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

[priforprince]

[ Walk(?) in the Woods ]

[ This sure looks like it's going to involve mud. So Hibiki dispatches her spygoats first...which goes about as well as rolling small wheels over wet leaves and sticky mud can go. What's more, some of them get wet. Their GPriS location systems are completely fried. Normally, Hibiki would abandon them, but she promised Amaterasu she'd investigate and her supplier forgot her isn't taking her calls. She needs all hooves on deck.

Thus it is that one may find Shikyoin Hibiki riding her horse through the underbrush in person, using a long-handled grabber to fetch trapped goat toys out of the mire with much squelching and glowering. If she could only unlock the secrets of creating spy butterflies in this puniverse, these inconveniences would vanish....

Maxie balks at an exceptionally large puddle with a goat stuck in the middle. ] What are you doing? Forward!

[ Maxie is so confused. Doesn't he usually get in trouble if he does things that get him dirty? ]



Aren't you listening?! Enter it!

[ A Prince with a grabber is yelling at a purple horse, who is shying at a large but shallow puddle. It is a noble scene. ]

[ Mysterious Trees ]



The ominous aura is stronger here.

[ HIBIKI MAYBE DON'T SNEAK UP ON PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE INVESTIGATING CREEPY CULT STUFF

PARTICULARLY NOT ON HORSEBACK, MAKING DIRE PRONOUNCEMENTS

But yeah, whatever you were looking at, Hibiki and Maxie suddenly are too. And they are Right. Behind. You.

Enjoy. ]

[[ ooc: let me know if you want an NPC! limited to the first few taggers so as not to swamp ha ha the mods ]]

[ Autumn Leaf Viewing ]

[ Hibiki wandered past this party intending to heckle it and then be on her way. But she hadn't reckoned on the chrysanthemums being quite so beautiful, or their scent so soothing.

She's plucked a gold flower for her jacket buttonhole, but is otherwise having tea on a small round red carpet with gold fringe. There's a few chairs in addition to hers, and a small tea table with a pot for refills and some spare cups. Those are, admittedly, for looks - but the fact remains, teatime has room for guests. ]



A Central District dyed with the true colors of autumn. This is the only place for me.

[ She looks.....happy. So happy, the whole place has gone soft and glowy and pastel around her...and if you get too close, you might, too. ]

leaf viewing

[alchemists]

The change of colors is quite pretty.

[ Elfnein was sitting in one of the extra chairs, of course it was more of a I'm going to sit here without an invite. She hadn't gotten to talk with Hibiki much after what happened with the forest so now would be a good time to chat. ]

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki doesn't mind. What a delight it is, to sit in tranquility and enjoy the company of talented people! ]

Would that the leaves could linger on the trees forever...

[ She stares out wistfully at them. ]

Fleeting pleasures burn like flickering candlelight.

[alchemists]

Even when the leaves completely fall there's the green blooms of spring to look forward to.

[ Trying to keep up with Hibiki's flowery speech and failing hard. ]

walk in the woods

[redotiertwo]

[Davesprite can hear someone yelling at...something from a good distance away, and while ordinarily he might be inclined to help, it doesn't take him all that long to identify the voice. Granted, the extent of it is basically that it's that girl who keeps posting about the idol slapfight that seemingly no longer really exists, but still, he's always gotten the impression from that that she could use a good trolling instead.

Slipping behind a tree, Davesprite only watches the situation for about a moment before swiping his hand in a halberd shape.

There is now a borderline moving fast towards Maxie's rear end, and nothing to be seen in the direction it came from...]

[priforprince]

...What?

[ Hibiki's genius instincts are good enough that she looks over her shoulder before the borderline hits, but her gag character status dictates that this happens too late for the sudden ill omen to be of any use. The borderline smacks into Maxie's behind, and he rears up in surprise and fright. Hibiki has to grab tightly to the reins at the last minute.

Spooked out of nowhere?! How??

And why must his hooves come down with such force into the mud?!?! ]

[redotiertwo]

[That is some sweet mud action that is exactly what Davesprite was angling for here. He could absolutely fuck with her more and it's kind of tempting to, but ultimately he decides to casually sidle by in mid-air, and also pointedly out of mud-splatter range.]

Gotta watch those horses, I hear carrying a hundred pounds of ego makes them more prone to spook. [Then again, the real question is if the horse spooks at the sight of some weird bird-ghost thing floating through the air nearby.]

mysterious trees

[swordofzero]

[Suzaku turned at the voice, surprised to see a horse right behind him. He stepped backwards quickly, moving into a fighting position. Ready to fight this mysterious presence that has been watching him.

But it wasn't a cultist. It was Miss Shikyoin. On a horse. The horse was purple, of course... Suzaku nodded at her politely.] It is, I keep feeling as if someone is watching me. [Someone that is not her and her horse.]

did you want to run into an npc?

[priforprince]

It seems intelligence from the Far Shore isn't always faulty.

[ To wit: the old gods, and especially the Little Shining Princess, are incomparably wonderful. Their middle management is an utter disgrace and Hibiki has taken it upon herself to look into those parts of their duties which interest her, and which she can execute according to her own style.

As one does.

She steers Maxie around Suzaku, keeping his pace slow as they advance. ] Only ill effects could come from such unsightly desolation.

[ There's still, like, trees here, Hibiki. You just don't like the feeling in the air, or the color of the light. But okay. ]

We can do yes!

[swordofzero]

It seems not. [They were definitely in the right place, that was for sure. He followed her looking around, pausing to study a piece of paper still attached to a tree. Just like the ones from before it was not in a language he could read.]

It is unerving in here.

[What was that? He turned around as he thought he saw something. Again.

Walk in the Woods

[seasung]

[These little goats are really cute, aren't they? Kanata is more of a fish person, but still. He can't stop himself from picking up a few of the adorable toys as he spots them along his clue-hunting journey through the forest. They're suspects now, after all. He must hold them for 'questioning'!]

Do you eat enough fish, Mr. Goat? Are you wet because you enjoy playing in puddles after the rain, too? Oh, if all of that is true, then there is 'no way' you could be the culprit~. Only 'good children' eat their fish and enjoy playing in rain puddles. So sorry for the confusion. I am still going to hold on to you though. Ufufu.

[When he stumbles upon Hibiki, who also appears to be gathering goats (or at least trying to do so), he just has to stop and say 'hi'.]

Hello, Miss Genius~♪ Hello, horse~♪ The two of you are 'gathering' goats as well?

[priforprince]

..I dispatched them.

[ Glad for the distraction, Maxie puffs air out through his nostrils: hello. Hibiki, however, has remained focused on trying to get the horse into the puddle. ] As conditions are less than ideal, regrouping has become...

[ wait, did he say "as well"?

Hibiki looks over. And notices Kanata's mad goat swag. ]

You're why my search has been unsuccessful?!

[seasung]

[Kanata tilts his head, looking over the scene before him.]

Hibiki... Is that really the case? Are you sure the reason isn't because you can not get your 'horse' to 'trot' through a rain puddle?

[All the same, since Hibiki has been looking for these little ones, he has no problem handing them over. Come on now, goat friends. Back to your god you go~]

Mysterious Trees

[boneofsword]

You're stating the obvious.

[Archer comments dryly from his perch on the lower branches of the tree. His outfit is suspiciously devoid of any mud stains, though.]

Whoever did this is a skilled mage, making sure that the effects linger.

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki snorts. ] How long this has been in effect is immaterial. Their capture at my hands is a matter of time.

[ If only your attitude were as pristine as everything else about you. She still considers that a terrible waste. ]

[boneofsword]

Is that so? Surely you must have a lot of leads.

[Archer jumps down, his red overcoat billowing as he gracefully lands in the mud. Still no stains, and the metal bits on his boots are surprisingly shiny.]

Autumn Leaf Viewing

[redmare]

[ Chinatsu knew when she owed someone, and she couldn't just let that slide. The moment she spotted Hibiki, she knew what to do. She did help in searching for her god, and aided her even if she claimed to not want anything to do with Chinatsu. All Chinatsu had to do was walk over, thank her, and go. Say it nicely, maybe smile. That's all. Nice and pleasant.

Stalking over, she plops herself down on the chair, crossing her legs arrogantly and not really acknowledging Hibiki as she starts to pour herself a cup. ]

So this type of thing isn't beneath you, huh?

[ Nailed it. ]

[priforprince]

[ Chinatsu! Hibiki smiles. Truly, only good things happen in a beautiful, calm environment, to beautiful, calm minds. ] On occasions of sufficient beauty, of course.

[ She gestures to her tea party. Chinatsu has already understood, but... ] Do help yourself.

[redmare]

...............[ Chinatsu makes a faces as she glances down at the tea cup, slowly placing it back onto the table. ]

What's in this?

[ It's been far too long since Hibiki spoke that way too her. ]

Walk in the woods

[smilingbullet]

[ You know what? He's not even surprised.

But he's totally unimpressed. ]

What are you doing?

[priforprince]

Reconnaissance.

[ Pronounced in a Prench way. Because she can.

Maxie, puddle. Now. ]

[smilingbullet]

[ Mhm, D2 doesn't really speak Prench. French on the other hand.. But that's neither here nor there. ]

On horseback? In a forest? Where we're looking for potentially small details?

Bring Sensible Shoes

[disciprined]

[One, two, pri, pri. One, two, pri, pri.

[Mirei has a lot to think about.

[She is not sure she feels comfortable here: it all looks a little too familiar for that. She had, on receiving that ridiculous invitation, half a mind not to show up at all - but that would have been to neglect her duties, and she cannot go the rest of her life shying away from wooded areas. Very well, then, here she is: ponytailed, bespectacled and in absolutely no mood to be trifled with - or, for that matter, to be bothered at all. She has, after all, a lot to think about, and a walk in the forest seems a perfect time to make a start on it. If nothing else, it should serve to clear her head.

[She is not sure, either, how she should feel on running across a mud puddle with a toy goat stuck dead center, the puniverse's most noble steed, and Shikyoin-san. Or Acting Principal Shikyoin. Or Top Idol Hibiki Shikyoin. Top Idol Hibiki Shikyoin of CelePara.

[She really does have a lot to think about.]

Shikyoin-san?

[But there's a time and a place for that. Hibiki isn't the only one who can hold back her cards until she sees fit.]

You may have to retrieve it yourself.

[priforprince]

That won't be necessary.

[ She dragged a horse into a forest so she wouldn't have to walk in puddles herself. So. The horse is going to walk in the puddle. In a moment. Behold!

Maxie whips his head from side to side, looking for all the world like a petulant toddler saying "NO!". ]

[disciprined]

Are you certain?

[Mirei has her doubts, acting Principal.

[Maybe she is not an expert on horses, but one hardly has to be to understand exactly what this one is trying to communicate. Perhaps Hibiki would have done better to find a horse that was not... well, so much like her.]

I don't think he's any keener than you are.