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The Best of the Best!

[2010 Persona 4: FES Awards Presentation]

Most underplayed character - Fuuka Yamagishi
While the easiest thing to do is nominate any member of the Canon Investigation Team, this year saw the disappearance of a character who had made a charming mark on the Guild in 2009 with her budding relationship with fellow SEES Member Junpei Iori. With her skills vital to the work of SEES and her sweet personality absent, the SEES plot (and JunpeixFuuka romantic plot) was forced into the back seat for the much of the year. Here's hoping for a return to form for one of our favorite canon characters in 2011, and some major developments for the SEES teammates involved.

[Other Nominees: Malka Devorah, Kagemusha, Yuuki and Ren Haruko]

Most believable character - Amelia Heartilly
Many characters were put through any number of trials this year, but none reacted with as wide and believable a range of emotions as this rich girl, whose disgust at her teammates negligence, befuddlement at the attention received from the confusing Gigolo, courage and fear in the face of danger, and other, less severe and more normal emotions (such as minor jealousy over a friend's relationship, loneliness at lacking one of her own, etc.) serve to make her one of the most human characters in the Persona 4 Universe.

[Other Nominees: Minori Koroko, Mokou, Daigo Umehara]

Most idiotic character - Zeo Zaggart
Once again, the clown prince of Inaba has proven to be none other than the blue-haired defect that the Kirijo only wish they could disown. With a year that featured more helicopter jumping, extreme attempts at winning over women, and even a failed attempted grope on the final boss of the Snow Queen's Tower, it was more of the same from this year's biggest moron, Zeo Zaggart.

[Other Nominees: Deadpool, Leslie Arzt, Eoria Ansul, Luusa Baddock]

Most lovable character - Woli
Being lovable isn't just about looking good, making big doe eyes, and being a meek little puppy shaking in fear in a big, scary world. As this devil-busting boy proved this year, with a little bit of innocence, some lovable ignorance, and a gleefully charming fetish for bananas you can win hugs and candies in equal measure from nearly everyone you meet.

[Other Nominees: Kawaisona, Minori Koroko, Mikuzaki Gin, Yuki Kiryu, Zeo]

Most epic character - Raiden
How do you top a murderer light-saber dueling a giant gator through the streets of Inaba, the town's most notorious pervert android, a pair of wicked summoners, and the town's worst Chronic Backstabber in the race for the most epic character in all the town? You can start by being a cyborg ninja and hunting down to kill several townspeople, then engaging in the year's most unforgettable duel with the town's hero over the ruins of the shrine that you destroyed. That was Raiden's year...and it was enough to earn him these honors by a narrow margin.

[Other Nominees: Naniyori, Zeo Zaggart, Kazuma Koroko, Kai "Geirin" Kuzunoha and Raidou Kuzunoha]

Most heartwarming couple - Minato Arisato x Mitsuru Kirijo
Everybody loves Faust and Eoria's adorable interaction, Minori and Duke's innocent love, and Shikari and Mikuzaki's fumbling, stumbling relationship, but nothing quite beats the 'D'aww Factor' of the reunion of these two star-crossed lovers who were torn apart by Death itself, only to have the girl receive the greatest birthday gift of all in his return.

[Other Nominees: Faust x Eoria, Minori x Duke, Shikari x Mikuzaki]

Least likely couple - Anybody Not Rednal x Yuno
Let's be realistic, there's a better chance that pigs fly than anybody gets close enough to Yuno to be called a 'couple' before they feel the cold sting of her bloody knife twisting inside of their gut. Which is enough to outdistance these other equally amusing potential non-couples ...You hear that, Faust?

[Other Nominees: Amelia x Rednal (Leon or Faust), Kazuma x Rose, Toru x Mitsuru (Yukari, Yukiko)]

Most heartwarming moment in RP - Minato's Revival
Is there anything quite as moving as the return of a close friend thought to be long-gone from your lives? Everybody who has played Persona 3 and every character who knew him in the Guild felt a little leap in their hearts at the unexpected return of the man who gave his soul for the sake of the world. None more so than the close friends and loved ones who were there to see him step forward through the fog that night...

[Other Nominees: Gabi Rescues Mokou, Ellen and Toru Appeal to Cleopatra, Shikari and Miku Have a Tender Moment, Faust Saves Kusuri, Duke and Minori...A Couple is Born!]

Most badass moment in RP - Soji v. Raiden Rematch and the I. Team v. Black Messengers
What constitutes badassery when it comes to an RP such as this one? Relevance to the plot? Possibly. Several high-level characters on either side of the moral line? Definitely. Having those characters beat the living daylights out of one another for the sake of saving the life of a friend? Totally! Having a member of the team take down the enemy and save/get the girl? Of course! And all that came before/apart from the epic clash between the Black Blade Raiden and Soji Seta, the first major victory of the war between the Investigation Team and the Black Messengers...and the one which turned the tide. And then there was Simon...

[Other Nominees: Orochi's Invasion of Embryon, Conquering Mitsuo and Yukiko's Shadow, Simon Kongo Appears, The Dark Hour Returns, Naniyori Duels a Gator...With Lightsabers, Orgel's Last Stand]

Dumbest Moment in the RP - The Hospital Incident
All right, this one has been done to death and gone over with a fine-tooth comb one too many times to rehash all the details. Needless to say, when you leave a killer looking for kicks alone in a hospital to thoughtlessly pursue your own enjoyment elsewhere and the place gets blown up, it's pretty hard to deny that some of the blame lies directly on your shoulders. And yet...

[Other Nominees: Yuuki Betrays Hetero, Yoshi and Tia Pokemon Battle with COMPS and get caught by Naniyori's Squad, Leon's Inexplicable Rage, Naniyori's Vuvuzela Torture, Bour Messes With Elke's Things...]

Most terrifying moment - Elke Takes Angelina from Embryon
While there is an obvious terror in staring into the eyes of the devil, facing off against a terrible foe, or learning that a friend is in danger, there is a special place in one's nightmares for moments like this one. The terror of a madman staring into your face with lifeless, merciless eyes, the feeling of hopelessness as he tears you apart piece by piece, and the helplessness as he carries you away to have his way with you...In terms of fear, Elke Shula is truly in a class of his own.

[Other Nominees: Tala Rises, Return of the Dark Hour, Tartarus on the Midnight Channel, Mitsuo Has Yukiko!, Takaya Revives]

Most confusing character - Mataki Hito
Let's try and sum up this character in as few words as possible. School president good/evil plotting/friendly/evil snake monster/devil/human with good/bad intentions for Amelia/Minori and a hate/hate/mentor?/hate relationship with the man who may/may not have done it all to him, Lewis Keys who wants to save/drink the blood of everyone in the/his school. ...Did I mention I think he's bloody evil?

[Other Nominees: Lewis Keys, Sapphire, Naniyori, Hetero]

Biggest Airhead - Eoria Ansul
Let me tell you why I think Eo-ooh, a shiny! 8D -sparkle-

[Other Nominees: Mikuzaki Gin, Alexander the Great, Rosealina Miina, Naomi Fujiyoshi]

Most Unlikely Badass - Woli
You wouldn't know it to look at the silly, banana-nomming, Amelia-hugging monkey boy, but if you watched the way that he punched a hole straight through the back of an Asura demon, you begin to understand just what kind of contradiction you're dealing with in Woli

[Other Nominees: Yoshizo Yoshimura, Sayuri Zetsumei, Kawaisona, Satoru Otonashi]

Best Fight - Soji Seta versus Raiden
I. Team versus the Reaper was a great team battle, and there was no bigger team storyline battle than the I. Team versus the Messengers, but for sheer epic skill, brutality, and triumph, look no further than the second duel between Soji Seta and Raiden to find the year's best example of combat in the Guild.

[Other Nominees: I. Team vs. the Reaper, I. Team v. Messengers and Kusuri's Shadow, Summoners v. Beldr, Orochi versus Embryon, Leon versus Yoshizo]

Most likely to get stabbed by Yuno - Faust
Let's face it, he's practically the only one silly enough to go near her regularly(not named Rednal)...

[Other Nominees: Aselia, Soji Seta, Teros Inisu]

Least Trustworthy Character - Naniyori
While Kazuma and Teros's Chronic Backstabbing Disorder has been greatly documented and Mataki Hito's intentions are as ambiguous as Rainbow's intentions inside a men's shower room, if there was one great truth that we learned in the Guild in 2010 it was this...never, ever, under any circumstances, trust the big green guy with the suspicious smile and massive broadsword on his back (that light-saber dueled a friggin' GATOR!) that might kill you at any moment.

[Other Nominees: Mataki Hito, Teros Inisu, Alexander the Great, Rainbow]

Most Badass Normal - Koizeki Tanibasaki
Barely getting the edge over Mortimer the Ninja Platypus and the Incredible Exploding Arzt (and Yuki with her awesome Zhua!) is Koizeki Tanibasaki, who with little more than the abilities of a normal human managed to man up and fight through the Frozen Tower en route to being one of the only survivors of the whole screwed up ordeal. And if he wears that Fig Leaf he won into battle even once, we might have a lock for next year's repeat winner in this category already...

[Other Nominees: Mortimer the Platypus, Chokichi Miyaki, Yuki Kiryu, Leslie Arzt]

Character Who Took the Biggest Level In Badass - Yoshizo Yoshimura
It was almost comical how weak and helpless Yoshizo was when he first appeared in the streets of Inaba, gaily strolling through the streets of Inaba in search of his sister, in search of love with Azarni, and in search of a life that was generally not even one iota as screwed up as his became. Captured by the Embryon he was treated as a criminal, bounced around with the Nanjou, and then put on a trial by the Messengers that it seemed impossible to win, he seemed on the short track to die an early death. 6 Tiers and countless bodies later, the Toad Killer is one of the Guild's more fearsome and unorthodox high-level fighters. And if you doubt whether or not he can hit with any power, just ask Soji Seta if he's dangerous or not...

[Other Nominees: Mataki Hito, Kusuri Keiraku/Faustus Necromonium, Sayuri Zetsumei, Teros Inisu]

Most Heartbreaking Moment - The Embryon Memorial
There is nothing quite so heartbreaking as a funeral in the rain, is there? Watching as the tears of loved ones mix with the falling precipitation, streaking mascara, the stoic but heartbroken looks of those who try to be strong, and the private words whispered over the graves of the fallen. Embryon lost more than a Captain that day...they lost friends, loved ones, and a piece of themselves that they could never get back.

[Other Nominees: Minori and Kazuma Reunited, Rei Fuji's Past - Snow Queen Quest, Yukiko and Rise Fall vs. Raiden, Kisa's Lifestyle Before Meeting Soji, Igor Departs the Velvet Room]

The Kamina "Real, Manliest Man" Award - Kanji Tatsumi
If you need any evidence as to why this award is not in question, please refer to Kanji's post on Page 93 of the Samegawa Floodplains and then go home satisfied. ...Friggin' Czechoslovakian Assassins...

[Other Nominees: Masamune Date, Malka Devorah, Balmung of the Azure Sky, Naniyori]

Most Courageous Character - Zeo Zaggart
Sure, it may seem easy to be courageous when your body is made of mostly metal and you're a powerful anti-shadow weapon made to fight against supernatural things, but Zeo proved his mettle time and time again by throwing himself in the thick of battles that were over his head for a variety of reasons ranging from protecting his friends from Raiden, to trying to cop a feel on the Snow Queen. ...'Brave but foolish' never before applied so perfectly...

[Other Nominees:] Soji Seta, Orgel the Cannon, Raidou Kuzunoha, Geist the Magnificent, Naniyori)

Magical Girl Miku Girliest Girl Award - Faustus Necromonium
The reign of Queen Fausty-chan has begun! Come on, you guys know you love it...

[Other Nominees: Mikuzaki Gin, Minori Koroko, Claire Ferris, Victoria "Vicky"]

Best Rivalry - Naniyori and the Gator
As last-second entry that barely outclasses Soji and Raiden's epic rivalry through two duels ending with both severely beaten and in hospital-condition based on the strength of two major points. One, the crocodile was friggin' huge...and two, light sabers. Any questions?

[Other Nominees: Kazuma and Teros, Soji and Raiden, Raidou and Kai, Rednal and Faust]

Best Storyline Villain - Eve (Snow Queen Quest)
While many great villains had some vintage moments this year, there were few quite as chilling (forgive the pun) and heart-rending as the tragic Snow Queen. Witnessing the frozen world in which she sealed herself away to protect her broken heart, seeing the pieces of her happiness stripped away from her in flashes of memory, and freeing all those who had accepted her frozen reign from their demons, the world which Eve created was like something out of a fantasy...and that is why the Snow Queen tops the charts for this year's storyline villains.

[Other Nominees: Cesc Fabregas (Embryon Massacre), Tala (Nanjou Raid), Beldr (Haru's Concert), Takaya (Smoke and Mirrors), Raiden (Hetero's Gambit)]

Best Comedic Moment - Zeo's Dream Comes True (Amelia sits on his lap and he goes comatose, attempting to grope the Snow Queen)
It takes a man to lose an arm in a vain attempt to grope bitter royalty under the 'intention' to free her from her pain and relieve her of her grief. There is also a great sense of satisfaction in watching as he is rebuffed again, and again, and again, only to melt into a puddle of goo when fate throws him a bone.

[Other Nominees: , Naniyori burns the liquor store...again, Leslie Arzt's Day in the Sun, Deadpool a' Collage (All of the Deadpool), Foibles a' Soji (The follies of a Soji...)]

Best Kiss - Lewis Keys and Amelia Heartilly
While it's not an electric kiss as Alex and Cesc's tingling liplock, there was a fire of an entirely different kind burning in Inaba's most infamous rich girl when the mysterious Lewis Keys took her lips atop the Inaba Hilltop during the second day of his Carnevale. The lingering effects were so strong that even in the face of his mysterious intentions, her thoughts continued to linger upon him...and if nothing else, it seems he keeps coming back for a little more and a little more, himself.

[Other Nominees: Duke and Minori's First, Soji and Yukiko Alone in the Dark, Alexander the Great and Cesc Fabregas, Kusuri and Faust]

Least Moving Death - Leslie Arzt
How do you create a death less moving than the death of those who were created for the sole purpose of dying? ...Well, alright, he was created for the purpose of dying as well, but his pretentious banter and arrogant mannerisms certainly made him a prime target for an elimination that we will soon forget.

[Other Nominees: Embryon Ensigns, Tia Izumi, Sanae Hanekoma]

Most Innocent Character - Woli
When a boy views the strange competition of Lewis Keys and a royal rumble-style fighting match amongst enemies and allies as a fun game to play with his new friend, you're dealing with innocent. When a boy is so loyal that he waits in the snow on your doorstep long enough to become a snowman because he knows he's supposed to wait to be let in, you've got innocent. This is Woli...innocence incarnate. A close winner over adorable Miku and Hikaru, who nearly became a repeat winner.

[Other Nominees: Gin Mikuzaki, Hikaru Okamoto, Minori Koroko, Eoria Ansul]

Best Dungeon - Snow Queen Tower
Even with more competition, it would be hard for any dungeon to overcome the diversity, inclusiveness, and touching story behind the bosses on every floor of the Snow Queen's Tower...culminating in the epic conclusion and the heartbreaking tale of Rei Fuji, who became possessed by her despair and gave rise to the Snow Queen.

[Other Nominees: Mitsuo Kubo's Dungeon, Digital Data World (Incomplete)]

Most Forgotten Character - Miyuki Arisawa
Again, an easy category to choose any member of the Investigation Team (and despite the decision to shy away from them, three were so disappointing that they still made the list), but instead we went with the obviously-least-played PC member of the two major protagonist groups. Having gone through several changes since her creation, Miyuki once spent some time with Soji and became a well-liked member of the guild. Her appearances this year, however, have dwindled...leaving her positioned more as the lesser-known cousin of Haseo whose on-screen appearances could be counted on one hand for 2010.

[Other Nominees: Mikael Allen Hendrassen, Angelina, Rise Kujikawa, Naoto Shirogane, Teddie]

Most Annoying Character - Raidou Kuzunoha XIX
Became so famous for her sudden interruptions of events, battles, and other meetings intended to be exclusive that the coined term 'Raidou Swoop' became common nomenclature throughout the Guild. Her lack of modesty continues to disturb many of the females in the Guild, and nearly sent poor Kisa into a shock coma. Receives the award over the likes of Ryan and Mini on the grounds that she actually was around more than a week, long enough to actually earn an award...

[Other Nominees: Teros Inisu, Ryan Bayani, Mini Arisato, Mataki Hito]

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Top RP'er of 2010 - Rednal
While others merit mentioning for their lovable, interesting characters and contributions to the respective plots, nobody put in quite as much in as many places as Rednal. Wielding characters in almost every major group and multiple characters with no affiliations entirely, when somebody needed someone to interact with, they needed look no further than one of the Guild's oldest members. Some love him, some fear him, some might even continuously disagree with him about a myriad of things, but none can deny that Persona 4: FES would not be the Guild that it is today without the contributions of Rednal and characters such as Raidou Kuzunoha, Rednal Ak'Thias, Sylphie, Sapphire, Kisa, Mokou, Ryofu and Ria, Bour Ying, Eoria Ansul, and many, many more.

A big, P4:FES tip of the hat to this year's RP'er of the year, Rednal!

[Other Nominees: Hibarii, Kohaku Bear, Yamiko, Arena Emperor]

Top Hero of 2010 - Soji Seta
Perhaps a bit too easy, though with Soji's continued internal and external struggles continuing to be one of the major and most interesting plotlines in the Guild, he certainly maintains his right to the title of 'protagonist'. His epic duel with Raiden and unending efforts to bring peace to the town stand as the most significant of any heroic character, but since we want to spread the love...

Top Non-Soji Hero of 2010 - Mataki Hito
Starting the year as little more than an ambitious Senior Class President, Mataki somehow navigated the Gigolo's Carnevale to emerge Champion, earning a prize which changed him into something nefarious...and yet, having not quite turned entirely to the dark side, Mataki continued to blur the line between good and evil as he helped all the way through to the end of the Snow Queen's Tower, proving his worth even more now that he is in possession of powers. Top that off with his almost accidental contribution to the defeat of the immortal Beldr, and you have the most unlikely and accomplished year for any hero (however long that word may apply to him not withstanding) in the Guild.

[Other Nominees: Raidou Kuzunoha XIX, Geirin Kuzunoha XX, Zeo Zaggart, Amelia Heartilly]

Top Villain of 2010 - Ichiro Kuzunoha aka "Cesc Fabregas"
While his on-screen appearances have been few and far between, the influence of the mysterious 'Last Kuzunoha' have spread to every corner of the town of Inaba. His daring raid on the Embryon facility under the cloaks of the Yatagarasu (in which he killed several members of the group, including Geist the Magnificent) set the tone for what would eventually lead to the fall of Balmung's organization...but greater than that, it began a war between two (now three) factions that continues to this day. His teachings lead the unsuspecting Hei Nanjou to unleash Hell upon the town in the form of the COMP-Stations, escaped demons, and eventually, a Demi-Fiend itself...and his specter haunts many, even as his footsteps are hounded by the Crows of the Yatagarasu.

And really, isn't that sort of omnipotence without effort the earmark of the most dangerous villain?

[Other Nominees: Elke Shula, Yoshizo Yoshimura, Takaya Sakaki, Raiden, Bour Ying]

Top Storyline of 2010 - Mitsuru's Birthday Party (Minato's Revival)
It was an amazing year for major storyline events, what with the purging of the Embryon and the Arrival of the Devil Kings and a Demi-Fiend, Hetero's Gambit leading to all-out war at the Shrine between the Messengers and the Investigation Team, and the chilling Tower of the Snow Queen drawing in all those from around the town, but there was nothing with quite the emotional and plot-relevant impact as the birthday party held by the Kirijo Group's CEO Mitsuru Kirijo, which culminated in a series of battles against shadows desperately seeking a prize on the roof...

...A prize which turned out to be the revived Minato Arisato, the martyr who sealed death returned from the dead...

But with is revival came the terrible news that the Arcana Shadows were freed, Tartarus taking root inside the TV World, and eventually, the return of the Dark Hour itself and the blending of the real world with that of the TV. It was a future that he hoped to avoid, but though he never intended to bring any of this trouble upon his friends again, there was no denying the warm feelings...and warm tears which fell that foggy night when his smiling face appeared through the milky shade to those who had loved and missed him so...

[Other Nominees: Purge (the Fall of Nanjo and Embryon, Arrival of Tala and the DK's), Hetero's Gambit at the Shrine, the Snow Queen, the Gigolo's Carnevale]

The Best of the Best!

[2011 Persona 4: FES Awards Presentation]

Most underplayed character - Shikari Hibiki

In 2010 and 2009, Shikari Hibiki established himself as one of the most interesting and formidable characters on the good side of the PC bracket. He quickly ascended the ranks of persona-users once drafted into the SEES-2 unit and became one of the most well-known fighters on their team. Eventually tabbed as a personal apprentice to Akihiko and a temporary mission leader, the year started with a bang as Shikari lead the team into the Strega Bonfire of the Vanities, and then...nothing? That's right, mostly nothing.

With occasional appearances here and there breaking up the monotony, Shikari was mostly absent from many of the proceedings in the story thereafter. Persona War, the Children of Loki...events felt a little less epic with a lack of Shikari there. And with an upturn in the activity of Investigation Team members, we tab him as the character we most look forward to seeing back in form in 2012!

[Other Nominees: Balmung of the Azure Sky, Raiden the Wicked One, Mikuzaki Gin, Serph Sheffield]

Most believable character - Minori Koroko

How would you react if you found yourself cast into the middle of a series of impossible situations; your boyfriend half-dead, kidnapped by a general intent on becoming Shogun and making you his wife? Then your step-brother is killed and you're left to handle the shattering second family you've only just found, keep a smile on your face for faltering teammates, and navigate all of this while still keeping it together? If you answered 'not well', you are just like Minori (and 99% of the rest of the world) who handled these incidents with a mixture of wide-eyed disbelief, panicked reactions, and desperate hope to keep things from getting any worse than they already had. It was a tough year, but through groping for the truth and doing what she could in order to stay strong, she made it through with a glimmer of hope for the future.

By this, she has secured this year's 'Most Believable' title by the slimmest of margins.

[Other Nominees: Amelia Heartilly, Nix Gallen, Mataki Hito, Nekama Kobayashi]

Most idiotic character - Rednal Ak'Thias

There's a fine line to walk when you're harboring an incarnation of insanity inside of you mind that also happens to refer to itself as 'your other self'. You're either going to be crazy, awesome, or crazy-awesome...and there's very little in between those three options. Unfortunately for Rednal, the line he's walking is much closer to 'crazy' than the other options. Of course, he has had his moments of awesome (standing up to his Shade), crazy-awesome (riding a nuclear missile into Nyarlathotep atop Tartarus), but lately the thoughts and actions have been pushing it. Pulling a gun on your leader who might not be your leader...logical...expecting your emotional and recently-traumatized teammates to understand, not quite so much.

Oh, and there's the whole fact that his 'persona' wants to eat and kill all of his teammates, ergo HE wants to kill and eat all of his teammates. Might want to clear that one up some time soon, Rednal...

[Other Nominees: Mao, Deadpool, Zeo Kirijo, Nora Keruberosu]

Most lovable character - Suzume Kirihara

When the Persona 4.5 project began in Iwadate, little did we know that the largest beam of sunshine in the place would come not from the sandy beaches or the White Palace, but from the dank city of Oshu and a chestnut-haired girl with an endless optimism and a heart that opens itself up even to those with the worst of reputations. Bright, cheerful, and hopelessly accepting of her questionable companion Sai, she has spread her cheer as far as the Tsukuyomi Shrine in Iwadate, to all that she comes across! Even when the Iwadate RP wavered and grew stagnant, Suzu was always there, seemingly keeping it going by her own will...each smile cracking into the dark shell of Sai's past.

If he is ever to begin to heal, to get past his dark history, it will no doubt be thanks to her brilliant smile and unwavering faith in him.

[Other Nominees: Lord Seo Taihaku, Tobikuma, Maigo Kokoro, Nekama Kobayashi]

Most Epic Non-Player Character- Lewis Keys

How do you top defeating Soji Seta and throwing him from the top of Tartarus, then defeating the Investigation Team as a whole and sending the Tower of Demise crumbling into bits of rubble as you reach towards the heavens in hubris? You do what Lewis Keys did, staying up to your usual mysterious tricks...then promptly awakening an incredible power in the entire Guild IN THE MIDDLE of destroying the entire Norse Pantheon to gain access to a Yatagarasu Vault sealed so tightly that Thor himself couldn't get in...conveniently noted because Thor himself had to fall in order to open it.

Lewis Keys set a new mark for menacing this year, destroying gods and toying with human lives alike. And yet, somewhere in the midst of all this he foresaw much, helped many others, and maintained his position as one of the Guild's most mysterious and morally ambiguous members. Is he good, or evil? Playing, or sincere? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain...after the loot he snagged this year, whichever side he falls on will have a serious boost to their plans.

[Other Nominees: Oda Nobunaga, Shadow Soji Seta, Tatsuya Suou, and Hetero/Orochi-Hetero, Naniyori]

Most Epic Player-Character - Izaya Amatsu

There's nothing quite like announcing your presence in a booming Crispin Freeman voice everywhere you go, but that's just what Izaya Amatsu does, and he does it with a panache that few outside of Zeo Kirijo can match. And while we nearly gave the award to said android for his epic tossing of a bridge at our resident troll, Izaya's unforgettable arm-wrestling (what?!) match with Rorek Viral puts this already epic chain-smoker over the edge!

And you know what Shinra says about that...you know what? SCREW WHAT SHINRA SAYS! He comes back stronger EVERY TIME! D:<

[Other Nominees: Zazi Pazzia, Hei Nanjou, Dan Sekohara, Rorek Viral, Rednal Ak'Thias, Zeo Kirijo, Deadpool, Teros Inisu]

Most Heartwarming Couple - Sai Sakurazaka and Suzume Kirihara

Where to begin with these two? Is it the way that Suzu's endless optimism clashes with the darker-side-of-life mentality that Sai brings to his half of this duo, or is it the way that she is always confident, smiling, her belief in him unshaken even as the rumors around the city pertaining to her red-eyes potential-beau grow louder and more dangerous? Is it the fact that she will follow him wherever he decides to go, happy to be with him simply because...he's Sai? Or is it the fact that beneath the cold exterior and the aloof nature of the man called 'Sakurazukamori' there is a soft spot that grows progressively softer for the chestnut-haired girl...that no matter how cold he seems he can always find a way to say 'yes' to those puppy dog eyes of hers. Or was it the way that he doted on her during their day in Iwadate, caring for her in moments of pain with pudding and piggyback rides, extending a hand to her even when you would think it was the last thing he wanted to do?

Or was it the kiss to mend her wounded lip? Was there something much stronger behind it? Time will only tell as these two fumble along towards love together...and I can't wait to see it!

[Other Nominees: Nekama Kobayashi x Dan Sekohara, Faust x Kusuri, Naoto x Kanji, Satoru Otonashi x Ellen Gallietsu, Rednal Ak'Thias x Aselia Bluespirit]

Least Likely Couple - Rednal x Amelia

We all know the score between these two...they don't really like each other, and that's putting it nicely. Rednal's got a thing for lolis and Amelia's got a rather prominent chest area...err, well, that's beside the point. What is of note is that they both tend to consider the other as fairly ludicrously arrogant, somewhat snobby, and if they both had free reign away from the eyes of their leader and teammates, they'd probably beat the living heck out of one another.

Ooh, la, ra ra ra! I want THIS bad romance!

[Other Nominees: Nix x a river, Deadpool x Kusuri Keiraku, Naniyori x Haoul, Yuno x Faust)]

Most Heartwarming Moment in RP - SEES-2 Rescues Ellen from Zazi!

Though there were several heartwarming moments with small or individual impacts throughout the RP this year, few had the broad impact of the SEES-2 team's emotional mission through Zazi's house of horrors to save a lost team member who had been taken captive by the Clown Prince of Crime and put through a rigorous mental torture, becoming his slave to fight against her old friends following the Loki's Children event. It wasn't just the mental strain which built the tension, but the actual physical battles, even losing a member of the team to the darkness en route to saving her.

What made the event so heartbreaking...and heart-mending in the end, however, was the fact that despite it all the team had never given up on her. Embracing her as one of their own, spurning the fight that Zazi had sought to make them fight, Ellen that night was truly saved...

[Other Nominees: Dan and Nekama Unite!, Sai and Suzu's first kiss, Rise and Soji's post-Hetero homecoming, The I. Team springs to action to save Nekama!, Date Comes to save Amelia!]

Most Badass Moment in RP - Loki's Defeats the Norse Pantheon and Opens the Vault

In a year stacked with more incredible moments than any other, it was nearly impossible to choose a single moment that surpassed all of the others that could have been chosen. With epic instances such as the appearance of the Demon King, Sasaki Kojuro's Valiant Fight, Rorek and Izaya's Duel, and Minato's destroying an impossibly strong abomination to protect Okina all failing to crack the nominee table, it comes down to splitting hairs amongst those on the ballot. It would have been easy to choose the moment when Teros ascended from follower to Champion, or the fall of Inaba's Greatest Hero as a crowning moment for villainy...or to give the nod to the feral Gabi going above and beyond to show why he is called a beast, or Tawara and Hei setting the bar of all bars in Persona War I.

In the end, however, Soji's ending of the Guild's First Act by overcoming death to strike down Hetero was narrowly edged out by the sheer audacity and badassery that was Loki's march through the Norse Pantheon protecting the Yatagarasu's Vault. With years of planning in the works and everything needing to go just right, Lewis Keys danced the tight rope with the eloquent grace and subtle persistence that personifies his demon form. He tore down his enemies physically and verbally, one by one, until there was nothing in his way. And when he finally set foot into the vault and the Casket of Ancient Winters was his, you could almost feel the exhaustion, the relief, the victory...

That is the mark of everything badassery is about...and this year's winner.

[Other Nominees: Teros Becomes Shadow Champion, Shadow Soji Defeats Soji, Gabi Breaks Simon's Back Like Bane Broke the Bat, Hei and Tawara Set the Bar, Naniyori Murders the Emperor on Live Television, Soji Awakens Persona Fusion and Defeats Hetero, Naniyori tosses a nuclear submarine]

Dumbest Moment in the RP - Kenshin's (NotMaybeKinda?!) Self-Crucifixion

Where do you begin with this little mishap? To recap, a Devil Summoner happened by the Embryon Base only to witness a member of the squad of their worst enemies, the Devil Kings (who had been kicked out of the base by then) having been crucified (seemingly for no reason, possibly by herself) on the front of the base. If that wasn't strange enough, said summoner followed this up by putting the poor girl out of her misery...only to discover that the girl apparently (through no real logic which made any sense) had created a magical, non-existent illusion upon the front of the base instead...though for what purposes that make any sense, again, who knows? Oh, and she was apparently controlling (huh?) the illusion from inside the base...which wasn't her base anymore.

Then the fight with Haoul happened...does your head hurt as badly as mine?

[Other Nominees: Rednal tries to claim leadership of the I. Team within seconds of their leader's fall, Kazuma lets Minori pass after Shadow Soji without a fight, Every single thing about Deadpool's love interest in Hel, Minori agrees to marry Motonari Mori, Eoria's Completely Random Disappearance to Make a 'Point', Hiromi Gets Naked!...to fight Fenrisulfr?!]

Most Terrifying Moment - Shadow Soji Revealed

There are moments that shock you and make you jump out of your socks, and then there are moments which portend to such an immense, perfect doom that you feel a weight sink into the bottom of your stomach, your breath catch inside of your throat, and you think to yourself, 'I am utterly, and completely, screwed.' This year's winner of the Most Terrifying Moment was one of the latter incidents, a moment right when the world seemed to be ready to go back to normal...only to have every last thing that the team of heroes knew flipped onto its head. Their incomparable leader's shadow, always thought never to exist, revealed itself to them as the mastermind and power behind all the incidents that had lead up to the appearance of Tartarus. And then, as it tore down their leader bit-by-bit with its words, it did the unthinkable...

It defeated Soji Seta.

In that moment, everybody there knew that things in the town were never going to be the same. And the future was truly, undeniably terrifying.

[Other Nominees: Zazi, Elke, and the Scarecrow Toxin Zazi's Funhouse, The Demon King Devours the Voice of God, Lewis Keys Reveals the Loki, Nyarlathotep's Temptation, Ongyo-Ki falls...the mountain nearly explodes!]

Most Confusing Character - Rednal Ak'Thias

We can rehash the details over and over...a strange sense of entitlement over members of his team who have a much greater charisma and easily comparable strength, a desire for leadership despite open dislike of many of the teammates with whom he would propose to take over, the utter distaste for anything 'emotional' such as properly mourning for a lost comrade or giving your teammates time to think or bask in any reactions before wet blanketing the living crap out of them, to a flatly stated desire to kill his own teammates...or we can look at the fact that despite all of these confusing character traits he sometimes acts in a fashion which can be logical and contradictory of what we've already known about him (hello Shade battle?).

What we do know is that getting into the head of Rednal Ak'Thias is utterly impossible, and it's a land few, if any, truly wish to try and traverse. At least, not without galoshes.

[Other Nominees: Amelia Heartilly, Kazuma Koroko, Lewis Keys, and Zazi Pazzia]

Biggest Airhead - Tobikuma

Tobikuma gives the phrase 'small-town boy' a whole new meaning...well, partially because he's not really from a 'town' so much as a farm on the countryside, but bear with me on this. Somewhat closed in from society and the real world, when he becomes gifted with the power of the White Light and obtains persona, his journey to the city proves to be anything but simple. Viewing a life-or-death battle as some sort of a date and then making his hospital bed into his own personal garden, we can see right away that poor old Tobi is a bit out of his depth in modern society.

And that's saying nothing of that awful, awful helmet. Can you say Fashion Disaster of the Year?

[Other Nominees: Izuru Shimazu, Kenshi Shimazu, Nix Gallen, Mikuzaki Gin, Eoria Ansul, Suzume Kirihara, Eido Aeroda]

Most Unlikely Badass - Jo(Shu) Michieru

Hi everyone! It's your friendly, neighborhood Devil Summoner! I know what you're thinking, right? How could a hero and a supernatural warrior like me be just another guy? Well, to be honest, I'm not even really sure how I became a supernatural warrior to start with. After all, I'm just your average senior high school student (so I was held back a year, I'm still normal), and I work part-time at the local Junes for a bit of extra cash. I eat, I sleep, just like the rest of you. Then one day I got a message from someone about some sort of a unique book...a person who was eventually revealed to be one of the Kuzunoha, Devil Summoners.

It was by chance, really, but that encounter opened up a whole new world to me. Sex-addicted succubi, freaky cowardish Angels, and a myriad of Charmer demons that keep me on my toes 24/7. ...Yeah, I'm just like any one of you. Only now...I guess I kind of kick a**.

[Other Nominees: Nekama Kobayashi, Kuro Adomachi, Yuki Kiryu, Rise Kujikawa, WYNN, Lady Oichi]

Best Fight - Soji Seta (Izanagi Reborn) and the Investigation Team versus Hetero the Despondent One [High Noon - The End of Act 1]

In a year when the country itself went into what appears to be a full-blown civil war, when an entire city was destroyed in the midst of chaotic battle, when demons and snakes fought openly in the streets, and when chaos's dark incarnation itself sought to infect the minds of the town's heroes, there have been countless battles which could have qualified for the title of the year's 'Best Fight'. Epicness comes in the form of scale, in the form of impact, and in the form of the sheer determination put into the battle by those who fought, breaking through barriers and casting side all logic in the pursuit of the coolest possible fight that could be put on at any given time. Taking all these into consideration, there were still many fights which fit the criteria, but of all of them, in the end only one seemed to have had the lasting impact and the sweet aftertaste of conclusive victory (and defeat) to cap the battle in just the right fashion...

Soji Seta's awakening to the power of Persona Fusion and bringing his team back from the brink of death was the first time since Izanami that they had been so close to defeat, and there was a real sense of dread throughout the Guild when the Game Over screen seemed primed to end the battle forever in a losing effort. However, through sheer force of will their leader revived the fight...and with newfound strength, one by one they stood together against darkness...their combined strength with his own enough to expel evil from Hetero and release Tatsuya Suou from the shadows once and for all. It was a moment of pure triumph, costly, but well-worth it. And even today the impact of that day cannot be forgotten, the end of our Guild's extended First Act...

[Other Nominees: Persona War [ad nauseum], Rorek v. Izaya, Shadow Champion Teros v. I. Team, Lewis Keys and Mataki Hito v. Thor, Heimdall, Freyja, Tyr, Sif, and Sigurd, I. Team v. Nyarlathotep]

Most Likely to Be Stabbed by Yuno - Faustus Necromonium

Is there really any point in having a category that will be annually on lockdown like this one? Until the green-haired ex-trap drops the torch he's been carrying (despite having other girls!) for Yuno, the knife lingers closer to his heart than any other.

That's not a good thing, despite your weird fetish, yandere fans...

[Other Nominees: Kanade Tachibana, Aselia Bluespirit, Rednal Ak'Thias, Zeo Kirijo]

Least Trustworthy Character - Naniyori

Last year's most disreputable character only further cemented his reputation this year with another annual round of thievery, betrayals, murder, and general debauchery...the only good thing we can say about it is that the Konishi Liquor Store somehow managed to stay standing! ...Oh boy, we just gave him ideas. But truly, this was a banner year for the green-haired Asura of Spirits, whose betrayal of the Embryon and subsequent murder of the Emperor he had sworn to serve were not entirely unexpected in their nature, but perhaps surprising due to their timing and extremity.

Seriously, who saw Naniyori murdering the EMPEROR OF JAPAN? Then blaming it on the Western Devil Kings? There are three certainties in this world...death, taxes, and Naniyori betraying you.

[Other Nominees: Rednal Ak'Thias, Deadpool, Motonari Mori, Lewis Keys, Zazi Pazzia, Teros Inisu, Kazuma Koroko]

Most Badass Normal - Sai Sakurazaka

Though one cannot tell how long the supernatural will remain out of the realm of Iwadate and Oshu, and hints of it have already begun to creep in, it remains true that most everyone there is still of the normal variety of person. To that end, bullets, knives, bats, those are all still quite lethal and hurt awfully badly...but all of them were objects endured by Sai Sakurazaka, whose shocking history has been revealed in bits and pieces through his interactions with the glowing Suzume Kirihara. Having been revealed at first as something of an urban legend known as the Sakurazukamori, Sai's dark pats reveals involvement with the Amakusu Yakuza branch, back-alley incidents, and even a bounty that's still placed upon his head in the city for any brave enough to collect it.

So why is someone who is normal still alive under such circumstances? Because...Sai Sakurazaka is a Grade A. BAD a**.

[Other Nominees: Denmark, Ryotaro Dojima, Haruto Mashiba, Miles Edgeworth, Kusuri's Dad]

Character Who Took the Biggest Level In Badass - TIE: Zazi Pazzia and Jo(Shu) Michieru

It was such a close race this year between several characters, that it became impossible to differentiate between the two highest candidates in the category. Though Daigo's badassery and manliness has taken a drastic increase since his fateful battle with Sasaki Kojuro, however, he has not yet had a chance to prove the courage of his new conviction just yet. And while Minori has certainly upgraded from team member to certified badass this year, finally socking her annoying brother in the jaw, it falls just shy. And little needs to be said about the rise from a face in the Western Devil King Crowd to the Country's Most powerful Man in Motonari Mori...but this isn't about the losers.

This category is to celebrate the rise of the Clown Prince of Strega from a hilariously evil background character to the driving force behind one of the year's most twisted events, creating an amalgamation of shadows so horrid that Minato himself had to come out of retirement to put it down. And it is to celebrate Jo(Shu)'s ascension from a nobody bag-boy at Junes to a certified Devil Summoner, rising through the ranks and picking up amusing allies as he goes.

Congratulations to both!

[Other Nominees: Daigo Umehara, Motonari Mori, Minori Koroko, Mataki Hito, and Teros Inisu]

Most Heartbreaking Moment - The Fall of Soji Seta

Has there ever been a moment in the history of the Guild to match the emotional impact of this one? How many tears were shed when the shadow's cutting tongue began to slice the leader of the Investigation Team's insecurities to shreds, even as his body began to fail him and his powers were waning? Did you hold back, but finally break at his heroic last stand, promising to always try to protect the people that he loved? When the sword pierced his stomach and still he struggled to fight against his enemy? Or was it those fateful final moments when he stumbled towards the edge of the tower and his balance failed him, body caroming down over the edge, the soft smile of release settling onto his features as life and power flooded out of his body in equal measure?

Or was it Rise's scream? The aftermath...the breaking of the Investigation Team, the disbelief in his friends. Kanji's burning defiance, Naoto's quiet sadness, or Yukiko's tears that got to you? No matter who you were, or which side you were on, the Fall of Soji Seta touched your heart. And hopefully that mark will remain for a long time, reminding you of all the things that make this RP great...

[Other Nominees: The Breakdown of Rise Kujikawa, Wounded Duke Devlin Watching Minori Taken by Mori, Simon Kongo Rejects Elly's Plea, The Morbidly Depressing Life and Times of 'Anchor' Nix Gallen, Nagamasa-sama Leaves Poor Ichi...again]

The Kamina "Real, Manliest Man" Award - Gabi

Every person in this category had a moment of supreme manliness at some point during the RP year! Kanji's smashing of Vamp with a school desk during the Persona War...with his TEETH...was the stuff of legends, and Date and Yukimura's ride up and through the walls of Mori's fortress was manly enough to overcome the laws of physics! Zeo oozes manliness on a daily basis AND stayed behind in Tartarus for days after the fall of Soji, and Dan finally got his man card by asking out Nekama! However, Gabi's act of defending the honor of Eriko Kirishima after her heart was broken by Simon Kongo during the Persona War, taking a myriad of swords through his large body, and then still having the energy to snap Simon's back like a twig over his knee, toss him two football fields away like a sack of trash, then pose one last time before falling over was a thing of beauty.

And in a field this tight, you have to have a tiebreaker...what better tiebreaker than the age-old man-law? When in doubt, choose the man with the most chest hair...

[Other Nominees: Kanji Tatsumi, Date Masamune, Yukimura Sanada, Zeo Kirijo, Dan Sekohara, Rorek Viral, Izaya Amatsu]

Most Courageous Character - Dan Sekohara

Having obtained his man cards would have been enough to get him on the manly section of this ballot, but to be this year's most courageous warrior, Dan Sekohara had to really earn his stripes. Thrown onto the team last year during the Shrine event, he quickly adapted and became a front-line fighter on all of the Investigation Team's dungeon dives this year. Participating in the battle against Rednal's Shade was another good step for him, but what really puts the white-haired hero over the top this year is not just his courage in bucking up and asking Nekama to be his girlfriend (and kissing her!), but also his upbeat determination and dedication to his heroic ideals.

Even in the face of despair, against Nyarlathotep's (theoretical) temptation, he never lost sight of what was important to him...no matter the odds. Never doubting, never pulling back (save when appropriate in tender moments), always following the hero's path...that makes Dan the courageous character of the year!

[Other Nominees: Satoru Otonashi, Zeo Kirijo, Mao, Kisa, Gin Mishima]

Magical Girl Miku Girliest Girl Award - Amelia Heartilly

With Faust's meaningful haircut, we remove her from this category and insert some other more worthy candidates. And as much as we would have liked to give the award to 'Crybaby Kazuma' for his inability to do anything when standing across from his much manlier (and yet still totally girlie) sister, we decided to go with a much more logical choice...the guild's most sophisticated fashionista of the year, Amelia Heartilly. Why? Not only is she the only character who consistently changes wardrobe on an almost daily basis (complete with new art accompanying each change in the RP and even outside the RP!), but the looks have been getting undeniably racier as time has passed. I mean, seriously, have you seen the Lacey Unmentionables?!

Not to mention how pliable she becomes in the hands of a smooth operator like Lewis Keys. Is this the year those two finally go all the way? ...God I hope so. The tension's so thick you can cut it with a knife...

[Other Nominees: Yasuko Kimiki, Mikuzaki Gin, Kazuma Koroko, Noelle Everett, Nekama Kobayashi, Rosealina Miina]

Best Rivalry - Teros Inisu and Kazuma Koroko

Though there were an incredible amount of battles this year, there were few rivalries which continued past the initial encounter and really stirred the soul, making you wish for more epic encounters between them, contests to lure them together, and so on. In fact, the greatest rivalry of the year didn't come from a direct conflict on the battlefield (save one small instance on a train) at all, but in competition in service to an evil much greater than themselves. Commanded by Simon Kong and Shadow Soji over the year, a race was put on by both Kazuma and Teros to see who could be the deadliest, most persuasive, and most effective servant of their Lord within the Black Messiahs. For most of the year it was a great challenge, and it seemed as though either of the two could be victorious in the later fall...however, one man began to pull away at the very end.

For his rival's failure and his own success, Teros claimed a semi-permanent victory in this rivalry and put a true stamp of legacy on it by becoming the Shadow Champion to Kazuma's lower-esteemed Arbiter. And though the rivalry may go on, it will be hard for Kazuma to recover the ground that was lost this December...

[Other Nominees: Freaky Fish Girl v. MOOOONNNSSSTTTRRROOOO!!!, Lewis Keys v. Date Masamune, Izaya v. Rorek, Rednal v. Amelia/Dan/Faust, Zeo v. Rejection, Soji v. Shadow Soji v. Orochi-Hetero]

Best Main Storyline Villain - Shadow Soji

In a year chocked full of storylines ruled by incredible villains, there is really only one that manages to take the cake. Whether it was his first introduction, the brutal teardown of Soji, or the defeat of the I. Team's leader that stamped his arrival with the utmost authority...or the cruel, tempting manipulation he mastered of Rise up the tower as the Investigation Team followed during their second trip into Tartarus...or even the brutal emotional dismantling of the team once they reached the top (he even got a rise out of Rednal! REDNAL!), he was just the sort of villain that you love to hate and fear to fight.

He demonstrated why that fear was right when he wiped out the entire party after toying with them a bit, and then extended his reach into the heavens...taking the Persona world all at once to heights unseen before and opening the gates of the unknown! To challenge the very heavens and continue to remain unscathed while leaving the heroes broken both physically and spiritually...that is what it means to be the worst of villains.

[Other Nominees: Zazi Pazzia, Oda Nobunaga, Hetero, Motonari Mori, Nyarlathotep, Naniyori the Kingslayer]

Best Comedic Moment - Zeo Gives a Troll a Bridge

Though it was a full year for comedic moments in the Guild, Zeo Kirijo still has a knack for making everybody around him shake their heads in exasperation and laugh all at the same time. Who could forget his iconic 'Give the Troll a Bridge' ploy when he carried a FRIGGIN' BRIDGE into Tartarus and tossed it at Teros, smashing the thing to bits and pieces to begin the final showdown between the Investigation Team, the Messengers, and the Messiahs (at the time)?

Once again, the award goes to Zeo as somewhat of a composite of his entire year, with this most memorable moment winning the prize! Stay classy, Zeo...

[Other Nominees: Rise KO's Vulcano Rosso!, Genji's 'Oopsie?' KO On Regan's Neck, The Reiji Cousins Strike on Nix and Sora, and Jormungandr and Haoul's Pissed Off Teenage Bro-Time!, Seo's Poor Health in General, Noelle DESTROYS Haruto's Face, Excal and Kotaru get DESTROYED]

Best Kiss - Soji Seta and Rise Kujikawa (Soji's Return from the Hospital)

There are many different types of kisses...some are soft and sweet, filled with youthful innocence (Dan and Nekama), while some are burning with a dormant passion that ignites embers inside of you (Cesc and Ray)...some are meant to be more than just kisses, but contracts between two people (Amelia and Dae), while some...aren't even really meant to be kisses at all (Nix and Akihiko). Then there are kisses that are timely and magical, like a soft kiss on a bumped lip beneath a fireworks display, the kisses that take your breath away...and most times you would be thrilled just to have one (Sai and Suzu).

However, sometimes there are kisses that are all of the above...a kiss so pure you feel cleansed of your worries, so passionate that your fingers curl and you pull yourself closer all at once...it's a promise that you won't stop kissing them, each one a little warmer, a little more loving and desperate, saying with kisses what you can't, that you'll never let them go...each kiss coming after might not be intended but it continues anyway, one perfect moment melding into many that pass like the moon in the night sky. They fill your heart and wipe your head clean of all rational thought.

They are...perfect. Or as perfect a moment as you can hope to find in his world...

[Other Nominees: Sai Sakurazaka and Suzume Kirihara's Firework Kiss, Amelia and Date's 'Let's Get Equal' Kiss, Nix and Akihiko's 'Breath, Dammit!' Kiss, Cesc and Ray's 'Fired Up!' Kiss], Dan and Nekama's 'Silent, Pure Love' Kiss, Faust and Kusuri's Honeymoon Kiss!

Least Moving Death - Uesugi Kenshin

It's not that Kenshin as a person wouldn't be missed in the RP, but the ridiculous circumstances surrounding her death (2011 Dumbest Moment of the Year) make it hard to feel any real sympathy for this particular incarnation of the God of War. The controversy surrounding the death and the petty fallout thereafter also remove any real emotional connection to the situation, and somewhat provide an after-the-fact sense of, 'Eh.' to the whole matter.

If it's ever filmed, it should probably be done in black and white.

[Other Nominees: Kohaku Kuma, Emperor Tenrai, Nix's Parents, Vixen]

Most Innocent Character - Suzume Kirihara and Nix Gallen

It would have been easy to select either of these two as the sole winner of the category, but in the interest of spreading the love to two different provinces we split the award between them...Suzume being the most innocent in the Iwadate RP, and Nix being the most innocent in the Inaba area. To understand why either was chosen is fairly easy if you've been paying attention...Suzume's trusting, happy-go-lucky attitude is only outmatched by the brightness of her 1,000-watt smile! Sure, she would be an easy target for anybody looking to scam the poor girl, especially perverted fish sages with wandering hands, but at least she's got Sai there to watch over her, riiight?

As for Nix, she didn't even realize that boys aren't allowed at girl sleepovers...and thinks that CPR is a kiss! Can we say d'awww all together now? D'awwww....

[Other Nominees: Tobikuma, Nekama Kobayashi, Woli, and Maigo Kokoro]

Best Dungeon - Zazi's Funhouse

Though the emotional impact and significance of Tartarus cannot be ignored, nor the nostalgia value, there was an undeniably clown-creepy atmosphere about the Funhouse run by Zazi Pazzia that set it apart from the rest of the year's dungeons. Atmospheric, dark, and mysterious, it revealed its secrets the further each member of the team went...each one growing deeper and more evil. Sacrifices were required here and there, and there were moments that nearly stole your breath away. Then came the moment when you realized there was gas leaking into the chamber...and the hallucinations began...and that moment when you heard the Nightstalkers voice laughing at you, creeping through you, slicing through your neck only to realize it was all just a vision! You knew you were in for Hell!

...Only it wasn't a vision. And a valued friend was lost. These prices were the toll you paid in Zazi's Funhouse...a wonderful world full of laughter...and blood.

[Other Nominees: Tartarus (The Fall of Soji Seta), Tartarus (The Breaking of the I. Team), Data Dungeon World (High Noon, the End of Act 1), and the Dark Realm]

Most Beautiful Female Character - Maigo Kokoro

While many girls have the 'sexy' factor and many have a 'cute' factor, Maigo manages to retain both somehow with those healing ways of hers...her white clothes putting off an innocence that her surprisingly mature eyes betray. She is a lovely mixture of tanned skin, dark hair, and compassion that make her an alluring woman both emotionally and physically.

Could this be the reason that Lord Seo loves to keep her so close to him? Well, no, it's probably the healer thing...but being a beautiful woman near a man in desperate need of an heir doesn't hurt!

[Other Nominees: Amelia Heartilly, Minori Koroko, Yukiko Amagi, Mitsuru Kirijo, Nekama Kobayashi, Rise Kujikawa]

Sexiest Male Character - Lewis Keys

In a Guild full of cute guys, relationships in which soft kissing is still considered 'third base', Lewis Keys is liquid sexiness turned up to the 100th degree. His voice lures you in, his touch sends shivers and lightning bolts dancing alone spine and skin in equal measure. His kisses are like summons killing you and drawing you back from the dead all in one smooth motion. And he looks damn good with a shirt, with a suit, with no shirt at all...

Let's just be realistic...even straight men would go gay for Keys. And lesbian women, too! He's just that good...

[Other Nominees: Cesc Fabregas, Soji Seta, Zeo Kirijo (this vote totally note bought and paid for by the Kirijo CORP), Motonari Mori, Duke Devlin, Gin Mishima]

Most Annoying Character - Regan Hiryuu

It wasn't anything overly annoying that she did that landed Regan in our spot as the Guild's most memorably annoying character over the past year, but more like the fact that every move had a bit of a hackneyed old cliche hanging over it or some overly-observant, impossibly insightful revelation stirring already inside of her mind which added up over the course of her time in the Guild to drive people up a wall. How many times have we seen the 'girl who is inheriting a dojo and wants to become stronger' archetype, anyway? And was there really a need to persistently dog Naoto and Yukiko en route to a Month-1 Exit Strategy?

Regan takes the award in a weak year, just barely holding off Probably-Homicidal Rednal for the award...

[Other Nominees: Teros Inisu, Amelia Heartilly, Kei Sasaki-Taihaku, Mao, Rednal Ak'Thias, Hel, Kai 'Geirin' Kuzunoha]

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Top RP'er of 2011 - Hibarii chan

In a Guild full of gentlemen, it takes a special type of woman to bring an RP such as this one a strong, feminine touch. Though action reigns and there will always be plenty of interesting and high-paced fights and events that we can all throw our characters full-on into, there are a significantly lower number of characters and RP'ers who have captured the more relaxed and down moments with as crystal a clarity and genuinely-careful touch as our very own Hibarii. Monitoring a respectable roster of characters which spans over different groups, she has played anything from the small-town girl who became a persona-user to a cold, demon-possessed warrior, to a demon girl with a massive crush, all the way down to our Guild's favorite sweetheart, Suzume! Her range is excellent, her care with her posts is always superb...they never feel rushed, rarely forced, and each post she makes brings that feminine touch to the Guild that we so desperately need!

For providing our Guild with action, romance, and compelling characters all around, this year's RP'er of the Year is none other than Hibarii chan!

Suzu may be the ray of light in the dark to Sai, but you are truly one of ours!


[Other Nominees: Great Ryoman!, Yamiko Enoki, Rednal Necromonium, Arena Emperor]



Top Hero of 2011 - Soji Seta

For showing us an incredible range of faces from victory (over Hetero) to recovery (after the battle) to love (with Rise and Yukiko) to defeat (to his own Shadow), to despair (being torn down by his shadow) to a hope for redemption (that still grows), all laced intricately within the plot and smoothly along, never too fast or too slow, our hero once again has proven his worth as a compelling main character in 2011!


Top Non-Soji Hero of 2011 - Hei Nanjou

In a year when many heroes fell to the challenges that were laid before them, there were none who rose to greet them as readily or with as much success as BK-201, formerly known as Hei Nanjou of the Nanjou Group. Having fallen to Tala in late 2010, Hei was able to escape from the hospital and pursue the Anomaly to Okina City just in time for the Persona War to commence. Fighting his way through monstrous opposition, including a memorable contest with Tawara Bunshichi, Hei eventually reached the Demon King Nobunaga who had killed the Anomaly, and fought with him until circumstance compelled him to retreat to his castle of Honno-Ji. However, the war officially became Hei's Victory, and he reigned over the greatest battlefield the Guild has ever seen...

...Not to rest on his laurels, Hei eventually also joined up with the Avengers Initiative under Balmung of the Azure Sky and was a part of the raid on the Amago Haruhisa Incident at Yasogami High School, taking down a considerably skilled opponent with relative ease. It wasn't an epic battle, but it showed that when it comes to power, Hei is still leaps and bounds above many others. He fights his hardest at all times, matching skilled opponents and overwhelming those he should. He did his duty this year, and he did it well...

And that is why Hei Nanjou is the 2011 Hero of the Year.

[Other Nominees: Jo(Shu) Michieru, Kisa, Zeo Kirijo, Dan Sekohara, Yukimura Sanada, Date Masamune, Satoru Otonashi, Balmung of the Azure Sky, Mataki Hito]


Top Villain of 2011 - Motonari Mori

This year's contest was really a two-horse race, as what had been a one-man show until mid-June suddenly exploded into a heated contest when Shadow Soji announced his presence with the most emphatic entrance possible...the defeat of Guild Hero Soji Seta! However the year is more than six months long, and over the course of time the influence of both parties began to grow and become known throughout the whole of Japan. Shadow Soji's Tower of Babel extends into the heavens, his challenge to the very gods having been issued...but while his ambitions rise through the ranks of a single tower, Motonari Mori's ambitions spread outward to cover the entire country. Having maneuvered his way from an officer in the Western Devil Kings to a rogue general to the country's Shogun in a matter of days was a thing of beauty only matched by his equally-efficient conquest of the lovely Minori Koroko, having turned her boyfriend to his service and extracted from her a promise of marriage.

With a series of cunning deceptions and multi-layered plans he obtained his rank, and now, has lured out the last of his remaining enemies for one final assault upon one another and a chance ot eliminate opposition entirely from Japan to his supreme reign. Here, now, the Mori Shogunate stands on the verge of something even Hideyoshi never dreamed of...unity not just of the country, but the power to subjugate the world. And if the Shadow of Seta believes his actions go unnoticed by the eyes of the Mori, he would also be sadly mistaken...

And it's all been just as planned...

[Other Nominees: Shadow Soji, Zazi Pazzia, Naniyori, Teros Inisu, Orochi-Hetero]



Top Character of 2011 - Lewis Keys

This was the year of Lewis in so many ways, from his breakout performance at the Persona War to his teasing of Amelia, but what really set him apart from all the rest of the competitors was the Children of Loki Storyline in which he set himself apart entirely from the field of competitors that surrounded him. While Suzume represents a character as beloved as any before her and Sai one complex and interesting as any other, Seo and Zeo as hilarious as any other, it was the complete resume of that event...seduction of Amelia, mysteriousness of his unlocking the power of fusion and sharing his spoils, to the very real emotion and bitterness he displayed in tearing down his former pantheon one god at a time...which really began to round him out.

His repuation as a storyteller enhances his role as well, spreading his stories for different purposes throughout the contests, and even hosting this year's Christmas Event to upstage Lucifer himself. Yes, this was the year of the Lewis...but to whom will 2012 belong, if they can dethrone the king?

Other Nominees: Suzume Kirihara, Sai Sakurazaka, Lord Seo Taihaku, Jo(Shu) Michieru, Zeo Kirijo, Shadow Soji, Soji Seta, Naniyori]



Top Storyline of 2011 - The Death of Soji Seta

When DC Comics finally introduced Doomsday and killed Superman, it was a landmark day in the history of comics...those who read it will always remember where they were, what they were doing, and the way they felt when they saw the Man of Steel die before their eyes.

This was something like that, only the death felt more real, more personal, because Soji Seta had become somebody that we all identified with, that we all loved and interacted with on a much of real level throughout Persona 4 and the FES Guild.

For so long, Soji Seta had been the Investigation Team's Superman, a failsafe hero that they could always rely on when the situation became dire, and whenever the gods cast them a foul hand he could find a new well of strength inside of him that he never knew was there through sheer determination, pull it to the surface, and it would carry them through the end of the battle together. It was through their bonds that he summoned the strength, but what they never knew was the toll that it was taking on him to create so many miracles...the physical strain, the emotional strain, the spiritual pain...until finally, the weight became too much to bear. And the toll had to be paid.

This was the situation in which the Investigation Team's greatest enemy chose to reveal itself, at their leader's weakest moment, as the toll was being paid...as the very life seemed to be leaving him. Tearing down the team's hero with words, he exposed all of the little flaws that their 'Superman' had been hiding, cracking open all the wounds that were so ragged inside of him, unable to be seen from those on the outside...and the weight that was on his shoulders was finally visible to everyone, just as it broke him down. Yet even as he leaped into action, we still held out hope...hoping against hope itself, somehow sure that there would be a miracle and the team would rise again.

We covered our ears as the shadow's taunts broke him down, covered our eyes when the sword pierced his stomach, and we tried with all our might to deny what we were reading as he fell from the tower, waiting for the miracle that would be their salvation...

...We will always remember how we felt, where we were, on the day that Soji Seta died.

And even if fate deems fit to give him another chance to avenge that day, that armor of invincibility...and with it, a little piece of our innocence as believers and members of this Investigation Team behind him, still died with him when he fell from the Tower of Demise.



[Other Nominees: Persona War I, The Breaking of the I. Team, The Rise of Loki, Zazi's Funhouse, High Noon and the Fall of Hetero]