Beneath the Aurora inXenoblade Chronicles 2is one of the most hauntingly beautiful side quests in the entire game. Found within the icy expanse of Tantal, it captures the quiet melancholy of the world of Alrest while tying deeply into the emotional struggles of both Blade and Driver. This quest is not just about completing objectives or earning rewards it’s about storytelling, atmosphere, and the bittersweet theme of memory. For fans of Xenoblade 2’s world-building, ‘Beneath the Aurora’ represents the kind of depth that makes the game so memorable.
Where to Find the Quest
‘Beneath the Aurora’ takes place in the Kingdom of Tantal, an environment cloaked in perpetual snow and bitter cold. To access this quest, players must progress through the main storyline until they reach the Theosoir region. The side quest begins when the party encounters an NPC in the capital who mentions strange phenomena occurring beneath the aurora that often appears in the sky above Tantal’s frigid landscape.
Before initiating the quest, players should make sure they have a well-leveled team and the necessary Field Skills like Ice Mastery, Keen Eye, and Focus to explore the required areas. Some segments are inaccessible without specific Blades that offer the correct combination of abilities.
The Atmosphere of Tantal
The Kingdom of Tantal provides a stunning backdrop for the events of Beneath the Aurora. It’s one of the most distinct locales inXenoblade Chronicles 2, with its frozen terrain, haunting music, and mystical aurora lights illuminating the night sky. The entire environment feels lonely, introspective, and rich with unspoken stories. This setting perfectly matches the emotional tone of the quest.
As players journey deeper into Tantal’s hidden caverns and snowy cliffs, the ethereal atmosphere contributes to the slow unraveling of the mystery. The aurora above acts almost as a metaphor for memories shimmering, beautiful, and fading quickly if not held onto tightly.
Quest Objectives and Structure
Unlike many side quests that follow a simple fetch or defeat formula, Beneath the Aurora is structured around exploration, discovery, and narrative progression. The quest leads the player through various key moments:
- Initial Investigation: Speak with townspeople in Theosoir to gather clues about the aurora’s unusual behavior.
- Searching the Glaciers: Venture into remote parts of Tantal to uncover remnants of a long-forgotten Blade bond.
- Following the Light: Track strange glowing lights that appear beneath the aurora, leading to hidden areas filled with lore and meaning.
- The Lost Bond: Discover a monument or crystal associated with a Blade that once shared a deep connection with a Driver who has long passed.
The quest subtly uncovers pieces of dialogue and lore that hint at the deeper theme of memory, loss, and the pain of time eroding emotional ties. Each step draws players into a quiet yet powerful story thread that complements the broader narrative of Xenoblade 2.
Emotional Themes and Narrative Depth
Beneath the Aurora is not just about mechanics or exploration it is a deeply emotional side story that delves into the connection between Blades and their Drivers. In the world ofXenoblade Chronicles 2, Blades are immortal beings who lose their memories when their Driver dies. This cycle of loss and rebirth is central to the story’s emotional weight, and this quest puts a spotlight on it.
The Blade featured in this quest has lost their memory but is slowly regaining fragments as the aurora appears fragments of joy, sorrow, and the realization that the Driver they once loved is gone. The storytelling in this quest unfolds gradually, using environment cues, soft cutscenes, and well-placed NPC dialogue to tell a story that is more about feeling than exposition.
Reward and Meaning
Though players will receive in-game rewards like EXP, Gold, and possibly rare items or Affinity Chart boosts, the true value of Beneath the Aurora is the narrative experience. The culmination of the quest leaves players with a sense of longing and beauty. It’s one of those rare side quests that feels like it belongs in the main story so impactful that it can change how you see Blades and their fate.
Lasting Impact
Once completed, players often find themselves reflecting on the broader questions thatXenoblade Chronicles 2poses about memory, identity, and emotional connection. The moment the Blade whispers their final realization under the shimmering aurora sky remains a powerful image that lingers long after the game is turned off.
Field Skills and Party Tips
To complete Beneath the Aurora, you’ll need to pay attention to your party’s composition. Here are a few practical tips:
- Ice Mastery: Required to access icy ledges and frozen structures. Recommended Blades include Wulfric and Boreas.
- Focus: Needed to interact with certain monuments and objects of interest.
- Keen Eye: Helps locate and examine hidden items scattered beneath the aurora’s glow.
- Elevated Movement: Some segments involve jumping or navigating narrow ledges in snowy terrain. Use Blades with agility bonuses.
Also consider bringing along characters who offer lore-specific insights during exploration. Sometimes, a party member like Pyra or Zeke will comment on a discovery, adding depth to the emotional moments and filling in bits of world-building that may otherwise be missed.
How Beneath the Aurora Connects to Core Themes
At its heart, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is about bonds between friends, lovers, and the world itself. Beneath the Aurora captures this perfectly by presenting a story of loss and rediscovery. The idea that memories can persist, even if fragmented, and that connections once lost can be felt again even if just for a fleeting moment is one of the most poetic ideas explored in the game.
By the time players finish the quest, they may feel that it was never really about rewards or checklists. Instead, it’s about acknowledging the past, cherishing the present, and understanding that even lost memories can leave behind beauty and truth. It’s this kind of emotional depth that elevatesXenoblade Chronicles 2from a great game to a meaningful one.
Beneath the Aurora is a shining example of howXenoblade Chronicles 2uses side quests not just to pad content, but to tell profound, emotional stories that enhance the main narrative. Through stunning visuals, a powerful setting, and a sorrowful yet beautiful tale of a forgotten bond, this quest lingers in the heart. For players seeking more than just battles and items, it offers a reflective experience wrapped in the icy glow of Tantal’s aurora-lit skies. If you’ve yet to uncover this side story, don’t let it pass unnoticed some of Xenoblade’s most powerful moments lie in the quietest places.