[Though Akechi has collected some food and provisions from the gas station, he sluggishly drags himself to the dining car and resigns himself to the bland porridge. However, with his new talons, gripping silverware proves a bit more irritating than he expected. Not impossible, but those entering may see him awkwardly adjusting his grip in his left hand and glowering at the bland bowl.]
It shouldn't be this difficult. My gauntlets already had claws attached...
[The showers prove irritating. The lack of heat makes him want to scream, but... No. He's endured worse. The shower gives him the opportunity to take a better look at his arms and hands, blackened and scaled like limbs of a corvid. The sigil provides a further reminder of how his body is now subject to the whims of this world...
So, before long, he heads out with his crowbar in hand, ready to vent some frustrations before their departure. The foliage draws his attention. He could touch the growths, but instead, he prods the vines with his crowbar. They seem... sturdy. An obstacle, to be sure.]
Lovely. As if this morning didn't have enough complications...
Haunted Grove:
[It's impossible to ignore the trees as Akechi blazes down the road on his motorcycle. All consuming, branches like arms, not to mention the supplies and food stocked inside...
He slows just long enough to get a cursory look. He could always tempt fate and have Hereward loose the supplies with an attack. It would give him something more palatable than the porridge, at least, even if he's nearly expended the goods he stored in his attache case by now.
Yet, on closer inspection... Akechi squints. Are those Husks mixed in with the moss?
Something's off here. A strange, soothing feeling. It's subtle, but it's still noticeable enough to put him on edge.
Akechi does not take well to mental manipulation, and in a kneejerk moment, he screams out:]
HEREWARD!
[His Persona, clad in black and red, lets loose a violent explosion that consumes the nearby tree, freeing some of the goods, but more worryingly, cracks the shells of the Husks.
So now there's a new problem: the monsters unleashed by Akechi's kneejerk attack.
Care to lend a hand?]
Wreck:
[What a predicament. The cars contain useful equipment. Akechi's been meaning to upgrade from a crowbar. The trouble is, this entire trip so far as proven treacherous.
Still, he slows his motorcycle and dismounts. There must be a way to get closer without getting hurt, but first...]
Eigaon.
[Hereward responds by sending a crackling blast of dark energy into the surrounding foliage. A loud, metallic SNAP confirms his suspicion that the path forward is far from safe.]
Quite the predicament. If I had my full navigational capabilities, this wouldn't be an issue, and yet—
[A low growl foretells something more ominous in the distance. The warning lights flashing on his motorcycle is just as worrying, and as others draw near, he calls out:]
Get ready to fight!
[Regardless of whether or not anyone intercepts, Akechi will battle his way toward the spoils. There's a gun and some ammo, and he's been craving more ranged options that won't drain Hereward's abilities.
He can later be found after the battle, having seized one of the traps with his crowbar. He's trying his best to keep a clear head, but fighting so close to the traps and toxins isn't doing him many favors, and he's desperate to ground himself.
Squinting, he looks over the insignia. He's trying to keep his composure. Trying to clear his mind. This, at least, gives him a mystery to latch onto.]
This seems deliberate. Even those mutts bore this sigil... Have you any thoughts?
Shrine:
[The shrines proved far too tempting to overlook. As he draws near, he feels calmness wash over him. Moreover, the altar provides him an opportunity to inspect the offerings. In many regards, it feels wrong to touch these offerings. This is clearly a sacred place, but what looks like herbal medicine makes him curious. Normally, he wouldn't be so reckless, but he picks up one of the offerings just long enough to study it.
Big mistake.
Those in the vicinity will hear anguished screams as the fire from the candle ignires his flesh, charring a message into his left arm.
It reads:
The First Tenant: Faithful to the Blessing “I shall never falter from any blessing the moon bestows on me or my kin. I shall embrace my gifts, no matter what strife may stem from them.”
Akechi drops the offering, wincing as he stares down at his arm, the burn still fresh.]
Ngh... Well, I suppose I got answers in some capacity. Don't make the same mistake as me.
Radio Hour / Monster Hour (CW transformation):
[Akechi intended to investigate the area, once he noticed the strange reactions from the trees. Curiosity has already burned him, but he's come too far, and now he's ready for anything.
Besides, radio signals may provide more information, so however exhausted and tired he may be, it's worth the risk. The music and moon broadcasts seem promising as well. Should anyone else find him, he'll turn to converse:]
What do you make of all this? Functioning radio signals may well be signs of civilization, to say nothing of the emblem strewn throughout the forest...
[But then his radio and phone burst to life. A broadcasting logo, the drone... All of these are far more concerning signs, even with the outdated message.
Akechi stiffens as the message plays out. His eyes widen, but it's too late. He's too far from the Convoy. The shields flash to life, and he doubles over, clawed fingers digging into his hair as his shoulders throb, swell, and huge, feathery wings burst from his flesh.
And that's only the beginning...]
Monster Brawl (CW transformation):
[A monster tears through the battlefield, cackling wildly. The mess of honey brown hair should ring familiar, but much of his features are decidedly... inhuman. Huge horns curve forward from his forehead, with black and white stripes. An elongated snout, sharpened teath, and a hooked beak at the tip create the visage of something most frightening, even disregarding the flames that spew from his maw when enemy monsters draw too close.
He still has a bipedal stance at first, albeit with hind paws like a white tiger and striped fur reaching up to his waist.]
So this is what this world has in store for me!
[More cackling erupts from his maw, and he pivots, spewing fire at a Nargacuga that dares draw too close.
However, as he fights, his more bipedal stance eventually shifts to something more overtly monstrous.
His neck extends, thick, black feathers coat his upper body. A serpentine, barbed tail sprouts from behind, and his body swells to the size of a large horse.
In this more bestial state, he takes to the air, spewing flames and diving down to tear through any enemies in his path with a guttural roar. That being said, that isn't all he's doing, and some may even spot the familiar shape of an archer clad in black materializing in the air alongside him.
That should at leat provide a clue to his identity as he eyes the largest Nargacuga and sets his sights on it. Take out the leader, and the rest will fold, certainly...
But as others draw near, and the Nargacuga shifts targets, Akechi growls:]
Make yourself useful or get out of my way!
Aftermath:
[After a night spent fighting, clarity soon returns to Akechi. Most of his monstrous traits recede, save for the talons and now a set of sharp teeth to go with them. He touches his face, back to its familiar human shape. It's almost as though he's awakened from a bad dream.
Sore and sluggish, he shambles back toward the convoy, hissing between clenched teeth.]
So much for staying human.
[To others like him, he'll extend a simple question:]
How much do you recall from last night?
[To those who spot him closer to the convoy, he raises another question entirely:]
Did anyone within the shields change?
[Either way, he's in pretty rough shape, dragging his feet in a sluggish limp. He needs to rest, and he certainly needs a shower.]
Goro Akechi | Persona 5
[Though Akechi has collected some food and provisions from the gas station, he sluggishly drags himself to the dining car and resigns himself to the bland porridge. However, with his new talons, gripping silverware proves a bit more irritating than he expected. Not impossible, but those entering may see him awkwardly adjusting his grip in his left hand and glowering at the bland bowl.]
It shouldn't be this difficult. My gauntlets already had claws attached...
[The showers prove irritating. The lack of heat makes him want to scream, but... No. He's endured worse. The shower gives him the opportunity to take a better look at his arms and hands, blackened and scaled like limbs of a corvid. The sigil provides a further reminder of how his body is now subject to the whims of this world...
So, before long, he heads out with his crowbar in hand, ready to vent some frustrations before their departure. The foliage draws his attention. He could touch the growths, but instead, he prods the vines with his crowbar. They seem... sturdy. An obstacle, to be sure.]
Lovely. As if this morning didn't have enough complications...
Haunted Grove:
[It's impossible to ignore the trees as Akechi blazes down the road on his motorcycle. All consuming, branches like arms, not to mention the supplies and food stocked inside...
He slows just long enough to get a cursory look. He could always tempt fate and have Hereward loose the supplies with an attack. It would give him something more palatable than the porridge, at least, even if he's nearly expended the goods he stored in his attache case by now.
Yet, on closer inspection... Akechi squints. Are those Husks mixed in with the moss?
Something's off here. A strange, soothing feeling. It's subtle, but it's still noticeable enough to put him on edge.
Akechi does not take well to mental manipulation, and in a kneejerk moment, he screams out:]
HEREWARD!
[His Persona, clad in black and red, lets loose a violent explosion that consumes the nearby tree, freeing some of the goods, but more worryingly, cracks the shells of the Husks.
So now there's a new problem: the monsters unleashed by Akechi's kneejerk attack.
Care to lend a hand?]
Wreck:
[What a predicament. The cars contain useful equipment. Akechi's been meaning to upgrade from a crowbar. The trouble is, this entire trip so far as proven treacherous.
Still, he slows his motorcycle and dismounts. There must be a way to get closer without getting hurt, but first...]
Eigaon.
[Hereward responds by sending a crackling blast of dark energy into the surrounding foliage. A loud, metallic SNAP confirms his suspicion that the path forward is far from safe.]
Quite the predicament. If I had my full navigational capabilities, this wouldn't be an issue, and yet—
[A low growl foretells something more ominous in the distance. The warning lights flashing on his motorcycle is just as worrying, and as others draw near, he calls out:]
Get ready to fight!
[Regardless of whether or not anyone intercepts, Akechi will battle his way toward the spoils. There's a gun and some ammo, and he's been craving more ranged options that won't drain Hereward's abilities.
He can later be found after the battle, having seized one of the traps with his crowbar. He's trying his best to keep a clear head, but fighting so close to the traps and toxins isn't doing him many favors, and he's desperate to ground himself.
Squinting, he looks over the insignia. He's trying to keep his composure. Trying to clear his mind. This, at least, gives him a mystery to latch onto.]
This seems deliberate. Even those mutts bore this sigil... Have you any thoughts?
Shrine:
[The shrines proved far too tempting to overlook. As he draws near, he feels calmness wash over him. Moreover, the altar provides him an opportunity to inspect the offerings. In many regards, it feels wrong to touch these offerings. This is clearly a sacred place, but what looks like herbal medicine makes him curious. Normally, he wouldn't be so reckless, but he picks up one of the offerings just long enough to study it.
Big mistake.
Those in the vicinity will hear anguished screams as the fire from the candle ignires his flesh, charring a message into his left arm.
It reads:
The First Tenant: Faithful to the Blessing
“I shall never falter from any blessing the moon bestows on me or my kin. I shall embrace my gifts, no matter what strife may stem from them.”
Akechi drops the offering, wincing as he stares down at his arm, the burn still fresh.]
Ngh... Well, I suppose I got answers in some capacity. Don't make the same mistake as me.
Radio Hour / Monster Hour (CW transformation):
[Akechi intended to investigate the area, once he noticed the strange reactions from the trees. Curiosity has already burned him, but he's come too far, and now he's ready for anything.
Besides, radio signals may provide more information, so however exhausted and tired he may be, it's worth the risk. The music and moon broadcasts seem promising as well. Should anyone else find him, he'll turn to converse:]
What do you make of all this? Functioning radio signals may well be signs of civilization, to say nothing of the emblem strewn throughout the forest...
[But then his radio and phone burst to life. A broadcasting logo, the drone... All of these are far more concerning signs, even with the outdated message.
Akechi stiffens as the message plays out. His eyes widen, but it's too late. He's too far from the Convoy. The shields flash to life, and he doubles over, clawed fingers digging into his hair as his shoulders throb, swell, and huge, feathery wings burst from his flesh.
And that's only the beginning...]
Monster Brawl (CW transformation):
[A monster tears through the battlefield, cackling wildly. The mess of honey brown hair should ring familiar, but much of his features are decidedly... inhuman. Huge horns curve forward from his forehead, with black and white stripes. An elongated snout, sharpened teath, and a hooked beak at the tip create the visage of something most frightening, even disregarding the flames that spew from his maw when enemy monsters draw too close.
He still has a bipedal stance at first, albeit with hind paws like a white tiger and striped fur reaching up to his waist.]
So this is what this world has in store for me!
[More cackling erupts from his maw, and he pivots, spewing fire at a Nargacuga that dares draw too close.
However, as he fights, his more bipedal stance eventually shifts to something more overtly monstrous.
His neck extends, thick, black feathers coat his upper body. A serpentine, barbed tail sprouts from behind, and his body swells to the size of a large horse.
In this more bestial state, he takes to the air, spewing flames and diving down to tear through any enemies in his path with a guttural roar. That being said, that isn't all he's doing, and some may even spot the familiar shape of an archer clad in black materializing in the air alongside him.
That should at leat provide a clue to his identity as he eyes the largest Nargacuga and sets his sights on it. Take out the leader, and the rest will fold, certainly...
But as others draw near, and the Nargacuga shifts targets, Akechi growls:]
Make yourself useful or get out of my way!
Aftermath:
[After a night spent fighting, clarity soon returns to Akechi. Most of his monstrous traits recede, save for the talons and now a set of sharp teeth to go with them. He touches his face, back to its familiar human shape. It's almost as though he's awakened from a bad dream.
Sore and sluggish, he shambles back toward the convoy, hissing between clenched teeth.]
So much for staying human.
[To others like him, he'll extend a simple question:]
How much do you recall from last night?
[To those who spot him closer to the convoy, he raises another question entirely:]
Did anyone within the shields change?
[Either way, he's in pretty rough shape, dragging his feet in a sluggish limp. He needs to rest, and he certainly needs a shower.]
Wildcard:
[Open to other ideas, too! c: Very flexible.]