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, so she's that type. Well he's seen his fair share of unforgiving lessons-- from a Sovereign to an Ice Queen... Either it's a funny coincidence or he really does have a strange Type. But that reaction just makes him all the more convinced that she's someone worth studying under.]

Nah-- I don't want you to go easy on me. It's been a while since I pushed myself, so I want to test myself. That's the best way to see how far I've come and how far I can still go~

[If he's going to do this, he's going to commit to doing it right.]

Whatever you throw at me, I'll follow your instructions.

[ she eyes him for a moment, her gaze steely. he... does look like he is ready for anything, but something tells her that there is more to this boy than just smiles and optimism. ]

...All right.

[ a smile plays at her lips as she turns to the nearby wall mirror, fixing up her hair a little. ]

There's bound to be a dance studio or sorts in the Tamamo District. I could scout for them myself, but I figure that you belong to the clan itself, you'd have a much easier time looking into and accessing them.

[He can't help but grin. He absolutely loved Ra*bits with all of his heart-- he wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. But he'd be lying to say he wasn't eager to try something new and different.]

Oh yeah, Robi-chin showed me a few places a while back when we were talking about different places to practice. Aerith also agreed to let me use some extra space in her shop for a while-- so we've got plenty of places to choose from. I'm not picky, so anywhere is fine with me.

Aerith did?

[ huh, small world. well, if aerith trusts this kid enough, she should at least give him a shot. ]

Doing it at her shop would be most convenient, but we might only be disturbing her work and her customers. No, an ideal place for practice should be somewhere where we can be left alone without being interrupted.

Yeah-- she made my employment official now, so I'll be working there and helping her out with the marketing side of things. It's upstairs, so I doubt we'd be in anyone's way. But I get what you mean. It might be distracting...

[It wasn't exactly built with that kind of thing in mind, so there was the matter of music to consider-- what the acoustics would be like or if it would leak out downstairs.]

I shouldn't have any problem renting something out when we need it.

I'll have to ask her sometime. We're... friends, I suppose.

[ fiddles with her hair bashfully. hope aerith doesn't mind her calling her that so candidly... ]

Will your partner be joining? The one with the pink hair.

Mmmm... well... He's not really used to dancing much yet. So it'll probably be a while before he can do anything too complex.

[He'd been a real trooper though, letting Nazuna teach him what he did. So Nazuna thinks about it a few moments longer.]

...But if you don't mind him sitting in to watch, it might not be bad for him to see what it's like. That might not be such a bad lesson itself.

Sounds good. I shouldn't be taking up too many anyway -- my job at the Department is going to continue keeping me busy, so my schedule might be erratic at first...

[ she is ranked, after all. even more so when she's awarded with another star down the line. ]

Furthermore, I might not be familiar with the more modern dances from futuristic realms. Looks like I too have a lot to learn before I can impart more of my knowledge to kids like you.

[Kids like you. He knows. He knows. But it really only helps so much.]

...I know what it looks like, but-- if I had to guess, you're probably not much older than I am.

[Putting aside his complexes about his looks--]

Don't worry, I get it-- anything you can offer would be a huge help. Don't overextend yourself for our sake. I'll keep practicing what I can on my own too, so that way I can focus on the difficult stuff when I have you to watch over me. And hey, maybe I can teach you a thing or two in return~

Hm? I'm turning twenty-four this year. But that doesn't matter right now.

[ sorry, niichan... until she can see you drink yourself to a stupor like venti she's gonna keep assuming........... ]

And that does seem fair. Truth be told, I am in the dark when it comes to modern dances, so I might need sometime to do my own research and training before we can practice on equal ground.

August 2022 Event

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