destinystrings | On and on the road does go, down into the world below.....

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On and on the road does go, down into the world below.....

Who: Everybody who signed up here.
When: Saturday night, the dark hour
Where: Azuchi castle, the Gemini district
Summary: Exploring a haunted castle. Because that always goes well.
Warnings: Spooky castle, crazy lady, ghosts.... That's really it.

Here, have some mood music.

[There is a new addition to the Gemini district. ~~History nerds~~ Students of Japanese history may even recognize it. This seven story castle was once home to Oda Nobunaga, and was the site of his downfall. Whether you recognize it or not, the castle is still an impressive sight. The gleaming white walls contrast sharply with theblue tiled roof and the decorations of red and gold. It's a beautiful example of Sengoku period architecture.

Most of the time, anyway. Those who catch sight of it in the dark hour will find the castle a dilapidated ruin. Damage from a battle long gone by leaves ugly marks on the once pristine walls and now the structure seems to loom threateningly over the river. The doors have been almost completely destroyed, so there's no obstacle to keep you from entering.

If you come close, a dark presence can be felt within bringing with it a sense of foreboding. But there's something else too. A strange sound echoing from the castle. If you listen closely, it sounds like.... crying? The mournful sobs of a ghost perhaps? This definitely looks like a good spot for ghosts to hang out. Also demons, probably....

Whether you're here because you're curious, adventurous, lost, or for any other reason, it looks like you're not the only one who came to check this place out...]

{{OOC: Okay, here's how this is going to work. This thread starts right before you enter the castle, when you see everyone else. (You all mystically arrived at roughly the same time because reasons.) Progress through the castle as you see fit. I'll threadjack in with developments, demons, and flavor text when necessary. Any ooc questions can either be put into comments or PMed to this journal. }}

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"...Nobunaga Oda?"

Atsuro wasn't quite as up to date on ancient Japanese history as he probably ought to be, but everyone knew the name of the great unifier.

"You know, they never mentioned anything about hauntings in history class."

He follows closely behind the others as Enki half inclines its head towards the source of the sound.

I doubt it. Listen.

[Fumi points upward, toward the source of the crying sounds.]

If this place is being haunted, it's clearly the ghost of a woman. And when you think of important women of the Oda clan, it's either Nohime or Lady Oichi.

[Because Fumi will never pass up the opportunity to one-up someone.]

You seem to know your history, Fumi! Though I wonder why either of them would be haunting Azuchi castle. Most records don't indicate either of them dying here, and don't ghosts usually haunt where they die?

If we find them, do you think we can ask? I never talked to a ghost before, so I bet we could learn a lot!

Kotoha is just sort of standing there, one hand resting on Tesla's dome, looking confused.

"...I have no idea what any of you are talking about."

A slight pause before she continues, because she doesn't want to seem totally clueless.

"Also, ghosts aren't typically very forthcoming - it's usually more like 'hey this is how I died, could you do me a solid and fix a thing', for the most part."

"In my experience, ghosts are usually 'hey I died and now I'm bitter at everything so I want you to die too'."

A short pause.

"Not to be a downer or anything. ...But we should definitely be careful. ...Should we try and get up there?"

There is a sudden rattling sound coming from one of the darkened corners of the room. A moving shape can be made out in the shadows.

Now floating toward you, it appears to be a helmet from one of the fallen warriors. Hovering in the air, coming closer, closer....

[A close inspection by someone with an eye for detail may notice that there appears to be something inside the floating ghost helmet.]

[Fumi turns to regard the floating helmet impassively. Her Persona's eyes and her own both flash in time as she scans for its elemental strengths.

Whatever this is, she could no doubt take it out easily with her demons, but she wants to practice with Vapula.]

It's rather weak overall, but strong against Mind attacks. Would one of you care to do the honors?

Kotoha pats Tesla's dome once and then points at the helmet.

"Tesla. Thunderbolt."

Tesla's three magnets spin around as it releases a mechanical buzzing sound before discharging a blast of electricity half a foot thick at the floating helmet.

...Having four people attack a floating helmet simultaneously would probably be overkill. Atsuro hesitates as he watches the robotic creature release a jolt of electricity towards the not-so-insidious threat.

"...Go ahead and freeze it if it's still standing, Enki. ...Floating."

Overkill indeed. The mischievous poltergeist had been intending to scare the humans. Didn't go too well for him, and no sooner does that helmet crash to the ground then a rattling sound is heard from several other helmets. It appears he had friends.

They flee quickly. Some into the shadows and some up the stairs...

Awww, I think we scared the poor things! Maybe we should try talking to the next one...

Kotoha blinks a little at the results of Tesla's Thunderbolt.

"...I always feel a little guilty when I overdo it like that."

With a shrug, she leans down and picks up the fallen helmet.

"Would anybody object if I just had Tesla paralyze whatever we find?"

I've got no problem with it. Though perhaps I should switch to a combat Persona for the time being. Tachikoma, you can take over analysis.

[Without waiting for a confirmation, Fumi dismisses Vapula, calling out her Velvet Room Persona instead. It might look rather familiar to Kotoha...]

Kotoha does a double take at that.

"What the...that's a Krabby!"

How does that even work.

"...The crab's name is Krabby?"

Imaginative.

"Since Persona seem to be mythological figures or demons and that kind of thing... it seems reasonable there'll be some modeled after 'demons' from other worlds." Atsuro gives a shrug. "I mean, if an ancient Mesopotamian showed up in Hinoto-Ri, he'd probably be totally weirded out to see Enki."

Enki has nothing to add to the discussion but a slight smirk.

"But yeah... It really doesn't seem like the monsters here are much of a threat. I feel kind of bad about invading their house now."

Interesting. So you've seen one of these before...

[Fumi smirks at Kotoha.]

I assume it's another of the creatures you've been using, like that floating magnetic robot you have there.

[But then she glances over toward the stairs.]

That's probably a conversation best saved for later, though. For now, why don't we see what else this castle has to discover? I'm eager to see which Sengoku era personality is waiting for us at the top.

[Undaunted, she starts to lead the group up the stairs.]

The next floor of the castle is smaller, but otherwise similar to the previous floor. A keen eye might catch a quick glimpse of one of the poltergeists that fled only minutes ago. They're hiding now. The sobbing sounds are louder now, but still somewhere above you.

All of this probably takes a back seat to the sudden movement all around you. As one, all of the fallen soldiers lying around rise to their feet, and ready their weapons. There's ten in total, and they do not look pleasant.

Kotoha points at the one in front and utters a command.

"Thunder Wave."

At the command, Tesla once again makes that strange buzzing hum and releases a small packet of electricity.

Hoshi ~~who has been following everyone else quietly because that is what she does, and certainly not because a certain RPer hasn't been around no of course not~~ raises her eyebrows at the soldiers. Perhaps the spirits they'd encountered earlier hadn't intended any harm, but she doubts it's the same case with ten of them, each one brandishing a weapon.

"I don't think they're going to want to talk," she points out. Even so, she waits for Kotoha's... pet... thing to finish its attack before nodding to her Persona. "Hotaru, it looks like they would rather fight. Kill Rush."

Hotaru wags her tail in response before bounding toward the soldiers with a growl, pouncing on one toward the side of the group and attacking.

I suppose I should see what Krabby is capable of, while we're in such a target-rich environment.

[Fumi gives no fucks. The little crab seems just pleased as anything to blow a torrent of bubbles at the group of soldiers, buffeting them with a Malaqua spell.]

"Well, if we're going for elemental coverage..."

The streams of water constantly flowing around Enki do not, for once, cascade along the floor to smash into his enemies. Krabby had that covered. Instead, they stop flowing altogether as the temperature around Enki rapidly plummets, freezing them into crystalline structures that still manage to hang immobile in the air.

With a flick of his hand, Enki sends one of the spears of ice towards the nearest foe with frightening speed, closely followed by two others. The creature is viciously impaled three times, twice through the torso, once through the head. ...Helmet-area. The ice melts almost immediately the moment its role is done.

[Subriguous Abzulution is a unique skill - 3x large ice damage with a 20% chance of Sleep]

The thunder wave leaves one paralyzed, while the entire group takes some minor damage from Fumi's malaqua. Hoshi's kill rush hits, but seems less effective than it should be. Atsuro's attack, on the other hand, is devastating. The one he targeted falls back to the ground in a heap, a dark hitodama floating up from the body.

The eight soldiers who are still standing attack. One targeting Hoshi, two each on Kotoha and Fumi. The other three aim for Atsuro, having judged him to be the biggest threat. Mighty swings all around. ~~Since that's really the only attack they have.~~ If Tachikoma is still around, they haven't taken any notice of her yet.

As Kotoha jumps backwards in a hasty dodge, Tesla swoops in and tanks one of the Mighty Swings, a harsh metallic clang sounding out as the halberd clashes against the Magnezone's dome. There's a faint crackle of electricity as Tesla releases another Thunder Wave.

Kotoha, meanwhile, has plucked out another Pokeball, releasing some kind of humanoid jackal which immediately takes up a kung-fu stance.

Hm... well, that seemed to work well enough. I suppose there's nothing wrong with using what works.

[And with that, Krabby lets loose another spray of bubbles at the group, paying no particular mind to the hitodama for the time being.]

"Er..."

He probably should have let some of the others get a few more hits in. ...Although he was the only guy here. It was his duty to be the meat shield (like always), right?... Gender roles aside, Atsuro watches with slight chagrin as the three undead soldiers approach and bring their weapons to bear.

It is Enki who takes the brunt of the attack, of course, and the spirit is able to successfully block or otherwise mitigate the force of two strikes by parrying with its staff. The third scores a direct strike and causes both Enki and Atsuro to stumble back as one, having ~~lost a hefty chunk of HP~~ incurred a non-trivial amount of damage. They're back on their feet soon enough, though - these guys were nowhere near the toughest things they had ever faced. For a moment, Atsuro considers whether he wants to take a moment to heal before discarding the thought. There were still too many of them; thinning the ranks was more important.

"I think Fumi's got the right idea here."

Enki nods in understanding as the spears of ice instantly melt; the waters cascade onto the floor and surge forward in a Malaques to complement Krabby's Malaqua.

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