File: footpath.jpg (480 KB, 1280x720)

480 KB JPG

“Oh my, oh my. You seem rather shocked at this turn of events, guest. Are the consequences of your actions not obvious? Neglect a bond and it shall be strained. That is why cracks on the edges of the card represent. See how the image within has begun to fade into void? In the opening stages, the destruction is faint, but grant it time and the bond shall wither, shrivel up and ultimately perish.

“See the way you pick up the card, inspect it with the terror in your eyes and whisper the name of the girl under your breath. It is really quite picturesque. Alas, a capturing device is not present. Nii-san, the next time we travel to the human world, shall we acquire one? I believe it is a task we could accomplish without much difficulty, given the level of technology that exists in this guest’s home world.

“Ah, you seem rather perturbed. Furious, even. That glare of yours is terrifying. Please stop, guest! If you carry on, I won’t be able to contain my amusement!

“Who is to blame for the fracturing of your bond with the child of Death, Kozue Yusa? Have you put your intelligence to this rationally? Is it nii-san and I, for not warning you sooner? The girl, if one were to be inclined, for the difficulty that occurs when you attempt to search for her? Or is it you, for neglecting her in favour of your other commitments?

“In the end, I do not believe it matters at all. There is nothing you can do to change the past. Why not consider seeking the future?

“…you refuse to cease that black look of yours. Were the consequences not apparent from the beginning? Could you not sense the distance between the two of you devouring the bond, bit by bit? Well, in all honesty, I believe you deserve something of a reprieve this time. Little children are fickle creatures. They form attachments as quickly as they cast them aside. You may not have been aware of the dependency she placed on you. That should be something to be speedily rectified, is it not?

File: train_timetable.jpg (163 KB, 1280x720)

163 KB JPG

“Though their grudges are evidently childish, do not underestimate the impact they possess. Hee hee, another concept that you already understand, correct? All you have to do is ask your dear older sister.

“Aah…is that animosity I detect? It almost borders on the intent to kill. Oh dear me, I believe I am about to faint. Your older sister is a sore spot of yours? Duly noted, guest.

“Now for some good news, guest. The bond of Death has yet to reverse or break. There is still time for you to repair it with the girl. You had best hurry. What is the time in your world? Allow me to check…

“‘Thursday’, as you humans would call it. Well then, I predict before you have until ‘next Wednesday’. Further than that, and it is highly likely the bond shall reverse. When that occurs, all Personas of the corresponding Arcana shall lose their strength.

“Yes, you could reconcile with the girl after the bond reverses. The question that shall be asked is whether or not you have the capabilities to do so. Will you try your hand at fate? That would be a spectacle to watch, wouldn’t it nii-san?”

“Indeed, my dear little sister. But let us turn to a different matter altogether. Guest, I see you are about to guide your fellow Void’s Chosen into the Forlorn Abyss. A fascinating place, wouldn’t you agree? Instead of Shadows or Denizens, the dungeon is inhabited exclusively by demons.

“Curious as to the relation between demons and Personas? In the depths of humanity’s hearts, there is a domain where mythological archetypes dwell. It is created from the myths and legends formed by humans, yet simultaneously is their source. One could say that demons and gods live in neither Hell nor Heaven, but rather the hearts of man.

“So in that regard, demons and Personas are products of humanity itself. As long as man continues to thrive, so will they.

File: visitor.jpg (76 KB, 1280x720)

76 KB JPG

“Where do the demons in the Forlorn Abyss originate? From the Collective Unconsciousness, of course. Were you not listening, guest? Demons have their own wills and purposes. It may be in your best interest to understand them, if only because it shall make it easier to slay them.

“Some aspects of the Collective Unconsciousness desire to influence the personalities of humanity. But the chosen individuals must strong in the body, the mind and the soul. Otherwise, control will be lost over the Persona. When that occurs to a great extent…well, I would not want to spoil it for you. This is one surprise that should not be ruined.

“Is all well over in your side? Your bonds other than Death are of adequate progress. How is your exploration of the Blackened Void? Are your fellow Void’s Chosen performing their assigned duties? Are you gaining sufficient strength? Do you believe that you have every facet of your trial beneath your control?

“That is enough chitchat for now. I think you would not want to keep your allies waiting, guest. Until next time, then…”

Not writefaggotry, list of Observer questions. Do with it as you will.

http://pastebin.com/gKkfYy5A

File: 1457995421980.jpg (19 KB, 210x240)

19 KB JPG

[4:44 pm, 9-Jun-2129 (THURSDAY)]

“So, Akikazu, you ended up buying stuff for me after all.”

“Shut the fuck up. Take the damn thing and go.” The blonde boy snarls, tossing you something, which you swiftly catch with a swing of your arm.

“What’s this?” You ask, pulling up the object towards eye level.

“What the hell does it look like, dumbass?” Akikazu growls. “It’s a golden key. Cost one hundred thousand Macca.”

“The hell? That’s like a third of my entire account! Goddammit Akikazu, I didn’t ask you to spend that much!”

He scoffs, putting on a nasty smirk. “Quit complaining. Do you know how annoying it was to negotiate with a guy who can’t speak? Besides, ain’t the golden key useful to us? It can open gold locks and shit.”

You have to concede his point, with no small amount of agitation. “Damn it, I still never letting you buy stuff for me again.” You say.

He glowers at you like an overheating sun lamp. “You pushed the job onto me, Takashi. Don’t you act like you’re entirely innocent here!”

“Geez man, don’t you have any restraint?”

“I have the restraint to not complain my sorry ass off when it’s all my fault!”

This confrontation would have no doubt led to several minutes of screaming, perhaps with thrown punches and practices savate kicks in between, if it wasn't for the orb of fire that sizzles through the air in front of you and Takashi, grinding the argument to a screeching halt.

“Focus, you two!” Celeste barks. “Akikazu, stop shouting, you’re making a huge racket. Takashi-kun, aren’t we supposed to be doing something right now?”

“There’s literally no-one but us in this empty city!” Akikazu shouts, jabbing a sizeable finger at your best friend, that thankfully isn’t the one positioned in the middle of his hand. “Plus, this doesn’t concern you, Tachibana.”

File: celeste_smug.png (956 KB, 1253x681)

956 KB PNG

Celeste gives him an unimpressed look. Dull eyes, slanted mouth, all the shine and sparkle vanishing from her expression like mosquitoes near a lit campfire. It’s frosty enough to chill a soda can. You imagine this is the type of look she gives to unhelpful customers in the Lovely Eight maid café.

“Oh, please.” She says. “You boys weren’t talking about anything important. I could turn on my headphones and I wouldn’t miss a single thing worth caring about.”

You wince. Somehow, that hurts. You step back from Akikazu and put up your hands. He glances over and you and sighs, sounding like an irritated horse. “Okay Celeste, point taken. We should really get going. That part of the Forlorn Abyss isn’t going to complete himself.”

“Thank you.” She nods, turns on her heel and walks over to Fumika squatting near the bonfire. Through the still air, untouched scant for the dances of the flames and the wind whistling through broken windows, you hear her mutter the word ‘Men’ beneath her breath. You decide not to comment. Akikazu surges past you, his sledgehammer balanced on his shoulder. On a non-awakened, that would have dislocated bone.

You walk over to Fumika. She has a synthetic nylon sack hung around her shoulder and is inspecting something on her phone.

“Everything ready?” You ask.

“Ammo replenished, weapons ready, mana stored. Almost, Takashi.” Fumika replies. “I need to ensure the cameras observing the subject are working.”

She taps on her phone and one of the cameras, colored black and placed on a thin tripod, whirs to life. Satisfied, Fumika puts her phone back in her pocket.

“Complete.” She states, looking at you. “Let us be off.”

“Do you even watch all that footage?”

“Of course not.” Fumika replies, nothing in her tone to suggest that she is in any way slighted, “I have written a program to detect anomalies in the footage. I only monitor the sections where the anomalies have occurred. That should be obvious, Takashi.”

File: dark_rainy_City.jpg (105 KB, 1280x720)

105 KB JPG

“Well excuse me for not being a computer nerd…” You grumble, internally whacking yourself across the forehead. Really, what had you been expecting? “Hey, why did you think that was obvious to me?”

“You are aware of my computing prowess, are you not?”

You stare at her. “What is that supposed to mean?”

She does not respond. You guess that’s the end of this conversation and join up with Celeste, who is standing near the end of the safehouse courtyard. Her rapier sheath is balanced at her hip, the steel-grey hilt clashing with the vibrant reds and oranges of her skirt. Her trademark headphones are off her ears and into her backpack. Her fingers intertwine and dig in and out in the sections between them; a sure sign of a busy mind.

“What’s up?”

“I’m just hoping if we’ll get this all done by seven.” She sighs. “I have work today.”

“Couldn’t you ask for a day off? Or haven’t you clocked up enough hours to ask for one?”

“The latter, Takashi-kun. I don’t want to make Lucianne mad, so I’m hoping that Act 2 isn’t going to take very long.”

“Lucianne’s the boss, if I remember correctly.” You mumble. “What, is she scary when angered?”

“Yeah.”

“She looks like a nice lady to me.”

“That’s the problem.” Celeste shudders. “When Lucianne gets angry, she doesn’t yell or scream or anything. Instead, she voice becomes soft, she acts politer than usual and she stares at the offending party. It’s somehow enough to make anybody bow before her. There are troublemakers among my co-workers and if Lucianne uses that polite voice on them they’ll shut up immediately.”

It’s hard to imagine the woman like that, or doing much of anything given that you’ve only met her thrice. Still, you sort of understand what Celeste is saying. Domination via sheer presence springs to mind. Some famous duels were won that way.

“She’s reasonable most of the time, right?”

“Yeah. That sort of anger is rare for her.” Celeste muses. “Still, I wonder where her augs came from.”

File: forgotten_city3.jpg (122 KB, 1024x542)

122 KB JPG

“Maybe she was part of the Anti-Shadow Operatives?”

“I don’t think so. None of the androids that come in or work there remember her. Besides, she’s from France.”

“I’m sure there’s an equivalent over there.”

“Fighting Shadows pays more than running a maid café.”

“I think you told me she has a son. Maybe she wanted to settle down?”

“Could be…”

“She could have gotten in an accident.”

“Lucianne’s always careful about everything…”

“Fashion statement?”

“Takashi-kun, don’t even joke about that.”

The conversation ends there. Akikazu and Fumika rejoin the two of you. Their stern faces and equipped weapons remind you that the time for dilly-dallying about should come to an end. With everyone present, you point towards the darkened streets of the dead city, giving the signal for everyone to move out. They do.

The walk towards your destination is quiet. The team bunches up, weapons sheathed but with hands on their handles. Winds whistle like out of tune flutes through the desolate grounds. Tiny stones crack like eggshells beneath your mighty boots, scattering into particles of gravel. All chit-chat has been reduced to singular words and grunts, to warn of incoming enemies and to make snide comments on features of the wasteland. Together, they form a familiar symphony, filtered through rising adrenaline and high-strung tension. You have heard it before through the countless passages of your time within the Blackened Void.

In all truth, it is the sound of young, inexperienced warriors heading to battle. Similar to your predecessors in the very first skirmishes against the Shadows, except those guys were about a thousand different ways of terrified. You wonder how they would react to the current generation, in which a group of kids would actually anticipate exploring a dungeon brimming with hostile non-human entities.

File: abyss_entrance.jpg (85 KB, 800x585)

85 KB JPG

“We’re here.”

The entrance to the Forlorn Abyss is the gaping maw of an undead beast. Its chill, the type that strikes the heart more than the body, can be felt from all the way where you are, outside the entrance, staring into its pitch blackness as if inviting it to devour you whole. You take a step forward and enter through the hallway. Together, you and your team descend the stairs in silence, lest any comment spark off a sudden movement, dragging everyone to an untimely, jagged and neatly arranged fate.

An elevator waits at the bottom. You and your team pile into it. Akikazu slams the button and the machine rumbles. It falls, shaking in its socket and grinding against the walls. The tremors come precariously close to rattling your teeth. Celeste shifts in her spot, playing with a wad of fire in her fingers. Akikazu impatiently stamps his foot against the rusting metal floor. Fumika checks something on her phone.

The intermission is brief and the elevator slides to a halt, the echoes of screeching metal bouncing off the four walls. No bell is rung; the double doors argue their way past the decay and force themselves open. You now find yourself in a slightly larger, but nonetheless small, room. It is where the team ended up after conquering Act 1 of the Forlorn Abyss. To your left is the passage to the Observer’s room. Formerly, anyway. The computer had exploded in your face, after all.

To your right is a whirling mass of fog. Everyone is staring at it, including you. The next stage of the Abyss lies behind it. A vast unknown land, of danger and treasure. You meet the eyes of your friends.

“Ready when you are, Takashi-kun!”

“What are you standing around for?”

“Let us begin.”

There is nothing much that needs to be said. You inhale, close your eyes and step towards the fog door.

File: act2-1.jpg (122 KB, 600x832)

122 KB JPG

>>Act 2: Coexistence.

The air is bitter and cold. It tastes of winter mornings and frost on the grass. It is also rather fresh, lacking the dust of the Forgotten City. You breathe in and lick your lips, savoring it.

Behind you, your friends emerge. They stop and see what you have already seen. The Forlorn Abyss has deposited you in front of a massive stone arch, tall enough to rival the skyscrapers in Tokyo. Whatever inscription or carving that has adorned the pillars and crest of the arch has fallen victim to the scourge of time. The dastard has struck elsewhere, eating away at the walls like a mouse with a block of a cheese.

A door is present in front, rotting, smashed and already open. Behind it, you catch a glimpse of a vast room, sunlight filtering in through glassless windows, its state of disrepair comparable to the outside. You take a step forward and feel grass collapse between your feet. The shrubbery is everywhere. Ivies strangle the pillars, weeds flourish in once beautiful gardens and moss dampens the stone tiles. The stench of uncontrolled growth is unmistakable. It is one of vengeful nature. You hear Celeste attempting to cover up her sneezes.

A clattering sound, of metal scraping against stone. You turn around to see that Akikazu has just kicked a helmet lying on the ground. It bounces across the ruined castle courtyard, before coming to rest in a pile of various armor parts. They are iron and empty. Akikazu withdraws his foot, looking disturbed.

“Hmm, a sky.” Fumika muses. “I guess we can rule out the possibility of the Forlorn Abyss being entirely underground.”

It’s red. Red as the blood that flows within humanity, as if a corpse of a great deity had been left to bleed out in the heavens above. The surrounding four great walls seem to grow arms and reach for it, forming the world’s largest well.

“If we were underground before, and now we’re clearly not…” Celeste gasps. “Hey, does that mean we’re in an alternate dimension?”

File: act2-2.jpg (67 KB, 736x459)

67 KB JPG

“Probably.” You mutter. “It wouldn’t be out of the question. The Blackened Void is already one.”

“Maybe it’s a fake sky.” Akikazu suggests. “Sounds like the kind of bullshit trick AETHER would pull.”

“It’s cold in here. I should’ve brought a jumper…” Celeste shivers. “A castle, eh? I used to read stories about them as a kid. Maybe I should have continued into my adolescence…”

“I do not think it is relevant as of yet.” Fumika’s eyes narrow at the entrance to the castle. “I sense adversaries. We should move out soon.”

“Right.”

You stand in unfamiliar territory. Demons lurk behind every corner and beneath every stone, their bloodlust visible even from where you are standing. Your magic is struggling against its restraints, reacting against the danger ahead. The thought of treasure fails to not cross your mind. There are as many boons in this realm as there are ways to get killed.

In short, it’s a fine day to fight demons, bleed crimson and avoid schoolwork at the same time.

Now then, Leader of the Void’s Chosen, how shall this Act commence?

>A single Olive Branch is being used. The risk of invasion has been decreased by 60%.
>Current Personas: Karasu Tengu, Matador, Saravasti, Makami
>Loadout: Combat Gloves, Simple Merc Outfit, Ring of Remedy

[Movement]
>Go through the dungeon as quickly as possible.
>Take the time to explore.
>Move at your standard pace.
>Be cautious above all else.
>Wait for the demons to come to you.
>Custom option.

[Priorities]
>Treasure and loot.
>Fighting monsters and gaining experience.
>Gathering intel from the demons.
>Saving vitality and mana for the dungeon boss.
>Custom option.

[Companions]
>Summon Ruvyn of the Hazebound Woodlands.
>Summon Knight Laurence of Pyre Ruin Valley.
>Summon 114 of Area 019.
>Don’t summon anyone at all.

[Invade?]
>Yes. (Consumes 1 Burnt Idol)
>No.

>>48047973
>>48047994
No, you prick, we're upset because we already knew this! We were going to see her tonight, after the dungeon-delving! Stop reminding us of things we already know. I thought Takashi was supposed to be able to talk back at them now.

>>48048203
>Be cautious above all else.
>Saving vitality and mana for the dungeon boss.
>Don’t summon anyone at all.
>No.

>>48048203
>>Move at your standard pace.
>Gathering intel from the demons.
>Saving vitality and mana for the dungeon boss.
>Don’t summon anyone at all.
>No.

>>48048203
>Be cautious above all else.
>Saving vitality and mana for the dungeon boss.
>Don’t summon anyone at all.
>No.

>>48048024
Could swear we already had some of these answered, but thanks Bird. Also the pastebin link for Fool and magician part 6 is broken. More fights writing soon?

>>48048205
Seriously, can we have a standing "tell the squatters to shut up when they lecture us about something we already knew" vote? I know they're supposed to be as annoying as possible, but come on.

>>48048203
>Be cautious above all else.
>Treasure and loot.
>Don’t summon anyone at all.
>No.

Maximum exploring, conserve summons for endboss.

Remember that this is a Chaos Thread.

>>48048280
I'll get it done, and I'm working on it.

>>48048203
Standard pace, treasure and loot, don't summon, no. Also, Jesus, that might be the longest opening post yet.

>>48048416
It would have been shorter if Thorn didn't feel the need to bitch at us.

>>48048203
>Be cautious above all else.
>Fighting monsters and gaining experience.
>Don’t summon anyone at all.
>No

>>48048205
Yeah, that seemed like a waste of time to just have two massive posts telling us shit we already knew and was about to fix.

Thorn has a massive problem with purple prose.

>>48047994
these are great characters for hating.

>>48048203
>Take the time to explore.
I don't suppose the smithing twins would pay very much for that rusted armor?
>Treasure and loot.
>Gathering intel from the demons.
if we wanted xp, shadows are the way to go. There are tarot cards and meta info in here.

>>48048416
As long as it is, I hope you enjoyed it.

>>48048500
>purple prose
I'll keep that criticism in mind.

Writing now...

>>48048024
Some of these are already answered.

But I wonder if it's better to ask about what Alpha features we can still access rather than the Alpha itself, before they get patched out.

We should probably also ask what the Blue Juice is.

Does Takashi possess the same soul before and after the accident?

>>48048554
That's not to say that most of it isn't enjoyable, It's just that these threads tend move at a snails pace plot-wise, and when your entire post could be summarized as 'Takeshi ate a burger', then you're starting to have problems.

>>48048554
It's not a huge problem, for the most part it's actually pretty fun. We like your writing, so you doing these big posts is enjoyable. But sometimes, like this, you don't have to take two posts (three if you count the one at the end of last thread) to tell us about it. You could have gotten the same information across much more succinctly and lost nothing except our increased hatred for the squatters. Like, say something along the lines of

>"As the male twin shuffles the cards back together, you notice that the Death Arcana is looking frayed and worn-out. Perhaps it would be a good idea for you to visit Kozue again soon."

And then convey the "this is how long you have left" part be an out of character note like you do for other notifications. It's admirable that you tried to convey the information to us in character, but in this case it took so long compared to an OOC comment that it kind of fell flat.

File: burnt_idol.png (12 KB, 64x128)

12 KB PNG

You give your orders.

“Guys, we should be really careful about everything in here. There’s no telling what might jump out at us behind the next corner. Take your weapons out and don’t touch anything suspicious by yourself. Also, there’s apparently a boss at the end, so we should conserve our mana and health for that. Don’t be afraid to heal yourself if you’re injured though.”

There’s a round of nods from everyone. This is basically common sense. It’s nothing to argue against. Fumika then raises her hand.

“I would appreciate the chance to interrogate the demons.” Fumika adds.

“When you say interrogate it sounds kinda unpleasant. Okay, why?”

“Information.” She replies.

“Of what?”

“Their existence, their reasons for coming here and the circumstances surrounding this Act 2.”

“That sounds like it’ll take a while.” You respond.

She tilts her head. “I can be quick.”

It seems that she is determined to follow up on her words. You sigh. When Fumika gets like this there’s very little that can stop her. “Don’t take too long.” You say and turn towards the door. “Alright everybody, let’s get—”

“You have forgotten something, Takashi.” Fumika then adds.

Everyone turns to look at her. “What is it?” You ask.

She reaches into her sack and withdraws a rubbery, black doll. It’s the Burnt Idol. Your stomach shrinks at the sight of it. “Are you not going to invade?”

“What? No!” You shout.

“Why not?”

>[CHARISMA] “It’s beneath me.”
>[UNDERSTANDING] “I’m not a psychopath!”
>[INTELLIGENCE] “Too risky and it’s a waste of time.”
>[WILLPOWER] “Why should I explain this to you? You already know.”
>Custom option.

>>48048947
>[INTELLIGENCE] “Too risky and it’s a waste of time.”
We're here for information from the big bad computer, not killing alternate dimension who may not have any good loot anyways.

>>48048947
>[INTELLIGENCE] “Too risky and it’s a waste of time.”

>>48048947
>[INTELLIGENCE] “Too risky and it’s a waste of time.”
Fumika, I'm starting to think you have some deeply-buried suicidal tendencies. Becoming a mercenary instead of safer work, refusing to see the value of relationships, wanting to travel to another universe and fight people to the death when we're already in a dungeon...

As an aside, anyone else having trouble with the captchas?

>>48048947
>>[INTELLIGENCE] “Too risky and it’s a waste of time.”
When trying to gain information, you isolate the variables you're studying to avoid contamination.

where would using genre saviness to predict low benefit compared to projected risks fall under?

>>48048947
>>[UNDERSTANDING] “I’m not a psychopath!”

>>48049020
yup. I can barely get it working.

>>48048947
>[CHARISMA] “It’s beneath me.”

>>48048947
>[INTELLIGENCE] “Too risky and it’s a waste of time.”

>>48048947
>[UNDERSTANDING] “I’m not a psychopath!”

>>48048947
>>[CHARISMA] “It’s beneath me.”

>>48048947
I hope a high level demon puts Fumika in her place.

Try interrogating Thor.

File: Thor likes nukes.png (244 KB, 377x360)

244 KB PNG

>>48049346
>What do you think of ICBMs?

>>48049376
I'd elect Thorman for president.

>>48049393
Trump/Thorman 20XX
We're going to build a wall around the Expanse and make the demons pay for it!

>>48049408
Why do you think that the Japanese switched their currency to the Macca?

File: sample-b29c15125465eff378(...).jpg (63 KB, 850x638)

63 KB JPG

“I remember what the Observer said. It’s too risky and it’s a waste of time. We’re in the middle of a dungeon right now, you know.” You state. You look across your teammates. “None of us are doing any invading, alright? That includes you, Fumika.”

No emotion flickers across her face. She merely puts the Burnt Idol back in its bag. “Very well.” She says. “Let us be off, then.”

“We’re not all sociopaths like you, Shibuya.” Akikazu grumbles, as you lead your team up the steps towards the large ornate door. “Seriously, what the fuck goes through that robot mind of yours…”

“Shhh!” Celeste suddenly speaks. “Do you guys hear that?”

“Heart what?”

“There are people talking in there!”

Indeed, there are voices coming from the gap in the door. You and Celeste look at each other, then creep towards the door and press your backs against it. Akikazu and Fumika take the other side. Together, you and your team lean your heads towards the direction of the voices and listen.

“Get up, get up, hee-ho! I smell humans!”

“Oh, piss off, Jack. I told you, didn’t I? Your stories are pure horse manure and I’m not listening to them again.”

“I’m serious, ho! They’re right outside the castle doors!”

“Laa laa laa, I can’t hear you. I’m going straight back to sleep.”

“Listen to me, you hee-ho! I’m not lying this time, I swear! Go and see for yourself. If they’re not there, I swear to the Abyss that you hee-ho me any way you like!”

“Ugh, this is such a waste of my precious time. You're lucky we're friends. Fine, where are they?”

“Over there!”

“If this turns out to be false I swear to…oh.”

“What did I tell you, hee-ho?”

“You’re right. By Oberon, you’re right!”

“Hee ho hee ho! I told you so!”

“Quick, what do we do? Should we tell the others? What if they don’t believe us? What if—”

File: AETHER_title_screen.jpg (252 KB, 1280x720)

252 KB JPG

“None of that! Listen, I’ve got a plan!”

“All of your plans are terrible.”

“But this one is actually good, you hee! What if, what if we just took the humans for ourselves?”

“What?”

“Think about it, hee-ho! Why should we share it with the others? It means less Magatsuhi for ourselves.”

“Yeah, but won’t the others kill us for that?”

“That won’t be a problem stupid, because by the time we’ve finished devouring the humans we’ll be strong enough to take them all on by ourselves. We’ll eat them, move on to the rest of the demons and become kings of the castle. Doesn't that sound wonderful, hee-ho?”

“I can’t believe it! Jack, you actually thought up a good idea for once!”

“I know, ho!”

“So what do we do?”

“The humans don’t know we’re here, so we’ve got the advantage of surprise. You go out and lure them into here. I’ll surprise them with a trap.”

“Why me?”

“Because you’re a cute little demon girl, ho! Humans lap that stuff up!”

“Fine, but you owe me for this!”

“Do you want that sweet, delicious Magatsuhi or not, hee-ho?”

>>48049484
It's the Jack Brothers! Oh, please let them be willing to negotiate peacefully.

File: Pixie.png (1.16 MB, 3620x2716)

1.16 MB PNG

A few moments pass without much happening at all. Then you see a figure emerge from the doorway. A tiny creature, with a navy bodysuit, fiery red hair and wings like a hummingbird’s. There is no mistake about it. This is a Pixie, one of the more common types of Personas in your world. The one hovering in front of you doesn’t seem to be bound to any particular owner, however.

“Hi there, good humans! Are you all lost?” The Pixie speaks. Her voice is cute. It’s so cute and saccharine you can imagine rainbows pouring out of her tiny nostrils. It’s bad enough to make Akikazu gag and Celeste wince. Even Fumika looks a tad irritated.

“Golly, you must all be so confused! Don’t worry. I’m your friendly neighborhood fairy and I’m here to help. Welcome to…” The Pixie glances over her shoulder to the inscription of the castle. She fails because there isn’t one. It doesn’t stop her. “…the castle of my people! Yeah!”

She does a twirl in the air. A full revolution. “You all look so tired! Why don’t you step inside? We’re always like guests. Come in, sit down and have a nice meal with us. You’ll definitely enjoy it!”

She bows and directs her hand towards the insides of the castle.

“Go on, don’t be shy!”

>Attack her.
>Ask where her friend is.
>Play along to reverse the ambush.
>Question the facilities of the castle.
>Custom option.

>>48049506
one of them said by Oberon, so there's a pixie in there too. Also one is a cute girl.

>>48049520
>>Play along to reverse the ambush.

>>48049520
>>Custom option.
I'll give you Macca if you join my party

>>48049520
>Custom option
"Did you really just say 'golly'?"

>>48049520
>Play along to reverse the ambush.
>Question the facilities of the castle.

File: GaeaRage.jpg (81 KB, 295x449)

81 KB JPG

>>48049520
>Custom option.
"Pixie if you want to ambush people you can't be so damn loud the victims can hear what your plan is. Also I think you are underestimating us."

Summon Matador.

"So how bout you and Jack come on out and we can talk."

>>48049520
>Custom option.
Propose that instead of them eating us and using the strength they get from it to eat the other demons, they just follow along after us and eat the demons we kill.

>>48049520
>Play along to reverse the ambush.
>Question the facilities of the castle.

>>48049608
I like this, seconding.

>>48049608
Lets do it

>>48049608
>Let them have their fill.
>Come back and this place is ruled by Queen Mab and Black Frost.

>>48049608
>>48049628
>>48049636
>>48049684
This is just going to have them backstab and try to eat us when we beat the boss. Stop being idiots because the demons in the dungeon that want to kill us are cute.

>>48049520
>Play along to reverse the ambush.
>Question the facilities of the castle.

>>48049702
More xp for us

>>48049684
>not King Frost
You had one job anon

>>48049702
Fine murderhobo it is. Gotta get dat sweet exp.

>>48049520
Grab her

>>48049520
>>Play along to reverse the ambush.

Making super strong demons by having them eat all sorts of other demons directly alongside... How could that possibly go wrong?

>>48049520
>Play along to reverse the ambush.
>Question the facilities of the castle.

File: Jack_frost.png (176 KB, 639x479)

176 KB PNG

“Alright, we’ll go in.” This is most definitely an idiotic statement from your friends’ point of view and they respond in turn. Celeste’s jaw drops, Akikazu glares and twists his face into a grimace and Fumika…she doesn’t do anything. In fact, she looks okay with the command. Knowing her high intellect, she has already guessed your intentions. To the rest of your friends, you give them a wink. You hope it’s the ‘don’t worry I’ve got this all under control’ kind of wink instead of the ‘I have no clue what I am doing’ kind.

Your team follows the Pixie into the inner sanctum of the castle. It’s damp and smell of moss. The roof is cracked and vines creep up and alongside walls. You head towards a set of stairs leading to an upper balcony. Then Pixie stops mid-flight and lays still.

“What are you doing?” Fumika asks, sounding bored.

“Yeah, where’s the meal?” You ask, trying to contain your giggles.

“Oh the meal…” The Pixie replies, her voice now increasingly more sinister than before. “Yeah, the meal is coming up soon…”

“And that would be because…”

“The meal is you!” The Pixie whirls around, expression full of malice, sparks popping off her miniscule fingernails. “Stupid humans! You fell right into our trap!”

“That’s right, hee-ho!” Something jumps off the balcony. It lands flat on its face. You all give it a moment to regain its senses, which it does by climbing to its feet, rubbing its snow-white cheeks with its stubby little fingers and doing a pose consisting of one arm in the air and the other by the side.

“Hook, line and sinker!”

>>48049987
Poor Jack. He tries so hard, and it never works. Well, time to beat them into submission and then interrogate them.

File: Pyrojackoriginal.jpg (410 KB, 1516x1972)

410 KB JPG

Yup, that is definitely Jack Frost. The high-pitched squeal and the little blue cap with the yellow bells is unmistakable. He’s quite possibly the most popular Persona in the world. You’ve seen the snow gremlin all across the city, in vending machines, billboards and animated children’s television series. All the kids want a Jack Frost when they grow up. It’s surreal to see a living, breathing and walking one strutting in front of you, speaking in a voice that is uncomfortably accurate to the portrayals in your world.

“You thought that there was actually a party waiting for you in here?” Jack Frost crows, pointing towards your chest. “Stupid, stupid, stupid, hee-ho! You humans are so gullible! There’s no-one in here except me and Pixie!”

“And me!”

Another figure leaps off the balcony. This one lands on its buttocks, a failure that is impressive considering that it is floating off the ground. The look on Jack Frost face tells you that this newcomer is unexpected.

“Don’t forget the star of the show. Pyro Jack, at your service!” The jack’o latern spirit shouts. The brother to Jack Frost and a somewhat less popular Persona in your world. He’s often sought after by hipsters and Halloween fanatics.

“Hey, what the hell are you doing here?” Pixie yells, glaring at Pyro Jack.

“Yeah! Hands off, bro!” Jack Frost shouts. “These humans are ours. Go and find your own!”

“And let all that delicious Magatsuhi go to waste? Not on your life, ho!” Pyro Jack shoots back. “Listen you two, I ain’t leaving here until I get your share.”

“You wanna die, pumpkin head?” Pixie growls, snapping her fingers and forming lightning.

“Think you can take me? You won’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell. I’ll burn your face off!” Pyro Jack pauses. “Now that I think about it, I’d be doing you a favour, ho!”

>>48050106
Please, can we keep them? I know they'll just eat us once they grow up, but for now they're so cute.

>>48050167
I agree anon we could use some team mascots

>>48050167
Find us a demon summoning program and you can have as many as you want. Until then, it's hard to keep their loyalty unless you really make an impression I'd wager.

File: inferno.jpg (57 KB, 1280x720)

57 KB JPG

“Oh, you did not just say that.” Pixie gasps. “That’s it. You just crossed the line, buddy.”

“Hey, listen you three!” Akikazu snarls, “Are you going to try and kill us or not?”

The three demons look at each other. A conclusion is thus reached. Jack Frost conjures ice in his hands.

“Kill the humans, hee-ho! We can decide shares later!”

With that, the trio of demons scream and charge forward, respective elemental spells at the ready.

Several things then happen at once. Celeste summons Sati and commands an Agilao towards Jack Frost, sending him tumbling across the dirt, his snowy body beginning to melt away. Akikazu swings his hammer towards Pixie, smashing her into the ground. You summon Saravasti and form a Bufula. It hits Jack Frost solidifying him into a big block. Fumika checks her phone and does nothing at all.

>Victory achieved.
>You gained. 1.00 C. EXP.
>Your WILLPOWER has increased by 0 points.

They groan in the dirt. “Impossible…” Pyro Frost gasps. “How are they so strong, ho…”

“We didn’t even last a second. This is just like my dramas, hee-ho…”

“Damn it, Jack!” Pixie moans. “You never told us these humans were demon tamers!”

“How was I supposed to know?” Jack Frost howls. “They didn’t smell like demon tamers, ho…”

“You don’t smell anything except for ice, you imbecile!”

“Oh yeah…”

“Now they’re going to kill us and it’s all your fault.”

“You’re the one who agreed to the plan, hee-ho!”

“If there’s an afterlife for demons, I’m going to rip your head off!”

“There’s no heaven for demons, Pixie, hee-ho.” Pyro Jack mutters. "It's because..."

“Whatever!”

[Give them…]
>Mercy
>Murder

[Additional command]
>Fundraise.
>Negotiate.
>Plead.
>Trade.
>Chitchat
>[LOCKED] Scout (Demon Summoning Program Required).
>Custom option.

>>48050167
No anon. What if they shit the carpet? Demon shit takes ages to get out.

>>48050227
>>Mercy

>>Chitchat

>>48050227
>Mercy
>Negotiate.

There too cute to not take care of

>>48050227
>Mercy
>Negotiate.

>>48050227
>Mercy
>Negotiate.
Their lives in exchange for information on the castle's layout and the other demons here.

File: 1373285458179.png (38 KB, 224x283)

38 KB PNG

>>48050227
>Mercy
>Custom option
>Akikazu

>Fumika checks her phone and does nothing at all.

>>48050227
>>Murder
>Negotiate.

>>48050227
>Mercy
>Negotiate.
>Chitchat

>>48050281
>Negotiating with a corpse

>>48050227
>Mercy
>Negotiate.

>>48050227
>Mercy
>Negotiate.

>>48050227
>Your WILLPOWER has increased by 0 points.
Yeah, we don't deserve to get a stat increase from that fight.

>>48050227
>Mercy
>Chitchat
>[LOCKED] Scout (Demon Summoning Program Required). DO IT ANYWAY WE CAN DO THIS SHIT

>>48050227
>>Mercy
>custom
Allow Fumika to interrogate them. I admit that was pretty funny.

>>48050227
>Mercy
>Negotiate

File: nah.jpg (231 KB, 1280x720)

231 KB JPG

You wonder what you should do with the demons. They did just try to kill you and your friends, but the attempt was so pathetic any distaste you may have had for them has transformed into raw pity. It’d be like kicking a rabid puppy that happened to be blind and unable to properly walk.

“I think we should let them live.” Celeste says. “Getting rid them feels wrong, y’know?”

“Do what you want, I don’t give a shit.” Akikazu grunts. “If that little fairy bitch tries to attack us again, then…”

You really aren’t mad at them. You decide to grant them mercy. Now then...

>>Void’s Chosen: Negotiate.

“What do you humans want?” Pixie asks, gagging and spitting out blood onto the ground. Her eyes are full of defiance. “You already beat us up. Do you want our money or our stuff? Or…”

A thought strikes her with the force of a thousand falling anvils. She backs away from you, hand across mouth, finger trembling. “Unless, you humans want to…oh no…oh nooo….”

Whatever this is, the Jack brothers have caught on. They are now cowering behind Pixie, hugging each other. You look at them and they shriek like mewling babies.

“H-humans are scary, ho! I want my mommy!”

“We don’t have mommies, bro!”

“It’s the thought that counts, hee!”

You have no idea what they are talking about. “We’re not going to do that.” You attempt to placate them. “We just want information about this castle.”

“The castle?” Pixie questions.

“You guys live in here, right? We want to explore this place. There’s obviously going to be lots of enemies and traps here and we’d like to know all about them.”

File: c65349d29011e864de9e6149a(...).jpg (372 KB, 700x880)

372 KB JPG

“Well, yeah, duh.” Pixie says. “I’ve been here for a while. I know the layout of the castle pretty well. Not everything, mind. What are you humans planning to do, though?”

“That’s none of your business.” Fumika says. “Our patience is limited. Hurry up and give us the information.”

Jack Frost raises a trembling hand. A nervous smile is plastered on his ice-cold mouth. “If we do that, we'll be killed, hee-ho.”

“By whom?"

"The king and queen, of course!"

"I see..."

"Does that mean you'll let us go, ho?"

Fumika takes out her pistol and points it at Jack Frost's forehead.

“…knew it, ho.”

“Bro, you are so stupid, hee.”

“Shut up! It’s not like you can talk, hee-ho!”

>The demons have shared their information of the castle.
>DCs for successful exploration rolls have been decreased.

“Hey, do you think we can take them with us?” Celeste asks, suddenly.

“What for?”

She shrugs her shoulders. “Maybe they can help out. It’d be nice to have a tour guide.”

>Agree. They can be meatshields as well.
>Agree. Let them lead the way to the boss.
>Agree. But they have to stay in front at all times.
>Disagree. They are likely to backstab the team.
>Disagree. You don’t feel like dealing with them anymore.
>Disagree. They would be dead weight.
>Custom option.

>>48050654
Remember in Persona 2 where one of the Demon Negotiation options you could learn was just telling them scary stories? Their fear reminds me of that. Demons are kind of wussy once they no longer feel in control of the situation.

>>48050678
>Custom option.
Let them lead us but make sure to keep them safe

>>48050678
>>Agree. But they have to stay in front at all times.

Hmm are we in the fairy kingdom? Oberon and Titania would probably kill us at our level.

>>48050678
>>Agree. But they have to stay in front at all times.
They're weak enough that they're not a threat.

>>48050678
>>Agree. But they have to stay in front at all times.
>They get too far ahead they get shot.

>>48050708
Naw, Jack frost isn't a Pixie, neither is pyro. My guess just a strong demon and demoness. Prolly a succubus and incubus

>>48050678
>Disagree. They are likely to backstab the team.
Celeste, they wanted to eat us. And remember that bit about them getting stronger as they ate more? If they follow us around, they'll eat the demons that we kill, and eventually they'll get strong enough that they'll try to get us again.

>>48050678
>Custom option
Let them come with if they want to.

>>48050678
>Disagree. They would be dead weight.

>>48050678
>Agree. Let them lead the way to the boss.
>Agree. But they have to stay in front at all times

>>48050723
Could be that this is a Magician dungeon. Pixie and the Jack Brothers are all Magician Arcana when they're Personas. Fits with this being the second Abyss layer and with Celeste's comments that the aesthetic is the sort of thing she liked as a child. Also kind of works with the first Abyss layer being Fool-aligned, given the blank walls and the assumption that Mou-Ryo would be a Fool Arcana if it was a Persona given its status as sort of a blank spirit.

>>48050798
Which means the previous floor was the Fool?

>>48050678
>>Custom option.
Ask them who are the King and the Queen

>>48050809
Yes, that's what I said.

>>48050798
Meaning the next one will be Hanged man in all likelihood.

>>48050833
The next would be that (order of players) or II in the tarot, which is High Priestess iirc.

>>48050678
>Agree. Let them lead the way to the boss.
>Make sure they understand not to try any funny business.

>>48050833
That, or Priestess. It could be going by either party Arcana order or the Fool's Journey order. We've only got two data points so far, not enough to establish a pattern with yet. And that's assuming my theory is even right, I might be drawing the wrong conclusion.

>>48050678
>>Custom option.
Ask about the King and Queen

File: sample-fec78f03ae29bc3c50(...).jpg (116 KB, 850x611)

116 KB JPG

“Sure, why not?” You say. “They can lead us to the boss.”

“What?” Pixie squawks. “You want us to take you to…to the king and queen?”

“Is there a problem with that?”

“The king and queen is really strong! They have complete control over this castle. They’d squash us flat in no time at all!”

“Oh, that’s not a problem.” Celeste says, “We’re going to beat them.”

“Say what?”

“You heard me.”

“You…you’re insane.” Pixie whispers, eyes bugging out of her socket. Her cheeks have turned green. “All you humans are out of your damn minds!”

“You get used to it after a while.” Akikazu comments.

“Did you think your debt was repaid so quickly?” Fumika asks, her words as cold as the bleak void of empty space. “For all we know, you could be lying to us about the layout of the castle in hope that we would be killed. Unlike you three, we are not fools. We shall confirm your intel by having you lead us to the throne.”

“C…can we stay behind you humans, then?” Pyro Jack asks.

“At let you guys backstab us?” You reply, crossing your arms. “Nah. You guys can stay in front.”

“Good call, Taksahi.” Fumika says. “If the time comes, they can utilized as diversions.”

Jack Frost then raises a trembling hand. A nervous, shaking smile is plastered like a drying sticker on his frosty features. “Can I ask something, hee?”

“What?” You say.

“Tour guides are expensive, so…so will we be paid for taking you to the king and queen?”

Fumika contemplates this. “Yes.” She eventually answers.

“R-really, hee?”

“You three will be allowed to live.”

…

“Humans are terrifying, ho!” Pyro Jack cries.

>You now have escorts.
>Roll 5d100 (Vitality, mana consumption, money, loot, invasion chance)

Rolled 8, 7, 62, 96, 29 = 202 (5d100)

>>48051073

Rolled 54, 62, 44, 36, 84 = 280 (5d100)

>>48051073
Come on rare equipment

Rolled 8, 5, 20, 80, 62 = 175 (5d100)

>>48051073
Take my 1s

>>48051095
>>48051111
wow

>>48051095
>>48051104
>>48051111
54, 62, 62, 96, 84

>>48051095
>>48051104
>>48051111
So 54, 62, 62, 96, 84. Fair amount of damage but nothing we can't heal from before entering the mist door, mana is looking alright, a good amount of money, something hopefully very nice on loot, and we didn't get invaded. Not the best, but far from the worst.

I can't remember, are we limited to only one companion in a Mist Door room at once? I vaguely recall something like that.

>>48051202
Each additional companion would increase the power of the boss.

>>48051380
but it'll be !!FUN!!

....hangon, wrong quest.

File: act2-3.jpg (110 KB, 1024x512)

110 KB JPG

Grudgingly, the demons lead you through the castle. It is far from a smooth journey. The castle is inhabited by many more demons and most of them are not pleased to see you intrude. They are all like the Personas in your world, but more solid and capable of autonomous thinking. They rush at the two of you, desperate for your souls. Pixies, High Pixies, Inugamis, Shiisas, Koppa Tengus and more. It’s unnerving to see replicas of your own Personas try to kill you and your friends.

When the demons die, their bodies fall to the ground and crumble away. Not into dust, like the Denizens in the Blackened Void, but rather into a strange flowing crimson substance.

“It’s not blood, it’s Magatsuhi.” Jack Frost answers.

“What’s that?”

“Food!” You watch as the demon scoops up the redness in the air and shoved it into his mouth. “Humans make a lot of it, hee-ho, which is why we wanted to kill you. I’ve changed my mind about that, ho.”

“What do you mean?” You ask, cautiously.

“I don’t want to kill you guys anymore, hee-ho. You guys kill a lot of demons and leave their bodies behind. They’re ripe for the picking, hee!”

“So you’re basically a vulture.”

“What’s that, ho? Anyway, if I killed you, that would stop. So, I’m not going to!”

The corridors seem to stretch forever, twisting and turning, looping around each other, any obvious paths trapped behind intricate puzzles and locking mechanisms. Sometimes doors reveal themselves to be fakes. In other cases, they explode. Brick walls rise out of the ground, then turn out to be illusions that bar the way to dead ends. Axes and swords on chains descend from the ceilings in the scullery and the servant quarters. Poison gas fills the queen’s bedroom. Floors crack and break, revealing gaping big holes that are large enough to dump a legion of trucks in. It’s all making your brain hurt.

You push through anyway.

File: troll.jpg (60 KB, 589x743)

60 KB JPG

Good thing you forced the three demons along. You may have been forced to turn back otherwise. As for the status of your team, you’re all fine. Bleeding, bruised and covered in dust, but full of adrenaline and exhilaration.

>Gained 10.00 C. EXP!
>Acquired 20k Macca!
>Obtained an Olive Branch!
>Obtained a Silver Key!
>Obtained a Trafuri Canister!

While nearing the hallway to the throne room, you come across a demon lurking in a side room. A plump one, with thick red fur and a bell around its log-sized neck. It’s sitting in front of a red carpet, on which a variety of trinkets placed upon it.

You ready your cards, preparing for a fight. No such thing happens. The demon blinks its black eyes and gives you an encouraging smile. You stare right back. Then you look at Pixie.

“Who’s this?” You hiss.

“It’s Troll.” She replies. “He’s weird.”

“He’s not attacking us.” Celeste observes. “Is he a friendly demon?”

"No such thing exists. Not sane, anyway."

“Troll got hit on the head in one of the castle’s traps!” Pyro Jack comments. “Then he started acting all funny, ho. He stopped punching people and began selling stuff, hee-ho. I think he uses the Macca to buy Magatsuhi for himself.”

“From where?” Fumika asks.

“Dunno, hee-ho.”

“Like I said, he’s weird.” Pixie mutters. “What sort of demon gets his fill by selling stuff? Wouldn’t it be faster to kill?”

File: trinkets.jpg (514 KB, 1489x723)

514 KB JPG

“You guys aren’t the civilized sort, huh?”

“What’s that supposed to mean, blondie?”

“The fuck did you just call me?”

Troll appears to not have paid much attention to the conversation. Looking at you, he raises a paw and shows a mouth full of yellowy, decaying teeth. There are things stuck in the gaps that remind you of the contents in dumpsters.

“My shop. You buy. Very good deals.” He rasps in a voice that sounds like a dozen gravel driveways speaking at once. “Come look.”

He gestures to his wares. You examine them.

“Good items. Sale on. Buy now, human.”

>MAGIC MIRROR: Device that casts Makarakarn on all allies, allowing them to reflect back one non-almighty magic attack each. (65k Macca)
>ATTACK MIRROR: Device that casts Tetrakarn on all allies, allowing them to reflect back one non-almighty physical attack each. (65k Macca)
>SHIELD CHARM: Device that casts Shield All on all allies, allowing them to block one non-almighty attack each. (55k Macca)
>HEALING WARES: A bunch of healing potions and mana restorative items, enough to bring your team back to full vitality. (60k Macca)
>ASSAULT SIGNAL: Casts Matarukaja. (50k Macca)

>Current Macca: 69k.

>Will you purchase anything?

>>48051544
Mid-dungeon vendor? Neat. What you got, Troll?

>>48051558
Those are all good damnit.

>>48051558
>HEALING WARES: A bunch of healing potions and mana restorative items, enough to bring your team back to full vitality. (60k Macca)

Get us back to full strength, be nice and ready for the boss fight.

>>48051516
>Koppa Tengus
That kills the theory that it's a arcana-based dungeon

>>48051586
Same with the Inugamis. I guess it was just a coincidence.

>>48051558
>>SHIELD CHARM: Device that casts Shield All on all allies, allowing them to block one non-almighty attack each. (55k Macca)

>>48051558
>kill him and take his items

>>48051558
>SHIELD CHARM: Device that casts Shield All on all allies, allowing them to block one non-almighty attack each. (55k Macca)

>>48051558
>Will you purchase anything?
Nah lets save up

>>48051558
>65k Macca)
>>SHIELD CHARM: Device that casts Shield All on all allies, allowing them to block one non-almighty attack each. (55k Macca)

>>48051558
Let's save our cash.

We have that deal set up for Mdical supplies with the cat don't we? We have to pay a certain amount each month or something?

>>48051558
Save it.

>>48051697
Every week

Tiebreaker:

>1. Purchase SHIELD CHARM.
>2. Save it.

Reply with numbers only.

>>48051558
Save it

Why haven't we tried to get either Celeste or Fumika to wear the high cut armor, our stats are much higher now so we should have a much better chance

>>48051558
>>MAGIC MIRROR: Device that casts Makarakarn on all allies, allowing them to reflect back one non-almighty magic attack each. (65k Macca)

>>48051760
2

>>48051760
1

>>48051558
>Save it

We need to pay the shop tomorrow. Who knows if we have enough to pay them after the boss

>>48051760
1

>>48051760
2

>>48051760
1

>>48051760
1

>>48051760
1

>>48051760
2

>>48051760
2

>>48051760
2

Seems like more people are voting to save money. Writing now...

>>48048738
This is a pretty good point.

>>48051760
2

Concentrate is a lot more common than the physical counterpart, right?

>>48051764
I can see it now...

Death is not a hunter unbeknownst to its prey.

>>48051764
Because that armor is shit.

>>48051764
Because we have self-preservation instincts.

File: fog_gate.jpg (59 KB, 680x368)

59 KB JPG

Those items look enticing, particularly the SHIELD CHARM, but you remember you have a debt to a literal crazy cat lady.

>>Takashi: Don’t purchase anything and head to the fog gate.

You do that.

“Behind there is where the king and queen are.” Pixie says, twiddling her thumbs. “Our job is done, right? It’s okay for us to go now, isn’t it?”

Fumika waves in the opposite direction. “Off you go, then.”

“About time!” Pixie scowls, but there is a clear relief in her words. “I…I hope we never see you humans again!”

“Yeah! You guys are more demonic than the actual demons, ho!”

“That doesn’t make sense, bro.”

“It does too!”

The trio of demons waste no time in scurrying off, arguing as they go. It’s a little disappointing. They had been monsters, but of the incompetent sort that one grows attached to after extended periods of time. Their banter, while childish, had done much to liven up the exploration of death trap infested hallways and that one bathroom where all the tengus had been hanging out.

Will you ever see them again? It depends on whether or not you wish to return to Act 2 after clearing it.

“I sense a very powerful presence behind this fog wall…” Fumika mutters. “We should all be cautious.”

“Like that needs to be said…” Akikazu grumbles, already picking through the contents of a medkit.

>All your vitality-restoring items have been used! Your team is now back to full health!

>Will you summon anyone before entering the boss room? Only two Companions can enter at a time…

>Summon Ruvyn of the Hazebound Woodlands.
>Summon Knight Laurence of Pyre Ruin Valley.
>Summon 114 of Area 019.
>Don't summon anybody.
>Custom option.

>>48052067
>Don't summon anybody.

>>48052067
>Summon Ruvyn of the Hazebound Woodlands.
Elf vs. elf!

>>48052067
>>Don't summon anybody.
Maybe it'll be a bit more difficult, but the rewards will be better.

>>48052067
>>Don't summon anybody.

>>48052067
>>Don't summon anybody.
We going in raw

>>48052067
>>Summon Ruvyn of the Hazebound Woodlands.

>>48052067
>>Don't summon anybody.

>>48052067
>>Summon Ruvyn of the Hazebound Woodlands.

>>48052067
>Summon Ruvyn of the Hazebound Woodlands.

>>48052067
>Summon Ruvyn of the Hazebound Woodlands.

>>48052067
>>Summon Ruvyn of the Hazebound Woodlands.
long range support would be nice and we can see what he is capable of. If they are oberon and Titania, then anti air tactics may be useful.

>>48052183
If it is Titania then we are fucked.

>>48052067
>>Summon Ruvyn of the Hazebound Woodlands.
>>Summon 114 of Area 019.

File: act2-4.jpg (66 KB, 736x425)

66 KB JPG

>>Celeste: Summon Ruvyn of the Hazebound Woodlands.

Her Companion forms out of a ring of light.

“Hi, Ruvyn!” Celeste chirps. “Are you ready?”

The elf man glances around the area. “Where is this?” He asks.

“Um…a dungeon!” Celeste responds, after a few seconds. “Anyway, we need your help. Will you give it to us?”

“I would be pleased to. Not that I seem to have a choice…”

“Sorry, why the hell aren’t you more shocked at this?” Akikazu suddenly buts in.

“Surprised at what, boy?”

“The fact that you were summoned here! Your body is pure light and I can see through your skin!”

Ruvyn raises a thin eyebrow. “I don’t understand what you are talking about. I expected this, after all.”

“What?”

“Hey Takashi-kun, wait for us!”

>>Void’s Chosen: Enter.

Beyond the fog gate lies a throne room. This fact becomes obvious to you in less than a second. It’s got the various traits of throne rooms seen throughout humanity’s history. Traditional ornate doors, twice as tall as a man. Pillars lining the sides, supporting more stone arches. A long carpet, extending from the beginning to the end like a gigantic cloth snake. Tapestries of victories hanging from the ceiling, stone blocks for resting trophies upon, stained glass windows to cast an aura of wealth and divinity across the area. And of course, the golden throne resting at the back, adorned with diamonds and velvet, standing proud and tall like the monarch it deserves.

That is what you imagine what the throne room used to look like.

The one in your view is more fitting for the homeless population. Entropy has worked its dark magic across this once-regal hall, as it has with the rest of the castle. Stone crumbles, fabric untangles and frays, wind whistles through broken windows and light shines through the gap where the roof had once existed. It is as if a creator deity had taken all the throne rooms in history and smashed them together to form a ghastly abomination, then forgot to remove the effects of time afterwards.

File: red_sun.jpg (22 KB, 800x600)

22 KB JPG

Your eyeballs freeze in place. Your heart is smashing against your ribcage. It’s telling you that something is awfully wrong. All your movements seem to slow down, as if in a dream, trudging through a miasma of transparent mud. This sensation is not unfamiliar to you. You’ve felt it before, haven’t you? Against the abomination in the dead city and in the enclosed arena in this Act’s predecessor. You can’t decide whether this makes the situation better or worse.

“What is that?” Fumika asks, her voice sharp. Two more gurgling sounds are produced and Celeste and Akikazu emerge. They both look around once, before directing their attention to the worn throne at the end of the room. The place is very large, so you all cautiously move forward to get a better look. It’s not like turning back and going through the completely sealed fog gate is an option, anyway.

In the future, you would say that it was a bad idea. Then you would reconsider and decide that whatever you could have done, it wouldn’t have mattered in the long run.

Generally, it’s common sense for humanoid creatures to sit on thrones. Unfortunately, you are in the Forlorn Abyss, where any such notion has been flung in a black hole and left to rot. A bird is perched on the throne, twisting its head, rays gleaming off its beady eyes. An abnormal image, but one that would nonetheless appear innocent, perhaps even noble in some respects.

Any such effect is lost upon understanding the bird’s size. It is larger than any avian you’re ever seen, almost twice as tall as the average human. The talons alone could grip your entire head and crush like a grape. Akikazu could lay across the entirety of its left wing and not make the distance. Its plumage is a clashing mixture of all warm colors to exist and its wings are pure fire, burning with a heat intense enough to scorch the air and destroy its moisture. You can feel your lips drying and cracking just by standing in the room.

File: chained_phoenix.jpg (638 KB, 750x1024)

638 KB JPG

“A phoenix?” Celeste gasps, looking considerably less harassed than the rest of her teammates.

Indeed, it is.

The phoenix leaps off its perch and lands. A ball and chain, secured around its right leg, slams against the ground, denting the stone. It examines you with its eyes. It then tips its head back and unleashes an agonized scream. The room trembles. Cracks form in the glass. Your friends cower, with mouths shut and hands clamped tightly around their ears. And the heat, oh the heat. It is like a jumper woven in a furnace and stitched together with pins and needles. Little embers are falling through the air, growing into full-fledged flames on the tapestry and the carpet.

Fumika suddenly glances up. You follow her gaze. There is something, or someone, lurking near the edge of the hole in the ceiling. Then, there isn’t. That adversary has now landed. As soon as it does, the temperature plummets, as quickly as a miner falling to his doom down an empty shaft. It lands with a heavy crunch, kicking up dust and calming the flames.

>>48052432
Ankh? What are you doing here, I thought you were with Eiji in Africa.

File: frostbitten_samurai.jpg (257 KB, 1000x800)

257 KB JPG

This new opponent is considerably more human in shape. Your first impression is that of a giant samurai, decked out in the standard plate armor, helmet and wielding a curved blade. It is also covered head to toe in ice. Frost forms beneath its feet, a white plague that spreads like a reverse wildfire. Its fingers flex and you feel a cold breeze. Its armor creaks and it sounds like the cries of the North Pole.

It looks at the phoenix once, then nods. It draws its blade in a fluid motion, then grips it with both hands. The phoenix howls again, intensifying its flames.

It is now abundantly clear that the Frostbitten Samurai and the Chained Phoenix are seeking a battle.

Escape is impossible. There is only one way forward. You all understand this. Celeste draws her rapier and summons fire. Akikazu heaves his sledgehammer. Fumika grips her tarot card in her hand. Ruvyn retrieves his bow from his back. You draw forth the power of the Wild Card inside of you and ready yourself to summon.

This will be a battle far more difficult than anything your team has ever faced.

“Takashi.” Fumika says in a low voice. “The samurai appears to be more physically inclined, whereas the phoenix is more magically inclined. Exact skills and ranks will take some time to analyze, however.”

>>Frostbitten Samurai: Cast White Wall on partner.
>>Chained Phoenix: Cast Red Wall on partner.

Now then, leader of the Void’s Chosen, what are your orders?

>What is your plan of action?
>Who will take on the Frostbitten Samurai?
>Who will take on the Chained Phoenix?
>Who will be summoned?

>>48052452
BUFULA OR BUFU!

>>48052479
they just immunized each other from their weakness

>>48052471
>Who will take on the Frostbitten Samurai?
Celeste and Takashi. Have Takashi Agi first to break the wall and have Celeste follow up for the damage.

>Who will take on the Chained Phoenix?
Akikazu, hold it off until the Samurai is defeated

>Who will be summoned?
Ippon

>>48052471
>check pastebin

>Walls are temporary buffs, but they do not dissipate after resisting X hits.
>Dekaja only works on stat buffs, not resistance buffs

oooookaaaay....

>>48052471
>Ruvyn could try taking on the phoenix from afar.
>Akikazu takes on the samurai head on, Celeste could help.
>Takashi can help with the phoenix.
>GET THE BUFFS

>>48052471
Akikazu holds off Samurai since he is better against physical attacks meanwhile everyone elses attacks the phoenix with physical and attacks. Gun attacks too if possible.
Summon Ippon

>>48052471
Takashi and Celeste tackle the Frostbitten Samurai. Sarasvati has Null Ice, so we'll draw agro while Celeste pelts him with Light elemental attacks. Akikazu and Ruvyn handle the Chained Phoenix. Ruvyn shoots it down when it tries to fly out of reach, Akikazu hammers it while it's on the ground. And of course a standard round of buffs and debuffs to open the fight with.

>>48052471
Apply buffs, and keep the two separated.

Celeste and Takashi (using Ippon-Datara) take on the Chained Phoenix, due to their fire resistances.

Akikazu and Ruvyn take on the Frostbitten Samurai. Akikazu gets it into a slugfest, Ruvyn hits it from a distance. Fumika provides backup with her pistol.

>>48052471
Red Wall, White wall. Our spells are not going to hit their weak spots with those spells activated. They may even resist them.

Ruvyn should keep the pheonix occupied with ourself providing support with our personas. Try more than just ice. Lightning or ranged attacks ma work against it.

For the Samurai, Akikazu and Celeste, but have celeste use some hama and healing as well as her standard bag of tricks. Akikazu should be ready to hold them off.

If we kill the pheonix, red wall may vanish from the samurai. If that happens, we can wail on it and take it down.

>>48052471
>>48052471
Akikazu and Celeste work on the ice samurai. She buffs, debuffs and hamas
Takashi works on the phoenix
Takashi start with Makami

Takashi should handle the Frostbitten Samurai. Sarasvati has Null Ice and enough healing spells to deal with the physical attacks.

I could of sworn Walls only worked for one attack, but I haven't played the games in awhile.

I hope you guys realize that Knight Laurence and 114 are yet to be summoned. Doing so won't affect the two bosses' health.

>>48052610
Then summon Laurence to help with the samurai while our elf handles the Bird. Aerial foes are a bitch without range fighters.

>>48052471
Celeste on Phoenix, Takashi with Sarasvati on Samurai.

Since we have 1 RES and 1 NULL, I think it's better if we go for attrition than to burst them down. Slowly whittle both down at the same time while keeping Celeste topped up on health. Use our resistances as meatshields to minimize damage to us.

Every so often they'll have to refresh the Walls, leaving them open for a hit.

Then we kill both at the same time before they can pull any ornstein and smough bullshit.

>>48052591
Samurai focuses manly on physical attacks so Null Ice wouldn't help much. It's better to leave it to Akikazu and focus on defeating the Phoenix so the fire wall is brought down and Celeste can rape the samurai.

>>48052471
>Phoenix
Takashi,Celeste and Elf. Physical focus. Gun or elec would be nice too.
>Samurai
Akikazu. Would be great if he summoned Laurence.

>>48052604
yes, but the games have press turns. Losing even 1 round because of a NULL is absolutely devastating.

Since you can't do that here, it makes sense for it to be a flat buff.

....although I think they really are buffs in other games.

>>48052699
Well if we are talking Persona it was the ONE MORE system. So having one person break the wall and another follow up with the weakness was a viable strategy.

Guess it won't work here though.

>>48052744
I'm sure the wall will last until one of them dies. That seems like the kind of game gimmick they'd put in Aether

File: flames.jpg (51 KB, 800x600)

51 KB JPG

The bloodlust from the two demons is palpable. It coats the wall, spelling out words of your demise. It’s also a fitting match for the power they extrude. You grit your teeth and urge yourself to calm down. You’re the leader here. It’s up to you bring your team to victory. There’s no way you are going to be losing here.

“Fumika, analyze them now!” You shout. “Akikazu, summon Laurence, then go after the Samurai! Ruvyn, fight the Phoenix from afar! Celeste, cast the buffs with me—”

Then the Chained Phoenix leaps forward, ball and chain dangling behind it.

>>Void’s Chosen: Have fun.

This is the exact opposite of what it is happening.

The moment the Phoenix lands, a ring of flames bursts from its talons, blasting away at you and your team. You switch to Makami and with Celeste, you weather the blow. Ruvyn rolls to the side, shielding himself behind a pillar with Fumika. Akikazu summons Ubelluris and scowls as the fire licks at his skin.

The Phoenix screams. Celeste dashes to the side, fingers ablaze with prayer magic. “Rakukaja!” she screams, over and over again until all her allies are coated with the protective defensive barrier.

“Matador!”

The skeletal bullfighter appears with a cackle and that is the exact moment for the Phoenix to open its beak and spit a wad of fire at you.

>Roll d100 to defend and counter.
>Best out of three.

Rolled 7 (1d100)

>>48052823
Time to heat up

Rolled 32 (1d100)

>>48052823

Rolled 15 (1d100)

>>48052823

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>48052823

Rolled 3 (1d100)

>>48052823

File: [angry teddie noises].jpg (59 KB, 637x358)

59 KB JPG

>>48052826
>>48052827
>>48052828

Oh god our rolls are so shitty.

Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>48052823

>>48052767
look at the pastebin

>>48052861
Too little, too late.

>>48052861
Well damn should've rolled I guess.

least it's not a crit fail

File: laurence.jpg (21 KB, 500x688)

21 KB JPG

The fire consumes you. Your vision is enveloped in a sea of orange. You scream with the pain, flailing around, stumbling over chunks of gravel and dislodged bricks. Something catches your foot and you fall, head crashing against something solid. It hurts. But the sharpness of it all brings you to your senses. Sarasvati whispers for your call and you oblige. Media cleanses your body and you stand up, one hand against a wall, shaking with the horribleness of it all.

You look to see the Frostbitten Samurai standing in front of you, the curved blade in two hands. You realize this a second too late, when the blade is already swinging down to cleave your body in two.

A shrieking sound, the ugly clash of two pieces of metal. Someone has blocked the blow. A knight, clad in dinted, rusted armor, holding a shield in trembling hands. Like Ruvyn, his body is pure light.

“Boy!” Knight Laurence bellows. “You must focus. This is the battlefield!”

The shield does not hold. The Samurai easily knocks it aside. It then lifts its leg and slams it into Laurance, sending him across the room to land into a pillar. The mass of stone shatters and Laurence falls. Yet, a second later, he is back on his feet, longsword drawn and charging towards his foe. The Samurai observes him with disinterest. Ice, a Bufula spell, gathers in its frozen gauntlets.

File: Ubelluris.png (54 KB, 304x345)

54 KB PNG

Then a stone giant rams its meaty fists into the Samurai’s head, sending it tumbling backwards.

“Yeah!” Akikazu roars, fists clenched. “You like some of that, you bastard?”

He slams his palms together. Ubelluris punches again, shaking the Samurai’s head. It responds by ramming the Bufula into the giant’s midsection, causing Akikazu to howl.

“Name: Frostbitten Samurai. Rank: approximately C. Strength, C-. Magic Potential, D. Endurance, D+.” Fumika drones, snug in Moros’s mechanical embrace. “Agility, C. Luck, B. Development Potential, E. Weak to Fire but is currently shielded by Red Wall, Resists Gun, Nulls Instant-Death, Reflects Ice…”

You take the opportunity to dash elsewhere. Celeste and Ruvyn are battling the Chained Phoenix on the opposite end of the room. Your best friend is weaving in and out of the giant avian’s fireballs while flinging light sigils of her own that stick to its plumage and explode, driving pain into the demonic flesh.

“Steady, aim…” Ruvyn draws his bow back, readying an arrow. He narrows his eyes and releases. A snap is heard. The head pierces the beast’s wing, causing it to stumble back. The chain rattles. It responds by howling against.

“This…this is Sukunda!” Celeste cries, gazing down at the putrid energy covering her body. “Takashi-kun, hurry up with those buffs!”

You have a better idea. “Dekunda!” You yell, summoning Matador.

[Input your command]
>Matador: Anadalucia.
>Karasu Tengu: Arrow Rain.
>Sarasvati: Bufula.
>Makami: Shibaboo.
>Ippon-Datara: Torrent Shot.
>Apply buffs and debuffs.
>Divert the attention of the Chained Phoenix.
>Divert the attention of the Frostbitten Samurai.
>Protect Fumika.
>Heal the others.
>Custom option.

>Which enemy should die first?
>Will you summon any more Companions?
>Akikazu and Knight Laurence are fighting the Frostbitten Samurai. You, Celeste and Ruvyn are engaging the Chained Phoenix. Fumika is on Spotter duty. Is this okay?

>>48053043
>Ippon-Datara: Torrent Shot.
>Divert the attention of the Chained Phoenix.

>Phoenix should die first
>Yes FUmika's and it attacks samurai
>Yes

>>48053043
>Apply buffs and debuffs.

>Which enemy should die first?
Oh god, they've got one of those "one enemy dies, it's partner goes berserk and gets a powerup" boss gimmicks, don't they? Well, let's go with the Phoenix, I guess.

>Will you summon any more Companions?
Not yet. I really want to keep at least one in reserve, I'm worried that we're going to get another player entry soon and we might need backup in another boss fight before the summon tokens recharge. Summon 114 if absolutely necessary, but keep him in reserve.

>Akikazu and Knight Laurence are fighting the Frostbitten Samurai. You, Celeste and Ruvyn are engaging the Chained Phoenix. Fumika is on Spotter duty. Is this okay?
For now, yes.

>>48053043
>>Akikazu and Knight Laurence are fighting the Frostbitten Samurai. You, Celeste and Ruvyn are engaging the Chained Phoenix. Fumika is on Spotter duty. Is this okay?
Yes.
>>Which enemy should die first?
Phoenix
>Ippon-Datara: Torrent Shot.

>>48053068
Backing this

>>48053107
>>48053043
Voting against summoning more companions.

File: Matador.jpg (506 KB, 1896x2428)

506 KB JPG

“Name: Chained Phoenix. Rank: approximately C. Strength, D. Magic Potential, C. Endurance, D+. Agility, D+. Luck, C. Development Potential, E. Weak to Ice but is currently shielded by White Wall, Resists Wind, Nulls Instant-Death, Reflects Fire…”

The Chained Phoenix leaps back and stamps its foot against the ground. A wave of flame, fast as a speeding motorcycle, blazes across part of the tapestry and towards you. You jump to the side while Celeste goes to the other. Then the two of you are pounding across the room towards the beast. It opens its mouth to cast another spell. Then two arrows strike it in the chest in succession, spilling blood that is instantly evaporated in the flames. Behind you, Ruvyn smirks at his handiwork, hands reaching for another shot.

A fireball sails towards him. Three of them in fact, initially surrounding the Phoenix in an arc. He ducks and dodges all of them except the last, which singes his trousers.

“Sukukaja!” You shout, gripping Matador for every last drop of energy. You cast the spell over and over until your body feels like air, all the liquids in throat have gone run and you are positively blazing towards your opponent. It regards you both with clear disgust. An invisible wave of heat is unleashed. It scratches at you, but Celeste is unharmed.

Elsewhere in the throne room, a knight and his blonde fellow prepare to do battle with the Frostbitten Samurai. The monster initiates by whirling his blade in an complete arc. It slices through stone as easy as a hot knife through butter. Akikazu backsteps out of its range. Another pillar collapses. Knight Laurence charges forward and rolls. He barely passes beneath the whirling death, his helmet grazing against the blade for a fraction of seconds, kicking up sparks that dissipate almost immediately. Job done, Laurence draws his own blade and slashes at the Samurai’s feet.

File: flash.jpg (67 KB, 800x600)

67 KB JPG

The monster trembles and stamps downwards. By the time the foot connects, Laurence is already at its side, positioned to strike.

It lashes out with another kick. This time, Laurence blocks it completely. His legs threaten to buckle beneath the sheer force. But he cannot, for to do so would spell his doom.

Then Akikazu lunges and drives his sledgehammer into the Samurai’s chest, cracking the armor.

“Celeste, with me!” You shout. “I’m going to take it on!”

“Understood!” Sati appears in front of her, casting another batch of holy sigils. The Phoenix struggles against them. It shakes them off and breathes a tongue of fire. Celeste dodges, egging it on with taunts and spells. An ample amount of time is bought.

You circle around the beast and head straight for its chest. The entire time, you prepare yourself to leap at the Phoenix as it raises its wings and begins its ascent into the sky. You ready yourself to pin it down with all the force you can muster.

But none of the sort happens. You glance at the ball and chain tied to the Phoenix’s leg and finally realize that it cannot fly at all.

It has seen you. Its eyes flash. Something is forming in the air. A perfect sphere for ghastly violet energy, fit for the gods.

>Roll d100 to dodge Megido and perform Torrent Shot.
>Best out of three.
>You may use your Star Points any time you wish to increase the highest roll by 25.

Rolled 80 (1d100)

>>48053335
Don't use it

Rolled 97 (1d100)

>>48053335
Wont need that plus 25

Rolled 44 (1d100)

>>48053335

>>48053355
indeed

>>48053355
We dodged the hell out of that and countered it splendidly.

>>48053335
>bosses have megido already
Jesus.

>>48053347
>>48053355
>>48053365
Splendid. We hit it hard and evaded the damage.

>>48053389
Well, it is the optional super-dungeon. Difficulty is going to be a fair bit higher in here than the other areas.

We really need more END

So, why did we to choose to go here instead of doing Laurence's Quest?

>>48053477
answers about Chikashi, and a shit ton of c exp.

>>48053477
Answers about chikashi

>>48053477
To find out what happened to our abomination. We still have two weeks to do Laurence iirc.

>>48053477
answers about chikashi, abominations, and how to deal with them.The C.Exp is nice, and as is, we are probably going to get a pair of souls that will make amazing gear. Probably something thats good for fire AND ice.

File: battle_time....png (11 KB, 640x480)

11 KB PNG

The orb explodes. Almighty energy splashes down in a violent hail. Celeste is caught up in it. She is flung into a trophy stand. The rock cracks. She screams at her dislocated shoulder. Her heart is brimming with determination and in an instant she’s back on her feet, casting Dia on her body with the sole intent to rejoin the fight.

You don’t know if it’s the rush from the love of battle, the anger at seeing your friend hurt or the tiredness of wanting it to get this Act over and done with. In any case, Ippon-Datara flourishes from the sea of cobalt mist and strikes his hammer against the ground with a great deal more force than you are used to. The air in front of him shifts. The Chained Phoenix is struck in the chest with a volley of invisible bullets. You hear the satisfying crunch of bone cracking. It staggers, almost collapsing into a heap.

You refuse to let it recover. Neither does Celeste. The two of you are on the beast like a pack of rabid wolves, punching, kicking, slashing, stabbing and casting with your combined might. The Chained Phoenix has no time to react. There is no chance for it to gob out more flames, cast another Megido or do much of anything, really. It tries to bash you with your its wingspan. Ippon-Datara deflects it and bashes it against its midsection for good measure.

The Frostbitten Samurai notices and tries to rush over. Laurence swipes at its heels, sending it stumbling. Akikazu goes for yet another bash.

File: pierce.jpg (50 KB, 800x600)

50 KB JPG

“Almost there, Celeste!”

“I hear you, Takashi-kun!” She summons light and it blows away a patch of feathers, revealing the pink flesh below.

Then, as sudden as a lightbulb going out, the effect from the White Wall disappears. The Phoenix looks down, as if wanting to gasp. You don’t. Sarvasti is already out in front of you, Bufula soaring like a missle towards the Chained Phoenix.

It lets loose its biggest scream yet, a high-pitched, animalistic wailing that borders on bursting your eardrum. Then, rigid silence. It sees an arrow digging into the space above its heart, sharp as a dagger and a dozen times more deadly.

“Takashi! Celeste!” Ruvyn roars in English, face dripping with sweat, “Grab the beast’s legs! Now!”

Celeste doesn’t hesitate. She drives her rapier straight into the right leg. You hesitate for a moment before grabbing the left. The beast flails, trying to kick you off.

At the back of the room, Ruvyn draws his bow and prepares to fire the killing blow.

>Roll d100 for Ruvyn to land the critical shot with his DEXTERITY.
>Best out of three.

>>48053355
That was the smoothest thing I've seen today.

Rolled 89 (1d100)

>>48053544

Rolled 85 (1d100)

>>48053544

Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>48053544
Nat 1 incoming!

Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>48053544
Ez

Rolled 15 (1d100)

>>48053544
Lets end this

>>48053559
Get rekt bird.

>>48053559
Noice.

>>48053552
You should have seen when I called a nat 100 in another thread

>>48053559
boom head shot

>>48053559
And the Elf does what no one has thought possible on /tg/; manage to come through on the clutch.

>>48053544
Don't forget to add Ruvyn to the pastebin!

Rolled 10, 17, 9, 3, 10 = 49 (5d20)

>>48053684

File: ice.jpg (148 KB, 1280x720)

148 KB JPG

>>Ruvyn: End it.

“Taste my arrow, foul creature!”

The bowstring snaps back. The arrow is sent soaring. The air ripples around it. Before you and Celeste can blink, it has landed at its target. A meaty, sharp sound is produced. You look up to see trails of blood cascading down the Phoenix’s head. The arrow has struck the beast straight in the middle of the eyes, destroying the brain and ending its life.

It slumps to one side and collapses. The flames surrounding it whimper out. You and Celeste stare at the body, unsure of what to do. Then you hear a whoosh of air around you.

“Takashi, Celeste, move your asses!” Akikazu tired voice echoes through the ruined throne room. The two of you run backwards just in time to see the Frostbitten Samurai land near the Chained Phoenix. It stares down at its partner, impassive. Then it draws its blade and sinks it straight into the Chained Phoenix’s neck. Blood spurts out in rivers. The Frostbitten Samurai drives the blade further, then kneels down and rests its hand on the beast's head.

Back near the entrance, Fumika’s mouth twists itself into a growl. “It’s mana signature is fluctuating heavily. It’s trying to do something!” she shouts. “All of you, destroy the Samurai now!”

You and the other combatants rush forwards. Before you can even take a few steps, a wall of ice rises out of the ground. It surroundings the Frostbitten Samurai and the Chained Phoenix, sealing them off from your attacks. Akikazu slams his hammer against the wall. It cracks, but otherwise doesn’t budge.

Through the semi-transparent ice, you can make out the blurred shapes of raw magic being transmitted up the Frostbitten Samurai’s blade. A vast quantity of energy seems to be gathering in the air...

>Roll 5d100 to crack open the wall. (You, Celeste, Akikazu, Laurence, Ruvyn).
>At least three rolls must pass the DC.
>Best out of four.
>Use a Star Point to add 15 to everyone’s rolls.

Rolled 19, 8, 14, 3, 11 = 55 (5d20)

>>48053706

Rolled 60, 90, 100, 23, 41 = 314 (5d100)

>>48053706
Lucy give me strength

Rolled 29, 7, 78, 28, 96 = 238 (5d100)

>>48053706

Rolled 64, 100, 63, 98, 10 = 335 (5d100)

>>48053706

K, think we passed

>>48053715
As expected of Akikazu!
>>48053721
Celeste too!

Rolled 39, 90, 71, 29, 16 = 245 (5d100)

>>48053706

Jesus.
We're the only ones not kicking an unholy amount of ass, hahaha.

>>48053715
lucy god damn it


its official this is now a chaos thread

mfw, everyone but us did awesome

Rolled 86, 100, 50, 39, 39 = 314 (5d100)

>>48053706

>>48053721
>>48053716
>>48053715
64,100,100,98,96
bloody hell. Did we just explode the bastard?

>>48053747
What the everliving hell

File: Demi.png (542 KB, 650x635)

542 KB PNG

>>48053715

File: betatron.png (25 KB, 516x565)

25 KB PNG

>>48053740

>>48053753
Apparently the RNG hates oreos and smores.

we probably banged the wrong side of ice while the other four found where the ice is thin


we suck

Rolled 2, 17, 12, 4, 3, 9 = 47 (6d20)

>>48053889
d20? Alright then!

File: slash_multiple2.jpg (71 KB, 800x600)

71 KB JPG

Laurence is the first to strike the wall, bashing it with his shield. More cracks form, like a spiderweb. He gives it another strike and part of it collapses inwards, scattering ice across the ground.

Ruvyn is next. He draws two round objects from his belt made from carved bark and stitched together with twine. He heaves them at the ice. They explode into flames, melting the section of the wall. You follow up with a gust of fire from Makami’s mouth. It reduces the wall further, to the point where the Frosbitten Samurai’s figure can almost be clearly seen.

Celeste and Akikazu attack. Celeste closes her eyes and chants. An orb of spinning blue fire whirls next to the wall. Ubelluris digs in his heels and prepare for the charge.

The orb explodes. At the same time, Ubelluris slams his shoulder against the wall. The combined force is what shatters the obstruction entirely, reducing it to nothing more than shards of ice that twinkle in the air like asymmetrical snowflakes become cascading to the burnt ground.

The Frostbitten Samurai does not look up. Its vision is fixated on its blade. Flames are running up it, surrounding the monster in a fiery, crimson aura. The body of the Chained Phoenix is fading away. The mass of power forming in the air is growing greater in magnitude with every passing second. You realize that the Samurai is absorbing the power of its fallen comrade. You also realize that you could destroy the Frostbitten Samurai now while it is distracted. If you and your comrades managed to land all your shots at the Samurai’s vital sections…

Behind you, Fumika watches as the ice wall collapses. She retracts Moros, draw her gun and begins marching briskly to join up with her teammates.

>Roll 6d100 to end the second phase before it can begin (You, Celeste, Akikazu, Fumika, Laurence, Ruvyn).
>At least four rolls must pass the DC.
>Best out of four.
>Use a Star Point to add 15 to everyone’s rolls.

Rolled 90, 66, 72, 6, 97, 18 = 349 (6d100)

>>48053904

>>48053900
no bully the twilight thorn

Rolled 13, 36, 91, 30, 6, 93 = 269 (6d100)

>>48053904
inb4 Fumika wrecks its shit

Rolled 72, 69, 30, 33 = 204 (4d100)

>>48053904

Rolled 80, 51, 37, 84, 96, 11 = 359 (6d100)

>>48053904

Rolled 50, 37, 28, 92, 41, 36 = 284 (6d100)

>>48053904

Rolled 90, 14, 56, 77, 98, 22 = 357 (6d100)

>>48053904
Lucy guide my dice

90, 66, 91, 84, 97, 93

>>48053912
>>48053920
>>48053925
>>48053926
90, 66, 91, 92, 97, 93

Yeah, I think we passed the DC.

Rolling all these d100s reminds me of Devil Summoner London.

Rolled 45, 41, 81, 12, 52, 30 = 261 (6d100)

>>48053904

>>48053938
We are speed run champions. Think we'll get a bonus prize for this? Because I really do not want another hunger persona with how useless orochi is and would rather use them to upgrade our gear.

>>48053938
92, not 84.
Dice love us today. We were one of the badasses, even.

>>48053938
Apparently blue balls of fire eat a lot of Celeste's energy

>>48053963
We don't have to infuse a boss soul into a card. We can just grab it and take it to the Hephaestus Twins for forging.

>>48053963
Thats just because we aren't at the level to use it, when we are it will be good

>>48054000
We're nearly there for the first one. Yamata-no-Orochi is C-, we're a high D+. It shouldn't be more than a few level ups until we can use it safely.

>>48053963
If you want to lose the Tower arcana sure.

>>48054036
Hunger, not Tower. And we get the Rank Ups in that just for killing the bosses, the choice between new Persona and better gear is separate.

>>48054000
Thats the thing; when we are at the level. That is several letter grades to go since we aren't even D+ yet. Some good accessories, gear, or something to support us would be more useful to us in the short term and save our asses in case abomination 2 pops up. Besides, I would rather not waste this chance for a nice dual element item for a persona we won't use for a long time. Got 8 more floors to go after all, and the last one is probably either Lucifer or a ultimate weapon.

>>48054036
We get ranks up for progressing, not for putting them in the cards.

>>48054035
Last I checker we were around a D, D-. Not D+. We just recently reached D ranks.

File: dying_and_despair.jpg (33 KB, 1280x720)

33 KB JPG

“NOW!”

You scream the command and everyone leaps into action. You summon Matador and dash forward. Celeste hurts her fire. Akikazu punches the ground and sends a torrent of earth up at the Samurai. He then follows you, screaming expletives with his sledgehammer held high. Fumika fires lasers from her gun. Laurence heaves up his sword and tosses it like a javelin. Ruvyn fires one arrow after the other. You and your comrades launch attack after attack, desperate to the end the battle before it can get out of hand.

The majority of the blows miss, as expected of attacks made in panic. Fire burns into rock and arrows dig into pillars. The Frostbitten Samurai cowers on the spot, having sense your assault, doing everything in its power to continue to miniature ritual.

It’s futile. An arrow from Ruvyn slides through the crack in its armor, followed up by one jutting into its ear. A volley of lasers strike it in the torso, causing it to buckle. Laurence’s broadsword digs into its neck with a satisfactory thunk, stealing life and stemming the crimson aura. Yet, the Frostbitten Samurai does not relent. It clenches its blade with those frigid gauntlets, staying at its partner’s side.

Akikazu brings the sledgehammer down onto its helmet, forcing it downwards. It releases its grip from the blade and falls. The ritual ends. The mass of power fades. The body of the Chained Phoenix becomes transparent once more.

With a final burst of energy, the Frostbitten picks itself up and drags its body towards its partner…

…only for its head to run straight through Matador’s blade.

A dry, shrill cackle of the dead.

Then, silence.

>ADVERSARIES SLAIN.
>VICTORY ACHIEVED.

>Gained 40.00 C. EXP!
>Gained 10.00 C. EXP bonus for defeating the Act 2 bosses simultaneously!
>Obtained Soul of the Frostbitten Samurai!
>Obtained Soul of the Chained Phoenix!
>Acquired 60k Macca!

>LEVEL UP acquired!

>>48054091
You're right, we're only D. I must have been thinking of a specific stat, not the overall level. Whoops.

>>48054121
Nice.

>>48054091
Thing is having a persona a few ranks above yourself is much more useful then better gear since it also improves our stats when we have it equipped

>>48054150
And drives us insane. It increases our stats and DRIVES US INSANE. It's not very safe to use. And given how few Persona slots we have, we can't even keep it around as an emergency berserker super mode. We can't afford to tie up a slot that way.

75/60 c.exp so 15/65

NAME: Frostbitten Samurai
RANK: C
STATS: STR C-, MAG D, END D+, AGL C-, LCK B, DEV E
AFFINITIES: Weak to Fire, Resists Gun, Nulls Instant-death, Reflects Ice
SKILLS: Bufu, Mabufu, Bufula, Mabufula, Dodge Fire, Phys Boost, White Wall, Arms Master, Twin Shot, Cleave, Gale Slash, Power Slash, Blade of Fury, Black Spot

TALENTS:
-Partner’s Sacrifice: Upon the defeat of the Chained Phoenix, the Frostbitten Samurai will absorb its power, growing it to twice in size. The frost on its body will melt away and it will gain a second blade, one that is imbued with the fire. Its STRENGTH and ENDURANCE will increase to C and C- respectively. It will gain the following skills: Bufudyne, God Hand, Power Charge, Agi, Maragi, Agilao, Maragion.
-Ice Wall: Forms ice wall around self. Wall is extremely thick and difficult to break beneath a single combatant's assault.
-Kickboxing VII: The Frostbitten Samurai is adept at unarmed combat.

DROPS:
-Soul of the Frostbitten Samurai (if defeated second or before its partner can use its corpse to ascend)
-A special piece of equipment (if and only if it is defeated before the Chained Phoenix while the latter does not ascend)