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!
Another season brought alterations, notes to the guild in between the parsing of his soldiers’ schedules, patrols, and General duties – enticing his attention merely because of its location. This hunt could’ve even been a necessity, given the predilections of festivals, and what had occurred in the past – a matter of dread for any who’d been amidst the spring celebration, as it had ended up being anything but.
Sending out a letter to Ru (who he hadn’t seen since before winter), and then a rally of messages to the others, he, Zuriel, and Belial had made their way towards the swamps, eyeing the grounds suspiciously anyway. He could see the décor in the background, the janky sign, the people milling about games cautiously – as if they too were wary of the entire situation.
Forging a breath, he waited for the rest to arrive while plaiting the last of the unicorn’s mane, and checking over his bags. A nod was given to each as they began trickling in, relaying the same information they would’ve received in their notices. “A villager said they spotted a group of blind swamp rats near the festival,” which could mean a whole series of impending circumstances. “How would you like to lure them out?” Especially with a crowd nearby, the muddy water looming, and the thick, gnarled plants encouraging upheaval.
--
This is our seasonal Monster Hunter’s Guild hunt! Please make sure to list any equipment/items/abilities your character is bringing so we can snag at some blind swamp rats.
Suggestions for how to lure them out would be most helpful!
"Their sense of smell is incredibly strong. I could lure them out with a cut. Get some blood in the water so to speak." Cordelia suggests, removing her bow from her back and checking over her quiver to ensure she had plenty of arrows. Her pack is secured on Deimos's companion to make sure her hands are free.
Glancing back at Noah, a soft smile on her lips, she bumps up against his side. "Been a while since you've come out hunting with me, dearest. About time we got back to it, no?" She teases, rising up on her tip toes to kiss his cheek, shooting Deimos a look because she knows he'll roll his eyes at the sight of it.
Cordelia brings her bow, quiver, and a pack that contains the following. A length of rope, three knives, a few empty vials, bandages, and a canteen of water.
'Cause darling, it was good // Never looking down And right there where we stood // Was holy ground
Traveling outside of Halo in such a large group still made the man uncomfortable. His only reconciliation for it was the compass that resided permanently in his pocket. He moved with Cordelia, meeting Deimos in accordance to his note. The hunter shifted his weight as the huntress spoke, and he shrugged slightly as she pecked at his cheek. "I don't know if you'd even need the cut. I bet your fox form -- what they think would be easy prey -- would be enough to lure them out." While he didn't love the idea of Cordelia being used as bait, he was confident in hers -- and his and Deimos and Hotaru's -- abilities to get her out of dodge.
---
Noah has everything on his profile, his bow and 10 arrows within his fire quiver.
feel defiance burning through my teeth it's not enough to drag this blade across the day
but now it is a competition of whichever is heavier: my will, or the pull of gravity into the grave
She has not seen any of their faces in so very long. The Greatwood is a yawning, empty thing in the wake of her twins moving out and Vervain dying. Truly, there is nothing left for her in the massive forest. She will need to make a decision someday - soon, she’s sure - but the answer eludes her despite the assumedly easiest option staring her in the face. Arriving on feathered wings that turn the journey from days to hours, concealing the fading effects of her curse behind an animalistic veneer, Hotaru eyes the small troupe from above and allows herself to feel a brief surge of rightness. Fondness, even, for the two men at least. Cordelia still a relative unknown due to circumstance and timing.
The hawk’s cry is unnecessary, she is sure Deimos can feel the way she searches along the bond for him, but it warns him of her intent as she slowly descends to hover beside his shoulder until she is certain of her welcome. Even aggrieved as it may be. Perching upon the Sword’s shoulder, she radiates the warmth of her hello to him wordlessly before casting her voice out at large. We could also disturb the earth, they’re ground dwelling creatures are they not? Perhaps they won’t risk a collapse of their holes. Or they would suffocate, either way mission accomplished. And though Cordelia eyes Deimos for his rolled eyes, they happen in tandem with Ru’s, though only Deimos would feel the emotion behind us through the carefully curtailed bond. She’s happy for them, but it’s still sickeningly sweet.
- - -
Ru arrives with herself, her dagger, and nothing more.
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.
Arrivals upon arrivals, some drifting in from the festival itself, and others on wing. There was the lightest suspicion in the Sword’s mind in correlation with Ru’s appearance, but he let it dissipate for the shared eye rolls. He couldn’t say much, considering he and Evie had purposefully made two others uncomfortable because they thought it was funny – so he permitted the hawk on his shoulder and continued onward with the planning.
(And in the background, Zuriel eyed the bag Cordelia thought it wise to simply…place upon her? The unicorn held herself in high regard, and certainly not as a pack animal. Her eyes narrowed, and while the others were busy discussing their hunt, the mare reached around with her long neck, snagged the parcel, and tossed it towards the swamp. Belial cheered her on with muffled hoots.)
The General had been thinking bait, not the blood of his constituents, and so he sighed at those notions – he’d like to think they’d learned something from the landshark hunt. “I can try to stir the earth, and then we can go to the thought of using blood – preferably something mauled nearby, and not any of you.” It would take more time, but Deimos didn’t mind a more methodical, meticulous approach, as opposed to the ridiculous chaos the previous seasons had inspired. Gore crows were aplenty around here anyway, and no one would mind one of them cut down from the flock.
The earthen incantations rumbled through, beyond their wake and forms, and out towards the bushes and swamp. And while the control might’ve been excellent, scattering a large number of birds and other local wildlife, no blind swamp rats wandered out. Wrinkling his nose, the beast shrugged his shoulders, and they could move into the next portion. “So much for that. See if you can hunt something down nearby. Nothing too large.”
--
Deimos attempts to use the Mastered Earth, but (because of a poor dice roll) nothing shows up. See if you can hunt down something small to be used as a lure/bait!
Also Zuriel thought Cordelia treating her as a pack animal was rude, and has tossed her bag towards the swamp.
No post order!
you're all bronze and bite all venom and fistfight
but now it is a competition of whichever is heavier: my will, or the pull of gravity into the grave
She roosts comfortably on the broad span of Deimos’ shoulder, idly grooming strands of his hair with her beak in an instinctive display she doesn’t care enough to force down. From his shoulder she watches Zuriel’s impetuous display, and her mirth is sharp and bright, helpless not to take joy in such offense. That too is carefully tamped down to only bleed over to Deimos, overtly private with her emotions especially amidst people who - while attached to one such loved one as Noah - had not yet been imparted the same trust and vulnerability as the two men.
Deimos’ magic is splendid as always, she can feel its passing like an electric storm over her feathers, but luck is not on their side. Or perhaps the rats are simply not in their dens. His command is far more enticing at least, and the Valkyrie perks up immediately. Further hunting and eradication, beyond the planned instigations? Oh, yes.
With pleasure, she purrs, and carefully dives off his shoulder, ever aware of the piercing capabilities of her talons. Leaving the others behind for the skies, she examines the plentiful gore crows littered in the trees and pecking at bugs in the swamp grasses. Aiming for the closest, she streaks down in a gleam of golden feathers, hoping to kill it quickly and bloodily so that the scent might spray against the grasses and travel amidst the swamp.
- - -
Ru hunts some Gore Crows!
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.
Not really having expected Hotaru to be joining them, Noah was both surprised and glad to see her. Offering a smile filled with warm mirth for her presence, Noah let his feelings slip over the bond for them all to feel. After all, he didn't want Cordelia to think anything else of their relationship than what it was -- trusted friends.
Shrugging some as the others dismissed his ideas, Noah took an arrow from his fire quiver. Hotaru went off after some gore crows and Noah nodded his chin towards Cordelia, as if to suggest she follow. His shifted form was much too large and cumbersome for such prey. He was much better suited to place himself at a ready position should any of the rats show themselves.
---
Noah readies himself with a fire arrow ready to launch at any rats!
feel defiance burning through my teeth it's not enough to drag this blade across the day
Cordelia can't help bristling as Hotaru appears, remembering the last time she met the other woman and the cold distrust she'd displayed towards her then too. Her jaw sets and she quickly shuts off her own side of the bond, unwilling to let anyone else be privy to her emotions aside from Noah in that moment. She grits her teeth as Zuriel slings her pack into the swamp, huffing out a breath, "Was that really necessary? Would it have made it better if I said please?' The Shrike mutters under her breath towards Zuriel, moving to retrieve her pack and passing it off to Noah instead so she can actually shift.
Her fox form is sleek, feet light as she jumps from rock to stump to dry patch of land in an attempt to draw out the rats. She sniffs at the air, trying to find their scent so she might give them something to track.
Cordelia retrieves her pack, gives it to Noah, and uses her fox shift to try and draw the rats out or track them.
With Zuriel’s only response being pinned ears in Cordelia’s direction, the rest of them scampered off or maneuvered themselves into position, for the first step was to still find a way to lure the rats into their space.
Deimos followed Ru’s lead, eternally eager to rip apart gore crows at any opportune time. The outcries of eyes and meat no longer bothered or rankled, for his eagle contortions and talons easily snagged, picking one straight out of the sky. Hotaru nearly did the same, but her prey was a little more wily, and seemed content with screeching after the Sword as he flew back to their base.
It was an assemblage of teamwork though, for that was where Noah came in – his arrow primed and ready. It wasn’t a rat, but his aim was true and fierce just the same, pinning the fleeing flier with embers and cinders as it glided through, and it went spiraling down below. A bit burnt, but probably tempting to a blind rodent, regardless.
Cordelia, despite being the sneakiest of them all in her shift, came across nothing but a few scattered remains: bones picked clean amongst the edges of swamps and boggy puddles. Perhaps it was a sign that they were roaming and lingering nearby?
Upon landing and shifting back, the General placed the crow along the center, and waited for Noah to do the same. “Find yourself some good cover nearby,” was the next command, “and we can wait for them to come out.” If worst came to worst, he could always compel them over, but that wasn’t nearly as enjoyable or amusing.
--
Deimos and Noah have secured and laid out bait for the blind swamp rats!
Find yourself some cover and get ready! No post order!
you're all bronze and bite all venom and fistfight
Had they not had a task ahead of them, Noah would have chuckled -- if not laughed -- at the interaction between Cordelia and Zuriel. He new the mare to be haughty and proud, as typical of her species. Settling the pack in where it would be safe, Noah set his sights on a gore crow. His aim was true, his experience outweighing any bad luck, and he brought one down. He sprinted over to it and retrieved his arrow, placing it back within his quiver, and followed Deimos in placing it for the rats. With his bait in place, Noah hastened Deimos' command.
The Sentinel settled some yards away, finding thick cover enough to hide his body but with enough openings that he could place his aim, once again preparing an arrow from his fire quiver in his bow.
---
Noah puts the gore crow with Deimos' crow and settles ~20 yards away, readied with an arrow.
feel defiance burning through my teeth it's not enough to drag this blade across the day
The bristling is awarded a raised brow, but is thereafter dismissed. Ru doesn’t know Cordelia frankly, and only time would change that, if she cared to change it at all. The silence of Cordelia’s side of the bond is embarrassingly obvious, but the Valkyrie merely shrugs internally (though Deimos might feel her bafflement) and focuses instead on far more exciting things - hunting, pinning, rending and tearing.
Of course her prey eludes her, leaving her with only talons full of feathers and an unfulfilled bloodlust. It seems Noah and Deimos are more successful than the women at least, so she circles back and - with a held breath of nervousness regarding her curse as she transitions - shifts back between Deimos and Noah. Breathing out a slow, quiet breath of relief when it seems everything is back to rights at last.
With no long range weapon to ready, she crouches into a more comfortable position and readies her magic for whatever wanders out to take the bait.
- - -
Ru comes back to the others and shifts back, preparing her lightning magic for whatever takes the bait.
be gentle my little thunderstorm the world is just not ready
Table Code by Sky!
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.
It might be painfully obvious, but Cordelia doesn't care if it is or not. She doesn't excel in the act of subtly in some things. At least not in social interactions. She's never had to. The Shrike prefers things to be straightforward and open. It is part of why her relationship with both Noah and Deimos work so well. Still, she ignores the awkwardness with Ru in favor of the task at hand.
Unfortunately she comes up short, but she does snag at the bones, intending on fashioning a few of them into arrowheads or some other decoration for their armaments later on. Following after Noah in her fox shift before slipping back into her human skin and laying flat on her belly, bow at the ready as she conceals herself inside the nearby brush.
Delia hides and prepares her bow.
'Cause darling, it was good // Never looking down And right there where we stood // Was holy ground
They waited – the trail of blood and the smell of bait a pungent aroma for any passing predator, prey, or scavenger. It wafted and drew along the swamps, meant to be enticing, alluring, and bewildering – and as luck would have it…
A group of five emerged, around the height of large dogs, bickering in short clicks and hisses to one another. They appeared to be suitably distracted with not only a waiting meal, but with one another, bashing and crashing, paying absolutely no mind to those lurking in the brush and distance. Several bit at the gore crow, intending to chase away others, until it seemed merely a midst of impending destruction at their own antics.
Could there be a more perfect opportunity?
Deimos gave the signal to each in turn, whether it be through Attuned measures or a tilt of his jaw, indicating it was time to loosen whatever incantations, weapons, and potency they had to choose from.
--
We’ve managed to lure five large blind swamp rats, and they’re distracted enough for now to not have noticed anyone! Launch your attacks!
No post order!
you're all bronze and bite all venom and fistfight
It did not take long for their bait to do its job. The scent of blood and death drew in the rats like nothing else, and Noah held his breath as they honed in. He waited until the creatures were settled in on their task of feasting, and targeted one of the larger rats who seemed to do the most bickering and bullying on the others. Narrowing his gaze in, the archer let his fire arrow fly and then quickly grabbed and loaded another, not waiting to see if his first had hit its target before launching the second one. As the second one flew, Noah let out the breath he had been holding, waiting for the flames that would ignite in seconds, whether on a rat or on something else.
Noah quickly fires two arrows at the largest of the rats!
feel defiance burning through my teeth it's not enough to drag this blade across the day
