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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[The door to Forneus' office clicks and Shirou steps inside. He glances around briefly and fixes his gaze on him.]

I understand what happened to the city. But that doesn't solve the red stones I've seen around the mountain.

How are they related?

They are not related.

[ Forneus turns away from where he had been reading off a screen. ]

Well, not directly. Those stones are crystallized drops of dragon blood. Centuries ago, the corrupted dragon Durin was slain over the skies of Dragonspine Mountain. He fell to earth, and his blood turned into those stones.

[Surprise flickers across his face and his eyes widen slightly. Then his calm returns,]

What happened to the corruption in his blood? [He studies him briefly then walks closer, adjusting his gloves almost idly. It gives him time to think. Those stones had been all over.]

And if it’s still there, what are the effects?

What happened to the corruption? You need to be a bit more specific with that question.

[ As for the other one: ]

The unique cold of Dragonspine Mountain has frozen his blood and prevent the corruption from spreading. In its current state, the stones are safe to leave unattended. Though I wouldn't recommend you keep one with you. Vestiges of the dragon's will still remain inside the blood stones. If you were to unfreeze it, though, anyone or anything that comes into contact with the blood will fall to destructive urges.

[Something haunted crosses his face and he looks away but, not fast enough to hide it. It’s all too easy to imagine people falling prey to destructive urges. How many times will he see that in his unending lifetime? He crosses his arms.]

You answered what I was wondering. [And a little more besides that. Somewhere on this mountain is the fallen body of a dragon.] So, it’s laced through out this mountain. And there’s no way to cleanse the blood?

[He breathes in and looks squarely at the god again. This is one thing he would consider deciding for this world.] Things contained don’t stay that way. They always come out somehow.

The person who killed Durin intended for its corpse to be preserved by this cold for all of eternity. For the past couple centuries, it has worked.

[ No one likes Abyssal poison. This is true. Forneus looks thoughtful. ]

The curse of Durin came from the Abyss, a realm of darkness. It could potentially be counteracted with the power of Celestia. [ One would be hard-pressed to find a willing god, however. ] Or, one of their creations. Did you see a white tree on the mountain anywhere?

[He visibly thinks that over, brows furrowing. He hasn’t explored the city yet but,] No.

I don’t think I have. Could you describe this tree in greater detail? [Now, he would look. He can’t ignore this one. His own scars are too loud.]

And what can you tell me about this Abyss? [Being aware of such a corruption and its origins could keep others safe. And any information builds his picture of this world.]

The White Trees are one of Celestia's creations. They are planted on Teyvat to promote healthy cycling of magic within the land. They look ostensibly like trees, but they don't bear any leaves, and have white bark. Usually, they grow on ley line deposits - they purify and recycle mana, after all. There was one at the peak, but it's dead now. If it bore any seeds, they're bound to have scattered all over the mountain.

[ A pause. ]

These trees are incredibly resilient, though. Theoretically, if you were to plant the branch of a White Tree where the dragon's corrupted magic is strongest... then it might revive and begin its purification mechanism.

[ Forneus doesn't give out information that can't be used. Surely, there's a way to make use of this. ]

As for Abyss.. think of it as a sort of underworld. It exists both beneath and beyond Teyvat, where the forces of chaos reign. It constantly tries to encroach upon this plane of existence, whether through portals or by sending beings that use its magic to enact plans here. Its goal is to cause destruction to that which is watched over by the gods. In other words, Abyss and Celestia are sworn enemies.

Edited 2021-05-03 15:30 (UTC)

[It's a goal and that's all he has ever needed when he plunges into the depths of a case. Even,] They're warring over this world.

In small and greater ways. [He says it, neutrally but there's a flatness to his expression. He's seen so many wars and they're always the same. Two forces come together in the middle where people are caught in the middle.

He has only ever cared when it was Beastman caught and led them away from it but this time...he swore to help. He has never gone back on his word.]

If I were to go looking for these seeds...what do they look like? How would I know they're strong enough to endure? [Or is it just a hope for the best kind of situation.]

They are round. And white. Which... does not help in our current situation.

[ Considering that Dragonspine is full of snow, it's way worse than looking for a needle in a haystack. ]

Hmm... I think there might be another offspring tree nearer the base of the mountain. Try looking around the eastern side. What you want is something like this.

[ Forneus holds up a hand, and a very geometric shape appears above his palm as a hologram. ]

They look artificial, so that should be enough to distinguish them from mere snowballs. And they feed off magic, so if you try to imbue one with a strong enough elemental force, you might see it sprouting. Then you'll know it can still perform its recycling function.

[He stares at the seed in the hologram. He reaches out and moves his hand before it, noting the side of it compared to his hand.]

Do they have a distinctive scent? [Someone might have the tools he no longer has. But even if they don’t when he can change again he could be aware of this and track them down. Maybe.]

Do they do anything else that could help give them away? Temperature changes. A change in the air itself. Boosting or lowering of magic? Something that could hint we are close.

I'm afraid they don't. Though, does the absence of scent count? They were created for recycling, and tend to draw things into themselves.

[ He inclines his head at Shirou's next question ]

Hmm... well, I don't suppose you could carpet the area with elemental energy... let me think. [ Forneus turns to a drawer and begins to rummage through it. ] Ordinarily, I wouldn't need to use anything like a dowsing machine - the White Tree is a creation of the gods, after all - but I did pick up a small trinket a couple centuries ago that might have some use.

[ He produces a white stone on a string, and holds it out. ]

This is a piece of White Tree wood, preserved by alchemical methods. It will try to return to its brethren - that is, other White Tree parts, which include seeds. Give it a try.

Edited 2021-05-04 14:45 (UTC)

An absence is something. Everything has a scent. A lack of it is like a hole in a wall. [He had nailed people with that. People who don’t have a strong sense of smell don’t think about it. He doesn’t blame them. People do what they know.

Shirou reaches out and takes the white stone into his hand. He holds it carefully like he would something delicate. It looks like a lodestone. He shifts his grip to the string but holds his other hand below it just in case.]

I'm no expert on smells. I'll defer to you on that.

[ By being a god, he's able to locate the trees using his sense of magic. However, he can't interfere; he can't exactly leave this pocket dimension without good reason.

The string holds - it's smooth and cold to the touch, and the white stone has a sort of empty presence, as if it's subtly drawing in the ambient magic. ]

If you come close to a seed, it'll start to pull on the string. On the very very off chance that this fails to work, come back to me again and I'll think up another solution.

[ It'll work, luckily. ]

[He notes the emptiness. His senses might be dulled but odd things still stick out. He gathers the white stone and its strong up, tucking it into a coat pocket.]

I’ll come back if this fails. For now, I’ll tell the others about it and see what we can do. [Normally he wouldn’t interfere so much but this hit an issue so close to home. His dreams will be full of the past tonight.]

...Thank you.

No need to thank me.

[ He watches Shirou with a clear crimson gaze. ]

You're helping me by being here. The least I could do is help, even if my hands are tied most of the time.

[Shirou watches him back for a moment. Then he shuts his eyes and sighs.]

We're working together. From time to time, that deserves some thanks. [He briefly closes his hand around his collar and lets his hand fall back down.]

I didn't know humans could fall prey to that. [Whatever that means he looks back at him.] Is there anything else about this corruption from the Abyss you think is important? Anything at all.

Edited (thanks phone) 2021-05-06 00:29 (UTC)

[ Taps his chin with a finger ]

The corruption also has mental effects. So if you don't see it physically, but someone is acting aggressive or suspicious of people they might otherwise trust, then they may be affected by the Abyss curse. Of course, try not to be in contact with the blood, or blood stones for too long. If you investigate Durin's corpse, don't linger for longer than you need to. The dragon's spirit cannot pass on due to the corruption, and you might start to hear his voice.

[ What else could help? He has to think. ]

The corruption was planted on Durin by Abyss agents. So this may not be the only place you encounter it, if you continue to travel here. Abyss uses the corruption as one of their methods to disrupt Celestia's order. It also grants its victims some additional measure of power, so humans in the past have accepted it to further their own goals. It always ended badly for them.

[He has to visibly bite back some kind of commentary, his sharp teeth briefly on display. He is here to learn and to possibly change, not remark on the past. Shirou adjusts his gloves as the information settles in his mind. Still some bitter part of him has to say something.]

Of course they have. [But he bites it off there. This is work. Work demands he be focused.] So what you’re saying is we’ll find other sites like this all over. Any time we cross with the Abyss.

Anyway, Hearing voices of the dead is nothing new. I’ll watch for it. [The voices he is has been used to for so long are gone. It feels so lonely without them around.] ...when my sense of smell comes back, I’ll be able to tell you if any of this has a scent or leaves an imprint. Until then, I’m relying on human methods.

[ There's a reason why Shirou was invited. If the outlanders didn't have personal feelings about Teyvat's struggle, then it would be difficult to motivate them to do anything. ]

Yes. Abyss has never stopped trying to cross over into the material realm.

[ Especially since they have had several leaders since that day five hundred years ago. ]

Once your body becomes accustomed to Teyvat, I'm sure your smelling ability will return. The magic here is so much more potent and concentrated than other worlds', it tends to drown out foreign abilities. But you'll regain them over time, as long as they don't depend on you being in your world to function.

[That explains a lot of things. He'd been in human form when he answered.]
It doesn't. The power of a Beastman comes from within. I was just in human guise when I answered you.

[If other Beastmen answer the call...if they are called, Forneus will at least know this much about them. He gestures with one hand.]

As for the Abyss...I see. What is their aim? Just war with Celestia? Or is there some greater reason behind it.

[ Forneus seems like he's about to say something, but closes his mouth. He waves a hand before answering ]

Even if I go against Celestia, I am still counted as a being aligned with them simply by being a god. Abyss agents would never trust me with that information.

[Shirou's eyes narrow but he seems to come to a decision, relaxing back into his calm he'd displayed when he first walked in.]

Then it will be up to the rest of us to find that other reason. That's fine. I'll make sure to keep you updated on what we find.

[He did it for Rose. When Shirou dedicates himself to something, he gives it his all.]

[ :) ]

Thank you. [ And he means it! ] If you have any difficulties, feel free to come back and I'll see what I can do.

[He nods.] I assume if you can tell me anything else later, we can reach each other.

[Shirou heads for the door but pauses at it, looking back.] Other wise, that’s all I came to talk about.

[It’s what he wants to focus on. Everyone else will zero in on the city. But he has always had to look beyond the immediate.]

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