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!
Lisbeth saw the people gathered together, with the unicorns heading right towards them. It didn't seem to her like a stampede would be diverted without anyone being trampled. Even if the unicorns did start to move aside, there might not be time to prevent anyone from getting trampled.
She ran towards the front of the crowd, trying to keep her breathing under control as she readied her bow. She needed to divert the unicorns away from the crowd.
Standing firm, she drew an arrow and fired it into the ground in front of the stampede. The arrow ignited in the air, sending a flaming streak that she hoped would spook the unicorns enough to make them turn away. She fired another arrow and another, everywhere that it seemed the unicorns would charge too close to the crowd, always aiming into the ground in front of the unicorns to get them to turn to the side to avoid the flames.
---
Lisbeth fires flaming arrows in front of the herd in an attempt to make them veer to the side to avoid the flames, hopefully turning them away from the crowd.
Type: Dark | Style: Offensive | Level: Basic
Scorch Recurve | A bow infused with volcanic ash. A rich, dark colour, it is always warm to the touch. Any arrow drawn with the bow will ignite on release.
and sweetest in the gale is heard and sore must be the storm
The apprehension and tension in her soul wouldn’t do any good here – but she couldn’t help it. Not with her charges swarming, looming, pressing, and now stampeding.
“Stay calm,” she motioned to anyone nearby, including Anju and her soldiers, which would always be easier said than done. She’d have to do the same – as she steadfastly snagged at treats and food, a steady breath compelling under pieces of her soul, an Attuned bond reaching past all other souls and straight to the animals. All is well. You are safe.
And then began to spread the food, hoping that would enough of a lure, instead of the flaming arrows.
--
Lena tries to stay calm, and calls to the unicorns that they’re safe using the Attuned bond. She also spreads out some food in hopes of luring them away from charging.
Can speak to rare creatures/companions/regular animals
that could abash the little bird that kept so many warm
Having successfully made her point to the captains, it's with Lena 's help that Anju 's plan is successful. With the civilians pressing in on each other, the herd of unicorns indeed part like a stream of white water, rushing past. They have no interest in Lena 's food, for their fear is too high, but at least the citizens of Stormbreak are safe.
The same cannot be said of its soldiers; one archer in particular.
Fear is not the only thing hot on the heels of the unicorns: in their wake comes a handful of molten tigers. Taking interest in the quivering gaggle of humans, one of the tiger's fancies itself a quick meal. Lisbeth, noticing the predatory glint in the eye of one of the felines, pulls back her bow to fire a warning shot its way. There isn't enough time to loose the arrow though, before the tiger's paw slices cleanly through her throat.
The crowd screams in horror as the scent of blood draws the attention of other predators...
Your randomly assigned order is Anju, Lisbeth (death post), Lena.
To ensure that nothing is missed, please include a summary of your actions at the bottom of your post, including the description of any magic/items/feats that are being utilized! Anything not included in your OOC summary won't be taken into account!
Be warned, this PQ+ will be dangerous and may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters.
Lisbeth falls even as the unicorns blessedly part. Riya, hovering above giving an account of everything, screeches and streaks down towards the molten tiger, blasting at it with a quick jet of flame meant to scare and blind it, and tries to snatch Lisbeth's bow. Meanwhile, Anju clusters to the outer edge of the people she had commanded into a knot, and reaches for her own channeling at last.
"Spirits! Please hear me! Make the predators sleep, or calm them!" Intrepid, pastoral prayers are a thing of the past right now. There is only action and fight. Anju looks upwards, hoping to see the progress of the two pilots she'd commanded overhead, and wondering how many more they had left to evacuate - how far had Lisbeth's commands gotten?
- - -
Riya belches a small jet of fire towards the molten tiger to try and blind it and tries to steal Lisbeth's bow. Anju Channels, asking the spirits to either put the predators to sleep/drowsy, or calm them so the people can corral or contain them. She also looks upward to gauge the success of the pilots, and determine how many still need evacuation (percentage or rounds).
Accepted Channeling: Allows an Accepted to channel a lesser deity during a time of crisis (1x a season)
Type: Light | Rank: Basic
Faithfully I would prepare my works to prove God's wrath was well deserved
and sweetest in the gale is heard and sore must be the storm
Lena had a healthy understanding of prey and predator; as a Frey disciple, she comprehended the notions and roles that the world went through, the great circle of life.
But gods, that didn’t make it any easier when on her charges decimated another of Stormbreak’s.
“I’m sorry,” she gasped and pleaded, tired of seeing death at the door of this world – but having no time other than those apologies, those regrets, to the fallen soldier. There were more still to protect, and if Anju’s channeling went unheard –
The youth swallowed down all the trepidation again, the picture of calm and serenity because she couldn’t afford to be anything else right now, even if her fingers trembles and her nerves gnawed. Over here, she commanded to the large cats, snagging at more food and fresh meat, intending to lure them towards one of the undamaged enclosures.
--
Lena tries to lure the molten tigers into an undamaged enclosure with food and speaking to them.
Can speak to rare creatures/companions/regular animals.
that could abash the little bird that kept so many warm
Riya, quick and clever, blasts a stream of fire at the molten tiger. With a snarl the beast darts away, even as its whiskers and fur begin to melt down into its skin, allowing the dragon to snatch Lisbeth 's bow. Anju will judge that there are simply not enough Skyboats to evacuate the city; those that have left for the jungle will not return for several hours.
And the city is still rising.
Terrified and riled by the scent of Lisbeth's blood, were it anyone else calling to their minds other than Lena, the big cats would absolutely have ignored them. But oh, sweet Lena has been their caretaker for months now, and her voice is able to pierce through the veil of blood-lust and fear that has settled over their minds. Quietly, like well-mannered dogs, they trot into the enclosure. Though they only sniff at the food provided, it seems at least that this threat has been taken care of.
In the city, two skyboats are currently supporting the Collegium and the Temple. The Tower, what has been rebuilt of it anyways, is swaying precariously and the Needle has all but collapsed. Unicorns race through the streets, heading for the Silk Houses.
To ensure that nothing is missed, please include a summary of your actions at the bottom of your post, including the description of any magic/items/feats that are being utilized! Anything not included in your OOC summary won't be taken into account!
Be warned, this PQ+ will be dangerous and may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters.
Lisbeth HP: 0/12
Anju HP: 51/51
Lena HP: 80/80
Riya has retrieved: Type: Dark | Style: Offensive | Level: Basic
Scorch Recurve | A bow infused with volcanic ash. A rich, dark colour, it is always warm to the touch. Any arrow drawn with the bow will ignite on release.
Riya swiftly flies with the bow back to her bonded, and Anju grabs it gratefully. Wrong as it feels to wield it in Lisbeth's place, she has no long ranged weapon on her person, and if the predators don't listen to Lena she needs to be ready.
It seems that fear is meaningless, and Anju breathes out an unsteady breath of relief. Overhead, the skyboats are adequately shielding the masses below from the crumbling buildings - two of which threaten them the most. They need to come down. Now.
"Robbards, leave the Collegium and topple the Tower towards the south! It's right at the edge of the city!" she shouts upward in command. The buildings are already lost, and she can't risk sending anyone inside - if any poor soul remains in either of them, she must make the hard choice of sacrificing them to save the people huddled in the square. At least this way, the buildings won't fall towards the Silk Houses or any of the other high-traffic areas to the east, where people may be sheltering in place.
- - -
Anju holsters the bow from Riya. Since the Needle is already mostly disintegrated she asks the pilot holding up the Collegium to leave and intentionally topple the swaying Tower towards the South - where the edge of the city is, given they're floating. She has the skyboat holding up the Temple stay put, as it's closest to the Plaza and the most dangerous if it falls.
Faithfully I would prepare my works to prove God's wrath was well deserved
and sweetest in the gale is heard and sore must be the storm
With a great sigh of relief, the Caretaker closed the enclosure behind the molten tigers – a silent promise lingering behind the movements.
For now, though, there were more to herd back into the Celestine’s confines.
Dashing back through the streets, after her rampaging, running charges, she snagged at more food, hands full of hay and buckets of grain dangling from her arms. Come on. Come with me,, she gently tried to coax down the streets of the Silk Houses, striving to meet the unicorns before other Stormbreak occupants did. We can go back to safety was another encouragement – especially as her eyes glanced towards the swaying buildings.
--
Lena tries to coax the unicorns back to the Celestine with food and words.
Can speak to rare creatures/companions/regular animals.
that could abash the little bird that kept so many warm
The captains want to argue, but honestly, the game of telephone it would take to relay the message back is longer than they care to engage in. So fuck it, the city is now several kilometres in the air and Anju seems to be the only one shouting orders. Pressing in on what remains of the Tower, it collapses in ruin before the Skyships move to reinforce the Temple. In the Square a number of citizens have gotten the bright idea that perhaps there are a few extra skyboats near the skyport, and they begin to try and edge themselves in that direction.
Somewhere far off, some of Stormbreak's citizens are deposited in the jungle. Hopefully, someone takes charge.
Luckily for Lena, the herd is wont to remain together, and so as she races through the streets, it's like trying to track down one single creature rather than a dozen. Luckily skirting the falling debris from the Silk Houses, the caretaker is able to make her way to the tail end of the herd. At the head is a boss mare, all flattened ears and flared nostrils. The offering of food might sway the others, but she has seen the Celestine crumble and is not convinced that going back won't lead to a similar fate again.
To ensure that nothing is missed, please include a summary of your actions at the bottom of your post, including the description of any magic/items/feats that are being utilized! Anything not included in your OOC summary won't be taken into account!
Be warned, this PQ+ will be dangerous and may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters.
The Tower falls, and Anju stares at it gravely from a distance. It was never her domain, and perhaps it was always meant to fall, was never meant to be fully rebuilt. But all she can think now is that she’s grateful it didn’t do more damage this time around.
Seeing people begin to try and depart from the interlocked masses, Anju narrows her eyes and sends Riya to circle the giant group, smoke coiling in her half-parted jaws in warning. Anju stands on a piece of rubble and calls their attention. “Do not leave the plaza! We have been informed the city’s rising is an old, forgotten defense mechanism. Remain where you are, this is the area furthest from any unsteady buildings and I will not risk a rescue mission if you leave!” Despite her explanation, her voice is no-nonsense and sharp, ever the reticent woman she has always been. Regardless of whether they find comfort or guidance in her words (though damn it she tries despite being bad at it) Riya circles low around their knees like a scaly shark, massive and eagle-eyed (but secretly still much friendlier than Anju).
- - -
Anju has Riya circle the group of civilians in the plaza around knee level to dissuade and corral any stragglers/deserters. She stands on a piece of rubble to call attention and shares what the spirit told them in hopes of calming them and keeping order - and implies she won’t send a rescue for any deserters.
Faithfully I would prepare my works to prove God's wrath was well deserved
and sweetest in the gale is heard and sore must be the storm
She wasn’t surprised by the reaction of the lead mare – an understandable notion, to have found protection potentially here, and certainly not in portions of the Celestine. It’d be up to convincing the intelligent, wise unicorn, rather than parlaying with food. Still, with her arms full of hay and buckets of grain, calm demeanor, and compassionate breaths, Lena tried again. I know. But, you can’t stay here either. Especially given the narrow streets, the potential for toppling buildings. We can get all of you to an open area. And hopefully away from any crowds of people.
A risk they’d have to take, for however long.
--
Lena tries to convince the lead mare, and her herd, to leave the Silk House area.
Can speak to rare creatures/companions/regular animals.
that could abash the little bird that kept so many warm
Anju 's screams are partially met with screams as her dragon circles the crowd. Accusations of tyrant! and where's Ronin! ring out, but of course, the former couldn't be farther from the truth, and the latter is just a meaningless cry. "So...if we leave, y'ain't coming after us..right?" Comes a rather steely voice from somewhere at the back of the crowd. "Jus' want to make sure."
The thing about mares is that they have minds of their own. The thing about Lena, though, is that she's never shown these animals anything less than kindness and compassion. With nostrils flared and sounds like angry vacuum cleaners snorting from their noses at every falling bit of debris, the herd nervously begins to follow the caretaker back to the Celestine.
To ensure that nothing is missed, please include a summary of your actions at the bottom of your post, including the description of any magic/items/feats that are being utilized! Anything not included in your OOC summary won't be taken into account!
Be warned, this PQ+ will be dangerous and may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters.
Anju scowls with the thunder of a thousand storms. Yeah she’d fucking like Ronin to be here right now too, this isn’t her job. This isn’t her. Anju is terse and stoic and more of a body to be used than a kind. But gods if she doesn’t try her heart out - for Ronin’s sake if no one else.
“You leave this Plaza before we hit altitude, your chance of death rises IMMEDIATELY. I am here to keep everyone in this square safe! If you leave, you only take your own chances out there in the crumbling, falling, floating city that just claimed numerous lives and I will not send soldiers to their death to retrieve you!” she snarls back not just to the one asshole, but to everyone at large. Still on her rubble soapbox, and still commanding Riya to snake around everyone, Anju fumes.
“Ronin is GONE! Our leaders, our government, they are gone!” And had been for seasons now, Stormbreak limping along as a modern city capable of running itself on the bare minimum, but wounded all the same. “Right now you have me. Your last Dragoon - trained by the Ronin you want, who is out there protecting us all from much worse things! And you can hate me all you like, but my job is to keep you alive in his stead even when you want to run headlong off a fucking cliff!” And, well, everyone has a breaking point right? Maybe this is Anju’s. Historically, she has never exactly worn kid gloves.
“This is the safest place in the city right now. Until we hit altitude, I WILL do what I can to keep you all here - up to and including non-lethal force. If you have better ideas, feel free to speak now, but until you can produce a superior cabinet member or soldier, it is my SOLE duty to keep you all alive. Understood?” And internally she prays for Lena to return swiftly, because Anju’s methods of comfort and crowd control are undoubtedly far worse than the Caretaker’s.
- - -
Anju makes an…’impassioned speech’ to try and get the crowd to understand their odds. Riya continues to circle them loosely at around knee level.
Faithfully I would prepare my works to prove God's wrath was well deserved
and sweetest in the gale is heard and sore must be the storm
I know. Thank you, she reassured again, arms heavy and laden with food as they began their walk to the Celestine. Because she did understand – the unknown was gaping and huge and overwhelming, even without the danger.
Eventually, she found them another enclosure nowhere near the molten tigers, and spread out the hay and grain, hoping that could at least give them some relief and assuaging while everything else moved along.
With a breath of calm and composure she still didn’t feel all the way through her own soul, she hastened back towards the crowds, intending to see if she could help or assist there (or see if there were any other loose creatures).
--
Lena makes sure the unicorns are safely tucked back in the Celestine, then comes towards the shouting crowd (trying to see if there are any other loose animals around or to pacify the masses).
that could abash the little bird that kept so many warm
