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.

Comments

[demonrebel]

[ Contrary to popular beliefs, Dante isn't always all wise cracks and snippy banter. The man is haunted by a rather dark past he wishes he could keep behind him. The shitstorm that happened last month didn't do him any favors. This on top of his lingering worries for the friends he left back home. Life in Jigoku-cho is starting to fray his nerves a bit, especially since it doesn't like he's getting out of here any time soon. That's why he seems a bit colder and a little less cheerful as of late.

He's getting sick of this mess and it shows in his less than chipper demeanor. ]

Something to chase the nightmares away, huh? [ He questions with a slight smirk as he deals the cards. It's all muscle memory for him. He's been playing Poker all his life, both literally and figuratively. ] I might take you up on that offer, little lady.

I have plenty of nightmares I would love to forget.

[ That first nightmare dealing with his murderous twin brother. God, he would give a king's ransom to forget about that miserable son of---well, he can't say that. Not when they have the same mother. ]

But yeah, what's this favor you need? [ It's time to get back on the subject. ] You mentioned it earlier.

[everblooms]

[ A mental note is maid in her mind, there, to prod him about these nightmares. Though he seems to not be the sort to tell his secrets, she has her ways of wiggling it out of people, and part of being a healer, after all, is being there for people. ]

Let's play Go Fish.

[ She says, softly but not without the sort of firmness that makes it clear this is maybe the only game she knows for sure she can play. Raising her index finger, she corrects Dante on just one point. ]

It's not a favor. It's information. [ There's no exchange here, but Aerith's never asked him for anything. She's far too independent for it, but she also supposes that if he sniffs out something interesting enough for him to get his hands into it, he'll simply go for it. ]

I heard that there was someone else attending earlier, but not as part of the festival. Because of that, I thought... it was the Kappa, since they were working late shifts tonight. They got their jobs back, a few of them. It turned out to be worse than that... So.

[ Now, she's talking to him. ]

You saw what happened to her. Ringo, I mean?

[demonrebel]

Go Fish?

[He makes a little face at the suggestion but he doesn't vocalize it. To be honest, he doesn't remember the last time he played Go Fish. That's a game he left behind in his childhood among other games he used to enjoy.] Talk about a classic.

It's been years since I played, so go easy on me.

[He jokes after dealing five cards to her and five cards for himself. After checking his hand, he glances over at Aerith once more when she speaks.]

Nope, I didn't see what happened to Ringo after the Emma folks stepped in.

[Dante answers before asking if Aerith had any threes in her hand. The object of the game is to get the most four of a kind and so far, Dante has two threes in his deck.]

Everyone was so damn tight-lipped about everything, I could make heads or tails of what was happening.

[everblooms]

[ The face says enough. ] I don't know how to play Poker! I didn't even know you blew on the dice until tonight.

[ It isn't part of the game, but Aerith doesn't know about it.

No threes in her hand, unfortunately. Perhaps he'll take one home when he goes fishing, and in the meantime, she asks for eights. ]

Really? [ Hm. Maybe she should hook Dante up with some of her guys, then. ] They took her to the Wastelands. It'll be the talk of the room soon, I bet! That's curious, isn't it?

[demonrebel]

[Dante can't help but give Aerith a skeptical glance for both the dice comment and regarding the kappa's fate. He pensively sits there for a moment lost in thought before finally speaking again. From what little he knows about the wasteland, there's nothing other than certain death. Yeah, sure a few people have volunteered to explore it but why send someone like Ringo there? This doesn't sit well with him.]

What the hell is a kappa going to do in the middle of a damn wasteland? [It's a rhetorical question at best.] Ringo isn't that kind of laborer.

Sure, the gal wasn't exactly dainty but she's not built for the kind of crap.

[Don't kappas need to be near water to survive? The entirety of the wasteland is nothing more than a desert. This is starting to sound more like an execution than some new gig.]

She's going to die out there.

[As requested, Dante offers Aerith one 8's, an 8 of hearts.]

[everblooms]

[ The eight of hearts is the perfect way to illustrate what she wants to talk about. She holds the flush in her hands, then places the card Dante's handed her onto the table. He's right, of course, on all accounts. The Kappa, if they're involved, have nothing out there for them. Ringo can't survive out in the Wastelands.

In other words...

She places one finger on the eight, indicating the inside of the loops. An empty space. Her fingernails are painted red to match her dress, though they've been chipped ever since her fight in the ring, at Musashi's side. ]

Like this, right? [ There's nothing there, between the red loops of the number eight on this card. But... there's still a number. ]

A friend and I, we shook down the gyokuto. The one who was selling drugs in the alleyway, the rabbit woman. Have you met her? [ Her posters we unmistakable, in the end. ] Her stuff. We know it's coming from the Wastelands, and Sakamoto's been working on the black market for a while now.

[ So, something is out there. Aerith pauses. ]

Out there, there's a place that's green, full of life, and safe. [ There's no other way to explain it, really. ]