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!
In the heart of the Oerwoud, where the soft sands and bright skies merge seamlessly with the lush greenery, a hushed stillness blankets the jungle. It is Deepfrost, and the jungle's vibrant colours are muted by a blanket of winter's chill. The normally humid air now carries a crisp bite, and the ever-present haze seems to retreat, revealing a world transformed by frost and enchantment.
Deep within the tangled embrace of the jungle, the Tanglefoot weaves its icy spell. Sentient vines, adorned in glistening frost, reach out like frozen tendrils, and streams meander beneath delicate layers of ice. But those who dare venture further may stumble upon the Dreamwalker, a creature of myth and legend, whose ever-shifting form dances beneath the full moon's silvery glow, casting ethereal shadows upon the snowy landscape.
Be prepared, for encountering the Dreamwalker in the midst of Deepfrost is to witness the jungle's magic in its most enchanting and mysterious guise. It is a time when the boundaries between reality and dreams blur, and the Oerwoud reveals its secrets in the most unexpected and chilling ways.
Welcome to the Key Quest.
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This KQ will scale based on the average level of the characters who join. Please give priority to those who need a KQ to level immediately.
You have 48 hours to post your character arriving. So that nothing is missed, please include a quick summary at the bottom of your post, including any items that you're bringing with you. Items on your profile are always assumed to be with you (unless stated otherwise), but anything else needs to be listed in your opening post or it will not count for future posts!
REMEMBER: KQs are rewarding, but dangerous. They may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters - join at your own risk!
Visits to the Wilds, the Oerwoud especially were common for Sah. Someone was always asking the hunter to catch or kill some creature or another that called the place home. But this excursion was initially just for fun. Now, the Wild Thunder finds himself eyeing the forest with equal parts awe and wariness.
He's not even sure what he's looking at. This creature is certainly one that he's never encountered before. For the moment, observing is the best strategy. Sah settles behind a tree and cautiously watches the being as it shifts through the icy fauna. He's truly thankful that he left the wolves at home this time.
~
Sah arrives with everything in his profile (minus companions) as well as his usual hunting gear (a dagger, rope, rations.) He's hiding behind a tree and watching the Dreamwalker. He's wearing his armor.
Magic: Cold Resistance (Passive) | Can comfortably exist in temperatures as low as -30c. Will experience colder temperatures as if they were -30c cooler (i.e., -60 would feel like -30)
Type: Grey | Rank: Basic
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)
Type: Light | Style: Defensive | Level: Upgraded
Starmour | Beautiful lightweight armour that glistens faintly with starlight. This item blocks physical damage at the wearer's Upgraded level. Requires a 2 post cool-down between uses.
Tal had personal business in the Oerwoud today. A visit to Frey's shrine had brought him into the Deepfrost-kissed jungle, intending to turn in his quest items in the branches of the great tree that served as the nature deity's altar. Boreal had been (very reluctantly) left to guard the Peregrine while the courier hiked his way over the glistening silver paths of frosted vines and ferns.
It wasn't the shrine that he found first, however. It wasn't even the Dreamwalker. It was Sah , who was on the alert and wary enough that Tal instinctively switched to tip-toeing his way silently over to his frenemy. He slipped behind a neighboring tree and peeked around to see what had caught the hunter's attention and his own breath was caught in turn as he took in the majestic, protean being that stood limned in the moonlight. He slipped his See-Right Goggles over his eyes to get a better look at it. Tal arrives with everything in his profile (except Boreal and the Peregrine). In his Bag of Holding he has a rope, rations, an axe, an offering for Frey, and a first aid kit. He is hiding behind a tree and wearing his Rockhide Vest and See-Right Goggles.
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)
Type: Grey | Style: Defensive | Level: Mastered
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 Mastered level. Requires a 2 post cool-down between uses.
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Mastered
See-Right Goggles: Reinforced goggles capable of seeing with perfect clarity regardless of conditions, up to 30ft. This includes magical darkness. Can see through illusions at 5ft, and be aware of illusions under 10ft.
Ray has come to the Oerwoud to harvest herbs, but it quickly becomes apparent that her plan would need to change. The jungle feels strange. Not necessarily bad, just different. Cautious but curious, the Attuned takes to her wings. Now the shangyang flies, sharp eyes trying to find the source of the disturbance.
Soon enough she soars over the Dreamwalker. If Ray had been in human form, she would have gasped. It's hard to even tell what she's looking at. The being is hard to grasp even with the enhanced sight of her avian form. What she can see below are people hiding, though she's unsure as to who they are. Can anyone hear me? If she's lucky, they'll have access to the Attuned bond.
~
Ray arrives in her shangyang form. She has a bag in her talons that holds 3 daggers, a first aid kit, everything on her profile, and a bow with 20 arrows.
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)
He had no true business in the Oerwoud, but Hadama had felt a calling on this night of a strangely full moon, and he had Aquaported to the neighboring jungle in pursuit of it, armed and armored after his last experience being called to a distant region in the middle of the night.
Swimming slowly through the frost-covered waters that moved so sluggishly in Deepfrost, he came to a halt as the clearing came into view and the creature within stole his breath. His passive cold resistance kept the iciness of the water from his skin, but he still felt a shiver run down his spine at the sight of the Dreamwalker in its full glory.
Majestic and otherworldly, it was a sight he had never expected to behold in his lifetime, and one that filled him with awe.
In all meanings of the word.
It was almost too good to be true. And it seemed so unreal that after a moment's hesitation Hadama moved carefully, submerging himself most of the way into the water to hide and withdrawing the Varylens from his pouch. He fitted it over his eye before he looked again at the Dreamwalker in case it was an illusion.
And then a second surprise, as a trusted and familiar voice whispered into his thoughts. Ray...?I am here, he sent back through the Bond, as softly as a thought could travel. Hadama arrives with everything on his profile! He is wearing his StArmour and Varylens.
Type: Light | Style: Defensive | Level: Basic
StArmour | Armour created from owlbear down. When not in use, retracts as a silver serpentine bangle etched with constellations. Can be activated telepathically.
Type: Grey | Style: Other | Level: Mastered
Varylens | A golden monocle that can see through even the strongest of illusions, at a range of 10m.
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)
09-21-2023, 02:37 AM (This post was last modified: 09-21-2023, 02:42 AM by Court Official.)
reklawmaerd
The Dreamwalker's ever-shifting form seemed to ripple with a kaleidoscope of hues, echoing the vibrant diversity of the Oerwoud itself. It regarded the newcomers with eyes that reflected the myriad facets of the jungle's flora and fauna, its antlers adorned in a mesmerizing dance of colours. As it moved gracefully through the icy terrain, its silhouette blurred, merging seamlessly with the surrounding frost-kissed foliage. A spectral presence, it observed the arrivals with a timeless curiosity, its essence mirroring the enigmatic heart of the jungle it called home.
But the creature had not emerged simply to observe.
Suddenly, the Dreamwalker's presence shifted, its form flowing like water as it coalesced into a myriad of creatures from the jungle's depths. In a breathtaking display of natural magic, it sent forth a cascade of shimmering petals, transforming into a whirlwind of luminescent leaves and ethereal ferns. These spectral projectiles whirled through the air, seeking out Ray with an uncanny precision that defied comprehension. In her avian form, Ray felt the rush of the wind as the Dreamwalker's enchanting assault surged towards her, a breathtaking display of the jungle's secrets and mysteries unleashed.
The enchanting onslaught proved fatal, leaving her lifeless in the frost-kissed embrace of the Oerwoud.
Sah: 370/370
Talyson: 440/440
Ray HP: 0/90
Hadama HP: 210/210
Dreamwalker: 488/488
So that nothing is missed, please include a quick summary at the bottom of your post, including any items that you're bringing with you. Items on your profile are always assumed to be with you (unless stated otherwise), but anything else needs to be listed in your opening post or it will not count for future posts!
REMEMBER: KQs are rewarding, but dangerous. They may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters - join at your own risk!
Dama! Ray has a brief moment to feel relief and affection at the sound of her friend. And then there is pain. The bird falls in a free dive, not unlike she would while hunting. Talons going loose, her bag spills onto the jungle floor just as she lands. As graceful in life as in death, the herbalist falls silent.
Ray would be consumed by guilt if she could process that she'd just died in front of a dear friend. The only solace is that when they meet again, the Attuned can wrap Hadama into an all-encompassing hug. Until then, she can only pray that he doesn't join her just yet.
~
Ray dies and her belongings are now on the jungle floor.
Well, fucking hail, that answered the question of whether the incredible terrifying creature...being... thing was peaceful or not. What had been a bird hit the ground as a girl and Tal stared up at the twisting magic of wind and plants with a sense of dread. He gripped his Dagger, but his whole heart went into a desperate prayer for help as he swallowed hard and then whispered:
"Uh, Vi? I really hope you're listenin' 'cuz I think I might be fucked if you're not, but pretty please can you lock this thing into a shape I can actually hit? An' y'don't need t'be too gentle about it!"
He didn't dare do anything else as he put everything he had into trying to channel the biggest, most impressive god he could think of in that moment. Tal attempts to Channel Vi!
Accepted Channeling: Allows an Accepted the opportunity to channel one of the gods during a time of crisis (2x a season). Can be combined with other accepted channeling to increase power. If combined with another mastered channeling, increases the odds of a Big God answering to 50%
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
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)
Type: Grey | Style: Defensive | Level: Mastered
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 Mastered level. Requires a 2 post cool-down between uses.
Tal arrives, alongside others and it helps relieve a fraction of the tension from Sah's shoulders. Now he at least has backup. But then that tension returns and doubles when an Attuned girl dies within seconds. Now that it's clear that this being is hostile, the Abandoned gears himself up for a fight.
Tal begins to channel and Sah calls forth his magic. The creature is a storm so he's not sure how successful a physical attack will be. But maybe he can overwhelm its storm with one of his own. Air, water, and lightning. Combining them into the strongest storm that he can with the help of his mageglass, the Wild Thunder tries to send it at the Dreamwalker.
~
Sah combines mastered air(mageglass applied), water, and lightning to create a storm to battle the Dreamwalker's own storm. He uses his mageglass too.
Lightning manipulation: Can create and control Lightning. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Dark | Rank: Mastered
Air manipulation: Can create and control the air. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Grey | Rank: Mastered
Water manipulation: Can create and control water. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Mastered
Mageglass Necklace | A pendant made of mageglass. Will amplify the magical abilities of Abandoned by one level. (Basic becomes upgraded, upgraded becomes mastered, and mastered adds on additional basic damage)
Type: Light | Style: Defensive | Level: Upgraded
Starmour | Beautiful lightweight armour that glistens faintly with starlight. This item blocks physical damage at the wearer's Upgraded level. Requires a 2 post cool-down between uses.
Magic: Arcane Academy Cold Resist (Passive) | A magic bestowed upon those enrolled in the Arcane Academy, for as long as they are members, users will not be affected by cold climates.
Type: Light | Rank: Basic
For a moment it seemed like it would be the battle with the Sea Panther cub all over again, Ray and Hadama fighting side by side.
And then it was that battle, but instead of Flora's twin falling it was the herbalist, and no elegance or beauty of the Dreamwalker's attack could change the broken body that dropped from the sky, limp and lifeless.
Ray!
The mermanta lunged from the water, scrabbling inelegantly over frost and mud to reach his friend and pull her into his arms and back into the sheltering water, cradling her against his chest. Stay with me, he whispered through the Bond, the plea of a friend and the command of a desperate King. He worked instinctively, layering his magic around them as he built a shielding sphere of ice that grew thicker with every passing second as he tried to find her pulse or breath. Ray...! Hadama pulls Ray's body into the water and goes full defense, building a thick sphere of ice around them.
Water manipulation: Can create and control water. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
Type: Light | Style: Defensive | Level: Basic
StArmour | Armour created from owlbear down. When not in use, retracts as a silver serpentine bangle etched with constellations. Can be activated telepathically.
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)
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Basic
StAer Ring | A ring that allows any within 10ft of it to breathe underwater. When in use, the wearer will create subtle constellations in their wake. (not that it does Ray any good ;_; )
In such circumstances, the baton would naturally pass to his herald, but given that Safrin, too, is unavailable at present... well. Sorry, Tal. You get the lowest rung of the celestial ladder this time around.
And alas, Ronin doesn't actually have any magic to lock the Dreamwalker into shape. He can hit the fuck out of it with his favourite projectiles, though.
When the Supernova appears, it's not as impressive as one might think. He's soaking wet, for a start, having been enjoying some downtime in the Eye of the Storm with his bae. He's also clad only in a pair of swimming trunks (they're decorated with rubber ducks, but you probably shouldn't look too closely given the seriousness of the situation).
Confused before an expression of sharp determination overtakes it, Ronin unleashes the might of three starbolts onto the Dreamwalker, before he's promptly snatched away again.
Ronin appears and uses his starbolts to blast the Dreamwalker!
Magic: Shooting Stars | The user may summon celestial energy as a projectile. Control is excellent, and multiple projectiles may be created at once. (In quests or other combat situations requiring dice rolling, only 3 stars may be created per post). Range: 60ft
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
Magic: FEAT | Now You! | When Ronin successfully hits a target, the next ally who posts gains advantage on their attack.
Type: Light | Rank: Basic
09-21-2023, 06:38 PM (This post was last modified: 09-21-2023, 06:59 PM by Court Official.)
reklawmaerd
The Dreamwalker's essence, ever-fluid and enigmatic, responded with a profound sense of detachment as it contemplated the loss of Ray, the Attuned who had met her fate in the icy embrace of its spectral assault. It swirled and danced, a silent acknowledgment of the consequences of its actions, yet remaining an elusive enigma.
Sah, prepared for a battle, called forth the elemental forces of air, water, and lightning, weaving them into a tempestuous storm. He hurled this powerful confluence of magic at the Dreamwalker, hoping to overwhelm the entity's storm-like form with his own. However, the Dreamwalker, ever-shifting, proved elusive, and Sah's attack missed its mark.
In contrast, Ronin, clad in little more than rubber duck-adorned swimming trunks, invoked the celestial might of three starbolts. He unleashed these potent projectiles upon the Dreamwalker with unerring accuracy. The starbolts struck the protean entity, causing it to ripple and convulse, its ever-changing form momentarily disrupted by the impact.
The Dreamwalker, having been stirred by the presence of multiple forces and the previous encounter, sent forth a mesmerizing display of magic. Its form blurred and twisted, shifting between the shapes of myriad jungle creatures. With a graceful, sweeping motion, it unleashed a torrent of vibrant petals, each one a manifestation of the jungle's ever-changing beauty.
The petals swirled and danced, carried by an otherworldly wind, as they homed in on Talyson. Their colours shimmered and changed, mimicking the flora and fauna of the Oerwoud. Yet, as they closed in, a stroke of luck or perhaps divine intervention favoured the courier. Tal, with a quick and instinctual movement, managed to evade the enchanting assault, narrowly avoiding the mesmerizing petals that brushed past him harmlessly.
Sah: 370/370
Talyson: 440/440
Ray HP: 0/90
Hadama HP: 210/210
Dreamwalker: 311/488
So that nothing is missed, please include a quick summary at the bottom of your post, including any items that you're bringing with you. Items on your profile are always assumed to be with you (unless stated otherwise), but anything else needs to be listed in your opening post or it will not count for future posts!
REMEMBER: KQs are rewarding, but dangerous. They may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters - join at your own risk!
Tal might have been more concerned about whatever was going on with the Merguy and the Attuned (had she looked familiar...?), but he was a little too busy fighting for his life.
Or, well, asking other people to fight for his life. "Thanks, uh... Ronin??" He called after the departing Supernova. Who definitely wasn't Vi. And had showed up in his skivvies so, uh... whoops?
Shit was really weird tonight, but he didn't have time to be distracted as he barely dodged in time to avoid the scary petals and their lethal designs on him. "Oh, fuck!" Spinning around, he figured a second prayer wouldn't hurt matters... right? "Mort, if y'can hear me, could y'give this thing an express invitation t'your Halls? Like, priority express, please!" Second verse same as the first! Tal attempts to Channel Mort to smack the Dreamwalker real hard!
Accepted Channeling: Allows an Accepted the opportunity to channel one of the gods during a time of crisis (2x a season). Can be combined with other accepted channeling to increase power. If combined with another mastered channeling, increases the odds of a Big God answering to 50%
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
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)
Type: Grey | Style: Defensive | Level: Mastered
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 Mastered level. Requires a 2 post cool-down between uses.
The mer and Attuned are a brief but heartbreaking sight. Still, Sah has half a second to process what Ronin was wearing before the Demi-god was gone. He's really not sure what he should be feeling with that combination. But it's unnecessary so he refocuses on the Dreamwalker. Talyson tries to call down Mort this time and the Wild Thunder figures he should go with a similar strategy as before.
"Careful!" Thankful that Tal is able to dodge the next attack, Sah channels his magic once more. Air, water, and lightning pulling together ot create another storm. He tries to send it at the Dreamwalker and cause as much damage to the being as he can.
~
Sah again combines mastered air(mageglass applied), water, and lightning to create a storm to send at the Dreamwalker. He uses his mageglass too.
Lightning manipulation: Can create and control Lightning. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Dark | Rank: Mastered
Air manipulation: Can create and control the air. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Grey | Rank: Mastered
Water manipulation: Can create and control water. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Mastered
Mageglass Necklace | A pendant made of mageglass. Will amplify the magical abilities of Abandoned by one level. (Basic becomes upgraded, upgraded becomes mastered, and mastered adds on additional basic damage)
Type: Light | Style: Defensive | Level: Upgraded
Starmour | Beautiful lightweight armour that glistens faintly with starlight. This item blocks physical damage at the wearer's Upgraded level. Requires a 2 post cool-down between uses.
Magic: Arcane Academy Cold Resist (Passive) | A magic bestowed upon those enrolled in the Arcane Academy, for as long as they are members, users will not be affected by cold climates.
Type: Light | Rank: Basic
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)
