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

[swordofzero]

Walk in the woods

[Suzaku had found the note and the map, being the first to awake in his temple. After checking with Lady Grell- who was planning to spend the day with Mister Spears, Suzaku had turned up to help.

He doesn't seem to be struggling too much with the terrain and was pleased to discover that he knew how to read a map. Despite the difficulty, or perhaps because of it Suzaku seems to be enjoying himself. He keeps his eyes out for anything suspicious and is ready in case of danger. He has been practicing his boderlines a lot recently.]

Mysterious Trees

[Soon it became apparant that they had found the correct area. Suzaku recognised the spell papers. He was careful this time not to touch them, even if they were mostly destroyed.

He began looking around, searching for any clues anything that could tell them any more information about these cultists. A few times his head turns as he feels like there is someone nearby or watching him. There never is and after a few times of ignoring it he stands up and goes over to a bush.] Is there someone there? Show yourself!

Ayakashi attacks- good version

[He has been wary all day but the first time an ayakashi jumped at him Suzaku was a little surprised. He's never seen an ayakashi before and they... weren't what he was expecting at all. Nothing like he had imagined but it was clear that what it was and that it was a threat.

Luckily Suzaku was good at reacting quickly.] Line! [A borderline sprang up between him and the ayakashi. He scanned the area, to check no one else who could be hurt by it was nearby. He knew he couldn't destroy it on his own, the best he could do was keep it back.]

Ayakashi attack- it all goes wrong

[That might have been the first Ayakashi Suzaku had come across but it was not the last. Throughout the day as he was searching for clues ayakashi turned up and each time Suzaku threw borderlines either as attacks or as walls to keep them away. It was nothing too concerning. Until it was.]

Line! [Suzaku's hand was a halberd as he drew a line between himself and the approaching ayakashi. Like he had many times before.

Except this time nothing happened. The ayakashi kept approching. No familliar blue energy sprang up between them. That had never happened before. Even in the living forrest where borderlines had been draining and difficult they had still manifested...]

Line!

[Nothing. The ayakashi jumped at him, Suzaku swung out an arm, batting it away. Blight bubbled up on his hand, spreading up to his wrist. He stumbled backwards. The ayakashi was coming at him again. He ran.

He had no idea what was going on, why his borderlines had stopped working but it was clear he was in trouble. He grabbed a stick off the floor, using it to try and bat the ayakashi away again when it came too close.]

Mysterious Trees

[futhark]

[ A tall figure in druid garb springs suddenly from between the trees, staff in his hand as he points at Suzaku ]

Got you--! [ Caster yells triumphantly as he notices whom he is pointing the weapon at. Wait. Didn't he saw this guy, or maybe someone similar, around Heavens? A god? A shinki? Who knows, they never talked. But he no longer looks like the mysterious presence he was just chasing. His face drops as he realizes his mistake. Or is it? ] -eh?

[ Butt-end of the staff hits the ground, as he relaxes his posture as he's no longer threatening random people ]

Man, you don't look so suspicious now. [ Or maybe that's the plan all along! ]

[swordofzero]

[Suzaku moved back slightly, hands coming up into a defensive stance, ready for a fight with the mysterious presence. He blinked when the strangely dressed man relaxed, stopped looking like he was going to attack Suzaku.

Suzaku didn't quite relax, though he lowered his arms a little.] What are you doing here? [He didn't look suspicious? He wasn't the one hiding in bushes.]

[futhark]

[ There is no denying Caster himself is a tad bit suspicious, but- perish that thought! ]

Most likely the same thing that you do! [ Which is true, if this guy is on Heaven's side. And if he isn't he'll learn that soon enough. ] Relax, I'm not going to beat you up.

[ Even if he looked like he would just few seconds ago. ]

[swordofzero]

[Suzaku frowned, that answer could go either way. This man was either on heavens side or not.

But Suzaku definitely didn't look like a cultist and the man wasn't attacking. So...

He came out of his fighting stance completely though he couldn't be called relaxed.] Did you see anybody else?

It all goes wrong

[toremainbehind]

[When the ayakashi comes close, there's a sudden barrage of fireballs that swerves up around Suzaku, forcing the ayakashi back from hurting the shinki more.

Izumo appears not too long after, a Red Aura flaring around him.]

[swordofzero]

[He moves fast, using the distraction of the fireballs to create distance between him and the ayakashi. He moved towards the man who appeared. His stick is still in hand and he's aware of where the ayakashi is.]

Thank you.

[His nod is brief, but polite.] Other powers are still working then? [That was a relief, even if Suzaku didn't have any powers himself.] Somethings stopping me from casting borderlines.

[There's another ayakashi coming from the left and he turns to face it, stick ready to bat it away.]

[toremainbehind]

[A side glance over.

A shinki then?]

Borderlines only work so long as you've been named by a god. If it's not working now, there's a chance your god is no longer here.

[And at the worst possible moment, too.]

[swordofzero]

[The ayakashi got closer and Suzaku turned to kick it, hitting it with the stick to try and slow it down before retreating once more to the other man. His words hit him hard... No longer here?] I am named.

[Lann had told him that when a god disappeared from the heavens the name disappeared off their shinki. It was easy to check, his name was on his hand.

Had been on his hand. His hands were clear except the blight that had spread when he had hit the ayakashi. No red kanji that had been there, pretty much as long as he could remember.] Oh...

Ayakashi goes wrong

[boneofsword]

[It looks like the ayakashi luck ran out - in one moment its trying to pounce Suzaku and in the next Archer lands straight on it, grinding it into mud. He leaps away, both swords ready. However, the ayakashi needs a moment to spew all of the mud.]

You okay?

[swordofzero]

[Suzaku was ready with his stick but before he could swing the ayakashi was knocked into the mud. Suzaku used the opportunity to get a good distance away, moving towards the man with the swords, stick still ready in his hands.] Yes, thanks to you.

[He kept his eye on the ayakashi, as it didn't look like it would be down for long.]

[boneofsword]

Hn. [Archer dismissed his thanks with a shrug, his eyes trained on ayakashi. Once it's ready for another attack he reacted fast, leaping forward to slash it horizontally with both swords, slicing it into a few pieces. It shrieked with pain, recoiling away. Archer's mouth curled into a smirk; looks like coating the blades with sacred water did the trick.]

Better don't rely solely on one weapon. [he gave Suzaku a good once over.] Let's get out of there, fast.

[swordofzero]

[That was effective. He nodded at the words, taking them as a lesson. He should have brought another weapon. He didn't have one. But he should have at least brought holy water.]

That's a good idea, it won't be down for long. [He begins to move, through the trees away from the ayakashi, only pausing long enough to make sure Archer is safely following.]

Ayakashi - It goes wrong

[replicatedform]

Line!

[A borderline do appear, except it's from someone else. The ayakashi crashes right into the borderline, causing it to hiss. Yamanbagiri's voice calls out from one side.

He's nearby, from behind some bushes.]

Suzaku, over here!

[swordofzero]

[The borderline takes him by surprise, it's not his. It also shines doubt on his theory that something in this forrest has affected borderlines. He looks around at the voice. Yamanbagiri. Suzaku rushes over to the bushes.]

Thank you! Yours are still working, then?

[replicatedform]

"Still working"?

[Yamanbagiri blinks for a moment, before he frowns.]

I take it something's up with yours. Let's talk on the way.

[His god isn't with him, so there's only so much he can do to an ayakashi.]

Mysterious Trees

[thevanguard]

[ There comes a startled yelp from the other side of the thick bush and a moment later, a head pokes through the foliage to the side of it. ]

Whoa, chill! I'm not a cultist!

[swordofzero]

Sorry! I thought... [That he was a cultist. He was in a bush after all.

It occurs to him that much like the forest rescue there was no real organisation on Heaven's part. People had received maps and then turned up here. No one knew who who else was here. There were no groups. It would be a wonder they found anything at all.] Are you alright?

[thevanguard]

[ Yata grumbles, but it's mostly directed at the thick undergrowth he'd been trying to wade through, finally stepping clear of the bush to emerge on the other side. ]

Yeah, I'm fine. There was more spell paper hidden in there. And what looked like pieces of someone's clothes. [ He holds up several scraps of very dark fabric.] Although I have no idea what they were doing in the bush. Maybe hiding from the rest of us.

Ayakashi - good version

[unlucky7]

[From the ayakashi's side of the barrier, two borderline attacks come slashing out of the tree at an angle. They stroke the ayakashi along its back, leaving cuts on its back. It won't kill it, but it'll certainly leave it injured enough to slow it down.

From the tree, Ginia leaps down, landing easily on her feet. She smiles at Suzaku and raises a hand, already pulling her phone out to type and play a message.]

Sorry, didn't see you already had it covered.

[swordofzero]

[Suzaku's eyes flick to the source of the new borderlines and he smiles when he sees Ginia jumping down from the trees.] No need to apologise.

[He didn't mind at all, the more of them that could slow down the ayakashi the better. That way they were less likely to catch up to anyone who was less capable of stopping them.

He kept his eyes on the bushes, looking for any more that might try and leap out.] We should keep moving though. [It was injured, not dead and his barrier wouldn't last forever.]

[unlucky7]

We can alternate barriers as we move.

[With the amount of ayakashi around, it's only a matter of time before they run into another one. No reason Suzaku should be the only one expending energy to keep them safe. She gestures in a forward direction, also keeping an eye on their surroundings as they move.]

Let me know if you need blessed water.

Ayakashi Good Version

[hellishrabbit]

[ Another border line appears, but cutting right through the middle of the ayakashi. It wriggles on the ground, it's front half stuck between two border lines while the other half kicks around blindly. ]

Have to make sure it doesn't go anywhere, right?

[ Kamui smiles as he walks out from behind some trees, umbrella closed and resting on his shoulder. With his sleeves rolled up, Suzaku may notice the black splotches that stretched from his right hand up to his elbow, although the look on his face may have betrayed any signs of discomfort. ]

[swordofzero]

That's a pretty smart idea. [He wouldn't have thought of it himself. He smiled at Kamui in greeting though he frowned at his arm.]

Are you injured? [He noted the closed umbrella, were the trees shade enough that the sun was no problem at the moment?]

[hellishrabbit]

Too bad it won't kill them.

[ It really was inconvenient. Kamui never felt satisfied leaving them as is. It didn't really feel like he beat them, and sadly he can only do so with a god. ]

Hm? No?

[ Kamui seems genuinely confused by his question. It's not as if he were bleeding. ]

Better keep walking, unless you've got your god stashed away somewhere.