The Void Within plot is taking a hiatus! All plot point earning activities have been paused starting November 11th and are expected to resume in February 2025. Enjoy a break from the grind over the holidays! The plot will return with updates to the pacing, balancing of the activities, and bug fixes.
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Orion's Quest: Advent Calendar
2023
During the 2023 Advent Calendar, on specific days throughout the event, dialogue between Reina and Orion would pop up as part of an ongoing storyline leading up to 2024's The Void Within plot.
December 6th
Orion: Reina, please we must stop the Advent Calendar!
Reina: Hold up! Orion? What are you doing here?
Orion: I know we don't know each other well, but this is important! Something terrible is about to happen!
Reina: You aren't making any sense. Why do we need to stop the Advent Calendar?
Orion: There isn't any time, we need to prepare as soon as possible. I... I don't know how I am seeing these things but it can't be good!
Reina: Take a deep breath, Orion! Now please start over. I don't understand what you are talking about.
Orion: I'm sorry. A... a few days ago, I was consulting my cards as I walked when... a tender and resonant plucking came to me, and moments later I tripped over this Lyre in the snow! Since then I have had terrible visions. Visions that I fear will soon impact all of Neopia greatly!
Reina: Orion, you look like you haven't slept in days. I admire your determination, but I think you need to go home and get some rest.
Orion: Please Reina, you must promise me you'll stop the Advent Calendar. Now is not the time for fun and games, something horrible is coming to Neopia, something we must prepare for.
Reina: For your own sake, go get some sleep. You look unwell! If you are still worried, we can talk more about this later.
December 15th
Orion: Reina, what are you doing? You promised me you'd stop the Advent Calendar!
Reina: Orion, you're back? Did you get any sleep? You still look exhausted!
Orion: I... I tried, but the sound of the Lyre torments me every night, never allowing me a moment of silence... wait that isn't the point! This all needs to stop right away, you promised!
Reina: I didn't promise anything, Orion. I'm sorry for what you are going through, but Neopians rely on the Advent Calendar to bring them warmth and cheer during the most frigid time of year. I can't shut it all down over nightmares.
Orion: They aren't just nightmares!! They are premonitions! We all need to prepare! Please just listen to me!
Reina: Orion stop! The Advent Calendar simply means too much. I can't just shut it down without proof.
Orion: Fine, you want proof. I'll get you proof!
This dialogue began a series of visions as the daily advent animation, on December 26th, December 27th, December 28th, and December 29th.
December 26th
Orion: I have found you a way to show you my visions! The Lyre... it... if...
Reina: Orion, this has gone too far!
Orion: These may be the final days of the Advent Calendar, but I need to show Neopia the visions that keep tormenting me. I don't know why they are coming to me, but I know they are important... somehow.
Reina: You really are serious about this, aren't you?
Orion: Please Reina, this is the only thing I can think to do.
Reina: Okay... how can you show us?
Orion: The Lyre! I discovered that when I play it, those who hear it share in my visions. Before, they came to me choppy and distorted... but with this, I can see the visions clear as day. And I can share them with you all as well! Please just listen!
December 30th
Reina: That... that was...
Orion: I told you I'm not crazy!
Reina: We need to do something! We need to tell someone!
Queen Fyora: That someone is already here.
Orion: Queen Foyra! But how did you...
Queen Fyora: That instrument you found has been emitting an incredible amount of unknown magic. I've been investigating it for weeks and your prolonged playing led me right to its source.
Orion: Unknown magic?
Queen Fyora: Yes, you seem to have stumbled upon a powerful artefact imbued with magic even I am unfamiliar with. Yet another troubling development...
Reina: Does that mean the Lyre is dangerous? Should we even have played it?! What if-
Queen Fyora: Easy Reina. You were right to let Orion share his visions. It's too soon to tell what exactly this artefact is capable of, but playing it only seemed to clarify and project the visions Orion has been experiencing.
Reina: Phew! What a relief... and here I was worried I brought doom to Neopia after just my third time organising the Advent Calendar!
Queen Fyora: Nonsense! You handled the situation quite well. I have no doubt your grandmother will be proud to hear of the compassionate Aisha you've become.
Reina: Oh! I- um- well thank you Queen Fyora... That's too kind.
Queen Fyora: I owe you both an apology as well. I'm sorry it took me so long to find the source of this strange magic. It seems to have taken quite the toll on you already, Orion.
Orion: Yes, well, I suppose I have been better...
Queen Fyora: Come, you and I must discuss this all at once. After we find a way to get you some sleep that is!
2024
During the 2024 Advent Calendar, on specific days throughout the event, dialogue between Reina and Orion would pop up as part of an ongoing storyline building on 2024's The Void Within plot, which is on hiatus until 2025. The dialogue preceded relevant comics from that day.
December 5th
Orion: Hello, Reina. Thank you for allowing me to return. I have to admit, I was fairly certain you wouldn't.
Reina: Your letter explaining your reasonings was very compelling. Plus, Queen Fyora assured me that those visiting the Advent Calendar would be safe.
However, I did hear about your...episodes during the Faerie Festival, and I have some concerns regarding how exactly it is guaranteed not to happen again?
Orion: Yes...that was a difficult time.
Ever since the last Advent Calendar there has been a power growing inside this Lyre. A power that has controlled me in more ways than one.
But after Jhudora and Illusen cracked the Lyre I haven't felt a thing. Even during Halloween, not a single vision or nightmare.
Reina: But Neopians would have been spread out for Halloween, and you said you're affected more during times of large gatherings.
Orion: Well, it's not an exact science.
I can't guarantee nothing will happen, but Seshatia has a teleportation book ready if I, let's say, "get out of hand." If you use it, she'll come and teleport me far away to keep everyone safe.
Reina: So, if you're not actively seeking out large gatherings to trigger visions, then why are you here?
Orion: I am sort of here for that, but not in the way you are thinking. You see, after months of research, Seshatia and I finally found something, but there's an issue.
Reina: What sort of issue?
Orion: It would be easier to understand if I started from the beginning.
View the Comic »
Additionally, the fourth of the series of Musical Cylinders was awarded by the Advent Calendar.
December 5th Advent Calendar Prize
December 13th
Reina: So, did the place make you sing?
Orion: No, I suspect that detail was just the grain of truth in the myth surrounding this place.
But the rocks there did have musical properties...
View the Comic »
December 21st
Reina: So you did it? You actually found answers about the lyre?
Orion: I found something...
View the Comic »
December 28th
Reina: What do you mean too late?
Orion: Whatever was on this has corroded so much over the years that there isn't even a trace of what used to be there...
Reina: I'm sorry, Orion. I wish I could be of more help.
Orion: That's sort of why I'm here! I was hoping that maybe the Advent Calendar would hold enough energy or crowds or whatever it is that triggers this blasted thing that I would be able to get some sort of clue of what to do next.
But we're nearing the end now, and I haven't felt a thing this whole time... I think... I think I've failed.
Reina: I hate to ask because I know what trouble it's caused you in the past. But have you tried playing the lyre?
Orion: Once, but nothing happened. I think the crack has caused it to become weak or something.
But even if it did work, I can't risk hurting anyone again. Especially not here!
Reina: Maybe here is exactly where you need to be. If the lyre is too weak by itself now, maybe the energy it gets from here can help! You know, the power of a holiday miracle!
Orion: I can't risk that. I promised to keep you and the visitors safe!
Reina: I trust Sasahtia's [sic] magic. If anything too bad happens, I'll call her. If this could help Neopia, if it could give you answers, then it's worth a try!
There was also an additional quirk that the comic is not the same for everyone. There are four versions of the comic, randomly displayed to users, which show a different part of the tablet at the bottom:
Thanks to Neopets user caraotico, who compiled the four parts into a single image:
View the Comic »
Item prizes were also awarded based on how many Orion quests a player had previously completed:
December 28th Orion's Quest Advent Calendar Prizes
The Orions Prophecies trophy was awarded or upgraded in the Site Event Trophies section of your user lookup depending on how many previous Orion quests you participated in.
One Orion quest completed
Two Orion quests completed
Three Orion quests completed
Four Orion quests completed
December 29th
Orion: I'm sorry... I wasn't strong enough to get the whole thing to stay. I don't know what happened.
Reina: It's okay! There were pieces of it. Perhaps that is enough for us to make sense of it.
I don't know who saw what, but we should be able to come together and figure it out!
Orion: No! There has to be more to this. I have to try again. I have to-
*thunk*
Reina: Orion! Are you okay? Wake up, Orion!
Just hold on. I'm going to get you help!
Seshatia: Reina? What's going on?
Reina: I...I didn't know what to do! Orion won't wake up. I didn't think I should move him, so I used the book to bring you here. And-and this is my fault, I told him to do it. I shouldn't hav-
Seshatia: Just tell me exactly what happened.
*Reina explains everything that happened.*
Seshatia: You did the right thing by calling me here, Reina. I will take him back to the Queen.
Reina: What should I do?
Seshatia: You have done more than enough. It was unfair of us to interrupt your Advent Calendar again. I know Orion truly appreciated you letting him return. So please continue your Advent Calendar, and take good care of those who visit like you always do!
View the Comic »
December 31st
Queen Fyora: Dear Reina, are you doing alright?
Reina: I'm keeping spirits high.
Queen Fyora: I'm sure you are. But how are you?
Reina: ...I'm better than expected, but I'm worried about Orion.
Queen Fyora: Yes, that is why I am here. I wanted to thank you for how you cared for Orion once again. And give you an update on how he is fairing.
While still unconscious, he is physically fine as far as the doctors can tell.
Reina: Do they think he will wake up?
Queen Fyora: We're unsure. Neither magic nor medicine can find a reason why he won't wake.
He has, however, muttered in his sleep. Just a slight word over and over again.
"Mus...Mus...Mus" - It's like he's struggling to finish the word.
Reina: Could it be music?
Queen Fyora: That is our current theory... So we have started playing him music. All that we can get our hands on. But nothing, yet.
Reina: I'm sorry, Queen Fyora. I should have known better.
Queen Fyora: No, Reina. You have done everything right. For now, we will monitor Orion, and hopefully, what he has discovered will help...one day.
I know it is the last day of the Advent Calendar, but please take care and thank you again for everything.
View the Comic »
