jigokulogs | September 2022 Mini Event

September 2022 Mini Event

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While an official announcement hasn't been made yet, it is all but guaranteed that each faction will be sending out forces into the Wasteland to confront Iron Bear for that 100 Billion Bounty. Meanwhile, though...

1. SHUTEN CLAN

Training Day

The street gangs in the area continue to be of note. Normally, this would be a cause for some concern among the Shuten Clan. However, they're good news this time around. The glory of the bounty has caused several of the old gangs to disband and swear up with the Shuten Clan, instead of being a thorn in Toraguma's side. With new recruits, that means it's training day again. Get the new guys into shape by showing them the ropes. Team up among yourselves and instruct these unruly street bros what it means to be a member of the Shuten Clan!

Training day is expected to be rough, but hopefully it's a nice change of pace to be the one barking orders. Initiation rituals can range from hardcore drinking contests, to tests of physical strength, all the way to old reliable: fighting it out. You have a long lead on how creative and demanding you want to be. It's your clan too, after all.

Tools of the Trade

The bounty has just boosted the Shuten Clan's numbers, it has also triggered an increase for demand in weapons and arms. The Shuten's are seeing increased profits in their smuggling business. Sellers are being met with both would-be bounty hunters, and average citizens who are feeling anxious about the state of the world. Currently, Shuten arms shipments are a target to both thieves and the police. They need your protection. Thieves are not necessarily unaffiliated, the other factions would like in on this profit margin.

The Shuten Clan is calling on their lost souls to help transport, protect, and sell weapons. They want you to get these arms into the hands of anyone with the cash. To make your sales, you may want to demonstrate the unique benefits of the different options available. Clients come from all factions, so be on your best behavior to impress, and don't get caught up in a stupid sting operation. The Clan is not interested in losing money bailing you out.

OOC note; Any character outside Shuten can post a top-level trying to obtain Shuten weapons, either purchasing or attempting to steal them. Enma characters can also post top-levels related to this prompt.

2. TAMAMO CLAN

Bottom's Up

The fervor surrounding the bounty and the Wasteland is stressful. The Tamamo Clan specializes in stress relief of all kinds, and they are offering up some new potions just for the occasion. Some of these shady products are little more than placebos, while others might have actual effects. No one can really tell which is which, they all taste the same (read: bad). They might make you feel relaxed, or they might make you even more stressed out. That stress might even end up radiating onto the people around you. Who knows what they'll do, really. It's a dicey option, but maybe the distraction is worth it.

As this is the Tamamo Clan we're talking about, some of these potions will be aphrodisiac in nature. Hey, it's a form of stress relief. Still, the quality and intensity of these potions varies greatly, you don't entirely know what kind of ride you're signing up for.

The big gaps in quality of these potions is due to their rushed creation. Like all the other factions, the Tamamo Clan has other priorities right now as they prepare to head out...

OOC note: This is another "anyone can post a top level related to this prompt" one. We do ask if you're leaning towards the aphro option to properly label your top levels with the appropriate warnings!

Ancient Arts

Even the relaxed Tamamo Clan is feeling the tension in the city. Tenkohime has ordered mandatory weapons drills with the magical weapons in the Clan's armory. She's preparing for war and wants everyone to be at their best. You need to know every tool at your disposal. There are seals, explosives, traps, and more; some stranger than others. Test them on each other and maybe the unsuspecting members of other factions... Just try not to actually kill each other.

Weapons drills will be conducted where lost souls are encouraged to experiment with how different seals will interact with different weapons and abilities. Those who opine that the Tamamo Clan is merely the clan of "fox bitches" will be in a for a rude awakening when all the smiling threats become reality. Tenkohime herself, along with the old fox Kinsei, will be supervising training. Hunter Anna, who works alongside Kinsei in the armory, is also available to share a wealth of knowledge and tips.

They are all watching you with high expectations.

3. SUTOKU ALLIANCE

Jigokucho's Got Talent Part 2

While the last-minute help with filling holes in various clubs bookings was appreciated, a more permanent solution for Moonday's unfortunate hiatus is needed, urgently. One can't just replace the most popular band in the city overnight! It's time to look for Jigokucho's next top performance act to begin in earnest. And that means auditions.

All factions are encouraged to stop by Konoha to audition, but all the acts are judged solely by Alliance swear-ins. Your fate will ultimately come down to whether Sutoku can even tolerate you in their clubs, though. Hope your reputation doesn't precede you. Will you become a hit, or will you get the gong? The only way to find out is to try!

OOC note: Again, this prompt is more or less open to everyone. Sutoku characters are the only ones who can play the part of talent judge.

Running with Wolves

The White Wolves have concerns about the physical fitness of the Sutoku Clan. If we're going to the Wasteland, you need to be able to survive out there! The solution? Exercise drills! Mandatory ones! Yes, this means all you chain-smokers out there. You must pass the White Wolves' extremely high standards. Hope you like push-ups. And sit-ups. And pull-ups. There will also be a lot of running, sprinting, leaping, and other field sports.

Every single Sutoku swear-in is expected to participate. Even if you're an officer. Especially if you're an officer. No excuses will be accepted. And, look: even the Daitengu is participating. They seem to be having fun. You can try to weasel out of it, but good luck. The White Wolves are always vigilant, and they have perfected the disappointed puppy dog face. It will rend your heart in two more effectively than any swipe from their giant swords.

If you are looking for an example of White Wolves' standards, look to your resident junior member: Megumi.

4. DEPARTMENT OF THE ENMA

Friendly Reminder!

Despite the Department's best efforts, the unaffiliated bounty hunters continue to be a problem. There are just too many jerks out there looking for a payday, and the Enma's Department just can't handle them all. They may be the arbiters of law and order in the city, but they can only be in so many places at once. The manpower just isn't there for a full crackdown. But, at some point, inspiration strikes:

A memo circulates among department members instructing them to create several Public Service Announcements to dissuade these miscreants. Come up with creative setting ideas, involve the other members of the Department, and maybe some other factions, too. The best PSAs will receive a small token of the Enma's appreciation: a one-of-a-kind commemorative mug. Show these bounty hunters that their behavior will not be tolerated!

Toys for Good Children

The bounty hunters rounded up thus far have provided the Department with something useful: all of their confiscated gear. Melee weapons, guns, survival tools of all shapes, and a large collection of swords. The big item on the menu is weapons and ammunition, a lot of it. So much so that the storage at Kaigo no Bou is starting to burst at the seams.

Their weapons and tools may prove useful to the Enma...Well, once everyone figures out just what this stuff does. Some of it is your standard weaponry, some of it defies explanation. Sort through the gear and find what's useful, and what isn't. Anything that isn't too dangerous can be sent right back out on the streets. Give it to some thugs as a gift, they'll be grateful and maybe cause problems for the more chaotic factions. It's not your problem once it leaves your hands. And if you happen to get something in return for your generous donation? No one saw a thing.

OOC note; Another prompt where mostly anyone can participate, at least in the "letting the weapons filter back into the streets" aspect. Have your character cut a deal with a Department member to get a cool weapon!

5. ALL FACTIONS - WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE

During the evening news, the anchorwoman is visibly sweating and looking increasingly panicked. She goes on in a trembling voice to say that they have been sent a message from... Iron Bear.

They play the tape...

"I'm disappointed in all of you. You've become fat off of the raven's labor, amassing ill-gotten wealth and resources. I will not stand idly by while what is rightfully mine is disgraced by tainted, swollen fingers. None of this is yours and I will be the one to reclaim it.

But know what is coming next will not be done by us.

When this city is in ashes, it is by my redeeming hand you will rise. Only I will be able to rebuild this world, and restore its glory.

They cannot save you.

We are the holy chosen of this realm, and we know who you are!"

When the tape has concluded, there is a sudden and impactful rumble in Shuten territory. One of their weapon storehouses, namely one that contains plenty of volatile materials, explodes violently. It scatters fire into the nearby streets. Shuten forces will need to rush in to help clear anyone out, but anyone nearby is expected to help. Most of the area is non-residential, so casualties should be minimal, if rescue efforts are quick. But that's just the start of it...

The Iron Bear's words ring true. The bomb couldn't have been planted by his followers, not completely unseen. Someone else planted that bomb. Worse, there are more bombs throughout the city that need to be defused. Time is ticking down quickly, and no one knows whom to trust.

The factions have already begun to sabotage each other. The Iron Bear delivered the first blow of this new war without lifting a finger. Things are looking rough...

Welcome to the mini event!

If you have any questions about event content, please ask them here!
FOR THE PURPOSES OF REWARDS, since all of these prompts tie into the main plot in some way, we will count all qualified threads in this post as 2 point threads!
If you have questions about the game itself, please check out the premise, FAQ, and rules pages.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You should have an escape plan if you're usin' something like that.

[A smokebomb is only useful if you have an exit strategy planned out beforehand.

He'll pick up one of his own talismans and push a little power into it, just enough to activate it.

There's a rush of vines that errupt from the earth, at an empty spot, curling around like they're trying to find something to grasp onto. Since there's nothing in particular, the vines are wriggle around looking before dissolving away like they were never there in the first place.]

Huh. Wonder if it lasts longer with a target to hold.

Whoa—

( Nope. She jumps back from that without thinking. It's too close, too fucking familiar. Too much like the countless nightmares that weave through her mind. Eyes wide, her throat tight.

It didn't touch her. It couldn't reach that far.

Still, the crawling feeling of something over her skin makes her twitch. )

[He wasn't expecting that reaction from her. He looks at Kate, checking in on her and seeing if she's alright.

As far as he could tell, it wasn't nearly close enough to grasp anyone. That doesn't mean much if something like this is already a fear of hers.]

Are you okay?

( She shudders, despite her best efforts not to. Things which might not have affected her before Jigokucho, beyond the unsettled ugh, creepy feeling of watching something that isn't meant to move move, now come with flashbacks to the copper-tang of rain as it shifted into shape and pinned her down. )

I... ( Fuck. She hates this. Hates the tightness in her lungs and the nonsensical rambling of her brain, the flashing danger, danger sign. )

Surprised me, 's all.

( It's a bad lie. )

[While his expression is fully unconvinced, he also doesn't like pressing people into saying things they aren't ready to. Nero has so many secrets of his own that it seems better to leave this one alone.

If it's something she hates, then all she needs to do is avoid it.

He'll show her the tag that created it, an interesting pattern that looks almost like the vines it summons.]

This is what it looks like.

[If she wants to avoid using it or being close when somebody else uses it.]

( She'll blame the stress for this later. The tension which has built up in her body for a while now looking for any excuse to come loose and finding panic good enough.

It isn't true, but she'll blame it anyway.

This is embarrassing. )

... A-ah. ( It isn't true, so she files the appearance away with a blink, two blinks, enough to register the soft green of the magic inside it. ) Think one of these creates a bottle of water?

( Let her have her lame comments, please. )

[He lets her have it, finding something else to latch onto. Let the feeling come and go, without dredging up whatever unpleasant memories are related to it.]

Hmm... More likely one of 'em will create a localized rain.

( Localised rain... Honestly? )

... Ugh. No.

( Normally, such a thing would be refreshing. Right now? Not so much. Right now all it sounds like is the touch of bloody droplets running down her scalp and soaking into her clothes. )

... How about this?

( The soft golden glow and the sun symbol on the paper suggest... light? Heat? Anything but rain?

Kate activates it without waiting for an answer, and finds herself enveloped in a bright, golden glow. )

[Fair enough. Though he has no idea what's wigging her out so badly, since Nero had fully missed the cursed rain that was here in Jigokucho. Sometimes... you don't have the context to understand other people.]

Feeling warm?

[Looks like it would be comfortable.]

( Ask her when she gets away from that mental space. When the worst of the darkness stops trying to swallow her back up. )

... Sorta?

( It's like placing her hand right up against a lightbulb when it's switched on. That kind of residual sensation of heat. )

The hell would you use this for?

[Bold of you to assume he'll ask.]

Hm... If you were going into a cave? Maybe.

( She almost says what caves, but who knows what is out in the Wastelands, after all. )

Or if you're cold.

( But not worried about being seen? You'd stick out like a sore thumb here.

Now. How does she turn this thing off? )

[There should always be caves! Somewhere!

Well, that's the Northerner in him that assumes they're just out there with bats in them.]

Is there a way to turn it off? [Are you just stuck like that until it wears off?]

( Uh. What if she tries using the talisman again?

... )

No.

( Got anything to cast a shadow, maybe, Nero? )

[Hmm.. He'll pull out a talisman that he assumes will cast darkness, but just makes her invisible.

And still warm.]

Well. Nobody can see you.

Uh.

( She looks down. And just sees. Nothing. Not even the glow. )

... That's useful.

( That's... very useful, actually. But here's the question — how far does the invisibility extend? She looks around, not that Nero can see it, and steps away (audibly) before picking up a pistol that's been left nearby. Still visible. )

Think you can make this invisible?

[He looks at the talisman he was using, slowly burning at the bottom. He gives it maybe ten or fifteen minutes before it goes up in smoke, with the effects dying along with it.

He'll pull another one, and focus his efforts on the pistol.]

( Hm. There's kinks to work out, for sure, but it does seem to function as intended. The pistol disappears from her sight, and Kate files this away for later. Could be useful, maybe. )

... Cool.

( Very cool, really. )

'M I stuck like this until it's done?

( Did no one put a talisman for cancelling out effects in the pile here? )

Yeah. I don't think I have anything that'll-

[Wait, hold on. This looks like it'll cancel out all of the effects.]

Actually, let's try this one. [And it breaks all the charms and spells on her. Her own magic seems intact.]

( She's back! She's never been so glad to see her own two legs. Invisibility is useful and all, but it's bizarre to look down and see nothing but air, even to yourself. )

Think I'll keep one of them. ( For wholly innocent, brat things like playing pranks, of course. The fear from before seems to have gone, thoughts of writhing vines and powerful arms having retreated to the back of her mind where they'll stay until her next set of nightmares. )

Okay. Last one. ( There are some weapons calling her name. Last one: the cage itself. ) Pick a target.

[He hands it off, figuring if she's going to go out into the wastes, it's better to have some way of sneaking around.

Instead of picking a target, he mumbles something, floating a target into the air for her to use the cage on. The slight blue glow that's a telltale sign of his own magic.

He is holding onto a talisman like he's using it, but this magic is only coming from him.]

Try that.

( Yep. That's definitely it. The talisman is pocketed, and Kate's attention slips over to Nero, unable to decipher his mumbling. )

Wha— ( ...t?

Oh.

Nice. But Kate isn't getting to work with this talisman, instead staring Nero down for too long a moment. The hand on the talisman, the near-inaudible words.

She makes sure no one else is in earshot, leans in, and says; )

Y'know I can see your power, right?

[ Hm.

No he didn't know Kate could see that, but it's not like he can take it back. Now one more person knows about his magic. Maybe he can claim it came from the city and not from home. (Unlikely to work with other wizards in the city.) ]

...

Please don't tell anybody.

( It might be a confusing request, if it was anyone else. But Kate keeps a tight lid on her own power, too. She doesn't say as much to shock him, just... because he doesn't need to bother with a charade for her sake. )

Weren't gonna.

[Nero has a lot of secrets, despite being rather terrible at actually keeping them. So he nods, and accepts her at her word.]

Thanks.

[He won't be telling anybody about Kate's either. That's hers to tell.]

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