May 14, 2022

Going outside is a task. Staying inside with my own thoughts is a challenge. (I find that in modern times a lot of quests tend to revolve around the "man vs. self" conflict and how they navigate their own personal failings rather than a physical quest with a tangible end reward.)

We never hear about the quests that fail or heroes that never come back. (In mythology, many quests involve the hero gaining their boon and coming home. I find this an interesting side effect of how quests were used to teach or inspire, as losing was usually reserved for villains or tricksters.)

A sword that shines and a shield unbreakable betray the weak man holding them. (In a similar fashion to "man vs. self" in stories, I find that quests in the modern day usually use a very flawed protagonist that is emotionally vulnerable or physically weak rather than the traditional heroes, characterized as knights, gladiators, or otherwise crafty and cunning.)