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

A

[unlucky7]

[Ginia's dislike of Heaven is focused more on a specific leader and her shinki (and even then, more her shinki) as well as the pervasive attitudes drifting around. Today, combined with a loss of a friend, it's a little bit sharper. When the strange misty-cloud-bird envelopes the area, disrupting falconry attempts.

For her part, Ginia begins cracking up. Laughter that causes her to nearly double over, faint wheezing as she takes in the the grumbling old gods. Whether he can see or not, Ginia raises two thumbs up to Chikusa. Nice.]

[kokuyoyo]

[With the kind of people that end up being around the Far Shore on the new generation's side, Chikusa isn't particularly surprised to hear someone is having the time of their afterlife in this whole situation. Heaven might get a pass by some people, but they also aren't really popular with far more people... As if that wasn't obvious enough in the conversations that have been had between the two groups.]

[It takes him a second to make out that it's Ginia, on account of her not normally being a... noisy person, and his head slowly starts to lower until there's an enormous blue eye peering at her through the mist.]

[unlucky7]

[It's the kind of antagonizing of the old generation that shouldn't be encouraged, but to hell with it. It's hilarious and she could use a laugh right now. Listening to the chatter among the old about Chikusa's form is also an interesting point of observation. Chikusa is one of the strongest (if not the strongest) of their generation and maybe the rest of Heaven shouldn't underestimate them.

She waves as he peers down at her, moving to leap up a tree to get a bit closer.]

Congrats. Half are pissed off, the other half are wondering about your form.

[Ginia turns the volume all the way up on her phone. Hopefully that helps.]

[kokuyoyo]

[It's the kind of antagonizing that won't start an immediate war, Chikusa is pretty sure, but, then, he can only be any measure of certain because Hakkai was fully aware of what he wanted to do and gave the go ahead. There's no other way Chikusa could be in this form, after all.]

[Ginia being in a tree definitely makes it easier to speak with her, and he settles down right where he is. That means the mist isn't moving anywhere, and everyone's attempts at falconry are still fucked... but he's very clearly not crying any tears for that.]

[Her news has him slowly breathe out a quiet huff, one that manifests as lighter twirls of mist leaving his nostrils. The first are definitely what he's aiming for, but the second... He snaps his beak twice.]

[unlucky7]

They aren't the only ones wondering.

[It's easy balancing on a branch when you're light as air and dexterous too. Ginia swings up a leg so she can rest her hand on her knee. There's a nice view where they are. Despite all the memories associated with the forest, it's not the worst place to be. She admires the view as she weighs out her question, finally typing after a minute of silence.]

You're a hafuri vessel, aren't you.

[kokuyoyo]

[Ah. Sabimei was right about something, he supposes. It is news that's been spreading, even if he himself hasn't said much about it. Chikusa blinks slowly, not giving an immediate reply, but there's no real reason to keep it hidden from her. It's basically open knowledge... and she was there.]

[So, after a moment, he moves his head in a simple nod.]

[unlucky7]

[The gut reaction is to apologize and Ginia doesn't know why. Her borderline broke, Ayumu stabbed her, anything else after that she has no clue. So how Chikusa died isn't necessarily her fault, though maybe it was too. She could have, should have, died that night and that she didn't and Chikusa did...

The gut reaction is to apologize but how can she apologize for circumstances she doesn't know about?]

Was it worth it?

[It's a loaded, complicated question because becoming a hafuri is not guaranteed by death alone, but by laying your life down for your god. Ginia also distinctly remembering Chikusa stating Hakkai is not his god.]

[kokuyoyo]

[This is perhaps a very complicated question that probably shouldn't be had while he's stuck in the form of a giant bird whose mass is covering a lot of attempted falconry. Then again, maybe it wouldn't change anything. Much as he would while in the form of a teenage boy, Chikusa doesn't answer for a moment and only slowly blinks.]

[Eventually, however... Eventually he nods his head. Even if he had died again properly without transforming like this, with all of his memories, Chikusa can't say it wasn't worth it, although it hurts thinking that Ken has to deal with this. After all... Ayumu would have killed Hakkai if he hadn't stepped in. If he hadn't been able to slice through her legs, she could have still gone after him, and after Ken.]

[He managed to chase her away... even if only temporarily.]

[unlucky7]

[Chikusa isn't someone Ginia expects long, deep answers from, especially with regards to personal questions. It's probably easier this way, keeping to nods and head shakes. If it was worth it to him, it was worth it to him. If there's an opinion that matters, it's Hakkai's or Ken's well before hers.

She's still relieved though. Her hand gives the top of his misty head a very light pat.]

I'm glad you're still around. I don't have many friends left.

[kokuyoyo]

[...Ah. This again. It feels like... Recently, he's been having to confront the concept a friendship a lot more than he used to have to. Both in the way some people he had some interested in disappearing, such as Davesprite, and meanwhile, others, like Kairi...]

[all he can really do right now, however, is blink up at her, and slowly tilt his head to the side. It's the best way he can broadcast how much of a mystery this is to him.]

[unlucky7]

[Friendship is a mystery to the socially maladjusted. Ginia still wonders how she ended up with gods that want her to stay, a temple to call a family, a boyfriend who cares, and friends that have her back. It's hard not feeling like she's fooled them somehow, but she's slowly accepting she has some decent traits too.

But the losses aren't stopping any time soon and maybe it's time to reach out to the ones still around.]

I'm not going to pretend we're super good friends or that we're even close, but I like and respect you. You're constant.

Figure I might as well say it before we're all dead or this ends or something.

[kokuyoyo]

[From within Chikusa's beak comes a rasp of a rattling noise, a sort of protest- maybe- at her mention of them dying. For starters, Chikusa is fairly certain that they've moved past that already as shinki.]

[The heat death of the universe seems more like a problem than them dying, if he's honest.]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia huffs at the rattling. There's always the possibility of a second death. With how things were going up until now, that possibility was pretty damn high. With the kind of personalities around and the push against authority, it's still a high risk something is going to explode.

Is it strange death is more preferable than getting ripped away and tossed into the unknown? At least if something is going to kill her, hopefully she can identify it and come back for revenge. Or have someone else avenge her.

Silence settles for a minute or two before Ginia resumes typing.]

I hope Hakkai appreciates what you did.

[kokuyoyo]

[Okay, let him just answer that right off the bat with a shake of his head. Well, that might be a slight lie. He's not sure that Hakkai doesn't appreciate it, but he didn't seem happy about it.]

[Fortunately, Chikusa doesn't care about that. Hakkai's lack of care for his own life is something he'll shove into the garbage disposal where it belongs, even if it kills him. Which it did.]

[unlucky7]

[Huh. Ginia leans against the trunk and looks at him. Maybe appreciate is the wrong word. Plenty are ready to put their life on the line for someone else here, but does anyone want someone else to die for them? Probably not among their generation.

The relationship is for Chikusa to deal with. If it was worth it to him, if he can live with it, that's all that matters.

Maybe.]

Ken okay with things?

[kokuyoyo]

[...Alright. So. whether Hakkai cares if he sacrifices himself is something Chikusa doesn't care about. He'll admit that. Freely. Sometimes to Hakkai's face, because Hakkai is an idiot who needs this kind of roughness because the ball will be in his court if things are allowed to stay subtle and passive aggressive.]

[But... Ken.]

[Chikusa stares at Ginia for a long moment in complete silence and stillness, not even bothering to blink at her. (For all that its debatable if a creature of such dubious material even needs to blink.) After a long moment of nothing but that, he finally slowly lowers his head and breaks eye contact.]

[No. Ken is definitely not okay with things. Chikusa can't even say it escapes him as to why that is. After all, the first time he died, it had been in concern for Ken staying alive as well. If the roles were reversed... Chikusa knows that he'd be taking it just as badly. Actually, Ken might even be taking it worse.]

[unlucky7]

[Ginia's hand comes down in another light pat on his large head. That, they will need to sort out one day, but is it even possible? It's hard not to reflect inwardly on how the people around her would react. Chris would probably be furious and that in turn would affect Tsubasa.

Ebisu... it's no question she'd die for him, especially when it's the will of his last incarnation and the rest of the temple for him to live a long life.  But with all the deaths the temple has dealt with, another death is just as painful.

If she comes back as a hafuri, it doesn't really count as a death. That's an easy lie she can keep telling herself.]

Make things right with him, one way or another. More importantly, don't die again.

[kokuyoyo]

[Chikusa shifts his head just enough to side eye Ginia. He can't say that he doesn't really have too much of a choice in the matter to some extent, so he hopes that deadpan idea carries through in his stare.]

[...And then he turns his head to try and get his beak around Ginia.]

[Who let this asshole be big enough to swallow a human in his beak?]

[unlucky7]

[Not interested in the sudden voreing or finding out what would happen if he actually swallowed her (can he even swallow her? Does his shinki form work that way?), Ginia swats at his beak as he tries to close it around her.  It feels like it's about as effective as beating at fog, but the effort is still put in.]

[kokuyoyo]

[Ugh, dammit, Ginia. Let him do a vore. Chikusa pulls back with a huff, ducking his beak back down. Fine. Are you happy now?]