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The Deep Hunter

Type: Boss Quest
Location: Skyport Eos
Difficulty: High
Rewards: 600 Aether-Coins, Aether-Heart, Legendary Hunter title
Implementation Status: ✅ Fully Implemented

Overview

The Deep Hunter is a multi-stage boss quest centered around hunting an Aether-Leviathan that has been terrorizing the deep trade routes around Skyport Eos. This apex predator has destroyed three ships and killed forty-seven people, causing trade routes to collapse.

Dockmaster Harvin Quickhitch offers a pooled bounty of 600 Aether-Coins to whoever can kill the creature known as “The Deep Terror.”

Quest Stages

Stage 1: The Bounty

Trigger: Visit the Docks at Skyport Eos
Objective: Speak with Dockmaster Harvin about the Leviathan bounty

Harvin explains the situation: an Aether-Leviathan has claimed the Deeps as its hunting ground. Three ships lost, forty-seven dead, and trade routes collapsing. The merchants have pooled a massive bounty for anyone brave (or foolish) enough to hunt it.

Choices: - Accept the bounty (Endurance DC 24): Commit to hunting the Leviathan - Ask for details (Cunning DC 20): Learn about Leviathan tactics and anatomy - Refuse: Decline the dangerous quest

Key Information: - Leviathans are 50+ meters long - They swim through Aether like fish through water - Thick hide, sonic blast attacks, void vacuum abilities - Intelligent and learns from fights - Lair is deep in the Deeps where Aether is thickest

Stage 2: Preparation (Multi-Part)

The quest features an extensive preparation phase with multiple sub-stages:

2a: Choose a Ship

2b: Acquire Weapons

2c: Hire Crew

2d: Study Leviathan Behavior

2e: Ready to Depart

Final chance to review preparations before the hunt begins.

Total Investment: Up to 450 coins for full preparation

Stage 3: The Hunt

Location: The Deeps
Objective: Track and confront the Aether-Leviathan

The player descends into the Deeps, where the Aether is thick and visibility is poor. The Leviathan rises from the depths—fifty meters of muscle, bone, and primal fury.

Boss Fight Modifiers: - Has reinforced ship: +15 defense - Has Leviathan weapons: +20 attack - Knows Leviathan weakness: +15 accuracy - Has experienced crew: +50 HP

Choices: - Engage the Leviathan: Begin the boss fight - Attempt to flee (Endurance DC 28): Try to escape back to safe Aether

On Victory: - 23 XP - 600 Aether-Coins (bounty) - Aether-Heart (legendary crafting material) - +50 Sky-Guild reputation - +30 Outland Clans reputation - Legendary Hunter title - Deeps become accessible

On Defeat: The Leviathan destroys your ship. The Deep Terror continues its reign.

Strategic Considerations

Optimal Preparation

Full preparation (450 coins) provides: - +15 defense (ship) - +20 attack (weapons) - +15 accuracy (knowledge) - +50 HP (crew)

This makes the boss fight significantly easier and is recommended for most players.

Budget Approach

Minimum preparation is possible but extremely risky: - Focus on studying (free, provides accuracy bonus) - Skip ship and crew - Rely on skill and luck

Risk vs. Reward

The 600-coin bounty minus 450-coin preparation = 150-coin net profit, plus the invaluable Aether-Heart. The Aether-Heart is required for other quests (like The Lighthouse Keeper) and is worth far more than the monetary reward.

Connections to Other Content

Lore and World-Building

Aether-Leviathans

Massive void creatures that swim through Aether like fish through water. They are: - Apex predators of the deep Aether - Intelligent and capable of learning - Territorial and aggressive - Sustained by lightning and Aether energy - Nearly impenetrable hide except for soft tissue areas

The Deeps

A region of the Aetherium where Aether is thick, almost liquid. Visibility is poor, strange sounds echo, and reality distortions occur. It’s one of the most dangerous areas in the known Aetherium.

Economic Impact

The Leviathan’s reign has: - Closed vital trade routes - Caused food shortages in remote settlements - Driven up shipping costs - Forced merchants to take longer, more dangerous routes

Tips and Strategies

  1. Invest in preparation: The boss fight is much easier with full preparation
  2. Study the archives: The accuracy bonus is valuable and free (costs stamina)
  3. Bring healing items: The fight is long and you’ll take damage
  4. Save the Aether-Heart: Don’t sell it—it’s needed for The Lighthouse Keeper quest
  5. Consider your build: High Endurance and Strength make this quest easier

Achievements

Implementation Notes

File: data/vignettes/eos/deep_hunter.json
Quest ID: deep_hunter
Type: boss_quest
Stages: 9 (including preparation sub-stages)

Notable Features: - Complex preparation system with multiple investment choices - Boss fight with dynamic difficulty based on preparation - High-stakes combat with permanent death on failure - Valuable unique reward (Aether-Heart) - Multiple skill checks across different attributes

Last Updated: December 3, 2025