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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ cries, where is RO ]

Alright. Those who cannot fight, stay with me. I need healers to stay together and not leave my side, as well as...

[ where is RO... help ]

...Do you think it's better to rush in all at once, or should we split up into two waves in case something happens?

[ RO is right here! Though she lagged behind a bit so that she could provide backup to anyone that needed it. Now that she's gained enough experience to fight with personas and gotten familiar with the types of battles to expect, she thinks she has this down. ]

Both. We don't know what to expect beyond this point, so it's best to have a formation that can easily split into two while equally distributing roles among the two sides. We can storm in all at once and divide ourselves if needed after we quickly assess the situation. Please sort yourselves into people with firepower, healers, and miscellaneous supporters in that order. Ones who can fulfill multiple roles, please situate yourselves between the sections. I can assist in getting the formation ready.

[ Oh thank god RO is here to be tactical when Kido isn't fit for this level of leadership, standing back and placing herself between the healers and the fighters, as she can do both but is torn between which she should stay with. She should protect those who cannot protect herself, she thinks, but her own power— not her Persona's— would also be very useful against a single enemy so long as there's another group drawing the enemy's attention for even one second. ]

[ She's going around to help place people where they need to be, and when she gets over to where Kido is, she studies her expression, and wonders if there's something dissatisfying about this. ]

Is there something wrong, Kido? It looks like you want to say something. Do you think you're suited for a better position?

No, I was just thinking I'd be fine wherever anybody needs me, but I can't really do much on my own.

[ More like, she doesn't want to. But it's also true that she'll be more useful paired up with somebody, and it really doesn't matter who she's paired up with— unless it's like Kokichi or somebody, maybe she would let the daitengu slam him to the ground first and then proceed with the battle. ]

In terms of what I can do, I think it's best if I'm support. Somebody to keep an eye on everybody.

[ Even with a glimpse over the group, RO can tell that this group definitely needs some kind of chaperone, so she'll nod. ]

That's a very good idea. One more pair of eyes would be perfect. I'm planning on taking multiple positions as support as well, since I'm well versed in drawing out the enemy's line of fire away from others for a set amount of time.

I'm glad that there's another responsible person here. Thank you, Kido.

[ She hates that she's one of the more responsible people here, but it makes sense, and unfortunately she is good at wrangling people and trying to get them to behave. ]

Yeah, you're welcome. It's sort of my job at home, too, having to look after a bunch of idiots, so I'm used to it.

[ Exasperation is clear in her voice, but also fondness. She misses her stupid gang members so much, it's unfair. But she pushes that thought out of her head to focus on the task at hand, playing support for one group while she entrusts RO to the other. ]

On my end, I can hide people from view at a certain distance, but the effect disappears if any of us is hit by anything. Ideally, you won't see me or my group out there at all, but if you do, please draw attention away from us so I can hide them again.

Oh...?

[ That reminds her to account for special abilities, if there are any. Though she thinks what Kido has would give a great advantage if done right. ]

Do you have a plan on how to use it? I will do all I can to divert their attention in the meantime as you said.

[ Not a concrete plan, but it's one she's been thinking about after watching people all month. ]

I think it would work best if I were with the strongest fighters. Ones who can hit hard and fast, but also at a distance, so there's less danger of being hit. We could easily sneak up on something from behind, and if we're quick enough, change positions before it turns, and repeat the process.

[ If RO is good at diverting, it doesn't have to be a constant effort on her part; it's just a backup, in case the power fails and everybody is back into view. So long as RO can get the enemy to break eye contact, Kido can do it all over again. ]

Does using said ability tire you out? If it does, please exercise caution when switching partners frequently. It does sound like a good idea though. This position that you're in already would be great for you. Please talk it over with the stronger fighters, since you seem to have an inkling of who they are already...

[ Another shortcoming is that RO doesn't know detailed information about everyone to make a concrete decision, but that's fine. She'll leave it up to Kido. ]

[ She shakes her head, but slowly, because while it doesn't tire her out, having to be aware of everybody she's trying to cover and knowing whether or not they're visible is going to take some effort. ]

It's a good plan. I'll take the more seasoned fighters, while trusting you to guide the less experienced ones.

[ She'll probably take... Akira who knows his Persona well, Hibiki who's used to fighting alongside them too, but it'll be something to talk over with everybody else and something something handwave whatever since we're all doing individual threads with whatever. ]

It'd be useful to have a way to communicate to each other during the battle... but I don't think we have the capability for that yet. As soon as we settle on a plan and work out the details, we should get going.

[ She figures that's fair, seeing that she does have battle experience, but a newbie regarding personas like most. When Kido mentions a method of communication, RO takes out some sparklers. ]

I imagine these would be easy to light in the midst of battle, so they have caps on if you're not using it. You're free to use these if you want as well. If visuals would be difficult, you can use poppers as well.

[ RO has a bunch of them in her hand, holding some out to Kido. ]

Just throw them on the ground very hard and they'll make a loud noise.

Huh? Fireworks?

[ Kido automatically takes the sparklers and poppers, before looking more closely to what they are. They would be useful, assuming the entire boss chamber isn't covered in thick smoke and the battle isn't too noisy, and if not, then they can always be saved for another day. Maybe the kids she's babysitting would like to play with them. ]

Sounds like a plan. I'll use these to get your attention if I need to. Why do you have them, though?

They were giving away some as samples. They had a festival here before I arrived and these are the leftovers from that event, I assume.

[ She's probably talking about Tanabata, but she doesn't know what that is. ]

Did you want some more?

If there are any left afterwards, I know some people who might like to play with them. I think this is enough for now, though.

[ She's hoping she wouldn't have to use them all that often, to be honest. ]

Anyways, we shouldn't dawdle for too long. Let's gather together our groups and make sure everybody's on the same page.

Understood. I'll gather the present participants and share tactics with everyone. Best of luck to you, Kido.

[ And off she goes, though there's always a large margin of error, because people are people and are definitely not working like machines. She's aware of that, and she's going to minimize that as best as she can. ]

Good luck to you too.

[ Kido's tactic for getting people to listen is honestly to put on her Gang Leader Voice and pray the seasoned warriors among them know what their doing and don't need any input from her because haha what does she know about any of this. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

JULY DUNGEON

premise ⬥ taken ⬥ faq ⬥ navigation

→ 7/8: Lockdown Begins

→ 1st Floor

→ 2nd Floor

→ 3rd Floor

→ 4th Floor

→ Mod Notes

pre-battle, assuming they got a bunch of people together, no tag order

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