A Bountiful Autumn Harvest

The warmth of summertime may be on the way out, but Autumn's clear sun and cool breezes are bringing gifts of their own. It's harvest season, and fields of fruit and vegetables across Santae have been extra productive!

William and Melina have been hard at work harvesting the fruits of the season. Their shops, William's Orchard Stand and Mirage Grove Vegetables, are now stocking some brand-new varieties of fruit and vegetable!

Stop by soon to sample their delicious wares for yourself and taste the bounty of Autumn!

New Gifts From The Toymaker

Have you done any favors for the Terrible Toymaker recently? There's new magic in the air in the Shadow Veil Pass -- magic the Toymaker is willing to share with you, in exchange for your help.

In exchange for completing her quests, the Toymaker will now sometimes award you Arcane Fae clothing! These garments are enchanted with the dark, whimsical magic of the fae. Your HA will be able to take flight on shimmering wings and cast enchantments with a scepter that gleams with wisps of arcane energy. The violet-and-silver armor perfectly captures the spirit of the shadows and fog that conceal the Shadow Veil Pass.

To obtain these enchanted items for yourself, all you need to do is assist the Toymaker in her quest to repair and refurbish lost toys!

Berry Bounty At The Great Tree

William and Melina aren't the only ones reporting a special bounty of produce this harvest season! Flora, too, has news to share:

After hearing about Silvershade's recent surprise discovery of the Peachbloom, Flora went to go examine the Great Berry Tree. It was a little unusual for anything to be blooming at this time of year; Even though it was obvious that the Peachbloom was no ordinary berry or flower, Flora still wanted to go see for herself if any strange magic was afoot at the Tree.

When she arrived, she found the Tree as healthy and beautiful as ever! The Autumn breeze gently rustled through the countless leaves and berries on the Tree's branches. Flora's practiced eye quickly scanned the Berry Tree for anything amiss. No more unusual Minimals -- not today, at least -- but what was that?

One low-hanging branch was heavy with unusual fruit. There were even more new berries Flora had never seen before! Flora decided to go inspect the Shadow Berry Tree for the possibility of new berries as well and there were indeed two new berries she had never seen before!

Visit Gathering to see the Great Berry Tree and the Shadow Berry Tree's newest bounty for yourself!

Even More Refreshed Art!

More of our oldest items have received a fresh new look. We hope you continue to enjoy seeing brand-new art for even more of your favorite items across Santae!

FAQs Now Available Across Santae!

We're excited to announce that FAQ sections have been added throughout the Santae! Whether you're exploring new features, navigating quests, or just curious about how things work, these FAQs are here to make your journey easier. Each section of the site now has detailed answers to common questions, so you can spend less time searching for information and more time enjoying your adventures.

Rose's Advice

Rose was working at her desk, Dex the Twilight Harlowin napping at her feet, when suddenly Dex's eyes snapped open. The Harlowin pointed its head toward the window, attention caught by something outside.

"What is it, Dex?" Rose asked, closing the book she was reading. A moment later, a familiar Minimal zipped in through the window and fluttered in a few circles near the ceiling of the room.

Dex growled a friendly greeting, and the Iricampus trilled in reply. "Oh -- it's Dew!" Rose exclaimed. "With a letter..." She stood and held out a hand for Dew to land on. Rose took the scroll from the Minimal and untied the ribbon holding it closed.

Rose read the note swiftly. It was from Vespera:

"Rose, I urgently need your help. A mysterious traveler visited my shop today with a fossil - an ancient relic bearing the imprint of a creature. He mentioned it was found in the Eerie Caves and hinted that a spark of the creature's essence may still remain. If you have any insight or know someone who could help us uncover its secrets, please let me know as soon as possible. Your expertise is crucial, and any information could make a difference."

"Fascinating!" Rose exclaimed. "Well done, Dew. You must have flown quickly." Rose took a moment to think carefully about Vespera's words as she opened a drawer to find a treat for Dew. She was familiar with the concept of fossils, but as fascinating as they are, her own research had never delved too deeply into them. As she fed Dew a handful of berries, she came to a conclusion.

There was one person Rose could think of who could help reveal the fossil's mysteries. Vespera would need to speak with Scholar Orion.

Vespera's Journey Begins: A Visit With Silvershade

Vespera was just about to finish packing for her trip to the Ranch when Dew came buzzing back out of the sky, a new letter in tow.

"Perfect timing!" Vespera smiled as she collected the letter from Dew. "I wonder what Rose had to say?"

Vespera's excitement grew as she read over Rose's reply. "She knows somebody who can help teach us about the fossil!" Vespera said to River and Dew, both perched nearby. "Scholar Orion has studied these fossils before. We need to visit him as soon as we can.

"It will be quite the journey, though," Vespera continued. "Rose says this Scholar lives in Halo Haven -- another city that floats high above Santae, just like the Pinnacles!"

River chirped eagerly and stretched out her wings, clearly excited at the prospect of a trip into the sky. Vespera laughed, reaching out to ruffle River's feathers.

"We'll take off soon enough," Vespera reassured her, "but first -- let's go talk to Silvershade like we were planning. We still need to hear more about these dragons."

"Welcome!" Silvershade waved eagerly as Vespera and River approached the gates to the Ranch. "Have I ever got something to show you!"

Vespera looked around in wonder as Silvershade led her on a tour across the Ranch's grounds. The skies were busy with wings overhead, as small flocks of dragon Minimals darted back and forth high above. Even more draconic Minimals were roosting in nearby trees, or chasing one another playfully across the Ranch's fields.

Silvershade smiled at Vespera's awed, wondering expression. "There's even more of 'em now than there were when I first wrote you," they explained. "Never seen anything like it. This is more types of dragons than I've ever imagined we'd see in Santae's skies. It really makes one wonder where they're all coming from, all of a sudden!"

"I'm hoping to discover just that," Vespera assured Silvershade, "but it's not the only mystery afoot right now. After we're done here, River and I are going all the way up to Halo Haven. Rose Clearwater asked us to meet with a Scholar there to discover more information about an ancient fossil."

Silvershade let out a low, impressed whistle. "Halo Haven? That's a ways overhead, for sure." Then, they gestured overhead at the dragons crowding the skies. "Could be it won't be so hard to visit places like that soon, though."

"What do you mean?" Vespera asked, curious.

"Why, all these dragons, of course!" Silvershade grinned.  "Adventurers have been having pretty good luck taming and befriending them. These dragons are such strong fliers. I bet when they're tamed, they could grant pets the power to fly, too!"

"That's amazing!" Vespera exclaimed. She watched the graceful dance of the dragon Minimals overhead. It was easy to imagine their strong wings carrying them up to Halo Haven and beyond. "I think you're right."

Vespera and Silvershade finished their tour of the Ranch, and Vespera took down some notes about the types and varieties of dragon Minimals that Silvershade had recently catalogued. When they were done, Vespera and River prepared for their journey to Halo Haven.

River, who had always perched comfortably on Vespera's shoulder, was now outfitted with a dragon Minimal that granted her incredible new abilities. As River spread her wings, she began to grow larger, her body infused with the dragon Minimal's magic. River had become large and strong enough to carry Vespera on her back.

"Thanks, Silvershade!" Vespera called as she climbed onto River, who gave an excited chirp.

Armed with knowledge about the dragon Minimals' unique abilities, and directions to Halo Haven from Rose -- Vespera and River took to the skies!

Contests Update

We're thrilled to announce that the new Contest Uploads Page is now live! You can now easily submit your entries for all ongoing contests directly onsite. This new feature makes it more convenient than ever to share your creations with the community and participate in the fun.

Don't forget—the current Drinks Contest is open for submissions! Head over to the Contest Uploads Page to enter your drink creations today.

But that's not all—we're also working on implementing the voting portion soon! Once it's ready, you'll be able to vote on your favorite submissions and have a say in deciding the winners. This will be the new way we host all community contests and community voting, making everything more seamless and interactive.

Stay tuned for more updates, and start preparing your best entries—we can't wait to see what you create!

Wraiththorn: The Shadow's Secret

After the mysterious appearance of the Peachbloom at the Great Berry Tree, Silvershade found themselves deep in thought. If a new bloom could appear in such a well-known place, then what secrets might the other trees be hiding? Seeking answers, Silvershade decided to call upon their dear friend, Flora Greenleaf, for assistance. Together, they set out to inspect the Shadow Berry Tree.

The day was dark and misty, with shadows dancing beneath the tree's branches. The Shadow Berry Tree, known for its dark and mysterious fruit, stood ominously, its limbs stretching towards the sky. Silvershade and Flora moved carefully, their eyes scanning the roots and branches for any sign of something unusual.

Just as they were about to leave, Silvershade spotted something peculiar near the base of the tree—a strange, thorny shape that seemed to pulse with an eerie, ghostly light. It had the deep purple hue of a shadow berry, but its form was unlike anything either of them had ever seen. Silvershade leaned in closer, thinking it might be a rare berry. But as they reached out, the thorny shape moved, curling slightly as if it were alive.

"Oh my stars, Silvershade!" Flora exclaimed, her eyes widening. "That’s no berry!"

Silvershade carefully knelt down, a mix of awe and caution filling their expression. "You’re right, Flora... this must be something new. It’s beautiful, but there’s a darkness to it, like the shadows themselves took form."

They had discovered the Wraiththorn—a strange, mysterious minimal with a spectral glow. It was as if the shadows of the tree had come to life, taking the form of this unique creature. Its spiny exterior gave it an almost otherworldly quality, and both Silvershade and Flora were captivated by its mysterious aura.

But that wasn’t all. As they continued their inspection of the Shadow Berry Tree, they found four new types of berries hidden among the branches. Each one was darker and more vibrant than the last, their colors ranging from deep crimson to midnight blue, and each seemed to hum with a faint, magical energy.

"These berries are unlike any we’ve ever seen," Flora said, her voice filled with excitement. "I wonder what kind of magic they hold."

Silvershade nodded, a smile spreading across their face. "The Shadow Berry Tree still has its secrets, it seems. I think these discoveries will lead to something incredible."

 The Wraiththorn is now available for herding as well as from the Shadow Berry Tree, and four new mysterious berries have also been added to the Shadow Berry Tree. Who knows what wonders await those who dare to uncover the secrets of the shadows?

Trading With The Mysterious Traveler

Evening had fallen upon Shadow Veil Pass, and cool blue moonlight was pouring through the windows of Vespera’s shop as she prepared to close up for the night. Aside from the usual tidying, there was extra restocking and decorating to do. The Ancient Echoes Festival was soon to begin – so everything needed to be perfect!

She had just finished rearranging the final display of items when the creak of the shop’s door opening caught her attention. A customer? Unusual for so late in the day…

“Hello, and welcome!” Vespera looked up with a smile. Through the door stepped an elven man she had never seen before. He wore a cloak of fine violet material – although the fabric was dusty, and he looked weary from travel.

“Good evening,” the stranger greeted Vespera politely. “Are you still open for business? I imagine Festival preparations are keeping you busy.”

“Of course,” Vespera replied, walking over to the counter. “What can I do for you this evening?” She watched curiously as the traveler reached into his bag and withdrew something from within.

The stranger approached and placed the item on the counter between them. It was a strange, rugged stone, unremarkable upon first glance. But upon looking closer, its true nature was unmistakable: The outlines of ancient bones were embedded in the rock. It was a fossil!

“I’d like to know if you’d be interested in this,” the stranger said, gesturing at the fossil. “Would you be willing to make a trade for it?”

“What is it?” Vespera asked.

“I discovered it in the depths of the nearby Eerie Caves. It was formed from the remains of an ancient creature,” the stranger explained. “Perhaps a spark of the creature’s essence still remains within, even today…” he mused.

Vespera’s mind was already spinning with the possibilities. It wasn’t every day that somebody walked through her door with something so ancient and magical on offer. If what the traveler suspected was true, maybe there was even a chance that the ancient creature could be revived!

“Let’s make a trade,” she agreed eagerly.

Vespera and the stranger haggled for a short while, then agreed on a deal – both pleased with their ends of the bargain. “Thank you very much,” the stranger said with a polite bow as he prepared to take his leave.

“I should be thanking you,” Vespera said, picking up the fossil to examine the imprint of the bones within. “Enjoy the Festival!”

The traveler smiled in return, and departed without another word.

Night had truly fallen by now, but Vespera felt full of energy. This new fossil was just one of the many exciting things going on: First, the imminent Ancient Echoes Festival; then Silvershade’s note about an incursion of dragon Minimals; now this!

Were they all related? Vespera was eager to set out on an adventure to learn more.

When it came to magical creatures, ancient or otherwise, there was one person Vespera trusted above all. Before anything else, she needed to write a letter to Rose Clearwater. Vespera penned a hasty note to Rose, asking if she had any insights about ancient dinosaurs – or if she knew anybody else who would.

Vespera dispatched the note with Dew, the helpful Iricampus, who had delivered mail to the Pinnacles before and would be comfortable with the flight. She sent the Minimal off with the letter and a couple of its favorite berries to snack on along the way. Dew gulped a berry down and zipped to the window, flashing in the moonlight as it fluttered out into the cool night air.

“Good luck, Dew!” Vespera called. “See you soon!”

When the Iricampus had safely gone, Vespera called for River.

“Get ready,” she grinned at the Raylen. “We’re heading to Silvershade’s Ranch!” It was time to learn more about the mysterious dragon Minimals appearing in the skies over Santae.