The following is a work of fiction. Any resemblance which the characters and events within may have to real people and events is coincidence.

Disclaimer: The following work is a fan-based venture strictly done for no profit, monetary or otherwise. The Shin Megami Tensei franchise and its associated characters and other elements are intellectual property of Atlus, a subsidiary of Sega. All rights are reserved to them; I do not own anything within the contents of this quest barring any potential original characters. Please support the official release.

Now then, one and all, I give you my first forum quest! The Shin Megami Tensei franchise is a personal favorite of mine, and I've put way too many hours into the fourth one as it stands, despite its flaws. After joining the forum games community at the same time I started playing IV's sequel, I got the idea to start my own quest based on SMT IV, reading a few analyses on the game, taking care to fix more than a few narrative flaws, and generally attempting to expand upon the story. In essence, this quest will be me putting my own spin on the story of Shin Megami Tensei IV. I can assure you, however, that any deviations from the source material will not be without a point. Now then, there are a few rules to keep in mind throughout all of this:

1. If you are familiar with the original Shin Megami Tensei IV, please refrain from giving spoilers in this thread, unless it is in white text like this, and even then I ask that you don't throw them around with reckless abandon. This is primarily to prevent future plot points from being spoiled for those unfamiliar with the source material (though I realize this might be a hypocritical request seeing as I might have dropped a few spoilers for SMT IV previously) and because some of these points may no longer apply to this telling of the story.

2. I will allow for a decent amount of leniency in player input, but like everyone, I have limits on what I will allow. These limits will always be natural and have reasons for them present in-game; for example, there will be some boss encounters which cannot be settled peacefully due to the circumstances. I will not disallow conversing with bosses, but know that little will come of it in terms of productivity.

One last note, I hope to make this thread accessible to both fans of SMT and newcomers. Please feel free to contribute, even if you know little about the source material. Now then, without further ado, I hope you enjoy the ride!

The year is 1492. You are a villager in the Kiccigiorgi province of the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado, and yours is a simple life. Of course, being born into a lower-class Casualry family, your life likely won't be anything more than that of a common villager, but you don't mind. Even though the days blend into one another at times, you've little to complain about. Even if you don't have the riches and privileges of the upper-class Luxurors, you aren't miserable with your lot in life. You have family, friends, and enough money to get by. It would be nice to have something more, though. You know to accept what you have, but at the same time, deep inside you wish for your life to be something more than long. Perhaps what lies ahead of you will grant this wish, but before this, two important questions must be answered. Are you male or female? And what is your name?

>Male.

>Tiddlyfiddles.

> Female.

> How about the name "Yuuna"?

>Female

>Ramona

edited 19th Feb '17 5:21:57 PM by Sedmikrasky

>Female

>Shikibu

>Female

>Jacqueline.

>neutral

>Lumaria

>Female

>Evelyn

The votes are overwhelmingly skewed towards female, and so, it is decided that you shall be female. As for the name, the multitude of suggestions present make a concrete decision difficult, and so, that shall be decided by way of random number generation.

The number provided was 2, and the second name suggested was Yuuna. As such, Yuuna shall be your name. Keep in mind that all decisions from hereon out, including this one, will be final and have consequences, be they small or large. You may be a key factor in the fate of a great many. Please do consider the weight of your actions.

Now then, you are Yuuna, a lass of eighteen years, and you are sleeping calmly in the shade of a splendorous oak tree. It is morning, but you're so caught up in your slumber that you do not notice the sun's rays beaming down upon you. You are stirred, however, by a familiar voice.

???: "Hoy, Yuuna, wake up!"

You open your eyes to see the source of the voice, a young man around your age, perhaps a little older, staring down at you with a lax smile spread across his face. Like you, he wears typical ragged Casualry clothing, though they're not in too terrible a condition. This is Issachar, whom you've known since youth. An earnest, hard-working fellow, and a damn good friend as well. It seems you've once again fallen asleep along the hills overseeing Lake Mikado after spending yet another day in his company.

Issachar: "I hate to rouse you like this, but today's the day of the Gauntlet Rite, remember?"

Issachar holds out his hand to you.

Issachar: "Here, do you need help getting to your feet?"

>"Nah, fam, I can get up just fine." Get up just fine.

> "Eh, kinda. I can get up on my own, though."

> Ask Issachar when the Gauntlet right is starting.

> "How long was I asleep, anyway?"

> "I can get up just fine myself. Thank you for the gesture."

> Stand up

> "What time is it?!"

>"Nah, fam, I can get up just fine." Get up just fine.
> "Eh, kinda. I can get up on my own, though."
> "I can get up just fine myself. Thank you for the gesture."
> Stand up.

You get to your feet, assuring Issachar that his aid was unneeded, but appreciated.

> Ask Issachar when the Gauntlet Rite is starting.
> "What time is it?!"

You ask Issachar for a refresher on when the Rite begins, as well as the current time.

Issachar: "If I'm correct, it should start at around ten. I'm not certain what time it is now, but the sun's still rather low in the sky, so it should still be possible to make it to the castle with time to spare."

> "How long was I asleep, anyway?"

Issachar: "Let's see. It was well past dark once we dozed off, so... we slept a good few hours, perhaps, though I'm not certain myself. I'm still half-asleep as well, after all."

Issachar lets out a light chuckle, and turns to look at Mikado Castle off in the distance past Lake Mikado.

Issachar: "To think, we've finally come of age, and the Gauntlet Rite is upon us. Yuuna, we may be chosen to become Samurai, mighty defenders of this proud land! I don't know about you, but I can feel the shivers along my spine at the mere thought! You know better than anyone else how I've always dreamed of this day!"

Despite the enthusiasm behind his words, however, you can see his smile fade as he appears contemplative.

Issachar: "However, I heard someone in the village say that if one is chosen to become a Samurai, they are to leave their old life behind and remain on the castle grounds, only allowed to leave if on a mission or holiday. Nobody from our village has ever become a Samurai, at least as far as I can remember, so I'd not know if this is true, but... what if it is, Yuuna? Hardly would we ever see our kin and friends back in Kiccigiorgi if we're to be chosen. These tranquil days, running about town, having the jolliest time, and falling asleep by the shores of Lake Mikado... I'd miss them."

Issachar lets out a melancholy sigh.

edited 19th Feb '17 7:26:12 PM by CaliburnAbsoluteEX

>"Maybe they could make an exception for us soon-to-be knobs, eh? If we're not gonna be able to see this place anymore, I'd rather ease myself out of it than be yanked out."

> Reassure Issachar that we'll see each other again.

> "I'll be fine! ...Though, the fact that no one in our village hasn't even SEEN a Samurai makes me a little nervous."

edited 20th Feb '17 4:11:01 AM by Revaryk

>"Maybe they could make an exception for us soon-to-be knobs, eh? If we're not gonna be able to see this place anymore, I'd rather ease myself out of it than be yanked out."

Issachar: "Well, we've no way of knowing what shall happen, so I suppose that's a possibility."

> Reassure Issachar that we'll see each other again.

Issachar lets out a friendly laugh.

Issachar: "You say that with such certainty. At this point, we don't even know if we will become Samurai. But, yes, no matter what happens, let's vow that we'll not forget one another."

> "I'll be fine! ...Though, the fact that no one in our village hasn't even SEEN a Samurai makes me a little nervous."

Issachar: "We've known each other for years, I'd not doubt that you could take care of yourself. You are right, though, I'm rather on-edge too. The most we know of the Samurai comes from old tales and messages from the capital. nonetheless, I suppose if we dwell on this for too long, we would be late for the Rite."

Issachar runs off toward a path which leads to the capital city of Kyoto. He turns back to you and yells something to the effect of, "Make haste, Yuuna!" No sense in dawdling, is there?

>Make haste, Yuuna.

> Right, let's go to Kyoto!

>Make haste, Yuuna.
>Right, let's go to Kyoto!

You break into a sprint, quickly catching up with Issachar, and the two of you run along the path together. It's not a terribly long run, seeing as Lake Mikado marks the halfway point between Kiccigiorgi and Kyoto, and you make it to the city gates before long. You're a little tired, but not overwhelmingly so. The gates are open, and a few officious-looking men stand by, jotting down notes as others around your age are allowed entry. Issachar goes up to one who is presently unoccupied.

Issachar: "Excuse me, sir, we're here for the Gauntlet Rite."

The man looks you and Issachar over sternly.

Gatekeeper: "Oh, more Casualries, I take it? Very well, I'll need to take your names and what providence you hail from."

Issachar: "Certainly. I am Issachar, and this is my friend Yuuna. We're both from Kiccigiorgi."

The man writes this down on a sheet of parchment.

Gatekeeper: "Very well, make your way to the castle and they'll sort you out there."

You and Issachar make your way into the bustling city within the walls, still quite busy even with many of its citizens attending the Rite and its associated festivities. The buildings are much larger and more tightly-packed than they are in Kiccigiorgi, and the paths are all made of stone, not a trace of a dirt road to be seen. You've heard that the Luxuror district of Kyoto is located closer to the castle, but even then, this is more neat than any Casualry town you've seen before. You and Issachar both know that the castle is located at the city's highest point, but neither of you is certain of what route to take.

Issachar: "I must say, I expected Kyoto to be this great, but even still, it's a bit overwhelming. Should we perhaps ask for directions?"

>"I'd rather find a map to spare us from having to ask repeatedly. A bustling city like this, it'd be easy to lose our bearings."

> "I don't blame you for asking for directions, I an bet a whole buncha' people got lost here. Anyways, let's ask for directions, if needed."

>"I'd rather find a map to spare us from having to ask repeatedly. A bustling city like this, it'd be easy to lose our bearings."
> "I don't blame you for asking for directions, I can bet a whole buncha' people got lost here. Anyways, let's ask for directions, if needed."

Though these two pieces of input are somewhat conflicting, it is not difficult to reconcile them. You tell Issachar you'd rather have a map handy, but say you do not object to asking for directions just once.

Issachar: "A map would definitely be useful, although I'm not sure who'd be willing to spare one. For the time being, I'll ask for directions."

Issachar looks around and spots a well-dressed man idling about on the street. A Luxuror, from the looks of it. Issachar walks up to the man hopefully.

Issachar: "Pardon me, sir, but would you mind telling me and my friend how to get to the castle from here?"

Luxuror: "Ugh, yet another Casualry brat? Listen here, I can't be bothered to take the time out of my day to give directions to every one of you! Go find somebody else! I'm a very busy man!"

The Luxuror storms off, dropping a slip of folded parchment from his brightly-colored coat.

Issachar: "I've heard that Luxurors could be stuck-up, but I'd not imagined t'would be true at that level. No matter, he did drop his map, so I suppose there's a start for us. I doubt he'd be quite keen on us taking it, or even so much as borrowing it, but we've nothing else to go by at present. You don't object to this, do you, Yuuna?"

> Considering the general attitude of that Luxuror, let's take it.

> "Stuck-Up? I'd call that attitude more 'jerk' than anything."

> Considering the general attitude of that Luxuror, let's take it.
> "Stuck-Up? I'd call that attitude more 'jerk' than anything."

You express your distaste in the Luxuror's attitude and encourage Issachar to take the map.

Issachar: "Very well. I suppose we're past the point of returning it anyhow, that man seems to have disappeared in the crowd. Now then, let's have a look-see."

Issachar unfolds the parchment, and indeed, it is a map of the city. The map details the different districts of Kyoto, five in total, as well as the castle at the highest point of the hill the city is built on. There seems to be one problem with the map, however...

Issachar: "Is this the mystic script? Is this whole thing written in mystic script?"

It would appear that the map is indeed written solely in the mystic script used by Luxurors. Being a Casualry, you're not able to make any more sense of it than Issachar is. All your life, you've only ever been familiar with common script. The set of characters used by the mystic script are alien to you.

Issachar: "Well, this impairs the usability of this quite a bit. Still, a map one can't read is better than no map at all, yes? We at the very least have a visual reference."

The two of you look over the map, trying to figure out where you are.

Issachar: "We came in through the western gate, yes? Let's see, that would place us around here, and the gate to the second district is around here... and from there, it should be easy to navigate if we keep going straight. We should reach the castle before long, and from there... I'm not too sure where they're holding the Rite, in all honesty, but I suppose it'll simply be a matter of following the crowd from then. Let's get a move on."

You and Issachar make your way up through the city's districts until you reach the castle at the very top. It was difficult, navigating without a map, but you've reached the castle, at least. Now it's just a matter of figuring out where you're meant to go. There are two main plazas normally open to visitors to the castle, Aquila Plaza and Obelisk Plaza. The former, which seems to have a large crowd gathered around it, holds a large, shining statue of Mikado's first king, the mighty warrior Aquila. The latter, on the other hand, features a large obelisk, with several key events in the kingdom's founding written on it and the plaques surrounding it. Which would you like to check out first, Aquila Plaza or Obelisk Plaza?

> Let's check out Obelisk Plaza first. It sounds more interesting.