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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

A sliver of pride smuggled it's way into Daqiang's cold, dead heart and without realizing it, his lips curved up ever so slightly.

"This venerable one insists," he responded, his tone shifting from the usual coldly bored to something a little warmer. What others might be able to name as playful or teasing. "It is not often this venerable one makes such a generous offer as allowing someone to chose their reward."

Toge was seventeen, it's pretty easy to impress him with something wonderfully helpful.

He was balanced again and holding his ground while Daqiang was steering the ship. He considered that for a moment. He could be sure that he didn't offer something like that lightly, but at the same time Toge didn't need a lot, although...

"Salmon." He agreed after a moment. He had decided what he wanted. "Tuna mayo." He would like a box of tea, if Daqiang insisted on repaying him. It would be good for his throat.

With all that was (nominally) within Daqiang's power to grant, Toge picks a box of tea.

Well, in that case, he would seek out the absolutely best box of tea possible. No one would ever be able to question the quality of it. And it would make a clear statement that when Daqiang chose to reward someone, his rewards had a true value to them beyond the mere gesture inherent in the act of rewarding another.

"A box of tea," he agreed with an incline of his head just before he started to slow the boat down. They weren't quite to where shelf dropped yet, but they were getting close enough that it preparing to stop and drop anchor was appropriate.

"This venerable one will see to it that you receive the finest box of tea available, Toge Inumaki."

"Tuna mayo." Toge said agreeably, he would accept it gratefully and enjoy every cup. He'd consider sharing it with Yuta but if it was that good he might just keep it for himself.

He didn't think he really did all that much deserving of a reward, but that was still one he would enjoy.

He could tell they were getting close and he straightened up to be more attentive about dealing with the shark.

Being indebted to a mortal was not something Daqiang took lightly. Especially as the mortal wasn't his enemy. Had he been, a swift death would have been repayment enough. But as he wasn't, a reward as repayment of the debt in some manner was important to clear the slate. Toge might not understand or care - which Daqiang ascribed to his being a mortal - but Daqiang did. And since it was he that owed the debt, it was he that would make the effort to clear it.

As they got closer to the hunting grounds, Daqiang stopped pushing the boat and let it slow down naturally to drift as it was wont to do on the waters. The waves weren't particularly wild or choppy, this far out from shore, but that didn't mean the water was peaceful. It still rose and fell in ways that could be dangerous if one wasn't careful.

Hovering just over the side of the boat so that he didn't have to attempt to balance again, Daqiang waved at the anchor, "You can drop it now. Once it's secure, this venerable one will descend to draw out our prey."

"Salmon." Toge agreed, nodding at the instruction. He didn't have a problem with it, obviously he was used to doing some form of exercise. The anchor was heavy, but he could handle it.

He lifted it and gently plopped it into the ocean. It would be another opportunity then to get a good look at his curse marks, because Toge assumed that Daqiang had some plan that would work and he unzipped his collar in preparation for dealing with the shark.

Knowing that Toge was cursed, specifically that his speech was, made recognizing the curse marks as curse marks much easier. So many people in this world had strange markings not related to curses or magic that it was challenging to tell the difference. His own curse mark, fortunately, would not appear unless Orchid did something to trigger it. And with them separated by both distance and the strange out-of-time manner of this world beyond the river of stars, so far Daqiang had only been subject to ~~he assumes~~ feeling her emotions at random times.

He did not call attention to the marks, though his gaze did linger in curiosity for a moment or two. And then he took a deep breath and dropped into the water. He 'righted' himself after he was submerged so that he was facing the direction he intended to search. While he couldn't breathe underwater anymore, some experimentation had allowed him to learn he could hold his breath for many, many minutes without worry. And as long as he 'flew', rather than swim, he could make good time in diving pretty far down before he had to get back to the surface.

Fortunately, he had gone after the sharks only a couple days before - though in a different spot - and had learned where they were likely to hide and could be drawn out. Daqiang was not quick to rise to the surface, but after several long minutes, a pair of goblin sharks could be seen swimming frantically upward in a haphazard pattern, as if being chased.

Which they were. Daqiang didn't have the energy to simply blow their nest sky high, but he was still able to make whole swaths of the water uncomfortablely warm (nearly boiling) and force the sharks to keep swimming to avoid burns.

Daqiang wouldn't be the first or last person to stare at them, and Toge didn't really mind all that much. They were disfiguring, and a huge problem where he was from because tattoos were looked down upon and a lot of people would mistake it for one. It was one of many reasons he had to keep his face covered.

However in this case, he was dealing with sharks which had no real immunity to what he was about to do and a targeted attack didn't even require them to stay still. He hadn't brought his megaphone so he just waited for the sharks to get that much closer to the boat.

He pictured what exactly he wanted to happen, that was a vitally important step when dealing with something that couldn't quite fight back and he took a deep breath before speaking.

"Get crushed." It was the first set of words that were comprehensible that he'd spoken in Daqiang's presence. His tone of voice was different and seemed to resonate. Anyone sensitive to the feeling of spiritual energy would feel a vibration from the sound.

Then, of course, the tops of the shark's heads would collapse in on themselves, leaving the pair suddenly lifeless as he crushed their skulls in without even lifting a finger.

Daqiang certainly felt the presence of power in the words. The vibration of them as they forced the world - specifically the goblin sharks - to conform to the new reality he wanted imposed on it. It didn't feel powerful enough to hurt Daqiang, but it also wasn't directed at him. So it was hard to tell if Toge could potentially enforce his will upon Daqiang if he chose to. Certainly, however, he could have destroyed Daqiang during their first meeting had Toge been inclined. No wonder he had so confidently defied Dongfang Qingcang in both speech and manner. At that time, his threat was truly nothing but an arrogant annoyance.

Setting that thought aside for the time being, Daqiang floated over to the bodies of the sharks and lifted them by their tails - one each in each hand - to carry them back to the boat. They were quite large, but could be piled up to fit.

"If you choose to hunt more creatures, consider bursting one of their lungs or crushing their hearts instead. The brains, eyes, tongues, and skulls can be very valuable if not destroyed," he advised calmly, not at all disturbed by the gore.

He definitely didn't aim for Daqiang, nor was he terribly inclined to do so if he didn't need to. Considering with enough effort he could influence Yuta for moments before he could shake it off it was entirely possible he could, considering Yuta was probably the second strongest person in their entire world. He didn't know if he could affect Gojo. He'd never tried.

Toge didn't seem like he was holding their meeting against him however, he understood that Daqiang was confused and out of place and he wasn't intending on holding it over him. He just leaned over to help him get the creatures into the boat. They're big and heavy but he can definitely ease them in. He was stronger than he looked.

He responded by waving his hand side to side a bit. "Tuna mayo." He said. He could try that, but it might be a bit more precise than he could be. His voice however was hoarse like he'd just been screaming at a concert for three hours, when all he'd done was say one word with his intent. With great power came a huge drawback.

The roughness of Toge's voice was telling. It seemed that the curse that destroyed his ability to speak normally had more effect on him than simply restricting his vocabulary.

"If you cannot be that precise, perhaps use 'get crushed' on their necks instead of their heads? You may be able to salvage at least the eyes and the upper part of the skull and brains if you can manage to move the target in that manner," he offered as the beast's corpses settled. With them there, no space remained for him to stand on the boat directly.

He floated to the stern and braced his feet against it. Then paused and asked, "Do you wish to bring in more, or are you satisfied with these two?"

"Salmon." Toge said, swallowing and he held up a thumbs up. He could do their necks no problem.

He considered that and then nodded. "Tuna mayo." The two should be fine, he thought because for one thing they were taking most of the boat, and unless they were going to start towing carcasses it could be a problem, but for another if people were planning on eating them on land it would be a lot.

"Sujiko." He didn't really want them to go to waste.

Towing carcasses would probably draw more predators into following them, but not necessarily the ones 'allowed' by the rules of the hunt. And also risk the carcasses being snapped at or the boat tugged under or flipped if something got it's teeth into them. The blood pooling in the bottom of the boat would have left an easy trail for any predators to follow had it been allowed to drain for more than a few moments into the waters around them.

"Then back to shore it is." Giving Toge a nod, Daqiang began pushing the boat, carefully turning it back towards shore with a wide turn.

"Salmon!" Toge called and braced himself for Daqiang's skill, which frankly was a huge boost to their hunting expedition.

He kept a look out the entire way back, holding onto the side of the boat. It was smooth sailing and when they pulled into port, he'd jump out and start pulling the first shark out of the boat.

He'd chat more, but frankly he had a sore throat and he needed to find some tea soon.

Since Toge was working on the first shark, Daqiang grabbed the second and hauled it one-handed over to where the competition monitors were inspecting both kills and (in the case of the Pexeo) feather brought in. He presented the Goblin Shark and nodded his head back to where Toge was pulling the second one over, explaining that the two of them were to be credited with the kills.

Dongfang cared not at all about keeping any of materials that could be harvested from the beast. He wanted only his share of the the coinage offered the two of them once Toge decided what he was and was not keeping. Money, he was (unfortunately) learning, was something he needed to have a fair amount of if wanted to be able to live anywhere close to the level of comfort he was used to. And the Goblin Sharks, even with the heads crushed, were still one of the most monetarily profitable kills for the competition.

Once they finished up everything and had coin in hand, Toge pockets it but waves a little bit, beckoning Daqiang closer.

Then he held up his hand. "Salmon!"

High five? They did a good job, Daqiang would deserve the teenage brand of praise.

Daqiang looked between Toge's face and the hand held up, fingers slightly splayed. The 'High five!' was not something he was familiar with, but he got from context it had to do with the hand.

With a very confused and hesitant expression, Dongfang Qingcang raised his own hand with his fingers splayed in a similar manner, and then looked back at Toge for direction on what to do next.

That was alright, Daqiang raising his hand was enough and so Toge slapped his hand gently.

"Tuna mayo."

They'd done good work, and so he thought the praise was necessary.

"Good work?" he murmured back, looking at the hand that had been lightly slapped, then back at Toge.

He curled his fingers loosely and bowed his head in a polite, but stiff manner, and speaking in an awkwardly stilted manner, "Yes. Good work. 'High five'."

That was close enough. Toge smiled brightly and waved a bit before heading off now that he had some more coin in his pocket.

The next time they had the opportunity to work together again, he'd offer the same high five so hopefully Daqiang would remember it.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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ELTRUT

ELAH

NOGARD

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