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~

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[It's not really a matter of it being better per se, but he does follow her.

When he sees the child covered in wires, he holds back a grimace. Who leaves a child lost in a haunted house? He crouches down, helping Sakura remove the wires.]

No need to cry, we're here to help you.

[He shoots the child a comforting smile as they get rid of the wires on him.]

( The child keeps crying and between sobs, they can figure out the story here. They'd come to the festival with their older brother. Their brother ran into some of their friends who wanted to go into the haunted house. They'd wanted to go with them but they didn't want to bring a child along so they'd tried to drop them off at a game stall. It didn't work and the child had tried to follow them into the haunted house only to get lost... And then weird things began to happen and they'd tried to hide here.

Once the wires are completely off and the child's more or less confessed their problems to them, Sakura reaches out to help the child back on his feet. There's a lot of cooing and shushing as she tries to get the kid to calm down. She's not bad with people when they end up being in need. Her experience as a healer in a war has taught her to stay calm in moments like this and it shows, )

We'll take you back to your brother. Won't we, Lavi? See? This is my f-friend he's really... uhm, cool, don't you think?

( Help encourage the kid, Lavi. She's already taking the kid's hand in her own and getting ready to leave this place. )

I think... we should go back.

( That feeling she had earlier-- the one that led them here in the first place-- is gone. )

[He's not good with kids, Sakura, sorry. But he will do what he can to help the kid calm down.]

Nice to meet you. [He gives the kid a comforting smile.] Don't worry, we'll definitely take you back to your brother. So, no need to cry.

[Lavi gives Sakura a look, however, before he gives a nod.]

Sounds like a good plan.

( Then she's got you covered, Lavi. For all of her anxiety around people, she isn't too bad with them at the end of the day. She begins to lead the way, keeping the child close behind her as she slips through the narrow entrance and out into the main route.

A group of teens runs past them, shrieking about how exit is up ahead and they can't wait to get out. Sakura yelps as one of them bumps into her as does the child but they're otherwise fine. She looks back at Lavi. Did he hear what they said? )

W-we're almost out of here. ( She squeezes the child's hand gently and presses on, carefully but steadily. Then, there it is. The exit they'd been looking for. As soon as they're outside, they're greeted by the bright lights and music of the festival and heavy summer night air. It's completely different from the cold and dark haunted house that they'd just been it. Really, it feels like a whole new world outside. The child looks around, spots a familiar face, and cries, "Big brother!" before pulling free from Sakura and dashing away.

As soon as the child is gone, Sakura let's out a sigh, leaning against the wall of the haunted house as she tries to breathe again. She'd kept her breath held for so long inside and hadn't noticed until now. She's so relieved, she could cry, really and her voice shakes, ) We did it, Lavi.

( Be still, beating heart. )

Thank you so much f-for helping me.

[As they begin to head out, Lavi keeps close to Sakura and the child. It's a sad attempt of being a bodyguard for them really, but he'd rather be some form of protection for them than without if he could help it.

When one of the teenager bumps into Sakura and the child, he immediately reaches out to steady them before Sakura looks back at him. He gives a nod. The exit it almost there, almost to be had. Heading outside, it seemed almost like taking a breath of fresh air and Lavi allows himself to put some proper distance from Sakura and the child.

With so many humans around this time, at least they weren't trapped.

So, he stays with Sakura a bit longer as she tries to breathe, watching the teenagers exit the haunted house. He glances over at her as she speaks, part of him hoping that she doesn't cry.

He smiles.]

You're welcome, Sakura. Though, try not to get caught in a haunted house again? [His voice is a bit teasing at the end, hoping it'd make her calm down more or even laugh.]

(She isn't going to cry... but she wipes at her eye with her hands and nods. She knows that he's teasing her right now and she knows that he wouldn't do that to be mean so... She manages a laugh. It's weak and a little forced but it's real.)

I will. (She looks up at him, shy,) Are you... going to go back?

(Inside the haunted house? Lavi had been looking for spirits inside they only found that one.)

[He gives her a soft smile. It might look a bit more real than some of the ones she's seen before.

Lavi shakes his head.]

Nah, I'd rather not get lost in there again. If I want to look for spirits, I'll try my hand outside of a haunted house.

[Besides, he'd rather not get caught by any mischievous wires again.]

What are you going to do, Sakura?

(It is nice but she can7t quite put her finger on it. She's an observant person but she hardly knows Lavi enough to know about all of his masks.)

I... (She glances back at the haunted house, stepping away from it and towards the main festival.) I want to enjoy the festival.

B-but I don't think I can when things are s-so wrong and... I've never been to a festival alone before. I normally a-always have my retainers with me.

[Retainers?

Lavi looks as if he wants to ask, but he holds it back for now.

Instead, he looks thoughtful before he grins.]

How about I accompany you then?

( She doesn't even blink. "Retainers." It seems normal enough to her to say but she's also used to people knowing she's a princess already. Even in the Far Shore, people are respectful enough when they learn she's a goddess so there hasn't been too much of a difference. )

Are you sure? W-what about the spirits?

( She doesn't want to distract him. )

[His smile widens.]

There are always another time for spirits. I'd rather spend more time with you.

( S m o o t h

She looks away, just a tiny bit embarrassed and then back, )

I... If you're certain then... Thank you. ( A small bow and she... laughs. It's small but it's definitely a laugh. ) This is the second time you've helped me at a festival.

[She laughed.

It makes him feel accomplished.]

I certainly don't mind. Festivals are meant to be enjoyed, after all.

(You know, she laughs a lot! Just not when she's suddenly found herself in new, strange, and scary places. She really does like festivals! Her first one here was just entirely overwhelming. She practically skips down the steps off the haunted house and turns back, waving at Lavi to follow,)

Let's go. I want to see what sweets they have here...!

[It's certainly refreshing to see her like this that he smiles a little more genuinely and follows after her]

You really like sweets, don't you?

Edited 2017-07-20 01:23 (UTC)

(Wow, don't say it like that. You'll embarrass her. She looks a bit caught of guard and she holds her hands, fidgeting with her fingers,)

Ah... I know i-it's a little childish and n-not very ladylike... (Hayato had told her that much.) B-but I've always liked them.

I'm not saying it like it's a bad thing, Sakura. Sorry if it sounded like it did.

[He peers at her face.]

Honestly, it's refreshing to see you like this - a bit more...open, I suppose you could say. If you want sweets, let's get some sweets.

It didn't! I just... I guess I'm a little self conscious, is all.

(It's more than just a guess. She is. She looks away, proving her point, and she presses on, pass some of the game stalls and the booths selling masks. and quietly, she adds,)

I know... I-I'm not the easiest person t-to be around. I'm... I'm really shy and I'm e-even afraid of talking to other people. (She's just anxiously rambling now,) I should be better at this l-like my brothers and sisters but I'm just not good at all...

[He tilts his head, patiently waiting for her to continue.

Honestly, he doesn't mind the rambling, and when she seems to trail off, he shakes his head.]

You have different strengths than your siblings, so you shouldn't say it like that. But talking to other people...you're talking to me now, right? [Lavi gives her a soft smile.] Even when we met, you broke through that fear and look at where we are now.

(She stops in front of a stall selling taiyaki and lingers quietly in front of it, listening to Lavi, taking his words to heart. She can't help but frown, doubtful thoughts still lingering. She could easily order if she willed herself to be visible to the vendor but she's the type that often wishes she could be invisible.)

Hinoka says the same thing. (About her.) Everyone has their own strengths and weakensses. She says... I'm the only one that can heal j-just like she's the only one that can fly. Takumi isn't very good with people either but he's the b-best archer in Hoshido. And Ryoma... I know he's troubled... (He worries about all of them since they lost their father at such a young age. He feels responsible for his family as well as people. He's lost people he's loved and cared for deeply.) ... But he's a wonderful king.

(She holds up two fingers, willing herself to be seen just long enough to make her order to the vendor just as he's finished making a batch and is setting it aside to make more. The transaction is quick and after a few short seconds, she holds two pieces of taiyaki, offering one out to Lavi.)

Uhm... For you.

Your sister is right about that. [Assuming that Hinoka is the sister...] From the way it sounds, whatever faults you guys have, you make up for just by being with each other. You're all talented in your own ways, after all.

[He accepts the taiyaki.]

Thank you, Sakura.

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018 | Season Spirits

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