36 - Dragon Dance

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: Help the Heavens cover for a missing goddess at her temple festival.
When: March 18
Where: Near the Sensou-ji temple in Asakusa
Summary: After Kannon's disappearance last year, the Heavens are concerned that things might go wrong at her temple's March 18 omikoshi festival. They've asked new gods and shinki to attend the festival and keep an eye out for trouble. Meanwhile, trusted newcomers and older gods and shinki alike are watching over the cultists that have been identified.






The Festival

Shrine-carriers, musicians and dancers congregate early in the morning in their matching outfits to get organized into their parade. Luckily, all of the parade participants this time are alive and well. There aren't even any troublesome ayakashi hanging around... so why is everyone having such bad luck?! Laces are breaking, costumes tearing, small children are getting sick from nerves, and even the drums seem to have gone out of tune. It looks like this parade is going to need a whole lot of help to prevent disaster.

For those who aren't busy with the parade preparations, food and souvenir booths throng the area in front of the temple. There's traveling games, too, and plenty of people showing up early with their families to find a good spot to watch the parade. This is one of Tokyo's most popular temples, so it's quite a crowd!

The Stakeouts

Any gods or shinki who were told about the cult problem by Amaterasu -- or anyone who might have heard from friends and allies about the plans -- can help Amaterasu's shinki keep a tight watch on all of the known cult members. Her shinki are looking for any sign of the young gods who she believes are behind all of this trouble, but are there other clues that might be found by a keen observer? Join in on staking out a cult member, and see what you can see.

Current cult members that the shinki are watching include:

• Mitsui Ryou - lives alone in a medium-sized apartment, appears to work a 9 - 5 schedule with occasional late nights.
• Imai Takeru - lives in a small two-story house by himself, has an unpredictable schedule.
• Shimoda Tsuki - lives alone in a small apartment with a lot of plants, works retail with varying shifts.
• Oota Saburo- lives in a medium-sized apartment with his wife and two young children, works a 9 - 5 schedule with frequent work trips.
• Maeda Shinnosuke - lives alone in a small, messy apartment, works construction (early mornings, long days.)
If your character is taking part in the surveillance of any of these people, please feel free to comment to the Cult Clues thread below with the name of the character they're watching, and the times that they're watching that character, in order to learn what they might see. (Note: surveillance doesn't have to take place only on the 18th. Characters can take part in watching the cult members at any time after Amaterasu's announcement on March 8.)

The Parade

At noon, the parade begins. Misfortune is still dogging the participants and the crowds around them, but it looks as though everything will go all right up until the final turn as the heavy, gilded shrine turns back towards the main temple building, tips, and slowly falls over sideways, straight for the crowd.

What's worse, when the shrine hits the ground, it cracks open -- and a huge, jellyfish-like ayakashi wearing a giant white mask with a single black eye inscribed on it heaves its way out and begins lashing its tentacles in every direction. People stung by the tentacles are driven into a furious frenzy, and fights are breaking out everywhere. Stop the humans from fighting, take care of the injured, and destroy the ayakashi before the situation gets any worse.

The Pursuit

In the middle of the fighting crowd, two white-robed shinki are chasing after a very average-looking salaryman in a tan coat. He doesn't seem to know that the shinki are chasing him, but he is moving fast, and they're in danger of losing track of him. They're calling out to any Far Shore denizen close enough to hear, shinki or god:

"Don't let that guy get away! He knows what happened!"

Anyone who has met or spent time staking out Mitsui Ryou will recognize him as the escaping salaryman. If your character takes part in the pursuit, please comment to the Cult Clues thread with a link to your thread - the character who successfully catches Mitsui will be determined by RNG on January 6, 2019.

In Summary:

• Attend the Sensou-ji festival
• Enjoy food and games
• Help Amaterasu's shinki stake out the cult
• Fight a masked ayakashi
• Have fun~

Comments

[trustheart]

[Festival]

[So much going wrong could only be the work of something nefarious, Chris tells herself. For once, that exists in the gray area between legitimate concern and her having a convenient excuse for her misfortune rather than just being one or the other.

She's had sake spilled on her, had to deal with torn kimonos, help mend said kimonos, helped replace broken taiko drums, and comforted crying kids. And... at the moment, she's still wrapped up in all of that. At some point, after them recognizing someone else who's come to help, she'll turn to them with a cross look on her face.]

Hey you! Get over here! I could use some help!



[Festival 2]

[Later, however, Chris is taking a very different role in the festival. One of the performers had gotten sick, and Tsubasa had opted to recruit Chris to take her place.

To say Chris was nervous was an understatement. But... she had resolved to make this change, and so there was no walking out of it this time. And so, she strode out onto the outdoor stage, and faced the crowd, wearing a red, floral print yukata.]

U-uhm, hello. ["No, you need to be more confident," she told herself. She straightened her back, and stood more resolutely.] This was kind of unplanned, and I'm filling in, but I'm prepared to give it my all for everyone. This may not be exactly what people expect from this festival, but... this is a song that I think everyone can appreciate.

It's called Happiness.

[As she sings, Chris definitely gives it her all, and by the time she finishes, her cheeks are red and she looks somewhat overwhelmed. Despite it all, there's a wide smile on her face, and she gives a quick bow and a "thank you" before leaving the stage.

She did it. She really did it. She sang in front of everyone outside of her school.

It was an incredible feeling.]



[The Parade]

[And there's the other shoe dropping. Chris figured it was too good to be true.]

Killter ichaival tron!

[In a flash of light, Chris transformed into her armored form, and instantly used her armed gear as launchers to shoot speakers out over the area. With it, her voice would carry as she announced:]

The parade area is an active crisis area! Vacate the area immediately!

[She set the warning to repeat, and with that, it was time to launch herself into battle. She transformed her armed gear into a pair of pistols, and began opening fire on the monstrous ayakashi. Dammit, she had to find Ginia or Luger, or someone she could jump into battle alongside...!]

Festival 2

[holygrailed]

[When Irisviel sees Chris on the stage, of course she has to stop to listen to her friend sing. It's a very cute, sweet song. On a day like today, it's a nice pick-me-up and reminder of all the good things. Chris's voice is so lovely too; she applauds enthusiastically when her friend finishes, working through the crowd to catch up.]

Chris! Chris!

[Once she's close enough, she throws herself at Chris and gives her a big hug.]

You were wonderful!

Re: Festival 2

[trustheart]

[Oof! Surprise Irisviel! Chris had seen her in the crowd, but she didn't expect to be hugged like that. It doesn't trigger the same reaction as Hibiki - it's more like the distant memory of being hugged by Sonia or her mother - but she does freeze up for a moment.

That moment passes, however.]

I-Irisviel! You liked it?!

[holygrailed]

Of course!

[Irisviel pulls back from her friend, excitement mellowing into supportive enthusiasm.]

You have a wonderful voice. I'm sure many were moved by your song.

[trustheart]

... Th-thanks. I'm kind of worried, though, I mean... it's not really a very traditional Japanese festival song...

[She let out a short, nervous giggle. A rare event.]

I'm really just happy I was brave enough to take that kind of step.

Festival 2

[alchemists]

Chris, that was lovely!

[ This was the first time Elfnein had heard Chris sing outside of combat. The difference was quite amazing, how someone could go from singing about bullets to normal things. ]

[trustheart]

Ah... Elfnein!

[Chris's cheeks turn a deeper shade of red at the sight of her.]

I didn't see you in the crowd... you really liked it?

[alchemists]

I was near the back, it was hard to get near the front.

[ But she managed to find a box to stand on so it was all good. ]

Yes, I really liked it! Your voice is lovely, it's totally different then in combat.

[trustheart]

... Ah. I guess that makes sense. Next time I do this, I'll try make sure you get to stand at the front.

[She blushes a bit at her compliments.]

Thanks... I guess I end up expressing different emotions in those cases. [But that's sort of a given, right?]

Parade

[swordofzero]

[He recognises her, even in the armour as the god he had met at the last festival, before he had fallen asleep. He runs over as the humans begin paying attention to the voice that came from nowhere.

He sent off two wordless borderlines towards the ayakashi and glanced over at Chris.] Do you have holy water?

Re: Parade

[trustheart]

[Chris regards Suzaku with a nod, moving to cover him; she's a bit more durable than he is.]

A bit... but do you really think it'll be enough to make a difference?

Re: Parade

[swordofzero]

[Another couple of borderlines, his best weapon against ayakashi and he nods at Chris.] If you coat your bullets in it they will harm the ayakashi a lot more than they are now. They won't kill them though, you need your shinki to do that.

[She probably already knows this, but she had said she was new, this might be her first big fight with an ayakashi.]

Re: Parade

[trustheart]

Well, that's gonna be difficult. I don't actually load these things, and I don't think I can just pour water into the barrels of my guns!

[She has to think. Gritting her teeth, she concentrates for a few moments, before looking back at Suzaku, holding out a vial of it to him.]

Can you toss all this into the air? I'm going to try to shoot through it!

Parade

[mithrarin]

[Someone had neither listened to her warning nor hesitated to leap into battle himself. Blade of Ahrah whirling, Dust lunges into the fray with almost suicidal recklessness, hacking brutally at the thing's body with only the barest regard given to the tentacles waving around him.]

Are any of your tricks in there actual magic?!

[trustheart]

[Chris grunts, not happy with how up close and personal he's getting, but unable to really do anything about it. At that moment, Luger runs up, and nods to Chris, her quickly muttering the words needed to turn him into his vessel form.]

I'm afraid not! Alchemy and heretical science isn't magic, even if it doesn't really seem like it!

[mithrarin]

No idea if I can help with it then! [The Dust Storm has only ever worked on magic, but then, he's only ever tried it on magic.]

[...Not that it much matters, he figures. Now that Chris has invoked her shinki, he's useless here except as a distraction, a second target to give her time. So he'll play that role, delivering stinging swipes with his sword to anger the ayakashi and keep its focus on him.]

Festival 2

[beyondtheblade]

[True to her word, Tsubasa keeps a lookout around the performance, but she does pay as close attention to it as she does any potential problems. It's certainly not the first time she's heard Chris sing, nor is it even the first time she's heard her sing in such a way. Still, it's nice to listen to, she feels happy for Chris getting any opportunity to show her skills off there, nor matter how big or small the venue may be.

Once Chris leaves the stage, Tsubasa is there to meet her.]

You did well, Yukine! Plus, nothing broke!

[There's the sudden sound of an instrument breaking as someone else starts to move from the stage.]

During... the performance, at least!

[trustheart]

Senpai!

[Chris is so caught up in the emotional high of all this, she forgets her own awkwardness and rushes forward, grabbing the older girl in a hug.

She's snapped out of it by the sound of the instrument breaking. She pulls away, blushing slightly.]

A-ah, well... I'm glad it went off without a hitch. Even if I guess this means you won't be buying me dinner.

[beyondtheblade]

[Tsubasa's more than a little surprised to find Chris hugging her. For the second time since she's been here, no less! She's not quite sure what to do with herself, but luckily Chris leaping back saves her from having to think too hard on it. Her face is flushed a bit, but she's able to keep her composure this time.]

Well, I did tell you. Have a little more faith there before you go making such bets, Yukine.

[A beat.]

It's a good thing I didn't lose that, given I have no money here.

[The Kazanari family has more money than god, do you think she carries cash?]

festival 2

[priforprince]

[ In the middle of the song, Chris may feel the sensation of eyes bearing down on her. As someone, in the back of the crowd, crosses her arms and gives her full attention to listening.

But no pressure.

Also, pay no attention to how this person is sitting atop a tasseled velvet palanquin with its posts attached to spygoats, as more free goats arrive, drawn by Chris's voice. Friend is singing! The word spreads quickly, and a small goat cloud is forming.

But, indeed, no pressure at all. ]

Re: festival 2

[trustheart]

[Chris is so into her chance at performing by the time she realizes Hibiki is watching her, she manages to pull off her performance without her so-called rival's attention affecting her.

Once the song is done, however, and she's finished touching base with friends who want to congratulate her, Chris seeks her out.]

... Uh, hey. I couldn't help but notice you and the spygoats watching.

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki has ditched the palanquin by this point; its conveyors' spirits were willing, but their inability to work in tandem made things precarious. The four goats are practicing rolling at the same speed off to one side while Hibiki leans on a tree.

She doesn't seem to think much of the fact that she came in person to see Chris, raising her chin to arrogantly educate Chris on The Shikyoin Hibiki Way. ] Witnessing my opponents' performances with my own eyes is my style.

Parade

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ Like hell Berserker is going to run. It's all he's good for, all he knows, and all he can do. He doesn't care who gets in the way, collateral damage is not his concern. His only concern is to kill what's now his enemy. A battle standard in hand, he's prepared to fight in his armor. A beast unleashed. ]

Fight with me or stay out of my way, I don't care what you choose.

[trustheart]

[That kind of armor... it's surprising to Chris. Not that he even has it, but how monstrous it makes him look.

But Chris also has tact so she's not gonna comment on it.]

Trust me, I'm not gonna complain. We need all the power we can on our side.

[To punctuate that, she morphs her Armed Gear into gatling guns, and opens fire, trying to herd the ayakashi towards Berserker so he can do his thing.]

[curruid_coinchenn]

[ It would not be the first nor the last time he's been thought of as a monster due to his appearance. Berserker doesn't care, though -- he is a monster in his deeds, isn't he? ]

Good, then I don't have to split my focus.

[ He stays just ahead of the line of bullets, poised and ready to strike. Seizing on the opportunity, he leaps towards the ayakashi with his battle standard aimed straight downward. It would not be a decisive strike, but it would be a powerful one. ]