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

[hellishrabbit]

Don't know where he is.

[ Kamui mostly went back for holy water. Other than that, he never spent time in the temple. ]

Haven't heard from him in a while, now that I think about it.

[sageprincess]

And that does not trouble you?

[Zelda doesn't bother to mask her befuddlement at his lackadaisical attitude.]

I know it is dangerous for a god to be without a shinki in a ayakashi infested area. I would have thought the reverse to be true as well.

[She knows it is, really. The blight on his hands is proof enough of that.]

[hellishrabbit]

Kamui thought about it for a moment before coming to a conclusion, seemingly surprised but the revelation. ]

Hm, not really.

[ He felt no deep attachment to his god. Was he supposed to? Then why didn't he? ]

Mm, but I'm fine. You, on the other hand,looked like were in more trouble and you have your shinki with you.

[sageprincess]

[That is... troubling, to say the least, but it's certainly not Zelda's place to be the arbiter of how other gods and shinki interact. Her hesitation shows in the purse of her lips, but she otherwise allows the topic of conversation to shift.]

Yes, and again, I must thank you for the assistance. I had not expected to encounter such a large ayakashi in a place so heavily forested.

[You would think the trees would make it harder for them to get around, but no. That said, Zelda rummages around in her bag for a moment before producing a bottle of water and holding it out for Kamui to take.]

Please, use this to heal the blight you took in rescuing me as a token of my gratitude.

[hellishrabbit]

[ Kamui looks at the bottle in amusement, taking it and popping the cap open then pouring it over her head till the water ran over any visible marks on her body. ]

Looks to me like you need it more.

[ He closes the cap, tossing it back at her. There should still be some left in the container.

[sageprincess]

[!!! SHE WAS TRYING TO BE NICE AND NOW SHE'S COLD AND WET AND INDIGNANT. ]

What was that for!

[She wipes at her face as she yells, trying to shake the water off before it soaks in too much, though without a towel or anything it's something of a fruitless endeavor. Ugh.]

[hellishrabbit]

[ Is that what it was like when you poured water over a cat? How amusing. ]

What else is holy water for?

[ He'll toss his cloak over her before he starts to walk away, cracking the knuckles of his blackened hands. He can hear something else moving not too far from then. Something big. Which meant something fun. ]

Try not to get eaten.

[sageprincess]

[Zelda huffs angrily, because yes this is what it's like when you pour water on a cat, but doesn't make any move to stop him as she pulls his cloak down off of her face. Maybe she would if he wasn't such a troll but nope! She's blowing this popsicle stand and she's taking his cloak with her.

She storms off in the opposite direction. Have fun with your fight, Kamui.]