The Xianzhou Fanghu (Chinese: 方壶) is one of the six Flagships owned by the Hexafleet of the Xianzhou Alliance. It is led by the "Seiche Queller", Xuanquan. The Fanghu's specialty export are marine products[1] and they have a native species of seahorse.[2]
On the Fanghu, the High Elder Glaciator Marum governs over all citizens, and the Six Charioteers and Six Commissions support the High Elder. It is because of their influence that the Pearlkeepers aboard the Fanghu formed an elite force that have essentially replaced the role of the Cloud Knights there.[3]
Description[]
The Fanghu is an autonomous dominion of the Vidyadhara, and thusly has different customs, culture, and social structures from other Xianzhou ships. Reading materials such as the Fanghu Lifestyle Guide from the Star-Picking Tours are recommended to avoid unintended mistakes. Vidyadhara roaming around the Miniature Myriads and Pearlkeepers meditating are common sights on the Fanghu. The sound of belligerent dragon chants echoes through space from time to time.[4] Roiling Deep water from the Fanghu can be used in prescriptions. A species of black viper can also be found on the Fanghu. The Fanghu also has it's own species of longan. Fanghu Fossil Root and Dragon Scale Coral also has medicinal uses.[5]
According to the regional policy, a Xianzhou Alliance Travel Pass and a Fanghu Travel Pass, which must be applied for two-to-three months in advance, are required to travel in the Fanghu. The same rules apply to Xianzhou citizens. Those whose residency papers are under the jurisdiction of the Xianzhou Alliance are required to provide the certificate of conduct issued by the Realm-Keeping Commission of their domicile to the Sky-Faring Commission of the Fanghu. Travelers from other worlds are required to provide the certificate of conduct issued by their place of residence and the certificate of no criminal record issued by the IPC.
Though this procedure is slightly complicated, the Fanghu-issued travel pass remains valid for 20 years, so the process does not have to be repeated often. The Xianzhou Fanghu used to be the most famous tourist attraction of the Xianzhou Alliance. Unfortunately, the place could no longer accommodate vast numbers of tourists in recent years, and even stopped issuing new travel passes briefly due to the damage inflicted by the Third Abundance War. After the new travel policy was put into place, the ship opened up to visitors once more.[6]
Vidyadhara on the Fanghu enjoy a number of welfare benefits compared to other Xianzhou ships. For example, on the Fanghu, upon completing their hatching rebirth, the newborn Vidyadhara is immediately assigned a new residence without having to go through the standard real estate paperwork, which is an inconvenience to Vidyadhara who cannot keep track of their past lives. It is said that in regards to registering hatching rebirths, the Fanghu's Realm-Keeping Commission is more competent. Additionally, the water quality on the Fanghu is said to be better than other Xianzhou ships.[7]
Areas[]
Claretgleam Bay[]
The Claretgleam Bay in the Sanze Delve is the first stop for most travelers who visit the Fanghu. Many are immediately impressed by the water that flows peacefully on top of the dome of the delve the moment they disembark from their starskiffs. Many might have already witnessed this scene through an immersia or hologram before their arrival. Shangguan Sea Snakes can be seen gliding past with their massive bodies, along with the Lantern Fish sparkling like fireflies when they huddle together, and the Srimanth Conches hunting for schools of fish like nimble missiles.[6]
Reignbow's Road Museum[]
The Reignbow's Road Museum is located in the East Sea Delve. Its name in full is "Third Abundance War Reignbow's Road Museum." As the entire East Sea Delve was razed to the ground during the war, the museum was built upon the ruins. In Reignbow's Road Museum, a holographic History of Reignbow's Road formed using the Vidyadhara's cloudhymn magic is displayed. The exhibit shows how the catastrophe took place and how the Abundance Axis launched an aggressive attack against the Fanghu, and how the Pearlkeepers put up a tenacious defense, but to no avail as the Abundance Axis managed to invade the delve in the end. To prevent further destruction, the Reignbow Arbiter appeared to wipe out the fleet of the Abundance Axis with divine arrows and annihilated many corrupted delves. Among them, East Sea Delve was the only one that was simply "reduced to ruins."[6]
What is described as the most stunning exhibition hall in the museum is the Palace of Mortal World, where the Fanghu and IPC have built a replica of Moundfish Avenue, the busiest area in East Sea Delve before the war. The daily lives of the 39,823 residents is manifested in the form of Mirage Echoes showing their comings and goings prior to the disaster. The Mirage Echoes can hold conversation, and are described as ordinary people who probably never expected they would perish during the war. Reignbow's Road Museum offers free entry to travelers as the citizens of Fanghu want to show more people the purpose behind the Xianzhou Alliance's endeavors.[6]
Wild Shore[]
The Wild Shore is the most renowned beach in the Fanghu. Despite the complicated travel pass application procedure, the attraction still welcomes almost 70 million travelers every year. The biggest appeal of the Wild Shore is that it is both a hot spring and a beach. The water there is rich in microbes beneficial for the health of one's skin, and the shore is blessed with a magnificent stretch of white sand and beautiful natural scenery. However, its extreme popularity is its most significant drawback as aside the off-season, the sands are crowded with tourists.[6]
Alchemy Commission[]
In front of the entrance to the Fanghu's Alchemy Commission stands a statue of dragon scale coral. Underneath it, there is an inscription that reads: "When you mistakenly believe you can control nature, always remember: nature is the ultimate biochemist."[8]
History[]
In the Theophany Era, on December, Year 2607 Star Calendar, the Xianzhou Fanghu, alongside the Yaoqing and Zhuming, introduced its own Yellowjacket Census and Almanacs, advising of all death revitalizations on Xianzhou for that year.[9]
During the Era of Bloodshed, the Xianzhou Alliance encountered a Dyson tree called Muldrasil, homeland of the Wingweavers, feeding off nearby stars. As if attracted by the power of the Ambrosial Arbor on the Luofu, Muldrasil began to approach it, and war broke out between the Xianzhou and the Denizens of Abundance residing in the tree.
Fatigued from the Civil War, the aurumaton rebellion, and their emigration plan, all the prisoners in cryo-hibernation were released to counter the invasion — including the Reignbow, who made a deal with the Flint Emperor, allowing the latter to possess their physical body in exchange for the power of the Heliobi. Inspired by the Reignbow's sacrifice, the Xianzhou residents make the same deal, forming suicide squads and marching alongside the Heliobi. During the battle, the Reignbow shot their Sky-Shattering Lux Arrow from the bow of the Yaoqing, using their famed bow "Xuanyuan", causing great casualties among even the furthest ships, the Xuling and Fanghu, which was the third-furthest away in the battle formation. The arrow smashed into the Ambrosial Arbor, severing the connection between the Luofu and Muldrasil.[10]
In the Year 4800 Star Calendar, the five lineages of the Vidyadhara made an alliance on the Yuque, putting their sacred vow into writing: "This oath shall remain unbroken, standing stronger than even earth and steel." Glaciator Marum signed the covenant with the Xianzhou Alliance on behalf of the Vidyadhara, and the five High Elders were bound to keep watch over the respective plaguemarks of each Xianzhou ship. Glaciator Marum was bound to watch over the Miniature Myriads on the Fanghu.[11] As a reward, the Alliance granted the Vidyadhara the Xianzhou Fanghu to rule as an autonomous ship.[7]
During an unnamed conflict on Thalassa, the Fanghu's Ebonpearl Fleet was considered for deployment, as they had Vidyadhara cloudhymn magi capable of stopping the Devil's Tide. Ultimately, the Generals decided to use the Heroncrest of the Yaoqing instead, as the Fanghu was too far away, and current forces would've had to withstand multiple counterattacks from the enemy for six months before the Fanghu arrived.[12] At some point in history, the Fanghu, alongside the Yaoqing and Zhuming, engaged in warfare against Lord Ravager Celenova and her troops.[13][14]
In the Year 8038 Star Calendar, borisin Yewliho led her fleet, the Preta, with 127 men remaining, to the Fanghu, determined to submit and pledge allegiance to the Alliance after the death of her son at the hands of borisin Bloodwind Pack Chief Kobo. After two long years of careful deliberation, the Alliance decided to pardon these borisin for their crimes and allow them to live inside the Fanghu under strict surveillance. This was on the condition that they comply with all Alliance research on borisin, as well as submitting all beast ship-related technology to them. This was also the time that Zongguang met Yewliho. As a cultural anthropologist, they were ordered to interview the 127 borisin, in order to deepen the Xianzhou's understanding of borisin society. Throughout the course of their research, Yewliho and Zongguang developed a deep friendship.
Likely because of her hatred towards Kobo, Yewliho always hoped that she would be able to lead her Preta to fight for the Alliance. However, a request like this was unlikely to receive approval. Yewliho made this request again and again and was rejected every time. After 30 years, she could bear this cycle no longer and began to seek Zongguang's assistance. Zongguang suggested that she write a long letter explaining her life and background in detail. This would allow her to explain her hatred of her enemies to the Seven Arbiter-Generals and why she longed to fight for the Alliance.[15]
In the year 8072 Star Calendar, during the Third Abundance War, the Yaoqing and Fanghu alerted the Luofu about the assembly of the Denizens of Abundance, the revival of the living planet Ketu Mirage, and their attack on the Fanghu. The Luofu dispatched four brigades of Cloud Knights to help them fight, but they were still in a dire situation. Yewliho had finished writing My Return to the Path around this time, and without receiving permission from the Alliance, Yewliho and the Preta launched their final assault, killing an unknown number of Denizens of Abundance.[15]
Fu Xuan and Jing Yuan, a Diviner and Arbiter-General of the Luofu, came up with a plan to contact the Reignbow Arbiter using the Yuque's Cloudpeer Telescope. The Reignbow Arbiter then descended onto the battlefield and annihilated the borisins' fleet using their Lux Arrow, and nearly one-fifth of the Xianzhou Fanghu's delves were destroyed by the Lux Arrow's bombardment. Yewliho and the Preta managed to transport at least 4,000 civilians to safety before the Reignbow's Lux Arrow descended. During this process, all 127 borisin warriors, including Yewliho perished.[16][15]
Ever since the Third Abundance War, the Fanghu had adopted self-preservation policies to recuperate. As a result, they had cut off most of their regular communications and trade with the other Xianzhou ships, a decision from the Fanghu's high elder, Glaciator Marum, implicitly stemming from the Vidyadhara's inability to produce offspring. After the new travel policy was put into place, the ship opened up to visitors once more.[6]
On April, Year 8098 Star Calendar, the Fanghu announced on the Yellowbell system that they were currently moored at the Lanadi star system in the Tlaltecuhtli star cluster, a system with no terrestrial planets, except for one with a rudimentary ecosystem. The Fanghu had determined this to be a hidden star system with no ecosphere within several light years' range, meaning it could easily evade attacks from the Denizens of Abundance or the Antimatter Legion. Presently the Fanghu is expected to moor there for some ten Star Calendar years, unless unforeseen circumstances are to transpire.[17]
Known Personnel[]
Leadership[]
- Glaciator Marum — High Elder of the Vidyadhara
- Xuanquan — General of the Cloud Knights
Pearlkeepers[]
- Linxi — Head of the Xianzhou Fanghu Inspection Team
Cloud Knight Units[]
- Ebonpearl Fleet
Others[]
- Hongjin — Citizen
Gallery[]
Other Languages[]
Language | Official Name |
---|---|
English | The Xianzhou Fanghu |
Change History[]
References[]
- ↑ The Luofu Sky-Faring Commission Guilds List
- ↑ Disciples of Sanctus Medicus: Collection of Exhibits: Draught of Draconic Surge
- ↑ NPC: Yueyuan dialogue
- ↑ NPC: Ruoyue fortune
- ↑ Readable: Jiaoqiu's Consumable Prescription
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Readable: Xianzhou Alliance Travel Guide
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 NPC: Hongjin
- ↑ Synthesis Material: Dragon Scale Coral
- ↑ Readable: History of the Xianzhou: Errata
- ↑ Readable: Annotations from "Ode to Reignbow Path"
- ↑ Honkai: Star Rail (August 29, 2023). Animated Short: Ichor of Two Dragons. YouTube. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
- ↑ Data Bank, Characters, Fu Xuan: Character Story: Part II
- ↑ Seat of Divine Foresight: File Repository: Nemesis — Ruin: Celenova
- ↑ List of Archenemies: Ruin Scroll: Lord Ravager
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Readable: My Return to the Path Foreword
- ↑ Readable: Record of Reignbow's Road
- ↑ Readable: Records of Yellowbell Resonance