Variations on Belyi and Chernyi is a World Quest series in Snezhnaya centered around managing Odette's schedule at the Korolevskiy Theater.

In order to start this World Quest, you must first raise the Snezhnaya reputation hub Meeting Point: Korolevskiy Theater to Level 2. The Meeting Point will not be available initially. You must first progress through the objective "Silence Alone is Disfavored" within Archon Quest Chapter VII: Act I "Everwinter Without Mercy." Once you have done so, you will find a blue snowflake symbol near, if not above, the Korolevskiy Theater, and you will have to complete the brief World Quest "One Yet to Take a Bow."

In this guide, I will explain how Odette's Manger Simulator works, including the different activities during the first two-week schedule the the various features that can affect your progress. I will also cover the different mini-events and choices you may encounter, along with the effects of each choice. Finally, the guide will provide schedules for achieving each of the five possible endings.

1) Odette's Manager Simulator: How It Works

Mechanics: Points & Cutscenes

Intro

For this quest you will be working as Odette's manager, choosing her schedule to achieve the best ending. You have two weeks in which you need to plan her schedule. In the first week, the major event on Sunday is Assessment day that Odette needs to pass for her Fatui work in clearing monsters. In the second week, that major event will be the actual performance.

The weekly schedule for Odette.

From Monday to Friday, you will be choosing a singular task for Odette to do. You have four options: Fan Meeting, Monster Hunt, Dance Rehearsal, and R&R. Each option will give you different benefits and disadvantages. Each action you choose can either increase or decrease Odette's self-identity (representing her Fatui tasks) or her external recognition (representing her career as a ballerina). Each of the tasks will take energy, and if you run out of energy, any task you attempt will automatically fail. That is where R&R is used to increase your energy.

Points (Self-Identity/External Recognition)

One thing to note is that the amount points are not what determine the ending alone. What does determine the ending is the amount of each event you choose, which can be tracked through cutscenes. For example, I have managed to achieve the true ending with as little as 73 self-identify & 71 external recognition points and as high as 100 self-identify & 100 external recognition points. The points will, however, affect if you will pass or fail the Fatui test at the end of the week, however whether you pass or fail that does not necessarily matter depending on what ending you are trying to achieve. If your self-identity is lower than your external recognition, along with not enough monster hunts, you will not pass the assessment.

Points act as indicators for what path you are mainly following. If they lean more heavily towards the self-identify section, you will likely receive the neutral ending A Solo Atop a Still Lake. Similarly, if they lean more heavily towards external recognition, you will likely get the neutral ending Lost Amidst the Applause. The exact number of points is not what should be your focus.

For the true ending, however, you will need to have the amount of points closely balanced, though it does not need to be exact.

Cutscenes

As you choose various tasks for Odette, you will find that cutscenes will play after you perform and action a certain number of times. If it is your first time achieving the event, it will automatically play, however if you have already seen it, you will see the below image. If you choose "No Looking Back" it will allow you to skip the cutscene. If you choose "Go to Quest," you will be able to see the cutscene if you so wish.

A Special Event Announcement: This one was triggered after choosing two Fan Meetings

In order to achieve either of the two neutral endings or the true ending, you will need to keep track of these. Below I have listed all of the cutscene triggers if you wish to view them all, however not all of them necessary to get an ending. I will discuss later on which are needed for each ending on in their respective section.

Cutscene Event Triggers

• Two Fan Meetings (1st trigger)
• Two Monster Hunts (1st trigger)
• Three Fan Meetings (2nd trigger)
• Three Monster Hunts (2nd trigger)
• Two R&R Events (triggers Vodyanitsa’s care perk)
• Three Dance Rehearsals
• Four Fan Meetings (not necessary for the endings, but is an interesting cutscene)

One thing that you might find useful is the Incentive Mode option that unlocks once you complete one ending. It will allow you to complete any of the options without losing stamina. This mode can also be turned on and off at will, so if you find yourself in a tough spot, you can use it only once if you wanted to. You will find this mode in the upper right hand corner of the screen when scheduling Odette's day.

Mini-Event Choices and Their Effects

Another thing that you will encounter while assigning Odette tasks is mini-events that you will make you choose between certain responses.

A mini-event triggered by choosing Fan Meeting

Each option you choose will have a potential negative or positive effect. They will affect Odette's self-identity, external recognition, and energy, but will also sometimes result in a positive or negative perk. These can either result from your choices or randomly based on whatever is chosen. You make also turn on Incentive Mode in order for all these events to turn out perfect. Enabling this mode will tell you what each option you choose will result in. I have listed below the outcomes to each option you choose.

Fan Meeting

• Mine (+5 Self Identity, +5 External Recognition)
• Vodyanitsa's (+5 External Recognition)
• You shouldn't watch either (-10 Energy)
• Take a bath (+30 Energy)
• Do prep work (Grants Prep Work: the next Dance Rehearsal on a Practice Day will not consume Stamina)
• It's all in the past (+5 Self Identity)
• Father, if you were still here… (Grants Troubled in Spirit)
• I can't promise that (-2 External Recognition, +5 Self Identity)
• I'll try to arrange it (+5 External Recognition, -2 Self Identity)
• The results will tell all (+5 Self Identity, -10 Energy)

Monster Hunt

• Insist on my own line of thinking (-2 External Recognition, +5 Self Identity)
• Take the photographer's advice (+5 External Recognition, -2 Self Identity)
• Defeat the monsters first (+5 Self Identity)
• Save him first (+5 External Recognition)
• Thank you. I suppose I can indulge once in a while… (-5 Self Identity, +30 Energy)
• Sorry, but I need to stick to a strict diet (+5 External Recognition, -10 Energy)
• Okay. (Grants Vodyanitsa's Care)
• No need. I'll take a break on my own (-5 External Recognition, +20 Energy)

Dance Rehearsal

• Stick to the original arrangement (Grants Prima Ballerina Pride: the next Dance Rehearsal on a Practice Day is guaranteed to succeed)
• Take on the suggestion (+5 External Recognition, -2 Self Identity)
• Alright. Let's go to the dance room. (+5 External Recognition, -10 Energy)
• Not right now. (-5 External Recognition, +20 Energy)
• Get up and read a book for a bit (Grants Sleepless Night)
• Put on earplugs and go on sleeping (-10 Energy)

R&R

• Alright. (+5 External Recognition, -10 Energy)
• Sorry, but I'd like to be alone (-2 External Recognition, +5 Self Identity)
• No. I'll work harder once I get home (Grants Overworked)
• Yes. I'll get some rest today. (+30 Energy)

Perks and De-buffs

An example of a perk received through a random mini-event

Depending on your choices through the mini-events or other choices that you make, you will gain perks or de-buffs that will affect your gameplay. Some will make things easier and some will make things harder on you, especially as they can cause your schedule to fail if they prevent you from doing tasks on the last day of the week like you planned, so be careful of what you leave to the last minute.

Perks

• Prep Work (The next Dance Rehearsal on a Practice Day will not consume Stamina.)
• Prima Ballerina Pride (The next Dance Rehearsal on a Practice Day is guaranteed to succeed.)
• Familiar Territory (The next Monster Hunt on a Practice Day is guaranteed to succeed.)
• Handcrafted Gift (The next Fan Meeting on the following day is guaranteed to be a Great Success.)
• Vodyanitsa's Care (the next Fan Meeting activity will not consume Stamina)
• Lady Marionette's Motivation — Passed the Examination (The next Monster Hunt on a Practice Day will not consume Stamina.)

De-buffs

• Troubled in Spirit (The next Fan Meeting on a Practice Day will consume double Stamina.)
• An Old Injury Reoccurs (The next Dance Rehearsal on a Practice Day is guaranteed to fail.)
• Snowstorm (The next Monster Hunt on a Practice Day is guaranteed to fail.)
• Sleepless Night (The next Fan Meeting on a Practice Day is guaranteed to fail.)
• Overworked (The next Dance Rehearsal on a Practice Day will consume double Stamina.)

2) The Five Endings of Variations on Belyi and Chernyi

How to See What Endings You Achieved

After completing one ending, you will gain the item Black Snow Swan Archive. This can be found in your Quest Items section of your Inventory. Upon completing an ending, an image will be added to it. If one is missing, you have not completed the ending.

Found in your Quest Items section of your Inventory

Neutral Ending: A Solo Atop A Still Lake

Monster Hunting Focus Ending

The ending A Solo Atop A Still Lake Ending is one of the two neutral endings for this quest. It occurs when your focus is more on the Fatui aspect of the events over being a ballerina.

To achieve this ending, you will need to have more points in self-identify over external recognition points. No matter what options you choose, if you do not have more self-identity over recognition points, you will not get this ending, so be careful. (Warning: if the amounts are equal, you might get the True ending instead)

The main way to achieve this ending is to have more Monster Hunting Events than Fan Meetings. A rule of thumb is to have at least 3 Monster Hunts in total and 2 Fan Meetings. If you have only 2 Fan Meetings and 2 Monster Hunting events, you will gain a bad end, so you need 3 Monster Hunts to lean towards the Fatui side to get the A Solo Atop A Still Lake Ending. If you have an equal amount beyond 2, you are more likely to be gaining the true ending instead.

Note: mini-events may affect your energy levels. If you cannot complete an event due to lack of energy, moving certain actions to other days is okay so long as it is still in the same week. If you get stuck at one point, maybe turn on Incentive mode.

Schedule 1:

Week 1

• Monster Hunt
• Monster Hunt
• R&R
• Dance Rehearsal
• Fan Meeting

Week 2

• Monster Hunt
• Fan Meeting
• R&R
• Dance Rehearsal
• Dance Rehearsal

Schedule 2:

Week 1

• Monster Hunt
• Dance Rehearsal
• R&R
• Fan Meeting
• Monster Hunt

Week 2

• Monster Hunt
• Fan Meeting
• R&R
• Fan Meeting
• Dress Rehearsal

Schedule 3 (side-note):

I have managed to get this ending while playing around with Incentive Mode. By spending the entire first week doing only Fan Meetings for every single day, and spending the entire second week doing only Monster Hunt, I was able to also get this ending.

Neutral Ending: A Solo Atop a Still Lake

Neutral Ending: Lost Amidst the Applause

Ballerina Focus Ending

The ending Lost Amidst the Applause is one of the two neutral endings for this quest. It occurs when your focus is more on the ballerina aspect of the events over being part of the Fatui.

To achieve this ending, you will need to have more points in external recognition over self-identity points. No matter what options you choose, if you do not have more external over self-identity, you will not get this ending, so be careful. (Warning: if the amounts are equal, you might get the True ending instead)

The main way to achieve this ending is to have more Fan Meeting Events than Monster Hunting. A rule of thumb is to have at least 3 Fan Meetings in total and 2 Monster Hunts. If you have only 2 Fan Meetings and 2 Monster Hunting events, you will gain a bad end, so you need 3 Fan Meetings to lean towards the ballerina side to get the Lost Amidst the Applause. If you have an equal amount beyond 2, you are more likely to be gaining the true ending instead.

Note: mini-events may affect your energy levels. If you cannot complete an event due to lack of energy, moving certain actions to other days is okay so long as it is still in the same week. If you get stuck at one point, maybe turn on Incentive mode.

Schedule 1:

Week 1

• Monster Hunt
• Fan Meeting
• R&R
• Dance Rehearsal
• Monster Hunt

Note: you do not need to succeed the Fatui Assessment at the end of Week 1 to achieve this ending. It's okay if you fail it.

Week 2

• Fan Meeting
• Fan Meeting
• R&R
• Dance Rehearsal
• Dance Rehearsal

Neutral Ending: Lost Amidst the Applause

True Ending: Dawn

A Balanced Approach

The ending Dawn is considered the true ending for this quest. It occurs when your focus focused is balanced in both Fatui and ballerina actions.

The entire point of the "Dawn" ending is that you are balanced in your points. By balanced, I mean that you have an equal amount of ballerina/Fatui points, though it does not have to be exact. For example, you can have as low as 73 self-identify & 71 external recognition points, and as high as 100 self-identify & 100 external recognition points and still get the same ending, so long as the numbers are close. So just as a warning, while the meetings/monster hunts/dance rehearsals are a good way to keep track of and gain specific points, you should keep an eye on your points as a whole for this ending.

The main way to achieve this ending is to have at least 3 Fan Meeting Events and 3 Monster Hunting, along with 2 Dance Rehearsals. You should aim to have the number of Fan Meetings and Monster Hunts equal. Additionally, if you want to pass the Assessment at the end of the week, you will need at least 2 Monster Hunts.

Cutscenes will trigger on doing 2 Fan Meetings/2 Monster Hunting Events, as well as upon doing 3 of the action total. Use these to keep track of your progress.

Schedule 1:

Week 1 (aim for higher self-identity choices with your mini-events to pass the Assessment)

• Fan Meeting
• Monster Hunt
• Dance Rehearsal
• Dance Rehearsal
• Monster Hunt

Week 2

• Monster Hunt
• Fan Meeting
• R&R
• Fan Meeting
• Fan Meeting

Schedule 2 (might need Incentive Mode, but I managed without):

Week 1

• Fan Meeting
• Fan Meeting
• Fan Meeting
• Monster Hunt
• Monster Hunt

Week 2

• Monster Hunt
• Fan Meeting
• Dance Rehearsal
• R&R
• Dance Rehearsal

True Ending: Dawn

Bad Ending: Still Dark the Snowy Night

Failed to have enough Monster Hunts or Fan Meetings

The first bad ending is Still Dark the Snowy Night. This ending occurs when you fail to have enough Monster Hunts or Fan Meetings. If you have 2 or lower Fan Meetings or Monster Hunts, you will trigger this ending. You cannot have more than 2 Monster Hunts and 2 Fan Meetings in total.

Schedule 1:

The easiest way to gain this ending is to just do Dance Rehearsals over and over again. You may run out of energy, however just keep in mind that failing an event is not necessarily a bad thing when you are aiming to get a bad ending.

Schedule 2 (an example of a schedule that gets this ending):

Week 1

• Fan Meeting
• Fan Meeting
• Monster Hunt
• Dance Rehearsal
• R&R

Week 2

• Dance Rehearsal
• Monster Hunt
• R&R
• Dance Rehearsal
• R&R

Bad Ending: Still Dark the Snowy Night

Bad Ending: The Wasting Daylight

Only rest the entire two weeks

The second bad ending, and one you are unlikely to get naturally, is Still Dark the Snowy Night. This ending is achieved by only choosing the R&R activity the entire two weeks.

Schedule 1:

Week 1

• R&R
• R&R
• R&R
• R&R
• R&R

Week 2

• R&R
• R&R
• R&R
• R&R
• R&R

Bad Ending: The Wasting Daylight

3) Rewards/Achievements

Achievements/Namecard

Achievement

To gain the achievement "The soaring black snow swan," you need to unlock the "Dawn" ending of Variations on Belyi and Chernyi. Upon doing so, you should see this achievement under the Wonders of the World category.

Achievement

Once you successfully complete one of the endings of Variations on Belyi and Chernyi, you will get Vol. 1 of Polestar Ballet Anthology. Volumes 2-4 of Polestar Ballet Anthology are sold by Moes at Torchlight Books. Once you have all the volumes, you will gain the achievement “When Song Tears the Night." This achievement is under Mortal Travails: Series VII, which is necessary to unlock its namecard. You should not have to complete every ending to gain this, however the other reward for doing so may be worth it to you.

Odette's Poster for Your Train

The poster added to the train

While completing one ending for Variations on Belyi and Chernyi will get you an achievement, completing all the endings will give you a poster. The poster can be found on your desk in your train, along with other items you've unlocked from other world quests in Snezhnaya.

Hope this guide helped!