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escordviooc2025-06-01 01:57 pm
« manta board: june 2025 »
For this month's board update, the quests have been updated to reflect progress from last month, with some carrying over as is. We have designated toplevels for the special bounty Closing Loose Ends and special quest Finding Elah.
Quests are separated into five categories and all have flat point values: General (4pts), Corsair (4pts), Paladin (4pts), Bounties (6pts), and Specials (12pts). Crew quests are listed under "Specials" and are worth the same amount of points (12pts). Although these quests are intended for established crews, non-members are allowed to assist if the crew invites them. However, non-members would only receive 6pts. Similarly, characters helping opposing armada quests will only be rewarded 2pts for participation unless specified otherwise. Special quests won't always be available so it may appear blank at times. These can range from group quests such as for special ship upgrades or island related quests, or they could be special event quests. All quest points can be used for the Rewards Shop.
If you wish to submit a quest, comment in the appropriate field during Activity Check with the quest written and we'll add it to the next month! Crews are also still allowed to make their own quests without our approval, but if uncertain players can comment here about them.
If you have any questions regarding any current quest, comment to this entry.
There have been reports of several ships vanishing near a recently charted island. Little is known about the island, except that it’s perpetually shrouded in dense storm clouds and lashed by relentless rain and fierce winds.
An urgent rescue mission is needed to locate the missing ships and their crews.
Upon arrival, search teams will discover the island strewn with wrecked ships and scattered debris. It’s eerily devoid of life save for the occasional insect or lone bird. The silence is suffocating here, broken only by the endless drumming of the pattering rain. But there is something strange about the rain...
The longer one stays here, the more intense the thirst for water becomes. Travellers will grow increasingly parched. But drinking the island’s water has a disturbing effect. It creates an insatiable craving to drink water. Drinkers will desperately thirst for more, losing all sense of self and thought. They’ll become hollow, single-minded creatures driven only by the urge to drink, until they’re swollen, bloated and decaying.
Avoiding the water while searching for survivors will be a deadly serious challenge. Stay dry. Stay focused. And above all else- don’t drink the water.
A local craftsman on Eltrut is looking for helpers to help him create beautiful glass charms made out of magical glass. These charms are said to keep storms at bay and the winds strong for travelling ships. Any good crew should keep a few on hand just to keep things smooth while travelling from island to island.
As one might expect, moulding glass takes considerable effort. One must heat the glass until it’s molten in the glory hole and then shape it using long poles and blowing your spirit essence into the pipe to inflate the glass. The glass will then swirl and take shape, forming itself into a hand-sized charm that represents something important to your soul. Be it a childhood toy, a favourite flower or the abstract shape of someone’s heart.
Create some glass charms for your ship and see what yours will shape into.
Captain Seakid, a once-feared ship captain, has recently lost his love of sailing after a horrible break-up with his fiancé, and now spends his days drinking in one of the local taverns. He’s become a pathetic chum bucket of a drunk!!
His crew is desperate to snap him out of this funk so they can get back to sailing the seas, and figure that there’s only one thing that can help; a fearsome tavern brawl so epic and so strong that it’s sure to rouse his sleeping emotions! Help start a fight! Grab a chair, throw a punch, and get ready for the tavern brawl of a lifetime!
Although usually favouring swamps and damp, dark places, the approach of summer has brought with it an uptick of 'Balmoro' running rampant and wreaking havoc on ecosystems and adventurers alike.
With gnashing teeth, a multitude of tentacles and powerful 'status effect' attacks, these carnivorous plant-like fiends can grow up to twenty feet tall and thrice as wide, making entire valleys their lair unless uprooted and vanquished. While extreme temperature magics like fire and ice can offer an advantage, they are extremely hardy and take a good beating to properly vanquish regardless of the method. More fearsome than their appearance are the toxins in their signature 'bad breathe' attack. If caught unaware and unprotected in the noxious fumes, victims will suffer from extreme light sensitivity (Blindness), may find themselves unable to use their magic (Silence), speak, or a combination of all three!
Although the 'status effects' will wear off in a few days time, a potion can be brewed to halve the wait, if you have some of the creature's eye stalks or tentacles on hand.
The trick is communicating that you need one when blind and silenced!
There’s a group of Glitzenwing visual artists known as the Glit-Zs (pronounced “Glitzees”) that have been hired to create graffiti art on designated buildings around Eltrut, Nogard, and Elah. They want to spruce up the towns and leviathans with as much bright, beautiful art that the walls can muster.
The theme for this project is “Rainbow”, yet however that is expressed is entirely up to the artist: the only rule is to make the pieces visually striking, vibrantly coloured, and emotionally evocative. No artistic skill is required, so come pick up a paintbrush and release your inner artist.
The stationery shop Seal & Cant on Eltrut is run by a family of molekin who want to run a special for the month selling special color-changing rainbow ink. They need help gathering enough materials to make the ink and keep up with demand. While the exact recipe and process is kept a secret, those interested will get a list of ingredients and possible locations to find them.
Most of these ingredients must be unearthed. Literally. Volunteers should be ready to dig deep in search of vibrant minerals, tangled roots, and even a few elusive underground insects. It’s a bit of work, but the rewards are worth it. There may be a bottle or two of the shimmering ink in it for those who help.
On a paladin-owned island, a renowned monastery often used as a burial site for fallen paladins fell eerily silent last month. The sacred grounds were desecrated, and the crypts and graves were ransacked and looted for all their valuables. Worse yet, the bodies once laid to rest vanished and... walked around.
Now, luckily, most of the monastery has been cleaned up, and the skeletons and other bodily remains have been returned to their proper resting places. But still, there is something terribly and eerily wrong about the monastery. New reports have started to surface about unsettling noises coming from deeper within. Sounds like gentle screaming... or pitiful, pained crying. Investigate the crying.
Upon searching further, it becomes clear that the monastery is being haunted by the cries of a fallen maiden who is searching for her long-lost lover. Notes scattered throughout the deepcroft speak of a man, once a noble paladin, who was tragically decapitated and killed in battle. Now, the maiden’s spirit wanders the deepcroft’s shadowy halls, searching for bones and body parts to piece him back together… to bring him back to life.
All she needs now is one final piece: a head. And if she sees you, if she thinks you’re a match, she will attack, wielding her blood magic in a desperate attempt to claim it. Keep your head about your shoulders and deal with the problem.
On a far away island, there is a particular breed of fire serpent that requires its eggs to be kept warm within a nest full of heated gold, which they heat with their fiery-hot breath. These eggs are rare and precious and said to only hatch once every ten years. Unfortunately, this makes them a prime target for looters and pirates seeking incredibly rare and special treasure.
Help these endangered species by donating some gold to melt to help keep their nests warm, and by fending off any greedy pirates looking to line their own pockets. And when the fire serpents have to leave for food and water, be sure to escort them on their journey while also keeping those nests safe. It will be a paladin’s group effort.
After several heartfelt suggestions from both the paladins and island locals, a special memorial will be constructed to honor the whales and other lives lost in the recent tragic events involving the abductions and the slaughter of whales.
On a specially chosen island, the paladins have been entrusted with the task of designing and building a memorial as a lasting tribute. The monument will take the form of a large whale, crafted from stone, clay, or whatever materials are most suitable to bring this vision to life.
Once completed, visitors will be invited to the island to take part in a communal remembrance. They can create paper whale-shaped boat lanterns, which will be lit at night and set adrift across the waves. These boats may also carry bits of whale bones, allowing their remains to be respectfully returned to the sea while honoring their memory and helping them rejoin the natural cycle of life and death.
And perhaps, in this act of reverence, Elah will be moved to return. Or so we hope.
Rumour has it there was a legendary treasure hidden deep within the mountains of Nogard. A loot crate filled with hundreds of perfectly aged, preserved cheeses. Rare, delicious, and easily worth triple their weight in gold. Last month, it was stolen.
Now that the treasure is missing, there appears to be terrible, deep vibrations and quakes occurring in Nogard’s mountains. Reports say that the quakes are making it difficult and dangerous for travellers to make it through Nogard’s bone-rocky trails. For the safety of innocent merchants and corsairs alike, it’s probably best if this phenomena is investigated. But Nogard’s mountains are notoriously foggy this time of year. The mist grows so thick you’ll barely see a few steps ahead. Be careful.
Upon searching, corsairs might come across what appears to be a very large, overly fed bird that is very, very angry and hungry now that there is no cheese. The bird is angrily stomping around and inadvertently causing the quakes in the mountains. There could be several ways to stop the fat bird. Either by killing it or … feeding it cheese. But are you really ready to give up such a delicious prize?
On a far away island, there is a particular breed of fire serpent that requires its eggs to be kept warm within a nest full of heated gold, which they heat with their fiery-hot breath. These eggs are rare and precious and said to only hatch once every ten years. Fortunately, this makes them a prime target for looters and pirates seeking incredibly rare and special treasure.
Don’t miss out! Head out to the island and find a way into the nests to steal some of the gold or, for the risk-takers, steal a precious and rare egg to keep or sell to the highest bidder. Just beware of the paladins and guards that are roaming the area that might want to put a pin in your egg-stealing fun. And watch out for the aggressively protective fire serpents too. They might burn a corsair to a crisp and eat them like a piece of bacon.
Have you ever heard of the critically acclaimed novel about sexy dragon adventures, DRAGON HEAT? It’s quite popular amongst all the leviathan residents and locals. This month, there happens to be a dramatic rereading of some of their most sexy steamy scenes right here on Nogard. If you’re a fan, It’s bound to be a spectacle you can’t miss.
The group organizing the session is in need of play actors. They are looking for brave corsairs to come up on stage to reenact some of the sexy sword fights on stage and to keep it as rowdy and lively as possible to appease the crowd. Show off your acting skills and exactly how you can use your sword in all the right (or wrong) ways.
500 dubloons for information
Various bounties made both officially and from "anonymous" sponsors will be posted listing and describing the remaining known members involved with the whale hunting and crystalizing scheme that was disrupted in April. The descriptions will vary from those of high, official positions, to influential citizens, to lesser known criminals, and even some riftfarers. The bounties cover both Paladin and Corsair members and is open for anyone in either Armada to take.
Because there is such a variety, players are free to come up with names and descriptions of who all are caught. Comment to the designated toplevel with information of either who characters catch, or even general ideas of who could be part of the ring to be part of the narrative. Any riftfarers involved would be NPCs and confirmed to be involved. There will be no mistaken identities this time.
"This little bastard keeps breaking into my shop to steal all of my herbs and spices! Who knows what he’s stealing them for! Maybe some stupid magic or some spice loaf? Who cares, capture him before I go out of business!!"
Read More.
✦ Size: Small
✦ Type: Feline
✦ Strengths: Magic???
✦ Weaknesses: Cat???
Calling all who wish to try and find Elah! As the situation on the surviving landmass grows dire, we need to quickly find our beloved leviathan before it's too late! While the rest of the criminals are sought and captured, we need to continue to try and find Elah so we can reach out and try to communicate with it. This is a joint Armada effort!
(Mod note: Those who wish to participate comment to the designated toplevel to get the appropriate answers and material to work with.)
Because of the recent increase in potion making in the past month, resources are becoming scarce all over, stretching supplies and medics thin. While some ingredients will come by easily enough, others are from distant islands that can only be reached by a sturdy crew and those brave enough to deal with the dangers both in the water and on the island.
There is also an increased need in potion and medicine creation, and the number is far more than one person could handle. Those who are able can take known recipes to create various medicines and potions to be distributed. The only caveat is they must take care not to overharvest any particular ingredient as they do not want any of the more rare ingredients to become even more scarce.
Although not comprehensive, here is an example list of what is needed and what kind of dangers may be encountered (it can be assumed illustrations or pictures with some brief information are provided to aid in those searching):
Resource list
- Herbs. There are various rare herbs that are found in hard to reach locations that are potent for various healing remedies. From caves to high on top cliffs and mountains to deep in jungles and swamps, these herbs will not be easy to find or even collect. Often the areas they are in can be harsh environments, including weather, or have dangerous beasts that reside nearby. Some may even be "protected" by powerful beasts that happen to live around where the herbs are.
- Shells and coral. Certain shells and coral when crushed into fine powder can have potent medicine properties. While most can be easily collected around certain island beaches, others will require a dive underwater to find. Some also require it to be taken with the creature still inside, such as a clam or oyster. Coral that are harvested must also be done with care so as not to harm the reef, and some require finding bleached and dried coral that's washed ashore. While most waters will be calm, others may only be found in turbulent areas and there could be large crabs or eels in the way…
- Various animal parts. Some blood and other parts of wild animals, especially horns and tusks, are requested. The dangers are mostly contained to the creature itself, and they can be difficult to kill. For these they request a specific number and from specific areas to reduce risk of overhunting. They should be on the lookout for any poachers trying to take advantage of this request, and detaining any will add an extra reward.
All who help will receive several months' supply of medicine over time as well as beneficial connections to medics and healers. Recipes can also be kept as they are publicly known ones so there is no risk of learning any "secret" medicines. Anyone can also take a small supply of the materials, even seeds to try and grow themselves. This would actually be beneficial if they manage to increase the supply.
There are several islands requesting help against some feral hogs that have grown in population and are damaging local village crops and homes. The situation is also not as clear cut as it seems—the appearance of the hogs is a mystery as they are not native to some of these islands. The locals also speak of seeing boarheaded people with spears, making them believe there are boarfolk among the animals, perhaps even leading or directing them. There is now a concern that a tribe of boarfolk are attacking small islands, perhaps to expand their own territory by destroying the smaller, weaker villages and force them to leave.
For any crew participating in handling the situation, here are some objectives and general setting notes you can incorporate. Otherwise, be creative and make it however works best for your group!
Objectives
- Aiding villagers. From protecting to rebuilding, there are a number of ways to help affected villagers. Some may also need help with any injured.
- Culling hogs. Due to the aggressive and destructive nature of these hogs, especially as they are invasive species to these islands, is to exterminate them. Some could be spared, but they are hard to domesticate and relocation will only perpetuate the issue. But they are tough to kill, with many growing as large as oxes. Beware their tusks as they are quite sharp and they will not hesitate to use them.
- Salvaging. Fortunately, every part of the boar can be used for something, and while the locals will keep a larger share to sell, those who help will also be allowed to take whatever they want to sell off or use. Boar meat will especially be favored and markets and restaurants will gladly purchase any.
- Dealing with Boarfolk. The boarfolk are fearsome warriors, so talking and negotiating with them may be difficult. They speak mostly with their spears, earth magic, and fighting prowess. However, they are not all brutes and could be negotiated with. Their main problem is they need more land and because the world is made of islands, it's difficult for them to find larger areas suitable for their population. Perhaps if a solution could be made for them…
All who help will receive generous monetary compensation and whatever the local villagers are willing to reward. Failure to save a village will mean the island will have been completely overtaken and will either need to be abandoned or cleared out so that the locals can reclaim their land.
Although a few keys have been found, the Snakefolk say there are still more. They now reveal a total of twelve (12) keys and so far eight have been found. The Snakefolk suggest that the remaining four could be hidden somewhere in Ocard, but other possibilities include the coliseum in Sarht's desert or perhaps in another desert location entirely. In the meantime, the Snakefolk have provided a cipher to translate any writings on the keys.
CLOSING LOOSE ENDS
FINDING ELAH
no subject
Character(s): Espio the Chameleon (stealthpun), Kitsunami the Fennec Fox (kitsunami), and Surge the Tenrec (tenrectricity)
Method of Tracking: Sharks have a special sense called electroreception that allows them to home in on prey with deadly accuracy. Maybe the shark leviathan, or even one of the sharkfolk would have picked up a signal from Elah's flight, or maybe they could be convinced to try and find one if they're appropriately beat up and threatened first.
Espio can go on a stealth mission to infiltrate the sharks and see if he can overhear anything about Elah, and failing that, he can bring back a hostage shark for him, Kit and Surge to "interrogate" until cooperative with their search.
While searching the water/with the shark, Kit will chat with passing fish to see if there's any information they can cross-refrence with their guide using his Ring of the Koi.
Goals/Challenges/Requests: Down for anything that's funny happening to them!
Questions: Fuck us up.
Re: FINDING ELAH
Character(s): Betsy (this) Fantomex (Madeofmirrors)
Method of Tracking: Telepathy mainly, not directly reading minds but more just the unique "aura" a sentient being gives off. It'll be Betsy doing the attempts at tracking with some support to keep her from drowning or something on her own.
It was already mentioned she's being blocked, so she could theoretically track based on where that gets denser and headaches get worse to get some general idea.
If she goes into the water she can use her abilities to breath underwater/handle the pressure.
Once she gets the idea it's super deep she'd try going back too the surface to fully use just her telepathy to try to find it's mind (not necessarily Elahs full location, just to try to talk)
Goals/Challenges/Requests: Goals would be finding a general location, even if it's just "really deep around this general location" and trying to figure out why Elah retreated that much. Trying to make contact in some way. She won't try to actually push her way into Elahs mind or anything.
Would definitely be okay if she can't make contact. Would also be okay if the most she can get is vague impressions of Elahs thoughts/feelings and then massively knocked away. She's experienced it before where something doesn't think like humans and just got like the impression they didn't want to talk, that they were hurting, and general things like that.
She also suffered a lot of recoil from that haha
So I'm game for any kind of reprecussions in terms of headaches, recoil, being knocked out, whatever.
Questions: nothing else! Thank you
no subject
Character(s): Shadow (wherethereislight) and Sonic (spinsandneedles)
Method of Tracking: Shadow is going to retrace back to where Elah's land used to be. Through some way or another, be it communicating with some fish thanks to the Ring of Koi, or discovering it himself, he'll locate a lone island that has a cave that goes deep below the sea. They will find a place with a pool of water. We'll call it a pool of reflection, as it plays back memories if you provide it with something that belonged to the individual. Could be an item, bone, fur, etc etc. What memory it plays will be random.
It could have been a pool used by the whalefolk to recall memories of those long deceased and such. Another version of it possibly existing in their homeland that they haven't revealed to visitors.
Sonic's just here because he fell through a rift onto Shadow's boat, I guess.
Goals/Challenges/Requests: Since they're finding something that replays memories, what would they see pertaining to Elah?
If there's any obstacles they need to handle while inside said cave, we down with that. We did settle there would be a partial cave-in and they'll have to figure out a way to get out. Shadow does have a bubble charm, ring of koi and compass of light to help, I was thinking he gets help from some underwater species that gets them out. Could be whalefolk or something else connected to the Elah. Or not.
Questions: Nah.