[ PERMANENT. ] a (k)atch-all log for kenos

[dawnlord]

WHO: Set ( redsoil ), Bondrewd ( dawnlord ), Drizzt ( twohand ), et. al
WHAT: i actually can't stand month-by-month logs so i'm gonna crush my boys into one perma-log for anything outside of events
WHERE & WHEN: Listed in comment headers, or under the cut.
WARNINGS: General warnings for violence, vulgarity and unethical science. Will update/comment with warnings!


I struggle so hard w/ month-by-month logs, so y'all have to deal with my weird organization...

— [MARCH | SET] GOT NO SHAME, GOT NO PRIDE

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[ APRIL ] zhongli, starwatcher spire

[dawnlord]

[ Would it be any wonder, for a Stargazer to find themselves at the Starwatcher's Spire? In the midst of the early days of the Blight, he takes time out from a busy schedule to continue his own exploits; even as people agonize in the streets, there are numerous Zenite Shard-bearers who examine their lives and liberty and choose to prioritize themselves. It is, after all, well-within the wisdom of their natures to do so. And so, Bondrewd attends the lingering lessons within the Starwatcher's Spire, while simultaneously monitoring the spread of the Blight. ]

There there, [ with his hands on the shoulders of one of the weeping scholars, he seems to be soothing them by the time Zhongli turns up. The hulking, dark figure of a creature, softly glowing in the shadowy corners with someone crying silently, clutching the material of his heavy coat: First Alenroux, they can be heard uttering, sorrowful and not sobbing unconsolably, now, the Blight comes to Highstorm! Meridian must be doing something to exacerbate the issue. ] There is no evidence of such a thing, Scholar Sain-Breq. While Meridian has made overtures that are aggressive, they are also plagued by the Blight — this is a matter both our cities must attend to, if we are to have any future at all.

[ He soon looks up, as the young scholar begins to recover, noticing the presence of another Shard-bearer in the vast room. With a light shrug, the gesture of his open palms in greeting and a slight 'what can you do' motion, he soon parts from the scholar in order to approach the other man. Armor rattling as he steps closer, tail swaying sinuous as he leans down to keep his voice hushed, polite in the hall of learning they currently inhabit. ]

Even the scholars here are concerned for the safety of their sanctuary. This Blight poses such a risk. Do you know what they study here? Aspects. The same as the ones we are marked by.

[sharethememory]

[ By all accounts, Zhongli probably should have been busy investigating the Blight directly and tending to those unfortunate citizens of Highstorm who found themselves within the now blooming flower's clutches. But he had dragged dozens back to the safer areas of the city and poured over countless tomes in between. He had even tried to listen to long complicated scientific explanations where the words seems to blend together until they practically lost all meaning (a strange role reversal from when he was the one who usually did the talking). And thus, he found his way to a part of the town that he did not visit as often as he should. To a place where he should have looked first for answers. The stars were the tapestry weaved by the hands of Fate, after all - if there was anywhere that would guide them to an answer or show that none was to be found, it was here.

The presence of another Shard-Bearer here is also no surprise. Zhongli recognizes the tail (drawn to such details as he was) from a similar silhouette as a group of them had made their way to Aetos lair more than a month ago. What is surprising is that the Bearer is still donning his full armor even within the walls of Highstorm. To each their own, Zhongli muses to himself. It did look quite insulated and cozy when considering how more frigid everything had become with the Blight.

He inclines his head in a returned greeting, eyes trailing after the distraught scholar before returning back to Bondrewd. ]

They probably have good reason to be concerned. The Blight spreads more each day with little understanding to what has caused its accelerated growth.

Though I am intrigued on the intersection of the study of the aspects to the concept of astrology. Stars have a particular meaning in my world that may not be common to others. There is a belief that each being is born under a constellation that divines their fate.

[ Zhongli takes a few steps farther into the sanctuary, approaching Bonedrewd with hands clasped behind his back. ]

Do the aspects have such a similar meaning, I wonder, gift as they are from some other power.

[dawnlord]

The Blight is my foremost concern, and I will not rest until we are able to attenuate or entirely arrest it. There can be no future for the people of Highstorm, or Springstar, if the Blight is not dealt with before all of the Oracles are located — that much, I am certain of.

[ Despite being armored from head to toe, he is a polite and well-spoken man. Authoritative without being overbearing, the calm of his voice echoes faintly from within the dark metal of his helm, the glow of it pulsing softly in the dim lighting of the building. He excuses himself from the Scholar's presence, to offer his hand to Zhongli in greeting. ]

The Blight was present in the former Oracle match, and during it, I have read that one Aspect was bolstered while the other was hindered — Iconoclast and Stargazer, of which I am the latter. I have heard that the Aspects can be divined with, and I wonder how we came to be part of the groupings that we are — why are we connected so intimately during Communion, incapable of blocking our fellow kin out — what are the meanings of the Aspects, how were they discovered?

[ He asks a lot of questions, and while none of them have answers, that does not seem to bother him at all. It is simply one more marvelous mystery to examine. ]

I wonder that, as well. What are the innate meanings of our Aspects, and why mark us? We are already Shard-bearers, was that not enough for this world?