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!
09-06-2023, 08:18 PM (This post was last modified: 09-07-2023, 02:18 PM by Court Official.)
mothman
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
In the heavens, now you gleam,
Like a nightmare from a dream.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Has the sky grown darker since Safrin's departure, or is it merely a consequence of the season? While the majority of Stormbreak slumbers in the wee hours of the morning, there are creatures pondering this very question. Creatures that rely on the brightness of the moon and the guidance of the stars to orient themselves.
Now, as the world goes darker, they have found something else.
Reflecting the light thanks to the massive telescope and glass ceiling, the Eye beckons like a fallen moon, and toward it the mothman flies.
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So tired trying to see from behind the red in my eyes No better version of me I could pretend to be tonight
An assault on Stormbreak by a magical monster?
It wouldn't be an overstatement to say that Koa has been training his entire life for this.
The alarm goes off in the Dragon's Nest, a rumbling, keening sound that has Koa on his feet in seconds. Not a drill, and the young man is ready, pulling on his coat as he sprints from the room, only pausing to grab his bag and weapons and a now-awake Pipsqueak. He thunders down the stairs from his office, barking instructions for people's protection as he goes, not sure what is heard or not as he sprints into the darkness, toward the great unknown.
And unknown it is - a black shadow that blots the sky out, stars disappearing behind its massive silhouette. At the foot of the Spyglass Koa skids to a stop, his copper eyes wide as he stares at the darkness, terror and anticipation thundering like drums against his heaving chest.
"What in the name of Frey's dark taint," he asks to Pip and the gods and anyone else who cares to hear, "Is that?"
Koa arrives with everything on his profile, his escrima sticks, his boxing wraps, and the Leviathan chakram, which Sunjata loaned him in: {se} we wandered, we wandered
Type: Dark | Style: Offensive | Level: Upgraded
Leviathan Chakram: An unbreakable chakram created from the scale of a leviathan by the Voice. With razor-sharp edges, this discus will always return to the hand of whoever throws it, and will always do so without injuring the hands of the thrower.
Koa
No other version of me I would rather be tonight And, Lord, she found me just in time
Everyone wants to see heaven But no one wants to say goodbye
It could be argued that Soh had most certainly not trained her entire life for this. Indeed, in comparison to Koa, her knowledge of the martial arts paled entirely into non-existence.
But she was Stormbreak's Heart. Who would defend her region if she wouldn't?
She'd been on her way home from her office, staff in hand and eyes alert for danger, as she always was when walking the darkened streets of Stormbreak, when the massive figure blotted out the moon. She, like Koa, had sprinted towards the Spyglass, Tarak in tow, but where Koa thrummed with anticipation, the Luminary's entire being thundered with terror. Run away, the voice in the back of her mind whispered, and it was only the knowledge that it was her city being threatened that kept her on the path.
And when she skidded to a stop beside Koa, their shared history was momentarily forgotten, as she reached out to grab his arm, as much to steady herself as anything else. "What - what do we do?" she asked frantically, her eyes following the giant creature, flicking only momentarily to Koa's face. She may have been the leader, but in this, she would follow him completely.
------
Soh arrives with everything on her profile (which admittedly isn't much), a basic staff, and two basic daggers.
Everyone wants to see heaven But no one wants to die
This truly was not what Edmund had expected when he made his first trip to Stormbreak. The young adventure had wanted just that, an adventure. The chance to explore a new region for the first time and maybe try some new foods. Yet now all he could do was stare at the sky. He spots a small gathering of people and rushes over, recognizing Sohalia and Koa immediately.
"Does anyone what that thing is?" The Ancient tightens his grip on the torch in his hand and runs a nervous tongue over his fangs. Thank Mother he hadn't left his things at the inn where he was staying and had his bag on him. Surely some of his adventuring gear would come in handy. At least, he hopes so.
~
Edmund arrives! He has everything on his profile, a bow with 20 arrows, and his adventuring pack. Inside are rope, rations, bandages, a dagger, flint and steel. He currently has a lit torch as well.
tried to wash you down with something strong But the taste of blood remains
The alarm rouses Anju the same way it spurs Koa into action. Old trauma from the war sets fire to her adrenaline, making the headlong race to the Spyglass a blur she doesn’t remember. Riya flies ahead - never out of sight, but far enough ahead to scout and report back in half-formed images and impressions what she sees, their lifelong bond making it a language Anju knows blind and deaf.
Sohalia and Koa are standing together, and it makes her heart drop to her feet. No, no, no, her heart thunders. They’re too young. And Koa - her best friend’s son - she can’t afford to fail him the way she failed Lizbeth.
Anju grabs whichever Dragoon is within reach - they better be fucking answering the call - and snaps, “Begin evacuation immediately!” Clearly none of the others are doing anything yet, and as the oldest and most war-weary, Anju feels the burden heavy on her shoulders. “Get every lamp lit!” They need to see as much as they can with the dark all around them.
Finally turning to the three youth in attendance, Anju extends a forbidding arm. “Do not enter the building, we have no idea if it’s big enough to take it down.” And only Koa will remember, but falling buildings have killed more Stormbreak citizens than anything else in recent history. To Riya she sends her heart (for they never know if this fight will be their last together) and sends her higher into the night. “See if you can get a better visual but stay out of range,” she bids, saying it aloud for the sake of her companions.
- - -
Anju arrives with everything on her profile, her Dragoon sword and shield, and Riya.
She verbally commands any NPC Dragoons around to begin evacuation of the building and to have all street lamps lit, then has Riya fly higher from a distance to try and get more visual information on the mothman.
Cold, empty mattresses and falling stars My, how they start to look the same
Arriving nearly at the same time that the group does, the mothman flits and floats around the vast Eye of the observatory. With every beat of its wings, scales fall towards the ground. and what seems like pale powder on a regular size moth can now be properly understood thanks to the vastness of this particular cryptid: scales, not powder, coat a moth's wings, and now those scales are falling like baking sheets onto the ground below as well as onto the Eye.
Speaking of scale(s), the mothman is about the size of a large SUV, the observatory nearly three stories high, and the island upon which it sits is not overly large. At least it's far
away from the city...for now.
Everyone wants to see heaven But no one wants to say goodbye
Thank the gods for Anju - the only adult to arrive on the scene, and Soh's military advisor, at that. With some relief, the young woman turned to the Captain, releasing Koa's arm in the process. With some semblance of a plan, Soh nodded, turning to repeat the Captain's orders to any nearby Dragoons who may not have heard. "Evacuate the civilians!" she called out, ensuring that any nearby soldiers heard her before she turned back to the situation at hand.
Large things - were those scales? - were falling now from the creature's wings, easily the size of Soh's head. She wondered if the edges were sharp - even if they weren't, one of those falling on someone could cause a great deal of damage, she was sure. "Watch out for those!" she shouted to her companions, pointing to the falling scales. "I'm going to shift - I'll see if I can get any other information."
And so she shifted, her body taking on the shape of a snowy owl and lifting in flight, soaring into the night sky with an eye out for any falling scales. She tried to circle higher, to get above the creature in order to use her owl's eyes to survey the mothman and try to find a weakness. Tarak joined her in the air, sticking close to his bonded's form.
------
Soh repeats Anju's order to get the civilians evacuated to any nearby NPC Dragoons, then shifts into her snowy owl form and tries to fly above the mothman to get a better visual and seek out any weaknesses.
Everyone wants to see heaven But no one wants to die
So tired trying to see from behind the red in my eyes No better version of me I could pretend to be tonight
Koa pales as Sohalia appears at his elbow, grabbing on his arm. Protective instinct snarls through him, confused and confusing, terror at the thought of losing her chilling the blood in his veins. "Soh--" he begins, not sure what will follow. Instructions to run, probably, to get herself somewhere safe, somewhere were he won't have to worry about losing her.
But then Anju is there, and Edmund, and oh boy that's a whole other surge of emotion he doesn't have time to unpack. Relief and gratitude flood him at the sight of his Captain, the young man more than willing to relinquish command to an authority figure. "Go help with the lamps," he instructs Pipsqueak, turning back just in time to see Soh fly away.
But Anju's next order doesn't sit right. Yes, he remembers the last time a building in Stormbreak fell, remembers the horror of the aftermath, the death, the mourning, the devastation. But he also knows that there are people in that building, lives at stake. "I'm going into the tower," he breathes, his bright eyes pleading as he meets her dark ones. "We have to get them out." He doesn't wait long enough to hear her permission, not knowing if he can defy her should she order him to stay.
He sprints the steps up to the tower entrance, composing himself into a picture of command. "Everyone move calmly to the exit!" calls Koa, hopefully in some way that will spread the word through the floors (PA system of some sort?). If there's a shelter in the building he'll direct them there; if not, he'll have Dragoons outside lead people to the nearest shelter location, away from the approaching onslaught of scales.
Pipsqueak helps light lamps with her fire. Koa goes into the Spyglass to lead evacuation efforts. If there's a built in shelter he'll direct people to go there; if not, he'll tell them to head away from the approaching mothman.
Koa
No other version of me I would rather be tonight And, Lord, she found me just in time
Edmund felt a little out of place, even amongst the chaos. It was clear that the trio were a well-oiled machine and had likely fought beside each other before. At least there's one adult who seems to have a handle on just what to do. There's a split focus on evacuating citizens and lighting lamps.
The young Ancient would lie if he said he wasn't scared. But the rush of blood in his ears has him acting on instinct. The moth is in the air and shedding something. Those scales could seriously hurt someone. "I'm going to try and destroy the scales!" Using his torch as a source, Edmund channels his magic and attempts to shoot fire at the falling scales, so they don't crush anyone. He does his best to avoid friendly fire. Hopefully, his verbal warning will be enough.
~
Using his torch as a source, Edmund tries to destroy the falling scales. (And not hit the Attuned in the air.)
Fire Manipulation: Can manipulate flames. Must be within a 30ft radius. Control is excellent
Type: Dark | Rank: Upgraded
Regional Score bonus: +3 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +3 should be included)
tried to wash you down with something strong But the taste of blood remains
Sohalia shifts and departs, Koa looks into her eyes and disobeys her, running straight into the building and taking his mother's eyes with him, and Anju's head is so full of screaming that logic does not have space. "Koa!" she shouts uselessly, professionalism out the window - and she abandons the stranger and Sohalia outside to chase after him. No, no, not you too.
The clamor of evacuation is disorienting enough to shake her back into some manner of control, and some form of martyrdom overtakes Anju. "I'm getting to the top, don't linger," she calls to Koa, already sprinting for the stairs and taking them at full speed with her long legs. She prays he will not follow her if she takes the task first. She prays he gets out. To Riya outside, she commands her sister to head for the glass dome of the observatory so she can be Anju's eyes instead of the telescope for the moment.
- - -
Assuming it will take a full turn or two to get three stories, Anju heads for the telescope inside and sends Riya outside to the glass dome, hoping to use her eyes for keeping track of the mothman's trajectory (and maybe figure out what's luring him) while she's going up the stairs.
Cold, empty mattresses and falling stars My, how they start to look the same
Given the late (early?) hour, there are very few citizens out and about. The Eye itself is staffed only by a skeleton crew this time of night with perhaps a few researchers noting the strange darkening of the skies. Gee wouldn't it be nice to have those regional assets for soldiers in a time like this. Koa is able to usher out the sleepy and surprised civilians as his dragon lights a few lamps.
Flying high Sohalia sees...well, about what you'd expect. A giant moth, fluttering around what it considers to be the moon.
As Edmund reaches for his fire, a number of the nearby scales burst into flames. More scales continue to fall with each flap of the mothman's wings.
As a soldier we'll allow Anju to make quick work of the stairs, reaching the top of the observatory in this turn. Outside Riya will see the mothman quite clearly.
Both Sohalia and Riya will be in a position to see large cracks beginning to form on the glass dome of the observatory as the moth's giant wings and legs bash repeatedly into it.
09-11-2023, 12:36 AM (This post was last modified: 09-11-2023, 12:37 AM by Sohalia.)
Everyone wants to see heaven But no one wants to say goodbye
The great, dark creature was a giant moth, and viewing it from a different vantage point didn't really change that. Soh couldn't see any particular weaknesses, but she assumed that perhaps it would be vulnerable to the same things that ordinary moths were. Descending back to the ground, she found Edmund, who'd managed to burn some of the scales. She shifted back into her human form beside him, her eyes on the moth. "It just looks like a giant moth, but it's destroying the observatory. We need to stop it!" she ordered. "Do you think you could reach it with your fire, or is it too high?"
Without waiting for a reply, Soh transformed again into her owl form and climbed back into the sky. SHe noticed Riya in the air with her, and Anju on the deck of the observatory. As cracks began to grow on the observatory, Soh wavered, unsure of her next steps. She would like to consult with Anju, but there was no time. If they didn't do something quickly, the moth was going to crash through the glass of the building. So she did the only thing she could think to do: with a fierce shriek, she dove towards the moth's eyes, attempting to gouge them out with her talons and blind the creature.
------
Soh asks Edmund if he can burn the moth, then uses her owl shift to try and blind the moth.
Everyone wants to see heaven But no one wants to die
So tired trying to see from behind the red in my eyes No better version of me I could pretend to be tonight
Defiance once again rises in his chest, but this time Koa heeds his commander, discipline superseding personal concern. He waits until the last late-night stargazer is out before ducking out the door himself, a final call for evacuation given up the stairs. Satisfied that people are making their way toward the bridge back to the mainland, Koa turns his attention back to the mothman, inhaling a panicked breath as Soh darts back into the sky.
Don't die, he prays up after her, silent and afraid. He's already had to lose her once - he can't do it again.
But there is no more time for prayers. Now is the time for the soldier's training to come together, for careful thought and intentional plans. Copper eyes dart from the fire at Edmund's fingers to the light in the Spyglass, calculations and ideas flashing quickly through his mind. "Try to draw its attention down here!" he calls to Edmund, to Soh. "It's a moth - it'll come to light. So we have to make the biggest one we can." The command stretches mentally across his bond to Pip, and the dragonling trills her understanding, gliding back to add her flames to whatever Edmund creates.
For his part, Koa grasps the chakram, readying to throw. If his trap works - if the moth descends - he will wait for it to come closer before he hurls it toward the beast. But even if it doesn't, he'll try his best to strike the monster, hurtling with all his strength. To Pipsqueak, an image of the dark tower, all light within gone out. He can only hope Anju understands his plan, hope that Pip's draconic cries to Riya can send the message through the bond.
Koa instructs Edmund and Pip to make as much light as possible, so the moth will come down toward it instead of the tower. He tries to get Pip to tell Riya to tell Anju to shut off all the lights she can inside.
If the moth comes down, he'll wait for it to be within 20ft to throw his chakram; if not, he'll throw it anyway. He's gonna try to electrify it as well.
Type: Dark | Style: Offensive | Level: Upgraded
Leviathan Chakram: An unbreakable chakram created from the scale of a leviathan by the Voice. With razor-sharp edges, this discus will always return to the hand of whoever throws it, and will always do so without injuring the hands of the thrower.
Type: Light | Style: Offensive | Level: Basic
Static Electricity | A ring that when worn adds lightning damage to whatever item is held in that hand (or to an unarmed strike).
Koa
No other version of me I would rather be tonight And, Lord, she found me just in time
Edmund's tail flicks with agitation as the amount of falling scales continues to surpass the number that he's able to shoot down. Sohalia and Koa call out similar ideas and the young Ancient gives a sharp nod, "Alright!" He's not certain if his fire can reach the creature or not. Yet as citizens flee, he knows that he has to try.
Calling forth his magic again, Edmund sends a quick prayer to Mother for strength. Gritting his fangs, he attempts to send a burst of fire straight at the moth's stomach. The wings may have scales but perhaps the underbelly will be penetrable. If all else fails, the would at least get the beast's attention.
~
Still using his torch as a source, Edmund shoots fire at the moth's stomach!
Fire Manipulation: Can manipulate flames. Must be within a 30ft radius. Control is excellent
Type: Dark | Rank: Upgraded
Regional Score bonus: +3 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +3 should be included)
