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

Ah, it’s not really for that kind of use, Nero.

[ He pauses. ]

There is a custom in my town. It’s related to bartering and trade. We give items to one another, but not all of them are really useful to the other person. [ Well, all items that he took were useful to him in one way or another, so he can’t say that they were truly useless trinkets. ]

A person decides on the worth of what they have, and you give either the amount or more to have it. [ He tugs on his sleeves. ] The custom is not so much the giving. It’s how much you’re willing to give and how long the item has been with you.

The items that you have… the ones you’ve held onto… they have a piece of you with them, don’t they? Some part of you that when someone else holds it will know is “you.” And you may not always get to decide what emotion, what feeling, what strength of yourself is in that item, but to give it away has meaning.

[ Artemy nods, agreeing with his own words. ]

[ It's interesting to hear about, even if he doesn't really have an equivalent sort of thing. Wizards hold onto their amulet, and their artifact, but they aren't things that can be given away. An amulet is too tied into a wizard's ability to recharge, and the artifact is part of how they cast their more powerful spells.

There's strength, familiarity and comfort in the things they own and the things they make. That object from the silver egg he was caring for. The food he serves his guests. There is an exchange, even if most people don't think about it in those terms.]

Huh. We don't have that kind of custom where I'm from. [Where he's really from, people just loot the corpses they make.] Thanks for explainin' it to me.

You’re welcome, Nero.

[ And he does finally head to the sink so that he can wash his hands instead of leave them in the mess that they are in. ]

I hope that you shall barter with me one day so that we may come to know each other better than we did the minute before.

[He relaxes just that tiniest bit, once his hands are clean. Not much he can do about his clothing, but that's fine.]

Maybe it'll come up.

[The idea of anybody knowing more about him is somewhat terrifying, thanks.]

Only maybe?

[ Artemy jokes, not realizing that he may be touching on something he should not. His smile is bright, but there are still bags under his eyes and a weariness upon his face. ]

Must you be so stingy?

[He smiles, like he's joking, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes.]

I gotta.

[ ....... ]

Are you all right, Nero?

I'm just busy today.

[Deflect, conceal, don't feel.]

Then --

[ Artemy looks around before making a gesture toward a seat nearby. ]

-- take a few seconds, and I'll handle what tasks you have for a short while.

...

[He does as he's asked.]

It'll only be a minute or two. Just chop up some of those cleaned vegetables here.

[ He gives a small nod. ]

...

[ Artemy lets the sound of the knife cutting through the vegetables fill the silence before he says: ]

I hope that you're not overburdening yourself ... that you are not taking on so much that it is weighing you down.

[He doesn't think he is. This isn't anywhere as bad as how much effort he was putting in centuries ago. Back then it was just him trying to feed all the bandits. At least here he has help.]

That'd take a lot more than a kitchen.

Yet it seems more than a kitchen is weighing you down.

[He laughs a little bit and gets up, back to his counter.]

Somethin' about tonight, maybe.

[Love, the past, regrets, and other such things. Those feelings weigh his heart down.]

It hasn't been that long -- sit back down.

[ He draws himself up to his full height as means to intimidate. ]

And what is it about tonight?

I said a minute or two.

[He's not going anywhere. If only because he's in the kitchen, the one place he actually feels like he absolutely knows what to do.

And he doesn't answer.]

[ He lets out a single huff.

But he supposes that is the most that he can do, as he returns to chopping vegetables. ]

You didn't answer me. [ A slight pause. ] Is it that difficult a topic?

Hmm. Yeah.

[Which is about as much as he'll get out of Nero for now.]

August 2022 Event

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