Tam Lin: Ah, it feels good to be on the battlefield again! The expanse is nice fer what it is, I suppose, but I'd begun teh long for the fresh air of the human world. Well, as fresh as the air can be after the incident 25 years ago. A demon cannae choose his summoner, but the other demons seem teh suspect that this Samurai may be one of THOSE people, so this is about as good as it can be for a demon! These two other young men with him, though... they seem a tad familiar, as well...
Tam Lin is the second Special Fusion available in the game, after Fortuna. He's more or less a Jack of All Stats and can easily get many different types of attacks onto him. There are a few other recruitable demons around here as well...
Hua Po: "Recruit" me? I know this tactic! Help! Pedo! Help!
Flynn: "Pedo?" I know not what that word means. Come back!
Hua Po: You're just sayin' that so I'll trust you! Police! Police!
Mothman: Hespengestengorbendingen. Nurblsurblescrederharper, argenscaplen felderbelder!
Flynn: Err...
Hua Po is a fire-user, having the multi-strike fire attack, Maragi. This makes her annoying to fight but useful in battle. Mothman specializes in Shibaboo, which inflicts the Bind ailment. I'd never really used him much on my other playthroughs, but I've discovered that binding is very useful for some stuff just down the road.
But before we head to the land of the Unclean Ones, there's some more stuff we can do in Mikado. Remember when I said that a whole bunch of Challenge Quests were available way back when, but I only did two? That's because most of the others required facing minibosses that I was a bit too weak for at the time, but which we can definitely take now! The first is "The Cursed Gauntlet," in which it's discovered that a powerful demon is still inside one of the Samurai gauntlets and won't leave, so Flynn is hired to fight it off. Accepting this quest unlocks the Treasure Room at Mikado Castle. Head there to begin the fight
=MINI-BOSS: ARES=
Level 12. Null Light, Null Dark
Ares has no weaknesses but no resistances either, so hit him with whatever you want. He hits pretty hard, having the medium-strength Phys attack, Fatal Sword, and the ability to counter Phys and Gun moves. He also has Makarakarn, a skill which you won't be able to get until midgame, and which automatically repels any magic attack, wasting your turn. If he puts this up, you have o choice but to take your chances with Phys and Gun. Defeating Ares unlocks him for Fusion.
Tam Lin: He was truly a fellow warrior. I wonder to whom that Summoning Program belonged originally?
Flynn: Summoning Program?
The next quest is "Slaying the Dragon of the Lake," in which a powerful dragon demon has appeared at Lake Mikado and Flynn is asked to get rid of it. Head to Lake Mikado on the map interface to challenge Long!
=MINI-BOSS: LONG=
Level 16. Resist Ice, Weak Elec, Drain Force, Null Light
Long is a level higher than Medusa, but being a mini-boss is significantly weaker. His moves are all Wind/Force-based, having Wind Breath, which randomly strikes multiple targets for Wind damage, as well as Zanma. Fight back with Electricity, though do note may Elec users are weak to Wind, which could be trouble. Defeat him and he leaves peacefully.
Vodyanik: Aww, I wanted to c-c-c-cook him!
Apasaras: How uncouth! That was a holy beast!
The final quest I did here was "Operation: Slay the Berserker," in which we track down two demons that have appeared on the third level of Naraku
=MINI-BOSS: RAKSHASA AND BERSERKER=
Rakashasa: Level 13. Resist Phyn, Weak Force, Weak Light
Berserker: Level 13. Null Phys, Weak Fire
These two are located on different alcoves in the Third Stratum. The Rakshasa is actually the more dangerous opponent, due to having Heat Wave, a Phys skill similar to Critical Wave, but actually accurate! Fight him with Force attacks. The Berserker is nothing special. With Fire on your side, he should be done for in no more than three rounds.
Flynn: All of these strange happenings, it's easy to forget that my true duty is hunting demons!
Mokoi: I'd hoped you HAD forgotten, honestly...
Right, with that out of the way, take the Terminal back down to the bottom of Naraku and exit the First Observation Platform to the ground level!
Flynn: Egad! There are people here! People? Unclean Ones? The Unclean Ones are... people?
Harpy: Umm, doi.
Agathion:' JAR!
You meet two suspicious-looking men at the bottom of the tower, who shortly flee in terror, believing that the four Prentices are in fact "angels" coming down from Heaven to kill them!
Flynn: Wait, stop! We simply desire information!
Take your first step into the Unclean land to get a call from Hugo. As much of a bottomfeeder as he is, he's here to help this time, providing us with data on the region, enabling us to use the map, and also giving the name of this new land:
Yes, the feared demon realm is actually modern-day Japan! Hugo assigns a quest to find the "Counter-Demon Force base" in an attempt to gather data about the region. You are then free to move about the new map. This map is infamously confusing to some players, but I honestly never had a problem with it, likely because I reached this point in the game before I heard of the map's reputation. Head north into the desert-like area to get some treasure. There are also two new demons around here:
Onmoraki: Hey, get away from me you gross animal! I'm not food, dammit!
Katarikauwa: UMM, YES YOU ARE. YUM YUM EAT 'EM UP!
Onmoraki: Well, technically yes I am, but so are you! I'm gonna kill you!
Flynn: Demons sure are... strange.
Onmoraki and Katarikauwa are the two lowest demons of the "Food" race, another oddball race like the Elementals. They cannot be created through fusion, only found in the wild, and tend to be a bit underleveled for the places you encounter them, but come with useful skills to make up for it. Onmoraki is the first demon able to buff defense, while Katarikauwa, upon leveling up, can learn resistances to three of the four elements! You may also get a pork item from fighting Katarikauwas; hang on to this.
Katarikauwa: MMM PORK. YUM YUM EAT 'EM UP!
Apsaras: Heavens! That came off of you!
Katarikauwa: DON'T CARE. YUM YUM EAT 'EM UP!
You can also speak to people, represented by green dots, on the map to learn some information. In particular, you'll hear tell of the Ashura-kai, an organization that stands to protect the people from the demons, but which is very ruthless as well.
Agathion: Doesn't sound like people you want to cross. Oh! I mean JAR!
Head to the west and enter the point there to arrive in Ueno. You'll find a tunnel leading underground, with a sign, translated by Isabeau, indicating that the Unclean Ones live down there!
Flynn: How strange. They seem very like, yet also very unlike us...
Oni: OOH! HOOMAN! SMASHY SMASHY!
Flynn: Egad! that one's huge!
Leanan Sidhe: No, Oni; no smashy smashy. You missed your nasty medicine today, didn't you?
Oni: ...YES.
Leanan Sidhe: Please excuse my idiot husband; he's not himself without his pills. Now, I'd like to volunteer our services, if I may, as I see I have a kindred spirit amongst you.
Harpy: Leanan! Haven't seen you in ages! Will you help me fix the crime against fashion that is this lot I'm stuck with?
Poltergeist: Relationship drama!
Yup, there's a whole munch of demons here. Poltergeist can reduce enemy accuracy, which honestly isn't all that useful. Leanan Sidhe is a pure healer, and comes with the Pleroma for healing skills. Oni is... exactly what he looks like. I also took the liberty of buying the Scout Plus app; now when a demon is recruited into the party, if there are lower-level demons nearby, they'll come along, too!
Melchom: I smell something terrible... it smells like... like someone's after my money!
Preta: HhhhhhhhhiiiiIIIIIIiiiiiIIIi...
Tangata Manu: dooG snevaeH!
Preta's signature move, Bad Company, is... interesting. Essentially, it allows him to summon the strongest demons in the stock to the field, if they're not already there.
Melchom: Get him away from me!
Preta: Come oooooooonnnn.... need to feed my grandmaaaaaa...
One you're done recruiting, slice the Wormwood to gain access to the upper level. There's a chest and a relic up here. Once you have everything, proceed into the Underground district.
Flynn: How strange. This place seems secure, but... eerie It seems there's a lot of fear amongst the people of this land.
Pixie: This place lost hope a long time ago...
Go into the first door on the north side to step into a Domain! A strange man with a Southern accent is in here, taking credit for setting up said Domain. He reveals that the domain is a Terminal, and that he's the "Terminal Guardian," assigned to prevent anyone but the Ashura-kai from using it. Time for a fight!
=MINI-BOSS: KARASU TENGU AND KOPPA TENGU x2=
Koppa Tengu: Level 14. Weak Elec, Null Force
Karasu Tengu: Level 20. Repel Fire, Weak Ice, Weak Elec, Null Light
There's not much to fear here, just pile on the lightning and you should be fine. Take out the Karasu first, as he's the strongest and can buff the others. And obviously, avoid using fire. When you win, the Terminal comes online, and you can now go to Ueno any time you wish!
Oni: THAT THING SHINY! ME SMASHY SMASHY?
Proceed into the main part of the District once this is done. Speak to the street vendor here and tell him you are NOT a member of the Ashura-Kai, then say the word "Erawan." He will give you access to the weapon shop. As before, this is mainly just a place to hock relics. The item shop is at the other end of the hall.
Enter the red door for an... interesting sight.
Flynn: A bar? This place is the spitting image of K's Tavern! The Unclean Ones have knowledge of places like this as well? Curiouser and curiouser...
This is the Hunter Association, where the Demon Hunters of Tokyo earn their keep. Surprisingly, Flynn discovers that the blackboard in this bart can also interface with the Gauntlet, just as the one in K's Tavern can! You may now accept quests here in Tokyo! In particular, there's one we need to get here speak to the "Cold Man" at the bar, who explains that the Kelpie demons are blocking the river crossing to the rest of Tokyo, and they won't leave until another demon Peallaidh, is dead. He assigns the quest to get rid of it, which you must accept to proceed.
Flynn: They have taverns, relics, their own Samurai... this may well be blasphemy, but is it possible we and the Unclean Ones were one people, once?
Fortuna: Oh, I wouldn't say that's too presumptuous of you, young one...
The Paeallaidh is at the pond, the path to which is at the end of the underground district. Head up the stairs here.
Jueyuan: Me-OW! Yo, brother, you got some tasty lookin' demonesses on ya! Mind if I tag along?
Flynn: Umm... be my guest?
Hua Po: Eek! Where did I put my whistle?
The Peallaidh demon is at the boathouse in the middle of the park. Save and heal, and then confront him. He remains stubborn, and gloats to Flynn and company, so it looks like we're just gonna have to kill him. He's not making it that easy, though, as he sics a horde of ghosts on us!
=MINI-BOSS: MOU-RYO HORDE=
Level 17. Resist Phys, Null Gun, Repel Ice, Repel Dark
Like most mini-bosses, this one shouldn't be much trouble. It attacks exclusively with Mudo, which is notoriously inaccurate against anything not weak to it. It does have quite a few resistances and no weaknesses, though, so you're better off capitalizing on the universal Horde weakness to multi-strike attacks.
=MINI-BOSS: PEALLAIDH=
Level 17. Weak Fire, Null Ice, Null Light, Null Dark.
After the Horde is defeated, Peallaidh himself enters the fray! He has a few notable skills. He can poiso the entire party with Poison Breath, and also has Pulinpa, which inflicts "Panic." This ailment replaces Charm from SJ, but is nowhere near as annoying since it's not 100% effective; in essence it's closer to Rage. Beware especially, however, of Axel Claw, which is a medium-strength version of that ever-annoying Bounce Claw.
Unlike the Horde, however, Peallaidh has a weakness: FIRE! Hua Po is very useful here as the best dedicated fire-user at this point in the game, but also use Flynn and anyone else who has Agi skills.
Jueyuan: Yo, little sis, look out; I heard that guy wants to grope your butt.
Hua Po: EEEEE! DIEDIEDIEDIEDIE!
Once Peallaidh is defeated, the party obtains his disgusting, slimy severed head.
Flynn: Eurgh, what should we do with this?
Oni: SMASH IT!
Katarikauwa: EAT IT!
Camazotz: MOUNT IT ON MY WALL!
Angel: Give it a proper burial.
(CAMAZOTZ, ONI, and KATARIKAUWA look at her as though she just belched)
What will the party do with Peallaidh's head? What is the nature of the Unclean Ones, anyway? Dare we ask what's in Oni's medicine? Stay tuned to find out!
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