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

[metafictions]

[Kamui utters a short hum of acknowledgment. Once Hizen's ready, he pulls the outer handle with his free hand, and the casino vault's door swings wide open.

The vault's interior, in contrast to the glitz and glamor of the casino, is drab: metallic and gray, organized with steel drawers full of cash, gold, and jewels in a series of long rows. It looks far more like a library than a casino's cash stash. Kamui takes a quick glance around and closes the vault door after Hizen-- it falls shut with a heavy, creaking thump.

I'm warning you! echoes the manager's voice; it wavers with anxiety. He doesn't want to fight, and if he tries, he won't stand a snowball's chance in hell against two armed Shuten men.

Raising his voice, firm and authoritative:] Almost all your men are dead. We're only here for Toraguma's money. Call the survivors off, and you might keep your head.

[He lowers his tone again, turning to Hizen.] He might still be armed. Be careful...

[harimaya]

(So this is the final boss?

He turns his blade and even that tiny action is enough to make the manager jump.

He might be armed but that's fine because--)

I am armed.

(No chances here.

He is ready to fight if this weakling wants to put one up. Blood on his clothes, blade smeared with blood, covered in bruises and scrapes; Hizen is the image of not friendly. And really? He's impatient. He's been thrown around and beat up enough today. He's ready to call it a day and grab something to drink.

He takes one step forward and the manager cowers back against the wall...)

[metafictions]

[For a final boss, this guy really is pretty pathetic.]

How anticlimactic. You aren't even giving us a dramatic last stand?

[As if in reply, the manager at last withdraws his hidden gun. He's still shaking like a leaf, however, and the thing's no more impressive than anything else they've seen today: it quivers unsteadily in his hand as he shrinks back against the wall.]

Ah. There it is.

[Apparently, Hizen looks like more of a threat to the manager than Kamui. Kamui's blade is cleaner, having only just picked up, and he's not quite as roughed up than Hizen, even if his clothes are only slightly less ruined with blood. He aims that wavering gun and pulls the trigger; the shot misses Hizen entirely, ricocheting on the metal wall behind them and bouncing off into nowhere.

Well, that was rude.

Kamui sighs heavily and steps forward, too, fingers wrapped tightly around the hilt of his own sword. The youkai manager is now frantically looking between the two of them, as if weighing whether he should take another shot or just give up.] Are you done yet?

[Honestly, he could use a drink too. But they don't get paid unless Toraguma gets paid.]

[harimaya]

(For all of his confidence and all of his indifference, the shot actually makes Hizen flinch. He'd seen it focused on him and really, the ricocheting is just as bad as the shot itself. A sword is at a disadvantage in a gun and when faced directly like that, it's hard to not think about it.

But when all falls silent and the manager points his gun at them again, he's not going to wait for him to make another move,)

He won't need his money anymore if he's dead.

(A one-track mind. He's not here to negotiate. He's terrible at talking. There's only one thing he's good at and it's killing. He also can't pay up if he's dead? But whatever, Hizen assumes they can just take his money or something. He isn't fussed about the details.

He takes two steps forward this time like he's about to start charging. This just gets the gun aimed at him again and while Hizen stops, he smiles. It's not just confident but straight up cocky. Reckless.)

Pick a target. Pick him and I'll kill you once.

(He sure did offer to sacrifice Kamui but really, it's hard to tell if he's serious or not right now,)

Try me again and I'll kill you before I die. (Something about this is exciting to him. It's the chance to spill blood one time before everything is over once and for all. What Hizen has right now is bloodlust.) And then I'll find you and kill you again in the next hell.

(EITHER WAY HIZEN'S RESOLVED TO KILL A MAN IF HE PULLS THAT TRIGGER AGAIN.)

[metafictions]

[WOW THANKS FOR THROWING HIM UNDER THE BUS HIZEN.

Hizen's intimidation works-- there's something in that cocky grin, the hungry look in his eyes, that confirms the youkai's worst fears. Toraguma won't take this insubordination lying down, but he'd take that over getting flayed alive twice by this maniac. The manager, still shrinking backwards as if there's anywhere left for him to go, drops his gun, holding up both hands in surrender: O-o-okay! Okay! Just take what you came for and go!

It isn't only the casino manager who's been struck by the dark tone to Hizen's voice, however. Although his silver eye's remained utterly silent the whole week or so he's spent in Hell, it seems to tug at his senses now, a dull and unfocused ache in the back of his left socket. He doesn't need his abilities to feel the way it emanates from the man beside him-- that's bloodlust, all right, and he hasn't seen anyone crave a kill like that since... Travis.

Interesting.

Kamui blinks, gathering himself. At last, he bends down to pick up the casino manager's gun for himself and pockets it. Just pick ONE weapon Kamui, this isn't Hotline Miami...]

Now, we're done.

[harimaya]

(The manager gives up. He tosses his gun aside and surrenders to two of the least physically intimidating Shuten twinks. He doesn't let his guard down until Kamui takes the gun and the manager's hands are up high in the air because... this is how you show you mean no trouble, right?! Right?!

Almost immediately, the aura seems to die down. It lingers still but the intensity has passed. He goes over towards the two of them, each step heavy and measured. The steps echo in the chamber and make it sound more intimidating than it really should. Sword still in one hand, he reaches with his other to grab the youkai by the collar,)

... Killing him would be easier.

(Then they wouuldn't have to do the extra work of dragging thim out. )

Let's toss him to the oni and get this over with.