jigokulogs | August 2022 Event

August 2022 Event

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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.

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[Leshy... smiles. A terrible smile, teeth still smeared red with blood and shiny with spit. He does a measured movement, reaches to the shoulder strap of his backpack, soaked red at the base now and beginning to drip. He lifts it from his shoulder and places it down as he crouches, bowing himself down to get more on her height level.

It actually does look like passive motion, a surrender even, if it wasn't for that smile. He palms something too small to see from a pocket of the bag, stuffing it into his cheek like one might do with tobacco.

He does not chew it, not yet. It's only preparation. He can speak around it.]

You should know better than this. [she dared to not take him seriously once before. His hand moves to the dirt,]

I'm not going easy on you. [fingers find what he was looking for, hidden in the red stained mud. A metal chain, disguised and hidden in the gore. He rapidly pulls it and it yanks forward an open bear trap from behind her, springing with it's jaws open to try and catch her by surprise]

Oh, that's right.

( It's a bit like the arts hadn't crossed his mind at all, but upon being reminded, he does turn his gaze to glance that way. When they're greeted by someone from Tamamo who apparently has already spoken to Shealtiel, he adds that much onto it, and they're soon enough tucked away into a booth a little higher up, but in clear view and hearing of the performances.

If anything, being up a level kind of helps stay away from the staff, too. Shealtiel sets the fancy drink on the center of the table, a waiter kindly pouring for them before letting them be for the time being. The menus show even more elaborate, expensive things...

Oh, and the waiter lit them a romantic little candle that Shealtiel doesn't really connect as romantic at all. )

I haven't heard anything about what type of performances to expect. Do you know?

That so?

[ he puts his feet back on the floor and hops up from his seat. ]

How about I buy ya a drink then, partner?

[ see: message received. ryouma has exercised caution in one area and does his best to at least prevent being eavesdropped on as much as possible. wouldn't be very good at representing the alliance if he sucks at information exchange, so he can wait until they're out of earshot of anyone else to continue this discussion. ]

( It sounds like something Amon would say. For that, Shealtiel takes a moment and moves a hand against the lower parts of the bamboo branches, thinking. Strength in how it bends... That does make sense, doesn't it?

Dropping his hand away, he looks back to Lalli. )

Did you already tie your own wish up?

[When he starts to crouch down, she almost feels disappointment, but something about that face, that smile, those horrible eyes keeps her on edge, prepared for violence.

Or maybe, she acknowledges, she just intends to hurt him even if he does surrender.

But it doesn't matter, because his words put any doubt out of her mind. He means to make a fight of this. At first she contemplates that he might attack like an animal- crouched low to charge, or perhaps to leap- but instead, he reaches down, grabs something, and pulls.

The line of the chain behind her is enough for her to guess what's coming. She'd seen them coming in, after all.

Despite her manic state, her movements are incredibly fast, precise, efficient. The dodge is only fractional- just enough to move her out of the path of the oncoming trap, close enough for the wind of it to tug at her loose bang as she ducks aside.

But there's more.

One hand snaps out, and there's the briefest flash of bright, bright blue as she strikes out her hand at the trap, batting it into the ground, where the pressure snaps at the still-glowing metal and warps it.

She pulls back into her stance again, not saying anything, merely fixing him with that hungry, half-crazed stare, waiting for him to come to her.]

To what? Know what? What kind of company?

( Has Shealtiel missed the sexual implications all over the place? A little bit. He isn't really thinking about them, and he gets so focused on things that innuendos can go right over his head. He once thought students talking about a makeout closet meant that it was just a great place to get away from crowds with someone else.

Not that he's naive or anything. Just... distracted, you know. )

I'm just trying to get to know some people... and maybe try some food. ( Mostly try some food. ) Do you want to sit with me or not?

[She quirks an eyebrow at that, disapprovingly.]

Really, you're just giving up?

[And here she was about to respect the guy.]

[She's agile, that's good. A bird needs to be! He doesn't waste time admiring her, his other hand moving to his bag and pulling free that cleaver. It's thrown with the speed and strength he'd expected of her in the cart. Seems to be imprecise, though, going wide and lodging into the well pruned tree beside her. All the landscaping was decorative, though sparse this far out, at the edge of the property Mother Fox called her domain.

The knife lodges into place and cuts a disguised rope, setting a cluster of three more traps falling down from overtop her. Their jaws are open but they fall at such chaotic angles and speeds that dodging wide is likely the only option to not get caught by any of them. Even then, they might just land on their sides and roll away without snapping shut, becoming further hinderances to keep track of. He has this place prepared well, she should guess as much.

He pulls another knife out of his bag, just in case, but seems content to not rush towards her just yet]

I didn't say that.

( Just because something wasn't meant for him doesn't mean he's going to stop trying to get it. Selfishly, maybe... He doesn't want to think on it too hard right now. Instead, he's moving over to the lower parts of all of the branches, then grabbing one and...

Wiggling it aggressively. He's checking how much it can take. )

I'm just going to have to try harder.

Ryouma will put down a couple of wishes because if he's going to let people talk him into bothering he might as well go all in?? The first will be "to know he's still connected to Oryou even if they're apart", and the second will be for "things to be less lonely" ~~which he's only writing down because it'll stay between him and the stars lmao~~

[Tying them up is the hard part. Sannan has one written, and it's kind of... well, he'd worry it was stupid if it wasn't absolutely sincere. He's funny like that, distant and cold and sarcastic at a glance, but beneath that there's a man with wants and actual desires for the future.

Until that future comes to pass, it's moments like this that make him feel oddly alive, when he finally ties up the wish and turns to go, then sees Ryouma lost in contemplation. Maybe he shouldn't bother him, but they've struck up a fine enough rapport and he's not going to keep him for long if Ryouma is busy. Something like a lingering gratitude bubbles up, thanks for the kindness when he arrived and the good conversation. The humor. He realizes belatedly that he respects Ryouma, especially for the risks he takes and the way he barrels through problems.

So he'll approach.]

I hope you made at least one of those wishes utterly unreasonable. You've earned it.

[She prepares to dodge the knife, but- she doesn't have to. It's thrown wide.

He throws it far too confidently, too accurately, for that to be a mistake. He'd challenged her to a knife toss before, surely he wasn't that incompetent. Which means that was deliberate.

And that's when she sees the dark, bloody rope, barely visible against the equally spattered tree until it snaps free of its moorings.

She'd thought he was a mindless animal, barely knowing enough to hunt. Clearly, that was a mistake.

She's fast enough to dodge the traps, but she certainly doesn't have time to disable three of them, not with her firebending as limited as it is. And the ground was already potentially a pit of danger.

She thinks it's time she got some elevation. That tree has just been rather decisively cleared, so she leaps into the air, grabs the dangling cut rope, and gracefully hauls herself to the top of the tree. It wavers slightly, a frail thing, but her balance is impeccable, and she perches up there with surprising steadiness.

It won't keep him at bay for long, but hopefully it will at least force him closer.]

Well, it's a bit crowded... I'd hate to jostle anyone.

[ But she's moving with great care even as she speaks of caution, sliding out of the way of an enthusiastically angled elbow from another individual tying their wish up. A quick breath, a three-count, and she moves in and safely attaches the paper before she steps back with a small sigh of relief. ]

[ She nods...thank you, tall person. Taller person. Everyone is a tall person to her. ]

That's right, chirp. It's not mine, but I saw it fall from there.

[ And like a good citizen, she picked it up, without peeking, looking to put it back where it belongs. ]

[Sometimes people are short and that's okay. He'll easily put it back up where it needs to be.]

Were you plannin' on filling one out for yourself? Looks like they've provided a lot of paper.

[ That's obliging of the man — offering a little charity to a member of another faction, and one that's not so popular at that. She could really use the cigarette. It'll be good for her mood — and in that way, it's probably a bit of a mercy to everyone else, too.

Andy takes the cigarette, tipping it lightly in his direction to thank him before pressing it between her lips. She lets the thing hang there unlit for a moment while she answers mildly: ]

You know how it is. [ Given his rank, he probably does. That unlit cigarette bobs slightly as she goes on: ] Close call for you today. [ Wryly then: ] You should probably try to piss people off a little less often.

Oh, that's very cute!

[ What the heck. ]

Les Fleurs might be more fitting for bees, but... I kind of like Dandelion. Back home, it also symbolizes courage, because dandelions can grow anywhere, in any condition. No matter what, they find a way to thrive.

[ For Norimune, a flash of red hair may catch the corner of his eye. Said flash of red hair happens to be shuffling back and forth around the area near the stage, acting somewhat strangely, at that. She isn't talking to anyone, or being questioned, but keeping a distance away from a focal point, the Enma himself, from the looks of it. ]

Oh, Beni-Enma-san!

[ She's clearly not expecting the tug to her yukata sleeve, but once she realizes who it is, Haru doesn't look any kind of put-out or troubled by the request. Instead, she smiles and reaches out to accept the talisman from her. ]

Of course, I'd be happy to.

[ She's not terribly tall herself, but she definitely has more height than her companion and if she goes up on her toes a bit, she can reach the branch with no problems. ]

Here, you said?

[ "Partner" is the funniest thing she's ever been called. She's going to use this as much as possible now. It is his code name in her brain now. She's always been a little bit of an outsider in the world, and while Aerith isn't foolish enough to think that's more than part of his accent, it still brings her a little bit of amusement. She'll take it.

She's following him much in the same way a cat stalks behind you when they hear the promising sound of a can opening.

By the time they've gotten settled, though, she's gone over the details in her mind, over and over. The first thing she says, when they're alone, is not really an exchange of information. She doesn't even comment on the drinks. ]

...I'm sorry. [ She inclines her head. There's a glimmer of shame in her expression, sincere as it can be. ] There was a third party. Someone not here for the festival, for Tanabata. I thought... it could have been the kappa, but...

[ Obviously not. ]

The fingertips contain a lot of nerves, Suizenji-san. Most people forget that and it can hurt quite a bit, even by a tiny needle.

[ Spoken like someone who is very used to sewing and may have stabbed herself a lot as a child with a needle. It's fine. ]

But, I see... you're right that it seems a little... well, extravagant, but people do seem to be enjoying themselves. I'm used to something more simple, too.

[ She settles beside him, selecting a red blossom-patterned paper to begin carefully folding. ]

What was your festival like, if you don't mind my asking?

In small, neat handwriting and hidden deep in the branches so no one can perceive him... Hizen will wish for the people he cares for to stay out of trouble and to be well.

[ She nods, giving Enty a smile upon realizing that it's her. And not only is it her, but it's Enty dressed up in a fancy number that she's only really seen on inn guests just as fancy and important. ]

Mm-hm.

[ Most of the lower branches seem to be occupied, after all, so what's left are the ones out of her reach. Beni holds the charm out; her own talisman is a solid red slip of paper, penned in handwriting that brushes up against the literal meaning of chicken scratch as opposed to anything more formally trained. She doesn't mind if Enty sees what she's written on there. It's her own wish, and it's going to be hung up on the branches for all to see anyway.

"High-quality ingredients from the spiritual realm that can nourish the mind, body, and spirit." ]

Thank you very much!

[Well, that's more like it. It'd be such a pity for him to be a quitter.

Though-

Well, she doubts the branches could even take her weight, much less his.]

It's bamboo. All the strength is in the central stalk, not those little branches.

[She's not sure why she's decided she's helping him now, but watching him suffer was beginning to lose its charm.]

(Pen to paper and he begins to write the first characters for his wish carefully.

For "them" to "be well and to stay out of trouble." No names because he's tsundere as hell.)

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August 2022 Event

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