beta testing 0.2: quest update

[gamedevs]

beta testing 0.2

BETA NOTE: This log is being used for Duocaeli’s Tutorial & Dungeon Beta Testing. Please note that some game features are limited and will be noted in this format on pages, and an invitation is still required to play. Thank you and have fun!

Patch Update

Maybe you’ve been getting settled in for a little while now, maybe you just arrived yesterday. Hopefully you’ve been able to adjust to your surroundings, since it seems like some big changes are coming. All Dodo residents will receive a Duocaeli notification on their phones:

> 0.2 Expansion has arrived! Server capacity has increased. New locations await you, worldwalkers.
> New quests can be accepted in Windhaven Woods, Aria's Grove, Dandelion Fields!

At the exact same time, completely coincidentally, a city-wide broadcast is sent directly to characters inboxes:

> Thank you for your patience with our construction, city-goers! As our Pride Parade goes underway, we are proud to share the grand re-opening of many venues throughout the city. Love is love!

Those who wander to the Divination Tower in Domus Hosus, whether on purpose or because the stairs guide you there, will see that both of these broadcasts are proudly displayed amidst the glimmering gems. If you try to read your fate in the stars, they will delightedly provide you with a prophecy. However each prophecy comes in images, beckoning you to a new location with… a certain someone! Immediately after receiving this prophecy, you will feel naturally compelled to find that individual, stranger or friend, and affirm your fate. Maybe you'll end up going somewhere out of your depth? At least you won't be alone!

> 1. Questboard

The quest board at the guild hub has been updated with the latest patch! Excited players are gathered around to collect new bounties, which are open to all. The guild hub also provides a useful bestiary, which is readily accessible by guild members via crystals.

A. SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THESE
Avisle University has requested assistance in collecting Blue Chamomile from the northern part of Windhaven Woodlands for study. These flowers are known to aid sleep and have some rejuvenating properties as well, if taken as a tea. They are best harvested in pairs as they feed off positive energy—once their petals start glowing, the plant is ready to be plucked. You’ll have to make your quest partner laugh, or pay them a genuine compliment that makes them smile. You can also share your dreams for the future, or a good memory. The plants also enjoy music! Even the most tone-deaf of vocalists are appreciated by these chamomiles.

Additionally, these flowers are HUGE fans of PDA. If your characters hold hands, or hug, or k-kiss... it may seem like they are slowly turning their petals towards you...

As noted on the Locations page, it would be wise to remember that Windhaven Woodlands can be quite confusing to navigate. The trees like to stretch their roots multiple times a day, often altering paths that characters have taken. At times branches will weave themselves together so tightly, it blocks out most sunlight. It’s very possible to get lost here, but those with keen navigation skills will notice that the wind always seems to flow in the direction of Avisle at the beginning and middle of the hour, like clockwork.

REWARD: A sachet of Blue Chamomile tea, made with some of the petals you helped harvest. If you take it before you sleep, you will find yourself waking up fully refreshed the next morning whether in the ON or OFF world. You may even find yourself briefly dreaming of the good memory that your quest partner shared with you!

FAILURE: You will grow flowers on your body that cannot be removed, purely cosmetic. Lasts until you log off the server.

B. 'TIL DEATH DO US PART
Rumor has it that there's a malevolent spirit haunting Aria's Grove, one with particularly sticky fingers, that's been stealing items from sleeping travelers–as well as dreams. Those with their dreams stolen will feel an almost unshakable malaise and melancholy. The Wanderer's Guild is looking for adventurers to locate and dispel this spirit for good, as it's the only way to retrieve lost items (and dreams).

Whoever manages to navigate the woods to Aria's Grove will find not a spirit, but a small, crystalline golem made from broken shards. It speaks in a soft, tinkering voice, saying, "My love, my love." It's unable to do much damage, but it's fast and evokes a sensation of grief and despair in whoever draws close to it. Adventurers may recognize this as a gemwalker, and know that the only way to free the ghost trapped inside is to break the crystal form.

Upon doing so, they'll find a watch that was encased in the crystal, with a name etched into the back. Regardless of how much they ask around, they'll be unable to find anyone by that name.

REWARD: A special compass from the Wanderer's Guild. It can be set to always point toward a location of the owner's choosing.

C. A HARE-OWING CAT-ASTROPHE
In the Avisle town square, festivities are abound; red and gilded gold streamers stretch across the plaza, rabbits hop along, eager to be held, cats preen on unlikely perches, and the guilds have plenty of free food and drink out to be enjoyed—as well as a limited-time bounty being offered for the new year! Help out and earn yourself a reward.

• Bake goods for guests, who are notoriously harsh. Sometimes recipes here will lead you astray.
  
• Mix or taste-test some drinks... which only seem to exacerbate your elemental symptoms (see prompt 3. ELEMENTAL ECCENTRICITY below for details).
  
• Deal with jealous tiger monsters that set fire to various stands and attack festival-goers. They can be fought (NPC rabbits will help), but also seem intelligent, and can be bribed to depart with treats, brushing their (sometimes flaming hot) fur, or other offerings. These creatures don't seem to be native to Avisle; if you follow one outside of the city, they'll fly right off the edge of the island...
  
• Like above, attacking the rabbits in any way or causing problems will get you mobbed by knife-wielding bunnies with 9999HP.

REWARD: Free food, daiya, and a good time!

Though from there... it looks like there's a few additions that must be completed in the OFF world?

D. H҉A҉P҉P҉Y҉ HOPPIN’ NEW YEAR
Red envelopes need to be distributed to the students of Gruidae University in celebration of the Lunar New Year! (Our usual guy, Jimmy, is out sick…) In the spirit of the Year of the Rabbit, volunteers will be asked to wear a tasteful (or ridiculous) set of bunny ears and a soft, poofy bunny tail while on the job. Just make sure to avoid the BPL (Bunny Protection League) activists lurking among the student body, they take their duties seriously and will attempt to divest you of your bunny appendages if caught.

REWARD: A red envelope (the amount can be anywhere between $20 to 23 cents) and coupon to the newly opened bunny cafe located at the mall. You will also receive a cute bunny ear accessory in your ON World inbox.

FAILURE: A forced viewing of the documentary, Bunnies Are Human Too, while surrounded by passionate BPL members.

E: BIRD M҉E҉A҉S҉U҉R҉I҉N҉G҉ CONTEST
As an icebreaker, Dodo is hosting competitions in the Training Hall! Get to know your new housemates by having an impromptu battle. This doesn’t have to be combat-related or any sort of traditional duel: you can challenge your partner to lifting weights, a dance-off, even Twister and other board games. There will also be gaming consoles and seating in various corners—FATALITY!

REWARDS: Bragging rights! Dodo will also send a little spa set/gift package to the winner’s room, which includes bird-themed face masks. Also, the winner will be able to stay in the OFF world for up to 5 days (one time), rather than 3.

FAILURE: Public humiliation.

Conveniently, non-PC players can't seem to see these last two bounties at all. Oh well—get to questing!

> 2. Okay get a job?

Sometime while you’re minding your business, you’ll be interrupted by a neat little beep beep! On the screen of your phone:

☑️ Go to Your Internship in Crane City

Tapping the prompt will bring up the Maps app and directions to what is apparently your internship! And it looks like it’s in the same format as other checklist quests–aka, it won’t stop beeping until you complete it.

If you don’t want to go crazy from notifications, you'll simply have to go out and explore the big city. Maybe you have to go and work the concessions stand at the movie theater, which appears to be showing Shrek and Cats if you want to sneak into a showing, or you get the ever coveted position of cat cafe barista. Perhaps you’re suddenly a neurosurgeon! Wow! Don’t fuck it up, guy! While you do get compensated for your work, it seems like an amount gets automatically deducted for your Duocaeli subscription. Uhhh, is that legal? Apparently.

With Pride currently underway in Crane City, the jobs are also just a little bit more vibrant. You can help manage the parade if you want to, or have a job as a sexy, sexy flag bearer. Everything in the city glistens with festivities, whether it be raucous parties or other joyful celebrations.

> 3. ELEMENTAL ECCENTRICITY

As expected, learning new things comes with a few unexpected speed bumps. For those who attempt to practice with their new elemental magic, whether it be in the world of Duocaeli or within the confines of Dodo’s walls, they might feel a sudden surge of power course through them. Is it more refined control? Improved strength? Hm, it feels a little bit more like…

—Oh. No.

For characters aligned with Fire or Earth: Your emotions are just a little bit stronger now–but also a little bit out of your control. While everything feels inherent to you, it also feels like everything is turned up to 11. Oversensitive? How dare you! Say that to my face! …. Well, hopefully it passes quickly.

For characters aligned with Water or Light: Nothing’s amiss here–it’s just unbelievable that you are currently existing as you are, and no one is holding your hand or giving you a hug right now. Some might call it being a little bit touch starved, but physical contact should be normalized, you know? A punch can be a touch, too, if that’s more your style.

For characters aligned with Wind or Darkness: Well, thank god you’re not dealing with anything quite as bad as the others–no, you just find that your words are flowing a little bit more freely. A little more honestly, even. Hopefully you don’t have all that much to hide, but you know, some vulnerability can be good for the soul.

These effects can suddenly surge and hit you at any point during your day! They're temporary, but always sneaky :)

OOC Notes

Our Reserves open tonight at 11:55 PM EST —drop in and let us get excited for you!

Also, everything from BETA TESTING 0.1 is still available to play with. Feel free to use old prompts and dungeons! Also, during Beta Testing, we'd like to remind players that we're accepting any and all feedback that could help us improve the game before official start.

---

duocaeli duologs duolingos FAQ & Game Info / Calendar / Locations / Mechanics
Taken / Applications / Hiatus & Drops

FULL NAVIGATION

Comments

[sanguinary]

[NO BUZEN'S IN ONE OF HIS FUCKING BEAN-THROWING MOODS AGAIN. Matsui leans away a little, reaching forward with both hands to smush Buzen's cheeks between them, partially in bean-throwing mood retaliation and partially to try putting an end to the WHALE NOISE.]

You might summon more of them if you aren't careful.

[HE ALSO ISN'T NOTICING HOW FAR THEY ARE HELP.]

[hasteful]

[ ?!

he tries to say something

or he might just be making a whale noise but confused

given the face smushing it kind of really all sounds the same and yet he's not making any real effort to pull away]

[sanguinary]

[HE JUST ASSUMES IT'S A FUCKING CONFUSED WHALE NOISE BECAUSE BUZEN IS AN IDIOT.




But he will gently mush his already smushed cheeks together like he is kneading dough, because it's hilarious. They're truly just beyond all hope. No one will ever see them again.]

[hasteful]

[buzen is an idiot

and now he's hit his limit because this is no longer idiot sandwich cradling, now it's too much squeezing and pulling so he's just gonna make a face and try to wiggle his face free like a dog

noooooooooooooo

(goodbye ground)]

[sanguinary]

[The way Matsui is so sweet to Buzen but Buzen still brings out his bully streak sometimes... HE CAN'T HELP IT... IT'S CUTE!!! HIS REACTIONS ARE CUTE... It makes him want to bully more........

But he'll be brave and reel in the desire to see Buzen struggling APPARENTLY. He'll let Buzen's face go after he wiggles a bit, pulling his hands back.]

Were you trying to actually say something?

[hasteful]

[he opens his mouth to answer! pauses. closes it.]

.... I forgot....

[because he was ATTACKED. but he's just going to rub at his own face now, as if that'll try to rearrange his cheeks back into working order instead of being dough....]

[sanguinary]

[HE WAS ATTACKED SO RUDELY... Matsui does not feel even a single scrap bad about it, but he does reach out again to gently pat one of Buzen's cheeks.]

I'm sorry. [HE DIDN'T EVEN TRY TO SOUND SORRY.] An expression like that isn't bad to see every now and then either, though...

[hasteful]

[leans into matsui's touch stupidly, because it's there, and it feels right]

I don't know what kind of face I'm making...

[HE CAN'T SEE IT!!!]

Oh - is that the town?

[probably like. in the distance but there it is.... i guess the wind could've carried them closer to it or something.]

[sanguinary]

[Buzen really just immediately forgets that Matsui bullies after he's done bullying...]

--Mm? [At least that keeps him from continuing to bully, since he's glancing out and away from Buzen, toward the sky and the distant town.]

...I think that it is, yes. The wind seems to be favoring you.

[Buzen specifically because he's the wind guy. Matsui is just here... BUT ALSO THEY'RE SO HIGH UP?? He frowns a little, shifting away from Buzen so he can kneel by the edge and peer down over it.]

[hasteful]

[he does.... he forgives so fast because matsui is hard to be upset at when he's actually enjoying himself. but buzen just huffs a little bit of amusement - and then will just reach out so that he can let arm lightly wrap around matsui's waist just in case... he can peer out but also please don't fall,]

We'll have to figure out how to get down at some point....

Well, if there's more islands, we can probably use them to get closer to the ground when we feel like it.

[HE TRULY SAYS THIS SO CASUALLY? the cheating sword confidence and lack of self-preservation really do wonders,]

[sanguinary]

[Buzen like "not today satan". Matsui settles comfortably enough, at least, and does not want to go plummeting down many many stories onto the hard ground, either, so he's cautious not to lean too far.]

If not that, then I'm sure that we'll lose wind lift sooner or later. Nothing can stay airborne forever.

[He also SAYS THIS SO CASUALLY BECAUSE THEY COULD LITERALLY BE UP HERE FOR WEEKS AND BE FINE.]

[hasteful]

That's true! We'll still have to be careful in watching how the flowers are doing though...

[with his free hand he'll lift the flap of his jacket pocket and since buzen has yet to horribly impact with anything, they seem to be doing okay]

So maybe just a little longer. This wouldn't be a bad place for a nap to be honest...

[STOP JUST INVITING MATSUI TO SLEEP]

[sanguinary]

[Glancing back to look at the flowers which are miraculously doing alright despite being with two idiots...]

Just a little longer, then. The view is lovely and the breeze is pleasant... Even the dandelion has a nice smell.

[And he's with Buzen, which is always a plus... BUZEN JUST CONSTANTLY LIKE "HERE MATSUI NAPTIME NOW" so Matsui doesn't go take a dirt nap instead. But, with a faint smile:]

Is that an invitation?

[LAP PILLOW.]

[hasteful]

Eh? Oh, it is if you want it to be.

[he says this as he's already pulling his arm away from matsu and shifting so that he can cross his legs and pat his knee? lap pillow....

even if it wasn't his intention, he's always willing to offer]

Though we did end that one date we had with a nap... I don't even really know if we did it right...

[the date..... their fake engagement au..... i couldn't stand another thread where they just didn't talk about it,]

[sanguinary]

[LAP PILLOW. He really forcibly assigned Buzen lap pillow except he is okay with it anyway...

He'll move over, too, shifting into the familiar position that lets him rest his head in Buzen's lap comfortably. Those words have him shifting yet again, though, so he can look up at Buzen instead of out toward the drifting, distant horizon.]

Hm... I don't know if we did, either. But you seemed to enjoy calling most things "dates", even if they weren't very date-like at all. So perhaps we did it right for us.

[THIS IS SO STUPID IT REALLY TOOK THIS LONG FOR THEM TO DISCUSS IT.]

[hasteful]

Well.... that's one of the important parts.

[that they did it right for them!! but buzen will hum thoughtfully even as he lets matsui get comfy on his lap, his hand just going to run through the strands of his hair idly... for the most part, buzen can stay still when his gous are using him as a pillow, but there's still a slight instinct to move.

as for another one of the important parts - ]

Did you have fun, Matsu? Even if there was stuff that was missing...

[like the kissing... which was the main date-y thing their human selves did after getting together, because otherwise they already spent all their time together... like now.... hmmm what a weird coincidence]

[sanguinary]

[HERE'S THE THING... Here's the THING!! THE THING IS... of course Matsui had fun, of course he loved every minute that he was able to spend with Buzen. He's pretty sure it would be like that in any world, or any life, any time that he finds himself by Buzen's side.

But the human version of himself that exists thinly in his memories didn't have the crushing weight of self-loathing or the very real idea that he wouldn't always be around, so it's an overall complex matter for him to delve into it. That's why he's avoided thinking too deeply on those happy memories - because the Matsui that exists here and now looks at them through the same melancholic lens of blood that he sees the rest of the world with, and it makes them sit bittersweet.

Still, it's an easy question to answer, even if the feelings behind it are messy. He closes his eyes, face still turned up toward Buzen's.]

I did. Even when it was something silly or something that I wasn't the fondest of, I did. I love being with you more than anything.

[Not past tense because it's STILL TRUE, just no longer in the fiance sense... Now just in the weird alien Gou sense, which is the truest sense there is.]

[hasteful]

You mean you don't like bleeding while running errands for bedding, Matsu? Huh...

[a gentle little tease... because otherwise it's the simple truth that hearing this manages to get buzen's heart to melt a little. there's a lot of things that he doesn't understand - he's far from from the smartest of them, after all. but he tries his best to understand his gous, and figure out what can make them happy. everyone should do what they like, and taking care of people is what buzen likes.

and it's why he knows these little moments of peace with matsui are something to treasure.

he'll go to search for matsui's hand again, this time holding it and bringing it up to his own cheek, letting his nose brush against the knuckles in a soft, affectionate little gesture. matsui's eyes might be closed, but buzen's expression has softened into something so terribly fond as he looks down at him.]

I love being with you, too. [the honest truth reflected so easily] I love knowing when you're happy more than anything.

So just let me know how to keep making that happen, okay?

[sanguinary]

[HIS PUNK TEASE IMMEDIATELY BEING FOLLOWED BY SOMETHING SO SOFT AND FOND... Matsui can't even pretend to be huffy about it...

There are a few moments where he rests in easy silence after Buzen goes quiet, just letting his hand be held and feeling Buzen's skin beneath his fingertips.]

I can let you know more often, then... When I'm happy. If it's something you like to hear, then I will tell you.

[He thinks it goes without say that he's almost always happy around Buzen except for the moments when he falls into pockets of depression, but that's just A Thing He Will Never Escape. Likewise, here isn't really anything that Buzen needs to do in particular to make him happy...]

...You only need to be where I can reach you.

[As if Buzen is the flight risk in any dangerous way, despite his thin tethers and constant running off.]

[hasteful]

[sometimes matsui can be hard to read - buzen had said as much earlier, but he thinks that he can at least tell the difference between turmoil and peace. even still, hearing from matsui's own mouth that he's happy.... it's something that he wants. a confirmation that he can hold onto, knowing that matsui is able to capture these moments of his own happiness, and hold them in his hands.]

Well... I've never strayed too far, right? When we were blades, when we were summoned again, when Kotegiri wrote us into a story together, and when even this place gave us a bunch of memories of a life next to each other.

[buzen lets his thumb brush against the soft skin of matsui's hand, so much lighter to the touch than metal. his gaze drifts out over the sea of islands and dandelions, across the stretch of the sky and he wonders how many more sights other versions of themselves have seen. how many more even these versions of them could still see.

there's a lot of sights buzen could see alone, running ahead. but there's something sweeter about sharing them, like this.

he laughs, simple thoughts leading him to a careless but sincere statement:]

So maybe we're just always meant to be together, Matsu.

[sanguinary]

[Buzen's always held his heart in the palm of his hand, but it's so painfully obvious in these moments, when he says just a few words and Matsui can feel the way it beats in his ribcage and aches so tenderly.

It's nice, when he thinks about it - this tie they apparently share. Always being side-by-side in some way, whether they're holding hands or running across a stage or planting carrots together, or drenched in equal measures of blood. Are they meant to be together?]

...I would like to think so.

[The world, to him, always seems lonely and vast in many ways. But Buzen manages to make it feel a little warmer, like spring light filtering through a watery morning as winter's on its way out. Buzen often makes things bearable, when he feels he'd have otherwise cracked under the pressure of his new life and human emotions long, long ago.

His fingers curl lightly against Buzen's cheek.]

I would be happy to spend the time that I have with you, whether that's here or anywhere else. Even if the "me" who gets to enjoy that time is not quite me... I know that it would still be true.

[hasteful]

Haha, who really knows what shape a soul takes anyway? I don't really know if I get all the details about it... The "me" that's here, the "us" that we remember...

[there's a lot about their remembered lives that doesn't make much sense to him? how even now, when matsui's fingers curl against buzen's cheek, a memory stirs. how easy it'd be for him to turn his head just so, letting his lips brush against his hand in gentle, fleeting kisses. he could do that now, even. he really could.

he doesn't. (but he could.)]

Whether it's when we meet as blades, or as humans, or this in-between... I think I'll always want more time.

[sometimes you're in the company of people that make you think that forever still won't be long enough.]

And if there can't be me without you, then I guess you're stuck with all of that too. Thanks for your patience.

[for all the times that buzen tests it, sometimes intentionally with a playful little gesture, and all the times it's done entirely on accident.]

[sanguinary]

[BUZEN REALLY DOES TEST HIS PATIENCE EVERY DAY IN SO MANY WAYS but Matsui still loves him... Matsui would love him even if he tested his patience on an hourly basis, unfortunately.

He finally opens his eyes, but rather than looking toward Buzen, he looks straight up - up at the blue overhead, sprawling endlessly. The same blue sky no matter where he goes, whether he's a sword or a human or something in between. The same sky, no matter what sort of beautiful things or atrocities unfold below it.

It's moments like this that he's almost comfortable with the idea of someday reaching an end to his winding quest for penance that isn't the end. Almost.]

It isn't difficult to be patient for you. [Usually. ONCE AGAIN KUWANA JUST FUCKING SUFFERS.] You could ask for more from me, you know.

[He would give (almost) anything to Buzen if he asked, after all.]

[hasteful]

More...?

[and that gets buzen to look back down, tilting his head to the side as he peers at matsui curiously. the idea of asking matsui for more is strange - because buzen doesn't tend to ask for much from anyone. if anything, he asks them to take a step back so that he can just put more on his plate on their behalf.]

Mm... Like what, Matsu?

[he might need an example? right now he's just thinking about asking matsui to go on runs with him, but he knows that matsui doesn't like running and exertion for no reason....]

[sanguinary]

[The way that he's still just staring at the sky even though he can see Buzen watching him from his peripheral vision. He also doesn't answer for a few moments because honestly, he doesn't have one... At least not one that comes to mind right away, or not one that isn't vast and general rather than a specific thing that he can do for Buzen here and now.

Eventually, he just sighs, closing his eyes again rather than meeting Buzen's.]

I don't know... What can I do for you?