Jay
Marauderator
🧭
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 The Great One
Location: The Awakened Depths - Rose Faction / Golden Hand Faction / Vind Faction -> Quests! -> The Great One
Requirements: Completion of The Descent
Release Date: October 8th, 2021
Objective: As you face The Great One's Gauntlet, you and your dragon can't help but wonder what awaits within...
Objective completed: Now to mobilize the DragonLords... and begin the reclamation of Dragesvard!
Experience rewarded: Scaled
Gold rewarded: Scaled
Monsters
(3) Earth Elemental
(1) Granite
(2) Limestone
(4) Mossbound Vizalain
(3) Overgrown Elemental
(1) Moss Dragon Construct - Boss
NPCs
G. M. Hansa
Galanoth
Geno
Kara SuLema
Kratos
Vseslava
Rewards
Nature Construct Core
Dialogue
<Dragon> joins you as a pet.
*You and your dragon have entered The Great One's Gauntlet, which seems to be an old, underground Earth elemental temple.*
<Character>: Wow. This place looks... ancient.
<Character>: And The Great One is waiting for us at the end...
<Dragon>: Nothing can stand in our way! | *Heroic roar!*
<Character>: Let's make sure to watch our steps! Who knows what kinds of dangers await?
*You and your dragon fight your way through various Earth elemental monsters, dodging various traps along the way; eventually you reach a cliff.*
<Character>: Is this the end? Did we make it?
<Dragon>: I hope so. I need a snack. | *Hungry grumble*
<Character>: Or maybe it's another test.
<Character>: I can't see anything further out into the cave. It just keeps going.
*Scene zooms out to depict the emptiness before you in the bioluminescent chamber of The Great One's Gauntlet.*
<Dragon>: What kind of test could this be? | *Curious growl*
<Dragon>: What if we just... | *Contemplative snort*
<Dragon>: Hey, Great One! | *Roar of greeting*
<Dragon>: We're here! Where are you? | *Not quite polite roar*
*You both pause, but nothing seems to happen.*
<Character>: Maybe–
*All of a sudden the entire underground chamber begins to tremble and two gargantuan dragon heads emerge to fill the emptiness before you.*
???: Hrmmm. Well done.
Kratos: We are Kratos.
Geno: We are Geno.
<Character>: It's nice to meet you, I think. I'm <Character>, and this is <Dragon>.
Kratos: You are... smaller than expected.
<Character>: I mean, I'm just a human. What were you expecting?
Geno: Not you.
*Scene shifts to your dragon momentarily.*
Kratos: The... Destroyer.
<Dragon>: Smaller than expected? What's that supposed to mean!? | *Indignant roar!*
Geno: We mean no offense by it.
Kratos: Your power is unmistakable.
Geno: You truly are our old friend, reborn once more.
Kratos: How long has it been...?
<Dragon>: I don't think we've met before. | *Confused growl*
<Dragon>: What do you mean... reborn? | *Questioning chirp*
Geno: Hrmmm.
Kratos: Do you trust this human you are bonded to?
Geno: Do you trust them with your very being?
Kratos: Even if they didn't have that trinket of an amulet, would you stand by her/his side? | Even without those trinkets that the DragonLords require, you stand by her/his side...
<Dragon>: What kind of question is that!? | *Confident roar*
<Dragon>: Of course I trust <Character>. | *Matter-of-fact growl*
*Your dragon narrows its eyes at The Great One, unsure of the motives behind their questions.*
<Dragon>: Dragon Amulet or not, s/he's my human! | *Possessive roar*
Geno: Very well. Then we shall explain what you have forgotten.
*Scene fades to black, then back in; a piece of old parchment with a single drawing of Lore is displayed.*
Kratos: When this world was first formed, two dragons were created to be its guardians.
*Drawings of two dragons appear on either side of the drawing of Lore.*
Geno: One to create and bring order.
Kratos: One to destroy and refresh.
Geno: And to watch over these dragons, to ensure that they... followed their function...
Geno: ...were further created elemental guardians.
*The drawing on the parchment expands with drawings of eight shimmers—signifying the elemental guardians—surrounding the dragons and Lore.*
Geno: In this eternal flux, the dragons would balance the new world, creating and destroying in an endless cycle.
Kratos: And so the world existed. Until one day, the destroyer and the creator... vanished.
*The dragons disappear from the parchment.*
Geno: The elemental guardians panicked.
Kratos: They were beings of order. They were meticulous.
Geno: And yet somehow, it seemed their sole charges had escaped their control.
Kratos: They blamed each other. Fought. Reconciled. Fought again.
Geno: And then they tried something new.
Kratos: If the original dragons were lost, then they would create new dragons to maintain the balance.
Geno: And so they made a dragon each. The Great Dragons.
*The drawing on the parchment expands again with eight dragons placed between the eight shimmers and Lore.*
Kratos: Flawed and incomplete creations, compared to the majesty of the original two.
Geno: But they served their purpose faithfully.
Kratos: That is, up until the eight guardians discovered a pair of eggs.
Geno: The Destroyer and Savior reborn!
*The two larger dragons reappear on the outside edges of either side of the parchment.*
Kratos: And so the cycle continued.
Geno: Born to do their duty, then to vanish to the passage of history.
Kratos: Lost to myth and legend.
*Scene fades to black, then back in; The Great One's story regarding your dragon's origins is complete.*
Geno: We knew a... prior incarnation.
Kratos: We did not know what became of them.
Geno: Your presence is... comforting.
<Character>: Whoa.
<Character>: I knew there were prophecies about you, <Dragon>, but to think you're... that important to the world!
<Dragon>: But then... how old are you, gramps? | *Awestruck questioning*
Kratos: We do not remember, little one.
Geno: We sleep. We wake. And we sleep.
Kratos: Time continues its flow, and we continue to exist.
<Character>: As enlightening as it has been to learn <Dragon>'s history, we did come here for a purpose.
Geno: You wish us to compel the DragonLords to action.
Kratos: You fear the fate of the frozen city.
<Character>: I- well, yes. Whatever destroyed Dragesvard probably isn't going to stop there.
<Character>: <Dragon> and I have dealt with a few of these rifts now.
<Character>: And if we don't do anything about it, it will continue to threaten all of Lore!
Geno: Exaggeration. Hyperbole.
Kratos: You do not know the fate of Lore.
Geno: If not you, then another will rise to the occasion.
Kratos: Such is the balance of Lore. There will always be saviors to face its destroyers.
Geno: If not now, then in another era, perhaps.
<Character>: How can you be so dismissive? People's lives are at stake!
<Character>: You'd let everything crumble around you, just because you believe that the world will balance itself?
Kratos: Did you not listen to our tale earlier?
Geno: You are insignificant.
Kratos: Humans were not a factor in the world's creation or purpose.
Geno: We are, perhaps, overly affectionate toward your kind...
Geno: ...but ultimately, your hopes and your dreams mean nothing.
Kratos: We will care for those we can, of course, but why struggle against inevitability?
Geno: If not this disaster, then another will occur.
Kratos: Such is the balance of Lore. There will always be destroyers to face its saviors.
<Character>: What would you have us do? Give up?
<Character>: <Dragon> and I, we're here, knocking on your doorstep, saying that we are the saviors!
<Character>: And you would turn us away.
<Dragon>: You've gotten old and lazy, gramps. | *Mocking grumble*
<Dragon>: We're going to save Lore, with or without your help! | *Heroic roar*
Geno: So speaks the Destroyer and their pet human.
Kratos: You challenge your destiny, little one.
<Dragon>: Who cares? We have a chance to act! | *Indignant roar*
<Dragon>: We have a chance to do something now! | *Determined growl*
<Dragon>: Why wait around for destiny? | *Questioning rumble*
Geno: Hrmmm.
Kratos: Perhaps... we have found... too much comfort in repose.
Geno: Your words always did ring true...
*Geno closes its eyes.*
Kratos: What of you, human?
Geno: You claim to be a savior.
<Character>: ...You're kidding, right?
<Character>: I'll have you know, <Dragon> and I have saved the world countless times!
<Character>: And what was the point of The Gauntlet, if not to test us?
<Character>: Besides, <Dragon> trusts me! And I trust <Dragon>!
Kratos: And what would you do if we refused to spur the DragonLords to action?
<Character>: Then <Dragon> and I, and our allies, would go on our own.
Geno: Into the unknown?
<Character>: Into the unknown and beyond.
Kratos: Such conviction.
<Character>: ...Really? You've never met any other humans who were willing to give everything to save the world?
Geno: Certainly we have. You humans often have a tendency to overstate your dedication.
Kratos: But we have never met one so endorsed by the Destroyer.
*Geno and Kratos look to one another, silently deciding whether or not to grant your request.*
Geno: You shall have our blessing, human. The DragonLords will aid your cause.
Kratos: We will inform the Slayer.
<Character>: That reminds me, Galanoth said that he had to be the Speaker for you in correspondence with the DragonLords.
<Character>: He said that you could be hard to understand, and while I won't say that I completely understand your motivations, your words are clear.
*All falls silent as The Great One pauses before answering your question; mildly comical music begins to play.*
Geno, Kratos (in unison): Ah.
<Character>: ...
Geno: Well, you've met the DragonLords.
Kratos: You know how it is.
Geno: They and their dragons, pulling their city, found us, sleeping.
Kratos: They landed on our back, woke us up, and started asking for advice.
Geno: It was terribly noisy, so we spoke in riddles and obscurities...
Geno: ...letting them interpret what they would, hoping they'd take the hint.
Kratos: But that began to feel... dishonest.
Geno: So we reached out to the Slayer.
Kratos: We drew him to us.
Geno: He has been a good pet.
Kratos: And the DragonLords have stopped pestering us.
*You glare at The Great One, unamused.*
<Character>: Ah.
<Dragon>: Ah.
Geno: Yeah.
*All falls silent once again; the gravity of the situation returns, as does the theatrical music.*
Kratos: Anyway...
Geno: Don't you have a crisis to save the world from?
<Character>: Right. Right!
<Character>: Thank you for agreeing to help, Geno, Kratos.
<Dragon>: See you around, gramps! | *Farewell chirp*
Kratos: Do visit us again in another couple hundred years or so, small one.
Geno: And if you're still dragging that human around, I suppose s/he is welcome too.
<Character>: How generous.
*Back outside the entrance to The Great One's Gauntlet, you and your dragon return with information for the alliance.*
<Character>: ...So you should be receiving instructions soon, Galanoth.
<Character>: Or something. I'm not really sure how the telepathy thing works.
Galanoth: I understand. Thank you, <Character>.
Kara SuLema: I knew <Dragon> was special, but to think their origins and purpose are so important to Lore...
G. M. Hansa: It seems The Great One described the creation of the Avatars and the Great dragons as well.
G. M. Hansa: Perhaps it is a bit selfish of us humans to imagine that we now hold the fate of Lore in our hands.
G. M. Hansa: This world was not made for us. We just made it ours...
Kara SuLema: Perhaps not. But we don't really know what purpose Lore was made for, do we?
Kara SuLema: Such existential mysteries will only bring torment.
Kara SuLema: We mustn't let them color our will.
Vseslava: As long as the mana core slumbers...
*Your dragon looks up at Vseslava inquisitively.*
Vseslava: ...Never you mind, dragon.
<Character>: Time to pack up, then. We've got DragonLords to rouse, a city to save, and a rift to close!
<Character>: ... Wow, when I put it that way, it really does sound quite heroic!
*Scene cuts to black.*
Complete Quest
Other information
Any guests are removed upon beginning this quest.
The starting room contains a HP/MP healing pad.
Various traps are placed throughout the quest;- Craters cause a rock to fall from the ceiling of the cave, removing 25% of the player's max HP; craters can be fatal, and send the player back to the starting room.
- Puddles of green goo slowly drain the player's HP; puddles of green goo are not fatal, stopping once the player has reached 1 HP.
Pop-up headlines during the quest:
quote:
You bathe in the green and blue luminescence, reflecting on the quiet.
And so the Gauntlet begins in earnest.
Better watch your step!
Who could have made this? ...And when?
Is that... a dragon?
The construct seems to no longer be a threat.
Thanks to AstralCodex and DemonicDarkwraith for corrections.
< Message edited by DemonicDarkwraith -- 1/27/2024 23:56:38 >
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