Quest Index [Navigation Links]
Quest Chapters
Chapter 1 (From Struggle to Quest Trial)
Quest Trial 1
Quest Trial 2
Quest Trial 3
Quest Trial 4
Quest Trial 5
Chapter 2 (Research Notes)
Chapter 3 (Overcoming the Quest Trials)
The Riddle of the Vial, Flask & Cup
Quest Trial 1
Quest Trial 2
Quest Trial 3
Quest Trial 4
Quest Trial 5
Chapter 4 (Creating Gamified Stickers)
Chapter 5 (Results)
Chapter 6 (The Scattered Questbook Page)
Quest Objects
Healer’s Guild Archives (Sources Used)
- Harvard Health. (2023, May 22). How much water should you drink?
- University of Missouri System. (n.d.). How to calculate how much water you should drink
Chapter 1: The Dehydration Drought
I’m not sure if I’ve always struggled with drinking water or if it’s just something that happened after my untethering. A frozen feeling in my veins seems to be preventing me from not having to think about drinking water, the mere action having become a task I actively have to organise for it to happen.
Rather than forcing myself to fix the struggle I have with consistently drinking enough water, I decided to treat it like a Quest and a small adventure where curiosity replaces self-criticism.
No more realising that I haven’t had a single drop of liquid in hours and that my tongue feels like it has been forced to bond to my palate with dry superglue.
This Quest started by examining why drinking water felt like a task to be improvised instead of an automated process.
“In the Questling Universe, every obstacle becomes a Quest Trial and a puzzle to study instead of a flaw to scold.“
— Ellie Questling
When thinking about it, I identified several personal Quest Trials and things that interrupted my water drinking habits:
Quest Trial 1
Automatic Water Cup offerings to the Furry Paw
(aka my cat likes tipping over unsupervised cups or glasses filled with water)
If you’re the guardian of a water obsessed creature, you must be familiar with unexpected mini tsunamis spilling onto your floor.
Quest Trial 2
The Curse of Object Impermanence
(I lose track of objects, sometimes misplacing them and forgetting about their existence)
The Curse of Object Impermanence has been plaguing me for years, making it harder for me to keep track of things. I don’t know where this curse came from or how to banish it, but I do know that learning to live with it feels like my small step forward at the moment.
Quest Trial 3
The Well of Limitation
(aka my faucet has limited space so I can’t use it to fill just anything)
This small restraint on the water bottle crafting station is something to keep in mind while deciding on the format of the flask or vial I intend to fill.
Quest Trial 4
Boredom Dodgeball & Refill Fatigue
(Refilling is usually an afterthought or an unwanted extra chore to me)
My brain seems to avoid boring tasks, seemingly playing an unending dodgeball game with boredom. Unfortunately, refilling a water bottle has been sitting in the boring category of my brain filing cabinet, resulting in questionable logistics.
Quest Trial 5
The Eternal Water Fetching Quest
(I didn’t have a system set up so I needed to activate the logistics of fetching water each time I wanted to drink.)
I noticed that each time I felt thirsty, I had to make an internal calculation to go through the steps instead of them being automatic. I decided to overthink about the habit of drinking water once, so I never have to actively think about it again (or at least until I need a new system for new hydration needs that arise).
Chapter 2: The Hydration Research Notes
After identifying my Quest Trials, I decided to look up the recommended amount of water a day.
This is what I found while visiting the Healer Guild’s Archives (Harvard Health, 2023), (How to Calculate How Much Water You Should Drink | University of Missouri System, n.d.):
1. Four to Six Cups a Day, is what the Common Guildlines Say, but… 1
According to the Guild’s Health scrolls, most Questlings thrive on four to six cups of water a day. Yet the Guild warns that hydration is a personal alchemy. Some find sustenance in soups and stews, others in enchanted teas or elixirs shared among friends. Other things that decide the number of cups are: specific ailments, medical health concoctions, adventuring levels, and ambient temperature buffs or debuffs. 1
__ (Harvard Health, 2023), rewritten for Ellie Questling’s Research Notes
2. Pre-Hydration is Preservation 2
Not a lot of people know that thirst is a dehydration debuff, signalling the first stages of dehydration. This is why the Guild of Health recommends drinking in advance, before debuff sets in and gets noticeable by thirst. They believe that hydrating yourself before adventuring or Quest training is essential and that feeling thirsty is a sign to uncap your Questing Flask. 2
— (University of Missouri System, n.d.), rewritten for Ellie Questling’s Research Notes
Water Intake Calculator
This journey to the Healer’s Guild Archives led me to a water intake calculator I found online and used as a guideline for my water intake: Water Intake Calculator. I picked this calculator because it takes height, weight, activity levels, climate and additional sources of water into account.
Important!
Make sure to consult your own Healer (healthcare professional) while figuring out your unique hydration needs.
Chapter 3: The Riddle of the Vial, Flask & Cup
Taking my Quest Trials and Hydration Research notes into account, I started looking for a hydration vessel that fit my personal criteria. I noted down that my Personal Hydration System needed a Vial, Flask or Cup that was:
1. Furry Paw Proof
The Vial should avoid the wrath of the cat and shouldn’t be able to be spilled by being tipped over. I’m either looking for a bottle or a cup with a lid and settled on a bottle because it has more sticker space.
2. Within the Limits of the Well
For this Quest Trial, I decided to just go with a bottle that neatly fits under my faucet instead of losing time and patience while getting tangled up in an unwilling decanting Quest when trying to fill a bottle that doesn’t fit.
3. Living with the Curse of Object Impermanence
I wanted to set this habit up so it isn’t dependent on having to actively locate or keep track of an object. I decided to go for multiple bottles, six in total, so I have five backups. I gave these bottles regular spots so they can only be in my fridge (storage), nearby me (inventory) or at the sink for a refill (work station).
Note: I did have to keep track of a pen for the trackers, but the fact that I can just start hoarding glitter pens still makes it arguably better than having to look for a bottle.
4. Parries the Refill Fatigue
Refilling water could be fun like a quest or effortless. I’m thinking about making a Water Fetching Questline with achievements or a refill bonus sticker. For now, I’m managing it by either immediately refilling the water bottle or putting it next to my sink as a visual cue.
5. Creates an Automatic Flow of Hydration
I want my bottles to minimise the need to actively think about drinking water and the Logistic Quests like refilling attached to it. I’m hoping to achieve a state where drinking water becomes automatic and effortless by tackling my personal Quest Trials and distracting my brain with stickers.
(Bonus) Sensory Bliss Against Plastic Debuff
Do you swear that you can taste the plastic when drinking from a plastic water bottle? Cast a protective ward by picking a Vial, Flask or Cup made of glass or stainless steel. I went with a glass bottle because I like being able to see the volume and I intended to use the system at home.
After some research, I found the perfect set of Vials to use for my experiment. I headed over to the local Hydration Village Shoppe (a local store that sold glass bottles) and started creating my Quest & Stickers.
Chapter 4: The Sticker Laboratory
I recently bought a Phomemo M110 because my mind was craving some structure and whimsical labels so I’ll be using that to print the stickers I created.
I posted the Quest Stickers in 
The Sticker Laboratory so you can download them there.
I decided to acquire a thermal label printer to turn it into my portable sticker workshop alongside Procreate Pocket. Its compact size makes it fit neatly in my cloak, making it easy to alchemise stickers on the go.
A small downside is that thermal stickers don’t print in colour so note that the designs have colour but will be printed in black and white when printing with a thermal printer. Thermal printers aren’t that good with detail either so small letters or details don’t always come out as expected.
Vial of Hydration Sticker Prototype 1
This is the first Prototype of a sticker label for a Vial of Hydration. It consists of a title, buff list, description, lore and a basic monthly tracker to gamify drinking water.
Realising that this design required me to change the full sticker and not just the monthly tracker, I decided to pivot to a more modular sticker system.
The different elements are designed to be printed on their own small sticker, making it easy to customise the experience to individual needs.
Lore Label Sticker Prototype 2
For my second prototype, I ended up with a smaller sticker with the image, title, lore description and buffs.
I liked the look of it but wanted to separate the buffs from the description to keep things modular.
Lore Label
For this design, I changed the pixel art and added a border and a small linked unlocked title. I noticed that the small title doesn’t print that clearly so I changed the font.
Changing the font for the linked title made the text more readable when printing it out. I’m not sure if I can make the font size bigger in the context of the design, but that will be an answer for future me.
Quest Tracking
Daily Vial Tracking
Weekly Hydration Tracker
Monthly Hydration Tracker
Basic Buff Sticker
My mind is still pondering about how buffs can work so I decided to make a Basic Buff sticker as a placeholder for now.
The idea behind these buffs is to link the habit to its real life benefits to remind myself of why I’m trying to set up the habit in the first place.
Achievement Stickers – The Mastery of drinking Water & Hydration Tiers
I wanted to find a way to see the habit of drinking water as a journey or mini Quest so I came up with these tiered achievement stickers that turn drinking water into a skill to master.
Something special about these Achievement Stickers is that you unlock them as soon as you master the Tier before it, but you can only master them by completing the Tier Mastery Conditions.
The idea behind these Achievement Stickers is to make the habit effortless and automatic by linking it to a tiered fantasy identity that celebrates and encourages every small step and achievement.
Tier 0 – The Intentional Hydration Disciple
Lore Snippet:
The Intentional Hydration Disciple stands for celebrating intention and the beginning of a new journey. It’s for those who have decided to show up for themselves, one sip at a time.
Special Tier Buffs:
- Intention +5
- Self-Development +3
- “New Quest Energy” Buff Unlocked (possible side effect: Enthusiasm + 3)
Sticker Set:
- Intentional Hydration Disciple Sticker
- Lore Label
- Hydration Buffs
Achievement Unlocking Condition(s):
- No previous Tier needed
- [Automatically Unlocks after wanting to start a hydration Quest]
Tier Mastery Conditions:
- Start a hydration Quest and become an Intentional Hydration Disciple.
Tier I – Consistent Hydration Apprentice
Lore Snippet:
This tier honours the quiet art of showing up each day with care. The Apprentice begins to weave hydration into the rhythm of their everyday life, turning intention into gentle consistency.
Special Tier Buffs:
- Self-Care +2
- Resilience +2
- Daily Rhythm Buff Unlocked
Sticker Set:
- Consistent Hydration Apprentice
- Lore Label
- Hydration Buffs
Achievement Unlocking Condition(s):
- Tier Mastery Needed: Intentional Hydration Disciple
- [Automatically Unlocks when Daily Tracking has been started]
Tier Mastery Conditions:
- Successfully build a daily habit to drink water.
Tier II – Mindful Hydration Adept
Lore Snippet:
In a state of Mindful Hydration, awareness deepens into understanding. From a daily trickle into a steady stream, the Mindful Hydration Adept finds stability in weekly consistency.
Special Tier Buffs:
- Steadiness + 4
- Practice + 2
- Weekly Willpower Buff Unlocked
Sticker Set:
- Mindful Hydration Adept Sticker
- Lore Label
- Hydration Buffs
Achievement Unlocking Condition(s):
- Tier Mastery Needed: Consistent Hydration Apprentice
- [Automatically Unlocks when Weekly Tracking has been started]
Tier Mastery Conditions:
- Successfully build a weekly habit for drinking water.
Tier III – Hydromancer of Flow
Lore Snippet:
The Hydromancer of Flow wields the flow of repetition, turning weekly consistency into a rhythm of monthly sustainability.
Special Tier Buffs:
- Consistency Boost + 7
- Self-Confidence + 3
- Monthly Magic Buff Unlocked
Sticker Set:
- Hydromancer of Flow Sticker
- Lore Label
- Hydration Buffs
Achievement Unlocking Condition(s):
- Tier Mastery Needed: Mindful Hydration Adept
- [Automatically Unlocks when Monthly Tracking has been started]
Tier Mastery Conditions:
- Successfully sustain a monthly habit for drinking water.
Tier IV – The Keeper of Vials
Lore Snippet:
The Keeper of Vials has successfully gone through the previous stages, their mastery allowing them to pick their preferred stickers to wield against the Dehydration Debuff.
Special Tier Buffs:
- Self-accomplishment +15
- Lived Experience +25
- Sticker Curator Buff Unlocked
Sticker Set:
- The Keeper of the Vials Sticker
- Lore Label
- Hydration Buffs
(Pick your Favourites)
Achievement Unlocking Condition(s):
- Tier Mastery Needed: Hydromancer of Flow
- [Automatically Unlocks after mastering all previous Tiers]
Tier Mastery Conditions:
- Customise your bottle with your favourite Trackers
- Knows which trackers work for them and why
Tier V – The Elemental of Flow
Lore Snippet:
This tier is about adding extra personality to your bottle or cup.
Special Tier Buffs:
- Self-Accomplishment + 150
- Hydration Automation Complete
- Your bottle or cup now has a permanent “Hydration Mastery” Buff that gives + 5 Satisfaction points
Sticker Set:
- The Keeper of the Vials Sticker
- Lore Label
- Hydration Buffs
(Pick your Favourites)
Aesthetic Elemental Flow:
- Add extra stickers
Achievement Unlocking Conditions:
- Tier Mastery Needed: The Keeper of Vials
- [Unlocks Automatically after adding your own stickers]
Tier Mastery Conditions:
- Decorate your bottle or cup and Achieve the Aesthetic Elemental Flow
- Your bottle or cup makes you feel joy when you see it
Chapter 5: Quest Completed – The Final Result
Here are my Vials of Hydration.
You can visit the Sticker Laboratory to claim your own hydration stickers.
Chapter 6: The Scattered Questbook Page – The Story Continues?
If you made it this far, thank you for going on this Quest with me. I’m not sure where this first Quest Experiment will take me but for now, I’m resting at the campfire until my next Quest begins.
I heard that somewhere, a new Questling Experiment has been started… but I’ll let future Ellie tell you that tale.
May your own Questlines be filled with imagination and adventure,
—
,
Become a Questling
Did you create your own Quest Stickers? Share them on the DragoNet by tagging
@ellie.questling
@questling.quest
on Instagram.
Tools
- Carpio, S. (2024). Daily Water Intake Calculator. Retrieved October 8, 2025, from https://www.cise.ufl.edu/~scarpio/cis4930/assign2/index.html
- Procreate Pocket: https://procreate.com/pocket
- Phomemo Print Master App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/print-master/id1467113436
Quest Objects
- Phomemo M110: https://phomemo.com/products/m110-label-maker?_pos=1&_sid=dbc88b290&_ss=r&variant=43683458580709
- Phomemo label 5080: https://phomemo.com/products/multi-purpose-square-self-adhesive-label-1-roll-of-100-labels-50x80mm
- Phomemo label 4030 (White): https://phomemo.com/products/transparent-square-label-40-30mm-self-adhesive-phomemo-m200-label-printer-1-rolls-230-labels
- Phomemo label 4030 (Colours): https://phomemo.com/products/transparent-square-label-40-30mm-self-adhesive-phomemo-m200-label-printer-1-rolls-230-labels
Note: I’m not affiliated with Phomemo or Procreate, I’m just listing the official websites to link to the objects and tools I’ve used for people who want to print their own stickers.
Healer’s Guild Archives (Sources Used)
- Harvard Health. (2023, May 22). How much water should you drink? https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-much-water-should-you-drink
- University of Missouri System. (n.d.). How to calculate how much water you should drink https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/wellness/how-to-calculate-how-much-water-you-should-drink
(Pixel) Art Credits
(Pixel) Art Credits List
Want to discover more art? Click here.
What are your Hydration Quest Trials? 
A letter for Accidental Wanderers