jigokulogs | July 2022 Mini Event

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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!

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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!
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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Yeah, yeah." He replied rather unethusiastically, quitely formulating a plan and a conversation pace to get him to talk. He was silent all the way until they finally reached the doors of the bookstore with the old tengu inside.

Bishop took a deep breath, a quiet moment, then opened the door. "Good d-" "SHADDAP!! YOU'RE TOO LOUD!!!" Was the immediate response.

The old tengu was inside sweeping the store, more cantankerous than last time. "What do you want? Make it quick!" Bishop was stunned. "....U-Ummm, we have a gift for you sir. As thanks for...for last time." Even though it was a trade that they did, he's certain he doesn't remember.

"Eh? Well why didn't you say so? You young in's are always so loud and in a rush all the time. Come in, and close that door."

She refrained from laughing when he reacted that way. Sorry, but a senile old Tengu was just funny to her. She had to resist mentioning the fact that there was a remote possibility she was older than he was while she followed in and bowed, keeping her voice moderately on the low side. "Thank you for having us over, oji-sama." She grinned at him despite the loud bombastics. Yeah, Bishop would get around to asking in a second, but being polite and acting the part of a good little celestial would avoid her doing something stupid.

You know. Like opening her mouth and ruining the plan.

Hopefully, this was going to be the most difficult part of today's activities.

They were led to the back room and to a tatami room with a table, the two of them expected to sit opposite him and Bishop obliges.

"Anyway, oji-san. Here, some high quality sake." The old tengu takes the box and slides the cover off, an elegant ceramic bottle tucked away inside. "Oh! It's even got a cup to drink it with!" The old yokai hoists the bottle and cup, immediately putting down before Bishop while he held the cup.

Smiling, Bishop reached over and uncorked the sake - the smell of which filled the immediate area and brought a delight to the tengu's face as his cup was filled. "By the way, I had heard that some magpies had been bothering others during the Tanabata preparations. How dangerous." Said with feigned ignorance.

"Yeah, I heard. Immature little punks, the lot of them." The tengu scorns the actions of his bretheren as he downs the whole cup, which Bishop is quick to fill. "Indeed. Such uncouth behavior, and right before Tanabata too." He says with a smile. This is gonna be a lot simpler than he thought.

"Kids these days, am I right," she said as she settled in and bowed appropriately to him. Oh, that scent. So sweet and light. It was the smell of properly made, light sweet rice wine. Relaxing a little, she let him take the lead in this conversation, keeping her comments easier and less invasive. Basically, if she could support the old man as he spoke, then it would help him goad along.

"They've got no respect, those punks. Don't know how to take their frustrations out and take their time. Always rushing, always rushing. They keep squawking in the district, you know!" he was saying as he watched the wine being poured and drained it.

The tengu let out a loud sigh as he drained the second cup. "It's strange though, how the Alliance would distrupt the festival like that. Seems out of character for the Daitengu, no?" Bishop probes, though by this point the old bird was already in his talons.

"The Daitengu would never!" The old yokai declared before draining the third cup. "It was that damn Kasasagi tribe! Those old fools just can't leave honest folk in peace!"

Bishop immediately smiled at how easy it was to get a name. He looks over to Tenshi, a subtle signal to get ready to leave. It's about time to get to the next stage of planning.

"Of course he wouldn't ever say something like that. He's been the one pushing for peace. You're right," she said, nodding her head, which got a nod from the old tengu and a bang on the table. Well, it was a feeble bang, but still. The point was made.

"They're always so uppity. So demanding. Turks need to know their place. It's why I never go to my favorite diner up north!" He sighed and took another sip, settling again. "At least some of you kids have proper manners. This is good sake."

She nodded to the look, about ready when he gave that signal. She could extricate herself just fine when that came.

He smiled through the onslaught of complaints, always ready to fill the freshly drained cup.

"We're glad you enjoyed the sake, oji-san, but Tenshi and I have some other tasks for today." "Eh? Oh, yeah, yeah. Go on, before you lot get in trouble. Thanks for the sake!" The tengu reaches for the bottle to start pouring himself the cups and making boisterous noises expected from old men in their cups.

Bishop bowed and then tapped Tenshi on the shoulder as he left, making sure to close the door behind then as they exit the store.

"Well, that was easier than I expected. Now we have a name, time to steak out the place. Should be easy enough to find if we ask the locals around the Sutoku districts."

She bowed as well, murmuring appropriately before following him out the door. Once they were there, in the streets, she breathed a sigh of relief. "You know, I actually kind of like that old bird," she said with a snicker. "Tengu can be fun when they're getting aa little hard of hearing."

She walked up next to him, considering and then nodding. "Yeah, that should be perfect." She was already starting off in that direction. "And like we agreed. We're just beating them up. No killing. I don't think either of us wants to start a real turf war with the Sutoku. I've got friends over there."

"Of course." Though if he's pushed hard enough....Well, he hopes it won't come to that. The walk to the Sutoku district proper wasn't that long as the old streets become modern and the atmosphere in the air becomes more electrifying. This wasn't their final destination though as, after a few questions, they were directed deeper into the territory where new goes back to old.

Traditional Japanese style homes dotted the urban scape and their quarry had one such house from what they were told. "Tenshi, hold on a sec." He says stopping her a few blocks away.

"We have to scout the place but we shouldn't do it together. Since this place looks like it surrounded by streets on all sides, I want you to go around the south side while I take the north. Try to blend in looking like a tourist or something. Then we'll meet back here in half an hour." This was starting to get serious and it was reflecting in his features. "Make sure they don't get a good look at your face."

Tenshi nodded at the direction. It made sense to her, and while she was no master of disguise? She knew how to put her hat to good use in keeping from people getting the best look at her face. In fact? She reached up and plucked the one identifying thing about her hat off of the ribbon and put the peach out of sight with a little wink. It was kind of obvious.

"See you in a half hour," she said, making a few mental note of the kinds of things that she would need to pay attention to. If there was one good thing about her? She was really good at looking like a tourist, because... well she basically was one. Either way, the south road was covered and a few casual glances told her that they seemed to be going in and out from one of the alleys on the east side, or at least that was what it looked like to her.

When she got back, she'd have to wait and see if he saw anything different. It was definitely good he was running this venture, though... She'd just have stormed it.

Much like riding a bike, Bishop was a natural at this sort of thing. Various missions in various locations, tailing, marking, tracking, a target through desserts, ruins, forests, tundras, beaches, and urban environs. It was all familiar and what he was damn good at.

He took his time while being aware of the time, putting what he sees to memory while running plans in his head until he was satisfied with one.

Once he meets up with Tenshi, he has a few ideas stirring. "Alright, I got a few ideas for an exit from myside, but from what I was able to see the northside is a side gate and to the west is the back wall. What've you got?"

"They're going in and out of the East side. Almost seems like they're using the South side to look like it's completely normal. Only occasionally walking out. the real entrance is through the alleyway on that side," she said, tapping her lips and considering her thoughts for a moment and frowning.

"We go out through that way, and they'll probably flood out in the process. So, if we want to catch them, we need to go in through it, don't we?" She was still very blunt-force as it related to this, but she took to orders well enough.

There's a pause as he rubs his chin pondering her suggestion with the information they got.

"....On the western wall, I heard a hose being use. That means there's a garden there, which means there's a tree. That can be an exit too, but..."

From the east, that's clearly the main entrance if people are constantly flooding in and out, making the south side a service entrance. Most likely well locked save the door she mentioned where people exit, which makes the north one even tighter. The main entrance is the one that can be accessed but is also heavily guarded - not a problem for him with is renewed strength but he doesn't want to out himself before the mission even starts.

"...I got it. We strike as the sun comes down and we enter through the western wall. Look-" He approaches the corner, just peeking out and gesturing to the west. "-there's nothing in that directiont obscure the light, meaning anyone who even looks in that direction would be blinded. From there we can sneak along the edge to the north, it should be lax with security since it's not being used as often. Once the lights go out, just before they turn theirs on, we strike - quick and violent. A blitzkrieg. I'm eighty percent sure that they're keeping the goods near the east gate. We can use the cramped alley to our advantage even if they do flood out. From there, we head into the city using seperate routes, then meet up at the bridge. Chances are they'll go after me since I'm taller, thinking I have more of the goods. No offense."

He is six foot one after all.

"None taken. I'm used to being underestimated. There's only a few back home who really realize what I'm capable of." Which might have had a lot to do with the whole 'nearly destroyed Gensokyo in an earthquake' thing. "Most of them just think I'm a delinquent celestial, heh. But I can hit like a train. I'll go for disabling hits and quick knock-outs with the pommel. Might leave them head-ringing but it'll do the trick."

She was absolutely sure that they wouldn't think too highly of her. She'd been swinging pretty wildly at the party they'd caused trouble with, after all. Well, that was going to change tonight. "So, we wait for sunset. Sounds good. Soon as we get the stuff, we book. No lingering in case the Enma show up." Or the Sutoku. They weren't here for a broader fight.

"Of course not. C'mon. We have just about enough time to do one last thing." He says while leaving cryptically. He makes his way quietly back towards the Shuten dorms, mentally prepping himself in silent meditation until they arrived.

"Here, change into these." He tossed her a bag, inside containing black clothing that would cover her whole body - gloves and mask included. "Can't do much about shoes, but wear the black socks at least, just roll them up above the ankle. I'll give you some privacy." He says leading her to the bed room where he closes the blinds then leaves, closing the door for her dignity.

He to changes on the other room, quickly donning the same dark clothes followed by securing the necessary items they may need. Ziplocks for the money, simple duffle bags to carry and transport it, and a few homemade tools he can use to pick locks or incapacitate others.

"Tenshi, you ready yet?"

Not precisely her style, but the goal wasn't style was it? She left her clothes in a neat, ordered pile and not for the first time she was grateful that her preference in what was close to combat boots matched the black well enough. She looked like a right hipster ninja. Even tied her hair up and shoved it under a cap. It wasn't going to be a perfect concealment, and word would get back to Tenkohime, but she wasn't being obvious at least.

Stepping out, she gave him a roguish look, regretting not having a baseball bat. That would definitely suit this work well. Ah well. Wooden swords still did well in a pinch. "ready to beat up a little birdy, hayup. Lead the way."

He was dressed and the clothes fit him more than the suit ever did. Of course, he was still pretty unidentifiable once the mask comes down. He walked past and peeked behind the curtains to see the sun setting and shadows starting to appear.

"Alright, c'mere. I can only use these abilities to get us there. After, I have to keep it on the downlow." He reaches out and puts and arm around her waist then opens the window, and then the next thing she'd feel is the rush of wind as Bishop leaps out of the room and across streets, trees, houses, and smaller buildings, then landing briefly on a roof top only to leap again. Soon they cover the distance from the Shuten district to where their target is just as the sun is shining the last of its strongest rays.

"Put the mask on, here we go." He lands right as the western wall, and with Tenshi still in tow, times it just right as he leaps over the wall and into the garden. Thankfully, no one was there to see them as he lands and sets her down.

"Alright, minimal communication now while staying close. If we do communicate, we do so with hand signals and gestures. Taps on the shoulder on the body. One tap call attention, two for any unexpected situations or emergencies."

She had the decency not to giggle. No, seriously, she was sorely tempted to giggle with glee when he leaped out with her in toe. she managed not to, but very obviously was handling the sudden rush of movement just fine, even if a tiny bit jealous that she needed her own powers fully back as well. Ah well. that would wait.

Her mask went into place and she was down with him, giving him a quick nod while she brought her wooden weapon into position, gesturing for him to take point. She wouldn't make any taps until they actually needed it. She wasn't great at stealth, but she could manage that much.

Besides, it's not like the birds expected them, clearly.

The tap was the go signal he needed, mapping the locale to his head as he crept along the shadows of the wall. So far, no tengu in sight which told him they were all either relaxing or on the opposite side. It mattered little in this regard while Bishop led Tenshi across the yard while keeping to the shadows.

He signaled to stop when they approached the first open area, a good three to five meters of open garden right before them. To their left was the home, built like a traditional house so there was space under it for them to squeeze through. The choice was obvious. He lay prone on the ground and then rolled to until he was under the walkway although he quickly signaled for her to stop, duck and remain quiet. Two, he gestured and soon enough the panel right above him opened and couple of tengu stepped out.

"Sheesh, why do we get the night watch?" "Quit complaining already. It's an easy job, just watch the cash, the stardust, and the grounds. That's it. What's there to dislike?" "For one, I could be playing with the Tamamo girls, there's a cutie there I really like~ She's not like the other girls, she's a lost soul and a real looker~ Her name is Monts and-" "Enough, you can play tomorrow. There's only a few of us here so we can relax at least." "But-" "Enough! Keep whining and I'll tear your beak off!"

The two continued to bicker as their voices faded before giving her the all clear signal to come over where he was.

"Did you hear that? We're in luck." Very much so, and he won't waste this time as he crawled under the walkway to guide him around the perimeter until they're able to spot a storehouse from their vantage. A guarded and locked storehouse.

Oh the look that she gave one of them from the shadows. Hey. She kind of liked Monts. She wasn't some 'lost soul' damnit. You know, except the fact that they all were. Whatever. She didn't care. She really wanted the chance to beat that one up. Still, she remained there, waiting silently and obediently, fingers gripping her weapon until they were gone.

"Ngh.. want to beat them up so bad," she muttered, but nodded, crawling down and following along with him while they drew closer to the storehouse, out of sight beneath the home, where the Tengu didn't have the sense to check regularly. No, they wouldn't know what hit them.

Monts can take care of herself, he says to himself, and she wasn't involved with this anyway so no need to even think about her right now. What he did need to think about was why this storage house wasn't seen? Even if they were on lower ground, the roof would have peeked through.

Pondering this, Bishop carefully turned until Tenshi was to his right and he started to draw on the ground. It was the layout of the grounds, marking where they came in and route they've taken, then noting location of the storage house with a question mark to indicate why it wasn't spotted by either of them. After a pause he wrote down 'tengu magic' which is the likely cause to keep it hidden and this tells them there is a spell caster among these guys who's keeping it up.

He hummed to plot the next course of action, there was just too much open space between where they are and the storage so the chances of being spotted were great. Too great. Which meant it was almost time to drop subterfuge, an eventuality with this little resources to use. He gestured to Tenshi to keep an eye out, then drawing that he's going to quickly take out the guard. She wanted an opportunity to hit them, she's going to get it soon.

He readies himself, getting to his knees, then dashing out from their hiding spot towards the guard. Poor tengu didn't even know what was happening - a shadow just jumped out and before he could shout, Bishop struck his throat then spun around to knock him out with a hard roundhouse to the head, then signalling her to come over and watch his back while took out lockpicking tools and started on the hefty padlock. "Fifteen seconds. Drag that tengu in with us."

She nodded in response to what he'd indicated. It was Tengu magic, and she had scrawled 'sloppy' next to that line. If they'd kept it up so that it was completely disguised regardless of the angle, they would have been doing it properly. their people should have known where the store room really was, but they were just lax. She wondered if the guy who did the magic was even here now? She wouldn't assume.

Lunging out right behind him as soon as he made the strike, she crouched, one arm clutching and lifting up the unconscious body. While she did, she was staring around, watching in every direction at once, making a motion for him to hurry. She could hear movement. It was approaching, but they had a few seconds. They just definitely needed to hurry or they'd have even more problems.

He clicked his tongue in annoyance as the lock was old, heavy, effective, and an over all inconvenient lump of metal to deal with. He was almost tempted to rip the while thing in half with his strength but then goes the element of surprise with the metal.

Thankfully with one last twist the lock clicks open and he pushes the door open, grabbing the unconscious tengu as well and dragging him in with Tenshi, then closing the door with the padlock propped up just enough to make it look like its still up as he closed the door.

Inside, he leaned against the door and sighed whth relief. "That was too close..." He whispered. "But well worth it." Before them was exactly what they were after, a pile of cash neatly organized on a table next to jars filled with stardust.

Immediately he took off the pack he had which he unrolled into a duffel bag. "C'mon. We have about ten seconds to nab as much as we can before those buzzards come knocking." At least he assumes, there's likely a hidden camera here or some kind of sensor.

Even if there wasn't a sensor inside of this? They had thirty seconds before someone noticed that there wasn't a guard on duty. Maybe a minute. She went and grabbed the stardust jar nearest before beginning to fill the duffel bag with it and its compatriots. The cash? If he wanted to grab some he could. She viewed it as more of a liability, though she might consider picking a single brick of it up before the end. Make this look like more of a normal robbery, but... a thought occurred to her as she worked.

"Think they have any protections on these?" She didn't know about dye packs.

He quickly looks at the entrance of the store house and shakes his head.

"No, and we're not exiting through the front door anyway." He says as he piles the cash into ziplocks, seals, then into the duffel bag. He evens out the load between his and hers so they get a fifty-fifty split even if something goes wrong.

"I hear movement. Make it quick, grab whatever else you can." He zips up the duffel bag before going over to the door, kicking the stirring tengu they dragged in to knock him out again, before getting a rolled up piece of metal string which he ties around the door.

"Two minutes. Ready to leave?"

July 2022 Mini Event

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