Quests & Challenges

[center][item=unicorn dust] [item=bright bolt] [item=intact parchment] [font=Copperplate][size=5]Welcome to Veilbreak, traveler...[/size] [font=Copperplate]...a bustling boomtown, laden with the promise of wealth and riches for those who wish to try their luck in the hills. The land is heavy with gold and other valuable minerals. A fortune is ready to be had for whoever dares to take it. The town of Veilbreak is home to a wide variety of attractions: Dirty Sally's General Store, a place where travelers can get a hot meal for a reasonable price, or whatever random trinkets they may desire; Lily May's Bed and Breakfast, which sports a tattered wooden sign bearing the message THE BEST ROOMS AROUND! (this feat is not hard to achieve, since they're also the [i]only[/i] rooms around); and the Tipsy Teacup, Veilbreak's ever-popular saloon. Yes, indeed; Veilbreak is a friendly little town, although most dragons see it for what it is: doomed to die as soon as the hills around it have been sucked dry of their prized resources. But for now, it's a nice enough place. The locals are friendly and jovial, especially Sheriff Rowan. At least, so it seems. But deep inside Veilbreak lurks a dark secret, something sinister, something foreboding... ----- [font=Copperplate] This will be my second attempt at a Pinkerlocke! I did put a good deal more forethought into this one, so hopefully it's more of a success :) As always, you can find the original thread + rules [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/1904162#post_1904162]here![/url] Feel free to post or add yourself to the pinglist!! [font=copperplate][size=4][b][u]Rules[/u][/b][/size][/center] [font=copperplate][b][u]Basic[/u] [/b]- Any death in the Coliseum means a death in actuality. The dragon will either be exalted or, if I become attached (which is likely) retired to my main lair - I can dress my dragons however I like - Coliseum matches do not have to be consecutive - Begin with 3 adult dragons [b][u]Drops[/u][/b] [b][u]Food[/u][/b] [u]Plants:[/u] 10-20 matches [u]Insects:[/u] 20-30 matches [u]Seafood:[/u] 30-40 matches [u]Meat:[/u] 40-50 matches **I will use a random number generator to determine the exact number of matches** [b][u]Materials[/u][/b] A day for writing. While you can write for any portion of this, what are your dragons doing in their downtime? What's their latest battles, any hardships they might've faced, any newcomers to the group? If there's nothing new, how about some character introspection? Do any of them not have a biography? [b][u]Trinkets[/u][/b] Draw some art, whatever medium you want to use; even a simple doodle is good! What do your dragons look like? Their home? A battle? Any trinkets they have? Alternatively, spend some time compiling something related to them. A playlist? Pinterest board? What kind of outfits would they wear, do they follow any sort of teachings? What's their backstory before any of this, outside the Pinkerlocke? [b][u]Familiars[/u][/b] Buy the cheapest dragon in the AH of a specific breed, gems or treasure. Use a random number generator to determine which breed to get. 1. Pearlcatcher 2. Tundra 3. Spiral 4. Imperial 5. Snapper 6. Wildclaw 7. Nocturne 8. Coatl 9. Skydancer 10. Bogsneak 11. Obelisk **I have excluded all Ancient breeds + some Moderns from my challenge, as I'm just not the biggest fan of them!** [b][u]Apparel[/u][/b] Breed two of your dragons. If you can't, you may either queue this for when it's possible or roll 1-4 for one of the food options. [u][b]Battle Items[/b][/u] Chance for a death streak. Flip a coin; if heads, a death streak happens, and if tails, nothing happens. - Death streak: Three dragons must be chosen through a random generator and go through a Coliseum area corresponding to the highest level in the party. 10 rounds must be completed consecutively; if a dragon dies, the death streak is over and no more rounds are required. [center][pinglist=20448] [/center]

[center][item=unicorn dust] [item=bright bolt] [item=intact parchment] [font=copperplate][size=4][b][u]Table of Contents[/u][/b][/size][/center] [font=copperplate][u]Day 0:[/u] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3310534/1#post_56049516]Prologue[/url] [u]Day 1:[/u] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3310534/1#post_56050091]Secrets Unravel[/url] [u]Day 2:[/u] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3310534/1#post_56055314]Microptera Listens[/url] [u]Day 3:[/u] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3310534/1#post_56085223]The Tipsy Teacup[/url] [u]Day 4:[/u] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3310534/1#post_56085810]A Friendly Face (Maybe?)[/url] [u]Days 5 & 6:[/u] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3310534/1#post_56085929]Race Against Time[/url] [u]Day 7:[/u] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3310534/2#post_56090192]Lufaren[/url] [u]Day 8:[/u] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3310534/2#post_56093592]The Viper[/url] [u]Day 9:[/u] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3310534/2#post_56105046]Conspiracy[/url] [u]Day 10:[/u] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3310534/2#post_56144102]Premonition[/url] [u]Day 11:[/u] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3310534/2#post_56144356]Moodboards[/url] [u]Day 12:[/u] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3310534/2#post_56144586]Poison[/url] [u]Day 13:[/u] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3310534/2#post_56145646]Not Much[/url] [u]Day 14:[/u] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3310534/2#post_56145732]Moodboards Pt. 2[/url] [u]Day 15:[/u] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/qnc/3310534/3#post_56146180]Graham's Confession[/url]

[center][item=unicorn dust] [item=bright bolt] [item=intact parchment] [font=copperplate][size=4][b][u]The Cast & Crew[/u][/b][/size] [i]The Living & Deceased[/i][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/84174438][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/841745/84174438.png[/img][/url] [font=copperplate][b]Rowan[/b] [font=copperplate][i]The sheriff of Veilbreak, who knows more than he lets on[/i] ----- [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/50326680][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/503267/50326680.png[/img][/url] [font=copperplate][b]Scordatura[/b] [font=copperplate][i]The owner and proprietor of Lily May's, whose sweet exterior is nothing but a facade [/i] ----- [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81785101][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/817852/81785101.png[/img][/url] [font=copperplate][b]Microptera[/b] [font=copperplate][i]An unassuming traveler, clueless as to what he's soon to uncover[/i] ----- [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/18158034][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/181581/18158034.png[/img][/url] [font=copperplate][b]Graham[/b] [font=copperplate][i]The bartender of the Tipsy Teacup, who detests what his fellow townspeople are up to[/i] ----- [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/82438745][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/824388/82438745.png[/img][/url] [font=copperplate][b]Yunil[/b] [font=copperplate][i]A cunning and calculated assassin[/i][/center]

[center][item=unicorn dust] [item=bright bolt] [item=intact parchment] [font=copperplate][size=4] Day 0: Prologue[/center] ----- [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/84174438][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/841745/84174438_350.png[/img][/url][/center] [font=copperplate] There was only one thing the sheriff hated more than being lied to, and that thing was being cheated out of his money. He worked hard to maintain this town. Hell, he had given up everything to make sure it survived. Granted, there hadn't been much to give up. They had an agreement. Granted, not a [i]written [/i]agreement. It didn’t really matter, though, because to Sheriff Rowan, a dragon was only as good as his word, and to lie would be a crime almost worse than murder (something of which the sheriff wasn't exactly innocent of, though). That money was rightfully his, and all the locals of Veilbreak knew it, whether they wanted to admit it or not. Scordatura could tell tall tales all he wanted– the treasure he had… earned… from that traveler belonged to the sheriff, and he was going to get it, no matter what it took. The sheriff stood outside Lily May’s, listening to the chatter and laughter that spilled out from inside the saloon-style doors. Pools of warm, yellow lantern light poured onto the ground and illuminated the sheriff’s boots. The silver spurs glittered as they caught the light. He could hear shuffling footsteps approaching slowly, reluctantly. He could smell the dragon before he saw them, and knew at once who it was. Scordatura, the owner of Lily May’s, the one who owed him handsomely. An overwhelmingly sweet scent permeated the air, the smell of too much fancy perfume which was the dragon’s trademark. Being around him too long gave the sheriff a headache, and so it was a good thing this would be quick. All around him in the midsummer night crickets sang their pleasant song, a sound that was nearly drowned out by the commotion inside. [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/50326680][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/503267/50326680_350.png[/img][/url][/center] [font=copperplate]The sheriff cleared his throat as the Skydancer finally arrived and stood in front of him. Scordatura looked away, unwilling to meet the sheriff’s fiery gaze. “So,” Rowan said finally. “You know as well as I do why you’re here.” The Skydancer said nothing. He toyed with the pinkish locket that dangled around his neck. “I want my money,” the sheriff said plainly, evenly. He knew there was no chance of being overheard, not with the caterwauling inside Lily May’s. “We had an agreement.” “I don’t have it,” Scordatura blurted out after a few long, heavy moments of silence. He looked nervously at the sheriff, as if afraid of being struck. Rowan didn’t really know what to say. “What do you mean?” he finally asked. His voice was laced with confusion. “I don’t have it!” he repeated again. He gulped nervously and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “That dragon did not bring us any profits,” he confessed sheepishly. His gaze had dropped once more to the ground, and his cheeks burned with embarrassment. “But you said…” the sheriff trailed off. “You said he had more gold than you’d ever seen.” “He did!” Scordatura exclaimed indignantly. “But he was too clever. He got away.” All at once, the sheriff felt his heart drop to his stomach. This was a fact of which he was just now hearing. “What do you mean ‘he got away’?” He could feel his anger growing with each second. “I mean [i]he got away.[/i] He must have been too strong for the stuff I gave him, I don’t know, I’ve never seen anything like it! Honest, sheriff. I tried to stop him but he was too strong. I don’t know where he went.” “Why didn’t you mention this to me before?” Rowan snapped, his voice raising in volume. He was very nearly shouting now, the fear rising up his throat almost palpable. He had forgotten to be quiet in the heat of the moment. “Because of you, the whole damn thing might be ruined! We might [i]all[/i] be ruined! Don’t you understand that?” “Yes, sheriff, I-” “Just shut up,” Rowan snarled, already starting towards the sheriff’s office. “Come with me. We have to fix this somehow, before this whole thing comes undone because of your incompetence.” As the pair stole off into the darkness, Rowan scanned the shadows for any potential passerby who might have overheard the debacle. He was relieved to find that there was no one there. He didn't see the Wildclaw, dark as the night itself, with brilliant yellow eyes that glowed like tiny suns in the black.

[center][item=unicorn dust] [item=bright bolt] [item=intact parchment] [font=copperplate][size=4] Day 1: Secrets Unravel[/size] [item=silk thread] A day for writing![/center] ----- [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/81785101][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/817852/81785101_350.png[/img][/url][/center] [font=copperplate] He wasn’t quite sure when exactly he realized he was lost, but once he [i]did[/i] realize it, he felt his heart skip a beat. He’d been so careful, so precise. They all had been. So how did this happen? Well, he technically wasn’t [i]lost[/i], per se. He was well within the range of civilization (so he hoped), but he had been separated from the rest of the party. And he didn’t really know where he was going. None of them really did, actually. A few of them had muttered something about a place called Veil something-or-other, a town where it was rumored you could find more wealth than anyone had ever dreamed of, but it wasn’t even known for sure if the town was real. They had come a long, long way, mostly wandering here and there, picking up odd jobs to eke out a meager living as they went along. Such a lifestyle was the opposite of alluring to most dragons, but to Microptera, it was all he knew, and he loved it. He greatly enjoyed the freedom of it all, the lack of permanence. All he needed was his friends, and he could be happy anywhere. Except now he had been separated from them, with no idea where he was, or where they had gone. The Wildclaw nervously examined the crumbling, ancient map he’d had for longer than any of his other possessions. It was of no use. Most of the ink had long since faded into an illegible smear. He basically had the thing memorized anyway, and he knew it had never shown the location of any town called Veil…spun? No, that was a kind of dragon. Veil[i]dance[/i]? He couldn’t recall the exact name, but he knew if he saw it, he would remember. He sighed and tucked the map back into his satchel. He closed his eyes, turned in a circle until he was dizzy, and started walking in the direction he was facing when the world stopped spinning. It was as good a guess as any. --- He found the town on accident, and it took him by such surprise that for a moment all he could do was stand there, mouth agape. Microptera was adept at surviving on his own, but he was never the dragon good at finding things, especially not on accident. Once the initial shock of finding the place wore off, a second round of shock set in. This was caused by the realization that Veilbreak was real. They were right all along. Pride swelled in his chest. He couldn't wait to tell the others once he found them again. Then a second idea popped into his head. Maybe they were already here, too. It was already dark though. He would have to wait till morning to look for them, a prospect that actually didn't sound so bad. The stars were the brightest he had ever seen, stunning pinpricks of silver that illuminated the humid summer night. The air smelled pleasantly of growing things and of life, an aroma he found deeply comforting. His plan was coming together nicely. He would stay at the cute little inn, then at first light, he would start looking for his friends. Microptera had already begun walking to the inn when he heard two dragons talking. Their voices carried on the still, calm air. Although he was certainly no thief, Microptera was an expert at eavesdropping without being noticed. He was grateful for his dark colors as he ducked into the shadows of an abandoned building to listen. --- The conversation left him chilled, in a way he had never experienced before. A keen knowledge that if the dragon called "the sheriff" knew he heard their conversation, Microptera would be killed with no hesitation filled his body. And what if the traveler the Skydancer tried to poison was one of his friends?... What then? Microptera stayed hidden in the shadows. He didn't know what the right choice would be.

[center][item=unicorn dust] [item=bright bolt] [item=intact parchment] [font=copperplate][size=4] Day 2: Microptera Listens[/size] [item=studious healer's trail] Roll for food options[/center] ----- [center][font=copperplate]So for this option, you’re technically supposed to breed your dragons, but since that’s not a possibility (they’re all males lol) I rolled for one of the food matches, and wound up getting a 4 (yikes)! Furthermore, RNG decided on [b]44[/b] matches! I’m not sure if this is considered cheating or not, but I upgraded Rowan and Scordatura’s stones to scratch instead of meditate. I also messed with a few stats but will definitely have to tincture at some point lol. I did forget to log a few battles, so it might not be entirely accurate, oops! Finally, everyone ended up being level 4![/center] ----- [font=copperplate] The sheriff fumbled with the keys on his belt loop as he tried to find the right one. His claws were shaking so hard he was hardly able to fit the key into the slot, but at last, the door to the sheriff's office swung open with a rusty groan. Scordatura lingered outside. He was worried about the rumors that might start to fly if he was observed entering here, especially at night. "Come on," Rowan said gruffly, and reluctantly, the Skydancer followed. "And close the door behind you." The office was pitch black and smelled like old papers and, strangely, like cinnamon. It took several seconds for the sheriff to light the ancient-looking lantern, and soon the space was bathed in a pleasant whiteish glow. "You better hope and pray to whatever god you believe in that we're able to catch this guy before he squeals," Rowan said at last. He dropped heavily into the old wooden rocking chair sitting behind the desk. Papers fluttered in the resulting draft, some of them scattering onto the floor. He didn't seem to notice. "First thing in the morning, I'm sending one of the guys to track him down." "Who?" Scordatura asked anxiously. It felt like his mouth was full of cotton. "Not sure yet. We'll have to see. Did he mention where he came from? Or where he was going?" "He said something about the Bluffs. But that was all." It wasn't much of a lead, but it would have to do. "Did he seem suspicious of you at all?" Rowan asked. "Not as far as I could tell, but you know how I am." That Rowan did. Scordatura was not known for being the most observant dragon on the planet.... nor the most intelligent, as he was once again learning. Rowan sighed heavily for what must have been the fifteenth time that night. "I should have never agreed to this," he moaned, burying his face in his hands. ----- [font=copperplate]There was someone listening to the whole conversation, little did Sheriff Rowan know. A dusty traveler, who had trekked across almost the whole of the country, a traveler who used to be a thief and who had relinquished that lifestyle for one that made him feel less guilty. Microptera had experience doing this sort of thing, and for once in his life, he was acutely grateful for possessing the skill which allowed him to listen in on this conversation undetected. He had discretely followed Rowan and Scordatura, never once straying from the shadows that kept him hidden. He was careful with his footsteps, a skill he had learned from many years of needing to stay absolutely silent. He didn't so much as snap a twig, or crush a leaf underfoot. Now he stood just outside the sheriff's office, within a pool of shadow cast by the trees surrounding the perimeter. He was scarcely willing to breathe. He knew they would kill him on the spot if they found him here. Already the Wildclaw was scheming, formulating a plan. There was just one problem: He had not the faintest idea as to who the dragon they were referring to was. The murderous duo hadn't even so much as mentioned what he was wearing. He also didn't know where the Bluffs were. A growing unease that this mystery dragon was one of his friends was blossoming inside his ribcage. Despite the uncertainty, Microptera knew what he had to do. He had to try to save the stranger. And he had to try to expose the sheriff's deep secrets.

[center][item=unicorn dust] [item=bright bolt] [item=intact parchment] [font=copperplate][size=4] Day 3: The Tipsy Teacup[/size] [item=intact clay relief] Writing! ----- [font=copperplate] So– this might be considered cheating, but I’ve seen quite a lot of people do this in other Pinkerlockes, so I’m gonna make an exception to keep the story going and add in a new dragon :) I’m really sorry if this isn’t okay, but for me, a big part of this has to do with the story. Adding in [b]Graham[/b], the owner of the Tipsy Teacup who doesn’t agree with… [i]any[/i] of the other locals.[/center] ----- [font=copperplate] He didn’t know where else to start, so he returned back to Veilbreak’s downtown as cautiously as he could. He wasn’t sure if the sheriff was aware Microptera had witnessed their classified conversations and was maybe just playing the waiting game. He imagined the Coatl/Skydancer duo waiting for him to slip up, then pouncing on him like a cat stalking prey. The thought of it gave him chills, and a sense of impending doom he hadn’t felt in years. It brought him back to his days of thieving and pillaging– days he would rather not remember. Although unfortunately, it seemed, he had managed to get himself caught up in something far worse. A sheriff at the head of a murder and robbery ring? It sounded like something out of a book, but here he was, having just witnessed it in real life not 20 minutes ago. A sick feeling twisted in his guts, growing with every realization he came to. If the sheriff was involved in it, and the dragon who ran Lily May’s (one of the more popular stores in town), then it was more than likely that [i]all[/i] of the locals of Veilbreak were in on it, too. The thought of coming back to the town was enough to make him gag, but he needed directions on how to get to the Bluffs, and he was so hungry it made his head spin. With reluctance, Microptera trudged into the Tipsy Teacup, a burgundy barnwood building that had spirals of white paint chipping off the sides. You couldn’t pay him enough to go into Lily May’s, not after what he just witnessed. The night life here seemed to be in full swing even despite the rapidly approaching dawn. The saloon smelled heavily of rum and greasy fried food, a combination that made Microptera’s stomach churn. He approached the bar hesitantly, more paranoid than he remembered being for a long, long time. [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/18158034][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/181581/18158034_350.png[/img][/url] [/center] [font=copperplate]A big, burly Snapper turned to greet him, his face lined with deep wrinkles. This was a dragon who had spent his whole life doing hard, manual labor, and it showed in his physique. Microptera knew the Snapper could kill him with one blow, and for the millionth time that night, chills marched up and down his spine. His unease deepened with the knowledge that he was likely a part of the whole thing, and would therefore not hesitate to kill whoever threatened it. “Welcome in to the Tipsy,” the Snapper said in a booming, jovial tone. A broad smile creased his face. “What can I get for ya?”

[center][item=unicorn dust] [item=bright bolt] [item=intact parchment] [font=copperplate][size=4] Day 4: A Friendly Face (Maybe?)[/size] [item=Seeker brooch] More writing! ----- [font=copperplate] As I’m sure you can tell, I have a backlog of days to complete since I didn’t have access to my laptop. For day 4, more writing! I’m not complaining at all since the whole reason I wanted to do this was for the story. :)[/center] ----- [font=copperplate]Though Graham would never admit it to anyone, he was always secretly glad when travelers picked the Tipsy over Lily’s. Although he knew good and well what the sheriff and the other locals got up to, he wanted no part of it, and actively spoke out against it. He was pretty sure the only reason he hadn’t been killed yet was due in part to the fact that the Tipsy brought in well over half of the town’s revenue. The other half was the knowledge the others had that he would snitch on them the moment he could, would he be forced to leave. And a dragon like him wouldn’t go down without a fight, a fight which the others would be unlikely to win. “Why don’t you just leave if it bothers you so much?” Scordatura had sneered at him once, lips curling in a snarl. “Because the Tipsy is all I got,” replied Graham. “I don’t know what I would do without it.” This was a true statement. The burly Snapper had worked all his life to build and maintain the saloon, and although it had recently begun to fall into a state of disrepair, it was his pride and joy. He had been a resident of Veilbreak for so long he remembered before it had become a murder hotspot. He stayed because he didn’t know where else he would go, who else he would be. He also hoped deep down, in the part of him which was afraid to admit it, that maybe someday Veilbreak would go back to how it used to be– a sleepy little village full of genuinely kindhearted dragons who wanted nothing more than to help. That was the Veilbreak he knew and loved. Not the twisted, macabre place it had become under sheriff Rowan’s power. Graham slept a little better at night knowing that each dragon who chose to patronize his saloon over the murderous Skydancer’s store was a dragon spared from murder, at least for a while. Such were the thoughts flowing through the Snapper’s head when Microptera approached. The Wildclaw looked at him nervously, his claws twisted into fists at his sides. “Um, I was actually wondering if you could maybe give me directions to somewhere?” he asked in a faltering voice. He did his best not to stammer. It was no use. His legs felt like they were made out of jelly. Graham found the little dragon’s nervous demeanor a little odd. It was almost like he knew something… Such a thought was obscene, he knew. The sheriff went to great lengths to ensure no one ever found out about the dark doings here. Graham also knew better than to jump to such conclusions. “I can sure try,” the Snapper replied. “I haven’t left these parts much though, I havta warn ya.” He chuckled. More claws of dread stabbed Microptera’s heart. He could count on one claw the amount of times he had been this scared in his life, and this was easily the most frightened he ever felt. “Um, do you know how to get to the Bluffs?” “Oh! Well, sure I do. Lucky you, you gave me an easy one. What’re ya lookin’ for in the Bluffs?” Though he didn’t say it, it was another thing he found odd about the traveler. Very few outsiders ever headed for the Bluffs, unless they were themselves in suspicious dealings. Of course there was nothing quite as bad as what went on in Veilbreak, but there were things illegal enough that most would raise an eyebrow at them. The Wildclaw chuckled nervously. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the Snapper knew he knew about the murders, or at least had an inkling. “I’m, uh, looking for some friends of mine,” he managed, then promptly regretted it. He shouldn’t have let his true intentions slip to a dragon that was potentially extremely dangerous. “Sounds exciting,” the bartender said with another grin. “Alright, to get to the Bluffs, you just head straight through town, all the way, and keep going for 10 or so miles. It’s really easy, actually. You’ll know ‘em when you see ‘em. Hard to miss, they are.” He couldn’t help but feel relief. Finally, something about this mess was going to be easy. “Sounds great. Thank you very much. I really appreciate it.” “Of course, friend. Anything else I can help you with?” He knew the chance of being poisoned was ever-present in this town, but the pangs of hunger gnawing at his stomach overrode his sense of fear. And this Snapper did seem nice enough… “What kind of food do you serve here?” he found himself asking.

[center][item=unicorn dust] [item=bright bolt] [item=intact parchment] [font=copperplate][size=4] Days 5 & 6: Race Against Time[/size] [item=discipline] + [item=berserker] Our first battlestone pulls! ----- [font=copperplate] I’m going to be combining days 5 & 6 into one for convenience with the story. Each battlestone coin flip thankfully rolled tails, which means there is no death streak for either day! So far the locke has been very lucky (knock on wood.) [/center] ----- [font=copperplate] Once he was absolutely certain he hadn’t been poisoned by the Snapper, he set out for the Bluffs with trepidation. At least his stomach was full. He had given the bartender most of the precious coins he still had left in exchange for a frosty mug of ginger soda and perhaps the biggest burger he’d ever laid eyes on. He was worried that he had taken too long to decide what to do, and that the sheriff’s hitman would have already found their target and killed the innocent traveler. He was banking on what the sheriff had said about sending someone “first thing in the morning” as being true. It was, technically, not morning yet, though it was rapidly approaching. 10 miles was nothing for an adventurer like him. Could he make it? Absolutely. [i]Would[/i] he make it before the hitman? That was the issue with his entire plan. Something deep inside told him he had to try. Microptera struck out walking, praying to every deity he knew.

This is fantastic! I'm so invested and curious, and worried for Microptera! I've been subbed to the thread for a bit now but do you have a pinglist/can you make one please?