Lifeforms · Fauna · Forest/ Jungle
Fire Flies
Some people might call them cute, but unlike fireflies that just glow and look pretty, Fire Flies can give you nasty burns if you mess around with them, so look but don't touch.
Quest entry
Quest entry
Quest - Fire
'FIRE!!' Summer may be winding down (in most places), but the fires of imagination still burn bright. Thousands upon thousands of years ago, role-playing was invented by our ancestors. Long before the first wheel rolled … Open the quest
Full quest brief
'FIRE!!'
Summer may be winding down (in most places), but the fires of imagination still burn bright.
Thousands upon thousands of years ago, role-playing was invented by our ancestors. Long before the first wheel rolled down a hill, and long before the first loaf of bread was sliced, early humans sat around their caves regaling each other with tales of gods, creatures, heroes and villains, and entertaining themselves with impersonations, play-acting, and role-reversals. All this was made possible by the roaring FIRES inside their caves, which warmed their bodies, roasted their meats, and shone light on their faces.
This month we celebrate FIRE and Role-Playing!
'The Quest revolves around the element of FIRE. Water, Air, and Earth need not apply.
Items, Locations, NPCs, or Plots. All are welcome as long as FIRE is involved! Don your asbestos suits and enter with us, into the all-consuming inferno that is this month's Quest!'
15XP for each submission with 100XP for 1st and 50XP for second.
Fire Flies vary in size according to their type, from the size of ladybirds to that of small scarab beetles, and have evolved a unique defence to spiders and other predators-they spit fire from small holes in their sides. They are a deep violet in colour, and glow at night with a soft purple light as they feed on nectar from certain flowers. Should they get caught in a web, or jumped on by a praying mantis or some other predator, they send out a two second burst of flame that is caused when chemicals in their blood react with oxygen in the air, which they can repeat up to five times in twenty-four hours.
This short burst is hot enough to burn through any spider web and injure or kill any nearby insect, and is enough to hurt even a bird or a human. Whilst one of these insects cannot case much harm, they tend to fly in groups, and if one is killed or swatted at, the others will attack. If their nests are damaged, then, much like Crystal Hornets the whole hive, thousands strong, will swarm out and try and kill whoever did it, and in those numbers they can, acting together, even burn a human to death with mutiple bursts of hot flame, hot enough to ignite linen and sear flesh.
If twenty or more can be caught and crushed, and then are prepared by a skilled wizard before they decompose, they can be used in a short term potion that can be used to change someone's voice, that is useful for disguising oneself or impersonating another person.
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Continue the path
Three more steps through the hall.
- 30 Flies by Murometz Bound
- Cinderpaws by Scrasamax Same quest
Other takes
No other takes yet — the best compliment on the Citadel is a Retelling.
Bonds
Curated bonds across the Citadel. Kindred Favors are another thread in the same weave.
Echoes 2
Pieces that link here
- 30 Flies Alongside Murometz linked by Murometz
- 30 Maggots Alongside Cheka Man linked by Cheka Man
Also for this quest
Other entries under Quest - Fire.
-
Cinderpaws
Tales grow in the telling and heroes grow in stature, even the tiniest can stand tall among their own.
-
Farrach, Flamekin
In the castle of Stagstone high
from every chimney and fireplace nigh
with a mischievous smile
and the occasional vile
a congenial ember surpises you: 'Hi!'
-
Passion Purge
Fanaticism can be just as dangerous as fire. Spreading like fire, it could spark rebellion and could lead towards violence. As a way to curb devotion to the abs…
-
The Ecto-Burner
Fiery doom in two handy barrels. Unsurpassed destructive power. Comes with a five shot warranty.
-
Grand Pyre of the Phoenix
Existing at once in the mortal plane and upon the plane of Fire, the Grand Pyre of the Phoenix is the ultimate testament to the power of the Lord Zevarith.
-
Lance of Hades
A primitive flame thrower, the Lance of Hades brings the power of flame to the Phalanx formation.
-
Flame Fowl
Flame fowl, brightest red chickens you will ever see, nice feathers for fletching arrows, but I'd pass on the omlet.
-
Imp Fire
More annoying than fairy fire ever was. And much more deadly.
Neat.
I would have started with much more basic lead in, that explains you are not talking about the bioluminscent firefly (even though the reader already makes that assumption due to the context of the website).
I like them, they add a nice flavor to a world. I can picture a pc running from a mini-swarm, flailing away, trying to put out little fires on his clothing, or clutching burned spots on his arms while fleeing and grimacing. They can lead to laughs, or they can lead to death. I like.
I would imagine crushed fire-flies could also be used for fire-themed potions and their ilk
Hey Checka,
A great idea submitted without an overkill of detail. I think I will us them.
Thanks,
NCN
What a decent little bugger, exactly right for those high-fantasy jungles. Avoid them or kill them fast, or you might end up roasted.
+1 for Muro's image of a running PC on fire... classic. :)
Quite a solid sub.
Typo alert: 2nd paragraph, end of 3rd line- 'cause' much harm.
Simple. Straightforward. Useful :)