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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

[His mind in a whirl, Fenris moves to the anchor, waiting til the ship is close enough for him to start pushing on the wheel. Perhaps it would need more than one person, but Fenris was strong and slowly pushes the wheel, the anchor finally releasing the it moving more easily. Pulling it back up would be trouble, but that was something for them to figure out together later.

At the moment, he was more concerned about staying sane and not succumbing to the maddening howls that made voices ring in his head. Not so strong are you, my little wolf? but he shakes his head trying to clear them from his mind, not wanting to give in just to prove that voice wrong..

Still it takes an effort and by the time the anchor takes hold the ship is coming to an abrupt halt. It wasn't the best way to stop the ship with sails still up, but there were very few sailors with their right minds and those with were staying as far from the fray as they can.

At least it looks like most of them are down or stunned.]

[Indeed, once the anchor hits ground and the ship comes to a rough halt, dragging the anchor until it finally hit some rocks or coral to catch it, Eustace will have "finished" off the last one that tried to attack. He staggers slightly from the jerking movement from the ship, but after getting his footing he moves over to where Fenris is.]

They're all down... And looks like we're close enough to use a rowboat to get to the island.

[Of course the waters are far from calm, but... Not too rough they wouldn't be able to make it.

He then studies Fenris.]

How are you holding?

[The howls are much louder and stronger here...and it's now that even he is starting to feel some of it, a dull throb in the back of his head. But he continues to resist, and if Eustace has anything, and it's a strong mental constitution. How much longer it can hold, of course, remains to be seen, especially once they're on the island.]

This treasure better be worth it..

[He's already moving to lower a rowboat when he feels the eyes of the other man on him, he's not unused to being studied and observed, but the question tells him why he's being observed. It wasn't for his unique features then.

With a pause, he thinks about it, how his mind aches and his vision feels blurry, but eventually he nods. The loud howls were making it harder, but he thinks he can hold on.]

Well enough, though for how much longer I can't say.. Let us be quick about it.

[A nod before he'll help Fenris with the boat. Faster with two, after all, and soon it'll be down in the water and they follow along with it to make their way to the shore.]

Fair warning, the second it looks like you're starting to succumb, I'm knocking you out.

Good, I would not want to lose my mind as they have. I will do the same to you with little warning.

[With the boat lowered, he climbs down in it and starts to unfasten it from the ropes. Once dethatched, he grabs the oars and starts to row, wincing at the loudness of the howls as they echo around in his head.

He would fight it with everything he has, he does not wish to succumb.]

[While Fenris rows, Eustace keeps his weapon out. The source of those howls are still unknown, and who knows what else could be lurking around here, either in the water or on the shores. Which is why having a lightning based ranged weapon works extremely well in this situation.

But they'll manage to get across, landing on the beach filled with debris from other shipwrecks...and remains. A grisly reminder of what could befall them if they don't make it out, especially as once he steps out onto the beach, as if touching the sand itself makes those howls dig deeper into his bones compared to when they were out on the ship.

His ears flatten, a dark grimace on his face as he tries to mute out the sounds and focus on something else. Not even earplugs or any kind of noise canceler would help with this.]

Look for any signs... It's possible those who didn't survive still managed to find something to lead to the treasure.

[Fenris flinches against the first howls that sound as he steps on the beach, as if they found a crevice and started to claw at him. It really felt like a matter of time before he loses his mind. as if waiting for it.

But he steels himself against it and the wreckage around them that tells of what will happen to them if they aren't careful.

With a nod, Fenris starts to kick over bodies and search them as fast as he can. Perhaps he was being too quick about it, but he didn't want to be here any longer than necessary.

It takes some searching, but eventually what he does find is a scrap of paper that has some scribblings on it... but he doesn't know how to read so he hands the slightly damp parchment to the other man.]

Perhaps this holds a clue?

[It's fine, Eustace is doing the same. It's a shame, and it would be good if they could perhaps properly bury or cremate them so they end up like the undead from last month, but such things will have to wait until they manage to find these coins. He even tries to study the position of the bodies, how some clearly perished upon reaching the shore, attacked by those with them and those not, and some look as if they were turning back.

Had they found the coins? Some do look as if they were stabbed and robbed, so not impossible. Or perhaps they couldn't and were trying to escape before the curse took them, but were too late.

Just as he studies another body with signs of being attacked, he hears Fenris and looks over. Seeing the parchment, he walks over to take a look, brows furrowing.]

The ink is smudged, but... I think it says, "Under the earth... where it's quiet."

[...

Well it certainly seems like a clue, perhaps from someone's research before?]

Seeing as there is a whole island before us... [He sounds a bit discouraged but continues to look.] Either a underground cave or buried? But where to start..?

[Fenris doesn't think much of the bodies, but having seen the other man look them over, he also looks at them. Especially the person he found the paper off of, but still there was nothing before him that he could puzzle out, so he starts to move up the beach some, looking for any mouths to a cave.

It was easier than digging up the whole island in search when they didn't know where to start.]

Where it's quiet...

[He thinks for a moment before a thought strikes him.]

The coins are said to cure this curse. What if the howling is not as loud where the coins are?

[Which. IS NOT MUCH HELP BECAUSE WHOLE ISLAND but it's something...]

...We should move to where there are fewer bodies. Presumably the effect would be less compared to where they've all clearly fought and killed each other.

[And at least here there is a notable outlook of where there are there are larger amounts of bodies in one area, but not so much the further norther east he looks up the beach.]

[He takes the advice and moves away from the bodies, searching for something that isn't as blood stained. Moving away from the shoreline, he looks around.]

My guess was underground somehow, be it a cave or buried. Unless it is you are implying that wherever the coins are will be silent?

[As the other said, if they cure the curse, maybe it is silent there... he can feel his temples throb and his fist clench in a way he can't get it to relax, like he's losing a fight against himself.] Either way, hopefully it is close.

...I think it's both. It did say "under the earth," so your guess seems most likely. And as you say, I believe that "where it's quiet" implies it will be in an area where not only there is not a lot of environmental noise, but the curse itself. If we presume that, then the less bodies, the less strong the howling should have been.

[Normally he wouldn't say so much...but hearing his own voice over the howls somehow helps.]

Even I was starting to be affected by the intensity of the howling where most of the bodies were. It's worth a shot, at least.

[And he's going to continue walking as he speaks, heading towards what he thinks looks like where there seem to be less of the fallen.

And for everyone's sanity's sake, there will indeed be a cave nearby that Fenris can spot.]

[With a nod Fenris begins to move fast, away from the bodies, up and away from the shoreline because if it was so close then someone would have already found it but no. It has to still be here so he starts to look for a cave of sorts, perhaps a pit. There is a chance that they never were able to rebury the coins.

He can't unclench his fist at all as his ears ring and his head pounds, he can feel himself starting to get paranoid, can feel the way it makes him side eye the other man some... but he doesn't want this. So he shakes his head hard, trying to dislodge the thoughts, trying to make them fall apart because he knows better--

That's when he sees something, just before the treeline, it looks like something dark and open, like it dips under.]

There! Come! [Fenris runs for it, and it is a cave, one that he has to duck to fit into but once he does the howls almost seem to quiet a great deal, as if the wind doesn't blow into here.]

By the void.. [His fist finally start to unclench as he moves further into the cave.]

[Eustace only continues to march on in grim determination, the howls now unsettling him as they seem to reach deep into his core, into his blood. Although it's not really accurate to say he's related to wolves due to his appearance, he does have that ancient ancestry like all Erunes of his kind have. And it's this ancient heritage that the howls stir, making him grit his teeth as he has similar wary thoughts towards Fenris.

Really, could he trust this man? What if he just turned on him like all the rest? He was more used to working alone, anyway...

Idly is hand brushes the butt of his weapon, but it's fortunate that Fenris spots the cave and makes that run for it. It's enough to jolt him to his senses and quickly follow after, the relief of those howls immediately diminishing palpable as he lets out a held in breath in a low exhale.]

This should be the place.

[He then raises his hand and several orbs of light appear, formed by his lightning elemental magic he's gained since coming to this world and has practiced with. It's enough to illuminate the cave, revealing it goes in a few feet further, the ground undisturbed.]

And doesn't look like anyone else has been through here... But don't get careless.

[Will they just be lying around? Buried? Traps? They're close, but better stay on guard.]

[Fenris eyes the magic with some caution, but being in this place has taught him that not all magic is as it is in Thedas, not all magic is as dangerous or vile... and though he feels caution towards the magic this man uses, he chooses to believe in the integrity he's shown so far.

With a nod, Fenris approaches going forward with care, he's seen a number of traps in his time and has no desire to be ensnared by one again after what happened with the ghost ship. So, he moves slowly.

He takes his great sword and brushes the ground with it, disturbing the sand and rocks the dirt on the ground obscuring until the distinct sound of metal on metal is heard. The sharp scrape of his sword running over what could likely be coin of box.]

I believe we have found our goal.

[If they can get through this without any annoying traps that would be great. Maybe the curse alone would be a deterrent. And upon hearing the sound, Eustace nods and crouches down, taking the risk to brush his hand over the dirt to reveal the box beneath before pulling out his own knife to scrape through the dirt around it to loosen it further.

After a bit more digging, they can haul out the small box and set it on the ground for a closer look. It's definitely quiet around it, and they may realize that they can actually breathe and relax more in the silence granted by the box.]

This is definitely it... But it has a lock.

[A glance at him.]

How good are your lockpicking skills?

[Once they get the box up, Fenris feels sane for the first time in a while, he hadn't realized how close he was to attacking this other person until it quieted down and now that it was silent, he has enough thought to realize who he was becoming just a matter of minutes ago.

He was glad to have the the box nearby, to have his wits about him once more.

Problem is.]

Awful, I have been attempting to learn but... my skills are subpar at best. But I have an idea I can attempt.

Edited 2023-12-08 00:35 (UTC)

[...........Hm.]

Then we'll force it.

[ALREADY AIMING HIS GUN, READY TO BLAST IT WITH LIGHTNING—

And he will unless Fenris stops him.]

[Fenris thinks about stopping him for a split second and then just decides that forcing it is just as good and takes a quick leap back to get out of range.]

Force it is.

[Go for it, shoot that shot.]

[Ah, bless you, Fenris for not delaying this matter any further. Plus lightning should be pretty good to get this broken, right? Fate ~~dice~~ say a decent chance at least, so after Fenris is clear, Eustace will aim and pull the trigger, releasing a considerably strong blast of lightning. It's certainly enough to break that lock, even strong enough to make the box jump and knocked back a bit, the lid cracking open slightly to reveal a slight glimmer within.

It takes one last kick with the heel of his boot to break it completely open, and lo, the coins spill out.]

[Part of Fenris wonders why they didn't just take the chest as it is, but decides to not argue it, because it was already being blasted apart.

Stepping forward, he kneels down by the now blasted and kicked open chest and picks up a handful of coins while he looks at them more closely, curious what power they might hold. They are said to cure curses, he wonders if it's true.]

Seems we have found what we are after. [He pockets the handful of coins. There was plenty enough for them both to divide up fairly.]

[Eustace just wants to make sure the chest is legit. For all they know, it could be fakes or something else happening in this chest. If there was a trap and it exploded or something while on the ship...

So satisfied in seeing it, Eustace holsters his weapon and crouches down to take a handful of his share. As he does, his fingers brush against a piece of paper at the bottom and he lifts it up. ...Hm.]

Seems there are more of these coins scattered around the island.

[Fenris can't read very well so he doesn't bother to look over the man's shoulder at the paper.]

Is that what the paper implies? I suppose it makes sense to not bury one's treasure all in the same place.

[Seems logical, well then this one was theirs, he didn't want to deny others the chance to get something if they survived the journey here, but regardless, this is what they have earned.]

I would think so as well.

[He'll take one last look before he pulls out a pen he always carries and scribbles a note on the back of the paper before putting it back in the box and burying it.]

But unless you want to keep looking, we should get back. That crew will only last for so much longer before they to kill each other...

[He helps bury the box before standing back up.]

No, I have what I came here for, let us go before we have no way back.

[Coins now in his pocket, he is unsure if the howls will have any effect on them now, but he puts his sword back on his back before taking a deep and fortifying breath.]

There is no time to waste.

[He steps from the cave.]

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ELTRUT

ELAH

NOGARD

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