Perhaps the closest equivalent of Caido’s golden retriever energy, Zavien has been the light in an otherwise patch of darkness. Always putting others first, working hard at being a Dragoon and helping Stormbreak thrive in kindness, and always being optimistic, Zavien’s outlook is refreshing and wonderful even with drama and terrible things occurring around him. He always has something helpful to say and a willingness to lend a hand that makes it so fun to keep up with him and we can’t wait to see what else comes his way.
Congratulations, Zavien!
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 sunshine has softened with the ending season, casting a warm glow without its usual intensity. Colorful stones glitter along the bank, glistening in a rainbow of colors that play across Zavien's skin. He smiles in appreciation at the beauty. It heavily contrasts the recent darkness that has been spreading across Caido. He's been surveying the land to determine how far it's spread and what he may be able to do in order to slow the infection. His failure in the Feverlands has damaged his hope that they will succeed in pushing out the Void and whoever this Family is. In need of a more lighthearted experience that could refresh his soul, he's made his way to Torchline.
On his tour of the island, Zavien's heard rumors of the Miana Pool and its mystical properties. It seems like trying to use a wishing well to fix an apocalypse (because isn't that what this is?), but what could it hurt?
Zavien now finds himself strolling the edge of the water's edge, sifting through stones at his feet to find one worthy of his wish. It's so hard to decide when there are smooth crystalline pebbles and rough colorful rocks mixed amongst each other. He concentrates intently on each option, making slow progress, but determined on looking for the perfect match. "What do other people usual look for? Clarity? Color? Size?" His mumbled words to himself are contemplative and curious.
"Yes." The voice that answered the Accepted's musings was quiet and deep, rumbling across the water like distant summer thunder It came from a man who had not been there a moment ago, or at least had not been visible as he swam beneath the calm but deceptively deep water in the shape of a broad-winged manta ray. Now his head and shoulders rose out of the water, his long hair steely grey that shone wetly in the gentle sunshine like beaten metal. His skin was dark, making the emerald green of his eyes all the more startling as he considered the human on the shore. A circlet of gold and silver set with a single emerald kept his hair out of his eyes, while an emerald teardrop earring hung from his left ear.
He swam closer with slow, graceful strokes of his piscine tail, moving without hurry. As he did so the flash of gold on his skin winked dully beneath the water; scars that had been tattooed over with an ink that mimicked metal. A thick silver armband fitted snugly around one bicep, and he was bare-chested except for a harness that held several tools and pouches, as well as a trident of coral and gold with tines of starlight at his back. "No one knows the L'ma's preference," he explained when he was closer. "Which one would you chose for yourself?" At the very least it would do no harm
The sudden appearance of a disembodied voice startles Zavien enough that he straightens like a board and swings his head around in surprise. When he spots the sparkling shirtless man, he has to keep his mouth from dropping open. He's never met a merfolk before and the introduction is... striking. Zavien isn't interested in men, but the way his eyes pop against his dark skin and the water glides off his golden tattoos that shine in the sunlight have him momentarily appreciating his appearance and possibly questioning himself. The crown adds a reverence to his arrival along with the powerful weapons adorning his body.
Double-checking that his mouth is closed, Zavien gives a warm smile to the glowing man in the water, chuckling lightly. "Uhhh... I'm not sure." Glancing back down to his feet while still stealing glances at the merfolk, his eyes snag on a single small stone. It's a crystal-clear pale yellow. Zavien lifts it in his hand, admiring the way it amplifies the sunlight and refracts it against the skin of his palm. The way it glitters in the rays of light remind him of his mother's pure bright laugh and the way her joy radiated around her. He smiles softly to himself in silent admiration and takes a moment to memorize every intricate detail.
Turning back to the mysterious man, he clasps the stone in his hand. "I guess I have my answer." He looks to the pool of water, trying to remember what the people had said. "Sooo... do I just throw it in?" The instructions aren't very clear and this man seems at least somewhat knowledgeable on the subject. "What does L'ma prefer?"
Hadama was used to the effect that he had on people, whether he was the first Mer they met or simply their first King. Though he would never admit it and certainly never showed it. His expression was one of serene stoicism and polite interest as he regarded the human perusing the stones upon the shore. He inclined his head courteously at the warm smile and waited until the perfect stone had been selected.
At the question he nodded, swimming backwards a short distance to the place where the water shifted color from brilliant turquoise to royal sapphire. "Throw it here," he called. "So that it will sink to the L'ma's lair." Having indicated the place, he swam forward and to the side so that he would be out of the way of the man's throw. "Make your wish upon the stone and it will carry it to her." Or so the legends went. The L'ma had not answered a prayer in any living generation, but she had been seen before the War and she had given a gift at that time to one who had helped her. Perhaps she would grant this supplicant a similar boon, if not the thing he wished for.
Waiting until the ritual was complete, Hadama eyed the man curiously. "I am Hadama," he introduced himself simply. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
