Topclouded Towerthrust - Desolate Depths of Despair

Pass through the Artisanship Commission's shortcut and head to the Alchemy Commission

(Approach designated spot)

(Teleports to Alchemy Commission)

(Trailblazer, March 7th, Tingyun, and Welt observe their surroundings)

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  March 7th: ...Whoa, looks like the battle here was intense...

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  Tingyun: The master diviner must have launched the campaign while we were delayed in the Artisanship Commission.

• → She must have divined it was the right time.
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    Welt: Time is of the essence. The most important task for the Xianzhou Luofu is suppressing the Stellaron .

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    Welt: General Jing Yuan tasked the master diviner with commanding the Cloud Knights — he would've known she'd act on the results of her divination.

• → I can't imagine Fu Xuan obeying orders to the word.
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    Welt: Indeed. Since General Jing Yuan tasked the master diviner with commanding the Cloud Knights, he must've known she'd act on the results of her divination.

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  March 7th: Thank goodness the general didn't make us go with the Knights... Fighting is totally different from adventuring. All these people... I—It's tough to bear.

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  Tingyun: I'm afraid this is nothing, benefactor...

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  Tingyun: Centuries ago, an Emanator of Abundance besieged the Luofu with the aim of taking the Ambrosial Arbor . They destroyed half our delves and killed most of the Cloud Knights.

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  Tingyun: For long-life species , such events are more like yesterday's memories than ancient history. This awful spectacle is child's play in comparison.

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  March 7th: Hey, is that supposed to make us feel better!?

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  Welt: It's hard to tell if the master diviner won or lost here.

• → I think she won total victory!
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    March 7th: I think so too! I can't see many Cloud Knights — the Xianzhou must have fought well!

• → Seems to me, her troops were wiped out...
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    March 7th: Hey, whose side are you on!? I can't see many Cloud Knights — the Xianzhou must have fought well!

• → Let's play it safe and say it was a draw.
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    March 7th: ...A draw? This isn't a tournament, y'know! I can't see many Cloud Knights — the Xianzhou must have fought well!

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  Welt: ...Not necessarily. There'd usually be a base with supporting forces set up after a successful engagement, but we don't see any of that.

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  Welt: Let's look around and see if we can find some clues.

Check on the survivors

(Investigate monster on the stairs, optional)

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  March 7th: ▶ Be careful, (Trailblazer). Those monsters are pretty tough...

(Proceeding further down the stairs)

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  March 7th: Look, there's someone over there!

(Approaching the two people)

• Cloud Knight: Agh...

• Woman: Don't move. Let me have a look...

(After arriving at the designated spot)

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  March 7th: Here! There are still survivors here...

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  Welt: ...

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  Woman in Healer Dress: Hmm? You're not the Knights... What is your purpose here? It's dangerous.

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  Welt: We're reinforcements sent by the general. Where's everyone else?

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  Woman in Healer Dress: Tsk, resorting to short-life species as reinforcements... Hehe, Jing Yuan is truly running out of options.

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  Dying Cloud Knight: Run! She's... a Disciple of Sanctus Medicus!

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  Woman in Healer Dress: Silence. If my healing worked, you'll become one of us...

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  Woman in Healer Dress: ...and then it's not just me they'll be running from.

(Begin battle againstMara-Struck Soldier×1)

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  Dying Cloud Knight: Hurry... leave here...

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  Dying Cloud Knight: I can't control myself anymore...

(Wave 2:Abundance Sprite: Wooden Lupus×2,Abundance Sprite: Golden Hound×1)

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  Disciple of Sanctus Medicus: The lives of short-life species are so fleetingly brief. Why seek death?

(Wave 3:Abundance Sprite: Golden Hound×1,Disciples of Sanctus Medicus: Ballistarius×1,Abundance Sprite: Wooden Lupus×1)

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  Disciple of Sanctus Medicus: Why did you come to the Xianzhou? To seek immortality?

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  Disciple of Sanctus Medicus: You don't have to appease Jing Yuan! The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus can provide all that you desire!

(After the battle)

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  March 7th: H—Hold on! We'll find someone to help...

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  Dying Cloud Knight: Don't waste your time. They've "converted" me. I don't have much longer...

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  Dying Cloud Knight: Go... The master diviner's troops are ahead...

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  Welt: ...Let's go.

Join up with the Cloud Knights commanded by Fu Xuan

(Talk to Dying Cloud Knight, optional)

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  Dying Cloud Knight: ...

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  Tingyun: The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus were in hiding for so long... now they finally show their face. Did the master diviner fail to foresee this...?

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  Tingyun: Be careful, benefactors. The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus worship Yaoshi the Plagues Author — the greatest enemy of the Xianzhou.

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  Tingyun: The Alliance has been trying to root out their secret organization for millennia — it's no coincidence that they've chosen this moment to reveal themselves.

(Investigate monster on the ground, optional)

(Investigate beast on the ground, optional)

(Investigate Cloud Knight on the ground, optional)

(Talk to Injured Cloud Knight, optional)

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  Injured Cloud Knight: Reignbow's blessing... You're not Disciples of Sanctus Medicus...

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  March 7th: Stop moving around! Let's see if there's a way to help you recover faster.

• → (provides medical attention)
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    March 7th: Come on, take this. It'll help with your injuries.

  (Submit item prompt for at least one of the following: Simple First-Aid Device, Steamed Puffergoat Milk, Life Transmitter, Stone-Grilled Olm)

  You fumble through your bag to find medicine for her wounds and administer it one drop at a time.

  For a moment you are worried that medicine made for ordinary humans might not work on long-life species.

  • The Cloud Knight propped herself so she could stand.:

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    Recovered Cloud Knight: ...Th—Thank you, all of you. I feel much better now.

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    Recovered Cloud Knight: Thank goodness you're here... The garrison is up ahead, are you heading there now? I'll wait there for you.

  (ObtainPraise of High Morals×1)

• → (temporarily giving up)
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    March 7th: Don't we have anything to help her?

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    March 7th: Uhh, you wait here. I'm gonna get your comrades to help you.

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    Injured Cloud Knight: Just leave me...

  (Conversation ends)

(Upon attempting to go past left Cloud Knight Guard)

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  Cloud Knight Guard: There are Sanctus Medicus sorcerers hiding out there — it's too dangerous to roam. Please wait here for the master diviner's return.

(Approach designated spot)

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  Cloud Knight Guard: Who goes there? Show yourselves!

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  Cloud Knight Guard: Wait, it's you...! Quickly, in here! It's dangerous outside.

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  March 7th: You recognize us?

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  Cloud Knight Guard: Are you not the general's guests? The master diviner prophesied your arrival — we were ordered to wait for you under any circumstances.

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  Cloud Knight Guard: Yes. The master diviner ordered us to remain stationed here and went to scout ahead. They're saying the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus have returned — they haven't been seen for an age... The troops are anxious.

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  Cloud Knight Guard: It's good that you're here — the master diviner said the Knights weren't to move out until you arrived.

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  Cloud Knight Guard: Please wait in the camp — we'll decide on our next steps once the master diviner returns.

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  Welt: That the Cloud Knights received orders not to advance is a bad sign. The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus... I've heard the name before. If memory serves, they're an underground sect of the Abundance that's said to have lain dormant within the Xianzhou, plotting to overthrow the Alliance...

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  Welt: The Stellaron has certainly caused Abundance-like abnormalities — is that what motivated the Disciples to come out of the shadows? No. The Knight's main force remains intact... Something must have happened — something we're not aware of. The master diviner isn't here — let's head into camp and see what we can learn from the troops here.

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  Tingyun: Good idea, why don't you take a look around, benefactors? My feet need a rest.

Get information on the outcome of the fighting and wait for Fu Xuan to return

(Talk to Tingyun, optional) (Before talking to Captured Disciple)

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  Tingyun: Have you talked with these Disciples, benefactor? What do you make of them?

• → Not yet...
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    Tingyun: Why would they betray the Luofu... I don't understand.

(After talking to Captured Disciple)

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  Tingyun: Have you talked with these Disciples, benefactor? What do you make of them?

• → They're mad...
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    Tingyun: True. But in the eyes of the Denizens of Abundance ...

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    Tingyun: ...ignoring the true nature of long-life species, suppressing the inner mara , maintaining the facade of mortal society... it's a child's game. Another breed of madness, perhaps.

• → I feel sorry for them...
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    Tingyun: They brought this upon themselves. The Xianzhou Alliance forbids anyone from accessing forbidden knowledge regarding immortality.

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    Tingyun: They should have thought about whether they were capable of paying the price when seeking the power of an Aeon .

• → I can understand their desire for knowledge...
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    Tingyun: Shh, that's a brave thing to say out in the open... If the Cloud Knights hear you, they won't think twice.

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    Tingyun: Hehe, it strikes me that you'd use any means to achieve your goal, benefactor.

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  Tingyun: Xianzhou natives are more afraid of immortality than they are of the days coming to an end.

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  Tingyun: They received eternal life as they had desired, but are doomed to a fate more terrifying than death. The Abundance played a cruel trick on them.

(Talk to Shocked Cloud Knight, optional)

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  Shocked Cloud Knight: It was so close... so close...!

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  Shocked Cloud Knight: Even seasoned soldiers — soldiers of three centuries were turned into... twisted beings! I was almost... almost...

(Talk to Sky-Faring Commission Foxian, optional)

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  Sky-Faring Commission Foxian: The Cloud Knights undergo such thorough training. How could they lose control like this?

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  Sky-Faring Commission Foxian: It's one thing for humans to be stricken with mara. But foxians and Vidyadhara ...?

(Talk to Cloud Knight Captain, optional)

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  Nervous Cloud Knight: But this is different from all our previous battles! Captain, even our own comrades may become our enemies this time...

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  Cloud Knight Captain: Every Cloud Knight knows what they must do if their comrades become mara-struck. Don't forget your training.

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  Nervous Cloud Knight: B—But this shouldn't be happening! We're still so young — we're not old enough to be stricken with mara yet...

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  Cloud Knight Captain: There are records of such a phenomenon in the Cloud Knights Martial Doctrine. Those who come into contact with the Plagues Author become mara-struck instantly... I never thought the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus were real, or so close to us.

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  Nervous Cloud Knight: I—I don't know how many more of our soldiers will...

(Talk to Dispirited Cloud Knight, optional)

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  Dispirited Cloud Knight: I just felt there were... enemies all around me. I only felt hatred. I wanted to kill everything in my path...

(Talk to Mumbling Cloud Knight, optional)

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  Mumbling Cloud Knight: Disciples of Sanctus Medicus... who would have thought our enemies would turn out to be the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus...

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  Mumbling Cloud Knight: *sigh* The master diviner must have kept it quiet to avoid alerting them.

(Talk to Aurumaton Gatekeeper, optional)

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  Aurumaton Guard: Command Talisman required for operation...

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  March 7th: What does it mean?

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  Welt: We probably need to present it with a command for it to act.

(Talk to Deranged Disciple, optional)

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  Deranged Disciple: I... saw it... I saw myself become thunder... become a storm...

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  Deranged Disciple: That scent in the elixir crucible... I could smell the future...

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  Deranged Disciple: Mere flesh will not trap me... I am the Ebon Deer. I see the leaves and branches covering the sky. I will change again...

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  Cloud Knight Guarding Prisoners: We captured a few devils from the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus. Some of them are already mad, and this one is the maddest.

(Upon trying to leave to the north)

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  Cloud Knight Guard: The master diviner has gone ahead with the scouts. Please wait here for her.

(Upon trying to leave to the south)

• Alarmed Cloud Knight: Sorry, I didn't want to stop the general's distinguished guests, but just to warn you, there have been some dangerous sightings ahead. For your own safety, please stay in the areas guarded by the Cloud Knights.

(Talk to Captured Disciple)

• Alarmed Cloud Knight: You want to ask questions? Fine, but I must be present the whole way through. This part needs to be recorded as testimony.

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  Captured Disciple: ...Finally someone to talk to. These Cloud Knights are so serious, so boring, hehe...

• → About Stellarons...
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    Captured Disciple: That shining seed? Haha, I've seen it, so beautiful. If you gaze into it, there's a voice inside that speaks to you...

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    March 7th: ▶ (Trailblazer)... do you still remember Cocolia ?

  • ▶

    (Trailblazer): ▶ ...

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    Captured Disciple: The master said we could inject new life into the Ambrosial Arbor with it. Hehe, I didn't believe it at first.

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    Captured Disciple: We tried many methods, spending multiple lifetimes of short-life species, yet the Arbor showed no signs of resurrection.

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    Captured Disciple: But look upon it now, hehe — "only the power of an Aeon can recreate the miracle." Yes, yes, the mighty Sanctus Medicus ! The Abundance!

• → About the Ambrosial Arbor...
  • ▶

    Captured Disciple: So you witnessed it too? The Ambrosial Arbor's resurrection, hehe... Magnificent!

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    Captured Disciple: In the befall era , so far in the past that even long-life species cannot recall, Sanctus Medicus the Abundance gifted the Ambrosial Arbor to the Xianzhou Luofu. With that sacred tree, humanity realized many miracles: The fallow earth , the western soapberry, the altered flesh...

  • ▶

    Captured Disciple: But that Devilish Archer ruined everything! They twisted right and wrong and erased Sanctus Medicus's achievements... But soon... soon we will return to the glory of the befall era !

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    Captured Disciple: You've seen the fantastic creatures that fought with us? They are only minor gifts of the Ambrosial Arbor...

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    Alarmed Cloud Knight: Shut it, rambling rodent. The Cloud Knights will root all of you out soon.

• → What did you do to these Cloud Knights?
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    Captured Disciple: What did we do? We cured our kin! Hehe, it must hurt to be trapped in such weak flesh and blood...

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    Alarmed Cloud Knight: You scum... If the order allowed I would cut you down now.

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    Captured Disciple: Oh, you don't understand... a short-life species couldn't understand. Mara-struck? Bah! It's a second life gifted by Sanctus Medicus! To eliminate the self! To achieve transcendence! A life of true freedom!

  • ▶

    Captured Disciple: I see a desire for power in your eyes. This life is too short for you, isn't it? Hehe, I can... I can help you...

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    Alarmed Cloud Knight: Don't listen, his words are poison.

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    Captured Disciple: We're just having fun, sir, hehe... Without the blessing of the Abundance, you short-life species would never be able to endure the transformation.

(Talk to On-Duty Cloud Knight)

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  On-Duty Cloud Knight: Forgive me for being brief — warfare is a dangerous business. There's no time for idle chat.

• → How's the situation?
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    On-Duty Cloud Knight: We took over this place a few hours ago under the master diviner's command. It was only afterwards that we learned our enemies were none other than the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus — those who worship the Plagues Author .

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  On-Duty Cloud Knight: Everything was going as planned. The sorcerers of the Disciples and the fantastic creatures they commanded were no match for us.

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  On-Duty Cloud Knight: ...Then, after a while, our comrades suddenly started to slaughter one another...

• → They became mara-struck...
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    On-Duty Cloud Knight: Curse it! What Sanctus Medicus sorcery did they use on us!?

• → Those monsters...
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    On-Duty Cloud Knight: Yes, among the Sanctus Medicus monsters... there were our comrades.

(If Injured Cloud Knight was already helped in the previous step, this option will not appear)

• → There's a wounded warrior that didn't make it back to his unit...
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    On-Duty Cloud Knight: Thanks for your intel. I'll dispatch someone immediately.

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  On-Duty Cloud Knight: The greatest fear of the Xianzhou people is succumbing to our mara-struck form around others. To do so means that we have given up on being human, lost to the abomination sleeping in our immortal blood... and violated the Reignbow's admonishments.

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  On-Duty Cloud Knight: What the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus did are despicable acts that every Alliance resident detests!

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  On-Duty Cloud Knight: ...I swear to the Arbiter that I will avenge my comrades.

• (If Adventure MissionVenom Brews, Immortality LoomsorSinners Misled, Credence Falsifiedare incomplete):