The Crescent Isles is a stunning, peaceful place to visit this time of the year thought Gafelker. He had been working around one of the largest attractions that draw travelers to this beautiful place. The winding rivers snake throughout the territory and link many of its bodies of water. Now that Gafelker has had some training. Gafelker and Nieven have become a favorite of the nobles and the rich as of late. They guide them down the rivers on a boat. Gafelker with his sidekick Nieven who most see him as extremely self-centered and vain, constantly putting himself above anyone else at any given time. Gafelker knows Nieven differently looking past Nieven's brazen exterior underneath he is a gentle and compassionate person.

They have been part of one of these riverboat rides as a guide now for weeks. However, the trips are not always not gone as planned. The calm and peaceful as-expected waters turn deadly without warning. The Wild rapids, rocky outcroppings, and unpredictable monsters and animals in the water and shore look to bring disaster to whoever tries the waters. 

Gafelker stood on the dock next to the Caravel boat a single-mast sailing ship that is small-sized. Caravels can only hold a few people and are often used for short trips and fishing. It was not much and could hold about ten people including Gafelker and Nieven. The boat did not hold much in supplies. They would only go out for a few days with planned spots to stop. Nieven using his wonderful charm and personality would get the people on the Register and collect the money. Gafelker waited to see what Nieven got to buy into the trip.

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SPOILER: Click to show

Quest Name: River Tour
Participants: Two or more
Location: Crescent Isles
Post Requirements: 5 posts per person, 200 words per post
Reward: +1 Renown
Description: The Crescent Isles are a beautiful, serene place to visit this time of the year, and one of the biggest attractions that draw tourist are its beautiful, twisting rivers that snake throughout the region and connect many of its bodies of water. It has become a favorite pastime of nobles and the rich to hire guides to take them down the river on a boat. Be a part of one of these river raft rides, either by acting as a guide for a visitor, or maybe going on a tour yourself! However, the trip is not going to be as calm and peaceful as expected. Rough rapids, rocky outcroppings, and unpredictable sea life look to bring disaster to your ride.

Getting shown the wondrous beauty of nature and its marvelous yet simple environment was something that Nieven figured would make much money. So having this in mind he thought of a brilliant business for the summer, the commercial mastermind that he was going to make a river tour of the Crescent Isles. After all, this was his home and he knew it better than anyone else, he knew the best spots and all the most beautiful sights. So he partnered up with someone he knew could make this happen, his friend Gafelker. Although the gentleman was quirky and they needed more people this was all they had to work with. Nieven, Gafelker, and a modest caravel that Nieven had rented for the month. It wouldn’t be too much of a problem all they had to do was truly wow them and just be rolling with solars. And so far they have done just that with business booming at a steady pace.

So he would wake up and head towards the docks to continue this genius idea of how easy this was almost made him yawn. He has the head of his operation at least in his own vain and self-centered mind. Making his way onto the port he’d simply smile as he began trying to coral customers towards them.

“Hello, great citizens of Charon. Being the modest and kind person I am, I offer you fellows a chance at wonder. Nowadays with so many monster attacks and dangerous stuff going on, why not just sit back and relax and enjoy yourself for an evening? All you’d have to do is let yourself be taken away by the beauty of nature, I promise it is a worthwhile experience. This is fully backed by my word as Nieven Castiel Oakenthorn with that alone you know it’s going to be good. We shall provide you with rich and wise cultural narration so you can understand what is going on. So come one come all you can see and have the beauty of the Crescent Isles at the palm of your hand..only for the price of 50 solars a person”.

Watching the clouds and the weather, Gafelker had a good idea that the day should be nice to travel through the waterways that Gafelker and Nieven had planned. With Nieven's pretty fice getting some customers, it would take little time to get on the way of the tour.

With some persuasion, they got a wealthy family to pay and go on their little two-day tour. It was not long before they were sailing on the water. The sight of tall trees, vines, and lush foliage was everywhere. The canopy of the trees let a little of the sunshine through as they tried. The willed life is lying around or moving along the trees.

Monkey screeches and barks filled the air, and birds chirped and woke. Other animals growled, grunted, and snorted from the shoreline as they came to drink and watch the boat and the people in it. The sound of the water splashing against the ship as it moved. It was a pleasant day indeed, thought Gafelker, string the rutter of the boat.

Gafelker knew little about boats but enough to get somewhere in a small boat. With some fallen trees in the waterway, they had to take a different channel they were unfamiliar with. It looked safe, but Gafelker saw no threats or obstacles in the water. The shotty map they were given did not cover this waterway. Gafelker stroked his beard. "Nieven, keep an eye out for obstacles in the water, " he requested. With a smile, Gafelker's tone relaxed and was without worry. He was not feeling it because they had to take this waterway. But it was too late now to turn around.

Nieven’s attempt to lure in customers although a bit tacky and heads on was working. People’s eyes were caught by his beauty and persuasive tone, in fact, they already had their first customers of the day. A wealthy noble family he immediately recognized considering his history as a former noble. The Bershars were a quaint sort, very booky, very into the pursuit of knowledge. A family of four, their family head Fhernbu Bershar owned many bookstores around the Crescent Isles.

“Hello, hello come right this way my friends I’m Nieven I’m sure you know of me. Now that you’ve been so generous as to give us your entrance fee. Come now just follow me and enter the caravel with caution. Can’t lose your heads just yet we still have much to see”.

So with a big push off the port, they began sailing through the river, a beautiful one filled with magnificent flora and fauna all around them. Truly this was the most natural state of the Crescent Isles, gone was the industrial hustle and bustle of the day, and welcomed was the ambient presence of Ginma’s grace.

That was interrupted as Nieven began his narration, “Well as you can see first up ahead we have the forest canopy. This area has been untouched forever leaving wild animals and plants to grow and thrive at a natural pace”.

Sylvan then called over to Gafelker, “Yes yes don’t worry everything should be just fine. I’ll keep an eye out for anything that comes…OH MY GOD WHAT IS THAT”, he’d call out spotting something ahead.

Looking ahead, Gafelker could see something moving through the water towards them. It was a group of sea cows or Manatees gently moving through the waters. They were about 14 feet long and about 900 pounds. Their bodies are streamlined, large, and round, narrowing to a paddle-shaped tail. Their gray hide can be seen in the water as they poke their heads out of the water, looking at the boat and the people in it. The sea cows seemed more curious than dangerous. As they took a breath, blowing with there their noses.

"You know they get violent if you do not feed a sea cow," says Gafelker with a grin, trying not to laugh when he looks at the family. The family looked with amazement at the Sea cows. Gafelker knew they would not do anything to them as long as one of their young was not in trouble. He kicked at a box that opened to reveal lettuce heads. Gafelker got a big smile on his face. "Now you can let the kids gently throw a few heads of lettuce to the sea cows," instructed Gafelker.

The family moved over slowly, getting ahead of lettuce each as they made their way to each side of the boat. The family softly tossed the lettuce into the water. There was movement as the sea cows moved to the lettuce and started to eat them.

The boat left the Sea cows behind as it traveled down the river. The sound of rushing water ahead of the boat bothered Gafelker. This boat was not made for heavy rapids, and his mind started to race. The training he had received could have covered rapids better. He has only done some rapids a few times.

Nieven would come closer to the front of the boat peaking out onto the water anxiously gripping the railing in fear of some dangerous sea beast ambushing them. However soon enough after focusing his eyes on the shape of the creature he let out a relieved sigh, “Oh thank god it’s just a herd of manatees simply swimming around and not some sort of dangerous kraken".

He would laugh lightly as the jolly fellows waved hello to the passing caravel, their cute eyes piqued with interest. It was a pleasant sight, a reminder of the innocent and jovial aspect of nature.

He would return to the middle of the ship with a smile, “Pardon the interruption ladies and gentlemen it was simply a false alarm”.

Calling back to his companion with an amused smirk, “Yes, yes and I’m going to grow another fantastic head right now. Those little fellows couldn’t hurt a fly even if I was simply caught off guard, not scared one bit”.

He stood back letting the family feed the manatees before waving goodbye to them and going back to announcing, “This is exactly the type of naturalistic and beautiful journey we have in store for you. Prepare yourselves to be faced with even more and more encounters such as this, why we have only just begun”.

The water suddenly flowed faster. The rushing sound of water got louder. The boat started to creek and shifting from side to side as the water began to splash on and in the boat. Boulders with white water swirling around them. Water clashing on other boulders ahead of them. The roar of the water rapids was loud. People would have to shout to be heard now as the boat enters the rapids.

Shouting, Gafelker says, "Whitewater rapids!" to let Nieven know and set things in motion as the boat gets tossed around in the turbulent waters. The sound of the wood hitting the boulders and bouncing sent people from one side to another. Out of fear, the family got into the middle of the boat and held on to one another, which unknowingly helped stabilize the vessel.

Waves of water splashed on everyone, getting people soaked. The water also splashed into the boat, causing some of the supplies to get loose and bounce out of the vessel as Gafelker tried to steer the boat through the rapids. The mast broke and fell into the water as the boat was taking a beating from the rocks. There was a big hit, and the boat almost turned over as it slammed down onto a boulder, jarring everyone. The boat blanks started to crack. "Not Good!" shrieked Gafelker

Standing in the middle of the boat Nieven sauntered around pointing and motioning toward any interesting piece of nature he saw. However, what he failed to realize due to his self-centeredness was just how fast they were beginning to go and how much turbulence they were experiencing. As the sounds of the crashing waves increased so did his voice trying to drown out the competition. It wasn’t until the father of the group hurriedly clutched his family that the sylvan elf realized just what was going on. And that realization couldn’t come at a better time as he was swung to the side of the boat barely managing to hold himself onto the rail of the caravel.

Water splashed all over him as he struggled to stabilize himself holding for dear life on the support of the ship. He sighed moving his hair to the right, “Gosh my hair my clothes I’m absolutely soaked and wet”.

Breathing heavily in frustration he’d call out, “Hey Gafelker what’s the big deal friend? I thought you were a better helmsman than this why I should, wait…OH MY GOD”, breaking from his accusatory speech to see the mast break and then slam into the boulder.

“Ummm what should we do now? I don’t believe that this ship will be able to hold us for long. Tell me Gafelker do you have any way to fly or swim or even create a platform? I can probably pick up and carry two of these fellows but I’ll still need your help with this”.

Watching more boat start to break up, Gafelker was unsure what to do. The water was rushing in now, and the family was screaming and crying. Then, watching the mist and water move, something came to him that might just work. He let go of the boat's rudder handle. It did not matter if the boat was about to be taken apart. The family was more important. [1] He moved his hands and started to chant, and a cloud began to form next to him. "Nieven, get one of the kids and get off the boat," Gafelker shouted more like an order than a request. The clouds started to create a snake-like dragon with four legs. It was white and fluffy and about 20 feet long.

The fluffy-looking Dargon cloud stretched along the boat. "Get on," Gafelker shouted to the other family members. He tried his best to help one of the family members, with Nieven helping the last one. There were more sounds of wood snapping as part of the boat broke off, breaking apart and going down through the water rapids. The boat's bow was being logged onto a large rock from the force of the water.

After Gafelker got the family members onto the dragon cloud, the cloud lifted slowly. He let Nieven go first to help Nieven if anything went wrong. The boat behind them broke up with a loud crash and splintering wood as it washed away in the rapids with all their supplies. This trip just got terrible, thought Gafelker.


They drifted over to the shore, and the Dragon cloud landed softly. The family coughed and cried, tears in their eyes. Gafelker let out a sigh of relief and wiped the water from his hair and face. He was physically exhausted, wet, and a little frightened. Everyone was safe and onshore now. It would be a day or two to walk back. This would be a trip to remember. "Nieven, I guess we show them the trail tour now on the way back?" suggested Gafelker with a weak smile.

[1] Cloud Waltzing

Your mastery of air allows you to both ride along existing clouds and form one of your own to use as a flying mount as if you had master rank in animal handling. These clouds are solid to you and up to three other people or creatures that you designate.

“Uhh okay?”, Nieven would exclaim a little confused at what his friend had in mind to escape this. However, trusting in him the sylvan would grab both of the children under his arms and start sprinting towards Gafelker. The man spoke in arcane formulae and summoned a large floating dragon made out of pure clouds.

“Why is that the most perfect chariot to ride out into the sunset? Ladies and gentlemen from the sea to the skies, we here can provide an expansive variety of experiences. Count yourself lucky this was all a part of our plan, we accounted for every single detail and have given you an unforgettable experience”, he’d call out still trying to pretend that everything was perfect and that they were true professionals at this sort of thing.

Hurriedly he’d get on the end of the dragon being the last one to board as the caravel began to break apart. A worried expression would sprout on his face as he looked at his marvelous sea vessel so callously crushed by the power of the rapids. The thought that it could have been them being smashed into the large rock unnerved him. However, Nieven thinking himself blessed by Solaris considered his safety and health would never fail him.

“I’m alright I'm alright don’t worry well except that my clothes are soaked and my feet kind of hurt but alas it is what comes with the territory of being a hero”.

After a bit the dragon cloud lands back on land and everyone seems decent. No one is hurt except his clothes.

“Yes indeed Gafelker truly we have made well on our deal, providing experiences through nature you can’t get anywhere else. Now let us get these people home and on their way so we can settle the end of our business today”.