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

[ Hakkai's attack had brought a much-needed diversion just in the nick of time, since the ayakashi had been closing in on him in its frenzied fury and he was running out of evasion tactics to keep out of range of its claws and teeth.

When the monster bellows and jerks around to face the newly returned thread, Yata skids to a stop, bracing his hands on his knees as he drags in a lungful of air. ]

Nice. Glad you came back to join the party.

Please excuse the delay! Ha ha, it looks like the festivities have been exciting.

[The monster is swiping viciously at him with its remaining hand. It's surprisingly fast, despite its injuries, and Hakkai fences casually, retreating step after step to lure it further away from the exhausted shinki.

He's never been a swordsman, but he's used a sword, and the ayakashi isn't so big or so skilled that it exceeds his skills. Once he's drawn it several feet away, he waits for it to overextend on one last swipe, and dives in, blade severing its arm and leaving him with another spatter of blighted goo.

It's a shame, really, that he couldn't find Ayumu too -- but there'd been no time. He's barely gotten back in time to help Yata as it is.]

That's one word for it.

[ Yata's just relieved that he has a moment to catch his breath while Hakkai keeps it busy but he doesn't remain still for long, launching himself back into the fight to set the things remaining limb on fire with a sharp blow of his bat while it's swinging and swiping at Hakkai. ]

You can Rend this thing, right?

Yes.

[The creature swings around, bellowing but unable to easily attack Yata with one arm blazing and the other nothing but a leaking stump; Hakkai readies his sword and extends two fingers.]

You who defile the earthly realm! I, Li Tieguai, have come bearing Shiki to lay waste to you and expel your vast defilement-- Rend!

[Still, he has to admit, it sounds terribly corny. It's a shame so many spells rely on their verbal component, but the blue glitter of power on his outstretched fingers races along Shiki's edge as he swipes his fingers down the blade, and -- as, too late, the ayakashi begins to turn back towards them -- he lunges, sweeping the weapon down through it from shoulder to hip with vicious strength. The creature wails from its bisected mouth, shudders, and explodes into mist and swiftly evaporating goo, and Hakkai straightens, flicking the remaining ayakashi-substance from his blade.]

How are your injuries?

[ The ayakashi vaporized at last, Yata lets his skateboard finally skid to a stop, the flames of his Aura gutting out as he drops backwards on his ass to land on the grass, looking more than a little charred and banged up. ]

I'd say I'll live, but.... It's a little too late for that, huh? Heh.

[Don't mind this snicker. Look, he was a shinki too, Yata: he likes the morbid jokes.]

Oh yes, weeks. Return, Hoshiimamai. [The sword in his hand wisps into mist, the red character for Selfishness gleaming in the mist for a moment before it re-forms into a tall, blond man with sharp teeth and long, elfin ears. Hakkai nods politely to him and heads for Yata, casting a practiced eye over his injuries.]

A bath and a good night's sleep should take care of most of that, but if there's anything worse than it looks, I have some healing powers.

[And he did leave Yata to fight the thing for several minutes while he collected Asshole. He feels a certain sense of responsibility.]

[ Yata prods gently at the gash on his shoulder, wincing a little now that some of the adrenaline is wearing off. ]

I can probably find that somewhere. Saru's gonna be pissed. [ He huffs out a sigh at that, rolling his eyes, but what can you do? He glances up at the god and the shinki he'd called back, someone he didn't know and hadn't met before. Which gets a curious squint from him before he fixes his gaze on Hakkai again. ]

Uhh. Thanks, by the way.

It's my pleasure.

[That one looks a little worse than the others; it's certainly still bleeding, even past the surface scorching. Hakkai checks his palms for blight (clean, though his arms will need to be cleansed too) and focuses, leaning over as he spreads both hands over the injury.

A faint glow takes shape, limning his palms and fingers in blue as he begins to encourage the gash to seal itself up.]

Do you work with a monkey?

[There's a hint of amusement in the question.]

[ Yata just snickers at that question, because he can practically hear Fushimi getting outraged wherever he is. ]

Yeah, something like that. He's another shinki, a friend of mine.

[ Although he's watching what Hakkai does with an air of amazement. ] Holy shit, that's freaking cool!

Is 'saru' a name or nickname?

[He's smiling in response to the laughter, too, although most of his attention is on the healing gash.]

I know a monkey myself. ... It's an effect of chi manipulation. [-- he adds helpfully in response to the amazement.] It happens to be one of my youkai abilities.

Saruhiko Fushimi. [ By way of an answer. ] Although he hates being called by his first name.

[ ....Which is exactly why Yata does it? Although he seems mostly resigned to it now. At least where Yata is concerned. ]

Youkai? Chi? [ These are things he doesn't really know anything about. ] I thought you were a god.

You must be good friends. [It's the "I'm going to turn your hated first name into a nickname to make it even worse!" element that proves it. He's reminded of Gojyo and Goku.

The cut is almost wholly healed now, although the line of fresh skin over what had been a cut is still pink and fragile. Hakkai lifts his hands away.] Don't scratch that until it's had a chance to heal properly. -- I'm a god now. Before that, I was a youkai. Like my shinki there.

[He inclines his head in Asshole's direction, and points out the small metal cuffs adorning his left ear.] These are limiters; they help me look human. Youkai not being very common in this world.

I guess so? I'm not sure he'd say the same thing. [ Still, he laughs as he scratches at his cheek. It's clear he, at least, considers the other shinki a good friend.

When Hakkai finishes healing his arm, he peers at it a moment in surprise before carefully stretching the limb, testing it and finding just about all the pain from it gone. ] Dude. That's awesome. I think that's the most useful power I've seen here yet. [ ....At least for someone who gets banged up as much as Yata potentially does.

Another glance at the still-silent shinki, curiosity clear on Yata's face. ] No, I guess you're right. What happens if you take them off? Do they just make you look different?

And more powerful. I do have to take them off for the occasional fight, but --

[He flicks his fingers out in a negligent little gesture.]

Not for something like our recently deceased friend. [He follows Yata's curious glance, and adds:] I'm afraid my shinki is one of the sort they call 'soulless.'

[So: don't expect too much from him. He responds to direct questions well enough, but he isn't chatty, and Hakkai still isn't sure what kind of opinions he might have.]

Soulless? [ Yata hasn't actually encountered one of these before now, since none of his previous gods had had them. ] What does that mean? Did something happen to him?

There are a few of them among the new shinki. I don't know what happened to him, but he doesn't seem to have any will of his own -- please excuse me for talking like this in front of you. [The last is an aside to Asshole, who doesn't seem bothered by it in the least.]

My theory is that his soul was somehow damaged when he was brought here and made a shinki.

[The corner of Hakkai's mouth tucks down for just an instant, a neat tic of distaste.] What's the line? "There, but for the grace of God, go I"?

Huh?

[ No something Yata would have heard before. That's more likely to be spouted by one of the Blues rather than the people he tends to hang out with.

Still, he gives another look at Hakkai's shinki, not sure if he should feel sorry for him or not. ]

Damaged...? And here I thought I had it bad.

[Hakkai sighs, and gets to his feet, brushing a few bits of grass fussily off his slacks.]

It's possible he'll recover in time. There are some hints that he has opinions of his own -- he likes the name his first god gave him, for example...

[Despite the fact that name is 'Asshole.' Well, Banri was an asshole, once, and so Hakkai isn't too inclined to insist that he give up the name he likes.]]

Well, I guess that's something, at least.

[ Honestly, Yata thinks it's a little creepy, but hey, it doesn't really have anything to do with him.

Still, he pushes himself back to his feet when Hakkai does, straightening his clothes and kicking his skateboard back over onto its wheels. ]

Hopefully this will quiet the street down for the rest of those humans, too. If this was what was causing all the problems, maybe it'll go back to normal for 'em now.

Hopefully. It should help, at least.

[He glances out at the dark river with its glitter of reflected streetlights, shrugs, and starts climbing back up to sidewalk level.]

Thank you, it's been a pleasure to work with you. [That, he says with a glint of amusement on his face. It really has. He does enjoy seeing new and odd abilities, and Yata's fire bat is entertaining.]

Huh? [ Yata blinks in surprise at the thanks, and then actually looks a little flustered about it, turning sheepish. ] Oh. Uh, you too. We didn't do too bad, yeah?

We're still walking and it's not, so I'll call this a success. [He chuckles pleasantly.]

-- You mentioned earlier that you have trouble with borderlines, didn't you?

[It's particularly impressive that a shinki did so well against an ayakashi for several minutes on his own with no borderlines to protect him.]

[ That's enough to have his expression dropping again, shoulders slumping slightly as he rubs at the back of his neck. ]

Ahh. Yeah. You could say that.

No offense meant! I was just thinking that, although I can't cast them anymore myself, I've trained quite a few shinki in them... if you'd be interested in a bit of practice sometime?

[He ducks his head in polite apology, smiling.]

I might be able to offer a few tips.

Tips?

[ Yata actually looks intrigued by that, perking up a little. ]

No one can tell me whatI'm doing wrong. I mean I have the motion and the words right, but... [ He looks sheepish. ] Every time I try and cast one I just make a wall of fire instead. I don't know how to summon whatever a Borderline's supposed to be made out of instead of whatever this is. [ He adds that with a flame of fire appearing to dance in his palm once more. ]

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