Most races of my own star only live approximately eighty to a hundred and ten summers. Viera are the only ones that may live upward to two hundred and forty.
Liyue's adepti are...I don't know a lot about them, and they don't much like to speak with humans, but the stories speak of animals with divine knowledge and godlike skills, that fought alongside Rex Lapis in the Archon wars. They do sometimes take on disciples but...I couldn't tell you the criteria.
Alhaitham may have read about it, but I don't think he's been to Liyue much either.
[ G'raha is quiet for a moment, as though he is sifting through his memory. His own knowledge.
It almost sounds like - ]
In the Doma region there are animals that are known to develop a sense of self. The people there consider them somewhat divine in nature and have taken to calling these beings "auspices." At least that would be the closest comparison. I say this but I do not know the criteria either.
Ahh, not as much as I'd like. Sumeru as a nation is large, and most of my work keeps me there. I took a long vacation, some years back, and went on work-study trips when I was still a student, but...I don't think I've left Sumeru since my mother's wedding, in Fontaine.
[Oh this is steering into dangerous waters, g'raha.]
Ah, yes. I suppose if you are an architect, then you would not have reason to leave all that often.
[ Fontaine. The city of justice or something of the like. Interesting that Kaveh would mention his mother's wedding. It does beg the question of Kaveh's father. Perhaps if G'raha had been anything other than Miqo'te, he might have asked. Since the concept of marriage itself is... Well it is a concept for other Spoken, not for his own kind.
It really is more common for male partners to be shared, after all. ]
Is there a particular style that strikes your fancy?
Well, I'd naturally be biased towards Sumeru's architectural styles, wouldn't I? I think of all of them, the classical stone and tile look is probably my favorite...artisans can produce such beautifully intricate designs in the tile work, and the blues and greens that are common in the natural pigments of the country compliment the jungle well. The white granite pops nicely, and is quite durable.
But that isn't to say the styles out in the desert aren't also beautiful...or the style used in Ghandarva Ville, where they largely grow and shape their buildings around the natural forms of trees.
[G'raha what have you done.]
If we're talking about other countries...well, Liyue's buildings are austere and elegant, and the dark woods they favor in construction create a sense of dignity for even smaller houses. Liyue is rich in all kinds of minerals and woods, so they're spoiled for choice when it comes to how the accent their buildings. Fontaine in contrast uses white iron and marble in almost all of the city, and it glows brightly in the sunlight, especially as it reflects off the waters. It can honestly be a little overwhelming, especially on sunny days, and I....do wonder who was responsible for the layout of the city itself, but there is no denying it has a powerful first impression. You should ask Lyney more about it, especially the Opera Epiclese, I'm sure as a performer he knows all kinds of things about the building.
[ Ah. So this is what it feels like when he starts to ramble at someone. It's... More endearing that he would have thought.
Personally, there's not much that he can contribute here. He knows layouts and designs, of course. But outside of anything related to Allag and the Crystarium? His knowledge clearly pales in comparison. ]
Since Lord Kusanali was diminished and reincarnated, the Sages of the Akademiya found her to be...lacking in wisdom, and turned away from her guidance. For five hundred years, they encouraged the pursuit only of things that could said to advance wisdom, by their own standards. Over time, art for the sake of art became valued less and less.
The former Grand Sage, Azar, was particularly prejudiced--I believe mother had said things became harder after he took the position--but we were a nation without dreams, told to only value knowledge, and not beauty. I've never agreed with that, but I was in the minority.
[ There is... Definitely some context missing here. Some of the words and the way that they are strung together doesn't make much sense. ]
What is culture without things like beauty? Art. Music. Much much more. All of this is apparent within every culture. It is so short-sighted to think that wisdom cannot be found there.
[welcome to genshin impact lore, g'raha, we have locked the doors and there's no way out.]
They were obsessed with the idea of technological advancement, I think. The Akasha was a marvel, but nothing like that had been made in Sumeru in five hundred years...
[He makes a small huff.] Well, it's not as though I agree with their outlook to begin with. But without the guidance of our Archon, I suppose Sumeru had lost sight of it's path a long time ago.
The Akasha terminal was...how do I explain this...
[He hums a little, while he thinks.] The Akasha was the repository of all the collated knowledge of everyone in Sumeru. Anything someone learned or thought was recorded, and could be searched up instantly, via a terminal in the ear. It collected our dreams in order to gather this wisdom, and so adults in Sumeru stopped dreaming, for five hundred years.
It was the invention of Lord Kusanali, our archon, before she was diminished and sealed away, and it was her who decided to shut it down and return dreams to the people of Sumeru. The Akasha had become a tool in the Sages oppression of the people, over time, and she believes that there is no singular path to wisdom...thus, the Akasha was not infallible.
Beg pardon... Did I hear you say that your people didn't dream for five hundred years? You realize how unhealthy that must be? That is... Rather difficult to parse.
Well, no, I don't, because I've only had dreams for three months prior to coming here.
[Kaveh do not sass this cat.]
I should clarify, our bodies still ...went through the natural processes of rest and repair as any other soul on Teyvat. But the energy and wisdom produced through our dreams was harvested and used to power the Akasha. The human mind's raw computational power, especially while unconscious, is unparalleled.
[He pauses.] Now, I don't think it was ethical or healthy, the way we came to rely on the Akasha. But Lord Kusanali created it to guide her people while she was so diminished...the Calamity weakened her so much it was as though she died and was reborn as a child. And the sages then...disregarded her, imprisoned her, and turned the Akasha and it's powers to their own ends.
It didn't, for them. We were lucky more people weren't hurt...or killed. But Lord Kusanali is freed, the Akasha is dissolved, and now it's on us to chart a new course for our nation.
She wants us all to be a part of it, the people of the desert and the people of the rainforests both. At least, that's what Alhaitham said she wanted. It seems to be bearing true.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Regardless, this body is twenty and four.
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[Sighing, and scrubbing his face a bit.]
Well, that explains one part. A part of you is younger than I am.
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Alhaitham may have read about it, but I don't think he's been to Liyue much either.
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It almost sounds like - ]
In the Doma region there are animals that are known to develop a sense of self. The people there consider them somewhat divine in nature and have taken to calling these beings "auspices." At least that would be the closest comparison. I say this but I do not know the criteria either.
Have you not traveled much, Kaveh?
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[Oh this is steering into dangerous waters, g'raha.]
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[ Fontaine. The city of justice or something of the like. Interesting that Kaveh would mention his mother's wedding. It does beg the question of Kaveh's father. Perhaps if G'raha had been anything other than Miqo'te, he might have asked. Since the concept of marriage itself is... Well it is a concept for other Spoken, not for his own kind.
It really is more common for male partners to be shared, after all. ]
Is there a particular style that strikes your fancy?
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But that isn't to say the styles out in the desert aren't also beautiful...or the style used in Ghandarva Ville, where they largely grow and shape their buildings around the natural forms of trees.
[G'raha what have you done.]
If we're talking about other countries...well, Liyue's buildings are austere and elegant, and the dark woods they favor in construction create a sense of dignity for even smaller houses. Liyue is rich in all kinds of minerals and woods, so they're spoiled for choice when it comes to how the accent their buildings. Fontaine in contrast uses white iron and marble in almost all of the city, and it glows brightly in the sunlight, especially as it reflects off the waters. It can honestly be a little overwhelming, especially on sunny days, and I....do wonder who was responsible for the layout of the city itself, but there is no denying it has a powerful first impression. You should ask Lyney more about it, especially the Opera Epiclese, I'm sure as a performer he knows all kinds of things about the building.
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Personally, there's not much that he can contribute here. He knows layouts and designs, of course. But outside of anything related to Allag and the Crystarium? His knowledge clearly pales in comparison. ]
You are truly passionate about your craft, Kaveh.
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The former Grand Sage, Azar, was particularly prejudiced--I believe mother had said things became harder after he took the position--but we were a nation without dreams, told to only value knowledge, and not beauty. I've never agreed with that, but I was in the minority.
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What is culture without things like beauty? Art. Music. Much much more. All of this is apparent within every culture. It is so short-sighted to think that wisdom cannot be found there.
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They were obsessed with the idea of technological advancement, I think. The Akasha was a marvel, but nothing like that had been made in Sumeru in five hundred years...
[He makes a small huff.] Well, it's not as though I agree with their outlook to begin with. But without the guidance of our Archon, I suppose Sumeru had lost sight of it's path a long time ago.
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[He hums a little, while he thinks.] The Akasha was the repository of all the collated knowledge of everyone in Sumeru. Anything someone learned or thought was recorded, and could be searched up instantly, via a terminal in the ear. It collected our dreams in order to gather this wisdom, and so adults in Sumeru stopped dreaming, for five hundred years.
It was the invention of Lord Kusanali, our archon, before she was diminished and sealed away, and it was her who decided to shut it down and return dreams to the people of Sumeru. The Akasha had become a tool in the Sages oppression of the people, over time, and she believes that there is no singular path to wisdom...thus, the Akasha was not infallible.
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[Kaveh do not sass this cat.]
I should clarify, our bodies still ...went through the natural processes of rest and repair as any other soul on Teyvat. But the energy and wisdom produced through our dreams was harvested and used to power the Akasha. The human mind's raw computational power, especially while unconscious, is unparalleled.
[He pauses.] Now, I don't think it was ethical or healthy, the way we came to rely on the Akasha. But Lord Kusanali created it to guide her people while she was so diminished...the Calamity weakened her so much it was as though she died and was reborn as a child. And the sages then...disregarded her, imprisoned her, and turned the Akasha and it's powers to their own ends.
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It never ends well. For anyone.
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She wants us all to be a part of it, the people of the desert and the people of the rainforests both. At least, that's what Alhaitham said she wanted. It seems to be bearing true.