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

[ you're killing me tsubo

Terry shakes his head no. ]

No, you did your best. That's what matters. At first, I thought the food didn't match your tastes, but you were eating it without any complaints. It kinda looked like you were having something like a stomachache...?

[ Honestly, that's just an attempt to lighten the mood a little. ]

Though, I don't know whether it was because we were at the dinner table, but you didn't really seem all that happy compared to when I cooked you the chicken when we first met. I won't accept an answer like, "I'm getting used to your cooking", because I'm always changing things up!

[ it's my duty haki

Mondo lets out a breath which sound resembles a laughter, shaking his head. ]

You kiddin'? That was the best dish I've had from you so far!

[ His expression sure doesn't match what he says, but he means it. ]

I just... dunno. Feels like I'll get karma for bein' too happy, or somethin'. Eugh, it feels gross sayin' it aloud.

[ It feels gross he's talking all quiet like this in the first place. ]

I did a lot of shit in the past, Terry. And it feels like I kept gettin' my way outta it, again and again.

[ The Wonderland, and now Hirajiro. ]

...Heh. Maybe this is my atonement. To never become fully happy, or somethin'.

[ Terry quietly listens to Mondo speak. When he finishes, he quietly breathes out and speaks: ]

You know, Mondo... You don't have to agree, but I think punishment and atonement aren't really the same thing. Sure, you can be punished forever, but sometimes, it doesn't really make up for what you did. It's not like... you're learning something from it, right? I think atonement is part acceptance, and another part of what you're willing to do to amend for whatever happened. It doesn't always have to be a negative thing.

[ ... ]

Though, I don't know what you did, and I don't know your situation... I guess it sounds full of me to just say that. But I do want you to consider it. At least, just a little.

Nah, you're right.

[ Terry's right, and this isn't the first time Mondo has someone told him that there's no point in punishing himself, making himself miserable. He understands it, and what Terry said was completely logical. It's what he's been trying to do, in a sense, but every single time he something good happens... it reminds him again of all the things he's done and how he doesn't deserve it. No matter how many times he's established to himself that he's just making things hard for himself, these feelings are persistent, like a shadow that keeps haunting him. It makes him so furious, that it's him who survives. It's him who gets a second, heck, third chance.

It's unfair. But it's not like he can do anything about this situation. ]

You're a good guy, Terry.

[ In fact, most of the people around Mondo have been nothing but kind to him. Whether it's here or back in Wonderland, people are so willing to help him out in their own ways while also scrambling around finding ways to go on. Those who heard about the truth in Wonderland even accepted him the way he is. Terry, especially, has been nothing but such a supportive friend for him, and he has a feeling Terry too will accept him without much problem.

But getting accepted isn't what he's looking for here. Okay, to a certain degree, maybe it is. But even if they forgive them, he can't forgive himself. ]

...I've never had the chance to eat with a family like that. So I just... [ He raises both his hands, before dropping them both again. ] ...I didn't know how to handle it. It was nice.

[ Terry smiles and walks over to Mondo and pats his back. There, there. He's glad that Mondo seems to be accepting of what he said, but it's always up to him to decide for himself. ]

It was pretty nice, wasn't it? I never had the chance to do that either, so I was actually... pretty nervous. [ He laughs a little. ] But it turns out that getting nervous was all for nothing! It was great, and honestly, I'd do it again if I could. I never really had a family of my own either, so... yeah.

It was great. And I'm glad to share that experience with you too.

You too?

[ Terry doesn't always talk about himself, and even then it's always brief and vague. On one hand, Mondo completely understands the desire to draw a line to keep a certain distance, but on the other, he does want to know more about Terry.

Carefully, he takes a step over that line. ]

So you were livin' alone?

At first, I was.

[ If you could call living in the wilderness for a good several years just that, then yes. ]

But then I bummed off my friend's house and stayed there more often. The one with the cats. He's a pretty busy guy, being in the medical field and all, so he's rarely in the house and I just kinda did whatever I wanted while he was gone. I think there's a difference in friends and family... It never felt like a "family" when I ate with my friend though. Maybe he didn't have the vibe? I mean... even after living there for 15 years, I never felt that way--like I was eating with a family. Though that doesn't mean I wasn't close to my friend either. We were pretty close.

Edited (i know my measurements. yes.) 2019-07-24 17:37 (UTC)

[ He remembers the friend. The one that made Terry so well-informed about cats. Mondo just looks at Terry the entire time the guy speaks, feeling rather relieved that he wasn't actually overstepping a boundary. ]

15 years?! That's a long fuckin' time...

[ Mondo's just like, how old is Terry again... but that's beside the point.

He can't say he doesn't understand where Terry's coming from with 'vibe', because yes, not everyone he considers friend he considers 'family', either. But with someone you've practically lived with for over a decade, and wasn't just a roommate who don't talk to each other? That's pretty jarring, even for Mondo who's never had that kind of experience before. ]

Define 'pretty close', tho'.

[ Terry is honestly fine with talking about this kind of stuff--moreso because it sounds like Mondo is used to the general weirdness that the earth doesn't just only have humans. He looks 20, so that is definitely an odd thing to say for sure, but. Well. ]

Hm... He helped me through a really dark time in the first year we met. I first met him when he was a medical student. He's almost reaching his forties by now. I got to see him grow up while living with him though, so I think that's pretty close...?

[ ...Yeah, that sounds close enough for him.

Mondo presses a finger on his own forehead as he processes the information. Hypothetically speaking, if Terry is in his early 30s and just looks really young, then they probably met when he's around 15. And if he is as old as he looks, then about 5--

The age factor does matter after all. How does Terry live on his own at such young age? ]

So how did you manage before you met him? [ Orphanage? Terry did say "alone", but maybe not physically. ] He... kinda brought you up, right?

[ "Even after living there for 15 years, I never felt that way--like I was eating with a family."

That's weird. He'd imagine Terry would see him as a father figure, or at least an older brother. ]

Huh? He didn't raise me or anything.

[ He tilts his head, because he's not sure if that's the right word for it. ]

I didn't know him before living with him--oh.

[ A look of realization crosses his face as if to say "oh I get it now" and grins while looking over at Mondo. ]

Hey, how old do you think I am?

[ ??? ? ?? ????

Mondo's about to go down another spiral of confusion when Terry launches the question that every troublesome Japanese girl does. "How old are you?" "How old do I look~?" He's judging you, Terry. ]

.......This a trick question?

[ Squint. ]

I dunno. 30.

[ Terry said he didn't raise him, so. ]

[ He can be your forever schoolgirl at 20, Mondo..................... ]

I've been 20 years old for 20 years, from start to now.

Okay, hold up.

[ Mondo raises a hand in front of Terry's face, another hand's supporting his own forehead. His brain is overheating. Too much thinking done today. ]

So you're some kinda undead. Zombie?

[ One of Mondo's best friends is a zombie and now he's gonna have another zombie friend??? Is he a zombie magnet?? ]

...No wait, but you said from the start. What 'start'? You mean you were 20 when you were born?

[ What the fuck is logic anymore?????? ]

[ He kinda feels bad for laughing, but it ends up coming out anyway. Just a bit. ]

Sorry, sorry. It's been a long time since I've seen that sort of face on anyone...

[ He quietly clears his throat. ]

I wasn't born, but made. I'm a messed up demigod clone, so... yeah. I was 20 from the moment I started existing.

[ Wow great so he's friends with a delusional guy stuck in his chuunibyou phase. ]

Yeah ok.

[ He's staring at Terry with the blankest face he can manage. ]

Hey, what's with that face?!

[ Terry looks pretty mad that he's not taken seriously, but it's not full blown out anger... more comical, really. While he's mad, I'm just laughing at this response kjghrejk ]

Mondo!!

[ I'm very delighted by Terry's angry face, and so is Mondo, even if he's not showing much expression right now. ]

So I guess you can shoot laser from your eyes, and your left arm is poisonous.

[ He just kinda looks down at his left arm in response and then looks up at Mondo. ]

... I don't have anything cool like that. And my eyes are boring.

[ Just straight up. ]

I don't have anything personalized for me.

[ ......

Mondo smacks Terry on the back. ]

It's a joke, dumbass! I'm just pullin' your legs back.

[ He sighs. ]

So? You wanna talk about this demigod thing?

[ Terry makes a startled noise when he's smacked and almost stumbles forward. ]

It felt so real, Mondo...

[ betrayal.jpg ]

But, uh... what did you want to know? How it links to what I said about how I lived?

[ Mondo makes a face at that, but turns back serious when Terry asks him the question. ]

Well. It's more like what you wanna tell me. I ain't gonna go sniffin' on your personal stuff just 'cuz I wanna know. You tell me what you wanna share.

Oh.

[ Well, that makes sense. Terry stays quiet for several seconds in order to gather his thoughts. It's time to explain without the muddled filter in the way. ]

Okay then, let's see... I lived in my friend's house for 15 years. I don't know how long it was, but I was, uh... homeless? I guess. For a while. I did what I had to do to survive and eventually got used to it.

... Bear meat is edible when prepared properly.

[ :9 ]

[ Mondo has a bad feeling about this. ]

Did you fight bears.

Only when they attacked me!

[ He says it like it's a good defense, and to be honest, he wanted to fight that bear in the ruined castle for food, but he was mostly with Kido at the time, so that was... fortunately prevented. ]

I didn't go hunting for bears! I just wanted to be left alone!

premise ⬥ taken ⬥ faq ⬥ navigation

→ 7/8: Lockdown Begins

→ 1st Floor

→ 2nd Floor

→ 3rd Floor

→ 4th Floor

→ Mod Notes

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