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jigokufever2022-06-24 11:00 am
jigokumods) wrote in jigokufever2022-06-24 11:00 am
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June 2022 Test Drive
MAIN NAVIGATION
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
no subject
Being reduced to a puppet wasn't on my very short list of life's goals. When it comes to matters of honor, the most honorable thing to do was to take care of those who took care of me, so to speak. As I'm sure your counterpart did before his time was cut short.
[He disagreed with so many decisions, but he stayed. He stayed and stayed and hoped for better, and it was an exercise in futility, even if Hijikata didn't really hate him. The man was as short-sighted as he was short-tempered.]
There's also the matter of the fact that using the abilities granted by becoming a Fury shortens one's life severely. I was among those who used them the most, being their leader. I'd planned to travel to Europe to find the cure, alongside the aforementioned young lady in my care. However, I've been diverted.
[And he needs more sake, thinking about that loss.]
no subject
Weird thing t' consider dyin' bein' a fixed point in time. No matter the timeline, it happens. I mean, in everybody's life of course dyin' is a fixed point. But I mean more than that. In fact, there's a couple'a guys here whose job it is t' make sure it happens no matter what, so I'm sure that guy lived exactly as long as he needed to.
[ that guy meaning his counterpart in sannan's world. but speaking of lifespans... ]
That "cure" business still a problem around here too? The Alliance has quite a few talented people both on the medical and supernatural side of things, if so.
[ if it were possible to help him, they could have a mutually beneficial arrangement here... ]
no subject
Unfortunately, it's still a problem. Having an... episode, let's say. It's incredibly painful, and as good as incapacitates me for a time. Usually there's a medicine I can take to stave off the alternative treatment. I'll have to see if they have the components here for it, as I don't intend to go begging for blood.
[A sip.]
Quite understandably.
no subject
[ this sure is a conversation they're having??? ]
We're in a world where yokai are the majority, so naturally, with that comes dietary needs for some that'd be real strange in a human-centric society. Otherwise, I know a couple folks who are good at comin' up with special medicine like that.
no subject
[He wonders if he'll put enough of the information together to realize that he was subsisting on the blood of that doctor'a daughter. That... earns another emptying of his cup, and another pour for them both.]
I can only assume any blood that somewhat resembles that of a human may do fine. I'm certainly not entirely closed-minded about it. You have to understand, though... They're base urges. It's a unique experience.
no subject
[ he grins, clearly not at all bothered by any of this. ]
Servants need a supply of mana to remain in the world. Usually, when a Master summons one, that's part of the contract that binds 'em together; the Servant draws the mana they need from the mage who summoned 'em. Servants are sorta like familiars, in that way. I've never needed to, but I've encountered Servants who lost their Masters and didn't wanna leave. It can be excitin', bein' somethin' like alive in the world again. Some cling too hard. They'll resort t' anything to survive, includin' what energy there is to be found in blood, among other things. Found out there's some alternatives t' findin' someone t' tap a vein on the spot, anyway.
no subject
...That's more of a relief than you know. It's been unstable since I arrived, and I'm not interested in making anyone a victim of my episodes. Servants certainly have a difficult situation of their own.
no subject
[ it's a reasonable offer to make someone when the biggest inconvenience to him would be the time. "episodes" sound like the kind of thing that can't wait for things like the supply chain. ]
no subject
However.
He would be absolutely lying if he said that wasn't an appealing offer.]
It would be worth a try. For all I know, supernatural blood does more than human blood. I would be grateful for your assistance.
no subject
[ he has a weird feeling about this. not a bad one, just... weird.
exciting?he supposes that comes with the territory when you go from having a decent conversation with a guy to offering to give him your blood. ]That would make sense from what I know. Potency of the energy an' whatnot. But I guess that's one for the research, huh?
no subject
Who it is is kind of remarkable and strange. If Hijikata could see him now...]
You have my thanks, well in advance. As for the rest... time and experience will tell. I don't believe myself to be some kind of bloodthirsty monster, so I should be able to take a measured approach.
no subject
[ ryouma isn't underestimating sannan, but he's confident in what he is. he's not one to make assumptions based on appearance or demeanour, so he's willing to believe there may very well be the potential for something like a bloodthirsty monster, if sannan mentioned it in the first place. ]
no subject
...I appreciate the confidence. Though that almost makes it seem like I'm looking forward to something. I'll restrain myself, so you shouldn't need to worry.