october mingle

[stellafortunamods]

October Mingle
Welcome to Teyvat - a vast magical world of adventure.
The Miko of the Grand Narukami Shrine has arranged for your passage out of Ritou and into the Inazuma islands at large. The nation has been gripped by an oppressive atmosphere ever since the enactment of the Vision Hunt Decree, and only someone unyoked by the Electro Archon can hope to break this stalemate.

Konda Village sits on the outskirts of Inazuma city. A pillar of its community now seeks to move out after losing his Vision. A samurai employed by the Shogunate is being accosted of hiding rations by his neighbours, and he has no recollection of ever dealing in such matters. Forgetting something seems to be the thread that links every former Vision holder's story together, yet their tragedies differ greatly in circumstance. Is the loss of a Vision truly so profound? If so, then why did the gods deliver such a poisoned gift to their people?

A mysterious priestess approaches you with a sincere request - Kazari seeks your aid in purifying the Thunder Sakura around Inazuma, as well as the Sacred Sakura on Mount Yougou. She tells you that these trees absorb the evil from the very land, but cannot dispel it without outside intervention. Here's where you come in: you need to dispel the sealing sigils around the holy trees, so that the filth accumulated within their roots can take form and then be swiftly cut down.

The seals, the trees, and Kazari herself are relics from the olden days - the mystical Inazuma, where kitsune and tengu lived and worked alongside humans and their god. But those days have since ended, and all that is left is a stifling eternity.

State of the World

The Land of Eternity is not without failings. By pursuing 'Eternity' and closing the doors of her nation, the Raiden Shogun has only made the lives of her people more difficult. Exploring the country may give you some clues as to how you can break her enforced stasis. You must first understand the situation of the nation, and then find the natives who also wish to change their world.


Please direct all questions to October's OOC post!

Comments

[sufferean]

Really? Wow. I kind of thought being a chief priestess would be a full-time job in and of itself... she must be pretty impressive, doing all that.

It's great that at least that much is thriving, though. I admit, when I was browsing bookstores in Liyue, I was pretty much just picking up all of the history books I could get my hands on, so...

[Can't learn about light novels when you're busy being a NERD]

[whiteshroud]

Aha....you really are a history teacher, through and through.

[That's right, in the eyes of the youth, you're a total nerdy teacher Rean]

Mm! Chief priests tend to be pretty impressive people. Though, it's pretty unique to hear one running a place like that, I'll admit.

[sufferean]

Haha... got me there. Liyue was fascinating and I just wanted to learn everything I could.

[He could have just asked Zhongli, and he probably would have been all too happy to orate, but... there's something special about hearing it retold by the people who lived there.]

Oh, for sure, but taking on two full-time jobs at once is definitely commendable even so. But... yeah, I can't say I can imagine any of the priests I know at home doing anything like that.

[Now there's a tiny thought at the back of his mind questioning if Dorothee is doing okay or not in the eyes of the Church. He's not sure why.]

[whiteshroud]

Haha, fair enough. I try to research all the places we're visiting, but I do admit Liyue drew my personal interest more than most.

[Ok, mostly because of Grandpa. When someone you admire so much speaks so lovingly of a particular place, it's hard not to feel interested.]

...Mm, I'd have to say the same. The Sealed library is very extensive if you're looking for books about Scripture or things related to the Eclipse, but you won't find any copies of Magical Girl Alisa there. That much I can confirm.

[sufferean]

It just had such a rich history and so many people have written so many varied accounts... there's only so much I can do to control myself when you give me all of that.

[...Okay, rein it in, nerdlord.]

Yeah, that's pretty much how it is with the Church. Even the records I've turned over to Rosine, it just seems to be historical records of more "supernatural" events. Which, I mean, that part's interesting to me, but it's certainly no adventure novel.

[whiteshroud]

I can imagine you'd feel that way...

[You know Rean for someone who acts like Instructor Thomas is a weirdo, you sure are on track to turning into him. Jun is giving a bit of a look like, yeah, that dude's a nerdy history teacher alright. ]

Sounds about right. Though I do vaguely recall being shown a show about singing vegetables on occasion when I was little...

[Did it make much sense to Jun? No. But it was still something different!!!]

[sufferean]

[He can feel the judgement and decides to just... internalize his nerdiness for now.

Somewhere in Erebonia, Thomas is beaming with pride.]

...Huh. Singing vegetables? [Rean looks thoughtful.] I'd seen some books about the adventures of a tomato back home... it's kind of weird, isn't it? Produce is pretty much the last thing you'd think to base a character on.

[whiteshroud]

Yes. The tunes were catchy, but I don't remember much else. [Unsurprising. It's hard to hold onto memories that you have little attachment to]

It is strange though. Even anime doesn't have many vegetable based shows. What adventures did the tomato go on?

[sufferean]

I haven't seen too many of them... given how I normally run across books, though, I'm sure I'll see the story through eventually.

So far it's just... there's this tomato on a vine, and it's big and red and amazing-looking, and everyone's talking about how it won't do the tomato any good to work so hard. But the tomato's just so sure it's going to be so delicious someday.

And then a storm comes and makes the tomato all ugly.

It kind of leaves off on that cliffhanger. I haven't found the rest yet.

[whiteshroud]

[........Slow blink. Because what the fuck is that story. Why does it have multiple parts. Why is it being sold in places where teachers can find and read it?]



Is ... vore popular in your world?

BLOCKED. BLOCKED. BLOCKED. NONE OF YOU ARE FREE OF SIN

[sufferean]

[...]

What's "vore?"

1/2

[whiteshroud]

Ah-

[Oh.

Oh no.

You've sure done it this time Kohinata.]

[whiteshroud]

[



.......

Well, no turning back now.]

Kinky cannibalism.

[sufferean]

[Rean's quiet for a long moment, just looking into the middle distance and trying to determine where, exactly, his life went wrong.]

...I guess people really can be into anything.

[It's all he can manage.]

I don't know. I think it's a kid's story, so I don't think it's supposed to be kinky. And the tomato doesn't want other tomatoes to eat it, so it's not really cannibalism?

[whiteshroud]

[Jun stares off for a moment, also questioning where exactly his life went wrong. Even worse, there's a little voice in his head that wants to point out that it's not always strictly cannibalism but.

No. No the less said about this cursed matter the better]

O-Oh. Right. Yes. It's probably just... one of those silly children's stories. Nothing more.

[Yes.

That's it. ]

[sufferean]

[Rean's still thinking about it, too. It's not cannibalism, but it's still a character that wants to be eaten? That's pretty messed up? And they're selling this to children, what kind of message is that sending to kids? Are the kids supposed to want to be eaten, too?

...Yeah, no, he's not thinking about this anymore nope nope NOPE]

Y-yeah, it's gotta be.

So, hey, any chance you remember what any of your vegetables sang about?

[whiteshroud]

[Jun meanwhile is just feeling mortified that he messed up so bad as to tell a teacher about vore. What was he thinking??? Next time he's in the same world as a confession booth, you better believe this is coming up]

Uh...

[Oh right. The singing vegetables. Normally he'd just say no. But if the the only option is to sit in awkward silence thinking about vore, then]

W-Well, I think the main song was something like...

[He'll try to half-sing it, as he thinks on it. And boy. He is definitely no Elliot when it comes to musical talent.]

♪ If you like to talk to tomatoes
If a squash can make you ....something
If you like to -something something- potatoes!
Up and down the ....something... aisle? ♪

...I forget the rest.

[sufferean]

[Listen, Jun could be the worst singer in the entire multiverse and it would be an improvement over the previous conversation. Therefore, his half of an attempt earns a couple of half-hearted claps.]

Haha... it sounds like it was really cute.

I bet if the Church back home put on little puppet shows like that at Sunday school, they'd have a lot more of us way more interested.

[whiteshroud]

[Yeah no argument there. He won't blush, but when Rean claps he'll put his hand up against his mouth and clear his throat, his eyes closed.

Read: He's embarrassed.]

I'm sure. The church does a lot of things to make the scripture and teachings more interesting to children. Songs, games, toys, plays...

[...Or so he's heard. He didn't exactly attend the normal version of Sunday School.]

[sufferean]

[He will proceed to never mention it again. He cares for your sanity, Jun, and does not wish to embarrass you to the point at which you snap.]

Haha... maybe the really young children.

Back where I'm from, Sunday school is the primary form of most schooling up until you're 15 or so. That's when you transfer into a more structured school. So once you're at an age where you can sit still and listen, you're pretty much just expected to be quiet and do your lessons. It... gets pretty boring, as I'm sure you can imagine.

[...]

Sure hope I don't get struck down the minute I'm back on my home turf for having said that.

[whiteshroud]

[So that's how it is in his world. On Earth, it's a little outdated for many parts of the world, but it's not unheard of. And it's a little like how he was educated.

...Though probably with a lot more kid friendly topics and much training the children to be weapons. Still. he nods with an "mm" sound, showing that he understands.

....]

I'm sure you'll be fine, Rean. It takes a lot more than some boredom for a god to strike you down.

[....]

Assuming they're a sane god, anyway.

[sufferean]

I mean, we've always been taught that the Goddess is kind and benevolent. So I would hope not, but... you know.

I just always feel weird disrespecting the Church in any way. They're a pretty integral part of our culture.

[whiteshroud]

[...]

...Mm. That's a common sentiment on Earth as well.

[After everything he went through, and the things he realizes he missed out on once he went to the outside world .... his feelings on that sentiment are a lot more mixed. But he wasn't about to argue about it. Especially when Rean belonged to an entirely different church. So, he'll remain quiet on the matter]

[sufferean]

[An interesting reaction. Rean's quiet for a moment, considering it.]

I bet it's probably a lot different on the inside, though, huh?

[His tone doesn't necessarily invite Jun to elaborate, although certainly Rean won't stop him if he wants to. It's more a quiet admission that he knows he's pressed a button, and that he's sorry.]

[whiteshroud]

[Even Jun, in all his social ineptness, can pick up on Rean's mild-backpedal. It's appreciated, in a way, but well...even if he was allowed to say what life was like in the Orden beyond scant details- he wouldn't be sure how to put it all into words. Not when honestly, he was still processing a lot of what did happen.

So he gives his typical evasive answer:]

...Something like that.

[The tone is closer to neutral. He wasn't angry at Rean for stating his opinion, but he can't exactly act like everything with the church is great and nothing bad happened either]