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

[ exhausting doesn't even cover it. eula had to double- and triple-check with witnesses, acquire evidence, even had to go aboveground in a futile effort to follow the kidnappers' tracks to no avail. when she's finally sure that she has nothing else to contribute, she'll take her break for the night.

she spots a shadowed figure in an alley though, and walks over to it to make sure that it isn't anyone suspicious. thankfully, it isn't. ]

Bishop? [ she peers at him. ] I'd ask the same. You weren't planning anything nefarious, were you?

If I said I was, would you lock me up?

[ He says holding out his wrists to her. ]

Please? It's a shitshow out here. Jail seems stress free.

[ Don't. The last time he was arrested was not very plesant....for everyone else. ]

But in all seriousness, no. I'm not. I'm resting from the fiasco that was opening night. Now I'm contemplating getting a drink, preferably somewhere quiet where I can think, mull thing over, plan, prepare, then say screw it and then getting white girl wasted. You?

[ please don't joke around with her; she tries to be civil, but she's simply too tired to be cracking jokes... not that she's the type to be tossing them out. ]

That sounds tempting right about now, but I'll need to be sober for the next few days. This investigation is going to keep everyone in the Department up all night...

[ sigh. sleep truly has no rest for the wicked. ]

But I suppose I can accompany you for a while, wet my tongue for a spell. Maybe drive you him if you do get... white-girl wasted. [ what the hell is that term ] Lead the way before I change my mind.

[ He pauses. ]

Not sure an officer should say they'll drink...and then drive in front of....anyone, really.

[ No really. ]

But I've heard of worse ideas. I know a place not far from here. Do me a favor, the place we're going to is small but excellent service and world class bartender. Please do not tell too many people. It's my special quiet watering hole.

I will be consuming non-alcoholics for tonight, so you need not worry about me driving under the influence.

[ because... haha.... the perks of being a ranked enma member is that you can actually get away with dui charges if you drive slowly and carefully enough, as eula and barton had discovered one night.

but okay, color her interest. she does have a penchant for the fancier bars in tamamo territory, not gonna lie. ]

I didn't know one such bar exist in Shuten territory. I shall take your word for it, but if it's not to my liking, then I'm afraid I must tell tell everyone of your deep, dark secret.

[ she's joking, clearly. ]

[ He smirks. An Enma officer with a sense of humor, how charming. ]

I got nothing to worry about then.

[ He, perhaps surprisingly, doesn't take the back alley streets to get to where he wants to go. More surprising was that they were going further away from the Arena, and after a solid half hour of walking to the very edge of the Shuten territory, Bishop leads Eula to a fairly dark street illuminated by old street lights and down a set of stairs with a sign reading "Faithless" then eventually to a dark wooden door.

Stepping inside, she'll be greeted by a old vintage pub. Dimly lit with yellow lights, black leatherbound couches, burgundy damask wallpaper, wooden bar countertop, and stools of similar style and make as the couches and seats. The bar is pleasantly cool, but the scent of tobbacco is in the air, and in the far back - a vintage jukebox playing slow jazz. There's only a handful of yokai in the bar, all of which were in their elderly years and just quietly minding their own business - smoking, drinking, or chatting in hushed tones.

Bishop stepped through and guided them straight to the bar, and while at the edge of the Shuten territory, an old oni dressed to to the nines in a bartenders uniform - manned the bar. He has a scar on his left eye, closed from the injury, but a pair of dignified horns on his head amidst grey slicked back hair and perfectly trimmed beard, He didn't pay any attention to Bishop as he sat, quietly cleaning glasses and utensils, but he did raise his eye to Eula. ]

It's cool, old timer. She's with me.

[ And just like that he went back to his task. ]

Bourbon on the rocks.

[ not all enmas are utter killjoys, though bishop can't be blamed for having such impressions on eula at first glance. as far as she's concerned, she's used to it.

she keeps up with his pace, and when they arrive at the bar in question, eula takes in the vintage atmosphere. it does look like it's frequented by yokai who has seen better years (or even centuries), but are no less lost to time itself. she does holds her gaze on the bartender oni for a second longer than necessary as she's being sized up before bishop grabs her attention again, and she grabs a seat beside him. ]

Club Soda and lime, please.

[ not gonna lie, it does suck not being able to drink alcohol after being tempted to hang out with certain people underground, but she'll be responsible as always. ]

Where did you find this place...?

I found it right here, where it should be.

[ His drink comes, already filled to his preference and with a beautifully cut chunk of ice, followed by hers with a wedge of lime garnishing the chilled glass. ]

I went looking for a place like this, there's only so much neon lights and aphrodesiac filled air one can take while bar hopping. Luckily, after two weeks of searching every nook and cranny of this urban hellscape, I found this pub and I've been a patron ever since. My own little slice of quiet sin.

[ He leans over to whisper. ]

While this place is still on Shuten land, don't do anything you're not prepared to fight for. Everyone here is armed to the teeth with things worse than weapons.

[ He raises his glass to the bartender who does nothing but continue his work. ]

You don't usually see old oni's, catch my drift?

[ Beware the old men in a field where souls die young. ]

Even I won't get out unscathed.

[ well, he shouldn't be looking in tamamo territory if he didn't want any aphro'd drinks because that sure sounded like their specialty? but she lends an ear to bishop's warning, eyes not leaving the bartender minding his business. the oni around them don't look young, but they aren't going to look their age half the time, aren't they?

she nods once, picking her glass up. ]

I don't intend to start any fights while I'm here, but I'll keep that in mind.

[ it's actually a relief that there are more... civil places in this territory. and with that, it's bottoms up. ahh, that hit the spot. ]

In all honesty, though, I could use something heavier than this. Think we all do, after that.

[ she'd seen her share of violence, but seeing someone die like that on stage in front of hundreds of people is... unforgettable. and not in a good way. ]

Why don't you? Honestly speaking, I don't think anything we do is gonna make much of a difference right now, not that I don't understand the "strike-while-the-iron-is-hot" mentality.

[ Picking up his drink, he takes a long sip and sighs as the faintest buzz simmers in his cheeks. ]

Besides, if there's anyone who'd know anything it'd be Toraguma and he's - well...I'd stay away from him for a couple of hours. Very few are safe in his presence if you mention tonight to him. He's still stewing right now.

[ she just shoots him a look that screams, "are you seriously asking me that...?!" ]

Because I am on duty, Bishop. Even the Enma himself told us to keep ourselves on guard after telling us to enjoy ourselves at the festivities. And lo and behold, he's right.

[ she takes a long swig from her drink. at least this one tastes pretty good, even without the alcoholic content. ]

Someone from the Department would've tried asking him by now. I'd rather focus on getting that poor girl back.

Did they come back in one piece? Because if they did, give them a raise.

[ Even he wouldn't prod that tiger bear oni about the matter. Not now, maybe not ever if he could help it. ]

If its about that girl, I can offer a few places and scenarios that seem likely. They're mostly ideas and one working theory that I came here to mull over. Hence the drinking since...

[ He smiled and chuckled grimly. ]

What I decide on tonight is gonna get me killed before the end of the month, or just prove something that will make me want to kill myself, or both if my karma is that bad.

[ a shrug. whether toraguma has decimated them or not, it's none of her business at the moment.

she does stare at bishop for a long while, mulling over what he had just said, before sighing and taking another sip of her drink. ]

There are always guys like you around, huh.

[ why! does she keep attracting these types of men!!! ]

But there's no need for your reckless deeds. We already figured out where they took her, but as to how to bring her back is another conundrum altogether.

[ He'll decide if there is a need for him to do anything. Besides, what's living recklessly to a psudo-immortal destined to die? ]

Let me guess, the wastelands?

[ It didn't take a genius given what the perpetrators were wearing weren't exactly the lastest Jigoku-cho fashion trend. ]

Sounds like fun. [ His voice is just dripping with sarcasm. ] Any idea why that girl was taken in the first place? Honestly, that's what's bothering me the most.

Yes. It'll be quite fun to investigate the great unknown, assuming that you are thoroughly prepared and armed to the nines.

[ she's sincere about this. sure it may be daunting, but she won't be alone. she'd made a fellow enma colleague promise to take her with him there, and ngl it's the only thing getting her through this ordeal. ]

As for Ringo's situation, she is obviously a bargaining chip. The Iron Bear wants something that Kaberou cannot provide right away, so he is forcing the latter into a corner by taking her daughter. This will also worsen the rift between father and daughter.

[ At the mention of Iron Bear, there's an ever slight change in the atmosphere of the bar and the bartender. It wasn't hostility, but it wasn't exactly welcoming either. It was like every ear was suddenly pointed in their direction, waiting for them to say something. ]

....Is it really Kaberou that they're after though?

[ He takes another sip and draining the glass and putting it down, the bartender already refilling the glass. ]

Somethings don't add up. Why kidnap her, but then go for that Sutoku Lost Soul? Why make that declaration using that name? Why say it in the face of Toraguma in particular? What's so special about this Ringo in relation to Kaberou? It can't be money, so there must be something else - something the involved party isn't willing to share. If so, what is it and should we be worried? And...

[ He paused, glancing over to the bartender and smirking before taking another sip. ]

Edited 2022-08-27 15:40 (UTC)

[ eula doesn't even balk when all eyes lasered in on them. as if she's scared of a few accusatory stares at this point. also with all the questions this guy keeps firing, she's finally decided that maybe most if not all shuten men are possibly the most annoying bunch she's had the misfortune to meet. and if she could exact her vengeance on all of them, she would.

she drains her drink coolly, putting down her glass with a sigh. when she speaks its with an utterly cold tone. ]

I thought the reasons were obvious, so I do recommend using your common sense for this one. And even then I know better than to share any intel with anyone who isn't from the Department.

[ they're just going to get fucking chewed out if they don't accomplish this mission asap, her included. factions aside, she barely even knows him. don't tell her he only brought her here in the hopes of sharing info, because... ]

Also, even if I do know something and am willing to share one iota of information out of the goodness of my heart or whichever, it's all conjecture in the end. You can't expect us to have all our thoughts together in a matter of hours after the incident. Try to think realistically here, will you?

[ in other words, she's tired, okay. she just wanted to drink in peace. ]

[ Realistic has not been in his cards for decades, not with all the weird, bizarre, macabre, and down right disturbing things he's had to shoot, stab, break, or otherwise kill in his career. ]

Heh, sorry. Old habit. Brain never shuts off.

[ He takes another sip, which quickly turns into him draining the glass and getting a refill. ]

Scrutinizing every detail and referencing it with every name, face, curse, or what other supernatural element was - is - something have to do on the daily. Becomes impossible to shut out the noise most of the time.

[ she holds her cold stare on him for one more moment before cooling off with a sigh. ]

I understand that. But your queries require going into the Wastelands, and all of us aren't authorized to go outside just yet. That's the biggest thing missing from this equation, since there's so much we don't know.

[ a sigh. she hates being this powerless, but there isn't much for her to do at the moment. ]

I'd go out there myself if I could.

Maybe you aren't allowed.

[ Technically he's discouraged from going out, but if he had obeyed rules like that then he would have been dealt with by the beings in his world a long long time ago. ]

I'm already making a list of what I'd need based on what I've been able to gather about the outside. Just need a few more things.

All of us aren't allowed.

[ utterly deadpan. but this happened before kaberou's announcement about that bounty, so this topic will be moot in a couple of weeks from now.

still, at least she's right about one thing. there are other people who are interested in venturing out there, come hell or high water. ]

You're not going out there on your own, are you?

I don't remember Toraguma saying I can't, and I certainly don't remember being under anyone else's orders.

[ And he never will until it's convenient for him. ]

Maybe, maybe not. Depends on what I manage to dig up. Hopefully, it's nothing and I can relax on the sidelines. Probably I can open that bottle I have saved up.

[ But knowing his luck, it's not going to be nothing. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

August 2022 Event

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