jigokufever | June 2022 Test Drive

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June 2022 Test Drive

1. CLEAN UP

The curse has broken, finally banishing the oppressive air around the city and the many sightless eyes of the accursed haniwa. Life will have to return to normal now but first there is lingering clean-up that must be attended to:

SHUTEN CLAN

The Shuten Clan is out in force to rebuild damaged storefronts. Eager oni appear in their festival happi, singing oni working tunes. You can pick up the words easily enough, join in and help out. The mood starts bright, but after a number of unlucky accidents there is less singing and more grumbling. The cursed energy left behind has made all of you much more prone to workplace accidents but the storefronts need to be scrubbed, broken glass needs sweeping, new furniture needs construction. There are any number of thumbs smashed by hammers, hands cut on saws, heads hit with falling debris or that board of wood you didn’t see someone carrying towards you. It’s a cursed day to be out on the job.

Rewards will come in the form of free drinks for a week from specific bars and a generous amount of chips for the casinos. If you aren’t of age to drink or gamble? Well… they’ll look the other way this time. Have fun.

It should be noted that the uniform -- a happi, a hachimaki, and fundoshi -- is required. The Shuten Clan is very traditional, after all.

TAMAMO CLAN

The bathhouses in Tamamo clan territory remain full of bloodied water. They need to be drained and scrubbed to make them new again. However, reaching the drains is a tricky business. You can’t simply reach in to pull out the plug, you will have to wade into the water to twist it free. Easy enough, right?

Unfortunately, residual curse energy has made this a very dangerous task. Phantasmal hands will reach out and try to drag you under as you get too close to the drain. The phantasms can be distracted, so you’ll need some teamwork to succeed. Your reward is a significant amount of free bath coupons. Some of the advertised baths even have “special” properties. Take the chance to relax, you probably need it.

Those that are rejuvenated in the newly purified baths will find themselves with seemingly limitless vigor. That vigor may sometimes manifest in the form of desperately needing to fuck the first thing willing to do so. Which might turn out somewhat embarrassing...

SUTOKU CLAN

The residual cursed energy in the Sutoku Alliance territory has congregated in their many arcades. The prizes in the UFO catcher machines seem off and they keep shifting around. If you happen to win a prize, the prize slot snaps shut on your hand with amazing force: the machine out for blood. To clear the curse, the prizes need to be removed from the machines and purified with the help of a local shrine maiden. Unfortunately, the key ring to open the machines has been stolen by some of the unruly prizes. You will need to use your UFO catcher skills to fish it back out.

Try not to lose any fingers.

Other machines are shooting tokens out of their coin slots at astonishingly painful speeds. A strange phenomenon, as even the machines that take swipe cards are doing it. Where are those tokens even coming from? You will have to get the machines open and give them a deep cleaning to get all the residual blood off the coins and mechanisms. You need the same keys that are stuck inside the UFO catcher…. Better hope you can fish out the one you need.

For your troubles, you will be given unlimited free plays for a month. Perfect for winning a totally-not-cursed prize for your sweetie.

ENMA DEPARTMENT

It’s the Department of the Enma’s turn to go begging for good will. They are considered to be mostly responsible for the way the cursed haniwa were handled in the first place. Enma souls should get out on the streets and see what the people need: Food, clean water, housing repairs and maintenance, as well as exorcisms. They’re all high on people’s priority lists and most people want it done pronto. Try not to get snappy with the angry people, the department’s reputation is on the line.

The Enma is slated to give a press conference at some point. It's up to the rest of the Department to assure that there will be reception to his words. They are likely to be of grave importance to the rest of the city.

A hard day’s work is its own reward, but you’ll also get a day pass to a theme park on the edge of the city – in the name of community outreach, of course.

2. GHOST SHARKS

The very streets themselves are treacherous with residual curses. The isonades may have been intimidated out of town for the moment but the anger of their ancestors lingers in the bloody puddles that still glisten in the streets. Come too close to these puddles and spectral sharks will lunge from beneath the surface: Blood for blood! Lives for lives!

While spectral in nature, the teeth on these sharks can still do real harm to anyone they lash out at. They don’t seem to take damage in kind, but will pop and disperse for a moment when struck. The ghostly sharks are being populated by a magic totem that has been partially buried in the dirt of a local park. Destroy it and the sharks will disappear.

Unfortunately, a pack of snotty local children have taken a shine to this magic totem. They are not keen to let you take it from them, nor break it. It’s theirs. It’s special. If you’re feeling brutish or cruel, you can fight the children or deceive them, but your boss would probably suggest you try to bargain with them for appearance’s sake. They’re entirely unreasonable though, as children can be, and it will be quite a chore to get them to agree to your terms.

3. CURSED CORNERS

There are certain corners and alleyways which are simply predisposed to gather cursed energy. These areas are still haunted enough to affect the reality around you. You may experience hallucinations or visions of lost loved ones, past regrets, personal failings. These visions are played out in the area for all to see. You will remain frozen in place until your moment is done, or someone brave comes to pull you out.

Now that the worst of it is over, some of the more morbid and voyeuristic members of the public may be lurking around these haunted areas, waiting to see what horrors will be unveiled. They have out their phones and their cameras to record the show.

The cruelest of the spectators provide commentary to their social media followings as they observe. Anything for that monetization!

The biggest of the streams is a kerakera onna who goes by her channel name: Lipsticki. She leans in over the rooftops to cackle loudly at people’s misfortunes and give petty, scathing commentary about their misdeeds and failings.

4. THE ENMA SPEAKS (PLOT RELEVANT)

Outside the hospital where the Enma was being treated, there is a huge press gathering. The judge arbiter has been deemed fit enough to release. Hungry for word, journalists from every publication swarm the area. Most press-outlets in the city are controlled by the Sutoku Alliance, who have a vested interested in interrogating the Enma.

A number of other onlookers have tacked on as well, including Lost Souls both old and new. Lost Souls may even find themselves ordered to attend the statement by their faction.

It is assumed that the Enma must have something of grave importance to say, after all.

The Enma approaches the podium. He is dressed in his usual suit, his crown, and his stern expression; it puts a hush over the crowd through its tremendous pressure alone. No questions have been asked, yet, but a statement has been prepared. He clears his throat:

"The cause of the curse, the enemy of Jigokucho, is... Haniyasu. The Department's focus will be shifting to determining our next action in regards to this entity. That is all."

Just like, the Enma's secretary and a retinue of armored shinigami move to flank the Enma and guide them to a waiting limo down the steps. The press yells their questions over one another, but are pushed back. The Enma doesn't even seem to perceive them, simply focusing on getting into the car.

Unfortunately, if you're a representative for one of the factions -- especially the Department of the Enma -- that makes you fair game to hound for questioning too. Do you stand your ground or try to run away?

[[banner art by s-tokimura]]

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NEWBIE TOP LEVELS

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

1. clean up - sutoku
[The entire city, whatever or wherever it was, was absolutely disgusting. Busted open shops and nearly ever single inch covered in what appeared to be blood. Forget whatever futuristic marvels were apparently found behind the doors of towering buildings rivaling the Ryounkaku-- it wasn't very appealing to behold when everything was covered in dirt and dried blood.

It was hardly a comfort that people were actually trying to clean up, because no one seemed to be doing a very good job of it so far with how much was still left. Eiichi had obstinately refused to help in the bath houses at the Tamamo sector, so it was in Sutoku territory where he ended up; in some kind of building full of those little machines that were gaining popularity in the west. They seemed awfully frivolous in his opinion.

However, there were quite a few people struggling with the claw crane, and getting beat with coins for their troubles. Eiichi would simply leave that struggle up to the others, instead scrubbing the floors and walls and the outsides of the cabinets, occasoinally leaning away to avoid all the nonsense flying around the room. The one he's currently trying to disinfect had the sleeves of his black jacket stuffed unceremonisiously into the opening of the token slot to avoid direct attacks. He's pretty meticulous, at least... though he doesn't seem too happy about it.

Or, maybe you see him unceremoniously stop in the middle of scrubbing, watching everyone else get pelted while he lights up a cigarette. He was glad he at least still had his last pack and matches with him. Though, isn't it kind of obnoxious to try cleaning with someone just blowing smoke in the air?]

3. cursed corners
[Eiichi doesn't err towards alleys and side streets; they're the filthiest places in Tokyo, and that certainly was no exception in this city, even after most of the clean-up. But it's better to duck closer to a wall to avoid getting near another gaggle of civilians waving their cameras around.

Even when his feet catch, and he can't move-- or something stops him from moving-- his scowl of distaste from nearly being run into by a group of people disappears because the real annoyance has apparently passed.

The alley isn't very interesting. The walls and ground look like they're covered by a light projection, flat visions of color blocked trees and grass in vibrant green stretching over them. The two people that appear are far less detailed-- just black, hazy human figures. Both of them were small enough to be children, though one was considerably taller than the other. They appear to be arguing, though their words are indistinct; it only seems to be the impression of tones and sounds, the taller boy's voice clearly louder and angrier than the other. It's not long before the taller one grabs the younger one, throwing him to the ground in the middle of his fury. His voice quiets, and eventually he departs the scene, leaving the younger one on the ground. That's about all there is to see.

The entire time Eiichi simply stands there, casually putting a cigarette to his lips and striking the match to light it up, all the while seemingly unaffected by whatever had played out before him. The worst part was everyone around being so chatty and nosy about it.

He takes a deep drag on his cigarette, and turns to one of the gawkers, blowing smoke in their face before stubbing it out right on the shoulder of their shirt. And again, he seems uncaring when the person drops their phone and starts freaking out, that sympathetic crease to his seeming pretty inauthentic.] Man... don't any of you know how to shut up?

[Of course, that doesn't do much to quiet anyone, and so Eiichi grabs one of the noisier onlookers, heaving them by their shirt collar and bodily throwing them at the crowd. He's aiming for that loud-mother kerakera, but honestly, anyone will do.]

4. the enma speaks. but like halfsies.
[Whether it's at the press conference, or just a moment on the busy streets, Eiichi always keeps to the edge of roads and crowds. Whatever news the press conference is about is far beyond him; there've been reporters and journalist all over the place that day, and it mostly just felt like a nuisance (though the curse must have been responsible for all the filth covering the city?).

It's only when swarms begin that he actually does something. If you're about to be trampled by the crowd at the conference, or a gaggle of reporters-- or maybe you're one of the people being hounded by reporters yourself, you may feel someone grab your arm, pulling you out of the middle of the storm. It's a rough gesture, but at least it's enough to keep someone from getting stomped on. He looks pretty annoyed about the entire situation, but Eiichi still keeps a tight grip as long as the crowd is still a threat.]

You must be one of those careless types that walk right into traffic, huh? [He scoffs. But at least he's being helpful?]

wildcard.
[feel free to contact me at

oleseiyah if you wanna do something else or have another idea!]

Edited (i am so dead on my feet forgive me) 2022-06-25 00:55 (UTC)

] Haru isn't entirely sure what this is about, this press conference, but she knows from experience that they tend to be fairly vital information. Even if she doesn't understand it now, it's best to watch it and hope for better understanding later.

But it of course means when the crowd moves and the reporters surge forward that she's knocked into, and stumbles--

And thankfully, does not get trampled like she half-expected, saved by a rough grip on her arm that has her tense from both the familiarity and the unfamiliarity. ]

I don't think I would be around to tell you no, I'm not... if I was.

[ She answers, a little frazzled, but also not quite willing to be informed she's careless by a complete and utter stranger. ]

Well, I guess that's why they say idiots must have good luck...

[Yeah, he's not gonna be any nicer about it, unfortunately. But, he does seem to recognize that she's clearly a little frazzled; it doesn't improve his bedside manor, but he does start pulling her along and out of the thick of the crowd-- slightly less aggressive than the initial near-trampling, at least.]

Come on, don't just keep standing there. [Sighs!!]

[ She'll take "slightly less aggressive", it's a bit more gentlemanly. But she can also make it "even less than slightly less aggressive" by actually quickening her steps so he doesn't have to haul her quite so much as he has to guide her. This crowd really is something, and not in the complimentary sense. ]

I can walk on my own, you know. As much as I appreciate your help.

Eiichi Segawa | Hashihime of the Old Book Town

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[the enma speaks]

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4. COMES FLYING OUT FROM THE SKY TO RIDER KICK YOU IN THE FACE

well now how am i supposed to tag you without a face

idk you seem to be managing fine despite the sky actively murdering you

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ok plus plusington, i'm here for your ass... 1

a hikari in my inbox.... at last................

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4. what's up nerd

fuckin loser alarm