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!
As the window breaks yet again, Harper takes the moment of privacy to lean forward and rest his forehead against the still empty sill, hiding the way he questions every life choice that led him to this moment. Embarrassment is not a strong enough word to describe the feeling that breaking two windows in a row creates.
Sparing Sohalia a grateful look (when he finally emerges) for sweeping up the mess, Harper tries to give installing the window one last try. He isn't exactly hopeful at this point, but maybe he can give the new Guild twenty-one years of bad luck if he tries hard enough!
- - -
Harper questions his life and tries to install the window one last time.
Building and restoring a guildhall was no small feat. To be fair, it made sense that the creation of an Adventurer's Guild required an adventure. But this? This was too much. With Boreal's help, Talyson is almost able to fully clear out the building. That's a lie. Boreal decides to sit on an old couch to take a nap.
With part of the floor now blocked by a napping dragon and a falling apart couch, Sohalia is only able to sweep what's free of debris. Once Boreal moves, the rest can be done. Harperinally has his moment of triumph when he's able to install the window. It's done. You're free. We're all proud of you, Harper.
Meanwhile Soleil is having an incredible time. Following the sound, she finds an alcove on the back of the building. There's a shuffling noise and a furry face pops out to sniff her hand. It's a puppy! The little one spills out from where they were hiding and sniffs Solei's hands eagerly, tail wagging uncontrollably.
While Soleil is getting a massive dosage of serotonin, Edmund walks straight into a cobweb and trips on his own feet trying to wipe it off of his face. The Ancient falls on his ass with a hiss.
Getting back on his feet, Edmund sighs. Pausing then, Edmund eyes the chaos and can't help the small burst of laughter that leaves him. "Ok. Let's switch things up and try again."
~
Round 4! (There will be 5 rounds). Edmund will take what's left. No post order.
1. Someone wake up Boreal and get the final couch cleared away.
2. The area where Boreal and the couch are needs to be swept.
3. The cobwebs need to be cleaned.
4 & 5. Two people can help put the puppy somewhere where they can't get hurt.
See, everyone? This is why you explore creepy noises! Who cares if doing that normally ends in death in Caido? You could also get puppies.
A squeal of excitement will be heard faintly to those in the other rooms, but Soleil only restrains herself enough to not scare the pup as she gets on hands and knees - ew, dusty - and coaxes it out and into her arms. It seems to need little of it, ending up wriggling and eager in her grasp as she coos and kisses all over its fuzzy little head, getting smacked excitedly in the nose multiple times for her efforts.
Emerging dust-covered and triumphant with the little ball of sunshine in her arms, Soleil beams at anyone in sight and holds the puppy out like a trophy. "I have our new mascot!" she declares. Pausing, she glances around with a frown. "Can someone help me make an area for him?" Not only does she want him safe, she doesn't want him running off.
Maybe her father would be okay with yet another canine in the house...?
Deciding that's a future issue, Soleil begins looking for a good corner where she can set up a box of some kind to keep the puppy contained and out of the way.
- - -
Soleil declares the puppy their new mascot and begins looking for a good corner to put a box for the puppy to stay in.
Such a lovely, pretty hand to hold - if you had the time
This is a gift, it comes with a price Who is the lamb and who is the knife?
Later, they would probably all look back on this as a big adventure - a big, amusing adventure. For now, though, Soh could only smile wryly at their luck. At least Harper finally managed to get the window fixed. For that, the young woman shot him an encouraging smile.
When Soleil found a puppy, Soh was overjoyed - what an adorable creature, and one she would love nothing more than to cuddle and love for the rest of its days. But Boreal was sleeping on a couch, and Soh thought that Talyson might be a little grumpy about his companion's lack of assistance, so she meandered over to try to wake the sleeping dragon. Besides, Tal loved dogs. Maybe he would go help Sol with the puppy.
To try and wake Boreal, Soh dug in her pocket for the jerky that she kept there and pulled it out, waving it under the dragon's nose to try and ensnare her senses. "Boreaaaaal," she called in a singsong voice. "Get off the couch and you can have a treaaaaat."
------
Soh tries to wake Boreal up with a treat.
Midas is king and he holds me so tight And turns me to gold in the sunlight
It's a good thing Sohalia stepped in to take charge because Boreal? Boreal was not listening to her companion. If anyone had asked the dragon she would have informed them that providing challenges to a young human was a form of enrichment. It helped them grow and build character! And sometimes helping them grow meant pretending to sleep on an old couch while Tal growled and shoved at the couch without much success.
But Soh was another matter entirely. Soh was lovely just the way she was, and Boreal perked up immediately at the offered treat. She sniffed appreciatively at the jerky and slowly stretched her neck towards it. Her forepaws came off the couch and hit the floor and then the rest of her slithered down to claim her prize. Afterwards she would even help Soh push the couch out of the way!
Tal, meanwhile, had indeed thrown his hands up in a mixture of amusement and frustration at his dragon's stubbornness and grumped away. But his grumpiness vanished as Soleil returned from the back with a puppy in her arms and the courier brightened up immediately. "Sure, we c'n make a little box for 'im," he agreed, with none of his usual grouchiness. Sohalia knew him well: dogs went straight for his soft spot and his spiny outer shell deflated in an instant with a puppy to help care for.
He quickly got to work assembling some spare lumber into a little puppy playpen, then wriggled out of his own shirt - though still wearing his Vest - and made a little nest of it for when the pup got tired.
Boreal accepts Sohalia's treat and helps move the couch she was on while Tal makes a little playpen to keep the puppy corralled while they work!
Harper might very well cry with relief when the window finally goes in without breaking (thank you Tal!) which isn't exactly becoming of a man his age, but he thinks he could have hidden it decently being one of the only people remaining outside. Maybe just turned around and Superman-posed while crying so everyone inside would think he was looking out at the majestic waves.
But the point is he succeeded, so all is well. No manly crying necessary.
Venturing back inside to hear what else needs to be done, Harper coos from the corner as Soleil and Talyson get the envious task of helping out the puppy she'd found. Helping Edmund up with a small smile so he doesn't injure the young man's pride, Harper claps him on the shoulder and sets about cleaning up the cobwebs - easy enough with just a stick and the help of his decently tall frame.
Edmund glances over at Soleil's excited call and can't help but small, "They're adorable. You found them so you get to name them." (And yes, Sah would be ecstatic for another canine to join the family if Soleil brings the pup home.) As Soleil and Talyson work to get the puppy situated in their new box, the only delay is the sheer enthusiasm of the puppy. They already love their new friends and are determined to make it known with constant wags and many slobbery kisses. The pup is safe in their box and happy to watch their guildmates work.
Sohalia has zero trouble with Boreal and is to go spend some time with the puppy too!
Harper helps Edmund and receives another half hug. It's been too long since the Ancient has seen his parental figure and he's missed him. Recharged from his near-crushing defeat. Harper is able to handle the cobwebs swiftly. He too gets to meet their new four-legged guildmate.
With the hall clear as everyone tends to the pup, Edmund is able to finish up the sweeping. Watching everyone coo over the puppy with a small grin, the Ancient clears his throat. "Alright. We're just about there. The furniture is squared away so we get to stock the hall and add some personal touches."
~
Last round!!! NPCs are bringing in furniture and building shelves! No post order. Edmund will take what's left (and do his office).
1. One to paint the walls and add the front door sign.
2. One to add some decor to the main hall (including a place for puppy to relax).
3. One to decorate and stock the kitchen.
4. One to decorate and stock the armory.
5. One to decorate and stock the library.
This is a gift, it comes with a price Who is the lamb and who is the knife?
With Boreal taken care of, Soh gave her a scratch and made her way over to coo at the puppy. They were adorable, and Soh reached down to give the puppy scratches before she turned back to the work at hand. Maybe she could play with the puppy more after the day's work was done. Tarak, curious about the new addition to the group, wandered back in, making his way over to the puppy to look them over, his tail twitching with interest. Soh kept an eye on him; he didn't seem to know whether he wanted to play with the puppy or hunt them. She sent a stern no feeling through the bond.
Their work was paying off. Now that Soh could see what was supposed to be what and what was supposed to go where, she made her way into the library and began stocking the shelves with books and decor. She commandeered a few plants from the supplies that were available and placed them lovingly in particular places around the room, turning them just so to catch the light and display their flowers and leaves in the most flattering way. The books were easy enough to organize - by author, obviously - and the various knick knacks she picked up were scattered artfully around the room. In the end, she was pleased with her work.
------
Soh decorates the library.
Midas is king and he holds me so tight And turns me to gold in the sunlight
Tal grinned happily as he and Soleil got the pup settled in and they played with it for a little while as others finished their tasks. He even lost track of time for a bit as everyone wandered over one by one to meet their new mascot. Their new guild leader eventually pulled them back on task, however, and the courier reluctantly stood up and dusted off his knees as he looked around for what still needed doing.
Since Sohalia had taken the library, Tal figured he could lend a hand in the main hall. He stole a pair of potted miniature palm trees from the same supply that she had raided and settled them at either side of the main door, then found a few woven rugs to soften the floor and add a splash of color over the light wood. A few small tables in the corners would eventually hold souvenirs of the guild's adventures, he hoped, but most of his time was spent finding a good dog bed (with Boreal's expert help) and improving the puppy's little enclosure into something more permanent and finished-looking that fit into a corner of the room organically, as if it had been there all along.
Tal decorates the main hall!
Having been handed far too much power, Soleil’s eyes gleam like the bewitching glint of soul coins on a dead man’s face, and begins to scheme.
“Do you think Ludo would curse me or be ecstatic if I named our dog mascot Awoo-do?” Are any of them even Ludo followers? Wait - her eyes catch on Edmund’s horns and her expression goes Grinch-like with glee. “Dogra maybe?” Dygra seems like the type to enjoy some mischievous puns. As she reluctantly leaves the cute thing to the area they’d made for it, Soleil continues to concoct the worst puns she can think of to name the dog. “Or maybe that will just be his title! A name only visitors can call our mighty mascot.” Was the puppy even a he? Soleil hadn’t checked. In the grand scheme of her standard naming conventions, she doesn’t think it really matters.
Painting seems like a terrible task to give to Sol, so she takes up decorating the kitchen. It doesn’t need much sprucing in terms of decoration, function over aesthetic, which hopefully means fewer things for Soleil to destroy.
- - -
Soleil proposes terrible names and decorates the kitchen.
Such a lovely, pretty hand to hold - if you had the time
Harper is greedy and impatient for a real hug from his son, but the half-hug he receives will tide him over for the moment. He won't hold up their efforts with the far-too-long embrace he intends to give Edmund the second he has the opportunity, even if cobwebs are far less appealing.
Soleil's pun names make him brighten almost deliriously from the corner of the room the second he hears them, absolutely ecstatic. Clearly Edmund has good taste in friends. "I vote Dogra," he tosses impishly into the voting circle, if there is one. Edmund could often be strangely protective over random things he personally considered improper, so it could very well be vetoed within moments.
Given his artistic abilities, Harper decides on painting, even if it will be a lengthier effort with all the nooks and crannies. It's a nice color at least, he muses as he dips his brush and gets to work.
Edmund has to think for a moment about the names Soleil offers. Dogra sounds the best but he's uncertain. Granted, Mother doesn't seem like the one to care about such a thing even if naming the dog such feels disrespectful. After a pause, he gives Soleil a smile, "Dogra, it is."
The last of the work begins and ends smoothly. Sohalia creates a cozy and functional library perfect for relaxing and studying at leisure. Comfortable chairs and plush rugs are brought in by NPCs and the library is complete!
Talyson creates a perfect nook for the puppy and turns the sparse hall into one to behold. Dressed in the guild's red and gold, it becomes worthy of an adventurer. NPCs bring in tables, chairs, and a bar for guildmembers to socialize and relax. The main hall is complete!
Soleil quickly turns the kitchen into a functional one and when the NPCs bring in places to sit and eat, the kitchen is complete!
Harper turns to paint and quickly finishes up the walls. The front door sign goes up and the building truly comes together.
Meanwhile, Edmund works overtime. The armory is quickly stocked with weapons and armor for guildmembers to use. From there he adds more decorative weapons and banners to the walls to complete the space. Satisfied, he turns to his office. The space is outfitted with a table and chair while he adds books, a rug, and other decorations.
Once the space is clear of prying eyes, he activates the side door he had installed. It opens up a small area where he places an obsidian bowl on a pedestal. Taking a knife, he pricks his finger and lets it fall into the bowl before setting it aflame. "For you, Mother. What's mine is yours. I hope you approve of this guild."
Task complete, Edmund returns to his guildmates as they finish up their tasks. "We're done!" The Ancient's tail curls with glee, "Thank you all so much." He gestures to the outfitted bar with a grin, "Let's celebrate."
~
We're done!!!! Thank you all so much. The guild board will be up soon.
