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

( When she begins to cough, Shealtiel shifts to drop the shirt away from his face, focusing instead on supporting her as she needs it. Oxygen is scarce, and they'll have to get out of here quickly. But they almost have... )

You've got this. ( His throat hurts, his eyes sting, but all of them fix on Azula now. His fangs are more prominent, from the top and bottom both. )

If you can clear us through the shortest path, I'll break an opening. Wall or door is fine.

( Short sentences, at least as much as possible. He will break down a door, or he'll burst through a wall, as long as it's one more straight path to the outside. He's too disoriented too remember which way that is. )

[His support is unremarked upon but definitely appreciated. His confidence is touching. His idea is-

Actually. Shortest path? Shortest path.

She's been going about this all wrong. She's gotten so used to putting out fires all day- and so focused on other things- that it never even occurred to her. Sloppy. Stupid. Inexcusable, really.]

Step back and stay behind me.

[Smothering flames when they're spreading this quickly is too taxing, it's tiring her out quickly, but she has a better idea. She steps, not toward the exit, but toward the wall, as he suggested- the outside wall, she's fairly certain, which is why she'd relied on it for stability before.

This time, as the flame flickers blue, she's not trying to quench it. In fact, it almost seems like it's growing. And then she begins drawing it between her rapidly circling hands, forcing it into a small sphere of blue flame that gets brighter and brighter. She ignores the stinging of her lungs, still breathing deeply despite undoubtedly taking in more cinders and ashes with each breath. She'd worry about oxygen, but, well, she's about to let in a lot more air.

She just has to hope the backdraft isn't too much for her to handle.]

( So she wants to handle it? Shealtiel listens, taking a step back to watch her work. He's unsteady, and his hand is throbbing. Somehow the burning is making him sick to his stomach all over again. He can feel his body rejecting parts of itself, reliving old memories of the poison attacking half of him. "Purifying" him, and failing.

He won't pass out in here. But he does leave this to Azula. It looks like she's managing it, and they're so close...

They just need to break outside. The building is so close to collapse that he can hear it between the cracking of fire. He doesn't waste his breath on any more words. )

[She's feeling her lungs begin to scream. Not just the ash and smoke she's forcing into them, but she feels like the air itself is thinner. She just has to hope this is enough, because she's officially out of time.

She thrusts her hand out, and the orb of fire blasts into the wall- and explodes, blasting the wall outward in a shower of blue flames and rubble.

There's an immediate rush of cleaner air through the new entryway, and then- sure enough, even as she takes a breath of mercifully non-burning air- the flow of oxygen into the room kicks up a violent plume of fresh flame diectly toward them

Even knowing it's coming, even with years of experience defending against incoming elemental attacks, she still only barely manages to sweep her hands apart in time to direct the backdraft around her and Shealtiel, inches away on either side, the rush of air in its wake forcing her to brace her feet against it. After a few seconds, the rush of flame and scalding air passes, and she manages to bark out-]

Come on!

[-before grasping his hand and pulling him through the new exit.]

( It's such a close call. A hand grabs onto his, and the sting of the burned skin doesn't even register. The heat all around them does, making it feel even harder to breathe than it already is, and he's choking by the time they rush outside. The building behind them creaks and groans, and as if that wall was one last pillar of support in holding it up at all, it collapses just moments afterwards.

Shealtiel catches a glimpse of the person he'd saved across the street just moments before debris, dust and flame rush at his and Azula's backs. He can't remember what happens next, because his body finally gives out in the moment, and he falls forward in collapse. The debris doesn't bury them, thankfully. He just remembers thinking in his fall that he hopes Azula wasn't hit or hurt by anything.

Strangely, even in his passed out state, his eyes are all there, even closed. )

[She's winded, gasping, starting to cough and choke by the time the building gives way, and instinctively she moves to lean against him- but she feels him sway as he loses consciousness, and she's quickly forced to catch him instead. And that's when the collapse of the building throws her from her feet.

The result is an awkward tangle of firebender and angel hitting the pavement, though she at least prevents his head from hitting the concrete- possibly the third time she's directly stopped the pathetic fool from cracking his skull open. Once she's satisfied that no more debris or fire is threatening them, she collapses into a fit of coughing. She never choked so much before she came to Jigoku.

Once she's recovered- and hacked up some truly revolting ashen fluids- she finally turns her attention to Shealtiel again. Fool. Pathetic, worthless idiot. His wrist had been burnt pretty badly. For a moment, she regrets grabbing it-

The useless idiot got himself burned to begin with, put himself in that building, was the only reason she was there, if she hadn't grabbed it he'd probably be dead now.

Whatever. At least the rest of him seemed mostly uninjured, except perhaps his back- she wasn't really in a position to check. He was breathing, at least. He was-

His eyes were still there.That was... it wasn't terrible, but it was certainly strange. She peers at one of the eyes on his neck. It looks so real. Eyelid, eyelashes-

Distraction. She could ask him about it later. Or not, maybe it was like the scar and the wings, something he didn't want to talk about. She could respect that. He's basically lying across her lap, and she's supporting his head, so it's not easy for her to shift his weight off of her entirely without jostling him, but she can at least slip one hand down to gingerly press around his back, neck- avoiding the eyes- and the back of his head, to check for bleeding. She withdraws her hand. Thankfully, nothing.

Now, how was she going to extract her legs from underneath him? That was a trickier question.]

( She won't have to wonder about that for long. After just a moment of resting like this, Shealtiel's eyes all tense, squinting tight, and then his body follows. He jolts upright with a gasp, following by a cough that he thankfully directs away from Azula.

Just like that, his eyes are gone. Aware enough to keep his features hidden, his wide eyes (two of them now) turn to Azula, and then he realizes that they're safe.

They're safe.

His chest hurts, and he quickly realizes he needs to shuffle out of Azula's lap, so he does just that, coughing a few more times towards the ground. )

Ugh... Thanks.

( Belated thanks for the rescue, bud. )

Are you okay?

[When he lurches upright, she hastily leans back out of the way, though she doesn't say anything as he shifts away from her.

The eyes just vanishing is fascinating, though. Hopefully that indicated that he was better, now.]

I'm-

[She lets out a slight, wheezing cough herself, and she scowls.]

I'm fine. Despite your best efforts, you didn't manage to get either of us killed.

Edited 2022-09-27 12:32 (UTC)

...I didn't think you'd follow me.

( His voice is quiet as he voices this, and he doesn't look at her. He's busy scrubbing at his face, now, feeling the irritation under his own skin. Had his eyes...? Ugh, he can feel the remnants of burning from the smoke, ghost sensations on eyeballs that are tucked away. His current ones are a little red now, from the irritation.

But he's relatively fine. )

I'm sorry. I... didn't really think before I rushed in.

Clearly.

[It's snapped, but the voice sounds a little shaky as well, and it's clearly not just from the slight wheeze of the smoke.]

Nobody saw them, if that's what you're worried about.

[This is... well, it's hard to describe her voice as soft, ever, but it's spoken with an uncharacteristic quiet evenness, one he wouldn't have heard since the morning after Tanabata.]

( The way Shealtiel freezes up is hard to miss. He stops breathing, eyes widening and body stilling in its place. His eyes flick back to Azula, and that's all he can manage, his mouth finally parting as he struggles to find the words to speak. )

You—

( Nobody but you...

His hands tremble slightly as he remembers to breathe, and he pushes himself up to his feet. It's shaky, and he immediately stumbles to the side, but he catches himself, breath coming out hard now that he's up.

He's in the middle of a panic. )

You weren't supposed to... ( No no no... ) You saw?

[The response makes her stomach clench in rage. She shouldn't have said anything. This is what she gets for trying to reassure the fool. After all that- was she not good enough?

Not that she cares, of course.

She controls her impulse to get nasty, takes a deep breath, tries to control her response. She's still seated, not rising to meet him.]

You already told me that you weren't human, why do you care what I saw?

( ...The strange reaction from Azula is enough to pull him partially out of his panic. He slows his breaths, looking over and down at her with focus. She's not running? She's not trying to kill him? Those are the two reactions he'd expect. His wings must not have come out, but...

He lets out a shaky exhale. )

It's not that. I... ( The silence in between his words is weightier. )

I'm an angel.

( It sounds like he's reminding himself more than Azula. )

[... He seems to have calmed down some, but the way he's looking at her still rubs her the wrong way. Fear. Suspicion. You'd think she would be used to it by now, and yet.]

I recall. They don't exist in my world.

[She won't mention that she researched them after their conversation. Most were either humanoid, or... well, the illustrations had reminded her of some of the more bizarre spirits she'd encountered. She'd simply assumed Shealtiel was more like the former, apparently incorrectly.]

What's the big deal about some eyes? I assume angels are supposed to have those.

( He doesn't answer that. Shealtiel just sort of takes a moment, his expression tense and lost in his own thoughts. After a moment, he holds out a hand to Azula. At least he looks like he's not going to fall over, anymore. )

...I think we should go back to the apartments.

[She blinks at the extended hand for a moment, then glances up at his face.

That... wasn't fear. Or suspicion. It wasn't even hostility. It was-

Her vision blurred slightly. Smoke. Must just be from the smoke. Still, the pit in her stomach had gone, at least. She gets up on her own, not taking the offered hand.]

Will you be able to make it that far?

[Yes, him. Him specifically. Let's not talk about how much smoke she just inhaled there, obviously that's not relevant.]

( Shealtiel lets his hand drop slowly, eyes focused on it for a bit longer before he turns towards the direction of their apartment building. )

Yeah. I'm fine, thanks to you.

( He knows Azula is only going to say the same, but he still adds: )

You? I got us caught in there for a while, but I'm not human.

[The acknowledgement is enough like gratitude to make her feel a bit more calm, and she gives a dismissive gesture.]

I'm fine. I'm accustomed to fire.

[It's not a lie, technically. Though it might be more convincing if her voice hadn't cracked a little from the irritation in her lungs. She ignores it and starts walking toward home- she didn't really have the energy to go a more typical rooftop route.]

( It's a little scary, being like this. He's worried that now that he's screwed up so badly, Azula will resent him. She seemed upset. She must be annoyed that he was so thoughtless...

But it feels lonely to walk like this. Quiet, about a foot apart, occasionally coughing. Halfway there, he decides to move close enough that their arms bump. It's strange, but he feels like the tiny bit of nudging is like a comfort. To remind him she hasn't run away yet?

Maybe.

It's only when they're in the building itself that he speaks again. )

It was just my eyes that you saw?

[The walk is quiet, acutely uncomfortable at first. She can hear the lingering echoes of the chaos around her, and it feels like she's failing. Or has already failed. Not enough. Again. Instead, she wasted her time chasing a fool into a building and all she got for it was-

The intrusive thoughts are interrupted by him shifting closer. Close enough that his elbow brushes against her arm. Careless fool.

Cold, wet tile under her, her arm still screaming in pain as she forces it around her knees despite the freshly bandaged injury, and then he sits down beside her, his arm gently resting against hers, and she doesn't remember making the decision to gently lean against him, pressing her side against his as she cries, but it happens all the same-

She scowls, trying to ignore the memory, but the intrusive thoughts are gone, and she feels... calm, somehow. Relaxed. She finds herself matching her pace to his, continuing the brief moments of contact as they walk. Right. This was... good. Hopefully, he'd tell her something. Perhaps something useful to her, even. Once they're in the building, he speaks, and-

And her gut turns again. Of course. He just wanted to interrogate her for what he'd revealed. This wasn't-

She didn't know what she thought it was, but she felt like a fool somehow. She kept the venomous feeling from her voice, at least.]

You also grew longer, sharper teeth at one point, I think.

( The fear that had so thoroughly gripped Shealtiel earlier is so far gone that only exhaustion tinged with sadness is left on his face. He keeps walking with her, towards the stairs, down halls, slow and close. )

So my wings didn’t open up.

( He breathes out, but it’s too rough to be called relief. )

…Other angels don’t have those things. Normal angels just have two eyes, normal teeth, and big, beautiful white wings.

I guess I’m not great at being an angel in any way.

[That... sounded pointed. He didn't want to talk about the wings before, and it was because- like the eyes, like the teeth, it seemed- they weren't what angels are meant to have.

Interesting.]

Oh, I don't know about that. Interpretations of angels vary widely, from what I read, but almost all of them would seem to agree with your borderline-pathological need to help people.

[... oh, she probably shouldn't have said like three of those things. Oops. She pauses briefly in mid-stride. She hastily covers it up with a cough, which has the benefit that she was already trying to suppress one.]

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September 2022 Mini Event

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