37 - A Call To Arms

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: Help the Heavens go after the cultists' compound
When: April 1
Where: A converted farm on the rural edge of the Tokyo metro area
Summary: Between Amaterasu's shinki observing the known cultists, and the work that the new gods and shinki have done, a rural property that might be the cultists' compound has been identified!






After months of investigation, Amaterasu's shinki still haven't found the rebel gods she's searching for -- but, with the help of the new gods and shinki, following the cult has revealed their rural meeting place! It was once a farm, but has recently been rebuilt into a compound with a big central building, heavy concrete walls and plenty of outdoor spaces for ritual magic. The new gods, and some of the old, have been asked to descend to the Near Shore and find out everything they can about this mystery compound.

High Walls

It's not just concrete that protects the compound. The walls are engraved with magical symbols, and any god or shinki who gets too close to them finds themselves feeling increasingly sick, weak and repelled from the structure. Even flying over won't work. There's only one exception: when the front gates are opened to allow cultists, or scheduled deliveries, a careful few gods or shinki can sneak through without being blocked by the spell. How will they get in? Shadow a cultist? Pretend to be a pizza delivery driver? Or will they risk alerting the cultists by trying to break down some other part of the wall?

Booby Traps

The problems don't end when they get inside the compound. Dozens of cultists seem to live here -- or maybe they're just visiting for the weekend? Either way, there's a lot of people inside, and while most of them overlook the presence of Far Shore beings, that doesn't mean there's no danger. Magical booby-traps and seals are dotted around the grounds and throughout the big, sprawling, two-story manor at the end of the driveway. Some of them blight any god or shinki who triggers them. Others glue their feet to the ground, or make them instantly noticeable to any passing cultist, or weaken them by draining their energy away.

The traps have clearly been made by several different people, and some of them have weird senses of humor! Almost any effect might be inflicted on the unwary characters who stumble across a booby-trap, although most of them won't cause serious injury or death, and the effects wear off within a few minutes to a few hours after either they get away from the trap, or someone else helps them by destroying it.

The First Fight

Not every human cultist in the compound is blind to the presence of gods and shinki -- and with all the traps being triggered, it's just a matter of time before they're caught. The first warning that the cultists know they're being invaded is the piercing sound of a bell. The second is the appearance of lashing ayakashi tentacles that rise up from the ground all throughout the manor house. As the humans flee, the tentacles will wrap around any gods or shinki they can catch, trying to drag them further into the house and down. Although they can be cut and destroyed, the main body of the creature is out of reach: it lurks far below, in the building's basement, gnashing a massive, serrated octopus beak that's ready to rip apart and devour any souls who can't struggle free of its grip in time. Follow the spectral tentacles down to the beast's lair, and slay it before it can kill all the invaders!

Please comment to the First Fight thread below if your characters are trying to rend the ayakashi. Each character can only be in ONE First Fight thread. RNG will be used to determine which fighters manage to strike the final blow, but RNG will only select a single thread; players are free to negotiate how the final blow happens within that thread.

The Second Fight

As the octopus ayakashi dissolves, finally free from the magical bondage that forced it to guard the cultists' compound, a mysterious door is revealed set into the far wall of the manor basement. A strange glow emanates from within. Enter... if you dare!

To participate in the second fight, please comment to the Second Fight thread below with the character(s) who will be participating in your thread. A top-level with further details will go up on February 7.

In Summary:

• Investigate a cult compound
• Watch out for traps
• Battle a giant octopus
• Uncover a mystery
• Have fun~

Questions? Leave us a question on the OOC Plotting Post and we'll do our best to answer ASAP.

Comments

high walls / wildcardish

[estinien]

[ Sometimes magic sigils are obvious and sometimes they're like a red flag to a bull. It's unclear which of the two convinced Estinien to try and jump the wall but it's certainly obvious he's not feeling so hot when he catches up with his old friend, taking a moment to lean over, hands on his knees in an attempt to steady himself. ]

Curse this place a hundred times over. Is naught ever simple for once? [ Aymeric pointing something out is only just heard and Estinien casts a sidewards glance towards the entrance. ] Mayhap we should walk through it and deal with it head on.

[ Someone is definitely sour. ]

1/2

[onedrinkwithme]

And where would that get us? If anything we would be overwhelmed and at a disadvantage-

[Seriously, who is stupid enough to even suggest such a thing?]

2/2

[onedrinkwithme]

[Wait a second, he knows that voice. Turning around he sees Estinien and the normally composed leader finds himself blurting out the first thing that comes to mind:]

Estinien! Where have you been all this time?! I know you like to wander but in this world I had feared you vanished!

[Arse.]

[estinien]

T'would be a start.

[ It sure beat just standing around trying to think of overcoming the impossible sigils. Gods it had been as if an arrow had shot him down mid jump. Another curse is grumbled at the sigil makers before the dragoon realizes just how much trouble he is in (and not from the enemy).

Oh.

Well.

It hadn't been intentional, one thing had led to another and before Estinien knew it a large span of time had passed. At least Estinien can say he's more clear headed than before. Or you know, he would if he had any common sense. Instead the dragoon folds his arms and shakes his head at Aymeric, wholly intent on being as vague as possible.]

I did not stray too far.

[onedrinkwithme]

Considering it seems that you have learned what the sigils do, the idea of simply running through the front door as such is dangerous. Even for someone of your strength and it looks like you might be feeling out of sorts for awhile if mine own experience means anything.

[Don't fuck with those things bro. They suck.]

[estinien]

[ Those sigils are now public enemy #1. Almost on par with Nidhogg. Almost.

Still for now Estinien is just going to catch his breath, fine with the current topic since it doesn't seem to be touching the Bismark in the room of one's disappearance. ]

How do they differentiate between ally and foe?

[onedrinkwithme]

It reacts only to those of the Far Shore; any mortals here will be unaffected.

[Straight to the point but Aymeric has an idea.]

...we need to get ourselves some robes.

[estinien]

[ The expression on Estinien's face is nothing short of dubious. If the sigils take down anyone from the Far Shore he's not sure how outfits will help. Unless...

If Aymeric is thinking it then it must be good and worth at least an attempt. ]

What kind?

[onedrinkwithme]

The kind that our 'comrades' use as their uniform but we need to be selective. [Because let's face it, they are both tall and they need to spot anyone that can match their height. But the sounds of footsteps and whispers of people get his attention and Aymeric decides to pull Estinien along with him, away from the incoming cultists. Alas, these were not big enough to borrow robes from.]

Let us hope that this will not take a long time.

[estinien]

[ It's tempting to stay put and glare at the wall yet even Estinien knows that staring at it won't make it crumble any faster. Aymeric is right, they need to find a disguise and make their way in. It just so happens that being stupidly tall is, for once, a curse today.]

Knowing our luck they're all even shorter. [ The denziens of this world were a strange bunch, even as cultists . All their technology at their fingertips meant less walking and more typing. Estinien is sure he'll never understand it and yet even as he shakes his head like an old man does at kids on the lawn he suddenly has an idea.]

Tell me, friend. This bunch of idiots need to eat, surely?

[onedrinkwithme]

That they do; even if they are our enemy, they are still mortal as we are despite what the higher powers say.

[Oh, buddy has an idea that does not involve stabbing? Good job!]

[estinien]

[ Estinien is pretty sure he has an idea on what to do, and yes it is the kind of plan that doesn't involve stabbing people. Wonders never cease. ]

Then what are you waiting for? Order something in, surely they will not be able to resist the allure of food.

[onedrinkwithme]

If all else fails...

[He shrugs and takes out his phone, using the search engine to find local pizza places. This might be Japan but it seems pizza is all over the world. Aymeric does manage to find one and place an order.

And it isn't a simple 'give me a large pepperoni' either; it's more 'I need six pizzas ASAP, one needs to have all the meat on there and one needs to just be pineapple'. They're easy to make and Aymeric did at least sound convincing to be a panicked customer who needed to feed a sudden influx of co-workers. The poor pizza workers.]

Who is this under? Ah yes, my name is Mitsui Ryou. Thank you for taking care of us under such short notice.

[Click.]

That should take care of that. Now we wait.

[estinien]

[ Estinien is watching closely as Aymeric puts the order in, noting just how big said order is. Perfect. No-one will turn down free food and if anything it will be the perfect distraction.]

Good, if anything they will be here sooner than later. [ Though there's a few things the elezen is curious about when it comes to that order. Mainly the name. Where did it come from? There's something else too and before the dragoon can think it through he simply asks it out loud.]

Did I truly hear you ordering one of those things with "pineapple" on it?

[ w h y?]

[onedrinkwithme]

I heard some enjoy the topping so I suppose it can be considered normal. As for time, it should not be longer than half a bell given their profession.

[All they can do is wait until the alotted time, hidden to make sure they do not get found out. After thirty minutes pass, a small truck moves towards the main gate with several people dressed in robes stopping them. Aymeric can hear the conversation as the driver is revealed as a worker for the pizza shop with the order. There were cheers when they heard Ryou's name mentioned while a couple tried to grab the pizzas to take inside.

And that's when shit hit the fan.]

Hold on...who the hell ordered pineapple on a pizza?

Hey if you guys won't eat it I will!

Are you a moron?! Pineapple and cheese is disgusting!

Hey can we just get this inside? I'm hungry!

How about paying me first? Whoever called it in didn't pay over the phone.

Hey! Don't shoot pineapple down until you tried it!

I rather have a cat's butt in my face when I wake up than eat that!

I thought your cat does that already.

Shut up!

[If they wanted a distraction with the gate open, it happened and all it had to take was discourse on pizza toppings. Everyone was so distracted that the two elezen can easily walk in without worry.]

People here truly take their pizza seriously. Best to go now while they are busy.

[estinien]

[ Of all the things for an opposing enemy to go to pieces over, Estinien had never suspected it to be food. Or better yet; what ingredients went on said food. He would never eat pineapple on a pizza, he's tried it once to no avail, but distracting himself from his duties over said fruit would be an absolute no no.

So it's with a somewhat stunned look that the dragoon watches as everything essentially goes to shit for the cultists. ]

Seriously?

[ Estinien isn't going to kick a gift chocobo in the mouth though, noting that Aymeric has noticed the same thing. If they're going to go then now is the time and he gives a nod.]

Aye. It's now or never. [ And with that he simply straightens up and heads towards the gate, wondering just how long the pineapple debate would last whilst the poor delivery driver still queries his pay.]

[onedrinkwithme]

[Aymeric simply nods in reply as he follows his comrade towards the gate, holding his breath. But as they walk, the people around are too engrossed in the discourse. Was pineapple really that controversial? Apparently so when one cultist raised their voices trying to tell another that they're wrong while the pizza guy is focused on his phone, waiting for the arguing to stop.

He's even more concerned when they were able to slip past the car and gate entrance without any notice. Might be due to the nature of the Far Shore but still. It's only when they move around a corner that Aymeric speaks.]

I have to wonder if some of these people know what exactly they are stepping into. If they let something as small as food anger them, what happens when something larger faces them?