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.
Characters can be recruited to do work for any faction until they're given their official assignment.
New characters can link their toplevels here!
If you have any questions about the TDM content, please ask them here! You can find information on the story so far here!
If you have questions about the game itself, please check out the premise, FAQ, and rules pages.
Reserves are open until July 5th
NEWBIE TOP LEVELS

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Clean Up – Sutoku

[ What the hell are these machines and how do they even work?! Zhongli is trying his best to even understand what these things do as the machine shoots tokens at him. He’s at least agile enough to dodge them but other people might have a harder time in doing so. He is persistent, if anything else, and will dodge another token aimed at his head before moving off to the side to hide behind one of the cursed machines. ]

Unfortunately, I am not exactly well-versed in whatever these strange machines need us to do. I will try to protect us both while you fish those keys out of its innards.
[ He’s saying that so matter of fact and deadpan serious it’s hard to take him as such. ]

Clean Up - Enma

[ As being part of the Enma Department Zhongli is of course helping with whatever might be needed from the fallout of what appears to have been a curse. So, he’ll be offering bottles of water, food, and whatever help he can assist with as the day goes on. ]

If there is something I might be able to do for you, please state it as such. I am here to offer my help in any way possible.

[ Is what he’ll say to someone that looks like they need it. ] Even if it is some to simply talk to. I have quite the vast amounts of stories to tell if that’s something you would be interested in listening to.

Ghost Shark

[ Well this is certainly unfortunate. As one of the poorest archons Zhongli has little to offer the children in exchange for the totem. He might be standing there with his usual expression and arms crossed over his chest. He's in deep contemplation it seems before opening up his amber eyes. ]

These children are not unaccustomed to the methods of trade and bartering. However, I am without sufficient payment to appease their part of the contract. Do you perhaps have anything that a child would deem sufficient?

[ He doesn’t know how humans work, let alone human children?! Please help him… ]

Cursed Corners

Vision 1)

[ Being alive as long as Zhongli one is going to have loved ones, failings, and everything in between. It’s of no surprise that when one might happen upon him, trapped in his own accursed vision there is a myriad of ones to play out. The woman he sees is that of a loved one, long since gone, her flowing robes and hair ethereal as she walks slowly and silently towards Zhongli. Zhongli’s amber eyes widen slightly as he finally hears that voice that has been silent for over two thousand years. ]

Why were you not strong enough to protect me?

[ The ex-archon remains all but silent, aside from the sigh that he lets out, the regret in his expression is easily seen through his amber eyes as they tick away before the vision dissipates into nothingness. ]

Vision 2)

[ A mighty stone dragon roars with pain and anger as a familiar figure, resembling that of Zhongli, stands before it. Morax doesn’t look to have any sort of feeling or doubt about what he’s doing, only that it must be done. The dragon, Azhdaha yells in defiance once more- ]

How dare you turn your back on me, Morax!! All for the sake of these worms!!

[ The vision will end with Azhdaha’s imprisonment and Morax’s sagging shoulders as he looks tiredly away from the beast that once was one of his best friends. ]

Wildcard!

[ Feel free to write up a prompt not listed or hash something out with me! ]

Edited 2022-06-27 21:34 (UTC)

[ Looks like she's not the only one plagued by these visions, tragic or otherwise.

Lumine's quick to see that someone else is experiencing the same kind of torment she's experienced earlier and even quicker to recognize the taller man. A part of her is hesitant to disturb him in such circumstances, especially when it seems like a situation where she shouldn't overstep even with her relations with him, but it's the only way to shake him out of his stupor—and keep people from watching the vision further.

She approaches the ex-archon right away, her hand carefully falling on his arm to try and catch his attention. Her eyes flick at the woman, unfamiliar yet familiar all the same.

Havria? No ... that's not her. ]

Zhongli ... [ she calls his name, giving his arm a gentle shake to rouse him out of his reverie. ] Are you all right?

[ The moment Zhongli feels another presence, especially against his arm, the moment the vision disappears into nothingness. The ex-archon's amber eyes will blink before casting their gaze upon a familiar voice and person. ]

Traveler? Ah. I'm fine. [ Is he though because his stare lingers for a few more seconds where Guizhong once was. It's only when he starts to notice the crowds that he might stiffen slightly. ]

Perhaps we might go elsewhere to talk?

[ Is he, she wonders?

It's not every day that she's seen Zhongli lose composure, not even when Liyue was placed in danger. But he seems shaken by the vision despite the impassive expression on his face, his lingering glance telling of the kind of effect it had on her. Which makes Lumine even more curious as to who she is, and what her role is in the ex-archon's life.

But that's something they can speak about later, a conversation not meant for other people to hear. ]

Mm, [ she hums with a nod and a faint smile, gesturing down the street, away from prying eyes. ] There's a shop nearby that offers tea if you'd prefer that.

[ Even in hell, she doesn't think his tastes have changed. ]

Zhongli | Genshin Impact | OTA

cursed corner 1

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Clean up Sutoku

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Sutoku Clean Up

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cursed corners two — spoilers for xingqiu :')

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ghost sharks

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clean up - sutoku

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Cursed Corners 1

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cursed corner 2

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Vision 2

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