jigokulogs | July 2022 Mini Event

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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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Power, to nobody's surprise, had signed up for bouncer duty with great enthusiasm. Probably a little too much enthusiasm to be honest, but she didn't have a head for numbers, and didn't have the subtlety required for fixing card games. ]

So, when we throw people out, do we throw them hard enough that they bounce? Is that where the name comes from?

[ She cracks her knuckles, and gives him a grin that's far too sharp and pointy for comfort. ]

[ Oh. Oh no. He didn't like that question. ]

No. No we do not. We do not do that to customers.

[ Somewhere, in the back of his mind, he thinks of Dante who's had to put up with Bishop's unhinged personality early in his stay here. A bead of sweat rolls down his neck. ]

We only throw them out of the casino, nothing else unless they make a really big mess. Like pulling a weapon out, or getting frisky with the staff, or cheating.

[ They're also cheating but, they own the place. ]

Why did you sign up for this???

I tried signing up for one of the card games first, but I was told my talents were better suited for bouncing. They didn't like my methods, even though eating the valuable cards is a very effective way to make sure that nobody wins at Blackjack.

[ Power shrugs nonchalantly. Sorry buddy, this is what you signed up for! ]

Once they cheat or unsheathe a weapon, that's when we can declare a battle, yes?

[ Once more he just stared, then looked back at the onis who had just stepped back or out waved to leave it to him. ]

We do not declare battle. We subdue if they draw a weapon then throw them out. If they cheat, we call them out and then escort out.

[ Oh god, he's starting to really feel like the pot calling the kettle black. ]

You do realize we're trying to run a business here, right? And if someone were to die here, then it'd look really bad, yeah?

[ Please say yes. Please. ]

Wouldn't it serve as an example, instead? We'd get less rude customers that way.

[ It's a genuine question; to Power, this is a logical approach! Seeing the look on Bishop's face, she relents slightly and tilts her head back in a long-suffering sigh, as if she's the one putting up with his nonsense. ]

... But fffffiiiiine, I suppose non-lethal methods would mean more living customers. I'll hold back. Most humans are so puny that a full-strength blow from me would destroy them, anyway.

[ He has questions and perhaps he doesn't really want to know. ]

Technically you're not wrong but...

[ They want people to come back after all, even despite the rough housing. ]

Ok, as long as you under-!!

[ And then he gets an idea, a deliciously evil idea. ]

Hey, what's you're name again?

Of course I'm not wrong, I'm always right about everything. 'Tis a well-known fact.

[ She states this without a hint of irony! ]

... I'm Power! Who are you?

[ She never bothered to get his name, before! ]

I'm called Bishop. Come with me, Power. I think I've got the perfect job for you.

[ He says as he makes his way to the back room. ]

And you get to hit people too~

[ Once in the back where all the CCTV footage is monitored by a team that's keeping track of the ongoings. ]

Just incase you didn't know, this is our monitoring station - but we're not here for that. Boys, anyone one who fits the criteria?

[ He says to the oni around the room who nod and start to guide them further back. ]

Perfect. Hey, Power. Continuing are talk, part of the responsibilities of getting customers is making sure the casino is up to snuff. As such, there are certain individuals who we don't let in, but sometimes they can be a little to hard headed and have to be....educated about the establishment. You feel me?

[ Power lingers behind for a few moments to snoop on the CCTV monitors, before the oni shoo her away. She sticks her tongue out at them before hurrying to catch up with Bishop, and comes right up behind him, close enough that she has to crane her neck to see over his shoulder.

The sharp, almost feral grin on her face says that she has a pretty good idea of what Bishop means by 'education', and it ain't the kind that's approved by a schoolboard! ]

Of course. Who are my opponents?

Opponents.

[ He thinks. ... Then smiles. ]

You know, I'm not sure. We're about to find out.

[ The onis lead them to a service elevator and they all step in, Bishop making idle chat with the group - the kind of mindless drivel you'd find in an office as the lift takes them to the bottom of the underground parking garage. Once the doors open, there's three yokai tied to chairs being guarded by other onis. ]

Ah! Already this much. Good job boys. Power, see these poor yokai on the chairs? Why do you think they're like that?

[ Humor him, this was where the "image" part of being in the yazuka comes up. ]

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?

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~~

July 2022 Mini Event

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