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jigokufever2022-08-25 05:44 pm
jigokumods) wrote in jigokufever2022-08-25 05:44 pm
Entry tags:
AUGUST 2022 TEST DRIVE
MAIN NAVIGATION
1. SHUTEN TERRITORY - Muscling In
art by tohdraws
In the aftermath of the curse crisis, the Shuten Clan forgave a bunch of protection payments in the region, and helped cover the costs for rebuilding. Unfortunately, some of the street gangs in the area are much less civically minded. They have used the Shuten's relaxed policies as an opportunity to turn their own screws on the local business owners. These unaffiliated youth gangs have been much rougher with the locals, and have been asking for even larger collection fees. This has pissed off the folks who are just trying to get their lives and businesses back on track!
Unfortunately, the opening of Sai no Kawara in the underground drew so much of the clan's focus and manpower, that the issues up top just slipped through the cracks. Until now! Toraguma is in a bad mood and is looking for people to take it out on: the youth gangs will do just fine.
Volunteers are being solicited to join the regular Shuten enforcers in driving these interlopers out of Shuten territory. The gangs are wise to the usual Shuten tactics, though, and they're prepared for a fight. They are also appealing to the influx of Lost Souls: they act as though they're the victims of the factions' power struggles! They propose that taking up arms against the Shuten Clan will win them favor with the other groups in the city. (It will look less good with the Shuten Clan, should you be assigned to them.)
Fight with the Shutens, or with the gangs. Either way, a fight is coming.
2. TAMAMO TERRITORY - Throat Goat (NSFW)
at by akai riotThis prompt is overtly sexual in nature. Please use the proper NSFW labelling in your top levels and threads.
While the Palace of Sai in the underground is doing well, that doesn't mean the other businesses in the Tamamo Clan's collection have been slacking. One of the least "classy" soaplands has decided they're going to hold a contest to drive up business for themselves! They are partnering with some of the other sex clubs in the area for the sleaziest of events.
The Hyottoko Cup is looking for volunteer participants! The competition is pretty straightforward: a ruler is drawn on the throat of each participant and an array of members is presented to swallow. Whichever contestant can take the guests deepest and longest will take home the "coveted" Hyottoko Cup! Ok, there's a little judge favoritism involved too, so put on a show.
The guests have likewise been pulled in as volunteers, with instructions that they don't have to make this easy on the participants. Guests are provided with special seals that they can use for the length of the competition to enhance their natural assets. For those lacking the equipment entirely, there's a seal for that too.
Have fun and play nice.
3. TAMAMO TERRITORY - Strike a Poise (GEN)
Other businesses looking to jump start this month's earnings are also getting in on the spirit of competition! Businesses less oriented towards sexual service have come together as a means to draw in the high dollar clients, and one local club has proposed something old school.
Sign up for the Poise Contest, where contestants are placed into more and more ridiculous geta while tasked with serving drinks to the guest. Spills are expected, and the guests are cheerfully kitted out with cheap club-branded ponchos to protect their clothes. (Marketing, am I right?) While spills are expected, the contestant will lose points for each of the spilled drinks. Try to keep your balance as you attend to increasingly absurd drink orders. The intensity of the traditional footwear will only make your job that much harder.
Do you have what it takes to pour a champagne fountain while wearing teetering tengu geta? Prove your balance and dexterity is the best and the take home prize is some sweet cash. For Lost Souls freshly in the city, the chance to win some extra money can't really be passed up, huh…
4. SUTOKU TERRITORY - Jigokucho's Got Talent
Ever since Moonday's beloved singer – Ringo-chan – was kidnapped at the Tanabata festival, the band has had to cancel all of their scheduled gigs. Unfortunately, they were a hugely popular act, booked solid in most of the Sutoku Alliance's various nightclubs. This has left a ton of empty spots that need to be filled quickly, before the crowds get upset and demand… refunds.
That's where you come in, Lost Souls! Desperate promoters and talent bookers are literally grabbing Lost Souls off the street and begging, pleading, with them to perform a set for the night. They just need to have something to fill the space Moonday would have otherwise occupied. At least give the crowd something to see!
Acts do not need to be of the musical variety. Any performing talent is accepted, no matter how esoteric or bizarre! If it can fill out a 15-30 minute set, the club owners will be happy and the customers will at least see something interesting; even if it's a bad kind of interesting. So get on stage and show this city what you've got!
( Help us fill our time slots, please! We're desperate! 😩)
5. DEPARTMENT OF THE ENMA - Sticky Paws II: Outta the Bag
The Enma Department is busy: they have a kidnapping to investigate, a primordial god to pin down, and the crisis of their ever-shifting public image to manage. However, crime never sleeps and is always there to add to the troubled Department's workload. Worse still, we thought this little crime spree was over six months ago! But here it is again, much to the Enma's chagrin.
Cat cafés are a popular tourist attraction all across Jigokucho. About six months ago, a gang of bakeneko infiltrated several of the cafés to rob customers occupied with kitty bliss. Wallets, jewelry, and anything else those sticky paws could snatch away were being picked in droves. The cat capers are afoot once more!
Are you a hapless victim of these furry thieves, or are you helping the Department of the Enma track down these cat burglars? Unfortunately, the bakeneko are exceptionally clever and are using a seal to disguise their secondary tails. This makes them look just about like any normal cat. Better make sure your lead is good, or you'll be chasing down an ordinary Felis Catus. Soft to pet, but not going to return your pilfered cash.
Of course, the café staff might be in on this caper too… It's never easy to tell who's getting a cut of the profits. Be careful who you trust out there.
6. ALL OVER - The 100 Billion Yen Man (PLOT RELEVANT)
The local TV news has been announcing that Kaberou Kannazaki – the legendary finance wolf and the father of kidnapping victim, Ringo-chan – will be making an announcement this week. People have flocked to television sets throughout the city; at the squares, around TVs in bars, electronic stores, each other's phones, and any other venue with a connection. The kidnapping has been a highly public ordeal and the talk of the town. Many of the locals were present at the festival and witnessed the crime. They want to hear what the word is!
The public doesn't have to wait long. Wolf-eared Kaberou sits at a press desk, surrounded by microphones, and dazzled with flashbulbs. He clears his throat and, as he begins to speak, he is direct and to the point; not unlike a wolf lunging for the throat."As of today, I am issuing a bounty on the man known as the Iron Bear, who has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of my daughter, Ringo Kannazaki. The payout to the party responsible for bringing me Iron Bear, dead or alive, is 100 Billion Yen. Individuals or groups, I don't care. Just bring my daughter back to me, and the money is yours."
Well! The Department of the Enma's hopes of an orderly investigation have been dashed, but this is certainly an opportunity for anyone brave enough – or, more accurately, stupid enough – to traverse the Wasteland. Maybe one of you out there will find the legendary Iron Bear and bring him to some form of justice.
Local businesses are quick to leap at this opportunity, too. They begin to aggressively push sponsorships at would-be bounty hunters. Weapons? Armor? Survival gear? All at discount prices! Each faction has their interest in collecting the massive bounty as well. They will all be putting a lot of pressure on recruits to get ready to head out to the Wastes.
If you just got here? Well, it would definitely be in your interest to start finding gear, and finding people willing to collect that bounty with you. It could mean a big step forward toward your eventual contract, after all.
Welcome to the test drive meme!
- First of all, big thanks to our discord chat for the "Throat Goat" prompt idea. Stay golden, gang.
- IF YOU'RE TOP-LEVELING A NEW CHARACTER, post it here!
- Characters already in the game can top level as well.
- Threads here can be considered game canon.
- Characters can be recruited to do work for any faction until they're given their official assignment.
- 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 September 5th.
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Which that won't do at all. G'raha taps his chin in thought. ]
You thought or you know? I would ask for the circumstances that lead up to your alleged passing. For to pluck a soul from the aetherial sea and pull them across whatever rift that would separate our star and this one would be no small feat.
[ And it would also give them an idea of as to the scale of power of whatever they are dealing with actually has. ]
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I fought Meteion, bolstered and protected by the prayers of you and the others. Then I fought Zenos. I defeated him, but...
[Rhea'li grimaces, briefly closing his eyes. He can understand Sadu's obsession with battle exhilarating enough for the flames of her soul to burn bright; he has that selfsame desire.]
Try as I might, I could not follow Meteion home to all of you. At that moment, I thought I was destined to share his grave at the edge of existence. I closed my eyes and found myself here.
[His brows draw together in a pensive look, not yet giving voice to his concerns.]
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It's as if he is the Warrior of Light. Yet that is not the face that G'raha associates with the title. Another comes to mind.
Well G'raha can't draw that conclusion yet. At least not entirely. Not without some proof. ]
This is a rather curious situation indeed. If I may, a few more questions? What I intend to ask I mean no offense by. Rather, I wish to confirm something.
[ The star holds so many mysteries, after all. ]
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Ask away.
[His expression remains calm and his voice even. G'raha's demeanour as he speaks to him, why, it's as if they are strangers.]
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[ Because he knows that it has to be alarming and confusing. Likely some anxiety as well. Miqo'te have ways of conveying that even when they appear calm. Right now, however, G'raha is thinking about moments in time that wouldn't have made it into tales people tell of the Warrior of Light. Tales that the hero wouldn't relay to another. But ah... Something simple to start with. ]
Our first meeting. Might you describe it for me?
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A wry grin turns up the corner of his mouth.]
Do you truly wish to hear of the game you played while remaining hidden from sight? Toying with your fellow man tasked with the same quest, holding the prize just out of reach?
[Rhea'li shakes his head, but the twitch of his tail and crease around his eyes betrays his amusement at the memory. G'raha had certainly lead him on a merry little chase for a time.]
For one who insisted on racing, your forfeit came far too easily.
no subject
T'was never my intention to withhold it in the first place. Rather I wished to see the skill of the one that our companions thought to send.
[ While also playing something of a prank. Those moments had been... Actually a rough time for G'raha considering what had happened with the Students. He had needed a distraction himself.
Neither here nor there. Focus on there here and now. ]
Naturally I could not think to ask questions concerning the period of time I remained in the Tower. Thus I will press onward. Back on the First, when you were brought to the Tower... Did you make any inquiries?
[ Did you ask about G'raha Tia? ]
no subject
[Rhea'li folds his arms, tail swishing cheerfully behind him.]
I was told, "I am not familiar with that name." [Unfolding his arms, Rhea'li continues] The lie seems obvious upon reflection.
[But he's well aware he's not the quickest on the uptake. He had no reason to think G'raha would be right before him, in disguise, pretending not to know him for reasons unknown; he had simply guessed that the Exarch had taken the Tower from an era when G'raha was not sleeping within it. Which was technically true.]
no subject
I had a century to dwell upon the hero the tales spoke of, the one I knew for an adventure cut short. Never did it occur to me that such a person, the bearer of so many titles and capable of impossible feats, would deign to remember an excitable and embarrassing historian. A foolish thought, in hindsight.
[ He folds his arms across his chest. While this doesn't really confirm anything - not solidly - it does allow for a theory to hold some weight. In truth, G'raha would be interested in pouring over all of the details of this Miqo'te's life. Purely for scholarly pursuits, of course. Just to see how much truly aligns together. Whatever the case, he doesn't believe that Rhea'li is lying or under some delusion. That much he can say. ]
As for the matter of your death, if events play out the way that I believe they might, then you needn't worry. Our hero made it back. Granted, they were on the brink of death, but recovered from the ordeal entirely.
no subject
[Rhea'li sucks in a quiet breath, eyes closing, tail unusually still. Then it is as he feared. Somehow, G'raha doesn't know him. The events are clearly familiar to him, but there is someone else in his role.
It would be more interesting on a conceptual level if it didn't hurt to know he is but a stranger to G'raha. Is this how Emet-Selch felt when he saw his soul but found him unable to remember aught of Azem's life before?
He must move ever forward.
Opening his eyes, he lets out the smallest of sighs.]
Then I am but a stranger to you.
[What an odd mystery it is, that there exists a time that the events of his journey occurred, but without him in it. Still, G'raha's words give him more hope he will make it home. Maybe when the sting of the situation has lessened, he would like to hear the tales of the one who bears the title in his stead.
Rhea'li squares his shoulders and levels his gaze at G'raha, a small smile on his face.]
My name is Rhea'li Akhbala. 'Tis a pleasure to meet you.
no subject
There are moments that he wonders about himself, really. When his friend looks upon him, does he see the Exarch or the G'raha Tia that had been in the Crystal Tower? Even if the souls have blended, in a sense, one has lived a life while the other has not. And yet he's not even really sure any longer which he could be considered as. ]
Yes and no. Coincidentally, I know what you have done and the path that you have walked. The variants of that path are what is unknown, but I still feel as though your core.
[ He knows the type of person the Warrior of Light, no matter who, must be like. The sacrifices that must be made. The difficult choices. It takes an incredibly strong and resilient individual. Dedicated and loyal. These are the things that matter. ]
So the pleasure would be mine to get to know you better.
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The small twitch of Rhea'li's tail expresses his better mood as much as his broadening grin.]
Then if you've the mood for food and drink, there is a stand nearby that serves inexpensive meals.
[Since, well. As far as currency goes, he is a pauper. And the ramen stand he'd spotted earlier seemed to serve food much like what he'd eaten in Kugane.]
I find discussion more enjoyable over a warm meal.
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His own tail flicks at the other one does. Seems like moving forward is also going to put the Seeker into something of a better mood. ]
How could I refuse? By all means, a meal and conversation is the best way to pass the time I find.
no subject