godsoffortune: (kanji2)
The Far Shore Mods ([personal profile] godsoffortune) wrote in [community profile] thenearshore2017-07-02 12:59 am

018 | Season Spirits

Who: Everyone!
What: Season spirits and spooky things
When: IC August 1-15
Where: The Near Shore and Far Shore
Summary: It's the time for spirits to get a bit more 'lively'.



August is a spiritual season in Japan with many people preparing for the Obon festival but many others get into the spirit in another way. All across Japan, people have begun to share their favorite summer ghost stories. Movie theaters advertise the hottest horror flick of the season, teenagers challenge each other to do trials of courage, haunted houses begin to pop up, and it feels like you can't change the channel without switching to some ghost hunting urban legend special. All of this talk about spirits comes at a cost, though.

July comes and passes easily enough but it's almost as if as soon as August begins, so do the incidents. There's an increase in spiritual activity and shenanigans on both shores. Some of them are harmless spooks but others are much more sinister. Arm yourselves with all of the ofuda and omamori you can find and get out there and restore peace!



Possessed Possessions
Inhabitants of the Far Shore may awaken to find their sheets trying to strangle them and shoes stomping on the floor around them. Others may go about their day and find out their teapots suddenly only serve lukewarm tea or their weapons are trying to take swings at them. They're just playful spirits that will abandon their hosts if you shove any ofuda/omamori at them or yell loudly enough. They aren't malicious spirits... they were only just trying to have some fun.


Spirited Festivals
There's a festival every weekend and some of them have set up haunted houses for patrons to visit. You have your standard haunted house thrills... costume make up, jump scares, special effects smoke, the usual! But it looks like some real ghosts have made themselves at home here. Visitors are going in and emerging hours later absolutely traumatized. It looks like once you enter, the real spirits walk you around in circles and give you real scares. There are some spirits here just to have fun thrills and these are spirits that can be chased away with regular ofuda. But it looks like the more violent ones are actually ayakashi out for vengeance. Be careful in there!


Cursed Charms
There sure are some weird trends out there, huh? The latest one is buying cursed trinkets off the internet and passing them off as gifts to unsuspecting victims whether it be to prank a friend or get revenge on an enemy. Cursed mirrors, dolls, fake ofuda, VHS tapes, and so on are being passed around the Near Shore and spreading all sorts of curses.
  • Bad luck. As long as you're in possession of the cursed item, you'll be followed by bad luck to varying degrees depending on the quality of the charm.
  • Fear. Holding onto this charm results in intense, crippling fear. The fear can manifest as an intense paranoia at all times or being frozen with fear in the face of danger. Some say you can even die of fright...
  • Sickness. This charm is pretty straightforward. Having this charm just makes you feel incredibly under the weather and your health will worsen the longer you have the charm.
  • Evil. Holding onto this charm results in you being followed attracting evil instead of warding it. Suddenly, you feel as though you are always being followed, as if something is stalking you and clearly out to get you. You begin to run into smaller ayakashi at first but they keep growing in strength and number until you can't fight anymore.
  • Bad romance. Someone's meddled with a romance charm so it ends relationships instead of making them! People stuck with this charm are suddenly hyper aware of the faults of others. Everything gets on your nerves and you can't stand being around that person because they're just that annoying. It doesn't just work on couples! It also works on friends and relatives too.
  • Bears? An oddly specific curse. It looks like someone has taken a protection from bears charm and made it so now you attract bears where ever you go. Some of them are nice but others...
You can try to destroy the charms but you will find that unless you have purification powers or rend it, the effects last. It looks like most people have been able to shake off the effects by simply disposing of them at temples and buying another charm to counter the effects.

Haunting Hour
There are reports of violent attacks at night-- people being pulled into alleys and attacked, school children being chased by slashers while walking home from school, homes being broken into-- and all of it is done without a single clue left behind to explain who did it. People are warned to be careful at night and as the sun begins to set, something happens. The hour between sunset and dark is supposed to be the scariest hour them all. At this time, the shadows are suspiciously bigger and darker and you constantly see things just out of the corner of your eye. Suddenly, the wind blows cold and there's a rotten smell in the air like blood. It's Oumagatoki, the hour evil spirits meet. Small time ayakashi and spirits on the verge of becoming ayakashi spill into the streets and begin to terrorize others. Protect the people of the Near Shore and watch your own backs.*

* These are just generic ayakashi! Nothing special, nothing specific. Feel free to make up and NPC your own two-bit ayakashi.


THEN WHO WAS PHONE?
In the evening, everyone will receive a set of coordinates and a message from an Anonymous sender,
I want to talk about the
mysterious things that have been happening
lately.
OF course, i
NEED
EVERYONE to come. so don't be
late! see
yoU.
:)
Everyone receives it and there is no way to track where the message came from. If you follow the directions, you'll arrive at a small temple on the outskirts of a city. A sacred fire is lit on the grounds for people to dispose of any cursed or old charms they may have collected. Hang around a bit and it'll become obvious that no one knows who has gathered all of you here tonight. The only ones around are gods and shinki. It doesn't look like any evil spirits are around so other than being invited to the middle of no where at night... there's nothing to worry about. If you wait around, nothing will happen. So while you're here, you might as well discuss the strange happenings! Or tell ghost stories around the fire.


Wildcard
Choose your own adventure! Feel free to make up your own prompts. Ronald Knox's player ([personal profile] diehardreaper) has offered up their temple as a test of courage in the Far Shore for those who want to try their luck. Check out their description under the Baron's manor.




In Summary:
  • Beat the heat by feeling a scary chill
  • Deal with cursed and spirit-imbued items
  • Keep the Near Shore people safe
  • Chat about your scary encounters
  • Have fun~
reformedsinner: (sore eye)

[personal profile] reformedsinner 2017-07-07 03:37 pm (UTC)(link)
No, I'm not stung....

[Yukine's shadow falls across his face, and Hakkai relaxes slightly with the sunlight blocked.]

I've been ... [He leaves his arm over his eyes, but there's a faint wrinkle on his forehead as he thinks. A gross atmosphere? It must have come on slowly; he hadn't noticed any abrupt changes. But there had been those charms. But he's left them at home, in a jar in his room until he has a spare moment to deal with them....]

... answering prayers for health. I'd thought I... caught something. From a follower.

I'll recover....
returnedfromtheline: (| quit thinking so well of me)

[personal profile] returnedfromtheline 2017-07-09 02:23 am (UTC)(link)
[As Hakkai answers him slowly, Yukine realizes that there's some useful things in his school bag. Taking out his hand towel and a bottle of water he goes about making a compress for Hakkai. The water barely rates as 'cool' anymore, but it's better than nothing.]

I'm tellin' ya, gods don't get sick like that. There's got to be something else going on.

[Can an ayakashi posses a god? ... Maybe that's too far-fetched? Besides, this close he'd be able to sense one. He can't shake that there's something 'gross' about the atmosphere around Hakkai, but maybe he's overthinking it? Maybe it's just because he knows he's sick.]

I'm going to put a wet towel on your eyes.

[And with that warning, he places the damp compress.]

At any rate, you're not going to recover anything lying in the middle of the road like this.
But... I don't think I can carry you far.
reformedsinner: (charting a new world)

[personal profile] reformedsinner 2017-07-09 02:35 am (UTC)(link)
We're strange gods...

[A wet cloth comes down over his eyes, and even knowing it was coming, Hakkai starts. It does help to block out the sun, though. And cool his head. He exhales wearily and tries to think of options.

Maybe if he just rests here for a moment he'll be able to walk and lean on Yukine?

It's the best he can think of, outside of calling for help, and he'd really rather not do that if he can avoid it.

His thoughts are interrupted, though, by a piercing cry from above, and he fumbles to push the wet cloth away from his good eye and wipe it so he can see what's going on. By the time he's cleared his eye, Jeep is already sitting on his chest, neck arched for a close look at Hakkai's face, chirruping and burbling like a very worried brook.]


... Yukine, I have an idea. Jeep, I'm not feeling well. Can you help take us home?

[The dragon cheeps definitively and lifts away from his chest, darting far enough from the two of them to get room to change. It's the work of an instant: one moment, he's a small white dragon. The next, his tires are settling onto the ground, and he revs his motor. There's a concerned note, somehow, to the sound.

Hakkai struggles to prop himself up on an elbow.]


Help me to the car?
returnedfromtheline: (A; does not compute)

[personal profile] returnedfromtheline 2017-07-09 02:45 am (UTC)(link)
[Going from 'hey, it's Jeep!' to 'help him to the car' is a bit of a whiplash. Yukine gapes at the dragon-turned-vehicle for a long moment, then scurries to his knees to get an arm around Hakkai.]

S-sure.

That's really Jeep? I mean, now his name makes sense, but, really?

[And supporting Hakkai as best he can, he hauls him the thankfully short distance towards Jeep.]
reformedsinner: (sore eye)

[personal profile] reformedsinner 2017-07-09 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
He's a great help to me. [Jeep flashes his headlights in confirmation, and both side doors click and swing open. Hakkai pins the wet cloth onto his forehead with one hand, and moves automatically towards the driver's seat with Yukine's support. He sags into it and lets his head fall back.

He's really not going to be able to drive, he reflects.]


Jeep, you know the way to the temple....

[He trails off vaguely, and Jeep blinks his headlights again in affirmation, engine rumble ratcheting up slightly as he waits for Yukine to get in.]
returnedfromtheline: (A; 'clueless' would be you)

[personal profile] returnedfromtheline 2017-07-09 03:34 am (UTC)(link)
[More gaping.

And he doesn't mind so much whatever seat Hakkai falls into, but he's obviously not driving like that--

oh.]


Heh... of course. Of course he can drive himself...

[And with one glance back to make sure he's got everything- Hakkai's glasses, his bag - he sits in the passenger seat.]

This is probably a good thing- I don't know how to drive yet.
Um, thanks, Jeep.
reformedsinner: (softening)

[personal profile] reformedsinner 2017-07-10 02:52 am (UTC)(link)
[Hakkai reaches out to give the dashboard an affectionate pat, and leaves his hand there for a moment.]

Mm. He might let you learn if you ... ask nicely....

[As soon as Yukine's settled, the door swings closed behind him and Jeep starts off, zipping swiftly down the path. Hakkai's hand falls to his knee. Jeep can drive himself, but without a road, it's not quite safe for him to drive himself; he doesn't seem to see very well in this form, for one thing. It'll be fine, though, with the footpath to his temple. Surely it'll be fine.

He's fading out again, but it doesn't take long for Jeep to pull up in front of his temple with a squeal of tires that's enough to jolt him back to full consciousness.]


Ah... thank you.

[It's sheer reflex that has him reaching for the door and moving to get out, but he finds himself needing to cling to Jeep's door to stay upright when he does.]
returnedfromtheline: (/ hit the nail on the head)

[personal profile] returnedfromtheline 2017-07-10 02:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Really? [Yukine's expression is practically shining as he looks down at the vehicle.]

Would you please let me learn how to drive sometime, Jeep? [Is that polite enough? Should he offer something in return?]

I'd treat you to some food whenever we have a lesson.

[As they continue on Yukine notices Hakkai dozing off and falls silent, ready to catch him if he slumps too far. Thankfully, they arrive at his place in no time.]

Whoa! Hakkai-san, don't get out on your own!

[Yukine quickly gets out and dashes to the other side of Jeep.]

Geez, that was dangerous. Here, take your glasses and just worry about not squishing me as I help you inside, ok?

[Despite his barbed comment Yukine supports him firmly by the shoulder again. They'll get inside through his sheer determination if nothing else.

There'd better be a couch or bed or something soft to land on within a decent distance of the door though.]


Jus' tell me where to go.
Thanks, Jeep! [Although the thanks is thrown out kind of quickly, he means it and he'll have to remember to thank the dragon more properly later.]
reformedsinner: (elementary my dear dragon)

[personal profile] reformedsinner 2017-07-10 03:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[As soon as Hakkai is leaning on Yukine instead of the car door, the car is a dragon again, arrowing after them as they make their way inside the temple. The front hallway is nicely appointed, but almost bare of furniture. Luckily, the first room on the left is a sitting room, and there are plenty of low couches with throw pillows for Hakkai to collapse on. He waves Yukine towards that room, and sags onto the first couch, exhaling wearily.]

Thank you.

[Jeep settles on the back of the couch and leans over, peering anxiously into Hakkai's face before he glances back over at Yukine.]

I'm all right, Jeep, really...

[The dragon emits a scolding chirp.]

... really! But, ah. If you can get Asshole, please? Or Ayumu?
returnedfromtheline: (< I hear only excuses and a slipper)

[personal profile] returnedfromtheline 2017-07-11 08:16 am (UTC)(link)
You tell him, Jeep. I’m with you.
You’re totally not fine, Hakkai-san, and haven’t been for a few days. It’s so obvious it only makes you look— [he pauses for a beat, trying to find the right word. What a weird moment to be wishing for a broader vocabulary!] You look really pig-headed. [That’ll have to do.

He glances at Jeep, then back at Hakkai.]


Were you asking Jeep or me to get them? I could send Ayumu-san a message, at least.

[He pulls out his phone to do that. It'll just take him a minute to look her up.]
reformedsinner: (weary)

[personal profile] reformedsinner 2017-07-12 04:02 am (UTC)(link)
[Yukine's scolding glare looks remarkably like the tiny dragon's. Hakkai sighs again, and lets his eyes slip closed. Ah, he's very tired. He shouldn't go to sleep before he's taken something for his fever, though. He's made up some pills in the workroom -- they do work very well...]

Mm, I wouldn't want to disturb her... Jeep? Find Asshole, please?

[Jeep chirps again, gives Yukine a fierce glance that might translate as don't let him out of your sight! and wings away out the door. Hakkai smiles, just a little.]

... and did you mean that pun?

[Pig-headed. For a man whose last name is the character for 'Pig.' It's, well, perhaps less "funny" and more "accurate on many levels."]
returnedfromtheline: (A; and she's cute?!)

[personal profile] returnedfromtheline 2017-07-12 10:10 am (UTC)(link)
[You got it, little dragon ally.

He’s about to say “that ship has sailed” as far as disturbing his shinki, but the question makes him look up from his phone with a blank look.]


Wha?

Playing over what he said to Hakkai-san again in his mind, it takes him a moment to get it. He frowns even harder, but his cheeks warm in embarrassment.]

… No. Actually. I was just tryin’ t’ think of another word for it. I wasn’t thinking of how your name is written.

[Recovering slightly he puts his hands on his hips.]

But you can’t say it doesn’t suit you! You better watch out before that becomes your nickname around the school.

I sent the message. I’m sure Ayumu-san won’t say that helping you out is ‘disturbing her’. But it’ll probably take some time for her to see the message and come here, so in the meantime … You were burning up before- I can make the compress damp again.

[From the bottle in his bag. Because one, he doesn’t know where anything is in here, and two, he wants to be in Jeep’s good graces, which means keeping a strict eye on Hakkai.]
reformedsinner: (sore eye)

[personal profile] reformedsinner 2017-07-18 04:33 am (UTC)(link)
Ah ha ha, maybe it does suit me....

[He plucks at the wet cloth with his fingertips. It's still wet, but it's warmed from contact with his skin. Well, why not.]

'Obstinate'? 'Insufferable.' If you could wet the compress.

[He chuckles again, weakly, and is interrupted by Jeep winging his way back into the room with a silent blond youkai in tow. Asshole pauses just inside the door, staring at the two of them with an unreadable expression, and Hakkai pushes the compress away from his eyes to look over at him.]

Hello, Asshole. Please bring me the medicine in the jar labeled 'fever.' It's in the workroom.

[His voice is starting to trail off into a mumble again.]
returnedfromtheline: (| shady)

[personal profile] returnedfromtheline 2017-07-18 09:21 am (UTC)(link)
[Yukine is glad to take the compress from Hakkai-san as a distraction from locking eyes too long with the ‘soulless shinki’. Something about them weirds him out.

Carefully dampening the cloth again he’s done by the time Asshole (but seriously, poor guy having a name like that) goes on his way to get the medicine.
Handing the compress back he comments,]


Just stay awake long enough to take it, Hakkai-san.

[He frowns down at the guy before moving around the room to pick up a couple more pillows.]

Thanks for the new vocab, by the way. I’ll look up obstinate later. If you were completely insufferable I doubt you’d have so many people around you.

[Returning to the couch he places the pillows in what he hopes will be good position for when Hakkai-san flops over to sleep.]
reformedsinner: (foundling)

[personal profile] reformedsinner 2017-07-18 12:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Obstinate means pigheaded. I try to keep ... my more insufferable traits under control....

[He rearranges the compress on his forehead, considers Yukine's freshly provided pillows, and sags sideways onto them, smiling slightly.]

It may be I just know other people with personality problems.

[It's a reasonable point. Yukine has met Hibari, after all.

Speaking of Hibari, and his friendship: a large, fluffy cat is sauntering into the room and considering its occupants before leaping heavily up onto Hakkai's knees. She begins to knead and circle. Hakkai cracks one eye to glance down at her.]


Hello, Spot.

[Spot purrs, unconcerned.]
returnedfromtheline: (/ tsun-dere)

[personal profile] returnedfromtheline 2017-07-18 01:31 pm (UTC)(link)
... [Well, duh. Of course obstinate means pigheaded. He meant to find out what else it means. But Hakkai-san is sick so he'll curb his retort for the moment.

He grimaces a little at the mentioning his other acquaintances with personalty problems. Hibari would certainly be the most famous and dramatic example.

Thoughts of annoying thick-headed kids evaporates at the sight of the cat.
Jeep, you are 200% cool, but you are not fluffy~]


Wow, a lot of of you new guys have cats on the Far Shore.

Are you okay with it settling there, Hakkai-san? I could take it from you... [He'll pick it up. And just, you know, carry it for a bit.]
reformedsinner: (mister manners)

[personal profile] reformedsinner 2017-07-18 02:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[Hakkai smiles, watching the cat circle. Spot is rather heavy: it's mostly fur, as he's a large white Persian, with a few splotches of red-tabby fur across his nose, ears and shoulders. He also has sharp claws.

Yukine, he notes from under the edge of his compress, is staring eagerly at the new arrival.]


Hibari brought him by. He and Jeep don't get along, I'm afraid, but Jeep will adjust....

[He trails off, considers Yukine's face again, and offers:]

Yes, if you don't mind. Be careful of his claws, they're sharp.
returnedfromtheline: (> the small bell)

[personal profile] returnedfromtheline 2017-07-19 03:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, so he’s kinda a rescue animal then. Got it.

[Because there’s no way that a cat that was in the possession of that guy for any length of time wasn’t being rescued on some level.
Cautious of the claws as warned, Yukine approaches slowly and holds out a hand for the cat to smell. He mostly concentrates on making himself as calm and inviting as possible, so that the cat will maybe want to come to him… or at least won’t balk when he tries to scoop it off Hakkai’s lap.]
reformedsinner: (foundling)

[personal profile] reformedsinner 2017-07-19 05:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Hibari does rescue quite a few animals...

[Hakkai drifts into silence as Yukine extends his hand to Spot, and smiles. The cat leans over to sniff, cautiously, at the outstretched fingers, and then nibbles at Yukine's forefinger.

Well, he is Hibari's cat, Hakkai thinks, and fails to repress a tiny snicker as Asshole and Jeep reappear through the doorway. Asshole approaches the sofa with his usual slightly off-putting silent tread and holds a small paper bag out to Hakkai, who snags it with a careful swipe of his free hand and fusses with the bag, attempting to get it neatly unrolled and a foil-wrapped pill extracted from inside.]
returnedfromtheline: (| you okay with that?)

[personal profile] returnedfromtheline 2017-07-20 08:31 am (UTC)(link)
That’s not what I meant at all, Hakkai-san…

[And looks like the cat picked up a bad habit to boot. Don’t laugh, Hakkai. It’ll just encourage it.
But when you’re trying to move a cat is not a good time to discipline it, so he takes back his hand and scoops Spot up.]


It’s all fine n’ good that you have medicine, but you’d better find out what’s causing this.

Hey, you. [He means Asshole.] What has this guy been doing? [He means Hakkai.]
reformedsinner: (weary)

[personal profile] reformedsinner 2017-07-20 11:28 am (UTC)(link)
Isn't it? He's... he was very fond of animals.

[Spot mews, startled, before settling in Yukine's arms and batting at a wrinkle in his shirt. Hakkai cracks an eye open again. The medicine works, he's learned, with literally magical speed and effectiveness. It's still not entirely suppressing his symptoms, and so Yukine's concern is legitimate.

He's a little curious about what Asshole's going to say, too. The blond youkai is silent for a moment before speaking, his voice low and emotionless.

"Answering prayers. Fighting an ayakashi. Bringing home cats and ducks. Bringing home charms."

Hakkai pauses.]


Maybe I have a duck allergy? ... but he's right. There were some strange little charms at a few of those houses I visited to help with illnesses.
returnedfromtheline: (| so who *was* trying to kill Yato)

[personal profile] returnedfromtheline 2017-07-20 01:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[Yukine does pick up on that 'was', but figures that chances are good it just means the guy has disappeared. Honestly he feels a touch of relief at that idea, but he has other things to focus on at the moment.

He nods through the shinki's answers. Answering prayers probably wouldn't do this. It's clearly not blight from an ayakashi.
He absently rubs Spot's head (and yes, wrinkles are evil, you get that wrinkle) as he thinks it over.]


... If you're just allergic to ducks this is pretty brutal. But it'd be easy to figure out if you are or not. Do you feel better when you're not around them?

[Please tell him you've at least tried that.]
reformedsinner: (elementary my dear dragon)

[personal profile] reformedsinner 2017-07-20 01:48 pm (UTC)(link)
The ducks? No, unfortunately. I don't think allergies cause fevers, either.

[He sighs, settling a bit more deeply into the couch cushions. Jeep perches on the cushion behind his head with a chirrup.]

And the charms have been in a jar in my bedroom, but I don't feel any worse when I wake up. Really, I think I've just caught something.

Those prayers were mostly for healing, so I've been bringing sick followers medicine -- it's why I have so much in the workroom now....

[He's still a bit loopy, he notes. There's no real need to explain all of this, but he can't seem to stop himself wandering off on tangents. Well -- talking to Yukine's probably the best thing to be doing, under those circumstances.

Talking to Gojyo had been dire.]


Perhaps gods who were recently living people are more susceptible?
returnedfromtheline: (| start something)

[personal profile] returnedfromtheline 2017-07-20 01:55 pm (UTC)(link)
-- Get rid of them. [It's the immediate and ingrained reaction of one who has suffered much at the hands of an obsessive charm collector. But he'll politely wait until Hakkai finishes the rest of what he wants to say.]

You mean chalk it up to 'new guys are weird' yet again? I guess so. I mean, there's 'weird' and 'not possible', and you guys seem to blur that line all the time.

Seriously though, if you're sick, rest, darnit. Right, Jeep?

And get rid of the charms. You don't need them. Collecting stuff like that is just a waste.
reformedsinner: (sore eye)

[personal profile] reformedsinner 2017-07-20 02:03 pm (UTC)(link)
"New guys are weird," exactly. Ha ha, I'll have to do a better job of resting.

[Jeep chatters rapidly in emphatic agreement, making eye contact with Yukine and ducking his head. Hakkai chuckles, and settles back, dropping the washcloth over his forehead again. It's warming up, but he's cooling down, so it's not uncomfortable.]

They're rather interesting, but I just haven't had time to take a closer look. It's more a matter of curiosity than collection.

[He sighs, and adds:] Well, maybe after my followers are all in better health.

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