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

[yasei]

Yes Miss, understood.

[ (She's amazing.)

He lets himself focus on his fingers, working on a feeling that isn't yet completely natural to him. Drawing Lines isn't the same as drawing a bow. ]

Line, [ he says and it's fairly solid, he thinks. Better aimed than some he's thrown today. ]

[darkestbefore]

[ All of this is quite different than drawing a bow, unfortunately. And never nearly as reliable, it seems.

But between the two of them they manage it, and Yona smiles at the sight of a steady Borderline shooting up in front of both of them, keeping them safe.

A moment later, a spear of ice pierces through the ayakashi pursuing Obi and flings it backwards, piercing it against a tree. It's not destroyed, but as she doesn't have one of her own shinki at hand right now, at least it's trapped the spirit.

She looks relieved and lowers her hand, glancing back at Obi with a concerned smile. ]

Thank you. Are you alright?

[yasei]

[ Obi was going to say something but that was too awesome, he's awestruck for a moment. Man, this girl is so cool.

He rubs at his neck and smiles at her cheerfully. ]

Yeah, I'm just fine, what about you Miss? Oh, and we should probably relocate.

[darkestbefore]

[ She gives him a rueful smile as she straightens, keeping a wary eye on the ayakashi a moment to make sure it remained trapped for a while longer. She's mostly oblivious to Obi being awestruck because that wouldn't occur to her to realize.

Instead, she gives him a solemn nod and reaches out to squeeze his arm. ]

A good plan. I'm not sure how long that will last to keep it pinned, and I can't do more than that at the moment. If I can locate one of my shinki, I can probably finish it off. [ Considering he'd been running instead of fighting, she's going to assume his god isn't too close either. ]

[yasei]

Mm.

[ Obi would offer her to name him but right now he's sort of avoiding his one god and though Yona would be to prefer, maybe, he needs to figure out how to deal with his brand new one he was named by today. ]

I heard something about Gods being able to sense their shinki, is that true?

[darkestbefore]

[ She hesitates, because talking about the connections god and shinki share can sometimes be... delicate, at best. But after a moment, she nods. Gesturing for him to follow her, she starts moving them away from the pinned ayakashi, a worried frown on her face. ]

Yes, in a way. It's not exactly a location - I can feel my shinki now, but all I know is that they're nearby, not where they are. It's more a.... hmm. I can pick up vaguely what they feel at times, enough to know if they are in danger or upset, or if something has been troubling them for a while.

[yasei]

[ Is that such a bad thing to tell a shinki? Are gods forbidden from talking about how much they can sense their shinki? Because that, would not sit right with him. ]

Oh. I see, that's convenient and inconvenient at the same time. Do you only feel troubling emotions? Do you feel their emotions a lot?

[darkestbefore]

[ Yona's still uncertain just how much is forbidden and how much just might be dangerous to reveal, so she might skirt more cautiously than normal.

She gives him a warm smile at that as they move through the thick undergrowth. ]

No, not just troubling ones. Usually whatever our shinki feel very strongly reflects back to us, so it could be any number of things.

[yasei]

[ He'd figured that as long as it wasn't anything regarding the shinki's past, so mainly their death.. ]

So happy stuff too, if your shinki's really happy. That sounds nice at least.

[ He almost asks something indecent. Almost. He manages not to, because somehow it feels inappropriate to ask Yona indecent questions. He'll have to ask another god about that sort of stuff. ]

[darkestbefore]

[ Nanako will tell you that yes, yes, that, too.

Yona just gives him a crooked smile. ]

It is. it can be very strange, but I don't think it's a bad thing.

How are things going with your god, Obi?

[yasei]

[ Obi turns a slanted smile at her. ]

I can imagine it being really strange.

[ But his god, huh. ]

I am currently dodging responsibility.

[ As in, he's vehemently avoiding running into his brand new god arranged for him by the heavens to such an extent that he's been nameless until just half an hour ago or something. ]

[darkestbefore]

[ She blinks in surprise at this. ]

You... are? Is everything okay, Obi?

[yasei]

Everything's just fine, but this whole, suddenly being assigned a new god [ though it's not "suddenly" since it's been a while since Master Ronald disappeared and he was assigned to Mistress Celestia; it's only new that he's named. ] and all that is a little weird is all.

[darkestbefore]

[ A small frown flits across her lips and a moment later, she reaches out to give his arm a light squeeze. ]

It can be disorienting, I know. And no doubt a little frightening, especially if you didn't know the god beforehand. If there's anything I can do to help, Obi, please don't be afraid to ask it. Although I hope you got a god you'll be able to have a good partnership with. They're very fortunate to have you as a shinki.

[yasei]

That's very generous of you, Miss Yona.

[ ....he does not really know how to react to that last sentence, so he's going to just ignore it. ]

It is pretty disorienting, but at least she seems to be a decent enough person.

[ But so fancy. She is actual royalty introducing herself as royalty and stuff. And Master Ronald had been far from either of those. ]

[darkestbefore]

I'm glad. [ She looks a little relieved at that. He's one of the shinki outside of her own that she thinks very highly of, so she hopes that his new partnership will work well for him. ] Either way, you are still welcome at my temple any time you like, Obi. Even if it is only to lurk in the orchard.

[ Her smile is warm and teasing at that as she casts him a sideways glance. ]

[yasei]

Mmm.

[ He supposes that he's glad too. He just needs to get used to her.

She realizes that he would do that even without the invitation? He already does the lurk in the orchard bit tbh, it's a good napping place. ]

Thanks, Miss! Then you might spot me lurking once in a while!

[ Probably not every time he's there, though. ]