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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"Not a film set. This is very much real," Hoshi explains curtly, shaking her head. She feels a bit sorry for Kotoha, arriving in the middle of the 13th Hour, surrounded by demons and haunted castles and strangers. "Much like your dream, yes. Welcome to Hinoto-Ri."

She'll leave the detailed explanations to someone better suited to it. With a frown, she turns to Atsuro, nodding in agreement. "If we're to explore this place together, we ought to be prepared, but I'm sorry to say that I cannot offer support."

"Not to worry," Fumi interjects.

"Vapula is a Support type. I'll be able to link our consciousnesses together over short distances and also scan any demons we happen to run into for their elemental strengths. My secondary Persona is primarily Water and Physical type attacks, although it's fresh from the Velvet Room."

Kotoha just raises one hand in the air and makes an announcement.

"Alright, I'm sticking to you folks like glue until I have a better idea what's going on."

With that, she reaches into her bag and removes a small red-and-white ball. A quick press of a button on the outside causes it to open up unleashing a torrent of light that resolves itself into some kind of weird UFO thing.

"Tesla, you're up. Stay close to me, alright?"

"...Huh."

Maybe she didn't need to stay home. The Magnezone was certainly one of the more bizarre demons he had seen in this place; it was faintly reminiscent of a certain popular monster-catching game back home, to be honest.

"Alright, well... Let's make this an expedition, then. I'm not sure what we're expecting to find inside, but we can split the loot evenly or something."

There had better be some sort of super special hidden Persona or something.

"Enki - Give me a hand here." By now, summoning his Soul Persona was second nature; the Water-based Persona appears beside Atsuro without a hitch. "Enki's focused on Physical, Water, and Ice. My other Persona takes care of Fire and Light. We should be pretty well covered."

Atsuro will follow Fumi into the edifice.

The first floor of the castle is a mess. It looks as though a great battle was fought here. The bones and armor of fallen soldiers litter the ground. Students of history may notice the crest of the Oda clan featured prominently on the scattered banners. There are a few scattered holes in the ceiling, but none big enough to get a view of the floor above.

As if that weren't spooky enough, there is the definite sensation of being watched. And the sound of sobbing is louder now, and seems to be coming from somewhere above you.

Hm, the Oda Clan. This is interesting.

[Fumi's mind is abuzz with just who this place might belong to, and the appearance of that crest in particular certainly narrows things down. Of course, she isn't going to say anything until she's absolutely sure, but there is a rather amused smile creeping across her face.]

Stay alert.

[While her Persona doesn't have Enemy Radar, it's hard to mistake the sensation that something is out there and that it has its eyes on you. Fumi strides along slowly but confidently as she looks around at the remnants of war, studying her surroundings with a careful eye.]

"Hotaru." A sharp howl pierces the air as Hoshi's Soul Persona, a black and purple wolf, is summoned, appearing at her side with relatively little difficulty. And as soon as the summoning is out of the way, she follows the rest of the party inside, her wolf companion padding along beside her.

"That's right; this is the crest of the Oda Clan." She pauses to get a better look at the banners. If this place is what she thinks it might be... Well, it's certainly a lot more interesting than a generic haunted castle. "There has been fighting here, at some point. I wonder..."

She trails off to listen to the... Is that someone crying? Whatever it is, it makes her a little uneasy.

"Ah, and more fighting to come yet, I'm certain." She peers up at the ceiling, frowning thoughtfully. "We're not alone."

"...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.

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