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

the great hunt

[kagenonadeshiko]

Ayumu's not really dressed for hunting but that doesn't stop her from venturing into the woods regardless. This trip is significantly more peaceful than the last one was. Back then, she'd been a shinki on a search-and-rescue mission, trying to find her former god and a close friend that had gone missing. She'd lost Sanzang in these woods that day after separating from her, believing in her goddess's strength and trusting that she'd be all right, only to find she'd vanished from the Far Shore along with the woods.

It'd been the beginning of the end for her as a shinki, leaving her with a devastating guilt and regret that Ayumu simply hadn't been strong enough to bear on top of an agony, self-loathing, and near-constant terror she hadn't been able to understand. She'd lost her home and sanctuary, the one person who'd been able to effectively guide her out of that darkness and into the light that day.

Even now, Ayumu still misses Sanzang.

However, she's pulled abruptly out of her melancholy stroll down memory lane at the sight of Joscelin all covered in blood and gore. For a moment, she just stares , her expression full of motherly dismay at the bloody mess, and all she can think is that clearly they need to resume his training. How sloppy, undisciplined, and inefficient! There's absolutely no way Joscelin could avoid blame or detection for a crime in such a state.

But even despite her obvious disapproval for the state of Joscelin's clothing, it can't mask the genuine warmth and affection in the gaze she fixes on him.

"I hope you do realize that you're responsible for washing that when we get home, young man."

[dredefulchilde]

When Joss looks up at Ayumu, there's an initial strangeness to him, a lack of understanding. With his vampiric side fully on display, his eyes are covered in a red haze, face distorted and far, far from childlike.

But then it passes.

He blinks and seems to shake himself awake, out of the bloodlust. His features soften back into those of an admittedly young-looking ten year old boy, fangs retreating into his gums. "Mu--Mistress?"

Joscelin looks down at himself and grimaces. He's usually immaculately tidy and abhors the very idea of making a mess, but now he's gone and utterly ruined his expensive clothing. "God's teeth. This is excessive even by my standards." Grimacing, he takes a cursory sniff of the trailing end of his scarf, which is dark with blood and...something else. "I don't suppose you know the best way to get brains out of wool?"

[kagenonadeshiko]

She notices the lack of awareness or understanding when he first looks at her. Her conversation with Ginia about him earlier weighs on her mind. Even when Ayumu sees him like this, she still stands by what she'd said about there being good in him, that he's still enough of a child that there's still hope. Her belief in him is stronger than any worry she might have about him in this state; Joscelin's bloodlust and Souji's battle frenzy are similar enough that she simply waits for his senses to return.

"Well, vinegar might help with the blood. The brains will have to be picked off by hand. There may be a more modern remedy specifically for wool that we can look up when we get home. If we ask him, Hakkai might have some suggestions, too."

She and her former god might have their differences when it comes to choosing where to store the silverware or how to keep things organized around a household. However, there's few people she'd trust more to know of effective ways to remove bloodstains and brain matter from a scarf.

"Wool and silk both warrant gentler cleaning methods than other fabrics but with enough care and persistence, it may be possible to salvage some of this clothing for practice wear."

Ayumu looks him over from head to toe, the critical, assessing look in her eye that's ordinarily only appears during their training sessons.

"I think that we should restart your lessons soon. Excessive is one word for this mess. Careless and sloppy are two others."

The mistress doesn't like messy, untidy kills like this, even when they don't ruin a brand new outfit.

"What's done is done now, though. You'll have to get changed when we get home. I forgot to pack an extra change of clothes for you before we left."

She could teleport back for them now but opportunistic teacher that she is, Ayumu sees educational merit in leaving him to walk in filthy clothes for a while.

[dredefulchilde]

Ayumu knows Joscelin well: having to wear dirty clothes is a very fitting punishment indeed, given how obsessed her exemplar is with cleanliness. He visibly shudders as he removes the soiled scarf, exposing his bare throat and the tiny scar at the crux of his neck and shoulder whose significance he doesn't yet understand.

If anyone else had criticized his kill and told him he needed more training he would have not reacted well. Instead he bows as she taught him and says, "Yes Mistress. I look forward to it." He's perfectly obedient. Something inside compels him to follow her every order to the letter and that feeling has only grown since her return. Now it threatens to overwhelm him.

Tonight, once they are home and he has bathed and put the clothes in to soak, he will stand in front of her and present himself for a beating. It is only right. He destroyed something precious. He must be punished.

Outwardly, a switch has been flipped. His eyes seem to close off, going almost as blank as Toyo's.

[kagenonadeshiko]

Ayumu eyes him in concern, noticing that strange blankness come over him. Is she being too harsh? While she's more experienced with looking after children than many are in the Heavens, she's not an expert. If there's one thing that Ayumu's learned through books she's read on the subject and daytime television, it's that parenting isn't easy.

She can feel something has changed in Joss though, the god-shinki bond is useful like that even if she's not quite able to tell just what emotion she's picking up from him at the moment. Her grasp and understanding of feelings are still a work in progress.

Despite that, she still feels a need to say or do something to reassure him somehow.

"If it turns out that the stains won't come out, I'll help you, 'kay? But I want you to try to clean them first."

CN child abuse

[dredefulchilde]

The first words that come out of Joss’s mouth are soft and almost robotic, devoid of any emotion. They’re also, confusingly, in English, and in an accent rather different from the perfect BBC pronunciation he normally uses:

“I shall, Mother.”

Despite Ayumu’s reassurance, the compulsion inside Joscelin’s brain still has him on autopilot. He uses one of the many knives on his person to cut a switch from a nearby tree and presents it to Ayumu, with more murmured Elizabethan English and every indication that he expects it to be used on the back he has helpfully bared for her.

[kagenonadeshiko]

The scene playing out before Ayumu is just so bizarre and would've been even if she'd been able to understand a word Joss had just said. What had started out as a simple rebuke and disciplinary action for getting his brand new clothing so filthy with gore has gone on to become something else entirely.

It's frightening her a little to see the boy like this but it's not entirely unfamiliar either. Even if Ayumu's at a loss as to exactly what she'd done to trigger such an extreme response, she's been around soldiers enough to recognize when someone's mind is still on a battlefield.

Her confusion deepens even further when he hands her a switch and bares his back to her. Even with the language barrier, Ayumu's able to grasp what she's expected to do. She's been so careful with Joss, trying not to let her temper or own violent impulses get the better of her.

For several moments, Ayumu's simply speechless, too stunned to summon up any words. So as she usually does when words fail her - she acts. The hand holding the switch bursts into flames, the sound of crackling fire filling the woods as she proceeds to burn it to ash on the spot.

This might not be the wisest course of action in the middle of a forest but Ayumu's not exactly thinking clearly at the moment.

[dredefulchilde]

It may not be the wisest course of action, but it's what he needs right now.

The suddenly doll-like Joscelin's blank eyes go very wide at the sight of the burning switch. A beating he can handle, but fire...fire burns and blisters and chars. Fire can actually hurt him. He doesn't like fire at all.

But if she wants to use fire, he has to obey.

He's shaking, waiting for the searing pain, but...it never comes. He turns to face her, still awaiting his punishment, but the sight of her hurt and confusion finally brings him out of whatever mental loop he'd been stuck in.

A blink and the intelligence returns to his face.

"Mistress, what on...? Why am I...?" He's only just now noticed that his kimono is around his waist.

And speaking of things he's only just noticed...

"Mistress, why is your hand on fire?"

[kagenonadeshiko]

He doesn't remember?

But the sight of Joss snapping out of his strange trance is such a relief, Ayumu puts that observation aside for the moment. She even seems to dismiss the burning switch in her hand for now, as she tries to process what had just happened and find the words to address it. Her first instinct is to lie; more often than not, lying is always her first conditioned response when she's scared. But she'd promised Joss that she'd be honest with him and not spare his feelings.

Besides, lying to her loved ones in an attempt to protect them has accomplished far more harm than good as her tattered relationship with Chikusa shows.

"I... ah, you went into a trance, stripped down to your waist, and handed me this. I think you expected me to to hit you with it. I couldn't. I wouldn't."

She's not a stressed out young girl pressured into training her little brother anymore. And Joscelin isn't Susumu. And even on Ayumu's worst days back then, she never struck him with a switch. Lost control of herself and Susumu and taken training too far in a burst of anger, yes. But deliberately beaten him as punishment? Never.

"So I'm burning it. That's not how I discipline my children."

A slip of the tongue, perhaps. Though the switch continues to burn, the fire engulfing Ayumu's hand quickly dies out. Her kimono sleeve might be a little singed but her skin remains smooth and unburned.

However, now Ayumu's holding onto a burning stick in the middle of a forest with no visible sources of water to drop it in. She really hadn't thought this one through.

[dredefulchilde]

"Did I?" It's deeply troubling that he has no memory of it at all.

Or...does he? He has a vague sense of feeling like he needed to be punished for disobeying his Mistress, but it's all very fuzzy. The thought is a frightening one. He needs to be in control at all times, no matter what.

Not only that, he'd scared her. He can see it in her face. He would never forgive himself for that.

(Later, once they get home, he's going to figure out how to make it up to her. He's going to plan.)

Ayumu might not know what to do about the burning stick, but Joscelin does. He's rubbish at magic, but Ginia took great pains to teach him the one spell he knows, and he thinks even his own weak power will be enough to put out the fire. Joscelin takes a deep breath and begins to sing.

His voice is a beautiful, pure soprano, and the notes seem to resonate with the flames. They begin to dampen, and then sputter. It takes a couple of times, but soon the stick is a cold, black cinder in Ayumu's hands.

"It's the one thing I know how to do. I'm just glad it came in handy."

[kagenonadeshiko]

His voice is truly beautiful, a soothing balm on the nerves that had been frayed during that bizarre display. The fear and anxiety gives way to something calmer. It'll take some time for the disquiet and unease to go away completely but it's a start.

And course, not having a burning stick in her hand in the middle of a forest also helps, too. Once the fire is completely extinguished, Ayumu simply throws it back on the ground. Without any consideration toward the gore, thoughts of teaching him to be more mindful of messing up his clothing faraway at the moment, she simply pulls him into a gentle hug, ruffling his hair the same way she always does. Maternal instinct and feelings override everything else at the moment.

"That was truly lovely. You have a very pleasant singing voice," she says, tone as warm as always with him.

[dredefulchilde]

Joscelin returns the hug with enthusiasm. He doesn't like being touched, normally, but Ayumu is an exception. She makes him feel safe.

"It's the only magic I can do," he says again, feeling a little embarrassed by the sudden praise. "Because it relies on tone. I may be rubbish at borderlines, but I can sing."

He sighs, suddenly bone tired.

"Mistress...may we go home now?"

[kagenonadeshiko]

Limited skill at magic or not, Joscelin's still a wonderful shinki in the truest sense of the world. He's a pricelessly valuable sacred treasure. Ayumu stoops down a bit to briefly kiss his forehead.

"Yes. Let's go home and get you cleaned up. I'm sure Toyo-chan would like to go back to being a girl, too."

Ayumu's only guessing. Toyo never says a word when she's in vessel form, to the point, that the goddess forgets that she's not simply an ordinary kunai. She's not even certain if Toyo's even aware like shinki with souls are in that state. But soulless shinki or not, she's still a valid being and will be accomodated as such in Ayumu's household.

"We might still have some ice cream left. Once everyone's rested up, maybe we could all make sundaes."

Sundaes are still a relatively new dessert to an old-timer like Ayumu but they're fun and easy to make.