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

[There it is, a laugh though it's light and almost a whisper. He looks at Cloud with such an amused, if not knowing, expression.]

Is that what you believe? That all you need to do is defeat me? Do you want to know how many times you've questioned if it'll actually be the end?

[ There it is. Sephiroth's casual inference of knowing more than Cloud. But if he was going to so freely give it. One hand clenches quietly at his side. ]

Fine. I'll bite.

How many times, besides Nibelheim, Sephiroth?

[That's the bad part about Sephiroth not being the full cryptic one Cloud is more familiar with, this Sephiroth will just tell Cloud everything.]

Two more.

[ Cloud exhales a bit, a held breath as he waited on Sephiroth's answer. Two more? Then this first time... he would still come back. He doesn't understand how he could... really he doesn't understand how he came back the first time, either. ]

Three times, then. Nibelheim, and twice in the future.

[ So instead, he'll ask the question that's on his mind even more. ]

...What do you even get out of it? What compels you to keep coming back?

[ It's a question that's long eluded him. What does Sephiroth want out of all this? What would drive him to claw out of the grave twice? ]

[That's probably not the best question for Cloud to ask, it's certainly not one he'll like knowing the answer to. Sephiroth lets out a low laugh that's almost a whisper and leans in closer.]

You, Cloud. You are why I keep coming back. It's always been you.

[His hate, anger, and a whirlwind of emotions colliding together that's what anchors him to the world and a continued existence. Cloud exists at the very center of that storm.]

[ Cloud tenses as he hears the answer. It's not what he wanted to hear, but, some part of him knows it has to be the case. Why else would Sephiroth continually seek him out? Why else would Sephiroth appear to him, and not the others? Why else was he struck with all these hallucinations of the man, again and again? His fist tightens, as he forces a breath out. ]

Guess that means it's my responsibility to deal with you if you step out of line again, then?

[ There is, however, a truth to Sephiroth's words. He keeps coming back, which means that if nothing else, to Sephiroth, twice more Cloud's been successful at spoiling his fun. It's a bleak hope, but it's one he manages to cling to without descending into panic.

He thinks about his contract. About the payment waiting at the end of it. ]

I don't plan to let you do what you please. Now, or ever.

Perhaps. That could be your destiny. After all, you are the only one who can meet me in battle.

[The only one who's ever been able to match him in battle. To beat him. That both infuriates Sephiroth and fascinates him to a point of obsession. This lone nobody would be the one to become his greatest foe.

Which is why he's going to make sure their dynamic never changes.]

A dance that will continue for the rest of eternity. I will make sure of that.

[ Cloud's teeth clench, his eyes darting at Sephiroth. "A dance that will continue for eternity"... did that mean what he thought it meant? ]

[ It's time to up the ante, then. IF Sephiroth was going to so brazenly reveal his side of the bargain. ]

Funny. The only reason I'm where I'm at is because I plan to stop that from happening. Permanently.

[ The anger in Cloud's belly can't be entirely quenched, but it doesn't blaze out of control. He keeps a tight hold of it, as he searches Sephiroth's reaction. ]

If you need someone to tell you that what you want is out of the question. I'm more than happy to be that person. You've hurt too many people as it is.

Do you want to know what I will gain from this place, Cloud?

[What they'll both gain. He has no doubt Cloud wants to stop him forever, but it won't be the easy. Nothing in Cloud's life is ever that easy.]

It's an answer you won't like, but I'll tell you if you want to know.

[He's being serious. He will tell Cloud just because he knows the knowledge will upset him and that always brings him great joy.]

[ Every time he's gotten information from Sephiroth, it's only lead to more frustration, more despair. But each time he's pulled back from the brink. A stronger will for it all. More determined that Sephiroth can't have his way. Even still... should he listen to the man yet again? ]

...Fine.

[ It's better than not knowing, in truth. Anything's better than not knowing. ]

Tell me. What is it they got you to agree to your contract for? What price did they name?

[Cloud always takes the bait. He can't help himself anymore than Sephiroth can help going to meet him each time.]

Immortality. Though that is something I technically already have. I might die, but I'll never disappear as my will is stronger than the lifestream. But --

[He looks to Cloud with a certain arrogance.]

Having a physical body that cannot die would have its advantages. But don't worry, Cloud. My deal extends to you as well.

[ Under the stars, Cloud's blood boils. He keeps his head cool — the seemingly supernatural calming of the hundreds of lights above helping him keep it. But hearing Sephiroth's wish twists his gut, and a grimace can't help but find its way on its face. ]

That's just like you. Dragging whoever you want into this sick game. I don't want your damn immortality. [ He doesn't want to be fighting Sephiroth for all eternity. Eventually, other people would get involved. Get hurt. Die. Only getting rid of him forever cuts that off. ]

Guess we'll see whose contract pays off. Either yours to make us immortal... or mine, that says I stop you, for good. Body and spirit, both.

I don't enjoy this game, Sephiroth. But if you won't stop playing it, then I'll play to win. It's that simple.

That's where you're wrong, Cloud. You do enjoy this. Otherwise you wouldn't play along.

[He doesn't like hearing that Cloud is going to try and stop him for good with the deal, but he also doesn't believe in the likeliness of that happening. Sephiroth is beyond all that and he's stayed around through pure willpower alone before, he'll do it again.

So he doesn't show much of a reaction to Cloud's jab back. Instead he looks rather smug about it.]

You see, without me, you don't know who you are. You need this to give you purpose in life. Because when you don't have a reason to fight you drift into the darkness of your heart. The hate inside will always drive you to want to play. Because without it you are nothing.

August 2022 Event

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