Published by: The Santae Team
The Celestial Peaktop
"Thank you!" Skylar waved farewell at the Adventurers who had just visited to share the reports from their latest ventures into the Celestial Pools. Taking the collected notes, Skylar began to mark down the newest discoveries on the map they were slowly constructing of the most distant parts of the Celestial Peaks.
"There, and....there," Skylar sketched in the Adventurers' descriptions of the ridges and valleys they had seen. "Wait," Skylar squinted down at the diagram more closely.
"Hop!" Skylar cried, pointing down at the map. "This is it! I think we've really discovered a path to the Peaktop! And we really couldn't have done it without every last one of the Adventurers who helped. They tallied up over 16,400 expeditions!"
Hop leapt up to look with an excited croak. The Quibbit looked between Skylar, the map, and the entrance to their camp as if to say, why aren't we heading up already?
"You're right, buddy," Skylar laughed. "Let's go now!"
Together, Skylar and Hop set off. They hiked the familiar route closer to the bottom of the Celestial Pools, then clambered up over the rougher and less familiar terrain. Eventually, they reached a narrow trail that snaked its way upward between the Pools -- and ended right near the summit!
The path was long. By the time Skylar and Hop approached the top, deep night had fallen and the aurora was blazing like bright green fire overhead. Skylar scrambled up a steep slope, stepped around an icy spire, and then froze -- utterly transfixed by the beauty of the sight in front of them.
Skylar spun slowly in place to take it all in. From up here, the buildings of the settlement at the base of the Celestial Peaks looked as small as toys! Above, the aurora danced and blazed in the gaps between an outcropping of fluffy clouds. The cloud bank seemed almost close enough to touch from here!
At their feet was the shore of a beautiful spring whose surface reflected the aurora's shifting lights. The icy waters formed a deep, still pool near the center of the Peaktop, but also spilled over the edge into a sparkling waterfall. This must be the source of the Celestial Pools and the waterfalls connecting them!
Skylar couldn't wait to begin to explore. They walked all around the spring, leaving a trail of footprints in the untouched snow that outlined the track of their investigation. Vespera's original note -- the one that had sent Skylar on this venture in the first place -- had mentioned a potential link between the Peaks, the superchill, and the mysterious Luffins. If there were any signs of Luffin habitation up here, Skylar was determined to find them!
But after a full circuit of the Peaktop, Skylar and Hop still hadn't found anything unusual. Skylar felt a little disappointed, but gazing out over the gorgeous view from the Peaktop's heights, it was hard to be discouraged for long.
"Let's set up camp for now," Skylar decided. They would need a comfortable base of operations to continue the investigation from after a bit of rest.
Skylar and Hop worked together to set up their small camp with the speed and ease of long experience. With a snug tent to keep out the worst of the snowy chill, the duo settled in and fell asleep.
The Celestial Peaktop is now available to be explored! What discoveries await there...?
An Avatar Hidden In The Heights
Bring the beauty of the Celestial Peaktop to your User Profile and forum posts with this brand-new hidden avatar!
To unlock this new avatar, you'll need to discover its location for yourself. Bundle up and get ready for a hike! Exploring every corner of Santae is the best way to expand your personal avatar collection.
A Magical New Look For The Seeker's Artifacts
In exchange for your assistance, the Seeker of Knowledge offers many strange and magical objects as rewards. Next time you aid Eldrin in one of his Quests, you may receive some items that have been gorgeously re-imagined with brand new artwork!
The Ancient Valarian Artifact, Essence of the Wild, and Essence of the Northwinds are all objects of magical interest -- but the Seeker of Knowledge will part with them provided he knows they will end up in capable hands. Prove your worth by visiting the Azure Abyss and taking on a Seeker of Knowledge Quest today!
Track Your Harvest With Ease
The updated Harvesting system has received another new upgrade! At Gathering and Fishing, you are now once again able to view the "Items Found" at each location. These lists will update dynamically as you discover everything a gathering spot has to offer, making it easier than ever to track which pieces you have yet to find.
This feature has been added to Cooking as well! The Culinary Creations page now also shows the items you have discovered and cooked. The silhouettes of undiscovered items might even help you guess which ingredients you will need to create them, too.
TL;DR
★ A magnificent (16,400+) total Fishing and Gathering expeditions helped Skylar to discover and reach the Celestial Peaktop! This location is now available for Adventurers to visit.
★ A new hidden avatar is available for discovery.
★ 3 Seeker of Knowledge quest reward items have received updated artwork.
★ Fishing, Gathering, and Cooking now show a running list of "Items Found" on each location's page.
Published by: The Santae Team
Almost There! Skylar Nears the Celestial Peaktop
After their previous plant discoveries, and examining the odd cookie crumb trail the day before, Skylar and Hop continued to push on the trail to the Peaktop, making progress up the mountainside. Still being aided with the help of the Adventurers' and their pets successful expeditions.
"I know we are so close to the top, It looks like I could just reach out and touch it," Skylar commented, holding a hand out to the Aurora above them. "If only we didn't have to trudge through such deep snow, at least some of the Celestial Snow gear from the Winterlight Machine was coming in handy up here."
Hop made a giggle at this comment as they effortlessly continued to flutter and spring over heaps of snow, stopping to look back smugly at its companion.
Chuckling at their Quibbit, Skylar pulled a Celestial Snowpom Beanie over their head and ears as they pushed past another thick area of snowfall, " Yeah well, I guess I would be having it much easier if I also had wings and powerful legs like yours, hey?"
"If the Adventurers can push for one more day I just know we can break the Celestial Peaktop tomorrow!"
Icelyn Opens her Aurora Bakehouse!
looking up at the Aurora-filled sky of the Celestial Peaks, Icelyn looked back to review the interior of the cozy new shopfront of the Aurora Bakehouse, "Couldn't be a better time to open up our brand new store could it Drift?" She remarks to their snowy-colored companion, who is busying itself stocking the shelves.
Drift turned from a shelf baking goods that it was arranging to give a confident nod of approval to Icelyn. It sits back on its haunches and reviews its progress, twitching its ears to-and-fro momentarily, before gesturing to the shelves expectantly.
Stepping up behind the Wolperjack and bending forward to inspect the shelves thoughtfully, Icelyn clasps her hands together with excitement, "Wow, Drift these shelves have been put together so neatly, you have all the dry ingredients together-- oh, and look there is all the eggs and dairy!"
Discover The Secrets Of Two New Hidden Avatars
Where could these two new hidden avatars be hiding?
Decorate your profile and forum posts with the tiny paws and twitching nose of an adorable Hollyhop, or with a tranquil glacial snowfall -- if you can discover the secret to unlocking these avatars somewhere in the world of Santae!
Discover the solution for yourself to add to your avatar collection today!
A Flock Of New Friends Brought To Life By Kickstarter
Santae's official Kickstarter offered the opportunity to let the community's creativity shine by working with the artist team to design a Minimal. We're thrilled to share that seven more of these incredible community-driven designs are ready to be revealed!
These adorable new Minimals will soon be ready to join the world of Santae. Look out for future news about where and how to find them. Which ones will your pets befriend?
TL;DR
★ One more day left till the Celestial Peaktop is unlocked through the news on the 23rd December.
★ A new NPC Shop, The Aurora Bakehouse has opened and many new items are stocking.
★ Two new Hidden Avatars for Winterlight have dropped.
★ Seven more of the Kickstarter Minimals have been completed.
Published by: The Santae Team
New Growth On The Peaktop Path
Skylar hauled themself up over a steep part of the path and paused to rest for a moment, as always finding their gaze drawn up toward the sparkling aurora overhead. It was slow going, but with the help of all the Adventurers' investigations, they were definitely making progress toward the top! The right path simply had to be here somewhere.
Hop was having no such trouble with the rough terrain. The Quibbit could flutter easily over the snowy crags with its glowing wings, and was taking full advantage of its mobility to explore the distant corners of the Celestial Pools.
"Back again, Hop?" Skylar greeted their companion. "What have you found this time?"
Hop croaked proudly and nudged another full gathering pouch into Skylar's hand.
Skylar examined the plants with wonder. "What are these? I've never seen anything like them..." Each and every plant that Hop had discovered was unfamiliar -- a thrilling prospect to Skylar's curious mind.
Skylar held one luminous flower up to examine it more closely, noticing how its glow almost seemed to match the dancing lights of the aurora up above. "If these had grown in the Celestial Pools before now, I'm sure I would have noticed them," Skylar remarked. "They must be growing now because of the superchill -- or maybe the aurora itself! We have to do more research."
"I think we're nearly there," Skylar said, looking back down the mountain to see the distance the investigation had already covered. "The path to the Peak has to be close now. Just a few more clues, and I think we can get there..."
Hop was already leaping a little further ahead, investigating a gap between two icy boulders. Skylar looked over at it when the Quibbit began to squeak and croak excitedly.
"Have you found something else?" Skylar asked, hurrying over to look.
Hop leaped aside to give Skylar room to look.
At first, Skylar couldn't quite tell what they were looking at. The snow was disturbed, but it was hard to tell which tracks were Hop's and which were made before the Quibbit had arrived. And there was a trail of something scattered between the rocks, like small speckles. What was that?
Skylar scooped up a handful of snow with the strange speckles on it, and realized they were crumbs. If they didn't know any better, they'd guess that somebody had messily enjoyed a snack of gingerroot cookies right here in the heights of the Celestial Peaks. But who -- or what -- could be doing such a thing?
"Nice find, Hop!" Skylar praised their friend. "But I'm not sure what to make of this for now..."
"Let's keep exploring, Adventurers!"
Hunt For Wintery Hidden Avatars
Two new hidden avatars are now available to find somewhere in Santae! Can you find where to unlock them?
Make progress in your avatar collection and give your forum posts some winter flair by exploring and discovering these avatars today!
A Winterlight Gift For You
Another gift is on the way to celebrate the spirit of the Winterlight season! Keep an eye on your sanMail inbox -- a surprise will soon be waiting inside.
We hope you enjoy this Winterlight gift, and all the adventures to come as Santae's winter celebrations unfold!
TL;DR
★ 6 new plants are now available in Gathering at the Celestial Pools
★ Skylar found some strange gingerroot cookie crumbs on their way up towards the Celestial Peak...
★ 2 new hidden avatars can be discovered around Santae
★ A second surprise Winterlight present is being sent to all users via sanMail!
