Dragons and Treasure:
In the tales of old, dragons have often been seen as guardians of vast treasure hoards, fiercely protective of their riches and wary of any who dare approach. This makes them kindred spirits with pirates, who share a relentless pursuit of gold and glory. In the Sea of Thieves, such a connection could spark a new adventure, pitting the daring spirit of piracy against the raw might and mystery of dragonkind.
Introducing the Arcane Towers and the Faction of the Skyward Sages:
An ancient order, known as the Skyward Sages, has returned to the Sea of Thieves, bringing magic and mysticism back to the waves. They’ve established two towering Wizard Towers, one in each corner of the map, between which they navigate with enchanted hot air balloons. These balloon ships, though slow, are imbued with the power of the wind and the arcane, allowing pirates to travel across the sky and catch rare glimpses of hidden treasures, floating islands, and elusive creatures.
The journey between the towers isn’t without peril. On the way, pirates must fend off sea gulls flocking in dense, aggressive groups. And for the bold, there lies the ultimate challenge: battling dragons in the open skies. Armed with sage-forged weapons – specialized cannons and ballistae capable of piercing dragon scales – pirates can engage in epic aerial skirmishes. Successfully fending off a dragon rewards players with legendary loot, rare bones, and scales imbued with magical properties.
Each Wizard Tower houses a resident Sage, an NPC who offers special enchantments, from transforming ordinary cannonballs into cursed projectiles to granting temporary buffs for dragon encounters. The Skyward Sages also hold a mysterious storyline, unfolding across several quests that delve into their lost lore, uncovering why they returned to these shores and the truth behind their uneasy truce with the dragons.
Quests, Commendations, and Achievements:
The Skyward Sage’s Legacy offers pirates 20 unique commendations and 15 achievements, from defeating a dragon to completing all tower-to-tower balloon routes. There are rewards to earn, like dragon-themed figureheads, enchanted sails, and the coveted "Dragonslayer" title.
"Quests in the Skyward Sages' Legacy"
"The Calling of the Sages"
Objective: Speak to the Sage at the Wizard Tower to initiate the questline. This Sage introduces the player to the Skyward Sages and tasks them with gathering magical artifacts from across the Sea of Thieves.
Requirements: Collect 3 mystical artifacts scattered across three different islands. These artifacts are guarded by enchanted skeletons and must be retrieved to begin the next step of your journey with the Skyward Sages.
Reward: Skyward Medallion, a special emblem that grants players access to Sage missions and enchanted cannonballs at the Wizard Tower.
"Flight of the Sky Serpent"
Dragon Combat Quest
Objective: Use the balloon ship to travel between the Wizard Towers and face a dragon lurking in the skies.
Requirements: Engage in combat with the dragon using sage-forged weapons like enchanted ballistae. The dragon fight takes multiple stages as players weaken it gradually, with the dragon retreating but returning stronger each time.
Reward: Dragon Scale Trinket, which enhances loot from defeated sky creatures for 24 hours.
"The Winds of Knowledge"
Lore Exploration Quest
Objective: Recover ancient scrolls containing the history of the Skyward Sages and their pact with the dragons.
Requirements: Search ancient ruins and shipwrecks scattered around the map to find scrolls hidden within. Players must bring these scrolls to the Wizard Towers to decipher hidden lore and secrets.
Reward: "Lorekeeper" Title and access to exclusive faction cosmetics.
"Gull Hunting Grounds"
Combat and Survival Quest
Objective: During a balloon journey, fend off attacking seagulls in one of the Skyward Sage’s most dangerous routes.
Requirements: Kill a certain number of gulls before they damage the balloon beyond repair. The quest also introduces enchanted seagulls that are particularly deadly but drop rare feathers that can be traded for rewards.
Reward: Skyward Feather, which can be traded for unique sage attire or used as an ingredient in creating cursed cannonballs.
"Shards of the Sky"
Multi-Part Exploration and Treasure Hunt
Objective: Find fragments of a legendary gemstone said to control the power of the wind.
Requirements: The shards are scattered in high-risk locations, such as hidden caves and perilous cliffs. Completing this quest requires the player to decipher cryptic hints that lead them across the map to gather all the shards.
Reward: Once all shards are collected and returned to the Wizard Tower, the player receives the “Stormbringer Amulet,” allowing for limited wind control for increased ship speed in storms.
Commendations for the Skyward Sages
"Skyward Initiate" – Complete "The Calling of the Sages."
"Dragon Bait" – Engage in combat with a dragon at least three times without being defeated.
"Seagull Slicer" – Defeat 50 gulls during a balloon journey.
"Lorekeeper of the Sages" – Collect all ancient scrolls and complete “The Winds of Knowledge.”
"Wielder of Scales" – Defeat a dragon in single combat using only sage weapons.
"Shard Hunter" – Collect all gemstone shards in “Shards of the Sky.”
"Skyfire Mastery" – Light all three Wizard Towers with enchanted flames found across the islands.
"Dragon’s Wrath" – Defeat a dragon in under five minutes during “Flight of the Sky Serpent.”
"Sky Nomad" – Complete 10 balloon journeys without any damage to the balloon ship.
"Collector of Cursed Cannons" – Purchase every type of cursed cannonball available from the Sage NPCs.
Achievements for the Skyward Sages
"Ascendant of the Skyward Sages" – Complete all quests from the Skyward Sages’ Legacy.
"Dragonslayer’s Honor" – Earn the “Dragonslayer” title by defeating a dragon solo.
"Seeker of the Shard" – Find every gemstone shard in one playthrough.
"Keeper of the Wind" – Use the Stormbringer Amulet to cross the map during a storm in under 15 minutes.
"Sage’s Apprentice" – Fully upgrade all Sage weapon types.
"Enchanter of the Sky" – Use 100 enchanted cannonballs from the Wizard Towers.
"Ancient Sky Lore" – Decode all lore found in “The Winds of Knowledge.”
"The Fearless Voyager" – Travel between Wizard Towers 20 times without damage.
"Master of Mystical Feathers" – Trade 50 enchanted feathers to the Skyward Sage NPC.
"Dragonhearted" – Survive a fight with two dragons in the same journey.
Unique Features of the Skyward Sages Faction
Balloon Ship – This special ship has limited defenses, requiring careful planning to protect it from gulls and dragons alike. Players can load regular cannonballs as well as sage weapons for battles in the sky.
Sage Weapons – Weapons exclusive to the faction that are specifically crafted to counter dragons and other sky creatures, with elemental and cursed cannonball enhancements.
Wizard Tower Enchantments – Each Wizard Tower provides a unique service, such as upgrades to ship defenses, enhancing cannonballs with curse effects, or granting players temporary immunity to dragon fire.
The Skyward Sages faction could bring high-stakes, fantastical elements to Sea of Thieves, giving pirates a reason to venture into the skies while expanding lore through a fresh, magical storyline with legendary rewards to collect and master.
