Underground Turf War Catch-all! [OTA! Come toplevel!!!]

[baofeng]

Who ⬤ Open to all!
What ⬤ Catch-all log for the Underground Turf War
When ⬤ Throughout April: Dates within
Where ⬤ The Underground
Content Warnings ⬤ Please tag any cws in individual toplevels / threads!




This is a post to facilitate shenanigans regarding the Underground turf war! Feel free to park your toplevels below and tag around!

Summary of what’s going on:
The Underground is the network of subterranean utility / sewer tunnels under the city, previously held by the Kappa tribe. After the April 2022 Event, the Underground has been cleared out by the Department of the Enma and is now mostly unattended.

The Tamamo Clan and Shuten Clan have received orders from their leaders to take over the Underground. Unfortunately, there's two of them and only one Underground, so the two clans are fighting over it. (Tamamo Meeting Log) (Shuten Meeting Log)

The Sutoku Alliance is not willing to fight for the territory, but are intending to work out a deal with whoever wins the turf war to get the kappa back to work. The Department of the Enma is also more interested in investigating the Daitengu’s assassination than the turf war, but that means their Lost Souls can bring popcorn and watch the show. (more info here.)

Comments

[getting_better]

Well, if you'd be so kind as to leave, that'd be swell. [ A beat. ] But I'm sure that's not happening is it?

[ Although, things are already going swimingly well by his estimation. ]

So instead, I'll just ask - what it gonna take for you to back off?

[starshepard]

Negotiations, is it? [ She tilts her head a little, humming as if she's thinking over what would get her to back off. ]

I'm not sure I can do that. I'm having quite a bit of fun, you see.

[getting_better]

[ Negotiations is simply one of the cards in his hand, and one of the few that allows him to keep the blood in his body.

Though he is surprised. Is she really with the Tamamo? She could very well fit with the Shuten. ]

I take it you enjoy the occasional scraps, then? You know, we have an arena in the Shuten HQ.

[ This isn't going to work he feels but still worth the attempt. ]

[starshepard]

[ She's honestly not sure how or why she ended up in Tamamo, not that she'll complain. So far her clan has been quite a bit of fun and Azem certainly enjoys having fun. Though they also enjoy a good fight, there's a reason they're one of the top combatants in the Convocation. Or were before everything that happened. ]

I do though I'm not sure your boss would like to see me around. [ She laughs. ] He didn't seem so happy when I won a few of those sumo matches.

[ She'd ultimately been bested but had fun with the few matches she got to take part in. ]

[getting_better]

He'll get over it.

[ He already got the implication that she's not the average person. Height aside, the fact her choice of weapon is a great axe was already a display of strength - enough to convice him that she's definitely not the most elegant fighter but definitely powerful. ]

And I'm sure it'd help smooth things over if you did come over to our side. We're not going to turn away strength because of....past affiliations.

[starshepard]

[ Azem lets out a laugh at that. ] I like your attitude.

[ She isn't anything remarkable in appearance, really. She's a little over five and a half feet due to something about this place. Perhaps she'll be able to change that in the future. ]

I'm not sure I'd like to gain a certain lady's ire with such a move.

[getting_better]

[ He smiles at her. Clearly he wasn't about to convince her to turn coat. ]

Oh? Then, would you say that Tenkohime has a fair amount of your trust?

[starshepard]

[ Azem swings the large axe down from her shoulder and uses it to lean on as if it's a cane. It seems she's a bit more relaxed and not as ready for a fight. ]

I wouldn't say that at all. Barely know the woman but in my experience, people don't take kindly to defectors.

[getting_better]

[ That's true, traitors are never looked at fondly by either side. ]

So you'd say that you don't particularly want this conflict? Am I understanding you correctly?

[starshepard]

[ If Azem were to be honest they didn't care who came out the victor, but they aren't about to admit that out loud. ]

Does anyone truly want for conflict? I will admit, it is a nice bit of exercise, however.

[ She's refusing to properly answer the question, of course. ]

[getting_better]

[ He scrutinized her words to glean her intent and understanding in so far as 'Not this kind of conflict'. He smiled. ]

Then, if someone were proposition you with the idea of ending this...senseless fighting, in way that both sides profit in the long term, would you be willing to listen?

[starshepard]

[ For her part, Azem puts forth the appearance of thinking the offer over. In truth, she's not considering it at all. She has her reasons for being here, not just in this sewer system fighting for something she doesn't really care about, but this place as a whole. And she's not about to do anything to potentially jeopardize what she's after. ]

I'm not sure that outcome is possible, but I'll hear you out.

[ She can do that much even if she's set on doing what she can to ensure she gets what she wants out of this entire situation. ]

[getting_better]

Then allow me to give some context to my proposal first.

[ It all has to start there of course. ]

As no doubt you're aware, our factions are fighting for ownership of the sewers with the intent to establish something to benefit them. A casino for the Shuten, and a - well, I don't know the exact term for it but from my understanding and extreme kinks club for the Tamamo. Both very amusing in their own rights, I'm sure - but lets face it everyone invovled stand to lose more in this fighting than what they stand to gain at the end.

[ He pauses, eyes locked on her but his attention is on her expression. The small twitches or wrinkles in her features that can tell him what she's feeling about his words. ]

We charge in with our fighters and....meathead oni soldiers, and they get caught in the traps you set, the misdirects that consume resources and money, maybe the occasional fighter among your ranks. We can go back and forth with each other for days, and while that's fun and all - in can get old very quick. Especially when the medical bills start to pile. Not to mention the bodies.

[starshepard]

[ Where as Emet-Selch is the master of holding a perpetually disgruntled expression upon his features, making him difficult to read. Azem is much the same only with a look of mild amusement. The corners of her lips quirked up ever so slightly as she listens to the proposal. She can see where it's going and were she in the same position of power she held back home, she would be able to take it into consideration, perhaps even give a promise to bring it up to everyone else in charge of such decisions.

However, Azem holds no power here. It's almost a relief that she doesn't. She's not expected to be some sort of example for others.

Even as she speaks her expression and tone remains light. ]

I can see where you're going with this and while I commend you for trying to come up with a solution that benefits both sides, I'm afraid you're talking to the wrong person. That sounds like the kind of thing you'd need to take directly to the top.

[getting_better]

Oh, I'm aware. It's not hard to spot fellow Lost Souls, and I highly doubt anyone of us rose through the ranks in this short a time that our leaders would give us their ear. Myself included.

[ He's glad she's quick on the uptake, this may make things easier. ]

What I - ... - am hoping for is for the need for dialogues to be pushed up via one of the most powerful forces anywhere. Frequent complaining. If enough soldiers from both sides sing the same song, eventually the two of them would be forced to move, or if not them - then maybe more of us may try to do something. The gang world after all is filled with all sorts of deals after all, and the one I'm offering gives still allows you some anonimity if things don't turn out so well. Not bad right?

[starshepard]

[ Azem may be an idiot but they're a clever idiot. ]

Would not a petition of sorts be better? Complaints are all well and good, but should one be annoyed enough by them they may seek to punish those making the complaints.

[ She's seen a bit of that already. Nothing severe, mostly extra work being heaped on top of the person complaining about whatever work they already had to do. She doesn't double their bosses would do something similar, extra work or being ordered to do something that was like to get them injured or killed. Assuming they didn't outright raise a hand against the person themselves.

Petitions, in her experience, were at least given a look over. And the more people backing such a thing the more likely it was to sway opinion. Though, she does come from a place that rather likes its procedures such as those. ]

[getting_better]

If a petition would work with Tenkohime then, by all means, do it. But I can guarantee Tora-Tora isn't the type to look over signatures on a clip board and care.

[ He actually thinks a petition would really piss him off. ]

I'm simply suggesting complaints as a way to move things along, but it doesn't have to be complaints - I just thought it'd be nice to have an excuse to whine for good reason.

[ Hiding behind good reason, he means. ]

[starshepard]

[ She laughs a little at that. Pissing off that Oni has been entertainment for her so far. Not that she's done it on purpose or anything. ]

He certainly doesn't seem the type to enjoy any paperwork set before him.

Well, I suppose you can attempt the complaints with your boss and I shall float the idea of a petition to my people.

[ Will she really? No, probably not. It all seems like more work than she's up for. At least being down in the tunnels means she can sneak off and slack off if she feels like it.

Plus, she's curious to see how things will play out without her making suggestions. She feels it's a good way to learn how things work in this place.

Plus, she doesn't have any kind of power. Such a suggestion would probably go ignored. ]

[getting_better]

Perfect. Then let's hope this crazy plan does work, for our sakes.

[ Toraguma, to him, feels like the hardest one to convice simply because of his interactions with Onis in the past. The ones here however, seem more amenable but he isn't about to let that lower his guard. ]

Oh which reminds me, I never did get your name. I'm called Bishop. You?

[starshepard]

Yes, let's.

[ Not that Azem is going to actually do much in any way to help. ]

Bishop, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am known as Azem.

[getting_better]

Azem.

[ He'll remember that, whether she realizes or not, he did get some intel that could be useful. ]

Well then, Azem, I don't want to overstay my welcome. After all, we should look like we're in the middle of a war.

[ He turns on his heel, hands held behind him as a show of trust or at the very least - not a threat, and starts to walk away. ]

I'll see you around. Hopefully under better circumstances.

[starshepard]

[ Azem nods, lifting her axe back up onto her shoulder before smiling and waving after him. ]

I look forward to our next meeting.