stellafortunalogs | JUNE MINGLE

JUNE MINGLE

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.

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The Adepti are a group of beings who have attained great magical power and longevity. They are inhuman; similar to the legends of Xian from other worlds, yet different. Each of them have signed a contract with me to protect Liyue. However, their great power was only needed to repel threats that came from supernatural beings. In this era of peace and prosperity, their strength is not needed... and thus they have secluded themselves away from humanity, thinking it below them to mingle.

[ Zhongli sighs. ]

They were my comrades in the Archon Wars. While they have always been ready to defend Liyue from external threat, most of them still cling to the old ways. They have become... out of touch. The world is changing; moving away from the era of the supernatural.

[There's an underlying thread in those words he can hear. Had he imagined it? No. He decides he hasn't. He stares at him for a long moment, something too knowing about his stare. Then he looks away with a sigh of his own.]

And short of their worldview being shattered, they won't bend for anyone.

[A blonde-haired man with a sneer on his face drifts to the surface of his mind and of Alan's real form of a vast three-headed wolf not unlike the sun in the sky. Yes, beings like that don't bend easily.]

And in secluding themselves they have forgotten the vast potential of those who live shorter lives than we do. I'm starting to see the full scope of the situation.

Edited 2021-06-12 17:07 (UTC)

Yes.

[ Shirou Gets it. He's grateful for that. ]

The best outcome would be that the Adepti are able to work together with the people. Though, if they can concede and understand humanity's potential, then I am already satisfied. I have planned a trial for the humans to handle. If the Adepti are able to witness humans handle a great danger by themselves, then they would be more inclined to change their opinion.

[He closes his eyes and thinks about that. He can see how that could alter their views. Shirou nods slowly,]

If the threat is large enough and Adepti's self-thought status appealed to, I could see them coming together. But they need a motivation to involve themselves or that won't happen.

[He glances to the side. The only reason he had involved himself in the Michiru's plight had been the threat her supposed sickness had to Beastmen. But she more than proved her strength and the potential of humans as she kept running right at his side, into danger after danger.

Until even in this place so far from home he looks for when he charges into the fray.]

I assume you already have an idea in mind for that.

I do.

[ Morax is the Prime of the Adepti, after all. If he were to disappear... ]

There are some amongst the Adepti who are more partial to the idea of humanity taking the reins. I will put the outlanders in touch with them, so that you can better understand their position as well.

[It's like a coat being slipped on as he shifts from Beastman back to man. He adjusts his gloves that had shifted when he had claws.]

Then I have no further questions for right now. As I said before, should you have any questions for me, I'll answer them.

[He pauses, glancing back. No one around. Shirou returns his gaze to him.]

With you, I see no reason not to.

[ An expression of trust is always welcome. He doesn't know Shirou as well as Forneus would, so there's still room for more knowledge. ]

There have been many gods upon Teyvat who have sought to stem the flow of time and the passing of change. For the longest time, I too wanted to maintain the status quo. however, it has since become clear to me that it is no longer possible. The flow of time and entropy are dictated by laws that are even above them.

[ A pause. ]

What do you think?

[He stares at him for a moment. Confusion flickers in his eyes as he lifts his head up slightly.]

Gods tried to stop time passing and change from happening? [He says with disbelief in his tone.] What…purpose does that have? How can anything grow if it isn’t allowed to change? What happens to those people when their gods die?

Do they just…die out? .

They turn to dust, as all things do.

[ Gods do really stupid things sometimes. ]

There is no growth without change, no life without death. A truth that humans find difficult to accept, and it is even more difficult for the gods.

So, every time humans reach a certain point they are prevented from tipping over that threshold. Is that right?

[A surge of protectiveness flickers inside him. For the first time since he woke as a god like being…for humans. It is just a tiny wisp of wind but it’s the start. Zhongli asked for his opinion. Well, he’ll have it.]

Are they even truly free? [He doesn’t know he sounds like a certain bard.]

That is correct.

[ The promise of a world sheltered from the abyss turned out to be another cage for mortal beings. ]

There is no true freedom in Teyvat. It is one of the reasons the God of Freedom chose to join as well.

[Since the tragedy that made him an immortal his anger is like a storm. He has been on the edge of too far for a thousand and more years. And people have tried to decide the actions of Beastman for that long. It isn’t aimed at Zhongli but those who would decide the freedoms of those who can’t fight them.

His human guise tears like paper. The growl that rolls through the air is savage and full of ancient fury. He turns his head away but his voice is deep, more beastial. There is a reason that the Beastmen saw him as their god.] They all sound the same. Anyone who decides freedom is something they can control. They all sound the same!

Be they human, immortal, or otherwise… [That seems to bank his bubbling wrath because his fur settles and he sighs, scrubbing at his face. He visibly steps away from the edge of his rage as he shakes his head.] …I side with you. All I am will be bent towards freeing those who can’t free themselves.

[Further and further away from the edge like a storm rolling on. He dips his head and breathes in slowly.] I was supposed to give my opinion. Sorry.

[Except he did in a way. He is old and damaged, a man built by others attempts to hold back time and control freedom. He lifts his head and while the rage is still in his eyes he is just an ancient being staring at another older than himself. A peer for the first time in…ever.]

Edited 2021-06-24 15:28 (UTC)

[ Zhongli watches Shirou's outburst without a word, meeting his eyes with an understanding gaze. Even amongst the gods, he had been respected as a source of wisdom due to his age. None have endured as much as he did... none have lost as much as he did, in this false, preserved paradise. ]

There is no need for apologies. We share the same wish, even if it is expressed in different ways.

[ Had he been a few thousand years younger, he may have reacted with the same ferocity that Shirou did; but time has long since worn down his anger into a silent, unyielding steel. ]

If you are willing to tell me more about your world, I am interested in hearing about it.

[ Zhongli has never had a reason to step out of Teyvat, nor was he able to without the intervention of other gods. He's curious about these other worlds, both in administrative terms and also in principles. If Forneus' claim of concept resonance was true, then there would be inventions or traditions that remain the same across worlds. ]

[Shirou takes a moment to just breathe. It’s like chains falling away to just be. When had hiding what he is become a chore? He doesn’t know. He crosses his arms over his chest as he says,] There is much to tell.

It would be easier to find a place to start if you ask what you specifically want to know. [He has no idea if his rage will ever fully cool. He is a wolf. And how he feels is as deep as the ocean and it is crammed full of loss. But then he is only a thousand and more. How things will change in time…it is difficult to say.]

[ Zhongli understands that - he could talk about Liyue for days if he wasn't given a topic to start on. ]

Is your world ruled by the divine? If not, who holds the authority? And are the people faring well under their rule?

[ These are the things Zhongli focuses the most on, falling in line with his own divine duty. ]

Immortals move unseen through the world. One arrogant fool was pulling strings to wipe out all Beastmen but those he considers ‘pure’. For all his posturing he was not divine. And no matter what Beastmen think or see about Silver Wolf. I am not a god either.

People look to the divine when they feel powerless but gods do not rule our world. People do. [He closes his eyes as he digs through his recent memories.] Every nation of the world has different ways to rule. Some by bloodline. Others by votes of a selected group. In Anima City, the ruler is Mayor Rose, the founder of the city. She consults with the heads of the various factions and we handle matters as they come up. Policy is decided by vote of the public. She has told me if the people wanted her to step down she would and wish a successor well. But she is well liked and we…are happiest when there is structure.

Beastmen are uncomplicated. We know she cares and acts on our interests. She keeps things safe and orderly. Thus do the people trust her. I will not deny we have a very black and white view. I am…attempting to have a more open mind, as is my duty as their protector.

[He looks to the side for a moment then he sighs and looks up,] The representatives - usually the leaders of nations - decide what is acceptable for a nation to do. It keeps the peace between them. But Beastmen are feared by the rest of the world. Often times in the past policies they came up with hinder our natural movements. Or restrict us, decide to control us without our voice to represent our interests.

It is why Anima city exists. We are deciding to let humans in, let them know us and we them. Maybe then we can find the peace we all seek.

[ Zhongli listens carefully to Shirou's narration. Like the other worlds he's heard about, realms that did not have a divine guiding hand tended to dissolve into conflict. His distrust of humanity's ability to suppress their basal instincts was why he originally went along with Celestia's plans. But he now realizes that their plan too was flawed. A balance between intervention and freedom should be struck. ]

There is hope in your world for peace... that is what I would consider the most valuable.

[ It's all about balance. One cannot have light without dark, good without evil. ]

Months ago I wouldn’t have agreed. [Months ago he had been locked in his hatred and blind. He sighs, shaking his head.]

If Michiru appears here, that is…she helped us. Even if it was to her own benefit, she did it because she cares. She kept doing it even when it didn’t benefit her. That is the true face of humanity. They’re weak, loud, and while the lands soak up the blood of their conflict…their fleeting lives build on one another. They learn and less blood falls. Until none at all.

There are shades of gray to them that to us…immortal and otherwise is black and white. They’re not perfect. [He gestures widely, indicating the entire world.]

But nothing living is. I barely understand this much about them. But I will watch how they interact with my people. I will step in when they can’t solve things themselves. [His hands fall as he reaches up to the collar around his neck. He removes it. There is a white slash across his fur right over his neck. It had to have been fatal when it was made. He lets the collar fall from his fingers.]

…as I always have and will.

[ Zhongli nods. Much of what Shirou said resonates with him deeply. He started off thinking humans could not survive without the gods, and yet... they stumbled and fell upon themselves, but there would always be a few who could grasp what was necessary for progress. He watched countless generations grow up, become old, and pass on. They endured not in physical form but in their spirit and their dreams, like the passing of a torch. ]

Your world is fortunate to have you.

[ If that world was ruled by beings without mercy, then humanit would never have a chance to grow. ]

That is all I wish to ask. Thank you for sharing with me.

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JUNE MINGLE

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sorry for the late!!

No problem!

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