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

[reglaze]

Unfortunately, yes. It was rather abrupt. And... [Ganyu looks at him, attempting to glean some sort of information from his expression. A fruitless effort.] And somehow without my foreknowledge.

[It's really the best way to put it. Polite, yet accurate enough he should get the picture quickly.]

I hope you're not in the same boat. [Though she can't imagine what else he'd be doing here.]

[pragmatism]

[ Zhongli folds his arms - of course, it's not out of any disapproval towards Ganyu's answer. It's merely the same answer that he's heard from Xiao and several other individuals. ]

It appears that many outlanders have arrived in Mondstadt without their foreknowledge. Whatever force cast that net to draw them in seems to have picked us up as well.

[ He looks up at the clear blue skies above, and sighs. ]

Rather peculiar... I feel Liyue's pulse all the same. All is well.

[ If anything particularly devastating happened to the land, he would know. He's the Geo Archon, after all. ]

How do you feel? No ill effects?

[reglaze]

Us...? That's unsettling information. [Meaning that the Geo Archon himself is at the mercy of whatever force this might be. Some part of Ganyu is hoping he has an answer. A part she isn't even aware of until it's proved incorrect.]

Though it is a relief to hear Liyue is as it should be. [And she means that. Liyue is their top priority, all things considered. That's a weight off her mind.

Ganyu looks up at him, shaking her head, about to say she's all right when--]

My memories. The most recent of them are hazy. I feel important events occurred, but I cannot recall them no matter how hard I try.

[pragmatism]

[ Zhongli closes his eyes and folds his arms; a familiar posture that Ganyu would have oft seen when he was considering something important. ]

I see...

[ He doesn't have a solution ready. The black seal, and everyone else's seal, is of a type that he's never seen before. As proficient as the adepti are in the arts of sealing, even their Prime would need time to crack this one.

Zhongli opens his eyes. To his children, he's always gentle. ]

It is my regret that I cannot give you an immediate answer, but I will find it for you. [ And that's a promise... a contract to which he binds himself. ]

[reglaze]

Not on your own. [It's a quick interjection, not something she's used to doing, especially with the man in front of her. Even Ganyu realizes it's different-- not necessarily out of character, but definitely not her typical style.

Still, that's hardly the point. Her gaze remains on him, steady and now meeting his eyes.]

You'll let us help you, won't you? Xiao and I. It's what we're here for. [Not exactly here, but they both know what she means.] We'd want to do nothing else.

[pragmatism]

[ It's an answer that Zhongli had been expecting. He had chosen Ganyu to be the Qixing's secretary for a reason so many years ago, and that part of her personality hasn't changed since then. ]

Yes, I will.

[ That won't change, even if the world has changed around them in return. Though... after all that had happened in Liyue, he is no longer the Geo Archon in formal title. If he could eventually take a break, then so could Xiao and Ganyu. He's already talked to Xiao about this, so he would do the same for Ganyu ]

While I mull on the best course of action, I believe it would be beneficial for you to take this unexpected journey as an informal vacation.

[ He'll surely come find Ganyu once he has an idea in mind. (That's what he wants her to believe.) But before that... she doesn't have any duties to fulfil, and she's in dire need of a break. ]

[reglaze]

Good. [No take backs. Satisfied, she nods like she's accomplished something grand, when it's really not that impressive.

Either way, she's about to say something else when he tosses her a curveball. She closes her mouth, any trace of what she's about to share gone. Ganyu blinks a few times, attempting to process his statement.

No, it's not working. The Archon of Liyue has broken his goat.]

I... excuse me?

[pragmatism]

You could take a vacation.

[ It would be nice if he could convince Ganyu without needing to order her, so Zhongli will repeat his words with a calm smile. ]

If I remember correctly, it has been six hundred and seventy three years, four months, and three days since your last break. Having another would not be remiss.

[ It's not like Ganyu can do any paperwork while she's stuck in Mondstadt. Zhongli is only being practical. ]

[reglaze]

What? It's not-- I, um... no?

[It's not about the fact that he knows that. Ganyu has no idea if he's correct, though he probably is. They're stuck here thanks to a force of unknown origin, and the big boss is ordering her to essentially chillax.

Does not compute.]

What about you?

[pragmatism]

[ There's no reason to spend one's time needlessly worrying when nothing obvious can be done. Zhongli needs time to formulate some sort of breakthrough. ]

The forces that are at work here are far more ancient and powerful than that which mortals are accustomed to. It may be too dangerous or complex for those who are not under Celestia's direct command.

[ In other words, it's probably only a matter that the Archons can solve. ]

The Adventurers' Guild posts requests and also collect information on unusual happenings. You could take on some tasks there, and at the same time keep an eye out for anything notable. [ Hopefully this is less stressful than her work at Yujing Terrace. ]

[reglaze]

[If that's his honest assessment, and she knows it is, there's nothing to be done. Ganyu presses her lips together in a silent frustration, simply nodding in understanding.

Once again being neither full adeptus nor full mortal creeps to the forefront of her thoughts. She's fully aware he's not referring to her, not entirely, but a small part of her mind can't help latching on to that nagging, little thought: If she were full adepti, would she be more helpful?

It doesn't matter either way.]

I believe I'll do that. In any case, it should give me a better understanding of this country. You'll let me know if I can help in any way.

[It's not a question, as she knows he will. It's simply a reaffirmation that does want to be of use to her Archon.]

[pragmatism]

I will.

[ It seems he's succeeded in convincing her; he only hopes that her temporary stay in Mondstadt does not bring her undue anxiety. ]

I am ever grateful for your help and presence, Ganyu.

[ His careful expression shifts to a smile; a gentleness that he reserves for his children alone. ]

[reglaze]

[While he absolutely means what he says, it still rubs her the wrong way in that it doesn't feel like nearly enough. It essentially boils down to her taking a vacation while he focuses and deals with these matters on his own.

Of course, that's how it usually was, but this time is somehow different in a way she can't quite place.]

Of course. [Despite her uneasy feelings and frustration, she can't help but smile in return.

Even so, she's a grown woman, Dad!! Treat her like an adult, gosh.]

[pragmatism]

[ For very old people, their perception of the young seems to have stopped at a certain point in time. Ganyu won't ever be free of the child treatment... ]

That is good. Now... are you headed somewhere? We could have a look around Mondstadt, if you are free.

[ This is intended to be a leisurely stroll, so he's setting an example on how to take things slower. Maybe. Or he just wants to spend time with his kids. ]