Change

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The Game is Changed

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What: Mictlan
Where: Mictlan
Summary: 2/2/10AC
Warnings: Tentacles and Kandori (not necessarily in that order but thankfully not together)
Note: Only bring one of your characters to the log and if they are fit to go that night. This isn't part of the main event for this month.

It was obviously a dangerous mission, and hidden away by the cover of the reddish tint of the 13th hour. With most of the city still focused on what had happened during the tournament and the Anoli, there was little question to the disappearing Seven and Wisemen...or if they had noticed at all.

But eventually that would readily turn into questions, and the panic and confusion that could ensue might be dangerous. Thus it was time for a little trip into the temple that once yielded no answers and see what exactly had happened...and hopefully able to stage a rescue attempt. But what did the Mictlan have for them in store, and would they be able to get in at all? It was hard to judge.

As the Visitors arrived, they were ushered into the front doors of the temple in the center of the ghost town. Most of the demons were being kept at bay, in a bid to better keep their strengths and powers.

For who knew what they might need in there...the video had cut off so many times, after all.

Comments

[greyerrant]

The first warrior in, as always, is the Space Marine. The Astartes. Unyielding and driven by his willpower, ignoring his wounds and the battered state of his armor, he waits for the others to join him in this undertaking, bolter in one hand, chainsword in the other, helm glowering red-eyed hatred at the world.

[a_pirate_meant_to_be]

"Creeeeeepy. You think it's got any secret cursed treasures or giant boulders to run from or stuff like that?"

So a Space Marine and a Pirate walk into a temple. Actually, Guybrush is sort of subtly keeping his distance from the big guy, what with his admitted tendency to kill pirates and all. But the giant chicken is out, at least, helping keep an eye out for treasures and enemies alike.

[greyerrant]

"Just demons and rock, that I've seen. Plus what was in the video."

He rumbles, his voice even harsher as it emanates from the vox-caster.

Haha you two were too fast when my internet messed up but Intro thread posts can go here as well!

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[otakuro]

The Mictlan...

Atsuro wasn't in tip-top shape after the events of the tournament, but heck, he would've jumped at the opportunity to finally get a chance to poke around in here even if he were prostrate on a hospital bed. All that remained of his burns were light bandages over the still-healing wounds; physically, a twinge of pain occasionally caused a wince and a brief limp in his steps.

...Mainly, though, they were just awfully itchy.

He steps forward through the temple doors behind the others, already craning his neck to observe as much as he can.

"...Hey, guys. What do you think about keeping our COMPs on so the others can take a look around, too? Get a glimpse of anything we miss?"

[a_pirate_meant_to_be]

"I dunno. You think we'll actually get anything outta this place? Don't wanna end up with another scratchy doom video," he replies, raising an eyebrow.

[fools_journey]

"That's a good idea."

Minato glances sidelong at Atsuro as he hears the suggestion. He's just as distracted by looking around to observe whatever he can, but that doesn't mean he's not paying attention to anything the others have to say.

"Let's hope our recording is better than theirs."

[themortalhalf]

"Might as well keep in on," Shinjiro says, stepping alongside him and staring at the temple doors. It's almost too much like Tartarus. "Even if the video's shit, if we combine all of ours we might be able to get something decent."

[determinedhowl]

"Arf arf!"

What, no one said the dog couldn't come along! And since he hadn't been injured nearly as much as a few of them had, he'd at least be able to sniff people out if they got lost...

Okay, and maybe burn all the things. He's just excited by the idea that they'd be able to understand him.

[belfire]

Kazuya still wasn't all that happy with Atsuro's attendance - especially when his friend was still sporting bandages of all things - so he was heaving great, agitated sighs as they entered into the temple.

"What, so we can put together a first person horror film if we get out?" Kazuya grumbled, adjusting his cape slightly. He was going full Demon King here, hell he even had Black Maria flanking him. Just in case. No tentacles were getting him today.

"...but sure, that sounds good."

[greatseal]

Minako is Not Pleased with Kandori right now. But she can't let Mr. Takeba and the others stay in there unrescued, and neither can she stand back and allow others to risk themselves with no plan of action.

For those two reasons, Minako steps to the front of the group. She stands straight, holding her naginata somewhat like an explorer planting a flag on a foreign shore to claim it.

"I hope we're all genre savvy enough to know we can't go in there without a strategy." And as one of the only Japanese schoolgirls here, she's definitely savvy. "Who here is a support Persona user, and how confident are you with it? Who has long-range equipment or Persona skills? And finally... if someone does get grabbed, we need someone able to rescue them, fast."

[doesasordered]

Nikolai wasn't sure what to expect, but that summed up his whole experience in Hinoto-ri to date. He stood at the entrance of the temple, looking it over, particularly the exits in case something went badly. Luckily for him, he was uninjured in the Anoli attack, so he already figured he may have to fight on behalf of those still healing. If he was armed, he wasn't making it obvious.

"So. Where do we start?"

[helenchanted]

Miki was here. How could she not? Yukari-senpai wasn't there herself, but her dad was and she'd never forgive herself if she didn't attempt anything.

She'd been watching the Arisato twins argue with Kandori over the network and silently fumed at how he made her angry. The nerve of that guy! The student was in her nightly outfit, the SEES banner around her right shoulder (she hadn't forgotten it this time!), weapon chain hidden away in her sleeves. When she walked in, she was visibly impressed by what she saw inside.

"It's...much bigger than I imagined."

[belfire]

Kazuya was fiddling with his COMP (his world's COMP), tapping the buttons on the DS looking console. Behind him floated Black Maria, a loyal demon subject of his that was surveying their surroundings - Kazuya felt that summoning all four of his guard would be overkill at this point, but having one out was just being cautious!

"Ah," Kazuya lowered his COMP, tilting his head back with a sudden groan. "Man, I hate being caught between 'Am I overreacting' or 'Nah, man, this is totally enough'. Maybe I should call Okuninushi too."

[booyaka_boom]

And Selphie was part of the gang too. She didn't really know many people yet in this town, but she's sure been around long enough. On her back is a yellow rucksack decorated with flowers. Inside, some biscuits, a bottle of water, and a pair of nunchaku that she'll keep safe for now.

She glances around her at the entrance to the temple, wondering what was going on, but really bouncing on the balls of her feet with an excitement to get going.

Okay enough with the talking, get in we're exploring a temple.

[youonlylivethrice]

"Let's go. There's no more time to waste."

Where had Kandori come from? He had been talking with some of the government officials stationed outside last any of them had seen him. Now he was walking next to the entire group katana in hand and a sniper rifle on his side. Did he know of what had transpired between the group and how they had arranged themselves? Did he even care?

He didn't go that far anyway. The main temple's floor was large, yes, but it hadn't changed from those who had managed to enter before only to find nothing; the sound of wind was still everywhere and there appeared to be no door.

"If you have support Personas, I suggest keeping them close. They may be useful soon." For those that did, they would notice very thin Destiny Strings, colored like those of the those that had disappeared. It was hard to spot at first, considering their current thickness.

That couldn't be good.

As Kandori spoke and ten minutes into the 13th hour, the wall in back of him began to glow a very thin, faint bluish outline. The light became more pronounced until the lines had the upper ceiling of the temple. More than enough space for even a giant robot to have passed through.

Only...

"The door isn't opening. The guards tell me no matter how hard they push, the door pushes right back even harder. Persona attacks of any kind are also useless."

Ahhh. So...a puzzle. Great.

[otakuro]

Atsuro briefly entertains the notion of suggesting teleportation with a demon of the Avian family before deciding that such shortcuts only worked in the fertile realms of Atsuro's Imagination Wherein He Heroically Solves All the Problems As the Main Protagonist of the Video Game That Was His Life. He takes a step closer to the door.

"...Did they try pulling?"

...

"I mean, it trips me up sometimes, too, if it's not clearly marked."

He is joking. Probably. He lightly reaches out a finger to brush up against the blue outline instead of any motion involving pulling because as everyone knows touching things randomly generally was the solution to this kind of thing.

Scene 2: Waterfall | Those with Intel can solve this one

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As the group goes onwards, the roar of the waterfalls finally gets louder and louder. By the end of the tunnel, a giant chasm is revealed light mysteriously appearing from above but with no known source. The wind is incredibly loud here, splashing everyone with drops of water like fine mist.

And yet...the minute the water touches anyone, it immediately evaporates, leaving the feeling of being flooded with water, but without the wetness.

There is a bridge. It appears you will need to cross it from one side to the other. The only problem is it appear that there are only sides to this bridge and no middle. What now?

[otakuro]

"...Wow."

Atsuro comes to a pause as they approach the rushing waters, momentarily awed by the sight before them. The scene enveloped all of his senses - sight, sound, speech, touch... even smell as the water droplets coat his face and nose in a sheen of... liquid that instantly vanishes.

He struggles to make himself heard.

"It's too far to teleport.....! Anyone have any bright ideas?!"

Scene 3: Let's get some fighting in here

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After getting over, the team continues for a while in silence. The sounds of the waterfall retreat and they find themselves in an area of moist sand and rock. It doesn't seem to last too long a giant door, but before they can get closer, the sand moves under them, forming gigantic monsters.



"WE SWORE...PROTECT!"

They don't seem happy at all, and without much warning, start attacking. And if that wasn't enough, hands start to grab at their feet, before monsters rise.



"You stay...you die!"

Zombie corpses that smelled of rotten eggs and decaying flesh. They too, move towards them, attempting to put the entire group down.

[OOC - Start your own threads or go in groups, there's enough of these guys for everyone (additional attacks will come tomorrow). Feel free to NPC them too, if you'd like.]

Open to anyone!

[otakuro]

((Feel free to jump in if you'd like! All in one thread or separate responses; it's all good. I don't know if it will get that big, but if we're all in one thread, maybe cap it at three or four people. Mild focus on the zombies, maybe?))

Of course there was going to be a battle. Atsuro spares a split second glance to take stock of the number of demons approaching before whipping out his COMP.

"Seiten Taisei!" The monkey king materializes with a scowl on its face. "...Still not happy about last time, huh? Look, it's just... golems or something. This'll be a cinch. ...Laksmi!" The goddess of dance bows gracefully as she responds to her summons. "Back us up! We've -- whoa!"

His commands are interrupted as a bony hand thrusts out of the ground and swipes at him; Atsuro stumbles backwards in his haste to avoid the undead creatures.

"...Geez. Looks like we've got our work cut out for us..."

Command Skills | Passive Skills | Auto Skill
Deathbound_____| Phys Amp_______| Fortify
Holy Strike____| Pierce_________|
Shield All_____| Drain Hit______|

>Dispatch

"Revive kills zombies, right?"

Atsuro starts off the battle by clenching a fist; in typical game fashion, an aura of light shines briefly before he thrusts it at the closest zombie, open-palmed, unleashing a powerful blast of single-target Light damage. All jokes about exercising his fingers and wrists aside, his strength really was formidable with the power of the COMP.

[a_pirate_meant_to_be]

Guybrush noticeably FREEZES a few moments prior to anybody else. "Uh, guys, you might wanna not walk any fur --"

Oh. Welp. "Note to self: Point this stuff out a few minutes before. Right." On the plus side, this leaves him out of the central part of the melee. Sucks to be you guys!

...okay, yeah, yeah, he knows. He tells the chicken to make people react a little faster to the whole thing, and the chicken... well, makes people react faster. Thankfully, this is accomplished via Masukukaja and not by, say, pecking at everybody as an incentive. Guybrush pulls out his trusty pirate sword in the meantime and holds it at the ready.

Open To All

[booyaka_boom]

*ooc: starting with the big guys, might move onto zombies if need be. Join in!*

Selphie had rushed straight in there and, really, she had no regrets. Holding her nunchaku at the ready, she was able to keep her distance as she lashed out at the sand creature. It was pretty big, but she wasn't one to back down.

Rather, she hit out at it a good few times with her weapon, before gathering up a spell. She knew her magic wasn't as strong here as it was back home, but at least it was something. Her immediate thought was a wind spell, since that worked well against desert creatures. At least, it worked that way back home.

"All right you big ugly! Here it comes!"

And with all the power she does have, Selphie conjured up a wind spell.

Scene 4: The Final Door

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Once the monsters are defeated, the team will be able to move on. As they continue, the sound of the waterfall will begin to fade away completely in the distance until it's quite once more. It'll take a while, but finally they arrive at another door; those that saw the network feed will recognize the cryptic runes and the contradictory cultural remnants: it's the door that the missing Seven and Eiichiro had passed through.

Conveniently, the door has been left open.

Beyond the large door is a curious assortment of statues sit scattered about the chamber, but it seems like a tornado must have hit this room; they're scattered everywhere, obtrusive in some ways and with no rhyme or reason to their placement. Surely this couldn't have been the architect's original intent?

The only thing that makes sense about this layout is the pedestal that rests in the middle of the chamber, upon which sits a trapezohedral stone. Aside from its odd shape, there doesn't seem to be anything particularly notable about the stone's appearance-- why put it on a pedestal?

Aside from the curious chamber, this seems to be the end of the line. With the waterfall so far behind, the air is unnaturally still and silent.

[greyerrant]

Garviel storms in, chainsword still whirring from his brawl with the beasts outside, his armor a little more battered than it was previously. He growls for a moment, almost feral, and says. "Clear. Move in at your leisure."