Web of the Jorogumo

> *"A village in the thralls of horror, haunted by the spawns of hell. A demon's playground, from which there is no escape."*
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> *"Brave warriors unite! To fight the impossible, to push the nightmares! Monsters lash out; death runs rampant! A Hero rises from the fog: the Yokai Slayer! Half-demon, half-human! But how will she fare against the queen of carnage, the mother of demons, the spider in the nest: the Jorogumo!"*
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With the Yokai released, who will save the Myre from these deadly monsters? The answer lies in one Kensei warrior: Meiko, the Yokai Slayer. However, she cannot vanquish the demons alone. Join this noble warrior who has turned herself into a half-demon, clearing a path straight to the heart of the problem. What lies in wait at the other side of town is the bewitching Jorogumo, whose webs are the source of the Yokai disaster. Will the spider be defeated, or will Meiko's sacrifice be for naught... you decide, fair warrior!

Conquer the infested horrors by November 10th at Meiko's side, attaining scary fortunes and valuable loot, some exclusive to the very spider nest of the Jorogumo.

## Overview

> *"There is no escape from the Web of Jorogumo, brave warriors must work together to push the nightmares back into the dark. The Yokai Slayer, half-demon, half-human, is on your side but will it be enough? Steel yourselves for the Spider Queen awaits!"*
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A living nightmare haunts the Myre! The horrifying creature known as the Jorogumo has nested in the Market Place, where the monstrous spider feasts on cocooned villagers and viciously preys on the few warriors brave enough to face it. All hope lies in Meiko, who wields the Mamono Dagger. Accompany the Yokai Slayer through the web-infested village, and attempt to do the impossible: defeat Jorogumo.

### Web of the Jorogumo

A bone-chilling creature has nested in Market Town! Protect Yokai Slayer Meiko as you capture zones controleld by possessed enemies, and help her reach the dreaded Jorogumo.

**Web of the Jorogumo** is a unique PvE gamemode that takes the Emperor's Escape gamemode from the Zhanhu's Gambit event and places a new twist out of it! Enter the grounds of the now demon-infested Market Town together with Meiko, fighting through legions of possessed Heroes and Yokai monsters as you protect the noble warrior. Take her to the end of the town so that you may face the Jorogumo, a unique boss-like entity who fights like no enemy you've faced before.

The players start at Zone 0, and need to conquer four Zones before reaching the final Boss Zone where the Jorogumo lies in wait. Meiko will wait one Zone behind (the Back Zone) as the players are tasked with capturing (or conquering) the next Zone; the only exception of this is the fourth Zone and the Boss Zone, where Meiko will stand a lot closer though still remote from the Main Zone. Just like in Breach, capturing a Zone requires taking out all enemies in the Zone. However, due to the lack of allied Soldiers or Pikemen, your team cannot perform "Enhanced Capturing" as one can in Breach. Once a Zone is conquered after ten seconds, the Mamono Dagger will do its magic, as it will open the gate to the next Zone, banish all current enemies, and revive any dead Allies.

Take note though that the Jorogumo will send two separate forces, one to defend the Main Zones and another who will attack from behind to kill Meiko. While the force attacking Meiko is not as strong as the one defending the Main Zone, they will still give her enough of a hard time if she is left unattended. Each Zone spawn different units, with each progressive one becoming harder to deal with. All units, both Possessed and Yokai Leaders, will fight with a lvl2 AI. Yokai Leaders specifically will have bulk health and Hyper Armor on all their attacks much like Meiko, but also deal fire damage with every hit. Minions that spawn on this map act like the old Pikeman that had 48hp, looking like kappa warriors with bamboo-wicker shields.

While the enemy forces can spawn infinitely (even if executed), you and your allies do not have the ability to respawn and need to be revived by an ally or Meiko. The only time one will be automatically revived is when the Mamono Dagger cleanses the field and revives all Allies as noted above.

Take note that going past the gate beyond the Main Zone will inhibit the Hero as long as they stay beyond the Gate, akin to when a player enters or remains in an area of Breach where they should not be in. While remaining on that side of the Gate though, not only will players be dealt damage overtime, but they will also be webbed to a slow walk, preventing them from going too far.

Winning the gamemode requires your team to defeat the Jorogumo. Losing the gamemode occurs when all Allied Heroes are dead, when Meiko dies before defeating the Jorogumo or when the timer runs out.

You access Feats at 100/250/350/500 Renown. Killing minions grants 6 Renown each, while participating in the kill of a Possessed Hero or Yokai Leader will grant 40 Renown. Holding or contesting a Zone will grant 2 Renown per second.

### Zone 1

The first Zone is the simplest to handle, as it mostly involves one Possessed Hero and a bunch of minions.

In the Main Zone, a Yokai Leader Orochi will be waiting with 4 Kappa minions. In the Back Zone, up to 4 Kappa minions will ambush Meiko.

### Zone 2

You will start to face multiple Possessed Heroes now, which can make the fight harder. Meiko will also face more setbacks as she too has to handle a Possessed Hero than just minions.

In the Main Zone, a Yokai Leader Nobushi and a Possessed Orochi will be waiting. In the Back Zone, a Possessed Orochi and up to 4 Kappa minions will ambush Meiko.

### Zone 3

With the minions gone, your team and Meiko have to simply face Possessed Heroes, who can put up a fight if the team is not coordinated.

In the Main Zone, a Yokai Leader Kensei and a Possessed Nobushi will be waiting In the Back Zone, a Possessed Orochi and Possessed Nobushi will ambush Meiko.

### Zone 4

During this leg of the gamemode, your team will be walking through the main street of Market Town before reaching the Main Zone. As such, while you will face more enemies, you will also engage with them with Meiko nearby, making the encounter not as difficult.

In the Main Zone, a Yokai Leader Hitokiri and a Possessed Kensei will be waiting with 4 Kappa minions. In the Back Zone, a Possessed Orochi, a Possessed Nobushi, a Possessed Kensei and up to 4 Kappa minions will ambush Meiko.

### Boss Zone

The Jorogumo is a terrifying enemy, and a unique boss fight that hasn't been offered before. The Jorogumo Boss Fight will have five phases, with phases 1, 3 and 5 being against the Jorogumo and phases 2 and 4 being against the Jorogumo's Yokai Leaders. Requirements for ending each phase will be noted below.

When facing the Jorogumo, she will sit in the backside of the Main Zone. While stationary, she has tools to deal with both close and far enemies, but not both at the same time so pace your fight wisely. The Jorogumo has access to the following moves:

* Ground Slam: When there is at least one Hero within a relative melee range, the Jorogumo will reel back her legs to then perform a Ground Slam after a few seconds. While relatively short ranged and only knocking back Heroes during Phase 1, subsequent Phases will have the Ground Slam empowered, having greater damage, greater range and knockdown instead of knock back.
* Fire Lantern: When there are no Heroes to use Ground Slam on, the Jorogumo targets a Hero, causing an explosion at their location after a delay. The explosion is akin to Zhanhu's Scorching Deluge, dealing 20 immediate damage and leave a small zone of fire. While posing little trouble in Phase 1, Fire Lantern during Phase 3 and 5 can cause trouble as the Jorogumo can target an additional target per cast with each subsequent Phase.
* Ambush: At the start of Phase 3 and 5, the Jorogumo will leap into the air to perform an Ambush from above anywhere in the field, performing a mini-Ground Slam before returning to the back of the Main Zone. While she will target the closest target during Phase 3, in Phase 5, she will target the greatest cluster of Heroes. This move deals the same damage and knockdown as Ground Slam, but is much faster.

When facing the Yokai Leaders, all four Leaders (Orochi, Nobushi, Kensei, Hitokiri) will spawn in on the backside of the Main Zone and attempt to kill Meiko. Throughout the Boss Fight, up to 4 minions will be present in the midfield.

* **Phase 1**: Jorogumo - part 1
	+ Fire Lantern will only target one Hero, and Ground Slam will deal 40 damage and knock back with medium range.
	+ A Possessed Hitokiri will target Meiko.
	+ Phase ends when Jorogumo's health drops under 66%, as she retreats and becomes immune to all damage till Phase 3.
* **Phase 2**: Yokai Leader Ambush
	+ All four Yokai Leaders will come in to attack Meiko.
	+ Phase ends when all Yokai Leaders has been killed and/or executed.
* **Phase 3**: Jorogumo - part 2
	+ Fire Lantern will now target two Heroes, and Ground Slam will deal 50 damage and knock down with a large range.
	+ A Possessed Kensei and Possessed Orochi will target Meiko.
	+ Phase ends when Jorogumo's health drops under 33%, as she retreats and becomes immune to all damage till Phase 5.
* **Phase 4**: Yokai Leader Ambush
	+ All four Yokai Leaders will come in to attack Meiko again.
	+ Phase ends when all Yokai Leaders has been killed and/or executed.
* **Phase 5**: Jorogumo - part 3
	+ Fire Lantern will now target three Heroes, and Ground Slam will deal 60 damage and knock down with a a gigantic range. Ground Slam is large enough that rolling out may not guarantee avoiding the Slam.
	+ A Possessed Kensei and Possessed Orochi will target Meiko.
	+ Upon killing the Jorogumo, the Player team will win the gamemode.

### Meiko the Yokai Slayer

> *" A Proud Kensei, she wrestles with the demons trapped inside the relic, fighting as the Myre's only hope in killing the dreaded Jorogumo."*
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Meiko the Yokai Slayer poses as a lvl 3 bot AI Kensei. Much like the escort NPCs of before, she possesses a large health pool and Hyper Armor on all of her attacks. However, unlike those NPCs of before, Meiko will make an effort to help revive fallen Heroes than simply stay in the backline. This is helped by how she possesses the old Protected Revive trait of having Hyper Armor when reviving an ally.

Meiko relatively stays in the Back Zone for the first three Zones, leaving her separate from the Main Zone's action. When she moves to revive an ally, she will also pull the attention of tall enemies in the Back Zone wherever she goes. During the fourth Zone and the Boss Zone, she will stand closer to the Main Zone, but is still separated enough that she won't directly attract encounter the enemies in the Main Zone.

Meiko will constantly emanate a healing aura. This aura will heal herself and Allied Heroes for roughly 20 health every 2.5 seconds. It will also constantly cleanse anyone in the aura, clearing herself and Allied Heroes of any Fire or Bleed damage. This makes her the prime method of handling the fire damage that the Possessed Heroes and the Jorogumo deal and a source of overtime healing over the course of this gamemode. However, due to the infrequent nature of the heal, Meiko and low health Allied Heroes are susceptible to bursts of damage without other sources of healing.

For more information about the Yokai Slayer herself, including her personal story of "the Ghosts of Torment," check out her respective wiki page.

### Strategies

Due to the nature of the gamemode, there is a general need of strategy to get through the Haunted Village, particularly when facing the Jorogumo. Below are some general guides that will offer insight and tips when facing the Jorogumo, the Possessed Heroes and the kappa minions.

* Take note that Meiko cannot handle even a small group of minions without receiving a good chunk of damage, so during Phases 1 through 4, it's always good to have someone accompanying her at all times.
* Minions have roughly 48 health, so require either two Heavy attacks, two Lights and a Heavy, or four Light attacks. Take note that some Heroes may need to use more attacks to kill a Minion.
* While possessing Hyper Armor, Yokai Leaders are still susceptible to Bashes and can be locked in hitstun if they are not currently attacking.
* Due to the lack of on-field Healing beyond Meiko and the lack of the Respawn mechanic, avoid overextending. Retreat back to Meiko whenever your health drops low.
* While there is a time limit, the first four phases do not need to be rushed. Take your time going through the first four phases if Meiko ever receives a substantial amount of damage so that she can heal it back up; it is ideal to face the Jorogumo with Meiko at high health.
* The Jorogumo's Fire Lantern can be deadly, especially in later phases of the Boss Fight. However, the Jorogumo can only initiate her Fire Lantern or her Ground Slam, and not both at once. Take advantage of this by purposely entering melee range of the Jorogumo to trigger her Ground Slam, only to retreat with ease; this is most helpful when Meiko needs time to heal herself up.
* The Jorogumo will often follow-up a successful Ground Slam with a Fire Lantern, particularly in Phase 3 and 5. As such, be wary when she will perform her Ground Slam and if you have the health to take both of the moves one after another.
* While damage and self-buffs can help fend against enemies and remain alive, they won't be as useful against the high health pools of the Yokai Leaders and the Jorogumo. Instead, support-based Feats and Perks that provide healing/shields, buffed revives, and enemy debuffs can go a long way in helping the team and Meiko stay alive.

## Other Changes

Special customization reflecting Meiko's visuals as a Yokai Slayer in the demon-infested town.

### Customization and Loot

Participating in the Web of the Jorogumo gamemode will reward players with the Yokai Memento ornament. However, winning the gamemode will aware the exclusive Jorogumo Slayer ornament.

## Unique Orders

During this event, unique Orders are offered, telling the tales of the Yokai invasion and how Meiko eventually defeated the Jorogumo.

## Trivia

* The following is the transcript of the season's trailer, which was in Japanese.
	+ "恐怖に縛られ、地獄に取り憑かれ、悪魔の住処となった逃げ場のない村。猛者共は集う、不可能を成すために、悪夢を闇へと葬るために。妖魔が現れ、死がはびこる時、霧中よりいづる兵．．．斬魔の勇士。人であり、人でなき者。だが敵うだろうか ー 虐殺の女王、妖魔の母、そして死に巣食う蜘蛛 ー 女郎蜘蛛に！？"
* The victory screen is a reference to the popular meme, "crab rave." As the four team members stand, the Yokai spiders dance by bobbing side-to-side, both in the background and foreground. This is all to a funky tropical-house tune.
	+ Meanwhile, the defeat screen is a reference to the general idea of an arcade game over screen, accompanied with the common "insert coin to continue" count down.
* In this gamemode's map, the following Yokai creatures appear on the map in one way or another:
	+ The Pikemen appear as Kappa, water imps that like cucumbers.
	+ While not a Yokai, the donkeys in the stable in Zone 1 are visibly possessed by a demon.
	+ Around the map, spirits in the form of light blue fire balls can be found. These are known as Hitodama, and are supposedly souls of the dead.
	+ In Zone 3, the artwork "Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi is displayed on the wall. As the title of the artpiece denotes, it depicts a skeleton spectre known as the Gashadokuro. Uniquely, its eyes will follow the player around, making it look like the spectre is always staring at you.
	+ On the main street of the town, Chochin-Obake can be seen floating around next to the buildings. Chochin-Obake are ghouls that appear as Chochin lanterns with a long tongue sticking out.
	+ On main street, from some of the ripped doors of the buildings, Yuurei ghosts will appear as teal apparitions sticking their bodies out.
	+ While not a specific kind of Yokai, the street sign lanterns will shake around as if possessed by a spirit.
	+ The Jorōgumo (絡新婦; lit. "entwining newlywed bride") is a well-known spider youkai in Japanese folklore. With the phonetic reading of their name meaning "spider-woman" (女郎蜘蛛), the Jorōgumo appears as a large spider monster that can shapeshift themselves into a beautiful women.