November Catch-All [Open]

[pureyang]

🧙 WHO: Chongyun and YOU!
⚔️️ WHAT: Various quests
🕒 WHEN: All throughout November
🗺️ WHERE: Various places
⚠️ WARNINGS: Mild one-sided cognitive projection, sleep paralysis demons/nightmares/the like

A - A Cure on Cloud Nine
[Searching for an elusive flower in order to make a specific brew is, surprisingly, something that Chongyun is quite familiar with. Oftentimes he would have to go and find the qinxing flowers necessary to make his yang-suppressing popsicles, so hearing that a particular flower is needed to help cure those who have become petrified by the basilisk seemed like a task that was within his possibilities.]

[However, finding the plant might be a difficult task in and of itself, especially with how many booby traps there are in this forest. He keeps his eyes peeled, but when he feels a vine tug on his foot he lets out a grunt as he swings his claymore, cutting a net mid-air before it can fall on him and entangle him. He lets out a huff, wiping his brow before turning to his partner.]

These flowers are very heavily guarded… we will need to keep our eyes peeled.

B - Paralysis, Paralysis, Paralysis Again (CW: paralysis demons, nightmares, etc.)
[After such a harrowing day, a moment of rest is a glorious luxury to enjoy, and at the beginning of the night all seems well. However, as the night wears on, Chongyun can’t help the nagging feeling of something bad lurking in the shadows beyond the camp. He sleeps lightly, and his gut is proven right when the first alarmed cry wakes him from his light sleep. Though he’s never heard of a sleep-paralysis demon before, he is all-too familiar with evil spirits who torment those in their sleep back in Liyue, and it takes little effort for him to slip into his exorcist’s mindset. He’s not afraid to grab his claymore and swing it at a sleep-paralysis demon if he sees one.]

Begone from this place, evil spirit! From whence you came!

[It’s fortunate that he’s a cognitive mage on top of being an exorcist, so as he waits for the dreamwalking ritual to be completed, he turns to the closest person nearby.]

We will all need to be careful. Evil spirits of this nature are difficult beings, and will employ every trick they know to try and overpower us. I will need your assistance while I work to free these people from their torment.

[[OoC: If you would like Chongyun to enter your character’s dream, feel free to set up a dreamverse! Otherwise, he could use some help being guarded in the physical world while he goes into other people’s dreams.]]

C - Magic Flu (Mild CW for one-sided cognitive projection)
[This magical flu has been quite a problem for many people in Camelot, especially with the idea that it causes spontaneous magic castings. Chongyun had heard of the flu causing issues, but he failed to hear the second part of the flu’s symptoms, which proves to be a bit troublesome as he goes about to the pharmacy for cold medicine.]

[Perhaps your character is going about their day, running errands around town. But as they go about their day, quite suddenly, they will be hit with a Cognitive Magic spell, and an unexpected telepathic message will suddenly be beamed into their mind.]

--goodness, this cold is quite a nuisance… I will have to hurry to the pharmacy to see if they have cold medicine. I hope they still have some, it seems as though many people have been sick lately.

[Those who are keen of mind might be able to connect the sudden message to the snuffling exorcist walking down the street. He doesn’t seem to be aware that he’s broadcasting his thoughts… perhaps let him know?]

D - Wildcard
[If you’d like a custom starter or would like to plan something different out, feel free to PM me here or hit me up on plurk at pocketnoivern!]

Comments

A

[whirlwindthrust]

[ Xiao also had sought out the rarer flowers of Liyue in the past. Thus seeing a quest to retrieve one doesn't seem like it should be out of Xiao's range of capabilities. It's one that may or may not require his spear. Seeing that the young exorcist is going out... Xiao can't help but follow after him. ]

If were easy to get to, there would not be a reason to request others to retrieve it.

[pureyang]

[Normally Chongyun would go on such ventures alone, or at the very least with a friend he knew. But going with the Conquerer of Demons... though he knows to consider him as Xiao and not by his title, it's still a bit of a thrill to be with the yaksha out on this expedition.]

[He stabs the point of his claymore into the ground as he takes a moment to wipe the sweat from his brow.]

I suppose you are right. Perhaps we should get some extra flowers, just in case. Perhaps some could be planted in a less dangerous location.

[whirlwindthrust]

[ It's fine. They can stop for a moment. Xiao doesn't sense danger close by - relying on Blood Magic to detect the lifeforces of others seems to be coming in handy after all - so Chongyun can have his moment. Xiao himself doesn't quite have the stamina he is used to either. ]

That... One would think that such an idea would be ideal. However, one must also stop and think about what it is that permits the plant to grow in this one location and not others.

[pureyang]

[Chongyun looks at Xiao curiously. He brings a hand up to his chin in contemplation.]

I... have not considered that. Would it be more than a habitat reason?

[Conditions for a flower's growth could be replicated. Was there some other reason?]

[whirlwindthrust]

[ To be fair, Xiao doesn't really know the answer to the question. His head tilts to the side slightly as he considers this. ]

Consider the Qingxin. It is simply not possible to find it but in remote locations. One can't exactly reproduce the conditions to grow them in captivity. Even Glaze Lilies that are cultivated instead of wild have their differences, correct? Perhaps it is habitat. Perhaps it is something more. It is difficult to say.

C.

[floatsaway]

[Ochako was no stranger to going out - she normally would do her shopping every few days or so to keep her shelves stocked, and still had to get a decent wardrobe going for the coming winter months. She already got a cute, hooded cloak and some lovely boots, and a hat, but she needed thicker leggings, more sweaters, and lots of socks. The flu she heard about was a bit of a detriment, but she put on a medical face mask in hopes of being a little more protected, and went on her way.

Sadly, a mask isn't exactly going to protect her from invasive thoughts directed right into her head. She blinks, wide-eyed, peering around curiously with her bag of groceries slung over her shoulder (today is going to be a potato and leek soup night), and then spots a somewhat familiar face.]

Oh, it's you--ah! E-Excuse me!! [Waving with her free hand, Ochako approaches.]

[pureyang]

Hm?

[Chongyun blinks owlishly, turning to the voice calling out to him. When he sees who is calling him, he perks up.]

Oh..! It's you... Hello there.

[His spoken words come with an undercurrent of inner dialogue he is unaware that he is sharing.]

This is the healer who helped me when my yang spirit flared up after that ritual! I hope my last interaction with her went well-- my congenial positivity can make me act like such a buffoon at times. It looks like she is doing well, though. I'd better be careful to not make her sick.

[floatsaway]

[H-Healer...? Oh gosh, that's so far off the mark, but not totally incorrect? Ochako laughs a little sheepishly as she gets bombarded with those thoughts, definitely not intended for her to hear, and she clears her throat a bit.]

Y-Yes!! Eheh...hello. Um. [How does she even breach the topic here?] How have you been feeling? It's, um...b-been a while. You're not still suffering from any, um...maladies, are you? Eh...I-I know a particularly bad sickness is going around lately.

[She indicates the mask she's wearing, and the fact she's still talking from a slight distance. Gotta respect the six foot rule, yo.]

[pureyang]

Mm, yes, I'm doing much better after recovering from that ritual. Once the festival was over, they were even able to heal the tattoo I received.

Which is probably for the best. If I were to return home with such a brand, I'm sure my family would have something to say about it, and Xingqiu would no doubt tease me over it.

[Again, more thoughts distributed, clearly unaware. At her question, he tilts his head, snuffling a bit before nodding.]

Ah, yes... I seem to have come down with something of a cold lately. I can't seem to stop sneezing... I was on my way to the pharmacy to get some medicine before it got any worse.

Is that why she's wearing that strange mask? Hm, perhaps I should get one for myself...

[floatsaway]

[Ochako does smile, genuinely smile, for a moment there - she is happy he was able to get fully treated, he looked positively miserable when he got the tattoo - but then she's assailed with his secondary thoughts and her smile wobbles a bit. Lord, this is insanity, and probably some weird breach of privacy or something to boot. Gosh, how does she even start to say he's, uh...literally projecting here?]

ah...e-eheh, that should hopefully work, um. [She clears her throat a little and rubs the back of her head. Now or never--] I don't think what you have may be a normal cold. It's um...I-It--...I mean. Eh.

I can hear your thoughts. Literally hear them in my head.

B

[scriptwriter]

Damn it! Can't a guy get some shut-eye around here without worrying about some monsters?!

[That loud and annoyed voice had belonged to Kotarou as he turns to Chongyun with a set of red claws. It was a good thing that he had discovered his Blood magic or he'd be more helpless right now. He recalled working together with Chongyun before, so it was nice to see a familiar face. He was keeping an eye on the Insomniacs performing their ritual, but he was still getting up to speed on what was going on here.]

So how do you plan on helping these people getting preyed on? We've got a lot of sleeping bodies to get through!

[pureyang]

[Chongyun is glad to see a familiar face as well. He had enjoyed working with Kotarou before, and is happy to have an ally he can depend on while he works. He brings a hand up to his chin as he thinks.]

Well, it seems as though the ones who are still sleeping are trapped there by the evil spirits. According to the ones preparing the ritual, cognitive mages can dive into the dreams of those sleeping here and help wake them up. A situation like this requires a two-pronged approach; going into the dreams of those sleeping to wake them from the inside, and fighting the evil spirits from the outside.

Since I am a cognitive mage, I will be able to dive into the dreams of those trapped in sleep. But even with my pure-yang spirit, I will be a vulnerable target while I work. So I will require your assistance in fending off any evil spirits who try to interrupt us.

[Unlike the last time they worked together, Chongyun sounds wholly confident, taking the charge in this matter. Like he's finally in his wheelhouse and confident in his approach.]

[scriptwriter]

[He could certainly tell as Chongyun was talking to him. Compared to the sheep, Chongyun was making this sound like a cakewalk which was making Kotarou feel a little more comfortable with all of this in turn. It was almost enough to make Kotarou snort whenever he thinks back to how much they were struggling with cutting the fur off sheep. Not that he's expecting this to be very easy either...]

A double team effort, huh? This feels like a step up from herding sheep of all things. [If that was a two star quest, then Kotarou felt like this was a four star.] But at least we aren't alone this time! Looks like there's some other cognitive mages who can lend us a hand here.

[He gestures a hand over to some of the cognitive mages who were getting started with the dream diving process. Whenever it came to physical combat, Kotarou had some experience here. These demons didn't seem super strong, but he knew that they couldn't let their guard down.]

Though that does raise a question... How long do you think it's gonna wake to wake someone up? These dreams have to vary, right? Plus I'm guessing that mental fortitude might be another factor in all of this. Some dreams can be deeper than others for people.

[pureyang]

[The mention of the sheep is what finally makes Chongyun look a little sheepish, rubbing the back of his head briefly.]

Ah, yes... well, I come from a long line of respected exorcists, so dealing with evil spirits is more familiar than dealing with sheep.

[But after a brief clearing of his throat, he nods and looks to the other mages.]

On that, I am not sure. it could vary from person to person, and from dream to dream. I could be busy for a few minutes, or even up to an hour... it's hard to say without prior experience, but I do not think anyone here has this kind of experience.

[He turns back to Kotarou.]

I think the process of waking the sleepers will not be the biggest concern. I think the biggest issue we have to contend with is the evil spirits who could attack us while we work. Normally, such a thing wouldn't even be a concern for me, given that my pure-yang spirit naturally repels evil spirits, but I am not sure how effective it is here.

[His Vision powers and his exorcism talents haven't worked since coming here, so it is hard to say if his congenial positivity still has its spirit-repelling powers here or not.]

[scriptwriter]

You're braver than I thought! Honestly, I don't do very good whenever I'm having to deal with ghosts. I tend to piss myself in terror whenever I see one...

[Kotarou says this with an awkward little smile, but it says a lot that he's still here in the middle of the action. He's definitely freaking out, but he'd be more ashamed if he didn't do anything to help.]

Is that right? So that means that you're working on half capacity here. Guess it's a good thing that I've got some experience with fighting UMAs. These little critters remind me of some that I used to chase around in the forest whenever I was younger.

[Still, he decides to give Chongyun a small pat on the back. He definitely puts more faith in Chongyun than the other cognitive mages since it looks like he knows what he's talking about here. His passion for handling this situation made Kotarou want to lend him a hand even more.]

Don't worry, little buddy. I'll protect you from these guys. Just pick a body and let the slightly cool and humble Tennouji Kotarou-sama handle the rest!

[Who in the world calls themselves both cool and humble in the same sentence? This guy.]

C

[rotacalamitas]

[They say a good healer can take care of the magical flu. Thankfully, despite his bad luck, Bennett is a good healer!

...unfortunately, thanks to that same bad luck, Bennett himself had also caught the flu. It was pretty hard to cure yourself when the flu is messing with your magical abilities! and so Bennett walked the streets, hoping to find a clinic that could cure him.

Cue his shock when a message suddenly gets beamed into his head without warning. He jumps, alarmed.]

H-huh? Where'd that come fr... fr... frAAHH-CHOO!

[Out comes a sudden flu-induced sneeze, except instead of saliva and mucus, it's a fireball. Watch out, Chongyun, it might be coming for you.]

[pureyang]

[Chongyun doesn't hear the sneeze, but he sure does hear the whoosh of fire erupting. He turns around just in time to see the fireball coming right for him.]

Ah--!!

[He's fortunately quick enough that he's able to dart to the side, the fireball missing him. But he's close enough to feel the heat of it as it passes by. More thoughts beam into Bennett's head.]

W-Where did that fireball come from?!

[rotacalamitas]

[Wait... Bennett recognizes that voice! Sadly, the recognition does nothing to soothe the alarm he feels. If anything, it only makes it worse.]

Ch-Chongyun?! How are you inside my head?

[This is weird and unusual and kind of terrifying, how does he host his friend inside his head??]

[pureyang]

Huh?

[Chongyun heard that cry of his name, and he turns to look down the street. His face lights up in recognition when he sees who it is.]

Oh, Bennett. Did you see that fireball..?

[Wait a second.]

Huh..? Inside your head?

[And unbidden, thoughts are beamed into Bennett's mind.]

Is Bennett hallucinating? Was he affected by that fireball? By an evil spirit?? I believe there was something about demons who could affect one's mind in the Field Guide to Demons and Beasts...

[rotacalamitas]

Field Guide to Demons and Beasts...?

[Is there such a thing? It almost sounds made up, but if anyone would know something about that, it's definitely Chongyun.]

Haha, that sounds like something you'd read, for s... sh...

[uh-oh, here it comes.]

sHAAAH-CHOO!

[Another loud sneeze, this one stirring up powerful winds. Hope Chongyun isn't holding onto anything that could get blown away!]

A

[themogget]

Hmm.

[The person with Chongyun is not a cat, but rather a young and quite human-looking male with pale skin, white hair and vibrantly green eyes with cat-like pupils. He only stands at around five feet two inches tall and doesn't carry any weapons, but has been keeping up with the boy for the duration of the excursion so far.]

If the plants are all there was to worry about, this wouldn't be a very dangerous mission.

[You can fend off most plants with fire, after all, and didn't people here have elemental magic? Mogget tips his head to one side thoughtfully.]

Someone or something doesn't want anyone finding them.

[pureyang]

[The person who had accompanied Chongyun is definitely a curious one, but it's not like Chongyun was an expert at analyzing other people. The height isn't overly suspicious -- Chongyun is five feet four inches himself -- but the lack of weapons is surprising, especially so far out here. Perhaps he has skills that do not rely on weapon usage?]

[Still, the exorcist nods, looking down at the torn-up net he'd just cut in half.]

That seems to be the case, yes. As for why, I cannot say. I do not know if it is the work of evil spirits, or the work of some other group who do not wish for us to find the cure.

[themogget]

More likely to be fae than spirits, here. [The pale youth says thoughtfully, stepping carefully over a slender fallen tree blocking his path and then tugging the fabric of his scarf a little higher around his ears and jaw line.

His slit pupils dilate slightly as they focus on the route ahead.]

The naiads would have reason to keep us from finding it, no? But I wouldn't expect to find them this far from water.

[Hmm...]

[pureyang]

The fae... I am afraid I am not as well-versed in encountering them.

[Right, the fae were a thing in this world. They were not as common in Liyue, and much of the supernatural happenstances were due to malignant spirits instead of trickster fae. It seems as though this pale youth is more familiar with them, then.]

Hmm... perhaps another type of fae? Could the naiads be working with another faction of fae creatures?

[themogget]

[He gives a dainty little shrug of his slim shoulders.]

There's no reason to not believe that different factions of the fae might collaborate to get in our way.

[Mogget pauses a moment then, his eyes narrowing slightly as he gazes off ahead of them. He sniffs, still possessed of his feline sense of smell even in his form, and then stops, holding his hand out for Chongyun to do the same.]

Hear that? [There is nothing to hear. Everything around them has gone oddly silent.] Listen.