Black Stone Under a White Stone is the second act in Chapter V of the Archon Quests.
Quests[]
Summary[]
- A Decision
After spending a short time with the People of the Springs, Paimon remarks on their hospitality and how the two days felt like a vacation to them. Just then, Mualani and then Tonina arrives, who tells them that the group from the Night Warden Wars had returned. Unsurprisingly, Kachina had fallen in battle, but because the group was victorious, the Ode of Resurrection would bring her back to life. However, she should keep her head held high, as it was an honor. Mualani then explains to the Traveler that the Abyss was not as simple as it was believed to be; during the cataclysm, when the nations of Teyvat were attacked by it, the Abyss appeared to have specifically crafted each disaster for every tribe. Due to the actions of the then-Pyro Archon and the people, they were slowly able to repel the Abyss, but took massive casualties in the process and the damage dealt was reversed extremely slow.
Returning to the city, they meet up with Kinich, who had just finished a commission that took longer than anticipated. Heading to the stadium, the crowd sings the Ode of Resurrection, but Kachina fails to emerge, shocking the crowd. Tepexpan and Tamuin, also present in the crowd, begin to heckle over Kachina's failure, despite Chasca's insistence that they successfully completed their mission and enraging Mualani. Mavuika puts a stop to their heckling, proclaiming that she herself is not even sure as to why Kachina had failed to return, and thus decides to suspend the pilgrimage until further notice. Mualani asks Mavuika that she wants Kachina to return, so she asks her to meet at the Speaker's Chamber.
In the chamber, Mavuika theorizes that the Abyss may have had found a way to undermine the "rules" of the pilgrimage, threatening the Sacred Flame. Combined with the attack on the Meztli tribe, she either had to continue the pilgrimage with further casualties, or stop it at the cost of the Abyss increasing their attacks on the nation. Kinich states that the first option was less dangerous, but Mavuika believes that both options were just as bad, as it was an attempt to undermine faith in the pilgrimage, which would divide the tribes. Mavuvika then states that with the help from the Masters of the Night-Wind, she could be able to find Kachina's Ancient Name and pinpoint her location, though a group would be needed to find her in the Night Kingdom. Mualani and the Traveler volunteer to rescue Kachina, as they still have many promises to uphold. Chasca and also decides to assist to atone for her failure to protect Kachina during the mission.
Iansan further speculates that Mavuika had further reasons to suspend the pilgrimage, which she confirms; despite hosting the pilgrimage frequently, the production of Contending Fire was far from sufficient and that they were now at their breaking point. The suspension would also serve to keep each tribe strong to defend against the Abyss. To keep the Sacred Flame going, Mavuika decides to sacrifice her power to do so, while Kinich believes they should focus on finding the other Ancient Name bearers. Mavuika tells him that they should let time pass, as the Wayob had chosen them and it was up to them to determine how the story would end.
Suddenly, a person enters the stadium to warn the Archon that the Fatui were present. Two Fatui Skirmishers arrive, before another person does, revealed to be Capitano — the first of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers. Captiano accuses Mavuika of failing to fulfill the oath made 500 years ago and proclaims that he will usher in a new era and rules for Natlan, but first by eliminating the old. Mavuika and Capitano clash, the former managing to land a wound on his chest before someone from the Masters of the Night-Wind emits a fog that allows Capitano to escape. Mavuika managed to sense the presence and orders Kinich to ask Citlali who the person could be, while back in the chamber, Paimon wonders what had happened.
- To Reclaim an Ancient Name
In order to physically enter the Night Kingdom, a Spiritspeaker Stone is required for the process. The group heads to the Huitztlan tribe and Chasca asks Wayna for the stone. Wayna is surprised to hear why they need it and complies. He further refers them to Vichama, who is experienced enough to navigate the Night Kingdom. They approach Vichama, who agrees to help as long as they help him find his friend Mallko afterwards and asks them to fetch him some materials to begin the process; some rope and obsidian. The group manages to acquire both items and learn why Vichama was depressed; during one pilgrimage, he had injured himself on the eve of battle when the Abyss attacked his tribe. Fearing that he would be a burden, he and his group spoke to the Pyro Archon for an exception, knowing that he would be a burden to the group with his injury. While the request was granted, unfortunately, the group was beset by a larger than anticipated horde of Abyssal monsters and overwhelmed.
Vichama begins the ritual and is attacked by monsters, which the group manages to repel. He manages to acquire Kachina's name, but fails to find Mallko's despite being in excruciating pain. This forces Chasca to destroy the stone to protect everyone, and the Traveler manages to find one of Mallko's memories. While Vichama is relieved to hear his voice again, he knew that the smile and tone was forced and laments his decision to stay behind. Mualani informs him that he was now contaminated with Abyssal energy, but advises him that he'll be fine as long as he controls his symptoms. They return to Wayna, finding Chasca's younger sister, Chuychu. Wayna explains Chasca's past to the group, while the two sisters argue over Chasca's decision to venture into the Night Kingdom. Ultimately, Chuychu agrees to support her older sister, while they inform Wayna that the stone had broken. He fears that Citlali would be angered, though he agrees to explain what happened to her later and prays for their success.
- Echoes of Life
With Kachina's Ancient Name recovered, the group returns to the Stadium of the Sacred Flame, where they learn that Mavuika had clashed with Capitano and her sacrifice. She leads them to another chamber where they discover a large amount of mementos she had kept over the years, of which some are more familiar than others. Mavuika then explains that during the cataclysm, after Tenoch had united the tribes and saved Natlan, the first Pyro Archon laid a foundation of rules that were followed in the current day before Paimon notices a family portrait of Mavuika and her family. Just as they finish talking about it, the powder settles and the group initiates the ritual.
Kachina appears before the group, initially believing them to be an Abyss trick until she's reassured that they aren't. She informs them that during her "death", she had investigated the Night Kingdom and discovered that the Abyss was affecting the Wayob, thus preventing her from coming back. She is scared of what will happen and initially tells them to leave her, but Mualani refuses to do so before losing contact. Mavuika then points them to an entrance to the Night Kingdom and Iansan volunteers to go with them to increase the chances of success.
When they arrive at the ruins, Paimon remarks on how advanced Natlan civilization was back then, before Chasca and Iansan correct her by stating that it was actually the civilization of the elemental sovereigns. Due to the presence of the Abyss, various devices in the formerly-abandoned ruins were now activating and fight their way through various hilichurls and Saurian manifestations before arriving at the rift leading to the Night Kingdom.
- Into Eternal Night
Stepping into the rift, the group is sent tumbling down a seemingly long drop but are unscathed. Now in the Abyss-corrupted Night Kingdom, Chasca warns the group to be on guard as many strange black entities float in the distance. An unknown entity informs them that they're manifestations of Abyssal power before introducing itself as Mallko, who they recognize as Vichama's friend. Mallko explains that after his death, he was lost to the realm until he felt a strange power calling to him. Learning that they were here for Kachina, he offers to help them and protects them from the manifestations. They find Kachina being attacked by several riftwolves and kill them. Kachina is relieved to see her friends again and asks them to accompany her to the Wayob. The group agrees as Mallko explains how the Wayob's consciousness works in the Night Kingdom, and they might be able to draw out the monster responsible for the problem.
Arriving at the totem, the group begins to purify it when an Abyss Lector called Comonqui arrives, having eliminated Mallko's spirit. Comonqui is a spectator who wishes to see the opportunity of destruction caused by the Abyss' power and claims that the Pyro Archon refuses to share the "primordial" power with the people and that the concepts she promotes are meaningless. Kachina is initially distraught by its words, but Mualani perks her back up and the two drive away the Lector after a brief battle. Due to Mualani's actions, a spectral entity called Tupac appears and congratulates her for acknowledging her true self and embodying the aspects of the tribe's Wayob. Mualani is flooded with memories of the past and realizes that the plan to save Natlan had begun during the cataclysm.
The totem is likewise purified and the Wayob speaks with Kachina, pleased with her growth before telling her to leave as an earthquake shakes the area. The group race to escape through the rift, but are too late. Just as everything seems hopeless, Mavuika appears and shatters the Night Realm, bringing them back to reality. The group is initially confused as to how she managed to do it (even being a projection of her consciousness), though they decide to ask her herself.
- Past and Future
Returning to the Speaker's Chamber, Chuychu treats the group for Abyssal contamination while noting that the Traveler is apparently immune to it. Mavuika states that they will play an important part in saving Natlan and explains that after the cataclysm, the tribes and their Wayob were weakened and needed to be strengthened again. When the Wayob picked their name bearer, it would be an indication that the tribe was back at fighting strength. However, parts of the plan failed to reach some of the tribes, and they only have less than a year to find the remaining two people before the nation would be destroyed. She advises patience to find the other two heroes, as pressuring them beforehand would be detrimental to the plan. Nonetheless, with Kachina safely returned, the group heads to the inn to celebrate.
At the Weary Inn, Pacal and the others celebrate Kachina's return. During the festivities, Mavuika speaks with the Traveler, who asks them to assist in saving Natlan. Mavuika promises to lend them her support and even forge them an Ancient Name of their own if they accept, which they naturally oblige with. With their agreement, she prepares to place an order with Xilonen to make one for them.
In the wilds of Natlan, Rezanov informs Capitano that the Pyro Archon had lost much of her power and asks if they should take the Gnosis. Capitano refuses, having acknowledged his defeat to her and not wanting to go against his own principles. An unknown person then tells him that Mavuika had decided not to dispel the fog they had created and asks what his next plan of action is. Captiano acknowledges their usefulness before asking them if they had heard something from "here."
Gallery[]
Other Languages[]
| Language | Official Name | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | Black Stone Under a White Stone | — |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 黑石湮落白石下 Hēishí Yānluò Báishí Xià | Black Stone Buried Under White Stone |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 黑石湮落白石下 Hēishí Yānluò Báishí Xià | |
| Japanese | 白石に埋もれし黒石 Shiroishi ni Uzumoreshi Kuroishi[!][!] | Black Stone Buried Under White Stone |
| Korean | 백석에 파묻힌 흑석 Baekseoge Pamuchin Heukseok | Black Stone Buried Under White Stone |
| Spanish | Roca oscura bajo roca blanca | Dark Rock Under a White Rock |
| French | Pierres noires sous des blanches | Black Stones Under White Ones |
| Russian | Чёрный камень, погребённый под белым Chyornyy kamen', pogrebyonnyy pod belym | Black Stone Buried Under a White |
| Thai | ศิลาดำใต้ผืนหินผาขาว | |
| Vietnamese | Đá Đen Ẩn Dưới Lớp Đá Trắng | |
| German | Schwarzer Stein unter dem weißen begraben | |
| Indonesian | Bebatuan Hitam di Bawah Timbunan Bebatuan Putih | |
| Portuguese | Pedra Preta Sob Pedra Branca | |
| Turkish | Beyaz Taşın Altındaki Siyah Taş | |
| Italian | Una pietra nera sotto una bianca |
