[Hijikata has been living in Riou's camp by the lake for a few weeks now, so the seasonal changes in Camelot City are all the more apparent to him when he goes there every few days to carry out quests, patrol the streets, or stock up on supplies (though thanks to his bottomless mug he won't run out of mayonnaise any time soon). Today his primary objective is to secure some cigarettes, which is accomplished easily enough - until a goose snatches the pack out of his hand while he lights up the first cigarette with his fire magic. His death glare leaves the bird thoroughly unimpressed as it sets off down the street. The samurai draws his sword as he gives chase. Stealing his cigarettes is not something anyone gets away with!]
Come back!! Who the hell do you think you are?!
Triage
A ⦿ A Ritual Disrupted
[On the day of the autumn equinox Hijikata is admittedly a little nervous. He hasn't sensed the presence of the spirit guardian at all ever since it was sealed into his skin, so he doesn't know what to expect. He carries all his potions and magical items in his bag, just in case anything goes wrong. As he follows the light of the candles to the town square, though, he gradually feels more relaxed. Everybody is positively excited, yet people are keeping their voices subdued so as to not disturb the mystic atmosphere.
Between the glowing symbols on the ground, the robed ritual leaders, and the many, many ghosts who are present among the living and mingling just like them it's a special night for sure, and he braces himself to do whatever his duty is... and then there's the huge, sudden earthquake. As the titanic stone giant stomps out of the colossal dust cloud that used to be the nearest mountain, large enough to clearly be seen across the considerable distance, and pulls the fairy coins and the ghosts towards it Hijikata is honestly sell-shocked.]
What the..!! That was..!
[He heard people talk about the huge pair of legs down in Lestari... were those this giant's legs? Why in the world did it wake up tonight of all nights?! Did somebody plan this?]
B ⦿ Choose Your Battle
[When the giant purple dragon lights up the dark sky with its flames of fury Hijikata snaps back into action. He runs into a smaller square nearby that is almost free of people and shoots a large fireball straight up into the air - his agreed summoning for the armoured archaeopteryx that has taken a liking to him. Luckily the disaster that just occurred had it flying towards Camelot for him anyway, so it sees his signal straight away and lands within moments. He gets on its back and wants to take off without further ado when one of the ritual leaders stops him.]
Wait! You are hosting a spirit guardian, right? Go after the stone giant and help the souls it captured!
[Hijikata feels vastly underlevelled against the mountain-tall giant that's stomping across the island like it's a scaled-down map, but he gives a sharp nod. This is what he signed up for by getting that egg cracked on him, apparently. He'll figure it out as he goes! If anyone else is able to join him in the air on a flying carpet, a winged familiar, or perhaps by using their magic, they can race each other there.]
C ⦿ Exorcism Deluxe, Part I
[As the archaeopteryx soars across the land at high speed Hijikata can see some skeletons walking in the direction of Camelot... what the hell is going on tonight?! He tries to keep his focus on the stone giant, though, despite also seeing the large dragon cutting through the sky in the distance. God, it seems to be headed towards Celliwig. What the hell did its people do?! Was it them who awoke the stone giant? But why?
Once he's overhead the colossus he makes his steed land on its shoulder (which the giant doesn't react to). As the dinosaur lifts off with a concerned cry Hijikata rams his sword into the giant's huge neck, simply to have something to hold on to as its huge steps shake everything, and uses his lit cigarette to draw symbols into the air. Once five symbols hover in place, faint and smokey, he slams his palm into the empty space in the middle to activate the spell, and a magical glow connects the symbols into a five-pointed star with rotating gylphs running across the lines. It's a new exorcism method he exchanged for the cumbersome invocation he used to help purify the Mirror of the Brave of Soul and Pure of Heart.]
I, a representative of the living world, command you: release these spirits!
[He just totally changed the wording ad-hoc - after all the souls inside the stone giant aren't possessing it maliciously -, but the pentagram nonetheless lights up with a bright golden light as it begins to draw out the first soul. Perhaps someone else who also decided to get on top of the giant wants to keep him company up here?]
D ⦿ Exorcism Deluxe, Part II
[Hijikata manages to extract three souls from the giant before he feels his strength waning. He's breathing hard, but he needs to keep going! So it's a big relief when his familiar arrives. The crow tengu was acutely affected by the collapse of the mountain and had to come a long way to check on his bond partner, and despite his unflappable beak-faced appearance the stress is visible in how he grips Hijikata's shoulders to make sure he's okay.]
Hijikata-san--
I know! We've got no time to lose. Hold on tight.
[He pulls out the latest iteration of the familiar fusion spell he tried out: a glass sphere containing what looks like mist. He breaks it over their heads, and the mist magnifies and envelops them. Once it disperses they are properly fused into what essentially looks like Hijikata with large black wings wearing Arashi's robes and adornments. Like the last couple of times it's Arashi in control, but their synchronisation has improved greatly, and he can quickly access Hijikata's inventory of knowledge without having to first hold an internal conversation with him.
Using the same exorcism spell as before Arashi sets up two additional glowing pentagrams to get more souls out of the giant as it keeps walking towards the Forest of the Felled with heavy steps. Arashi can feel Hijikata's desperation: once the titan reaches that forest it'll likely absorb all the cursed, demented souls within, and who's to say what will happen then?]
That forest is cursed, is it not... if those spirits' will takes over this giant, then this island may be wholly destroyed.
E ⦿ Spirit Guardian Reveal
[Once the ritual leaders catch up with the giant and instruct those who received a tattoo on how to release their spirit guardian Arashi has to do it for Hijikata. He holds out his hand and casts a powerful air spell that spirals upwards like a whirlwind, though flames from Hijikata's arsenal are interspersed.
Use my life to strengthen yours!
[He immediately buckles to his knees as the three-petaled symbol between his shoulder blades begins to glow. Since the spirit guardian was with Hijikata this whole time it takes a form that was informed by his nature: a dragonwhich is a tad bit unfortunate, given the current ongoings. Arashi can hear the name Hijikata gives it as it forces its way through the narrow tattoo portal: Tamegorou, the name of Hijikata's older brother, a person who protected him and whom he wanted to protect in return.
Arashi briefly looks on as the shadow dragon begins to draw souls out of the giant, then swings himself back up into the air to return to his glowing exorcism wheels. By now there's a good number of ghosts all around them, confused and lost for the most part, but comforted by the presence of the spirit guardians. Arashi is honestly reeling from the pain of the dragon's release, though it is gradually decreasing. Is anyone nearby sees him struggle he'll make an effort to stand up straight.]
We must continue. The forest is close now.
F ⦿ Failure
[In the end everybody's efforts are in vain. As soon as the stone giant has sucked up the countless lost souls in the Forest of the Felled it kneels down - an act that shakes Arashi off its shoulder, and he barely manages to fly back to get Hijikata's embedded sword -, and after extracting a few more ghosts his exorcism spells run on without having any further effect.]
..?
[The giant, without warning, lets out a loud, resounding scream, then the last faint glow of the fairy coins dies down, and it stops moving. Much as Arashi and everybody else tries, they cannot save any more souls. The giant appears to have digested them. While Arashi tries to make sense of it the familiar fusion's effect runs out, and before he knows it he's shrouded in mist again before ending up unconscious on the ground next to Hijikata, now each back in his own body.
Whether somebody chooses to take care of the human or the youkai or both, they'll be out for the count for the next 24 hours. After that, though, they'll have plenty of questions.]
Toshirou Hijikata | Gintama
[Hijikata has been living in Riou's camp by the lake for a few weeks now, so the seasonal changes in Camelot City are all the more apparent to him when he goes there every few days to carry out quests, patrol the streets, or stock up on supplies (though thanks to his bottomless mug he won't run out of mayonnaise any time soon). Today his primary objective is to secure some cigarettes, which is accomplished easily enough - until a goose snatches the pack out of his hand while he lights up the first cigarette with his fire magic. His death glare leaves the bird thoroughly unimpressed as it sets off down the street. The samurai draws his sword as he gives chase. Stealing his cigarettes is not something anyone gets away with!]
Come back!! Who the hell do you think you are?!
Triage
A ⦿ A Ritual Disrupted
[On the day of the autumn equinox Hijikata is admittedly a little nervous. He hasn't sensed the presence of the spirit guardian at all ever since it was sealed into his skin, so he doesn't know what to expect. He carries all his potions and magical items in his bag, just in case anything goes wrong. As he follows the light of the candles to the town square, though, he gradually feels more relaxed. Everybody is positively excited, yet people are keeping their voices subdued so as to not disturb the mystic atmosphere.
Between the glowing symbols on the ground, the robed ritual leaders, and the many, many ghosts who are present among the living and mingling just like them it's a special night for sure, and he braces himself to do whatever his duty is... and then there's the huge, sudden earthquake. As the titanic stone giant stomps out of the colossal dust cloud that used to be the nearest mountain, large enough to clearly be seen across the considerable distance, and pulls the fairy coins and the ghosts towards it Hijikata is honestly sell-shocked.]
What the..!! That was..!
[He heard people talk about the huge pair of legs down in Lestari... were those this giant's legs? Why in the world did it wake up tonight of all nights?! Did somebody plan this?]
B ⦿ Choose Your Battle
[When the giant purple dragon lights up the dark sky with its flames of fury Hijikata snaps back into action. He runs into a smaller square nearby that is almost free of people and shoots a large fireball straight up into the air - his agreed summoning for the armoured archaeopteryx that has taken a liking to him. Luckily the disaster that just occurred had it flying towards Camelot for him anyway, so it sees his signal straight away and lands within moments. He gets on its back and wants to take off without further ado when one of the ritual leaders stops him.]
Wait! You are hosting a spirit guardian, right? Go after the stone giant and help the souls it captured!
[Hijikata feels vastly underlevelled against the mountain-tall giant that's stomping across the island like it's a scaled-down map, but he gives a sharp nod. This is what he signed up for by getting that egg cracked on him, apparently. He'll figure it out as he goes! If anyone else is able to join him in the air on a flying carpet, a winged familiar, or perhaps by using their magic, they can race each other there.]
C ⦿ Exorcism Deluxe, Part I
[As the archaeopteryx soars across the land at high speed Hijikata can see some skeletons walking in the direction of Camelot... what the hell is going on tonight?! He tries to keep his focus on the stone giant, though, despite also seeing the large dragon cutting through the sky in the distance. God, it seems to be headed towards Celliwig. What the hell did its people do?! Was it them who awoke the stone giant? But why?
Once he's overhead the colossus he makes his steed land on its shoulder (which the giant doesn't react to). As the dinosaur lifts off with a concerned cry Hijikata rams his sword into the giant's huge neck, simply to have something to hold on to as its huge steps shake everything, and uses his lit cigarette to draw symbols into the air. Once five symbols hover in place, faint and smokey, he slams his palm into the empty space in the middle to activate the spell, and a magical glow connects the symbols into a five-pointed star with rotating gylphs running across the lines. It's a new exorcism method he exchanged for the cumbersome invocation he used to help purify the Mirror of the Brave of Soul and Pure of Heart.]
I, a representative of the living world, command you: release these spirits!
[He just totally changed the wording ad-hoc - after all the souls inside the stone giant aren't possessing it maliciously -, but the pentagram nonetheless lights up with a bright golden light as it begins to draw out the first soul. Perhaps someone else who also decided to get on top of the giant wants to keep him company up here?]
D ⦿ Exorcism Deluxe, Part II
[Hijikata manages to extract three souls from the giant before he feels his strength waning. He's breathing hard, but he needs to keep going! So it's a big relief when his familiar arrives. The crow tengu was acutely affected by the collapse of the mountain and had to come a long way to check on his bond partner, and despite his unflappable beak-faced appearance the stress is visible in how he grips Hijikata's shoulders to make sure he's okay.]
Hijikata-san--
I know! We've got no time to lose. Hold on tight.
[He pulls out the latest iteration of the familiar fusion spell he tried out: a glass sphere containing what looks like mist. He breaks it over their heads, and the mist magnifies and envelops them. Once it disperses they are properly fused into what essentially looks like Hijikata with large black wings wearing Arashi's robes and adornments. Like the last couple of times it's Arashi in control, but their synchronisation has improved greatly, and he can quickly access Hijikata's inventory of knowledge without having to first hold an internal conversation with him.
Using the same exorcism spell as before Arashi sets up two additional glowing pentagrams to get more souls out of the giant as it keeps walking towards the Forest of the Felled with heavy steps. Arashi can feel Hijikata's desperation: once the titan reaches that forest it'll likely absorb all the cursed, demented souls within, and who's to say what will happen then?]
That forest is cursed, is it not... if those spirits' will takes over this giant, then this island may be wholly destroyed.
E ⦿ Spirit Guardian Reveal
[Once the ritual leaders catch up with the giant and instruct those who received a tattoo on how to release their spirit guardian Arashi has to do it for Hijikata. He holds out his hand and casts a powerful air spell that spirals upwards like a whirlwind, though flames from Hijikata's arsenal are interspersed.
Use my life to strengthen yours!
[He immediately buckles to his knees as the three-petaled symbol between his shoulder blades begins to glow. Since the spirit guardian was with Hijikata this whole time it takes a form that was informed by his nature: a dragon
which is a tad bit unfortunate, given the current ongoings. Arashi can hear the name Hijikata gives it as it forces its way through the narrow tattoo portal: Tamegorou, the name of Hijikata's older brother, a person who protected him and whom he wanted to protect in return.Arashi briefly looks on as the shadow dragon begins to draw souls out of the giant, then swings himself back up into the air to return to his glowing exorcism wheels. By now there's a good number of ghosts all around them, confused and lost for the most part, but comforted by the presence of the spirit guardians. Arashi is honestly reeling from the pain of the dragon's release, though it is gradually decreasing. Is anyone nearby sees him struggle he'll make an effort to stand up straight.]
We must continue. The forest is close now.
F ⦿ Failure
[In the end everybody's efforts are in vain. As soon as the stone giant has sucked up the countless lost souls in the Forest of the Felled it kneels down - an act that shakes Arashi off its shoulder, and he barely manages to fly back to get Hijikata's embedded sword -, and after extracting a few more ghosts his exorcism spells run on without having any further effect.]
..?
[The giant, without warning, lets out a loud, resounding scream, then the last faint glow of the fairy coins dies down, and it stops moving. Much as Arashi and everybody else tries, they cannot save any more souls. The giant appears to have digested them. While Arashi tries to make sense of it the familiar fusion's effect runs out, and before he knows it he's shrouded in mist again before ending up unconscious on the ground next to Hijikata, now each back in his own body.
Whether somebody chooses to take care of the human or the youkai or both, they'll be out for the count for the next 24 hours. After that, though, they'll have plenty of questions.]