.)
There was no denying the rush of adrenaline when his axe struck true again, in spite of the excitement and fear that rushed through him. He might have even flashed Sah a triumphant grin if the platform the Advisor and Delia stood on wasn't continuing to take damage from the shark, which held on to life with a fierce determination that he might have found inspirational in almost any other creature.
Right now, though, he wished it would just fucking die.
"Got it!" he called to Deimos, unlimbering his third throwing axe and taking a breath before letting it fly towards the Large Shark; he knew he couldn't do as much damage as his friends and as much as that would rankle later, for now he focused on doing what he could with what he had. And hopefully that would be to help take out the one that was already wounded. Tal throws an axe at Shark Two!
It's a large hit to her platform that makes her lose her balance, missing her shot and causing her to curse. Amber eyes quickly look around, taking in the situation as she hears Deimos's words, registering them and deciding the best course of action in a matter of seconds. "This won't hold long!" She calls to her cousin, pulling another arrow from her quiver and taking aim at the dumb boy, deciding to focus her attentions there.
She releases the arrow with a satisfying thwip as the string snaps back into place, arrow sailing through the air towards its target.
Cordelia shoots at the dumb shark!
Say something, something like you love me Less you want to move away from the noise of this place
Sah curses under his breath as the shark somehow survives the barrage. They need this thing dead, now. Deimos' plan is solid and as Talyson and Cordelia split their focus, Sah turns his onto shark two once more. Between him and Tal they should be able to kill it. And Deimos and Cordelia can deal with the other.
Letting out an exhale, the Abandoned calls forth his lightning once more and sends it straight at the head of shark two yet again. Maybe they'll get lucky, and it'll accidently swallow some of the lighting. Frying it from the inside should be effective after all.
~
Sah shoots mastered lighting at the head of shark two yet again.
Lightning manipulation: Can create and control Lightning. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Dark | Rank: Mastered
I think there for I am, But what if all I do is bleed?
And here was where it started to become a little more deadly, a little more lethal.
The first strikes marked quickly, efficiently. Another hurled ax by Talyson landed squarely along Shark Two’s back, and with a vicious outcry it surged forward, everything in its body laboring, tiring, exhausted from the fight.
The Shrike’s arrow, cutting through the wind, vicious and swift, slashed into Shark Three’s head, and disoriented, disassembled, the Sword’s icy incantations marked and marred so brutally, that there was not much else for the creature to do. It took a last heaving breath, before becoming deceased like the others of its ilk.
This should’ve been it – in hindsight. His assault would’ve obliterated Shark Two. The platform would’ve been safe. The hunters would’ve only had to contend with one remaining beast.
But sometimes that wasn’t how life played out. Maybe he was distracted by the constant bombarding. Maybe there was too much chaos unfurling around them. Maybe it was a lack of attention for a singular moment.
The lightning zapped, sparking, sizzling, and then…struck the ground beside Shark Two.
And that was all the beast needed.
There were some hard lessons learned on this interval, but certainly none of them should ever underestimate a strong, determined adversary – even in death throngs, it still had a clear message.
It growled and roared in defiance, and slapped against the platform once more. And what should’ve lasted a little bit longer, simply…didn’t.
The timber snapped, splintered, swayed, and it was enough for the platform to give way, to crumble, and for Cordelia and Sah to begin falling.
Oh, and Shark One? That massive, gargantuan figure? It finished devouring the wood – sweeping and turning towards the pair with naught else on its mind but absolute destruction.
--
Good news! Thanks to Cordelia and Deimos, Shark Three is dead!
Okayish news! Talyson has hit Shark Two!
Bad news! Sah has missed Shark Two, and in this failure to hit, has unfurled a ripple effect. Shark Two has completely decimated Cordelia and Sah’s platform, and Shark One is headed their way.
What will you do next? No post order!
Shark One (Massive)
Shark Two (Large) 14.5/150
Shark Three (Medium) 0/75 (dead)
Shark Four (Smoll Bean) 0/25 (dead)
Shark Five (A Teeny) 0/10 (dead)
If things hadn't been so dire, with life and death dangling in a precarious balance of falling timbers and snapping teeth, Tal might have been unbearably smug about landing a solid hit while the Thunder missed.
In the moment, however, all that mattered was that his best effort hadn't been enough to finish the tenacious fucker off, and now Delia and Sah were dropping towards a world of hurt. The courier grabbed for another throwing axe, hoping to at least end the threat of the large but wounded shark--
His hand brushed air and empty scabbards and he realized with a start that he was out of distance weapons. Which really only left one option. "I'll distract the little one!" he yelled to Deimos, not overestimating his own abilities - or wanting to get in the way of the General's far more deadly capabilities. Jerking his main fighting axe free from his belt, Tal took a flying leap off his platform towards the back of the Large shark and attempted to bury the bigger, heavier axe into its skull with all the force of his momentum behind it.
Tal tries to jump on Shark Two and bury his fighting axe in its skull!
