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« january open log: avaleci »

This is our Open Log for players to have an easy opportunity to tag others and have fun with prompts that deal with current happenings that are not covered by our MANTA Board quests. Sometimes we provide extra quests at the bottom, but oftentimes we just let the MANTA Board cover it. Players are free to include MANTA Board quests in their toplevels!

For your toplevel, please include the following: Character Name | Canon | Armada Choice.

TOPLEVEL DIRECTORY (Updated January 16)

WINTER LODGE

As part of an annual migration of sorts, the three leviathans will journey north where the waters are cold and small icebergs and chunks of ice will float aimlessly. As if serving as a "boundary point," there is a large island called Avaleci. It is a unique place where one half is an active, submerged volcano and the other is a snow-capped mountain. For a few years now it has become a place to serve not only as a waypoint for those traveling through the area, but a tourist vacation destination. It is here the three leviathans will rest, Nogard attaching itself in the black coastal sands where the mountain and volcanic plains meet.

Riding up a special sky gondola will take visitors high up on the mountain to a luxurious winter lodge that will allow anyone to stay in one of their cozy cabins—for a fee, of course. If one cannot pay with cash or treasure, then earning one's stay through labor, such as hunting for cooks or helping clean and assist others is an option.

The lodge itself will provide for most anything visitors may need, from appropriate clothing to gear and equipment for any sports or activities they may wish to partake in the area. Skiing, snowboarding, sledding, bobsledding, snowshoeing, mountain climbing—most everything is available with marked trails and areas that would be safe to partake in such activities. There are also a few special activities visitors may want to try their hand at.

Along with the mountain slopes and the snow covered forests surrounding the lodge, there is a large frozen lake just a small hike up a trail from the lodge. There are also ice caves that some may try to venture through, but should take caution as there are also natural predators and monsters that live in the area.

🎣 Ice fishing. There are two forms of ice fishing: 1) the usual dig through the ice and drop a line into the frigid waters, and 2) have a net ready to try and catch flying fish that will fly over.
⛸️ Skating. Show off your moves! Just stick to the thicker ice, and watch out for anyone trying to play hockey instead.
🌟 Stargazing. Although chilly, there is a designated platform where one can use telescopes or just lie out on the ground to stargaze. Maybe if they're lucky, an aurora borealis will appear to paint the sky with a curtain of colors.
🦇 Snow bats. There are special little white bats whose homes were devastated by a small avalanche not too long ago. There are now rescue efforts to help rebuild their habitat to create hollows for them to build their nest. Form a positive bond and they may gift helpers with a special powdered sugar that falls from their fur.

Although not the tallest mountain in the world, climbing to the peak can be a challenging feat, especially as it includes venturing through some ice caves. The staff try to keep the trails and caves clear of any dangerous animals and monsters, but they still sometimes come through so be careful. However, should one reach the peak, they can collect a special mountain ice crystal that will stay frozen no matter how it gets. Just beware of potential avalanches. There is a magitech system installed to automatically create a special dome shield in certain areas to help protect anyone who can reach the safe spaces in time. But if otherwise caught, rescue efforts will be quick and should be able to pull anyone out to safety.

Finally, there are a number of wildlife and monsters that inhabit the mountains. For the most part they will leave the busy lodge and recreational areas alone, but encounters are inevitable. Territorial mountain goats, ice golems lurking the ice caves, and the occasional yeti may appear. Some may be persuaded to leave peacefully, especially with food. But others may be hostile no matter what. While the lodge would prefer no bloodshed, they understand if it must happen. Otherwise, for hunters looking for game in the wilderness, they will find the usual variety of animals and will need a permit before venturing out.

HOT SPRINGS

Warmed by the volcano, the hot springs are located at the foot of the mountain, where the snow disappears and the terrain is rockier with short cropped grass and valleys before it fades out to the barren volcanic plains beyond. Built a bit simpler compared to the winter lodge, the hot springs' inn is set outdoors where the pools are, but it, too, has special rooms and lodgings for people to enjoy themselves for a relaxing stay (again, for a fee). Because the hot springs are easier to access on foot, the sky gondola starts down there and connects to the winter lodge above.

In terms of amenities, the hot springs have both separated and mixed pools. They are usually well marked, but sometimes pranks happen. There are several located outside with some near lava streams that flow out from the volcanic crater far from the springs, to the ocean. There are invisible, protective barriers to prevent anyone from accidentally touching the lava. All rooms will have their own small private pool. There are also foot baths, saunas, spa and massage rooms, a gaming room, and several food stalls and restaurants for one to dine at.

Of course, just like up on the mountain, there are some "hazards" that those using the larger pools, especially those that are near the lava streams, to be wary of.

🦎 Fire Drakes. Fire drakes are a common sighting around and in the pools. They are for the most part "friendly," in the sense that they won't outright attack unless they are injured first. But they can sometimes crowd the pools, so one may have to gently "shoo" them away.
🥚 Drake eggs. Nests can be found scattered here and there, and the eggs are a delicacy of the island. Blue eggs are safe to harvest as they are unfertilized, just like chicken eggs. Red eggs, however, are considered protected. Should a drake catch anyone trying to take a red one, then all hell will break loose as the entire hoard of drakes will descend to save their egg and the entire springs will shut down until it's settled.
🐧 Waltz of the Penguins. It just so happens this is the time when large flocks of penguins will migrate down for mating season. They usually won't bother anyone as they are more intent in performing special dances to find a partner, which can be beautiful to watch. Or perhaps someone may want to try and play matchmaker. But it isn't unheard of for someone else to catch their eye…

Some unusual activity is happening outside of the springs, and a local environmentalist will run in distress. Ice giants were spotted attacking and trying to collect a special native breed of tortoise. They grow up to be as large as giant boulders, with their shells made of molten rock. They are formidable in their own right, but the ice giants are larger, capable of picking them up and knocking them over. Rescue the tortoises either by guiding them to the safety of the springs or beating back the ice giants (killing is allowed). Save the tortoises and be handsomely rewarded!

Finally, those in Nogard may find their leviathan's choice of stay a bit…warm. They already had to experience witnessing their leviathan turn into a flesh dragon and engulf them in its gut only to be popped back out to the sweltering heat of the volcanic plains. Good luck to anyone who decides to stay in their homes. Elah and Eltrut will be unaffected.

VOLCANO EXPLORATION

Note: All threads involving prompts in this section will count as "quests" and be worth 4pts.

On the other side of Avaleci where the lava is hottest and where there is no cold to ward off the heat is a dangerous terrain where only the brave and more adventurous should go. Make sure to bring plenty of water and anything else that might help beat the heat. Who knows, even a bit of snow might help. There will be several tunneling entrances leading to winding corridors and wide caverns, some even boasting floors of lava, so watch your step! Fortunately, those who are fleet-footed should be able to make it across on the stones.

Within the caverns, there is plenty to discover: from gemstones and fire crystals to fire blossoms (interesting, they look strangely like the winter blossoms only red), and even some old magitech that appears to be broken. Still, there is no one around to tell people not to collect any of it...

🌋 Floor is lava. Getting across the volcanic terrain will require adventurers to hop from safe stone to safe stone to get to the other side of a lava lake. Beware of lava blobs that will shoot lava balls.
🧂 Sulfur smelling salts. Journey deep enough to find a sulfur field, where smelling salts can be harvested to help ease the nightmares brought on by the sleeping curse. However, too much exposure to the smelling salts will leave one feeling hyper energetic to the point of acting sleep deprived.
💎 Fire crystals. These crystals are a hard sought after item as they can be used for a large variety of magitech and even jewelry. However, they are extremely hot to the touch and can even burn if not handled carefully.
💾 Old relics. Scattered throughout the caverns are odd remnants of what appear to be old relics from the past. Researchers and archaeologists have tried to study here before, but due to the dangerous nature of the environment they've been hindered in their efforts. Those who retrieve pieces to return for study will be able to learn and work with the researchers. (note: Players can come up with any kind of relic that could be found here, from old magitech parts to fantasy genre artifacts. We'll ask for submissions during AC, but you are welcome to ask if you're not sure if your idea is okay or not!)

Roaming around the volcanos, especially in the caverns, are small flame sprites that can talk, sing, and dance. They are mischievous little things with a penchant for trouble, and love playing tricks on people, so keep your eyes peeled for them. Be careful, they also have some very sticky "fingers" and will try to steal whatever you might have on you. However, those sticky fingers are also very fiery, and will burn whatever they get their grubby little hands on!

The sprites will lead you on a merry little chase with your items, over lava pools, through winding tunnels, deeper and deeper into the volcano to take their new items to their secret stash of treasures. They will be hard-pressed to give it up, but should one have the charisma or the charm to convince them, they may instead be swayed to return with you if they are promised a comfortable life elsewhere! A large ship, perhaps? Or a fireplace? Away from that "big, scary, flaming animal" that lives further in the volcano.

Guarding the sulfur fields is what one could surmise is the "big, scary, flaming animal" that lives within the deeper depths of the volcano. Should anyone journey too far, they will no doubt hear its hooves thundering throughout the tunnels. Whether you choose to fight this fiery horse or attempt to tame it will be up to you, but it will not be an easy task… Especially upon close inspection it appears to have a few bones sticking and not quite "whole."

There are some odd things about this area with the flaming horse. Not too far is a small cave where what looks to be remains of a broken altar made of obsidian, the ground charred along with bones and bits of fabric. Dark red stains can be made out as well, but is that just the red rock of the volcano, or something else? Other artifacts can be found, such as torn books, stone tablets, but it all seems made within recent years.

More details about the flaming horse:

Attempts to tame the fire horse may be partially successful. If characters manage, one of two things will happen:

The horse will stare at them as if in a daze before it retreats into the lava, stopping its attacks for a short period of time.
The horse will charge off towards where the strange altar is, attempting to break the remaining structure and dig at the markings on the ground. A strange black smoke will appear and it will retreat back in anger before rushing into the lava and disappearing.

Subduing the horse will be very difficult, but we will leave it up to players on what method will work, and whether it is successful. We will ask for AC submissions, as this will unlock a follow-up quest in February.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[His goal was to obtain at least one, if not several, of the ice crystals in preparation for keeping the flowers that only blossomed in cold alive in a place where fire (himself) reigned. Supposedly the crystals would not melt no matter how hot it was and that was worth obtaining a few.

Of course finding them meant hiking up the mountain and into caverns cold and dreary for a chance at locating them. And while he could easily fly up, once he was inside his own nature became something of both a help and a hindrance. He could easily keep himself warm and his aura tightly locked to prevent all but the snow and ice he came direct contact with from melting. Which was helpful in maneuvering through otherwise difficult to walk areas since he could simply melt a path through. However, he could not simply melt the entire mountain without destabilizing the ice and snow and causing a dozen new avalanches, much less the flood of water that would follow. A hindrance.

So in this matter, he had to defer to obtaining help in exploring the caves. At least the mortal seemed to have some experience in traversing the area.]

How far are we now?

[It didn't make him any less bored and irritable for having to take such caution, however.]

[Eustace had noticed the other's presence for a while, but hadn't minded them, content in just keeping at his own pace and in silence. But once he hears the question, he just glances at him before looking forward.

...Hm.

He'll pull out the map he had been given and do some calculations based off the last landmark they had passed.]

According to this, we're over halfway through. Continuing at this pace, I'd say ten, fifteen more minutes.

[That was good. Once they found the crystals, he was going to test it's ability to not melt by letting his fire out. It would both be useful and also let him let off some steam... figuratively and literally in this case.

Still... ten to fifteen more minutes of this... He was already so annoyed.]

Could we not go faster?

[A slight arch of the brow as he studies him.]

In theory yes, but that would depend on your stamina and endurance and I wouldn't advise running through, either. Last thing you want to do is tire yourself out, and the air gets thinner the higher we go.

[.........Hum.]

There is another path, but it's closed.

The thinness of the air has not impeded this venerable one thus far.

[But neither did he want to risk passing out from lack of air. If he could drown, the thinness of the air could be a real problem.

Ah well. The current path was secure enough. Saving a few minutes was not worth the risk to his health.]

Forget it. This path will do. Let us continue.

[A somewhat relieved nod. He hadn't wanted to mention it, but they were about to come across the path marker to it so might as well mention it now than have to deal with it later.

So onward!

Hopefully nothing will appear ~~something will definitely appears~~]

Are you looking to harvest the ice crystal at the top?

[It's a fairly easy guess, but might as well confirm it.]

Correct. Is that not why you are here?

I am, but there are those who just enjoy the hike.

This venerable one is not among them.

[He didn't do things like this out of enjoyment. Enjoyment would mean indulging in emotions that he... well, he was, unfortunately, in possession of. However limited. And he was trying not to indulge in them. It was difficult. They were sometimes very tempting. Especially when he couldn't tell if they were his or Orchid's. If her emotions were still reaching him across the vastness of misplaced time and space that this world floated in.]

This venerable one has use for the crystal. If there are more than one, this venerable one will be taking several.

[A slight look. ...Well, that's not so unusual, especially since the guy does seem as if he's more on a mission than a walk through the mountains.]

I imagine there is a large supply, so you should be able to...

[And then his ears twitch forward before his expression hardens and he stops, holding out an arm in front of Dongfang.]

Wait. I hear something.

[And it won't be long before there's the strange but loud thumping sound some distance ahead of them.]

[Daqiang also hears it. And quickly after, senses the spiritual presence of whatever it was. It was strong enough to indicate some intelligence but that was about all he could tell about it.

Taking a quick glance around the path they were on, Daqiang moved to stand where he would be hidden from immediate view should whatever was making that noise continue towards them.]

[Eustace will do the same but on the other side, glancing at Daqiang. This way if something were to pass through, they could either ambush it, or just try to sneak around it.

And that something.....

Is an ice golem, one of the monsters that has been warned to inhabit these caves. Although he has his hand resting on the butt of his rifle, he'll just watch carefully to see if it will notice them or not.]

[Daqiang watched the creature as it started to pass the section they were standing in. He monitored it's actions carefully.

Very carefully.

As soon as it's head began to swing in his direction while it walked forward, clearly looking for something, he went invisible. Eustace was just close enough to Daqiang that he was also, now, invisible.

Whether he realized that or not was another matter. And the golem's head was starting to swing that direction...]

[Unfortunately ~~due to a very bad dice roll~~, Eustace is unfamiliar with the magic and while he sees Daqiang disappearing, he doesn't realize he has as well, so the moment the ice golem swings its head their way, his hand is on his weapon and pulling it, the sound of the rifle buzzing with electricity clear before he fires the shot and dashes out, fully believing the golem had already seen him.]

[Well.

...

That was not what he'd hoped for.

He gave a small sigh, the sound of which was drowned out by the roar of the ice golem as it reacted to the sudden attack. With Eustace invisible, it couldn't see what hit it, but it could swing wildly in the direction the attack came from, as well as follow the sound of the buzzing rifle as it recharged for it's next shot.]

[Sorry Daqiang...

For his part, Eustace deliberately draws it away from Daqiang, perhaps in attempt to allow him to escape should he wish. Regardless, the golem's back will be to him as Eustace continues to fire his shots, noticing the wild swings but more focused on taking it down as he shoots with precision at its joints. The concentrated blasts of lightning do wonders to pierce through the ice breaking off chunks. He's also careful to only take necessary ones, aiming at specific points.]

[Daqiang watched as the golem was pulled away from him to expose it's back. He also watched as Eustace carefully targeted specific spots on the creature in what looked like an attempt to immobilize it.

After a moment, Daqiang averted his gaze to study the ceiling and walls. Ice everywhere. It looked like the stalactites and stalagmites - and the pillars that had formed where both met - were entirely made of ice, as well. Though he could probably melt the creature very cleanly, the amount of heat it would take to do so would also very likely bring the ceiling down on top of them.

This was a terrible place to have this battle. He'd much prefer to have stayed invisible and let it pass. Picked another spot further along if they needed to face it on the return trip.

Well, there was no point in wasting his power further, since Eustace was already engaged...

With another sigh, the invisibility on them both dropped and the golem finally got it's first look at it's attacker. Now that it could see Eustace it's attacks became more targeted and it started to dodge the incoming attacks a little easier. The distraction that such a fight was kept it from sensing the danger behind it until it was far too late to dodge the flaming blue sword that skewered it through the shoulder and attempted to cut one arm off.]

[This will be slightly embarrassing later, but that's later. For now, Eustace notices the shift in the ice golem's attention, but again he needs to keep his focus so he doesn't have time to ponder over it. He, too, would have preferred open area given the nature of his skills, but he's had to deal with worse environments. Not to mention he has some reason for continuing to draw it back.

And at least one of them pays off when Daqiang appears, successfully slicing an arm off. He wasn't sure if the man would take the opportunity to run or not and he had been prepared for either, but this is the better outcome. As the ice golem reels to turn around and face its new assailant, Eustace takes the opportunity and fires a stronger charged shot, the lightning piercing through and shattering its leg where he had already weakened it, the electricity spreading over to crackle around its lower half as if to paralyze it.

Yet this partial victory won't last long, as blue snow and ice are quickly forming around its shoulders, indicating it attempting to regenerate the lost limbs.]

[This was the problem with creatures inclined towards certain environments being taken on inside those environments. They usually had an advantage based on it. An ice golem, being made of ice, in an environment made of ice, was cold enough to simply begin reforming it's body.

Well, not if Daqiang could help it.

He slammed his sword hand - fist around the handle - into the back of the golem, right between the shoulder blades. Braced himself with the other on the top of the golem's head, and his feet on it's lower back. And then poured his energy into a focused burn starting at his fist and going forward - through the chest and expanding outward.

They would see how well the golem could regenerate while being melted from it's core like a wax candle.]

[Not very well at all, and as the golem flails, its body melting and breaking apart.

With Daqiang on the golem, rather than shoot the golem, Eustace will fire at the ground, an electric current racing over the ice before it spreads out to form an electrified field that would inflict constant damage while also keeping it stunned. Better still, it won't reach Daqiang so he'll be safe from it so long as he stayed on the golem or cleared over the area around the field.

Between these two, the golem is surely done for.]

[Daqiang would stay there, burning a wider and wider hole in the golem's chest until it was either a melted puddle on the floor or the electricity became too much for him once his own feet hit the ground. The electricity not being anywhere as strong as Cid's lightning, it was the former that finally had Daqiang standing up and shaking out his hand as his sword disappeared. He brought his other to rub at that wrist while he flexed the fingers and generally made sure his sword hand was good.

Beneath his feet, the water started to cloud as it rapidly cooled in the frigid cavern. But it was not reforming into a golem. If it did, it would take a much, much, longer time than they would likely be there.]

How much longer to the cavern with the Ice Crystals did you say it was? Should we expect more of these?

[With everything settled, Eustace holsters his weapon and frowns.]

Ten to fifteen minutes. As for whether we encounter more, it would depend if the noise attracted or driven them away.

[And of course, neither are wanting to have more encounters.]

Let's just hurry out.

[He frowned and let out a huff of air.]

Then if another does come, this venerable one suggests you stay still and allow them to pass. There is only so long in a day that this venerable one can make us both invisible. Using it to attack unseen is a waste with the manner in which these creatures fight.

[He is not so much assuming that Eustace knew they were invisible as he is letting him know that the option exists... and some of it had been wasted already. Though it certainly came with the implication that Eustace should have figured that out on his own.]

[...There's just going to be a blank look.]

You made us invisible?

[NO HE HAD NO IDEA. Though it does explain a few things now that he looks back.

...]

My mistake then, I'll keep that in mind.

[There was an eyeroll and a sigh at the question. But Daqiang didn't chide Eustace further. He simply returned to the path and began moving back up it.]

Let us be quick. Then there will be no need to care about the existence of more.

« january open log: avaleci »

WINTER LODGE

HOT SPRINGS

VOLCANO EXPLORATION

Mountain Climbing: Ice Crystals

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