014 | A Whole New World

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: Exploring the world
When: All day June 26
Where: The Near Shore (All Over)
Summary: So many shrines have popped up! Go visit your homelands!



The Heavens have received reports of many shrines to the "new gods" they are harboring appearing all over the world. These shrines seem to be additional, new shrines to those gods. Older shrines to those gods still exist, but these ones are shiny, new, and way more compatible with the "new gods". God characters, as well, will have felt the sudden pull towards their homelands and be compelled to travel to them. But the Heavens have taken it a step farther, offering the Meeting Hall as a place for gods and shinki to group up and go out for the day to the various places that are now calling out to them.

Please ignore the fact that they are mostly doing this so that you all will collect information for them without their begging for it or having to reward you.



Meeting Hall

The Meeting Hall is being used as a sort of hub right now. Any groups that are planning to meet up and travel together can meet here, but you might also find someone who's going somewhere you'd like to and tag along with them. Additionally, the Heavens have provided packed lunches for everyone to take with them, should they desire to. This also serves as a meeting place for all of the new gods and shinki.

Locals

Local pantheons have been alerted to the impending visitors. They are happy to welcome their brethren home and are likely to make a big fuss about their brothers and sisters staying with them. Local gods are welcome to be interpreted however you would like, just be sure not to NPC any god that is already taken by a god player. Also, you may find yourself running into some local spirits during your sight-seeing - including local ayakashi and various folklore spirits.

Flyers

They may not stick out at first, but those who are paying attention will notice that there are a large number of flyers being left around at their new shrines. Heck, even walking through the human towns, you will find flyers scattered on the ground and pinned to cork boards and nailed to telephone poles. All bear the same message: "Down with the Heavens. Down with Amaterasu." The locals gods are well versed in the flyers, saying that there have been some strange characters around throwing these flyers at anyone who will give them the time of day. Even humans will note that some shady-looking people have been putting up these strange posters.

Destruction

Whether you return early because of boredom, never left because you're uninterested, or late because you've been having fun, the middle of the night will bring an interesting sight to all. The Heavens will find themselves under attack - in the form of a large fire set at the temple of Amaterasu herself. The entire home is going up in flames and no one knows where Amaterasu is. They're asking for help in dousing the fire or even entering the burning home to find the small goddess and possibly look for the saboteurs, though the only people who are still around are Amaterasu's shinki, in varying states of distress and consciousness.

Note: Who will discover Amaterasu will be decided randomly on 3/20/17 OOC. At that point, a follow-up post will be made by Amaterasu herself.

In Summary:

• Explore the world
• Get to know your homelands
• Investigate insurgents
• Deal with a riot
• Save Amaterasu
• Have fun~

Comments

[nibelungvalesti]

"It is quite likely your gods exist, yet pay no heed to the mortal realm." Ever imperious, the Valkyrie's words also sharpened. That and the faint narrowing of her eyes said how little she approved.

[bussounoshima]

[Ah, yes, plotting and schemes. A much safer topic of conversation.]

I'm not convinced there isn't a second group taking advantage of the confusion. [Or maybe they even blame Amaterasu for the new gods presence, and that's why they're attacking her.] There's a difference between setting fires and kidnapping people from other dimensions.

[If the rebels could do that, why not just make Amaterasu vanish? Why bother with the fires at all? Sharak takes one last drag from her cigarette before stubbing it out thoroughly in the dirt next to her.]

They know when new people are due to arrive, it's true, but most of us have figured out that pattern by now. But I won't be surprised to learn that they're linked.

[And it's a start.]

[heartshutter]

[ Izumo wouldn't do that. Not any more than Tatara himself would. Whoops.

But he can't say that, so... ]

Even so, don't sweat it! Everything will be okay.

Besides-- [ A knowing smile. ] --I trust Kusanagi-san to look out for me.

[pure_radiantics]

[As he speaks, it occurs to her to wonder how he can be so calm as to not have any questions or need anything because she thought he was new, having never seen him before.]

Actually Deku, can I ask... how long have you been in the Far Shore then? Longer than me, right?

[Rather than assuming things.]

[darkestbefore]

Oh! [ She looks surprised by this, fingers lifting to press against her lips. ] I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed.

Do you know anything about the duties as god you've been given? Or the god they belonged to?

[toremainbehind]

You...

[A thoughtful look.

Too familiar, and Izumo wonders if--]

You're a cheerful guy, aren't you?

[darkestbefore]

[ Yona reaches out when the other woman offers her the mask, a look of surprise flickering across her face. ] Are you certain? [ But she certainly seemed to be, so Yona smiles in gratitude, accepting and lifting to fix it in place with careful fingers. ] Thank you. I'm grateful.

[ She reaches out, taking the offered hand and giving it a light squeeze as she nods in understanding. ]

Stay close to me and don't let go. Let's see if we can find her before the fire grows any worse.

[ That said, she turns to survey the passage she'd spotted, watching the flames for the safest moment to pass through, her expression determined. Spotting an opening in the flickering flames, she gives a tug and hurries them forward, resolute. ]

[reformedsinner]

They knew where the new temples were. There were flyers spread at each of them before we got there, and the last time there was a fire set around Amaterasu it was in conjunction with the same sorts of notes.

[He leans back to fumble his free hand into his pocket, and comes up with a flyer torn into four pieces. It reads Down with Amaterasu!]

How would they know where the temples were that all of you felt appearing unless they were involved with whatever it is that placed you in the role of gods?

[This is a safer topic. And easier, too: grieving the loss and maiming of important people offers nowhere to go. Focusing on finding the ones who took or damaged them, on the other hand.... he gestures pointedly with the cigarette.]

Besides, someone has been trying to turn us against Amaterasu since the beginning of March, and they knew the pattern then -- enough in advance to make preparations.

[letteropener]

I do not think so. I am merely a pony, even if I am also a Princess. You see, in Equestria, things like the weather and the seasons do not happen on their own -- not like they do here. Ponykind controls such things.

[Petting would be... a bit strange, yes. Though her outer form is equine, her mind is as keen and sharp as a human's. Or human minds are as keen and sharp as hers, she might say!]

[darkestbefore]

[ A look of surprise flits across Yona's face at that, because that's... interesting? ]

Who would coordinate such a thing? Is there a purpose for a sudden resurgence of so many shrines? As I was one of the gods who only appeared today, I have felt a pull here to a new shrine as well. Not that I understood what that meant. I'm still not entirely sure I do.

[darkestbefore]

[ His answer draws a smile to her lips, because his manner reminds her very much of Hak and his vow to stay by her side. Even if he hadn't anticipated the gods themselves interfering in that. But it's something familiar in this strange place and it has her relaxing just a little more, charmed by the man who stands in front of her.

With a bright smile, she offers him her hand. ] We can figure it out together. I'm grateful for your assistance in this. Hopefully we won't stumble into too much trouble on the way.

[ ...But she's also not holding her breath. She does seem to have a knack for finding that whether she's looking for it or not. ]

As for today, I've been told we should go visit somewhere called... Ire-land? It is the homeland of the goddess whose duties I have been entrusted with.

[reformedsinner]

Well enough. [He smiles.] There's more interest in kanji classes than in math, it seems, but as long as there's interest I can't complain.

[It is an easier topic to discuss than the uncomfortably personal "how are you, and it's clear that Hakkai's relaxing a little as he chats.

He tosses Ren a thoughtful glance.]

Hibari's taken up residence in one of the spare rooms.

[darkestbefore]

Is she?

[ That question is asked rather absently and she'll be more interested in the information in a moment, but for right now she's staring at his phone with a look of puzzled bewilderment. ]

What... is this?

[darkestbefore]

[ That has her relaxing a little further, straightening as she glances around them. ]

It is hard to find anything with this smoke and fire as thick as it is. Although they've gotten a few shinki out. Are you looking for others?

[letteropener]

Why, of course we do. But our meanings are fairly more obvious. For example, my name is Princess Celestia.

[darkestbefore]

That's why we've been brought here, isn't it? [ She sounds both curious and concerned about that responsibility. ] Maybe it's not so different a path than I decided on back home, even if what they ask of us seems... impossible? I'm not sure I know how to be a goddess or fulfill what is expected of one. I'm not even sure where to start. Although they've told me that I am to visit a shrine to her - to me? - today.

[ She rubs a hand against her temple for a moment, heaving a small sigh. ] Somehow I don't think this is what Ik-su meant at all. Is it really alright that I am here?

A

[latentforlife]

[Shuusei is... well... roaming. He's trying to keep busy and not show how excited he is to go traveling! So when he sees her sweeping and doing general work around the temple, he does so too. Though often he's just distracted staring out into the unfamiliar territory.

That is until he over hears her about the flyers. He comes over to check as well.]

Huh, I wonder who out here would even notice.

[rainbowmaster]

It's alright. I'm not too bothered by it.

[A pause before Johan shakes his head.]

Afraid not. The Messengers haven't really been informative other than telling me I'm now an Aztec god named Tonatiuh.

[darkestbefore]

Maria-sama? Oh! I think I met her earlier! [ Yona's face lights up at the mention of the other goddess she had encountered while exploring herself. Turning now, she approached the other young woman with a warm smile. ]

I am very newly arrived. My name is Yona. Or Áine, if we are to go by the gods we are to represent. I'm afraid I know very little of anything of this land yet - I had never heard of it before today. But it is certainly very beautiful, isn't it?

[erogappa]

[ What am I?

Okay. Okay, he can figure this out. He's only got one joint, so he flexes that, and his... what are they, teeth? Gnash up and down. It feels more like biting than bending, so he decides to think of it that way. He's a small, bitey... thing.

This is so weird. ]

[darkestbefore]

Her name is Áine, she is... Irish? [ That means very little to Yona so far. ] I have been told she is a goddess of summer and the sun, although beyond that I know very little so far. I hope to perhaps learn more in the lands she is from. That is where we are all to go today, yes? The places where the new shrines have appeared.

[ So far she hasn't seen much beyond this place where she first arrived. ]

[alchemists]

[ Confidence and having a presence, those things are hard for Elfnein to really act on. She's been in the background so long that this is going to be a challenge. ]

Thank you, I'll try taking your advice to heart and be the best I can for my followers.

[alchemists]

[ Elfnein doesn't know what to do now, thanks a lot. ]

It's a paradox ?

[darkestbefore]

[ The offer of help gets a soft laugh from Yona as she inclines her head. ]

Thank you. I only just arrived this morning and everything is so very strange still. There is so much about this place that is new and unknown - and that's not even touching being suddenly handed the responsibilities of a god. I'm not quite sure what to do, to be honest.

[alchemists]

[ Elfnein wants to help more but the idea of using a soulless shinki doesn't sit well at all. But will being information back up even be useful here...]

Even if I can't fight straight on like everyone else I want to be able to help my followers.