Chimera Banquet

"Champions, set aside your feuds and join me, Hervis Daubeny, against the Order of Horkos. Right Holden!?"

"The Chimera Alliance welcomes you all. But first, you shall prove your worth to me! Once you are in, you take an oath: you swear to stand united, unwavering; you swear to fight with honour, not hatred; you swear to emerge victorious!"

"That is how it is done... you see."

The Chimera Alliance have started their own grand celebration with the Chimera Banquet, spearheaded by none of than the great Hervis Daubeny. Everyone is invited to this event orchestrated by the special Warden, which will span over three weeks as you partake in Daubeny's special arena as a herald in Chimera's variation of the Carousel of Death: the Heralds of Chimera. Each side will have a designated Herald who will have more health and access to feats each round, and the first to kill the Herald wins the round.

The feast of this Chimera celebration will come to a close on May 13th, so enjoy what you can before then and loot what rewards you can before Daubeny finally chooses who will be his Third at the end of the event!

Overview[]

"Greetings, warriors! Some of you may not believe your own eyes, but I can assure you that it is I, the one and only Hervis Daubeny! On this blissful day, I have decided to show myself."

"I am creating a new role in the Daubeny Organization. I need a trustworthy and selfless soul to act as my Third! Should the Noble Warden take a sick day or a well deserved PTO, my Third shall serve me in their stead!"

"I have a few candidates in mind, but would any of you be interested in becoming my loyal Third?"

Daubeny has returned, and he invites you to the Chimera Banquet! Participate in a special game mode called Heralds of Chimera to prove your worth to Daubeny, and the Chimera Alliance. Daubney recognizes that his Second might not always be available, so he has chosen to hold this celebration to see who is worthy of being his Third.

What are you waiting for? Prove yourself at the Chimera Banquet. Prove yourself to Daubeny and the Chimera Alliance. Become a Herald of the Chimera!

Heralds of Chimera[]

"A single-pick 4v4 match in an arena! A hero in each team will be randomly selected as the 'Herald.'"

"Heralds have mroe HP and are the only ones who can unlock their Feats by defeating opponents. Defeat the enemy's Herald to win the round."

The Carousel makes another return, under the special rules of Lord Daubeny. Two teams will be pitted against each other, but instead of needing to make sure all members of the enemy team is down for the count, each team will have to protect a member each round who is designated as the "Herald." The Herald will have heightened health and access to feats, but their death will grant victory to the opposing team. Protect your Herald as you try to smite the opposing team's Herald so that Daubeny may crown your team the victor.

Heralds of Chimera is a modified version of the ever popular Carousel of Death, being the most distinct modification of the gamemode yet. A best-of-7 rounds 4v4 PVP game mode played on the grounds of Daubeny's Arena, where two teams of four Heroes will fight to the death. Respawn timers start at 5 seconds long, but become 5 seconds longer with every subsequent death. Take note though, each team spawns with one member identified as the "Herald," who will rotate every round (goes in team order). Instead of needing to kill all enemy members, the first team to defeat the opposing team’s Herald will win the round.

Worry not as each team's Herald will spawn with heightened health at around 500 HP, and they will have access to feats. Attaining feats for the Herald is dependent on how much Renown they have received that round: a kill grants 10 Renown, while assists will grant 5 Renown. Each tier of feats is accessible every 10 Renown, so the Herald only needs to land 4 killing blows to receive their Tier 4 Feat. To clarify, the second Herald and on won't spawn with access to Feats, as Feats gained is reset every round.

This game mode is Single Pick, meaning there can't be two of the same Heroes on one team, and there are no Perks active, and no feats for the non-Herald members.

Map Changes[]

The event takes place on the Ring map, renovated to take on the look of Lord Daubeny's personal sanctuary, the Arena of Feronia. While the place was devastated by the Horkos before, it has been cleaned up of all Draconite and Corruption, dressed now in festive decorations. The sky is especially clear and blue, and the view of the nearby lake is clear. Daubeny sits once more upon his rightful throne, as minions around feast and celebrate with special Lawbringers at the guard. Both Holden and Ilma can be seen present in the crowd, celebrating the occassion.

Other Changes[]

Event Rewards[]

Outside the Event Order, players who participate in the event can loot exclusive in-game rewards, including new Chimera themed outfits, ornaments, and Chimera Diplomacy Mood effects, all obtainable in the free Event Pass. The free Event Pass enables players to earn the outfits, ornaments and effects over the span of 30 tiers, removing the randomness players faced previously when trying to attain these cosmetic items. While weapon visual drops were not planned for the event, in recognition of the incorrect weapon visuals that the main Wu Lin Heroes (Tiandi, Nuxia, Jiang Jun, Shaolin) received during the Masquerade, all of the Masquerade event weapon visuals have made a return for the Banquet, while the four Heroes noted above have their correct weapon visuals dropped. Players will keep the "incorrect" weapon visuals for the four Heroes, but they will not drop during this event.

Players can also opt to purchase the special items that are exclusive to the event. There are two new cosmetics in the form of an Illustrious Outfit, the Chimera Hart, where you don a special headdress of special Chimera magic. The other is the Masquerade is Over execution, where your victim tries to put on the Horkos Masquerade mask, but you stop them as you pound them to death with that very mask. Both are exclusive, so purchase them before they become unavailable after the event.

Unique Orders[]

During the Chimera Banquet event, the daily orders and Event Orders will be tailored with unique names that references the special game at hand.

Daily Orders[]

Daily Guaranteed Order:
- Warrior:
  - Trading Resources - "Ilma and a few other Makers secured new commercial routes for all the Chimera warriors across Heathmoor. Iron was not a scarce resource anymore. More armies were able to provide reinforced gear for everyone."
  - The Hart of Chimera - "The new symbol of Chimera was partly inspired by "The Four Warriors and the Hart", a fable about starving warriors who were hunting the same hart. The animal fled and led them to a divine orchard, where all made peace."
  - Mythologies - "Harts and deers were mentioned in many myths across Heathmoor. These majestic animals were often seen as symbols of wisdom and resilience, who would guide weary travelers and warriors to spiritual realms."
  - Grandiose Feast - "As more trading routes opened between factions, new recipes were created. All attendees of the Chimera Banquet were able to enjoy great food and beverages carefully chosen by the Lord of Feronia himself."
  - The Heralds - "After the Eclipse, a group of veteran warriors called "Heralds" conquered a stronghold for the Chimera, and saved civilians from the Horkos. The mock battles of the Chimera Banquet were an homage to their bravery."
  - Enigmatic Leader - "Brave and heroic for some, weak and cowardly for others. Yet all seemed to agree that the legendary Lord of Feronia had lived through many epic battles.
  - Showing Himself - "The Lord of Feronia reappeared during a battle between Horkos and Chimera. When nobody was expecting him, he arrived on the field and saved Gryphon from an inevitable death."
- Complete 2 matches of any game mode.
Attacker:
- Technologies - "Using new ores to craft elaborate weaponry had become common across Heathmoor. People also had a better understanding of the Corruption's negative impacts, and knew how to keep it under control."
- Benevolent Skies - "Even the heavens themselves seemed to have blessed the Chimera celebrations with superb weather. The waters of Feronia Bay never had never felt so warm before."
- Feronia Bay - "Feronia Bay was in the South of Ashfeld. The Horkos influence had harmed the lands for a while, until the Lord of Feronia reconquered his home and restored its original splendor with the help of the Chimera."
  - Capture 5 zones in any game mode.
Adaptable Warrior - A Scribe's Journal:
- "I was also invited to one of the Chimera Banquets. Lord Daubeny himself welcomed me into his home and introduced me to the other Elders of the Chimera Council."
- "I lost both my consciousness and dignity during a drinking game against Ilma and a Viking soldier. But it truly warmed my heart to see all these people staying cheery despite the many hardships they faced."
- "Many leaders believed Daubeny was just an eccentric, harmless lord. When I mentioned this to him, he laughed. 'History will be written by the victors,' he said as he scratched some dried blood from his helmet."
  - Complete 2 matches of any game mode with 2 different Heroes.
Slayer:
- Frenemies - "Sometimes allies, always disagreeing about everything. One might believe that Daubeny and Gryphon helped each other grow as warriors and leaders over the years."
- The Bards - "Bards in Heathmoor did not have an easy life. Even if they encouraged warriors everywhere with their rhythms and melodies, they would struggle financially, and warriors often killed them to lower the enemy's morale."
  - Perform 10 takedowns in any game mode.
Executioner:
- Gossip - "There were many contradictory rumors about Daubeny. Some believed he was a hero who had worked from the shadows to help the Chimera. Others saw him as an opportunist who used the Chimera to take back his own lands."
- Elders of Chimera - "Contrary to the Horkos's strict hierarchy, the Chimera had established a council of Elders. They were a group of prominent warriors who would discuss and vote on decisions collectively regarding the Alliance."
  - Perform 3 executions in any game mode.

Event Orders[]

Each week, there will be a unique Weekly Order.

From H.D. - Arpil 23 - 26
- "Rejoice, warriors! Let the show begin!"
  - Be the faction with the most takedowns performed in Heralds of Chimera.
From H.D. - April 30 - May 3
- "Keep up the good fight, my lads! Make it count!"
  - Be the faction with the most Heralds of Chimera matches won.
From H.D. - May 7 - 10
- "You are all resplendent. You do not disappoint."
  - Be the faction with the most Executions performed in Heralds of Chimera.

Event Throwback[]

The Chimera Banquet is a common Event Throwback that returns yearly, though there is no specific time of the year it makes its return. While most instances of the event doesn't bring back any new lore, the Event Throwback from June 2 - 9 offered some new lore pieces with its event orders, all related to the season's theme of the Golden Age. Below is the list of all lore pieces assembled:

A Relic Found: Accounts conflict. Some swear the Chalice of Immortality was unearthed with great ceremony. Others insist it was used as a tankard until Bou Yin's appraisal. One thing is certain -- the Pirates found the relic.
Buried Secrets: The Chalice of Immortality brought long-buried secrets of Heathmoor's past tk light. Chief among tgem was the tale of Lord Ramiel, the architect of great peace in Wyverndale. Could such a golden age come again?
Daubeny Inspired: The history of Lord Ramiel was a revelation to Daubeny. The father of their ancient order, the First Warden was the paragon of nobility, strength, and peace. Daubeny would chisel himself in Ramiel's image.
A New Truce (1): Inspired by the winter festivities and the revelations of Heathmoor's Golden Age, Gryphon extended an invitation to Astrea to join him in the ruins of Wyverndale. He hoped to discuss the subject of peace -- a new truce.
A New Truce (2): Under a bright sun, Gryphon and several other members of the Chimera Alliance waited for the Order of Horkos. But Astrea never showed. Instead, an out of breath messenger eventually hurried over to deliver horrific news.
A New Truce (3): A quiet day turned into massacre when Pirates carried out simultaneous attacks on the Chimera Alliance throughout Heathmoor. Thunderous explosions rocked harbors, and unassuming warriors were brutally slain in the streets.
A New Truce (4): The Pirates who mercilessly attacked Chimera were hired by Astrea. Gryphon had reached out to her hoping to establish a new truce. Instead, the Order of Horkos sent a message of their own, there will be no peace.
Community Challenge:
- From H.D.: "Let the past inspire us to be better."
  - Be the faction with the most Executions performed in Heralds of Chimera.

Trivia[]

For the Wu Lin weapon visuals that were missing from the Horkos Masquerade, they have names related to the ones they were supposed to have during the Horkos Masquerade event. The following is the list of weapon names, their translation and which Hero it's assigned to:
- Tiandi: Pi Hu (Leather Tiger)
- Jiang Jun: Tongshi (Bronze Lion Dog)
- Nuxia: Jia Die (Four-legged Butterfly)
- Shaolin: Naoyuan (Nao monkey)
As per what has become event tradition for lore-relevant Events, off-map, the "potty minion" from the Honor Games has made a return once more. This time, he has appeared within the den that used to contain wolves, adjacent to the main ring.