Zhongli's Ideal World Session 2

[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

Re: Liyue Market: Wanmin Restaurant

[pyromagiac]

[ also she's going to slip and fall while leaving. thanks ]

Re: Liyue Market: Wanmin Restaurant

[leaveofabsence]

[ Childe is completely oblivious to anything shady going on here and also has a soft spot for children.

(Is Felicity a child???)

Anyway, he helps right her before asking: ]

So where are we going exactly?

Re: Liyue Market: Wanmin Restaurant

[pyromagiac]

[ she's like probably around 15-16 but also she's 4'10". minor-coded ]

—thank you! Uhm. . .

[ looks around . . . p. . . points to the bookshop ]

Liyue Market: Wanwen Bookhouse (Don't reply for a hot sec)

[leaveofabsence]

The books and scrolls here are bountiful, but attempting to read any will be quite difficult unless you are fluent in Liyuen. Except for a book bound in green and gold called "Yakshas: The Guardian Adepti" and a rolled up scroll labeled "The Unforged." It seems they have been conveniently laid out on the table for your viewing pleasure.

A small female (Felicity) riding a large robo sheep is currently standing on her tiptoes to reach a scroll on the top shelf.

Doppleganger: Felicity

[leaveofabsence]

The edges of the world fade around you (Childe is on pause for the moment) as you suddenly come face to face with yourself. The sound of the other Travelers and Liyue harbor become indistinct. Your doppleganger bows in a standard Liyue greeting, posture too perfect and movements too precise, making it seem uncanny for a moment.

[ "Oh hello. I know you might be surprised to see me, but I'm here to help." ]

A gaming menu also flickers to life in front of your eyes:

Please choose one upgrade:

• Details: You may ask your doppleganger questions until you get one answer that will assist you in repairing Zhongli's erosion.
  
• Ascend: You may add +1 to any stat (following the rule that it does not exceed +2).
  
• Refine: You will be healed to full health or can choose to be revived to 1 HP should you fall to 0 health.

[[ Disclaimer: You may get an upgrade from your doppleganger only once. Should the area your doppleganger exists in be cleansed of erosion, you will still be able to interact with them. ]]

Re: Doppleganger: Felicity

[pyromagiac]

Oh. . . Hello!

[ selects details??? ]

Re: Doppleganger: Felicity

[leaveofabsence]

[ Because Zhongli does not know Felicity at all, assume her mannerisms are all wrong... ]

Oh hi, yes. I can answer any questions you might have to help fulfill your contract.

Re: Doppleganger: Felicity

[pyromagiac]

Uhm . . .

What should I do when I find the erosion? What should I do with it, I mean?

Re: Doppleganger: Felicity

[leaveofabsence]

"You have to get rid of it.

Or convince Zhongli that it's wrong."

Re: Doppleganger: Felicity

[pyromagiac]

[ . . . looks at childe or. wherever he used to be ]

How do I get rid of it? Do I have to. . .

[ kill. . . ]

Re: Doppleganger: Felicity

[leaveofabsence]

[ Looks at Felicity.

And nods gravely ]

Re: Liyue Market: Wanwen Bookhouse

[scattershot]

[Okay, so Zhongli had mentioned the restaurant and she absolutely will be heading there as soon as she can, but Alisaie is Sharlayan enough that she is physically incapable of walking past any bookshop without being drawn, as if by some peculiar magnetism, through its doors.

[Not that she expects any of them to be in Eorzean, but there's something comforting about a bookshop, even if you can't curl up for an hour or so with a tome.

[Her gaze is drawn to the scroll on the table.]

Re: Liyue Market: Wanwen Bookhouse

[leaveofabsence]

[ She is free to pick it up and read it if she wishes ]

Re: Liyue Market: Wanwen Bookhouse

[scattershot]

[--ah, no wonder this caught her gaze. There appears to be some kind of translation magick at work on it, and on the book by its side.

[Alisaie is absolutely going to read the scroll.]

Re: Liyue Market: Wanwen Bookhouse

[leaveofabsence]

The Story of Azhdaha

A long time ago, there was a dragon to be found in Liyue.
Not a dragon that soared the skies, but one whose abode was the mountains.
Indeed, this ancient dragon of stone was as large as the very mountains it called home.
When it awakened, even the tiniest movement, or the slightest stretch…
That would cause the earth to tremble and shake.
Then, Rex Lapis came before the dragon, seeking to stop the earth's quailing.
They say that for a long while, the land knew peace,
And that Rex Lapis gained another comrade by his side.

But in the end, the union of dragons, gods and men was perhaps not to be...
The dragon was sealed in the bowels of the earth.
The legends hold that those who triumphed over the dragon stabbed this sword into the ground next to the giant tree that subdued the ancient dragon.
As one of the seals, monsters and malevolent mortals would be unable to touch it.

Re: Liyue Market: Wanwen Bookhouse

[scattershot]

How strange. They could almost be writing of Ishgard.

Re: Liyue Market: Wanwen Bookhouse

[leaveofabsence]

[ That unfortunately is all the scroll contains ]

Re: Liyue Market: Wanwen Bookhouse

[scattershot]

[She's about to put it down, but thinks better of it and offers it to Felicity.]

Very well. Let's see...

[ELM: 4 to check if there's anything in here that shouldn't be.]

Re: Liyue Market: Wanwen Bookhouse

[sagescion]

[He picks up the book first, opening it carefully to read.]

Hm. Yakshas... has he ever mentioned them to you?

Re: Liyue Market: Wanwen Bookhouse

[scattershot]

Yakshas?

[She's going to look up from her own reading.]

Not at all, I'm afraid.

Re: Liyue Market: Wanwen Bookhouse

[leaveofabsence]

"The Yakshas' faithfully protected Rex Lapis and pacified all manner of catastrophes in the world. This continued for many years. But there came a day when the yakshas, despite their might, found that their deeds had taken their toll, and that the remnants of divine bitterness had begun to poison them. Some descended into a blind rage of a kind that can not be put into words, or were driven by fear to equally indescribable madness. Some turned on and destroyed each other. Some were lost to delusions of the mind. After a thousand years' scourges, three of the five were slain, and one disappeared. Many other yaksha of unknown name also either died or fled. In the end, only one of the five, [REDACTED], survived."

Re: Liyue Market: Wanwen Bookhouse

[sagescion]

Redacted...?

[Hm. It's a pity he went and destroyed his other self because that would be nice to ask about right now.]

Are there other books here that might help?

Re: Liyue Market: Wanwen Bookhouse

[scattershot]

I had a scroll, but Felicity is reading it right now. What did yours say?

Re: Liyue Market: Wanwen Bookhouse

[sagescion]

[Handing it to her but also reading the passage he found aloud.]

I want to find out who it is mentioning here.

Re: Liyue Market: Wanwen Bookhouse

[scattershot]

I don't think there's anyone around here we can ask. Our doubles vanished with the gate.

[She lowers her voice. Shoots a glance toward Felicity and Childe.]

He's anomalous. She's likely to need help.