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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Jun tended to stay clear of Forneus if he could help it, mostly out of caution. But this was an issue that was too important to Jun to leave alone, and he didn't want to cause Zhongli more worry - so to Forneus for answers it was.

He glances around the office, his hood up to keep his own expressions hidden. It looks much more decorated than before...this guy really was trying to work on his image to the others. ... Whatever works, he supposes. Didn't matter to Jun. ]

My control of light returned, but something's off about it. Is there a reason for that?

[What are pleasantries. ]

[ Pleasantries or no, Forneus doesn't mind. It's not like he wasn't expecting this. ]

Light as an element does not exist in Teyvat.

[....

...nani the fuck.]

So is the sun fake too...?

That's a very good question.

[ ???? ]

See, there's light as a particle-waveform duality type of physics definition. And then there's light as an element definition. There's no Light Element like how you'd find the other seven elements. It exists, but not Like That.

[???? INDEED FORNEUS. Great. Now he has to worry about the sun being fake and how that is even possible. He hates all of this.

But right ok, putting aside science for now, he'll switch over to occult mode]

There's no Archon for Light, in other words.

Correct.

[ Is the sun real? We already know the stars are fake. ]

When you try to use Light, you're calling upon it as an Element. But that's not possible here, because the world 'denies' Light as an Element, so there's a strong level of conceptual suppression against any attempt to do such a thing. I tweaked things a little so you'll have an easier time, but you're pretty strong to begin with, so!

[...]

That doesn't make sense though. Light is an element often used by gods, and Teyvat is full of gods. You're telling me there's not a single one that uses Light as an element in any capacity?

Hmm, I'll explain it another way. It existed - past tense - but a long time ago, the conceptual 'box' for it was deleted. So you can't use the rules of an aspect or concept to call upon it.

[ ??????????????????????????????????????? ]

[ ????? indeed. But Jun goes quiet for a moment, trying to think of what that could mean. It takes a moment, but the pieces align together to a theory.]

...I see.

It was done as a precaution, wasn't it? To protect Celestia from other gods.

You could interpret it that way. I can't confirm or deny it though. It's one of those 'if anyone talks about it they get smited' things.

[ SHRUG EMOJI ]

Still, it's one of the rules of this world. And that's why you can't use your Light powers freely.

Hm. [Ah yes. One of those. ] ... Well, it'd give reason to why all your names are listed in the Sealed Library.

[Another piece of puzzle is put down.]

I'll just have to adapt then. Anything I should be aware of when I use it?

Try not to.

[ A pause. ]

I'll try to shield you from the eyes of Celestia, but if you feel too much pushback when you're casting something big, it's probably a good sign that you should stop.

[.......]

So in other words, I can't use my main power without risking making myself a target to some insane gods.

[G R E A T]

[ Forneus looks apologetic ]

I can't change that. Sorry. If I could, I would have already burned the whole lot of them down.

[There's a distorted sound that sounds like a sigh ]

If you could, I wouldn't be here in the first place.

[So. He gets it. But this is certainly an issue...he goes quiet again as he thinks over things.]

...Can I get a restraining seal? Something that'll stop me from using too much without realizing it.

[ Forneus sucks in a breath ]

I could make that sort of thing. But would it hurt you?

Not as much as getting caught by Celestia would.

[JUST SAYING]

There's nothing against me using something from other gods, so long as I don't worship or pray to them for it.

I've been using Light as my element for years. Calling upon it is a natural reflex. I just need something strong enough to curb that reflex.

Alright... if you're sure.

[ He waves a hand, and a couple of golden runes appear around Jun before vanishing. He wouldn't feel any different, but that's only because the seal takes effect when it's needed. ]

I'm sure.

[Seal Knights do what must be done. He couldn't let an emotional attachment towards his element get in the way of the task at hand. And so he holds still as the seal is cast on him.

When it's done? He'll pull back a little, focusing his energy to call upon as much light energy as he can. But at a certain point, enough to cast a powerful spell if he uses it- the power simply fizzles out. Like a car running out of gas.]

...Interesting.

[ Forneus peers at him ]

It shouldn't hurt. Does it?

No, it doesn't hurt.

[He'll turn to look at Forneus.]

But I'll need you to attack me. Enough to hurt. I need to check my reflexes as well.

Attack you?

[ Forneus looks unsure. He waves a hand and suddenly the house disappears, so that they're standing in a vast empty white space. ]

Really?

[ When Jun confirms that he really wants to get beaten up, he manifests a white scythe in his hand and brings the blunt end down on the kid (or attempts to, at least). It would hurt if Jun didn't block it in time. ]

Yes.

[He'll confirm with a nod. YES REALLY FORNEUS. This is important to test! And you know, he's a nutjob - so that might have something to do with it.

As the house disappears, Jun will move into a battle stance. Fortunately it seems like he's not going to just stand around and let himself get hit. As the scythe gets brought down, he'll summon Arc Legus and raise it to block the scythe. The metal clashes and he winces, but there's no sign of any light element showing up. ]

...Figures your weapon is a scythe.

[He jumps back and gestures at Forneus with his free hand to come at him again. LETS DO THIS TIME GOD]

I didn't want to have the same weapon as any other god, you know?

[ A slight laugh. Forneus is intent on not using any elemental attacks - just his scythe. He's pretty fast, though; if Jun starts to not be able to keep up, he'll slow down to avoid hurting the boy permanently. ]

Afraid there's one god on Earth that uses it. Though, some could argue that you're cut from the same cloth.

[Of course he is fast. Jun knows that if this was a real fight, he would stand no chance even if he had his full power. But that was the point. To have a fight dangerous enough to bring out his reflexes under duress.

The next swing is a narrow miss, enough that the scythe practically scrapes against the fabric of the shroud. At the last second, Jun turns to swing at Forneus. He doesn't hold back the power of the swing- he knows whatever he dishes out Forneus can take. And yet again, even without holding back - there's not a single glimmer of light element.

Seems the seal is working]

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