Quest Log: JULY 2021

[faileas]

Quest Log: July, 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. Summer Saviors: Many folks have a hard time in summer, when the temperatures rise and the sun is out hotter and longer than usual. Help Aefenglom beat the heat by joining teams of hardworking Sylphs, Undines, and Witches all working together in a brand-new pop-up business that has tents set up all over the city where anyone can stop by and cool off! If you can create or even carry cold water, please lend a helping hand. Pays well, and you get to stay cool all day long too! Alchemy Sisters: An alchemy shop run by a pair of twins is looking for those with medicinal experience to help them expand their business and perfect ailment-fighting potions. Picnic Serenades - With the Cwyld cleared out in the forests just outside the Wall, picnicking has never been more in. This seasonal pop-up business is still 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 - Artsy Amusements (Aefenglom) - A new gallery in the Aristocratic District will have their grand opening exhibition running from the 10th of this month until the 31st. Several jobs are posted in relation to the event, which will be a summer extravaganza in the courtyard of the beautiful new building made almost entirely of colored glass and metalwork. In a surprising reconciliatory gesture from the aristocracy to the Mirrorbound, signs are posted around the Haven that all Mirrorbound are welcome to attend the event. If they wish to earn some cunes and private tickets to gallery shows in the future, they can also sign up to help at the event -- as ushers, servers for food and drink, helper cooks or bartenders (if they have experience) and as security personnel. The grand opening on the 10th will kick off with a big dinner party serving a variety of seasonal foods and drinks, live music, and a magical fireworks show. Of course, indoors the gallery will also be open for viewing, featuring a collection of paintings, sculptures, and even an avant-garde live display of dancers using colorful silk ribbons to paint the air. Whether you're working the party or simply enjoying it, there will be plenty to do and see! 🌶️ Quest #3 - Frisky Fun (Aefenglom) - The Dark Desires Cafe, a local cafe, bar and lounge providing adult entertainment in the evenings, is holding a few events this month as well. - Poetry and Passion: Submit your most titillating and romantic poems for the launch of Dark Desires' first poetry reading night! You may submit poetry to be read aloud by one of the presenters, or choose to present it yourself. The evening of Poetry and Passion will be taking place on the 12th of the month, and all ticket proceeds go toward charitable work beyond the Wall. Naturally, there are also contest categories to compete in, so do your best and come join the fun! Prizes go to Most Sensual, Most Humorous, and Crowd Favorite, and the winners receive free stays in one of the club's private rooms, free drinks, and free vouchers for massage and spa treatments at nearby locations in the Entertainment District. (( ooc, you can have your character participate or win prizes as you like! no limits on the number of 'winners' from an ooc standpoint, so have fun with it! )) - Evenings of Exploration: Every Friday night this month, owner of the club Lady Adelaide and her Bonded Tomas have invited experts in various sensual arts to present at the club and lead Q&As, presentations, and demonstrations for anyone who is interested. Sign ups are on a first come, first served basis. Half of the proceeds from tickets go to supporting the hospitals being built outside the Wall for the citizens in the newly-restored area that's still healing from the Cwyld. Come by and learn a new skill -- it's for a good cause! Classes include: The Art of Seduction: How to Woo Your Lover; Introduction to Bondage as Art and Sensual Play; Emphasis on Aftercare; Using Props and Toys in the Bedroom; and The Magic of Intimacy: Safe Spells and Potions.

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 - Supply Run (Aefenglom Wilde) - Since the trouble brewing on the seas continues into this month, exotic supplies (coffee beans, dried tea leaves, some spices, tobacco etc) that come by merchant ships have been severely delayed or absent. Despite the heat, storms continue off the coast, causing trecherous water and impairing supply routes. As a result, alternate stocks are rising in demand, some of them only available in the Wilde. With the Cwyld reined in for much of the Wilde between Aefenglom and the Underground and Northern Outpost, it's a bit safer than before to venture out into the woods -- but not entirely without danger. Explorers are needed to fetch supplies for the city ranging from giant spider silk to rare tea plants that live in hard-to-reach rocky outcrops over deep ravines. Even though the Wilde is mostly cleared of infected beasts now, it has become home to more animals, which despite being uninfected still pose a danger to those wandering too far out. Particularly, packs of large, dark grey wolves have been seen (and heard) in the forest; they pose no risk of Cwyld, but they are vicious, aggressive, and they hunt in groups. Naturally, anyone hunting the giant spiders will also want to take great care where they collect the strands of webbing that can be brought back to Aefenglom for a nice pouchful of cunes. The spiders, which can be found in and around tall trees, are territorial and not at all averse to trapping and eating humans or Monsters who wander into their many-eyed sights... Quest #3 - Bear Necessities (Aefenglom Wilde) - Summer is the season of Sunbears... apparently. Though Sunbears haven't been seen in the Wilde for over fifty years due to the Cwyld, now that the forests are cleared out, it seems this species of bears, long thought extinct, has made an unexpected reapparance! They can be found wandering near the outskirts of the city, drawn by the promise of food and driven by their natural curiosity. Their fur is usually black or dark brown, and they have white spots above their eyes and a triangle of white on their breasts; they stand about five feet in height when reared up, and generally subsist on a diet of fish, insects, berries, honey, and human trash. Sunbears on their own are rarely a danger to anyone who doesn't bother them directly first, but they are quirky little critters hiding a dangerous habit. When these bears get angry or frightened, they begin emitting a bright, hot light, like a literal small sun on four legs. Normally, this is only a problem if you're too close to one of them, but with the hot weather drying out much of the vegetation lately, they begin to present a fire hazard. Volunteers are needed to keep a Sunbear fire watch, help put out fires caused by these creatures, and generally try to keep an eye on any that are too close to the city. It helps to calm down the bears, which can be done by offering them food -- ideally leading away from the city. Lure the bears further out into the forest with treats or otherwise calm them down before they wreak havoc on the new farmland being set up near the outskirts of Aefenglom.

HIGH RISK QUESTS Quest #1 - Fun Guys (Aefenglom Wilde) - Since the destruction of the Cwyldheart has cleared out the forest surrounding Aefenglom and the Northern Outpost, all manner of strange new species are being recorded. Scientists theorize that some of them are escaping from other infected parts of the woods, and others think that the Cwyld was cleansed from them, leaving behind wildlife not witnessed in its natural form before. Some simply think that certain species have been hard to witness before due to how difficult it was to search the forest. Regardless, one new type of fungus-animal hybrid has caught the Coven's attention... Dubbed Mushroom 'Dragons,' these creatures seem to be a strange mix of mushroom and animal. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be found nesting near the Northern Outpost, though some of them have ventured close enough to the city that they're presenting a danger to the residents of the outskirts beyond the Wall. Several private apothecaries, Undermael College, and the Coven are all looking for adventurers to help procure samples or even full (small) specimens for study. Though they appear innocuous or even cute at first, be careful! These mushroomy menaces are actually quite dangerous. Even the smallest specimens emit noxious spores that can make you sick, induce frightening hallucinations, cause hives and rashes, and/or make anyone nearby extremely sleepy and sluggish. The larger specimens are even more of a danger: in addition to emitting spores that can do any of the above, they also have the ability to paralyze anyone who breathes in their spores for an extended amount of time. After that, they approach their prey and begin to absorb it, pulling unlucky adventurers into their squishy bodies to break them down slowly and feed on their flesh. The Mushroom Dragons cannot be cut apart safely, as any sort of slicing or burning will cause spores and fumes to be released into the air, causing adverse effects. They can, however, be frozen via ice or other types of magic, tied up and contained. Just be careful to seal them up well before bringing them back to the city! Quest #2 - A Whole New Wilde (Northern Outpost) - 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 the last two months, there are still pockets of it clinging to trees, plants, and animals north of the Outpost 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 Northern Outpost and Underground entrances. The goal is to keep a clear path between Aefenglom, the Outpost, and the Underground for travel and trade. 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 July'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 over here, and use this header to plot among yourselves! Please note that this is not the month's event -- check out the Calendar for those dates!

Comments

[faithlikeaseed]

Something funny?

[The question's absent, not hostile, even though Myr's visibly a little disconcerted by the laugh. It shows in how his chin jerks up a fraction, the way he drops an apple on the counter and has to scrabble to find it again. Once he does, he spends a moment rolling it over in his hands--then, finding it bruised, offers it mutely to Crookytail. She rears up to take it with greedy glee, slithering out of the kitchen with her prize and brushing past Light's chair on the way.

I thought you were Linden. --Well, that's probably enough of an explanation for the laughter. Maybe. Myr'll take it as one, at least, for now, along with the rest of the younger Witch's answer.]

Ah. That was the request to deal with the little mushroom dragons, then. [He'd heard about it, even though he hadn't intended to go himself. He turns back to the remainder of the groceries, touching each carton to ascertain what's still left to put away.] You've got your reasons for not having the Coven check that out, I assume? [His tone is flatly disapproving. Take better care of yourself, young man.

Another part of him is walking through his memory tower, dragging fingers along signs and signifiers for what he'd set down about those little dragons and their spores. L and Light had inhaled them. What were they in for tonight, if--no, not if, Light's the responsible one; L wasn't going to have suddenly decided to get treated for his exposure out of the blue.

Both of them would be affected.]

[worldcleansing]

[ Agree with his logic and thoughts or not, Light's mind would normally be easy enough to understand if one had access to his brain. He's a logical man with the occasional show of emotion but with a more pragmatic leaning than anything overly emotional. While the result is somehow the same, it's likely the opposite of L who's brain seems just as logical, just as intelligent, but a bit more chaotic.

Now, Light's getting a glimpse of it, if perhaps more severe due to its intensity. He sees things that don't exist; he doesn't see things that do. Voices whisper in his head, voices that seem to be coming from beside him, behind him, even above him. Myr isn't the only person in the room with him right now, but he's the most corporeal, lending to the idea he has a higher chance of existing in reality than the others. ]

I don't even know if you're real right now.

[ And there's no test that can prove it. The results could lie. A fake Myr would say he's real as sure as the actual Myr, and touch neither confirms nor denies anything. ]

Maybe you're not.

[ How long is this supposed to last? He can't even remember now. His mind is working far too hard to recall some of the more important details. How annoying. ]

If I tried to make a trip that long, who knows where I'll end up?

[ Admittedly, Light has his pride, but he's also sensible. He has no problem with eating well, sleeping right, going for his checkups, and other responsible actions. Getting there? It's impossible right now. Myr doesn't need to know about some of the more embarrassing actions of the night. ]

And anybody who could offer to take me might be fake, too.

[ Maybe it's punishment. The thought definitely isn't his own, but he recognizes the voice is does belong to. Dropping his face forward, Light rubs at his temples, as if trying to erase the phantom in his head.

Get out.

Punishment for Kira.

Kira was the punishment for people who were wronging other people. Kira was the result of a system that was so broken, murderers were able to walk free.

Did Myr say something else? ]

What?

[ Light can't actually confirm if L is hallucinating; he hadn't asked. But, they'd both inhaled the same spores and it's likely they're both suffering to a degree. Since he's able to function, the conclusion, right or wrong, is that if he's suffering, it's to a smaller degree. ]

[faithlikeaseed]

[Maker grant me strength, Myr thinks to himself as he listens to Light catalogue his own departure from reality; there is, undeniably, an opportunity here even if Myr'd be a fool and a villain to take it.

Still, it's tempting. But so's a less dangerous form of mischief--the kind Myr would be inclined to try out even on people he likes, who'd gotten themselves into similar straits. Curious as he is, it's hard not to have a little bit of a sadistic streak when there's an opportunity to pry.

He gives a shake of his head, tossing off some thought.] Where you'd end up or who you might talk to on the way, huh?

[He extracts several small boxes from his pile of shopping, stacking them together before working his way over to the cupboard to put them away.]

Which I s'pose would keep you from making a house call, too. Healer's seal of confidentiality or not, you and Linden have secrets to protect.

[It is, and isn't, an innocent line of conversation. Light had confessed the entirety of his crimes to L when muddled, previously. Myr doubts he'll get the same concession--the situation and their dynamics are entirely different--but it will be interesting to see where this goes.]

Do you know where he is right now? Linden, that is.