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!
A joy hard-learned in winter was the warming of the bed You'd shake for minutes there and move your legs
And now there are corrupted bears, very very cool. Koa might have been more genuinely interested, had he not been so worried about them coming to eat him. Plus there's the issue of the two remaining flowers. So yeah, not a great time for field research.
"Ursurs at {*insert correct direction here} o'clock!" Koa calls softly, adjusting the trajectory of his bow to place the closer bear in his sights. The arrow crackles with electricity, but he doesn't fire it yet, instead waiting to see if the bears will be distracted by his ally's ploys. If they are, he'll let the arrow fall; if not he'll send it arcing forward, though he very much would rather not fight some corrupt bears.
Pip, meanwhile, slips off his shoulders, scurrying forward to near Paige's feet and shooting off fire toward Frostbloom Five.
Koa knocks an electrified arrow and aims at the ursur, but will hold his action. If they seem like they're going to attack, he'll fire.
Pip breathes fire on Frostbloom Five
Koa Carpenter
Wrap the blanket over you and keep your head within Let your breath heat the air until you'd feel it getting thin
The sudden influx of multiple enemies ground at his mind, eyes flickering briefly over compatriots – knowing and understanding they were capable, and still warring over the complexities in his own mind of sheltering and guarding. For now, the ursur were far enough away to not fall under the notes of apprehension, maintaining his focus as they all sieged and assaulted together.
The Torchline leader’s motives were well respected and clever; they were simply impeded by the beasts’ speed and the relative distance of the moment. The water sloshed and failed to stick to their fur by mere inches, and a defiant roar mustered through the world – altering their charge towards Hadama for a brief moment.
They splintered away though at the Forsaken’s strike – tried and true, striving to go alternate ways as the spirit stag blistered between them. It cut harshly into the first, and barely missed the second, while the fire inspired by Noah pressed and crushed at the second frostbloom.
Burned but not ceased, the bears continued barreling onward, all dark fur and seditious. Paige strived too - her dagger flew, but missed its mark as well, landing precariously in the snow nearby. Perhaps she’d be better served with Attuned abilities and shifts, with the threat pressing wickedly towards their group.
The Accepted’s warnings were loud and clear as well; Koa presiding and providing support in the electrified arrow, galvanized into bear wakes; segmenting momentarily into the second creatures’ shoulder. A zap could be heard, loud and clear, while Pip breathed fire over the original perils and hazards.
The Sword wasn’t to be left out of the barrage – forming a maneuvering shield of infernos and flames, striving to keep the bears at bay while they mustered more units and notions.
--
Hadama has missed!
Noah has hit Ursur One and Frostbloom Two!
Paige has missed!
Koa has hit Ursur Two and Pip has hit Frostbloom Five!
Deimos has hit Frostbloom Two and formed a fire shield in between the group and the ursur!
What will you do next? No post order. As usual, please post a brief summary at the bottom of your post to indicate actions and what your character is attacking!
His spirit stag did its job, and even at the distance Noah felt a familiar surge of pride and relief at the success. He knew the magic was not yet powerful enough to fell an ursur upon one hit, but he wasn’t able to see the full extend of the damage as Deimos lifted a literal firewall between the monster hunting crew and the coming assailants.
His spear-fire finished off some flowers and he sent another arc at the remaining one, all the while pressing a plan through his lips. ”They’re big but we can split and take them from all sides.” Noah said, gesturing around. ”If Deimos encircles them long enough with fire we can get a good jump on them, and barrage them all at once without giving them a chance to strike back.”
Noah sends another arc of fire at the last remining frostbloom, then suggests a plan.
Given the distance he had known his attack wasn't guaranteed to strike, and he was already gathering his energy to try a different tactic as the corrupted bears evaded his ice. Luckily they weren't so agile against Noah's stag - one that had bruised the Tidebreaker often enough that he almost winced in sympathy as it burned one ursur.
Almost.
Koa's arrow struck true, but the Mer noticed Paige's knives coming up short and he shifted his tactics accordingly. Instead of an attack of his own he focused his magic on creating an arc of icy spears that spiraled up out of the ground at an angle in front of Paige and Koa . If the bears attempted to charge them, they'd run themselves onto the thick, sharp spines of ice.
With what was left of his concentration he formed a half-dozen knives of ice from the water beneath him and floated them over to Paige's reach so that she would have weapons with which to enact Noah's plan.
"Yes," he called to Noah's plan, simple and to the point.
Hadama uses Mastered Water Manipulation to create a defensive array of ice spears in front of Koa and Paige to dissuade the bears from charging them.
A joy hard-learned in winter was the warming of the bed You'd shake for minutes there and move your legs
Pip, emboldened by her (relative) success, makes the wise decision to ignore the giant bears lumbering toward them and continue trying to burn flowers instead.
Which leaves Koa holding the bag bow, another arrow knocked into place as soon as the first one flies. Electrified as it is, the thing lands true, though he can only imagine it's slightly more than a gentle boop on the giant monster's nose. But it's a boop that seems to have worked once, so might as well repeat the act again.
Shwing!
Frowning his concentration, Koa nods smartly to Noah's suggestion, though his copper eyes flicker to Deimos for the next command. "On your order, Warden." A soldier through and through, the young man is ready to throw himself in the direction he is pointed - even if a part of him is half convinced it'll result in him becoming a lovely man-skinned rug for the ice bear's cave.
Pip continues burning flowers.
Koa launches another arrow, and will do whatever Deimos instructs for next steps
Koa Carpenter
Wrap the blanket over you and keep your head within Let your breath heat the air until you'd feel it getting thin
She'd missed. Not surprising in the least, but frustrating none the less. The young attuned grit her teeth, hissing out a breath as she glared towards the hulking bear forms that were rushing their way. Thankfully, having realized that she was out of knives, Hadama took care of that problem with his own magic. The icy knives appearing at her feet seconds later. Casting him a thankful smile, the attuned grabbed three, holding them between her fingers as she took aim.
The cold didn't reach her through her thick gloves and for that she was thankful, knowing that she would be holding this position until Noah and Deimos gave the word that it was okay to release their fury upon the ravenous creatures.
Paige takes up the knives that Hadama makes for her and waits for Deimos and Noah to give the signal.
Plans were orchestrated, announced, pinned, and he watched for a moment, surveying the layout of the scene. The bears didn’t charge – but only because the fire kept them wary, held them back, though more than once he witnessed their paws brush against the edge. He pressed in, closer and tighter with the inferno, and they roared, feral and vicious, but had yet to truly be able to strike.
How much longer that could last wasn’t a given, but he nodded towards Noah’s notions. “I do not want anyone going through the fire. Stay outside of it.” And he nodded towards Koa, the soldier earning a slight modicum of respect for patience in orders. He figured Hadama could find a way around, perhaps from the top, with his watery incantations, and the rest could volley and rally through with their own assaults.
Which happened regardless, given the current situation. Noah and his arc hit Frostbloom Five with a righteous assault, leaving the plant smoldering and seething enough for Pip to give chase and finish it off. Koa and his arrow found the initial monster, and it's corresponding bellow indicated success.
Hadama ensured Paige would be well equipped, but the icy spears faltered and flickered. Perhaps he’d either have to get closer or try another strategy.
Paige remained steadfast and waiting, and Deimos presumed the signal would be enough for her strive again.
The Sword’s own firewall pressed, stung, bit, and tore into the flesh of the both bears, and there was some motivation instilled – that they were trapped, and perhaps this could be done quickly.
--
Orders have been given!
Noah has hit Frostbloom Five.
Hadama has missed, but created a nice array of spears for Paige.
Pip has hit Frostbloom Five and finished it off. Koa has hit Ursur One with his arrow.
Deimos has hit Ursur One and Ursur Two with his Mastered Fire.
What will you do now? No post order. Please post a brief summary to indicate actions/who your character is attacking just to save my sanity.
From their distance and with the wall of fire between them, Noah couldn’t tell if these were the same ursur that he raged against his entire life, or if they were touched and corrupted by the void. Either way, they were a threat, and needed to go. ”Here.” Noah said, jutting his sunspear out towards Paige. She had seen how it worked now twice, and it would do her a lot better than the knives. ”Don’t break it.” He said, giving her a nod and a short smirk.
In the blink of an eye Noah teleported from where he was to the other side of the ursur. He hoped this would give him advantage. Give me a door! Noah called out to Deimos over the attuned bond, then Noah drew an invisible bow and readied himself to fire — as soon as he could see the opening Deimos made, then he would shoot for the ursurs.
Noah lends his sun spear to Paige, then teleports and if Deimos makes an opening for him he intends to shoot them with this magic:
Magic: Vi’s Ranger | Noah may summon a celestial energy bow with which he can shoot two celestial energy arrows (at one target) up to 30ft. Control is excellent.
Type: Light | Rank: Upgraded
Magic: Wise Hunter (FEAT) | Animals roll with disadvantage against Noah.
Type: Light | Rank: Basic
Deimos did not have to worry about Hadama crossing the wall of fire, at least. The Tidebreaker raised himself up higher on his pillar of water in order to see what the taller landfolk could spy, taking careful note of where the bears were as the others took their positions. Steely silver hair plastered flat to his head and down his back as emerald eyes narrowed in concentration. With Paige suitably armed with Noah's spear and Deimos defending, he could focus his entire attention on offense.
From the safety of the bay he gathered a sphere of water and directed it out over the top of the firewall. As it floated into position it lengthened and froze into a lance, sharp-tipped and heavy as it spun to face point-down. He had no shark shift, but he could still sense blood in the proverbial water, and he chose his target with brutal pragmatism. With the signal given, he flung the ice lance down towards Ursur One.
Hadama creates an ice lance above the bears using his water manipulation and sends it at Ursur One.
Water manipulation: Can create and control water. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
Magical attack with mastered magic/mythical shifts: 49
She was just getting all sorts of goodies today! Giving Noah a grateful smile, the attuned took the spear from him, eyes locking on the first Ursur as she readied her attack. Recalling that Noah had to be within at least twenty feet of the plants when he used it originally, the Attuned moved forward until she was within fifteen feet of the creature. Not exactly knowing how it worked, the young woman simply pointed towards the beast she wished to hit, hoping that it would be enough to send an arch of fire towards it.
Fortunately, she was right. From the tip of the spear, a flume of flame shot out towards the ursur that was already being thoroughly assaulted by Noah and Deimos alike. It had to cut through the wall, but that didn't seem to matter in this moment one bit. Thank the gods for little things, right?
Paige uses her borrowed spear from Noah to shoot at Ursur One after she gets within range!
Type: Light | Style: Offensive | Level: Basic
Sun Spear | An ornate lightweight but sturdy spear that constantly glistens as if caught in a beam of sunlight. Shoots an arc of fire of up to 15ft.
A constant barrage of movement took place – and what might’ve been seen and visualized as chaos still permitted for a range of orchestrated developments, though perhaps not ones that favored the hunting party.
Deimos didn’t particularly care for the command given from Noah – mostly because it would allow for exactly what was going to happen. Parting the fire in a miniscule amount, to permit the arrow to fly straight into the onslaught of vicious bears, also gave the latter ample opportunity. It roared defiantly as the celestial armaments burst into its back, and then aimed to rake its claws into the Forsaken – no matter how many flames scorched and seared across it.
The attempts made by Hadama allowed for creative ingenuity and not losing precious defenses; the lance contorted above the flames, and then descended rapidly. It lacerated and pierced into the figure’s shoulder, loosening another unrelenting, and pained, roar, but ceasing the quick swipe of its claws.
Paige, however, would use all the necessary timing to her advantage. The borrowed Sun Spear shot a wondrous arc of embers, landing precariously onto Ursur One’s hide.
The Sword’s own machinations held, and though the first ursur had tried and seemed all the more encouraged to evade and escape, it wouldn’t much matter. One more sweep of his enclosed flames brought the beast down, and sent another engulfing hazard over to the second – leaving only one void cretin remaining.
--
Noah has hit Ursur One with his celestial arrow, but the bear is now aiming for him!
Thanks to Hadama’s tactics, however, Ursur One misses Noah and is hit by the barrage of ice.
Paige hits Ursur One with Noah’s sun spear!
Deimos engulfs both Ursur One and Ursur Two with his Mastered Fire.
Ursur One has been killed – leaving only Ursur Two to be dealth with.
Koa has been skipped this round but may rejoin in the next.
Due to the impending end of the season, this PQ will be moved on in three days or less. Thank you! Sorry for the inconvenience.
Whether Deimos liked it or not, it was a good plan. It had worked out in their favor, despite the attempted retribution from the ursur.
With two celestial arrows sunk deep into the hide, a failed attack on him, and a slew of attacks and assaults from his friends and comrades, Noah knew it was time. Having dodged, yet stayed within range of the fire and the ursur, Noah ignited.
From him a wide and powerful dome erupted, shedding brilliant celestial light all around them. Given his immense blessing from Vi, his friends would feel renewed and healed should they find themselves within range of the dome's reach. The ursur, on the other hand, would not find itself so lucky. For every ounce of healing and rejuvenation his friend would feel, the ursur would feel the pain of it all.
Noah uses Divine Opposition to destroy some ursur and heal any comrade in proximity.
Magic: Divine Opposition | Noah summons a celestial shield dome in a 60ft radius. Any allies within the shield receive Mastered Healing, and any enemies are damaged at an Mastered level. May be used 3x per thread with a two post cool down.
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
Magic: Wise Hunter (FEAT) | Animals roll with disadvantage against Noah.
Type: Light | Rank: Basic
Noah's near miss was a warning to them all, but under the onslaught of magic and mayhem the first ursur went down, subsiding from frenzied aggression into eternal stillness. Hadama wasted no energy nor time on feeling satisfaction at a successful hunt. The job was not yet finished, and they all remained at risk until it was done.
"Well done," he rumbled to Paige , pleased with her display of martial prowess as they regrouped for their next assault.
Noah's celestial shield burst into being, a manifestation of Vi's favor that refreshed the mermanta instead of wounding him and he drew a deep breath of bracing Halovian air as he became reinvigorated. The fires of the Resurrected Sword burned hot and fierce, melting the snow within their circle and removing Hadama's preferred element. But he had other abilities, and as he focused upon his Stormcall dark clouds gathered in a twisting, angry stew above the fiery circle. It served as a focus to contain the storm, and Hadama held back the rain so only the lightning would strike down towards the ursur below.
Hadama uses Storm Call to manifest a dry storm above ursur 2 and send lightning down on it!
Stormcall | When combined with basic water and air, can create moderate localized storms (radius of 20ft). Effects include heightened winds, storm clouds, thunder and mostly-controlled lightning strikes.
Type: Grey | Rank: Mastered
Eventually, the barrages simply became too much. Outnumbered, reckless, trapped, and with nothing more than the power of ferocity behind it, the second ursur’s time came. It roared with defiance, but had no ability to pierce back through the flames, divine opposition, or strikes of lightning. The pinnacle of efforts destroyed and dissipated, until it too fell beside its brethren, and Deimos could release the inferno for a moment.
He stilled, eyes narrowed and watching for anything else moving along the frozen tundra, for something immortal to spring up and regale them with onslaughts…the machinations of possibilities were seemingly endless. But when seconds turned into minutes, the reality clung and struck and he unleashed a very long and slow breath. “Good work,” he countered to each of them – for between the plants and bears, they’d done a fair amount of maiming efforts – even if they were all uncertain how long it would last. “Thank you again,” was an extension to each. “You are welcome to stay in Halo to rest before heading anywhere,” he motioned towards Paige, Koa, and Hadama specifically, though to the latter he also insisted. “We will head to Torchline soon as well,” to ensure there would be forces combatted there too.
And today, they wouldn’t be taking any meat home – for he turned his feral forces back upon the hides of the ursur with all the entangled ferocity of his mastered incantations, watching as they eventually curled and contorted into smoke and ash and fumes.
--
This concludes the PQ! Thank you for assisting in hunting!
