jigokulogs | 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

[ They probably should introduce themselves? But given his personality he ... doesn't initiate that, so he will continue to be tedaikun. A few meters away, a black wolf starts to saunter in their direction. Megumi is very casual about this wolf being here, not really acknowledging it as it takes its place at his side. The white one has run off with Yuuji, probably.

He finds the other's phrasing a bit strange, and he's nosy enough to want to ask further. ]

Why wouldn't you be allowed in the water? You're -- [ He looks him over. ] How old are you?

[ Tama has always come across as an adult, and Megumi isn't one to believe that adults cannot be short. He's just really confused as to why an adult would be disallowed to swim. Of course, with the way he gave Tama a once over and asked that potentially rude question, he can easily be misunderstood. ]

I-I'll be twenty-two at the end of the month!!!! [ Don't take his sudden puffed-up-cheeks defense personally, he's just heard this multiple times in so short a period that his height has become a bruise on his already-delicate pride. Also, he's a manchild. Tama almost wants to sulk and just leave it there, but he glances over and down to...suddenly meet eyes with the wolf. And that's- both bizarre enough to be something his mind just placed there as a hallucination, but also interacting properly with the water lapping around its legs...when he looks up, he's forgotten all about being a brat fifteen seconds ago. ]

Anyway- I have a...condition. [ A curse is sort of a condition, isn't it? Well okay curse is also a strong word, but Tama isn't really sure what to call it. ] The candies the kappa brought should make it safe to try, but...they don't teach you how to swim. [ He glances back down at the wolf, still trying to gauge if it's, well, real. Or at least visible to tedaikun. For some reason, it's easier to ask about that than to fix the name issue. ] Is that...your familiar? [ Tama sure doesn't know the right terms for things, but his gut's pretty confident that there's something alike between the pair. ]

Twenty-two ... [ Yet, acting a bit childish there. He has gets a general sense of his frequent customer's personality now. Megumi barely responds to the assertion, stoic expression on his face unchanging. Also, so they are never going to learn each other's names, wow ...

There's a nod at the question of the wolf being Megumi's familiar, and almost like it understands human speech (it does), the large black wolf saunters closer to Tama, sitting in front of him and staring. Megumi provides no further elaboration. ]

Do you have a medical illness? [ That disallows him from swimming? Megumi's curious now, and a nosy person at nature. Funny that he barely responded to the question about himself but is happy to keep asking Tama questions. ]

Yes, born alongside the turn of the century! [ Which is a very grandpa way of wording it, but it takes until then to finally give up and awkwardly try to slot names in to the conversation. ] Oh, right...Mizumori Tama, from Aizu. I'm one of those 'not anywhere near the same time as this hell' lost souls, so please be patient with me. [ As if he's not supposed to be the 'senpai' here, and all, but. Modern stuff was hard, even if he had taken to it like a fish to water.

Speaking of- ah, damnit. He's such a shoddy liar. The wolf gets his attention again, almost looking at it a little pleadingly, before glancing back up. The longer he's been standing in the water, the more the blue of his eyes has been brightening, like an obnoxiously oversaturated, fluorescent paint. ] ...well, I have one of those too. But, it's more of a...spiritual condition, I guess? A yokai-or-such kind of condition.

[ It's nice when the other person is willing to tell him about themselves without him having to ask very much. He likes to know things about people. So Mizumori isn't from the same time as the setting of Jigokucho ... Megumi's met others from other time periods. He's curious now to know when Mizumori is from (though the old-fashioned swimsuit is ...telling. ) ]

Fushiguro Megumi. [ Normal people would say 'nice to meet you' but he isn't one of those people. He's definitely curious to know about Mizumori's familiar -- or just this whole general situation he seems to be in. ]

So, you were cursed? [ The word 'curse' is used very loosely where Megumi comes from. It can mean anything from being hexed with malicious spiritual energy, or having a loved one's dying will imposed upon you. What Mizumori describes fits the bill. He's wondering now what sort of curse prevents someone from going into the water -- and he definitely takes notice of the way those eyes are glowing brighter.

There's a lot of empathy that he has for the cursed, given what happened to Tsumiki. ]

Is it really okay for you to go into the water then?

[ Tama sort of takes a moment to regard that specific question with some thought. Certainly, he never sees the point in being cagey about things- everyone in Hell seems to have at least more understanding of this sort of stuff than he or Minakami did (as far as Tama is aware of, anyway) and he'd yet to run in to anyone who he couldn't trust to not steal his eyes out of his head while he was asleep. Well, maybe Matoba-san, but. He'd do it as a prank. And anyway, that guy was a totally different set of weirdness... ]

Honestly? I have no idea. [ So, it was time for ever-earnest Tama, as Kawase complained about and also praised at the same time. Maybe getting perspective, or even just a reaction from someone else about this would be good given...Mr. Ayakashi-smile-leer was so obviously tangled up in his own web of problems? Also, ted- no, Fushiguro-kun had a dogwolf. Who Tama wanted to pet very badly but was trying not to be potentially awkward about it. ] I don't know if you know about hashihime, but...it, she? The curse is one of those. We're so far from her bridge that it should be safe, and nothing happened when it rained earlier on in the month, but I'm still trying to be careful about it. [ Tama shrugged, a little insecure. ] I didn't grow up knowing much about this sort of thing, so that's why I've been buying folklore books.

[ He is familiar with her story, though it's not often he meets a known and named spirit, instead of the usual curses that are really just manifestations of human emotion. Those spirits of renown he can imagine would be much stronger, not to be trifled with. He does wonder how this had happened at all, especially since Tama does not seem to know himself. ]

I was wondering about your interest in them. [ Though even without the backstory, that interest is fair given where they are. Megumi's checked out those very same books. ]

How did you find out she had cursed you? [ Or whatever is going on here. ]

June 2022 Event

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