Shimmer Dust Imbued With The Aurora's Magic

"Of course I'm happy to help!" Jasper smiled at Skylar. He took one of the Aurorite Ore crystals they offered him and examined it closely. "You say you need a way to crush these into dust? I'm sure I have something for that."

The Celestial Armory was full of tools for shaping metal: Hammers, tongs, anvils and more. Jasper and Skylar walked through the workshop as Jasper hummed thoughtfully.

"There's plenty of equipment here, but most of it is very heavy. If we need to do this at the Altar in the sky, I'm not sure how we could transport it."

"Do you have a Mortar and Pestle lying around?" Skylar asked. "That's what was needed for the Twilight Crystals at the Twilight Obelisk. I think it would work perfectly."

"Oh! Certainly," Jasper replied. "Good idea. Let me find that -- and we should probably bring along an Empty Shimmer Dust Jar for good measure."

Materials in hand, Skylar and Jasper, along with Hop and Crumble, made their way together back up to the Celestial Peaktop. At the summit, Crumble once again employed the help of its Silvertalon friend to gain the power to glide up to the Xyren Altar in the clouds.

Jasper spun in a slow circle, taking in the view of from the sky island. "This is incredible! You can see all of Celestial Peaks from here. And the stars...!" Jasper gazed toward the horizon, drinking in the sight of the aurora and the twinkling starscape beyond.

"It really is something special, isn't it?" Skylar agreed with a grin. "Look around as much as you like. I'm going to give the Altar another try!"

Skylar approached the pedestal and set down the mortar, placing a handful of Aurorite Ore inside. At an encouraging peep from Crumble, Skylar brought the pestle down to strike the Ore.

The moment the pestle struck the Aurorite Ore, it flared with light! A strange glow began to gather around the Altar as the Aurorite Ore was crushed. The dust gathering in the bottom of the mortar glimmered with magical energy. As Skylar continued their work, the magic began to gather and swirl faster and faster.

The aurora above danced and flared, sending a tendril of light downwards to engulf the Altar. Skylar and the crushed Ore were surrounded by a vortex of ethereal energy that shimmered with all the colors of the aurora!

Jasper was watching the process unfold with awe. "Now's your chance!" He called, watching the light of the aurora flicker and swirl around Skylar. "Use the jar!"

Skylar nodded decisively, opening the Empty Shimmer Dust Jar and quickly scooping the dust -- and plenty of the magical energy imbuing it -- inside.

When Skylar put the lid on the jar, the light of the aurora flared one last time before retreating back into the sky. Skylar looked down. The vessel in their hand had transformed into a filigreed container full of something brand new: Auroralight Shimmer Dust!

"It worked!" Skylar cheered. Hop bounced around happily at their feet, letting out a few cheerful croaks of triumph. "At least -- I think it did."

"There's really only one way to find out," Jasper said.

"You're right," Skylar agreed. "What do you think, Hop?" They looked down at their Quibbit companion. "Should we try it out?"

Hop sat up and proudly puffed out its chest, looking ready for anything.

Skylar opened the container of shimmer dust and sprinkled the newly-enchanted substance over the Quibbit's head. The dust immediately began to sparkle and swirl with a familiar aurora-like glow, quickly concealing Hop in a vortex of mystical energy.

After a few moments, the magical swirls faded to reveal Hop's new form: It had become an Auroralight Quibbit!

Most of Hop's body was the same deep blue-violet as the night sky overhead, but its markings and wings shone with the ethereal light of the aurora. Hop fluttered its wings experimentally, tracing a ghostly trail of sparkling aurora through the night air.

"Amazing!" Skylar knelt to get closer to Hop's level and examine their friend's new look more closely. "You look great, Hop." They gave the Quibbit a pat on the head, and Hop nuzzled back affectionately.

"And now we know at least one thing this Altar is for," Skylar mused aloud. "It must hold more secrets. Let's keep gathering more Auroralight Crystals!"

Craft Auroralight Shimmer Dust

As a result of this discovery, Aurorite Ore will now be known  as Auroralight Crystal

If you bring the right materials to the Xyren Altar, you can craft a sample of the new Auroralight Shimmer Dust for yourself! This special place can harness the magic of the aurora to imbue the Auroralight Crystal with mystical energy.

You will need 25 Auroralight Crystals and a Mortar and Pestle to get started. Crush the Crystal at the Altar in order to create Auroralight Crystal Dust!

+  = 

Once you have crushed the Crystal, you need to contain it so that it can be saved and used as Shimmer Dust later. Use an Empty Shimmer Dust Jar with this Dust at the Altar during the night-time banner, at in-game Midnight to create your own Auroralight Shimmer Dust!

 +  = 

Use this Shimmer Dust on your pets to imbue them with the aurora's magic. Auroralight Shimmer Dust will grant your companions a mystical new look that combines the night sky's deepest hues with the ethereal shimmering light of the aurora.

An Update At The Goopper Grotto

The Goopper Grotto is a lush spring in the Harmonic Heartwoods where everyone's favorite adorable, gooey Minimal -- the Goopper -- thrives. In this special location, it's possible to both send your pets on Gathering Expeditions and also to evolve Gooppers using the help of magical runes.

We know many pets have found themselves in sticky situations at the Goopper Grotto -- getting "stuck" gathering while the Goopper Evolution feature was active.

To solve this, the functionality of Goopper Grotto has now been updated!

★ Goopper Grotto will now rotate hourly between its Gathering functionality and its Goopper Evolution functionality. During the Day, you can send your pets Gathering. During the Night, it's possible to evolve your Gooppers.

★ If your pet is Gathering at Goopper Grotto when the hour switches to night time, you will still be able to see your pet Gathering there and they will be claimable after their expedition is done. No need to wait until daytime for your pet to return to you! However, even if it is night, you cannot evolve Gooppers while a pet is Gathering or waiting at the Grotto.

TL;DR

★ Skylar and Jasper discovered how to craft Auroralight Shimmer Dust at the Xyren Altar, and Skylar turned their companion Hop into an Auroralight Quibbit.
★ Aurorite Ore has had its name changed to Auroralight Crystal to streamline searching for users.
★ Auroralight Shimmer Dust can now be crafted at the Xyren Altar with 25 Auroralight Crystal, a Mortar and Pestle, and an Empty Shimmer Dust Jar.
★ In-game midnight occurs atXX:25-35 during the Night-time banner.
★ Goopper Grotto's functionality has been updated. The area now cycles hourly between Gathering and Goopper Evolution.

Solving Puzzles at the Strange Altar in the Clouds

Skylar returned to the Altar to examine the dust traces in the basin of the stone structure. The Adventurers had been hard at work, having collected over 13,000+ ores already, giving Skylar plenty of resources to attempt to get a reaction from the Altar.

They placed a handful of ores atop the altar, the large, magically-imbued form of Crumble peered over Skylar's shoulder with curiosity. Small, conversational quacks peep from it, as it regarded its new friend trying to solve this puzzle.

After waiting a moment, Skylar resigned to the fact that nothing was happening without some other step.

"It seems like these ores are too raw to used in this state, the residue here is so fine... like it has been crushed..." They hesitated, could it be so simple?

"Just like the Twilight Crystals at the Twilight Obelisk... Maybe we need to crush these ores down into a fine dust!" They exclaimed in realization, turning to Crumble and clasping their Luffin companion's face with excitement  "Shadow Veil Pass is too far to travel for this discovery, we'll have to go and see if Jasper at Celestial Peaks can help us crush this ore up."

"We must let the Adventurers know that a Mortar and Pestle probably will be the key to this mystery too! We'll come back here tomorrow after getting Jasper's help"

Warm Up With Tasty New Soups

When Winter's chill is in the air and snow is swirling outside, is there anything better than a nice hot meal? These hearty, filling soups and stews are just the thing to help you warm up after a cold day of adventuring across Santae.

With delicious ingredients swimming in savory broth, all four varieties are packed with flavor. Choose from Carrot, Potato, Chicken, or Mushroom soups -- just be careful not to burn your tongue!

If a hot meal with a spiced kick is what you're hankering for, the new Frost Fire Chili may be for you! Or maybe a bowl of simple, filling Rice and Beans will be just the thing to restore your energy after your latest Gathering trip.

To sample these soups, visit Isadora in the Maraiya Isles! She's giving out servings of these new items as rewards for her Islander's Feast quests.

TL;DR

★ With over 13,000 ore collected, Skylar is sure that a Mortar and Pestle item is they key to this Mysterious Altar.

★ 4 new soups and 2 more hearty meals have been added to Isadora's Quest Reward pool.

The Altar Hidden In The Clouds

Skylar peered up into the sky, watching the clouds over the Celestial Peaktop shift and shimmer in the light of the Aurora. There was definitely a solid structure nestled within, almost like a tiny version of the sky islands at the Floating Pinnacles or Halo Haven.

"But how are we going to get up there...?" Skylar wondered aloud. Crumble looked up at them curiously.

The Luffin turned around, trotting towards one of the icy spires that formed the highest part of the Peaktop, and let out a loud honk. "What is it, Crumble?" Skylar started to ask -- but then an answering cry echoed out over the mountaintop!

It was hard to see against the reflective ice, but a shiny Silvertalon was perched on the cliff. It peered down at Crumble, chirping inquisitively. Crumble cooed in response, standing up on its hind legs.

 

The Silvertalon spread its wings and glided down to were Crumble was sitting. As it approached the ground, it banked sharply to fly around the Luffin. Sparkling magic began to trail from the edges of its wings, forming a spiral around Crumble that imbued the Luffin with energy. The Minimal's magic caused Crumble to grow in size, and whipped up a brisk wind that would allow the Luffin to soar into the skies on its gliding fins!

Imbued with the ability of flight, Crumble dropped back to all four paws and trotted over to Skylar, who grinned up at their magically enhanced companion.

"Amazing, Crumble! And -- thank you," Skylar nodded up at the Silvertalon, who was hovering just over Crumble's shoulder. "Let's go take a look up there!"

Skylar hopped onto Crumble's back, and a gust of magical wind swept them up together into the skies.

Crumble glided in for a landing upon the small island in the clouds. From here, Skylar could see that it was little more than a floating rocky outcropping -- but it held a strange structure. The large altar set in the clouds was decorated with unfamiliar motifs resembling claws, wings, and horns. Who had built this here, and what was it for?

Skylar slid down from Crumble's back and stepped closer to examine it. On a closer look, the smooth surface of the pedestal in front of the altar was covered in a thin layer of something that sparkled brightly in the starlight. It seemed to capture and reflect the glimmer of the Aurora up above.

Skylar traced a finger through the dust and examined the sparkly residue more closely. There wasn't any doubt about it.

"This looks just like Aurorite Ore!" Skylar cried.

"Whatever this Altar does, it looks like Aurorite Ore will be needed. Let's gather as much as we can!"

Community Tally: Collect Aurorite Ore

The mysterious Altar in the sky over the Celestial Peaktop must have a purpose -- and thanks to Skylar's ongoing investigation, we know that the Aurorite Ore appearing across Santae is likely the key.

Let's work together to collect as much Aurorite Ore as we possibly can! These crystals, usually quite rare, are currently widespread at the Celestial Pools and Eerie Caves.

Every piece of Aurorite Ore you gather or fish up will contribute to the overall Community Tally, but it will also count toward your own personal goals. Hit your personal collection goals to earn exciting rewards!

The personal goal track will reward you for the total amount of Aurorite Ore collected throughout the entire duration of the Community Tally. There's no need to rush: Personal collection goals won't expire until the end of the Winterlight event, and the reward track can only be completed once per Adventurer. There's plenty of time to enjoy exploring the Celestial Pools and Eerie Caves, and collect plenty of Aurorite Ore while you're at it!

This banner will appear at the top of the page to remind you of the ongoing Community Event and your progress toward your Personal Goal. If you would prefer to hide this banner, you can now toggle it off with a brand-new option on your Settings page:

(Even with this toggle turned off, you'll still receive the rewards when you complete your personal goals)

Happy collecting, Adventurers!

Random Event: Stock Up For Gathering!

It's time to stock up for even more expeditions to the Celestial Pools and Eerie Caves to collect all that Aurorite Ore -- which means we'll need a lot of adventuring gear!

The Elite Adventure Kit is now for sale during the Community Event in CJ's Shop until January 12, 2025 @ 23:59:59 SST(Santae Time).

TL;DR

★ Skylar has discovered a new location in the sky over Celestial Peaktop: The Xyren Altar!
★ Community Event: Collect Aurorite Ore to unlock the secrets of the Altar.
★ Random Event: Stock up on adventuring kits at CJ's shop!

A Herd Of Celebrating Stegalasaur Is On The Move

Minimal expert Silvershade has noticed some unusual Minimal activity all around Santae recently! The recent influx of new Adventurers has inspired some never-before-seen creatures to come out of hiding. In celebration of 5000 total Santae users, the Stegalasaur has appeared!

Silvershade has gotten right to work researching the movements and habits of these sweet new Minimals, and it turns out there are plenty of places they can be found! Have fun exploring Santae to discover where and how to befriend each adorable variety of Stegalasaur for yourself.

Thank you so much for your ongoing support of Santae -- and we'd like to extend a very warm welcome to all the new Adventurers joining us now for the first time! We hope your adventure in the world of Santae is off to a magical start.

Breezyl Is Baking Some New Treats!

Rich, sweet, delicious cheesecake -- is there anything tastier? Breezyl has been hard at work in the Bakery perfecting her recipes, and is now proud to offer four scrumptious varieties of cheesecake by the slice.

A slice of cheesecake all on its own is a treat worth savoring, but you can bring your dessert to the next level by sampling the sweet strawberry, cherry, and caramel flavors. Which is your favorite?

But that's not the only new thing on the shelves at Breezyl's Bakery! Bursting with warm, spiced peach filling and topped with a dollop of cream, individual slices of Breezyl's classic peach cobbler are now also available.

Meme Contest: Voting Opening Soon!

Thank you for all of your creative, hilarious entries to the Official Santae Meme Contest!

Entries to this contest are now closed. We are currently in the process of reviewing the entries internally. Keep an eye on the news: We plan to be ready to start community contest voting within the next few days!

The community votes will determine which entry takes home the coveted prize: a Glitched Pet Name Certificate!

TL;DR

• ★ Five new dessert items are available at Breezyl's Bakery.
  ★ Meme contest voting will begin in the next few days!
  ★ Seven varieties of the brand-new Stegalasaur minimal are available across Santae. Their discovery methods are:
  > All Quest reward pools
  > Balloon Pop & Plushie Machine rewards
  > Giveaway code: REDVELVET5000
  > Sent directly to all Adventurers
• > Great Berry Tree & Shadow Berry Tree
  > Minimal Menagerie NPC shops for 5000 sP
  > Available in Herding
  

New Discoveries In A Pool Of Starlight

So many new discoveries had been coming from the Eerie Caves recently that Vespera was excited to spend more time there. This time, as River departed with a pouch in her claw to go on another Gathering expedition, Vespera accompanied Ripple to look for a good fishing spot.

The Quenaris was at home in the dim cavern's tunnels, its sinuous body making it easy to navigate the twists and turns. Vespera, in turn, benefited from the warm glow of Ripple's Netherflame adornments, making it easier to see where she was going.

Together, they arrived at the hidden pools deep within the Eerie Caves. The water's surface reflected the shine of nearby glowing crystals and plants, mirror-like.

"Shall we try our luck here?" Vespera looked up at Ripple. The Quenaris snorted and tossed its head, looking along the shore.

"Maybe a little further along, then," Vespera agreed, walking side-by-side with Ripple around the pool's edge.

Before long, they had left the area illuminated by overhead crystals and entered an unusually dark corner of the cavern. But then a new sparkle of light caught Vespera's eye...

There was light coming from the water itself! The dark waters below were speckled and traced with gleams of light. Ripple gently touched its nose to the water's surface, then looked at Vespera and nodded decisively. This was the place.

"Great find, Ripple!" Vespera exclaimed. "I've never seen fish like this before..."

The crystal clear water gave her a great view of the unusual fish swimming and swirling around inside. With all their glowing scales and fins against the inky backdrop, Vespera felt like she was looking down into the night sky!

The Lunarcrescent Dartfish and Starlight Waverunner left lines of light behind them as they flickered from place to place, weaving a trail of starlight.

The Mystveil Guppy and Nebula Swirlray were covered in patterns of pulsing light, reminding Vespera of the Aurora dancing over the far-distant Celestial Peaks.

The gold patterns on the dark scales of the Eclipse Snapper shifted as Vespera watched, making it look like a tiny solar eclipse was playing out over and over again beneath the still waters of the Eerie Caves pool.

"Amazing. We'll need to remember this spot!" Vespera patted Ripple's shoulder fondly. "And we should tell the Adventurers about it, too!"

Five new fish are available via Fishing in the Eerie Caves.

Aurorite Ore Still Abounds!

It seems that the Aurorite Ore is still showing up in record numbers at the Eerie Caves and Celestial Pools. It truly must be due to the Winterlight Aurora!

Make sure to collect as much as you can whilst fishing and gathering at these locations, we aren't quite sure what there are for yet, Skylar and, Crumble, River and Hop are still looking to solve the mysteries of this sparkly ore.

New Settings: Compact Layout And Referral Preferences

Three additional settings are now available on your settings page!

The "Compact Site Layout" setting, when toggled, removes the top header image banner from Santae. This should improve the experience for mobile users and require less scrolling. Take note that right now, removing the header also removes the search bar. We are working on an alternative placement for the search bar in compact mode and it should be available soon!

The next two new settings determine the level of privacy you would like to keep related to your referrals:

"Show Me As Referrer On Other Profiles": If you toggle this off, users you have referred with NOT show your username on their profile.
"Show My Referrer On My Profile": If you toggle this off, your profile will not display the username of the person that referred you.

Your "Total Referrals" count will remain displayed on your page regardless of setting!

TL;DR

★ Five new fish are available in Fishing at the Eerie Caves
★ A new "Compact Site Layout" setting optionally removes the site header for easier mobile browsing.
★ Aurorite ore still is widespread across Santae, be sure to keep collecting it.
★ You can now use new settings to determine whether you will appear as a referrer on other profiles, or whether your referrer will show on your profile.