stellafortunalogs | 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

(Yes maybe he's drawn to him because he's a quiet and steady presence in a bleak situation. Or maybe because he's worried about another grandpa. Who knows? He isn't going to say.)

So it would seem... but time goes on.

(With our without this city.)

[ Time goes on, and the fate of the forgotten continue to fall into obscurity, unless someone brings news to the outside world. ]

What do you think?

[ He gestures faintly to their surroundings. ]

This isn't my first time seeing tragedy. (He says, perhaps a little flippantly,) I admit, this brings back some memories...

More importantly, I wonder what others will think.

(A glance at Zhongli,)

Something like this would surely sway more than a few hearts.

That was his intent.

[ Forneus wanted to prove it. What remains is to see if the outlanders will accept this proof. ]

His desire is to remove the ability of the gods to dictate fate. Humanity will be free to pursue their wishes without predestined outcomes.

...

(He's quiet for just a half second before replying,)

Would you like to hear a story? (This has nothing to do with what Zhongli just said. Maybe,.) A tale from my world for you.

I would.

[ He's used to Tsuru being cryptic. Zhongli is rather cryptic himself, so he awaits the sword spirit's story. He might be able to glean more about the man that way. ]

"Have you ever left?" The bird asked his friend.

"Left what?" His friend answered.

"The garden," The bird explained.

"To go where? Why would you want to go?" His friend replied.

"I don't know..." The bird said, looking beyond their cage, "Ah, it's okay. Pretend I never asked."

(The story is short, simple. )

Those who have no concept of a better future will not seek to pursue it.

[ That's what he gleaned. ]

Those who did not know of the possibility of a life without relying on the divine will not seek to pursue it.

(Of course, the meaning of the story is obvious and he figured Zhongli would figure it out easily enough,)

Mhmm... What happens after your wish comes true? You'll have a frightened people on your hands.

Tell me, when you are faced with the possibility of something better, will you not reach out to seize it?

[ Zhongli folds his arms. ]

Or will you be content with the bliss of ignorance?

...

(That sure is a question and one he's heard before, even. )

Blissfully and ignorantly? No.

(But he would be content. Maybe. Ah, maybe he'd been in a good mood before. No, that isn't quite right. He'd been better at pretending to be in a better mood before. Now, when he speaks, it feels just a little more removed, a little more distant,)

I do what I'm commanded.

(He doesn't reach out.)

[ He's familiar with that. After all, he has been the master of a few people who considered themselves tools. ]

What would your master want?

(He considers himself one because he is one, Zhongli.)

To protect history. Even if it pierces our hearts and only brings pain.

(They protect history.)

[ Someday Tsuru will realize otherwise. ]

I see...

[ Zhongli exhales slowly, just long enough to barely count as a sigh. ]

Forneus has offered to proof the time stream in your world. [ To erase the existence of the Revisionists. A difficult feat, but perhaps one that only the God of Time could accomplish. ]

(Sigh all you want people have been sighing at him from the moment he was summoned!!)

To destroy the Revisionists for us, you mean?

(He taps the sword at his side with his finger, thoughtful. He doesn't sound entirely convinced but he doesn't sound completely unconvinced either. Like certain problematic sword spirits, Tsuru might be a little more creative when it comes to how he'll protect history.)

It's nothing we can't do on our own. It would take more than that, I think... or something else.

What is it that you desire, then?

[ It's a genuine, curious question. The information probably won't find its way back to Forneus, because Zhongli doesn't see the need to. ]

More surprises.

(Of course! It's definitely not peace and happiness. NO way. )

[ Zhongli looks at Tsuru for a moment - through him, as if he was assessing the spirit's entire soul... ]

I see.

[ His voice is light. Maybe he understands without Tsuru having to say it. ]

(And he smiles right back! He chooses to not perceive. Don't look at him like that he'll just build up more walls.)

Once you get as old as me, you need surprises to keep things interesting. Without surprises, the heart would die.

(He's believed this so long, it's truth.)

[ Is peace a surprise, then? To someone who has only known war? ]

You will find plenty of surprises here, I am sure.

Every day has been exciting so far.

(Well, almost every day. Even Teyvat has slow days, you know? But between the commissions and the dragon and the adventure and everything? It's all been enough to keep an old spirit like Tsurumaru on his toes.)

Ah, it almost reminds me of the old days... always busy, never a day to rest~

I do hope you have been getting sufficient rest here.

[ Forneus doesn't want to overwork his clients and neither does Zhongli. ]

Though while we are on the top of Forneus... if you do find anything he does objectionable, you can bring it up to me. I will speak with him.

I don't get tired easily.

(Except he does. But he's not going to admit that.)

Ah, will you? (Tilting his head to one side,) It's too late. You know... I'm not supposed to abide meddling with time and history the way he has.

This world's rules are much different from yours, including that of time and space.

[ The same things that Forneus has told Ookurikara. ]

MAY MINGLE

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