MAY MINGLE

[stellafortunamods]

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.

Comments

To meet, to song and dance together!

[nefilim]

Encounter - Closed

[A lot of things could've happened, when Anastasia absorbed some of the hearts corruption. She could've died, been poisoned... Anything. But she didn't consider being possessed by the spirit of the dead dragon. Maybe she should have.

There's the sound of a dragons roar from somewhere down the mountain, yet the sound isn't right. It's almost human, in a way. And as the spirit takes over completely, all Anastasia can see are the childlike memories of a creature who had no idea what they were doing.]

Aftermath

[Anastasia eventually ends up back at camp after that little... mishap. Bloody and bruised, but none the worse for wear. She's certainly not as bold and jovial as usual though, both the memories she experienced and the fact she had to be beaten into lucidity mollifying her quite a bit. Considering the calls of that... weird creature ended soon before she came back, some might be able to connect the dots of what happened.

She will, at least, be open about what she did. Her only regret is that she got others involved in it.]

[cranelike]

(Tsuru has been in a bad mood ever since they arrived upon the city and as the one who knows him best, Ookurikara had been keeping an eye on him. It explains why the two of them are together when that twisted roar pierces through the mountain.

He reaches for his sword and heads towards the sound, a carefree smile on his face,)

Finally, something fun.

(A distraction.)

[unfriendliest]

[ unlike tsurumaru, the sound makes ookurikara tense, though he follows without question. ]

It sounds strange. Not like a real dragon.

[ dvalin's roar is still fresh in his mind, as if it were only yesterday that they'd fought. it almost sounded like that, but... off. and with all the talk of the corrupted remains of a dead dragon in the meeting... this really won't be good. ​]

[nefilim]

[They won't have to search long for the source of the sound, the currently draconic angel having taken to the skies in search of... something. When Tsurumaru and Ookurikara approach though, it doesn't hesitate to turn towards them. In her mind, Durin only sees them as potential playmates, the birdsong still filling her ears.

Which means her course is now set towards them, another twisted roar escaping her as she lands before them and charges, uncaring of who she attacks first. While she can't set anyone on fire thanks to the winter of the mountain, she does still have the strength of the dragon.]

[cranelike]

(He's just a grieving spirit and "fight" is definitely one of the stages, right? It doesn't take them long to find the source and Tsurumaru's eyes flash for a moment when he sees the source--)

Ah.

(He recognizes her. It's Ana. And yet, that doesn't stop him from drawing his sword,)

It looks like our friend has gotten into some trouble, Kara.

(Corruption. How familiar,)

Let's take care of it.

(Before others come. Before anyone can get hurt.)

[unfriendliest]

[ something something he has no intention of being friendly--

he recognizes ana from around the camp, from the meetings, but it means nothing to him except that he knows who to aim his judgment at, and boy is he judging. do warnings mean nothing to this girl? and without the saniwa, there is only one way that kara knows to fight corruption.

he draws his sword. ]

Let's go.

[ he charges to meet ana with a wide sweep of his blade. ]

[nefilim]

[Warnings mean absolutely nothing to her, but she might listen more in the future. Maybe.

Right now though, all her mind can focus on are the potential playmate in front of her; her charge doesn't falter even when the sword is swung towards her. Ducking under the blade with her next charge bolstered by the flap of her wings - considering her horns, her possibly barrelling into Ookurikara like this would hurt.

Though thanks to her current mind state, she hasn't taken into account Tsurumaru being there.]

Encounter - After the swordy boyo beatdown

[fiddlestick]

[A large fight between two swordsmen and a cursed draconic being is surely one to attract attention. By the time Elliot arrived on the scene, the battle had been mostly handled, so he stayed back and let them finish the work as he pieced together the situation.

Just as he had feared...even frozen, this curse found a way to afflict someone.

After the fight when Ana is down and still fighting off the remnants of the curse, she'll hear a violin playing a soothing melody. As she listens, the song will start to heal away the curse, gently washing it away. Also are those flowers popping out of the snow? What is this disney princess stuff?]

[nefilim]

[Even when lucidity returns to her, she's still in a great deal of pain - the remnants of Durin's consciousness lingering at the back of her mind, clinging to the edges. It takes her longer than she likes to process that she isn't flying in blue skies, but is injured and beaten in the snow as the corruption burns in her still.

But then there's a... song? And flowers??? It takes her a moment as she sits upright, her mind clearing as she takes this all in. And finally focuses on the source of it, at least having enough awareness to be sheepish that it would be him to see her like this.]

It's... you? How did you... [The taint that's part of her still lingers, but the possession of Durin has finally lifted.]

[fiddlestick]

[He'll finish out the song, the flowers slowly fading away as he does so. Seeing her look back to normal, Elliot breathes in relief. Looks like that trick still works]

That's the power of music. [He explains, without actually explaining anything. He kneels down so he's next to her on the ground]

How're you feeling?

[nefilim]

[The power of... music???]

Really? When I play the guitar I don't get anything nearly as fancy. [She wished flowers would grow when she played!!

Though when he kneels next to her, her expression falters, becoming much more sombre as she casts her eyes to the side.]

Better, thanks... And, ah, sorry. [Because she knows she Fucked Up.]

[fiddlestick]

Haha, well I did attend a music academy to train. [So. I guess somehow they teach you how to summon flowers at bard school. ITS A MYSTERY]

[He'll tilt his head, curiously]

What're you apologizing for?

[he doesn't know exactly how it all went down, so this feels like a chance for Ana to explain herself. Though, he can't see her intentionally getting herself corrupted like that.]

[nefilim]

[Ana now believes going to a music academy = learning flowery magic music healing.

And while Ana is always open about her screw-ups, she takes a moment to think of how to word this. Then she sighs, rubbing at the back of her neck awkwardly.]

I took the corruption in willingly, I wanted to try to investigate more about it. I've got some of my original form back, I'm corrupted myself, so I thought I could take it.

[Yes it was Really Stupid.]

aftermath!

[poisontippedcure]

[It’s hard to say whether or not Rose connects the dots. On the one hand, the evidence is pretty damning—-Anastasia leaves camp and comes back right as the monster disappears. On the other, Rose has fought many beasts in her time, and it’s entirely possible that she tuned the call out.]

[Either way, when she sees Anastasia walk into the camp—-beaten and bloodied—-she immediately rushes forward. Her normal scowl is gone and in it’s place is an expression of concern.]

Anastasia! What happened?

[nefilim]

[The worst thing about all this is making people actually worried about her. It makes it harder to be jovial and brush it off as if it's nothing, even though the urge is there.

So she tenses when Rose approaches, trying to think of the best way to say this. Uggggggh, she's never touching corruption in this world ever again.]

I, uh... Maybe attempted to absorb some of that corruption, around the heart. Then I go beaten out of it.

[Which she's grateful for, but Tsurumaru and Ookurikara do not hold back.]

[poisontippedcure]

[As much as Rose pretends otherwise, she's no stranger to doing something stupid for the greater good. That being said, even she has her limits. And "absorbing corruption to see what happens" is far beyond th--]

[Okay, no it's not. But she didn't have a choice that one time. And Ana did.]

You did what? Do you have any idea how profoundly stupid that was?

[She says as she starts healing.]

[nefilim]

Incredibly stupid. Like, super incredibly.

[It was a dumb move, but she wanted to try. The only thing she's upset about is that she got others involved.

But she is grateful for the healing, a soft sigh escaping her as the pain starts to fade away.]

I'm corrupted again, so I thought it might just... I dunno, give me indigestion. I didn't think I would get possessed like that. But I fucked up.

[poisontippedcure]

Well, at least it appears you’ve learned your lesson.

[Rose has met far too many people who narrowly escaped certain death, only to fling themselves back into danger at the first opportunity. If nothing else, Anastasia doesn’t seem keen on repeating her mistake.]

Corruption is incredibly dangerous, although I’m sure I don’t need to remind you of that.

[And Rose speaks from experience! The kind of experience she’d never wish on another human being. She sends another gust of healing wind Anastasia’s way.]

It seems the worst of it has already gone away.

[nefilim]

[She doesn't intend to repeat it with the corruption... Everything else, on the other hand -

But for now she just wants to rest and recover, since she won't be much help if she's too injured to even do anything. So she keeps still so that Rose can heal her, another soft escaping her.]

Don't worry, I got a real good taste of that firsthand.

[Nothing like being possessed by a dead, corrupted dragon to tell you that what you did was dumb as hell. But Anastasia is much more relaxed once the worst of her wounds are healed, flexing a hand for a moment before sitting up straight.]

Thank you... I'll pay you back for this.

aftermath

[extinctive]

[ well, figaro's certainly here at camp, looking out for the young woman in case she comes back. it doesn't take him too long to put two and two together, and he even lets out a bemused chuckle when she finally shows her bloody self. ]

Now, look what the cat dragged in.

[ he offers a concerned smile as he leads the way. all right, all right, no time for jokes. ]

Tell me where it hurts the most.

[nefilim]

[For that joke, Figaro gets A Look. But she has no snarky comebacks for now, since she has been thoroughly chastised by what happened and is nursing a wounded ego along with... everything else.

She won't say no to help though, rolling her shoulders to try to ease the ache and then wincing.]

Everywhere. [A beat -]

Mostly my sides, though.

[extinctive]

[ he gives her a nod before waving at her to come follow him further into the campsite, where it's much warmer thanks to the nearby fire. ]

Here, make yourself comfortable on this cot. Would you like some sugar?

[ just going to offer her a bowl full of magical sugar crystals. surely his fellow adventures have heard of doctor figaro's magic sugar, right? ]

[nefilim]

[Ana follows close behind him, flopping down once they're by the fire. Taking a moment to rub at her shoulders before just... blinking at him for a moment. Glancing between the bowl he offers her, than back to him.

Sure she may have heard something about it, but it sounded suspicious. And it still seems suspicious.]

Uh... What is it, exactly? Seems kinda suspect to me.

[extinctive]

[ ah, not again... ]

It's magic sugar made by yours truly. It'll help with the healing process. Also, poisoning you or anything like that wouldn't benefit me in any way, so I'd suggest having a little lick.

[ he sits beside her now, manifesting his catalyst on his palm as he begins the examination. ]

In any case, let me see the worst damage.

[nefilim]

[Sus doctor...

But she glances between Figaro and the offered sugar, before deciding to listen and swipe her finger through it. The lick of said finger doesn't result in any horrible side effects, and she can actually feel it helping? Guess he's not sus then.]

Like I said, it's mostly my sides. My arms really hurt as well... [Which isn't surprising considering how much she got tossed about. But okay, off comes the coat with some careful manoeuvring.]