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!
03-31-2024, 02:36 PM (This post was last modified: 04-03-2024, 02:27 PM by Honey.)
There are times when the unseen can be even more dangerous than what our eyes behold
Ghosts. Spectres. Spirits. Spooks.
They're everywhere this season, slipping through a veil left unattended by a very distracted Ludo. And some are bigger than others.
For nearby citizens, the churning sands in the desert just beyond the Greatwood might feel like déjà vu - especially so, as a scattering of fins through the silt seem to flee outwards in a concentric circle. A hole in the sand. A monstrous sinkhole, perhaps, gobbling up cacti and other flora and fauna, as well as several landsharks.
Only this hole has teeth, and as the slate grey mass hauls itself free of the desert to snap around its meal, it leaves spectral streamers in its wake, aglow with the fever of afterdeath.
The colossal landshark dives deep back beneath the sand, and - spirit though it may be - the tremor of its landing can be felt for miles around.
Something big is going bump in the night in Hak Etme.
Welcome to the KQ.
This is open to anyone who needs one who can make it to the area! Difficulty will be based on an average of the levels for whoever joins.
Please post your characters arriving and taking their first action, and in your summary list whatever non-items they are bringing with them (anything on your profile is automatically assumed to be with you). Items not listed cannot be used later.
Remember to include a summary at the bottom of your post with all action taken. If weapons/upgrades/abilities/items/shifts/etc are used, please include their desc. from your profile at the bottom of your post as well.
REMEMBER: KQs are rewarding but dangerous. They may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters.
Flora, who had grown up in the Greatwood, had to come and see the devastation for herself. Once seen—the Doubletake having already been infected once, thank you very much—Flora headed toward the desert in hopes of finding something pretty and vaguely poisonous for her brother's birthday. With only Spice for company, the girl had wandered around a bit, picking and kicking at various shrubs to try and determine their level of danger. The Void was alive and well in the desert and while Flora did her best to avoid the more deadly plants, she probably strolled within harm's way more times than she was aware.
Until, you know, it became very fucking clear.
As the ground opened up swallowing both things Flora was aware were in its path as well as several subterranean landsharks, the Doubletake clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle her scream.
"Help! Dads?" She whispered into the warm air, not really caring which of them decided to show, only wanting someone with the sort of firepower to make this situation not seem so terrifying. Who knew, maybe with Remi's recent alignment change Mort would even show up to save the day.
Flora is 30ft away (if possible), before noticing the sinkhole and stopping. She channels for Mort/Her Dads. She has Spice with her, and everything on her profile.
Regional Score bonus: +1 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +1 should be included)
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 15 %
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
i scream for whatever it's worth "i love you" ain't that the worst thing you've ever heard?
The broadcast -- the second broadcast -- came as Noah lay his offering to Frey at the shrine deep in the forest that was being void-overrun more and more by the second. Noah and Hadama had both heard it, and readied themselves to leave the Greatwood, when Caido trembled. When the Forsaken felt the ground of the Greatwood shake, and in the distance birds filled the skies in a panic, he knew he was needed. He could feel the panic of the earth in his bones, down to the very core of him. Whatever this was, causing the ruckus it was, it certainly did not belong.
It was easy to leave his friend and go headlong into the danger. But it still made his heart pound.
Between his magic and his basilisk form he was able to get to the scene faster than he ever would have dreamed five years ago. But he was not as fast as Flora. Spotting her in the distance, Noah made his way towards her with his heart racing at the sinking sands before her. He moved as fast as he could over the sands (which was pretty fast, given his dexterity and strength) until he was in range of the woman. Noah readied himself with by summoning his celestial bow, and prepared to make the attack for as soon as the creature would surface.
Noah has everything but his companions. He comes to Flora's side and prepares to use Vi's Ranger if/when the creature surfaces.
--
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
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)
Having been in the middle of a very important task (dinner), Ronin Taliesin is whisked away to Hak Etme with a tea towel thrown over one shoulder and a butcher's knife in hand, making him look strangely domestic but also as if he intends to cut down a mammoth landshark with nothing more than a sliver of metal. "Oh," he says, glancing around - and it's only years of haha you're in danger that allows him to appraise the situation at the speed he does.
"Looks like you're a bit short on numbers." He smiles between Flora and Noah. "Your father is going to love this." New powers of protection and a gigantic target to test them on? As if Remi wouldn't.
And so, as his singular act of "Being Channelled", Ronin uses the time to tag in his husband.
Then, of course, he's gone again.
Ronin uses:
Magic: Rescue | Ronin can bring a fellow Old God demigod to his side in a time of crisis for three concurrent posts. One use per thread. If the summoned demigod also has mastered this ability, they can remain until the end of the thread.
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
'WH—' The question dies on Remi's lips as Ronin disappears, leaving him holding a wine bottle and a half-filled cup and blinking into the empty space in their kitchen. Shrugging, the Bastion assumes that it will be a few moments until his husband returns from wherever he's been channelled, probably bloody and all the hungrier for it, when suddenly he's tugged from their kitchen as well.
"Huh." Landshark, daughter, Noah, and the flickering-out of his husband. 'You're far from home.' Remi says conventionally to Flora, before taking a breath and reaching into himself for the string of magic that might return Ronin to the desert.
If he had to be here, then so did Ronin.
With a nod to Noah, the Bastion moves to place himself in front of his daughter, more than keen to test out his new abilities.
Remi brings Ronin back xD
Magic: Rescue | Ronin can bring a fellow Old God demigod to his side in a time of crisis for three concurrent posts. One use per thread. If the summoned demigod also has mastered this ability, they can remain until the end of the thread.
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
I can't pass the test, don't wait for me.
Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!
Speaks with a thick Italian accent.
Force and magic can be used against Remi without permission.
Ronin has only had time to put down the knife by the time he's dragged back to the desert, the Nova glancing around and shooting his husband a playfully reproachful look before, with a long, deep breath, he readies himself for what he imagines to be the most decent fight he's had in some time.
"Alright then," he mutters, nodding afresh to Noah and offering a sunny smile to Flora. "I imagine there's something big and bad out there under the sand? Let's do this." The distant (and relatively small, despite in reality being reasonably sized) landsharks still fleeing across the desert are enough of a give away, he thinks.
Ronin is pulled back and readies himself for the fight!
There are times when the unseen can be even more dangerous than what our eyes behold
That's a lot of fucking about and tremors you're all making in the sand over there. And despite its relative (incredible) size and your teeny tiny footsteps, the Daddy Landshark zones in on the movement like a regular shark scents blood in the water. Beneath the group's feet, the vibration is barely perceptible at first, which some might find suspicious.
But just as the eye of a storm seems relatively calm, as the sinkhole around the party grows - and grows, and grows - it's only as the world begins to fall away from their feet will they realise what's happening. If the decision to move isn't taken right the fuck now, the chances of being swallowed up are... oh, 100%?
Frabjous day, though, because everyone present has very steady feet (or very good stats), and no one takes a tumble into the shifting sands. Yet.
The Ghost!Daddy Landshark prepares to swallow the group up into its huge maw!
Remember to include a summary at the bottom of your post with all action taken. If weapons/upgrades/abilities/items/shifts/etc are used, please include their desc. from your profile at the bottom of your post as well.
REMEMBER: KQs are rewarding but dangerous. They may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters.
Hissing a curse under his breath and glancing fleetingly to Remi, trusting him to have Flora's protection first and foremost in his mind, the Supernova spreads (partially shifted) draconic wings and takes to the air.
Opting to fly directly upwards despite the danger of still being snapped up by a gargantuan maw, ensuring he's still in range, he wastes no time in unleashing three starbolts downwards into what will soon be - he hopes - the massive shark's gullet.
And if it swallows him? Maybe it'll bite off more than it can chew, who knows?
Ronin flies directly up and fires three starbolts down at the landshark!
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
Flora didn't know who would come when she called, but certainly, she'd never seen both of her dads stick around.
"I was just trying to find a birthday present for Mateo!" Flora snarks toward Remi, before the ground reverse-vomits and everything starts to sink. With wide eyes, the Doubletake shakes her head and backtracks. Normally she might have thrown her daggers or used her signet ring, but with three demigods really what use was she going to be? Besides, no way she'd ever find her ring if she threw it again, so fuck that.
Running to Remi and reaching out her hands for him to pick her up as she'd done when she was a child, the Doubletake clearly intended for Remi to be what kept her (and Spice) safe.
Flora runs to Remi and uses PLS PICK ME UP.
Regional Score bonus: +1 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +1 should be included)
i scream for whatever it's worth "i love you" ain't that the worst thing you've ever heard?
"What? You said not to leave you out of things." Remi calls as Ronin reappears, the boyish smile on his lips the sort to suggest of all the dangers in this world the pair had faced, not even a giant landshark would stop him from cracking jokes at inopportune moments.
Grinning as Ronin flew away to the be the hero Flora needed him to be, Remi similarly shook out his wings and rushed toward his daughter. "Not sure, I think this might be a little big for his boat." The Bastion says, easily scooping his daughter (and her dragon) into his arms and flying them up above the sands.
"Let me know if you want me to try and hold it still." He calls to Ronin. "Otherwise I am just going to...you know, do the new thing."
Remi tethers himself to RONIN using
Magic: I’ll have what he’s having | Tethers himself to someone and takes all of their damage during an encounter until it’s recast.
Type: Light | Rank: Mastered
Regional Score bonus: +1 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +1 should be included)
Magic: Kindred Spirit (Feat) | Spirit-attacks have disadvantage against him
Type: Dark | Rank: Basic
Magic: FEAT: Aint Afraid of No Ghost | Has advantage against spirit-based creatures.
Type: Light | Rank: Basic
I can't pass the test, don't wait for me.
Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!
Speaks with a thick Italian accent.
Force and magic can be used against Remi without permission.
Everything happens so fast. Suddenly, at the call of Flora, Ronin is there. Then Remi. Then Ronin again. The hunter barely has time to give them more than the same nods he gives before the sand gives way and the earth trembles once more, despite how they sass each other.
A slight amount of panic -- the same panic that has kept him alive all these years between the dangers of the tundra and the dangers he had been in since becoming a demigod -- erupted in the back of his neck. His glacier eyes flicked to Flora to see her run towards her father. Noah knew that both Ronin and Remi could easily move Flora to safety if she couldn't do it herself; Noah hoped this time, though, someone didn't fall from the sky.
Though he had readied his attack for when the creature surfaced, he chose to use it anyway. Shooting two celestial arrows down at the sinkhole, Noah then teleported to a spot he could see that was not indicative of the creature beneath.
Noah uses Vi's Ranger then teleports to a safer spot that isn't a sinkhole.
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: There in a Flash | Noah may teleport between any region's boards, providing he has visited the board before. Requires a 2-post cooldown between uses.
Type: Light | Rank: Upgraded
Magic: Wise Hunter (FEAT) | Animals roll with disadvantage against Noah.
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)
There are times when the unseen can be even more dangerous than what our eyes behold
Like ants swarming out from beneath the beam of a magnifying glass, all but one member of the group stays within range of the colossal landshark (here's looking at you, Ronin), and as the sand disappears into an enormous, gaping maw, it's just one man and his starbolts there to see it in full, glorious panorama. It's impossible for him to miss.
But he does.
And then he doesn't.
(Almost as if his writer has a feat precisely for when he rolls a 1 he rolls a 1 - fuck).
Anyway.
Three bolts of celestial light hit the beast right in the back of its spectral throat, sending its upward trajectory sharply off kilter. Perhaps that's why Noah's arrows fall short of their mark - either way, they sail clear of the creature this round. It also means that the shark misses when it comes to snapping its massive jaws around the Supernova, so... swings and roundabouts, no?
Remember to include a summary at the bottom of your post with all action taken. If weapons/upgrades/abilities/items/shifts/etc are used, please include their desc. from your profile at the bottom of your post as well.
REMEMBER: KQs are rewarding but dangerous. They may cause death and/or permanent changes to your characters.
I do love the new thing, Ronin sings down the bond to his husband, though of course the words will be clear to any within range of the Attuned bond (sorry, Flora). As the landshark gets a swing and a miss, and he barely manages his own attack, it's with a sharp beat of wings that he takes himself back in range of his fellow fighters (...and Flora. Sorry again).
Do you have anything in your pockets that might hold it still so it won't dive back underground? he asks Remi before, with a nod to Noah that suggests a rinse and repeat approach, he flings three more starbolts at the hulking ghost fish.
Ronin flies back towards his allies, flings three more starbolts, and asks if Remi might be able to stop the shark from diving back under the sand!
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
"Yayyyyy Ronin!" Flora calls out. If she couldn't help, why shouldn't she offer some encouragement? It wasn't as if the shark was ignorant of their location given how it was currently moving (swimming?) about below.
There's little for the queen to do other than hold on, though sitting on Remi's arm feels about as solid as any brick wall in Torchline such was the demigod's obnoxious strength. "Let me know if you need any cooling off. Spice is really good at that." So it is that despite the obvious danger, Flora reaches for the bottle of wine Remi had appeared with and takes a healthy sip.
Flora drinks!
Regional Score bonus: +1 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +1 should be included)
i scream for whatever it's worth "i love you" ain't that the worst thing you've ever heard?
