jigokulogs | 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.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well then, certain people are being foolish, aren't they? [simple as that, to Ydris! Since Barton turned down a cigarette, they pop one out, blow on it to light it, and place it fresh at their lips]

The permissions are just that, granting permission. The information that I'm being allowed to have is not stolen, people agree to it.

I can agree with that, yeah.

[ --well, the part about granting permission and giving information. barton leans forward to place an elbow on the table, resting his chin against his knuckles. ]

You have some hard, comprehensible proof ready to demonstrate that you don't, and never did? I'd presume Enma is okay with your app for now, or else by now it'd been taken down, but audits happen.

[Ydris gives a long look, not answering too quickly]

No.

[they blow out some smoke to one side, pointedly]

If Enma investigates me, it is their duty to prove that I'm doing wrong. I will cooperate responsibly, but I'm not going to prepare a defense to every wild conspiratorial theory that crops up.

[Ydris is absolutely gonna shift the burden of proof away from themself here, bud.]

Did I say that? [ snappishly! he does agree the wild conspiracy theories are pretty silly, though... ] All you should need to do is keep records that exhibit that, that's it.

[ whether the enma respects the burden of proof or not is something he's unfamiliar with, alas... he'd like to think illumina would do the same, but he can't fool himself into thinking that's how it always worked. ]

[ barton sighs, standing with his plastic cup. he dunks it into the nearest recycling bin. ]

It's your "brilliant creation" though, right? So do what you want, just be prepared for any consequences.

I appreciate your concern. As I have deigned to look after you as best I can, I would hope you'd speak up for me from within the Enma, if you suspected they were unjustly interfering.

[they can appeal to Barton's sense of duty, it's something they have in common. Justice has little to do with it, but it does sound nice, sounds noble. The yokai, and thus the factions, seem to hold little regard for honor in this hotbed of crime, but... Ydris can hope that Lost Souls feel some duty towards one another]

After all, I can only engage fairly with the law if the law, itself, is playing fair.

If there's some bullshit going on, I'd speak up about it!

[ which he would, but he's not wholly expecting ydris take only his word for it alone - seeing is believing, and all. it does come with the unspoken addendum of speaking up about subjective, very selective bullshit, and then carrying out most firm orders anyway - ]

[ barton checks his watch again, and then neatens his gloves out. he straightens his tie. rattled off as casually as giving directions to a passerby, ]

By the way, about breakfast. I don't know how much your scrawny roomie usually eats, and what ideas you have about dietary needs, but I'll need more than what I'm getting. [ the amount of calories this man goes through in a day is impressive. ]

[Ydris gives a long look of the man, up and down, now that he's standing.]

I see. You are closer to Artemy's size. [Junpei is very scrawny, sorry Junpei... they're trying to bulk him up some with good meals! He just won't eat all that much.]

I prepare him about four eggs worth, over what base I have. [usually rice, but sometimes bread if they get it on sale. Veggies, hot dogs, or spam sometimes get fried in with that for variety and nutrition-]

Is that what it takes to power you running up and down the stairs so many times?

[ after a second of reflection on that, barton nods. that may not be his ideal breakfast at home, but hey, he's not at home and he's not going to be too demanding of someone that generously prepares meals. ]

It's the first of meals that'll power me throughout the day, yeah. Even if I have a boring job here, I gotta keep in top shape. Always gotta be prepared!

[ don't stare too long, ydris. he'll start flexing or something. ]

So? Will you do that, or not?

Of course I will, Barton. It's what you need and I'm here to protect humans.

[a deal is a deal! They provide how they can, Barton provides what he can. That's a good arrangement, everybody benefits.

Except, maybe, Barton's sense of integrity.

Oh well, integrity in this place is more a detriment than a boon. No need to stumble over something like that in hell!]

May 2022 Mini Event

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