Aries Dungeon Crawl

[killerklowns]

WE'VE GOT FUN & GAMES

Who: The Visitors (Open Log)
Where: Scorpio, Cancer, Aquarius, and Taurus wards.
Summary: The Zodiac Monster Circus has arrived!
When: 19th of April, 11AC
Warnings: Evil clowns, body horror, terrifying circus-themed monstrosities.


It starts with four massive circus tents assembling in the four corners of the city. As strange clowns pour out of the tents, hooting and laughing with sadistic glee, a booming voice echoes out across Hinoto-Ri.

"LLLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAADIES ANNNNNNND GGGGGGGGGENTLEMEN! WELCOME TO THE GRRRRRRRRREATEST SHOW ON EARTH! IN THE SCORPIO DISTRICT: THE ARIES CARNIVAL'S WORLD-FAMOUS ANIMAL ACT! IN THE CANCER DISTRICT: THE HHHHOUSE OF MIRRRRRORRRS! IN TAURUS, THE UNUSUAL AND DISTRACTING FREEEEEEAKSHOW! AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, IN AQUARIUS, A CALVACADE OF WHIMSY AND DARING WITH A DUAL-BOOKED SHOW OF CLOWNS AND OUR VERY OWN HIGH WIRE ACT!"

The circus has come to town! Jolly fun for everyone*!


Disclaimer: fun may not actually be jolly.




(OOC: No set tagging order; just pick a thread, jump in, and replies will be made as necessary. Feel free to specify how creepy you want or don't want it to be.)

Comments

[helenchanted]

Besides, does that count if we're stuck in this city?

[On the other hand, did it mean that those clowns new a way out of it?]

[killerklowns]

A foul smell wafts out of a nearby cage, a closer look revealing it comes from the decomposing bodies of three different animals, all chained down. The bodies are thin and emaciated, with long, whiplike scars showing through where the fur has rotted off, and yet it's plainly obvious that none of them died of starvation or abuse - each animal is missing a limb of some kind. Even a cursory glance shows that they each bled to death after chewing off their own limbs in a bid to escape, their blood pooling together in the middle of the cage. Despite the fact that they've clearly been dead for a while, the blood has yet to dry.

In response to the sibling's conversation, the blood ripples, the maddened three-part specter of an Oh My rising out of it, the lion assuming control to roar in anger.

[boxingemperor]

[The farther they walk away from the opening in the tent, the worse that horrific odor gets. Akihiko's encountered some strange stuff, but nothing like this stench.]

Well, I guess you can make claims like that if-

[The sight of the rotting animal corpses silences him and puts him on alert. Something terrible has happened here.]

Miki, let's go the other-

[And then that ominous pool of liquid begins to move.

It's a good thing he's got his Evoker. He holds it up to the side of his head.]

Miki-chan! Get behind me!

[helenchanted]

[Oh that's both gross and troubling. Miki is a fan of animals and to see those things look like that makes her blood boil. She stands there horrified for a few seconds until the liquid starts to move, and by that time her right hand is also on her Evoker realizing that these may never have been true animals in the first place. No time to really argue that she can take care of herself, thank you, and just steps a little behind him so he won't say anything more.]

What the hell is that anyway?!

[You can complain about her potty mouth later. And don't bother answering the question, she knows you have no idea either.]

[killerklowns]

Lion, tiger, bear. It's an Oh My. Obviously. The spectral beast's form shifts again, leaving the bear to swipe at Akihiko.

[boxingemperor]

Doesn't look like anything I've seen.

[But no matter.

Oh My? It's going down is what it is. He may not have his boxing gloves, but he can still deliver a punch. He doesn't care what form it takes when it gets its beating.

He narrowly dodges the swipe with the sacrifice of his varsity vest getting cut, a grin curling on his face when he realizes he's successful. Now it's his turn. Look out, bear-lion-tiger thing. He's got a fist with your name on it.]

1/2

[helenchanter]

It's--

[OH. My. God. Her brother is punching a spectral bear this is the greatest thing she has ever seen, sisterly approval +9000]

2/2

[helenchanted]

[Right okay, she's got your back, from the sound of the Evoker firing behind him.]

Type-Mercury!

[The creature raises its hand to cast World Revolution on the both of them, tripling up their attack, defense and speed for a short while. If her brother's gonna punch things, it's better if he can break them with one blow.]

I'll watch your back!

[boxingemperor]

[Miki's just as prepared as he is for a fight. He's grown to like how their personas work here; they have access to spells and powers he never thought possible.

Using Caesar's help, Akihiko aggressively closes in on the Oh My and punches the side of its muzzle with great force.]

[killerklowns]

As the blow lands, the Oh My's head snaps to the side with the sound of cracking bone, the spectral bear actually spinning backwards and plunging into their shared spectral body as the tiger comes to the fore.

Yes. Akihiko punched a bear so hard it turned into a tiger.

It growls at the pair and swipes a massive paw at the boxer, but there's a note of wariness to its voice.

Hell Frost (Inflicts a severe amount of Ice damage on one enemy.)

[helenchanted]

She's not sure if she should be utterly impressed her brother punched a bear so hard it turned into a tiger or not, but it's certainly not to the time to worry about it.

The gun goes off again, as the Persona reappears, this time to raise its...whatever it had for arms into the air as the blueish flames spread and turn into ice.

some more punch to go with your ice lolololol

[boxingemperor]

[Well now! That's new. Judging by the monster's reaction, he slugged it good! If nobody will be impressed, Akihiko will be quietly. The monster hasn't been knocked out, so the celebration has to wait.

Miki deserves some fanfare too. Fire and ice magic combined into one was nothing to laugh at. He wasn't certain that Minako's personas weren't even capable of it. Hopefully she chose not to use it on family and friends, like a certain other friend he knows.

His clothes will have seen better days after this is all over. Those claws are sharp. It's time to throw another left fist at the Oh My.]

[helenchanter]

[This is still the greatest thing--no, no she needs to focus!]

[killerklowns]

Between the ice and the punching, the Oh My completely collapses into a puddle of ectoplasm, a forlorn whimper the last sound it makes. The puddle of mixed bloods it arose from dries up instantly.

[boxingemperor]

[Akihiko is...a little disappointed. This battle ended way too soon. He stands there, shaking out his arm as the remains of the monster flake away and disappear.]

...Are there anymore?

[helenchanted]

[Sometimes it just proves efficiency! Also wow, that's kinda grosser than when a shadow is killed...]

There has to be more. They wouldn't set up tents for just one thing alone! That was more like a normal level monster than something we should be worried about.

Let's be careful.

[boxingemperor]

[Yeah, that made more sense. Maybe there were more Oh My's further in. The darkness looked foreboding, but that just added to the challenge, right? Maybe they'd learn something useful...or at the very least, earn a little more combat experience.]

You can be in charge. You tell me when you've had enough, and we'll head back.

[helenchanted]

[Oh Akihiko, thank you so much for believing in her. The words any little sister wants to hear from her brother.]

Okay! Let's just make sure we don't end up too deep, just in case we have to make an emergency run. [She just hoped Shinjiro was being safe somewhere too.] Maybe civilians were caught here when the tents appeared as well...let's keep our eyes and ears open.

[boxingemperor]

[Ah-! Civilians? It hadn't occurred to him that these creatures may have taken hostages. Now they have to at least do a sweep of the area before they go.]

...We definitely need to check. Come on.

[helenchanted]

I should have taken out a support Persona...well too late for that now.

[She keeps her chain in her hand, nodding at him in silence. At this point, it's probably better that they look around without making too much noise, least they attract a bunch of monsters at them.]

[boxingemperor]

We should be fine. We won't take too much time. We'll stay together.

[He turned to her and held out his hand to her. A familiar gesture from long ago.]

It's gonna be darker further in. This way, we won't get separated.

[helenchanter]

Good idea. There's strength in numbers, after all...even if it's just two.

[She nods, grinning and grabbing his hand with her free one. She should really start packing a small light for situations like this.]

Yeah. I'll make sure you won't get lost. [She may be teasing. Maybe.]

[boxingemperor]

H-hey now...

[Miki has definitely grown up, and stronger. It's hard to see that sometimes. He can only remember her younger self.]

[helenchanter]

Hey, someone has to keep an eye on you that isn't Jiji, after all!

[Oh she should be more serious about their situation and...Oh shot!]

Oh no...I just realized. I hadn't turned on the camera when you punched the bear monster. I wonder if he'll believe us...

[boxingemperor]

Camera?

[...Yeah, Shinjiro probably wouldn't believe them. But look at the state of their clo-...no. He'd still probably blow it off.

Though that does spur another question.]

You like photography?