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

[fleetforestsprite]

I'm not allowed to have shinki till I'm older, anyway.

[She leans back against the nearest tree trunk, and with a soft series of pop! noises, fresh sprouts burst from its gray bark around her shoulders.]

[unlucky7]

How about other company? Are you allowed to leave and go other places? Or have people visit?

[Ginia presses slightly as she watches the tree sprout new greenery. She looks like a child, but what is age and time really to gods and the like? It's not like there aren't young gods around the Far Shore.]

[sassywelshcatgirl]

Seems a little unfair to me. Gods and shinki are supposed to work together, right? [Ginia, at least, ought to know just how much Nia's pushing aside all her true thoughts at the system and nature of gods and shinki in her efforts to get answers.]

[fleetforestsprite]

I guess so. [She shrugs at Nia, and adds:] But I'm not supposed to have other company, or talk to anybody.

Or leave.

[unlucky7]

[No company, no talking to others, not being able to leave? That's not how anyone should live. Votelli's words don't endear Ginia toward whoever is giving her orders, but saying anything along those lines could potentially scare her off.]

What happens when you do?

[sassywelshcatgirl]

I want to know, says who?! That's just -- [Nia says out loud what Ginia is only thinking, hands balled into fists and her scowl fierce.] You should be able to do what you want!

[fleetforestsprite]

Sensei says, it'd be dangerous. There are people who want to kill me, and him, too.

So if I'm not careful they'll find us.

[Her expression is ambivalent. She doesn't look like she entirely believes what she's saying, but there's fear lurking under the uncertainty, too.]

Anyway, when I do something wrong, he yells at me, and then sometimes he doesn't come back for a long time.

[unlucky7]

[She can't remember it, but there a long period of time where every single mistake Ginia made was punished. With words and violence, to the point where she lived in fear of being anything less than perfect. She can't remember it, but that fear still lives here, the unconscious bracing whenever she messes up.

But it's also gotten better, a little.]

When I make a mistake, my god and my exemplar don't yell at me and they don't leave me alone. They help me fix things and make sure I feel better. A lot of people do that here.

[Ginia stares at her phone as her message plays, quickly appending on more.]

I don't know who Sensei is, I don't know what he's like. I don't doubt he has his enemies. But leaving you alone doesn't keep you safe and living in fear and loneliness isn't a way to live.

There's a forest around my temple. You would be welcome there. My temple would keep you safe and give you company.

[sassywelshcatgirl]

More than that, it's rude. No, no -- it's downright cruel! Yelling at you, leaving you alone, not letting you do anything! [Nia is practically trembling with anger. What the hell is with all the abuse in this afterlife?!]

There's no way, no way, that guy has your best interests in mind. He's using you! You shouldn't let yourself be used, ever! You're a person too, same as any of the rest of us, and you should be treated like it!

[fleetforestsprite]

[Votelli stares at them, her shoulders hunching up a little as Nia shouts.]

I'm a god, not a person.

[Her shoulders slump back to their regular position, and she looks down.]

I don't know. He says they're my enemies, too. But I don't know who they are. What if someone finds out? [She looks up at Ginia.] What if they hurt you or your god? And you're not my shinki....

[unlucky7]

If Sensei wanted to keep you safe, wouldn't he tell you who the enemies are so you know who to watch out for?

[That they are possible enemies has crossed Ginia's mind. It's possible she's the rogue god Amaterasu warned against, but it's just as likely there's another god controlling her.

Ginia gives a small smile, sincere, but also with a slight glimmer of danger.]

Everyone at my temple loves a good fight and we watch out for each other. I promise, Votelli, if you were to visit our temple, we would defend you from anyone that tried to hurt you.

[sassywelshcatgirl]

[Nia folds her arms, doing her very best to keep from snarling at Votelli -- who is just repeating what she's been told, right? She doesn't deserve this anger.]

Gods are people. Shinki are people too. Anyone who's telling you you deserve less than someone else because of who or what you are doesn't have your best interests at heart. That goes for everyone, god or shinki or anything.

[fleetforestsprite]

... Is your temple here? Or in the Heavens?

[Votelli darts a nervous glance at Nia, not responding outright. She doesn't look sure of what she could say.]

[unlucky7]

The heavens.

[Ginia taps the corner of her phone against her chin.]

But he knows the forests of Ireland well too if you would rather stay in the Near Shore.

[sassywelshcatgirl]

[Nia, in turn, glances over at Ginia.] Hey, doesn't he have some down here too? I thought most gods at least had something in the Near Shore.

[unlucky7]

His shrines in Japan are a little more complicated. Cú Chulainn is an Irish deity so the majority of his shrines and worship are in Ireland.

[Especially the nicer ones in forests and wild areas. And a theme park apparently? Worship is a strange, strange thing.]

[sassywelshcatgirl]

Oh, right. Big world.

[There's a subconscious expectation of a much smaller one lurking in the depths of Nia's lost memories. Alrest was nothing but Titans, after all -- and fewer every year.]

[fleetforestsprite]

I can't go to another part of the world!

[She hesitates, bites her lower lip, and then adds, quietly:]

And I can't go to the Heavens. They'd catch me.

[unlucky7]

[Is it that she can't go to another part of the world or Sensei won't let her? That she can't go the Heavens also lends credence she's the rogue god they're supposed to look out for.]

What if we set up a shrine nearby for him? That way you can stay here, but we can visit and protect you too?

[sassywelshcatgirl]

Hey, hold up, how do I visit then? [That's fine in principle, but Nia's stuck with Dagwood, not Clu Clu Land over there.]

[fleetforestsprite]

Can't you visit without a shrine? He'll know something's wrong if there's a new shrine.

[She sounds more nervous now, and she glances over her shoulder into the bushes.]

[unlucky7]

[It was worth a shot at least.]

It'll take longer but we can always hike here like we did today. Maybe he can set up some way for you to contact us through magic? Something simple, like a signal. Or would Sensei notice that?

[She glances at Nia and smiles.]

We can give you a lift too.

[sassywelshcatgirl]

...Should we be getting more people involved in this? I mean, I'm sure your god's great and all -- [Nia tries, she really really tries, to keep sarcasm out of her voice] -- but the more people who show up here the more likely it is they get noticed and Votelli here gets in trouble for it.

[She turns back to Votelli, then.] Though I'm still saying you really ought to ditch that guy and find a better place, he sounds like real trash. And I bet you're not even telling us the bad stuff.

[fleetforestsprite]

I don't know if he'd notice.

[She hesitates, and then says, cautiously:]

If you want to come here and see me, maybe I could name one of you....

[unlucky7]

[For a brief, dangerous second, Ginia considers it. Risky, yes, but it's a possible in and a way to protect Votelli and learn who Sensei is, possibly more about the cult.

And then sense kicks back in. Votelli is an unknown individual and while Ginia doesn't mind the concept of nora, she's also not looking to get named by a stranger. Especially against the will of her god. Her expression falls and Ginia tries to maintain her smile but mostly looks troubled.]

I'm sorry, I would have to speak with Caster about that first.

[She already has a hunch what Nia's answer is.]