Published by: The Santae Team
Published by: The Santae Team
Curious Orbs at the Berry Trees
Flora lightly placed a Moonshadow Pod Berry next to the five other dark berries in her Elite Basket. This was the second new berry that she gathered under the crimson light of the Nether Moon. Flora was eager to gather the other new berries and hummed as she spread the fertilizer at the base of the Shadow Berry Tree. As she rounded the trunk of the tree, a dark and swirling gleam caught her eye -- what was that?
Flora gingerly picked up a small orb and watched the ethereal lights and shadows dance playfully in and around it.
In all her time spent tending the Berry Trees, she had never seen anything like this orb before! What had brought it here and what exactly was it? Flora’s mind was swirling with a flurry of questions. One stood out in her mind -- could a similar orb await her at the Great Berry Tree?
Flora gathered her things in a hurry and turned towards the well trodden path towards the Great Berry Tree. She loved traveling in the evenings when the air was cool and the night was calm. It took Flora the entire evening and most of the next morning to reach the Harmonic Heartwoods where the tree stood.
Standing in the shade of the tree, hidden from the sun that was high in the sky, Flora spotted a familiar figure, "Vespera! Fancy seeing you here on this beautiful morning!"
"Hi, Flora! I was at the Ascendant's Shrine with Orion yesterday and while we were inspecting it, two of the pedestals suddenly lit up. The markings suggest that the orbs originate from the Berry Trees, so I thought I'd travel here to investigate," Vespera explained excitedly.
Flora's face lit up with a bright smile, "I think you're on to something! I found this orb at the Shadow Berry Tree last night." Flora showed her the orb sitting comfortably in her bag.
"Yes these markings match the ones on the pedestal! River and I found a similar orb here moments ago, you're in luck, we haven't moved it yet," Vespera gestured towards the tree.
At the base of the Great Berry Tree lay a swirling green orb, its surface resembling intricately layered leaves, pulsing softly with a vibrant, life-giving energy. It seemed to echo the essence of the Great Berry Tree itself—a manifestation of pure nature.
Flora gently picked up the green orb, and placed it next to the dark one in her satchel.
Vespera admired the sight of them side by side, "What magnificent findings! Let's bring these orbs to the Ascendants Shrine and see if we can piece together this puzzle. It's clear that these orbs contain more mystery and power than we understand. I will ask my Adventurer friends to try and collect more of these orbs to see what else we can discover about them!"
Community Event: Curious Orbs at the Berry Trees
Band together as a community to collect 30,000 berries to learn more about the Quenaris Orbs that have been popping up across Santae!
Gather berries from the Great Berry Tree during the day banner and Shadow Berry Tree during the night banner for your chance at getting Quenaris Orbs.
Minimals of the Nether Moon
Silvershade's contacts have spotted some new minimals across Santae. Could they be appearing because of the Nether Moon?
One of them has an enchanting bioluminescence about them, and the other appears to be particularly active in the moonlight... Adventurers may find these minimals to be of particular use during the Ancient Echoes Festival!
Be sure to grab some Tracker Treats from Merick over at the Minimal Menagerie for your best chance to find these tiny creatures!
Glowcko and Crystalisk are now available in Herding!
TL;DR
Published by: The Santae Team
The Nether Moon Rises
A magical phenomenon blankets Shadow Veil Pass as the Nether Moon ascends, signaling the beginning of the Ancient Echoes Festival. This spectral moon casts an otherworldly red hue across the valley, a glow created by the newly discovered NetherDust that lies dormant throughout the pass. When the Nether Moon rises, it activates the NetherDust, turning the entire landscape a striking crimson and giving the moon itself a blood-red appearance — a sight seen only here in Shadow Veil Pass.
With the Nether Moon's arrival, magical changes ripple across Santae, but nowhere is it more profound than within the pass. Rare Plants bloom exclusively under this moon’s eerie glow, elusive Minimals emerge from hiding, and unique Fish surface to bask in the Nether Moon's light. Special items appear during this time, but the true purpose of NetherDust remains a mystery. It returns each year, and with it, the festival. Yet the reason why this phenomenon only occurs here, in Shadow Veil Pass, continues to puzzle even the wisest scholars.
The Ancient Echoes Festival lasts for the duration of the Nether Moon's presence in the pass. When the festival concludes, the Nether Moon will set until its annual return, marking a time of anticipation for its reappearance next year. For now, adventurers are invited to visit Shadow Veil Pass to bask in the moon’s energy and celebrate the festival’s beginning.
While the purpose of NetherDust remains unknown, legends tell of its ancient, Hidden potential. For now, its appearance is shrouded in mystery, adding a thrill of discovery for those who visit the pass during this rare celestial event. NetherDust has begun to appear all throughout the pass, scattering whenever an activity is completed. Perhaps its secrets will be revealed in time.
In honor of this rare event, a special Hidden Forum Avatar awaits those who seek it, along with five other new hidden avatars scattered across Santae. Can you uncover them all and embrace the power of the Nether Moon? Step into the crimson glow and join the Celebration!
sD has began awarding across Santae when completing activities such as Gathering, Fishing, Herding, Berry Collecting and Buying from NPC Shops along with all current methods of obtaining.
Enchanted Berries Bloom Under The Nether Moon
The dark chilly night had been quite peaceful, with the appearance of the Nether Moon, Flora Greenleaf felt a mysterious pull, and wanted to follow her instincts. The Ancient Echoes Festival had officially begun with the appearance of the Nether Moon, a time when magic was at its strongest and the elusive Nether Moon rose high above Shadow Veil Pass, casting its eerie, crimson glow over the land. Drawn by a strong feeling, Flora ventured to the Shadow Berry Tree while celebrating the Festival in Shadow Veil Pass, wondering if this mystical energy would reveal any secrets the Shadow Berry Tree may hold under this rare moonlight.
The haze of NetherDust here filled the air with a crimson hue. Elsewhere in Santae, the Nether Moon would be round and full — but not red. Surely the unique confluence of the Dust, the moon, and the Shadow Veil Pass itself would have some effect on the Shadow Berry Tree?
As she approached the twisted, ancient trunk of the Shadow Berry Tree, the moonlight bathed everything in a haunting red glow. Looking up into its dark branches, she spotted strange new berries hanging heavy and glistening. Flora realized that these berries only appeared when the Nether Moon rose during the Ancient Echoes Festival. Her heart raced as she gently plucked a few samples to take back with her.
But her curiosity didn't end there. The Nether Moon's light beckoned her further, drawing her to the Harmonic Heartwoods, where the Great Berry Tree stood tall and majestic under the moon's haunting gaze. Nestled among its branches, Flora discovered another surprise-new berries that sparkled with shifting hues, reflecting the moonlight like tiny gems. Unlike the dark, mystical berries of the Shadow Berry Tree, these berries were vibrant, pulsing with the pure magic of The Great Berry Tree under the Nether Moon glow.
Vote For Your Favorite Delicious Drink!
Thank you to everybody who submitted the amazing entries to the Santae Mixology Contest! You truly put your skill and creativity to the test to concoct some amazing beverages.
Now it’s time to vote for your favorite! The Community’s Votes will be tallied to decide our winners using the brand-new Voting Page.
When you cast your vote, you’ll also be able to choose from a selection of prizes in exchange. Make your voice heard and help choose a contest winner in exchange for your choice of exciting reward!
Voting begins November 1st @ 00:00:00SST(Santae Time) will be open until November 10th, 2024 @ 23:59:59SST(Santae Time), so cast your vote today! Good Luck everyone and happy voting!
Shadowy Style And Updated Backgrounds
Cloak yourself with the elegance of swirling shadows with the newly Updated Yalani Set for your HA! The full assortment of items has received gorgeous refreshed artwork.
With violet colors as deep as the midnight sky, and accents of gold as bright as the stars, this mystical garb is perfect for those who feel kinship with the mysteries of the night. Collect the different portions of the set from Nadia’s Jewelry, Chic Boutique, Shadow Alchemy, and Vixon’s Weapons to complete your look!
No HA outfit is complete without the perfect Background to complement your carefully chosen clothing. Is your avatar an explorer of the ocean depths, or an investigation of ancient draconic mysteries? The Undersea Coral and Dragon’s Cave backgrounds have both received updated artwork, so your HA’s equipment can perfectly match their adventures!
Equip Yourself With The Magic Of The Ancient Echoes Festival
Now that the Ancient Echoes Festival is upon us, Vespera is stocking some brand-new items rich with the magic and mystery of the Nether Moon in the Cash Shop and SanDust Shop.
Can you tame the fierce, wild magic of the Eventide Beast set? This equipment’s fearsome magic is barely contained by the glowing chains that fetter it.
This is garb for daring mystics who meddle with the deepest mysteries of NetherDust and its sinister red glow. Those who wear this equipment under the light of the Nether Moon are said to undergo strange changes…
The bestial magic woven into these garments can cause your eyes to glow as red as the Nether Moon itself. Some who channel the Nether Moon's energy are even said to sprout sharp cloven hooves and a lashing spade-tipped tail!
Show your fiery spirit with Eventide Beast equipment — if you dare!
TL;DR
Published by: The Santae Team
The Dragon Flock's Destination
Vespera, with the map laid out in front of her, was referring to Silvershade's most recent report of dragon Minimal locations and marking them down. The map's surface was cluttered with a dense pattern of markers, swirling in a cloudy shape across Valaria and Aleriea.
"That's the last of them so far," Vespera muttered aloud as she nudged the final marker into place. She stood and stepped back so she could look at the map altogether and assess the data from Silvershade and the Adventurers.
"That's odd," she said. "Orion, come look at this!"
Scholar Orion put down his translation work and walked over to assess the map. "Yes, Vespera?"
"Look," Vespera pointed to the map. "If all of this information is correct, it looks like most of the dragons are pointed right here! Could they be coming to Halo Haven?"
"Hmm." Orion leaned down to look at the map more closely. "We certainly have seen a lot of dragon Minimals in the skies here, but not so many that I'd think every dragon in Santae is coming here. Let's have a look outside, shall we?"
Vespera and Orion made their way back to Skybound Outlook, one of the best vantage points for sky-watching in all of Halo Haven. Instead of turning their attention to the Ascendants Shrine, as they had every time they visited here recently, instead they looked out at the clouds and horizon.
A dense flock of dragon Minimals was diving and weaving around. Vespera resolved to try and watch them more closely. She picked out one speck: A single dragon to follow in its flight. Vespera watched closely as the dragon Minimal flapped upwards, performed a flashy spiraling turn through the air, and then dove downwards.
It swooped down, closer and closer to the level of the Outlook -- and then it disappeared! The dragon Minimal had completely vanished from sight.
"What?" Vespera gasped. "Orion -- try watching a dragon Minimal when it gets close to the edge of the Outlook."
"Oh!" Scholar Orion said after a moment, startled. "It vanished!"
"There must be something hidden here!" Vespera said, excited. "This has been the dragons' destination all along, but we couldn't notice -- because wherever they're going is invisible!"
"An invisible structure...or a magical portal..." Orion was muttering theories to himself. "This is fascinating. And I suspect I know what must be done to reveal the secrets of the magic here."
Scholar Orion swept a hand back toward Ascendants Shrine, which was still gleaming with a swirl of incipient magic thanks to the single Dragon Orb placed upon one of its pillars. "We must discover the remaining Orbs. If we could fully activate the Shrine, I am certain we could learn more about the nature of this invisible phenomenon."
As Orion looked at the first Orb upon its pedestal, he noticed a glimmer of light he hadn’t seen before. Just below where the Orb was nestled, a small etching in the shape of a dragon was glowing with magical light.
He looked closer. The two pedestals next to the first had glowing symbols too! One was etched with a marking that looked like a fishing rod. The other had an etching in the shape of a gathering pouch.
“Look at this, Vespera!” Orion called. “We must have overlooked these etchings before they started to glow.”
Vespera examined the pillars, then nodded. “This is the clue we needed. These glowing symbols must be clues for the locations of the next Orbs. Let’s ask the Adventurers for help tracking them down!"
Seek The Legendary Dragon Orbs
Now it's your turn, Adventurers! Vespera and Orion need your help to scour Santae in search of the legendary Dragon Orbs.
The first Orb is known to be carried by dragon Minimals in Herding. But now, we have a tantalizing clue as to where two more might be found!
Vespera believes gathering and fishing are the key. As you venture into these unique areas of Santae, keep your eyes open, as new Orbs being appearing more secrets will be unlocked soon. With the Ancient Echoes Festival starting soon, there are now 7 special prizes, which you can be awarded during Gathering or Fishing, these will be available throughout the festival and during the current and upcoming community events!
If you can collect enough items, it may reveal more Orbs to place on the pedestals and unlock even more of the magic at Ascendants Shrine!
Graceful Gryphons Arrive At Silvershade's Ranch
Silvershade had
grown used to the sight of flocks of Minimals overhead. The skies were
still crowded with the mysterious influx of dragons that Vespera was helping to investigate. But this morning, something a little different caught their eye.
Silvershade shaded
their eyes as they peered upwards. Their practiced eye allowed them to
quickly identify what had caught their attention. Some of the fliers
overhead today had feathered wings and tufted tails: Gryphons!
The opportunity to catalogue even more new varieties of Minimal was always exciting. Silvershade gathered
up some berries and other tools to try and tempt the gryphons closer to
the ground. Maybe it would be possible to tame them!
With materials in hand, Silvershade let
out a piercing whistle. It caught the attention of the flying Minimals
overhead, who reoriented their flight path to circle the Ranch and peer
downward. Silvershade raised one hand to show the soaring gryphons a delicious-looking, juicy berry.
"Come on down, friends!" Silvershade called
cheerfully. "I've got plenty of snacks and care to share with you."
They kept their tone friendly and light to try and entice the gryphon
flock.
A few of the gryphons needed no further invitation. They quickly peeled off of the flock and dived down to land at Silvershade's side. These gryphons had creamy white head feathers and smooth tan fur -- and they were very friendly!
"Y'all didn't take much convincing," Silvershade laughed as they shared out some berries among the Minimals.
There
were still a few gryphons overhead. From below, it was hard to see the
details, but most of the remainder seemed to have gleaming gold feathers
-- and one flashed and glowed almost as bright as the sun.
Silvershade redoubled
their efforts. They proffered even more treats, and made a show of
playing with some of the tame gryphons with enticing-looking toys. They
looked up every now and then to see whether the excitement on the ground
had gotten the attention of the remaining gryphons overhead.
Some of them had circled lower and lower. Slowly but surely, a pair of sleek golden gryphons were descending!
Finally they alighted delicately just within Silvershade's
arm's reach. They gently extended a berry to each golden gryphon in
turn, and the two new arrivals delicately nibbled them with their sharp
blue beaks.
"You wanted to make me work a little harder, huh?" Silvershade remarked affectionately.
There was just one gryphon left overhead, and it showed no sign of landing anytime soon. This was the one with brilliant fiery feathers; Silvershade could see the occasional trail of sparks bursting from the edges of its wings.
They could tell: This gryphon was very rare, and very aloof.
Silvershade kept
one eye on the fiery gryphon as they continued their workday around the
Ranch. Every time they caught the gryphon swooping lower, they paused
to show it a ripe berry or show off an enticing plushie or toy. It took
nearly all afternoon, but after a while Silvershade was sure: The Minimal was descending!
Finally, it happened. As Silvershade was
feeding the Minimals on the Ranch their evening meal, they saw a fiery
spark descending out of the corner of their eye. The flame-colored
gryphon dropped to the ground and folded its bright wings against its
back, tail lashing as it gazed at Silvershade with consideration.
Now that it was closer, Silvershade could see that this creature was not like the others. It had a sleek coat of feathers and a sharp beak, like a gryphon. But it also had two pointed golden horns, and the shape of its lashing tail was distinctive...not to mention its fiery magic. Silvershade was sure: This was a dragon hybrid!
Silvershade dropped
into a crouch to appear less threatening, and held out the very rarest
berry they had saved all day. They held their breath as the Minimal
flared out its wings again -- was it about to leave?
No -- they were in luck! The fiery creature darted its head in to accept the treat and gulped it down.
It had taken all day, but Silvershade's Ranch had a whole flock of friendly new residents. The gryphons -- and their one dragon-blooded companion -- curled up in a colorful pile together to sleep as night descended.
Griffonix, Glimmerclaw, and Flarebeak are now available in Herding!
Housekeeping Update: Word Filter Implemented
To protect the safety and comfort of all visitors to Santae, we have now implemented a word filter across the site. Filtered words will not be permitted in any field where you can enter text -- like pet names, or in forum posts.
Santae is PG-13 community. Posting inappropriate, offensive, or explicit content has never been permitted on Santae according to our Terms of Service. The new filter is simply another layer of protection and moderation to help ensure inappropriate language is not posted or shared.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to being a safe, welcoming community for Santarians of all ages!
TL:DR
Published by: The Santae Team
Spooky New Berries Sprout On The Shadow Tree
One dark night, Flora Greenleaf decided to pay the Shadow Berry Tree a visit. The season was getting colder, and it was the time of year when many plants began to go dormant -- but Flora had a long-standing suspicion that the ominous Shadow Berry Tree was no ordinary tree at all. Perhaps it would thrive in the autumn chill. Now that the season was truly changing, there was only one way to find out!
As she approached the Shadow Tree's twisted trunk, she gazed upward into its dark-leafed branches.
Sure enough, she saw some unfamiliar shapes. Dripping with blood-red juice, swirling with sinister shadow, and sparkling with eldritch magic: The branches of the Shadow Berry Tree were heavy with some brand-new fruit!
Nourished by the plentiful fertilizer provided by Adventurers and cooled by the chilly autumn breeze, these sinister new fruits are sure to delight the taste buds -- if you dare to eat them! Flora Greenleaf has collected some samples of every new berry the Shadow Tree has produced to share with her culinary friends across Santae. Perhaps someday these fruits will be incorporated into delicious new recipes!
Grab a basket and head to Gathering to pluck these new berries from the Shadow Berry Tree today!
The Hunt For Hidden Avatars Continues
Get ready to explore and investigate, Adventurers -- there are five more new hidden avatars to be found!
These special avatars are hidden all around the world of Santae. Explore and participate in activities to try and discover them for yourself! When you find them, you'll permanently unlock the ability to display them on your forum posts. Expand your collection to ensure that you can always personalize your posts with exactly the right avatar to match every aesthetic or mood!
Even More Art Upgrades
Our artist team is hard at work continuing to improve some of our older items. Enjoy the beautiful fruits of their labors with these delightfully re-imagined berries!
And that's not all. Readers rejoice: These five books have also gotten beautifully updated art!
TL;DR
★ 5 new berries available via Gathering at the Shadow Berry Tree.
★ 5 new hidden avatars are available.
★ 9 items have received updated artwork: 4 berries and 5 books.
