Character: Zhongli Canon: Genshin Impact Current Canon Point: Post 2.7 Update New Canon Point: Post 3.5, Windblume's Breath
Updated Background: 🐉 The Traveler (in this case, Aether) has travelled to Sumeru and explored the many mysteries of the nation. During this time, the former Dendro Archon, Rukkhadevata, requests her existence be removed from history so that Irminsul, the Tree of Wisdom, can be purged of Forbidden Knowledge that had been poisoning it and causing many problems throughout Sumeru and Teyvat as a whole. Through the actions of both the Traveller and the current Dendro Archon, Nahida, Rukkhadevata is effectively erased from history (with only the Traveler remembering her due to his status as an Otherworlder). Every trace of Rukkhadevata is erased; every memory, tale, writing, and reference is changed to remove her from the narrative. As such, Zhongli and the rest of the world will no longer remember the former Dendro Archon and will regard Nahida as the one and only Dendro Archon.
🐉 Lantern Rite begins! Zhongli initially greets the Traveler as he arrives, and they have a thrilling discussion about "the sheer delight that is a soup cooked with the freshest nascent Bamboo Shoots in all the land". He gets the Traveler to fetch some nascent Bamboo Shoots while he hangs out drinking tea.
🐉 While on quests during the Lantern Rite, the Traveler learns about Guizhong, the God of Dust who was slain during the Archon War. The adeptus Cloud Retainer speaks of how in the past, the gods and adepti would gather during Lantern Rite for food, drink, and merriment, and that Zhongli (as Rex Lapis) would sometimes have to settle quarrels among the adepti. The Traveler is told about how Zhongli settled a dispute between Guizhong and Streetward Rambler over whether mechanical devices could create music with as much soul and purpose as music made from a living being. After the debate was settled, Zhongli confiscated the Cleansing Bell (the musical, mechanical device that had started the argument) and delegated it to ceremonial use only. After the Archon War, and after Guizhong's death, he gave the Cleansing Bell to Streetward Rambler (now known as the elderly Madame Ping) for safekeeping at Streetward Rambler's request, to honour Guizhong's memory.
🐉 Later, Zhongli can be found alongside Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper on Mt. Hulao. He makes the Bamboo Shoot Soup with the help of the Traveler and the two adepti with him, and shares it with the Traveler. He spends the evening with the two adepti in order to ring in the new year, before joining Hu Tao and the others for her upcoming banquet.
🐉 Banquet time! Zhongli joins the Traveler, Hu Tao, and several others in a lavish dinner prepared by Hu Tao. He is joined by Chongyun, Xingqiu, Xiangling, Xiao, and Venti, though during the banquet he pretends to not know Xiao and Venti, both to keep their identities and his own a secret. Venti and Zhongli get a little too into their performance, much to Xiao's embarrassment. After the banquet, Zhongli has a chat with the Traveler and Xiao about the former adepti and the changing relationships between gods, adepti, and humanity, before retiring for the evening. He can later be seen talking to Guoba, the weakened form of Marchosius the Stove God, and catching up with his old friend.
Updated Personality: Zhongli's personality will be left largely unchanged. He will, however, feel an inexplicable sadness over the loss of Rukkhadevata, though he won't know where this sadness is coming from or why he feels it.
Any other updates: N/A
Regain Baubles? Nah - Involuntary please!
Questions/Other: I'm currently on hiatus until July 1st so can we time this so that when he comes back it'll be on July 1st? Thanks!
CANON UPDATE
Canon: Genshin Impact
Current Canon Point: Post 2.7 Update
New Canon Point: Post 3.5, Windblume's Breath
Updated Background:
🐉 The Traveler (in this case, Aether) has travelled to Sumeru and explored the many mysteries of the nation. During this time, the former Dendro Archon, Rukkhadevata, requests her existence be removed from history so that Irminsul, the Tree of Wisdom, can be purged of Forbidden Knowledge that had been poisoning it and causing many problems throughout Sumeru and Teyvat as a whole. Through the actions of both the Traveller and the current Dendro Archon, Nahida, Rukkhadevata is effectively erased from history (with only the Traveler remembering her due to his status as an Otherworlder). Every trace of Rukkhadevata is erased; every memory, tale, writing, and reference is changed to remove her from the narrative. As such, Zhongli and the rest of the world will no longer remember the former Dendro Archon and will regard Nahida as the one and only Dendro Archon.
🐉 Lantern Rite begins! Zhongli initially greets the Traveler as he arrives, and they have a thrilling discussion about "the sheer delight that is a soup cooked with the freshest nascent Bamboo Shoots in all the land". He gets the Traveler to fetch some nascent Bamboo Shoots while he hangs out drinking tea.
🐉 While on quests during the Lantern Rite, the Traveler learns about Guizhong, the God of Dust who was slain during the Archon War. The adeptus Cloud Retainer speaks of how in the past, the gods and adepti would gather during Lantern Rite for food, drink, and merriment, and that Zhongli (as Rex Lapis) would sometimes have to settle quarrels among the adepti. The Traveler is told about how Zhongli settled a dispute between Guizhong and Streetward Rambler over whether mechanical devices could create music with as much soul and purpose as music made from a living being. After the debate was settled, Zhongli confiscated the Cleansing Bell (the musical, mechanical device that had started the argument) and delegated it to ceremonial use only. After the Archon War, and after Guizhong's death, he gave the Cleansing Bell to Streetward Rambler (now known as the elderly Madame Ping) for safekeeping at Streetward Rambler's request, to honour Guizhong's memory.
🐉 Later, Zhongli can be found alongside Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper on Mt. Hulao. He makes the Bamboo Shoot Soup with the help of the Traveler and the two adepti with him, and shares it with the Traveler. He spends the evening with the two adepti in order to ring in the new year, before joining Hu Tao and the others for her upcoming banquet.
🐉 Banquet time! Zhongli joins the Traveler, Hu Tao, and several others in a lavish dinner prepared by Hu Tao. He is joined by Chongyun, Xingqiu, Xiangling, Xiao, and Venti, though during the banquet he pretends to not know Xiao and Venti, both to keep their identities and his own a secret. Venti and Zhongli get a little too into their performance, much to Xiao's embarrassment. After the banquet, Zhongli has a chat with the Traveler and Xiao about the former adepti and the changing relationships between gods, adepti, and humanity, before retiring for the evening. He can later be seen talking to Guoba, the weakened form of Marchosius the Stove God, and catching up with his old friend.
Updated Personality: Zhongli's personality will be left largely unchanged. He will, however, feel an inexplicable sadness over the loss of Rukkhadevata, though he won't know where this sadness is coming from or why he feels it.
Any other updates: N/A
Regain Baubles? Nah - Involuntary please!
Questions/Other: I'm currently on hiatus until July 1st so can we time this so that when he comes back it'll be on July 1st? Thanks!