Quest Log: JUNE 2021

[faileas]

Quest Log: June, 2021

CITY-WIDE QUESTS Quest #1 - Part-timers Wanted! (Aefenglom) - The following places are looking for part-timers for the month. Duties vary by shop, though all are paying 500-cunes per hour, five days a week. In a Jam! - It's berry-picking season! One of Aefenglom's most well-loved confectioners is famous for their prized fruit preserves, but those berries need to be picked fast to be at peak freshness and the owner can't do it all herself. She's looking for volunteers to fill up baskets of raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries, cherries and blackcurrants from the expansive groves on her estate in the Aristocratic district. Earn cunes and tasty treats all at the same time! Millie's Millinery - Millie, a cheerful Harpy with an eye for design, is looking for assistance getting some supplies. This summer, feathered hats are all the rage! Bird feathers, Harpy feathers, Chimera feathers... as long as they're ethically sourced, she'll buy them off you for a good price. Picnic Serenades - With summer around the corner once again and the Cwyld cleared out in the forests just outside the Wall, picnicking has never been more in. This seasonal pop-up business is once again hiring entertainers to go out on request to sing little ditties or play instruments for ritzy private picnics! The songs and moods depend on the individual customers, who may be requesting romantic music for a date, entertainment for kids, or anything else. The more jobs you go on, the more you'll get paid -- and tips are a possibility for excellent performances. Quest #2 - Red and Blue (Aefenglom) - It seems the recent crisis caused by the Cwyldheart has instilled in the younger part of the population the need to act out. No sooner than the city has returned to more or less normal after all the excitement, reports started to trickle in about a new nuisance to the public peace. There seems to be a rise in popularity of two color-coded youngster gangs: The Reds and The Blues. Both groups are surprisingly egalitarian, taking in anybody: rich or poor, native-born or Mirrorbound, as long as they are younger than 25 years old. The rivalry takes mostly harmless if annoying forms. From simple graffiti on the walls to elaborate flower arrangements, woven, embroidered or crocheted blankets or flags heralding the utter wretchedness of the rival gang. However, the mutual badmouthing is not enough for the more hot-blooded gang members, so from time to time fights break out between groups from opposing sides. Miraculously, they always happen on some deserted property and should anyone report the brawl to the City Guard both groups disperse long before the wardens arrive. It’s painfully obvious they must have an insider or informant to be able to elude the law enforcement so skillfully. The plea for help directed at the Mirrorbound community takes different forms, from less to more risky but all belonging to one of three categories of aid: - Stopping the gang members from vandalizing private and public property - Discretely reporting the brawls to the City Guards - And the riskiest of them all: infiltrating the rival gangs to find out how they get their information so fast and so accurately. It might take some time to build their trust (and you might have to pull some pranks of your own to prove yourself!) but eventually, keen investigators can discover who the leak really was: the daughter of the Head Guard himself, one Rebecca Duncan. She's sixteen, sharp as a tack, and hates the fact her dad won't let her be a guard. Instead, she's decided to be a thorn in the guards' sides. That'll teach 'em. (Submitted by Ran.) Quest #3 - Phylax Fun (Aefenglom) - With the arrival of the newcomers from Diasteros and their unique magical knowledge, new classes are available at the Coven! More of Aefenglom's Witches are embracing the trend of summoning Phylaxes. Classes are available to learn the summoning ritual and bring out your own Phylax, and then after that, a variety of smaller group seminars -- some of them led by Witches from Diasteros -- teach Witches how to best rely on their new spirit companions. It just takes a little patience, a bit of trust, and a spark of creativity! Instructors place students in pairs (or groups of three, in the case of uneven numbers), and direct Witches with new Phylaxes to practice with one another. First, you'll need to introduce yourself if you haven't already, and then introduce your Phylax. After that, you might be tasked with one of several exercises in friendly competition with your partner. In one class, Phylaxes need to fetch items for a scavenger hunt all throughout the Coven grounds and Haven. In another, your Phylaxes will help you through a magical obstacle course that might involve simple teleportation, elemental spells, minor transfiguration or other basic spells meant to test your versatility. Still another hosts a simple race, with competitors trying to get their Phylaxes to get in one another's way. If there's something else you want to try, most instructors are also open to suggestions. Go out there and make some friends! 🌶️ Quest #4 - Risqué Business (Aefenglom) - The enchanted powders being used in the Red Light district over Eostre proved to be so popular that a small group of entrepreneurial Witches have decided to make a business out of mixing and selling these powders as potions. A Drop of Love, as they're calling their shop (physical location still pending) had some great success with trials they gave away during Boaltinn as well, and now they're looking to expand. They need help advertising are looking for people (adults only, please!) to distribute samples through some establishments in the Entertainment District. Instead of using eggs, though, the samples are stored in delicate glass vials with little droppers with which to take the mixture of powder and some sort of sweet liquid it's been mixed in. The bottles are tiny works of art all on their own, but unfortunately, some of them are... lacking in structural integrity. The stoppers are usually made to look like large flowers or animals, and hence have a tendency to sort of. Break off. If you accidentally get some of the liquid on you, don't worry -- effects only last a maximum of four hours! For those who are looking for something a bit more hands-on, A Drop of Love also needs help documenting the effects; rooms are provided, and you can report back the results for cune payment. Possible effects include but are not limited to: an excess of desire; certain embarrassing physical reactions; an increase in pleasure in others from your touch, or vice versa; the feeling of being tied up, ranging from just tugging sensations to full body restriction of movement; growing or shrinking of certain body parts; spontaneously vibrating fingers; the urge to confess your feelings for another person; and many more. Taking more than one potion at a time isn't dangerous; it's even encouraged! Stack the effects as much as you like. Don't be shy!

WILDE QUESTS Quest #1 - Helping Hands (Aefenglom) - Progress continues to be made in the slums outside the Bright Wall after the outpouring of assistance provided now that the Cwyldheart has been destroyed, and the land outside the city begins to heal. Still, there's lots of work that needs done. A committee of Coven Witches puts together parties of volunteers to assist the citizens of the slums and sends out healers trained in handling minor Cwyld infections. For those out beyond the Wall who are too infected to be treated on the spot, Parliament has recently approved the funds to build a temporary treatment center -- but it will also need to be built and stocked. Volunteer duties include but are not limited to: - Medical aid: taking care of someone, healing, administering medicine in syrup, pill, or shot form, etc. - Building & Supplies: the temporary hospital needs to be built out in the slums; anyone with building experience is welcome, as are all sorts of building supplies and helping hands - Entertainment: singing, dancing, acting, story-telling, playing an instrument, otherwise helping to bring cheer to those in need - Guards & Fighters: there are still some infected creatures roaming near or even in the slums, or occasionally individuals out of their right minds who might present a danger to themselves and others. The goal is always to get them help, so please be careful if someone needs to be restrained. - Donations: even if you can't go in person, you can always donate medicine, books, toys, cunes, supplies, etc. - Activism: anyone who has more influence with Parliament is also encouraged to participate on the political and activist side, putting pressure on Parliament where possible. Calling attention to the cause is also encouraged. This is the first time in years there's a reach chance to make a lasting difference outside the Bright Wall! Quest #2 - Moss Management (The Underground) - With the help of the data collected from Mirrorbound being studied over the last few months (thanks to all those who participated in the trials!), the Coven is making good progress on advancing their arsenal of tools against the Cwyld. Now that relations with the Underground have also vastly improved, the researchers see a new opportunity to take further strides: official study of the moss that apparently destroys Cwyld that comes into contact with it. Since Mirrorbound are still more welcome in the Underground despite improving relations, the Coven asks any volunteers who are willing to go into the caves and tunnels of the Underground to collect samples of the moss. There are just a few things to keep in mind. It can only thrive in dark, cool and damp conditions, and there's no tried and true method yet of transporting it. Some sort of portable habitat is recommended, like a magically light- and climate-controlled terrarium box, but while the Coven is happy to provide cunes and basic supplies, the Mirrorbound will have to figure the rest out on their own. Any ideas on how to transport the moss safely and effectively is greatly appreciated! The gathering of the moss itself is also tricky. It grows on thick, leathery sheets that fall like curtains over the entrances to the Underground city and is used by the Underground people to make sure no Cwyld infection reaches them. Now that this is less of a risk, they're willing to allow some of the moss to be carefully collected, but harvesting it will be long and laborious work. Use a sharp knife to scrape samples into your chosen container, but be careful not to stay in direct contact with it too long. Lately, with the sudden absence of Cwyld, the moss doesn't seem to know how to react, and its property of attacking infection seems to have been ramped up - it releases puffs of spores at small provocations. Even if you aren't carrying the Cwyld, the overactive spores can have a harsh effect on bare skin, causing raw, red rashes, itchy eyes, and even difficulty breathing. Also, please remain on the lookout for wild animals! Even if chances of infection are much lower these days, the tunnels are still crawling with albino rats the size of dogs, aggressive bats, and burrowing pincer-bugs. The insects especially will take care to avoid: they like to come out of the ground and walls at their prey, and they're absolutely big enough to take your finger off if you're not careful!

HIGH RISK QUESTS ☆ Quest #1 - Fish Out of Water (Aefenglom; Ocean) - Over the last few weeks, a sour and anxious mood has been spreading all throughout Aefenglom's Harbor District and starting to make its way inland. Restaurants are out of stock on seafood dishes, a staple in the coastal city. Stores are selling only dried fish, or fresh fish at exorbitantly high prices. Fishermen are filling up the taverns, drinking extra and grumbling even more. It's a bad omen, they say. Ever since that big storm at the beginning of last month, fish have been coming up in their nets sick and small, fins rotting, some even already dead. Their blood is black and stinking, clearly inedible. What started out as a handful of bad fish out of a hundred for some fisherfolks has lately become their everyday: there are few fish to catch, and fewer still of quality to sell. As the problem spreads and the fish shortage begins to affect the city's food economy, the Coven finally gets involved. Samples of the fish show what some might have suspected already: signs of the Cwyld. But the ocean is vast, and it's impossible to tell where it's coming from for now, say the experts at the Coven. The fishermen will just have to sail farther out, even if the waters are more dangerous. Dozens of boats are looking for helpers and protectors: Witches and Monsters willing to go out to sea for several days at a time in search of better fishing. Many of the Diasterans, a society dependent on the sea themselves, are eager to volunteer, but some of the more superstitious fishermen of Aefenglom blame the storm and the newcomers for their plight and will only take Mirrorbound assistants. Some, less picky, take both. A few boats are even Diasteran-only, newcomers trying to build their new lives here. Whatever the case, the ocean is full of danger and those who wish to join the fishing expeditions may be faced with large, aggressive sea beasts; the food shortage isn't only affecting Aefenglom, and the sharks, eels and giant squids are hungry. Some of them, with tell-tale signs of black rot on their fins or tentacles, are also clearly infected and all the more aggressive for it, trying to lurch onto ships and pull in anyone within reach. Each expedition only lasts three to seven days, but they're bound to be harrowing ones. Good luck out there! Quest #2 - A Whole New Wilde (Aefenglom) - With the Cwyldheart cleansed, the worst of the infection in the Silent Forest and the stretches of Wilde between Aefenglom and the Northern Outpost is also on the retreat. Despite significant progress being made last month, there are still pockets of it clinging to trees, plants, and animals even though the earth beneath them has been cleared out from below. The Wilders and the Coven are calling for volunteers to help track down pockets of infection and work on hunting and eliminating remaining Cwyldtid, especially those closest to the outskirts of Aefenglom. The goal is to expand the safe area of land as far as possible outside the Bright Wall, protect the people who live there, and eventually be able to cultivate more farmland. Volunteers are asked to help with several tasks. Those equipped and confident enough to fight the infected beasts out in the forest will find plenty to hunt, and are encouraged to look for nests or groups of Cwyldtid. It is imperative to remove as many of them as possible to slow or halt the further spread of infection from the creatures interacting with other animals in the woods. The same can be said for the plant life. Controlled fires need to be set throughout the forest, so Witches specializing in that type of evocation magic (and those Monsters with a more elemental affinity) are sought after, as well as those proficient in water magic and barriers. They must take care to burn only the infected portions and keep the fire from spreading. This is a task likely to take some time as there’s a lot of ground to cover, but little by little, with everyone’s help, new plants may blossom after this Wilde winter.

Welcome to June's Quest Log! Here, you can thread OR post links to your own catch-all logs. There are no limited quests this month, so no sign-ups are needed.

To keep everything in one place, we ask that you bring your quest-related questions to this thread, and you're welcome to use this header to plot among yourselves! You can link your CR Meme comment as well, if you like! Please note that this is not the month's event -- check out the Calendar for those dates!

Comments

wrapping!

[adventageous]

[Alice waves off the compliment as she gets to her feet.]

I've only done what I've been trained to do. It would have been impossible without your help.

[She's exhausted, but not to a degree where there's any concern that she'll keel over between here and the Outpost. A hike will be tiring, certainly, but it'll be worth it to get back to somewhere where she can bathe, have something to eat, and crash.]

Yes, let's go.

[They head back together, their mission accomplished.]