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!
Maea's aversion to swimming elicited a raised eyebrow from Thal. The woman obviously had a lot of trauma, some of which she was aware of, but a fear of swimming was one she couldn't imagine or relate to. Water was practically a part of her. Even now, she could feel the call towards the ocean. Even when it had nearly drowned her, she still longed to feel its touch. Although, with this particular pool, she wasn't as inclined to return to its murky depths, so Thal just shrugged in acceptance of the decision.
She followed Tal through the undergrowth, picking around the water carefully, making sure not to 'fall in again.' Her eyes were so trained on the ground and any possible tunnels that she quickly noticed the flowers jump out of the ground. "Watch out!" Their snapping teeth lunged and she pulled her arm back to avoid losing any digits. Pulling her daggers, she swiped to fend them off. "Maea! Can you give me a light?!" It was embarrassing, but she didn't have time to make a spark. She'd have to rely on Maea to provide the initial flame so they could fry these suckers.
Thalassa suggests she and Maea use their flames to eliminate the Preying Orchids.
Fire Manipulation: Can manipulate flames. Must be within a 30ft radius. Control is excellent
Type: Dark | Rank: Upgraded
Noticing the way Thalassa stared at her, Maea returned a rueful grimace, the smile a pale thing that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I really did drown once," she explained quietly. "Sometimes it's fine, but sometimes I remember, and.. well. Screaming under water is generally a bad idea." Extending a hand to let Tal help her up, Maea squeezed his fingers in quiet gratitude for his decision. She didn't say anything, but it was a relief to have company. The longer time they spent here, the firmer her dislike of the forest was growing.
Accepting the stick, she joined the others in searching for a way around the pit. Keeping her eyes on the immediate ground ahead, she was slow to notice the strange flowers. Thalassa's request received immediate reaction however; before she quite knew what they were burning Maea kindled a ribbon of flame and sent it arching out in a cone ahead of them. Hopefully it wouldn't sweep too high over the orchids; her realization of what they were attacked by came too late to adjust the angle right away.
"Flowers! Aim low," she called to Talyson just in case he hadn't seen them yet.
Maea conjures flame for herself and Thalassa and aims it in a cone ahead of the party.
Fire Manipulation: Can create and control flames. Must be within a 30ft radius.
Type: Dark | Rank: Mastered
I can try to pretend, I can try to forget But it's driving me mad, going out of my head
Table base by Skylark
♦ Violence, magic, thievery is permitted with Maea at all times. DM me if you have any ideas ♦
The good news was that the team managed to stay dry this time, able to use their sticks to find the edge of the cenote hidden beneath the thick leaves and greenery before anyone slipped over it again. There was a slowly rising sense of anxiety among them, however. Whether that was from the dangerous jungle, their recent near-drowning experiences, or some outside source was difficult to say... but it seemed to be stronger towards Maea's side of the group.
And it was not without good cause, as it happened.
Thalassa was unable to capture any of Maea's fire before the Orchids attacked, but she managed to dodge the snapping teeth of Orchid 2. Instead it accidentally bit its ally as it lunged after her and Orchid 3 got in the way, but it didn't prevent Orchid 3 from taking a bite out of Thal's leg, and it latched on tight!
Maea did, indeed, aim just a little too high on her attack and the fire passed harmlessly over the predatory flowers. Steam and scorch rose from the parts of the jungle that were not so mobile, but Orchids 1 and 4 were startled back enough to disrupt their attacks and their teeth closed on only air.
"These are terrible flowers!" Tal complained as Maea drew his attention down to the level of the floral fuckery going on at knee level. And then at rib level as they pulled themselves from the dirt on skittering roots. His Dagger lashed out, neatly severing one in half and eliciting a dramatic, high-pitched whistle as the Preying Orchid collapsed beside itself. "Th'fuck is wrong with this place??"
Preying Orchid (uncommon) - If looked at from far away, it simply looks like a flower. However, upon closer inspection, instead of a pistil, it has a mouth with sharp teeth, and its stamens are replaced with eyes on tall stalks. However, by the point most notice, the Preying Orchid has already attacked them and ran away on its roots. When its roots are in the ground, the flower is less than 1 ft. tall. However, when standing on its roots, it becomes around 3 to 4 ft. tall.
Recovering quickly, Maea reined in the flames and twisted them around so that the blazing inferno vould be repurposed. Trusting Thalassa to help herself to the fire, the pale ancient focused on the skittering flora that had backed away from her, to keep them away from her.
Using the stick like a foci in guiding the fire, Maea attempted to encircle the two orchids before tightening the noose, so to speak. Stepping carefully away from the cenote to give herself more room to navigate, she hoped that Tal would deal with any stragglers; it took a bit of focus to follow the skittering movements of these things. She wouldn't know if anything snuck up on her until it napped her ankles.
Maea uses more fire to try and scorch orchids 1 and 4 to cinders ~
I can try to pretend, I can try to forget But it's driving me mad, going out of my head
Table base by Skylark
♦ Violence, magic, thievery is permitted with Maea at all times. DM me if you have any ideas ♦
Their response was chaotic and unorganized, failing to do more than singe the foliage nearby. Luckily, she avoided the first orchid's snapping jaws, watching as it made no distinction between friend or foe. Distracted by the missed fires and utter embarrassment of a counterattack, she missed the flower that latched onto her leg. With the adrenaline coursing through her veins, she couldn't quite tell if it'd broken through her leather boots or trousers, but the frustration and otherwise sharp pressure had her yelling out. It was a barely contained cry that rang through her ears and spurred her to action.
Thal clamped her mouth shut and growled, pulling from Maea's flames for her own attack. She wrapped in around her body like a second layer of skin, trying to pull the assailant into the inescapable clutches of her fire. Aware that a non-fire-resistant person was with her, she tried to keep the blaze contained. Her dagger also flashed out in a vengeful slash. Even if her magic landed, she didn't just want the thing to burn, she wanted it obliterated for daring to touch her.
Thalassa uses her flames and dagger to target Orchid 3.
Fire Manipulation: Can manipulate flames. Must be within a 30ft radius. Control is excellent
Type: Dark | Rank: Upgraded
