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!
the ocean does not apologize for its depth and the mountains do not seek forgiveness
Flowerbirth had arrived in intriguing crescendos – not the usual peace, quiet, and repose that sauntered behind the eaves of LongNight, but with news and notes of cascading stars, adventuring guilds, and horizons of change that left an unsettling proportion over the Sword’s shoulders again. Between the glowing bracelet, hordes of things alerting beyond their horizon, and discussions about peculiar weather from some of the citizens, the impact of thereafter contorted until he stayed put here.
At least, until he was certain Halo was safe.
Of which, for the most part, it was, but jogging his usual haunts in the early morning ensured he met up with another issue. Heavy snowfall was a given, but this pile seemed to have pressed entirely over sections of road, which could further impact travel for many. Pausing, and nodding to those who were carefully wading their way around the area, he advanced, immediately beginning to implement his Mastered water incantations to maneuver piles outward and off the path.
Flowerbirth was here, and Alys was taking advantage of the warmer weather to spend time outside with Sascha. They'd stayed mostly in the seer's dorm since the start of LongNight, and Alys could feel the little ursur cub's desire to explore and adventure outside of the confines of such a small space. It was a strange shift, the weather - from frigid to warm, far warmer than Alys might have anticipated, given their location and her prior experiences in Halo. It was enough of an oddity to leave the seer on edge as she chased her cub through the snow - at least, until Sascha stumbled upon another person, at which point she ran back to Alys to hide behind the woman's legs, peeking out at the tall, muscular man nervously.
Unlike her cub, Alys recognized Deimos instantly, and she walked forward with a smile for her friend and mentor. At least, she smiled until she saw the pile of snow that pressed heavily on the road. Stopping next to the Warden, Sascha peering up at him from Alys's other side, the seer greeted him with a quiet, "Hello." She could see his water magic whisking away the pile of snow, and she immediately added, "Can I help?" while looking around for a shovel.
funny how it all works out in the end you dance with the devil and you lose your head
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Alys.
the ocean does not apologize for its depth and the mountains do not seek forgiveness
Efficient in his ministrations, the restlessness beckoning over the ridges of his spine ceased for a moment at another’s voice – head turning abruptly to see Alys, and then an ursur cub nearby. For half a moment, he looked back and forth between the pair without saying anything, analyzing the scruples, possibilities, tangents, and then glancing outward to see if there had been some monumental event (like a mother ursur striving to claim her child) he’d missed. “Morning,” he murmured, eerily calm and stoic, attempting to place logical means in between everything else calculating and whirling around him.
Somewhere, above, Belial screeched.
“If you want,” he offered instead, magic shifting again and ensuring more of the snow lifted from the road. When no explanation came, the curiosity and bizarreness of the situation overcame the residual reticence, and he pointed down at the youth. “Who is this?”
11-03-2023, 01:55 AM (This post was last modified: 11-03-2023, 01:56 AM by Alys.)
Alys
It was easy to forget that no one had really met Sascha yet, except for Tal, since he'd been with her when she'd found the cub. It felt like the ursur had been with her forever, and that she'd been with her for no time at all. It was a very strange sensation, truth be told, but Alys wouldn't trade it for the world. "Oh," Alys said, cheeks burning as she realized that it probably looked quite strange to have an ursur cub padding alongside her with no explanation. "This is Sascha. I found her just before LongNight. Her mother was killed, and... well, I'm not really sure. She's bonded to me now, anyway." As though to say hello, the cub bleated a greeting of her own and, seemingly deciding that Deimos was not an immediate threat, toddled over to a nearby snow bank to start digging at it.
As for Alys, she looked around and found a snow shovel conveniently leaning against a nearby wall. Deciding that the owner wouldn't mind if she borrowed it for a while, Alys retrieved it and began the painstaking task of digging out the road. It would be faster if she had the same magic that Deimos boasted, but she was beginning to take comfort in the abilities she did have rather than worrying about the ones she did not. "How was your LongNight?" Alys asked as she shoveled, one eye on her mischievous cub and the other on her friend.
funny how it all works out in the end you dance with the devil and you lose your head
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Alys.
the ocean does not apologize for its depth and the mountains do not seek forgiveness
Seasons before, had someone mentioned Alys would have an ursur companion in the future, the Sword would’ve been even more bewildered than the quiet confusion circumventing his mind now. For all he could remember and recall from their encounters with such beasts, while the seer hadn’t been frightened, she’d certainly been apprehensive of the predators. A smart and wise thing to be around such creatures, given their reputation and ferocity. So to see her with one now, bonded, made his eyes widen slightly.
Even the name contorted brief pockets of memories, and the blank look tossed her way slid into something quiet and fond. “Congratulations. The initial bonding is always…an experience.” To put it mildly, though his mouth rounded into a slight smile, hands digging through the pockets of his coat for any treats. This action alone caught more of Belial’s attention, but he ignored the way the peryton perched on a nearby roof eave for the moment.
Crouching low, while simultaneously and inherently permitting his magic to claim the snow once more, intending to entice the cub over to him by way of food, his head tilted vaguely at the inquiry, wondering how much to reveal. Evie had mentioned letting some news and notice slip, but perhaps it was only a matter of time before Halo at large knew anyway. “Evie and I did some wedding planning,” and he waited for any sentiments of a reaction, before his gaze slid back to the bear. “Yours?”
As Deimos processed the news, Alys couldn't help a wry smile. If anyone had told her that she'd have a companion, much less an ursur, she'd have told them they were mad. She'd always felt so alone, so separate from the rest of the world. To have a companion to ground her was a new - but not unwelcome - experience that she was still in awe of.
"Thank you," she murmured, her gaze finding Sascha where the cub played in the snow. Their bonding had indeed been an experience, and the memory brought a sad smile to her face. Sometimes she wondered if Sascha wouldn't be better off with her own kind, but then, there had been no one left to raise her in the wild. Without their bond, the little cub would have died in Deepfrost, and that reminder always brought a fierce protectiveness to Alys's mind that had Sascha turning, head tilted, to see what was wrong.
When the cub saw Deimos crouching, however, all worry fled from her infantile mind, and she toddled through the snow, sniffing for whatever Deimos held, until she was right in front of the large man. Crouched, he was smaller, and not nearly so intimidating, and the ursur leaned the last few inches to snuffle at his hands.
Alys continued to shovel, slowly but surely clearing the road alongside Deimos's magic. At her friend's admission, she paused, her shovel full of snow, and turned to look at him, puzzled and intrigued. "Wedding planning?" she asked, head tilted to one side, before a grin broke out upon her face. "Congratulations! When is the wedding?"
As for her own LongNight: "Mine was quiet, except for her," Alys said, jutting her chin towards the cub who had inched closer to Deimos to continue her inspection of his offerings. "I heard that there was some kind of shooting star, or something, that flew through the sky. Did you see anything?"
funny how it all works out in the end you dance with the devil and you lose your head
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Alys.
the ocean does not apologize for its depth and the mountains do not seek forgiveness
Much like he’d done numerous times for Zuriel, Belial, and any other companions he’d found willing, the Sword lay his palm out flat, the ningo treat poised within the middle. And while the peryton might have been bothered somewhere by the notions of sharing, Deimos continued to indulge, amused by the antics of the little thing. He wasn’t used to seeing ursurs without the measures of treachery and ferocity behind their eyes.
His magic persisted too, intertwining amidst the eaves and rising piles while he distracted himself with the animal, eyes eventually turning to gauge her reaction. He permitted one brief bout of laughter, still waiting for Sascha to make a decision, the quiet murmur and rumble befitting the subject matter and cautious creature. “Thank you. Middle of Flowerbirth, if we can get everything ready.” Especially with everything else flickering around – and he had multitudes of messages and letters to send once he was done addressing the current issue – which had nothing to do with nuptials.
The shooting star subject made his smile falter, a brief shake of his head to follow. “I did not – though I heard many have and received some notices about it. I went to see the supposed crash-site in King’s End, but there was not much else to find.”
With a flattened palm offered to her, Sascha inched closer still, raising on hind legs to gently grasp Deimos's hand between her paws, snuffling at the offered treat before daintily taking it. Deciding that this was a good human, the ursur cub dropped back to all fours and stepped closer, sniffing at her new friend's pockets as though searching for more treats, all thoughts of personal space now firmly in the back of her mind.
"Sascha," Alys sighed, leaning against her shovel for a moment as she watched her cub. "Don't be so rude. Sorry," she added apologetically to Deimos. "She is just a baby."
On the topic of the wedding, Alys smiled. "I'm happy for you both. I don't know Evie well, but you seem to be well matched." She hoped she would be invited to the wedding, though she was too polite to ask outright. They might prefer a smaller affair, and that would be fine as well.
Deimos's smile faltered at her inquiry, making her regret having voiced it. "Perhaps it was simply a meteor, and that was all there was too it," she said, perhaps a little too hopefully. Things were rarely as they seemed in Caido, but one could hope.
funny how it all works out in the end you dance with the devil and you lose your head
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Alys.
the ocean does not apologize for its depth and the mountains do not seek forgiveness
For a man of his size, he could remain surprisingly still. It had aided his efforts in wartime notions, either in Isilme, Helovia, or Caido, and served him well now too, as the ursur reached forward to snag at the treat. He managed to muffle the quiet round of laughter threatening through his chest at her grasping at his hand, but when neither of them were worse for wear, and the food snagged, the Sword permitted a light smile again. No more he responded in kind to the little beast, rising back to his full height. “It is no bother,” he assured Alys, shrugging his shoulders. He’d offered after all. “She has better manners than Belial.” Who again, screeched and hooted from a roof eave.
Intending to return to the actual task he’d set out to complete, he maneuvered back towards the piles, utilizing Air magic to move several spots away from the road once more. He hadn’t expected the compliment about either Evie or himself, nor their pairing, and he ended up glancing downward for half a moment. Recovering quickly, he indulged another slight grin, a tip of his head. “Thank you.”
The other layers though still gave him great pause, and the myriad of movements and machinations stirring around his skull started once more. The labor probably should’ve been a break from the restless notions, but here they were just the same. “Nothing ever seems to be that simple in Caido,” was a rumbling acknowledgment, with the lightest wrinkle to his nose. “Have you ever seen anything like it?” As a Natural, she’d have lived here far longer than he – and such an experience over any amount of time would’ve been noteworthy.
Sascha, unaware of the entertainment she was providing to her new friend, was kind enough to release Deimos's hand as he rose from his crouch. No longer afraid, the little cub toddled off to play in the snow once more, seemingly immune to the screeches and hoots from the roof. At Deimos's comment, Alys chuckled. "Belial must be jealous," she said, raising a brow at the peryton on the roof. "Sascha got special treatment." For a moment, she considered sending an illusion to entertain the companion, but then she thought the better of it. After all, she couldn't offer a real treat with her magic.
Alys returned to shoveling snow, biting her lip as she thought. "It's hard to say," she grunted as she worked. "I didn't see the lights myself; I just heard about them after the fact. They sounded like shooting stars, but I'm told that they didn't look quite like that. I've never seen anything like it during LongNight, that's for sure. LongNight is usually pitch black."
funny how it all works out in the end you dance with the devil and you lose your head
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Alys.
the ocean does not apologize for its depth and the mountains do not seek forgiveness
“Do not worry about him,” he gestured towards where the peryton lurked on the nearby roof, clearly pouting. “He is spoiled.” The youth huffed and moved further down the building, to which the Sword rolled his eyes and ignored the entire scene. Instead, he alternated movement and motions of the snow, lifting some straight into the air to descend into a new pile, amused by crafting something massive and tall for a moment, and then diminishing it entirely into another section and sanction.
But he was intrigued by any comings and goings of over celestial movements, besides Safrin, and paused once or twice in his work to calculate or imagine. Shooting stars but not, and the inky, Stygian way LongNight operated meant this was different work altogether, to which he didn’t have the right answers either. “Strange.” And it certainly hadn’t signaled the deity’s return, since his bracelet still glowed. “We can all reach out to others throughout Caido and see if they spotted anything,” to which he shrugged, somewhat at a loss. Pondering over connections and alternating circumstances, his nose wrinkled vaguely again; mind piercing into another contortion. "Have you seen the strange plants?"
On and on the shoveling went, until Alys began to feel the burn of muscles that weren't worked frequently enough and the sting of blisters that began to raise on her palms. She really shouldn't have lazed about so during Deepfrost, but it had been so much easier to stay in and stay warm than to go out and freeze. Aside from her adventure to find Sascha (who, incidentally, was digging snow back onto the pathway rather than off of it), she'd ventured out little during the winter. Perhaps that was why she was so eager to explore the world now that spring had come.
Alys nodded noncommittally as Deimos suggested reaching out to others across Caido; she knew few others outside of Halo, and of those she knew, she was certain that Deimos had already been in contact with them. Perhaps, however, she could be of assistance as she began to travel this season. Talk of strange plants, though, was new to her, and she raised a brow at him, pausing in her shoveling. "I haven't," she said. "But I'm planning to travel this season, so I'll keep an eye out and report back. What sort of strange plants?"
funny how it all works out in the end you dance with the devil and you lose your head
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Alys.
the ocean does not apologize for its depth and the mountains do not seek forgiveness
Completely unbothered by any strains in magic, for it’d been a long while since he’d felt such encounters, the Sword was content to persist and continue with obliterating piles of snow. By now bystanders had begun to tread their way on the new makeshift paths, though giving a wide and nervous berth towards the ursur companion. Deimos either nodded or granted them a slight wave as they hastened towards their next destinations, nearly complete with his portion.
As she paused, so did he, but only to reconfigure his gloves. Pulling them further down his hands, he gave a somewhat diminished sigh. “Seems to be a frostbloom variant. Glows. Eerie. Do not touch it – gives off some freezing properties.” He’d experienced it firsthand after barely snagging at it with his earthen enchantments. “Evie may bring one to Frey to see what is going on.” As for her traversing and intended sojourns, he nodded. “That would be a big help. Thank you.” Adjusting another pile, watching as it uncovered more cobblestones, his head tilted, curious and inquiring all the more. “Where are you headed?”
Taking the advice with a raised brow and a nod, Alys turned back to her work, ignoring the sting of the shovel against her blistering palms. She would keep an eye out on her travels, then, and report back to Deimos anything strange that she saw. Perhaps she would find something that could be of use to the Warden and to her home.
As for her travels, Alys shrugged. "I think I'll start in King's End," she said serenely. "I want to visit Ru. After that, I'm not sure. It's just, after I left the Grounds, I came straight here and ended up staying. I'm curious about the rest of Caido." There were so many places she'd never seen, so many regions out there to explore. And before she bought a house or started a shop, she wanted to take the opportunity to see the sights.
funny how it all works out in the end you dance with the devil and you lose your head
Minor powerplay allowed without permission.
Feel free to use force/magic on Alys.
