Standard Char. #2 - Encore's story recap
From Encore's Resonator Showcase (ww)
*Gifs may affect load times. For those who've used the skip button too much, or want a quick refresher, I'll summarize Encore's companion quest here, including a breakdown on the character's origins from their archives, as well as a quick overview of their resonance and forte.
Using only in game content and official WW content, I'll cover:
Encore's story
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Encore's origin
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Resonance and Forte - "Wooly-Counting Game"
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Companion Quest Recap - "Small Wooly, Big Adventures"
- Prologue
- Encore's story
- Inside Encore's story
- Outside Encore's story
- The Sword of Courage
- The Shield of Faith
- The Wreath of Hope at the Garden of Promise
- Encore's past
- Verina's wreath
- Encore's stage
- The Wooly kingdom with Ying
- The Gateway of Wishes
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Epilogue - "The Tale has ended. It's time to return to reality"
I've pulled all media from either Kuro's official resonator showcase - I'll caption these with (ww).
Or from this cutscenes video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDTmbtX6P08&t=1s by Streetwise Rhapsody which are all clips not marked with (ww).
Other recaps:
- Patch 1.0 Story Recap
- Patch 1.1 Story Recap
- Patch 1.2 Story Recap
- Patch 1.3 Story Recap
- Patch 1.4 Story Recap
- Patch 1.0 Key Terms - Compendium / TL;DR version
- Standard Char. #1: Lingyang's story recap
- Limited Char. #1: Jiyan's story recap
- Limited Char. #2: Yinlin's story recap
- Limited Char. #4: Changli's story recap
- Limited Char. #5: Zhezhi's story recap
Spoilers ahead.
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Encore's origin
“A girl accompanied by one black and one white Wooly. Encore, consultant from the Black Shores, dreams of creating happy stories with candies, fairy tales, and her imagination. “ - Basic information
Encore is a flame resonator hailing from New Federation. She is rarely without her two woolies (plushies): Cloudy (white wooly) and Cosmos (black wooly).
These woolies started out as plushies, but slowly came alive to comfort Encore from her nightmares.
*Much of Encore's past is covered in her companion quest, I'll only touch on other details here.
Encore has had Cloudy and Cosmos for as long as she can remember, “her first vivid memories of these woolies trace back to a cramped and lively theatre."
Encore associates her mom with “the black Wooly knight…she saw the same faked stern expression in both her mother and the Wooly knight.”
“Cloudy represented a gentle princess with a kind heart…it was the black Wooly’s duty to keep her safe.”- A kid from the Theatre, Character Archives
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The woolies first spoke to her at her mother’s funeral, and Encore began to hear a bit of her mom’s voice in Cloudy (when she usually used to hear it in Cosmos - this metaphorically represents a shift from Encore seeing her mom as the lead to herself as the protector warrior lead). Cosmos was more petulant upon awakening, bored with the funeral and wanting Encore to leave, and Encore left among disapproving guests to a dilapidated theatre, where she saw her mom, withered in reality but shone brightly here, surrounded by flowers. But as Encore drew near, the mom disappeared, and before Encore succumbed to darkness, Cloudy and Cosmos chanted “encore, encore” from the audience, and Encore recomposed to keep the show going - “encore emerged into the stage as the new leading role, welcomed by enthusiastic applause from Cosmos and Cloudy” - A heroine’s return, Character Archives
Encore becomes a consultant (Black Shores members who travel to other regions and report, unlike Bloom Bearers primarily stationed at Tethys) with the Black Shores, who more or less accept her child-like tendencies and try to indulge her when they’re free, but it’s usually cosmos and Cloudy that come to her side with stories. Stories that helped stave off nightmares like the one of her at the Orphanage known as “candy house” which was “devoured by scorching flames”.
[This is my understanding of the text - the director of the orphanage (metaphorically “black cat”) wasn’t exactly morally upright, and “encore witnessed its demise, the inevitable consequence of its wicked deeds…the Reaper refused to easily forgive this sinful soul soaked in innocent blood, choosing instead to torture it and revel in its reluctant confession.” ] - Orphanage and the Candy house, Character Archives
Encore had attempted to console the suffering “black cat” as it burned.
Encore met Aalto visiting in the hospital, where he’d also heard of the “one from the orphanage - ‘Nine-year-old Girl Cracks Sensational Case'”. Aalto is here for her and the other kids from the orphanage. Encore insists on bringing Cloudy and Cosmos along, won over by Aalto’s offer of candies, and he agrees - seeing them as only plushies at the time. - A New Story a New Adventure, Character Archives
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Resonance and Forte - "Wooly-Counting Game"
“The sheep-like entities that accompany her are considered to be manifestations of her imagination and psychological state…represent her Forte abilities.” - Forte examination report
The exact time of awakening is uncertain, but she’s considered a congenital resonator (born with it). Overtime, she'd developed sheep like tufts in her hair, and in times of distress will grow full horns (see above). Encore hits high highs and low lows, and is at significant risk of overclocking. “It is recommended to contact her guardian for routine examinations."
Scribbled note: “Encore says Aalto is NOT her guardian.”
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Companion Quest Recap - "Small Wooly, Big Adventures"
The quest takes place around the events of 1.3 - Encore is absent from the main story quest, and we learn she's on vacation. Cannot confirm if it's before, during or after, but likely shortly after.
Prologue
Encore invites us to listen to her story, and we find her surrounded by little kids earnestly listening to Encore, who’s waiting for Rover before she continues.
Encore's been on vacation for a while here
Encore explains they didn’t really get a chance to hang out with the troubles before, and she’s now on vacation! Black Shores is more considerate than we think, and Encore had cleared her free time with Aalto, and she’s “come here by myself with my stories and Aalto’s wallet.”
Encore introduces Rover to the kids, who’d heard of this hero from encore’s stories. Encore tells stories of all her friends it seems, with
- “A big bad wolf that can turn itself into mist” (Aalto)
- “Golden-eyed kitty and its little birdie friend with gray feathers” (Rover and Yangyang)
Encore invites Rover to the next story…”might even get to go inside one”
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Encore's Story
Rover's pulled into Encore's imaginary world - the Wooly Kingdom
Encore begins her story of “the wooly warrior and how she makes her wishes come true”. She tells us about the kingdom where there’s a magical gateway through which one can find riches and treasure, after overcoming a great many ordeals. The kids and the woolies shout out their wishes, and Encore invites them to close their eyes and “believe in my tale”, and after the story, their wishes will all be granted. Rover takes Encore’s hand, and is teleported. Rover doesn’t have an explanation - “Looks like I’m inside Encore’s story somehow…”
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Inside Encore’s story
https://i.redd.it/52xl1ak710be1.gif
Rover meets a seemingly unaware Encore inside, who invites Rover to team up to seek out the gateway of wishes. They go through a setting of floating castles, large woolies floating in the sky, and pink and white clouds that can be used as trampolines.
They rescue Cloudy from TDs, and who lets them know they’ll need 3 objects:
- The Sword of Courage
- The shield of Faith
- The Wreath of Hope
With the stakes clearly laid out, Encore and Rover exit to regroup.
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Outside Encore's story
Back in the gazebo with listening children, Encore explains that all her stories start in the Wooly kingdom, the world of cloudy and cosmos, and Encore can invite anyone so long as they “believe”.
“Mom said that as long as you believe, the stories will give you strength. So whenever I think of them, it makes my heart feel warm.” - Encore
Encore enlists Rover in getting the audience’s thoughts, to shape the story going forward. She points out a little girl who looks sad, and asks Rover about her views.
Ying had been listening to the story of 3 relics
They speak to this timid “Ying”, who solemny asks if it’s true the wishes will be granted if the three relics are found. Encore confirms, and Ying profers a map with what seems to show the location of the sword. Rover recognizes it as in the Central Plains, and Encore marvels that Rover has travelled to every corner of Jinzhou. She says that indeed the wooly warriors finds a map, and asks about the map
“It’s from my mom… This map is a promise we made. Mom took me to a play one time. I remember in that play, the adventures wanted to have their wishes come true, so with the Wooly Fairy’s help, they set off to find the legendary relics. Just like in the story you told us
After watching it, I asked Mom all the time if these relics that could make wishes come true were real, and whether we could go look for them!
But she was always busy with work as a Ranger, so she wasn’t home much…She told me next time she came back from work, she would go relic huntiing with me…B-but now, I only have one wish…I wanna see my mom again. There are so many things I wanna tell her.” - Ying
Ying also speaks of adults telling her she’s just gone far away, and not believing them. Encore is very quiet as Ying speaks, and Encore invites Ying to join their team.
“Encore knows that grown-ups always say that kind of thing just to be nice. Most of them are okay, just a little stuffy sometimes. Encore’s heard a lot of them before, so Encore can tell what’s real and what’s not.” - Encore
Encore insists the treasure map is real, and that it was given to Ying is reason enough to look into it. Encore also believes this clue will put them on track to an ending she hasn’t come up with yet.
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The Sword of Courage
Rover, Ying and Encore head to the marked map location on the central plains, where they come across a band of tick tack TDs. Encore and Rover dispatch them, and interacting with the map near the location triggers a path through the air, on those fluffy platform clouds. At the end of the path, they find a plain wooden sword in a wrapped box, with a note.
It reads to not judge the sword at first glance, but to remember the ordeals and courage displayed to get to the sword.
Ying is satisfied and curious if Encore has seen the sword in other Wooly stories, and encore briefly looks sad and shakes her head.
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The Shield of Faith
Rover searches through clues (mostly garbage) on the beach before finding the shield
The note continues that the shield of faith is nearby underneath - the beach right under the clouds they’re standing on. They split up on the beach to search the sand. Rover finds the package with the shield and a note, after going through a bunch of irrelevant points of curiosities.
“Although the bulk of your efforts were in vain, you did not give up and continued searching. Hence, this Shield of Faith is your well-deserved reward.” - Note with Shield
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The Wreath of Hope at the Garden of Promise
Encore seems to know where the last clue leads, and Ying finds the location familiar, her mother’s garden.
She panics as she sees that her mom’s irises are gone; mom had asked Ying to look after them. Ying had taken care of them, but they had bloomed and died.” Her dad had told her it was the “Natural cycle of life” and Ying has been thinking about that and her mom. She determines mom wanted them to find the sword and shield, and make a wreath together here with those flowers…
https://i.redd.it/oop55dhe40be1.gif
Ying breaks down, wondering if she was naive to believe in wishes at all, but she admires that her mom still tried to play this game with her through clues, and will treasure the sword and shield. She thanks Rover and Encore, and those two aren’t satisfied letting it end this way. Encore is quiet for a bit, then says the captain hasn’t announced the ending yet; they’ll regroup tomorrow to pick up the story, and Encore asks Ying to come back to hear the rest.
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Encore’s Past
Encore isn’t satisfied with this as the end, as “Ying didn’t receive the wreath and she didn’t ge to see her mother.” Encore insists that they need to find the gateway of wishes, and Rover believes in Encore.
Encore recalls the sword treasure map Ying initially showed, and Ying couldn’t remember the play, but Encore does. Encore had known right away that it wasn’t part of the story, but a gift from Ying’s mom to Ying. Encore knows every detail of that play, because “that play…was a gift from my mom.”
Encore shares a bit about her past.
Encore speaks on having been with just her mother in a single room, and her mom had entertained them with a puppet play, finding ways to build in the objects around them - with a little imagination - into the story. Her mom was sick, and when Encore finally got around to finding the “wreath”, her mom collapsed, and despite Encore’s best efforts, with her belief that if she stayed “a good girl like the characters in the story, Mom would get better and better…” ..but she didn’t and Encore spent the last of her mom’s days fulfilling mom’s wish to hear Encore’s stories.
It was though this daily routine and the growth of Encore’s imagination that eventually Cosmos and Cloudy emerged “from the stories. Mom told me they’re a part of life, and these stories will always be with me.”
“After she left, Encore had to become the Wooly Warrior, going on adventures on her own. Whether it was in the orphanage or with the Black Shores, Encore would write down everything she experienced. With these stories, Mom will know what kind of adventures Encore had, and all the friends Encore made.
Later on, Encore wanted to continue writing the Wooly Warrior’s story. But this time, it’s a bit different from before. Now she has her friends. Friends that she can adventure together to find the Gateway of Wishes.
Because finding that gateway is the only way she can tell all her stories to her mom so she knows how well she did.” - Encore
Rover realizes it’s why Encore’s been paying close attention to Ying. Encore wonders if it’ll turn out all the same way for her, but Encore wants a different ending, after her “Mom who made me understand the power of stories. That’s why after I went on this journey alone, Cosmos and Cloudy came out of the land of Imagination”, and Encore was going to create a better ending.
Rover says better ending for Encore too. They get their spirits up and discuss options, with Encore noting: “ There’s no way to bring Ying’s mother back. I mean, the Gateway of Wishes doesn’t actually exist in real life…”
And Rover proposes returning to the Wooly Kingdom to find clues within the story itself. And it would be fitting, since Encore has said the Gateway would be hidden, and she does want to write the ending to the Wooly Warrior story, so the final stage should be there.
Encore’s onboard.
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Verina’s wreath
They resolve to bring Ying into the Wooly world, and Encore knows she needs to believe, to get in. They decide a symbolic wreath - “a crown of flowers that can reflect a person’s thoughts. Never withers, forever blossoming" - could do it.
And so they head to their resident plant resonator - Verina - to make it a reality. They give Verina a rundown, and Verina tries to derive some practical details from the story’s language. She wonders if Waterlamps (glow at night and help guide passersby), Wintry bells ( bloom in snow and inspire happiness), or Dewvetchs (their sweetness reminds of sugary candies) might work. Then there’s the issue of always blooming, never withering.
Rover proposes their same method with the black shores decoy flower, using forte, but Verina dismisses it - a forte flower would fall apart soon enough “It’s not the same as life . Every life has its own journey, from blooming to withering, recording the feelings of every moment along the way” - Verina.
Encore proposes a different train of thought, that they select the flowers they find their favourites - the emotions they attach to those flowers will be conveyed in their choices.
“At this point, it really doesn’t matter what kind of flower it is. All that matters is everyone’s’ feelings!” - Encore
Rover and Encore set out to go find flowers symbolic of their emotions, and Verina asks to help them with the wreath upon return.
The three add a flower that speaks to each of them on the wreaths and Encore asks Verina to leave a space for Ying herself. The wreath will be ready tomorrow, and they’ll meet with Ying then.
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Encore’s stage
Rover finds Encore has set up a small dilapidated puppet stage - “ I wanted to try the way mom used to do it. She and I started the Wooly Warrior story after all.” - Encore
Encore briefly wonders Ying will even show up, but Rover believes, and Ying does. Encore recaps the journey of the wooly warrior from her imagined story ( climbing heights to find the sword of courage, searching huge expanses to find the shield of faith in the sand ). Ying remarks “just like us”, when Encore mentions that the wreath in the story was nowhere to be found, as the “mythical sea of Flowers” had withered.
“Yet, her companions want to finish this adventure for her. They gather flowers and weave their feelings into the shape of a crown. The pink flowers are meant to make her feel happy, the blue flowers are hopes that she will not be scared of any obstacles… This wreath brings together all the feelings and emotions of the companions during their adventure. Their gift to her.” - Encore
“And that…is the moral of the story” - Ying (forced cheeriness)
“But the Wreath isn’t complete” - Rover
“..this wreath is missing the flower that represents your feelings and wishes.” - Encore
Ying is excited, she wants her mom’s favourite iris on the wreath…but they’d all withered away last time they looked. Encore wonders if they could find them elsewhere, and she speaks of finding the Gateway of Wishes in the wooly kingdom - all Ying needs is to believe. Encore conjures up a sonoro sphere on her little stage, and Ying believes, and in they go.
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The Wooly Kingdom with Yin
Ying marvels at her first time seeing the inside world of the Wooly Kingdom, and they make their way towards the gateway of wishes. Encore gleefully works in details from the stories her own mom told her, and Ying wants to tell her mom about all she’s seen on this trip.
They fight TDs, and Ying offers up the Sword and Shield to use.
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The Gateway of Wishes
Encore enters the Gateway of Wishes, where a giant TD (gulpuff) is guarding a lone Iris flower.
They come across a large TD gulpuff, and fight it off, and in the battle’s aftermath find a lone iris shining in the rising sun. Encore and Ying close their eyes and make their wish, per the story. The Iris floats up, and transforms into wreath held by Ying’s mom, who wipes away Ying’s tears. Ying buries her head into her mother’s stomach and cries.
https://i.redd.it/fcssvgut90be1.gif
Encore watches them, hears Ying say the same words she wants to say to her own mom, and she too cries, hugging her woolies.
A voice behind them says "It’s a very happy story.” And Encore whips her head around to look. A tear runs down her face.
Encore cries watching Ying, and hears a voice from behind.
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“The tale has ended. It’s time to return to reality.”
(Presumably, some short time atleast has passed.) Encore and rest leave the Sonoro sphere. Encore pronounces the end of their story, but “the warrior’s journey doesn’t end here, as the path ahead is a long one.”
Ying is immensely happy, never having thought she’d get to see her mom and tell her all the things she wanted to. “So, I want you to have this.” Ying places the wreath on Encore’s head.
She knows the Wooly Warrior has more adventures ahead. She runs off home to tell her dad about what her mom said to her.
https://i.redd.it/j0aw06upa0be1.gif
Encore asks for Rover’s thoughts, who loved it, and thought the fights were very realistic. Encore concurs, she loved this ending - she got to tell her own mom about everything.
Rover gets their own char in the storybook!
Encore seems on the verge of crying, talking about these stories, a way of extending life, and Rover gently reminds her these are all stories with happy endings. Encore agrees, and cheers up.
“The story of the Wooly Warrior’s search for the relics is finished, and my vacation is about to end. It’s time to head back to Black Shores…” - Encore
Encore exacts a pinky promise from to Rover that “we’ll write as many stories as we can together.”
https://i.redd.it/uodxvkoab0be1.gif
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And that's all folks!
Posted Jan 4, 2025, 4:54 PM UTC