The Neverending Journey

You have entered the Neverending Journey. A world of conflict, intrigue, powerful beings hidden in the shadows, and uncountable tasks and missions left unfinished.Your job is to maneuver this realm as you travel in a neverending journey.

As a newcomer, you are trusted simply because you have no other affiliations. Trusted to take up one of the riskiest yet important jobs in the realm: that of a courier.

Your task is to accept Courier Jobs as you travel the land and deliver whatever goods are provided to their predetermined destination or target individuals. However, beware that there are many who have their eyes on you and covet whatever you are transporting, not to mention those who seek to exploit your work.

Courier Jobs have varying difficulty ratings, and as you accept more and more difficult Courier Jobs, you can move on to more dangerous areas of the realm to complete jobs. In fact, as you complete jobs, your reputation will grow, making easier Courier Jobs no longer available while unlocking more and more difficult ones. Note that even if some Courier Jobs have identified difficulty ratings, the actual difficulty may vary, and every job may have unexpected twists.

Now, go forth as you maneuver the complex political climate of the realm. On your journey, watch out for those who wish to take what you are to deliver and those who wish you harm or to lead you astray. Trust is not to be given lightly, so stay forever vigilant.

Should you fail a Courier Job in any way, you will be teleported back to where you originally accepted the job. The Courier Job you accepted will no longer be available. Should you die, you will return back to where you originally accepted the most recent Courier Job. The Courier Job you died in the midst of will no longer be available. You have three total lives. Failing a Courier Job without dying will not consume a life.

Good luck, and may the road be smooth.

Objective: Complete Courier Jobs^[1]

Courier jobs are procured through the Guild Hall, a branch building available in every major city^[2]. Jake notes that the Guild has an "Adventure Guild vibe".^[3] With each visit to the guild, the courier is offered three potential jobs with the jobs ranking easy, medium, or hard, usually one option of each difficulty level. While out on a delivery, Couriers may also be offered option Side Jobs or Special Jobs.^[4]

At the Guild, the courier is issued a Courier Medallion which contains information on the courier's job and a ranking of the courier. The medallion automatically upgrades as Courier jobs are completed and the courier's reputation grows.^[3]

• Inferior- The lowest rarity of Courier medallion for a novice in the field.
• Common- The second lowest rarity of Courier medallion for a relative newcomer to the field who has begun to get some experience under his belt.
• Uncommon- A Courier medallion of respectable rarity for a relatively experienced Courier.
• Rare- A Courier medallion belonging to an experienced Courier who is beginning to build up quite the renown.
• Epic- A Courier medallion belonging to a highly experience Courier with a strong reputation.
• Ancient- A Courier medallion belonging to an extremely experienced Courier with an excellent reputation.
• Legendary- A Courier medallion belonging to a Legendary Courier, a title that has only been seen a few times through history and can only be given by the Founder himself.
• Mythical- A Courier rank that only you possess, granted to someone recognized by all in the land.

The Founder is a legendary adventurer who rose to power forty thousand years ago after single-handedly beating back the dragon tribes, even slaying the Dragon King in the process. He served as the human supreme General during the war against the Monster races and is one of only five known S-grades on the entire planet.^[3]

The Founder intended for the Courier's Guild to be a neutral party and is angered by the various factions using his service for their nefarious means and their attempts to suborn his couriers. When he attempts to read Jake's karmic connections, he notes that had Jake shown a karmic connection to one of the quarreling factions, he would have been stripped of his courier title, his medallion, and possibly his life (which would have required Jake to start over from the beginning of the Challenge Dungeon).^[5]

The Silenced Order- Slaves who've had their ability to speak or even properly communicate entirely sealed away. Primarily used by those who want to accomplish a task without it being traceable. It is rare to see a Silenced as the process ruins their Path and progress all but stops.^[6]

Dukedom of Flames- Led by the Duke, the family patriarch and a mid-A-grade, whose family Path includes consuming elementals^[7]. The Duke is running illegal drugs and weapons and colluding with an enemy country to fund his Path. He aims to replace the Lord Protector as the most powerful person in the kingdom and there are talks of naming him Grand Duke^[8]. There are many who don't want to see this happen.

Dukedom of Blades- A dukedom working with PETE to undermine the Dukedom of Flames.

Elemental Rights Group - An unnamed group Jake dubs People for the Ethical Treatment of Elementals (PETE), they seek complete freedom for elementals and to extinguish and familial lineage that has a Path based on consuming or using elementals in a detrimental manner.^[7] The Duke of Flame's daughter is working with this group. The founder of PETE is ultimately revealed to be from the Phoenix Wing Empire.^[9]

The King and the Lord Protector- The King is, of course, the leader of the Human Kingdom. The Lord Protector, an A-grade space mage^[9], protects his Sovereign and the sovereign lands. He also served as Colonel in the war against the Monster races.^[10] When the plotting of the nobility is revealed, the King is wholly determined to sweep it under the rug until the Founder steps in. By the rules of "Might makes right", the King rules at the pleasure of the Founder.

Allies who helped the Founder during the original war against the Monster races.

The Phoenix Queen- Reportedly dating the Nine Seals Demon. Initially misleads Jake about knowing where to find the Nine Seals Demon.

The Blademaster - Secluded in isolation training, living with his wife in the Elven Kingdom. Agreed to join the fight against the returned Dragon Tribe

The Nine Seals Demon- Reportedly dating the Phoenix Queen. Chose to back the Dragon Tribe in the renewed conflict.

The Phoenix Empress- Ruler of the Phoenix Wing Empire

The Dragon Tribe- The tribe that led the Monster factions in the war against the Enlightened races. After the death of the Dragon King at the hands of the Founder, the dragon tribe fled, but eventually returned led by the Dragon Queen, four S-grade dragons, including the Dragon Prince, hundreds of A-grades, over ten thousand B-grade True Dragons, and innumerable C-grade dragon spawn, wyverns, and dragonkin.

The Forsaken Dragonkin- Exiled son of the fallen Dragon King who agrees to help the human kingdom in exchange for tips about how to reach godhood. He is the only character who is able to tell that Jake is much stronger and more cunning than a regular Courier should be.

• Both Jake and Miyamoto worked as couriers in their youth.^[1]
• The Shroud of Primordial effectively breaks the Challenge Dungeon as it keeps the dungeon characters from being able to track or locate Jake or tell what factions, if any, he might favor.^[12]