The Far Shore Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
godsoffortune) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
thenearshore2018-12-17 12:29 am
godsoffortune) wrote in thenearshore2018-12-17 12:29 am
Entry tags:
- !cultist arc,
- !cultist arc | char discussions,
- aymeric de borel | final fantasy xiv,
- chikusa kakimoto | katekyo hitman reborn,
- ebisu | noragami,
- ginia | original character,
- suzaku kururugi | code geass,
- ω archer [emiya] | fate stay night,
- ω emizel | disgaea 4,
- ω sora | kingdom hearts,
- ω zelda | loz: ocarina of time
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.
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.
no subject
Can this end without anyone dying? It's with a sinking feeling Ginia knows for as much as she wants to keep Votelli safe, there are many others she'd protect first. Sometimes there's no saving everyone, just enough people. It's an uncomfortable gut realization and yet one she can live with.
It doesn't mean you give up soon though. Try, struggle, do what you can until the end.
"Heaven may not be willing to interfere with mortals, but plenty of the new generation are willing to. If we can somehow prove the humans were truly responsible behind the actions of the gods, is there any hope of changing the decision? Or some other way to argue for their right to live?"
no subject
Kimi's groan is pure frustration, and the state of his hair would get him fired from any other reputable job. "Right, right, something like what she's still saying, how the powerful ones are the responsible party. Ugh!"
Quietly, Aomi taps his knuckles along his chin. "I wonder if Iwami would know anything.." A name that matches the convention of the entire temple, but which Ginia might note hasn't ever been brought up or said before, in all the day to day conversations of the temple- bringing paperwork to one person, casual office gossip with others, asking for tech support from yet another person...
no subject
"Iwami? Who's that?" She asks, Kimi's hair back in relative order.
no subject
In contrast, Aomi is a little more preoccupied in glancing over at Kunimi for a moment. "Iwami... was the young master's exemplar, before. I think out of any of the shinki around, he... would probably be the oldest. At least, he would certainly rank very highly. There are things he knows that I think very few other people in Heaven can recall." Reaching up, he rubs a thumb against his tie. "Heaven had him exiled from the young master's service."
Technically.
no subject
It's a stance that seems notable for Heaven given how readily they seem to lean toward executions. Where does an exiled shinki go? Is he still named by Ebisu or was that revoked? The questions she want to ask are probably fairly obvious from how her hands wring back together, but it's a delicate topic too. She glances at Kunimi, not wanting to insult him. Her comment will do and she'll leave it to them to answer as they will.
no subject
"We assume," Aomi corrects gently. "As the exemplar, he was blamed for the route Ebisu-sama went down. Along with being one of the oldest in age, Iwami is also physically very old. They might have assumed he wouldn't be a match for an ayakashi if one came after him. It's not as if he would be able to find a new temple on his own.... I suppose would be that kind of thought. However, none of us really know."
"Heaven, deigning to speak with lowly nora?" Kimi mutters from under Ginia's hands. "Ha." Squinting open one eye, he remembers something. "Some time ago, before the young master started to regularly visit the new generation, some trouble happened, and Heaven sent some of theirs to come ask if we knew Iwami's location. I wonder if they think it might be him aiding this cult even now."
no subject
"What kind of trouble?" A pause, a sigh, a sweep of her hand through her hair as something occurs to her. "My understanding is it's only been a little over a year since my generation began appearing. Knowledge of anything that happened before our time is pretty sparse. If there's anything else I should know for context or otherwise, it's a good time to share."
no subject
Kimi nods, reaching up subconsciously to graze his hand along his hair as if in total wonder how it got back to form. "Right, actually, I think I mentioned a part of it to you, Jitsumi..." He pauses, something occurring to him, before shaking his head. "Anyway, it's something your generation already knows about."
no subject
"It's strange to think of a time before we knew about the cult though they were always there, causing problems. The city, a department store, the damn demon, everything that's happened since..." She pauses, frowning. "Though they have been around since before any of my generation showed up. Were there any incidents that stand out prior to our arrival? Or things I should be aware of?"
no subject
"It was that summoning you were asking about. I think it might have been around that time, at any rate. For anything else... Well. I think I would have to ask around." He scratches his cheek. "We've been really trying to stick to our own temple and not get too involved in a lot of things..." While it's possibly been good for saving their necks and giving them a halfway decent reputation again, it hasn't really leant well to being aware of some things.
no subject
It's still an investigation that's stalled out though. There's nothing else pointing to the demon or masks, plenty with the cult to focus on. But if Heaven came to ask them about their involvement around that time, who else has noticed and made connections?
Ginia begins to pace again, a controlled walk to refocus her thoughts.
"I suppose taking everything into consideration, the following questions stand out to me. First, is the Sorcerer responsible for providing the vice-principal the materials needed to summon the demon?" Because after questioning the vice-principal, there are far too many questions about how he found the book he needed and where the book went to. The symbol on the summoning cup is the only connection, but it's too specific to be discarded otherwise.
"Is the vice-principal or Sorcerer connected to the cult in some way? Never could tell with the vice-principal, but the Sorcerer could be manipulating things. If so, the humans, Votelli, and Sotero are as much pawns in all of this. On the other hand, if the cult is truly acting on their own, it raises questions about where Votelli and Sotero came from and what will happen to them with all of..." she gestures out at the meeting going on around them.
"The masked ayakashi in July and attempt at opening a vent is probably best tied to the Sorcerer. Undetermined are the dolls from Hinamatsuri and how those fit in to everything. There's also the question of who brought the new generation here and all the strangeness surrounding us, but that's too much of a mess to even consider. Though at some point we should talk about some of the more unusual traits of shinki of my generation."
Ginia finishes pacing and turns to face them, smile wry.
"Find answers to these questions and survive in the process. Did I miss anything, gentlemen?"
no subject
"One mystery at a time," Kiwami says patiently, ignoring the background noise. Aomi, for the time being, seems to be looking back towards what's happening in the meeting. "It seems as if you have the vast majority of them, but that can lead to you getting distracted and scattered. What do you have the most information on, and what is most pressing?"
Kimi finally stops his applause. "He has a point. These are all pretty serious, but there are too many different directions to go in. For all we know, that might be on purpose, right? An attempt to overwhelm us." He snaps his fingers. "In my opinion, we'll want to focus most of our efforts on gaining information about the cult. It seems like the easiest thing to learn about, and it might lead us to paths afterwards. Even if it doesn't, then that's a gain of knowledge on its own, right?"
no subject
Her hand rests against her chin as she thinks about whether there's anything else she can do in the moment. There are all her notes from the forest and following weeks, maybe it's time she looks over them again. It's been long enough, maybe new clues will pop out.
Or maybe it's time for fresh eyes again.
"I know everyone is busy enough with work, but I have a few lists and surveillance footage I could use another pair of eyes on. Maybe it's possible one of you will recognize a name or face. At least a few of the cultists I've tried to follow have been incredibly difficult to track. I always assumed magic was involved, but maybe they were shinki or gods."
no subject
Straightening up, Kimi puts his hands on the base of his spine and stretches. "Same here. I mean, not in the technology part of that, but I know my way around the country. I'm sure I cold help figure out something or another."
"I'll look over anything you need," Kiwami agrees. It's the least he can do on that end, since this isn't his particular field of expertise.
no subject
"I'll handle any forward or direction action though. I'd rather not risk anyone getting hurt on my account."
no subject
"You don't have to concern yourself about that at all! We'll be able to handle ourselves very well."
Or, rather, they're very clearly already at risk, so, really, she can hardly make it any worse.
Wrap it here?
"If you say so, Sir," Ginia concedes, straightening up. With the future uncertain and plenty of people around, best to focus and observe.