idolpro | Zhongli Ideal World: Session 3

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 up 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.

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. ]]

[ erosion,
ah, that's all he needed to hear to hate this. ]

[ childe frowns at the piece of parchment floating in front of him, crossing his arms and looking thoughtful. his thoughts drift to all the work five and hades are putting into helping him that he wonders if they'll be able to help zhongli too. their problems are different, but ultimately they'll both lose themselves... just to different 'afflictions'. ]

[ he snaps back, blinking a few times as he looks at the bottom few lines. render him incapable of harming others. doesn't that sound delightful. ]

You could have just as easily said 'will you help Zhongli Xiansheng' instead of padding it with all of these unnecessary details. [ is he annoyed at a piece of paper because erosion? yes. yes he is. ] Of course I accept.

Congratulations, Traveler. You have been bequeathed with a [ Hydro Vision ] under the constellation [ Monoceros Caeli ]. You are also bequeathed an Electro Delusion. (???).

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

( For some reason, you feel yourself drawn to the marketplace. )

[[ 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.
Please give yourself +1 HP for having an Electro Delusion. Using the delusion gives you advantage (roll 2 dice and take the better result of the two) but you will also lose 1 HP every time you use it.
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.]]

[ let's head to the market place. ]

[ he would have honestly chosen that anyway. ]

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.

Edited 2022-01-01 17:58 (UTC)

[ He kind of dislikes this already. He stares at the paper, frowning lightly at the wording. Words are important-- he knows that well, and the last comment leaves him more than a little concerned. But there's no choice if he wants to try and help him at all.

Stealing himself, he reaches out, dipping the brush in ink and neatly signing the paper with his signature. ]

There is nothing for it.

[ Of course, he will do what he can. ]

[ To the marketplace ]

Congratulations, Traveler. You have been bequeathed with a [ Anemo Vision ] under the constellation [ Bonae Poeta ].

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

( For some reason, you feel yourself drawn to the marketplace. )

[[ 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.]]

[ on his trip to the market he affixes his vision to his belt and tucks his delusion away for safekeeping. he stops a few steps in, craning his head back to look up at the sky and soak in the atmosphere. it feels like it's been forever since he's been in liyue, especially after he was asked to chase after scaramouche in inazuma. he sighs wistfully, almost heading straight for the northland bank out of reflex, because, wups, he got caught in a memory. ]

[ as soon as he spots zhongli he's going to head on over to wanmin. ] Zhongli Xiansheng~ [ going to act like everything's totally normal. ] You gave my spot away to someone else? I'm not *that* late.

Upon nearing the restaurant, you will notice a very human-looking Zhongli and Childe sitting at a table, lacking in any sort of corruption that the Production has bestowed upon them as well as wearing attire that affiliate them both with different organizations. The aroma of delicious food wafts up from the table where various Liyue delicacies are being served and in abundance. Childe looks mournfully at a pair of chopsticks while Zhongli sips from his tea.

"Can I really not use a fork?"

To which Zhongli just raises an eyebrow from behind his cup as if the very mention of it was blasphemy.

For those with a discerning eye, there is a hint of blue ink on Zhongli's inner wrist and similar gold ink on the back of Childe's neck.

Your vision glows in this location.

Edited 2022-01-01 18:11 (UTC)

[ Looks like it is to the marketplace for him! ]

The edges of the world fade around you 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.

[ "Hello, comrade. Pull up a chair, won't you? I'm sure we have a lot to chat about." ]

You also already know what the mark on Childe's neck and Zhongli's wrist already are.

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. ]]

[ To the marketplace ]

[ refine.
~~he might need it~~. ]

[ pulls up a chair with a smile, making sure that he's just a little bit closer to zhongli than his counterpart. ] It would sure seem like it.

[ elm 6 to see if he can get a better read on the marks on the both of them before he says anything else. ]

[ The place is entirely unfamiliar, not like home at all, but the architecture is pleasing if old-fashioned. He's a little intrigued as he glances around. This sort of place is his home...?

There is little time to wonder about that, however, when he spots the person he was hoping to find in question himself! ]

Zhongli-san...?

[ He crosses over to the Wanmin Restaurant ]

I had wondered where I might find you. And here you are eating so casually.

Edited 2022-01-01 18:19 (UTC)

[ Enjoy your free rez, Childe ]

[ ELM: 6 means that Childe will notice that the vision in most prominently glowing in response to the marks. But also that dopple!Childe faintly glows everywhere. Nothing else in the restaurant glows.

Dopple!Childe also raises an eyebrow at Caeli's choice of seat but ultimately doesn't say anything about it. ]

Here to see the Rite? You never miss it.

[ And as the world comes back into focus around them, Zhongli does not seem at all bothered by their being two Childe(s). He just starts to prepare a plate of overheaping food for Caeli.

And ask for one more pair of chopsticks, of course ]

Upon nearing the restaurant, you will notice a very human-looking Zhongli and Childe sitting at a table, lacking in any sort of corruption that the Production has bestowed upon them as well as wearing attire that affiliate them both with different organizations. The aroma of delicious food wafts up from the table where various Liyue delicacies are being served and in abundance. Childe looks mournfully at a pair of chopsticks while Zhongli sips from his tea.

"Can I really not use a fork?"

To which Zhongli just raises an eyebrow from behind his cup as if the very mention of it was blasphemy.

For those with a discerning eye, there is a hint of blue ink on Zhongli's inner wrist and similar gold ink on the back of Childe's neck.

Your vision glows in this space.

Also, there seems to be two Childe(s). The one sitting closest to Zhongli is very obviously Caeli.

Tsukasa, I did not know you were coming. Please ---

[ Zhongli points to a vacant seat ]

Join us.

[[ Sorry for the million and one edits ]]

Edited 2022-01-01 18:26 (UTC)

[ going to ignore his other self glowing. he'll deal with that later. ] I'm actually here to see you, Xiansheng. I had something special planned for afterward, but it involves a lot of prep, so I thought I might recruit some help. [ and then he eyes his dopple. ]

[ this is the moment he's been training his entire life for.
going to show off his chopstick game... to himself. ]

[ eat shit, other self, he's only slightly better at this than you. ]

[ Roll SPD to impress Zhongli after months of failed chopsticking ]

Oh?

I suppose that I could offer my assistance. What do you need?

[ NAT 1 BECAUSE OFC. +2 = 3... NOT IMPRESSIVE AT ALL. ]

[ and he'll probably get smacked for this too, but he points his chopsticks at zhongli. ] We can't talk about it here. It'll spoil the surprise. [ also he doesn't want to ruin this part of the ideal world just yet, because it makes him really happy. ]

I...

[ He's not only distracted by the way his vision suddenly glows, a strange sensation to say the least but the fact that there are two...Caeli's. Well. Of a sort. ]

How are there two of you?

[ It's a dream he supposes, but... he's still a little thrown. That must mean the one without the difference in appearance is merely a figment. He takes a seat uncertainly, but there's no choice but to investigate a little. Though that's only a 3 ]

[ clears his throat. ] Brothers. [ he looks at himself, cha 5. ] Twin Brothers.

[ he swears he'll explain later. maybe. ]

[ Smoothly as if he has done this many times before, Zhongli places his hand over Childe's and help him sample some of the salt and pepper pork.

Sorry, dear. You tried.

Continuing the conversation as if nothing had happened. ]

You and your surprises.

[ Said very fondly ]

But very well, just call for me when the time comes. As long as it is not during the Rite itself, I should be able to attend.

Zhongli Ideal World: Session 3

OOC Objectives and Glossary

Stats and Rolling

Introduction - Start

Re: Introduction - Start

Childe

Re: Childe

Liyue: Marketplace

Re: Introduction - Start

Re: Childe

Tsukasa

Re: Liyue: Marketplace

Liyue Marketplace: Wanmin Restaraunt (Childe do not reply to this - reply to the next tag)

Re: Tsukasa

Doppleganger: Childe

Re: Tsukasa

Re: Doppleganger: Childe

Re: Liyue: Marketplace

Re: Doppleganger: Childe

Wanmin Restaraunt

Re: Doppleganger: Childe

Re: Doppleganger: Childe

Re: Doppleganger: Childe

Re: Wanmin Restaraunt

Re: Wanmin Restaraunt

Re: Doppleganger: Childe