Quests & Challenges

Love love love where this is going and what's developing!

I think Zarzuela is my favorite character

@Jaspernoir

Thank you so much!

@pancakeswithabs

She's a good one, that's for sure.

First of all, beautiful art! Sometimes you've just gotta draw what you're feeling in the moment~.
And eeeeeeeeek, it's here ;;. Gotta get myself buckled in for the first rollercoaster alkdfjad.

@Sabariel

Thank you! I have another art pull coming up and I am excited to see where the inspiration takes me for that one as well!

Hehehehe, if all goes well, I will post the first challenge chapter today!

----- [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3244658/20#post_54490045]Previous[/url][/center] ----- [center][b][u]Day 14: The Tower[/u][/b] [item=almandine] Sentence: Writing[/center] ----- [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/85652760][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/scry?sdid=4200367&skin=0&apparel=42934,6027,552,490&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/84847674][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=84847674&skin=0&apparel=12900,431,44227,12914,20581,21848,12924,12931&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81270242][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=81270242&skin=0&apparel=50503,24892,42929,2978&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/82308090][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=82308090&skin=0&apparel=542,545,313,1706&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] The tower stretched high above the gathered dragons, crafted of smooth white marble. The highest point was so high that straining to try to see the top of it drenched Hime's eyes in blinding sunlight. The tower had not been here the previous day when Hime had hunted in the area. Beside her, she could feel Hansel tensing up, though she knew him well enough to know he was more excited than he was scared. "Are you ready?" He asked, reaching out to squeeze Hime's front paw. She grinned back at him. "With you by my side, I'm ready for everything." On the other side of Hansel, Zeil and Cure regarded the tower. The four of them together had promised to go through the challenge together, if they could. After all, they had been training together. "That's a lot of stairs," Zeil remarked, paling slightly. "You can fly, silly," Cure nudged her partner playfully. Hime could see in the pearlcatcher's eyes that it was not herself she was worried about. And without saying it out loud, Hime agreed. Despite her feigned energy, she could see how sunken the snapper's eyes, how stiff her movements were. This would not be easy on her, but hopefully, with the help of the other tree, she would make it through as well. "I wonder what's in there," Hansel remarked. There were some arched windows lining the tower, but most were too distant to peer within a get a sense, and any that were close just showed the same smooth marble making up the other walls. They would not have to wait long. Shui strutted forward, taking his place at the entrance of the tower, on a platform high enough to look down on the gathered dragons. [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/30081270][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=30081270&skin=0&apparel=29244,32034,768,23290,28149,32705,32701,744&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] "Brightshine Jubilee is upon us, which means it is time for the first challenge. Before you is a much, much smaller and much more deadly replica of the beacon of the radiant eye. I cannot tell you what is within the walls, only that it is not just stairs would will face today," The wildclaw's gaze fixed on Zeil, as if he had heard her earlier observation. "To pass the challenge, you must make it to the top of the tower alive. You have until sundown. As long as light shines on this tower, you have time. The moment the last beam of life leaves it, so does your hope of making it out alive. To prove you have made it to the top, you will be bringing me back a golden rose. This is essential. If you return without the rose, not only will you be forced to return to finish the challenge, you also will lose any chance of immortality - that rose is an essential ingredient that my lovely scientist will use to brew up a potion of immortality that all of the worthy will drink from once all eleven flowers have been gathered." "Why couldn't you just give us the flowers? If you are putting them in these challenges, why not just gather them together and brew it without all this trouble," Zeil called out. Hime winced. This was not the first fight the pearlcatcher had picked with Shui, and Hime hated how much it wound the wildclaw up. He didn't deserve any of this. "These flowers only bloom during the peak of their respective element during the festival, and only in land that has gained the blessing of the god of that element," Shui explained. "This challenge has been designed for you to display traits the god values - in this case, the Lightweaver." "And why can't you do this?" Zeil huffed. "Why should we do your dirty work." "You are forgetting," Shui's eyes burned, his voice turning to venom. "I do not owe you immortality. My immortality is assured, but I will only grant immortality to those who have proven themselves worthy. Now, enough questions. You are wasting precious daylight." The wildclaw kicked off the ground, unblocking the entrance to the tower. "Go!" The gathered dragons rushed to enter the tower, acutely aware of the passing time. Hime's group was near the back, one of the last to enter. The group let Cure enter first, followed by her devoted Zeil, then by Hansel, and then- Before Hime could set foot on the marble structure, Shui landed in front of her, cutting her off. "Not you," The wildclaw said. "You will stay outside and watch with me. After all, I need my protector intact." Before Hime could respond, she could hear Zeil curse from up ahead. "She's with [i]him?[/i] Hansel, did you know about this? I thought we could trust her." The pearlcatcher said, voice full of contempt. "Of course we can trust her!" Hansel said, jumping to her rescue. "She can't help who her charge is!" "Maybe not, but-" Hime did not hear the rest of Zeil's protests, as a marble wall had slid in front of the entrance, blocking it closed. "Enough of [i]that[/i] drama." Shui said, clapping his hands together as if dusting them off. "Come, I'll show you to where the best view of the participants are. Since you care so much for your little friends, you may as well be able to watch to see if they are safe or not." This was why Hime liked Shui. He was so considerate. Her disappointment about not being able to participate quickly evaporated, and she followed Shui to his cushy box seats. She could cheer her friends on from here, yes. She hadn't abandoned them. Shui had given her a way to be a part of both worlds. [center][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/9a138c26554e324936484ade5021b573/280633acce0f81d9-f0/s540x810/4749c14343af35096e06119b885d7bc79977c4c5.png[/img][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/84890344][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=84890344&skin=0&apparel=36025,31685,27766&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] Klassia had been the first dragon to enter, and was delighted to find that the paths shifted and changed once inside. She would be able to test her ability in solitude. She was sure she would be able to figure it all out if she studied it enough. The shifting staircases and moving walls had to have a system to it, especially if Myca was as intelligent as she claimed. But, perhaps, there was a bit of a shortcut. Summoning her magic, Klassia tried to use magic to divine a path. She was not surprised to be met with resistance - it would be too easy otherwise. Instead, she cranked up her magic, reaching out to the chaotic pools of untamed, un-elemental magic she had discovered in dimensions beyond those controlled by the gods. Very few dragons believed this to be possible, so there were very few known defences. Still nothing. Klassia frowned, feeling a few more dark feathers sprout. A mild consequence, she would only have reason to worry if they covered her entirely. A few pinions here and there were nothing. What was more troubling was that even this aberrant eldritch magic seemed to be blocked from divining the path. It appeared Myca was even more clever than Klassia gave her credit for. She was greatly anticipating their impending alliance, once she passed the challenge. [center][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/9a138c26554e324936484ade5021b573/280633acce0f81d9-f0/s540x810/4749c14343af35096e06119b885d7bc79977c4c5.png[/img][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/24340611][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=24340611&skin=0&apparel=37886,13083,15710,30057,30062,30061,30060&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/86667702][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=86667702&skin=0&apparel=19647,16235,19637,6030,1706&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] "Are you sure this path is the way? It looks to be going down," Zarzuela frowned as she peered at the staircase Sunny was gesturing towards. "Positive. When I checked it out, there was some weird gravity flip thing that messes with your perspective, but it leads us forward. The staircase up is a dead end, spike trap," Sunny said, grinning widely. "Isn't it useful to have a ghost on your side? Nobody else can pass through walls!" "Just as long as Shui remains unaware of your existence," Zarzuela reminded the tundra. "I dread to think what he would do to you otherwise." "Pffft, that's never going to happen!" Sunny laughed. "Come on, lets keep moving, we're so close to the top!" Zarzuela couldn't help it. Despite the dire situation she was in, she grinned. With Sunny around, it was impossible to be in low spirits for long, and her confidence was infectious. She was going to see her husband again, she really really was. She had to, because there was no other choice. [center][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/9a138c26554e324936484ade5021b573/280633acce0f81d9-f0/s540x810/4749c14343af35096e06119b885d7bc79977c4c5.png[/img][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/83964737][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=83964737&skin=50670&apparel=23028,23034&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] Drew ran, encountering dead end after dead end, but not faltering in their stride. They were going to beat this stupid challenge, they were going to prove to Shui it was wrong to test them like this. They were going to pass this challenge and wring that guardian's stupid throat. They had seen them, from one of the windows too small to exit but just large enough to allow the participants to track their remaining light. Why had [i]Hime[/i] been allowed to side-step the challenge? That privileged should have belonged to Drew. Just as the bitterness washed over the wildclaw once again, the wall in front of them began to shift - revealing another party on the other side: an obelisk, a pearlcatcher, and a snapper. Cursing, Drew turned and ran the other direction, ignoring Hansel's shouts at them to turn back, to join them. No, if Drew was going to pass this challenge, they were going to do it on their own merit. There was no other way to re-earn Shui's respect. And that, at the end of the day, was what mattered most of Drew. [center][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/9a138c26554e324936484ade5021b573/280633acce0f81d9-f0/s540x810/4749c14343af35096e06119b885d7bc79977c4c5.png[/img][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/86154300][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=86154300&skin=0&apparel=1152,546,6032,331,323,491,439&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/54068420][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=54068420&skin=0&apparel=49104,48176,18785,37374,37365,37385,37375,2980&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/86551097][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/preview/dragon?age=1&body=52&bodygene=128&breed=21&element=9&eyetype=0&gender=0&tert=1&tertgene=111&winggene=131&wings=8&auth=0f139b700929696078bc6dfaa1afb08aa9db2c10&dummyext=prev.png[/img][/url][/center] Octavia was having the absolute time of her life, and she knew Pearl and Shingle were as well. The navigation of the tower had been easy enough, as had the few monsters they had encountered. In fact, Octavia was wondering when the 'challenge' would actually begin. No sooner had the thought entered her mind did Octavia begin to hear the skittering of many, many legs. Beside her, Shingle swore under his breath. He was still panting heavily from their last fight. Pearl, on the other hand, had already rolled up his sleeves and was raring to go, despite the wound bleeding on his forehead. Soon, the monster came into view. This one was larger than the others they had fought, moving on high mechanical legs, a brain poking out of the body. This one looked more dangerous, and Octavia grinned. This was more like it. This was what she had left wrestling to find. And finally, she felt alive again. [center][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/9a138c26554e324936484ade5021b573/280633acce0f81d9-f0/s540x810/4749c14343af35096e06119b885d7bc79977c4c5.png[/img][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/86837423][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=86837423&skin=0&apparel=42029,41631,23713,18809&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] Merlot moved slowly through the tower, trusting his god with every step. After all, his god had lead him here, and whether it was to live or to die, he would accept the fate with open arms. He simply had to trust, and follow the path his god was opening up before him. This very act of putting his life on the line, this was the epitome of worship to the god of survival, and he hoped they were drinking it in, sustaining them, and making them ever stronger. [center][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/9a138c26554e324936484ade5021b573/280633acce0f81d9-f0/s540x810/4749c14343af35096e06119b885d7bc79977c4c5.png[/img][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/26684600][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=26684600&skin=0&apparel=31965,391,31588,429,10962,386,423&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/86370682][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/dressing-room/dragon?did=86370682&skin=46246&apparel=10967,31983&xt=dressing.png[/img][/url][/center] Capriccio stared at the tower in horror, watching as his creations trapped and attacked the dragons within. Behind him, Myca was peering over his shoulder. He could feel her trembling in excitement. "Look at this, look at all we have done. It is going off without a hitch," Myca said, raising a hand to Capriccio's shoulder. "You should be proud." "I didn't know it would all be for this," Capriccio said, feeling sick to his stomach. This apprenticeship was nothing like he had been expecting. He was working long hours, seperated from his wife, and now his creations, the work he had poured his very soul into, had been twisted beyond recognition, and was being used to terrorize and destroy. Capriccio had been right. This would be his last apprenticeship. Because even if he made it through these years alive, he wasn't sure he ever wanted to invent ever again. ----- [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3244658/22#post_54505220]Next[/url][/center] ----- [center]@Pocketdog @Lixue @pancakeswithabs @Brasil @Disillusionist @VeniVidiVici @sedge122 @Crescentstar711 @RedSiren @Khyriana @Aquasparky @Leopardmask @BarbaraFett @SakuraSundae @Jaspernoir @Glitchtrap @Sabariel @Aetherstorm @Mutequill @LaSilva007 @chippertowns @Tirtouga678 @Murvax @Drachenschwinge @Calyrex @Lightwolf57 @QuietGhost @queerkestrel @GrinningWolf24 @NewmoonWasTaken @LeafyGaming77 @Reshiramu[/center] ----- And so the challenge begins! I wanted to give a snapshot of what everyone is doing! Probably even by next fest there will be too many dragons to do that with, so I wanted to take advantage of it this one time, especially as it is the first challenge! Next pull is an art pull! I might do it tonight before bed, but I also may be too tired and may just go right to sleep. Who knows!

Here we gooooo! Wasn't expecting Hime to be exempt though. I bet Capriccio would even be more sick to know that Zarzuela is part of the challenge, possibly facing his creations... Thank goodness she has Sunny ^^

And let the games begin... It seems that Hime is exempt due to her connection to Shui and that is getting on Drew's nerves. Zeil proves she's the rebellious one of the bunch by asking many, and things get interesting. It's like the Hunger Games, but with dragons. I like the Octavia/Pearl/Shingle group too.

It's interesting to me that Octavia and her boyfriends made it through probably-intelligence-based puzzles so easily! Don't judge a book by its cover, I guess, not that Octavia had ever come off as dumb either. I love Merlot's strategy and thought process here too <3

Oh wow, the way Shui cut off Hime was brutal, and those Charge feelings sure have a way of distorting the thought process.... I like the parallels with Beneath the Boughs, with reaching the goal dependent on an item that can only be restored/obtained during the height of each deity's power.

I love the rivalry-slash-alliance between Klassia and Myca, how confident they both are and assured that they will prove their cleverness to one another, it's a cool dynamic.

I feel bad for Drew, they clearly have a chip on their shoulder about this whole affair, and they seem to be brute-forcing it instead of thinking it through or using intuition like the others--a notable contrast.