APRIL MID-MONTH MINGLE

[stellafortunamods]

April Mid-Month Mingle: Onward and Upward
Welcome to Teyvat - a vast magical world of adventure.
After the Windblume Festival wraps up, the outlanders' next mission arrives: onward to Dragonspine Mountain, where the remnants of the abyssal dragon and a lost nation await. The bright light shining at its peak seems almost like a lighthouse - calling to you.

It's hard not to be in awe of Dragonspine Mountain's size. The snow on the mountain never seems to stop falling, neither does it seem to melt - the biting cold numbs your fingers and brushes your face, muffling the footsteps of monsters in everlasting white. Dragonspine is dangerous, and has claimed the lives of countless explorers. You'll need to be extra careful to survive.

The pristine snow is marred in places by stains of red, and following the scarlet stones around the mountain eventually brings you to a dark cavern. A warm light shines forth from the stone buried within - just what is this strange object? Should you be leaving it here?

As the cold sets in, you come across the ruins of a buried city halfway up the mountain. The stone architecture and runes are eerily similar to what you have seen in Mondstadt's domains and temples. A locked gate bars your way up the mountain, but the five unlit runes that surround it hint strongly at missing keys.

The inside of Dragonspine Mountain is host to a rather large blue cave. The freezing cold permeates the inside of Starglow Cavern, so you're not likely to find shelter here. The cave is covered with ice crystals and blue plants, as well as large ice crystals that refuse to be melted by Pyro Vision users. You'll need something more powerful to free whatever is inside... like the power of a long-dead dragon, perhaps?

State of the World

After Dvalin's purification, there have been no further time loops as Mondstadt has finally synced up with the outside world. The Windblume Festival will run through to September 20th, giving characters plenty of time to relax and enjoy some vacation time. However, time waits for no man, and our heroes will be approached by the Adventurers' Guild on September 15th to join an expedition to Dragonspine Mountain.

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

Comments

npc interaction toplevel

[stellafortunamods]

Forneus can be found at Base Camp through his glowing door. This time, the interior of his 'office' - as he's come to call it - is more decorated, with a couple tables and blue display panels around, as well as a good ol' fruit infusion dispenser. If you stay in his office, he can be seen looking at the panels with a vaguely thoughtful expression. However, any text on the panels are written in a language that you can't understand.

He's keeping his promise of being around, at least. Feel free to hang out here... but why would you hang out with a time god?

[beatnest]

[ byakuya paid enough attention last meeting to know that Foreneus is the reason they're all here from their respective worlds, and that's probably it. but luckily for him, that's all that matters! probably.

he'll come into the office late at night, though he does knock first. he doesn't want to be that rude. ]

Hey! Why did you drop me and then pick me up again!?! If you're going to just toss me aside, then you shouldn't have come back for me! [ this makes likely little sense, but uh he'll do his best to explain. ]

[poisontippedcure]

[Does Rose want to spend time with a god? Absolutely not. But she doesn’t trust Forneus. Also, the fruit infused water is delicious.]

[She’s set up shop in his office, taking an open seat. Is she going to initiate the conversation? Absolutely not. Is she going to sit there and look annoyed? Yes.]

Hu Tao | Genshin Impact

[whotao]

[Base Camp]

Aiya, this place is freezing! No wonder we get so much business from here.

[Who is this person? How long has she been here. It’s difficult to say. At some point during the journey to the base of Dragonspine mountain, the travelers picked up a hitchhiker.]

[That hitchhiker would be one Hu Tao, the 77th director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Her presence isn’t exactly inconspicuous; she is very energetic, dressed in nearly all black, and being followed by a friendly looking ghost.]

[She also hasn’t bothered to say ‘hello’ to anyone yet, instead acting like she was part of the group all along. She (more like her ghost friend) is currently working on pitching tents. Maybe this is a good time to say hello?]

[Exploration]

[It is extremely cold on Dragonspine, a fact that does not escape Hu Tao. She seems to be fine, though, and doesn’t bother donning a heavier coat. Helps to have a Pyro vision, of course.]

[But not everyone is so lucky, and should Hu Tao come upon a less “fortunate” soul, she will move to help them. Look, she may be quirky, but she’s not evil. Plus, can’t have their business if they die before signing a contract.]

Hey! You need to be careful. Plenty of people die up on this mountain, you know.

[Have a ghost friend to help you warm up.]

[Exploration, Part Two]

[When approaching the ancient ruins, Hu Tao grows quiet, almost unnaturally so. They can’t progress further without the keys, but that’s not going to stop her from exploring.]

[She appears to be deep in thought, studying the ancient structures. Maybe this is a good time to offer help?]

[Wildcard]

[Wanna do something not listed here? PM me or reach me at bronnichiwa for a custom starter!]

Base Camp

[whiteshroud]

[This place really was freezing. Jun's got his seal knight uniform on mostly for warmth. Never has he been so thankful for its extra padding. And since he'd been here long enough to recognize most of the other travelers, this new one? Sticks out.]

...Who're you?

[Says the guy with the distorted mysterious voice and the hooded face. ]

base camp

[pragmatism]

[ At some point after Hu Tao gets comfortable at Base Camp, she'll find her unofficial guardian making a beeline for her at the highest speed a man can walk while still seeming dignified. ]

What are you doing? How did you get here? Why aren't you dressed properly? Have you been eating well? Did you remember to hand over the Parlour business to Xinming? What about the ceremony the Ming family ordered?

[ For all of his questions, he doesn't seem angry - just worried, though it can be hard to tell when he steps into the role of a stereotypical Asian parent ]

Base camp

[justicefang]

And just what business is that? [His tone is flat as he adjusts his grip on the wooden poles he just slid into place. If he were his usual self he'd have had a trace of a growl in his tone. As it is, his teeth are just a bit too sharp. One of the many subtle giveaways that his humanity is a mask.

One stuck on at the moment, but a mask nonetheless.]

exploration

[beatnest]

[ byakuya has been well...he's kind of been around, but he's also stuck to the extreme edges of the group for. reasons. This is mostly fine until they've stopped moving because gdamn it really is cold and even though he has cryo...he's not at all built for this weather and genshin says innate cold resistance isn't super a thing unless you're a nun!

all this to say he's shivering, and could use the help of a friendly ghost. ]

But what if you're basically dead already? [ this comes out as a whine. ]

figaro / cryo

[extinctive]

i.

[ windblume came and went, and while figaro was sure he enjoyed his time there, he didn't exactly remember what he did during the festivities outside of tasting one too many wines at the various pubs and taverns scattered in the walled city... mondstadt sure knows how to party, he kept thinking while his mind went in from sobriety to drunkenness throughout the festival.

oh well. now that the fun occasion is over, it is time to focus on the mission. he's looking forward to dragonspine since he'd talked it over with zhongli a while back, so he is at the base camp, helping the other adventurers set up camp and running little errands before setting forth towards the mountain.

and in case he spots someone shivering even before they start their trek, he'll take off his trusty doctor's coat. he'll also do this even when they've started exploring the mountain, even with the Sheer Cold impacting their progress. ​]

Here, you look like you need this more than I do. [ he wears a turtleneck underneath his coat, so it's not like he's going to freeze on the spot without it. ] Unless you'd like a drink from my hip flask? It has alcohol in it, though.

[ but of course. ]

ii.

[ at some point, figaro can be found at a cliff just south-east of dragonspine, overlooking the frosty sea. this is another reason why he's been looking forward to dragonspine, so it might be a little odd to see figaro acting like the cold doesn't faze him at all, because it doesn't.

there's no place like home, after all. dragonspine's a decent facsimile of northern country, to the point that the sea in particular is almost the spitting image of his mana area back home. he takes in a deep breath of the viciously nippy air, and... just takes his surroundings in like a photosynthesizing plant.

...he will get cold later on, though, so disturbing his peace might not be a bad idea. ]

iii.

That's a heart, isn't it?

[ just putting it out there, once he reaches the literal heart of dragonspine mountain. his hand hovers over the strange blood-red rock, as if to warm himself up. ]

This must be Durin's heart... I wonder what happens if we take it out. Has someone tried it before, I wonder?

[ an idle suggestion, merely talking to himself... but you never really know with this guy man he's done magical surgery before and he can do it again. ]

wildcard

[ y'all know the drill by now. ]

2

[pragmatism]

[ Zhongli takes up a place next to Figaro, so that they're both left gazing out at the frozen sea. The cold does not bother him, and so he doesn't bother to wear extra clothing - stone isn't affected by the chill, after all.

He's content to let the silence grow until the snow settles on him in a noticeable layer. ]

... does this feel like home, for you?

III

[fiddlestick]

[Yep. Elliot hates this mountain. He was trying real hard to see the positives of this place, but coming into a cave to warm up just to find out it's got a creepy giant heart that's glowing omniously? He gives up, this place sucks.

Elliot was standing a safe few feet away from the heart any any of the surrounding red ore. Even if it was colder where he stood, there was something about that tinge of red that may Elliot feel way more uneasy. Curse bad man, curse bad.

He lets out practically a whine at Figaro's yolo idea]

Please don't.

[There is no way that'd end well. Elliot just KNOWS it]

slams down wildcard

[joies]

[While others of their group were eager to explore the mountain, Persephone was... very much less so. The cold always hindered and exhausted her greatly as a changeling, and even as a mortal she couldn't shake her aversion to it. So she stays at the base cap, making sure tea and warm foods were in plentiful supply once the adventurers returned for a break.

Though seeing a certain familiar figure approach from the mountain prompts a warm smile to bloom across her face, standing from her seat by the fire to greet him.]

Welcome back, my dear. How goes the hiking?

ii

[beatnest]

H-how come you're not f-freezing? [ that sounds comes from behind figaro as byakuya approaches from the mountainside in a semi-gliding motion; he's apparently adept at climbing even if he's not at home in this weather, at all. ]

Jun Kohinata | Tokyo Xanadu | Geo

[whiteshroud]

I. Base Camp
[Jun did help out with pitching tents and setting up camps initially, but spending too much time in the camp will eventually make him a bit antsy. So during some downtime, you might see a figure shrouded in white, standing on one of the high ruin walls that surround the camp. Sometimes he's looking at the view, other times he's observing the camp.

But I think we can all agree he's mostly just being a weirdo. Either join him or tell him to get down.]

II. Exploration
[While Jun could teleport, teleporting into a location he's never seen himself is a good way to teleport into a wall or worse- so he had to climb the mountain the same way as everyone else. In this cold weather, he's opted to stay in his Seal Knight uniform that provides him extra warmth. Not enough to make him entirely immune to the cold, but it helps. Though, the voice distortion that comes with it might be a little unnerving to some.

Inbetween staying warm and fending off monsters, he's rather curious about the mountain around them. While warming themselves by a fire, he'll look around at the ruins around them]

Why would a mountain this cold have so many ruins...?

[It didn't make sense, when you think about it. It wasn't like there was ancient stone ruins on Everest. ]

III. Baby It's Cold Everywhere
[Even if his uniform gave him warmth and his abilities gave him more endurance than most people - it didn't make him impervious and this trek was a long one. So on some points of the journey you might find him shivering, or attempting to get warm on a small fire he's built. Either way, he could probably use some help with warming up. ]

IV. Call an Uber
[Finally, after a long journey, they reach the second campsite. Jun gets to work with helping with setting up the camp with what supplies they managed to bring up. It's not quite enough to make a permanet camp though, but luckily the following trips should be a LOT easier, thanks to the power of teleporting.]

Would you like to stay here or come with me for supplies?

[He's asking if you wanna teleport off this mountain for a bit- in other words. Be responsible and help with the supply run or convince him to drop you off somewhere else, the choice is yours]

V. Wildcard
[Got another prompt for me? Let me know! Jun will be open for most things this plot!]

2

[pragmatism]

[ Zhongli still appears to be wearing his usual black suit. It's one of the small things that tell people he isn't human. Stone isn't bothered by cold, after all. ]

Once, this place had a different name. It was only named 'Dragonspine' after Durin died here. Millennia past, it was named Vidagnyr.

[ A name that has been lost to time, even for the people of Mondstadt. ]

IV

[justicefang]

[He glances back at what progress has been made with the second camp. Not enough, but with what supplies they had, it's something.]

I'm coming with you. We'll make better progress that way.

2!

[nefilim]

[Jun is also currently accompanied by a pyro user, so there will be no freezing in the mountains today! Anastasia doesn't seem too bothered by the cold, having bundled up and with her wings wrapped around her for insulation during the fighting and climbing.

And he's not the only one curious about the ruins, Anastasia perking up and humming in thought. That is a good question...]

It really doesn't make sense, huh? Living in this cold would be impossible.

3

[evilisnotatoy]

[In contrast to Jun's troubles with the cold even as bundled up as he is, Sooga has shown little outward sign of being more than mildly bothered by the temperature or the trek. He's used to similar terrain, after all. It leaves plenty of time to observe his... new coworkers, he supposes.

Don't mind the wall of a man looming up beside you, Jun. He's mostly just trying to figure out if you're a sassy lost child or just short.]

If you can spare the balance, keeping your hands in your armpits will help retain heat.

4?

[poisontippedcure]

[Responsibility? Rose doesn't know her. She tends to gravitate towards Jun, anyway, if only because she knows him. The fact that he can create teleports certainly doesn't hurt matters, though.]

I'll take whatever gets me off this twelve-forsaken mountain.

Shirou Ogami | Brand New Animal | Anemo

[justicefang]

[Base Camp]

[Building a camp like this takes him back to days long before he settled in a city. Shirou doesn't offer his name. He's just a tall man that steps in to set up tents and move equipment to be stored in easily accessible places. As they're setting up the campfires he pauses and frowns at the snow.]

...snow normally melts a bit when a fire's lit. [He takes a little bit of the snow into his hand and lets it fall. Shirou shakes his head and returns to the task of feeding the fire.]

Dragonspine, eh? It's already earning its name.

[A hike with some answers]

[The cold cuts through his many layers like claws but he feels more comfortable on the mountain. Since things settled in Anima city he feels the weight of all the years he's lived. But here in this place with its mysteries and stone ruins, he's just another wanderer.

It's oddly freeing even if he chafes at being without his natural form.] ...just what do we know about these ruins? Other than they haven't been disturbed in many years.

[Mystery of the red stones]

[Along the way he catches sight of red stones scattered about. The patterns are random, but they stick out like thorns. He signals to his companion to pause and walks slowly towards the nearest one.

Is it getting a little warmer the closer he gets? Shirou stops when he's in touching distance and kneels down. He glances back over his shoulder.] Has anyone taken a sample of these yet?

[Wildcard]
[Got another idea? What something else? Pm me or hit me up at skyheron.]

Hiking

[fiddlestick]

[Elliot meawhile was really out of place in this mountain. He'd bundled up his small frame as best as he could and was trying not to hold the team back but...yeah, he'd be much more comfortable being back in the city. Still, he walks along, using his staff as an impromptu walking pole to help with the incline.]

Not much really. There's songs about the dragon that's buried in this mountain, but I don't remember hearing anything about people once living here...

[poisontippedcure]

[Rose is not particularly personable, so when new people arrive, she doesn't go out of her way to introduce herself. She will, however, take the opportunity to complain when it presents itself. She does not like the cold, and the way she's shivering and holding her arms close to herself shows it.]

I'm not sure much in this world qualifies as 'normal.'

[Not that she can say anything about the concept of eternal winter, of course, when Ishgard post-calamity exists.]

mystery of the red stones;

[dispassionatedevotion]

...I haven't heard of anyone doing so. Does something about them interest you?

[ Ledah hadn't so much as touched any of the red stones; he hardly had any interest in them and didn't have any need to gather more warmth by the virtue of being a person who utilizes a Pyro vision. ]

Elliot Craig | Ameno | Catch-All

[fiddlestick]

[Catch-all for Elliot closed prompts! If you want to do something with Elliot, hit me up at neutronstar and we'll plan something up!]

CLOSED TO REAN

[fiddlestick]

[Just refill the ration boxes, they said. It'll be quick and easy, they said.

Elliot was very used to Rean agreeing to any task that someone requested of him, so he wasn't at all surprised that the Adventurer's Guild had caught onto this tendency and had began asking things for him. Today's request had seemed simple enough, travel out to some of the emergency ration boxes and refill them so adventurers could use them. But a misleading map and harsh weather conditions had made the task take much longer than expected.

By the time dusk had arrived, they were still far out from any of the established camps. And before they could decide if it was worth risking climbing the mountain in the dark, the weather conditions worsened until they had no choice but to take shelter in an abandoned hilichurl hut near a frozen lake.

As Rean tried to get a fire going, Elliot yet again inspected the conditions outside, only quickly coming back deeper in the hut to get away from that strong snow and wind]

B-Brrr...it's no good. I can't even see past my face with how the wind's blowing everything.

[beatnest]

I. Snow Lilies

[ Everything's changed and nothing's changed, time runs whatever way it likes without regard for anyone's wishes. At least that's what Byakuya has learned from his experiences, here and at home. Even thinking about the word makes him feel uneasy. He shouldn't be here? But he wants to be here. But he made a promise too, two of them. How could he have the audacity to think they're both equally important?

Right, because he's good for nothing, human garbage (well maybe not so human anymore), greedy shaped kind of existence. He doesn't want to confront his mistakes, but he refuses to completely hunker down either. It's really rather silly the way his mind works, and why he's still among the group as they climb Dragonspine even if he's been in the back willing himself to blend in with the snow.

How long can he keep this up? Judging by the time he spent curled up in his blankets in his room before he wound up in Tevyat and before he became a monster, a pretty long time. But a boy's gotta eat and a spider is curious, and both of them are cold on this frigid mountain. And most people are asleep at the time he spends by the campfire, drawing a flower in the melting snow. ]

II: Cold Pressed

[ Byakuya's made a beeline for the glowing flowers, crouching down and cupping one in his hands. ]

Do you think I could preserve one of these if I freeze it? Flowers don't usually like the cold, but these aren't normal flowers.

III. Past Amends, closed to Elliot

[ Sometime when Elliot's alone, Byakuya pops over to chat with him. They haven't spoken since everything that happened in that dream but if that bothers Byakuya any he doesn't seem to show it. ] Hey, I owe you an apology, huh?

III.

[fiddlestick]

[Elliot looks up. He doesn't...actually remember anything about Byakuya seeing the memory, so he looks a little confused]

Byakuya, hey! Why do you say that?