Sleeper of the Deep
Sleeper of the Deep was an event in Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2.
Blurb
I slumber deep beneath the waves.
I am the original ruler of this planet. Dream and join me in my undersea lair. |
Featured Characters
| Name | Rarity | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| ★★★★★ |
Synopsis
Prologue
The opening scene is an unnamed man in Europe frantically taking notes of star map and pouring over old books. He determines that in just two weeks, the stars will align perfectly, prompting him to run off to tell as many people as he can.
The scene then cuts to the Liberator's hideout, where Megakin and Newbie find that Kazufumi and Vagit have covered almost the whole floor with various files and papers. Vagit explains that a few days ago, he received a letter from an old friend that was completely unintelligible gibberish. Unable to sort out its contents on his own, he asked Kazufumi for help. While the pair are still uncertain about the meaning of the letter, Vagit speculates that it is a sort of summoning chant. Kazufumi shows Megakin the only legible part of the letter and reads it out.
"The stars will align, but only for a moment. In perfect position or very close to it. My dear friends, you will understand, that I am certain. This planet's ruler of old has spoken. Do not fear. Do not deny it. Your eyes have not yet opened. Knowing the unknown is but a terrible notion. But fear not I say, for you have been chosen. Now, you must open you eyes that have been shut. Be witness to it and you will know what! Then we will grow closer than ever before. That is when you will know what this was all for... Rejoice! All hail the great Cthulhu! Ia Ia! Cthulhu fhtagn!"
Perplexed by the cryptic message, Megakin and Newbie decide to lend a hand to the two servicemen to hopefully decipher the text. Several hours pass, but nobody is able to make head or tails of the letter. Just as the group is about to head to bed for the night, everyone is struck by a painful headache and passes out. When they come to, they find themselves in an unfamiliar location, not knowing how they arrived. Making matters worse, the Liberators find themselves unable to contact help with their phones. Newbie checks their phone, but gets startled by "an ominous presence" in place of the signal indicator and drops their phone. Before anyone can make sense of the situation, a hoard of demons attack and need to be fended off by Megakin and Newbie.
Part 1
After successfully defeating the demons, Kazufumi and Vagit speculate on their surroundings, noting that the layout and appearance of the building seems to be changing. Megakin, who was previously lost in thought during the conversation, realizes that the facility is nearly identical to his old school. While the logic is sound and the layout is more or less identical, looking out a window makes it seem as if the building is underwater. Megakin's confusion is cut short by the sound of demons patrolling the area, so the cast opts to move to a new location.
After avoiding the demons, the Liberators are able to get a better look at their new location. Inside they find a myriad of shelves packed with books and papers, but all the desks are covered head to toe in star charts, maps and notebook. In the middle, there is a suspicious circle burned into the floor. Megakin proposes everyone to split up to look for clues, and Kazufumi eventually finds something. He posits that the room is a reflection of his own obsession with research. He also shows an old book that he found relating to the worship of a mysterious being called "Cthulhu". Vagit realizes that this is the very same Cthulhu as his friend's letter. Vagit opens a separate notebook, which claims that Cthulhu is the original ruler of the earth and slumbers as it waits for the stars to align with its city, R'lyeh. Megakin asks Newbie if they've found anything interesting, but they are distracted by feeling something grazing their hand. Looking down, they find their hand covered in a cold, sticky substance. When Newbie looks back up, they notice that the bookshelf they were using has not only been drenched in the very same ominous substance, but all the contents of the shelf vanished without a trace. Feeling something is watching them, Newbie quickly retreats to a different area, with the others not far behind.
Part 2
The next room the Liberators visit looks like an exact replica of Kazufumi's own shop. While on the outside it seems identical, Kazufumi notes that there are items in the storefront that he has never stocked before. Newbie points out an unfamiliar file on a shelf and Kazufumi picks it up to read. The familiar writings in the file contain more information on Cthulhu, particularly that the city in which it lies in wait, R'lyeh, is found at the bottom of the ocean. An uncomfortable silence fills the room as the group recalls the window view of the deep, dark ocean. Panic overcomes the liberators as they begin to believe that they may be trapped in R'lyeh itself, and Kazufumi's voice trembles as he wonders how long they can survive. Vagit suggests moving to a different location, citing an uneasy feeling of being watched.
Part 3
The next room in line also mimics the appearance of a familiar location, this time being the Church of False Gods where Vagit is usually stationed. Just as it was with the other rooms, strange file is found floating above the alter. Vagit concludes that an unseen force is simply messing with them, but Kazufumi convinces him to read the file regardless to bring them closer to the truth of the facility.
The file is titled "The Miracle of 1925". The author recounts a prediction that the stars would align in a way to expose a part of R'lyeh in 1925, which turned out to be true. The slight surface of the city was enough for Cthulhu to posses the minds of children, artists, and other beings who are easily swayed. Using this connection, it is said that Cthulhu is able to communicate with people through its own dreams, driving many to madness or even suicide. The author states that these people were not worthy of learning the truth, but those who retained their sanity are the chosen ones who will be able to properly worship Cthulhu. The file ends with the author stating that he must find more worshipers to welcome back "our true master". The rest of the pages have been torn to shreds.
With this information, Vagit realizes that the message from his old friend was meant to inform him of the upcoming rising of R'lyeh. While Kazufumi claims that based on this text they must be dreaming, they all find that even if he is correct, they are unable to wake up. A faint slither is heard in the room, prompting the Liberators to leave in a hurry.
Part 4
As their exploration continues, the Liberators discover a massive stone gate, decorated with various tentacled creatures. Despite the enticing possibility of the gate leading to an exit, Vagit and Kazufumi express concern over entering. Just as the group begins to speculate, the gate begins to open on its own, clouding the room in a terrible stench. Newbie senses something moving beyond the gates, and tells themselves to not look at what emerges. They try to summon a demon to block everyone's eyesight, but a horrible pain comes over the Liberators and they clutch their heads as if to stop it from exploding. One by one, members begin to lose consciousness until only Newbie remains awake, hearing an unsettling yet incomprehensible voice invades their mind. As the Dx2 uses every bit of their strength to avert their gaze, the being from the gate uses a tentacle to force Newbie to look directly at it. Cthulhu appears for a split second the scene ends.
Epilogue
Newbie, Megakin, Kazufumi and Vagit awaken in the Liberator's hideout, with the rest of the Dx2 relieved to see them conscious. They reveal that not only have the four have been asleep for two days straight, but several other Liberators from different branches reported similar scenarios of members falling asleep and having awful dreams. Despite being awake, Newbie acts coldly to their fellow Liberators, and suddenly has a complete psychological meltdown. As they scream and violently scratch themselves, they are quickly restrained by the others and sent to the hospital.
After a few weeks pass, Megakin, Vagit and Kazufumi reflect on their shared dream. Vagit says that he went to visit the friend who had sent the letter, only to find him dead in his laboratory, citing his face in death seemed to be one of pure terror and ecstasy. Kazufumi shows Megakin a photo of the scene, one which is all too familiar. Shelves packed with books and files, desks littered with star charts, maps and notebooks, and a circle burned into the middle of the room. Kazufumi goes on to explain that their dream took place during March of 1925, the day the stars last aligned. He theorizes that the Liberators belief in demons made them a sort of "target' for Cthulhu. While Vagit ponders if Cthulhu is aware of humanity, or if it even cares, he decides that it would be best for all of them to stop speculating and move on with their lives. Finally, Kazufumi reports that Newbie has finally woken up, and remembers nothing from the dream. The doctors believe that Newbie's brain is trying to forget the events on purpose to protect Newbie, and that they should keep an eye on them and not speak of the incident any further. Just as the discussion ends, Ririn calls to report that Newbie has disappeared from the Hospital. It doesn't take long from the Liberators to find Newbie on a nearby beach, gazing at the ocean thoughtlessly. While they take Newbie back to the hospital, they find themselves muttering something on the way back.
"Ph'nglui mglw'nafh... Cthulhu R'leyh wgah'nag! fhtagn..."
Gameplay
The event is held in the Aura Gate SP, where players run through a short, randomized dungeon to accumulate points. The player is awarded with a certain number of Clay Tablet Pieces than can in turn be exchanged for Far Seas Cubes. The Far Seas Cubes contain random rewards for opening them such as Mitama Extract, Macca, and Summon Files.