Akina Hiizumi

[ooc: This entry is the information that Akina has on paper for people who want information about Vatheon. It will change and be updated often, as Akina learns more about Vatheon, and as I realize that I forgot to put down things that he knows.]

You have arrived in a city called Vatheon. As you may ave already noticed, Vatheon is completely underwater. The reason that this is possible is because of a large barrier keeping the water out. Unfortunately, this same barrier keeps us from leaving. However, damaging the barrier is out of consideration, as breaking it would cause the city to flood.

As a foreigner, you are marked in two ways. First, a tattoo has been placed on your body somewhere. Second, you will find a small fairy-like creature hovering about you. Nobody is quite sure on the purposes of either of these, though the tattoo does seem to have a connection with the coral in the center of the city. Also, as a foreigner, you will find a starfish shaped object. This is the SFC (StarFish Communicator). It will serve as your link to the city and the people in it. It is highly recommended that you learn how to operate it.

The natives of Vatheon are kind enough, It seems that they understand that foreigners don't choose to come here, and, as such, are as polite as possible. If a foreigner requires anything within reason, it will be provided to them, free of charge.

This is not to say that the city is free of dangers. Every couple of weeks, you will find yourself beginning to grow lethargic and tired. There is a large coral in the center of the city called the Lamufao. Touching it will alleviate your symptoms. The reasoning for this sickness is currently unknown. A theory points to the possibility that the energy is being harvested by the coral for reasons unknown, perhaps to strengthen the arrier. This is, however, just a theory, and should be treated as such.

Every few weeks, there will also be a curse that affects a large portion of the city. These curses can range from forcing people to tell the truth to monsters attacking the city. There is little one can do about these other than to be prepared. Fortunately, it seems that death is of little consequence in the city. Those who have died turn up fully alive again in a week or so, apparently none worse for the wear. Note: Not all curses are bad. Sometimes, they are harmless, if a little embarrassing, such as the growth of animal ears and tails.

Of vital importance to the townspeople seems to be the church, headed by the priestess Thalassino. This church provides the only system of law that Vatheon seems to have, which seems to be along the lines of "Do unto others as you would have done unto you."

Though there is a doctor in Vatheon known as Alpha, it seems he is dangerous. If you find yourself harmed, it is best to take yourself to the clinic run by V Juri F.

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact the Hiizumi Life Counseling Office, or any of our employees. We will be glad to offer you assistance.

[Further into the book, there is a map of the city.]

Okay, so, there's a lot of information that you'll all need to know with Enjin out there up to things again.

I'll start with what our world is like. In the place that Touka, Kyousuke, Hime, Juri, Ao and myself came from, there's two worlds - the human world and the otherworld. Well, that's actually not quite true - it's more like there's one world, but with two 'frequencies'. Objects and people in one frequency cannot interact in any way with objects and people in the other. Anyhow, humans live in the human 'world' and youkai in the 'otherworld'.

Now, sometimes, a youkai will end up in the human world. This is problematic, because while out of the otherworld, their powers are constantly fluctuating and unstable. Worse, humans tend not to be very accepting of what they don't understand, and they persecute youkai.

The biggest problem, though, is the concept of death.

In the otherworld, youkai do not die of old age. However, in the human world, they age like a human and eventually pass away. Because of these things, youkai will often search for what is called the Oyakume. The Oyakume is a person who has the ability to 'tune' people and things to the frequency of the otherworld and vice-versa by touching them. When tuned, the object or person vanishes from the one world and appears in the next, never to interact with their previous home or friends ever again - for all intents and purposes, it's like the Oyakume has killed them.

The Oyakume is also always a member of the Hiizumi bloodline.

Now, tuning wasnt always very accurate. Sometimes, a youkai would be tuned, but not end up in the otherworld. They would be lost forever, somewhere in the nothingness in between.

To fix this, many years ago, my ancestors tuned an entire branch of the family, in order to provide more accurate coordinates for tuning. Since then, tuning has worked perfectly - there are near to no mishaps.

But the branch of the family that was tuned had not volunteered, we have learned. They were forced to do it, effectively killed off from the human world. Enjin is descended from that branch. As a Hiizumi, he too possesses the powers of the Oyakume. The body he is in is not his own - he took it from a friend of mine who asked to be sent to the otherworld to help stop something that threatened to destroy both the human world and the otherworld. My friend's body has the ability to read minds, as well as to implant suggestions, making you see or hear things that aren't like they really are.

A great injustice was done to Enjin's ancestors, yes, but it does not justify what he is attempting. Enjin wants nothing more than destruction. He is attempting to take my body - Gin's body, a youkai body, doesn't work with him very well, so he needs to constantly refresh himself with youkai energy from others. Furthermore, I am the current Oyakume - my body would only make his powers stronger. He would use it to fuse the otherworld and the human world together - something that would destroy both.

So... I think that's about everything that really needs explaining. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

[ooc: backdated two days, because I suck at this]

[Have a really relieved looking Akina, guys.]

So, guess what showed up for me as some sort of Christmas surprise?

[The camera pans, and there's Ao's headphones on the table.]

When I got these, I... I don't know why, but I just got this feeling that, wherever she is, she's safe.

[ooc: BACKDATED TO ALL HELL]

[Have a semi-frantic looking Akina, Vatheon.]

Okay, so, it seems I disappeared for a while again. Did I miss anything important?

Also, has anybody seen Touka around?

Uuuugh...

I feel terrible.

Gah, just look at the date. I've been gone for a while again, it seems.

Still, that doesn't explain why I feel so...

[It sounds like the SFC has been dropped. There is a pause. And then:]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!

[Hey, vatheon. Here's some random video feed from near the coral. Is that- it is! Akina is waking up, cold and wet.]
Ugh... Man, it's cold here, I-

...wait a minute...

[He gets up and looks around for a couple seconds.]
...

...

Vatheon?

I'm back at Vatheon?

[[ooc: Right, sorry about the wait. College is a bitch. Well, he's back! And so am I.]]

Hey, Vatheon. Akina Hiizumi, here.

I'll be holding a party in the center of town tomorrow. You're all invited, if you'd like to come.

...And yes, Tao, there will be food.

...I'll have to cook a lot...

If anyone wants to help me out with this, please contact me.

Hey, Kotoha, I need to talk to you.

Mr. Crowley, we need to talk.

Does anybody know what's up with the clouds we have? I mean, I don't know all that much about weather, but I don't think Vatheon is big enough for its own weather patterns. It's pretty weird.

Oh, and I was thinking - we've had a bit of an influx in new people, I think we should help them get to know the people around here. Maybe we could hold a big party or something?