The Wedding

[Canary]

Location: The Edge of the Pit

Participants: Any shugenja

Time: Early Evening. This event will open at 09:00 PDT 6/12. All characters participating must list their intent to participate below before this time. One character may act as officiant. Please decide this among yourselves before the event opens.

Rules:
The Ceremony

The time has come to begin Reiko's wedding to Fu Leng.

The designated officiant makes a Lore: Theology roll TN25 to perfect a wedding ceremony that draws upon the connection between Lady Sun and Lord Moon, aiming to draw Lady Sun's attention to strengthen Reiko's connection to her husband to be, currently trapped in the dark. Success grants a +5 bonus to Reiko's roll and +5 Purity.

Reiko must then make a Commune roll equivalent to a Mastery Rank 4 spell of any element she chooses. She does not need to be able to cast Mastery Level 4 spells to do. This sets the TN at 25. She is in communion with Amaterasu to gain her blessing. Success grants a +5 bonus to all rolls in the next part and creates the beacon that the dive team will follow. Reiko must maintain concentration until the dive team returns or the beacon will weaken considerably.

This ceremony may also become a staple among the growing clans in their future, depending on its success.

Intermission

A brief RP where those descending gather.

Part 2 – The Shield

Time is running out, and the rescue party going after Fu Leng must depart soon. They cannot, however, hope to do so without the protection of the kami, so the priests available must craft a shield against the corrupting influence of Jigoku.

A – The shugenja involved must, as a group, Importune the Kami to create a shield of purity around those entering the pit. This will count as Importuning a level 3 Earth spell. To do so, they must each cast Commune (at level 1) and remain in contact with the Kami for 25 minutes.

B - The group must then do the actual Importune the spell, making a Spellcraft/Earth roll at TN 30.

C – One shugenja must act as the ritual master and make the final roll, casting the Mastery 3 Earth Spell Importuned by the others (TN 30). They gain +5 for each other shugenja involved who successfully make their roll. Upon a successful cast, a golden prismatic bubble surrounds those entering the pit, reflecting the light like crystal. From this point forward, all participating shugenja must maintain Concentration on the spell to keep it going. If half of the shugenja are eliminated, the spell collapses, leaving the dive team in Jigoku without protection.

If they fail, they lose 10 Purity for each additional attempt at this step, but may continue until they succeed. They must succeed to continue to the final step.

Part 3 - The Descent

The Descent will take place in Jigoku once the second part of this event is concluded successfully.

[Jin]

Jin will be present to Commune for the shield if nothing else.

[Reiko]

In silent prayer, Reiko was in attendance.

[Seppun Chisei]

Chisei was there, as serene as could be. His gaze was kept respectfully downcast, hands folded in front of him. After all, surely the eyes of the heavens were upon them. It seemed appropriate to be humble.

[Kyosei of the Isawa]

Though his finest robes were gone, given for supplies to the bride's outfit, Kyosei still appears, ready to participate.

[Togashi Saruko]

Saruko wore her own finest (not that they were that fine considering what she had packed), as that felt proper given the circumstances. Though she hoped Mother Sun wouldn't mind too terribly that she had her padded armor on underneath most of her clothes.

The Saru Daimyo was mostly focused on assisting the bride with whatever was needed before the time came for the magical ritual. She cast a look towards the setting sun, repeating silently to herself the prayer she had given earlier that day.

As the place was the center of the whole operation, the banner stood completed and ready. A large imperial Phoenix circled by the symbols of all the clans, and the circle itself flanked by a ratling-symbol and a crow-symbol.

[Hanzou]

Hanzou took his place with the others, waiting for Miuna to join him.

[Shinjo Miuna]

Miuna joined him a short time later. "I'm scared," she signed. Her whole body was on alert, nausea coiled up inside her. She silently prayed that there would be minimal loss and damage. She was not optimistic, instead she waited with anticipation for the other shoe to drop. She hoped it didn't crush them.

[Canary]

[This event is open. Officiant, please make your roll.]

[Seppun Chisei]

It could not be called a beautiful day. The mouth of hell did not make for an attractive backdrop. But it was a momentous one. Chisei could almost feel the currents of destiny, nearly tangible, suffusing the area. What they did here would change the course of eternity. A few dozen men and women, a pair of gods, and some ratmen, all gathered together, to storm hell and rescue a god. Such was the stuff of legends.

Smiling gently, Chisei looked at Reiko. Perhaps the beauty to be found there, in joining her to the man she loved. There were many destinies to be fulfilled, and while it was important to attend the earth-shaking ones, the little ones should not be forgotten. Like two souls who were destined to be together, even though they realms apart. And so, perhaps the real backdrop to this was not the pit of hell, but the humble shrine made of painted wood that Reiko's companions had constructed along the way.

Chisei's smile softened further. He hoped she and Fu Leng would find happiness. Perhaps if the Fortunes were willing, they could at least have this day.

"Everyone. Please." Chisei raised his hands, the arms of his robe trailing, simple and unadorned, but clean. Humble. "Take your places. Let us form a circle." It would be a symbol of protection and blessing both, guarding Reiko and the figurine representing Fu Leng. There was a bit of purified sake, enough for Reiko to have a sip, and to pour over the figurine, cleansing both. It wasn't much, but Chisei knew that the spirit would count.

Once more, Chisei smiled at the bride. "Benten. We call upon you to give your blessings to this union. May they find what happiness they can. Seven Great Fortunes, we call upon you for your protection. May they have the safety of your purity. And all Fortunes, large and small, we call upon you for your blessings as well. For the little moments, here and there, that will make up the lives of Fu Leng and Reiko, now joined as one."

Slowly, his gaze turned skyward. "And most of all, we call upon your blessings, Lady Amaterasu. Even in this place, we can feel your warmth, and your love for all your children. Please, turn your attention to these two. Let your blessing push away the darkness, let your pure light purify them, that they may begin their lives anew, together."

Then, just as slowly, Chisei lowered his gaze back to Reiko, giving her a slow nod. She would know what to do. And then, once she had done her part, they could all join their prayers together, each calling on the Fortunes and the kami in their own words; Chisei knew their sincerity was, at this moment, more important than the form.

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Mawwage is what bwings us togevveh... Theo/Int, TN25, Fuku: 9d10o10k5 35

[Togashi Nadare]

Nadare sat calmly with the assembled group. His balance tattoo occasionally swirled, yin exchanging places with yang.

A wedding. In hell. How unexpected.

He smirked and awaited the moment to begin his prayers to the spirits of Earth.

[Reiko]

Reiko remained quiet throughout, remaining in silent prayer as she listened. She accepted the purified sake, performing her role. As the final part came to her, she closed her eyes, holding her hand over her heart, and prayed.

Lady Amaterasu, shine your light to guide them. Don't let them fail. Don't let Hantei's arrogance doom them all. I believe in you.

(ooc - passed

D16EE Event thread. Commune. TN25. +5 from previous part. Void. 1k0 from tech: 8d10o10k4+5 45

[Jin]

Jin took position as directed, his prayers joining those of the others.

So far, so good. Now all we have to do is brave hell, win back a god, and seal it up after ourselves....

[Ch’chit T’kkiri]

Ch’chit was there waiting for the go ahead.

[Jiyo Sora]

Sora joined his comrades for their jaunt into the maw of Hell.

Three people that he HADN'T made nicknames for to paint on his armor or his person. And the lord of the Stag Clan.

He looked from Old Man Yamadono to Dawei to Black Moonset, and repeated what he'd said the day before.

"I'm glad it's you guys."

[Canary]

Reiko remained quiet throughout, remaining in silent prayer as she listened. She accepted the purified sake, performing her role. As the final part came to her, she closed her eyes, holding her hand over her heart, and prayed.

Lady Amaterasu, shine your light to guide them. Don't let them fail. Don't let Hantei's arrogance doom them all. I believe in you.

(ooc - passed

D16EE Event thread. Commune. TN25. +5 from previous part. Void. 1k0 from tech: 8d10o10k4+5 45

She hears a voice in her head, so beautiful it almost makes her cry on the spot.

Just concentrate and trust in me... Don't stop him. Do what you need to do here. I will protect them, daughter-in-law.

Then it's gone as quickly as it came and Reiko finds herself infused with a warm divine light that leaves from her and enters the portal.

[Canary]

[Once all 5 of the Dive Team are gathered, rolls for Part 2 may begin.]

[Seppun Dawei]

Dawei is present, armed and armored, jade touching his bare skin, and ready.

His player, however, may not be quite as in for the next while, as he will soon need to transit and is giving a tutorial for an exorbitant fee later on.

[Togashi Saruko]

As Reiko was in deep concentration, Saruko stepped back and placed her straw-hat at the top of the banner to shield it a little bit from the bad weather. It would probably still get full of this icky stuff before the ordeal was over, but it was the thought that counted. Just like making it had been.

She looked to the team that had been chosen to descend. Sora, Yamadono, Dawei, Ch'chit T'kkiri, and Hantei. And had no words to say. Good luck, or something like 'be safe' all felt... like too little. Words couldn't express how much everything was dependant on them, and everyone else, for the success... but these were also diving into the mouth of hell itself.

"There's no room for doubt or fear," she said softly, in almost a murmur so as to not disturb Reiko's concentration. "And I have vanquished all doubts and fears I have about this, to only give room to hope. And belief that you will all return."

[Hantei]

Hantei stood glowing with the favor of heaven as he always did his armor golden and shining his celestial sword strapped to his side. He looked on with a practiced expression of polite indifference to his surroundings and waited for the bubble to be constructed so they could do what they came here to do.