To Those Who Embark on the Expedition

To Those Who Embark on the Expedition is the first act of Varka's Story Quest, the Lupus Majoris Chapter. In order to unlock this quest line, the player must have completed Song of the Welkin Moon: Act VIII - True Moon and reached Adventure Rank 40.

List of Quests

1. Triumphant Warrior
2. Fated Warrior
3. Lonely Warrior

Summary

Triumphant Warrior

The Traveler and Paimon receive a letter from Venti who wishes to learn about their feats in Nod-Krai. They catch up with him at Starsnatch Cliff, where they tell him of their travels. Venti realizes that with the expedition over, Varka would return from his expedition, remarking that he hadn't met him in a while. He explains that while resting at Thousand Winds, he heard a commotion outside and saw a young Varka battle the local Ruin Guard, unfazed by what he saw. As Paimon asks what it sounded like, they hear the same commotion, discovering a young man besting the automaton.

The trio head down to meet the person, who recognizes them. He introduces himself as Lohen, the Vice Captain of the 5th Company. Paimon states that he must've been with the expedition, but they had never seen him at all. Lohen explains that he rarely spent time in base, rather he spent his time fighting monsters left and right. After the Nod-Krai situation was settled, Varka sent him back to Mondstadt to deliver letters; ten in total, with one for Venti. Since the Archon had no address, Varka suggested he head to the Thousand Winds Temple, where he discovered the Ruin Guard and decided to spar with it. Lohen also tells Venti that Varka wanted him to write back as he reads the letter. Venti decides to give his response some thought, asking the Traveler and Paimon to show Lohen around. As the group leaves, Venti mulls over the Abyss, Wild Hunt and Andrius, hoping that Varka could safely return.

Around the Pillar of Embla, Varka wonders who was talking about him and hopes no one found his secret stash as his knights remind him of the danger in front of them. Varka states that the threat (a group of Wild Hunt stragglers) aren't even an issue and they destroy them with ease. Winfried remarks that without Rerir, the Wild Hunt stragglers are wandering about aimlessly with a primal urge to destroy. Ekbert believes that the Lightkeepers should be able to handle them now, while Varka knows there is a bigger threat ahead. Leifhelm informs Varka that their target is just up ahead, so he orders them to remain behind and stand guard as he handles the threat himself. He finds a shard of Andrius and as he approaches it, various memories from the past flood his mind.

Varka plants his claymore in front of the fragment, only for it to transform into a red wolf, who asks Varka if the surface world is corrupt with injustice and strife. Varka finds it amusing that he had expected the trip to go by without an incident as he prepares for battle.

Back at the Knights of Favonius Headquarters, Lohen delivers the rest of the letters to Jean, Lisa, Sucrose, Mika, Noelle, Eula and Amber before he asks where Kaeya is. The Traveler offers to deliver the letter for him, which he accepts. Jean tells Lohen to take a rest, but Lohen insists on delivering one more letter to Wolvendom, having heard someone else had passed Boreas' trial. Noticing Jean's unease, the Traveler checks in on her. Jean is surprised that her expression was obvious, but she explains to him that before Varka left, he told her that if he failed to return, she would become the Grand Master and train his successor. The Boreas lineage had been almost wiped out twice, the first instance a thousand years ago, when the original Knight of Boreas had no plans. Fortunately, he had his own successor, Ravenwood, and the Knight of Boreas has since served as an intermediary between the Wolf of the North and the people of Mondstadt. She also tells them that very few people know about Andrius' origins in Nod-Krai, even amongst the Knights.

The Traveler makes their way to Angel's Share, finding Kaeya, Rosaria and Diluc and gives them their letters. In Diluc's letter, he apologizes to him for Eroch's actions and asks if he would be willing to rejoin the Knights. Diluc still has no intention of doing so, even after learning the truth, prompting Kaeya and Rosaria to discuss how they protected their homeland. The Traveler then speaks to each one individually, learning from Rosaria that Varka was worried about the nation, alluding to the second incident during the cataclysm. Rosaria explains that few were recognized by Boreas himself, those being Ravenwood, Rostam and Varka. However, one person had been respected by Boreas well before becoming a Knight; a disciple of Rostam who many believed would be the best Knight of Boreas named Roland. Originally known as the White Knight, he became known as the Bloodstained Knight after numerous battles and his fate was left unknown. She believed that if he knew the Knights had welcomed him, his fate would have changed.

Deciding to investigate on their own, the Traveler and Paimon head to Wolvendom, only to find an ominous purple mist and the Wild Hunt. After killing the monsters in front of them, the Traveler spots Lohen, who approaches them. Lohen asks about the two letters they delivered, which the Traveler corrects as three. Lohen then reveals it was just a test to ensure the Wild Hunt hadn't taken on their forms. Boreas then speaks to them, clearing their identities and asking them to meet him in his arena.

The Traveler finds Razor alongside Boreas, who explains to Paimon that he was a fragment of Andrius' soul. The corruption from Nod-Krai had travelled to Mondstadt. Venti then arrives and explains Boreas' history to the group; Andrius was convinced by the original knight to journey south, splitting his soul into two parts; one that remained in Nod-Krai, and another that went to Mondstadt. Boreas discerns that Andrius was not able to find peace, being twisted by the Abyss as it was. Lohen states that the Knights followed the trail and found no signs of tampering, in which Boreas corrects that he also sensed another presence in the Ley Lines, a scent that reeked in blood. The Traveler asks if this scent was from Roland, which Boreas confirms. He tells them that while he did not care of his fate, he knew that he went to Khaenri'ah.

Venti reveals that he had sent Dvalin over to ferry one person to Nod-Krai, which would be the Traveler, while the rest would stay behind to defend Mondstadt from the Wild Hunt. Before they leave, Andrius asks Razor for his claymore and blesses it, telling the Traveler to give it to Varka, as he imbued it with a Wolf Spirit, containing his power and thoughts. Dvalin brings the Traveler to Nod-Krai, arriving just as Varka and his knights kill the last of the enemies in front of them. The red wolf, calling itself Roland, temporarily retreats. Varka explains that while the wolf is not as strong compared to their recent enemies, it is able to take advantage of the land and is worried about the god remains powering it. Having taken a sample off in a previous fight, they return to Favonius Keep.

Fated Warrior

At the keep, the Traveler finds Jahoda, Ineffa and Flins, who were also handling the aftermath of the recent attacks in the land. Varka assembles the group for a meeting, telling them that the attacks are not led by Rerir, but by someone else. Albedo and Durin explain that when Rerir was removed, the Abyss sought to find a replacement, doing so in the form of Roland, who then corrupted Andrius' remains. While possible to kill the god, doing so could potentially result in disaster to the land. Varka then asks the Traveler for the item Boreas prepared for him, and the Traveler takes it out. Varka siphons the Wolf Spirit into his own claymore and the Traveler views Boreas' final thoughts before he laid himself to rest.

Varka explains that while Boreas' remains settled in Mondstadt, the land was not ruined because he had chosen to implant himself into the Ley Lines. He theorizes that if they could convince Andrius to do so, he could break free from the Abyss' corruption and make his own decision. However, his sword is not strong enough to do so, and they need to find the remaining Wolf Spirit fragments scattered around the land. The expedition itself was actually to recover these fragments, so most of them had been collected, leaving only two left. Varka asks the Traveler to accompany him to the second fragment while the others would find the last one.

Returning to the Pillar of Embla, they find Abyssal corrosion and dispel it with the local mandragoras, finding the Wolf Spirit. Varka begins to absorb the spirit, only to find that it had been corrupted by Roland. Fortunately, the damage was not permenant, and Varka asks the Traveler to purify the corruption but not remove it. Knowing of their travels in Natlan, he compared the process to "fishing" for an Ancient Name in the Night Kingdom. To anchor Roland, he brings out a letter that Rostam had written for Roland. Arundolyn tried to have it delivered after Rostam's death, though it was never sent as they couldn't find him. As the Traveler finishes the process, a strange entity speak to them, surprising Varka, as he thought it was Dainsleif, but realizes it was someone else. The Traveler realizes this person was Vedrfolnir, who gazed through them when the Traveler did so themselves. Thus, they learn that Roland had given everything to the Abyss after seeing its injustice and they confirm Vedrfolnir was unlikely to directly intervene. Varka then reveals his plan, which the Traveler refuses as it was too dangerous. Varka insists that it has to go through, fearing that the enemy would not give them enough time to do anything else.

Jahoda then arrives and informs them that the enemy ambushed them as soon as they set out for the third fragment. With two teams in trouble, Jahoda is unsure of who to support when Ineffa arrives, informing them that the Logistics Company were ready to help. Varka orders them to the battlefield, where they help one side before helping the other. With both groups saved, they relay their information to Varka, pinpointing the location of the final fragment. As more ghouls continue to swarm in, the group orders Varka to get the final Wolf Spirit. As he does so, Roland emerges, wanting to have a fair fight with him. He offers to let him rest and recover, but Varka insists on fighting now, and their duel commences.

As the group handles the last of the Wild Hunt, the Knights order the Traveler to get to Varka. Elsewhere, Varka and Roland spar, though the latter notes that the former is not trying and claims to have seen through his plan. Roland destroys Varka's sword and swallows him.

Lonely Warrior

Varka finds himself in a mysterious space and decides to explore it. As he continues deeper into the space, he finds a Favonius Sword and inspects it, causing Rostam's longing to attach to him. He then finds a Ferrous Shadow and purges it, discovering Ravenwood's longing. He refuses the Abyss' attempts to coerce him into surrendering, discovering the Wandering Knight's Wolf's Gravestone, whose longing also attaches to him. As he makes his way to the "heart of the wolf," it attempts to reject him, but the three swords allow him to push forward. At the heart, he discovers Roland, who raises pillars from the arena. Roland believes that Varka will be extinguished, but Varka remains defiant and demands he face him, which he ultimately obliges with.

Varka is surprised by how sane Roland appeared to him, while Roland sees Varka as a lost soul, though Varka states that both are not at their peak. Roland admits that the one he presents himself as is an imperfect copy by the Abyss. Varka reminds Roland that they are at the heart of the wolf, and he calls out to Andrius, who decides to return to the Ley Lines, much to Roland's shock. Roland realizes that Varka had deceived him by storing Boreas' soul in himself and not his sword, though the act meant that he could no longer liberate him. As he bids farewell in anticipation of his death, Varka reveals that he intends to return to the world of the living, revealing that the letters he had sent were meant to have people anchor him, reversing the process. As Roland dissipates, he releases numerous souls in an attempt to stop him, but Varka fights his way out. Varka powers through with the thoughts of his friends and compatriots, eventually coming upon Roland's sword. Though the Roland he saw was a fake, he leaves Rostam's letter beside it and asks the sword to let the abyssal Roland know that Rostam and Arundolyn never forgot him.

At the end of the journey, Varka awakens to find himself at Windrise with everyone waiting for him there, with the Traveler returning his sword to him.

Characters

40 Characters appear in this Quest:

• Aino
• Albedo
• Amber
• Boreas
• Capitano
• Diluc
• Durin
• Dvalin
• Ekbert
• Erminie
• Eula
• Flins
• Illuga
• Ineffa
• Jahoda
• Jean
• Kaeya
• Klee
• Leifhelm
• Lisa
• Lohen
• Mavuika
• Mika
• Noelle
• Paimon
• Ravenwood
• Razor
• Roland
• Rosaria
• Rostam
• Ruin Guard
• Sucrose
• Traveler
• Varka
• Vedrfolnir
• Venti
• Virtanen
• Vytautas
• Wandering Knight
• Winfried

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