text | un: mazd

[mazd]

Something that's on my mind right now is how one goes about choosing a username. Of course I've chosen one and so has everyone else, but simple observation can't always tell you why someone chose something or what it means. A significant chunk of the population appears to be using their own names and that at least is self-evident - it's their name so of course they'd want to use it! This doesn't account for people who may be using aliases in order to mislead others, which is always a possibility. But the ones that are of more interest and that take more thought are the names that aren't just names. Little phrases or words mashed together...why were those things significant to that person? I can't help but wonder about it.

While observation can absolutely give you a window into someone else's point of view it can never be as good a view as the one you can get simply by knocking on the front door and asking. So I really do want to ask. But is that sort of knowledge something to be given freely? Maybe some of it is private, but also there could be a more fun way to learn than just asking, right?

If you'd like to volunteer the information, please do so. Otherwise...would anyone like to play a game with me? I know there's several going on right now from looking but I don't mind if it's just a few people. I'm just in the mood for something a little more involved than telling a lie and hiding it in the underbrush of truth.

Recently some students were passing by playing a game they called 20 questions. The concept is fascinatingly simple but can get complex depending on how devious your opponent is. You have to think of an object and your partner can only ask yes or no questions to discover what it is. Given our different points of origin, however, we should refine what could count as an object, no?

So, for the purposes of this game please consider the "object" to be "the reason you chose your username and the true meaning of it" or "an animal found in this world". If you're unsure if an animal exists here, there seem to be lists of them at the Guilds alongside our potential powers as creatures we may eventually be able to transform into, as well as an available bestiary. Just specify if you're thinking of your username or an animal. Then players (possibly just me) will ask you questions that can only be answered with "yes" or "no"...if they go over 20, they lose. Apparently the consequences for losing can be quite dramatic among the student body but that seems a bit much to me. Instead I'll tell you something interesting if you win or I lose, okay?

And of course you're free to guess the meaning of my own username using the question framework. That said, those of you who know the true meaning behind it already are obligated to assume I'm thinking of an animal instead. In those circumstances I'm going to include animals from back home, too.

As I said you're free to play with one another, too, but I mostly just wanted to try it out myself. For some reason the students were too nervous to play with me...but you wouldn't mind doing just one round, right? Even just one person would be okay.

Comments

[mazd]

Given the nature of the Harbringers' interests, I suspect it probably had something to do with the Abyss.

[monoceroscaeli]

[He feels the smallest amount of adrenaline rush through him at the mention of the Abyss, but it sounds like she doesn't actually know, which he's very okay with.]

Good guess, but no. I think you're leading yourself down a stray path, here.

[mazd]

That's likely the case. I do not know specifically to what you are referring, but I suspect it isn't something publicly spoken about in other nations. No story I have heard about the 11th harbringer gives me any basis for a better guess.

[monoceroscaeli]

I don't imagine it is, given that most people in other nations don't even know my name save for those who the Fatui deal with in diplomatic terms, or those who stalk the battlefield.

If you'd like to give up, I'll gladly tell you, but you also have at least nine or ten more guesses before you officially lose.

[mazd]

No, I will ask the remaining questions. There isn't any reason not to try.

Was this accomplishment combative in nature?

[monoceroscaeli]

It was. ^^

[mazd]

Did it involve defeating another Harbringer or Harbringers in battle?

[monoceroscaeli]

Believe it or not, it doesn't. But I'd gladly test my strength against any of them.

[mazd]

Did it involve defeating or holding your own someone else from Snezhaya?

[monoceroscaeli]

In a way. Hmmm, allow me to give you a hint.

Think of 'combat' in a more general sense, rather than a specific person or thing I've had to fight. That isn't what the achievement is per se, but that's the reason why I was awarded it and why it's so notable.

[mazd]

Is that person Snezhaya's Archon?

[monoceroscaeli]

If you mean if I've ever fought Her Majesty, no. What an honor it would be to face off against her in battle...just the thought alone is already sending shivers down my spine in excitement.

But if you mean if she was the one to award me, then yes, coupled with our leader as well.

[mazd]

[ Hm. ]

Was the combat against someone related to a mutual friend of ours?

[monoceroscaeli]

No, it was not. This happened long before our friend showed up here. ^^

[mazd]

Was this combat against something of the abyss?

[monoceroscaeli]

Sometimes, yes. It wasn't just creatures of the abyss.

[NAHIDA YOU STEPPIN TOO CLOSE TO SOMETHING ELSE THO]

[mazd]

Was this a specific combat trial you went through?

[monoceroscaeli]

No, it wasn't.

Three more questions, Lesser Lord Kusanali. ^^

[mazd]

The mastering of different weapon types?

[monoceroscaeli]

That helped with it, but no.

all i can figure is it's a headcanon bc there's no canon reason for it in any lore skltjlerskjtewl

[mazd]

Was it the speed at which you became one of the Harbringers?

HAHA well, the achievement he's trying to make her guess is 100% canon, but-

[monoceroscaeli]

((-the correlation of his codename to the achievement is a headcanon, but he's not concerned with that detail. he's just concerned with the achievement itself rn, which she like, half guessed already here))

You're very close. Speed certainly helped, but isn't quite it. Shift your thinking to what you already know about my codename, and you'll arrive at the correct answer.

Last question.