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

[ Monika smiled and sat down, back to a tree and looking up at the manufactured sky. Lonely, huh. Yes, it had been painfully lonely. So much so, just thinking back to it was enough to bring back all kind of unpleasant emotions. ]

It was. We were only four "characters" and... The others weren't aware of the truth like me. [She paused.] It didn't matter how often or loudly I screamed for help. There was no one to hear me. [She looked down, voice breaking down.] I... I don't think I would have made it that far without believing in love.

[ How many times had she considered just ending her own existence? That wasn't anything like Sayori, of course. Monika didn't think of herself as suicidal. But when you lived all alone in a lifeless world with only loneliness and misery as your companions... Ending it all sounded like a mercy.

Monika remained silent a bit. She couldn't say more or she was going to burst into tears. So she had to try, just one more time. Something to shift the discussion away from her. ]

We've talked a lot about me, haven't we? That's unfair. [She laughed.] What about that Cloud? It's the second time I've heard you talk of him now. You denied it last time, but that sounds like romance is in the air to me.

[ Surely that would do the trick. Besides she was super interested in seeing people together and happily in love. ]

[ Processing the information Monika offers her takes Aerith a moment. The others weren't aware of the truth like me. Though her expression falls into something akin to surprise, her mind can only come to a single conclusion. Perhaps they aren't very dissimilar, ultimately, and she thinks she understands a bit more. When the Whispers took hold of her, enveloping her in their tornado and pushing her, she lost a little more of herself, every time.

So how much has Monika lost of herself, then? ]

You should keep looking, then. Someone will hear you.

[ Aerith's friends already came back for her, she knows this much, and she knows just as well and trusts that they will always come for her when she needs them. ] That's what your friends would want, you know.

[ At the mention of Cloud, though, Aerith laughs. ]

He's my bodyguard. I need one of those, you know!

[ What her friends would want...

Would they even want her to be happy if they knew the truth? The horrors she had done? Sayori had condemned her as evil as soon as she had gained awareness, after all. Rightfully so, Monika thought. She had every right to hate her. Aerith was totally right. She had lost so much of herself...

It was too painful to think about. So she said nothing. Instead replying to the "bodyguard" comment. She had found a way to avoid continuing to speak of her problems, and she was going to cling on it. ]

Your bodyguard, huh?

[ That was cute. Was he her bodyguard in this world or had they met back home...? Well, it didn't matter. She wasn't about to poke her nose where it didn't belong, curious as she was. ]

You can't tell me to keep looking for love and not do it yourself, you know.

[ Her biggest concerns in Jigoku, in truth, are not love. However, it's impossible for Aerith not to stick her nose in people's business; conversation is simply how she thrives after years of isolation, with only one friend to her name. Similarly, however, she has a fondness for others' determination and drive, and it is the passion with which Monika lays out her concerns and wish for love that makes Aerith smile, above all else. There's many complexities to her own love life that Aerith keeps to her chest; Zack, for one, but the nature of her relationship with Cloud is another. ]

Oh, I wouldn't worry about me in that department.

[ She's really not left wanting here in Hell, frankly. Monika's a cute girl, and she's sure that she'll find what she's looking for. In truth, it's probably not entirely love, but stability. Someone to be a true friend, someone to actually be there for her. Loneliness is all consuming, and when you're given freedom at the end of a long journey, sloughing it off like an old coat is the best possible end. ]

You, on the other hand... Oh, here.

[ From her hair, Aerith plucks two of the red lilies. Later, if Monika decides to go looking, she'll find one of them pinned to the lapel of a man with blond hair, next to his Sutoku officer pin. Now, however, she offers them to Monika. ] I think you'll know what to do with these. Lovers would give them to one another when they reunited...

[ It's a good sales pitch. Forgive her for using it again, please. ]

[ When she heard 'You on the other hand,' Monika couldn't help but smile. Aerith was really a specialist at directing the conversation in whatever way she wanted, huh. And when she handed her the two flowers, Monika looked at them, unable to say anything. ]

I...

[ For a moment, Monika just looked at the flowers without saying anything. She didn't deserve this. She didn't deserve that kindness. Not someone as monstrous as her. Nobody should be that kind to her. Was that how Sayori had felt this entire time? Whenever people wanted to help her and she felt undeserving of it? There was a key difference though: Monika did want the help. She was grateful and appreciative of it.

And that made her feel all the worse for being so selfish. ]

Thank you.

[ She didn't know if she'd ever find love, in this reality or another. For how important this was to her, she hadn't even really tried so far. She'd considered it with pretty much anyone she'd talked with, she would probably go right in a relationship if someone asked her out of the blue, unhealthy as it was. But there hadn't been any sparks so far. Nothing had made her heart skip a beat. She wasn't even sure what she called "love" really was love.

But she couldn't give up. She brought both flowers close to her chest and smiled. ]

I'll treasure them both until I find the right person.

[ That smile, for Aerith, is enough. It's a hope for the future, to her, something that will lead her where she can find happiness. Though Monika's thoughts run deep and tumultuous, she can only continue on. There is a long, winding path before her, and if taking the flowers and smiling is an agreement to keep going, Aerith thinks it is enough.

A smile hides so much, though. ]

You know... [ She's been tortured enough for one moment, Aerith thinks. ] I was having a normal day once, and then a guy fell through the roof of my church. You never know.

[ She doesn't mention that was Cloud... or Zack. ]

[ Thank goodness Aerith had finally decided to show her 'mercy.' If she'd started asking her about her past in more details, she wasn't sure how she'd have managed to handle that... She needed to learn to say no more firmly. ]

Ahaha!

[ Fell through the roof, huh? She assumed it had to be Cloud. Sure she could be wrong and had misread the hints... But there was just no way. ]

Fate has a way of making things happen. [She paused, tilting her head as she looked at the flowers she had in hand. She wondered if someone would ever fall from the sky just like that for her. Sure it had to be incredibly painful for the person who fell, but that was also super romantic.] Well, destiny is a more fitting word maybe.

[ If Monika keeps hanging out with Aerith, she might start to pick up how to redirect conversation like her. It's hard not to figure it out once you get Aerith's flow. Maybe some day, she'll ever apologize for controlling the conversation. It must be exhausting.

With a puckering of her lips, Aerith thinks to herself that the girl is right. Fate is strange, and it has it's way of moving you. She nods, eventually, gaze falling to the flowers in Monika's hands. ] Follow them.

[ A smile slips back along her features, then. It's not her favorite piece of advice, but the flowers were her part of fate. She found the people she loves because of them. ]

The flowers. They'll tell you something important when you listen.

[ You'll know, then, she thinks. ]

The flowers speak... [Not literally, of course. She smiled.] Maybe I'll write a poem about flowers.

[ Literature was to her what gardening was to Aerith. And flowers were one of the most commonly used thing in poetry. They could be used in so many ways, to describe and explain so many things. Maybe people saw something of themselves in flowers...

There were so many different kind, counting them all would be impossible. And they withered so quickly, dying and returning to the earth... Not unlike people. Monika looked up at Aerith, beaming at her with a genuine smile. ]

Thanks, Aerith. For everything.

[ "Not literally," Monika though, not knowing the flowers were gossiping at this very moment, nonsensical as that was. But it was a simple truth, too, that the flowers would lead her somewhere. When she feels ready to part with it, that's the right choice. Love doesn't always have to work out, Aerith thinks. It just has to be the rush of the risk, the enjoyment of the moment.

Monika may not be the same, admittedly, but she has no reason to doubt it. ]

You should. And when you're done, share it with me, okay? You will, won't you?

[ Monika was indeed very different when it came to love. She wanted the love she found to be the love of her life and to stay with them forever. It was unrealistic and she was aware of it. Why, her experience in the game had proved just how unrealistic such an expectation was.

But sometimes, dreams were all you had. ]

Of course. You can count on it.

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August 2022 Event

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