19 | Peaceful Departure

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: Celebrating Obon
When: Evening August 10
Where: The Near Shore
Summary: Mortals may be partying, but there's lots of work for the denizens of the Far Shore to do.



It's the final day of Obon and spirits are being sent back to their homes -- both the ancestral spirits that have been welcomed home for the duration of the festival and the mischievous spirits that have been plaguing the Heavens. But some of them might not go easy, so Amaterasu has requested that gods and shinki old and new alike help ensure the spirits' peaceful departure.



Mukae-bi

Fires have been lit on hillsides and near cemeteries to lead the spirits back to their resting places and to protect them on their way, but angry ghosts and ayakashi are trying to quench the fires so they can attack weaker spirits. Keep the firewood stocked and the fires blazing high while you fight off the attacks.

Heavenly Exorcisms

It's time to bring any possessed household items to the Near Shore to ensure that the spirits are sent safely on their way. Some might go peacefully, while others might have to be purified by fire in order to set the spirits free. Hope you weren't too attached to that chair.

(Careful... spirits that manage to hide from the housecleaning can become permanent guests!)

Guarding the Gates

Hidden pathways into the underworld in caves throughout Japan are open from sunset to moonset on this night to allow the spirits who have temporarily left to return. Gods and shinki must watch over these pathways and ensure that no dangerous ayakashi take the opportunity to escape from the underworld before the moon sets.

After-party

After the moon sets, the denizens of the Heavens can finally kick back. Everyone is invited to a private hot spring on the Far Shore, where a midnight banquet spread is waiting in thanks for their hard work. Wash off any blight in the hot springs and enjoy the banquet before heading back home for a good night's sleep.

In Summary:

• Keep the fires burning
• Exorcise those annoying spirits
• Fight powerful ayakashi
• Enjoy a banquet
• Have fun~

Comments

B

[mithrarin]

That's an understatement.

[Dust, normally not particularly mindful about charging straight into danger, isn't going to breach this one wildly -- he holds himself in a ready stance, sword held back in one hand in anticipation of danger, but doesn't advance.]

I get the feeling that whoever, or whatever goes in there next is in trouble.

[darkestbefore]

You feel it too, then?

[ She's staring at the gate, searching for any sign of movement, even though she's spotted none as of yet. Just that strange, foreboding chill that makes her skin crawl. ]

[mithrarin]

Do I -- right, sorry. I sometimes forget most people here don't know what it's like to have all your fur stand on end. [Dust cracks a brief smile, and never mind the seriousness of the situation for a moment.]

It must be something powerful. I don't get this feeling from most ayakashi.

[darkestbefore]

Fur? [ She blinks in surprise and then tears her gaze away from the gate to actually look at who she'd joined. ] Ahh, no I cannot say I do, although this one does feel dangerous.

[ She hums at his observation, frowning at the gate once more. ] That's not good. If it seeks to come through... [ A soft huff of breath. ] There are far too many of these paths open tonight and not near enough people to guard them all.

[mithrarin]

We can't worry about what we can't do. We can only worry about what we can do. You prepared to fight this thing?

[Obviously, he is. And will, whether she chooses to or not, if he has to.]

[darkestbefore]

Of course.

[ She slides her bow off her shoulder, letting it fall easily into a one-handed grip. ]

Although if this is ayakashi, it may need more than just fighting to stop it. Perhaps it's merely more of the evil spirits, however. [ in which case, destroying them would be far easier. ]

[mithrarin]

Stop it, yeah. But we can at least inconvenience it enough to make it retreat. [Which is a lot of how Dust has gotten by when his god's not at hand: pouring on the pain to drive off the ayakashi through overwhelming force. It isn't a long-term solution, but what is?] Don't worry about shooting it if I'm fighting it. I can dodge. Or better.

[darkestbefore]

You're certain?

[ She casts a sideways glance at him, because he's a stranger to her. Fighting with her shinki or her companions is another matter, she knows how adept they are at evading blows on a battlefield. But she can't help but take his word at this point and hope for the best. ]

[mithrarin]

I've been looking for a chance to work with someone who fights at range. [Seriousness of the moment aside, Dust flashes a brief smile over his shoulder.] I think it'll be a fun experiment.

[darkestbefore]

Experiment...?

[ She's not sure what he means by that, but she doesn't have time to question it because... well. They're getting company. A lot of it. ]

I guess we will see, then. Here they come. [ And she lifts her bow to take aim once more, sending an arrow into the nearest spirit to surge out of the gateway. ]

[mithrarin]

[Dust stalks forward at a measured pace, letting her land the first hit without worry -- then blurs into motion as he sweeps his sword forward, delivering a pair of strokes to the spirit, then a rising slash that sends it hurtling upwards. All the better for Yona to fire on, as Dust engages the spirits still surging forward.]

[darkestbefore]

[ She would pause and marvel at the move, except she's focused on the fight itself. When the spirit flies into the air, she unleashes another arrow, its tip lit with a flame as it hits. The spirit shrieks as it falls but she's already sighting in on her next target, firing on the group advancing on them. ]

[mithrarin]

[Dust is born to combat -- or rather, created to battle -- and it shows in his fluid, dancelike movements as he cuts through a spirit, then snatches it and twists around to slam it into the ground with such force than it knocks others backwards around him. The numbers don't intimidate him in the least as he rolls right past them, then rises to advance on them from behind.]

[darkestbefore]

[ Yona is becoming accustomed to fighting with companions who are skilled on the battlefield and this almost feels like slipping into a similar pattern as maneuvering around Hae or Jae-Ha or Shin-Ah or Kija, even without Yoon's guidance at her side. As he'd instructed her to, she focuses on the spirits, sending arrow after arrow into the crowd of them. Some dissolve or flee beneath the onslaught, either by arrow or by her new companion's relentless attacks. It thins the numbers they have to deal with, at last somewhat. ]

[mithrarin]

[In the middle of the fight, Dust throws up one hand, and his blade erupts into a whirling vortex so powerful it's only visible as a distortion of the earth and sky seen through it. The suction draws in the spirits -- but also her arrows, so their enemies not only endure withering punishment from the spinning blade, but the arrows whipping through the air in its heart.]

[When he lets the sword fall into a proper grip once more, he snatches the arrows out of midair as he turns to face the next enemies, dropping them in a pocket so he can give them back later. If she wants them, anyway!] You doing all right?

[darkestbefore]

I am. [ She calls back to him with a reassuring smile. This part, at least, goes much easier for her than trying to channel her new-found power, which still exhausts her quickly. ] Are you alright? That is quite impressive!

[mithrarin]

Fighting is what I'm good at.

[For better or for worse, that's just a simple fact. But at times like these, those skills serve their purpose.]

[Dust charges back into the fray without hesitation, his sword again cutting great swaths through air and enemies both.]

[darkestbefore]

[ The pause in battle done with, she again lifts her bow, not intending to rest until they've taken care of the worst of their numbers.

She doesn't comment on his statement, although she wonders about it. Then again, it's a similar statement she could hear coming from her companions so it doesn't strike her as strange as it might to some.

She knew better than anyone how necessary that was at times. ]

[mithrarin]

[She hasn't considered something important: he's a shinki. He can't say where he learned, or why, or what he did. All he knows is that in the midst of battle, he feels comfortable. Like it's home.]

[Luckily, though, his conscience drives him to battle effectively, not prolong it for his own reasons. Between the two of them, and the synergy of her arrows and his Dust Storm, they have the wave of spirits cleaned up in good time. The last of them flees at the highest speed it can muster, and though Dust is barely breathing hard, he nevertheless isn't inclined to go haring off after it.]

...Well. That was something.

[darkestbefore]

[ The statement surprises a laugh from her as she finally lowers her bow once more and approaches him where he's finally come to a stop. ]

It certainly was. Are you alright?

[mithrarin]

I'm fine. [Of course, he would have answered the same had he been beaten to an inch of his life... and meant it, because Dust has fairly skewed priorities when it comes to his own physical well-being.]

I'd ask you, but I don't think we let any of them even reach you, did we? [He smiles as he straightens up, relaxing from the tension of battle.]

[darkestbefore]

[ She returns his smile with one of her own, shaking her head. ]

No, you kept them well occupied all on your own. I'm grateful. My aim is only as good as my focus, unfortunately, as I'm still learning.

[mithrarin]

I don't have any complaints about your aim from where I was standing. Thanks for the help.

[For as much of a loner as Dust tends to be, accepting help in battle and thanking others for it comes surprisingly easy to him. One more thing that makes him wonder about himself, though that's a sentiment he doesn't voice.]

I can't imagine there's too much more to do here, though.

[darkestbefore]

It was my pleasure.

And not for the moment, but if you want to keep patrolling, I can keep watch here for a little longer, just to make sure nothing sneaks back?

[mithrarin]

Sounds like a good plan. I'll check a couple of the closer ones and make a circle out of it. [Luckily, Dust doesn't tire easily at all. The worst he's feeling now is hunger -- but that comes with the territory.] You... ah, by the way. I'm Dust.