stellafortunalogs | MAY MINGLE

MAY MINGLE

May Mingle: Entombed City
Welcome to Teyvat - a vast magical world of adventure.
Everyone's hard work resulted in the gate to upper Dragonspine opening. These ruins have not been traversed in years, if not centuries - everything within has been lost to time and living memory. An entire city has been buried in the snow.

People once lived there. The broken buildings host damaged furniture and weathered streets. There are various cloth-covered mounds in a house here and there, accompanied by a sprig of blue flowers. Someone has laid these people to rest after they passed away.

Traces of technology can be found in the city - golden boxes that contain crystals capable of recording and playing back holograms. One of the boxes introduces this place as Vindagnyr; a land once full of greenery and life. Just what happened to these people? What caused the eternal winter?

The highest point in the city is occupied by a temple built into a Domain. Within the Domain is a pale white tree, split in half by a strange object that has fallen through the Domain's ceiling. This temple was once a site for worship for Vindagnyr's people, and even in death they continue to pray for salvation. The priests have been frozen in ice, and the sheer cold emanating from the Skyfrost Nail makes it obvious that it is the cause of winter.

The city's inhabitants worshipped Celestia. Why then were they left to die?

State of the World

On October 1st, the entombed city of Vindagnyr becomes open for exploration. Travelers can choose to look for clues or try to scavenge the city for ancient materials or tools. Recording boxes all around the city tell stories of Vindagnyr's greener past, and of the days when winter suddenly arrived. This is the cruelty of Celestia that Forneus wished you to see.

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

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[He shakes his head, then looks around at the frozen scenery. No, not quite.]

This mountain would be considered a foothill compared to the Himalayas, and yet the entire thing from the base to the peak is trapped in an endless freeze like it's Everest itself. What more, these people froze to death. The climate change happened so quickly, they had no chance to adapt or move on, as humans are prone to do.

Do you think that's the work of anything natural?

Edited 2021-05-01 14:39 (UTC)

(He follows Jun's gaze, looking around them,)

I wonder... What I think, what I think...

(He hums to himself. As ever, he keeps most of his comments to himself, preferring to listen and observe as he's done before. He has his own thoughts, questions he'd like to ask, answers he would like to find, and maybe this would be easier if was more direct but he isn't.

Instead, he raises a finger to his lips in a shushing motion,)

It isn't my place to say. And if it was, this wouldn't be the place.

[It's probably best that Jun has his hood up, because Tsuru's response just elicited the biggest eyeroll from him.]

Whatever.

[He's walking away now. If Tsuru isn't going to ask questions, Jun's not going to volunteer anymore information]

Forneus wanted us to come here to persuade us to his side. So if you decide to say something, direct it to him.

(It probably would have made him laugh tbh. But he'll follow Jun. He'd meant what he said. This isn't the place for him to speak. He won't speak next to these bodies but once they're away, he offers more.

When he speaks, he speaks calmly and quietly, his voice low because he truly doesn't want to disturb anyone,)

I used to be a holy sword. (He wonders if Jun believes that. If anyone who knows him would?) I was offered to the gods and listened to everyone who came to pray. Every day, I listened... and every day, there was nothing I could do.

[Jun had gone to inspect some of the houses, specifically one of the golden boxes. The one he picked up seemed too busted to work, however, so he can focus on what Tsuru says.

Ah. So that was his deal. He knew he was a sword from that memory, so he does believe him. Forneus sure seemed to have a habit of picking people with complicated relationships with gods. But...at least he can empathize.]

...It's not easy, being the one between humans and the divine. [Jun knew that one all too well. ]

Edited 2021-05-01 15:34 (UTC)

(That gets a tilt of the head from Tsurumaru. Curious, Jun...)

Hmm. You're human?

[That question gets a shrug, because boy, that's a complex philosophical question he can't really get into right now.]

I'm a holy knight. I serve a God and have been granted abilities because of that.

(He thought that was a yes or no question but apparently it wasn't. Don't think he didn't catch that! But he'll let it go because "what are you" sure is a question that might not be best answered in a frozen place.

But he nods, he can understand what Jun means,)

What a difficult time this must be, then.

(To be a holy knight and find himself in a city forsaken by the heavens. )

[Jun makes a slight sound that's distorted through his voice modifier, but it's probably a grunt]

Doubt it's an easy time for anyone.

[What with being on a death mountain in a dead city. Not fun for anyone! Wouldn't recommend! But he'll follow up with a slightly dry remark:]

But no, I can't see this helping my popularity among the group.

(To be young and human and worried about what others think about you,)

I can't see it hurting much either. (He shrugs,) They don't seem like those kind of people.

(Most of the group seems pretty accepting.)

[Look he's the holy equivalent of a fast food cashier whose company just sent out an insanely problematic tweet. Shit's awkward ok.]

Perhaps. [He's still wary ok] It doesn't matter. Have you decided what you'll do?

...

(That gets Tsurumaru to go quiet,)

It depends. (Back on his vague shit again,) I have my own orders to follow still.

[I'd say he looks at Tsuru curiously, but it's not like you can tell with his hood- so just assume he is!]

Your orders?

(Still quiet, clearly thinking of something though what, Jun won't get to know. It isn't something Tsurumaru is going to share, unfortunately. He's much more open than one might think, especially in regards to the past but the present is something else.

What he does do is raise a hand to his own chest, fingers lightly touching where his heart is and frowning for a moment before putting on a smile,)

... If I said, it wouldn't help with my popularity.

(People die. Bad things happen. And sometimes you just have to let it be.)

[ . . .

Goddammit Tsuru we were having a moment here and you just had to- be you.]

Lots of things don't help with your popularity.

[You shady weirdo!!! He shakes his head, whatever. Moving on]

Take your time and come to the answer you believe in. Forneus brought us here to persuade us to his way of seeing things, but ultimately the choice belongs to you.

(Thank u, he'll be here all day. All year. Forever. Because he is a crane and cranes are forever, even if you low-key want to return to the grave and just not be a thing anymore. You know???)

I'm sure he'll convince people with this. (People are easily swayed by emotions, after all. For better or worse.) He's only doing his best...

Mm.

[That's the only noise he makes in response. He doesn't disagree, people will be swayed by this for sure. He has his own thoughts and feelings on the matter, but he won't voice them voluntarily - especially around someone as vague as Tsuru ]

(This is fine. Tsurumaru is used to dealing with people that don't share much willingly. Sometimes you adopt emotionally stunted hedgehogs and other times, you just associate with other emotionally repressed vague grandpas.)

Have you decided?

(You can't ask and not expect to be asked in return.)

[Somehow, he did not see this line of questioning coming. He pauses, letting out a distorted sound that's likely a sigh]

I've decided I don't like Celestia, yes.

[He puts his hand on his hip.]

But I don't think it's my opinion that matters. I'm not of Teyvat.

...

(He tilts his head to one side, watching Jun with a small, quiet smile. Something he's said has clearly amused him,)

Hmm. There have been leaders in the past; ones with visions for a better world... but the people weren't ready. They were satisfied as they were and rejected those visions. Convinced they were right, those leaders kept moving forward... and earned the ire of the people they set out to help.

Their castles were destroyed, their towers burned, and many of those leaders died... and though history reveals the right course over time, it means nothing to those who must live in the moment.

(A vague history lesson,)

What we believe and what we do can only be selfish until others agree, too.

[Jun listens, and then gives a little scoff at the end]

Perhaps so, but I'm not a leader. I'm a pawn.

[He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a silver cross, showing exactly which God he's following.]

You should know enough history to know it'd be disastrous if someone like me gets ideas otherwise. [It's never a good thing when Christians get into savior mode. He puts away the cross] I'll continue to uphold the contract agreed upon by my commission with Forneus, unless it proves to be truly against the will and good of the Teyvat people. In which case, I'll return to Earth.

Edited 2021-05-06 15:35 (UTC)

(What if I told you Tsurumaru doesn't really know. His historical knowledge is limited to Japan's past and the most relevant chapter he's familiar with right now is Christians in hiding, persecuted for their beliefs by the government, )

A contract, then? (That gets a nod and Tsurumaru turns his attention to a broken down shelf in the home, covered in frost and broken artifacts,) Hmm, acting is easier when the goal is laid out for you.

(He can relate,)

Our divine friend certainly chose his help...

(Like, he sure did choose the weirdest bunch of people to go along with his goals, didn't he? Tsurumaru is probably one of the most passive spirits he could have summoned. Even now, he's just.... perpetually vague about his stance.)

[Tsuru please.

He lets him muse what he wants about the contract, as he's not entirely wrong, and what Tsuru thinks doesn't really affect him. But as for Forneus's choices...]

Time gods are eccentric beings, even by god standards. Only they can view reality outside the blinders of linear time. And so, his exact reasoning for why each one of us were chosen might never be fully understood.

[He puts his hand on his hip]

Though, it can't be overlooked he's a god so hellbent on overthrowing his pantheon he's cosigned his own oblivion. That surely plays a part in some of his more ... reckless choices.

... No, I suppose we might never understand.

(Like why the saniwa is able to summon the swords they're able to. Surely, there are less troublesome spirits to rely on. Ones that aren't as tempted as others.)

Meddling with time is dangerous. Once you decide to do that, there's no turning back.

[Huh. That's an interesting sentiment]

You have some experience with that, I take it?

i'm so sorry

cranelike - 2021-05-09 16:33 (UTC) - Expand

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whiteshroud - 2021-05-09 16:35 (UTC) - Expand

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