30 - Deep Clean

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: The Heavens have issued everyone invitations to a relaxing hot spring vacation.
When: Dec 14 - 16
Where: A traditional onsen hotel on the Far Shore
Summary: The invitations might have looked like an opportunity for a pampered getaway, but this onsen seems a little run down. And shouldn't there be a bigger staff? Is this an excuse to get the new gods and shinki to clean up an old building, or is it an opportunity for a rustic getaway? It's all in how you look at it....






Rustic Baths

Heaven's messenger doves drop invitations off by the doorways of temples throughout the Far Shore in the second week of December. Ornamented with a calligraphed swirl of steam, they invite the residents of each temple to relax at a recently re-opened hot spring in the safety and comfort of the Far Shore's southern fields.

Upon arrival, visitors will discover that the hot spring itself is heavenly. Cloudy waters in every shade from nearly white to turquoise fill pools that are cut cleanly into stone. The hottest baths are filled from pipes ten feet up, with steaming waters cascading down, cooled enough by the fall not to burn. Outdoors, fences cleverly masked with bushes and vines provide privacy for bathers. The indoor baths are set into the floor in solid wooden buildings, for those who would prefer not to brave the elements for their relaxing soak. Other wooden buildings are airier, with traditional sliding paper doors and tatami rooms within for visitors to sleep.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look all that ready to "re-open." The buildings are worn down by time and neglect; sliding doors are off their tracks, paper screens are torn, tatami is worn out, and the landscaping is badly overgrown. This looks more like a haunted house than a luxurious getaway. At least the baths are nice.

Cooking & Cleaning

There's a noticeable lack of staff around the hot spring; the only caretakers for the place appear to be two elderly shinki in plain indigo robes, one man and one woman. The man can be spotted here and there around the place over the few days that their guests are present, industriously scrubbing floors, patching screens, repairing tatami and cutting back bushes. It's far more work than just one person can do, and he'll be eager to explain the tasks and accept any help that's offered.

The other shinki is a slight, stooped old woman who bustles about with fresh towels and robes, lays out futons and pillows for the guests, and cooks three meals a day. She, too, is terribly overworked, and help with the laundry or the cooking will be gratefully accepted! Surely, if everyone works together, they'll be able to make this a wonderful.... vacation?

Spooky Sleepover

For those who take the two shinki up on their offer of hospitality, they will find that the rooms are comfortable, the futon are soft and warm, the stars are beautiful far from the lights of more densely populated areas of the Heavens... and as soon as the lanterns are all snuffed for bedtime, the remote resort starts to feel a little creepy. Strange creaking noises resound overhead. Is that the wind, or someone walking on the roof? What about the shadows cast through the paper screens by the moonlight? Is the flicker of light outside someone taking a flashlight as they go for a late-night walk, or a will-o'-the-wisp beckoning the unwary to their doom? And what about those distant animal howls in the forest?!

Investigate the mysterious noises, or pull the covers up and try to get some sleep. Extra-brave guests could even take the opportunity to light some candles and tell ghost stories.

The Bath's Master Returns

On the 16th, the two shinki will wake all of their guests up promptly at dawn by ringing a big brass bell in front of the dining building. Bursting with pride, they introduce the bath's proprietor, home at last from a long flight: he's a man in his thirties, tall, heavy-set and wearing a trailing feathery cloak, with a red face and a very large nose. (Or is that really a cloak? It could be wings....) He fans himself vigorously with a white feather fan, and welcomes the remaining guests in a booming voice, before inviting them to enjoy a lavish breakfast spread and come back soon!

Guests who have stayed until the final day will find a gift at their place setting when they go inside, especially if they helped the proprietor's poor overworked shinki with their tasks. Comment below on the "Gift" thread to learn what your character found in their package.

In Summary:

• Vacation at a run-down hot spring
• Help the staff get things in order
• Try not to get scared by the spooky surroundings
• Get a present from the bath's proprietor
• Have fun~

Comments

A

[wadoichimonji]

[Zoro, walking into the baths and seeing a familiar figure sitting there, is more than surprised. He blinks a couple of times, and smiles.

Yup, that's a familiar kid.

He's about to say something when the kid asks a question and Zoro laughs.]

Yup! After you've scrubbed yourself real good you can just sit in the hot water and let it relax your muscles!

[He just gets in the water, not caring that he's completely naked.]

What's that weird sword you have?

[cloak]

[Roxas turns just enough to glance over his shoulder and up at the man]

I thought baths were for getting clean.

[Maybe he hasn't understood the concept correctly then. But the comment on his weapon comes as a surprise, and Roxas looks back down at it before shrugging]

I'm not sure what it is.

[wadoichimonji]

They are, which is why you clean yourself, then just soak in to relax. This place has it all.

[He frowns.]

Is it ok if I hold it?

[cloak]

[Although he's not sure he gets it, Roxas accepts the explanation for now.

He shifts the weight of his weapon in his grip, realizing he hasn't yet been asked such a question. But seeing no reason to object, he offers it up]

Sure, if you want.

[wadoichimonji]

[Zoro takes the weird weapon and holds it, for a second, because the whole thing just banishes as soon as his grip is completely on it.]

What the hell?

[cloak]

[And in the next moment, the weapon's back in his hand]

...That's weird.

[A pause, as he considers this]

Should we try again?

[wadoichimonji]

... Huh.

[Zoro nods, curious now.]

Let's try again.

[cloak]

Okay.

[Roxas holds his weapon out for the guy to take again.

It seems safe to assume from his reaction that it isn't normal for weapons to vanish like that]

[wadoichimonji]

[Zoro tries to take it again, and he holds it in his hand as tightly as he can and...

it disappears again.]

Ok, that's officially the weirdest thing that has ever happened to me.

[cloak]

...So weapons aren't supposed to do that.

[That confirms his suspicion, although he doesn't know why his does when it shouldn't]

It's really the strangest though?

[wadoichimonji]

Nope, you're supposed to be able to keep them in your hand, that's how you fight. So that thing only works for you.

[He laughs, shaking his head.]

It isn't, but it goes to the top five for sure.

[cloak]

I guess an enemy can't take it from me in a fight, at least...

[And there might be some utility in that, even if he doesn't understand how or why it works that way]

What's the top one though?

[wadoichimonji]

That's a good point! You're a fighter then?

[He smirks.]

I don't think it's good for kids' ears.

[cloak]

I wouldn't know.

[On both counts, actually]

[wadoichimonji]

Oh? We could try training together, and that will probably tell you if you're a fighter! Depending on how you move and you attack you'll know.

[He smiles.]

Then again, can't do anything while I'm naked and weaponless.

[cloak]

You can't call your weapons?

[Now who's weird?]

[wadoichimonji]

Nope, you can call this sword of yours?

[Now that's curious, a weapon that can be summoned?]

Is that why it appears on your hand right away?

[cloak]

That's how I've been thinking of it.

[He concentrates on it and it shows up, after all.

It showed up when he thought of fending off threats, first, but same idea]

[wadoichimonji]

Huh... Curious.

[He frowns, thinking deeply.]

It shows up even when you don't know what it's called or what it does?

[cloak]

[He nods, a simple bob of his hooded head]

That's the way it's been.

[wadoichimonji]

[Zoro hums, curious.]

I wonder what kind of things you can do with that sword-thing. Any ideas?

[cloak]

Fight enemies, I'd guess.

[But other than that, he doesn't know.

It's an awfully strange shape for a weapon though]

[wadoichimonji]

Maybe it works just like a sword, we could try and see if it clashes against one!

[He just really wants to train with this weird sword, it looks like it'll be fun! Also this kid looks like he'd be good at a fight for some reason.]