Friday, August 27, 2021

Summer River Adventure Episode 3 Part 2

After Thunderbird comes back from scouting, he leads the party out of the mountain area. The boats are moored for the time being, and so everyone sits down for a rest. Arachne starts talking about how the place is totally Olympus, and while she's aware it's an overworld shift there's still a bunch of stuff around that reminds her of the past. Thunderbird says there's a cliff valley with a big river up ahead and asks Magami if he can still pinpoint your target destination, so Magami confirms and says you guys should just continue downstream. Jugo notes that the shift may change again if time passes, so he tells everyone to be careful so nobody gets hurt. And off to the side, Tajikarao is thinking hard to himself. You either tell Magami the party is relying on him, say you're worried for Arachne since she doesn't look happy, or tell Tajikarao he looks pale.
 
In A, Magami says he'll take responsibility for getting everyone home safely. Arachne says it's nice he's confident, but she's worried about something. In B, Arachne thanks you for your kindness and says she loves that about you. She apologizes for worrying you, then says she's worried about something. In C, Tajikarao is shocked at that being brought up, and he attempts to deny it by saying he's just worried about people getting hurt in a disaster. If something does happen he's worried something later in the summer will be affected, but then he attempts to backtrack and claim it's nothing. Arachne asks him to stop tempting fate, then says she's worried about something.
 
Shiva finds it interesting that Arachne can be worried about something while in his presence, so he prompts her to say what it is. Arachne says she's from Olympus, and she mentions there being lots of stories about rivers with an 'interesting' history in the area. One of which is the River of Oblivion (Lethe) that washes away your memories if you drink its waters, and another is the River of Fire (Phlegethon) that continues to seethe as it flows into a domain of flames. These are each river tributaries that go into one big underground river, and the main one is supposed to flow to the realm of the dead.
 
Thunderbird comments on how dangerous they sound and asks if Arachne can figure out which river the ones you guys are traveling along is. Arachne apologizes and says she doesn't know. Since Olympus and Tokyo have been overlaid, she can't tell which one it is on sight right now. You worry about what would happen if you guys fall into the water, worry about where you guys are heading to, or be concerned about the River of Oblivion idea.
 
Tajikarao is embarrassed about his slip up, but he chooses to answer since he's been asked. So anyways when he was asked to be Magami's partner, the police chief said he'd appoint him to be the one in charge from Kioh Policy Academy for the upcoming festival when this job with Magami finishes up. Tajikarao thinks of being the one in charge as the organizer who gets to decide what the festival performance and dress code is like according to their tastes, and he says it's a promised reward for him. He's stoked about this, but he also doesn't want his cute kouhai thinking that's why he's doing all this.
 
Jugo says he understands, but he points out that Tajikarao is essentially working to get more work piled onto him, which he feels most people wouldn't be happy about. Magami is surprised but assures he doesn't think any less of Tajikarao for his motivations. He laughs as he says he's also been promised a reward from the school headmaster Daikoku. It's still only a rumor, but apparently he's heard that really good police dog students get belly rubs from him (which he apparently does with his feet?). He has a terrible memory, so having the headmaster personally give him belly rubs thrills him to bits, and he sighs about wanting that. You either are happy for him and hope he gets it, imitate Arachne's speech pattern again to say the same thing while taken aback, or think to yourself that you're getting a chill down your back. A and B get an extra line of Magami barking and laughing to himself.
 
Anyways, Arachne comments that the adventure is starting to get weird, but she politely tries telling herself that hidden things can be beautiful too. Jugo also feels something is strange and comments on the police guys being similar. Shiva disapproves of the idea of wanting rewards for finishing training, but he decides it's not really his business. He then declares it's been enough of a break and that you guys should go when he notices Tajikarao has slipped off at some point and asks about him. Magami says he had business to do and stepped away by himself. Arachne is curious and wonders if it would be wrong to interrupt him, but Thunderbird says it's true you guys can't dawdle around much, so he volunteers to get him. You volunteer to go too, so Thunderbird accepts this and says everyone else should get ready to go. 

Time passes to the part where you two find Tajikarao is making a voice log on his phone about reaching a place similar to Olympus and continuing to supervisor his charge. Since he can't make phone contact at his regular check in time, he has to this as per his regulations. Once he's done with that he sighs about how the log might get erased if things get reverted, but rules are rules. He also worries to himself about his food budget getting stretched thin next month, at which point you talk to Tajikarao thanking him for his work, ask if he's making a report, or ask if he's hiding something else.

Tajikarao freaks out at the sudden surprise, but he does admit that it's a report for his assignment. He may have jumped out into this incident, but he was still in the middle of training Magami at the time. He sighs about Magami being so inquisitive that he doesn't listen to his orders. You note that he's had it rough, call him strict, or ask if his orders are absolute.

Tajikarao says that since the police is built as an organization, the orders from your superiors are absolute. In his case, that would be Hougen and Daikoku. In Magami's case, it would be his handlers. Under normal circumstances, he'd have physically forced Magami back to their original work, and you ask if he couldn't or won't do so. Tajikaro admits as much, explaining that Magami is still new to the police dog course. Drilling the basics of obedience is something he'll need to live as part of the police, and that's something Tajikarao needs to teach him as his senpai. He couldn't bring himself to deny Magami though when he was so insistent, so he's acting as not a supervisor-type. That's why he wants to see this to the end, and once it's over he'll start lecturing Magami. And once he's repented for it, they'll go to the festival together!

Tajikarao asks that you guys keep this a secret from Magami, so you say you think it's good, say Tajikarao is acting like a good senpai, or think on the idea of hiding things for other people's sakes. Tajikarao says he's learned a lot spending time with you and other people, like hiding things for other people can be good. That said, he can't really change his basic desire to get everything out in the open though, and he laughs about it being a worry of his. But enough of that for now, and he suggests regrouping with the party.

Once the party is all together again, Thunderbird suggests heading out again for the other side of the river valley, where you guys will figure out where to go from there. Depending on how things go, it's possible that things will get more dangerous. Everyone else nods and starts heading for the boats, but the party is surprised to see wyverns in the sky soon after. Shiva recognizes them as the ones that showed up earlier, and Jugo points out that they have something else with them.

Arachne is shocked to see that the wyverns are carrying off your boats. The mobster mobs riding the wyverns laugh about also getting the relic bag that was in the boats at the same time. A dust cloud getting kicked up causes Arachne to yelp before asking if everyone is okay, and Thunderbird is mad about the bag being taken. Mushussu is the one to hold the bag as he begins to fly off while you guys are covering your eyes, and the mobs tell you you won't be able to chase them because they cut the bridge up ahead. They taunt you one more time before declaring their mission to be as good as done, and you yell at them as you run through the forest while they fly away.

Tajikarao yells about how impudent the mobsters are, and Thunderbird suggests that he go alone since he can fly. Shiva rejects the idea and points out that the mobsters should be expecting that, so they must have a trap set up for the possibility. Magami says that the thieves stole your boats too, and Jugo says it's impossible to catch them if they cut the bridge down. You guys soon come across an open view of the valley to illustrate the point, so you either ask Arachne about whether her strings can reach that far, ask Shiva if he can just jump to the other side, or suggest flying together with Thunderbird. In A, Arachne says she's normally confident, but she feels the idea is too risky. Thunderbird then gets an idea from the concept of shooting strings. In B, Shiva says it IS possible for him to carry you guys over like that, but he doesn't promise the speed and landing impact won't gib you guys for trying it. Thunderbird then gets an idea about speeding up. In C, Thunderbird thanks you for the suggestion but feels the thieves will get away in the time he carries you over. But then the idea of flying together gives him a different idea.

Thunderbird thinks for a moment before pulling some tool out of his bags. This turns out to be a grappling hook or something similar, and he asks every to step away from him for safety's sake. He fires it to the opposite side of the shore, stringing a wire across the river. Tajikarao is impressed and thinks it's cool, though he does ask why Thunderbird is carrying that around. Thunderbird just says heroes carry a lot of things for preparation, though he normally doesn't use it because of how dangerous it is. Once he confirms the wire is set, he asks if you guys know what a zip line is. You either say you don't, say you've figured it out mostly from the name, or say you've been on one once. C gets an extra line of Thunderbird laughing about how active you are, though he says he'll explain anyways just in case.

Anyways, Thunderbird tells everyone to attach the lifeline to the harness on their life jackets and slide over to the other side. Jugo is alarmed at this idea, so Shiva tells him to watch him do it first. Shiva then proceeds to not bother with the lifeline, jump on top of the wire, then flip himself around halfway through around the wire and crosses to the other end. You either protest against doing anything dangerous, comment on how into things Shiva is, or decide you should do the same thing too. C gets an extra line of Arachne freaking out and telling you to stop since that'll make her lifespan shrink quicker than wool.

Magami barks that he'll go next, saying he can't stay if criminals are present. Tajikarao points out that Magami is wagging his tail really hard and says he just wants to go on the zipline too. Magami then runs on ahead, then zips over with a howl. Tajikarao sighs about how reckless Magami is and says he'll go next, but finds the zipline surprisingly scary once he's actually on before sliding over. Arachne goes next, saying her curiosity is piqued and shouldn't waste a second. That leaves just you and Jugo, who is surprised everyone's already gone.

You note that Jugo is looking pale in the face and ask if he's scared, saying he doesn't have to force himself to do this. Jugo claims he's not scared at all since he's strong, but he drops his voice to a whisper to you as he admits to you that Mizuchi's curse is in his body. The curse affects him and especially 'long things.' Whenever he's mentally shaken, Mizuchi and the others slip through the cracks to go on a rampage like back with the river standing up. He worries about something happening if he gets on the wire.

You thank Jugo for opening up to you, then suggest zipping over together if it'll make him feel better. Jugo is shocked at the idea and attempts to argue, saying Mizuchi's curse will hit you if you touch him. He then starts thinking about how the curse actually stopped when you got near him earlier, and you decide to just grab his hand and go. Jugo protests some more, and Thunderbird accepts the idea of you two going together. He warns you two to not let go until you get to the other side as he hooks you both to the zipline, and you both stand on the cliff edge. Jugo gives up at this point and tells Orochi not to cause any problems before telling you to watch how cool he can be. You agree, tell him to not let go, or tell him not to cry in fear, so he psyches up and goes for it.

Jugo yells dully as he hugs you close on the way over. Up ahead, Shiva is standing in the way as Arachne tries to tell him to move, but she ends up slamming into him and knocking him over. One you and Jugo make it safely over, he collapses to his knees in relief, and you either yell about how fun that was, say that was really exciting, or ask Jugo if he really was scared. In A, Jugo sighs then says you're really strong, then says he needs to train more. In B, Jugo is kind of surprised at your reaction, then eventually says he was too. In C, Jugo claims he's just relieved his curse didn't do anything, then says he's always anxious around you.

Jugo thinks to himself about how the Mizuchi quiet down when he's near you, but he's actually sad about this since it means it's not because of anything he's doing. He still feels some sort of heat in his chest when he's near you though, so he wonders who you really are. Thunderbird says he gets why you guys would want to catch your breath, but there's no time since you guys need to chase after the thieves. He glides on over, and up ahead in the sky there are wyverns waiting to ambush him.

Tajikarao tells the thieves they've been found and orders Magami to go. Magami charges in obediently, and the mobsters are shocked you guys made it over before ordering the wyverns to kick you guys down into the valley. You tell them you can't let them do that in either your own neutral speech style, Arachne's, or Tajikarao's. In A, Thunderbird asks if you have the courage to ride in the sky with him, then declares the two of you the airborne heroes. In B, Arachne declares the place to be her runway stage, then says the two of you should get started. In C, Tajikarao is pleased and says you're reassuring reinforcements before telling the thieves it's time to be arrested. And in any case, the episode battle begins. More happens after that.

After the battle, things tune in to the part midway where Arachne tells them she'll tailor up for them and show them the charm of her Beach Fashionista Collection. She throws out her special threads to tie up two wyverns together in midair, causing them to crash and fall. One of the mobsters is aghast at this and calls for Mashed Potatoes to come, but Mushussu happens to be distracted eating out their supply of magic kemi dango. The mobster freaks out at this since losing all the dango will cut off their control of the wyverns, and you attack at this moment to insist that Mashy's name is really Musshusu, knocking the relic bag out of his hands.

Tajikarao reaches for the bag now that it's away from the thieves, so the green mobster gets mad and tries to tackle him away from it. Tajikarao is kind of surprised at how hard the tackle hit and compares it to a fight with another mikoshi carrying team, so he pushes back as hard as he can. While this is going on, the effects of the dango wear out on the wyverns, who start squawking all at once.

Thunderbird notes that the thieves have been apprehended, but the wyverns are acting strangely. Magami says they're all confused and don't understand what's happening anymore. Shiva notes that they're lashing out indiscriminately and asks if this is what happens when their forced obedience stops. Jugo tells everyone to be careful as beasts acting on instinct and no reason are strong.

Wyverns swoop around and ram into Magami, and Tajikarao calls after him asking if he's okay. Magami reports that the wyverns don't understand the situation and are just attacking out of self-defense. He says they'll start attacking each other at this rate when another of them hits him. Tajikarao orders him to run, but the party is shocked when he and Magami are knocked over the cliff by a wyvern falling over along with the mobsters.

Tajikarao holds his wits together long enough to grab Magami and throw him back up, telling him he's trusting him with the relics and will always protect him as his senpai. Anything else he says gets cut off by the winds blowing through the valley, and you and Magami call after him in alarm. On that note, the episode ends.

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