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

[kokuyoyo]

Mmm.

[...Or, rather, that's probably what sound Chikusa makes instead of just the bubbles that come out from where he's slouched nearly nose-deep into the water, apparently sleepy and content. Mukurou the owl flaps through a bit better, spreading out its wings in a mimic of Celestia.]

[It takes a second, but Chikusa surfaces to actually respond properly.]

It wasn't that bad.... as much as it could have been...

[letteropener]

Oh no, but more than just the troubles we faced, the actual duties. Having a real responsibility towards this world and its workings. We have prayers, of course, but this was a different sort.

[Though, hmm. Celestia tilts her head slightly.] But you know, I wonder if that is something only I, as a pony, was missing.

[kokuyoyo]

It doesn't seem to happen too often.... [He watches as Mukurou floats back in his direction.] Usually only when a lot of people are required.

[letteropener]

And it's a very special situation. I am supposed to be a sun god, but there are many of us here and not one of us actually moves the sun...

[kokuyoyo]

....Does it have to be a literal sun...?

[letteropener]

It was at home, which makes the transition all the more confusing. It just seems like somepony ought to be in charge of it.

[kokuyoyo]

Then... it's probably Amaterasu since we're in Japan.

...If I had to guess anyway.

[letteropener]

If it was, I believe I could sense that. But instead, the sun simply progresses according to its own laws and rules, from everything I can tell. [And few are better qualified to tell than her.]

[kokuyoyo]

....More like the earth progresses, actually.

[You wanted a science lesson, right, Celestia]

[letteropener]

And don't even get me started on how unusual I find that. [She knows, but -- yeah, it's very weird.] I try not to be judgmental, but it doesn't fit well with what I understand, and I am very used to that.

[kokuyoyo]

Then you'll have to get used to this too.

[/blunt]

[letteropener]

Oh, I have adapted. You know, I even get to sleep in these days. [She says this conspiratorially, as if it's a great secret she must protect.]

[kokuyoyo]

[He considers that for longer than is really necessary on any level before nodding.]

Sleeping in is good. You should have done that sooner...

[letteropener]

When one's responsibility is to raise the sun to begin the day, sleeping in has pretty far-reaching consequences.

[kokuyoyo]

....Just say it's Daylight Savings Time.

[Chikusa no]

[letteropener]

Daylight Savings Time?

[Oh, now we're down the rabbit hole...]

[kokuyoyo]

It's a human habit.... At the start of spring, clocks are adjusted so that they're one hour ahead so that it seems as if the summer hours are longer.... And then, during the autumn months, the clocks are moved back an hour again.

[Yeah this is sure a thing.]

[letteropener]

[Celestia blinks slowly.]

I do not understand. Why -- do they do that? The summer days are already the longest...

[kokuyoyo]

Because humans are weird and stupid....

[...Chikusa, you're human]

...You could probably google it.

[letteropener]

This is exactly the sort of thing that happens when nopony is in charge of the sun. [Celestia has said and will keep saying: it's a terrible way to run a railroad.]

[kokuyoyo]

I think that has less to do with the sun and more how people can't leave things alone... Probably.

[letteropener]

But if the sun were properly raised and regulated, nopony could even think of declaring that it rose at a time when it didn't just by changing the time!

[kokuyoyo]

...I mean. People are stubborn and weird. But if you're sure....

[letteropener]

Ponies and humans are very much the same, I believe, under the obvious physical difference. [Celestia is much too kind and caring to bluntly call her little ponies 'stubborn and weird', even if the horseshoe fits...] But I can safely say nopony ever said the sun rises at a time other than the time it rises at.