Quests & Challenges

[center][b][size=5]Day 1 Sunday - Cross-Country Skiing[/size][/b][/center] [center][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/682114/68211387_350.png[/img][/center] Aubrey is actually curious(instead of nervous) about the cross-country skiing match. It sounds so much like the [b]hunts[/b] in his daily routines, except it will be going under skis instead of on his paws. He had already adapted to a life on ice and snow, but he hadn't attended any competition based on them, so this year he decided to give a try.

@Disillusionist @Canisa @Deladria @Lundlaeva @Katsuokai @tigressRising @FinalFlight @Beezarre @styygian @8ooks @Kvon @Doozie @Watercolour @Stanzascale @Sinjin @Saronai @Noivurn @Farore @odyssia @Dessy @alagasianflame @shiro3tora @Elfydragon @Skaarsgard @lyrelore @Leopardmask @ArithMedic @AceChaser @ClockworkEclipse [i]testing out a before rollover recap this year as an early daily ping[/i] [center][size=5][b]Day One Recap[/b][/size][/center] [columns] [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=7165160][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/71652/7165160.png[/img][/url][nextcol][size=4] Good evening! We’re changing up the format a bit this year to maximize the amount of time everyone gets. There’s still a few hours left in the first day, but we’ve had 27 clans join us so far. That’s under last year’s first day entries, but there’s still time for more competitors to join us before the day is over! [/size] [/columns] [columns] [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=8023219][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/80233/8023219.png[/img][/url][nextcol][size=4] We’ve had some clans return after a few missed years, and our only clan to join us for every Winter Games is back again, starting off with a team event over at the hockey rink. It’s always nice to see returning faces year after year as the Gala is a chance for clans from all flights to reconnect and celebrate together![/size] [/columns] [columns] [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=7165160][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/71652/7165160.png[/img][/url][nextcol][size=4] Our own clan is busy this week, as usual. They have volunteered, once again, to help wrangle all the hatchlings looking for new clans over at the [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/baz/3201558/1]Crystalline Gala Breeder’s Showcase[/url]. If your clan is looking for an Ice Flight Ambassador, that’s the place to be![/size] [/columns] [columns] [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=8023219][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/80233/8023219.png[/img][/url][nextcol][size=4] We’re continuing with the Word of the Day this year - Monday’s Word of the Day is [b]Ghost.[/b] Even though our recap is technically before the end of the day, we’ll count any entries after this post. Sunday’s Word of the Day is still active until rollover. [/size] [/columns] [columns] [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=7165160][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/avatars/71652/7165160.png[/img][/url][nextcol][size=4] As always, seek out and ping an attendant if you have questions. They are here to help! We’ll be back tomorrow with another recap. Good luck! [/size] [/columns]

[center][b]Sunday - Slalom Skiing[/b] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/54000][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/541/54000_350.png[/img][/url][/center] Xenon, brimming with excitement, sidled up to the stadium. For a while, she simply marveled at the scope of the celebration - so many dragons in one place, and all manner of athletes and adventurers from across Sornieth gathered together to participate. However, the thing that she was perhaps the [i]most[/i] excited about was all of the snow and ice - despite the latent Ice Flight magic flowing through her veins, she'd been brought up between the Tangled Wood and the Viridian Labyrinth, and had never been somewhere so cold and pristine before. "Zara, [i]look[/i]!" she seemed to coo every few moments, though each time she turned, her [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/6454547]Guardian companion[/url] seemed to be lurking just at the edge of her vision, keeping to the shadows as much as the giant Guardian could in a place this crowded. "I'm glad you're having fun, kid," she'd respond, though her eyes continued to scan the crowd, ever on the [b]hunt[/b] for dangers to her young Charge. When it finally came time to compete, Xenon was nearly bursting out of her scales with excitement; Zara retreated from the shadows to crouch near the front to watch. She'd chosen to compete in the Alpine skiing event - she was speedy and agile, and though she'd never used skiis before, she was sure she would figure it out... right? [rule] [rule] [center][b]Monday - Curling[/b] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/8818576][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/88186/8818576_350.png[/img][/url][/center] Though one might not expect a Snapper to participate in a sport such as curling, Ahkka was happy to prove those thoughts wrong. Dedicated to scaling mountains and traversing frozen landscapes in search of elusive monsters, she had the skill to move across the ice and the strength to push the stone. Not even the crowd could intimidate her - though some of the spectators looked at the stout Snapper as though they'd seen a [b]ghost[/b] when she stepped onto the ice, she remained determined and resolute.

[center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/78688038][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/786881/78688038_350.png[/img][/url] [b]Monday - Alpine Skiing - Slalom[/b][/center] Palici flattened her crest as she shot down the hill. The poles loomed up ahead, and already her eyes were narrowing as she tried to gauge how quickly -- or slowly -- she would have to go, when and where to turn. [i]"It would be so much easier if I could just shoot through them like a [b]ghost[/b],"[/i] she thought, but she was smiling. She had faced greater challenges in the wilds of the Viridian Labyrinth before, and they had been exciting, but not [i]fun[/i] -- a competition like this, a display of speed and skill, was just the entertainment she enjoyed.

[center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81352755][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/813528/81352755_350.png[/img][/url] [size=5]Day 2: Monday - Figure Skating[/size][/center] Poor Sundance looks terrified out of her wits and seems ready to give up the [b]ghost[/b] at any moment. Just being around strangers was difficult enough for her; and now she had, for some unfathomable reason, agreed to perform solo in front of an audience? [i]And[/i] have her performance be judged? Not to mention the whole "skating" part of this whole deal, which was not her strongest suit in the slightest? Oh, she was having many a regret right now, and a very strong wish to fly back home and hide deep under Behemoth's roots... At least she's not here alone. The other fae of the clan are trying their best to encourage her and cheer her up, before her turn to enter the figure skating rink comes up.

[center][b]Monday - Ski Jumping[/b] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/83723945][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/837240/83723945_350.png[/img][/url][/center] Though he was just hatched today, a dragon named Apres knew he was born to do this. To sky jump. Ski jump, sky jump, same thing. He, his siblings and the other dragons in his clan that had hatched today cackled as they took jumping skis from one of their clan-mates. The mission was a success! Though they'll get into trouble later, Apres couldn't pass up an opportunity like this. It was his destiny to go flying through the air and look really cool while doing it. Even if the skis were very wide and very, very long! "Um, excuse me?" The hatchlings turned around to face a dragon that had been watching their antics, amused. "I'm afraid you can't enter the competition with those skis. They're meant for an Imperial, not a baby Nocturne. Folks will say that's cheating. Why don't I take these and see if I can exchange them for something that's more your size?" --- Meanwhile the dragon that had meant to be ski-jumping for the clan was searching for her equipment. She did hear the rumors that the Crystalline Gala was haunted this year (her own dad was being bothered by a very persistent [b]ghost[/b] for some reason) and in the end, assumed a [b]ghost[/b] has stole her equipment. Maybe they wanted to compete? She shrugged and went to inform her clan of the unfortunate news.

[center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/11147940][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/111480/11147940_350.png[/img][/url] [b]Monday | Cross-Country Skiing[/b] Imloth shivers in the wind as she surveys her opponents. This race will be a fierce one, she can tell; all the racers are stretching and preparing for the challenge ahead, their faces set and determined. Imloth is alone but that is not unusal; this fae has never been much for company. She moves through the lair as if a [b]ghost[/b], forgotten, unseen. Rarely does she speak and more rarely still is she acknowledged. It does not matter, though. Soon the only sensations will be the burn of muscle, the harsh breaths of exertion, the sting of cold air in tired lungs. Physical activity makes for good distraction. Still, before the race startes, her eyes wander to the stands and arrests on a familiar face. [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/9948463][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/99485/9948463p.png[/img][/url] Imloth's frills flick behind her. Speaking amiably to a fellow spectator is Alaska, the Ice Flight ambassador. She is dressed and glowing for the Gala, ice accents glinting off the edge of her wings, her frills spread and the ice emblem burning with frozen glory over her brow. She is a well-respected member of clan Vesta, and as ambassador of the current festival her presence at events such as these will be noted with much curiosity by the others. Their eyes meet, and Imloth understands; Alaska has come to watch. The younger fae presses her frills down in deference but Alaska lifts her chin and her own displays flair and Imloth can almost hear her chilly monotone in her head: [i]"You are my daughter-in-law, of course I have come to attend your competition."[/i] Imloth opens her posture, lifting her own head as pride trickles down her spine. Yes, of course, Alaska is right; Imloth represents the clan in this race. Any assuredness she has in her clanmates she should apply to herself, for they are one family, one working system, and she is part of it. Alaska's frills tip forward, pleased by Imloth's display of confidence. Imloth steps up to the starting markers. The wind still whips at the contestants, biting cold and uncomfortable even through layers of ski gear, but the little fae does not mind it for, indeed, it is the cold which has always given her comfort.[/center]

[center][b]Monday: Ice Hockey[/b][/center] Serenity decided to take a short break by browsing around the Gala stores. It seemed like there were rumours about ghosts haunting the Crystalline Gala this year, and many shops featured Ghost Hunting equipment or [b]ghost[/b] themed treats. The Skydancer browsed some of the candles from Southern Lights, those would make very good apparel indeed! She meandered from shop to shop, finally deciding to buy a treat for herself, and found her wallet missing!! Oh dear, had she been pickpocketed? She had been extremely careless, this was an event with many dragons after all. Distressed, she decided to make her way back to the booth to ask about her money, if there was a slim chance it had dropped and someone picked it up. As she walked to the booth, she saw a very curious sight. [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3203923/5#post_53293218]Was that her wallet, floating in the air?[/url] The Skydancer paled, wondering if the rumours of ghosts were true, and bolted for it. "Excuse me!" she huffed, shoving through a group of dragons putting on their gear. There were way too many dragons however, and she soon lost sight of her money. [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/19771070][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/197711/19771070_350.png[/img][/url][/center] Serenity was very upset, but she could not let a setback deter her from participating in more of the Winter Games. Ice Hockey seemed like a good activity for some stress relief - she would imagine the hockey stick beating up whatever apparition decided to mess with her! Through some amount of persuasion, she managed to convince the group of dragons to let her join in on ice hockey, and she gave it her all. It was a decent effort, at one point Serenity managed to channel her frustration into one giant swing, and scored a goal!