thenearshore | 28 - The Hungry Forest

28 - The Hungry Forest

Who: Everyone!
What: Will the mysterious forest give up its secrets -- and its captives?
When: Nov 14
Where: Within the forest
Summary: For a while now, the mysterious forest that makes unpredictable moves around the Far Shore has seemed to be getting deeper and darker. Gods and shinki are missing, taken in by the forest's traps. Now, it's time to uncover what has taken them, and find a way to return their freedom....

Step into the forest, and fall under the strangely disconnected feeling within its borders. Your physical abilities will remain as sharp as ever, but accessing any supernatural ability, including a god's powers or a shinki's abilities, is much more of a struggle within this place, and incredibly draining as well.

Forest Dangers

The forest is no less closed-in when people actually get into it, and the sky is almost impossible to keep track of, replaced by looming boughs and twisting, knotted tree limbs. Those branches and vines almost seem a little too purposefully placed to block people in... although it might not be so obvious until you turn around and notice the path grown over with plants behind you.

It’s not just paranoia. The forest itself is acting to stop those here for rescue, and the trees will readily attack or attempt to capture any god or shinki making their way through. Paths knot up with brambles before them, trees drop branches to block the way, vines lock up the gaps between trees before trying to drag anyone who comes too near away. It’s going to be a struggle to get through, but together, it can be done.

Also hovering among the trees are the firefly spirits that have been a worry for some time. They venture alone at a distance, but once someone comes near, they’ll cluster and attack – if they touch your skin they'll burn like real fire, so be careful how you deal with them!

Soulless Shinki

A little deeper into the forest, searchers will begin to find some of the soulless shinki that wandered into the forest. Unfortunately, they’re beyond reason, and their numbers aren't just made up of soulless shinki with gods (Shizuo's, Add's, Hakkai's and Yuna's). Many of the nameless ones who have been living at the soulless shinki temple are here, too. These shinki, armed with whatever weapons they had when they vanished along with powerful wooden spears and maces grown by the cursed trees, are defending the inner areas of the forest alongside the plants with a vicious and mindless enthusiasm. Their focus is purely to stop those who might be getting close to the other prisoners.

Are those spell papers and straw dolls pinned to the trees that they’re clustering to defend? Maybe it would be worth it to get a closer look....

Creepy Cultists

In the deepest parts of the forest, where the weight of the magic working here becomes much heavier, and the forest almost vibrates with power, there are... humans. Normal, living humans, by all standards, except for the fact that they’re swathed in dark, hooded robes, and many of them are carrying the same spell tags and dolls visible on the trees the soulless shinki are so fervently defending. While they can’t see the gods and shinki at work in the forest, the humans are continuing to put up spell markers, and whenever a fresh one goes up, the magic in the air grows just a little more suffocating. They need to be stopped – but the question of how humans are in the Heavens’ forest in the first place still needs answering.

Those nearest to the forest’s center, in the heart of the magic, are maintaining the lines of massive sigils on the forest floor, the edges of which are only just visible beneath a tangling wall of brambles, vines and branches. The plants give way for the cultists, allowing them to continue maintaining the shapes, but nobody else. It’s safe to say that the snarled mess of plant life protects where the trapped gods and shinki are hidden, but can a way through be found with the magic’s effects so strong? Maybe the cultists will come in handy. They're intensely focused on the spell papers and sigils, and no matter what the gods and shinki do, they won't be able to keep their attention for long enough to convince them to answer more than a question or two -- but with some convincing, they might be able to point the way.

To Be Continued...

Be prepared! On May 3 (OOC), the final battle to save the kidnapped characters will be posted as a separate log. Soulless shinki can be NPCed in this first log, but missing PC characters (gods and shinki) will not be found until that second log goes up.

In Summary:

Investigate the mysterious forest
Battle burning fireflies and soulless shinki
Deal with the human cultists
Have fun~

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Woah- [Goku rolls out of the way of the spear, shaking his hand frantically as if that will help his staff appear.] Oh, come on!

Nyoi-bo, nyoi-bo, nyoi-bo! [Come on, come on- okay, there it is. The staff finally appears in his hand and Goku swings wildly to block Asshole's club. Phew. How is he already tired?] ... You really are an asshole!

[At least one of the shinki is unarmed now. Goku focuses on the two attacking him, taking a heavy swing at the spearless shinki. It might have taken his head off if nyoi-bo had extended when Goku expected it to, but he's just out of range.]

[ He can't summon his stick. ]

Shit!

[ He stumbles back, feet jerking high as he fights to avoid being tripped. There's another one -- no, two -- heading his way. Gojyo swears again, short and vicious.

A quick glance shows that Goku's facing off against Banri and one other shinki. Okay. A kid who can knock down trees shouldn't have any problem with an asshole. ]

That means I get you three all to myself. [ Fuck, he's so fucked... okay, okay. He's got this. Okay.

The closest thing he's got to a weapon is the rope around his shoulder. He shrugs out of the heavy coils and swings it in one hand, twice around and then out, hard, aimed to smash the nearest shinki in the face and hopefully knock them down. ]

[The spearless shinki flinches back, but when the staff doesn't come into range to hit him, he reaches down instead. A root breaks through the forest floor, growing with stop-motion speed into another long spear, viciously sharp, that breaks free as the shinki's hand closes around it. Another begins growing next to it immediately as he throws the first at Goku.

Asshole keeps swinging his club, pressing in against Goku.

Gojyo's throw strikes its target, and the shinki he'd clocked with a coil of heavy rope staggers back, shaking her head. It's not quite enough to knock her down, although she does look dazed, the spear almost tumbling from her grip.

The other two close in, swinging their own heavy clubs; one aims high, at Gojyo's head, and the other lower, at his gut.]

[It's just five guys. The two of them should have no problem mowing them down. Goku stops for a second though to stare in awe at the shinki tearing weapons out of the dirt.] ... No fair! That's so cool!

[He wants magic tree weapons! Goku knocks the spear out of the air with his staff before it can hit him, deflecting Asshole's club with the other end at the same time. His size is an advantage here against medium-ranged weapons, especially at the speed he's moving at. He takes a swing at Asshole's head, this time gauging nyoi-bo's length properly. ]

Gojyo! What're you doing?! [Goku only briefly looked over his shoulder to check on Gojyo, only to see him fucking around with some rope.] Get serious!

[ Just five guys, ha. Ha ha ha. He doesn't have a weapon, shrimp! ]

Workin' on it!

[ The one shinki's almost lost her grip on her staff, and Gojyo sees an opportunity. He manages to duck the club swung at his head, but the lower one catches him in the side as he lunges at the first shinki. He goes down, grabbing for her spear. ]

[Asshole tries to duck this swipe, but he's nowhere near as fast as Goku. It clips his head hard enough to send him sideways and down, the club flying out of his hands.

Meanwhile, the spear-wielding shinki is throwing his next spear, plucking another from the root, and throwing it, too.

Gojyo's target is dazed enough that she can't keep her hold on the spear as he grabs it, but she tries, diving after him and aiming to headbutt him in the face with singleminded ferocity. The club-wielding shinki close in around them as she and Gojyo hit the ground.]

[Just before the spear hits him, Goku leaps up and over it into the air, catching a tree branch and swinging forward to kick the shinki in the head. Whatever damage that does, Goku bounces off and lands on his feet.]

Y'need any help?

[There's no shame in asking for help, Gojyo.]

[ He hits the ground hard, but his grip on the spear is sure. The woman shinki leaps at him and it's pure instinct that has him swinging the spear up between them... aiming to crack her in the head, maybe? Or maybe just throw her off enough that he can get to his feet again. ]

The hell's wrong with them?!

[ He can't kill her. He can't kill any of them -- they're shinki, they've got magical ties to their gods. If a god gets blighted when their shinki feels bad, how much worse must it be when that shinki dies? He doesn't even want to hurt her.

It's really hard to knock somebody out without hurting them, though. ]

[The woman tackling Gojyo is determined and careless of her own safety. The spear catches her right across the temple and she crumples, knocked, if not unconscious, than at least badly dazed. The two club-wielding men behind her, though, aren't even hesitating.

One spins to face Goku, as the man he'd kicked goes down hard; the other brings his club down, aiming at Gojyo's legs.]

[Alright, Goku's knocked his two down! Time to check on how Gojyo is doing- aw, what the hell?]

Gojyo, are you still not done? [Something is messed up about these guys. Goku doesn't want to kill them either. So long as they stay down, Goku will let them. But these guys... Well, it's not like Goku's not used to fighting guys who are being messed with.] I dunno what's up with 'em but we gotta get them to cut it out!

[One's facing Goku now, so he figures that makes him fair game. Gojyo hopefully won't mind Goku jumping in to rush the guy, fall backwards to stand on his hand and kick the guy with both feet. Ideally, that'll send him flying into the other club-wielding jackass. Goku's aim isn't perfect.]

[ Gojyo is a little busy at the moment! Grabbing the spear tight to his chest, he rolls off to the side, slamming (hopefully) past one of the club-wielding shinki and well away from the other one (the one that just got an armful of his friend -- thanks, shrimp!). If he succeeds, this should give him enough space to finally get to his feet. Because if he ends up getting the crap beaten out of him while lying on the ground, he might actually die of embarrassment. ]

Thanks, kid! That's really helpful!

[ And assuming that he manages to get to his feet, he's diving right back into the fight, swinging hard at the still standing shinki's legs. It's a non-lethal, crippling kind of attack, one that he hopes won't damage the guy too permanently. ]

Did you try asking 'em nicely?

[The shinki Goku kicked goes flying, knocked entirely off his feet, right into his companion.

His companion goes down, too, foot catching a root and sending both of them tumbling, with Gojyo's club thudding into one of their legs. As the club-stricken shinki tries to get back up, that leg goes out from under him, and he goes back down without a sound; he continues struggling to stand, but his knee looks like it's not bending quite right, and it clearly won't hold his weight.

The other is having a better time getting back up, although his breath is whistling painfully thanks to the bruised ribs Goku's kick left him with. Two of the five are down and unconscious; the spear wielder Goku hit is trying to get back up, but reeling drunkenly.]

You're welcome!

[Does Goku recognise sarcasm? A question for another time. As the other shinki struggles to get to his feet, Goku hits him across the head with his staff again. Stay down, dumbass.]

"Please stop being an asshole".

[There, he tried.]

[ Gojyo winces as Goku hits the shinki in the head. That's how you knock somebody out, sure... but it's also how you cause real damage. (Not that taking out somebody's knee is really any better, in hindsight.) God but he hopes their gods -- those who have gods -- aren't feeling any of this. ]

Wrong asshole

[ Fuck it -- they have to get moving. He swings his own club hard at the side of the head of the nearest shinki, trying really hard not to feel bad about doing it. Hakkai doesn't need his guilt right now. ]

I've got these two. Tie B... [ His teeth snap shut, catching his cheek, and he tastes blood. Shit. Shit, he almost slipped! ] Tie Asshole up. [ There's one more shinki, and he'll deal with them. ] He's Hakkai's shinki. I don't want him wanderin' off.

Edited 2018-05-07 14:57 (UTC)

[That's two more down and staying down, with only the soulless shinki with the broken ribs left conscious; he's staggering towards Gojyo with the same singleminded aggression they're all showing, but he's not a very threatening figure. His club is sagging from his grip.]

Why do I gotta tie him up? Why can't you do it?

[Goku misses Gojyo's slip up entirely, too busy whining about his latest chore. It's not fair! He always has to do everything! He walks over to the unconscious Asshole and prods him with his foot. Tying him up probably won't make much difference- and with all the pyromaniacs running around the forest, it might not be the kindest gesture either.]

What am I even supposed to use? I don't have any rope.

[ The last shinki is a pathetic sight, but Gojyo doesn't hesitate. He swings his staff again, aiming to clock the shinki on the side of the head and send him to the ground with the rest of his soulless friends. ]

What are you talking about, there's a pile of rope right there! [ He points to the rope he'd used to slap the first shinki in the face... also let's pretend he never tried to use a coil of rope as a weapon, okay? Next rescue mission, he's bringing a big knife. And a gun. ] Never mind, I'll do it. You watch these guys.

[ He might take more than a little pleasure in tying Banri's unconscious body to a tree. And, hey, if he burns, then he burns. Gojyo's having a hard time feeling bad about that potential outcome right now. ]

If he attacks somebody else, he could get killed, and that might hurt Hakkai, [ --he explains, uncoiling the rope and dragging Banri over to the nearest thick tree. ] I don't know why he keeps this guy around as it is.

[ooc; since all of the shinki are now unconscious, please feel free to continue from here! They'll be out for a significant period of time.]

[ooc; thank you!]

Hakkai's pretty nice. [Goku explains, stepping back to let Gojyo do whatever it is he's going to do.] ... When he feels like it, anyway.

[He's almost always nice to Goku, and that's the important thing! Goku tilts his head to the side, completely failing to pay attention to the other shinki as he's been told to do.]

Why do you even have that? I thought you were tryin' to fight with it. Like a- what do they call it? Lasso? Is that it?

[Yeah, you're not getting off the hook that easy, Gojyo.]

[ He's going to sit Banri's unconscious body up against the nearest sturdy tree and tie him up tight, that's what. Sure the forest is being sneaky and slapping people, but it doesn't have thumbs, so lets see it try to untie this monster of a knot! ]

What do you mean, why do I have it? It's rope! Rope's useful. [ Witness exhibit A: rope being useful in restraining one Asshole. Slightyl more grumbly: ] Bein' able to use that blade staff would be more useful, but apparently that's jsut askin' too much.

[Maybe one of the not-tied-up shinki will help him once they come to. It's not really their problem.]

Do ya tie people up a lot? That's kinda weird, Gojyo.

[Just because it's useful, doesn't mean it's not weird! Goku holds Nyoi-bo a little tighter and looks down at it unsurely. Yeah, he's not banishing it again now it's out.]

Nyoi-bo was actin' weird too. I had to try a couple of times to get it out. Maybe you just gotta do that?

[ He gives the knot a final yank and stands up, flipping Goku off in the process. ]

You named it? And you think I'm weird?

[ He shakes his hands out, stretching his fingers back, cracking his knuckles... then he holds out his left hand and strains. And concentrates. And tries to force the weapon to appear.

Nothing happens. Not so much as a borderline. ]

Fuck!

I didn't name it, that's just what it's called! Nyoi-bo!

[Nyoi-bo has it's own past completely unrelated to Goku. They don't know it's life. They just know it's name. Goku walks a bit closer to watch Gojyo's failed attempts better.]

... Ask it nicely? Come on, Shakujo!

[ Gojyo's hand falls to his side, and he fixes Goku with a look of pure big-brotherly disgust. ]

Did you just try to name my stick?

[ They don't have that kind of relationship, shrimp, geez! ]

What the hell kind of a stupid name is shakujo? It's not a monk stick! [ If it were here, he'd shake it to prove that it doesn't have the chiming rings, but alas, he's stickless at the moment. ] If anyone's gonna name it, it's gonna be me, not some kid.

[Goku looks confused for a moment before... oh! Gojyo thinks- Gojyo's gonna-

Aw, man, that's kinda hilarious.]

Maybe it wants ya to call it by it's name before it appears! That's what I had to do for Nyoi-bo! [Actually, come to think of it, back when they first got the weapons they responded to voice commands. Maybe they do like it more.] I think Shakujo is good. I bet it agrees with me!

[It's a stick but it's funny to act like it's a stick with feelings and that those feelings are being pissy at Gojyo.]

28 - The Hungry Forest

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