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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

[Daqiang met Lyney's eyes and stared back at him for a long moment before declaring:]

No.

[Oh, there's that stark bluntness he knows! Lyney laughs good-naturedly, but extends a hand nonetheless.]

Oh come now! Don't you want to be a part of a bonafide magic act?

[He won't force Daqiang if he truly doesn't want to, but he might as well ask!]

[Daqiang lifted one hand and set it on the top of the head of a person standing next to him - startling the person - and then very casually (but firmly) pushed them forward.]

This is a better volunteer.

[Fortunately, the other person seemed to be good natured about it and laughed along with the people around them at Daqiang's gruff way of demurring. The person nodded and waved, making their way up to the stage in Daqiang's stead. It was, indeed, fortunate that the small crowd was in a good mood in general and were good sports.]

Aha, very well, then! Thank you, my brave volunteer! Now, I'd like you to join me here and tell me a bit about yourself...

[Even if Daqiang chooses not to participate, he'll certainly be in for a show. Lyney doesn't have any of his elaborate props or trick boxes here, but he's been able to make do with the inn's limited theatre display, and as such is able to perform a variety of tricks for the audience.]

[With the audience member, he is able to correctly guess the card that they had chosen from his deck, after making it miraculously reappear under another audience member's chair. He is able to seemingly make his hat levitate, even asking the audience member to move their hand over it to prove it was not held aloft by some kind of thread, and is even able to make them seemingly float aloft in a chair without any obvious supports. Overall it's not a very long show, but it's impressive enough to have the audience cheering and gasping in awe. At the end of the show, once the audience member returns to their chair, Lyney offers a showman's bow to the crowd.]

Thank you, my friends, you've been a wonderful audience! And now, I must bid you all adieu!

[And standing up straight, he draws two large decks of cards from his pockets, and makes them fly into the air above and around him, obscuring him from sight. When the cards vanish, Lyney is nowhere to be found. The audience is left cheering and clapping, but wondering: where did he go??]

[The 'magic' show was more of the same non-magic that Lyney had shown him previously but that they had not yet found time for him to be taught. It was a good display of trickery and skill.

When it was over and Lyney had disappeared from the stage, Daqiang began looking for him - not with his eyes. But with his other senses. Trying to find the spiritual presence that was Lyney's somewhere in the immediate area. Be it two rooms away, a floor beneath or above them, or just someplace behind the stage.

((ooc: daqiang is basically trying to sense the location of Lyney's soul relative to his own location to track the kid down.]

[[OoC: Thanks for the heads up, I like the idea!]]

[It's actually a good thing that Daqiang uses such senses, because he'll be able to discover Lyney's soul aura quite easily. And while the audience is wondering just where the young man teleported to, Daqiang will be able to sense Lyney quite close, actually! It seems to just be rather close by, and if Daqiang were to follow it, it would lead him to a small room just behind the area he was performing in; careful observation will find that a door leading into this room was carefully hidden behind a curtain that had been hung up to give Lyney's impromptu stage a more authentic feel. And within the room he will find Lyney, taking a break and sipping some water as he rests his hat on a nearby table.]

[Daqiang enters the room as if he had every right to be there, and takes in the second door that must have been hidden by the curtains. It looked like a servant's closet that had been commandeered for the performance because it had separate entrances that would make 'disappearing' easier to do. Since Lyney could escape through the other door without every getting close to the stage.]

Misdirection and trickery.

[He said aloud, finally signaling his presence to the other occupant as he moved to examine the door to the stage. He hadn't heard it open so it must have been well-oiled ahead of time.]

[The sudden words make Lyney jolt a bit, a hand unconsciously reaching for something at his side as he looks over... but his expression softens and his body relaxes as he realizes who it is.]

Ah, Moon Supreme! I had not expected to see you so soon after the performance. I trust it was to your liking?

[But knowing the other man, he's probably not here for small talk. Lyney lets out a chuckle, holding his hands out to the sides in a form of surrender.]

Well, it seems you've discovered the secret to performance magic.

[He nodded, reaching out to touch the door handle lightly with his fingers before pulling them back and turning around to face Lyney.]

You did not use such a set up for the other magic you performed for this venerable one. Is it required for your disappearance?

Hmm... no, I did not. There wasn't much need to.

[Lyney takes a couple steps forward and flicks his hand, making several cards appear fanned in his hand in a blink of an eye.]

Little parlour tricks like these don't need much beyond sleight of hand and misdirection. Anyone can do it, given enough time and practice. But for larger tricks, like what I performed out there? A dedicated performance spot is preferred.

[He flicks his hand, and the cards vanish into his sleeve again. He then gestures to the door.]

Admittedly, if this door wasn't here, I would have had to use a different method of disappearance for that trick. But I was quite fortunate! Perhaps this venue was home to another magician before me.

What other method would have used?

[Daqiang could easily become invisible or simply teleport away. Using trickery like this reminded him of the fight with the Pirat King the prior month. The sneaky beast had slipped through a trap-door to escape them when he'd been cornered and had to be chased down after.]

Is your method of magic and entertaining that common among mortals?

Hmm... Given the space and size of the venue, if there was no door there, I may have had to have some other prop at the ready to facilitate me leaving the stage. A magic box of some kind, or a screen, or a trapdoor... Hmm, though if neither of those were available, I may have had to simply forego the disappearance act entirely.

[He can make use of a lot of things, but magic acts required a lot of set-up. If nothing's available, he has to make do or cut some acts.]

Well, I can't claim to know just how common it is here in this world, but it's quite common back in Fontaine! You see, people always yearn to transcend the mundane world, and that which is mysterious captivates us all. Sure there are all kinds of strange and wondrous things in the world of Teyvat, but not everyone is gifted with a Vision, nor is it possible for everyone to set off on such a journey to see such wonders. Magic shows offer a safe, yet exciting method for those who live in the mundane world to catch a glimpse of something extraordinary; even if it's all a show meant to fool the senses.

They know that it is not real magic? That it is a trick? They expect this and are excited for it?

[He was curious about the emotions involved. Much as he didn't want to deal with the complications they would bring for himself, he couldn't help wanting to know. To understand that which he could not because of his own emotional roots being killed. The audience had enjoyed the show. They had laughed and clapped and gasped and they had smiled. The possibility that they knew it was all trickery and misdirection before it began had not occurred to him. Not really. That they would choose to be fooled in this manner. That they would choose to believe, even if only for a moment, that it was more than flashy moves and hidden doors was a strange concept.]

Well, that depends on who you ask.

[Lyney walks over to a nearby chair and takes a seat.]

The children who watch my shows are the ones who are least disillusioned to magic; to them, everything a magician does is real, from the props I pull out of my hat to my most elaborate disappearing acts. So, naturally, they'd be delighted to see someone who could do genuine magic before their very eyes.

[He says it with a dash of mysticism and wonder to his voice as he crosses his legs.]

As for the older audience members, well... that's a bit trickier. I'm certain most know that you can't really pull a cat out of your hat, or make pocket watches disappear and reappear out of thin air. Most of them will go to a magician's show specifically to try and see through the veil and see how the tricks are performed. But still, even the most cynical of audience members can be blown away by a trick that they can't perceive, and can't understand how it was performed.

[He moves to take off his hat, twirling it in his hands before showing it off to Daqiang. Showing that the inside is completely empty, that nothing, not even Rosseland, is hiding in the hat. After showing it off, he holds it aloft with one hand, bringing his other hand underneath it.]

I'm sure you remember the card trick I showed you before, don't you? You were confused at first as well, weren't you? That moment of wonder, of confusion and amazement that comes with not knowing how a trick is performed? That makes even the most logical of minds wonder, even if but for a moment, if something magical truly happened?

[He lifts the hat up slowly, and, somehow, sitting in Lyney's outstretched hand is Pers, his younger brother's mechanical penguin.]

That is the true excitement of the art of magic, and the reason people love magic shows so much.

Edited 2024-02-09 05:18 (UTC)

[The thing was... Daqiang had been confused, but there had been no sense of 'wonder' or 'amazement'. He has simply been confused. Curious, even. But it did not make him feel excited or any of those other things...

But there was something in Lyney's speech that he could speak on.]

Making things appear and disappear from sight is simple.

[To demonstrate, he flicked his wrist and in his palm appeared a small writing kit. It came into existence with a small sparkle of light as it took shape and form. It wasn't really magic in the sense of having used magical power. Rather it was born of his own cultivation. The qiankun storage was as much a result of his high cultivation as his control over his physical appearance was.]

[Lyney watches the display of true magic before him with a wide eye, before he chuckles pleasantly.]

You truly are a wonder, aren't you, Moon Supreme? Alas, your skills are beyond what I know to be possible by most people of Teyvat. In fact, unless you possess a Vision or are a god, normal people can't simply make things appear or disappear. It's far too fanciful for normal people to ever consider part of their reality.

[He places Pers on the table beside him and puts his hat back on his head with a bit of a flourish.]

I suppose that's the draw of performance magic. Being able to offer someone a glimpse into a reality that is not theirs, even if it's only for a moment.

[He supposed the 'vision' Lyney spoke of was something equivalent to cultivation. As a god himself, it was something he was born with and naturally developed as much as something he had to work towards.

He still didn't understand the mortal fascination with watching fake magic, but the usefulness of the skill remained.]

You will teach this venerable one the ways of disappearing and reappearing without magic. To fool the senses of mortals.

[In addition to the rest of the slight of hand he was being taught.]

You still wish to know, even knowing that it's all an elaborate trick?

[Lyney lets out a small chuckle. How curious, this moon lord is. But Lyney can't help but be intrigued, which is why he nods.]

Well, if you'd like to learn even after finding out the truth of performance magic, who am I to say no? For most tricks it depends on the venue and available resources, but I can show you the basics of how the trick is performed, and how I performed it here.

There are times when magic is not available. Learning elaborate tricks is beneficial.

[He gestured for Lyney to get started]

How very resourceful! But I can't fault that logic, now can I, Moon Supreme?

[Lyney nods, a playful grin on his face.]

Then allow me to show you the secrets behind this most elaborate trick! And I do mean elaborate, because it requires a lot of careful planning to pull off...

[And Lyney will go into how he planned the disappearing trick, how at its basis it was all about misdirection and quick movements but it could be embellished in any way, such as with his cards. He will also show Dongfang a few of his other tricks as well, since most of the props were here and he could at least give the other man an idea of how his tricks are performed, from up-close sleight of hand to bigger tricks.]

[It's not every trick he knows, but it'll give Daqiang a good idea of what performance magic can accomplish.]

[And Daqiang will be a very skilled and quick student. Thought he was not a performer, he did have agile hands and learned the physical part much faster than he would ever comprehend the showy misdirection. But for a beginner to all this, that was certainly enough to get him practicing on his own.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

« january open log: avaleci »

WINTER LODGE

HOT SPRINGS

VOLCANO EXPLORATION

Winter Lodge

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Probably a good place to wrap?

sounds good o7