JUNE MINGLE

[stellafortunamods]

June Mingle: Time For A Hike
Welcome to Teyvat - a vast magical world of adventure.
Finally, it's time to leave Death Mountain for warmer climates. THe Travelers will begin their journey from Mondstadt to Liyue on the first of November, after packing up and saying goodbye the Mondstadt's Adventurers' Guild. But worry not - if you ever miss the City of Wind and Song, it's possible to teleport back for a brief visit.

The Travelers will head out of Mondstadt through Stone Gate, cross Dihua Marsh and then reach the Guili Plains. You'll be camping out under the stars on some days, while getting to enjoy various roadside inns on other days - including the famed Wangshu Inn, all under Forneus' bill. But it does bring up a question: where did he get all that mora from?

Speaking of Forneus, it seems that he's too busy to accompany you on this road trip. Instead, Zhongli will serve as his stand-in. For those who do not know him well, he introduces himself as an Adeptus... and also the Geo Archon, who has enlisted your help to test his nation. What will you do?

State of the World

June will be a lighter period in the game for characters to bond with each other while traveling as a group, and later while exploring and trolling Liyue to the best of their ability. Forneus will not be available for the first two weeks as he is busy; instead Zhongli is tasked with answering questions in his place. A reference of the scenery your character might see on the way can be found in this video here! Feel free to check out Liyue's music here as well.

For all questions regarding June's mingle and events, please head over to our OOC post.

Comments

[justicefang]

I don’t have much knowledge of human religious practices. [He admits. And for a moment he can see it. The vast wolf howling to the sky.]

But Beastmen aren’t different. We reach for things to hold onto. Things to make us feel strong in turn.

[It might be a good topic change or not. He has no idea but he’s caught up in that brief moment of connection.]

Just a thought.

[whiteshroud]

Mm...that's true. Humans can be that way too.

[He'll glance the statue too] The people of Liyue really do seem to admire and love Rex Lapis a lot. Genuinely so.

[He's spent a lot of time reading stories from Liyue. When they wrote of him (and they often did), it was always with tones of respect and admiration - not fear. It wasn't hard to see why either. ]

[justicefang]

Yes they do.

[A soft smile flits across his face. Anyone who captures the hearts of their people. Truly does, can’t be too bad.]

And that’s why it’s such a carefully made statue. To properly honor that. Maybe. I’m guessing.

[whiteshroud]

...Sounds like a plausible guess to me. You're very intuitive Shirou.

[And also you defused the situation. Jun feels much better. Good job!]

[justicefang]

[That small smile remains for a moment more. Then Shirou returns to his usual neutral expression.] It’s experience.

I traveled a lot a long time ago. You pick things up as you go along.

[whiteshroud]

Oh?

Got any good stories from your travels?

[justicefang]

...nothing that's pleasant enough to tell. [Eons of defending Beastmen, righting wrongs, and before that...the hazy cloud of grief and rage. Yes, he can't find- He breathes in and says,]

But I can tell you about the founding of Anima city, if you'd like to hear it.

[whiteshroud]

[Wow that's a bummer...not a single good vision? That's rough. Though maybe Shirou isn't one to focus on the past. ]

Sure, I'd be happy to.

[This isn't the first time he's brought up the city. It must be a place he's proud of]

[justicefang]

It has been over a thousand years since Beastmen came together as one into their own city.

[Some of his usual tension eases. This is familiar territory and one he’s happy exists.] That city was Nirvasyl.

How it fell is why no one wanted or trusted to build another for so long. But our mayor believed it was time we try again. Anima city was born when she asked for leeway to establish it off the coast of Japan. It felt far enough away from most human civilizations to be mostly overlooked there.

We established the laws, building them based on what we wanted to see. It has endured for ten years. Not without problems but, that’s the case with any city.

[whiteshroud]

[He listens, his head tilting curiously. ]

What happened to Nirvasyl?

[justicefang]

[A subtle tension returns. He made a mistake. He should have guessed that would be asked. He looks away, staring down the eons back to that city. As old as the city that birthed his immortality. But they all saw Dragonspine. It seems only right to voice another ruined city's story.

He sighs.] Tragedy.

Like that town in Dragonspine. Only it wasn't a punishment from a god. An immortal saw it as a chance to try and curb all types of Beastmen coming together.

[whiteshroud]

[Jun frowns slightly, wondering if he was wrong for asking based on Shirou's reaction. He'd simply been curious, since it seemed relevant]

Oh...

[Yeah, he could see why it'd discourage some folks from trying again. ]

What's an "Immortal" exactly? I've heard you use that term before.

[justicefang]

[Better than expected. Shirou relaxes a bit and nods once. He crosses his arms over his chest and focuses on Jun as he says,] Beastmen resulted from humans who worshipped animals as gods. Humans and Beastmen split into two different sub-species over the eons.

An immortal is a beastman that has transcended. To others, they might seem like a god. But in reality, [He sighs, shaking his head.] They don't age and can't be killed.

They are more than their brethren, that's all. I know only of two but there's always the chance others exist.

[whiteshroud]

So that's how it is...

[Jun's quiet for a moment, thinking over that information. There's a lot to unpack here, about the beastman lore, but...

... ]

Are you one of the immortals?

[justicefang]

[It's so direct he is caught off guard. Shirou looks at him with wide eyes then glances out over the land.

He could deny it. But when his power returns and he might need to use it, it would be obvious. A breach of trust. And Michiru. He'd worked with her. These accepting humans aren't that different from her. It's...worth the risk.

He lets out a breath and says,]

...Instead of dying like the rest of Nirvasyl, I was changed. It's been a thousand and more years since then.

[whiteshroud]

Mm...I had a feeling.

[He sees that he surprised the guy with his observation. Though, he's probably not often called out on such things...so it's to be expected]

You act a little like Zhongli, in the way you talk and look at things.

[He explains. Since Zhongli already told the group what he was, there was no reason for him to evade the topic anymore.

In other words, you act really old dude.]

[justicefang]

[He stares at him then sighs as his form shifts to his real self. He shakes his head.] When you put it like that, it’s obvious.

[He crosses his arms over his chest and looks again to the statue of Morax. But the tension is gone and he seems different, older in ways that he no longer bothers to hide.] I was never the god of Beastmen. Legends persist of how I protected them when they needed help and they shaped that into their god Silver Wolf.

Statues they made are like this one. Crafted from an idealist image and wishes for protection and peace.

[whiteshroud]

[He glances over as his form shifts. No visible reaction, but still getting used to that a little.]

Sounds like something people would do... [Find someone to idolize, perhaps even worship if their deeds seemed to surpass those of a normal man. One of the reasons Seal Knights took such care to remain the shadows- to avoid such praise]

Perhaps you're not a god, but you certainly seem like a guardian, at least. You seem to think about their wellbeing all the time.

[justicefang]

[Shirou only nods, staring down the years to all the times he used that power. ...once the flames of revenge finally cooled.] Any time they couldn't save themselves, I protected them. Power on that scale shouldn't be abused.

I do my part in social and detective work to bring about true peace one step at a time. Just another striving towards that goal. [He had been just as closed off as Alan, hadn't he? By shutting out the larger world he had refused to understand it.

He blows out a breath.] ...I would prefer no other Beastman know if they come here too. Those who know, will likely say so.

[whiteshroud]

[jun gives a nod and a thoughtful "hm". Just as he thought, Shirou was a guardian who looked after his people, one way or another. Perhaps not a god, but it's no surprise his people revere him in a way. ]

Of course. [He's got no intention to tell anyone. Lucky for Shirou he's the world's best secret keeper] I understand the need for secrets, and I've no business involving myself in Beastman's affairs.

[justicefang]

[He looks at Jun and nods. Then he snorts as he closes his eyes.]

Good. [Shirou breathes in but it’s only to gather the scents of the world around him not to test the validity of that statement.]

It’s going to rain soon. It doesn’t look it but the water is there. So much of this land is untouched. It’s been eons since I smelled a world so…fresh.

[whiteshroud]

[He gives a little shrug. His senses aren't as sharp as they used to be, so he just has to take Shirou's word for it]

...It's less fresh and more preserved. It wasn't just those people on Dragonspine that were pruned by their gods.

[justicefang]

Yes, I think so too. [And that makes him think.]

...when my full senses come back I'll be able to tell you much more next time we run into the touch of those on high. Right now, it's like being blind.

Their impression, the emotions they left behind, and the memory of them is missing.