[God Quest] Born for this

Longheat sunshine painted the tower gold and rose as it slowly settled towards the western horizen, gilding even the greenery around the island in false fire. They owed Seren a great debt, and Hadama was keenly aware of that as they climbed the steps to the top of the lighthouse, his co-ruler and Queen bearing the the ominous portion of crystallized Void beside him.

The Tidebreaker had brought a lantern of wrought silver with a pure white candle that he set upon the altar and lit. Beside it he placed a stone from the Rainbow Road as a physical representation of the Coast they had quested to protect: a forest-green emerald that was veined with bright gold.

He looked over to Flora and gave her a small, proud smile as she placed her own offerings. When she was ready he offered her his hand and gave it a small squeeze of support.

And then he prayed.

"Vi, we have gathered and placed the stones of the Rainbow Road around the Ahi Coast. And we have brought a piece of the Void, in place of its creatures." He drew a deep breath and then let it out as he raised his gaze to the windows that looked out over their beloved Torchline. "Please. Help us to finish the protection of our region. And all the life within it."

---

Quest to protect the Ahi Coast from the Void received in Unsinkable:

Tasks. There is no time limit. There are currently 11 active Torchers. This means 6 unique characters have to participate. Characters can participate more than once. Hadama and Flora must participate in at least 2 threads each.

1. A thread of at least 3 Torchers (including 1 Mer) gathering stones from the Rainbow Road [PQ] [RQ] Prismatic protection
Hadama, Flora, and Kaiden

2. A PQ dropping those stones all around the Ahi Coast. Must have 8 rounds.
[PQ][RQ] red wine supernova
Flora, Hadama, Jack, Melita, and Aurelia

3. A thread with at least 1 Torcher, capturing a void Flora or Fauna from every major region (SB, TL, H, HG, KE), kept alive and brought at the time of turn-in. OR one vein of Void Crystal from within Starfall Island.
[se] oh well
Void crystal obtained from Safrin via Seren, tested by every race and type of magic

flora

If Flora never had to pick up another stone and place it around Torchline, it'd be too soon. While she was of course happy to put in the effort to protect her region, she didn't see why Vi couldn't have at least switched up their tasks a little. She'd never voice such a thought of course, but she was sure she wasn't the only one thinking it.

Having brought with her a vial of water and sand collected from the shoreline—a literal representation of what they sought to protect as well as being earth and water—Flora gave her co-leader's hand a squeeze as she too knelt before the shrine and placed her offering.

"Thank you for giving us this opportunity to better protect our people and our lands." The queen adds softly.

what doesn't kill me makes
me want you more

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

vi

"Perhaps next time you might like to draw a line without end around the coast." Vi's voice is dryer than the desert region that lies to the far north as he appears, and though it certainly is a quip in response to the thoughts Flora has not - and does not need to - voice out loud, the God of Life is not as severe as he might once have been when Torchline was entirely unprotected.

"Rest assured, the efforts you have made are appreciated by all living things that reside in this region." He bows his head, extending a hand - and a very cold look - towards the Void Crystal, only for it to wink out of existence to wherever Vi needs to produce the barrier for the coastline. "It is done. The Family aside, you will no longer need to be concerned with any void creatures roaming your shores."

His tone does suggest, however, that they might wish to focus their efforts on said Family now that Torchline is not in imminent danger.

---

Torchline has completed their RQ and has received the following:

Vi's Barrier (Coast) | A faintly visible golden barrier covers all of the Ahi Coast and its boards. Void flora and fauna cannot enter the area.

Table base by Sky!

Hadama was unaware of Flora's private thoughts and so Vi's voice drew a moment of confusion from the Tidebreaker as he turned his gaze on the God of Life. Puzzled but loyal to his goddess's creator, he bowed his head in acceptance. "If that will protect Torchline, we will do so," he promised.

But it seemed that they would not need to fulfill any more tasks in their quest. The Void crystal vanished and the warm glow of Vi's protection rose around the lighthouse and all the Coast, and Hadama's chest seemed to fill with clean air for the first time since Starfall, untainted by the presence of the Void. He bowed deeply from where he knelt and when he rose he looked to Flora with a small nod of acknowledgment for what Vi had left unsaid.

But strongly implied.

"We will not let our guard down," he assured them both. Their victory had bought them breathing room and a defensible place to stand. Now they would need to take advantage of it.

~FIN