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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.

TOPLEVEL DIRECTORY (Updated November 25)

ELTRUT

With the Ghoul's Moon festivities over, it's time for everyone to clean up and prepare for the coming winter season. Of course, with the leviathans capable of moving and keeping to warmer waters, it's usually not much of an issue. But it never hurts to be prepared, and the crops and products are always great for export.

One of the biggest products that will be sent off this season will be everything pumpkin. The giant pumpkin shell Eltrut created for Ghoul's Moon will start to shed and the leviathan will need some help in gathering the large chunks before it falls completely into the ocean. Harvesting the pumpkin shell off of Eltrut is no easy feat, but not only is it edible, the rind is also tough and durable.

🔪 Harvest. Using carving knives and pickaxes, everyone must head out of town and into the forests to remove the pumpkin and clean off the shell beneath. Large tubs and wagons will be provided to help haul off the goods.
🐢 Pumpkin Spice Turtles. Drawn by all the pumpkins are small little pumpkin turtles. They are forbidden from being harmed or caught, however, they produce a special "pumpkin spice" and "pumpkin cinnamon" dust that can be carefully collected. While most will respect the law, others will be greedy and try to capture these turtles. Help protect and catch any who try—or perhaps get some extra cash by successfully catching and selling them off.
🔨 Build-A-Pumpkin. To help spur motivation and creativity, there are numerous competitions centered on building the most interesting and durable creation using only the pumpkin rinds. Some small things like nails and bits of wood can be used to help, but it must otherwise be made out of the rinds. From unique artwork to small buildings to carriages to boats and ships—the possibilities are endless. Just don't mind the mess.

Of more concern, both Eltrut and the Naughtilust were weakened from the attack from the Ghost Ship and are dozing a bit for the first week or so. Those in charge are requesting help in preparing special food that will help with their recovery. But to help keep spirits up and to hopefully provide some positive energy to the leviathans, a special hotpot gathering will be hosted for anyone to come and help cook, either for the leviathans or for others. A perfect chance to socialize and catch up with others. Just keep an eye out—someone may try to spoil the food.

To aid the two weakened leviathans, a list of key ingredients is provided for volunteers to head into the forests and out to sea to gather. Large tables and several grills, pots, and other cooking equipment will be provided for anyone to use.

🔥 Fire Sprites. Instead of normal flames, the food for the leviathans needs to be cooked over a special fire created by special fire sprite. They will only appear around campfires or bonfires where stories are told, so time to create a suitable fire pit and get to storytelling! Any kind will work.
🌰 Chest of Chestnuts. One of the most prized ingredients is a special type of chestnut that can only be found in special acorn chests buried underground by squirrel scavengers. These squirrels specifically gather these chestnuts because they are so rare, delicious, and known to have medicinal properties. Said squirrels will also gladly relinquish their store…if they can remember where those chests are. Time to go on a wild treasure hunt!
🐡 Fish Puffing. There is a special type of pufferfish that will be carefully collected and brought to the pier where volunteers must wear special gloves and carefully squeeze the fish to force it to secrete a special fluid that has potent healing properties. Soothe the fish and make them more willing to be handled by singing a cheerful tune. Whistling and other music can help. Feeding them special kelp and gently petting them will also keep them calm and less agitated.
🍲 Cookoff! Whether it's for the leviathans or just cooking a meal to be shared with others, the cooking stations are constantly in use. Who can prepare the most delicious meal?

ELAH

Things are a bit hectic within Baleen, the capital city of Elah. A wild flock of singing turkeys have been set loose and they are running amok, causing a disturbance to everyone. They are getting stuck in chimneys, popping into bathrooms, and swimming in the many fountain pools found all over town. What makes them more disruptive is their singing, which, unfortunately, sound more like nails dragging down chalkboard. While some may be ready to roast them to send to Eltrut for a feast, perhaps some may try to catch them.

And send them to Nogard. (They likely came from there, anyway—)

Researchers would especially appreciate it if these turkeys could be caught and removed as they are busy studying the tombstone relic brought back from the ghost ship. What secrets could it hold…?

At the Archives, researchers are hard at work studying the broken pieces of the black tombstone that was brought back from the ghost ship. They believe it's the reason the ship and its undead crew appeared, but how?

💤 Energy Drain. Although precautions are set, those who are exposed to the relics start feeling a bit drained, as if their energy is being sucked away. Quickly remove any affected and find a way to seal or contain the relics without being affected as well.
🪦 Undeadly Experiments. Although now in pieces, the tombstone relic still holds some power. Thus researchers decide to perform direct tests and experiments to see how it affects the undead. There are requests made to those who have previously died either in their world or this one, and some venture to graveyards where dead and ghosts are sometimes active. When in close contact with the relic, all who have experienced death in some way will become more hostile and aggressive, some even outright attacking any nearby. Help protect those performing the experiment and subdue the affected until they calm down.
🏃‍♂️ Thief! Those damn Corsair, they can never respect important research! A few bad eggs are breaking the agreement and are trying to steal the fragments, perhaps to sell them off to someone else or for some other purpose.

NOGARD

In Nogard, the island the leviathan has settled in is teeming with wild beasts, and perhaps due to being in a warmer climate, they are appearing more and more often, as if coming out of hibernation. It makes for a perfect opportunity for hunters to head out in hopes of collecting rare meat, materials, and hides that can be used and sold. To prevent overhunting, a competition is hosted with rules and regulations that all participants must abide by.

As such, there will be a group to help ensure security and they will even request assistance from Paladins, who are also allowed to participate in the hunt if they wish. Thus those who prefer to go after people will be quite useful to keep track and go after anyone who is poaching, hunting creatures under the "protected" list, or wasting the kills. To any who are caught…well, the Paladins may fare nicer compared to a Corsair.

While most predators and creatures of large populations are eligible for the competition, there are a few notable hunts that will reap great rewards for those who dare. Those who turn in their kills will receive a decent portion of the profits and first choice in what to keep for their own. The rest will be turned in to be sold, with the Elphantin tusks going straight to Eltrut to be used for the recovery efforts.

🦈 Goblin Shark. This deep-sea shark has a distinctive long, flattened snout and protrusible jaws, making it look quite unusual compared to other shark species. All parts of its body can be used so it makes for a profitable hunt—if one can brace the cold depths to take it down.
🐍 Coibara. Head of a cobra, body of a bear, and tail and coloring of a koi fish, this snake chimera can be found in dark coves and anywhere near deeper bodies of water. Capable of sprinting over the ground and swimming, beware of its poisonous fangs, which can also fetch a pretty penny along with its hide. The venom can also be collected for both poison and anti-venom purposes.
🦚 Pexeo. An equine beast with the body and markings of a zebra and plumage and head of a peacock that roams the greener valleys. Although not hostile, it can be dangerous if attacked, its beak revealing sharp rows of teeth that can tear up anything that gets caught in it and its hooves sharp as blades. Rather than killed, the feathers are the real prize and can be carefully plucked instead. But its meat can be considered a delicacy in some areas.
🐘 Elphantin. This giant elephant like creature is considered as the top hunt of the list. They can only be found deep within the forests and only appear at dawn when the foggy mist is thickest. While every part can be used, what makes this the top prize is the medicinal properties of its tusks. But it is very difficult to track and hunt and will take a group of skilled hunters to take down.

Afterwards, a large feast to celebrate is thrown, though of course it can get rowdy and with the alcohol fountain brought in, fights and brawls are bound to happen.

But there will also be a "special guest" rushing into town: wild boars. Perhaps agitated by the hunts or out for revenge against those who targeted them (which was allowed), the boars are crashing and charging into everything they see. While this may look like a good opportunity to prepare some BBQ Boar, the conservationists of the Corsairs would like to drive most of them back into the wilds.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He doesn't seem the type to want dressed up drinks anyway, so it's not surprising but she'll ask anyway.]

Has no one ever dropped a lemon or lime twist into your drink? Or some sprigs?

No...

[A small frown as he thinks.]

But I have seen it done to others.

Everyone appreciates a nice garnish.

[Mostly because most people who can't do it find it impressive on its own.]

Guess you'll be learning how to do a few things today. But I promise it'll easy. Pouring, though...

[She hums thoughtfully, and stares at him with a furrowed brow.]

[They're corsairs though... Will it really matter? It's a silent question he holds for now because there is some merit to it. But now he looks at her frown.]

What?

[Why wouldn't it matter? If it's a competition, wouldn’t it be better to appeal to everything and everyone?

Her thoughtful expression breaks into something of a smile.]

Hmm, nothing. I guess we'll see how you do when the time comes. You've never made a drink before have you?

[...

Wow, he feels a little offended??? So just a small look of displeasure as he grunts.]

Never needed to.

[She didn't mean any of that in an offensive way???

She's going to just pat him on the back when she hears that grunt.]

Well, you're about to learn a lot about making them when we get there, so hope you're ready. I'm told I'm a good teacher, but a tough coach.

I'm sure I'll be able to handle whatever you say.

[Is he looking down on her!?

Not necessarily, but he doesn't think she can be as tough as others he knows...]

[She was joking again—]

We'll see. Making a drink with just your eyes isn't as easy as you think.

[This is just a constant with them—]

Now that I can believe... And I don't drink much outside of whiskeys and vodkas. A couple of bourbons and rum, but that's about it.

At least I know you've got good taste.

[Which will help. Classy. Though, how classy do they really need to go for Nogard, she wonders? Or maybe they just haven't been introduced to her drinks yet.]

Anyway. Better to just show you than tell you when we get there.

[And it's only now that she casts a look around them, having forgotten where she was through the conversation.]

How... far are we anyway?

Not much farther.

[A small nod towards where a crowd can be see forming a few blocks away.]

Just up ahead. From what I know, it's mostly informal... You make the drinks and offer them for others to taste. I don't think there are any official judges so I'm not sure how much of a "true" competition this is...

Well... [She tilts her head and peers around from where she walks just one step behind him now.] Might as well get the customers to judge, yeah?

... Though, you think it'll still be fine for me to be up there making drinks with you?

With the hunting competition going on and paladins already coming in to assist, they'll probably care less.

[A long look.]

Just don't do anything weird and they won't even notice.

[...

Except for anyone who still recognizes them from that stupid game—]

What do you mean, weird!?

[She's just making drinks? What could possibly go wrong?

And no, don't you dare remind her of what happened at the venue last month.]

[He won't.

Verbally.

He's just going to give her a pointed look before looking away...]

Don't try to pretend something you're not. I told you, not all corsair act like whatever image you have in your mind. Be yourself, and it's fine.

[Whatever image in her head...

The only image that she has in her head of a corsair is him now, and she's not sure whether he would prefer that or what she thought before.

So, she just keeps that thought to herself, especially when she catches that pointed look.]

Maybe I'll just let you do all the talking.

[She can be charismatic when she wants to be, but the last time she tried to open her mouth around a bunch of corsairs, they immediately recognized her as That Paladin Girl.]

There won't be much of it, but that's just fine.

[They don't need to be chatty. Just give the drinks, see how it goes.]

Do you already have a drink in mind?

[Might as well ask as they near the bustling tavern.]

[He'd be surprised how loose lipped a lot of men can be when they've had a few strong drinks, or maybe he won't be... but it's all part of the process. Charm them and they might just win, even if he did mix a mediocre drink. ;)]

Isn't it just grog? So some rum with a little bit extra to give it a kick.

[She lifts the bag in her hands that she has totally been carrying this whole time and didn't forget to mention it earlier—]

Brought some other ingredients from Elah just in case we need them.

It can be whatever, doubt they'd care that much.

[And then a glance at the bag that he also totally noticed before and neither of us forgot.]

But the more unusual or different the better... Maybe. We'll see.

[And in they go. It's still a bit early so while already rowdy and loud from those who have started, no one is passed out on the floor or starting fights yet. There are a number of participants, so there is something of a wait time.

Taking a number, Eustace will spot a private enough table they can sit in and try a few drinks if they want. Otherwise they just have to wait a few turns before a station will be cleared for them to use.]

[Still a bit early, but it's already pretty packed—busier and much louder than the taverns she's visited on Elah, which aren't many, so maybe she's just visiting the wrong ones. Tifa looks around, trying to get a feel for their competition and the clientele, but it's hard to gauge with so many different looking people, some a little rougher around the edges and some that look... well, just like her. Fellow Paladins, maybe?

She sticks close to Eustace regardless, folding herself right at his side as they maneuver through to a table at the back, and as soon as she sits down, someone comes by to take their order, asking if they want anything to drink in the meantime.

She asks for their current grog specialty, and slaps down enough coins on the table for herself and whatever Eustace is having.]

My treat, [she tells him with a smile.] For picking up the ingredients.

[She still intends to pay him back anyway, but this is a good start.]

Edited 2023-11-11 23:05 (UTC)

[A slight arch of the brow, but he'll order some kind of whiskey. He doesn't really want to drink too much, but he could probably use a little something...and get an idea of what they have.]

Thanks.

Might as well see what we're up against.

[She thanks the man and sits back when he wanders away and takes a better look around at the tavern's crowds.]

I've never had authentic pirate grog before. Just the stuff I'd make at Seventh Heaven.

Hmm... I imagine it will be rougher and have more hard alcohol in it than what you'd make.

You'd be surprised.

[But it's true... Seventh Heaven wasn't the place people typically went to get drunk off their asses, and those that did always got a swift kick in their drunk ass out of there... if Barret's glares didn't do the trick first.]

Just put in a little more rum, I guess.

[The man that had taken their orders returns with a glass of grog for Tifa, and Eustace's simple whiskey, and after thanking him, she props her chin on her elbow and eyes his drink a moment before picking up hers.

It's foamier on top that she's used to, and the mug that it came in... this is more drink that she's seen in a long time, and she takes her first curious sip...

...

..... and breaks out into a cough.]

Eugh!

ELTRUT

ELAH

NOGARD

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