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

[sassywelshcatgirl]

[He'll see her when she's actually being casual someday, maybe, and instantly recognize the difference. Her voice might be light and easy, but her muscles are whipcord-tense and she's straining her senses trying to pick out what's what.] Yeah, fire away if you would.

[replicatedform]

[He puts the papers he picked up into a small bag he have.]

There's the burning fireflies and hypnotising people, trees that can fight...

[Speaking of fighting trees, Yamanbagiri looks around at the trees in this area. He could get straight into it. But he could also draw it out and hope to tempt that presence into exposing themselves.]

And strong spell sigils that can only be damaged by fire and holy water.

[sassywelshcatgirl]

[Just like she's trying, but -- it doesn't seem to be working so far, to the point that she's contemplating the direct approach herself. Patience isn't necessarily her strong suit... but then again, chase it, fail, and she might not notice the next time it creeps up.]

Well. Here's hoping none of that stuff shows up here. But this is the Near Shore, can that stuff even show up here?

[replicatedform]

I'm not sure... But if we can be here, why not?

[That's... slightly stretching it. But by the time he's saying that, he can feel himself starting to get impatient. His hand's resting atop of his sword, seemingly casual. If it's not for how he looks like he's looking around.]

I guess it's probably going to be annoyingly strong or strange. [He suspect it's pretty close to that.]

[sassywelshcatgirl]

[Right now she's really feeling like she ought to have a weapon. Doesn't know why, just that this seems like the sort of situation where she'd be most comfortable getting ready to fight.]

Seems to describe pretty much everyone I've met so far...

[replicatedform]

As in shinkis and gods?

[Maybe they should go for the direct approach. He's growing impatient at pretending he's not on his guard. He looks over at her.]

Let's check another spot. Maybe we can find more clues somewhere else.

[sassywelshcatgirl]

Yeah. Good idea.

[They're on the same page here -- so the second she agrees, Nia springs sideways, all but diving into the forest to try to catch or flush out whatever's itching at her senses. Maybe not the best idea, but fortune favors the bold, right?]

[But she doesn't get far -- because the sight of fresh growth brings her screeching to a halt.] What -- what's this?

[replicatedform]

[She's quick on her feet. Yamanbagiri quickly follow after her. By this point, he's gotten a little more used to traversing on these grounds.

When she stops, his curiosity grows.]

What is it?

[Once he catches up to her, he slows down and see the new growths. He blinks and looks around, before he cautiously crouches down to check.]

They're fresh... [Isn't it winter right now??]

[sassywelshcatgirl]

[She drops down to a crouch too, one hand splayed on the ground as she leans in close to get a good look at not just the vines, but the trap they covered.]

Real fresh, and this thing they're all over sure doesn't look like it's been here long. If I had to guess, someone's running around her with plant powers.

[replicatedform]

(OOC: Sorry for late. It's fine to drop, or we can wrap it up somehow.)

[He reaches out carefully, hesitating at first, before he carefully tap the vines. No reaction, so far. And then he looks at the trap as well.]

If they're that fresh, it looks like they're blocking this thing underneath. Either to protect it, or others from it.

[If it's always here, it would be old, regardless of its purpose.]

I wonder if it's safe to cut a piece of it? [He does have a sword on hand.]

[sassywelshcatgirl]

Sure, why not? They're not moving now. [She's betting whoever's responsible needs to do it on purpose and actively. No weird vine traps.]

[replicatedform]

[He unsheathe his sword and carefully cut off a piece. No reactions, so far.

... He should consider carrying a knife around. After he's done, he slowly stands up and put the cut piece of the vine away.]

I'm done. Is there anything else we can do here? Since I think we should head back.

[The longer they stay, the more he wonder if it'll stay "safe". Even if nothing turns up.]

[sassywelshcatgirl]

Yeah, no sign of anything but this so far. And that's a warning sign if anything is. Not too much of a step from wrapping up a trap to wrapping up a person.

[Not that she's too worried, but... better part of valor and all, right?]