Perpetua 30: A Picture of the Hills 03

Though the office of the Shining Star stands on the second of Spillaway Peaks' three tiers, on a clear night, its rooftop beacon can be seen from miles away. This, Thelonious, the newspaper's editor-in-chief says, is a recruitment strategy. Those who see the light and travel through the wilderness towards it tend to be inquisitive and adventurous enough to make good freelance reporters. And though they followed the Shining Star's reputation before its shining light, couldn't the same be said of the crew of the Little Snail?

This week on Perpetua: A Picture of the Hills 03

Perpetua Guide [In Progress v.058] Side Quests[SDQS] Spillaway Peaks [SPSQ]

Escort the Waylon the Photographer - 300 Asta

Description: It's time for Old Waylon to take the yearly photo of the town. Guard him on his journey up the mountains to the best angle.

Definitely take this quest before leaving town. You're gonna be going up that way to do other side quests anyway, and while Waylon isn't worth a damn in a fight, he also doesn't actually cause you too much trouble as long as you keep up with him!

Terrapin Interest Story - 25 to 425 Asta

Description: The Shining Star is paying for feature stories about the people of Spillaway Peaks. Brainstorm an idea, interview your subjects, write your article, and supplement it with art!

This one is a pain in the butt and it seems really random how much you make from it. Basically, you pick from easy to difficult in each phase of the quest (topic, interview, etc.) and depending on how you do, you get more money. Each of the topics also requires you to go to different places, so like if you do a story on the school play, you have to go to the Clutch area to interview parents and children, where as if you do a story on the port's guards, you need to go down to the water to talk to them. I guess if you really need the Asta, go for it.

Investigate the Livestock Deaths - 400 Asta

Description: Beula's Giant Oxen have been getting sick, and some have even been dying! This is a problem, since it's almost time to dredge up new Rice Paddies.

Though this looks like a side quest, it's basically mandatory. Unless you were inducted into the Luminaries by Commodore Onyx before leaving Calstega Bay, when you meet with Thelonious, he'll basically put you on a path to do this quest. As such, go read the main Calstega Bay quest section of the FAQ to learn more about this one.

Kill 17 Frostoads - 100 Asta

Description: N/A

I honestly don't understand why this one is even on this side quest board. Isn't it supposed to be a newspaper? Why would they pay you to kill random toads? There's not even a description on it!

Paper Delivery - 20 Asta

Description: Deliver the Shining Star to all 15 of its readers.

Okay, so, you have to go from the Shining Star to 15 different NPCs spread all across the town. And with a 20 Asta reward, it sounds like a really boring fetch quest that just wastes your time right? Well. I guess I won't say it isn't a time waster. But the important thing is that you can do this once per every Rest action. And because you can stay for free in Jonathan's family's house… that's right. It seems like you can just grind money here indefinitely. I say "seems" because I haven't tested it yet, and there is a chance that just resting repeatedly and not advancing the main plot could have consequences, like it did in Shine-Divine War Armidirge. So be careful, but let me know what happens if you do try to get infinite money here!

Hosted by Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social)

Featuring Ali Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Art Martinez-Tebbel (amtebbel.bsky.social), Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social), and Andrew Lee Swan (swandre3000.bsky.social)

Produced by Ali Acampora

Music by Jack de Quidt (available on bandcamp)

Cover Art by Ben McEntee (https://linktr.ee/benmce.art)

With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint

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