Quests & Challenges

[emoji=coliseum team size=1][b][size=5]Day 116[/size][/b] Ongoing effects: Huxley is poisoned and loses 1/2 LP; Watery drowning is active against the Magicals: Journey loses 2 1/2 LP; The Mechanicals have Guard up; the Magicals have reflect up; Naner is burned; the Mechnicals have field manual active; Jayce is disoriented - he flips tails and will fight with the Mechanicals today and join them tomorrow; Whiteflower is disoriented - he flips tails and will fight with the Mechanicals today and join them tomorrow; Anesha is infatuated with Eleena, she rolls a 4 and will fight as a member of the Mechanicals today; Script is infatuated with Naner - she rolls a 3 and will fight with her own faction today Coin flip came up heads, so the Magicals go first. [size=5]Start of Day: The Magicals[/size] [b]Guaranteed Dragon:[/b] Blossom [b]Number of Battles:[/b] 78 So Blossom, Cero, and Script will be going into the Coli today, to Thunderhead Savanna [size=5]Coliseum Log[/size] Blossom achieves level 17! The whole team gets wiped out and loses 2 LP each except Blossom who reflects the damage onto Page (battle 21). A new team forms: Chrono, Elixir, and Eiriol, who go to Rainsong Jungle Eiriol achieves level 19! [quote="Notable Loot"] [item=falconclaw warrior][item=strange chest]x5[item=natural acuity fragment][item=might fragment][item=health potion][item=berserker][item=terra cotta vase] [/quote] [quote=adventure log][i]Story by Anesha, part 6/6[/i] The dragons knew that it was time to put it to an end. Help, if help would come, was immaterial: the ending had to come, and it must be soon. No more friends would be lose to the void. The Light-bringers stood ready. The beast would be summoned, one last time. The crystal spirits would help, for they wanted their realm stabilized as much as any other. Though the dragons knew not what the next day would bring, they knew one thing: this was indeed the end. One way or another. To be concluded [/quote] [quote]It's time. Time to bring an end to this whole, pointless charade. Time to finally make right those terrible events that I set into motion, though I can never truly atone for all the deaths I caused. Hix, this is for you. Ghost, Izzy, this is for you! I wish I'd been the father you needed. But now, at least, I can do what I should have done long ago. Reject the darkness within me, and fight it. Fight and rage against it until it gives way before the light. My dear Hix, I may be seeing you again very soon. ~Neptune[/quote] [size=5]Hoard Update:[/size] [b]Faction Finances:[/b] 30,274 treasure [b]Total Tallies:[/b] [LIST] [*]Familiars: 10/10 > 0/10 [*]Watery Drowning: 5/10 [*]Lightning Shock: 7/10 [*]Plague Contamination: 7/10 [*]Icy Congealment: 8/10 [*]Fiery Sear: 1/10 [*]Arcane Enfeeblement: 4/10 [*]Natural Venom: 5/10 [*]Earthly Fossilization: 3/10 [*]Light Enamorment: 0/10 [*]Shadow Shroud: 6/10 [*]Windy Disorientation: 0/10 [/LIST] Bought Ambush for Blossom The team would switch around tallies with Berserker, but it's the last day [size=5]Start of Day: The Mechanicals[/size] [b]Guaranteed Dragon:[/b] Geraint [b]Number of Battles:[/b] 108 So Geraint, Darkforge, and Plum will be going into the Coli today, to Training Fields [size=5]Coliseum Log[/size] Geraint and Plum achieve level 2! Darkforge achieves level 3! Geraint and Plum achieve level 3! Darkforge achieves level 4! Geraint and Plum achieve level 4! The team advances to Woodland Path! The team wipes out and each loses 1 LP (battle 24). A new team forms: Magma, Domnar, and Victoria in Ghostlight Ruins Magma achieves level 25! [b]the challenge is now over, and the Mechnicals win![/b] [quote="Notable Loot"] [item=broken flower pot][item=nebula starsilk scarf][item=strange chest][item=eliminate]*[item=bonebound chest]x2 [/quote] [quote=Expedition Journal]Geraint tried to send me back. But I don't want to GO back, I'm having fun here! So we fought and stuff, you know. It was all a bit confusing and fast, but I DEFINITELY know I knocked him out first. Definitely. Beyond one shadow of a single doubt! No one is making ME go back. !Darkforge wrote this [/quote] [quote=expedition journal]Day 116 Who has been writing these? This is why we should have brought in a dedicated recorder from the start. Oh, well. Live and learn, I suppose. I've been thinking over Dom's theories...perhaps we need to look to the future. To mine more carefully down here, llest we use the tolerence of the spirits. Much as they've already been much less than tolerant and understanding. I suppose I see what this journaling fad is about. Writing down your thoughts is surprisingly-- Wait, what was that? I just saw Magma run out of here like the cave was on fire. I'd better check this out. A log entry by Stormlight[/quote] [size=5]Hoard Update:[/size] [b]Faction Finances:[/b] 31,580 treasure [b]Total Tallies:[/b] [LIST] [*]Familiars: 2/10 [*]Watery Drowning: 4/10 [*]Plague Contamination: 0/10 [*]Shadow Shroud: 8/10 [*]Earthly Fossilization: 2/10 [*]Natural Venom: 0/10 [*]Fiery Sear: 6/10 [*]Lightning Shock: 7/10 [*]Light Enamourment: 0/10 [*]Windy Disorientation: 0/10 [*]Icy Congealment: 0/10 [*]Arcane Enfeeblement: 8/10 [/LIST] Ecto and Autumn's nest hatched! Meet the one who stays, Gloom! [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/99884921][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/998850/99884921_350.png[/img][/url] Due to Eliminate, they WOULD have taken out a ton of the other team, but since the challenge already ended I won;t be too concerned about it. I most put the last day drops here to see what I got. [size=5]End of Day[/size] [b]Dragons in Magicals:[/b] Neptune, lvl 14 (4.5/10); Elixir, lvl 20 (7.5/10); Chrono, lvl 20 (10/10); Eiriol, lvl 19 (4/10); Blossom, lvl 17 (2/10); Magus, lvl 14 (1.5/10); Traveler, lvl 10 (10/10); Inky, lvl 9 (8/10); Asclepius, lvl 15 (1/10); Whiteflower, lvl 5 (8/10); Cero, lvl 14 (0.5/10); Cremling, lvl 14 (2/10); Vera, lvl 8 (6.5/10); Hardcore, lvl 7 (8/10); Jayce, lvl 8 (10/10); Sweetpea, lvl 6 (10/10); Opportunity, lvl 7 (10/10); Fireheart, lvl 6 (4/10); Arrix, lvl 7 (12/14); Alhazred, lvl 7 (6/10); Cazmo, lvl 1 (10/10); Spicy, lvl 1 (7.5/10); Anesha, lvl 7 (8/10); Journey, lvl 1 (10/10); Byte, lvl 15 (8/10); Script, lvl 14 (1/10); [b]Dragons in Mechanicals:[/b] Stormlight, lvl 22 (10/10); Campion, lvl 14 (8/10); Domnar, lvl 22 (8/10), Victoria, lvl 22 (10/10); Jaxon, lvl 16 (6/10); Arvias, lvl 21 (4/10); Magma, lvl 25 (6/10); Naner, lvl 16 (6.5/10); Radiant, lvl 8 (8/10); Orangejuice, lvl 13 (10/10); Gimel, lvl 9 (10/14); Lurker, lvl 12 (7/10); Glenda, lvl 22 (10/10); Muse, lvl 14 (10/10); Page, lvl 9 (7/10); Codex, lvl 9 (7/10); Huxley, lvl 10 (4.5/10); Sunspot, lvl 12 (10/10); Eryena, lvl 10 (12/14); Eleena, lvl 21 (10/10); Apsalara, lvl 17 (5/10); Desertrise, lvl 5 (7/10); Taffy, lvl 4 (10/10); Ube, lvl 5 (10/10); Bayberry, lvl 12 (6/10); Spruce, lvl 6 (10/10); Moon, lvl 1 (10/10); Draco, lvl 1 (10/10); Ecto, lvl 1 (10/10); Gerwyn, lvl 1 (10/10); Autumn, lvl 1 (10/10); Darkforge, lvl 4 (9/10); Plum, lvl 4 (9/10); Emerus, lvl 1 (14/14); Trinia, lvl 1 (10/10); Lurky, lvl 1 (8/10); Omega, lvl 1 (10/10); Debirae, lvl 1 (10/10); Geraint, lvl 4 (9/10) And that concluded the challenge! The final write up will come sometime in the next few days with the last story.

It hit Magma like a bolt of lightning. Which was almost what literally happened. Stormlight was trying to fix whatever Darkforge had done to Script, who had been found wandering the caves sort of randomly, as if looking for something. She was unresponsive and cold, staring into space, just as she had been that day when she started attacking everyone. Magma was nearby, trying to offer whatever support she could, along with some of the other automatons. Mostly, in Magma's case, this meant she was preparing a special mushroom and moss stew for Stormlight and Jaxon to eat to keep up their strength. Script's back panel was a bit jammed, so Stormlight was prying it open with a claw. She was trying to go carefully at first, but she ended up getting frustrated and using a bit of magic to help her wrench it open. A bolt of electricity arced out of the wires when the panel finally sprung open, leaping through the air and zapping Magma, who was just approaching Stormlight to offer sustenance. She siezed up, making a loud beep noise as she fell to the ground, soup spoon clattering next to her. As Stormlight rushed over, calling out to ask if she was okay, she got up, eyes wide. "I know exactly where to go," she intoned, voice a bit staticy but still clear. Stormlight's eyes widened. "You mean?--" "Yes. Have Jaxon bring the pocket dimensional stabilizer and have the whole team follow me." "Well?" Stormlight demanded, turning to the rest of the automatons. "You heard her! Make the necessary preparations at double speed!" [img]https://i.imgur.com/Uk32FgD.png[/img] "Can you force it to appear here?" Chrono asked, fiddling with a few brass-and crystal instruments of unknown purpose. Elixir was nearby, mixing up a couple of fortifying potions with Asclepius's help. The light mage was still weak, golden eyes dull, but he wasn't about to chicken out now. Eiriol hovered neaby, worried eyes on Chrono making the preperations. Neptune fluffed his wings up. He felt ridiculous in the ceremonial outfit he was wearing, but that was the least of his concerns at the moment. "I believe I can, yes." He cast his eyes to the side. "I'll use myself as bait." His voice didn't waver even once, saying it. But there was an anguished cry in response, anyway. "Father, no!" it was Magus, of course. The bright boy had matured and grown so much since the death of his twin. It made Neptune ache, in both pride and sadness. "Let me be the bait. You know it will want me--it's tried before to take my magic." Neptune shook his head. "You are brave, my son, but I cannot let anyone else take any further risk for this problem that I created." "Don't be foolish." Neptune's head snapped up, sure for a moment that he'd heard--but no, it was Elixir, of course. She was sounding so much like her mother. "You didn't create this problem, any more than you created the Shade itself. And if what you mean is the darkness inside of you--that isn't your fault, either, and nor were Izzy's actions. No more than the rest of us who failed to stop her from giving in to her darker side." "She's right," Magus snapped. "We do this as we should have from the start--together." "It's ready," Chrono said at last, stepping back from the circle he'd set up--the trap. "We can finally bring this all to an end." "The spirits of the crystals are behind you," said Jayce, and Hardcore nodded, from her place on the wall where she was touching a crystal with each of her limbs. Chrono nodded to Magus and Neptune, who each drank a potion that Elixir offered them and then held claws, closing their eyes as Neptune started chanting. A darkness started to form from them, reaching out, becoming hands, becoming claws. Neptune and Magus felt themselves starting to sink into the floor--but there was a flash of light from Chrono's circle, amplified and reflected in each of the crystals lining the walls. The floor became solid again, and there was an ear-piercing, unearthly screech. And the dragons were no longer alone in the cavern. [img]https://i.imgur.com/NCCVZjt.png[/img] "Keep digging! We must get through!" Stormlight called, watching as the six Dusthides and Domnar continued to try and excavate the tumbled piles of rocks. The way had been blocked, everywhere they turned--and quite catastrophically, at that. They had to be careful getting in, or risk making the tunnels even more dangerous. Behind her, Victoria was shakily putting the finishing touches on a map, which Campion was holding up for her between his claws. Jaxon was operating their portable dimension protector, while Glenda stood nearby, casting a shimmering shield spell over the whole of the group with characteristic silence, but a big grin on her face. Eleena was keeping an eye out for signs of their brother, and the other automatons were toward the back, with Naner and Lurker standing guard over all. Everything was running smoothly, so Stormlight risked looking away from the digging operation to face Magma. "So," she said, and though she left it at that, there was more she could have said, should have said, in the weight of the word and her glance. Magma, who never feared much in her life, was nervous under that look. "So," she echoed. And then, stronger, "you're wondering what happened." Stormlight nodded. "I remember, suddenly. I remember...everything." She heard more than felt the other units shifting in the background, felt their attention on her. Page's, especially. "Everything?" Stormlight's eyes widened. "So...you mean...the other clan?.." Magma nodded. "It is as you've suspected. They had a very certain way of blending magic and technology, for the two clan founders were an Arcane and a Lightning alligned dragon. For a time, it was going well. They had a home, they had plenty to trade and experiment with, lots of power to harness. They grew wealthy, famous, bold. But then, as so often happens, they got greedy. They started to press farther and harder than they had before, hoarding resources and leaving whole sections of the cave barren. And then...the leaders had a disagreement." Magma closed her eyes at the memory, still painful all these centuries later. For it had indeed been that long. "Jethar, the mage, he wanted to back off, to try and dial things back so the cave could continue to be their home and that of their children's children for years to come. But Luthinia, the engineer, that great innovator, her heart had become greedy for more. She wanted to do an experiment, to see what their magitech was truly capable of. She wanted to lift the caves into the sky, like the great floating islands at Jethar's home. She knew it was possible, even though her own advisors warned her it would drain the crystals of their power. She went ahead anyway. And that was when the spirits of the crystals awoke." She closed her eyes, unable to go on--but she didn't need to. Stormlight stared, her face pale. Slowly, she turned to Domnar, to Victoria. For she could sense it in herself, had seen it, truly--she had that same greedy spirit as Luthinia. The need to innovate, to press forward, no matter the cost. But her friends--her friends had called her back. And she had listened. She wiped a tear from her eye. "Thank you, Magma, for telling me this. And thank you to all of you, for seeing this expedition through to the end. No matter what we find in there--we will harvest it responsibly." No sooner had Stormlight finished her speech than there was a joyful roar. "We've done it! We've broken through!" "Stormlight!" Domnar cried, his eyes shining. "It's what we've been seeking, all this time! It's the Heart of the Caverns!" [img]https://i.imgur.com/OGmmSyl.png[/img] The entity known as TENOT was in the cavern. And what's more, outside its natural home, it had been forced to manifest in a form they could view. It was still a monstrous thing. Nothing like a dragon, beastclan, beast, or any other being ever known on Sornieth. It was huge, and yet lithe, sharp, and yet fuzzy at the edges. It had no eyes and many, six wings or just two. It was ever-changing, a being of pure chaos. But Asclepius and Chrono had contained it, with the help of the crystal spirits. Golden chains encircled it around its many limbs, and as fast as it was breaking them, more appeared. But they couldn't hold it forever. Something or someone had to destroy it, for good. With shaking claws, Elixir handed her father and brother a potion, before drinking one herself. They all three screamed as the changes took hold, but Netune's cries were all the greater, for it was he who was turning into the opposite of the darkness that lay in his heart. When the changes were done, instead of three dragons there stood three beings of pure light. Chrono left Asclepius in charge of the circle and the chains so he could join in, as well. He needed no potion to become that which he was in his very center. His wildest side. The four beings of light rushed TENOT, maws open wide, light from them so blinding that none could look straight upon them, even though Eiriol was trying. There was a flash, during which even Eiriol had to shut his eyes, and a scream that grated on every ear and lasted for what seemed like a small eternity. When the light finally dissipated, there was no sign of the entity known as TENOT. All that remained was a smoking crater on the ground, with foul smoke rising from it. At first, there was no sign of the four dragons, either, but then the smoke began to clear and four bodies were lying on the ground. Eiriol gave a strangled cry and dived for the largest of the stil forms, feeling for a pulse on Chrono's neck with shaking claws. He gasped out a breath of relief as he found one, a strong, steady heartbeat, and cried as he lay his head on his mate's, "They're alive!" "Perhaps not all of them," Blossom said sadly, looking at the other three. While Magus and Elixir's chests were still rising and falling, Neptune lay very still. Wisps of darkness were coming off of him, and his body seemed to glow in the light of the crystals. Asclepius gave a worried cry, coming to rest his claws on the dragon. And then shook his head. "I think...I think his body couldn't handle the forces of light and darkness within it together." It was with very mixed feelings that the dragons ended that day. It was finally over...but they'd lost so much. And they'd lost the battle for the Heart, but that hardly mattered, now. They just hoped that the Dreambuilders were responsible with what they'd won. [img]https://i.imgur.com/huO5rq2.png[/img] The Heart was everything Stormlight had dreamed of. She found herself short of breath as she beheld that room, loaded top to bottom with crystals and giant deposits of copper and nickle and iron, seeming to stretch up into infinity. It was amazing. About to give the order, she felt a claw on her shoulder, and then the other. She turned to see Victoria and Domnar, with Campion beside them. She nodded to them, grateful beyond words. "We mine it," she said. "But carefully. We take what we need for now, and set up a secret teleport point to come back for more. But never too much at a time--some of you will live here, now, to be sure of that. To protect it. But only those who want to." Victoria's eyes widened, something like joy shining in them. "You mean?" Stormlight smiled and nodded. "Yes. Let it be known that the Dreambuilders of First Strike Valley have found the heart, and are intending to use its resources respectfully. In fact, we will share our bounty with our former rivals. Someone must go at once to inform them." Moon jumped up immediately, volunteering to take the message. Stormlight smiled, looking at her clan--no, her family. "I am proud of each and every one of you, of the help you have been to me on this venture. I couldn't have done it without all of you." "Except you, Darkforge!" Eleena shouted, netting an indignant "WELL! How do you like that?" from somewhere far up in the room. "Consider your duty done, if you wish to go back home. I will send you with fanfare and many gifts. But if you wish to stay, this can be now your home, as well. Let us not repeat the mistakes of those who came before" she paused to turn here to Magma, and the other automatons who came from the caves. "But pursue a new, brighter future, where magic and technology, the natural world and the march of progress, can all coexist and work together!" The dragons roared out their praise, and Stormlight felt something she hadn't in a long time. Peace.

Thank you for joining me, anyone who has been reading this thread! It's been a whirlwind of a journey, but I do love doing these challenges. In the coming days, some of the dragons will be exalted, some I will be keeping, and a few might be up for sale/adoption if anyone happens to be reading this and is interested!

I'll make a post with which soon.

@healthpoints Oh, you could have responded at any time! But I'm glad you read and enjoyed the challenge! I was also surprised Domnar managed to make it through all the way to the end. I was SURE he'd be the first to die!

As for the dragons up for sale/adoption, see the next post...

Dragons for sale: [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/98368530][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/983686/98368530_350.png[/img][/url] Blossom, 30kt [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/98902429][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/989025/98902429_350.png[/img][/url] Inky, 10kt [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/97377430][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/973775/97377430_350.png[/img][/url] Apsalara, 30kt [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/99385915][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/993860/99385915_350.png[/img][/url] Eryena, 30kt [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/98369663][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/983697/98369663_350.png[/img][/url] Vera, 15kt Dragons for adoption (free!): [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/98739479][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/987395/98739479_350.png[/img][/url] Whiteflower [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/99417787][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/994178/99417787_350.png[/img][/url] Sweetpea [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/99657658][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/996577/99657658_350.png[/img][/url] Cazmo [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/99657660][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/996577/99657660_350.png[/img][/url] Spicy [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/99718366][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/997184/99718366_350.png[/img][/url] Journey [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/98942970][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/989430/98942970_350.png[/img][/url] Gimel [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/99615628][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/996157/99615628_350.png[/img][/url] Taffy [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/99615629][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/996157/99615629_350.png[/img][/url] Ube [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/99657659][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/996577/99657659_350.png[/img][/url] Moon [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/99657661][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/996577/99657661_350.png[/img][/url] Draco [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/99738614][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/997387/99738614_350.png[/img][/url] Plum [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/99779510][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/997796/99779510_350.png[/img][/url] Trinia [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/99864563][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/998646/99864563_350.png[/img][/url] Andras [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/99884921][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/998850/99884921_350.png[/img][/url] Gloom [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/98575998][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/985760/98575998_350.png[/img][/url] Ecto [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/94908299][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/949083/94908299_350.png[/img][/url] Lurky [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/98555353][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/985554/98555353_350.png[/img][/url] Omega [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/95594730][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/955948/95594730_350.png[/img][/url] Debirae I'll hang onto them until New Year's at which point they'll probably be either exalted or (maybe) kept. Just let me know here or by PM if you want to purchase/adopt one!

@Kauria Aww, that's really sweet to hear! You'll be happy to know I'm going to keep Domnar now that the main story is over, and he'll get a full, proper bio at some point when I have time.

@healthpoints Sure thing! I'll send the CR!

Oops, sorry, I didn't see you had already sent one, tried to cancel the one I was sending, and instead canceled the one you sent. Sorry about that!