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

[priforprince]

...You're definitely a free spirit.

[ IS SHE GOING TO HAVE TO USE THE GRABBER FOR GRABBING

WHY WOULD ANYONE FORCE HER TO SUCH STRAITS

The goat whirs in response to being poked. And Hibiki twitches as if she's the one being prodded. ]

[yasei]

Oh, I'm very free.

[ He's so free he currently doesn't have a god. ]

You're not, Miss?

[priforprince]

You're interfering with divine responsibility!

[ FINE! She shall attempt to GRABBER THIS GOAT! ]

[yasei]

[ NOPE she shall not succeed. ]

This is divine responsibility?

[priforprince]

[ SHE FAILED?! ]

I have a duty to Amaterasu herself. Crossing me means crossing Heaven.

[ so, she's trying to make a cute girl smile

so impressive ]

[yasei]

[ She failed.

But her intentions of making a little girl smile is not something he dislikes. ]

It doesn't really though, you're just another new god you know? I've heard that most old ones don't really care about the new guys being crossed.

[priforprince]

Is that really a risk you're willing to take?

[ control of this argument

if she pretends she still has it, maybe her wish will come true ]

[yasei]

[ Most everybody loses control over arguments with Obi at some point or other, at least for a while. ]

Apparently it is.

[priforprince]

Your god is negligent!

[ Does no one treat shinki any respect these days?! For that matter, do no gods respect more powerful gods, either?!

This whole hierarchy is out of whack!! ]

[yasei]

Sure is~

[ He isn't even named by her yet, how's that for negligent? (But that's him running away from responsibility.) ]

[priforprince]

I WILL NOT BE TREATED IN SUCH A LACKADAISICAL MANNER!

[ Goat grabber attempt again, though she's getting fed up with this. It's one goat, in the long run. And as soon as it ends up on a flat, smooth surface, she will be able to summon it back to herself.

Still. There is the principle of the thing, for now.

Maxie gives Obi a long-suffering look. Please give her the goat. He is very tired. ]

[yasei]

[ Anything for you, Maxie. But not really. But more for him than for her. ]

Catch, Miss.

[ He tosses up the goat at her.

At the same time, he grabs the grabber, and twists, intending to twist it out of her hand. He wants a closer look. ]

[priforprince]

Hwha?!

[ Hibiki is left juggling a goat. It does land in her hand after some hot-potato back and forth, though. What's more, it lands perfectly, base-side-down.

Hibiki smirks, and sparkles, and then realizes.

Where's her grabber? ]

[yasei]

[ Her grabber is in Obi's hands, turned over and back and forth to see how it works. It doesn't seem as complicated as the goat. ]

Ooooh~ I see, I see.

[priforprince]

[ The grabber is the only easy-to-understand thing about this whole prituation.

Hibiki notes where it's gone and shoves the goat into her saddlebag full of goats before any further misfortune can befall it. ] I'm ready whenever you're done manhandling my property.

[yasei]

You got some interesting stuff with you Miss, so of course I'd want to have a look.

[ So he's not done no. ]

[priforprince]

It's simple mechanics.

[ ...Though. Shinki. And different puniverses. She supposes it's possible.

Goodness. If he were curious, all he'd had to do was ask........No need for such disrespect. ]

[yasei]

So you say but it's not all that simple.

[ Technology is not at all as advanced, where he's from. Not that he remembers it, but there are so many strange things in this afterlife. ]

[priforprince]

Perhaps not to you.

[ She's. Trying not to lose it again, here. Ego helps.

Maxie starts shifting in place, though. His hooves stamp the mud. He doesn't like standing still. ]

[yasei]

So does that mean that you know exactly how mechanics works?

[ "Mechanics", an all-encompassing word. ]

Sorry to be a distraction, Mister Horse.

[ Obi likes animals. More than he likes people. ]

[priforprince]

[ Snuffle, says Maxie. He is used to what he wants not mattering.

For example, Hibiki is still talking. ] Can you doubt it?

[ Here is that imperious hand again. Give give. ] Here.

[yasei]

Would I be asking if I wasn't doubting?

[ There there horsie. Would it be alright with Maxie if Obi reached out a hand to let him sniff it so he can pet him? ]

[priforprince]

--He doesn't listen to anyone but me.

[ Says Hibiki, distracted from her quest to give warning. But then Maxie goes and makes a (bigger) liar out of her by going very still, sensing a soul who understands and knows how to treat animals. Sniffs are fine. So are pets.

He is a really well-kept horse, for all Hibiki's....Hibiki-ness. ]

Wha?!

[yasei]

[ this is what betrayal looks like

Obi entirely ignores Hibiki in favour of familiarizing himself with the horse, giving pets and compliments and mixing in some random chatter. ]

[priforprince]

[ Maxie replies with some affectionate chuffling. He doesn't get to meet many other horses (or humans who are good with horses) alone in Hibiki's stable, so this is a good opportunity to make a friend.

....Hibiki, atop him, casts about for a way to not look like a fool. ] Well. He's also gracious.