Hooked on Books discussion

“Stay focused. Stay ready.”

👥 Team Roster
Anastasia
Namita
Lucy

Team SS
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...


📜 Rules
⭐Teams may only have one active creature at a time + one bonus if assigned (bonuses are optional)
⭐All creature requirements must be fully completed before turn-in
⭐All turn-ins must be posted in The Nightbound Conclave
⭐A Conclave Dial result is required to receive your next assignment
⭐Follow all instructions issued by the Conclave
⭐Standard Rules Apply

🔗 Chain Rules (Read This Carefully)
To capture most creatures, your team will complete chains.
Each chain requires 3 books total
Each team member contributes 1 book per chain
👉 You may split the work as needed:
One member may complete 2 books in a chain
BUT no single player may complete all 3 books in a chain


🔗 Important Links
❓ Q&A: The Conclave Inquiry Desk
📜 Scoreboard: The Conclave Ledger (competitive only)
🌑 Check-In / Turn-In: The Nightbound Conclave
🗂️ Collectibles
🗒️ Feedback

👁️ Thread Use
This thread is for:
⭐Planning your reads
⭐Coordinating with your team
⭐General discussion
“What happens here… is still seen.”

⚠️ Advisory
Something may… interfere.

🔮 The Conclave’s Favor (Fallback Hunt)

When a hunt proves too elusive, the Conclave may offer… an alternative path.

During the challenge, each player may call upon the Conclave for guidance.

Instead of completing a difficult or overly specific task, you may:

👉 Roll 2d6 or 1d12 https://rolladie.net/#!numbers=1&...
👉 Complete the assigned task below instead
👉 Your book will still count as a full chain link

🎯 The Conclave’s Boon Table
🎲 1. Color of the Veil
Read a book where one color makes up at least 50% of the cover

🎲 2. Marked by the Beast
Read a book with an animal or creature on the cover

🎲 3. Hunter’s Tool
Read a book with a weapon or tool on the cover
(blade, staff, gun, bow, etc.)

🎲 4. Whispered Name
Read a book with a specific word in the title
👉 Roll 1d6:
1–2: Blood
3–4: Shadow
5–6: Fire

🎲 5. Echoes in the Text
Read a book where the assigned word appears at least twice in the title, synopsis, or text.
👉 Roll 1d6:
1–2: Dark
3–4: Death
5–6: Power

🎲 6. Domain of the Hunt
Read a book set primarily in:
👉 Roll 1d6:
1–2: Forest
3–4: City
5–6: Water (ocean, river, or lake)

🎲 7. The Unnatural
Read a book featuring a supernatural or non-human element

🎲 8. Marked Soul
Read a book with a main character who is cursed, transformed, or hunted

🎲 9. Cycle of Conflict
Read a book that includes one of these themes:
Revenge
Survival
Sacrifice

🎲 10. Cover of Omen
Read a book with:
A face, OR
A single prominent object on the cover

🎲 11. Hidden Thread
Read a book with:
A map, symbol, sigil, emblem, crest, or other meaningful marking connected to the story.

🎲 12. The Hunter’s Choice
Read a book that clearly fits the supernatural, horror, or fantasy realm
(Must be justifiable—no unrelated reads)

⚖️ Rules & Restrictions
⭐ Each Hunter receives 1 Conclave Boon during the challenge.
🔗 One Boon may replace one eligible task and counts as one completed chain link.
📣 The Boon must be declared before finishing the book.
🎲 Once rolled, the assigned Boon task must be completed — no rerolls.
📖 One qualifying book completes one Boon task.
📖 HOB Standard Rules Apply
🚫 Boons cannot replace Tasks #11, #14, #19, or #23.


🌒 Veilbound Advantage (backup players)
Veilbound Reserves may carry a maximum of 3 Veil Sigils with them when called into the main hunt. Sigils are earned while playing in the Veilbound Reserves and are available only to those players.

🔮 Each Veil Sigil may be exchanged for 1 additional Conclave Boon use.
✨ Once exchanged, that Sigil is spent.
🎲 Additional Boons use the same Boon Table and rules as the player's original Boon.
🚫 The same task restrictions apply.

Hi team, just checking in

Hello team, checking in.

Namita wrote: "Hello team, checking in."

Hi Namita, it's great to be on a team with you again

Anastasia wrote: "Namita wrote: "Hello team, checking in."

Hi Namita, it's great to be on a team with you again"

Hi!! How are you? Looking forward to playing.

Where is Lucy? Challenge starts officially on Monday?

Namita wrote: "Anastasia wrote: "Namita wrote: "Hello team, checking in."

Hi Namita, it's great to be on a team with you again"

Hi!! How are you? Looking forward to playing.

Where is Lucy? Challenge starts of..."

Found this
⚔️ Competitive Hunt: September 1–November 30
So looks like it starts on Tuesday
Do you want to spin the Conclave dial and submit it so that at least we will be ready for our first creature? Hopefully Lucy will show up soon

Spun 19

Anastasia wrote: "Spun 19"

Thanks. Not having the ability to message is annoying.

Still no Lucy

Anastasia wrote: "Still no Lucy"

I posted in the sign up thread saying we are waiting. Fingers crossed.

19. 🐉 Dragon

🐉 Dragon Encounter: Trial of the Hoard

⚠️ CONCLAVE INTERRUPTION
The entity has not been found.
It has not been tracked.
You have entered its domain.
“You do not hunt a dragon…
You are judged by it.”
The Dragon does not attack.
It watches.
It waits.
And then… it tests.

🔥 The Trial
The Dragon guards something of value.
To survive this encounter, your team must prove:
👉 You are worthy to take it

💎 The Hoard
The Dragon’s hoard is not gold.
It is power, rarity, and value

To complete the trial:
👉 Your team must present 3 worthy offerings

👥 Team Structure
Each team member contributes one offering (one book)
All three must be completed
❗ No doubling up
❗ No substitutions

🐉 The Rule of Worth
Each offering must feel:
⭐significant
⭐meaningful
⭐or valuable

🔥 Offering Types (choose any 3)
Each book must meet ONE of the following:

👑 Power
A book where power, dominance, or control is central

💰 Value
A book that feels significant:
✨long
✨highly rated
✨or widely known

⚔️ Trial
A book involving challenge, conflict, or proving oneself

🛡️ Guarded
A book featuring something protected, hidden, or fought over

🔥 Rarity
A book that is:
✨outside your usual genre
✨uncommon
✨or difficult for you personally

Bonus 10: 🦄 Unicorn

“It should not be here… and yet, it is.”

The Conclave has identified an unexpected anomaly—rare, elusive, and entirely out of place.

It does not threaten.
It does not interfere.

👉 It simply exists.

To resolve this anomaly:
Complete the following:

📖Read a book featuring hope, kindness, or an unexpectedly positive outcome.
📖Read a book with a one-word title.
📖Read an author's debut novel.

Hi team! Sorry been a busy summer and completely missed the announcements of teams. Luckily just saw Donna’s email reminder!

I can do Read an author's debut novel for bonus. Going to read for Dragon

Well, look at this. 👀

Checked in. Hunting underway. And you've already found yourselves a Unicorn. 🦄

Finally, a group that seems to know what they're doing.

Don't get too comfortable, Chainbearers. I'm watching. 😈

Lucy wrote: "Hi team! Sorry been a busy summer and completely missed the announcements of teams. Luckily just saw Donna’s email reminder!"

Hi Lucy!!

Twitch wrote: "Well, look at this. 👀

Checked in. Hunting underway. And you've already found yourselves a Unicorn. 🦄

Finally, a group that seems to know what they're doing.

Don't get too comfortable, Chainbeare..."

LOL

Anastasia wrote: "I can do Read an author's debut novel for bonus. Going to read for Dragon"

Sounds good.

Bonus, I will take: 📖Read a book with a one-word title.

For Dragon: I haven't figured out what to read just yet.

For Dragon: 🛡️ Guarded
A book featuring something protected, hidden, or fought over -

Dragon
Anastasia -
Namita - 🛡️ Guarded: A book featuring something protected, hidden, or fought over
Lucy


Unicorn
📖Read a book featuring hope, kindness, or an unexpectedly positive outcome. Lucy
📖Read a book with a one-word title. Namita
📖Read an author's debut novel. Anastasia

I have read both my books and spreadsheet is updated!

Should have my second one done soon. Just waiting on Lucy

Ah, I didn't realize there was a ss. That's helpful!

You two are so quick. I'm almost done the unicorn book! Still looking for my dragon book

Lucy wrote: "Ah, I didn't realize there was a ss. That's helpful!

You two are so quick. I'm almost done the unicorn book! Still looking for my dragon book"

Here is the link to the spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

@Anastasia, which dragon task are you doing? It said "choose any 3" So I'm going to assume we can't double up tasks.

I think I found a book that works for Trial but I haven't started it yet so if that's the task your book works for, I'll look for something else!

Namita wrote: "Lucy wrote: "Ah, I didn't realize there was a ss. That's helpful!

You two are so quick. I'm almost done the unicorn book! Still looking for my dragon book"

Here is the link to the spreadsheet: h..."

Thank you! I think my eyes just glazed right over it.

Lucy wrote: "Namita wrote: "Lucy wrote: "Ah, I didn't realize there was a ss. That's helpful!

You two are so quick. I'm almost done the unicorn book! Still looking for my dragon book"

Here is the link to the..."

It's all good.

Lucy wrote: "@Anastasia, which dragon task are you doing? It said "choose any 3" So I'm going to assume we can't double up tasks.

I think I found a book that works for Trial but I haven't started it yet so if ..."
I thought for this task it is just not the same book

Anastasia wrote: "I can do Read an author's debut novel for bonus. Going to read for Dragon"

does this match:

💰 Value
A book that feels significant:
✨long

The task I am using for the dragon book is
💰 Value
A book that feels significant:
✨long
✨highly rated
✨or widely known

It is a widely known classic that is long

How's your book coming along, Lucy?

Hi team, just letting you know I have ended up back in hospital so may not be as responsive. Plenty of reading time but won’t be able to access spreadsheet

Anastasia wrote: "Hi team, just letting you know I have ended up back in hospital so may not be as responsive. Plenty of reading time but won’t be able to access spreadsheet"

Hi Anastasia. Hope you are doing well.

Just post here and I will update the spreadsheet.

Namita wrote: "Anastasia wrote: "Hi team, just letting you know I have ended up back in hospital so may not be as responsive. Plenty of reading time but won’t be able to access spreadsheet"

Hi Anastasia. Hope yo..."

Thanks Namita

Namita wrote: "How's your book coming along, Lucy?"

I'm done! Spun the dial and posted our completion! Sorry for my delayed start, I'll try to get a move on going forward.

Summer has caused a lot of change in my regular schedule because of vacations and having to cover shifts. Hopefully, I get more down time this upcoming weekend!

1. 🧛 Vampire

“It does not hunt in daylight… because it doesn’t need to.”

The Conclave has confirmed the presence of a Bloodbound predator—an ancient creature that walks among the living, wearing charm like a mask and hunger like a secret.

It does not rush.
It does not rage.
It waits.

Invited in by trust, drawn by warmth, it feeds not only on blood… but on hesitation. Entire households have gone silent without struggle—only the faint mark of teeth and the lingering sense that something watched them before they ever noticed it.

Some are newly turned—reckless, desperate, feral.
Others are old enough to remember when fear was worship.

And those are the ones you should worry about.

🔗 Containment Protocol
🦴 Limbs Identified: 4
🔗 Chains Required: 4
📚 Total Books Needed: 12

“Do not mistake stillness for weakness. It is choosing the moment.”

⚠️ Conclave Note

Vampires are known to influence thought, emotion, and memory.

If you feel:

unusually calm
strangely drawn to the dark
or reluctant to continue the hunt…

👉 Proceed anyway.

To capture the vampire:
📖Read a chain of 3 books featuring a character driven by hunger/addiction
📖Read a chain of 3 books with darkness, shadows, or a nighttime scene on the cover.
📖Read a chain of 3 books originally published in three different decades. (each team member must read a different decade)
📖Read a chain of 3 books featuring manipulation, persuasion, or control over others

🌈 TW-2: Marked

👉 Your current (or next) read must feature a color in the title or on the cover.

Happy reading! 😈

Lucy wrote: "Namita wrote: "How's your book coming along, Lucy?"

I'm done! Spun the dial and posted our completion! Sorry for my delayed start, I'll try to get a move on going forward.

Summer has caused a lo..."

No apologies needed, Lucy. It’s all good.

I finished The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie
Date read: 07/09/2026
How it fits: my next book with colour in title and fits the 4th chain where a criminal mastermind uses his wealth, social status and cunning to control his criminal empire and manipulate the people around him

If someone could please add this to the spreadsheet for me. Thanks

Lucy and Namita could you please let me know which decades you are using so that I can see which one I can use as we can’t double up. Thanks

Anastasia wrote: "Lucy and Namita could you please let me know which decades you are using so that I can see which one I can use as we can’t double up. Thanks"

I have a book I'm reading that works for 2020s.

I'm reading a book published 2017 - I got the 2010-2020 decade covered.

Lucy has 2020s covered

Anastasia, you decide which decade you want to read. I have added your book to the spreadsheet.

- does this book look like it could work for darkness, shadows, or a nighttime scene on the cover.?

Namita wrote: " - does this book look like it could work for darkness, shadows, or a nighttime scene on the cover.?"

I would say it works!!

Thanks Lucy!

Hi team, just letting you know, I got home last night. I've got the 2000-2009 decade covered then. It may take me a little while to catch up but I did get quite a bit of reading done so I think I will have mine done soon. Baby sitting my 3 year old grandson today though so hopefully will sort it tonight

Anastasia wrote: "Hi team, just letting you know, I got home last night. I've got the 2000-2009 decade covered then. It may take me a little while to catch up but I did get quite a bit of reading done so I think I w..."

No worries Anastasia. We have to read 12 books for the Vampire. It would take some time.

Hope you are feeling better and it wasn't anything serious.

Thanks Namita. I had lower abdominal pain and septicaemia in June which was though be be diverticulitis although not proven on the tests I had so underwent colononoscopy to investigate further end of July and ended up with a bowel perforation at the site of a polypectomy with a collection and surrounding inflammation. Ongoing issues with a persistant infection and was sent in for extended iv antibiotics and further investigations. Feeling much better but looks like I am still going to have to keep on with treatment and follow up for a while until everything fully heals.