Character Details

A figure is often spotted at a table in Wangshu Inn, eyes closed and enjoying his afternoon tea. To see a half-adeptus so casually mingling in amoung the mortals is sure to startle any foreigner, however the citizens of Liyue and those who frequent Wangshu Inn know it as a common sight.

Tian Liu is often seen surrounded by Sumeru scholars and those of equal mind. What do they talk about? The weather, of course, and other daily musings. This is of course, a cover to keep deeper and more classified research a secret. Under that reserved demeanor is a sharp mind, but one who doesn't interact with him frequently will think him a fool lost in his own head. The few who can call Tian Liu something along the lines of an accquaintence know that he is interested in what makes the world tick, and desires to know about anything on this plane of existence.

When not found at Wangshu Inn, Tian Liu can often be found out and about in Liyue, taking notes about the natural flora and fauna that resides in the beautiful place he calls home. If asked to share his knowledge, Tian Liu will present his notebook, filled to the brim with detailed drawings and scrawling inked notation. Expressing any awe for his work will result in a very happy and blushing Tian Liu.

Story I

Tian Liu is not a scholar. Or so he tells anyone who asks.

"I enjoy listening to people talk about their passion, that is all." He will whisper, before urging you to join him for a bite of lunch. It is easy to tell that Tian Liu knows quite a bit about anything and everything, though his expertise lies in medicine and alchemy. His knowledge is near unrivaled except, perhaps, by the owner of Bubu Pharmacy and one Chief Alchemist of the Knights of Favonius.

Tian Liu is more than happy to introduce a scholar on any topic you are interested in, even going so far as to arrange meetings and book hotels rooms at the slightest word of mentioned interest. He seems to have contacts from all around Teyvat, but perhaps that is just the product of someone who has lived to see the rise and fall of many civilations.

Story II

"Ah, my sword. I do not use it very often, anymore. I only keep it for sentimental reasons at this point."

The ornate jade blade wrapped with vines is certinaly a relic of the past, and a powerful one at that. If pushed to demonstrate his sword work, Tian Liu will shyly unsheath his sword, mumbling about how out of practice he is.

Then Tian Liu will perform the most beautiful sword work, twisting and turning in a flurry similar to that of a thousand petals raining down from the sky. After such a display, Tian Liu will pat his robes back in place and sheath his sword.

"Was that alright?"

Story III

Despite his current calm and reserved demeanor, Tian Liu was a spitfire of a child. Playful and often loud-mouthed, many adepti and half-adepti alike have been the victim of his pranks. Scolding Tian Liu would result in snot and tears and very quickly he would be let off the hook. It is only after the birth of his younger sibling that Tian Liu's antics finally mellowed. Gone was the hot-headed youth, instead replaced by a fiercely overprotective brother.

Growing up, the two siblings were inseparable. Sure they got into their squabbles and there was also a fair amount of teasing from both ends, but at the end of the day, they were just two sides of the same coin. Even when Tian Liu's younger brother received a vision and Tian Liu himself did not, there was no jealously, just unbridled pride.

Now, the people who can share stories about Tian Liu's youth can be counted on two hands. The ones who can remember his counterpart... Well, that can be counted on one hand alone.

Story IV

When asked about his past, Tian Liu becomes even more quiet than usual. Gone is his smile, instead replaced with a slight frown and furrowed brows. Eventually, after an awkward period of silence, Tian Liu will sigh and begin to tell a story.

"Once there were two dragons, brothers of jade and ruby. For a long time, the two dragons had nothing to do except to play and watch civilaztions grow and the world flourish. However, they were not the only beings that existed, for there was many who were more powerful than the dragon brothers, and they wanted war.

In order to protect their home, the two dragons signed a contract. Bound by it, they fought and fought. Many suffered by their claws, many died from their teeth. They killed and killed until even the jade dragon began to look like ruby, his scales died red by blood.

The dragons fought for a very long time, until one day, the ruby dragon had enough. The ruby dragon hated the senseless slaughter, hated how all of this started because of the greed of a few. The ruby dragon broke his contract, defying the ones that wanted control of an invisible throne. But to break a contract was death, and so, the ruby dragon died.

The jade dragon did not know of the ruby dragon's death, too busy fighting to register the world around him. When the fighting finally came to an end, when the jade dragon rejoiced and looked for his brother, all he found was a crumpled form and a long cold vision.

Swallowed by grief and anger, the jade dragon grew obssessed with trying to bring his brother back to life. He sought knowledge, no, demanded knowledge about everything. He was going to defy the laws of this world and conquer death itself. Try as he might, the jade dragon could not bring his brother back to life. As thousands of years passed by in a blink of an eye, the jade dragon still tries and tries, exhausting every source he knows.

But the jade dragon is tired, and the day is late." Tian Liu will say, finishing off his cup of tea. The smile is now back on his face, albeit small and sad. "Come find me some other time to hear the end of the story."

Story V

Tian Liu's mother is an illuminated beast while his father is but a simple mortal. His parents have since both passed, his father to the flow of time and his mother to a war. Even the one that should have stayed by his side until the end of time has died, leaving only fragments of memories and a bitter longing in Tian Liu's heart for days spent frolicking under the sun and sticky fruit juice covered fingers.

Perhaps this is why Tian Liu is so buried in his research, to try and ease the hurt of a once golden past. Just how long can someone carry the burdens of a thousand years? Just how fast will another thousand years pass, bringing with it fresh wounds and new comforts?

A part of Tian Liu knows that he will never know the answer, but there is a small portion of him that believes an answer will come someday in the near future.

Vision Shell

Things about his brother's pryo vision here

sad things

interesting things

Vision

His Vision does not come while he is fighting in the Archon War, blood splattered down his front and bloodlust in his eyes. His Vision does not come when he rejoices for a war well won, singing the song of glory. His Vision does not come when he is wailing and clutching his brother's lifeless form, urging for warmth to return.

No, his Vision comes on a sleepless night, half buried in ancient scrolls, when he decides that he wants to control life and death itself. At first, Tian Liu doesn't even realize the faintly glowing vision by his side, too lost in reading texts. It is only in a fit of frusteration and exhaustion that causes his desk to explode in a flurry or vines and flowers, his Vision flaring to life alongside his emotions.

Staring at the plant life he had created out of thin air, Tian Liu regards his Vision with new wonder. Yes, that would do, this Vision of his would be a catalyst in his research and experiments. This simple glowing orb in his hands could very well be the thing that unlocked the secrets of everything and anything.

The night two things were born in the world; a new allogene, and an obession.