1810 in the databaseDuet Night Abyss itemsItemsSearch by nameCategoryRarity1810Fledgling's Gleam: FrameMaterials"Sure, the legion gives us some freedom to customise our weapons, but painting my gun pink? That's where I draw the line! I don't care if you're my sister, that's still a no. And take that teddy bear charm off!" Lynn, an officer of the Hyperborean LegionHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeFluid AlloyMaterials"It reminds me of the flow of time... Like time, it heals fractures, veils the past, feigns that all is well. Indeed, its true intent was to reinforce crumbling old structures. But everything has its limits; under intense heat, it violently explodes, erasing all, be it old or new." Emerald, Aeolipile Material Scientist, in "Principles and Instructions for Use of New Materials"How to get: Commission; Shop; Dropped by any enemyForging Insight: Assault RifleMaterialsFather Ask said: "Because they cannot rise above suffering, they know its weight all too well. And so they are cruel; when they inflict suffering on others, they show no mercy. Yes... Mother, I was wrong." A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Obtained by disassembling specific weapon types from the InventoryForging Insight: BowMaterialsFather Ask said: "Because they cannot rise above suffering, they know its weight all too well. And so they are cruel; when they inflict suffering on others, they show no mercy. Yes... Mother, I was wrong." A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Obtained by disassembling specific weapon types from the InventoryForging Insight: Dual BladesMaterialsFather Ask said: "Because they cannot rise above suffering, they know its weight all too well. And so they are cruel; when they inflict suffering on others, they show no mercy. Yes... Mother, I was wrong." A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Obtained by disassembling specific weapon types from the InventoryForging Insight: Dual PistolsMaterialsFather Ask said: "Because they cannot rise above suffering, they know its weight all too well. And so they are cruel; when they inflict suffering on others, they show no mercy. Yes... Mother, I was wrong." A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Obtained by disassembling specific weapon types from the InventoryForging Insight: GreatswordMaterialsFather Ask said: "Because they cannot rise above suffering, they know its weight all too well. And so they are cruel; when they inflict suffering on others, they show no mercy. Yes... Mother, I was wrong." A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Obtained by disassembling specific weapon types from the InventoryForging Insight: Grenade LauncherMaterialsFather Ask said: "Because they cannot rise above suffering, they know its weight all too well. And so they are cruel; when they inflict suffering on others, they show no mercy. Yes... Mother, I was wrong." A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Obtained by disassembling specific weapon types from the InventoryForging Insight: KatanaMaterialsFather Ask said: "Because they cannot rise above suffering, they know its weight all too well. And so they are cruel; when they inflict suffering on others, they show no mercy. Yes... Mother, I was wrong." A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Obtained by disassembling specific weapon types from the InventoryForging Insight: PistolMaterialsFather Ask said: "Because they cannot rise above suffering, they know its weight all too well. And so they are cruel; when they inflict suffering on others, they show no mercy. Yes... Mother, I was wrong." A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Obtained by disassembling specific weapon types from the InventoryForging Insight: PolearmMaterialsFather Ask said: "Because they cannot rise above suffering, they know its weight all too well. And so they are cruel; when they inflict suffering on others, they show no mercy. Yes... Mother, I was wrong." A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Obtained by disassembling specific weapon types from the InventoryForging Insight: ShotgunMaterialsFather Ask said: "Because they cannot rise above suffering, they know its weight all too well. And so they are cruel; when they inflict suffering on others, they show no mercy. Yes... Mother, I was wrong." A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Obtained by disassembling specific weapon types from the InventoryForging Insight: SwordMaterialsFather Ask said: "Because they cannot rise above suffering, they know its weight all too well. And so they are cruel; when they inflict suffering on others, they show no mercy. Yes... Mother, I was wrong." A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Obtained by disassembling specific weapon types from the InventoryForging Insight: WhipbladeMaterialsFather Ask said: "Because they cannot rise above suffering, they know its weight all too well. And so they are cruel; when they inflict suffering on others, they show no mercy. Yes... Mother, I was wrong." A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Obtained by disassembling specific weapon types from the InventoryFuel ReagentMaterials"It burns fiercer than the most dangerous flame of love!" Rebecca, Perfumer of LucaHow to get: Commission; Shop; Dropped by any enemyGloam Oath: BarrelMaterials"I know everyone here likes to think of themselves as artists, but seriously, you're all a bunch of morons. What you do is simply alchemy, medicine, or drawing. What's the point of obsessing over the meaning of life or the consequences of your work? Check out this new gun I made, awesome, right?" Nisaya, Weapon Master of The AeolipileHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeGloam Oath: BoltMaterials"The trigger is the most crucial part of any mechanical device. Even from a developer's perspective, I can tell you, no matter how intricate the internal workings are, it's just a piece of scrap if the trigger doesn't function properly. Trust me, I speak from experience, if my trigger had jammed back then, I wouldn't be here today." An unnamed veteran travellerHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeGloam Oath: FrameMaterials"Sure, the legion gives us some freedom to customise our weapons, but painting my gun pink? That's where I draw the line! I don't care if you're my sister, that's still a no. And take that teddy bear charm off!" Lynn, an officer of the Hyperborean LegionHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeGuixu Ratchet: BarrelMaterials"I know everyone here likes to think of themselves as artists, but seriously, you're all a bunch of morons. What you do is simply alchemy, medicine, or drawing. What's the point of obsessing over the meaning of life or the consequences of your work? Check out this new gun I made, awesome, right?" Nisaya, Weapon Master of The AeolipileHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeGuixu Ratchet: BoltMaterials"The trigger is the most crucial part of any mechanical device. Even from a developer's perspective, I can tell you, no matter how intricate the internal workings are, it's just a piece of scrap if the trigger doesn't function properly. Trust me, I speak from experience, if my trigger had jammed back then, I wouldn't be here today." An unnamed veteran travellerHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeGuixu Ratchet: FrameMaterials"Sure, the legion gives us some freedom to customise our weapons, but painting my gun pink? That's where I draw the line! I don't care if you're my sister, that's still a no. And take that teddy bear charm off!" Lynn, an officer of the Hyperborean LegionHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeHalcyon Gracefall: BladeMaterials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeHalcyon Gracefall: GripMaterials"He is advancing, He is advancing! I hear his thunderous steps resound, I hear the Sword of Torrent scrape on the ground! He shall claim the lives of the unjust, No one here can escape the tempest! None can resist death's looming tonight, Nor wrest the sword from his grasp so tight!" Excerpt from Le Rhapsodie de Torrent, by Alexandre Thomas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeHydro CrystalMaterialsAsk presses on through dusk's lament. His gaze remains unclouded by the dark; he lifts it to the heavens and offers up his final light. Though his mind is cast into turmoil, it soon scatters like the shadows of days long gone. His swift legs pursue the storm, and fire bursts from his radiant eyes. His broad chest meets the rain, and his roar rolls like thunder. This is no curse, but the gift the Father left to his children. For from destruction, new life shall bloom. Lirico, Wandering Bard, in "Tales of the Misty Sea"How to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression ShopIngenious Tactics: BladeMaterials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeIngenious Tactics: GripMaterials"He is advancing, He is advancing! I hear his thunderous steps resound, I hear the Sword of Torrent scrape on the ground! He shall claim the lives of the unjust, No one here can escape the tempest! None can resist death's looming tonight, Nor wrest the sword from his grasp so tight!" Excerpt from Le Rhapsodie de Torrent, by Alexandre Thomas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeInsulation CoatingMaterials"No, Filbert! I know they smell good, but they'll give you ouchies in your tummy! Come on, let's go find some yummy berries and mushrooms for you, okay?" Truffle, Commissary of ElysiumHow to get: Commission; Shop; Dropped by any enemyIronforger: BladeMaterials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeIronforger: GripMaterials"He is advancing, He is advancing! I hear his thunderous steps resound, I hear the Sword of Torrent scrape on the ground! He shall claim the lives of the unjust, No one here can escape the tempest! None can resist death's looming tonight, Nor wrest the sword from his grasp so tight!" Excerpt from Le Rhapsodie de Torrent, by Alexandre Thomas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeJagged Growl: BarrelMaterials"I know everyone here likes to think of themselves as artists, but seriously, you're all a bunch of morons. What you do is simply alchemy, medicine, or drawing. What's the point of obsessing over the meaning of life or the consequences of your work? Check out this new gun I made, awesome, right?" Nisaya, Weapon Master of The AeolipileHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeJagged Growl: BoltMaterials"The trigger is the most crucial part of any mechanical device. Even from a developer's perspective, I can tell you, no matter how intricate the internal workings are, it's just a piece of scrap if the trigger doesn't function properly. Trust me, I speak from experience, if my trigger had jammed back then, I wouldn't be here today." An unnamed veteran travellerHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeJagged Growl: FrameMaterials"Sure, the legion gives us some freedom to customise our weapons, but painting my gun pink? That's where I draw the line! I don't care if you're my sister, that's still a no. And take that teddy bear charm off!" Lynn, an officer of the Hyperborean LegionHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeLegion NameplateMaterials"To some soldiers, a medal of honour holds more weight than life itself. Too bad that I'm not cut from that noble cloth." Randy, Hyperborean OfficerHow to get: Commission; Shop; Dropped by any enemyLumino CrystalMaterialsAsk presses on through dusk's lament. His gaze remains unclouded by the dark; he lifts it to the heavens and offers up his final light. Though his mind is cast into turmoil, it soon scatters like the shadows of days long gone. His swift legs pursue the storm, and fire bursts from his radiant eyes. His broad chest meets the rain, and his roar rolls like thunder. This is no curse, but the gift the Father left to his children. For from destruction, new life shall bloom. Lirico, Wandering Bard, in "Tales of the Misty Sea"How to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression ShopLuno MementoMaterials"Luno Coins are really valuable! And these are a token of our friendship, so you better take good care of them!" Snow the "Demon King"How to get: Commission; ShopMetallic ArmourMaterials"Heavy they might be, they must be carried at all times. More than a mere legion order, it's a safeguard. I wish for you all to return home unscathed." Rhythm, Soldier of Icelake EscortHow to get: Commission; Shop; Dropped by any enemyMomiji Itteki: BladeMaterials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeMomiji Itteki: DecorationMaterials"What's so bad about being different? People are always bending over backwards trying to prove how unique they are. Me? Ha, I was born an outcast, a natural oddity shunned by Father Ask, the most bizarre ornament in the tribe!"..."The Raven" Chaos, from The ForsakensHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeMomiji Itteki: GripMaterials"He is advancing, He is advancing! I hear his thunderous steps resound, I hear the Sword of Torrent scrape on the ground! He shall claim the lives of the unjust, No one here can escape the tempest! None can resist death's looming tonight, Nor wrest the sword from his grasp so tight!" Excerpt from Le Rhapsodie de Torrent, by Alexandre Thomas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeObsidian Heart-Reaper: BladeMaterials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeObsidian Heart-Reaper: GripMaterials"He is advancing, He is advancing! I hear his thunderous steps resound, I hear the Sword of Torrent scrape on the ground! He shall claim the lives of the unjust, No one here can escape the tempest! None can resist death's looming tonight, Nor wrest the sword from his grasp so tight!" Excerpt from Le Rhapsodie de Torrent, by Alexandre Thomas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeOsteobreaker: BarrelMaterials"I know everyone here likes to think of themselves as artists, but seriously, you're all a bunch of morons. What you do is simply alchemy, medicine, or drawing. What's the point of obsessing over the meaning of life or the consequences of your work? Check out this new gun I made, awesome, right?" Nisaya, Weapon Master of The AeolipileHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeOsteobreaker: BoltMaterials"The trigger is the most crucial part of any mechanical device. Even from a developer's perspective, I can tell you, no matter how intricate the internal workings are, it's just a piece of scrap if the trigger doesn't function properly. Trust me, I speak from experience, if my trigger had jammed back then, I wouldn't be here today." An unnamed veteran travellerHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeOsteobreaker: FrameMaterials"Sure, the legion gives us some freedom to customise our weapons, but painting my gun pink? That's where I draw the line! I don't care if you're my sister, that's still a no. And take that teddy bear charm off!" Lynn, an officer of the Hyperborean LegionHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgePrecision MagnetMaterials"How fascinating! These little parts might seem dull to you at the moment, but once the fuse is lit, they will roar in the most spectacular way!" Oliver, Bomb ExpertHow to get: Dropped by Elite Enemy in CommissionsPropulsion UnitMaterials"Some boxes are to be opened, others not, thought that was common sense. If it's a holiday gift from Mom, go ahead, rip it open; but if it's a box made of fine iron, glowing eerily from the inside, with a big warning sign saying DANGER on it, you'd better chuck it into a ditch right away. But no one listened to me, so now I'm the only one left sitting here. *sigh*" Testimony taken after an accidentHow to get: Commission; Shop; Dropped by any enemyPrototype: Nocturne · BowMaterialsFather Ask said: "Look upon those you created, those denied rebirth. They cannot rise above suffering. Their tears blind them. They are cast adrift upon the briny waters, reeling through streets and cities alike. I merely helped them raise their hands. You showed them no pity, no love, no care. So I did so in your stead. What, then, was wrong with that?" A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Possible drop in Abyssal CommissionsPrototype: Nocturne · Dual BladesMaterialsFather Ask said: "Look upon those you created, those denied rebirth. They cannot rise above suffering. Their tears blind them. They are cast adrift upon the briny waters, reeling through streets and cities alike. I merely helped them raise their hands. You showed them no pity, no love, no care. So I did so in your stead. What, then, was wrong with that?" A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Possible drop in Abyssal CommissionsPrototype: Nocturne · Grenade LauncherMaterialsFather Ask said: "Look upon those you created, those denied rebirth. They cannot rise above suffering. Their tears blind them. They are cast adrift upon the briny waters, reeling through streets and cities alike. I merely helped them raise their hands. You showed them no pity, no love, no care. So I did so in your stead. What, then, was wrong with that?" A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Possible drop in Abyssal CommissionsPrototype: Nocturne · KatanaMaterialsFather Ask said: "Look upon those you created, those denied rebirth. They cannot rise above suffering. Their tears blind them. They are cast adrift upon the briny waters, reeling through streets and cities alike. I merely helped them raise their hands. You showed them no pity, no love, no care. So I did so in your stead. What, then, was wrong with that?" A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Possible drop in Abyssal CommissionsPrototype: Nocturne · PistolMaterialsFather Ask said: "Look upon those you created, those denied rebirth. They cannot rise above suffering. Their tears blind them. They are cast adrift upon the briny waters, reeling through streets and cities alike. I merely helped them raise their hands. You showed them no pity, no love, no care. So I did so in your stead. What, then, was wrong with that?" A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Possible drop in Abyssal CommissionsPrototype: Nocturne · SwordMaterialsFather Ask said: "Look upon those you created, those denied rebirth. They cannot rise above suffering. Their tears blind them. They are cast adrift upon the briny waters, reeling through streets and cities alike. I merely helped them raise their hands. You showed them no pity, no love, no care. So I did so in your stead. What, then, was wrong with that?" A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Possible drop in Abyssal CommissionsPrototype: Nocturne · WhipbladeMaterialsFather Ask said: "Look upon those you created, those denied rebirth. They cannot rise above suffering. Their tears blind them. They are cast adrift upon the briny waters, reeling through streets and cities alike. I merely helped them raise their hands. You showed them no pity, no love, no care. So I did so in your stead. What, then, was wrong with that?" A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Possible drop in Abyssal CommissionsPrototype: Perpetual StrifeMaterialsFather Ask said: "Look upon those you created, those denied rebirth. They cannot rise above suffering. Their tears blind them. They are cast adrift upon the briny waters, reeling through streets and cities alike. I merely helped them raise their hands. You showed them no pity, no love, no care. So I did so in your stead. What, then, was wrong with that?" A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Possible drop in Abyssal CommissionsPrototype: Sanguine PlumeMaterialsFather Ask said: "Look upon those you created, those denied rebirth. They cannot rise above suffering. Their tears blind them. They are cast adrift upon the briny waters, reeling through streets and cities alike. I merely helped them raise their hands. You showed them no pity, no love, no care. So I did so in your stead. What, then, was wrong with that?" A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Possible drop in Abyssal CommissionsPrototype: Sovereign EmberMaterialsFather Ask said: "Look upon those you created, those denied rebirth. They cannot rise above suffering. Their tears blind them. They are cast adrift upon the briny waters, reeling through streets and cities alike. I merely helped them raise their hands. You showed them no pity, no love, no care. So I did so in your stead. What, then, was wrong with that?" A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Possible drop in Abyssal CommissionsPrototype: Thorned RequiemMaterialsFather Ask said: "Look upon those you created, those denied rebirth. They cannot rise above suffering. Their tears blind them. They are cast adrift upon the briny waters, reeling through streets and cities alike. I merely helped them raise their hands. You showed them no pity, no love, no care. So I did so in your stead. What, then, was wrong with that?" A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Possible drop in Abyssal CommissionsPrototype: Tomorrow's RuinMaterialsFather Ask said: "Look upon those you created, those denied rebirth. They cannot rise above suffering. Their tears blind them. They are cast adrift upon the briny waters, reeling through streets and cities alike. I merely helped them raise their hands. You showed them no pity, no love, no care. So I did so in your stead. What, then, was wrong with that?" A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Possible drop in Abyssal CommissionsPunitive Inferno: BladeMaterials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgePunitive Inferno: GripMaterials"He is advancing, He is advancing! I hear his thunderous steps resound, I hear the Sword of Torrent scrape on the ground! He shall claim the lives of the unjust, No one here can escape the tempest! None can resist death's looming tonight, Nor wrest the sword from his grasp so tight!" Excerpt from Le Rhapsodie de Torrent, by Alexandre Thomas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgePyro CrystalMaterialsAsk presses on through dusk's lament. His gaze remains unclouded by the dark; he lifts it to the heavens and offers up his final light. Though his mind is cast into turmoil, it soon scatters like the shadows of days long gone. His swift legs pursue the storm, and fire bursts from his radiant eyes. His broad chest meets the rain, and his roar rolls like thunder. This is no curse, but the gift the Father left to his children. For from destruction, new life shall bloom. Lirico, Wandering Bard, in "Tales of the Misty Sea"How to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression ShopPyrothirst: BladeMaterials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgePyrothirst: GripMaterials"He is advancing, He is advancing! I hear his thunderous steps resound, I hear the Sword of Torrent scrape on the ground! He shall claim the lives of the unjust, No one here can escape the tempest! None can resist death's looming tonight, Nor wrest the sword from his grasp so tight!" Excerpt from Le Rhapsodie de Torrent, by Alexandre Thomas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeRadiant CrystalMaterialsMother Embla weeps. Her child, battered and bloodied, crawls through the blazing furnace, begging her for absolution. She would reclaim the joy and mercy once bestowed, and strip away every blessing once granted by her grace. For the evil he has wrought cannot be pardoned, nor the sins he bears forgiven. Then she sheds a single tear, and as it slips down her cheek, it hardens into a precious crystal. A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression ShopRemanent Reminiscence: BladeMaterials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeRemanent Reminiscence: GripMaterials"He is advancing, He is advancing! I hear his thunderous steps resound, I hear the Sword of Torrent scrape on the ground! He shall claim the lives of the unjust, No one here can escape the tempest! None can resist death's looming tonight, Nor wrest the sword from his grasp so tight!" Excerpt from Le Rhapsodie de Torrent, by Alexandre Thomas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeRendhusk: BarrelMaterials"I know everyone here likes to think of themselves as artists, but seriously, you're all a bunch of morons. What you do is simply alchemy, medicine, or drawing. What's the point of obsessing over the meaning of life or the consequences of your work? Check out this new gun I made, awesome, right?" Nisaya, Weapon Master of The AeolipileHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeRendhusk: BoltMaterials"The trigger is the most crucial part of any mechanical device. Even from a developer's perspective, I can tell you, no matter how intricate the internal workings are, it's just a piece of scrap if the trigger doesn't function properly. Trust me, I speak from experience, if my trigger had jammed back then, I wouldn't be here today." An unnamed veteran travellerHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeRendhusk: FrameMaterials"Sure, the legion gives us some freedom to customise our weapons, but painting my gun pink? That's where I draw the line! I don't care if you're my sister, that's still a no. And take that teddy bear charm off!" Lynn, an officer of the Hyperborean LegionHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSacred CandleMaterials"Under the argent moon's glow, we kneel to light the sacred candles, Hailing the Weaver of Fate's thread. May the sacred flame never be extinguished, As its radiance endures eternal." The Elysian Church PrayerHow to get: CommissionSacred Favour: BladeMaterials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSacred Favour: DecorationMaterials"What's so bad about being different? People are always bending over backwards trying to prove how unique they are. Me? Ha, I was born an outcast, a natural oddity shunned by Father Ask, the most bizarre ornament in the tribe!"..."The Raven" Chaos, from The ForsakensHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSacred Favour: GripMaterials"He is advancing, He is advancing! I hear his thunderous steps resound, I hear the Sword of Torrent scrape on the ground! He shall claim the lives of the unjust, No one here can escape the tempest! None can resist death's looming tonight, Nor wrest the sword from his grasp so tight!" Excerpt from Le Rhapsodie de Torrent, by Alexandre Thomas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSacrosanct Chorus: BarrelMaterials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSacrosanct Chorus: FrameMaterials"He is advancing, He is advancing! I hear his thunderous steps resound, I hear the Sword of Torrent scrape on the ground! He shall claim the lives of the unjust, No one here can escape the tempest! None can resist death's looming tonight, Nor wrest the sword from his grasp so tight!" Excerpt from Le Rhapsodie de Torrent, by Alexandre Thomas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSacrosanct Decree: BarrelMaterials"I know everyone here likes to think of themselves as artists, but seriously, you're all a bunch of morons. What you do is simply alchemy, medicine, or drawing. What's the point of obsessing over the meaning of life or the consequences of your work? Check out this new gun I made, awesome, right?" Nisaya, Weapon Master of The AeolipileHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSacrosanct Decree: BoltMaterials"The trigger is the most crucial part of any mechanical device. Even from a developer's perspective, I can tell you, no matter how intricate the internal workings are, it's just a piece of scrap if the trigger doesn't function properly. Trust me, I speak from experience, if my trigger had jammed back then, I wouldn't be here today." An unnamed veteran travellerHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSacrosanct Decree: FrameMaterials"Sure, the legion gives us some freedom to customise our weapons, but painting my gun pink? That's where I draw the line! I don't care if you're my sister, that's still a no. And take that teddy bear charm off!" Lynn, an officer of the Hyperborean LegionHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSanguis Sanctus · Katana: BladeMaterials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSanguis Sanctus · Katana: DecorationMaterials"What's so bad about being different? People are always bending over backwards trying to prove how unique they are. Me? Ha, I was born an outcast, a natural oddity shunned by Father Ask, the most bizarre ornament in the tribe!"..."The Raven" Chaos, from The ForsakensHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSanguis Sanctus · Katana: GripMaterials"He is advancing, He is advancing! I hear his thunderous steps resound, I hear the Sword of Torrent scrape on the ground! He shall claim the lives of the unjust, No one here can escape the tempest! None can resist death's looming tonight, Nor wrest the sword from his grasp so tight!" Excerpt from Le Rhapsodie de Torrent, by Alexandre Thomas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSanguis Sanctus · Pistol: BarrelMaterials"I know everyone here likes to think of themselves as artists, but seriously, you're all a bunch of morons. What you do is simply alchemy, medicine, or drawing. What's the point of obsessing over the meaning of life or the consequences of your work? Check out this new gun I made, awesome, right?" Nisaya, Weapon Master of The AeolipileHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSanguis Sanctus · Pistol: BoltMaterials"The trigger is the most crucial part of any mechanical device. Even from a developer's perspective, I can tell you, no matter how intricate the internal workings are, it's just a piece of scrap if the trigger doesn't function properly. Trust me, I speak from experience, if my trigger had jammed back then, I wouldn't be here today." An unnamed veteran travellerHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSanguis Sanctus · Pistol: FrameMaterials"Sure, the legion gives us some freedom to customise our weapons, but painting my gun pink? That's where I draw the line! I don't care if you're my sister, that's still a no. And take that teddy bear charm off!" Lynn, an officer of the Hyperborean LegionHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSanguis Sanctus · Whipblade: BladeMaterials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSanguis Sanctus · Whipblade: GripMaterials"He is advancing, He is advancing! I hear his thunderous steps resound, I hear the Sword of Torrent scrape on the ground! He shall claim the lives of the unjust, No one here can escape the tempest! None can resist death's looming tonight, Nor wrest the sword from his grasp so tight!" Excerpt from Le Rhapsodie de Torrent, by Alexandre Thomas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeScreamshot: BarrelMaterials"I know everyone here likes to think of themselves as artists, but seriously, you're all a bunch of morons. What you do is simply alchemy, medicine, or drawing. What's the point of obsessing over the meaning of life or the consequences of your work? Check out this new gun I made, awesome, right?" Nisaya, Weapon Master of The AeolipileHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeScreamshot: BoltMaterials"The trigger is the most crucial part of any mechanical device. Even from a developer's perspective, I can tell you, no matter how intricate the internal workings are, it's just a piece of scrap if the trigger doesn't function properly. Trust me, I speak from experience, if my trigger had jammed back then, I wouldn't be here today." An unnamed veteran travellerHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeScreamshot: FrameMaterials"Sure, the legion gives us some freedom to customise our weapons, but painting my gun pink? That's where I draw the line! I don't care if you're my sister, that's still a no. And take that teddy bear charm off!" Lynn, an officer of the Hyperborean LegionHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSearing Sandwhisper: BowstringMaterials"Sturdy, with just the right amount of give. I daresay it'd make quite the stylish weapon in the hands of an assassin." An unnamed novelist in search of inspirationHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSearing Sandwhisper: Lower LimbMaterials"Supple, yet strong, just what you need for a proper bow." LunosmithHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSearing Sandwhisper: RiserMaterials"A bow that can't hit its mark is just a fancy stick! There's got to be a way to improve its accuracy." An unnamed bowyerHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSearing Sandwhisper: Upper LimbMaterials"Supple, yet strong, just what you need for a proper bow." LunosmithHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeShackle of Lonewolf: BladeMaterials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeShackle of Lonewolf: GripMaterials"He is advancing, He is advancing! I hear his thunderous steps resound, I hear the Sword of Torrent scrape on the ground! He shall claim the lives of the unjust, No one here can escape the tempest! None can resist death's looming tonight, Nor wrest the sword from his grasp so tight!" Excerpt from Le Rhapsodie de Torrent, by Alexandre Thomas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSignal CableMaterials"Hey, kid, fancy a firework show? Follow this genius's lead, spark up that wire, and I promise, you'll see the grandest fireworks ever!" Oliver the Bomb ExpertHow to get: Commission; Shop; Dropped by any enemySilent Sower: BarrelMaterials"I know everyone here likes to think of themselves as artists, but seriously, you're all a bunch of morons. What you do is simply alchemy, medicine, or drawing. What's the point of obsessing over the meaning of life or the consequences of your work? Check out this new gun I made, awesome, right?" Nisaya, Weapon Master of The AeolipileHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSilent Sower: BoltMaterials"The trigger is the most crucial part of any mechanical device. Even from a developer's perspective, I can tell you, no matter how intricate the internal workings are, it's just a piece of scrap if the trigger doesn't function properly. Trust me, I speak from experience, if my trigger had jammed back then, I wouldn't be here today." An unnamed veteran travellerHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSilent Sower: FrameMaterials"Sure, the legion gives us some freedom to customise our weapons, but painting my gun pink? That's where I draw the line! I don't care if you're my sister, that's still a no. And take that teddy bear charm off!" Lynn, an officer of the Hyperborean LegionHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSilverwhite Edict: BarrelMaterials"I know everyone here likes to think of themselves as artists, but seriously, you're all a bunch of morons. What you do is simply alchemy, medicine, or drawing. What's the point of obsessing over the meaning of life or the consequences of your work? Check out this new gun I made, awesome, right?" Nisaya, Weapon Master of The AeolipileHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSilverwhite Edict: BoltMaterials"The trigger is the most crucial part of any mechanical device. Even from a developer's perspective, I can tell you, no matter how intricate the internal workings are, it's just a piece of scrap if the trigger doesn't function properly. Trust me, I speak from experience, if my trigger had jammed back then, I wouldn't be here today." An unnamed veteran travellerHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSilverwhite Edict: FrameMaterials"Sure, the legion gives us some freedom to customise our weapons, but painting my gun pink? That's where I draw the line! I don't care if you're my sister, that's still a no. And take that teddy bear charm off!" Lynn, an officer of the Hyperborean LegionHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSiren's Kiss: BladeMaterials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSiren's Kiss: GripMaterials"He is advancing, He is advancing! I hear his thunderous steps resound, I hear the Sword of Torrent scrape on the ground! He shall claim the lives of the unjust, No one here can escape the tempest! None can resist death's looming tonight, Nor wrest the sword from his grasp so tight!" Excerpt from Le Rhapsodie de Torrent, by Alexandre Thomas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSkyfall Duality: Blade (Left)Materials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSkyfall Duality: Blade (Right)Materials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSkyfall Duality: GripMaterials"He is advancing, He is advancing! I hear his thunderous steps resound, I hear the Sword of Torrent scrape on the ground! He shall claim the lives of the unjust, No one here can escape the tempest! None can resist death's looming tonight, Nor wrest the sword from his grasp so tight!" Excerpt from Le Rhapsodie de Torrent, by Alexandre Thomas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSnowswift Tail FeatherMaterials"When the spring breeze sweeps across the snowy plains and brushes through the branches, the birds adorn themselves with airy new feathers, leaving their old winter plumage behind for those who pour their thoughts onto paper... It is with these less delicate feathers that Fina's dreams soar high." Fina, a resident of IcelakeHow to get: Commission; Shop; Dropped by any enemySoulprint: AngerMaterialsTo guard memory from time's reach, we tuck it gently into cherished items. And when these resurface, the Soulprints sealed within stir... and bloom before our eyes.How to get: Lunoeggy's Impression ShopSoulprint: FearMaterialsTo guard memory from time's reach, we tuck it gently into cherished items. And when these resurface, the Soulprints sealed within stir... and bloom before our eyes.How to get: Lunoeggy's Impression ShopSoulprint: JoyMaterialsTo guard memory from time's reach, we tuck it gently into cherished items. And when these resurface, the Soulprints sealed within stir... and bloom before our eyes.How to get: Lunoeggy's Impression ShopSoulprint: LongingMaterialsTo guard memory from time's reach, we tuck it gently into cherished items. And when these resurface, the Soulprints sealed within stir... and bloom before our eyes.How to get: Lunoeggy's Impression ShopSoulprint: SerenityMaterialsTo guard memory from time's reach, we tuck it gently into cherished items. And when these resurface, the Soulprints sealed within stir... and bloom before our eyes.How to get: Lunoeggy's Impression ShopSoulprint: SorrowMaterialsTo guard memory from time's reach, we tuck it gently into cherished items. And when these resurface, the Soulprints sealed within stir... and bloom before our eyes.How to get: Lunoeggy's Impression ShopSoulprint: TapestryMaterialsTo guard memory from time's reach, we tuck it gently into cherished items. And when these resurface, the Soulprints sealed within stir... and bloom before our eyes.How to get: Lunoeggy's Impression ShopSoulprint: TrustMaterialsTo guard memory from time's reach, we tuck it gently into cherished items. And when these resurface, the Soulprints sealed within stir... and bloom before our eyes.How to get: Lunoeggy's Impression ShopSoulprint: UncertaintyMaterialsTo guard memory from time's reach, we tuck it gently into cherished items. And when these resurface, the Soulprints sealed within stir... and bloom before our eyes.How to get: Lunoeggy's Impression ShopSoulrend: BowstringMaterials"The trigger is the most crucial part of any mechanical device. Even from a developer's perspective, I can tell you, no matter how intricate the internal workings are, it's just a piece of scrap if the trigger doesn't function properly. Trust me, I speak from experience, if my trigger had jammed back then, I wouldn't be here today." An unnamed veteran travellerHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSoulrend: Lower LimbMaterials"I know everyone here likes to think of themselves as artists, but seriously, you're all a bunch of morons. What you do is simply alchemy, medicine, or drawing. What's the point of obsessing over the meaning of life or the consequences of your work? Check out this new gun I made, awesome, right?" Nisaya, Weapon Master of The AeolipileHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSoulrend: Upper LimbMaterials"Sure, the legion gives us some freedom to customise our weapons, but painting my gun pink? That's where I draw the line! I don't care if you're my sister, that's still a no. And take that teddy bear charm off!" Lynn, an officer of the Hyperborean LegionHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeStatue DebrisMaterials"Thy spring of youth hath waned, ne'er to renew." "Yet, 'tis not a cause to sheathe the blade." "Thy light of wisdom hath dimmed, ne'er to relume." "Yet, 'tis not a cause to mute the words." "Thy path to return doth end, ne'er to tread anew." "Yet, 'tis not a cause to halt the advance." "O valiant soul bereft of might, mind, and home! The hero with nothing left to offer for war! Heed Destiny's inquiry, what dost thy heart yearn? Whither dost thy blade drive?" Anonymous Poet, Excerpt from "The Spindle of the Goddess of Fate"How to get: Commission; Shop; Dropped by any enemyStellar Finality: BarrelMaterials"I know everyone here likes to think of themselves as artists, but seriously, you're all a bunch of morons. What you do is simply alchemy, medicine, or drawing. What's the point of obsessing over the meaning of life or the consequences of your work? Check out this new gun I made, awesome, right?" Nisaya, Weapon Master of The AeolipileHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeStellar Finality: BoltMaterials"The trigger is the most crucial part of any mechanical device. Even from a developer's perspective, I can tell you, no matter how intricate the internal workings are, it's just a piece of scrap if the trigger doesn't function properly. Trust me, I speak from experience, if my trigger had jammed back then, I wouldn't be here today." An unnamed veteran travellerHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeStellar Finality: FrameMaterials"Sure, the legion gives us some freedom to customise our weapons, but painting my gun pink? That's where I draw the line! I don't care if you're my sister, that's still a no. And take that teddy bear charm off!" Lynn, an officer of the Hyperborean LegionHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeStifled Howl: Blade (Left)Materials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeStifled Howl: Blade (Right)Materials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeStifled Howl: GripMaterials"He is advancing, He is advancing! I hear his thunderous steps resound, I hear the Sword of Torrent scrape on the ground! He shall claim the lives of the unjust, No one here can escape the tempest! None can resist death's looming tonight, Nor wrest the sword from his grasp so tight!" Excerpt from Le Rhapsodie de Torrent, by Alexandre Thomas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeStone PowderMaterials"Blinded, the stones began to whisper to me... their murmurs guiding my chisel, crafting shapes they yearned to become." Vina, Elysian SculptorHow to get: Commission; Shop; Dropped by any enemySubmerged Serenade: BarrelMaterials"I know everyone here likes to think of themselves as artists, but seriously, you're all a bunch of morons. What you do is simply alchemy, medicine, or drawing. What's the point of obsessing over the meaning of life or the consequences of your work? Check out this new gun I made, awesome, right?" Nisaya, Weapon Master of The AeolipileHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSubmerged Serenade: BoltMaterials"The trigger is the most crucial part of any mechanical device. Even from a developer's perspective, I can tell you, no matter how intricate the internal workings are, it's just a piece of scrap if the trigger doesn't function properly. Trust me, I speak from experience, if my trigger had jammed back then, I wouldn't be here today." An unnamed veteran travellerHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeSubmerged Serenade: FrameMaterials"Sure, the legion gives us some freedom to customise our weapons, but painting my gun pink? That's where I draw the line! I don't care if you're my sister, that's still a no. And take that teddy bear charm off!" Lynn, an officer of the Hyperborean LegionHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeTear of Embla: DefenceMaterialsHe groped his way along the rough rock wall, never stopping even as his palms were cut raw and stained red. His breathing grew heavy, his steps grew numb. He had a feeling that one wrong step would send him falling, and that would be the end. Until he saw a light, so faint it could have been a hallucination. What is that? Am I dead? He muttered to himself, but instinct drove him toward that faint glimmer. The Mystery of the Calamity Furnace, an adventure novelHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Disassemble Abyssal Compasses of certain levelsTear of Embla: ExpeditionMaterialsHe groped his way along the rough rock wall, never stopping even as his palms were cut raw and stained red. His breathing grew heavy, his steps grew numb. He had a feeling that one wrong step would send him falling, and that would be the end. Until he saw a light, so faint it could have been a hallucination. What is that? Am I dead? He muttered to himself, but instinct drove him toward that faint glimmer. The Mystery of the Calamity Furnace, an adventure novelHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Disassemble Abyssal Compasses of certain levelsTetherlash: BladeMaterials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeTetherlash: GripMaterials"He is advancing, He is advancing! I hear his thunderous steps resound, I hear the Sword of Torrent scrape on the ground! He shall claim the lives of the unjust, No one here can escape the tempest! None can resist death's looming tonight, Nor wrest the sword from his grasp so tight!" Excerpt from Le Rhapsodie de Torrent, by Alexandre Thomas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeThe Best Day: BarrelMaterials"I know everyone here likes to think of themselves as artists, but seriously, you're all a bunch of morons. What you do is simply alchemy, medicine, or drawing. What's the point of obsessing over the meaning of life or the consequences of your work? Check out this new gun I made, awesome, right?" Nisaya, Weapon Master of The AeolipileHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeThe Best Day: FrameMaterials"Sure, the legion gives us some freedom to customise our weapons, but painting my gun pink? That's where I draw the line! I don't care if you're my sister, that's still a no. And take that teddy bear charm off!" Lynn, an officer of the Hyperborean LegionHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeThe Hatter's Banquet: BowstringMaterials"Sturdy, with just the right amount of give. I daresay it'd make quite the stylish weapon in the hands of an assassin." An unnamed novelist in search of inspirationHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeThe Hatter's Banquet: Lower LimbMaterials"Supple, yet strong, just what you need for a proper bow." LunosmithHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeThe Hatter's Banquet: Upper LimbMaterials"Supple, yet strong, just what you need for a proper bow." LunosmithHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeTrigon Muse: BarrelMaterials"I know everyone here likes to think of themselves as artists, but seriously, you're all a bunch of morons. What you do is simply alchemy, medicine, or drawing. What's the point of obsessing over the meaning of life or the consequences of your work? Check out this new gun I made, awesome, right?" Nisaya, Weapon Master of The AeolipileHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeTrigon Muse: BoltMaterials"The trigger is the most crucial part of any mechanical device. Even from a developer's perspective, I can tell you, no matter how intricate the internal workings are, it's just a piece of scrap if the trigger doesn't function properly. Trust me, I speak from experience, if my trigger had jammed back then, I wouldn't be here today." An unnamed veteran travellerHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeTrigon Muse: FrameMaterials"Sure, the legion gives us some freedom to customise our weapons, but painting my gun pink? That's where I draw the line! I don't care if you're my sister, that's still a no. And take that teddy bear charm off!" Lynn, an officer of the Hyperborean LegionHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeUmbro CrystalMaterialsAsk presses on through dusk's lament. His gaze remains unclouded by the dark; he lifts it to the heavens and offers up his final light. Though his mind is cast into turmoil, it soon scatters like the shadows of days long gone. His swift legs pursue the storm, and fire bursts from his radiant eyes. His broad chest meets the rain, and his roar rolls like thunder. This is no curse, but the gift the Father left to his children. For from destruction, new life shall bloom. Lirico, Wandering Bard, in "Tales of the Misty Sea"How to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression ShopUndying Oneiros: BladeMaterials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeUndying Oneiros: GripMaterials"He is advancing, He is advancing! I hear his thunderous steps resound, I hear the Sword of Torrent scrape on the ground! He shall claim the lives of the unjust, No one here can escape the tempest! None can resist death's looming tonight, Nor wrest the sword from his grasp so tight!" Excerpt from Le Rhapsodie de Torrent, by Alexandre Thomas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeUsed to craft and upgrade Calamity WeaponsMaterialsFather Ask said: "Look upon those you created, those denied rebirth. They cannot rise above suffering. Their tears blind them. They are cast adrift upon the briny waters, reeling through streets and cities alike. I merely helped them raise their hands. You showed them no pity, no love, no care. So I did so in your stead. What, then, was wrong with that?" A tribal legend from AskardHow to get: Commission; Memento; Shop; Forge; Lunoeggy's Impression Shop; Possible drop in Abyssal CommissionsVehicle ArmourMaterials"The blizzards of the north are devastating to both soul and shoddy homes. Winter's toll ran high until the Aeolipile devised 'iron rooftops'. Merely crude, hefty iron plates, yet they averted snow's deadly weight, from that year on, there were almost no deaths from snow. This technique was later adapted for military use; though, rumour has it, the military still hasn't paid them for the patent." Dylan the Walking Encyclopedia, in "Into the Unseen Corners"How to get: Commission; Shop; Dropped by any enemyVenial Sinscales: BladeMaterials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeVenial Sinscales: GripMaterials"He is advancing, He is advancing! I hear his thunderous steps resound, I hear the Sword of Torrent scrape on the ground! He shall claim the lives of the unjust, No one here can escape the tempest! None can resist death's looming tonight, Nor wrest the sword from his grasp so tight!" Excerpt from Le Rhapsodie de Torrent, by Alexandre Thomas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeVermilion TeardropMaterials"Through wilderness, thorns pierce his bare feet; Still, his haste unceased. In search for the lost beloved, Until his arms, aloft, turn to towering peaks, His blood and tears bloom into crimson wreaths." Lirico, Wandering Bard, in "Tales of the Misty Sea"How to get: Commission; Shop; Dropped by any enemyVernal Jade Halberd: BladeMaterials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeVernal Jade Halberd: GripMaterials"He is advancing, He is advancing! I hear his thunderous steps resound, I hear the Sword of Torrent scrape on the ground! He shall claim the lives of the unjust, No one here can escape the tempest! None can resist death's looming tonight, Nor wrest the sword from his grasp so tight!" Excerpt from Le Rhapsodie de Torrent, by Alexandre Thomas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeViridis Reefs: BladeMaterials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeViridis Reefs: GripMaterials"He is advancing, He is advancing! I hear his thunderous steps resound, I hear the Sword of Torrent scrape on the ground! He shall claim the lives of the unjust, No one here can escape the tempest! None can resist death's looming tonight, Nor wrest the sword from his grasp so tight!" Excerpt from Le Rhapsodie de Torrent, by Alexandre Thomas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeWandering Rose: BladeMaterials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeWandering Rose: GripMaterials"He is advancing, He is advancing! I hear his thunderous steps resound, I hear the Sword of Torrent scrape on the ground! He shall claim the lives of the unjust, No one here can escape the tempest! None can resist death's looming tonight, Nor wrest the sword from his grasp so tight!" Excerpt from Le Rhapsodie de Torrent, by Alexandre Thomas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeWanewraith: BladeMaterials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeWanewraith: GripMaterials"He is advancing, He is advancing! I hear his thunderous steps resound, I hear the Sword of Torrent scrape on the ground! He shall claim the lives of the unjust, No one here can escape the tempest! None can resist death's looming tonight, Nor wrest the sword from his grasp so tight!" Excerpt from Le Rhapsodie de Torrent, by Alexandre Thomas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeWithershade: BladeMaterials"The essence of swordsmanship lies in the unity of the wielder's spirit. With utmost focus, one can cleave through the mightiest foes, be they ocean waves or leviathans." Excerpt from The Art of the Sword, by a nameless swordsman from HuaxuHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeWithershade: DecorationMaterials"What's so bad about being different? People are always bending over backwards trying to prove how unique they are. Me? Ha, I was born an outcast, a natural oddity shunned by Father Ask, the most bizarre ornament in the tribe!"..."The Raven" Chaos, from The ForsakensHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeWithershade: GripMaterials"He is advancing, He is advancing! I hear his thunderous steps resound, I hear the Sword of Torrent scrape on the ground! He shall claim the lives of the unjust, No one here can escape the tempest! None can resist death's looming tonight, Nor wrest the sword from his grasp so tight!" Excerpt from Le Rhapsodie de Torrent, by Alexandre Thomas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: Covert Commissions; ReforgeCombat Melody ⅠEXP materials"I'm with Sander on this. In the earliest renditions, Euaron bore no malevolence. She was a singer in the realm of duality. Her voice, like the breeze soothing the warriors' souls, bestowed them with the courage for battle. It's clear that across a dozen later versions, Euaron's enchanting voice remains her hallmark." Mayya "The concept of the realm of duality and Euaron's root are utterly disconnected, with no linguistic theories to support such a claim. This is clearly a far-fetched association." Torina "What are you arguing about? It's all gibberish to me." Rees "Oi! Quit yapping utter tripe that just fills the air!" MittyHow to get: Commission; ShopCombat Melody ⅡEXP materials"I'm with Sander on this. In the earliest renditions, Euaron bore no malevolence. She was a singer in the realm of duality. Her voice, like the breeze soothing the warriors' souls, bestowed them with the courage for battle. It's clear that across a dozen later versions, Euaron's enchanting voice remains her hallmark." Mayya "The concept of the realm of duality and Euaron's root are utterly disconnected, with no linguistic theories to support such a claim. This is clearly a far-fetched association." Torina "What are you arguing about? It's all gibberish to me." Rees "Oi! Quit yapping utter tripe that just fills the air!" MittyHow to get: Commission; ShopCombat Melody ⅢEXP materials"I'm with Sander on this. In the earliest renditions, Euaron bore no malevolence. She was a singer in the realm of duality. Her voice, like the breeze soothing the warriors' souls, bestowed them with the courage for battle. It's clear that across a dozen later versions, Euaron's enchanting voice remains her hallmark." Mayya "The concept of the realm of duality and Euaron's root are utterly disconnected, with no linguistic theories to support such a claim. This is clearly a far-fetched association." Torina "What are you arguing about? It's all gibberish to me." Rees "Oi! Quit yapping utter tripe that just fills the air!" MittyHow to get: Commission; Shop; The Spindle of Fate; MementoCombat Melody ⅣEXP materials"I'm with Sander on this. In the earliest renditions, Euaron bore no malevolence. She was a singer in the realm of duality. Her voice, like the breeze soothing the warriors' souls, bestowed them with the courage for battle. It's clear that across a dozen later versions, Euaron's enchanting voice remains her hallmark." Mayya "The concept of the realm of duality and Euaron's root are utterly disconnected, with no linguistic theories to support such a claim. This is clearly a far-fetched association." Torina "What are you arguing about? It's all gibberish to me." Rees "Oi! Quit yapping utter tripe that just fills the air!" MittyHow to get: Commission; ShopTrial EXPEXP materials"Go to them, find solace amongst the banished souls. Endure the twilight's cleansing, navigate through the boundless gloom, Together, towards the dawn of a new day."...???How to get: QuestsTrial EXPEXP materials"Go to them, find solace amongst the banished souls. Endure the twilight's cleansing, navigate through the boundless gloom, Together, towards the dawn of a new day."...???How to get: QuestsWeapon Manual ⅠEXP materials"Fiery sparks lash against your cheeks, while the clang of steel tears through your ears. Should your heart tremble for it, should your blood surge for it, Then step forth, and wield your blade, Embrace the fate of battle, until there is no turning back." Anonymous, on the title page of "The Art of Combat"How to get: Commission; ShopWeapon Manual ⅡEXP materials"Fiery sparks lash against your cheeks, while the clang of steel tears through your ears. Should your heart tremble for it, should your blood surge for it, Then step forth, and wield your blade, Embrace the fate of battle, until there is no turning back." Anonymous, on the title page of "The Art of Combat"How to get: Commission; ShopWeapon Manual ⅢEXP materials"Fiery sparks lash against your cheeks, while the clang of steel tears through your ears. Should your heart tremble for it, should your blood surge for it, Then step forth, and wield your blade, Embrace the fate of battle, until there is no turning back." Anonymous, on the title page of "The Art of Combat"How to get: Commission; Shop; The Spindle of Fate; MementoWeapon Manual ⅣEXP materials"Fiery sparks lash against your cheeks, while the clang of steel tears through your ears. Should your heart tremble for it, should your blood surge for it, Then step forth, and wield your blade, Embrace the fate of battle, until there is no turning back." Anonymous, on the title page of "The Art of Combat"How to get: Commission; ShopYum CreamEXP materials"Dull coat? Low energy? Probably just a lack of proper nutrients. Here, try this little mix I made. Oh, don't get me wrong! I'm not saying you haven't been taking good care of your Geniemons!" A well-meaning Geniemon lover, trying to reassure a worried friendHow to get: MemoYum-Yum CreamEXP materials"Dull coat? Low energy? Probably just a lack of proper nutrients. Here, try this little mix I made. Oh, don't get me wrong! I'm not saying you haven't been taking good care of your Geniemons!" A well-meaning Geniemon lover, trying to reassure a worried friendYum-Yum-Yum CreamEXP materials"Dull coat? Low energy? Probably just a lack of proper nutrients. Here, try this little mix I made. Oh, don't get me wrong! I'm not saying you haven't been taking good care of your Geniemons!" A well-meaning Geniemon lover, trying to reassure a worried friendA Geniemon's Ballad ⅠCurrency"Beep-bee-bap-bap-bap-boop-boop! (All hail our hardworking, ever-lucky master!)" An excited GeniemonHow to get: Source: Bounty CommissionsA Geniemon's Ballad ⅡCurrency"Beep-bee-bap-bap-bap-boop-boop! (All hail our hardworking, ever-lucky master!)" An excited GeniemonHow to get: Source: Geniemon Surprise ChestsAngler's TokenCurrencyTake it. Consider it your graduation gift. Don't underestimate this little coin, I've spent a lifetime chasing fish that couldn't stand the sight of me. This coin... is all I have left to give. A veteran angler clutching a coin, reluctant to let goHow to get: Sell CatchCarmine GlobuleCurrency"Spirits of kindred align, resonating as one. In crimson deep, awaken powers asleep." Inscription from an unearthed tablet in the Askard FjordHow to get: Commission; Shop; The Spindle of Fate; MementoCogCurrencyCogCurrencyCoinCurrency"One, two, three... three hundred and sixty! Behold, the Demon King's piggy bank of dreams. I now grant this to you, make sure it's put to good use!" Snow the "Demon King"How to get: Commission; Shop; Dropped by any enemy; The Spindle of Fate; MementoEmbersCurrency"I beg of you... please don't take my final gleam of light..." A twisted figure in the abyssPhoxcoinCurrencyProof of participating in the Apex Rankings, a mark of honour among Phoxhunters.How to get: Apex Rankings Stage RewardsPhoxcoinCurrencyProof of participating in the Apex Rankings, a mark of honour among Phoxhunters.How to get: Apex Rankings Stage RewardsPhoxeneCurrency"I'd say Phoxene is less currency, more 'bewitching stones' with an allure that no one can resist. In Atlasia, many have ventured through great trials and hardships, or even perished, all in the quest for these tiny rocks." Comnena, Chief Librarian of the Aethyrie Cloud Cavern Library, in "Betwixt Leaves and Branches, History of Atlasia"Phoxene PlumuleCurrency"Heaventrees, their branches aglow with crystalline fruit, once bathed the southern towers in silver light. From that radiance, humanity's earliest faiths took root. A millennium later, scholars in pursuit of the trees' secrets distilled from them a substance known as Phoxichor, the very essence of their light. Thus began Atlasia's age of Blue Gold and whirring gears. Once more, mankind stood at the cusp of transformation... The history of Atlasia is, and has always been, the history of Heaventrees." Tachitus, Elysian Historian, ChroniclesPhoxhunter's CantoCurrency"Fill up your goblets; let the wine flow down! Tonight belongs to the Phoxhunters, and theirs alone. Be stingy not with flowers or coin, A hero, a walking legend, deserves their shining crown!" Percy Ballard, wandering bard, Song of the PhoxhuntersHow to get: Source: Bounty CommissionsRepertoire KeepsakeCurrencyA commemorative keepsake from the theatre, inscribed with the legends and emotions of every stage. Can be exchanged for special rewards.How to get: Immersive TheatreStarglintCurrencyA glint of starlight on a trinket, capturing a fleeting moment of brilliance.How to get: Obtained upon duplicate acquisitionStarglow CoinCurrencyA commemorative coin that gleams like starlight. Exchange it for various rewards. Dress to impress and shine like a star.Starglow CoinCurrencyA commemorative coin that gleams like starlight. Exchange it for various rewards. Dress to impress and shine like a star.Starglow CoinCurrencyA commemorative coin that gleams like starlight. Exchange it for various rewards. Dress to impress and shine like a star.Thread of TimeCurrency"On the night of the full moon, its light spills across every corner of the tower. And the Goddess of Fate, in all Her grace, gathers that silver radiance, spinning it into the finest thread, weaving it into a veil of glistening white. So fine no mortal eye can trace it... and yet vast enough to enfold the fates of the world." Tales of the Tower, an Elysian children's bookHow to get: Mystic MazeTicket StubCurrencyEtched with stage-light and heartbeat, it keeps the show's afterglow. Redeemable for various items.How to get: Immersive TheatreTrack-Shift ModuleUpgrades"Mastering the art of using tools on the right occasions isn't laziness. In fact, it's a vital tactic for wrapping up battles efficiently. As for the time saved, it's naturally meant for relaxing one's weary body and mind with a well-deserved sleep..." Randy, Hyperborean OfficerHow to get: Shop; ForgeWeapon Track-Shift ModuleUpgrades"Of course, weapons have their own temperaments! If she's upset, it throws me off in combat... It's only natural to feel this way, as we are the closest comrades and partners! Am I right, Samael?" Lisbell, candidate for "Patience" of the Seven Virtues of ElysiumHow to get: Shop; ForgeCoolantForging"Take me to see the glacial blues of the North, Beneath the grey canopy of sky, Where a vast ocean of stern, metallic hues lies." Lirico, the Wandering Bard, in "Tales of the Misty Sea"How to get: ForgeGold SandForging"Here I lay in eternal repose, Beneath countless sand grains, With no opulent sepulchre, But at dawn's light, My golden grave gleams bright."..."The Gold Miners' Evening Bell", a Khemet balladHow to get: ForgeGold SandForging"Here I lay in eternal repose, Beneath countless sand grains, With no opulent sepulchre, But at dawn's light, My golden grave gleams bright."..."The Gold Miners' Evening Bell", a Khemet balladHow to get: ForgeProjectileForging"Its design was inspired by hunting, my family used to be hunters, and we had to cater to various needs of clients. If the prey's size was all that mattered, sheer firepower could do the trick; for fur preservation, the bullet's impact had to be internal, minimising external damage; as for pets, the wounds needed to be treatable, a real challenge! At first, I just wanted to make Dad's life easier, with no plan to create anything big. Sadly, these bullets ended up on the battlefield, and not even a shell found its way back to him." Nisaea, Aeolipile Master Gunsmith, in casual conversation at a secret tea party, recorded in "Gatherings Under the Night-Blooming Jasmine"How to get: ForgeRepulsive CrystalForging"Humanity's tale is one of combat with Filthoids. For fifteen centuries, we've but 'driven them away', never truly vanquished them... for true understanding had always eluded us... Now, the tide turns. The Repulsive Crystal's unveiling, I believe, marks our first stride towards a true 'triumph' over them." Timbergen, Pioneer of Filthology at Spathatoi, in "History of Filthoids: From the High Tower to the Mosken Sea"How to get: ForgeSharpening PotionForging"Beside me descends the scythe-bearing deity, Forbidding retreat, hesitation, or doubt. I shall be the extension of its blade, I shall be the embodiment of its will, I shall slay without mercy, Till all foes rest under its wings named Death." Extracted from the Elysian Scriptures, "Hymnal Vol. 2"How to get: ForgeWeaponholderForging"Few know that the Gad Weaponholder was the first patented invention. When the patent system was first introduced, no one was willing to risk their trade secrets; while the Gad Weaponholder is simple in technology, so it was put forward to test the waters. Of course, it ended up being a tremendous success. Ol' Gad could have made a fortune from this patent, but, 'I've made a mere holder ace all my life. I'm just glad you all like it. Go ahead, use it as you wish, for free!' said he. Quite touching, isn't it?" Dylan the Walking Encyclopedia, in "Into the Unseen Corners"How to get: ForgeWeaponholderForging"Few know that the Gad Weaponholder was the first patented invention. When the patent system was first introduced, no one was willing to risk their trade secrets; while the Gad Weaponholder is simple in technology, so it was put forward to test the waters. Of course, it ended up being a tremendous success. Ol' Gad could have made a fortune from this patent, but, 'I've made a mere holder ace all my life. I'm just glad you all like it. Go ahead, use it as you wish, for free!' said he. Quite touching, isn't it?" Dylan the Walking Encyclopedia, in "Into the Unseen Corners"Ammo Supply Chest ⅠConsumables"Bullets are the cruellest yet most merciful thing. They are the lips and teeth of the god of war, impartially kissing and nipping at every warm body. Be they monks or commoners, merchants or beggars, overlords or courtesans." Comnena, Chief Librarian of the Aethyrie Cloud Cavern Library, in "Betwixt Leaves and Branches, History of Atlasia"How to get: ForgeAmmo Supply Chest ⅡConsumables"Bullets are the cruellest yet most merciful thing. They are the lips and teeth of the god of war, impartially kissing and nipping at every warm body. Be they monks or commoners, merchants or beggars, overlords or courtesans." Comnena, Chief Librarian of the Aethyrie Cloud Cavern Library, in "Betwixt Leaves and Branches, History of Atlasia"How to get: ForgeCognizing Sal Volatile ⅠConsumables"There were times, after I inadvertently had poisonous berries, tumbled down slopes, or fought fierce beasts, I thought I'd slip into sleep and never wake again. What woke me wasn't strong will, dreams, or even anyone's voice, it was merely instinct and a small vial of smelling salts." Outsider the PhoxhunterHow to get: ForgeCognizing Sal Volatile ⅡConsumables"There were times, after I inadvertently had poisonous berries, tumbled down slopes, or fought fierce beasts, I thought I'd slip into sleep and never wake again. What woke me wasn't strong will, dreams, or even anyone's voice, it was merely instinct and a small vial of smelling salts." Outsider the PhoxhunterHow to get: ForgeCommission Manual: Volume ⅠConsumables"Let's see, today's commissions include... finding a lost wallet, saving a stray cat on the roof, and mending a broken heart?? Handling all these trivial jobs one by one is a real hassle. I'll just bundle them together and finish them in one go." Outsider, a PhoxhunterHow to get: Memo; ShopCommission Manual: Volume ⅡConsumables"Let's see, today's commissions include... finding a lost wallet, saving a stray cat on the roof, and mending a broken heart?? Handling all these trivial jobs one by one is a real hassle. I'll just bundle them together and finish them in one go." Outsider, a PhoxhunterHow to get: Shop; ForgeCommission Manual: Volume ⅢConsumables"Let's see, today's commissions include... finding a lost wallet, saving a stray cat on the roof, and mending a broken heart?? Handling all these trivial jobs one by one is a real hassle. I'll just bundle them together and finish them in one go." Outsider, a PhoxhunterHow to get: Shop; ForgeCommission Manual: Volume ⅣConsumables"Let's see, today's commissions include... finding a lost wallet, saving a stray cat on the roof, and mending a broken heart?? Handling all these trivial jobs one by one is a real hassle. I'll just bundle them together and finish them in one go." Outsider, a PhoxhunterHow to get: Shop; ForgeMechanical NexusConsumablesTaixu arose from the primeval mists, formless, colourless, diffusing through all six directions. Later, when Zhuyin succumbed to corruption, its impurities settled and hardened, giving rise to the tangible substance we now call Gritblight... What's that, you'd rather I skip the principles and go straight to the instructions? Alas. Youngsters these days have no patience at all. Master Gongshang, Mechanist of Jishu SectMechanical Nexus: The BaneConsumables"Hmm... so that's how it works. The resonance chamber pulls the energy into focus, and the focusing element snaps it into an incredibly precise beam. Fascinating... I might be up half the night figuring this out!" Su YiSal Volatile ⅠConsumables"There were times, after I inadvertently had poisonous berries, tumbled down slopes, or fought fierce beasts, I thought I'd slip into sleep and never wake again. What woke me wasn't strong will, dreams, or even anyone's voice, it was merely instinct and a small vial of smelling salts." Outsider the PhoxhunterHow to get: ForgeSal Volatile ⅡConsumables"There were times, after I inadvertently had poisonous berries, tumbled down slopes, or fought fierce beasts, I thought I'd slip into sleep and never wake again. What woke me wasn't strong will, dreams, or even anyone's voice, it was merely instinct and a small vial of smelling salts." Outsider the PhoxhunterHow to get: ForgeScented Smelling SaltsConsumables"There were times, after I inadvertently had poisonous berries, tumbled down slopes, or fought fierce beasts, I thought I'd slip into sleep and never wake again. What woke me wasn't strong will, dreams, or even anyone's voice, it was merely instinct and a small vial of smelling salts." Outsider the PhoxhunterHow to get: Token RewardsSobering Smelling SaltsConsumables"There were times, after I inadvertently had poisonous berries, tumbled down slopes, or fought fierce beasts, I thought I'd slip into sleep and never wake again. What woke me wasn't strong will, dreams, or even anyone's voice, it was merely instinct and a small vial of smelling salts." Outsider the PhoxhunterHow to get: Token RewardsTeam PassConsumablesOnly Phoxhunter teams that have proven themselves through many commissions earn the right to this pass and the chance to compete for higher ranks. The system protects newcomers while recognising the skill of veteran Phoxhunters.How to get: Commission RewardsUh-Oh TreatConsumables"I never even knew it could do that. I don't know what it's made of, either. Maybe it hit me in a drunken haze... maybe I passed out mid-cuddle. Or maybe, just maybe, it's because I love my Geniemon friends that much." A true Geniemon enthusiastHow to get: Shop; ForgeYum TreatConsumables"The secret recipe that every Geniemon craves: three parts fruit, two slices of choice meat, all topped off with a generous, never-expiring dollop of love." A true Geniemon enthusiastHow to get: Shop; ForgeYum-Yum TreatConsumables"The secret recipe that every Geniemon craves: three parts fruit, two slices of choice meat, all topped off with a generous, never-expiring dollop of love." A true Geniemon enthusiastHow to get: Shop; ForgeIntermediate Dye: BellflowerDyes"People often believe colours carry emotion, red for passion, green for calm, blue for sorrow. Flowers are much the same: the very same bloom can feel different when its hue changes. So, when customers arrive, I suggest a colour to suit their mood. Now then... which shade will you choose?" Psyche, IcelakeHow to get: ShopIntermediate Dye: CocoaDyes"People often believe colours carry emotion, red for passion, green for calm, blue for sorrow. Flowers are much the same: the very same bloom can feel different when its hue changes. So, when customers arrive, I suggest a colour to suit their mood. Now then... which shade will you choose?" Psyche, IcelakeHow to get: ShopIntermediate Dye: EmeraldDyes"People often believe colours carry emotion, red for passion, green for calm, blue for sorrow. Flowers are much the same: the very same bloom can feel different when its hue changes. So, when customers arrive, I suggest a colour to suit their mood. Now then... which shade will you choose?" Psyche, IcelakeHow to get: ShopIntermediate Dye: LilacDyes"People often believe colours carry emotion, red for passion, green for calm, blue for sorrow. Flowers are much the same: the very same bloom can feel different when its hue changes. So, when customers arrive, I suggest a colour to suit their mood. Now then... which shade will you choose?" Psyche, IcelakeHow to get: ShopIntermediate Dye: Maple SyrupDyes"People often believe colours carry emotion, red for passion, green for calm, blue for sorrow. Flowers are much the same: the very same bloom can feel different when its hue changes. So, when customers arrive, I suggest a colour to suit their mood. Now then... which shade will you choose?" Psyche, IcelakeHow to get: ShopIntermediate Dye: OceanicDyes"People often believe colours carry emotion, red for passion, green for calm, blue for sorrow. Flowers are much the same: the very same bloom can feel different when its hue changes. So, when customers arrive, I suggest a colour to suit their mood. Now then... which shade will you choose?" Psyche, IcelakeHow to get: ShopIntermediate Dye: Pine ConeDyes"People often believe colours carry emotion, red for passion, green for calm, blue for sorrow. Flowers are much the same: the very same bloom can feel different when its hue changes. So, when customers arrive, I suggest a colour to suit their mood. Now then... which shade will you choose?" Psyche, IcelakeHow to get: ShopIntermediate Dye: Verdant WaveDyes"People often believe colours carry emotion, red for passion, green for calm, blue for sorrow. Flowers are much the same: the very same bloom can feel different when its hue changes. So, when customers arrive, I suggest a colour to suit their mood. Now then... which shade will you choose?" Psyche, IcelakeHow to get: ShopIntermediate Dye: Weathered PineDyes"People often believe colours carry emotion, red for passion, green for calm, blue for sorrow. Flowers are much the same: the very same bloom can feel different when its hue changes. So, when customers arrive, I suggest a colour to suit their mood. Now then... which shade will you choose?" Psyche, IcelakeHow to get: ShopIridescent DyeDyes"People often believe colours carry emotion, red for passion, green for calm, blue for sorrow. Flowers are much the same: the very same bloom can feel different when its hue changes. So, when customers arrive, I suggest a colour to suit their mood. Now then... which shade will you choose?" Psyche, IcelakeHow to get: ShopPremium Dye: CrowsDyes"The rubbish bins with little green flowers painted on them, near the west side of town, those are Leonie's. The ones by Glevum Pit, painted with grey stones are Edwin's. And those with the big yellow suns? All mine! But staring at the same colours gets boring after a while, so we switch things up now and then, that's the secret to keeping it fresh." Margie, Icelake ScavengerHow to get: ShopPremium Dye: GalaxyDyes"The rubbish bins with little green flowers painted on them, near the west side of town, those are Leonie's. The ones by Glevum Pit, painted with grey stones are Edwin's. And those with the big yellow suns? All mine! But staring at the same colours gets boring after a while, so we switch things up now and then, that's the secret to keeping it fresh." Margie, Icelake ScavengerHow to get: ShopPremium Dye: Lamenting LakeDyes"The rubbish bins with little green flowers painted on them, near the west side of town, those are Leonie's. The ones by Glevum Pit, painted with grey stones are Edwin's. And those with the big yellow suns? All mine! But staring at the same colours gets boring after a while, so we switch things up now and then, that's the secret to keeping it fresh." Margie, Icelake ScavengerHow to get: ShopPremium Dye: PeachglowDyes"People often believe colours carry emotion, red for passion, green for calm, blue for sorrow. Flowers are much the same: the very same bloom can feel different when its hue changes. So, when customers arrive, I suggest a colour to suit their mood. Now then... which shade will you choose?" Psyche, IcelakeHow to get: ShopPremium Dye: WheatDyes"The rubbish bins with little green flowers painted on them, near the west side of town, those are Leonie's. The ones by Glevum Pit, painted with grey stones are Edwin's. And those with the big yellow suns? All mine! But staring at the same colours gets boring after a while, so we switch things up now and then, that's the secret to keeping it fresh." Margie, Icelake ScavengerHow to get: ShopPremium Hair DyeDyesIt is said that a fugitive in Icelake, once pursued so relentlessly by The Escort that he turned his hair white overnight from sheer distress. Ironically, it was this very change that allowed him to slip straight through their fingers. Thereafter, he took to wandering, frequently altering his hair with dye, until he inspired a whole crowd of ordinary folk to follow suit. From a distance, they looked rather like the signboard above The Asphodel, positively blinding. Camilla, exceedingly pleased with her own hair colourHow to get: ShopStandard Dye: DuneDyes"The rubbish bins with little green flowers painted on them, near the west side of town, those are Leonie's. The ones by Glevum Pit, painted with grey stones are Edwin's. And those with the big yellow suns? All mine! But staring at the same colours gets boring after a while, so we switch things up now and then, that's the secret to keeping it fresh." Margie, Icelake ScavengerHow to get: ShopStandard Dye: PeaDyes"The rubbish bins with little green flowers painted on them, near the west side of town, those are Leonie's. The ones by Glevum Pit, painted with grey stones are Edwin's. And those with the big yellow suns? All mine! But staring at the same colours gets boring after a while, so we switch things up now and then, that's the secret to keeping it fresh." Margie, Icelake ScavengerHow to get: ShopStandard Dye: Red ClayDyes"The rubbish bins with little green flowers painted on them, near the west side of town, those are Leonie's. The ones by Glevum Pit, painted with grey stones are Edwin's. And those with the big yellow suns? All mine! But staring at the same colours gets boring after a while, so we switch things up now and then, that's the secret to keeping it fresh." Margie, Icelake ScavengerHow to get: ShopStandard Dye: RougeDyes"The rubbish bins with little green flowers painted on them, near the west side of town, those are Leonie's. The ones by Glevum Pit, painted with grey stones are Edwin's. And those with the big yellow suns? All mine! But staring at the same colours gets boring after a while, so we switch things up now and then, that's the secret to keeping it fresh." Margie, Icelake ScavengerHow to get: ShopStandard Dye: Sea SaltDyes"The rubbish bins with little green flowers painted on them, near the west side of town, those are Leonie's. The ones by Glevum Pit, painted with grey stones are Edwin's. And those with the big yellow suns? All mine! But staring at the same colours gets boring after a while, so we switch things up now and then, that's the secret to keeping it fresh." Margie, Icelake ScavengerHow to get: ShopStandard Dye: ThunderstormDyes"The rubbish bins with little green flowers painted on them, near the west side of town, those are Leonie's. The ones by Glevum Pit, painted with grey stones are Edwin's. And those with the big yellow suns? All mine! But staring at the same colours gets boring after a while, so we switch things up now and then, that's the secret to keeping it fresh." Margie, Icelake ScavengerHow to get: ShopStandard Dye: TimberDyes"The rubbish bins with little green flowers painted on them, near the west side of town, those are Leonie's. The ones by Glevum Pit, painted with grey stones are Edwin's. And those with the big yellow suns? All mine! But staring at the same colours gets boring after a while, so we switch things up now and then, that's the secret to keeping it fresh." Margie, Icelake ScavengerHow to get: ShopStandard Hair DyeDyesIt is said that a fugitive in Icelake, once pursued so relentlessly by The Escort that he turned his hair white overnight from sheer distress. Ironically, it was this very change that allowed him to slip straight through their fingers. Thereafter, he took to wandering, frequently altering his hair with dye, until he inspired a whole crowd of ordinary folk to follow suit. From a distance, they looked rather like the signboard above The Asphodel, positively blinding. Camilla, exceedingly pleased with her own hair colourHow to get: ShopAquaroachFishNever, ever, ever, go head-to-head with it. Where your eyes can't reach, its kin are already watching from the dark... A widely repeated warningHow to get: FishAquaroach VariantFishNever, ever, ever, go head-to-head with it. Where your eyes can't reach, its kin are already watching from the dark... A widely repeated warningHow to get: FishAzurewave KunFish"In the Northern Ocean dwells a fish named Kun..." "Teacher... is this Kun the same as the Azurewave Kun in the sea?" "No. The name is only borrowed from the classic; the Kun it speaks of isn't real." "But the Azurewave Kun is also a Kun, isn't it? Why would you say it's not real?" The opening to the philosophical debate known as The Paradox of the Non-Kun KunHow to get: FishAzurewave Kun VariantFish"In the Northern Ocean dwells a fish named Kun..." "Teacher... is this Kun the same as the Azurewave Kun in the sea?" "No. The name is only borrowed from the classic; the Kun it speaks of isn't real." "But the Azurewave Kun is also a Kun, isn't it? Why would you say it's not real?" The opening to the philosophical debate known as The Paradox of the Non-Kun KunHow to get: FishBlindlightFish"The Blindlight surrendered its eyes to a life of darkness, just as the people of Huaxu once laid down their weapons to live in harmony. We, too, could remain content like that... but only if our surroundings never changed, and nothing from beyond ever reached us." Lin Caocao, biologist from HuaxuHow to get: FishBlindlight VariantFish"The Blindlight surrendered its eyes to a life of darkness, just as the people of Huaxu once laid down their weapons to live in harmony. We, too, could remain content like that... but only if our surroundings never changed, and nothing from beyond ever reached us." Lin Caocao, biologist from HuaxuHow to get: FishBloom PerchFishPeachbloom drifts, spring rains dye the river rouge haze. A child's oar parts the stream, fish trace its wake. Splashes seep through dreams, rousing the silver-haired. Before the plump perch, he forgets, for a heartbeat, the weight of his years. Anonymous, Fishing Amidst Peach BlossomsHow to get: FishBloom Perch VariantFishPeachbloom drifts, spring rains dye the river rouge haze. A child's oar parts the stream, fish trace its wake. Splashes seep through dreams, rousing the silver-haired. Before the plump perch, he forgets, for a heartbeat, the weight of his years. Anonymous, Fishing Amidst Peach BlossomsHow to get: FishBonegnaw EelFish"This time, the manager finally approved my sick leave. I showed up with the Bonegnaw Eel still clamped on my arm, thing was thrashing so hard, it slapped a whole splash of sewer muck right in his face." Yoan, sewer cleanerHow to get: FishBonegnaw Eel VariantFish"This time, the manager finally approved my sick leave. I showed up with the Bonegnaw Eel still clamped on my arm, thing was thrashing so hard, it slapped a whole splash of sewer muck right in his face." Yoan, sewer cleanerHow to get: FishBronze DrumFishThe Bronze Drum takes its name from its resemblance to ancient bronze vessels. Once cooked, its scales take on a faint reddish glow that whets the appetite. Drizzle hot oil over it just before serving, and the flesh turns firm and springy, utterly moreish. Wym, food journalist from Luca, A Taste of AtlasiaHow to get: FishBronze Drum VariantFishThe Bronze Drum takes its name from its resemblance to ancient bronze vessels. Once cooked, its scales take on a faint reddish glow that whets the appetite. Drizzle hot oil over it just before serving, and the flesh turns firm and springy, utterly moreish. Wym, food journalist from Luca, A Taste of AtlasiaHow to get: FishCorroded SwordFish"I am not alone, for the Great Nine are ever with me; I am not brave, yet their strength sustains me; All souls may stray, but the Nine shall show us the way; May this sword guard my body. May this sword guide my soul." A praying Elysian soldierHow to get: FishCorroded Sword VariantFish"I am not alone, for the Great Nine are ever with me; I am not brave, yet their strength sustains me; All souls may stray, but the Nine shall show us the way; May this sword guard my body. May this sword guide my soul." A praying Elysian soldierHow to get: FishCrimson CrestFishCrimson crests flare on the water; scarlet scales ride the restless tide. From an anonymous Huaxu poetry collectionHow to get: FishCrimson Crest VariantFishCrimson crests flare on the water; scarlet scales ride the restless tide. From an anonymous Huaxu poetry collectionHow to get: FishCroaker CarpFish"Well, I'll be, turns out this plain little Croaker Carp is the ancestor of quite a few ornamental breeds." An unnamed scholar, picking fish bones from between his teeth while leafing through a compendium of Huaxu anecdotesHow to get: FishCroaker Carp VariantFish"Well, I'll be, turns out this plain little Croaker Carp is the ancestor of quite a few ornamental breeds." An unnamed scholar, picking fish bones from between his teeth while leafing through a compendium of Huaxu anecdotesHow to get: FishDawnscaleFish"Look! A whole patch of gold out there, we're gonna be rich! Hahahaha... Huh? What do you mean it's darting and leaping?" An overexcited foreign sailorHow to get: FishDawnscale VariantFish"Look! A whole patch of gold out there, we're gonna be rich! Hahahaha... Huh? What do you mean it's darting and leaping?" An overexcited foreign sailorHow to get: FishEdgefinFish"I really miss edgefin wontons... When Mother was still here, she would make them for Fushu and me every spring. But after she became… I tried to make her recipe myself after that, but I could never get it right. I wish I'd learned all her tricks back then." from Fufeng's notesHow to get: FishEdgefin VariantFish"I really miss edgefin wontons... When Mother was still here, she would make them for Fushu and me every spring. But after she became… I tried to make her recipe myself after that, but I could never get it right. I wish I'd learned all her tricks back then." from Fufeng's notesHow to get: FishEmperorfishFish"The recommended procedure for landing an Emperorfish is to gather as many people as possible, ideally three hundred. Twenty should help you haul it ashore; another twenty should keep it wet while recording its length; a further twenty should see to pushing it safely back into the river. As for the remaining two hundred and forty, they're simply there to prove you're not making the whole thing up. Truth be told, I've never caught one myself, but if I ever do, I'll follow these steps to the letter." The Angler's Guide of HuaxuHow to get: FishEmperorfish VariantFish"The recommended procedure for landing an Emperorfish is to gather as many people as possible, ideally three hundred. Twenty should help you haul it ashore; another twenty should keep it wet while recording its length; a further twenty should see to pushing it safely back into the river. As for the remaining two hundred and forty, they're simply there to prove you're not making the whole thing up. Truth be told, I've never caught one myself, but if I ever do, I'll follow these steps to the letter." The Angler's Guide of HuaxuHow to get: FishFangnomeFish"According to workplace safety regulations, a Fangnome bite doesn't count as an occupational injury. I'm afraid I can't approve your sick leave." Burt, supervisor of Icelake Urban Maintenance OfficeHow to get: FishFangnome VariantFish"According to workplace safety regulations, a Fangnome bite doesn't count as an occupational injury. I'm afraid I can't approve your sick leave." Burt, supervisor of Icelake Urban Maintenance OfficeHow to get: FishFirecracker ShrimpFish"Ma and Pa's trust in me just collapsed. Just now." "What did you do?" "They left me alone in a room full of New Year's dishes, pepper-salt firecrackers, fried meatballs, cured venison, fish jelly..." "Sounds delicious." Exactly. So when they woke up at midnight, the pepper-salt firecrackers were nothing but shells." "...That's why you got kicked over here. I see. They didn't stuff a real firecracker in your mouth, that's love, honestly." a New Year's conversation between two brothersHow to get: FishFirecracker Shrimp VariantFish"Ma and Pa's trust in me just collapsed. Just now." "What did you do?" "They left me alone in a room full of New Year's dishes, pepper-salt firecrackers, fried meatballs, cured venison, fish jelly..." "Sounds delicious." Exactly. So when they woke up at midnight, the pepper-salt firecrackers were nothing but shells." "...That's why you got kicked over here. I see. They didn't stuff a real firecracker in your mouth, that's love, honestly." a New Year's conversation between two brothersHow to get: FishFlutterfinFish"Hah! This is the best gift I've ever received! Heh-heh... One of these days you're going to swing a blade I forged myself, its edge smeared thick with poison. Oh, and when that day comes, do try not to lick it to play cool." LunosmithHow to get: FishFlutterfin VariantFish"Hah! This is the best gift I've ever received! Heh-heh... One of these days you're going to swing a blade I forged myself, its edge smeared thick with poison. Oh, and when that day comes, do try not to lick it to play cool." LunosmithHow to get: FishGearshell CrabFishWe still don't know how this species developed such particular taste in housing, but picture this: hundreds of metal casings, each sprouting jointed limbs, scuttling across the beach in swarms... Burned into my memory, no doubt. Though it would've been nicer if they hadn't tried to pinch my toes. An anonymous veteran explorerHow to get: FishGearshell Crab VariantFishWe still don't know how this species developed such particular taste in housing, but picture this: hundreds of metal casings, each sprouting jointed limbs, scuttling across the beach in swarms... Burned into my memory, no doubt. Though it would've been nicer if they hadn't tried to pinch my toes. An anonymous veteran explorerHow to get: FishGleamspineFishI watched it go, one scar at a time, it shed the past. It had grown strong, outgrown the bounds of the bathtub. And for the first time, it swam free, its glowing spine tracing a ray of light across the open sea. Consul, novelist, Gleamspine in the SewersHow to get: FishGleamspine VariantFishI watched it go, one scar at a time, it shed the past. It had grown strong, outgrown the bounds of the bathtub. And for the first time, it swam free, its glowing spine tracing a ray of light across the open sea. Consul, novelist, Gleamspine in the SewersHow to get: FishGlimmerfishFish"It's smaller than my palm. It'd barely make a snack for a cat. You know what? Forget cooking it. I'll keep it in the kitchen and enjoy looking at it instead." A cook, mulling it overHow to get: FishGlimmerfish VariantFish"It's smaller than my palm. It'd barely make a snack for a cat. You know what? Forget cooking it. I'll keep it in the kitchen and enjoy looking at it instead." A cook, mulling it overHow to get: FishGuiding StarFishBack on Purgatorio Island, we called it the "Guiding Star." They say its glow lasts forever as long as you care for it, much like a star forever shining in the sky. My father caught this one the day I was born. The years have blurred so much, but not this. It's still there, glowing, steadfast, right where my story began. Abigail Morley, a seafood trader in LucaHow to get: FishGuiding Star VariantFishBack on Purgatorio Island, we called it the "Guiding Star." They say its glow lasts forever as long as you care for it, much like a star forever shining in the sky. My father caught this one the day I was born. The years have blurred so much, but not this. It's still there, glowing, steadfast, right where my story began. Abigail Morley, a seafood trader in LucaHow to get: FishHaojing Mitten CrabFish"'Course it's pricey! Real Haojing Mitten Crab, this. Don't be asking where it was raised or where I hauled it up, long as it's had a little swim in Haojing's waters, it counts as the real thing." A fishmonger at Haze Market, calling out to passers-byHow to get: FishHaojing Mitten Crab VariantFish"'Course it's pricey! Real Haojing Mitten Crab, this. Don't be asking where it was raised or where I hauled it up, long as it's had a little swim in Haojing's waters, it counts as the real thing." A fishmonger at Haze Market, calling out to passers-byHow to get: FishInk GlancerFish"They took a small boat and rowed into an underground cavern. They had already crossed countless dangers in search of the relics left by a famed general serving under Dafeng, their blades worn to the bone. In the total darkness, everyone was on edge, until a scream tore through the silence. Something glowing rose from the black water: a ghostly face with two blue-green lights staring straight at them." Huaxu adventure novel, The Twelve TombsHow to get: FishInk Glancer VariantFish"They took a small boat and rowed into an underground cavern. They had already crossed countless dangers in search of the relics left by a famed general serving under Dafeng, their blades worn to the bone. In the total darkness, everyone was on edge, until a scream tore through the silence. Something glowing rose from the black water: a ghostly face with two blue-green lights staring straight at them." Huaxu adventure novel, The Twelve TombsHow to get: FishIridescentscaleFishIn dazzling hues, it weaves through tide, Iridescent scales in ripples glide. In solitude, a beauty unmatched, serene. In pairs, all grace gives way to spite unseen. Nameless poet, Ode to the IridescentscaleHow to get: FishIridescentscale VariantFishIn dazzling hues, it weaves through tide, Iridescent scales in ripples glide. In solitude, a beauty unmatched, serene. In pairs, all grace gives way to spite unseen. Nameless poet, Ode to the IridescentscaleHow to get: FishIronhead SalmonFish"Lake monster legends exist all over the world. More often than not, they turn out to be nothing more than some fast-growing local fish. The so-called Cocytus Monster is no exception." An unnamed scholar, leafing through a collection of eerie folktalesHow to get: FishIronhead Salmon VariantFish"Lake monster legends exist all over the world. More often than not, they turn out to be nothing more than some fast-growing local fish. The so-called Cocytus Monster is no exception." An unnamed scholar, leafing through a collection of eerie folktalesHow to get: FishJade SpratFish"Jade Sprat in my mouth, booze in my gut, I strut this shore like I own the lot!" A drunken Huaxu local, sprawled on the sand, shooing gulls from his fried fishHow to get: FishJade Sprat VariantFish"Jade Sprat in my mouth, booze in my gut, I strut this shore like I own the lot!" A drunken Huaxu local, sprawled on the sand, shooing gulls from his fried fishHow to get: FishLady of the LakeFishThe Lady of the Lake is far more dangerous than her beauty suggests. Even while on the hunt, it moves with breathtaking poise. One "kiss" and even prey several times her size falls limp. Strangely, it is never been known to harm a human. In fact, it has even been spotted sharing its surplus catch with fishermen from time to time. Harriet, nature writer, World Beneath the WavesHow to get: FishLady of the Lake VariantFishThe Lady of the Lake is far more dangerous than her beauty suggests. Even while on the hunt, it moves with breathtaking poise. One "kiss" and even prey several times her size falls limp. Strangely, it is never been known to harm a human. In fact, it has even been spotted sharing its surplus catch with fishermen from time to time. Harriet, nature writer, World Beneath the WavesHow to get: FishLamenting Lake TroutFishThis fish died twice, once in the kitchen, and once more on the plate. I've had bad fish before, but this? Easily a new number one. Off the table. Start over. Ethans, food critic, judging at a cooking competitionHow to get: FishLamenting Lake Trout VariantFishThis fish died twice, once in the kitchen, and once more on the plate. I've had bad fish before, but this? Easily a new number one. Off the table. Start over. Ethans, food critic, judging at a cooking competitionHow to get: FishLanterneyeFish"They call it Lanterneye. At first I thought that was a bit generous, more like two bulbs stuck on a sorry excuse for a fish. But look at it long enough... and you start to see the charm." A fisherman, deep in thoughtHow to get: FishLanterneye VariantFish"They call it Lanterneye. At first I thought that was a bit generous, more like two bulbs stuck on a sorry excuse for a fish. But look at it long enough... and you start to see the charm." A fisherman, deep in thoughtHow to get: FishLongwhiskerFishIts diet is so absurdly varied that parents in fishing villages often use it to teach their kids a life lesson: "A long life starts with an empty plate." Dylan the Know-It-All, Unknown CornersHow to get: FishLongwhisker VariantFishIts diet is so absurdly varied that parents in fishing villages often use it to teach their kids a life lesson: "A long life starts with an empty plate." Dylan the Know-It-All, Unknown CornersHow to get: FishLotusleafFish"Not sure why, but just looking at it makes everything feel... peaceful. Even a fish this tiny still gets its own little leaf to shelter under. What? You're telling me that isn't a real leaf, it's the fish's own camouflage? ...So even fish don't get peace for free? They have to grow it just to survive!?" A burnt-out thirty-something office droneHow to get: FishLotusleaf VariantFish"Not sure why, but just looking at it makes everything feel... peaceful. Even a fish this tiny still gets its own little leaf to shelter under. What? You're telling me that isn't a real leaf, it's the fish's own camouflage? ...So even fish don't get peace for free? They have to grow it just to survive!?" A burnt-out thirty-something office droneHow to get: FishMousetailFishThe Mousling Fish often serves as a convenient snack for larger predators, leaving it extremely timid. Even the faintest disturbance sends it scurrying into the nearest corner. If you plan to keep a few, be sure to provide plenty of hiding spots in your aquarium. Harriet, nature writer, World Beneath the WavesHow to get: FishMousetail VariantFishThe Mousling Fish often serves as a convenient snack for larger predators, leaving it extremely timid. Even the faintest disturbance sends it scurrying into the nearest corner. If you plan to keep a few, be sure to provide plenty of hiding spots in your aquarium. Harriet, nature writer, World Beneath the WavesHow to get: FishMr LeggyFish"I've got a Mr Leggy trapped under a bucket. Now... how do I get it out of the house without lifting the bucket?" "...! Ahem. Old Martin, I'm staying at Ms Camilla's tonight. Don't wait up." A conversation between a daughter and her fatherHow to get: FishMr Leggy VariantFish"I've got a Mr Leggy trapped under a bucket. Now... how do I get it out of the house without lifting the bucket?" "...! Ahem. Old Martin, I'm staying at Ms Camilla's tonight. Don't wait up." A conversation between a daughter and her fatherHow to get: FishMudleaperFishCutting wheat and planting again, gardenias bloom and magnolias then. Butterflies drift and bees come humming, mudlarks skim where the reeds are softly swaying. See the mandarin ducks drift side by side, and I wonder what my young man is thinking. Huaxu folk song, Night Song of the MudlarkHow to get: FishMudleaper VariantFishCutting wheat and planting again, gardenias bloom and magnolias then. Butterflies drift and bees come humming, mudlarks skim where the reeds are softly swaying. See the mandarin ducks drift side by side, and I wonder what my young man is thinking. Huaxu folk song, Night Song of the MudlarkHow to get: FishNomnomFish"A thoroughly unappetising species, both to us and to other fish. I once saw a Bonegnaw Eel take a bite and spit it out straight away, like it was saying 'yuck', which is a rare reaction for a fish, mind you. The Nomnom was fine, physically speaking, but then it just floated up, belly-first, nice and slow. Yes, it literally scared to death." Harriet, nature writer, World Beneath the WavesHow to get: FishNomnom VariantFish"A thoroughly unappetising species, both to us and to other fish. I once saw a Bonegnaw Eel take a bite and spit it out straight away, like it was saying 'yuck', which is a rare reaction for a fish, mind you. The Nomnom was fine, physically speaking, but then it just floated up, belly-first, nice and slow. Yes, it literally scared to death." Harriet, nature writer, World Beneath the WavesHow to get: FishOrchid CrabFishI've always felt that the people of Huaxu cook in two completely opposite ways: either they pile on ingredient after ingredient, like ornamenting a melody with endless grace notes, or they chase the food's original flavour with almost stubborn devotion. The first is best shown by a cabbage broth built on the essence of many ingredients; the second by chicken still showing blood at the bone, and Orchid Crabs simply boiled and served with a signature dipping sauce. Wym, food journalist from Luca, A Taste of AtlasiaHow to get: FishOrchid Crab VariantFishI've always felt that the people of Huaxu cook in two completely opposite ways: either they pile on ingredient after ingredient, like ornamenting a melody with endless grace notes, or they chase the food's original flavour with almost stubborn devotion. The first is best shown by a cabbage broth built on the essence of many ingredients; the second by chicken still showing blood at the bone, and Orchid Crabs simply boiled and served with a signature dipping sauce. Wym, food journalist from Luca, A Taste of AtlasiaHow to get: FishPearldrop FlatfinFishThe beast towered over twenty feet tall, fanged, clawed, steeped in bloodlust. In the blink of an eye, it struck again. But the Yingtian Marshal had already moved. Not a word. Not a breath. The blade rose, then fell. A clean arc cleaved through the creature's snarling face. What a blade! Thus lauds the verse: With Pearldrop hide the hilt is bound, firm in his hand. Forged by master smiths, the blade he doth command. Heaven-blest, sworn to repay, he makes a solemn vow: For the Argent Dragon's honour due, thy head must fall ere now. Excerpt from Chronicles of Yingtian, a Huaxu storytelling classicHow to get: FishPearldrop Flatfin VariantFishThe beast towered over twenty feet tall, fanged, clawed, steeped in bloodlust. In the blink of an eye, it struck again. But the Yingtian Marshal had already moved. Not a word. Not a breath. The blade rose, then fell. A clean arc cleaved through the creature's snarling face. What a blade! Thus lauds the verse: With Pearldrop hide the hilt is bound, firm in his hand. Forged by master smiths, the blade he doth command. Heaven-blest, sworn to repay, he makes a solemn vow: For the Argent Dragon's honour due, thy head must fall ere now. Excerpt from Chronicles of Yingtian, a Huaxu storytelling classicHow to get: FishPearllureFishIn ancient times, fishermen believed that the Pearllure's glowing lure was none other than the fabled Night Pearl itself. But once the creature perished, its radiance faded swiftly, and thus arose the old Huaxu proverb: "The bright pearl dims when cast astray." Rovetta, travel writer, Rovetta in HuaxuHow to get: FishPearllure VariantFishIn ancient times, fishermen believed that the Pearllure's glowing lure was none other than the fabled Night Pearl itself. But once the creature perished, its radiance faded swiftly, and thus arose the old Huaxu proverb: "The bright pearl dims when cast astray." Rovetta, travel writer, Rovetta in HuaxuHow to get: FishPhoenix CichlidFish"Legend tells that Yang hunted across Huaxu and brought down twenty-one dread beasts. One was a giant bird in iridescent plumage, circling ever high above and impossible to strike. So Yang commanded the smiths to forge the Gale-Bolt and gave his trusted retainer Shan a great bow. Shan loosed nine arrows, each finding its mark. When the bird fell, its feathers drifted down, those that touched the earth became phoenix flowers, and those that fell upon water turned into the bright Phoenix Cichlid." Qiu Ci, folklorist from Huaxu, Tales of the GrainHow to get: FishPhoenix Cichlid VariantFish"Legend tells that Yang hunted across Huaxu and brought down twenty-one dread beasts. One was a giant bird in iridescent plumage, circling ever high above and impossible to strike. So Yang commanded the smiths to forge the Gale-Bolt and gave his trusted retainer Shan a great bow. Shan loosed nine arrows, each finding its mark. When the bird fell, its feathers drifted down, those that touched the earth became phoenix flowers, and those that fell upon water turned into the bright Phoenix Cichlid." Qiu Ci, folklorist from Huaxu, Tales of the GrainHow to get: FishPhoxenetroutFishToothache keeping you up? Go catch a Phoxene. Boil it, not that it'll help. Then bite down hard. That bad tooth of yours? Pop, gone on its own. Works every time. Icelake's Tooth-Pulling Trick (Guaranteed to Hurt)How to get: FishPhoxenetrout VariantFishToothache keeping you up? Go catch a Phoxene. Boil it, not that it'll help. Then bite down hard. That bad tooth of yours? Pop, gone on its own. Works every time. Icelake's Tooth-Pulling Trick (Guaranteed to Hurt)How to get: FishPouchcarpFishEach year, the Pouchcarp is among the offerings prepared for the Argent Dragon. Restaurants across Huaxu compete fiercely for the honour, in what has become the famed "Pouchcarp Cook-Off," a culinary contest where chefs showcase their skills through this beloved local fish. The winner, chosen by popular vote, earns the honour of preparing dishes for the Argent Dragon's feast. Rovetta, travel writer, Rovetta in HuaxuHow to get: FishPouchcarp VariantFishEach year, the Pouchcarp is among the offerings prepared for the Argent Dragon. Restaurants across Huaxu compete fiercely for the honour, in what has become the famed "Pouchcarp Cook-Off," a culinary contest where chefs showcase their skills through this beloved local fish. The winner, chosen by popular vote, earns the honour of preparing dishes for the Argent Dragon's feast. Rovetta, travel writer, Rovetta in HuaxuHow to get: FishPrismatic SeahorseFish"Good grief... I've been fishing all my life, and I still can't tell if this Prismatic Seahorse even counts as a fish." An old fisherman, deep in thoughtHow to get: FishPrismatic Seahorse VariantFish"Good grief... I've been fishing all my life, and I still can't tell if this Prismatic Seahorse even counts as a fish." An old fisherman, deep in thoughtHow to get: FishPrismspikeFishBack in the day, its gaudy colours and spiny back had fishermen mistaking it for something venomous. Most just dried it out and sold it as a decorative specimen. Then some brave soul with more guts than sense gave it a try, and before long, Prismspikes started gracing dinner tables across the continent. As for those flashy spines? Just another kind of unrecyclable waste. Fiama, designer, RefractionsHow to get: FishPrismspike VariantFishBack in the day, its gaudy colours and spiny back had fishermen mistaking it for something venomous. Most just dried it out and sold it as a decorative specimen. Then some brave soul with more guts than sense gave it a try, and before long, Prismspikes started gracing dinner tables across the continent. As for those flashy spines? Just another kind of unrecyclable waste. Fiama, designer, RefractionsHow to get: FishPufferballFish"They're adorable before they go in the pot... so how do they come out looking like a sad, deflated balloon?" A frustrated cookHow to get: FishPufferball VariantFish"They're adorable before they go in the pot... so how do they come out looking like a sad, deflated balloon?" A frustrated cookHow to get: FishRed BeaverFish"If I'd known there were Red Beavers in this river, I never would've set my keepnet here. One day, that's all it took them to chew it to shreds. Completely ruined." A disgruntled anglerHow to get: FishRed Beaver VariantFish"If I'd known there were Red Beavers in this river, I never would've set my keepnet here. One day, that's all it took them to chew it to shreds. Completely ruined." A disgruntled anglerHow to get: FishRedwater JewelFish"I asked for fine rubies! What am I supposed to do with a fish!?" An angry gem merchantHow to get: FishRedwater Jewel VariantFish"I asked for fine rubies! What am I supposed to do with a fish!?" An angry gem merchantHow to get: FishRiverwormFish"I only meant to use up the bait and head home. Next thing I know, I reel in a Riverworm. Figured I might as well use it as bait. Then I caught another. So I used that one. Caught another. ...And now look at the time." A middle-aged fisherman, explaining his late return to his wifeHow to get: FishRiverworm VariantFish"I only meant to use up the bait and head home. Next thing I know, I reel in a Riverworm. Figured I might as well use it as bait. Then I caught another. So I used that one. Caught another. ...And now look at the time." A middle-aged fisherman, explaining his late return to his wifeHow to get: FishRoughskin SculpinFish"It isn't the season for Roughskin Sculpin, so obtaining this one wasn't easy, you've done well. Our guest today has come all the way from Hyperborea and will be of great help to me in the days ahead. Naturally, proper courtesies must be observed." Zhiliu, Proprietress of EverSpringHow to get: FishRoughskin Sculpin VariantFish"It isn't the season for Roughskin Sculpin, so obtaining this one wasn't easy, you've done well. Our guest today has come all the way from Hyperborea and will be of great help to me in the days ahead. Naturally, proper courtesies must be observed." Zhiliu, Proprietress of EverSpringHow to get: FishSackfishFish"What kind of slob throws sacks into the river!? Huh... Wait, wait, wait, it's a fish! A huge one! I'm finally going home with something in my bucket!!!" An angler on a long dry spellHow to get: FishSackfish VariantFish"What kind of slob throws sacks into the river!? Huh... Wait, wait, wait, it's a fish! A huge one! I'm finally going home with something in my bucket!!!" An angler on a long dry spellHow to get: FishScreechbeastFish"Ee, ya! Ee-ya, ha! Ha→ha→ha↓ha↑" An attempt by local residents to mimic the eerie laughter echoing through the sewersHow to get: FishScreechbeast VariantFish"Ee, ya! Ee-ya, ha! Ha→ha→ha↓ha↑" An attempt by local residents to mimic the eerie laughter echoing through the sewersHow to get: FishSeapuffFishYes, yes, I know I should've given it a more taxonomically accurate name. But come on, who could call this adorable little thing a "shell-less snail"? I mean, just look at it! A puffy little bundle of joy, right!? Hmm... puffy... puff... sea... Seapuff. Yes. That's the one. A passionately insistent marine biologistHow to get: FishSeapuff VariantFishYes, yes, I know I should've given it a more taxonomically accurate name. But come on, who could call this adorable little thing a "shell-less snail"? I mean, just look at it! A puffy little bundle of joy, right!? Hmm... puffy... puff... sea... Seapuff. Yes. That's the one. A passionately insistent marine biologistHow to get: FishSeaskimmerFishChasing freedom means taking risks. Just look at it, born a fish, but dreaming of the sky. For one fleeting moment, it tastes freedom... And the next? Snatched midair by a seabird for lunch. A Purgatorio Island parent, mid-lessonHow to get: FishSeaskimmer VariantFishChasing freedom means taking risks. Just look at it, born a fish, but dreaming of the sky. For one fleeting moment, it tastes freedom... And the next? Snatched midair by a seabird for lunch. A Purgatorio Island parent, mid-lessonHow to get: FishShellgnarlFishTired of scrubbing shellgnarls one by one? Ditch your old brush and gloves, and say hello to the Pull & Spin Shellgnarl Washer™! Bulk cleaning made easy, no fuss, no scraped knuckles. Comes in two sizes: a handy 1-litre model for home use, and a 10-litre industrial beast! A poster outside a general storeHow to get: FishShellgnarl VariantFishTired of scrubbing shellgnarls one by one? Ditch your old brush and gloves, and say hello to the Pull & Spin Shellgnarl Washer™! Bulk cleaning made easy, no fuss, no scraped knuckles. Comes in two sizes: a handy 1-litre model for home use, and a 10-litre industrial beast! A poster outside a general storeHow to get: FishShouxing SquidFishLegends speak of an immortal Wishen said to predate memory itself. Over countless ages, the weight of unforgotten thoughts swelled its head, round and heavy. At last, unable to bear the burden, it cried out to the Argent Dragon for aid. The celestial dragon answered by casting its memories into the sea. Steeped in seawater, those fragments became squids with large, swollen heads. And as the memories dissolved, the Wuyousheng's form grew ever fainter... until, at last, it was reborn as a child, unburdened, unbound, ready to begin anew. Qiu Ci, folklorist from Huaxu, Tales of the GrainHow to get: FishShouxing Squid VariantFishLegends speak of an immortal Wishen said to predate memory itself. Over countless ages, the weight of unforgotten thoughts swelled its head, round and heavy. At last, unable to bear the burden, it cried out to the Argent Dragon for aid. The celestial dragon answered by casting its memories into the sea. Steeped in seawater, those fragments became squids with large, swollen heads. And as the memories dissolved, the Wuyousheng's form grew ever fainter... until, at last, it was reborn as a child, unburdened, unbound, ready to begin anew. Qiu Ci, folklorist from Huaxu, Tales of the GrainHow to get: FishSiltsharkFish"Good grief... I've been fishing all my life and never once questioned it. Turns out the Siltshark isn't a shark at all. Reckon 'Siltshark' sounds a fair bit better than 'mudfish' when you're bragging about your catch. No wonder it stuck." An old fisherman, deep in thoughtHow to get: FishSiltshark VariantFish"Good grief... I've been fishing all my life and never once questioned it. Turns out the Siltshark isn't a shark at all. Reckon 'Siltshark' sounds a fair bit better than 'mudfish' when you're bragging about your catch. No wonder it stuck." An old fisherman, deep in thoughtHow to get: FishSilverfrondFishA captive soul, long steeped in weary gloom, Needs no hard hand to tumble into doom. The sea, though dark, would make a fitting grave, Yet divine light bloomed beneath the deepest wave. The sundered boughs of Heaventree were wings, Their leaf-born hymns, the veil that grace brings. Through depths unknown, I heard Their distant call, And felt my shattered form rise, not to fall...but back towards life once more. Excerpt from The Saga of Torrential Grudges, by Alexander Dumas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: FishSilverfrond VariantFishA captive soul, long steeped in weary gloom, Needs no hard hand to tumble into doom. The sea, though dark, would make a fitting grave, Yet divine light bloomed beneath the deepest wave. The sundered boughs of Heaventree were wings, Their leaf-born hymns, the veil that grace brings. Through depths unknown, I heard Their distant call, And felt my shattered form rise, not to fall...but back towards life once more. Excerpt from The Saga of Torrential Grudges, by Alexander Dumas, a mourning faction playwrightHow to get: FishSilverslipFishIn every seaside town, you'll find Silverslip on the New Year's table. In some regions, there's a tradition of hiding a silver coin in the fish's belly, and whoever finds it is said to enjoy good fortune all year long. Dylan the Know-It-All, Unknown CornersHow to get: FishSilverslip VariantFishIn every seaside town, you'll find Silverslip on the New Year's table. In some regions, there's a tradition of hiding a silver coin in the fish's belly, and whoever finds it is said to enjoy good fortune all year long. Dylan the Know-It-All, Unknown CornersHow to get: FishSpotted TagalongFishNot the brightest type of fish, honestly. Fry often mistake other large fish for their parents. With the right technique, you could have one trailing behind you for quite a while, just be careful not to get bitten when the real parents show up. Harriet, nature writer, World Beneath the WavesHow to get: FishSpotted Tagalong VariantFishNot the brightest type of fish, honestly. Fry often mistake other large fish for their parents. With the right technique, you could have one trailing behind you for quite a while, just be careful not to get bitten when the real parents show up. Harriet, nature writer, World Beneath the WavesHow to get: FishStandard-Issue Legion BootFish"May you rest in peace." An Imperial soldier searching Mount ArcanoHow to get: FishStandard-Issue Legion Boot VariantFish"May you rest in peace." An Imperial soldier searching Mount ArcanoHow to get: FishStar-Spotted SculpinFishHuaxu is home to a well-known tale: Monkeys Scooping the Moon. Yet it may not have been the moon the monkeys reached for, but a patch of starlight scattered across the pond's surface. Huaxu journal, Classical Tales RevisitedHow to get: FishStar-Spotted Sculpin VariantFishHuaxu is home to a well-known tale: Monkeys Scooping the Moon. Yet it may not have been the moon the monkeys reached for, but a patch of starlight scattered across the pond's surface. Huaxu journal, Classical Tales RevisitedHow to get: FishStarfishFish"What do you mean I came back skunked!? I caught a starfish, didn't I? That counts as a catch! How is that the same as going home empty-handed!?" an indignant anglerHow to get: FishStarfish VariantFish"What do you mean I came back skunked!? I caught a starfish, didn't I? That counts as a catch! How is that the same as going home empty-handed!?" an indignant anglerHow to get: FishStargazerFish"Who in their right mind decided to bake Stargazers into a pie with their heads sticking out!? It's a waste of good pastry, an insult to cuisine, and a crime against nature!" An outraged chefHow to get: FishStargazer VariantFish"Who in their right mind decided to bake Stargazers into a pie with their heads sticking out!? It's a waste of good pastry, an insult to cuisine, and a crime against nature!" An outraged chefHow to get: FishStinkerFish"Yuck! What is this, some kind of torture device? How's eating this any different from chewing on manure?" Wym, food journalist from LucaHow to get: FishStinker VariantFish"Yuck! What is this, some kind of torture device? How's eating this any different from chewing on manure?" Wym, food journalist from LucaHow to get: FishStonemill TonguefishFishIn the East dwells the flounder; without its counterpart it does not swim, and thus it earns its name. In the South lies the joined-wing bird; without its mate it does not rise, and hence it is so called. from Erya: On Lands, a Huaxu classicHow to get: FishStonemill Tonguefish VariantFishIn the East dwells the flounder; without its counterpart it does not swim, and thus it earns its name. In the South lies the joined-wing bird; without its mate it does not rise, and hence it is so called. from Erya: On Lands, a Huaxu classicHow to get: FishTaroheart ClamFish"Freshly dredged Taroheart Clams! Bit of mud's only natural. Don't you worry, old family trade, this. No way I'm ruining my name by slapping mud on any old shell and calling it 'Taroheart'!" A fishmonger calling out in a Haojing marketHow to get: FishTaroheart Clam VariantFish"Freshly dredged Taroheart Clams! Bit of mud's only natural. Don't you worry, old family trade, this. No way I'm ruining my name by slapping mud on any old shell and calling it 'Taroheart'!" A fishmonger calling out in a Haojing marketHow to get: FishThornbearerFishDeath by improperly prepared Thornbearer, a classic modus operandi in Huaxu detective fiction. And in stories like these, the sleuth often delivers this line with icy resolve: "Though the Nine Chapters of Dafeng name no law for your kind, justice shall still be done!" Rovetta, travel writer, Rovetta in HuaxuHow to get: FishThornbearer VariantFishDeath by improperly prepared Thornbearer, a classic modus operandi in Huaxu detective fiction. And in stories like these, the sleuth often delivers this line with icy resolve: "Though the Nine Chapters of Dafeng name no law for your kind, justice shall still be done!" Rovetta, travel writer, Rovetta in HuaxuHow to get: FishTidechaserFishFresh Tidechaser is best eaten raw. The taste doesn't just hit your tongue, it shoots straight from your teeth to your brain. In that moment, you feel the flick of its tail, the ocean parting in its wake. And most who are lucky enough to try it, without fail, say the same thing: "You can really taste the life in it!" Ethans, food critic, Eat It, Love It, Know ItHow to get: FishTidechaser VariantFishFresh Tidechaser is best eaten raw. The taste doesn't just hit your tongue, it shoots straight from your teeth to your brain. In that moment, you feel the flick of its tail, the ocean parting in its wake. And most who are lucky enough to try it, without fail, say the same thing: "You can really taste the life in it!" Ethans, food critic, Eat It, Love It, Know ItHow to get: FishTidewandererFishTidewanderers follow the seasons like clockwork, setting off on their great migration the same month each year, no matter how rough the seas. In honour of their uncanny punctuality, and to better profit from it, coastal folk began forging clock hands in the shape of a Tidewanderer. Dylan the Know-It-All, Unknown CornersHow to get: FishTidewanderer VariantFishTidewanderers follow the seasons like clockwork, setting off on their great migration the same month each year, no matter how rough the seas. In honour of their uncanny punctuality, and to better profit from it, coastal folk began forging clock hands in the shape of a Tidewanderer. Dylan the Know-It-All, Unknown CornersHow to get: FishToadFish"...I honestly cannot imagine what led Fufeng to study this as a medicinal material." Fushu, physician from HuaxuHow to get: FishToad VariantFish"...I honestly cannot imagine what led Fufeng to study this as a medicinal material." Fushu, physician from HuaxuHow to get: FishTootfishFish"Every time I inspect the tracks, I have to figure out whether that whistle came from a train or a Tootfish... At this rate, I'm going to lose my mind!" A frazzled track maintenance mechanicHow to get: FishTootfish VariantFish"Every time I inspect the tracks, I have to figure out whether that whistle came from a train or a Tootfish... At this rate, I'm going to lose my mind!" A frazzled track maintenance mechanicHow to get: FishTwincrest SharkFishTwincrest Sharks have eyes that diverge, never quite meeting in focus. In their long-standing feud, the Jishu and Xuanheng sects seized even this quirk as fuel for mockery. The Jishu jeered that the Xuanheng "saw no one but themselves," so blind were they with pride. The Xuanheng retorted that the Jishu, like flatfish, were "short-sighted to the point of absurdity." Unknowing is the creature, yet in human hands, its name becomes a blade. Lin Caocao, biologist from HuaxuHow to get: FishTwincrest Shark VariantFishTwincrest Sharks have eyes that diverge, never quite meeting in focus. In their long-standing feud, the Jishu and Xuanheng sects seized even this quirk as fuel for mockery. The Jishu jeered that the Xuanheng "saw no one but themselves," so blind were they with pride. The Xuanheng retorted that the Jishu, like flatfish, were "short-sighted to the point of absurdity." Unknowing is the creature, yet in human hands, its name becomes a blade. Lin Caocao, biologist from HuaxuHow to get: FishTwo-Faced FishFish"Don't let that docile face fool you. See these bite marks on my hand? Every one of them came from a single Two-Faced Fish. Guess you really can't judge a fish by its face." An angler bandaging his woundsHow to get: FishTwo-Faced Fish VariantFish"Don't let that docile face fool you. See these bite marks on my hand? Every one of them came from a single Two-Faced Fish. Guess you really can't judge a fish by its face." An angler bandaging his woundsHow to get: FishUnidentified Alchemical SubstanceFish"Tools checked. Protective gear checked. Beginning recovery." An alchemist preparing to recover the substanceHow to get: FishUnidentified Alchemical Substance VariantFish"Tools checked. Protective gear checked. Beginning recovery." An alchemist preparing to recover the substanceHow to get: FishVenomspine CatfishFishWhen the people of Huaxu first told me they were preparing a Venomspine Catfish feast for me, I flat-out refused. For a moment, I wondered whether I'd slighted Huaxu cuisine in one of my pieces, and they meant to poison me with the fish. As it turned out, I was entirely mistaken. Silky-smooth, with a faint tingle on the tongue, I assumed they'd used peppercorns, only to learn it came from the venom itself. How do the Huaxu manage to make something poisonous taste this good!? Wym, food journalist from Luca, A Taste of AtlasiaHow to get: FishVenomspine Catfish VariantFishWhen the people of Huaxu first told me they were preparing a Venomspine Catfish feast for me, I flat-out refused. For a moment, I wondered whether I'd slighted Huaxu cuisine in one of my pieces, and they meant to poison me with the fish. As it turned out, I was entirely mistaken. Silky-smooth, with a faint tingle on the tongue, I assumed they'd used peppercorns, only to learn it came from the venom itself. How do the Huaxu manage to make something poisonous taste this good!? Wym, food journalist from Luca, A Taste of AtlasiaHow to get: FishWasher's ClubFishTechnically, it has a long-winded academic name, but most people still prefer the nickname given by a washerwoman over the official term coined by biologists. Dylan the Know-It-All, Unknown CornersHow to get: FishWasher's Club VariantFishTechnically, it has a long-winded academic name, but most people still prefer the nickname given by a washerwoman over the official term coined by biologists. Dylan the Know-It-All, Unknown CornersHow to get: FishWaterlogged SackFish"What kind of slob throws sacks into the river!?" An angler on a long dry spellHow to get: FishWaterlogged Sack VariantFish"What kind of slob throws sacks into the river!?" An angler on a long dry spellHow to get: FishWaterskullFish"This material exhibits remarkable elasticity and water resistance. In time, it may allow for the creation of instruments capable of functioning at great depths, perhaps even those that could reach the Heaventree's buried roots. And with them, we may yet trace the origins of the world." Emerald, Materials Researcher at the Aeolipile, Principles and Instructions for Use of New MaterialsHow to get: FishWaterskull VariantFish"This material exhibits remarkable elasticity and water resistance. In time, it may allow for the creation of instruments capable of functioning at great depths, perhaps even those that could reach the Heaventree's buried roots. And with them, we may yet trace the origins of the world." Emerald, Materials Researcher at the Aeolipile, Principles and Instructions for Use of New MaterialsHow to get: FishWaterwyrmFishFirst toast to the Lord of the Sea, Calm the waves, and bring us all home safe. Second toast to the Lord of the Sea, Fill our nets with fish, shrimp, and clam. Third toast to the Lord of the Sea, Grant fair winds and fruitful harvests across the land. Fourth toast to the Lord of the Sea, May fortune, health, and long life be ever yours! Sea Blessing Chant of Huaxu FishermenHow to get: FishWaterwyrm VariantFishFirst toast to the Lord of the Sea, Calm the waves, and bring us all home safe. Second toast to the Lord of the Sea, Fill our nets with fish, shrimp, and clam. Third toast to the Lord of the Sea, Grant fair winds and fruitful harvests across the land. Fourth toast to the Lord of the Sea, May fortune, health, and long life be ever yours! Sea Blessing Chant of Huaxu FishermenHow to get: FishWeedcarpFish"Everyone knows Weedcarp are everywhere. Speaking of which, did I ever tell you about the monster Weedcarp I hauled in? Weighed over a hundred pounds, that one did!" A proud fishermanHow to get: FishWeedcarp VariantFish"Everyone knows Weedcarp are everywhere. Speaking of which, did I ever tell you about the monster Weedcarp I hauled in? Weighed over a hundred pounds, that one did!" A proud fishermanHow to get: FishWreckage FragmentFish"Still this well preserved after years underwater. That's Alchemy Academy engineering for you." An alchemist examining the fragmentHow to get: FishWreckage Fragment VariantFish"Still this well preserved after years underwater. That's Alchemy Academy engineering for you." An alchemist examining the fragmentHow to get: FishYuuFishThough this species does eject sand in short bursts, it bears little resemblance to the mythical creature "Yuu" described in early Huaxu writings. The expelled sand is demonstrably non-toxic, and the naming may well be a case of ancestral misattribution, or simple mythological conflation. Most likely, the original "Yuu" never existed at all. Lin Caocao, biologist from HuaxuHow to get: FishYuu VariantFishThough this species does eject sand in short bursts, it bears little resemblance to the mythical creature "Yuu" described in early Huaxu writings. The expelled sand is demonstrably non-toxic, and the naming may well be a case of ancestral misattribution, or simple mythological conflation. Most likely, the original "Yuu" never existed at all. Lin Caocao, biologist from HuaxuHow to get: Fish"Illness and Humanity" · Excerpt on DeteriorationDocuments... Deterioration predominantly afflicts Charon individuals between the ages of seventeen and twenty. The cause remains unknown, and the condition is invariably fatal. In the early stages, the patient's physiological indicators show no significant abnormalities. However, as the condition progresses, burnt-like markings, known as Deterioration Imprints, begin to manifest on the skin, with their location and pattern varying among individuals. By the middle stage, the patient's bodily functions rapidly deteriorate. Externally, they may still appear normal, but internally, their tissues begin to mutate, resembling those of Filthoids. Eventually, the mutation exceeds the body's limits, leading to an irreversible collapse, marking the terminal phase of the disease. At this point, grotesque external hyperplasia occurs, erasing any traces of their former human form. As the final phase sets in, the human existence ceases entirely, giving way to a nascent, predatory Filthoid emerging from their former shell. It seems almost like a cruel curse: those once blind may gain extraordinary sight as Filthoids, and the anaemic might manipulate their own blood as a weapon. Only in this monstrous form do they attain bodies capable of enduring such afflictions. ...A Bloodstained LetterDocumentsI don't know where this letter will end up, or who will find it. But please, kind stranger... I beg you. Save me. I am in a village called Arcano, on Mount Arcano. This carrier pigeon should be able to lead you here... I was once an ordinary housewife from Scarletriver. Fred, the explorer who vanished on Mount Arcano several years ago, was my husband. I came to Mount Arcano to look for him, only to find a new village here, also called Arcano. But this New Arcano is nothing like the tourist village we knew. It is a sealed-off hell full of madmen. To avoid being killed by the village's master, "Mother Bunny", everyone who enters the village is forced to play whatever role she assigns them. My husband... was killed by that madwoman. I want to avenge him, but I have no weapon, no strength, and no way to fight her. How are ordinary people like us supposed to fight power like hers? I want to run, but I don't know who here is still in their right mind, and who is spying for Mother Bunny. I saw two close friends turn on each other. One gave away the other's escape plan, and the one who tried to run was drowned alive in front of us all. The worst part was that no one mourned. They just stood there, murmuring about eternal sleep beneath the water, rebirth, and reunion... To survive, I can only play along and pretend to be the kind, gentle "Teresa". But familiar faces keep vanishing, one after another, and strangers take their place. I can't go on like this... I don't know if I will be the next to disappear, or if tomorrow there will be a new "Teresa" in my place... I'm so afraid. So afraid that sometimes I forget how to breathe. Panic closes around my throat. I feel as if I could break at any moment... Before I lose myself completely, I have to write this. If you find this letter, please get me out of Mount Arcano. If you help me escape, I will do anything for you... Please...A Brawl at the Galea TheatreDocumentsBrawl at Galea Theatre Date: October 9th, 8:30 PM Filed by: Letizia Putsch, Director of the Magic Flute Troupe Involved Parties: Parsifal Snowfield (Lead Performer), Susanna Rossie (Lead Performer), Mathew Bernard (Audience), Feeley Francisco (Audience) ... Incident Summary: A physical altercation reportedly broke out between troupe members and two front-row audience members. Alleged assault of performers by said audience members. (Several pages of the incident report appear to have been torn out.) Conclusion: Evidence found to be insufficient. Case dismissed. Remarks: Performances of Children From the Snowfield have been suspended until further notice. No resumption date announced. I'd hoped to watch this one with Blues, to finally make up for the show we missed all those years ago. But I guess... that won't be happening any time soon.A Compendium of IncenseDocumentsThe art of incense has changed with the ages. In antiquity, aromatic herbs were burnt to raise fragrant smoke to reach the divine; in the present age, incense is measured and its vapours harmonised, so that by this craft the Mandate of Heaven may be set in order. The Record of Yang's Life relates that at the founding of the Nine Chapters, Yang declared: "When the Mandate of Heaven intermingles, all courses are impeded, and what is tangled cannot easily be loosed." She therefore sent men to gather a myriad of aromatics and heap them at the Taixu Mausoleum, where they were burnt without cease, day and night. Yang herself sat beside the pyre. When the smoke ran thick, none could draw near; and when at last it thinned, she had vanished. This account need not be taken on faith. Versions differ from place to place, and much has shifted with the passing of years. I compile this book not to quarrel over such tales, but to set down the incense arts of Huaxu across the span of ages. Within these pages I have gathered, as exhaustively as I could, matters of Heaven and Earth, of human affairs and the produce of the land; what was ancient is collected, and what is current is brought within its compass. It is my hope that those who come after may follow this lineage, and enrich it in their turn. The whole consists of seventeen volumes. The first nine record the incense materials: orchid and fragrant herb, pepper and cassia, aloeswood, sandalwood, borneol and musk, ancient varieties of Huaxu, together with rare foreign aromatics once presented as tribute. Marginal note: Since the widening of the Starweavers' routes, what was once unheard-of has become obtainable. The next four volumes treat of the uses of incense. Incense serves many ends: for offering, for wear, and for medicine. These are set out in detail below. The final three volumes concern the art of incense blending. Though its principles may appear simple, it is in truth the most demanding of all related crafts. One must first master the preceding thirteen volumes and commit them thoroughly to memory; only then may one properly undertake this discipline. The uses of incense are as boundless as the sea, and their subtleties are still beyond our full grasp. I have done no more than gather and preserve a handful of remarkable formulae devised by sages of old, that their methods might endure.A Delivery MemoDocuments• Silk, 10,000 bolts (Delivered) • Cloudgossamer, 5,000 bolts (Delivered) • Crackle-glazed porcelain, 1,000 sets (Due in 3 days) • Dukang Liquor, Five-Year, 200 crates (Out of stock)A Fallen Legionary's RecordingDocuments... We've reached the border. Strikes confirmed. Elysian forward units are retreating. Hold formation. Keep the pressure on... Wait. What did they just launch from that position? Hard left! All units, hard left! ... *cough* ...Airship Unit Four is hit! The Elysian Heralds are counterattacking! Heavy casualties! Requesting reinforcements. Repeat, requesting reinforcements... ... Brothers... the Elysian Divine Heralds have launched a full counteroffensive on every front. They've broken through our lines and advanced deep into Hyperborean territory. Our losses are catastrophic. ... We've received our final order. Crash-land near Mount Arcano. Hold the position there, and keep the enemy inside artillery range... Hahaha... Look on the bright side, brothers. We're dead either way. But if we can drag this many Elysian soldiers down with us, that's not such a bad deal...A Healer's JournalDocuments... Today, I had to say a heartrending goodbye to little Joe Frank. After he coughed up the last bit of blood in his lungs, he quietly drifted off in my arms, reuniting with his parents in the Misty Sea. While there's a faint solace in knowing his suffering has ended, rage consumes me over the horrors he endured. He was only 10 years old, how could the Hyperborean soldiers be so cruel to him after his parents died from exhaustion and illness!? When we discovered him, he was severely emaciated, weighing a mere 15 kilograms. It seemed as though a mere gust of wind could claim his fragile life. But what enraged me most was that his chest had been filled with blood, a clear sign of recent severe trauma. D*mn those Hyperborean monsters! I can't even begin to imagine the brutality he must have suffered! I curse the mercilessness of fate, why couldn't we have found him just one day sooner? One day, and that fatal blow to his chest wouldn't have happened. He could have been playing with toys, giggling, like any other carefree 10-year-old. And I detest my own incompetence most of all, despite exhausting every healing spell I knew, I couldn't save him. Before we left for Lonza Fortress, I promised his grandfather I'd bring him back safe and sound, but now... ...A Journal Used to the Last PageDocuments... Finally put all the stuff Rhythm stored away back where it belongs. Come on, a secret base is supposed to be messy! If we follow her neat-freak rules, this whole place will end up looking like some boring museum. When will my fussy big sis finally get it? The real thrill's stumbling on long-lost treasure hidden under clutter one day! ... Passed the 6th Legion's entrance test, yay! And my request to officially use this abandoned maintenance room got approved too, double yay! Can't believe the higher-ups said yes, just like that. No more sneaking in and out. Nice. ... Gave the key to Rhythm today. We've already made a plan: once I get back from the 6th Legion, we're gonna make this place bigger. One room just for my tapes, with the biggest stereo, loudest mic, and the best harmonica money can buy! No real performer skimps on gear! Another room for the posters I copied, my paints, sketchboards, and stuff. Aside from acting, I think I've actually got a bit of talent at drawing... Maybe a stage-prop designer isn't such a bad career choice either? Whatever, I'll just try everything whenever I get the chance! Oh, and definitely a room just for our medals. A few years from now, I'm sure we'll both be Laurelled Charons with medals piled high. Gotta reserve an entire room just to display them properly. And I also want to...! ...Ah. Looks like this journal's full already. Guess I'll have to pick up another one once I reach the inner city.A Letter from One Starweaver to AnotherDocumentsMr Lin, Thank you for your letter, especially amidst your many responsibilities. I am keeping well. Though I can no longer journey by sea, the work of handling goods still grants me faint glimpses of distant tales, a small comfort, but a comfort nonetheless. The ornaments you brought back from Luca are most intriguing. I shall examine them carefully and seek out suitable buyers. My mother's condition has shown no improvement, and my two children are still very young. I cannot, in good conscience, leave the household entirely in my wife's care, and so I must once again decline your generous invitation. During my years with the caravan, you offered me much guidance; even after I left, you continued to welcome me back with the same kindness. I remain deeply grateful, and cannot help feeling a measure of shame for having disappointed you so often. May your journey be smooth, and may fortune grant you auspicious encounters along the way. I have one further request: if your route happens to pass through Icelake in Hyperborea, please convey my regards to a young Loongscion woman named Jessica. She is about my younger sister's age, and should now be in her finest years. We became acquainted when our caravan last visited the city, and our parting was not an easy one. I had hoped we might meet again before long, yet the years have slipped quietly by. If you would be willing to deliver a few small gifts to her as an apology, I would be most grateful. With my warmest wishes for your health and peace, JiayanA Letter in the Emperor's HandDocumentsDestroy this letter after reading. Ensure Vergilius's safety. Within six months, eliminate Duke Servius. Leave no trace.A Lost DiaryDocuments... Oh, how I regret it... I should never have told Hans those tales! Like the one about a gem trader and a few bandits who were trapped in a cave deep in the mountains and died there a hundred years ago, or the story about the miner who, twenty years ago, ran off with the mine director's daughter, only to be killed and his body dumped in the forbidden zone deep within the pit, becoming a ghost that haunts the area... Weren't these just old tales the miners made up to pass the time!? Why did Hans take them so seriously that he stole the key, ran into the forbidden zone, and never came back!? Curse his curiosity... No, it was my fault... If only I hadn't filled his head with those cursed, eerie stories... It's all my fault...A Match MadeDocumentsNo need for the Moon Matchmaker to meddle. One red thread binds the romance. The crimson bridal sedan chair halts at the gate. Whether she wills it or no, gown on, veil down, once she mounts, the union is sealed. A hundred hands bear it onwards. The bridegroom reels, heart unmoored, as though he had glimpsed a heavenly maiden in a dream. (Offstage, a hurried reply.) Jing (beaming): Splendid! Good luck upon good luck, three cups for that! Mo: It's late. My lady is waiting. I'll be taking my leave. Jing: Nonsense! You've drained more cups than I can count at the Bazhen Pavilion and never once been drunk. And now you're baulking at a single cup? You'll be the laughingstock! Mo: Things aren't what they were. Don't take it amiss, brother. (Mo bows with clasped hands.) Jing (laughing): Ha! And here I thought you were a man of mettle, turns out you go to ground the moment wine's poured. Jing: Fine, fine. If he's that set on ducking out, no need to push it. Mo (startled): Why would you say that? All these years of brotherhood, and you'd throw it away over one cup of wine? Jing: Brotherhood? If that means anything to you, today's your wedding day, everyone's here to toast you. And you won't drink a single cup with us? All: Hear, hear! Jing: Some loyalty. Some brother. All: Hear, hear! Mo (sighing): Pomegranate blazes red as fire... and still, it cannot match the bitter smoke of mugwort... Ah, well. Mo (raising his voice): Today I'll drink with you if it kills me. Gentlemen, your health! (All drink.) A crescent moon crests the little tower, yet its tender light falls only into the gutter. Hair dressed in vain, pipa in hand... whose ear awaits her song?A Nameless Soldier's RecordingDocumentsFire... fire everywhere... Alarms blaring. Screams all around me... I remember now. The Hammerhead tried to make an emergency landing... but it failed. Red. All I can see is red... So hot. Burning red... ... The commander dragged me out of the Hammerhead... The Elysian assault still hasn't let up. Comms say our main force crash-landed in the valley to the south. We need to find a way down there and regroup with them... We have to keep the Elysian army tied down here... ... Damn it. Those Elysian bastards have sealed every mountain pass. The commander took a round covering my retreat... No reinforcements. No supplies. No hope... We're on our own... ... The bombardment woke me. I know those guns. They're ours. I can feel the whole mountain range shaking. Haha... hahaha... That's what you get for crossing the Legions. Hah... *cough*... I don't know how long the shelling went on. When it finally stopped, my commander went out to look for survivors... Now the whole world is quiet... So peaceful. So... cold... Good night, world.A Page from a DiaryDocumentsI have tried every method I can recall to treat my little sister's malady. Art of Ephemerality... the older prescriptions... even those foreign medicaments I bought off the Starweavers... and at last, even that which should not be touched, ■■■... And still there are people who ask why I persist. "Anyone practising the Zhuyou therapy dies young anyway," they say. Nonsense... utter nonsense! Why don't they go lose a brother or sister of their own before they dare utter such things!? New preparation: ■■■■■■ ■■■■ ■■■ ■■■■■ ■■■■■ ■■■■ No... no, this will not do. Too potent. Her body cannot withstand such a force. Yet if I remove ■■■■■... the entire prescription loses its meaning! Try again. ... Again! ... Next time... next time it may hold... it must... ... ...A Piece of Scratch PaperDocumentsI see the sun sear the earth I see birds plummet from the skies I see bullet wounds gushing blood I see the grave open its dark maw I see maggots gnaw at the dead I see the Misty Sea whisper in the end It beckons, enfolds me Guiding me towards eternal nihilityA Secret From a Wall CrackDocumentsAddress the issue and provide the solution, then you will find what you deeply desire. People dump their filth and sins into the gutters, burying them underground, comforting themselves with the illusion that nothing ever happened. Naturally, they remain blind to the rats and hatred festering from them.A Warning From a Wall CrackDocumentsAddress the issue and provide the solution, then you will find what you deeply desire. Otherwise, you might end up like these Filthoids.Aged NewspaperDocumentsDeteriorators Are Exceptionally Dangerous, Do Not Be Fooled by Their Appearance! On September 24th, an egregious case of Deterioration occurred in Icelake, with devastating consequences. Following an comprehensive investigation by the 6th Legion's Escort Unit, the details of the tragedy have now been confirmed: On September 13th, local residents Mr and Mrs Fischer encountered a gravely injured young man, Robie Brown, collapsed by the roadside near Lamenting Lake. Acting out of compassion, they brought him into their home and cared for him. However, Robie Brown was a Deteriorator, one who had evaded the Empire's routine screenings and fled to the outskirts of the city. While receiving aid from the Fischers, Brown deliberately concealed his condition. Ten days later, he succumbed to the transformation, becoming a Filthoid. The resulting massacre in Icelake's southern district claimed the lives of dozens, including Mr and Mrs Fischer. The 6th Legion's Escort responded swiftly and succeeded in subduing the threat, but not before the damage was done. The incident resulted in 18 deaths (including 3 Solarian citizens) and 34 injuries. Citizens are reminded: under no circumstances should you provide shelter to unidentified Charon individuals. If you suspect someone of being a Deteriorator, report them to the Security Bureau immediately. Deteriorators are, and will remain, humanity's enemies. No exceptions. Harbouring Deteriorators or concealing their condition is a capital offence under Article 54 of the Hyperborean Criminal Code, punishable by death.Alchemist's Journal (Ⅰ)DocumentsAlchemist's Journal (Ⅰ) (A journal left behind in Glevum Pit. The tone suggests it might belong to a scholar.) ... April 16 We've found a peculiar yellow crystal cluster in this pit. Judging by its texture, it's neither the legendary Crystallo of Stella said to be hidden deep in mountain caves, nor the Phoxene left behind in Glevum Pit. Instead, it appears to be a completely new, undiscovered mineral. ... April 18 Bob was astonished to find that these yellow crystal clusters, which emitted a dim glow, had grown larger. They had expanded from the size of a palm to that of a low shrub. ... April 20 ...The yellow crystal clusters had again "grown larger" and turned into spiky crystals that blocked our way, as if they were alive. Fortunately, they were fragile and could be easily broken with a small amount of gunpowder. Bob hypothesized that these crystals were not minerals but some kind of secretion from Filthoids, even a "subordinate form" of it. Over time, they expanded like a sponge soaked in water. Although Bob was well-versed in the Biology of Filthoids, this was still a bold assumption. ... April 21 To verify Bob's hypothesis, we decided to venture deeper into the pit. If his guess is right, there must be a special Filthoid parent form down there, different from the ones we've seen in the wild. ...Alchemist's Journal (Ⅱ)DocumentsAlchemist's Journal (Ⅱ) (A journal left behind in Glevum Pit, stained dark red. The handwriting matches the earlier journal found. The latter part is extremely messy, as if it was scribbled in frantic haste.) ... April 23 As Bob predicted, we found that special Filthoid deep in the pit, an area once deemed the "Forbidden Zone" of Glevum Pit. It measures over 20 meters in length, making it the largest Filthoid I've ever encountered. It resembles a skeleton, with yellow crystals continuously "growing" from the ends of its limbs, we can be certain that it is the "parent form" of the yellow crystals we've seen along the way. We've decided to stay hidden and continue observing this creature. ... April 26 We've found that, compared to other wandering Filthoids, this one has a distinct peculiarity in addition to its larger size: It seems to have a particular fascination with glowing minerals. It often wanders to abandoned mining pits, repeatedly performing the same digging motions. Whenever it unearths glowing minerals, such as Phoxene fragments from the mines or the Silverite from the mountains, it grows yellow crystals from the tips of its limbs to encase these luminous rocks. Bob is extremely intrigued by this habit: Its behavior of excavating, collecting, and encapsulating the glowing objects doesn't seem to be a mere phototaxis. This series of actions appears to be something more akin to "conscious" behavior. Is it possible that Filthoids retain some form of consciousness similar to that of humans? If this hypothesis is proven to be true, it would completely overturn the existing research findings in the field of the Biology of Filthoids. ... April 27 We made a grave mistake. In an attempt to further verify its behavioral patterns, Bob tried to provoke it by stealing from its "collection" and observing its reaction. However, we severely underestimated its reaction speed. It lunged at us with a speed we had never witnessed before, attempting to tear us, the unwelcome intruders, into pieces. Though Bob bought me enough time to escape its lair, I knew all too well that the injuries I had sustained were fatal. I would never make it out of this abandoned mine alive. If anyone finds this journal, I implore you to take it to The Spathatoi Academy in Dismania. The study of this Filthoid, whom we named "the Crystalophile" could bring about a monumental shift in the Biology of Filthoids as we know it. Knowledge should not be buried with us in this pit. Ines Morley, an AlchemistAlice's DiaryDocumentsDay 4: The blizzard has erased my tracks. I'm lost in the mountains... with no way back... Day 7: With my last bit of strength, I made it to the mountain top. The blizzard's too intense; I can't find a way down. Met some other lost travellers up here... Hard to say how long they will last... Day 8: Late into the night. Finally managed to get a fire going in a cave, safe from the wolves for now. She's stopped bleeding, but fallen into a feverish coma... It's so cold. When will this blizzard end... Such a pity that a beautiful and well-bred lady should meet her end in this godforsaken place with me. Day 9: The weather's let up a little. Found a way down the mountain. Carrying her on my back, she miraculously came to. I promised her that we'd make it back alive together. Day 9: She's become too weak to even sip water. She said she was cold; I felt the same. Cold and exhausted, we drifted to sleep in each other's arms... Day 10: She'll never wake up again. Her last message, written in blood on the snow, will forever haunt me: "Take my warm clothes, and make it out alive"...An Addressless LetterDocumentsMy Dearest, It's been too long. I am writing this letter from Lonza Fortress in Hyperborea, no longer as an imperial soldier. After you left, I tried to move on as they told me to, but I couldn't. The Misty Sea took you from me, and cleared the fog that once clouded my vision. Suddenly, the world's true face and the grotesque truths behind the doctrines I once revered became clear. The splendid crown we once worshipped was merely a mirage, and I have now seen through it. In my awakening, I joined The Forsakens. Just today, I ended the life of the imperial officer who ruined you. I once vowed to follow you into the Misty Sea after avenging your death. But since joining The Forsakens, I've come to realize that the rot beneath the Empire's gleaming facade is even more horrifying than I had imagined. Our people are suffering, stripped of dignity, powerless against the abuse and oppression, for their vision is still obscured by the mist. I cannot, in good conscience, depart from this world as it is. Forgive me for not fulfilling my promise sooner. No one should endure the cruelty we face. I must fight for a future where all Charons live with dignity in the light. I will never forget you, and my love for you burns as fiercely as ever. When the war is over and our people are truly free... I promise, I will come to you.An Admonishing NoteDocumentsWake up, young man. Keep your feet on solid ground. There is no such thing as gaining without graft. Every master of the Wuqiongzang Sect earned their skill through years of hard, honest training, and nothing else. Stop swallowing nonsense like Loong in the Sky; that trashy tale has led enough gullible lads astray. Don't fool yourself into thinking fortune will drop into your lap and carry you to the top with no effort of your own. Take this small sum and get yourself looked at. A fall from a cliff is no small matter. From now on, train steadily. Keep your head clear. Stop daydreaming, and stop chasing shortcuts that lead nowhere!An Elysian Soldier's Final NotesDocuments"If you're reading this, take these notes with you. Expose the Empire's crimes. Don't let the Children of the Gods suffer any longer. The Legion turned on its own allies and shelled civilian towns without mercy. We survived only because the Divine Heralds protected us, and by the grace of the gods. But... ... Every step drains what little strength we have left. No one says it aloud, but we all know this is as far as we go. The mines we laid during our retreat may slow their pursuit for a while, but our supplies ran out long ago. No one is leaving this valley alive... Gods, forgive us. We failed to cleanse those damned blasphemers. Take my comrades back into your embrace. They whispered prayers to you until their final breaths. Please... hear them..." (The rest of the entry is smeared with dark blood. Only a few words remain legible at the bottom.) "...I don't want to die."Angry EtchingsDocumentsI huffed and puffed my way up here, expecting a shiny treasure, and what do I find? Mushrooms. Yes, mushrooms!!! Of all things, why mushrooms!!?Annie's LetterDocumentsDear Mother, I'm not sure if this letter will ever make its way to you, but writing it now takes me back to the crazy mix of fear, thrill, and excitement I felt leaving home. Thanks to you, I've read extensively and learned about the many wonders out there in the world. However, it was under your watchful eye that I was denied the chance to experience these wonders, constrained to live as you desired. But now, having left home, things are different. The vibrant winds, the beautiful flowers, and the joys and sorrows of my journeys have deepened my understanding and appreciation of this colourful world. Recently, I've even made it near some snowy mountains, sights I've never seen before. So, I guess I will not go back home. You can think of this as the follies of youth if it makes you feel better. With love, AnnieArcano (Ⅰ)DocumentsChase a deer and bring it to Mother Bunny, dear as a mother; Chase a deer and bring it to Mother Bunny, sacred as a god. Take its cloven hooves, cut away its defiant horns; Teach its stubborn heart to yield. Peel the soft hide, stitch it with thread and bone; Spread the skin across the stony road. Mother Bunny, come to us! Reach out your gentle hand, Under the gaze of the Golden Deer, Grant me a second life. Hymn to Mother Bunny: The Deer HuntArcano (Ⅱ)DocumentsWhy won't you believe me? You keep saying it's just a rabbit-shaped stone, but it's Mother Bunny's incarnation! Can't you hear Her voice? It's not a hallucination, it's real... If you go there now, you can still see the gift She left for me, right at Her feet! She chose me! She acknowledged me! She forgave me! She's invited me to Her world, to serve by Her side, a paradise, a land where rivers flow with honey... It's paradise, paradise! Her paradise!Arcano (Ⅲ)DocumentsCongratulations to the 99th lucky player of the spinning teacup! You've hit the jackpot! Come down now and head to the room, there's a lucky gift waiting for you. A reward truly worthy of your fortune. I don't know who you are, my guess is, maybe the most playful little Ada? Haha, it doesn't really matter. After all, this paradise exists to bring joy, and whoever receives that joy, it's a good thing. This is our shared town of Arcano. This is our home, our paradise. You don't need to thank anyone for this unexpected gift. Thank yourself. It was your luck that brought you here, your attentiveness that found this note, and that's how you earned this gift. Arcano is growing better and better, it's thanks to everyone, and the rewards should be shared by everyone. Now, go to the room with the golden sign right in front of you, and claim it! Have a wonderful day! To the future of Arcano! To our future!Arcano (Ⅳ)DocumentsThe crash landing failed. Half of my body has gone numb. I don't think I'll make it until rescue arrives. There's still some supplies left in the airship. Take them, my comrade, may your battles go well. If you can, please go to the rear cabin. Find a photo of a girl with long golden hair, and bury it with me, resting on my chest. That... is my only wish.Arcano (Ⅴ)DocumentsDear Rosalia: I'm nearly at Arcano. As I mentioned before, I'll record my experiences here and send them to you. I've heard the local folklore is quite unique, and for a fantasy novelist like me, it's the perfect place to gather material! You know I've been struggling with writer's block lately, and it's been bothering me a lot. I believe that visiting the place in person will spark some fresh ideas. I've already come up with a story: a girl who accidentally obtains a pair of red dancing shoes that grant wishes. But in truth, every wish comes at a price. When she can no longer bear the cost and tries to get rid of the shoes, she finds that her feet have already grown into them... What do you think of this slightly horror-tinged story? I've already written over a dozen pages of manuscript. As expected, a new environment really does get the creativity flowing. Once I return from this trip and finish sorting out these drafts, I'll submit them to the publisher again. ... The townsfolk are warm and welcoming, not as frightening as the rumours said. I knew most of those urban legends were exaggerated, and there was nothing to worry about after all. A bit of a shame, though, this won't be giving me much material for my horror stories. I've had a bit too much to drink, and I'm feeling dizzy... Huh, where did I put my luggage? Oh, there it is, by the pillar in the corner of the room. Still feeling lightheaded... I should get some proper rest. ... Is this... a letter I wrote? Who is Rosalia...? And... who am I...? (The rest has been burned away, the edges charred and uneven.)Aurora Express Hijacking Incident ReportDocumentsThe incident occurred at 09:00 yesterday morning. Princess Flodia departed from Platform Ⅰ aboard the Jackdaw, bound for the Imperial Capital, Dismania. One of the perpetrators, an Icelake Phoxhunter whose identity has yet to be confirmed, had boarded the Gale at 08:00, also bound for Dismania. Roughly three hours after departure, the Jackdaw overtook the Gale. The Phoxhunter seized the opportunity to leap aboard the Jackdaw. Taking advantage of the relatively light guard presence on the roof, they entered the carriage from above, seized Princess Flodia, and jumped with her onto the Aurora Express, another train travelling on an adjacent track. The Aurora Express was then hijacked by Katya of the Hazering, one of the leaders of the Forsakens, known by the codename "Beast-King". After the hijacking began, the 6th Legion stationed in the Cocytus Region immediately dispatched the airship Deepwinter in response. Katya used Princess Flodia as a hostage to prevent the airship from engaging. She later used the Aurora Express's main cannon to strike Deepwinter, and the blast also ignited a Heaventree in southern Cocytus. A violent confrontation then broke out between Katya and the Phoxhunter, presumably over what was to be done with Princess Flodia. Katya was later extracted by members of the Forsakens. The Phoxhunter's whereabouts remain unknown, and they are presumed to have been killed in the locomotive explosion. The incident caused significant losses. The airship Deepwinter crashed, and the Aurora Express's locomotive was wrecked beyond repair. In addition, dense airborne particulates released by the burning Heaventree will render the airspace between Cocytus and Dismania impassable for a considerable period. Should the Forsakens launch a large-scale uprising during this time, the Empire will have difficulty redeploying airships from across its territory to suppress the unrest. Princess Flodia's current whereabouts are unknown. However, according to passengers aboard the Aurora Express who saw her during the incident, she does not appear to have been caught in the locomotive explosion. The incident resulted in the deaths of more than a dozen civilians, with over forty others injured. The conductor, driver, and many train guards were killed in action while resisting the Forsakens. We honour these brave souls. The Empire will see the demons of the Forsakens pay blood for blood. All glory to our Emperor! Attachment: Civilian Victims, 13 Total Jeff Eysen, Icelake courier Elena Horn, Icelake fur merchant Cliff Miller, Dismania bank clerk ...Betwixt Leaves and Branches: The Eve of UprisingDocumentsSacred Tower Era, Year 900, 998: The Eve of Uprising In Sacred Tower Year 998, a great uprising swept across the southern continent, shaking even the seemingly unshakable Elysian Church. Though the revolt failed to overthrow the Church, its remnants fled north, founding a succession of new realms. Together, these events became known as the Great Migration. For a thousand years, the Church upheld its theocracy. From high priest to commoner, all believed this order eternal, shielding the world from the Filthoid threat beyond, and sustaining life within, day after day, until the end of time. Yet each new Filthoid wave, though deepening fear and strengthening the Church's authority, quietly set in motion changes that reshaped the land itself. The Filthoid invasions placed different burdens upon each stratum of Elysian society. Foremost among the burdened were the knightly orders, who suffered grievous losses in every Filthoid invasion. Yet after each war, they rebounded with startling speed. The valour of the knights, and the claim that they had seen gods with their own eyes, inspired the common folk. Thus the faithful flocked to join the orders. Most would never rise to knighthood, serving instead as common soldiers, yet they felt thereby closer to the divine, and some even yielded their lands willingly to the orders. Thus the knightly orders, once purely martial, became institutions of military, economic, commercial, and even religious power. Their devotion to the Great Nine merged with personal loyalty to their commanders. From this fusion of faith and wealth emerged a new social force: the military nobility. They were called nobility because the post of knight-commander, once granted by divine choice, election, or contest, began to pass by blood. Commanders' kin filled the orders' ranks, managing finances, land disputes, and rites. In the more arrogant orders, it's said their feasts even outshone ceremonies for the gods. At the time few thought this amiss, but later events proved the danger. For when reverence for a man outstrips reverence for the gods, that man holds power enough to cast them down. Next came the plight of the freeholding farmers. Before the Filthoid invasions, most lived near towns in modest self-sufficiency. But war left many lands desolate. Those who lost their fields sought the protection of knight-commanders, becoming tenant farmers, bound to their estates. At the same time, rebuilding the ravaged regions gave rise to a new force: the merchant. These merchants were no peddlers or wandering hawkers. They bought up the goods of entire regions, then sold them wholesale to lands under reconstruction. Their trade spanned vast distances, yet many never left their grand estates. All was moved by money alone, while the dispossessed farmers became mere cogs within their elaborate designs. At first, these merchants still feared the Church's edicts, taking only what they deemed a rightful share. But in time, their sense of what was "rightful" grew warped, and their fortunes soared to staggering heights. As these great magnates rose, the farmers' plight grew ever more dire. When a farmer stood before not just a merchant, but a knight-commander too, he bore a double yoke, of coin and of arms. In famine years, or even sooner, he might sell his land, fall into tenancy, and still be forced to offer tribute for knightly rites. Such lives were no longer bearable. Yet many clung to the belief that all was divine will... until a new thought stirred: Why would the gods ordain such misery for us? And what of the gods' own servants? The clergy, those closest to divinity, remained secure in their sanctuaries, faithfully obeying oracles from the Holy Capital. In principle, they stood untouched by the turmoil, and in truth, most were. Yet some began to think otherwise. A few even joined the uprising and the Great Migration. Their numbers in the resistance were few, but their influence, profound. At the root lay one question: What is divinity? Is it a perfect being, who split its holiness into nine, becoming the Great Nine? Or are the Nine each perfect, distinct, yet united in will, together forming the foundation of creation? Were the Nine born in sequence? And if so, is one greater than the rest? Above the gods... is there yet another god? For centuries, such questions plagued Elysium's theologians. At last, in Sacred Tower Year 480, during the Eighth Universal Council, they reached a fragile consensus: Divinity is manifold, its consciousness encompassing all things. It divided itself into nine, and so came the Great Nine: equal and one. The divine is perfect, whole. All that occurs is its flawless design, both change and changelessness. For the divine is the immutable beyond change, the necessary beyond chance. The divine is infinite, abiding at the beginning and end of time, the primal cause of all things. The clergy debated for more than a century, forging a fragile accord. Yet just twenty years later, in Year 500, the Filthoid Waves shattered it. The descent of the Goddess of the Full Moon and Fate proved divinity was real, yet also sparked new doubts: Were the Nine truly equal? If all things are ordained by the divine... then were the Filthoid Waves too? And if so, why did the divine descend in person to end them? Those already discontent with the Universal Councils' decrees found these questions echoing within. Their doubts mirrored the farmers': Could the gods truly be trusted? As faith gave way to scepticism, some priests turned to old records, devising tests and studies to prove whether the divine existed at all. The eight Universal Councils, once meant as pillars of doctrine, became weapons of dissent. The First was overturned by the Seventh; the Sixth absolved those condemned by the Second. Line after line of contradiction chipped away at the very idea of divine truth. In response, the Church created a new role, the scholastic priests, tasked with quelling doubt and realigning thought. Over centuries, their efforts slowly brought unity back to the clergy. Yet a few remained fixated on old texts and speculative works, preferring ancient scrolls over new teachings. They were few, and the Church dismissed them as harmless cranks, lost in their books. Among those few scholars stood a curious young priest named Alexis. He dreamed of writing a tome that answered every question, a book to mend the flaws in doctrine. To do so, he left the Holy Capital, journeying through the dioceses to see how the gods' grace truly moved among the people. He recorded all he saw. But Alexis never returned. In time, he gained another name, the Sage. He joined with Dis Galea of the Three-Wolf Order, and together they led the uprising and opened a new chapter of history.Betwixt Leaves and Branches: The Filthoid WavesDocumentsSacred Tower Era, Year 1, 500: The Filthoid Waves Long millennia past, the world was believed to consist of but two realms: in the south, the theocracy of Elysium; in the north, only untamed wilds. Elysium was a land consecrated to the Great Nine, where each community served its chosen deity. To the Patriarch the gods gave revelation, which was passed down through the ranks of the priesthood. These revelations, however, spoke only of reverence, awe, and piety, with little bearing on life, law, or anything of practical worth. In Elysium, life changed little from day to day. The Sacred Canon dictated when to rise, when to labour, when to take meals, and when to kneel in prayer and confession at the halls of praise. The faithful believed that when their time came, they would ascend to the Heaven above Heavens, a realm where honey ran in rivers and even the air itself was sweet. To us it may seem a stagnant existence, yet to those of that age, it was both the best and only way to live. To remain within the Church's fold was life; to leave it was to embrace near-certain death. At that time, Filthoids were the shared plight of all humankind. These were no ordinary beasts, but creatures that came in hordes, possessed of strength and cunning beyond common animals, and a boundless hatred for mankind. Be they Solarian, countless though they were, or the horned but fewer-numbered Charon, none could stand alone against a Filthoid pack. In the south, the Great Nine bestowed their might upon the faithful of Elysium. Their divine power was forged into sacred relics, and whoso bore them served as a vessel of the gods' authority, spreading their grace across the land. Only the most virtuous and pure of heart were chosen to wield such relics. These champions gathered followers and smote the Filthoids, their deeds honoured with titles echoing the Seven Virtues. Yet as the wars wore on, some of these paragons fell in battle, and amid the chaos of the front lines, there was neither time to return their relics to the Holy Capital, nor to perform the long rites of selection and investiture. So with centuries passing thus, the relics ceased to return to the Holy Capital, and were passed instead from bearer to bearer, guided by the will of the predecessors. These heirs became the first knight-commanders. Around them gathered retainers and the faithful alike, forming the first knightly orders. In their wars against the Filthoids, each knightly order honed a style of war all their own. Commander Patience favoured the hammer-and-anvil. Clad in full plate, his heavy infantry would draw the Filthoid swarms upon themselves. While the beasts clawed in vain at walls of iron, the Commander led his cavalry forth from ambush, crashing in from all sides like a god's own hammer, to crush the foe between them. By contrast, the order of Generosity practised war with splendour. Their commander, an archer without peer, commanded the largest host of bowmen in Elysium. Before battle, he would seize a high ridge for his killing ground, arraying his archers in scattered bands to cover every angle. Their storm of arrows would break the Filthoids before they ever reached the lines, so that in the best of cases, the heavy infantry might win the day without spilling a drop of blood. Through long years of war these tactics reached refinement, and the southern reaches of the continent were slowly drawn beneath the Church's dominion. Yet the shadow of failure never strayed far. In the five-hundredth year of the Sacred Tower Era, a horde rose greater than any before. As though guided by cunning, the Filthoids bypassed several knightly garrisons and drove straight for the Church's heart, the Holy Capital itself. By the time the orders grasped the threat, no hour remained to marshal stratagems or shape the field. They could only stand with mortal flesh against a countless swarm, fighting in chaos and desperation. Mankind's one advantage over the Filthoids lay in the discipline of ordered war. Once battle collapsed into primal struggle, the outcome could be nothing but tragedy. Midway through the clash, the orders of Loyalty and Humility were slain to the last, commanders and cohorts alike. Even the order of Diligence, famed for the might of its individual warriors, fared little better: their commander lost an arm to the beasts' onslaught. Just as the remaining knights steeled themselves to perish, resolved that no Filthoid would breach the high walls of the Holy Capital, a miracle was wrought. From the central spire of the city rose a perfect moon, which descended to the heart of the battlefield. Thus appeared the ninth of the Great Nine, the first to reveal divinity, the Goddess of the Full Moon and Fate. The Sacred Canon of Elysium speaks of many wonders, oft dismissed as embellishment. Yet the chronicles of this descent record marvels more astounding still, eclipsing even the Canon's own miracles. The goddess raised her sacred right arm and pointed to the heavens. The sky split asunder, revealing its black foundation. With her finger she struck that dark vault ten times, and at each touch a light was kindled. At first no larger than a pinhole, the lights swelled, to the size of camels, then of hippos, until at last they plunged earthward. The roars of the falling lights surpassed the bellow of a hundred lions. Their blasts scorched like molten iron, driving before them clouds of poisoned dust. The Filthoids, driven to frenzy by the goddess's falling lights, burst apart, their forms shattered, their essence undone. Yet the faithful who fought in her name were bathed in that same radiance and felt not fire, but coolness. Though their eyes beheld a vision of hellfire, their skin knew only the touch of spring water, and in their hearts welled a rapture beyond measure. Such was the goddess's grace. Thus was the second great crisis of the Elysian Church ended under the goddess's protection. In later ages, some would claim the chronicles of this miracle were pure invention. Yet the knights who endured the battle became zealots unshakable, vowing to spend their every drop of sweat and blood in defence of the Holy Capital. Fortunate indeed that never again did a Filthoid wave of such scale rise upon Elysian soil. Yet across the continent lay lands untouched by divine gaze. At the Church's northernmost bounds stretched the Emerald Forest. Beyond it lay country unknown: not barren, but rich with plains and ample rain. But long harried by Filthoids, men knew well what awaited any who strayed beyond the gods' protection and the knights' guard: it was no different from exile into a perilous wilderness. A few fervent preachers, undaunted by death, ventured northward, but seldom returned whole. To the common folk of Elysium, daily life may have mirrored the pages of the Canon a little too closely, yet even tedium was preferable to death. Thus it was only dimly known that a vast land stretched beyond the north, equal in breadth to the Church's own dominion. Few gave thought to that Filthoid-haunted land, not until the Great Migration of Sacred Tower Year 998.Bloodstained JournalDocuments... According to the sewer layout, they must've fled into this sector. Worse than I thought: our specialised scanners can't get a proper reading down here. Looks like I'll be stuck in this sunless maze for days... ... Still no sign of them today. Nearly ran into the Escort, though. Could the Legion already be onto this? I need to get in touch with the Professor as soon as possible... ... Even with everything unfolding, the Professor remains as composed as ever. I still have much to learn from him. When we meet again in the sewers tomorrow, I need to hold it together, can't let him see me as a mess again. ...Bloomfield Station Recruitment NoticeDocumentsLinking the far south to the distant north, bridging distance and dreams, our criss-crossing railways span the land, and our stations shine like stars across the vast expanse of Hyperborea. Loyal subjects of His Majesty, let us stand as one, march forward hand in hand, and forge the future of the Hyperborean railways with our own hands! Bloomfield Station warmly welcomes all who meet the following requirements: 1. Hardworking, dependable, disciplined, of good character, and eager to build a better future 2. No restrictions on age, gender, race, or previous work experience What we offer: 1. Guidance from veteran workers with more than twenty years of experience. Whatever you wish to learn, you can learn here. 2. A most stable wage, paid in full and never late. 3. Daily meals provided on schedule, so every hardworking labourer is kept well fed. 4. A united and friendly workplace. Here, rank and race are left at the door. From the moment you arrive, you are one of us. We welcome every citizen loyal to Hyperborea. Join Bloomfield Station and begin a new chapter in your life. Even if you cannot fight for His Majesty's glory on the battlefield, you may still prove your worth here. Bloomfield Station needs you. So too does the future of Hyperborea. Join us! Join the glorious cause! (What a stirring piece of recruitment propaganda... Anyone reading it would surely be swept up in its fervour. The terms it promises even sound rather appealing.)Bloomfield Station Workers' MenuDocumentsMeals Provided at Bloomfield Station Breakfast: black bread, water Lunch: boiled potatoes, bean soup Dinner: no additional meal provided. Workers assigned to overnight duty may collect one portion of pickled vegetables from the gatehouse. Notice 1. Under the Long Schedule, breakfast is distributed from 8:30 to 9:00. Under the Short Schedule, breakfast is distributed from 9:00 to 9:30. Lunch is served from 12:00 to 13:00 under both schedules. All times are determined by station clocks. Workers who report for duty after 6:00 are not entitled to meals that day. 2. Meal collection closes five minutes before the end of the meal period. Workers arriving after that time will not be served. When the work bell sounds, the canteen gates will be closed. Any worker who fails to return to their post on time will receive one demerit. Three demerits will result in dismissal. 3. Food may not be taken out of the canteen. Eating while on duty is prohibited. Unfinished food may not be taken back to the workplace. 4. Rejoining the queue to collect additional food is prohibited. Offenders will be charged that day's meal fee. 5. Child labourers may not eat while seated. Part-time workers are not authorised to enter the canteen. 6. Disruption of order in the canteen is prohibited, including, but not limited to: chatting, fainting, vomiting, quarrelling, queue-jumping, and breastfeeding. 7. Meal periods are determined by the bells. When the warning bell sounds, workers must begin leaving the canteen. When the work bell sounds, all workers must already be at their assigned posts for attendance inspection by the foreman. 8. Workers may not begin eating until food distribution has ended. Note: once the warning bell sounds, workers must stop eating, return their trays and utensils, and clean their places before leaving. 9. Workers may bring their own food, provided it is consumed in the canteen during the designated meal period. All food must be registered before entry into the canteen. In the event of diarrhoea or similar symptoms, the Station accepts no responsibility. Anyone who sees another worker bring in unregistered food may report them to the guard on duty. ... (I thought this was just an ordinary workers' menu, but there's barely anything about the food. Most of the poster is taken up by cruel, pointless rules... Working conditions at Bloomfield Station must be appalling.)Bloomfield Station: ⅠDocumentsThanks for covering for me the other day. Who'd have thought the foreman would show up right when we were having a quick game? Good job you're quick. Just... next time, come up with a better excuse, will you? "Running to the loo" is fine, but all that about... messy trousers? Bit much, mate. Anyway, cheers for that. I finally got a decent hand today, would've been gutted if the foreman had dragged me back. Your share of the winnings is by the stove. Don't forget to grab it.Bloomfield Station: ⅡDocumentsDo you want to know the secret to an easier day's work? It's simple, make regular offerings to the ancient god of the rails of Atlasia! Just leave your offerings by the tracks, and the great god will hear our prayers! The breakdown rate of the train I look after has dropped a lot recently, all thanks to this almighty god!Bloomfield Station: ⅢDocumentsThis is awful... When I got off the train, I noticed a passenger's wallet lying on the floor. For a moment, I lost my head and quietly took it. But when I opened it, it was full of strange papers that looked like charms, covered in drawings of black moons. Absolutely creepy. I heard those are the symbol of some kind of cult from Elysian Church or something? I've left the wallet by the infirmary door. Hopefully, that'll help someone in need and make up for what I did. The Great Seven of Elysian Church? Or was it nine? Whichever it is, please don't curse me, I didn't take the money! I beg you!Bloomfield Station: ⅣDocuments(From the creases, this appears to have once been a carefully written letter, but now it lies unfolded among the clutter by the wall, as if someone carelessly tossed it aside...) Dear Miss Broadcaster... I hope this is not too forward, but if I fail to convey the fervour of my heart to you, I would regret it for the rest of my life! This is my first time in Icelake. The strict security at the station left me at a loss, and I unfortunately lost my way. Luckily, you appeared before me like an angel descending from heaven, even though most of you is hidden behind your uniform, I can still catch a glimpse of your pink hair, as radiant as spring blossoms, and your violet eyes, which have utterly enchanted me. Although you already pointed me toward the exit, I have decided to stay and wait for the special broadcast you mentioned, just to hear your lovely voice once more. I have left a small gift at your workplace as a token of gratitude for your hard work. When your sweet voice fills the station, I will be in the hall, cheering louder than anyone for you!Bloomfield Station: ⅤDocumentsTch, you're always just squatting by the tracks watching trains. Your hair smells like coal dust now, you know that? Got some good news for you: I've hidden some of my pocket money under the trees nearby. Enough to buy two months' worth of your favourite serial. How about that? Reckon you'll finally get off your backside and take a walk now? Use the chance to stretch those stiff legs. Trust me, you might actually find there's more to life than locomotives. Nature's not bad once you give it a go!Boycott the Silvercandle Carnival!DocumentsCharon brothers, Charon sisters, remember that verse they drilled into us when we were kids? "Have you heard of such a carnival, where blasphemers clasp the hands of Demon's Children?" Yeah, that one. The Silvercandle Hymn. We've heard it so many times our ears grew numb. Every year, when that day comes, we Charon, scraping through bitter lives, stitch together masks and costumes. Because only then do the Solarian pretend to treat us as human. Only then do they hold back their scorn. They dance, they laugh, and they blast that cursed Hymn at us a hundred times over. And I know many of you can recite its lines, maybe even feel sorry for the "kind-hearted" Dis I and his brother Soranus. Some even believe, because our ancestors supposedly killed Soranus, that we're bound to serve the Solarian forever. They say it's our destiny. To repay a blood debt. I say that's all lies. Don't buy it. Don't buy it! Don't buy it!!! The Silvercandle Carnival is a lie from start to finish. There never was a carnival. Only a massacre. And Soranus? He wasn't some poor victim. He was the butcher, the worst of them all! Listen, I'll tell you another story. The truth. Our ancestors, the Charon, lived in the North. Because of Deterioration, they didn't build great cities, just small scattered villages. One clan lived by Lamenting Lake, warming themselves with Phoxene from the Heaventree nearby, living on what little they had. Then came rumours from the South, trouble in the Elysian Church, rebels driven out, exiles wandering north. At first it was just gossip. Elysium was too far to matter. Until Solarian soldiers showed up, armed, on our lake shore. Our ancestors pitied them. Thought they'd never survive the northern winter. So they took them in, gave them food. That winter was cruel, as if Father Ask and Mother Embla cursed us with the storm. But the cold didn't kill them, it only fed their greed. Galea, their leader, seemed harmless enough. But his brother? A greedy wolf. The first time he stepped into the village, his eyes went straight to our granaries. Already he was thinking of plunder. And on the night meant for peace, that brute Soranus had his blades and shields ready. At the feast our ancestors prepared, he struck. By dawn, except for a handful of hunters out in the wilds, none were left alive... Galea built Icelake on our ancestors' graves, and from it rose his Empire. His men enslaved us, lied to us, branded us sinners. Think about it! Really think about it! The Hymn, every line is about the Solarian. Not once does it name a single Charon. Why? Because they didn't know? Or because they never cared? The Silvercandle Carnival? A sham. The Hymn? Lies. They boast, "On this day we're equal; on this day we dance together." Liars! That wall between Solarian and Charon? They built it! And Soranus? He wasn't a hero or martyr. He was a filthy butcher! Don't be fooled. Boycott the Silvercandle Carnival!Catastrophe in a Bottle: Volume ⅠDocuments... All readers know that the author has always lived a solitary life. The benefits of solitude are obvious. Firstly, we can crush and refine precious gems purchased at great expense without hesitation, and without worrying about these valuable materials being used as gifts to win the favour of others. (Note: Of course, gems can only fulfil their true value in the hands of an alchemist.) Secondly, those who live alone will have more energy to experiment with the wonders of alchemy, rather than feeling deep regret upon finding their first strand of grey hair, and realising that one should not have been overly obsessed with fruitless love like the author. (Note: This sounds somewhat extreme, but in today's Empire, who isn't extreme?) And lastly, maintaining a solitary life can also prevent some unfortunate events from happening, like the following: Along the northern border of the Siberian Empire, there is a city called Icelake (Note: My teacher once went there, supposedly to visit a doctor named Enrique, but unfortunately I didn't inquire further), which produces Crystallo of Stella. It has a cold climate that makes it suitable for conducting research into the fire element. And the protagonist of this incident? Poor Vagim. He was one of the many alchemists in this region who specialised in the use of fire. He was 40 years old at the time, an age when many alchemists eventually achieved success. However, his greatest achievement at that time was not in alchemy but in having a child who was too clever and had a great interest in alchemy. (Annotation: A bit too harsh.) One winter morning, at the insistence of young Igor, Vagim took his son to the alchemy workshop. Naturally, the presence of a child, which are unpredictable, dangerous, and uncontrollable creatures, resulted in an explosive situation in the alchemy workshop. The events that followed were not witnessed by anyone, but based on eyewitness testimonies and an analysis of the scene, it is believed that the following occurred: Vagim prepared the most materials: Beast Wax, a small amount of Phoxene powder, and a heating crucible. Under his guidance, young Igor followed the classic process and proportions, causing a small and continuously burning fireball to appear in the crucible. (Note: This is very basic, but this successful attempt shows that the child had some talent.) For a child, Igor did remarkably well, and Vagim must have thought so too because he instantly praised his son. But unfortunately, this misled the young Igor, who thought that as long as he created a large enough fireball, he would receive even more praise. So, while Vagim was focused on preparing his own experiment, Igor, probably with the intention of surprising his father, added an entire block of Beast Wax to the crucible. (Note: Although understandable, this act was completely unforgivable.) On that day, Icelake experienced its largest fire since its founding. And the epicenter of the fire was Vagim's workshop. The likely cause was the excessive addition of experimental reactants. Any novice alchemist who had thoroughly read the "Alchemist Safety Guidelines" would not have made such a mistake. However, we cannot blame a child for this. Without a doubt, Vagim was the one responsible for this incident. It can only be said that, as an alchemist, maintaining a solitary life is a virtue that benefits both scientific endeavours and the greater good of society. (Note: This is a painful lesson, so I should also be more careful in future.)Chronicles of the StarweaversDocuments[Ju] The Starweavers trace their origins to Ju, the wise sovereign who first founded Huaxu. In the wake of establishing the Jishu Sect, Ju journeyed south to the Sacred Tower in search of a means to avert calamity. Upon his return, he brought with him those wearied by war, and together they set about restoring their homeland. In those days, the land was in need of renewal on every front. To supply what each province lacked, folk began to trade across the realm, and so began the craft that would one day define the Starweavers. Today, trade routes span the breadth of the continent, and wherever such paths may lead, the Starweavers are found. We cross mountains and rivers, travelling far beyond borders, not in pursuit of profit alone, but to bind together the many threads of civilisation. For wherever a merchant treads, there too travel the craft of the artisan and the learning of distant lands. From the meeting of these sparks, the flame of human endeavour endures. ...Crumpled Leaflet from The ForsakensDocumentsFellow Charons of Icelake, perhaps you scarcely remember any of this... The headsmen and liars of Hyperborea seized the city-state built by our ancestors. A proud people was reduced to numb, obedient slaves. They gouged out our eyes so we could no longer seek the truths the Empire hides. They tore out our tongues so we could no longer cry defiance. They shattered our fangs so we would kneel, and chew the scraps the Solarian so "graciously" drop at our feet. And then, with shameless pomp, they called it order and prosperity, raising a blood‑soaked monument atop the bones of Charons. But no more. The hour has come, my kin! Submission brings no peace. Only blood restores justice. No more silence. No more compromise. Let the Solarian feel our pain, Only then can we reclaim the peace, dignity, and future that rightfully belong to the Charon.Daily Activity Report: His Honour, Stationmaster EisenbahnDocumentsDaily Activity Report: His Honour, Stationmaster Eisenbahn 12 September, Clear, Bloomfield Station Freight Yard Approx. 10:00, Subject observed in the mid-rear section of the freight yard. Accompanied by four guards. Engaged in conversation with officials from Icelake. Subject repeatedly directed his gaze into the interiors of freight carriages. 25 September, Overcast, Station Concourse 15:00, Subject appeared at the ticket gate in disguise. Wearing a checked cap with a long peak and brown-tinted sunglasses. Behaviour deemed suspicious. 2 October, Cloudy, Clearing Later, Bloomfield Station Freight Yard 01:40, An unauthorised train entered the station. Subject not sighted. Members of his personal guard were present. Incident confirmed to be closely connected to the meeting on 12 September. 5 October, Rain, Bloomfield Station Materials Yard Subject not sighted. An intoxicated merchant was observed loitering in the area, alleging deception and betrayal in connection with a transaction. The individual later left the station. Violent assault suspected thereafter. 27 October, Clear, Platform Subject appeared in full military uniform. Offered formal greetings to boarding passengers and remained on site to see the train off. Presentation stable. No abnormalities observed. ...Dawn of Haojing · Issue ⅠDocumentsⅠ. East Market: Floodwater Half-Drowns a Lord Argent Statue After days of relentless rain, Haojing Lake rose fast enough to spill over the East Market embankment. One shopkeeper, known locally for his devotion, kept a three-foot wooden statue of Lord Argent at his shopfront and burnt incense to it each day without fail. Early one morning, a shophand named Zhang opened up the shop to sweep the threshold, only to find the water already lapping at the steps, the statue's lower half swallowed up. Startled, Zhang shouted for help, and the neighbours together hauled the image further inside. Tongues wag: "Lord Argent's ways are inscrutable." Surely this is Their doing, making plain Their displeasure at private offerings by flooding Their own image, a stark reminder to respect the seasons and Heaven's will. Ⅱ. Astonishing: Sixty-Two-Year-Old Widow Gives Birth Mrs Liu of Haojing, a widow of sixty-two, has long lived alone and childless, and in her quiet days was often lonely. In recent months, she complained frequently of fatigue and found her appetite greatly increased. Neighbours took it for the usual signs of age. No one expected what came after: on the nineteenth of this month, she gave birth to a baby boy, loud-voiced when he cried, bright-eyed, and fine-featured. Word soon reached the Hall of Founts, which sent an officer to verify the matter. Mrs Liu claims that three months ago she dreamt of a woman in blue who offered her a peach, sweet beyond telling; upon waking, she felt her body begin to change. The child bears a faint red birthmark at the waist, shaped unmistakably like a peach, proof that the dream was no mere fancy. Strange indeed. Such tales belong, people say, to storybooks, not to everyday life. The neighbours insist Mrs Liu has always been known for kindness, and some whisper that Heaven, in its own way, repays the virtuous. The Hall of Founts has registered the child and granted assistance in grain and bolts of cloth. Friends and relations arrive daily with congratulations, and curious onlookers have been gathering in no small numbers. Ⅲ. West Market Oddity: A Dog That Hunts Rats At the West Market eatery Baiwei House, the proprietor Li Sanlang keeps a yellow dog named Rusty to mind the place at night. He has been a good dog: quiet, steady, and has never caused trouble. On the afternoon of the first of this month, the shophands were airing out dried ingredients in the sun when Rusty suddenly wouldn't stop barking. They hurried over and saw him dart to a rat hole at the base of the wall. A moment later he came back out with a grey rat clenched in his jaws, already dead. Taken aback, the hands reported it to Li Sanlang. Li wouldn't believe a word of it, until the next day, when he saw it with his own eyes: Rusty crouched by the hole, and the moment a rat poked its head out, he lunged. Before the day was out, he'd caught three. One regular laughed: "The old saying compares a dog that catches mice to nosy folk who meddle in other people's business, but it's a blessing when your place is full of rats." Since then, Rusty has hunted rats by day and kept watch by night. Baiwei House, it is said, has had no trouble with rats since.Dawn of Haojing · Issue ⅡDocuments(The sheet has been trampled and scuffed; much of the text is blurred.) ... ... ... Ⅱ. Unrest on the Western Outskirts, Drifters Sighted Again? In recent days, citizens have been arriving at the Ministry of Fortune in growing numbers, reporting that along the back paths of the western outskirts, shadowy figures have been seen lingering. Those who claim to have spoken with them describe shifty replies and evasive eyes, hardly the bearing of decent folk. It is feared some mischief is being plotted in secret. Though Huaxu stands under the protection of the Nine Chapters of Dafeng, Drifters have long been said to lurk even within Haojing, committing offence upon offence. A censer that had burned unbroken for a hundred years was once extinguished, doused with water by the most notorious of their lot. Another drove a mechapuppet straight into the Hall of Adjudication. Others have hung wenzhu fronds outside people's doors to mark their targets, then ambushed them and left them bleeding. Their crimes are many; their wickedness unrepentant. Even so, there are always those who make excuses for them, shielding them in the dark and dressing them up with fine names like the Four Drifters. Fortunately, the Magistrates of Yingtian took action, and the so-called Four Drifters were seized and put to death. Yet though their ringleaders and close followers have been dealt with, remnants are said to remain. The people fear renewed Drifter activity may flare again and bring fresh calamity. The Hall of Adjudication has therefore issued the following order: the Magistrates' patrols are to be strengthened at once. A reward of 12,000 is hereby offered for any report of Drifters' whereabouts that is verified. Residents are further warned: do not enter desolate places after nightfall. Every measure is to be taken to root out the Drifters. ... ... ... (The latter half of the sheet is torn; the remaining text is illegible.)Dust-Laden Family LetterDocumentsKid, I've heard the Legion has recently intensified their inspections. What you are doing now is growing more perilous. Perhaps it's time to drop it and permanently shut down the Hypnos' House. I've always believed that Hayley's dignified death as a human being under your care was the best ending she could have hoped for. I also understand the significance of you opening the Hypnos' House right after you returned from Scarletriver and offering help to the kids who are suffering from Deterioration. But I've already lost my daughter and my granddaughter. I cannot bear the thought of losing you, my son-in-law, the only family I have in this world now...Elisa Taylor's ProfileDocumentsName: Elisa Taylor Age: 17 Symptoms: Fading sense of taste ... Unlike many of the other children, who cried constantly, Elisa has been eerily calm, almost aloof. When discussing her loss of taste, she dismissively remarked that food was merely sustenance and that flavour meant nothing to her. She even told her mother not to bother bringing her here, stating she'd be fine with a swift end at the hands of the soldiers. Elisa accepted her fate with unsettling tranquility, as if she'd been preparing for death her entire life. ... Elisa seems to enjoy writing. Every day, she sits by the window, scribbling poems. Her poems are cryptic and difficult to understand, but the wording suggests her mental state is far from stable. ... After a long conversation with Psyche, Elisa smiled, a rare sight. Until then, I feared her illness had taken away her ability to smile. ...Emergency Medical LogDocumentsArea A - Urien Gunshot wound to upper arm. Arterial rupture. Interventions: 14:43: Applied tourniquet Tourniquet checks: 15:10: √ 15:40: ... Area C - Anita Abdominal laceration. Tibial fracture. Interventions: 14:23: Initial wound cleaning, bandaging, leg immobilization 14:37: Administered pain relief due to shock signs 14:50: Administered saline solution. Pain relievers critically low ★★★ ... Remaining Supplies Coagulants 13 10 4 0 Critically low ★★★ Pain Relievers 25 19 13 7 3 0 Critically low ★★★ Tourniquets 9 6 5 Gauze Packs 21 18 13 11Emperor's Signet RingDocumentsRecipient: Rhythm Fischer, Icelake Escort, 6th Legion, Cocytus Region For demonstrating decisive leadership, exemplary bravery, and exceptional operational efficiency in multiple Filthoid-clearing campaigns across the years. For her irreplaceable role in upholding public order and safeguarding the people of Icelake. Upon the assessment of the Legion, and by the decree of His Majesty Julius, Rhythm Fischer is hereby awarded the Emperor's Signet Ring, and formally promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer. Let her serve as an inspiration to all soldiers, urging them to strive ever higher for the Empire's glory. All glory to our Emperor.Field Notes on the Grand Incense Rite (Excerpt)Documents... In sum, Huaxu's Grand Incense Rite is the country's most important recurring festival. Its ritual form has shifted over the centuries, yet the stages of that evolution are surprisingly well attested, each aligning with Huaxu's economic, technological, and artistic development at the time. A plausible hypothesis is that the festival began as a large-scale rite unique to Huaxu. Over time, it adapted to the needs and conditions of each era, shedding many elements while preserving its essential core, through which the people of Huaxu give shape to a distinctive cultural identity. The "divinities" worshipped by the people of Huaxu are not mere symbols. They exist, and they influence the ecology within Huaxu's borders in concrete, observable ways. I have personally witnessed the descent of the deity called Taihao during the Grand Incense Rite, and the experience left me profoundly shaken. ... I am beginning to suspect a flaw in my earlier line of inquiry. I once assumed the Grand Incense Rite resembled festivals in other nations: cultural practices that grew out of commemoration and sacrifice, preserving certain customs as tradition. Ordinarily, such customs become simpler and more secularised as time advances. Yet after examining every extant record of the Rite within Huaxu, I found that its central custom, the act of incense offering itself, has remained unchanged in both materials and quantity for nearly a thousand years of recorded history. Given the manifest presence of "divine" power within Huaxu's territory, I have reason to believe the Rite is not merely a cultural or political form of worship. It may have a distinct functional purpose. Put plainly: in Huaxu, and only in Huaxu, a rite that exchanges offerings for a deity's protection appears to function as an actual transaction. But why would Taihao require these incenses? And what, in fact, is Taihao? No comparable records exist elsewhere in Atlasia, and the incense used for such offerings is produced only within Huaxu... Incense found only here, and a "god" found only here that feeds upon it? The symmetry is too neat. It feels less like coincidence than design. ... This functional reading suggests an intriguing possibility. Perhaps Huaxu's so-called "divinities" are not the exalted beings of popular imagination at all, but something closer to a machine, an apparatus that regulates the environment within its sphere of influence. It may even affect, or outright control, nearby Filthoids, pressing them into service as a blunt tool of enforcement. In that case, the Grand Incense Rite is less a ceremony than a scheduled procedure: refuelling this immense "machine" with what Huaxu calls "incense", at fixed intervals and in fixed amounts. If this conjecture proves true, it would imply that, a thousand years ago, the people of Huaxu had mastered a technology capable of creating a "god". Should such a technology be deciphered, the Nine Chapters of Dafeng might be extended across Atlasia; or the mechanism's field of influence might be scaled down to the individual, enabling the creation of specialised protective devices. Yet if such a technology truly exists, why does it function only within Huaxu's borders? Even the Starweavers have left no record of employing similar techniques beyond Huaxu's border. What, then, is the crucial factor that imposes this limitation? ...Field Notes: Volume ⅠDocumentsSpotted an unusually large rat by the sewer. He had lots of cool scars and a weird little bottle strapped to his back. Could he be the legendary Rat Warrior from those tales? ... At 3:10 PM, the Rat Warrior showed up again by the sewer. He was slow today, but not hurt, he was just waiting for other little rats to catch up. It seems he is not just a brave warrior, but also a dependable leader! ... Awww! My Rat Warrior got caught by a beggar and made into a kebab!Field Notes: Volume ⅡDocumentsThe horns of the Charons come in various colours and shapes. Does this have something to do with their intelligence? ... The Charon man in the square seems nice, but he spends all day talking to toy figures, too immature to be an observation subject. ... The receptionist lady at the inn has really long, beautiful horns. I've decided to observe her closely to explore the relationship between horn shape and intelligence. ... Finally gathered the courage to say hi to her today, but she just walked away like I wasn't there! New hypothesis: the longer the horns, the ruder the Charon! ... Met a polite Charon with just one short horn. I knew I was right! Marked as a primary observation subject.Field Notes: Volume ⅢDocumentsThe one-horned Charon named Vita has officially taken part in my experiment today. ... Vita didn't want to fill out the survey, so I've switched to observational study through shared activities. ... While searching for the Rat Warrior's friends in the sewer with Vita, we were attacked. I noted Vita's impressive combat skills! It seems the shorter the horns, the stronger the Charon. ... The experiment was forced to a stop. ... The experiment restarted! Vita told me about the stories of the Hypnos' House and Psyche. It was so sad! I must study hard to become an amazing alchemist and find a way to clear the Deterioration so such tragedies never happen again. ... If Vita is the child of a demon, maybe demons aren't as terrible as they're made out to be.Flodia Bloomfield Station Annual Accounts LedgerDocumentsRequest Ⅰ Routine Maintenance of Bloomfield Station Budget: 100,000 gold coins Decision: Denied Notes: Last year's maintenance budget was 80,000 gold coins. Some increase is justified given the station's age, but this is still far too much. Keep your spending under control. Some parts now cost more to maintain than to replace. I have a list here, inspect them accordingly. Request Ⅱ The Alchemy Academy has requested funding from the station for the development of its newest locomotive. If successful, it will be put into service at Bloomfield Station first. Budget: 245,700 gold coins Decision: Reduced budget approved, 45,700 gold coins Notes: All those odd figures make it seem convincing, don't they? They requested sponsorship from us under the same pretext a few years ago. Then last year, when I visited the stationmaster in Dismania, I learned they had made the same promise to every station of any real size. They are simply trying to squeeze money out of us. Still, we cannot afford an open confrontation with them. Give them a token sum and close the matter. Request Ⅲ The Steamwhistle Salon requests funding for activities promoting Stationmaster Eisenbahn's public image. Budget: 10,000 gold coins Decision: Denied Notes: This organisation has nothing to do with me. If they submit another request, do not bring it to my desk. Reject it outright. Request Ⅳ Improvement of labour conditions for station workers Budget: 10,000 gold coins Decision: Increased to 30,000 gold coins Directive: Redirect the amount cut from routine maintenance to this project. Proceed under the usual arrangements. Full authorisation granted.Footsteps Across Huaxu · HaojingDocumentsHall of Adjudication In the early days of the Nine Chapters of Dafeng, the Hall of Adjudication played a far more prominent role. Its original purpose, however, has long since faded from common memory and is now known only to a handful of dedicated historians. Beneath the Hall, a bridge-like span arches across the air like a rainbow. Legend holds that Lord Argent sometimes soars through the heavens and listens, unmoving, to the clamour of the mortal world, proof that Heaven heeds the people, and that divine law watches over all. Today, the Hall stands as Huaxu's political centre. It rises against the clouds, visible from nearly anywhere in Haojing, much as the Nine Chapters of Dafeng stand before the people: clear, enduring, and impossible to ignore. ⸻ Zesheng Pharmacy In former times, the people of Huaxu turned to healers of the Zhuyou clan when illness struck. In later ages, physicians devoted to pharmacology emerged, along with apothecaries to prepare and dispense medicines. Zesheng Pharmacy is Haojing's most respected establishment of its kind. It is said that its founder was once herself a Zhuyou, yet she abandoned those arts in favour of pharmacology, elevating the discipline to new heights. Rare herbs and medicinal ingredients are supplied here, and the pharmacy is renowned for its proprietary prescriptions. It also offers seasonal wellness regimens to help preserve one's health. If thirst overtakes you while wandering the streets, do stop by, herbal tonics are served free to the public. ⸻ Youlai Alley Some popular Huaxu tales claim that the dead may linger in a form known as Wishen. Unlike the fearful portrayals of spirits and ghosts found in other lands, Huaxu's Wishen are remembered in legend as gentle, even endearing beings. Though they may occasionally cause minor disturbances, it is often out of kindness, as if to guide the living along their path. Haojing folklore speaks of a place called Youlai Alley, where Wishen with unfinished attachments are said to gather. Most dismiss such claims as idle fancy. Yet there are whispers that if one follows the winding lanes of the eastern quarter long enough, one might, by chance, stumble into that mysterious domain... ⸻ Jiaolan Village If Haojing's bustle begins to wear on you, head west. Jiaolan Village offers a quiet refuge from the city's noise. This small settlement lies on Haojing's western outskirts, close enough to reach on foot. Huaxu's incense culture stretches back into antiquity, and Jiaolan Village is regarded as its birthplace. Though the craft of incense-making has long since spread across the land, and Jiaolan is no longer the only place to find it, it remains home to the largest incense-drying grounds in the region surrounding Haojing. When the aromatic plants come into bloom, villagers harvest them, rinse them clean, and lay them out beneath the sun. On fair days, when a gentle breeze passes through, the fragrance carries for miles, creating an atmosphere at once ethereal and intoxicating. Before you depart, should you wish to bring home a thoughtful gift, the villagers' handcrafted incense makes an excellent choice: elegant in scent, and rich in Huaxu's distinctive cultural character.Footsteps Across Huaxu · MistwharfDocumentsMistwharf Step off the boat, and the first thing you'll see is Mistwharf. For the people of Huaxu, this stretch of land runs long, from Starwharf in the south to the Gritblight Expanse in the north. Starwharf When I meet visitors arriving in Huaxu for the first time, I always tell them not to rush inland. Linger on the quay a moment: hawkers call without pause, hardworking Huaxu porters haul crates from river barges, and Starweavers trade stories with friends from distant lands. There are few places more full of life. EverSpring Near the roots of the great tree lies EverSpring, another stop not to be missed. In Huaxu, everyone knows what the name stands for: to the Starweavers, it is the realm's largest guild; to visitors, a trove of rare and wondrous wares. Even if you plan to buy nothing, the towering statue of Lord Argent at the gate alone is worth the journey. Twilight Ravine Few from Huaxu ever venture here. Set deep within the wilderness, the Twilight Ravine is said to be the resting place of Wishen, beings other lands might call "ghosts". These gentle spirits are best left undisturbed. As a child, I once lost my way here and stumbled upon a vast pagoda tree, its gnarled branches aglow with a soft light. I followed the shimmer to a small island at the heart of a lake, where unfamiliar voices gently led me back to the path. Looking back now, that faint glimmer must have been the Spring of Yu, hidden deep within the Ravine. Hall of Ephemerality The Hall of Ephemerality is Fu family's ancestral hall of healing, devoted for generations to the Zhuyou method. Should you fall ill while travelling here, this is the place to seek aid. The healer cherishes silence: whether you come for treatment or merely pass through the apricot grove beyond, please keep your voice low, that her quietude may remain undisturbed. Crowsong Hollow When I was little, my parents would tell me the tale of the Battle of Shuli at bedtime, how the Xuanheng Sect and the Jishu clashed upon this plain, leaving not a soul standing. But when I asked what they had fought for, they never had an answer. Now, under Taihao's protection, Huaxu has known peace for generations. The rusted remnants of Mechapuppets lie scattered across the plain, worn by wind and time, a silent draw for scholars from far and wide.Foreign TomeDocumentsAuthored by "Fufeng," this tome appears to be a pharmacological text. Judging by the book's unusual binding, the author's exotic name, and its writing style, it seems to have originated outside the Empire's academic circles. Both the intricate annotations and the main text are cryptic, with the phrase "Crystallo of Stella" appearing repeatedly in the notes.Forged PaintingDocumentsReeling, I drift through the boundless vault of night; from its heights, I draw the stars down into my wine.Greenwich Archaeological Society · Project ApplicationsDocuments[ID] L-W-01384 Subsea Investigation of the Luca Temple Complex [Project Summary] This project proposes an investigation of the trench west of the Luca Isles, commonly referred to as Andimin's Broken String. Recent, credible intelligence suggests the presence of an extensive architectural complex at considerable depth, a discovery of great significance, given that no known technology currently permits large-scale construction more than 500 metres beneath the sea. Such a finding calls into question the long-held belief that the Luca artists' reverence for a subsea deity was mere fevered fancy; their object of worship may, in fact, have had a material foundation. Despite the severe technical challenges posed by current diving limitations, we seek authorisation to conduct a preliminary survey. A successful probe may yield vital evidence concerning Luca religious practice and clarify its connection to the region's distinctive artistic tradition. [Schedule] Early March to late June (scheduled to avoid the king-tide period) [Budget] 1.217 million silver coins (see appendix) [Decision] Approved. Comments: 1. Ensure all personnel carry Mind-Purifying Powder and submit them for regular cross-checks to confirm continued mental stability. 2. Keep all storage rooms properly dehumidified. I have no desire to find yet another room reeking of mould. [ID] A-C-02577 Excavation of a Burial Site from the Great Migration [Project Summary] Recent engagements between the Empire's 8th Legion and Aethyrie resistance forces have uncovered an unrecorded ancient burial site. Preliminary assessment by local personnel suggests that the remains likely belonged to resistance fighters who fell during the Great Migration. Although all textiles and paper artefacts have deteriorated beyond recovery, osteological analysis and the surviving metal objects are expected to yield information of academic value. [Schedule] Immediate deployment recommended; estimated duration approximately two months. [Budget] 104,000 silver coins (see appendix) [Decision] Approved. Comments: 1. Select personnel capable of handling combat if necessary. If additional protection is required, increase the budget and hire external security. 2. Coordinate with Arcadia Academy for conservation and identification work. Finalise arrangements with them directly. [ID] H-N-03474 Historical Verification of the Founding of Hyperborea [Project Summary] The Icelake region in Hyperborea is approaching its annual thaw, creating an optimal window for lake-bed investigation. With newly acquired underwater survey equipment, the Society is now equipped to examine areas that were previously inaccessible. [Schedule] June to August [Budget] 129,000 silver coins (see appendix) [Decision] Postponed. Comments: The Hyperborean Empire remains unstable, and the Forsakens appear to be preparing another strike that may reach Icelake. Do not proceed until the area is secure.Hall of Craft Annual Record: Works DigestDocumentsThe Ministry of Works hereby announces the following works under its charge: Ⅰ. Rehabilitation of Official Roads By order, the city's principal roads and minor roads are to be repaired and reinforced. Roadbeds shall be strengthened and carriageways widened, easing the passage of carts and riders and improving travel throughout the city, so that the routes may run clear in all directions. Ⅱ. Construction of Freight-Handling Apparatus New freight-handling apparatus shall be constructed, with a wrought-iron frame and precision gearing. Efficiency shall be improved and operations standardised, speeding the circulation of goods and encouraging commercial growth. Ⅲ. Reinforcement and Repair of the Wharves The existing wharves shall undergo full inspection and repair. Riverbanks shall be reinforced, rotted timbers replaced, and additional safeguards installed, ensuring safe passage for vessels and keeping grain transport secure. ... All works shall be carried out in accordance with established codes: rooted in traditional practice, yet open to new techniques. The Ministry of Works faithfully discharges its duty, securing the foundations of the state and serving the needs of the people. Those wishing to consult the full project files may do so in the Ministry's archives.Haojing: ⅠDocumentsCassia and sandalwood breathe their fragrance free; orchid and musk sweeten the breeze. Ask where the hidden treasure may be, and the shepherd boy points to the golden tree.Haojing: ⅡDocumentsEast of the city, where wild grasses creep, lies a cavern with pathways running deep. Night after night, searching bears no fruit; yet the treasure lies where the grasses root.Haojing: ⅢDocumentsSouthward, northward, east and west, seekers roam each road in restless quest. But where, at last, will the treasure be? Above the water, beneath the dead tree.Hive MindDocumentsI am a doctor. Formally trained under the Imperial education system, I, of course, never believed in ghost stories. I'm not writing this account of my final patient for fame or recognition. I do so only because... tomorrow, I will be dead. It began the night before dawn. I was roused by a frantic knock at the door. The man outside was pale, soaked in cold sweat, his pyjamas still creased from sleep. At first, I took him for yet another poor soul fresh from a nightmare. But the look in his eyes deeply unsettled me: disgust, fear, and perhaps even... a visceral loathing. I composed myself and offered him a cup of tea to calm his nerves. He took a sip, then spat it out at once. Had he not been a regular patient, I might have thrown him out on the spot. Instead, I waved off his apology and gently asked about the nightmare. After a few long, ragged breaths, he gave no explanation, only a question: "Do you think I'm human?" An absurd question. Biologically, sociologically, the man before me was undeniably human. But in his dream, he had become an ant bred in captivity. He lived in filth beneath the ground, breathing foul air. His twisted body writhed as he gnawed on carrion and insect husks. He fought for scraps of space and garbage like an actor in a grotesque pantomime of survival, no different from the other mindless ants that swarmed around him. Imagine placing a human mind inside the body of an ant. The result, unsurprisingly, was madness. It spat out the rotten meat, tore into its fellow ants with its mandibles, and cried out for salvation, but all it could do was twitch its antennae and scream in silence. It tried to look up, but saw only countless emotionless eyes, blank and pale as moonlight. It tried to flee, but everywhere it turned, there was only rot and crawling bodies. It tried to die, but instead, it was reborn, again and again, in blinding, incomprehensible light, until even its own body ceased to obey. Like all the other "normal" ants, it awoke, matured, and slept, drifting through an endless cycle, numbed by the haze of a thousand meaningless years... By then, it could speak no further. I prescribed a few calming herbs and personally walked it out of the clinic. I never imagined it would go home, kill its wife and children, and then take its own life. The Escort's official case file was neat and thorough. Yet I know, this isn't over. Because I saw them too: those eyes, blank and pale as moonlight...How to Become High Chancellor of LoongyuanDocumentsDo you want to become High Chancellor of Loongyuan? Let me be specific: set aside the tangled official duties the post entails. Imagine instead that you keep the title and bask in universal admiration across Huaxu without having to lift a finger. Under those conditions, do you want it? I expect most answers would be: of course! Which brings us to the real question: how does one actually become High Chancellor of Loongyuan? In last issue, we touched on the Incense Trial, the examination system by which the state selects officials from among the common run of Huaxu's citizens. But what of those so-called prodigies, the dazzling geniuses beyond the common measure? Is there a special track reserved for them? Are they appointed the moment they first wail into the world? Certainly not. Becoming High Chancellor of Loongyuan is no simple matter. Most readers will have guessed correctly: those singled out do indeed receive a message from Lord Argent, delivered, of course, by a Bi'an. But don't celebrate just yet. Receiving the message does not mean you've already made it. All it gives you is a new label: Candidate for High Chancellor of Loongyuan. You answer the summons and travel to Haojing. There, the sitting High Chancellor receives you with great warmth. You gather in the Hall of Adjudication and talk, perhaps of state affairs, perhaps simply of daily life. This stage has a name: "The Trial of the Way." When it ends, you are escorted back to your temporary quarters at the posting station to await the next summons. And you wait. Days pass. You pace like a cat on a hot tin roof, opening the door every few moments to see whether someone has come with news. The good news is that someone eventually does. If they didn't, this essay would end here, and then what would you do with your evening? Filled with anticipation, you return once more to the Hall of Adjudication. You assume that since your previous examiner was the sitting High Chancellor of Loongyuan, this time you must surely meet Lord Argent themselves. But upon arrival, you notice there is no Lord Argent, nor the High Chancellor. Instead, a handful of Hall staffers hurriedly thrust an enormous stack of dossiers into your arms and then flee at once, as if the building is about to collapse. Now comes your task: in this sea of records, you must trace the links between designated incidents and present your own reasoned conclusions. Someone will see to your meals, your lodging, your daily needs. You, however, are strictly forbidden from cutting corners. Try to slack off and you will be struck from the candidate list without ceremony. This stage is called "The Trial of Statecraft." Naturally, you are exceptional. After what feels like years poring over records, memorising every last petty detail from the past twenty years, you finally receive word one morning: you passed. The Trial of Statecraft is complete. Next comes, supposedly, an audience with Lord Argent. You are beside yourself. You rush to Qianxiu Pavilion to have a new set of robes made, something bright and showy for the occasion. How many people go their entire lives without hearing even a single true word from Lord Argent? And you, you might see Them with your own eyes. What fortune beyond measure! Unable to contain your excitement, you tell the shop assistant exactly why you are having clothes made. The girl takes one look at your glowing face and cannot help it: she covers her mouth and giggles. "You know," she says, "not every candidate gets to see Lord Argent." You go pale. You are just about to seek a further explanation when a messenger arrives with urgent orders: report to the Hall of Adjudication at once and prepare for the Trial of the Heart. With no time to dig, you hurriedly straighten your robes and make your way back to that now-familiar place. Inside, incense smoke curls through the Hall, thick enough to be seen, yet without the faintest scent. This seems odd. An attendant arrives and has you sit on a cushion with the other candidates, instructing you to meditate and regulate your breath. Suspicious but obedient, you sit. Smoke coils around your eyes and nose. Your thoughts grow heavy. Drowsiness steals over you. You think you might as well close your eyes for a moment. So you do. And you fall asleep. You dream a long dream. In it, you see your past: your mother cradling you, your father lifting you high above his head. In it, you see your future: you succeed to the post of High Chancellor of Loongyuan, spend a lifetime wringing yourself dry for the people of Huaxu, and at last are laid to rest in the Taixu Mausoleum. In it, you see others, countless faces, countless eyes fixed upon you. Questions rise, one after another, pressing and demanding. You are flustered, drenched in sweat, pushed to the brink, and then you jolt awake. You look up. The incense lit at the beginning has not yet burned out. In the end, you do not pass the selection. Presumably, your performance in the dream failed to please Lord Argent. Still, though not chosen, you ultimately join the Hall of Incense and continue serving the people of Huaxu. A happy ending all the same, wouldn't you say? And so, dear readers, you now know exactly how to become High Chancellor of Loongyuan. And if one of you actually does make it to High Chancellor someday... well, I trust you'll remember me, the humble author who wrote this helpful little piece. A little token of appreciation sent my way would not go amiss. Don't you think?Huaxu Trends · Haojing SpecialDocumentsTop Dining Pick: Bazhen Pavilion In last month's reader poll, Bazhen Pavilion beat the runner-up by nearly a hundred votes, clearly a crowd favourite. Our rule is simple: we don't recommend what we haven't tried. So we went in as ordinary diners and ordered the signature dishes. The fan-favourite Bazhen Tofu really is a standout: silky-soft, layered with flavour, and finished with a scatter of corn kernels, looks as good as it tastes. Mistwharf Vinegar Fish is a classic, but the sharp vinegar tang isn't for everyone, especially with freshwater fish. A couple of us left it unfinished. ... From Diner A: Chef Bai's cooking speaks for itself. And Chef Li isn't far behind. Word is his poems are just as good as his food. From Diner B: When I was young, my family always celebrated my birthday at Bazhen Pavilion... Years have gone by. Though the people who once sat beside me are no longer with me, the dishes taste the same. And perhaps that is enough. From Diner C: Whenever friends or relatives visit Haojing, Bazhen Pavilion is the first place I take them. That said, lately some of the new dishes feel like they're trying a little too hard to please out-of-towners. It's not quite the same as it used to be, not that there's anything wrong with catering to visitors. ...Hunt Clark's ProfileDocumentsName: Hunt Clark Age: 18 Symptoms: Intermittent deafness ... Emotionally, Hunt has been relatively stable, largely due to Mia's unwavering support. By the time he arrived, his Deterioration had already reached an advanced stage. Today, when I had to tell him his time was running out, this young man, taller than me, broke down, crying and pleading for a chance at life. He's only eighteen, with loving parents, devoted mentors, and a newfound love. It broke my heart, but I had to steel myself and remind him of the harsh reality: this is his destined fate. In truth, I was preparing to restart trials for an anti-Deterioration drug, but with high risks and no guarantees, I couldn't give him false hope. The cruellest thing in this world isn't despair, it's offering hope, only to take it away later. ... Mia clutched the pocket watch Hunt had given her, tears streaming down her face as she softly hummed a tune, even though Hunt could no longer hear her. He passed away with a faint smile, seemingly at peace. I believe he didn't suffer, but he left so suddenly, before I could find the Crystallo of Stella to complete the drug...Icelake ⅢDocumentsSomeone found my secret stash last time... This time, I consulted a professional, who suggested I hide it somewhere outside the city, perhaps somewhere near a puddle. Sure, Phoxene won't go bad in water, but what if the box gets mouldy or rots from the moisture? Then my stash would literally be "money down the drain", right? Still, it's better than having it stolen... I'm going to give it a shot. I'll check on it next week.Icelake ⅣDocumentsHey, wanna play a game? If you can find the biggest gem around here, I'll give you a reward!Icelake ⅨDocumentsFact: if you keep an egg somewhere warm, it hatches into a chick. So if I leave some Phoxene somewhere warm... they'll grow into a Heaventree, right? Then I'll be rich. Forever. I'm a genius! No, scratch that, I'm a true visionary! And guess what? I'm on furnace maintenance duty. Hehehe... Tomorrow, I'll sneak my Phoxene in and start the hatching...Icelake ⅤDocumentsThere are no 100 pieces of Phoxene here. (Beneath this message, some squiggly lines attempt to outline the mine's paths. The spot marked with a red circle appears to be near the mine's entrance.)Icelake ⅥDocumentsI saw it with my own eyes, blue light, shining out from under that fallen pillar! But there's no lighting rig down there... none at all. There's definitely something weird going on! Like... maybe some miner worked himself to death and just... never left. No wonder no one's bothered to fix it since.Icelake ⅦDocumentsHello, stranger, I am an explorer. This cavern is absolutely enchanting, like something out of a fairy tale where snow fairies might live! The massive, crystal-clear ice pillars, the rugged old roots of a withered Heaventree, and the complex terrain that twists and turns like a natural labyrinth... it'll take your breath away! If you've made it this far, don't give up now, the scenery up there is even more spectacular! I've left a gift and some provisions for you at the cavern's summit. Keep going, you're almost there. May you discover the same thrill of adventure that drives me. As long as there's life in you, let the journey never end!Icelake ⅧDocumentsDo you remember that day we left the city and wandered along the lakeside of Lamenting Lake, wading barefoot through the shallows? "Look at that tree with red leaves," you said. "They're orange," I corrected. "I said red," you insisted. I'd saved up a few pieces of Phoxene, I was going to trade them for a real red-leafed plant, as a gift for you. In the end, I buried them beneath that tree with the orange leaves. ...Yes, I still think they're orange. I'm sorry. Leaves don't turn red just because you say they are, just like you won't come back just because I keep saying you will. Maybe, when spring comes, the Phoxene will sprout and grow, like the feelings I still carry for you. Or maybe some lucky passerby will dig them up instead. Either way, I think that would be a good thing. You always said good things are meant to be shared. If this gift I never gave ends up helping someone else... maybe that's a kind of happy ending, too.Icelake ⅩDocumentsEveryone's got Snowcaps all wrong! They're not dangerous, they're delicious! Simmer them just right, season with care, and boom, gourmet magic, totally safe! But that's old news. I'm done with boring, basic mushrooms. I want more. Something wild. Something weird. I need the king of mushrooms! So I scoured the sewers all day, and finally, near the deepest sluice gate, I found them, a whole cluster of brand-new mushrooms! Just the colours were enough to make my mouth water. I took a few back. Already scribbling down some ideas for the first recipe draft... They say people used to leave offerings to the gods for good harvests. So maybe... if I leave something under this mushroom patch, the great Mushroom God of Atlasia will reward me with even tastier treasures? Didn't have much on me, just a handful of coins and a few snacks. Gave it all. Hope the Mushroom God's not too picky...Icelake: Volume ⅠDocumentsSorry, babe, there's been a hiccup at home, so I can't take you to the inner city this month as I promised. But hang tight, I'll come for you as soon as I sort things out. Trust me one more time, okay? As a little something to make it up to you, I've hidden some cash under the grass on the left side of the pathway to the inner city. Don't forget to pick it up. Love you! You liar! You jerk! Every time you lie to me, you just throw money at me like I'm some kind of pet you own! I'd rather starve or drop dead in the street than take another coin from you! You can rot with your filthy money for all I care!Icelake: Volume ⅡDocumentsHey there! Are you tired of struggling to make ends meet? Sick of breaking your back every day for a pittance, only to be treated like dirt? Do you feel like, no matter how hard you try, you just can't catch a break? Don't beat yourself up, it's not your fault. What you're lacking isn't skill, but a stroke of luck! All you need is the right opportunity, and you could be the next bigshot! And guess what? It's your lucky day! Just last month, the chief engineer of our Legendary Mining Alliance unveiled a new mining marvel, ten years in the making! It is user-friendly, boasts an impressive battery life, and the cherry on top, it can automatically extract microscopic Phoxene particles, invisible to the naked eye, and turn them into solid Phoxene! With this revolutionary technology, we can breathe new life into the exhausted mines and bring Icelake's mining industry back from the brink! We're on the lookout for partners right now! Opportunities like this come once in a lifetime! Want in? Solve the puzzle below for a chance to join our elite team! (Beneath the text is a simple map of the slums with a Phoxene symbol marking a spot, it appears to be near a pile of old junk by the roadside rubbish bin.)Inventive Sachets: Notes from My WorkbenchDocumentsA sachet to cheer up my workaholic friends, 1 part Ivorywood, 3 parts Vernal Prime. Vernal Prime has a crisp, refreshing fragrance, perfect for a more "put-together" vibe. Ivorywood helps keep you steady when work gets stressful. A sachet to win the hearts of every stray cat, A small pinch of Loong Qiqi, 4 parts Ivorywood. The secret is that tiny salty, fishy note in Loong Qiqi, it smells a little wild, in a way cats seem to love. Add the cosy warmth of Ivorywood, and they might just decide we're "one of them". A sachet to help my favourite author update faster, As much Frostleaf as you can manage. Frostleaf keeps you wide awake, so the writer I'm following can pull an all-nighter and get a chapter out. So yes: be generous... Teehee...Investigation Notes on the Scourge of ZhuyinDocuments"Truth is, my whole world's no bigger than the patch of dirt in front of me. All that grand talk the gentry fuss over, who's right, who's wrong, what Lord Argent is up to, I can't make heads or tails of it. The High Chancellor of Loongyuan, the Outer Peaks folk, the Jishu Sect, the Xuanheng Sect... whoever they are, not one of them's ever made my crops grow an inch taller. So before the Scourge of Zhuyin came, I'd never once imagined that the skinny lad we all called Scrap could be any kind of Drifter. When the fields were quiet, I'd hear Old Wang ramble on about the people from the Outer Peaks, men with swords and wine gourds, hopping over rooftops like it was nothing, coming and going without a trace, living free as birds. Even if they didn't know any secret arts, they still looked the part: straight-backed, well turned out, just like the masters in the old stories. But Scrap? All year round he's in the same torn vest, ragged shorts, and a beaten-up straw hat. From far off he looks more like a monkey than a boy. Come summer he's baked so dark he turns red. Not a single thing about him said "master" of any kind. Who'd have thought that when those Sable Bi'an came tearing in, it'd be that scrawny scrap of a boy who'd end up saving our skins? Those Bi'an came fast, too fast for us to burn a stick of incense or run begging to the gentry for help. People died; fields were ripped apart. Just when we thought it was the end for us, Scrap stepped forward with his hoe. Told me to get the others out. Said he was a Drifter from the Outer Peaks, and that he had to stand his ground and hold those beasts back. I was scared half to death, so I did what he told me. But on the way down the path, I couldn't help looking back. Think of it, it might've been the only time in my life I'd ever see someone like the heroes in those old tales. But what I saw wasn't some great hero in fine robes. It was just a lad like us... Then a Bi'an knocked him flying, blood everywhere. Yet he dragged himself up by that hoe and hurled himself at them again. And again. Until every last one of us had run far enough that they couldn't see us anymore... That's how it happened. So... do you know how to get word to the Outer Peaks? I want to take Scrap's bones back there, along with the letter he left behind. He's the one who saved my life. And he's the one who taught me this: a hero isn't made by the skills he's got, it's the brave, honest heart that counts..."Jishu Is Just GreatDocumentsJishu's great, oh, truly great; Jishu's bright, oh, really bright! Our wooden steed, yes, made of wood, runs a thousand miles outright! Cogs spin nonstop, whirr, whirr, whirr, even Lord Argent gawks in awe! Jishu's good, so good, so fine; clever, crafty, top of the line! Come join us now, come one, come all; life turns easy, easy and light! Free and breezy, ee-ee-ee, yeah-yeah-yeah! Gongshang ShuoLetter from the BuyerDocuments"Mr Ethelred, I've had your family property inspected. Don't worry about the dust, a bit of light cleaning will suffice to prepare it for sale. That being said, I understand this estate represents a century of family legacy. Though I know you haven't lived there since your wife's passing, it may still hold sentimental value for you. So before we proceed, might I suggest reconsidering its sale? If financial pressures are forcing your hand, perhaps there are other options we could explore, leasing, rather than selling, might be a viable alternative. We can discuss this further at The Asphodel. Please allow me the opportunity to repay you for curing my grandfather all those years ago.Loan Contract · Year X of DafengDocumentsLoan Contract, Year X of Dafeng On the Xth day of the Xth month in Year X of Dafeng, She Yuqing borrowed ten thousand copper coins from Li Laoqian, with interest accruing at one hundred per month. Repayment of both principal and interest is due by the Xth day of the Xth month. After that date, the total amount owed, principal and interest, shall be eligible for triple compensation.. Witnessed by Lord Argent, and in accordance with the teachings of the Nine Chapters of Dafeng, both parties hereby establish this contract and seal it with their fingerprints as proof. Signatories: She Yuqing Li Laoqian Issued in Huaxu, on the Xth day of the Xth month in Year X of Dafeng.Lonza Fortress (Ⅲ)DocumentsHey, my dear ex-teammates, let's celebrate a little festival of our own! Now, don't be hasty to shoot me down. I know the Fortress only allows Triumph Day... but surely there's no harm in a secret celebration or two, right? Back home, we mark the first of April with the Snowmelt Festival: trinkets hung from pine boughs as the snow retreats, gifts exchanged beneath the trees, and a fond farewell to winter as spring draws near. You all remember that pine in the Simulated Battlefield, don't you? The one we riddled with bullet holes and cordite burns during drills? If you squint, I'd say those count as decorations. Next week just happens to be your training rotation, and I may have buried a little something beneath that tree by the water. Volunteer for post-training clean-up and "accidentally" dig them up, yeah~? (One each, no hoarding! I'll be watching, 0^0) Even though I've been transferred to another squad, we'll always be best buds!Lonza Fortress Operation DirectiveDocumentsPersonnel not assigned to combat duties are required to finalise their handovers within the day and prepare for immediate evacuation. Ensure that all sensitive documents are securely removed. Patients and the injured will be evacuated on the first available transport. Subsequent evacuations will proceed in an orderly fashion according to senior command directives. Personal belongings should be kept to a minimum. Please notify your superior in advance if special arrangements are needed. Transport vehicle storage is reserved primarily for fuel and medical supplies. Heavy weapons should be transported only if deemed essential.Lonza Fortress: Volume ⅠDocumentsThe fortress won't hold much longer... Don't be a fool and stay behind just because of orders. You're not even on the official roster, no one will notice if you're gone. There are spare supplies near the airship. Take what you need and head home! (The bottom half of the page is unreadable from dark red splodges.)Lonza Fortress: Volume ⅡDocumentsTemporary Supply Pick-up Point: Beneath the control console by the viewing window on the engine room's outer perimeter.Loong in the Sky · Chapter FiveDocumentsChapter Five..."The New High Chancellor" "Useless wretch!" The slap cracked through the hall like a whip. The boy reeled, clutching his cheek, his gaze darting sideways, and that timid look only made the old man before him tremble with even sharper fury. "Our family has served in high office within the Xuanheng Sect for generations! And yet it produced you, a useless, good-for-nothing failure! After all the toil and sweat I spent raising you, is this what I'm repaid with? How are you meant to face our honoured forebears!?" "Alright, Zhao, breathe." A soft, feminine voice drifted from a bench in the corner. Its owner, robed in green, narrow-featured, a glimmer coiled deep behind the eyes, looked almost like a green serpent draped in human skin. He set down his teacup and rose to stand behind the furious Zhao Yan. "Qing Lan, don't bother talking sense into me. I'll beat this disappointing son of mine dead if I have to!" "Zhao, spare us the tragic-father act. The young master's coming-of-age has passed, yet he's mediocre in study, weak in physique, plain in appearance, and he can't even manage the basic incense rites an incense warden must command. Everyone knows this. Even if you beat him to death here and now, it won't alter the Qing House's decision." "I'm not..." Smack. Another slap landed hard across the boy's face. "Quiet, you disgrace of a son!" Zhao Yan bowed his head, dragging in several harsh breaths before forcing the words out between clenched teeth: "Now that the Qings have spoken so plainly... there's nothing left to discuss." "Naturally. Whatever the elders agreed upon years ago, our generation shapes matters to fit the present. And the present is this: the young master of the Zhao House is unfit for our lady, by every measure." "Give us five years... no, three..." Qing Lan released a long, weary sigh. "You truly don't take a hint, do you? Forget it. The head of our house anticipated this outcome. Here, read it." He drew a gilt-bound red letter from his sleeve and held it out. "A... betrothal letter!?" "The young heir of the Zhou family is but sixteen, yet already a reserve Court Memorial Envoy, brilliant, handsome. This is the will of the Qing House's master... and of the young lady herself." "Zhou? That wretch... he used to trail after me like a little lapdog..." "That was then. Circumstances change. I have conveyed the decision. I'll take my leave." Qing Lan turned and made for the courtyard. Zhao Yan sagged in defeat, and his disappointing son remained bowed beside him, useless and silent. Just then, white mist burst across the Zhao estate. "Wh, What's happening...?" Soft bands of white light tore down through the clouds. No incense burned, and yet a rich, heady fragrance spilled into the courtyard. Several Bi'an, treading upon iridescent clouds, descended from above. They passed the stunned Qing Lan, swept past the kneeling Zhao Yan, and halted before Zhao Hao. One by one, they laid the white blossoms held in their jaws into his open palm. "This... this is impossible!!!" Qing Lan's scream scraped from his throat, but it was swallowed beneath a vast voice surging through the mind of every witness, forcing upon them the words he least wished to hear: "From this moment forth, by decree, Zhao Hao is appointed High Chancellor of Loongyuan."Lunocarp's Trade Tricks & Tips · Vol. VIIDocuments... ※ Blind Draw Put each item into one of my specially made Lucky Eggs, they all look exactly the same. Customers won't know what's inside until they pick one and crack it open. They say it makes shopping far more exciting, and the thrill of landing something rare is twice as sweet. What if someone gets too lucky? Even better! That just makes them want to draw again... and again! And their big win makes great word-of-mouth, the kind that draws in even more curious customers. Either way, Lunocarp can't lose! ※ Guaranteed Prize Make sure that after a customer opens a certain number of Lucky Eggs, they're guaranteed to get at least one rare. Sounds like a loss, right? Not at all, it puts them at ease. They'll think, "Worst case, I'll just buy enough Eggs to hit the guarantee." And on their way there? They almost always open a few extras without even realising it! ※ Limited-Time Offer For a short, special window, sell Lucky Eggs that might contain a particular item. Once that "miss it and it's gone" feeling kicks in, customers will scramble to buy as many as they can! ※ Partnered Prizes / Collab Prizes Team up with someone influential and release a special prize together. Their fans will come running to buy my Lucky Eggs too, sales will soar! And if I throw in a Limited-Time Offer on top of that? Boom, even greater impact! As for my very first collab... of course it has to be with the Demon King from Hyperborea! It'll sell like hotcakes!Luoxiang's Case Notes · Vol. 10Documents... Case Ten, A Nuisance Neighbour, Settled with The Compendium of Verbal Stratagems A few years back, a man named Zhao Da came to me with a complaint. His new neighbour, Zhang San, had been pounding on his door before dawn each day, insisting that Zhao had "sung at midnight and wouldn't let him sleep". I'd known Zhao Da for years. He hauls cargo on the docks all day; the moment he gets home, he's out cold. The man sleeps like a stone, midnight singing wasn't even remotely possible. But Zhang San stuck to his story. Each day he came earlier, and louder. At last, one dawn when Zhao stumbled out half-asleep and thoroughly fed up, he opened the door and threw a punch. The Nine Chapters of Dafeng say: "Heaven's great virtue bears the name of Life; To wound or kill, this must not be done." By the code, Zhao Da had to be punished. Still, Zhang San had started the trouble, and that had to be dealt with as well. Reasoning proved useless, and brawling was out of the question. So I lent Zhao a book a friend once gave me, The Compendium of Verbal Stratagems, and told him to study it. The next morning, Zhang arrived as usual, shouting. Zhao simply stood inside the threshold and replied with the book's four stock phrases: "LMAO", "Copypasta", "Bootlicking", and "Seething". Within moments, Zhang was shaking with rage and actually raised a fist to strike, and Zhao quietly pulled back his sleeve, showing the fresh welt from his punishment the day before. Zhang froze, went pale, and backed away. He came again the next morning. Zhao answered in exactly the same way. After a few days of this, Zhang San stopped coming altogether.Medicine LabelsDocuments"Not enough, nowhere near enough... Must increase the dosage... much higher!"Mirage Musings (Ⅱ)DocumentsOn the surface of Haojing Lake, mist sometimes gathers into shapes, towers, palaces, immortals, spectres, each outlined with startling clarity. People call such sights the Mirage. Some say it is Lord Argent's breath; others insist it is the work of Lord Argent's eight immortal attendants. Accounts multiply without end. I doubt them all. I chased down every rumour I could find, yet reached no firm conclusion. I went about the city seeking out the elders, asking how one might reach the Mirage, and I began with the boatmen, hoping they would row me across the lake in search of it. They mocked my folly, yet they agreed readily once paid, and accompanied me on several trips. Back and forth we went, again and again, and still we found nothing. I searched daily until my meagre means were spent. A few, taking pity, would join me in their spare hours, though their earlier enthusiasm was gone. I did not resent them; I felt only shame. In the end I put what little remained to my name into buying a bamboo raft, resolved to seek the Mirage on my own. Though I am but a bookish sort, I grew up climbing hills and swimming rivers with the neighbourhood boys. I am no weakling, yet my skills go no further than that. At first, poling the raft was awkward and stiff; with time I grew steadily more practised. The search proved arduous indeed. At first I tried to take my bearings and fix a heading. Later there was only the endless expanse, drifting and bobbing with the waves. Still I never beheld the Mirage's true face. In time my spirit faltered. I began to suspect I was clinging to emptiness, wasting my days and wearing down my resolve. Now and then I would glimpse it in the distance and strain towards it, only for it to vanish the moment I drew near, like moonlight on water, dissolving into nothing at the slightest touch. One day a thick fog rolled in over Haojing, and I could not make out a person two steps away. Everyone warned me not to go, fearing I would lose my way on the lake and die there. I sighed and said, "Other than my life, what do I have left to lose?" My purse was already empty. We scraped by on my wife's needlework. Thankfully we had no children; otherwise, what kind of husband would that make me? Still I insisted on leaving. My wife wept and tried to stop me. "If you step out that door," she said, "I will never be your wife again." My resolve faltered, yet in the end I steeled myself, flung the door wide, and went. The fog blotted out heaven and earth. When the tip of my pole struck the water, I could not even see where it fell. I could only feel the raft's motion through my wrists. The cold was sharper than on any ordinary day; it cut to the bone. Frost gathered in my beard; I breathed it away, and moments later it formed again. Nothing about the scene seemed especially strange. Perhaps there was something wondrous, yet my mind was so muddled that I could not recall it. I remember only one instant: at one point it felt as though my pole was no longer meeting water at all, but something lighter, like pushing through cloud. A feeling too surreal for words to depict. I cannot say how long I went on. Then the fog began to thin. Before me, overlapping haloes of light shimmered, and within them rose halls and pavilions, radiant beyond measure. Joy seized me like a fever. I gathered what strength remained and drove the raft forward. Just as my strength drained, the raft struck shore. It was as though a stone had finally dropped from my chest. My heart, at last, began to steady. I left the raft behind and stepped ashore. The ground beneath my feet felt soft as water, yet I neither sank nor grew wet. With each step, ripples spread outward. It was wonder that defied belief. ...1234
