Snowshine

CODENAME: Snowshine

GENDER: Female

AUTHENTICATION: Rhodes Island

DOB: December 19

RACE: Ursus

[ORIPATHY INFECTION STATUS]

Oripathy negative, based on medical examination reports.

[INTEGRATED PHYSICAL EXAMINATION]

PHYSIOLOGICAL STRENGTH: Excellent

COMBAT SKILL: Normal

TACTICAL ACUMEN: Standard

ORIGINIUM ARTS ASSIMILATION: Standard

Since Miss Snowshine conducts her search and rescue (SAR) operations in Blighted environments, the Medical Division advises including relevant checks in her regular health examinations to avoid unexpected issues.

Operator Snowshine works for Rhodes Island. As a SAR professional, she has engaged in multiple search and rescue (SAR) missions jointly carried out by Rhodes Island and Endfield Industries, resolving a range of complex issues in the process. Snowshine now serves as Endfield Industries' SAR liaison.

Operator Snowshine has, in multiple occasions, demonstrated her extensive experiences in conducting SAR operations in the north. She has proved the value of her survival skills and her ability to quickly respond to various contingencies.

Snowshine enthusiastically recounted her successful SAR mission rescuing the Oathkeepers and polar caravans, highlighting her careful planning, precise execution, and strategic decisions in overcoming natural hazards. Snowshine's engineering background gives her vital technical expertise that has been key in her SAR missions. The operator is extremely passionate and dedicated to her work. Her deep experience in both engineering and SAR operations makes her a valuable asset to Endfield.

— Martin Marvin Malen, Assistant, HR Division, Endfield Industries

After joining Endfield, it only took a few months for Miss Snowshine to give many operators a friendly and warm impression.

Snowshine often helps others in her spare time, usually with simple errands and deliveries. Though they may seem small, these tasks often prove to be real lifesavers, making people truly grateful to have Snowshine around.

"...That bottle of vinegar Miss Snowshine delivered was just in time. My sweet and sour meat would have been ruined without it!" reported the canteen chef.

Miss Snowshine also spared no effort trying to popularize SAR knowledge and polar survival skills, and often gave everyone proper demonstrations — these include crucial first-aid procedures as well as quick turn techniques for snowboarding.

"BY TALOS...! How did she do that? The last time I saw such a beautiful turn was ... during the finals of the Band Snowboard Championships! She's a guaranteed medalist if she ever attends, I'll bet my money on this!" said an anonymous operator after watching Snowshine's demonstration.

Miss Yvonne from the Specialist Tech Division also has plenty of good things to say about Snowshine:

"Oh ho! This is the first time I've met someone capable of using ice-making Arts Units with such expertise! Alrighty! I hope Snowshine can test more of my ice makers! She'll shave at least ten days off my testing phase!"

However, canteen staff responsible for stocking the shelves would post warnings when Snowshine returns to Dijiang. Extra attention must be given to prevent the "dessert bar from being left with only the labels".

What do I think of the north? Worst place ever ... I swear! I seriously messed up agreeing to join Rooter on his hunt for that mysterious Sami vendor out in the middle of nowhere! We went over the first snowpeak and were barely two days into the north when some Blighted snowstorm "caught" us at the foot of the mountains!

I will never forget the sight of an entire burdenbeast being swooshed away by the Blight-tainted snow. The only thing on my mind was: "Blasted blightery! I'm gonna die here..."

But I guess I saved up enough luck for the past decade or so! The snowstorm was just meters away from us when an Ursus girl swooped in from the skies — I kid you not! She flew in on a snowboard, pulled off a perfect landing next to us, slammed a shield on the ground, and suddenly a wall of ice appeared with a WOOSH! That wall kept the snowstorm away!

Anyway, she saved both Rooter and me. She escorted us into a cave that she called our temporary shelter.

And there were all sorts of people there... Oathkeepers, Seš'qa caravan drivers, and even Landbreakers!

I still remember how we just walked in and some tall and mean-looking Feline started pointing his finger at us, "These two! They're frauds plotting to bring their swindling ways to Sami! I heard all about their dirty plots along the way. Why are you saving these lowlives? Don't let them cheat you!" It was only then when I suddenly recognized the Feline. He was the guide who traveled with us a few days back... I had wondered why he suddenly returned the commission and refused to guide us any longer...

Anyway, I thought we were finished but the Ursus lass who brought us in said nothing. She gave the Feline a glance and the big mean kittyboy ... just sat down and said nothing else.

I wanted to thank her personally back then, but she soon rushed out to carry on with her SAR. I couldn't even get her name. Another SAR team soon arrived and brought us to safety.

But I recognized the badges and markings on her outfit. They were the same as the illustrations in the shelter.

What happened next...? Well, I found your place. That's what happened. Hah! Just take these supplies. My token of gratitude to that Ursus lass!

— Recordings from a donor of the Northern Corridor Rescue Union

DOCUMENT: A private letter

Eyrwin:

Maybe I should call you Snowshine now. In any case, please forgive me for not saying goodbye when I left the team... That was never my intention. But my captain and my attending surgeon, Margarit, told me to leave the north immediately. They said it would prevent my hallucinations from getting worse.

Kjersch is a beautiful city. We don't see any auroras here but there are equally majestic mountains in snow. The ridges are untouched by the Blight or the Aggeloi, and are linked by criss-crossing cable tramways that the city is so famous for — I took quite a few rides in them, and the experience of gazing into the vast snowfields without worry is unforgettable...

You must have been surprised by my decision. Someone who had sworn to stay in the north and the SAR team for eternity ... was suddenly beaten by a most mundane and ordinary blizzard. What I want to say is that sometimes people are not as strong as they like to think. Perhaps I'm actually more fragile than I think I was.

I never feared blizzards, the Blight, or any other disasters that could suddenly swoop in and take our lives. But when I saw Nelson lose a leg after getting sucked into the Blight while trying to save that unlucky prospector ... and after learning that Lisa lost her sight from overexerting her Originium Arts to give everyone an early warning... I started doubting myself. I began to think if I had fallen short ... and my suspicions soon spread to other members of the team...

I have the captain to thank. I was about to use the Arts Unit when he stopped me and ordered Medical Officer Margarit to give Ryder the timely treatment he needed... He saved me from doing something I would've regretted for the rest of my life. Eyrwin, of all the young people on the team, I have the highest expectations for you. In fact, I believe you are the perfect candidate to succeed as deputy captain. You value friendship and care for others deeply, often to the point of neglecting your own safety. So take this as advice from someone who's been through it: never forget to look after yourself, especially when you're out there saving others.

You are important and irreplaceable to the SAR team and everyone who cares for you.

I look forward to your reply. Feel free to let me play the host in your visit to Kjersch. And try to bring the captain along. I'll take you all to the best fondue in town. It tastes exactly like what you described to me.

Madeleine Crick

DOCUMENT: A private letter

Madeleine:

Thank you for writing to me!

Even now, I still remember your patience when you first taught me how to build an igloo shelter in the snowfields; your stern expression when you reminded me that every SAR teammate must maintain constant vigilance; and your tenderness when you helped me fix my drone at 4 AM, telling me to be more careful next time. These are precious memories I'll carry with me for the rest of my life...

So, I have never doubted your passion for SAR operations. Even though you have left the north, I believe you're still helping everyone at your new place in your own special ways.

Ryder and the captain refused to tell me what exactly happened on the mountain, but I could sort of guess from the operational logs... I don't think they, or anyone for that matter, would blame you for this. So I hope you can focus on getting better, and don't forget to explore the place when have time. Once I swing by Kjersch (captain seems pretty busy and I couldn't get hold of him) I'll definitely pay you a visit. And is that fondue place really as good as you say? I really wanna try it out!

P.S. The pack that came with this letter is your favorite sundried berries. Eat them before they expire!

Eyrwin

LOG ID: 0000000

Hoo... This message is for me (at some point in the future) and the person who could hear these logs.

After leaving the Woods, she once said, "Try recording special and unique moments in your life. It may help you anchor yourself in the world."

Till now, I don't know if I really understood what she meant. And I'm unsure what type moment can be considered "special and unique"... So, I might as well record everything that I think is worth remembering.

LOG ID: 0000001

...This is my first time leaving Rhodes Island and stepping on the land of Talos-II. It's more spacious and open than what the maps and panoramic holograms suggested... There are also plenty of things I have not yet seen in her memories. Although this place is quite different from Terra, the people and buildings feel distant yet familiar at the same time... It's so strange...

But if possible, I really want to see and experience the local snow... They say there are snowy mountains in the north and the central part of the Band. The north seems closer, so I guess I'll head over there first.

LOG ID: 0000009

...Today I arrived at a snowcapped mountain in the north. I felt right at home in this polar landscape. Everything, including the hexagonal columnar snowflakes and the veil-like aurora, felt really familiar to me... Before I forget, I ran into a huge blizzard when I made my way down the mountain. Two Fortes dressed like messengers were almost trapped in a nearby Blight. I used my snowboard to pull one of them to safety. The other was saved by a fully armed Perro. We escorted them to a safe place in a timely fashion... I later learned that the Perro is a volunteer with the Northern Corridor Rescue Union. They are planning to establish a professional SAR team. That Perro also left me a business card when we said goodbye. He said I behaved with calmness and reason despite my lack of professional training, even choosing the best rescue measures possible. Then he asked if I'd be interested in joining his outfit...

Truth be told, when I pulled that messenger to safety, I did feel ... a kind of ecstasy and joy I had never experienced before. It became a calling I couldn't ignore, and I even wanted to do more.

LOG ID: 0000010

I thought about giving it a shot, so I called the Perro named Chris. I told him I want to be an SAR teammate.

I am doing this for myself. The sunshine after the blizzard was also especially bright. I want to see that again.