A Playful New Friend For Skylar

"Alright, nearly there!" Skylar encouraged Hop aloud as the explorer and their Quibbit approached the final, steep ascent to the Celestial Peaktop. After spending a couple of days perfecting cookie recipes with Icelyn, Skylar's pack was full of delicious baked goods -- plus some other treats to try -- and they were ready for another visit to Luffin Hollow!

With a final burst of effort, the duo gained the summit. Hop took a deep breath and prepared to dive. They wasted no time plunging beneath the spring to the warm, rainbow-drenched Hollow beneath the ice. It was refreshing to go from the icy chill of the Peaktop to the snug coziness of this hidden cavern.

Unlike last time, the cavern was full of activity! A half-dozen Luffins were lounging by the pool, frolicking in the greenery, and sliding around on the ice playfully. They all paused as Skylar and Hop emerged from the water and clambered onto shore, watching their visitors curiously.

One Luffin in particular let out a cheerful-sounding honk. It bounded closer before springing into a long slide along the icy floor. It bumped into Skylar's ankles and got back to its feet, immediately standing on its hind legs to nudge its beak against Skylar's pack.

"You must be the one we met last time," Skylar said. "Impatient, aren't you! Never fear, I've brought something for you..."

Skylar removed a wrapped parcel from their pack and untied it to reveal a handful of bright-scaled fish. Since the Luffins spent so much time in the water, Skylar wondered if the abundant fish of Santae's seas formed part of their natural diet.

Skylar tossed one fish to the Luffin, and the creature snapped it up in its beak without hesitation. It swallowed the morsel with a gulp and blinked up at Skylar, clearly ready for more. Skylar fed it two more, which the Luffin swallowed just as eagerly with a satisfied noise like a purr.

Skylar tentatively reached down to pet the smooth feathers of the Luffin's head, but before they could, the creature's ears stood straight up and it drew back. The Luffin rose up onto its hind feet again to paw at Skylar's pack, clearly tired of fish and interested in something more.

"Time for dessert," Skylar grinned. They withdrew a tin of the fresh-baked gingerroot cookies from their pack. The Luffin stared at the colorful frosted treats with keen interest.

Skylar opened the tin and lowered it to the Luffin's level. The Luffin's eyes sparkled with delight, and it barely hesitated before plunging its beak into the tin to devour five of the deliciously spiced cookies in quick succession.

"Easy there!" Skylar laughed, withdrawing the tin as the Luffin gulped down its final treat. They turned away from the Luffin momentarily to close the tin and tuck it away in their bag again. When they got back to the base of the Celestial Peaks, Skylar would definitely owe Icelyn a big thank you for all the baking help!

Before they could turn back around, Skylar was surprised by the feeling of something nudging against their leg. Looking down, Skylar saw that the Luffin had curled up against their feet, snuggling close with a gentle coo.

Skylar's heart swelled with affection as they looked at the adorable creature making itself comfortable. Sharing these treats with the Luffin had cemented a bond that would last a lifetime!

Skylar bent down to brush a couple of cookie crumbs off of the Luffin's sleek feathers, chuckling under their breath. "I think I'll call you Crumble!"

Crumble tilted its head to meet Skylar's gaze with shining blue eyes, cooing again as if in agreement. Skylar officially had a brand-new adventuring companion!

Venture To Luffin Hollow To Forge A Bond

Want to befriend a Luffin of your very own? Equip yourself for an expedition to Luffin Hollow to get started!

Luffins can be found in the Hollow during the chilly Winter season. Their cavern home is hidden beneath the spring at the Celestial Peaktop -- so you will need an aquatic pet, or a Minimal with the Deep Breath ability, in order to reach it.

Once you travel to the depths of the spring into Luffin Hollow itself, you will be approached by a Luffin! Feeding it a handful of edible fish will draw it closer and catch its interest.

These rambunctious creatures like fish, but they love sweet things! To form a bond with a Luffin, you must provide it with the 5 random baked goods it asks for.

When you fulfill the requirements for the bond, you will have the option to either take the Luffin home with you, or imbue its magic into a Divine Figurine that will allow you to transform another Pet into a Luffin. You can bond with a Luffin this way only once each day!

Feel free to grab a batch of gingerroot cookies on us to help you with your Luffin Bonding!

Redeem Code:
CRUMBLETIME
Ends 31st January 2025, 23:59:00 SST

Vespera Restocks Her Shelves

A fresh shipment of enchanted merchandise has reached Vespera's doorstop at Shadow Veil Pass. She's unpacking crates and boxes of freshly-created items with exciting magical properties -- figurines that have not been seen in Santae for many months.

That's right: Divine Drava Figurines are back in stock!

Visit the Cash Shop or the Dust Shop to get your hands on one of these magical figurines for yourself, and transform one of your pets into a mysterious, elegant Drava!

Kickstarter Minimals Make their Way into the Corners of Santae!

It seems like a squall of new minimals have appeared around Santae. These precious critters have been designed by our wonderful Kickstarter Backers, and are making their appearances in every corner of the world. I wonder if you can find them all?

Let's introduce you all to these charming creatures! Firstly we have the endearing Mindy, who has already been discovered at Minimal Menagerie by Adventurers. This kitty was designed by our lovely Artist FritzMyles.

What is that sound? It seems to be something a-buzzing, it is the friendly Beebees! This magical honey-maker was designed by Sirleafheart, and is appearing somewhere just as sweet in Santae.

And look at this stylish doggy friend! This is the kindhearted Perseus, named after a true hero, its namesake is that of a constellation from another realm. This good boy hides a connection to the heavens and has recently been found bothering a certain Weapons Collector in a fiery realm. This minimal has been brough to life by the wonderful Anade.

Lastly, its seems there is something swimming in the depths of one of the caves across Santae. This is the insightful Kaimaura, a mysterious companion known to only trust those of a Pure heart, being able to determine an Adventurer's true nature with their special aura-reading vision. This particular companion was brought to life by our Senior Moderator Morrie.

Can you tame all of these new critters and add them to your own menagerie? More Kickstarter minimals will be sure to arrive soon!

TL;DR

★ Skylar befriended a new Pet: Crumble the Luffin!
★ Luffins can now be bonded at Luffin Hollow - with the right materials. Visit today to befriend a Luffin of your own!
★ Grab a batch of gingerroot cookies on the Staff Team using the Redeem Code CRUMBLETIME, ends on 31st January 2025 23:59:00 SST.
★ Divine Drava Figurines are in stock at the Cash Shop and Dust Shop.
★ Four Kickstarter Minimals have been released

Happy New Year, Santae!

It has been just under six months since Santae has opened its doors, launching Alpha on the 12th of May 2024! We are so thankful for each and every one of you. We want to wish you all:

 HAPPY NEW YEAR, ADVENTURERS!

We could not be here today without our Beta Community.  As a huge thank you we want to share with you a new Redeem Code as we ring in the new year.

 CELEBRATE2024

This code will be available till January 7th 2025, 23:59:59SST.

Santae, 2024 in Review!

We want to take a look at Santae in review from the Alpha Wipe, just to see how much our community has achieved since September 4th 2024. Here are some of the statistics the Staff Team has pulled from the depths of Santae. Which one surprises you the most?

General Site Stats

Users: 4,026
Pageviews 43,553,602
SanDust Spent in SanDust Shop: 37,605,350
Items Added To Collections: 53,3513
User Items Created (Ever): 11,453,890
Avatars Unlocked: 59,850

Pet and Minimal Stats:

Gooppers Evolved: 5,733
Minimals Herded: 24,978
Pet Slots: 65,110
User Pets Created: 38,910
Harlowins Hatched: 2,210
Quenaris Bonded: 766
Quibbit Bonded: 650

Adventuring Stats:

Quests Completed: 2,220,448
Berries Foraged: 561,752
Fish Caught: 1,161,414
Items Gathered: 1,234,348
Items Cooked: 11,224
Games Played: 66,9718
Sword in the Stone (Attempts): 67,107
Sword in the Stones (Wins): 1,405

We also have some interesting Pet and Minimal stats to share with everyone, let's see what everyone's favorite names for these companions have been over 2024!

Top 10 Minimal Names:

10th Blossom (9)
9th Shadow (10)
 8th Flora (10)
7th Sugar (11)
6th Acorn (11)
5th Ember (15)
4th Jester (15)
3rd Luna (16)
2nd Bubbles (16)

and finally the most popular minimal name!

1st Levi (18)

Top 10 Pet Names:

10th Tradeable (8)
9th Pixie (8)
8th Pip (9)
7th Mothra (9)
6th Amalthea (10)
5th Iris (10) 
4th Nyx (12) 
3rd Mothman (13)
2nd Luna (20)

And now, the most favored pet name across the site, is the army of...

1st Braincell (37)

There sure are a lot of user sharing the collective braincell aren't there? We hope you have enjoyed this brief overview of some of the stats across the site since the Alpha Wipe. It's incredible what such a small community can achieve in a small time!

New Discoveries In The Eerie Caves

Having returned to her shop to evade the cold, Vespera opened the shopfront window to let River back inside from a Gathering expedition, closing it quickly behind her to avoid letting too much blustery air in.

"Welcome back, River!" Vespera greeted her friend. "What have you brought today?"

River had a strange plant clutched in her beak. Vespera took it and examined it closely. The dark, glossy leaves had a shadowy blue-purple coloration. Vespera had never seen a plant like this before!

"Where did this come from?" Vespera wondered, tilting the bundle of ivy back and forth in her hands to watch its shadowy colors shift and change. "Could you show me?" Vespera asked River.

River puffed out her feathers and let out an affirmative chirp.

After bundling up, Vespera followed River to the entrance of the Eerie Caves. The Raylen fluttered inside, leading the way through the caverns' twists and turns with practiced ease. Soon, they took a turn that Vespera had never noticed before -- but it was easy to see today thanks to River's warm Netherflame glow.

As the narrow passage deepened, Vespera noticed that more of the dark ivy River had brought was growing on the walls. When they reached the end, Vespera could see that the path ended in a small round chamber -- and it was absolutely full of life!

The walls, floor, and ceiling of the round cave were draped in glowing plants. Soft purple blossoms glimmering with starlike speckles, clusters of mushrooms lit from within by an icy blue glow, and trails of vines with clusters of tiny silver-glowing flowers...it was amazing!

"Great find, River!" Vespera praised her friend. "Now that we know these are here, we can tell the Adventurers where to gather these new plants for themselves."

New Collectables in the sD/sC Shops have Arrived!

A new barrage of Stamps, Books, and a new Plant and Food have made their way to Vespera's SanDust and SanCash shopfronts. Will you be adding them to your collection?

It seems like they are sticking around for quite a while! Can you get them all?

The Regal Xyren Has Arrived!

Bedecked in rich red and luxurious black-dappled white, borne through the skies on shimmering wings, the brand-new Regal Xyren is the pinnacle of aerial elegance! This new look elevates the Xyren's natural grace to new heights with with golden accents and shining gemstones.

To obtain a Regal Xyren of your own, you'll need to use a jar of Regal Shimmer Dust. Will you befriend this high-flying royal companion today?

TL;DR

★ Happy New Year! A new redeem code CELEBRATE2024  is available till January 7th 2025, 23:59:59SST

★ An overview of some stats from the last 4 months have been revealed to ring in the new year.
★ Four new plants are available via Gathering in the Eerie Caves.

★ The Regal Xyren is now available!

 Hurrinox, Twistris and Thundeel Grace the Stormy Skies!

As Vespera stood at the currently frozen entrance of the Eerie Caves, she contemplated a piece of the strange Aurorite Ore in her left hand. The air around her still, and the caves silent and unbothered. 

Breaking the silence, River abruptly dropped down from above the cave top with a squawk of alarm.

"What is it River?" Vespera asked, eyes raised with alarm as she jolted upright from the sudden call, turning to look around them guardedly.

Hasty winds gathered about the pair, clouds bustling and rushed the sky forcefully, swirling within the Aurora that shone all the way from the peaks. The reach of the Aurora was great, but these blustering winds threatened to rob the sky of the Winterlight glimmer.

" This Superchill really is something else River." Vespera said through gritted teeth as she bundled her arms about her, " Wait--- what is that darkness rushing through the clouds?"

As sudden as the winds themselves, a dark streak of billowing, cloudlike magic raced from the sky down towards the two at an alarming pace. Vespera grabbed River, waving a warding spell upwards reflexively.

The dark creature stopping just before them with a shriek sounding like ripping metal. Its blue eyes were glinting menacingly, before flicking with a mote of humor and swirling off into the winds, gone as quickly as it arrived.

"That looks like the malevolent storm sprite, Hurrinox! They are said to be the riders of great windstorms, blessed by Vex, the God of Storms, to control the gusts of Santae. What a powerful creature to come across here. This chill truly is like no other."

With barely a break from Vespera's excited explanation, an eddy of similarly charged, white energy whirled it's way downwards from the cloud storm above. River eyed this new arrival with determination, stepping forward with spread wings to defend its friend jealously. Its Puffdrake minimal burgeoning with magic, spilling out and enveloping River to make it bigger than Vespera, and strong enough to brace the winds.

More gracefully than the previous sprite, the ethereal body of the fabled Twistris wove itself in knots just above the icy floor. Soft blue eyes, like that of a Chalk colored pet examined River with a careful and approving expression before swirling after their mischievous compatriot.

"...And a Twistris, the Hurrinox's benevolent counterpart nonetheless! They are said to bounce the winds between each other. One aiming to fell trees and structures, the other gracefully pushing the wind out of harms way." Vespera exhaled with relief, petting River to comfort her companion.

"That has to mean -- look!" She called out as a crack of thunder shattered the sky, vibrating the air.

A purple-red streak of unnatural lightning shot from the storm down towards the two, striking the earth behind them with an explosive crash.

The charged creature zipped from place to place around Vespera and River with frightening speed, considering them both for a mere moment, before launching itself back into the sky in a zig-zag pattern after the other two sprites. 

"That was the frightfully chaotic Thundeel, they are rumored to be the result of the Twistris and Hurrinox's playful banter within the winds and storm clouds. The friction caused by their endless play and turning of the winds brings them to life." Vespera glanced up at the storm front, the Aurora weakly glittering through the clouds now.

"Let's get some cover before it becomes a blizzard out here River, we can come back here tomorrow."

More Recipes At the Bakehouse

There's a little bit of magic in the air of the Bakehouse as the cold persists around Santae. Icelyn has released three final recipes to the Aurora Bakeshop. If you can get your hands on the right enchanted recipe, you might be able to use Bakehouse ingredients to bring an adorable Minimal to life!

Might you bake the gentle and perceptive Frostelle? Would you prefer to prepare the energetic and loyal Peppermight?

Or perhaps you want to snuggle with the sleepy and comforting Cinnalux by the fireplace?

The Aurora Bakehouse is certainly something, if it has the power to bring these pet companions to life. What other recipes Adventurers will continue to discover throughout Santae, as we get a better grasp and understanding of Cooking?

Gingerplum Fairy Attire Joins the SanCash/SanDust Shop!

With the winter season well and truly settled in, Vespera has a sweet-filled new chest of Cash Shop gear to share with the Adventurers of Santae! 

This trove is filled with the Gingerplum Fairy Set of wardrobe apparel and accessories. This magical and sugary clothing are perfect for those looking for a more saccharine look.

There also seems to be a selection of sweet and whimsical items for the collections in this set! Will your pet be able to collect them all?

and here, the cheery Sweetlette joins the fold to be a charming companion to your Pet as you explore Santae!

It seems like there are two avatars associated with the confectionary themed set, can you figure out how to collect them?

Reminder That the Meme Contest is Still Ongoing!

The Official Santae Meme Contest is still ongoing and the entries will close on January 3, 2025 at 23:59:59 SST! Remember that the winning entry will receive a coveted Glitched Name Certificate!

Be sure to get your single entry in at the Contest Upload Page before the end of the third to have a chance to receive this special reward.

TL;DR

★ Hurrinox, Twistris and Thundeel make their appearance in the SanCash/SanDust Shop
★ Icelyn reveals 3 more mysterious recipes to bake Minimals.
★The Gingerplum Fairy Set has been released  in the SanCash/SanDust Shop.
★ Two new hidden Avatars are available.
★ The Meme Contest entry submission period ends on January 3, 2025 at 23:59:59 SST. Get your entry in at the Contests Page.