stellafortunalogs | august mingle

August Mingle
Welcome to Teyvat - a vast magical world of adventure.
Happy new year....! In Teyvat, that is. It is now January ingame, and Liyue's people go about their disaster recovery efforts with more vigour than before. After all, Liyue's biggest festival is slated to occur in the latter half of the month - the Lantern Rite!

The Rite of Parting - Rex Lapis' funeral - passes without much incident, and Liyue collectively breathes a sigh of relief. With the Fatui being chased out of the yard, it seems that peace will finally return to the harbour city as they rebuild from the storm. You'll also get to watch three million Mora's worth of incense go up in smoke, so there's that.

Eager to focus on the future, Liyue folk have begun discussing the upcoming festival. The Lantern Rite commemorates hope for a new beginning and continued prosperity, and the construction of the festival centerpiece is currently underway. This year's Mingxiao Lantern will soar into the sky amidst thousands of smaller lanterns, and it will take the shape of a fallen Adeptus to commemorate the Adepti's contribution to Liyue's lasting peace.

Unfortunately, you're not quite out of the frying pan yet. With the Fatui gone from Liyue, the Ministry of Civil Affairs turn their attention to solving another issue that has cropped up after Osial's revival and subsequent defeat. Quite a few miners have gone missing from the Chasm, and the likelihood of finding them will only grow slimmer as the days go by. Both the Millelith and the Adventurers' Guild have pitched in to search for the kidnapped people. All clues lead to Nantianmen - and it's just your luck that Geovishaps and their hatchlings have come out of hibernation at around the same time. These lizard-like beings have shells of solid rock, and they seem especially agitated at having their territory invaded. Solving the mystery of the missing miners will take more than just a day's work.

State of the World

With the Lantern Rite set to open on January 21st, all of Liyue have come to visit the harbour to set up their stalls and pitch in to craft the Mingxiao Lantern. Hopefully the miners are found before the festival begins - the Lantern Rite is a festival of reunions, after all. Not to mention the Geovishaps' increased activity will inadvertently lead to them burrowing around in the rocky mountains. There's a small, but non-zero chance of them hitting an ancient seal somewhere and unleashing a buried threat.

Unless... that was their intention all along?

Please direct all questions to August's OOC post!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

... Do you need my assistance in making some?

[ Ledah is not an artist, but...he actually can handle things delicately. Whether that means he won't make a mistake from going too fast or something is still something to find out, but. ]

[Rean laughs a little at that.]

No, I think I've got these more or less figured out for now. But there's an open seat here if you want to try your hand at making your own!

[Rean motions next to him. If it wasn't clear from his words that Rean's inviting Ledah to spend some time together, hopefully this will seal it.]

It's pretty fun, actually. I'm normally not an arts and crafts person, but the festival mood changes a lot of things.

[ Oh, alrighty then. He will come over to join Rean properly. ]

You seem passable at it, even if you say you're not an arts and crafts person.

[ He'll just point it out, even if Rean does has some failures among his successes. He will reach for the materials, and he starts getting into the task immediately because he is Just Like That. ]

I have never made anything worth constructing. But, something like this doesn't look too difficult. Whatever the case, failure isn't an option.

[ ...yeah he's still serious as always. ]

Haha... I appreciate it, but passable's about as good as it gets. Besides, it's not like this is particularly hard. Even the kids around here are pretty adept at it.

[Rean watches Ledah take a seat and get to work with a smile.]

I wouldn't say it's that serious... it's just something fun to light up and let fly later. But I'm sure you can handle it!

[Rean, you fool, everything is a Mission to Ledah. You should know this by now.]

Be gentle with the sticks! If you're too rough, they might snap. I, ah... found that out the hard way.

[What is a gentle hand when your primary skill is Smack Hard With Sword?]

[ Well if children are good at it, then Ledah imagines that it's not going to pose as much as a challenge for someone like him... ]

... There aren't many activities I do for fun. But, I am curious about what the result will be nonetheless.

[ He's going to feel actually a little satisfied when he's done with these. And then he might understand a little why people may consider working at these as 'fun'. But right now, Ledah is definitely an Angel on a mission. ]

I'll keep that in mind. It shouldn't be too difficult...it isn't like I am attacking a creature or demon of some type. Though if there's any other advice you would like to impart to me, I will gladly accept it.

Yeah... I know how you are. [That's said gently - it's not meant to offend, but to offer some understanding.] But's it's never too late to start, though.

Yeah, exactly! As for other advice... hm.

[Rean looks back to his own project, getting back to work.]

I guess, just... patience. If it weren't for the crowds around here, something like this is almost a meditation.

[ He accepts the comments calmly. It also does help that he's hard to really offend, really.

That being said, he feels a teensy bit of curiosity. ]

A meditation? Is that something you normally partake in?

[ Ledah doesn't meditate, not really. He's an angelic being, so it's kind of like...unneeded. Maybe before that time it was a different matter, but those memories seem so distant from him now. ]

[Rean, master of putting his foot in his mouth, is grateful for that.]

Yeah. It's a part of my swordsmanship training.

Keeping your mind calm and clear is an important step in many of the techniques of the Eight Leaves, One Blade school.

[He laughs a little.]

I can't say I'm the best at that, but, well. It won't stop me from training.

[Since Master Ka-Fai at least was still watching back in Erebonia, he can't disappoint him!]

Not the best, but perhaps among the best to have made it this far and not die.

[ ... he means that as a compliment, really.

Oh look he's got two done, time to move onto the third... ]

That said it is unsurprising I have heard of such a technique. "Schools" like that do not exist where I'm from.

[ There is 'training', but there's far too few Grim Angels to be organized in such a way; though they have been organized the best they could have been. ]

...Haha. I'll take it.

[It's Ledah. If he meant for it to hurt, Rean's sure he would have been much harsher.]

Oh, really? Are you all just... naturally gifted with combat, or...?

[Color Rean intrigued.]

[ That is exactly it. He's getting more a hang of being something other than...well, you know. A tool. ]

The purpose of a Grim Angel is to serve the will of the gods, and so we are expected to be talented in combat. So yes, we are.

If we were not, the world as I knew it would have perished long ago.

[ So as far as he is concerned, it's justified. It just means he is extremely socially awkward outside of combat situations. ]

[...Ah. Well, that does make sense, the way Ledah puts it.

Still, it makes Rean a bit uncomfortable. To serve the will of others and expect success... it's a bit too close to Rean's own reality to sit right with him.

He imagines expressing such pity outright to Ledah would fall on confused ears, however.]

Ah... I see. That sounds like a lot of pressure. [He offers a little smile.] I bet you'll probably just say that's just a part of your mission, though, huh?

Still, you're doing pretty well, yourself. I hope your world is as grateful to your service as we are for your companionship.

...Yes, I would say something like that.

[ Spoken quietly as he recalls how things went back in his world for him, before he came here, and his eyebrows furrow. His ways may have also sound a touch conflicted...because even with what he has told Forneus, he is a little apprehensive that there may be no use for him anymore when he returns. But, he does have confidence Ein has protected the world, so that too is a comfort.

His expression then just goes back to its normal sort when he considers that. ]

I feel that, yes, I am doing well because of my own strength. But it is also because I met people like you, Jun, and...because I had the chance to, thanks to Forneus. I will never take for granted the opportunity that I have been given.

[ He looks up finally from the next lantern he has started to work on, as he revisits the fact he he has actually made friends here thanks to Rean's comment about companionship and service. Somehow, he thinks it makes him feel...satisfied? That's the closest thing he can think of it can be, really. ]

I have been loyal to the gods ever since I became a Grim Angel. I have no doubts that my service has been satisfactory until the end. But, I appreciate that you consider my company well worth keeping. Know that it is the same on my end where you and some of the others are concerned.

[Rean's gaze softens as he watches Ledah. He can tell there's some conflict going on, but it's not his place to pry further. If Ledah wants to speak on it, Rean trusts that he will.

After all, they're friends. What Ledah follows up with confirms that beyond a shadow of a doubt. And Rean trusts his friends unconditionally.]

There are things I have my qualms with, but... overall, I'm thankful I had the opportunity to come here, too. To meet you and the others, and to become your friend. [He'll use the word, even if Ledah won't.] And I know that, together, we can face the other things and find a way to make them work.

I have faith in you - in all of us. And I'll do my best to live up to the faith you have in me, as well.

august mingle

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