Every year at Delving Day, aspiring heroes travel from the peaceful Valley to Dungeon Crossing. Everyone is taught from a young age that Delving Day proves that all animals are equal. After all, everyone has the same chance of success. Most heroes emerge victorious with rollicking tales to share of their adventures. Sure, a few delvers never return, but it’s a small price to pay for lasting peace. But what if Delving Day isn’t about preserving equality at all, but about protecting those animals who are more equal than others? The truth is coming to light for Olly, Liri, and Kitara, the three heroes created by guest collaborators Jacob Manahan, beyondb0nes, and Red Impala. Brennan (@brickbot_studio) joins the mix with the villain (or anti-hero?) Caelus Velmorne.
The Story Continues!
Fresh off their success at the Delving, heroes returned to the Crossing with their questing quarries in hand, only to find Tamouk missing and fearsome monsters wreaking havoc. Humble Olly Elderquill of the Hedge-kin trembled. He carried no weapon and possessed no spells. What chance did he have against such dangers? But then he remembered how he had bested a prickly shrub with the power of music and the answer become clear.
Taking his old lute, a book of runes, and some rustic paints, Olly transformed his magical instrument. He painted the deep red and gold detailings that he knew would give a new richness to his music.
The egg he had taken in his delving sat on his work bench, reminding him that he could overcome whatever might come his way!
Liri Treewhack, barbarian of the smashing squirrel tribe, would not stand idly by as her home was threatened.
After the abduction of Tamouk and her first defeat at the hands of shadow critters, Liri knew she could not face the darkness unprepared. The family hammer, though a mighty heirloom, had offered little protection, a painful lesson carved deep into memory.
Seeking renewed strength, she made her way to the forge. There, amid sparks and steel, she encountered Frozie Briselle, a mage of the Valley. Word of the rising shadow had reached her as well, and she, too, had chosen not to stand idle.
Thus, the two joined forces, steel and spell, ready to confront the evil that had brought the heart of the Valley to its knees.
Meanwhile, Kitara the lone fox ranger, fought for her life against vicious beetle.
It wasn’t a clean victory. The beetle pinned her against a tree, claws catching fur and armor. Only by driving her blade into the soft spot beneath his chitin—where his old scars had never healed—did she bring the beast down. She emerged shaking, breathing hard, victorious… but not unscathed.
Then came the figure in black—a unicorn, elegant and unsettling, watching from the edge of shadow.
“You are brave… but bravery has always been the currency of the ignorant in the Valley. They call it tradition. I call it bloodletting. You almost paid the same price my father did.”
“The nobility speak of unity, of peace through peril. Of Delving as the rite that binds us together. But have you ever wondered why the same houses thrive? Why the orphans of failed Delvers always seem to vanish, unnoticed, unwept?”
“The dungeon is not a trial—it is a machine, Kitara. It takes, and takes, and takes again. Tamouk marked you for death because your tithing was deemed unacceptable. The dead do not return with tales. Only the victors speak… and they speak lies. ”
“My name is Caelus Velmorne. Once, I bore the weight of nobility. Now, I bear the burden of truth. If you would see the Valley survive what lies ahead, walk with me.”
“I don’t follow messiahs. And I don’t trust shadows, even if they speak the truth.”
“But you’re right about one thing—something stinks in the Valley, and it’s not just blood. I’ll walk with you. For now. Not because I believe you. But because I’ve seen enough tonight to start asking better questions.”
She chooses to walk with Caelus Velmorne—not as a follower, but as a hunter.
To gather truth. To understand the system she already mistrusted.She does not abandon her fellow delvers. She prepares to protect them in the only way that matters: by knowing what’s really coming.
The Challenge
For Challenge 3, your hero achieves their final form. Do you embrace the gift of dark magic and enter your epic goth phase? Or do you search your heart and find hidden strength to stand against the darkness?
Choose one or more of the following prompts and incorporate them into a build and story for your character:
- Heart or Darkness? Which path do you choose?
- Power – what does it look like? Where does it come from?
- Sacrifice – Is it something taken or given for the greater good?
The fate of the Valley is in your paws! Good luck!
Challenge 3 is open through July 16th. Final prizes announced on July 17th.
Last week’s Winner
Challenge 2 was a tie between Axon_Jaxon who impressed with this incredible King Crab creature design…
And K. Liu who dazzled with her incredible storytelling spread over two chapters!
Each of them will be getting a copy of Goldie’s Cozy House LEGO set.