thenearshore | Interlude: Meeting with Amaterasu

Who: Amaterasu and characters who have shared information with her, her advisers or her shinki
When: March 8, Evening
Where: The Meeting Hall
What: Amaterasu is bringing together newcomers of proven loyalty in order to share her own information and plans.

New gods and shinki who have offered their help to Amaterasu or her advisers, or who have given her information about any of the cult activities, will find a white-robed shinki knocking at their temple door or dropping by their table at the post-training meal on March 8th.

The invitations have the following text:

Lady Amaterasu invites you and your trusted allies to join her for an important announcement. The shinki who delivered this message will conduct you to the meeting.

The shinki carrying these invitations will wait until the invited person and their guests are ready, or will leave if the invitation is declined.

Guests are directed to an inner room in the Meeting Hall, where, on entry, they will discover that they seem to be floating in an endless dark void. Amaterasu stands at the center of the void, brilliantly illuminated; she's not wearing her usual mirror crown, and there is a short woman in old-fashioned white robes with the sleeves tied back standing beside her.

Amaterasu and the shinki accompanying her begin to speak once everyone has arrived. They have ink paintings of Votelli (although the features aren't very well rendered, as though it was painted from a description rather than by someone who'd seen her) and of Sotero (this painting is much more accurate and detailed.) These paintings are displayed on small stands behind Amaterasu.

"These two rogue gods have declared their enmity against myself and the Heavens through attacking and even imprisoning you, as well as attacking many of my shinki. They have even used humans as their agents to act in the mortal world." She holds out a hand to indicate the sketchier painting. "This one's name is Votelli. She is declared anathema. Should you see her, capture her, and bring her to me." The other, better-drawn painting is next. "This one's name is Sotero. He is declared anathema, and should you see him, capture him and bring him to me.

"We prefer them alive, but if they resist too fiercely to survive capture, we will still reward their captors highly."

The woman behind her takes the paintings down and folds the stands, disappearing into the dark with her armful of props, as Amaterasu continues speaking.

"We have located areas of the Near Shore that these gods have used as their sanctuaries in their invasions of the Heavens. The forest that Votelli used, many of you have visited. However, it seems that she can either hide there too well to be found unless she wills it, or she has gone elsewhere. We continue to search for her. My shinki have searched the volcano that Sotero used, as well, but with no greater success.

"It is possible that these gods have protected themselves somehow from the eyes of my shinki. I ask for your assistance searching for them both."

The woman reappears, without the easels and carrying two handfuls of charms instead; they are small, embroidered pouches that look like the charms found in the department store and around shrines at New Year's. Sabimei steps forward; he looks like he hasn't had enough sleep in weeks, and the harsh spotlight brings out the dark bags under his eyes.

"These things are using a magic I can't figure out," he says: his tone is almost petulant, but he moderates it at a reproving glare from the other shinki. "I suspect it's related to those two gods. I can tell you that they drain good fortune from anything nearby -- these are inert, don't worry, but I wouldn't keep one in my pocket if I were any of you. Burn them, or give them to me, because it's not as if I don't have enough to do--"

At another glare, he clears his throat. "In any case, placing these in our shrines at the New Year's represents a direct attack on our fortunes and our followers'. It seems that these gods consider us all enemies alike. Ask me later if you want to hear more about what I've been doing with these things." He bows, and steps back into the darkness. Amaterasu's formal demeanor softens for long enough to pat her other shinki's arm; the woman smiles down at her before tucking away the charms.

"Several humans have been implicated in assisting the enemy gods," she announces. "We do not act directly against mortals, but my shinki are watching their residences, in case our enemies should appear there. It is possible that there are more, and so, I ask that you help my shinki in that task, for if those two gods are no longer in the places that they once linked to the Heavens, then they must be concealed somewhere. My shinki will show you to these humans' residences if you are willing to assist.

"When we find them, we intend to ride to destroy them, and I invite you to join the hosts of Heaven when we do so, as well."

She folds her hands together, her long sleeves falling down to hide her fingers, and inclines her head in a small, regal bow.

As the presentation ends, the darkness begins to fade, and everyone invited will find themselves standing in an ordinary room with Amaterasu, and with guards at the door and along the walls. The female shinki who had been behind her has disappeared, and she is wearing her crown again, with Sabimei standing just behind her.

It looks like she's ready to take questions now.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I feel fine. I didn't even realise I'd been asleep for so long until I learned the date." He wasn't sure what caused these strange bouts of sleeping but it was not the first time he had fallen asleep for an extended period of time and each time he had felt fine once he woke.

"As far as I know it is not the type of illness that you catch and so I won't be spreading it to others by being here."

"If you're certain." It doesn't sound like any kind of illness he's familiar with, or any kind of narcolepsy he can think of... Maybe it's simply one of those strange things which new shinki and their gods deal with on occasion. It would be something to look into, if only to satisfy his curiosity, but this most recent meeting has shown that he can't allow himself to get off-track.

"If there's anything I can do to assist you, please let me know. Money is of no objection if it comes to anything, especially medical supplies. I suppose that's why I was included in this meeting." Clearly the advantages that would come with bringing in such a powerful and rich God of Fortune bypass any of his past incarnation's past transgressions.

"Thank you sir." Suzaku blinked not sure what to do with such an offer from this child god who seemed so young, but was a god of fortune, an old god. He wasn't sure this was anything that medicine could fix though, it seemed to be something that only effected gods and shinki, and indeed only the new ones.

"I am sure it will be fine though." He looked around, thinking of Ebisu's words. "Is providing medical supplies something you do for the heavens often, or did you mean more generally?"

"More generally. As a god of commerce, and one with the most amount of money in the Heavens-" He's not lying. Please. By all means. Look into his computers. It's unbelievable. "-my temple is often requested upon to finance divine matters, along with occasionally managing the money of those who are not certain enough in their money handling skills."

It's a lot of money being handled, and his temple has proven to be most adept at it. At least, if one were to ask Ebisu, and he's fairly certain on this whole matter.

"Ah I understand. It is a useful talent." Suzaku has no real idea of his own money handling skills, he doesn't really have any money that he needs to handle and has no memories to tell him whether it was something he had any skills with when he was alive.

"Do you believe they will ask you to finance this attack on the cult?"

Suzaku likewise has very little knowledge of the costs of a heavenly army.

"Ah... That is highly possible. Amaterasu-sama has a lot of influence and resources, but it may be easier to outsource such matters if only to free up her own shinki and advisers. They will be the ones spearheading such matters, after all." Especially Fuujin, who looks pretty excited about the turn this is all taking...

In contrast, well... Ebisu frowns slightly. There are a lot of reasons he's against this course of action, yet he knows better to voice them here at this time. Instead, he says, "I would really rather know more about our enemies before funding and organizing everything. That is an investment with the hope of success and it makes me uneasy to put so much into an investment I know so little about."

"Well hopefully more observation will mean that there is more information before you have to make a decision."

It sounded like they would be marching against the cult soon, there was not all that much time to gather further information and truthfully Suzaku understood Ebisu's hesitation. There was no guarantee of success and so it was understandable that he would not be so keen to fund such an endeavour.

"Hopefully..." With how Heaven is moving so quickly on their decision, is that something he can really rely on? No. Ebisu knows that answer already. With this, he can't afford to do nothing, and hope that Heaven learns enough to change their decision on their own.

If he's going to help his sister, Heaven, and the humans tangled up in this... Then he has to move forward himself.

For now, he nods up to Suzaku. "What do you plan to do to help Heaven? I'm certain that they wouldn't have called upon you or your god's temple for no reason. However, I'm afraid I'm not as familiar as I am with Kurosaki-sama's temple."

"More of what I have been doing, investigating and trying to discover more information about the cult." He is not the greatest investigator. Truthfully he's not even sure why he's here, he's not sure that he's told them anything that no one else has. His information was probably the same as everyone else.

"I plan to help them fight also, fighting is something I can do. My god is also a good fighter and has some knowledge of magic I believe." Really everything about Saber and his powers is still a bit confusing, not least because of his gods tendency to babble and go off topic whilst trying to explain things. "Edge, Saber's other shinki, has a lot of skills in stealth as well."

"Then I'm sure your help will be greatly appreciated when the time comes." Ebisu has already said what he thinks of going to war so soon- or at all, frankly, but especially now- so he'll refrain from saying any more on that.

"Still, if you get injured and you have no other options, my temple would be glad to treat you. My shinki are very skilled when it comes to first aid and medical matters. I have one that can also heal physical injuries, although anything such as sickness would be another matter entirely."

"I thank you. I shall remember that offer." It's good to know. No war was fought without casualties and though Suzaku would hope that such a thing was planned for, it was good to know that there were shinki with healing abilities as well as first aid knowledge.

"If there is anything I can do to help you and your temple let me know as well."

"We'll be certain to call upon the services of this new generation if the need arises. After all, my temple has seen firsthand how skilled you all are." All the way back in October, as a matter of fact, and, since then, he's only gotten an even better look as everyone has dealt with one crisis after another.

"At any rate, there are some things I wished to talk to Amaterasu-sama about, so I will take my leave." He pauses. "Oh, and I suppose that's another thing I will offer to your temple. I know that there is some barrier between the two generations, due to lack of understanding, so please feel free to ask me any questions should you have them."

"Of course, sir." Suzaku nodded politely in a not quite bow. At the aditional offer he smiled. "That would be very helpful. I will be sure to find you if I have any questions or if Saber and Edge have any."

Someone who knew things and yet was willing to answer questions would be very helpful. "I will see you soon I am sure."

Interlude: Meeting with Amaterasu

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