40 - May Event: Mystic Messengers' Mark

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
When: May 15th
Where: Votelli's Forest
What: The boar and deer population of Japan has boomed in recent years as hunters age and people move away from rural areas. The people have called upon the gods to help with this "pest" issue.







All over Heaven, gods receive invitations stamped with the chrysanthemum of Amaterasu. Each and every god has been invited to join the old gods on an old-fashioned hunt to do something about the boar and deer populations on the Near Shore. Votelli's forest has been chosen as the location of this sacred hunt, as it offers an expansive landscape for the sport as well as opens up the opportunity for many of the gods - both old and new - to speak to Votelli herself face to face. Other activities are planned for those who do not wish to hunt, such as an archery contest and a demonstration of Takagari - the Japanese art of falconry.

Face to Face

Votelli and Sotero wait in the forest with whoever will join them before slowly, cautiously exiting. They don't fight anyone who wants to stand in front of them as they appear before the Heavens for the first time, but they feel compelled to step in front eventually. There, all in attendance can see them for who they really are: very young gods.

Votelli appears between 12 and 14, a lithe teenage girl. Historically very timid and easily spooked, she has found a certain measure of confidence... while still holding tight to Sotero's hand. She wears newer, finer clothing compared to her first outing, provided to her by her friends. Her hair is just as long and black, though. Those who saw the goddess fighting in the Cultist Compound might mistake Votelli for her young sister. And Sotero their younger brother.

For Sotero looks 10 - but a lanky, tall boy who in reality acts much closer to 6 years old. Normally very brash, petulant, and loud... he stays close to Votelli and doesn't resist holding her hand. His expression is not playful or sly this time, but very focused - putting on a brave face like he might very well have to protect Votelli instead of the other way around.

Suijin is the one speaking for the Heavens. "We have been told that the two of you wish formal acceptance into Takamagahara. Is this true?"

Votelli speaks first: "It is." Then she tugs gently on Sotero's hand. "... Yeah. It is," he eventually echoes.

Suijin lifts her broad hat. "Do you renounce all allegiances to the cultists who created you? If so - name them."

Votelli nods. "I do. ... His name is Imai Takeru." Sotero looks worried, turning to Votelli. "But they're my mom and dad!" He turns back to Suijin. "You'll hurt them if I tell you!"

Suijin shakes her head. "Only gods of calamity kill humans. We will sever their ties to you. They may continue to live in peace if they never again use the kind of magic that created you." Sotero looks unconvinced, at which point Suijin looks a little frustrated. "I expect a name before you are granted formal entrance to Takamagahara, but perhaps another name will suffice as a peace offering between us - an act of faith until all of these human spellcasters are discovered."

Sotero gulps, while Votelli holds him a little closer.

Suijin speaks again, with a more commanding tone: "Rogue God Sotero - name the one in the Heavens who allowed you entrance into our domain. Name the traitor and we will know your true intentions."

(Prompt continues as one thread below, allowing for characters to interject before Sotero speaks again.)

Event Bonus:
3+ comments in this thread gains 100 followers / 10 exp per thread.

Face to Face (Before/After)

Before: Prior to the above prompt, if any characters would like to provide words of encouragement or solidarity, that can be threaded out individually! We will provide a top level each for Votelli and Sotero with a "Before" subject line.

After: Since the above thread will resolve somewhat peacefully, Sotero and Votelli will be around to speak with characters individually during the bento lunch. We will provide a top level each for Votelli and Sotero with an "After" subject line.

Event Bonus:
3+ comments in a thread with either Votelli or Sotero gains 100 followers / 10 exp per thread.

Gathering for the Hunt

The hunt starts early in the day, but not so early that the gathered gods can't enjoy a handmade bento lunch before getting started. Each god and shinki who arrive will find themselves in a clearing at the edge of the forest, rolling green surrounded by the lush backdrop of thick vegetation holding the prey of today's hunt. Blankets are spread over the grass in inviting splashes of color and tables are set up with stacks of bentos, a variety of foods and snacks and drinks available for any craving or preference, no matter how varied or strange.

Those who were here and involved in the Hungry Forest event might also find the setting very familiar. And perhaps a little unsettling, if they'd been among those kidnapped and held captive within its depths. Although today the expanse of thick trees and shadowy underbrush seems like just a normal forest, lacking the draining effects and other dangers it had once harbored.

Before anyone ventures beyond the clearing, the hosting gods and shinki are careful to explain the nature of today's hunt and also warn the newer gods and shinki about which of the beasts are fair game and which are not - namely the more tame sika deer, considered sacred to several of the gods and often seen as their messengers. The other creatures in the forest, however - the herds of roaming deer and the wild breeds of boar - are all fair game to the hunters, and in fact, there's already contests and wagers popping up on who will bring in the biggest trophy.

There are even rumors of one especially large and clever boar thought to dwell within the deepest reaches of the forest, rarely seen but of particular bane to hunters and trackers who have sought it many times over the years. It has avoided all pursuit, however, and its renown only grows with each passing year. Will this hunt finally uncover the elusive creature of legend?

Event Bonus:
A thread of 10+ comments gains 100 followers / 10 exp per thread.
Saving a sika deer from being killed gains an additional 250 followers / 25 exp per thread.

Ready Aim Fire

The clearing at the edge of the forest had been well prepared for hosting the Heavenly Host, both as a base camp for those entering into the forest in pursuit of their prey but also to entertain those left behind or not participating in the hunt itself. Those who remain outside the confines of the forest will find an assembled archery range for the non-hunters to still get some practice in or perhaps learn from one of the more experienced archers.

Contests take place throughout the day - some are distance based, each one with a varying range of difficulty depending on your level of expertise. Others have the range set up for challenges of field archery, adding in the difficulty of foliage or wooded areas and making aiming and targeting considerably more difficult. Some of the targets are even enchanted to move, hide, or dodge, creating some of the most challenging conquests for only the most dedicated of marksmen.

On the far side of the clearing - a very safe distance away from where any stray arrows might drift - several of the older gods remain behind to show off the art of takagari, or Japanese falconry. Once a sport restricted to nobles, warriors and samurai, many of the traditions and methods once practiced in the ancient days of Japan have been lost to history, but the finer details have clearly been preserved here among its gods. While the old gods hosting this practice remain in the background to watch over the proceedings (and keeping their favorite birds with them and out of stranger's hands), anyone is welcomed to approach the rest of the hawks and birds of prey, give hunting with them a try, or perhaps watch one of the experts in action.

Event Bonus:
A thread of 10+ comments gains 100 followers / 10 exp per thread.
Participants in a head-to-head Archery or Falconry challenge gains an additional 250 followers / 25 exp per thread.

The Great Hunt

The forest is quiet, other than the call of birds and the scurrying of smaller wildlife as the hunters enter. The ground is thick with tracks to be investigated by anyone with a discerning eye. Those who know what they're looking for will find thickly-layered paths made by deer, boar and other beasts of the forest who have wandered familiar trails into the undergrowth. Following these paths will find many hunters some easy targets, as the forest is lush with wildlife and the herds have swelled in recent years to the point of overpopulation. It will be rarer for hunters not to spot their prey the deeper in they go, but as the day wears on, it does seem to be getting more and more difficult to find those herds of deer and boar...

The deeper into the forest one ventures, the thinner and more scattered these tracks become. The deer paths seem to veer off before the forest grows to its thickest and should hunters keep pressing deeper, they'll eventually find that even the boar tracks start turning scarce. The call of birds becomes quieter and more elusive. The thick shadow of trees overhead makes the forest seem darker and closing in around you. Even the very air around you seems hushed and tense as if the very forest itself is watching your progress.

Not all the creatures avoid the depths of this forest, however. Approaching the heart of the forest, there does seem to still be at least one creature who frequents it, although the tracks are much more massive and sunk deep in the dirt as if pressed there by a great weight. Some of them are scraped and smeared as if that weight was dragged a time or two. Was the great beast that lurked here injured?

If good luck is with you (or perhaps that is bad luck?), you might be alerted by the sound of underbrush rustling nearby. But what bursts out... could it be the massive boar of legend or is it something more sinister? For there are several dark ayakashi that have also been lurking in the depths of this forest of late, hunting for prey of their own, their forms distorted and rotting and their eyes red and crazed - all the eyes that have now spread out across their blighted forms, that is. Should they spot you, they will give an enraged roar and charge, frenzied and driven mad from Blight. Hope you came prepared to be the hunter or the hunted.

Event Bonus:
A thread of 10+ comments gains 100 followers / 10 exp per thread.
Defeating a blighted ayakashi animal gains an additional 250 followers / 25 exp per thread.

A Different Sort of Hunt

For those not interested in partaking in 'the Great Outdoors', there is a different sort of hunt available to those with more experience hunting targets on two legs instead of four. The Counselors, their shinki, and Amaterasu's white-robed shinki emblazoned with their chrysanthemums... they all make it clear earlier in the day that they're still hunting down the last remnants of cultists free out in Japan and the world beyond, tracking down the locations of where the remnants are hiding out. For those willing to join this second hunt - whether they needed "warming up" hunting the deer and boar or not - the Counselors will make their research available - clues, whispers, addresses, IDs... whatever they could gather up until today.

Several of Takamagahara's own gods and shinki are out doing the footwork needed to round up the numbers of those that remain at large and any of the new gods and shinki who would rather lend their aid to this cause will be welcomed. Track down any remaining leads you have or get a location of a potential compound or blighted areas from the Hunt's hosts to go look into for yourselves - The Heavens want all remaining cultist members found and accounted for and are putting forth every effort to see this accomplished.

OOCly: Players are encouraged to select locations for compounds or heavy concentrations of cultists within Japan and outside it as well. Many locations in Australia, Europe, etc. have been named in previous Missions as places where blight circles have been located. Any of these - and other places - are places the Cult could have spread to. Next month, these will all become locations where Finale actions can take place. "Check in" with where your character(s) are going, but you don't need mod permission!

Event Bonus:
A thread of 10+ comments will gain 100 followers / 10 exp per thread.
Cultist hub of activity discovered and reported back gains an additional 250 followers / 25 exp per thread.

In Summary:

• Join the old gods on a hunt
• Enjoy the meal and activities
• Speak to Votelli or Sotero
• Participate in the hunt - whether your prey be two-legged or four
• Fight the giant boar ayakashi
• Have fun~

Comments

[snowywolf]

Gathering for the Hunt
[ Gralat has, in fact, participated in hunting before. Both for survival, and for sport (the latter of which he finds ridiculous, but politics are politics). He's already had the time to test the dogs that came with the temple he's currently inhabiting, in the forest that lays on the grounds.

So there are five dogs there with him- two Norwegian elkhounds, one karakachan bear dog, one keeshond, and one chow chow... He does not know the true names of any of the breeds and the orange fluff ball looks far from any hound he's ever worked with before. The elkhounds are the closest to what he is used to.

They're a bit more friendly than he is, too.

He's not here to help. He's here to fill his pantry.

The dogs seem to think that they're here to socialize, though. They have behaved as hunting dogs in the forest before but now that they're surrounded by people before setting out....

They seem excited and are not shy about greeting strangers. ]

Ready Aim Fire
[ Falconry is familiar to Gralat as well. He's the second in command to the Emperor's tomboy niece, so of course he has participated in the sport before. Though it's not this exact sort of falconry, of course, it's more or less the same.

The dogs are laying on the ground watching, used to birds and not snapping after them because of the poultry at the farm-like temple, though as usual they'll turn their attention toward anyone approaching, happy tails and curious ears in action. Miija the soulless shinki is rubbing the bellow of one furry beast, staying out of his gods way.

Meanwhile, Gralat is familiarizing himself with the bird, and then is expertly handling it, once it comes to giving hunting with them a shot. ]

The Great Hunt I
[ Though he is still wounded, a bow does not expend a lot of energy if you know how to use it, and Gralat does. (Plus, the people of Ellvaldez are sturdy, stubborn creatures, not stopped by some little tiger beast bites.) The kukri at his waist, accompanied by the falcata shape that Miija takes (he has heard that there were ayakashi in these woods before, and why should they be gone now?), are also not difficult to use with the hand attached to his uninjured shoulder.

Once they set out the dogs do know how to behave themselves properly- though if they come across a person rather than the game they're after they will stop to say hello- and are working to flush out prey to shoot. If you make yourself known, even if just saying hello to whichever eager doggo found your hiding spot (though you might not be hiding at all, or hiding from something less pleasant), you won't be mistaken for prey. ]

The Great Hunt II
[ The deeper they head into the forest the more uncertain the dogs become, and they all try to press up against any human (or otherwise safe) legs nearby, almost tripping people up on occasion. Something is certainly going on, further in.

Though Gralat shouldn't head too far in, he is seeking entertainment now that he is stuck in this world, and perhaps he might find something interesting inside the darkness.

He should probably tie up his hair before they encounter something really dangerous, though, as it is very long and keeps getting stuck in reaching branches. ]

Gathering for the Hunt

[unlucky7]

[There sure are a lot of friendly dogs looking for attention. The chow chow approaches Ginia first and while Ginia is busy petting it, the keeshond and bear dog follow. This is the furthest thing from a problem as they bump and jump up at her, Ginia keeping her balance and gamely pushing them back down as she continues to pet them.]

[snowywolf]

[ The dogs look for too much attention. They're supposed to be here to hunt, not to drag him into unwanted conversation. At least the elkhounds are behaving (for now) but the other three... ]

Onni, Kallaste, Loksa, stop bothering people.

[ The bear dog, Kallaste, is the only of the dogs that even partially tear his attention away from their new friend. He looks like he thinks the unfriendly god could use some cuddles too. ]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia glances at the long-haired man as he addresses the dogs. She gives them each a final pat before trying to urge them back to their owner. Go on, good fuzzy doggos, you have somewhere to go. She smiles at them and wipes her hands off on her pants before pulling out her phone, making sure the volume is loud enough he can hear.]

They're nice dogs. What are the other two named?

[snowywolf]

[ The strange tool - phone, something, whatever - being taken out is unexpected. He also squints at the voice that comes out of it, as if he might hear what it says better. His gaze locked on it even as he replies to her question may be telling; he's not used to such a thing. ]

Iisakki and Valga. And they're meant for hunting and guarding, not for being nice.

[unlucky7]

[Ginia takes everything in stride as he looks at her phone and not her. There's always a risk in reaction when it comes to meeting new people. She glances over him for a sight of a name - a name is plainly visible on the back of her left hand - before she continues on.]

Those are not mutually exclusive ideas. A dog can be friendly and still do their job incredibly well.

The Great Hunt II

[fortunesmiles]

Ah!

[A sharp, startled cry comes from behind Gralat, right before there's a soft thud of someone clearly falling over. Almost immediately afterwards, the bear dog runs hurriedly back to Gralat's side, trying to look innocent while being clearly shamefaced as only a dog who knows he has been a Bad Dog can be. Evidence suggests that someone definitely just tripped over him when he sidled up on them unexpectedly.

If Gralat investigates behind the nearby bush blocking his view, he'll find a pale and somewhat dazed young man sprawled on the ground, hair a mess. (Not that this is the fall's fault, it just always looks like that.) He pushes himself up carefully; there doesn't seem to be significant damage, but his lower lip appears to be bleeding. Either he smacked it somehow in the fall, or he bit it.]

I certainly didn't expect a dog to be out here... [He rubs his head. It's hard to tell if this is out of mildly exasperated bafflement, or if he struck it in the fall.]

[snowywolf]

[ These woods are thick and unfamiliar. It's no wonder the dogs notice people before Gralat does. He turns, tugs his hair free from a branch and winces just barely because he used his injured arm, to see what the dog did this time.

He pushes past the underbrush and stares down at the owner of the voice he heard. ]

Kallaste... That is currently not suitable prey.

[fortunesmiles]

[Komaeda is brushing dirt off of himself when he hears Gralat's statement and laughs, a touch ruefully.] Ah...I hope I'm not suitable prey in the future, either, really... [He didn't miss that 'currently'.

He absentmindedly licks the blood off his lip - he can feel it, and it's mildly unpleasant - before speaking again.] Forgive me for getting in the way of your hunt, but I seem to have gotten lost. [Slightly unusually, he doesn't tack on a request for directions. Komaeda knows full well that if his luck is determined to get him lost, it'll keep him lost until such time as his good luck is able to outweigh the bad again, at which point he'll no doubt accidentally find his way back. Directions won't help his chances any.

He could probably warp back, of course. He doesn't see why that wouldn't work. But he'd rather let his bad luck burn itself out on something as harmless as this, rather than subverting it and having it take some other, more unexpected channel. It might manifest into something much worse...]

I'm Nagito Komaeda, by the way. Or the god Averruncus, if you'd prefer.

gathering for the hunt

[kokuyoyo]

[And if there's one thing that dogs love, it's people who smell absolutely fascinating.]

[Which isn't to say Chikusa stinks. Out of his entire temple, he's probably the one most aware of his own hygiene, if only because he adores taking baths or any kind of bathing at all. Definitely not a problem related to his past or anything.]

[Yet, despite his best and many attempts, well. He does live in a house with a giant dog, a magical owl, at least one nekomata at any given time and usually a few more than that, and Ken, his boyfriend, who is... many animals, when it come to scent. (He's also filth, when it comes to scent.) So, in a resigned sort of way, he's not really surprised when the nearby dogs perk up and seem to swarm him.]

Not... again... ugh. Are these yours...?

[snowywolf]

[ Baths are nice, particularly when you don't have to once more turn ice cold the moment you step out of them. A temperate climate is a luxury.

Gralat watches coolly as the dogs, all five of them, bound over to yet another person.... And he sighs deeply. Some watch dogs they will be, if this is the way they react to strangers. ]

For the time being.

[kokuyoyo]

[For the time being, huh...? Chikusa wonders about that, letting the hounds shove their noses all over him to take in those nice random animal smells. There's certainly a variety.]

Do you not plan to keep them...?