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

[unlucky7]

How long is that? How old are you?

[Youthful appearances are no indicator of age when it comes to gods, but if she's known a human for as long as it remembers, it's possible she's a new god.

Or recently reincarnated.]

[sassywelshcatgirl]

Hang on.

[Nia's thoughts go an entirely different direction, one she shouldn't blurt out but does anyway.]

Did you get stolen?!

[fleetforestsprite]

Um, about ten, I think--

[She stops, and blinks at Nia.]

What?

[unlucky7]

[Ginia glances at Nia because yes, that's a very good question. Ten. Quite young for a god.]

Has he always been your only caretaker? Have you had anyone else around? Other gods? Other humans besides Sensei?

[sassywelshcatgirl]

Yeah, look, I'm not trying to badmouth the guy -- [Thaaaat's a lie] -- but you just being out here, on your own, not properly part of any god business, no shinki, no nothing? And he's the only guy you remember? It sounds a hell of a lot like he wanted a god, and decided the best way to get one on his side was to pick up a young one and raise her himself!

[fleetforestsprite]

He talks about other humans sometimes, but none of them came here until the ones with the robes...

[She sounds dubious.]

But he's always taken care of me. It's not like he kidnapped me from somewhere else.

[unlucky7]

What's the first thing you remember about Sensei? Did you name you Votelli or is that a name you've always had?

[sassywelshcatgirl]

...And how long have you known you could do stuff with vines and all?

[fleetforestsprite]

He told me that was my name, and I knew it was right. The trees have always listened to me.

[Uncertainly, she scuffs one bare foot through the fallen leaves.]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia glances at the trees around them, remembering how easily the trees and vines had snared and walled up on the way in. She glances at the fresh sprouts growing on the tree by Votelli. She's powerful. She's young. It's a dangerous combination.]

That's very impressive. My first god could talk to flowers and hear what they were saying. She taught me a lot about flowers. What does Sensei think about your ability?

[sassywelshcatgirl]

Uh. Hold on. Now I wasn't there for that... but didn't we establish that power was what was causing a lot of trouble at that big thing?

[She almost wishes she HAD been there for that. Righteous indignation is a little harder to muster secondhand.]

[fleetforestsprite]

I said I was sorry already!

[The flare of defensive annoyance doesn't last long; Votelli darts a glance Ginia's way.]

He said it wasn't much of a power for a god, but you have a god who talks to flowers?

... Did you leave her because it wasn't a good power?

[unlucky7]

[Nia, don't be hostile. Ginia glances her way, brow furrowing a little and lips pressed tight. Her words aren't wrong, but starting a fight with Votelli is not the way to go.]

I left her because we had differing interests in what we wanted, but her ability had nothing to do with it. She taught me a lot about flowers and other plants while I was with her, and I would have continued to learn from her if she hadn't disappeared so quickly.

[It's perhaps the most honest she's been about Nona, but maybe it's easier to say a little more about the departed around those who never knew hew and maybe never will.]

My current god can control plants too, though differently from you. Everyone has their own power to be used in different ways. If Sensei doesn't recognize your power for what it is, he's a fool.

[sassywelshcatgirl]

I'm pretty sure he does. [Nia might be hostile, but it's not directed to anyone here.] Look, I'm not blaming you for the forest thing, it's all past history, but the way I heard it those vines of yours managed to cause trouble for a whole lot of people from the Far Shore. Right on the face of it that shows just how good your power is! I even saw a trap all covered in vines right here in the forest, that had to have been you too... Point is, you got results, lots of them. And if that Sensei guy asked you to do that, it's because he knew you would.

And moreover, you listen here to me. [For all that she looks young, Nia sounds much older in moments like this.] Anyone who tells you that your gift isn't good enough isn't worth listening to. Even just talking to flowers is an incredible gift! How much do flowers see and overhear? You could get all sorts of information like that! And yours, yours just can do all sorts of things! So don't put it down and don't let others put it down!

[fleetforestsprite]

I think it suits me.

[She clasps her hands behind her back, kicking a few of the dried leaves on the forest floor around.]

But it's not gonna change the world. It's just plants.

[unlucky7]

[Change the world. Huh. Usurp the old gods, instate a new order with gods that will listen. The stated goal of the cult all along, as far as her understanding goes. So. Who is Sensei and where the hell did they find a young god to manipulate?]

I think everyone changes the world in varying ways. Some on a broader scale, some on a smaller one. But sometimes the small changes turn into broader things, and broader changes are ultimately forgotten.

But what do you want, Votelli? Do you want to change the world?

[sassywelshcatgirl]

[Nia's doubling down on her 'stolen' theory.]

Yeah. Powers don't change the world. People change the world. It's all willpower and determination to succeed with what you've got...

[fleetforestsprite]

I don't know. But the world's no good, right? Heaven makes everybody follow the rules and won't stop people from suffering.

[She doesn't sound convinced; she sounds like she's repeating something she's been told.]

If people could change the world on their own, wouldn't they have done it already?

[unlucky7]

I don't argue there's suffering in the world, but I don't think it's fair to blame everything on the heavens when everyone is capable of making decisions for themselves. And people are changing the world. Look.

[Ginia pulls up a world news site and shows Votelli the headlines. Yes, there are wars and strife, yes, people are hurting each other through corruption and greed, but people help just as often. Stories about people helping selflessly, new technology aiding people, animals no longer endangered due to conservation efforts, communities coming together after a natural disaster.]

[sassywelshcatgirl]

[Nia doesn't understand any of that stuff. No context, no history here. But she doesn't need to, not when Votelli's got such a bad argument to offer, and when they're done watching the stuff on the phone, Nia just huffs, arms crossed.]

Rules, there's always rules. Someone wants to tear down the Far Shore's, it's just to put up their own and make everyone follow those instead. And I'm no cheerleader for any of the gods or any of their rules, but people from there are helping people down here, that's undeniable. You want a revolution, then a lot of innocent people are going to get hurt too. Is that really okay?

[fleetforestsprite]

[She stares at the site for several minutes before looking up at Ginia, and confiding quietly:] I can't read most of those characters.

-- And I don't want to hurt anybody! But you're from the Heavens, aren't you? Of course they're telling you they're trying to help.

[unlucky7]

[Ah. Ginia offers a slight nod and a sympathetic smile. No judgement here at all. A different tactic then.]

There's a difference between being told something and knowing the results yourself. When I help with prayers, I help people and make things better, but I also see the good people find in each other. I get to see the things on the Near Shore that make the world beautiful.

[Ginia pulls up the photo gallery on her phone and begins to show Votelli scenes from the Near Shore. Of festivals with crowds of people buying food and playing games and dancing, happiness and joy around. Of scramble crossings with thousands of people walking by. A busker at a park with a guitar with a crowd watching. School children painting a mural on a wall.

After a few more pictures of the everyday lives of people in the Near Shore, Ginia takes her phone back and asks:]

I think people are good at heart. Sometimes they lose their way and need help and we can help with that, but more often, people help each other because they can.

[sassywelshcatgirl]

Yeah, that's what I'm saying. I'm not talking about the old gods or anything. I'm saying people, here and now, are going down to help out. I've seen them, I've talked to them about it. When we were in Near Shore and some ayakashi showed up, people were trying to take them down before they could hurt anyone living, and that was just because we happened to be in the same place at the same time.

I don't like the old gods, and I don't like the Far Shore at all. But anyone who says everyone there is evil and bad is just trying to get you to ignore how complicated it really is.

[fleetforestsprite]

There are bad things too, though, aren't there? Things people can't change. That gods don't help with.

[She looks up at Ginia, and then over to Nia.]

If there are gods helping, why don't they make everyone happy?

[unlucky7]

[There is no denying bad things exist in the world. There are gods of war, gods of famine, of death. There is no age without bloodshed, but is that the fault of gods or the fault of man? How much should gods interfere? How much should shinki do for their gods? There's no satisfying answer to give.]

If the gods are making everyone happy, is that really happiness or is that exerting will over someone else? I think the freedom of choice, right or wrong, is important. Besides, what everyone wants individually might vary. What if someone's happiness hurts someone else?