Quests & Challenges

[center][img alt="The words Storm-Dark Skies: A Frigidfin Fodderlocke on a background of a stormy night sky"]https://i.imgur.com/EI77LTI.png[/img] [size=2]Everything ending in -locke requires a picture, right? I’m new at this.[/size] [/center] [i]A storm over the ocean is scaring away all of Clan Castoff’s fish! Can the clan’s dragons figure out what’s causing this catastrophe before they miss their chance to stock their pantry for winter?[/i] [center][emoji=cloud size=1][/center] My breeding projects are experiencing a brief lull (Coatls), so I am trying a very short(?) Fodderlocke for the duration of the Frigidfin Expedition. If I like it, I might continue it through NotN. And if [i]you[/i] like any of these dragons, let me know and I’ll send them to you when they get knocked out of the Fodderlocke. They’re all available! One way or another, [i]everyone's leaving the lair[/i]. I am following the [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2806527/1#post_2806527]squidragon ruleset[/url] with (surprise!) [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/2806527/2#post_41900922]TheAwesoMew’s additions[/url]. Dragons who join the group are randomly assigned a personality/fatal flaw, and maybe a “horrified” mechanic for funsies. Randomization by [url=https://www.random.org/]random.org[/url]. [b]Warnings for:[/b] spookiness, kidnapping (non-graphic), native population’s warnings not being listened to, character death [list=1] [*][b]Too Close to the Storm:[/b] The fish stay away from it for a reason. Everybody’s gone, leaving no clues to help the other investigators. [*][b]Scandal/Romance:[/b] as normal [*][b]Bound by Fate:[/b] 50/50 randomization for romance vs. best friendship or similar. Not every binding fate is about love! [*][b]Fishing Trip:[/b] The clan still needs fish! We have so many Coatls! Coli until we get the venue's usual seafood. [*][b]Wandering Swimmer:[/b] We fished a dragon out of the sea! They are already horrified! Otherwise, same effects as Freeloader. [*][b]Investigation!:[/b] Two random dragons take some risks to learn about the storm. [*][b]Investigation!:[/b] Two random dragons take some risks to learn more about the storm. [*][b]Investigation!:[/b] Two random dragons take some risks to learn [i]even more[/i] about the storm. [*][b]Recommended by Rapacity:[/b] Add one of [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/76716415]Clan Leader Rapacity’s[/url] kids to the group. If none are available, a hatchling is fished out of the sea or washes up on the shore, already horrified by what they witnessed under the storm. [*][b]Sailing in a Storm:[/b] Even in a normal storm, this is a difficult and dangerous task. Something unavoidable happens to someone on deck, who is probably not the leader. Horrified dragons are more susceptible to this (roll twice for them). [*][b]The Storm’s Pull:[/b] It’s most effective on those with the least experience with it. Horrified dragons may or may not be more susceptible to this. [*][b]Progress!!:[/b] Even if nobody survives this investigative attempt, they will leave some kind of informative record for the rest of the party. [*][b]Pressure from On High:[/b] Rapacity is growing impatient and stressing out the lead investigator, which causes them to make a deadly mistake. If there’s a level tie among the potential successors, the new leader will emerge by personality rather than age. [*][b]Helping the Maren:[/b] The ocean is their domain. We just fish there. Two dragons of my choice fight through a venue of the Maren’s choice (random selection of the venues in which the selected dragons wouldn’t earn XP) until they earn 100+ treasure worth of a randomly selected food, material, trinket, health potion, or common chest drop from that venue. [*][b]Horrified:[/b] During the last activity with at least one survivor, somebody (random selection if multiple dragons survived) saw something that really messed them up. That dragon is not available for the next activity. They need some time to process what they saw. They return to the group with a Horrified marker and a new perspective, which may not (3+ on a 10-sided die) be a good thing. [*][b]Desperate measures:[/b] A risky investigative effort which may result in useful information (3+ on a 10-sided die) [i]if and only if[/i] anybody survives. [*][b]Ambushed!:[/b] Same effects. [*][b]Slightly Better Chances:[/b] The dragon is the cheapest adult from the Arcane, Lightning, Water, or Wind flights, not XXX (I’m saving for NotN!). [*][b]Mutiny!:[/b] If there’s a horrified dragon, they start/join the second group. If there are multiple horrified dragons, they’re selected randomly. If there are none, the mutineers are selected by personality. [*][b]Runes in the Wind:[/b] Same effects as Gettin’ Down with the Thievery. Extra life markers will be floating candles. Horrified dragons may or may not be more susceptible to this. [/list] Setup begins tomorrow.

[center][size=6]Exalted Investigators[/size][/center] They might not get exalted immediately because I like to save exaltation for Arcane flight pushes, but [i]that is their fate[/i]. [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/79481672][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/794817/79481672p.png[/img][/url][color=transparent][/color][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/91008223][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/910083/91008223p.png[/img][/url][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/78370413][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/783705/78370413p.png[/img][/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/90994725][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/909948/90994725p.png[/img][/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/62438921][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/624390/62438921p.png[/img][/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81629537][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/816296/81629537p.png[/img][/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/80703131][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/807032/80703131p.png[/img][/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/90914057][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/909141/90914057p.png[/img][/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/87977422][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/879775/87977422p.png[/img][/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/91084736][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/910848/91084736p.png[/img][/url] [/center]

[center][size=6]Setup[/size][/center] I’m starting out with dragons from the lair I’ve been having trouble getting rid of. The leader of our investigators will be [b]Radiance[/b]: [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/78370413][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/783705/78370413_350.png[/img][/url][/center] As much as it pains him to get his fur and feathers wet, Radiance’s father is the clan’s best fisher, and his mother is an Undertide (long story), so he’s had plenty of experience with the waters far below the clan’s Hoverview Vale lair and has met the local Maren. He’s well suited to lead the expedition. [b]Rule:[/b] If any dragon ever passes the leader in level, that dragon takes over as the new leader. The old leader becomes overconfident in the investigators' abilities and makes a fatal mistake. The members of our first investigative effort, randomly selected from my list of Clan Dragons Who Need to Go, will be: [columns][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/62438921][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/624390/62438921p.png[/img] [/url][nextcol][b][color=transparent]xx[/color]Kai[/b][nextcol][color=transparent]xxxzzzzzzxxxx[/color][nextcol][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/74725318]Nirya[/url] hasn’t made her any armor to model in ages (1 week). She’s bored and mildly curious about the storm, and Rapacity said someone has to go check it out.[/columns] [columns][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81629537][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/816296/81629537p.png[/img][/url][nextcol][color=transparent]xx[/color][b]Harbinger[/b][nextcol][color=transparent]xxxxxxx[/color][nextcol]This is exactly the kind of unusual activity the Arcanist commands his followers to report and investigate. In particular, the Arcanist finds clouds, high winds, and storms to be distracting. Even if the storm weren’t causing problems for the clan, it should be disbursed, in Harbinger’s opinion.[/columns] [columns][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/79481672][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/794817/79481672p.png[/img][/url][nextcol][color=transparent]xx[/color][b]Anatheia[/b][nextcol][color=transparent]xxxxxxx[/color][nextcol]As should be obvious to anyone who knows her, she’s an asset to any expedition, no matter its goals or dangers. The only thing she doesn’t understand is why she’s not the leader.[/columns] [columns][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/80703131][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/807032/80703131p.png[/img][/url][nextcol][color=transparent]xx[/color][b]Creativity[/b][nextcol][color=transparent]xxxxxxx[/color][nextcol]Rapacity asked for volunteers to investigate the storm, and they (specifically Fantasy, the head with the pointiest horns) volunteered. They didn’t really think this through.[/columns] I already leveled Radiance to 8 (I tried to get rid of him before and failed). Now I’m off to level our first four to level 6.

[center][size=6]Day 1[/size][/center] [center][b]Recruitment[/b][/center] Since I still have some dragons in my lair who need to go, the randomly selected recruits are: [columns][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/87446526][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/874466/87446526p.png[/img][/url][nextcol][color=transparent]xx[/color][b]Parker[/b][nextcol][color=transparent]xxxxxxx[/color][nextcol]If the investigators really want to find out what’s up with this storm as soon as possible, then they need more help. Parker volunteers.[/columns] [columns][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/76754521][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/767546/76754521p.png[/img][/url][nextcol][color=transparent]xx[/color][b]Parley[/b][nextcol][color=transparent]xxxxxxx[/color][nextcol]Parley refuses to say why he volunteered to help investigate the storm. Shouldn’t the fact that he’s ready to work be good enough?[/columns] Let’s see if they make it! Alas, both rolled 5s, off they go. [i]“He was standing right there by the window a moment ago!” The enchanted airship’s gondola door hung open. Radiance didn’t see Parley anywhere in the sky. Purple lightning flashed in the storm’s heart. The strange color drew shivers up Radiance’s spine. “He’ll catch up.” Parker sounded impatient, rather than certain. “If you’re really that worried about him, I’ll fly alongside and let you know when I see him.” By the time the airship set down in the meadow above the lair, Parker was gone too. Radiance would have to be more selective about who he brought near the storm.[/i] Let’s try that again. 11 failures (and an hour and a half, and several gems gained, and all my unnecessary lair dragons exalted, yes!!) later, Radiance finally found a dragon who might be steady enough to avoid the storm’s dangers: [columns][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/91008223][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/910083/91008223p.png[/img][/url][nextcol][color=transparent]xx[/color][b]Unnameed[/b][nextcol][color=transparent]xxxxxxx[/color][nextcol]Unnameed knows as much about magical weather as the next dragon, but since Radiance is paying for investigators, Unnameed is willing to investigate.[/columns] Welp, that’s an unfortunate name. On to the… [center][b]Drama: Scandal![/b] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81629537][img alt="Harbinger"]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/816296/81629537p.png[/img][/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/91008223][img alt="Unnameed"]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/910083/91008223p.png[/img][/url] [/center] The investigators were back on the airship and headed toward the storm when Harbinger said, loudly enough to be heard over the magical engine, “Hey, Unnameed! Your satchel is moving!” “Shut up back there.” Unnameed gave the satchel a forceful pat. Something inside yelped. “That cannot be comfortable for your pet.” Unnameed reached for Harbinger’s arm to stop him from opening the satchel, but Harbinger was too quick for him, and Harbinger found himself holding a Skydancer hatchling: [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/91131603][img alt="A Skydancer hatchling with Plague Common eyes, Magenta Savannah primary, Red Stripes secondary, and Cantaloupe Runes tertiary"]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/preview/dragon?age=0&body=65&bodygene=18&breed=13&element=2&eyetype=0&gender=0&tert=171&tertgene=14&winggene=2&wings=62&auth=a22f83b3a5491f33df3c682890d7671b3c2ecc27&dummyext=prev.png[/img][/url][/center] The hatchling squeaked, “Don’t eat me!” Harbinger glared at Unnameed. Unnameed shrugged, rattling the pearls that decorated his clothes. “The little guy tried to pick my pockets outside an inn this morning. I told him I’d eat him for a snack later, but..." Unnameed gazed out to the roiling black thunderclouds outside the airship window. "I guess I forgot about him.” “You kidnapped a child, then forgot about him. In your satchel. For most of a day?” Any remaining faith Harbinger had in Radiance’s hiring abilities blew away in the storm’s menacing wind. "I can help!" The hatchling wiggled out of Harbinger's grasp and flapped to the nearest window. "The other clans are talking about the storm too, but they're scared of it and they're stay away from it. Even the Lightning spies don't know anything about it!" How a hatchling knew who was and wasn't a Lightning flight spy was beyond Harbinger. It must be nice for the other clans to have all the fish they want, without a massive storm scaring them off. Radiance finally noticed something other than his own reflection in the windows and came over to ask, "Have you ever heard Clan Firewatch talking about the storm?" The hatchling landed on the floor to blink up at Radiance. "Who?" Well, that might disprove Rapacity's guess that her former clan loosed a monster storm on her specifically. The investigators would have to get closer to find out more.

[center][size=6]Day 2[/size][/center] [center][b]Recruitment[/b][/center] After [i]21 failed candidates,[/i] Radiance hired on Rubyk, who seems too positive to be affected by the storm: [columns][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/90994725][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/909948/90994725p.png[/img][/url][nextcol][color=transparent]xx[/color][b]Rubyk[/b][nextcol][color=transparent]xxxxxxx[/color][nextcol]Flying into a storm? In an airship?? Sign Rubyk up! And it's a weird storm, too! Of course she wants to know more about it.[/columns] [center][b]Drama: Ambushed![/b][/center] In the ocean below the investigators’ airship, far enough from the edge of the storm that Radiance was sure it wasn’t related, something reflected sunlight and lightning in a piercing pattern of flashes. Radiance flew down and landed in the water, grimacing and rearranging his wet feathers while he waited for the signaling Maren to present themselves. A blue-haired Maren head and shoulders broke the water’s surface. Flashes of light reflected off the tridents of several Maren warriors in the water beneath them. If Radiance hadn’t flown down alone, they all would’ve stayed underwater. “What business have you with the Shade-touched storm, dragon?” Radiance shivered, not just from the ocean’s chill seeping into him. The Maren ambassadors he’d met in the past were a lot more sociable than this. And the Maren dealt with all manner of Shade-touched sea creatures. They knew what its influence looked like. But how could the Shade influence wind and rain? “We’re looking for the fish the storm scared away, or any information about it, really. I don’t suppose you would point us in the right direction?” The Maren could, but they had no reason to help dragons. “It is touched by the Shade.” The blue-haired Maren spoke slowly, as if their accent or Radiance’s ignorance were muddying their message. “We are avoiding it until it goes away. You should do the same.” “How long do you think that will take? It hasn’t moved since it formed out there.” The fish migration wouldn’t last forever. The tiredness in Radiance’s legs from treading water was nothing to how tired the fish-eating dragons would feel if the clan ran out of food for them. The Maren shrugged. “It will take as long as it takes. Stay away from the storm, dragon.” In seconds, the ambassador and the warriors beneath them sank out of sight beneath the waves. [center][emoji=cloud size=1][/center] In the airship, the other investigators frowned and sighed at Radiance’s retelling of the Maren’s warning. “That’s all they said?” Anatheia huffed. “We’re on our own then. If we get closer, we’ll see what’s making that storm so dark and dangerous. It could be the Tidelord under there, for all we know.” Rubyk, the newest member of the team, gasped, “Really?” “Probably not, but take us closer anyway.” Unnamed shrugged his shoulder cannon into firing position, so close to his ear that it was amazing he hadn’t deafened himself with it yet. “It’s about time we see what Fade-touched things we’re up against. Maybe their bones will be worth something.” “Of course, the Maren must’ve meant Fade-touched creatures in the storm.” Radiance ruffled his feathers to help them dry faster. “Then we’ll kill the creatures, the storm will dissipate, and the fish will return.” Anatheia nodded. “Let’s do this.” Her interpretation seemed as likely as anything. [center][emoji=cloud size=1][/center] The dragons stared out the windows at the storm clouds their airship was rapidly approaching. All Radiance could see was windblown rain. Even the telescope on the bow failed to reveal any creatures, Fade-touched or otherwise, in the storm. “We’ll have to go in.” Unnamed unfurled his wings. Radiance shook his head. “Easy to say for a dragon without feathers to worry about keeping.” “Mine must be sturdier than yours.” Anatheia opened the door and lept into the wind with Unnameed close behind her. Radiance opened his mouth to call them back, but the words stuck in his throat as the stormclouds bulged toward them, suddenly more liquid than air. A growth of black cloud rose over the airship, higher and higher, a tidal wave of rain that would not fall, against the wind. Until it did fall, uncannily quickly for its size. The congealing cloud seemed to get faster as it curled down toward the airship. And when it hit, the impact felt more solid than any wave Radiance had felt before. The investigating dragons tumbled through thick rain. Lightning and thunder crashed around them. From the depths of the cloud wave, a dragon screamed. Radiance was flapping too hard against the wind to look back. Of the seven dragons under Radiance’s command, only five burst into the clear air alongside him. He saw none among the wrecked pieces of the airship sinking into the ocean below. The Maren had [i]not[/i] meant that there were creatures in that storm. The clan would be very lucky if there were fish within a day’s flight of it. And if that storm ever moved over the hovering island that sheltered their lair, the emptying larder would be the least of their problems. As the bedraggled dragons flapped toward home, Radiance began thinking of more drastic ways to dissipate the storm.

[center][size=6]Day 3[/size][/center] [center][b]Recruitment[/b][/center] After just 8 rejected applicants, Radiance is hiring on two new investigators! [columns][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/90914057][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/909141/90914057p.png[/img][/url][nextcol][color=transparent]xx[/color][b]Sant[/b][nextcol][color=transparent]xxxxxxxx[/color][nextcol]Note from Radiance: Sant seems capable of resisting the storm’s pull, but if anyone thinks her contribution to this team has room for improvement, please bring those criticisms to me.[/columns] [columns][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/87977422][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/879775/87977422p.png[/img][/url][nextcol][color=transparent]xx[/color][b]Baharak[/b][nextcol][color=transparent]xxxxx[/color][nextcol]Baharak suspects Radiance just hired him because he’s an Undertide, not because of his steady demeanor, enormous size, and experience with fighting Shade-touched sea creatures, which is why Radiance actually hired him.[/columns] [center][b]Drama: Helping the Maren[/b][/center] Since the Oculus had no more airships available for private clan use to investigate mysterious storms, Radiance waited in the prow of the clan’s fishing boat for the Maren he’d summoned. The same blue-haired ambassador he’d spoken to before swam to the surface, with a larger contingent of warriors beneath them. “What do you want our help with?” “May I have your name, first?” Radiance asked, buying himself time to think. How had they known Radiance wanted help? The airship wreck in the water near the storm, probably. “I am known as Calder.” The ambassador watched Radiance expectantly for an answer to their question. “We’ve talked it over, and a powerful enough wind-based spell should be able to blow the storm away from us. In whatever direction you wish, as long as it’s not toward shore,” Radiance added, before Calder warned him about the safety of the Maren who lived farther out to sea. “And you don’t have that spellcasting power on your own.” Calder nodded. “We’ll do it. For a price.” “Fair enough,” although really it was more than fair, considering how dangerous this storm was. Although, since it was in the Maren’s best interest to get rid of the storm too, Radiance was hoping not to drain the clan’s coffers on this alliance. “What do you want?” “Perdita bees.” Calder smiled sympathetically at Radiance’s surprised grimace. Perhaps that rare insect hadn’t been the ambassador’s first choice of payment, either. “This late in the season, our other trading partners have had difficulty finding them, but there must be some on your floating islands. Seven sacks full, and we will lend you our strength.” The memory of Anatheia’s screams from the depths of the storm, Radiance was almost sure they’d been hers, made him ruffle his feathers in the cold wind. The clan’s spellcasters needed all the help they could get. “We’ll bring them as soon as we can.” If they could find any. It felt too cold for bees to find anything to eat outside their hives. [center][emoji=cloud size=1][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/90914057][img alt=”Sant”]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/909141/90914057p.png[/img][/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/80703131][img alt=”Creativity”]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/807032/80703131p.png[/img][/url][/center] Rubyk refused to collect bees for the Maren (“Aw, I don’t wanna! Bees sting! I hate stings.”), but both Creativity’s heads volunteered, and this seemed like a safe time for them to get to know one of the new recruits, Sant. They spent the day hunting for bees’ nests among Hoverview Vale’s islands, and gained a measure of peace (and a second chance marker each) despite the distant thunder and the dark clouds that loomed across the ocean. The storm seemed to be moving at last, creeping slowly closer to the Hoverview Vale as Creativity and Sant looked through bushes and in crevices between hovering stones, searching for beehives. There were no perdita bees to be found. The last of the summer flowers had died, and the few that magic sustained year round weren’t enough to feed such active insects. “Check the larder,” Radiance ordered. Search there as they might, the dragons only found three crates of perdita bees, dried and stored for the clan’s faes. Ambassador Calder shook their head sadly at Radiance’s offer of less than half what he’d promised. “Our council doesn’t believe the storm’s effects can reach us. They want all seven sacks, or they won’t send our spellcasters to help you move the storm.” The storm had reached out to grab the airship out of the sky. Could it reach into the lair, if it came ashore? The clan couldn’t risk finding out. The mages of Clan Castout gathered in the meadow above the lair to try their wind spell alone. The wind kicked up to ruffle Radiance’s feathers and blew every dry leaf off their floating island to drift down into the sea. It howled around them with magical fury as it shot over the ocean toward the storm. The magical wind hardly pushed the storm back at all until it grew skyward, expanded over the waves, and absorbed it. This wasn’t going to work. They had to come up with an even larger spell to tear the storm apart. [center][emoji=cloud size=1][/center] ((Right, so those perdita bees drop “rarely,” and the training field is [i]so[/i] boring! We didn’t even make it an hour in there. Bad news for our heroes.))

[center][size=6]Day 4[/size][/center] [center][b]Recruitment[/b][/center] After 9 rejected applicants, Radiance is bringing in Meam, who absolutely does not have the energy to fling herself into the storm’s black heart. [columns][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/91084736][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/910848/91084736p.png[/img][/url][nextcol][color=transparent]xx[/color][b]Meam[/b][nextcol][color=transparent]xxxxxxxx[/color][nextcol]Yep. She’s here. Let’s go.[/columns] [center][b]Drama: Progress!![/b][/center] ((I swear I rolled this naturally. On the last day, I have finally gotten lucky)) [center] Guest starring: Clan Leader Rapacity [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/76716415][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/767165/76716415p.png[/img][/url] [/center] Rapacity sighed as she perched on a tree limb at the edge of the grassy meadow above the lair to look over the assembled mages from her clan and the dragons who’d investigated the storm, as well as most of the lair’s residents who weren’t hibernating. “I was hoping we could avoid this, but the storm keeps getting closer. We’re out of time.” At the front of the group of investigators, Radiance ruffled his feathers and straightened his neck, standing tall and proud. “We’re ready to do whatever it takes to keep the storm from absorbing the clan.” “We know a spell that should dissipate the storm, but we will need two things from your team. First, we’ll need you to protect the vessel as we sail out to the storm. We’ll stay farther away than the airship did, but who knows what else it might throw at us now that the wind spell empowered it?” Arcanist’s arms, but it would’ve been nice if that spell had worked instead of making the storm stronger. “We were gonna do that anyway.” The newest investigator, Meam, lifted her head with apparent effort to look Rapacity in the eyes. “What’s the worst part?” “The worst part is that we’re going to need anchors for the spell. Real, living ones whose energy will mark where to reflect the spell’s energy up toward the storm instead of out into the ocean. A tidal wave would destroy coastal dragon lairs as thoroughly as the storm, and I won’t drop the full weight of the spell on the Maren’s underwater cities.” The storm investigators bowed their heads and lowered their wings, with the exceptions of Rubyk and the new little one, Koulalice, who refused to go back to wherever he got kidnapped from despite Rapacity’s repeated offers of a protective escort and travel expenses. “Wait a minute,” said Rubyk. “Anchors go under the thing they’re anchoring. Are you saying those people will be [i]under[/i] the storm when your spell hits it?” “Yes.” Rapacity spread her wings to encompass the whole investigative group and raised her voice to be sure her translator for the clan’s Coatls could hear properly. “We’ve asked for the Maren’s help, but they declined. We tried a powerful wind spell that failed. This spell is the only way to dissipate the storm, but without anchors, it might wash away our lair, all the lairs in the [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/world-map?poi=55&view=land&viewpin=true]Starwood Strand[/url], and the Maren cities. Even the [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/world-map?poi=60&view=land&viewpin=true]Astrolodome[/url] and the [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/world-map?poi=59&view=land&viewpin=true]Tourmaline Archives[/url] would be at risk if we didn’t anchor the spell properly. I know this isn’t what you signed up for. But if anything can rid the world of that storm, this spell will. We need your help one last time.” [center][emoji=cloud size=1][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/78370413][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/783705/78370413p.png[/img][/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/90994725][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/909948/90994725p.png[/img][/url] [/center] On the trip out to the storm by the clan’s last remaining vessel, the fishing ship, Rapacity clutched the forecastle railing with all her limbs and her tail too. The storm was kicking up waves that the ship had to plow straight through, rocking all the mages who chose to conserve their energy on the ship instead of flying. Around the ship, Radiance’s Storm Chasers, as the clan had begun calling them, flew in a loose defensive formation. As the ship got closer to the storm, two dark splotches detached from it and swept toward the ship, riding the wind. Rubyk pointed excitedly. “Look! Anatheia and Unnameed are okay after all!” Creativity threw themselves into a jubilant midair roll. “Let’s go meet them! Maybe they learned more about the storm!” They flapped eagerly ahead, followed closely by Rubyk. “Stay with the ship!” Radiance ordered the Storm Chasers. Creativity and Rubyk must’ve been too far ahead to hear over the high wind and roaring thunder. He flew after them. “Come back!” As the dark splotches drew closer, their shapes resolved into dragons. They were indeed an Obelisk and an Imperial, but they didn’t look much like the clan’s lost dragons. In fact, the closer they got, the more stuttering and liquid their movements became. If it weren’t for the powerful wind, Rapacity wasn’t sure they’d be flying at all. [center] [img alt=”Shade-touched Anatheia”]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/preview/dragon?age=1&body=118&bodygene=41&breed=8&element=7&eyetype=12&gender=1&tert=10&tertgene=38&winggene=41&wings=12&auth=677f0870bd6094c28fd0fb310434abb5a8b1fa07&dummyext=prev.png[/img] [img alt=”Shade-touched Unnameed“]https://www1.flightrising.com/dgen/preview/dragon?age=1&body=81&bodygene=41&breed=15&element=3&eyetype=12&gender=0&tert=118&tertgene=7&winggene=41&wings=157&auth=3d2db2294a276b779870545c59d0c7c20e222c35&dummyext=prev.png[/img] [/center] The Obelisk flew directly at Radiance. Radiance swerved, his eyes widening at the sight of the other dragon’s oozing skin and hair. When the Obelisk’s claws, and then hands, melted into Radiance, the Skydancer screamed and flapped harder, trying to fly away instead of fighting back. The Obelisk’s weight dragged him into the ocean. At the same time, the Imperial curled around Rubyk and dragged her down too. Creativity grabbed the Imperial’s tail with both hands. It oozed out of their fingers. Before anyone could do anything to help, Rubyk and Radiance were gone. [center][emoji=cloud size=1][/center] Creativity wished they could wipe the feel of that cold goo version of Anatheia off their hands. “Let’s get down there and pull them out!” Fantasy folded her wing just below the height of her upward-pointing horns to dive toward the water. Finesse kept her wing extended, pitching them both toward Fantasy for a moment before they righted themselves. “No! If we don’t protect the mages, the storm will make everybody into that Shade goo!” Creativity shuddered at the sense-memory of the goo on their hands. Together, they flew back to the ship. Maybe the water would dissolve the Shade dragons in it, absorbing their shadows just like the storm absorbed them. It was a good thing they did. On the deck, Radiance had gathered the clan’s mages in a circle. They stumbled and swayed with the ship’s motion, but the air around them glittered as they chanted. The storm chasers flew to the positions Rapacity had directed them to. The best swimmers would be in the water, ready to direct Arcane energy up at the storm and away from the Mare cities below. The best fighters and fliers, like Creativity, would form a ring around the storm, directing the spell’s energy away from the coastal lairs. Radiance was supposed to be among the fliers, and Rubyk should’ve joined the swimming group. “Spread out more!” Creativity called to everyone. Hopefully, the group still had enough anchors to make up for the gaps those dragons left behind. The storm clouds were pulling into themselves, rising like they did before they smashed the airship. This time, though, a pinkish orange glow was forming in the sky above the storm. The glow grew brighter than the lightning, and larger too, until it was almost as big around as the storm itself. Creativity imagined projecting all that energy into the storm, away from land. The light grew so bright, both heads had to shut their eyes. A louder roar than even the thunder shook them. Under it came the faint ringing of magic, like vibrating crystals in the stormy sky. [center][emoji=cloud size=1][/center] As the mages spoke the last words of the spell, Rapacity opened her eyes. A ball of pinkish orange fire rocketed down from the heavens, burning everything in its path. The storm clouds evaporated in the wall of heat in front of the meteor’s path. The distant screaming was too loud to come from the storm chasers, still anchoring the spell in place. Its gargling wail seemed to come from inside Rapacity’s mind, even though she sensed its origin in the storm itself. The giant fireball slammed into the ocean. Water and sparkling steam fountained upward, tearing through dark wisps of cloud that the fire hadn’t reached. Rapacity braced herself, but the wave of magic and water such a speedy impact should’ve caused didn’t come. The water fell straight down, and though Rapacity couldn’t tell for sure, she hoped that the lack of a tidal wave meant that the swimming dragons serving as anchors had directed the force of it back into space, where it wouldn’t harm anyone. Sunlight shone where the storm had once been. The wind calmed. The mages’ cheers were muted, but they felt the spell’s success as clearly as Rapacity did. The storm chasers had done their jobs well, and directed all the meteor’s force at tearing apart the Shade at the heart of the storm. The clan would never forget them. [center] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/62438921][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/624390/62438921p.png[/img][/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81629537][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/816296/81629537p.png[/img][/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/80703131][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/807032/80703131p.png[/img][/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/90914057][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/909141/90914057p.png[/img][/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/87977422][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/879775/87977422p.png[/img][/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/91084736][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/910848/91084736p.png[/img][/url] [/center]

Between writing anxiety, a formatting learning curve, and unlucky recruitment rolls, this took much more time than I anticipated (like... 4 hours per day??? More, possibly)! There’s absolutely no way I’m doing this for NotN, but I’m glad I tried it out. I wish I’d gotten to play with that horror mechanic, not that it would have made much of a difference to the storm chasers >:)

On the upside, the dragons I had trouble exalting are gone, the clan’s larder is fully stocked with fish, and I converted some of my treasure to gems without having to beg people for the conversion in a forum post. Thanks to two consecutive Dominance pushes with raffles, I made money! [Update: also I won a prize in the Wind raffle! Thanks, Shade-touched storm!] In related news, if you want a Narwin Fisher for cheap, DM me.

I wish you better luck than I had with this thing!