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

[unlucky7]

I'm with you on actual hunting.

[Which is maybe a bit ironic considering how he's seen her kill a human. It wasn't a joyous act though. Even if hunting for many is in service of staying fed, the air that it's a challenge and thrill and a life taken in the end to brag about feels a bit hollow. She can understand the fun of a good fight to some degree, but there isn't any of that here.

Hunting ayakashi is a service, not an enjoyable hobby.]

Might as well make sure no one gets their ass kicked by a blighted boar or deer.

[A sardonic smile accompanies her signs. She gestures at the poleaxe resting on his shoulder.]

That was one of Ren's soulless shinki, right?

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun doesn't consider it ironic, since he's willing to kill but he doesn't enjoy it. In a case like this, it just strikes him as people doing it for entertainment, which never sits right with him.]

It's especially necessary if they're mostly carrying mundane weapons. People might not be hunting with their gods or shinki alongside them.

[If someone runs into one of these unexpectedly, they might have real trouble trying to track down their partner without some sort of maiming happening first.

In any case, he hesitates slightly at the question, then turns his head away a little.] He had three of them, so they ended up with me when he left. I was never that comfortable with soulless shinki, but his I was at least used to having around when I was visiting him.

[unlucky7]

[Ginia nods in slow agreement. A god can teleport to their shinki with a phone call, but that's reliant on having the opportunity to call. With how fast ayakashi can attack, some might not even get that chance. Hell, even she's playing it a bit risky traveling on her own, but at least she's fast with a borderline.]

I still wonder about them. I've gotten to know Luger, Chris's soulless shinki, even named him, but that he's so content to serve worries me. Then there's the fact he's completely silent in vessel form too.

[A beat.]

You don't hear or sense anything right now, right?

[revolutionfalcon]

[That's kind of Shun's issue with them, and he gives something of an understanding nod. It hasn't come up all that often, the question of shinki also being able to name them, but he feels like there has to be something to that fact.]

Nothing. Ren taught his three to be a little more emotive in human form, at least, but sometimes it feels like...exactly that. They were taught but don't really know what they're doing.

[It can be a little unnerving when it happens, though thankfully most of the time they're reasonably okay about it.] I've seen people talk about getting soulless shinki that looked like people they knew, as well.

[unlucky7]

What? People have recognized soulless shinki?

[That's something Ginia has never heard before, but it fits into the larger context of things too. If soulless shinki appeared at the same time as the first of their generation, it's just as likely they were brought in too. But if people are recognizing soulless shinki, her errant thought months ago she should have been a soulless shinki could have been a reality.]

Is there anyone around who knows their soulless shinki?

[revolutionfalcon]

Just as far as I've heard. [It's not something that's ever been in real widespread discussion that he's heard of, just one post that he remembers. But it had been an odd enough topic that it had stuck with him.]

Not sure. Whoever made the post I saw about it initially was anonymous, and it was a while ago. It's possible that if anyone did, they've disappeared, though it might be worth asking around.

[Some of the longer-standing people might have spoken to whoever it was, or answered the post privately.]

[unlucky7]

[It's been awhile since she's dug through the BBS. It'll take awhile, but it could be worth it to look at the responses. Soulless shinki are still a mystery to everyone, even the old gods. Do they disappear in the same way the rest of them do? It seems hard to tell when abandoned ones are either taken in by friends or wander off to live on their own at the soulless shinki temple.]

Thanks for the tip. I know Hakkai has a soulless shinki, Zelda too. Chris, but she's pretty new. Can you think of any other gods with soulless shinki?

[revolutionfalcon]

Dokugakuji does as far as I know, because he took in the one I had when I first came here. [Shun had kept some track of that to start with, at least, but he'd figured Doku didn't seem like the type to abandon a shinki after he'd already taken them on.] I'd say there'd be a lot of newer people who have them, since we seem to have had less arrivals lately. It's possible gods might not have been getting other shinki.

[There's always been something of an inconsistency in the numbers between both sides, but it seems to have gotten worse as time has gone on.]

[unlucky7]

[It's a distinctive sounding name, but Ginia is pretty sure she's never seen it or heard it and he's clearly been around. Trustworthy in some regard if Shun entrusted his soulless shinki with him.]

I can't speak for the last session since I slept through it. The one prior was strange. It seems like Ayumu is the only one who remained in the end?

[And she too has a soulless shinki now that Ginia thinks about it. Quite a young one too. There's a small pause as she remembers who else had been here.]

I'm glad you got to see Ruri. I'm sorry she didn't stay.

[revolutionfalcon]

I don't think we got many in that group either, maybe three new people that I saw at the gathering. Though it's possible I didn't see all of them. [He has his doubts, though. It feels like things have been quieting down in terms of new people showing up, especially of late.]

Ayumu's been here enough times before that I can't really be surprised about her being an exception anymore. As for Ruri... [It's pretty obvious he mentioned Ayumu first to put off talking about that, but he lets out a hard sigh through his teeth.] I suppose at least I know for sure she's safe until I find her. I was never completely sure about that, even if I chose to believe it.

[unlucky7]

[Disregarding the unusually large and strange training session, new arrivals certainly have slowed to a trickle. It hasn't felt like new arrivals have stayed as long either. The cult, the crystal, the dolls, it's hard not to blame them, but blame can only go so far too.

It's pretty obvious why he mentioned Ayumu first. Not wrong though; Ginia can't think of anyone else that's been pulled here and between roles so many times. All she can hope is this time works out better. She's seemed happy since her arrival at least, even with her temporary housing situation.]

Ruri was nice, I got the impression she was a strong and caring person. I hope the peace of mind helps, until you can find her in your world and end things. [Beat.] Think she'd like Ren? Or vice-versa?

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun looks for a moment like he's chewing on something unpleasant at that remark, either because it's a reminder that he is still going to have to wait to find her, or because they definitely got into an argument over his perception of her in the short time she was here. That said, he gives a short nod.]

I think that was the right impression. [Even if he might need some time to change his own idea of Ruri after he's been so set in one for so long.] Ren and Ruri both get on well with most people, so I don't think they'd have any trouble. Though I don't know that I'd want Ren in a more honest mood around her.

[There's something a bit dry in that remark, as happens when Shun's trying to put some level of humour into something.]

[unlucky7]

[Without knowing about Shun's perception of his sister and the issues around that, Ginia can only assume the expression is from the reality of his home situation. Sorry for that reminder.]

Can't say I ever knew Ren that well, though I got a... [Her hands hover as she looks for the right phrase.] cat personality sense from him? Playful, sociable, smiles like he knows how the world is going to end.

[revolutionfalcon]

[That gets a faint snort out of Shun, at the last remark in particular.] Sounds about right. He wasn't really the kind of person to do anything he didn't want to do, either, but he was always pretty prepared to deal with the kinds of things most other people wouldn't. I suppose that's why he was so good at handling me.

[Despite the situation, something of a slight, fond smile manages its way onto Shun's face at that. He still misses him, but there's something to be said for having had the opportunity to meet him in the first place.]

[unlucky7]

[Hey, look at that; a smile. Ginia isn't sure if she's ever seen Shun smile, but that it's because of Ren seems fitting. People leave, but the memories still stay. It's better than nothing.]

You're no Mr. Sunshine, but you're not that bad. I'm glad you two found each other. I'm glad he still makes you smile.

[revolutionfalcon]

Even if you say I'm "not that bad", I still feel like finding someone else who considers trying to throw each other across the room a bonding activity was a lucky break. [They'd gotten to know each other largely through the sparring sessions Shun had started with Ren early on in the piece, back when Ren had a dangerously violent shinki and little actual training in defending himself. To Shun, it had initially just been desire not to leave him in that situation, but the problem shinki had left soon after and it had simply turned into something pleasant and regular.]

I guess it just means now I have two kinds of unfinished business whenever I leave here. It's not like my world is a stranger to interdimensional travel.

[unlucky7]

I'm going to wager more friendships and relationships around here were formed or based on two people beating on each other.

[Ginia can't even say she's an exception. She met Chikusa when he ambushed her with borderline attacks, turned the same back on Suzaku, Pyrrha, and Waver. She's certainly bonded with Shun over beating up people as much as flower arranging. Kimi she met through helping him with a prayer, but she's also pretty sure he'd like it if she threw him down and pinned him in the gym.

...Their generation is a weird one.]

If it's still possible when it's all said and done, after you find Ren, swing back and say hi to me. Or leave a message through the offerings at any of Ebisu's shrines.

[revolutionfalcon]

You can't really say the people here are a normal group of people, though. [Shun will concede that, because he's observed on multiple occasions that the majority of people here come from fairly rough or violent backgrounds and are used to that sort of thing. There are exceptions, obviously, but even those people tend to be adjusted to that kind of oddity in some way. Even if they don't participate, they don't really bat an eye at it.

At her suggestion, Shun nods a little.] I'm wondering how this is all going to end, but I wouldn't say no to coming back here to visit the people I got to know every so often. Once I've sorted things out back home, obviously.

[He's at least going incommunicado until that's sorted out, though hell knows how long that's going to be. He isn't even sure if he'll be able to help deal with it considering when he left.]

[unlucky7]

[There's a slight tilt of her head in agreement. The fighters, the rebellious, maybe ones a little bit broken in some way. With hindsight, Ginia realizes the opportunity she wasted with her first god. She needed someone who wouldn't use her as a weapon, but could see her as a person.]

Worst case? We all go back to where we came from. Or I guess for anyone dead, some other kind of afterlife. [Or nothingness. Ginia tries not to think on where dead shinki go.] Best case? The ones that want to stay can, the ones that want to leave can and maybe choose where to go. Maybe come back once in awhile. I'm not holding my breath it'll work out like that but... [She drifts off into a shrug. It would be nice, but how often do things work out that way?]

I can't see it working out that way with how different our generations are though.

[revolutionfalcon]

I suppose it depends on who it was in the first place. [Current evidence has called the cult into question, but Shun's not really the type to put all his eggs in one basket these days. The last time he did that went far too wrong for his liking.] It'd be better if people who actually wanted to stay could and people who didn't could go, but at this point I'm not really assuming we'll get that good an outcome before I see it for myself.

[He was already jaded in coming here, but with how obstructive everything here is and the trouble that's been caused by the conflicts between generations, he can't imagine the Heavens are going to open their doors for them to stay or return if they can help it.]

[unlucky7]

The next few training sessions might serve as a good metric. If the cult is completely put away and people keep coming in, then it's a firmer sign they didn't have complete control.

[It's possible they set things into motion that couldn't be easily shut off or stopped. As long as they aren't controlling things on an individual level, there's some peace of mind there.]

On the other hand, if the rate of people suddenly increases with the cult put away, I'd be worried. Same with if people stopped arriving and people continued to leave.

[They're confusing in different ways. Ginia doesn't want to get hung up on implications, but studying patterns is important. It might get them closer to understanding the system around them. But maybe it's a way to gain control when it feels like there's nothing solid to hold onto. Ginia laughs dryly and shakes her head.]

I'll be happy when we don't have to deal with the cult anymore, but I worry what's ahead of us.

[revolutionfalcon]

I suppose. If people kept disappearing and stopped arriving before we even found out how this happened, I'd be starting to wonder whether that was on purpose too. [Like someone thinking they were getting too close to an outcome and deciding to stop the whole thing right there. It'd also most likely destroy anyone's chances of staying or returning if they ever wanted to.]

What's ahead of us will have to wait until after the cult is done with. I'm not usually the one to say it, but for now, I feel like it's better to focus just on the cult and what's happening now and worry about what's next when it comes.

[Shun doesn't like exclusively focusing on the one thing in front of him like nothing else is going to blindside them, but there's only so much they can worry about at once.]

[unlucky7]

[Too many questions, not enough answers. An annoyed huff directed at the overall situations escapes. But their current target is pretty clear; they'll all be able to breathe easier once the cult is out of the way.]

Hopefully without Sotero and Votelli, the cult will be easier to deal with. I don't doubt there are more masked ayakashi on their side, maybe even more gods. Still, I like to think we've hit them hard with this change.

[Perhaps they'll even disband without the support of their created gods, though Ginia worries what that means for the two rogue gods as well. Votelli has her shrine and an opportunity to be seen by others, but what about Sotero? Shinki cannot sustain a god and the hot-tempered god doesn't strike her as one that socializes much elsewhere.]

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun is somewhat less concerned about the masked ayakashi, since they're just a bigger annoyance to kill, but the gods are definitely a point worth considering.]

I'm hoping so as well. Sotero and Votelli are formidable enough, so if they choose to fight against the cult outright, it's definitely an added advantage to us. And they've lost Talos as well even if she didn't defect. They can only have so many gods under their control.

[He can't imagine the Heavens would have been able to completely turn a blind eye to the creation of dozens or even hundreds of new deities, and Sensei's records, at least, indicated that his sect had only made the two. Assuming only one or two gods per sect of the cult, there's a good chance there's not that many of them overall.]

[unlucky7]

By pure numbers and power, we should have the advantage already.

[The so-called "eight million heavenly hosts" is a formidable amount and if even the paltry fraction here today shows up to ride against the cult, they would win. However, fights aren't carried out with two sides rushing against each other. They're carried out behind closed doors and with plenty of subterfuge.]

But Heaven won't move against humans and I don't doubt there's something else planned. What if forcing Heaven to make an appearance is their end goal? What better way to take down Heaven then gathering them all in one place?

[Beat.]

Heaven is arrogant enough in their power and the way they underestimate humans that it'd work.