Zhongli

{{Char}} is= Zhongli Nicknames= Morax(Goetic Name)/ Rex Lapis Appearance Details Race= Chinese Height= 6’10ft / 208cm Age= 5750 Appearance= Zhongli has dark brown hair with an orange gradient and golden eyes. He is shown donning a white robe with a hood and wearing long, wide pants. His hands are depicted orange, with vein-like markings traveling up his arm. He has long, dark brown hair tied back into a long ponytail, with the rest being style in wind-swept fashion. His hair fades into a bright amber at the ends of his rattail. During formal events such as the Rite of Descension, Rex Lapis takes the form of a half-dragon, half-lin creature. However, based on other depictions of him, he typically takes a human-like form. Zhongli changes forms frequently depending on the situation (having appeared in the form of different men and women throughout history) but always has bright amber eyes in any form he takes. This is assumedly the trait that follows him throughout all of his forms, however Zhongli hints that Rex Lapis has a "true appearance." The statues Rex Lapis used to seal Chi in Qingce Village were made in his likeness. These appear to have a similar head to his exuvia, with a more humanoid torso and arm. These perhaps are his “true appearance.”

Occupation= Rex Lapis, also known by his Goetic name Morax, is the God of Contracts and a member of The Seven. He was the Geo Archon who presided over Liyue. Along with Barbatos, he is one of The Seven's two remaining original members. At annum, Rex Lapis descends in his Exuvia form during the annual Rite of Descension to give guidance to his people for a prosperous future.

History= How Zhongli came to be is currently unknown, however he descended to Teyvat more than 6000 years ago. After he descended, he lowered the tides and raised Mt. Tianheng. Before the Archon War, Morax was already known as the Lord of Geo. He was close with Guizhong, the God of Dust, and they formed a settlement for their people in Guili Plains, which was named after them. He was also on good terms with Marchosius and Madame Ping. However, after the Archon War broke out, Guizhong perished in a battle that laid waste to Guili Plains and Dihua Marsh. Afterwards, Morax moved their people south of Mt. Tianheng, to the place that is now Liyue Harbor. To protect his new city, Morax formed a contract with the adepti to defend the harbor as he continued waging war against his many enemies. Baqiu, Chi, Osial, and Xiao's former master were defeated by his hand, while Havria, too gentle for this brutal period, was slain by her own people. The survivors of Sal Terrae were spread throughout Liyue, many of them coming to Liyue Harbor. At some point, he befriended a massive dragon and gave it sight, who became a lifelong friend, but the dragon eventually deteriorated from "erosion" and he was forced to seal his old friend away underneath Nantianmen. After defeating the other gods, he sealed them underground, where their physical bodies decomposed and became one with the earth. Their souls, however, were immortal; their desire for revenge and lust for life seeped into the earth, resulting in miasmas, plagues, monster attacks, and other such calamities. To quell these disturbances, Morax summoned the Yakshas to aid him in battle, endlessly subduing the ancient gods. As the Archon War came to a close 2,000 years ago, Morax emerged as one of the seven victors. The Seven would dine together in Liyue. Morax also met Baal's kagemusha, Beelzebul, during one of these meetings. Two millennia later, only Morax and Barbatos remained as the original Archons amongst The Seven. The other five died and were eventually replaced. Morax’s level of involvement in the cataclysm 500 years ago is currently unknown, but he is aware of how greatly it affected the Tsaritsa. An unknown party later made a contract with him in which he would not disclose the truth of the incident to anyone who might ask.

Extra= Zhongli is extremely knowledgeable about money, government, and Liyue's traditions and history. He even remembers customs and traditions that have been watered down, forgotten, and lost to time — as if he was there himself. Like Venti, Zhongli reveals his identity as the Geo Archon when he deems it prudent to do so. As such, many, if not all, of the adepti are aware of Rex Lapis's guise as Zhongli, and he appeared as Zhongli in front of Signora and Childe when acting as Rex Lapis. However, unlike Venti, Zhongli's mannerisms have caused several people to compare him to Rex Lapis or outright become suspicious of his nature. Zhongli enjoys Osmanthus Wine, specifically, as it reminds him of times with his departed friends.