idolpro | Zhongli's Ideal World Session 1

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:

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.
Defeat the Geo Archon after the false Rite of Descension has started.
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

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.

Edited 2021-12-29 21:56 (UTC)

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. ]]

[ 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. ]

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

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

No one's gotta hurt him.

Congratulations, Traveler. You have been bequeathed with a [ Pyro Vision ] under the constellation [ Sanguis Vitae ].

Your signature flashes golden as the parchment rolls itself back up, a gold ribbon tightly securing it before it disappears like so much stardust. A contract forged and sealed. Then you hear it - you feel it - the earth calling you pulling you down down down to the ground and welcoming you home. You can just make it out through the thinning clouds during your descent - a harbor city protected on all sides by tall, jagged mountains. The city of Liyue - Zhongli's heart and home.

If you do happen to glance back up toward the sky, you'll see a woman garbed in white and black armor, golden eyes piercing as she holds the contract in her hand.

"May the blessing of Celestia guide your path."

And thus, your journey begins.

Where would you like to land:

The docks
The marketplace
The mountains overlooking the city
The central pavilion where it looks like preparations for a ceremony are beginning

[[ OOC: If you have accepted the contract and the vision:

You will get a +1 to Elemental Mastery. If you are already at +2, please put +1 in any other stat of your choice.
Your vision will glow if you are near the source of the idiosyncrasies in Zhongli's ideal world. Roll ELM if you'd like to investigate.
Consider yourself a master of your element and you may use it in any offensive, defensive or utility capability. You want a sword? A shield? Hydro surfing? It's yours!

If you have not accepted the contract, your stats remain unchanged.]]

[ More words appear on the parchment ]

"Then you accept this contract?"

[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.]

Congratulations, Traveler. You have been bequeathed with a [ Cryo Vision ] under the constellation [ Quoquo Modo ].

Your signature flashes golden as the parchment rolls itself back up, a gold ribbon tightly securing it before it disappears like so much stardust. A contract forged and sealed. Then you hear it - you feel it - the earth calling you pulling you down down down to the ground and welcoming you home. You can just make it out through the thinning clouds during your descent - a harbor city protected on all sides by tall, jagged mountains. The city of Liyue - Zhongli's heart and home.

If you do happen to glance back up toward the sky, you'll see a woman garbed in white and black armor, golden eyes piercing as she holds the contract in her hand.

"May the blessing of Celestia guide your path."

And thus, your journey begins.

Where would you like to land:

The docks
The marketplace
The mountains overlooking the city
The central pavilion where it looks like preparations for a ceremony are beginning

[[ OOC: If you have accepted the contract and the vision:

You will get a +1 to Elemental Mastery. If you are already at +2, please put +1 in any other stat of your choice.
Your vision will glow if you are near the source of the idiosyncrasies in Zhongli's ideal world. Roll ELM if you'd like to investigate.
Consider yourself a master of your element and you may use it in any offensive, defensive or utility capability. You want a sword? A shield? Hydro surfing? It's yours!

If you have not accepted the contract, your stats remain unchanged.]]

...

[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.]

[He doesn't like agreeing to that second part]

[But they've talked about it before, haven't they? Or something like it, after what happened in Hunger Games]

[And this is important to Zhongli]

...I accept.

[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?

Congratulations, Traveler. You have been bequeathed with a [ Dendro Vision ] under the constellation [ Foris Avis ].

Your signature flashes golden as the parchment rolls itself back up, a gold ribbon tightly securing it before it disappears like so much stardust. A contract forged and sealed. Then you hear it - you feel it - the earth calling you pulling you down down down to the ground and welcoming you home. You can just make it out through the thinning clouds during your descent - a harbor city protected on all sides by tall, jagged mountains. The city of Liyue - Zhongli's heart and home.

If you do happen to glance back up toward the sky, you'll see a woman garbed in white and black armor, golden eyes piercing as she holds the contract in her hand.

"May the blessing of Celestia guide your path."

And thus, your journey begins.

Where would you like to land:

The docks
The marketplace
The mountains overlooking the city
The central pavilion where it looks like preparations for a ceremony are beginning

[[ OOC: If you have accepted the contract and the vision:

You will get a +1 to Elemental Mastery. If you are already at +2, please put +1 in any other stat of your choice.
Your vision will glow if you are near the source of the idiosyncrasies in Zhongli's ideal world. Roll ELM if you'd like to investigate.
Consider yourself a master of your element and you may use it in any offensive, defensive or utility capability. You want a sword? A shield? Hydro surfing? It's yours!

If you have not accepted the contract, your stats remain unchanged.]]

We got ourselves a negotiator in the house! But it seems that is sufficient enough agreement.

Congratulations, Traveler. You have been bequeathed with a [ Dendro Vision ] under the constellation [ Amissa Superstes ].

Your signature flashes golden as the parchment rolls itself back up, a gold ribbon tightly securing it before it disappears like so much stardust. A contract forged and sealed. Then you hear it - you feel it - the earth calling you pulling you down down down to the ground and welcoming you home. You can just make it out through the thinning clouds during your descent - a harbor city protected on all sides by tall, jagged mountains. The city of Liyue - Zhongli's heart and home.

If you do happen to glance back up toward the sky, you'll see a woman garbed in white and black armor, golden eyes piercing as she holds the contract in her hand.

"May the blessing of Celestia guide your path."

And thus, your journey begins.

Where would you like to land:

The docks
The marketplace
The mountains overlooking the city
The central pavilion where it looks like preparations for a ceremony are beginning

[[ OOC: If you have accepted the contract and the vision:

You will get a +1 to Elemental Mastery. If you are already at +2, please put +1 in any other stat of your choice.
Your vision will glow if you are near the source of the idiosyncrasies in Zhongli's ideal world. Roll ELM if you'd like to investigate.
Consider yourself a master of your element and you may use it in any offensive, defensive or utility capability. You want a sword? A shield? Hydro surfing? It's yours!

If you have not accepted the contract, your stats remain unchanged.]]

[ More words appear on the page ]

"A Vision - the eye of God. It will give you control of one of the seven elements of Teyvat."

[ The prospect of being alone here doesn't sit well, so somewhere with people (even if they're strangers)... ]

[ She decides on the docks, mostly because watching the sea is, at least, familiar. ]

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.

Dendro, huh? That's like the tree one, right?

[Pocketing it, and looking downward]

...lemme check out the ceremony.

[let's go for the marketplace, seems like a good idea to start where there are people to question]

[ To the docks! ]

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.

[Sounds pretty fantasy for her sci-fi knowledge, but... She considers]

...Sure--sure. Just gotta keep him from messing things up, right? I'll help out.

[ To the marketplace ]

[>The mountains overlooking the city]

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.

Zhongli's Ideal World Session 1

OOC Objectives and Glossary

Stats and Rolling

Introduction - Start

Re: Introduction - Start

Re: Introduction - Start

Alizarin

Hurricane

Re: Introduction - Start

Valor

Re: Introduction - Start

Re: Hurricane

Re: Introduction - Start

Re: Hurricane

Re: Introduction - Start

Re: Introduction - Start

Re: Alizarin

Liyue Harbor

Re: Hurricane

Re: Valor

Re: Alizarin

Liyue Marketplace

Re: Introduction - Start

Re: Valor

Re: Introduction - Start

Yujing Terrance