Lores Beyond the Ranges

—Rover, it's been some time.

I have a request to make... Hongzhen is in danger. I need your assistance.

Let's discuss in person. The coordinates have been sent to your Terminal. I'll wait for you there.

It's been some time, Rover.

There is still much to be done, but things are finally looking up for Hongzhen. We've weathered the storm, and the darkest times are behind us.

The Sentinel's barrier is gone, and Mt. Firmament can be seen once more. Now, Hongzhen and other parts of Huanglong are reconnected.

At such a pivotal moment, it is even more essential to document our recent events in detail for future generations.

To that end, the Magistrate and I have gathered a team of scholars from Jinzhou to revise the Hongzhen Chronicle.

A scholar named Qianyue is cataloging recent tales around Hongzhen.

However, she mentioned certain... strange phenomena in her reports.

Indeed. I agree with you.

There's surely someone or something with wicked intentions at play here.

I fear some exploit this chaos to spread discord. A thorough investigation will expose these troublemakers.

Rover, I ask for your help. Assist Qianyue in uncovering the truth so peace may be restored to our town!

Hello.

Yes? You are…? Oh, I see. You folks are here for the snow monster too?

Imagine a tank-sized ape, with the power to freeze everything around it into ice sculptures.

I saw it once as a kid, just a glimpse of its back while tagging along with my dad in the mountains.

(Sounds like a Tacet Discord with freezing abilities.)

So, how do you intend to find the snow monster this time?

This time? I never actually encountered it. If I had, I wouldn't have lived to tell the tale!

But, I did come across… evidence of its hunting.

Evidence of its hunting?

Okay, long story short. I went hunting in the mountains and found some strange contraptions at the base of Loong’s Ridge.

I thought they were left by the Court of Savantae. No idea what they were for. You know, I haven't found anything related to the Court of Savantae there before.

Maybe they have a secret vault nearby?

That's what I thought. So I followed the contraptions trying to find it.

Did you find it?

Of course not. This is a tale about running into a snow monster, not about a thief hitting the jackpot with a vault!

I trekked up the mountain and saw some... animals. Oh, not just any animals, there were Tacet Discords too.

Tacet Discords? They didn't attack you?

Nope. When I found them, they were all frozen solid.

Birds, deer, even the Tacet Discords—every one of them frozen stiff. You could see every hair crystal clear.

Can you believe it? Even the snowflakes around them were frozen. Gave me the creeps, I tell you.

So you think the snow monster did all this?

Who else would it be? What else could turn living creatures into those… terrifying ice sculptures?

I totally forgot about the vault and ran like the wind, terrified that the snow monster would jump out from nowhere and turn me into a popsicle like the rest of them.

Yes, why didn't I think of it sooner... The Court of Savantae must've sealed that monster with one of their contraptions, and someone let it out by mistake!

That explains everything! No wonder it's been centuries since the last time people saw the snow monster…

Hold up, didn't you say you saw it as a kid?

Did I? Ha… Hahaha, well, yes, besides ME, it's been centuries since anyone saw the snow monster!

Uh, wait! And my father! He saw it too.

By the way, if you're planning to hunt the snow monster, why not grab some of my poison arrows? They're made to take down wild beasts quickly.

Think about it. You'll be out there, staring down that snow monster, wishing you had something to defend yourself with. Trust me, you'll regret not taking these.

Fine, your call. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you when the time comes.

Anyway, you're not the only ones curious about that snow monster. Excuse me, got another customer… adventurer to attend to.

Well, I've got all that recorded. I'll sort through it later.

I can't help but feel… these two incidents aren't quite what I had pictured.

The herb collector didn't even get a clear look. From his description, sounds more like a rare Tacet Discord than a monster.

But the whimpering or howling he mentioned does pique my interest. If it was a Tacet Discord or a monster… why didn't it attack him?

That makes sense. Maybe a Tacet Discord got stuck in a trap or wedged in a crevice?

Hmm, now that could be the real story behind this "evil ghost."

As for the hunter, he gave a really detailed account.

If he were making it up, he wouldn't have included verifiable details like the creations of the Court of Savantae.

Which means the frozen animals are real. The Court of Savantae creations are real, but…

That's right! No snow monster, just a ruse to sell those poison arrows.

He did see the frozen animals, but he didn't know who did it and how.

Spreading rumors about the snow monster was just a way to lure in hunters.

Yeah, who froze those animals? Tacet Discords? Doesn't quite add up.

Something's off about these two sightings. Maybe we need to visit the locations for answers.

Hello? Excuse me.

Yes…? You are…

Story…? It's not a story! It really happened to me!

I was almost killed on that mountain! Just the thought of it sends shivers down my spine, like it's still lurking out there, watching...

Look behind me, you don't see anything, do ya?

No…?

That's a relief. With so many people in Hongzhen, I bet that thing wouldn't dare show its face. But that place… I wouldn't set foot there again.

What do you mean by that place? Where is it?

Curiosity killed the cat, they say. Getting mixed up with that monster will only spell disaster. I must've lost my mind insisting on checking it out…

Madam Xinyi…? So, she heard the rumor too? Not surprising, she always takes everything here seriously.

Alright, if you're here to listen, I'll tell you exactly what happened.

Hold on! Let me start the recording first… Alright, please go on.

It all began three days ago. I was deep in the mountains hunting for a rare herb and lost track of time.

By the time I stumbled upon the herb, night had fallen. Fearful of beasts prowling after dark, I decided to take a shortcut back to Hongzhen.

When I reached Loong's Crest, I heard some... strange noises coming from the darkness. They sounded like metal clashing and scraping, mixed with eerie cries.

I thought it was just a poor Scarefrost Deer caught in a trap, so I pressed on. But the deeper I went, the creepier it got.

What kind of noises?

Hard to describe. Whimpers? Howls? Whatever it was, it wasn't human, and it sure as hell wasn't any beast I'd ever crossed paths with.

More like a twisted combination of both.

The noises gave me goosebumps. Then I remembered the story my grandmother once told me.

Long ago, the Sentinel and the Court of Savantae worked together, using their bizzare creations to seal some real vicious monsters.

Their bodies crumbled to dust over the years, but their evil souls hung around, craving revenge on the Sentinel.

Revenge on the Sentinel? That's wild!

Ahem, I'm talking here, young lady. Interrupt again and I won't say another word.

Oh, I'm so sorry…

Where was I? Ah, yes, the evil souls. I was in a dilemma, you know. Terrified as I was, curiosity gnawed at me, urging me forward…

Suddenly, out of nowhere, two lanterns appeared in front of me. It happened so fast, I didn't even realize it was impossible to have lanterns out in the wilderness like that.

The lanterns seemed to float, barely visible. They flickered once, then a few seconds later, flickered again.

It wasn't until then that I realized they weren't lanterns at all, but eyes! Eyes as big as lanterns. How big would its head be?

I turned and ran, and that monster kept howling behind me. Believe me, I've never heard anything so bone-chilling.

I didn't dare look back, just ran for my life. I lost track of time, but eventually, I saw the lights of Hongzhen and knew I was safe.

I heard you passed out at Hongzhen's entrance, right? Thank goodness the night patrol found you. Otherwise…

Non-nonsense! I didn't pass out! Just… a bit tired from the running! Yeah, I was tired!

Anyway, whatever was chasing me must be the souls of those monsters! One wrong step, and I'd have been its next meal!

Alright, that's all been recorded. What's your take, Rover?

Yes, I agree. I've heard nerves can make you see things that aren't real. Maybe it was just a Scarefrost Deer... or a passing Tacet Discord?

If you're really curious, go see the monster for yourself. I spotted it near Loong's Crest. Just remember, I did warn you.

H-here we are... This should be the location mentioned by the herb collector.

Let's investigate the surroundings. Look, I've got a camera. I'll make sure to take pictures of anything unusual!

What are these boxes for?

Looks like they were used to store equipment.

This cage must be for the really big one.

But it looks brand new. I don't think it's been used.

What's this doing here?

There's a memo attached to it, but it seems to be stained with ink.

So, someone was experimenting on animals and Tacet Discords here…?

But something went wrong, so they had to bail.

Fantastic! I think we captured everything noteworthy around here.

Rover, could you scan the area again? I want to make sure we haven't missed anything.

Is that… a claw mark?

It's long and deep… What could've left this?

It's gotta be a big one. Seen any beasts around here that could've done this?

Hey, you two! This stuff is ours! Hands off!

It's… it's the Fractsidus!

Didn't you hear me? Drop it! Leave now and maybe I'll spare you. Otherwise…

Have you lost your mind? It's that Rover! Even Mr. Scar is no match for {Male=him;Female=her}!

Rover…? So what?

We endured so much, paid such a high price… No, with this new power nothing will stand in our way!

Our mission isn't to cause a scene! We're here to assess the camp's condition. We should try talking, not wrecking everything in sight—

This opportunity is being handed to us! With our numbers, we can easily deal with them.

Don't you want to prove your worth? Then join me against the Fractsidus's enemies!

I-I don't want to do crazy stuff like this!

Hey, get back here, you idiot!

Coward! I'll definitely report him to the boss.

No biggie, we still have the upper hand. Let's go. Take them down!

O-okay. Take care, Rover!

That was… AWESOME! Like, bam, pow, and they were down!

Me? I'm totally fine. They didn't get within a mile of me!

The Fractsidus caused Jinzhou and Hongzhen so much misery. Honestly, seeing them get beaten up... Oops, I mean punished, is kinda satisfying, not gonna lie.

Jinzhou's been my home since I can remember.

These guys have robbed and killed. If I were a Midnight Ranger or even a Patroller, I'd have taught them a lesson!

Together, we stand strong! Even an ordinary person like me, with the right tools, can fight! Can defend MY home!

Hmph, I should've joined the Midnight Rangers instead of the Imperial Academy. Spending all day writing dull editorials... Too late now.

Oh, almost forgot our mission. We've got all the clues, so the truth must be…

Right! The Fractsidus caught some animals and Tacet Discords… all for some kind of experiment.

They must've stumbled on that big one, the same one the herb collector saw. Luckily it must be harmless, so the collector got lucky.

The Fractsidus set a trap but ended up provoking it. They had to bail when it fought back.

But I wonder if that "snow monster" was their doing too?

The Fractsidus… items left by the Court of Savantae… frozen animals… experiments using Tacet Discords...

There's gotta be a link, but what?

Anyway, let's go to Loong's Ridge first. Maybe we'll find answers there.

We made it! I don't think I walked this much all of last year...

Look! Items left by the Court of Savantae. This should be the place. Rover, let's search around.

The box… It's empty.

Must be used to store a certain device. Whatever was inside, the Fractsidus must have taken.

But they left all their supplies at Loong's Crest. Hmm… maybe whatever was inside is important to them?

These devices look like what those Court of Savantae guys make. Their designs clearly aren't based on modern Automata Mechanics.

They're called "Photonvaults." They're able to halt time within a certain range.

So you mean those animals were… Yeah, that should be it.

Alright, I think I've probably got things figured out.

The Fractsidus calls this place "Site 2" and ran experiments with the "Photonvault" created by the Court of Savantae.

Those frozen animals? They must be the device's test subjects caught in time.

And the monsters at Loong's Crest must've been captured with it, too.

But what's their plan? The memo from Site 1 mentioned a frequency suppressor… What’s that for?

Yes… So they can control them, like in the diary.

This is absurd...

Are they all mad? Why would they do this?

For power? Is it really worth all this?

I just... can't wrap my head around it. There's no excuse for this.

You're right. We have to stop the Fractsidus. We can't let them get away with this.

Rover, this must be the Fractsidus's experiment log.

If what's written here is true, it's awful…

We've arrived, Rover, it's right over there!

Hold on. It looks like…

Don't bother going over. It's too late…

Boss, all systems are go. We’re ready to roll with the next experiment whenever you give the word.

Hey, Ogo, it’s showtime!

Me… showtime?

Who else? You want to live, right? You want power, don’t you? That’s exactly what the Fractsidus is all about.

We turn the weak into the mighty, the nobodies into somebodies, and mere mortals into… gods.

…

Relax, it’s just another tweak. Like the upgrade you had before—only this makes you stronger and less constrained.

Look at this beast—gorgeous, isn’t it? Strong, too. Those sharp claws, that glossy fur, those bulging muscles…

Listen, Tacet Discords are not curses, they’re miracles. And now, you get the honor of harnessing that miracle. Don’t let me down.

Can I… really make it?

Of course, Ogo. The Fractsidus isn’t pouring money into this just for kicks.

Just fire up that machine over there, and you’ll be... transformed. No one will be able to touch you, much less take you down.

I'll take it upstairs. Once you get stronger, you'll move up the ladder too. Say goodbye to grunt work.

I… Fine, I'll do it.

Initiating frequency suppressor injection… triple unit. Ogo's frequency detected, causing effective interference with the Tacet Discord's frequency. Synchronization rate: 95.27%.

HAHAHA! We did it! Such a genius move, using human frequencies to take down Tacet Discord’s!

As long as Tacet Discords understand our language, we can boss them around however we want!

Shut down the Photonvault and release our new friend… I mean, old friend! Even that Rover won't stand a chance!

…

Ogo? Can you hear me? How’s your new body feeling? I get it, four legs might be a challenge at first. Take your time.

Hold on, boss. Ogo's frequencies… they're gone.

What? Don’t be stupid. We combined his with the Tacet Discord’s frequencies. Of course you can’t see his, moron!

No… the Tacet Discord’s frequencies are unchanged. His were completely devoured.

This isn’t funny! Ogo, wake up! Now isn’t the time for a nap… No, no… Stay back! STAY BACK!

Is it… is it over? Is Ogo…

I see… That's okay. We did… we did everything we could.

I read his diary. All he wanted to do was survive, but… he's not as lucky as we are.

He didn't have a safe place to call home or the means to protect himself.

I used to think justice was everywhere in Huanglong, just like in Jinzhou.

We have the Midnight Rangers guarding us and the Patrollers keeping order. Everyone lives in peace.

To me, Tacet Discords and Tacet Fields were just distant stories, less real than the monsters in fairytales.

But today, I realized that… they're right here.

Ha… I’m not blaming myself. I just feel… like I’ve been slacking off all this time.

I'm still the little girl who once looked at the Midnight Rangers believing they could solve every single problem…

I never thought about who needed help, let alone took action. Looking back, I feel ashamed…

But first, I gotta figure out what my heart wants.

Anyway, I have all the details recorded. When I get back to Hongzhen, I'll write them in the Chronicle.

Next up... I might just join the Pioneer Association and travel the world. I want to see what lies beyond Jinzhou's walls with my own eyes.

You're right. I've got to take that first step.

Thank you, Rover. Let's head back to Hongzhen.

Your efforts seem to have borne fruit. What conclusions have you drawn about the incidents, Rover?

So, it was the Fractsidus behind these disturbances, all to push their disgraceful goal. How despicable.

Thank you for bringing this vital information to light. I shall ensure that patrols around Mt. Firmament are intensified to prevent any further attempts by these miscreants.

Oh yes, and Qianyue seems to have found her footing since she returned.

There is no better teacher than experience itself. I hold high hopes for her future contributions.

Once again, Rover, I'm grateful for your assistance in this matter.

...And then that monster popped up right in front of my friend! Its eyes were as big as lanterns, and its teeth as long as rolling pins!

Oh, interesting... Please, continue.

My friend knew enough not to turn his back on the monster—he'd be an easy meal!

So he backed away slowly and stepped on a rock. He bent down and used everything he had to pick it up and... guess what?

He drove the monster away with the rock?

No, the monster just vanished into thin air! Not even a footprint in the snow!

…

I'm telling you, it's no ordinary monster! It's a ghost, the vengeful spirit of a slain beast...

You don't believe me, do you? I'm not making this up! My friend told me himself!

Fine, believe what you want. My throat's parched from all this yapping. I'm off to grab a cup of tea.

Oh, by the way, he lives just around the corner. Go ask him yourself if you think I'm pulling your leg.

Well, it's good to have a witness at least.

Yes, that's me. And you must be the Rover, the hero Madam Xinyi spoke of from Jinzhou and Hongzhen?

Don't be modest. Your heroic deeds are already recorded in the Hongzhen Chronicle.

I'm just a newbie intern, so I don't get to write those epic tales... yet.

But that's fine, I have my own mission. I'm investigating the two Mt. Firmament incidents. Once I piece it all together, it'll go into the Hongzhen Chronicle.

Yes, one is the sighting of a huge monster, as the gentleman mentioned.

The other comes from a hunter who found animals and Tacet Discords frozen solid in a valley.

Indeed. I've read through the Hongzhen Chronicle, and it says the Sentinel's barrier keeps out Tacet Discords, even Elite Class ones.

The rare Elite Class Tacet Discords are only spotted in far-off places. In the Chronicle, they're dubbed "beasts," "scourges," or even "blessings."

Yeah, probably because Elite Class Tacet Discords are super rare, they're almost mythical, seen as omens of good or bad luck.

Anyway, based on these witness accounts, I think there's a link between this monster and the "beast" in the Chronicle.

Rumors have been flying around, getting all exaggerated, but I’m still unclear on where these incidents actually happened.

But here's the kicker—I've tracked down the rumor spreaders.

Yep, one's a herb collector from Hongzhen, and the other's a hunter. Makes sense, given their line of work.

But…

Well, I do think Tacet Discords are behind all this, but still I can't help but wonder... do ghosts really exist?

I-I suspected as much. I've studied Remnant Ecoacoustics, so I know it's just a natural phenomenon caused by Reverberations!

This is excitement, not fear! Exploring the unknown is my jam!

Let's go, Rover! It's time to uncover the truth!

Are those… cages? Who would put cages out here?!

Seems like they were used to lock something up. Good news is, it wasn't a person, judging from these claw marks.

Let's take some pictures, just in case.

Oh my… this is... gosh...

This is… a pretty steep hill…

Are you alright? Do you want to take a break?

I'm beat. Never hiked anything like this... Guess I'm not cut out for the Midnight Rangers.

It's okay. We're almost there. I can hang on a bit longer...

A data tablet?

Looks like it's just a diary. I guess a Fractsidus member accidentally left it behind.

They must've left in a hurry, leaving personal items behind like that.

What did the Fractsidus do…? He was one of their own…

Take cover somewhere safe. I'll handle this.