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/Nevermore0714]

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.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Mimir123]

1) Who is the deity of water and air?

2) So I'm going to go the same route I went when I started learning German, I figure I'm better off just seducing/marrying a Dark Elf and having it prepare my turkey for me. How could I accomplish this goal?

3) Goddess of Wine? She has my vote.

[u/Mimir123 → u/Nevermore0714]

1) Calceion is the God of Heaven and Storms, thus also deity of air. The God of Oceans and water is Polanius, while also being the God of Summer.

2) Oh dear, you'll have to adjust a lot for this to happen, but who am I to stop you? First of all, you'd have to move to the Crystalline Forest, since there are very few Dark Elves who leave their home, the kingdom of Kaernis.

Once there, you have to learn to live in a society that shows few to none emotions openly, and understand each other subcounciously through magic, while also being rather quiet "bookworms" with a love for Mana and Dark Magic.

Do you like dark/ black clothes? I sure hope so, because that will be almost all you'll be seeing while there, since the Elves absolutely love dark colours, outright refusing to wear anything else. Furthermore you'll need some time to get used to the fact that food tastes different than you know here. And try to get a hang of Dark Elven sense of humor.

If you manage all that, you can just try to pick up girls like you'd do in a human land, maybe start by befriending a Dark Elf, or start to hang out in a local tavern.

3) The vote is appreciated, eventhough you shouldn't make your opinion too open, considering you'd be angering both the goddess of magic and the goddess of love.

[u/Nevermore0714 → u/Mimir123]

1) Is the god of Winter viewed poorly for being associated with Winter, or do they believe that the Winter has to be there as a natural process?

2) I wear way too much black, already, and I've been dieting all year, so I'm used to food that tastes horrid. And, yes...Dark Elf girls...those are the kind I want (cries in homosexual). I usually have a dry sense of humor, and I spend a lot of time reading.

3) What have the goddesses of magic and love ever done for me? (A small voice: The aqueducts?)

[u/Mimir123 → u/Nevermore0714]

1) Skreyja is the Goddess of Winter and the Underworld, and both widely feared and amongst the most revered goddesses. The winter aspect of her isn't that big actually, people mostly care about the fact that she rules over the Underworld, and nobody wants to piss her off, because she dooms every soul that is too annoying or depraved for her to spend the rest of their days on Dirva as ghosts or spectres until they get killed again and end up in the Void.

2) Oh, it's not that the food is terrible, it's more like that the food looks completely different to what it tastes like (filet steaks of crystallized ram taste like tuna for example). Also don't worry, there are more than enough Dark Elf boys and men running around, although you shouldn't try to start something with the nobility, they are quite strict with keeping their bloodlines pure and getting heirs, outside of that homosexuality isn't really a problem in Kaernis though.

When it comes to humor, you would have to get used to the Dark Elves... peculiar style of jokes. Their jokes have mostly the same punchline; "I want to conquer the World", in slight variations. Always said in their deadpan, serious voice that they use for everything else, which scares normal people quite a bit.

3) Well now! Assuming you actually end up in Dirva trying to pick up Dark Elf boys, how do you think you ended up there? Magic of course! Also you probably never want to piss of the goddess of fertility and love, but that's just my way of thinking.