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!
Determination to do the task on his own had been shaken by the events in the landshark hunt, and Tal had swallowed his pride and asked his friend for company on his upcoming journey to the Climb. Chocolate had been jokingly offered, with a promise of delivery upon the courier's return, and in the meantime preparations had been undertaken, and certain tests of snow and magic bags had been run in the safety of Halo's greenhouse.
And now here they were, making careful way over the burning crust to a promising-looking lava pool that certainly seemed big enough to house a lial or three. Tal had his goggles pulled down to help him see through the smoke and ash and a wrap of heavy linen around his face to filter his breathing. His Bag of Holding was on his hip and he carried both his axe and a heavy metal spear as he trudged along. Boreal soared on the thermals overhead, keeping a lazy lookout for trouble further out, while her companion paused and looked the area over.
"I think if I can bait one out of the lava an' hide behind those rocks over there, I should be able to step out an' skewer it from a distance before it can slide back in," he said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "If I make a little trail of ningos t'draw it out far enough." Pale eyes hidden behind smoked glass slid to Deimos for an indication of the General's opinion of his plan.
The Sword had never been to this portion of the Climb – and the only evidence he gave were the sweeping peripherals, piercing-eyed scrutiny, and meticulous study as they stepped through. The heat was a feral reminder that the namesake didn’t signify great bounties like Frey’s Breath or the jewel-encrusted walls of Soulfire’s Reach – or even the Mountain’s Roar, with falls and leviathans.
Accustomed to fire, its dangers and its glory, the beast didn’t mind its presence, so much as it heeded its potential. Pulling back the layers of his tunic so that his arms were bare, rolling up his sleeves, he followed after Talyson, companions doing the same (save for Belial, who floated slightly above, as if testing out the thermals). The scale, of which he intended to pierce with magic at some point, rested in the pockets and folds of his own Bag of Holding, and the rest of his weaponry was safely lodged within himself.
Unbothered by the smoke and its furor, especially with some air machinations clearing his presence, the General surveyed the scene, gaze wandering back and forth to the outcropping, then to the lava. Listening to the plan, considering its weight and the machinations they’d formulated in past discussions, he could only arch his brow, and glance at the armaments the courier held. “Which do you intend to use?” A pause, a breath, weighing out the scruples of their latest hunt too. “And what will you do if you lure more than one?”
you're all bronze and bite all venom and fistfight
Tal was roasting. On previous occasions he'd stripped down to shirtsleeves when he'd had to pass through the Climb, but since he was planning on provoking trouble today he was wearing gloves of a thick, heavy leather that covered him up to the elbows.
And made it hell to wipe away the sweat soaking through the headband on his brow that was meant to keep his hair out of his eyes.
"Spear," he answered his guildmaster promptly before reaching down to pat the axe. "This is for if somethin' goes wrong an' it gets too close." Which wasn't the plan, but sometimes shit happened. A backup plan didn't hurt, at least.
The other query had him pausing and then scowling, reaching up to try and rub at the back of his neck and failing miserably due to the heavy glove on his hand. "Uh... stay in hiding an' try again at a different pit?" It was mostly an answer and only a little bit of a question before he drew a deeper breath (and smothered a cough). "Unless the second one comes out when I'm already dealin' with the first. Then... could you distract it?"
Because having a second person along meant he could ask for help when he got in over his head.
His eyes went from the dips in crags and the boiling lava pits, directly back to Talyson in a cool, nonchalant expression; purposefully difficult to read. Second one caused the arch of his brow, because it was as if the courier had forgotten their latest hunt lured five landsharks, and there was always a chance of it happening again.
Or maybe it was the last statement, voiced like a question, that really stung at his spine. “And if I was not here?” Because he wanted them capable of teamwork, but also independence. Not so heavily reliant on him all the time – for they could grow in strength, in resilience too. What was the point in teaching them, if eventually they weren’t going to be capable of thinking and wielding on their own?
It was a measure he had to live with too – wanting to protect them all, but not casting such a broad shadow that they couldn’t see, think, or do anything around it. There was no doubt in his mind that the moment it was necessary, that when the drums of war began, he’d be plucked out of Halo and placed somewhere to fight. And he couldn’t save them from there.
Permitting the thought to ramble through his mind, and it would again and again the more the horizon loomed and beckoned, he nodded, as if to avoid everything but the impending calculations. “When you are ready then.”
you're all bronze and bite all venom and fistfight
Tal just grinned through his mask at his Guildmaster's extremely pertinent question. "Then I'd run like fuck," he admitted cheerfully. "An' channel to distract them while I got away to try again later." Until he could find a hermitty runt lial somewhere that was more his speed.
But he was impatient to be getting on with his quest and hated how sweaty and ashen the Climb was. He couldn't imagine spending more time here than he had to, even if time was something they had much to spare.
With the War coming closer every day, that was a luxury long since lost.
He nodded sharply and took a deep breath - promptly coughing until he had to wipe tears from the corners of his eyes. Glad that Deimos couldn't see the embarrassed flush on his ears, Tal took out the game bag from his magic Bag and measured out the distance from the lava pool he'd chosen.
Three dead ningo; a trail of bloody breadcrumbs laid roughly seven feet apart to lure a hungry lial far enough from its pool that it couldn't just slide back in - dragging the spear with it and ending the hunt early. The last was dropped right at the foot of the pool and Tal scattered some blood and feathers over the lava (where they promptly turned to smoke and ash) before retreating to his chosen rocky bulwark, holding his spear lightly and watching the pool with eager tension.
Uncertain if it was the right answer, if there was to be one at all, the General took it and nodded. He watched as the youth applied and modeled his plan, the dead ningo placed amongst the darker outcropping of soot and stone, a miniature trail meant to lure and snag before anything became too dangerous. His nose wrinkled slightly at the feathers churning and burning and becoming nothing; before sighing, eyes cast along the courier as he ambled for his rocky bulwark.
Very calmly, very plainly, Deimos went towards where Zuriel was waiting, patting her along the neck, and retrieving a cloth from his own Bag of Holding. A fair distance from the pools, but certainly within his range to do some devastating damage regardless, while Belial soared safely above, the monolith draped his Invisibility Cloak neatly over the unicorn and himself. Completely disappearing from view.
you're all bronze and bite all venom and fistfight
It was a question for Tal to ponder in the following hours and days; for the moment they stood their vigil and in time a thick, viscous V cut through the nearbly lava pool, nearing the shore at a leisurely pace. It subsided at the edge of the molten rock and stillness - broken by the thick, wet glopping noise of lava bubbles popping - returned for several long minutes.
And then fiery hell splashed everywhere as a large crocodilian shape lunged out of the water for the nearest sacrificial bird. It caught it in its jaws and shook its head, scattering feathers and blood in equal measure before flipping the shredded ningo up and raising its head to catch it and swallow it whole.
Which was when the second, larger lial, more stealthy in its approach, came out of the pool, bringing a wave of lava with it as it crashed into the first and clawed at it, hissing deadly threat. Territorial dispute? Hunting rights? Mating display? Who knew! But the result was two lials locked in combat at the edge of the pool, too distracted by each other to follow the ningo trail further inland.
Tal looked frantically for Deimos, seeking his more experienced friend's advice--
But the General was nowhere to be seen, and the courier swallowed hard and turned back to watch the epic battle unfolding.
Which was when he saw the third lial, much smaller than the first two robust specimens, slowly making its way across the cracked ground towards the second ningo with all the stealthiness a red-hot lava gator could muster. Looking from the fighters back to the sneaker, Tal found himself silently cheering the little guy on.
Even if he was going to try and stab him once he reached ningo #3.
He still cast a very smug look in the courier’s direction as three lials slithered out, even though he wouldn’t be able to see it. A brief snort echoed too, incapable of being muffled from behind the cloak, possibly loud enough to be heard by Talyson.
Eyes flickered distinctly over upcoming prey – gaze pinpointing on the larger targets, specifically the ones battling beside the lava pool. The smaller one, for now, could be left to Talyson’s devices, if it followed after the makeshift path of bait.
It was the other ones he was concerned about.
So, stealthy and silent along his own incantations, the beast unfurled a layer of Mastered Life Drain to the second, larger lial, in attempts to weaken it before anything else ensued.
you're all bronze and bite all venom and fistfight
Tal thought he heard a noise that sounded eerily like See?, but he couldn't be certain over the sudden fight breaking out nearby.
The first lial had been caught completely by surprise in mid-snack and scrambled helplessly as the second leapt from the lava and landed atop it, crushing the breath from the medium-sized beast and leaving him dazed and helpless as Big Momma scored deep scratches in its rocky hide. The killing bite that she had been about to deliver was diverted as a wave of weakness washed over her and her opponent. The big lial shook her head to try and disperse its effects--
Successfully, as it turned out, and she let out an enraged roar as she took her confusion and discomfort out on the helpless opponent beneath her.
Which was extremely lucky for the third lial, as his stealth wasn't nearly as successful as he'd clearly intended. Impatient and not particularly bright, he scrambled the rest of the way to the second ningo and gobbled it up in a messy rush, sending small rocks tumbling from under his claws as he raised his head and found the third bird, even farther away from the pool.
Greed overrode caution (lessons, Tal?) and he dove for the last piece of bait in a mad rush, skidding across the hot ground as Tal rose out of concealment and - remembering the poor planning of leaping at an ursur - throw the spear with all his might at the beast's side.
And missed, the spear sinking into a soft spot in the crust a few feet short of the little monster as it snapped up the bird.
It was too bad eyerolls weren’t audible either – but the Sword committed the action anyway as the fight broke out. Or when Talyson’s spear went flying and missed. Perhaps there were multiple hints and notes of exasperation.
His eyes narrowed at the bigger creature though, a nettle of irritation settling into his spine as it seemed to shrug off his efforts. He’d remember that. It wouldn’t be happening again.
Clenching his jaw and ensuring Belial stayed where he was (tempting as it was to dive bomb and snag the weapon), the beast sighed for what felt like the hundredth time (he was going to be owed quite a bit of chocolate at this rate), and released his Mastered Air incantations, indifferent if the tiny lial was spooked by the conditions. The magic went to ensnare the spear, and leave it slightly hovering before the youth, for the courier to grab and reach.
you're all bronze and bite all venom and fistfight
Boreal had started her dive even as Tal jumped out from behind the rocks. The courier kept one eye on the fighting lials, ready to run if they started coming towards him, but for the moment they were distracted by each other and the brutal combat they were engaged in.
The spear rose on Mastered Air before Boreal could reach it, and the dragon shifted her focus abruptly, breathing a cone of fire along the small lial's far side as she swooped low and then pulled up, staying wisely out of range. It did nothing to harm the lava-born reptile, but it did distract it into snapping towards the sudden heat and pressure - and away from Tal.
The courier grabbed the floating spear, no grin now but only grim determination as he took the opportunity his allies had bought him and drove the weapon home into the lial's side, just behind its foreleg where lung and hopefully heart resided.
It whipped back towards him, hissing like a steam engine in pain and fury and twisting to try and snap at the spear but its rocky teeth slid off the metal haft as it scrabbled all four legs, trying to back away from the wound in its side.
Which was about the time that Big Momma let out a rumbling roar of victory as the lial beneath her went limp, and her beady black gaze began to wander towards the motion a little ways off.
Deimos watched, the casual arch to his brow manifesting once more as the spear drove into the lial again. The Sword would be able to finish it off quickly and efficiently – but this wasn’t his kill, nor his quest.
Instead, his eyes were drawn to the larger creature again, as it triumphantly defeated the other. Narrowing his gaze, the General snagged the scale out of his bag, careful in movements of cords and snaps, before placing it in his palm. Thereafter, he loosened another bout of Mastered Life Drain, feeling it slink, simmer, and slither its way out of his veins, into the scale, and towards the massive one. If anything at all, it might keep her at bay while Talyson figured out his next motion and plan.
you're all bronze and bite all venom and fistfight
The big lial snapped peevishly at the air as another wave of weakness washed over her, distracted and shaking her head as life and energy sapped from her rocky frame. She sagged and staggered sideways, black gaze going glassy and disoriented at the magic that did what no opponent had managed in years. Movement not far distant caught her attention and she managed a warning rumble, but it trailed off into an evil hiss as she began to back slowly into the lava pool once more, not wanting anymore of whatever was draining her vitality.
As a final act of rebellion, however, she snagged the tail of the first lial in her jaws and dragged it back into the molten rock with her, perhaps to devour at leisure further away.
Tal caught only flashes of her retreat; enough to know that she wasn't coming any closer while he held himself and his spear to a steady forward push. With every thrashing twist the lial - larger than Deimos by a good meter - opened the hole in its own side wider, but the angle of the spear and how far it had already penetrated prevented it from freeing itself.
And between the courier's accurate thrust and stubborn tenacity and its own desperate throes, the vital organs were already pierced. It was only a matter of hanging on while the rest of the beast admitted defeat and succumbed, going still with a final bubbling breath.
Tal didn't give up on the pressure of the spear for another half a minute, breathing hard and swallowing repeatedly past a dry throat, but when he realized that they'd succeeded - and that the other threat was gone - he slowly relaxed and began the process of working the spear back out of where he'd planted it with patient, shaking hands. Boreal landed nearby and eyed the corpse warily, reaching out to bat at its rocky tail with one broad, taloned paw. "Deimos?" he called, looking around a little worriedly for his vanished friend. "Uh... where'd you go?"
The Sword shrugged his shoulders as the massive one retreated – his movements and incantations had completed what he’d set out to accomplish. There likely wouldn’t be any need of snagging and dragging her carcass back to Halo anyway, unless someone wanted some lial armor. A notion set aside for later opportunities, and then his eyes caught on Talyson’s achievements.
He managed for the most part, though the process was a bit slower than Deimos would’ve preferred. A lot more suffering on both ends – but perhaps progress would be sped up with more training and precision. Snorting as the courier looked around for him, and half-tempted to just stay under the magical fabric because it amused him, the General behaved himself and removed the Invisibility Cloak. Tucking it under his arm, he and Zuriel reappeared back into the fold, and made quick order of placing the scale and mantle back into his satchel. “Good work. You all right?” came as he turned his head over his shoulder, arching his brow.
you're all bronze and bite all venom and fistfight
