radio

[empressnoir]

Hello, everyone. My name is Haru. I haven't been here very long, but I received some information that I think all of us should know.

We'll be arriving at a former Steel Warden stronghold soon. I was told we'll be able to refuel there. That's good, of course, but we must also be very careful. There will probably be traps there, and although I wasn't specifically told as much, I think we can assume that a we'll find things that will be dangerous to us, even if that wasn't their original intent.

I apologize if you're hearing this for the second or third time, or so. But I believe it's important that all of us be aware of what lies ahead. Please plan ahead before going anywhere in the facility. We should make sure there's always a way out or someone to help if needed.

Let's stay safe as we journey onward.

Comments

[sugaronthecream]

The Warden stronghold, you say! Interesting. We'll get a chance to meet this ill-tempered man in short order, then!

[empressnoir]

Ah, i'm sorry. I was told it's been abandoned for some time now.

We might still find clues as to who and where they are now, though.

[sugaronthecream]

Oh, that's disappointing. I was so looking forward to broadcasting his screams for all of us to enjoy.

[empressnoir]

[ That's kind of off-putting! But she's also the person who likes it when Shadows beg her for their lives in the Metaverse, so really, who is she to judge? ]

You may get your chance when we're farther along on our journey.

[sugaronthecream]

That'd be quite worth it! After all, they've been threatening the rest for so long, not just a new arrival like ourselves~

Wouldn't it be reassuring to give that old tin can some much-needed humbling? I certainly think so!

[empressnoir]

I agree. They shouldn't get away without consequences.

[sugaronthecream]

Exactly! Threatening us, using us to their own ends, what sordid affairs! Hah hah! We should pay it back tenfold - especially to dissuade anyone else from getting any ideas.

[saisdoesmatter]

Usually best to assume anything we find is potentially dangerous, given how often things are trying to kill us.

But good to know; thanks for the info, Haru. Best to stay prepared.

[empressnoir]

I wouldn't be able to live with myself if someone got hurt because they never heard what I was told.

You're right, of course. We should always be prepared, as much as we can be. There's so much here that's out of our control.

[saisdoesmatter]

Understandable - I try to keep my ears open for anything that might need to be relayed to the rest of the team here myself too, so it's always better to repeat something than assume people know the same facts, I find.

Sadly, yeah, you're right. Some of the weird radio signals were from others. I was able to talk to one of the people from the Tears and they gave some general info about Nirvana myself. Nothing too crazy but Nirvana's peeps are separate from Wardens and Tears so we got another faction to worry about whenever we get closer to that.

[empressnoir]

[ That sounds.... not fun. D: ]

Then we had better prepare as much as we can before we arrive.

Thank you. Please let me know if you need my help. And if you're hungry, stop by my van for fresh veggies!

[saisdoesmatter]

Agreed; I'd rather be prepared than walking into a huge trap. Considering we haven't been able to talk to any of the Nirvana people, we have no idea where they stand on how they view us. The message to come to Nirvana is a direction, sure, but...the Wardens want us dead and the Tears seem to want us to help somehow?

It's weird and complicated. I got out what I could before the signal went wonky, but they said something about getting stronger so...it felt like a friendly warning that things might get harder.

Of course; same ta ya. *ooh food?* Ooh, like what kind?

[empressnoir]

I'm glad to see so many of us agree on that point!

Fresh vegetables, mostly! And herbs and spices.

[saisdoesmatter]

Best to be prepared than for any of us to get into more trouble.

You've been able to grow stuff despite us constantly moving? The travel hasn't disrupted the soils?

[mystic_hands]

Hi, Haru! I'm Mikey! I haven't been here very long, either, so I'm still learning about this weird place.

I think, maybe, we should try to get people to use the Buddy System when we get there. Going into someplace scary is better when you've got somebody to watch your back. Do you think there's a way to make sure everybody sticks with somebody else?

[empressnoir]

Hello, Mikey! It's nice to meet you.

Yes, I agree. Two people from my world are here. We're used to going into dangerous places together, so we're well practiced in keeping an eye out for one another.

Unfortunately, no one can be forced to take your very good advice. Perhaps we need to prepare for the possibility that one of us will go off by themselves and need to send a signal requesting help. Maybe an unusual one. Hmm, maybe we can all agree to a common distress signal, so that we'll be able to help if need be?

[ Haru sounds calm and collected, if a little afraid, but she is pretty nervous! She would really rather nobody get hurt at their next stop. ]

[mystic_hands]

Me and my bros are used doing that, too. We always look out for each other and have helped people in big bad situations before. I'm happy to, like, help people who aren't used to this kind of thing.

Oh oh, a signal is a good idea! I wonder what would be good that everybody could do. Maybe a word they could yell? Something that'd be weird to hear somebody yelling about. Like, uhhhh... 'sofa' or 'orange' or something like that?

[purplexing]

Ah! So you are Haru. Akechi name-dropped you but I wasn't sure. I'm Donnie, by the way.

Anything involving Steel Wardens is better given more warning. This whole world needs its own warning label but I guess it goes without saying that we should be careful anywhere we go.

[empressnoir]

Nice to meet you, Donnie!

The Silver Tears person I spoke with made it a point to tell me about the dangers ahead, so it seems this place might be a more imminent threat than what we've seen before? Or at least, a different kind of threat.

[purplexing]

I suppose that tracks. Things tend to go between quiet and progressively worse in our travels so far. At least we have some sort of heads up?

[empressnoir]

Yes. It's something. And it seems we're all agreed on how to approach the situation.

We'll be okay. And when we arrive at Nirvana, we'll be prepared.

[purplexing]

I sure hope so.

Thanks for the info, Haru.

[empressnoir]

Of course! We're in this together.

[purplexing]

Exactly!

Oh, Akechi mentioned you have plants? Let me know if you need anything for those. Or I guess any sort of technical issues, I can handle those too.

Audio

[bufudine]

[He wonders what caused the Wardens to abandon this stronghold...]

I'm Serph. If you intend on entering the facility, I can accompany you. It's best to have back up.

[This isn't related to the topic on hand, but...]

I heard you're growing plants. Do you need help?

[He had helped gather some of the initial plants that Viktor started growing, so he has a small amount of attachment to them.]

[empressnoir]

Hello, Serph. Thank you. If I need to go and neither of the people from my world who are here can go with me, I'll contact you.

I won't say no to help with the plants! It can be tiring work for just me. My vehicle is the lavender van. You're welcome to visit when you have free time.

[bufudine]

[People from her world... Given that he'd heard Akechi talk about her with familiarity -- and Serph knows Akechi well by this point -- then the two must be Akechi and Ren.]

Would those people be Ren and Akechi?

[He makes a mental note to visit soon. Perhaps before he goes to hunt.]

[undyingcrow]

Anyone with electric abilities may stand a chance of shorting out the traps. My nekomata form can do just that, so I am more than willing to act as escort.

This is not a situation where we'll want to act like lone wolves. The Wardens have more than proven themselves tenacious..

[empressnoir]

Assuming all the traps are electrical, yes.

In any case, yes, it's best to go out in pairs, at the absolute least. I suppose in that regard, you and Ren and I have an advantage in that we know how to work with one another in such situations.

[undyingcrow]

Perhaps it'd be wise for the three of us to coordinate, then. That should grant us enough diversity in skills, particularly if you still possess your Persona.

[He shouldn't assume, but given that both he and Ren have theirs, it would make sense.]

[empressnoir]

That's a good idea. I do have Lucy, though she doesn't have many of her skills.

[ Enough to protect them, though, and that's what counts. ]

[undyingcrow]

Hereward is no different. For one reason or another, it seems our Personas have been... hindered, perhaps as a consequence of our summoning.

[He sighs. It is what it is, though.]

But hindered or not, they are still helpful, particularly if your transformation hasn't progressed especially far.

[phantomshow]

Thanks, Haru.

[He’d expect nothing less of her, honestly.]

Maybe when we get there, you and I and Akechi could go scout ahead and see if we can identify the traps, so no one stumbles into them on accident.

[empressnoir]

Of course!

I think that would be a good idea, since we already have experience infiltrating hostile places. We can even map it out.

[phantomshow]

A map ... that's an even better idea.

[Can you hear him grinning? 'Cause he is!]

I never even thought of drawing a map before - I guess because we don't stay in the same place for very long? But that's brilliant, Haru. Getting through a Palace is always so much easier after we've found a map of the place.