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]]

Welcome to the test drive meme!

Threads here can be considered game canon.
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Reserves are open until July 5th
NEWBIE TOP LEVELS

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It's...maybe the first time someone had shied back from Tama in his whole life, and he actually stops and watches surprisingly carefully after that. He has no experience with this, but the best way to be disarming is to be sincere, right?

It's because of that thought that he clasps his hands together, then points with them like a carlot worker trying to sell an 80's Oldsmobile to a teenager in 2006. "Oh, I could get in to the Enma's shoddy everything, but that would be much too much for someone who just arrived. I was overwhelmed when I got here, and a lot of this stuff needs to be seen to really have it sink in, I think." So, to greener pastures- "This is Hell- well, a Hell from Japan. I don't know if you know what Japan is or not, a few people haven't, so it's probably easiest to start there. We're not dead, but we are stuck here, and the only way to get back home faster is by making a pledge to one of the factions." His nose wrinkled. "The Enma is one of them, but..." He releases his hand to gesture in a circle behind him. Y'know. All that back there.

If the circumstances were different, this would be totally normal and Leviathan wouldn't be trying to keep themself protected. They're both just meeting each other at a strange time in Levi's life—which, they suspect, is going to be something they say surprisingly frequently going forward.

Because of that, it's easy for them to lower their hackles while getting the hard sell about the Enma. It really helps knowing that they do seem to be in the same book, if not quite on the same page yet. "Well, I'm glad that we aren't dead, at least. I don't entirely remember making a pledge so much as being conscripted into all that," and they mirror Tama's gesture, "But I suspect the Enma may need as many warm bodies as possible right about now. Does this department normally get this much attention?"

So, they hadn't been pledged yet...it really was like his first week, bumbling around getting told to help with things, only to be unceremoniously recruited. Maybe that was the norm for when fresh 'lost souls' showed up, but something about it bothered him. Tama was going to have to investigate this further, later.

"If they haven't promised anything in exchange for your service, then you're not bound to a faction yet. You might end up with a faction less, ah, annoying to deal with." It's a thin silver lining, but hey it's Something??? "They make deals- safe return home, and with a wish granted, if you work for them. I...don't know what happens if you turn them down. The wishes are, well. Persuasive."

...he's not going to get in to his own baggage. "The Enma's in hot water because he recently caused a huge, um, outbreak let's say. And his entire statement about the weeks of injury and pain the city went through was to just blame some unknown figures and hop in to his limo." He's not trying to let his bias be this in the forefront, but uh. Kinda hard given he just witnessed it himself. "The people working under him, especially his second in command, they can't be happy about it. I feel bad for them, but...he himself can rot." It takes a moment, but he drops the growing sour look, and shrugs. "I'm in a different group, so I guess that's easy for me to say."

There's a pause as Leviathan processes it, but they nod eventually, however measured the gesture is. The Enma's behavior, and the context behind it, seems like something that someone they are not being allowed to forget about would have done. It sounds like something he did do, and was still willing to do, and something that on some level, they had been prepared to do, too.

They try very hard to keep their face neutral, to not let the realization weigh on them while they agree. "That's how it is with some people in power," they say. "They think that one small statement, some non-apology, is going to make everyone happy because they have enough clout to get away with it." It's hard not to sound bitter with the taste of electricity in their mouth. "I thought the department of the Enma was meant to help people, but that statement makes it feel more like a corporation."

"...a corporation." It's a word he's more familiar with now because he's been in Jigoku-cho, but after parroting it back, he does nod along with it, crossing his arms. "We had a party some weeks back, before everything went crazy- every faction was helping out, and it was meant to broker peace. Instead of letting his people, y'know, celebrate, they had to work lifeguard duty." Tama's expression falls flat. "He's a boss, and he refuses to acknowledge anything that isn't his. The others leaders are too...individuals, in some ways." It takjes him a moment longer, glancing back towards where he'd come from with a more serious scowl. "...my best friend was one of the people who risked his life to try and save the Enma, so seeing him be so dismissive is..."

Tama's not really used to being angry on the behalf of others, because he's not in the position to do much about it- but he can, here, and it's important that this newbie knows they can, too. More important than complaining. He has to shake his head to get rid of the expression, though. "There's also Shuten- traditionalists who are all brawn and heart. Tamamo, they're the charismatic, magical ones. And then Sutoku, an alliance of nosy bastards who follow after people and chatter too much at them before any introductions are made." At the self-dig, he's able to half smile, bowing his head- it's as formal as he's willing to be. "Mizumori Tama- uh, last name first."

Well, if those are the four factions, then regrettably it does feel like Leviathan has ended up in the correct one. They don't have a problem helping people out, protecting the underprivileged, doing heroics both corporate and vigilante. But they may need to trend a little more towards the latter if this is the way things are going to work.

"Leviathan Astrape," they say instead, ignoring their own impending moral crisis and greeting Tama with a similar friendly look and a nod of their head. "First name first. Levi, if you'd like. And please don't worry about being nosy—I really appreciate that you're willing to actually explain things to me." Even though it comes in the aftermath of something extremely serious.

"I'm sorry to hear about what happened to your friend. Are they well? Do they need anything that the Enma... isn't providing?" they ask, hoping that this dismissiveness only extends to public relations and that the Enma is at least taking care of the actual victims here.

That was...a name he was going to take the shortened form of, because he didn't want to embarrass himself. Though, 'leviathan' was familiar to him for some reason. He didn't want to pull out his phone and check, though. That would probably be rude?

"Being well informed is vital in Jigoku-cho. I guess it's that normal for most modern people, so it's less of a shock to them, but...I was from 1922, so adapting to all this-" He again gestured over his shoulder, this time more at the. Skyscrapers and technology of Jigoku. "-took me a while."

Tama fiddled with the sleeve of his yukata. "...the Enma isn't giving answers or even thanks to those who risked their lives for him. He didn't even care to see to their medical care, the other faction leaders had to do that. So I can't say I expect him to provide much of anything." That bitterness aside, however... "My best friend is okay. Bruised, but healing, like many of the others. Another friend almost died, however." His glower returned. "Karma will come for everyone, I'm sure, even the Enma."

"1922?" They ask it like the idea of someone still living from over a century ago is out of the realm of possibility, but the confusion fades from their face quickly on that one as the other pieces sort of swarm together in their head to justify it properly. It's probably nothing to be too worried about.

"Well, things have certainly accelerated quickly since then, I'll agree. If you need help, I'm pretty good with modern electronics." Or slightly antiquated ones, by their standard, but that's not really the point. "And I'll need to meet with the other leaders, too, if I can. I can't sit idly by when it should be my responsibility. Besides, wouldn't it be better if all of the factions really did work together?"

"...I think they really want to work together. Or, three of them seem to...they can be too friendly- competitive, but friendly -for there to be irreconcilable differences. But maybe I'm just being naive." He smiles, a little wispy. "I hope I'm not, of course. I'm sure you'll be able to feel them out, once you make your pledge with one of them."

The offer, however, surprises him- though, he does turn a little red to his ears, puffing up like a child. "I-I'd...appreciate that. The people I know who are most well-versed in this stuff are-" Tama shook his head, trying to look less like a child struggling to say 'thank you'. "-well, they're a good friend, but a terrible judge of certain things. They don't have cellphones or motorcars in their world at all, so someone more naturally familiar would be nice." He gave Levi a weak sort of sigh. "...someone had to explain headphones to me, and I'm terrified of having such a discussion again."

Levi smiles, glad that the whole idea of partnership and togetherness and all that is popular among some of the leaders, at least. It makes sense that the Enma isn't on board. People in his position rarely are. But there's something else that Tama shares and, like—well, what kind of hero would Leviathan be if they didn't answer a sincere plea for help?

"Sure, of course. Just because technology seems like it's everywhere, that doesn't mean everyone's going to have access to it, you know?" They immediately seem like they've lightened up at the chance to do some real good for someone. "Or that everyone has the same experience with it. 1922 was..." They think for a moment. "Things like wax cylinders and rotary phones? I can see how things would be overwhelming, now that everyone has a rectangle in their pocket that connects us to the worst places that humanity can think of." A smile. It's a joke. "Do you know how to add people on it? I can give you my username if you have any questions about anything."

"Oh, no, I've gotten that far...though, I do still sometimes forget to add new people..." Though, with Levi bringing that up, he was (finally) safe to pull out his horribly jingly cellphone. It was a little like watching an old person trying to navigate a touchscreen, the way he had to squint at it and henpeck to make a note of Levi's name for later.

"...okay, once your phone is set up, I should be able to add you. Um-" He picked his head up, tapping the phone against his cheek. "-I'm on here as Tamamori, my best friend's nickname for me. There's a souls...networking thing. If I mess up trying to find you, then I'm sure you can find me there. I'm chatty enough that Minakami has had to take my phone away more than once."

Delightful. They watch him pull out his cell phone and a smile comes to their face; it's so... quaint, almost. "Oh my gosh. I remember people used to have these. I think they're on their way back into style at home?" They certainly hope so, because the idea of having a bunch of little dangly bits that all represent one's personality is adorable, and they would love for it to become a trend again.

"Tamamori. Got it," they smile, committing it to memory. "So you did manage to arrive here with friends? Or is Minakami someone you met during your time here? I assume one makes things a little less Hellish than the other."

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June 2022 Test Drive

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sneaks over to do this tag cos i hate brackets

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