July 2022 Mini Event

[jigokumods]

MAIN NAVIGATION


Tanabata is on the horizon, and the city seems to be recovering well from last month. But there's work to be done, and it's time to get to it...

1. SHUTEN CLAN - THE HOUSE ALWAYS WINS

With construction wrapping up, the new Shuten Clan casino will be opening soon. The casino has a number of new staff positions opening. It is a golden opportunity for anyone looking for a cash rich position. The money promised upon assignment to the underground casino is bound to be life-changing. Given the potentials in clientele, Toraguma is expecting the very best. Shutens are to report to the above ground Celestial Phoenix casino for their training.

They will be taught all the traditional casino fare, both Japanese and abroad. This includes being taught how to cheat at these games as well. For example:

• Blackjack dealers will learn card count, and how to catch others doing the same.
  
• Roulette attendants will learn both how and when to discreetly adjust the wheel.
  
• Craps and Cee-lo dealers will learn how to feel for loaded dice and how to switch in the house's dice without notice.
  
• Cee-lo dealers are also taught a specific way to line the dice tray to cause more lost throws.
• Cho-Han dealers will learn how to distract players as they adjust the dice.

That's not all the Shutens will be learning. The clan needs skilled bouncers as well: people who can handle rowdy customers or haughty celestials. The more tenured Shutens will take up the roles of rude customers and challenge the trainees in how to handle them.

While not everyone will receive employment in the casino, they are all expected to participate in training. Shuten officers are expected to guide and oversee their juniors.

2. TAMAMO CLAN - CHARM SCHOOL

The Tamamo Clan also has preparations to make in anticipation of the underground's opening. The clan is opening their own brothel and cabaret, as well as providing food and drink services to the new Shuten casino.

All Tamamo Clan members must report for training at Mizukume. The lesson of the day is to use one's charisma to secure a huge payout. For example:

• Hosts and hostesses will learn the art of schmoozing away clients' money.
  
• Performers will learn more provocative means of soliciting large tips.
  
• Oiran are taught the erotic arts; the perfect balance to both please a client, and how to leave them begging (and paying) for more. There's no technique Tenkohime finds too shameful. Money is power, and power is freedom.
  
• Food service workers are provided master classes in mixology, plating, and how to serve high-profile clients without breaking a sweat.

Each role comes with its own set of pressures, but also the promise of great reward. Everyone is going to get rich, if everyone plays their part well.

Tenured Tamamo are asked to roleplay as clients for the benefit of those Lost Souls new to the work. While not everyone will be selected to work in the Underground, everyone is expected to train for it.

3. SUTOKU ALLIANCE - BLACK MARKETS AND BACK ALLEYS

After months of meetings, it's finally time for some real action. Sutoku Lieutenant Ryouma Sakamoto has made some pretty big commitments on the Alliance's behalf. His temerity comes from his earnest belief in the other Sutoku Lost Souls! No pressure, though!

To succeed, the Alliance must determine who is behind the current black market operation. Ryouma is relying on the Alliance's extensive information network and the hard work of the Lost Souls to make it happen.

This is the work that Ryouma mentioned when he welcomed the new arrivals recently.

This assignment is all about what you know. The Sutoku need to learn more about the competition, through any means necessary. The Alliance wants to know everything about what goods are moving around the city and who is moving it. Time to follow the money. You might even discover an unfulfilled niche in the market through your investigations.

The current influx of Stardust in the city is a great opportunity to investigate the existing dealers and supply lines. The Alliance is gathering Stardust just like everyone else, but it is becoming increasingly scarce as the factions vie for it. The value of this commodity is shooting up every day. Take some cash or other compelling bartering tools with you to grease the palms of a few shady dealers. Try to convince them to be more honest about their supply lines, beyond just the sparkly stuff. Stick the landing, and you might just be closing in on the heart of those shipping loopholes.

This is no easy undertaking. Creativity and tenacity will determine just how far you can go. Be careful not to be too obvious, the threat of unwanted attention will cause your sources to clam up.

4. DEPARTMENT OF THE ENMA - CRACK DOWNS

The Stardust's street presence has shifted naturally over the past few weeks: from an easy resource to simply scoop up in garbage bags overnight to a hot commodity. The street value of the material has increased considerably, and that means that the unaffiliated street gangs are greedy to get in on the action.

Enma officers are called upon to round up any black market dealers of Stardust and confiscate as much of their supply as they can find. This might just bring them into some direct conflict with the Sutoku Alliance members hoping to connect with market insiders. That's just how things boil out sometimes, though.

It is more important to the Department to get Stardust out of the hands of the black marketeers… and into their own lockers.

Officers are given permission to use any amount of force against individual actors, and members of the Law and Records Department are expected to draft up warrants (no matter how doctored) to obtain access to buildings they otherwise would never be allowed into; even Mizukume and the Arena. The Department's orders are clear: if it's not an approved market, shut it down.

This is in the name of maintaining Order, so get out there. Move at least in pairs, or you're likely to meet some serious resistance, and keep an eye out for the newbies.

5. ALL FACTIONS - LUNAR RABBIT RETURNS

It isn't just the factions, dealers, and petty gangs who are interested in the Stardust now that it's a premium item.

A familiar face has resurfaced: the mysterious gyokuto medicine woman and her army of white rabbits. While her little kin have managed to gather a healthy amount of Stardust for her "research", she still needs more. She is willing to pay a huge premium to those who retrieve more materials for her.

She understands that this will require you to either pilfer from one of the factions, or potentially someone even more dangerous. She will be providing samples of one of her drugs, which can grant temporary invisibility in moonlight. Use it for whatever hijinks you want, but she really would prefer if you brought her the goods in the end.

If invisibility doesn't cut if for you, she can provide another sample that provides 10 times your normal strength. While you can KO anyone who gets in your way, it wears off within 5 to 10 seconds. She is very clear that you should not take more than 3 doses of this, or you will very possibly die. Probably. Maybe? It will be unpleasant. So use it only when you need to.

The reward for getting her some Stardust, depending on the amount, can easily pay all a character's expenses for a month, if not longer. The temptation is great, but do you trust this strange rabbit woman?

Welcome to the mini event!

• If you have any questions about event content, please ask them here!
• Looking for a partner for your prompt? Post here!
• FOR THE PURPOSES OF REWARDS, since all of these prompts tie into the main plot in some way, we will count all qualified threads in this post as 2 point threads!
• If you have questions about the game itself, please check out the premise, FAQ, and rules pages.

Comments

[ryototsukai]

[ ... Musashi deflated slightly, a nervous laugh. ]

Y-yeah, I'm the type to constantly spend above my means, so I'm not sure I can give the cues for someone more careful with their money.

[perfectdistance]

[ teasingly ]

Then could interest you in another drink along with our fine appetizers? I'm sure you wouldn't want to miss out on anything.

[ This stuff is all so expensive. ]

[medicative]

Let me know if this works!

[medicative]

Hopefully this works!

[lemoncandy]

this looks great!! no worries at all, I hope you're feeling better, but I'll get to this hopefully before tonight!

[ryototsukai]

[ Musashi, in just that moment, seemed to just forget what she was actually there to do, giggling a bit, cheeks flushing. ]

Sure, why not! How about a couple of highballs?

[perfectdistance]

In that case, I have to recommend the fresh caught oysters, the caviar cone, and king crab cocktail.

[peninhand]

"You're absolutely right."

Monika smiled as she replied, and didn't show any further hints of what was going through her head. She was good at keeping up the confident and charismatic facade usually, but she wasn't really used to having to deal with the trauma from her "homeworld" and being reminisced of it by random little things. In fact, she probably should explain what had just happened.

"Sorry. Whenever I start thinking about anything somehow related to my homeworld..." She brought a hand to her head. "It's still a bit hard on me."

It wasn't a lie, but devoid of context it probably sounded far less horrible than what the reality was. So instead she did take the bowl and inspected it before moving on to the other pieces. She continued smiling, but soon asked a question.

"So I feel the need to ask, um..." That was awkward and she couldn't help but blush a little just asking that. But she needed to be sure. No way she'd go through with this if there was a risk. "The clients, they won't like... Expect services that are like, you know... The other services?"

Hopefully she didn't need to spell it out. Being a hostess was supposed to be safe. But her worry was more on what clients expected in spite of the rules. Considering the kind of world they were in, she couldn't be too careful.

[getting_better]

"Tenshi..."

He says with a fair bit of warning, aprehension, and general "oh no" vibes as she walked towards the machine.

"I know Japanese products tend to have a higher quality, but vending machine sake? C'mon..." Now he just feels bad for the old tengu, at least for now. "If this guy is a drinker, then he'd know the difference between the good stuff and this."

[notched]

[ Somewhere through this set of directions, Anna just stops. She puts her hands down on the bar and leans towards Tenshi with a narrow look. ]

Just drink it plain like the rest of us.

[ Aka like Anna who just fists whatever bottle is in front of her. ]

[notched]

[ She just holds up the plate for Kate to take some. ]

They can try.

[notched]

[ All it really does is splash on Anna's black leather jacket and break on the floor. She stops what she's doing to glance at Mima. Her reaction is in stark contrast: entirely muted and mostly just confused. ]

It's nothing, girl.

[ She just picks up a rag, bending down to gather the puddle of glass into the cloth. ]

Go find a broom.

[heretic_blade]

Most of th' troublemakers are gonna be drunk. Yer small enough ya should be able t' get outta th' way if they try'n hit ya. Let 'em flounder and flail and jus' keep gettin' outta th' way.

[ He grimaces. That knee to the nuts is sticking with him. ]

If ya really need muscle, get someone t' help...Or get some trainin' in th' off hours in th' Arena. Small fry like ya should have people fallin' all over themselves t' help ya out.

[shrieking_violet]

[ Chris nods along. Drunk people ARE pretty useless, so if she's quick she can just make them trip over their own feet if they wanna get feisty. ]

...I'll learn. I don't wanna be too weak for that.

[ryototsukai]

[ A growl of her stomach betrayed her further, but honestly, he'd already done the work. Musashi let out an affirmative hum, nodding enthusiastically. ]

Let's load up on all of those! Make it a real party!

[ Ah... well, this is why she shouldn't have been in charge of training. ]

[perfectdistance]

Of course.

[ He'll motion to a waiter to go get them the foods he mentioned.

Girl, please think about that wallet. Though he supposes this is training and fully comped. ]

For the entree, I'd recommend the seared steak or the rack of lamb.

[fullgauntlet]

... I'm not sure if you've noticed, Tokoyami-kun. But I'm not the most... confident person... when it comes to lying.

[He's already stressed out about this?? He sweats and adjusts his tie.]

Maybe if you could give me a tip or tell me what I should say if someone asks me something about my face? Or my voice?

[Izuku looks like baby?!?!]

[blackabyss]

Hmnn...

[Fumikage does notice, and he frowns as he appraises Izuku. It's true that Deku's... well, really bad at lying. But perhaps he has an idea.]

Have you considered... creating and channeling a persona to make use of?

I'm crying

[empression]

[ Harry has absolutely committed himself to this, hasn't he? It's honestly very impressive. Haru is a little concerned that the blackjack dealer might be experiencing Real Discomfort, so when she steps forward, it's with a wee bit of hastiness. ]

Sir, would you like to take a moment? Get some fresh air, perhaps? You don't look well.

[fuckdogramagra]

[ Oh the ear thing was- cute, but he wasn't going to say or even think that thought. He didn't quite understand all of what Kimm was capable of, but if he could read thoughts, that would be mortifying- ]

No, it's more... [ He missed seeing him? It's odd, to dwell on how comfortable he'd gotten, living in the same building as other people. ] ...wait, medicine? You can make medicine?

[ Sorry, Kimm, that curious tone means you're stuck with him. ] Drow make medicine from mushrooms, too? Whenever I'd get sick, my grandmother would go right for the shiitake...I've had a lot of trouble trying to find the sort I'm used to, though. [ Tama shifts his apron-bundle in his arms. ] I don't need to hold you up- but, ah, there's been malicious yokai around this area as of late, and I don't want to risk running afoul of them again...

[nailpin]

[ The loud noises definitely caught her attention, and Nobara can be spotted leaning forward with her head titled as she watches the scene in front of her. It's certainly interesting to see how they are 'training'. It makes her miss the spars that she would have with her friends back home.

Likewise, it would be a shame if she were to let those skills get rusty. She waves her hand up in the air as she approaches. ]

You certainly look like you know what you are doing - think you can teach me a few tricks?

[nailpin]

im a lil' late but yessss, that would be great!!

im very excited for their cr

[breweries]

[ nodnod!! so far, so good ]

I'd like that, thank you.

[ a pause, before covering his mouth with the back of his hand to signify that he's gonna talk out of script here: ]

I am serious about what food you'll be serving to me, by the way.

shylock has that effect on people... u_u

[breweries]

[ is it truly a challenge? shylock would've just smiled regardless. what a northern way of thinking, but that's all right -- he has quite a penchant for the guys up there. and if someone were to metaphorically take him apart just to see what makes him tick, all they will see is a burning heart laying dormant in wait. ]

You're hardly frightening at all. I'd say that your naivete in these mundane matters can be considered cute in some circles, in fact.

[ he's not lying. something something about gap moe. ]

Now, then. First, let's start you with something simple such as a margerita. Could you get me one of the tequila bottles in that cabinet behind you? [ there's a lot of liquor bottles... ]

[psionicmolotov]

[ He might not have heard that exact curious tone before, but it's similar enough for him to realize that he now would have to pry Tamamori off the topic with a crowbar.

Oh, well. He's feeling more tolerant than usual today. ]

We make many things from mushrooms, given it is more common to us than any Surface plant. Adjusting to the food here was easier than I expected. [ Lots of mushrooms for him to take advantage of, as it turns out.

He glances at the bundle and connects the dots, shifting the basket on his arm. ] If you aid me with an errand I must do first, I will make sure nobody accosts you on your way home.

[ A little transactional exchange, and nobody owes anyone anything. Nice and clean. ]