Chalice Raiders

Chalice Raiders

• Related Event: Twinkling Twilight/August 2020
• Release Date: August 11, 2020
• Featured Characters: Marty, Pietro

Dialogue

At long last, I've found a clue to locating the fabled frozen city: the location of the legendary Icebound Chalice! Adventurer in Search of the Frozen City
Pietro
If I can find the chalice, I'll be able to prove the existence of the frozen city! ...Er, most likely. I think. Do I smell the sweet scent of a treasure hunt? You absolutely HAVE TO let me into the mix on this little adventure! Ultimate Treasure Hunter (His Words)
Marty
Where there is treasure, there is Marty. I never let a chance for a prize slip away, because treasure makes folks happy! Right! So. Now that THAT'S established, where is this treasure of yours? If the cipher in Agatto's memoir is true, it's deep within Yuchen Cave. Wait, Agatto's memoir? As in a document penned by the legendary master of tricks and traps? The baron of bamboozlement? The dean of deception? THAT Agatto? Also Yuchen Cave is a marvel of mysteries rumored to be filled to the brim with hidden treasures. How delightful! Yes, and it's ALSO said to be overflowing with tricks and traps of all stripes. Danger is all part of the hunt—and as the greatest and best in my field, there's one thing I know well: A dead man can't enjoy his treasure! So I'm coming with you, but we'll be sure to run if things get too spicy. In that case, the Icebound Chalice is yours once we find it. Are you sure? I only need it for the clue it contains about the frozen city. After that, you should go ahead and display it in your museum. Everyone loves the place, after all, so let's give them something new and exciting to look at. You're too kind. And now, let's head out and secure that chalice...FOR ADVENTURE! South Grastaean Frontier
Yuchen Cave
The chalice should be somewhere in this cave. I wonder what secrets it holds...? I imagine it will have some kind of code or cipher on it. Or maybe you'll see a map if you hold it up to the light! If that's the case, I'll have to adjust how I display it in the museum. ...Oh, and I'll need you to write up a little something for the description, too. Like, "I TOLD you the frozen city is real"? No problem. Now let's go! Er, but that being said, this cave looks to be VERY confusing! We'd better mark our way with chalk or breadcrumbs or... Wait, not breadcrumbs. Birds'll eat 'em. Shh! Did you just hear something? What kind of something? A scary something? Liiiike the sound of a rolling boulder? Oh, come on! There's no WAY something as cliché as a rolling boulder would ever— AAAAAAAAAAGH! IT'S A HUGE ROLLING BOULDER! LIKE, FOR REAL!

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RUUUUUUUUN!

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*pant* *pant* Well, THAT was terrible. Guess those stories of tricks and traps weren't made up after all. This place might be more dangerous than we thought. Maybe we ought to consider how nice it is to be alive and leave. That's a nice thought, but I'm not entirely sure we have that option. The air inside the cave and the varieties of plants that grow here have changed, which means we ended up deeper inside while we were busy running away. And I forgot to mark our path! ...You know, with the boulder and the panicking and all. But now we'll never find our way out! Also, even if we DO head back the way we came, there's still the boulder to deal with. Our best bet is probably to head deeper. Hey, good idea! The memoir said something about an exit being right next to the chalice, so that'll be real convenient. Well, that's one piece of good news. And here's a second: the TRAPS! Beeee...caaaaause...having traps here means there's something worth guarding?! Bingo! Meaning all we have to do now is get our hands on said well-guarded treasure, which is gonna be easy-peas— Say, Marty? If you don't mind me picking your brain for a quick sec, what was that sound just now? Why, it was the sound of a trap-activation switch! ...Oh, right. GET DOOOOOOWN! And here we have yet another cliché. Looks like our only option is to charge boldly through these arrows. Well, I got us into this mess, so I'm gonna get us out of it... Indomitable Will! We're protected from the arrows for a short time! Go, go, gooooo!

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All right, we cleared the arrows. Now we're safe as... Wait, water?! A river trap? In a cave? Diabolical! We've got to think of a way to get across... Huh? Oh no. Another giant boulder! Ruuuuun! A swiftly moving stream in front of us, and a deadly boulder rolling behind us. Looks like this is the end for... Oh! I've got an idea, Pietro! Here! Take my hand and DON'T let go! As the world's greatest treasure hunter, I WILL get us out of this predicament. Instead of letting the boulder pancake us, we'll use it to make our escape! If we can manage to get on top of it and then use it to get over the stream of water, we'll be home free! ...Relatively. Is that even possible?! If you use the barrier you showed me earlier and combine it with my own, we should juuust be able to offset the boulder's force and clamber on top of it. Here we go! Safeguard Surge! R-right! Indomitable Will! AAAUUUGH! Yes! We're alive! Now...big jump!

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*pant* *pant* Did we...make it across? Yes—and even better, we're not in danger from the boulder anymore! It was an eleventh-hour idea, but I guess that's just how you and me roll, Pietro. Who knew an adventurer and a treasure hunter would be so compatible? Yeah, we're peanut butter and jam all... Pietro, look over there! A treasure chest!  !

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Oh man, it's pretty beat up. Should we open it? Of course we should! At last, I'm going to have a clue to finding the frozen city... Wait, what? This is... It's a chalice all right—but it's rusty. Er, and not frozen, either. Looks like it would be a nice little item if you polished it up, but certainly not something I'd call "icebound." So I'm not going to tell you not to feel down about this, but... Down? Heck no! This just means we'll have to go on ANOTHER adventure! Wow. You're very quick to move on. Well, I'm pretty used to not finding clues. Plus, if it means I get to go on adventures with you, this could happen a hundred times and I still wouldn't be upset! With me?! Yeah! I mean, you're used to adventuring and super reliable—but most importantly, this little trip was REALLY fun! It was like the adventures I dreamed about during my sickly childhood... That's why I want us to go on more adventures together! Er, If you don't mind, that is. Sooo...what do you think? Are you kidding? I'll never turn down a request from a fellow adventure buff! Then let's shake on it. To further adventures! Adventures, ahooooy!