jigokulogs | 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

[ ... Felix isn't surprised to hear about dealers cheating, considering this awful place, but he will let out a small scoff. He's never found himself caring for gambling or participation in any such activities, even if there had been a necessity to pick up the skill.

Even so, in the end, it isn't exactly participation in that which grinds his gears. Truth is? Cowards like that in his opinion are simply just trash. ]

So that is what the match was about? Tch.

He's lucky you didn't decide to beat him over the head instead with that chair of yours. Cowards who don't personally take care of their own messes themselves are disgusting. Not that I'd expect he would've lasted long in the arena, if he can't handle his own mistake properly.

[ Nodding to confirm, her eyes are wide as she listens. She thinks he's mad about something specific, but... ]

Felix?

[ Tilting her head, she picks her words carefully. ] You okay? [ Honestly, if something had gotten his goat, she'd be happy to listen to it. ]

[ He tenses at that, lips curling into a scowl, and then crosses his arms. ]

...I'm fine.

[ He speaks tersely, but as if without doubt. He loathes this place and some of the things he sees here or there. Or hears of, for that matter, though admittedly he has little patience for cowardice or the wretched side of this city. But, he doesn't consider it a sign that anything is wrong with him. It's this place that's wrong—well, not surprising since it's hell, so he's not going to go down the rabbit hole either. Not now. ]

People like that are nothing special, in the end. Doesn't mean I don't have words for it whenever that nonsense shows up. I see no reason to hold myself back.

[ He says he's fine, but there's something about his past that trickles through, Aerith thinks. Perhaps she's imagining it, but she nods along, anyway, thinking about it greatly with her brows knitted and her expression sincere. She knows what he's saying, but in her mind, it manifests as something reminiscent of Shinra's behavior. They always tried to rig the game for themselves to come out on top. That was the sort of manipulation they loved to engage it; control was their favorite weapon. ]

Mm.

[ If Felix feels this strongly about it, it must be strange for him. That it's his own clan's doings... ]

They did throw me into the ring... Musashi said it should have been cleared by her first. [ That might have been true. It didn't seem like most of those fights hadn't been planned, with the opponents being good natured about their wins and losses. This had been personal. ]

Thanks to her, I got by without a scratch. Maybe they'll think twice about it in the future now!

[ Felix is a young man who likes to think by the end of this he will not come out on the other side acting as if he is "fine" with such things. Especially when those 'things' involve underhanded elements—it's a stubbornness he refuses to lose, even now. ]

Hmph. Maybe they will, maybe they won't. People can be rather stupid.

[ He sees no reason to put it kindly. Well, it is quite rare that he sees the need to, really. But, people are arrogant and their hearts sometimes foolish still.

Sometimes, it feels like the only thing that has changed is that he is in such a foreign place at all. ]

Was Musashi the one fighting in the ring with you?

Sure was.

[ Shamelessly, Aerith mimics the pink haired woman's now signature (to her!) "cut", slashing at the air with an imaginary bokken in hand. Hi-yah! ]

Pretty cool, huh? She saved my bacon back there.

She seemed rather skilled. Hard not to notice...the two of you together make for a formidable team.

[ Felix has actually marked the other woman down as someone to speak with sometime as a result of it. Look, he can appreciate people who kick ass. ]

It was all her! Really.

[ He's smart to do that, in Aerith's book. ]

Team Tamamo's no slouch. We've got a lot of sub-lieutenants like me, but only Musashi is at the top right now... wonder who out of us will get there first?

You'll probably make it soon enough. Being a leader requires needing to make the right judgments so you don't do anything stupid.

[ He puts it bluntly and succintly, but he seems to think Aerith would be at least decent. He doesn't think he quite knows the leadership of Tamamo very well, but he is sure he'd think the same even if he did. ]

[ A bubbly laugh leaves her, unbidden. It's high praise from him, of all people, she thinks. Back on the beach, she could have sworn he mostly tolerated her, or put on a show of it— now, though? She thinks she's earned his respect. Hard won as it is, she can't help herself. ]

Maybe so! Or maybe Tenkohime will demote me for causing a scene tonight.

[ It'd be pretty funny, honestly. ]

[ Yeah, she definitely has. Not only just by watching her fight but staying cool and collected in the time where they were practically in a maelstrom of chaos. Not many can (or had) managed that much. ]

If she did, then I'd have some words with her. Even if I am from a different clan.

[ He says firmly, but also...with an inkling that she is jesting, so not too much indignation. He has gotten to know her a bit that he thinks he can tell that much. ]

[ It is a joke, he's not wrong. If anything, she thinks Tenkohime might praise her for caught Shuten a bit of trouble for the night. Nothing too serious, and a decent sum won in the arena, under her name? Aerith could have had a worse night, in truth. Giggling, she almost relishes the fact he says that so easily. It's kind of cute.

...Actually... ]

Say, did you bet on me back there?

...I might have. Not that it's something I make a habit out of doing. Betting willy-nilly, that is.

[ He states, like he still has a minimal distaste for the activity (which, you know, he certainly does.)

But, though he did not know who she had been facing well, he recalls how she made quick, snap decisions on the fly when he had been injured. Battle is not always about power, though it helps to have raw strength, that can become a hindrance as well. If your opponent is more clever to use it against you, that is. ]

August 2022 Event

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