- job info:
Page 29 ; Post n°715
Expedition to Further the Studies of Dark Magic
Job Title: Expedition to Further the Studies of Dark Magic
Rank: A
Player Requirements: Vincent, Elvira
Job Requirements: 15,000 words total | Acquire the Grimoire
Job Location: Holy Castle
Job Description: While Vincent has an affinity and talent for water magic, he also has a soft spot for the dark arts. Furthermore, he has simply just come across more materials relating to dark magic than he has for the water element. Due to a recent influx of not only necessary raw materials but also of jewels to assist in buying some of the rarer ingredients, Vincent has finally managed to construct a relatively advanced dark magic ritual to create a portal to a realm which he believes will be significant to the studies of dark magic. The realm in question, theoretically, should contain a high concentration of dark magical energy - a concentration which could only realistically be achieved by a very powerful source. Vincent hopes to discover what caused the realm to emanate such a high level of dark magic.
Knowing the potential risks and rewards associated with such an undertaking, he decided to inform the Magic Council's research and development division of his planned adventures in the hopes that they would support his expedition. Due to his assistance with the defense of the Hunting Village, he was told that they'll fund this initial expedition. That said, the Magic Council also told the wizard that if he didn't bring back any substantial relics or otherwise meaningful information, then they wouldn't fund him again. This was good enough for him and, to maximize potential success, Vincent has roped in a reliable mage he's worked with in the past who, as far as he's concerned, wouldn't turn down a handsome reward for her efforts.
Enemies: Additional enemies will be brought up as the thread goes on by the players.
Weak: Consuming Realm - Being in this realm saps the life force of whoever is unlucky enough to find themselves in it. Anyone unlucky enough to find themselves in the realm loses 5 HP per post.
Normal: Creatures That Live in the Holes - Spread throughout the realm are unimaginably deep holes. The creatures that live in these holes are large and consume whatever living creature that happens to stumble too close to the holes. Best to avoid them for now.
Strong: Arcane Artifact - These magical artifacts are hard to find as they sit on pedestals surrounded by ruins. These ruins are few and far between in this realm, but emanate an unmistakably twisted magical energy. The reason for the presence of the ruins is unclear, but it's likely that the energy generated by the artifacts has drawn to it more than just explorers.
Boss: Grimoire of the Forgotten Saint - This dirty old book serves as primarily as a spell book, but also something else. The book is linked to its permanent owner and will try to 'persuade' anyone who picks it up to return it to this permanent owner. Before it is picked up, the book tests whoever attempts to do so in order to make sure that its temporary owner will succeed in returning it to its rightful owner.
Reward: 75k Jewels each from the Magic Council for artifacts or knowledge relating to furthering the understanding of dark magic. Access to "Return to Tenebrae: Descend"
Today was the day. It was the day that Vincent had been waiting for since he first collected his materials from the bone yard. Quite a few things had happened since then, but most of them were in service of this moment. The Magic Council, due to his part in protecting the Hunting Village from the hundreds of summoned goblins, agreed to fund his proposal to their research and development division just this once. Not only that, but they had also given him special permission to use the throne room of the Holy Castle for his ritual. The Heads of Religion were vehemently opposed to a guild mage using their most sacred of chambers for a ritual which called upon dark magic - the most vile of the elements according to them. They argued that the Magic Council didn't have the authority to approve such a decision due to an previously agreed upon separation between their organization and the Magic Council. The research and development branch of the Magic Council, on the other hand, believed that the Magic Council had the supreme authority over anything that happened within the borders of Fiore, thus they had the necessary authority to approve any individual to perform any act within the country.
Vincent didn't care much for religion, nor did he care much for the Magic Council. All he cared about was his understanding of magic and, if the Magic Council would assist him in furthering his understanding, he would align himself with them. Likewise, if the Heads of Religion would position themselves between him and his goals, he would similarly oppose them. Unfortunately, the Holy Castle as an organization wasn't going to let the Magic Council simply override their supposed authority, and thus told the various reporting organizations about the Magic Council "abusing" their authority by allowing a "guild mage to perform dark rituals in the Holy Castle's inner sanctum." As such, Vincent expected some resistance when he actually arrived. He hoped it wouldn't be too strong, for he wanted to conserve all of his energy for the expedition. The Magic Council assured him that if there was physical resistance that there would be Rune Knights to escort him and made it clear that he and anyone he took with him was not to retaliate against the protestors.
I wish they weren't so vocal of their disdain for a one-time decision. I hate crowds, especially when they are actively hindering me. Vincent thought with a sigh as he knocked on the door of his fellow guild member: Rin Mayou. The wizard looked up. Three in the afternoon. Elvira should be up by now. Should Rin answer the door, he would simply ask to speak with Elvira, but should Elvira answer the door, Vincent would tell her this: "Seventy-five thousand jewels enough to get you to come with me to the Holy Castle today? The Magic Council was more than happy to approve my request for funding." The question was partly rhetorical, as seventy-five thousand jewels was almost double their total highest payout from a job. Her decision, he believed, depended mostly upon what she thought of he Heads of Religion and the Magic Council, assuming of course that she was familiar of the controversy of the week.
WC: 546/7500