Feral Creatures [Playhouse Dungeon Dash]

(Speed post due to leaving house. Action: Followed party and demon shard location)

Nadia nodded, looking as supportive as she could. It was true that Kendra was older than her, but in many ways it felt like she was younger. Like Nadia when she had first left her parents house, there were many things she was learning for the first time - seeing with new eyes. Anyone at any age could be captivated by the wonder of a new life. But still, Nadia couldn't help but wonder if this was what it was like to have a little sister. It was equally exhausting and exciting. The number of people in her life that brought her joy kept increasing, and she wasn't sure how to handle it. She had to use people skills she didn't really have, and it meant smiling more, and doing her best to be expressive. It could be taxing.

And here there were even more people. People who even now she was urging onward. Kendra, "Sultana." Cecil, "Revenant." Tomomi, "Ribbon." There was Isabella, or Veritas, and then there were others. Shotaro, and this Dante. Zaku and the one who called himself Yuri. Another who Nadia was not acquainted with. So many allies all fighting here anonymously. It was only through luck that Nadia knew so many of them behind the scenes. She wondered if the others also knew some of them - if some knew others that didn't know them... like how Cecil knew Tomomi's identity, but the reverse was not true. Ever aspect of it was fascinating. But she didn't have time to ponder that now. They had to keep moving. The night was going to be long enough without them stalling here.

Inspecting the strange material that Sultana had just found, Nightingale started moving back down the hallway with the others, at a leisurely pace. She came up beside Cecil - Revenant. "I've never seen a material like this. What is it, Revie?" She asked, curiously, knocking her hip against his playfully as she strode up beside him and showed him the shards.

"Is it like Demon excrement?" She asked, meaning to sound scientific, but there was an obvious tone of playfulness to her voice - one that always seemed to be there when she spoke as Nightingale. It was an aspect of the character she was playing. As they walked, the headed up and around the corner back toward the main thoroughfare, and from there, they'd head beyond, in search of more demons to eliminate. It was going to be a long night, no doubt.

action:

Map:

Revenant quirked from his vigil at Nightingale's approach, only to sigh and shake his head as she actually asked her questions. "No, Nightingale...it is not demon feces. Do you recall the bird of flame I once called upon?" His helmet burns into a new one with horns, before ash cascades off of it to leave his original golden-crowned helm. "These are...more like fragments of demons, from what I was told. They allow us to make guises that allow us to call upon the type of demon tied to them. The woman that likes to sell us our wares for endeavours like these is capable of making them, if you gather enough."

Action:

"Oh, I see. We'll split them up evenly then. I wonder how many we'll find along the way...?" she chimed, moving ahead again, but not too far ahead this time as to not see where she was going. She moved up and to the right. They were back in the main passageway now. It was quiet, but she thought she heard noises up ahead, so she proceeded with caution, stopping just before another turn, to peer around it.

action:

map:

Kendra frowned a little when nobody seemed too interested in telling her if they were excited or not. She understood that, maybe, at times, she got a little bit too excited for her own good. Sometimes she started shouting about basic things that everybody else found dull or terrifying. But there was so much out there she hadn't gotten to experience yet. And she hadn't truly understood what freedom meant until she had become Sultana, had gotten a taste of power she never would've otherwise. How could everybody here not find it exciting? What other reason was there for them to go and explore while risking their lives? Was she the only one who wasn't in on the whole reason behind exploring a dungeon?

"Demon poop? Did I seriously pick up demon poop!?" Sultana was considering grabbing the stuff from Nightngale and chucking it at a wall when she overheard Revenant's explanation. Alright, so she hadn't touched demon poop. It would be kind of gross if she had touched it, though she guessed she shouldn't have been so eager to pick up a strange substance off the ground. Her parents had taught her that, and common sense dictated that you didn't pick up anything weird off the ground. But common sense also dictated you didn't go and fight demons if it was optional, so what good was common sense really?

"Do people die from demons a lot?" The question had wormed its way out of her mouth before she could stop herself. She had wondered it ever since the night she had learned of Nakano. Kendra didn't think she would die from the demons that night, even if she was alone, but they seemed pretty intent on killing her. Still, everybody seemed strong here, and she doubted people like Revenant and Nightngale could be brought down easily. She remembered seeing both of them in combat, collected yet fierce, striking against the demons that had threatened them all. "You know what? Nevermind. That was a dumb question. I shouldn't have asked it." Confidence oozed from her words, though she realized she was beginning to make herself feel just a little on edge.

She moved down before she glanced ahead, thinking she saw something. Her movements became more cautious, her body tense. She began to walk towards the right, taking lead just a slight bit, enjoying the faint rush of power the idea of that sort of control gave her despite the fact something seemed to be waiting for them. Sultana walked with caution, body language showing she was preparing herself to fight. The demon was close now, and it seemed they were going to all have a fight on their hands.

action:

Nightingale did her best not to burst out into giggles at Kendra's exclamation. Nightingale was a bit more composed than that. Or, she was supposed to be. Figuring out this new character was hard sometimes. Still, she appreciated the support that Kendra showed her, as the girl backed her up.

The girls' next question caught Nadia off-guard. She opened her mouth to say the reflexive words she always believed - that one day demons would kill everyone, and there would be nothing left of society. They'd come close already, after all. But at the moment, she thought better of it, and closed her mouth. Which was a good thing, because Kendra retracted her question in quick order.

Spared a discouraging sentiment, Nadia considered something a little more helpful. "Demons do attack people. But that's why we fight them, isn't it?" She offered helpfully, "To protect people. After all, that's what us heroes are for, right?" She joked with the girl. They obviously weren't actual heroes, they'd been over that, but it was fun to playfully admonish the girl's feelings on the matter. She expected it would put an extra hop in the girl's step, and maybe a little bit more edge to her attacks. That would certainly be a useful benefit.

The group continued around the bend, and Nadia got the sense that there was another demon up ahead. It was clear others sensed it as well. The advance team reflexively coming forward. Kendra was the first to start moving toward the target. With a nod, Nightingale followed, looking up at the moon as if to seek guidance. The strength these demons had was being amplified by that giant celestial body, even thousands of miles away as it was. How superior it must feel to lord over their fates from so high a place.

No time for such romantic sentiments now, though. It was time for another fight. Another chance to hone these skills she had developed. With any luck, this time she'd actually hit something with her attacks. They were so quick this time around. Quick, dangerous, and deadly. As exciting as it was, she couldn't help but be thankful it was her on the front lines instead of Cecil. He was so much more important to the playhouse than she was, and to the people around him. He had a family that would care if he didn't come back. What did she have? in reality, not much.

action:

So it certainly came as a surprise to Isabella when the... Person? Who'd stepped in the way to protect the young female from before was apparently a machine? She knew technology in those fields had certainly advanced, her body if anything was in its own way proof of that, but to be able to create machines that were so human-like. Not only that, he... they? Could use a persona as well? It's not like she understood what a Persona was, or where its power derived from, but to be able to endow that power upon a machine. Certainly impressive.

She didn't have much to add to the conversation with Sultana and... Nightingale, was it? The other, Sultana certainly seemed excited about this whole thing. An interesting one, to have such an outlook. She just hoped that outlook wouldn't get her or others hurt. But at last they seemed to show a level of actual concern to those who did no have this kind of power.

Veritas found herself stepping in closer to Nghtingale as she inspected the strange substance, making her observations over the younger females shoulder. Demon poop was the first suggestion, one that Revenant swiftly corrected. Demon fragments then? "It's curious. The material looks more like some manner of mineral. What even are demons, really? Are they... Well, are they really even lifeforms as we understand them? Most people cannot see them, at least not clearly." She capped her words off with a shrug, uncertain if anyone can even offer an answer.

They'd approach another bend. And there was something nearby. More demons, or demon, she couldn't quite say. "Everyone, please be careful, we're most likely about to encounter something. Be on your guard." That said, The blonde would brace herself, mentally, before joining into the rush forward.

It was strange. She knew she would be heading into danger, that she was doing nothing to stop these kids from heading into danger. And that should have bothered her, the latter much more so than the former. But something about this, maybe the idea that this could save lives of others, or maybe it was just the camaraderie that she could feel in the group, made it... Bother her less. All these people, fighting for their own reasons, but they were all united in being outcast... Or at least risking being outcast, should their identity ever be revealed. That, itself would offer a certain bond, a certain degree of trust. This night would put that bond to the test.

Actions:

Zappa continued on listening to the others talk about the substance they had collected, The remains or rather the physical evidence of Demons, she stayed silent on the subject as she wasn't to sure herself what it was, her files told her it was one thing, however the files were incomplete, she would need to study it herself after all this was over, so for the time being she held her tongue on that and continued to walk with the group, though as they walked the conversation moved on to something else, about demons killing people.

Again Zappa knew it best to not answer, she was well aware of the death of at least one person when she had awoken, not to mention that it wasn't just demons that killed others as she had learned from the group when they had attacked a district head, she simply continued to walk with the group keeping her eye scanning around, and then she picked it up "Enemy detected, Preparing combat routine, Weapon check initiated" as she spoke she walked with the others as she checked her weapons, making sure the gun was fully loaded, and seeing that her axe was in good condition before nodding "Weapons check complete, all weapons ready for engagement".

She continued on her scanners locked onto the distant demon and as the one girl rushed forward there was a sudden burst from Zappa's thrusters putting her in the lead as she looked back "Do not rush into combat so readily, you were close to leaving your allies behind..." she stated as she advanced with the girl, ready to take the attacks for her if need be as they closed on the demon that hadn't seemed to notice them yet.

"Engage with Caution" she advised the group as she advanced, honestly she wasn't about to let them get ambushed again if she could help it, they had gotten lucky before, and luck wasn't something she wanted to rely on if she could help it, even before she had to take a hit for one of them to make sure they could properly continue fighting. she would do it again in a heartbeat if she had to, but if she had to keep doing it then she had to worry about the combat effectiveness of this group, maybe more training would help? if so she had to figure out how to give that training.

stats:

Strengths/Weaknesses/Passives:

Skills:

action:

(caught up to the others. Moving their speed via 400+ words)

Akuma walked through the dungeon with the rest of them. His mind full of questions despite how he fared so far in things so far. He still knew so little-- about the demons, his persona and the evils that lurked in the city. Coming from him, it was almost hypocritical, but the shit he done didn't compare to any of this. And now he wanted to learn the answers.

"So what exactly are we hoping to find in here, besides strengthening our personas?" Akuma asked them as he had his arms behind his head as he walked down the labyrinth path. His tone was a bit on the lazy side and he tried to look casual despite the demon mask he wore. "No one has answered my question either-- how come this place just spawns up at night. What is causing it?" he asked, interested in how this place was created. "If we reach the end, will it disappear?"

His questions were valid ones-- perhaps even normal people probably didn't even see or notice the dungeons. He might not of been the smartest person out there, but he knew enough that what happened here was unnatural. Even if it meant his Persona was manifested, this was wrong-- like a hole in the world.

He soon followed the others, and made his way to the next area in hopes to fight to his heart's content. If nothing else, this city has become less boring since his recent arrival.

AKuma smirked as he saw the two new enemies. Excited he felt it was his chance to break loose. "PERSONA!!" he roared, envoking Icarus above him. "Power up!"

This time Icarus applied the fiery boost to Dante himself, he felt his muscles and body surge with energy, as if he had taken some sort of drug. He felt stronger, and ready to kick ass.

Dante Stats and Info:

Persona:

(Action: Cast Tarukaja on Self)

"Assault beginning, Engaging enemy" She raised her foot and Zaku II did the same, both Stomping on the ground and a spike of earth shot out of the ground in an attempt to impale the enemy.

stats:

Strengths/Weaknesses/Passives:

Skills:

action:

Kendra broke her shackles again, letting Nakano appear. Her Persona rushed forward, ready to to strike, Kendra hoping she would land a blow as she rushed forwards.

Stats:

Strengths/Weaknesses/Passive Effects in Effect::

Action::