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

[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."