Regarding the spell tags and the charm from the store fire: the shinki would confirm that these appear to be magical spells. The ones from the forest look as though it is intended to have some kind of function related to connecting Heaven and the forest, or possibly repelling intruders from Heaven and the forest -- it's hard to tell without decoding the strange central symbols. The one from the store fire looks like a spell to draw down a curse of misfortune. Amaterasu's shinki say that they are also unable to read those strange symbols, but they will keep the spells and check Heaven's records in an attempt to decode them.
Regarding the straw dolls, they say that these appear to be intended to draw down some kind of curse. Usually, straw dolls are meant to represent the individual targeted by the curse. They're not sure, however, who the dolls might be targeting or whether they're being used in the orthodox manner or connected to a spell in some other manner.
During M32, Archer will not find Mitsui leaving any spells or charms anywhere, even though he tried to convince others to leave a charm in Amaterasu's main Tokyo-area shrine. He may be able to obtain some by breaking into Mitsui's house, however -- would he try to do this?
The audio in the processed video is slightly more understandable than the raw footage, however, since it's only about 30 seconds long it's clear that it's not the full ritual. From what is audible, it appears that the ritual seems to be calling on a god or gods to consume power that is offered to them and be born (or reborn?) in strength. The shinki appears confused by this, and questions whether it is some kind of religious ritual.
The prayer also seems to confuse the shinki, who reads through it several times, a few times out loud, before asking what on earth it is supposed to be. Like the video, it will be accepted but he can't tell Archer anything of particular use.
However, since Archer has provided so much interesting information, the shinki is willing to freely tell him that Heaven currently believes that the primary purpose of all the spell work that the cultists were doing was to form a connection between the forest on the Near Shore and a forest on the Far Shore. They still don't know if the fact that it connected to the mysterious forest was intentional or an accident, but it seems that the forest on the Near Shore must be "a place where the god lives," in order to make it sacred enough to connect to the Far Shore. He's outraged by the fact that the god was trying to claim land in the Heavens directly instead of by swearing loyalty and applying for recognition.
He can't explain what the purpose of kidnapping gods and shinki might have been, although he suggests that perhaps it was to use their power for something, and is entirely willing to speculate about how this must all be a direct challenge to Amaterasu.
He will agree to give Archer updates when he asks, or if anything comes up that's important to know.
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Regarding your additional question, Archer will find that the charms are written on high-quality mulberry paper, and that the ink is made with soot and hide glue. There are traces of some minerals and algae in the ink, perhaps from water mixed with it.
no subject
Regarding the straw dolls, they say that these appear to be intended to draw down some kind of curse. Usually, straw dolls are meant to represent the individual targeted by the curse. They're not sure, however, who the dolls might be targeting or whether they're being used in the orthodox manner or connected to a spell in some other manner.
During M32, Archer will not find Mitsui leaving any spells or charms anywhere, even though he tried to convince others to leave a charm in Amaterasu's main Tokyo-area shrine. He may be able to obtain some by breaking into Mitsui's house, however -- would he try to do this?
The audio in the processed video is slightly more understandable than the raw footage, however, since it's only about 30 seconds long it's clear that it's not the full ritual. From what is audible, it appears that the ritual seems to be calling on a god or gods to consume power that is offered to them and be born (or reborn?) in strength. The shinki appears confused by this, and questions whether it is some kind of religious ritual.
The prayer also seems to confuse the shinki, who reads through it several times, a few times out loud, before asking what on earth it is supposed to be. Like the video, it will be accepted but he can't tell Archer anything of particular use.
However, since Archer has provided so much interesting information, the shinki is willing to freely tell him that Heaven currently believes that the primary purpose of all the spell work that the cultists were doing was to form a connection between the forest on the Near Shore and a forest on the Far Shore. They still don't know if the fact that it connected to the mysterious forest was intentional or an accident, but it seems that the forest on the Near Shore must be "a place where the god lives," in order to make it sacred enough to connect to the Far Shore. He's outraged by the fact that the god was trying to claim land in the Heavens directly instead of by swearing loyalty and applying for recognition.
He can't explain what the purpose of kidnapping gods and shinki might have been, although he suggests that perhaps it was to use their power for something, and is entirely willing to speculate about how this must all be a direct challenge to Amaterasu.
He will agree to give Archer updates when he asks, or if anything comes up that's important to know.
---
Regarding your additional question, Archer will find that the charms are written on high-quality mulberry paper, and that the ink is made with soot and hide glue. There are traces of some minerals and algae in the ink, perhaps from water mixed with it.