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]

[Ganyu is over three thousand years old with centuries of wisdom and experience under her belt. Countless battles fought and won, civilizations rising and falling with her there, unchanging. She's seen things no ordinary human could hope to comprehend.

Too bad it means jack shit when it comes to spotting people with sketchy ulterior motivations. Or just Kaeya. Either way, really.]

Ah, thank you. My apologies, I didn't mean to run into you like that. [Duh.] I'm perfectly fine. What about yourself?

[masking]

[let's be real: it's just the power of kaeya (tm). how does he do it? we do not know. but while he does glance down at his torso, as though making sure everything is precisely where it should be after the mildest collision of all time:]

Oh, I've suffered worse. No need to worry. [and you know, actually—] In fact, I'd say my day has just improved.

[he is winking in spirit, and yet that smile on his face remains perfectly congenial? no wonder all the local grandmas love him.]

Are you looking for something? It seems our librarian has other matters to attend to, but I would be happy to help.

[reglaze]

[Yes Kaeya, you shirt is still not covering your chest. Don't worry.

She offers a goatish sheepish smile as she shakes her head.]

If you say so. And uh, no, not particularly. I'm simply trying to get a feel for the layout of this city. If I'm going to be here for some time, I'd like to know where I'm going.

[masking]

[thank god? he doesn't want to stifle in this heat? but oh, okay, thanks for throwing him this bone; now she gets to watch as his eye widens, seemingly lighting the heck up as he seemingly pieces two and two together.]

Ah! One of our unexpected guests...

[time to put his hand over his chest like the respectable man he is (not).]

Then on behalf of the Knights of Favonius, allow me to welcome you to Mondstadt—and to apologize for not introducing myself sooner. I am Kaeya, Cavalry Captain. [a respectful sort of incline, then, before he adds:] I would be happy to show you around our fine city.

[reglaze]

[Her own eyes widen a little in response to his recognition. Very few other officials here seemed to recognize that there even are new arrivals. Ganyu visibly relaxes now that she doesn't have dance around anything.]

I am Ganyu from Liyue. It seems I'll be accepting your hospitality for a duration yet unknown. Thank you for your kind offer, however, I'd hate to tear you away from your duties. Please, don't go out of your way on my account.

[As formal and slightly diplomatic as her responses are, they are sincere. Ganyu's perfectly content with poking around on her own, and earning the attention of a Knight Captain™ like himself feels a little formal, something she's unprepared for so soon.]