Ken Kaneki (金木 研) (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
enucleation) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
westwhere2022-03-11 09:47 pm
enucleation) wrote in westwhere2022-03-11 09:47 pm
Following Sairen [closed ]
WHO: Kaneki, Hermione, Akira, Five
WHEN: Beginning of March
WHERE: Ruins near the fortune fetters
WHAT: Stalking Sairen
WARNINGS: Violence, some limbs being lost, some limbs being eaten (cannibalism), gambling. Will add as needed.
Pursuing Sairen at one point leads the group to the highly knocked-down ruins of a fortress near the fortune fetters. The stone remains now crudely host a gambling arena, with fierce thugs and associates of the revered Sairen waging bets on anything from dice throws to card games, snake fights, arm wrestling and various challenges or games of wit. The stakes range from coin to some men pledging their services, others their freedom, and a scant few even volunteering their body parts in gory, ad hoc amputations. All play and pay, to Sairen's entertainment.
The infiltrators will need to pretend to be servants or gamblers and participate in the games, to avoid arousing suspicion. They might also wish to steal some ritual stone masks from the participants already in attendance — everyone in the den is wearing such a face covering, including Sairen.
While Sairen nominally presides over the Hok-Shinn, he appears too distracted to partake of their petty cruelties and retreats in wine and the gossip of his counsellors. He sometimes passes judgement over conflicts among his generals, receives or awards gifts and is introduced to new clan conscripts.
Feel free to spend some time 'mingling,' drinking exceptionally strong swill, gambling and smoking opium by the fires — as well as perhaps overhearing or remarking:
By sunrise, the crowds start to dissipate, with some leaving their masks behind by hanging them on the branches of an ancient willow tree. No one wears their mask back into Ke-Waihu, making it difficult to figure out which villagers participated.
WHEN: Beginning of March
WHERE: Ruins near the fortune fetters
WHAT: Stalking Sairen
WARNINGS: Violence, some limbs being lost, some limbs being eaten (cannibalism), gambling. Will add as needed.
Pursuing Sairen at one point leads the group to the highly knocked-down ruins of a fortress near the fortune fetters. The stone remains now crudely host a gambling arena, with fierce thugs and associates of the revered Sairen waging bets on anything from dice throws to card games, snake fights, arm wrestling and various challenges or games of wit. The stakes range from coin to some men pledging their services, others their freedom, and a scant few even volunteering their body parts in gory, ad hoc amputations. All play and pay, to Sairen's entertainment.
The infiltrators will need to pretend to be servants or gamblers and participate in the games, to avoid arousing suspicion. They might also wish to steal some ritual stone masks from the participants already in attendance — everyone in the den is wearing such a face covering, including Sairen.
While Sairen nominally presides over the Hok-Shinn, he appears too distracted to partake of their petty cruelties and retreats in wine and the gossip of his counsellors. He sometimes passes judgement over conflicts among his generals, receives or awards gifts and is introduced to new clan conscripts.
Feel free to spend some time 'mingling,' drinking exceptionally strong swill, gambling and smoking opium by the fires — as well as perhaps overhearing or remarking:
■ Sairen's guests seem to include visitors from other villages,
■ Some guests question 'old man' Sairen's ability to keep the younger, more aggressive rising stars of the Hok-Shinn clan from rightfully taking over the fellow villages of Ke-Waiar and Ke-Waicai and 'teaching them who is truly in charge.'
■ Word is that Sairen has been... fretting about the iminent return of the the Beastmaster, who was dissatisfied with the previous, nondescript Hok-Shinn offering during his previous visit.
■ A group of drunkards whom Sairen refuses to receive into the Hok-Shinn murmur that the day will come when the entire clan falls, once it is no longer the sole custodian of a certain substance that helps revive the highly arid and infertile agricultural terrains of Ke-Waihu.
■ One drunk mutters that the white wanderer who brought the first vials of the chemical to Ke-Waihu handed it out freely, before disappearing. Since then, it has been monopolised by the Hok-Shinn, who charge an arm and leg for this substance, withholding it from any farmers who rebel against their rule.
■ Some guests question 'old man' Sairen's ability to keep the younger, more aggressive rising stars of the Hok-Shinn clan from rightfully taking over the fellow villages of Ke-Waiar and Ke-Waicai and 'teaching them who is truly in charge.'
■ Word is that Sairen has been... fretting about the iminent return of the the Beastmaster, who was dissatisfied with the previous, nondescript Hok-Shinn offering during his previous visit.
■ A group of drunkards whom Sairen refuses to receive into the Hok-Shinn murmur that the day will come when the entire clan falls, once it is no longer the sole custodian of a certain substance that helps revive the highly arid and infertile agricultural terrains of Ke-Waihu.
■ One drunk mutters that the white wanderer who brought the first vials of the chemical to Ke-Waihu handed it out freely, before disappearing. Since then, it has been monopolised by the Hok-Shinn, who charge an arm and leg for this substance, withholding it from any farmers who rebel against their rule.
By sunrise, the crowds start to dissipate, with some leaving their masks behind by hanging them on the branches of an ancient willow tree. No one wears their mask back into Ke-Waihu, making it difficult to figure out which villagers participated.
no subject
Don't win too much. [This part is whispered.] We want to be unmemorable, remember?
no subject
give him an interest and books, and he will learn what he can about it. ] If you are interested, I can teach you later. [ he will probably steal the deck of cards to do that, though.
The whisper is heard and Kaneki tilts his head towards the girl, whispering back ] And I would prefer not to bring back a hand, myself. [ he still has to find a way to lose said hand during this game, because he really REALLY should not be around it. ]
But truth to be told... they are not very good at this. [ his adversaries suck at playing cards, basically. probably because they are drunk and high on opium. ]
no subject
She's glad that she didn't eat before coming, or she would've lost her dinner over the gambling table.]
Right, that - well. I could get rid of it, if it's necessary. [Stick it in her bottomless back, burn it later? No evidence left.] But focus on...ah, losing?
no subject
[ eat it. Kaneki will eat it.
Not that she knows, but that is fine. She doesn't need to know (for now and hopefully never).
Kaneki nods afterwards ] Do you wish to take over? I mean no offence, but perhaps you... are bad at this? [ that was still offensive! ]
thats the funniest thing every lmf
And maybe for that reason, she has enough time to pause and realise,] You might have a point.
[Under her breath, because gods forbid she ever admits she's bad a something. Even though gambling is a good thing to be bad at, since gambling is stupid. But she bites that retort down, and steps in for the next round. Not even knowing the rules of the game.
The other gamblers are so bad at it, however, she manages to still win??]
This was a terrible idea. [Whispered to Kaneki to the side. Then to the group, in a very fake loud, boisterous laugh:] Drop the coin in front of me, uh, mama's feeling lucky? [Why.]
im losing my shit lmao dbshjbfg
He moves a little, allowing Hermione to step in and try her luck and yet he just stares at the game incredulous, unable to comprehend just how bad can their opponents be to even lose against a person who has no understanding of the rules of this game.
Just. How????
It was indeed a terrible idea.
But you know what was also terrible? That thing you just said, Hermione. Terrible enough for Kaneki to suddenly snort, trying really hard not to let out a laugh because oh my god. Someone even asks him if he is okay, and Kaneki just coughs, waving his hand ]
Yes, of course. Just-- excited that she is winning. You go-- mama. [ oh he is also terrible at this ]
this is it, this is my magnum opus
She slaps his back, for show, like a concerned...mama? (I guess?)]
Slow sips of the booze only, err...kid. [As if she's any better.
Under her breath she adds:] I have so many regrets.
[Then another hand is dealt, and Hermione tries. She tries so hard to lose. She does. Why are they so fucking drunk?
Mama really is on a roll.
As the coins get pushed her way, she lets out a suffering whine, heartfelt. Clears her throat as quickly as possible, and declares:] How are all you mighty people failing so hard to win? [She tosses in the hand into the centre of the table, together with some coins, while the cards are distributed.] Just to make things interesting. Don't shame your ancestors like this.
[She read about improv once.]
beauty, it's what it is
But things don't get any better. In fact, it's just going downhill from there. And now he is so glad everyone is drunk and high, otherwise there would be no way to pass for someone who'd normally visit this group and partake in their activities.
At least she seems believable enough, and kaneki hopes this will at least snap their adversaries out of their stupor, but he is dead wrong, and now the hand is pushed back towards them, along new goodies such as a knife and even a hat. Kaneki takes a deep breath under the mask, looking around at their companions, trying to think of a way to count the cards so it won't go in their favor...
and then he sees someone rising their leg and screaming "'Tis my last bid of the night" and ready to cut off his foot in order to participate in the next round.
Motherfucker.
Kaneki quickly turns to Hermione, trying to keep his voice low, but the sense of urgency is there ] We have to go. Now.