Leanan Sidhe: Ah, 'tis nice tae see faery country restored after all this time. Even in this dark place I guess there's reason for hope.
Character notes: A Celtic fairy who patronizes the arts, at the cost of literally draining the life of those who take her as their muse. She's, errm, noteworthy in that she starts at level 9 but doesn't max out until 21, getting Heal Pleroma which boosts healing skills and Media that heals the entire party, so it is kinda worth it.
Personality notes: Airy, arty girl.
Dwarf: You said it. Heard a lotta my family moved here, too.
Character notes: Everyone's favorite diminutive Nordic master smiths, now ubiquitous in pop culture. Born from the maggots that ate the corpse of the primal giant Ymir, yum! He's another basic Phys user.
Personality notes: Gruff old man who likes commenting on weapons and architecture.
Kaso: Th-that's a r-really big tree... I h-hope there aren't m-monsters that want my skin there...
Character notes: A flaming Chinese mouse sprit, notable in its appearance in The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter where finding one and obtaining its fur is one of the Fetch Quests given by Princess Kaguya. Basic Fire-user.
Personality notes: Paranoid coward who thinks everyone's after his fur.
(Picked up these three in Ueno and forgot to mention them last time by the way)
Nanashi: Wow... this is gorgeous! To think such a place could exist in this dump. I, uhh, mean that's what I'd say if I cared about shit like that. Will be nice to have a place to rest, at least. Up and in, everyone.
Legion: I caaaaaaaan't, I'm allergic to cherry bloooooossoms...
Strigoii: I can't, I'm allergic to lovey-dover fairy sweetness, bleheh!
Fomorian: I CAAAAAAAN'T, I'M ALLERGIC TO TUATHA DE DANAAAAAANN!
Angel: I can't, I'm allergic to pagan filth!
Nanashi: You people suck. Come on, we're going.
Enter Yoyogi park from the terminal to be greeted by a long pathway leading to an island covered in lovely cherry blossom trees. Follow the path to reach the largest tree to be a greeted by... a woman who looks nearly identical to the "Nozomi" character that summoned you here!
Nanashi: Wait what?
Then the "Nozomi" who had been traveling with you turns into a small fairy.
Fuxi: I knew this wouldn't end well. Go further into this situation, young one, and you will walk to this world's doom!
Nanashi: Can it, I want to hear what's going on.
The newly arrived woman is, of course, the actual Nozomi. The one that led you here is her demon, Napaea, who had taken her form and stolen her phone to recruit hunters in an attempt to help stop some sort of fight at the Fairy Forest's mystic spring.
Dwarf: Goddammit, was hopin' ta use that spring for my skin. And maybe take a look fed that weapon what's supposed ta be around here too...
Nozomi further explains that she used to be a Hunter (and photographer), but became Queen of the Fairies due to a ritual which bonded her with Lady Danu, the matriarch of Fairykind (you might recall Flynn helped her with this in the original). Due to her newfound powers, she can see Navarre, and reveals his presence to Asahi as well.
Nanashi: If he hadn't been so helpful in battle I'd ask her to maybe exorcise him for me...
Danu herself then manifests from Nozomi and reveals an even greater power at play here - her son, Dagda, residing in Nanashi's body.
Nanashi: Oh BOY do I not like the sound of this.
Regardless of these developments that will pay off much later, our goal here right now is to take out a certain fairy who has gone "bananacakes" according to Nozomi (a line that, incidentally, many fans found very narmy) and is denying anyone else access to the spring. She also joins as a partner character to help accomplish this; she specializes in Gun skills, some of which induce status ailments.
As an aside, the wild demons around here are residents of the Fairy Forest, and yet Nozomi is willing to help you fight them. That's kinda weird.
Nanashi: Since I'm apparently good at the whole demon recruiting business, let's see if I can pick up a few around here.
Kaso: WHO SAID YOU COULD HAVE MY SKIN, I'M USING IT?
Nanashi: Whoever said anything about... oh hey, there's another cute little mouse thing; maybe I could get you a friend, Kaso?
Chagrin: Oh, a kindly demon summoner! I would happily accompany you on your quest!
Nanashi: See? Easy as toast.
Chagrin: Well that was harmless. Now GIMME ALL YOUR MAGNETITE, BITCH-BOY!
Kaso: Eeeep!
Character notes: A yellow hedgehog spirit from the legends of the Romani; like Fuxi, seeing one is a sign of impending doom. She gets ailment-causing Gun skills and your first buff, Sukukaja, which boosts hit and evade rate.
Personality notes: Is alternately rude and polite.
Pixie: Oh don't mind her. Hiya, I'm Pixie! People say I'm a heroine type, but lately I've just been hanging around here.
Nanashi: I've started to learn I should never mind what you guys do. You seem nice at least.
Pixie: Well thanks! I may not look like much but Pixiekind has guided great heroes all throughout the cosmos! Oh, and pick up her too! That guy that's hogging the spring doesn't like fire, or so I'm told.
Character notes: The true heroine of the SMT series, of course! She's a British fairy that alternately helps humans and pulls pranks on them. In many SMT games, she's the first demon you get. She gets Elec and healing skills.
Personality notes: Honest, forthright heroine.
Hua Po: Cheeep? Cheep cheep cheep!
Character notes: Another strange Chinese critter, she's a spirit born from trees commonly used for suicides despite her cute appearance. She can't speak and instead sings like a bird. Gets Fire skills.
Personality notes: See above.
These are some of the encounters you'll find in this, the first real "dungeon" of the game. Dwarves and Mothmen are here too. For now the Fairy Forest is a relatively small area, and these demons I mentioned just above can all be recruited on the eastern path. There are also several Wormwood barriers around here, that can be cleared by slashing at their cores from the proper side. Make sure you do that to get around easier.
Nanashi: Huh, my sword works on the Wormwood but not these bigger purple ones. They look like they have faces too; creeps me out.
Bilwis: That's 'cuz it's a Wraithwall. I've been tryin' to chop chop chop these things down for a while but they say there's only one way to get rid of 'em, with some thing some of the bigshots around here got.
Character notes: An annoying fairy that appears at night in German grain fields and chops all the grain down. He gets a well-rounded repertoire of Ice, Phys, and healing skills.
Personality notes: Always talks about chopping things down.
He's recruitable here too.
With the eastern path unblocked, head through the northwest exit to the upper part of the central path, and clear the Wormwood leading to the western area. Shortly after you enter, you'll overhear a spat between two fairy nobles, Oberon and Titania.
Pixie: Oh not again. Frankly it's a miracle those two are still together...
Nozomi steps in to mediate. It seems Titania has busted her husband carrying around a mysterious crystallize dagger, which he insists is a device that helps keep lost souls active in the material realm, but Titania insists given his history he's up to something seedy with it.
Nozomi attempts to confiscate it to end the dispute, but her fingers pass right through it. She can't wield it because she's not a lost soul and still has a physical body... but Navarre can!
Nadja: Ack, we've empowered him!
Fuxi: Truly, this is a portent of the end...
This is the Jade Dagger, an item that introduces a quirky little puzzle mechanic. It needs to be charged at what are called Power Spots, which are those green glowing funnel-like things I pointed out in prior installments, at which point Navarre manifests next to Nanashi and can use the dagger to destroy Wraithwalls. There's a time limit, though, so you need to at times find creative ways to reach your destination in time. You may also have seen strange purple, tentacled things clinging to walls around Tokyo; these can be destroyed by the Dagger as well, yielding rare items. For now, just use the nearby power spot to break the Wraithwall to the north.
Moh Shuvuu: Wow, that was impressive... NOT! Stupid little green ghost thing, must've been a failure as a human! Not like you, though, Mr. Magnetite Beefcake! I'd follow you everywhere!
Character notes: Our first demon so obscure her name was actually misromanized; it's actually Muu Shuwuu. She's a siren-like demoness of Mongolia and Siberia who seduces men to eat their brains. Mmmmmmm. She's also the only demon from Altaic/Turkic mythology of any real recurrence in the series; isn't it sad? Gets Wind attacks and the magic buff, Makakaja.
Personality notes: Same personality as in the Anthony sidequest in SJ. "Failure as a human!"
And some fusions, too...
Napaea: Whoooooooaaaaah hey there Summoner! Sorry if my sister back there annoyed you! You can't go wrong with fairies by your side though!
Character notes: Nozomi's demon of choice is a Greek Nymph, yet not in the Nymph race for some reason. Napaea were specifically valley nymphs. She's the first demon able to cover her own weakness upon leveling up - Ice, in this case.
Personality notes: Bubbly teenage girl.
Preta: Augh man, summoned again? I was this close to finding something... eat... HOLY MACKEREL LOOK AT ALL THAT MAGNETITE!
Character notes: The second-lowest type of spiritual creature in Buddhism, they are the reincarnations of excessively greedy humans and are always hungry. His specialty is a strange skill called Bad Company, which instantly summons your highest-level demons to your party. Useful in the right situation.
Personality notes: Constantly hungry, as above, and kind of a jerk.
Katakirauwa: Not your yumyums, mine!
Fortuna: Oh how interesting. How long has it been since I've been called by one such as you?
Character notes: Fortuna to Romans, Tyche to Greeks, she's the personification of good luck who wields the literal Wheel of Fortune, which is part of her body in her SMT design. She gets Wind and healing skills, and Makakaja.
Personality notes: Typical fortuneteller who speaks in Vagueness Is Coming terms.
Nanashi: Uhhhhh... such as me?
Fortuna: Oh you haven't realized it yet? Not surprising, you're still quite young. If nothing else, that god's interest in you is intriguing, no?
Nanashi: I guess you might say- OW! I tripped over a... jar?
Agathion: How dare you call me a- YES, that's what I am. Jar. J-A-R. Now leave me alone, don't try to contract me or- *is stuffed into phone*
Character notes: A type of small familiar sorcerers seal in jars and use to help their friends and torment their enemies. He gets Zionga, the second-tier Elec spell and your first second-level spell period
Personality notes: Constantly insists he's merely a jar.
Nanashi: Mmmkay. That's the spring up ahead, right? Better go see what's going on and SWEET SUSANOO'S SOCKS WHAT IS THAT THING!?
Holding court in front of the spring is that most regal of demons, his flowing golden locks the pinnacle of masculine beauty, his round belly the emblem of his prosperity, his crown and scepter displaying his nobility for all to see. Yes, the culprit behind the water-hoarding is none other than His Royal Majesty, KING FROST!
Nozomi demands an explanation for why he's taken over the spring, and he replies that with a monopoly on the water supply, he can force the other demons of the Fairy Forest to search for the forest's "great treasure" for him. Swearing that as a king, everyone needs to obey him, he attacks!
BOSS: TYRANT KING FROST Level 17. Weak Fire, Repel Ice, Resist Light
Nanashi: Alright demons and demonettes, I think we can do this - this guy's way weaker than that Archangel.
King Frost is the game's first "real" boss and thankfully, unlike the Minotaur, he's not that big of a stumbling block. The ideal partner for this battle is Navarre - you likely won't have many buff spells yourself at this point, but Navarre can provide them for free, making him extremely handy against bosses.
Make sure to recruit a Hua Po as well; she's a decently strong Fire user who is not weak to Ice, being vulnerable to Electricity instead. Which the King here has no moves of. Despite being one of the other main Fire-users at this point, Kaso is not recommended here as he is weak to Ice.
Hua Po: Cheep cheeeeeeeeeeep!
What he does have, however, is pretty dangerous. He's the first demon encountered with a unique Signature Move that only he can learn, in this case, King Bufula, which hits the entire party for "medium" Ice damage, more than you can do at this point, and if he's Smirking, it drops your defense as well. And oh yeah, he can give himself Smirks too. Yeah, remember in the original, when only Archangel Michael, one of the three strongest demons in the game, could do that? This game has Smile Charge, a move any demon can learn, that induces Smirk.
...and fortunately, there's another move that removes it, this being Magaon, and there's two ways to get that at this point - either train and Angel to level 12, or train yourself to level 14 and recruit a Spriggan from around here. I did the former.
Also introduced in this fight is the Assist Gauge, which fills up as the battle proceeds. Once full, it causes the enemy to lose their next turn and be attacked by the partner characters in an unblockable "All-Out Attack"-esque move.
Angel: You grin at your depravities, foul spirit of chaos! Well take this!
He likes to give himself Smirks at the end of each turn, and will use King Bufula on the next if you leave them up, so remove them and pile on the fire and eventually... he'll melt into an ordinary Jack Frost!
Nozomi interrogates Jack as to how he learned about the treasure. He reveals that another demon told him about it... and wouldn't you know it, that demon was observing the battle. It's a Preta!
Preta: Whoa whoa whoa, I object to this implication that all Pretas are up to something shady; this is profiling!
After threatening the Preta, he reveals that he was contracted to retrieve the treasure by "some creepy god from a group called the Divine Powers." His initial plan was to trick the fairies into finding it for him, but now that's sunk. Nozomi lets him go, content he can do no more harm.
Centaur: I wouldn't say that's necessarily prudent...
Dagda then manifests from Nanashi's body, along with his mother from Nozomi's. Danu chastises her son for manipulating Nanashi, saying that it is the duty of the Tuatha De to live in harmony with nature and benevolently rule Fairykind. Dagda, as you can imagine, is less than swayed, and reveals the existence of a master plan that he's groomed Nanashi for, before disappearing...
Nanashi: Oh. So I'm a pawn in a divine family feud. That's... not the news I wanted to hear.
Chagrin: Oh don't be sad, Nanashi! Just remember you're more fortunate than many people. Like, for instance, YOU COULD BE KATAKIRAUWA! HA HA!
Regardless, Nozomi brings the party back to the main tree and thanks them for their efforts. She then departs the group to resume her duties of running the Fairy Forest. Nanashi and company are now free to leave...
Fuxi: Beware, young one! The gears set in motion today portent DOOM to us all!
Nanashi: Oh shut up, I have enough to be stressed out about!
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