JULY DUNGEON

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→ 7/8: Lockdown Begins

At the stroke of midnight, the world plunges into darkness. From the stars in the sky to the lamps on the streets, it’s as if all the light in the world gets sucked away, sight adjusting to the darkness courtesy of a single source left in the sky: the moon continues to hang overhead, though its brightness still depends on the phase.

Regardless of where the characters are that night, they find that along with light, all other creatures have disappeared as well— from the townspeople to the bear in the castle ruins to all the cats overpopulating the town and its surrounding forest— replaced with the howling of the wind that picks up and continues all night long. For those who venture outside, they may find a breeze blowing by from time to time, the temperature plummeting until they step out of the path— and returning when they step back into it. Strange. Standing on the spot, one would find that the wind does not die down no matter how long they wait, more akin to a river than intermittent gusts of wind.

Following the breeze brings one into town (a godsend to those still in the forest, whether because they had just woken up in the castle ruins or because they decided to camp out in the forest overnight) and towards the school to flow past the school gates. The gates are still locked, but the roaming lights of the security guards are missing, and door to the high school building has been left slightly ajar. Will you jump the gate and enter? The decision should be made quickly, as those who linger to remain outside- or perhaps are still lost in the forest- will find the occasional mass of darkness approaching. Those caught by these Shadows will pass out, to awake unharmed the next morning, so run while you can.

Or learn how to fight back.

In an hour, Lockdown ends, stars blinking back in the sky and the lights and sound returning to the town as the people reappear. Those who were still awake at midnight continue about their business without any notice of that missing hour, and those who were asleep remain none the wiser. Over the course of the month, the townspeople become more and more lethargic, productivity in the town crawling to a stop near the end of the month. Perhaps it's a flu that's going around, or the summer heat finally getting to everybody... or perhaps it's those Shadows that come out each night during Lockdown, escaped from the dungeon to sneak into house after house, never staying very long, but checking each one as if looking for something.

It's anybody's guess as to what that might be, but with the way they will attack anybody outside the dungeon and knock them unconscious, they can't be anything good.

→ 1st Floor

Entering the dungeon during Lockdown, the front door to the high school building swings open silently, halls in complete darkness until one steps past the threshold and find their foot drops, a staircase leading down rather than the usual hallway inside the building. At the bottom of the short set of stairs lies another door that opens out to... outside. Rather than a school building with classrooms and festival decorations, all one sees under the starless night sky are fields of rice and barley and other grains, bales stacked high and bound together to form the entrance to a maze. Will you enter? Walking around the perimeter of the maze reveals no exit on the other side, with the possibility of something to be found within.

The maze is vast, the true path circling around several times before revealing a little shack resting in the center, but is not too difficult to navigate so long as one has the patience to try different paths and backtrack as needed, or the luck to choose the right path to begin with. For the cheaters among us, the walls are not too high that one cannot climb over them, but be aware that doing so will draw Shadows in towards the area. Now would be a good time to learn how to summon your Persona or pick up a pitchfork or other farming tools scattered around the maze, and fight back. Upon summoning your Persona, the darkness lifts slightly, allowing you to see the Shadows for what they are.

Common Shadows that can be found here include: BLACK RAVEN and HYBRID Shadows.

BLACK RAVEN
Type Shadow	Resists Wind	Weak Electricity
At first glance, these Shadows may appear to be regular animals, but as they swoop down from the air and swing their lanterns at unsuspecting heads, it becomes quickly clear that they aren't friendly. Gripped in their talons, they carry a small lantern that they'd use to strike against characters, but they're not shy at using their becks as well. Flying in flocks, they prefer to stay high in the sky where they cannot be reached, diving only to make an attack before quickly retreating back into the air. They're difficult to corner with the large open space and although they're small, they are able to conjure up great gusts of wind with a few flaps of their wings. However, when you're finally able to land a hit on them, they are quickly defeated. Their defences, so it seems, aren't very strong. Feathers and lanterns can be collected as loot.

HYBRID
Type Shadow	Resists Dark, Physical	Weak Fire
These large jittery creatures rarely stay still, jerking and twitching in seemingly unnatural movements. Their large bulgy eyes are constantly moving, hyper aware of their surroundings. The moment they spot an outsider, they unleash a high-pitched cry and begin to charge. They use their long legs to reach out and grab enemies with their long talons. Once they successfully take hold of someone, they will repeatedly slam them into the ground. Should they miss their lunge, they will instead resort to clawing or using their branch-like horns to inflict damage. Physical attacks will do very little to deter the creature, much less stop its rampage, but it will become terrified at the sight of fire. Fangs, talons, and feathers can be collected as loot.

Upon defeat, Shadows may drop items and/or a small gemstone. Those who have been to the forest shrine may recognize the gemstone as being similar to the ones left inside the offertory box, though these are brightly colored and well polished. Hold onto these for now, and press forward to the shack standing at the center of the maze, which opens up to another set of stairs leading down into the abyss.

→ 2nd Floor

The door opens up fields of rice and barley and other grains... bales stacked in full carts, houses in the distance glowing with the flames of iron furnaces that bring a little more light to the night, and large planks of wood bound together like shields set up throughout the field, broken arrows and the occasional intact bow scattered all around.

Better take a quick look around, because while there is no maze to obscure your path, there is also little preventing the enemies here from seeing you either, unless you use those shields to your advantage to approach the beginnings of a village, fires burning warm even though all the houses remain devoid of people. Bedding exists in some houses, old pots and pans and many sets of wooden chopsticks. A couple of iron sharpening tools may be found, if you need to sharpen your... pitchfork or something.

The BLACK RAVEN and HYBRID Shadows from the previous dungeon continue to be the most common Shadows on this floor, with the occasional ONMORAKI Shadow and the rare F.O.E. CHIMERA. F.O.E.s are at a much higher level than the characters, and it is advisable to avoid them, rather than engage.

ONMORAKI
Type Shadow	Resists Dark, Fire	Weak Light
You'd notice the smell before anything else. Reeking of rotting flesh, these Shadows can be found miles away before they can even be spotted. They come in packs, intensifying their stench and if that isn't enough to incapacitate characters, their loud shrill shrieks will. A plume of smoke follows them around and they use both the smog and darkness to conceal themselves from enemy eyes. In the shadows, they will breathe fire and engulf characters in flames. Dark attacks will be nearly ineffective against these creatures, but Light attacks will reveal their hiding spots and also be effective in defeating them. A scroll with an incomplete purification rite can be collected as loot.

CHIMERA
Type F.O.E.	Null Fire, Light	Weak None
Larger than any other Shadow, these F.O.E.s act as guards of the dungeon. While the Shadows are the disposable troops that wander the area and simply attack whomever they see, the F.O.E.s specifically seek out intruders and attack with the sole purpose of killing them. They lurk throughout the dungeons, using their many eyes and noses to track down Persona users and charge without hesitation when they spot one. Their physical strength is tremendous and a single swipe of their mighty paws or talons will surely knock anyone out. They are unaffected by fire or light-based attacks and they will shrug off most other attacks. Unless you have a death wish, it would be unwise to challenge them in your current level...

For whatever reason, the Shadows and F.O.E.s cannot enter the houses, so these would be good places to rest and recuperate... and hope the Shadows aren't waiting outside the front door for you to step out. Near the back of the village, however, stands a small nondescript building, a wooden gate barring the entrance. Through the windows, one may see desks and chairs and chalkboards, papers hung up on the walls that are too far away to be read clearly, outside of the gates.

You're all going to get really good at breaking and entering by the end of this month, guys.

The gate swings open, but rather than a straight path to the schoolhouse, it's another set of stairs that await. Down you go...

→ 3rd Floor

The acrid smell of smoke hits at the bottom of the stairs, thick and choking in the sweltering heat of this floor. The same houses stand as in the one prior, but this time on fire, painting the night sky dusty reds and browns, phantom cries of help audible beneath the crackle of the flames although nobody is to be found after the fire is put out and village searched through. The field has been cut down, small structures of metal erected in its place, walls still hot to the touch. Inside, basic swords, axes, and shields can be found, some rusted over with blood, all of them battered and well worn. It's just as well that there are weapons storages to be found here because regardless of how well or not they served the village, they will be more useful for the ones here and now.

On this floor, ONMORAKI Shadows and the F.O.E. CHIMERA are much more prevalent, though other Shadows from previous floors may still appear. This floor also introduces two new Shadows, which are much stronger than the ones previous: the KOPPA TENGU and the TOBI TENGU.

KOPPA TENGU
Type Shadow	Resists Wind	Weak Dark
Travelling in groups, these Tengu-based Shadows will flee once they see any sight of danger. They're less interested in fighting and more preoccupied with being safe, so capturing one may be difficult. They will fly high into the air and blow people away by conjuring large gusts of wind with their wings. They don't have a lot of attacks and their defense is low, so they are easy enough to defeat, assuming that they don't fly away first. Curiously enough, none of the other Shadows or F.O.E.s pay them much attention... A Tengu mask and a blank scroll can be collected as loot.

TOBI TENGU
Type Shadow	Resists Light, Wind	Weak Ice
Although they are solidary creatures, this Shadow is accomplanied by smaller versions of itself. It strays away from the other packs of Shadows and spends its company with a minimum of one to a maximum of three mini-versions, flying around the lower depths of the dungeon. It doesn't attack characters directly. Instead, it uses its mini-versions to cast a wide range of status ailments that either causes team members to fight among themselves or hinders their progress, such as sleep, confusion, charm, or rage. After you are incapacitated, it will rush in with Dark-based attacks, but as soon you are able to snap out of your afflictions, it will retreat and send its minions to immobilize you and your team once more. A Tengu mask and magical healing leaves can be collected as loot.

On the other side of the area, tall iron gates prevent the characters from reaching the palace behind it. A large number of F.O.E.s patrol the area around the gate and on both sides of it, preventing characters from getting close or they will attack. Perhaps there's another way past them, if not by brute force? Those who picked up the masks dropped by the Tengu Shadows may realize that the F.O.E.s ignore the Tengu Shadows, and may reason that by putting the mask on to disguise themselves, the F.O.E.s will not attack them either.

F.O.E.s are keeping a close eye on anybody who passes through the gate, however, and nobody is allowed past, regardless of whether they're a Shadow, F.O.E., or trespasser.

→ 4th Floor

The gate remains locked and heavily guarded until the 22nd, upon which characters may notice a certain increase in agitation from all the enemies around the area, along with a certain amount of distraction. Every once in a while, a masked Tengu Shadow will approach the gate with a shining weapon or a barrel full of gold on hand, payment to be allowed entrance past the gate and into the palace beyond.

In order to pass, each character must obtain a mask in order to disguise themselves as Tengu Shadows, along with procuring an offering of some sort for the ruler of the palace. From the types of offerings seen going into the palace, it appears that the sharper and shinier, the better. Strangely, none of the Shadows seem to leave the palace after their delivery... It may be wise to get as many people together, and make the first shot count.

→ Mod Notes

⬥ A mod-posted toplevel for Floor 4 will OOCly go up on 7/22 for the boss encounter. ICly, characters will be able to fight the boss from the 22nd through the end of the month.
⬥ To determine the outcome of the boss battle, a minimum of 20 threads across the entire player base from this post is required, with a maximum of 2 threads turned in per player. Threads may involve battling, healing, exploring, discussing, etc as long as the characters interact with the dungeon in some way and must contain at least five comments from you. Please report your threads in the mod top level below. They are due by the end of the month.
⬥ The first time the characters come across a Shadow, their omamori grows warmer and warmer until it's impossible to ignore. All it takes is a touch of the omamori and an intention in mind— whether that's a call for help, something to for defence, or healing— and the character's shadow disappears from under their feet, gets sucked up into the omamori, and manifests as their Persona.
⬥ After this initial summoning, the characters will have the same strengths/weaknesses as their Persona regardless of whether it is actively summoned. Personas may be summoned during the day, but will not be not as strong as they would be during the Lockdown period.
⬥ The Lockdown period of darkness only exists for an hour, to return each night at midnight. There are no portals allowing characters to bypass cleared floors, so it would be advisable to work together to clear out the Shadows and allow for an easier time to reach the lower floors. The Lockdown may end while the characters are still inside the dungeon; one of two things may happen, up to player discretion: 1) they may remain in the dungeon, but for every hour they stay, an entire IC day passes by without their awareness; or 2) they will simply pass out and awaken somewhere randomly inside the high school building in the morning. The security guards are back, so don't get caught!! Or, play it safe and make sure to leave before Lockdown ends.
⬥ For those who choose to remain outside the dungeon during Lockdown, Shadows may be found outside of the dungeon as well.
⬥ Around 7/15-7/18 when the moon is at its fullest, Personas may behave strangely and disobey orders. Personas appear stronger the brighter and fuller the moon is, though becomes unstable once it's the full moon. This is an optional mechanic.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[ This is so bad... i'm laughing

Maybe if there's a fast enough Onmoraki around, Rei can see one and compare, but Terry is fortunately very used to battle, even if he has new weapons to play with (his Persona). May their horrid smell only linger from the pile of Onmoraki corpses he creates from a distance all in order to protect Rei. 8) Terrence "murders with a smile" Nowell is here. ]

They can be dangerous though, so you should be careful if you ever meet one.

Tch!!! Shut up, let's get goin'!!

[ It's just a fluke! It won't go the same way with a different enemy!!

He collects the items dropped, just in case they'll need it. The good thing about his tokkoufuku is the extremely deep pockets... useful. Anyway, whether Kuze follows or not, Mondo will keep advancing towards the area they haven't explored, andー ]

Fuck!!

[ Out of nowhere, a creature that's largely similar to the particular one that incapacitated them a while ago turned up. The outfit it's wearing might be different, but who knows what this one's capable of. Mondo takes a step back, wary. ]

Kuze, be ready.

[ She's too used to fools...

But she's used to fools who tease her and make her want to tear out her hair, not say stuff like this that makes her looks away, somewhat embarrassed. ]

I'm doing it 'cause I want to. If you end up dead in the gutter without me looking after you, I'd feel guilty about that, you know?

[ It's not like she worries about and random person off the street, but Hibiki's just... look at him. It's so easy to picture him lying face down in a gutter somewhere. ]

That he was just staying in the hospital for a bit or something.

[ Kido: Terry's an idiot and a liar
Terry, currently in the hospital: wha

Regardless, he's still an idiot, but Kido's dealt with idiots all her life and so she doesn't hesitate to leave. The wind's really annoying, but at least it's more of a stream than a gust, like there's some invisible beast in front of them trying to blow them back. It's a lot harder to get to the forest, even with Kido leaning forward so far that she'd probably fall on her face in any other situation, than it is going to the school where the winds are trying to push them. ]

Ugh, annoying! Let's head somewhere with more buildings, so some of this wind can be blocked.

[ corncob popcorn with mondo butter.......... ]

Rocks and bandages? No, let's save the bandages for when we really need then, but let me see those rocks.

[ She holds her hand out for him to pass over here. ]

Edited 2019-07-18 00:47 (UTC)

[ No!! Headbutts aren't allowed!!!!

Kido screams and roundhouse kicks the Hybrid in the face, which doesn't do anything, but she runs back to take Rei's hand to drag her out of the maze—- or, you know, that was the plan. Except, in her panic, she'd chosen the wrong direction and now they're headed further into the maze and there's a Hybrid chasing after them wanting to play tag. If they get tagged, they die. Fun! ]

Why don't we go right away?

[ Terry is wheezing so much that he's a bit worried, even if it's perfectly normal after a sprint like that. ]

I eat a lot of sweets, actually.

[ He's one of these lucky types that don't put on weight despite having a sweet tooth, unfair. ]

[ Listen, Hibiki's told a few people that they're demons and that they usually come from a phone app, she can't do worse than that. ]

A few hours, I think...three maybe? Do you want to go back after all?

Got it.

[ It looks like there are times when Hibiki can be serious—battles definitely are a good example. Before he does anything, however, Byakko walks closer to Komainu to put a paw on its head.

This is your physical attack buff, use it wisely. ]

I'll cover you.

[ Mondo doesn't have to know that his endurance stat equals to the overwhelming number of 2. ]

[ That really is unfair... and Terry just sprinted with someone over his shoulder and basically did some wall tricks, so yeah. He's tired. ]

Are sweets the secret to not being heavy...? [ HMMMmmmmm ] But yeah, we can go right now. I'm not picky, so you can pick the place.

[ I was about to write "laughs, yeah" but unlike Minato, Ryoji isn't a jerk, so he just laughs softly and shakes his head. ]

Not quite like that! It's my memory of them, all the fondness I have for them... Love, sorrow, longing, hope, those sorts of feelings I keep in my heart so that it feels as if they're always there. In that way, I never feel alone.

[ Ryoji has zero experience in any sort of dancing, but he laughs with delight when Leon takes his hand and supports his back. He has no idea what they're doing, but it's fun? It's very fun and the Hybrid is just going ??? at them and Ryoji leans forward to extend his hand towards it too. ]

Would you like to join us? It must've be very fun just watching.

[ And this is how Ryoji loses his hand three times in one month. ]

Yeah?

[ It definitely looks like Terry's doing a lot better now, so Mondo's not gonna argue with that. He pulls back, gesturing to the sports drink on Terry's side before he gets up. ]

Drink that.

[ Just then, either she's slept enough or their conversation is waking her up, Lia stirs and rolls over on Terry's stomach, stretching. ]

Heh. She's awake too. C'mere, Lia.

[ Lia doesn't actually listen to Mondo, but she does move over from the top of Terry, groggily staring into void. Mondo leans down to run his hands over Lia's fur, to which she completely ignores, and she just... walks out of the room. ]

Oi oi, you're just gonna walk away like that?! [ So he follows her out, turning once at Terry. ] Take yer time gettin' up. Kana-san should be back in a bit from grocery shopping.

Wait, what?! [ Mondo hasn't actually caught Terry being unwell at this point, unaware of his condition. ] Hospital? Why...?

[ Honestly speaking, even for a lug like Mondo, it's pretty tough walking the opposite way the wind is blowing. ]

Tch! We can't take shortcuts like this ー the alleys' are worse. This way!!

[ He'll check up on Kido every now and then to make sure she isn't blown away by the wind or something (who knows!!), slowly progressing and keeping close to bigger buildings. It definitely takes extra time for them to get to the forest, but this is their only way.

It probably takes them almost half an hour until they're finally at the mouth of the woods. Mondo takes a deep breath, before yelling out: ]

Terry!!

[ You know what I'm all about!! ]

Aight.

[ He keeps the bandages safe in his pocket, before pouring the stones over on her hands. ]

Y'know what these are?

Ah, yeah... sure.

[ Terry's used to cats just being like that, so Lia's behavior doesn't particularly surprise him. He looks off to the side, sits up, picks up the sports drink and pretty much chugs it down. There. The bottle is empty now. He puts the bottle down and looks around the room from where he sits. It looks pretty cozy. The atmosphere feels different from his own house back home.

Terry stretches his legs and gets up from the futon. He doesn't fold up the futon, but he does place the pillow and blanket in correct places and smooths out the creases. Looking good!

He opens the door and peeks out. ]

Anyone out here...?

[ That's almost cute, like a huge cat getting along with a huge dog. But no, there's no time to get distracted. They have tasted the bitterness of status ailment, they need to be extra careful with this one! ]

Tch, don't get ahead of yourself!

[ Mondo waves that off, even if a part of him is actually pretty happy ー it does actually feel pretty good, fighting alongside someone else. ]

Go, Komainu!!

[ Look, he doesn't have the spells memorised, let him act like some shounen protag instead.

It only lasted for half a minute tops though, because before they can even get an attack in, the group just disperse and fly away from them, as if running away. ]

Haah?! [ Mondo looks up, then at Kuze. ] The fuck? Let's catch 'em!!

[ Mondo, your Pokemon trainer session is over. ]

[ Terry might hear some noises from outside, which he can easily access from the living room with the sliding door open wide.

The sounds come from the working area ー where there are a bunch of woods piled at one side, while the other side is just Mondo, seemingly very focused as he works with a small carving tool on one hand and an unfinished craft on the other. Lia's watching him by his side quietly, like she knows better not to bother. ]

[ Terry follows the noise and catches a glimpse of Mondo working. Just like Lia, he thinks it would be better if he didn't bother him for now and quietly moves to other areas of the residence. It honestly feels like he got dropped onto the set of a historical drama. Curiosity gets the best of him as he continues to wander around the house, marveling at everything unfamiliar, but aware that he shouldn't be touching anything that he doesn't know what to do with.

After a bit, he goes back to the kitchen, gets two cups of cold water and goes back to where Mondo is. Instead of lurking from behind the corner like last time, he knocks on the nearest wall to let Mondo know that he'll be coming in. ]

Rocks.

[ She doesn't know what they are... They look like just rocks, to her, making a little basket with her hoodie so she can hold them in her lap and lift one of them up to squint at. It's a bit dusty, but after polishing it a little on her shirt and holding it up against the light from the lantern, it really is quite pretty. ]

I dunno what we can do with these... Maybe there's a jeweler in town that would appreciate it more than we would.

[ Why Terry is in the hospital all the time is part his fault and parts hers, so she's just going to keep quiet about that.

It feels like they're walking through a hurricane, and Kido ends up having to walk behind Mondo for the most part and have him block out most of the wind, thanks bro. ]

Terrence!!!

[ She adds her voice too, but the wind roars and drowns it out and if she can barely hear what they're saying, how is he supposed to? ]

[It's a good thing that Red is far too pure to pick up on the innuendo here... He holds on tight to the arm Mondo offers as he makes his way up, but then suddenly he's forcefully yanked up the rest of the way, causing him to let out a startled, strained noise. Ow...

During their extremely brief respite, he continues holding onto the giant man, leaning some of his weight against him as he regains his footing. Gotta make sure that he won't just fall off as soon as he lets go. Once he's good to go, Pikachu dashes right off again like a bat out of hell and Red immediately follows. He's survived more dangerous runs than this before, they totally got this—!]

[Akira nods sympathetically, kneeling down next to him. It was a lot of running. The place is still rancid, to boot. Staying here in one place for too long might end poorly for them, but Akira knows what he ought to do after putting the guy in a position like that.]

Take a breather, then. I'll cover you.

[He stands up into a crouch, poking his head up just long enough to get a look around; the coast is clear, and they moved a good distance away from the swirling center of the Shadows. So he ducks back down.]

I was hoping they'd follow me.

[ ... ]

[Akira stops, thinking this over. It's not... under normal circumstances there's no reason he should ever be doing this. It would be best to just book it out and hope that the guards are fine, or send someone else in when the gates open again. But those Shadows, they were crawling all over last night. What if someone's in danger?]

[He starts twirling a finger into his hair.]

Yeah. Do you know where the security office is?

Hmm~~ you're right! It's really hot here. Is it because everything's burning? [ Duh. ] Let's quickly get back up there, then!!

[ Unfortunately, it's always easier said than done. Just as they head back towards where the stairways are, a congress of ravens fly over to get in their way, lanterns dangling like nobody's business. ]

Eeeh, again~? Give me a break!! [ He grasps the amulet in his pocket, shouting: ] Let's go, Meer-tan!

[ Red, this is your chance to gawk at Leon's beautiful persona. ]

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Page 35 of 69

JULY DUNGEON

premise ⬥ taken ⬥ faq ⬥ navigation

→ 7/8: Lockdown Begins

→ 1st Floor

→ 2nd Floor

→ 3rd Floor

→ 4th Floor

→ Mod Notes

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