Seekers of the Lost Treasure I

Greetings. Are you in trouble?

Uh... Who are you people?

We're Endfielders. I'm Perlica and this...

Endfield? Oh! I actually know your company!

Well met. I'm Piot and I'm from the T... Uh, I mean, I'm a Tianshi.

Tianshi?

Y-yeah! Of course...! And I don't look like a local to you, right?

I, uh, I'm from La Fan... Far south. Yes, yes! A city really down south. I'm here as an exchange student.

Ahem... Where I'm from isn't important. I actually need your help!

Please help me find Martina!

Martina?

Yeah. She's my bo... Erm, ahh! My bosom companion! Yes! Some local bandits kidnapped her!

Hmm... Are you referring to the residents of Qingbo Stockade?

Yes! Yes! YES! They took Martina and brought her to their wooden castle!

I'm completely useless in fighting. The only thing I could do is to stand here and hope help shows up.

I'll be finished if anything happens to Martina! Can you please help me?

Yes! That's right!

So ... do you have any details about her appearance?

Oh! She's wearing a Tianshi outfit like me! And she's carrying this HUUUGE backpack.

It's *THIS* big. You definitely won't miss it.

What do you think, Endmin? This might be something we can look into.

Tianshi Piot, do you know where Tianshi Martina is being held?

Of course I do! I'll mark out her location for you.

Alright. Try to stay put and don't go anywhere.

Please! Bring her back safely!

Are you Tianshi Martina?

Si, I'm Martina...

Wait. Who are you? What are you trying to do?

We're from Endfield. Your companion, Piot, asked us to save you.

Endfield? Yeah, I heard about you! But how did Piot manage to acquire your services...?

Fine... Okay. What about Piot? Where did he go? Is he doing okay?

Piot's at a very safe place right now. He's doing fine, just a little bit nervous... That young man's very concerned about your safety.

Phew. Good to know. Piot's always the paranoid sort... But I don't intend to go back right now. My adventure has just begun!

An adventure? Here?

Ah... That's right. I'm actually a Tianshi focusing on folk traditions and I intend to gather materials for my academic project. My focus is traditional and cultural phenomena observed for the Qingbo Stockade.

Ah! I'm trying to memorize and recreate the secret messages used by the Stockaders. Their unique way of communication is really interesting!

They compose secret messages by hanging various kinds of masks. Messages are determined by the type, color, and sequence of the masks.

I actually took a few photos of the secret mask messages. It's a puzzle waiting to be solved.

However, I got chased by the Stockaders and accidentally lost my camera... All those photos! Lost! Ay! What a shame!

Speaking of which, I also noticed the mask on your face. If I had my camera, I would have taken a few shots of you already.

I tried everything in my backpack, but this lock refused to open! But you opened it just like that! Incredible!

It's just a form of Originium Arts. It can also be used to handle other mechanical problems.

Oh? That means you're a professional locksmith? I see... You must be the Masked Rogue!

It's just a misunderstanding, Endmin...

Oh, sweet fresh air! I'm free at last!

I just got an idea, Masked Rogue and, uhm...

I'm Perlica... Please tell me about this idea of yours.

Ahem! Well then, Masked Rogue and Perlica, I'm formally inviting you to my adventure!

Tianshi Martina, we shall assist you in the gathering of research materials. We also hope you can follow our lead to avoid unnecessary confrontations...

Si! No problema! Hmhmph. Having you and the Masked Rogue around will guarantee the completion of my research topic!

Truth be told, I'm not very good at dealing with the locals... The fact that you made it here tells me you know more than breaking locks.

Truth be told, Qingbo Stockade has a unique culture. The Stockaders actually use secret messages to communicate with each other.

The key to completing my project is to identify as many secret messages as I can, then use them to support subsequent investigations.

When the wind blows across the masks, they make sounds that lead me to the secret messages.

The sounds they make are rather unique and pleasing.

These masks are hung separately, but they've been placed at a certain angle...

If you look at them from a particular angle, they would form a decipherable message!

But I'm ... a little...

Martina? Are you alright?

Ah... I've not eaten anything for a while. I think I'm seeing shooting stars right now.

We should stop and rest. Do you have any food in your backpack?

Piot carried all the food, and I only had the equipment and instruments. I should've listened to him and brought some rations along.

Really? You would?! That's so kind of you, Masked Rogue.

Just find the proper spot, aim at the right angle, and press the button! CLICK! Job done!

We shall wait here for your good news.

Let's do it, Endmin.

Hmm... Turns out I remembered it wrong. This is the proper sequence...

Lemme think. River of love... Separation... This doesn't sound right.

Okay. This must be it!

How do you decipher these secret messages?

Hmm, this is a little hard to explain. It's a comparative study of Terran linguistics and semiotics, Talosian folk traditions, and tons of other relevant data.

To keep it short, I prepped the deciphering work before I started this journey. It actually took me quite a few days.

The one who left the secret message is telling us that his lover, Xin Yi, had left the riverbank.

The secret message seems to have other meanings...

"Riverbank" is the most useful data we have right now. Time to look around the nearby river.

Okay. The closest riverbank has been marked on the map.

Great. Let's go.

Martina, aren't you hungry?

Exploration is the best food I'd ever need!

This should be the place...

Hmm? Are these the "bamboo water chimes"?

Hold on. The name "Xin Yi" is written on these bamboo water chimes.

"Xin Yi"... Isn't that the name of the lover mentioned in the secret message?

"Left"... I got it.

Traditionally, Qingbo Stockaders use bamboo water chimes to commemorate the deceased.

An academic explanation of this tradition is that it relates to the concept of "life as a voyaging boat". It was first proposed by a Yanese philosopher, but...

I can't help but feel sad about this. The chimes by the flowing river... They're the only vessels for expressing one's grief...

Actually, the bamboo water chimes are used for more than just memorializing the departed. Residents of Qingbo Stockade also make wishes with them and believe the deceased could answer and bless their hopes.

I see... When taken together with the secret message we saw, that Stockader wasn't just grieving his loved one. He was also telling her that she would not be forgotten.

Alright. Can you help take a photo and record these bamboo water chimes for me?

It would serve as a very special memento of this journey...

Yes, they are. We saw these at other locations around Qingbo Stockade.

Not bad at all. Thanks for the photo.

We have two more secret messages to decipher. Interested in tagging along?

You're both excellent explorers. This journey of discovery is really fun with you around!

Learning more about the local traditions has been very beneficial for us as well.

Excellent! Follow me, then! Time to move!