Zhongli's Ideal World Session 1

[idolpro]

"In his long life, he has met countless people, and shall meet countless more still.

As they say: the waters change course, but the mountains move not."

--The Raiden Shogun

Comments

OOC Objectives and Glossary

[leaveofabsence]

Objectives:
Zhongli is suffering from erosion - a disease that affects his memories and distorts his concept of reality. To pull him out of his ideal world, you will have to restore the world to its accurate perception. There are multiple paths to achieve this:

1. Find the erosion and restore each area of Liyue to what it should be rather than Zhongli's idealized version. Then the Rite of Descension will continue as normal.
   
2. Defeat the Geo Archon after the false Rite of Descension has started.
   
3. Defeat [ REDACTED ] after [ REDACTED ] event occurs.

Options 1 and 2 are ICly known to your character.

Glossary for Zhongli's Ideal World:

• Teyvat - the world Zhongli is from
  
• Liyue - the country/home city Zhongli is from. It is ruled by the Geo Archon
  
• Archon - god of one of the seven elements (pyro/fire, electro, hydro, cryo/ice, geo, anemo/wind, dendro/nature) and ruler of one of the seven nations of Teyvat
  
• Vision - eye of god; grants a human the ability to use one of the seven elements

Stats and Rolling

[leaveofabsence]

Link to stats sheet

Your character has the following stats and 2 HP. Unless otherwise stated, successful damage to your character will be 1 HP:

• STR (strength): For physical attacks
  
• SPD (speed): For dodging and acts of dexterity
  
• ELM (elemental mastery): For using elemental skills
  
• INT (intelligence): For getting additional context clues (historical or cultural)
  
• CHA (charisma): For getting extra dialogue out of NPCs

   HP: ♥ ♥

All stats start at 0, but you can adjust any stat as long as it is between the range of -2 and +2. You also have an additional 3 points to distribute.

We will use Zhongli as an example:

Base Stats:
   STR: 0
   SPD: 0
   ELM: 0
   INT: 0
   CHA: 0

Adjusted Stats (the numbers added here should equal 0. You can adjust as much or as little as you want):
   STR: 1
   SPD: -2
   ELM: 2
   INT: -1
   CHA: 0

+3 Points to Distribute:
   STR: 2
   SPD: -2
   ELM: 2
   INT: 0
   CHA: 1

When using a stat, roll a 1d6 die plus your stat. 1-3 fails. 4-6 is a success. Natural 1 and natural 6 are considered critical failure and critical success even with modifiers. If the situation calls for it, additional flavor text will be added.

Introduction - Start

[leaveofabsence]

You wake up floating, feeling lightweight and free. There is nothing but beautiful golden-purple sunset sky above you and stars twinkling in the distance. Nothing below your feet but clouds too thick to see through. But you imagine the ground is somewhere down there, very very far below.

A flash of gold shimmers, and a rolled up parchment unfurls in the air in front of you. A small black inkwell and calligraphy brush appears off to the side. The script is neat and tidy.

"Erosion.

It is a terrible disease of the mind known to affect the long lived individuals of Teyvat; those affiliated with the element of geo being much more susceptible. It is a slow and gradual process - forgetting the name of a friend who has long since passed here or the exact date of an important event there. Steadily do memories and tethers to the realm crumble until nothing is left but a husk of the individual completely separated from reality.

Zhongli has been battling the onset of this malady for years untold. And even careful as he was, he too has succumbed to its grip. Fortunately, he is not yet completely lost to us, but without immediate intervention, I'm afraid that he will be.

Traveler, I do not know how close you are to Zhongli, but I can sense that you are at least acquainted. Enough perhaps to know that he would not want one of his power left alone to ravage the land. I offer you a boon, the power of the elements and a tool to help differentiate fantasy from reality to use as you see fit. In exchange, I request your promise that you will return Zhongli to his senses or render him incapable of further harming others.

Will you accept this contract?"

[[ OOC: For the contract signing, you are alone, but once you have landed in Liyue Harbor, you are free to interact with the other Ideal World runners as you see fit. ]]

Re: Introduction - Start

[sangreine]

[ A moment of tumbling confusion coalesces into curiosity as Alizarin takes in the scene, the soft gloaming of sky and stars.  She grips her sheathed katana tight, worried she might lose it in the vastness of the starscape, and herself with it -- until the parchment and its words demand her full attention. ]

[ Reading the story of Zhongli beginning to crumble makes Alizarin weary in a way too deep and wide to be mere sympathy.  Familiarity breeds discomfort in this instance, and fear.  What use can she be, as one who has only a tenuous hold on herself? ]

[ Her answer, however, is never in question.  Without hesitation, she replies: ]

I accept.

[ Zhongli had promised her something much like this, his aid if she should lose herself.  She can offer no less in return.  Whether her fighting prowess will be adequate to handle whatever elemental magic she's agreeing to wield remains to be discovered, but she'll do the same as always: try. ]

Re: Introduction - Start

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Reading through it, his expression growing more unsettled with every line]

...I'll get him back to normal.

No one's gotta hurt him.

Re: Introduction - Start

[carrionmywaywardsun]

[Truthfully, Valor could not give a single flying fuck about Zhongli, but he also would rather not hit the ground from this height. At any rate, if Zhongli wants someone to kill him, Valor will be happy to provide.

He'll take the brush and, in the manner of someone used to such tools, sign his name with a flourish.]

Re: Introduction - Start

[shatteredhourglass]

...

[Well, OBVIOUSLY Nyx doesn't like the sound of that and wants all those bad things to not happen to Zhongli. But, he also doesn't want to make irresponsible promises when he's doubtful of his own ability to achieve this goal even with help. But, but, he DEFINITELY can't do anything to help if he DOESN'T get help...

Please excuse Nyx for waffling around in front of the parchment for a while, before finally:]

I promise to aid in these things to the best of my ability.

[IF THAT DOESN'T COUNT AS "YES" THEN HE'LL JUST GO WITHOUT, because not having help is less terrifying than the crushing pressure of making a promise he might not be able to uphold properly.]

Re: Introduction - Start

[unbr8kable]

[Nemesis blinks at the ink and the brush and the contents of the letter, and--tries her best not to pay attention to the lack of ground below]

...What do you mean, "boon"? Something to keep the old man outta trouble?

Liyue Harbor

[leaveofabsence]

Welcome to Liyue Harbor - or specifically the docks. Here ships large and small moor at the piers to spread trade and commerce between Liyue and the rest of the world of Teyvat. Be sure to watch your step, because the docks are always bustling and you're likely to get swept away with the tide if you're not careful.

Within the docks, there are two places to go:

The Traveler's Gate: Between the two pillars framing the entrance (and not pictured) is a large circular gate which pulses occasionally with a blue energy. With every pulse, it seems a new visiting Traveler enters the harbor. How curious indeed. Even from this distance, you can see Zhongli there.

The Fishing Association: What's a harbor without fishing? Surely you have time for a little rest and relaxation. Surely…

You may also travel to: the marketplace, the mountains in the distance, or the central pavilion.

Re: Liyue Harbor

[sangreine]

[ Relaxing somewhat now that solid ground's beneath her, she does one slow scan all the way around. How to know what's not right in a place she's never been? Probably ask people. Hopefully none of them are aggressive, she doesn't want to make a mess. ]

[ Hesitates for half a moment upon seeing Zhongli; her presence in his world isn't proper, whatever contract she's accepted. But he's the best place to go for answers, so ]

[ Heading over to Zhongli, keeping her sword behind her in as nonthreatening a manner as she can get it. ]

Quite a way to travel.

Re: Liyue Harbor

[unbr8kable]

Whoa... Busy.

Guess the man himself is here...?

Liyue Marketplace

[leaveofabsence]

As expected of a hub of commerce, Liyue has a varied and busy marketplace. Shops of all types line the streets all the way up to the third story. Fancy yourself a new antique, a good meal, or to take out a loan from the Northland Bank, well — then you're certainly in the right place.

Within the market, there are three places to go:

Wanmin Restaurant: A quaint hole in the wall that boasts not only some of the best home-cooked food in Liyue but all of Teyvat. You will notice Zhongli has seated himself at one of the best tables in the house and is sharing a meal with someone.

Wanwen Bookhouse: Why do libraries and bookstores exist in rpgs? Well, that's why this one is here, too.

The Jade Mystery: Gacha. Gacha gacha gacha.

You may also travel to: the docks, the mountains in the distance, or the central pavilion.

Re: Liyue Marketplace

[carrionmywaywardsun]

[HMMM. let's start with Wanmin Restaurant. Valor's going to try and get a table close enough to Zhongli that he can eavesdrop without being to obvious. (does he have money to pay for a meal? that's a question for future him.)]

Yujing Terrance

[leaveofabsence]

Welcome to the Rite of Descension. Every year, the Geo Archon graces the people of Liyue with their presence, offering words of wisdom and blessing for the coming year. How fortunate it was for you to arrive on this exact day.

Within Yujing Terrance, there are two places to go and one interaction point:

The Mileleth: Security seems pretty tight around here. It never hurts to put in a good word for yourself. Probably.

The Censer: It's a device used to burn incense. While you do not physically see Zhongli, his presence lingers around here specifically more than any other location.

Offerings to the Geo Archon: If at any point, you wish to make an offering to the Geo Archon, you may do so here. It is customary for everyone to offer a suitable gift or prayer.

You might also catch some familiar faces among the crowd - two people talking quietly off toward the side (Skylark and Valor) and a horse-dragon (Pentium) watching the growing pile of offerings with interest.

You may also travel to: the docks, the marketplace, or the mountains in the distance.

Re: Yujing Terrance

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Heading toward the censer, since that's where he senses Zhongli the strongest]

Re: Yujing Terrance

[unbr8kable]

[She sees Hurricane at the Censer, so heads over to check that out--at least see if there are some of those idiosyncrasies around]

Re: Yujing Terrance

[sangreine]

[ Hmm, okay. Might as well head to the censer, because she hasn't anything to offer except her sword and -- nope; and she has no desire to tangle with security unless she has a reason to. ]

Re: Yujing Terrance

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Heading back over to the dragon by the censer]

Hey, dude.

[Cha roll 6]

Re: Yujing Terrance

[unbr8kable]

[Heading for the Mileleth--if security is big then surely something big's there to protect]

Mt. Aocang

[leaveofabsence]

Curling around Liyue Harbor is a mountain range that protects the city on all three sides not bordered by water. It is the perfect place for gods and immortals to overlook the daily lives of those they live to serve. It is also the perfect place for them to find rest and refuge to reflect on the past.

Within Mt. Aocang, there are three places to go:

The Table of the Archons: In the center of the mountains lies a lake, where an island fitted with a stone table, seven stone chairs and seven gold goblets preside. One seat is vacant, but it looks like Zhongli is saving a seat for a special person.

The Guardian Yaksha: High above the treetops and within the shadows of the mountain, you might spot a splash of vibrant color among the scenery. Use caution before preceding.

The Tree of Azhdaha: In the distance, you can see a beautiful tree, towering even over some of the nearby mountains. And it's not just its size that makes it peculiar.

You may also travel to: the docks, the marketplace, or the central pavilion.

Re: Mt. Aocang

[shatteredhourglass]

[Let's head to the Tree of Azhdaha! ...Somehow! This is a lot of mountains. He'll get creative with big leaves and vines and such, maybe.
Technically Nyx wanted to look down on the city from above but uhhhhh the narrator just remembered he doesn't have glasses rn so that's entirely unhelpful.]

Cleansing the Erosion: The docks

[leaveofabsence]

You hear Zhongli's voice on the wind as the world around you slowly petrifies. Buildings, people, and trees fade to grey as they turn to stone. Most don't see it coming. But some do as their faces freeze in dawning horror before they are overtaken. You alone remain untouched and living and breathing among the rock.

"No matter how weak the god, the power that flows forth when they are slain is beyond the strength of mortal coils to bear."

You exist in this broken world for one heartbeat. Two heartbeats.

Then the land shatters, knocking you to your feet, as everything around you crumbles to dust.

And the world is remade.

---

The docks look much as they did before - minus the massive inter-dimensional gate, of course. People bustle about the ships, moving cargo and checking goods as they are packed on wagons and brought into the city proper. However, there are no more Travelers, no more idols, no more people from another world.

Zhongli (sans horns and HSS attire) looks out over the harbor from a high vantage point, hands clasped behind his back. He watches a particularly ornate set of vases pass by before raising his gaze up and across the water.

"Have I too finished my duties?"

Congratulations, you have cleared the docks of erosion.

Re: Cleansing the Erosion: The docks

[shatteredhourglass]

[Apparently Nyx is Getting The Feeling that this all just happened. Huh!
Well, good to know other more competent people are also working on this so he can't ruin everything. At least.]

Cleansing the Erosion: Yujing Terrance

[leaveofabsence]

Well, some god was supposed to descend from the Heavens today, but not like this. One noodle dragon falls to earth with a distinct splatting sound.

When the dust clears, you see the dragon lying dead upon the table of offerings. Around you, people panic and scream about the death of Rex Lapis, the god and protector of Liyue for over 3,700 years.

At the edge of the Pavilion, you catch a glimpse of Zhongli who watches all of this with a blank expression before slipping back into the chaos of the crowd.

Congratulations, you have cleared the Rite of Descension of erosion.

Pavilion!Zhongli is now unavailable for comment.

Re: Cleansing the Erosion: Yujing Terrance

[shatteredhourglass]

[GOOD THING OTHER PEOPLE ARE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS, CAUSE,]

Cleaning the Erosion: Mt. Aocang

[leaveofabsence]

Like before, the world petrifies around you. People freeze in mid-action as the stone consumes them before shattering into so much dust that scatters to the wind.

And the world is remade.

---



The stone table lies empty, save for one human-looking Zhongli sipping tea. Two other places have been set, but their spots are currently vacant.

Try as you might, you cannot catch sight of any of the yaksha except for one green blur who keeps to himself.

The tree stands proud and tall as ever, though now a stone tablet marks this as a place to be avoided.

"Life endures in Heaven and Earth thanks to the merciful Adeptus. On this site lies an evil dragon, please do not disturb it."

Congratulations, you have cleared Mt. Aocang of erosion.

Re: Cleaning the Erosion: Mt. Aocang

[shatteredhourglass]

[


Nyx was here the whole time and has no idea what just happened but okay]

Clearing the Erosion: Liyue Market

[leaveofabsence]

You gaze out upon all of Liyue Harbor restored - untouched by Hell and the productions, its ghosts properly buried and most importantly, with the one true (and also retired) Geo Archon by your side. He turns toward you with a smile that is equally warm and distant. The siren song of his ideal world has faded back to reality and with the tepid hope of what could be.

"Thank you, my friend. You have brought me back to my senses."

He clasps his hand behind his back.

"I suppose I owe you an explanation after all of this.

Come, let us take a walk through the harbor and I will answer whatever questions you may have."

And he turns to walk toward the harbor, the sun setting a golden-purple in the distance.

Re: Clearing the Erosion: Liyue Market

[crossmyheartandhope]

I mean... if it's cool? If, like. If you got the time.

[Falling in next to him as he sets out toward the harbor]