What You Missed - Yosei Yes!

By Hannah "Ryu (your friendly neighborhood half-dragon)" Boucher

What did you miss? WHAT DID YOU MISS?!! Only the most amazing display of Yosei battling I have ever seen! The weather was nice and hot, perfect for all the Yosei about to get fired up for some battles. We had a good mix of seasoned Yosei battlers and those just starting out on their Yosei journey. However, thanks to supremely detailed knowledge of Jerrick, we were able to get the newbies up to speed. There are many ways to attract wild Yosei. The first way is through doing things that specific Yosei like. For example, Metal Lads can be attracted by polishing dirty metal, Wind Lads can be attracted by creating jingling windchimes, and Void Lads can be attracted by drawing the essence of the void while blindfolded. Many people took very creative approaches to attract the various Lads, but my favorite of the day was Sir Orion’s wind chimes. As his squire, I was legally obligated to help him perpetuate shenanigans, and ended up joining 4 more people he managed to convince in holding hands and singing a tone to make a living windchime. The Wind Lads were particularly pleased. 

Another way to attract wild Yosei was by building terrain for the Yosei pits. There was a verifiable mountain of crafting materials available to us to aid in the creation of specific biomes for the Yosei to inhabit and control while battling on the field. The best terrain of the day was Jerrick’s Wood terrain that he constructed as a gift to his partner Hachi, a Yosei that takes the form of a cute bumble bee! Because of his dedication and attention to detail, Jerrick was awarded a magic crayon! 

The last, and in my opinion the most fun way, to attract wild Yosei is through wild Yosei battles! Each participant calls a random Yosei to the field and does battle with whatever Yosei appear to face them. If you defeat a wild Yosei in battle, they will become your friend! We fought a lot of wild Yosei to build up our teams in preparation for the first Dojo. But the highlight of the battles was an official Adventurer battle between Team Rowan and Team Jerrick. After a hard fought and lengthy battle, it was down to the wire, next win takes it all! Griffin and I, who were on team Rowan, pulled out our combo move, “Siege Tower” and managed to provide mobile cover for the rest of our team. Just barely, team Rowan came out on top, and we all received her personal trainer badge for helping her win.

Finally, it was time for the main event. We all formed up into teams of 4 to take on the first Dojo Master, Dewdrop, and his team of water Yosei. This was my first time meeting a Yosei Dojo Master and he was not what I expected. Instead of the politeness I’ve come to expect from the Tenghuaneese people, Master Dewdrop was arrogant and rude. Sir Saka, Sir Orion, Griffin, and I went first, and let me tell you, it was no walk in the park! We had spent much of our time in between fights strategizing and coming up with team compositions that would be strong, and now it was the moment of truth. The first fight didn’t go so well, but after analyzing our opponent, we managed to come back and be the first team to beat Dojo Master Dewdrop and earn our Water Badges! All of the other teams also managed to beat the Water Dojo with stunning displays of cleverness and fighting ability. Needless to say, I think Master Dewdrop might not be so overconfident next time. 

If you’re disappointed you missed the event, don’t worry! There will be more Yosei Dojo’s to conquer and plenty of other opportunities to catch wild Yosei in the future so stay tuned! I for one am going to keep training to make my bond with my Yosei even stronger! I think I’d better make sure my Dojo Badge is nice and polished too! 

 

Why I Want to Go - Yosei Yes!

by Tim "Jerrickiv Jerrickson" Suitor

OH GOSH!

Now ever since I somehow ended up in Teng Hua from Jerrick Farms, I was amazed by Yosei. As a farmer, a man of the land ya know, these nature-like spirits can become fast friends and will stick around for a while. Thanks to Mister Magus Prime Rosetta thumping my head and saying “Vision, Mage!” I understand a lot more about our elemental buddies than a simple guy like me thought he could. I’m no Doctor Professor, but:

Yosei are sorta like quasi-immortal spirits of the land of Teng Hua, they can be like a kinda a clump of an element, Faiajaberin or Saijuron, a gout of fire or a cyclone, a place within nature, Haru or Yama, a spring or a mountain, or a more specific thing within nature, Hebi or Hachi, the way of the snake and the way of the bee. They can get a bit bored being so old and all, so lately they’ve started following around people they bond to! They make their friends and spend lots of their time invisible like, hanging around, and they sometimes will mess around with stuff. They’ve helped me finish field work so I can get back to playing with them, but also helped me thaw and keep back a moving iceberg on one of my few adventures. 

More than that though, they like to play and spar. And I checked! It doesn't hurt them, they love to roughhouse! They’ll fight the day away, and if they’re friends with a person, the person can make up a team of em and they’ll work together, usually in six Yosei to each side of the fight. They often have small weapons and a buncha elemental missiles and a whole kit and kaboodle of funny abilities.

Well there are some mighty good trainers out there who run Dojos in Teng Hua, and one of them will be bringing a buncha their friends over to the mainland for some battlin!

Its a lot of fun, and I think some of you adventurer types could use a bit of fun and some more friends. So you should come to Yosei Yes!

I can help you find your first few Yosei, the Elemental Lads, and begin your journey as a Yosei Trainer, as can the Dojo leader I’m sure (Oh boy, I can’t wait to meet a real Yosei Dojo Leader) I’m just real excited-like. I am also happy to introduce people to my friends so they can help you. After all, a friend of a friend just means we all have more friends, right?

Oh Gosh, I hope Miss Rowan and I are ready…

Hachi? Mure? Kuroi Hoshi? Kanketsusen? Raifuboro? Raiu? Are you guys ready? Lets get going!

I want to be great,

Gosh, like none before have been.

Befriending them all.

Well that’s the trial

But training alongside them

Is truly my drive

And will travel

Across Teng Hua seeking out

All of our powers.

Tales of Teng Hua: The Great Library of Kenmeina Hikō

Legend has it, many centuries ago, there was a great library. In this library, knowledge of all sorts could be found. It is said that any question that has ever been asked, the asker could find the answer in this library. Now, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but maybe it isn’t. This was after all, long, long ago, and we know that mysteries often have a way of being true.

Now, in this library there were many rooms. And in the many rooms, there were many books. There were also many other things. Artifacts of power, works of great art, items of scientific advancement, and things we can’t even imagine.

But why is it called The Great Library of Kenmeina Hiko? Well, legend has it that the Librarian was a being of great power. Kenmeina Hiko knew every book in the library, and all the various items contained within the library. 

What happened to the Great Library of Kenmeina Hiko? Well, The Scorching Dragon tried to happen, that’s what. There was something in the library that The Scorching Dragon wanted. He wanted it badly enough that he was willing to do anything to get it. Kenmeina Hiko got word of this, and as The Scorching Dragon was leading his armies to sack the library, Kenmeina Hiko used a powerful magic to hide the library. 

Now, what it was that The Scorching Dragon was looking for was never figured out, for there were simply too many things for anyone, besides Kenmeina Hiko, to even begin to guess at.

Now, I’m not one to speculate, but...if rumor is to be believed...there have been sightings recently. Strange sightings. Now, I know you have probably heard of the rumors of The Scorching Dragon’s army rising during the night, and looking for things. But I have also heard another rumor, a rumor of a large, ghostly building appearing after the sun sets that is gone by dawn. Is it the Great Library? Well, I couldn’t really say, but maybe, just maybe, we can hope it is.

Tales of Teng Hua: The Flight of the Crane

Beauty, standing still

Watching and observing all

What does the Crane see

Crane sees and knows all

Even whispers on the wind

A beautiful dance

Knowledge and Wisdom

Like a leaf upon the wind

Silence, an echo

Ages pass, Crane stands

Now becomes then, memories

The future comes soon

Danger in the night

Destruction and death for all

Nothing left behind

Crane takes flight, flashing

Rustle of wings, fluttering

Emptiness...nothing

What You Missed: Tales of Teng Hua

 Troubles in Teng Hua

By Rowan (Brookelyn Gingras)

Even amidst dark times of festival cancellations and travel restrictions, Teng Hua remains an immersive place filled with many places and things to see. Yosei, art, haikus, games, fried rice, temples, quests, ceremonies - so much to do, and so little time!  Do not tarry; there is time to experience everything if only you do not linger.

To those who have not yet had the fortune of visiting, the first thing to know is that Teng Hua is a land of elemental spirits. Specifically, the seven elements - fire, water, wind, and earth, yes, but do not forget wood, metal, and void. We encountered many of these spirits as playful Yosei, and others as violent, disrupted elementals in need of balance. 

Yosei collecting and battling is a hobby for some, but a passion for many. The act of attracting and appeasing spirits of the various elements is an art form. But for some, the real excitement comes from battling. Yosei love to play, and to them fighting is just that. A few people have devoted their lives to the study and understanding of these boundless spirits. Doctor Professor Blossom is one such devotee, and my fellows and I enjoyed our time assisting him with research tasks. That was until we returned to find a gang of our fellow adventurers harassing poor Dr. Professor Blossom! They accused him of holding the Yosei against their will and using them as slaves to do his bidding. As if any one could keep a Yosei, a fickle and quasi-immortal spirit, against their will - let alone command them to do anything more than their own desire! A laughable notion really, but sadly one that threatens to marr the sanctity of Yosei battling. Jerrick stood resolutely to the Professor’s defense and even succeeded in communing with the Yosei spirits before the crowd in an attempt to ease their fears. I don’t know anyone who has a more true and pure connection to the Yosei than Jerrick. In truth, Yosei are eternal beings that seek out fun to fend off the boredom of immortality, and as we adventurers can relate, a good spar is one of the best ways to pass the time. 

The events of the evening and the following morning were, to put plainly, a librarian’s worst nightmare. A precious library ransacked by a ghost army, tomes and scrolls tossed about in a vicious hurricane, an infestation of hungry bookworms, every shelf out of order, noisy adventurers talking over haikus, and dodgeball played with books! Truly horrific. (At least we managed to catch up to the pillagers in time to rescue most of the museum’s collection...). The spirit who presides over the library is a haiku-speaking bird known as Crane, attended by his staff of foxy assistants. I only hope that their hearts were as warmed as mine was when our party happened upon the ransacked library and, before a single word was uttered, began picking up the scattered books off the ground to return to their rightful place on the shelves. Although I must say that I am still unsure what the correct shelf placement was, as it seemed that every time we returned to the library we were tasked with re-organizing the collection by another method entirely. Separate by size, or color? Alphabetical or decimal? I’m glad I’m not a fox.

We finally departed the library for the (hopefully) last time, and peeled our more well-read comrades away from the precious books (“what are you reading?” I asked Rosetta. “EVERYTHING,” he said, not taking his eyes away from the hurriedly turned pages). Ahead was a field of stars. We fought our way through a maze of bridges, unlocked the paths forward and at last confronted the General on the hill. The General of Wind was a fearsome foe capable of manifesting gusts and tornados, but in the end he was slain in honorable combat with a skilled adventurer.

The following morning I visited the temple with a renewed sense of purpose. A second general has been defeated - first water, now air - but the others remain, and they will stop at nothing to revive their infamous leader. My companions have been taking on their own quests throughout their time in Teng Hua, learning from healers or samurai. Now I have found a path that speaks to me - achieve balance with the elements and with myself. The path is long and the tasks for each person are unique, and perhaps on this path I might learn something that our adversaries have not. 

Signed,

Rowan

Friend of Yosei

What You Missed - Tales of Teng Hua-ish

by Jason "Malaki" Gray

It was our pleasure to host you all on behalf of the Emperor, and to help impart more knowledge to your people about the land of Teng Hua.

We are not often used to teaching foreigners, and we hope that you found our game format as entertaining as it was educational.

For those of you that were not able to attend, we covered information relating to various provinces of Teng Hua, notable families and the resources they trade in, the Items of Regalia, Yosei, current threats to Teng Hua, and other tidbits of information.

It was our pleasure to find that His Majesty King Alexander Cecil was quite witty and knowledgeable. His Majesty also has our sincerest apologies that someone dared to impersonate him towards the end of the lesson.

In Service,
Ando Jin
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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Thanks to everyone who attended the mini virtual event. We were hoping to provide a couple of hours of light role play entertainment, and provide an opportunity for players to get information without any concern for us being tricksy ;)

The event consisted of several rounds of custom questions in the game Quiplash 2, all related to Teng Hua, with the exception of that pesky third round, but even then, all of our players did a great job keeping answers as IC as they could.

From our perspective, this experiment was pretty successful and something we are likely to try again. Thanks for playing along with our crazy ideas.

ToTH Staff

Earth, Wind, and Water Yosei

by Zach Senchuk

Any of the Yosei found on View for Valehaven with the Folkestone watermark can be printed and played with for fun (and we encourage you to) anytime you wish to use Yosei in a more "official" way (at events for plot reasons) you will have to use the non-watermarked version. We hope this will allow everyone to enjoy the fun of making different teams and identifying which Yosei they would like to trade for, while not making it so you have to have them before testing them out.

[Editor's Note: to see the post on Yosei fights, please click here]

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Earth Yosei

Wind Yosei

Water Yosei

Wood and Fire Yosei

by Zach Senchuk

Any of the Yosei found on View for Valehaven with the Folkestone watermark can be printed and played with for fun (and we encourage you to) anytime you wish to use Yosei in a more "official" way (at events for plot reasons) you will have to use the non-watermarked version. We hope this will allow everyone to enjoy the fun of making different teams and identifying which Yosei they would like to trade for, while not making it so you have to have them before testing them out.

[Editor's Note: to see the post on Yosei fights, please click here]

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Wood Yosei

Fire Yosei

Metal and Void Yosei

by Zach Senchuk

Any of the Yosei found on View for Valehaven with the Folkestone watermark can be printed and played with for fun (and we encourage you to) anytime you wish to use Yosei in a more "official" way (at events for plot reasons) you will have to use the non-watermarked version. We hope this will allow everyone to enjoy the fun of making different teams and identifying which Yosei they would like to trade for, while not making it so you have to have them before testing them out.

[Editor's Note: to see the post on Yosei fights, please click here]

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Metal Yosei

Void Yosei

Basic and Limited Yosei

by Zach Senchuk

Any of the Yosei found on View for Valehaven with the Folkestone watermark can be printed and played with for fun (and we encourage you to) anytime you wish to use Yosei in a more "official" way (at events for plot reasons) you will have to use the non-watermarked version. We hope this will allow everyone to enjoy the fun of making different teams and identifying which Yosei they would like to trade for, while not making it so you have to have them before testing them out.

[Editor's Note: to see the post on Yosei fights, please click here]

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Basic Yosei: These Yosei can be befriended by all people of the Realms, the ways to attract them are outlined in this article:

https://viewfromvalehaven.blogspot.com/2019/08/spreading-wisdom_29.html  

Some Yosei will be released in only a limited capacity- these Yosei can be traded (as with all Yosei) but will not be able to be tracked down again in the future when looking for wild Yosei.

As more Yosei become known to us, we will update the lists that will be going out later this week.