thenearshore | 018 | Season Spirits

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 (

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~

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Have you talked to Shun? I think he's a god of death. He might be able to help.

[An actual deity, not just a reaper: Tsuzuki doesn't know, really, how to help a spirit move on without naming her and giving her a new life among the gods. He just knows that there should be a way.

And while they're at it... he nods encouragingly at Himawari.]

I'm sure it'll be okay!

No, I haven't.

[It makes him a little upset, really, but he does his best not to show it. Being a shinigami, it's always been his job to help the spirits move on. Unfortunately, the usual method doesn't work here.

Himawari gives Tsuzuki another smile before she hides behind Toushirou again.

He peers at her.]

He's right. You don't need to be shy around him.

["H-He's a good guy like you?"

A glance at Tsuzuki before he nods, convincing Himawari enough to move out from behind Toushirou to face Tsuzuki properly.]

Actually, I'm a little more like you, Himawari! [Tsuzuki's tone is confidential, like he's sharing a big secret.] I'm a spirit too, but I work here in the Heavens helping out my goddess.

There's lots of nice people here. Spirits and gods, too.

["Like me?"

Himawari looks a little surprised.

"You were given a goddess?" She looks at Toushirou as if she doesn't understand.]

Some spirits are given a god or the god finds and names them.

[A simple explanation. Himawari seems to understand, albeit a little confused still, before she looks at Tsuzuki.

"Do you like your goddess?"]

I do. She's really nice. But it's a lot of hard work, so I think Toushiro-niisan here is right.

[And she shouldn't be sentenced to an eternity as a child when she has the chance to return to the wheel of incarnation. Tsuzuki smiles at her, sadly: it's hard to accept, even when she's already dead.]

You can stay here with us for a little while and play, but you wouldn't have as much fun being a shinki.

[If it weren't for the fact the little girl was with them, he would have said something about being addressed by his first name.

But he's quiet for most of the conversation, feeling Himawari loosen her hold on him somewhat.

"Really?"

She looks at Toushirou and he nods.]

He's right. So, go ahead and play.

["Nii-chan play with me?" The question is directed at Tsuzuki.]

[If it weren't for the fact that he were talking to a little girl, he wouldn't have used it, but kids don't get standing on ceremony. It'd just sound unfriendly.

He grins at her, and then, with a real spark of amusement, up at Hitsugaya, too.]

Sure! Why don't we all play together? Tag is more fun with three.

[..........

Tsuzuki, after this, he's going to fire a shakoho at you.]

I'll pass. I don't--

["Please, Shiro-niichan?"

Himawari tugs on his hand, looking up at him. Toushirou pauses briefly, staring down at her before he sighs heavily.]

...Alright.

[Tsuzuki suspects that Hitsugaya could use the chance to play a little, too. Couldn't everyone? Fun and cake make the world go 'round.

Beaming outright now, he hastens to declare:]

Not it!

["Not it!"

Tsuzuki, he's going to punch you.

He sighs.]

Best to start running now then.

You have to count to ten! And close your eyes.

[He grins conspiratorially at Himawari and whispers:]

You run that way and I'll distract him! Ready?

[And, the moment that Hitsugaya closes his eyes, he's dashing off in a circle to the right, picking up some stray small pebbles and sticks that he can toss around and make plenty of confusing noise. He's completely forgotten the spooky atmosphere he'd been worried about just a few minutes ago. Sure, they were drawn out here by a mysterious note, but it's just gods and shinki here, and nothing's happened yet. It might be a prank, or maybe someone's just helping out, considering the sacred fire.]

[You, sir, are getting a glare because you're just pushing your luck.

Tsuzuki's only reason for not getting hurt right now is because of Himawari. When she's gone, you're done for.

But at least it seems that they've both forgotten the troubles that's been plaguing them the whole night. It's why he'll play along, closing and counting to ten. However, the moment that he reaches ten, the first person he's going for is Tsuzuki.]

[That is exactly what Tsuzuki had been hoping for. He can hear Himawari's laugh from the other side of the clearing as Hitsugaya darts for him, and he laughs, too, breathlessly as he makes a dash for it into the woods to dodge around trees.

He's nowhere near as fast as Hitsugaya, though. He can see the other guy gaining on him every time he darts a glance back over his shoulder, and that strategy his pocketful of pebbles is for -- "make noises so he thinks I'm somewhere else" -- isn't really going to work if he can't get out of sight, no matter how carefully he tucks his aura undercover.]

Hey, behind you!

[He's trying.]

[A bit of a scoff.]

That won't work.

[He gains speed and manages to tap Tsuzuki on the back.]

Now, you're it.

[And with that, he's darting away just as Himawari squeals once she notices who's going to start chasing next.]

Awww! [Tsuzuki pulls a dramatic face, and winks at Himawari. Looks like Hitsugaya's getting into the swing of things despite himself! He closes his eyes, puts one hand over them, and begins, equally dramatically, to count to ten.]

One, two, three, four... fiiiiiiive....

[He draws the word out extra-long, as though to reassure the other two that he's definitely going to wait a long time before running after them, and then, whip-quick:]

Six-seven-eight-nine-ten!

[He drops his hands and glances around. He'll go for Himawari first, because tag is no fun if you don't get chased at least a little, but then he's got to see if he can trick Hitsugaya. He has to get revenge, after all.]

[You're free to try to catch him, of course.

Himawari squeals with laughter as she tries to run away from Tsuzuki.

Off to the side, he watches, a hint of amusement masking his face. Of course, the moment he sees the shinki coming after him, he'll make a run for it.]

[Tsuzuki carefully slows his steps just enough so as to not run over Himawari, who has shorter legs after all: she just manages to dodge, giggling, out of the way around a tree next to Hitsugaya and he whirls and dives for a tag.

This is definitely going to work. Totally. If not he's about to wipe out face-first in the leaves....]

[Better luck next time.

He ducks just in time to avoid that tag and sprints away. Enjoy falling into those leaves.]

[This is a magnificent faceplant. Full-speed, face-first, right into a pile of last autumn's dead leaves and coming up squawking and pawing at a face that's got a tiny and now thoroughly squashed slug stuck to one cheek.]

What is it what is it get it off--

[He manages to scrape the slug off, looks at his fingers, and slumps.

Okay: revenge time. Also, he figures he's never gonna get Hitsugaya, but a cute little kid's got a chance at making him let her win, so Tsuzuki scrambles back to his feet and dashes after Himawari, trying to tag her before she can get over her laughter.]

[Himawari laughs when Tsuzuki faceplants while Toushirou watches on with amusement.

Yeah, him getting caught isn't likely, so he's enjoying the scene of the shinki chasing after Himawari. The little girl spirit yelps out when she realizes that Tsuzuki is chasing after her.]

[This time, he's not slowing down to let her get away on her shorter legs: he puts on a burst of speed and swipes one hand out to brush her shoulder with his fingertips.]

Tag, you're it!

[--and, gasping for breath even if his heart's not beating fast (or at all), he whispers:]

Tag Toushiro-niisan, it's his turn!

[And turns tail, with just one tiny wink at the little girl before he dashes dramatically away.]

[Letting out another squeal, the little ghost girl chases after Toushirou this time.

It doesn't exactly surprise the shinigami, but at the same time, this also means that he can't deploy certain evasive maneuvers. So when Himawari chases after him, he actually slows down a bit, but not letting it be too easy for her.

Eventually, she does tag him: "You're it!"]

[Tsuzuki, while Himawari goes after Hitsugaya, has found himself a nice, well-hidden bush to settle behind, and is busily tucking his aura under concealment. He's enjoying this, and also, it's hilarious watching Hitsugaya not quite being cold enough to not let Himawari catch him.

He's pretty sure he's got his power well-enough hidden to get away by the time she finally tags him.

(He only sort of does.)]

[He has a soft spot for dead kids. Sue him.

But he focuses first on going after Himawari while he expands his senses to keep track on Tsuzuki. Sorry, but he's going to treat this game as a sort of training module for the shinki, too.

As the little spirit manages to twist away from with a laugh, just happening to be close to the shinki, Toushirou suddenly heads to his direction.]

[Tsuzuki's got a soft spot for kids period, dead or alive, but the dead ones probably need their help more.

What are gods for but that, anyway?

And this is exactly the kind of thing he collected his pocketful of pebbles for, so he's hunkering down, trying to keep his aura well-hidden, and palming a pebble. Hitsugaya's heading right for him.

He tosses the pebble to his right, hard enough that when it lands in a rustle of dry leaves, it's a good ten feet away. See? He's totally over there, not here! This thing here is just a bush.]

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