#untitled shenhe game

[canonical-transformation]

No untitled Shenhe game for the next day or two. In the meantime, have some Tumblr posts from an alternate universe.

(pt 2)

[canonical-transformation]

You have way more GM'ing experience than me, how hard could a oneshot campaign be? :3

on one hand I have no idea where it would go and am not willing to commit without at least an end-goal. on the other hand I'm re-reading @canonical-transformation's untitled shenhe game and the line "it is a beautiful day in Mondstadt, and you are an adorable Klee" won't leave my head

[narcoticwriter]

Alright, let's have a spin at this whole thing...

Inspired by @canonical-transformation and the titled 'Untitled Shenhe Game'. Check it out, it's quite good.

You are a Name Engraver and you are currently in your workshop. You have just finished a commission that you've been putting off for some time.

After the fact, you are very sleepy and you are about to settle in for a nice mid-afternoon nap.

[fishareglorious]

UNTITLED SHENHE GAME IS ON AO3?????!?!?!! SPLENDID!

[canonical-transformation]

(first | previous | #untitled shenhe game)

That is plenty of meditation. You have done so much meditation and you are a good disciple and now it is time to do cooking things again.

> take Stock

You approach the Acceptable Cuisine Machine and open the lid.

The aroma of formerly alive pigeon suffuses the air.

There is Fowl Stock. So much Fowl Stock. It is the perfect temperature and the perfect level of umami.

Good work, Shenhe. All the ingredients are ready.

It is time to make Heartstring Noodles.

> make your signature dish

You transfer some of the Fowl Stock to a cookpot, and move it to the stove.

...odd. The stove flame is not quite as hot as before.

“I wasn't sure how long you'd be, so I turned the heat down,” says Yun Jin apologetically.

“Acceptable,” you say. You turn the heat up again.

> cook

[followfire]

I'm having a sudden flashback about @canonical-transformation's Untitled Shenhe Game, this is actually exactly how I imagined Shenhe

So the word Genshin sounds a lot like the polish word Gęsi meanig Geese... I drew them for a friend and might as well share here.

I know nothing about the game though

[canonical-transformation]

(first | previous | #untitled shenhe game)

You move the frying pan with the Boar bacon to the side, where it is no longer at risk of burning.

You may be a murderer and a multiple times winner of the Millelith “aggravated assault” award(*), but you are no fool.

> take stock

All is going well.

The Boar Bacon (Uncured) is cooked and caramelised. The Mushrooms are chopped, as are the various vegetables. The Noodles have been sliced thinner than the hairs on a dragon's beard.

Now you just need to patiently wait for the Fowl Stock to be ready.

> This is pleasing.

...well, yes, but that was meant more as a warning.

Shenhe, you have no way of knowing this(†), but the Stock is nearly ready. It will be ready in three polls' time, which is approximately one minute. First there will be this poll. Then another. Then one more. After that, the Stock will be ready and it will be time to make your signature dish.

Yet even now, your calamitous nature tempts you to peek at the Fowl Stock once again, even though it is a whole minute too early.

So. Just as a reminder...

Cons of peeking at the Fowl Stock before it's ready:

You will get steam in your hair

The Machine will make angry bird noises

You will feel very embarrassed

The Stock will be just fine but your hair will be slightly damp

Pros of peeking at the Fowl Stock before it's ready:

Less waiting. Waiting is silly and inefficient.

Peeking is knowledge. Knowledge is power.

Shenhe. The very next poll will be a final test of your self control. You will have the choice to see the results of the Stock. Do you understand what you must do?

(* fine)

(† The Acceptable Cuisine Machine does not say how long is left, because that knowledge is not for mortals to know.)

> It's nearly time to make Heartstring Noodles.

[canonical-transformation]

(previously | #untitled shenhe game)

> the child is gone. kill the pigeon.

“Ma'am, are you alright?” repeats the guard.

The child's innocence — the crafty, deceitful slander-child's innocence — is no longer at risk.

You hold out the panicking pigeon and snap its neck.

It is done.

The pigeon's death was painless.

The child was not traumatised.

You are a model citizen.

The guard makes a gagging noise. “What in the abyss...”

> take stock

You evaluate the situation.

Your name is Shenhe. Your friend Yun Jin is coming over for dinner in five hours. Your “signature dish” requires Noodles, Fowl Stock, Mushrooms, and Boar Meat.

You are on your belly on the steps of Bubu Pharmacy, holding a pigeon carcass.

> take stock

You only need the pigeon's bones for the Fowl Stock.

You could proceed to pluck and carve the pigeon methodically. This will take time, but perhaps you could barter the excess meat for other ingredients.

Or you could debone the pigeon efficiently. Be warned: the ensuing splatter might soil your clothes.

“Ma'am, what are you doing?” says the guard.

It is pragmatic to butcher and converse at the same time. However, it may be considered impolite. You are not sure.

The following update will be a vote for dialogue options. (preview)

(next)

[canonical-transformation]

Your name is Shenhe. You are a normal human being.

Your friend Yun Jin is coming over for dinner in six hours. You do not have any food.

> ask Xiangling for advice

(table of contents)

[canonical-transformation]

(first | previous | #untitled Shenhe game)

> explain that you are making Noodles

“I am making Noodles,” you say. (You pause in case Yun Jin wishes to interject. When she does not, you continue:) “It is a dish I remember from a long time ago.”

You tell her how in the times before, you ate a bowl of noodles. You do not remember who made the bowl of noodles for you, nor how they were made. But you have never forgotten the taste.

(Sometimes you wanted to forget. Other times you clung to the memory like a liferaft.)

Since coming to Liyue Harbour, you have been trying to recreate the dish. The process was frustrating at times, but you are pleased with how far you've come.

Yun Jin listens, fascinated. “That's beautiful,” she says.

You are not sure you understand, but that is fine. Yun Jin often declares things beautiful for no explicable reason, much like Xiangling declares things edible. This is just what artists are like.

> fry Boar bacon

[canonical-transformation]

(first | previous | #untitled shenhe game)

How considerate of you, Shenhe.

The Dough Slime is not sentient. It is simply a lump of flour and salt and water with big round eyes.

But you are no heartless killer. You have grown since moving to Liyue Harbour. You understand that everyone, even this Dough Slime, deserves a moment of dignity before being sliced into very thin ribbons.

> give the Dough slime its last rites

You approach the Dough Slime.

Does it feel fear, perhaps, knowing it will soon become noodles?

No. It doesn't. What a silly question.

> coo soothingly like a bird

[canonical-transformation]

(first | previous | #untitled shenhe game)

> open the door and loudly shout, “I have no Mora!”

A shrewd strategem, Shenhe. Just as the bright colours of poisonous frogs warn predators away, a display of penury will surely send Yanfei and/or the Hu lady fleeing, lest you infect them with pro bono work.

You burst through the door and shout at the top of your lungs:

"I have no Mora!"

This is a lie. In terms of Mora, you have Mora. But the point is to intimidate them. This is surely enough to send Yanfei or the Hu lady running...

...but wait. You do not see them.

How strange.

You look around.

Yun Jin is there.

...

> ??!?

She is standing off to the side, well out of the trajectory of any spears you might have considered flinging through the door.

Yun Jin looks up. "Oh, it's you! I didn't see you there," she says brightly. "Nor hear you.

(continued)

[canonical-transformation]

(first | previous | #untitled shenhe game)

> explain that you are being taken to Bubu Pharmacy against your will

You explain the situation to the Hu lady: that you are making noodles for dinner, that you have three out of four main ingredients, and that Qiqi is forcing you to take an inefficient and silly detour.

As you say all this, the Hu lady squeezes her way out of the window. She falls headfirst into a bush, then picks herself up, readjusts her hat, and joins you and Qiqi. She smells faintly fungal.

“Qiqi, have you become a kidnapper? Good gracious, you've grown up so fast!” She sniffles and wipes her eyes. “I'm proud of you.”

“Go away, Hu Tao,” Qiqi says, in a voice that is definitely cold. “Or I will hit you.”

The Hu lady strolls alongside you both, hands clasped behind her back. “Don't worry,” she tells you, “she only hits me when I get a teeeeensy bit closer. Isn't that right, Qiqi?”

“Go away, Hu Tao.”

“Please rescue me,” you say at an appropriate speaking volume.

“Hey now, no need to shout! As for my help... I dunno, Miss Shenhe. I feel like the situation is more nuanced than it looks.”

“It is not nuanced,” you refute. “I am being abducted during my grocery shopping.”

“So you say. But what you're up to some sort of scheme? Imagine that: little ol' me, aiding and abetting mischief.” The Hu lady shudders. “Heck, Wangsheng's reputation would never recover!”

“I am not scheming,” you assure her.

“I'll tell you what, Miss Shenhe. I like you. I want to believe you. Convince me of the goodness of your heart, and I'll help you out. All you have to do is answer my riddles three.

(Multi-choice: multiple popular options may be picked.)

> answer the first riddle

[canonical-transformation]

(first | previous | #untitled shenhe game )

> say yes but you are no hero

It is true that you fought Beisht and drove the ancient god away from Liyue Harbour.

“Yes,” you say, “but I am no hero.”

You weren't trying to be a hero. You were simply protecting people you cared about.

Some of your friends have disagreed with you on this. Yun Jin said that a hero is defined not by their motivations but by the difficulties they overcome. Yanfei said that there's no legal definition of heroism so arguing over it is pointless.

No matter. You know what you know:

“I am simply a human like any other.”

The woman in the gray hooded cloak tilts her head. She seems to be thinking this over.

“That's very enlightened of you,” she eventually says. “Still, it's an honour to meet someone as formidable as you.” She motions towards the dead Fatuus. “May I take his badge?”

“Yes,” you say. (She likely wants it for the Tianquan's recycling program, in which Fatui soldiers' badges can be traded in for a thousand Mora each. The Tianquan is very environmentally conscious.)

“Thank you,” she says, and begins rifling through his clothes. “Miss, may I trouble you for your help with something?”

“I am busy,” you reply. “I am making noodle soup, so I am hunting for Boar Meat.”

“Really? I can get you some Boar Meat.”

“I would prefer to hunt my own kill.”

“Oh. I see. It's just, please, my research has stalled and... Is there anything I can do for you? Would you like arrows? Or some Hunting Traps?”

Hunting Traps might be useful. When used correctly, they can result in additional meat at a higher quality. Nobody is quite sure how this works.

“The local boars are really aggressive,” the woman adds. “Even with your prowess, I wouldn't recommend getting into a brawl with one. It's too risky. One of my boys got knocked off a cliff by a boar just the other day.”

(You are aware of the risks. Cloud Retainer once told you a precautionary tale about this exact thing happening to Xiao.)

(Multi-choice: multiple popular options may be picked.)

> offer to trade Fowl bits; ask what she wants help with; go challenge the boar

[canonical-transformation]

(first | previous | #untitled shenhe game)

Your name is Shenhe. You are a normal human being.

It is late afternoon. Today's date is unimportant. In two and a half hours your friend Yun Jin will be coming over for dinner.

To make your “signature” noodle soup you must still acquire Mushrooms and Noodles. You have hunted what you can. Now you must go to a store and exchange money for goods.

Perhaps you were procrastinating on this part. You do not like crowds, after all.

> return to Liyue Harbour

You hear the city before you see it, with the clamour of voices and the clatter of footsteps on cobblestone and the clanking of tools.

Arriving at the public park to the north of the city, you make your way down to the pond at Feiyun Slope.

You glance at the steps outside Bubu Pharmacy. The child from earlier is gone.

There is a spectacled man on the steps. He wears loose flowy robes over a comfortable shirt. He is staring at one step in particular, upon which is a pool of dried pigeon blood.

He is frowning and massaging his temples. In your opinion, he seems dissatisfied.

The snake coiled around his neck whispers something into his ear. He turns his head and, spotting you, beckons you over.

“Miss Shenhe,” he calls out. “May I have a word?”

> walk away very quickly

[canonical-transformation]

(first | previous | #untitled shenhe game)

You blink sympathetically. It is unclear whether the woman in green notices.

She sniffles again. An infection?

You check her forehead temperature. She is not feverish.

> ask whether she is sniffling because of allergies or because of crying

“You sound congested,” you say. “Do you perhaps have allergies? Are you crying?”

“I... I'm not crying right now,” she says.

A clever evasion. But you will not be fooled.

“Were you crying earlier?” you ask.

The woman buries her face in her arms and nods. “Yes,” she mumbles. “I was. I've been having a really awful day and I got sad. Is that so bad? Even adventurers in books get sad sometimes.”

Ah. It seems she feels ashamed for crying.

“It is not bad,” you reassure her. Thinking back to the lessons Master taught you in your youth, you continue: “There is no shame in having strong emotions. It is only our response to such emotions that ought be judged.”

The woman nods slowly. “I guess...”

“Did your strong emotions cause the maiming of innocents?” you ask.

“What!? No...”

“Did they cause you to disrupt a master artisan deep in thought?”

“Uh...” She blinks. “I don't think so...?”

“Then do not feel bad for crying,” you say.

She parts her lips as if to say something, but no sound escapes them. Instead, tears well up in her eyes.

A minute later, she begins to sob freely.

After a while, the woman looks up at you.

“I'm sorry,” she says. “I'm just complaining and complaining and... What about you? Are you okay? How are you?”

> tell her you vanquished a boar