Part 47: 08/10/09 - 08/18/09

Well, we all know what's coming on up ahead this week. And apparently more...?



Summer school, everyone's favourite thing I am sure.

Want To Be Close (Reincarnation) / Time



So, this is a dumb thing that I dislike. We get +2 Academics like if it was a normal class, or studying at night or whatever.



And it uses the entire day, including our Evening, like it was a Hermit scene or an exam. We get +2 Academics a day. That's +12 in a week, which doesn't sound so bad (that's 1/5th of an Academics rank...)... except we can get +12 in two days, since we get +2 from Studying and +4 from the Arcade. And then we get an extra +2 from every day we don't Hermit or Tartarus or are too tired/sick. So, we always get more than +12 a week.



point is its dumb but hey at least edogawa is here to make it... longer... fuck

You must all be very curious students to be taking this course over the summer.
...I'm not really sure what to make of that. Eeeheehee...
Well, let's talk about something interesting today.
All you future magicians will want to pay close attention... Eeeheehee...



Originating in 15th century Europe as normal playing cards, tarot cards evolved into tools of divination.
A variety of different versions of tarot card decks exist, including the Marseille and Rider decks...

The Tarot de Marseille is the original version of the Tarot deck and the most well-known overall. The Rider-Waite deck is the most well-known among English speakers, and has a slightly different order to the Tarot de Marseille. Notably the Rider-Waite deck uses the order the Persona games use, since it has Justice as card number VIII and Strength as XI, when the Tarot de Marseille has them the other way around.



The Thoth deck is... quite different in a few ways. It renames some cards, draws from very different ideas and so massively changes the meaning of a couple cards.

First, let's talk about the composition of the deck...
The modern 78-card tarot deck is divided into two parts.
There are 22 Major Arcana--the face cards--and 56 Minor Arcana, or number cards...
The Minor Arcana are also sometimes called pips.
The Major Arcana feature a variety of illustrations on their faces.



And, right away, Edogawa reveals that he doesn't know the Thoth tarot deck at all. The final Major Arcana in Crowley's deck was The Universe, and not The World.



So, since Edogawa's going to run through a rudimentary explanation of the Marseille/Rider-Waite tarot, it's worth just taking a moment to reflect on just how very... very on the nose this scene is gonna be.

Each Major Arcana represents a stage on that journey...
an experience that the individual must incorporate to realize his oneness.
They are all important, so let's take a look at each of the 22 cards, one by one.



The next card, The Magician, represents action and initiative... but also immaturity.

Thoth deck renames the Magician to the Magus. It's a minor change, but it's worth caring about anyway.

The Priestess represents contemplation and inner knowledge.

Notably, The Priestess IS the name from the Thoth deck. Marseille uses The Popess and Rider-Waite use The High Priestess instead.

The Empress represents motherhood and the life it brings forth.
The Emperor is an opposing card. It represents fathering and relates to leadership and decision-making skills.
The Hierophant represents formality and knowledge, and stands for religion.

Marseille uses The Pope.

The Lovers card represents choice. Here, the individual's consciousness has finally surfaced.
The Chariot represents victory for the individual, but only a momentary one.
Justice represents the knowledge of what is right, and what is wrong.

As mentioned before, Justice is only here in Rider-Waite and later in Marseille. Justice doesn't exist at all in Thoth, instead being replaced by Adjustment. Adjustment represents balance and conscious results from action, and the wisdom that comes as a result.

The Hermit represents the individual's search for answers by looking inward, deep inside his heart.
Fortune represents fate, and the opportunities that come with it.

Rider-Waite and Marseille call it Wheel of Fortune instead of "just" Fortune, but that's all.

Strength represents both passion and self-control. It is depicted as power with reason.

Strength is replaced in Thoth by, uh, Lust. In part it represents power, sure, but it's also vitality and energy. Enjoyment from life when passion is applied.

The Hanged Man reflects the individual's inability to take action.



Death is considered a transitional card...
The old ends, and the new begins.
Now, let us continue along the path, following the transition.
Temperance is the balancing of opposites. Opening his eyes to the world allows the individual to grow...

Temperance doesn't exist in Thoth either, since its been semi-replaced by Adjustment already. XIV in the Thoth deck is instead Art, which is... completely different. It's alchemy, and mathematics. The ability to combine and solve; to take something and turn it into something precious.

And as the Devil represents, he then faces temptation...
At The Tower, his values collapse on him. It seems as if he no longer has anything to believe in, but...
...he then finds a glimmer of hope, represented by The Star; and he is suffused with a serene calm.



Fears arise, and he follows the dim path in his heart with trepidation...
But he is rewarded with a bright future, represented by The Sun, which signifies true achievement.
Judgement awaits the individual at the end of his journey, as he looks back on the path he has traveled.

Judgement is replaced by something else in the Thoth deck, but we'll cover that one later. It's, uh, special.



It also grants the ability to stop time!

That is the growth of an individual as explained by the tarot cards.
...Perhaps all this talk about life doesn't hit home with you young folks just yet, hm? Eeeheehee...
Now, you can use all 78 cards to divine the future in detail...
but most people only use the 22 Major Arcana.
Okay. Next, let's talk about how to tell fortunes using the Major Arcana.
First, you will need to shuffle the cards. If a card is reversed, its meaning will change, so it's important...

> The class continues...

> Despite the heat, the lecture continues...



Well, that was an actual scene which is at least vaguely different.



Wednesday and Thursday are just "Academics up" with nothing else to it. Notably, we'd be rank 5 by now if we weren't forced to do this and nothing else. But we were, so we aren't.

Thanks, Mitsuru!

How are you all handling the heat? ...I could brew you some of my special tea if you'd like. Eeeheehee...
Now, let's continue with our special summer study--The Truth Behind Magic.



Most of Edogawa's lessons are pretty, uh, memorable but I straight up forgot this one even existed. I really don't know how.

I assume all of you have at least heard of Kabbalah, yes?
It is known as the mystical study of the Hebrew scriptures, but...
as I have mentioned before, it has had a great impact on western sorcery.
It has been said that to learn the secrets of magic, first you must truly understand Kabbalah.
So, who was the person who formed this incredible ideology known as Kabbalah?
Well, according to legend, it was Moses.



But in reality, it was formulated by a group of rabbis long, long ago.

Edogawa with the subtle slam of all of Judaism there, jeez.

However, because it consists of such a complicated coded system...
Kabbalah did not become known to the western world until much later.
Now, it is important to note that there are many different ancient methods of deciphering Kabbalah.
For example, there is "Gematria," the interpretatioin of text by replacing letters with the numbers they represent.
There is "Notarikon," where you take a letter from each word to form another sentence or thought.
There is also "Temurah," a method where letters of words are replaced, thereby giving the sentence a new meaning.
All these different methods make it difficult to fully comprehend Kabbalah.



Most illustrations depict it as a chart shaped like a tree.

Once famous depiction makes it an anime prettyboy with long-silver hair and a sword bigger than Robert Wadlow.

The 10 stages represented by the Sefirot...
and the 22 paths connecting them represent the stages of Creation God formed from his own self,
as well as the direction in which humanity should evolve.
Where did we come from? Where are we going? These answers lie in the Sefirot.
When training your magic, it's important to picture the Sefirot every so often.
And when you are meditating, you should focus on the Sefirot as well.



So, if you're looking for inspiration, try your hand at the Sefirot. Eeeheehee...
By the way, did you all notice that I said there were 22 paths?
Yes, that's right. The same number as the Major Arcana I spoke about earlier. Eeeheehee...
Now, continuing on, according to the Sefirot, the world is broken up into four stages...

> The class continues...

Oh, before I forget...



I'm thinking of doing demonstrations using Tarot cards.
But I won't have time for that during the lecture... If you're interested, stop by after school.
Everyone is welcome. Eeeheehee...

I've never really bothered with this either. We'll definitely take a look at 'em later on.



And as an added bonus, we get to rank 5 Academics today. That's how I know we should've gotten it on Wednesday!



And despite Fuuka saying this would be "weeks", it's just the one week actually.

Iwatodai Dorm



And we get Saturday to do whatever the hell we want with. Hurray!

Definitely.
Really? Well, I probably won't go.
I'm in a bit of a financial crisis. Plus, I don't have anyone to go with.

Sadly, we don't get the Persona 5 option to hang out with Ryuji Junpei instead of anyone else.



I am looking forward to wearing the special item of clothing called a yukata.
This will be a new experience for me.



Where do they get the energy?
I'm so tired... I think I'm going to go to bed early tonight...



But, don't worry. We'll be able to go soon.

"Soon" is a relative term. We won't be bothering with Tartarus juuuuust yet, naturally.



The man riding on the portable shrine was knocked off. He was uninjured, but three of the shrine bearers underneath him were hospitalized. The inebriated man said "If you're pissed off, try being the one on top."

I don't... understand...?



Anyway, Koromaru has a special mechanic that we were sorta told about before!



> He seems to want to go for a walk...

> Aigis can go with you tonight.

We can walk Koromaru at night, sometimes! We don't even have to go alone, necessarily.

Joy



There are reasons to go alone sometimes, but when the option is there to go with someone else... why wouldn't you do that instead?



He's able to go on his walks, and come here with his friends...



For what reason is it required to clothe oneself in a "yukata"...?
I would like to infiltrate the site tomorrow to investigate this matter further.



Aigis smiling looks very... unnatural and creepy. I'm pretty sure that's intentional, at least.

Shall we return to the dorm? Let us come again, Koromaru-san.

Needless to say, provided it doesn't clash with my schedule for stuff we'll be walking Koromaru a fair bit. Because hell yeah, good dog, best friend.



While I could genuinely keep count of our points to rank 6 (since we hit rank 5 exact and all), there's uh really no point to that.



So, like Junpei said, there's some festival thingy today.



Hey, did you know that the Summer Festival is being held at the Naganaki Shrine?
Wanna go with me?
Sure.
Really!? Great!

> You have decided to go to the Summer Festival with Yukari.



> The shrine is filled with people eating food and playing games.





I didn't know they make ones like that.
I should have looked harder...
You look good already.
Wh-Wha--!?
...Why, thank you.
I didn't expect you to say that, so I bit my tongue.





Yukatas are pretty skimpy, if you ask me.
They're nice in warm weather, but they don't offer much protection, and they take some getting used to.
...I guess women in the old days were just tougher.

Oh, wait, that stand right there...!

Mmm, smells sooo good...
...I guess it is dinner time, huh?
That explains why I'm so hungry.



...I don't think I can finish it by myself, so will you help me?



Umm... Can I have extra seaweed and shaved bonito? And easy on the mayo!

Takoyaki Vendor: It'll be ready in just a sec! ...... ...Here ya go.



Thanks!

> Yukari seems excited.



*giggle*

Apparently, Yukari... doesn't mind... that? Well, that's weird and is a clear holdover from vanilla.

See, here could get an invite from all 4 girls (as mentioned before). Vanilla only gives you the one invitation, from whichever of the 4 has the highest S.Link rank.





Yukari, please. Where are your manners? Don't talk with your mouth full.

......

> Yukari is trying to say something...

Sorry... I shouldn't have talked while I was eating.
I was trying to say that it tastes like Octopia's. Ya know, the place by the station?
Maybe she works at both places...
...Either way, it tastes good.



There's clearly some left, and it was "good?" Which is why it... goes right in the bin.

At least now we go back to the left.



...which you'd have seen before. How did you miss it?

I've never seen these before...
Hey, there's a dog mask. Wait... Doesn't it look like Koro-chan?
...Oh yeah, this is his real home!



Sorry, Yukari I'm more interested in the Master Joker masks that they apparently have (for a subtle background Innocent Sin reference) and also the Phoenix Ranger Featherman team!

...Although, the shop isn't really related to the shrine. ...Maybe I'm just imagining the similarity.



Attendant: All you do is pick a ball! It's easy! And, everyone's a winner!

A game, huh... Wanna give it a try?
...He says everyone's a winner...
I'll watch.



> You picked a ball from the bottom.

Attendant: Oooh... Let's see what you've--



So, like, this is obviously a scam but... he gains nothing out of it, so.. why? There's no buy-in, not even a ticket thing, so there's no benefit to this other than being a dick.

And if you don't want anyone to actually win, just don't put in a winning ball!

Attendant: Well, here's your prize... You won a Jack Frost Doll. Please come again!

also, wow, mixed signals much buddy

Wow, Makoto-kun!



This is probably the first time I've seen someone walk away with a prize...
I was hoping we'd see some of our classmates here, but I guess not.
I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed.

I was hoping, and expecting, to see Aigis and Mitsuru but alas...

...But, we had fun anyway, so I guess it doesn't matter.



We should go somewhere else sometime soon.
*giggle*

And with that, our little festival... date?... comes to an end.

Silence



It's weird that was pretty stock, when things that have less impact and relevance (classroom lectures) got major rewrites between Vanilla and FES. I don't even know.



But, now we're back to our normal routine, huh?



...Is what I'd like to say, but now we have some other stuff available.

I heard they're having a horror flick marathon.
Sounds pretty cool, huh? So whaddya say? Let's go, man.
Sure.
You serious? Nice! See you later then!

> Kenji seems excited...

> You have decided to go to the movies With Kenji.

We don't actually need to do this. It's just functionally the same as hanging out on an available day that doesn't give a rank up. Kenji's here is completely skippable, for whatever that's worth, but we can't really avoid him forever so sure. Why not.

When The Moon's Reaching Out Stars / Way of Life



Alright, dude. Let's get some seats in the front.





The biggest difference between this and normal hang out scenes is that this gives us Social Link points AND Social Stat points. It's +4 to one stat depending on the movie in question (this is Courage so it doesn't even matter).



> After saying goodbye to Kenji, you decided to go back to the dorm.

Iwatodai Dorm



...Don't you agree?
It's brutal.
It's always like this during this time of year.
Anyway, there won't be another full moon until September, right after summer break ends.
...It's like planning for exams, huh?
Well, at least there are only four Shadows left... We have to hang in there.

Pretty close to being done with that whole thing, yeah. We'll get there soon enough...



Well, he usually eats vitamin-enhanced dog food...
...but sometimes we feed him our leftovers.
It's important that he eats a balanced and nutritious diet.



It was a great cultural experience.

I really wish we could've seen that, but alas... ...NG+...



Usually beef bowl.
...Don't worry, I know what I'm doing.



*sigh* That bummed me out...
I mean, I know I burned it, but I didn't think it was THAT bad...



He wouldn't eat it!
Ahahahaha! That cracks me up!



But... I'm sure she's a little down...
*sigh* I don't know what to do in this kind of situation...



I didn't hear anything on the news about it, so no one must have noticed that Aigis is a robot.
She must've been in stealth mode...

I know it's obvious anyway, but remember when this was a secret? And Ken wasn't supposed to know?



Has Japan become a subtropical climate? By all indications, this week will be another humid one. This is in addition to all the disasters worldwide, such as hurricanes and tsunamis...

Now, it's a Monday so our options are pretty limited. We could go to Tartarus, but that's now our only real option and... we're not gonna do that, so...



We'll just head off to our bedroom and have a quick study session. Like we always do.



So, we had Kenji and Courage yesterday. I wouldn't be surprised if today's film is a Charm boost.



And it's Bebe for good measure. We haven't spent time with him in a while.

You are in luck!
Zey are showing French films!
It eez ze perfect opportunity for you to learn French! Ne?
Sure.
You can go!? Yatta! Zat eez great!

> Bebe seems happy...

When The Moon's Reaching Out Stars / Way of Life







One of the scant few that actually matters, for the Social Stat points.

Zat was fun. I 'aven't 'eard my 'ome language in a long time.
We should do it again! Next time, samurai films!

> You decide to go back to the dorm.

Iwatodai Dorm



Fighting the Shadows is our priority, but you should still study some during the daytime.

We're not studying in the middle of the day, Mitsuru. There IS a reason to consider that, but there's only one day (with our schedule) in the whole game that makes it even remotely possible. Yes, really.



Please carefully consider what you feed him.



Today's subject is a man in his 20s, With a sour face--Uhm, I mean a handsome salaryman.



...Next is news. Pain, pain, go away!



Reiji Kido is the requisite antisocial delinquient character from Persona 1, with rad US flag gloves. He's a playable character, but because Persona 1 is weird about things, you have to jump through a buncha hoops to even have the option be available. He's, in theory, the best character in that game but he ironically gets worse overall later. Character-wise, he's pretty simple unfortunately, since he's an optional character (even by Persona 1's standards) but he still has some major importance to the SEBEC route of the game. Because obviously, right? Outside of one scene at the beginning, before the route divide, he doesn't appear at all in the Snow Queen events.

He has two Primary Arcana (Devil and Death) which is reflected in his initial and ultimate Personae. His initial persona is Bres, of the Devil arcana, one of the kings of the Tuatha De Danann from Irish lore. His ultimate Persona is, uh, Mot, of the Death Arcana... who's kind of a downgrade, oddly, in my opinion. I'unno, that might just be me though.



Anyway, Koromaru is understandably upset over being fed Yukari's trashbin burned remains (two days in a row, it seems).



But, hey, today's Tuesday which means we get to spend the evening with Tanaka.

This Mysterious Feeling



It was with a young man not much older than you. Guess what he said...
He said, "Thank you."
Oh, really?



So... you do care. If this wasn't a common mistake, I could totally buy this as subtle character development, but alas.



...After all, we don't even sell real products.
But then, he told me he quit his part time job and was going to study to become a public prosecutor.



He said I was an example of a negative role model. As if!
Maybe I'm overracting, but what if he does become a public prosecutor and puts me behind bars?
Lord knows what they would do to me in prison!
...Would you still come visit me if I was in the slammer?

> President Tanaka seems upset.

> You feel like you understand him a little better now.





Apparently, kids these days aren't as naive as we thought...

> President Tanaka left.

I guess Tanaka can (accidentally) be a force for good, but it seems weird that this is something he never considered before. I get the whole idea, but man.



So, like, we have about half a month until the next full moon. We're not super-pressed for time, or anything, but this seems like a good time to Tartarus for the first time.



Yukari still only has first tier attacks, but second tier healing. She's super-close to getting Recarm which is... cute, I guess? It won't really matter much, in theory, but hey. Also 30 Magic is kind of a lot.



Junpei's sorta falling behind at this point, in theory. That he doesn't get any upgrades for 5 levels and then it's just Agilao is really worrying, considering.



Akihiko is, well, Akihiko. His offense and restoration are rapidly falling behind, because of both his bleh stats and that they just aren't all that strong. At least he can still contribute with debuffs, which is something I guess.



Mitsuru's, well, the same as before right now. Her Magic isn't quite on par with Yukari's, but she can make up for it by having Bufula which straight up does bigger numbers anyway.



Aigis is a decent enough tank, still, and like one fight away from getting Rakukaja. Taken a while, but she did start at level 30 which is a little high so, fair enough.



And now we have Koromaru. Koromaru has a base 125 Evasion. That is roughly quadruple the highest available for anyone else right now. Koromaru also has the most HP out of everyone, period, but because of that he has the least SP. He is Yukari's mirror, but he's also a dodge tank.



Oh and his highest stat is Agility, but his offense is roughly on par with Akihiko and Aigis, so he has a lot of overlap in a way. Also note how he's immune to Fire and Dark. Everyone else only has one elemental strength, and they only resist it. Koromaru is too cool for that.

Now, there ARE times and reasons why you would want Junpei instead of Koromaru. There are also times and reasons why you would want Aigis instead of Koromaru, but those are much more obvious.

You know the drill by now, I'm sure. Unlike before, Koromaru is not guaranteed a slot, so...

Three slots to fill; who's coming with?