(semi-open) blessed thistle.

[medicative]

Who ⬤ Sutoku Alliance members
What ⬤ Coming together to meet and plan
When ⬤ Mid September, after mingle
Where ⬤ Konoha
Content Warnings ⬤ None yet.

[the message that she sends to all their Lost Souls is brief, to the point, requesting their presence at their headquarters at the designated time for a semi-official meeting. that Emily's full of nerves in sending it and arranging these things is not palpable through a text. it's optional, so she hopes it helps.

thus, it is that she's there, waiting at the faction headquarters, dressed in kimono and with a chalkboard - long story - behind her. Ryouma's backing her up, so she assumes people will give a passing thought to what she says. she'll give everyone enough time to arrive - as many as want to come, really - and when she has their attention, then she speaks.]

Thank you, everyone, for taking time out of your schedules to come today. What I have to say will take a moment, so please, hold your questions to the end.

[she's reminded of the meeting that Ryouma had held for the Stars - except this one is on a grander scale, because there was no way around the fact that Iron Bear had shown his hand to them all.]

It is no great secret that soon enough, we will be called upon to head out to the Wastelands in search of the Iron Bear, for his headquarters, for the one himself, and for the young woman he's kidnapped and held hostage. The bounty offered for her return is considerable, and I won't pretend it's not a factor in motivations, but beyond that - her father has ties to us. Does it not then seem apt if we are the ones going forth to bring his daughter back home? Does it not seem like our duty, to look after our own? The strength of the Alliance, from what I see, is built on our choice to band together - our disparate parts, bound by choice, and thereafter looking to each other on the strength of that chosen commitment.

[a breath, and she continues.]

But we will need much, to enact this. And it is nothing any of us can do on our own - so I turn to you all, that you might find some task you can give your assistance to and then contribute to the larger whole.

[hence the chalkboard, which she turns over to reveal a list of concepts, of necessary items that she's drafted.]

Information is both our clan's specialty and the item we need the most of. Where are we going? What are the conditions? What will we need to survive there? What are we expected to face? As much relevant information as we can stand needs to be procured. Supplies and transportation need to be arranged and put together so that we can have a chance of not dying in the desert. Who is going with who, and what that means in terms of travel. I personally will be heading out to the Wastelands, with my goal first and foremost being Miss Ringo's rescue. To that end, I need a specific team willing to concentrate their efforts on that. You will be answering to my direct command. Others may form their own units at their discretion.

[Emily nods, looking over at the gathered bunch.]

There is one significant catch in this, and I know, we're all tired of hearing that. But if you intend to fight the Iron Bear...he is promised to the Shuten Clan so that Toraguma can deal with him as he sees fit.

[and before anyone can get upset for that -]

In exchange, I've been promised that we will be the ones to rescue Miss Ringo. I doubt every Shuten will be held to this, that those willing to act in their own interest or merely unknowing of what has been agreed upon will certainly circumvent this. All of this is to say that if you wish to claim the Iron Bear's head or capture, I will disavow your actions. Publicly, if I must. Be smart, be safe, don't get underfoot, aid where you can - and do not tell me if you wish to pursue him to your own ends.

[so in other words, do what you want, but don't involve her if you're going to counter what she bargained for. in every public way, she must only worry about the kidnapped girl.]

If you decide against this, if it is not something you wish to give anything to, then I invite you to leave at this very moment - and no one should bar your way. Choice, again, is the lynchpin for us. But if you decide for it...then talk amongst yourselves, and come to agreements. Of course, I am here for any direct questions you wish to voice.

Might I remind you all, however, in this endeavor, it would be to our benefit if the other clans didn't have a keen eye into our internal affairs.

[now, from the way she folds her hands, bows her head slightly, it's clear the floor's now open for people to go forth and talk as they please.]

---

ooc notes:

• this meeting is not mandatory for any alliance members! it's just to give a plot based avenue of exploration for anyone interested. i know an ooc element of organization will be needed as well as all of us looking towards october when we'll likely get more info about what the mods have for the big plot happenings - consider this just getting ahead of the curve!
• there is a handwaved header below, for those who want to simply drop off whatever information/opportunities/questions their character has and not engage in an ic thread about it. feel free to utilize this as you wish.
• everyone is free to respond/threadjack/etc. emily is far from the only person with knowledge on these affairs, and she's hoping to generate discussion about them to see what else can be dug up.

Comments

[sacrilegiousact]

[Akira crosses his arms, he's quiet for most of the meeting, listening rather intently to the points others make and only occasionally offering his own thoughts, keen to keep his head down.

However, there is one point he does feel he needs to speak up about, and when he does, his voice is clear and firm, like despite how quiet and young he is, he is used to taking command when necessary.]

I have one major concern.

Our priority is to rescue Ringo-san unharmed, that I can agree with. But what bothers me is Ringo-san's father announced a reward for Iron Bear's head extremely publicly, and not once did her ever mention a reward for his daughter's return.

If she is being held hostage, Kaberou's actions are the fastest and easiest way to get her killed or otherwise hurt. So, either he knows more about the situation than he's saying, or he didn't think this through at all. [Or he doesn't care, which probably isn't fair, but Akira's faith in rich influential public figures is next to zero.] If he's one of ours, we should be able to get more details before rushing in.

[fuckdogramagra]

I guess in theory it could just be a grief-stricken parent behaving irrationally... [ Tama's been fiddling with his dozens of phone charms for most of the meeting now, at this point to prove he's not texting. ] ...for what it's worth, I don't trust him either. Something about this situation is strange, especially that he didn't go directly to Daitengu with this.

[ He really...really wishes he hadn't been so drunk during the abduction. All of his researching doesn't mean much if he isn't present to record things as they happen. ] It must be something to do with Iron Bear himself. That's all I can think of, personally- the only thing that would have someone acting this way is fear, be it for their own skin or some other reason.

[sacrilegiousact]

[Akira nods, thoughtful. He's glad he's not alone in distrusting that old man!]

It feels a bit like this whole thing is handcrafted to cause a stir, doesn't it?

Makes me worried it might be a trap.

[fuckdogramagra]

[ A trap...certainly not something Tama had imagined, but it's not like he really has a normal perspective on families or parenting. Then again, who even did in this hell? ]

For all he's told us, it does seem like we're at least being used in some way. To avoid letting his connections come to light, then plead to a crowd as he did...I said before on the network, but you could simply buy the best with the money he's offering as reward. All a bounty would do is throw bodies on the pyre.

[sacrilegiousact]

[Not quite what he meant. Ringo's father clearly cares about her, whether as an asset or as a daughter, Akira's not sure it matters. He doesn't have much faith in a lot of parents either, especially ones like this.]

Yep, exactly.

And even if he's trying to cover something up... bounty hunters would just add more uncertainties. It seems... bizarre to make it all into a race.

[fuckdogramagra]

Maybe a businessman only knows cutthroat techniques. If someone were so poisoned by their worldview to apply it to everything... [ It's not a comforting thought, but it's one he has too much experience with. ] ...that sort of thing taken to such an extreme feels properly 'yokai', in a way.

[sacrilegiousact]

Less cutthroat, more a grand display of power after having it stripped away.

[Which is very typical of prideful people like that, but... he seriously has to be so wildly incompetent to think this would work that it's a wonder that the Daitengu didn't throw him out on his ass.]

Which... also feels par for the course, I guess. Still, there's more effective ways to reach that extreme.

[worldbent]

Quite an interesting caveat, isn't it.

[The shadowy Lieutenant has been watching most of the meeting in quiet, allowing the newer and younger souls to take charge and observing the deductions that they would arrive at on their own.]

[But this time, Matoba speaks up, stepping forward towards Akira.]

I have done some investigating with Sub-Lieutenant Fushiguro-san on evidence that was left behind by the attackers that night in the casino, and cross-referenced it with evidence that remains from the attack on the city roughly three months ago.

The result is that there is reason to believe the Iron Bear and Haniyasu-no-kami are involved with one another in some capacity. It isn't conclusive enough evidence to confirm that they are directly in cahoots, but...

If this is a trap, and those corrupted gods still have their sights set on this city, then what better way than to rid it of some of us pesky Lost Souls that chased them out in the first place?

[sacrilegiousact]

And if Iron Bear's in on the trap and wants to lure us - and a sizable chunk of each of the factions away, it'd be as simple as threatening Ringo to make Kaberou comply, right?

[Hmmmm.

This would all be so much easier if it was just an elopement scandal. Right now it's looking like a cult or a coup or both.]

The Haniyasu-no-kami... Don't think I've heard much about them besides the basics.

[worldbent]

It's quite a bare-faced plan on the surface, and so there must be something more to it, don't you think?

[Matoba just doesn't know where the other shoe will drop from. He simply feels certain that it will. The Alliance, for all their eyes and ears, still haven't been able to scrounge up a single hint as to how an attack will come, or what the crippling arrow will be.]

[He takes a moment to look at this boy, as if evaluating him.]

Familiar with Shinto deities at all? They are ancient kami, children of Izanami. A twin pair, like many of the primordial gods of the beginning of time, born from her suffering during the birth of Kagutsuchi. They are gods of the earth and silt.

A few months ago they began to send their servants here in the form of haniwa figurines to infiltrate this city and fill it with their malice. Then they came, engulfing the city in darkness and sealing the Enma in his tower. They were forced to retreat by a combined force of this city's clans, but only just.

just a quick addition

[fuckdogramagra]

A recording of the missions to reclaim Kaigo no Bou exists. One was recorded by Strife-san if I remember correctly, but the other was by someone from Shuten. [ He's not going to pretend for a second that his loyalty isn't to Minakami and Kawase over any factional bullshit, but- ] The footage needed to be cleaned up from its raw state, but if it's finished, then I can make sure to get the file for Sutoku's uses.

[sacrilegiousact]

There always is.

[He nods, thoughtful.]

I'm familiar with the deities. [Hasn't met them personally, but... well.] But they tend to be a bit different in person.

[And then given what Kim Kitsuragi said about Iron Bear's crew...]

...Do you think Iron Bear and his followers are servants of Haniyasu, then? Since they're apparently pretty cult-like.

[recluserose]

[Amelia had been poking her ballpoint pen against her forehead (paying no mind that it's at the other end, leaving a small dot) and looks up when Matoba mentions the Haniyasu-no-kami.]

Gods of earth, clay, and pottery?

[She had heard it in passing, with them having to do with the curses throughout Jigokucho, but beyond that, she needs to catch up, clearly.]

... Do we know what else this world's version of haniyasu are capable of? If you're saying this Iron Bear is involved with them, have they carved out a way to make the Wastes hospitable? Or perhaps not at all?

[worldbent]

[...Ah. Does he tell her, or--]

Yes, that's correct. Interestingly enough, you may recall- that this city is situated upon a river delta of the Sanzu. [He grins.] Perhaps it's related? Perhaps not.

As far as what they are capable of, have you heard any experiences from those who were present when the city was under their influence? Endless night, with constant rains of blood. I wouldn't presume that an inherent power of theirs; rather, I would say it is closer to a result of their influence. It was the influence of malice and corruption on a massive scale.

[He makes the quick mental decision not to give the answer he knows to Amelia's last question. Aerith had entrusted him with the flower's words about the green place, but as of now they had no real way of knowing what that cryptic hint had meant. Better to play it close to the chest.]

There's very little information on the residents of the Wastelands... In fact, before the Iron Bear's presence was well known, we were even assured that it was an impossibility. [He smiles unkindly.] Makes you wonder what else we have not been told by this city's ruler, hm?

[recluserose]

[She has the look of combing through her brain full of encyclopedic knowledge from all the books she's read.]

Sanzu, Sanzu... Oh, yes. Like another version of the Styx.

[Her pen flies across the pages of her notebook as Matoba gives his explanation. But she does make an important side note:]

"The Lieutenant did not answer my last question."

[Let's put a pin on that. She closes her notebook. She won't be transcribing that to her phone app.]

If we were being told there's nothing out there in the Wastes, then surely it was to keep us tethered to the city then? The only thing to not entirely doubt is the harshness of the outside if only because we were kept from knowing much about it.

[recluserose]

Ah, speaking of the Daitengu.

[Amelia raises her hand but pauses to quickly introduce herself.]

Amelia Steinbeck. I am new to the Alliance and I've been trying to catch up by chatting up the Jigokucho locals.

The Daitengu was "assassinated" during the Night Parade I believe? Not that it lasted long, but since our leader keeps their own cards close to their chest, I can imagine that Kaberou may be weary of whoever is behind the mask or if they're even the same person.

[fuckdogramagra]

I have wondered... [ Tama certainly hadn't seen the assassination, but he had seen the. 'Funeral'. And after so many months in the city... ] The Alliance is made up of many tribes of yokai, ones that supposedly broke off from Shuten, or so I've heard from locals myself. It's not as if Lost Souls are treated better, but the thought of some of the Alliance's tribes seeing us as a threat to their positions, or favor with the Daitengu, especially as they are native here and we are not...

[ Maybe it'd be easier to take him seriously if he wasn't tapping his overly-decorated cellphone against his shoulder. ] It might, at the very least, be another possibility to explain why Kaberou might not have gone to the Alliance specifically for this matter. I do agree, that there must be something about us or the Daitengu that would make him broadcast his message so, well, broadly... [ There's a beat, then Tama looks almost flustered. ] Ah, this must be a weird time to join the Alliance for you new souls...w-welcome, I guess? It may be quite a lot to deal with, but if you've been out talking to locals, then I hope you're adjusting well...?

[recluserose]

[She frowns at the mention of the other tribes within the Alliance. And it's okay Tama, Amelia is sporting a pocket notebook that's on its last few pages and ink-stained fingers from her ballpoint pen. At least he's decorative!]

Quite a multi-faceted and fractured clan aren't we?

[In response to his question, she nods.]

I could stand to be more ruffled and upset, but I think it's better to roll with the punches to speak.

[or she could just be a witch who's been through Some Shit, so there's that going for her.]

And... Perhaps it is insensitive of me, but the whole situation and the events that preceded my arrival have been fascinating. There's a story with many parts happening and I'm trying to pin it down.

[fuckdogramagra]

With freedom comes more clamoring opinions. I'm glad to be here, having seen how the others operate, but...it certainly has its growing pains. [ Especially for the new souls, he wagers. Or maybe he's the only one who would have died under Shuten or Enma within a week, y'know. Either or. ]

I'm a writer by trade, nobody too useful for hardened criminals and the like, and...it never stops feeling like that. [ He's been mostly fidgeting with his phone, but stuffs it in to his kimono sleeve, and instead pulls out his ratty-covered notebook with a pen crammed in to the spine. ] I can try to keep writing it down, but it's going to grow past me in a dozen ways...and I've been here for months, now.

[recluserose]

[Amelia had said it herself to someone else; she doesn't entirely disagree with the Shuten and could see herself operating within, but perhaps she's too independent to truly adhere to their values of strong bonds.

When he mentions that he's a writer and takes out his notebook, her green eyes perk up with interest.]

... I'm a high school teacher. [Who's also a witch, but that'll come up when it comes up.]

I teach students how to read, study, and interpret literature. If you don't mind me asking, what kind of literature do you write?

[medicative]

He did, actually, mention his daughter's return.

[reaching into her kimono sleeve, she pulls out a small notebook, flipping to a page. the whole text of Kaberou's words is there, but she will cut to the relevant part.]

"Bring my daughter back to me, and the money is yours."

[snapping it back shut:]

That said, he definitely knows more than he is letting on. So, someone should go to speak with him, the sooner the better. Someone who can keep in mind that he's prideful, but with his own worries and currently distressed over losing his family, and find a way towards getting him to talk.

[sacrilegiousact]

Yeah, there was that, admittedly.

[It doesn't seem to appease his concerns at all, but he does seem a little more unsure how to continue.]

It's odd, though, isn't it? The rest of the broadcast was about taking down Iron Bear, almost like he thinks that by killing or capturing Iron Bear, that would bring him his daughter back. The bounty he put up is for Iron Bear, not Ringo-san's safe return. He never clarified whether she had to be unharmed or not, just said she had to be returned.

[Which could mean he doesn't care, he knows she's safe, or he knows she's... well... He's not entirely cynical about this.]

How much do we know about his relationship with his daughter, or his pre-existing relationship with Iron Bear?

[fibrillate]

Ringo-chan doesn't like him.

[they speak up quite simply, jumping in as soon as they find an opportunity to share their information. but not too much of it—not yet.]

He wants her to lead the business when she's of the right age, but she can't abide by the way that he operates. For all we know, this kidnapping could be the greatest relief of her life so far... and either way, I doubt she'll want to go back to her father once we do rescue her.

[sacrilegiousact]

That's what I've heard.

Sending so many bounty hunters after him would only be a remotely sane thing to do if he had reason to believe his daughter was safe. Like if she went willingly and he wanted people to go drag her back. [Still not the smartest plan, but it's not grossly incompetent in that case, just shitty.]

...I wasn't at the festival, though, so I don't know if that's even possible.

[fibrillate]

I had drinks with her and got to know her a little bit. I don't think that she orchestrated this whole thing herself, but I agree that her father probably has reason to believe she's safe.

[it would be interesting if ringo-chan had taken all of this on her own shoulders just to get out of her father's claws. it's not the craziest idea in the world.]

The assassins under the charge of the Iron Bear grabbed her from the side of the stage, and that's all that anyone really saw of it. I don't think it was meant to be the biggest spectacle of the night—one of them shouted "we know who you are" at Toraguma. [as their last words.] So it's possible that Kaberou knows more about Toraguma than he's sharing, too, if this is the reaction he's having to the entire thing.

[that's something else that they haven't spent a lot of time considering: that this is all a shadow play from a financial magnate trying to jockey for even more power. or maybe they're overcomplicating it.]