Visions of the Kyoshin

> *"Withered are the warriors, corralled to the Kyoshin Temple. Fresh bodies craving for water! But we knew there was something there to seek. Something hidden. And it came to us: a vision!"*
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> *"Chaos, respect, and all the tools to guide our blades. From destruction comes power!"*
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Warriors of both the Horkos and Chimera were lead to the Kyoshin Temple, as there were rumors of groundwater available there for foraging. However, what they found instead was the torment from the scorching heat and visions of mystic warriors. Partake in what the warriors saw at the temple in the special Dominion game of Visions of the Kyoshin, as you fight these powerful demigods to attain the Heavenly Vision.

But the hunt for water and mirages won't last for long, as they will both fade on July 1st. So forage for what rewards you can before the Kyoshin makes the leave at the end of the event!

## Overview

The battle for water led Horkos and Chimera to fight in the Kyoshin Temple. Groundwater was rumored to be foraged in the area. What they found there instead was a forgotten truth about the Samurai. About a transformative ritual that could grant heavenly powers.

Was it the scorching heat that made all warriors see things that might not exist? Or were the Kyoshin more than a lost legend? Those who witnessed the battle agreed on one thing: The guardians of the Kyoshin Temple were nothing like anyone had ever seen...

### Visions of the Kyoshin

> *"Defeat the Possessed Kyoshin to gain Hard Points and the Heavenly Vision, a mystical power that will give you an edge in battle."*
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While much like a normal Dominion gamemode, players will experience a familiar twist on the popular gamemode. Powerful entities known as the Heavenly Ones ("Possessed Kyoshin" in-game) will guard the Side Points, posing as a threat to both teams. However, once defeated, the killer will gain the Heavenly Vision, a temporary buff which will grant not only a buff where attacks heal you, but also grant you mystical sight where the world will look different to your eyes...!

    **Visions of the Kyoshin** is a Dominion game, but with the inclusion of neutral entities known as Possessed Kyoshin on both Side Points. The Kyoshin are multi-armed, multi-faced beings who wear Samurai armor, wield a katana and have a mysterious spirit ring floating behind their back. They will spawn at the very start of the game, and will respawn a minute after they are killed. The Kyoshin have the following traits:

* The Kyoshin will act similarly to a Guardian from the Breach gamemode, with access to Lights, Unblockable Heavies which they might chain together and periodically dropping a bomb. They will pop revenge when given the chance to.
	+ However, their attacks have been altered to be slightly faster. In trade, their overall damage is lower (exa. Heavy damage is 23 on Openers, 27 on Finishers). They also will die instantly upon being killed, thus will not prompt an Execution.
* While they have a large health pool much like a Guardian, they will not replenish Health if left alone.
* The Kyoshin are neutral entities, thus are capable of making a Zone neutral, therefore not owned by either team. When fighting a Kyoshin, players will receive contesting Renown. However, otherwise, the Kyoshin do not count as a Takedown through Assists, only granting the killer that takedown count for Orders and the scoreboard.

Whoever slays the Kyoshin will grant their team 75 points, together with 58 kill Renown to the slayer (if assisting, it will grant the Hero's designated class assist bonus); the Kyoshin are counted as isolated individuals, so will also grant an Ace Renown to all participating Heroes. This collective gain of Renown allows players to easily gain access to their higher tier Feats along with giving a considerable amount of Renown to their team.

The slayer will also be granted the Heavenly Vision buff, which lasts for a minute or until death, and will grant the following traits:

* While the map will look brown from all the dryness, the Heavenly Vision grants the player a different look of the map for the duration of the buff. The world will be dark and withered trees will now be vibrant with glowing leaves. Behind the Attacker's spawn, a great ring of fire will be visible too.
* Upon killing the Kyoshin, the slayer is healed of all Health and Stamina.
* Gameplay wise, the buff grants healing for successful hits landed, roughly equal to 50% of the damage dealt, together with applying roughly 8 Bleed over a few seconds.
* Those with the buff will be revealed to all Heroes on the field. While everyone can also see the ring on the back of buff holders, only other buff holders can see the glowing head visuals that are given to them.

### Map & Minion Changes

The event takes place on the Temple Garden map, one of the maps that has become dried out from the drought (more on that on the main page for Year 5 Season 2). However, there have been a few changes. Firstly, both Side Points have had their ledges blocked off to prevent players from ledging the Kyoshin for an easy kill. The map has also become littered with Buddhist scriptures posted onto walls and other surfaces. Beyond all the dust and sand, there lies a hidden realm if you defeat a Kyoshin. Once you attain the Kyoshin's Heavenly Vision buff, you will see the Garden in a new light, glowing with life and mysterious energy. A hidden Kyoshin will meditate near both of the Side Points, only becoming fully visible with the aforementioned buff.

During the event, Attacker minions were reskinned to take on the look of Kyoshin followers, wearing a demonic fox mask over a head-covering garb. They wear specially patterned haori jackets over a black kimono top and wave patterned pants, together with sandles and ankle wraps.

## Other Changes

### Event Rewards

Outside the Event Order, players who participate in the event can loot exclusive in-game rewards, including new mirage themed outfits, ornaments, and Scorching Heat Mood effects, all obtainable in the free Event Pass. The free Event Pass enables players to earn the outfits, ornaments and effects over the span of 30 tiers, removing the randomness players faced previously when trying to attain these cosmetic items. New weapon visuals represent the advent of the drought and the accompanying dry weather, with sun-dried visuals.

Players can also opt to purchase the special items that are exclusive to the event. There are two new cosmetics in the form of an Illustrious Outfit, the Predatory Aridity, where you robe yourself in a special mask & hood of the drylands. The other is the Mirage of Punishment execution, where you will summon magical fists which you pound your victim with into the ground. Both are exclusive, so purchase them before they become unavailable after the event.

## Unique Orders

During the Visions of the Kyoshin event, the daily orders and Event Orders will be tailored with unique names that references the special game at hand.

### Daily Orders

* ***Daily Guaranteed Order:***
	+ Warrior:
		- **Possessed Kyoshin** - "As the Horkos and Chimera invaded a Samurai temple to find water, they disturbed a ritual performed by the Kyoshin, a group of mystical warriors. Many believed the Kyoshin were able to communicate with deities and spirits."
		- **Deities of Mirages** - "Known as the "Heavenly Ones", these multiarmed deities were the embodiment of light and mirages. Many Samurai would pray to them for good luck before battle. The Kyoshin had a special connection to them."
		- **The Cost of War** - "Centuries of war took a heavy toll not only on people, but on nature itself. Constant carnage and fire, combined with dangerous methods to produce more weapons, polluted the most bountiful lands of Heathmoor."
		- **Battle for Water** - "The drought did not come without warning,but most saw the signs too late. Glaciers melted in Valkenheim, swamps dried in the Myre, and an unusual heatwave struck Ashfeld. Another battle for water was about to begin."
		- **A Tale of Impermanence** - "As the Samurai saw the drought ravaging their lands, some experienced "mono no aware", the feeling of how transient all things were. Of how nature's true beauty came from its impermanence."
		- **Transformative Journey** - "To let their body be transformed by a Heavenly One. To look beyond death and life in the realm of spirits. To return to mankind awakened, wielding the Heavenly Wheel, such was the journey of the Kyoshin."
		- **Fear of the Gods** - "Many warriors saw the drought as the wrath of the gods made manifest. Among the Samurai, it was told that the Heavenly Ones, deities of light and mirages, would appear during heatwaves."
	+ *Complete 2 matches of any game mode.*
* Other Orders (Attacker/Slayer/Executioner/Adaptable Hero):
	+ **A Scribe's Journal (1)** - "The Kyoshin? I've mostly heard stories about them. People seem to think they are sort of mediums between the living and the spirits. Not the spirits of the dead, mind you. It's a bit more complicated than that."
	+ **A Scribe's Journal (2)** - "Kyoshin as a name could be written using different Kanjis and bear different meanings, depending on who you asked among the Samurai. Most used the ones for 'open-minded'. But others would write 'fake god' instead."
	+ **A Scribe’s Journal (3)** - "Kyoshin warriors had their own views of the world. If I understood correctly, some of their strength came from the concept of yinyang, of balancing forces of nature. Where one saw conflict, they would see connection."
	+ **Internal Struggles** - "The Chimera Alliance when resources were abundant and easily shared among armies. As the new battle for water began, Chimera warriors struggled to maintain a sense of unity among their ranks."
	+ **Selfless Harts** - "Members of the Chimera Alliance saw the devastating effects the drought had not only on their own, but on civilians everywhere. They often risked their lives to help people even in the most secluded areas."
	+ **Unquenchable Wolves** - "Warriors of Horkos did not fear the drought. They believed that those who had lost the will to fight would wither naturally, while the strong-willed would see the catastrophe as an opportunity to harden their resolve."
	+ **Strength in Order** - "When facing the drought, some people saw the Order of Horkos as the solution to all problems. A strong and strict regime seemed the fastest way to bring a sense of safety and control in these trying times."
	+ **Heavenly Powers** - "The Kyoshin believed that the world was way more than what met the eye. Some thought they could travel to spiritual realms that were not above nor below reality. Becoming a Kyoshin was not about seeing farther, but deeper."
	+ **The Kyoshin Temple** - "The Kyoshin Temple used to be protected by a dense forest and other natural barriers. When the drought befell Heathmoor, the temple's defenses withered rapidly, leaving it exposed to external threats."
	+ **Mirage of the Kyoshin** - "To acquire Heavenly powers, they had to let their mortal shape travel between worlds for a brief while. Then they would become human again, bearing both shadow and light in their valiant hearts."

### Event Orders

Each week, there will be a unique Weekly Order.

* **Becoming a Kyoshin - June 11 - 14**
	+ "One had to be possessed, transformed, and finally awakened."
		- *Be the Faction with the most Visions matches won.*
* **Multiarmed Deities - June 18 - 21**
	+ "The Heavenly Ones were deities of light and mirages."
		- *Be the faction with the most Executions performed in Visions matches.*
* **Heavenly Visions - June 25 - 28**
	+ *No quote was give for this order.*
		- *At the end of the challenge be the Faction with the most Takedowns performed in the Events playlist.*

## Trivia

* The name "Kyoshin" is read as "虚心" in the Japanese localization, which translates to "impartiality" or more literally "void heart."
* On specific places on the map, there will be some faded scripts on the floor or walls. Around them, players can hear ambient speech from them, which will actually be a reversed chant. When you get the Kyoshin's Heavenly Vision buff, players will be able to see an additional glowing script next to where these faded scripts were located, with a new ambient speech which will be a non-reversed chant.
	+ Collectively, the chant is revealed to being the opening passage of the Tale of the Heike (the scripts in-game are an old Japanese writing version of said passage):
		- 祇園精舎の鐘の聲、諸行無常の響き有り。 沙羅雙樹の花の色、盛者必衰の理を顯す。 驕れる者も久しからず、唯春の夜の夢の如し。 猛き者も遂には滅びぬ、偏に風の前の塵に同じ。
		- Roughly translates to the following: "The sound of the Gion Shōja's bells echoes the impermanence of all things; the color of the sarai flowers reveals the truth that the prosperous must decline. The proud do not endure, as they are like a dream on a spring night. The mighty fall at last, as they are as dust before the wind."
		- Sounds clips of what is heard in-game is available here: non-buff part and buff part.
	+ This opening passage covers the central theme of the Heike, which is the Buddhist law of impermanence, particularly the idea of how fortune (and fame) is fleeting.
* The Incalescent Memory symbols from this event's Battle Pass may be based off of one of Salvador Dali’s most famous paintings, "The Persistence of Time."
	+ The term "Incalescent" means "growing warmer or more ardent."
* The Possessed Kyoshin's visual may be based on Marici (मारीची, lit. "Ray of Light"), a being known as a Buddhist deity or a boddhisatva of light and the Sun. While typically depicted as a goddess, she is also known to be a male god revered by warriors.
	+ She is commonly depicted as a multi-armed being, wielding different weapons in each hands. She is also sometimes depicted with multiple faces.
	+ In Japanese Buddhism, she is known as "Marishiten" (摩利支天) and is depicted as a warrior goddess and the protector of the Samurai's passion of justice. Samurai warriors would invoke her name either at sunrise to achieve victory, or to escape an enemy due to her name also meaning "mirage."
* It is later found out that the Heavenly Vision buff's on-hit heal and bleed are based on the Kyoshin's own feats, particularly their Kagerou and Hikarimore feats which grant the Kyoshin the same effects temporarily every time they perform a Superior Block.
* After the event, the Kyoshin warriors would continue to appear on all Dominion maps as translucent hallucinations as they fade in and out of existence, either running from one place to another or performing various kata stances in place.
	+ All maps will have shimmering music and a whispering voice play where the hallucination would be, accompanied with a warped mist. However, the hallucination seems to only actually appear on a rare occassion.
	+ A week prior to the Hero's release, the mirages had their models swapped out for the actual Kyoshin Hero, and the rarity of their appearance made more common.
	+ Pictures of one such "hallucination" can be seen below, on Temple Garden:

## Gallery

### Video

For Honor- Visions of the Kyoshin Event - Trailer - Ubisoft -NA-For Honor- New Outfit, Execution and Signature - Weekly Content Update- 06-10-2021 - Ubisoft -NA-