011 | Black Parade

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: Parade of the dead
When: All day May 26
Where: Shinjuku
Summary: The Near Shore needs a little protecting from the dead



The last few days have been filled with festival food, high energy, and lots and lots of parades. Near Shore residents really know how to enjoy their holidays, stopping up traffic for hours on end as floats and palanquins go by and filling the streets and courtyards in the area with food stands and festival treats. Many Far Shore residents may have found themselves drawn to this particular festival, as it is being held in honor of a shrine.

When an unexpected parade starts up, the people gather round to watch the impromptu spectacle. It's a little strange, yes, but nothing too terribly off-putting. That is until the parade reaches the shrine itself, at which point all hell breaks loose as the members of the parade start attacking anything and anyone in their way.

The Heavens will then call upon all the gods and shinki who are available to help, because these attackers are not normal at all - they are, in fact, the undead.



Let the Festivities Continue

The festival is a large, booming one. There are dozens upon dozens of food stalls set up all over the place with so many different kinds of foods that it could make your eyes go buggy, most of them fried in some way. On top of that, there is live entertainment walking around, stalls with souvenirs, and lots of excellent company nearby. Surely you'll be able to enjoy the festival to its fullest.

The Walking Dead

It is not immediately evident that the parade is being manned by corpses, but keen observers would be able to pick out the noticeable rotting elements of the dead. Anyone with a soul-sensing ability might even realize that they're not soulless, just lifeless. When the parade reaches the shrine, every god and shinki will be needed in order to protect the Near Shore from this menace. Corpses must either be exorcised or completely mutilated to the point where they can no longer move in order to release the soul.

Not Rootbeer Floats

On top of the mass of dead bodies being possessed by stray souls, some of the floats on wheels in the parade seem to have been taken over as well. They are moving slowly and with purpose towards anyone that crosses their path. At first, it may seem like the float is just veering a little off course, but it will soon become evident that it's headed towards you. They may be slow, but they're very large as well, meaning there's a lot more than needs to be destroyed to release the soul.

Souls, Souls, and More Souls

As souls are released from the objects they've taken control of, the air will become thick with a hazy fog of souls rushing away, into the air, and out of sight. This may make the continued fighting a little more difficult, but it means that the job is getting done.

Through some innate sixth sense, some of the dead people may seem familiar to certain gods (or shinki with specific memories). They can recognize some of the souls as friends or compatriots from their home world that had died. And these souls will recognize them as well.

Any characters not currently in the game that have actually died in their canon are free to be used for this part of the event and played out as NPCs by you and whatever partner you are playing with. All of these individuals will react in a similar way, though - they will beg to be released because it hurts them so horribly to be here right now and, of course, they can only be released in the same way that all the other souls are being released: exorcism or total destruction.

In Summary:

• Enjoy the festival
• Help save Near Shore residents
• Take down the dead bodies
• Try not to cry
• Cry lots
• Have fun~

Comments

[declamando]

[It's an oddly reassuring thought that she isn't the only one who feels lost when it comes to information, though at the same time, it means they're all equally clueless as to who or what their true enemy is here. Still, it lightens a bit of the guilt she's been feeling for not making the fullest effort she can to try and get information about this place.

There's an almost wistful edge to her smile at that comment, and she nods in a somewhat knowing way even as he speaks.]

This isn't the first time I've had encounters with myths and legends that turn out to be much more than that, but everything about this place is so different that even that's no use to me. It feels like having to rebuild from the very bottom...though I imagine shinki would be no strangers to that feeling.

[reformedsinner]

It's hard to say whether it's easier to start from nothing in a strange place with or without expectations!

[He laughs, politely.] Since none of us has really had the chance to try it both ways, that I know of. The occasional shinki has died and returned as a god.

What sorts of myths have you experienced before, if I may ask?

[declamando]

I suppose that's true. [That second remark isn't something she was fully aware of yet, though, and she blinks slightly in surprise before weighing how far to pry. If the topic involves death, it doesn't seem polite to press, but it's a strange idea for her to consider.]

So people switch between roles occasionally? I'm surprised a structure as rigid as what seems to be in place here allows that.

[But in any case, he did ask her a question.] Mythical weapons, mostly. Gungnir, Ame no Habakiri, Dáinsleif...even the god I've been chosen to stand in for, Nuada Airgetlám, took his name from his legendary "silver arm" that I've encountered before. [And used before. And fought with before. She doesn't like clouding the truth, but hiding her Symphogear unless necessary is habitual by now.]

[reformedsinner]

Oh, so what you've interacted with is mostly artifacts from mythology, and not the gods or stories themselves? I see.

[It's not as potentially relevant as he'd hoped -- but then, he's had the chance to talk to a god or two about their experiences in other Heavens, and that hadn't been as useful as he'd hoped, either. Except for learning that every Heaven has its problems.]

Old gods and shinki never change places. From what I can tell, though, we new gods and shinki are all souls brought here in the same manner, and sometimes we shift from one role to the other.

[Through the same magic, he might say: but he has no proof that they're being controlled by some faceless enemy, not so far. It's only a suspicion.]

[declamando]

Relics and artifacts, yes. Some of them are supposed to hold connections to gods, and I suppose I could say I've had some contact with the Curse of Babel in terms of stories, but none of that would be relevant here anyway, I don't think.

[As she says the words "Curse of Babel", her gaze strays briefly up to the moon before returning to Hakkai's face. At least that was one thing she probably didn't need to worry about here.

Listening to that explanation of things does show the logic more straightforwardly, and Maria nods thoughtfully as he says it.]

That does make sense. If we all come the same way, there should really be nothing stopping us from changing sides like there might be for the ones who've always been here.

[reformedsinner]

Yes, exactly. Gods aren't supposed to be replaced like this. They're supposed to be born from their worshippers' belief... as far as I can tell!

And then reborn in the same way if they should happen to die.

[He shrugs, maybe a little too casually. What brought them here, and why, is an interesting question. The more people who are wondering about it, the more chances they'll have to turn up useful information.]

So really, everything that's happened with us is unnatural for this world!

[declamando]

I can't really call it reassuring, but I suppose at least everyone seems as lost as each other. Even the gods who were here before us don't seem to have any idea what's going on.

[At least, that had been the impression she'd gotten from Bishamon. It's hard to really say otherwise when it still seems like this entire situation is being handled without much skill.

Sighing a little, she looks out over the festival.]

I just hope we do a good job standing in until the rightful gods return. These people don't deserve to suffer for our inexperience.

[reformedsinner]

No, or at least they haven't had any ideas they're willing to share with us.

[Hakkai sighs, sounding mildly put-upon.]

I certainly hope so! And perhaps we'll even be able to help find out where they've gone.

[declamando]

I've found the older god I met - Bishamon, I think it was - quite open to discussion, but I've heard very little that isn't bad about the general level of contact between the old and new gods.

[Maria doesn't sound particularly pleased about that, but she's also not more than a little bothered by it. Until she sees more of it for herself, she'll reserve judgement.]

I hope so too. Something like that has to leave traces eventually.

[reformedsinner]

Bishamon is the most helpful by far. Most of the others haven't bothered to interact with us, or have been hostile when they do.

[He sighs.] ... It must, mustn't it? And we're bound to eventually learn what to look for.

[declamando]

[That summation gets a knowing nod from Maria.] That's what I've been hearing, yes. It's unfortunate, but at least there's one willing to help us out.

If we can learn that sooner rather than later, it'd save a lot of grief for the humans, but I couldn't say how long it could be before we reach that point.

[reformedsinner]

There's Suijin, too, but I'm afraid she's often busy!

[His expression falls flat as he glances around at the cheerful festival crowds.]

Yes, indeed. And a bit of grief for ourselves as well.

[declamando]

[Maria has actually heard of Suijin, at least, but she's still not certain how wise it is to mention that conclave to shinki, so she reserves that comment. Besides, it's not like she actually spoke to her, so that's still new information, and she smiles appreciatively.]

I see. I'll be honoured if I have the chance to speak to her one-on-one, then. I suppose she's probably busy trying to track that trail herself, too.

[reformedsinner]

She seems to be the most dedicated investigator... or, at least, the one who's most willing to let us know what she's doing.

You may want to try to contact her. She's been willing in the past to discuss things like that.

[He draws himself up, with a smile.]

-- In any case, I should go see where my god's managed to get off to!

[Amusement leavens his expression, and he glances down at the oversized stuffed animal under his arm.]

Maybe I can convince him to take this off my hands.

[declamando]

I'll see what I can do, then. Thank you for the information.

[With a polite nod, she looks down at the large stuffed toy in his grasp without quite managing to hide an amused smile before looking back up to his face.]

I'd like to see you try, but I should probably move on myself. There's much more to see here, and you've given me a lot to think about that I hadn't heard of before.

[Raising a hand to wave briefly, she begins to turn away before pausing.] Oh, how rude, I didn't even introduce myself among all that. Maria Cadenzavna Eve.

[reformedsinner]

My apologies, I should have thought to! Cho Hakkai, shinki of Dionysus. [He inclines his head politely to her.]

Please enjoy the festival, Maria.

[declamando]

I suppose it's fine if we both forget, isn't it? [With a slight laugh, Maria gives a polite nod back.]

I hope you enjoy yourself as well. Thanks again. [And with that, she turns away to venture out into the rest of the festival.]