This is 100% Warren's idea, but I'm totally and shamelessly running with it for fun! Introducing...
THE LORE TRIAL (HM)
:8-man Trial:
So you think you've read all of the quest text line by line? You wish Sharlayan was a starter city-state? You yell at your character every time they fall asleep while listening to Erik talk about interesting lore things?? Are you a Scholarly type and NOT the kind with a fairy??? Then step forward young lore enthusiast and meet your maker - the LORE MAKER!
Opening Cutscene: The Full Party enters into the Great Library. At the center of an atrium-like room, covered floor to ceiling in books both on the shelves and off, stands the figure of Sounsyy Mirke, holding a massive tome in her hands. She is dressed in real world attire and turns to face the party when they enter. She has a puzzled expression on her face, "What? Were you expecting Anonymoose?"
Phase 1 - Sounsyy stands on a raised platform in the center of the library, surrounded by books. She is targetable, but no actions can be performed on her, similar to an NPC. Periodically throughout the fight, she will pick up a random book from the pile around her, flick through the pages, and replace it. The walk-able area of the arena is shaped like a donut around this centered raised stage. Players will have to walk around the circle to reach the other side. The first questions in this quiz have no time limit, and can be answered by any Party Member by simply attacking the floating Grimoire corresponding to the correct answer. Targetable Floating Grimoires will appear 1 second after Sounsyy asks her question. You will have 15 seconds after answering each question before Sounsyy asks her next question.
-If a question is answered correctly, all Party Members gain a stack of Attention to Detail, which acts like a 5% Echo Buff with each stack.
-If a question is answered incorrectly, all Party Members gain a stack of Remedial Study, which acts like a 5% Weakness Debuff with each stack.
Sounsyy Mirke: "I'll start off easy on you! Answer me these questions three!"
Question 1: Minfilia, the Antecedent of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, is of what descent?
A: Garlean
B: Ala Mhigan
C: Ul'dahn
D: Sharlayan
Question 2: Gil is made from what metal?
A: Bronze
B: Gil
C: Copper
D: Wootz
Question 3: The bronze statue in the main plaza of Vesper Bay is said to closely resemble which well-known Lalafell when viewed from afar?
A: Papashan
B: Lolorito
C: Sasabaru
D: Denmo
Phase 2 - True or False! Two Grimoires will appear on either side of the arena, to the East and West of Sounsyy. These Grimoires, like those in Phase 1, will appear 1 second after Sounsyy asks her question, however, in Phase 2, these Grimoires will begin counting down from 10 seconds. If a Floating Grimoire is not attacked by the time the counter reaches 0, the Grimoire containing the correct answer will explode, killing all Party Members within a 15 yalm radius of it. The surviving players will also gain another stack of Remedial Study. In addition to this, incorrectly answering one of these questions will trigger an annoying mechanic to deal with before the next question.
Sounsyy Mirke: "Do I speak the truth or did I let the facts slip my mind?"
Question 4: The Sanctum of the Twelve was built during the Age of Endless Frost - a dark period in which the realm was overrun with famine and disease.
A: True
B: False
If answered incorrectly: Iced! All Party Members are frozen for 20 seconds. Leaving only 6 seconds to answer the next question.
Question 5: The Olgoi-Khorkhoi is a beast so terrible, the huntresses of the U tribe believe that merely uttering its name will bring ill fortune upon your kin.
A: True
B: False
If answered incorrectly: Adds! Lots of adds! Better kill them before next question gets asked!
Question 6: Bahamut, Odin, and Belias are considered Elder Primals.
A: True
B: False
If answered incorrectly: Bad Breath! All Party Members will instant cast Bad Breath in a frontal cone. Those hit by Bad Breath will be afflicted for 20 seconds and cannot be dispelled. Gonna make Phase 3, very difficult.
Phase 3 - Blitz mode! Four Apkallu Minions named "Teacher's Pet" will appear at the four Cardinal Directions about the arena and each ask a different question. Three Floating Grimoires will appear before each Teacher's Pet 1 second after it asks its question. Players will have 10 seconds to answer all four questions. At the end of 10 seconds, Raid-wide damage will be dealt based on the number of incorrect answers. If all questions are answered correctly in the allotted time, no damage will be dealt and the Party will enter Phase 4. Two or more questions answered incorrectly or not at all will result in a wipe. Additionally, if the Party has four or more stacks of Remedial Study prior to Phase 3, a single incorrect answer during the Blitz phase will wipe the Party.
Sounsyy Mirke: "Work quickly! You haven't got all Astral Era now!"
Teacher's Pet N: The Five Ages - An Eorzean Chronology was written by whom and in what year?
A: Guillaurmand de Padellaint, Year 1452 6th Astral Era
B: Lewphon of Sharlayan, Year 233 6th Astral Era
C: Mezaya Thousand Eyes, Year 572 6th Astral Era
Teacher's Pet S: According to the many legends of Rycharde Mistbeard, the Dreadpirate made off with what items during the former sultan's wedding ceremony?
A: 55 pure-black chocobo skins, 200 gold ingots, a 10-ponze Meracydian diamond
B: Coins minted in the Allagan Empire, the sultan's prized aquarium, 150 wootz ingots
C: The crown jewels of Sil'dih, a 10-ponze Meracydian sapphire, several ships from the port of Ul'dah
Teacher's Pet E: The Autumn War began in the Year 1468, when Ala Mhigan forces invaded the Black Shroud by crossing what body of water?
A: The East Hathoeva River
B: The Rothlyt Sound
C: The Velodyna River
Teacher's Pet W: The following quote was said by which Lominsan Admiral? "No man may tread on me, for I am the sea."
A: Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn
B: Geisswaen
C: N'bolata Tyata
Phase 4: All or Nothing! Making a mistake in this round will be costly! In addition to being afflicted with Remedial Study, answering a question incorrectly will activate a high damaging mechanic that may or may not wipe the party depending on Party Member's reaction time. Four Floating Grimoires bearing the final questions' answer choices will now appear either at the base of Sounsyy's stage in the four cardinal directions or around the outside of the arena at the four cardinal directions. These Grimoires, will also have a 10 second counter on them. And in addition, will now be randomly color coated Red, Green, or Blue. A Blue Grimoire can only be attacked by a tank, a Green by a healer, and Red by a DPS.
Sounsyy Mirke: "Well, you've come this far, don't get a brain freeze now!"
Question 11: What is the name of F'lhaminn's deceased lover?
A: Corguvais
B: Niellfresne
C: Greinfarr
D: Warburton
If answered incorrectly: Twisters x4! Four random Party Members will deploy Twintania's Twisters beneath them. Hope you know T5 mechanics!
Question 12: Which of the following is the title of the first chapter in the tale of Llymlaen's Ascent?
A: Llymlaen's Bearing
B: Llymlaen's Oath
C: Llymlaen's Trial
D: Llymlaen's Folly
If answered incorrectly: Meteor Stream x6! 6 random Party Members will be targeted by Nael's Meteor Streams. Only these will hurt a lot more. Best not be stacking!
Question 13: Brontes is one of a pair of Cyclops captured several years ago on Vylbrand by the Adventurers' Guild and subsequently separated from its partner. What is the name of the other Cyclops?
A: Coincounter
B: Pyracmon
C: Steropes
D: Arges
If answered incorrectly: Teraflare! My advice, don't get question 13 wrong.
Question 14: Saint Moergynn is famous for what achievement?
A: Forging the Edgeless Blade.
B: Slaying the Basilisk.
C: Proving the existence of the Allagan Empire.
D: Defeating the Ascians during the Sixth Umbral Era.
If answered incorrectly: Lore Bombs! Think if Titan EX and third Heavensfall had a Bomb dropping baby... Yeah... Lots of bombs dropping very quickly.
Grading Time! Sounsyy Mirke begins tallying the Party's stacks of Remedial Study. If 6 stacks of Remedial Study or greater have been accumulated, a giant Ahriman will descend from the top of the Atrium and cast Gaze of Fernehalwes, wiping the Party. If the Party has accrued 8 stacks of Attention to Detail or greater, a cutscene will trigger, depicting Fernehalwes descending from the atrium and bestowing his divine lore knowledge upon the party.
"Viangaa was an April Fool's joke!" -Fernehalwes
/end fight. Send me a PM if you wanna know how you did! ^^ I can't really time you or stop you from cheating though. LOL.
Extreme Mode anyone?? =D
THE LORE TRIAL (HM)
:8-man Trial:
So you think you've read all of the quest text line by line? You wish Sharlayan was a starter city-state? You yell at your character every time they fall asleep while listening to Erik talk about interesting lore things?? Are you a Scholarly type and NOT the kind with a fairy??? Then step forward young lore enthusiast and meet your maker - the LORE MAKER!
Opening Cutscene: The Full Party enters into the Great Library. At the center of an atrium-like room, covered floor to ceiling in books both on the shelves and off, stands the figure of Sounsyy Mirke, holding a massive tome in her hands. She is dressed in real world attire and turns to face the party when they enter. She has a puzzled expression on her face, "What? Were you expecting Anonymoose?"
Phase 1 - Sounsyy stands on a raised platform in the center of the library, surrounded by books. She is targetable, but no actions can be performed on her, similar to an NPC. Periodically throughout the fight, she will pick up a random book from the pile around her, flick through the pages, and replace it. The walk-able area of the arena is shaped like a donut around this centered raised stage. Players will have to walk around the circle to reach the other side. The first questions in this quiz have no time limit, and can be answered by any Party Member by simply attacking the floating Grimoire corresponding to the correct answer. Targetable Floating Grimoires will appear 1 second after Sounsyy asks her question. You will have 15 seconds after answering each question before Sounsyy asks her next question.
-If a question is answered correctly, all Party Members gain a stack of Attention to Detail, which acts like a 5% Echo Buff with each stack.
-If a question is answered incorrectly, all Party Members gain a stack of Remedial Study, which acts like a 5% Weakness Debuff with each stack.
Sounsyy Mirke: "I'll start off easy on you! Answer me these questions three!"
Question 1: Minfilia, the Antecedent of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, is of what descent?
A: Garlean
B: Ala Mhigan
C: Ul'dahn
D: Sharlayan
Question 2: Gil is made from what metal?
A: Bronze
B: Gil
C: Copper
D: Wootz
Question 3: The bronze statue in the main plaza of Vesper Bay is said to closely resemble which well-known Lalafell when viewed from afar?
A: Papashan
B: Lolorito
C: Sasabaru
D: Denmo
Phase 2 - True or False! Two Grimoires will appear on either side of the arena, to the East and West of Sounsyy. These Grimoires, like those in Phase 1, will appear 1 second after Sounsyy asks her question, however, in Phase 2, these Grimoires will begin counting down from 10 seconds. If a Floating Grimoire is not attacked by the time the counter reaches 0, the Grimoire containing the correct answer will explode, killing all Party Members within a 15 yalm radius of it. The surviving players will also gain another stack of Remedial Study. In addition to this, incorrectly answering one of these questions will trigger an annoying mechanic to deal with before the next question.
Sounsyy Mirke: "Do I speak the truth or did I let the facts slip my mind?"
Question 4: The Sanctum of the Twelve was built during the Age of Endless Frost - a dark period in which the realm was overrun with famine and disease.
A: True
B: False
If answered incorrectly: Iced! All Party Members are frozen for 20 seconds. Leaving only 6 seconds to answer the next question.
Question 5: The Olgoi-Khorkhoi is a beast so terrible, the huntresses of the U tribe believe that merely uttering its name will bring ill fortune upon your kin.
A: True
B: False
If answered incorrectly: Adds! Lots of adds! Better kill them before next question gets asked!
Question 6: Bahamut, Odin, and Belias are considered Elder Primals.
A: True
B: False
If answered incorrectly: Bad Breath! All Party Members will instant cast Bad Breath in a frontal cone. Those hit by Bad Breath will be afflicted for 20 seconds and cannot be dispelled. Gonna make Phase 3, very difficult.
Phase 3 - Blitz mode! Four Apkallu Minions named "Teacher's Pet" will appear at the four Cardinal Directions about the arena and each ask a different question. Three Floating Grimoires will appear before each Teacher's Pet 1 second after it asks its question. Players will have 10 seconds to answer all four questions. At the end of 10 seconds, Raid-wide damage will be dealt based on the number of incorrect answers. If all questions are answered correctly in the allotted time, no damage will be dealt and the Party will enter Phase 4. Two or more questions answered incorrectly or not at all will result in a wipe. Additionally, if the Party has four or more stacks of Remedial Study prior to Phase 3, a single incorrect answer during the Blitz phase will wipe the Party.
Sounsyy Mirke: "Work quickly! You haven't got all Astral Era now!"
Teacher's Pet N: The Five Ages - An Eorzean Chronology was written by whom and in what year?
A: Guillaurmand de Padellaint, Year 1452 6th Astral Era
B: Lewphon of Sharlayan, Year 233 6th Astral Era
C: Mezaya Thousand Eyes, Year 572 6th Astral Era
Teacher's Pet S: According to the many legends of Rycharde Mistbeard, the Dreadpirate made off with what items during the former sultan's wedding ceremony?
A: 55 pure-black chocobo skins, 200 gold ingots, a 10-ponze Meracydian diamond
B: Coins minted in the Allagan Empire, the sultan's prized aquarium, 150 wootz ingots
C: The crown jewels of Sil'dih, a 10-ponze Meracydian sapphire, several ships from the port of Ul'dah
Teacher's Pet E: The Autumn War began in the Year 1468, when Ala Mhigan forces invaded the Black Shroud by crossing what body of water?
A: The East Hathoeva River
B: The Rothlyt Sound
C: The Velodyna River
Teacher's Pet W: The following quote was said by which Lominsan Admiral? "No man may tread on me, for I am the sea."
A: Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn
B: Geisswaen
C: N'bolata Tyata
Phase 4: All or Nothing! Making a mistake in this round will be costly! In addition to being afflicted with Remedial Study, answering a question incorrectly will activate a high damaging mechanic that may or may not wipe the party depending on Party Member's reaction time. Four Floating Grimoires bearing the final questions' answer choices will now appear either at the base of Sounsyy's stage in the four cardinal directions or around the outside of the arena at the four cardinal directions. These Grimoires, will also have a 10 second counter on them. And in addition, will now be randomly color coated Red, Green, or Blue. A Blue Grimoire can only be attacked by a tank, a Green by a healer, and Red by a DPS.
Sounsyy Mirke: "Well, you've come this far, don't get a brain freeze now!"
Question 11: What is the name of F'lhaminn's deceased lover?
A: Corguvais
B: Niellfresne
C: Greinfarr
D: Warburton
If answered incorrectly: Twisters x4! Four random Party Members will deploy Twintania's Twisters beneath them. Hope you know T5 mechanics!
Question 12: Which of the following is the title of the first chapter in the tale of Llymlaen's Ascent?
A: Llymlaen's Bearing
B: Llymlaen's Oath
C: Llymlaen's Trial
D: Llymlaen's Folly
If answered incorrectly: Meteor Stream x6! 6 random Party Members will be targeted by Nael's Meteor Streams. Only these will hurt a lot more. Best not be stacking!
Question 13: Brontes is one of a pair of Cyclops captured several years ago on Vylbrand by the Adventurers' Guild and subsequently separated from its partner. What is the name of the other Cyclops?
A: Coincounter
B: Pyracmon
C: Steropes
D: Arges
If answered incorrectly: Teraflare! My advice, don't get question 13 wrong.
Question 14: Saint Moergynn is famous for what achievement?
A: Forging the Edgeless Blade.
B: Slaying the Basilisk.
C: Proving the existence of the Allagan Empire.
D: Defeating the Ascians during the Sixth Umbral Era.
If answered incorrectly: Lore Bombs! Think if Titan EX and third Heavensfall had a Bomb dropping baby... Yeah... Lots of bombs dropping very quickly.
Grading Time! Sounsyy Mirke begins tallying the Party's stacks of Remedial Study. If 6 stacks of Remedial Study or greater have been accumulated, a giant Ahriman will descend from the top of the Atrium and cast Gaze of Fernehalwes, wiping the Party. If the Party has accrued 8 stacks of Attention to Detail or greater, a cutscene will trigger, depicting Fernehalwes descending from the atrium and bestowing his divine lore knowledge upon the party.
"Viangaa was an April Fool's joke!" -Fernehalwes
/end fight. Send me a PM if you wanna know how you did! ^^ I can't really time you or stop you from cheating though. LOL.
Extreme Mode anyone?? =D