deercountry | December catchall

December catchall - ota

Who: Zhongli (

brokebitchmountain) and you!
What: Event and gen stuff.
When: throughout december
Where: various!

Content Warnings: Death, blood, violence.

Winter Mourning;

Prompt A) A Friend Departed

[ The scene of this dream begins under a black dust-choked sky the sounds of war echoing throughout the surrounding landscape. The loud reverberance of rocks cracking is all but deafening as one can see a figure darting past them in the distance. Cloaked in a white hooded garment the being falls to its knees in a field covered in glaze lily flowers. It becomes eerily quiet as the sky remains pitch black and the sorrow one can feel is all but debilitating. Those who ran into the Pthumerian, Cloverfield, might feel a similar wave of that loneliness and sorrow in this dream. It’s made all the more substantial given how muted and silent it is now, despite the previous sounds echoing around them. ]

Prompt B) The Archon War

[ This memory is that of the great war. Fire, brimstone, and rock all collide through a cacophony of sounds and destruction. Morax the lord of geo stands before a hoard of what seems to be demonic entities. Their tentacles and glowing red eyes cast an eerie image before you. He’ll turn with that stone-like glance back at whoever happens to be in the dream, the markings of geo glowing upon his skin in a warm amber hue, despite there being little warmth in his features. ]

It is not safe for you to be here. Leave now, before your life is lost.

[ He’ll mutter as he summons his lance, Vortex Vanquisher, into his hand. ]

Prompt C) Lantern Rite

[ The city of Liyue is vast and buzzing with people at this time of year. Thousands of people near and far come to celebrate what is known as Lantern Rite and Zhongli is no exception. He looks like his normal self here; clad in his ornate clothing he wanders the city with whoever has come into the dream with him. He’ll give a cordial smile to whoever it might be, offering them some rice buns as they walk. ]

If there is anywhere, you’d wish to see, I would be more than happy to act as your guide. Liyue has many interesting and intriguing spots for those who are not from here. Perhaps we might go see a play? Or try some of the authentic cuisines of Wanmin Restaurant? There is never a dull moment in Liyue if one knows where to look.

Run Rabbit Run;

[ If you’re a vileblood or a coldblood you might have the distinct feeling that someone is watching and following you on the streets of Trench. Zhongli does not make his presence known that easily, however, and instead will stalk his prey like a predator seeking a meal. For some reason, he can’t help but want to follow certain people, and those who have a specific kind of blood will soon realize that Zhongli is all business. But for now, you’ll just have this odd sort of sensation of being followed. ]

Wildcard/Open Prompt; Dragon in the snow

[ As the weather shifts and changes a part of him will always be Exuvia and Exuvia him. In that way perhaps the strangeness of this world also affects him as well, and so as one is walking through the snow-covered streets of Trench, they might feel something scaley, and warm, brush up against their leg. If they’re not quick enough said mysterious creature will climb up their leg and torso?! He’s very sorry but Zhongli is cold, and he needs some reprieve from the cold harsh climate of Trench.

So sorry if he startles you but have a cute little version of Exuvia trying to burrow beneath the layers of clothing to get warm. ]

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[They cock their head slightly, taking a look around at the surrounding streets. Hmm. They've never been to a human city this big. Not by themselves, anyway.

They have to admit, they are a little curious.]

I will allow you to decide. After-all, I have no idea what these attractions are.

You do not? [ Well far be it for Zhongli not to explain things to those who are unfamiliar with Liyue's attractions. ]

Perhaps we shall get something to eat first, then take in a play, both are something that I often do after a hard day's work.

[ He'll motion for Chara to follow him down the bustling street. ]

[The sudden rush of fire and fury and noise all around is almost overwhelming, and Kaeya instinctively reaches for his sword -- though what exactly is a man with a sword supposed to do against something like this?

His eyes widen at the voice and he turns his gaze to see... the strange gentleman from Liyue.

No, that's not right at all, is it? He's not looking at any man in the strict sense of the term. An Archon.]

I assure you, my being here is not by choice.

[But now he's interested.]

But you are here nonetheless. I will allow no harm to come to you.

[ As he speaks a large boulder lifts itself into the air, those amber markings across his skin light up as the power surges through him and all around him. It's a palpable feeling and one that Kaeya will readily pick up on as that boulder goes hurtling into the fray of monsters.

The shrieks of anger and pain erupt all around them as Osial's forces and those of archons long since dead converge upon them. But Morax seems indifferent and almost craving the violence as a fanged smirk briefly flickers across his features.

His own warriors take up arms and shout in response to the battle about to happen. His amber eyes briefly go back to Kaeya, an outlier, a human amongst gods, but perhaps he was brought here because there was some sort of potential? ] Show me your strength, warrior, and you may just make it through this fight alive.

[Kaeya is, as a child of the kingdom that was destroyed by Celestia and the gods, not the keenest on getting himself involved in what looks to be an outright battle between archons.

But he's here, and he wants to know more, and he's not defenseless. A hand reaches for his sword, and blade now in hand, the Vision on his hip flaring in a flash of ice blue.]

I do like staying alive. One of my main goals on a daily basis.

[ Morax will chuckle as he looks back at Kaeya one more time. ]

You have spirit and will, you will survive this as long as you fight. You are under the protection of Morax. There is no need to fear for your life.

I appreciate the protection. Very kind.

[He offers a grin in the archon's direction. At the very least, Kaeya puts up a good front at least that he isn't terrified out of his mind by all of this.

But this has to be a memory, right? It can't be real. But that doesn't mean it can't hurt.]

To see a mortal fighting in the archon war...you have the respect of Morax.

[ Is what he says as he summons a jade shield around Kaeya. ]

You will come to harm under the divine protection of Morax the god of contracts. To this spoken promise I will keep my word. Go forth and fight in my name.

[ As Zhongli raises his spear, Vortex Vanquisher, and the blurred and shadowed figures around them both will let out roars of blood lust and excitement. It only takes a moment for the ground to shake as all manner of creatures, adepti mostly, rush forward to attack what appears to be a hydra now rising from the water. Osial has risen and it's clear what happens in this battle but to see it firsthand is another story entirely. ]

Protection and respect. My luck seems to be holding today.

[He's going to have a lot of questions for Zhongli when they are not in the middle of a terrifying memory.

He watches the beast rise and squares his sword. He'll move forward so long as he isn't stopped to take a closer look -- and hell, to defend himself, Vision quick to flare and attacks of Cryo ice spreading around him.]

[ Shh don't question him!! Just pretend this never happened!!

Morax will chuckle despite the fire of destruction in those amber eyes of his. He's ready to throw down, clearly, but he also wants to make sure that Kaeya is well protected too. The sudden summoning of those crystals around the other's person gets a raised eyebrow. After this battle, he'll have to ask about that. In the meantime, he'll summon large spears of rock that hover in the air, ready to strike like missiles at the writhing and watery form of Osial and ultimately trap him in his current-day prison.

The battle begins and it almost seems like hours later that Osial is at least pushed back for a time. Morax's forces recuperate while he wanders the shore slaying the remnants of Osial's fiends. ]

[Kaeya is way too Kaeya for that, Zhongli. He'll be gentle with the questions. Probably maybe.

But for now he's focused on living through this. He is outmatched on several levels, but that's never stopped him before and it doesn't stop him now.

It's while he's putting down one of said fiends that he catches sight of Morax once more. He half grins as he raises a hand to wave. Hey. Look, he lived.]

So you survived. You can hold your own, impressive for a human.

[ Morax will speak as he wanders over towards Kaeya his arms still aglow as the energy of geo still coils and moves around him in an almost palpable aura. ]

What is your name, human?

Call it the devil's own luck, perhaps.

[A seemingly cheerful shrug of a shoulder before he answers the next question with a polite bow.]

Kaeya Alberich, of Mondstadt. [These days.]

It attests to your skill that you made it out alive. Osial's forces have been something of a lingering pest for quite some time.

[ But he does nod at the name given. ] Well met then, Kaeya of Mondstadt. Perhaps our paths will cross one another someday.

[Lingering pest. He considers the chaos that he just witnessed. Archons are a different breed. But Kaeya nods.]

They will. Though, it'll certainly take a while.

[And a trip across worlds. Detail details.]

[ It helps when one has been hunted for a very, very long time.

It is night. Snow falls softly upon the cobblestone streets, and even now, Ozpin is faintly unnerved by the quiet; Deerington was never so peaceful except in the breath before a trap snapped shut. That same tension is wound through him now, building and building as the month wears on. A strange new hungers builds with it, until he is forced to admit that he may not be entirely well: he scents blood the way he would a hot meal, and his eyes now catch the light the way a human's shouldn't.

So he keeps away from the manor. He spends his nights alone, never sure whether he is predator or prey.

The streets are empty and silent aside the rhythmic click of his cane. Ozpin is aware that something is following him, a presence hanging somewhere back and to his left, but there could be a relieving simplicity to that. He knows how to deal with monsters. ]

[ Zhongli is a different sort of monster, Ozpin will come to find. He keeps to the shadows as he stalks the other, waiting for a chance to strike. Of course, as the god of geo, he could easily overpower and overwhelm any who cross his path here, but it would ruin the fun of the hunt in his mind. So he waits as Ozpin gets further and further away from the more populated parts of the city.

Every once in a while there's the sound of gravel almost as if it's alive and moving that shifts and gets louder in volume before it dies off again. It's after one such instance that Ozpin will hear an inhuman growl from the shadowy alleyway just in front of him. Amber eyes flicker to life and alight with a feral glow, strands of amber glow along what appears to be oynx skin that leads down into hands now shaped like claws. This is when Zhongli strikes, his movements faster than any human comparatively, and he'll use his claws to lash out at Ozpin with a powerful enough hit to send even the former headmaster back a little. ]

[ There is an element of relief to it, when his would-be hunter finally shows himself. Glowing eyes in the darkness, the low growl of something unreasoningly violent; this he knows entirely well.

But Zhongli hits faster than he'd expected. Ozpin has his cane up in time to block the blow, but only just; he goes skidding back a pace, and his expression hardens. Of course when this town finally conjures up a threat, it would be one just familiar enough to have him overconfident and just strange enough to knock him off-kilter.

He twirls the cane, bares its cutting edge of antler, and darts forward to feint and strike back. ]

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December catchall - ota

Winter Mourning (C)

Apologies for the delay holidays and covid did me in

B

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