#neverfall troupe

[shiningdesignersreflections]

Qin Yi: Inky Soundwave

Designer's Reflection: Inky Soundwave

Obtained: top-up for Wishes on the Cloud hell event

Rarity: SSR

Attribute: Blue/Cool

Awakened Suit: Inky Flame

Story - transcripts from Designer's Reflection

Chapter 1 - Dark Street Live House

Chapter 2 - Secret Plan in Rainy Night

Chapter 3 - All of a Sudden

Chapter 4 - Curtains Will Rise

Story - summarized

REX is a rising rock star in Azureink. He's so popular that he will perform alongside Qin Yi in an upcoming performance, blending Cloud-style theater with Apple-style music.

But REX still has no money, even after all his successful shows. When a gang leader captures and threatens him, he agrees to become a spy for the Neverfall Troupe. The gang leader wants to go after Qin Yi to teach him a lesson about interfering with his gang's activity in Azureink.

The day of the concert arrives. Qin Yi starts performing onstage when the gang barges in, threatening to kill him. REX is right beside the gang leader, who is barking orders to surround Qin Yi.

All the gang members aim their guns at the leader.

At that moment, the leader realizes that he was played by REX. Not just that, but REX was Qin Yi's disguise while in Azureink, blending in as he entangled himself in the underground world.

With this last gang taken down and integrated into Neverfall Troupe, Qin Yi now controls Azureink. He has access to secret intel, as well as the guns and ammunition coming in through the port.

Connections

-This is one of Qin Yi's two Reflections for the first Chinese New Year hell event. Pollia Mist Silk shows his childhood, dealing with poverty, relying on deer food for sustenance, and growing into a cynical young adult.

-The first rock star we meet in Shining Nikki is Jax. She and REX both are tied to other people, but whereas REX is a disguise by Qin Yi, Jax is an alter for Yuka. (You can learn more about alters and DID/OSDD here.)

-Azureink seems like a terribly violent city. First, Zoey nearly dies there and is forced to work for the gang lord Booker until she kills him (Mind Maze 4), and now Qin Yi is wanted by the top gang.

Fun Facts

-The fan that "Qin Yi" uses held pear blossoms. Pear blossoms symbolize hope, growth, and renewal.

-At the beginning of the Reflection, the live house owner talks about REX performing in a theater. It's unclear if he always knew it was Qin Yi in disguise at this point.

[shiningdesignersreflections]

Yueniang: Orchid Shadows

Designer's Reflection: Orchid Shadows

Obtained: Vol. 2 Ch. 5 workshop

Rarity: SR

Attribute: Purple/Sexy

Awakened Suit: Orchid Mark

Story - transcripts from Designer's Reflection

Chapter 1 - Best Writer

Chapter 2 - Working Plan

Chapter 3 - Ghost Market Vibes

Story - summarized

Yueniang can't think of anything to write. All he can think about is his mission to steal the painting you and Nikki have and find the Cloud Hermit. Eventually, he goes to sleep.

The next day, he goes to where the Neverfall Troupe is rehearsing their newest play. He and Nine, the apprentice, get into a squabble about who's a better playwright - when Qin Yi appears behind them.

Qin Yi is less interested in a new manuscript, and more concerned about intercepting the painting Nikki has. Yueniang assures him that he has everything planned out.

Finally, the time has come. Yueniang returns to the Ghost Market and takes his place. He has to give a convincing performance if he's going to switch the painting with a fake.

Connections

-Similar to Qin Yi's story in Blissful Cloud, Yueniang puts on a front. Both of them consider real life to be a performance, and their "scripts" are just secret plans to get what they want.

-Yueniang used to enjoy such luxuries at his family's estate. But in Smoky Shadows, he was disowned by his family and forced on the streets.

-Also in Smoky Shadows, you understand why Yueniang likes women's clothing. He was very close to his mother before she died, and he was often disregarded by the rest of his family.

-The painting Yueniang is after is from Wenren Dian, the "Cloud Hermit." Wenren is difficult to find, and only a few people are allowed to meet him - which is why the old gardener in Chapter 4 got hostile with Yueniang when he tried to climb West Mountain to find Wenren.

Fun Facts

-"Yueniang" most likely means "moon mother."

-In Chinese floriography, orchids represent beauty, as well as elegance and nobility. You can learn more here.

-Yueniang is a gender-nonconforming man.

[shiningdesignersreflections]

Zoey: Traveler’s Robe

Designer’s Reflection: Traveler’s Robe

Obtained: Diamond Arena season 3

Rarity: UR

Attribute: Gold/Elegant

Awakened Suit: Traveler’s Brocade

Story - transcripts from Designer’s Reflection

Chapter 1 - Bait the Snake

Chapter 2 - Showtime

Chapter 3 - Cloudcrest Tour

Chapter 4 - Empty City

Chapter 5 - Target, Lodden

Story - summarized

There is a spy in Rosset. Zoey built this city to be secure, so having a traitor in her midst is infuriating. She creates a fake secret file to see who tries to run off with it. It doesn’t take her long to find the traitor - but she is shocked to learn the traitor is working for Qin Yi.

Zoey decides to visit Cloudcrest. The Neverfall Troupe is expecting her, and they lead her to their theater. The play starts - she is furious that Qin Yi wrote an entire play based after her loss to Mercury. How did he find out?

During intermission, she goes to find Qin Yi. He tells her that he admires her and just wants a friendship with her. She hates his manipulative attitude and leaves.

While inspecting the city, Zoey learns a bit more about Qin Yi’s past. Now that she is armed with one of his secrets, she feels ready to face him again. That night, she returns to the theater. Half her soldiers she leaves outside in case anyone tries to escape the theater, and half her soldiers follow her inside in case of an ambush.

The only one inside is Qin Yi, sitting on a stage, playing chess. He insists that all he wants is an alliance with her. He wants to give her information on Mercury’s hideout, and in return he wants resources from the Justiciars. Zoey agrees.

The Justiciars return to Rosset, and Zoey starts scheming to infiltrate Mercury’s auction gala at Lodden. Despite this shaky alliance with Neverfall Troupe, she hates two things: being manipulated and others finding out her secrets. She will not hesitate to get rid of Qin Yi if needed.

Connections

-In her Reflection for Gold Gilt Dream, Zoey reveals that there were two reasons for her infiltrating Mercury’s gala. Whether or not they got Leonid’s manuscript, she still wanted to get the plans for Mercury’s secret base on New Wing Island.

-This takes place before Zoey meets Nikki in game.

-Zoey tells Qin Yi that she knows about his mother. So far, Qin Yi’s Reflections have shown him trying to get away from her and her neglectful ways... but Zoey confirms in this moment that he still cares about her.

Fun Facts

-Zoey usually charges ahead in her missions, but here she has to learn a different tactic to dealing with Qin Yi’s mind games.