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

[ oh, how formal. eula can't help but bow her head in return, her noble training kicking in gear a little especially after doing that traditional dance of hers. ]

Well, it's certainly not too late. You're still plenty young yourself.

[ and maybe her lessons now won't be as harsh and borderline abusive as what eula had went through. ]

Would you mind if we take this somewhere? I am a little beat...

I think I would have to save up for lessons and then see if they had a ballet studio...

[ With a rueful smile, but she's also nodding quickly in agreement. ]

Yes, I think it's best to find you somewhere you can sit and get some air. I'm sure I can find water for you, too.

A ballet studio sounds very ideal. I might be able to join you if either of us can find one.

[ there should be one, somewhere. hopefully in the more neutral territories. ]

And I would appreciate that, thank you.

[ with a grateful smile, eula will go on ahead and find themselves an empty table for them to occupy and for her to sit and rest. doing her favorite dance normally wouldn't tucker her out like this, but she's more overwhelmed about the positive reception it'd gotten, considering its background... ]

I'll be certain to reach out if I find one before you do, miss.

[ Ideally, yes. In a neutral territory. Haru isn't ready to have to potentially reenact Westside Story anytime soon, if ever. ]

But one moment. [ While Eula's hunting for a table, Haru is venturing further in, to fetch a glass of water. She gets playfully propositioned three times, has to explain twice that she's merely looking for water and not any kind of alcoholic beverage, and still has to pay for it (understandable, though), but she returns eventually with condensation sliding down the glass to offer to her. ]

Here we are! I apologize for taking so long.

You weren't taking too long, but thank you.

[ she'll pay her back later, don't worry. the water is greatly appreciated and very much needed; it's a pity that she'll have to stay sober for work, but having company like this never gets old for her. it's something she rarely gets to do back home, after all. ]

Have you ever thought of performing up there? Not right now, of course.

I didn't know it was a thing, until today.

[ And she smiles, looking towards the stage with a hint of wistfulness. ]

But I think... given the opportunity to remember my lessons and to take more, I think doing a performance up there might be fun. I just don't have the confidence and the skill to do it right now-- even if I could somehow make it through, I wouldn't be able to take any pride in it. If that makes any sense.

[ she looks off to the stage, watching the new performance that is taking place there. ]

You don't have to perform for the big audience right away. Sometimes doing it in the comfort of your own room is more than enough. So long as you make enough space, that is.

But I understand where you're coming from. Until you're confident enough that you can "own" the dance, it won't ever feel like it's enough. [ she then looks at the younger girl. ] I've had those kinds of thoughts every now and then.

With your confidence and grace? That's a little surprising.

[ She had seemed so fierce and composed and unfaltering as she had danced up there, and Haru presses a few fingers to her mouth to keep this astonishment from appearing much too rude. ]

Though I suppose that's... also reassuring, in a sense. To know I'm not the only one who's felt that way. I'd just... like to reclaim ballet for myself one day, I think.

It's natural to doubt yourself every now and then, isn't it? You wouldn't be human otherwise. Overconfidence in oneself is an easy way to lead to your downfall.

[ there's also the fact that eula may or may not have self-esteem issues herself that she'd locked away thanks to her compartmentalization skills, but this isn't the time and place to discuss all that either. ]

But in the end, if you want something, you'll have to do everything in your power to attain it. No need to take the easy route and waste that wish on those tanzaku outside. [ she may sound a little harsh at that, but she offers haru a small smile. ] I'm sure you can do it.

That... is very true.

[ with a hint of rueful understanding, something that runs deeper than just agreeing for the sake of pleasantries. She's seen it firsthand, after all. How overconfidence led to destruction and how sometimes, a person couldn't come back from it. ]

But even with my wish... well, you're right. I already decided to do what I could, instead of sitting and waiting for positive change to come to me. That's... not how things work. I know that.

[ a sage nod. ]

And... you don't have to be alone in achieving your goals. You must keep that in mind, too.

[ it took eula to realize that. kinda wild that she learned how to collaborate in hell of all places, but... ]

Furthermore, you could use your renewed dancing skills for combat. It might help in setting you apart from your clan. Where do you belong, again?

Oh, Shuten.

[ NOT A WHOLE LOT OF DANCING THERE. ]

But that's a very good idea. Being graceful in combat would make fights a lot more unpredictable and I might be able to avoid injury better... I think I could only use it to my advantage.

[ she nods! this girl is getting it... ]

Shuten, huh. You seem to be an outlier, but I suppose Toraguma saw something in you that we did not. [ it's interesting, honestly. then again, there are a couple of keets like cain who ended up in the department anyway so. ] What kind of weaponry do you use?

Axes and halberds, mainly. Asogi-san, also from my faction, has been helping me learn swordplay as well.

[ Haru is going to learn as much as she can while things are peaceful, in the off-chance that things don't stay peaceful. Given what she's heard, she doesn't think that's being paranoid. ]

[ halberds... if she remembers correctly, the millelith of liyue usually favors that weapon. by swordplay, she probably means swords and not claymores that eula utilizes. hmm. ]

I suppose we could find a way to incorporate dance somehow. Axes are not a common weapon where I'm from...

[ all she could think of are hammers wielded by bigger fatui mooks, but. hmmmm. ]

Well, we shall cross that bridge when we get to it. Either way, I shall put you to work as soon as we find a suitable location. But I won't be lenient when it comes to teaching dance, so you'd best keep up with me. [ she sounded rather stern just now, but her cold look then eases into a smile. ] Are we clear?

Yes, of course.

[ She's already nodding very earnestly. ]

My ballet teacher was very similar, and I wouldn't dream of asking for anything other than strict guidance. I promise to be diligent and hardworking, without complaints.

[ Ballet was a demanding pursuit. Haru still remembers that much. ]

[ hm! well, that's good enough for her. eula extends her hand towards her. ]

All right. I look forward to working with you, Haru.

[ She grasps her hand for a firm shake, beaming. ]

And the feeling is mutual, Eula-san!

[ WE GONNA DO THIS. ]

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August 2022 Event

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