TruthHurts

Dreamer's Sea: A High School RP inspired by the Persona Series (Dead)

Masuda High - Cafeteria

---

Hidekichi idly scratched his ear.

"Nah naaah, I ain't the normal one, I think it's that girl in the second row, the one with the bag? Not like I'm sayin' weird's bad! Just thinkin' about it is all, I guess."

Entering the cafeteria, he rooted around his pocket and fished out a crumpled bill and a handful of coins, pushing them into Shotaro's hand. "'kay though, here's all of mine, get whatever ya want. Surprise me!"

He clapped his companion on his back and broke off into the throngs of the cafeteria. "I'll grab us a spot," he called over his shoulder.

Masks & Magic: The Awakening

Sorry for my slowness too, should get to posting in the next couple days!

World of Light: the Endless Now (The Ultimate Videogame Crossover)

◉ ◉ ◉ ◉ ◉
Level: 5
EXP: 1 / 50
Location: Frozen Highlands

According to Fleamaster Mooshka, the caravan was making good time to its destination. Layton wasn't familiar with this part of the region despite residing so close, but he was sure Mooshka knew what he was doing. As the caravan's leader said, the route they're traveling will take them someplace along the Midnight Walk without having to traverse it. The result was a safer, if longer, journey. Layton certainly didn't mind the pace.

The caravan had stopped in the middle of a stretch of woods covered in a layer of snow, the odd section of fence or abandoned wagon hinting at some presently-missing denizens. A mystery, perhaps, though not one Layton was occupying himself with.

The caravan's carriages formed a rough circle in a small clearing, large enough for the young ones to flap about away from the group. The older fleas gathered near the center, where a large ridged pot bubbled with a viscous yellow brew. Layton politely declined having some for himself (he'd tasted it before and felt it too energizing), instead having a pot of tea from his set that any other fleas were welcome to a cup of as well.

It was a nice moment of relaxation. Which, of course, couldn't last.

Near the fringe of the circle of carriages, one of the fleas stood up suddenly. Vog - a larger flea and the caravan's lookout - trudged off into the woods without a word to the rest. Layton watched her leave, no doubt after something her keen senses picked up, and decided to follow. If danger was near, he'd be remiss not to lend a hand.

He didn't need to go far, as only a few paces from the clearing came the sounds of a fight. As Layton approached he took a moment to survey the situation; Vog was fending off a small pack of armed assailants that glowed an unnatural blue and seemed almost mindless in attacking. She was more than capable against them, keeping them at a distance with her long tusk-like weapon, but there were quite a few of them. Even as she fought, one of their numbers rose up out of the snow behind her and started to advance.

"Behind you!" Layton called as he rushed in, putting his weight into shoulder-checking the Hel-walker. It was thrown off-balance, and before it could retaliate, Vog spun and swung at it, swatting it away from the two of them.

"Grr..." She addressed Layton, standing nearly eye-level with him. "Bug not flea, protecting ours is mine to do. You stay back."

"I don't mean to intrude on your duty," Layton said, kneeling to pick up the flung Walker's sword off the ground, "I only wish to help." Vog growled again, though instead of continuing to argue she turned her attention back to the Walkers. Layton, too, pivoted to face a few others that were approaching their flank. Back-to-back, the two prepared to face their adversaries.

Vog advanced on her quarry while Layton stood his ground, waiting for them to come to him. Two Walkers rushed him, one raising its sword to strike. Layton met the attack with a swing of his own, deflecting the blow, and used the momentum to parry the next Walker, swords clashing as they fought. Normally a defensive fighter, Layton acted more aggressively. After staggering the Hel-Walker he struck again, disarming the undead warrior before following it up with a quick double-slash across its chest, sending it to the ground. The Professor's eyes gleamed as he sidestepped the next Walker, aiming a kick into its side to send it back.

Now it was just these two left. Layton kept his defenses up as the Walker that hung back joined the fray, magical blue sparks flying whenever their swords met. The other warrior recovered, and now both were on him, Layton starting to lose ground as he tried to keep them at bay. Trying to gain the advantage again, Layton kicked off a nearby tree, a Hint Coin spent (-1 ◉) to leap over his foes and land at their backside. Before they could turn to face him again he spun, slashing his sword across their backs, putting in some extra effort (-1 ◉) to make the strike land harder. The result sent the two flying forwards, skidding along the ground as they landed on their fronts.

Once more Layton lashed out more than he otherwise would - he leapt onto the back of one and drove the tip of his sword into its spine. The spirit flinched and shuddered as it was defeated. And before his friend could recover, Vog ran up and delivered a very similar final blow to its fallen form.

The fight was over, and for a moment Layton and Vog stood there, gripping their weapons and looking for more. When it was clear that they'd felled them all, Layton relaxed, letting the sword drop from his hand. "My word..." Layton brushed snow off his jacket and fixed his hat, looking at the bodies of the Walkers dotted around them. He folded his arms and rubbed his chin in thought. "Some sort of... automatons, perhaps? What would they be guarding?" His Gleaming mind seemed satisfied with this justification, so he turned to his compatriot. "Are you alright, Vog?"

Vog nodded. "Too little to be much to me. Bug not flea fights well."

Layton chuckled. "Yes, well, I suppose I have more experience in combat than it seems. Let's return to the caravan, shall we?"

So they did, trudging back through the snow to where their fellow travelers were, where Mooshka and the rest of the caravan were preparing to return to the road. The woods weren't as safe as they appeared, after all.

---

Word Count: 955
EXP Gained: +2

Dreamer's Sea: A High School RP inspired by the Persona Series (Dead)

Masuda High - Mr. Hagino's History Class

---

Even though he was awake, the history lesson passed right over Hidekichi's head. Something about a rebellion and Christianity, sure, sure. His mind raced a mile a minute with all sorts of other topics - his work, his sister, his breakfast, a cool rock he saw on the way to school today, whether Mr. Hagino could beat the principal in a fight (his money was on Hagino), what that girl on the laptop was so busy with, how many ants it'd take to fill up a wine glass - pretty much any new information would bounce off his brain like it was made of rubber.

At some point mid-lecture he noticed the page of his history book he'd scribbled on and began to, quietly, tear it out. Krsht, krrrrsht... shkh- He may have been an eighth of the way awake, but zombie-mode Mamai really cooked on some of these diagrams!

He just had to figure out what that guy meant with the 'kitchen grease'. Hidekichi was sure it'd come back to him eventually.

Soon enough it was time for lunch, the morning lessons having breezed past him with hardly any impact. He was just about to get up to nab his food when that one blue kid came up to him out of... well, outta the blue!

"Aww, Shirogane, yeah!" Hidekichi met his classmate with a wide grin and went for a high dap that more than likely missed its intended target, though he didn't let the dud-five linger. "'Course, man, don't even say thanks about it! I was gonna hit up the café for lunch, you want anything? My treat!" Hidekichi pulled Shotaro along about as oppressively as he talked, elbow locked around the back of his neck, no doubt sparking fresh rumors about how that Mamai, strong-arming Shirogane-san out of his cash!

"Hey, you're new, you think it weird how much of our class is like, weird, ya know?"

World of Light: the Endless Now (The Ultimate Videogame Crossover)

◉ ◉ ◉ ◉ ◉
Level: 5
EXP: 0 / 50
Location: Frozen Highlands

It was a shame he couldn't take the Laytonmobile far from Edinburgh. The chill of snowy north was something he could handle, but it meant that he had to rely on public transportation in a region lacking in such amenities.

He was lucky, then, to have happened across a band of travelers with room to spare.

The carriage Layton was in trundled along at a smooth pace, situated at the back of the caravan that so graciously took him onboard. He had to share the space with the group's young ones - a negligible price for the kindness. The fleas' temperament reminded him of his apprentice, curious and full of energy, and there was a twang in his heart to follow. Luke... what had happened to the boy?

Hopefully he was merely living his life. The silence still worried him, however.

Layton turned his mind to other matters. He flipped the pages of his Puzzle Index, making sure to record several more he had encountered up to now. The one about the poodle and the apple pie was a particular favorite. The scenery outside changed gradually as the caravan made its way through some woods, past a sleepy fishing town, and further on. The view wasn't particularly inspiring, though Layton enjoyed the quaintness nonetheless.

At some point the carriage slowed to a halt, to the shouts of the lead driver. It didn't look as if they had stopped for rest, seeing how they were currently in quite a steep valley, so Layton left to see if something was wrong.

"Is there a problem, Mooshka?" Professor Layton joined the front of the procession where the Fleamaster was engaged with the driver. As Layton anticipated, it seemed their path was cut off by a frozen lake, mired with rocks and fragile breaks in the ice.

"Ah, ah, Mister Layton!" Mooshka turned to address him. Much like the other fleas his height only reached the Professor's midsection. "A problem, yes, but not one a guest of ours should worry themselves with! Our caravan merely cannot move forward. My apologies, we will need to turn around and find a new path."

"It does seem as though this lake blocks the way forward," Layton remarked, surveying the area, "though to retrace our steps would take quite a bit of time. Perhaps I can be of assistance?"

"Oh, no, I truly cannot ask that of you! Already you must contend with this delay to our destination..."

Layton shook his head and smiled. "Think nothing of it. I'm only repaying your kindness. In fact, I believe I already see a safe path..."

PUZZLE 001

- A Slippery Surface -
It's a simple matter, really. Using the stones to halt one's momentum, and taking care not to traverse broken sections of ice more than once, you can cross the lake in just a few minutes. It's trickier with the different carriages, but Professor Layton is able to guide the caravan across with no casualties.

"Vavenda!" Once the fleas were all safely on the other side, Mooshka met with Layton once more. "That is, incredible! How truly fortunate we fleas are to have a guest like you!"

"Anytime." Layton replied with a tip of his hat, "offering help to others is what a gentleman does, after all."

And just like that the caravan returned to the road. Layton took his seat in the young fleas' carriage yet again, and started to add traversing the lake to the Index. Puzzles truly can be found anywhere.

---

Word Count: 657
EXP Gained: +1

Persona: Black Crown

While inside her crate, and away from anyone's eyes and ears, Ayo couldn't stop herself from thinking, no matter how much she tried.

The Authority was pretty broad and vague. Were everyone else's that way? What would such a claim even allow them to do? Alter reality? Or was it like hers, where things simply work out for them - nobody to stop them, nothing to get in their way. How far would that take you? Would laws not apply? Where would it end?

She'd have to sate her curiosity when they reached their destination, at the very least. Part of her also wondered if failing to input the phrase would leave her stranded, crate and carriage vanishing around her so she just fell to the ground like an opossum. Or maybe there'd be two carriages to compensate.

Ayo bit her lip and screwed her eyes shut. Too much. There'd be time for questions back home.

...

After their plan succeeded and they were hitched to the train, Ayo emerged on the top of the carriage, her coat pockets jingling from the handfuls of treasure she stashed away. If people here took the stuff, then it was as good as gold.

"Station means more guards, duh," she answered for Seiji, giving Osamu a jab with her elbow from behind. "We take out the like, five dudes here, there's less of a group later." She slung her ropedart over her shoulder. "Plus we get to keep a sick-ass train."

World of Light: the Endless Now (The Ultimate Videogame Crossover)

A True Gentleman

Name: Hershel Layton
Origin: Professor Layton
Appearance: "Every puzzle has an answer."

Personality: Professor Layton is first and foremost a gentleman. He strives to embody all that title suggests - he's polite, amiable, soft-spoken and eloquent, humble. He treats those around him with compassion and empathy, even the more unsavory or tactless sorts, and is always willing to offer his help to anyone that may need it... though even he has limits to what kinds of personalities he'll endure. Layton keeps a cool head in all matters, maintaining a calm and collected presence that others can rely on. Only in the most dire of circumstances does his demeanor shift, particularly when those he holds dear are concerned.

Background

Professor Layton’s life is one full of adventure and intrigue, and of immense loss. Raised in a sleepy village, Hershel, in his teen years, lost his close friend while exploring a series of ancient ruins. He took up his friend’s passion for archeology and puzzles partly in remembrance, setting a course for his future he couldn't imagine.

As he grew older he became an esteemed professor of archeology in London, his reputation preceding him as tales of "Professor Layton" spread throughout the continent. Stories of him besting giant shadowy monsters, unearthing lost civilizations, exploits from impossible cities to curious villages. Along the way he met several friends and allies, and even gained an apprentice, one Luke Triton who stayed at his side for years, forging an unbreakable bond between them. While much of London, and Luke himself, extol the grandeur of his adventures, Layton prefers to keep the small and personal details to heart; the family he's never known and yet still lost, the love of his life gone forever, the orphaned girl he now raises...

(Layton will be taken from after the end of Unwound Future and sometime prior to New World of Steam, before any events transpire that lead into Layton Brothers or Layton's Mystery Journey.)

In the Now

Ever since Galeem absorbed the London he knew, Layton's life has been... normal. He's still an archeology professor, situated up north in Edinburgh, under his old Dean Delmona as well. There was no shortage of ancient relics to find and mysteries that needed a look into, so for the most part he'd gone about his days as if nothing happened at all, teaching his classes some days and traveling to far-off locales on others, in search of historic finds and puzzles. The only thing that's been off, in his Gleaming state, is that he hasn't heard from Luke in a while, no letters from America like he used to receive and no reply to his latest message. Very unusual.

Job: Professor of Archeology
Specialty: Strategist & Tactician, Problem Solver, Duelist
Inventory:

• Professor's Trunk - a simple travel case, about twice the size of an ordinary attaché, where Layton keeps his essentials, as well as any useful odds and ends he comes across. It currently contains...
  
  • A Journal, and something to write with
  • A Tea Set
  • A Puzzle Index
  • Several changes of clothes
  • Spare Hat
• Hint Coins (x5)
• Traveling funds, in several widely-accepted denominations

Lv: 5
EXP: 0/50
Abilities:

• Hint Coin Collector - Wherever he goes, Layton is able to find Hint Coins, usually in out-of-the-way nooks and conspicuous areas. Their primary use is to be traded for hints for a given puzzle, though thanks to Galeem’s influence they can help in other contexts. In combat, Layton can use a Hint Coin to strike at an opponent’s weak point, inflict “critical” damage, or evade an attack that would otherwise land. They can also be used to increase Layton’s physical abilities for a brief moment, giving him bursts of speed, longer hang-time to make a jump, and so on. Hint Coins are physical objects, so he's limited by the number he can carry, and can only be used once per effect.
• This Reminds Me of a Puzzle - True to form, Professor Layton can spin just about any scenario into a puzzle, regardless of relevance. When the Professor presents a puzzle in this manner, it appears in the current surroundings (ie, a puzzle about matches would have the required matchsticks pop into existence on a nearby surface), and can even slightly alter space (ie, a puzzle of untangling wires can significantly reduce the amount of wires present) until the puzzle is solved or abandoned, in which case things return to normal. Mundane or minor actions affected by a Puzzle are "free", though any attempt to Puzzle anything of significance - disarming a bomb, navigating a storm, avoiding an ambush, etc - require a Hint Coin to be spent.

Skills:

• A Sharp Mind - Professor Layton's intellect is quite high. There's his knack for puzzles, obviously, and there's also the fact that he's very well-read, logical, and even quite technically minded, able to jury-rig equipment from things he has on hand (he once turned a slot machine into a machine gun). His knowledge has limits, as does anyone's, though he's quick on the uptake.
• A Promising Fencer - ever since he was young, Layton had practiced the art of fencing, and in his adult years he's become very proficient. He's capable of fighting with a long sword (or anything of similar length, like a pipe or branch), against armed opponents or groups, to the best of his abilities. Common sense trumps prowess, after all.
• An Athletic Build - despite his position as a professor, Layton leads a very active life. This affords him good physicality, being acrobatic and dexterous to an impressive degree. He won't be pulling off too many backflips or anything so outrageous, but it does give him an edge.

Weaknesses:

• "A true gentleman knows that violence is not the answer." - Layton is something of a pacifist. When facing off against living foes, he always seeks a peaceful resolution, and if forced to fight he only acts defensively, seeking to disarm or convince his opponent to back down. He never strikes to harm, and he never throws the first blow no matter the circumstances.
• "A true gentleman is never without his hat." - thanks to personal convictions, Layton is steadfast in his commitment to headwear. Particularly his own. He's never seen without it, and he never takes it off in any circumstance. He'll even avoid situations in which he may have to remove it. He always makes some comment to brush it off, though the insistence can raise eyebrows.
• "A true gentleman is still human, after all." - this is to reference both the physical limits that a human can't overcome, especially taking the current state of the world into account, but also to all else that can affect the average person. Layton isn't immune to manipulation, or to things that may alter his perspective or mental state, or even to having his emotions played with. He may seem unflappable, but at the end of the day he's as susceptible as anyone else to the maladies of life.

Spirits: N/A

Rapport: N/A

World of Light: the Endless Now (The Ultimate Videogame Crossover)

Awesome! I'll be sure to try and get a post ready before Sunday, I should have time even with the holidays.

Persona: Black Crown

I'll have a post ready by the weekend at least!

World of Light: the Endless Now (The Ultimate Videogame Crossover)

I'm baaaaack, and my love for low-power characters remains strong as ever.

A True Gentleman

Name: Hershel Layton
Origin: Professor Layton
Appearance: "Every puzzle has an answer."

Personality: Professor Layton is first and foremost a gentleman. He strives to embody all that title suggests - he's polite, amiable, soft-spoken and eloquent, humble. He treats those around him with compassion and empathy, even the more unsavory or tactless sorts, and is always willing to offer his help to anyone that may need it... though even he has limits to what kinds of personalities he'll endure. Layton keeps a cool head in all matters, maintaining a calm and collected presence that others can rely on. Only in the most dire of circumstances does his demeanor shift, particularly when those he holds dear are concerned.

Background

Professor Layton’s life is one full of adventure and intrigue, and of immense loss. Raised in a sleepy village, Hershel, in his teen years, lost his close friend while exploring a series of ancient ruins. He took up his friend’s passion for archeology and puzzles partly in remembrance, setting a course for his future he couldn't imagine.

As he grew older he became an esteemed professor of archeology in London, his reputation preceding him as tales of "Professor Layton" spread throughout the continent. Stories of him besting giant shadowy monsters, unearthing lost civilizations, exploits from impossible cities to curious villages. Along the way he met several friends and allies, and even gained an apprentice, one Luke Triton who stayed at his side for years, forging an unbreakable bond between them. While much of London, and Luke himself, extol the grandeur of his adventures, Layton prefers to keep the small and personal details to heart; the family he's never known and yet still lost, the love of his life gone forever, the orphaned girl he now raises...

(Layton will be taken from after the end of Unwound Future and sometime prior to New World of Steam, before any events transpire that lead into Layton Brothers or Layton's Mystery Journey.)

In the Now

Ever since Galeem absorbed the London he knew, Layton's life has been... normal. He's still an archeology professor, situated up north in Edinburgh, under his old Dean Delmona as well. There was no shortage of ancient relics to find and mysteries that needed a look into, so for the most part he'd gone about his days as if nothing happened at all, teaching his classes some days and traveling to far-off locales on others, in search of historic finds and puzzles. The only thing that's been off, in his Gleaming state, is that he hasn't heard from Luke in a while, no letters from America like he used to receive and no reply to his latest message. Very unusual.

Job: Professor of Archeology
Specialty: Strategist & Tactician, Problem Solver, Duelist
Inventory:

• Professor's Trunk - a simple travel case, about twice the size of an ordinary attaché, where Layton keeps his essentials, as well as any useful odds and ends he comes across. It currently contains...
  
  • A Journal, and something to write with
  • A Tea Set
  • A Puzzle Index
  • Several changes of clothes
  • Spare Hat
• Hint Coins (x5)
• Traveling funds, in several widely-accepted denominations

Lv: 5
EXP: 0/50
Abilities:

• Hint Coin Collector - Wherever he goes, Layton is able to find Hint Coins, usually in out-of-the-way nooks and conspicuous areas. Their primary use is to be traded for hints for a given puzzle, though thanks to Galeem’s influence they can help in other contexts. In combat, Layton can use a Hint Coin to strike at an opponent’s weak point, inflict “critical” damage, or evade an attack that would otherwise land. They can also be used to increase Layton’s physical abilities for a brief moment, giving him bursts of speed, longer hang-time to make a jump, and so on. Hint Coins are physical objects, so he's limited by the number he can carry, and can only be used once per effect.
• This Reminds Me of a Puzzle - True to form, Professor Layton can spin just about any scenario into a puzzle, regardless of relevance. When the Professor presents a puzzle in this manner, it appears in the current surroundings (ie, a puzzle about matches would have the required matchsticks pop into existence on a nearby surface), and can even slightly alter space (ie, a puzzle of untangling wires can significantly reduce the amount of wires present) until the puzzle is solved or abandoned, in which case things return to normal. Mundane or minor actions affected by a Puzzle are "free", though any attempt to Puzzle anything of significance - disarming a bomb, navigating a storm, avoiding an ambush, etc - require a Hint Coin to be spent.

Skills:

• A Sharp Mind - Professor Layton's intellect is quite high. There's his knack for puzzles, obviously, and there's also the fact that he's very well-read, logical, and even quite technically minded, able to jury-rig equipment from things he has on hand (he once turned a slot machine into a machine gun). His knowledge has limits, as does anyone's, though he's quick on the uptake.
• A Promising Fencer - ever since he was young, Layton had practiced the art of fencing, and in his adult years he's become very proficient. He's capable of fighting with a long sword (or anything of similar length, like a pipe or branch), against armed opponents or groups, to the best of his abilities. Common sense trumps prowess, after all.
• An Athletic Build - despite his position as a professor, Layton leads a very active life. This affords him good physicality, being acrobatic and dexterous to an impressive degree. He won't be pulling off too many backflips or anything so outrageous, but it does give him an edge.

Weaknesses:

• "A true gentleman knows that violence is not the answer." - Layton is something of a pacifist. When facing off against living foes, he always seeks a peaceful resolution, and if forced to fight he only acts defensively, seeking to disarm or convince his opponent to back down. He never strikes to harm, and he never throws the first blow no matter the circumstances.
• "A true gentleman is never without his hat." - thanks to personal convictions, Layton is steadfast in his commitment to headwear. Particularly his own. He's never seen without it, and he never takes it off in any circumstance. He'll even avoid situations in which he may have to remove it. He always makes some comment to brush it off, though the insistence can raise eyebrows.
• "A true gentleman is still human, after all." - this is to reference both the physical limits that a human can't overcome, especially taking the current state of the world into account, but also to all else that can affect the average person. Layton isn't immune to manipulation, or to things that may alter his perspective or mental state, or even to having his emotions played with. He may seem unflappable, but at the end of the day he's as susceptible as anyone else to the maladies of life.

Spirits: N/A

Rapport: N/A

Tried to extrapolate a bit more use out of what he can accomplish, so let me know if any of it needs a fix!