Letter Bee

I Am Thou: A Persona/SMT Inspired Story

Daniel

Daniel stood, enchanted, as Igor hinted at the powers they would wield, but then fear for his family flooded him as he thought about how he needed to protect them. His next words were, "I need to tell you all how to contact me - As well as what my name is!"

He then continued, "My name is Daniel, Daniel Palaiologos. I'm currently staying at a townhouse in one of the well-to-do districts; my parents just got married after fourteen years of... Yes, I was illegitimate, okay?! But enough of that, my contact number is [Insert Number Here], my email is [Insert Email Address Here], and my BlueSky handle is ExtraCuteDanDan!"

The boy clearly believed all of what was said, his earlier skepticism fading away. He then mused, suddenly thinking about something that may be blashphemous, hubristic, and self-destructive, "Can we become Gods as well? With the power you're giving? Or would that make us too much like the 'Chosen One' who left the world to die or even joined with the enemy? Is voicing this thought at all something that makes me unworthy of the power I am offered?"

His thoughts were clearly rushing from 1 to 100, bouncing from pole to pole like a hyperactive pinball. He then looked at Flint and said, "I am not sure we should be praying to Gods we might end up fighting later, though. Including my God, sadly, in hindsight. Also... I won't lie; you're honestly cute, assuming you don't feel grossed out by me saying that. But to be honest, there's a 50/50 chance you might find it gross."

Now, back to Igor as Daniel waited for him to give an answer to Cliff; best to let him and the girls have their own moments...

@meri@ctrlsaltdel@Ryik@Bacon

Accursed Tropes: The Last Airbender (Isekai; Fanfic Cliches infiltrating Canon, Lewascan gave me Permission)

This RP is still open, but after the first round, backstories will have to be longer.

Noble Arms: The ASEAN War - Thread Three, the Darkest Hour

4/3/25 - Potential Big Three Revamp

The Big Three

The Seven Virtues - "Humanity can be more than it is now. Make it so." The Seven Virtues claim to be ascended Humans, Arms Masters who had transcended their mortal form and become something more. Now they seek to guide Humanity to a similar 'Ascension' by controlling the ‘reincarnation’ of the Noble Arms held by Arms Masters who had died in the line of duty, or very rarely, creating new ones which had not been held by an Arms Master before. However, the Seven Virtues grant power on two conditions: One, that you give up one of your worldly attachments, one that has harmed your life, and two, that you vow not to kill a sapient being, ever.

Mechanical Effects: Your Potential Stat (see below) is raised to A for the purpose of gaining powers that provide non-fatal, or in some cases, even non-violent options for resolving problems, but capped at D for powers that are fatal in nature. Healing and defensive abilities ignore your NA's Persistence Stat (see below) and have functionally unlimited stamina. Violating the vow of no-killing removes these benefits but not your Noble Arm.

The Paragons of Science - "Humanity is the only concept worth worshipping." The Paragons of Science are a cabal of scientists who have mixed together actual scientific principles with the Occult to decipher part of what makes Noble Arms 'tick', enough to manufacture Artificial Noble Arms which can compete with the best of existing ones. However, they give these Artificial Arms only to those who can 1.) pay through the nose for them, or 2.) people who are willing to renounce the “Throne and altar” to promote a future where Humanity rules over all of nature and worships only itself.

Mechanical Effects: You can also circumvent cosmetic restrictions on Noble Arms, making them look like modern or (more commonly) futuristic sci-fi weapons, as the Paragons frown on using modern guns as templates. In exchange, you sign a contract with the Paragons that amounts to, 'you cannot make them or their ideals look bad, even though you disagree with them', and if you violate it, your Noble Arm's Power Stat (see below) is lowered to C-Rank; you can circumvent this by having the Power Stat be C by default - They can't do anything about that if it is.

The Downward Descent - "Freedom from Morality." The Downward Descent does not claim to be Human, but rather something more; the darkness of people's thoughts and inner desires made manifest, whispering the fulfillment of their darkest wishes. The Downward Descent wants nothing more than Humanity to descend to a level lower than animals, to pull civilization down into ruins so that people would give up on being something more than what they were, to regard their hopes and dreams and aspirations as only so many lies and self-deception. And in exchange for indulging their wishes, the entities of the Downward Descent can give Noble Arms to anyone, not just the unpowered but also those who already have a Noble Arm; they are the only source of a Second Noble Arm, ever.

And all it takes is for you to renounce not just your soul but actively endorse the very things you find most abominable in your heart and mind.

Mechanical Effects: Spoilers below.

The Antagonism Requirement

The one spark of conscience remaining in the Downward Descent compels you to unite others against you; this does not necessarily mean being a monstrous villain, although the leadership themselves are those. Being a jerkface who makes everyone dislike you even as they work with you, making them ignore or get over how much they hate each other, also works to allow you to keep your second Noble Arm. Of course, if everyone is a jerkface to each other, this fails; same for if you get booted off the team and have to do solo adventures from now on. Thus, the mechanical effects are: You have to Roleplay your best and keep a balance, or lose your second Noble Arm or more.

Noble Arms Lore Thread (Letter Bee Version)

4/3/25 - Potential Big Three Revamp

The Big Three

The Seven Virtues - "Humanity can be more than it is now. Make it so." The Seven Virtues claim to be ascended Humans, Arms Masters who had transcended their mortal form and become something more. Now they seek to guide Humanity to a similar 'Ascension' by controlling the ‘reincarnation’ of the Noble Arms held by Arms Masters who had died in the line of duty, or very rarely, creating new ones which had not been held by an Arms Master before. However, the Seven Virtues grant power on two conditions: One, that you give up one of your worldly attachments, one that has harmed your life, and two, that you vow not to kill a sapient being, ever.

Mechanical Effects: Your Potential Stat (see below) is raised to A for the purpose of gaining powers that provide non-fatal, or in some cases, even non-violent options for resolving problems, but capped at D for powers that are fatal in nature. Healing and defensive abilities ignore your NA's Persistence Stat (see below) and have functionally unlimited stamina. Violating the vow of no-killing removes these benefits but not your Noble Arm.

The Paragons of Science - "Humanity is the only concept worth worshipping." The Paragons of Science are a cabal of scientists who have mixed together actual scientific principles with the Occult to decipher part of what makes Noble Arms 'tick', enough to manufacture Artificial Noble Arms which can compete with the best of existing ones. However, they give these Artificial Arms only to those who can 1.) pay through the nose for them, or 2.) people who are willing to renounce the “Throne and altar” to promote a future where Humanity rules over all of nature and worships only itself.

Mechanical Effects: You can also circumvent cosmetic restrictions on Noble Arms, making them look like modern or (more commonly) futuristic sci-fi weapons, as the Paragons frown on using modern guns as templates. In exchange, you sign a contract with the Paragons that amounts to, 'you cannot make them or their ideals look bad, even though you disagree with them', and if you violate it, your Noble Arm's Power Stat (see below) is lowered to C-Rank; you can circumvent this by having the Power Stat be C by default - They can't do anything about that if it is.

The Downward Descent - "Freedom from Morality." The Downward Descent does not claim to be Human, but rather something more; the darkness of people's thoughts and inner desires made manifest, whispering the fulfillment of their darkest wishes. The Downward Descent wants nothing more than Humanity to descend to a level lower than animals, to pull civilization down into ruins so that people would give up on being something more than what they were, to regard their hopes and dreams and aspirations as only so many lies and self-deception. And in exchange for indulging their wishes, the entities of the Downward Descent can give Noble Arms to anyone, not just the unpowered but also those who already have a Noble Arm; they are the only source of a Second Noble Arm, ever.

And all it takes is for you to renounce not just your soul but actively endorse the very things you find most abominable in your heart and mind.

Mechanical Effects: Spoilers below.

The Antagonism Requirement

The one spark of conscience remaining in the Downward Descent compels you to unite others against you; this does not necessarily mean being a monstrous villain, although the leadership themselves are those. Being a jerkface who makes everyone dislike you even as they work with you, making them ignore or get over how much they hate each other, also works to allow you to keep your second Noble Arm. Of course, if everyone is a jerkface to each other, this fails; same for if you get booted off the team and have to do solo adventures from now on. Thus, the mechanical effects are: You have to Roleplay your best and keep a balance, or lose your second Noble Arm or more.

Noble Arms - The ASEAN War, Second Thread

For the record, my Discord hasn’t been hacked to my knowledge. I’d hoped to finish prior obligations and then return to this, but prior obligations have proven to take longer than expected. I guess I can work on these simultaneously.

@QJT

Thanks; sorry for the mistake.

Wait, your Discord account was sending friend requests to people you have not talked with for years earlier today. But you are implying you have not accessed it during that time?

I Am Thou: A Persona/SMT Inspired Story

@Bacon, thank you; this is fair.

I Am Thou: A Persona/SMT Inspired Story

Are we waiting for @Meri, @Bacon?

Noble Arms: The ASEAN War - Thread Three, the Darkest Hour

Intermission Four - Darkest Hour

La Trinidad de Manila Academy - 12/1/2022, 8:24, UTC+8

Far Eastern University In Real Life; the location and structures are used for La Trinidad de Manila in this timeline for convinience

As Henri, Nil, and Callie talked, Myron Makraig continued to worry about Noel, not helped by the fact that Tonka and Oskar had just suddenly vanished. This was bad; he was on the verge of calling up old terrorist contacts in order to break out the First Lieutenant who had believed in him when no one else would. But that meant putting himself in their debt, which can harm his friends later on - Friends who would not forgive him for the measures he took.

This time, he cannot blame them if they abandoned him; only himself. But what else can he do? Let the First Lieutenant - A mere 18 year old - suffer underneath a depraved avatar who took joy in torture? Noel Alonso deserved better; he cannot just let him spend another day in that deep dungeon like so many others have already.

"I can save him, if you'd accept a freebie," a voice suddenly said from behind him. It was a tall, beardless, blond man wearing a tank top, trousers, and work boots that showed off his lean, toned arms; Myron recognized him as Diligence. "In exchange, well... I notice Nico Makri is indisposed, right? Pass him a 'get well soon' card for me, and tell him I haven't given up on his' becoming the real Humilitas."

It was all Myron can do not to scowl at him...

@Chiro@Nimbus

Refugee Camp North of Manila - 12/3/2022, 11:00, UTC+8 (Three Days Later)

The Philippine Government of National Salvation's forces were spread thin and were not well-equipped for the sudden strike by the Corriente Family's private army. This was the second time Crown Prince Shinyahito was caught unawares by various political clans' intrigues against each other and the PGNS.

But as Cristina took her sister away into her Imaginary Space for a 'private settlement' of their issues, the boy can think clearer now about how to save the camp from this assault without excess collateral damage.

"Nil!" his tone hardened into one of command, "Stay with me! Do not fire unless we are attacked; do you get me?! If you fire at random, we'll end up harming innocent people! So don't fire until I give the say-so!"

Then he turned towards Mikey and Archer, saying, "You two! Arms Masters can use ordinary guns too, so go find some and fire!"

And as if to set an example, the Crown Prince drew a Beretta Nano he had concealed in his jacket and fired at two of the machete-wielding infiltrators who were chasing a mother and child. One was brought down, the other remained. As he saw that Nil had a clear shot, he told her, "Okay, you can fire at him and only him until he is hit, got it?"

From her new vantage point, Mikey could see that the battle outside was not going as well as it should; the Corriente Family's thugs had put machine guns and armor plates onto four Toyota Pickup Trucks that had broken through the camp fence and offloading squads of well-armed militia, while motorcycle-riding gunmen - sixteen of them on Chinese-made vehicles, rode around shooting at anything and everything. Philippine Government of National Salvation forces were rallying, with Military Police and Regular Army and Police units organizing themselves into a cordon around the camp while others swept the area for infiltrators.

What can she do right now?

@Gerlando@Digmata@ctrlsaltdel@Archazen

Accursed Tropes: The Last Airbender (Isekai; Fanfic Cliches infiltrating Canon, Lewascan gave me Permission)

@Sanity43217, I love your OC's backstory, especially his bad life back on Earth. Approval Two.

Accursed Tropes: The Last Airbender (Isekai; Fanfic Cliches infiltrating Canon, Lewascan gave me Permission)

The IC is live!