FEBRUARY MINGLE

[stellafortunamods]

February Mingle: The Outlander Who Caught The Wind
Welcome to Teyvat - a vast magical world of adventure.
Life in Mondstadt seems to never change. Each day unfolds similarly to the next, and the clock turns back every seven days. Just what is happening here? Is there ever any hope for the Travelers to find a way home? Slowly, the questions that have been burning in everyone's minds will be answered The fate of all that lives in Teyvat is written in the stars - only you, Traveler, are free from the shackles of destiny.

As Travelers wake up to August 13th for the third time, nothing seems to have changed. However, a windstorm blankets all of Mondstadt in the afternoon, whipped up by the wings of a large dragon. As civilians scatter and the Knights attempt to restore order, a voice calls out to you from the darkened sky.

"Come fly with me. The winds of freedom will clear away the storm."

An updraft carries you and your Wind Glider into the air, where you can take aim at the dragon without hindrance. However, your attacks seem to focus on the purple spikes that torment the dragon's body. From whence did they come?

At the behest of the Acting Grand Master, you venture out into Mondstadt's wilds to stem the flow of power fueling Stormterror's rampage. Perhaps you may come to know of Stormterror's past - once a protector of the city, now turning his back on the nation he once loved. What broke the dragon's heart? Could he have truly turned dark once and for all?

Whatever path you choose to walk, it soon becomes evident that your actions do have an impact on the world. August 17th arrives gracefully, and the people of Mondstadt turn their attention to the arduous task of reconstruction. Helping to patch up the city's beautiful neighbourhoods piece by piece will earn you the citizens favour and a good amount of Mora.

When the dust settles, peace returns to Mondstadt... for the most part. The howling of wolves can be heard in the depths of the night - a territorial dispute in the dark forests of Wolvendom has spilled over into neighbouring Springvale. The order in Wolvendom is kept by the will of Lupus Boreas - all wolves who reside in Mondstadt must obey Andriu's code. The foreign pack heed not his words, hunting above their share and attacking human hunters.

Yet all wolves look the same to outsiders unfamiliar with their code, and the residents of Springvale are all too willing to blame all of wolfkind. Who will listen to the voice of the wolves? Will blood be spilled on these untamed lands once more? Only time will tell.

State of the World

For the first week of February, IC time will continue the time loop from January: that is, looping once more from August 10th to August 16th. ICly, the tasks in our main quest will be completed by characters before Sunday ends. Once Monday rolls around once more, they’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that the date has advanced to August 17th. The second to fourth weeks of February will be spent looping from August 17th to August 23rd, and characters will have plenty of new things to do in the new time period.

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

Comments

Kashuu Kiyomitsu | Touken Ranbu | Hydro | OTA

[nailpolished]

I. CHANGES

[ Things may reverse and not change week to week here in Mondstadt, but there is in fact one change at the very start of the week. Edward Elric is ~gone~ and there's actually someone new who probably doesn't quite look like they belong in Mondstadt because they definitely do not. Kashuu Kiyomitsu brings no extra height to Stella Fortuna since he's also only 165cm tall, but that's fine. He has high heels and is way more fashionable than Edward and his weird sense of style, so it's totally a trade up.

Anyway. While he doesn't look like he knows where he is, exactly, Kashuu doesn't seem that worried about it? More sort of annoyed. Since he showed up near the fountain, he stays near there, shaking what looks like a compass and muttering to himeslf for a second. But he'll put it away when that appears fruitless, looking around dubiously. Mondstadt is very clearly no part of Japan he has ever been to, but exploration is pretty much the only way to figure out what's going on. Regardless, this means there is someone new who can be found doing a variety of things in the few days prior to the dragon attack...a few options: shopping (!) for interesting things with whatever mora he manages to earn, doing his nails while seated somewhere, or examining commissions options. ]

II. AFTER THE STORM

A. FLYING???
[ HE NEVER TOOK FLYING LESSONS SO THIS PROMPT IS mostly an incoherent shriek who wants to advise him mid-air. Please send help. ]

B. TEMPLE DIVING
[ Well, this seems way more his speed than anything else. Kashuu's perfectly happy to either join someone else or start his own thing, but either way he'll find his way to any of the three temples and loiter outside - since it isn't until someone else approaches that the gate lights up in a new way. His eyebrows lift immediately. ]

Well, that's new. Maybe it'll open now! [ He was getting nowhere with ideas on how to get in by himself, so this is nice. Join him, stranger! ]

C. CLEANING
[ Cleaning is not his favorite activity ever, but okay, fine. Kashuu will definitely pitch in - though he might complain if a nail is chipped at any point - although some things bother him less than others. Just now he's attempting to help right a fallen - lamppost? ]

Oh, hey! Can you grab the other side of this? I'm not gonna do it alone. [ Because he can't. ]

III. THE LEGENDS OF WOLVENDOM

[ Bad wolves and good wolves, color coded for their convenience. Well, a little scouting proves that it seems like the grey wolves do not seem to be harming humans...which is good, right? Kashuu isn't sure why that is, but maybe it has to do with the human kid who hangs out with them. Which means that the easiest solution is probably... ]

Soooo, we just have to kill the other wolves, right? That would solve everything. [ There's not a peaceful solution to be had here, is there? ]

IV. COMMISSIONS

A. AN OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE
[ The reward is? Your picture in a book? And Kashuu is just enough into that he's game. Besides, it sounds fun and fairly easy. All he has to do is figure out what would be fun for tourists, right? He's a tourist! This takes like no effort at all! So he'll just grab the first available person he sees, unless someone else was already accepting the commission and Jameson Jams Jamsborini just paired them up randomly. Currently he's seated at a table at Angel's Share with someone else (you) and tapping his nails on the top of it. ]

We-ell, what about a culture section? Like, what people wear, local phrases...that sort of thing would help with a travel guide, right?

B. LIBRARY MANAGEMENT
[ One book down, one to go! Kashuu has already gotten the first book, but the second book...where the hell is the Thousand Winds Temple? He's about to leave Mondstadt for it, readjusting his gloves and actively pouting. ]

Who leaves a borrowed book someplace so far away?? It's careless! [ And also more work for him. And he doesn't even know what ruin guards are as of yet. ]

C. A THOUSAND WISHES
[ "A surprise" sounds like a terrible reward coming from Tsurumaru (is it him jumping out at them) but whatever - Kashuu's first instinct is to purchase cuter paper if possible, and then he'll set up at one of the outdoor tables at Angel's Share, folding with a decent amount of ease. He already knows the story, and it's not the first time a sword has gotten it into their head to try this. So, if anyone is having trouble: ]

Ooooh, you're doing that fold a little off. Here, like this. Do you want some of my paper? It's way cuter than what you've got! [ And clearly all 1000 of these cranes need to be cute, or something. ]

WILDCARD

[ Want to make something up? Feel free. Alternately, if you want to plot something out you can still hit my plotting comment over here or reach me via roseburst or Maggie#0451. ]

2-A

[whiteshroud]

[Jun has a bit more experience with flying, granted in a different way and in much shorter bursts. But it's enough where he's not struggling so much as...this poor soul. Oh.

He tries yelling over the wind]

Don't flail around! You'll make yourself lose the draft!

[nailpolished]

[ HE DOES NOT WANT TO BREAK, SPARE HIM - ]

Why are we flying?! [ Why is this even a thing! He likes being on the ground!! ]

[whiteshroud]

Have to reach the dragon somehow!

[You know, the one attacking the town!]

II- B

[omegathree]

[Val watches the temple glow as he comes up.]

Very well, are you prepared for whatever dangers may lurk within?

[nailpolished]

Sure am! I'm not toootally sure how to use my "vision" properly yet, but hey, what better way to learn?

[ He can use his sword, though, and that has to be all that matters in the end, right? ]

It's "Hydro", by the way.

[omegathree]

Danger is an excellent way to learn combat skills.

[He also has a sword, so they should be fine to go in! Probably!]

Mine is "Cryo". I believe if we work together, we can freeze our enemies.

2a

[beatnest]

Ahhhh!! Watch where you're going!

[ Guess who also didn't take flying lessons. Guess who's also close nearby in the air, swerving all over the place. ]

[nailpolished]

I can't help it!

[ At no point in his long life has he learned to fly. Fuck you, Venti-voice and your mystery breeze, go find people who know what they're doing! ]

No one ever told me how to use these things!! [ It's almost a screech. Not cute. ]

[beatnest]

Spiders weren't made to fly!!! What's your excuse!? [ Basically a whine at this point. He's not even one of those bird eating spiders, though truthfully he doesn't really look much like a spider, four blades sprouting forth from his back and getting tangled in his glider.

Yeah he's aimed for a crash landing on one of the platforms (assuming this is like the actual fight). At least he's probably going to make a fool of himself on his own? ]

III

[eolja]

[Seonho honestly can't disagree with Kashuu's suggestion. Wolves often menace villages back in his country, and the only solution there is to hunt them too. Still,]

...We can try, but I do not think our numbers -- or skills -- are sufficient enough to take on an entire pack.

[travelers like him and kashuu aside, the average hunter would probably fare poorly against a wolf, especially ones as hostile as the black wolves. he glances at Kashuu, and at the sword he's carrying.]

Is that your only weapon?

[Seonho has his sword too -- single-edged and curved like a katana, but with enough differences to mark it. He also has his bow and arrow slung on his back]

[nailpolished]

Yeah. [ Only the one sword! Why would he need anything but himself for this? Kashuu actually looks a bit puzzled by the idea of...NOT taking on a whole pack? He's sort of looking at Seonho like maybe Seonho knows something he doesn't. ]

Are these wolves magic or something? [ Because if they're ordinary wolves he imagines they're way easier than, say, the usual things he fights. Though...bears are difficult...but, well, working together it shouldn't be impossible, should it? Maybe with some sneaky tactics... ]

[eolja]

[Seonho's met some very skilled swordsmen before, and he's confident enough in his own skills to consider himself better than most, but still -- he's from a place where men can get killed easily just by being overwhelmed -- whether by numbers or skill, and he's seen enough men perish during hunts or walks in forests to know that wolves can kill just as fast and easily as a soldier can,]

They should still be formidable, even without magic. A single wolf can be taken down easily enough, but a pack's strength lies in their ability to cooperate with one other.

[Still, he looks at Kashuu again to take his measure. Perhaps this is something Kashuu's already familiar with, maybe. Maybe he's a wolf hunter extraordinaire and Seonho's presuming too much,]

Have you hunted wolves before?

i. changes

[cranelike]

(There's a familiar face checking out the commissions and Tsurumaru makes his way over. Quietly, he steps behind Kashuu and leans in casually.)

My, my... this is a surprise.

(Did he have to whisper that in Kashuu's ear? Yes. He sure did.)

1/2

[nailpolished]

[ Incoherent shriek, just for Tsuru, like he wanted ]

2/2

[nailpolished]

[ BE STILL HIS HEART. Literally. Please slow down. Kashuu puts a (perfectly manicured) hand to his chest, but at least now that the startled moment is done he realizes just who...did that. It's the same culprit for literally every other surprise he's experienced since Tsurumaru came to the Citadel (save, like, 2%). Why did he expect anything else. ]

- Why!!

[ That's the only question he has. It's more about Tsurumaru than like, the situation, but Tsurumaru can feel free to explain the situation instead of his everything if he likes. ]

[cranelike]

(And guess who's just standing there, hands on his hips, and looking absolutely pleased with himself? Tsurumaru!)

Haha! Did I surprise you? Good! (Excellent.) I was only returning the favor.

(And cranes always return their favors! )

How long have you been here, Kashuu Kiyomitsu? Did master send you?

(Is this a rescue mission!? He looks around. In fact, he makes a point of looking around, raising a hand to his brow and searching around...)

... I don't see anyone else.

(And granted, his scouting has never been the best because he has old man vision but... hm.)

4c!

[brothered]

[this commission is, in felix's humble opinion, quite stupide—but here he is, anyway? sitting at a neighboring table as he tries—and fails—to master this crane-folding technique. it's only, like, mildly embarrassing for this stranger to lean over to give him pointers; after all, felix isn't so proud as to refuse help when help is sorely needed, but sir... sir...]

Why does it matter? They didn't specifically request cute [ugh] cranes.

[aesthetics, kashuu?? felix doesn't know her...]

[nailpolished]

[ Felix doesn't UNDERSTAND...and look, most sword ideas are stupid you get used to them. Kashuu sort of scoffs, though? ]

He didn't, but if you're going to make something anyway, why shouldn't it be cute? Everyone likes cute things better than ugly things.

[brothered]

[buddy, all you need to do is look at felix's hair to know that you're fighting a losing battle. anyway, as he focuses back on his bit o' paper to (clumsily) attempt this fold once more:]

As long as it serves its purpose, I don't see why anyone would care. I don't.

[function above form—except for, like... weaponry? weaponry should be the perfect blend of form and function.]

iv-b.

[unfriendliest]

[ if ookurikara is pleased to see a familiar face, it doesn’t show one bit. in fact, with his long strides, he’s going to leave kashuu behind entirely if he doesn’t pick up the pace! ]

Who cares? All we need to do is get it back.

[ hurry up, scrub! ]

[nailpolished]

[ That's about what he would expect from this guy... ]

H-hey! Wait up! [ His legs are much shorter you asshole! ]

[unfriendliest]

[ sounds like a kashuu problem. but kara pauses to spare him a glance over his shoulder before continuing on. ]

If you don’t want to be here, then go back. I can handle it myself.

[ does this binch even know what a ruin guard is? ]

iib

[complementing]

[Minako experimentally pushes at the door, and the distinct sound of heavy locks undoing themselves rings out before the doors swing open. She turns and gives Kashuu a little grin.]

That looks like a yes. Let's go in!

[Honestly, she hadn't planned on doing any of these dungeons at first, considering she still feels pretty weak compared to how she was before— but hey, the only way to gain back her strength and stamina is through good old fashioned training, right? So in she goes, the silvery form of her shiba inu trotting in after her.]

Wow...it's huge in here!

[nailpolished]

Wow...this definitely doesn't look like what the outside could fit!

[ WITCHCRAFT but yeah, no, this seems normal he supposes? Kashuu walks in alongside Minako, hand on the hilt of his sword. ]

Hey, what's your vision again?