July 2022 Mini Event

[jigokumods]

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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

[mortelix]

[ mort doesn't consider it detrimental to receive another's goodwill. especially, if that person wasn't you average run of the mill human. instead, they were a being of myth, perhaps, not so different from himself. ... and maybe with that thread of thought, just as capable of causing the same level of destruction. the idea was an exhilarating one, but even outside of that, he can't deny that post-death (or what he considers to have been precisely that) has left him contemplative. but, not as contemplative as the slight raise in brow at the sudden sensation against his ankle.

to be honest, he isn't all too accustomed being outside of armor that he nearly forgets the possibility of skinship. it's not everyday someone tries to seduce a dragon, after all — training or not. it takes him a second to register this is likely one of his techniques.

interesting. when he remembers that this is likely no different than a fisherman casting out their net, it almost makes him laugh. at least, if he were the sort to laugh at such a thing. ] I don't think these are the actions of one who is "out of their element." But, that aside, you seem to be a natural.

It almost makes me want to pretend to be far more difficult. [ "pretend." ]

[shittylittle]

[you just nearly got a gagtag about the use of skinship and what i think of automatically, but i feel like this will have to suffice. welcome to my twisted mind or something

ANYWAY.

Mort's lack of upfront rejection is a positive, but the lack of positive reception is a negative, so Aster figures that cutting his losses on that front is a wise thing. His energy is far too precious to go wasting, after all...

Okay, a few gentle rubs, as a parting shot. Then he withdraws his foot once more, eyes creasing with fond amusement.] Mm...You're both wrong and right, I think. While this is my element, this place...Less so. I'm about as dangerous as the average mortal right now, so these sorts of tricks are far easier to fall back on!

You're hard to read, though. I really don't know if you liked that or not, and that's the most vital part! This is super helpful, actually~ ...Or it could be, if I used this opportunity wisely. But that's no fun, to be honest ☆ I'd much rather see how far you'll let me go before you get annoyed.

[He scoots his chair in closer, smile wide but not showing teeth (bar the inevitable tip of one fang, but that's a given). Scoot scoot scoot, right up until they're thigh-to-thigh.] Or-- maybe if I phrase it right...More that I want to see if you're the sort of man who wants to be chased, sometimes. Or not!

[breweries]

But for how long...?

[shrieking_violet]

[ Chris nods. ]

Okada Izo. Alright.

[ Staying out of nasty business. People really do see her as a kid here, don't they? ]

I guess it helps me... take my time learning about that stuff, while I'm in a stable job, huh?

[bratherine]

( Something's bound to go awry. That's not a bad summation of what's been seen so far here in Jigokucho, no. )

Seems that way. ( A shrug. ) Guess that's what makes this place hell.

[ryototsukai]

[ She helps herself to a long sip of her beer before continuing. ]

You're really confident in that. Which is important in your position, I understand. But some of these cops are hassling my workers for just doing regular business.

If some Stardust filters its way down to unaffiliated gangs, it's not exactly the responsibility of bottom rung part-timers to stop that, yet they're the ones getting harassed.

[ A sigh. ]

I'm sympathetic to the position you're in, but this flood is cutting into our ability to keep the gears turning.

[ganashara]

[ Lio may have only stood at 5'2, even in his heels, but the presence of the others didn't seem to scratch at his stance. In fact, his expression seemed to harden a little. ]

That wasn't a suggestion, sir. We are politely asking you to leave.

[notched]

[ She inclines her head thoughtfully. There is something to that, that never truly being able to put down your guard is a certain kind of trauma. Still, she is much more at ease her than she was in Yharnam. ]

Could be worse.

[ Imagine if the blood rain had taken the city. ]

[no_kyouken]

Here, ya be the nasty customer first an' have fun with it.

[ Get out of her own head a little bit, and they'll make it more of a game. ]

[no_kyouken]

Never know what kinda situation yer gonna find around here.

[ Majima just agrees with the necessity of it airily. ]

Might come in handy one day.

[no_kyouken]

[ That's the life. Blood, sweat, tears. Majima just sits back with his arms crossed to watch as things progress. He's watching if any of the girls get too flustered, if the bouncers get too heated. He might get up now and then to split a pair apart and remind them that they absolutely must be civil.

It's a while longer of watching imaginary altercations, but people wander out at a drip as they have other things to do or feel satisfied. Majima dismisses the last few determinedly snarling it out and then returns to Izo with his hands loose in his pocket, ]

Battin' cages?

[no_kyouken]

Not just anyone, anyone with enough cash.

[ He puts a cigarette to his lips lazily. ]

Gettin' away with some shitty behavior is what they're payin' for. Some fuckers throw that kinda money around wherever they go.

[ And being a self-important pig is how they spend their whole life. ]

We just wanna keep pickin' up what they're throwin' around.

[ryototsukai]

Well... All the more reason to start writing your own book, right?

[ Hmm. That was probably too oblique, she realized, after saying it, letting out a nervous laugh. ]

W-what I mean is, well... Here, away from anything that the Throne or the World might have ahead of us, you're closer to the path I'm on than you think. Just as I'm finding my own horizons, you can start looking for your own.

Like... Define for yourself who you want to be, yanno?

[ryototsukai]

Oh, w-well... [ Musashi let out a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of her head as more color streaked over her cheeks. ]

The truth is, I'm an easy mark, to that end. Cute guys and beautiful women can charm me easily. Some might say it's a weakness, but it's more I just let myself live life a little more freely. Maybe that's not very Buddha-like, but I like to think it is, in its own way.

So, the Sword Saint's heart is pretty exposed, in that sense... But I prefer it that way.

[thefinalpower]

Did they cheat?

[ Power lingers at Bishop's shoulder, giving the three yokai an appraising and unimpressed stare. She doesn't look very happy about them being tied up, but it's probably not out of any sense of justice or morality... what kind of challenge are they supposed to pose if they can't fight back? ]

... Or try to sneak in, or cause a scene, or steal money or something? Why take care of them down here?

[perfectdistance]

That's something I can't tell you.

[littleshield]

It could, for a moment...if I had to use such a skill for whatever reason.

Though, if I had to use my blade to truly settle the situation, I wouldn't be surprised. Neither would I hesitate. Relying simply on luck to win the day is folly.

[ He counts whatever meagre blessings that can be found in this hellhole that a particular boar prince won't get caught up in doing this at least. ]

[no_kyouken]

[ He nods along. Bad luck is a common cause of death among the yakuza. ]

Luck don't hurt, though. In Hakagemachi, got my hands on a luck talisman that saved my skin.

[ He thinks back on it. ]

We were lookin' for th'onmyouji, found one've their tunnels. Had a magical trap set up, spell only missed me by this much.

[ He gestures with his fingers. ]

[fibrillate]

[imperceptibly, levi pricks up their ears and really focuses on what the bartender does and says next. this could be what gets them the lead they're looking for. they tilt their cup back for another sip and try to make it look like they aren't watching the bartender—it's just more appearances to keep up.]

["tends to fall from the sky around this time of year," he says, still cleaning the glass like this is a normal question that people ask every day—it might well be. everyone knows bartenders are the ones to go to if you're asking shady questions. "it makes people feel good enough that i've had to separate some of 'em with a broom handle." levi's eyebrows raise only very slightly with that. they ask something in that same flat, bored tone they've been defaulting to, even if they're trying to.]

Don't see any brooms around, so you wouldn't have any here at the bar, would you? [they watch the bartender's cleaning hand slow, maybe from suspicion. maybe from something else.]

[hellborne]

Charm the other party in order to lower their defenses, I see.

[ yes, it could be said that they have some experience with that, though jack doesn't see it as something to boast about-- not in their case, at least.

they give sholmes a quick once-over, weighing the ideas of what would be the best aspects of the man to compliment. once they've chosen the winner, their expression changes into one of admiration, almost like a star-struck child. ]

Ah-- could it be that you're the great Herlock Sholmes!

[empression]

Really? Um, are you certain you'd like me to be mean?

[ Does she look like she can be mean. ]

[getting_better]

Let's see.

[ He was handed a tablet showing footage of the three at different games, mostly blackjack, making gestures, stretching, or otherwise making what is starting to form a pattern or signal. ]

Ohhh, yeah they cheated. Uhuh. But they did it baaaadly. Especially since they got caught~

[ He calls over and oni who brings over a briefcase filled with leather gloves and he takes a pair about Power's size. ]

So, here's what I want you do to. I want you to teach these guys a lesson. Tenderize them a bit, if you would. Because, we have standards here and these guys are just not meeting our standards. We need to send a message.

[ He signals for the oni to untie the three yokai but block the entrance. ][ And now he steps back leaving her with them...or was it the otherway around? ]

But most importantly, have fuuuuun~~

[bratherine]

( That's horrifying tbqh. )

... Rather it weren't.

( No. ❤ )

[heretic_blade]

Izō's fine. Ain't gotta be formal with me or nothin'.

[ He's not used to being a position that garners respect. It's weird! ]

Yeah...Nasty stuff ain't goin' nowhere. Yer gonna get dragged into it sooner or later, so jus' enjoy th' easy parts 'til then.

[heretic_blade]

[ Izō doesn't just sit back, getting up when his help's needed and hanging back when it isn't. It took awhile, but he's finally easing in his position. The new recruits need someone more reliable and Majima is only one person. It's time he stepped up.

He gets up as Majima comes over and nods at the suggestion. ]

Sure. Hittin' shit after dealin' with this all night sounds fuckin' perfect.