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

[ you froze hers first? call it a little payback. besides, she couldn't believe he'd still want to fight with her on an ice bridge over the ocean. she was being facetious at the time??

she falls silent at his question though, eyes averting from him for a second. ]

...It's a secret.

[ finishing her bun, she unwraps her strawberry sandwich and takes a bite. despite their closeness -- no, it's because they're getting too close to comfort that she can't tell him the details. he can't have remembered, right? ]

[ he stares back at her, unflinchingly, even as she momentarily averts her gaze. does she remember talking about it? should he say what he thinks? mm. in this instance, it's less to get a rise out of her, more to affirm with her that perhaps he already does know that secret. ]

[ he sets the vision down. spoken somewhat lowly, ]

So it's not vengeance against that Lawrence clan...?

[ eula's eyes snaps back at him, her gaze just as steely. ]

Barton. We are steering away from the main topic, don't you think so?

[ it would've been so easy to tell him at this point, but it's not just him who remembered what they talked about that night. if he was serious about ending the aristocracy, even wanting to go to war to them, that would include her too despite being disowned ages ago. once a blueblood, always a blueblood. he'd hate her if he knew.

in any case, she takes her vision back, pinning it back on her waist. getting close to people... is hard. ]

Edited 2022-08-20 22:59 (UTC)

[ barton meets that with a sharp frown.... but he doesn't press. while he's tempted to twist that into a belief that he's correct in his assumption, for now he's quiet. he picks up his riceball and takes a pointed bite from it. ]

[ he waves a hand. ]

Fine, fine..! [ then he leans forward to tap his knuckles against the notepad. ] You asked your question. Now make your point about it.

[ she sighs inwardly. all right, she'll take a deep breath to calm herself down before continuing to write more data into his notepad. ]

As I said, this world runs on soul energy. But according to forensics, the residue those kidnappers left behind had a different composition when compared to the typical residue from the vehicles in this city. They confirmed that it's a certain fuel that is not found anywhere in this realm.

Furthermore, [ jots down another point regarding the motorcycles themselves ] while no one has gotten a better look at the getaway vehicles themselves, witnesses pointed out that their motorcycles have been greatly modified. We could check in at every shop the next few days, but there's only so much we can get from mere word of mouth.

[ in other words, those guys really went out of their way to make themselves very untraceable. how irritating. ]

But the fact that they could have gotten to the Wastelands with Ringo confirms that... we could actually go outside the city. [ she circles that point around with her pen. ] We just don't have authorization. That, or the conditions outside were that dire.

[ barton listens, carefully, mulling this over his food as she explains. his eyes are drawn to the emphasizing circle that she draws. ]

[ he looks stern a moment, putting his corndog down and leaning back in his seat. ]

It just looks like some big desert. If there's anyone the Department could send out there, wouldn't it be us? [ anime ice people, and all. it's a little presumptive, but he earnestly doesn't think it a bad bet.

that aside — ]

He could be convinced. If not in this instance, the Enma is going to want to send one of his own to the Wastelands eventually.

We're not the only ranked ones in the Department. Nor the only ones interested in scouting the great unknown.

[ she knows that there are people from other factions who'd want to explore whatever's awaiting them outside. they're all naturally curious, after all.

she finishes her sandwich and taps the pen onto the paper in thought. she may or may not have a bit of cream at the corner of her mouth, but don't worry about it. ]

But you might have a better chance of going there, with your higher position. If that time comes... [ the look in her eyes she gives him is one of determination. ] Will you take me with you?

[ not that it matters since she'll get her promotion a few days later, but. she just wants to make sure anyway. ]

Edited 2022-08-22 01:55 (UTC)

[ eula's not wrong, for better or for worse. barton doesn't care much for the idea of rank here equating to skill (illumina does it better, always), but it would be something he'd have to consider should the time arrive. even if, observing his coworkers, so many fail to reach his absurd expectations — ]

[ he meets her gaze levelly. his stern expression softens to a smile; as his shoulders begin to tremble, he fails to hold back a low bout of laughter. ]

Ha ha ha! You think you wouldn't be among the first I'd ask...? [ he responds with a crooked, if still lighthearted, smile. but she does look quite serious, so he can at least answer with earnestness. ] If I have any say in the matter, of course I'd want you to come with me.

[ not gonna lie, she already had an inkling that he'd choose her to come to the wastelands with him anyway. but hearing it from him hits different, evident with the small smile that creeps up on eula's face. ]

Then it's settled. We'll be going out there together.

[ jots that down in his notepad so that he won't forget. the smile disappears just as quickly, however, as she lets out another sigh. ]

The sooner we can get her, the better. Then my revenge will take care of the rest.

[ barton's laughter has subsided to a chuckle. her revenge is truly a grim topic to him by now, having experienced the utter emotional devastation of it (theatrics). but he can at least respond with dryness, ]

Ah, I don't have reason to doubt that...

[ he takes another contemplative bite of his corndog, observing her for a moment. then he leans forward once more, demonstrating a motion of swiping at the corner of his own mouth. ]

You got something, by the way. Right there. [ hehe ]

[ king she just ignored you for two weeks. she would've done the same after the last time they'd drunk out together too, but she... didn't. and it's not just because they had to work together on this one. it's been really complicated, but she's not about to let that aspect of her life interfere with what's important right now.

eula blinks at the gesture barton's making, and she picked up a tissue to wipe at the bit of cream from the corner of her mouth. why did he even let her talk so seriously with that?! why, she oughta--

no... no. focus. she clears her throat. ]

Thank you. [ AHEM. ] Now, with that settled -- do you have any other inquiries?

[ she's very reluctant to go back down there, can you tell ]

Edited 2022-08-24 22:27 (UTC)

[ barton makes a noise of acknowledgement. he can tell, yes; he may be biased because he likewise doesn't wish to return so soon. it's almost pleasant out here in contrast. ugh. he tosses his corn dog skewer into a nearby trashcan. ]

No. Maybe I will later.

[ he has to take some time to think on all of that information, as well as reflect on everything that happened... in the meanwhile, considering how to delay the inevitability of returning to the underground and continuing to perpetuate the department's uselessness, ]

You couldn't drive because of your outfit, right? We should find you something to wear with it.

[ that question took her aback for a bit. ]

Hm? Oh, yes. I couldn't run efficiently, either. I was thinking of making a short stopover at my apartment and change...

[ then a wry smile as she looks down on her yukata. it's nice, starry -- reminds her of her designated constellation back home, actually. and yet.]

Wearing this was just a waste of time, wasn't it. Even though I already expected that something like that was going to happen. [ it's tradition, at this point. ]

[ barton wonders if eula "making a short stopover" means he, barton, drives her to her apartment, but he chooses not to clarify for now. he notes the way that she peers at her outfit... maybe it's because they're usually in work uniforms, but he can imagine that eula liked the change. ]

If you enjoyed wearing it, then it's not a waste of time. [ which is odd for him to admit to, considering how many varied things he does think to be a waste. he considers this harmless. ] It looks good, you know?

[ ah, but he has more to say - ]

Once you've changed, you're driving the bike. You need practice!

[ you know, at the very least, barton wasn't being embarrassing about it. she wasn't quite used to the praises she'd gotten earlier when she'd performed her dance, after all, and now she's wondering if she should return the favor too in some way because it is rather rare to see the both of them outside their uniforms--

but she just shoots barton a Look before she thinks too hard on it. wow, of course this guy still wants to train at a time like this! does he really think she hasn't been practicing just because she's still making him drive around the city...?! ]

Fine! I'll show you.

[ with one last swig of her cold brew, she stands up and dusts herself off. and yes, that does mean that he, barton, will have to drive her to her apartment. what did he expect, ]

Edited (i missed a word LMAO) 2022-08-25 02:43 (UTC)

[ ah! far be it for barton to slow anyone down even as he hasn't quite finished his food. he chugs whatever unfrozen remains of his coffee, and gets to tossing his leftovers into the plastic shopping bag for later. ]

[ he climbs back on the bike, looking over to eula. considering he probably realized she'd moved, for one reason or another, ]

Where's your new place??

[ oh, right. she didn't tell him why she even moved out. it's a lot of factors but it's also why she didn't want to talk about the fatui last time......

she sits side-saddle again, this time not hesitating to wrap both her arms around his waist. she can endure one more round of this. ]

Oh, right. It's...

[ she tells him. it's a relatively new apartment building a couple of miles from here, tucked away in a quiet side street. he won't miss it. ]

[ barton's glad he doesn't have to ask her to hold on; he makes quick work of zipping off from the convenience store. since it's only a couple miles, it's not long before they reach the front of her apartment complex. ]

[ he slows the motorcycle to a crawl, then a stop, peering up and down the building. hmm... nice place. ]

This it?

Mhm.

[ she hops off his ride again and immediately stamps down the urge to invite him inside as if they were just coming back from another night of drinking. no time for that. ]

One moment, please.

[ with a short bow, she powerwalks into the building and -- really, just give her around ten minutes to change out of her yukata and into her suit, this time opting for shorts for better mobility, fix her hair a little. she then powerwalks back out and... hm. ]

Are you not going to change as well? I'll allow you.

[ while eula had been fairly quick in her wardrobe change, barton had still take it upon himself to jog a few laps around the building. he can't just twiddle his thumbs, apparently. when he appears again, she squints at her. ]

You'll allow me, huh? [ he's pretty accustomed to her pompousness but gurl...

barton shakes his head, sitting on the edge of the bike. he pats the space in front of himself. his yukata is fairly long, and allows for decent coverage, so he's not going to be sitting side-saddle unless she requests it... ]

Nah, it's your turn!

[ she's just raised to talk like that okay, don't judge... also wow. she knows he trains pretty often, but there's just no stopping this guy from doing more, huh.

but yes, it's her turn now. eula settles onto the seat in front of barton, turning the keys of the ignition and adjusting the mirrors and-- ]

Hold on to me.

[ because she'll be going a little faster than intended?? look, she just likes going fast, but at least she'll keep the speed limit in mind while they're here. ]

[ whoosh, that is fast; thankfully, he is far from complaining, and barton had still known to hold on to her. it's almost concerning to him how easily he fits his arms about her waist - snugly while trying to maintain personal space. it's a balancing act! and although she's tall, their height difference may have their arrangement appearing just a tad peculiar to onlookers. ]

[ - ah, well. he wouldn't have been afraid even if it weren't eula driving, but he trusts her implicitly regardless. ]

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August 2022 Event

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