Raoul O. Ardelean was recently given a contract, a very dangerous contract at that. It involved being tasked with bringing down a Qhachqit that had been haunting the small settlement of Ydra. The dhampir had a reputation now having brought down a fae, hydra, and felderwulves so was recognized as a skilled hunter. Though this reputation was honestly greatly exaggerated Raoul saw no reason to correct it considering that it just brought more high-paying jobs his way. This was going to be a very high-risk job though with Ydra already suffering a few casualties at the monster’s hands. Nobody was able to figure out where it was hiding nearby but that was where Raoul was going to come in. He was going to find this despicable vicious monster from its hiding spot and destroy it. This wasn’t going to be like the last time he fought a hydra where he was overconfident and underprepared. This time he was more experienced and had more in his toolbox to use.

The dhampir wasn’t going to be so confident as to go it completely alone and instead, he would send a correspondence to his best friend and one of the strongest people he knew, Perrath.

“Dear Perrath,

Hello, my friend. I hope you’ve been well since the last time we met. Hopefully, you haven’t come across another pack of felderwulves. Though knowing you I’m more than confident that you’d be able to take down any monster or villain. I write to you today not just to catch up and inform each other of our lives though I’m more than willing to do so at a later date. I have been assigned a very high-risk high reward contract and I’m more than happy to split the rewards with you if you’re interested in joining me. It won’t be easy and we will most likely be in for another chaotic dangerous time but if that sounds appealing then meet me in front of Ydra village. I’ll be waiting for my friend and hope this reaches you in time”.

After sending the letter and getting a response Raoul would quickly make his way towards Ydra. It took less than two days of traveling though in his case he simply walked and jogged day and night until he arrived. He waited outside of the village sitting down on a nearby rock writing down some notes on possible strategies and tactics they could use to take down the Qhachqit.

Though hearing the sounds of grass rustle nearby he lifts his head from his books and smiles seeing a familiar face.

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SPOILER: Click to show

Quest Name: Endless faces
Participants: Two or more
Location: King's Valley
Post Requirements: 8 post per person, 250 words per post
Reward: +1 Mystical Archive Ticket, Choice of 1 Rare crafting material
Description: A very nasty, large Qhachqit has been stalking a small, nearby village, preying on the locals. It is a frightening creature to see as it possess several faces, making it a formidable enemy. It has already killed a couple of the villagers, and if no one steps in to stop it, the whole village may fall victim. It has been sleeping somewhere in the village, only coming out at night to stalk and consume its victims. Go in, stake out the beast and end it before it can harm anyone else.
Special Requirements:
The Qhachqit is sneaky, sly and extremely intelligent, able to outsmart and out stealth even the best. Locating the creature will be a task all by itself.
Mystical Archives tickets are awarded once per player, so you do not get multiple Archive tickets for doing this quest more than once with more than one character.

Perrath receives Raoul’s letter and carefully considers if he wishes to be involved in the situation in King’s Valley. A Qhachqit could be a very difficult and frustrating enemy to deal with, and given how their last little adventure went, he’s still a little sour. Regardless, there is work to be done, and Perrath won’t see someone he’s tried too hard to keep alive be met with an unfortunate fate (at least, that’s how he reasons to himself).

Making his way to Ydra, Perrath wastes little time in beginning the investigation into this creature. A face stealing creature and people disappearing has made for a lot of apprehension amongst the villagers, and as such, the tensions are high with people ready to snap at each other with barely a moment’s notice. So, he waits and watches in the shadow of the village tavern, expecting that Raoul would want to meet him somewhere they can quickly watch and gather information. When the investigator makes no appearances, Perrath sighs and manifests a shadowy entity to go on the search for the investigator.^[1]

This is what makes its appearance to Raoul in the forest outside of town. It takes a while for the shadowy summon to find Raoul, but given its form covered with wispy shadows reminiscent of the dragon himself and its lack of aggression towards the dhampir, the man would likely have an easy time identifying what it is. It isn’t as if Perrath keeps his particular brand of magic a secret.

After staring at Raoul for a moment, the magical summon motions for him to follow him, and if he does, leads him to the tavern where Perrath, nearly impossible to see,^[2] watches the patrons from the shadows of a corner table.

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1. Summon Major Minion
2. Shadow Dancer - One with the Shadows

Raoul was beginning to grow a little worried as it was getting a little later and there was still no sign of Perrath. He was sure he had sent the correct date and town name to the dragon but was anxious that perhaps the fellow didn’t receive his letter or even wasn’t interested in another adventure with someone like him. As he closed his journal and tried to push this melancholic idea in his head away something strange caught his attention.

A strange figure approached the investigator with a visage that could not be mistaken for anyone else but his best friend Perrath. However, unlike the usual violet scales and shining armor, its form is clad in deep wisps of shadows all over. A curious expression would come across his face as he realized it most likely was some sort of magical construct or clone

“Interesting, that must be some sort of dark domain spell, correct Perrath? Or I guess I should say Shadow Perrath?”, The dhampir would joke before quickly following behind the shadow minion, a little embarrassed realizing that Perrath probably got there before him and was the one waiting on him. Darn, that was a bad step to start this mission, especially following their last one’s end but he was going to try his best to make sure this would be his only mistake today.

The dhampir would sprint as fast as he could following the Perrath clone back to the tavern that Perrath was waiting in. He arrived very out of breath and needed to take a moment to recompose himself before he entered. Eyeing the tavern with great concentration he spotted his friend sitting by himself at a table.

Raoul would casually approach his table trying to be lowkey as he sat across from him, “I’m really sorry for being so late my friend. I was mistaken about our meeting place so that’s entirely on me. So have you found anything while I’ve kept you waiting? Does anyone look particularly suspicious, my friend?”.

The shadowy minion makes no effort to hold a conversation with Raoul or confirm its creator. It could entirely be because it simply cannot do so. Or perhaps it doesn’t want to. Either would be reasonable to assume. Once at the tavern, the figure heads to the corner where Perrath waits and watches, unseen by non-magical means until he makes an effort to break his stealth and motion for Raoul to join him.

“I’m not worried about it,” Perrath says, his eyes only casting a glance at the dhampir before focusing on the brewing argument within the tavern. “Suspicious, no, but we should still speak with low voices.” With one claw, he points toward a rather large Grem fellow who’s had a few too many drinks. “That one supposedly lost his mate to the creature and has been slinging accusations all afternoon. The fellow in red over there hasn’t been taking too lightly to it. I suspect that in time they will–”

“I’ve had enough of yer shit!!” the man in red shouts, getting to his feet. “You think just ‘cause you lost little Sally or whatever that you can take it out on the rest of us?! HAH! I’ll show you what the power of red means in this valley!!”

The Grem doesn’t take this lightly. “Yer… *hic* just a pathetic little pony rider. Maybe you’re the beast all along!” A chair goes flying across the bar. Several others get to their feet, alertly ready for something to go wrong. “SHOW ME HER FACE! I KNOW YOU STOLE IT!”

Chaos ensues.

Perrath sighs.

“Thank you for your understanding Perrath I promise to make sure another misstep does not happen again on my account”, the dhampir would respond with eagerness in his voice.

Raoul would then focus his attention on the tavern that they found themselves in, it seemed normal enough like another other tavern he visited except for the fact that there seemed to be rising tensions between two of the patrons.

“Okay, I understand we wouldn’t want to spark up any suspicions on us while we try to look for evidence, good idea my friend”.

He then looked over to the drunk grem that the dragon pointed out nodding his head as Perrath explained the current predicament, “I see it’s tragic to hear that but it’s not unusual for people to take the passing of others hard especially if they were close. However, it will make trying to find the culprit a lot harder with all of the agitation and paranoia in the air. I understand what you-”, but before he can finish his sentence the tension breaks, and finally conflict begins.

Raoul sits back in his seat and simply looks at the argument unfold, the mention of the power of red strikes him with suspicion. What could he mean by that? Is he a member of the Red Riders? Are questions that immediately pop into his head as the two fellows come to blows?

After a few moments of thinking the man looks at his companion, “We should probably help split them up so we can't have anyone else hurt while this is going on. Plus if that fellow is a red rider then we cannot let him simply let him get away”, before getting up and walking towards the two.

“Hey everyone just calm down okay guys? We’re all people here, just regular folk trying to get by during a hard time. The more fighting we have with each other the more the monster will prey on our division”, he says, placing his hands on both fellows letting magic flow through his touch as his words make the two fellows completely calm down (1).

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1. Be Jolly