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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I found a message, from a young man. He talked about escaping and left a message for others to join him. But any sort of markings he left behind would've been long buried.

[And if he did leave, did he leave entirely? Or is his body still somewhere on that mountain? She shouldn't care, but she wants to hope that maybe...]

I want to find out if he did escape, and if he managed to live. But I'm not sure how...

[ He puts a hand on his chin, looking thoughtful. ]

It's from a data cube, right? If you bring it to me, I could trace his path in the flow of time.

[Immediately her expression lights up, crimson eyes gleaming bright as her feathers ruffle in clear excitement.]

Really? You can? I'll go get it right now!

[And out she goes before he can say anything. At least she returns just as quickly with the cube in hand, not at all winded from her mad rush.]

[ #justangelthings

Forneus is right where she left him, taking the cube from her and walking to one of the tables. He holds out a hand, and the cube levitates into the air, surrounded by those familiar glowing runes. ]

Hmm...

[ The screen before him begins to spit out lines and lines of illegible text. ]

I see him descending the mountain. Hilichurls and the like weren't abundant in the past, you know - the real danger is the snow and ice. But he's young, and determined. He went towards the sea.

[ In those distant times, the land had not yet been raised by Morax. The Archons would come into power much later. ]

He was joined by several companions. They survived on the coastline, before finding refuge further north. He would never arrive in what is now Mondstadt, but his descendants will.

[ Forneus opens his eyes. ]

The memory of Vindagnyr lived on in his children. He was fortunate to find humans from another city. Teyvat wasn't as populated back then.

Edited 2021-05-01 16:30 (UTC)

[Ana watches him with a great deal of fidgeting, fingers wringing together in anxious energy as she watches these runes and lines of text. It means nothing to her, especially in comparison to what he says.

It makes no sense, to be so worried over the fate of someone who is long dead either way. But she wants to hope. Hope there was a glimpse of something good in the disaster that befell this mountain.

And the man did live. He escaped and lived and didn't have to suffer this horrible fate. A breath leaves her that she didn't even realise she was holding in, closing her eyes for a moment.]

So he lived... He lived and so does his family. [It's silly, and when she opens her eyes again she flashes him a smile both bright and sheepish.]

I don't know why I was so worked up over this, but it's a relief to hear that. Thank you, Forneus.

Because you care.

[ Forneus' eyes glitter with amusement. ]

That's very human. Kindness is a good thing to have. [ Pause. ] No need to thank me, I barely did anything.

[That gets a blink, her smile fading into something thoughtful.]

I've never been considered kind before. [It's weird to think about. So she instead focuses on his not needing thanks, scoffing for a moment.]

You helped me after I punched you and then manhandled you a bit. And it still meant a lot, so of course I'm gonna thank you.

I'm quite sure a few people will want to do more than just punch and manhandle me.

[ ???? ]

I should be thanking you for willing to at least trust me to some extent. [ Because he's made some decisions that didn't go well with mortals, it seems. ]

[????]

That's kiiiiinda concerning to hear.

[Just a bit.]

Though I don't trust you completely, of course. But you still helped me when you had no reason to.

[ What can he say? He's a god, after all. It's hard to trust gods. ]

After all, I can only prove my intentions with action.

[ ???????? ]

Was there anything else you wanted to ask me? Or do you feel like having a snack? [ ??????????????????????? ]

True. Especially since your words don't mean much, at least not yet.

[It sounds mean, but trust is hard-won and she doubts there's anyone here who trusts him completely. Even if he truly does mean well.

Though the offer of a snack gets a blink; opening her mouth to respond, closing it and then actually thinking for a moment.]

... What do you have?

[ Forneus walks over to one of the cabinets, opening them to reveal an assortment of wrapped pastries. ]

Bread, mostly. They have different fillings. And some fruit, if you like that?

[She trails after him, peering over his shoulder at the selection. Humming lowly for a moment, debating what she should pick. Food is very serious business, of course.]

I like any kind of fruit. And, uh... [She drags out the 'uh' for a few seconds, before reaching over to pluck out one of the wrapped breads. Caving into her sweet tooth for once, and opting for one of the custard filled pastries.

She can regret it later, since she's still not used to most foods.]

Alright, I'll get some fruit.

[ And magically, there's cut fruit in a plastic box in the fridge. It's almost as if he just summoned those... why does he have plastic and a fridge when Teyvat's Ye Olde Medieval? ]

Help yourself. Must be hard to eat variety on Dragonspine. [ Nodding, he produces a toothpick from thin air and stabs it into an apple slice before sliding it over. ]

[???

?????

She accepts the apple slice happily enough, though her brows furrow in obvious confusion even as she munches on it.]

It's fine, I'm used to places like that. [But that's not important!!]

Why do you have a fridge? Aren't we in some oldy time fantasy world?

[Is this just a thing time gods can do now...]

We are. You're right about that, but as a god who transcends dimensions, I certainly can copy some tools from other worlds.

[ Like, you know, a fridge. Maybe he just likes the aesthetic. ]

Huh, that's handy.

[With apple slice devoured, she now makes a start on the bread; unwrapping it and nibbling at it for a moment. Though she has little interest in fridges, instead turning her gaze to the screens and lines of odd text.]

And what about all this? Is tech from where you're from or another world?

Technology? Nah, you wouldn't really find tech in Teyvat. By the way, you're standing in a pocket dimension right now, which is why there's tech I copied from other worlds.

[ Technology may or may not be frowned upon by Celestia... but that's a story for another day. ]

This is like, my house? I can decorate it however I want.

[His... house? Well, she guesses that makes sense. Cue another moment of thought as she munches on her bread a little more.]

Hmm... It kinda resembles some of the fancier places in my world.

[There's a glance out the window, looking into the endless white space beyond it. She seems content to eat quietly for a while, only to glance over at Forneus once more.]

But don't you get lonely, at all?

Eh... not really. I am everywhere and nowhere at once. I've no lack of sensory stimulation.

[ This body is just one of the end-points. Forneus is very busy, even if he doesn't show it. There's just another part of his existence doing work offscreen. ]

Though I am used to just observing. I rarely go out of my house to talk to anyone.

So this is only just one part of you I'm seeing.

[Well, he is the god of time. It would make sense that he's basically just... everywhere, all the time.]

Though when you phrase it like that, you sound like a shut-in.

Maybe I am. But there's no need for me to interact with the world. Not until now.

[ He folds his arms, suddenly looking serious. ]

Time is meant to be distant from the world of mortals.

So I guess that means I can't convince you to go on a hike.

[It's a joke, but she understands what he means. There are some things mortals cannot, or should not, experience firsthand.]

But I get it. It's just one of those things mortals can't fathom, shouldn't get close to or something like that.

It's a bit of column A and a bit of column B. [ Forneus waves a hand ] If I need to manifest to ensure your safety or get some things going, I will. But if I don't need to, then I will not. You can always come see me in my office, though!

Maybe I can provide the snacks next time.

[Another jest, since she still doesn't plan to make visiting his office a habit unless necessary.

And with snacks consumed (kinda, she's still munching on the rest of her lil fruit box), it's probably time to take her leave. This really wasn't what she was expecting when she first walked in ready to yell and more, but it wasn't too bad.]

But thanks again, Forenus.

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stellafortunamods - 2021-05-07 17:16 (UTC) - Expand

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