Be sure to read the previous chapters for more information on prizes and how the Quest works!
Sign-Ups
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV

Everyone is gathered in the sitting room, guests and staff alike. The mood is somber, faces downcast. The storm outside echoes well the gloom within, rain hissing down thick panes of glass and thunder rumbling with distant menace across the moor. All eyes are on the stranger and the Archmage who stand together at the fore. No small amount of suspicion is sent towards the man who has introduced himself as Detective MacLeod.

He shuffles where he stands, shoulders tucking up a pinch under their weighty stares. Shy. Sensing his discomfort, the Archmage steps forward and clears his throat.

“As you are no doubt aware, one of our lady’s maids has passed away,” he began. There are shadows in his eyes, a darkness few here have ever seen surrounding him. “There is evidence of foul play.”

The revelation sends a hiss of fear and upset through those gathered. Eyes cast about, suddenly looking upon neighbors through a colder, harsher lens. Malcolm looks too, his quick gaze flashing about the room from beneath his heavy brow. He observes in silence, noting details a person wishes to have noticed - and details which they do not.

Someone asks if it was the work of the monster that hunted the castle in the night; the detective’s brow furrows deeper as he returns his stare to his shoes. Archmage Eidolus shakes his head gently.

“We cannot know for certain,” is all he can say. “The authorities are on their way, but the storm has washed out the road through the pass. It may be some days yet before they arrive.”

Once again, mistrust fissures through the air.

“Our misfortune is compounded further, I fear.” The Archmage glances at the detective, who seems to be doing his best to remain unnoticeable. “Today marks the start of a fascinating phenomenon unique to lands around Cairnhart Castle. This event is indeed the reason I’d invited you all here.”

Eidolus shifts his gaze to a window across the room, expression unreadable.

“Every five years, the moor is filled with spirits. Ghosts of the dead, creations of emotion, beings beyond our ken, all gather here at Loch Assynt and wander. They travel the castle grounds, through the thick grasses, over the waters, into the mountains. With them come the storms.”

He pauses.

“And with the storms comes Harrow.”

Detective MacLeod cuts his gaze to the side, staring hard at the Archmage. There is something in his silver gray eyes, something that draws lines on his face, that ages him beyond his 30-something years.

Fear.

The Archmage takes a deep breath, blinks, and seems to return to the room.

“I need hardly say it, I think. But I shall nonetheless… I’m afraid we are all in the gravest of danger.”

Welcome back to the 2022 edition of my Epic Quest - Darkwater! 

Here’s how the Epic Quest works: I will host an activity each month that plays into the story being told. You’ll earn small prizes for each activity you complete - like points, HPD, or cash shop items. You’ll also earn XP points, and the player with the most XP points at the end of the year - December 2022 - will win the grand prize:
1. A fully coded tabbed layout from me featuring a graphic themed after this year’s quest and
2. Matching animal CSS and
3. A 1-year upgrade

The runner-up will receive:
1. A custom coding slot for simple layout (scrolls or expandables) and
2. A 6-month upgrade

Participate in the Epic Quest activity every month of the year, and you’ll earn a special prize:
1. An official HP achievement and
2. A store pair with 100k points

If you haven't joined yet but would like to, check out the sign-up thread to create your mage! You must have a mage created before you can participate in the activities.

If you have any questions about the quest, prizes, or how it works, don’t hesitate to message me!



Spirits have begun to gather and wander the moor. They can be seen as flashing lights over the loch, through the trees of its small island, or wandering aimlessly through the damp grasses around the castle. They’ve even been spotted in the castle itself...

THE AWAKENING

Every day, a spirit will wander into the castle and hide on someone’s player page. Your job is to check in every day, find the player who’s hiding the spirit on their page, and send its location to me!

Step One:
To start, you need to message me to check in. You may check in daily, or you can send me one check-in message telling me that you are checking in for the duration of the event.
Please keep in mind that checking in means you plan to be active and participate for the day you have checked in! If you check in and are selected but do not participate, you will lose XP!

Every day, a player will be randomly selected from those who have checked in and will have the spirit placed on their page.

Step Two:
If you were not chosen to hide the spirit, then you must find it! Search carefully through everyone’s pages. Once you’ve located the spirit, you must message me with it’s location (player or character’s name AND location on their page)!

Step Three:
Repeat the first two steps every day to earn the most points!

PRIZES:
2 XP each day you find the spirit
2 XP each day you hide the spirit
Participation: 75 training tickets - your choice horse or dog

You have until 11:59 pm HP time on Sunday, July 31st to participate in this month's Epic Quest!

The Host

Archmage Eidolus Buchanan - NPC
?, Archmage

The Detective

Malcolm MacLeod - NPC
?, Detective

The Guests

Dowager Countess Magnolia Buchanan - NPC
Diviner, Eidolus Buchanan's mother

Celestine Bell - NPC
Evoker, American Acrobat

Elena - 50 XP
Conjurer, Battlemage

Eimear Fraser - 50 XP
Conjurer, Buchanan family's ward

Anya Ruzicka - 49 XP
Diviner, Russian Heiress

Thea Deathwhisper - 45 XP
Necromancer, Archmage's apprentice

Acacia Weatherspoon - 31 XP
Diviner, National Hero

Willow - 30 XP
Diviner, Queen Victoria's Diviner

Pohta Doux - 30 XP
Evoker, Combat Expert

Ioetta Dawnreaver - 29 XP
Conjurer, Military Officer

Lili Findlay - 29XP
Evoker, Eidolus Buchanan's younger sister

Jem Marion - 29 XP
Evoker, Polish Mage

Ethniu Dagon - 25 XP
Evoker, Scholar of Medicine

Scarlett MacDonald - 24 XP
Diviner, Divination Scholar

Elsie Ridel - 20 XP
Necromancer, Friend of Celestine Bell

Ainsley Greer - 20 XP
Conjurer, Distant cousin of Eidolus Buchanan

Meira Wolfsbane - 15 XP
Conjurer, Military Hero

Lake Timberline - 14 XP
Evoker, French Liaison

Lady K - 10 XP
Conjurer, Globe Trotter

Elspeth Grey - 1 XP
Evoker, Family

Seph Reid - 1 XP
Necromancer, Philosopher

The Staff

Raleigh Whitlock - NPC
Evoker, Butler

Fiona Ferguson - 45 XP
Evoker, Cook

LaleLa Lou - 29 XP
Evoker, Housekeeper

Elizabeth Odd - 10 XP
Evoker, Gardener

Vincent Myrddin Thorne - 0 XP
Necromancer, Footman

The Dead

Evangeline Glen - 45 XP
Conjurer, Lady's Maid to Dowager Countess

This'll be fun! ♥

ooh this sounds super fun! 

THE SPIRIT HAS BEEN HIDDEN!

You have from now until 3:30 pm HP time tomorrow to find today's ghost and message me with its location!

:D

Yay!

*dances* Woohoo! Welcome back!!

THE SPIRIT FOUND A NEW HIDING PLACE

You have until 1:30 pm HP time tomorrow to find it and message me!

I'm joining the fun!

THE SPIRIT FOUND A NEW HIDING PLACE

You have until 10:30 am HP time tomorrow to find it and message me!

I messaged you, but I guess I don't understand the concept?

hmm

*"patiently" waiting on today's ghosty! * ;P 

THE SPIRIT FOUND A NEW HIDING PLACE

You have until 8:00 pm HP time tomorrow to find it and message me!

ALSO

I've ended up taking an unplanned vacation so I'm not able to reply to everybody's messages! BUT if you send a check-in message, you're checked in! Don't wait for me to reply to find the spirit/participate :D

What happened to the 29th and 30th?

THE SPIRIT FOUND A NEW HIDING PLACE

You have until 5:30 pm HP time tomorrow to find it and message me!

Yesterday's spirit (the 29th) was never hidden by the chosen player, unfortunately. Tomorrow (the 31st), there will be 2 spirits to find!

ONE SPIRIT FOUND A NEW HIDING PLACE

There will be a second hidden soon!

You have until 11:59 pm tomorrow night to message me with their locations (but they may not be up that long, so keep an eye out)!

THE SECOND SPIRIT FOUND A NEW HIDING PLACE

Both of todays spirits are now hidden and ready to be found!

This was a challenge! I don't realize how often I spend only a few minutes on HP during the week xD