April 2022 Test Drive

[jigokumods]

MAIN NAVIGATION

1. CLEAN UP

The streets of Jigokucho are a mess after the incident at the Night Parade. There is the usual garbage in the streets after any large gathering but the steam explosions from below made everything that much worse: broken glass from blown out windows glitters on the asphalt, splintered wood makes the sidewalks treacherous to walk on, and grime covers buildings that otherwise escaped unscathed. Business owners have called on the faction leaders in their area to help with clean up and that work falls to you. Clean up garbage from the street, repair broken windows, and get the city looking presentable again.

The largest debris was cleared in the immediate aftermath so, thankfully, what remains is manageable on a person-to-person level. As you clean, you will get the impression that communities in every territory are very upset about what happened. The Night Parade was meant to celebrate (relative) peace in Jigokucho, after all.

Civilians will definitely show their gratitude to anyone choosing to help out, regardless of faction, and grant small discounts or favors to everyone lending a hand. Faction leaders have also promised bonuses for those who do the most good for their territory. The Sutoku Alliance is especially grateful, given their current state, and will not only offer a bonus but also free tickets to one of the rooftop amusement parks in their territory.

2. TURF WAR (PLOT RELEVANT)

It's Tamamo vs Shuten and everyone's getting dragged in!

Both clans want the currently unclaimed Underground for their own means and have sent their soldiers beneath the streets to secure the territory in a turf war. Even if you haven't been assigned your faction yet, you can expect either side to recruit you to head into the waterworks to help maintain their hold.

The quarrelsome Shuten Clan is taking the traditional approach to marking their territory, which is to say: direct combat. Shutens are arming everyone they send down into the tunnels with weapons with the expectation that they fight any Tamamo or Tamamo-allied they come across.

The Tamamo are more crafty, setting up traps and illusions to trick the Shuten Clan into getting hopelessly lost or actively injured from traps, such as explosive talismans or barrier seals. Magic and guerilla tactics are their favored methods and no Shuten or Shuten-ally is to be spared.

The Enma are still expected to conduct their patrols Underground but unless you're snooping around in the lowest levels, trying to get into the abandoned offices, or sneak past a keycard locked door they're probably going to leave you alone. That is unless they feel inclined to get in on the action, of course!

The River Kappa Tribe, part of the Sutoku Alliance, who once worked in the Underground, can be spotted sneaking around the sewers. Most of them are just trying to find anything that got left behind during the incident on the Night Parade. Sutoku allies are encouraged to help them out where they can and convince them that neither the Shuten nor Tamamo clan will have their best interest at heart, if they should take the territory.

3. COLLECTION DAY

Despite the on-going turbulence, collections go on.

Accountants for each faction have alerted leadership to the fact that it's that time of the month again. Most people pay their loans on time to avoid trouble but there are always a few stubborn holdouts who think they can get away with not paying up. It's up to you to go shake them down for the cash they owe.

Shuten Clan members are again assigned to the Celestial Phoenix Casino. It seems the owner learned nothing from the shakedown in March and has once again hired unaffiliated muscle in an attempt to weasel out of paying what is owed. The security is as armed and violent as last time but this time they have body armor. Beat them down and get the cash from the manager.

Tamamo Clan members are told to go to the Young Peach to extract payment. It is an older but still popular massage parlor in the area. The manager will do everything in their power not to pay! They may ask for an extension, offer cash bribes, or even offer a generous amount of free ‘services'. If those methods don't work, he suddenly transforms into a quick little animal to escape. Don't let that rat get away!

Sutoku Alliance members get sent to the hottest new nightclub, Enigma. If you go in expecting a fight, that's just what you get... but not in the traditional sense. The manager has hired numerous teenagers and 20-somethings to challenge everyone who comes in looking for payment to a dance battle! There is no dissuading them from their mission. If you get through them all, the manager will demand a final dance battle against themself. Teaming up is probably in your best interest against this veteran.

The Department of the Enma members will be investigating the Waxy Taxi cab company. Those who come searching for the owner of this business will find them waiting in a taxi. If you ask for payment, you'll be given a set of keys before she floors it and screeches off into the streets. The keys go to a nearby cab. You have to race her before she'll give up the goods. Don't know how to drive? Better find a buddy who does.

4. FOLLOW THE WHITE RABBIT

There are an awful lot of rabbits showing up in one of the public parks. They are each small, white, red-eyed and look like they might be escaped pets. They seem friendly enough. They don't run away in fear if you walk near them, however, if you do try to catch one it will hop away from you. It stops and looks back, as if beckoning you to follow it.

Most of the rabbits will not take you anywhere you particularly want to be: seedy little corners of the city where nothing good seems to be going down. You will get a lot of strange looks from the people around you, as you get the distinct impression you are definitely not supposed to be here. If you wanted to secure some black market goods, these seem like the folks that could provide for you. For a price, of course.

But if you stop to shop, you might lose track of the rabbit!

Following the rabbit beyond these seedy little alleyways will eventually take you to the banks of the Sanzu where there are four large and extremely intimidating isonade. They're a little bit different from your usual isonade, they're mutated and have arms and legs – extremely beefy arms and legs.

It seems like the rabbits wanted to show you what they were doing but by the time you get there the rabbit has skittered off and left you under the isonade's gaze. Whatever the sharks were up to, it's too hard to tell now. The isonades are angry and you're the target of their wrath. You've obviously interrupted something!

Be careful not to get dragged under the water, or worse. They sure do have a lot of teeth...

5. THE DAITENGU'S FUNERAL (PLOT RELEVANT)

The time has come for the funeral of the Daitengu.

All factions have gathered at the Tengu Temple grounds, dressed in black. The mood is dark but not unhopeful. Despite the war over territory in the sewers, Lost Souls might be surprised to note that the Shuten and Tamamo representatives are being exceptionally cordial and respectful to one another, even if they're keeping their distance. You will get the impression that a funeral is a particularly sacred form of ceasefire between the factions. Any disrespect shown here could blow into an all out war at any moment. For now, it remains oddly peaceful.

The only person conspicuous in their absence is the Enma and any of his high-ranking officers. This isn't surprising to the locals in attendance. The Enma never attends this kind of thing. It's actually a little taboo for the cops to be here.

When the time comes, all guests are expected to bow as the funeral procession makes its way past the gate towards the main temple. It proceeds to the shrine set up in honor of the Alliance's fallen leader. The Tengu Elders and the White Wolf Guard are the primary members of the procession, flanking a humbly dressed group of unknown individuals. Each of them wears silver hair similar to the Daitengu's. One could easily assume they are the direct family.

But wait! Didn't you see someone that looked like that earlier? A strange, lithe person with a light voice that was pestering you for where the food was? Then again, given everything that's happened, you're not sure you can trust your own memory. Everyone is unusual here, aren't they? Maybe?

That's what you think until you hear that voice again. It's speaking clearly over the crowd. You can't remember what their face looked like, so it's difficult to pinpoint them. It doesn't matter much now: they've decided to put on a certain mask

"You know, it's a shame, I was really hoping the big red guy would be here! The least he could do after paying for all of this was show up himself, right?"

That's definitely the voice you heard. It's the Daitengu, laughing as they pop out from the crowd and snatch up the box of their own 'ashes'. They're tossing it around in their hands like a toy. Everyone is too shocked to do anything about it. They just stare, slack-jawed in disbelief.

"The things you do to get the Enma's attention and he won't even give you the time of day. Am I right? Well, I definitely want you all to pay them your respects for arranging this! As for me, and well..."

They gesture to the box.

"...the other me, we're going to be leaving early to beat the traffic. Enjoy the rest of the funeral!"

And with that, a wild burst of furious wind shifts beneath the Daitengu's feet, kicking up enough dust to cloud their position. When it settles, it reveals nothing in their wake. They're gone.

Chaos erupts immediately. Whatever peace there was between the Tamamo and the Shuten clans breaks into fist fights and shouting. The Sutoku get involved as well, as each faction demands answers from the others. What is going on and how is the Daitengu still alive?! Who knew they were alive, who was hiding this from whom?!

Hope you don't mind getting blood on your nice, clean funeral clothes.

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.
• If you have any questions about the TDM content, please ask them here! You can find a player-posted summary the plot thus far here!
• If you have questions about the game itself, please check out the premise, FAQ, and rules pages.
• Reserves are open until May 5th.

Comments

[aswordsoheavy]

This is simple enough; he goes to his side and he starts lifting, but just high enough to be able to 'walk' it over to the wall. No sense wasting strength. By the time the first one is leaning against a wall, he's already eyeing the next closest one.

"We sure this won't mess with the wall?"

Enough heavy stone in an unstable spot...