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

[towards_okeanos]

[Comfort is something they both sorely need right now.

The fact that their time here is uncertain was something Iskandar ignored until now. He can ignore it no longer and one thought, one fear, wakes him in the middle of the night. Every night. The dread that there would come a day, or morning or night, that he will wake up and there would be no one left. Just him in the cold, empty, stone building. Or worse, it would be him that would be gone. Leaving Waver alone. Again.

And there's nothing, no matter how hard he tries, how cunning are his plans, that he can do to prevent this.

Because Fate is a cruel goddess...

So when Waver presses closer Iskandar puts his free arm around him. He would like to hold him like that forever. Yet, he's painfully aware that they may not have forever.
There are so many things he would like to say to Waver but he can't. Because they could trigger some memory and the calamity would be upon them. Or simply because he can no longer guarantee they would be true. To give such a guarantee is beyond his power here. Yet he knows that by saying nothing he's not exactly helping either. No matter what he does he's causing Waver pain.

This place seems to revel in denying him all the things he most wishes to have.

All he can do is concentrate on the present. Like the bow in his hand. It was made for mortals not Heroic Spirits. No wonder it is broken. He may not be able to tell Waver that. It does not mean he doesn't recognize his strength.

Maybe he should buy Waver the same, military grade, steel cup like the one he got from Satya for the very same reason. Maybe that would send an appropriate message without veering into dangerous territory. To transfer the meaning without saying the words, show what he means and feels and hopes without doing anything risky. Or rather do but do the impossible. There's a knot to unravel fit for a god.

But first, there's a target here to vanquish and Waver seems determined to do it.

Iskandar looks down and smiles. First things first. Let them have at least that small victory.]

I know you will. We just need to find you a proper bow.

[hypomeneo]

[No matter where Iskandar goes, Waver will find a way to follow.

There's comfort in the simple things - Iskandar's arms being one of the most - and Waver closes his eyes to take in his scent and the warmth surrounding him. It kills Waver that he cannot be what he needs, can see so much stopped up behind his eyes, and he can only hope by asking for help that some of the weight on Iskandar's shoulders can be relieved. Can only hope that by asking for help, he can find a path out of his own grief quickly before it harms Iskandar.

... he knows what's needed to cut this knot, but it seems so out of reach even though the ghost of the solution haunts him, and the shift inside continues, inexorable.

All he can do is what he can.]

Why don't you choose something you think suits, then? It looks like they have a few options here.

[... maybe there's a better option. Any bow meant for divine hands is certainly not here, however. It's either a treasure of a god's house and not here, or is a person branded with a name walking around right now.]

[towards_okeanos]

[Iskandar smiles a little. Yes, he can talk weapons anytime. It takes his mind off the matters he would prefer not to concentrate too much on right now. So he goes to peruse the options left on the rack. All the lighter bows are in use so he finally decides to go with something more in the medium range.]

I'd say we pick you something a bit heavier this time.

[He hands it to Waver.]

Let's just hope it's less flimsy than the previous one.

[Now is the time for you to embrace that inner Odysseus, Waver. Show your king some style but try not to hurt yourself in the process.]

[hypomeneo]

[Waver's lips tug at that smile, small as it is. That's a little better.

The wind blows the strands of hair that frame his face forward as he watches Iskandar finally settle on a bow. It's larger, made of smooth wood, and when Waver tests the draw weight of string with a finger, he finds there's less give.

Something that he'll still snap if he's not careful, but the increased draw weight gives an inch more breathing room.

So he'll be careful.]

If they strung it right, it should be fine. I just will have to take my time.

[... well... he's not going to be pulling any tricks like shooting through axe-heads out of his metaphorical hat, but he's carefully notching an arrow and drawing back slowly to aim at the target.

Which is to say, his stance has a lot to be desired and he's making a lot of beginners mistakes in the execution of the shot... save one.

Waver's accounting for the interference of wind and the rest of the weather in his aim and his angle is good. He's remembers what Chris told him when she was teaching him how to shoot a rifle.]

[towards_okeanos]

[Waver's general posture is not bad. His back is too stiff and he has definitely too much tension in his shoulders...

Not that Iskandar doesn't know where that tension is coming from. That he has no immediate solution to alleviate that tension is a torture of its own. Like a rat gnawing at his mind. Incessant. Untiring. A sinking feeling.

Back to archery.

There's one thing he can correct in Waver's stance. A small thing. Beginners mistake. Everybody does it. He can't say how many time he got bruises on both of his forearms for doing exactly this when he was learning. Yet he is grateful for this chance. Here is something tangible he can do.]

Your bow hand is too straight. You'll get hit by the bowstring if you keep it as it is. Bend your elbow a little more.

[Iskandar doesn't wait for Waver to correct himself but gently guides him until his position is right.]

Now you can try.

[hypomeneo]

[Waver just holds for a moment afterwards, feeling out the new position his arm has been arranged into. It might take a few tries to get this position right; physicality is not his strong suit (yet there's been more than a few moments of inhuman grace) and a lot of training so far has been building up that co-ordination and other basic skills to a point where he can handle more martial instruction.

He imagines the target as the things that are hurting both of them. If only he could really put an arrow through them. That would be truly satisfying.]

Oh. Given it's already gotten enough of me... okay, like that.

[Exhale and release. The arrow flies.]

[towards_okeanos]

[And it hits. It wouldn't be strange if the arrow flew past the target. That's normal for beginners only starting to get a grasp of the bow. Yet, Waver had previous experience with a different ranged weapon before and it shows.
His arrow hits one of the lower black rings at a slight angle. The arc was a little on the short side. Still, for someone who never before had a bow in his hand that's an achievement.

Iskandar whistles.]

Not bad. Not bad at all.

[There is a room for improvement. Several things actually that he's probably done unconsciously. One of them being the fact that arrows are heavier than bullets.]

You may want to aim a little higher this time.

[hypomeneo]

[There's bright, warm curls of pleasure, surprise, and the nearly giddy feel of accomplishment rising from the dreary miasma of grief Waver's holding down. Success always feels so good, always, and the feel that some things are insurmountable has tapered for most situations.

(This is what happens when you're allowed to succeed; when your success isn't immediately torn to shreds.)]

... like this?

[Waver bites back the instinct to downplay his success as he takes another arrow and draws again to compensate, taking his time to adjust his bow hand until his elbow is bent right. It might still need some adjusting; Chris had to adjust his stance with the rifle several times.

He practices, whenever he gets an opportunity.

The arrow flies for the target.]