Shin Megami Tensei: Curtain Call

OFFICIAL SIDEBLOG for the 'Curtain Call' group verse, based on the 'Shin Megami Tensei' series. All the important stuff can be found here, but following is not a requirement! The official tag for the verse is 'v; curtain call' Applications: OPEN Any muse from any fandom is welcome!

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((Regrettably, I have had to remove two individuals from the group verse. One part of Rule #1 here is to privately contact an admin whenever there is a dispute, so that it can be resolved peacefully, but it took concerns and worries from others to bring it to my attention. And due to the discomfort that the dispute caused, I had no choice but to remove the source of it.

Many felt that they could not contribute to the verse because of the tension they felt, and I myself have had my motivation for continuing the verse damaged by this turn of events. I don’t like having to put on my Admin shoes to put my foot down, but I will do what is necessary to ensure the verse runs smoothly and comfortably for everyone in it. 

I can only hope that this verse can continue forward from this unfortunate turn of events.))

[officialcurtaincall]

On Merciless Wings

Shibuya...

The small army of angels that swarmed the area almost seemed endless, even as some of the survivors there fought back against them. From his place high in the sky, next to the strange, totem-like creature he had summoned, Michael watched on, waiting and biding his time. The seraphim spoke, voice booming across all of Shibuya once more. “Son of Man. Your mortal lives are weak. Fragile. You cannot win a battle of attrition against my forces. Stand and face your judgment, or surrender to the mercy of Our Lord!”

Was that impatience in the infallible angel’s voice? Perhaps, perhaps not. Within the Shirogane Detective Agency, all was quiet as Seiku and others kept their heads low. Angels had not entered the building yet, thankfully... The assistant tapped away at her phone, shaking her head, “Naoto-san is not responding... Are they alright in Bunkyo..? I hope they come back soon, with help... There’s so many angels.”

Elsewhere in Shibuya, a young woman poked her head out of the stairwell leading down into the underground mall, taking note of the lordly soldiers filling the sky. Her eyes settled specifically upon Michael and the strange totem levitating next to him before she ducked back down behind the wall of the stairwell, narrowly avoiding a passing angel.

“This isn’t good...” She sighed, clenching her fist. When all hell had broken loose in Tokyo, it took some time for her to get her bearings, but, at least she was able to defend herself with her Persona until now. Makoto poked her head out of cover once more, looking straight at the totem in the sky. “I can feel Johanna, but I cannot reach her... I will not be useless again. Surely there is something I can do, even without her power?”

Michael’s heavenly wings beat lazily, just enough to keep him aloft in the sky as he folded his arms across his chest. He took a moment to look at the strange creature he had summoned. It was utterly alien and grotesque. If one imagined how a totem pole might look if it were an organic, living creature, then the pulsing entity next to him resembled that, with it’s multiple layers of flesh and maws. Whatever this beast was, it was not of God’s creation... ..What business did it have existing? A scowl tugged at the seraphim’s lips as he turned to look out across Shibuya once more.

[officialcurtaincall]

Of Dragons

At long last, the Tokyo Dome was in sight.

With aid from the Karura they had encountered, the trip was a surprisingly smooth and uneventful one. But no good thing could last forever. Pests that could barely pass for demons harassed the soldiers posted at the main entrance to the Tokyo Dome, and they were quickly dispatched by a hail of gunfire. Just as it seemed there would be some momentary peace for the many taking refuge within the megastructure, a piercing screech tore through the sky.

Mighty wingbeats could be heard as the already dark sky grew darker still. A heavy silhouette could be seen in the clouds above, and as the beast descended, it’s true form could be distinguished. It was a massive feathered serpent, large wings jutting out of it’s back. The Karura that had accompanied the expedition seemed to grow tense as her feathers bristled, and, other than a momentary smirk, there was no warning before she suddenly took to the sky with a grand flap of her own wings.

Feathered God of the Winds, Quetzalcoatl

After a hail of gunfire from the soldiers did nothing to dissuade the creature, one of the soldiers barked orders to his comrades as the flying beast drew closer still. The Karura made a beeline straight for Quetzalcoatl, brandishing her scythe as sparks of fire escaped through gnashed teeth, the soldier’s orders audible as the battle began, “Get the specialist out here, now!”

Meanwhile, within the Tokyo Dome proper, a small panic erupted as the feathered serpent’s roars rang out. What was happening? Were they going to be safe? Were they going to die? The slew of questions pressured the various soldiers and officers posted throughout the dome, including one female officer with short brown hair. A heavy sigh escaped her as she shook her head, “Please, just try to stay calm! I promise I’ll protect you all!”

A soldier, gear clinking against his form as he weaved through the crowds, was quick to approach the woman, “Satonaka, we need you at the main entrance ASAP. We’ve got a nasty one out there, and you’re the only officer we’ve got that can fight those things properly. Guns aren’t gonna do shit to somethin’ that big... But your - what did you call it - Persona? That might leave a mark.”

“Is it really that bad..?” Chie responded, feeling her power stir within her. Though she was still technically a rookie police officer, a lot of the other officers and soldiers looked to her for advice after seeing her summon her Persona to dispatch some of the demons that regularly attacked the place. Even if this was the worst attack yet... the tomboy wasn’t going to let anyone be hurt on her watch! With a determined nod, she saluted, “I’ll be right there!”

In a flurry of fire did the Karura charge Quetzalcoatl, only for the feathered serpent to respond with a burst of fire of it’s own. Whirling through the flames, which obscured her from sight for a precious moment, she soared past the beast, digging her scythe into it’s scales. It was enough to hold the beast’s attention for now, as it turned and snapped at her with mighty jaws, but it was clear that the Karura alone would not be enough to stop it... 

Boss Fight #2: Quetzalcoatl From one serpent to another... Tokyo had become a troublesome place. And with the seraphim Michael launching an assault back home, nowhere was truly safe. At least the expedition had some extra firepower, this time around... They’d need it do bring down the lord of the sky.

[officialcurtaincall]

((If anyone is looking to add new muses to the verse, then allow me to make a suggestion! The expedition will soon reach the Tokyo Dome, and there they will find many military members, police officers, and civilians. If you’re not quite sure how to toss your muses into this apocalyptic mess, then feel free to have them be taking refuge at the Tokyo Dome. Within the next few hours, I’ll write up the expedition’s arrival to the dome, and with it, an introduction for one of my own muses. 

I will also be updating the battle with Michael shortly, so stay tuned!))

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I just want to ask one thing to make surer I'm not going crazy... Well, crazier. The art being used for the blog promo, isn't it from the old SMT MMO, Imagine Online?

((You’d be correct on that one! I felt it was very fitting, since it really encapsulates the opposing sides of Law and Chaos, while still leaving that narrow Neutral ground in between. And the verse as a whole is based primarily upon the mainline Shin Megami Tensei games, though it’s obviously going to draw on elements from the various spinoffs like Persona and Devil Summoner as well.))

[officialcurtaincall]

As an addendum to the event with Michael: those who have supernatural powers of their own are still capable of using them against Michael and his squad of angels, but those who rely on the assistance of another supernatural being, like COMP-users with their demons, or Persona-users with their Personas, will have to rely entirely on their own natural abilities.

[officialcurtaincall]

Home Is Where the Hurt Is

Though it seemed peaceful enough in Shibuya, the defeat of Yamata-no-Orochi had caused quite a stir among forces unseen. And far be it from they to simply sit back and do nothing about these upstarts. Of course, they would not act without a plan, and that plan was a simple one: deny them the power that helped them defeat the serpent. Easy enough, right?

The already-darkened skies seem to grow even darker as a low rumbling could be heard in Shibuya. Then, all at once, a blast of light pierced through the black clouds. A swarm of lesser Angels spilled forth, as one, distinguished Archangel descended among them. He spoke at once, voice booming across Shibuya.

Seraph of Fire, Michael

“Son of Man. You rise against forces beyond your ken. Repent for your foolish ways, and you may yet find forgiveness in the eyes of Our Lord. Resist, and you will face judgment by my blade.” The seraphim’s commands were clear, but... surely the survivors in Shibuya would not simply bow down to him? Of course, the swarm of lesser angels about him made it clear that he was more-than-capable of a fight, should they desire it...

As the humans pondered their course of action, a large, winged, totem-like abomination descended from the sky next to Michael. Chains were bound about the creature, and in one swift move, the seraphim severed them with his blade. A pulse of energy then emanated from the totem, spreading throughout Shibuya.

Those with the power to call upon the supernatural... would find that connection severed when the pulse struck them. Contracts were nulled, Personas were silenced, and Demons were banished. Another booming command rose from Michael then, “If it would make your decision easier, I have denied you the source of your power. To resist would surely mean death!”

...Well, it was clear that Michael never intended to give them a fair choice in the matter. They could still fight back, right..? Or was this the end for them?

Results: Uh oh! It looks like one of the four Seraphim has arrived in Shibuya with a small army of angels at his call, while the expedition is away in Shinjuku and Bunkyo. To make matters worse, contracts with demons and other supernatural beings like Personas have been completely shattered for the time being. It would be difficult to fight in this state, even with their numbers, but... Will the survivors in Shibuya really give up so easily?

[officialcurtaincall]

Onward to Bunkyo

With a bit more explanation, the mysterious Karura that had encountered the expedition pointed at the carving she had made, before pointing at herself and raising her scythe. A scowl tugged at her lips; she clearly was not fond of serpents. With another point to the carving, and then to the group that had gathered, she nodded, before stepping closer. She did not seem to care where the group was going; she just wanted the chance to encounter a beast as mighty as Yamata-no-Orochi. And accompanying everyone gave her the best chance at that.

[ADMINISTRATOR] Nice! Looks like it’s with you for now. This ought to make the trek easier, yeah?

The journey continued, then, as the troupe made their way out of Shibuya and into Shinjuku. On the other side of Shinjuku was Bunkyo -- and the Tokyo Dome. Any lesser demons that were encountered were quick to scatter in the face of the mighty Karura, and those who were bold (or foolish) enough to fight were dispatched just as quickly by the avian demon’s flames. 

Acquiring her aid, even temporarily, was quite the boon indeed...

[ADMINISTRATOR] Careful now... I’ve heard there’s a nasty demon near the red-light district. Even with that Karura helping you out, it might be too much to handle. Maybe you’ll be lucky enough not to catch it’s attention...?

Despite the Amala Admin’s warnings, the group continued on, emboldened perhaps by the presence of the Karura. Naoto stopped as the group passed a musty old library, turning to get a better look at it. Upon realizing this, the others stopped as well, wondering what was wrong. Her steely blue hues shifted from the front of the building to a nearby manhole, before she turned back in the direction they came from. 

“This may sound ridiculous, but, with the amount of demons we have encountered above ground, perhaps venturing through the sewer system would be safer. In any case, this library seems largely untouched by the chaos... It may be worth staking a claim here, so that the trip back to Shibuya from the Tokyo Dome is not as grueling.” The detective explained, before turning to face the group as a whole.

[ADMINISTRATOR] It’s not a bad idea... The more strongholds you claim, and the more territory you carve out for yourselves, the easier it’ll be to resist the coming tides of Law and Chaos. I don’t think there’s enough of you to claim the library right now though, especially if some demons are squatting inside... But, it’s definitely worth noting on any maps you might have, so you can come back some other time.

Results: A temporary demon ally, Karura, has been acquired. A potential stronghold has also been scouted out: The Shinjuku Public Library. 

One can only hope that the rest of the trip to the Tokyo Dome is as peaceful...

[officialcurtaincall]

A New Ally?

As the armored man questioned the mysterious Karura, she turned away, gaze cast down to the ground for a moment. She opened her mouth, as if trying to speak, only to suddenly wince, one hand rising to gently clutch her own throat. It seemed that, for whatever reason, this particular demon could not speak. Naoto, who had remained quiet during the brief exchange, spoke up, addressing the avian woman directly, “We mean you no harm, if you mean us no harm.”

The demon looked to the group for a long moment, before brandishing a scythe (where did she get that from?!) and raising it. But, rather than attack, she struck the ground, carving out an image with the blade. This Karura had been exploring the area for some time now, and it had witnessed certain events... or rather, the aftermath of said events. After a few more moments, she took a step back, observing the image she had carved.

It resembled a writhing mass of tentacles, but upon closer inspection, the carving resembled the massive, multi-headed serpent that had attacked the Shirogane Detective Agency. The Karura pointed to the image, before pointing to the group, cocking her head slightly.

The Amala Application sprang to life again... How was the Administrator seeing all of this?

[ADMINISTRATOR] I think it’s asking if you were the ones who killed that snake... It must have found the corpse after the battle or something. I bet it wanted to be the one to kill that serpent, but you all beat it to the punch.

[ADMINISTRATOR] Remember all that talk of forming contracts with demons? I think this Karura is a bit too powerful to be bound to any one of you individually, but... Hey, maybe you can convince it to tag along with the group as a whole, at least for now. I mean, if you had enough bad luck to fight that giant snake the other night, you’ll probably run into something similar again... And I know that a Karura would be chomping at the bit for a chance at a fight like that.

Having a strong demon at their side would certainly make the trek to the Tokyo Dome easier... Even if they went their separate ways after the fact, that would be fine, especially if Naoto’s plan to cooperate with the law enforcement and military panned out. They wouldn’t need a demon’s help at that point...

[officialcurtaincall]

Expedition Event: A New Ally?

A draconic screech suddenly filled the air... Where was it coming from?! Looking to the sky, Naoto and the others would see a large reptilian body plummeting from the heavens, a flash of red slicing into it from above. As the large beast struck the ground with a resounding boom, a figure could be made out standing triumphantly upon the slain drake’s corpse. It appeared to be a woman... and yet the red feathers that adorned parts of her body, combined with the large crimson wings that furled out around her, confirmed she was anything but human.

“...”

Was she a demon..? Or did those wings mean she was some sort of angel? A whirl of fire whipped about her before fading away, her cold gaze fixated upon the small group of adventurers. It was difficult to tell if she was friend or foe, as she remained silent even when questioned... And though she made no move to strike, it was clear that she had a power to her, if she was able to defeat such a large, draconic beast. One would certainly hope she was friendly...

As if answering those thoughts, the Amala Application suddenly sprang to life! Text flashed across the screen... It seemed that the mystery Administrator was online.

[ADMINISTRATOR] Finally got this feature working... So, hey, there’s that chatroom, yeah? Useful! But there’s a lot more the Amala Network can do. For now I was able to get this scanner working here... It looks like you’ve encountered a demon! 

[ADMINISTRATOR] Having a hard time figuring out it’s intention? That’s okay. Demons come in all shapes and sizes after all, and even if two demons look the same, they may have totally different personalities and desires! It looks like you’ve run into a Karura. Careful now, they’re fierce! They’re particularly fond of hunting down dragons and serpents and slaughtering them. Oh, and they can breath fire. Fun.

[ADMINISTRATOR] ..Hmm, you all killed that big snake, right? Most Karuras would respect that. Try talking to this one! 

[officialcurtaincall]

((You might ask, ‘J, how is this expedition thingy gonna work?’ so let me spill those beans!! I’ve decided to leave some of it up to chance, more-or-less. I’ve got a list of various scenarios here, and I’m going to use a random number generator to determine which events, if any, happen. If luck is on your side, the trek to the Tokyo Dome will be largely peaceful and uneventful... But if fortune doesn’t smile on you today, you may end up in several dangerous situations, including another potential Boss Fight! Wouldn’t that be scary?

Anyways, stay tuned, loves. I’ll be firing out posts left-and-right as those scenarios occur! Meanwhile, I’ve got something planned for everyone who stayed behind, too. How exciting~ ;3c))

[officialcurtaincall]

Trek

“It is doubtful that we would ever truly be ready...”

Taking a deep breath, Naoto approached the small group that had gathered outside of her detective agency. None of them were ready for destruction and pandemonium of this scale... None of them ever would be ready for it. Life had become bleak, to say the least, but if this gambit for the Tokyo Dome paid off, they could finally have some hope. 

And the sooner they acted, the better. The detective had done what she could to determine an efficient path to the megastructure. It was highly unlikely that the subways were still functioning, and with the rubble and abandoned vehicles slowly filling the streets, proceeding on foot was their only course of action. Their meager supplies, and their own weapons and abilities, would have to see them through. 

“Our path is simple enough. Northeast, through Shibuya and Shinjuku, until we arrive in Bunkyo. There is no doubt that we will encounter demons along the way... I can only hope that they are not as powerful as the serpent that attacked us here.” Naoto began, letting those steely blues pass over those who had gathered. Most of the survivors would remain here, to try and keep control of what holdings they had... The remaining few had much on their shoulders.

                                                          “..Shall we?”

@starsmusestation  @askthetraditionalgamer @pxleides @cixlomist @ilcomplice and @fxtedefyingfool will be accompanying Naoto to the Tokyo Dome. But those who are not going on the expedition will still have things to do, I promise ;3c

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        “The serpent fell...”

                                                 “How? Humans are so frail.”

 “Mankind is a parasite, leeching from beings far more powerful than they.”

                “Then... Take those beings away. Man cannot stand alone.”

                                                                              “Yes. That can be done.”

                                                                                                          “Without that power...”

        “They will surely face their doom, this time. I will personally guarantee it.”

                                “Go, then.”

[officialcurtaincall]

((Okay! This honestly looks like a pretty good number, just a few quick things!!

@askthetraditionalgamer have you submitted an application to the verse? I don’t believe I have one for you. If you have submitted an application but have not been added to the masterlist yet, Tumblr may have ate the submission. Please send a new one in if that’s the case!

@pxleides @cixlomist @silxntsamxrai Patty plz you cant throw all of your muses in! Pick just one or two for the excursion. Flynn battled Orochi, so I would suggest Pyrrha and/or Cielo to keep participation of all the muses even.

[officialcurtaincall]

Time To Volunteer!!

((Apologies for the slow rate of updates lately, but it’s time to decide who will be going on the excursion to the Tokyo Dome. I would have asked around in the Discord server, but I know not all of you are in it, so we’ll handle it here. 

If you would like for your muse to accompany Naoto to the Tokyo Dome, like this post. Not everyone can go on this adventure, as many will have to stay behind to protect the few small strongholds that they currently possess, and a large group will move too slowly and draw too much attention anyways. 

Do note that liking this post does not guarantee that your muse will go on the excursion, especially if a lot of people like it. But if your muse is not chosen to go on this excursion, don’t fret! There will be plenty more events like this in the future, and I’ll be keeping track of which muses have done what. That way, if a muse has participated in a lot of events, I’ll kinda shoo them away from events for a short while to let other muses who have not participated as much to have a chance to shine. I don’t want anyone to feel left out!))

[officialcurtaincall]

Rumblings

The Tokyo Dome.

Recent discussions have led to the idea of venturing out to the megastructure in an attempt to claim it as a base of operations. The local military and law enforcement have already established themselves there, so it is simply a manner of making that journey. Demons are particularly active around the Dome, leading to many skirmishes, but, with the resources of the military and law enforcement, along with the security of the structure itself, it would prove vital in surviving this apocalypse and striking back.

Naoto Shirogane has been making preparations, pouring over maps of Tokyo and trying to discern the safest, most efficient route to the Dome. From their position in the Shibuya, they would have to venture northeast across the Shinjuku ward and into Bunkyo where the Dome could be found. It would be a much longer journey than the one between her office and Rise Kujikawa’s apartment complex, and it would certainly be a dangerous one. Going alone would be suicide.

As activity buzzed about in her office as her fellow survivors simply relaxed and prepared for their next venture out into the hell that Tokyo had become, Naoto looked up from the maps and observed them all. She had come to put her faith in them, especially after the battle against Yamata-no-Orochi. And there were still more survivors at Rise Kujikawa’s apartment and elsewhere that had her trust. 

If they all attempted to make this journey, they would move somewhat slowly and be a rather large and obvious target for any demons on the prowl. As such, Naoto decided that a small squadron that could move quickly and quietly would be the safest option to reaching the Tokyo Dome and establishing contact with the officials stationed there. The remaining survivors would wait in Shibuya, defending what little strongholds they had, and slowly-but-surely branching out in order to establish a safer route through the wards.

Naoto hoped that, upon making contact with those stationed at the Dome, they could use the military’s sheer firepower to help carve out a relatively safe route back to Shibuya. A supply line, of sorts. It would allow those humans caught up in this war to carve out their own territory, to start pushing back against the territories that the forces of Law and Chaos had already established.

It was a long shot, but it was their only shot. The only question remaining was...

Who would make this trek? And who would stay behind?

[officialcurtaincall]

In the wake of the serpent’s demise, it quickly became clear that the raging inferno would not simply cease. Even in this apocalyptic world, fire was ever free, and impossible to truly tame. The moon and the stars above watched on as bodies moved, making sure that none of the blazing buildings held victims within them.

The Shirogane Detective Agency burned as well, the detective herself coughing as she practically dragged her assistant out of the thickening smoke. Seiku’s armed was draped about her shoulder, feet barely cooperating with her as Naoto helped her lay down outside as gently as she could. Her Persona returned to her side as she watched the blaze grow.

“E..Everything that I have built... I refuse to let it be destroyed!”

As if feeling the very same resolve as the detective, Yamato Sumeragi moved, flying directly into the building as the fire slowly spread. Wind would suddenly kick up inside before directing itself to the exits as Naoto ducked down, wincing as a whirling mass of flames spun outward before shooting up into the sky. The Persona within continued flying about the street with unnatural speed, summoning small whirlwinds to capture the flames and spray them up into the sky for them to slowly but surely disperse.

The azurette knew that her Persona was not the only one capable of such feats, and so she looked to Yosuke and his ‘twin’. Perhaps, together, they could salvage the Shirogane Detective Agency and whatever remaining buildings had not yet succumbed to the blazing inferno. “Please...”