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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.
no subject
Rather than let things get out of hand, Azem steps out of the shadows their form growing as size as they do. Though they don't take on their full original size they're still large enough that the little gang wouldn't want to mess with them.
"If you know what's good for you you'll be on your way."
One would think that'd be enough to warn the group off but they seem to think that their numbers are enough to take on the two of them, even with Azem's increased size. Yet a few of the others turn to focus their attacks on Azem which draws a sigh from them.
"I see, choosing the hard way."
no subject
"I don't need your--"
He halts mid-sentence and gapes. It would be comical if it didn't leave him open to the next punch thrown his way, much harder and faster. The rough fall and the throbbing pain in his left cheek wrench him rudely back to the present and he immediately switches to fight mode. Lips pull back into a snarl as he kicks at the youth who has chosen to come after him. After that, everything is a blur.
Emet-Selch may come out of it with a bruised cheek and several cuts, but in the end his half of the group lie groaning (or silent) on the street.
no subject
Azem leaves most of them to Emet-Selch, only knocking a few unconscious with a well-placed blow. They seem to fair better if only due to having a larger size at their advantage. A larger size they immediately give up once the last of the group has either fled or been rendered unconscious.
They close the distance between the two of them, reaching out to touch his face if he doesn't object. "Would you like me to take care of that for you?"
Any other worries going right out the window to look after the few minor injuries he incurred from the scuffle.
no subject
"You are not supposed to be here." There are better ways to greet someone, but can one blame him? The person standing before him shouldn't exist. They haven't existed for some twelve thousand years. All of the pain and regret
and yes, heartachethat he's been carrying since the Sundering returns with a vengeance, and it flows out of him in anger. When he steps forward, it's not to trade familiar touches. "If this is some kind of trick of the demons here, I'll not be swayed!"What kind of cruel afterlife is this, to taunt him with an image of dear (but departed) friend?
no subject
As someone blissfully unaware of their fate his subsequent reaction leaves them stunned and confused. Brows furrow, confusion clear on their face, as it's their turn to take a step or two back.
They're left in silence for a few moments. How is one meant to react to accusations of demonic tricks or the anger that comes with it?
When they finally do respond their own tone holds a bit of anger, though it's nothing to match his. "I haven't a clue what you're talking about but there are no demonic tricks here. At least not at this very moment, in this very place."
no subject
"You were sundered," he grates out. "You didn't die. Or-- or are you saying that you perished after all, after making such noise about finding a different solution? Is that why we heard nothing from you?!"
no subject
They cut themselves short and throw their hands into the air. "No! No matter what they say I am not thoroughly convinced that all of us here are dead. Why the contracts if we are?"
They pause once more and shake their head, that's straying from their question. They take a moment to suck in a breath and slowly let it out before reaching to grab his arm and tug him out of the alley. Whether he complies to their touch or not, Azem will still continue to walk, hoping he'll follow. They clearly need to talk and this place, surrounded by the currently unconscious bodies of gang members is not the place to be.
"Come, we seem to have much to discuss and this place is not conducive to this conversation." Azem can already see a conversation with Hythlodaeus brewing. They've avoided talking about home long enough. "You can start with this sundered business."
no subject
(Like that shade of Hythlodaeus, wandering the remains of their broken city.)
"If you truly are them then tell me something only they would know about me," he snaps. He won't be led from one ambush into another. And what had they meant by not believing they were dead? Emet-Selch knows perfectly well that he is.
no subject
“Truly?” They question, shooting a glance back over their shoulder. “Fine. I know that Emet-Selch is merely a title, just as Azem is. That your true name is Hades. I know that you put up this grumpy front in hopes that it will deter others from asking favors of you because you have a very difficult time saying no.”
They glance back at him once more, their voice shifting to a few octaves lower as they continue. “Besides who other than myself would shift like this.”
They stop, spinning on heel to grin at him. It may be difficult to discern from the baggy shirt and long skirt, both of which are obnoxiously colored and patterned, that their frame has shifted from feminine to masculine.
“Also you have a mole on your left butt cheek.” They grin widely at him. That one is likely a lie, but it is said to get a rise out of him.
no subject
The retort is immediate and indignant. Emet-Selch quickly scowls and looks away, realising he'd been deliberately drawn into the reaction. Just like in the old days. But fine: it is looking less likely that this is someone impersonating them or tricking his mind, and now he is even more perplexed as to how they can even be here.
"Fine. I will give you the benefit of the doubt for now. But I want answers as well, Azem. Where are you taking us?"
no subject
It’s nice that something as silly as that can make things feel almost normal.
“Oh, there’s a little park nearby. It should make for a decent place to chat. This city has many little parks, my favorite is much larger though. A perfect place for a picnic.” They respond as they turn to continue leading the way, prattling on to try and keep the mood light. They have ever been the on to note nice places they wish to share with friends.
Sure enough they round a few more corners to reveal a park. It’s as green and expansive as one’s back home but it offers a place to sit beneath the shade of a tree. They make their way over and after gathering up a few random objects produce a small blanket for the two to sit on.
Once settled they pat the spot net to them. “Now, what is this sundered business?”
no subject
After a moment of dithering, he eventually sinks down beside his friend and makes himself comfortable. This is...nice, isn't it? It hearkens back to the sort of memories he had held fast to over the long, long centuries. He, Azem, and Hythlodaeus, gathered together on some stretch of grass, simply enjoying one another's company.
He doesn't answer their question immediately, instead staring at his hands, clasped in his lap. "Ere I answer that," he says slowly, "I need to know when you came here. What were you doing last?"
no subject