📯 Great Hunt: Xavier

Sound the horn! Yet another monster has struck; this time at the very heart of Faline. The mage protectors of Ivras are called upon to fight the Bloodroot Behemoth!

Killing Blow:

Silver & Bronze Hunters:

Every character who participated in this event will get a special badge for their profile!

Code:

arrival of the Battle Mages

Due to the severity of the situation, in an attempt to try and save Faline as quickly as possible, the King has summoned three of Ivras’ finest monster hunters and combat veterans to help fight this monstrosity:

Helrund, a highly esteemed commander in the Ivratian army; Finnros, a young prodigy among the scholars of Namarast; and Olan Astas, a fierce monster hunter from the Songhorn clan in the south.
Click on each picture to read more about them!

Any attack that includes one or more of these three Battle Mages will deal an additional +10 damage!

Any attack they assist in cannot be an aid.

How much do I need to incorporate a Battle Mage in my work for it to count?
In an artwork, they must be visible and recogniseable.

In writing or roleplay, they need to be at least mentioned in a meaningful way (not just a simple name drop—similar to the requirements for the Other Character bonus) but they don’t necessarily need to be present in the scene.
If I use two Battle Mages, will I get a +20 damage bonus?
No, the damage bonus doesn't stack.
If draw or write my mage together with a Battle Mage, will they earn the group bonus?
Only if you collaborate or roleplay with another player! If you work alone, and add a Battle Mage, your character will earn the Battle Mage bonus, but not the group bonus.

If you collaborate with another player, and you add a Battle Mage to your collaborative piece, both of your characters' will earn the Battle Mage damage bonus.

Click here to view the monster's current HP

the combat system

In addition to your mage's base damage output (which you can read about here), every 10 gold counted for a piece of art, writing, or roleplay, will earn another +1 damage.

This means if your mage does 5 damage based on their stats, but your attack is worth 40 gold, they will deal an additional +4 damage. This is calculated before the double event bonus, as well as any effort bonus, is applied.

If you have any questions about this or need help calculating your damage, write to us via Modmail or in #ask-staff and we will be happy to help!

prizes

These are the prizes for participating:

ALL PARTICIPATING MAGES receive +2 to their choice of Power or Discipline.
THE MAGE WHO DOES THE MOST DAMAGE receives the Killing Blow badge, is the slayer of the beast and receives +100 Gold, +1 Corruption, and their choice of scroll or amulet from the shop.
SECOND PLACE MAGE receives +75 Gold, and their choice of scroll or amulet from the shop.
THIRD PLACE MAGE receives +50 Gold, and their choice of scroll or amulet from the shop.

monster description

After a long life of suffering and a desperate search for power, the mage formerly known as Xavier has metamorphosed—on the very steps of the royal palace in Faline—into the Bloodroot Behemoth.

What looks like a great, leafless tree has erupted from the pavement, breaking the stonework and part of the palace wall. The thick trunk is fleshy and red, pulsating with some unknown power. When examined up close, the gnarls and wrinkles of the branches resemble screaming faces, trapped beneath the surface.

The Behemoth stretches upwards, easily reaching the highest pinnacle of the royal palace, and its roots have spread far, pushing through the cobblestone streets and slowly destroying whatever it gets its roots on.

monster abilities

When one branch is cut off, two new ones sprout to take its place, spilling something that is unsettlingly similar to blood, though it seems to hiss and steam as it is exposed to air, turning into acrid vapors that disorient and confuse the mind.

If a large trunk is attacked, the faces moving under the fleshy bark writhe in agony, but there is no sound—instead the screams echo in the minds of those who are nearby.

Small red roots, making their way in the cracks of the paved streets, grab and reach for the feet of anyone walking past. If they manage to get a hold, their grasp tightens into a strangling embrace.

monster behavior and location

The epicentrum of the monstrous growth seems to be right outside the gates of the royal palace, in the very heart of Faline, where the thickest and tallest part of the tree is located.

The growths do not move once they have emerged, but roots and branches sway and undulate, having a surprisingly long reach.

New offshoots emerge now and then, spreading concentrically from the spot where the Behemoth erupted.

monster combat bonuses

Watch out for sneaky roots! Better have someone watch your back. Pairs or groups deal +3 damage. (Only applies to collabs and roleplay with more than 1 player involved. Nonmages may be part of a group but won’t do damage.)
Any attack that includes one or more of the three Battle Mages (as described above) will deal an extra +10 damage.
Those with an Extended Telekinesis Scroll+1 damage.
Those with a familiar deal +1 damage.
Powers requiring touch deal an extra +1 damage.
Mages with powers pertaining to blood, plants, water or stone are at an advantage, and deal 2x damage. Applied to the base stat point damage, before damage bonuses or gold damage is added.
Powers focused on souls or life essence/energy are at a disadvantage, and deal ½x damage. Applied to the base stat point damage, before damage bonuses or gold damage is added.

📯👹🏹 Join the Hunt!

Hunt Prompts: Every week the monster still lives, a new prompt will roll out, describing the monster's behaviors, location, and the destruction it has wrought. Collabs are encouraged for Hunt Prompts! All event-related art is worth double gold!
- This Hunt's prompts: click here
- This Hunt's attacks: click here to submit your attack for damage.

Art/writing/RP/Collab Submissions: You don't have to respond to a specific prompt to kick some monster tail!! Any submission showing mages whippin' ass (or otherwise responding to the Great Hunt) can count as an attack; just tag this profile as a "character" on your finished work, and follow the instructions here!

Attacking and Aiding: Mages have the ability to attack a monster, or (for whatever their reasons may be) aid the monster, and try to keep it alive. When submitting pieces that attack or aid the monster, please follow instructions on this comment.

⚔🛡🏆 How does this work?

The monster described above is rampaging through Ivras! It is up to the Mages of Anathema to stop it. Only mages can damage monsters.

Every piece of art, writing or roleplay made for this event featuring Mage characters counts as an "attack" on the monster. The damage your mage does is based on their stats and the monster's weaknesses; read the Hunt Guide for more info! Attacks for this hunt should be posted here. The event runs at least two weeks, and then ends when the monster's HP is lowered to 0.

This monster has 1080 HP. A grace period of 4 days will be allowed for submissions when it hits 0 HP, so works in progress can be completed. Check this profile for the most up-to-date look at the monster's HP.

For more detailed instructions and information on prizes/rewards, check out the Hunt Guide by clicking here.

❓ Any questions?

Feel free to comment on this bulletin, or don't hesitate to contact staff on our Discord server or our forum! We're happy to help!

Comments

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prompt one: on the footsteps of the palace

It is the beginning of a glorious summer, and the roofs and white towers of Faline glitter like gold in the afternoon sun. A gentle breeze brings the smell of salt and flowers from the sea, and of cooked food and fresh bread from the market squares in the city. The air is pleasantly warm, lacking the oppressive heat that late summer will bring.

A week of Royal Council meetings draws to a close; it is the second session in the year, and Faline is awash with speculation about the outcome. New taxes, roadworks, trade agreements? And of course, the question about monsters.

As the meeting ends, a lone assailant approaches the gates of the royal palace—intent on carrying out an attack on the assembled court. While a single mage is easily defended against, before the equine is apprehended, he utters a horrifying scream, and in the next moment he is torn apart as his flesh expands and grows towards the sky.

The leafless, flesh-like tree grows quickly, and its blood-red silhouette can soon be seen from all the nearby neighborhoods...

What does your character do?

Prompt responses must be worth at least 1 gold (i.e. at least 100 words or at least an uncolored headshot).
Upload your response like any other art or literature submission, tag this character profile, and claim your gold; collect double your total count for prompt responses.

anathema_rpg

prompt two: cut once, fight twice

After the first shock is over, the people of Faline are coming together as one to fight the Behemoth. The tree has done damage, but it has been mostly concentrated to the areas around the royal palace, though some roots and branches seem to have spread well beyond that—but there are concerns about what would happen if the tree spread further, maybe even past the city walls.

Some distance from the palace, a group of townspeople have gathered around a newly emerged branch. Some of them are bearing axes, others are carrying torches, though there seem to be some disagreements within the group, whether the tools will work on the strange fleshy bark of the monstrous tree. Nobody seems to be aware of what might happen if the branch is attacked.

One of them seems to have grown tired of the discussion, and charges towards the tree, axe raised…

What does your character do?

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prompt three: buds and flowers

The weeks pass, and the fight against the tree goes on. Its branches have multiplied—it is clear that there have been many attempts at cutting them. Near the epicentrum, the ground is thick with crawling red roots, their grip cracking the cobblestone beneath.

The tree is now reaching high above the city, almost rivaling the highest towers of the city. Those with a keen eye might see small red growths appear along the ends of the bare branches, quickly growing in numbers. Each is about the size of a walnut, and almost at once, they begin to explode, spreading a fine red dust over Faline.

Wherever the red dust lands, new red growths spring up, but news quickly spreads: if you manage to wash away the dust fast enough, it doesn’t have time to set root.

What does your character do?

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prompt four: progress

Despite the tree’s multiplying branches, the fight against it seems to be turning in the monster hunters’ favor. Now, when a branch is cut, it still grows two new ones… but slower than before, surely? The roots are no longer grasping quite so intently.

The King has called for every able person to help against the monster; non-mages are asked to fetch water to wash off the dust that spreads, and all mages are called upon to help the fight, regardless of their political affiliation, something that has been met by protests from Miriam and other notable anti-mage voices; meanwhile, the decision is lauded by the Mage Court and has some support from the Royal Council.

Many of those with the opportunity to do so have opted to leave Faline for the time being; the harbor and the city gates are choked with crowds, and the roads from Faline are busy with travelers. Towns and villages around Faline have seen a notable uptick in visitors.

Does your character stay and help, or leave?

anathema_rpg

prompt five: a last stand

After weeks of fighting, the monster is showing clear signs of weakening. Many branches hang withered and unmoving, the red color faded; the tangled mats of roots covering many of the streets are only twitching feebly, no longer able to grasp as before.

And yet, the main center beam is still standing, pulsating with life despite the battering it has taken. Simply going near it is enough to set off the mental screaming.

The King and the Royal Council have called for one last coordinated attack on the monster, following up on previous statements.

Would your character join in such an effort?

📯 Great Hunt: Xavier

hunt for the bloodroot behemoth

arrival of the Battle Mages

the combat system

prizes

monster description

monster abilities

monster behavior and location

monster combat bonuses

📯👹🏹 Join the Hunt!

⚔🛡🏆 How does this work?

❓ Any questions?

Comments

prompt one: on the footsteps of the palace

prompt two: cut once, fight twice

prompt three: buds and flowers

prompt four: progress

prompt five: a last stand

attacking and aiding:

please use the following form in your reply:

for collaborations and roleplays: