32 - Blow Your Top

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: A volcano eruption threatens the Western District
When: Jan 14 - 16
Where: The Western District of the Heavens
Summary: The Western District volcano is erupting again, endangering nearby temples and sending ash sprinkling down across the Heavens. Is it natural, or another attack? Those who dare climb the volcano can find out.






Earthquake Warning

On the morning of the 14th, an earthquake rattles windows throughout the Heavens. It's not strong enough to knock down buildings -- unless they're about to fall down anyway, like some of the older abandoned temples -- but it's strong enough to knock things off shelves and startle any late sleepers out of bed.

After the earthquake, strange sights abound around the Heavens. The poetic koi are swimming in organized schools in all of the canals, heading upstream towards the east. Springs of pure water burst out in some areas, and in others, normal springs or fountains have gone temporarily dry. Blue and green lights bob and weave across the landscape.

Falling Rock

The volcano begins erupting with a roar and a bright scarlet glow on the horizon. Ash and bits of rock fall across the Western district, and may even reach into the Southwest, Northwest and southern Central districts. Volcanic glass fibers that look like golden hair collect on trees, fences and buildings.

Trails and fountains of lava are also erupting from freshly opened fissures and wending down the sides of the volcano. Gods and shinki who live in the Western District are going to need some help clearing ash and glass from their roofs, trying to re-route lava flows (the good news is, if you cool one side down enough, you can turn them! the bad news is, that takes a lot of work) or just offering them a spare room to stay until things calm down.

Swamp Gas

It's not just lava and springwater erupting from mysterious new crevasses -- and it's not just mundane volcanic gases, either. Divine volcanic vents are blowing mind-altering fumes all over the Heavens. Anywhere across the Far Shore, but especially as characters get closer to the volcano, they may experience one or more of the following effects:

• Confusion
• Intense emotions
• Anger and irritability
• Impulsive behavior, loss of emotional control
• Hallucinations
• Unusually clear insight into other people and situations
• Coughing, eye and throat irritation, difficulty breathing
• Irresistible impulses to speak in poetry

Most symptoms will clear up after a few hours in fresh air, and all of them will be gone within 48 hours of the last volcano gas exposure.

Mountain Climbing

Natural disasters don't just happen like this in the Heavens... do they? Amaterasu's white-robed shinki are convinced that something is wrong, and they're organizing into search parties to go up the mountain and seek out the cause of this eruption. New and old gods and shinki are welcome to join them, or form their own groups. All of the hazards -- tremors, lava, ash, and volcanic gas -- will get worse as characters ascend the volcano. Strange little spirit flames, in shades of red and blue, dance on the rocks, dazzling, confusing and threatening to singe interlopers.

And there's someone up here, too. A mysterious figure with glowing red eyes is keeping watch on the intruders and vanishing behind boulders whenever someone turns his way. He won't let anyone traveling with one of the white-robed shinki get too close, but solitary gods or shinki might manage to lure him into conversation, if they try....

OOC: Please comment to the 'NPC REQUEST' thread below in order to talk to the mysterious figure on the volcano.

Those climbing the volcano will have a chance to battle the mysterious figure should their characters choose to do so. If you're interested in a fight, please comment to the 'NPC FIGHT' thread below before the top-level is posted. A top-level for the fight will go up on IC Jan 16/OOC Sept 4.

In Summary:

• Don't get rattled
• Help out the Western District with their volcano problem
• Watch out for volcanic gases
• Find out who's behind the eruption
• Have fun~

Comments

[unlucky7]

"In-temple tailor?" The comment had been more a slight joke, but she's noticed the uniforms the old shinki seem to have. "I should be fine on clothes, I have things I can bring. Unless there's anything special I need to get? I have money saved up already."

She's not unfamiliar with an allowance - Archer always sets aside money for everyone from the shrine's offerings that week - but she is grossly underestimating how much a God of Fortune too.

[chibisu]

"Yeah! We have one." Ebisu seem to be concentrating a little more on clambering about, although Ginia might notice that occasionally Kunimi makes a movement himself- a hand twitching to the side to help Ebisu regain his balance, or leaning slightly in the same direction as him. It's a mystery if that sort of thing is necessary, or if he's doing it subconsciously.

Fortunately, Kimi is here, and he picks up where his god left off. "We have a department that handles clothing and that sort of thing, just like we have an in-temple doctor. I mean, no one will ever be as good as Iwami, but..." There's a pause before he shakes his head. "Anyway, we'll handle getting you some work clothes, temple clothes... I think that should probably be it." There's a spark in his eye as he tilts his head to the side. "Unless you want to be a part of the young master's entourage when we bother to attend Heaven's fancier events."

"We'd never get any work down if it was up to them," Ebisu grumbles, just a little bit.

"You always say that, young master."

[unlucky7]

Work clothes, temple clothes, more and more the differences begin to sink in. Joining a temple of an old god isn't merely joining the temple and representing them and guiding the god, it's falling into a new life style. It's exciting and interesting, later scary as she crashes back into reality.

"I'm so new I don't know if it'd be appropriate for me to be a part of the entourage. Are there events other than the God's Meeting? And is there anything else I should be aware of? Etiquette, traditions, anything?"

[chibisu]

Brow scrunching up, he thinks about the question carefully. "Well, we've already gone over bowing to other gods besides your own... and I think the Gods' Meeting is the only one where so many of the other gods go to attend. Nothing else is so mandatory." He shrugs carefully, hopping skillfully along ragged ground. "And, honestly, I don't usually attend that anyway. There might be something to do with one of the other Gods of Fortune, however, and you never know when it's important to attend. It's a case by case basis."

"There are meetings where they summon all notable gods, namely the Gods of Fortunate like the young master, to discuss any important occurrences..." Kimi gives a shrug not unlike his god. "But that only requires the exemplar to accompany the young master. So it's just him, left standing around outside, staring blankly at a wall."

Kunimi makes a faint noise that's almost an objection, but then he doesn't bother. They'll make good chances to catch up on his lack of sleep.

"The only traditions you'll really have to concern yourself with are those of the temples, if we ever have you do some work at them," Ebisu says cheerfully.

Suddenly, Kimi snaps his fingers. "Oh- and I guess other shinki from other temples from the older generation, like the young master, would typically introduce themselves to other shinki with all three of their names... But we're nora!" He spreads his hands out and waggles them a little bit. "So who care about that! I'll be amazed if anyone ever asks for our names if they know we're from the young master's temple anyway." It's very clear what kind of shinki their temple harbors, after all.

[unlucky7]

Ginia nods as she glances out at the harsh landscape around them. With time spent in her vessel form, her mind slowly clearing. The ayakashi she saw so frequently on the climb up still appear, but at a distance, faded, flickering. The shadows of people are still present, though those she also keeps to herself; if there was anyone else around, certainly Ebisu or Kunimi would notice and flag them down. She splits her attention between watching Ebisu's back and committing all the information to memory.

The introductions of three names comes as a surprise.

"But doesn't giving away your names make it easier for someone to cast spells on you? Though ah, I suppose confidence and superiority come into play." Maybe it's because their names are so different, but among the new shinki, very few give away their vessel name without reason.

"Would it help if it wasn't readily known I was one of your shinki? Um, the young master's?" Titles and proper forms of address. Right, that'll take time to get used to.

[chibisu]

"Yup. But that's half the point." Kimi rubs his chin as he tries to explain it. "It's basically seen as polite.. and a show of good will and respect. Like showing that you're on equal footing with each other, with nothing to hide? I think that's how it was with my first god." Who wasn't such a big shot as Ebisu, but, still. He knows something of how it's supposed to go.

"That's only on rare occasions anyway," Ebisu says. "You can make it as official as you want. Just let me know, okay?"

[unlucky7]

The new shinki have certainly breached that rule of etiquette plenty of times over, but when no one has explained that to them, they can't be faulted. Still, Ginia can't see herself easily giving up her names, though a moot point now she's nora.

"I suppose there's a lot us new shinki need to learn." There, a diplomatic response. "I think for the time being, I'll be careful who knows I'm in your direct employ. While you seem well liked among the new, I'd rather not bring you any problems."

There are more than a few people she likes that would also leverage her position if they could. But she's less worried about the new gods and shinki and more the old and what they would think.

[chibisu]

It's fortunate that it's not the kind of thing that comes up often, really, although there's no doubt that some of them probably think the younger generation is rude. Well, it can't be helped.

What can be helped, however, is...

Coming to an abrupt pause, Ebisu lightly tugs on the scarf. "You won't bring me any problems," Ebisu says solemnly. "You're one of my shink, now, so I know you'll only ever be good."

Kunimi smiles a little, and Kimi cough-laughs into his hand. "So that's that."

[unlucky7]

It's a strange thing having a vessel form that's worn. With Alex and Nona, she's a weapon to be carried. With Caster, she's capable of moving on her own while carrying him or anyone else who needs a lift. But as a scarf, she's simply wrapped around his neck and shoulders a few time.

The tug feels like a gentle reprimand, the solemness of his words surprising her.

"You can't know--" her words cut of mid-sentence. Who is she to argue with him, when he's been around for so long, has so many shinki. If he's so sure, all she can do is live up to his expectations the best she can.

"Yes, sir. I'll do my best."

[chibisu]

Kimi laughs at her again. "You can't argue with him, right? He makes it so hard."

"I keep telling you that you can!" Ebisu protests, crossing his arms even as Kunimi guides his feet skillfully down the volcanoside. "It's a shinki's duty to guide their god. If I do anything that isn't good, then I want you all to tell me. Arguing is good in business!"

A pause.

"It's just that my shinki are the best."