Troops Come Marching In

[stringmods]

It's finally tournament time, which means it's time for the cavalry to move on out. When the rescuers make their way to the abandoned factory that had been named as the entrance by Q, it's rather easy to spot where their destination was. In fact, they were greeted with the appearance of extremely out of place grecian columns and ancient-looking ruins, complete with a large set of stairs leading downward; there might as well be a big neon sign with arrows pointing downward and the caption "HEY EVERYONE!! HERE IT IS!! ENTER THIS DUNGEON!! WIN FABULOUS PRIZES AND LOOT!!!" It's a rather alarming testament to just how powerful rumors are in this town, if the Junes saga wasn't indication enough.

Reiko, a member of the Seven, awaits them at the entrance with her Jack Frost standing at her side, clutching two strange objects in her hands as every assembles.

"I took a look around inside before you got here," she began, a matter of fact tone to her voice, though it was still light despite the gravity of the situation. "It's something else in there! Looks like they've set up some kind of maze inside... You'll have to get through it if you want to find the others deeper inside.

"You'll split up into two groups to get through it; Eikichi, Rock, Kotoha, Ruri and Yosuke on one, and Nano, Shinjiro, Lucas, Lucina and Billy on the other. It'll make it easier for you to get through undetected, but be sure you stay together with your groups, OK?"

She moved forward with the devices in hand, handing one off to Ruri and the other to Nano. "These are courtesy of Q-- they'll teleport you and any others in a short radius back outside here, but they're one time use only. Make sure to only use them once you've found all of the others, OK?"

Once she'd handed them off, she stepped back out of the way of the entrance, her Jack Frost following at her side. "I'll stay out here and watch your back; if you need anything, you can contact me or Q over the CommLink. Good luck! And try not to get anyone killed!"

Comments

[deathboss]

"I have a feeling it ain't gonna be that simple," Eikichi explained as he rubbed his chin. "Who knows what they've prepared for us. I'm sure they're expecting something at least."

[unbroken_chain]

"Does it matter?"

Kotoha's voice is deadly serious.

"We go in, we crush all resistance, we leave. Nothing simpler."

[deathboss]

"Babe, if it was that simple, Michel wouldn't be mentioning it. Trust me, I'm more worried about the place itself than the demons that might try to stop us."

Regardless, he couldn't deny that at least she seemed up to it.

"Ready when you guys are."

[electricyousei]

"I never expected it to be easy. Still, better to go in in a positive mindset. If things get bad I can attempt a Boson jump, though that's a bit random. Also Omoikane is currently calculating firing solutions above ground if it becomes an absolute emergency."

She lets out a breath and looks at the group.

[bakegarasu]

"Whatever. I usually just climb over mazes, but that's not an option here. Let's just get going. The more we sit around, the worse things are going to get. And failure isn't an option - our enemies are going to die, simple as that. Let's move."

Otoha drew his sword, smirking a bit at the sound it made.

[flyonadog]

"As long as there's no disappearing blocks," Rock comments, mostly to himself as he moves forward, buster at the ready and Rush at his side. "If possible, let me and Rush stay between you and any threats - we can be repaired a lot easier than most of you can be healed."

[unbroken_chain]

Kotoha draws out her airsoft gun and holds it in both hands as she speaks.

"I'll signal if I need to release another of my team."

There's a slight pause as she checks the sight of the pistol.

"One warning. If I say 'drown everything', it's no longer safe to be in front of me."

[deathboss]

Eikichi let off a mysterious chuckle at that last comment, the sound of something cranking inside his guitar case.

"You don't have to worry about me when that happens, babe! A little bit of water never hurt Michel."

[electricyousei]

"Should I get encounter suits for everyone?"

She looks over the group as she starts mapping the area out on her screens.

"I don't have access to good ones but anything can help. As for water, I'm used to water, I'll just have to disable my taser."

[bakegarasu]

"Water doesn't bother me. Let's just get going."

He takes a few steps forward to punctuate his point.

[fairyclan]

But the second they take more than a few steps, a figure flies in looking rather pleased to see them. It's one of those fairies that had been bothering them last month oh no.

"Oh! Hello Visitors! Lucky for you that I found you first, tee hee hee! There are lots of demons around here, do you know how to talk to them?"

[deathboss]

"Oh! Michel's heard this song and dance before! Are you going to show them how to form contacts?"

[fairyclan]

"Hey! Don't ruin the punch, bluey!"

[deathboss]

"Bluey?" He wasn't sure if that was an insult or a compliment. Regardless, he decided to be quiet and let her explain (please enjoy the sweet sounds of Eikichi's silence).

[fairyclan]

She coughed to grab their attention again.

"As I was saying...you may think that demons are different from you, but that's not true! We're not just big, scary monsters! In my case we're only pretty but we have emotions just like you! Humans create emotions like happiness, anger, fear..."

She flew around them as she continued to talk.

"And that's how we're born! So we're the same as you! If you talk to a demon a certain way, you can increase their anger, happiness, eagerness or make them fearful of you! Each demon has one to three different personality types and that makes them react differently to what you say. If you play your cards right you may even form a CONTACT with them!"



"Who wants to try it on me? Apart from explanation-ruiner there." She stuck out her tongue at him.

[bakegarasu]

Otoha actually manages a genuine grin.

"Well, yeah. I think they're born differently where I'm from, but they've got the same sort of emotions that people do."

He takes a step forward, trying to think of what to do.

[electricyousei]

Ruri quietly watches, taking this all in.

"So what you are saying is that if we are civil to the demons we can avoid direct confrontation, however it is less a conversation and more an attempt to impress the demon into leaving us alone or aiding us?"

[fairyclan]

"Well when you put it that way, your making it sound reeeeeeal boring! Actually demons may ask you questions too! We're curious about the human world, so be careful!" She flew over Ruri to Otoha.

"Okay! Show me what you can do!"

[bakegarasu]

"Of course."

Otoha actually seems more at ease talking to her than anyone in the group has seen thus far.

> Begin Scout attempt
> Tactic > Bedside Manner


"How are you feeling today?"

LMAO

[fairyclan]

Was there music suddenly playing in the background?

"Oh! Um...."

Somehow she had not expected that.

"I'm feeling pretty good actually, thank you! W-what about you?"

Regaining her senses, she bats her eyes at him repeatedly.

ANGRY: 0
HAPPY: 1
EAGER: 1
SCARED: 0

THAT IS NOT WHAT THAT MEANS...

[bakegarasu]

It better not be he's totally not gay okay.

Well. This is awkward and not how these things usually go. Then again most of the demons he interacts with are sick, so...

Whatever, he can roll with it. Just pretend he's Johnny again.

Wait no that's a bad plan.

"I'm doing fine. Would you like to help us out finding our way through here? It'd be very helpful."

TOO BAD FAIRIES ASSUME

[fairyclan]

"And make it that you don't get to experience the Lady's dungeon? No, that would be cheating!"

She lets out a small giggle, and bats her eyes some more.

ANGRY: 1
HAPPY: 2
EAGER: 1
SCARED: 0


"So tell me big boy...what do you think of me?"

- YOU'RE PRETTY
- IF YOU GO FOR THAT KIND OF GIRL, NOT BAD LOOKING
- I'VE SEEN BETTER

YOU'RE TERRIBLE

[bakegarasu]

"Think of you?"

Oh boy this is dangerous. He's not the best to gauge personal appearance. If he says she's pretty she might think he's lying, but he doesn't want to tell her he's seen better.

"If you're into your type of girl, you're not bad. I mean - I'm not saying you're not pretty, just not the type I usually go for."

OF COURSE

[fairyclan]

"Oh I know I'm not the type you usually go for, but at least it's fun watching you play hard to get!"

ANGRY: 1
HAPPY: 3
EAGER: 1
SCARED: 0

"Now I'm interested about you! What would you like me to do?"

> Be my demon companion (form a pact, pixie will aid you for the rest of this dungeon)
> Give me an item (get an item)
> Give me your card (get a card that can be turned into a 1 time special demon summon later for a later use)

[bakegarasu]

"Hm... how about a card?"

He's not sure what that is but he'd rather not die from embarrassment during the entire dungeon.