Quests & Challenges

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Eeu4zd5.png[/img] [size=7][font=times new roman][color=#CD000E][b]THE JAWS OF THE ABYSS[/b][/color][/font][/size] [img]https://i.imgur.com/w6FJJsL.png[/img][/center] This was inspired by Squidragon's [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2806527]Fodderlocke challenge[/url] and Pasafatu's [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/frd/1481136]Lovecraftian Nuzlocke Variant[/url]. I'm finally trying to do [i]something[/i] with my lore other than just having it sit in my head; I'll also try not to stress too much over updating this every day, to avoid burn out, so if you wish to be pinged for updates, just let me know. I hope you enjoy! [center][b][color=red]WARNING:[/color] This fodderlocke is horror based and will contain dark topics, such as ritualistic sacrifice, psychological horror, and body horror. Reader discretion is advised. Still want to follow along? Join the pinglist here to keep updated![/b] [pinglist=3753][/center] [center][emoji=gloom tile] [b]Overview[/b] [emoji=gloom tile][/center] [list=1] [*] The goal of the cult is to summon an eldritch abomination into Sornieth. This is achieved through the sacrifice of dragons and familiars. [*] The progress of summoning an abomination is tracked through the treasure earned from exalting dragons and hoardselling certain familiars. The cult must complete the summoning process (represented by amassing 5 million treasure) in order to successfully summon the abomination. [*] If an exalted dragon rewards gems, each gem is worth 1,000 treasure. [*] If everyone in the cult is exalted, the summoning process is [b]reduced by half[/b], as the abomination must expend energy in order to gather dragons and start a new cult. [/list] [center][emoji=candle] [b]Sanity[/b] [emoji=candle][/center] [list=1] [*] Each dragon who joins starts out with 100 sanity. As events unfold, however, they will all begin to experience things that will cause them to lose sanity as they struggle to comprehend what is going on around them. The leader automatically loses 1 sanity each turn; other dragons lose sanity based on what is rolled for Phase 2. [*] When a dragon reaches the 75, 50, and 25 marks, they will develop a new mania, or an existing mania increases in severity. [*] When a dragon reaches the 50 mark, a 6 sided die will be rolled for them each turn. If the dragon rolls a 1, they become Corrupted. If a dragon manages to reach the 25 mark without being Corrupted, the die will be replaced by a coin; tails will result in Corruption. [/list] [center][emoji=coliseum team] [b]Coli Drops[/b] [emoji=coliseum team][/center] The following drops provide a special effect: [list] [*] [emoji=eliminate][b]Eliminate:[/b] Oh, bad luck. Exalt them both. [*] [emoji=dna][b]Gene:[/b] Good luck! They’ve blessed you with excellent loot. Put an apparel item of choice on each to mark as given a second chance. If you would exalt them, instead remove the apparel. [*][emoji=eternal youth][b]Unhatched Egg:[/b] Pick up the 3 cheapest hatchlings off the AH, or pull 3 hatchlings from your fodder. Level them to 5 when they come of age. [*][emoji=firework] [b]Rally:[/b] The current party is motivated! If they would have to roll as to whether or not they'll get exalted at the end of this coli event, they automatically succeed and return safely to your lair. [*][emoji=tundra] [b]Ambush:[/b] Randomly choose one of the dragons in the current coli party. They flee and get the heck out. Immediately refresh, remove them, and replace them with a random other dragon. [*][emoji=ceramic jar] [b]Health Potion:[/b] Randomly choose one of the dragons. They become poisoned or injured for 5 turns. If they are rolled to coli or for an event involving RNG before the 5 turns are up, exalt them; they were too weak to recover. [/list] [center][emoji=sword] [b]Phase 1[/b] [emoji=sword][/center] [list=1] [*] Buy the two cheapest adult dragons off the auction house, or pull two adult dragons from your fodder. [*] Using a two-fodder trainer, level them both to 6. [*]Roll a 6 sided die for each. If you get a 6, the dragon has passed the test and may join the cult. [*]If a dragon fails, it is sacrificed. Repeat steps 1-3 until you get a recruit. [*] Any familiars that drop while training the potential recruits are sacrificed as well. [/list] [center][emoji=d20] [b]Phase 2[/b] [emoji=d20][/center] Roll a 20 sided die. Your next challenge is as follows: [list=1] [*] [b]Big Mistake.[/b] Three random dragons are thrust into immediate peril. Flip a coin for each dragon. If heads, the dragon survives, but loses 50 sanity; if this causes their sanity to fall below 25, they become Corrupted. If tails, the dragon doesn't escape and is exalted; any bonded dragons lose 20 sanity. [*] There’s a [b]Scandal[/b] afoot. Pick two of your ready to breed dragons at random if you have any. Put them on a nest. The babies will join the cult when they hatch. Level them to 5 when they come of age. If the parents would be exalted while they’re on the nest, wait until their nest hatches and then exalt them. If nobody is ready to breed, grab a random hatchling off the AH, or pull a hatchling from your fodder. A secret forbidden child or sibling has been uncovered. [*] [b]Difficult Times Forge Strong Bonds.[/b] Pick two dragons at random. They form a companionship bond and become more affected by each other's fate; if one is exalted, the other loses sanity. If one of the dragons is picked for this again, they become romantically involved and their fates are bound together. If one gets exalted, so does the other. [*] [b]Hunting Trip.[/b] Take any two of your dragons into a coli venue that is too low for them to gain experience (your choice). Go until you get a familiar drop and hoardsell it in sacrifice. [*] [b]Freeloader.[/b] Some random dragon has decided to hang at your place. Who is this guy???? Grab the cheapest adult off the AH, or pull an adult from your fodder. Leave them at level 1. [*] [b]Cult Activities.[/b] Pick two dragons at random. They have to go on a quest now. Raise both of them a level, and then roll a 6-sided die for each. If it’s a 1, exalt them as they failed their mission and were subsequently sacrificed; any bonded dragons lose 10 sanity. If it's a 2 or 3, they succeed, but lose 5 sanity. [*] [b]Cult Activities.[/b] Pick two dragons at random. They have to go on a quest now. Raise both of them a level, and then roll a 6-sided die for each. If it’s a 1, exalt them as they failed their mission and were subsequently sacrificed; any bonded dragons lose 10 sanity. If it's a 2 or 3, they succeed, but lose 5 sanity. [*] [b]Cult Activities.[/b] Pick two dragons at random. They have to go on a quest now. Raise both of them a level, and then roll a 6-sided die for each. If it’s a 1, exalt them as they failed their mission and were subsequently sacrificed; any bonded dragons lose 10 sanity. If it's a 2 or 3, they succeed, but lose 5 sanity. [*] [b]Recruit Them While They're Young.[/b] Grab the cheapest hatchling off the AH, or pull a hatchling from your fodder. Level it to 5 when it comes of age. [*] [b]Backstabbing.[/b] Choose a dragon at random who is not the leader. They are sacrificed and exalted. Any bonded dragons lose 15 sanity. [*] [b]Test the Newbies.[/b] Roll a d10 for each of your lowest-level dragons. If it’s higher than their level, exalt them; any bonded dragons lose 10 sanity. If they pass, but get a number in the upper half of their level, they lose 10 sanity. Raise the remaining low-level dragons by one level. [*] [b]Major Ritual.[/b] The cult engages in a risky ritual that can potentially speed up their progress. Roll a d12 for every dragon. If you get higher than their level, exalt; any bonded dragons lose 15 sanity. If they pass, but get a number in the upper half of their level, they lose 15 sanity. Raise all survivors by one level; the collective treasure amount of the exalted dragons is [b]removed[/b] from the summoning progress, but for the next few turns equaling the number of survivors, sacrifices reward [b]double progress.[/b] [*] [b]A coup![/b] Someone is trying to betray the leader a la the ides of march. If the leader has extra lives, the coup fails at the cost of a life. Pick a dragon to be the betrayer and flip a coin: Heads - The betrayer is forgiven and gets to live another day Tails - The betrayer is struck down and sacrificed, to serve as an example to the rest of the cult If the leader has no extra lives, exalt them. Determine a new leader from the remaining dragons. The highest level dragon will be it. If there is a tie, the oldest tied dragon shall be the leader. Level the tied dragon one level to make it better than its peers. Any dragons bonded to the previous leader lose 20 sanity. [*] [b]Pay the Price.[/b] Two dragons get into trouble with the leader and are punished as a result. Take them into a venue where they would not gain XP. They must fight until one of them faints, and then flip a coin. If heads, the fainted dragon loses 10 sanity; if tails, the dragon is sacrificed and exalted (any bonded dragons lose 5 sanity). The winning dragon loses 10 sanity, but does not have to flip a coin. [*] [b]Bad Weather.[/b] It's raining lightly outside, so, of course, rituals cannot happen today. Nothing happens. [*] [b]Take a Gamble.[/b] The two highest-level dragons undergo a risky ritual. Flip a coin. If heads, they both survive and gain a level; the next two turns, sacrifices reward [b]4x progress.[/b] If tails, take them both into a venue matching their level and exalt whichever one faints first; the treasure amount of the exalted dragon x4 is [b]removed[/b] from the summoning progress. Any bonded dragons lose 15 sanity. [*] [b]Ambushed![/b] Enemies have somehow located the cult's hideout! Flip a coin. If heads, most of them manage to escape; exalt one random dragon. If tails, two random dragons fall during the escape and must be exalted. Bonded dragons lose 5 sanity; the treasure amount of the exalted dragon(s) is [b]removed[/b] from the summoning progress. [*] [b]Rich Tastes.[/b] Even the wealthy aren't immune to the allure of indescribable power. Buy the cheapest XXX dragon on the AH and level them to 7. If the leader ever dies while they're around, they automatically become the new leader. [*] [b]A mutiny![/b] One random dragon decides to start a cult of their own, taking one other random dragon and one-fourth of the summoning progress with them. This new cult acts as its own mini-fodderlocke and does its own phases. Only one mutiny cult can exist alongside the main cult so things don't get out of hand. Any time this result is rolled by the main cult, one random dragon joins the mutineers. Any time this result is rolled by the mutineers, one random dragon goes back to the main cult. If only one dragon is left in the new cult, exalt the last remaining dragon and return one-half of the summoning progress to the main cult. [*] [b]Forbidden Arts.[/b] As the cult progresses towards their goal, they are rewarded for their efforts. Three random dragons gain an "extra life" in the form of a piece of apparel; if they are to be exalted for any reason, instead remove the apparel. However, their near brush with death also causes them to lose 5 sanity. [/list] [right][size=2]Images by [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/2257922]Poisonedpaper[/url][/size][/right]

[center][size=7][font=times new roman][color=#CD000E][b]THE SCARLET PYRE[/b][/color][/font][/size] [img]https://i.imgur.com/Xe2Uc45.png[/img] [emoji=left wing] [size=4][u][b]The Leader[/b][/u][/size] [emoji=right wing] [size=4][color=#2E0002][b][i]Courante[/i][/b][/color][/size] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/80820660][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/808207/80820660_350.png[/img][/url] The current enigmatic leader of the Penumbrum, with hidden plans and even more hidden goals. But does she truly understand what it is she is attempting to achieve? [emoji=sun] [b]Summoning Progress[/b] [emoji=eclipsed sun] [emoji=glimmer tile][emoji=glimmer tile][emoji=glimmer tile][emoji=glimmer tile][emoji=glimmer tile][emoji=glimmer tile][emoji=glimmer tile][emoji=glimmer tile][emoji=glimmer tile][emoji=glimmer tile] [b]375,347/5,000,000[/b] [emoji=book 2] [b]The Pawns[/b] [emoji=sword][/center] [columns][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/80820015][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/808201/80820015.png[/img][/url] [nextcol][size=4][color=#2E0002][i][b]Voodoo[/b][/i][/color][/size] Courante's right hand dragon, and the creator of the enfeeble collars. How did he acquire such power? [/columns] [columns][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/67537728][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/675378/67537728.png[/img][/url] [nextcol][size=4][color=#2E0002][i][b]Fiddler[/b][/i][/color][/size] One of the cult's primary hunters, formerly along with her older sister. Can she keep the apparent chip on her shoulder from becoming her demise? [/columns] [columns][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/76554453][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/765545/76554453.png[/img][/url] [nextcol][size=4][color=#2E0002][i][b]Sunny[/b][/i][/color][/size] The cult's main healer, and a striking dragon in how different his appearance and personality is compared to the others. Why is he here? [/columns] [columns][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81037251][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/810373/81037251.png[/img][/url] [nextcol][size=4][color=#2E0002][i][b]Slaughteredsun[/b][/i][/color][/size] A youngling whose naive enthusiasm landed her in far over her head. Will she swim, or sink to reunite with her brother once more? [/columns] [columns][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81218109][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/812182/81218109.png[/img][/url] [nextcol][size=4][color=#2E0002][i][b]RD-W22[/b][/i][/color][/size] A damaged robot who believes Courante to be someone called "Gelorum." What happened to them? [/columns] [columns][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81311923][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/813120/81311923.png[/img][/url] [nextcol][size=4][color=#2E0002][i][b]Deim[/b][/i][/color][/size] A law enforcer seeking to prove himself on his first solo assignment. But will he even be able to get out of here alive? [/columns] [columns][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81941243][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/819413/81941243.png[/img][/url] [nextcol][size=4][color=#2E0002][i][b]Adrastea[/b][/i][/color][/size] A young Fae bound and determined to rescue his sister from the Penumbrum. How will he handle learning of her ultimate fate? [/columns] [columns][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/82427594][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/824276/82427594.png[/img][/url] [nextcol][size=4][color=#2E0002][i][b]Nabooru[/b][/i][/color][/size] A mysterious Skydancer who appears to already be aware of what the Penumbrum is trying to accomplish, despite never having met any of them before. What else does he know? [/columns] [columns][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/86292745][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/862928/86292745.png[/img][/url] [nextcol][size=4][color=#2E0002][i][b]Battlesong[/b][/i][/color][/size] A dragon who has yet to show her paw, or even her presence, to anyone. What is she hiding? [/columns] [center][emoji=skull][b]The Consumed[/b][emoji=skull][/center] [columns][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/65572617][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/655727/65572617.png[/img][/url] [nextcol][size=4][color=#2E0002][i][b]Mystique - Event 2[/b][/i][/color][/size] One of the cult's primary hunters, along with her younger sister. Her lackluster performance provided the perfect opportunity to show the rest of the cult how Courante grants mercy exactly once. [/columns] [columns][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81121434][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/811215/81121434.png[/img][/url] [nextcol][size=4][color=#2E0002][i][b]Aralt - Event 4[/b][/i][/color][/size] A former crime lord in search of vengeance against a perceived wrong. His impatience lead him to make a hasty move against Courante, which proved to be his last. [/columns] [columns][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81136125][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/811362/81136125.png[/img][/url] [nextcol][size=4][color=#2E0002][i][b]Fonda - Event 5[/b][/i][/color][/size] An "ambassador" from a clan located in the Wispwillow Grove. While Veilspun are the original tricksters, he wasn't able to keep the wool pulled over Courante's eyes for long. [/columns] [right][size=2]Images by [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/2257922]Poisonedpaper[/url][/size][/right]

[center][size=7][font=times new roman][color=#CD000E][b]TABLE OF CONTENTS[/b][/color][/font][/size] [img]https://i.imgur.com/8weSOnZ.png[/img][/center] [columns][img]https://i.imgur.com/Sjl0XT1.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/WHpstIB.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/alKDEGM.png[/img] [nextcol] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2964848/1#post_52400788]Prologue[/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2964848/1#post_52455204]Event 1 [/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2964848/1#post_52477195]Event 2[/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2964848/1#post_52505444]Event 3[/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2964848/1#post_52618063]Event 4[/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2964848/2#post_52906696]Event 5[/url] [nextcol][color=transparent]_[/color] [nextcol] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2964848/2#post_54274511]Event 6[/url] [color=transparent][url=[/color] [color=transparent][url=[/color] [color=transparent][url=[/color] [color=transparent][url=[/color] [color=transparent][url=[/color] [nextcol][color=transparent]_[/color] [nextcol][color=transparent][url=[/color] [color=transparent][url=[/color] [color=transparent][url=[/color] [color=transparent][url=[/color] [color=transparent][url=[/color] [color=transparent][url=[/color] [/columns] [right][size=2]Images by [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/cc/2257922]Poisonedpaper[/url][/size][/right]

[center][size=6][font=times new roman][color=#CD000E][b]PROLOGUE[/b][/color][/font][/size] [img]https://i.imgur.com/OStro4w.png[/img][/center] “I wish to join you.” The cave was damp, its air humid and unusually warm. Every breath taken felt as if it was just about to start strangling, and every step was just wet enough to be felt, yet not wet enough to actually leave anything on the paws. There were no glowing mushrooms to be seen anywhere, though considering this was deep, [i]deep[/i] within the Foxfire Bramble, that was likely to be expected. [center][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/655727/65572617p.png[/img][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/765545/76554453p.png[/img][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/675378/67537728p.png[/img][/center] Instead, the only sources of illumination were braziers of fires that were more like smoldering embers, just barely going and casting almost no light anyway. Most of the dragons in the cavern didn’t seem to mind or notice; it was easy, even then, to see the bright pink colors of the Pearlcatcher that sat fidgeting with his pearl in the center. To one side of him, a brown Ridgeback, watching him with what could only be assumed was disdain; to the other, a Guardian of almost the same colors, bristling as if waiting for the chance to tear him to pieces. [center][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/808201/80820015p.png[/img][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/808207/80820660p.png[/img][/center] Ahead of him were two more dragons; a Skydancer with segmented, deep green scales, sitting to the side of a small outcropping covered in furs, upon which draped a blood red Mirror. She was the only one in the room wearing any clothing; sheer fabric in a slightly brighter shade then her scales, and gold jewelry adorned with rubies that still managed to glint in the dim light. A mask of similar materials covered the top half of her head, completely hiding her eyes, and a red glass vial holding some kind of liquid inside hung from her neck. A tense silence hung over everyone, as if they were all waiting for some kind of signal. Out of nowhere, the Guardian let out a snort, the Pearlcatcher jolting in response as his head snapped over to watch her rear her own up high. “And how do we know that you aren’t going to just bolt and lead others here?” [i]He would have never found us in the first place if that was his intention.[/i] The sentence wasn’t physically heard, instead worming into every other dragon’s mind as the Skydancer tilted his own chin up. [i]My circles are sound.[/i] The Guardian pulled her lips back in a snarl, her fins flaring slightly at the mental intrusion. “Pah. So far, all [i]I’ve[/i] seen from those oh so precious circles of yours has been fancy glowing,” she growled, turning her attention back to the slightly trembling Pearlcatcher. “That’s more likely to lead trouble here than keep it out.” [i]Just because you possess a skull thicker than a Greatshell, that’s squeezing your brain too tight to hold even the slightest inkling of how magic works, doesn’t mean that I am wrong.[/i] The Skydancer’s eyes narrowed at her. [i]The circles I use are almost exactly the same as the ones used to reinforce the arcglass of the Astrolodome. They. Are. Sound. No matter how much suspicion or how little understanding of them you possess.[/i] If looks could kill, he would be dead on the spot, as would the Pearlcatcher, when the Guardian’s glare shifted back to him, before she moved in closer. At this distance, the difference in size between them was even more obvious; if she wanted to, she could easily bite off his head and neck at once. “And what about the fact that [i]he’s[/i] an Arcane dragon, too? Couldn’t he just dismantle or disable those circles of yours if he wanted to?” The Ridgeback rolled her eyes, letting out a breath of a groan. “That’s enough. Courante is the one who decides, not you.” That only earned her a sharp snarl as well, the Guardian standing back up to glare back at her. Her fins flared as she stomped a foot, the Pearlcatcher’s flinch going unnoticed. “Shut it. It’s stupid to just let any random dragon wander in here and ruin everything before we even have a chance to start!” The Ridgeback started to stand up with a rumbling growl. “I said that’s eno-” Without a word, the Mirror lifted up a paw. The faint jingle of the jewelry was almost inaudible, especially with the shouting and growling, but everyone else collectively [i]flinched,[/i] as if a thunderclap had gone off right there and then. They all looked toward the Mirror, who simply flicked a single talon. After a few long moments, the Guardian hesitantly stepped back, looking away with a surly scowl. The Pearlcatcher let out a tiny breath, as the Ridgeback sat back down with a huff. The Mirror pushed herself to her paws, stepping off the outcropping with languid, fluid movements. She didn’t look at the Pearlcatcher as she stepped past him, and only said one word. “Come.” The Pearlcatcher watched as the Mirror strode into a large side tunnel to his left, never looking back to see if he was following, before his eyes drifted down to a worn, old-looking book with dull red covers, lightly bouncing on her hip. With a swallow, his tail curled forward to wrap around his pearl, and he kept it close to his side as he started to pad after her. Here, with not even the glowing embers that had been present in the main chamber, the darkness was absolute. The only reason the Pearlcatcher didn’t stumble or trip was due to the floor being unusually smooth and even; even as his steps faltered, the rhythmic jingling of the Mirror’s jewelry kept its slow, steady pace. Finally, a source of light ahead. It was dim and red, like the braziers, but it was far steadier, no flickering whatsoever. Silhouettes began to appear, revealing a row of stalagmites and stalactites each; with the dull light and the deep shadows, however, they looked disconcertingly like the teeth of a monstrous mouth. The Pearlcatcher paused slightly, but the Mirror seemed to pay them no mind as she stepped between them. Stepping through them was like hitting a wall of humidity, as the temperature spiked. The Pearlcatcher reflexively shook himself, but it didn’t get rid of that feeling of being drenched despite there being no water around. An uncomfortable sensation began to build on his scales, feeling like there was a slime or mucous growing on them; he quickly swiped a paw down his arm mid-step, and it came away with light sheen. On the other side of the rock formations, the tunnel opened up into another cavern, slightly smaller than the last one. Unlike the other cavern, this one had a startlingly large hole in the middle, one that was oddly circular, the red light emanating from further within and illuminating an occasional curl of what seemed to be steam. The floor around it was lightly sloping down towards it; anything that got dropped with enough force would roll or slide right in, a thought that made his tail curl more tightly around his pearl. Opposite of the tunnel sat another outcropping, slightly larger than the previous one. The Mirror, however, simply stopped at the edge of the hole, turning to finally face him and sitting down with her back completely to the pit, with no apparent fear of falling in. The light cast her front into shadow, except for the mask, which almost seemed to make a rosy, glowing halo around her head. She waited until he sat in front of her, his pearl going back into his paws, before speaking in a disarmingly soft voice. “Why do you wish to join us?” He started to nervously fidget with his pearl again as he mulled over his answer. “...It’s... the only option I have left.” Rather than asking for further details, the Mirror gave a single nod. “What can you offer us, should we accept you?” Another pause. She waited patiently. “I can... offer healing. Medicinal magic and knowledge. Whether it be injury or sickness.” Underneath her mask, the Pearlcatcher could just barely make out a small smile. “And what are you willing to sacrifice, to achieve your goal?” Her tone didn’t change, but a feeling of intense heaviness descended upon the two, making hairs in the Pearlcatcher’s mane stand on end. The pit was suddenly very visible behind her, his gaze being drawn to it. When he finally managed to tear it away, he looked directly down, his pearl outright spinning in his paws from how much he was fidgeting with it. And then the spinning slowed, until it came to a complete stop. For several long moments, he stared down at it. His paws started to tremble slightly, as he swallowed again. Even then, it took a couple attempts to get words out. “...I... I offer...” One final swallow, before he finally looked back up. “I... offer my... my pearl.” The Mirror didn’t audibly respond. All she did was gracefully stretch out a paw. She didn’t do anything to indicate impatience or try to hurry him up as he hesitated, staring down at his pearl again. His grip on it tightened, before he forced it to relax again, lifting the pearl up and placing it in the waiting paw. She didn’t move again until he finally let go, then carefully pulled back, cradling the pearl against her chest. “Welcome... to the Scarlet Pyre.” [right][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2964848/1#post_52455204]Next[/url]

[size=1]@firekitten830[/size] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2964848/1#post_52400788]Previous[/url] [center][size=6][font=times new roman][color=#CD000E][b]EVENT 1[/b][/color][/font][/size] [img]https://i.imgur.com/OStro4w.png[/img][/center] [center][b][u]New Recruit:[/u][/b] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81037251][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/810373/81037251.png[/img][/url] [b][u]Sacrificial Progress:[/u][/b] 9,196 [emoji=treasure] [b][u]Challenge:[/u][/b] [b]Freeloader.[/b] Some random dragon has decided to hang at your place. Who is this guy??? Grab the cheapest adult off the AH, or pull an adult from your fodder. Leave them at level 1. [img]https://i.imgur.com/vGzmkJn.png[/img][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/80820015][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/808201/80820015p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/67537728][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/675378/67537728p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/65572617][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/655727/65572617p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/80820660][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/808207/80820660p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/76554453][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/765545/76554453p.png[/img][/url][/center] [i]This is it?[/i] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81037251][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/810373/81037251p.png[/img][/url][/center] Sun flinched, her crests pressing against her neck as she ducked down. Next to her, Zanril stretched his unbroken wing over her, the Guardian slightly curling around her as if to protect his Mirror sister. It was just for show, nothing more. Both of them knew it; even without the Guardian and Ridgeback who had ambushed them and dragged them here, both dwarfing Zanril in size, even if their wings were still fully intact, the strange collars that had gotten snapped onto both of them were doing [i]something[/i] to their magic. Ever since hers had gotten put on, she had felt physically weaker, every action seeming to take more energy than it did before. The strange Guardian snarled, looking in the direction of a Skydancer. “What now? You wanted dragons. We got you dragons. We did what you asked.” The Skydancer’s antennae quivered as his heat signature flared slightly, and he started to step forward, only for another Mirror, whom he had been sitting beside, to speak up. “They shall do.” She gave the Guardian a look that felt pointed even with the mask. “For now. Take them to the Maw.” Zanril hunched down further, reaching one limb over Sun to physically stand over her. When the Ridgeback shoved him, however, he almost fell over, just barely managing to catch himself. Sun’s joints felt like they were locked up, her limbs frozen in place. She only started moving when the Guardian swatted her, catching her on her side and outright sending her flying a few feet. The Ridgeback moved in front of them, following the Mirror and Skydancer down a pitch black side tunnel. The only thing Sun was able to see was Zanril’s heat signature directly in front of her, tentatively stepping through the dark. She stayed as close to him as she could manage, brushing up against his tail and trying her best to keep in a whimper. She almost didn’t notice the building dim light, but she [i]did[/i] notice the row of stalagmites they stepped through. She dared a tentative peek through Zanril’s legs, only to immediately regret it. The massive hole in the center of the cavern was what was giving off the eerie light, but it was also giving off [i]heat[/i] as well, tendrils of it curling up from a source that rapidly grew brighter even just a few feet in. The Skydancer was standing close by, but the Mirror was moving around the hole to an outcropping on the opposite side. Once she reached the very end of it, she sat down, before reaching to carefully unlatch an old-looking book from a belt. It sat open on one paw as the other was held in the air, and the Mirror started to speak, presumably reading from the book. The language she was speaking in was unlike anything that Sun had heard before. It was almost like the opposite of the Coatls’ humming language, cacophonous and grating on the ears... but despite that, Sun found herself listening with rapt attention, hooked on every apparent word even though she couldn’t understand any of it. In the corner of her vision, Sun watched the Skydancer step forward, motioning for Zanril to lower his head. When he hesitated, the Ridgeback placed a paw on his head and forced it down, allowing the Skydancer to reach the collar on his neck. He held onto it for a couple of seconds, his eyes briefly glowing a bright pink, before the collar opened in his paws. As he stepped back with the collar, Sun waited for Zanril to spring into action, to either attack or grab her and try to flee. He did nothing, looking as frozen as she was feeling earlier. As she was feeling now. The Mirror’s speech seemed to reach a peak, and the paw she was holding in the air extended forward. The Ridgeback started to push Zanril forward. Finally, Sun was able to move, though it was barely enough to turn her vision to Zanril. He had finally broken out of his trance, but it was too late. By the time he started to struggle to break free, he was halfway into the hole and falling further. A single paw managed to land on the edge, only to slip off before it could dig its claws in. His scream echoed in Sun’s ears. ...No. He wasn’t the one screaming. It was her. The Mirror pulled her paw back again, continuing to read as if nothing had happened. Sun felt the Guardian start to push her forward, closer to the hole. She tried to dig her own claws in, but the floor was unusually slick, providing no purchase for her to use. “Wait. Wait!” It was like she had become detached from her own body, watching from behind a glass wall as her terror took over. “Please! Please, no! Please, I-I’ll do anything, please!” The Mirror abruptly fell silent. The Skydancer, who had been reaching for Sun’s collar, paused, as he and the other two turned to look at her. The Mirror’s entire attention, however, was on Sun; she felt herself freeze up again, any remaining pleas dying in her throat. She felt like the layers of herself were being peeled back, one by one, every single part of her becoming exposed for the Mirror’s scrutiny. Scales, skin, musculature, skull, and then finally the layers of her mind, as the gaze burrowed deeper and deeper, rooting around her deepest thoughts and basest instincts and most primal fears. After what seemed like an eternity, the Mirror slowly closed the book. Sun let out a gasp she hadn’t realized she had been holding, breathing heavily as if she had been running nonstop for an entire week as her limbs trembled and threatened to give out on her. She only realized the Mirror was approaching when she saw bejeweled paws step into her vision. She slowly tilted her head back, finding herself pinned once more by the Mirror’s gaze. “What can you offer us?” It took almost half a minute to find her words. The Mirror didn’t say anything else, simply waiting. “I... I can...” She felt her gut twist about itself, even as she lowered her head again. “I can... help with capturing dragons...” There wasn’t an immediate reaction. After a few moments, however, she felt a paw caress her cheek, gently tilting her head back up so she could see the Mirror’s slight smile. “I would ask what you are willing to sacrifice... but I believe I already have my answer.” Sun could feel something crumple inside herself, even as the Mirror pulled away and nodded to the Skydancer. She barely felt the collar fall off her neck, numbness spreading throughout her entire body. She faintly heard the Mirror whisper “come,” her body starting to move on autopilot to obey. The Mirror started to walk towards the exit of the cavern, only to suddenly stop in front of the Ridgeback and Guardian, turning her head slightly in their direction. “You [i]do[/i] understand what it is we are trying to achieve here, yes?” The two shifted uncomfortably. “Yes, Courante,” the Ridgeback mumbled. “Then we expect better next time.” With that, Courante slipped through the stalagmites once more, Sun following mechanically behind her. [center]* * *[/center] When the two Mirrors stepped out into the main cavern, they would come upon a rather curious sight; a Pearlcatcher, sitting on his haunches with his front paws raised in an appeasing manner towards a Gaoler almost twice his size, who was staring down at the former through a shaggy pink mane. The two looked over at the sound of claws tapping against stone, the Pearlcatcher standing back up to back away as Courante stared the intruder down. Neither of them were the first to speak, however; instead, it was the Guardian, who let out a snarl at the sight of the Gaoler once she and the rest of the group caught up. “[i]Another[/i] one? And another Arcane, too...” She turned to the Skydancer. “I’m almost starting to think that ‘protective’ circle of yours is a calling beacon instead.” [i]Please.[/i] The Skydancer pointedly ignored her glare as he stepped around her. [i]What reason do I have to sabotage this venture that I fully volunteered for?[/i] The Guardian opened her mouth to reply, only to find herself cut off when Courante finally spoke up, addressing the Gaoler. “And to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?” [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81121434][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/811215/81121434p.png[/img][/url][/center] The Gaoler briefly watched as the Guardian and Ridgeback started to step to either side, circling around to surround him. There was no apparent fear in his posture; if anything, there was only disdain, even as he turned his attention back to Courante. “I am Aralt. I seek dragons who will assist me in righting an injustice against me... and my seeking spell led me here.” The Skydancer briefly glanced at the Guardian, as Courante took a moment to mull over Aralt’s words, before giving a soft smile. “Come. Let us see what kind of arrangement we can make.” She glanced over at the Pearlcatcher. “Sunny. Our newest member needs tending to.” As she turned to lead Aralt back down the tunnel, Sunny blinked, before his gaze fell on Sun. His expression softened, and he padded over, his eyes landing on the Mirror’s crooked wing. “Oh, dear,” he spoke; despite keeping his voice soft, Sun flinched slightly, before finally breaking her thousand yard stare to look up at him. His ears drooped slightly in response, before smiling. “My name is Sunny. What’s yours?” “...” It took a few moments for her to response. “...Slaughteredsun.” Sunny couldn’t fully keep his eyebrows from rising at that, though he managed to keep the smile up. “It’s wonderful to meet you. Now, follow me, and we can take a look at that wing...” [right][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2964848/1#post_52477195]Next[/url][/right] ----- [columns][color=transparent]_____[/color] [nextcol][img]https://i.imgur.com/IOwZTJv.png[/img] [nextcol][center][size=5][font=times new roman][b][u]Event Summary[/u][/b][/font][/size] [size=4][font=times new roman][b]Slaughteredsun[/b] is recruited [b]Slaughteredsun[/b] loses [b]15[/b] Sanity from [b]Zanril's[/b] death [b]Aralt[/b] is recruited[/font][/size][/center] [nextcol][img]https://i.imgur.com/L2yzTI6.png[/img][/columns] >Add a win condition that requires exalting a lot of dragons >Do the recruit stage for turn 1 >Die rolls a 6 on the very first fodder WellOkIGuess.jpg

[size=1]@firekitten830[/size] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2964848/1#post_52455204]Previous[/url] [center][size=6][font=times new roman][color=#CD000E][b]EVENT 2[/b][/color][/font][/size] [img]https://i.imgur.com/OStro4w.png[/img][/center] [center][b][u]New Recruit:[/u][/b] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81136125][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/811362/81136125.png[/img][/url] [b][u]Sacrificial Progress:[/u][/b] [s]9,626[/s] 0 [emoji=treasure] [b][u]Challenge:[/u][/b] [b]Take a Gamble.[/b] The two highest-level dragons undergo a risky ritual. Flip a coin. If heads, they both survive and gain a level; the next two turns, sacrifices reward [b]4x progress.[/b] If tails, take them both into a venue matching their level and exalt whichever one faints first; the treasure amount of the exalted dragon x4 is [b]removed[/b] from the summoning progress. [img]https://i.imgur.com/vGzmkJn.png[/img][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/80820660][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/808207/80820660p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/65572617][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/655727/65572617p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/67537728][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/675378/67537728p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/80820015][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/808201/80820015p.png[/img][/url][/center] The air of the caverns, already thick with humidity, felt even thicker today, as Courante stalked into the main chamber from the Maw. Mystique and Fiddler lumbered in after her, as Voodoo took up the rear. All three found themselves suddenly stumbling into each other to avoid walking into the Mirror, who had come to an abrupt stop in the middle of the room. She didn’t turn to face them, but their skin still crawled at the tone that was bleeding into her normally soft voice. “Did I not tell you yesterday, that we expected better?” Mystique and Fiddler both grimaced, both of them looking at each other as if urging the other to speak up first. Finally, Mystique let out a huff. “Look, if we can’t find any dragons, we can’t find any dragons. It’s not our fault that almost no one comes around here-” She snapped her jaw shut when Courante suddenly spun around, taking slow, deliberate steps closer. The eye jewels of her mask glinted in such a way that they almost seemed to be glowing, their gaze piercing into Mystique’s soul; despite the Ridgeback being easily three times Courante’s size, she found herself frozen in place, her head rearing back as her wings tucked further into her sides. “If there are no dragons in the immediate vicinity,” Courante responded, her voice clipped and low, “then you search further away. A single dragon per day is [i]not[/i] enough to achieve our goals. It is not enough to appease Him.” After a few moments, she turned away, padding towards another tunnel that sat next to the Maw’s entrance, further in from the main exit. If she noticed the other members peeking out to watch her, she didn’t say anything about it; nor did she say anything about the Veilspun perched between Sunny's ears. “Come. We are going to attempt to fix your failure.” It took a few moments for Mystique to get her body to move, following stiffly after the Mirror. She could hear footsteps behind her, small, light ones that could only belong to Voodoo. The tunnel curved slightly to the left, with a gentle upward slant. It didn’t take much walking for it to open into a smaller room, just large enough that Mystique could easily move around, but not much larger than that. Shelves had been driven into the walls, holding jars, bottles, and other kinds of containers that were themselves filled with various materials. Two tables were pressed up against the right wall, one holding more containers that were filled with various colored fluids, and the other bearing neat stacks of papers and books. Candles were dotted about to provide lighting, albeit not very much, as usual. Mystique stayed in the entrance, watching as Courante delicately plucked seemingly random containers from the shelves, before turning to start forming some kind of ritual circle in the center of the room. Once she was finished with the elaborate design, she walked over to one side of it and sat down, only to lift up a paw when Voodoo started to step forward. “Mystique.” It was with a frown that Mystique carefully stepped forward; between the circle and the shelves, she just barely had enough room to sit down opposite from Courante. The Mirror used a claw to form a cut on the palm of the opposite paw, holding it out to let blood drip from the wound onto the circle, before looking up at Mystique and nodding to her. With a grimace, the Ridgeback proceeded to do the same, keeping her cut smaller and watching as her own blood hit the floor. Once she had apparently spilled enough, Courante opened up her book and began to speak in the strange abrasive tongue she used during the sacrifices. First her blood, then Mystique’s, started to shine, the crimson glow slowly spreading out through the lines of the circle. Mystique and Voodoo looked on, with trepidation and rapt interest each, as the circle lit up from the inside out. Once every single line was glowing, the light began to increase in intensity. And then, a sudden flash, and an explosion, sending both dragons crashing into the shelves. Even Voodoo, standing further away at the entrance, found himself knocked off his paws by the blast. He fell to the floor in a ball of feathers, rolling a couple of times before being able to stand up again. He cautiously approached once more, trying to peer through the smoke that had filled the room. [i]Courante...?[/i] A small hiss was the response he got, almost immediately followed by rumbling footsteps from behind, as Fiddler charged up the tunnel. “What in the Forum happened?!” The smoke bulged and broke, allowing Courante to step into view. Her cloak had a few large tears, and several wounds were just barely visible against her scales, their glitter obscured by soot. She was favoring her right front leg, the one that she had drawn blood from for the ritual, and her lips were twitching, giving brief flashes of her fangs. Fiddler stared down at Courante, then looked back up to the smoke. “...Where’s Mystique?” As if to answer her, the smoke started to dissipate, a large, dark, splayed out shape slowly coming into view. “...Hey.” Fiddler stepped over Courante and Voodoo, starting a small coughing fit when she breathed in some of the smoke. “H-hey. You dunce, get up already. This is no time for a nap, we gotta get ya...” By that point, she’d reached the mass, a paw coming down to start shaking it. She paused, looking for a response, before shaking again, harder this time. “Hey!” The mass shifted, and she suddenly stopped, staring down at it in complete silence. “...Remove the body.” Courante turned to walk away, then paused. “Fiddler.” It took a moment for the Guardian to look up at her. “Here is my advice, to the new head hunter.” Courante’s gaze was one of chilling steel. “Learn from your sister’s example.” Without another word, she turned and disappeared into the tunnel. [right][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2964848/1#post_52505444]Next[/url][/right] ----- [columns][img]https://i.imgur.com/IOwZTJv.png[/img] [nextcol][center][size=5][font=times new roman][b][u]Event Summary[/u][/b][/font][/size] [size=4][font=times new roman][b]Fonda[/b] is recruited [b]Courante[/b] and [b]Mystique[/b] are selected for the challenge [b]Tails[/b] is flipped, and the two go into the coliseum [b]Mystique[/b] is the first to collapse and is exalted, removing [b]18,822[/b] treasure from the summoning progress [b]Fiddler[/b] loses [b]15[/b] Sanity from [b]Mystique's[/b] death[/font][/size][/center] [nextcol][img]https://i.imgur.com/L2yzTI6.png[/img][/columns] Blagh, this was a rough ‘day.’ Another 6 on the very first fodder, then rolling [i]this[/i] challenge on top of it. I got tilted enough when this all first happened that I actually trained some more fodder and rerolled the challenge with the intention of ignoring this outcome... only to realize that I was getting ideas for [i]this[/i] result far more easily than I was the other one. *Sigh* Ah well. One of the downsides of being a writer who’s roleplaying with RNG, I suppose. At the very least, with everyone still being the same level, I had the freedom to pick the most narratively appropriate dragon to sacrifice. Rest in peace, Mystique. We hardly knew ye.

[size=1]@firekitten830[/size] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2964848/1#post_52477195]Previous[/url] [center][size=6][font=times new roman][color=#CD000E][b]EVENT 3[/b][/color][/font][/size] [img]https://i.imgur.com/OStro4w.png[/img][/center] [center][b][u]New Recruit:[/u][/b] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81218109][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/812182/81218109.png[/img][/url] [b][u]Sacrificial Progress:[/u][/b] 144,331 [emoji=treasure] [b][u]Challenge:[/u][/b] [b]Cult Activities.[/b] Pick two dragons at random. They have to go on a quest now. Raise both of them a level, and then roll a 6-sided die for each. If it’s a 1, exalt them, as they have failed the mission and were subsequently sacrificed; any bonded dragons lose 10 sanity. If it’s a 2 or 3, they succeed, but lose 5 sanity. [img]https://i.imgur.com/vGzmkJn.png[/img][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/80820660][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/808207/80820660p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81037251][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/810373/81037251p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/76554453][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/765545/76554453p.png[/img][/url][/center] “I do apologize for my behavior yesterday. It was very rude of me to ignore a guest, regardless of what was going on at the time.” Courante was visibly far more at ease today, draped across her usual spot on the outcropping. Her wounds were already far along the path to healing, thanks to Sunny, though her cloak was still rather tattered. [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81136125][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/811362/81136125p.png[/img][/url][/center] The Veilspun she was speaking to was perched on the very tip of the outcropping – something that Courante normally wouldn’t have allowed, but with how miniscule he was, making an exception was the most practical option. He simply smiled up at her, his hide and mane glinting like stars in the dim light. “I understand. Losing a member of your group so suddenly is never easy to go through. Truly, I find your dedication to fulfilling your tasks regardless remarkable.” Courante had a small smile of her own, but with the mask, it was impossible to tell if that smile was reaching her eyes or not. “Indeed. I am simply grateful that the rest of my little family is also pulling through so well. It seems this tragedy has inspired all of them to become more committed to their jobs.” “That’s wonderful to hear.” The Veilspun ran the claws of one paw through some strands of his mane in an almost absentminded manner. “But, ah, that does remind me of mine own task.” “Ah, yes.” Courante shifted slightly, crossing one of her arms over the other. “I must admit, I am very curious as to how you ended up in our humble abode.” The Veilspun’s smile grew, as he flicked the part of his mane he had been playing with over his shoulder. “I believe the best place to start would be introductions. I am Fonda.” He reared up onto his hind legs to give a near flamboyant bow, his mane swishing and rippling around him. “And I am an honored member of the Midnight Court. Ours is one of the oldest families among the Veilspuns, and with our kind venturing back out into the wider world, our patriarch has decided that it would be to our best advantage to... catch up, so to say, on all of the changes that have happened in Sornieth in our absence.” Courante let out a small hum as she mulled over this information. “Would I be correct to presume, then, that you would be akin to a scout for your clan?” “Of a sort.” Fonda settled back down onto all fours, idly playing with a part of his mane again. “Though more along the lines of an ambassador. Simply put, my tasks are to learn about the cultures that have evolved among all of these new clans and foster mutually beneficial friendships where possible.” “I see.” Courante gave a small nod, before tilting her head to one side. “That does leave me with another question, however. Why us, in particular? We’re not exactly near any bustling crossroads... nor any regularly beaten path.” Fonda’s smile became slightly more conspiratorial. “Well, I’m certainly not the [i]only[/i] ambassador that the Court has sent out, much less the first. Many of the places close to our home have already been covered by others who share my job. So I decided, perhaps striking out on my own and going to an area further away will give me better luck in finding a truly interesting clan to join.” He gestured behind himself, to the cavern’s main entrance. “And I would be lying if I said that it had been easy for me to find this place. I almost passed this spot over completely! I had a hunch there might be some more reclusive clans out here in the Bramble, but if there’s anyone else around, they’ve managed to squirrel themselves away better than [i]we[/i] had.” The hesitant tapping of claws from the direction the Veilspun had indicated drew the two’s attention, prompting them both to turn to the source. Slaughteredsun froze in place when her gaze met theirs, her crests pressing down against her neck. “...I’m sorry. I don’t want to interrupt, but... there’s... [i]something,[/i] near the main entrance.” “Something?” Courante echoed. “I... I don’t know what it is. It looks like a dragon, but it doesn’t [i]smell[/i] like a dragon, and the heat signature is all wrong.” After a few moments, Courante started to push herself to her feet. “I do apologize for this interruption, but this seems to be something that I should look into.” “Of course, of course,” Fonda replied with a nod. “I understand completely.” “We can continue to talk about this ambassador job of yours once I return.” With that, Courante followed Sun towards the exit. [center]* * *[/center] The thing Sun had been referring to was slowly lumbering about in circles, not even seeming to notice the brambles it was pushing itself through. It was extremely difficult to make out its shape with regular eyesight; most of its hide was pitch black, blending in perfectly with the darkness of the Bramble, with the only visible parts being the membrane of its wings, its belly, its eyes, and large spines that ran down what was presumably the back, all of which were a bright green that almost seemed like they were glowing. The two Mirrors stayed low and out of sight as they watched it stumble around. It was far easier for them to make out its shape with their heat vision; it seemed to look like a Ridgeback, but like Sun had mentioned, the heat signature was different from expected. Instead of a core of white that faded into darker greys towards the extremities of the body, it was white almost all over, with only a thin line of grey acting as an outline against the relative chill of the environment. Courante lifted her head slightly to sniff the air. There was a distinct tang of ozone and metal, but nothing to indicate flesh or blood. With a flick of the tip of her tail, she made her decision, and she started to slowly stalk forward. She could faintly hear Sun draw in a sharp breath, but ignored it, straightening up once she stepped into the tiny clearing the thing was inadvertently creating. “Might I ask what you are doing here?” [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81218109][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/812182/81218109p.png[/img][/url][/center] The thing came to a stop and turned to look at her; now that Courante was closer, she could just barely hear a kind of tiny whirring with each movement. “[font=courier new]G-G-Ge-Gelorum?[/font]” Each stutter was accompanied by a noticeable twitch, the thing’s head jerking slightly to its left, as a couple of faint sparks leaped out to disappear just as quickly as they formed. Courante paused, considering her options before answer. “...Yes. What are you doing out here?” The thing turned to face her, shifting into a straight, rigid stance. “[font=courier new]I have received damage to my processor. Most of my local memories have been c-c-corrupted, and I am unable to connect to the Network. As a result, I-I have not been able to make my way back to Command.[/font]” Courante quietly hummed to herself. Most of the words the thing had used were only faintly familiar to her, words that tended to be bandied about by Lightning dragons. But, from what she could infer from most of them... “Because you are not connected to the Network, I can not identify you. Who are you?” It was a gamble, but one that seemed to pay off when the thing responded. “[font=courier new]Designation: Ravager Drone-Worker 22.[/font]” A worker... Courante could only wonder if there were any other kinds of these ‘Ravager Drones.’ More importantly, however, with Mystique no longer in the picture, expanding the caverns had been a task that looked like it would be an outright hassle to do... Until now. “I will lead you back to Command. If you are not experiencing any extensive damage, then you will resume work while we fix the damage that [i]is[/i] there.” “[font=courier new]Understood.[/font]” With a smile, Courante turned and started walking back to the caverns, the ground beneath her rumbling slightly as the drone followed after her. [center]* * *[/center] Sunny couldn’t help but gape slightly as he tilted his head back, while the strange dragon-shaped machine stared back down at him. How on Sornieth was Courante able to act like this was completely normal? “Sunny.” Speaking of... “This is Ravager Drone-Worker 22. They are going to be expanding your medical room, to better allow you to work. I would like you to direct their efforts, as the expansion should best serve your needs.” “Of... of course. Of course.” Sunny finally managed to close his jaw, awkwardly clearing his throat. “Ah... Ravager Drone-Worker 22, was it? Come this way, please.” He turned to lead the drone down the tunnel, letting out a breath and slightly shaking his head. “I will admit, that is a bit of a mouthful. Would there happen to be a shortening that you would prefer?” The drone’s head jerked before they responded. “[font=courier new]Full designation: R-R-Ravager Drone-Worker 22. Call sign: RD-W22.[/font]” “RD-W22...” Sunny echoed, testing it out, before giving a small nod. “That works, yes. In here, then.” He turned to step through an entrance bored into the tunnel wall, RD-W22 ducking down to follow after him. The cavern on the other side was slightly cramped, especially with the large drone in there, with three nest-beds and a table set up against the walls, a spell circle carefully drawn on the floor, and motes of soft light floating about. Sunny idly tapped his claws against the floor as he looked around in thought, before his eyes landed on 22’s head. Unlike most of the rest of the caverns, Sunny kept this room well lit, to make it easier for him to assess any potential injuries or symptoms. As a result, the gash that ran down the side of 22’s head was plain to see, as was the circuitry and moving parts located inside that occasionally sent out a few tiny sparks. The sight of it was enough to make him frown slightly. “...Are you in pain?” 22 looked down at him, their expression inscrutable. “[font=courier new]...Pain: a distressing sensation in a particular part of the body. Negative. I p-p-possess a damage assessment program that accurately reports any damage I sustain. I do not experience pain.[/font]” “I suppose there’s that, at least,” Sunny murmured, giving the damage another glance. “Unfortunately, I don’t know very much about robotics, so I’m afraid I can’t help with repairing that. Hopefully someone who can manages to come along soon.” He then turned his attention back to the cavern, giving it another sweep. “...I suppose we could start out with the back wall, and lengthen this out a little. Then we can work on widening it.” “[font=courier new]Understood.[/font]” Without another word, 22 set right to work, stepping closer to the back wall and rearing up to dig their claws into the rock. Sunny tried to help out wherever he could, moving any rocks that he could pick up over to the entrance to get them out of 22’s way. Despite his efforts, 22 was still doing the bulk of the work, though, as far as he could tell, they didn’t seem to mind what little assistance he could give. He’d lost track of how long 22 had been working; he only realized something was up when he realized that he couldn’t hear 22’s digging anymore. He turned to find the robot standing at the wall they had been digging into, simply staring at it instead. With a frown, he started to walk over. “Is something wrong?” “[font=courier new]Unidentified substance located.[/font]” “Unidentified...?” Sunny conjured up another mote of light as he stepped around to the robot’s front. “...Oh.” 22’s digging had apparently reached a small pocket in the rock, which held... [i]something[/i] within it. It was a dark brownish-red, long and tubular as it threaded through the rock. As Sunny continued to stare at it, he realized that, whatever it was, it was twitching oh so slightly, expanding and contracting in an irregular rhythm. If he didn’t know any better, he would have said that it almost seemed like a blood vessel. “What on Sornieth...?” He reached up with a paw, hesitating for a moment before carefully touching the tube. It was with some alarm that he realized that it was far softer than the surrounding rock, the surface of it even depressing slightly under his talons. He wasn’t trying to put too much pressure on it, so he startled when the tube suddenly burst, yanking his paw back as a dark fluid cascaded down the wall. He glanced back up just in time see the broken ends of the tube swiftly vanish into the hole they had been running through as if yanked back, leaving that and the fluid as the only evidence that anything had been there at all. He slowly turned to look up at 22, who had appeared to jerk back as well, before turning back to the fluid. By now, the tang of copper was flooding his nostrils. “What...?” [right][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2964848/1#post_52618063]Next[/url][/right] ----- [columns][color=transparent]______[/color] [nextcol][img]https://i.imgur.com/IOwZTJv.png[/img] [nextcol][center][size=5][font=times new roman][b][u]Event Summary[/u][/b][/font][/size] [size=4][font=times new roman][b]RD-W22[/b] is recruited [b]Sunny[/b] and [b]RD-W22[/b] are selected for the challenge [b]Sunny[/b] is now level [b]7[/b] and rolls [b]2[/b], losing [b]5[/b] sanity [b]RD-W22[/b] is now level [b]7[/b] and rolls [b]3[/b], losing [b]5[/b] sanity[/font][/size][/center] [nextcol][img]https://i.imgur.com/L2yzTI6.png[/img][/columns] Phew, this one came out a doozy. I debated back and forth between keeping this as one post or breaking it up into two, but honestly, there wasn’t really a way to do so that would have left it in two relatively even chunks. So, apologies for the wall of text lmao.

I am s o in love with your lore writing! I want to write more lore for my own locke but uh, for another time wheeze. I'm subbed btw, awesome seeing a post!

@PhantasiDreamin Haha, yeah, the writing is actually the main reason why I decided to separate the challenge's 'days' from real days.

This is actually my second try with this challenge; the first time, I just tried to write less so I could do an event every day. The result was feelings of being rushed on too small of a deadline, and writing that didn't reach my standards at all, so I very quickly lost the motivation for that attempt.

Though, getting a mutiny very first thing, immediately followed by a coup, probably also put a bit of a damper on that lmao

[size=1]@firekitten830[/size] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2964848/1#post_52505444]Previous[/url] [center][size=6][font=times new roman][color=#CD000E][b]EVENT 4[/b][/color][/font][/size] [img]https://i.imgur.com/OStro4w.png[/img][/center] [center][b][u]New Recruit:[/u][/b] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81311923][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/813120/81311923.png[/img][/url] [b][u]Sacrificial Progress:[/u][/b] 47,807 [emoji=treasure] [b][u]Challenge:[/u][/b] [b]A coup![/b] Someone is trying to betray the leader a la the tides of March. If the leader has extra lives, the coup fails at the cost of a life. Pick a dragon to be the betrayer and flip a coin: Heads – The betrayer is spared and gets to live another day Tails – The betrayer is struck down and sacrificed, to serve as an example to the rest of the cult If the leader has no extra lives, exalt them. Determine a new leader from the remaining dragons. The highest level dragon will be it. If there is a tie, the oldest tied dragon shall be the leader. Level the tied dragon one level to make it better than its peers. Any dragons bonded to the previous leader lose 20 sanity. [img]https://i.imgur.com/vGzmkJn.png[/img][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/67537728][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/675378/67537728p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81121434][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/811215/81121434p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/80820015][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/808201/80820015p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/76554453][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/765545/76554453p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81037251][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/810373/81037251p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81136125][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/811362/81136125p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81218109][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/812182/81218109p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/80820660][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/808207/80820660p.png[/img][/url][/center] The Foxfire Bramble was the darkest area in the Tangled Wood bar none. Even the dragons of the Shadow flight, born and nurtured within the twilight gloom of their deity’s domain, could potentially run into trouble if they weren’t careful enough in navigating the twisting maze of vines and thorns. [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81311923][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/813120/81311923p.png[/img][/url][/center] Despite the pitch black that pressed in from all sides, a Mirror, bearing Ice eyes and almost shockingly pale colors, continued to push through what he could only assume was some kind of game trail. Regardless of whether it was or not, it was currently the path of least resistance, and the path that bore the faintest trace of his quarry’s scent. The assignment was simple; track down and retrieve the dragon called Aralt, who hadn’t been present during the sting operation that rounded up what was supposed to be his criminal group. Intel collected from their dragon on the inside indicated that he had recently gotten chased out by his former second in command. By all accounts, he was still alive. But just because he had ironically been lucky enough to not be present for the sting, didn’t mean that he could escape the justice he deserved. And while Diem might not have the scenting prowess of a Tundra, he had the instincts and cunning of a hunter. Not even the eye-straining shadows of the Bramble could keep him from his mark. As he continued to slip through gaps and brush past tangles of thorns, he tried to keep his pace steady and as quick as possible. The trail was at its freshest yet, a scant couple or so days old. He was catching up fast, and he needed to make sure he grabbed this opportunity before it had the chance to slip through his claws. A snap, one not made by his own movements. He immediately froze, carefully tilting his head back to scent the air. There was no breeze, which meant whatever made that noise had less of a chance of smelling him, but it would also make it more difficult for [i]him[/i] to smell [i]it[/i]. It quickly turned out that [i]who[/i]ever had made that noise wasn’t trying nearly as hard to stay hidden. More snaps rapidly followed, accompanied by groans and other noises of pain somewhere to his left. It was all suddenly cut off by a growl. “Move it! We haven’t got all day!” Diem wasn’t liking the sound of this one bit. He started to take a couple steps closer to the sounds, before pausing to reconsider. As dark as this place was, his colors made him stand out like a neon light. It would be far too easy for him to be spotted if he wasn’t careful, especially if any of these... what he could only presume to be dragons were Shadow ones. However... as the noises continued to move past him, he realized that they were going in the same direction that Aralt’s scent had been taking him. He hunkered down, waiting for the sounds to move in front of him and start to fade, before moving forward again. He made sure to keep a steady pace, slowing slightly whenever the sounds started to grow louder again. He almost stepped out into a sudden clearing before managing to stop himself in time. Peering out through the vines finally gave him the answer he had been prowling for. A small group of dragons, surrounded by the faint scent of fresh blood. From the movements he was picking up via heat signature, it seemed like most of them had been injured in some capacity, displaying postures of fear and trepidation. Only one of them, a large Guardian from their silhouette, was moving without hindrance, bringing up the rear of the group. “Get going already!” Diem’s eyes narrowed as he watched them all stumble into what appeared to be the mouth of a cave. Once they all disappeared and the echoes from within faded, he lowered his head, giving the ground a careful sniff. The blood stench partially covered it, but Aralt’s scent was still clearly there. After waiting a few more minutes, to ensure that no one was coming back out, he carefully stepped into the clearing and darted across it, plunging back into the thorns that surrounded the cave entrance. Yes, Aralt’s scent was there, as well. Diem frowned to himself. Why was Aralt rounding up dragons? His previous crime ring had specialized in the smuggling of illicit goods, not slave trading. The Mirror started to step closer to the entrance, only to pause yet again. There was going to be a [i]lot[/i] of activity going on down there, while they were doing whatever it was they were going to do to those dragons. Too large of a chance for him to be spotted, and he himself needed to rest and regain his full energy from his traveling. With that thought, he turned and threaded deeper into the brambles. He had the crime lord’s location, and there was no way Aralt could leave without him knowing. Now, it was only a matter of seizing the perfect opportunity. [center]* * *[/center] Aralt’s claws tapped out a slow rhythm on the stone floor of his personal chambers as he gave the wall a smoldering glare. Every few seconds, one of his ears would twitch, followed by the other, and then the first again. The silence had been deafening ever since he’d gotten here, and now the lack of that continuous, reliable ticking was making it almost overwhelming. He should have never given his beloved pocket watch to Courante. Why [i]did[/i] he even do that in the first place? When she had asked him what he was willing to ‘sacrifice,’ he could have answered with basically anything else. But no, he had to answer with [i]that[/i], and hand the watch over when she silently demanded it. According to his sleep cycle and the sacrificial schedule this bunch of lunatics engaged in - the only other things he had to track time with - it had been three days since then. Three days of petty drama. Three days of demeaning menial tasks all around the cave system, as if he was Courante’s work mule. Three days of absolutely [i]nothing[/i] to get him any closer to his own goal. When he ran his previous group, he expected results. When he followed the seeking spell here, he expected results. And he wasn’t. Getting. Results. His claws pressed down against the stone and dragged across it, hard enough to send tiny jolts of pain up his paw and arm. With a small growl, he pushed himself up, pacing restlessly around the room as he continued to stew and rile himself up. He didn’t hear the heavy footsteps slowly growing louder down the hall. Not until something else got his attention. [i]Fiddler.[/i] He flinched at the sudden mental intrusion, silently snarling in reflex, before turning to throw a sullen look towards the entrance of his chamber. The very [i]least[/i] that damn Skydancer could do was focus his telepathy to only whoever he wanted to ‘talk’ to. Aralt clearly wasn’t the only one happy with Voodoo, as a growl emanated from outside. “[i]What.[/i] If you’re suddenly getting a problem with how many dragons we’ve been bringing in again-” [i]Close, but not quite. I was looking over the enfeeble collars, and I’m noticing signs of damage. You and Slaughteredsun need to be more careful with them.[/i] Fiddler answered with a snort. “You can make more of them, can’t you? It’s not like we can just [i]ask[/i] dragons to put them on, pretty please.” [i]Yes, I can make more. But without the annual surge in the Arcane ley lines, I cannot make as many of them as quickly as I was able to during the Starfall Celebration. So these are still a precious resource that we can’t be callous with. That’s not the only issue as well.[/i] Aralt was about to turn back to his nest, planning to try to ignore the conversation as best he could. [i]If these collars sustain too much damage, the magic they contain can potentially escape. Explosively.[/i] He paused midstep, slowly turning to look at the entrance again. “So what, you’re having us walk around carrying [i]bombs?”[/i] [i]They are not bombs. That is not their primary purpose. Their primary purpose is to bring dragons in, [b]alive[/b], so we can achieve our goals. Which is why you need to take proper care of them, so they can perform their primary purpose without complication.[/i] “Ugh... fine. Whatever. You got anything else you want to bestow upon me, O Great and Mighty One?” [i]That is all.[/i] The conversation ended with a growl, before the heavy footsteps resumed, passing the entrance of Aralt’s chamber before fading away again. Aralt, however, stayed where he was, mulling over the information he had just gleaned. [center]* * *[/center] Everyone was just starting to get settled down for the evening when the explosion rocked the caverns. Cries of shock and panic immediately arose, as everyone scrambled out of their chambers to figure out what had happened. They almost immediately found themselves blocked off by a wall of smoke billowing out of the very first chamber. Courante’s chamber. Sunny was the first to snap out of his shock. “Quick, everyone get through, back to the main cavern! Hold your breath, don’t breathe the smoke in!” That got everyone else moving again. Despite Sunny’s warning, Sun ended up breathing some of the smoke in by accident, immediately starting to cough once she was on the other side. Once Sunny got through, he beelined over to her side, a soft pink glow surrounding a paw as he placed it on Sun’s back. Once the Mirror was breathing properly again, he looked around, doing a quick head count. “...RD-W22?” The robot was nowhere to be seen. Fonda alighted upon Sun’s back, his ears straight up and pointing towards the smoke. “...Do robots... need to breathe...?” After a few tense moments, the smoke suddenly swirled, 22 stepping out at the same methodical pace they almost always used. They were walking on their hind legs, using their wings to balance themself. Courante was cradled in their arms. She wasn’t moving at first, causing everyone to pause. Sunny started to step forward. “Is she...?” 22 lowered themself down, and Courante shifted, lifting up her head and stepping down once she was close enough to the ground. Smoke was emanating from her clothing, and the jewels that decorated her tail outright fell apart, clattering to the floor. She, however, was moving with the exact same grace and poise she always did. There wasn’t so much as a scratch on any of her exposed parts. “By the Arcanist,” Sunny muttered, before moving forward again. “Please, let me look you over real quick, just in case-” Courante held up a paw. “Not yet.” There was a chilly steel in her voice, as she looked everyone over before reaching with that same paw into her clothing. The thing she tossed onto the floor was almost unrecognizable, a twisted mass of steaming metal. It took a few moments of staring for anyone to figure it out, but Fiddler eventually spoke up. “...That’s an enfeeble collar, isn’t it?” “Yes.” At Courante’s confirmation, everyone turned to look at Voodoo and Fiddler, who both narrowed their eyes. [i]I take care of the collars far better than that, and I have no reason to intentionally sabotage one like this.[/i] Voodoo turned his glare to Fiddler. [i]That [b]is[/b] something I can see from you, however. Seeing as I warned you about this exact kind of thing earlier.[/i] “Baku Snout,” the Guardian snapped. “What makes you think I would do something this stupid?” “Perhaps the fact that your sister was recently killed in that... awful accident?” Aralt piped up, coolly staring down Fiddler’s snarl. “Dragons in grief will sometimes try to blame others for what happened, as a way of trying to cope.” Fiddler started to step forward, her head going low and ready to attack. “You little-” “Enough.” Courante’s word almost seemed to cut through the air, silencing everyone quickly. She glanced over at Voodoo, then Fiddler. “While you two [i]do[/i] handle the collars the most out of any of us... I know that it was neither of you.” Her gaze then cut over to Aralt. “[i]You[/i], on the other hand.” The Gaoler reared his head back slightly, his lips pulling back slightly to bare his teeth. “[i]Excuse[/i] me? I’ve never so much as [i]touched[/i] one of those collars. How dare you-” “Do you believe me to be blind?” Courante’s voice was far quieter, but it still somehow managed to cut Aralt off. “Do you believe that I do not know what goes on inside these caves at all times? Do you [i]believe[/i] that I am doing all of this... simply for fun?” She reached into her cloak again, opening her paw up to reveal Aralt’s pocket watch. “...” Aralt’s snarl grew even larger, as his ears curled back. “Really now? You’re going to be so [i]petty[/i] as to destroy my possessions simply because you suspect me of trying to kill-” Her talons curled back around the watch, and small arcs of a dark red energy started to crackle around the two. [b]”Silence.”[/b] Aralt suddenly went quiet with a small choke, his eyes going wide as he started to gasp. His body started to tremble as he tried to move, only to find his joints locked almost completely. “I am simply... going to teach a lesson.” Courante started to make her way to the Maw. [b]”Come.”[/b] Aralt’s body jerked forward, shuffling like a puppet on strings after her. She paused, turning to look at the rest of the group. “All of you.” While there was some hesitation, none of them dared to disobey. Sun was outright trembling, her wings pulled in as tightly as she could manage. Sunny reached one wing out in an attempt to comfort her, but his expression was grim. Voodoo’s antennae were laid back over his head, twitching and jerking, and Fonda’s movements were nervous as he fidgeted with his mane. Even Fiddler was deathly silent as they filed through the tunnel, clenching her jaws shut as her fins furled into themselves. The only one who didn’t seem to be phased at all by what was happening was 22, whose movements were the exact same as normal as they brought up the rear. Aralt was letting out wheezing pants as his body moved up to the edge of the pit. He was visibly struggling, trying to break free and completely failing. All eyes were wide as they watched Courante move to the outcropping, sitting down and curling her now bare tail around herself. With the paw holding Aralt’s watch, she pointed down to the hole. [b]”Jump.”[/b] [right][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2964848/2#post_52906696]Next[/url][/right] ----- [columns][color=transparent]_________[/color] [nextcol][img]https://i.imgur.com/IOwZTJv.png[/img] [nextcol][center][size=5][font=times new roman][b][u]Event Summary[/u][/b][/font][/size] [size=4][font=times new roman][b]Deim[/b] is recruited [b]Courante[/b] loses [b]1[/b] life to the coup attempt [b]Tails[/b] is flipped, and [b]Aralt[/b] is exalted[/font][/size][/center] [nextcol][img]https://i.imgur.com/L2yzTI6.png[/img][/columns] “Wow Llealy that sure is quite a bit of character development for a dragon who dies immediately after” Yeah it sure is :,)