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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Pleasure Palace (ota 18+)
[With how well training had gone previously, Aster's getting a lot more confident in his entertaining skills of all kinds, and-- anyone would be hard-pressed to have kept him from working as a host (or a little more, if desired) tonight. Alone or paired up, he's working through client after client, session after session, and it's almost as if he's in his element.

...He is, really. Getting money and pretending to be charming will always be his element, as is teasing people, and that extends to whichever sucker's next in line for a session with Tamamo's finest. He swans on over in his cute black and white yukata, uchiwa kanzashi neatly tucking back his hair in braids. Don't worry, the uchiwa are all tiny; he's not about to go claiming that sort of status and risk ruffling feathers in the worst way, no sir.]

Esteemed guest~ I'm Aster, and I'll be your company for the next little while ☆ Please take care of me, okay?

[He offers one dainty hand, nails red and sharp, and bows just a little. You won't disappoint him, right?]

Tanabata
[Now that his shift's over, it's time to indulge in a little tradition; it's a familiar one to him, something that they have back in Kleinster, and so he automatically drifts over to pick up a few slips to write his wishes on. He's got one slip written out already, and another halfway done when he realises that he's got company.

Then, he thrusts out the blank ones he has left.] --Here! Don't just stare at me, and don't ask me what I'm writing. It doesn't come true if you blab it~

Post-Tanabata (previous cr only)
[Unfortunately for Everyone Aster Knows, his more private wish ('someone to keep me from being lonely again') has been granted.

Kind of.

The point is that, once he's enjoyed the festivities, he's going to be searching out any familiar faces and, if they don't look too busy, just quietly hook his arm through theirs.]

...Want to go home? I'm tired. [He sounds it, for sure, but there's an air of warmth that rings as more genuine than normal, too. It's visible in his eyes, and in the smile he offers, apologetic though it might also be.] Don't worry, I'm not going to go keeping you up~ I just want a little company, if that's okay ♡

[if you have any other ideas or want a custom starter, just hit me up at my plotting comment, or dm me! whatever whatever!!]

[Welp. Lalli now has blank paper slips in his hands. He looks down at them, frowning softly, before he looks back up to Aster.]

I don't even know how to use these. We don't use paper to appease my gods.

[He at least knows it's some kind of spiritual ceremony? But yeah he's not Japanese, this whole thing is unfamiliar to him.]

It's not hard! You just think of a little wish that the gods might grant you, then you write it on the paper and tie it onto one of the bamboo trees ☆ It's not even about appeasing the gods, just...Remembering what they've gone through~

[His expression is mild, but indulgent, as though trying to wheedle a child into doing something they're not quite convinced of.

Which looks ridiculous, on his round, boyish face, but there we go.]

Do you want a pen? I'm done with mine for the moment, and we can even tie our wishes up together~ I promise to not peek at your wishes, too!

[To be fair, Lalli also looks younger than his 21 years, though not quite as young as Aster looks.]

They're not my gods, I don't know what they've gone through.

[He will take the pen since it was offered though.

...maybe he can think of his own gods while doing this. They haven't been able to answer his prayers yet, but maybe it's the thought that counts?]

--they've been...Never mind. If you don't know the story now, then me shoving it down your throat won't make it stick either!

[He still looks pointedly up at the tapestry overhead, an absolute marvel, before returning his attention back to Lalli. Ah well. At least the pen's been taken, which is always nice; somehow, there's a niggling worry in the back of his head that not playing nice and humouring at least this much tonight (if one's going to show up) might backfire.

And he doesn't want to be seen anywhere near backfires, thank you.]

At any rate, this part's just a bit of fun, too. Who knows? Whether you believe in them or not, they might decide to indulge you~ Wouldn't that be wild?

[The gods of another world might indulge him regardless...now there's a thought. Lalli had always assumed that blessings from the gods were pantheon-specific. He does perk up a little bit at the thought of communicating with some kind of higher power though, and he holds the pen in his right hand and is ready to write.

There is a pause, because Lalli is familiar with how fickle gods can be and he doesn't want to wish for something too trivial. But eventually he writes 'a friend who is not annoying' on a strip of paper. That's something to wish for, right? Lalli doesn't have a need for most material goods, and he's not one to wish for anything he can work for himself. But friends are tricky. Most people are annoying to him, and finding someone agreeable is a big challenge for someone as picky and stubborn and socially awkward as Lalli is. Hence the wish.]

Alright. I have written it.

Wonderful! I'm curious, but-- I did promise not to peek or snoop, and I'm a man of my word ☆ So instead, let's just get the tying over with!

[Automatically, Aster offers one hand.] There's no real decorum to tying it up, so you can't get it wrong unless you actively try. But...

You know what? I might just buy you something to eat after; I'm genuinely impressed with how open-minded you are, all things considered~ If that's okay with you, that is! [Guaranteed he'll probably qualify as annoying too, with how everything's sugary sweet until he's pissed off, but it never hurts to try and play nice even if it tends to gall most people, right??]

Aster | Nu:Carnival | Tamamo

Tanabata

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Tanabata

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welp.

i'd say sorry, but i'm not. i'm not.

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starter for @brokebitchmountain

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