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

[ INLAND EMPIRE - No, not at all.
EMPATHY - She misses this person deeply. His absence has left her with a painful reminder of all things being finite. ]

Yeah. Sure. [ He takes the offered kebab and smiles. It's not convincing even to him. A man who wiped all his memories has no room to judge someone who wants to leave the past behind. ] So are you planning to take a lover anytime soon?

[ This guy *was* a lover, right? Or a friend that may have been a lover someday. ]

[ Harry. Harry, that is the worst way to word that. She has to suck in her lips to keep from asking something that will embarrass him, or put them in the most awkward conversation for everyone around them, all for a joke. ]

Do you? [ It's a gentle question, not meant in spite. ] For me... I don't know. To tell the truth... whenever I tried, it didn't work out. So... I guess I'll let it find me.

[ Maybe he can tell, because he's know it. The sound of a person who never got over a heartache. The sort of love that ruins your past, present and future; the sort of all-consuming death of a lover who never came back. ]

I mean, I kind of did, but... [ Well, he's very sure Andy has already fucked someone else. There was no commitments nor promises made in that room. ] I'm surprised it doesn't work out for you. You're a pretty girl, easy to talk with, nice smile. Feels like you should have a line-up of suitors.

[ VOLITION - Doesn't this seem awkward to chat about with someone significantly younger than you?
SUGGESTION- No, it's fine? She likes you and you like her and you're having a normal conversation right now.
ELECTROCHEMISTRY - You should make it *abnormal* as quickly as you can. ]

[ She's starting to get the feeling he's doing this on purpose. Maybe she should be ribbing him back? At least, it feels like he's ribbing her. Hmm... ]

I'll take the compliment, Harry. [ There's a sincerity in her gaze, but not in her smile. That's hard to pin down when she remembers the past; a gnawing sense of want keeps possessing her in the wake of nostalgia. ] It wasn't in my hands. Takes two to tango, I hear. But... The first guy I ever loved. He said he'd call, and never did.

[ Two strikes. ]

But that's just the first guy. Surely there's more guys. Lots of guys even! Maybe... even some girls?

[ He found out that girls can also like girls and it was a revelation. Maybe that's what Aerith's issue is then. ]

It hurts though. When you wait for the call that never comes. Or when you call them and they don't want to talk at all. You don't even know what you did wrong. They just expect you to know.

[ Wait, she heard that correctly. She did? ...Harry? Harry Du Bois? Detective Harry Du Bois? ...Does Kim know?

Anyway. ]

Yeah... He never did call me or write me. I wrote him, actually. A letter, and then another... and another, and then one last one. To let him know I was giving up. [ Simple as that. Finite, indeed. ]

So, you've had better luck than me, then? C'mon, I'm all ears.

Hell no. I have shit luck. No one taught me how to love, Aerith. And I'm all out of it.

[ He's given her the wrong idea. Or maybe she's just trying to pick at him? It didn't escape his notice the way she keeps asking questions without any satisfying answers of her own. ]

Why did you give up?

[ You know, that's a fair question. She has to gather her thoughts for a moment before replying. There's a twist of guilt on her face before she finally does reply; it was a selfish decision, and nothing more. ]

I'm not like other people, Harry. I've got a special talent! [ With a grin, she continues, somberly. ] I'm very good at giving up.

[ But much more sincerely comes a simpler answer. ] You have to move on eventually. I don't want to be bound to one thing forever... here, or there, or anywhere. Waiting for someone who might not even want to come back to me... It hurt.

[ LOGIC - That makes no sense. If you give up, then you'll never accomplish anything. Not in practical tasks and certainly not in love. ]

But then you'll never have true love. Love means *not* giving up, Aerith. [ He grits his teeth, then realizes he might be a little too intense. Stop that Harry. Stop scaring people. ] Ok, fine, let's say you give up on this guy. He sounds like a jerk anyway. Are you going to find a new love?

[ He doesn't frighten her for a moment. In fact, she wishes someone would have fought for her like that. Jealousy doesn't strike, only disappointment. ]

In the future, yeah. I hope so. I want to move on, and find a life for myself. A future I can write, just for me. [ Her kebab is going cold. You know, much like her love life. ]

Tell you what. When I find it, I'll make you celebrate with me. And, the same goes for you. Tell me when you find it, and we'll go somewhere fun, together.

...Fine.

[ There's a hearty lack of excitement in it, like a child acquiescing to something he knows he cannot exert any control over. It's her life. Why does it feel like a loss then? ]

June 2022 Event

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