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

[priforprince]

Utterly wretched.

[ Hibiki tries unsuccessfully to bat away that hand, having focused more on aesthetic batting technique than accuracy. Wendy therefore gets to discover her god is burning with the flames of pure amore, or perhaps a fever. ] Observing such fumbling isn’t alleviating the cruel aches I suffer in the slightest.

[nopixiedust]

I knew you should have just stayed home when you have a fever... You really are thick sometimes, Hibiki.

[What? She's not going to hold back when her god is making herself sicker for the stupidest reasons. This is the sort of thing that could have been observed via goat... Oh well. Sighing, Wendy reaches over to tuck Hibiki's hand away at her side. No, no aesthetically pleasing protests from you.]

If I tell you to stay here, will you actually listen for once? I need to get something from some of Amaterasu's shinki.

[priforprince]

I am disinclined to movement.

[ In fact, she’s not sure she’s capable of it. Save to sink deeper into her blanket, with the blanket of exhaustion lying ever firmer upon her.... ]

[nopixiedust]

Good.

[Wendy can only hope that she stays like this, because she suspects that, if Hibiki becomes even the slightest bit motivated, she'll only get into even more trouble. Best for her to just be so sick that she passes out from it, and can sleep through her fever.]

[For now, however, Wendy turns on her heel and hurries off to search for one of the shinki working for Heaven. It doesn't take too long before she's hustling back with a bottle of water and a damp cloth. It's the latter she uses first, gently brushing aside Hibiki's bangs so that she can lay it across her forehead.]

How does this feel?

[priforprince]

Do you believe that can assuage my discontent...?

[ Despite her protests, however, Hibiki closes her eyes. The cloth is cool and comforting. Therefore, such ministrations appear to have been Found Worthy.

Maybe if she focuses on it, she can block out the distant strains of someone not understanding exactly how abysmal they are at archery....

Or on how stuffed-up her nose feels.... ]

[nopixiedust]

Yes.

[Let her just... shut you down immediately on that front, Hibiki. Wendy perches nearby, keeping close so that she can uncap the bottle of water.]

At the very least, it's a lot more useful than complaining about archery that you yourself forced your own eyes to watch. Here, open your mouth. You need water.

[Because it's sure being lowered to her mouth anyway.]

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki holds out a hand, fingers already curved in a holding posture. ] I don’t require feeding....

[ Of course, this will just result in a garbled sputter if the water has already begun to flow. ]

[nopixiedust]

[SO HOW ABOUT THAT GARBLED SPUTTER]

[Because as if Wendy is going to miss out on a chance to take advantage of Hibiki's big mouth opening. She really shouldn't have to worry about looking cool when she already looks like a huge dork right now.]

You say you don't require a lot of things, but you still insisted on dragging yourself out here while sick. If I don't force care on you, you'd be absolutely hopeless.

[priforprince]

Mrrfffle....

[ Indeed: one garbled sputter, right on cue. Hibiki does at least swallow, since the water is aimed at her mouth instead of the more.....generalized application of bottled water to her person.....Chinatsu had employed after her erstwhile attempt at revolution.

She’s thus silenced until the water has run its course, at which point she swallows and then sniffs.

....and then sniffles. Curse this pold. ] Rest is all I seek. This farce advertised itself promisingly, but it was merely a mirage reflecte—-

[ Alas. A Hibiki metaphor has been lost to a coughing fit. She holds out her hand again: the water is once again requested. ]

[nopixiedust]

[Because Wendy is feeling nice now after making sure Hibiki knows who's in charge, she hands over the water bottle this time instead of shoving it down her god's throat.]

In other words, it wasn't what you thought it would be. Well, isn't that just to be expected? A lot of the people have never even been near a bird like those before, or handled a bow.

[priforprince]

So it would seem.

[ Hibiki finishes her water, dropping the bottle when she’s finished - out of hold, out of mind. She clears her throat, snuggling up in her blanket. Wendy has a point. Nothing can be expected of the Far Shore, and thus... ]

Summon the carriage.

[ Her voice comes out thick. Hibiki scowls: must it even take her excellent enunciation?! ]

[nopixiedust]

[Again with the dang carriage... Wendy sighs but actually doesn't argue for once. With the state Hibiki is in, a carriage might actually be for the better. It doesn't look like she's in any condition to walk, let alone teleport.]

Only this once. You're sure there's nothing else you'd want to stick around for?

[priforprince]

Leaving an event of this quality to the likes of them is best.

[ A vague handwave from the blankets indicates that “them” is her fearsome army of spies, several of whom are trying to do the falconry but, in practice, this just means a spygoat is now being dragged into the air by a bird like a toy attached to a runaway kite.

.....On second thought, maybe Hibiki will just give up on today altogether. ]

[nopixiedust]

[Wendy turns her head to stare at the goats. She turns to stare down at Hibiki.]

[Sometimes, she really wonders how on earth Hibiki has gotten to be in possession of so much money with how much of a dumbass she can be.]

How about I just take you and the goats home, and then I come back here, and I'll tell you if anything interesting happens.

[She's pretty sure she'll be a little more reliable than the goats in this aspect.]

[priforprince]

[ Hibiki watches the goats.

It pains her to watch the goats.

Hibiki deliberately turns her entire body away from the goats. ] ....An acceptable alternative.

[nopixiedust]

[Yeah, that's what she thought. Sighing, Wendy leans over to make sure that some of Hibiki's hair is brushed out of her face. Someone has to look after this glittery mess of a human being, and she guesses that's her.]

Just stay right here while I round up the goats. Even if you hear a sentence ender, got it?

[Although Wendy guesses Hibiki is more likely to faint by sentence ender than anything...]

[priforprince]

Nnnh.

[ Hibiki closes her eyes, snuggling into her blanket cocoon. She will not be of much help with goat corralling, but as “staying right here” was her plan anyway, she’s willing to go along with Wendy’s plan.

....Ah, how her heart longs for a nap.]

[nopixiedust]

[If she really wants, Hibiki can nap all she likes. That's probably for the better, from Wendy's perspective. That means at least her god won't be getting into trouble. Now if only the goats were that easy...]

[At least they listen to her. If they were real goats, that would probably be a lot harder.]

[The goats aren't the only thing Wendy is getting, although they are instrumental to it. Instead, she's making something that will hopefully get Hibiki to where she needs to be. What is that? Don't worry about it.]

[Well. Hibiki should probably worry about it. Because once there's that sound of over a dozen robot hooved wheels on the grass... Wendy is carefully rolling her god over onto her other side. And she keeps rolling her.]

Alright, just keep that right where it is!

[Because she's sort of made a stretcher with a sheet and tied it among the different goats.]

1/2

[priforprince]

Ngh?

[ A beautiful, bleary eye opens to see what’s causing this semblance of a fuss.

It stares, then shuts itself again. What a laughably—

....is she moving? ]

2/2

[priforprince]

What? What the?!

[ Hibiki regains the ability to move just as she rolls out of the chair. Which means she’s landing on the stretcher a flailing, blanketed mess.

THE GOATS WILL BE BRAVE AND RESILIAA-NT. ]

[nopixiedust]

Hibiki, stop moving so much. You're sick.

[Because that's the main issue here. Leaving Hibiki to her fate, Wendy looks at what goats are left.]

As for you lot, make sure to get that back to the temple, alright? We don't want a perfect good piece of furniture to go to waste.

[It doesn't deserve the same fate as the teacups.]

[priforprince]

What sort of—

[ But this doubtlessly brilliant argument is cut off by a cough, so Hibiki does as instructed. Because she’s focused on breathing. Any port in a storm.

The goats rock forward in a unified nod. Leave this to them! They are dependmaa-ble! ]

[nopixiedust]

I told you not to move.

[Sighing, Wendy makes sure to walk inbetween the moving furniture and the moving god.]

It's easier if you just lay like that, right? Or else you might fall off if the goats tied to pick you up along with your seat.

[priforprince]

This offends my style.

[ And yet she lies there, sheet slightly sagging despite the goats’ best efforts. This is less of a stretcher and more of a craa-dle, but: it’s working.

She closes her eyes. ] Rouse me when we’ve reached my bedroom. My illness worsens.

[ Sure, Hibiki. Sure. ]

1/2

[nopixiedust]

Oh, Hibiki, it's okay.

[Delicately, as to not upset the goats' grip on the makeshift stretcher, Wendy perches delicately besides her god and pats her head. Soft, reassuring, sweet...]