Altador Plot
The Altador Plot is a plot centred around the city of Altador. It began on 28 March 2006, with plot steps being released over time until 2 June, when it could first be completed. Unlike other plots, it remains open to this day, and players who have not yet started or completed it can still do so. There is no accompanying plot comic or story for the player to read - in the context of the plot, the player themselves are the hero and the story unfolds as they solve puzzles.
The plot opens following the events of the PlayStation 2 game Neopets: The Darkest Faerie: Altador has been rediscovered and The Darkest Faerie defeated, however as the player explores the city they discover that all records - and memories - of Altador's history have been magically erased.
Synopsis
As the player explores Altador for the first time, they find the Book of Ages in the Altadorian Archives, blank except for a prologue, and an observatory at the top of the Hall of Heroes. They join the Astronomy Club, and, guided by mysterious clues that start appearing around the city, begin to identify constellations in the sky representing the founders of the city.
As more constellations are found, more chapters of the Book of Ages appear. Finneus the Lenny archivist identifies two magic spells at work in the city - although neither appear to be the work of The Darkest Faerie, nor particularly hostile. He hopes the mystery will solve itself as the player continues to identify constellations. During the course of this quest, the player finds Jerdana's Orb. When they are all discovered, and the Book of Ages complete, Finneus and the player note a drawing at the end of the book of The Darkest Faerie with flames in her hand like her statue in the Hall of Heroes.
Finneus suggests they can use a spell to animate the flames on the statue, and after searching the archives, the correct spell is eventually discovered. The player then places Jerdana's Orb on the statue, and it explodes. The history obscuring spell is lifted, and Jerdana herself returns to the Hall and explains she cast the spell to prevent The Darkest Faerie from rewriting the history of Altador with herself as the sole founder. The second spell was used to provide hints to an adventurer like the player, so that after the danger was over the spell could be removed.
Plot summary
The plot began with a dark Hall of Heroes, a mostly empty Book of Ages, and an Altador with no memory of its own history. The gears to open the hall's ceiling and let in the light had seized shut, but with some oil the participant managed to set them working again. The participant discovered a staircase leading up to an observatory, and an astronomy club opened shortly after. Equipped with a telescope from the club, the night sky was open for observation.
A few days later, clues started to appear in parts of Altador, clues that showed a configuration of points, which conformed to the heavens. The participant searched the night sky for the constellations each clue pointed to, and after each one was identified, and Altador's history begins to return, piece by piece, as a chapter in the Book of Ages. There were total of 12 constellations, one for each of the founders of Altador.
Soon after, the Astronomy Club set up shop in the Archives, and using a telescope, participants were able to map the stars from the top of the Hall of Heroes. Exploring the city further led users to the Restive Tomb, where strange lines appeared to indicate the layout of a constellation - the Sleeper. Upon discovering this constellation, Finneus got an odd feeling that it was somehow important, and discovered that more information regarding the Darkest Faerie had appeared in the Book of Ages. He urged adventurers on to discover more constellations, in the hope of learning more.
Another clue was soon found in the cloud formations above Altador. This led to the discovery of the Dreamer constellation, and a chapter in the Book of Ages about Psellia. Not long after, another clue was found in the courtyard of the Hall of Heroes, revealing the First to Rise constellation, and Siyana, whom it represented. Meanwhile, Finneus discovered that every single history book was missing from the Archives.
On Follies Farm, just outside of the city walls, a clue to the Farmer constellation, and the guardian named Florin was revealed. Soon after, the Dance Club opened up in the Archives, run by an angry Quiggle who, through different costumes, appeared to run every other club but the Astronomy Club. Hidden in the disco ball in the Dance Club was the clue to the Dancer constellation, and Sasha, whom it represented. Finneus meanwhile discovered that it wasn't only the Archives that were affected - not a single history book could be found in all of Altador, and no one could remember any history either.
At the Altador docks, the arrangement of the waves provided a clue to the Wave constellation, and the guardian named Marak. Adventurers soon discovered the top secret Punch Club at the Altador Colosseum. On a goblet at the Punch Club meeting, a clue revealed the Gladiator constellation, and its council member, Torakor. Meanwhile, the members of the Astronomy Club became increasingly annoyed at their grumpy leader, and Finneus discovered that whatever magic had stolen the history of Altador belonged to one of the remaining 11 Heroes.
In the Altador shops, a clue leading to the Collector constellation, and Gordos was found. Soon after, the Conundrum Lenny appeared at the Archives, hoping to surprize his uncle, Finneus, for his birthday. He hoped to decorate the Archivist's favourite Meepit plushie. Upon recovering it for him however, the Conundrum Wizard ripped it in half, revealing a dagger within - itself a clue to the Thief constellation, and the hero, Kelland.
Soon after, a hurt Vaeolus appeared in Altador, and Finneus agreed to help care for it. Soon after the Petpet recovered, a Petpet Protection League representative arrived to present adventurers with a certificate which held the clue to the Gatherer constellation, and the hero named Fauna. Meanwhile, Finneus discovered a book of spells in the Archives that seemed to detail similar magic to that effecting the city - a book donated by Jerdana. Adventuring outside the city led visitors to a hollow section of the wall guarded by a ghost Minitheus, which refused to let people past. Immediately after, the Water Distribution Plant suffered a malfunction, and the race was on to fix it before the city flooded completely.
As Altador was successfully protected, the ghost Minitheus decided to let people pass, providing access to a mysterious necklace - a clue to the Protector constellation, and its representative, Jerdana. Soon after, the members of the Astronomy club launched a coup against their leader, revealing him to actually be Old Man Withers, the Quiggle who ran the other clubs.
The final clue was revealed in the Hall of Heroes itself, leading to the discovery of the Hunter constellation, and its hero, King Altador.
With all of the constellations found, Finneus suggested locating a spell book in the Archives, which turned the fire on the statue of the Darkest Faerie into real fire. Quick thinking adventurers placed the necklace over the statue, and it promptly exploded.
It appeared that the spell had finally been broken, and the memories of the Altadorians returned. It turned out that Jerdana had cast the memory removing spell to protect the people of Altador. The Darkest Faerie had planned to change their memories, to remember her as the rightful ruler of the city. Jerdana succeeded in pre-empting the spell, but of course in doing so removed her knowledge of ever casting the spell in the first place. With Altador finally restored, the city looked forward to a bright new future.
Book of Ages
Prologue
Long ago, before the building of our great city, twelve heroes arose. Each was famous for different deeds of varying natures. The greatest of these heroes is the one whom we now know as King Altador. He, with the aid of the other heroes, founded our illustrious city by the sea.
Before the Great Betrayal, the kingdom of Altador was one of the most glorious places in all Neopia. It was a centre of culture and greatly admired for its dignified citizens. Those blessed times were nearly lost when one of our own, who once called herself an ally and friend to the heroes, turned her heart to darkness and attempted to destroy the city. Only by Jerdana's magic were we saved, though our future remains uncertain.
Within this tome you will find the recorded history of the twelve heroes and how they came to form the Kingdom of Altador. Protect this knowledge well, for it may be all that is left if Jerdana's magic fails and the betrayer succeeds....
Chapter 1, The Sleeper
See The Darkest Faerie
Chapter 2, The Dreamer
See Psellia
Chapter 3, The First to Rise
See Siyana
The Book of AgesChapter 4, The Farmer
See Florin
Chapter 5, The Dancer
See Sasha
Chapter 6, The Wave
See Marak
Chapter 7, The Gladiator
See Torakor
Chapter 8, The Collector
See Gordos
Chapter 9, The Thief
See Kelland
Chapter 10, The Gatherer
See Fauna
Chapter 11, The Protector
See Jerdana
Chapter 12, The Hunter
See King Altador
Epilogue - The Veiled Past
The early years flew by for King Altador and his council, as the city began to take form. For hundreds of miles, Neopians from all over the countryside flocked to the budding city. Its twelve heroic rulers pledged that, together, they would form the greatest and most noble city to ever grace Neopia's landscape. Even King Altador himself, when he wasn't holding court, would help place stones and build walls side by side with the his subjects.
These building sessions would often last late into the night, until the builders' torches had burned themselves out. The one who would one day come to be known as the Betrayer wished to use her magical powers to speed the process, but Altador simply shook his head each time she suggested it. "One appreciates a home far more when it is he who places its stones."
The truth of his words was bourne out by the immaculate care that Altador's inhabitants took of the city when it was finally completed. No one threw trash to the ground, or marked upon a wall, as that would only serve to dishonour and defile what they had strived so hard to create.
Word spread of the magnificent city, and soon caravans began to arrive, bringing goods to be bartered for the amazing crops and fine products that the kingdom had started to produce. Within a few short years, the kingdom of Altador became known as a center of culture and enlightenment. Here, everyone could live out their lives in comfort and dignity.
To insure that the glorious city survived the ages, Siyana, the First to Rise, blessed its mortal heroes with the gift of great longevity. Decades came and went, and Altador remained a shining beacon to those who wished for just rulers.
Seeing that the kingdom was the envy of all others, the Betrayer suggested to Altador that Torakor and his soldiers be sent forth to unite all the other kingdoms under the Lupe's fair rule. Once again, Altador kindly denied her proposal. "Our army is a defensive one, not offensive. If I ordered Torakor to use the army to intimidate others into joining our kingdom, even if I thought that it would eventually be for their own good, I would be no better than the leader that Torakor once wisely stood against."
Although the Betrayer hated having her ideas declined, she could only admit that Altador's wisdom was once again correct. Some feel that events such as these sowed the seeds for her future betrayal. In the meantime, however, the kingdom of Altador continued to prosper, until that fateful day....
Prizes
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Prizes were released on September 16, 2006, 3 months after the plot could be fully completed. Users visit King Altador in the council chambers, who rewards the user with...
- The Altadorian Constellations Sidebar (not to be confused with the Altador Cup sidebar)
- 5,000 Neopoints
- Royal Astronomer Trophy
- Club President Super Plushie
- The Way Windmills Work
- Hall of Heroes Play Set
- Set of Four Commemorative Punch Club Pie Plates
After collecting these prizes, the user can return the next day and receive a prize from King Altador, similar to a Daily. On the chat boards, many Neopians have expressed diasppointment with the meager prizes.
The Editorial of the Neopian Times issue 253 stated users would be "mini-rewarded for [their] mini-efforts on the mini-plot", implying the prizes may not be as grand as previous plots. The same editorial states the plot was intended to run long so many users could participate. It's unknown how long the prizes will be given out and how long users will be able to complete the Altador Plot to receive prizes.
Trivia
- On May 27, 2006, The Neopets Team declared on the news page the Altador Plot was over, and congratulated all those who found all constellations, and hoped everyone enjoyed their prizes. Two paragraphs down though, they claimed it was a joke, and they were still working on the next part, hopefully to be released next week.
- Finneus, the Lenny Archivist, is the uncle of the Conundrum Lenny.
External links
- Altador, Hall of Heroes, Altadorian Archives, Council Chamber
- Neopets TCG: The Dancer, The Darkest Faerie, The First to Rise, The Gatherer, The Hunter, King Altador, The Protector, The Thief, Altador, The Collector, The Farmer, Florin, The Sleeper, Treasurer Gordos, The Dreamer, Fauna, The Gladiator, The Wave
- Editorial: 232, 233, 236, 239, 241, 242, 243, 253, 257, 261, 264, 267, 292, 302, 309, 332, 336, 342, 454