Summer River Adventure Episode 6 Part 2

We pick back up from last time with the party throwing strong attacks against Magami, though they have yet to bring him back to his senses. In fact, the counterblast his body gives off is pushing people back and making it harder to get close to him. The area lights up, which Thunderbird recognizes as the overworld shift advancing, and if things aren't dealt with soon he says you guys will be left behind in Takamagahara as well. No escape will be possible from the expanding zone until Magami is taken out from here.

 

Arachne groans and says she was prepared to fight, but she's still uncomfortable with trying to hurt a friend. Tajikarao says they still have to do this and make contact with Magami's mind, and the party is slowly backing off from Magami. Magami isn't saying anything, but Shiva asks if you've noticed that he's pushing the party into showing their moves. Shiva then describes Takamagahara as the world that spreads the power of the sun to every part of it and says Magami gets an advantage as long as you guys are fighting there. He's noted to be standing out front and proud as he tells you that.

 

You are alarmed at the idea that Magami is learning to read your movements. Thunderbird is concerned about that since that's very possible, and he says you guys need only a little bit more. Arachne suggests mixing things up by having her and Thunderbird back away to launch long range attacks, but the other half of the party (re: Shiva and Tajikarao) are fist fighters.

 

You ask if being a sword fighter here is bad, note that most of you are close range combatants, and/or say things are slowly getting worse for you guys. Magami says it's too late for you guys whatever you have planned, and any plans you guys have will be revealed by the light. Jugo starts worrying about how things are going, so a voice speaks up to say they can help.

You are surprised by the voice, and it turns out that the alchemists have come to help with Mushussu and the wyverns. The entire party is shocked by this, and Thunderbird asks about them still being around instead of running away. Arachne takes note of Mushussu and the wyverns, then asks if that means the alchemists used to last of the kemidango. Tajikarao demands to know what they're thinking, then points out which way the apparent exit is if they happen to be lost.

The panda laughs that he isn't lost and has logically concluded he can't just sit still, and he proceeds to command the wyverns to use their breath attacks. Shiva asks after a moment why the alchemists are helping up and if they're up to something. The panda is quiet for a moment before saying he's doing this because you guys have heard them out. The others also really want to help get Magami back to normal since he has promised to help another time with their work. They also really want to know what will happen with the wolf skull, so of course they'll help. Tajkarao is surprised, then wonders if Magami can hear the alchemists since he managed to connect to them. The panda reminds you guys that they can only buy time since their attacks don't work and the effect of the kemi dango will cut out soon. You say that's fine, so the alchemists urge the dragons on.

Magami is unimpressed by this new attack and responds by using some sort of light flash that disrupts the alchemists' control over the wyverns. The light of Takamagahara blazes upon everything, but by this time Jugo yells in pain as he finally manages to reach the river. He had been dragging himself over there while the the rest of the party has been covering for him and is close enough to touch the water. His curse has strengthened, and now his shadow is leaking hostility.

You call out to Jugo and ask if he's okay, say the Orochi is rampaging, and/or say the hostility is giving you chills as you run over to him. Jugo however holds his hand out to ward you off, then slowly reaches for the water with his other shaking hand. Jugo takes a moment to say he's really glad he met you, smiling sadly through his pain. You try to ask what Jugo is saying, why he sounds like he's saying goodbye, or what he's doing, and Magami asks what he's planning to do. When Jugo touches the water, his brand starts spewing out a ton of snakes that causes the river to reverse flow and create a tsunami that in turn creates shade cover.

Magami is taken by surprise as he recognizes the snake head popping out, and the giant water-snake head swallows him up. Jugo struggles with the pain he's been dealing with and tells everyone to get away from him and his curse, with his arms getting scratched as he attempts to hold back the snake rising from his chest. Shiva calls out to him, and Jugo starts saying he felt his destiny when he first touched your hand. He's awkward and not that smart, but he's willing to do anything for you regardless. He asks Shiva to handle Magami since if he himself is meant to be a sacrifice offered up, he's going to go down fighting and clawing at things as the last thing he can do for you.

You declare that you won't let Jugo throw his life away here because you don't want it to happen, and you reach out for him. Shiva is surprised and tries to talk you out of getting dragged into Jugo's curse as he grabs you. You however shake out of his hold and run to Jugo, and by the time you get there the surging curse looks like it's about to collapse. The instant you touch him, the curse starts rebounding on Magami and the water snake spits him out.

Jugo is surprised by what's happening, and Arachne declares she won't let him sacrifice himself as she'll make his Shadow and determination shine. She casts her NP and throws her threads out to bind the Mizuchi in a spiderweb pattern. Thunderbird is surprised by this at first but sees where she's going with that, so he follows up by throwing his whip out and making a circle with it to make a path for the floodwater towards Magami. Upon calling his NP, Thunderbird's whip fires off something that ties Magami up in the spider web and in turn binds him in a giant dream catcher.

Magami yells about feeling the party's feelings as the attacks pile up, and you can pick up a weird sense of joy underneath the pain. Tajikarao makes his move next, putting his shining finger arm on Magami's chest to activate his NP to move away the other memories put into Magami. This causes Magami's normal self to surface enough to recognize Tajikarao as his senpai, which Shiva realizes and decides is his cue to make Magami understand things better using his NP. Shiva's attack splits Magami into his past, present, and future self, causing the System to become unstable. The past version is a Guardian, and the present version is a police dog, and what connects them is a flickering shadowy version of Magami. The rest of the party signals for you to go, so you yell out and hold your fist out to punch Magami in the stomach.

A sinner was once brought out in front of a Guardian for the crime of bringing shame to Takamagahara. There was no where for the sinner to run, and the Guardian stepped forward. He spoke in an august voice, saying "if thou claims innocence, then strike my body with thy fist." The Guardian felt that if the sinner pulled their arm back in desperation to strike, then that was proof in itself that they were guilty. That is why judgment took the form of a duel, and when the crime was judged, it would be purged within the Guardian's mouth.

Magami however wasn't interested in making a value judgment, but rather what the sin itself was. Every time a sinner punched him, various emotions would fill him. A sense of inferiority, sadness, hunger, wrath, and at times, joy. Every time these emotions crossed over to him, he would think. In the pure, innocent System of Takamagahara, Magami would wonder why the sinner committed the sin they did. With every emotion that passed, he would look for a motive. In order to delve deeper and farther into these emotions, he would need more intense duels and resistance. Why? Why? Whywhywhy?

When those thoughts flooded back into Magami's head, he wouldn't eat just the sin. Instead, he ate everything. At that time he was flooded with many emotions. There wasn't any time to spare in examining them individually, so they passed straight into his body and left nothing behind. Magami understood nothing, and he remained that way when things were brought to an end. Those around him praised him for passing judgment on the sinners, saying what is right in Takamagahara was proven. His own emotions were engulfed by the System at this time, and he could feel nothing. But just before this, there was one last feeling he had: "do I know you well enough to judge you?"

We then tune back in inside Magami's mind where he says everything above was his past. He wanted to know people better than anyone, yet in the end he knew no one. In trying to understand, he hurt someone, and he learned nothing on top of that. He was waiting beyond the memories of his past self you went through, and you acknowledged that he tried to learn about people rather than do as he was told.

Magami sadly notes that he still ended up doing as he was told and deciding based on what others thought. If people thought something was embarrassing, it was judged a crime. But why was it considered shameful? And why were people attacked for it? Why did he feel sad, angry, and hurt when faced with those emotions put up to him. Magami wanted to know, but he suggests that maybe he learned too much. You note that he ended hurting people this way, getting hurt in kind as he got closer. The more he tried to learn, the less he understood.

Magami says he learns things quicker when things go through his body rather than his head. He wonders if others wanted him to know things if he said he wanted to know. Magami hangs his head, at which point a voice fills the two of you. Shiva tells Magami to keep asking questions then about why, and what point he's asking his questions for. Jugo talks about how in hurting one another, you start learning things about other people because you really want to know about them. Arachne says maybe the things you want to know are the things the other person wants to hide away, and maybe that's why they keep hiding it even when they get hurt. Thunderbird suggests that maybe there is a right way where people won't have to hurt one another, but before you can look for that in another person you need to question yourself first. Tajikarao says that's why people are always asking themselves what is right.

Everyone's words fill Magami from his stomach in down to his core, each bringing back a summer memory of the time he's spent with everyone. You note that these include memories of everyone, of summer, first meetings, times shared with Magami, and others. In your hand are the feelings you have that you can't quite put into words, and you offer them to Magami by extending your fist forward. Magami is surprised, but he happily accepts them from you, meeting your fist with his.

Back outside Magami's soulscape, the cherry trees blooming in the everlasting spring of Takamagahara start scattering their petals as the midsummer sun shines down. The area is already starting to flicker like a mirage, soon to be nothing more than a midsummer memory for everyone. Some time passes as Magami leads the party to a cave near the river, and once inside Arachne asks if Magami is fine and sure about this. Magami assures her he's fine as he currently knows this otherworld pretty well. The Takamagahara shift will disappear soon, but with a quick sniff to check he declares he's sure the place is just up ahead.

Jugo groans as he asks Shiva to put him down already, especially given that his wounds have somehow disappeared. Shiva however hmphs at him saying he's talking big for someone who's lost a lot of energy, telling him to be a good little weakling and shut up. Tajikarao comments his surprise that the goal area ended up being Takamagahara, and he also expresses some discomfort at how cramped the cave is. The alchemists have followed along, with the giraffe wondering excitedly what's going to happen with the wolf skull. Tajikarao orders them to be quiet and sighs about the wyverns leaving already. He also reminds them that they're going to be arrested and have to pay for their crimes. The panda alchemist says he knows, but logically speaking of course they'd be excited about this. Arachne then asks about Mushussu being gone, wondering if he actually went back to Marduk instead of getting lost or something. Shiva says there's nothing to worry about regarding Mushussu, figuring he must be back with Marduk and eating.

The party continues on a bit, and Thunderbird eventually notes that you guys seemed to have found your destination when he sees an altar with a bunch of animal bones on it. He makes an observation of how old the thing is and suggests it could be older than Takamagahara's faith. You notice something as well and point it out to the party, which turns out to be a headless skeleton. Magami agrees that it must be it, and he gently smiles as he pats the wolf skull head in his hands. You say it's time to return it and ask Magami to put it back, telling the skull you guys won't disturb its rest. Magami nods and proceeds to put the skull back, wishing it sweet dreams as he changes out from his old robes to his current day outfit.

Some time later, Arachne says that was touching and everything, but it's time to figure out how to actually leave the place. Since Mushussu has already flown off, there's no other apparent means of travel. Jugo starts worrying that everyone is going to fall out of the sky and splat against something, and Shiva in turn tells Jugo to get a grip on himself and not let his curse snake slip out. The panda alchemist starts commenting about feeling better about getting something off his chest, and Tajikarao says that while the ride has been bumpy going along with Magami's thing, it turned out alright. Thunderbird then points at something and says it looks like the ancient wolf has blessed you guys with good fortune.

Thunderbird points out to three modern boats floating in the water that streams into the cave all lined up together, and Tajikarao cheers about them belonging to the party. He also starts figuring out that their presence means that the overworld shift lifting is connecting back to the original mountain you guys were on. Magami figures the same thing and suggests taking the boats out before the shift disappears. Everyone climbs aboard and starts rowing out, and you lead the party by saying it's time to make your triumphant return back, end the adventure, and pass these summer memories down to legends. The party cheers back in response, and silence fills the cave as you all leave. This summer incident has come to a close, and what has transpired will rest peacefully in your memories. To be continued in the Epilogue!

Summer River Adventure Episode 6 Part 1

Picking up from last time, the sky island the party is on shook really hard and changed from an early ruin to a divine mountain and Magami is no longer his usual self. Thunderbird is shocked as he says a second layer overworld shift is happening and that a different faith is overwriting the floating island. Tajikarao says he recognizes the mountain even if the minor details are different, then declares that you guys are in Takamagahara now.

 

Magami repeats his last line from the previous episode about being the devourer of evil, and you comment that he seems different, ask what he means by evil, or ask about you guys being in Takamagahara. Magami doesn't answer you as he looks straight at the party, and Arachne tries talking to him asking why he looks different. It's impressive and all, but something else about him seems off. Jugo adds that Magami seems to be a different person now, but before he can say more his curse starts activating and causing him pain.

 

Arachne expresses concern for Jugo and is frustrated at what the hell is going on. Jugo manages to say the Mizuchi curse is suddenly strengthening before it cuts him off again, and Shiva starts wondering if what's happening with him is same origin world resonance or something else. Again, the Orochi brand is surfacing on Jugo's body only this time it's spread to his whole body.

 

Magami tells the party to leave the evildoer here for the crime of stealing something worshiped in Takamagahara. Tajikarao is aghast as he points out that as police they're supposed to be protecting citizens. They can investigate the crimes of suspects and arrest them, but the actual judgment is done by the judiciary department. Magami refuses, saying that he is the devourer of any evil that transgresses against the law of Takamagahara and goes against the world's order. That is the role he was given and a fact of life here in Takamagahara.

 

Magami's halo shines as bright as the sun, meaning the light that stands above all else. Tajikarao is taken by surprise by it as he makes the sun comparison out loud, and Shiva takes an interest as he says he's giving off World Representative level power vibes. It's a borrowed power that isn't normally his, but it counts as the real thing where you guys are currently at.

 

The panda alchemist makes a note about the Japanese pun involving okami sounding like wolf and great deity in Takamagahara and Wa no Kuni. Not many beings have that title, so Magami has overlaid someone with that power level over himself. The panda talks about Takamagahara being a world that exists in the sky, which is comparable to how the area is being overlaid with Magami's memories. He's given up his individual free will and abandoned himself to the world, which is another way of saying he's been inserted to the System that is the world.

 

Thunderbird starts talking about knowing how people who have been worn out after going through an eternity turn out like Magami has. One time back in Great Spirit, the one who stood at the top of the hierarchy was filled with the thoughts of many and eventually became Like That. All those memories and thoughts overwhelmed his own self. This is normally something that takes forever and not within a day, and Arachne adds it might be an effect of the River Lethe. If the river were to reverse, it'd become the River Mnemosyne which holds the memories of others.

Arachne points at the river flowing up into the sky, noting that it's flowing in reverse from the ground to the sky, then suggests something would happen if it rivers of multiple worlds manifested and gathered in Magami, though she admits it's still a guess. Thunderbird nods and notes that Magami has the power to gather things and that he was unsure of how he should be. He's likely lost himself from having many other people's thoughts put into him. Right now, he himself is a part of Takamagahara's System.

Magami confirms what Thunderbird has been saying, then describes himself as the one who shows the right way and the place to return to in Takamagahara. Because of that, he has to weigh Jugo's sins and show him Takamagahara's justice. He prompts you guys to hand him over again so he can eat him, otherwise he'll judge you guys as people who are also criminals hiding something shameful and something he needs to purge as well.

The party braces themselves against Magami, and you protest and try to ask Magami what happened to him. Shiva tells you that you won't be able to get Magami to listen to you since he's already a part of the world's System. You either ask for an explanation or silently wait for one, so Shiva explains that beings that live for a long time receiving the thoughts of living things have these thoughts overwhelm them and they end up like that. Their own will is lost as their body is surrendered to their role, and they live only to use their power for the sake of the world. He sadly tells you to give up on him saying the process is irreversible as they are now just a cogwheel for the world that just looks the same as they used to.

Tajikarao calls out to Magami in concern. Magami turns to him and says that if he's a member of Takamagahara's people then he can't turn his eyes away from any sin that would pollute their world. He then prompts Tajikarao to hand Jugo over again as another gear to Takamagahara's System. Tajikarao responds with an anguished glare as his hands shake, and to the side the alchemists (the giraffe at least) start suggesting that they sneak away. The rhino however says you guys were oddly nice to them since you guys removed the ropes on them and told them to leave first. You guys even gave them enough kemi dango to hitch a ride back, though it won't last long. The panda thinks the most logical idea is to stay and watch since it's a good chance to observe a multilayered overworld shift and the System of another world. Tajikarao tries to remind Magami that he's a police dog. Magami says all he will do is die to uphold what Takamagahara decides is right and fulfill his given duties. All life will become this way and abandon their doubts, and inevitability to save even more people.

You tell Shiva you won't give up and/or argue against Magami, which surprises Arachne. A flashback pops up of that time Magami saying the wolf skull told him it wanted to go home, and back to the present Arachne notes Magami was feeling hesitant then. When he knew of the skull's feelings, he wanted to grant its wish. The current Magami doesn't comment on this, but Arachne says she wouldn't have commented if Magami had chosen to throw away his doubts by his own will. Tajikarao brings up that Magami chose to return the skull fully knowing he was breaking the rules. He respects his decision as he said earlier, and he notes that Magami was determined to help the wolf skull.

Thunderbird starts talking about getting to know Magami while he questioned what the right thing to do was, and he calls him a hero for caring about a relic nobody else paid attention to. And he's seen the goal he fought for, so he won't leave him like this. Shiva goes next, saying he doesn't know what's going to happen to him. But that said, he doesn't like Magami having his own will be overwritten by somebody else's thoughts, and anything he doesn't like he will tear apart with his own hands. Jugo seems surprised by Shiva, then says he can't be sitting down in pain either.

Magami is quiet for a moment before dismissing everyone's statements as trifles in comparison to the world. In order to guide as many people to the right path, there will be sacrifices needed, even if it's himself. For that reason, he will use his power. The island shakes again as the light of the sun intensifies to the point where shadows can't be cast. This also causes Orochi to go crazy which in turn causes Jugo to suffer as he attempts to keep them under control.

Arachne is alarmed as she notices Jugo's brand acting up, then asks Magami what he did. Magami answers that this is the Providence of his System, which can reveal the curse hidden in Jugo's body. Thunderbird notes that the light shines upon everything in front of it, but he argues it's too harsh since Jugo didn't ask to be cursed. Magami says that all sinners must be judged and devoured by him, and speaking of sinners he demands the alchemists appear before him too.

The alchemists are alarmed to be brought into the conversation, and Thunderbird is surprised that they're still around. Arachne can sympathize with their curiosity, but this isn't the time and place for that as she urges them to run. Magami says that it is impossible to hide things with your mind and body in front of Takamagahara's System so all crimes will be judged. The alchemists start panicking and ask for help, and Magami declares that he'll eat them as he opens up his mouth, but Tajikarao intervenes by attempting to falcon punch him in the stomach.

Magami doesn't react at first, but eventually he yells that Tajikarao should know his place before the sun as he light blasts him away to your surprise. When Tajikarao gets back up, he's dismayed as a handler and senpai that trying to hit Magami really hard didn't really snap him out of things, but he yells loudly that Magami is his cute kouhai. Magami then starts recoiling from the impact of Tajikarao's punch and says he feels it in his internal organs. Tajikarao points out that of course he would since he's always prompting people to hit him in the torso rather than the head. And even if it doesn't actually hurt him, if his original self is still underneath all the thoughts poured into him then Tajikarao swears to pull it back to the surface and make him remember his forgotten directives.

Magami struggles to deal with the impact as he says the feelings in Tajikarao's fists have reached his heart, and his normal self comes back up calling Tajikarao Senpai. Thunderbird is surprised to see that Magami still has his own self underneath even after being turned into a System part, and Shiva seems to understand what's going on. It's true that it looks like Magami has become part of the System, but this normally takes an eternity to happen with someone accepting another person's thoughts and getting their self worn away. Magami however has not been exposed to eternity and therefore has not been eroded away, which then means his self is still underneath the other thoughts.

You ask Shiva if that means you guys need to get rid of the other thoughts, then ask how to actually do that. Shiva exchanges looks briefly with Jugo, then tells you that he can't do it. Jugo meanwhile has his curse going wild and compared to a raging river, and the Orochi's shadow seems to flow out of him for a second before he beats it back, shouting loudly as he resists. He steps forward, bleeding a bit from tearing off one of the snake's scales. Jugo starts saying that Takamagahara and roles mean nothing and that the Mizuchi is in a bad mood. Everyone else has been fighting, so he has to be able to pitch in too, otherwise his training was pointless.

Shiva notes that Jugo is making Mizuchi's curse reverse and seems to call it Dragon Reversal, comparing it to how naturally violent Ganga was. Arachne takes notice of this and asks about the reverse flow curse thing, saying something can be done in that case. You ask Arachne to explain herself, so she says the idea is to make the reversed flow reverse itself again. She then calls the team together to explain a plan she has cooked up.

Arachne's explanation gets offscreened to the part where she asks if everyone is ready to go and turns to face Magami again. She tells him that their first meeting could have been a coincidence, but she now thinks of him as a friend and cohort in making summer memories. If the string tying them together frays by even one bit, that would be sad for her, and she begs Magami to remember himself and his original values. If he doesn't then she'll tailor him up in her best haute couture. Thunderbird says that another measurer of good and evil, he feels a special sort of pity for those who stifle their own emotions and insert themselves into their System like a sacrifice. He then refers to Magami as the Sunkamanitu Tanka of Takamagahara, then says it's time to wake him up from his sad dream.

You either call out to everyone, Magami, and/or quietly ball up your fists. Magami asks if that is the party's answer to his request, then says he'll purge you all as concealers of shame. If you don't like that, then he challenges you guys to show him he's wrong with your fists. You steel yourself and tell him to be ready to feel everyone's determination for himself, and for a second it feels like Magami is smiling. Magami then prompts you guys to come at him as he starts the episode battle.

Summer River Adventure Episode 5 Part 2

We pick up from last time with Arachne expressing amazement at something so breathtaking being up in the skies of Tokyo. Thunderbird asks her to calm down and reminds her that the area you guys are in is something overlaid on top of Tokyo, so she apologizes for being suddenly surprised when she remembers. Jugo asks if that means he can compare what's in front of you guys to a mirage or a fantasy, so Thunderbird answers that's fine in the general sense. It's probably why the atmospheric pressure feels different.

 

Magami sniffs around for a bit before telling everyone that he can faintly pick up on the scent, though not well enough to figure out where to go. You wonder which world you guys are in, note that nobody is around, then try calling out and see if anyone responds. A Shadow alchemist turns up in response commenting that you guys seem to be in trouble as he speaks in a way superficially similar to Arachne's, then offers to help you guys out. The party is surprised by the panda suddenly turning up, who turns out is accompanied by the other special element alchemists.

 

The Shadow alchemist greets you all and mentions you guys have met their friends earlier. Arachne is confused by this as this would be the first time you guys have seen them, so the regular element alchemist mobs from back at the campground turn up over here too to say they're here. They only saw you guys a day ago, but they say you did well to get all the way there.

 

Tajikarao is surprised to see the mobs there and recognizes them from the camp, but Magami happily greets them back, and the lion alchemist thanks him for being polite. Thunderbird looks suspicious as he talks to himself about them being the weird science team that turned up at the Aoyama campground, and Shiva stands there quietly.

Arachne asks the group why they are here now, so the panda alchemist answers that they go wherever relics are to be found. The lion alchemist starts geeking out over the encrusted matter over a skull and the size of the canines, which the panda points out as proof of how they're all just research maniacs doing science. The giraffe adds that there are lots of fascinating relics to be found in overworld shifts, and the rhino says that the wolf skull is even more interesting, and the group starts pestering Magami to hand it over.

Magami is taken aback and tries to politely turn them down, but the lion tells him to shut up. The panda calls him a colleague and tries to calm him down, saying that getting so emotionally worked up isn't good for thinking logically. The rest of them apologize and mumble as they concede the point, and the panda turns back to you guys and asks you all to pardon his subordinates. Them getting so passionate is the only thing going against them.

Thunderbird prompts the panda to explain what his logical negotiations is supposed to be, so the panda answers he wants to make a logical deal. You ask for further details and if he's saying he wants you guys to hand the wolf skull over. The panda clarifies that he's talking about some other relics, surprising Tajikarao. The alchemists are searching the hanging gardens for something, but with the frequent shifts occurring its location isn't definite. That's where you guys come in, as they're sure a trained police dog's sense of smell can figure it out.

Magami is surprised and says nothing, and the panda goes on assuring you guys they'll stop asking about the wolf skull. It's logical to make an exchange for something of equivalent value! The regular element mobs start to object since they still want the skull, but the panda ignores them and apologizes for his subordinates again. He's the leader with executive fiat, so he says you guys can relax about it. Magami is conflicted, and you either question what's so logical about the suggested deal and if there's a point in handing the skull over before getting cut off, or you keep silent. In the former, there's an extra bit of Tajikarao being the one to cut you off, apologizing and asking that you leave it to him.

Tajikarao turns to Magami and prompts him to decide what to do since it was his decision that brought everyone to this point. Magami tries pleading with him as he calls him both senpai and handler, but Tajikarao insists that a handler isn't supposed to bail him out when he's confused. He isn't looking him in the eye, but he then put his hand on Magami's head and pats him, saying that a handler is in it until the end for the dog. Whatever he picks he'll give his full support, so he sternly tells Magami to make a decision. Magami isn't happy to hear this, and as the thoughts roll around in his head, he picks up on a certain scent.

The panda starts asking Magami if he'll help out, but Magami cuts across him to ask about something. The panda lets him do so, so Magami says he can pick up a faint scent from them that you guys know very well. Specifically, it's the smell of the kemi dango, and he asks why the alchemists smell like it. The panda doesn't give an answer, so Magami starts talking about how he should have picked up on it earlier. He finally noticed when Tajikarao told him to think for himself, and he says that trust is the most important thing if he's going to help. And if the alchemists won't explain themselves, he can't help them.

You react in shock to the mention of kemi dango and remember how they were used to control Mushussu and the wyverns, and the panda sighs about things coming to this point saying logically Magami would have been better off not bringing it up. Mushussu and the wyverns then sweep in, and Shiva is surprised to see him. Jugo says this explains a lot of things now, and Tajikarao says this is all a premeditated crime now that they've shown themselves to have supplied the mobsters and controlled the dragons.

The panda says you guys have misunderstood something and claims that the kemi dango was stolen from them. He also suggests that the wyverns are just there coincidentally, so Thunderbird brings up that the panda originally said you already 'met their friends.' He originally thought he was talking about the other alchemists, but the panda has referred to them as his subordinates. In which case, who did he mean by friends?

The panda doesn't have a response to Thunderbird's question, so Thunderbird says it's time for them to admit they're connected to the thieves. His own artifact can feel their sad dreams of greed of monopolizing something even if it would hurt other people. The panda says that logically thinking, he's got only one option left. He talks about this area, the aerial garden of vanity Hanging Gardens of Babylon, is made atop of a special phenomenon. It's a so-called Enclosed Area covered in clouds that can't be seen from the ground, tied to someone's nostalgia to an image of a hanging garden. What he's getting at is that no one will know what happens here, especially given that there's no core here in this indistinct zone.

Shiva derides the alchemists and says they won't be safe after facing his wrath, which scares the rhino. The giraffe starts looking at the party again as he identifies you all as a police dog, a policeman, a martial artist or something, a fashion designer, and something he can't figure out. The panda tells them to not falter since they have numbers on their side to try and take the wolf skull. They have a secret plan after all since they know the true value of the hanging gardens! He then laughs as he orders the dragons to all attack.

The mobs all move to surround the party, so Shiva tells Jugo to take care of his back and show he can handle what comes After This. Jugo is confused by this and asks for details, so Shiva says the alchemists are right in that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are not just part of the scenery of an overworld shift. What happens after this will be the core of this incident, with dragons surging and everything turning to chaos.

Arachne says you guys should return the wolf skull and says her runway is unstoppable. Thunderbird declares this to be the climax of the incident on his name as a hero. Tajikarao declares it's time to arrest the mobs since this is a crime in action, then orders Magami to go. Magami acknowledges the order and barks like crazy, and the episode battle starts up as you say you won't allow any evildoing, tell the mobs to think about what they did in prison, and/or declare you won't hand the Ancient Wolf skull over. More story happens after that.

The story picks back up with narration. It is said that in the 23 other worlds, the faith of dragons is paired with things that flow. When deluges flood things, sometimes they become threatening things that destroy everything on the land, wash them away, and make them a thing of the past. As such, this Great Flood gets patterned after a giant dragon that everyone comes to fear and respect. Once that dragon opens its mouth, many things get devoured. Sometimes, that includes itself. Wake not the dragon, disturb not the dragon lest a calamity befalls you.

Now, among the 23 worlds is the world of Babel/Babylonia/I don't even know, the world that became the model of many other faiths. There lies what people know as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The water that flows on the ground flows up to the gardens, the paradise in the heavens that stands far above in the sky. This feat is said to have impressed the other worlds starting with Olympus, and it became a prototype of an archetype of the hierarchy that places the heavens above the earth. This would be the faith for the heavens. This concept influenced the other worlds in various ways and took on various shapes, but the Hanging Gardens of Babylon disappeared from history at a certain point in time. It was as if it were devoured by something, and this blank spot of history cannot be explained away even now.

Back to the present we tune in to Mushussu roaring so loudly that it shakes everything in the Hanging Gardens. Shiva yells back before referring to Mushussu as a Divided Body of the dragon from Babylonia Tiamat and mount of the World Representative Marduk. He then asks if his memories have been affected by the garden. Mushussu just roars some more, and Shiva says he is strong, but not as strong as himself.

Arachne says she'll display her tailoring to the alchemists, and she ties the rhino's lab coat together so tightly he whines that he can't move. He's also surprised by how elastic and tough it is, admitting that he's fascinated by it. Arachne says he has a good eye for things and thanks him for seeing the beauty of her new fabric she's made through all her troubles, then asks what the wyverns think of it.

The panda decides on a logical course of action and asks for a moment to say something. His big statement is a complaint at how strong you guys and he can't wrap his mind around this. Thunderbird says he'll take it as a compliment and claims to be a passing hero of justice. The panda is confused at this, and Thunderbird starts talking about how areas in overworld shifts may be deified, so the relics that come from them may be deified as well. He also talks about how there are plenty of people in Tokyo who have to fight alone away from their old emotional supports from their old world. And here Thunderbird is going to take them back from the thieves who would take them away!

Tajikarao tells the alchemists to surrender and talk about their crimes when they get back to the station alongside the thieves. Magami says they can go on digs again if they really pay for their crimes and reform, at which point he'll be happy to help them out. The panda starts having a fit, asking why you guys are stopping them and saying society is always like this. Thunderbird, Tajikarao, and Magami are taken aback at this, as are you by this sudden outburst as you tell the panda to calm down.

The panda continues ranting, saying they tried to apply to dig in overworld shifts through legal means, by their hopes to delve into the deepest secrets of the world get crushed. Whatever findings they do make get stolen, so they can't do their research to any satisfactory end. You ask what the panda means about big secrets or stolen research, and he snorts saying you probably wouldn't understand, though he agrees to tell you anyway.

These researchers are looking into the way the world is structured, and the relics are a clue into figuring it out. He points out that 24 different worlds including Tokyo are all structured the same way, and he wonders why that is. What is the point to there being a hierarchy, faith, powers, and roles? There are also legends of floods set by divine wrath to wash away history in every world, but why is that? In their homeworld, many people have suffered because of such things abusing them. There have even been people who have been driven away, unable to return. The panda declares that Tokyo being a crossroads connected to these worlds has lots of clues to explain why that all is. If they can figure it out, they can probably save the ones exiled from their world. But every time they try to do their work legitimately strange people from places they don't know of take it all away, leaving this their only other option.

Thunderbird asks the alchemists about their business deal with the thieves, then figures out where all the relics that weren't put on the market are going to. The panda admits that they have those relics. They don't care about money or fame, and the panda argues this is also for the benefit of the relics summoned to Tokyo. He turns to Magami for support, which surprises him. The panda talks about how they share the same feelings the displaced skull has regarding its home. He's already aware that the party is trying to return the skull, even the part where Magami is technically committing dereliction of duty to do this. He however argues that returning it to an illusionary world accomplishes nothing, so it'd be better off in their hands so they can try returning more people home. After that they can put the skull back too.

Magami becomes conflicted at this to a personal level, and the moment everyone turns to look at Magami the panda makes a break for it. Tajikarao orders him to chase the panda down since he should be able to catch up, but he's surprised when Magami doesn't move. Meanwhile the panda runs to Mushussu does something to him, prompting Shiva to demand an explanation of what he's doing. The panda says he has the concentrated raw materials of the kemi dango along with an injector, and once he uses it on Mushussu he's making him rampage.

The party is shocked at the plan, and you yell that you guys have to stop him. Jugo tells everyone to hurry, but some alchemists attempt to bodyblock and slow you guys down. Shiva grudgingly commends them for that, and the panda says he's so close to discovering the hanging garden's secrets. He says that since it's a prototype for many Myths, he should be able to find some sort of commonality with a bunch of different worlds. Why is it that so many histories have been devoured and erased? He claims his instinct is telling him the answer is there, so he'll do anything to buy the time he needs to find out. The panda proceeds to activate his doohickey, but he handles it so roughly he screws it up as his other colleagues freak out about how the thing is delicate. The panda then realizes he somehow turned the self-destruct mechanism on it on which counts down, so Thunderbird yells for everyone to get away. Magami is still out of it, which forces Tajikarao to pick him up and carry him.

The panda's tool blows up into a cloud of smoke mixed in with their magic mind control chemical thingy, which coats the mobs as the giraffe goes 'I told you so' at the panda. Arachne starts asking how their subjugation tool actually works, so the giraffe answers that taming living things is a matter of giving them what they want. In this case they're using it like super MSG or other flavor enhancer on flour. Arachne thanks him for answering, then asks what that means in more concrete terms. Mushussu starts ambling over to the mobs like he's spotted some really nice food, and they in turn freak out and attempt to talk Mushussu out of eating them. The panda screams as he fails, and he still takes a moment to say how fascinating the inside of Mushussu's mouth is and about science before yelling in general.

The party is shocked by what happened, and you note how awful that was. Thunderbird says that even if this is retribution for their misdeeds, what happened to the panda is still pretty ghastly. Tajikarao says this is worse than anything Daikoku could do and can't bring himself to look. Jugo tries to get the party to actually intervene and save the panda, and Shiva just sighs to himself.

Some time later, the party makes Mushussu spit out the mobs and has them all tied up. Shiva tells him to stop licking the mobs, but then he notes that Mushussu likes to eat Marduk so that may not mean much. Mushussu just does the confused dog bit as he continues licking the mobs, which Arachne says is cute after the whole swallowing people thing. Shiva says Mushussu is his acquaintance's mount, then suggests bringing him back to him. Thunderbird thanks everyone for their help, saying now that things are dealt with he can see the way back. Tajikarao says that the kemidango has been confiscated, so the other wyverns have quieted down. Jugo says the thieves have been apprehended, so all that's left is the skull as he turns towards Magami.

Magami is looking sad, prompting Tajikarao to walk over and ask him what's wrong. He doesn't respond, so you try to prompt him to talk to you guys. He starts admitting that he doesn't know what to do anymore, surprising Tajikarao to ask him to elaborate. The whole party looks at Magami as his ears and tail hang, and Magami starts talking about how he came here to return the Ancient Wolf skull. But now that he's here he's questioning whether he was doing the right thing in the end. He does think that the alchemists and thieves have done crimes when they joined together, but then he learned of something as he flashes back to what the thieves said about remembering things back at the other camp.

When the mobster touched Magami, Magami found out that they all wanted to go home. The alchemists are the same way, and nothing they said was a lie. They really did want to send people home and go back themselves, so maybe their joining up with the thieves was the right thing to do after all. The mobs don't say anything, and Magami says he's lost now and wonders what really is the right thing to be doing.

An image of a young wolf cub floats up into Magami's mind, and the sky island starts shaking afterwards. Jugo is surprised by this and asks if it's a quake or something. Thunderbird points out that the island is floating, so it's not a quake but the island itself shaking. Shiva is surprised as he says the island is pulsing and the flow of water from the ground to the sky is reversing. Magami doesn't pay any attention to this as he pleads for Tajikarao for an answer, then starts seizing up apparently. Tajikarao tries to ask him what's wrong, then yelling for him to get a hold of himself. Arachne says the shaking is getting stronger and tries telling Tajikarao to go, but then she notices something wrong with Magami. Magami then starts groaning about his head hurting like it's splitting.

The area starts warping, but you ignore that for the moment to try talking to Magami, asking if he's okay and suggesting he leave with you guys to talk later. Shiva then notices something and tells everyone to get away from Magami as he calls him 'that thing,' shocking the rest of the party. Magami transforms into a white robed form, then declares that his role is to send things back to where they originally came from, which is something he has to do. If he can't do so, then he declares that 'the world is wrong.' And in that case, he'll devour all the memories of that mistaken world and return it into its original working order. That is what his power to devour things is made for.

Tajikarao is surprised by what's happening and calls Magami's name. Magami actually responds, but he sounds different than he does before as he formally declares himself to be Oguchi Magami. Jugo is surprised when he notices the Hanging Gardens are transforming, and it is doing so as the prototypical model is filled with faith from elsewhere. This also has the effect of causing Jugo pain as his Mizuchi curse starts activating all of a sudden, with marks surfacing to his skin stronger than it had before. This is compared to it regaining energy in returning to the world it was born in. Tajikarao is taken aback as he recognizes the scenery as being from his homeworld, and the episode ends with Magami declares himself the devourer of evil that would stain the world.

Summer River Adventure Episode 5 Part 1

Magami sees a dream of bright white light pouring out from a rock door, and within it is a little shadow that seems to be guiding him. That was himself from another time, back before he was named Oguchi Magami. That shadow then shows him a vision that resonates with him. One foggy day, a little wolf cub runs into a group of soldiers. The fog was so thick that the group was lost and at their wit's end, so one of the soldiers tried talking to the wolf cub and asked if it could show them the 'right' way back. The wolf cub then used its sense of smell to guide them, but who can say whether this was due to kindness or curiosity? It was still an innocent soul, ignorant of the concepts of gains and losses, and the wolf cub was excited as it guided the men. It found joy in the act of guiding them.

 

Eventually the cub guides the men out of the fog and onto the path to home, so the apparent lead of the group steps up and stands in front of the cub. A voice comes suddenly from somewhere, further above than the leader. It proclaimed the cub the one who finds the right path for people, naming him Oguchi Magami and commanding him to protect the area. The soldier was a highly respected deity in Takamagahara, and Magami thought of this time as the time he was given a noble mission. It was the role of the Guardian who would devour misfortune and guide the people to the right path for the sake of Takamagahara. But what triggered all that wasn't really a sense of justice or kindness; it was just Magami thinking "I did it because I could."

 

Things then tune in over at the campground further up the mountain where Shirou is on the phone with you. He acknowledges whatever it is you're telling him and thanks you for calling, then tells you everyone is looking forward to your return. He then tells you to be careful and hopes you have a good adventure before hanging up. Shirou sighs afterwards about how you're always getting caught up in trouble of some kind, at which point Kengo and Ryouta walk up having looked for him. Kengo says they were wondering why he suddenly got up and left, then asks how things are with you. Ryouta notes that you didn't come back yesterday and was really looking forward to you having some of the curry they made.

 

Shirou answers that you spent the night at a campground further downstream. Everyone is fine and nobody has been hurt. You've also told him you guys caught what seems to be the relic thieves, which surprises Ryouta with how quickly that happened. Even with the police accompanying you, he wasn't expecting it to happen so fast. Kengo casually shrugs and says he figured things would go that way with you there, then asks if you ran into anyone surprising on the way.

 

Maria walks up to the three at this point, greeting them good morning. She says she heard a bit of the conversation and asks if it's true. Ryouta greets her back and comments on how surprising the story is. You're there though, so it's probably legit. Maria says that's good, and she hopes that the news will also reach the people who came by yesterday. A flash indicates that she means the weirdo alchemists, and Kengo picks up that she's talking about the freaks who kept blabbering about wanting the wolf skull donated to them. Maria says from what she's heard, the alchemists are really passionate about excavating relics, especially ones connected to overworld shifts. They'll talk your ears off about them if you let them.

 

Ryouta then brings up that dragon Marduk brought with him he can't remember the name of, Messy Fish or something. Shirou corrects it to Mushussu and thinks about how he flew off all of a sudden. Maria says Marduk was so depressed by this that he *only* ate three plates of the handmade curry everyone put together. Kengo expresses his amazement at Marduk's appetite and compares it to Ryouta's, and Maria says the Missionaries is organizing a search for Mushussu, asking the gang to tell her if they see him. Ryouta comments on how busy things are and expresses concern for your side of things. Kengo says that you should be back soon with the whatever thieves caught, which Ryouta concedes the point of, and Shirou hopes that you guys will come back safely.

 

Scene shifts to your end where you express concern about causing the gang some worries, so once you're done with things here you need to get back. You also express some disappointment at missing out on the curry. Magami walks up barking and asking if you're done calling your friends, then informs you the police support sent out have arrived a little while ago. It's about time to go meet them, so he came to get you. You thank him and say you guys should go together, or you can ask if he's okay. In A and B, Magami agrees after a moment and asks for your hand so that you guys can go together. In C, Magami seems confused by your question and says that he's fine today. Either way he coughs and says it's time to go, but as you guys walk along his tail is noted to be drooping, a sign of the doubts he hasn't noticed yet.

 

The party is waiting by the back gate of the membership nature camp where the criminal handoff is being done to keep anxieties down since less people are there. The mobsters aren't saying much of anything, which Jugo notes in surprise. Arachne also thinks it's remarkable how docile they are now that it's been brought up, then asks if they got their memories back. Thunderbird says they seemed uncomfortable last night, and Shiva asks if people wanted the mobsters to be making negative remarks or something.

Tajikarao announces it's time to hand over the mobsters, and the deity cops who have come to pick them up formally acknowledge custody being handed to them. One of them still takes the time to quip that Tajikarao doesn't look very professional or intimidating in his life jacket, which Tajikarao gets offended about before reminding them to keep watch on the mobs. The other cop brings up that the mobs want to talk to him before they go, which Magami is surprised about.

The mobsters speak in clips as they try to remember, saying they say a dream. It was a dream of when they were younger, doing the things they loved and having fun running around in the summer. The sky was blue and the clouds were white, and they ran around the beauty of nature not knowing what concerns of adult life was like. They saved money from odd jobs to go on a trip to look for undiscovered fossils. They just wanted to tell you guys that, one of the mobsters say as they put their hand on Magami's head.

Magami is confused by this, and Tajikarao asks why they wanted to say all that. The mobsters answer that you guys showed up in their dreams, dancing around in some sort of summer festival. Tajikarao says he saw the same dream too after a bit, saying it was a lot of fun. The mobsters say they want to go to a real one, so they ask if they can visit their festival one day. Tajikarao answers they can after they pay for their crimes, at which point they'll welcome them. They can have all the fun in the world there since festivals are there to make people happy. Magami says they'll be waiting to hear from them so they can all go together. You wonder if their memories resonated and suggest bringing them along next time, and Tajikarao agrees saying it'd be nice to have them join as he watches the mobsters leave with the others until they disappear from view.

Once the handover is done, the party leaves the campground to head to Magami's goal, which Tajikarao cheerfully urges the party to do. Shiva is put out by how peppy he is and starts to ask if he knows how much work they've put in for him last night, but Jugo points out that the two of them didn't actually do anything. They got kicked out early and had to wait for everyone to wake up. Shiva seems surprised to be contradicted.

Thunderbird apologizes to Tajikarao for entering his deeper consciousness, even if it was to get his memories back. Memories are one of the important things that make a person who they are, so it's not really a good thing for other people to see them whenever they want. Arachne also apologizes for looking into his memories, but Tajikarao waves it off and says it happened because of his carelessness. He thinks it's good that you guys saw his memories, though he says a different problem has come up now, briefly looking at you before turning away.

You try to talk to Tajikarao and/or stay quiet, and he quietly goes through some complicated emotions. You are concerned and ask him what's wrong, prompting him to speak up if he wants to say something. Tajikarao quickly claims that nothing is wrong and that there's no way you could be That One Brother. Otherwise this is going to be super awkward with that one thing you did at Amaterasu's house and that other time and all that other stuff.

You ask Tajikarao about what he's talking about or stay quiet, and Tajikarao freaks out begging that you not make him say it out loud since even that would be embarrassing. He'd never be able to get over the shock of that. Tajikarao then tries to compose himself, saying he has something he wants to talk to you alone about later and telling you to be ready for that.

Once that bit is done Tajikarao bows towards the rest of the party, then says that what's been happening has been a good opportunity for him to reflect upon himself again. Pretty much everything about the Ama-no-Iwato incident back at Takamagahara has been blown to you guys, and he feels it was the just and right thing to do then. He does question now whether it was something to be proud of and whether it really was the correct course of action. Food for thought for himself. Tajikarao takes a step forward before turning back around to salute the party. He formally apologizes for his failure causing everyone trouble, then thanks everyone. If anyone has any advice or words of encouragement for him, he'll gladly take it.

The party continues along following Magami's lead, which eventually takes you guys to an elevated spacious area overlooking a thick forest. Magami sniffs around, then says the scent points to the forest up ahead. Tajikarao is surprised at how big the forest is and compares it to a jungle. Jugo and Shiva think to themselves that the forest would make a great place to train. You express concern that it'll be a tough place to get through since it's so thickly grown there's no path, or you ask Jugo and Shiva about seeming excited. The latter surprises the both of them into attempting to deny it.

Arachne takes a breath and suggests having a break before you guys head in. Thunderbird agrees to the idea since it's best to rest whenever possible. There's no telling what effects the overworld shift will have later either. Everyone does their own thing to relax, whether it's opening their lunch, having a drink, or meditating. Thunderbird pours some coffee and offers it to you, asking if you want any milk or sugar. You either say it smells good and thank him, or you say it's a little bitter. In the former Thunderbird asks if you like it, saying it's his original blend and prompting you to get a good taste. He's been looking forward to having you have some, then asks if you want a refill. In the latter Thunderbird laughs and says you don't need to hold back. You can have your drink however you like it. Coffee's one of his favored drinks, so he's happy to have some with you like this.

Arachne talks about how overworld shifts can seem not that bad when she's sitting around having some coffee and looking at the view. She can see the waterfall where you guys got attacked by wyverns, and the river bank where your boats got stolen. This last bit triggers a memory in her, and you either turn to her in concern or note that she didn't forget about that. Arachne starts freaking out asking where your boats went while Magami is quiet. Tajikarao asks Magami if something is wrong, then jokes that the coffee didn't go down well for him. He quickly denies that anything is wrong, so you ask if something is on his mind, offer to listen to him, and suggest talking things out can help.

Magami starts to say that he has something he wants to ask everyone as he lays his ears flat. He asks why people think the thieves were trying so hard to take the Ancient Wolf skull. Jugo is surprised by the question and suggests normally the criminals must think it's valuable. Thunderbird says that's how it would be for most people. Everything has value for someone out there, and some of those things are worth even more to collectors. If people don't care about how their money gets used, then they can buy stuff in any number of ways. Thunderbird then thinks to himself about how he hasn't found proof yet of any deals being made, not even in the sales lists of black market auctions. He wonders if it's being sold even further down the line or something else.

Anyways Thunderbird says that nothing can be said for sure right now since the thieves have been taken away already. There might be things to learn if you guys do some investigating and find evidence though. Magami is quiet, so Tajikarao asks him if something is bothering him. He offers to hear him out, no matter what is going through his mind since he's his senpai and handler, and Magami seems touched by this.

You say that everyone has things they worry about, say you're both members of the same investigation team, or say you can't leave Magami by himself when he seems sad. Magami is taken aback before thanking everyone with watery eyes, shaking away tears. He then tells himself that he can't be fretting like this while people are going along with his personal stuff, but he can do that after he puts the skull back. Tajikarao says that's fine, and Magami says he doesn't want to worry you guys. He'll be thinking about this incident more on his own, and he asks if he can get your guys' thoughts if he still doesn't understand.

You tell Magami he can talk to you whenever he wants and that he shouldn't fret over stuff too much. He happily barks in response, then says the scent should lead past the forest and back to the source there. Once you get there then this whole extra trip will be completed! Jugo is kind of surprised to hear that things will be over soon. Lots of stuff happened, but thinking about how it'll end is sad. Arachne declares that things aren't over until you actually get home, so by that point of view there's still a lot left to enjoy. Shiva scoffs at this but says it's not a bad thought for such a weak-hearted perspective. Arachne then adds that you guys really need to find those boats too because she's afraid of how the old guys at Kamata will react if she doesn't bring it back. This causes Tajikarao to wonder what happened with those wyverns and dragon thing.

Time passes as Magami navigates and leads the party by following the scent trail. Tajikarao is concerned that Magami isn't 100% sure of his tracking, but he decides to believe in him. While everyone follows along, Hugo notices that Shiva is staring off into the distance and asks him why, so Shiva says he can sense the river reversing again up ahead to his surprise. Arachne warns everyone to be careful since the grass is getting thick enough to make it hard to see ahead, and Jugo picks up on something himself then. Shiva is mildly impressed Jugo can tell now, then says that there's an unnatural change in the area. Thunderbird notices the atmospheric pressure changing, so he warns everyone that the overworld shift effects might be getting stronger. Arachne wonders if you guys really are going the right way since there's trees everyone you look.

Magami continues sniffing around, but eventually he reacts in shocked confusion as he realizes he's lost. The rest of the party is shocked in turn, and Arachne asks if they strayed off the scent trail at some point. Magami says that the scent still continued on, but then it suddenly disappeared. Thunderbird senses something and immediately tells everyone to turn back because a different overworld shift has already kicked in.

Just as everyone tries to turn back, the scenery transforms and puts you guys in the skies of Tokyo to the party's collective shock. When Magami starts freaking out, Tajikarao tells him to stop dog paddling as he should be dancing instead. Arachne decides that it's been a good life and she guesses she'll just die now. Jugo is taken aback at how Arachne has looped past panic and back into calm craziness and tells her to get her head back on.

Shiva makes a loud Zen yell that surprises everyone into stopping still. Once he has everyone's attention he tells the party to take a deep breath and look at what they're stepping on. When you do as prompted you realize you're standing on ground and not actually falling, and Thunderbird says he was surprised as well. He wasn't expecting an otherworld river to lead to what looks like midair. Clouds soon cover everything in view, including the path you guys took to get to this point. The episode then ends with narration stating that you guys are now on some hanging gardens and pulling up the episode title: A Mysterious Hanging Garden Exists in Tokyo!

Summer River Adventure Episode 4 Part 2

Thunderbird starts speaking to you, his voice so close yet so far. He asks if everyone is present and tells you all to send your consciousness to where his voice is. You soon find him in the dreamscape, and you ask if this is the inside of a dream, ask if everyone else is here, or ask how you guys got there. C gets an extra bit of Thunderbird explaining that he's the one who takes away sadness from the dreams of the oppressed. If you're ever trapped by your sadness, he asks that you remember him and promises he'll come to you from wherever, whenever. He then senses that everyone else is coming soon, so he stops there for now and says he can talk about personal stuff more next time.

 

Arachne tunes in yelling about deadlines and payments before catching herself, then announces her arrival. Magami comes in next barking and announcing his presence, then asks where Shiva and Jugo are. The two promptly show up on cue, with Shiva suddenly freaking out about being caught in threads and yelling about flipping out. Jugo attempts to calm him down telling him using brute force is wrong and that Shiva is always like this.

 

Shiva actually does stop, if only to make Jugo clarify himself. Jugo decides to repeat a previous point he's said before about how it looks like Shiva is bothering you. Shiva takes offense and calls him an uppity brat who knows nothing about the karma between you and himself. You shot him first, and now that you've implanted emotions into him he has to respond to you. Jugo calls him outrageous and says Shiva isn't the only one with bonds and fate. Jugo actually decides to say out loud that he feels something with you. He's not sure what yet, but he doesn't plan on backing off. Shiva is mildly impressed he'd say that, so he decides to show he's not all talk himself, and the two start throwing hands.

 

You ask the two to stop fighting, be exasperated at the two, or play yourself up as the soap opera girl being fought over by two guys and plead for them to stop. Magami comments that it looks like the two are getting along now to him, and he asks in wonder if this is what it means to speak with your fists. Arachne wonders if they just hate each other for being too alike or are close enough to handle fighting each other, saying there are all kinds of relationships that others may not understand. Magami expresses jealousy and wishes they were beating him up with their fists so that everyone would be happy, and Arachne notes that the two don't seem to hear you guys and is unsure what to do with them.

 

The problem of Shiva and Jugo fighting ends up getting resolved when both end up getting themselves removed from the dream dive to Arachne's shock. Thunderbird is also surprised, saying their strings got tangled before it could be stabilized, which is why they're gone. He assures you guys they're fine though, they just woke up back at the camp. You guys can't really go back for them though, so he shrugs and says they'll just have to be on guard duty instead. 

Magami notes that Tajikarao isn't here and asks if he also failed to get into wherever you guys are. Thunderbird explains that this is actually Tajikarao's inner world, so he should actually be further inside. Thunderbird then invokes Sunkamanitu Tanka for guidance, summoning a small wolf of light that then leads the party through the dream mist. Magami reacts like he recognizes it, so you either ask him if something is wrong, comment that the wolf seems to be showing you guys the way, or say it's a white wolf like Magami. In A, Magami says it's nothing and that he just remembered something from his past. In B and C, Magami agrees after a moment and suggests sticking close to it so you guys don't lose sight of it. Either way, Magami is noted to look sad upon looking at the wolf.

When the party eventually gets out of the light tunnel, you guys turn up in what seems to be a dim cave. Magami is surprised to see it, and Arachne asks about this being the inside of Tajikarao's dream as she notes there being a giant boulder up ahead. Magami says he recognizes the place as Takamagahara, and this particular area as the place where the sun was said to have hidden itself. Bonfires cast strange shadows that dance cheerily. Magami says this has to be Ama-no-Iwato, which in turn means that the people making merry nearby would be Tajikarao and the other deities.

The rest of the party is shocked to see that Tajikarao isn't doing anything differently then as he is now, and you either react the same way or note that he seems to be having a lot of fun. Tajikarao notices Magami by this point and recognizes him, inviting him to join the banquet, saying they need to be loud enough for the sun to hear them. Magami is surprised that Tajikarao recognizes him, so Tajikarao says of course he does since they're both friends who live in the same world.

Thunderbird wonders if Tajikarao is trapped by his past festival memories to have reverted to the time he was back in his home world. Arachne asks for an explanation of things since she doesn't know much about Takamagahara, so Magami steps up to do so. Magami makes a point of saying he wasn't personally involved so everything he says will be secondhand, but this particular festival is related to a huge incident in Takamagahara's history.

The world was created by a set of three siblings: Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, and Susanoo. Tajikarao revered and served the eldest of the siblings, Amaterasu, but one day the younger brother Susanoo did something so shameless that Amaterasu hid herself behind the Ama-no-Iwato, which then blanketed the world in darkness. Tajikarao and the others then threw a huge festival in order to lure Amaterasu out and bring the sun back to the world, and Magami wonders if this memory has something to do with what Tajikarao has been keeping secret. You either yell at Tajikarao to come back to reality with you guys because he's supposed to be going to a festival over there, or you ask if he remembers you. In the former (A and B), Tajikarao doesn't understand what reality is supposed to mean but puts it aside because the festival going on is more important. In C, Tajikarao says that's a strange question and says he does, but when he tries to remember he can't.

Anyways, Tajikarao says he has to get the sun out from the rock door before the world is cast into darkness, so he has to party it up really hard to make the sun want to peak out from the cave. Arachne is outraged that Tajikarao is regressing into the past further and might forget you guys for real, so you suggest pulling him out before that happens, say you feel bad about interrupting his fun, and/or yell at Tajikarao to remember.

Thunderbird says that immersing yourself in the past can be good, but losing the present and by extension the future because of it would be an even sadder thing. Arachne declares that fashion is something that connects to the future. It is because that people have a past that they chase after the now and later, and Magami tells Tajikarao he wants him to remember him. The dream deities around assume you guys must have unsavory designs for the sun, so they get ready to remove you guys from the area. Magami tries to explain that you guys just want Tajikarao to come back with you guys, but by this point Tajikarao reacts in surprise and says you're that shameless brother. Thunderbird is confused at this, and Tajikarao says he's so jealous disgusted at how outrageously you behaved, so he declares he'll mete out divine punishment as a servant of the world's order, starting the episode battle. More happens after that.

After the battle, things tune in at the part where Arachne suddenly decides to put away her needle and threads, then sighs as she fixes her hair up. Tajikarao and the others look at her in confusion, so Arachne says she's always forgetting about what's important when she gets mad. The first thing she needs is to understand other people, just like she's about to make some bespoke clothing. It's what she learned to do after all.

Arachne briskly walks over towards the festival goers, then lowers her head to them. The deities are shocked at this, and Arachne apologizes for interrupting their important festival since none of you knew what was going on. She asks the deities to explain Takamagahara and this festival in detail. The deities stop showing aggression at this along with any signs of attempting to push you all out. One says it's fine if you guys understand, then apologize for getting rough. Thunderbird and Magami add their own apologies too.

Some time later, Arachne asks about Takamagahara getting dark because the sun hid away. One of the deity mobs explains that because of that, they brought the strongest one around so that they could pull the rock door out of the way. The plan was to make a loud party that would make the sun peek out of curiosity, at which point they'll jump in and force the door open all the way.

Arachne says she understands the plan, but something about it bothers her. You ask why the sun hid itself to begin with and ask if the deities ever asked Amaterasu herself about the reason. The deities look at each other upon being asked that, then exclaim that they could never do something so shameful. In Takamagahara, shame is not permitted, and anything you can't allow the sun to see you do is something that can't be allowed at all. The sun hiding away is something that's never happened before since the world's creation, and Tajikarao adds that no matter what had happened, he still has to pull the rock door open.

Arachne is surprised at Tajikarao's sudden shift in behavior after being offended at the sight of you earlier, so Thunderbird suggests that the little brother that Tajikarao mentioned earlier wasn't at the original festival in the past. In which case, with Tajikarao being tied back to this memory he might not be able to recognize you due to that. Whatever is going on, it's unstable and dangerous, and Thunderbird wonders where the source of the issue is.

Arachne says you guys have understood things a bit more, then asks Tajikarao to explain some stuff. Specifically, she asks if Tajikarao regretted forcing the rock door to open to bring out the sun. You think about the law of Takamagahara and/or the sun's feelings, and Arachne says Takamagahara may view hiding something as shameful, but she's also told Tajikarao to not completely reject the concept of clothing. Maybe revealing everyone is good from a certain point of view, but wherever the light shines, there will be shadows behind it. Everyone has things they can't or don't want to tell others, and that's a lesson she's learned painfully she says as she smiles gently at you.

Arachne talks about how when the shadows of the heart get bigger you may want to run away from the light, and she feels that's okay. But if you ever want to step into the light, she'd prefer that to be when you choose to do so. She's failed a lot herself to get to that point. There were times where she aired other people's dirty laundry against their will. She's had nights were she couldn't sleep because of her regrets, which she uses as a point to tell Tajikarao he isn't alone. If he regrets things and can't move on because of them, she'll stick with him and offers to go to the past with him.

Tajikarao and the deities shudder at Arachne's declaration, but Arache adds that she's still planning to go on ahead. She still hasn't brought out the best of her own Shadow. She plans to get there one day, and if she can, so can he. There must be something waiting for her beyond this, and the sun can one day wear its own Shadow and shame with pride as well. You speak up to add your own request as well since you'd like to make yours look good and/or call Arachne cool. She looks happy at that, Tajikarao looks conflicted, and Magami acts concerned for him.

At that moment, a heavy shaking rocks the cave accompanied by a flood of light. One of the deities figures the door has opened and calls for a charge to pull the rock away, and they all charge it at once to do so. Arachne is taken aback at this and worries that her speech didn't get through to to them, but Thunderbird reminds her that this is a memory of the past where what happened has already happened. One of the deities calls Tajikarao over to help out, and Tajikarao seems conflicted. He starts talking about wanted to laugh and enjoy things together with the sun, especially 'enjoying the festival together.' He was sure that a clear justice was there, and he charges over looking conflicted over to the rock door to the party's surprise.

The party is taken back to the upper layer of the dream world as Tajikarao joins you guys, saying he wanted the sun that looked so sad to smile. If she did, she could cheer up and then shine upon the world and everyone again. He detested the brother who shamed her and thought doing so was the correct thing to do, but it isn't clear if he's looking at the past when he says that. Now though, Tajikarao admits he doesn't know the brother very well. He doesn't know why he did what he did or if he was hiding anything in doing so. Was what Tajikarao did really the correct thing to do, and was what he believed to be correct truly so? And maybe opening up the rock door was the correct thing to do for the sun.

You tell Tajikarao that only she could tell him, so you hope he can ask her one day. Tajikarao agrees, and he actually drops the honorific he uses to address you when he says that. He closes his eyes as if to think on things, and after changing back to his life jacket outfit, he says he might have come to Tokyo to fulfill that wish. You either react in surprise that he's gotten his memories back, ask if he remembers you, or tell him he can't forget anything anymore. Tajikarao smiles, saying he knows and that he remembered something important. Once he gets out of the dream, he has something he wants to talk with you about. He disappears from view, and soon after you leave his mental world.

You awaken back at the tent, hearing the soft breathing of the others around you. Thunderbird is also awake and asks if something is wrong since you have tears running down your face for some reason. You tell him you don't know, that you're glad Tajikarao got his memories back, but you don't know the reason. Thunderbird decides to pull you in closer to him where he's lying next to you, and he starts talking about how there's nothing that's right for every single person. For that matter, there are times when such things don't hold for even a single person. Everyone gets pushed out from there at some point, which is why they hesitate and fight. But in his opinion, engaging in and thinking about what was once right and moving on from it is where you find what's truly right. There is the contradiction in that you may never reach it, but maybe the ones who come after you can make it there. That's why he continues to fly. He believes that someone somewhere can find what he wasn't able to.

Thunderbird starts brushing your head and coaxes you to close your eyes. He talks about how he wants to be a hero, fighting and thinking about such things and wishing for it. Maybe one day you'll get to that point, but for now he wishes you sweet dreams, o future hero, his hero. The soft kind warmth of feathers cover you as the night grows peaceful once more under the starry sky, and the episode ends with Magami making a sad noise to himself.

Summer River Adventure Episode 4 Part 1

 (Titles for this event series have been edited to fit actual numbering)

Last time, the party has managed to get through a dilemma, only to run into another overworld shift! In this zone, there are many fabled rivers flowing like the river of flames and the river of oblivion. The party stops to take a rest, but then the thieves swoop back in again to steal the relics along with your boats! You all still chase them down and fight them to retrieve things, but at the end of that battle Tajikarao falls over into the valley. Whatever could have happened to him!?

Back to the plot, Magami is crying over Tajikarao and is so upset about it he slips into a more personal pronoun than his polite public one and blames his own weakness for this turn of events. Without Tajikarao or a handler in general around to instruct him, Magami is lost as to what to do and attempts to vent by banging his fists against the ground. You attempt to assure him that Tajikarao will come back just fine, say he'll be fine because he's attached to festivals so much, or start petting Magami. In B, Magami says it's true that he does like festivals, but then he just feels worse about what happened to him before the summer festival and cries about wanting to help him go there. In C, Magami is slightly comforted and thanks you, but he tells you he'd prefer getting hit instead and asks that you beat him up. Jugo has to tell him that's a bit much and to not bother you.

In any case, Jugo tells Magami that Tajikarao will be fine since he's strong, but struggles to come up with anything else to say. He thinks to himself about how little he knows about cheering other people up, and Shiva notices and points out that Thunderbird and Arachne are back from their investigation. They don't have Tajikaro with them though. Instead, they have the two mobster thieves you guys have been fighting with so far.

The party realizes who they are and start asking about Tajikarao if Thunderbird and Arachne found these two. Thunderbird asks that everyone keep calm and says the overworld shift has turned into a sticky situation. Arachne says they found them drifted over to the riverbank, but she's not sure how to explain what's up. The mobsters clear it up for her by being openly confused as to where they are and who you guys are, shocking the rest of you. You ask if their memories were washed away and wonder what you guys should do with them.

The mobsters think they're carrying around toy guns and don't know why they are, and Jugo asks if the mobsters fell into the river of oblivion that Arachne told you guys about earlier, which the story quickly replays. The party is shocked at the idea that the mobs have lost their memories, and Arachne says this is bad since this really does seem to be Lethe's influence. She figures the mobs must have drunk the water, either while flailing in river or just getting thirsty and unwittingly drinking it.

Magami asks if the mobs will stay like that, so Thunderbird tells him that this is just someone's memory recreation of Olympus and not the effect of somebody's power. Arachne agrees, figuring that the fairy of oblivion Lethe herself isn't actually around. All that is here is a river that shares her name popping up in an unstable overworld shift. Thunderbird elaborates that means this effect is normally not something enforced by the app or anything, so if you guys leave the shift the memories should return in time.

Magami is relieved at that, saying that while the mobsters are thieves it'd be bad if their memories were gone to that extent. Shiva asks if the party is going to descend the mountain and take the mobsters with them since they can't actually be brought along to your current goal. Jugo says it'd be awkward to bring them with you guys, and Magami says they have to be arrested so they should be handed off to the authorities. He's conflicted about that though because he doesn't want to leave Tajikarao by himself.

You say you can't abandon Tajikarao, ask if there are any other possible plans, or say leaving things as is would be sad. Arache informs you guys that she saw something that looked like a settlement a bit further away from where the mobs were found. It's possible Tajikarao ended up over there from the river. Magami leaps on this possibility and says he wants to go over there right away. Thunderbird brings up that the relic bag hasn't been seen anywhere, so you guys will have to hope that Tajikarao has it. And since you guys need to figure out what to do with the mobs, Thunderbird suggests going to the settlement and asking to borrow a safe place there. Jugo figures that means you guys have to go there no matter what, so he turns to tell Magami the plan. He is however surprised to see him sniffing around and declaring he smells a lot of people in one direction and runs off quickly, which Shiva bluntly notes. You express shock at how far ahead Magami's already run, call after him and tell him to wait, or just sigh about how reckless he is. Arachne is taken aback and says you guys need to catch up before you lose sight of him, then considers designing a leash for Magami.

Time passes as the party follows after Magami, bringing the amnesiac mobs with you guys. Jugo comments on how you guys can't really leave things like this up ahead, then asks Magami if it's still a long way to the settlement. Magami sniffs and says the scent is getting thicker, and eventually you guys reach the place. He announces that he smells lots of people at that point, and Jugo points out that the aesthetics of the area seem to have changed abruptly. Arachne agrees saying it doesn't look like Olympus-style architecture and wonders if it's from another world.

Thunderbird points out the presence of other people and asks if anyone has plans on how to handle this. Magami barks and says he'll go since greetings are important for times like these. Shiva is flabbergasted at this, and Magami quickly runs up to the tribal nearby sticking his tongue out and lowering his head for pets. You are taken aback at Magami just jumping in there or narrate like you're on an anthropology trip making contact with natives.

The tribal greets Magami back and calls him a good boy, causing him to bark happily. The rest of the party is surprised at this, and Jugo says he wasn't expecting that sort of reaction. Arachne observes that the tribal is petting Magami, so she suggests the group go talk as well since he seems friendly. Thunderbird agrees since communication is possible, and Shiva seems less than pleased or something.

The tribal welcomes you all to the Nature Life Camp Club and this area overflowing with nature upon seeing the rest of you. Magami doesn't understand what the club is, so the tribal explains that the people here are a gathering of Transients who come from worlds with lots of nature. City life in Tokyo gets tiring for them, so they get together to organize a camp retreat to decompress out here. Thunderbird comments that he thought the place was something created by an overworld shift due to how developed the place is. The tribal suggests you guys sign up and join if you're interested. There's a membership system in place, but you can always just observe if you like. Arachne awkwardly thanks the guy, then changes the subject to ask a question. As this happens the tribal camper leads you guys to the membership office, at which point the party finds Tajikarao partying it out.

Title card pops up, and this episode is called I Saw a Forbidden Festival Beyond the Fantasy!

Back to the plot, nobody in the party can muster up the words to say anything to what they see, meaning Tajikarao dancing crazy with that wolf skull in his hands. The tribal says some of the other campers found him earlier. Luckily he didn't seem hurt and woke up pretty quickly, but ever since then he's been doing all that singing and dancing. It's nice he's enjoying himself though.

Magami throws himself at Tajikarao, relieved to see him okay. Tajikarao doesn't really seem to recognize him and interprets Magami as wanting to dance with him, so he throws him onto his shoulders to Magami's shocked protests. The tribal camper then says Tajikarao doesn't remember his name or who he's with, and that he's been dancing this whole time not caring about anything else. You say he must have swallowed some of the river Lethe, be amazed at how casually he's carrying Magami around, or join in with the dancing. In A, Arachne agrees, though she says it's strange how Tajikarao hasn't forgotten about festivals. It's kind of depressing seeing him this way. In B, Magami whines and asks Tajikarao to wake up because he's embarrassed to be treated this way. Tajikarao however continues to treat him as a portable exorcism shrine praying for harvests. In C, Tajikarao is excited and tells you to follow his steps. Jugo yells and tells you to stop, and Shiva is scandalized and insists that he's not looking.

Eventually Magami manages to get down, and the rest of the party makes some distance from Tajikarao. Magami is sad that he doesn't seem to know who he is, and Thunderbird says he clearly doesn't recognize any of you. He wonders what's going on with the overworld shift. Jugo speaks up to say he's noticed something and asks if he can talk about it. Thunderbird prompts him to go on, so Jugo says he thinks it's weird how there's a membership camp nearby a river of forgetfulness.

Shiva scoffs at Jugo for being weak and not seeing how things are. Jugo says he's gotten used to how harsh Shiva is but still doesn't like it, but that aside he asks what Shiva is getting at. Shiva derides him even further and asks if he really thought he'd just answer that, so you ask Shiva to tell you guys and can offer to join him on his training later. Shiva decides to answer and dramatically reveals that the camp is outside the bounds of the overworld shift, shocking the rest of the party. You guys have left the Olympus area a while ago and Shiva sighs that nobody should have needed to be told that. The party however yells at him for not bringing it up earlier to his surprise.

Arachne then mentions that Thunderbird suggested getting out of the shift should have made Lethe's effects go away. Thunderbird says that should be the case, so he wonders why Tajikarao hasn't gotten his memories back in the time it took you guys to get there. An idea occurs to Arachne, and you either say you guys can't leave Tajikarao as is and wonder if anything can be done, or you ask Arachne what's up. C gets an extra line of her saying she felt something was off but can't put her finger on it.

At this point in time, the mobsters notice the skull Tajikarao is playing with and attempt to take it since they remember it being important for some reason. Tajikarao initially thinks they want to dance with him, but the mobs plead for the skull. Tajikarao says he'll never let go of it since it's important to him too, but he doesn't remember why that is. Magami is surprised to see Tajikarao still protecting the skull despite losing his memories, and this observation gives Arachne some insight to a possibility as to what's happening.

Thunderbird asks the tribal if there's a signal at the campground, so the tribal confirms it and says it's possible to make calls there. Magami says Tajikarao should have a radio among his things, which you guys can use to call for help. He proceeds to use it himself, making an emergency call to someone to explain the situation. When he's done, he tells you the call worked and that reinforcements will be coming to the camp area tomorrow. You guys can hand the mobsters over when they get here.

Jugo is glad to have one of the pressing issues solved, though there's still some other things to deal with. Magami looks over sadly at Tajikarao, who by this point has somehow convinced the mobsters to dance with him. Jugo suggests there's no point in forcing the skull return trip to continue and that it'd be better to send Tajikarao back. Arachne says it might be for the best to do that, but Thunderbird says Tajikarao doesn't seem like he'll let go of the skull until he remembers things.

Magami starts talking about how he thinks going back would be the right thing to do and how this is a result of his own impulsiveness. Shiva doesn't comment, and Magami thinks and talks about how Tajikarao continued to protect the skull after everything that's happened. He wants to keep going on with this self-appointed mission even if it's selfish of him and probably not the right thing.

You think about how Tajikarao told you he wanted to let Magami finish this thing and lecture him after it was done. You suggest trying to get Tajikarao's memories back if there's a chance to do so and that you'll go with Magami. Magami is surprised, and at this point the tribal comes over to say it'll be nightfall soon. Since the people you called for will be coming tomorrow, he suggests that you guys stay for night and use the temporary tents set up for you. Thunderbird thanks him but asks if it's okay since you guys aren't members, and Arachne notices that there's suddenly a bunch of randos dancing around Tajikarao. The camper says that it seems the other people liked Tajikarao's dancing and started joining in. They're really enjoying themselves, so he feels bad about the idea of trying to stop them. Thunderbird then politely thanks him for the tents.

Some time later, Arachne asks to talk to the party about Tajikarao's condition. Since you guys are outside the overworld shift, the River Lethe doesn't have any effects here. Arachne suggests that since Tajikarao doesn't remember anything, this might actually be due to him refusing to remember things instead of being unable to remember. Magami is shocked at the idea that Tajikarao wouldn't want to remember him, so Arachne asks him to calm down and clarify she's not saying that. It's possible it just worked out that way though, and she points out that it seemed to her that he's been hiding something this whole time.

Magami tries bringing up that Tajikarao isn't really the type to keep secrets. Arachne says that's true if it's for himself and suggests he might unconsciously want not to remember some painful memories his forgetfulness may have brought up, which would then have a knockback effect on the other memories he might or might not remember from there.

You say it sounds possible, but you can't leave Tajikarao the way he is because it's depressing for him to not remember you guys. Arachne agrees after a moment, and while it's not good to air out other people's secrets willy-nilly the situation cannot stand. Shiva prompts people for an actual plan, so Thunderbird says he has something that might be worth betting on. He'll need you guys to help, so he asks if you're prepared to deal with danger. You agree to go, though you may express that you aren't confident or that you'll do anything for Tajikarao. Thunderbird is pleased and says it's time to try out a secret technique from Great Spirit then.

Time passes as Thunderbird instructs the party on how to prepare for the ritual, by which point the curtain of night has fallen over. Arachne asks Thunderbird if she did it right when she put strings over his whip. He tells her he did a great job, well enough that he'd like to ask her to make a personal protection charm for him later on. But anyways he explains that it's a dream catcher, a charm that uses a spider's web to catch nightmares and allow good dreams to pass. And he had Arachne make this one while thinking of the bonds you guys have together.

Shiva asks what relevance it has to the ritual Thunderbird is going to use since the only other things you guys have set up is your beds or whatever. Thunderbird explains that the ritual you guys are doing is called a vision quest, a method of divining your path using dreams. He's modifying it here to connect with your bonds to dive into Tajikarao's dreams, the deeper part of his consciousness. When you're in there you can directly pull up his memories by using your bonds with him. Jugo sees it as a jolt to the soul and wonders if it'll work out right, so Thunderbird says it's better than doing nothing.

You either say it's time to go into Tajikarao's dream, think of this as a dream adventure, and/or wonder what sort of dream he's having. Thunderbird says you guys just need the signs that led to your encounter, then calls Tajikarao over. Tajikarao figures you guys want to celebrate with him, and while he's tired now he's still up for it. Thunderbird clarifies that he wants to borrow the wolf skull he has, so Tajikarao refuses in surprise saying he can't hand it over because it's important. Somehow. Thunderbird laughs and says he won't steal it. He just needs it for Sunkamanitu Tanka's festival, and he invites Tajikarao to join in since the spirits will give him nice dreams for doing so. Tajikarao happily agrees, and Thunderbird asks everyone to relax as he'll take up the role of dream guide. He turns off the light, tells everyone to close their eyes and listen to the whispers of the spirits. The tent quiets down and a sweet fragrance fills the air, and the episode half ends with the party falling into a deep sleep.