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

I am also thankful for my dogs! While they can be a pain in the neck sometimes.. they bring me so much joy and make me smile atleast 3 times a day. 

For Jaya being willing to lend me so many of her spare upgrades! She's so sweet! It makes my training every week take so much less time! I may be a bit of a hoarder 🤔

I am thankful to my HP mod squad - because y'all are some of the best friends! 

My husbands job! Without this one, id have to go back to work. Its too covid-y out there!

I am thankful that my job allowed me to work from home during our 2 moves and during the pandemic! 

I am thankful that I was able to move into a safe home - while it's had it's challenges due to all of the maintenance and renovations we've had to do, it's a safe neighborhood and a nice house! So, I'm thankful to live somewhere that has been a safe space 

And Lakra! She was willing to lend me a couple upgrades as well

I am thankful for books - I know this sounds silly, but they provide an escape after stressful work days. 

I am thankful for Calastia. Being able vent about life, kids, relationships, anything, anytime, has been so helpful. You are such a sweetheart, and I am so glad that you are in my life!

I am thankful for my mom. She died when I was a kid, so I had way less time with her in my life than I should have, but she taught me so much and her love is always a part of my life.

I am thankful for my house. I had to live with my dad for awhile to help save up, and, uh, let's just say that it makes me appreciate having my own place even more. I love my house and my yard, and having my own space so much.

I am thankful for all of the artists here on HP - you brighten up the game! 

I am thankful for my pantry full of food.

I am thankful for books, and teaching my kids the joy that comes with reading.

I am thankful to Mango - for continually adding to HP with codes, creativity, activities, and fun!