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

[Matoba considers her words, looking out at the crowds of the carefree Celestials- whose only concerns when the city was drowning in cursed energy were their investments.]

[She is right, he supposes. The Celestials' power is independent of humanity's faith, of the natural world's health. If no one were to believe in them tomorrow, they would go on making merry in the Heavens as they always have- while the natural world choked and died, while mankind forgot that the spiritual realm had ever held power, that ayakashi had ever roamed the lands or lived among them.]

Flowers, too, were kami once, [Matoba hums, and sips at his chocolate milk.]

[ They're both lucky that they found such a secluded corner of a crowded festival to disappear into, even if neither of them are really outfitted in a way that speaks to "blending in." Unsurprisingly, he catches her attention with that simple statement, and she realizes she interrupted him. ]

Really? [ It sounds right, though. The flowers are the Planet, after all. He doesn't know that, but he knows her connection to the planet as a physical being: Earth, she thinks it's called in most places. "Gaia" would be an entirely new name to most people under this starry Tanabata sky. ]

I guess so. They could have been children of Haniyasu... Makes you wonder where we are on that hierarchy.

Yes. [Matoba swirls at the bottom of his glass, trying to mix up the excess syrup that's gathered and separated out at the bottom into the last few sips.] All things born of nature- and even some of those that are not- are kami. Certainly they are not all equal in power- a ancient tree spirit that has had centuries to grow in a mountainside is certain to be more mighty than a spirit that has formed of a beloved old pottery or a flowering bush that's absorbed power from the admiration of people around it, but they all hold power nonetheless.

Humanity's thoughts and words have quite a lot of power on the world around them.

[He drains his glass, and licks his lips, glancing to Aerith.] Humans are both powerless and powerful. Kami rely on us, and give us power in turn. It is cyclical power, but it's not always so simple as that, either.

Even gods sometimes must be exorcised.

[ All of this, in truth, is in line with what she knows of the Planet. Aerith momentarily wonders if she should mention that: that what he speaks of, she knows a great deal about, too. On Gaia, it's more likely easier to explain as people connecting with one another. That is the core of it, after all.

Like always, though, she says nothing. ]

...That's what we did last time. We exorcised Haniyasu's curse. [ It's a terribly forthcoming way to word it, mind. ] You think we'll need to do it again?

I'm sure they won't come at us the same way again.

[Matoba's hands fold in his lap, upon his crossed knee. His gaze lingers just past Aerith's shoulder in thought.] But I am certain that we have not seen the last of them. They were certainly not killed. Some amount of their fleeting spirit escaped and fled into the Wastelands to recover.

The question, then, becomes what else is out there.

[He uncrosses his leg and leans forward on the table, voice conspiratorial and face an unreadable smile of intrigue.] Which is what brings me to my next question. Have you heard any of the whispers going around tonight about what lays out in the Wastelands?

[ It's an interesting question, clearly. The answer is yes, and she'll hear even more before the end of the night, but right now? She only wants to know what he knows. Leaning closer so their elbows nearly touch, Aerith shakes her head. ]

Most I heard was about Ringo.

[ She'll paint that little target for now, cautiously. She's still curious and hasn't had reason to prod too much, but...

With what the flowers had whispered about a third party around here... ]

We have taken control of the underground supply lines, as requested by Shuten's boss. Perhaps you have heard this, by now.

[Maybe from Cloud, maybe just through the grapevine. From the grapevines. Whoever. His voice remains a hush.]

They lead into the Wastes. Whoever was in charge of all of that has all these expensive suits in here tied up in knots.

[Matoba's smirk relaxes as he leans back slightly, and lets his eye lead across the room to a certain figure- a wolf youkai, looking very expensive, but also very anxious.] Ringo-chan's father. Do you see him, there?

[ Hm, she notes this with interest. She'll have to ask Emily about it at some point, because it's only through her bravery that she and Aerith deduces this before the blood rain. Matoba is of higher rank than her, but then...

She nods, looking not very subtly over at the man of the hour. She's met Ringo, but watching him now, she's starting to wonder... ]

The Wastelands, the Celestials, the Gyokuto... and him.

[ She looks back at Matoba, still close, to allow for more conspiratorial whispering. ] I'm listening.

Yes. It seems the supply lines are not the only thing that was under that individual's control. Extortion is fairly common in these circles, naturally.

[Matoba raises his glass to his lips. It's practically empty, but he gets the last few drops of chocolate greedily, and it serves as a conveniently block in case anyone tried to read his lips.] "Kane Guma" ... [He sets the glass back down again.] That name holds a particular meeting in the legends where I come from.

But that's about all I can tell you in present company. It would be bad for clan business if any of them caught wind of this sort of discussion. [Matoba leans forward again.] But do remember this: as I said, humanity once relied on the kami, and the kami required our worship to survive.

In the modern era, humanity's faith barely persists. Then, where could such power be drawn from...?

[He leans back again, and puts his hands on the arms of the chair as if to stand.] That is the key, I think.

[ That's all fair, she thinks. That's a big thing he's mentioned about the black market, but she's mostly relieved to hear that isn't going to the Celestials as much as it likely has been. Though Aerith isn't a tried and true businesswoman, she has no reason to like these guys, and the more he's spoken about the Kami tonight, the more she's wondering what exactly is brewing under the surface.

He's right, though. However, reckless as always, she reaches out to touch his arm, expression twisted. It's hard to measure just how concerned she's feeling, but something is under Aerith's skin. ] I'll keep what you're saying in mind, but... Matoba. [ Her voice drops, barely audible over the festivities. People are celebrating, feeling the love in the air, and doing everything they can to get their fill of each other. Meanwhile, they're off in a corner talking about the underbelly of Jigoku. ]

There's someone here.

[ "Kane Guma", as it is, may be it. She's not sure. ] It could be the Kappa, but someone is here, and not as a festival go-er.

[ She hopes he understands why she didn't warn him earlier. With any luck, it's nothing, but... ]

[Matoba blinks once as Aerith reaches out to lay a hand on his arm- not tensing, or pulling back, but as if he doesn't know the meaning of the gesture.]

[Her warning goes under the noise, words just in the space between the two of them. Matoba meets and holds her gaze for a long moment, his own calculating. If someone was here already, then no amount of outside security was going to do a thing. Panicking the entire party wasn't going to do any good, either.]

Someone trying to make a scapegoat of them again? [He wonders if anyone would fall for it if they did. But it's enough of a concern that he couldn't simply keep it to himself and wait to see whether it would come true or not.]

[He doesn't ask how she knows. His eye falls to the red lily tucked in his breastpocket.] ...Understood. I'll do what I can to take precautions without raising alarms.

[ She, too, has been wondering about this. That perhaps the intention is to paint the kappa as such, or perhaps to blend in with them. They are, Aerith recognizes disdainfully, an easy target. To this day, no one quite knows how the machine got underground. Though she does not speak, Aerith shakes her head. Perhaps Matoba is aware of why: There is no use speculating at this point.

For all they know, there is an insider with the kappa, someone interested in anarchy or aiding the old gods, or something else. This is merely a hunch, a whisper from the flowers, and nothing more, but it is something that doesn't bode well with the nature of the evening. Matoba's just told her they've secured the Black Market; Sakamoto's head won't roll by Toraguma's hand, but it makes Sutoku very, very liable as a whole, and if there's anyone to target...

— ah, but even she's a newly minted Tamamo sub-lieutenant, Matoba is above her, isn't he? That pin of his should show three stars by her count. In this case, she makes a snap decision: They're in this together. ]

Need any help? Give me a call. I'll cover.

[ People have been paying her a great deal of attention, mind. Aerith gathers her red clutch up, pops it open soundlessly, and then slides her new business card along for him. Her phone number is on the back, unsurprisingly. With that, she closes the clutch with a click, and stands. They can't dawdle too long in the same space. Quickly, her glass is picked up for cleaning by a very sudden appearance of a disinterested looking waiter. ]

I'll touch base after the festival if we're lucky.

[ With that, she walks away, the red train trailing behind her. ]

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August 2022 Event

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