Greetings, folks! Firstly, for your characters' IC knowledge:
Arbiter Ceryaen managed to make contact with a pair of individuals to relay some troubling concerns, and a request for assistance from all who would respond! A group of death cultists has been causing problems for the Merelew, and Ceryaen believes they may prove troubling for the drylanders as well, as she put it. While others are tasked with sorting that offshoot faction, it has left the Trickling Sun and others spread thin. As Andreshlew approaches, there is need to make preparations for the influx of visitors and troubling concerns for the dry lands as well.
(For Plat: Similar deal! An individual made contact and carried back word of the needs!)
Secondly, a bit about what that means OOCly for the players! This year's TASKs leading into Hollow Eve (and the duration) are available! They build upon the events of last Hollow Eve in several ways. The Merelew factions are back, and your standing with them from before remains. There are new tasks to do, however!
- The last visit, great efforts were made in recovering the larger tomiek pieces and disposing of them. Even the remains from the great spider that exploded in the sea have mostly been quarantined, and years later, there are signs of new life thanks to the Trickling Sun's efforts since the last visit. However, there are still small fragments that Ceryaen fears the fish and birds have begun carrying inland -- up streams, rivers and to the dry lands beyond. Your help is needed to find and dispose of these before they cause troubles beyond the sea! This task is a "power walking" mini-game, of sorts. You do not need to stay within Ceryaen's area to complete it -- in fact, you probably can't. You'll need to go back to the mainlands to explore a bit. Commoners, barbs and thieves need not worry -- she will assist you.
- Dolphins need training! It turns out it takes a LOT of time and effort to teach them how to avoid ships, and kelp forests, and all manner of obstacles between the drylands and Andreshlew! This is similar to Duskruin/Bank Heist/bronze leucros/etc -- you'll be given a prompt and need to respond appropriately in time. There's a lot of variation, and it gets faster as you go! Good luck!
- Last year's creatures are still a threat to the depths! Ceryaen is once again asking for assistance in quelling the disturbed sealife. It's brutal work, but she has trust in the drylanders to continue what was started before. The ripplegate mages have made some adjustments, and the previous efforts have resulted in shifts to where the creatures gather. Explore with caution!
We sure hope you kept your ecospheres from last year, and didn't lose them or give them away like the Merelew warned against, because they are how you can visit Ceryaen this year! Simply RAISE it in a suitable area, and a ripplegate will open for 5-10 minutes that anyone can use. It takes some time for this magic to replenish, so there may need to be some planning or coordination in these early days as others who don't yet have them acquire theirs. If you DID lose or give away your ecosphere, alas. You probably need to rely on others for now, but maybe not forever.
Rewards for completing a task are a little different this year. Depending on the task and what you're doing, you may glean additional understanding (exp) in related topics in addition to the coin and reputation. There may also be something of interest (and of value!) offered from time to time -- more study will be needed! For those who want to get ahead at any cost, a well timed bribe may be an option.
The reputation rewards have not changed much. There are still two paths: overall reputation with the Merelew via Ceryaen's tasks, and the support you throw to a particular faction via the representatives.
- Ceryaen rewards the ecosphere to those who have not yet earned one. There is an additional unlock, another descriptive. Those who already have one will have a head start on getting that (reputations/standings were not reset!).
- The representatives, at the moment, do not have additional unlocks if you continue to support the same faction as before. You may, of course, support another faction to gain their trust and their gifts (title + scrimshaw pendant[which has a use this year!]). As before, supporting a faction reduces your standing with others by half the amount you gain with the one. You should not lose access to titles once earned -- they may not be happy with you 'switching sides', but they don't forget the work you put in for them before. In the future, there is definitely more planned for the factions in terms of unlocks and access, but I can't promise that you'll see it this year! I tell you this so you can make decisions about which faction(s) to support for now, but with enough time and effort (and bribes), you can recover if you do choose to switch sides.
Hollow Eve is coming, and the story continues to unfold! Good luck to those who take up Ceryaen's call for assistance! Big thanks to Grejuva, Ulerith, Koror and everyone who helped with QCs and more to make this happen!
Zadraes
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