escordvi | « november: open log »

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

[There's something rather comforting about a fire on a cold night. Though most of Fontaine's fires find their homes in cozy fireplaces and hearths, a campfire such as this has its own rustic charm to it. And having good company only helps add to the homely comfort the flames provide.]

[Of course, as Joshua touches the little spirit, Lyney chuckles.]

Well, would you look at that! You certainly have a magic touch of your own, Your Highness.

[Joshua gives a smile smile in return. He's glad to have Lyney's company on a night like tonight.]

I'm afraid it's less about magic and more about my aether granting me immunity to fire.

[But he'll take that!!]

Is that right? That's quite impressive. My Vision allows me to manipulate fire, but even I can be burned if I'm not careful. I could see that little trick being quite useful.

[The inner magician within him is already thinking on how something like that could be used for a magic trick. Perhaps something involving walking through fire..? Ah, but he's getting ahead of himself. He smiles warmly.]

And how have you been these past few weeks? Adjusting well to life on the sea?

[Joshua smiles in return and reaches out to the fire to scoop a little fire spirit into his palm. It happily bounces there.]

It can be, it can also save me from quite the bind. [He nods.] As for myself? I've been fairing as well as I should be, I think. Luckily I'm used to a boat ride every now and then. And you, Lyney? Have you been alright?

I can see how! If I ever implemented a trick with fire in one of my shows, I may ask you to assist me onstage.

[He might be getting ahead of himself, but he’s already filing that thought away for later. Never hurts to be prepared, after all.]

I’m glad to see you’re doing so well! As for myself, I’ve been managing well enough. I live in a land close to the sea so living so close to the ocean isn’t much of a change for me. Though I admit I haven’t been on too many ships in my lifetime. My only regret is that my siblings aren’t here to see it themselves.

[There’s a faint bit of melancholy as he thinks about his siblings still at home, but he tries to keep the thoughts to himself.]

[Truth be told Joshua has always had an interest in the stage and the theatre arts. Blame his childhood watching his brother and uncle put together elaborate stories with blankets and wooden sticks. Joshua loved watching the little skits they would put together.

So what Lyney says makes him smile softly and sadly, both.]

You must miss them. I know I would feel the same way about my own. If you're willing, I'd love to hear more about them.

[Stories around the campfire... That feels nice. No only to feed the little fire spirits but to ease the ache of missing home.]

[Joshua was blessed with a love for the arts, and Lyney will cherish that. He'll remember to keep Joshua in mind for whenever he has the means to put on a grand show.]

Why, of course! I would never turn down the opportunity to brag about my siblings; is that not the duty of an older brother?

[It's rare for Lyney to drop his mask and speak plainly about his life, especially to strangers. But Joshua has become something of an ally here, and he's never been able to resist talking about his siblings. So when his expressions softens into something warm, it's a truly genuine expression.]

I have a twin sister, Lynette, who's been at my side ever since I was born. She's actually my assistant when I perform magic tricks, and it's thanks to her aid that I'm even able to perform any of my tricks at all. But as wonderful an assistant as she is, she may prove a poor conversationalist; you could say she's something like a cat, rather picky about those she shares her company with. But don't take offence if you ever do meet her! If she truly didn't like you, you'd certainly know.

As for my younger brother, Freminet... well, you could say he and I are exact opposites in personality. While I may bask in the spotlight and fanfare, he's more comfortable watching from the sidelines and not being the focus of attention. But though he may be averse to attention being directed at him, he's still rather brilliant in his own way! I've never seen anyone so adept with machinery and tinkering as I have him! And his diving skills are truly second to none! Why, he'd be able to spot a pearl amidst a fierce tidal squall!

[The way he talks, it's clear he's very much the proud older brother hyping up his younger siblings.]

[All the while Joshua listens with the ears of a listener. He smiles at each note of Lyney's retelling.]

They are very lucky to have you.

[And the little fire spirit bouncing in Joshua's hand seems to dance and play the more that Lyney talks. It loves a good retelling.]

If I have the chance someday I would like to meet them. And in the meantime perhaps I could introduce you to my older brother sometime. He too, would talk anyone's ear off about me.

[He smirks. This must be an adoring older brother thing.]

Well, if an older brother isn’t singing the praises of his younger siblings, is he really performing his job as an older brother?

[It absolutely is an adoring older brother thing. Lyney will never not have something positive to say about his siblings, or even the other children at the Hearth.]

Perhaps one day I would be able to meet your brother as well. Then we both can talk about what a fine young man you are!

It must truly be a part of an older brother's born duty.

[Joshua is so amused to hear this. What he wouldn't give to see Clive and Lyney talk of their younger siblings together. It makes Joshua feel just that much fonder for Clive and a kinship to Lyney as well. Perhaps they can be good friends with time. He would enjoy that very much.

With that, they will enjoy a nice chat beside the fire while playing with fire spirits.]

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ELTRUT

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Fire Sprites

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