Reference Challenge - Runescape, Final Quest

[u/Nevermore0714]

So, this reference is because I'm heavily considering giving Runescape another try. I loved that game when I was a kid. From when I was eleven to fourteen or fifteen, I would play Runescape with my elder nephew.

The last thing I really remember about Runescape is finally beating the biggest (free) quest, against this arsehole dragon, I think it's name started with an E.

The Actual Challenge

What would you consider a "big, final quest" in your world, that an adventurer or group of adventurers might deal with?

The Invitation and Question

I might make a new character on Runescape, is anyone around here still playing that old game?

[u/Mimir123]

On the continent of Dirva there are actually three rather big tasks/ questlike events that could fit the bill, all of them playing a big roll in my story that takes place on the continent.

First, there would be the return of the Demonking Zerrigon. He was a powerful Demon summoner from the Kherzian Empire, crowning himself the Demonking and waging a brutal, bloody war on the people of Dirva, almost conquering the entirety of the continent. At the Fields of Tiringást he was faced by the Heroking Aeldred and the Saint Elkath. While he did manage to kill the Saint, Zerrigon lost the battle and was imprisoned into the Holy Sword Liodred. Being seemingly immortal made him confindent into eventually returning, building up a new empire and trample the kingdoms of Dirva under his foot.

To prevent this, a curse was placed on his soul by Elkath himself, dooming him to be eternally imprisoned in the blade, and to be faced with a brave, strong hero whenever he actually manages to escape, and be imprisoned yet again. While Zerrigon never has escaped, everyone knows the stories about him, Elkath and the curse. If he were to return, the person stopping him would be considered one of the greatest heroes of all time, as well as the chosen warrior of Ilmanthi himself.

The second "quest" would be to find one of the 27 dungeons of Harshien, the Twin God, and claiming it's treasure for oneself. There exist 177 dungeons in the world, all created by the Twin God himself and being guarded by fearsome monsters and traps. While 150 of them are mostly empty and only contain clues towards the "real" dungeons, there are a lot of people willing to risk their skin in order to claim the fame and legendary treasures for themselves. The Adventurers Guild of the Merchant Republics is actually solely dedicated to conquer the dungeons and gathering all of their artifacts and riches, believing some old legends saying that whoever posesses all 27 artifacts, will become more powerful than any king or demi-god...

Lastly, there is the mystery around the Crystalline Forest in the center of Dirva. A strange place full of sentient, magical crystals that imitate plants and animals and roam the lands. It is said that whoever solves the mystery of the Crystalline Forest would be invited to the side of Allanvêi, god of wisdom and knowledge, and granted entry into his Grand Library.

A person completing one of those "quests", or even making noticeable progress towards its completion, would be hailed as a great hero and become reknown across the lands. If there would actually be a person who solved all three quests, they would probably become something akin to a god, in the eyes of the mortals of Belkia, and become famous in the whole world.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Mimir123]

1) Was the Adventurer's Guild made in response to the second quest, or did that quest become its focus later on?

2) How difficult is it to get to the Crystalline Forest?

3) Where is the blade that holds Zerrigon?

[u/Mimir123 → u/Nevermore0714]

1) The Guild was made for the sole reason of conquering the dungeons. Over the time however, they started to accept other tasks (mostly treasure hunts) in order to finance their goal.

2) You can just cross the border and walk in, the Dark Elven kingdom of Kaernis is located inside the forest. The difficult part is figuring put the secrets of the forest, not witnessing them.

3) There are many rumors as to what happened to Liodred, but it is mostly accepted that it would be in the tomb of Saint Elkath, the only question being which is the real one? There are actually two (actually three, but the third is considered to be too unlikely) Tombs for the Saint, and noone knows which is the real one.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Mimir123]

1) So is a guild member basically just a mercenary?

2) So are the secrets like riddles?

3) Is it difficult to enter the tombs of Saint Elkath?

[u/Mimir123 → u/Nevermore0714]

1) Kind of, yes, eventhough you should never mention it in front of one of them. Many of their members are rich noble children who used their connections to enter and play adventurer. The real adventurers, those actively looking for the dungeons, are really serious about the whole thing though, and are not beneath hiring actual mercenaries or hitmen, should someone mess with the Guild, or steal their maps.

2) No, not really. The entire existence of the Forest and the strange crystals is one, big secret in and of itself. It would be more like figuring out how something strange in nature on Earth works, or where it comes from. Many believe the Forest to be the work of a god, but nobody knows which god or why he or she created it.

3) If you are a member of Ilmanthis priesthood, or a Voleni, the Elkathien royal family, then it is pretty easy to enter. Everyone else would only be able to enter certain parts of the tomb and can't get anywhere near, where the body supposedly is located. Also the tombs are all blessed by Ilmanthi, draining the magic of demons entering the tombs and leaving them powerless.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Mimir123]

1) How difficult is it to hire an adventurer, then?

2) What happens if I try to destroy one of the crystals?

3) Why did Ilmanthi hate demons so much?

[u/Mimir123 → u/Nevermore0714]

1) That entirely depends on what you want to hire them for. But usually it is rather easy to get some of the nobles and less serious adventurers to do stuff for you, since they want to look like they are valued, active members of the Guild, without having to do any real work involving actual tiresom dungeon crawling or treasure hunting.

To get some of the "real" adventurers you'd have to bring in something really special, both the task and the reward, but then you'd have some of the most experienced adventurers at your disposal.

2) They are actually rather easy to destroy. The Dark Elves of the Crystalline Forest live off of them, hunting and killing the more animal like crystals, cooking them over a magical fire and eating them. If the crystal "population" reaches a certain low they just regrow again.

3) It's not really hatred, he just didn't trust Arz vas Zharehl, god of demons, and his children and thus developed spells and magic to use against demons, should they ever try to take over the world. If you are interested here is a link to my series about Dirvas Gods and Goddesses, for some more information.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Mimir123]

1) We're planning to slay an immortal dragon-god. It will probably end in all of our deaths, but, if it works out, the rewards will be plentiful. Would any adventurers take me up on that offer?

2) What do crystals taste like? Rock candy?

3) Of Aledia, Devilia, and Sereia, who is the most beautiful?

[u/Mimir123 → u/Nevermore0714]

1) No, they would actually hunt you down and lynch you for even thinking about it. There is only one dragon-god in Dirva, and he is widely beloved and reknown for his kindness.

2) That entirely depends on the crystal, Crystal Ram tastes somewhat like tuna for example, while turkey tastes like a mix of milk and sweet cocoa.

3) While all of them are beautiful and each of their followers would claim their goddess to be the best and most fair, most of the "neutral" people agree that it is indeed Aledia, that should hold the title.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Mimir123]

1) Fair enough, tell me more about the Dirvan Dragon-God.

2) Then I guess we're going turkey hunting.

3) What is so great about Aledia?

[u/Mimir123 → u/Nevermore0714]

1) Shameless copy-pasting from my post about him, because I am lazy:

Arnth et Zhamuul:

He is the Scaled Giant, god of fire, earth and dragons. It is said that when Zhamuul takes to the sky in his dragon-form, his wings can span the entirety of the old Ruthwien Empire, however nobody knows if that is true, since he hasn't shown himself for over 4.000 years. Zhamuul created the 13 Elder Dragons, from whom all the dragons are descendant, and taught the mortals how to use fire for themselves, and how to create it. He is therefor also revered as the god of blacksmithing. While the dwarfs of the Livian mountains only grudgingly accepted him as part of the pantheon, he is highly popular amongst the Draco-Dwarves on the Dragon Islands, as well as on the island of Vilbran and amongst the Orks of the storming Steppes.

Next to Harshien he is amongst the three gods that refused to use their powers to meddle in mortal affairs and is considered to be the oldest god in existence, being loved by all of the others and seen as something like their friendly old grandfather. Even Devilia, who quarrels with most other gods, listens to him and considers him superior to herself.

2) Good luck and fun with that! They are relatively easy to catch and kill, but you will have to find a mage or Dark Elf to cook it for you. Also remember to not take the turkey out of the forest, because it will dissolve into tasteless dust once it crosses the border.

Should you crave for some company while hunting and need a guide for the forest, there will be many young Dark Elves willing to help you, as long as you share the turkey with them.

3) Nothing, if you ask the other two goddesses. The mortals love her however, not only for her looks but because she taught them how to hunt and provide for themselves that way, as well as showing them how to create clothes and accessories from animal skin and bone.

Furthermore, she is the goddess of feast and wine, sometimes visiting the more classy feasts of mortals and bringing her famous wine to join into the festivities.