[[Open]] MANTA Promots and Catch-All

[yuezun]

Who: Dongfang Qingcang and you!
Status: Open
Where: All Over!
What: MANTA Quests and Crew-Related
Warnings: None at current; will update as needed


A Strange Shopping List
Having been convinced by Rem that a ship of their own, set up with the equipment and libraries needed, would be more useful in conducting the research they were interested in, Daqiang has done his own research into how mortals of the world go about acquiring one. There were the usual mentions of sometimes having ships stolen out from under a captain - particularly if a Corsair was boasting about taking a ship previously owned by a Paladin. But the most common consensus was that if you wanted a ship that would match your needs, you should gather appropriate materials and 'offer' them to the God-Beasts.

What sort of materials? Well, besides the usual wood and cloth and such, it seemed that items and components that would have significance or relevance to the ship the God-Beast was creating for you were just as important. As such, Daqiang had inquired with Rem and then Kimmuriel about what they felt was appropriate and came up with a short, but very odd, list: Magitech Items (still determining what sort), Stainless Steel, Black Jade, and one Dragonfly. And since it was so odd, gathering the materials became an exercise in visiting multiple ports for both information and discussions with merchants.

During the first half of December, Daqiang can be found on Elah, Eltrut, Nogard, and Antam speaking (or arguing) with various merchants over the costs of stainless steel, out in the wildlands of the leviathans chasing down rumored veins of black jade. Maybe you've chosen to help him in acquiring the materials and that's why you're knee deep in mud while Daqiang releases yet another dragonfly you caught because it's 'not good enough'.

Recruiting
If you've been invited to join the Raiders of the Lost Arts or have heard the rumors of them recruiting, and have yet to meet the strongest in the Three Realms, the great devil and Moon Supreme, Dongfang Qingcang, well he's not that hard to track down. His inquiries into procuring a ship have made it easy for anyone unfamiliar with him to get pointed his way by most merchants and port authorities.

On Nogaurd he is easiest to find onboard the Stormbringer as he still has a cabin there. If he's not immediately available, go ahead and hang out with Deathstar, the large, black, warrior cat that Daqiang took on as a 'servant' but whom gets treated more like minor royalty himself. He's very friendly and affectionate and would enjoy a shoulder ride even if he's too big for shoulders in question.

On Elah or Eltrut, he is largely keeping to the merchant quarters and around midday, you're certain to find him enjoying a meal at a private table set up where he can watch the various mortals walk by. He's the perpetually grumpy one dressed like he just walked out of a royal court.

MANTA quests TBA and Linked from Comments
Bite-Sized Blessings (General)
Fey Fighters (General)
Picture of Dorina Grey (General)
Magitech Madness (General)
Coins of the Crescent (Corsairs)
A Steamy Winter's Heist (Corsairs)
Poke 'N Prance (Corsairs)
Untitled Goose Bounty 2 (Bounty)

Wildcard
If the non-quest prompts aren't catching your fancy and the quest prompts aren't what you want either, feel free to put up something else and we'll go!

Comments

Bite-Sized Blessings (General)

[yuezun]

Daqiang had not intended to go hunting for the small, pink, baby dragon. But it apparently decided that his crown made for an excellent roost and came right to him. The surprise of it's weight on him - he'd been aware of it's presence - was just enough for to give the tiny thing the time it needed to lean down and bite the top of his left ear with a very pleased chirp.

"You-!" he jerked his head away (not that it helped with the beast sitting at it was) and brought a hand up to start batting at it. "How dare you attempt to injure this venerable one!"

The dragon, of course, thought this was great fun and began batting at the hand in return, not at all deterred from using the Moon Supreme as it's personal throne.

[summonbeasts]

On the other hand Maria had intended on hunting for said small baby dragon. She had heard talk about it after all and while she had no direct experience with dragons she was an animal lover to her core.

She'd never expected to find it quite so easily though. It's still a little unfathomable to her even as she watches this man thrash about with the dragon none the worse for wear atop his head. Or rather his crown. Royalty from another world perhaps?

"I'm afraid you're not going to shake it off that way."

[yuezun]

The dark, spiky piece that wrapped around the back of his head was very crown shaped, in a charred and twisted deadwood kind of way. An absolutely perfect roost for the dragon that was happily clinging to it with three claws. The last claw, it's tail, and it's wings were all otherwise engaged in deflecting Daqiang's hands. It wasn't usually difficult to grab what he couldn't see, but he also wasn't usually dealing with his target being literally on his head.

At the uninvited words from an audience he'd apparently attracted, Daqiang shot a glare at the interloper. Woman, pretty, Orchid-sized. Far too amused for her own good.

"If it knows what's good for it, it will cease it's games," he snapped back as he straightened up and took a deep breath. Done with making a fool of himself, he shook his sleeves out and tucked one arm behind his back. Then faced forward and spoke to the air: "If it does not release this venerable one, this venerable one will peel it's dragon skin and extract it's dragon bones one by one."

The dragon stills momentarily at the threat, but seems to judge that the threat is all bark and no bite because it goes right back to making itself at home. Almost as if it could tell that Daqiang regularly used such threats against a dragon that made even worse mistakes and errors and was never actually punished for them was just trying to scare it away.

Fey Fighters (General)

[yuezun]

Daqiang was a master of the zither. Or, rather, he had mastered it enough to be considered a 'master' of it before his father forbid him from wasting his efforts on such frivolous pursuits that would do no him no good as a weapon of war for his people. It had been over 30,000 years since he touched an instrument.

His hands still knew the positions, though, when he allowed himself to settle them on the beautiful dark wood. The zither was larger than he recalled his being. But that was to be expected, wasn't it? The last time he'd played, he still had a nursemaid watching over him.

A refresher course was appropriate only because of the usefulness of the spell that would be learned with it. There was no other reason for him to pick it up again. No reason for his fingers to hesitate so or his breath to hitch just slightly. Not even the memory of his father ordering his nursemaid's death for teaching him such things. She was dead and Daqiang had no feelings.

No reason at all.

[emet_sulk]

Emet-Selch has seen his fair share of instruments from around the Source and beyond. Music is not his particular passion but he has an appreciation for those who indulge in it, as he does for all who put their soul into the arts.

Thus, the zither which this young-looking man plays is not unfamiliar to him. Of course, nothing is exactly the same across cultures let alone across worlds, but there are only so many ways one can design a stringed instrument. Emet-Selch pauses to listen to them play. Or rather, rehearse? They seem a little hesitant despite their calm demeanour.

He waits for an appropriate lull before approaching.

"Out of practice?"

[yuezun]

Daqiang's eyes lift to take in the immortal choosing to speak with him. What would have been an odd-looking fellow back in his world - such short hair! - was about as common as the wind in this one. The stalk of white hair would have spoken of either great age or having had part of his power lost or drained at some point. It was difficult to tell what it meant when the man was certainly from another world entirely.

He inclined his head with a hum and then replied in a bored tone, "It has been many thousands of years since this venerable one had reason to play."

Daqiang allowed his fingers to rest on the strings a moment longer before pinching a single one to pluck it and test the sound. A beautiful, robust note that hung in the air.

[melodiouspacifist]

Demyx had been seen with a sitar before, but the chance to learn a new instrument? He's going to pick something just as unwieldy - a cello. Clearly he's a fan of the stringed instruments, and he is going to do the same thing he does with his sitar and play it standing up.

He's a very strange guy, but he's also strong enough to hold it like it doesn't weigh anything.

He's very glad to see Daqiang there though, after their discussion. "Hey that sounds great."

[yuezun]

Daqiang gave Demyx a side-eyed glance and then straightened his back and lifted his head, "Of course it does. This venerable one is a master of the zither."

He plucked a couple strings, his shoulders lowering slightly before he pulled his hands away. Using Demyx's attention as an excuse to stop touching the instrument and having to deal with memories it brought.

"What is it that you are playing? This venerable one has never seen such an instrument before."

Picture of Dorina Grey (General)

[yuezun]

"This venerable one was born, was raised to be the next Moon Supreme, became the Moon Supreme, mastered Hellfire, and went on to conquer most of the Three Realms before some measure of fate interfered. And now he is here," Daqiang said, his bored tone taking on a twinge of annoyance the longer he spoke. "What else could there be to say?"

He crossed his arms and huffed, growing increasingly annoyed with Miss Dorina Grey's attempt to press for details.

"Well, we'll come back to you, then," the woman said, far too kind and patient as she turned to the other person in the room, "Perhaps your friend has more to say?"

[vermilloci]

Like knowing tags, portraits are as sure as proof that one had once existed, so when a quest became available to have her portrait drawn for free, she couldn't pass the opportunity.

The artist, though, is rather unnerving. Who knew someone could be so watchful when she cannot, quite literally, see? With her attention now on Rem, she shifts uncomfortably.

"I assure you, he's being far too humble," she replies with a bubbly, playful tempo to her voice, a tone she's certain the artist will pick up on but will be entirely lost to the self-proclaimed most powerful man in the Three Realms. Rem lifts her hand to the golden clasp of her cloak, fingers loosely grasping the engraved surface as she stalls, pensive.

"How about this, Miss Grey? Let me describe him to you."

[yuezun]

He had never been humble in his life. To be humble would mean he devalued his own abilities. Thus the side-eye he shot towards Rem at her comment the joke of it going right over him.

"Oh, that's fine, too," Miss Dorina Grey replied, smiling at Rem with a twinkle in her blind eyes that said she understood the humor. "You can tell a lot about a person by the way their friends speak of them."

Daqiang gave another under-his-breath scoff, but waved his hand where Rem could see it. She was clearly intent on continuing this farce, so she may as well say whatever it is she thought she knew about him.

Magitech Madness (General)

[yuezun]

Daqiang had helped in researching some of the magitech items during the prior month. They had been interesting, but nothing more than what some magical treasures achieved in his world. However, with the new ones developed and to be tested as weapons, he was far more interested in seeing what could be done with them.

Whichever came out the most powerful after testing was what he was going to abscond with for the ship. Kimmuriel and Rem had both expressed interest in having some Magitech items donated as part of the materials. What better than weapons? He was very interested in seeing what might come out of it.

As such, he was pouring over the plans for the various weapons set to be tested and looking to those around him to answer his questions as this sort of technological mapping was very new to him: "This symbol indicates the conductor is best powered through elemental magic, but can you tell if there's a specific type of elemental magic that will work better than others, or if any elemental magic is the same as another?"

[materiahunting]

This place has potentially powerful machines that she can channel magic through? Yuffie is here for it. She'd love to snag one for herself, in the hopes of being able to take it back home and help in her quest to restore Wutai's honor.

When she somehow ends up near Dongfang, she scrunches up her nose as she thinks about their last conversation. Still, she's willing to put that aside in the hopes of getting free things. Yuffie considers his question for a moment.

"Back home, lightning actually did more damage to machines than any other element. So if you really want to put it to the test, you could try that. Water can be bad if it gets in all the little corners and crevices. But fire is probably not too bad if you want a powerful attack."

Coins of the Crescent (Corsairs)

[yuezun]

Coins with the power to 'cure curses' was not something he wanted to overlook. He didn't have any real hopes of it ending his personal curse, studying how the magic in them worked to cure other curses may prove insightful for breaking his or the one on his 100,000 soldiers once he managed to return to the Three Realms.

The rumors of the curse on the island led to him choosing to charter a smaller ship with a smaller crew. Fewer potential hindrances should any of the others be cursed. It only helped in that when the howls that echoed the closer they got began being echoed back by a few of the sailors, there were fewer feral men to put down than there may have been otherwise.

"Get us to shore!" Donfang Qingcang ordered the sailors that still had their senses while using focused fireballs to keep those that did not away from them. "If you want this venerable one to keep them alive to be cured, you will get us to shore immediately!"

[psionicmolotov]

Kimmuriel has decided to accompany the other man on this little diversion - they have the same goals, after all, so building some sort of rapport will be to both their benefit. Besides, he's interested in seeing how these powers of his work in a less controlled environment.

He lets Daqiang handle keeping the already cursed sailors at bay - he has it well in hand, or so it seems to him. Instead, he concentrates on keeping the remaining men focused on their tasks. It is not quite banishing such curses - he can only force their minds to briefly narrow, ignoring that influence - but it does well enough to get them to shore.

"We ought to work quickly," is all he says, as they finally reach the island. "Else our crew will be nonsensical by the time we return."

A Steamy Winter's Heist (Corsairs)

[yuezun]

Daqiang had no interest in the tea's supposed effects on the body. What he cared about was that it was considered both rare and popular. The rarer and more popular something was, the more people were impressed when you had it. And the more they would appreciate it if you gave it as a 'gift' which, he had learned, often equated to 'bribe'.

Having learned of several merchant ships which had offloaded some of the tea (but not all!) to merchants in Nogard, Daqiang had joined up with a small group of other Corsairs who were also set on making sure the tea enjoyed an excellent price hike on the black market. The merchant ship was, of course, on guard for thieves, but the group was small and, with Daqiang's help, very invisible for the time it took to climb aboard and get deep enough inside to start searching the cargo hold.

"This venerable one's ability to keep us all unseen has been used," he announced in a low voice after it was confirmed that there were currently no guards patrolling inside the current bay and someone had moved to watch the doors. "So let us move quickly."

[tilfrosset]

The offer of plenty of doubloons is what drew Jill in first. She's in need of coin and while this is still devious behavior, no one is truly getting hurt. Just some good, clean Corsair fun.

But that is not to say that she isn't curious to see if what they say about the tea is true. In this world, Jill has had time, plenty of it, and thus she's left with her thoughts about what this tea could do for her relationship with Clive. There haven't been any complaints from him in the last month, but she still finds herself discovering there's so much more to what they have and maybe a little push in the form of this drink would help.

To be perfectly honest, they need that push or else it'll be another five years before they take things another level.

But all this is held close to her chest and she says nothing to anyone aside from a nod of acknowledgement to fellow Corsairs. She's still silent when the overly formal speaking man gives them the ability to sneak aboard and down into the cargo, following his bit of leading as they get there.

"How long do we have?" she whispers back, taking a moment to glance behind her for any surprise guards.

Certainly, they need to use as little of it as possible to get in and get out, but Jill needs to know how many seconds she can spare for some privacy to do something she's planned on.

Poke 'N Prance (Corsairs)

[yuezun]

Testing himself without using any of his power beyond that of his natural speed and the skill he's well-earned with the blade was a novel experience. It had been a very long time since he'd kept himself so restricted.

The sword he chose was not his personal one - the Hellfire Sword naturally drew on his own power and the goal was to injure without killing their opponent. Thus he'd picked up one of the swords on offer and was getting a feel for it's weight when he began looking around for a partner.

Eyes scanning the small crowd that had gathered, he stops when he spots you. And then he's walking to you at a very ground-eating and determined pace.

[seemagicshit]

[Zhao had been walking along, still working on training his cat, Cobrastrike, in the fine art of catching vermin for a few extra coin. Then Mr. Moon Supreme started to stalk toward him.]

MS! Can I help you with something?

[ramuhs]

[Cid had been quick to arrive here not only because he could do for some sparring, but that coffee is also quite a fine reward. So upon seeing Daqiang approach, he arches a brow before grins wryly.]

Well this is a surprise. Didn't expect to see you here.

[cursedwords]

Naturally, it's the reward that gets Toge's attention. Sparring itself would be a draw - but sparring with a weapon? Not so much.

He's not concerned about the other party having a weapon, after all Maki has no problem beating him with her spear at will - but one in his hand is a novel experience.

The sword he's selected looks like a katana in its style, even if it might not be made the same and he figures that's his best shot. He's been watching Yuta use it after all.

"Kelp!" Toge greets him, raising his free hand. Even just the way he's holding the sword might lead one to wonder why anyone gave that to him in the first place.

Untitled Goose Bounty 2 (Bounty)

[yuezun]

He'll test some magitech weapons on this beast later. Right now, Daqiang finally has a target he can indiscriminately test his limits with and he is not letting the opportunity go to waste.

With the kind of glee that he would never, in ten thousand years, admit to feeling, he dodged and wove between beaks that attempted to snap around him. Wreathed in blue fire and tossing it with wanton abandon, he was courting their ire and anyone close enough to watch (or be in the crossfire) might find it difficult to catch his attention... or get him to pay more attention to where the fireballs that the Goose dodges ultimately end up.

What's a little collateral damage in the face of a goose the size of Eltrut's head anyway?

sorry for the delay on this! in between exams atm! 💦

[garudas]

[As if the goose situation could not get any worse for Benedikta. Here she thought she'd gotten rid of the two that attacked her the month prior, wondering if perhaps it was Garuda's way of messing with her by drawing in all manner of strange birds, or looking for any excuse to set her aether free, to sink her claws into something that might be able to take the hit...

But this...

This is just cruel and obnoxious. Far beyond Garuda's knack for creating chaos.

She really needs to stop coming to Eltrut. It seems to be the place where trouble tends to find her the most, and today, said trouble comes in the form of a very large several-headed goose.

And it's one head that descends upon the water near the pier as it makes its landing, the impact sending a splash over her, soaking her from head to toe. Now, she's angry.

As the fight goes on, she gets drawn further and further towards it, her winds doing nothing but angering it further. Maybe that's exactly what she wants—it will be all the more satisfying when she rips off one—or all—of its heads.

It is a fireball, however, that has Benedikta whipping around where she stands to face whoever is flinging them about.]

Watch where you are throwing those!

🐉🪰

[afflatusexarch]

[ DESPITE the internal awkwardness, considering their first meeting, G'raha is agreeable when it comes to trying to hunt down the items that Daqiang happens to be in search of. It's a familiar thing, going out and fetching things to be used later. This is sort of things happens to be what he and the Scions would end up doing on a regular basis.

So here he is. In this damp, muddy area, watching yet another dragonfly being released. G'raha sighs, a little uncomfortable with how damp he is at this point, but that doesn't mean he is about to give up. ]

Pray tell, Daqiang, how are we to know when the "perfect" one will present itself?

[yuezun]

This venerable one will know.

[He answered, a little less gruffly than he would have had it been someone else asking. It was his own fault that G'raha felt so comfortable with him. Calling him that name. His fault and that of the damn pollen.

But once Daqiang got it into his head that someone was his, it was difficult to shake the sense of responsibility for them. And in G'raha's case, the curl of possessive satisfaction that his claim on the young man had not been rejected and, instead, seemed to be welcomed. Daqiang knew that he should reject that. Feelings were not his to have. But some days it was very difficult to fight whatever it was that Orchid was feeling and just going with it for a while made getting things done much easier.

G'raha did look a bit haggard, however. And had been affable up to that point in aiding him.

Giving a sigh, Daqiang moved to G'raha's side and placed a hand on his head. Brushing his fingers over G'raha's ears in a wholly calculated manner because he very much remembered the reaction that had had before.]

This venerable one has determined that one of green or blue coloration would be best. Preferably both. With large wings and a large tail.