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magisteriaexe2024-10-03 06:07 pm
magisteriamods) wrote in magisteriaexe2024-10-03 06:07 pm
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October Questboard for Magisteria!
Welcome to the October questboard for Magisteria! This is the first questboard since May as mod has been doing a lot of other forms of activity and kind of dropped the ball on questboards, orz, so to make up for the months with no quests, and in honor of our recent surge of new players to Magisteria, this will be a much larger questboard! There are also more quests to come, including a whole set of Supernatural-centric quests for the spoopy season, but they may be rolled out in different ways than the conventional Questboard, so stay tuned!
Note that these quests sometimes do have more of a specific focus on tech or magic than the previous set of quests. This does not necessarily mean PCs of the other side can't participate in quests outside of their discipline, but it DOES mean they may need to get creative about their method of doing so (ex: magic NPCs can act as cooperative/support units for techies in their training, but the NPCs doing the training won't directly train magic users in technology). If you really want to participate in a certain quest and aren't sure how to work your character's role in, feel free to ask the mod/pull in other players across disciplines, and we can come up with something. As always, cooperation will be needed for most quest goals!
Please see the new FLORA/FAUNA page for the fauna relevant to these quests! [Specifically: Luminari, Bloombeasts, and Flutterbuns.]
Note that these quests sometimes do have more of a specific focus on tech or magic than the previous set of quests. This does not necessarily mean PCs of the other side can't participate in quests outside of their discipline, but it DOES mean they may need to get creative about their method of doing so (ex: magic NPCs can act as cooperative/support units for techies in their training, but the NPCs doing the training won't directly train magic users in technology). If you really want to participate in a certain quest and aren't sure how to work your character's role in, feel free to ask the mod/pull in other players across disciplines, and we can come up with something. As always, cooperation will be needed for most quest goals!
Please see the new FLORA/FAUNA page for the fauna relevant to these quests! [Specifically: Luminari, Bloombeasts, and Flutterbuns.]
I. Luminari Quests
đ Echoes of the Past
Zyren the Lightweaver is a famous artist who lives in Mysticaire District. Their race/species, age, and gender â or whether they have one â are all unknown. They are rumored to have been a companion to such entities as the Librarian and the Architect. Recently, Zyren has been struggling with inspiration. They believe they left a precious memory in the Gardens. Your help is requested to find the Luminari that holds Zyrenâs ancient memorial moment of inspiration.
The artist gives you a painting to exchange for the stone that holds the memory: itâs a scenic depiction of High Rise Village, Magisteriaâs modern Business District, where Otherworlders now live and where most of the gameâs plot has transpired. The painting can appear or disappear with a thought [Zyrenâs magic], so Otherworlders will not need to carry it physically.
Objective: Travel to the Central Gardens and find the Luminari who holds Zyrenâs memory. The memory is solidified as a stone in the Luminariâs possession. Exchange the painting of High Rise Village for the memory stone and return the latter to Zyren. Tips: Remember, the Lumens are especially adept at finding lost objects/people, and they can help Otherworlders navigate the illusions of the Elysian Grove, whose ancient magic may prove a bit challenging for Otherworlders. [See the third TDM for an overview of the Grove.]
Result: Zyrenâs memory stone contains a vision of the five moons of Medeas in the Before Times when Medeas was as Gloambristle spoke of it: a world of ancient spirits and never-ending twilight. Otherworlders who recover the memory will catch a glimpse of Magisteria/Medeas in the days of old, before the destruction of two of the worldâs moons. They may also witness a dark shadow that passes over the moons. They will not see the Entity or Entities responsible for the shadow, but the sight can induce involuntarily chills in the nervous system: It is the first glimpse Otherworlders have had of what the spirits allude to: the âEnemiesâ who brought war to Magisteria long, long ago.
Reward: Magic-affiliated PCs will receive an additional spell in a magic domain of their choosing (mod will offer options). Tech PCs will receive a special tool or weapon. All PCs will receive three months' worth of virtual currency for living expenses and whatever immediate needs/purchases they might want.
The artist gives you a painting to exchange for the stone that holds the memory: itâs a scenic depiction of High Rise Village, Magisteriaâs modern Business District, where Otherworlders now live and where most of the gameâs plot has transpired. The painting can appear or disappear with a thought [Zyrenâs magic], so Otherworlders will not need to carry it physically.
Objective: Travel to the Central Gardens and find the Luminari who holds Zyrenâs memory. The memory is solidified as a stone in the Luminariâs possession. Exchange the painting of High Rise Village for the memory stone and return the latter to Zyren. Tips: Remember, the Lumens are especially adept at finding lost objects/people, and they can help Otherworlders navigate the illusions of the Elysian Grove, whose ancient magic may prove a bit challenging for Otherworlders. [See the third TDM for an overview of the Grove.]
Result: Zyrenâs memory stone contains a vision of the five moons of Medeas in the Before Times when Medeas was as Gloambristle spoke of it: a world of ancient spirits and never-ending twilight. Otherworlders who recover the memory will catch a glimpse of Magisteria/Medeas in the days of old, before the destruction of two of the worldâs moons. They may also witness a dark shadow that passes over the moons. They will not see the Entity or Entities responsible for the shadow, but the sight can induce involuntarily chills in the nervous system: It is the first glimpse Otherworlders have had of what the spirits allude to: the âEnemiesâ who brought war to Magisteria long, long ago.
Reward: Magic-affiliated PCs will receive an additional spell in a magic domain of their choosing (mod will offer options). Tech PCs will receive a special tool or weapon. All PCs will receive three months' worth of virtual currency for living expenses and whatever immediate needs/purchases they might want.
đ The Dreamweaverâs Dilemma
Professor Orialis Selenar is a renowned scholar on dream lore and the Luminari. He contacts Otherworlders because there has recently been a disturbance in the Elysian Grove of Magisteria. Over the past week, several visitors, and even certain of the spirits within the Grove have been lured into a deep sleep, their bodies unresponsive and minds lost in vivid dreams.
The professor suspects that a disturbance in the Dream Realm is feeding on the Luminariâs energy, causing them to weave uncontrollable dreams that trap their subjects. The Luminari, creatures of dreams and memory, seem agitated and disoriented, and some have been seen releasing volatile bursts of dream energy that spill into the real world. The professor requests the Otherworldersâ help to enter these dreamscapes and correct the imbalance by eliminating the sources of corruption: dream-parasites that have latched onto the Luminariâs energy.
Objective: Travel to the Central Gardens, enter the dreamscapes of the Luminari, and eliminate the dream-parasites which are bringing about the corruption. Otherworlders may also wish to bring back the parasites, or fragments thereof, for investigation and research, in case this corruption is tied to any of the other forms of corruption Otherworlders have recently encountered.
Reward: Professor Selenar will gift Otherworlders with four months' of general living expenses. Tech PCs will receive tech related to dreams/dream research, and Magic PCs will receive special dream magic abilities.
The professor suspects that a disturbance in the Dream Realm is feeding on the Luminariâs energy, causing them to weave uncontrollable dreams that trap their subjects. The Luminari, creatures of dreams and memory, seem agitated and disoriented, and some have been seen releasing volatile bursts of dream energy that spill into the real world. The professor requests the Otherworldersâ help to enter these dreamscapes and correct the imbalance by eliminating the sources of corruption: dream-parasites that have latched onto the Luminariâs energy.
Objective: Travel to the Central Gardens, enter the dreamscapes of the Luminari, and eliminate the dream-parasites which are bringing about the corruption. Otherworlders may also wish to bring back the parasites, or fragments thereof, for investigation and research, in case this corruption is tied to any of the other forms of corruption Otherworlders have recently encountered.
Reward: Professor Selenar will gift Otherworlders with four months' of general living expenses. Tech PCs will receive tech related to dreams/dream research, and Magic PCs will receive special dream magic abilities.
đ The Fading Light
One of the Luminari has grown dim, its once vibrant colors fading. This is highly unusual and concerning for the caretakers of the Gardens. They believe the cause is a memory or emotion too dark for the creature to process.
Objective: You must find the source of the emotional wound -- perhaps a particularly tragic or negative memory -- and use various means (e.g., interacting with the person who left this memory, using/crafting a soothing artifact, or even venturing into a memory yourself) to resolve it and restore the Luminari's glow.
Reward: The revitalized Luminari will offer a precious memory in return, as well as a vision of hidden lore for Magisteria/Medeas. All PCs will also receive a month of living/general expenses.
Objective: You must find the source of the emotional wound -- perhaps a particularly tragic or negative memory -- and use various means (e.g., interacting with the person who left this memory, using/crafting a soothing artifact, or even venturing into a memory yourself) to resolve it and restore the Luminari's glow.
Reward: The revitalized Luminari will offer a precious memory in return, as well as a vision of hidden lore for Magisteria/Medeas. All PCs will also receive a month of living/general expenses.
đ The Lost Child of Light
According to legend, a Luminari called the Child of Light appears once every century, radiating an intense brilliance. Those who encounter it are said to gain visions of the future or a profound understanding of themselves. Recently, strange rumors and sightings hint that this Child has manifested, but it seems to be hiding in a dreamscape deep within the Central Gardens. Locating it will require unraveling a series of clues left in the dreams of those who have unknowingly glimpsed its light.
Objective: Venture into the Grove and find the clues left by visitors and by the spirits in order to locate the Child of Light.
Reward: A magical scrying crystal and a month of living expenses.
Objective: Venture into the Grove and find the clues left by visitors and by the spirits in order to locate the Child of Light.
Reward: A magical scrying crystal and a month of living expenses.
II. Agrarian Enclave Quests
đ The Restoration of the Agrarian Enclave: Multiple Quests
âOtherworlders, what a time youâve arrived at. Our agriculture district, the Agrarian Enclave, a peaceful and prosperous land of eternal growth, has been experiencing such confusing occurrences.â
Lady Viridia, the Greenveil Warden, presides over the Sunwoven Meadows, a special enchanted region of eternal summer within the Agrarian Enclave. Recently, parts of these forever-green lands have begun to appear blighted and withered. These are not natural barren autumnal/wintry conditions, as the Sunwoven Meadows are a land of perpetual summer. Lady Viridia believes the mining of Bios to refine it (industrial Bios) has weakened the regionâs natural defenses, allowing dark influences to seep in and angering certain of the regionâs natural powers and wardens.
Lady Viridia believes the seeds scattered by the Bloombeasts and the pollen from the Pygmy Flouribounder can restore these areas. However, the animals have become skittish with the rise of dark influences.
The restoration spans multiple quests.
Lady Viridia, the Greenveil Warden, presides over the Sunwoven Meadows, a special enchanted region of eternal summer within the Agrarian Enclave. Recently, parts of these forever-green lands have begun to appear blighted and withered. These are not natural barren autumnal/wintry conditions, as the Sunwoven Meadows are a land of perpetual summer. Lady Viridia believes the mining of Bios to refine it (industrial Bios) has weakened the regionâs natural defenses, allowing dark influences to seep in and angering certain of the regionâs natural powers and wardens.
Lady Viridia believes the seeds scattered by the Bloombeasts and the pollen from the Pygmy Flouribounder can restore these areas. However, the animals have become skittish with the rise of dark influences.
The restoration spans multiple quests.
đ Quest #1: Beneath the Shepherd's Gaze: The Heartwood Tree Challenge
The majestic Bloombeasts of Magisteriaâs Agrarian Enclave are guarded by a being known as the Eye of the Meadow. Lady Viridia gives each Otherworlder a green token for an audience with the Eye, but it will also want them to pass a trial to prove they can be trusted.
The trial involves balancing an ancient sentient tree known as the Heartwood Tree. The Heartwood Tree has three resonance nodes: the Root Node, the Flora Node, and the Fauna Node. Otherworlders can perform Synthesis to generate Bios, boosting each node.
However, there are positives and negatives for each node.
Boosting the Root Node with Bios can cause the roots to become strong, forming protective barriers, but too much Bios will lead to tangled roots which strangle plant growth in the Flora Node.
Boosting the Flora Node will cause vibrant plant growth, but too much Bios may result in an abundance of flora which draws pests and predators.
Boosting the Fauna Node will draw animal life to the region, but too much Bios may result in over-grazing and a strain on the resources of the Flora and Root nodes.
Otherworlders may encounter giant spiders, Moss Titans, Gnarled Revenants [as well as other creatures: PCs are free to invent their own!] depending on the nodes they boost. To conquer this challenge, Otherworlders must act cooperatively and use their Synthesizing abilities to balance the Bios in the Heartwood Treeâs nodes.
Otherworlders who cooperate to balance the Heartwood Tree will receive a token called the petal of resilience from a being known as the Barkshade. This will be the key to the next quest.
The trial involves balancing an ancient sentient tree known as the Heartwood Tree. The Heartwood Tree has three resonance nodes: the Root Node, the Flora Node, and the Fauna Node. Otherworlders can perform Synthesis to generate Bios, boosting each node.
However, there are positives and negatives for each node.
Boosting the Root Node with Bios can cause the roots to become strong, forming protective barriers, but too much Bios will lead to tangled roots which strangle plant growth in the Flora Node.
Boosting the Flora Node will cause vibrant plant growth, but too much Bios may result in an abundance of flora which draws pests and predators.
Boosting the Fauna Node will draw animal life to the region, but too much Bios may result in over-grazing and a strain on the resources of the Flora and Root nodes.
Otherworlders may encounter giant spiders, Moss Titans, Gnarled Revenants [as well as other creatures: PCs are free to invent their own!] depending on the nodes they boost. To conquer this challenge, Otherworlders must act cooperatively and use their Synthesizing abilities to balance the Bios in the Heartwood Treeâs nodes.
Otherworlders who cooperate to balance the Heartwood Tree will receive a token called the petal of resilience from a being known as the Barkshade. This will be the key to the next quest.
đ Quest #2: The Seeds of Renewal: The Land of Eternal Summer
Only once Otherworlders have appeased the Eye and retrieved the Bloombeasts can they be eligible for this quest, so the Enclave restoration is de facto a two-part quest.
Once Otherworlders have retrieved Bloombeasts, as well as the Pygmy Flouribounders, they must travel to the area of corruption in the Sunwoven Meadows. There, they will encounter a force known as the Witherblight. The Witherblight is a sinister, corrupting force that thrives in areas where natural magic has faltered. It manifests as a creeping shadow of decay, draining vitality from the soil and plants, and turning once-vibrant gardens into lifeless husks. This dark presence is characterized by thorny vines and shadowy tendrils that emit a faint, toxic glow. Areas affected by the Witherblight often attract lesser shadowy entities known as Blightlings, which feed on the lingering remnants of natural magic.
The Witherblight appeared shortly after industrial Bios mining became more prevalent in the Agrarian Enclave. As the balance between technology and nature shifted, it created a void in the magical ecosystem that the Witherblight took advantage of. Now, as autumn sets in -- a time when the natural world is already more vulnerable -- the Witherblightâs influence has grown stronger, threatening to overtake entire sections of the Agrarian Enclave.
Objective: Otherworlders must guide the Bloombeasts and the Pygmy Flouribounders (the latter, being small, can also be carried) to the areas of corruption, using their pollen-producing and seeding abilities and their gentle magic to restore the corrupted lands. Along the way, they may encounter and defeat the forces of the Witherblight, the Blightlings [1, 2, 3]. The final encounter will be against a creature known as the Witherthorn, a sentient manifestation of the Witherblight, a twisted amalgamation of corrupted vines, shadowy thorns, and toxic blossoms. Its presence warps the surrounding flora, spreading decay and attracting hostile Blightlings. The Witherthorn will only be vulnerable after the local flora has been restored, and players will need to fend off waves of Blightlings while they complete the purification.
To defeat the Witherthorn, Otherworlders must imbue the petal of resilience from the previous quest with a share of their Bios via their Synthesis abilities, cooperating to empower the petal. Magic from the Flouribounders and the Bloombeasts will also go towards empowering the petal. Once the petal has become sufficiently empowered with the Bios and the magic of the fauna, it will glow brilliantly, burning off the corruption of the Witherthorn.
Result: Successfully purging the corruption/curse of the Witherblight will cause the vines and tangles of the Witherthorn to fall away, revealing that the creature is actually a twisted manifestation of a once beneficent nature spirit: the Thornmother. The Thornmother will thank Otherworlders and promise to give them aid in the battles which are to come, for this is not the last of the difficulties the Agrarian Enclave will face.
Reward: The allies who successfully complete this quest will receive a powerful summons from the Thornmother: something that can greatly aid them in the battles to come. Mod will reveal details to those who successfully complete the quest. ;D
Once Otherworlders have retrieved Bloombeasts, as well as the Pygmy Flouribounders, they must travel to the area of corruption in the Sunwoven Meadows. There, they will encounter a force known as the Witherblight. The Witherblight is a sinister, corrupting force that thrives in areas where natural magic has faltered. It manifests as a creeping shadow of decay, draining vitality from the soil and plants, and turning once-vibrant gardens into lifeless husks. This dark presence is characterized by thorny vines and shadowy tendrils that emit a faint, toxic glow. Areas affected by the Witherblight often attract lesser shadowy entities known as Blightlings, which feed on the lingering remnants of natural magic.
The Witherblight appeared shortly after industrial Bios mining became more prevalent in the Agrarian Enclave. As the balance between technology and nature shifted, it created a void in the magical ecosystem that the Witherblight took advantage of. Now, as autumn sets in -- a time when the natural world is already more vulnerable -- the Witherblightâs influence has grown stronger, threatening to overtake entire sections of the Agrarian Enclave.
Objective: Otherworlders must guide the Bloombeasts and the Pygmy Flouribounders (the latter, being small, can also be carried) to the areas of corruption, using their pollen-producing and seeding abilities and their gentle magic to restore the corrupted lands. Along the way, they may encounter and defeat the forces of the Witherblight, the Blightlings [1, 2, 3]. The final encounter will be against a creature known as the Witherthorn, a sentient manifestation of the Witherblight, a twisted amalgamation of corrupted vines, shadowy thorns, and toxic blossoms. Its presence warps the surrounding flora, spreading decay and attracting hostile Blightlings. The Witherthorn will only be vulnerable after the local flora has been restored, and players will need to fend off waves of Blightlings while they complete the purification.
To defeat the Witherthorn, Otherworlders must imbue the petal of resilience from the previous quest with a share of their Bios via their Synthesis abilities, cooperating to empower the petal. Magic from the Flouribounders and the Bloombeasts will also go towards empowering the petal. Once the petal has become sufficiently empowered with the Bios and the magic of the fauna, it will glow brilliantly, burning off the corruption of the Witherthorn.
Result: Successfully purging the corruption/curse of the Witherblight will cause the vines and tangles of the Witherthorn to fall away, revealing that the creature is actually a twisted manifestation of a once beneficent nature spirit: the Thornmother. The Thornmother will thank Otherworlders and promise to give them aid in the battles which are to come, for this is not the last of the difficulties the Agrarian Enclave will face.
Reward: The allies who successfully complete this quest will receive a powerful summons from the Thornmother: something that can greatly aid them in the battles to come. Mod will reveal details to those who successfully complete the quest. ;D
đ Season's Sentinel
The Seasonâs Sentinel is an extraordinary Bloombeast known for its ability to channel the energies of the seasons. Every few years, it undertakes a migration that replenishes the Agrarian Enclaveâs elemental balance. As it travels, the Bloombeastâs presence transforms the environment, subtly shifting flora and fauna in its wake to reflect the incoming season.
This year, however, disturbances have disrupted the Sentinelâs natural path, causing it to falter and stray. If it doesnât complete its journey, the Enclave will experience unnatural seasonal fluctuations that could destabilize the entire region. The Seasonâs Sentinel needs to travel from the Sylvan Bower -- an ancient forest grove -- to a mystical convergence point known as the Seasonsworn Cradle, where the energies of the seasons coalesce.
Along the way, the Otherworlders must guide the Sentinel through the Windweald Glades, a region of powerful winds and shifting landscapes, and the Whispering Hollow, a dark marshland where corrupted energies fester.
In the Glades, Otherworlders may encounter a being known as The Luminous Wraith, also known as "The Herald of Flickering Truths," the Wraith is a being which flickers into and out of existence, caught in a between-life and formed of spectral Bios. The theory is that it was once a Guardian spirit, but, like the Witherblight, it has now become corrupted by the disruptions to the landscape. The entityâs form shifts and blurs because its very essence warps reality around it. Its flames are not of ordinary fire; they are a manifestation of magical flux, able to ignite and consume the Bios of Otherworlders or the natural magic of the Glade. Its many arms signify its ability to manifest in multiple places at once or wield different elemental forces simultaneously. This makes it an overwhelming foe to face alone, requiring teamwork or special protections.
Meanwhile, in the Hollow, Otherworlders may encounter Murk Shades, beings whose touch brings rot, and whose presence can induce hallucinations, distortions, and mental confusions.
Objective: Successfully guide the Season's Sentinel beyond these obstacles. Otherworlders will need to (as usual) cooperate with their Bios/Synthesis abilities, and they will also need to successfully bond with the Season's Sentinel, coaxing it to use its magic to purge the corruption from the darkened ley lines in the Glades and the Hollow.
Reward: A seasonal charm that changes with the Bloombeastâs flowers, providing different benefits depending on the season. As with the above quest, mod will reveal more details on the charm's powers for those who complete the quest. ;D
This year, however, disturbances have disrupted the Sentinelâs natural path, causing it to falter and stray. If it doesnât complete its journey, the Enclave will experience unnatural seasonal fluctuations that could destabilize the entire region. The Seasonâs Sentinel needs to travel from the Sylvan Bower -- an ancient forest grove -- to a mystical convergence point known as the Seasonsworn Cradle, where the energies of the seasons coalesce.
Along the way, the Otherworlders must guide the Sentinel through the Windweald Glades, a region of powerful winds and shifting landscapes, and the Whispering Hollow, a dark marshland where corrupted energies fester.
In the Glades, Otherworlders may encounter a being known as The Luminous Wraith, also known as "The Herald of Flickering Truths," the Wraith is a being which flickers into and out of existence, caught in a between-life and formed of spectral Bios. The theory is that it was once a Guardian spirit, but, like the Witherblight, it has now become corrupted by the disruptions to the landscape. The entityâs form shifts and blurs because its very essence warps reality around it. Its flames are not of ordinary fire; they are a manifestation of magical flux, able to ignite and consume the Bios of Otherworlders or the natural magic of the Glade. Its many arms signify its ability to manifest in multiple places at once or wield different elemental forces simultaneously. This makes it an overwhelming foe to face alone, requiring teamwork or special protections.
Meanwhile, in the Hollow, Otherworlders may encounter Murk Shades, beings whose touch brings rot, and whose presence can induce hallucinations, distortions, and mental confusions.
Objective: Successfully guide the Season's Sentinel beyond these obstacles. Otherworlders will need to (as usual) cooperate with their Bios/Synthesis abilities, and they will also need to successfully bond with the Season's Sentinel, coaxing it to use its magic to purge the corruption from the darkened ley lines in the Glades and the Hollow.
Reward: A seasonal charm that changes with the Bloombeastâs flowers, providing different benefits depending on the season. As with the above quest, mod will reveal more details on the charm's powers for those who complete the quest. ;D
đ The Bloombeast's Keeper
A young druid named Kaelan aspires to become a protector of the Bloombeasts but must first prove their worth by forming a bond with one of the elusive Bloombeasts. They ask for your assistance in understanding the creaturesâ ways. You must teach the druid how to respect the Bloombeastsâ space, gather appropriate food offerings, and finally perform a bonding ritual under the moonlit sky.
Objective: Help the druid bond with the Bloombeasts. Otherworlders can find special flora for the animals in the meadows and throughout the Enclave, and they can create gentle Bios resonance flows to coax the animals. Otherworlders can use their special Synthesis ability to harmonize their Bios, representing the harmony between the creatures and the druid, and in so doing, they can form a spiritual bond between Kaelan and the Bloombeasts by touching them both during this activity, linking their spirits and minds.
Reward: The druid and the bonded Bloombeast become allies, offering future support and knowledge about rare herbs. Otherworlders can use these to boost their alchemical skills/abilities considerably, allowing them to make all kinds of new and useful potions.
Objective: Help the druid bond with the Bloombeasts. Otherworlders can find special flora for the animals in the meadows and throughout the Enclave, and they can create gentle Bios resonance flows to coax the animals. Otherworlders can use their special Synthesis ability to harmonize their Bios, representing the harmony between the creatures and the druid, and in so doing, they can form a spiritual bond between Kaelan and the Bloombeasts by touching them both during this activity, linking their spirits and minds.
Reward: The druid and the bonded Bloombeast become allies, offering future support and knowledge about rare herbs. Otherworlders can use these to boost their alchemical skills/abilities considerably, allowing them to make all kinds of new and useful potions.
đ Curious Companionship
A small Flutterbun has developed a curiosity for human interaction and follows PCs around, observing their behavior. This Flutterbun, named âCurio,â has a unique talent for detecting hidden pathways in the Agrarian Enclave. However, Curio seems distressed, frequently flitting away to a particular, heavily guarded area of the Enclave, known as the Grove of the Forgotten Petals.
Objective: Gain Curioâs trust by feeding it a special type of nectar and accompanying it to the area it is drawn to. There, the player will uncover an old, forgotten garden filled with rare flora and discover a hidden history of the Flutterbunsâ origins.
Tips: The nectar comes from a variety of Nightglow Flowers which bloom in the Grove of the Forgotten Petals. The wardens of the Grove may challenge Otherworlders to prove their worth, but they can do so by showing they have successfully completed any of the above quests, i.e. by presenting the petal of resilience or demonstrating that they assisted in any of the above nature quests.
Reward: Curio can become an ally who will aid Otherworlders... including potentially leading them to find hidden secrets within the Agrarian Enclave.
Objective: Gain Curioâs trust by feeding it a special type of nectar and accompanying it to the area it is drawn to. There, the player will uncover an old, forgotten garden filled with rare flora and discover a hidden history of the Flutterbunsâ origins.
Tips: The nectar comes from a variety of Nightglow Flowers which bloom in the Grove of the Forgotten Petals. The wardens of the Grove may challenge Otherworlders to prove their worth, but they can do so by showing they have successfully completed any of the above quests, i.e. by presenting the petal of resilience or demonstrating that they assisted in any of the above nature quests.
Reward: Curio can become an ally who will aid Otherworlders... including potentially leading them to find hidden secrets within the Agrarian Enclave.
đ Rescue the Bloomhoppers
A group of Pygmy Floribounders has been captured by a greedy merchant who wishes to sell their pollen for profit. These delicate creatures are being kept in small cages in his hidden greenhouse, and they are visibly distressed.
Objective: Sneak into the greenhouse and free the captured floribounders without being caught. Players will need to navigate traps, avoid detection, and perhaps even negotiate with or distract the merchant.
Reward: Two months of living expenses+money for all general needs and a special bloom whose properties will be revealed at the time of quest completion.
Objective: Sneak into the greenhouse and free the captured floribounders without being caught. Players will need to navigate traps, avoid detection, and perhaps even negotiate with or distract the merchant.
Reward: Two months of living expenses+money for all general needs and a special bloom whose properties will be revealed at the time of quest completion.
đ The Golden Pollen Mystery
Recently, some Pygmy Floribounders have been seen spreading an unusual gold-colored pollen that has bizarre effects on the local fauna, causing aggression and territorial disputes. It turns out that a malevolent creature is magically altering the floriboundersâ pollen for its own sinister purposes.
Objective: Investigate the origins of the golden pollen, and find the creature responsible. Players will need to battle through enchanted flora and corrupted beasts to find the source of the alteration and put a stop to it. PCs may discover that the entity responsible for manipulating the Flouribounders is a mysterious yokai known as the Shroudweaver. The Shroudweaver is an ancient yokai born from the prayers and curses of the Agrarian Enclaveâs past, and its appearance is an ominous harbinger suggesting deeper perils that the Agrarian Enclave may soon face.
Reward: Two months of living/general expenses and a special amulet which will grant resistance to certain dark nature magic+abilities to be disclosed for those who complete the quest.
Objective: Investigate the origins of the golden pollen, and find the creature responsible. Players will need to battle through enchanted flora and corrupted beasts to find the source of the alteration and put a stop to it. PCs may discover that the entity responsible for manipulating the Flouribounders is a mysterious yokai known as the Shroudweaver. The Shroudweaver is an ancient yokai born from the prayers and curses of the Agrarian Enclaveâs past, and its appearance is an ominous harbinger suggesting deeper perils that the Agrarian Enclave may soon face.
Reward: Two months of living/general expenses and a special amulet which will grant resistance to certain dark nature magic+abilities to be disclosed for those who complete the quest.
III. Tech Quests
đ¤ The AI Heist
A cutting-edge AI developed by the Luxon Corporation has been stolen by a mysterious faction, quite possibly the same group that Phantom Cipher is now affiliated with, or one of its branches.
The AI, codenamed ONIRIX, is a byproduct of the research that Magisterian natives have done on the Synthesis abilities of Otherworlders. It possesses unique abilities to transform/modulate/harmonize magical Bios energies in a technological context, potentially reducing the need for the industrial Bios mining which has brought affliction to the Agrarian Enclave, necessitating certain of the above nature quests.
Otherworlders are recruited for a stealth-based mission where they must infiltrate the facility, evade or disable advanced security systems, and extract ONIRIX before the faction can unlock its secrets. Complicating matters, the AI has been placed under multiple layers of digital encryption and is projecting false data to mislead any would-be rescuers.
Objective: Otherworlders must use their knowledge of Magisterian technology to infiltrate the facility and rescue ONIRIX.
Tips: Remember, Otherworlders have access to Bursterflies and Lepidoperatives, small tech fauna which can be used for recon and information retrieval, as well as assisting with infiltration efforts in various ways. They can use tech weapons[links], they can imbibe tech-boosting foods/drinks, and NPCs will by now have given tech PCs lessons on the complex specifics of Magisterian programming languages, which they can also learn more quickly from the enhanced tech state of Synthaura. PCs who participated in the Cyberseed challenge from the first event will have access to the ability to enter this enhanced state, but those PCs can also transfer the powers to newer PCs. Again, cooperation is, as always, the name of the game!
Reward: PCs will receive three months of currency for general expenses and also receive special tech rewards to be revealed. The rewards can assist in the upcoming event with Phantom Cipher.
The AI, codenamed ONIRIX, is a byproduct of the research that Magisterian natives have done on the Synthesis abilities of Otherworlders. It possesses unique abilities to transform/modulate/harmonize magical Bios energies in a technological context, potentially reducing the need for the industrial Bios mining which has brought affliction to the Agrarian Enclave, necessitating certain of the above nature quests.
Otherworlders are recruited for a stealth-based mission where they must infiltrate the facility, evade or disable advanced security systems, and extract ONIRIX before the faction can unlock its secrets. Complicating matters, the AI has been placed under multiple layers of digital encryption and is projecting false data to mislead any would-be rescuers.
Objective: Otherworlders must use their knowledge of Magisterian technology to infiltrate the facility and rescue ONIRIX.
Tips: Remember, Otherworlders have access to Bursterflies and Lepidoperatives, small tech fauna which can be used for recon and information retrieval, as well as assisting with infiltration efforts in various ways. They can use tech weapons[links], they can imbibe tech-boosting foods/drinks, and NPCs will by now have given tech PCs lessons on the complex specifics of Magisterian programming languages, which they can also learn more quickly from the enhanced tech state of Synthaura. PCs who participated in the Cyberseed challenge from the first event will have access to the ability to enter this enhanced state, but those PCs can also transfer the powers to newer PCs. Again, cooperation is, as always, the name of the game!
Reward: PCs will receive three months of currency for general expenses and also receive special tech rewards to be revealed. The rewards can assist in the upcoming event with Phantom Cipher.
đ¤ Wings of Innovation
A new class of advanced, personal aircraft known as Suncasters has been developed by the scientists and engineers in the Aetherium District. Unlike traditional aircraft, these experimental units are semi-sentient and respond directly to the Bios of their pilot. The project needs capable Otherworlders to test the responsiveness, agility, and limitations of the Suncasters across a variety of terrains and atmospheric conditions. Otherworlders will be invited to a large, special technical arena to pilot the crafts.
Obstacles in the arena are created by VR simulations and the arena is a very large one, but there would still be some risk of accidentally crashing the craft, so to pre-empt this, the following safety measures are put in place:
The testing arena is equipped with a comprehensive safety system that can remotely neutralize or safely immobilize any Suncaster in the event of erratic flight patterns or loss of control. If necessary, NPC technicians can trigger the craftsâ built-in stabilization protocols, gently guiding them to the ground to prevent accidental crashes and ensure pilot safety. NPCs will be monitoring activities from afar to ensure the safety of Otherworldersespecially cos some of y'all might go buck wild with dis shitto, be real...
Objective: Complete a series of increasingly difficult flight challenges that test the PC's ability to maneuver through tight spaces, react to environmental hazards, and interface with the aircraftâs biofeedback system. Some challenges might include navigating magnetic storms, dodging energy blasts from drones, or rescuing âdistressedâ entities, such as simulations of fellow Otherworlders or AI entities. During the quest, players can collect and unlock tech-enhancements to modify their Suncasters, such as booster capabilities, energy shields, or short-range teleportation.
Reward: Access to a Suncaster vehicle for future missions and the ability to customize its features.
Obstacles in the arena are created by VR simulations and the arena is a very large one, but there would still be some risk of accidentally crashing the craft, so to pre-empt this, the following safety measures are put in place:
The testing arena is equipped with a comprehensive safety system that can remotely neutralize or safely immobilize any Suncaster in the event of erratic flight patterns or loss of control. If necessary, NPC technicians can trigger the craftsâ built-in stabilization protocols, gently guiding them to the ground to prevent accidental crashes and ensure pilot safety. NPCs will be monitoring activities from afar to ensure the safety of Otherworlders
Objective: Complete a series of increasingly difficult flight challenges that test the PC's ability to maneuver through tight spaces, react to environmental hazards, and interface with the aircraftâs biofeedback system. Some challenges might include navigating magnetic storms, dodging energy blasts from drones, or rescuing âdistressedâ entities, such as simulations of fellow Otherworlders or AI entities. During the quest, players can collect and unlock tech-enhancements to modify their Suncasters, such as booster capabilities, energy shields, or short-range teleportation.
Reward: Access to a Suncaster vehicle for future missions and the ability to customize its features.
đ¤ Augment Ascension
The biotech labs of the Aetherium District have created a new type of physical augment called Symphogenics, which directly harmonizes with a userâs inherent abilities, enhancing their physical performance in specific ways. To determine the most effective configurations, Otherworlders are invited to a unique testing ground: The Starlight Apex, an enigmatic skyscraper outfitted with advanced obstacle courses.
Objective: Choose from different augment types (e.g., enhanced reflexes, short-range flight, or kinetic energy absorption) and ascend the Apex by overcoming various trials that challenge speed, strength, or problem-solving. The Symphogenic augments adapt dynamically based on the userâs performance, growing stronger the more the user pushes them. Some challenges might include jumping across moving platforms, balancing on thin, invisible pathways, or racing against augmented androids. Players must also be wary of âoverloadingâ their augments, which can cause them to malfunction temporarily, increasing difficulty.
Reward: Permanent access to a single-use Symphogenic augment for future quests or a unique, limited-duration ability like âAccelerated Reflexes.â
Objective: Choose from different augment types (e.g., enhanced reflexes, short-range flight, or kinetic energy absorption) and ascend the Apex by overcoming various trials that challenge speed, strength, or problem-solving. The Symphogenic augments adapt dynamically based on the userâs performance, growing stronger the more the user pushes them. Some challenges might include jumping across moving platforms, balancing on thin, invisible pathways, or racing against augmented androids. Players must also be wary of âoverloadingâ their augments, which can cause them to malfunction temporarily, increasing difficulty.
Reward: Permanent access to a single-use Symphogenic augment for future quests or a unique, limited-duration ability like âAccelerated Reflexes.â
đ¤ Initiate: Vplane
The time has come at last for Otherworlders of the tech persuasion to encounter Vplane, the virtual overlay of Magisteria. What is Vplane? It is an entire virtual world, and Otherworlders can enter it by placing their physical bodies in virtual reality pods found throughout Magisteria and by switching to the appropriate settings on their aXess Link devices, sychronizing their neurons with the appropriate alogrithms and bases of code.
In the Vplane, reality is sometimes what you make of it, and the more talented you are at manipulating technology (especially those who are learning, for example, mental hacking), the more a visitor can very literally shape the environs around them. Otherworlders who enter the Vplane will find an entire society of people who come for work, play, leisure, and to simply soak in the pleasures of the virtual sphere, including many AI and other inorganic beings, for whom this world is often more comfortable and not such a sensory overload as the world of the flesh, i.e. the human world. AI have outsized rights, responsibilities, and roles in the Vplane, as this is their backyard.
For this quest, Otherworlders encounter a figure known as the Gridmaster. The Gridmaster, having learned of Phantom Cipher's plans, offers Otherworlders an opportunity to create digital Echoes of themselves. These Echoes are digital ghost-signatures, essentially clones of Otherworlders which can be summoned by Otherworlders to maintain a piece of themselves in the face of Cipher's Manifestation.
The Gridmaster presents a task in which the Otherworlders must sync their Bios energy to a series of fluctuating nodes that represent the dissonance of their own physical and digital selves. The test involves interacting with these nodes to find a point of resonance, stabilizing the flow of data between them. The Otherworlders must navigate through a shifting maze-like structure made of mirrored data streams. Here, they encounter areas where the environment actively erases their presence or scrambles their data, forcing them to adapt quickly. This is meant to represent how easily the Vplane can erase intruders who donât try to understand or respect the virtual world.
Objective: Otherworlders must demonstrate their attunement to and mastery of the virtual sphere. In so doing, they may confront aspects of themselves, embodied in the shifting structures and in the Echoes they create. The goal is to create an Echo which can be used to aid an Otherworlder in the Symphony of Disruption, perhaps via a summoning (a way for magic/tech users to cooperate) for the Echo to act as an ally force, even if the original Otherworlder has been corrupted by Cipher's machinations. To create an Echo, Otherworlders must master the challenges and successfully build a digital footprint with their Bios.
Reward: Otherworlders can successfully create Echoes of themselves to retrieve/summon (or be summoned) during upcoming event.
In the Vplane, reality is sometimes what you make of it, and the more talented you are at manipulating technology (especially those who are learning, for example, mental hacking), the more a visitor can very literally shape the environs around them. Otherworlders who enter the Vplane will find an entire society of people who come for work, play, leisure, and to simply soak in the pleasures of the virtual sphere, including many AI and other inorganic beings, for whom this world is often more comfortable and not such a sensory overload as the world of the flesh, i.e. the human world. AI have outsized rights, responsibilities, and roles in the Vplane, as this is their backyard.
For this quest, Otherworlders encounter a figure known as the Gridmaster. The Gridmaster, having learned of Phantom Cipher's plans, offers Otherworlders an opportunity to create digital Echoes of themselves. These Echoes are digital ghost-signatures, essentially clones of Otherworlders which can be summoned by Otherworlders to maintain a piece of themselves in the face of Cipher's Manifestation.
The Gridmaster presents a task in which the Otherworlders must sync their Bios energy to a series of fluctuating nodes that represent the dissonance of their own physical and digital selves. The test involves interacting with these nodes to find a point of resonance, stabilizing the flow of data between them. The Otherworlders must navigate through a shifting maze-like structure made of mirrored data streams. Here, they encounter areas where the environment actively erases their presence or scrambles their data, forcing them to adapt quickly. This is meant to represent how easily the Vplane can erase intruders who donât try to understand or respect the virtual world.
Objective: Otherworlders must demonstrate their attunement to and mastery of the virtual sphere. In so doing, they may confront aspects of themselves, embodied in the shifting structures and in the Echoes they create. The goal is to create an Echo which can be used to aid an Otherworlder in the Symphony of Disruption, perhaps via a summoning (a way for magic/tech users to cooperate) for the Echo to act as an ally force, even if the original Otherworlder has been corrupted by Cipher's machinations. To create an Echo, Otherworlders must master the challenges and successfully build a digital footprint with their Bios.
Reward: Otherworlders can successfully create Echoes of themselves to retrieve/summon (or be summoned) during upcoming event.
đ¤ Cyber Samurai: Way of the Blade
Otherworlders may have already seen some of these mysterious sword-wielding figures throughout Magisteria, their blades infused with Bios. These are cyber-samurai, and unlike their standard counterparts, their blades are honed specifically to enact digital functions on their opponents. That is to say, a cyber samurai can use a sword blow (or series thereof) to disrupt and manipulate/alter the code of cyber/cyborg/AI antagonists, effectively neutralizing them. These guardians of Magisteria's tech sectors are especially effective against beings such as the Fractured or hostile inorganic entities such as Phantom Cipher.
With the rising threats to High Rise Village, some of these elite and secretive cyber samurai groups are opening their doors to train Otherworlders.
Objective: Visit the Shattered Circuit Temple in Magisteria's Business District and begin training with the cyber samurai. Training will consist of sword techniques interspersed with actual "hacking" techniques -- techniques for manipulating industrial/refined Bios to carefully disrupt the defenses of cyber-foes. Initially, the training will be on the simpler side, as these are very advanced techniques and carefully guarded secrets of Magisteria's protectors: trust must be developed, even for the Otherworlders. However, Otherworlders who pursue The Way of the Blade in this quest will have future opportunities related to obstacles/challenges with the tech path and antagonist forces.
Reward: The skills upgrade will be its own reward! However, Otherworlders will also receive a training stipend of a month of living/general expenses covered and also be eligible for more cyber-security and even potential cyber samurai jobs in the city.
With the rising threats to High Rise Village, some of these elite and secretive cyber samurai groups are opening their doors to train Otherworlders.
Objective: Visit the Shattered Circuit Temple in Magisteria's Business District and begin training with the cyber samurai. Training will consist of sword techniques interspersed with actual "hacking" techniques -- techniques for manipulating industrial/refined Bios to carefully disrupt the defenses of cyber-foes. Initially, the training will be on the simpler side, as these are very advanced techniques and carefully guarded secrets of Magisteria's protectors: trust must be developed, even for the Otherworlders. However, Otherworlders who pursue The Way of the Blade in this quest will have future opportunities related to obstacles/challenges with the tech path and antagonist forces.
Reward: The skills upgrade will be its own reward! However, Otherworlders will also receive a training stipend of a month of living/general expenses covered and also be eligible for more cyber-security and even potential cyber samurai jobs in the city.
đ¤ Broken Doll, Broken Code
Years ago, the AI scientists of Magisteria created a tech doll named Whisper to store the digital memories of cyborgs and other inorganic beings who were destroyed or who malfunctioned for any reason. The tech doll could replicate behaviors and sounds of these entities, giving comfort to families. However, there was controversy around the tech doll's existence, with some seeing its ability/use as perverse. This controversy occurred particularly among the techno-citizens of Magisteria, though some organic beings were not without their opinions on the matter. During the controversy, the doll disappeared, the theory being that she may have been abducted either by someone who wished to use her abilities, or by hostile oppositional forces who wished to see her destroyed.
Now, amid the recent controversies and conflicts, Whisper has suddenly re-appeared. Not only that, but she's no longer "merely" a doll: Whisper reveals that she has been living in the city's Supernatural Undercity, and that she has merged with a spirit who is now inhabiting her body and who has worked to merge with her code, the two of them becoming a new kind of sentience. Whisper claims that she holds the secrets of the Fractured (whose appearance she resembles) and their disillusion. True to her name, she whispers that she alone knows possible secrets to Umbra and to reversing or at least mitigating the corruption of the code, and she is willing to talk to Otherworlders... "if you will play a little game with me".
Objective: Whisper invites the Otherworlders into a hidden chamber just above the entrance to Undercity, the mysterious eleventh district of Magisteria home to supernatural beings. Each chamber is modeled after key locations tied to the downfall of those who became the Fractured and is filled with interactive holograms and audio logs.
Whisper reveals that, for her âgame,â she wishes to play out scenarios from different moments in her own past -- the moments when she was taken from the laboratory, the interactions with hostile forces, and finally, her merger with the spirit. Players are drawn into âholographic reenactmentsâ that Whisper constructs using her memories and the spiritual essence now animating her. These reenactments are dangerous; they are more than just visual illusions. Any damage sustained or interaction made can have real-world consequences.
Each scenario contains hidden elements and moral dilemmas, such as choosing between Whisperâs potential freedom or someone elseâs safety. Players are forced to play various roles, such as Whisperâs abductors, her original creators, or even the hostile forces trying to dismantle her, seeing the events unfold from each point of view.
Players who successfully navigate these challenges, keeping their sanity, will be eligible to finally receive the actual secrets to entering the Undercity of Magisteria (which at this time cannot be visited by Otherworlders -- yet), as well as deep lore about the Fractured, who they were, and their secrets.
Tips: Remember the Luminous Bloom blessing from the third TDM? As well as the other blessings of the spirits? Might come in handy for this challenge...
Now, amid the recent controversies and conflicts, Whisper has suddenly re-appeared. Not only that, but she's no longer "merely" a doll: Whisper reveals that she has been living in the city's Supernatural Undercity, and that she has merged with a spirit who is now inhabiting her body and who has worked to merge with her code, the two of them becoming a new kind of sentience. Whisper claims that she holds the secrets of the Fractured (whose appearance she resembles) and their disillusion. True to her name, she whispers that she alone knows possible secrets to Umbra and to reversing or at least mitigating the corruption of the code, and she is willing to talk to Otherworlders... "if you will play a little game with me".
Objective: Whisper invites the Otherworlders into a hidden chamber just above the entrance to Undercity, the mysterious eleventh district of Magisteria home to supernatural beings. Each chamber is modeled after key locations tied to the downfall of those who became the Fractured and is filled with interactive holograms and audio logs.
Whisper reveals that, for her âgame,â she wishes to play out scenarios from different moments in her own past -- the moments when she was taken from the laboratory, the interactions with hostile forces, and finally, her merger with the spirit. Players are drawn into âholographic reenactmentsâ that Whisper constructs using her memories and the spiritual essence now animating her. These reenactments are dangerous; they are more than just visual illusions. Any damage sustained or interaction made can have real-world consequences.
Each scenario contains hidden elements and moral dilemmas, such as choosing between Whisperâs potential freedom or someone elseâs safety. Players are forced to play various roles, such as Whisperâs abductors, her original creators, or even the hostile forces trying to dismantle her, seeing the events unfold from each point of view.
Players who successfully navigate these challenges, keeping their sanity, will be eligible to finally receive the actual secrets to entering the Undercity of Magisteria (which at this time cannot be visited by Otherworlders -- yet), as well as deep lore about the Fractured, who they were, and their secrets.
Tips: Remember the Luminous Bloom blessing from the third TDM? As well as the other blessings of the spirits? Might come in handy for this challenge...