Part 175: 12/7: Of Mice And Women
Part 165: 12/7: Of Mice And WomenMusic: Impromptu for the Next Prime Minister




If I was on the side of the Phantom Thieves, and I’m not saying I am, I’d head back and use the previous safe room right about now, since there’s not one between here and the pool. There’s also a rather annoying series of gimmicks to the next area, which we’ll go into shortly. Did I say annoying? I meant “amazing at dealing with pesky intruders!”

Music: Ark


Here is a fully filled out map of this area. I won’t be giving out detailed instructions like with Okumura’s Palace here, because this layout is both more and less complex at the same time and also because I’m not giving out information to no stinkin’ Thieves. We’ll cover the ingenious mechanics used to deter interlopers as we come across them.
The first, which we’ve already seen, is the ever-present locked door. This devilish device can only be opened from the other side. How fiendish.
The next? Well…



















So, the Phantom Thieves are now mice, and will remain so while in any room that has a Shido statue in it. This renders them totally unable to perform any of their usual mischief, be it fighting or opening doors.



This is what happens when a mouseified thief tries to open a door. It’d be pretty cute if those weren’t the beady eyes of a killer under that mask.
Anyway, the only way to proceed through the area is for the Thieves to use the convenient vent in the room, small enough that only a mouse can get through it.

Further in, they come to a big hall with a giant Shido statue in it (not pictured) and multiple Shadows patrolling.


Perhaps I, gifted with extreme foresight, predicted that I would be turned against the Phantom Thieves when I recorded this, and so got some footage of a Shadow absolutely fucking up their shit by running straight into one.
Or maybe I just wanted to see what would happen. Who’s to say?



But suffice it to say, their shit gets rocked.



The thieves can’t attack so it’s an automatic enemy initiative, and they’ll automatically attempt to flee once their turn comes up.

The real goal here is to move throughout the room while avoiding the Shadows moving about. This can be trickier than it sounds, though still not terribly difficult. Come on Shadows, do your jobs! Also, here’s a picture of Glorious Shido.
There are a few exits to this area, all of which are via vents.

Two of these exits lead to the same series of rooms in the upper-left corner of the map. Here, Noir remarks that she sees something interesting.



Pressing this button causes things to… shift.




The statue is now depressed into the floor, the weird light that turns the thieves into mice no longer visible. This means they’re not at risk of turning into rodents.
Unfortunately for them, there isn’t actually a way out of this area unless you’re a mouse! Those imbeciles! The thieves are thus forced to hit the button again, turn into a mouse, and head back to the main hall, where they find a third exit that lets them unlock a door back into this area, where they can turn the statues off again and proceed. It’s a bit complicated.

This is Titania. She’s weak to Psy, Resists Nuke, Bless, and Curse, and uses Sleep and Nuke skills.

And here is King Frost, also the monarch of Fuck Mountain, designation Shit. He’s weak to nothing and will decimate these annoying Phantom Thieves with Ice and Physical. He also drains Ice and blocks Bless.




This is Oracle’s Final Guard, which once again will block any attack that would kill a party member, once. It’s really powerful and kind of unfair for Shido, tbh.

Here’s a really

And they finally make it to the elevator.

There’s a locked treasure chest ahead of them...

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY A SAFE ROOM, GET IN THERE




Nothing too special in there.



You’ll be pleased to find out that those long paths on either side of the pool also serve as “hallways” where the thieves have to wait for Shadows to turn around before they can ambush them!



The Shadow on the left is Parvati, which heals and uses Psiodyne. It also has Ice Boost, but unless that strengthens attacks it reflects I cannot figure out why. It’s weak to Curse, resists Psy and Bless, and reflects Ice. As a Persona, it also knows Hamaon.



And here’s the Former Noble the thieves were looking for.



No response.










Queen must have a different definition of “quarrel” than me.
















Heading over to the counter…








On the other side of these stairs, there’s a duct.

What deviants!









Music: Wicked Plan













It’s a honeypot!











Welp, that failed immediately.

For some reason the devs forgot to shift over Noir’s portrait here to the left and so you can see where it just abruptly stops. Yikes.

Wow! If I wasn’t eternally committed to Shido now, I’d probably deck this creep!



























Well, this is on-the-nose.











Ann pulls away.




Fun Comedy Hijinks With The Phantom Thieves™!


Everyone transforms back into their thieves’ garb.




Former Noble
Music: Keeper of Lust

Former Noble is an interesting miniboss in that he has like ten skills, which is really kind of cheating. Psiodyne, Mapsiodyne, Psy Boost and Amp (Amp is 50% boost instead of 25%, and stacks with Boost), Stagnant Air to increase everyone’s ailment susceptibility for its Confuse and Brainwash skills, Tarukaja, Concentrate, and Fast Heal to speed up its own ailment recovery. He does a lot, and has a ton of health, but still isn’t much of a threat.
He’s also weak to Electricity, but I didn’t think to try it, whoops!



And the noble’s down for the count.
Music: Suspicion







Ugggggghhhh

Music: Desire







Well, that’s two down for the Phantom Thieves. Hopefully Shido will have more success with his other lackeys. Now, if you don’t mind, I have to send an important letter. Don’t peek.
*ahem*
Hello, Mr. Shido. I hope this message finds you well. Let’s not beat around the bush here: you’ve threatened to murder me. Understandably so, for I have been helping to promote the Phantom Thieves’ cause through my chosen medium. However, if you keep me alive, I believe that I can help you, instead! You’re probably wondering what possible use I could have to you, and while this field may be rather esoteric, I think that I can use my incredibly gifted natural talents in the field of Let’s Play in your service. Again, you might question how, but I’d like to remind you that as a trusted internet personality, I could be helpful in rounding up other miscreants and troublemakers for mental shutdown! And why stop there? The pathetic sheep that make up the populace just need proper manipulation to be under your complete sway. Think about it: you, using your vast resources, indirectly steer them towards my content, which will from now on push constant messages supporting your administration! I would, of course, get some minor, token benefits from this, like increased publicity, but do not be mistaken: I do this solely out of unfailing, unquestioning support for you! The Phantom Thieves are old news, and your support won’t last forever, unless you let me push propaganda for you! You have no possible reason to refuse! Though, if you did, I would totally understand because you are smarter than me, a total suck-up bootlicker with no dignity. But I implore you to consider this offer: you’re not going to get a better deal from anyone else, because at the end of the day, I’m your friend. Thank you for your time. You need not respond to this missive; I have already begun working towards our shared goals. Those peons will never see it coming.
Deferentially, Arist
Please don’t kill me.