Tales of the Fantastic: Chapter 2

Tales of the Fantastic: Chapter 2 is an Adventure Mission from the Tales of the Fantastic event.
==Steps==
#Go to Central Starskiff Haven and talk to Mr. Xiyan
#Head to Scalegorge Waterscape and meet Mr. Xiyan
#Continue to help Mr. Xiyan complete the story
##Pay your respects to the Statue of the High Elder
##Find the malicious Mirage Echo
##Report back to the high elder (questionable)
##Find the secret treasure left by the high elder (questionable)
##Report back to the high elder (questionable)
##Find the Vidyadhara egg containing the high elder undergoing hatching rebirth
##Bring the high elder into this world
#Go to Central Starskiff Haven and talk to Mr. Xiyan
==Gameplay Notes==
*Completing the mission unlocks Scene 2 of Legends Past and Present in the Tales of the Fantastic event.
==Dialogue==
===Go to Central Starskiff Haven and talk to Mr. Xiyan===
: Is it time to write Act II...
:Mr. Xiyan: You see, you can't take care of much when you're busy. I almost forgot we agreed to meet.
:Mr. Xiyan: I've been keeping myself busy, coming up with the rest of the plot. But we may have a problem to which I haven't been able to find an answer yet...
:Mr. Xiyan: Based on your original story... After taking out the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, you almost immediately fought your decisive battle against the Lord Ravager Phantylia. Don't you think that's pushing the story along too fast?
:Mr. Xiyan: If that's all I had, why, I'd finish telling this story in a single session. I wouldn't get the chance to set up one of my cliffhangers goading everyone into buying tickets for tomorrow. "Stay tuned for next time with Mr. Xiyan..."
:Mr. Xiyan: And I tell you what, the Protagonist Model isn't perfect enough if we do the plot this way. So, I've come up with an idea. I'm not sure what you think, so I'd like to run it by you...
:Mr. Xiyan: Nameless, you're not the only one, right? Those other heroes have also thrown themselves into this adventure. Is it possible to perhaps fudge things a little so that YOU will be the one doing those deeds?
: Wouldn't that make me a fraud!?
::Mr. Xiyan: Yeah, but... I mean, uh, no...?
::Mr. Xiyan: What I mean is, could some of the Nameless' heroic deeds be pulled together and attributed to a single archetypal character?
::Mr. Xiyan: Creating archetypes like this makes it easier for our audience to become emotionally involved. How about it?
: That's okay, I guess. After all, I am the protagonist.
::Mr. Xiyan: I'm so happy to hear you say that.
:Mr. Xiyan: So then, are there any companions whose exploits are suitable for us to add to our story?
: There's one called Dan Heng...
: There's this other companion who also came to Xianzhou...
:You fill in Mr. Xiyan about Dan Heng chasing you all the way, and the adventures he has encountered at Scalegorge Waterscape.
:Mr. Xiyan: This high elder story of yours is interesting, but a little tricky to pull off. It branches off in all directions with some red herrings. It's way different from the masterpieces I've personally written about the High-Cloud Quintet.
:Mr. Xiyan: Therefore, a drastic adaptation is required! We'll cut off everything apart from the beginning and the end. Maybe we can fix this story after all.
:Mr. Xiyan: I've got a rough idea... Let's go to Scalegorge Waterscape then. Perhaps we'll be able to find our inspiration beneath the Statue of the High Elder.
===Head to Scalegorge Waterscape and meet Mr. Xiyan===
;(Talk to Mr. Xiyan)
:Mr. Xiyan: Drink it in. Just looking at this magnificent Statue of the High Elder causes inspiration to flood my brain like a waterfall!
: Then why don't you tell me a story, storyteller?
: I think they call that going "soft in the head."
::Mr. Xiyan: I wasn't being literal. I mean torrents of storytelling swirling into a waterfall of literature!
:Mr. Xiyan: "It's said that (Trailblazer)'s powers surged after taking the Elixir of Dragon Oil. But alas, the Lord Ravager was still an Emanator of the Ruin Author. How could a mere mortal hope to contend?"
:Mr. Xiyan: "It was then that (Trailblazer) realized the Vidyadhara were descendants of dragons, whose high elders naturally possessed Aeonic powers... And if those powers could be borrowed, transcendence shall be achieved!"
: Wait a minute, didn't you say taking the elixir would be enough already?
: Didn't I already achieve transcendence by taking that dragon oil elixir?
:Mr. Xiyan: Hey, ever hear of hyperbole? I studied at the Royal Academy on the Yaoqing and I'm a professional playwright by trade. My writing has structure, and I would never be sloppy.
:Mr. Xiyan: Ahem... "With the miracle elixir flowing internally and the high elder's power protecting externally, a mere Emanator — or even the Ruin Author themselves — would prove no match for (Trailblazer)!"
: You're getting sloppy!
: More so-called hyperbole!
: I'm not so sure Nanook would agree with you...
:Mr. Xiyan: Forget about the details! I told you, this is just the first draft, and we'll revise it later. Just focus on the main plot.
:Mr. Xiyan: Hmm... Back to the topic at hand, please. This scene should begin with you searching for clues around the Statue of the High Elder.
:Mr. Xiyan: Dropping adventure into every scene of the plot will definitely help us flesh out this Protagonist Model.
:Mr. Xiyan: I reckon this'll take the better half of a day just like last time. So why don't you go off and get ready? Fortify that stomach of yours or go to the bathroom first.
:Mr. Xiyan: Come find me when you're ready.
===Continue to help Mr. Xiyan complete the story===
:Mr. Xiyan: How's it going? Ready start? 
: Let's begin.
:;(Enter Exploratory Excursion Scalegorge Waterscape)
: Hang on a minute.
::Mr. Xiyan: Alright, take your time. I'm ready when you are.
===Pay your respects to the Statue of the High Elder===
;(Interact with Statue of the High Elder)
:???: Did you break into Scalegorge Waterscape to try and beg me for the power of the high elder? You're joking! Is this some kind of outworlder joke?
: Who's speaking?
: Where are you hiding?
:???: Up here! I'm right in front of you! Don't turn a blind eye to me!
: Are you a statue?
:???: I am the statue of Yubie the high elder. Steeped in the essence of moonlight, I have taken consciousness.
:Yubie (Questionable): You're an outworlder who doesn't even know who I am, yet you dare come here to claim the power of the high elder so rashly? Heh... You'll never get your hands on it!
: Fine, I don't even want it.
::Yubie (Questionable): Quitting so soon? I thought the Nameless were supposed to be tenacious and indomitable?
: Can't you bend the rules this once, pleaaase~
::Yubie (Questionable): If this was something that could just be "bent," then the Vidyadhara wouldn't find ourselves in our current predicament.
: A statue — that can talk!
::Yubie (Questionable): Fine! I foolishly believed that you, as Nameless, would be a well-traveled connoisseur but it seemed you were rather finicky, shall we say!
:Yubie (Questionable): Sigh... But then again I'm nothing more than a statue. I can hardly lecture you.
:Yubie (Questionable): What about... I set a trial for you. Pass it, and you'll gain my recognition. I'll then grant you whatever your wish is.
: Another trial?
::Yubie (Questionable): Without a trial, how would I know whether you were worthy of my help?
: I wish to be rich!
::Yubie (Questionable): Heh... Now's not the time for making wishes. We can talk about this again once you complete the trial.
: My wish is for three more wishes!
::Yubie (Questionable): I'm not some genie in a lamp. We can talk about this again once you complete the trial.
:Yubie (Questionable): Centuries ago, Dan Feng the high elder got led astray in life, triggering the Sedition of Imbibitor Lunae and leaving countless Mirage Echoes filled with hatred throughout Scalegorge Waterscape.
:Yubie (Questionable): A few of them still cling to vicious hatred, causing all kinds of ruckus that's really starting to get to people. Please get rid of these ill-willed Mirage Echoes — that's the trial that I have for you.
;(Optional - Talk to the Statue of the High Elder again)
:Yubie (Questionable): Go forth. They have their grievances, and their vileness knows no end. Tread carefully.
===Find the malicious Mirage Echo===
;(Optional - Talk to Lamenting Mirage Echo)
:Lamenting Mirage Echo: I've worked for the Realm-Keeping Commission for five hundred years, and I'll soon qualify to buy a townhouse in the Drifters Sanctum!
:Lamenting Mirage Echo: What a pity! After this disaster, my reincarnated body has to keep working...
:(Trailblazer): This doesn't seem to be the one...
;(Optional - Talk to Faint Mirage Echo)
:Faint Mirage Echo: They always mock me for being nothing... How can I earn the respect of the Preceptors?
:Faint Mirage Echo: Why does my existence become visible every time a troublesome task presents itself?
:(Trailblazer): This doesn't seem to be the one...
;(Optional - Talk to Chatty Mirage Echo)
:Chatty Mirage Echo: Office of Deep Sources document directory article 3632...
:Chatty Mirage Echo: The high elder's dream divinations? No, not this one. How have the Vidyadhara not figured out an automatic file management system yet for their massive library!? Tsk...
:(Trailblazer): This doesn't seem to be the one...
;(Optional - Talk to Sorrowful Mirage Echo)
:Sorrowful Mirage Echo: Back when I was just an egg, I dreamed there was a little fox playing around in the water with me.
:Sorrowful Mirage Echo: When I grew up, I found her out there in the world, just as she was about to die of old age... Just the thought of that made me burst into tears.
:(Trailblazer): This doesn't seem to be the one...
;(Talk to Malicious Mirage Echo)
:Malicious Mirage Echo: I was supposed to be chosen as high elder... That cursed, cursed Dan Feng! It was he who stole my rightful power from me!
:Malicious Mirage Echo: How did things end up? The Preceptors got the wrong person and plunged the Vidyadhara into crisis! Haha, that was exactly what they deserved!
:(Trailblazer): Looks like this is it!
;(Enter battle)
----
;(After the battle)
:(Trailblazer): That should be it, right? Time to go back and report in to that statue.
:(Trailblazer) successfully completed the trial and returned to the Statue of the High Elder.
===Report back to the high elder (questionable)===
;(Talk to Statue of the High Elder)
:Yubie (Questionable): The grievances hanging over Scalegorge Waterscape have cleared a little... I think you have indeed completed the trial. You really do live up to the moniker of the Nameless...
:Yubie (Questionable): Now that you've completed the first trial, now it's time for the second trial.
: Just exactly how many trials are there now?!!!
: You're making me do all the Twelve Labors, aren't you?
:Yubie (Questionable): Don't worry. This will be your final trial.
:Yubie (Questionable): Before his imprisonment, Dan Feng buried all of his treasure deep within Scalegorge Waterscape. They say that before he set out, he spoke these words—
: "Rules are made to be broken!"
: "I wish not for dominion, yet I cannot watch the common folks suffer!"
:Yubie (Questionable): What's that about?!
:Yubie (Questionable): Anyway, the second trial is to find the treasure, return it to its original owner, and reset the wheels of fate.
:(Trailblazer) found the high elder's secret treasure trove thanks to the statue's guidance.
===Find the secret treasure left by the high elder (questionable)===
;(Arriving at the marked location)
:Mr. Xiyan: "When (Trailblazer) arrived at this place, immediately smelled the presence of Long in the air and thought: This must be where the secret treasures of the high elder lies!"
:Really? Is my sense of smell that good? Let me see if there's any place to hide a treasure.
;(After breaking the vase on the far right of the marked area but before breaking a third vase)
:(Trailblazer): This looks like one of Dan Feng's treasure items. Report back with it to the statue.
;(Obtain High Elders' Secret Treasure)
;(After breaking third vase)
:Yubie (Questionable): Fine, fine. Don't break it, stop! Please stop!
: What are you doing here?
::Yubie (Questionable): Had I stay put a bit longer, Scalegorge Waterscape would have been razed to the ground by you!
: Hey! Don't interupt! I'm trailblazin' here!
::Yubie (Questionable): You call that trailblazing? You're trail destroying!
:Yubie (Questionable): I made an error in judgment. This old Dragon Palace cannot withstand this kind of abuse.
:Yubie (Questionable): Lemme just acknowledge your . And now let's just skip this part of the trial.
:Yubie (Questionable): Come back to the Statue of the High Elder and find me... We can go straight to the next step.
:(Trailblazer) successfully completed the trial and returned to the Statue of the High Elder.
===Report back to the high elder (questionable)===
;(Talk to Statue of the High Elder)
:Yubie (Questionable): So I was right about you. Being able to complete these trials proves you a trustworthy person.
: Really? Sure you don't want a couple more trials?
::Yubie (Questionable): No, thanks. We're good.
: Well said! You sure have good taste, I'll give you that!
:Yubie (Questionable): The truth always comes in threes. You may have passed the first two trials, but now comes the final and most important test — and please don't tell me that I'm not trusting...
:Yubie (Questionable): Because this third trial is the answer which you seek — the power of the high elder.
:Yubie (Questionable): We Vidyadhara naturally reincarnate in cyclical continuity. As the previous high elder has abdicated and undergone hatching rebirth, a new high elder will be reborn once more!
:Yubie (Questionable): I want you to find this Vidyadhara egg and deliver the rebirth of the new high elder. From then on, this new high elder will be your help, and support you in overcoming any hardships you may encounter.
:Yubie (Questionable): Go, Nameless. The help you seek is at hand!
:(Trailblazer) found the soon-to-be-born impending high elder thanks to the statue's guidance.
===Find the Vidyadhara egg containing the high elder undergoing hatching rebirth===
;(Optional - Talk to Statue of the High Elder)
:Yubie (Questionable): I've pointed out the way for you. Go, Nameless! The help you seek is at hand!
;(Approach the Vidyadhara egg)
:Mr. Xiyan: "(Trailblazer) found the luminescent Vidyadhara egg, and indeed there was a creature about to break free from incubation. And so, (Trailblazer) carefully deliver the new high elder into re-existence."
===Bring the high elder into this world===
;(Optional - Talk to Mr. Xiyan)
:Mr. Xiyan: You are about to begin delivery of the next high elder. The climax of this story is about to start!
;(Investigate the Vidyadhara egg)
:;(Solve Abacus Circuitry puzzle)
;(Talk to Mr. Xiyan)
: You call that delivering a newborn?
: Isn't that the screen for fixing stuff?
:Mr. Xiyan: I'm just using a typical Xianzhou literary device. Nothing special about it, m'kay?
: It's locked by Abacus Circuitry...
: It's fixed by Abacus Circuitry...
: Its operating system is running on Abacus Circuitry...
: Remind me again, why does the delivery also involve Abacus Circuitry!?
:Mr. Xiyan: Sigh... I admit, it's a bit far-fetched! But I couldn't think of any other way to express things.
:Mr. Xiyan: Ah, forget it! That's our first draft for now! As for the exact details, I'll leave that up to Future Mr. Xiyan to worry about!
:Mr. Xiyan: All in all... "With the help of (Trailblazer), the newborn high elder of the Vidyadhara successfully hatched from their egg and was thus reborn."
: Wow, its size is huge!
::Mr. Xiyan: Hey, stay classy!
: Pretty tall for a newborn, huh?
::Mr. Xiyan: The high elder is naturally superior to the ordinary and grows immediately upon the touch of the wind!
: Born wearing clothes!?
::Mr. Xiyan: What's so weird about that? There's another Xianzhou classic tale that tells of a rich boy born with a silver spoon — or rather, jade abacus — in its mouth. The newborn could make divinations five hundred years back and into the future!
:Mr. Xiyan: "The newborn high elder stared blankly at (Trailblazer)... At this moment, (Trailblazer) should bear the sacred responsibility of scripting a name for this newborn high elder. Dragons derive power from their names!"
: Why do I have to name it...
:Mr. Xiyan: Because you're the protagonist of this story! "(Trailblazer) named the new high elder as —"
: Dan Heng
::Mr. Xiyan: Dan Heng, the Everlasting — a great name!
: Cold Dragon Young
::Mr. Xiyan: Cold as frost, but nimble as a dragon — a fitting name!
: High Elder MK2000
::Mr. Xiyan: What a great MK2000 model — just as its name suggests, it's an upgrade. A splendid name!
: John Doe
::Mr. Xiyan: ...Ummm.... I fail to see how that makes sense. But since you are the one who picked this, it must be a great name!
:Mr. Xiyan: "As fate would dictate — (Dan Heng/Cold Dragon Young/High Elder MK2000/John Doe)! The new leader of the Vidyadhara has been reborn!"
:Mr. Xiyan: "But just as the two were immersed in the joys of life reborn, crisis loomed imminent. A horde of Disciples of Sanctus Medicus had found this location."
:Bandit A: The freshly-reborn high elder and that outworlder who took out so many of our brothers and sisters! So this is where you are!
:Bandit B: Quick, take advantage of their weak position to rid them once and for all. Go!
:(Dan Heng/Cold Dragon Young/High Elder MK2000/John Doe): Fear not, (Trailblazer). Let me chant a cloudhymn to protect you... These schmucks are nothing to worry about!
:Mr. Xiyan: "Faced with the advancing enemy, (Trailblazer) concentrated all qi to Core Radix, as shouted —"
: If fight is what you want, then come and take it!
::Mr. Xiyan: On the other hand, the sound was like a clap of thunder as (Trailblazer) let out an angry roar, scaring the heck out of all the enemies! And with that, the battle had begun—
: Thank you, (Dan Heng/Cold Dragon Young/High Elder MK2000/John Doe)!
::Mr. Xiyan: Despite being mere minutes old, the new high elder was nevertheless the high elder of the Vidyadhara, and responded, "You're welcome" as the battle began—
: This is above my pay grade!
::Mr. Xiyan: Could it be some kind of passphrase? Now is hardly the time to say such despondent words!
::Mr. Xiyan: Alright! But the high elder gave a clear shout as the battle began—
: *sob in tears*
::Mr. Xiyan: What are you crying about? Ah, yes! (Trailblazer) has become a for the very first time and despite not being one by the biological definition, our hero still feels that heavenly gift of affection!
::Mr. Xiyan: But there's no room for any emotional drama to play out here as the high elder gave a clear shout, and the battle began—
: What kind of hack plot is this!?
::Mr. Xiyan: Sure, okay fine. The plot is bad. But the plot is progressing along nicely, isn't it?
::Mr. Xiyan: But the high elder gave a clear shout as the battle began—
;(Enter battle)
;(Challenge Complete after the battle)
:;(Obtain , , )
----
:Mr. Xiyan: "After this battle, (Trailblazer) and (Dan Heng/Cold Dragon Young/High Elder MK2000/John Doe) forged an alliance in blood between which none could ever hope to drive a wedge!"
:Mr. Xiyan: "Be patient, everyone. The next act, dear listeners, is our long-awaited martial arts fight scene: 'Traveler Treasures Heart of Scions, Dragonlord Commands Wrath of Seas!'"
:Mr. Xiyan: Ah, if we put it like that, then this act will be complete too...
: Where did the "long-awaited martial arts scene" end up going?
:Mr. Xiyan: Didn't I mention? Martial arts scenes are the easiest of all to write. Just a couple of strokes on your Protagonist Model is all it takes!
:Mr. Xiyan began scribbling at a furious pace, as before.
:He soon let out a long, satisfied sigh, which seemed to be a habitual pattern for Mr. Xiyan's writing process, and handed the Protagonist Model over to you.
:Mr. Xiyan: This scene is complete... Take some time to have a look at it, and feel free to share any feedback with me.
:Mr. Xiyan: What follows should be the climax and the end of your story, so I need to think carefully about how it's written.
:Mr. Xiyan: It's already getting late, and we've both put in a lot of effort. I will head back to Starskiff Haven and let's keep in touch if any inspiration strikes.
:Mr. Xiyan: So long~
===Go to Central Starskiff Haven and talk to Mr. Xiyan===
: Any new stories?
:Mr. Xiyan: (Trailblazer), hello! You can't let go of my spellbinding story, can you? Who can resist being the protagonist of their own epic adventure?
:Mr. Xiyan: Haha, the Protagonist Model is so incredibly useful that I've ended up writing a few more stories. I wonder what you think of them?
;(Mission Complete)
==Trivia==
* The dialogue option "I wish not for dominion, yet I cannot watch the common folks suffer!" is a reference to a quote by Zhongli from HoYoverse's other game, , during his character demo: "I wish not for dominion, yet I cannot watch the common folk suffer."
==Other Languages==
==Change History==