jigokulogs | May 2022 Mini Event

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May 2022 Mini Event

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As the Haniwa continue to pop up in the city and the turf war rages on, life goes on in the city.

1. SHUTEN CLAN

Remember the Isonade? Yeah, those guys. The surly shark-dudes who were no doubt involved in some black market smuggling along the banks of the Sanzu. They were too tough to fight off in order to figure out what they were up to, last time.

Well, Toraguma has caught wind of them now. Despite the ongoing turf war, he’s not about to lose out on an opportunity here! He wants his Shuten Clan operatives to scour the river looking for these guys. They will be a lot harder to find without the rabbits’ help, though. If you find them, you are to “inform them” that the Shuten Clan will be taking over their operation. If they have problems with that, well… you know what to do.

Don’t forget that they’re quite strong and that they aren’t too keen on giving up the information on their supply line without a fight. You’ll need to use teamwork to get what you need out of them.

Should you manage your way to their warehouse, you’ll find a fresh shipment of their products: specialized herbs, mineral-rich clay, and rarefied ore. None of these products can be found in the city naturally. The Isonade won’t dare name their primary buyer but they will let slip that all of this is being smuggled into the city from the outer Wastelands.

The Shuten Clan will demand their cut out of this operation, but you may get the impression that this is only one small piece of a much larger shadow creeping over the city…

Art by Alejandro Gonzalez Agudelo

2. SUTOKU ALLIANCE

The death and subsequent “rebirth” of the Daitengu has caused a considerable amount of chaos. Many of the subsidiary tribes have struggled under the weight of uncertainty during this debacle. The Daitengu has decided that an apology tour is owed. It’s good for the sake of the Alliance, after all.

Oh, but they’re not going to be doing it themselves. You, the Sutoku Lost Souls, will be fully responsible for it. ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა

Sutoku Souls are tasked with going to various businesses and tribe centers with an offering of gifts and deference to any and every group within the Alliance who will agree to meet with you. The gifts have been provided by the Daitengu, and are mainly snacks and coupons. Which will not be enough to please everyone. Some clans will demand more and some, in their rage, will try to take their anger out on you. You are an (lowly) ambassador right now, better to turn the other cheek.

This all boils down to be less of an apology tour and more of a bribe tour. What the Daitengu has provided won’t cover everything and you’re going to have to go out of pocket to truly placate the other clans. If you don’t have enough cash on hand, you may be asked to do various unpaid tasks and labors: washing dishes, scrubbing floors, cleaning windows, taking out the trash, serving kids’ birthday parties; any amount of the lowest work you can imagine.

It’s rough! But somebody’s gotta do it

3. DEPARTMENT OF THE ENMA

The chaos of the Night Parade has caused a resurgence of unaffiliated gangs popping up around Jigokucho. They can usually be found identifying themselves through the use of basic colors and mascots. They are made up almost entirely of violent youths with uncertain futures, who are lashing out at an uncaring world. The antics of the Daitengu, the accusations against the Enma, and the squabbling between Shuten and Tamamo is not inspiring their confidence nor loyalty.

In addition to this problem, the retrieval of the Haniwa is going poorly. Most residents are too uncomfortable to even touch the statues and their appearances don’t seem to be slowing down. There are too many for the Department to collect.

With an abundance of cursed objects in town, the petty gangs have decided this is an ample resource for them. They are using the Haniwa to harass the general public and against one another. They have weaponized the excess Haniwa and are using them as “curse bombs”, hurling them at both each other and the residents they want to intimidate. It’s getting nasty.

It’s the Department’s job to keep the Haniwa figures from falling into the wrong hands and to keep some semblance of order. The official orders from the Office of the Enma are directing all hands to converge against the youth gangs. Use any force necessary and retrieve those figurines.

4. TAMAMO CLAN

How inconvenient! In addition to the complications of the turf war, an extremely important time of the year has arrived for the Tamamo Clan.

It is time for the yearly visit of one of the clan’s greatest benefactors: the Tennin. These Celestial Immortals descend from the Heavenly Realms to spend time (and incredible amounts of money) in Hell’s Playground, Jigokucho. Hell simply offers the sort of delights you just can’t get in Heaven. Due to Tenkohime’s connections with them, the Celestials have had her host them for several years in a row now. She emphasizes how incredibly important it is to keep them happy.

The Celestials want entertainment and delights of every variety. It’s up to the Tamamo Clan’s Lost Souls to entertain them. Your entertainments can take many forms: keeping the Celestials company, putting on a performance, showing off your cooking and skills, tea ceremonies, and other exhibitions. Should you choose the carnal and kinky route for entertainments, know that you won’t be laying down with any Celestials themselves. Oh, no no no, they’re Heavenly, after all! This is still performance, so you may need a partner to help you out.

Keep in mind that the legends are true! The Celestials are deeply deeply fond of peaches. Both literal and metaphorical. 🍑

The Celestials love to chat and gossip, so keeping them entertained is also an excellent way to hear some interesting information. Tamamo artisans will likely learn that many Celestials openly trade with Tenkohime. In fact, the aphrodisiac goods that the Tamamos so famously deal in come, in large part, from the Celestials. Tamamo isn’t the only clan they do business with either. They also have connections within the Sutoku Alliance and are the land owners of several Alliance properties. They are considered one of the primary sources of capital in the real estate market.

Why would the Celestials want properties in a world they literally can’t live in? Doesn’t that just reek of capitalism.

5. TURF WAR (ALL FACTIONS)

The turf war between the Shuten and Tamamo clans is at a simmer right now. Which doesn’t mean that it’s over – not even close. Minor magical traps, similar to those found in the sewer, have been found in Shuten territory. Frustrated Shuten enforcers have been taking out their anger on anyone that so much as looks at them funny. Bars in both districts are regularly getting smashed up. Knife fights are breaking out in the streets. Cars known to belong to members of both clans turn up with slashed tires. There’s even rumors of hits being taken out on higher ranking members.

Watch your step if you’re out and about in either territory. Faction affiliation doesn’t matter when tensions are running high. What’s more, rumors are flying all over about which of the two warring clans is going to be the one to escalate the violence further.

Will tensions boil over at any moment? At what point does the Department of the Enma have to step in? Why haven’t they already?

It’s all getting too much to handle…

6. CURSED OBJECTS (ALL FACTIONS)

The presence of the Haniwa is having increasingly frightening effects. There are whispers about blood coming out of the walls and the floors in apartments, about black ooze pouring from faucets and coming up from storm drains. There are even whispers of terrible household hauntings.

These aren’t just rumors though. Bars are having to close early due to the presence of wailing ghosts inhabiting the toilet or blood pouring from the taps. People run screaming out of alleyways pursued by ghostly hands.

These curses and hauntings seem to be fairly localized; kept to one building or one block at a time. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be much rhyme or reason as to when these accursed sightings will take effect.

Be careful out there! Who knows what could happen with so much terrible energy running rampant.

Welcome to the mini event!

If you have any questions about event content, please ask them here!
FOR THE PURPOSES OF REWARDS, since all of these prompts tie into the main plot in some way, we will count all qualified threads in this post as 2 point threads!
If you have questions about the game itself, please check out the premise, FAQ, and rules pages.

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[The men seem to glower at them and look at each other with deep angry expressions. It's really clear to Izuku now just how deep these clan ties and clan grudges run. He almost feels like he's getting caught up in some yakuza stuff...

"If you're the one who's going to deal with this bullshit then hop to it."

Izuku glances at the other.]

Please, let me help you?

[Because Izuku isn't one to just stand around for this stuff either. They might have to resolve this by looking for these Tamamo illusion traps the thugs mentioned.]

Edited 2022-06-17 05:30 (UTC)

[That's because it was yakuza stuff, Izuku...but it was okay since Cain was immune to any of their intimidation. Good, they seemed to accept that bargain. There was a lot less chance of a fight breaking out now.

Still, he pauses as the kid speaks up. He seemed nice which made Cain hesitate, but an actual look now that he could see Izuku told him he was not a stranger to fights.]

Ah, sure. I don't mind the help if you want to come along. Thanks for trying to stop the fight at least, that could've gotten really messy.

[He's still trying to wrap his head around the whole idea that he's even here, let alone being swept up in actual yakuza gang stuff. This can't be his life!? He's a good boy!! A hero!!]

Ah- I have you to thank for helping with that too. I just wasn't really ready to stand there with a fight going on in the streets.

[As much as he looks nice he isn't the type to stand around with something bad like that happening. And the thugs watching seem lazy and compliant in this choice so they wave them off to do just that. Giving them a general direction of those old Tamamo illusion traps.]

If we can take down the traps at least it would be safer for everyone. Um, I'm Midoriya Izuku.

[That's okay, he was here to protect Izuku from bad influences! Not bad decisions, though. He was great at making those for himself. But he was liking the kid already, not only for seeming ready to fight if needed, but wanting to keep the peace first.]

I'll admit I was worried at first since I don't know how strong you are, but it was still a pretty cool thing you did. With guys like those, you have to be more assertive while being nice, though. You play to their ego but don't take any of their shit.

[At least he hoped that Izuku would understand that advice. It's often how he dealt with the Norths and the angrier knights in his company.]

Haha-sorry for rambling! It's-Izuku, right? My name is Cain Knightley. I'll be glad for your assistance in this matter.

[And he bowed to the shorter kid before leading them both towards the alleyway the thugs had indicated as the trouble spot.]

[Izuku finds himself nodding quickly as he feels glad that he ran into someone like Cain. He seems to know a lot about how to deal with people like this so Izuku might be making a few mental notes. Having someone to look up to might be handy in a place like this?

The polite bow does have Izuku jolting a bit. He nods and returns the gesture.]

Izuku, that's right...! Thank you, Cain-san...! You seem to know a lot about how this place works and I won't lie I'm still new to all of this. I still have to get used to dealing with people like that. Most villains aren't as easy to deal with.

[So usually Izuku does have to throw hands!! But he's glad he didn't have to this time. Instead, disarming some Tamamo traps seems like a good way to solve the problem. The alleyway is as it seems so far. Empty and lined with old boxes and old stone. The occasional piece of garbage littered here and there. He doesn't see any runes on the ground at all.]

The last time I got caught up with a Tamamo trap it was because I tripped on a rune lighting up on the ground.

[He may not have been THAT much older than Izuku, but honestly he was glad to give this advice to any of his younger colleagues. It was often stuff he had to learn himself, and Izuku seemed like too good of a kid to just thrust into situations like that.]

Haha-you're okay! People have always said I'm a natural at talking to people, so I guess I've got a talent for it. But everyone can learn how to deal with people with some patience and practice. I think you can pick it up real quick!

[He was a quick study and already recognized a bad situation! He believed in Izuku. As for the trap..]

Hm. Well, without my magic it would be hard for me to detect anything, so I guess we'll have to do this the old fashioned way.

[After all, they had reached the first alley the thug had indicated.]

Since you know what we're looking for, I'm counting on you, Izuku.

[It's too late-! Cain is now a senpai. Or at least Izuku is mildly thinking that to himself even if he might not say it out loud right away.]

Right...! [He nods quickly.] Without any way to see the runes right away I think the first thing we could do is try to trip them without stepping on them ourselves. Because I think some of them can be ...ah... explosive.

[No need to lose a leg today, okay? Izuku picks up a few loose and heavy-looking stones from the ground and scans the road ahead before tossing one with some omph. It cracks against the ground and skids away with a clatter. But so far- nothing. Yet.]

[Cain is fine with this! He may be stupid, but he was reliable enough for the younger wizards. He nodded along to what Izuku was saying, which sounded like a much better idea than poking at the ground with his sword.]

Oh, throwing rocks is a good idea. Let's see-

[Unfortunately Cain was also wierdly strong, and while picking a spot that Izuku hadn't reached, he lobbed the thing hard. It shattered on the pavement near a wall, a rune quickly lighting up.]

Ah, whoops.

[Luckily Izuku is fairly good at analyzing plans so it should work out. Even when that rock gets lobbed far enough and charges one of the lightning runes!]

Ah?! No- that worked! There must be more clustered in that area, ne?

[He's like a hound to a hunt now. Izuku picking up a few more rocks and preparing to toss them that way again.]

You really threw that one hard...!

Uh...yeah. I have a problem of forgetting my own strength sometimes.

[Though honestly, that was more what his magic was prone to exploding than his physical strength. This was just a small mishap...he hoped.]

You think we can set them off with just the rocks from over here? I might have to go over there and do something about them otherwise.

[He's tossing another rock down the path next to where the first one hit, and sure enough there was another rune; Izuku was right.]

[Izuku nearly wants to say, "you too?" but he refrains with a bit of a nod. Instead, he looks down the path again.]

No, don't worry about tossing more rocks. I think I can see where the rune was lighting up from here now. We should be able to disarm it if we find the trigger. I'll get closer.

[He's still new so he isn't an expert at this at all but he knows there should be a way to disarm the trap by removing a small paper charm somewhere nearby. So he starts going over!]

[It's definitely something they could commiserate over together! Later, when they were hopefully not setting fire to back alleys. And he's not just going to let the kid go into a booby-trapped alley alone, and was tagging along closely with a hand on his sword hilt.

He's more experienced in curses and removing magic spells, so he was able to sweep along the opposite wall efficiently enough with his fingers until he found the edge of a seal.]

Hey.

[He was pulling the thing off gently, glancing over to see how Izuku was doing. It was then that he heard a ripping noise, and realized the jerks had placed one over the other so he accidentally tore one in the process of getting the one off.

Ah fuck.

Yeah, he's grabbing Izuku and practically throwing both of them out of the alleyway.

[At first Izuku is carefully checking the ground for another seal to slowly peel away and disarm. Doing this sort of thing is entirely new to him but he wants to keep his promise of disarming all of these Tamamo illusion traps.

But the torn seal explodes a short moment after Cain triggers it. It's fast enough that Cain's quick thinking is nearly not quick enough!]

Hgn?!

[Another lightning explosion!! Izuku hits the ground on his shoulder and has to cover his face from the rubble of rocks and dirt. Well... That's one way to clear the traps...]

[Due to Cain having straight up lunged for the kid, they ended up landing on the ground together in a big pile. He only hoped that it helped shield them from the oncoming explosion and pushed himself up again.

Was he maybe bleeding from his forehead because a piece of shrapnel hit him? Yes. But he didn't even feel it as he reached over to see if Izuku was alright. If the kid got hurt under his watch, he wouldn't forgive himself...]

Are you okay?! Are you hurt anywhere?

I'm ... fine.

[He's had worse (like way worse)! And he gives a small wince and a groan as he sits up. Only to see the blood running down Cain's forehead?!]

Cain-san!? You're hurt, though?! Your forehead!

[Cain has...also had worse, but that was probably not a good comment on the safety record of either one. Putting a hand to his forehead, Cain saw some of the blood come off on his gloves.]

Guess I must have got hit by a rock or something. It's fine, really! Are you okay, though? Nothing hurt? It's my fault I didn't think they'd stack the seals on top of each other...

There was no way for us to know they would be stacked like that! It's okay! My shoulder is only a little sore. Thanks to you, I think we got out of that as safe as we were going to be.

[What a way to clear the traps in this area, though. Almost using their faces to do it- but at least it's done?]

This area should be safe for it now, ne?

[Well that was a relief. He did seem fine, and thankfully the blood from the scratch on his head was already dying down, so they were a lot better off than it could've been.]

Ah, that's goods. I never would've forgiven myself if I got you hurt on something I asked you to tag along with.

[Never mind that Izuku asked...but you know, he's supposed to be responsible senpai! Anyway, he's getting to his feet and offering a hand to the kid as well.]

Yeah, it might have not...gone the way we planned, but this should be good now. I think we can report back safe and sound!

[He's about to correct that he was the one who was so gung-ho about doing this in the first place! But he figures it's alright to let it go. Cain has been a great senpai and he's just grateful for the help. He's still learning a lot about this world.

Izuku nods and takes the hand to get to his feet too before brushing off the dust and dirt from his clothing.]

You're right, that trap won't be able to blow up on anyone else so I think that should be good enough for now. Thank you for helping me, Cain-san. Let's get going.

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May 2022 Mini Event

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we can end this here for them and shove them together in the future if u want!!

sounds good, i'd love that! wrapped up! 🎀