41 - Cultist Arc Finale

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
When: June 2nd 2017
Where: Mostly the Near Shore
What: Tracking down cultists to remove them as threats to Heaven, erase as much of their presence from the Near Shore as possible, and consequences of such







With it being made clear that the cult's influence was scattered throughout not just Japan but spread far and wide, the gods of the Far Shore have been asked to assemble in the same place where Conclaves normally happen. Bishamonten is assigned the task of rallying the old gods, while Orihime is given the same duty for the new gods. Essentially, the old gods will be working in Japan and the new gods elsewhere. Both Bishamonten and Orihime have a long list of individuals and their last known locations with vague descriptions, collected by those who went out hunting them on Heavens' behalf when everyone was last gathered. ("A Different Sort of Hunt")

Orihime gathers the new gods at her home along the river. Outside her small abode, there are several soulless shinki pulled from their temple. Ostensibly, they are to help any new gods who don't have a shinki available to create the Cutting ties or Rend effects, but no one is there to stop a shinki from commanding them as well.

Orihime will direct the gods to many places in the Scandinavian countries of Europe, south as far as Italy, west to the United Kingdom, and east as far as Belarus and Ukraine. Meanwhile, another contingent is sent to Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and the South Pacific / Oceania islands around there. There's even some scattered across the Americas - north in Alaska and the Yukon as far south as Chile and Argentia. Getting to any region requires the permission of a Near Shore god with a local shrine there to teleport, or a much more mundane plane trip.

Since this is all taking place over an extended period of time - roughly 48 hours - new gods are welcome to jump around the regions at their own choosing, not restricted to just one place.

Cutting Ties

Tracking down the cultists won't be easy. Some of their last known locations just confirmed their home addresses, work addresses, school addresses, etc. It's not like there's a GPS on them! However, with the address being specific to a city and country, along with a description of the person involved, it's possible to track down the rank-and-file cultists in these places beyond Japan. Many of them you won't even need to speak to, just find them and use a shinki to cut the string of fate that binds them to their cult activities, spell knowledge, and awareness of Heaven.

It's possible to run into other gods and shinki, though! Especially in major hubs of regular human activity, the cult was able to thus recruit more people to their causes. Maybe you can team up, swap information based on who you're looking for, that sort of thing.

Blight Circles

Where the human cultist recruits favored larger cities, their blight circles are much farther into countrysides - where they were less likely to be disturbed while the cultists crafted them. These circles are fairly simple in their lasting impressions: spellwork in a large circle on the ground, dead or dying flora for double the diameter of such a circle, and powerful ayakashi drawn to their vicinity. Strike down the ayakashi gathering there, purify the area if you can with magic or holy water, and physically break the circle's symbols. Particularly large blight circles might have been crafted near a Vent, increasing the likelihood of powerful ayakashi being there.

The larger and more powerful an ayakashi, the more Rend attacks it will take to bring them down. Maybe you can survive a long battle with one, or maybe you work together as a team with another god / soulless-wield shinki? The choice is up to you!

Cult Hubs

In the true cultural capitals of the world, there is a single Cult Hub - a physical building that was under the governance of a higher cultist official, where spellwork training and other informational sessions took place. Note that these hubs are not always the capitals of their countries, as with New York City or Los Angeles, Toronto or Munich, Sydney or Quezon City. The physical structures where cultists met have a wealth of inventory to look through and either dispose of or use in future efforts for the Heavens. It might not be glamorous work, but it could offer surprising rewards.

Event Bonus:
A thread of 10+ comments earns a character a random item that would have been stored at the cult hub. As with other missions involving "random item" rewards, players can give the mods 3 choices for review and we'll reply with a comment about any choice which might be too powerful / not suitable, or players can ask for the mods to give them 2-3 random items and pick only one as their reward.

Between Scenes / Afterward

As everyone returns to the Far Shore between their major efforts on the Near Shore, recovering from the battles, enlisting backup, or simply looking for another assignment from Orihime, you might still bump into one another, particularly around Orihime's home or down the river in either direction. Feel free to use this as a kind of catchall space or a place to look for healing, food, and sleep with your fellows from the Far Shore.

Alternatively, this could all happen when the last assignments have been handed out and people start to disperse back to their own temples.

Event Bonus: Gift Baskets!

For Gods and Shinki alike, Orihime will provide a gift basket to each and every character, customized as much as possible. This will include, among other things, an article of clothing with a wondrous power unlike any she's made before. Players can request what these items are OOCly, kind of like book requests in the library, but we hope it can to be something you as a player truly feel like is a reward to your character for having come this far.

To claim this reward, simply reply to the Orihime OOC comment below with your desired item and its ability to begin the discussion. Remember: Orihime would avoid granting items that help in battle; rather they're meant to enhance the character's everyday life, make their hobbies easier or more fun, that sort of thing. Example abilities might include: hover-style flight, lite elemental resistance, green-thumb plant growth boost, etc. - they're just tied to the item.

An IC week after the event, gift baskets will be delivered, along with an Epilogue announcement on the BBS.

Event Bonus (all prompts):
A thread of 10+ comments will gain 150 followers / 15 exp per thread.



In Summary:

• Travel the world
• Hunt down the last vestiges of the cult's influences
• Get goodies
• Await the epilogue announcement
• Have fun~

Comments

[fauxcalibur]

[There's a brief rain of golden light that coalesces into human form at Suzaku's side. It would probably be a more impressive entrance if Saber was wearing his armor, but it seems he's once again chosen to show up wearing his favorite leather jacket with the rhinestone cross on the back, a Godzilla T-shirt, and ripped jeans that look like they weren't ripped on purpose.

At least he doesn't have his guitar.]

I would apologize for a slight bit of dishonesty and sneaking about, but I'm not very sorry!

[His smile seems quite cheerful, but there's a bit of an edge to it.]

I believe I've just now heard something a wiser man who seeks to avoid conflict should ignore entirely.

[He drapes his arm across Suzaku's shoulders, the smile not fading in the slightest.]

I would ask Suzaku to confirm that, but I believe he is actually a wiser man in this regard.

[swordofzero]

[At Hibiki's command Suzaku merely nodded and started forwards to look closer at the padlock, to figure out if there was a way to get in without resorting to smashing it.

Before he could though Saber appeared in a glow of light. He knows Saber well by now, having been his shinki for half a year. He can hear that edge in his voice and his eyes flicker over to him before looking down, guilty.

He's Saber's shinki, he should not be following Hibiki's orders. Even if it is just... It's how she treats everyone and it feels rude to refuse. He winces slightly at the arm across his shoulder.]

Conflict should always be avoided where possible, my lord.

[priforprince]

[ What, his god’s here, too? That’s even better. Some of Prichard’s eccentricities may baffle Hibiki, but she’s not intending to stake a claim on someone else’s shinki, per se. Rather - the entire world exists for Shikyoin Hibiki’s benefit. She’ll play the field with the available pieces - and triumph! ]

No conflict was intended.

[ Now that there’s royalty here, she’ll bother to turn and face the pair. Her own demeanor is - amused? Unconcerned. And smug. Definitely smug. ] Your shinki is useful. A genius cannot help but recognize ability, and long to see it employed.

Don’t you agree?

[ Cue cheers from the oracles about Lord Apollo having spoken. Lord Apollo has prophesied great deeds from that shinki! Success is certain, now! ]

[fauxcalibur]

Wars have been started over less!

[He can feel Suzaku's guilt over the situation and it only serves to make him even more protective. He lets him go and steps in front of him a little, as if he's shielding him. Which is something he has no doubt that Suzaku will misinterpret, so he looks back over his shoulder at him and smiles. A genuine smile this time, which is rarer than one might think.]

And as enjoyable as that might be, I fear it might be a bit too one-sided.

[The smile he's wearing now isn't the same one he gave Suzaku, that's for sure.]

So I will say merely this: A genius may see ability, but a king sees both strength and weakness. I may not pay the most attention to what they attempt to teach us here, but I do know the danger posed by a shinki's feelings of guilt. Should you continue to threaten my wellbeing, I shall have to return the favor, I'm afraid.

[swordofzero]

[Suzaku bowed his head as Saber stood in front of him, as if he might obey Hibiki anyways, despite his gods anger. But a moment later Saber smiled at him, a real smile and Suzaku can't help but smile back, reassured at least a little.

Saber's anger worries him, Hibiki probably doesn't deserve it. She has done nothing wrong, the fault lies with Suzaku in not...

The words make him feel more guilt, he does his best to hide it. But Saber can feel it. It's the hardest part about being a shinki, Suzaku is very good at keeping his feelings from others. Keeping his face blank and not showing what he is feeling to the world. But he can't stop himself feeling. He tries. He knows his guilt hurts Saber and he tries his best to not focus on it, to dampen it. It's a spiral though, he feels guilty for harming Saber with the guilt and so it continues.

And now Saber is threatening Hibiki... Suzaku frowns, he should... He shouldn't. Saber is his god, how he deals with things is up to him.]

[priforprince]

Guilt?

[ Hibiki looks honestly confused. Suzaku feels guilty about something? Could that be the source of the mysterious tension between them in their last encounter? But what...

The inner theatre of her mind’s eye (complete, incidentally, with velvet box seats for herself) plays back her most recent interactions with Suzaku. The unpleasant tension predated that day at training......So its origin was.....

Making her mop the floor?

...No. He was awkward before then. Which is bizarre, as what could possibly induce more guilt than....



Oh.

Hibiki reaches up, puts two fingers to her head. ] Gracious me. What an excessively devoted shinki.

[ A smirk for Saber, now. To think someone could feel such loyalty as to regret accepting Hibiki’s natural dominion over all... ] You’re a fortunate king.

[fauxcalibur]

That I can't argue with, but I'm afraid you're quite wrong about Suzaku being excessively devoted.

[He's fortunate that anyone at all is loyal to him, so having two dedicated, loyal shinki has yet to go to his head. One must always be grateful for what one has.]

He is as devoted as any shinki should be. Is there perhaps an issue with your own, seeing as it seems you rely on Suzaku for far more than one should rely on a shinki who they haven't named?

[His tone is still light and friendly, but it seems he isn't becoming any more impressed with Hibiki.]

And, mind you, I have no intention of allowing either of my shinki to accept another name.

[swordofzero]

[Hibiki looks confused and it makes Suzaku confused. Had she honestly just forgotten? Or had it not been anything strange or unusual for her? Did she name shinki on a temporary basis all the time? Perhaps it had just been Suzaku who had over reacted. Edge was probably right. He often was.

But Saber didn't seem to believe it nothing either, he's still angry and still facing off Hibiki. Suzaku is still silent though he watches them both carefully. He doesn't believe either will turn to physical attacks, but he is ready with a borderline in case they do, he doesn't want them to hurt each other.]

[priforprince]

[ Ugh. This is rapidly threatening to become an Incident. That’s more offensive than the insult - Hibiki has no complaints about her shinki(.....’s performance as shinki), so there’s no vulnerable nerve to pinch. Instead, to be made to quibble over a misunderstanding when she has plans for her day......That grows stale. ]

Then, no names shall be offered. [ Nor shall apologies, but that’s neither here nor there. Instead, she continues as if she not only holds the high ground, but never lost it to begin with. ] We’ll infiltrate the compound together, you wielding your shinki. That’s satisfactory, correct?

[ Half a smirk tugs at her mouth. ] Or did you come here for an alternate purpose?

[fauxcalibur]

Was I meant to have a purpose?

[Like water off a duck's' back. He doesn't even flinch.]

Were you interested in infiltrating the compound, Suzaku? What manner of compound is it? Why does it need infiltrating?

[It seems his idea of the chain of command is a little different.]

[swordofzero]

It is one belonging to the cult, my lord. Their base of operations in this part of the world. [At least this was familiar ground, reporting, giving information.

Better than the swirling confusion and guilt of the prior argument.] We have been asked to confiscate anything that would lead them back to the Far Shore or their cult activities once their ties have been severed. Outside of that we haven't been given too much information about what to expect, but if it is anything like the large compound I would expect traps and ayakashi.

[priforprince]

Hence my desire for accompaniment.

[ So Prichard has a stubborn streak.......Well, that befits a king. She won’t hold it against him. Such is her intent.

But goodness, is this exasperating. ] Of course, I could handle it myself. If you felt unprepared, that is.

[ And if this conversation continues, she just might up and storm the place to get it over with. She can’t take out ayakashi without a shinki, though, so that would be another wait....

Curse Wendy and D2 for being so competent she trusts them to do their own thing elsewhere! ]

[fauxcalibur]

Hm. That business again.

[He looks around to take in their surroundings again, as if new context is somehow going to make them more exciting.]

Well, if there are going to be ayakashi to fight, perhaps I could come along. Now what was the problem again? A locked door? Edge isn't here, so I should be able to take care of that quite easily!

[He's already looking around for something, anything, he can pick up to obliterate the door with.]

[swordofzero]

Perhaps we should try and take care of it in a more subtle way first, sir. [Edge being here or not... They probably should just blast the door off.

He moves over to the lock, in the hope that if he is there Saber won't try and blow anything up. It might not work, especially if Saber is still annoyed by Hibiki.] I can try and break the lock.

[priforprince]

Hmph. Do as you will.

[ Hibiki stands aside, radiating the sense that this door does not deserve her personal attention. She’s trying not to look too interested in how they choose to get inside, but since “Prichard’s” kicked up such a proprietary fuss, she’s curious now.

How does the leonine king wield his finest weapon....? ]

[fauxcalibur]

If I had something small...a pencil or a chopstick or maybe a bit of rolled up paper...

[He's about to pout. Pout incoming.]

If it was something like that, I could just destroy the lock without vaporizing the door...or the wall...

[This is the extent of what being put under the supervision of his much more responsible shinki has done. A short interlude of trying to justify massive property damage instead of just doing it without thinking.]

[swordofzero]

Or I could just try and kick the lock off sir. [He figures he can probably manage it. It's just a padlock, a strong enough kick at the right angle would break it.

And cause less damage than a beam.]

[priforprince]

[ .......

Hibiki closes her eyes. Whatever happens to get the door open, she has just decided she doesn’t want to see it.

Today is already suboptimal. She’s not sure she can weather disillusionment atop impatience. But it keeps her out of their way. ]