Be sure to read the previous chapters!
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII

The night is dark and still.

The endless expanse of space stretches far and wide beyond the deck of your ship. A sea of stars washes around the fleet, swathes of flickering light amidst an eternal night so deep and cold. The silence of the void has pressed through the shields, blanketing the ship and its crew. As you sit on the prow, eyes sightlessly peering through the shadows ahead, you know this same stillness has overcome the entirety of the fleet.

Everything is set. All the preparations made, the new mechanics tested as thoroughly as possible. The jump coordinates have been entered; all that remains is the signal from the Sleipnir.

The massive command ship sits quiet in the midst of the fleet.

For now, in these precious moments before launching into the unknown, it is the time for peace and reflection. Now is the time to pause and consider your life, your choices, your path. To determine the depths of your resolve, to make the choice of whether or not to continue. Each soul aboard must look inside themselves and pursue the calling of their own path.

Ahead lies the ultimate uncertainty - a nigh impossible journey through the unexplored dangers of a black hole. What awaits you, you could never begin to guess. Even the Snake Clan Vikings have no idea what awaits on the other side, if it exists, or what the journey entails.

And so each of you sits in silence, lost in the seas of your mind.

The risk is great, but the reward… is Valhalla.

Welcome back to Chapter VIII of the Epic Quest - Valhalla!

Here’s how the Epic Quest works: I will host an activity each month that plays into the story being told. You’ll earn small prizes for each activity you complete - like points, HPD, or cash shop items. You’ll also earn XP points, and the player with the most XP points at the end of the year - December 2021 - will win the grand prize:
1. This fully coded layout (currently a WIP) and
2. Matching animal CSS and
3. A 1-year upgrade!

Participate in the Epic Quest activity every month of the year, and you’ll earn a special prize:
1. An official HP achievement and
2. A store pair with 100k points.

If you haven't joined yet but would like to, check out Chapter I to figure out how to create your Viking! You need to message me with a clan, a specialty, and a name - then you can join one of the crews below!

If you have any questions about the quest, prizes, or how it works, don’t hesitate to message me!

CONTEMPLATION

Before you begin your journey into the unknown, you must take the time to settle your thoughts and motives, to make peace with the path you’ve chosen to walk. This is something that can only be done alone - there will be no collective crew rewards for this Chapter.

Your task? Reply to this forum thread with something you are thankful for, something that makes you happy, something that brings you contentment. You can reply in character or as yourself, and you can reply up to 10 times a day.

Each reply will earn you 1 XP point.

The catch is that you cannot double post - you must wait until another Viking has posted their contemplative thought before posting another of yours. Also, you cannot post the same thing twice.

You may post your thoughts until 11:59 pm HP time on Sunday, Nov. 28th.

REMINISCENCE

Message me up to two choices you’ve made or events that have happened to you that were very important to you. Make sure these are HP appropriate events/choices that you are ok with other HPers knowing about. 

You can choose events that happened here on HP or in real life. You can also choose to make up these choices or events as things that have happened to your character, rather than real things that happened to you.

For each event/choice you message me, you will earn 5 XP points.

You have until 11:59 pm HP time on Sunday, Nov. 28th to message me.

PRIZES:
Each contemplative reply to this forum thread - 1 XP point.
Each event/choice messaged to me - 5 XP points.
BONUS: Message me the HP animal you are proudest of training for 10k points (that can go on any animal you want, not limited to the one you send me).

FIND YOUR CALM BEFORE THE STORM, VIKINGS

THE FLEET

THE SLEIPNIR - Command Ship

THE MAGNHILD
Signe, Deer Clan Loremaster - 211 XP
Asa Käredottir, Bear Clan Naturalist - 101 XP
Solfrid, Deer Clan Navigator - 101 XP
Tove, Raven Clan Infiltrator - 94 XP
Dahlia, Raven Clan Diplomat - 17 XP

THE SESSRÚMNIR
Astrid, Bear Clan Diplomat - 217 XP 
Ianthe, Raven Clan Warrior - 137 XP
Skadi, Snake Clan Loremaster - 109 XP
Hillevi, Horse Clan Navigator - 32 XP
Asti, Deer Clan Diplomat - 16 XP
Sigrid, Dragon Clan Naturalist - 14 XP
Starkad, Snake Clan Infiltrator - 5 XP

THE ALPTR SHIP
Luta Asbrandottir, Snake Clan Naturalist - 21 XP
Ottkatla, Deer Clan Naturalist - 12 XP
Kari, Snake Clan Infiltrator - 11 XP
Thorgil, Horse Clan Diplomat - 10 XP
Saeg, Raven Clan Warrior - 9 XP

Being able to cross play video games. Seems pretty basic but it's one of the only ways I get to spend time with my nephews as of late. A large part of my family (myself included) ended up getting covid one after the other, a big chain reaction. Some are still recovering so seeing each other in person is an obvious no-go. My nephews are my besties, and being able to do things with them, that we all like doing, besides just the regular video call is a blessing.

Something that brings me contentment is listening to the little snores my cats make when they're passed out somewhere in the room with me.

I enjoy the time that I spend with my HP family, it brings me so much joy, and I am grateful to now be on staff 💓

Rosa is awesome, Rosa is fine, Rosa didn't write this...

I bought my husband an anti-snoring device ... let me tell you how thankful I am for this thing. Just a little piece of plastic in his noise, and now he is dead-silent all night long. I CAN SLEEP! I love this little thing. (and my husband. I mean.)

I am thankful for my kids.

I am thankful for my kids, too. Every day they bring a smile to my face. It's not always the easiest, but every day we wake up and we try again and we love each other. Can't ask for more than that!

My husband! He Is the calm in the storm that my mother creates.

I am thankful for Luna, she is my absolute love 💓

Rosa is awesome, Rosa is fine, Rosa didn't write this...

I am thankful for Luna, she is my absolute love 💓

Rosa is awesome, Rosa is fine, Rosa didn't write this...

I'm thankful that my oldest kitty is responding to his medication for kidney disease. Two weeks ago he wasn't eating/drinking. Now he's acting normal again, and I am so relieved.

My health. My family has had some bad colds these past few months, but nothing more than that, and I am so grateful!

My horse!

I'm thankful for my son's preschool. The teachers are so kind and understanding. My oldest isn't always the easiest, he's had a lot of challenges in life. But they are always willing to work with him, and help him learn and grow.

I am thankful for my partner who is always there for me even though somedays I am an utter nightmare!

Rosa is awesome, Rosa is fine, Rosa didn't write this...

My in-laws! Because my biological family is a mess! And very stressful to deal with! Thankfully my husband's parents are much easier and nicer to deal with and strong Christians! And my mother wonders why I spend "more" time with them than her.

I am thankful for my wife because every single day she shows me that I am loved and I am grateful for that! 

I am thankful for Sat and all the support she gives me :)

Rosa is awesome, Rosa is fine, Rosa didn't write this...

My health. When i was a preschool teacher, i feel like I was sick all the time nd then in return getting my husband and son sick all the time since I brought it home. But since I started being a stay home mom, I'm like never sick.

Aww City! That's so sweet! I am thankful for you being a wonderful friend!