APRIL MINGLE

[stellafortunamods]

April Mingle: Song of the Dragon and Freedom
Welcome to Teyvat - a vast magical world of adventure.
As time continues to reset itself, a certain restlessness and sense of anticipation begins to build up in Mondstadt, as if the whole world itself is waiting with bated breath. At last, the final light barrier unlocks itself, and Dvalin awaits the outlanders amidst a vortex of howling winds. All that remains is to remove the poisonous spikes that torments him, and his tears shoudl fall no more...

With the passages of long years and amid boudless darkness, even the purest gem will become dulled by dust, and even the noble dragon might be corrupted and cankered by hatred. But never forget that dust can be wiped away, and the power of doubt and poison can be shattered. These are the thoughts that Venti sends off with the outlanders - should any of them fall from the tower, he'll be there to give them a quick hand back up.

Dvalin is a powerful and ancient dragon, but it soon becomes evident that he doesn't have the heart to kill the people who have come to see him. However, a team effort is still necessary to distract him so that others can snipe at the toxic spines stuck through his body. Once the last thorn is pulled free, the curse is violently ejected from Dvalin's body and the howling winds finally cease.

The next five days are a blur - when you wake up, the city has decorated itself in a celebration of love, friendship, and freedom - a perfect conclusion for a rather harrowing period in Mondstadt's history. As repayment for your help in solving the Stormterror crisis, the games and food stalls put up for the festival will not charge anything for participation.

Music, gift exchanges, shooting and gliding competitions are just seeral of the various activities organized by the Knights of Favonius. With the peace returned to Mondstadt, your trip to Teyvat now seems poised to become a vacation - but the job of a hero is never done, and a little nocturnal bird leads you to a mysterious glowing door beyond which answers await.

State of the World

On August 31st, the last barrier in Stormterror's Lair dissipates, allowing characters to ascend to the top of the tower and confront the dragon Dvalin. Battle is inevitable, though the goal is not to kill the dragon, but to remove all the toxic spikes that Abyss Mages have embedded into his body. After liberating Dvalin from his grief and poison, characters return to Mondstadt lauded as heroes - just in time for the Windblume Festival! It's time for a short but well-earned vacation... and it seems your mysterious host has a message for you too.

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

Comments

npc interaction toplevel

[stellafortunamods]

[ As you step through the glowing door, you find yourself in a vast realm of empty white. There are also a few wooden chairs and a table arranged in a rather conversational setting. The chair at one end is occupied by a young man with white hair and red eyes. He welcomes you by name, thanking you for your contribution in saving Mondstadt.

The gist of what he will tell everyone is:

➛ Every outlander agreed to help Mondstadt, but they were memory wiped of this until the Stormterror crisis was averted, as a test of their honesty.
➛ He granted everyone's Visions, but also tells them that the Vision cannot be controlled by him once it is given away. It's an initiation gift!
➛ He needs the outlanders' help because they do not have pre-destined fates written by Celestia, who rule over all of Teyvat.
➛ He was responsible for the timeloops. After all, he's the God of Time.
➛ So what does he want the outlanders to do? Change the course of history.
➛ He will offer to show everyone the 'truth' of Celestia's cruelty firsthand.

After his brief explanation, he'll end it off with a cheerful: ] Any other questions?

[ Now's probably a good time to pile on all the additional queries you've been having for the past three months. ]

[whiteshroud]

[So the one responsible for all this was an actual god of time. Jun can safely say that he didn't see that one coming in all his hypothesises. It would explain a lot, considering the sheer magnitude of everything. Though to say he found this revelation comforting...? No. Not in the slightest. It's like thinking you had a bear problem only to find out it was a t. rex instead.

He's quiet as he listens through the explanations that the man tells him, knowing it'd be a bad idea to interrupt a god of this power. ]

Yes...with all due respect, Father Time, why would a being like you care enough to get involved? Gods of Time aren't known to involve themselves in matters.

[stellafortunamods]

Absolutely correct. [ Forneus seems pleased by this question, almost. ] I am contractually forbidden from intervention, in fact. That is why I rely on you.

[ That does not answer Jun's question in the slightest, so he tilts his head at the teen's expression before continuing: ]

To know time is to know the myriads of possibilities and endings that can befall a life, a nation, a world. I have seen it all. It's hard to not have opinions after a few millennia or so.

[whiteshroud]

[...He already is feeling the starts of a headache.]

So in other words...in all the terrible events you've witnessed and known throughout history, something about how Celestia manages things rubs even you the wrong way.

[stellafortunamods]

Correct again.

[ This is is an extremely relatable reason with no hidden intent whatsoever. ]

Time is hardly linear. It branches out into many different timelines with each passing second. Yet there is often only one true course of time, while the other branches wither as unrealized possibilities. It is thus important to steer the fate of this world to prevent an undesirable future from becoming set in stone. You understand this, yes?

[whiteshroud]

I see...

[He glowers a little]

In that case...wouldn't it have been more important to "steer the fate of this world" before now? Such as 500 years earlier, before Khaenri'ah was destroyed?

[stellafortunamods]

[ To that, Forneus just shrugs. ]

As I've said, I am contractually forbidden from direct intervention. It does take me some time, pun not intended, to figure out how to do this under Celestia's metaphorical nose. As well as equip you with skills that would allow you to succeed.

[whiteshroud]

[Jun closes his eyes for a moment and inhales slowly. Jun has a strong suspicion that is a bullshit answer. This is why so few people worship Father Time, shit like this. ]

...Whatever.

[Alright keep your secrets. ]

The black seal. I assume that was your doing as well?

[stellafortunamods]

[ :) ]

You mean the time seal? Yes. It was consensual, by the way. He wanted to take it.

[ Ah, Morax. Always so responsible. And a good person to have around. ]

[whiteshroud]

[......Seriously that's the point he brings up first? Jesus Christ...

We don't have to time to unpack all that- so he'll just cut to the chase]

Is it harming him?

[stellafortunamods]

[ :) :) ]

It would take a lot to permanently harm a god as powerful as he is.

[ Is that a yes or a no? Maybe. ]

[whiteshroud]

[The most unamused look]

Power like that would be well within your capabilities, Father Time. [Even his God has to play by the rules of Father Time. And that's no small feat by any means. ]

Is his life endangered by the seal?

[stellafortunamods]

[ He's totally innocent. ]

Of course not. He'll be fine.

[ The fact that Zhongli hasn't keeled over yet is proof of that. ]

He would never sign a contract that was not mutually beneficial.

[whiteshroud]

["Mutually beneficial" is less than reassuring for a guy who works for a god who decided once it'd be beneficial to get Himself crucified. But, whatever, if Father Time says he'll be fine ... he has no choice but to accept it]

...Very well.

[That was the thing he personally cared about. With that out of the way, he can get to actual business]

If I agreed to aid you as you claim, then you must have been told that commissioning a Seal Knight isn't free.

[stellafortunamods]

[ Forneus leans forward in his seat, a certain glimmer in his crimson eyes. ]

Yes, I'm aware. I'll reimburse you, as promised.

[whiteshroud]

[Jun gives a nod and reaches into the bag he brought. Out of it, is a stack of papers and receipts from purchases he made his entire time here. The top sheet seems to be a calculation of the total balance.

Before he slides it over, he takes a pen and writes for a moment, doing some last minute calculations. Then he slides it over.]

The first payment includes a backpayment for the past few months. The following payments will need to be paid every thirty days that I experience until my mission is complete to cover my living expenses.

Afterwards, I request three weeks of personal time before I'm returned to my apartment in Morimiya, Japan on October 30th, 2015 at 10:01pm Japan Standard Time. You are not required to cover any fees of my personal time.

[Those last minute edits? Was Jun hiking up the first payment by 20%. Take that dick B( ]

[stellafortunamods]

[ Forneus raises an eyebrow, but he takes the stack of receipts with an abruptly serious attitude. He flips through some of the receipts, but clearly doesn't bother to check every one of them. ]

I see.

[ With that, he returns the receipts to Jun without question, and holds out one hand. A hilariously large bag then appears in his grasp, and he sets it down ever so gently on the table between them. Jun can open it, upon which the bag will be filled with a correspondingly hilarious amount of Mora.

Unfortunately, since it's Mora, it can only be spent in Teyvat. ]

There we go.

[whiteshroud]

[That's fine. Considering who his grandpa is, there's no way this absurd amount of money won't end up very easily spent entirely.

He takes the bag. He won't bother to count it all right here, but he does pull out a coin deep into the bag to examine it carefully- making sure it's actual mora and not some illusion. When he's satisified, he nods and pulls the bag off the table next to him.]

Thank you.

[THE CONTRACT IS SEALED. Now that Forenus is a proper client, he'll continue on professionally]

So what's my next mission?

[stellafortunamods]

[ The contract is sealed, huh. There's an obvious glimmer of amusement in Forneus' eyes as he steeples his fingers ]

Well... I plan for the outlanders to go to Dragonspine mountain. There, you will witness what Celestia buried with your own two eyes. And if your resolve still remains unshaken, you can help me liberate Teyvat piece by piece.

[ The seriousness of his words now are a distinct contrast to how nonchalant he was prior. The God of Time is quite capricious, it seems ]

After that, we will go to Liyue. And I'll be actually contactable this time, so don't worry.

[whiteshroud]

[Jun listens to his explanation. It's...an ambitious plan, for sure. ]

So you really intend to oust Celestia from power... [No wonder there were a number of god-chosen folk among the travelers. This guy had no regards to maintaining the status quo.

And damn, Liyue too huh? He'd been hoping to visit that place without concerns of work ... so much for that.]

Dragonspine Mountain is that large mountain to the south, correct? Is there anything I should prepare for ahead of time?

[stellafortunamods]

Do you know about the name of this world? 'Teyvat'. In the language of another world, it means 'Ark'. A place of salvation.

[ One must wonder how the Archons have knowledge from other worlds, Earth first and foremost, but that too is a secret ]

Celestia's wish is to preserve. Yet humanity is never truly valued in their eyes, like specimens in a glass display case. I think that's hardly appropriate. Humans should be free to choose their own fate, even if it is at the risk of ruin.

[ He tilts his head at the question ]

The mountain is very cold. You should bundle up and have a Pyro buddy with you. The place is a lot more dangerous than idyllic Mondstadt. What you seek is at Dragonspine's very peak.

[whiteshroud]

[Boy that sentiment would be a lot more noble if it wasn't coming from a being responsible for the force that ensures humanity's mortality rate remains ever at 100%. He chooses to hold his tongue on voicing his own opinion, however. Teyvat's business was its own. He was just here to accomplish a mission. ]

I see...

[...]

Then I'll require an additional mora to cover cold weather and mountain climbing gear for myself and any partners. 500,000 mora should suffice.

[sufferean]

...There's a lot to unpack, here.

[Which, you know, not that the God of Time cares about that, but Rean has to destress at least a little somehow. He takes a deep breath and runs a hand back through his hair before speaking up.]

...All right, well. I feel like I'm blaspheming here a little bit asking anything of a god, but...

What was the purpose of testing our "honesty?" What would have happened if we didn't just help where we saw ourselves needed? [Not that Rean ever would have done anything else, he's the most helpful helper monkey there is, but like... seriously, why mess with everyone's minds?]

And what's the purpose of looping time? Is it just to give us more time to bring about the changes you want to see? Because being warned of that beforehand would have been a lot less disorienting.

[stellafortunamods]

[ Forneus just waves a hand - his casual attitude remains; he doesn't seem to be bothered by Rean's questions, but he might also not get what answers he wants. ]

Well, if you had failed to save Mondstadt with your actions, I would have sent all of you home. Promising is one thing, but actually succeeding is another. I have to test you before I give you a task that has more wide-reaching consequences.

[ A slight tilt of his head at the second question ]

Giving you more time is one thing, yes. The other is that it hides your existence from other gods that may not want you here.

[stellafortunamods]

[ Some things are even older than the God of Time. The deep magic from before time began to flow dictated a few things. Balance, progress, reincarnation. ]

Five hundred thousand, huh? You strike quite a hard bargain.

[ But as with before, he sounds amused more than anything else. This time, he conjures a different item - a shining gem which he places in Jun's hand. It glows with power ]

Give this to Marjorie in Mondstadt. She'll trade it for about that much.