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!
Now you could call Tal an optimist, because all he could see was the bright side. Dazzling, blinding, migraine-inducing light flashed through his tinted Goggles (and maybe if he survived he'd remember to ask Safrin to do something about that the next time he went to visit her). He stumbled and his foot caught the edge of the walkway, slipping, and he only barely caught himself by luck alone.
"I'm fine!" he yelled to whoever might have seen hopefully everyone else was too busy with the Banshee Queen to have noticed that less-than-heroic moment, and began to haul himself back up, blinking furiously to clear his sight.
That ring of featherfall was sounding better and better.
Tal pulls himself back up and blinks the light out of his eyes! #he'stryinghisbest
“Talyson!” she shouts, instinctive, gut lurching. The man’s call of safety comes back seconds later - amidst scrambling, fleeing dragons (so that was what that commotion was) and it’s enough to make her believe him. The gates are down, so they’ll have to pivot their attack plans.
Turning back towards the Banshee - now flanked by two other figures - Evie lifts her arm in a clearly visible motion. “Soldiers, fire!” she commands, hoping archers and ballista operators both will heed the call.
Meanwhile, herself, she calls upon her earth magic to try and lock the legs of the head Banshee in place, calling rock and soil and stone to try and keep her motionless and more open to attack.
- - -
Evie commands all the rampart soldiers, and the unit she sent to accompany Cordelia, to fire the ballista established in the PQ+. She then tries to use her Earth magic to climb up and lock the legs of the head Banshee.
We'll get the easy stuff out of the way and say that Talyson successfully rights himself and is able to clear his vision. Congratulations! Just in time to see everything that goes down next.
Cordelia's arrow lances out, whistling as it's unleashed from against her cheek, but it regrettably falls short of the handmaid she aims for. It is gone, spearing out into the mist upon the Tundra.
And the ballista - the ballista. In a show of skill and cohesion that would bring a tear to a Warden's eye, the soldiers are a true example of what it means to hone your skills. (AKA, they rolled a crit). Flinging an enormous boulder at the banshee trio, it catches the queen directly, and also scatters the handmaids away from their highness.
But they don't stay inactive for long. Scattering, the two lesser-banshees go instantly for the walls, beginning their climb towards the soldiers that are really starting to cause a problem.
And as for Queenie? Unfortunately she only has eyes for the person directly before her. The one who fired an arrow.
With a deafening shriek, she moves across the snow and ice with surprising agility, her claws outstretched. Cordelia attempts to dodge, but unfortunately she finds herself carved across the left arm, right to the bone, as Queenie takes a swipe. And it really fucking hurts. She won't survive another hit like that.
Welcome to this KQ. The Citadel has been enshrouded in a curious mist! Something in the mist is weeping.
The Solar Beam will be ready to charge in 4 rounds.
Remember to include a summary at the bottom of your post with all action taken. If weapons/upgrades/abilities/items/shifts/etc are used, please include their desc. from your profile at the bottom of your post as well.
REMEMBER: KQs are rewarding but dangerous. They may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters.
Cordelia isn’t stupid. No, quite the opposite, in fact. As soon as Queenie begins to move the Shrike knows she’s coming for her. A shriek pierced through her skull and Cordelia winces, eyes screwing shut just as the banshee’s attack lands, slicing through skin and cutting down to bone. Pain lances through her and her own cry is enough to rival the Queen’s. Stumbling backwards and clutching at her flayed arm, the Shrike does the only thing she can do.
She shifts into the form of her Luxere and attempts to flee, hoping the others understand, needing them to know it’s the last thing she wants. She can hear Noah in her head, the words he murmured before he left, begging her to stay safe and be there to greet him when he returns. She can’t do that if she’s dead.
Cordelia shifts into her Luxere form and attempts to flee the KQ.
Halo has hardened you against her weather and her terrain. Once per PQ/PQ+/KQ/Drop, you can ignore an environmental effect that would otherwise hinder you (rough terrain, cold, wind, etc). (In order to use this ability, you must put a clear note in the bottom of your post immediately following the effect you want to ignore).
fuckFuckFuckFUCKFUCK, Tal thought as his vision cleared and he watched Delia take a swipe from the weeping Queen.
Luckily he didn't have to tell her to run; she was smart enough to already be on her way out. The rest of them were going to need a little extra something to deal with the monster that had marched onto their doorstep, however, and he wasn't too proud to ask for a little help.
"Safrin!" Tal prayed with desperate sincerity as he ran to back up the soldiers on the wall where the handmaids were performing an alternative telling of Rapunzel. "Sorry t'interrupt, but can y'give that banshee somethin' to really cry about? Show her what a real queen can do!" They'd hit her with sunfire, now how about some starfire? shush, Tal doesn't know that they're the same thing
Hopefully the handmaids would take another round to finish climbing as Tal tried to reach the soldiers and join in their defense.
Tal runs to defend the soldiers and channels Safrin to smite the Scream Queen!
Accepted Channeling: Allows an Accepted to channel a deity/demigod/lesser spirit during a time of crisis (1x a season)
Type: Light | Rank: Upgraded
Rockhide Vest | An armoured vest flecked in black and white and lined with cool, fur-like material. This item blocks physical damage at Talyson's Basic level. Requires a 2 post cool-down between uses.
As the handmaids begin to climb the walls, Evie recalls the javelins Talyson had left and as she hurries down away from the solar cannon, she lifts her voice another time. "Use the javelins! Knock them back down!" Which is right when she looks up and sees the queen banshee swipe at Cordelia. The woman's name is shouted, though she can barely hear her own voice through the ringing in her ears. Whatever Talyson does, Evie can barely hear it; she has to intervene, there is no further thinking.
Racing towards the two to try and get as close as possible, Evie stretches her healing magic in hopes of reaching Cordelia. And as she runs, she lifts her shield from her back - keeping the banshee between herself and Cordelia as she tries to get close enough for her magic to reach, ready to bowl the banshee over in a graceless bash. Maybe now would have been the time to say something cool and impressive, but Evie is too busy hoping to be a half-decent human bowling ball.
- - -
Evie yells a command for the soldiers to use the javelins placed in the PQ+ to stab down at the handmaidens. She grabs her shield and runs for Cordelia to get close enough to heal her, intending to smash into the banshee which stands between them to take its attention.
Longtooth Shield | A fang-shaped shield crafted from the tooth of a gigantic landshark and mysterious shards of bone. It is adorned with ebony flecks of volcanic rock. This item blocks physical damage at Evie's Basic level and requires a 2 post cool-down between uses.
Tal will feel Safrin's warm presence around him. "You've got this. Just focus." She whispers into his ear, filling the courier with a sense of serenity and calm amidst the mist and destruction.
Starlight rains down from the sky, solidifying into a single star that descends directly toward the Banshee Queen. Safrin's aim is as true as the night sky is vast.
A luxere is pretty damn prancy when it wants to be, and although the Banshee Queen's wicked claws slash out towards Cordelia, they snag little more than a bit of fur from her fluffy fluff butt. She's gone, bolting out of there and... well. Abandoning the rest of her party to the wrath of the monsters at the gates. Halo will remember this for a long time, Cordelia.
Especially since Evie was on her way to lend a hand, sacrificing her turn safety to get close enough to send out a wave of healing magic. That magic would have been enough to return Cordelia to full health, except... the spell doesn't go off. Instead, Evie finds herself holding a live chicken in her arms.
Luckily, here comes Talyson and Safrin to save the day! The star hits true, and Queenie wails her anguish to the mist clogged sky.
Her Handmaids heed her call. The javelins do not hit, unfortunately - perhaps the creatures are just too close to get a good aim - and the Handmaids make it to the top of the Citadel walls. They fall upon the guards like rabid animals. Blood sprays the air, and bodies fall from the ramparts to crumple on the ground below.
Welcome to this KQ. The Citadel has been enshrouded in a curious mist! Something in the mist is weeping.
The Solar Beam will be ready to charge in 3 rounds.
Remember to include a summary at the bottom of your post with all action taken. If weapons/upgrades/abilities/items/shifts/etc are used, please include their desc. from your profile at the bottom of your post as well.
REMEMBER: KQs are rewarding but dangerous. They may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters.
It was a lot easier to feel in control of a terrible situation when a goddess was on your side. Tal drew in a steadying breath, letting Safrin's starlit clarity settle over him. "Thanks, Safrin," he murmured gratefully. Her star power was just what the situation had needed, and the courier dared to let a fierce grin spread over his features as the Queen took another hit. One more like that and they'd be able to--
He missed what was happening with Cordelia and Evie, because the rampart in front of him went red with the carnage of the freshly arrived handmaids. Taking Safrin's words to heart, Tal focused and stepped forward calmly until he was within ten feet of 1Banshee Handmaid and stabbed forward with a Special Delivery from his dagger just for her - hopefully while staying out of range himself.
Tal thanks Safrin and steps forward until he's 10 feet away from 1Banshee Handmaid, attacking with his Special Delivery Dagger. Hopefully he's out of range for the moment?
Type: Grey | Style: Offensive | Level: Basic
Special Delivery Dagger | A carefully crafted dagger, decorated with the foot of a blink hare. Upon making a stabbing motion in the air, the dagger may damage a target up to 10ft away from the user.
Type: Grey | Style: Defensive | Level: Basic
Rockhide Vest | An armoured vest flecked in black and white and lined with cool, fur-like material. This item blocks physical damage at Talyson's Basic level. Requires a 2 post cool-down between uses.
Evie is left with a chicken in one hand, and she curses loudly. But Cordelia has managed to escape, and she can’t look back at the soldiers being felled. Not when the Queen is here, in reach.
Queen against Queen, bitch.
Evie draws one of her throwing knives, shield strapped to her left arm, and she leaps forward; half-concealed behind the shield, she seeks to slam the Queen to the ground, striking down with her dagger at the banshee’s neck. Seeking arteries, or vocal cords, in a cruel and underhanded attack. Ready to take her on one-on-one, to steal her focus and attention.
She won’t fell any other Halovians. Not on Evie’s watch.
- - -
Evie tosses the chicken, and with her shield still braced in front of her in her left arm, pulls her throwing dagger and jumps towards the Queen Banshee - hoping to hide behind her shield while she strikes down with her dagger towards the banshee’s neck.
Longtooth Shield | A fang-shaped shield crafted from the tooth of a gigantic landshark and mysterious shards of bone. It is adorned with ebony flecks of volcanic rock. This item blocks physical damage at Evie's Basic level and requires a 2 post cool-down between uses.
Well now we're talking. Talyson cleverly swipes at the air, and his Special Delivery strikes true, carving a nasty wound along one of the handmaidens' necks. She shrieks in response, and it is not only her attention that the courier draws - it's her sister's as well. Luckily for him, he's very light on his feet (either that or there's blood in their eyes), and both of them miss.
As for Evie, throwing the chicken is a nice trick, but it merely gets skewered on the Queen Banshee's talons. Falling in a spray of blood and feathers, one might say it deserved more than that for the mage who summoned it, but there isn't much time to dwell on it. Not with a dagger skewering toward's the banshee's neck.
Evie will be pleased to notice that it hits, though the creature doesn't bleed the way you might expect. Something oozes out of it, but it is thick and black, like tar.
It also brings the Evergreen in terrifying reach of Queenie's teeth and claws. She doesn't manage to get the full brunt of her attack through thanks to that pesky shield, but Evie will feel the deep bite of her talons. Nasty.
Welcome to this KQ. The Citadel has been enshrouded in a curious mist! Something in the mist is weeping.
The Solar Beam will be ready to charge in 2 rounds.
Remember to include a summary at the bottom of your post with all action taken. If weapons/upgrades/abilities/items/shifts/etc are used, please include their desc. from your profile at the bottom of your post as well.
REMEMBER: KQs are rewarding but dangerous. They may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters.
Not the odds Tal wanted, but they were the ones he'd more or less chosen. With Safrin's presence still lingering and Frey's weapon in hand the courier felt brave enough to dance with the devils who had scaled the Wall.
"Oh, fuck off!" He growled, the lack of poetry in his soul all too obvious. He quick-stepped back ten feet and stabbed forward once again with the knife at 1Banshee Handmaid, hoping to finish the work he'd begun. He was imminently aware of her sister, but he focused his attention on one at a time, stubbornly determined to get the job done.
Tal moves back ten feet and stabs at 1Banshee Handmaid again with his Special Delivery Knife.
Type: Grey | Style: Offensive | Level: Basic
Special Delivery Dagger | A carefully crafted dagger, decorated with the foot of a blink hare. Upon making a stabbing motion in the air, the dagger may damage a target up to 10ft away from the user.
Type: Grey | Style: Defensive | Level: Basic
Rockhide Vest | An armoured vest flecked in black and white and lined with cool, fur-like material. This item blocks physical damage at Talyson's Basic level. Requires a 2 post cool-down between uses.
Evie grits her teeth against the pain that flares through her shoulder as the Banshee digs her claws deep. But her shield keeps most of her concealed, and Evie won’t be thrown off so easily. She shoves down harder on her shield arm, hoping to keep the Queen pinned by laying most of her body weight behind the shield. With her other hand she slashes down again, rinse and repeat.
Evie can take pain. If that’s what it takes to bring her down, to ensure she can’t hurt Talyson, or any other soldiers? She’ll do it. She will keep the Queen pinned here as longer as she has strength in her body.
Evie aims for the neck again, morbidly hoping that with enough hacking, she can sever it entirely. Then it would really be dead and unable to scream.
- - -
Evie lays as much of her weight behind her shield as possible to pin the Banshee and to conceal most of herself, and cuts down with her dagger again at the Queen’s neck, hoping to eventually sever it since there’s no apparent blood.
Longtooth Shield | A fang-shaped shield crafted from the tooth of a gigantic landshark and mysterious shards of bone. It is adorned with ebony flecks of volcanic rock. This item blocks physical damage at Evie's Basic level and requires a 2 post cool-down between uses.
Oh yes, Talyson - two for the price of one. Luckily all of that practice the courier has been doing has him very agile indeed, because as both Handmaids surge forward, neither is able to get their claws into him. And it doesn't stop there; like an acrobat atop the icy, misty rampart, Tal barely needs the Special element of his Special Delivery dagger. It's almost as though the handmaid is frozen in place, because the courier is able to nearly carve her head clean off. With a gurgling wail, she crumples to the stone and is no more.
Back on the ground, things are looking just as positive; unable to thrash around the Evergreen's shield (for this round, anyway), the Banshee Queen fails to land a hit with her claws. Evie, on the other hand, has no such issue in hacking another wedge out of Queenie's neck, and more black ichor stains the snow and ice.
Her ghastly lips parting, the Banshee Queen howls into the air, and the second handmaid turns immediately to heed the call. She is gone and out of Talyson's range, trying to reach her highness.
Welcome to this KQ. The Citadel has been enshrouded in a curious mist! Something in the mist is weeping.
The Solar Beam will be ready to charge in 1 round.
Banshee Queen 45/300
1Banshee Handmaid 0/45 (Killed by Talyson for levelling purposes)
2Banshee Handmaid 35/45
Remember to include a summary at the bottom of your post with all action taken. If weapons/upgrades/abilities/items/shifts/etc are used, please include their desc. from your profile at the bottom of your post as well.
REMEMBER: KQs are rewarding but dangerous. They may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters.
