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!
before bones, before dirt, before even light this is who we were
The barracks were a comfortable enterprise amidst the glory of battle and defense. He knew each stone, recruit, target, and climbing proportions; the intricacies and balance of the fortification, the ramifications of their design. The office was his favorite, the den another branch of home, the wealth of knowledge and notation derived in the quick, known, movements of his soldiers and warriors. And perhaps, after returning from brief moments in Stormbreak, he simply needed to enjoy the expertise of what Halo had long since cultivated.
They were all unfurling their magic today – an unwinding opportunity in the back portion of the grounds, where there were no ceilings or walls, a wide-open expanse to unravel and unleash. One by one they clashed in elemental displays, and he watched, surveyed, examined, and scrutinized, as lightning flashed and fire reigned and soldiers hastened to distract and intercede with one another. Jests and gestures, camaraderie and exchanges, blows for blows, until ultimately it was his turn.
He watched as most stepped back and he snorted, shaking his head, before proceeding in snagging at the water flowing through his veins. It rose like a giant wave, flickering in all directions, ready and eager, fervent and capable, of receiving its next challenger.
this untamable expanse churning proof that we have always been deep, restless souls
the truth is what remains the truth is what you save from the fire
Having been given the tasks he was by Safrin, Noah knew he could accomplish several of them in the barracks. There were soldiers always willing to train with him, especially the ones who knew they never had to go easy on the demigod. Today, though, the hunter took pause before approaching and asking someone to train with him. As he entered the training ring, the sparking and unfurling of incantations and spells and magic caught every bit of his attention. He made his way slowly back to the corner of the training grounds the mages occupied, and watched them. He watched longer, seeing Deimos among their ranks.
The hunter swallowed. He wasn't sure where he stood in the warden's eyes, even if his own frustrations had had time to freeze over like the rest of their world. Cordelia had helped him process through a lot of the emotion, and only she was able to get to the bottom of it -- Noah had felt like a chastised child, not like Deimos' friend. He hadn't felt understood, or empathized with, from someone that he would lay his life down for, and that hurt hung on his heart. In the moment it had manifested as anger, as frustration, but now it had frozen into the jagged pieces of icy hurt that it was.
Noah sighed, trying to push it all down, and stepped forward. Safrin had asked him to use his shield to protect someone stronger than him, and there were few in the world as strong as Deimos.
you fight for what you love, don't matter if it hurts you find out what it's worth and you let the rest burn
before bones, before dirt, before even light this is who we were
The incantations loomed, high and mighty, descending upon his crowd of soldiers in a mighty deluge. Some fought back with curses, oaths, and alterations, some could do nothing but groan and laugh as the droplets cascaded. They only ceased for a moment when another clambered nearby, each swiftly turning their heads in the direction of the newcomer. If Deimos was surprised, he only showed it with the brief widening of his eyes, and the curious tilt of his head.
Deimos hadn’t spoken to Noah, nor vice versa, since their last encounter, and had no inclination on where they stood with one another. Perhaps the Forsaken was still disgruntled over their last discussion, but given how he’d threatened every Halovian’s livelihood, acted like a child, and had yet to uphold any accountability or apology, the Sword had no intentions of being the first to approach. There was a learning curve instilled, and he’d hoped, given enough time and space, that the demigod would figure out where the errors had been made. The Warden would defend his friend, but also ensure there was some manner of growth; regardless of hurt feelings or barbed animosity.
The hostility wasn’t in his frame as he turned to stare at Noah – waiting for some inevitable thing. When nothing seemed forthcoming, his brow arched, but then he unfurled more precisions towards his comrades, altering the stance of his elements into mist and fog.
this untamable expanse churning proof that we have always been deep, restless souls
the truth is what remains the truth is what you save from the fire
Approaching the fray, the demigod surveyed the other warriors and Shields and analyzed where he was going to put himself in. Magic flung this way and that and Noah wasn't sure if he wanted to place himself on either side, to be honest, but he needed to. To start, Noah nodded and stepped, taking the side of the warden. He noticed a few brows lifting and heard a few guffaws coming from the shields, and it made Noah smirk.
Lifting his hands defensively and preparing to protect Deimos, Noah summoned his celestial stag to charge for the shields across from them. While at Deimos' side, Noah did not close off his side of the bond as he had before. If Deimos wanted to, he would be able to feel the jagged pieces of hurt. Feel and, hopefully, understand that Noah felt a wound from how Deimos had reacted.
you fight for what you love, don't matter if it hurts you find out what it's worth and you let the rest burn
before bones, before dirt, before even light this is who we were
The fog prevailed, a shift in design; purposefully obstructing views upon his side. He surveyed as magic encroached and shifted his way regardless, the laughter warring through as lightning sparked and fire flew. Some elements he took entirely on his own, snagging them with mastery and control and whipping them back to their orchestrators with tenacity and amusement. Some he deftly avoided with a quick duck and a swerve to the left or right, before unfurling another bout of earth to shake the ground beneath them, to startle the highly trained and skilled.
But he didn’t know what to do with Noah stepping nearby.
The celestial stag bounded and he could hear multitudes gathered within the mist grumble or shift, striving to get out of range of the light bearing down upon them. That was the easy part. This silence, this lack of communication though...
He didn’t reach for the bond. He didn’t scour over the senses of either Attuned fixture. The Warden was aware on where he stood amidst the conundrums, mistakes, errors, and continued lack of responsibility by the Forsaken. If Noah wanted to say something, he’d best do it, rather than linger on and hope for some other conclusion.
this untamable expanse churning proof that we have always been deep, restless souls
the truth is what remains the truth is what you save from the fire
There would be time for talking, but it wasn't yet. Noah wasn't about to have the conversation that needed to happen before the ears of the shields. There were too many of these men and women who were his friends, but also an equal number who held him in high regards due to his status and title. There was not the same room for vulnerability with them than there was with Deimos.
Noah moved around the battlefield and dodged several elemental attacks, a smirk still playing on his face despite the feelings unlocked across the attuned bond. He crossed behind Deimos and ducked slightly, rolling his shoulders as a jet of water (that he was sure would have taken his skin off) shot over him.
you fight for what you love, don't matter if it hurts you find out what it's worth and you let the rest burn
before bones, before dirt, before even light this is who we were
The rumble beneath stones sent a multitude of recruits scattering or tripping, stumbling off to the sides while Deimos released another skittering of undulating floors. If Noah wasn’t going to talk or give meaning to anything going on, then the Sword would focus entirely on the current line of training amidst his peers.
With the Forsaken bizarrely taking some forefront.
The Warden shook his head and forged further concentration as another bout of ice shards scattered from the fog; adjusting his stance in an abrupt shift, avoiding half of them, and then controlling the other half to launch back at the warriors.
this untamable expanse churning proof that we have always been deep, restless souls
the truth is what remains the truth is what you save from the fire
If "going behind your friend and dodging magic" meant that Noah was taking the forefront, then sure, that's what he was doing. But it really wasn't -- what he was doing was putting himself into the training, just as eager and worthy of the skill-based spar than any of the shields. The frigid air crackled with anticipation as Noah faced off against his opponents, each wielding the power of nature itself.
One of the shields, more bold, was ready to get up close and personal. After dodging the water attack, Noah saw him. With a swift motion, Noah lunged forward, closing the distance of the battlefield. He grunted as he clashed with the mage, who summoned a shield made of air. The abandoned pushed against Noah, and the Forsaken's glacier eyes found the shield looking up and over him, straight at Deimos.
you fight for what you love, don't matter if it hurts you find out what it's worth and you let the rest burn
before bones, before dirt, before even light this is who we were
Deimos still wasn’t certain what Noah was doing, or looking for, considering he’d yet to say a single word to him. Instead, he continued and persisted, glancing onwards at the modest and miniature battlefield itself. The ice shards from before clashed and clattered; he could hear and see shields being made amidst the recruits; giving the slightest of grins to see them casting their arms and elements into something meticulous, stalwart, and determined. That for all their hard work and dedication, it was steadily becoming muscle memory; sharp, poignant, and to the point.
His eyes flickered to the Forsaken as he seemed to be grappling with another who’d altered stances, and presuming he had it handled, maneuvered to another set of soldiers beginning to toss bouts of earth at him. With an amused smile, he lifted a bout of hardened ice for a ready-made shield, listening as the rocks and debris hit the portions with deft and clarity.
this untamable expanse churning proof that we have always been deep, restless souls
the truth is what remains the truth is what you save from the fire
Right now Noah was looking to train, just like the rest of them. The conversations could come later, but he still left himself open over the attuned bond — a display, a showing, that he was ready to have the conversations.
But after the party that this was.
The soldier was quite agile and able, and though it didn’t totally take Noah by surprise he definitely hadn’t prepared in as many ways as he should. His footing came loose and the elemental mage was able to press forward after Noah twisted. He reached for him to pull him back, but didn’t gain any purchase, and the Shield went straight for Deimos.
Noah teleported, appearing in the space between the Shield and the Warden. Celestial light wrapped around him when he appeared, and Noah used his celestial shield to guard Deimos against the air magic the soldier whipped.
you fight for what you love, don't matter if it hurts you find out what it's worth and you let the rest burn
before bones, before dirt, before even light this is who we were
Light twisting and turning nearby caused him the slightest of glances over his shoulder; watching Noah continue to persist with one of the soldiers. Shrugging, he ensured his attention went back to the other three rampaging their incantations towards his own – laughing, modestly, as rocks, dirt, and some segments of lightning hit the icy shield.
When cracks began to form, he re-chiseled the filaments – hardening the blockade so they formed under more pressure. He could hear some level of dismay nearby – perhaps they were getting sick of his tactics – but then he motioned the shield forward, intending to trap them against the walls of the training grounds unless they maneuvered and outpaced the imposing swarm.
this untamable expanse churning proof that we have always been deep, restless souls
the truth is what remains the truth is what you save from the fire
His shield ignited around him and the air magic blasted around him. His shield blocked himself from the assault, but also Deimos. The warden was using his magic to press in on the other shields, who did not seem to be able to press against it at all. Closer and closer they came to each other and closer and closer they came to being finished off.
With the close proximity now to the air mage that struck out, Noah grappled him as his celestial shield dissipated. They struggled against each other for a moment but, eventually, the demigod’s greater strength gave him the upper hand and his opponent tapped on his elbow.
Letting him go, Noah chuckled at the sounds of the Shields calling out their yields, and he brushed his hands off on his pants. Then he turned towards Deimos as his previous opponent walked away. ”I wouldn’t mind some more training, if you’ve got a spar in you.” Noah said, raising an eyebrow towards the warden. Perhaps afterwards, then, they could spend the time together that was needed for mending.
you fight for what you love, don't matter if it hurts you find out what it's worth and you let the rest burn
before bones, before dirt, before even light this is who we were
He couldn’t help but laugh as the Shields gave their outcries and disgruntled ‘yields’ one by one, pressed against the wall or smacked into one another. With a triumphant little grin he subsided the magic, allowing it to dissipate and for the rest of them to escape back into the training grounds. A majority were good sports all around, and the jostling back and forth thereafter gave him some modicum of relief – a long sigh and breath unfurling through his chest before his attention turned back to Noah, and the inquiry laden there.
The smile disappeared too, leaving the inscrutable and nonchalant decree in his expression. Some bitter part of him wanted to object; to leave the Forsaken to his own thoughts and devices, or figure out how to piece together constructive words. But maybe it was an extension of an olive branch, and so his eyes glanced to the sky, gauging the hour. “I have a little time,” he mustered, beginning to maneuver some targets out of the way as the rest of them aimed to reset the area. “What did you need to work on?”
this untamable expanse churning proof that we have always been deep, restless souls
the truth is what remains the truth is what you save from the fire
Thankful that Deimos agreed, Noah knew in the depths of his chest that this would be the private time they needed to talk. But first, the spar. ”Some magic work would be great.” he said. Deimos knew most of what Noah held, and seeing that his magic had more confines than Deimos, Noah needed to work harder to be creative with it than the abandoneds of this world. With the harder hit, the more powerful punch, came the caveat of the parameters being the same nearly every time.
Stepping back, Noah helped gain some distance between them on the training field and then lifted his arms, as if he were lifting an invisible bow. Then suddenly, wrapped in celestial light and twinkling stars, one appeared, and Noah aimed and shot a celestial arrow towards his warden — his friend.
you fight for what you love, don't matter if it hurts you find out what it's worth and you let the rest burn
