People get lost in Tartarus sometimes. They wander in, called by the Shadows, and SEES finds them scattered about the tower in various states of lucidity. Only a few a month, but enough that, in the nights before the full moons, Elizabeth will apparently ask adult Persona Users who don't have school in the morning to check the tower.
You think something bad will happen to them if they're still here when the full moon hits. You can't explain how you know this, but that's really no different from anything else.
If someone asks, you'll just point out that it's important enough for other people to go into Tartarus.
"Fuuka-san, do you know if there's anyone in here tonight?" Koromaru's got a good nose, so if the two of you work together, you should be able to find anyone trapped pretty easily.
"Liz hasn't mentioned anything..." You're still not sure how Elizabeth learns about this stuff. You'd say it has something to do with the Velvet Room, but she's not living there anymore. It might be a time travel thing, but you're not going to actually confront her about that. "But... I think I might sense something on the next few floors. Once you get there, I'll be able to make it out better."
When Fuuka-san tries describing her powers, she says it's easier to see things if it involves people she knows, or places she's seen before, with or without Lucia. It makes more sense than most of what Personas can do, but it means you wouldn't be able to have her just look ahead to the top of Tartarus even if.... if...
Why did it look like that, anyway?
...By the pattern of defeating Shadows, there shouldn't be multiple barriers after this. The only Shadow left to defeat is the Hanged Man, and you're all making your plans accordingly. There might be one, but no one's really sure- part of today's expedition is about settling a bet, more than anything else.
It's only just come to your attention that, if you aren't being asked to think about it, you automatically assume that that other barrier exists. It just... feels strange.
You guess you'll figure that out tonight. Once any lost people have been rescued from this tower.
When Fuuka-san announces that she's detecting human life on your current floor, you're immediately ducking through the hallways, around a Hakurou Musha that snarls angrily before being shot in the face, Koromaru barking as you go.
You let him lead the way, because he's faster than you, and his nose is better than your eyes even in good lighting.
Given that his magic is darkness, his eyes are probably better, too.
Past a certain point, though, you wouldn't need his help. When someone is here, they aren't always one misstep away from Apathy Syndrome.
Sometimes, if you're here quickly enough, the people trapped in Tartarus still have enough of their minds to scream.
In an unusual turn, there are two people stuck on this floor, standing next to each other. The only time that's happened before was with Shinjiro-san and Fuuka-san, and they were here for a very different reason than most. They're both girls wearing the uniform for Gekkoukan High. One of them, with her dark hair in a ponytail, is standing in front of the other, who is... probably taller?
I don't think their heights matter here!
You've never seen either of them before in your life, which is normal for Tartarus victims.
A bit less normal is that they're being threatened by an arm with a sword. Or... a sword with an arm? You think the mask might be on the sword.
That doesn't matter either!
....Right. This is tricky, because people trapped in Tartarus are actually less at risk than the rest of you, so long as they're out before the moon's full. Maybe it's because their minds aren't working right, and that makes them less tempting targets, or something. You haven't seen them under attack before.
Just by seeing this situation, though, there's one thing you understand. You need to get the Shadow's attention off these girls until backup can arrive, which could be anywhere from less than a minute to right before the Reaper shows up. And it's already intent on attacking them, so whatever you try, you'll only have one chance.
You have to make it count.
[ ] Zap it. If it's vulnerable to lightning, it'll probably get its attention.
[ ] You remember someone from your class talking about a video game where spears are really effective against swords. Maybe some of that'll transfer over?
[ ] Can you grab the sword with Psio? You haven't taken the time to practice manipulating objects like you've been telling yourself you would, but...
[ ] Besides being light, Kouga is also a useful concussive force. Can swords get concussions? If they can't, you may have a problem.
[ ] ...Hama would solve this really quickly, wouldn't it? (Roll 1D100, DC 71)
