thenearshore | 28 - The Hungry Forest (Final Battle)

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28 - The Hungry Forest (Final Battle)

Who: Everyone!
What: At the heart of the mysterious forest lies a magical trap.
When: Nov 14, evening
Where: Within the forest
Summary: Working together, and with the (reluctant) help of some menaced cultists, the rescuers have pierced the wooden wall into the heart of the forest.

The sky is clearly visible here, but it’s an evening one – it’s taken the day to work their way through this far. Those with some astronomy knowledge will also be able to tell it’s a sky on Earth, and anyone who can climb up above the treeline will see a vast, mountainous and wooded area, with the lights of roads, train tracks and small towns glittering here and there. They're clearly not in the Heavens anymore. Somehow, in their journey through the forest, the rescuers have emerged onto the Near Shore.

An icy breeze is blowing, and although the vegetation is unseasonably green and lush in this clearing, there are patches of snow visible at the foot of some of the trees, hinting that they're fairly far up the mountain.

Rescues

The clearing here at the heart of the forest is vast, and five colossal sigils are etched into the earth, each one holding an incredible amount of power. It’s on these sigils, North, South, East, West, and Center, that the trapped gods and shinki can be found. Those unlucky enough to be at the Center sigil are bound by hypnosis, each staring at a firefly spirit that hovers before their unblinking eyes. These victims are still and unresponsive, and the spirits will need to be destroyed to free them. The firefly spirits can be harmed by both physical and magical attack, though they likely won’t stay still to let themselves be easily extinguished.

The captives trapped on each of the other sigils are around the edges of the clearing, entangled in vines, brambles or whatever other limbs the trees could provide to bind them to this place. Some may also be under the effects of the hypnotic fireflies if they’ve been particularly troublesome, while others who have fought less might have only those bindings needed to prevent them fleeing. Regardless of how tightly they're restrained, all of the kidnapped gods and shinki on all of the sigils look drained, the severity depending on how long they’ve been there. Some are merely tired-looking, whereas others are barely clinging to consciousness. Whether their power is being used to feed the spell or being stored for something else to come, one thing is clear – those trapped need to be freed before anything more can be done.

Sigils

Those sigils beneath each group of trapped gods and shinki are powerful constructs, brimming with energy and meticulously maintained by the cultists up to now. It’s the same power as what blankets the entire forest, but it's focused on each of those five points. They must be the source of the spell that's caused all of this.

If the spell is to be broken, the sigils need to be broken as well, but it’s going to take more than just scuffing out the etched lines to break the magic. Attacking with shinki in their vessel forms or using blessed water to wash away the magic will be most effective, but for those who didn't bring blessed water or don't have the energy left to transform, there's one other option. The clearing is lit by traditional paper lanterns hanging from the trees all around, and any object set aflame with these lanterns can be used to burn the spell out of the ground bit by bit.

The trees and any remaining soulless shinki are still furiously opposing the rescue efforts, the surviving cultists are continuing to work on maintaining the spell, and it will take time to fully destroy the sigils. However, as the sigils deteriorate, the effects of the spell will begin to fade, and characters will find it easier to access their supernatural powers to speed the process along. Gods' and shinki's powers (that is to say, the special power they gained as a god or shinki, rather than canon powers) will be as effective as a shinki or blessed water against the sigils.

But be careful. As each sigil breaks, some of the magic escapes, but some is captured by the remaining sigils. For the spell to fully disappear, all five must be destroyed – and quickly, because there’s only a matter of time before this power becomes unstable.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Ken vaguely hears Gojyo behind him - certainly his ears are good enough - but he's not paying it much attention. His attention is primarily on Hakkai, and what he can spare is on making sure he doesn't veer into the center sigil as he skirts its edge.

Of course, once he reaches the western sigil, where Hakkai is...he has to decide whether it's safe to enter a sigil or not. He pulls up short for a second, whining in his throat with fear and frustration and indecision, but only for a moment. Looking around, he can see other people moving into the sigils, and more than that, the captives are in there; certainly the sigils aren't lethal. And if it's not going to kill him, then it's not going to stop him - not when it comes to rescuing his god.

So he darts into the sigil, unerringly moving for Hakkai no matter how well he blends in visually. The firefly gets ignored; Hakkai's bonds are much more obvious and alarming to him than a little bug, so that's what his claws start trying to tear into. Hakkai's lack of responsiveness is alarming, but the way Ken sees it, he can deal with that after Hakkai is free.]

[And in perfect contrast to his partner, as always- ]

Ken, stop! Gojyo, you too. [Both of them are such similar idiots, Chikusa doesn't doubt what the redhead will do, whether he's doing it now or not.] We don't know what injuries he has, we have to check that first so he doesn't get worse.

[Hakkai is so embedded into the vegetation, it's impossible to see if something has perhaps pierced through his skin, if the vines wrapped so tightly around him might be acting as tourniquets for an wound... They'll need to be careful in handling him until they know more. Shrugging out of his backpack even as he steps closer to where Ken is desperately clawing at the vines, Chikusa only has to stand a little bit onto the tips of his toes to get a good look at where Hakkai is buried into the vines and trees.]

[It takes some digging to get his finger towards Hakkai's pulse point- something that will also let him get an idea of his breathing and temperature. Chikusa's gaze flicks up to his face, noting the empty look in his eyes and searching for the color of his lips. He's so unresponsive, is he in shock...? Yet even as he's thinking that, he follows where he's looking and...]

[Ah.]

[Chikusa's voice is a bit cold when he speaks up.]

There's hairspray and a lighter in the backpack. Take care of the bug.

[It's admittedly a bit overkill for a lone firefly, and no one has to grab it out of the bag containing a couple bento, shrine water canteens, and much more.... but, frankly, Chikusa doesn't want to take any chances.]

[Ashes to fucking ashes.]

[ Ken -- and now Chikusa -- are digging at the vines, and there's really not room for Gojyo to join in. Breathless, panicking, he stands a pace or so back, grip tightening and loosening on his stolen staff. There has to be something he can do. There has to...

He notices the bug about a second before Chikusa speaks. There were dozens of them back in the woods, so many that it hadn't occurred to him to look twice at it. But Hakkai's staring right at the firefly, isn't he? Whatever is happening here, breaking his concentration from the bug has to be a good idea. ]

On it.

[ The bug is too close to Hakkai's face to risk a hairspray flamethrower. Instead, Gojyo aims carefully with the thicker end of the staff and brings it down hard on top of the bug. At least, that's the plan.

But the little bastard flits away at the last second -- not far, just far enough to avoid being knocked out of the air. Hakkkai's eyes track it, and Gojyo, frustrated beyond rational thought, drops his spear and grabs the bug with his bare hand. It burns like a hot coal, but he doesn't dare let it go, squeezing his fist as tight as it can go. ]

Hakkai, snap out of it!

[As Gojyo's hand closes tight around the firefly, crushing it, Hakkai gasps, coughs, and starts struggling against the vines. It's a reflex: he remembers them closing around him, remembers the wood snapping and scoring his skin as he'd fought to get away. He'd tried teleporting, and it had almost knocked him out, as though he'd drained himself healing--

Then there had been a very bright light.

The light now isn't bright at all; it's after sunset, and yellow-orange lantern light flickers over a shadowscape of trees and moving figures. Someone's tearing at the vines on his right arm, and there's a hand against his neck, and Gojyo shouting. He stills, and blinks, trying to focus his vision. He feels, if possible, more drained now than he remembers having felt before the light drowned everything out; he's briefly grateful for the vines swathing his body. They're keeping him on his feet.

His vision won't clear, but his other senses are enough; he feels the familiar tug of a shinki bond, tying him to all three of the people around him.]

Chikusa? Ken? Gojyo...

[His voice is a dry rasp. He grimaces, and tries to tug his arms free, movement more systematic as he orients himself.]

... I suppose I've missed dinner?

Hakkai-sama! [Don't mind that rush of deep relief you're feeling, Hakkai. Ken's tail starts wagging immediately.] Are you okay?!

[He then looks to Chikusa, claws hovering over the vines binding Hakkai; he was told to stop, and he has - even though he doesn't know why - but he's clearly begging for permission to free their god.]

[It's a good thing Gojyo grabs the firefly when he does. At the sound of that heavy thunk of wood hitting round, Chikusa had spared just a momentary if heavy deadeyed judging stare. That all gets tossed to the side at the sound of Hakkai moving, and his head snaps back to him.]

Hakkai. [He lets out a breath, stepping away to reach to his backpack again. Time to get the knife out, just in case.] ...I brought bento.

[Because, you know, that's a concern. Still, they can deal with that later. Maybe he's wrong, but if it doesn't look like there's any deep wounds... He gives a firm nod to Ken.]

[Time to tear things to shreds.]

[ Gojyo doesn't have a knife -- or claws, for that matter. He'd relied on his summon weapon, and without it, all he's got is a stolen stick of wood and a blister raising up in the middle of his palm. Chikusa and Ken are working frantically to free Hakkai, and all Gojyo can do is stand back, out of the way.

They aren't the only ones who found their kidnapped friend, he sees, glancing back at the other groups of bound prisoners. (It's only a glance -- he can't bear to look away from Hakkai for long.) People are pouring out of the woods, swarming over the captives... everyone will be freed soon. It's a huge relief, knowing that all those people are going to be taken care of without his help.

He really didn't want to have to leave Hakkai's side. ]

Who did this?

[ His voice is low, out of respect for Hakkai's condition, but there's no mistaking the steel there. Because now that Hakkai's awake and (nearly) free, the next thing to do is find whoever did this and kill them. Obviously. ]

What were they trying to do?

The forest... surrounded the path while I was walking to the school. Then the trees attacked. I didn't see anyone--

[Hakkai's mouth is dry, too. He grimaces, mouth working against a tongue that seems to be trying to glue itself to his palate, and tears his arms free as Ken finishes clawing the vines thin enough to break. His legs are a few more seconds' work.

It's perhaps inevitable that as soon as the last vines part, he realizes that he can't, in fact, stand. His hands and feet are flaring into agonized sensation as he moves, and circulation returns: how long was he here? It had been morning, the last time he'd been aware...

... and he's stumbling, and falling forward, while his mind struggles against the fog in an effort to remember.

He manages, on a wheezing exhale as he collapses:]

The bento later?

[What were the people responsible trying to do.. Well. Chikusa actually has the answer to that question... but there's no point in saying it now, especially when the only other person in this group that he really trusts to do anything with such information is pitching forward.]

[Chikusa jerks his hand out over his wrist, making sure not to accidentally stab Hakkai when he grabs him, and tries to move his shoulder against his so that the man can stay upright for a little longer. He doesn't have any doubts that Ken will be grabbing Hakkai, too, so he just looks back to Gojyo.]

Grab a bottle of water. Not the canteens.

[The canteens are blessed water. Sure, it wouldn't hurt Hakkai if he drank any of it, but, still. Chikusa wants to save that for emergencies.]

[Ken does indeed catch Hakkai's other side, holding him up much more easily than Chikusa even though he's shorter. if Chikusa is a pipe cleaner, than Ken is a tree trunk - stocky but solid.

But Ken is sniffing the air, frowning, before he looks over at Gojyo.] Did you get burned?

[Apparently the smell of skin being seared reached his nose.]

[ Water, yes. Damn, Chikusa really thought of everything, didn't he? All Gojyo brought was rope and lighter fluid. He hates to admit it, but that's one point for Team Deadpan. And then he takes stock of the way Ken and Chikusa mirror each other to support Hakkai, and he's forced to add a couple more points to their tally. Hakkai really doesn't need him as a shinki, does he? Not with those two. What did he do, to save Hakkai? He squished a bug and opened a bottle of water, whoopdie-doo. ]

Don't worry about it. Here.

[ He hands the opened bottle to Ken, since he's slightly closer, and takes a step back. There's other people working at freeing the other captives, but there's a lot of other captives. Some of them probably need help, right?

He meets Chikusa's eye, briefly. He can't hold it. ]

If you've got him, then I should... [ His voice trails off, but his intent should be clear as he glances back over his shoulder. They might all be puppets running around with stolen memories, but they're still people. Nobody deserves to suffer like this. ]

[Hakkai's struggling to stand on his own, but his knees seem unwilling to listen to his efforts, and his vision is stubbornly blurred. The water bottle, though, catches his attention, as Gojyo hands it to Ken, and glances over his shoulder. He's trying to do something else? There's...

Hakkai tries again to bring the clearing into focus. There are people moving everywhere, flame and magic flaring around them. His mouth presses into a flat, thoughtful line for a few seconds.

Then he moves again, reaching to take the water bottle from Ken's grip.]

I'm no good -- [His voice runs dry. He takes a swig from the bottle, almost inhales it, and has to stop to cough for several seconds before he gets it back.] --in a fight just now, but I can handle sitting down. You three all should help. I'll be fine.

Ken, ignore Hakkai. [...] His orders, I mean.

[Gojyo's constant fidgeting hasn't passed him by, after all, and Chikusa sighs as he helps try to at least get Hakkai out of the sigil. He doesn't like it, and he doesn't like Hakkai having been in it for as long as he has. Once they're out of there, well, Hakkai can collapse onto the ground then.]

I'll take care of whatever needs to be done... [A dry look towards a certain redhead.] With... Gojyo.... I guess...

But sit there... [Just gotta grab that pack- ] And eat. There's ground chicken. Ken, eat yours too.

[It sounds like a mother fussing over a pair of unruly children, but he has his reasons for this. He'd packed the bento in case him, Ken, and Nanako all got lost for an extended period of time in the forest... but now it's in handy here, too. Hakkai hasn't eaten for over a day, so he'll need the energy to feel better again... and Chikusa has noticed that Hakkai tends to eat more in a regular setting if someone is eating alongside him. Ken's earned his reward for helping anyway.]

[Ground chicken, rice, flaked salmon, scrambled eggs, strawberries... There has to be something Hakkai can eat in there.]

[Ken fidgets for a second in frustrated indecision. There's a lot of things going on here he doesn't like - Gojyo blowing him off about his hand getting burned, Gojyo trying to run off and help other people instead of staying with the person he's obviously worried about for reasons Ken can't begin to comprehend, Chikusa suggesting running off with Gojyo instead of him, Hakkai ordering them all away and trying to leave himself defenseless.

It's not often that the people Ken is with make such bad decisions that he decides his can't be any worse, but now is one of those rare moments.]

No way. [He says this suddenly and stubbornly.] Gojyo hurt his hand, so he's not gonna be able to help as well as us, right? And you and I work better together anyway, Kakipi. So he should stay here with Hakkai-sama, and me 'n Kakipi should go help other people, right?

Oh for fuck's sake.

[ He makes one good selfless decision, with the goal of helping people, and the two assholes he's relying on turn around and drop their burden back on him? Unbelievable! How's he supposed to learn good habits this way, huh? Geez.

Gojyo grabs for the bento in Chikusa's hand, to bring it over to Hakkai. ]

Go, then. I'll stay here. [ He's not so injured that he can't fight, and he's certainly capable of serving food, opening water, and carrying exhausted gods back to their temples when those gods are ready to leave. And the longer they all stand around and debate who should stay, the longer those other people are without food, and water, and, y'know. Hope and shit. He's got a heavy wooden staff and a backpack full of fire -- they'll be fine. ] You've got thirty minutes then I'm takin' him back to the temple myself.

[Hakkai, hanging on Ken's shoulder, seriously contemplates arguing. It's just embarrassing to argue about how little help he needs when he can't stand on his own, though, and so he breathes out in what is almost (but not quite a sigh) and forces himself up.]

I'll just sit down, then.

[He does successfully manage a few steps, enough to get him away from the sigil, and a few more on sheer stubbornness before pitching into a movement he plans to call, if anyone asks, "sitting down."

It's definitely not a collapse.]

[Oh. Ken's outburst is such a surprise that Gojyo has no opponent for snatching the bento out of his grasp. It's not often that Ken goes against him when it comes to plan making.... So either this decision is really important to him, or Chikusa isn't seeing something so obvious that a dog can see it.]

[...Well. He guesses that's settled, then. Heaving up the backpack, he tosses it closer to Hakkai and Gojyo.]

There's more in there... [Three more, to be exact- one for Ken, one for himself, one for Nanako. Well, one of them is going without after all this.] Remember.... Eat with him.

[But that's all that can really be said. If Gojyo looks, he'll find other things in there, like a first aid kit and rope, other necessities.... So Chikusa figures it doesn't need to be explained. All he does is turn away, starting to shuffle off.]

You'll protect him as well as we would, right? [Ken says it more like he already knows it's a fact, and he's more pointing it out to help Hakkai and Gojyo understand his logic. He says it with a nod to Gojyo, anyway, not waiting for a reply before trotting off after Chikusa.

You can consider it being benched if you like, Gojyo, but considering Ken and Chikusa's loyalty...being left in charge of an exhausted, vulnerable Hakkai is a huge gesture of trust.]

[ It's a gesture that earns both their retreating backs an extended display of a middle finger, is what it is. ]

Those two are really something else.

[ Hakkai, there's a bento here. Eat all of it. ]

Un fucking believable.

[Hakkai laughs a little, accepting the bento, although he's sticking with finishing off that bottle of water for now. He's desperately thirsty, and perhaps once he's dealt with that he'll feel like he has more of an appetite.]

They're stubborn.

[ Oh, hey, he is thirsty, huh? Gojyo reaches over to lay a hand on Hakkai's arm, near his wrist. ]

Take it slow, okay? You drink too fast it won't stay down.

[ Trust the bartender. The bartender knows about rehydrating after being dry for a long time. ]

I don't need that brat layin' traps for me if he finds out I let you puke up all that water.

Of course, of course. [Hakkai tries another scratchy laugh, and lets his hand sink down under Gojyo's touch, resting the water bottle on the leaf litter. His blurry vision is starting to become very annoying; after a moment, he tries wetting his fingers from the bottle, and scrubbing at his eye, in an attempt to clear it.]

Thank you.

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aaaand split

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