jikan_rpg | June | Event: Trial of the Soul

June | Event: Trial of the Soul

Trial of the Soul↲ OOC Plotting

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By now, most Refugees have likely experienced various side effects of Kizuna while living in Nippon. Most of these effects have been mild, but occasionally, they've produced dangerous results due to Kizuna's unstable nature as pure Sora magic. But more than just a minor annoyance, studying how to harness Kizuna is vital to the NRL's goal of fixing the refugees' home worlds. And yet the professors of MRU have been limited in what they can do to assist the scientists in Tokyo with that goal.

But all that is about to change, as MRU announces a special collaboration with the Oni Clans of Kyushu regarding ancient Kizuna practices. Although Oni are not particularly known for their magical prowess, it's believed that the concept of Kizuna bonds originated in Oni culture. As such, they are by and far considered the best source to figure out the true nature of Kizuna.

Up until now, the Oni of Kyushu haven't been receptive to MRU's requests to help the refugees, due to infighting between the two leading Oni Clans. But it seems something has changed their minds...

A Tales of Two Clans

Naturally, the MRU isn't expecting the Refugees to volunteer to head to Kyushu for free. All Refugees willing to participate in the research will be rewarded financially for their time, in addition to being provided food and lodging during their stay. Just think of it as a nice little summer vacation!

But getting to Kyushu is no simple task. Although one could certainly take the train, it'd be a two-day trip, as Kyushu is located on the westernmost island of Nippon. Thankfully, many refugees have technically already been there: Kyushu is the region above which the Tengu city of Miyazaki sits. And with a little help from the Tengu, a new teleportation terminal is added to the region below, allowing for instant travel between Kyushu and Tokyo/Kyoto.

But when they arrive, they may find that their experiences will vary greatly depending on which city their lodgings are located, as Oni culture varies greatly depending on which Clan controls that territory.

Passive Aggressions Kumamoto, Kyushu
Those with lodgings in Western Kyushu will find themselves in the city of Kumamoto, located in Ao Oni territory. The Oni here all have vibrant blue skin, and the refugees will find that the locals are both friendly and curious about them. Aside from a handful of Inu Yokai, very few other varieties of Yokai can be found living in Oni territory, and no humans whatsoever.

Refugees will be housed in a resort located near the ocean shore, where they'll be treated to gourmet five course meals, a natural outdoor hot spring, and even complimentary massages. It's the height of luxury, though it does come at a bit of a cost. Although the Ao Oni are polite, there's always a distinct sense that they're being looked down on -- a certain passive aggression, as they show wonder in the fact the refugees can do anything for themselves. Whether it be constant compliments over their ability to use chopsticks and speak the language, or outright disbelief that they can perform magic or fight, it's hard to say whether it's founded in malice or ignorance. Especially seeing as many will remark that they've never met humans before.

As one of the more popular cities in Kyushu, Refugees may wish to explore some of the shopping districts, where artisan crafts and unique fashion can be purchased. Unlike typical fashion in Nippon, Oni fashion leans towards the risque, as their vibrant colored skin is a mark of pride. Kimono are often cropped at the sleeves and left open, with minimal fabric underneath to maintain modesty. Still, men are rarely going around outright topless, and will always wear something to cover those pesky male presenting nipples, be it a tube top, thin strips of fabric, or even leather straps.

If the Refugees hope to be treated with a bit more respect, switching to the local fashion is perhaps the only way to go. And hey, it's pretty hot in Kyushu, so surely it's a win-win situation!

Tsunderoni Oita, Kyushu
Refugees staying in the Eastern half of Kyushu will instead be taken to the city of Oita, located in Aka Oni territory, where the Oni possess bright red skin. Unlike the Ao Oni, the Aka Oni are far less friendly. Even those in charge of the refugees' housing will seem somewhat disinterested, simply showing them to their rooms in a small inn without fanfare. There's no luxury to be found here, though at least the food is decent.

The streets of Oita are a very different sight than what the Refugees may be used to in Nippon. Kyushu is an island rife with volcanic activity, and all throughout Oita, thick plumes of steam can be found rising out of buildings and from the sewers below the street. As such, the entire city is extremely humid, which some may even find to be downright unbearable. And while the inside of every building is equipped with powerful cooling spells, it may discourage some from exploring.

But perhaps that's for the best. Those who walk the streets of Oita will find themselves being treated as an oddity, with many businesses hesitant in serving them. Some locals may even be outright hostile, picking fights and jeering at them in streets. Those bearing obvious Kizuna effects will receive the brunt of this treatment.

And yet those same refugees will find that these encounters may in fact spawn additional Kizuna effects, on both themselves and the Oni harassing them, as if a bond were made between them. Nevermind the fact that Kizuna bonds between refugees and natives are usually very rare, the fact that there's a bond at all certainly implies that their hostility isn't hostility at all. Are the Aka Oni just really bad at dealing with new people??

Revolutionary Bond Kizuna

After a few days of familiarizing themselves with the Oni and the region of Kyushu, all refugee volunteers are taken to a small region of Oita known as Beppu, where elders from the two Oni clans are waiting for them in front of a large shrine. Behind them, many natural springs filled with boiling water create a smokey atmosphere, with the water occasionally boiling over and shooting into the sky like a geyser. They certainly know how to pick location to set a mood.

"Humans and halfings have long made a habit of taking that which they do not fully understand. These Kizuna bonds were once an important part of maintaining a unified Oni nation, but fell to the wayside as Clan divisions grew deeper.

Today, only fragments of those bonds remain, carried across generations through our blood. It is a powerful magic that binds souls together, weaving their connection into the fabric of reality itself!

...understandably, it grew less popular as divorce became more commonplace."

That's right: Kizuna bonds are an ancient Oni marriage ritual.

They continue to explain that the form of Kizuna used by the refugees has been mutated due to the sheer size of the bond that keeps them in Nippon. This is what causes the severe side effects, and is likely the reason that some refugees are able to manipulate reality to a small extent through wishes or other means.

To address these issues, the Oni's plan is two-fold. First, they'll teach the Refugees a secret arte that will allow them to wield the Kizuna they produce. And then, they ask that all refugees participate in three trials once performed by all Oni prior to their marriage. This is so they can better appreciate the gift they possess, and hopefully better understand the culture behind that power.

Soul Artifacts Beppu, Oita
Kizuna magic is a type of pure Sora magic, which is magic that deals with the soul. Thus, Kizuna bonds are bonds between two souls. But that bond can also be used to summon a construct known as a Soul Artifact. This is the magic the Oni will teach the Refugees how to perform, as the act of summoning an Artifact will help use some of the excess Kizuna that would otherwise produce side effects.

Soul Artifacts are physical representations of the soul. They can take any shape or form, and some even have special abilities. While it is possible for someone to summon their own soul artifact, it is far easier to have someone else who they are bonded with summon it instead.

The spell itself is deceptively simple. Simply calling someone's name and picturing an item being drawn from their chest is enough to summon the Soul Artifact. But the simplicity of it doesn't mean it'll be easy, and for most Refugees, they'll spend the first hour or so calling each other's names while awkwardly grabbing at each other's chests.

But eventually, should their bond be significantly strong enough, the image of what that artifact is will suddenly appear in their mind, allowing them to draw it out. While the Artifact can be anything from a weapon to an ordinary household item, the color scheme and general appearance will reflect the person it was drawn from. Likewise, all Artifacts are allowed one magical ability that may vary based on the bond between the pair.

Feel free to get creative with this! A knight may draw a sword from his princess's chest capable of shooting energy beams. A librarian may draw a book from her lover's chest that can predict the future one week ahead. A dominatrix may draw a dildo from her sub's chest capable of growing three times its size. As the most powerful magic in the world, Kizuna can do seemingly anything!

Really, it's no wonder the Oni want the Refugees to learn how to control it.

The Trials of Beppu Kyushu, Nippon
Those willing to accept the Oni's terms must participate in the Trials of Beppu, an ancient rite of passage once required of all Oni before the Clan leaders could approve of their marriage. Although the tradition is no longer widely practiced, the Clan leaders insist that the Refugees take part in order to show respect for the Kizuna they wield.

As Refugees are capable of bonding with anyone, they will be allowed and encouraged to retake any trial as many times as needed with as many people as they have bonded with.

The first trial, the Trial of Promise, is the most simple. A bonded pair must enter a special cave located behind a massive waterfall in Takachiho Gorge, said to have been the very same cave where the goddess Amaterasu once hid herself away, causing all light in the world to disappear. Upon entering, the cave entrance will abruptly seal itself, shrouding the pair in darkness.

Should the pair's bond be sufficiently strong, the cave will light up, revealing a hidden message carved into the stone: "You cannot leave until you"... do what, exactly? The prompt will vary based on the pair in question. Some may need to kiss, others may need to fuck, and others still may need to tell a secret, defeat one another, or even attempt to kill one another. Upon successfully completing the trial, the entrance will open, allowing them to leave at their leisure.

The second trial, the Trial of Devotion, will have a bonded pair enter a forest at the foot of Mt. Aso at night, armed only with their partner's Soul Artifact. A gently sloped mountainside home to an active volcano, the pair must ascend to the highest peak just outside the forest before sunrise. Toxic fumes pouring from the volcano's caldera aside, the forest itself is filled with terrifyingly huge monsters, including dodongo, lavahounds who combust when threatened, and giant beetles called daikabuto who can grow as big as houses.

Thankfully, there's a trick to all of this: as long as they maintain physical contact with one another, a special spell will protect them from all harm, though they can still be pushed around by anything attempting to separate them. The spell will only last until morning, but will refresh with a kiss before the morning sun -- so they best make haste to the top if they want a chance of getting back safely. Those who return with their spell intact will pass the trial.

The third and final trial is the Trial of Love, though it seems rather poorly named. In this trial, a pair will wield each other's Soul Artifacts, and must engage in combat against one another. The goal is to destroy your own Artifact without destroying the one you are wielding. Thankfully, as Soul Artifacts are only representations of the soul, destroying them will have no ill effect. But it can be very painful, not unlike a bond breaking, as one of the Aka Oni will demonstrate: shattering the sword drawn from his own soul, before falling to his knees and wheezing in pain.

Essentially, it's a battle for who can destroy their own Soul Artifact first, in order to spare their partner the pain of their Artifact breaking. But how is this supposed to work? Not all Soul Artifacts are weapons, after all!

As it turns out, the trial is a trick. Following the rules as given will still allow both competitors to pass, regardless of who wins. Likewise, should both participants come together and choose to either simultaneously break their Artifacts, or surrender the trial all together, it will still count as a pass. Because the true Trial of Love is simply the act of participating in the trial together to test their bond.

Aftermath Beppu, Oita
Once the trials are complete, those who passed at least two trials will be invited to a special ceremony, designed to mimic that of those long past. Naturally, since no one is getting married here (unless they want to??), the ceremony is mostly just an excuse for a massive feast. Taking place in a large open park just outside the city, hundreds of Oni have arrived from all over Kyushu to witness this rare event, where the current leader of the Aka Oni clan offers a few brief words.

"Time's finally changing, and after so much time unchanging, we Oni should learn to better embrace these changes. Otherwise, we're no better off than we were in the time loop. The bravery put on by these alien halfings is nothing to sneeze at. And I'd say they're as worthy of the Aka Oni name as any of you ol' farts sittin' out there drinking your asses off!"

Refugees who passed the trials will be considered unofficial members of the Ao and Aka Oni clans, and will find that from then on, the Oni of Kyushu with treat them with familiarity, as if somehow able to sense the bond they now share with their homeland. In addition to no shortage of food and booze, there's music and dancing that will last until well past sunrise.

Hot and Steamy

With the trials behind them and a new form of magic under their belts, the Refugees will be allowed to simply enjoy the rest of their vacation in Kyushu however they may please.

But there's just one question remaining: why did the Oni suddenly decide to help with the Kizuna research, despite Kizuna being such a cherished aspect of their culture?

As it turns out, the Refugees are having a larger impact on this world than they may realize.

Hellish Bathwater Beppu, Oita
As it turns out, the Trials of Beppu draw their names from a certain natural phenomenon known instead as the Hells of Beppu. It refers to an area in Eastern Kyushu where a number of naturally occurring hot springs carry unusual effects. However, unlike the enchanted pools of Hakone's Owakudani, not all of these springs are safe to enter.

Of them, one of the most popular is the Umi Jigoku, the sea of hell. A vast boiling spring with vibrantly blue water, this spring is said to be the deepest pool of water in Kyushu, with massive lily pads floating atop the surface that are believed to stretch for miles below. Brave and foolish Aka Oni can sometimes be found jumping between the lily pads to cross the steaming pool, or even grabbing passerbys to strand them on a lily pad in the middle. Standing in any one spot for too long will cause the lily pads to sink into the water, burning flesh within seconds, so those who visit may need to be prepared for an emergency rescue or two.

And those hoping for a spring they can actually soak in will find it at Chinoike Jigoku, the blood pond of hell. Appropriately named, the water in this spring is bright red in color and has a strange almost gooey consistency. Relaxing in this spring is said to have powerful healing effects, and according to legend, it can even revive the dead. Perhaps it's the latter reputation that keeps it from being more popular, but Refugees who soak in the strange water will find any aches, pains, or chronic conditions healed -- including those previously thought to be incurable.

The only downside is that the strange water has a tendency to get the blood boiling in a very specific way, leaving those who soak in it for too long in a state of prolonged arousal, earning the pond a second name: Chinchin Jigoku.

Stone Dragon God™ Sakurajima, Kyushu
Those looking for a little more excitement on their vacation look no further than Sakurajima, a region perpetually blanketed in smoke and ash from the nearby volcano of the same name. Thankfully, there hasn't been an eruption for a few weeks, so the region is currently safe to explore.

And they really ought to go take a look. In fact, the Oni will insist that it's a place all refugees ought to visit.

In addition to curious ruins of ancient cities forever half-buried in old mud flows, Sakurajima is currently home to a new species of ayakashi the Oni have taken to calling Ninseki, the stone people. These ayakashi only started appearing recently, and really, calling them ayakashi feels inaccurate. Capable of limited speech and organizing themselves in quaint villages, the only reason they're called ayakashi is because Ninseki used to be Kaoseki.

It's unknown how they came to evolve at such a fast rate, but the MRU has a few leads. And perhaps the most damning comes from the Ninseki themselves, who have taken to worshipping a figure they refer to as the stone dragon god, statues of whom can be found throughout Sakurajima, seemingly crafted using some kind of Tsuchi-based power unique to the Ninseki. A gift from the stone dragon god, perhaps?

Thankfully, the Ninseki themselves are extremely friendly, and will happily invite any refugees to join them in a meal or dance, or even challenge them to a race up the mountain! Perhaps it's because they were once forever stationary, but the Ninseki enjoy any activity that keeps them moving!

And for those who happen to recognize this stone dragon god of theirs, perhaps they'll understand why the Oni thought it vital that the Refugees learn to control the Kizuna they produce, lest they permanently alter this world well after they've left it.

OOC Notes
Welcome to Jikan's June event! Please direct any questions to the Question Thread in the OOC Plotting post.

• While characters do not need to participate in the trials to visit Kyushu, they will not be provided lodgings, and may find it especially difficult to procure any on their own unless they visibly look like an Oni.

• Only characters who participate in this event will be able to unlock Soul Artifacts. Future characters will eventually be able to unlock it via Bonus AC.

• You have 100% creative control over how your character's Soul Artifact manifests. Likewise, you are welcome to have it change shape depending on who draws it from their soul. For example: Both Tom and Fred are bonded with Gloria. Tom draws a sword from Gloria's soul because he has a strong desire to protect her, but Fred draws a teacup because he greatly enjoys their weekly meet-ups at the local coffee shop. And Gloria draws a gun from her own soul because of her double life as an assassin.

• Teleporting out of the Trial of Promise will only work if both participants agree to forfeit the challenge. Likewise, agreeing to forfeit will cause the door to open after about an hour.

• All dangers in the Trial of Devotion are optional, as some may simply never come across any monsters during their hike, and all pairs are welcome to travel in groups. No climbing is necessary to reach the top, but it is a very long walk.

• There are no hints to imply the true means of passing the Trial of Love beyond the name, as the Oni will only tell them the rules and will answer no questions.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[he was not ready for that at all but -wow that was pretty good actually.

A lot better than the kids who try to do impressions of him anyway, they should obviously take lessons from the traveler to be more accurate about it!

. . .

Okay no he's laughing.]

Not bad, not bad! Nine out of ten!

[He immediately grins and laughs back.]

Well, I think I've been around you enough by now that I know what you're like! So come on-- do me next!

[Hopefully this isn't the part the prompt was warning about.]

[oh man how is he gonna do this . . . and without making Aether mad. Not that he makes him mad or nothing regularly, but uh, he knows him and Paimon getting into their arguments get him making that one face -

Aha, that's it] Okay, okay, I think I got it.

[this is Itto's best attempt at Aether's unimpressed face, hands on his hips]

It isn't just about food, Paimon. You and Itto are more alike than you think.

[he can poke fun a little fun at himself, it can't make him mad if he's the one doing it]

....I don't make that face that often, do I?

[He says, making that face, hands on his hips.]

You're making it right now!

[see, see, his impression was spot on]

I-- I am not!

[POUTS]

[...]

[The door does open, though. Seems the cave thought it was accurate enough.]

[sorry honey but when the door opens he just cracks up all over again]

Are too! C'mon, it's not a bad face! It's cute!

[especially when it isn't directed at him]

Wha-- cute? How is it cute?

[It's because he doesn't look threatening at all, right? The cat ears aren't helping.]

[But in any case, they passed the trial somehow, so it's time to head out -- and Itto is getting yanked by the wrist towards the exit.]

It just is!

[yeah, the ears aren't helping one bit.

He absolutely does not snicker as he's being dragged out of the cave, not at all] That was pretty easy - think the next trial's gonna be harder? We'll ace it either way.

It was easy enough for us, but it'd probably be harder for people who aren't as close as we are.

[Which means the next trial should be easy too, right?]

[Well, thankfully, their next trial isn't the trial of devotion. It's the trial of love. After making their way back to the trial location, the Oni in charge begin to explain the rules. They must draw out the soul artifact of their partner, and then try to destroy the one in their partner's hands.]

...seems a little violent for a trial of love.

Probably. They'll end up with different stuff too, right?

[they have to destroy it . . . Itto looks skeptical and asks the Oni if he's sure that's how it's supposed to go before he turns to Aether, frowning]

Uh, yeah, a little. It sounds kind of . . . not great, either.

[isn't breaking a soul bad??]

From the way they describe it, it probably feels similar to a bond breaking... have you ever felt that before? It's painful, but it doesn't usually last long.

[Aether is unfortunately very experienced with bonds breaking, though really that just makes him more hesitant. It's not really a feeling you can get used to, just by the nature of what it is.]

I don't think I have. [he gives Aether a sharp look] It hurts?

[that's enough to make him hesitate, too. He's not too keen on hurting the traveler, no matter if it's brief or not. It's one thing if they're sparring or something, but this is completely different]

. . . it don't make sense. Why break a bond you've spent all this time making stronger?

You're supposed to break your own artifact, so technically the one you're hurting is yourself? And you have to do it before the other person can.

[Fighting the person you love to prevent them from hurting themself... there's a deeper meaning to draw from that, but in truth, the trial is a trick.]

Well, why don't we start by drawing them out first? Just-- say my name and imagine pulling something out of my chest, like a sword or something.

It's still someone getting hurt.

[the face he makes says plenty about how he feels about that; a spar or a fight is one thing, but this feels way too different. But they did come all this way . . .

He steps closer, cracking his knuckles] Like they taught us, right? I got that part mastered.

[maybe, anyway. But he waits until Aether looks ready to reach out and does exactly what they were taught and what the traveler just said, picturing a sword appearing in his hand while he calls Aether's name]

[Aether nods, reaching out and murmuring Itto's name as he draws his artifact from his chest at the same time. It's... it's...]

[It's a little mechanical Onikabuto, the wind-up key on top gently spinning as it dances on the top of his palm. Unlike a normal one, this one is white with red-tipped horns and legs, and red markings similar to the ones on Itto's body. An Onikabitto.]

[It's not at all what he expected, and yet it's incredibly fitting, prompting him to laugh.]

Well, either way, looks like I have the advantage. Are you going to be able to destroy this?

[IT'S TOO CUTE impossible, clearly.]

Edited 2022-07-23 18:38 (UTC)

[and on his side . . . he's drawing out a sword, the gold one like Aether has, only the blade is bigger and longer, and by the time Itto's drawn it out completely, he's holding it with both hands instead of one. The traveler's sword, claymore edition!]

Whoa, this is almost as cool as mine!

[Itto was expecting a sword on his end too, but an onikabuto - omg look at it, it looks so ~~cute~~ tough and badass!!]

Look at that lil guy! [wait . . . oh right] Man, do I have to destroy it? That seems kinda cruel.

[The sword sees Aether's eyes widen, sparkling a little to see the form that it takes. If he summoned his own sword right now, they would match! And he very nearly does so.]

Well, you could always just let me--

[But the words die in his throat as the sword in Itto's hands abruptly changes. Deep cracks break out all over the blade and the hilt, the cracks filled in with gold as if that were the only thing holding it together. Although it won't feel particularly flimsy, it certainly looks the part.]

[And if the way the Oni whisper about themselves as they stare at it, clearly that wasn't supposed to happen. But Aether doesn't seem shocked -- rather, he just smiles, looking resigned.]

...I really do have the upper hand here, huh. It probably wouldn't take much to break it now.

[the sudden change is a little startling, and Itto shifts his grip to both hands to hold it a little more carefully. He's about to ask why it's doing that - uh, that's not normal is it? - but stops, frowning]

Yeah, you kinda do.

[. . .]

[between the Oni whispering and Aether not looking surprised, something just doesn't seem right. He hadn't liked the whole breaking souls thing, but now -

He shifts his grip on the sword again, holding it out hilt first to Aether]

You know I like a good, fun fight, but this doesn't seem like it'll be fun at all.

[Bless Itto for not asking. As much as it's something Aether would like to share with him someday, perhaps that would be best for when they're alone. So when Itto offers the sword, he nods and takes it back -- likewise, holding out the Onikabitto for Itto to take.]

Well... I heard we only really need to pass two trials. So why don't we just throw this one?

[The Oni, collecting themselves, turn to the two of them. "So, it's a forfeit?"]

[Itto takes the onikabuto in return, holding it up to briefly get a closer look. But it says a hell of a lot about how he feels about this trial that Arataki "never admits defeatto" Itto is throwing, and completely willingly]

We totally aced the others, so that's fine with me.

[when the Oni speak up he glances over and shrugs, spreading his hands]

You can count us both out of this one, buddy.

[The Oni crosses his arms and hums -- but then lets out a hearty laugh. "In that case-- then congratulations for passing the Trial of Love!"]

....huh? Wait, what do you mean?

["The true Trial is whether or not a pair's feelings for one another outweigh their desire to be together. This guarantees that couples are motivated by love, and not merely a desire to be married."]

Ah... so the trial is a trick, then.

[so wait . . . that was the right decision?? Huh. Itto looks a little surprised since, y'know passing on something generally is considered a loss]

Whoa . . . then I'm extra glad we didn't do it, man—

[wait what the oni said is registering]

—married?

["Oh, yes! Why, traditionally, the wedding ceremony would take place only a day or so after the trials were passed. It would be an insult to one's betrothed to neglect such preparations, as to presume they would fail would mean a lack faith in their bond." The Oni glances between the two, and then grins, "But it's certainly a shame to hold these trials without a proper wedding to celebrate... You two passed every trial together, yes? Are you certain you're not yet ready to tie the knot?"]

Ah, that's... w-we only just started dating recently, it's a little too soon to think about anything like that...

[His eyes trail up towards Itto. How ya doin', buddy? How shocked is he to hear this was all an ancient Oni marriage ritual? Because clearly Aether knew the whole time.]

June | Event: Trial of the Soul

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/wraps this up