jigokulogs | June 2022 Event

June 2022 Event

1. SWIMSUIT TROUBLES (1 POINT)

As the city goes through its daily motions, the heat bears down harder and harder while bringing out some increasingly overheated behavior from the local population. Summer is here and the natives are flocking to the shopping district: both as a respite from the scorching temperatures and to stock up on the needed supplies to beat the heat.

That means one noticeable problem: the bathing suits left on the racks aren’t the most fashionable at this point! Suits are scarce and what is left over are the skimpy, the oddly-patterned, a size too small, or all of the above. Then again, you are probably just feeling lucky you aren’t in the Shuten Clan, who have been provided their own precious supply of freshly laundered tiger stripe bikinis. And nothing else.

You may be able to borrow around within your own faction, where the pickings might not be so slim, but are still unlikely to match your personal style. Better hope you ran out to buy something nice when the Daitengu first announced the party.

2. BEACH GAMES (1 POINT)

The indoor beach facility that the Alliance has provided is extraordinary. It’s massive! It seems to extend to the size of an entire soccer field. With the combinations of Kappa tech and Tengu magic, the experience has been made as close to a natural one as anyone could ask for. The heat of the beach feels true to the real world, the sand is white and pure, and the waves rolling in and out are just like the mortal realm. Even the palm trees and beach scrub seem entirely authentic. The vibe is immaculate.

Each faction has their own area set up for meeting and mingling but everyone is welcome to let loose and interact among all the groups.

SHUTEN CLAN

The Shuten Clan has set up their beach fort with food and drinks. The drinks on offer are a particularly strong Oni beer and a few spirits (especially sake). These drinks have been mixed so that anyone who imbibes them will feel a heightened sense of competition and the need to prove themselves!

There are plenty of opportunities to show off:
Learning surfing with a few knowledgeable Oni.
Volleyball matches.
Shoulder chicken tournaments.
Beer pong.
Drinking contests that never seem to stop.
And friendly scuffles with some of the Shuten who are feeling more rowdy than usual.
In particular, the volleyball matches appear to be the Shuten Clan’s sport of choice. They’re taking these matches deathly serious. With all powers allowed in play, the game is truly deadly with how powerful, how fast, and how fierce those spikes and volleys are. Hold nothing back and leave it all in the ring!

Toraguma himself is here in his tiger striped best! He’s observing the games and taking note of which Shutens do well and which ones shame the clan with their defeat. He’ll give out rewards to those he thinks are exemplifying the pride of the clan. Don’t worry though, if you’re not up to snuff you won’t be punished; except with Toraguma’s obvious disappointment.

TAMAMO CLAN

The Tamamo Clan doesn't disappoint either. Their tiki bar is set up with a far greater variety in stock than the Shutens. Every drink seems to be made to that Lost Soul’s exact tastes. Watch out, this may compel you to pound them back more quickly than normal. The drinks will make you feel much closer to those around you — either in camaraderie, or something more intimate. The Tamamos have arranged a number of floats, inner tubes, and water wings lounging in the water. Enjoy your time together!

When you aren’t relaxing, the Tamamo Clan has also arranged huge buckets of water balloons and have filled their water guns. The instructions are clear: whether sniping from afar or going in on a full assault, go nuts. Especially against the Shutens. Lady Tenkohime herself has a high-caliber, sniper-grade water rifle with her at her lounge chair. She will occasionally pick some unlucky soul to fire off devastating rounds against. She is not soaking them in just water, of course. This is the Tamamo clan’s patented ‘perfume’, which inspires the most amorous feelings.

Finally, the Tamamo have also inspired a spicy wet t-shirt contest. It’s essentially a sexy beauty contest, but given the variety of bodies and hidden ‘talents’ tucked away under everyone’s clothes, it should prove interesting! Tenkohime has described the simple rules:
One must wear the provided white shirt and only that shirt.
The crowd will soak them down.
And the crowd will judge how well they pull it off.

SUTOKU CLAN

The Sutoku Clan has been given free reign on a fleet of jet skis and paddle boats; perfect for two. There are boogie boards and larger inner tubes ready to be attached to different jet skis. Just be careful, ok?

A large snack bar has been provided with cheerful yokai behind the counter ready and willing to serve up your heart’s desire. There are some strange candies towards the end of the bar, they taste a bit funny but once you eat one you’re compelled to have a few more. These sweets will give you the power to breathe underwater. What is the meaning of this power? Well, you’re in the Alliance, after all, you figure out what’s under the waves.

Sutoku games include things like kan jam and frisbees, but Sutoku Souls are also very much encouraged to participate in the Shuten Clan’s volleyball tournament. Much to Toraguma’s frustration, the Alliance has planted a Tengu referee who seems to really favor the Alliance players over his own. Use your powers liberally.

The Daitengu is in attendance with sunscreen marks on their mask, for some reason. They’re being a total busybody, as usual. They’re really taking the time to chat up Tenkohime and Toraguma, even if the two want to rip each other’s throats out. Could a resolution to the turf war be on the way? One can only hope!

ENMA DEPARTMENT

The Enma is instructing the members of the Department to volunteer (aka voluntold) for lifeguard duty. The shifts are short — it is ultimately a party — and participation will net you both free food and drink from any of the vendors, as well as license to let loose for the rest of the party! The fare provided by the Enma vendors is pretty staid, but it does fill you with the odd need to run down the beach shallows in slow motion. Not sure what that’s about.

There is one further task that is expected of the Enma Department: suikawari. It is a big deal and to be taken seriously! This is the Enma’s favorite beach activity and the only diversion that he cares about. Your guess is as good as anyone’s, but it’s probably because the game resembles a form of execution. Regardless! Every officer is expected to do at least one round of the game as a form of initiation to the Department itself. Captain Shiki hosts the game in the absence of the Enma. Someone should tell her to chill out with that whistle, though.

3. BONFIRE (1 POINT)

As the hosts of the event, the Sutoku Alliance has set up a massive bonfire as the sun begins to set and stars light up the magical sky. There’s a romantic feeling in the air. Things seem as chill as they ever could be, there are no Haniwa in sight! Things feel peaceful for the first time in a while.

A final happy hour is declared, with free libations for everyone to close out the night. It’s time to finish this party in style. For anyone particularly watchful, they may spy the extraordinary sight of Toraguma and Tenkohime together. Off in the shadows while the party rages on, they are sitting together and watching the waves roll in. What could they be discussing? It will remain a mystery, getting any closer to them would be a deadly mistake.

The evening closes without any major incidents. Nothing seems like it could spoil the mood. It almost feels too good to be true.

4. AND THEN... (2 POINTS)

As all the party goers change back into their clothes and exit the facility, there is a rumble of thunder over Jigokucho. The stars are quickly swallowed by a darkening sky and the ground shakes. A minor earthquake? That’s not unheard of but the sky above is looking threatening. Evil. Darkness washes out over the entire city, none of its many bright lights able to cut through. Something is wrong. Something is happening.

A warm rain begins to fall, spattering across you and your surroundings. It becomes quickly apparent that you are not doused with water, but with blood.

The silence is shattered suddenly when a scream cuts across the whole of Jigokucho. An accursed miasma pours out from every direction. Then you see them: the Haniwa. They are everywhere, gazing from every direction, pressing in. Something has gone terribly wrong.

Captain Shiki is the first to act. She makes a call to Kaigo no Bou, but what she hears is enough to freeze her in her tracks.

The containment center deep beneath the tower where the Haniwa were being stored has been compromised. All of the cursed energy that was stored there has leaked out into the city from below. The guards below are dead. No one is answering their radio. It is not just the containment center that has been compromised, but all of Kaigo no Bou.

Captain Shiki struggles to remain calm as she gives out orders. Her entire command structure has been decimated, but she has to keep these people safe. She urges everyone to seek shelter, immediately. Everyone needs to partner up and stick together.

None of the faction leaders present arguments and they enforce this ruling with their Souls. They direct everyone to make their way back to their home base. Shuten to the Arena, Tamamo to Mizukume, and Sutoku to Konoha. There, their faction leaders can protect them.

As for the Enma officers: they are on rescue duty. You will be heading out into the city to rescue as many people as possible from the nightmarish effects of the cursed energy on the city. Captain Shiki will act as their point of command at the indoor beach.

Good luck, everyone.

5. IN THE CURSED NIGHT (2 POINTS)

A rain of blood is sprinkling all around you. It pings off sign posts and garbage bins, it splatters wetly onto the concrete and your face. The scent is pungent and thick; spoiling. It is soaking in to your hair, your clothes, your skin. It is driving you mad: your pulse spinning, breathing short.

There are noises in the impenetrable darkness. Fox feet on the pavement, crow wings shifting on a perch, a stranger's cruel laughter. The dark energy that has swallowed you is bemused by your smallness, is lurking at the edges and waiting for the moment to strike. Hold tight to your fellows, lest in the darkness another hand be placed in yours. Do you know who you walk with? What you walk with?

The Haniwa are watching you from every surface; crowded together as one with their empty eye sockets and open mouths. Their dark eyes turn to follow where you go as you stumble through your nightmares and your delusions. They breathe in your suffering on the air.

Beware the onibi, they will lead you astray.
Beware the grasping hands in the trees.
Beware the whispers in the distance.
Beware the slope to the river.
Beware. Beware.

Welcome to the June event!

Art by astrono77153462
Special shoutout to vandalisto for coming up with the meat of this event; the beach party. They approached us with this as a player plot, and it was good enough that we made it into the full event for the month. Excellent work, Vandal!
If you have any questions about event content, please ask them here!
If your character participated in the volleyball games, see here! If they participated in the wet t-shirt contest, see here!
If you have questions about the game itself, please check out the premise, FAQ, and rules pages.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ She's not entirely sure how she got roped into this. Someone shot her with a faceful of water, and before she knew it, she was double-wielding water pistols and taking cover behind beach umbrellas. At her age, she should probably be entirely too old for games like this — but what can she say? She's a sore fucking loser. And honestly? It might just be an excuse to avoid lifeguard duty. Irresponsible of her, considering she's one of the only Enma officers who can swim.

Her only redeeming quality in this instance might be her aim. She glances out from behind one of those oversized umbrellas, squinting through her sunglasses for any signs of Supersoaker-wielding threats. ]

[Tactical stealth beach action is now taking place, whether anyone likes it or not; your options are to soak, or be soaked.]

[As Andy peeks out from behind one of the oversized beach-umbrellas provided by the Sutoku (at the Daitengu's insistence, naturally), she finds herself on the receiving end of another face-full of water; this one is accompanied by the soft 'bonk' of a colorful Nerf dart, just to add insult to injury.]

[What was the source??]

[A flash of a black ponytail and a gaudy Hawaiian shirt darting behind a foodstall in the direction of the shot's trajectory may provide the answer; it seems she has found herself well and truly in someone's sights.]

Fu—

[ Andy gets about half a swear word out before she's too busy gargling a mouthful of water to really be intelligible. Then — bonk. Something bounces straight off her forehead. What the — is that a fucking Nerf dart? Rude. That scowl of hers would be a lot more intimidating if all her hair wasn't sticking to her face, water dripping from her nose and chin as she irritably tugs her sunglasses off — just in time to catch the blur of a horrible Hawaiian shirt ducking behind the nearby stall.

Oh. It's fucking on. ]

You got a lot of fucking balls. [ Is it really necessary for her to do a tactical roll to the next umbrella? Probably not. She does it anyway. ] The Nerf dart? Really?

[There is the faintest chuckle from by the stalls, and then an uneasy silence. It's a sniping game, now... Who will be the first to dart out from behind their cover? Who will be the first to get shot?]

[After a few moments, a peek of a bright neon plastic crossbow tilts out from behind a kappa stall selling fried squid, as if testing the waters. After another moment, the peek of a glossy black head...]

[Andy's got her shot- if she wants to take it- but somehow, there's the sense that she's being watched from another angle. Hmmmm....]

[ Here's a woman with a poor temperament and more impulse than sense — but seven thousand years is a long time to hone your reflexes, and if there's one redeeming quality she has, it's a keen instinct for these things. The easy shot is that tempting glimpse of her opponent over by the food stall — but her gut feeling keeps her from taking the bait, instead whirling around with both water pistols pointed in the direction she's being watched from.

Fingers on the triggers. Any movement, and it'll be water from both barrels. ]

[What meets Andy is 3 blank, expressionless faces from 3 fully-(water)armed, long-bodied shadows.]

[They all let loose at once, shooting at her position with barely any cover for themselves. It's as if they have no awareness or concern for their own dryness, standing out in the open as they are.]

[Luckily, they're also fairly slow to react, which means she's free to shoot them as much as she likes- but the moment she takes her attention off of what's in front of her in order to shoot at them, she'll get another doink! at the back of her head, yet another shot of cold water accompanied by a Nerf dart.]

[4-against-1 is hardly fair, but there are no rules on this battlefield.]

[ Lucky her. Sputtering through another face full of water. What the fuck even were those things —

She doesn't get much chance to dwell on it before something hits her in the back of the head. Enma's shriveled right ballsack — another fucking Nerf dart. Honestly, it's completely undignified for a centuries-old former warrior queen, but who gives a fuck about dignity now. What she needs is a different strategy. Time to try something else.

After a moment, thoroughly soaked, she steps out from behind the umbrella with her hands up in the direction of the food stall, where her suspected tormentor has been taking pot shots. Both water pistols hang loosely from her thumbs. ]

Alright already.

Ahaha, well, I'm out of darts anyway.

[Matoba rolls his back around the corner of the food tent's post, raising his brightly-colored plastic monstrosity of a Nerf crossbow to prove it. He gestures at the Nerf darts now littering the sand.] I suppose that puts us on neutral ground. There's no real prize for winning this activity, unlike the sports and pageants over there. What do you say we call it even, then?

[Except that there were still 3 of his familiars behind her with waterguns held at the ready. Easy for him to say, like he's offering some sort of mercy to a prisoner.]

[ There might not be a prize, but at least one person's dignity has been put through the fucking wringer, and it's probably the one that got hit in the head with multiple Nerf darts. Isn't there some saying about death before dishonor? Not that Andy really needs the excuse — she's a sore loser, and petty when she puts her mind to it.

Her nemesis reveals himself, and apparently willing to be soaked to death by his three familiars, Andy turns her two water pistols into dangerous projectiles, chucking them with all the strategic prowess of a petulant 13-year-old boy at Matoba just as he finishes suggesting they should call it even. ]

Ah--

[Matoba manages to block one of the pistols with his crossbow raised in front of his face, and the other whips him in the shoulder. Both fall to the sand with a soft pat regardless, and Matoba is left standing there just to blink in confusion for a long moment, looking between Andy's face, and the pistols now laying in the sand.]

...That was rather silly. You can't even shoot me now.

[Soooo that's a 'no' to surrendering, right? Death before dishonor, indeed. And so, with another nod of his head, his shiki give another blast of cold water to the back of Andy's head.]

Let me know when to have them stop, [Matoba cheerfully chimes in as he leans over to pick up the pistols.]

[ ...Look, he's not wrong. She probably didn't really think this through. Might have let her bad temper get the better of her. A seasoned warrior she might be, but maybe that doesn't translate very well to water gun fights. It's not like they had Super Soakers in 4000 BC — though she's getting very well-acquainted with them now. Particularly the back of her head. She's willing to endure about twelve more seconds of this assault before dishonor maybe matters less than the chance of getting dry. ]

Fuck's sake — [ Irritably, she puts a hand up over her shoulder to partially block that seemingly endless stream of water, shooting Matoba a disgruntled little look. ] Okay. I'm done! I'm done.

[ As if that wasn't mostly obvious. ]

Call your fucking creeps off.

[And there goes the stubborn pride, too. Matoba looks quite pleased with himself as he retrieves the pistols and dusts some of the sand off, and with the same hand waves some gesture towards his shiki that has them stopping automatically, like puppets on a string.]

[Some of them begin to drift back over towards him, passing by Andy as if they've stopped noting her presence as soon as he called them off.]

There isn't any scoring to this, yet I still feel that I've gained something from this experience. [Somehow he hasn't run out of salt to rub in the wound? He hands the pistols off to one of the servants; another retrieves a towel, which is awkwardly held out towards Andy with a long, spindly arm.] They're not creeps. They are my servants.

[ If she had more energy for it, she'd probably be annoyed with the smug expression on his face. It's punchable. Very punchable. But she's already soaked through and entirely too old for this shit, so that petulant display from before is the most she can manage. Instead, she wrings the bottom of her shirt out, giving Matoba a pointed little look when one of his shiki brings her a towel. ]

They can be both. [ Nevertheless, she finally reaches out to take the towel, draping it around her shoulders to dry her hair. That'll be work — this woman is probably a century overdue for a haircut. To the shiki, with a little glance its way: ] No offense.

[ Probably doesn't make any difference. She's not sure they have feelings. Or if they can even hear her. ]

Have you been terrorizing everyone this way?

Fair enough. I think they're quite cute. [They certainly don't seem to understand her, but the one she speaks to at least seems to recognize it's being spoken to, even if it can't reply or catch her meaning. Matoba, for his part, seems rather amused by her attempt.]

[He's checking the water levels in the pistols now, and glances her way innocently at the accusation. Terrorizing?]

Oh, not everyone. [Cheerfully.] Are you asking how I determine my targets? It isn't like I was choosing indiscriminately, but I suppose you just seemed like you would be a fun challenge.

[The truth is that he saw her on lifeguard duty earlier, and thus knew she was Enma. And unfamiliar Enmas, especially given recent events, were quite useful for him to get to know.]

Fun while it lasted, I suppose.

[ At least the pistols she so ineffectually threw at him are mostly empty. The last thing her already bruised ego needs now is for her to be shot by her own water guns. ]

Fun? [ She echoes him in a deadpan, giving him a skeptical little look. The woman's keenly aware of her own demeanor — that potent resting bitch face, complimented by an ornery disposition. Not exactly signals of fun for most people — but then again, maybe this one's not "most people." ] Can't even fucking tell if that's supposed to be an insult or a compliment.

[ Probably the former. ]

Didn't your clan leader give you anything better to do?

[ Pot, kettle. ]

[Boo, empty. He flips the pistols towards one of the shiki, who fumbles it, but catches and holds them for its master like a packhorse while Matoba stoops to retrieve a Nerf dart from the sand.] I think you can take it however you like. Honestly. You Enmas are always so dour... Ah, but also, attentive. The perfect lifeguards, I suppose.

[And people called him uptight! Psht! He sticks the little foam dart back onto the crossbow, dusting the sand off.]

Not really, no. The Daitengu's orders are more or less always the same thing...

'Have fun, and keep your ears and eyes open.' [He gives her a cheerful smile.] Doesn't that just seem like them?

[ The perfect lifeguards? Andy scoffs lightly, giving Matoba a skeptical little look as she ruffles the water from her hair with that borrowed towel. ]

Yeah, except half of us can't even fucking swim.

[ A spot of oversight, on the Enma's part. ]

Must be nice, not having a real assignment. [ She does not smile back. Dour, like he said. ] Hasn't the Daitengu heard that shit about idle hands?

...Ah. [Well that seems like a problem. Matoba considers it for a moment, but discards it instead to focus on her bitter retort.]

A Western proverb, isn't that? But I think that's exactly what they are aiming for, between you and me. Trouble tends to shake interesting things loose, so it's all the same in the end.

Is this not the same figure who faked their own death for a month?

[Really, after their Boss pulled that stunt, all bets were off. Perfect for a mischief-maker like Matoba.]

Edited 2022-07-01 14:17 (UTC)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

June 2022 Event

[CLOSED] ANDY & MATOBA

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