Head out the shopping district exit of Kinshicho and the party is stopped by Isabeau! As the mission to rescue Flynn is now underway, she wants in and joins the party as a support character! She's level 50, and all the third-tier element tap spells, as well as Mediarama, the second-tier heals-all move. In other words, yes, she's a Crutch Character. Still, nice to have her!
Nanashi: Asahi seems really happy to have Isabeau around. That's good; hated seeing her so down back there. Makara, you mind giving a lift to Tsukiji?
Makara: Noooooope, get right on my baaaaaaaaaack!
Parvati: You've been staring at that tablet on your wrist for most of our journey, young summoner.
Nanashi: Yeah, no, I was just looking at this one function; there's a bit in the compendium that tells you all's backstories. Like, Inti, it says you were the patron of people called Incas?
Inti: INDEED, YOUNG ONE. TWAS CENTURIES AGO NOW; MY REIGN ENDED WELL BEFORE THE JUDGMENT OF TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO.
Nanashi: What... happened?
Inti: STRANGE MEN FROM ANOTHER LAND ARRIVED ON OUR SHORES, WORSHIPPERS OF THE SAME CREATOR GOD THAT DESTROYED CIVILIZATION. THEY CONVERTED MY PEOPLE UNDER PENALTY OF DEATH.
Nanashi: Geez, and I thought we had it rough here in Tokyo...
Tonatiuh: Ahaha! Inti, my southerly counterpart! Imagine running into you in this odd foreign land!
Inti: WE BARELY KNEW EACH OTHER EVEN BACK THEN; DO NOT THINK US FRIENDS.
Nekomata: Wait, so the Aztecs and the Incas aren't the same? Mee-yow; how'd I get that so wrong this whole time? How's it going, kid? These gods from across the Pacific are pretty cool looking, but ya gotta admit there's nothing like demons from your home turf, myeah?
Nanashi: To be honest I didn't know much about any of you before this; to think people once had the time to actually research this stuff...
Character notes: One of the three semi-interchangable sun gods of the Aztec people, along with Nanahuatzin and Huitzilopchtli. Tonatiuh is a god of both the sun and war, giving life and death, and is typically depicted in full war gear with a sun disk on his back. It's said he is the most recent of five gods to rule the world; his creation shall be destroyed by a great earthquake. Almighty specialist
Personality notes: Noble but really violent god.
Character notes: Another of the more famous yokai, Nekomata are spirits born from long-lived cats; they are the Japanese counterparts to the Chinese Senri. They have forked tails and are said to be able to shape shift into cat-human hybrids, and get stronger depending on how long they lived as mortal cats. Phys and Wind specialist.
Personality notes: Makes bad "meow" puns.
Makara: Tsukiji hooooooooo!
Nanashi: Thanks bro. Yu-oh, those guys look pretty strong.
Sadly, the gate to Tsukiji is guarded by Berserker and Ganesha, and they're not gonna let anyone who doesn't want to join the Divine Powers in. It doesn't seem like there's any way to avoid a fight if you go in the main gate.
Jack the Ripper: You actually thought you could just walk in? Stupid human...
Enku: Ah, home sweet home. Shame about da godmuddah; never really liked dat Flynn.
Kaiwan: O laked ut thiri tee.
Tuofei: ...CREEPY TEMPLE...
Nozomi suggests heading to downtown Ginza to ask around as to a way in. So, that's what we're doing, obviously. Head up the western stairs in the underground, near the bar, to enter the streets of Ginza.
Nanashi: Supposedly this was Tokyo glitziest shopping district before the Dome went up. Doesn't look so glamorous now.
Moh Shuvuu, Gu Huo Niao, Bai Suzhen, Vouivre: OHMIGOD, SHOPPING?
Senri: All things in moderation, young ladies.
Yuki Jyourou: Could not agree... more... one must always observe proper etiquette, as a lady...
Yurlungur: Eh, people can live the away they want, mate. What's our place to judge?
Character notes: Yet another famous yokai; she's better known as Yuki-onna. If you experience a sudden blizzard while hiking in the mountains of Japan, it is said she will appear to you and give you what appears to be a baby. If you take it from her, you will find that it gets heavier and heavier. If you drop it she will instantly kill you, but if you are able to lift it, she will bless you. Ice specialist, of course.
Personality notes: Elegant lady whose voice sounds like winter wind.
Character notes: The pan-Australian creator god known as the Rainbow Serpent. Australian Aboriginal mythology is really many, many mythologies, but they have certain commonalities to them, and among them is the presence of a Rainbow Serpent as one of the main gods. Yurlungur is the name of this god among the Yolgnu or Murngin people. He blesses humans with fertility, but has been known to attack people who get too close to the sacred pool he lives in. Ice and Gun user.
Personality notes: Total free spirit who encourages others to find their own path.
These two are the last two from the Fairy Forest; only just made room for them now, which should give you an idea of just how many demons there are in this game.
Anyway, shortly after surfacing,the party is confronted by two Ring of Gaea members. They introduce themselves as members of the Yuriko Faction, who have been ousted from Tsukiji by Maitreya and the Divine Powers. They agree to help the party in exchange for helping reclaim the temple, and point them to Mii and Kei, the current acting leaders of the Ring, who are currently holed up in an underground bunker in the western part of the shopping district. Remember the place with all the poison and the guy with the Silver Coin from Vanilla? That place. Thankfully you immediately after this scene get a new app that makes you immune to field poison.
Nanashi: Who sends me these things anyway?
Virtue: Why, apps are truly a gift from the Lord, of course! See, He has not abandoned you!
Momunofu: Oh sweet Izanagi not again.
Character notes: The fifth heavenly choir of angels, one step up from a Power. They specialize in performing miracles and wonders to encourage faith in the Lord. He's a buff specialist who gets a bizarre skill called Silent Prayer, which resets all buffs and de-buffs to zero for both your and the enemy's parties. Too situational to really be of consistent use IMO.
Personality notes: Still the same as ever, but even more of a pompous zealot in this form.
Head underground...
Nanashi: Man this place smells bad even with the app. Is this some sort of deliberate security thing by the Gaeans and... oh COME ON!
(Cut to SLIME and ZHEN trying to inhale as much poison as possible)
Nanashi: And they say humans are unenlightened.
There's some treasure to be had around here, but the exit is through a vent on the east side. We're now in an area with no poison but lots of Gaeans, and if we ask around we'll hear of the Ring's best assassin, a certain Toki, who is just fourteen!
Kikimora: This city knows little of how to treat children!
Hare of Inaba: Oh m-my... th-this place is i-intimidating!
Okuninushi: Hare? Hare is that you!?
Hare of Inaba: O-okuninushi-sama! I f-feel better now...
Take-Minakata: You never know what embarrassment feels like until you see your big important god dad gushing over his damn bunny...
Ose: Orias my man! Been a long time since Shibuya, huh?
Orias: We were there just yesterday you urbane thing! Be off; I don't need to be associated with you!'
Character notes: A sacred white rabbit who is the companion of Okuninushi in Japanese lore. He was in agony after being attacked by a group of sharks he had tricked when Okuninushi found and healed him. In gratitude he joined Okuninushi on his journey to build Japan. Some legends say he now lives on the moon, making mochi treats for children. Healing and buff specialist.
Personality notes: Lovable Coward.
Character notes: A Great President of Hell, and yet another of the Goetic demons bound and forced to serve humans by King Solomon. He appears as a leopard or leopard-man hybrid, can teach the sciences to his conjurer, and transform one's enemies into different forms. Phys specialist, including Blight.
Personality notes: An urbane, crass noble in contrast to Orias' refined one. Walking "aristocrats" joke, basically.
In any case, enter the northern room to find two creepy old ladies who seem to be floating. These are Mii and Kei, the interim leaders of the Ring of Gaea and, unfortunately, are the people you need to know to get into the temple.
Ubu: Waaaaaaaah! Scawwy!
Ame-no-Uzume: I agree with the hideous undead baby with spider legs; those two are a special kind of uncomfortable.
They agree to let you into the temple if you do one favor for them, that being taking young Toki with you. The two old ladies clap their hands and a short girl wearing a demonic mask enters the room. She speaks in an emotionless tone of voice, and like Hallelujah, seems to be able to see Navarre.
Incubus: Fifty Macca says she's hot under that thing!
Mamedanuki: Well ya know I ain't comfortable objectifying' someone that you- okay.
Nanashi: Eew.
Toki reveals she has a mission of her own - kill Maiterya, and kill Flynn. Maitreya took over the Ring, and Flynn killed Yuriko, so they both have a death mark from the Gaeans. Isabeau and Nozomi are understandably upset.
Nanashi: Yeah, no. Come on everybody let's go.
Only... if we don't take Toki, Mii and Kei won't show us how to get into the temple. Dammit. We're thus forced to cooperate, and thus Toki joins the party. She's the final Assist Character, and in my opinion the second most useful after Navarre. Like Gaston she uses Phys attacks and sometimes jumps in at the beginning of the battle. Unlike Gaston, her doing so does not expend turns and she has a move that can instant-kill enemies which is fantastic for cleaning out Hordes.
Nanashi: Alright, let's do this I guess. We're all clear that we're not letting her actually kill Flynn though, right?
Birigid: Clear.
Virtue: Clear.
Kaiwan: Cluor!
Nue: Rrrrrrrr...
Wicker Man: OoooooOOOOOooooo pretty masssssk... Think it can buuuuuuuuurn?
Onmoraki: Nice, someone what thinks like me!
Zaccoum: Can we, like, not... I don't like... burning, y'know...
Character notes: A supposed Celtitc method of human sacrifice, a giant human-shaped construct made of wicker. It's said that Druids would place the sacrificial victim inside and set the construct on fire, burning them to death. Also good for killing Nicolas Cage. Ailment and Wind specialist.
Personality notes: Strange and spacey, and likes burning things.
Character notes: A tree that grown in Jahannam, the Muslim version of Hell; it's actually spelled Zaqqum. Its foul-tasting fruits are shaped like demon heads, and they're one of the only things damned souls can eat. Gets ailment and buff skills including the awesome Fog Breath, which lowers both defense and agility, and Bloody Glee, which amps critical hit rate!
Personality notes: Fearful, bitter pessimist; personality as nasty as her fruit tastes.
Nanashi: Oh huh, there's a quest around here too.
The quest "Slay the Demon in Ginza" unlocks around this point, and is accessed from the northernmost door in Ginxza's VIP section. Unlike in Vanilla we don't need to expect absurd amounts of cash to actually get in here this time, but we'll still need the Black Card, which is rewarded by a much later quest, to actually use the shops. For now, head in the northern door to find the demon Prometheus. He proclaims that the time for this world is running short and he met find someone e worthy of his gift of fire before it's too late. He tries to give it to some unfortunate schmuck in the room with him, but the guy just screams in pain and disappears. Then he attacks us!
MINI-BOSS: DEITY PROMETHEUS
Level 41. Null Fire, Weak Ice, Resist Light
Prometheus cares about one thing and one thing alone: buffing his magic stat through the roof with Makakaja and roasting your ass. He has Agidyne, the third-tier fire spell, which can easily OHKO an unprepared party member at this stage after even one buff, so be prepared with Tarunda and Rakukaja to take the heat (hurf durf) off. His only weakness is Ice, but his only offensive capabilities are Fire, so bring somebody that nulls it to make him lose turns fast. Upon defeat, he proclaims Nanashi worthy and then just leaves.
Nanashi: What a weird demon. He seemed to be trying to help in his own way, it felt like...
Ares: Sir Prometheus! Wisest of we Hellenic gods! If he is resorting to such rash measures, this must be the end indeed!
Tlaloc: Correction, no earthquake, no end. Thart's how it's foretold, that's how it murst be!
Tonatiuh: Ah. Brother Tlaloc. Seems I am not the only one to make the journey from Aztlan...
Kushinada-hime: This place does appear to be devolving... these lands we Kunitsukami have watched have become prey to strange alliances and stranger rivalries. Something's come undone...
Okuninushi: Honored Lady Kushinada; quite honored to see you join the cause.
Hare of Inaba: L-lady K-kushinada is nice. She l-likes to pet me...
Character notes: One of the most important gods of Aztec lore, he governed storms and was therefore regarded as a bringer of fertility to crops. He was the third ruler of the world, with his creation being destroyed by a great fire; he was succeeded by the water goddess Chalciuhtlicue (who isn't in this game), who was succeeded by Tonatiuh. He also had jurisdiction over drowning and lightning strike victims in the afterlife. Gets Elec and Ice, weak to Fire and Wind.
Personality notes: Inserts "R"s after his vowels.
Character notes: A diving princess of Japanese lore. She was one of eight, sisters, seven of whom were devoured by the dragon Yamata-no-Orochi. When Orochi went after her, she was saved and the dragon killed by the great storm god Susa-no-o, and in gratitude she married him. Their daughter Suseri-hime then married Okuninushi. Light specialist.
Personality notes: Another refined and knowledgeable ladylike goddess.
Nanashi: Mmmkay, one last pitstop at Shibuya, then we knock over Kanganji. Another demon causing trouble over there.
This is another optional quest, "Take Out a Pesky Demon." It takes place at Club Milton, the place where the Red Pills were dealt, remember? The target is Tlaltecuhtli, the Aztec primal monster - she's presently tearing up the club looking for Reds.
MINI-BOSS: JIRAE TLALTECUHTLI
Level 39. Weak Ice, Null Elec'
Not much to say here. Tlaltecuhtli will often use both of her turns to cast Megido, so be sure to get buffs up to deal with that. Her only other skills are her basic attack and Zionga; not dangerous at this stage at all. Pile on the Ice and yuou should have no problems.
Nanashi: Yeeeeeeesh. I remember the day Flynn exposed what those 'Reds' actually were. People I knew were taken to that... place. I'm no fan of Lucifer but I gotta thank him for wrecking that joint. Whatever, I should probably get to my actual mission. Makara?
Makara: Here we GOOOOOOOOOO!
