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

[futhark]

[ Sweet-talk hah, he's just making friends--- no, not just that, obviously, but the concern for her is genuine. Also for the role she plays in the bigger picture. She seems to be unrelated, innocent, but there is a reason this sensei keeps her sheltered. But he figures Shun is better at asking questions, meanwhile, he can make soften his seriousness by being friendly. ]

He sounds a bit like a very strict parent- But keeping a young lady like you sheltered from the world-- ahh that doesn't sound like a good idea.

[ And can end badly ]

If you want I could drop by sometimes to keep you company. Also! My shinki makes great food- [ He takes out a neatly packed riceball with umeboshi, one of many Archer made for them for lunch, and offers it to her. ]

Here, check it out.

[ Yeah, he is trying to get information out of her, but this isn't an entirely calculated gesture. In fact, the riceball part is a total spontaneous idea that hit him. She might not be in danger, but she doesn't seem happy either. If they could both at the same offer her some more happiness and learn more on the cult, all the better. ]

[revolutionfalcon]

[This only keeps getting stranger. If the man isn't someone she particularly likes, but he's always been there, is he some kind of related being to her? What is she, for that matter? They still haven't gotten that far yet.]

I agree it doesn't sound like a good idea. Is he the same kind of being as you? You're obviously not human.

[He says it as point of fact, not in an offensive or pointed manner. Her obvious relationship with this forest means that whatever she is, it's probably not mortal.

He'll watch how she reacts to Caster's offer of food and companionship, in any case. It might be useful to have a link to her in future.]

[fleetforestsprite]

[She looks briefly bewildered, then smiles, reaching out to take the riceball and turn it over in her hands.]

How do you eat it?

[It's too big just to eat in one bite....]

I'm a god, but Sensei isn't. I think he's human.

[futhark]

You hold it by the part with seaweed and just- bite into it until it's gone. [ He gestures eating an invisible rice ball, and thank god he does. At least he can't react to the revelation.

So, she's probably the rogue god the Heaven's mentioned, the one not recognized by official bureaucracy. But she doesn't look like a power-hungry enemy, but like a lost, lonely kid. Geez, this sucks. ]

So- you don't even have a shinki? [ Isn't that dangerous? ]

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun's only reaction to the god revelation is slight blink of surprise - he manages to stifle the immediate suspicion that follows. A god who doesn't know of the Heavens, huh...

Still, there's no reason to antagonise her yet. Not until she makes her hand more obvious.]

What's your name, then? [He's genuinely curious to know. Many of the gods here he's at least heard of before, so perhaps it might be a familiar name to work with.] And is there a reason you only think he's human, instead of knowing?

[Usually he'd consider it obvious, but then, she might not have enough exposure to them to know.]

[fleetforestsprite]

[She takes a giant bite of the onigiri, and is occupied with chewing for several seconds before she can answer their questions again. The food, though, does seem to be putting her in a much better mood.]

I'm not supposed to have shinki yet. After it's safe, I can.

[Another big bite, another several seconds of chewing, and then she glances to Shun.]

I'm Votelli. Sensei's probably a human, but he can see me, and most humans don't notice me.

[futhark]

[ Safe, huh? An interesting comment. But he might as well leave that question to Shun. ]

There are some humans that can see gods just fine. Rare as they are, it happens. [ Maybe they're too close to death, but that's probably better to not mention ]

My name is Cú Chulainn. [ If they're on the introductions time, it would be rude to hide own name at this point. He points at Shun and starts introducing him ] And that guy is-

[ Feel free to interrupt, otherwise, he is going to use the "Nekhbet" title ]

[revolutionfalcon]

[That's...unusual, though Shun's met humans before who can do it. That vice-principal, for one, who'd tainted himself with a ritual and ended up able to perceive the Far Shore. The question is what her "Sensei" might have done to bring that down on himself.

He sets it aside for now in favour of interrupting Caster's attempt to introduce him with a pointed sidelong glare.] --Kurosaki. And what do you mean by "after it's safe"?

[He definitely has a good guess, considering the Heavens' warning about a god unknown to the Heavens, but he'd like to hear what information she's been fed about it.]

[fleetforestsprite]

Sensei just said he'd tell me when it was safe.

[She wrinkles her nose a little.]

There are other humans that can see gods too? Really?

[futhark]

If you bother them long enough wouldn't just any human notice us? [ He might have less problem with this whole "keeping their attention focused" just by the virtue of being talkative though ] But sure, they forget about us right after. Just sometimes someone with better memory shows up.

[ Like that lady, he and Archer worked for. He has no idea where Archer found her, but it was nice to actually stay on the part-timer list- until stuff happened and he didn't show up for few weeks. She forgot totally about him by then. ]

But among those, your sensei sounds pretty unique.

[ If he acts as her guardian that must make him pretty aware of all the Far Shorers ]

[revolutionfalcon]

[So it definitely sounds like "sensei" knows a lot more about what's going on with the Heavens than she does. Shun notes that, though it also sounds like she's been given very little actual information on his person, what he is and what he knows.]

Humans who've crossed into the affairs of the Far Shore seem to be able to do it, judging by some of the people I've talked to. So maybe he already knew about gods somehow.

[The last person he met who was an example gained the ability through summoning a demon, but he has a suspicion whoever this is has a hell of a lot more idea of what he's doing than that vice-principal had.]

[fleetforestsprite]

Really? They will? I'm supposed to stay out of sight, so I didn't know... [She wrinkles her nose.] They never noticed me even when I didn't hide that well, so I just thought most of them couldn't.

He knows more than me, so he definitely knew before he met me.

[futhark]

[ How long they knew each other exactly would be another question. But this starts to sound too much like an investigation again. He glances at Kurosaki, with a small nod of hod that points at the girl. Kind of hard to communicate in this way, but oh well. Caster wants to encourage him to keep asking questions, while he himself tries to keep the atmosphere light and not threatening ]

So how did you like it? The rice ball.

[revolutionfalcon]

Usually you need to actually draw their attention to make them notice, but they will once you do. [They don't seem to respond the same way even to Far Shore residents just being blatantly obvious.

Caster's gesture is difficult to read, but Shun figures it's meant to be along the lines of "keep doing what you're doing". Which isn't something he needs to be told, so he does so regardless.]

How is it you met, anyway? Do you remember? Since you said he's always been there.

[fleetforestsprite]

[Reminded, she reddens, and wipes a stray rice grain off the corner of her mouth.]

It was good. Um, thanks.

The first time I remember meeting him is the first thing I remember. He was telling me about being a god, so that's how I know.

[futhark]

[ Why is she here? Is she like them? But the lack of knowledge would suggest that- she died. She died, reincarnated and forgot about everything. ]

Have you ever tried to leave the forest on your own? Or did he said it's dangerous?

[ A beat ]

Why is it dangerous?

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun's curious about that himself, though it seems like Caster's stepped forward with a question this time, so he just nods slightly in agreement.]

There's not many people around this area anyway, but there are other ways to travel than on foot to leave a place like this. [He keeps that intentionally vague. It's hard to tell from her behaviour so far whether she's familiar with teleportation.]

[fleetforestsprite]

I haven't always lived here, just for a long time. [She twines her fingers together, eyeing them.]

Sensei says that because I'm good with plants, I can stay safe here, but if I go out, someone from the Heavens might catch me.

[futhark]

[ It's subtle but the spell runs out of time. There is nothing flashy about it, no breaking of an invisible wall - would be cool if there was! - just as Votelli finishes speaking the sounds of the forest emerge again. Chirping of birds, wind if the leaves, it's no longer kept outside. ]

Good with plants, huh. Like this forest, does it listen to you?

[ He lets the question hang without really expecting an answer. Oops, he perhaps took too serious turn so he lightens his voice as he adds. ]

It is your dwelling, after all. Does it mean it will tell you if someone drops by and visit again sometime later?

[revolutionfalcon]

[The forest listening to Votelli in some way would certainly explain the resistance they faced trying to destroy the sigils, though Shun manages to keep his expression neutral for the moment. It's largely the fact of reminding himself that Votelli seems to have been severely misled that's preventing him from being less than civilised with her.]

There are a lot of forests around the place. You might not go as well in a city, but that's not really a reason to keep you out of the countryside when there's still plenty of plants there.

[He'll neglect to mention the additional fact that he's pretty sure the Heavens couldn't find a tail pinned to their own ass at this point.]

[fleetforestsprite]

It listens to me, but it doesn't talk to me. Trees don't talk. [She sounds as though this should be completely obvious, although a disinterested observer might point out that trees are not known for their listening skills, either.

Regardless, she crosses her arms, tilting her head and darting a glance at Caster.]

Do you want to know if you can sneak in without me knowing about it?

[futhark]

[ Caster laughs briefly. So suspicious. So on point..! Shh. ]

I knew a guy who supposedly could make them talk, that's why I asked!

[ The part that it listens to her is an interesting tidbit ]

[revolutionfalcon]

There wouldn't be much point sneaking in here once we've finished our investigation, anyway. [Shun shrugs slightly. There's only a tiny chance it would lead them to "sensei", and if he's been orchestrating this for so long then he's probably not stupid enough to let himself get caught out like that.]

[fleetforestsprite]

I don't know what you're really investigating. [She wrinkles her nose.]

Anyway, I'll probably find out before too long if you do come back. Who knows how to make trees talk?

[futhark]

A powerful druid, like my grandfather, could. [ Or so he claimed to. There is no Cathbad around to discuss whether it was just a joke, a metaphor, or he was just being an annoying old geezer. Caster bets on the last one ] But I guess with enough patience, anyone could.

[ Now that the spell of silence no longer protects them, they probably should be a lot more careful what they talk about here. He turns to Shun and asks]

Kurosaki, should I put it up once again?