May 2022 Mini Event

[jigokumods]

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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.

Comments

kimmuriel | legend of drizzt | sutoku

[psionicmolotov]

A. apology day
i
[ While he hasn't had to do it to this extent (that's what new recruits were for), he's by no means unused to smoothing things out after a caper or a plan that didn't go exactly as it should have. He's honestly not as annoyed as he thought he was about this; it gives him plenty of time to think.

You can find him doing various chores - cleaning, sweeping, sewing and mending - all over the place. If he's outdoors by himself, having been left in charge of whatever small task needs doing, he'll often pause in his sweeping or scrubbing to stop and listen to his 'employers' talking. Yes, he is Obviously snooping, what of it. ]

ii
[ Alternatively, you might encounter him browsing the aisles of a convenience store or a giftshop or even an arcade, trying to figure out what would make a decent accompaniment to the snacks and coupons he's been given to hand out. He has a little book of notes held open in one hand as he stares at prizes or pottery.

If you can get a look at the book itself, the whole thing is a veritable spiderweb of connections and scribbled guesses in...his own native language. He's paranoid, alright.

He huffs a sigh. ]

Demons are so difficult.

B. laundry day? (sutoku apartments)

[ Since some people in the Sutoku apartment complex have taken to keeping haniwa in their rooms more than once and the damn things have just invited themselves in, Kimmuriel has resorted to the shared downstairs laundromat just to get some vaguely non-cursed rest. While he hasn't gone so far as to just lie down on a bench and sleep, he is dozing silently on the end of one while his clothes are in the dryer again because the weather is apparently nonstop rain.

You can also find him apparently meditating on the end of said bench, radiating...some kind of vibe. Not absolutely terrible, like the haniwa, but still distinctly different from normal; it feels cold and distant, almost alien.

If disturbed, he'll crack open an eye to stare at you. ]

What.

C. Wildcard!

[ throw anything at me, it's all good. Prose and brackets both ok!! ]

b. ive basically made tama's event timeline across other peoples toplevels

[fuckdogramagra]

[ Tama absolutely looks just as dead to the world as Kimm. He's only wearing his kimono and some cheap thong sandals he bought at one of the convenience stores, with the...small bundle that makes up the rest of his clothes, including a new orange-and-gray uniform tucked under his arm. Apparently he was slinking down to do laundry, until he spotted one of his neighbors Vibing, and then ended up just exhaustedly watching him for entirely too long, apparently. It takes him a moment to respond to the flat 'What', doing the WoL headtilt towards the washers. ]

I just realized I forgot my wallet. [ The machines are coin-op, and he'd entirely forgotten that in his stumble down the hall. It's far enough to be annoying, but not an incredible distance, so Tama sits his laundry in one of the chairs, rubbing his eye like it's itchy now that his hands are free to do so. ] Babysit my laundry, please. Don't let it buy candy no matter how much it begs.

[psionicmolotov]

--Buy candy? [ He eyes the pile of laundry with clear suspicion, but also like. Does he really want to ask any more questions. Does he really?

He has decided that pursuing this topic is too much effort especially with how tired he is and you know what, he's here already, he's got laundry to watch too. He will babysit the laundry vigilantly and ignore any...requests...for sweets??

He already has a headache and this isn't helping much. ]

[fuckdogramagra]

[ Lucky for Kimmuriel, the laundry is on it's best behavior- because it's just some laundry, incapable of wants or needs. It's not even +1 or anything, so frankly who would even care what it could ask for? Certainly not the owner of said clothes, who shuffles back looking less dead then his first time entering the coin-op, carrying a colorful gamaguchi in his hand. Without saying anything, he slips 100 yen out of it, and holds it out to Kimm, before going to open one of the washers to deposit his stuff inside of its gaping maw. At the tired point he's at, he almost wants to climb in the washer himself, but instead just feeds the greedy machine and then flops down in to the chair that his laundry had once occupied. ]

...you're not sleeping either. [ It's...rather early in the morning, or late at night, Tama honestly can't tell. The bags under his eyes indicate he's not having as wild or fun of a time as he was before, not that Kimm saw him hanging out with Kawako peaceably. ] They have medicines at the drugstore that can supposedly make you sleep...but it's just nightmares when I tried that.

[psionicmolotov]

[ He just kinda takes the 100 yen because today is already as surreal enough as it is and he's tired. Sure, payment for services rendered. ]

...Whoever is sending our little friends to populate this city has increased their power. [ He hunches over, adjusting his position on the bench. ] I have been able to get some respite down here, but nowhere else.

[ Look at that, it's almost helpful advice?? He's hardly willing to go and investigate if there's other places. If there's a convenient room he can use in the apartment block, he'll use it. ] I would prefer a bed. But until these statues leave or are dealt with, I will find little use of it, it seems.

[fuckdogramagra]

Kawako and her class are too rambunctious... [ Sorry Kimm, he gets like this when exhausted. He seems to understand that at least, because he slumps in the plastic chair, almost sliding right out of it. His kimono's a little rucked from sprawling, but it's just a shin being visible, and Tama's not worried about Kimm being a weirdo about it. This guy's put up with a lot from him without...well, too much complaint, or at least if he had a complaint he would voice it. So, it's probably safe to relax around him. ]

I wish I could do exorcist things. [ Tama sticks his arms out straight, staring at the backs of his hands and making a vague pushing motion. ] Or magic. Whatever it is. Then I'd just go around and seal all of them myself, since the Enma is useless. [ He turns his head to Kimm. ] Do you have a Western bed, or a futon? If it's the latter, I won't tell anyone if you haul it down here.

[psionicmolotov]

[ He groans, near-silently, and pulls a knee up to his chest just so he can rest his head on it. ] Of course you named it. [ He'd dressed up the intensely cursed object and given it a name. He'd like to feel surprised, but somehow, he really can't be at all.

He's not even looking at Tamamori, so he can be reassured there. ]

A futon. [ He doesn't uncurl; he seems comfortable to stay that way, for the moment. ] I have rested in worse conditions, so I will survive well enough. [ Also, it's just...too much effort right now. ]

Packing them all away to the Enma's tower has not decreased them in the slightest, has it. Someone must have a truly monumental grudge. [ It's...impressive, he supposes? ]

[fuckdogramagra]

Naming guests is only polite, even if you thought they couldn't communicate and are now regretting that assumption. [ Tama doesn't take a breath once through saying all that, sounding a bit like a deflated balloon towards the end, but being fair he also feels like one. ] I don't think it could even be called a grudge anymore. A grudge would have to be a personal, targeted attack...this is a malaise without target or discrimination. I don't even know what word is better for that.

[ Tama slumps over sideways, across the other chairs like a child despondently realizing they hadn't brought their gameboy with them for a long errand. ] Maybe going somewhere really high or really deep down would be better.

[psionicmolotov]

They cannot communicate by themselves, so far as I am aware. [ He sort of wearily corrects it. He'd have heard their thoughts by now if they had thoughts, but it's just absolutely shitty vibes, forever. ]

A fog? [ It's half-mumbled because he's never been super eloquent. That wasn't his job, he's not the charismatic half of Bregan D'aerthe's co-leadership. ]

I have no doubt that even if you dug to the depths of hell, they'd appear regardless. Or only be chased off by something even worse. [ His tone is increasingly sour. ]

[fuckdogramagra]

Not individually anyway, but they're able to communicate their- [ He gives the word a moment of thought, then seems to accept it. ] -their fog. Maybe 'haze'... [ Now isn't the time to get distracted by characters and such, but he'd be tempted to do so when his head felt less full of Stuff. ]

...you're probably right. Maybe this is just- hell finally behaving in a hell-like manner. [ It had been too collected thus far- Tama glances Kimm's way again, not even startling at the flicker of the haniwa's face that lingers like a jumpscare. ] At least we're not being ordered to solve it. I was worried that might happen.

[psionicmolotov]

One wonders what we could do to stop them, at this rate, low ranking as we are. It seems even our leaders' hands are tied without a proper source to blame them for, so at least they are not pointlessly throwing us at the problem. [ Which is a slight uptick in his grudging respect for them, at least. ]

Such communication is common with magical objects, I find. Even if they have no true will of their own - if the power imbued within them is strong enough, it overflows. [ Leaving aside the truly troublesome ones that do have a will... ] A troublesome thing.

[ Kimmuriel everything is troublesome to you ]

[fuckdogramagra]

We could get some hammers. If everyone's unconscious then we can't be hurt by the haze. [ ...this is almost absurd enough to be something that someone tries, and that thought makes Tama's face cringe inward. ] ...can you have nightmares when unconscious? I don't know enough about the brain sciences...maybe you'd just be stuck having horrible dreams instead.


[ Tama's face resets back to factory default, lolling his head back towards Kimm. ] I got a job, and some of my fellow employees are 'magical objects'. Which is fascinating but very stressful when you go to try and make tea and upset a coworker. [ It seems like a non-sequitur at first, but- ] Even they're stressed by the haniwa, though. So magical objects can be troublesome even to magical objects...

[psionicmolotov]

The brain still works when you are unconscious, yes. [ Extremely dry tone. He can actually speak with authority about this, shockingly. ] The only time it truly ceases its functioning is if you are dead, and if that happens, you have an entirely different problem.

That...surprises me very little. [ Employees that are actually enchanted artifacts? Sure! Why the fuck not. (He does not know what a tsukumogami is). ] The ones with personalities tend to be more territorial.

[ He says, but he only judges by that metric because if any of the cursed shit Jarlaxle hands him has a brain of its own, it's usually messed up and/or perpetually pissed off. ]

A-II

[bananaoni]

Of course, we are, what did you expect?

[Says a small demon currently shopping for sweets at said store. She couldn't help but chime in there. Everyone seriously seems to be missing the whole "demon" thing. It was super off putting to an actual oni. Which means she really feels the need to remind people every opportunity she can get.

Usually this means gloating or being a pest.]

Not all of us are like those stupid yakuza calling themselves oni.

[psionicmolotov]

...I was not aware there was a difference. [ He glances over at Ibaraki, taking in her humanlike appearance and then just sort of moving on. Appearances rarely told the entire story, anyway. ]

And I expected no less of them, actually. Though I did not expect them to ask for such...mundane offerings. [ He expected like, sacrifices and blood, not chores and arcade prizes, but...well, his superior here is a demon themselves and they seem to like the arcades just fine. ]

[bananaoni]

Why not? Isn't like an oni doesn't enjoy games or snacks.

[Just look at her own basket! Filled to the brim with candy and junk food. Clearly some of the most important things in the whole store.]

What? Did you think we ran off of the blood of virgins all the time? Fie... well maybe some do....

[Maybe? She's humming in thought now. That could be a fun gimmick!]

[psionicmolotov]

[ There's a pause, and then, almost thoughtfully: ] I suppose you must all do something with your time.

[ He mostly thought it was like, torturing the souls of the damned or something but demons ARE creatures of chaos. Maybe some of them do get bored easily? ]

Most of the demons I know of prefer fresh sacrifices, yes - though whether they are virginal or not counts for little. [ His voice is a bit dry as he picks through a few different prizes, obviously torn on which one to choose. ] But as I have come to learn, nothing works the way I am used to here.

[bananaoni]

Of course, a bored oni is a dangerous oni. You never what one might do in order to find... entertainment.

[Spoken with a twisted smile filled with rows of sharp fangs. A sharp contrast to her otherwise cute appearance. Equally matching her more demonic traits, like someone decided to make some sort of mockery of what they thought a beautiful, young woman looks like.

She's a demon alright.]

Eh, some are really into it. I think it's the tears or something. [She actually wouldn't know, that was more of her partner's thing sometimes.]

What? How did you think things would be?

[psionicmolotov]

[ Yep, she's a demon all right. Kimmuriel eyes that smile and decides that, all things considered...it's not worse than some smiles he's had to deal with over the last few centuries. He has elected not to say anything. ]

More chaotic, [ he answers, picking up an oni plushie that he supposes would be more conventionally cute if it wasn't lovingly patterned with faux-bloodstains. Demons, man. ] If the demons I am used to have a city and do not just roam freely tormenting whatever they catch, I have not seen it, nor do I particularly desire to.

Is this what you are used to? It seems you have some complaints.

[bananaoni]

I'm more used to being praised and given tribute. Having others grovel before me ask to be spared.

[That smile of hers is back as she sounds almost whimsical about it. This is almost certainly a far cry from what the oni is used to. And she is also, potentially, talking it up a little bit. Though it's true, what she's come to be used to is much different from how things are here.]

And now I have fools at every turn attempting to best me. It's annoying!

[Really don't people know greatness when they see it???]

[psionicmolotov]

Then you are not used to having competition. [ His tone is just the slightest bit amused, because he's being an ass. ] But adversity builds strength and character, surely?

[bananaoni]

Ha! If only, too many fools have challenged me before in the past.

[She puffs up at that, saying it like it's something to be proud of! Who wouldn't be? With x amount of demons all vying for your position?]

Umu, and it does, that doesn't mean that any adversity had ever managed to succeed!

[psionicmolotov]

[ Not as fun a response as he was expecting, sadly. He'll temper his anticipation he guesses. ]

So is it only the lack of praise that aggravates you to such a degree? [ He's interested despite himself. This is still learning something new. ]

[bananaoni]

What's it matter to you? Isn't only natural for everyone to give tribute and praise to the powerful?

[That's absolutely it, absolutely the only thing that's bugging her. Nothing else at all! The small demon looks a bit more agitated than before.]

[psionicmolotov]

Matter? I am simply curious about demons, that is all. Most that I have experience with are not so talkative - at least, not when the subject moves away from killing everything.

[ Oh, she's getting agitated? This might be entertaining, then, thinks Kimmuriel. ]

I suppose it seems natural if you are the ones with enough power. But I have found that even that hierarchy might be toppled, so who really knows what nature intends?