39 - Where Do We Stand?

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: Help the Heavens investigate what remains of the cult and their compound
When: May 2
Where: A converted farm on the rural edge of the Tokyo metro area
Summary: Characters can discuss what they know about the cult, choose how much or how little they tell the Heavens' representative Suijin, and help make decisions about where to go from here.






This place was once a farm, then rebuilt into a compound with a big central building, heavy concrete walls and plenty of outdoor spaces for ritual magic. Now, the rooftop has caved in, and the main floor has collapsed as well, leaving a basement open to the skies above. All around, police tape from a local Near Shore department has quarantined off the area. Amaterasu's shinki, in cooperation with those from Suijin, Fuujin, and Raijin have managed to take shifts warning miscreants and the police away from the area, but left the tape to help with those efforts. Just beyond the tape, they've now put up Borderlines to safely guard against ayakashi for the duration of this meeting, but they're pretty far out of earshot and very focused.

Letter of Invitation

Everyone should have seen the digital letter that Amaterasu sent out, but just in case, later that day each temple receives a single letter, with a wax seal on it with Amaterasu's chrysanthemum as the emblem. It is a reproduction of the same digital letter that Amaterasu crafted the day before; it's not printed out, but rather handwritten with painstaking accuracy. The shinki could be from Amaterasu, Suijin, Raijin, or Fuujin, and they will not force anyone to take the letter, in particular if they're told that the god/dess already saw the message on their phone earlier.

Early Arrival

There's a set time that Suijin will arrive - Noon - but as everyone is encouraged to come early, it is possible you are one of the first or last to arrive among the "early" crowd. How did you get there? Was it by stealth or impossible to miss, even by any Near Shore people in the area?

Topics of Discussion

Now is your chance to discuss with your fellows what you know, don't know, wish you knew, etc. about the cult or their compound. Do your characters think they are still being spied on by Heavens and want to hold back, or are they reasonably confident speaking out with the protecting shinki so far away? At the very least, none of the shinki are making very obvious attempts to return to the compound itself. For the very paranoid, there are little alcoves out of visual range or a small room that still has a door on it, albeit not a ceiling.

Suijin's Arrival

Suijin arrives at the appointed time, stepping onto the compound's front drive and under the police tape at precisely Noon. She comes in the capacity of official counselor for Amaterasu. OOCly, this thread will be free-form individual threading.

After her arrival, we will have mirrored top-level comments with Suijin supplying a piece of information as a jumping off point for discussions about each topic. From that point, it will be individual threading, or multi-character threads if you would like. All of these threads will still be addressed to the group at large, loud enough for them to hear and jump in if players would like.

Redacted April 7th via OOC post: We will run this similar to how we ran the Compound's Second Fight: there will be an opportunity for Suijin and/or her shinki to speak, then characters will be given free reign to respond to her and amongst themselves for a period of time. Then, another "round" will begin with Suijin and/or her shinki's responses to the characters. This structure allows for characters to still react with late comments or reactions to anything being said, or jump in whenever they feel comfortable speaking up.

In Summary:

• Talk amongst yourselves before Suijin arrives
• Check out the damage inflicted on the Compound
• Discuss next steps with Suijin, if you would like
• Have fun~

Comments

[sweetspringwater]

[ Suijin's shinki Kayonaga gesticulates angrily in Nia's direction, matching her intensity, now that Suijin's had some of her own say. ]

You would do well to announce yourself when making such claims to the Lady Suijin! Just who are you that you can speak for the rogue god?

[swordofzero]

[Why is everyone deciding it's alright to yell at gods now? Suzaku knows Nia's temper though... He's not a person who can calm her but she's agreeing with him (though he had given his opinion in a much less... dramatic way and he doesn't want to her to get into trouble. He steps a little away from Ginia towards Nia. Not saying anything for the moment. Just. Being there.]

[sassywelshcatgirl]

Oh hang it up. [Nia rolls her eyes dramatically.] The name's Nia, and I'm one of those shinki you just said you can trust to be honest on the matter. You want to declare eternal war on a girl because you haven't heard anyone speak up, don't be surprised when someone does.

[medicinemaster]

Had her shinki, Nia, not urged her to come Yaone would have stayed behind at her temple in favor of continuing her studies of the learning materials left behind in her new home. For all of her reservations toward getting involved in the mess that has been playing out before her since the day of her arrival, she understands the value of staying informed of current events and knowing the key players involved.

She'd come into this meeting, caring very little about the events that have transpired here in the past outside those that directly play into her agenda. Throughout this whole meeting, Yaone's sat very calmly, listening intently, throughout this entire affair, dressed formally in one of the many fancy, lavender silk outfits left behind in He Xiangu's temple. For most of it, she's been preoccupied with her own thoughts on the situation that Sotero and Votelli appear to be in.

After Nia's outburst, she's initially too surprised to react as the realization of the source of the other character on her shinki's body sinks in. But then as the argument heats up again, Yaone stands up abruptly, moving then with barely a rustle of silk and superhuman speed even as Nia's anger, worry, and desperation ebb and flow through her. Suddenly, she's just there, one claw-tipped hand outstretched in a placating gesture toward Suijin and her shinki.

"Nia, at ease," she speaks softly, half-turning her face toward her shinki while still keeping her eye on the others. "Please."

After a moment, she turns to speak to Suijin and her shinki.

"I am the one the Heavens call He Xiangu and this is my shinki. I may be relatively new to these lands but I have been listening throughout these discussions very carefully. I have not met Votelli or Sotero myself and as such I do not have personal ties to either of them. In all of this, I am a newcomer but I can see that this pair is a source of grave contention here in the Heavens."

Yaone pauses to take a breath before continuing to speak, her tone implacably calm and neutral, even as she aches from force of her shinki's passion for this subject. Nia's feelings are Nia's feelings; she simply can't allow them to sway her into bias when there is so much on the line.

"Am I wrong in my understanding that this state of things could have adverse effects on the mortals who are not involved in this fight? It would seem that many unknown variables remain but I believe that the power that I have inherited may be of assistance in resolving this matter. In the interest of protecting those mortals, I offer my service."

It's not what Yaone wants to do but if her hand is to be forced like this, she will do what she must. Lord Kougaiji would understand, wouldn't he? She cannot let this continue.

[sweetspringwater]

Suijin turns as Yaone begins speaking and listens, then looks over at Nia and Suzaku both - and she gives a nod to her own shinki.

"He Xiangu, new though you may be-" She gives a slight tilt towards Nia. "Chaos in Heaven will bring chaos upon the Near Shore as well. We have been dutifully striving to reduce this discord which the rogue gods have stirred up. There are mortals who have chosen to involve themselves, and yes many others who have not." She levels her head again, raising it just enough for her eyes to be seen from beneath the hat. "To that end, you are willing to vouch for the honesty of your shinki - in general or specific to these matters? The growing amount of evidence being purely by word is unnerving to say the least, and not well regarded in the long history of Heaven by those so new to it. Choose your words carefully - both of you."

[sassywelshcatgirl]

The spurt of fury came through the shinki bond before it showed on her face, but both Nia's hands balled into fists as her shoulders went back. She wasn't about to attack, because she wasn't going for her weapons, but she was about to let loose a tirade...

[medicinemaster]

This really isn't good. How can Yaone vouch for the integrity of a person she's only known a couple of weeks? Dokugakuji had told her to take care of her shinki but that was before the Heavens had assigned her a shinki mixed up with enemies of Heaven. She hadn't known just what her newest shinki was into until today or how that danger could transfer to both her and Sakon until now.

She can feel Nia's anger, sense the incoming outburst, but continues to stand fast against it, her jaw setting.

"I believe that Nia speaks the truth in her heart on this matter. However, I cannot speak for the character of the one she defends without examining her myself. If she is truly a victim of unfortunate circumstances as others have claimed, I believe I can tell. My ability allows me to see into a person's mind and mend it of injuries done to it."

Yaone speaks slowly and carefully. She's treading across a narrow precipice, painfully aware of just how low her status in the Heavens truly is. It's a great risk but one that she has no choice but to take.

"If Votelli's actions against the Heavens are a result of another's poisonous influence, I may be able to heal her of those effects. Would it not be wise to verify the claim quickly and absolutely to prevent further conflict? I can do that if I meet her."

[sweetspringwater]

Kayonaga scoffs on Suijin's behalf. "Literally controlling a God of Heaven to the extent that it leaves poison behind? Such magic doesn't exist."

Suijin nods once. "If such magic existed, He Xiangu - how would you be able to prove that it was the magic spell cast and not simple coercion? Not just to yourself, but before a Conclave where Our Lady Amaterasu herself has the final say in this matter."

[medicinemaster]

"I do not speak of magic. I speak of manipulation. If the girl has truly been coerced, it will have left behind wounds. I can heal them."

In theory. Yaone has not yet practiced using He Xiangu's powers but she is willing to train very hard to do what she can. And for the time being, she's willing to bluff her way through this as long as possible.

"If you desire proof of my powers beforehand, I offer to you a demonstration. Do you have any ills or mental scars that ail you, mister? I can heal you of them if Lady Suijin wishes it."