29 - Autumn Leaves

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: Uncover the remaining secrets of the mysterious forest.
When: Nov 29 - 30
Where: Chichibu National Park & the Central District
Summary: A heavily forested wilderness area in Chichibu National Park is attracting dangerous numbers of ayakashi, and Heaven's forces suspect that this might be the mortal forest that was connected to the Heavens in order to kidnap gods and shinki a few weeks ago.






Walk in the Woods

On the morning of the 29th, Heaven's messenger doves drop off small folded cards at the doors of every temple. The cards read,


We believe that we have identified the location on the Near Shore where the human accomplices were working. As it is a large area, we offer you this information, in case you are able to assist us in searching for clues to the identity of the culprit. Please investigate with caution: there are reports of ayakashi in the area.


Attached is a map to a large national park in the Kanto region, with a section of the park cross-hatched in red pen. Anyone who goes to investigate the marked area will discover that it is heavily forested and contains about a mountain and a half; the ground is steep, muddy with autumn rain, and slick with dead leaves, though some red and orange colors are still grimly clinging to the branches overhead. Watch your step! The supernatural menace seems to have faded, but the purely natural hazards can do almost as much damage.

Heaven's forces, wearing white short jackets with gold chrysanthemum emblems over much more sensible jeans and hiking boots, can be seen here and there throughout the forest, searching for clues themselves. If somebody gets in a real jam, they might be willing to lend a hand.

Mysterious Trees

Towards the center of the cross-hatched area, investigators may begin to see some familiar signs. Are those bits of torn-down spell papers still fluttering from nails driven into the trees? Vines and tree branches cut and broken by the hostage rescuers breaking through? Footprints, torn bits of black hooded cloaks... there are clues aplenty here.

There's something else, too: a mysterious presence still seems to haunt the forest. The trees might not move when anyone's watching, but it seems like they're in slightly different positions every time you look away and back. And what was that flicker of movement in the underbrush? Is there still someone here?!

Comment on the NPC REQUEST/CLUE SEARCH thread below to request specific details, or to go hunting for that mysterious presence.

Ayakashi Attacks

There's more than one mysterious presence in these trees... and some of them are definitely not friendly. The forest's aura is unsettling and creepy enough to partially mask their approach, but ayakashi of all types and sizes seem to have been drawn here. Some wind along tree branches or soar through the air on fleshy, wide-spread wings. Others crawl or even burrow in the ground.

And all of them are excited at the possibility of a divine meal. Look out!

Autumn Leaf Viewing

An area of the Central District planted with maple along a stone-walled canal has been decorated with hanging lanterns, comfortable spread mats and cushions, and an abundance of delicious food and drink on the afternoon of the 30th. Everyone is invited: new gods and old, those who helped investigate the Near Shore forest and those who didn't. For those who did investigate, though, one or two of the white-robed shinki who are helping with the party preparations and enjoying the food and drink themselves will take the opportunity to pull them aside and ask about their findings.

The party includes games as well as food and drink. Kites, poetry games, tag, hide-and-seek, card games and dice games are going on all over. There's even some determined board game and mahjong players who have brought their favorite game to the outdoor venue and are setting up on mats with immense care.

At one edge of the landscaped area where the party is being held, the ground slopes up, and is planted with a riot of bright gold, white and rust-red chrysanthemums. Like the ones that bloomed everywhere a few months ago, these flowers exude a sense of peace, confidence and security to anyone nearby, and especially those who pick the blooms to wear in their hair or their buttonhole.

In Summary:

• Investigate a wild forest
• Watch out for nasty trees
• Exorcise an ayakashi infestation
• Enjoy some hard-earned relaxation
• Have fun~

Comments

[letteropener]

A Walk in the Woods

Everypony, over here!

[Celestia calls out to the assembling gods and shinki from atop a quite large cloud, which at the moment sits on the ground like nothing so much as a giant-sized, floofy comforter that had been terribly misplaced.]

Rather than walk around, let us go through the air to the worst of it. What do you say?

Mysterious Trees

[Celestia goes stock-still, a host of scraps and items flickering through the air surrounded by her magic. Her wings, half-spread at her side, fluff out noticeably as her fur stands on end.]

[Her hair does absolutely nothing. It's stubborn like that.]

[Very quietly, barely moving her mouth, Celestia whispers:] There is something out there.

Walk in the Woods

[replicatedform]

[Yamanbagiri came over when he heard her call. He glances at her, and then at the giant, fluffy looking cloud she's on top of.

He looks back at her.]

That's a good idea. But what if you can't fly?

[Well, the cloud's right there. But better not to assume and make a fool out of himself. He can always join people on the ground, if he can't join the aerial search team.]

[letteropener]

[Having been quite prepared for this, Celestia taps the cloud beneath her gently with one hoof.] I will enchant you with a cloud-walking spell. It is simple magic.

[replicatedform]

[He blinks for a moment. That's surprisingly simple.] I see... How long will that spell last?

[For obvious safety worries.]

[letteropener]

Quite a long time, unless it is removed. We ponies use it for visitors to Cloudsdale and other pegasus settlements, where earth ponies and unicorns cannot go without its help.

[Celestia wouldn't suggest something unsafe, of course.]

[replicatedform]

[He thinks for a moment, before he nods. So far, she doesn't really give him a reason to doubt her magic.]

If you say so, then I'd like to have that spell... please.

[Plus, a small part of him is kind of curious about cloud walking.]

[letteropener]

[Celestia lowers her head slightly, pointing her horn at the young man. A yellow glow shines out from it, and a moment later the same warm light appears around him, enveloping him briefly before disappearing with a feeling like a popping bubble.]

There you are. You can climb aboard if you wish, the cloud will be perfectly solid now.

[replicatedform]

[He stands still for a moment. Once it's over, he looks over at the cloud for a moment. Stepping closer to it, he lift a foot and place it on top of the cloud experimentally. And lowers it.

The cloud holds. After blinking, he climbs onto the cloud and looks down. He's not falling through? It's... actually amazing.]

This is amazing.

[letteropener]

[There is, Celestia admits, a certain pleasure in seeing something so routine through the eyes of somepony who never imagined it before. In Equestria, such things are commonplace. Every pegasus can walk on clouds, after all, and seeing one doing so is hardly uncommon.]

It is, isn't it? And rather convenient as well.

[replicatedform]

[He looks back at her. It's almost like standing on a platform, just a very cloudy one.]

Yeah, I can see how it's convenient. [He need a moment to get used to this. While she did say he wouldn't fall, his heart feel like it's nervous.] With this, I can join you in the air.

[Hmmm, what else.]

Is there anything else I need to know?

[letteropener]

Don't strike it too hard. [No jumping or kicking if you can help it!] Pegasi have the gift of controlling the weather, and with skill there are any number of things you can do with a properly-made cloud... but I don't recommend experimenting.

[replicatedform]

Got it. [Which is completely reasonable!] I don't have any other questions, so I'm good to go.

(OOC: Feel free to drop!)

A Walk in the Woods

[pure_radiantics]

That's what I've been saying!

[ Kairi calls out: ]

Nimbus~!

[ And the cloud streaks through the clouds to land near her, skidding mid-air to a halt. She pats it twice, then jumps on. ]

[letteropener]

[This is how humans feel when they see her standing on clouds, isn't it? Celestia tilts her head slightly in surprise.]

You are going to have to tell me how you are doing that.

[pure_radiantics]

Hm?

[ Kairi looks very confused. ]

I thought you saw me riding Nimbus when we attacked that one ayakashi.

[ But she supposes that doesn't really answer Celestia's question. ]

I'm not sure, actually. Nimbus doesn't belong to me, but he likes me a lot, for some reason.

[letteropener]

If I did, it has completely slipped my mind. I'm afraid I have been through quite a lot in a short time. [Celestia smiles her apology, shaking her head at herself.] But more to the point, I think, is my speculation that you cannot do that on any old cloud?

[pure_radiantics]

[ Kairi nods with a smile, unbothered. ]

That's exactly, right Princess.

[ A little formal, but she's trying to lighten the mood again. ]

This particular cloud is a friend of Goten. The thing is, Goten can fly by himself, and I can't, but since Nimbus likes me, I can ask to borrow Nimbus's power at times like this.

[letteropener]

Then no doubt there is a little here that nopony understands. Well. I will be very careful and on my best behavior.

[No accidentally bucking Nimbus, Princess's honor!]

[pure_radiantics]

[ She smiles brightly over at Celestia. She remembers teasing Celestia once before about good behavior and so she doesn't tease again, only nods in thanks. ]

Don't worry - Nimbus is really protective of me! If he thinks there's something I shouldn't be around, I'm sure he'll whisk me away to Goten without my permission and I'll have to call you up to apologize later.

[ She pats the cloud fondly. ]

Although sometimes he's willing to help me fight, since he's so much faster and more agile than I am.

[letteropener]

Oh dear. That sounds like it may complicate this exploration a little bit. [Though not so much that Celestia can't handle it, so Kairi's explanation amuses her more than it concerns her.] Well, then if you are traveling that way, I won't need this cloud.

[pure_radiantics]

But at least we can still travel together! And that's one less thing for you to focus on, right?

[ Kairi leans slightly to the left and right, making Nimbus veer like she's riding a bicycle and banking turns. It makes things more fun. ]

Have you seen any clues yet? Or areas we should be checking closer to the ground?

[letteropener]

Not at all! I had spent my time preparing for the aerial view, for those who needed the help. So I will be seeing this all with new eyes.

[pure_radiantics]

So will I - so we can definitely look together! Maybe just a few feet apart or so?

[ She points to Celestia's midsection. ]

And not just because of your wingspan. We'll be able to see so much side by side like that, don't you think?

[letteropener]

That will be very helpful, yes. We should be able to cover everything beneath us, if we are careful and mindful!

Clue or fight?

[pure_radiantics]

Careful is right. And we can keep our eyes peeled for anything strange and head them off at the pass!

[ Especially if it's someone in trouble or a person or a clue. ]