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

Hot huh?

[Gojyo's eyes traveled off towards the bonfire, watching in amusement as a loud burst of cheers seemed to erupt from the group.

Ah. They were trying to jump it. It was probably another silly competition the whole lot came up with.]

You prefer cooler weather then?

[ Azem bobs her head in a nod. ] I wouldn't say very hot, but after a day in the heat... [ She shrugs. ]

I wouldn't say I prefer cooler weather, but the weather isn't nearly as hot back home. At least, it isn't in most places I've visited.

Well, if if you prefer to cool off...

[A deviously playful smirk formed as he slowly lowered himself back into the water. Spreading his arms as he began to push himself back. His eyes keeping on her as he did such.]

I suppose you could always cool down with a dip in the water~ ♥

[Come swim with him Azem. Things like this are always more fun with company.]

Sure.

[ Azem is ever amiacable. They see no reason not to take a little dip, even if it is getting dark now.

She slides the shawl from her shoulders and sets it up on the dry sand before joining Gojyo. Though she doesn't lie back, instead she sits so that the water is roughly waist deep. ]

Aaah, this is nice.

See? Feels pretty good, right?

[Kicking himself forward, he swam up closer to her, circling with his utmost playful nature.]

They did pretty damn good for an artificial ocean. Though I guess you can still tell it's fake if you take yourself out of the immersion.

[Ah. Why was it that how real it was seemed to bother Gojyo as it did? Did he just catch himself nitpicking something weird again?]

Hey, let's say we head out a little deeper, yeah? It isn't actual swimming unless your feet are barely grazing the bottom.

It is nice and cool. [ She nods, watching as he kicks about in the shallower water. ]

It's been a little while since I experienced a real ocean. This is a good facsimile, though.

[ She's tried not to think too much about it being fake. She's been letting herself enjoy the moment. ]

Sure, sure. Lead the way. [ She chuckles and shifts to follow after him. ]

[It was with her permission that Gojyo started slowly paddling himself back. Taking a quiet moment to once more go back and enjoy the sensation of the water against his gills. Really, Azem's company only did more to better his initially sour mood for the day. His head leaning back as he sunk his ears against the waves and looked up at the artificial sky. His long hair splaying out on all sides as if a part of the water itself.]

Never actually got to see a 'real' ocean before. Grew up in a pretty land locked area. But still feels like a damn good job based off of how much I've been told about it and what I've seen on movies.

[And hey, Unabara seemed to approve so that must of meant it was good.]

You said your people created that animals on your world, yeah? That include fish too?

[ Azem watches him, admiring the way his hair spreads out around him in the water. Her own hair has been kept tied up. She's tried swimming with it down before and it was not a fun experience. It was just too long and too much of a hassle to deal with in the water. ]

That's a shame. Amaurot was on the coast. If you went high up in the city you could get a beautiful view of the ocean.

[ She smiles softly as her gaze travels past him. It'd been a beautiful sight before the fire began to rain from the sky and water began to dry up. With his questions her attention returns to him. ]

That's right. Though sharks have been a ridiculous popular concept. A friend of mine has grown tired of them. [ She chuckles. ]

Man, a real live ocean-city, huh? That does sound pretty nice.

[Although he lifted his head at the mention of sharks. Genuinely seeming amused that people would willingly just come up with the idea of them none the less almost revel in it.]

Seriously. Ya invented sharks huh?

[How surreal.]

How does that even work? Like, what makes it happen that people can just come up with 'em?

It was. Waking up the smell of the salty ocean air was refreshing.

[ There's a sad tinge to her voice. She had tried not to think too much about home since arriving here, but talking about it now is making her a little homesick. ]

Not me, personally, though I did come up with a few concepts just to annoy my friend. [ She laughs. ] My favorite had butterfly wings.

[ She thinks for a moment. ] I'm not sure how to describe how it works. We just kind of... think up creature concepts and test them. If they work out then perhaps they'll be approved and released into the wild.

Man, a world where anything you think of can exists at the drop of a hat still feels so surreal to me.

[He had caught the hint of sadness that came over her. In a way, he guessed he could understand it. He never had a home to pine for, but, well, perhaps there was something...]

Weren't there worries that such a thing could be abused? I mean, I guess there was something like that where I came from, but it was far more rare and precious. And people in power kept it under high lock and key with barely a single person knowin' about it unless they were selected because something that can do just anything like that was considered something that people could easily abuse.

[Oh. Whoops. This topic got heavy, didn't it? He's... maybe going to swim up and lightly splash her in hopes of adding a little playfulness to the mood.]

[ Azem loves her homes with her entire heart. She loves the star and it's people. She loves traveling the star and taking in all of the sights, learning from it's people, and taking what she's learned back home to her friends.

This place is so foreign to her. She enjoys learning new things and meeting new people, but there's no returning home from a long journey to share a meal and stories with her friends. It's like a trip that never ends.

She chuckles in response to being splashed, shaking her head. The topic might be heavy but she feels a need to explain her home. ]

That's the funny thing. When everyone shares the same ability they only strive to make the lives of everyone around them better. Sure, some creations are dangerous and there are accidents, but most everyone only wants to see the star made better for the next generation. Ever striving toward perfection.

[ There's a sigh with that. Perfection is impossible, she's sure of that, but the fact that people want the world and life to be better is a nice sentiment. ]

We had regulations in place to ensure things worked out smoothly. And anyone that pursued creation for a living knew the protocols, knew that their concepts would require extensive testing.

Not to mention, no one wants to bring the wrath of the Convocation down on them.

The Convocation, huh? Is that your star's form of law enforcement or something?

[Gojyo still felt wary over the idea. He never trusted anything described as a perfect utopia.

After all, people had described the land he came from in much the same way. But he knew how cruel others could be. How those with power and fortune would look for any reason to 'other' those they felt did not fit in their perfect world.

There was no such thing as a world where everyone was happy over everything, where those who were perceived as ideal did not abuse their power.

Leaning back, he started to float, casually looking up at the projected dome over them that did its best to come off as a beautiful sunset. It certainly did look gorgeous.]

'Perfection,' huh? Wonder what that would look like.

In a sense. The Convocation creates the laws of the star and decides on how to best deal with threats should they arise. Each member oversees a particular aspect of life.

[ She never really thought of the Convocation as law enforcement, though at least one member was in charge of upholding such things. ]

Would that I could show you, but this place has taken that gift from me.

Yeah, seems it did that to just about everyone.

[It wasn't something he was unaware of. His own abilities had been dramatically stifled since he had arrived. All the skills Unabara had granted him over the months in Hakagemachi seemed to have vanished completely. The physical attributes still seemed to remain, of course; his gills seemed to become an integral part of him. And his connection with Unabara was was still loud and clear. But everything else had felt like it once had when he first appeared in Hakagemachi.

... At least he was used to it at this point.

How many times in his life will he lose all his capabilities only to be forced to build up entirely new ones?]

Seems they really are giving us as many incentives as possible to stick around to the people who contracted us, huh?

Mmn.

Azem half floats/half paddles about as if she simply can't stay still.

It certainly seems that way. Though much of what I can do is reliant on aether.

[ She sighs. There's so much she could do back home that she can't do here. A lot of it she can mark down as the lack of aether in this world. It would make sense that she would only have her internal reserves to rely upon. But it makes it no less frustrating that she can't create with ease or see a glimpse of what's to come or connect with others on the level of the soul. The latter, especially, makes her feel lonely. ]

Aether?

[Gojyo perked up at once to the mention of yet another unfamiliar word. His wry heavy tone replaced with youthful curiosity.

~~And could it be that the two long stray hairs at the top of his head perked up as well in the process? Nahhh.~~]

What's that?

Aether is the source of everything. It makes up our souls, it is responsible for the elements. It's what we draw upon for magic and creation.

This place is severely lacking in it.

[ It's a bit more complicated than that, but she thinks that simple explanation would be enough. ]

Ah?

[Does it? Weird. Because it almost sounds like she's talking about...]

We have a similar thing in my world. We called it 'chi'. Though it could also be pronounced on 'ki' or 'qi' depending on where it's spoken about.

Thing is, I dunno, maybe it's not exactly the same?

[Because he knew for a fact that it was something innately integrated with all youkai, although unique as it could be depending on circumstances.]

Interesting. I wonder if its the same. Though if such a thing exists here it's not similar enough to aether or perhaps not abundant enough for me to utilize.

[ She sighs. ]

Back home the air quite literally hums with it. When we pass on our aether returns to the Lifestream to be reborn.

Is it like that for this chi?

I don't know. Maybe?

Truthfully couldn't tell you factual shit about what happens to our spiritual energy after we die.

[He had felt it leave at the brink of a person's life far too many times to count. But usually it just sort of felt like it faded.]

There are plenty of religions and stuff that talk about that sort of thing; what happens and where it goes. But I never really gave it too much thought.

[He perked up, his head lifting a little more from the water as he looked over towards her.]

There's a religion in the land I'm from that's pretty popular. And, I don't know, I guess it must have some basis of truth in its beliefs.

[After all, he did meet literal gods from it. It was kind of hard to say it wasn't all bullshit.]

But they say something similar. That your 'soul', your spiritual presence, carries the weight of the things you have done during your life, and when you die your soul is reborn as something new within the world based on the weight of those actions.

[Or at least that was what he got from it? Despite literally traveling beside a Buddhist monk for three years without pause he still didn't fully understand these things.]

Fascinating that your people don't know all of that. There are those among us that can see the movement of aether in action, can see the soul both within and without the body.

I've been told its very colorful.

[ The concept of religion is a strange thing to Azem. It might have existed once on Etheirys but now there are now gods to worships. ]

Reborn based on the weight of one's actions? That's...strange. Back home a soul is simply washed clean, so to speak, and starts over as another human.

Well, I guess that makes sense. After all, you said your world was made of only humans and nothing else, right?

[It's impossible to be reborn as anything else when only one thing exists on a star.

It still felt strange to him, the concept of words with only humans. Even more so, Azems, which didn't even have any other animals that occurred naturally.]

Guess you can't be reborn as anything but human.

But where I came from, all sorts filled my world. Youkai, humans, gods, animals, and some, I guess. When you have energy flowing from all places and different sources, I think the streams are bound to get mixed up.

We aren't the only life, but yes, it would be a little strange for a soul to be born as another lifeform.

[ Azem hums. Though now they can see why he questioned her so much about her world. So many different kinds of people must not be able to see eye to eye as often. She's seen it enough here to get an idea. ]

It must be an interesting to live in such a world with so many different people.

Interesting is one way to put it I guess.

[It was a complicated matter. One Gojyo purposely did his best to not think too much about. Would he prefer a world in which there was more sameness? Most certainly not. But his world was rife to with conflict even by small things like physical and spiritual differences. It wasn't a lie that many would use even the slightest difference to ostracize and other.

But he still preferred it over the idea of a world where everyone was the same. And even then he still wasn't completely convinced that even in a world like Azems that there wasn't some form of conflict.]

There's other life where you come from? But you said it was you guys who create all the animals, right? What happens to their life force when they die then?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject