JANUARY MINGLE

[stellafortunamods]

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.

Comments

[hangfire]

[He lets out a sharp breath of a laugh, more bitter than humored.]

Hardly.

Marks get people thrown out. I'm not stupid enough to test that. [A beat, and he exhales again, slower, his hand rising to run through his hair, the sleeve of his tunic dropping enough at the motion to mirror the scars on his face with ones that spiral around the skin of his exposed arm.] I can fend for myself. It's fine. And it's nobody's business but my own.

[lipgame]

[ —okay, not coming any closer. her body isn't exactly built to stand on two legs, so, on her knees, she shows her hands in a harmless little gesture. usually she's the one to threaten people, what a strange turn . . . ]

May I at least clean you up? It'll take a second. No washing needed.

[pragmatism]

[ Zhongli is well aware of the charms of his own appearance - after all, he has high standards for everything. Whether it be the execution of his duty, the housekeeping of his residence, or participating in mortal hobbies, he must give his best and be given the best in return. As an Adeptus, his clothing is not entirely physical, but it also means that he can pull off wearing a three-layer suit and keep it impeccable at all times.

At least, Albedo is only asking to sketch him. He's not one of the many grannies trying to set up their granddaughters with him for marriage. ]

I do not.

[ To meet another with a similar level of appreciation for aesthetics is fortunate in his book. ]

Shall I continue standing here?

[pragmatism]

[ They're not so different. The black seal covers all of Zhongli's body sans his neck and face... and the reason people don't see it is because he wears a full-body suit. ]

Mondstadt is a land of freedom. Its people carry less prejudice, for they know that each person is free to pursue their heart's desires.

[ Lutha probably won't listen, but it might be worth mentioning. ]

[whiteshroud]

In theory we could, but I think we'd need a lot of knowledge in civil engineering first before we'd be much use.

[Because he don't know about you, but he's a high schooler whose knowledge of construction is on par with building a dirt hut in minecraft.]

It would be, but we have to make do with what we have.

[pragmatism]

[ One day, Zhongli will learn that manipulating everyone around him, intentionally or no, isn't a good thing now that he's retired. But that day is not today. Today is the day that he finds himself a target of that manipulation, and while he is patient, it's something he intends to correct.

Of course, all of that is his own opinion, and he wouldn't speak for the Adepti that serve under him without their consent. Which means... ]

Thank you, Xiao.

[ For living. Even when all of his comrades in arms have left.



A soft sigh passes Zhongli's lips, and he glances up at the boundless azure sky. ]

I do not foresee a battle in our immediate future. [ A pause. ] While I plan for the next step, my wish for you is to treat this as a time for rest.

[ Yes, that means a vacation. Ganyu is officially on a vacation, and so are you. ]

[hangfire]

[...]

No land is that simple.

[His expression tightens a little as he looks over his shoulder at the other man, dark eyes sharp but tired at the edges.]

Freedom doesn't change that people will always have to fight for their needs. There's always going to be some party on the bottom that has to scrape by and live off what others don't take. Freedom might make life more open. But it doesn't make things fair.

[pragmatism]

[ Archons choose people for a reason. Because of this, it's easy to guess at a Vision holder's personality just by the element of their Vision. Takame may be calm and collected, but the Pyro Vision next to his sword gives enough clues to the hidden passion of his temperament. ]

Many will be grateful for your deeds.

[ Takame is nice. Helpful, even. It's not out of place in Mondstadt, a land more innocent than the mercantile economies of Liyue. ]

If you are heading back, I would be glad to accompany you on the way.

[infreefall]

As long as there are people who work in construction in the city, they could tell us what to do to help. Using these abilities could make it a lot easier on them.

[ said with all the confidence of someone who's had this argument a thousand times, and still thinks she's right. ]

Is that all we can do, though? If there's a better way to do it, shouldn't we give it a shot? Nothing's going to change if we don't at least try, especially if it could end up saving someone because they won't be caught by surprise like that.

[ slimes are like. barely a threat? but if there are monsters at all, there's probably far worse out there, so ochako thinks it's worth considering. ]

[nefilim]

[Truly the most social of butterflies.

Though her grin turns a bit wry at his request, brows raising as she seems to consider it for a moment.]

What, so you want all my hard work just like that?

[She lets the question hang in the air for a moment, making it seem like she's actually expecting something. Before she eventually continues, clearly just wanting to be difficult for a moment - but she's never been the sort to withhold info.]

So, lets start with the basics. The world is called Teyvat, and right now we're in the city-state of Mondstadt. There's seven other nations, including a place called Celestia, which is apparently the residence of gods. Actually, if you look outside on a clear day, you can see Celestia in the sky.

[Pause.] Shall I keep going?

[pragmatism]

[ Zhongli nods, and off they go along the streets of Mondstadt. It's a comfortable sort of day, and the sunlight of early autumn is pleasant when coupled with the ever-present gentle breeze. Perfect weather for taking walks. ]

How do you find Mondstadt? [ He ventures a question to test the waters. ]

[pragmatism]

That is a possibility. The other is that I have a duty to fulfil here in Mondstadt, though the assembly of the gods are usually more detailed in their instructions.

[ Celestia... always so inscrutable and terribly vague. Then again, their vague orders are probably what caused the seven nations of Teyvat to develop so differently. Each Archon interpreted the same verse in their own ways and ruled their country in the manner that they taught best. It didn't make interpreting their orders any easier, though. Fail Celestia's wishes and even godhood wouldn't save them from retribution.

Now to answer Seonho's other question: ]

I had a vision. It would be roughly analogous to mortal dreams. [ Because gods don't sleep. They're the ones sending other people meaningful dreams. ] Why do you ask?

[pragmatism]

[ If anything, Lutha's words only reinforce Zhongli's perception of him. He has a difficult past, and it's not something Zhongli would make light of, even if Mondstadt is starkly different from Lutha's original world. ]

Mondstadt's winds will watch over you, even if you tread a path different from most.

[ But that's all he'll say on this topic. ]

I shall not disturb you, if you wish for quiet.

[whiteshroud]

[Wow she is stubborn about this. Jun personally doesn't see the point, being thrown into dangerous situations was how he trained growing up, but it's not like he feels so strongly about that method that he'll keep arguing.]

If you wish to commit your time here to making those changes, go ahead and do that.

[And he means that! He won't stop her if she decides to go about that. Be the change Ochako]

Though...being more aware of your surroundings is a crucial part of training.

[fiddlestick]

Well...he's tall, and has pink and blue spikey hair hair that's about shoulder length. He's usually wearing this red coat with glasses and he yawns a lot.

Though oh- when he's in full demon form he's even taller with horns and is purple.

[So yeah, stands out]

[fiddlestick]

[He nods, glad that they've reached an understanding. Yeah, they'll sort things out together. Having Celine here is a big help. Her way of dealing with Rean was different than his, but that was a good thing. And she could give insight about magical-related things that he simply didn't know.

Sure, he'd agree with her that it'd be nice if Emma was here too, but...they'll make do. They had to. ]

Mm, looks like we're on the same page then on that. In the meantime, we'll just have to work on getting used to this place and figuring out our situation.

I

[pawrtner]

[ A black-haired girl... (cat?)... stops and looks. It's different from her own Electro Vision, which is curious enough to get her attention. ]

If I had to guess, I would say it's some manner of magical artifact. It may have something to do with your powers not working... or it may not.

[ Her tail swishes about curiously, cat ears perked. ]

It is not like the one I was given, so each of them may have their own unique properties.

I

[pawrtner]

[The "girl" he happens to be testing his "science" on bristles quite visibly-- from the cat ears on her head to her long cat tail. All of her hair is standing on end as she hisses. ]

What was the meaning of that?!

[Explain yourself, before you become a scratching post for an angry cat.]

our shippy psl that ends with ur chara killing mine... how about it val

[eolja]

[WHAT'S HAPPENING? HELLO???

Seonho had not expected this amount of arm strength from Zeta, honestly. Where is it all coming from... her pigtails?? anyway he's successfully hauled up from his chair.]

-- I am not familiar with any of those superstitions, unfortunately. I -- wait, where are we going?

[Seonho says, trying in vain to stand his GROUND once he realizes that Zeta is trying to... what is she trying to do

IS SHE TRYING TO CRASH THIS WEDDING,]

[nefilim]

[How he stumbles as he misses her prompts another bark of laughter from her, rolling her eyes once more.]

And you need to stop acting like everything is the biggest fucking offence you've ever heard. Seriously, how have you not popped a blood vessel or ten yet.

[But she comes to a halt as well once the hilichurls and their little camp come into view, her hand moving to rest against the handle of her claymore. Glancing over at Lutha for a moment, crimson eyes focusing on the group intently soon after. Humming under her breath, seeming as if she might actually be serious now - ]

I've fought them a few times. So don't worry your precious little head, this harpy will handle it.

[- Except not really. Of course she has to to keep being as condescending as possible, flashing a grin before she steps out towards them, whistling so they focus on her rather than him. Her prowess was full-on, frontline combat, and here is no exception.]

[whiteshroud]

[He'll lower the rocks back onto the ground now that presentation is done.]

Mm. I've been working on manipulating different types of earth, starting with softer materials like soil and clay. Someone said that's easier for a beginner like me.

[nefilim]

[Politely thinking of her yeeting a bard into the lake...

But she accepts Hwi sizing her up, especially since she does the same to the oblivious bard. Debating internally for a moment if she can actually carry him as she is now, then nodding with a confident grin.]

Hmmmm... Yep, pretty sure I can pick him up and haul him out.

[Quiet for a moment, and then - ]

And don't worry, I'll dump him in shallow water.

[omegathree]

Most of that isn't so surprising in the Netherworld, but... he only gains horns? He doesn't transform into some sort of demon? No dragon or werewolf?

[fiddlestick]

No, he does. A very purple tall demon with horns.

[Like he said!]

[omegathree]

[This just sounds like a normal demon to him??]

I don't understand the demons of your world, lad. If you say that's how he is, I shall not doubt you.