【MAY EVENT... a small setting update】

[starrystorytellers]

MAY pre EVENT

a rumor begins

SETTING UPDATE

hi may is mayhem how ya doing

The Month of May has been something of a Month of Meetings for the Fallen Stars. The month started with a timeloop, where the previous world ended and the Fallen Stars were set to repeat the last year. Then one meeting to discuss the incident turned into concerns over a Rumor. Last year during this time, a Rumor attached itself to a cherry blossom tree on the lowest level and caused civilians to go missing. Armed with their new knowledge, the Fallen Stars decided to find the afflicted spirit and help them before the Facility could turn them into a Rumor.

This turned into a picnic party, which then became a second meeting. Fallen Stars seemed to have the brewing incident under control, as the spirit was interested in talking to them... But, not even a week after Canis Major opens, things begin to change... Because nothing in Starsand City can be easy, can it?

A RUMOR BEGINS

Starting on IC Friday, May 19th, a series of Rumors begin to spread through Starsand City... and those who are in the know will remember that when Rumor starts with a capital 'R' here, that's bad news. These kinds of magical Rumors turn 'faith magic' into something dangerous. It forces spirits to become what people say they are, which usually corrupts them into something powerful but out of their own control. Last year, it turned a lonely cherry blossom tree into the center of a mass disappearance incident: The tree caused civilians who interacted with Fallen Stars to become the petals on its once bare branches.

But this timeloop, the Rumor is... different.

“There is a Kami among the Fallen Stars.”

“A Kami of Sin.”

“If you do something to hurt a Fallen Star, then she’ll spirit you away.”

“I heard that her name is Oyashiro-sama.”

The murmurs will start sparse, but they will gain traction every day. The old Shrine of Sin location will have visitors, who have heard there should be a shrine here. There will be gossip columns in the paper, video ads using the image of a horned girl as a 'Kami of Sin' mascot, and an increasing interest in finding out which Fallen Star is the fabled Kami of Sin. Characters with purple hair or horns will find themselves the victims of curious looks and suspicious stares. No one is outright malicious to those that they suspect are the Kami of Sin, but they are cautious.

That caution will gradually begin to apply to all Fallen Stars. Civilians are suddenly extra polite to the Fallen Stars and worried about getting on their bad side. And despite attempts from the Shrines of Sin and Curiosity to correct their behavior, people will only get more anxious around Fallen Stars as the days go by...

OOC NOTES

The event itself starts May 23rd, but it does not ICLY start until May 30th. So this Rumor will brew slowly over the course of a week and a half. Please don't forget about the May Event Planning Post! You may use this setting update post for questions & IC reactions to the Rumor. Have fun!

Comments

Questions & Answers ☆

[starrystorytellers]

[aupologizes]

I'm going to have to ask as this is relevant to me: how accurate is the image of the kami of sin and like, what sort of, 'image' are they framing her as in the video ads? Positive? Negative?

[starrystorytellers]

She'll probably start off a bit inaccurate (hair might be short, horns might be the wrong shape, etc.) but get more Hanyuu-like as the month goes on. She's generally shown either as a cutesy mascot ("buy her cookies!") or as an adorable menace ("buy those cookies or else!")

None of the depictions will be too dark or 'evil' at this time. At most, she's sometimes spoken of like a boogeyman under your bed.

[popsometags]

i. May 19th - May 23rd

[ To say that Rokudo Rinne has been on edge since the 19th is an understatement.

It starts when he overhears a murmur about Oyashiro-sama, and initially he was planning to feed into it. There was a Kami of Sin, after all. She helped those around her repent, to sort out their feelings feeling like they've sinned. He was taken in, he lived there, he was proud to work for her.

Then, he overhears more of the rumors. Of being spirited away. He again, initially thinks to get in front of it and tell them they're being ridiculous. Oyashiro-sama would never do anything like that. However... he knows that if he feeds into the Rumor, it'll grow. So instead, there's one option he can think of. Whenever he's around and he hears one bring up the Shrine of Sin, the Kami of Sin, or anything of the like, he sighs and, depending on how far the conversation goes, will respond. ]

--Don't be ridiculous. There's no such kami in this city. You'll start scaring the children if you keep spreading rumors like that.

[ Speak casually. Speak calmly. Continue to do your job.

Anyone who comes across Rinne during this time period will probably notice how tense he is, how strongly he words refuting this Rumor, and more importantly, how he's basically appearing and reappearing, holding onto his Haori when he reappears. ]

ii. Starnet, May 19th // un: binbougami

This is Rokudo Rinne. I'll keep this short and sweet. Do not confirm that Hanyuu was ever a kami in this world. The Rumor circulating is that she'll spirit away locals who upset Fallen Stars. Try not to act differently around them, and don't be careless.

Please, don't let them spread this Rumor.

iii. May 23rd - May 29th

[ As the days wear on, Rinne spends less time outside of the Shrine of Love Village. He can be seen running errands, gathering groceries and stocking up on cream puffs before heading back home. Straight there, straight back.

Those who try to speak to him are ignored, and would only really get a chance on the trolley to the city center.

This'll continue on until the 27th, when Rinne stops appearing altogether. He'll be at home. ]

[badend_replay]

Rokudo.

[Rika will stop him on the street between their house and the Shrine of Love. She’s heard the Rumors, but only vaguely understands what is going on. After all, she has never experienced an actual Rumor.

She’s still scared. She knows that Hanyuu is in trouble… and she knows that these twisted tales of Oyashiro-sama only serve to hurt Hanyuu.]

Can we talk? I’m sure that you’ve heard…

[popsometags]

Rika.

[ Right. He... really can't imagine how this is going for her. As much as he may be able to joke that he's acting in a son's capacity... Rika was actually her family. ]

Yeah. I have. [ ...What does he even say? ]

I'm working towards figuring out a solution.

[aupologizes]

[ Hanyuu, whom for her part has been trying to keep herself out of sight, has been staying at home as much as possible.

If she did have to go out for any reason, she would go back to her spirit form.

But as the days go by, she can't help but fret and worry; the whisperings of the Rumor have definitely gotten to her ears at one point or another, enough that if he comes home one day, he'll find her looking rather distraught, kneeled in pray as she mumurs the same two words, over and over like a mantra under her breath: ]

--sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry...

[popsometags]

[ ...it hurts more than he thought to see her like this.

This felt unfair, how she suddenly had to hide away or else she'd be hounded by everyone trying to get a piece of her. She was already being marketed, shopped around as if she were a toy, and it pissed him off.

Right now though, the most he can do is idly sit by her side. ]

There's no reason for you to apologize, Hanyuu-san. This isn't your fault.

iii

[marshmallowpurgatory]

[And at Rinne's home is where a certain Succubus will be knocking on the 27th. Saying nothing, but obviously concerned.]

[popsometags]

[ Rinne opens the door slowly, peeking out to see Pidonus. Closing the door behind him. ]

...I'm worried.

2

[fallmushrooms]

We didn't stop the Rumour. We just changed the target. They probably had a whole list of scapegoats in reserve...

[popsometags]

I'll put a stop to it. I don't know how, but I will.

[fallmushrooms]

[Velda shows up at the site of the Shrine of Sin, only to find... tourists? Investigators? She looks around nervously, shaking off people's questions with an unconvincing "sorry, I don't know," and starts to wander the grounds with the rest of them. If she recognizes you, she'll come over and lower her voice.]

What gave them the idea the shrine was here? The rest, yeah, we know they've seen our homes, but...

[You can also find her by the tree on the bottom floor, the one everyone worked to save last month. Can't just leave it alone, after all.]

We're still working on trying to get you something better, okay? I know you care about this place. It's your home, after all.

[The rest of the time, Velda is usually at the power training centre, either cleaning up or sitting at the reception desk.]

Oh, hi! Did you need to spend some time in here? We have most of the rooms set up, but we're a little understaffed right now.

un: lilith

[soulflash]

[ Things suddenly became so strange for Lilith, after weeks of cheerfully receiving things from locals--at least from her perspective--to hearing hushed whispers behind her back and the distinct feeling of being watched. Even with the novelty of this new world, it was an experience that felt far too familiar.

Also... she doesn't even have horns? Those pictures are getting her image all wrong!!! ]

whats with all the sin this, sin that, stuff? i thought it was ok as long as i asked first? its kinda annoying

[ Lilith includes a picture of herself. You know those boomer selfies taken at a weird angle with a confused expression? That's the picture, taken in front of a screen displaying the "Kami of Sin" trying to ominously sell cookies. ]

this doesnt even look like me! im so much cuter than that! what gives?

un: coolhunting

[dokkans]

well golly gee. maybe if it doesn't look like you, and you have no idea what's going on

it could be because

it's not about you?

[soulflash]

if its not about me, then why is everyone being weird around me? even the lady with the cookies is being extra weird >:(

un: velda

[fallmushrooms]

Wait, people think you're the Kami of Sin? That's weird.

[soulflash]

huh

is that not supposed to be me?

UN: Yuki

[applehearted]

Rinne said that it was about someone he knew...

[ She definitely saw that post, even if she didn't reply to it herself. ]

I've been seeing several of my classmates gossiping about it. I tried to ask them more about it, but they gave me weird looks as if I was supposed to know.

[soulflash]

kinda rude to gossip and not share, isnt it? how are you gonna know anything if they wont tell you?

someones gotta know... maybe i can squeeze it outta them

OPEN TREE MINGLE

[shellrender]

[ Even though the Rumor may be have switched gears and be about Hanyuu now, that doesn't necessarily mean that they should neglect the tree by any means; which is why when Ushio opens up Starnet, she types in a message: ]

I'm going to head to the first level to check up on the tree to see if anythin's changed and check on the roots. Feel free ta bring supplies or anythin' else ya might think might help; we can't just neglect one thing just 'cause things've changed.

That would make us big hypocrites, and more importantly, I don't want anyone thinkin' that we only cared 'bout the Rumor in the first place.

[ And true to her word, Ushio is here--she's brought a shovel, just in case they decide to try and start digging today. ]

( OOC: Consider this an IC mingle, so feel free to respond to this with your own toplevels, threadjack, etc. )

[fallmushrooms]

[Velda's here with a small spade in one hand and her wand in the other.]

I don't know nearly enough life spells for this, and I'm a little scared of screwing them up anyway... But I could do something to the dirt and water it if we need.

[shellrender]

Jus' be careful if yer gonna do somethin' -- we don't want to make the situation worse. The people down here're are already wary 'bout powers, after all, right?

(open)

[anenemies]

All this stuff is so heavy~

[Kagami arrives hauling a shovel, a few axes and disinfectant behind him…as well as strawberry boba!]

Hi. I’m here to help!

[followthepolestar]

Come on, Shishiba... I know it's scary right now, but we have to help them...!

[The lion cub roars its hardest -- which, given his size, isn't much, but she smiles a little and pats the critter on the head before putting her game face back on. Shishiba eventually settles on her shoulder, a guardian doing his best for his pactbearer, before she finally approaches.

There's a number of gardening implements she's brought with her -- though they're not enough to help a tree as big as this, it should still do some good to try and fix what they can... right?]

Sorry to keep you waiting--!