[Xanth]

Woohoo! I'm back online and ready to rumble!

And for those of you who didn't receive the email, here's a copy (of the yummy bits):

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As we're also just two months away from our ***5th Anniversary***, with a major plot in the works and a summer of fun planned, I invite you to reactivate your characters and come raise Hel!

To celebrate my return to the land of the Connected, I'm giving away "Welcome Back!" packs to the first 10 members to make an in-character post (1 pack per member). These packs range from xanthai to enchantments to rare and exotic mounts — and even a personalised Noticeboard quest with its own rewards! — so be sure to get in before everyone else!

It's easy to reactivate, too. Just follow the simple instructions in our FAQ, and away you go!

Looking forward to spending the summer with you,
Emma

So, what're you waiting for? Get out there and post!

[Xanth]

Liv was the first to post, so Nicolay receives the personalised quest! If you have any preferences, Livvy, let me know; otherwise, I'll PM you the link as soon as I have something.

Joy was the second to post, so Ionia receives an exotic mount. The default is a pegasus (see below), but you can change it (and the story) if you prefer.

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Nikodemos was once the pride of the Dimachi (the Anyeli air-mounted cavalry), surviving three bloody battles before being wounded in the final skirmish before the factions were called to peace. Retired at the early age of 4, simply because the unsightly scar across his nose made him useless for peace-time parades, he was consigned to live out the rest of his miserable days in the already crowded stables at Acheron.

Rather than see such fine equines rot, a stable boy took pity on them and "accidentally" opened the stable doors. He would be punished for his "failings", but took heart in his last view of the fleeing horses — and will swear to the end of his days that Nikodemos paused to look back at him, just for a moment before flying into the sunset, as if to say thank you.

Unfortunately, Nikodemos had been broken in as a war horse, and was finding it difficult to survive in the wild. His tamed mannerisms made other pegasi turn away from him, and he was too well-trained to follow orders in the heat of battle to be able to think for himself. It was not long before he was approached by Ionia in the wild, and he was almost grateful to become her mount once more.

[Xanth]

Skyla was the third to post, so Lazuli receives a rare mount. The default is a kaunyos (see below), but you can change it (and the story) if you prefer.

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Moonberry started out life as an egg buried in a sandy bank on Lake Bethesda. One of the fortunate, he survived the terrible dangers of growing up in the forest and lived out most of his early years competing for space with the kelpies. He was captured by poachers when he was still young and small enough to carry, and transported to Alexandria for the black market. By some happy accident, the poachers were ambushed on their way out of the city and his cart was overturned, knocking his cage into the River Cora. Already damaged, it didn't much for the young kaunyos to beat his way to freedom, where he spent the next few years getting in the way of river barges and fishermen.

It was during a skirmish with one such fisherman, who was annoyed because Moonberry "stole" one of his fish, that Lazuli came upon the kaunyos and corralled him to safety out of the way of passing boats. Over the next weeks, she earned Moonberry's trust by bringing him tasty morsels and treating him well, but it became clear that much of his natural gentleness was gone.

Natalie was the fourth to post, so Winnie receives a camen which she can keep or sell via the Auction House.

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Trojan was abandoned in one of the rougher areas of Alexandria because the camen wasn't fully "broken in" by her seller and proved too skittish for her already neglectful owner. Left to her own devices, she defended herself from street dogs and cats with her screech, and came to Winnie's attention when her high-pitched screech partially deafened the locals. Seeing potential for the camen to become an ally, Winnie lured the small animal home with bits of food and set about earning her trust.

[Xanth]

Laura was the fifth to post, so Elena receives a fae squirrel which she can keep or sell at the Auction House.

Don't forget to update your inventories, guys!

[Xanth]

Nic's Quest:

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One night, Gabel Glasses was attacked by a gang of beautiful thieves. They smashed several smaller pieces during the raid, but your boss, Johnnie's, biggest concern is the pieces they stole. “It's bad enough that we've lost so much money with having to remake these orders, but the pieces they stole are virtually priceless! I had to use gems from the customers' own collections. If I don't get them back, it'll put me out of business!”

Employer: Jhonnie Gabel

Objectives:

• Track down the thieves.
  
• Retrieve the stolen pieces (preferably intact) and give them to Jhonnie Gabel.
  
• Optional: Turn the thieves over to the local Guard.

You can involve anyone you like in this quest. Just remember to post in the Quest Evaluation thread when you've finished to claim your rewards.

[Xanth]

As the sixth person to post, Russ receives 2 flash grenades for Tsiyone!

Don't forget to update your inventories if you haven't already.

I hope you guys are liking these presents.

[Xanth]

As the seventh poster, Aria receives a terin.

[Xanth]

As the eighth to post, Elias receives a a golden horn ring.