August 2022 Event

[jigokumods]

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Toraguma and Tenkohime were not exaggerating when they said that Sai no Kawara was bound to attract extraordinarily deep pockets. The Celestials are already familiar to the Lost Souls, but among the crowds of customers are humans and yokai of wealth that can only be calculated in the billions, and even trillions. Powerful executives have come out to play, the sort of power brokers that almost exist beyond faction politics, the tier who makes the most money out of the city's dealings.

The event has an air of class that is far beyond what the average Lost Soul will have ever imagined…

1. GAMBLING PROBLEM (1 POINT)

The main event comes in the form of the games. This is where the Shuten Clan shines, as they offer up a plethora of gambling opportunities for the rich and powerful to partake in. There might be a Lost Soul or two at the tables, if they're feeling particularly lucky. Buy-in to a game isn't cheap, but if you're low on cash, you can substitute a handful of stellar Stardust to the pot.

Western games like Poker, Blackjack, and Roulette share space with Eastern standards like Cee-lo and Cho-han. Shuten Clan dealers have been training hard for this moment. They have learned to cheat on behalf of the House to scrape as much from these high rollers as they can. Those Shuten attendants who win big for the House will be duly compensated for their fine efforts.

If you're very clever, or very lucky, you might just be able to secure quite a payout for yourself as a player too. Just don't get caught pulling any funny business. The Shuten Clan bouncers have also been training quite thoroughly for this event. If you're not one of the fabulously wealthy tycoons, the bouncers have little incentive to play nice with you.

Should fighting break out, there is an arena onsite. Bets are flying there, too. Are you willing to wager your own pretty face?

2. PLEASURE PALACE (1 POINT)

Tenkohime wasn't exaggerating when she called her turf in the newly renovated underground a palace. The attendants at the Palace of Sai greet their wealthy clientele warmly, and they have a host of wondrous and rare delights to offer. As a rare treat, the Lost Souls are encouraged to indulge in this decadence. If the prices make you choke, remember that a little bit of Stardust will go a long way this season.

Food and drinks are of the highest quality. Delicacies from across Japan and the world abroad have been prepared, including many dishes not even of the Earth as you might know it. Particular favorites from the drinks menu are:

• Side Cars that have been made with cognac from a 300,000 yen bottle.
  
• Platinum Passions that have been made with L’esprit de Courvoisier; 800,000 yen per bottle.
  
• Eightfold Blessing is a captivating and aromatic mix considered to be Tenkohime's very own specialty. It grants the vigor to fulfill any desire; 1,000,000 yen a glass.

The pricey and fabulous drinks are just an encouragement. The Tamamo's best trained consorts are ready to offer their private services, usually in pairs. They have some Tanabata wishes of their own, and want to make them come true through their talents and skills. Not every encounter is sexual, some consorts simply wish to spend time with their clients and make them feel like the most important person in the world today. With the big price tags on their hours, the customer might very well be.

In addition to expensive meals, sex, and company, the Tamamo Clan also offers theater and performances. They have contracted with the highest caliber performers in the city, even those on loan from other factions. Dancers, musicians, and entertainers of all varieties are waiting in the wings to put on a show.

3. GOSSIP (1 POINT)

One of the performances gracing the stage in the Palace of Sai may seem familiar! The band Moonday played at the food truck festival last month. As it turns out, the lead singer -- a wolf girl named Ringo-chan -- is the daughter of one of the wealthiest executives within the Alliance's network of finance kings; Kaberou. She's run away from her restrictive life to rough it with her band. Big money is riding on convincing her to come home. There's another rumor floating around that the pirates attacking the supply lines have been putting pressure on Kaberou. Is he securing buyers for these pirated goods?

Rumors are flying: the kind of rumors that can bring riches or ruin. The Daitengu has commanded their people to keep their ears open. Do they happen upon a juicy lead? Do they find a way to reconnect Kaberou with his estranged daughter? Do they discover more about the pirates? Do tell, do tell!

Even the staff of the Enma Department will find lips much looser than usual around them. When you're this rich, you think you're above the standards of the law. There's plenty of conversation that might be of interest to the Department. In particular, one name does keep coming up...

It comes up when discussing Kaberou's dealings with these pirates, and how much of a wrench his daughter's negligence to the life has been for his business. It's spoken of in hushed tones, even by the Celestials. It is an ominous name: "Iron Bear"

4. TANABATA (2 POINTS)

The grand opening of the underground is the centerpiece of an otherwise familiar Tanabata celebration. Using the accumulated Stardust, the Tamamo Clan's onmyouji have collaborated with Kappa engineers and the Shuten Clan's resident blacksmith to create a truly wonderful spectacle for the festival.

Despite Sai no Kawara existing underground, the overhead sky is full of brilliant stars on display. It is a one-to-one recreation of the cosmic tapestry of the Milky Way streaking through the sky like the astral river from the Tanabata legend.

The stars Vega and Altair, also known as Orihime and Hikoboshi, are highlighted in the tapestry. They take form and dance together above everyone, they encourage the feelings of love to fill the air. Romantic love, platonic love, familial love: it doesn't matter. This is the product of peace, hard work, and cooperation. This is the dream of the Daitengu and their lieutenants. Dance to the music. Drink your fill. This is a celebration of love, and there's so much love here, for everyone.

Attendees are encouraged to write their wishes on the colorful talismans distributed. Bamboo trees decorate the central square, waiting to be draped with wishes. Even if you are not familiar with Tanabata, it will be easy to pick up on the ritual. The magic in the air tonight is incredibly strong, these wishes might even come true.

5. "WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE" (2 POINTS)

Late into the evening, the Daitengu takes to the stage. They welcome everyone and hope that they have had a good night. Toraguma and Tenkohime flank them, and each says a few words to the crowd. Then, Sutoku lieutenant Sakamoto is called up to the stage for the moment of truth.

Toraguma, regretfully, announces that Sakamoto has made good on his promises. The holes in their supply lines have been uncovered found, the black market is becoming less of a bleed on their finances, and the road to finding out who -- or what -- is causing the disruption is becoming clearer. The great oni will always honor a promise kept, and reaches out his hand to shake Sakamoto's in a gesture of gratitude.

The timing, as usual, is a little dramatic.

A group of shadowy figures wearing rough-spun gear storm the stage. Several of them snatch Ringo-chan from where she is waiting to perform and drag her away. Another lunges at Sakamoto with a make-shift sword of crude metal. Just before the blade can cut Sakamoto, the would-be assassin is stopped by Toraguma. With their wrist snatched and broken, the assassin screams out:

"We come on behalf of the Iron Bear, and we know who you are!"

In his rage and fury, Toraguma breaks the assassin's neck, slamming him down to the stage. He dies within moments, while the rest of the attackers flee. They've kidnapped Ringo-chan.

Sai no Kawara is quickly flooded with armed and armored officers of the Enma Department. They instruct everyone to remain calm. No one panic. The Enma himself has arrived, and he is going to start questioning everyone about what just happened. Who is the Iron Bear? What in hell do they want? It's time for some answers.

Well… As far as parties in Jigoku-cho go… this one could have been worse, yeah?

Welcome to the August event!

• Art in the final prompt by Yang Tuo
  
• If you have any questions about event content, please ask them here!
  
• Each prompt is labeled for it's value in terms of qualifying threads for Rewards.
  
• If your character is in the Shuten Clan and cheating on behalf of the house, find out how well they pulled it off by posting here! Those that do well will get a special bonus from Toraguma.
  
• If your character is trying any of the games of chance, find out how they paid out here!
  
• If your character put on a performance at the Palace of Sai's stage, find out how the crowd reacted here! Regardless of clan affiliation, those that do well will be rewarded by Tenkohime!
  
• For results on the gossip floating around the festival, post here!
  
• For Department members, if your character is going to interrogate NPC festival goers, let us know here and we can post some more specific results!
  
• TANABATA WISHES! POST THEM HERE!
  
• If you have questions about the game itself, please check out the premise, FAQ, and rules pages.

Comments

[kaientai]

I'd say it's a real low bar these days, but that's honestly always a good thing t' hear, especially since it's been so long!

[ ryouma may not be an expert on magic, but he can definitely sense the change. he's not good at being particularly subtle sometimes, so it's probably fairly obvious how he's curious about the nature of sheliak's magic. even so, it doesn't set him on edge or concern him at all. in fact, nothing he's doing seems to suggest caution whatsoever, either out of concern for sheliak or anyone else for that matter. ryouma is, as always, perfectly unwilling to be even a little careful about these things. ]

I'm sure you're right, especially since I'm pretty sure I'm not wishin' for anything that could backfire too badly anyway. Ain't fallin' for me over there or anything, right?

[ a dumb joke, considering he wished for more company. ]

Kiddin', of course.

[itstillhurt]

[He was making no sense.

It wasn't about cleaning up glass being difficult, it was about why. Why would he-

Nobody was ever this kind to her. This patient. Nobody cared. The only friends she'd ever had were controlled by fear. People don't like her. Especially not when she acts like a monster toward them, which she'd done from their first meeting-

She curls her arms around her legs and presses her forehead to her knees, hating her own weakness, hating the fact that she was so preoccupied with what this worthless fool thought of her, hating the fact that the stabbing sensation inside her wouldn't relent, hating the tears that kept coming no matter how hard she tried to keep them away. Cursing the shakiness of her voice when she finally speaks.]

... I'm sorry.

[If the gratitude was difficult for her before, the apology was clearly even worse.]

[kaientai]

Oh, sure! Wouldn't know the first thing 'bout buildin' ships, but I bet it's interesting! Never was real good at anything too technical, book learnin' has a sorta aversion to me.

[ he's always been a terrible student so the self-depreciation is constant in this area. ]

Me, I just learned how t' sail.

[ likes, he will probably realise is an understatement, judging by ryouma's expression. this is ryouma's passionate niche interest, after all, for which he debatably toppled a government because he wasn't allowed to have them under the old system. ]

[lemoncandy]

( With the glass out of the way, Shealtiel does something strange. The floor is still damp where the towel hasn’t soaked it up, and it’s mixed with blood from Azula’s injuries… He’s still got it on his own pajamas.

But he moves to sit next to her, his shoulder just barely bumping against hers in the quietest sign of comfort. He wonders if Luci would be proud of him, even if he doesn’t have the strength to reach out his hand so literally. )

You don’t owe me anything, either. Not even an apology.

( He doesn’t deserve it anyway, he thinks… but that’s overshadowed right now by his concern for someone he’s understanding closer than he’s used to. It’s like… demons. But without the trauma and worry associated with relating to them.

He hugs his own knees the same way, just sitting there for as long as it seems like it might help. )

[identitycrisiscore]

[ Is she talking about the kiss or the blowjob? ]

[ That's the thought that briefly crosses his mind, before he realizes it doesn't really matter. If that's the price Aerith wants to pay... well he isn't unopposed, let's say, either way. ]

Renegotiating our contract? Can't say I'm surprised...

Alright, then, I'm listening. What exactly are you looking for?

[itstillhurt]

[The touch of his shoulder against hers draws her attention, and at first her impulse is to pull away- there's almost an instinctive panic as she looks up at him, mirroring her pose, just sitting there beside her.

She doesn't understand. She doesn't understand. She has nothing he could want, nothing he could be after, no leverage to hold over him, and she's given him every reason to-

There's a moment of tension, where she just looks at him, not sure how to react... but after a few seconds, she buries her face in her knees again, unable to fight the tears and instead settling for silencing her own sobs. She doesn't remember making the decision to gently lean against him, pressing her side against his as she cries, but it happens all the same.

It seems, at least, to make the clenching in her stomach go away.]

[adversus]

[Should be he interested in holding the scythe, she certainly wouldn't be opposed to letting him hold it. It is an interesting weapon, and she holds it out in a way where he's more than welcome to take it and try. Only giving her scythe to those she trusted, and he certainly was one of those people.]

You can hold it, if you want. The scythe basically weighs like paper.

[She does a little twist, and turn with the scythe. Her words, the fact that she can handle it like it weighed like nothing, really shouldn't make any sense at all.]

Well, I can tell you that it's helpful when I have to tend to the garden back home... But in all seriousness, my great uncle is the one that taught me how to use the scythe. It's an heirloom, and I honestly have no idea why they entrusted me out of all people to have it, but here it is.

[With one hand, she points at one of the gems that's embedded within the scythe. An unassuming little thing, but it made the scythe what it is.]

That gem there is what makes the scythe feel like paper... The other gems are inactive right now, but the most important one came with the scythe, luckily.

[tonguecutter]

Chirp, you could say that. Like coming back to your inn room only to see that all the furniture has been replaced, or being in what's supposed to be your kitchen and finding that all of your tools have been completely swapped out, with the placements all off...

[ That's enough complaining out of her, though. It's unbefitting of someone like her, she thinks to herself, and a smile works her way across her face once more, friendly and reassuring. ]

...But I'm sure it must be far stranger for you.

[sleepinglyra]

[Ryouma should be more cautious but Sheliak couldn't help but be glad that he wasn't, this time at least. Honestly he hadn't answered Ryouma's question because he wasn't sure how to. Regaining his magic let him feel whole again but he wasn't so sure that was a good thing. It was easier to pretend he was human when he didn't have magical eyes that gave him away.

It was a perfect storm. All the tension he felt from his magic and talk of wishes faded with Ryouma's obvious curiosity and the magic in the air tugged at the similarities between him and the precious friend who Sheliak was looking for in the stars. It was enough for him to let his guard down and he turned back to Ryouma with a friendly chuckle. Oh Ryouma was going to pay for that dumb joke and the air around Sheliak shimmered like a mirage as a small orb of water formed in the palm of his hand before it leapt at Ryouma and splashed him in the face.]

Not a chance.

[sleepinglyra]

[Sheliak found his own guard thawing as well and the elegant cadence in his voice shifted to a more casual tone.]

Bending? Why is it called that?

[The watery snake quivered back to life with his curiosity. Sheliak had encountered many different kinds of "magic" here, something that unsettled him as much as it intrigued him. He had never heard bending associated with magic before and it wasn't dissimilar to how he shaped his magic into water.]

[eyediot]

A- A prude?

[Jon does give him a look.] I can't say I'm much of a gambler. [Also heh as no poker face. Also he's broke.] I'm here to simply make observations, not participate.

[eyediot]

[He taps his pen to the notebook again. It's developing into its own sort of nervous tic now, one he needs to squash quickly.]

Initially, it was literature, mythologies, and the like. Before... this place, it had narrowed down its focus to the supernatural and esoteric.

[eyediot]

[He was about to say something else, but that mention does stop him. He hasn't exactly been open about the fact he's researching that incident. Cloud and Kim know he's knee deep in it, and Cain might be aware of his interest but not much else.

But now he's curious why this man is wanting to look into it.]

Unfortunately, I've been saddled with months' worth of grunt paperwork to keep me busy since I was assigned.

[shittylittle]

Oh, you mean like...The radio stations here, and those discs? [He at least knows how to turn on a radio and search for different stations, now; a life completely devoid of music is no life at all, even for someone as high-strung as Aster.] So there's actually a lot more music than this...

Even if you didn't have the luxury, your choices are still pretty good~ They're yours, after all; by now, I think I can trust your taste in things ☆

[Time to attempt a spin! Even if it's more just...Spinning himself using Lio's hand. Look, country girls make do.] One day, I'll take you to a shop for those discs and let you go hog wild. You have the luxury here, kind of! So you should be able to exercise it and enjoy it~ Just make sure that you get more songs we can dance to, when we do!

[breweries]

Then by all means, sit beside me.

[ patpats the empty space beside him. ahh, there really is nothing like messing with people as an icebreaker. ]

[breweries]

Is that so.

[ shylock places his chin on his hand, his interest more than piqued. ]

Who decides on these constellations? Can anyone connect them together and weave a story based from that? I'd love to give it a try.

[breweries]

[ ah. ]

Is that so...

[ his smile, this time, has a tinge of melancholy as he acknowledges zhongli's musing with a nod. considering how the other man wasn't even fazed this being high up in the sky, it's not hard to draw a conclusion that he's flown before. with what instrument, he wonders? ]

It is as you say. Now Cain is rather young for his age, but there are at least three of us currently here in Jigoku-cho who are in our quadruple digits. [ this is the closest he can admit his true age. he really did his best to seem young and hip, you know? ] Unfortunately, wizards are inherently solitary creatures. Our desire to bond with people while wanting to be left alone is a paradox created by our hearts, where our source of magic comes from. Are you one as well?

[breweries]

Fufu. I shall make it up to you for burning off your lovely fingers next time.

[ even now he still has the gall to make light of what happened just now. to be fair, that's better than mulling on other depressing matters, isn't it?

at monts' question, shylock shakes his head once more. ]

I'm a ranked officer, I'm afraid. As much as I would like to go home and have a nice glass of wine, my fellow cohorts would be looking for me by now. [ he squeezes her hand. ] But I do appreciate the concern, more than I can ever express. Thank you for staying with me.

[localweirdo]

[For a moment, Hu Tao just stared at her. It was one thing for someone to be so active and engaged into her business! But on the other hand...?]

That's perfectly fine but please do not stress yourself out! That is what my business is for! Besides, I'm sure that you have other things to do and I don't think you would extra work on my behalf.

[And you know. Maybe not get a little too gung-ho about inflicting her wrath to whomever??]

[bratherine]

( The brow raises, but... )

Y'know, if I weren't hearin' tha' from a ghost snake, I'd think it were bullshit.

( Logically, it has to be a story, right? But Jigokucho doesn't play by logical rules at the best of times.

Maybe stuff like this really is possible here. )

[breweries]

My, aren't you too curious for your own good tonight, Mr. Matoba. Perhaps we shall talk more about this in more excruciating detail over drinks?

[ shylock holds that thought in the air between them for a moment, before politely laughing once more. ]

I jest. The nature spirits are never a hindrance to us, for they too are living their own lives in their special way. That being said, the Western spirits are just as temperamental as us wizards, and thus it'd be hard to figure out how to appease their special taste at first. It is a fun little guessing game, regardless.

[ but why this topic, though. can matoba not tell that, while shylock respects their spirits in their own way, he doesn't particularly care for them... ]

I will say that this topic is becoming a little droll for my tastes, however. I'm certain that you have other riveting questions bouncing in your head right now, hm? I'm feeling quite generous tonight. [ must be the all-too peaceful atmosphere. ]

[inspiteful]

[ He's definitely feeling like he got messed with, but this is (unfortunately?) also something he's used to. But he'll sit next to Shylock like he's asked to, obediently. ]

[empression]

The ones I know were named long before I was born, so I couldn't say... but I don't see why you couldn't make your own and use it to light your way.

[mahoraga]

[ Megumi did notice the lack of wings and chalked that down to them being hidden, or his understanding of what an angel should look like differing from reality. He's not a pushy person, so he did not ask. When Shealtiel mentions his wings being faulty, his gaze travels to the angel's back like he's expecting to see something, but unsurprisingly, there's nothing there. He's taking all that information, and he does have things he's curious about, but Megumi isn't the type to go bombarding others with questions. ]

Does it really matter if you belong or not?

[baofeng]

Magic that creates scenes as if from a dream, [Yizhi answers as he moves to refill the offered cup. His pleasantly neutral expression makes it unclear if he knows that he’s overdramatising it.] -that recreates the stars deep underground, defying the ancient tenets of what is earth and sky.

[He doesn’t make any interjections as the conversation wanders. He doesn’t see the need, at least until he’s directly addressed. Yizhi glances up and meets the Celestial’s eyes with a sheepish laugh:]

Oh no, I don’t think anything I can do could live up to the other attractions prepared for you tonight. I just happen to know a lot of the actually talented people.

[His eyes move to Matoba. Buddy you’re the one talking them up, he’s just working food service here!!]