DUNGEON - BELLMARE ENCLAVE (BELLMARE MOUNTAINS, PT 2)

[phantasmods]

The shadows are starting to grow very long as you crest his particular ridge - it's not night yet, but it will be soon. In the shadows of the afternoon, with a tall mountain already blocking the sun, lies a snow-covered valley that is different from the ones you've come across thus far in your investigation.

This valley is home to a town, and unlike all the settlements you've seen so far - Incendia, the Telovia mining town, and the manor - it's very much active. There are actual people in the streets, visible from above, going through their days on snow-free streets, bundled up against the cold.

Those of you who asked were told of the handful of people who didn't go into the slumber of stasis as the Fissure conditions of the world grew worse and worse, instead isolating themselves and trying to continue living their lives as they could. Now, it seems, you've found exactly such a group.

Welcome to the Bellmare Enclave, and enjoy your stay.

[[OOC: Welcome to part 2 of the dungeon! For the most part, interaction with the town's NPCs can be handwaved as described on the main information post. Worth noting are the following major things: The Bellmare Enclave isn't expecting visitors, though the people are generally friendly to the new arrivals. They don't know about the time dilation effect of their Fissure - to them, it's only been about eighteen years since the Slumber Plan was put in place and they withdrew from the world. And finally, by a similar token, they have no idea how far the Fissures outside of their own have grown - while it's not uncommon for them to find odd objects from time to time, they'll assume that the characters are just arrivals from other places within their own world, rather than outsiders, until told otherwise.]]

Comments

[foolishjustice]

Your best bet, at least in the short term, might be to look into magic you can use to hide him against his will.

[hairpincurves]

I'll see what I can look into...

[foolishjustice]

It won't help with the long-term, but...Okumura-kun might at least feel better if his father's fate is a direct punishment for his crimes.

[hairpincurves]

Yeah... that's the best we can hope for, I think.

[foolishjustice]

And you should probably be able to convince your world's Akechi to at least accept delaying his punishment until doing it legally won't ruin her plan.

[There's a bit of a scowl there, as he talks about his other self.]

[hairpincurves]

[... The scowl earns a frown in response, but she nods. She'll... pick a better time to press this other selves issue, she thinks.]

Hopefully...

[foolishjustice]

She certainly won't understand Okumura-kun's wishes, though. I didn't get it until recently, myself.

[hairpincurves]

Yeah... I figure she wouldn't.

[foolishjustice]

I expect your best bet will be pointing out to her that he deserves to choose what happens to his father himself.

[hairpincurves]

Mm, most likely. I'm sure I'll be able to convince her, at least.

[foolishjustice]

And don't worry too much about being subtle about your identity. I knew since Kaneshiro's Palace.

[hairpincurves]

... I'm not sure whether to be relieved that I won't have to worry about it or ashamed of us for being that obvious.

[foolishjustice]

Well, if it helps, I found out by staking out his Palace the day the calling cards were found.

[hairpincurves]

It helps a little...

[But also can you feel the palpable "UGHHHHHHHHHH," Goro?]

[foolishjustice]

[He'll just. Pat her on the shoulder.]

I am an ace detective, you know. I would have been remiss to not follow up on my opponents announcing where they would be in the next day or so.

[hairpincurves]

It wouldn't have been necessary to announce where we'd be at all if it wasn't for Makoto. At least, that's how things went in my version...

[foolishjustice]

Even if you'd delivered the calling card subtly, I probably still would've heard about it. He did have connections to the conspiracy I was part of.

[hairpincurves]

I mean that's true, but still... it's... frustrating. The situation was frustrating and likely could have been avoided.

[And she hasn't... fully forgiven Makoto for escalating the situation. Or the blackmail.]

[foolishjustice]

You think you could've stopped him without a Change of Heart?

[hairpincurves]

It's not even about stopping him, it was having to deal with him at all that I'm mad about.

[foolishjustice]

Was leaving him be really an option? He was tormenting the people of Shibuya.

[...]

I know I'm being a little hypocritical, as someone who had access to his Palace long before the Phantom Thieves even existed as a group, but...I was glad to see him brought to justice.

[hairpincurves]

Well, no, but... it would have stung less if we'd chosen to go after him on our own from the start.

[foolishjustice]

Ah...

[...Now he feels a little bad about forcing the Thieves to make Sae one of their targets.]

[hairpincurves]

... Hey. I can only speak for myself on that, okay?

[...]

... Besides, you didn't exactly blackmail us before escalating the situation like a dumbass.

[foolishjustice]

Well...I can't say I escalated the situation, but I did essentially force a plea bargain. I had evidence of their identities, and told them that the only way to convince me not to follow up on it was to allow me to join them for one last heist, and then promise to disband.