March 2022 Mini Event

[jigokumods]

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The Night Parade is fast-approaching and each faction will be busy with their own preparations.

1. SHUTEN CLAN

The Celestial Phoenix Casino, a fairly popular casino in the Shuten territory, is overdue on its protection money. This money is sorely needed for parade preparations. Unfortunately, the casino has decided it doesn't need to pay up because they've hired some new unaffiliated muscle. Neither the manager nor their new muscle are the type to listen to reason, so be prepared to exert some intimidation and force to convince these new bodyguards to take their business elsewhere.

The brute squad working for the Celestial Phoenix seems to be made up of several different youkai. Some of them are more human looking than others, but you'll notice no Oni. Even independent Oni wouldn't dare turn against the Shuten Clan. Even lacking in Oni, these thugs are armed to the teeth, swinging several deadly weapons and even a few firearms. This could get rough, so be prepared for the worst. Take the gangsters protecting the Celestial Phoenix out or convince them it’s not worth it.

Once inside, you'll discover that the owner, in a panic, has locked himself inside the casino's value with the protection money owed. This might take some doing to get open...

2. SUTOKU ALLIANCE

The Kappa want to be left alone and the Daitengu has asked Sutoku Alliance members to assure their wishes are respected. Members are tasked with convincing people to stay away from the Kappa's riverside facilities by whatever means necessary. Of course, you may want to take a look for yourself to see what they’re being so secretive about. That’s not recommended, if you don’t want to get into trouble.

It’s not just strangers who are nosy, though. Retinues from both the Shuten and Tamamo clans are making an appearance and asking why the inspections are taking so long. Why are the Kappa dragging their feet? The Alliance prefers to avoid direct violence, so it's up to you to talk to these clan captains in a way that convinces them to leave the Kappa alone.

If you're curious enough to dive deeper into the Kappa's business, however, even your Alliance membership isn't going to keep you safe. The Kappa themselves seem to disappear from sight the further into the sewers you go, as if invisible. Preventing yourself from being spotted by a security camera or a patrolling Kappa is almost impossible. Cover your faces, stick to the shadows, and you might just notice that... they’re building something down there.

Something for the Parade? Who knows? But it’s definitely not decorations or a float...

3. DEPARTMENT OF THE ENMA

The parade route for the Night Parade needs to be "cleaned up". The Department is tasked with getting the low level street gangs and squatters to clear out. The homeless population will resist and may not be so easily persuaded to give up their spots. Your best bet is to offer them food, booze, or shelter for the night. The street gangs will assuredly fight back. Use your strength or your wits to get the job done.

The gangs will not typically be that tough, most don’t want to step up to the Department's goon squad too heavily lest they wind up in a cell for the rest of their lives. Still, some might be hopped up on encouraging substances and try to escalate. Don’t worry, though. You have the authority of the Enma on your side! Don’t think they will get away with waving a weapon in your face.

The homeless, though, lack strength or weapons. They are more fueled by desperation to keep their spots. Winter hasn't been kind to them, after all, and they don’t have much respect for the Enma's authority. Their belligerent behavior is loud, and often violent despite their absence of means to properly defend themselves. At worst, they’ll probably try to use biological warfare. Don’t ask what's in those bottles...

4. TAMAMO CLAN

Parade costumes need to be designed, crafted, modeled, and then likely mended knowing the rough and tumble yokai. The textile shops and tailors of the area need Tamamo Clan members to help them out. Costumes vary from extremely ornate to extremely sexy. These costumes need to merge form and function, for the Tamamo clan parade marchers that means they need to be able to sell their specific wares while wearing them. (wink wonk)

None of the costumes are floor ready and the shop bosses urge you that these cannot be seen by the public until they are ready. This won’t stop some peeping toms and tammies from trying to scope out the goods. Most of the voyeurs are spying for perverted reasons, but some are from shops outside of Tamamo’s influence trying to copy the designs for themselves. Either way, Tamamo Clan members aren't expected to be just pretty faces. So rough’em up.

5. TASTE TEST (ALL FACTIONS)

For those less interested in their faction's work, the restaurants in the Tamamo territory also need help finalizing their menu offerings for the Night Parade. Taste testers and creative cooks wanted! These aren’t just any dishes though and may have some interesting effects. One may be so spicy that everything burns, your face turns red, and you need to cool yourself off. Or maybe your dish is so good that you need to take a nap – it doesn't matter where you are, you'll just fall asleep right on the spot. Another possibility is a dish that gives you unstoppable energy – literally. It will make you want to get up and go and never stop moving. If you stop moving, it may cause a bigger problem.

Welcome to the mini event!

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Comments

[kikuichi]

I think it's fine. They're still young enough to play around and learn from mistakes.

[Fortunately for these young people, Norimune is only here to get them out of the area. Drugs doesn't cover it, because they didn't get any explicit orders about it.

He's sidestep away from another young man's tackle attempt, and strike at his side as he do. The remaining members, both high and sober, are starting to feel more hesitant.]

I can play with you kids as long as you like. Or you can move somewhere else for a while.

[trueorder]

Too true.

[ The person that the old man dodged is struck hard in the face by Soma. He hears something unpleasant crack; nothing broken but the sound of fist hitting bone is never a nice noise.

It seems like the warning from the swordsman is enough to back them up further. Drugged as they may be, they're seeing more blood on them than on the men they're fighting. Soma's beaten but still looks far more refreshed than they do, anyway.

They point and snarl before backing up further to run away. ]

They should really work on their lines when they retreat. [ He keeps his voice low, even; it doesn't seem like a good idea to agitate the group further. Either way, they're running and going to spread the news of people getting beaten up in this area. That will be good. ]

Thank you so much for your help.

[kikuichi]

[Norimune sheathes his sword as they leave. It softly clicks into place, before he turns to face the other man.]

Oh, it's no problem. I was also sent here to check the area.

[Clearing out the area. With what they did, the news and fear should keep most of them away. A few of them might be reckless, there's always at least someone like that. But they're likely not a problem.]

Are you injured?

[trueorder]

Ah, is that so?

[ He rests one hand on his chest as he gives a slight bow. ]

Kazuki Soma. Also of the Enma. [ Some blood dribbles out of his nose mid-bow; he stands up and wipes his face to attempt to clean up the mess. Soma gives a slight apologetic look for how he looks. ]

A little bit, yes. I'm afraid I've been doing quite a bit of fighting in this area... but it's all part of the plan. [ So, no worries. ]

[kikuichi]

[He gives a bow in return.]

Ichimonji Norimune, also of the Enma.

[Unlike the other factions, his colleagues have higher odds of learning his name.]

I'm not surprised, but at least it's only minor injuries. [Soma is likely a human, who are simultaneously both resilient yet fragile.] I think we can trust those youngsters to spread the word for us.

[Job done? Or mostly done.]

[trueorder]

A pleasure, Norimune-san.

[ Again, he gives a slight bow of his head. ]

You figured out my scheme. [ Here he was wondering if he would have to explain what it is that he was trying to do. ] That saves me some time. But really, I'm attempting to save us all some time.

[ They need not worry themselves with something like this overtly much. ]

[kikuichi]

Uhahaha, I'd do the same if I encounter them first. Young people do love to talk amongst themselves.

[Whether to brag, share information or intimidate others.]

I think I'll walk around here a little, before reporting back.

[Just a single round should do. And maybe see if there's anything interesting in this area. Or it could be a very ordinary area with nothing else to it.]

[trueorder]

Well, it would be remiss of me not to join you.

[ Dusting himself off, he pauses to clean his face (again) with his filthy handkerchief. It does as well as one would assume. ]

I can't let my seniors do all the work. What would that say about my generation, hm?

[kikuichi]

I'd love to have your company. We can chat and walk around.

[Something to break the silence, sometimes. He doesn't mind a quiet patrol, until it get boring. He smiles.]

Shall we get going?

[trueorder]

Marvelous idea.

[ He uses his handkerchief to dab at his mouth and nose; both bleeding a little. Soma pauses to lightly grip his nose and give it a shake; no, not broken, just sore. Good.

Once that little self-check is done, it is time to walk with his new acquaintance. ]

That really is a fine sword that you have. Might I inquire where you got it?

[kikuichi]

[It's pretty quiet right now. If there's any loitering gang members, they're likely keeping their distance or avoiding the area.

Norimune glance over with a smile. It's a question that's bound to pop up.]

Thank you. I have this blade for as long as I remember, so I'm afraid I don't know how to answer that.

['Owning the sword since his childhood'. That's an angle he could use for now.]

[trueorder]

Ah.

[ It's more of a thoughtful sound than anything else. The man calls himself old without looking it, but Soma does get the impression that he is from another era. His head tilts as he muses over which era that may be, and accepts that he simply received the sword in childhood.

A gift to commemorate his birth or coming-of-age or something of that sort. He offers a few small nods before adding: ]

Quite a rude question, but thank you for answering it. [ A beat before adding a teasing comment: ] You know... you do look younger than me, and so it hurts to hear you call yourself my senior a little. Even if that may be the case.

[kikuichi]

[It's bound to come up. Given that they're both in Enma, it's a matter of time before Soma knows what he is. Better give it to him on his own terms first.]

Oh, my apologies. As I'm a spirit, I don't age like a regular human, you see.

[Any more specifics, and it'll likely move a little too close to his identity. He'll stick to being very general, very broad in answers.]

Despite my looks, I am pretty old. I'm likely not the only one around here like this, youthful yet very old in age. I just happen to feel old from my long life.

[He glance around. No one around, just a quiet area for them to walk through.]