Quests & Missions

This guide will walk you through the steps to find, start, and complete quests in our living world. Quests are how you'll make your mark, earn rewards, and dive deep into the stories unfolding around you. Since AEther is a text-based world, your descriptions and actions are key!

1. The Questing Flow: A Quick Overview
2. Discover: Find a quest on the Quest Board.
3. Initiate: Post an in-character introduction in the game world.
4. Notify: Create a Discord ticket to alert the Game Masters (GMs).
5. Adventure: The GM facilitates the quest in your game thread.
6. Conclude: Signal completion and receive your rewards.

Let's break that down:

Step 1: Finding Your Adventure (The Quest Board)

• Where to Look: Head over to our server's Discussion Board (or specific forum name, e.g., "The Town Crier's Quest Listings"). You'll find a section dedicated to available quests.
• Browse the Listings: Each quest post will detail its name, recommended party size, estimated duration, type, objectives, potential challenges, and rewards. Pay close attention to the CR (Challenge Rating) to gauge its difficulty.
• Choose Your Path: Pick a quest that interests you and suits your character's abilities and current level. If you plan to group up, discuss with your fellow players beforehand!

Step 2: Setting the Scene (Your In-Character Introduction)

This is where your story begins! Once you've chosen a quest:

• Go to the Location: The quest description will specify a starting location within AEther (e.g., "The Docks of Absalom," "Old Man Hemlock's Cottage"). Navigate your character to the appropriate forum/area for that location.
• Create a New Thread/Post: Start a new thread (or reply to a general location thread if that's the structure) for your quest attempt. The thread title should be something clear, like "Quest Name - Your Character Name(s)".
• Write Your Introduction: This is your first in-character (IC) post for the quest. Describe:
• Your character (or party) arriving at the location.
• What they see, hear, and smell.
• Their initial actions or intentions related to the quest. (e.g., "Kaelen adjusted the strap of his shield, scanning the dilapidated warehouse mentioned in the bounty. He was looking for any sign of Borin Stonebeard, or perhaps the rats themselves.")
• This post gives the GM a foundation to build upon. Be descriptive! Your words paint the picture for everyone.
• Get the Link: Once posted, copy the direct web link to your introductory post/thread. You'll need this for the next step.

Step 3: Calling the Storytellers (The Discord Ticket)

Now it's time to let our GMs know you're ready to embark!

• Head to Discord: Go to our AEther Discord server. Find the designated channel for quest tickets (#staff-desk).
• Create a Ticket: Use the command or button to create a new support/quest ticket.
• Provide the Details: In your new ticket, you MUST include the following:
• Link to the Quest: Paste the link to the original quest description from the Discussion Board.
• Link to Your Introduction: Paste the link to your in-character introductory post/thread you just made in the game world.
• Party Information (If Applicable):
• Ping Player Usernames: If other players are joining you, ping their Discord usernames (e.g., @PlayerDiscordName1, @PlayerDiscordName2).
• List Character Names: Clearly list the names of ALL characters participating in the quest (e.g., "Kaelen, Lyra, and Thorin").
• Why This Info? This gives the GM all the context they need in one place to quickly understand what quest you're doing, where you've started, and who is involved.

Step 4: The Adventure Unfolds (GM Facilitation)

Patience is a virtue, adventurer!

• GM Assignment: A staff member (GM) will see your ticket, assign themselves to it (or it will be picked up), and they will then reply to your in-game thread (the one you made for your introduction). They will NOT typically play out the quest in the Discord ticket itself; the ticket is for coordination.
• Play it Out: The GM will describe the scene, introduce NPCs, present challenges, and react to your character's actions.
• Respond to the GM's posts in a timely manner.
• Describe your character's actions, speech, and thoughts clearly.
• Work with your party (if you have one) to overcome obstacles.
• Remember, there are no maps! Use detailed descriptions for movement, combat positioning ("I try to flank the goblin on its left, keeping the overturned cart between us for cover"), and interactions.
• Communication: If you have OOC questions for the GM during the quest, you can ask them in your Discord ticket. Keep the in-game thread for IC actions.

Step 5: Wrapping Up (Quest Completion)

You've faced the challenges and (hopefully) emerged victorious!

• IC Conclusion: The GM will typically narrate the quest's resolution in the game thread.
• Notify the GM in Discord: Once you believe the quest is ICly complete from your perspective, and the GM has indicated as such or the main objectives are met, go back to your Discord ticket.
• Ping the GM Role: In the ticket, simply type a message like, "Quest completed, thank you!" and ping the GameMaster role . This signals to the GMs that the active phase is over from your end and it's ready for final review and reward processing.
• Rewards and Aftermath: The GM will then confirm completion, and any XP, gold, items, or other rewards will be officially logged or distributed according to server procedure.

Important Notes for Questing in AEther:

• Be Descriptive: Text is our medium. The more vivid your descriptions of actions, emotions, and surroundings, the more immersive the experience for everyone.
• Patience is Key: GMs are volunteers with real lives. Allow reasonable time for responses.
• Collaborate: If you're in a party, communicate OOC (perhaps in a private Discord chat) to coordinate your IC actions.
• Ask Questions: If you're unsure about a quest detail or a GM's ruling, politely ask for clarification in your Discord ticket.
• Read Carefully: Refer back to the original quest post for objectives and details if you get stuck.
• Play Fair: Respect the spirit of the game. Avoid metagaming (using OOC knowledge ICly).

Now you're equipped with the knowledge to seek out adventure and carve your legend into the fabric of AEther. We can't wait to see the tales you weave!

Happy Questing!