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

[there's... a pause, a careful consideration. thoughts flow through their mind, worries, concerns—and the very real idea that this is going to be bigger and more intense than most missions they'd gone on back home. with serious danger to their life, in more ways than they're used to. they don't answer for a moment as the thoughts work their way across their face, and they can posture as much as they want but they're certain the doubt is clear.]

I don't know if I can guarantee no mistakes. I'm still working on figuring out the way my body works here, and I still don't know enough about our enemy to know how dangerous they really are. [they stand up just the tiniest bit more straight, and they make truly certain eye contact.] But I will try as hard as I can to make everything go smoothly. I don't want anyone getting hurt, least of all you.

[they don't look away as they continue, even though every cell in their body is screaming to break eye contact out of discomfort.]

But I know that positive thinking doesn't get missions done. If you don't think I'm up to it right now, I'll accept your decision.

[ Cloud listens to Leviathan's self-assessment with the same practiced, neutral expression he gives everything. There's a few beats after Leviathan says they'll accept his decision, before his eyes close and a rare smile smirks across his face. ]

Good. You've got a good assessment of what you can and can't do. That's more than enough.

[ If Leviathan looks at him quizzically, he shrugs. ] The only order the Lieutenant- [ Ryouma, he means Ryouma ] refuses to budge on is he doesn't want anyone to do anything they don't feel comfortable doing. If you want in on this, but you know you need more work, nothing I say or do is going to stop you from cramming all the training you can in between now and whenever our rescue operations start, right?

[ Because he knows Leviathan is more that determined enough to put their money where their mouth is, proverbially speaking. ]

Like I said, it won't be easy, but you've already accepted that. Which means I don't have any qualms about you doing what you have to, Levi.

[ His smile fades, but not entirely, a small little smirk at the edge of his mouth. ] So, tell me, what do you think you need from me, in that case?

[they see cloud smile, and they exhale with a smile of their own and finally break eye contact, any invented tension feeling like it disappears immediately. they'll never get the hang of this.]

I'm going to be working with Marie for combat training. I want to figure out some way to... remove, or dampen, or something—do something to get my lightning working the way it should, and if you know how I can make that happen then I'd love to have a lead on that. [they raise their head and look past cloud, but in a way where it seems like they're looking at him. much better. it's how they can get away with saying something so blunt, they think:]

You know the danger better than a lot of us. If there's anything you want to warn me about, I'm listening.

I can't do anything for lightning, I'm afraid. [ He looks off to the side, scratching at the back of his head. ] Would that I could just put a lightning Materia in your hands and call it a day...

I don't have a lot of information on what we're going into, yet, either. But you'll be one of the first people I let know. I do know that the person we're going up against is responsible for a lot of the Black Market problems we were having, but their connection to whoever incited the Kaigo no Bou incident... that's less clear.

[ He folds his arms. ] ...That said... the haniwa came in from the Wastes. If that's where they ended up going... there can't be that many hospitable places out there.

Edited 2022-08-16 00:09 (UTC)

Yeah. It doesn't seem like it would be too easy to survive out there from the rumors I've heard about what it's like. [and yet, it doesn't seem too different from what it's like outside of the cities back home. it's still just as inhospitable, but at least it's not an unfamiliar concept.]

We can add that to the things we prepare for. If we know about what kinds of dangers are out there, I might know ways to counteract them... if we have the supplies for it. [that's always going to be an issue, too.] Remind me to pick your brain about whatever Materia are, too, once we have some downtime. There's no reason to totally write it off if we already have so much in common, right?

[ He nods at Leviathan's assessment. ] Exactly. And if there's only a few places there... well, that means there's a strong chance Haniyasu and this Iron Bear are involved. And if they are... [ They may have to prepare for the curse, again. It sets his hand trembling with tremors of remembered pain. He clenches it to cease the shaking. ]

Either way, we'll find out soon enough.

As far as Materia - it wouldn't replace your natural skills. But it could be something for you to use in a pinch instead. It's - crystallized magic, basically. [ He might as well explain it while they're talking about it. ] That sound familiar to you at all?

[they watch his reaction carefully. it's something else to spur them on, they find themself thinking. preventing him from having to go into it again by offering themself instead—they're the fresh meat, aren't they? it's what they're supposed to do in situations like this.]

[but those thoughts are all ones they decide to keep in the back of their mind until they're needed. instead, they move towards what's more interesting, and perhaps more immediately helpful.]

No, unfortunately. [they only shake their head a little.] My world has mostly fallen on the "sufficiently advanced technology" side of magic. It's like an elemental bomb, then? You can throw it and it shatters and releases the energy inside of it?

Not... quite.

[ He folds his arms, looking down as he tries to explain. ]

The way it was explained to me is that it's... the knowledge of magical abilities from those who came before us. The Ancients. When you slot it into armor, or weapons, you can use it to cast spells. Or have abilities beyond what you can normally do. So a lightning materia would let you cast lightning magic. But there are healing materia. Special abilities like prayers that soothe others' wounds. Even things like being able to call forth primal deities.

Of course, Materia is all crystallized mako... the same thing that powers the city, cars... and is all controlled by Shinra. Some Materia occur naturally in the world... but not much.

[ He sighs. ] And nothing like that here. Maybe one or two will wash up. A friend from home has one. So it's not out of the question they'll find their way here... eventually.

Edited 2022-08-25 17:58 (UTC)

Oh, I see. And because it's so powerful... well. I can imagine Shinra wants to keep it fairly tightly controlled. Can't have the commoners like us getting their hands on it.

[saying that they are a "commoner" is a very funny joke, but only to them, and they do not plan on revealing why. instead, their posture slumps just a little as the depressing universality of hypercapitalism rears its head once more.]

I wonder if the Daitengu would be able to find some. I mean, that's where the other one came from, I assume? The faction leaders do seem to have a pretty strong sway over imports into hell.

Nailed it right on the head. Some materia makes it out into the general markets, but — anything better than that is in Shinra's hands. SOLDIERs, naturally, get premium access.

[ If nothing else, it was nice that he had someone who understood just how far Shinra's reach extended. ]

It's possible. My friend also got her staff back, so equipment probably shows up all the time, along the Sanzu. And there's no telling when things will show up. But, well, we have to prove we're going to be using it for the good of everyone down here, obviously.

[ Which makes sense, but given his and Levi's own history with corp-like organizations, it's pretty obvious that the situation chafes in its own way. Being a piece on someone else's board doesn't sit entirely right with Cloud, but at least the Daitengu's ambitions are noble, in their own way. ]

[ah, the military industrial complex is alive and well. fantastic. cloud must be having a great time.]

At least things are a little more equal here, even if we do have to make that kind of justification. I don't think it'll be too hard. I mean, look at me. [they smile up at cloud.] Do I look like someone who would use ill-gotten power for nefarious purposes?

[anymore?]

Hmmmm.

[ He's taking a long hard look. Folding his hands. ]

I don't know. Looks can be deceiving.

[ There's a long beat. ]

...That's a joke, Levi.

[they stand there, smile unfaltering, waiting for the bit to end. it goes on long enough to make them worry—but then cloud confirms it, and they laugh. and their laugh sounds like someone who hasn't had a reason to do it in a while rediscovering the way it feels.]

Good. I'm not interested in deception, unless it would get the Sutoku alliance what it's looking for. [they turn up one corner of their mouth.] Or if it would be just a little bit funny. But certainly more the first thing.

Sounds like we're pretty aligned on that. I'm not exactly the deceptive type.

[ Does that mean Cloud doesn't like lying, or that he's a bad liar? Frankly, it might be a little of both. ]

But, I guess that begs the question — and, don't think I'm singling you out with this, because it's crossed my mind, too.

What do you think the Sutoku Alliance is looking for?

[now, that's a question to give them pause if they've ever heard one. it's not something they've had the presence of mind to think about much, and they try to put together what they've experienced so far—which isn't much, but it's something important to think on because of how limited it is.]

I think the Alliance is looking for information. I think the Daitengu knows the importance of knowing the right things about the right people, and I think it's really easy for them to use people like us as agents to get that information. The only thing that I worry about even a little is that... I don't know what they're planning to do with all the information.

[they want to be charitable in their assessment. this is their boss, and the daitengu seems pleasant enough to work under. but they're not foolish, either.]

In the best case scenario, they just want to collect it to have it, like a bird with a nest full of shiny things. But that's what everyone who collects information says they're doing.

And information is all about how you use it. And for what.

[ He's glad that Levi is catching on. He nods. ]

As long as the Daitengu wants things to be peaceful here in the city, we can put that information to good use. If that ever shifts, though...

[ If it ever shifts, it's worth it for both of them to review their options. ]

It's a question worth keeping an open mind about. Even if we trust the Daitengu, we should make sure to think about what they stand to gain and how they use the information we bring them.

...Ironically. That's probably one of the things they want from us, more than anything. [ To think about what they're doing, and who it serves. ]

If the Daitengu is so good at gathering information...

[they're not sure they want to voice this thought yet. their arms cross somewhat defensively, but also like they don't know what else to do with them. they breathe in, drawing up their shoulders, and let it out slowly but not easily.]

It stands to reason that they know everything there is to know about you and me, too. And that means they have leverage, if there's anything about us that we would really rather not let anyone else know. [not that that's something levi is worried about.] If they decide to use what they're gathering for anything we don't agree with, we'd be under their thumb.

I can think of easier ways to educate us about the importance of trust.

Yeah. You're right about that. If the Daitengu knew enough about us to pull that stunt, we would have no choice but to play along.

[ Cloud trusts the Daitengu. Everything he's seen so far speaks to the strength of character of the person behind the mask. But even so... well. Some paranoia was healthy, in their business. ]

It's a good thing you and I both know how to deal with businesses who would treat people like numbers on a spreadsheet, then, if push comes to shove, right?

[well, well. if they didn't know better, they'd say that cloud is prepared for a little seditious eventuality. it's not much of a surprise, but it does continue to raise their esteem for him.]

May we never have to see what that looks like. And in the meantime, I guess all we can do is prepare for when they call us into action. We'll be ready when the time comes.

[they fix cloud with a determined look and extend their fist for a bump. they're trying something new. cut them the tiniest amount of slack.]

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August 2022 Event

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