Your name is Takashi Wakui. You are a sixteen-year old, Japanese high school student living in a world where half of humanity possesses Personas—manifestations of inner souls as demons, spirits or deities. In the past, you had been one of the unlucky ordinaries lacking a Persona. Then a game called AETHER was forcibly installed on your smartphone. Initially it appeared to be little more than a piece of nasty spyware, extremely persistent and impossible to remove.
Then it sucked you into to a realm called the Blackened Void, where you fought Shadows and gained your first Persona--Ippon-Datara of the Fool Arcana, the degraded blacksmith demon god. Now you are the Wild Card of the 22nd Century, capable of wielding Personas of each Major Arcana. Turns out AETHER is more than a simple, reality-immersive game; it is an accursed phenomenon superimposing itself over an otherworldly realm, consisting of vicious monsters, decrepit ruins and glamorous treasures. And to make matters worse, you and several others have been condemned as its chosen Players.
For what purpose does the game exist, what mysteries lie within and how will you Players achieve victory?
Previous Threads: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Persona%202129%20Quest
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TwilightThorn
Mechanics: http://pastebin.com/UqzmF3tv
Character Sheet: http://pastebin.com/kJ5aW9vY
Persona List: http://pastebin.com/CnAmPV0z
Spell/Skill List: http://pastebin.com/7K1f7ma5
Takashi's Stats: http://pastebin.com/q5PtsEFn
[8:30 pm, 28-Apr-2129 (THURSDAY)]
>[AETHER beta UPDATE #05]
>Added more stuff to do with bonfires. Take a look!
>Changed how Macca drops work. They will automatically be transferred to the Players' bank accounts.
>Replaced textures in the Forlorn Abyss for optimization purposes.
>Added fifty new weapon upgrades.
>Tweaked treasures in the Forlorn Abyss and other areas.
>Added 100+ tutorial variants.
>Added language support for Hebrew, Latin and Quranic Arabic.
>Thank you for all the wonderful support. The devs really appreciate it!
<THE_FIRST> So uh
<THE_FIRST> Is everybody alright?
<THE_FIRST> What are you all doing?
<THE_FIRST> I’m sitting at my desk staring at the tiny screen of my phone
<THE_FIRST> My English textbook is front of me
<THE_FIRST> There’s a shitload of sentences similar to the questions on the exam and nee-san says I should translate them as quickly as possible since English is my absolute shittiest
<THE_FIRST> But I feel ready to crash flat on my stupid face at any second
<THE_FIRST> And then I would have pen imprints on my face
<THE_FIRST> Kinda like one of those post-modern arty tattoo guys
<THE_FIRST> Which would really suck
<THE_FIRST> I’m trying to stay awake because checking up on my teammates is the leader’s job?
<THE_FIRST> At least that’s what posts I’ve read on the Internet say
<THE_FIRST> Which may or may not be accurate at all
<THE_FIRST> Hey is anyone actually listening?
<chocolat_orange> takashi-kun, you’re rambling. you need to calm down
<THE_FIRST> What?
<THE_FIRST> Oh sorry
<chocolat_orange> nah, it’s okay :)
<chocolat_orange> i just got back from the supermarket. they were having a sale on milk and eggs and there was no way i was going to pass it up!
<chocolat_orange> i am going to cook so many omelets for breakfast.
<THE_FIRST> The woes of being an overseas transfer student eh?
<THE_FIRST> You must’ve been glad to receive that downpour of Macca from the Turret
<THE_FIRST> Maybe um
<THE_FIRST> Nah never mind
FINALLY!
<chocolat_orange> :?
<chocolat_orange> what’s wrong, takashi-kun?
<THE_FIRST> Nothing important
<THE_FIRST> So have you heard from Akikazu?
<chocolat_orange> he hasn’t arrived in the chat room so no.
<chocolat_orange> i can pester him until he does >:)
<THE_FIRST> Say what?
<chocolat_orange> don’t you know? when you sent a text message in AETHER the receiver’s phone beeps
<THE_FIRST> Oh that
<THE_FIRST> This might not be the best idea Celeste
<Akagi21> fuck that shit
<Akagi21> surprise i am already here
<chocolat_orange> oh hi akikazu! how was your night?
<Akagi21> point one tachibana i already saw the two of you mouthing each other off ages ago
<Akagi21> point two my night is good
<Akagi21> by that i mean it isn’t as shitty as most nights are
<THE_FIRST> What are most of your nights like
<Akagi21> none of your damn business
<chocolat_orange> i bet they involve lots of ramen and very little studying
<Akagi21> like i said none of your damn business
<Akagi21> so what did you call me here for
<Akagi21> you have sixty seconds to reply because i have shit to do
<chocolat_orange> :P
<THE_FIRST> Yeah I was making sure everyone was alright
<Akagi21> i feel sore as shit
<Akagi21> take a guess why
<THE_FIRST> And now I feel guilty
<Akagi21> what the hell are you sorry for
<Akagi21> i made my decision so im sticking with it
<Akagi21> besides bashing that turret all over the damn areana
<Akagi21> fun as fuck
<Akagi21> you get it don’t you
<THE_FIRST> Er sort of?
<Akagi21> by the way
<Akagi21> ive been meaning to ask
<Akagi21> do fools always act so damn stupid
<THE_FIRST> I wouldn’t know and what are you talking about
<Akagi21> you know
<THE_FIRST> No I don’t?
<chocolat_orange> aww, akikazu is concerned about you
<chocolat_orange> that’s so sweet
<Akagi21> put a sock in it tachibana
<chocolat_orange> you don’t have to say any more. i know how worried you were when that robot girl nearly blew up takashi-kun
<chocolat_orange> you don’t have to be afraid. we won’t tell this to anybody else, right takashi-kun?
<THE_FIRST> Oh yeah speaking of Fumika
<THE_FIRST> I had a look around in her laptop
<THE_FIRST> It was unlocked weirdly enough
<THE_FIRST> There was a text file on her desktop
<THE_FIRST> It’s addressed to us here let me upload it now
[<THE_FIRST> has uploaded PLAYERS_README_IMMEDIATELY.txt]
>>Void’s Chosen: Read it.
To my fellow Players, the names of whom I do not know…
If you are reading this, then I have been captured or killed. Likely the former, as according to the tutorial my death is not due for another eight or so days. If sand is still pouring from the proverbial hourglass, I implore you to find me as soon as possible. As the clichéd saying goes, I am too young to die.
My situation is no doubt similar to yours. On the 26th of April, I was ‘killed’ and then forced into this realm called the Blackened Void. I awoke beneath a smog-covered sky and was informed of my status as a Player in an immersive simulation role-playing game. For the past four hours, I have been following AETHER’s commands. The voice has been helpful so far; it has pointed me in directions which presumably will lead to me exiting this ‘Area 019’ and towards safety. This land is infested with Shadows, their power ranging in the D-ranks, but my Persona has allowed me to evade them without much impunity. Yet, I fear it is only a matter of time before the ‘Denizens’ described in the notification track down and capture me. I will attempt to resist, but I am not the type cut out for raw combat. My demise seems to be inevitable. It is less shocking than I thought it would be.
Let me take a moment to express my frustration at the lack of communication between us. AETHER has forbidden me to use text messaging while the tutorial is running. Presumably this is to prevent the game from becoming too easy, but it is vexing nonetheless.
While traversing across this land, I noticed something odd. It was the ruins of what appeared to be some sort of storage facility. Half the walls were missing and there was a sizeable hole in the roof. I looked inside and saw numerous broken tube-shaped vats scattered across the ground, along with a large quantity of robotic limbs. It was clear that a fight had broken out there before. What surprised me was how everything was destroyed. Not by firearms, not by any magic, but by heavy smashing and very potent acid. The sick green, frothing muck lay everywhere. I picked up a stone and tossed it into a pool. The stone broke down and dissolved immediately.
If we assume that the facility once belonged to the ‘Denizens’, then whatever force causing the destruction is opposing them. Whether or not they are friendly to humans remains to be seen. This is still all speculation and should always be taken with a grain of salt. If you do try and investigate this, please do not die. It would make my extraction all the more difficult.
I will keep moving in search of an exit, as futile as my efforts may be. Hopefully this note won’t be read by anybody and it’ll be deleted off my hard drive when I return home. If otherwise…well, my fate has been placed in your hands, my fellow Players. I wish you all the best of luck.
Sincerely, Fumika Shibuya (Nightingale)
<THE_FIRST> Looks like we have our next lead
<Akagi21> so were doing this tomorrow right
<THE_FIRST> Let me think
Will you assemble the team and head to Area 019 after school tomorrow?
>Yes
>No
>>43912985
>Yes
>>43912985
>>Yes
The earlier we save her the better.
>>43912985
>Yes
>>43912985
Yes, then she can tutor me.
>>43912985
>Yes
>DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL (DEV): Measurement of how well the Persona will grow and develop. A high development potential stat will increase the rate at which skills are learned and the chances of evolution.
>currently DEV A+
Will we play the long game and raise it to S+ for maximum potential at the cost of harder early game?
>>43912985
>Yes
>>43912985
>Yes
>>43912985
>Yes
also,
><Akagi21> fuck that shit
><Akagi21> surprise i am already here
Akikazu is rapidly developing into best boy.
>Added language support for Hebrew, Latin and Quranic Arabic.
For some reason this concerns me.
>>43913074
Pretty sure that was the plan.
>>43912985
>>Yes
>Favorite Megaten: Strange Journey or Devil Survivor 2
>not DeSu 1
I'm disappointed.
>>43912985
>Yes
>>43913130
DeSu 1 > DeSu 2
But SJ > DeSu.Imo
>>43912955
>>43912985
That is actually pretty impressive how she got that info to us.
Also I requested this from decuApparently I wasn't supposed to make quest requests but I didn't see that until right after I requested it. Still it seems I only broke the letter of the rule and not the spirit.
>>43913093
inb4
>Added language support for Ŕ̢͉̪̮̹͍͔͉̗͍̭̫̫͔̞̣̗́͢ͅ'̴̨͚̩͉͇̘̜́͡l̸̨͖̫̮͚̮͈̤̠͇̰̟̥y̸͚̗͔͔̪̦̼̙̤͢e̵̬̻̙̪̫͔̜̮̫̺̫̥̟̕͡h̕͏̢̫̞̞͉̖͎̟̘ͅí̶̷̗̦̖̟̖̥̜̹̫͙̝͔͙̩͢͞a̶̸̡̼̗̻̦͕̻͍͝͝n̴̴̷̗͉̟̻̬̬͉̦͘.
>>43913191
Very nice!
>>43913130
Never played Overclocked, might change my mind once I do.
Writing in progress...
>>43913276
Overclocked's extra days does add some cool stuff.
Beating up Metatron is always satisfying.
Fumika is Hot Chocolate, Celeste is soda, and Yoshino is coffee.
Prove me wrong.
>>43913295
Metatron was my first extra day.
baaaaaaad choice. FUCK YOU YOU VICTORY CRYING METAL ASSHOLE. EAT ALMIGHTY AND DIE.
>>43912985
>yes
>>43913345
>Fumika is ice-cold water
ftfy
>>43913295
>>43913380
Fumika is too cozy for that. Ice cold water could work for our sister.
>>43913276
Ask our friends if they got any C. EXP or if that's a leader privilege.
>>43913456
>Loving, supportive, cooks, and can kick ass
>Ice cold water
>>43913345
>Yoshino is coffee.
But is it hot or cold?
>>43913510
pumpkin spice.
>>43913487
Water is good for you.
I'll admit I am least sure for her, hence why she wasn't in the first post. What drink would you say our sister is?
>>43913593
Some sort of sports drink? Her job is to kick ass and you need to stay hydrated for that.Powerade a shit. Gatorade where it's at.
>>43913593
Something that is strong, warm, but also energizes you.So basically coffee of the best kind.
>>43913487
You never get tired of water. It's always there for you when the other drinks are too much. Works when you're healthy, works when you're sick, works when you're down, and it'll still be there when you aren't.Ehh, should be warm water.
>>43913593
Milk.
>>43913345
What KIND of Soda is Celeste? I expect a high caffeine high sugar one.
>>43913646
>Ehh, should be warm water.
Warm water is one the most disgusting things to drink in the world.
>>43913674
Mountain DewRed Alert
>>43913685
Warm water issubjectivelybetter thanyou're waifu..I mean, how would you even drink her?
>>43913685
She is our sister.
>>43913703
That works.I was thinking either that or Voltage, but red is her color.
>>43913685
you've been indoctrinated by a hundred years of soda and coffee. Warm water is just less flavorful and less effort than tea.
>>43913703
Ah shit, meant Code Red
>>43913727
Speaking of which, we don't have a social link that's like tea. That death girl doesn't seem refined enough in that regard.
>>43913710
>I mean, how would you even drink her?.
Do you want the list?
>>43913703DIE WAFFEN LEGT AN
>>43913727
Warm water is hard to drink when you've got a fever, though.
The obvious solution is room temperature water, but no one likes room temperature water.
>>43913743
I knew what you meant.
>>43913749yes
>>43913752I-I like it.
But yeah, most people don't. Will plomp a pitcher of ice cold on the frostiest nights than serve room temp.
>>43913752
>room temperature water.
I do.
Water out of a tap with a tangy metallic taste is the best.
>>43913808
>Mineral water
<THE_FIRST> I’d like to say yes
<THE_FIRST> But is everyone really fine?
<THE_FIRST> As in would you all be up for another couple of hours wandering around a wasteland beating up Shadows
<chocolat_orange> yes
<Akagi21> hell yes
<THE_FIRST> I don’t know why I bothered to ask
<THE_FIRST> Fine let’s do this
So that was that. You go to bed early that night. The morning comes and you wake up with sleep still hanging from your eyes. The daily routine proceeds as usual. You attempt to consume as little energy as possible in preparation for the expedition in the afternoon. The words of the teachers float in one ear and tunnel right out the other. You scribble notes half-heartedly, not caring whether they are correct or not. Lunch is spent in a secluded corner of the school devouring the lunch box Shizuka made.
“Hey Takashi! You coming to martial arts club today?”
“Oh, uh, sorry Takauji. I got stuff to take care after school.”
“That’s too bad. There won’t be any clubs next week or the week after that because of Golden Week or exams. I won’t be able to teach you for a while, then.” Takauji looks a bit disheartened. He tries to cheer himself up anyway. “But it’s no biggie. We can still hang out in class. Catch you later, man!”
You feel a little guilty as he leaves.
The rest of the day goes by...
[4:00 pm, 29-Apr-2129 (FRIDAY)]
You are now standing in front of the safehouse in the Forgotten City. Celeste and Akikazu have gathered there.
Before you board the Hollow Express, are there any preparations you would like to make? At the very least, you should choose your Personas…
Persona List: http://pastebin.com/CnAmPV0z
>Top 5 Other Personas: Koppa Tengu, Valkyrie, Archangel, Jack Frost, Inugami
Shop: http://pastebin.com/JC7tnjF5
>Macca: 22500
>>43913781
>>>1848308
>>43913839
>EMP Grenade (10000 Macca)
Can't remember if we agreed to switch out any personas.
>>43913839
>Before you board the Hollow Express, are there any preparations you would like to make? At the very least, you should choose your Personas…
Err,do we have an inventory? I didn't see it in the original post.
>>43913839
Bring
>Koppa Tengu, Jack Frost, Pixie
Buy
>EMP Grenade (10000 Macca): Emits a powerful electromagnetic pulse upon detonation. Good against mechanical targets such as androids.
>>43913875
>>>/u/1848308
Guess I suck at crossboard linking.
>>43913839
We should bring some extra sets of clothes to keep in the safe house.
>>43913895
Good idea, we got our clothes shredded last time, didn't we?
>>43913839
Koppa Tengu, Valkyrie, Inugami, Jack Frost
>>43913839
Do we have any
>Trafuri Canister (6500 Macca)
left? If not buy it.
>>43913839
Jack frost, Valkyrie and pixie.
Buy two frags, one flashbang and one emp.
>>43913839
>Koppa, Jack, Pixie
>EMP
>Trafuri if we're out
>>43913839
>“Hey Takashi! You coming to martial arts club today?”
I do feel shitty about this but saving Fumika is more important.
>>43913839
Hey Thorn, regarding
>Spiked upgrade (25000 Macca): Makes weapon of choice spiked, which inflicts bleeding damage. Lowers effectiveness against metallic opponents.
Wouldn't a spiked point behind a punch actually be effective at piercing metal thus making it more effective against metal or would there just not be sufficient force for penetration?
>>43913980
Multiple spikes for bleeding would skid off metal more easily.
If you had a single large spike it might be more effective against metal, but you don't exactly punch the same way with those.
Why aren't you fags getting frag grenades? That is a military grade weapon.
>>43913980
The idea is probably just that robots don't bleed.
Meanwhile, the force behind the punch is still constant, and the (rather shallow) penetration itself doesn't actually do anything additional unless it hits something vital.
>>43914047
Saving up for a better weapon and armor I imagine.
>>Takashi: Make your choices.
“You want this EMP grenade? Uh, are you sure you can handle it? Well, it’s your money. That’ll cost 10000 Macca.”
“Koppa Tengu, Jack Frost and Pixie. Are these the Personas you want?”
>YES
>NO
Are you ready to roll a 1 on the boss today?
>>43914081
>YES
>>43914081
>YES
>>43914082
Believe in the heart of the dice, anon.
>>43914024
>>43913980
If you're trying to make a dent in a metal sheet, you don't punch it, you use something else.
>>43914081
>YES
Do we have a Trafuri canister left?
>>43914081
>YES
>>43913980
Useless against robots
>>43914047
Fragmentation grenades primarily kill by wounds inflicted from shrapnel. They would be less effective against robots for similar reasons as the spiked fists, and they do shit against tanks unless you drop them into one of the hatches.
>>43914081
>YES
>>43914081
>>YES
>>43914082
>Fumika is falling off a 5 story building, roll a d20 to save her!
>4, 8, 1
>Aki roll: 12
>Celeste roll: 9
>>43914081
yes
>>43914115
Doing a save-or-die is a dick move.
>>43914109
>kill
Mostly want to fuck up their structural integrity.
Have we opened all the doors yet?
Also shouldn't we buy some meds?
>>43914103
It ain't possible with human strength, but augmented strength moving a sharpened metal point? That can puncture reasonable thicknesses of metal.
>>43914135
nah, it's just the difference of how badly your personas get hurt in the process and if Fumika is combat ready afterwards.
>>43914115
>Fumika is falling off a 5 story building
>>43914081
>YES
>>43914081
>YES
>>43914081
>NO
Swap Jack Frost out for Inugami.
So is slime ever going to see use ever again?
>>43914221
Only in fusion.exe.
>>43914221
No.
>>43914221
Probably not. He's explicitly a shitty Persona that no one really wants. As far as I can tell we picked him mostly out of spite.
Rolled 5, 10, 18 = 33 (3d20)
>>43914115
Testing luck.
>>43914234
Wasen't it for the physical resistance? The one thing slime excels at.
>>43914234
Nah, at the time we didn't have any personas strong against physical, then we got Valkyrie.
>>43914081
Don't forget to ask our friends if they got any C. EXP or if that's a leader privilege.
>>43914234
It was for physical resistance. so far every boss/enemy pretty much used magic. Exept for that knightguy
We really need more persona slots.
>>43914234
Phy resist mostly, We lacked that at the time.
New gameplay for SMT4 Final if anyone's interested.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xWuJe9YKB8
>>43914335
Since Final is coming out, should I buy the DLC for 4 or wait until Final?
>>43914388
Archangel fights are pretty good in the DLC.
If you aren't hurting for cash I'd say both, but if you are then wait for Final.
Oh shit, I made it here in time! Amazing!
>>43914427
>In time
Missed 3 votes already.
>>43914607
Pretty much just the loadout vote, since it wasn't like we were going to not save Fumika.
>>43914607
This is better than my usual record of not being here at all, since like, the 8th thread.
>>Void’s Chosen: Head to the underground metro.
With everything packed and ready, the team moves through the dusty streets of the Forgotten City towards the Hollow Express train station. The air is cold and the sky is dreary, as always. A gale chills you down to the bone. Despite it all, your body is hot with determination. You are going to enter Area 019, fight Shadows and rescue Fumika. It’s a simple objective and you are doing this. You, Celeste and Akikazu will make it happen.
“I’m looking forward to meeting with Fumika.” Celeste says. “Wonder what kind of girl she is, though. She sounded really formal in the note.”
“Fumika is…quiet. And doesn’t like talking, apparently.” You reply, “Although, that might just be me.”
“Hmm, if I invited her to eat cake with me, would she come?”
“Uh, probably no?”
“Hurry up and board the damn train, you two.” Akikazu growls. “Talk about going a date with Shibuya after we’ve got the job done.”
“Oh yeah.” You speak up. “Did anyone buy a Trafuri Canister? Because I’m out.”
“Got you covered, Takashi-kun.” Celeste pipes up, holding up the bizarrely-shaped grenade for the team to see.
Satisfied, you slid your fingers across a broken navigation panel and the train rumbles to life.
Hours later, you’ve arrived in the massive earthly basin that is Area 019. The moment you climb down to ground level, down the steep cliff face, you hear a hollow, gurgling sound emanate from the surroundings. Black particles gather in mid-air, forming ghastly monstrosities that fall to the ground with an audible clunk. The Shadows are here to play.
You crack on your knuckles and slip on your dusters. Akikazu heaves up his sledgehammer and gives a bloodthirsty grin. Celeste smirks, clicks her fingers and conjures fire in her hand.
“Let me at ‘em, already!”
“Come on, I’ll burn you all to cinders!”
“Let’s go.”
You sprint forward, the tarot card of the Fool already in your palm…
>Roll 3d20 (Status, Macca, Loot)
>Best out of three.
>>43914650
I do feel kind of bad that we're not hanging out with Takauji when we have spare time left, though. Getting Fumika rescued early is more important, but it's not like he knows what we're doing. We should try to study with him over the break, hang out with him then.
Rolled 16, 9, 9 = 34 (3d20)
>>43914698
Rolled 18, 1, 5 = 24 (3d20)
>>43914698
Rolled 15, 1, 18 = 34 (3d20)
>>43914698
Rolled 8, 1, 4 = 13 (3d20)
>>43914698
Rolled 4, 12, 17 = 33 (3d20)
>>43914698
>>43914712
>>43914716
>>43914725
We got mugged, didn't we?
>>43914716
>>43914725
>>43914726
Wow. The Dice Gods really don't want to give us any money, huh?
>>43914716
>>43914725
>>43914726
Apparently the dice gods want Celeste to stay in debt.
>>43914716
>>43914725
>>43914726
>>43914737
Poor Celeste. Literally.
>>43914716
>>43914725
>>43914726
Oh my god, we're so broke.
>>43914726
>>43914725
>>43914716
LODS OF E'MACCA
>>43914716
>>43914725
I hope this just means we get no money.
>>43914716
>>43914725
>>43914726
Holy shit did we just lose macca?
>>43914698
>Shibuya
Got your idols confused?
>>43914698
>I’ll burn you all to cinders!
Worst girl confirmed.
MACCA BEAM!!!!!!
>>43914774
Be kinda shitty if we somehow lost the money presumably stored safely in our bank account. Cause seriously, who runs around with pockets full of cash when they are going to fight and shit.
>>43914798
No, that's her last name.
>>43914725
>>43914726
Thank you kind anons
>>43914829
Then we'll just get Fumika to get it all back with interest.
>>43914823
Fuck you
>>43914823
Pretas plz go and stay go
>>43914820
>>43913838
Best girl.
>>43914820
We literally voted for her to evolve into this.
We did this to Celeste.
>>43914820
The fuck you on about? Celeste is awesome.
>>43914716
>>43914725
>>43914726
>18, 1, 18
On the bright side we're hardly scratched and got some wicked loot. Shame about literally all our money.
>>43914987
I'm confused. Whats wrong with her saying that?
>>43914726
>>43914725
Well thats how it goes sometimes.
>>43915014
Worst girls in some animessay that.
>>43915082
Who?
>>43914712
You guys realize we didn't get a 1 on Macca right?
>>43915201
And you realize that 1s and 20s supersede other rolls, right?
>>43915201
It was best of three. That nine was cancelled out twice.
>>43915181
>>43915201
Yes, but crit one. Unless Twilight doesn't do crits if I'm remembering wrong.
For a while, everything goes as smooth as the creamy butter on a delicious slice of French toast. You punch Shadows and stomp on their brittle masks with your steel-tipped boots. Celeste darts around the combat zone, striking and slashing with her rapier and hurling fireballs in all directions. Akikazu trudges forward and slams his sledgehammer, crushing his foes into pulp. Everyone gets their turn to murder the manifestations of the evils residing within the human heart. It is fantastic. The team plows through the first section of the area with little trouble at all.
A couple of iron treasure chests are found along the way. You all open it.
>Found a Basic Medkit!
>Found a Trafuri Canister!
You smile wide as you kick a struggling Maya into the path of Akikazu’s hammer. You smirk as it is pounded into nothingness. These Shadows may have proved to be a challenge in the past, but now they were nothing before your Wild Card powers and your fists.
In short, you are feeling very good about this mission.
Then fate takes a good look at you, shakes it head and decides to make the table of life flip the fuck out.
>>43915268Macca beam
>>43915268
OH GOD THE REAPER
PLEASE NOT THE REAPER
>>43915268
At least Celeste got her milk and eggs.
Just an even bigger excuse ro have group mooch food from us at our house. Nee-san is going to be so proud our friends aren't imaginary.
A Hablerie, one of those oversized gumdrop-sized balls with ridiculously long tongues that have been a subject of pornography for years, falls out of the sky. Part of you whispers that this Shadow seems different and maybe you should be careful. However, you are riding high off your victory and instead charge forward with fist wound back, ready to strike!
It opens its mouth and fires a white beam at you and your team.
“What the—”
“No, this is…!”
“The fuck?”
A tremendous sucking force halts you in your tracks. A terrible sense of loss washes over you. You collapse to your knees. Celeste and Akikazu have also fallen victim to the accursed beam; they are doing the same. What on earth is this?
You look down and see ghostly images being pulled away from your body. They are of coins and bills. They fall into the mouth of the Hablerie, like asteroids falling into a great black hole. The implications of this hit you with the might of a speeding truck. Eyes wide with panic, you fumble for your phone and pull up your current bank balance.
>You lost 50% of all your Macca!
>You now have 6250 Macca remaining.
You’ve heard rumors about this skill. Hated by of all Anti-Shadow Operatives, from the greenest rookie to the highest general. Wastrel Beam, a Shadow exclusive skill that drained money from the target, whether it be physical or electronic. How this magic worked is entirely unclear, as no human has ever learned it. Worst of all, the money absorbed would vanish from existence, never to be seen again.
Thankfully, the number of Shadows who could use it could be counted on both hands, but it is small comfort to you as half your hard-earned cash is drained at once.
"You son of a...!"
Rage overcomes you. Even though the Hablerie has no eyes, it seems to be taunting at you, laughing at your half-emptied wallet. You prepare to climb to your feet and smash it with a dozen solid punches.
You look around and see that someone has already you to the (non-literal) punch.
>>43915268
Reaper uses Macca beam
It's super effective!
>>43915437
Oh Celeste be PIIIIIIIIIIISSED
>>43915437
Now we really should offer her dinner at our place
>>43915437
>You look down and see ghostly images being pulled away from your body.
2spooky
>>43915437
Explaining this to Shizuka is going to be awkward. She's not going to take the explanation of "I got attacked by a Shadow" very lightly, given her job. Though is there a reason we haven't told her about AETHER? We don't need to make the Fool reveal to tell her about the otherworldly death games we keep getting sucked into.
>>43915495
Yup. She needs it now.
>>43915511
Not that hard, Since it's our personal account and we can grind for more.
>>43915511
just say you invested poorly.You skeleton.
We're lucky that wasn't a black rider
>>43915508
...I had no idea. Well, this is a horrible way to learn that I've been living a lie. Sorry, folks, turns out I'm a skeleton.
>>43915228
Don't even know who that is.
>>43915511
I'm not sure if I should trust you, you fucking skeleton, but the reason we haven't told her is partly not to worry her about something she can do nothing about, and the fear that telling her would bring her into AETHER.
>>43915437
I wonder if we can set up some dummy bank accounts and prevent this from happening again.
>>43915573
The Beams will find a way.
>>43915599
mfw you can be immune to nuclear bombs but not to this shit.
Told you we should have bought those frags.
Are there any instances where shadows aren't spiteful pricks?
Is it at all possible for them to become a persona?
I'm not that knowledgeable on the Persona setting.
>>43915641
>Last Word is the secret optional boss
>we kill her with Macca Beam
>>43915672
>optional
>>43915660
Thing is shadows are the manifestation of the dark side of humanity
I guess that's why you fight them with personas
>>43915672
>killing her unlocks the secret secret double optional boss
>it has fuckloads of health and only uses Macca Beams
>you cannot run
>>43915660
There's Teddie, who was a shadow who acquired an ego and helped the Persona 4 crew.
>>43915720
>it can make you run into debt
Celeste stands there, her head lowered. Her expression is completely unreadable. It is as all her smiles and optimism have vanished along with her money.
“That Macca…there was a sale on vegetables…I was going to cook a big stew that would last me for a week.” She whispers. Her voice is quiet, so deathly it belongs to a graveyard. “It was supposed to cover the water and electricity bills too…”
…what is this fear clouding your heart? Why are you backing away from the one of the few girls you know?
Her shoulders begin to shake. “You took it. My living expenses. Do you ever understand how I feel? No, of course you don’t. You’re just a filthy Shadow, of course. You will never understand how hard I worked to get here…”
Akikazu is in the same boat. From the nervous look on his face and the way he’s backed up to a lump of rubble, you’d say he has experience in this area.
You join him.
“Because of you, I’ll have to cut down on my food. I might even have to ask Takashi-kun for help. I don’t want that. He’s done enough for us…”
She takes a solitary step forward. The temperature in the area rises by twenty degrees. Sweat trickles down your forehead. It is just your imagination, or is the earth actually rumbling?
“If I don’t have enough money, I won’t be able to eat well and rest well. And if that happens, I won’t be able to study or fight well. And if that happens…
Celeste’s hair has flared up. It is dancing in the air around her, almost like the flames she conjures.The Hablerie appears to be reconsidering its life choices, if such a concept could apply to Shadows.
“How dare you…how dare you…”
Wait, are those tears in her eyes?
“I WILL NOT FORGIVE YOU!” Celeste screams.
A torrent of fire consumes the Hablerie. Poor bastard doesn’t even last half a second. It gives out a warbling shriek as it is burned to ashes. Not even embers remain…
The Macca has been avenged. Celeste’s vengeance has been sated. She has calmed down. But what is killed can never be regained.
>>43915714
How would shadows change over time as the moral compasses of societies in general change over time anyway? Was there a Slavery shadow during the colonial era? Is there one now?
>>43915766
Holy shit
>You gained 1.85 C. EXP.
You are back at the crossroads. For the second, the sign is still broken. Whatever Denizens reside in the crater aren’t particularly concerned about the maintenance of their electronic billboards. Towards the left is the miniature arena where you fought the Arcane Turret, the middle path takes you up a rocky hill and the right path has a number of nasty scars where the earth has been melted away.
Which path will you take?
>The left one.
>The middle one.
>The right one.
>Turn back for today.
>Custom option.
>>43915804
>>The left one.
>>43915660
Yeah, we see a few. Death/Pharos/Ryouji from Persona 3 is a Shadow, and while he's unable to oppose Nyx (being a fragmented piece of her) he tries to help humanity by advising the protagonist. And in Persona 4 we have two examples. First is that the corrupted doppleganger Shadows that Ameno-sagiri makes can be turned into Personas if defeated. Second is that the character of Teddie is revealed to be a Shadow who somehow managed to turn himself human after rejecting his nature as a dark reflection of humanity. Oh, and Wild Cards who don't have to deal with a Velvet Room crippled by incompetent children playing at things they have no business dealing with can convert the remains of Shadows into weak Personas. That's how they get the material to do Fusion to make the stronger ones.
>>43915804
>>The right one.
>>43915660
Teddie, kinda Marie maybe depending on how you look at it, and in the P4 anime Souji's shadow is a nice dude for all 5 seconds we see of him.
The eye color of the Velvet Room attendants are the same color as that of a shadow.
>>43915804
>The right one.
>Make Mental note to invite BOTH our friends over for dinner tonight.
>>43915804
>>The middle one.
>>43915804
>The right one.
She said she saw acid, so melted ground seems like it's the way to go.
>>43915804
>>The right one
If Fumika's note is anything to go by, the burn marks are from an ally.
If not an ally, someone who can get of shadows for us while we stay the fuck out of the way.
>>43915804
>The middle one.
This is the path Fumika took, right? Maybe we can find more clues there.
>>43915804
>The left one.
Odds are Fumika was there at some point. If not, something met her and took her laptop there. Either way, it seems like a good starting point.
>>43915804
>The right one.
>>43915804
>The middle one.
>>43915804
>>Custom option.
Use a stick, let it fall. Where it points, you go that way
>>43915859
Whoops, I misread. We should take the right path.
>>43915804
>>The right one.
So which acid using vidya reference is coming up then?
>>43915925
I'd say Acrid from RoR.
Rolled 2 (1d3)
>>43915804
>The middle one
>>43915890
You could just roll a die anon.
>>43915987
ayy
>>43915978
>Having to fight Acrid before he starts helping out
>>43916241
At least Acrid as boss doesn't use Epidemic. Totally can just kite him.
Persona 2129 quest on my eighteenth birthday? What more could I ask for?
>>43916522
Not admitting to being underage on 4chan
>>43916577
But he's not underage, he's 18 now.
If he admitted to being 17 yesterday he would be underage.
>>43916605
He still isn't old enough to smoke in japan or buy beer in USA.
>>43916522
>>43916577
>>43916605
The important question that any self-respecting, overly-pedantic faggot should be asking is:
Has your time of birth passed yet?
>>43916649
>hour before his birthday
>he receives a one hour ban
Kek
>>Takashi: Choose the right path.
You do that.
The trail is peaceful, which is enough for the entire team to keep their guard enough. No Shadows pop out of the ground and attack you. Instead, the ground is littered with junk of all sorts. Wires, metal plating, mangled motherboards and burned chips. The type of garbage found in an average robotic scrapyard. There is nothing useful, so you don’t bother to pick any of it up. But what caused all this destruction? Does it have something to do with the opposing force Fumika mentioned in her report?
The terrain is uneven. The scars in the ground have greated many dips and potholes. You nearly stumble and land in a miniature ditch. It is only because of Akikazu yanking you back that you don’t eat a face of dirt. He grunts and grumbles something about dumbasses needing to be more careful in the future.
“Hey, do you guys hear that?”
Celeste is right. There is the sound of lasers firing in the distance. The three of you glance at each other. The agreement is unspoken. You all rush forward towards the commotion.
Then you abruptly stop as you catch a glimpse of the context. In front of a dull grey building, a fight is taking pace. On one side, a dozen robots wielding laser rifles. On the other side…
A chill washes over you, freezing down to your very bones. It is unlike any sensation you have ever encountered. There is no other word to describe the creature fighting the robots. It is a monstrosity, pure and simple. A muscular ball of flesh and scales, tearing through the robots with little resistance. Four glowing eyes glare like the piercing rays of the sun itself. Jagged spikes reach out from its spine, puncturing any foe unlucky to get close. Chains, one of which connects to a solid steel ball, are tied around its wrists, presumably in an effort to restrain it.
>>43916649
1:30 AM EST, so... long passed, yes.
>>43916746
Well. Shit.
>>43916746
...fuck
>>43916746
NOPE.
A futile attempt. The monster swings the chain and ball around, crushing the head of the nearest two robot. It then leaps up, dodging a round of laser fire, and lands another pair of robots. They are crushed instantly, their wires spilling out of their bodies like the fillings in a meat pie.
If the robots are furious, they don’t show it. They merely whirl around and prepare to fire again. You hear the humming sound of the laser rifles reloading. The monster lunges forward and tackles three. They are swiftly reduced to nothing more than chunks of mangled steel.
Five laser beams hit the monster’s chest. They barely leave a mark, only scale-deep burns.
But the monster has had enough of it. It releases a howl of rage that echoes throughout the crater. The robots continue to advance forward, their fingers on the triggers. In response, the monster drops open its jaw, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth and a dangling, drool-covered tongue.
It then tips its head back and vomits.
A wave of sick, green acid eats through the collective mass of steel like a hot knife through butter. The robots don’t stand a chance. They are melted to scrap in seconds. Only one remains, barely clinging on with a single arm and leg. The monster grabs the survivor and slams it over and over again against the building. It collapses and the robot is destroyed. Its head is thrown aside. The monster pounds the ground, cracking it, then roars to the heavens.
Your body is trembling. It is taking all of your effort not to collapse to the ground in a gibbering, shaking mess.
So far, the monster hasn’t noticed you. What will you do?
>Flee
>Back away slowly.
>Fight it.
>Custom option.
>>43916847
>Back away slowly.
>>43916847
>Flee
>>43916847
>>Back away slowly.
then
>Flee
>>43916847
>>Back away slowly.
>>43916847
>Back away slowly.
Try not to be noticed.
>>43916847
>Back away slowly.
no way in hell we are going to fight that
>>43916847
>>Custom option.
Talk to it, this is how you recruit in SMT amirite ?
>>43916847
>>Back away slowly.
>>43916847
NOPENOPENOPENOPE
>>43916847
fi-
>Try to see if our damsel was the one who sent the robots
>>43916891
Wrong series, wrong series!
>>43916847
>>Back away slowly.
>>43916847
>Back away slowly.
>>43916847
>>Custom option.
Quicklook see if our lady in distress anywhere near... the FLEE
>>43916847
>>Back away slowly.
>>43916847
>Back away slowly
I'd like to hope it's benevolent, but it probably isn't.
>>43916847>̶R̶e̶l̶e̶a̶s̶e̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶i̶t̶s̶ ̶c̶h̶a̶i̶n̶s̶
>Back away slowly.
>>43916847
>Back away slowly.
Plan (carefully) FUCK THAT is a go.
>>43916847
>Back away slowly.
>>43916847
>>Fight it.
What could possibly go wrong?
>>43916847
>motherfucking called it
>Back away slowly.
>>43916847
>Flirt with it.
>>43916847
>fight it
Acrid was ez pz in risk of rain
>>43916847
Fight it, how are we gonna beat Last Word if we pussy out here ?
>>43916847
>Area 019 is a massive crater
>technology strewn everywhere
>Acrid
Thorn you cheeky girl with your great taste in games
>Back off slowly
>>43916847
Is this a risk of rain reference?
Because if it is, and future locations go full RoR
We are going to die.
>>43917183
with a full party of 20
>go, my sla-I mean friends!
>>43917183
Anon, we are quite probably far too poorly equipped to fight Acrid right now. We won't even have a chance to try to beat Last Word if we DON'T pussy out here.
>>43917206
That's literally Acrid from the game, ya goofus.
Though you are absolutely right, if Area 019 is akin to RoR, our heroes are gonna get ass-slammed.
>>43917243
isn't Acrid a PC?
As in he CAN play nice with the survivors?
>>43917243
Maybe we can get some sexy Gilf or Milf to join us as a Player. Evens out the odds
>>43917309
>>43917243
Also didn't recognize him from the picture off the bat.
Good god, what if the Secret/Summon quest boss of this area is Providence
That was a nice lunch. Time to write!
>>43917336
>our mom as a Player
>Valeis-sensei as a player
>>43917243
>if Area 019 is akin to RoR, our heroes are gonna get ass-slammed.
I just want to save Fumika, what does this being RoR imply?
>>43917522
>not knowing what Risk of Rain is
Let's just say that staying too long is gonna get us forcefully penetrated.
>>43917391
What did you have for lunch? Reveal your secrets!
>>43917561
>Not breaking games with Glass/Command/Sacrifice
Takashi just needs to pick up an Infusion
>>43917522
Risk of Rain is a side-scrolling action wave-survival game.
Its difficulty goes from kinda hard to absolutely ludicrous in terms of how many monsters are gunning for your balls, not to consider the bosses you have to face down to get to the final level. Though it balances itself by giving you items and powerups with a huge variety of effects and if you have a good team, you can clean up pretty well in the normal difficulty and survive in the harder.
What it might mean in this quest is that the party'll might have to deal with mobs of monsters in a variety of shapes and sizes from ghosts to robots to demons.
The monster is tramping around the remains of the battlefield, crunching metallic components beneath its mighty stomp.
The three of you look at each other. Another silent agreement is made. Specifically, one involving all the team to hurry the fuck out of here before the monstrosity notices you and decides to go for a human girl sandwich between two human boy pieces of bread.
You take a tentative step backwards. The monster’s back is facing you. It’s barely harmed. If what Fumika’s assumptions are true, this creature has rampaged over Area 019 for god knows how long, fighting robots and receiving next to no damage!
If you were forced into combat with this thing, could you win?
Could even manage to inflict a single scratch before being pounded into a heap of blood, flesh and bones?
>Roll 1d20 to back away slowly.
>Best out of four.
