stellafortunalogs | JANUARY MINGLE

Entry tags:

JANUARY MINGLE

January Mingle: A Ballad in Goblets
Welcome to Teyvat - a vast magical world of adventure.
You open your eyes to an unfamiliar sight. A cool breeze flits through rustic buildings and sunny streets, carrying the smell of flowers and wine. The very air itself seems charged with mana, the warm pulse of the land palpable beneath your feet. This is a new world, a world where the elements compose all of reality. Before you is a bubbling fountain, and a key is entwined between your fingers. And that weight on your hip? A sparkling bauble that you've never seen before, yet it feels natural, as if it had always been there.

Asking around nets you the name of this world - Teyvat - and the name of this city - Mondstadt, blessed by the Anemo Archon, Barbatos. Your new home is accessible with the key placed in your hands, though this also brings to mind another question. How will you get money? Food isn't free, after all.

Luckily for you, there's plenty of jobs available for the enterprising Traveler. Be it taking requests from the Adventurers' Guild, or working part-time at one of Mondstadt's many food establishments, Mora is to be had when hard work is involved. The cuisine of Mondstadt is best paired with its wine, served at bars or enjoyed in private with a few friends.

And about that shining gem. locals will tell you that it is a Vision, a sign of favour from Teyvat's elemental gods. With the Vision on hand, you find yourself capable of commanding one of the seven elements. What will you do with this newfound blessing? Use it for good... or for evil?

Mondstadt's liveliness doesn't diminish when night falls. Bards sing through the wee hours of the night, and the lights of the city help keep most evildoers at bay. All seems peaceful, a pastoral idyll of a life that seems more at home in a storybook. Yet for those Travelers who venture out beyond the city's walls and into the ruins dotting the landscape, they may discover hints of a bloodier past now forgotten.

Glancing at any of the calendars in the city will tell you the current date. August 10th was the day you arrived. As soon as the last minute of August 16th slips away, the world around you changes. A blink, and time itself rewinds by seven days. Looking outside, the mown lawns have regrown, the windmill needs fixing again, and the well is once again full. Just what is happening here? It seems only you, Traveler, remembers the week that never was.

State of the World

For the first two weeks of the game, IC time will be looping from August 10th to August 16th. It's currently late summer in Mondstadt, and the trees are just beginning to turn out their autumn colours. The weather is cool and pleasant, with light showers on Tuesday (11th) and Friday (14th). It's also a good time to go out gathering berries and nature's bounty from Mondstadt's forests and valleys.

These two weeks will let us trial out our commissions and regains system and craft improvements for February onwards. There will be no activity requirements for January, so all threads started during this time period can be used for regains!

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

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

The true commissioner?

[ Zhongli tilts his head, curious. Did Jun already accept a commission before running into him here? ]

I appreciate the thought, but please do not push yourself.

[ Jun is still adjusting to being in a new world, and Zhongli is quite sure the black seal's scope is quite beyond what most of the outlanders can handle. But he's not going to say that, of course. ]

I have the time to wait and see.

[ While Minako is walking through Mondstadt's city exploring, Koromaru briefly leaves her side to trot across a corner. He sniffs the ground as if tracking a scent, leading him to trace Zhongli's path until he's right up against the older man's heels. A small bark announces his presence, and Zhongli turns around, squatting down to be on level with the puppy. ]

Oh? What is it?

[ Koromaru looks up at Zhongli with sparkling eyes, and he seems to be able to understand the unsaid intention. He reaches into a hidden pocket and pulls out a hairclip. ]

Is this yours?

[ Never mind that he's asking a dog... about a human accessory. ]

[ Zhongli replies after a moment, said moment spent looking at Ana with a wistful expression. ]

Were you ever fully human?

[ He's just curious. Though, her question is answered quickly enough ]

I am the Geo Archon, Morax. My domain is of neighbouring Liyue, not Mondstadt. [ Which makes his presence here all the more strange. ]

[ Nobody's immortal. How true that would be, even for the gods... ]

I can defend myself. Mondstadt is quite peaceful as well, thanks to the work of the Knights and adventurers.

[ Venti only did the environmental landscaping, he doesn't get any credit. ]

What brings you to Windrise, then?

Why do you want to freeze those chickens so badly?

[He's bringing up freezing them again...

But he doesn't have time to worry about that, not when a feathery life is on the line.]

Tch...that doesn't belong to you!

[He knocks away the first crystal with his sword, but the second is a square hit. It's a lot more effective now, without his powers, but his sheer determination leaves him reeling for only a short time. With his Vision being the element it is, it won't be much use, just as likely to end up freezing himself if the Cryo Mage gets crafty, so he does what he can to close the distance between himself and the mage.]

Grab the bird and get out of here!

[If he can at least keep it busy long enough for them to retreat, that's mission accomplished...at least, that's his line of thinking.]

Yes, that'd be whoever brought me here. I remember a dream where a voice requested for help, before I arrived here. [Who that voice belonged to, Jun didn't know] It's the Orden's policy that if you commission a Seal Knight, you must cover their living expenses for the duration of the assignment. Can't have people thinking they can get around that by kidnapping us.

[In other words, totally going to track them down and force them to pay up as part of his contract. No wonder he got picked for a Geo vision.]

I promise to watch my limits. [he won't be reckless!! He just wants to help ok] But I still want to help you, if I can.

Edited 2021-01-23 06:26 (UTC)

[ He spends a few seconds thinking if he should go into Lecture Mode or try to keep it brief. ]

Teyvat is a land blessed by seven elemental forces. They are, in no particular order, Fire, Water, Wind, Ice, Lightning, Earth, and Viridescence. The interplay of these elements are what produces the diversity that you see today. Of course, we are currently situated in the nation of Wind, named Mondstadt. I am from another part of Teyvat, though I do know a little about it. For one, it is a nation of freedom, and it is not ruled by a sovereign. Its people are free to pursue what their hearts desire.

[ Did he really say all of that in a single breath... ]

[ Three, huh... Doesn't sound all that much like a coincidence and he's expecting to meet more magic users along the way, so this tracks. ]

The Obelian Empire.

[ Waits for a reaction, though he doubts he's going to get one of familiarity!! ]

[ What do you want, mongrel!!

But Lucas will pause for just a moment before sitting down at the offered seat. He's so out of his element with kindness, like. What has he done to deserve this??

Once he's settled, he figures they should at least get introductions done with. ]

I'm Lucas, by the way.

I see...

[ Payment, hmm. He wonders how much Jun will bill their mysterious commissioner. Then again, whoever has the power to bend time and space probably has the power to amass a large amount of money. There are also things that are worth much more than any amount of Mora can measure... but that's a story for another day. ]

You help me plenty by being around and continuing to improve yourself. [ that's not what Jun meant at all ] As the years go by, most things fade in the value of their importance. It brings me a measure of calm, knowing that others are able to prosper.

[ yeah that's totally not what Jun meant at all ]

[ Oh, so this guy wants to fight fight judging by the way he's keeping up on the aggression. Lucas, with centuries of wisdom and experience, decides that backing down is not an option. Because he's stupid like that.

He absolutely will notice the lack of a hand as the stranger gathers his belongings. Maybe he can take the other one off as well. ]

Having a bit of fun is all. [ Damn, his cheek is still stinging but that's not gonna stop him from being a punk!! ] If only you did have a knife to defend yourself with.

[ From what you may ask, well. Just Lucas building up some more of that Electro Vision he's been testing out. The purple static crackles in both his hands. It's not the magic he's used to, but it's all he has and he gets the gist of how to use it. And boy does he want to use it. ]

You are not.

[ He keep his voice calm, conversational. ]

I decided to take a walk, and our meeting was by chance. [ Or was it? ] Conversely, I hope I am not interrupting your training.

[ Zhongli is good at lecturing. He could talk all day, it's really Takame's choice... ]

[ It IS quite terrible, isn't it, Serpico? Kind of like the offer just made, which judging by the look of contempt of Lucas' face, isn't being considered with too much gratefulness. He'd wanted the money and then the other person to just scatter off into the winds... Not stick around and "treat" him.

But refusing would mean losing out on at least getting something basic to fill his stomach with, so. Long suffering sigh. ]

Fine.

[ "Fine"?? Lucas, have some manners!! The man is being generous! ]

You think I'd just leave here without you?

[ foolish. but maybe sandalphon's the type to just sacrifice himself just so the mission can be accomplished without a hitch? why even bother when this mission is hilarious easy?

figaro brings out his catalyst weapon - some generic book he'd purchased back in the city is a loud cry from his orb but it'll have to do - and promptly heals sandalphon up. the abyss magic vanishes with a pop!, filling the air with its irritating cackles.

god, how he'd love to kick the ever-living shit out of that puny mage until it cries uncle. but they gotta regroup first. ]

If that's how it wants the play, we'll just have to do the same. [ his eyes seem to gleam with excitement as he relays his plan to his companion. ] Once it appears again, attack it with water then I'll throw some ice at it. It might be enough to freeze it in place and for you to chip away at the shield until it's gone.

[ if he had his powers back, he would've possideo'd it out of existence. but he supposes that using their brains and what they have in hand can be fine too. ]

[ three months? Hwi's face betrays his immediate surprise, and he'd be lying if he said it wasn't hard to believe.

then again, so was sitting here in this strange house in this whack-a-doo town with a bauble hanging from the ribbon in his hair, so, here we fckn are, ]

How is that possible? [ and not just from a 'logics' perspective, because: ] I've seen you. You haven't been missing.

[ his tone isn't accusatory or argumentative; it's simple perplexity. none of this makes sense... does it????

he's getting a headache, this feels like a conversation that should have been made over soju... after a moment's hesitation, Hwi heaves a sigh and sits in the chair beside Seonho's. awkwardly. ]

Edited 2021-01-23 06:47 (UTC)

[ alas, he just shakes his head. ]

Ah, doesn't ring a bell, sorry. Still, it's nice to know that there are wizards in other worlds as well.

[ it's fine, it's fine. but now figaro's tempted to compare and contrast... maybe after they get to the bottom of this current predicament first. ]

Whoever locked our powers away doesn't want us to solve this problem anytime soon. I wonder how long this timelooping business has been going on... [ hmmm. ]

[ Time and space moves different between different worlds, and for people how have been displaced once, their trajectory through the multiverse would be even more difficult to predict. Figaro forgetting him had been surprising, but somehow it felt explainable. Not that Zhongli remembers why, given that he would usually not have too much knowledge about traveling between worlds. Perhaps it was related to why he cannot remember who cast the black seal, and why. ]

I am a little tired. I suppose I will need to take a nap soon.

[ He's answering the question... except also not answering it at the same time. He doesn't want to break Seonho's brain by talking about the black seal immediately. ]

It does puzzle me why you were not sent back to your own world, but arrived in mine. It was not my intention to strand you here.

[He's worried about the chicken! The chicken, Figaro!!!]

Fine. We'll do it your way.

[Sandalphon's just carefully gonna. Put the chicken under an overturned crate for now. It's not that he doesn't trust Figaro to not freeze it after this is the exact plan he proposed for the chickens but...

...No, that's exactly what it is. He doubts he'd do it on purpose in a situation like this, but he still doesn't want to have to bring a dead chicken back to the client.

In any case, as soon as the mage reappears, Sandalphon follows the plan, hurling a bubble of water at it.]

Now!

[ Lucas is going to be hung up about this power thing FOREVER. He feels so... useless... and weak...

Not that he wants to give any indication of that as he grimaces the thought away. ]

You would think so, wouldn't you? I've spoken to the locals and everything is fine according to them. [ Which is stupid and weird and now everything feels like a gigantic waste of time. ] Were we fooled by whatever brought us here?

[ IT'S JUST ONE (1) CHICKEN but no he's right, they've got to bring everyone back alive. miss adeline would be upset and wouldn't want to ask for doctor figaro's help anymore i mean --

figaro hurls a sharp block of ice towards the abyss mage, effectively trapping it in place! ]

There, got 'em. Normally we should just take the chicken and run, but... If you could slice at its shield and shutt it down, I'll take care of the rest.

[ he has more plans up his sleeve but this is also a way to gauge sandalphon's swordwork. for a human(?), he sure knows how to handle one unlike anything he's seen before... but then again figaro doesn't know a lot of knights outside of cain, who's also a wizard. ]

Edited 2021-01-23 23:40 (UTC)

[Grandpa you think that but you're the god of money and you're deadass broke - so who knows how well Jun's plan will pan out here.

And of course that's not what Jun meant at all. He sighs. Is this a god thing or just a stubborn old man thing? He honestly can't tell right now. Whatever. He'll find a way to help, even if he has to be sneaky about it. ]

Very well. I'll focus on improving my skills for now.

[ Maybe Seonho will tell Hwi that Zhongli saved his life one day. But it is refreshing to live without the weight of his deeds, and he's content with Hwi knowing him as a part-time chef/waiter combination at Good Hunter. It's better to be ordinary, for it makes things easier for others to try and relate to you. ]

You owe me naught; this is merely something I wished to do.

[ It's one of his money spending whims, except luckily he's spending his own money this time. Even if he technically hasn't earned it yet. ]

How do you find Mondstadt?

[ Sara might stare at him meaningfully soon but he'll try to have his conversation for as long as possible before that. ]

[there is something very surreal about Hwi sitting (awkwardly) next to him. they've spent time together before -- but they'd always been standing -- maybe one standing while the other was sitting -- and there'd always been a distance between them that felt as wide as a mountain.

Seonho glances at him, then just as quickly looks away. more importantly, that tidbit is news to him too -- but perhaps there'd been something like that in the book. he can't remember if anyone ever discussed what happened back home, perhaps someone had.]

When was the last time you saw me?

[was it when seonho was being a binch......... i mean we know it was, but maybe hwi will be specific]

[The memory of Zhongli standing in the snow with only his suit to warm him suddenly appears in Seonho's mind. Even then, he had seemed entirely unaffected.]

...I would like to ask you what exactly you mean by 'your intention', but... perhaps that is a conversation better had while sitting.

[Seonho always wants answers, but he's willing to temporarily shelve them if that means Zhongli gets to Rest.]

Are your quarters nearby?

[he's assuming that zhongli has a house of his own here, or at least woke up with that little key in his hands too]

[ It's a testament to Zhongli's tenacity that he is able to only appear weary despite being affected by the black seal. Being actively drained of his power meant that he had to deal with physical weakness and a sensation akin to constantly losing one's blood at the same time - but this is hardly the first time he has come close to death, and it will not be the last. He only needs to endure, like he always has. ]

Yes, I was heading back before we met. Shall we?

[ Some things should be talked of in private, and at least Mondstadt's people don't regularly have the unfortunate habit of eavesdropping through walls. ]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 38 of 90

JANUARY MINGLE

no subject

iv

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject