Nanashi: Alright, everyone, I think we're about done here. Everyone I recruited from here said your goodbyes?
Napaea: Yuuuuuuuuuup! I feel sad leaving, but I also feel excited to go an an adventure!
Pixie: Fairies are still demons after all; we need exercise so as not to get rusty.
Bilwis: They've been trying to get rid of me for a long time. They think I wanna chop chop chop down the big tree! Eheheheheh of course I don't...
Nanashi: Also, I've quite literally made a few new, uh, friends. Say your hellos everyone.
Hamsa: Wow, you'd almost expect a place this nice to be a total quack, but I don't see anything wrong here!
Character notes: A holy white goose of Hindu lore, he is the Vahana, or sacred mount animal, of the demiurge Brahma. He has an interesting skill that comes as a package with the next demon I'll be introducing.
Personality notes: Makes terrible "quack" and "honk" puns.
Heqet: I disagree, this place is dull dull dull! Let's get back into the fight fight fight!
Character notes: A primal frog-headed goddess of Egyptian myth; in one version of the creation story she sculpted humans from clay with her husband, the ram-headed god Khnum. She and Hamsa both get passive skills, Healing Knowhow and Attack Knowhow respectively, that allow them to use items, respectively healing and damage-dealing items of course. Normally only Nanashi can use items. They're very situational skills and I've found myself fusing away all my demons that have them in the past, only to much later encounter a situation where I was all "Man I wish I still had a Knowhow skill!"
Personality notes: Ends her sentences with words repeated in threes.
Spriggan: Derj herh herh, yeah, I wadda go out an' fight too! I was mission' Kicky-George Forest!
Character notes: Another fairy found around the Corwall region, but unlike the small and cute Pixies, they're big and ugly. They're said to be the spirits of the primordial giants that once inhabited Britain, and to be made out of stone. He gets Oni-Kagura, a medium-level high-critical-rate move, Dormina, and Magaon.
Personality notes: Lovable big doofus.
Ippon-Datara: Whoa nelly! That guy's stuck to his chair! Here, lemme give you a hand! This'll hurt me more than it does you!
Garrotte: GHHHHHHHHHHK! GHHHHHHHHHHHHK!
Character notes: Another Japanese cryptic, this one said to have one eye, one leg, and live in snowy mountains. He may be an ancient demonized smith god. He gets Power Punch, the medium-tier version of Head Crush, as well as Mudo.
Personality notes: Obsessed with pulling things off of other things with his tongs.
Once you're ready to leave, head back to Ueno. There's a couple things I forgot to mention earlier. You may have seen strange things clinging to walls that look like glowing purple Octopi; there's one at the Ueno east entrance for one. I'm not sure what their proper name is but they resemble the Wraithwalls and are likewise vulnerable to the Jade Dagger. Power it up in the Power Spot under the manhole and race over to it to destroy it. You can find rare items in these, including valuable gems that can only be found here.
Nanashi: Freakin' sweet, an emerald! I didn't know there were any valuables lie these left in Tokyo!
Hooligan: I'shhhhhh rather have a fuhtbaaaaaaaaallll... Callin' it Shoccer's fer pusshiessssss...
Nanashi: If we can't ditch the ghost can we at least ditch him?
As for what these gems do... In the Kinshicho shopping district and a few other places throughout the game, you can meet a mysterious figure called the "Count of Saint Germain." He will swap gems with you for the best healing items in the game, including several that are exclusive to his shop such as the absurdly-overpowered Complete Restoration Gem, which heals all HP and MP for the entire party, and the even-more-absurdly-overpowered Relic of Revival, which revives you instantly upon death and grants you free Press Turns!
Oni: Yo, bro! Seen you around a few times lately! You were too weedy last I saw ya, but now you're looking' hot. Gimme that sweet Magnetite bro!
Character notes: Ueno's most powerful demon, hence why I had to come back for him later, Oni are Japan's answer to Ogres and are among the most famous of the yokai, known for their bright red skin and spiked clubs called kanabo (which Kanejo's version strangely does not possess). Their leader is named Shutendoji, who appeared as the top Brute in some early SMT games but not really anymore. He gets Head Crush and Critical Wave, a hits-all version of Lunge.
Personality notes: Affably Evil street punk.
There are also several Challenge Quests you can take on now, such as "Retrieve Smartphone," which directs you to Asakusa Land, a theme park east of Ueno.
Nanashi: Sweet, we're right near this; I'll prove my worth as a Hunter eve if it kills me!
Jack the Ripper: It probably will, ya know!
This quest is your introduction to Domains, which just like in the original are randomized mini-dungeons of a sort in which the map is disabled, meaning you have to find your way around by memory. The early ones aren't hard at all though. Once you reach the end...
MINI-BOSS: HORDE ITSUMADE FLOCK Level 20. Weak Ice, Weak Light
Despite the two weaknesses this Horde can be rather difficult if you take it on now, as it has Mazan, a hits-all Wind attack, and can buff its magic with Makakata while you will likely have no way to cancel buffs at this point. The thing about Hordes is they're technically one target but are extremely vulnerable to hits-all attack spells, so use Mabufu if you have it. Light skills are also helpful as they do more damage than most other attacks.
Nanashi: Ow. At least we got the thing!'
Angel: Those foul heathen bests are no match for the Lord's light!
Once you have the loot, drop it off at a bar. The next quest is "Secure Transport Route," which requires you to take out a Fortuna that's been harassing Hunters running for supplies in the Kisnshicho shopping district. She appears as red static on the over world as opposed to the blue of a generic encounter.
'MINI-BOSS: FORTUNA Level 13. Weak Ice, Resist Wind
Nothing much to say here. She can cast Zan, buff herself, and heal, but pile on the Ice and she should go down soon.
Nanashi: Huh? I thought I already recruited her?
Fortuna: You may be one of destiny's children, but you are still a human. You perceive time and space far too linearly. Every demon of the same type you encounter is technically the same being, manifested at different points in existence through the power of Observation.
Nanashi: Mmmkay. Best check back in with Boss now.
Asahi gleefully reports the success of the mission to her father and requests still harder ones, but Boss, as usual, urges her to take it slow and accept missions little by little as her skills as a Hunter improve.
This, naturally, does nothing to sway her and she storms out. Boss urges Nanashi to look out for her
Nanashi: I wonder if I'd find this annoying if I hadn't known her for fifteen years...
Preta: Yes, you would. Because I find it annoying.
Asahi vents in the hallway, only for the party to be approached by a "seedy old man," who claims that he can provide a much more challenging mission for them if they meet him at the back room of the train platform... which supposedly doesn't exist...
Pixie: I already don't like the sound of this...
Nanashi: Ugh, WHY do I feel the need to do such stupid things all the time? I'd almost sphere some great cosmic hand was guiding me or something...
Fuxi: Doom awaits! DOOM AWAITS!
Head down to the train platform and examine the newly-appeared glowing door in the wall. Asahi is right, that was not there before! Head inside to enter a strange room, where the strange man reveals himself as!
Dwarf: Sweet Mother Jord! It's Allfather Odin!
Nanashi: You know this guy?
Dwarf: ...you DON'T!?
The Seedy Old Man is actually Odin! He explains his mission to the two young Hunters: West of Kinshisho lies a holy shrine, the Kanda-no-Yashiro. Beneath that shrine lies a seal known as the Ark, and trapped within is a powerful demon opposed to both the Angels and Lucifer's forces. Odin insists that if this demon were freed, Flynn and humanity's victory would come very easily.
Nanashi: Very tempting, but I'll confess something's a bit... off here...
Accept the quest (you have to) to gain Odin's thanks and some Macca. He tells you that the entrance to the complex that holds the Ark is located beneath a well near the shrine, and sends you on your ay.
Nanashi: Well, if it'll help Flynn... hey, that bird guy doesn't look too hot over there...
'Fuxi: Gah... too... much... impending doom...
Nadja: Oh don't listen to old fussy feathers, what you need is ADVENTUUUUUUUUURE!
The shrine, as mentioned, is west of Ueno. Enter the well to find yourself in an absolutely gorgeously rendered water-themed dungeon. When you enter the main chamber, you'll witness an argument between two angels and an Ippon-Datara, who both seem to be fighting over the right to protect something in the dungeon.
Nanashi: Geez; those angels and that demon seem to want the same thing, and they're STILL fighting. Never change, Tokyo... Those are some nice-looking waterfalls, though...
The central chamber contains three waterfalls, behind which are a trio of stone doors, that no matter how you try, they won't budge.
Ippon-Datara: Want I should pry 'em open?
Nanashi: I'm not sure that would work... these designs on the doors have a depression in them; I figure there must be some sort of key around here. Is that what those demons back there wanted to "protect?"
As with any new area, you might want to introduce yourself to the locals. Wild Heqets and Pretas can be found here, in addition to...
Mermaid: Oh me oh my... what a handsome young man... come on, stay with me... FOREVER...
Leanan Sidhe: Ye'll have tae go through me, little lass!
Nadja: And me! I'm not done inspiring him yet!
Character notes: Seagoing temptresses of nautical folklore worldwide, Mermaids are famous as bubbly Disney princess types nowadays, but in actually folklore they were evil beings who foretold bad catches for fisherman or enticed them to crash their ships. She gets Bufula, the second-tier Ice spell, Lullaby, the hits-all Sleep spell, and upon leveling up, Media, the first-tier heals-all spell.
Personality notes: Tries to seduce Nanashi to do dangerous things.
Apsaras: Well I never! A girl your age strutting around wearing that-
Mermaid: I'm 3000 years old!
Apsaras: Still, men like women with more class than that... mmmm, don't you?
Nanashi: Ack! Bad touch!
Character notes: Beautiful celestial servants of the gods in Hindu lore; they're also known as guides of the valiant dead to an afterlife of luxury, much like the Valkyries, to whom there may be a connection via Proto-Indo-European mythology.
Personality notes: Is alternately modest and kinky.
Nanashi: Listen, ladies, you're all gorgeous, but as you said, you're all like 3000 and I'm 15. It's just not going to work out. I mean, I am a teenage boy so I do kinda want a girlfriend, but there's been more important things to think as bout in my life. Like, you know, demons. I kinda wish I could have someone who's a bit, I dunno, dangerous? Makes me question things about myself? You gals are kinda like that, but I mean one closer to my age...
Makara: I dunno about girlfriends, but you can at least ride on meeeeeeeeeeeee...
Nanashi: Please don't let that be a double entendre given what we were just talking about...
Makara: Nope. I just like carrying stuff! I used to carry gods you know. There's supposed to be a pretty big-time god in here somewhere; maybe he'll let me carry him...
Character notes: Another Hindu vahana mount, this one carries Varuna, the water-god. It's a giant fish-dragon-thing with large horns and can grow to the size of a mountain. He gets Bufu, Mabufu, and your first of the all-important de-buffs, Tarunda.
Personality notes: Big friendly monster that likes carrying people.
With the paths behind the waterfall closed off, you have to take the path to the right, which eventually leads you down a stairwell in turn leading to the dungeon's massive central room, which is composed of cliffs surrounding a central waterfall.
Peallaidh: Hey maaaaaaan, could you lend me some Maccaaaaaa.... my wife's real sick... she needs her accordion removed... help a homeless foreign demon, maaaaaan!
Character notes: Yet another ugly Celtic fairy, this one from Scotland. Peallaidhs are mischief-makers covered in thick fur with goat legs underneath. He was a plot-significant miniboss in IV, but here he's just a random encounter. He gets Ailment and Dark skills, and upon leveling up, gains Hellish Mask, which provides resistance to all ailments.
Personality notes: Skeevy con-artist pretending to be a needy beggar.
Follow the path and eventually you'll come to a cave where a "strong presence" can be sensed. Inside are the two angels from before, who claim to be protecting some kind of crest.
Nanashi: I have a feeling I'll be needing that...
Angel: Don't bother. They are an Archangel and a Principality, the ranks immediately superior to mine! Even with demons, a human stands no chance against their holy power!
We'll see about that.
MINI-BOSS: DIVINE ARCHANGEL AND DIVINE PRINCIPALITY
Archangel: Level 17. Weak Ice, Null Light, Weak Dark
Principality: Level 18. Weak Gun, Null Light, Weak Dark
Like the Itsumade Flock these two can be a nasty surprise if you go in unprepared, particularly Archangel, who has Heat Wave, a hits-all Physical move that has a good-sized critical rate. Take him out first; Principality despite being higher-leveled is much less of a threat as he only has Media and Mahama. This is one of those battles where a lucky critical can turn the tide either way, unfortunately, as they both have a lot of health.
Preta: Puh-OWNED! Stupid angels... man I'm hungry now... Can I eat one of the pig duded, pretty please?
Zhu Tun She: Squooooooooooooooonk no!
Angel: Egad... that was horrifying? Do you have any idea what you've done?
Nanashi: Yeah, gotten this jewel thing. This looks like it would fit in that crest on those stone doors...
To return to the main area, head up the ladder nearby... which dumps you into a waterfall!
Pele: Yeehaw, surf's up!
Nanashi: That may be but I'm falling dooooooooooooooown...
