Maidens of the Kaleidoscope
~Beyond the Border~ => Rumia's Party Games => Mystia's Stored Games => Topic started by: Hello Purvis on April 17, 2010, 02:52:29 AM
-
>You are Reisen Udongein Inaba, Gensokyo's premier gunbunny, and for a time one of the most dangerous people to walk the face of the land! Perhaps you will be once again.
>You an immigrant to Gensokyo from the moon. The events surrounding that have left you with a powerful hatred of Neil Armstrong, which you do not like to get into. You have been living at Eientei after running away from home. You work for Eirin Yagokoro, which has led to many rumors being spread about the abuses she heaps on you. Only a few of them are true! She has given you a variety of strange jobs over the years; you've done your best to handle them and think you did pretty well outside the moon incident. Kaguya Houraisan considers you her pet and you still don't know what she means by that; aside from the fact she uses it as an excuse to pat you on the head sometimes. You are deeply concerned about the rights and treatment of rabbits, particularly those in Eientei, and have managed to argue for them to have better treatment on a few occasions. You have crazy eyes and it freaks some people right out; thankfully you have gotten some tinted glasses to deal with this. You are a goddamn snappy dresser. You had tapped into the power of a set of exceedingly powerful artifacts, and have become powerful enough you could defeat your masters without undue effort, but this has been taken from you.
>Marisa has asked you to hook up Alice with a suitable friend, or perhaps significant other. You've vowed to prove to the world you aren't just good for your sex appeal, however ample it may be. You are wracking your brain to figure out how to make a base six pair of paints. You have been wrestling with a strange compulsion to explore the mysteries of the lake, and may have just unleashed a sealed terror in the process.
>You recovered your stockings from being hung out like flags! You have befriended the Yakumo family! You've done multiple errands for Patchouli! You have hoodwinked Remilia into thinking you robbed Hakugyokorou on her behalf! You have Youmu's gratitude for returning her sword! You helped Letty deal with her hangover. You helped Hina find her missing arm and get it reattached! You've helped Nitori recover some scrap metal from a crashed rocket! You rescued Satori from a dumbwaiter chute she got stuck in! You've impressed the faeries with your ability to mutilate reason! You've gotten in good with the boss of the underground's premier club, The Felt! You have befriended a lone wolf, and had him trained! You've uncovered interesting bits of Gensokyo's mostly forgotten history! You have defeated an ancient terror of the Underground, the Oni Eater! You have been attacked several times by a mysterious apparition that wants the gems! You have become romantically involved with Eirin! You've uncovered and defeated a Lunarian plot that put Reimu and Byakuren at each other's throats, occupied Eientei, and threatened the general peace of Gensokyo! You've managed to defeat Watatsuki no Yorihime!
>Now you are lost...somewhere else. You don't know quite what happened, but you are not quite in reality as you know it anymore. You aware aware of yourself still being in reality, possibly still grabbing the Red Gem. But you are also here, and the universe seems to be coming to an end. Only a few stars remain in the void.
> Who are we?
> Are we still Reisen in this world?
> Where are we?
> Why are we here?
> How did we get here?
> How are the moons affecting us?
> How close are the moons?
> How high up are we?
> Where is the armor?
> Do we know how to get out of here?
>It is hard not to wonder these things, as the stars seem to burn out.
>You are very sure you are Reisen Ugondein Inaba, here and elsewhere.
>You don't know where you are. You aren't sure if this is actually a place in any real sense.
>You do not know why you're here. You know it happened when you grabbed one of the gems while they were flying away as the Construct was animating. Then you were here. They are apparently here in some sense, as is something else else. There has to be a reason for it.
>You think it was when you grabbed the gem when it left you. You don't know if it was the whole cause, or just a catalyst.
>You...don't think they are affecting you anymore. If they are the gems, they've been almost entirely severed from you now.
>You don't know if height means anything anymore, there's no longer anything be above.
>You think it is where you recall it being when you grabbed the gem. You wonder why it hasn't done anything yet, there's been time.
>You do not know how to escape.
>Three more stars burn out, now nine remain.
> Can we locate the armor that is "here"?
> If so, can we fight it?
> Do we have any idea what the stars are connected to?
> Is there anyway to restore the stars?
>You don't know if it's here, but there is something here. If you can find it, you may be able to fight it.
>You don't really know, but seeing so few of them left leaves you feeling empty and forlorn. It is taking some effort to simply keep fighting on.
>You don't know if the stars can be restored, you have not tried it.
>_
-
> Try to sense the location of the other presence.
> Try to restore a star through willpower.
-
> Try to sense the location of the other presence.
> Try to restore a star through willpower.
>You try to get a sense of where the other is. It seems to be...everywhere.
>You concentrate for a moment, and a light in the heavens quietly winks into existence. There are now ten stars.
>_
-
> Hah! We're not down for the count yet, not by a long shot.
> Try to restore a couple more stars. Think of Eirin while doing this; if nothing else, she needs us back, and we need to get back to her.
-
> Hah! We're not down for the count yet, not by a long shot.
> Try to restore a couple more stars. Think of Eirin while doing this; if nothing else, she needs us back, and we need to get back to her.
>You concentrate again, and will a constellation to return to existence. You keep Eirin in your heart, knowing that you need to get back to her.
>Another star winks out of existence.
>_
-
>Keep concentrating and restoring those stars! If we don't stop this thing, Gensokyo is likely in big trouble; let's keep everyone safe to live their lives out as they should~
-
Eh, there's gotta be more to this than just restoring stars, especially if they're still winking away.
> "...Rumia?"
> Why have we done all this, anyway?
-
>Keep concentrating and restoring those stars! If we don't stop this thing, Gensokyo is likely in big trouble; let's keep everyone safe to live their lives out as they should~
>You keep at it, restoring more and more stars. Some of them wink out again, but you are able to restore them as well.
>You aren't sure how long it takes, but soon the sky is restored. It's not quite right, you don't know where they all are supposed to be, but it is there. A star winks out, telling you it won't remain that way.
> "...Rumia?"
> Why have we done all this, anyway?
>There is no answer. You don't think the other would be anyone like that, it seems too fundamentally different.
>You...aren't sure. But with the sky restored, you feel less forlorn than before.
>_
-
>But the sky isn't all that was missing! The ground is gone too! Let's get everything back, cuz that thing has no right to mess with... whatever this place is. Maybe it's like our mind?
-
>But the sky isn't all that was missing! The ground is gone too! Let's get everything back, cuz that thing has no right to mess with... whatever this place is. Maybe it's like our mind?
>You try to restore the ground next. Within moments, a grassy plain appears at your feet. It is nice to have something solid to stand on again. It feels less empty here now.
>You really aren't sure if this is related to your mind at all, but it is certainly responding to your thoughts.
>_
-
> Try to anthropomorphize the presence so it is standing in front of us.
> Why is Misty?
-
> Try to anthropomorphize the presence so it is standing in front of us.
> Why is Misty?
>You try to force the presence in front of you, and encounter a sort of resistance. It feels like you're trying to lift something heavy. No, more like you're trying to hold back someone actively resisting you.
>Who is Spain?
>_
-
> "What do you want?"
-
> "What do you want?"
>You speak. Whatever it is, it does not answer. You start to wonder if it has the capacity to answer.
>The grass is beginning to dissolve away.
>_
-
>Cut the crap already
>Imagine/will Gensokyo as a whole back to existence, think back to all the memories we made there
>Will ourselves back to that shrine already, we never left it, we're still there.
>Believe in the you(ry
-
>Cut the crap already
>Imagine/will Gensokyo as a whole back to existence, think back to all the memories we made there
>Will ourselves back to that shrine already, we never left it, we're still there.
>Believe in the you(ry
>Don't blame me. Blame yourself or God. ...Oh wait. Blame yourself.
>You are not intimately familair with every aspect of Gensokyo, but you know it well enough and concentrate on restoring it. It takes time, as you will the mountains to appear, the forests to return, the streams and rivers to restore themselves, reestablish the Underground, and so on. You picture and place Scarlet Devil Mansion, Eientei; the human, tengu, kappa and oni cities. For every few things you rebuild, you feel it trying to erode away as you build it up. But still, you win out against it.
>The world has been restored. It's not perfect, you know you got some of the roads wrong, and some of the places have been kludged a bit simply because you've never been there, but it is back. You feel much better now, the emptiness and anxiety are no more. You feel more capable now, more able to do what might have been impossible before. Everything is still eroding, but it will take a little time even if you don't maintain it.
>You will yourself back to the Shrine. The scenery shifts from the plain you were standing in to to interior of the Shrine. It is about as you remember it, though you don't know if you placed the Construct correctly. As well, you left it a proper statue, rather than animate construct. Noticeably, though, the gems are missing. You just can't seem to recreate them correctly.
>There are current no plans for a Turkish Release of Reisen Quest. Please accept our apologies.
>_
-
Argh something is still missing.
>Try to will the moons to merge into the real white moon.
>Or if that doesn't work, recreate the stones by using the images of the moons, or what they "feel" like, or how they felt when we shot them.
-
>Try to will the moons to merge into the real white moon.
>Or if that doesn't work, recreate the stones by using the images of the moons, or what they "feel" like, or how they felt when we shot them.
>You try to will the moons to merge into one thing. Although you can't see them, being indoors, you do not feel them respond to you. You suspect that they are outside of your influence, or at least outside of that kind of influence.
>You try to recreate the gems specifically using the moons as a guideline and the feelings of pain and the world going momentarily haywire from before. You have no success, but you can feel why. That other who is here, whose presence seems to be everywhere and whose influence seems to be as widespread as yours, is opposing you from doing anything involving the Gems in such a direct way. You can mentally picture them, but you cannot conjure the. It is keeping you away from them, or perhaps them from you.
>_
-
>Holy Shit we're INSIDE the Apparition.
>Try to break free!
-
>Holy Shit we're INSIDE the Apparition.
>Try to break free!
>You consider this particularly frightening possibility.
>You do you intend to do this?
>_
-
Well, duh. Voices, I have the idea of breaking the Fake Hakurei Border, but I'll leave the choices in your hands now.
-
>You consider this particularly frightening possibility.
>How do you intend to do this?
>_
-
Well lets try this first.
>Will this to happen : After looking down and back up, a suspicious portal will appear out of nowhere right in front of you, and when you step into it you end up back in reality.
Oh why did I try to grab the red gem. :ohdear: :ohdear:
-
>Will this to happen : After looking down and back up, a suspicious portal will appear out of nowhere right in front of you, and when you step into it you end up back in reality.
>You try this, and open a suspicious portal with no problem. It looks suspiciously similar to Yukari's gaps, but more oval-shaped and without the bows.
>You step through it, and appear back in the in the shrine where you stepped into the portal. It doesn't seem that you can leave in this manner. You're not even sure at this point if "leaving" is a valid concept.
>The shrine starts to dissolve.
>_
-
Oh why did I try to grab the red gem. :ohdear: :ohdear:
Given the circumstances, that was one of few remotely good options. Why we led Reisen into a place where disturbingly-strong gems of power were compelling her to go without backup is a better question. Remember your Lord of the Rings next time, guys. >=|
>Okay, it's either trying to destroy the world or break our will, possibly both.
>The gem-moons seem to be static and roughly evenly bound between Reisen and whatever-it-is. Trying to interact with them is either retaliated against or causes them to move from some sort of binding that causes pain.
>But it isn't attacking us directly for some reason. Does it want Reisen alive but despaired? Complacent in having a world to play with even without the gems?
>world maintenance, examine moons: the moon-gems and their connection to whomever are key here
-
> Try and open a portal to the red moon.
> If this fails, try to open a portal to the other existence that is resisting us.
-
>Okay, it's either trying to destroy the world or break our will, possibly both.
>The gem-moons seem to be static and roughly evenly bound between Reisen and whatever-it-is. Trying to interact with them is either retaliated against or causes them to move from some sort of binding that causes pain.
>But it isn't attacking us directly for some reason. Does it want Reisen alive but despaired? Complacent in having a world to play with even without the gems?
>world maintenance, examine moons: the moon-gems and their connection to whomever are key here
>You feel either or both of those observations are probably correct. Certainly it is trying to effect this place, and you through it.
>You are certain the gems are a key.
>You aren't sure why it isn't attacking you directly, but instead trying to take apart everything around you. But you are certain that its actions are affecting you.
>You spent a bit of time undoing the damage it has done. This doesn't take too long, it's not had time to unravel a lot.
<You cannot see the moons from here. You find that your own connection to the gems is still very weak. You have a sensation that they exist, but that is about it. You are not able to feel where they are, or what they are doing.
> Try and open a portal to the red moon.
> If this fails, try to open a portal to the other existence that is resisting us.
>You try to open another gateway. Unlike last time, where you felt nothing, this time you can feel that the other side has connected to something. You are not certain if it is the red moon, but there is definitely someplace to go through it.
>_
-
>Go through.
-
>Go through.
>You step through the portal.
>You emerge into what seems to be a light jungle. The air is warm and slightly humid. Leafy tropical trees dot the land, as do curious shrubs and other flora. Above, you can see the other three moons, looming heavily in the sky and occupying much of it. You think you can pick out mountains and the like on them, as close as they are. As well, you can see the blue and green world you've created painted across the half of the sky, as though the heavens were a canvas. The other half of the sky is sort of black desolation. It seems to be featureless, but you are not sure it is right to call it empty. You think you can see motion of a sort within it, something akin to waves or ripples
>_
-
> Try to mess with the waves to see if we can observe something in the blackness.
-
> Try to mess with the waves to see if we can observe something in the blackness.
>You tamper with the light spectrum a bit, trying to find more about the blackness. You can change the colors a bit, making it easier to see the rippling within it. It's like watching the ripples from a light rain falling into a puddle, there's a sort of rhythmic motion to it. However, you aren't sure what exactly is there to ripple at all. You don't think you're looking at something fluid.
>_
-
> Attempt to get closer by opening a portal.
> If this fails, open a portal to the moon that is closest to the rippling.
-
>rethink that if the ripples resemble a black hole in any way, shape, or form
-
> Attempt to get closer by opening a portal.
> If this fails, open a portal to the moon that is closest to the rippling.
>You try to open another portal. This time, you are not so sure that you've succeeded, but you think you've managed to get something.
>You feel a curious sensation within yourself; a sort of shifting of awareness. You aren't really able to interpret it, but you think that something has happened to the world you rebuilt. Something that...probably isn't bad.
>_
-
> Head through.
-
> Head through.
>You step through the portal
>You emerge into an inky blackness, frighteningly similar to the the void you were in when nearly all of the stars had gone out. But this is not a void, you don't think it is, anyways. The space around ripples and flows like an ocean, but those are the only signs of any kind of activity at all. Were it not for that, you would think this place is completely empty of any substance.
>You can feel things in this void, something akin to emotions. No, not quite emotions, more like impulses. You can feel that this place is driven by an impulse to destroy. There's a strong will guided by this impulse, you don't think it knows anything else. You can feel that it remembers things, vaguely.
>There is a low rumbling noise that seems to emanate from everywhere at once; one you have heard upon vanquishing the Apparition in the past. This place knows you are here.
>Wisps of substance begin to curl from you and disappear; you are beginning to evaporate.
>_
-
> Try some danmaku.
> If nothing good happens, open a portal and leave.
-
> Try some danmaku.
> If nothing good happens, open a portal and leave.
>You fire some danmaku into the emptiness. The bullets fly outwards, it's a little depressing to see so few after you had been supported by the gems. They don't hit anything, they just fly outwards until out of sight, quietly evaporating.
>You think you note your own evaporating slow a little.
>_
-
>Try to will yourself back together, so that you aren't missing parts!
>And if that works, try to will away the conscious in this area. At the least, try to will it away from a small area around yourself, creating a little ground for you to stand on.
-
>You try to reform yourself; but it feels as though you're pushing against a brick wall. It's simply not letting you do it.
>You are starting to feel other things here. There is a strange, almost intelligence to this place. It is hard to define, it feels...fragmented, as though it were not remotely complete. It feels very simple as well, like what you imagine an animal's intelligence to be like. Perhaps even more basic than that, as you don't think it has the even all of the functions of an animal's intelligence. But within its narrow abilities, you sense it is more able than most beasts.
>_
-
>Try to interact with this intelligence, like, reach out to it mentally or something.
>If this makes something bad happen (like, we start evaporating much faster), open a portal and get the hell out.
-
>You try to interact with the the intelligence, trying to imagine yourself reaching out and touching it as though it were a physical thing.
>Another rumble emanates from the void. You can feel that it this is as close as it can come to speaking. No, not quite speaking. Speaking implies that it is trying to be understood, and you don't think it really understands the idea of communication. It is simply expressing a reaction.
>You do not seem to be dissolving any faster than before, but you do think you can see through your fingertips now.
>_
-
>Try to convey the idea of creating something instead of destroying it, and the good kind of feeling that comes with doing so.
-
>Try to convey the idea of creating something instead of destroying it, and the good kind of feeling that comes with doing so.
>You try to convey the feeling of accomplishment that comes with creating an object.
>The void rumbles again. You...are not sure how it took that. You're not even sure if it has the capacity to feel such things. The undulation of the void seems to be a little different now.
-
>is there anything we can make that it would remember?
>show by example, for that matter. Make it a gift, maybe. (By which I mean: Make. Pride. Smile. Feel.) Psychological warfare.
-
>is there anything we can make that it would remember?
>show by example, for that matter. Make it a gift, maybe. (By which I mean: Make. Pride. Smile. Feel.) Psychological warfare.
>You take a closer look at its memories. Almost all of them involve you in some way, things you've done to it, ways to try and get around them; what has succeeded and what has failed. There are memories of the gems, vague ones. These are very important to it. There are memories of a sword, a weapon draped in rainbow colors. It doesn't seem to have much of a past beyond this.
-
Oh God. It remembers the Rainbow blade from Patchy Quest.
> How close are we to disappearing?
-
> How close are we to disappearing?
>Your hands and feet are transparent now. You can barely make out your fingertips at all.
>_
-
> Portal outta there. We can always come back.
-
> Portal outta there. We can always come back.
>You leave the void, and return to your own place.
>You find it's fallen apart more quickly than you anticipated; much of the plant life and such are gone, leaving huge patches of bare death earth. At the same time, you don't sense the other here at all anymore.
>_
-
> Build the world back up.
-
> Build the world back up.
>It is a much faster process without the other here to slow you down. You are able to complete restore a much of it before you feel it return, spreading itself everywhere and setting itself to tearing apart what you've made.
>You have recovered a bit as well, your hands and feet are mostly normal again, though your fingertips are still translucent.
>_
-
>See if we can connect to the gems without the other here
-
>See if we can connect to the gems without the other here
>You missed that opportunity while rebuilding this place.
>_
-
>Son of a bitch
>Throw down your hat in disgust
-
>Son of a bitch
>Throw down your hat in disgust
>You do not have a hat. You could probably rectify this if past experience has shown anything.
>_
-
>Conjure a hat
> Throw it down in disgust
-
>Try creating something with a form that is identical to the Apparition/whatever-it-is.
-
>Conjure a hat
> Throw it down in disgust
>You imaging a sunhat into existence, and throw it down in disgust.
>Try creating something with a form that is identical to the Apparition/whatever-it-is.
>Having spent a little time in the void and having your own memories jarred, you find it easier to recreate the gold and silver Construct. You create the replica a couple yards in front of you.
>_
-
>Now create the broken sword we delivered to Eirin from Patchouli, in our hands.
>Assuming we succeed and nothing weird happens, put it in front of the replica and then turn it into the rainbowy sword we saw in the void.
-
>Now create the broken sword we delivered to Eirin from Patchouli, in our hands.
>Assuming we succeed and nothing weird happens, put it in front of the replica and then turn it into the rainbowy sword we saw in the void.
>You never never really had the sword, just a shard of it. But the difference between changing a shard into the sword you saw in those memories and an inert weapon into that that sword are next to none. You place the shard and change it into the rainbow sword.
>You feel the other's presence shift a bit; condensing itself somewhat so that it isn't blanketing everthing, just the immediate region.
>_
-
> This is a replica of the statue right? Place orbs of red, blue, purple, and green light where the gems would be.
-
> This is a replica of the statue right? Place orbs of red, blue, purple, and green light where the gems would be.
>It is simply a thing you've imagined into existence.
>You make orbs of light that hover around the replica statue as the gems do.
>You can feel the other is lingering here; you think you can even roughly estimate the places it is lingering over. The fact that the surroundings are falling apart faster than normal help you visualize it.
>_
-
> Try to open a portal to the lingering existence.
-
Do we have a plan to deal with it this time? Seems like a waste to go back there again otherwise.
-
> Try to open a portal to the lingering existence.
>You open another portal to the void. You don't feel it connect solidly, but it was like that last time.
>_
-
> Before heading through, review everything we know and learned from our previous interactions with the void.
-
> Before heading through, review everything we know and learned from our previous interactions with the void.
>You take a moment to review what you've discovered.
>You know that it is connected intimately to the Apparition; you suspect you may well be peering into its mind. You begin to evaporate upon entering, you are pretty sure it is doing that to you intentionally. You've also learned that it doesn't have much of a mind; primarily a powerful destructive impulse backed by strong will power, some memories, and some capacity to learn. You don't know if it really has the capacity to feel the joy of creation. It doesn't seem to really understand communication as a concept, but you've gotten it to express itself, in a sense, in reaction to you.
>_
-
>retrieve chocolate mini-peeps from hat
>see if it's possible to help along your own self-regeneration
-
>retrieve chocolate mini-peeps from hat
>see if it's possible to help along your own self-regeneration
>You pick up the hat, and find a couple of chocolate candies shaped like ducks. You've had a hankering for those lately!
>You try to help yourself return to proper opaqueness. It is somewhat slow going, as the other presence seems to be doing something to resist it. But you still win out. You notice, as you restore yourself, the world around you restores as well. You suspect the other presence's attack on the world was hindering you.
>The presence seems to lose interest in the blade and statue you created, as you feel it spread out again.
>_
-
>Try to force our will on the other presence, we're more intelligent than that thing.
-
>Try to force our will on the other presence, we're more intelligent than that thing.
>How do you intend to do this, and what do you intend to force it to do?
-
>Try to express to it all the emotions and thoughts that comes to mind. Maybe there is something that frightens it.
EDIT: Oh yes, I almost forgot:
>Just to check it, blend light like we did it before to see the Apparition. If we haven't tried it yet.
-
>Try to express to it all the emotions and thoughts that comes to mind. Maybe there is something that frightens it.
>Just to check it, blend light like we did it before to see the Apparition. If we haven't tried it yet.
>You try to make it visible. In truth this isn't really necessary; you can sense where it is and what it is doing perfectly fine without seeing it. But, having visual things to rely upon are comforting. Trying to manipulate the light, you find that there really isn't any true light here. It doesn't really come from anything; you realize that the things around you have "seen" you aren't really seeing due to vision. You "see" them because you know they are there. You could close your eyes, and not be at all handicapped.
>However, using the technique of manipulating light turns out to be a great guideline toward imaging an event happening. You use it to add some color to the other presence; making it appear as a pale omnipresent mist. This mist doesn't actually impair your "vision" at all, but does fill the spaces you have not already filled with your world.
>You decide to try and frighten it. You concentrate and try to direct every thought and emotion you can think of into the misty other. It rumbles, the sound not being nearly as omnipresent or powerful as it was in the void, and mist recoils a bit, lifting from the ground. You can feel it withdrawing a little from this world, going...someplace else. You aren't sure where.
>_
-
>Make sure if it comes back, you remember the thought or emotion what frightened it.
I'm out of ideas... except...
>There was night, and no light right? Then, let be light! And let be day!
-
>While it's gone, try to see if we can contact the gems any better.
-
>While it's gone, try to see if we can contact the gems any better.
>It's by no means fully gone, having only withdrawn a little. But you do feel your connection is a little stronger now; you can feel that the gems are above you.
>Make sure if it comes back, you remember the thought or emotion what frightened it.
>There was night, and no light right? Then, let be light! And let be day!
>You aren't really sure what did it, you just threw everything that you could think of at it. But it definitely made the presence recede a little.
>You decide that you are sick of night time, and imagine that it is day. The sky lightens, and the sun shines out between the four, still fully visible moons. The light, you realize, is much like everything else here. But you shouldn't need it anyways, given what you've been able to do thus far.
>You feel the presence returning with the cessation of your assault.
>_
-
> Continue the assualt again, but putting even more focus into the "kinder" thoughts and emotions, such as love and joy. Maybe we can make the presence calm down and stop being opposed to us.
-
> Continue the assualt again, but putting even more focus into the "kinder" thoughts and emotions, such as love and joy. Maybe we can make the presence calm down and stop being opposed to us.
>You resume the assault. You send more positive emotions at it this time, and don't really have an effect. You're not sure it really has the capacity to feel those kinds of things as it is.
>The presence settles back in, returning to its efforts of dissolving everything. Your sense of the gems' presence dwindles away.
>_
-
>Well, if positive emotions don't do anything, then try to send negative emotions. Maybe we can broke its will, and control the gems again.
-
>Well, if positive emotions don't do anything, then try to send negative emotions. Maybe we can broke its will, and control the gems again.
>You try to direct your darker emotions into it. It doesn't respond to many of them; it seems that anger, hatred, sadness, and the like are just as foreign to it as positive emotions. It does, however, recoil a bit from fear and hostility. You suspect they may be tied to preservation instincts.
>As it recoils, your are able to reestablish enough connection to the gems again that you can feel them overhead.
>_
-
> Does the presence seem hostile or anything like that, or is it trying to avoid the fear and hostility?
> If it doesn't seem hostile, try to strengthen our connection to the Gems to the point that we can call upon them, even a little bit, while keeping up the fear, agression and hostility.
-
> Does the presence seem hostile or anything like that, or is it trying to avoid the fear and hostility?
> If it doesn't seem hostile, try to strengthen our connection to the Gems to the point that we can call upon them, even a little bit, while keeping up the fear, agression and hostility.
>The presence definitely hostile insomuch as it trying to hurt you, and has been since you first encountered it. Having visited the void, though, you don't think it is due to any kind of hatred toward you. It simply regards you as a thing that needs to be destroyed, and an obstacle between it and the gems. But it does seem to be able to recognize threatening intentions. You think it does somewhat feel fear, though. At least enough to recognize something is threatening it, though the reaction seems to be more akin to survival instincts than terror.
>You try to strengthen your connection to the gems, using the small window you've gained, while keeping the presence at bay. Unfortunately, while it seems this place is only limited by your imagination, you can only focus on so many things at once. You're not able to effectively fight back the presence and reconnect to the gems. But, you have a little success in holding it off while strengthening your connection a small amount; enough that you can feel the gems as distinct objects rather than just some distant thing. It is like trying to do physical labor while balancing a book on your head, one is interfering with the other.
>The presence has stopped trying to dissolve the world you've created, now it is working actively to resist your attacks to force its way back into this world fully, and trying to get between yourself and the gems. For the moment, the two of you are at a stalemate, but you are not sure how long you can hold it off like this.
>_
-
>Can we draw in power from the gems?
-
>Can we draw in power from the gems?
>You cannot, you would need to strengthen the connection a great deal more. Right now, you are reasonably certain the presence is using them against you.
>_
-
>Mindrape the presence.
-
>Mindrape the presence.
>How do you intend to achieve this, and what do you intend to do exactly?
-
>Think of bees.
>Play lriG iakuoY s'nnamtraH (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpD37k8s_C4&feature=related) in the world somehow. (Hum it out, play it like there's background music, whatever works).
-
>Think of bees.
>Play lriG iakuoY s'nnamtraH (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpD37k8s_C4&feature=related) in the world somehow. (Hum it out, play it like there's background music, whatever works).
>You decide if you're going to try to attack it, you could do worse than bees. You visualize bees swarming and striking at its mind; and the world fills with discordant buzzing that almost but not quite creates a song as countless bees appear out of the air, flooding the entire world, and strike at the misty being. At a glance, it doesn't seem like they are having an effect, but you feel them tearing into its mind. Curiously, the presence does not recoil from this. Instead it seems to welcome the attack at first, doing nothing at all to stop it, before it expresses a low rumble that drowns out even the sound of the bees and withdraws from this world entirely.
>_
-
>It withdrew entirely? Connect with the gems!
-
>It withdrew entirely? Connect with the gems!
>You try to strengthen your connection to the gems.
>You can feel them more strongly now; you know for certain that they are those four moons. You can also feel that the presence is strongly connected to them. It...seems to be drawing on them to live. Without them, what little mind it does have likely would not exist.
>You can also feel that the presence is at the Green Gem, trying to hamper your connection efforts there.
>_
-
> Open a portal to the green moon.
> Stay frosty.
-
> Open a portal to the green moon.
> Stay frosty.
>You open a gate to the green moon. You feel it relatively close to where the presence is.
>You stay calm. This isn't like before, when you panicked and tried to run.
>_
-
> For our next assualt on the presence, try using this guy... (http://i31.tinypic.com/66l0rd.jpg) Just, lots and lots of him, hundreds even.
-
> For our next assualt on the presence, try using this guy... (http://i31.tinypic.com/66l0rd.jpg) Just, lots and lots of him, hundreds even.
>You dream up a couple more things to attack with before stepping through the portal you've made.
>_
-
> Go through the portal, be ready for anything in the process.
-
> Go through the portal, be ready for anything in the process.
>You step through the portal.
>You emerge in an underground cavern. No...not a cavern, it's too artificial-looking. You're in some sort of immense mind shaft, easily dozens of feet wide and high, extending out further than you can see.
>Up ahead, you see the presence. It has taken on the appearance of the statue and is kneeling; you sense it cannot take the shapeless omnipresent form it favored in your world. You suspect this means you would be limited as well. It sees you as you step out of the portal, and stands.
>_
-
> Gunwink the statue.
-
> Gunwink the statue.
>You can't help yourself, you gunwink the statue.
>It's reaction is to raise its hand in your direction. Gouts of blue flame explode from its fingers and spread out toward you!
>_
-
>Dodge the flames and shoot danmaku at the statue
-
>Dodge the flames and shoot danmaku at the statue
>Thankfully you are far enough away that the flames, five large blasts spreading outwards, are not difficult to avoid and counter with your own shots. They strike the stature and bounce off of its exterior, leaving some small dents.
>The statue sudden stoops down and slams its palm onto the floor, sending a wave of energy racing across the floor toward you. It dashes toward you in the wake of this attack.
>_
-
> Side-step out of the way of the statue, then jump over the wave of energy at the proper time.(Jet Force Gemini manouver :smug:)
-
> Side-step out of the way of the statue, then jump over the wave of energy at the proper time.(Jet Force Gemini manouver :smug:)
>As the statute does not dash through it's own energy wave, you end up doing these things in reverse. Or rather, you try to. As you leap over the wave, the statue closes the gap between you. You try to sidestep, but the statue's reach is long enough that this does not matter. It strikes you across the chest with enough force to send you flying.
>You hit the ground, landing face up. Curiously enough, you don't feel much pain. There was certainly an unpleasant shock from the blow and from hitting the ground, but no lingering pain. Instead you feel disoriented and weak, and your connection to the gems is ebbing away again.
>_
-
>Concentrate, this thing wants to break our mind.
>Shoot several streams of danmaku at the statue, while expressing negative emotions at it!
-
>Concentrate, this thing wants to break our mind.
>Shoot several streams of danmaku at the statue, while expressing negative emotions at it!
>You try not to let yourself get too distracted.
>It's not difficult to through negative emotions at the statue at the moment, as you are not very happy with getting punched. It doesn't seem so effective here as it did in your world, but the statue pauses for a moment as it kneels down again. Without rising from the ground, you fire upon it, your bullets battering its metal form and denting it a bit more. The statue slams it palm onto the floor again, then again and again, sending three more waves of blue energy flying at you.
>_
-
>Get up and dodge the waves, try flying, and keep shooting at the statue, always at the same spot.
-
>Get up and dodge the waves, try flying, and keep shooting at the statue, always at the same spot.
>You aren't able to stand that quickly!
>But, you find that flying works. In fact, flying works better than it ever has before. You don't need to worry about maintaining speed, you can hover flawlessly, you barely have to think about it at all. You manage to get above the waves just in time, and continue firing on the statue, hitting it in its golden chest. It moves aside, making it harder to focus your aim, then dashes toward you again.
>_
-
> Dodge the statue in the air.
> Keep up a precise stream of danmaku.
-
> Dodge the statue in the air.
> Keep up a precise stream of danmaku.
>You dodge back from the statue, its fist coming uncomfortable close to your face.
>You continue to shoot it in the chest, making a noticeable dent.
>It continues to charge, extending its hand and firing a wave of red blasts of flame no more than a yard from your face.
>_
-
> Baaaack up from the flames.
> If this doesn't get us out of range, then duck.
-
> Baaaack up from the flames.
> If this doesn't get us out of range, then duck.
>You back away, find it isn't going to be enough, and duck down. Most of the flames pass over your head, but one of them catches you in the face. You feel a great flash of heat and disorientation, and stumble back. You do feel tired, like you've been running for awhile.
>As your eyes readjust, you see the statue's fist descending toward your head.
>_
-
> Side-step or if we're too low, roll out of the way.
-
> Side-step or if we're too low, roll out of the way.
>You sidestep away from the blow cleanly, shaking off the last of you disorientation. Having been in this situation a couple times before, you anticipate its follow through where it turns the missed strike into a wide outward chop and back away from it.
>As it recovers from the chop, you see an opening to act or draw back.
>_
-
> Catch the statue with a heavy stream of danmaku.
-
> Catch the statue with a heavy stream of danmaku.
>You fire as much danmaku as you can the statue, striking it in the chest and causing it to stumble back a little bit, ruining the punch it was launching at you. It extends its hand again.
>_
-
> Dodge the punch by back-stepping/side-stepping, then continue blasting it with Danmaku.
-
> Dodge the punch by back-stepping/side-stepping, then continue blasting it with Danmaku.
>You step back, spraying it at random with Danmaku and denting it here and there. Unfortunately, you have misread its action completely as another wave of blasts fly from its outstretched hand. Several of them slam into you, knokcing you off your feet. Again, there is no pain, just a sense of confusion and heat, and a lingering sort of tiredness.
>You are aware that it is approaching you.
>_
-
> Regain ourselves and back-step or side-step away from it.
-
> Regain ourselves and back-step or side-step away from it.
>Being knocked off your feet does not leave you in a position to do any sort of steps.
>_
-
> Regain ourselves and back-step or side-step away from it.
>"Regain ourselves" meant get up and not be confused, and shake off some the being tired-ness.
-
>"Regain ourselves" meant get up and not be confused, and shake off some the being tired-ness.
>Parsers like descriptiveness, especially in surreal situations.
>You stand up and try to shake off some of the lingering confusion. As you do, you notice two things. First, you notice both of your arms have become translucent; your hands are barely flesh-colored outlines anymore. Second, you notice a metallic fist coming at you! You back away from it, and find the stature following through with a hook from its other hand.
>_
-
> Dodge-roll away from the punch, then fire some danmaku at it.
-
> Dodge-roll away from the punch, then fire some danmaku at it.
>You dodge away from the strike, and fire more danmaku at the statue. You do not get the opportunity to shoot more than a few bullets, as the statue keeps pace with you and sends another punch at your face.
>_
-
> Dodge roll away from the punch again, then back step and demand the other voices think of something!
-
> Dodge roll away from the punch again, then back step
>You dodge away and step back, but the statue keeps pace easily, extending out its hand.
>_
-
> Duck under the fist and kick the statue's feet to knock it over. Then pummel it with danmaku.
> If the statue has no feet, just duck and fire.
-
>Can we by any chance will ourselves to teleport? Cause if so I would love to teleport behind the guy and give him a wallop to the back of the head.
>In fact, conjure a Commemorative Stein to do so if we can get behind him.
-
> Consider the possibility of getting him off the moon via a portal.
-
> Duck under the fist and kick the statue's feet to knock it over. Then pummel it with danmaku.
> If the statue has no feet, just duck and fire.
>You duck under its hand and try to kick it in the legs. It feels about like what what imaging kicking a thing made out of metal would feel like. There's no pain, thankfully, but there is a lingering dullness in your foot.
>It stumbles a little from the impact, but doesn't fall. Instead it releases another burst of blue fire from its hand.
>Can we by any chance will ourselves to teleport? Cause if so I would love to teleport behind the guy and give him a wallop to the back of the head.
>In fact, conjure a Commemorative Stein to do so if we can get behind him.
>You try to teleport without conjuring a portal first, and appear behind the statue.
>You remember the formidable-looking stein that Patchouli was using earlier and try to replicate it. It appears in your hand, feeling comfortably heavy. You fly up as the statue starts to turn, and slam the Commemorative Stein into its head. The Commemorative Stein shatters into pieces from the impact, leaving a sizable dent on the side of its head.
> Consider the possibility of getting him off the moon via a portal.
>This might work, but it seems to be able to come and go as freely as you can.
>_
-
>Oh God we have teleport hax
>Do a three point teleport with the intent to confuse it. First behind, then to the side, then to the area we just hit. Make sure it has enough time to react so that we don't end up teleporting into a punch or something stupid.
>Don't teleport into fire
>Conjure one of Youmu's swords and slash it on the third teleport. Then teleport away from it.
-
>Oh God we have teleport hax
>Do a three point teleport with the intent to confuse it. First behind, then to the side, then to the area we just hit. Make sure it has enough time to react so that we don't end up teleporting into a punch or something stupid.
>Don't teleport into fire
>Conjure one of Youmu's swords and slash it on the third teleport. Then teleport away from it.
>You decide to press this advantage, teleporting a couple times. It's hard not to get a little dizzy in the process. The statue scythes it hand where you first appear, but you anticipated this and move easily enough. You then lure it into attacking once more, as it slams its palm into the ground to send another energy wave racing toward the ground at you.
>You try to imagine the sword that you carried for Youmu, and it appears in your hands. You slash at the statue, but the blade just bounces off its metallic body with a 'tink' noise.
>_
-
>DAmn, should have seen that coming.
>Turn Sword quickly into Fear No Anvil (http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=003639)
>See if you can respond with a backswing before the thing hits you.
>If you can't, teleport back, retreat, be prepared to dodge any attacks headed your way.
-
>See if you can interfere with the thing's attacks by imagining them away.
>If you can't do that, see if you can redirect them mentally.
-
>DAmn, should have seen that coming.
>Turn Sword quickly into Fear No Anvil (http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=003639)
>See if you can respond with a backswing before the thing hits you.
>If you can't, teleport back, retreat, be prepared to dodge any attacks headed your way.
>See if you can interfere with the thing's attacks by imagining them away.
>If you can't do that, see if you can redirect them mentally.
>You were never much for swords anyways.
>You're going to have to describe this.
>Regardless, you have to teleport away before can slam an elbow into your ribs.
>It reacts by sending another wave racing across the distance between you. You try to cancel it, then redirect it, but you do not succeed. You don't think you are focusing hard enough to do this Or, perhaps, you don't have that degree of control here.
>_
-
>Ponder how much success we might get from using the
Dream Cutlass Rainbow Sword thing we saw from the memories.
>Teleport a distance behind the Apparition to dodge the wave, shoot danmaku at it. A really big bullet/rocket/missle-ish thing if we can! Since that's how we roll, bitch.
-
>See a sledge hammer
>See it with a red and black color scheme
>See the hammer head portruding over the handle
>See the hammer head attached to a spinning red gear, appearing as strong and dangerous as one of Utsuho's suns
>See the "Sun" portion with two clock hands attached to it, in a 10:45 position
>See the handle right under the sun with an attached circle around the "collar"
>See the handle as gray to halfway down
>See the handle have a red, black, and orange grip, in stripes.
>FEAR!
>NO!
>ANVIL!
>Battlecry this as you charge the thing, dodging any fire it throws at you either by teleports or flight
>See if you can teleport through it while keeping the hammer solid. Basically, become transparent/intangable, but maintain hold of the hammer as you smash it
>Use the momentum to swing around it in intangible form
>Pull the hammer out, and go for a second swing with centrifugal force, then teleport retreating, and regain tangibility
>If the above set of actions fails, just do a boring teleport behind it, smash the back of it's head, and retreat.
-
>...or what UK said. Since that's badass. But at least do the pondering.
-
>Ponder how much success we might get from using the Dream Cutlass Rainbow Sword thing we saw from the memories.
>Teleport a distance behind the Apparition to dodge the wave, shoot danmaku at it. A really big bullet/rocket/missle-ish thing if we can! Since that's how we roll, bitch.
>You have no idea what that weapon could do. You're not sure if it would do anything in your hands, you are fairly certain you didn't manage to fully replicate Youmu's swords.
>You teleport a distance behind the statue, and try to create a larger version of your bullets to fire at it. You manage to make them a bit larger; you think you could do more if you were willing to spend time concentrating on it. The bullets strike its side as it turns to search for you, leaving more dents. It sees you, and starts to charge.
>Suddenly it is right in front of you, and a its firsts descend upon you!
>See a sledge hammer
>See it with a red and black color scheme
>See the hammer head portruding over the handle
>See the hammer head attached to a spinning red gear, appearing as strong and dangerous as one of Utsuho's suns
>See the "Sun" portion with two clock hands attached to it, in a 10:45 position
>See the handle right under the sun with an attached circle around the "collar"
>See the handle as gray to halfway down
>See the handle have a red, black, and orange grip, in stripes.
>FEAR!
>NO!
>ANVIL!
>Battlecry this as you charge the thing, dodging any fire it throws at you either by teleports or flight
>See if you can teleport through it while keeping the hammer solid. Basically, become transparent/intangable, but maintain hold of the hammer as you smash it
>Use the momentum to swing around it in intangible form
>Pull the hammer out, and go for a second swing with centrifugal force, then teleport retreating, and regain tangibility
>If the above set of actions fails, just do a boring teleport behind it, smash the back of it's head, and retreat.
>You teleport away from the blow, and imagine this weapon into existence. It will take both of yours hands to use it, leaving unable to use danmaku normally.
>You try to replicate a dash akin to what it just did while leaving the hammer solid. While you are able to do the first thing well enough, your control doesn't seem to be fine enough to leave something things tangible enough to affect the world, and you simply appear some distance in front of it.
>_
-
Fine...
>Charge it again.
>If it appears to be planning to hit us head on, teleport behind it and CRUSH with the Fear No Anvil. Be prepared to phase out (make self intangible) before the blow is fully completed due to it responding with a wallopy fist.
>If it appears to expect us to teleport, don't, and CRUSH with the Fear No Anvil. Be prepared to phase out (make self intangible) before the blow is fully completed due to it responding with a wallopy fist.
>If the CRUSH stuns it, feel free to complete the blow, retrieve the hammer, and teleport away from the thing.
-
Fine...
>Charge it again.
>If it appears to be planning to hit us head on, teleport behind it and CRUSH with the Fear No Anvil. Be prepared to phase out (make self intangible) before the blow is fully completed due to it responding with a wallopy fist.
>If it appears to expect us to teleport, don't, and CRUSH with the Fear No Anvil. Be prepared to phase out (make self intangible) before the blow is fully completed due to it responding with a wallopy fist.
>If the CRUSH stuns it, feel free to complete the blow, retrieve the hammer, and teleport away from the thing.
>It stands there, watching you while rocking its shoulders as though trying to work a kink out of its back. You are not sure what it is planning.
>_
-
>Third option: Be prepared to go intangible as soon as it does and see if you can connect in the "intangible" world.
>However, if it appears to not be preparing to hit us, just teleport behind and wallop it.
-
>Third option: Be prepared to go intangible as soon as it does and see if you can connect in the "intangible" world.
>However, if it appears to not be preparing to hit us, just teleport behind and wallop it.
>It doesn't seem to be preparing much of anything. It just watches you, shifting its shoulders.
>You appear behind it and swing your weapon, and find only empty air! Before you can recover, something slams into your back, sending you stumbling forward.
>_
-
>Figures. I was expecting the newest trick, not the second newest
>Ok, time to recover. Teleport away a bit
>Restore yourself as best you can, try to gain more physical presence since we are probably pretty translucent right now.
-
>Still within the playing field, but a fair distance from this guy
>Be prepared to interrupt recovery if he decides to teleport to follow us.
-
>Figures. I was expecting the newest trick, not the second newest
>Ok, time to recover. Teleport away a bit
>Restore yourself as best you can, try to gain more physical presence since we are probably pretty translucent right now.
>Still within the playing field, but a fair distance from this guy
>Be prepared to interrupt recovery if he decides to teleport to follow us.
>You teleport away, and appear some distance down the mineshaft.
>The statue doesn't seem interested in following you, instead it kneels again.
>You start to recover yourself; it's a slower process here than in your world. But you do make some progress; you can somewhat see your hands again.
>You also feel your awareness of the gems diminishing.
>_
-
>Ah, goddammit.
>I figured we'd have some time limit.
>Stop healing
>Teleport above it, try to stay out of it's view
>HAMMERTIME on it's head from above
>Do your best to make sure it does not see you until you've connected the hit, and preferable not even then.
-
>Ah, goddammit.
>I figured we'd have some time limit.
>Stop healing
>Teleport above it, try to stay out of it's view
>HAMMERTIME on it's head from above
>Do your best to make sure it does not see you until you've connected the hit, and preferable not even then.
>You appear above it and swing the hammer down on its head. It doesn't have time to react, and the hammer connects with a resounding "CLANG" that you can feel in your teeth. The force of the hit knocks the statue over, having bent some of its metallic hair and left a sizable dent on the side of its face. It flails an arm out at you as it goes down.
>You awareness of the gems is diminished, but you don't feel it weakening any further at the moment.
>_
-
>Teleport a few feet away, out of range
>See if we can detach our arms
>If so, teleport our main selves a few more feet away
>Detach our arms, and start wailing on the thing with the Fear No Anvil
>If we cannot, then conjure Virtual hands
>Virtual hands looks just like your real hands, but are mentally connected to you while being detached from you
>They can utilize your strength, so you could use them to execute attacks with the hammer from long range
>If these can be conjured, use them to wail on the thing with the Fear No Anvil
-
>Teleport a few feet away, out of range
>See if we can detach our arms
>If so, teleport our main selves a few more feet away
>Detach our arms, and start wailing on the thing with the Fear No Anvil
>If we cannot, then conjure Virtual hands
>Virtual hands looks just like your real hands, but are mentally connected to you while being detached from you
>They can utilize your strength, so you could use them to execute attacks with the hammer from long range
>If these can be conjured, use them to wail on the thing with the Fear No Anvil
>You teleport out of range, as the statue picks itself up.
>You don't have fine enough control over yourself here to detach your arms; at least not without more concentration than you can give at them moment.
>You are able to create a set of Virtual Hands and give them the hammer. You have to concentrate a bit to use them, so it will be difficult to move quickly this way.
>They strike the statue in the back with another clang, then do so again, each time hitting with a resounding crash and leaving a sizable dent. You try for a third blow, before its hand shoots out and grabs the hammer by the shaft, tearing it from the grip of your Virtual Hands.
>_
-
>I really should have expected that
>Dismiss the hammer
>If we cannot dismiss it due to it being out of our control, do our best to steal the hammer back with the Virtual Hands.
-
>If we can unmake the hammer, try a distraction via Virtual Hands while you tele-sneak up from behind for another Commemorative Stein smash!
-
>Undoing the V-hands near the end of this action is fine if we can't spare the concentration.
-
>I really should have expected that
>Dismiss the hammer
>If we cannot dismiss it due to it being out of our control, do our best to steal the hammer back with the Virtual Hands.
>You dismiss the hammer, just before the statue throws it at you.
>_
-
> Let's go all-out. Try to stop time in this space through sheer force of will.
-
> Let's go all-out. Try to stop time in this space through sheer force of will.
>You decide to try something dramatic while the statue picks itself up.
>You try to will everything to freeze into place. It feels as though you're trying to push down the side of Scarlet Devil mansion with your bare hands. You don't have enough control over this place to do that. Even if you could, you aren't sure if it would affect the statue or not.
>_
-
> How much time do we have until the statue attacks again?
> If it's not much, anticipate its next attack.
> If we still have some time, recall who fought us during the Imperishable Night incident. If Marisa, try to conjure Love Sign: Master Spark.
-
> How much time do we have until the statue attacks again?
> If it's not much, anticipate its next attack.
> If we still have some time, recall who fought us during the Imperishable Night incident. If Marisa, try to conjure Love Sign: Master Spark.
>It stands, and moves toward you. Suddenly it is right in front of you, its fist flying at your face!
>You have seen Love Sign: Master Spark, but you aren't sure how it works. You could try to replicate it, or something like it.
>_
-
> Duck and teleport behind it, but aligned so that we're on the side with the harshest dents.
> Attempt a smaller-scale replication of Master Spark. If it only takes one hand to do this, keep the other hand ready to shoot danmaku if the statue avoids the beam.
-
> Duck and teleport behind it, but aligned so that we're on the side with the harshest dents.
> Attempt a smaller-scale replication of Master Spark. If it only takes one hand to do this, keep the other hand ready to shoot danmaku if the statue avoids the beam.
>You duck before it can strike you, and teleport away.
>You start to set up the attack, but the statue turns to face you, dashes and appears in front of you, hand outstretched. You're going to have to buy some time before you can do this, it'll take too much concentration. As well, you'll need to find a way to put the proper amount of force behind it.
>_
-
> Dodge the statue and conjure up a Lunarian-style Rocket Launcher.
-
> Dodge the statue and conjure up a Lunarian-style Rocket Launcher.
>How do you intend to dodge?
>_
-
For the love of God, people, I said this in the last topic. Be creative with your actions. "Dodge" and "shoot" are not good enough. YOU NEED TO PUT IN EFFORT IF YOU WANT TO SUCCEED.
-
> Dodge the statue by side-stepping and conjure up a Lunarian-style Rocket Launcher.
-
Kasu, we can fucking teleport and make ourselves ethereal.
Why are we sidestepping?
>Teleport to the side of it
>Conjure rocket lawn chair
-
>Try conjuring a freaking laser cannon and slicing the damn thing to pieces if the Rocket Lawn Chair doesn't work that good it sounds.
-
> Dodge the statue by side-stepping and conjure up a Lunarian-style Rocket Launcher.
>Teleport to the side of it
>Conjure rocket lawn chair
>You blink away from the attack, as several bursts of green fire fly from its hand, and appear to its right
>Digging into your memories, you create a Lunarian Striker type Rocket Launcher. You never used one in proper combat, but you were trained decently in their use. It appears in place on your shoulder, occupying your right hand, while the Virtual Hands disappear.
>Try conjuring a freaking laser cannon and slicing the damn thing to pieces if the Rocket Lawn Chair doesn't work that good it sounds.
>You think you could imagine such a thing if needs be.
>_
-
> Make sure to teleport away from any attacks the statue may throw.
> When the coast is clear, lock-on and fire.
-
> Make sure to teleport away from any attacks the statue may throw.
> When the coast is clear, lock-on and fire.
>The statue watches you, rocking its shoulders to and fro again.
>You take aim, and have it directly in your sights. You squeeze the trigger. The rocket flies, and suddenly the statue is in front of you, fist descending!
>You teleport away. It'll be hard to catch it with this weapon; it's slow enough that it can see it coming and get out of way, and you have to be fairly far back to avoid the explosion.
>_
>_
-
>Fine, let's try this differently
>Dismiss Rocket Launcher
>Reform Fear No Anvil
>If we can't stop time, let us make it feel like time has stopped
>Conjure Speed Goggles
>Speed Goggles are an item that you wear when you are going to speeds up to .4c (i.e. 40% of light speed). They allow you to see everything that you would perceive at a "normal" speed. However, this does make everything else look painfully slow, since in relation to you, they are. They attach securely so they won't be lost in a high speed blitz.
>See if we can accelerate to speeds that would be expressed as fractions of light.
>Try going at .2c with the speed goggles
>If we can, start smashing that fucking Apparation.
>Don't even bother with full fledged swings, just tap the guy with Fear No Anvil and allow the speed to do the work.
-
>Fine, let's try this differently
>Dismiss Rocket Launcher
>Reform Fear No Anvil
>If we can't stop time, let us make it feel like time has stopped
>Conjure Speed Goggles
>Speed Goggles are an item that you wear when you are going to speeds up to .4c (i.e. 40% of light speed). They allow you to see everything that you would perceive at a "normal" speed. However, this does make everything else look painfully slow, since in relation to you, they are. They attach securely so they won't be lost in a high speed blitz.
>See if we can accelerate to speeds that would be expressed as fractions of light.
>Try going at .2c with the speed goggles
>If we can, start smashing that fucking Apparation.
>Don't even bother with full fledged swings, just tap the guy with Fear No Anvil and allow the speed to do the work.
>You try a slight different tactic, creating a set of goggles and trying to accelerate yourself as fast as possible.
>You don't know if you've approached the speed of light, but the statue is moving at a crawl as it draws its fist back from the strike it tried to land on you.
>You strike it with your hammer. The force of the impact is enough to send it flying. But, you barely have time to register this as the force of the impact reverberates through you as well, knocking you off you feet. Dimly, you're aware of yourself flying through the air, and the hammer shattering into pieces.
>It's hard to even think now. You are dimly aware that you are pressed against the mineshaft wall. There is a lot of white mist everywhere, and you're pretty sure that it's not something that is actually there; as much as such a term can be applied to this place.
>_
-
>That
>Was awesome.
>It was stupid, but it was AWESOME.
>Try to get a hold of yourself and will yourself back to being alright
To voices: Sorry, I really should have considered Newton in that one. But, you gotta admit, it WAS pretty cool.
-
>You pat yourself on the back for the idea. You know that you had to have messed the Statue up pretty badly.
>You try to restore yourself, and feel that it is going to take awhile. Looking through the white haze, your body is almost totally transparent now, there is just a definite outline and a very vague suggestion of color through it.
>_
-
>Keep an eye on your connection to the gems, if it seems to wane too much stop restoring
-
>Keep an eye on your connection to the gems, if it seems to wane too much stop restoring
>While it is ebbing a bit, the rate has been slowed to a trickle compared to what it was.
>After a bit, the haze clears way. Your are still mostly translucent, but you do not have to squint to see yourself anymore.
>_
-
>Keep on healing if we can still can maintain a fair control of the gems
>Consider the viability of Reaction Boots in the meantime
>Reaction Boots are a shock absorber
>First they absorb any shock taken to your body before it can adversely affect your bones
>Secondly they diffuse it into the ground
>They also use a measure of the kinetic energy to entrench you so you don't go flying
>They can also stand high speed wear up to .4c, they just need to make sure both of your feet are on the ground when anything hits you
>Check to make sure Speed Goggles still work
>Also consider if you have the ability to reform objects that have broken in this world. i.e., can you make another Fear No Anvil.
-
>Check the speed goggles SAFELY, preferably without going really fast and instead just knowing or something.
-
>Keep on healing if we can still can maintain a fair control of the gems
>Consider the viability of Reaction Boots in the meantime
>Reaction Boots are a shock absorber
>First they absorb any shock taken to your body before it can adversely affect your bones
>Secondly they diffuse it into the ground
>They also use a measure of the kinetic energy to entrench you so you don't go flying
>They can also stand high speed wear up to .4c, they just need to make sure both of your feet are on the ground when anything hits you
>Check to make sure Speed Goggles still work
>Also consider if you have the ability to reform objects that have broken in this world. i.e., can you make another Fear No Anvil.
>Check the speed goggles SAFELY, preferably without going really fast and instead just knowing or something.
>You keep restoring yourself. It'll be some time before you fully opaque again, but every little bit helps
>You consider making a set of boots to deal with the shock. You remember the impact well enough to recall that by the time it gets to your feet, it would have gone through the rest of you first.
>The Speed Goggles seem to have vanished.
>You cannot reform it, exactly, but you could make another. It's a bit hard to concentrate on that sort of thing right now.
>_
-
>Look to see where the Statue is.
>Assess how it's doing after our attack.
-
>Edit Reaction Boots
>What if instead of absorbing shocks, they reflected it?
>Say you kick something, there's a mild reaction
>If you kick them with the Reaction Boots, you get no recoil from the kick, instead retransmitting it into them.
>This does mean that you can't necessarily bounce back from a kick so much as land on your ass without precautions.
>Is there any way to determine how much time we have before this temple sinks again?
>Also, can we create a Heal Brand? Potion and drink it to restore ourselves quicker?
-
Also, voices, consider that we can make any spellcard we want here probably, if you are into that sort of thing. Myself, I think they lose effectiveness when you can just be like *BAMF* and teleport away.
-
>Look to see where the Statue is.
>Assess how it's doing after our attack.
>You can see it on the opposite side of the mine shaft, some distance away.
>You can't assess it in detail, but it has yet to get get up, and you can discern that you discern that it's torso is horribly wrecked.
>Edit Reaction Boots
>What if instead of absorbing shocks, they reflected it?
>Say you kick something, there's a mild reaction
>If you kick them with the Reaction Boots, you get no recoil from the kick, instead retransmitting it into them.
>This does mean that you can't necessarily bounce back from a kick so much as land on your ass without precautions.
>Is there any way to determine how much time we have before this temple sinks again?
>Also, can we create a Heal Brand? Potion and drink it to restore ourselves quicker?
>You think this version of the boots might work.
>You could, but you don't know if it would have any effect.
>_
-
Before I sign off to bed, I would recommend to everyone we try a potion to see if it works. Then we remake the speed goggles and make the reaction boots, and give this thing a high speed kick in the ass.
-
Uh, just in case
>Dismiss Speed Goggles
Don't want the apparation getting ideas.
-
>Dismiss Speed Goggles
>This doesn't seem to be necessary, they are already gone.
>_
-
>Is Heal Brand only known for healing physical wounds? Does it help with more mental problems like headaches or exhaustion?
>If it does, try one
>Otherwise, focus on restoring oneself, regaining gem control, and seeing how the apparition-statue is doing
-
>Is Heal Brand only known for healing physical wounds? Does it help with more mental problems like headaches or exhaustion?
>If it does, try one
>Otherwise, focus on restoring oneself, regaining gem control, and seeing how the apparition-statue is doing
>They are for physical wounds. You don't think it would do anything for mental issues
>You decide to focus on restoring yourself. It will still take a lot of time to get yourself back to normal, but you feel that you could probably move around again.
>You try to exert some influence over the gems, and find it comes more easily to you now. There is still resistance, but it is much weaker than before. You can tell it is the statue that has been fighting you for them, but recent events have loosened its grip upon quite a bit.
>The statue has yet to move. Through the gems, you can feel it is still alive, but you don't think it has the force of will to do much right now.
>_
-
> Head over to the statue cautiously.
> If it attempts to retaliate in any way, teleport back to our current position.
-
> Head over to the statue cautiously.
> If it attempts to retaliate in any way, teleport back to our current position.
>You stand up, though it takes a little longer than you like, and approach the statue.
>It is a mess. Much of its chest has been blown away, revealing an intricate series of cables and gears arranged to look something like muscles. Its right arm is dangling uselessly, the shoulder having been twisted out of position. Much of its thin torso has been laid open, showing another array of cables and thin cylinders. Practically everything else has been wrenched out of alignment after it impacted the wall.
>It twitches as you approach, trying to raise its left arm, and only succeeding in convulsing oddly. It tries to look at you, but can only turn its battered head to shakingly focus one of its eyes on you.
>_
-
> Ponder if it would be best to finish it off once and for all.
-
> Ponder if it would be best to finish it off once and for all.
>You could do this. But whether or not it is best is hard to determine. Most certainly, it is incredibly dangerous, given the efforts that were made to seal it away. You've seen its mind, and seen how...incomplete and rudimentary it is. On the other hand, mercy is at its most potent when given to those least deserving. But if you were to do that, you would have to figure out what to do with it.
>_
-
> It may be for the best to finish it off. I doubt that we'll be able to get out of this world if we don't.
> Conjure up the Lunarian rocket launcher again and teleport back a safe distance.
> Take note of the statue's resistance and any other "thoughts" that may be available.
> Lock-on to the statue and fire.
-
> It may be for the best to finish it off. I doubt that we'll be able to get out of this world if we don't.
> Conjure up the Lunarian rocket launcher again and teleport back a safe distance.
> Take note of the statue's resistance and any other "thoughts" that may be available.
> Lock-on to the statue and fire.
>You decide to end it.
>It is a little difficult to conjure up the weapon again, but you manage to succeed in doing so, and move yourself back to a safe distance.
>It is still trying to exert its will over the gems, but as it is, there isn't much strength left in it to get anywhere. You cannot discern much else about its thoughts here; though the void may reveal more in that regard.
>You take aim. Your finger is on the trigger.
>_
-
> Utter a small apology.
> Pull the trigger.
-
> Utter a small apology.
> Pull the trigger.
>You utter a small apology, and pull the trigger. The rocket races toward the statue, and explodes. You can feel the heat wash over you.
>You start, as your hand closes again the Red Gem. You can feel your connection to the stones returning. At a glance, you can tell you are in the unadorned lower reaches of the shrine, perfectly normal if exhausted.
>The Statue grabs its head, making its rumbling noise, slightly higher pitched than the ones you've heard before. It seems more like a scream.
>_
-
> Observe the statue a bit.
> Examine the current status of the shrine.
-
>Regain all four gems.
-
> Observe the statue a bit.
> Examine the current status of the shrine.
>Regain all four gems.
>It stumbles forward a step or two, clutching its head and rumbling.
>You feel the gems are connected to you again. But you can also feel the Statue's will still lingers in them a little. It is fading slowly.
>The shrine seems to be in good condition, structurally speaking. It's also rather clean, which isn't surprising given that it was sealed. But the chamber is completely devoid of any kind of decoration or attempt at architectural beauty. It simply was not made to be used by people.
>Suddenly its rumbling turns into a higher pitched noise, and it takes to the air. Before you can react, it smashes through the roof of the shrine.
>_
-
>Shit.
>FLY!
>Follow that thing
>Make sure the gems are with you and draw on their power if possible.
>At the very least get the gems in your inventory
-
>Shit.
>FLY!
>Follow that thing
>Make sure the gems are with you and draw on their power if possible.
>At the very least get the gems in your inventory
>You fly after it, mentally cursing. The gems follow after you, as per usual.
>Debris rains down f from the hole it has made in the roof, but by the time you've gained the mental presence to pursue it, the worst of it has fallen.
>Shielding your eyes, you follow through the hole you've made in the roof. It is into the sky, still making its high-pitched rumble. Dimly, you notice Byakuren is still there, still hovering in her lotus position.
>_
-
>PROTECT BYAKUREN!
>Fire danmaku at the thing like mad, powering it with all the gems!
-
>PROTECT BYAKUREN!
>Fire danmaku at the thing like mad, powering it with all the gems!
>You resolve to protect Byakuren, but thankfully it doesn't seem the Statue is making a beeline for her at all. Instead is continues to fly upwards, until it is well over a thousand feet in the air. Then it stops.
>You fire upon it, channeling all of the gems. waves of bullets and beams fly from your fingers, the former sheathed in flame and all of them bending and arcing toward the Statue. They strike true, the beams cutting into its metallic form, the bullets denting and battering it with significant force. But it does not seem to be paying any attention to the damage you're doing to it.
>Instead, the Statue flies southward, making a beeline for Scarlet Devil Mansion.
>_
-
>Wait what?
>I still don't like this
>Follow and attack where possible, but avoid as much collateral damage as possible.
-
>Wait what?
>I still don't like this
>Follow and attack where possible, but avoid as much collateral damage as possible.
>You did not anticipate this, but you still don't like it.
>You follow it and continue to attack, while it continues to ignore the damage you're doing to it.
>_
-
> Crap. This must be related to
the Dream Cutlass that rainbow sword we saw.
> Try and outfly the statue in order to warn the mansion.
-
> Crap. This must be related to the Dream Cutlass that rainbow sword we saw.
> Try and outfly the statue in order to warn the mansion.
>Trying to understand why it's doing what it's doing, you make the attempt to outrace it.
>You stop shooting, and pour all of your concentration into speed. You start to gain on the Statute's lead.
>_
-
> If possible, use the red gem to gain some extra thrust, like a rocket engine, by concentrating a stream of flames behind us.
-
> If possible, use the red gem to gain some extra thrust, like a rocket engine, by concentrating a stream of flames behind us.
>You try this, though some small part of you is reviled at copying Armstrong's methods.
>Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to prove any sort of thrust. Which may be advantageous; it would only cause the gem to rocket ahead of you. But, you do find you can direct the gem and forget about it, leaving you to concentrate on your speed.
>The statue is only a couple yards ahead of you now.
>_
-
> Keep flying and try to get a lead on it.
> ETA to the SDM.
-
> Keep flying and try to get a lead on it.
> ETA to the SDM.
>You keep up the speed, and manage to pull ahead of it. The statute does not bother to attack you as you take the lead.
>You should get there in about a minute. You're not sure if that is a significant enough lead to warn anyone effectively.
>_
-
> Wave our arms or shoot some "danmaku flares" in an attempt to at least get Meiling to know that something is up.
-
>Do we still have the button?
>If so, yell into it. Loudly. Since Patch might not really be paying attention to it anymore. Like, "PAAAATCHOULIIIII!"
>Listen to the button for a response.
>And don't slow down, unless absolutely necessary.
-
>Do we still have the button?
>If so, yell into it. Loudly. Since Patch might not really be paying attention to it anymore. Like, "PAAAATCHOULIIIII!"
>Listen to the button for a response.
>And don't slow down, unless absolutely necessary.
>You do still have the Temporarily Enchanted Button. You yell into it at the top of your lungs. You hear Patchouli cry out in surprise, then reply "What!? Don't do that!"
>You keep the speeding along, and pull ahead another few yards.
>_
-
>"Some eldritch abomination statue is heading towards the SDM; I mentioned an Apparition chasing me after I got the gems, right? Well, it's pretty damn real now. And it's going to reach the SDM in less then a minute. I'm ahead of it, but, not by much..."
-
> "Get everyone in the mansion on alert okay? I think it has something to do with your recent adventure as well."
-
>"Some eldritch abomination statue is heading towards the SDM; I mentioned an Apparition chasing me after I got the gems, right? Well, it's pretty damn real now. And it's going to reach the SDM in less then a minute. I'm ahead of it, but, not by much..."
>"What?!" Patchouli cries. "Then stop it!"
> "Get everyone in the mansion on alert okay? I think it has something to do with your recent adventure as well."
>"I'm at Eientei!" says Patchouli.
>_
-
>"...shit."
>How long till Mansion reaching?
>Do we see Meiling gateguarding or somesuch?
>If so, fire a little danmaku near her to get her attention, if she isn't looking already.
-
>"...shit."
>How long till Mansion reaching?
>Do we see Meiling gateguarding or somesuch?
>If so, fire a little danmaku near her to get her attention, if she isn't looking already.
>You have a little less than a minute.
>You do see Meiling at the gates; her green garb is pretty distinctive against the snow. You have no idea if she's paying attention.
>You fire some danmaku in her direction but it fades long before you get into range; danmaku's not that useful at a distance.
>_
-
>Put the button away.
>"ChinaMEEIIILLLLIIIIIING!"
-
>Put the button away.
>"ChinaMEEIIILLLLIIIIIING!"
>You free up your hands.
>You then shout at the top of your lungs for Meiling. You think she reacted; it hard to be sure from this far away.
>_
-
>...if Patch is still at Eientei, that means Remilia is gone too, doesn't it?
>And Sakuya is helping prepare food... soo... it's just Meiling and the fairy maids, isn't it? And if we know Flan exists (I think we've seen her...), her too.
>Crap.
>Point back to the Statue with one hand. "FLYING STATUE IS BAAAD."
...err, other people may feel free to reword that.
-
>...if Patch is still at Eientei, that means Remilia is gone too, doesn't it?
>And Sakuya is helping prepare food... soo... it's just Meiling and the fairy maids, isn't it? And if we know Flan exists (I think we've seen her...), her too.
>Crap.
>Point back to the Statue with one hand. "FLYING STATUE IS BAAAD."
>You realize that many of the people at Eientei are gone. You are well aware of Flandre; she stopped being the Scarlet Clan Secret some time ago.
>You shout at Meiling, putting speed over good diction. You think she heard you, as she takes to the air.
>You have about 45 seconds until it reaches Scarlet Devil Mansion, and a few yards worth of lead on it.
>_
-
We can maintain speed while using the gems, right?
>If a few yards is enough, get directly in front of the statue and fire upon it using the the purple gem in an attempt to halt its progress. Make sure to maintain speed while doing this.
-
>If a few yards is enough, get directly in front of the statue and fire upon it using the the purple gem in an attempt to halt its progress. Make sure to maintain speed while doing this.
>You move in front of the statue, and direct the Purple Gem to unleash a stream of shots. You are rewarded with the sound of rending metal as the shot collide with the Statue forcefully. Glancing back, you can see it rapidly falling behind as it spirals out of control from the impacts, parts of its chest and torso blown open.
>_
-
>Form a makeshift sword with the gems like we did back in the bamboo forest.
>Frantically cut wires exposed at the torso.
-
>Form a makeshift sword with the gems like we did back in the bamboo forest.
>Frantically cut wires exposed at the torso.
>You draw upon the Red and Blue Gems, and create a sword of heat and light.
>As the Statue recovers from the collision with force danmaku, you whirl around, close in and hack into its exposed torso and chest. There is no question that your motions lack grace or skill, but nonetheless you jam the blade into its wounds, cutting into its intricate mechanisms and no doubt wreaking all kinds of damage.
>The Statue continues to ignore you, still emitting it's high-pitched scream-like noise as it breaks away from you. It does its best to right its course and continue onward toward Scarlet Devil Mansion. But the damage has taken its toll, it's less able to fly straight now, and it doesn't seem to be accelerating as quickly. It is losing altitude as well.
>_
-
>Does it seem as if the statue will be able to make it to the mansion in its current state?
>How close is Meiling?
>Fly ahead of the statue again and prepare to launch another attack.
-
> If possible, attack it from above with the blue, red, and purple gems together and try to force it to the ground.
-
> While shouting as needed "Meiling! Help me shoot this down!"
> Use Force Danmaku on it body to break it up more and pour fire from the Red Gem into the exposed parts.
-
>Does it seem as if the statue will be able to make it to the mansion in its current state?
>How close is Meiling?
>Fly ahead of the statue again and prepare to launch another attack.
>You aren't sure. But if nothing else, you know it's capable of single-minded determination to the end.
>Looking over, you see her approaching and estimate she'll arrive in less than twenty seconds.
>You maneuver ahead of the Statue with significantly more ease this time.
> If possible, attack it from above with the blue, red, and purple gems together and try to force it to the ground.
> While shouting as needed "Meiling! Help me shoot this down!"
> Use Force Danmaku on it body to break it up more and pour fire from the Red Gem into the exposed parts.
>As it's having difficulty keeping its altitude, you are already a little above it. You move the gems upward and fire down upon it. The Purple Gem's shots batter on its head and shoulders, denting them and forcing it downwards, while the Blue Gem's begin to cut a hole into its metallic form. You direct the Red Gem to force on the exposed parts. It doesn't seem to have a visible effect, but from the way that it starts to twitch, you know the application of that much heat to its intricate mechanisms is affecting it.
>You cry out to Meiling. "Coming!" she shouts.
>_
-
> Continue flying with the statue/flying near it, so we have a good shot at it, but not point blank with it.
> Continue using the Purple Gem to deflect the statue from it's course, the Red Gem to burn it's insides and the Blue Gem to rip right through it.
> "Patchy, is Eirin with you? Could you please tell her that, if all goes well, I'll be rid of the Apparition soon."
-
> Continue flying with the statue/flying near it, so we have a good shot at it, but not point blank with it.
> Continue using the Purple Gem to deflect the statue from it's course, the Red Gem to burn it's insides and the Blue Gem to rip right through it.
> "Patchy, is Eirin with you? Could you please tell her that, if all goes well, I'll be rid of the Apparition soon."
>You keep pace with the Statue, continuing to assault it with the gems. You're hurting it more now, parts of it are beginning to fall away under the Gems' assault.
>You try to speak into the Enchanted Button, but you're not sure of Patchouli was able to hear you over the general chaos.
>Suddenly you hear a cry above you! A moment later, Meiling soars downward, foot extended. She strikes the Statue's chest, jarring lose several mechanisms and leaving them to fall to the ground below. She quickly brings down her other foot, stomping it, then repeats the motion with her other foot, creating a motion looking curiously similar to someone riding a bicycle as she and the Statue plunge down toward the ground.
>_
-
> "Thanks Meiling! This thing has been a pest all day long!"
> Continue attacking the statue, but watching our aim to avoid hitting Meiling, resorting for smaller attack slike lasers and the Blue Gem if needed to avoid hurting Meiling.
> If it's losing altitude, about how long until it hits something(past the attacks hitting it)? SDM, lake, solid ground or w/e.
-
>resist urge to call Meiling Liu Kang
>Considering how weakened it seems to be right now, maybe we should try and capture it? We still don't know how it's connected to the gems and the sword, nor which of them would be better to keep around for Gensokyo's sake - if either.
>inventory
-
>resist urge to call Meiling Liu Kang
>Considering how weakened it seems to be right now, maybe we should try and capture it? We still don't know how it's connected to the gems and the sword, nor which of them would be better to keep around for Gensokyo's sake - if either.
>inventory
>You don't think she would appreciate being called that, you hear she is rather particular about her name.
>You could theoretically try to capture it, but you don't have any idea how you could reliably hold it.
>Your Inventory contains:
>Dress Suit w/ Stockings (Wore as clothes)
>Cresent Pin (Worn as accessory)
>Visionary Wave: Mind Blowing (Significantly Expended)
>Lunatic Sign: Visionary Tuning (Significantly Expended.)
>Loafing Sign: Idling Wave (Half Expended)
>Indolence: Mind Stopper
>Spread Sign: Invisible Full Moon (Partially Expended)
>Lunar Eyes: Tele-Mesmerism
>Pair of Tinted Glasses
>Dark Blue Backpack
>Faerie Ribbon
>625☼
>Red Gem
>Silver Medal (Worn as accessory)
>Opal Brooch
>Blue Gem
>Purple Gem
>Dirty Black Feather.
>Empty Bottle
>Green Gem
>Sealing Talisman Set
>Temporarily Enchanted Button
>_
-
>sealing talisman set description and instructions
>Still, best to press the attack at least until it's grounded. Keep up support fire for Meiling, if it's safe.
-
>sealing talisman set description and instructions
>Still, best to press the attack at least until it's grounded. Keep up support fire for Meiling, if it's safe.
>Sealing Talisman Set
>A set of four talismans designed to entrap immaterial things and creatures from Makai.
>Thinking back to the instructions, you recall Reimu specifically saying that they wouldn't work in physical things.
>You consider giving Meiling some support, but it seems that while you get going through your things, the two of them have already hit the ground.
>_
-
> Examine the scene caused by Meiling and the Statue.
> Set down close to Meiling.
> If the statue is crippled, get Meiling to move away from it and attempt to finish it off with a concentrated attack from all four gems.
-
> Examine the scene caused by Meiling and the Statue.
> Set down close to Meiling.
> If the statue is crippled, get Meiling to move away from it and attempt to finish it off with a concentrated attack from all four gems.
>They hit the ground not too far from the lake shore. The Statute doesn't seem to be moving. Meiling, on the other hand, seems to be pumping her fist and shouting something you can't quite hear, but involves the phrase "My house!"
>You land close to Meiling. "Hey, I dunno what that thing was," she says, ceasing her prior activities, "But thanks for softening it up for me."
>The Statue is twitching a bit. Suddenly it's head turns, locking its eyes on Scarlet Devil Mansion. It lifts an arm about an inch from the ground, and for a moment you think it is going to try to drag its battered body onwards. Then the arm falls. You feel the last vestiges of its influence on the gems fall away.
>_
-
> "Well... Looks like its finally over. This thing caused me a good deal of hell all day."
> Thank Meiling and ask her to drag it back to the gate. It would be nice if we could send for some rabbits to bring it back to Eientei for study.
-
> "Well... Looks like its finally over. This thing caused me a good deal of hell all day."
> Thank Meiling and ask her to drag it back to the gate. It would be nice if we could send for some rabbits to bring it back to Eientei for study.
>"Looks like it'd be hell for anyone," says Meiling. "Know I nearly broke my foot on it, at least. Hey, um, let's not tell Remi or Flan about this? Or Sakuya, right away? Until after the who feast thing? I don't wanna get stuck here..."
>"Oh, no problem," she says as you thank her. "Just doing my job and all. I mean, it'd have been nice if you could have given a heads up an hour ago? But these things happen."
>You ask her to move it by the gates. "Um," she answers, "I'd love to, but I'm pretty sure it weighs close to a ton...."
>_
-
> "Ah. I thought that might be a problem."
> Contemplate if the rabbits could do something about it.
> If not, contemplate Nitori, Suika, or Yuugi.
-
>Breaking it down into more manageable segments is also a possibility, considering that it seems to have 'died.'
>But yes, we'll want to keep something of this around to research. Try contacting Patchouli again?
-
> "Ah. I thought that might be a problem."
> Contemplate if the rabbits could do something about it.
> If not, contemplate Nitori, Suika, or Yuugi.
>You're certain the rabbits, if you sent enough of them and provided a cart, could move it. You suspect it might be a heavy load even for an oni, but Suika can probably get around that if you don't mind the collateral damage that would inevitably follow.
>Breaking it down into more manageable segments is also a possibility, considering that it seems to have 'died.'
>But yes, we'll want to keep something of this around to research. Try contacting Patchouli again?
>You could disassemble it, but it seems like it will be an immense pain to put back together again afterward.
>You contact Patchouli again. "Well?" she says.
>_
-
>"It's... dead. Well, as dead as mechanical statues go anyways. It seemed to have quite the determination to reach the mansion.... Is it at all possible for you *not* to mention that last bit to Remilia right now? Or Sakuya for that matter?"
>I forget where Flandre is even at right now. If at Eientei, include her in the 'list not to mention this to' we just gave patchouli.
>Isn't it going to be kind of hard to get the rabbits to help with the statue at the moment, with the feast and all?
>"What should I do with the statue?"
-
>"It's... dead. Well, as dead as mechanical statues go anyways. It seemed to have quite the determination to reach the mansion.... Is it at all possible for you *not* to mention that last bit to Remilia right now? Or Sakuya for that matter?"
>I forget where Flandre is even at right now. If at Eientei, include her in the 'list not to mention this to' we just gave patchouli.
>Isn't it going to be kind of hard to get the rabbits to help with the statue at the moment, with the feast and all?
>"What should I do with the statue?"
>"Oh good. Well done. And yes, let's not worry them about it for now. I could do without the suspicion falling on my shoulders."
>You don't think Flandre's left the house. You expect either the maids or Koakuma is keeping an eye on her.
>You probably aren't going to be able to spare any rabbits until tomorrow.
>"Is it causing a problem? If not...well, have Meiling throw a sheet over it."
>You hear the snow crunching a little. Looking over, you see the wolf approaching, tail slowly wagging.
>_
-
He waited for us, Reisen
he waited for us
>"It seems inactive, but I think it would be good to research what we can about it. It has a definite connection to that rainbow sword, as well as the gems, but I'm not sure how."
-
>"It seems inactive, but I think it would be good to research what we can about it. It has a definite connection to that rainbow sword, as well as the gems, but I'm not sure how."
>"Tell me everything you know," says Patchouli, a subtle eagerness in her voice.
>"Anything else you need?" asks Meiling, who has been watching you talk into the button with an raised eyebrow, "If not, I'm gonna go gather up Flan and head up your way."
>_
-
>"I think you can go, Meiling, unless it decides to get up again and cold-clock me. I'm talking with Patchouli for now; I'll catch up to you later."
>stop if there's any objection to this from Meiling or Patchouli
>organize thoughts
-
>"I think you can go, Meiling, unless it decides to get up again and cold-clock me. I'm talking with Patchouli for now; I'll catch up to you later."
>stop if there's any objection to this from Meiling or Patchouli
>organize thoughts
>"Okay," says Meiling. "I'll see you there!"
>No one objects.
>You got a lot of thoughts to gather up.
>_
-
>"I convinced Byakuren to raise the lake shrine from underwater, and got inside. There were... ancient warnings there about the shrine's contents being exceptionally dangerous. I don't know if they were referring to the gems, the sword, or the physical statue form of the Apparition that I found there. There were also more recent etchings that seemed to me like mad ramblings of a power-hungry sorcerer... something about there being 'no Brahman.' It might be worth going back there again sometime, if we get the chance."
>Uh, was Byakuren still trying to hold it up?
-
>"I convinced Byakuren to raise the lake shrine from underwater, and got inside. There were... ancient warnings there about the shrine's contents being exceptionally dangerous. I don't know if they were referring to the gems, the sword, or the physical statue form of the Apparition that I found there. There were also more recent etchings that seemed to me like mad ramblings of a power-hungry sorcerer... something about there being 'no Brahman.' It might be worth going back there again sometime, if we get the chance."
>Uh, was Byakuren still trying to hold it up?
>"Interesting," says Patchouli. "Mad ramblings are often the most revealing ones. Mentions of Brahman suggest Vedic influences. What happened while you were there?"
>Looking over, you can still see the shrine hovering over the water.
>_
-
>What're the odds of someone trying to mess with the statue/Apparition's remains if we go to alert Byakuren about putting the shrine down?
>"The most important thing was finding the Apparition's physical form there. When I found it, it... the gems... tried to leave me for it, or at least it tried to take them for itself... to draw on them to live, I think. Their power left me, for the most part, and it started to move - but I tried to grab the red gem."
>"Somehow this sent me to a sort of... metaphysical realm with me in a facsimile Gensokyo, with four colored moons representing the gems in the air. Everything there was gradually dissolving, except for the moons - due to the presence of the Apparition's will, as far as I managed to figure out. I could make things out of nothing there... as long as it didn't interfere with the Apparition, or the way it was... blocking my connection to the gems, as far as I could feel."
>"After spending a while trying to figure out what happened, I tried to 'gap' myself onto one of the moons - it looked like a jungle, but there was a void past it. I gapped into the void, which... seemed to be a sort of concentration of the Apparition's will. No physical form, just a... presence. It wanted to destroy, and I started to 'evaporate' like the rest of the place gradually did while I was there. I could counteract it by focusing on restoring myself, but it could affect me that way, slowly. I could see some of its memories... most were about me, along with a vague memory of the gems and sword being very important."
>"I retreated to come up with a plan, and eventually intimidated it enough to get back some control over the gems. We had a metaphysical fight on the green moon-gem, and I managed to 'destroy' it there. That put me back in the real Gensokyo, back in the lake shrine. Then the Apparition took off right through the shrine roof and charged for the Mansion. I managed to take it down before it got there, with a little help from Meiling. It's heavily damaged, and I don't feel its connection to the gems anymore, but it might still be dangerous..."
-
>What're the odds of someone trying to mess with the statue/Apparition's remains if we go to alert Byakuren about putting the shrine down?
>"The most important thing was finding the Apparition's physical form there. When I found it, it... the gems... tried to leave me for it, or at least it tried to take them for itself... to draw on them to live, I think. Their power left me, for the most part, and it started to move - but I tried to grab the red gem."
>"Somehow this sent me to a sort of... metaphysical realm with me in a facsimile Gensokyo, with four colored moons representing the gems in the air. Everything there was gradually dissolving, except for the moons - due to the presence of the Apparition's will, as far as I managed to figure out. I could make things out of nothing there... as long as it didn't interfere with the Apparition, or the way it was... blocking my connection to the gems, as far as I could feel."
>"After spending a while trying to figure out what happened, I tried to 'gap' myself onto one of the moons - it looked like a jungle, but there was a void past it. I gapped into the void, which... seemed to be a sort of concentration of the Apparition's will. No physical form, just a... presence. It wanted to destroy, and I started to 'evaporate' like the rest of the place gradually did while I was there. I could counteract it by focusing on restoring myself, but it could affect me that way, slowly. I could see some of its memories... most were about me, along with a vague memory of the gems and sword being very important."
>"I retreated to come up with a plan, and eventually intimidated it enough to get back some control over the gems. We had a metaphysical fight on the green moon-gem, and I managed to 'destroy' it there. That put me back in the real Gensokyo, back in the lake shrine. Then the Apparition took off right through the shrine roof and charged for the Mansion. I managed to take it down before it got there, with a little help from Meiling. It's heavily damaged, and I don't feel its connection to the gems anymore, but it might still be dangerous..."
>The lake region is known for faeries. They do have an ice city built up not too far away. At the same time, it's pretty close to the mansion, so they might not mess with it.
>You explain things as well as you can to Patchouli. She says "Yes" and "Go on" at the appropriate points. Finally, she says, "If you were connected to the gems, and it was connected as well, it seems you had a battle of wills over them. I presume the gems served as an intermediary for the two of you. With that in mind, I presume it took initiative and attacked you within you own mind. I would guess that is what facsimile world was, in any event. By extension, I assume that void was its own mind. It sounds like you handled yourself well enough."
>She pauses for a moment. "When you say that the place you saw was a void, that leads me to think it did not have much of a mind. Well, it was enough to challenge you for awhile by the sound of it, so I suppose I should say simple and highly specialized. Or perhaps just very good at what little it had. That the sword was important to this thing worries me. But it is no longer an issue. If the gems were giving it life, as you said, I imagine it realized it was on borrowed time after you reasserted your dominance over them. I expect it was trying to get to those remains of the sword I've been keeping or it was just giving into its destructive impulses before it perished and going for the largest target.
>"If the gem connection is gone, it should be safe. You've managed to defeat it in the mental realm as it is, after bringing everything together, so even if it could remain around in some form I imagine you'll have the upper hand. Either way, let's keep the shards from it for now."
>_
-
> "Should I try to break it into smaller pieces, or even into two pieces, to be safe? This thing was litterally falling apart while flying to the SDM and yet it kept up for a good amount of time."
> Greet the wolf and apologize to it for leaving it behind.
-
> "Should I try to break it into smaller pieces, or even into two pieces, to be safe? This thing was litterally falling apart while flying to the SDM and yet it kept up for a good amount of time."
> Greet the wolf and apologize to it for leaving it behind.
>"That might not be a bad idea," says Patchouli. "But, if you want me to do anything with it, that'll just make it harder. Use your best judgment."
>You greet the wolf and apologize for leaving him there. You are pretty sure he doesn't get what you're saying, but it seems all is forgiven.
>_
-
> Make sure to show the wolf some love, petting him and such.
> "What do you think the odds are this thing could get up and start moving around again later? If their is a chance, I may have to dismantle the thing. I'd probably just end up removing an arm or leg from it, cripple it's threat level a bit."
> Take a deep breathe, and calm down, we just had a big fight with something that has been bothering us all today. Just out loud in general, "Yata!"
-
> Make sure to show the wolf some love, petting him and such.
> "What do you think the odds are this thing could get up and start moving around again later? If their is a chance, I may have to dismantle the thing. I'd probably just end up removing an arm or leg from it, cripple it's threat level a bit."
> Take a deep breathe, and calm down, we just had a big fight with something that has been bothering us all today. Just out loud in general, "Yata!"
>You pet the wolf. It seems he's getting used to this sort of thing, and you get some hand licks in turn.
>"I want to believe it's done for," says Patchouli, "You did batter it away from the gems then run out what little energy it had left. But the final judgment is yours, you are much more familiar with it than I am."
>You take a deep breath, trying to calm down from all the adrenaline in your system. Then you allow yourself a victory cry of sorts. Hopefully no one heard that.
>_
-
> "Ok, I guess I'll leave it alone and hope for the best. It seems to be to far heavy for me or Meiling to actually carry it, so it should be ok here, I hope."
> To Meiling if she is still around. "Thanks again Meiling, you truly do deserve thanks."
> If nothing of note comes up, head over to Byakuren and try to let her know that she can let the Shrine go back down.
-
> "Ok, I guess I'll leave it alone and hope for the best. It seems to be to far heavy for me or Meiling to actually carry it, so it should be ok here, I hope."
> To Meiling if she is still around. "Thanks again Meiling, you truly do deserve thanks."
> If nothing of note comes up, head over to Byakuren and try to let her know that she can let the Shrine go back down.
>"Very well," Patchouli says, "I would suggest you arrive here soon, if you wish to partake of the festivities."
>Meiling has already vanished into the mansion. Oh well.
>You make your way back along the lake shore, the wolf behind you. You see Byakuren is still where you left her. You take to the air, trying to ignore the chill that's already made its way up your skirt from your last bout of flight, and approach her. She doesn't seem to notice you coming.
>_
-
> "Byakuren? It's ok, you can let the shrine go back down down."
> If she does not respond, put one of our hands on her shoulder.
-
> "Byakuren? It's ok, you can let the shrine go back down down."
> If she does not respond, put one of our hands on her shoulder.
>"Very well," she says. "I heard something burst through it and fly out screaming. I was unsure if you wanted to come back, and I expected you would have called for help if you needed it."
>The shrine slowly begins to sink beneath the waves again. You can see water start to flood down into the open door.
>"Now that I've found it, I should be able to lift it again," she says, "But, it seems to be flooding. I think you would better served hiring a kappa once the lake warms up."
>_
-
> "If anyone has any interest in the shrine now it would probably be Patchouli, if just to study it a bit. "
> Offer to show Byakuren the remains of the statue.
> Ask Byakuren to the feast if we haven't already.
> Time till the feast.
> Quests.
-
> "If anyone has any interest in the shrine now it would probably be Patchouli, if just to study it a bit. "
> Offer to show Byakuren the remains of the statue.
> Ask Byakuren to the feast if we haven't already.
> Time till the feast.
> Quests.
>"I doubt she'd be able to get here in time," says Byakuren, as the shrine slips below the water.
>"I suppose a look wouldn't hurt."
>You invite Byakuren to the feast. "I'd be delighted," she says. "Thank you very much."
>You suspect you have...maybe 45 minutes until the play starts.
>Your Current Quests Are:
>Alice's Hookup
>You Self-Appointed Goals are:
>Invent a Base Six Pair of Pants
>A Song for Eirin
>_
-
>Could we possibly learn some singing from Mystia if she isn't busy? Like, without being late to the feast? Or make something up all by ourselves~
-
>Could we possibly learn some singing from Mystia if she isn't busy? Like, without being late to the feast? Or make something up all by ourselves~
>You did invite her to the festivities. If you left for Eientei right now and got there quickly, you could probably find her and get a quick lesson, perhaps, if she was willing.
>_
-
> Quickly show the Statue's remains to Byakuren.
> With that over with, head back to Eientei.
-
>Remember what Reimu was doing. Did we ever get word to her after we defeated Yorihime?
>Did we forget to actually tell Meiling to cover up the Statue/Could she hear that order come from the button? Perhaps this should be done before leaving, assuming Meiling hasn't left yet.
-
> Quickly show the Statue's remains to Byakuren.
> With that over with, head back to Eientei.
>Remember what Reimu was doing. Did we ever get word to her after we defeated Yorihime?
>Did we forget to actually tell Meiling to cover up the Statue/Could she hear that order come from the button? Perhaps this should be done before leaving, assuming Meiling hasn't left yet.
>You take Byakuren to see the remains. She starts to examine them curiously.
>You are pretty sure Meiling didn't get that order. You don't think she's left yet. But it seems like Byakuren will hang around for a bit, given the circumstances.
>If you recall correctly, Reimu actually hasn't shown up lately. You recall her saying she was going to try to cut them off at the pass, and that was the last she was heard from. Given that the Lunarian forces showed no signs of being harried, she either never met them or failed profoundly.
>_
-
>"Notice anything important about the statue?"
>"Do you happen to know where Reimu is currently? I should probably let her know what happened."
-
>"Notice anything important about the statue?"
>"Do you happen to know where Reimu is currently? I should probably let her know what happened."
>"It's very intricately designed," she says. "Whomever made it was no doubt a genius. The way that the motive force seems to have been channeled is...amazing. It would take a lifetime, maybe more, to craft it by hand."
>She shakes her head. "I was going to go search for her before you asked for my assistance. But I can't imagine she's in any trouble."
>_
-
Dropping this in here because (a) I need to catch up, (b) this was an important sidequest that I think we still need to deal with (and should probably be our top priority, though I'll admit I don't know a lot of the details of what's gone on, all I know is that we escaped ImaginationLand and blowed up the stapparition in real life), and (c) it's 3:30 AM and I have to go to work in 5 hours. I will catch up with what has happened since I posted last when I next have free time, which will likely be tomorrow afternoon, but I want this out there in case the opportunity presents itself before I'm fully caught up. (Don't cut your current investigation with Byakuren short on my account (and don't forget to invite her and her crew to our festivities), but do try to keep in mind that we don't have much time left.)
[03:05:11] <PurvisHasLeftThisTimestream> *Of note: If you're looking to inspire conciliation with Yorihime in Reisen Quest, now would be a good time to start pushing in that direction.*
[03:05:34] <Kilgamyon> Shit, I don't have the time tonight D:
[03:05:43] <Kilgamyon> Did we go back to Eientei?
[03:06:12] <PurvisHasLeftThisTimestream> *Not yet. And I mean now in the general sense*
[03:06:35] <Kilgamyon> Oh
[03:06:41] <Kilgamyon> It's a "we're not really busy right now" thing?
[03:07:06] <PurvisHasLeftThisTimestream> *It's: There is limited time before the play, now is a good time to lay groundwork*
[03:07:33] <Kilgamyon> So let's see what we know so far
[03:08:18] <Kilgamyon> We know Yorihime will honor her defeat and not try to stir shit up again (and if she does I imagine Eirin and Kaguya will be less than happy with her, which would sabotage her whole mission anyway)
[03:08:34] <Kilgamyon> We know Yorihime needs some way to pacify the rabble back home
[03:08:52] <Kilgamyon> And we know Patchy has zero interest in cutting off research into cosmic horrors
[03:10:09] <Kilgamyon> So we need to give Yorihime something that isn't Patchy to show to her constituents and keep them happy
[03:10:17] <PurvisHasLeftThisTimestream> *Pretty much. Though Patchy is a bit unclear; Kaguya asked if she would promise not to do it again, and Patchy refused.*
[03:11:03] <Kilgamyon> Bingo.
[03:11:06] <Kilgamyon> We make a deal with her.
[03:11:14] <PurvisHasLeftThisTimestream> *Though Kanako has confirmed she summoned the thing, and did it willingly*
[03:11:32] <Kilgamyon> Yeah, that's where I'm less than useful
[03:11:55] <Kilgamyon> Since I couldn't follow all of Patchy Quest (got sidetracked for like half of the first topic and just didn't have the energy to catch up)
[03:12:02] * PurvisHasLeftThisTimestream nods.
[03:12:28] <Kilgamyon> So Patchy knew full-well that she was summoning a cosmic horror?
[03:12:38] <PurvisHasLeftThisTimestream> *To be fair, that reflect's Reisen's knowledge on the whole thing. She wasn't involved at all beyond a couple conversations with Patchy*
[03:12:41] <Kilgamyon> And was prepared to fight it should it decide to do cosmically horrific things?
[03:12:43] <PurvisHasLeftThisTimestream> *And, that's what Kanako said*
[03:13:14] <Kilgamyon> I think I have an idea.
[03:13:20] * PurvisHasLeftThisTimestream nods.
[03:13:38] <Kilgamyon> I'd like to get Reisen a bit more knowledge on exactly what Patchy did, and I would like to do it with Eirin, Kaguya and Yorihime present.
[03:13:58] * PurvisHasLeftThisTimestream nods.
[03:14:08] <PurvisHasLeftThisTimestream> *There's certainly ways to make this happen.*
[03:14:40] <Kilgamyon> After that, I think we can work a deal out with Patchy to make sure she doesn't do something like that again, with the warning that, should Yorihime need to come down and choke a bitch a second time, we may not be there to help.
[03:16:12] <Kilgamyon> Once Patchy has been "pacified", Yorihime can go home with tales of not only subduing the threat, but doing it with the assistance (and possibly blessing, if we can wrangle nifty words into her story) of the Princess and the Sage currently exiled on Terra.
[03:17:28] <Kilgamyon> Since I remember someone (maybe Eirin or Kaguya) mentioning that Yorihime would lose more standing if it was revealed that Eientei worked against her, it stands to reason she could gain standing if it was revealed that Eientei helped her.
[03:17:52] <Kilgamyon> Sparring match notwithstanding, but the public doesn't need to know about that.
[03:18:28] <Kilgamyon> Hell, we can throw in that Yorihime helped the traitor rabbit (or whatever we are) subdue a SECOND potential horror.
I have a few general ideas on how to make this work but I need to know the current environment before I could propose anything specific. I trust you guys will use this info well anyway, if the opportunity presents itself.
-
> Why did Meiling not go with the rest of the SDM crew to the party? I thought Sakuya said she was allowed.
-
> Why did Meiling not go with the rest of the SDM crew to the party? I thought Sakuya said she was allowed.
>You presume she was to wait til it was closer to go time, so that the gate would not be left unguarded for longer than needs be.
>_
-
>Make sure Byakuren knows all of her crew is invited.
>How long does it take to reach Eientei from current location?
>"Do you think Reimu would have returned to her shrine by now?"
If response is positive:
>How much time would we lose if we took a trip over to the Hakurei Shrine?
If response is negative:
>Where exactly was she supposed to intercept the Lunarians at? If unknown, ask Byakuren.
>How much time would it take to track her down?
-
>Make sure Byakuren knows all of her crew is invited.
>How long does it take to reach Eientei from current location?
>"Do you think Reimu would have returned to her shrine by now?"
If response is positive:
>How much time would we lose if we took a trip over to the Hakurei Shrine?
If response is negative:
>Where exactly was she supposed to intercept the Lunarians at? If unknown, ask Byakuren.
>How much time would it take to track her down?
>You make certain Byakuren knows all of her friends are invited. You are not going to let Kanako accuse you of half-assing this. "I'll be sure to tell them," she says.
>It would take you ten minutes if you really hustle and didn't freezing a bit due to flight. If you detour to the Hakurei shrine and back, it'd add another ten minutes or so.
>"She might be," says Byakuren if you ask if Reimu is at the Shrine. "If you like, I'll go investigate when I return to give the others their invitation.
>You notice there are faeries hovering the center of the lake now.
-
>Those fairies are probably just curious... Any fairies with them that we know?
>Accept Byakuren's offer to have her find Reimu.
>"If you do find her, please let her know she's also invited. I have something I need to return to her anyway." We never used up that sealing kit she gave us did we?
>"If Meiling comes through here before you leave, please ask her to cover up this statue with a sheet."
>If Byakuren doesn't actually know who Meiling is, give brief description.
>If nothing is left to be done, return to Eientei.
-
> ETA to the play.
-
>Those fairies are probably just curious... Any fairies with them that we know?
>Accept Byakuren's offer to have her find Reimu.
>"If you do find her, please let her know she's also invited. I have something I need to return to her anyway." We never used up that sealing kit she gave us did we?
>"If Meiling comes through here before you leave, please ask her to cover up this statue with a sheet."
>If Byakuren doesn't actually know who Meiling is, give brief description.
>If nothing is left to be done, return to Eientei.
>You can't tell from this distance. But given the proximity of the ice city, you imagine Cirno is probably among them.
>You accept Byakuren's offer, and ask her to pass along the invitation. "I'll be sure to do that if I see her."
>You also ask her to pass along a message to Meiling. "I can do that," she says.
>Finding little left to be done, you head back to Eientei, hurrying as much as you can. The wolf trots along behind you. Upon reaching the bamboo forest, you see a number of guide rabbits have been posted to help the guests find their way. You don't linger long enough to exchange pleasantries, but a few of them give you a nod, a wave, or some word of greeting.
>Arriving at Eientei, you hear it bustling with activity. Various people roam the halls, some of whom you don't recognize, while podiums and stands with Lunarian artifacts have been set out for people to admire. Rabbits put at key locations keep a steely eye for thieves. The sounds of conversation and laughter are everywhere.
> ETA to the play.
>You imagine you have about half an hour left, maybe a bit more.
>_
-
> Consider if Yorihime and Patchouli will be around after the play in order to settle things.
> On that thought, go see how Yorihime is doing.
-
> Keep an eye out for Eirin and Kaguya while we're searching for Yori.
-
> Consider if Yorihime and Patchouli will be around after the play in order to settle things.
> On that thought, go see how Yorihime is doing.
>You doubt Yorihime will be going anywhere until the moon is full. Patchouli, you expect, will probably linger for a bit.
>You decide to check on Yorihime, and make your way toward the master bedroom, working your way through the guests lingering in the halls.
>Sliding the door open, you find the master bedroom to be mercifully quiet compared to the hustle and bustle of the halls. You've not been in here many times, mostly when assisting with cleaning duties. But you're familiar enough with it: the large canopied bed in the corner, the elaborated painted folding screens, the line of wardrobes by the walk-in closet. All sort of pictures and wall scrolls decorate the walls, many of them priceless treasures from eras gone by. You see Yorihime sitting on the bed, staring at the ceiling. She glances over at you.
> Keep an eye out for Eirin and Kaguya while we're searching for Yori.
>You see Kaguya in the hall leading toward Eiren's office, talking with a couple of amused-looking oni. You imagine she'll be going through the halls and talking with the guests until it is time for the play.
>_
-
> Is she still tied up?
> "Uh...hi."
-
> Is she still tied up?
> "Uh...hi."
>She does not seem to be tied up at the moment.
>"Hello, Reisen," she says. "May I help you?"
>_
-
> "I would like it if we could help each other, actually. Given very recent developments, I think there's a way to make everyone happy."
-
> "I would like it if we could help each other, actually. Given very recent developments, I think there's a way to make everyone happy."
>Yorihime nods for you to continue.
>_
-
> "Remember that apparition? Turns out it was connected to the broken rainbow sword somehow. It's been put down, though, seemingly for good. In a way, you helped take it down when you shook it off me in the forest."
> "Beyond that is a slew of things I only have a general idea about, so I only have general solutions to everyone's problems, but I think they can be formatted to fit specific needs. If possible, I would like to get us together with Patchouli, Master Eirin and possibly the Princess, get as much information on the table as possible, and work on the specifics of a plan that keep everyone involved happy."
-
> "Remember that apparition? Turns out it was connected to the broken rainbow sword somehow. It's been put down, though, seemingly for good. In a way, you helped take it down when you shook it off me in the forest."
> "Beyond that is a slew of things I only have a general idea about, so I only have general solutions to everyone's problems, but I think they can be formatted to fit specific needs. If possible, I would like to get us together with Patchouli, Master Eirin and possibly the Princess, get as much information on the table as possible, and work on the specifics of a plan that keep everyone involved happy."
>"That is good to hear," says Yorihime. "I was rather concerned about that thing. "
>"You proposed a few before, as I recall," says Yorihime. "I will listen to them, at least. If nothing else, though, I would like a get a deposition from Patchouli that I may take back with me."
>_
-
> "Something of that ilk was one of my ideas, yes, though it would be worked out together with Patchouli and Master Eirin."
> "Is there anything else you'd like to know, or should we go find them?"
-
> "So I take it you're feeling a lot better than a couple of hours ago?"
-
> "Something of that ilk was one of my ideas, yes, though it would be worked out together with Patchouli and Master Eirin."
> "Is there anything else you'd like to know, or should we go find them?"
>She nods.
>"Hm, I think anything I need to know, it would take the Princess to clear up."
> "So I take it you're feeling a lot better than a couple of hours ago?"
>"Greatly so."
>_
-
> If there is enough time to do this meeting before the play, go find Eirin and Patchouli.
-
> If there is enough time to do this meeting before the play, go find Eirin and Patchouli.
>You've got a little less than a half hour, yet.
>Searching around Eientei, you find the two of them in the courtyard, sitting on one of the benches and talking among themselves. You also note Remilia is up and about, and engaged in a game of domino with Tewi in the the corner.
>_
-
> Head for Eirin and Patchouli and explain that we would like to settle things with Yorihime.
-
> Head for Eirin and Patchouli and explain that we would like to settle things with Yorihime.
>You head for them ,and quickly explain things. Eirin nods and stands up.
>Patchouli doesn't do anything, until you notice her expectant look. "You want me to be involved? Why?"
>_
-
> "Because it's your head the Lunarian citizens want, and I assume you don't want to give it to them."
-
> "Because it's your head the Lunarian citizens want, and I assume you don't want to give it to them."
>She nods and stands up. "So I see."
>_
-
> "Yes. I am hoping we can find a solution that pleases the Lunarian citizens without sending you back to the moon."
> "However, there are things I would like to know first, and I'm sure Master Eirin and Commander Yorihime wouldn't mind hearing them either. We understand that you released a cosmic horror during the sun incident, and did so knowing what you were doing. Kanako has confirmed this to me, so even if you think we're trying to coerce you into admitting false guilt, you can ask her yourself once she gets here, if she's not here already. I am curious about the specific details surrounding that summoning, however."
-
> "Yes. I am hoping we can find a solution that pleases the Lunarian citizens without sending you back to the moon."
> "However, there are things I would like to know first, and I'm sure Master Eirin and Commander Yorihime wouldn't mind hearing them either. We understand that you released a cosmic horror during the sun incident, and did so knowing what you were doing. Kanako has confirmed this to me, so even if you think we're trying to coerce you into admitting false guilt, you can ask her yourself once she gets here, if she's not here already. I am curious about the specific details surrounding that summoning, however."
>Her eyes harden a little. "I did it to save the life, or rather the very existence, of a poor fool. And I would do it again. Does this satisfy you?"
>_
-
> Turn to Yorihime.
> "What do you think?"
-
> Recall the names and important words that appeared on the reliefs in the sunken shrine: we'll likely need them in a few moments.
-
> Turn to Yorihime.
> "What do you think?"
>Yorihime did not follow you out. You expect this is due to a combination of her being under confinement and the master bedroom being a better place to have a serious discussion than in public during a festival.
> Recall the names and important words that appeared on the reliefs in the sunken shrine: we'll likely need them in a few moments.
>You recall the reilefs focused around the denial of the existence of Brahmin, which you have some awareness of being an important deity to some cultures in the outside world. The second one mentioned Shudras, Kshatriyas, and the Unclean, which you don't recognize but sounded like ranks, jobs, or social classes. You remember references to the true cold gods beyond the veil, as well as references to creating Rudra whose task was to undo all the things that the writer objected to, in a manner that was strongly hinted to be violent.
>_
-
> Mentally facepalm for leaving Yorihime behind.
> "For me personally, yes. I got a little ahead of myself, though; I meant to discuss that issue with Commander Yorihime present, because it's more what she wants to hear than what I want to hear that will help resolve this issue. I apologize. Shall we go meet her, then?"
-
> Mentally facepalm for leaving Yorihime behind.
> "For me personally, yes. I got a little ahead of myself, though; I meant to discuss that issue with Commander Yorihime present, because it's more what she wants to hear than what I want to hear that will help resolve this issue. I apologize. Shall we go meet her, then?"
>It never hurts to prepare ahead of time.
>"Very well," says Patchouli. Eirin nods in agreement.
>The three of you make your way back to the master bedroom with little trouble. Yorihime is where you left her. "Master," she says, inclining her head toward Eirin, then repeating the gesture toward Patchouli, "Miss Knowledge."
>_
-
> "Commander, in the interest of more informed decision-making, I have asked Patchouli about the circumstances surrounding her summoning the cosmic horror."
> "Patchouli, would you mind repeating what you told me, so the Commander can weigh in? She knows better than Master Eirin or myself exactly what the Lunarians are expecting."
-
> "Commander, in the interest of more informed decision-making, I have asked Patchouli about the circumstances surrounding her summoning the cosmic horror."
> "Patchouli, would you mind repeating what you told me, so the Commander can weigh in? She knows better than Master Eirin or myself exactly what the Lunarians are expecting."
>"Very well," says Patchouli, as she walks over to an large chair and makes herself comfortable. Eirin walks over to a couch and has a seat, as Patchouli begins to speak.
>"I honestly do not feel I even need to justify myself to anyone save the Enma when it is my time to meet her, so please listen carefully as I do not intend to do so again. You ask, did I summon a thing from beyond the reality we know? Yes. I did so, I did it willingly. I would do it again without regret. You are wondering why I did it, no doubt, so I will elaborate. I was, to some degree, a victim of fate. There was a person, some time ago, who invoked the help of the hakutaku Keine to try to erase knowledge of his actions from the world, in order to avoid pursuit for some of his misdeeds. Reisen may recall me asking about a person named Jeff; as would your Princess."
>You do recall this; you were assigned to work on the front doors that day. She asked about a person named Jeff, you told her that you knew nothing, and that was more or less the end of it.
>"I am not sure how he convinced Keine to do this, but she did it. Unfortunately, history is a tangled thing. She did not just erase Jeff's memory, she erased Jeff himself. In theory, this would be the end of it. But, Jeff had done several interesting and foolish things. For one, he had made good friends with my Mistress, enough to interest her in him. As such, his fate became bound to hers, and that helped keep some essence of him alive despite being removed from history. As well, he too tampered with this horror; having little idea what he was involving himself in; and lost his soul to it. This horror, it seems, lies outside of history, as well as things in its grasp. Despite the events being erased, it still retained what it had taken from Jeff. As well, from actions that happened then, it had gotten influence on Rumia, and quite a lot on Suwako; both of them unaware of it."
>She gives a smirk. "Still, he got what he wanted. No one remembered him. No one but me. Why me?" She shrugs. "Fate, I suppose. We were connected in some way by Remilia's manipulations that I've never made sense of. He had a sort of quasi-existence, a mind without a body or a soul. He couldn't interact with the world anymore, and the world simply didn't know he existed. Save for me. I did remember him, though not perfectly, and was troubled by that incongruity. And eventually, I found him, hiding in some abandoned house in the Ancient City where he had been when history was changed. I worked to save him, feeling it wrong to leave him trapped in that kind of hell. In the process, I came across a weapon known as the Dream Cutlass. Unbeknownst to me, that weapon was tied to the horror that Jeff had invoked. Events led to that weapon being shattered, and myself being drawn...elsewhere. Or rather, I was still in Gensokyo, but everything was gray and frozen, and I could move about with but a thought. I think it was some place between our state of reality and the Horror's own. The only ones who could move were myself, Jeff; who had a sort of intangible 'body' composed of its his thoughts, Rumia and Suwako. The connection, between the three of them was contamination by that horror."
>She stops for a moment to compose her thoughts. "As far as I can understand, Rumia and Suwako, due to their actions in that history that no longer was, had managed to lock away that horror into themselves. It was broken up and confused, as far as I could tell such things applied to it. But at the same time, it was clearly hurting them both. I managed to extract it from them, not knowing what it was, and it reformed into its proper self. So I did the only natural thing, I fled and returned to this world via the gateway that had opened. Unfortunately, when I passed through the gateway closed, I left Jeff behind. So, I did the only natural thing to keep it from devouring him, I gathered together as much help as I could, being Yuyuko and Sanae, and summoned the thing to confront it. Or rather, I invoked it and it drew us to it. In the end, it was Sanae drawing upon her goddesses that stopped the thing. In the process, we managed to free Jeff's mind from its hold, as well as find the soul it had taken from him. Mid and soul were reunited, and he was able to rejoin the world and the cycle of life and death. He proceeded on to Higan, where the Enma has since dealt with him. I regret nothing, and would do it again."
>A heavy silence falls over the room in the wake of Patchouli's story. Patchouli herself seems to be trying to deal with the dryness in her throat in the wake of all that talk. Eirin is silent and unreadable. Yorihime is furrowing her brow.
>_
-
> "Wow, that's, uh, a little bit more than what you told me. I do remember you asking about a Jeff, though I had no idea who he was and thought nothing of it until just now."
-
> "Wow, that's, uh, a little bit more than what you told me. I do remember you asking about a Jeff, though I had no idea who he was and thought nothing of it until just now."
>"No one thought much of it," says Patchouli. "About the only one who did was Suwako, as she had a vague memory of his prayers. It really got to her, and in retrospect I should have gone back to her later. But things worked out well enough." She says the last part as if to challenge Yorihime to contradict her.
>_
-
> "So... What do you think Commander?"
-
> "So... What do you think Commander?"
>"It does add a few dimensions to the issue," says Yorihime slowly, looking toward the floor. "I'm sure I can corroborate at least some of the story with Miss Sanae. It is, in theory, less severe than simply doing it for the sake of doing it. On the other hand, it doesn't change that the act was committed, nor the lack of remorse from the perpetrator."
>"Tough," says Patchouli, drawing a look from Yorihime.
>_
-
> "Commander, what exactly is the issue here? I'm not asking this as a sob story to let Patchouli go, I'm asking about the Lunarian legal approach to this situation..."
> Look at Eirin.
> "...and possibly the political one."
-
> "Commander, what exactly is the issue here? I'm not asking this as a sob story to let Patchouli go, I'm asking about the Lunarian legal approach to this situation..."
> Look at Eirin.
> "...and possibly the political one."
>"It has the potential to get very sticky now," says Yorihime. "Ideally, it would be an open and shut case given the enormity of the act, and she would be imprisoned, exiled to some place where she couldn't cause a problem, or sealed away as deemed necessary. But this situation is complex, in both the angle of enforcement and the actual question. The act would still no doubt be condemned if the former were not a problem, but there may be a question regarding what is to be done about it."
>You look to Eirin. "Well. The difficulty is that we need to avoid embarrassing the regency. It would reflect badly upon us when we return. To some degree, it can't be helped."
>Patchouli folds her hands and rest her lower face against them. You are certain she's hiding a smirk behind them.
>"Allowing such punishments to befall Patchouli is out of the question," Eirin continues. "So, it seems our best course is to do what we can to show the transgression was necessary, beneficial, and that long run harm has been minimized."
>_
-
>"According to what Patchouli said, the cosmic horror had a hold of someone's soul, the goddess Suwako, and the current owner of a successful business; Rumia. I suppose that means it was beneficial, and because one of those people was Suwako, possibly necessary. As for harm being minimized in the long run... well, could it be coming back after it's defeat? I'm afraid I'm not an expert on that matter."
-
>"According to what Patchouli said, the cosmic horror had a hold of someone's soul, the goddess Suwako, and the current owner of a successful business; Rumia. I suppose that means it was beneficial, and because one of those people was Suwako, possibly necessary. As for harm being minimized in the long run... well, could it be coming back after it's defeat? I'm afraid I'm not an expert on that matter."
>"There is no expert on that kind of matter," says Eirin. "If we could be certain of such things, they wouldn't be so deserving of being called horrors."
>"The summoning no longer works," says Patchouli. ."And, regardless of Luna's opinion on the Suwa, helping Suwako was unquestionably a correct thing." She gives Yorihime a hard look again. "Had such a thing had more time to metastasize, it may well have done irreparable damage to her."
>"The question, I suppose," says Yorihime, not meeting Patchouli's look, "is one of long term damage..."
>_
-
> "I'm just throwing this out there, but the Dream Cutlass was that rainbow sword I saw while I was in the void right? Maybe that thing is the key to this mess..."
-
> "I'm just throwing this out there, but the Dream Cutlass was that rainbow sword I saw while I was in the void right? Maybe that thing is the key to this mess..."
>Eirin gives you a curious look for a moment, before directing her attention back to matters at hand.
>Patchouli nods. "Having not seen what you have, I can't say for certain. But what you have described sounds exactly like the Dream Cutlass, yes."
>"What do you mean, the key to this whole mess?" Yorihime asks.
>_
-
> "Well I just found it kind of coincidental that the Statue seemed to head for the SDM, which is more or less where you battled the original horror right Patchouli? So maybe the Cutlass has something to do with the horrors in general..."
-
> "Well I just found it kind of coincidental that the Statue seemed to head for the SDM, which is more or less where you battled the original horror right Patchouli? So maybe the Cutlass has something to do with the horrors in general..."
>"The last battle we had with that thing," Patchouli says, "Was close to the mansion. There is a field to the west. Mind you, it wasn't quite in the same phase of reality, but as far as three dimensional geography goes, that would be where it happened. If that were the case, it wouldn't make a direct route toward the mansion. But, as you mentioned earlier, I do have what is left of the sword there. In the brief time I had the intact weapon, I did not feel anything awry with it. at the same time, I am not a foreign construct, nor did I have any time to properly study it."
>Eirin says nothing, but you can feel the unasked questions in the air.
>_
-
> "If you don't think the sword itself is a beacon for nasties, is it possible the apparition, the statue, whatever that thing was, is it possible it's connected to the original cosmic horror that you unleashed?"
-
> "Also, since it's suddenly very relevant, I found some reliefs in the sunken shrine where the statue was located. What can anyone here tell me about them?"
> List the major important names and terms we remember from the reliefs for the other women.
-
> "If you don't think the sword itself is a beacon for nasties, is it possible the apparition, the statue, whatever that thing was, is it possible it's connected to the original cosmic horror that you unleashed?"
>"I don't think it's a trouble beacon itself," says Patchouli. "But, it does seem that your construct was connected to it."
> "Also, since it's suddenly very relevant, I found some reliefs in the sunken shrine where the statue was located. What can anyone here tell me about them?"
> List the major important names and terms we remember from the reliefs for the other women.
>"Those sounds very important," says Eirin. "Perhaps you should go into more detail about what they said in general?"
>_
-
> Try and recite what some of the writings said.
-
> Try and recite what some of the writings said.
>You do your best to recite what you remember. You remember the warning out front, in particular. You remember the mentions of there being no Brahmin, and looking beyond the veil. You recall that the writer seemed to consider himself a highly accomplished sorcerer. There were also mentions of the uncaring true gods, which Brahmin was not one of. You remember something written about people not rejecting the gods, but instead rejecting the writer. Then you remember that the writer claimed he would give them there "false gods", and talked about some thing he made that would bring them all to ruin, called Rudra.
>While Patchouli and Yorihime digest this, Eirin says, "What are your thoughts on this, Udonge?"
>_
-
>"I think... what he said about giving them their "false gods". That perhaps it was the statue; a thing he made, empowered by the Dream Cutlass and 4 gems, to a level of God-like power. A false god he made to destroy everything, as revenge for being rejected."
-
>"I think... what he said about giving them their "false gods". That perhaps it was the statue; a thing he made, empowered by the Dream Cutlass and 4 gems, to a level of God-like power. A false god he made to destroy everything, as revenge for being rejected."
>Eirin nods. "It seems likely, given the warning that was placed there."
>"You said you saw it's mind," Patchouli says, "What did you see in there, again?"
>_
-
>"Nothing much. A few memories, mostly about me and the gems and the cutlass. It's mind seemed... limited. It was mostly just an impulse to destroy."
-
>"Nothing much. A few memories, mostly about me and the gems and the cutlass. It's mind seemed... limited. It was mostly just an impulse to destroy."
>"That sounds rather useless, don't you think?" says Patchouli.
>_
-
> Did we actually see anything else?
-
> Did we actually see anything else?
>Not that you detected, aside from some measure of self preservation instinct. You did confirm it had practically no emotional range.
>_
-
> "If I had more to offer, I assure you I'd be giving it. It seemed emotionless and interested in self-preservation, but I assumed those was par for the course for such nasties, and I honestly don't have anything else."
-
> "If I had more to offer, I assure you I'd be giving it. It seemed emotionless and interested in self-preservation, but I assumed those was par for the course for such nasties, and I honestly don't have anything else."
>Patchouli nods. "Useless, then. Even with those gems of yours, there's no way it could really be expected to engage in such grandiose plans as bringing down a civilization. At the same time, it's clear its make, foolishness aside, is no idiot. What does that imply to you?"
>_
-
> "I'd say it implies we're dealing with someone who has crafted the horrors themselves."
-
> "I'd say it implies we're dealing with someone who has crafted the horrors themselves."
>"Unlikely," says Patchouli, "But close. It seems to me that something very important was missing from the picture. It had its gems, at least until you overwhelmed it and took them back."
>Eirin nods. You can tell she's pieced it together.
>_
-
> "Master? You seem like you've found something important."
-
> "Master? You seem like you've found something important."
>"I have," she says, "But I would be a terrible teacher if I didn't give you the opportunity to piece it together yourself, wouldn't I?"
>_
-
>"Um...hmmm...it never DID have full control of the gems, so I assumed it was waiting for that...but I'm still trying to work out where you've jumped...since I assume that you believe it had a secondary goal it had to do before it could wreak havoc?"
-
>"Um...hmmm...it never DID have full control of the gems, so I assumed it was waiting for that...but I'm still trying to work out where you've jumped...since I assume that you believe it had a secondary goal it had to do before it could wreak havoc?"
>"Did it ever show it had the capacity of knowledge to use a sword?" asks Patchouli. "It seems to me, such a thing on its own would be useless with that kind of weapon."
>_
-
>"No, actually. The only tactics it seemed to use were ones ripped of me that purely involved my ability to move, rather than any of my conjurations or attacks. Wait, except it tried to steal my awesome hammer, though a hammer is a much simpler weapon than a sword"
-
>"No, actually. The only tactics it seemed to use were ones ripped of me that purely involved my ability to move, rather than any of my conjurations or attacks. Wait, except it tried to steal my awesome hammer, though a hammer is a much simpler weapon than a sword"
>You think you may have lost the three of them.
>"My point," says Patchouli, "is that I am certain that the sword was as integral to it as the gems were."
-
>"Ah... so, if it were to obtain the sword and gems, it's intelligence may have increased? In that situation, it may have become a very dangerous force indeed."
-
>"Patchouli, you said that that sword - Dream Cutlass, right? - got shattered, didn't it? Which left you somewhere that you could see that horror, correct? The statue was seeking out that sword. But without enough of a mind for it to be any use, and if the sword was that easily shattered... perhaps it was intended to be broken from the start, just only by the right person. Or statue, as it were."
-
>"Patchouli, you said that that sword - Dream Cutlass, right? - got shattered, didn't it? Which left you somewhere that you could see that horror, correct? The statue was seeking out that sword. But without enough of a mind for it to be any use, and if the sword was that easily shattered... perhaps it was intended to be broken from the start, just only by the right person. Or statue, as it were."
>"I can't say it was easily shattered," says Patchouli. "It was a duel between Remilia and Youmu. I am fairly certain it was due to Youmu's skill, and perhaps Remilia's exuberance, that broke it. But, I do think that the Construct needed that weapon to complete itself."
>_
-
> "But now it's been put down, so what do we do with the sword and the gems?"
-
> "But now it's been put down, so what do we do with the sword and the gems?"
>"I think the gems have been spoken for," Eirin says. "Unless you want to try and disentangle yourself from them? As for the sword's remains, I believe they are inert, am I right?" She looks to Patchouli, who nods.
>_
-
> "How inert could the sword be if the thing was pursuing it, though? Unless putting it down was the final straw."
-
> "How inert could the sword be if the thing was pursuing it, though? Unless putting it down was the final straw."
>"It may have been just simple desperation," says Patchouli. "By your account, it was already dying."
>"I am not quite sure what has happened," Yorihime says, her voice having a rare element of uncertainty, "But if the thing had a simple mind geared mostly toward to destruction, it might well have simply decided to indulge that instinct in its last moments rather than continue to fight with you."
>"But, Reisen may have a point," says Patchouli. "While I would stake my reputation on them being useless now, it is possible that thing may have had some way to do something with them. Regardless, it holds to my point. It seems clear to be that it was lacking a significant portion of its mind, and I believe that weapon contained it."
>_
-
> "I think I have an idea for how to satisfy the Lunarian citizens, then. Based on what Patchouli has told us, one could make an argument that intentionally summoning the horror in order to eliminate it was, in fact, the right decision to make; if left unchecked, it would have destroyed several other beings, including a goddess. The Lunarians may not have a high opinion of the Suwa, but Kanako told me she knows you well, Commander Yorihime, and is in fact quite pleased with you in general, so I'm pretty sure she would be willing to vouch for these circumstances, and they would be more inclined to listen to her. In addition, you could claim that, in your time down here, you came across a second horror, and assisted Eientei in putting it down, which is...technically true. With direct support for your actions and decisions from Kanako and Eientei, surely the Lunarian citizens would be satisfied that your trip was a success?"
> Turn to Patchouli.
> "Incidentally, I must point out that Meiling deserves credit for delivering the finishing blows to the statue. You have quite a gatekeeper at your house."
-
> "I think I have an idea for how to satisfy the Lunarian citizens, then. Based on what Patchouli has told us, one could make an argument that intentionally summoning the horror in order to eliminate it was, in fact, the right decision to make; if left unchecked, it would have destroyed several other beings, including a goddess. The Lunarians may not have a high opinion of the Suwa, but Kanako told me she knows you well, Commander Yorihime, and is in fact quite pleased with you in general, so I'm pretty sure she would be willing to vouch for these circumstances, and they would be more inclined to listen to her. In addition, you could claim that, in your time down here, you came across a second horror, and assisted Eientei in putting it down, which is...technically true. With direct support for your actions and decisions from Kanako and Eientei, surely the Lunarian citizens would be satisfied that your trip was a success?"
> Turn to Patchouli.
> "Incidentally, I must point out that Meiling deserves credit for delivering the finishing blows to the statue. You have quite a gatekeeper at your house."
>Yorihime nods. "I will have to report all of this, yes. But, I deserve little credit in dealing with the monster, whatever it was."
>"I would not classify it as a horror, either," says Patchouli. "But rather, something that was strongly influenced by one. In the abstract, the concept is fascinating, channeling that alien power into such a vessel, thus bypassing any residual effects after the initial casting..."
>She stops, aware that Eirin and Yorihime are giving her a look. "What? I never said I was going to try it. Merely that I appreciate the artifice of a fellow magician."
>Yorihime looks to you. "If you would be so kind as to secure some word from Yasaka-sama, it would most certainly help out."
>You mention Meiling's assistance to Patchouli. "...Honestly?" she asks. "Well, that is unexpected. I'm certain Remilia shall be delighted."
>_
-
> "Wait. I just realized something. Patchouli, how exactly did the horror you fought react in general? Is it possible that you fought the part of the Statue that was supposed to be its complete mind?"
-
> "Wait. I just realized something. Patchouli, how exactly did the horror you fought react in general? Is it possible that you fought the part of the Statue that was supposed to be its complete mind?"
>"React?" asks Patchouli. "The best way I can describe the thing I fought was...alien and malevolent. It spoke, in a sense, ranting about its emotions. Well, it seemed like it was talking about how it was happy and it was in pain alternately. To be perfectly honest, I dismissed that entirely as it simply being insane. I would go so far as to say it didn't even know it was speaking. It was simply that alien. It was hostile, without a doubt. I cannot tell you why, or even suggest it knew why. But I think you are right, I think this construct was made to draw upon that horror in some sense to complete itself."
>_
-
> "Hmmm... The only question now is are there any more of these things out there either complete or incomplete..."
-
> "Hmmm... The only question now is are there any more of these things out there either complete or incomplete..."
>"Do you think that there would be?" asks Eirin. "You were the one that discovered its crypt, and saw the writings."
>_
-
> "Well the writings really only seemed to point to the Statue, but I think there may certainly be the possibility of other horrors."
-
> "Well the writings really only seemed to point to the Statue, but I think there may certainly be the possibility of other horrors."
>"There is almost certainly more than one horror," says Patchouli with a nod. "Thankfully, they tend to be unable to interact with reality as we know it, for the most part. But I daresay our artificer likely knew of others."
>"There was only one sword that we know of," Eiren adds. "I would take some solace in that."
>_
-
> "It might be best to keep an eye out for artifacts that can summon them to our world though. It might also be a good idea if we went through the various collections of artifacts kept in the SDM, Eientei, and Hakugyokurou."
-
> "It might be best to keep an eye out for artifacts that can summon them to our world though. It might also be a good idea if we went through the various collections of artifacts kept in the SDM, Eientei, and Hakugyokurou."
>"I am well aware of the collection at Scarlet Devil Mansion," says Patchouli. "I can assure you we have nothing of the sort. Almost certainly..."
>Eirin nods. "I am reasonably sure we do not have any such objects. Or if we did, they've behaved very well. I daresay we could be most certain of Yuyuko; she would not allow any such things to sully Hakugyokorou's purity."
>"I do think Reisen has the right idea," says Yorihime. "I would take up the inspection myself."
>_
-
> "It may also be best if you checked your own collection Commander."
-
> "It may also be best if you checked your own collection Commander."
>"I can assure you no such thing would be found," she says, "But I'll make arrangements nonetheless."
>_
-
>How much time do we have left till the festivities?
>"So, is there anything else that needs to be addressed at the moment?"
-
>How much time do we have left till the festivities?
>"So, is there anything else that needs to be addressed at the moment?"
>You suspect there's no more than ten or so minutes left. But at this point, you could be fashionably late to the show if you wanted and not attract too much attention.
>"I presume you aren't having any problems in the aftermath of the fight?" asks Eirin.
>_
-
> Check self for problems.
> "I don't believe I've had any complications."
-
> Check self for problems.
> "I don't believe I've had any complications."
>Aside from the bruises on your shoulders from the battle with Yorihime, some lingering soreness from her danmaku, and some lingering tiredness, you feel fine.
>"Good, good," says Eirin. "It's nice of you to come back to me without being in worse condition for once."
>_
-
> "Likewise."
> Smile.
> "Well if everything is sorted out, I guess we can go see the play now."
-
> "Likewise."
> Smile.
> "Well if everything is sorted out, I guess we can go see the play now."
>"There will still be some details that need to be worked out," says Eirin, "But I think we can save them for tomorrow. After all, our guests will be here until the moon is full, at least. And yes, let's."
>_
-
> "Also, Commander, I believe Kanako is going to be here tonight herself, if she is not present already. Assuming you wish to stick around for the festivities, you may ask her for her support directly. Unless you specifically want me to do it."
-
> "Also, Commander, I believe Kanako is going to be here tonight herself, if she is not present already. Assuming you wish to stick around for the festivities, you may ask her for her support directly. Unless you specifically want me to do it."
>"If you would be so kind as to arrange for us to speak, I would be appreciative," she says.
>While you are hardly knowledgeable about such things, you are getting the feeling there is something ritualistic to this.
>_
-
> "Is there any particular method of request you prefer, or should I simply find her and tell her you need to talk to her? I apologize for being so simple, but I'm not that great with this sort of ritualistic thing."
-
> "Is there any particular method of request you prefer, or should I simply find her and tell her you need to talk to her? I apologize for being so simple, but I'm not that great with this sort of ritualistic thing."
>"The specifics are yours," says Yorihime.
>_
-
> "I shall take care of it then. I believe the play should be starting soon though, so we should probably go."
> Head for the play, but stop Kanako and tell her about Yorihime if we see her on the way.
-
> "I shall take care of it then. I believe the play should be starting soon though, so we should probably go."
> Head for the play, but stop Kanako and tell her about Yorihime if we see her on the way.
>Yorihime nods. "Very well. I admit, I'm a little eager to put all this behind us and see this play for myself. The Princess spoke very highly of it."
>You leave the master bedroom, and find the halls have filled up even more during your absence. You recognize a few people from human town in the crowd, and spot a couple of fairies. It seems word has spread quite a bit! As well, working your way down the hall, you see a person that you've never seen before: a red-haired woman in bright scarlet and gold robes patterned to look very much like fire, speaking with Suwako. It seems at least a couple of gods have arrived as well.
>Looking about, you see Kanako by the entrance, holding a bottle of sake and looking absolutely pleased with life, while talking to Mystia.
>_
-
> Head over to Kanako.
> Tell her that Yorihime wants to meet with her later.
-
> Head over to Kanako.
> Tell her that Yorihime wants to meet with her later.
>You approach Kanako. She notices you and waves, all smiles. "Reisen, my dear! You've quite outdone yourself!"
>You tell her that Yorihime would like to talk with her. "That will be fine," Kanako says, waving a hand. "I'll arrange for it later this evening."
>As Kanako talks, you notice Reimu walking through the front doors. You also notice she's carrying a bottle of Mare Nectaris Plum Wine. Where did she get that?!
>_
-
> "Ah. Thank you."
> Head over to Reimu.
> "I'd just like to know where you obtained that..."
-
> "Ah. Thank you."
> Head over to Reimu.
> "I'd just like to know where you obtained that..."
>Reimu frowns as you approach and ask about the wine. There is a pause, before she says, "...Treasure hunting."
>_
-
> "Treasure hunting? Ah well. I'll stop bothering you."
> Head for the play.
-
> "Treasure hunting? Ah well. I'll stop bothering you."
> Head for the play.
>Not yet.
>Is that a lunarian wine? Yuyuko wanted one from us.
>Inventory.
-
>Not yet.
>Is that a lunarian wine? Yuyuko wanted one from us.
>Inventory.
>It most certainly is. You'd recognize the label anywhere.
>Your Inventory contains:
>Dress Suit w/ Stockings (Wore as clothes)
>Cresent Pin (Worn as accessory)
>Visionary Wave: Mind Blowing (Significantly Expended)
>Lunatic Sign: Visionary Tuning (Significantly Expended.)
>Loafing Sign: Idling Wave (Half Expended)
>Indolence: Mind Stopper
>Spread Sign: Invisible Full Moon (Partially Expended)
>Lunar Eyes: Tele-Mesmerism
>Pair of Tinted Glasses
>Dark Blue Backpack
>Faerie Ribbon
>625☼
>Red Gem
>Silver Medal (Worn as accessory)
>Opal Brooch
>Blue Gem
>Purple Gem
>Dirty Black Feather.
>Empty Bottle
>Green Gem
>Sealing Talisman Set
>Temporarily Enchanted Button
>_
-
>"Oh, you told me to give you back those Sealing Talismans if I didn't use them, correct? The problem has been resolved, so here they are."
>Return Reimu her Sealing Talisman Set.
>"Also... I happen to owe someone a wine very much like that one. How much would you like for it?"
>Hope we have enough yen, since that and the Silver Medal are the only things of value we seem to have. That we'd give, at least.
-
>"Oh, you told me to give you back those Sealing Talismans if I didn't use them, correct? The problem has been resolved, so here they are."
>Return Reimu her Sealing Talisman Set.
>"Also... I happen to owe someone a wine very much like that one. How much would you like for it?"
>Hope we have enough yen, since that and the Silver Medal are the only things of value we seem to have. That we'd give, at least.
>"Oh, thanks!" says Reimu, as she accepts the set back. "I didn't think I'd get to see these again. Thanks for taking good care of them."
>You ask Reimu what she would want for the wine. She narrows her eyes and hugs it protectively. "...550☼"
>_
-
> Shell out 550☼.
> "Sold."
-
> "By the way, do you happen to know if Marisa is here?"
-
> Shell out 550☼.
> "Sold."
>Reimu seems suprised by this, but she takes the money before you can change your mind.
>You obtain: Bottle of Mare Nectaris Plum Wine.
> "By the way, do you happen to know if Marisa is here?"
>"I stopped by her house," says Reimu, "and she wasn't home. So I suppose she made her way up here."
>_
-
> "I hope so. Given all the people I invited personally, I'd feel bad for the people I know that didn't get invited."
> "Sorry for leaving you high and dry in regards to Commander Yorihime, by the way. I came back home and, well, there she was. I hope you at least found something to occupy your time?"
-
> "I hope so. Given all the people I invited personally, I'd feel bad for the people I know that didn't get invited."
> "Sorry for leaving you high and dry in regards to Commander Yorihime, by the way. I came back home and, well, there she was. I hope you at least found something to occupy your time?"
>Reimu looks around, then finding conditions satisfying, she lowers her voice and says, "Don't worry about me. I've got enough food out of that place to last a year."
>_
-
> "Er... O... kay?"
-
> "Er... O... kay?"
>"Don't give me that," Reimu says. "For once in my life, I actually came out of an Incident ahead. Let me savor it for a little while."
>_
-
> "...Oh."
> "...Ooooooh."
> Lower voice as well.
> "I'll grant you that you aren't fully abreast of the situation. Just to let you know, I still hold Commander Yorihime in high regard, and I still respect my fellow rabbits. Given the many circumstances, however, I'm very willing to pretend I didn't hear that. Best not repeat it, though, yeah."
-
> "...Oh."
> "...Ooooooh."
> Lower voice as well.
> "I'll grant you that you aren't fully abreast of the situation. Just to let you know, I still hold Commander Yorihime in high regard, and I still respect my fellow rabbits. Given the many circumstances, however, I'm very willing to pretend I didn't hear that. Best not repeat it, though, yeah."
>"Oh. Well." Reimu frowns. "They still owe me for keeping me up in that capital for a whole month anyways. Did you see what Suika did to the shrine while I was gone? It took me a week of scrubbing to get the smell out!"
>_
-
> "Well you've got a point there..."
> If the play is about to start, purchase the wine if we haven't already and head for the play.
-
> If the play is NOT about to start (i.e. we still have a couple of minutes), head back to Mystia.
-
> "Well you've got a point there..."
> If the play is about to start, purchase the wine if we haven't already and head for the play.
>There is definitely a good deal of noise coming from the makeshift auditorium, it will be very soon. You decide to move out; Reimu follows closely behind you.
>The noisy makeshift auditorium is packed with more people than you can easily estimate. Eirin seems to have anticipated this, as she makes her way toward the middle of the crowd, and nods to two rabbits, who immediately give up their seats and head for the stage. Yorihime has a seat in the center by Kaguya. Patchouli has simply disappeared into the crowd; Reimu quickly follows suit. You and Eirin make yourselves comfortable, and Eirin takes your arm into hers. You quickly become uncomfortably aware of that a number of rabbits in the audience are stealing glances your way, as well as Yorihime giving a rather alarmed look in your direction. There is a subtle but definite shift in the nature of the babble around you.
>The stage itself is a simple thing, some lengths of wood placed on top of some old barrels and saw horses, and secured in place with clamps. There is a thick bamboo frame for holding the curtain, which is mostly closed. Though the curtain's gap, you can see some scaffolding has been set up.
>You wait, trying and failing not to blush furiously at the attention you and Eirin are drawing and the rumors that are no doubt forming. But you persevere. People are going to find out anyways. And, when you can put all the outside attention out of your mind, it certainly feels very nice to have Eirin snuggling against you. It also doesn't feel half bad to simply take a load off your feet and your mind after all the stuff that's happened today. Soon enough, rabbits begin to file along the edges of the room, covering the lanterns to dim the light. A rabbit, dressed in a bathrobe, comes onto the stage, cups her hands to her mouth and shouts, "HEY SHUT UP!"
>When the room falls silent, the rabbit says, "Tonight's story is a tale Lord Daikoku and the Hawk Goddess, long ago in a land no one remembers. The Hawk Goddess had successfully defeated and enslaved Lord Daikoku's people. They were not allowed to hold Lord Daikoku's feasts, and they were the property of the Hawk Goddess's people. While the Hawk Goddess's people were kind in their own ways, Lord Daikoku's followers were still just slaves. Then came a great sage, Mo Tzu, who spoke with the Hawk Goddess's Empress of the Wind; a living goddess herself..." With that, the rabbit bows and hops off the stage as the curtains open as the audience applauds.
>One of the players sits on a large chair borrowed from one of the drawing rooms, dressed in an elaborate kimono that you are certain belongs to the Princess. A headdress hides her ears, a clear signal that she isn't supposed to be rabbit. Before her is another player, ears clearly on display, in another borrowed kimono. Above them, on the scaffolding, you see a player wearing a fake beak over her face standing over the Empress, and a rabbit in 'armor' that seems to have been made from some tea trays standing over the rabbit below.
>"Mo Tzu," says the Empress, "you come before my divine throne today. Lucky for you I'm in a good mood! Now out with it, I have a chariot race at five."
>"I'm going to make you an offer you can't refuse," says Mo Tzu, adjusting the upper parts of her robe. "Let my people go."
>"Wait," says the Hawk Beaked player in the scaffolding, looking the the armored rabbit. The players below freeze in place. "That's it? No offerings, no concessions? Not even a me-damned please?"
>"Yep," says armored rabbit, crossing her armors with a very satisfied grin on her face.
>The beaked player throws her hands up in the air. "Daikoku, you suck! You don't know the first thing about this, do you!?"
>The armored player, Daikoku, just grins wider, "You don't wanna tangle."
>"You forgot the part where I won, right?" says the beaked player, the Hawk Goddess. "Because I did. That's why your people got enslaved."
>"Maybe last time," says Daikoku, glancing toward audience with a knowing look.
>Then the two deities on the scaffolding freeze in place, and the two below begin to move again. The Empress rests her face against a hand. "No," she says
>"Well, that's that," says Mo Tzu, shrugging. Then she looks off the left side of the stage. "Can't say a thing against a clear answer like that. Oh, hey. You know, that's really nice river you got out there."
>"Pride of the Empire," says the Empress.
>Mo Tsu folds her hands demurely, at odds with her grin. "Sure would be a shame if something...happened to it,"
>The Empress' relaxed pose goes visibly rigid. "What." Mo Tzu chuckles, then puts her fingers to her mouth and gives a shrill whistle. Lord Diakoku begins to move in the rafters, picking up a bucket placed discretely next to her, and pouring it out onto the stage. Red liquid falls out and splashes all over the stage. The Empress just stares at it, while Mo Tzu cackles. "...Did you just turn my river into wine?"
>"It was Lord Daikoku," says Mo Tzu between snickers. "He'll fuck you up, then finish off with your mom."
>"My mom's dead, jerk," replies the Empress. "Besides, I have like eight wizards that can do that. Just they have the good manners not to."
>The two mortal players freeze as the deities move again. "Did you just booze up my river?" asks the Hawk Goddess.
>"Yep," says Diakoku, wearing the customary smirk.
>"I like that river," the Hawk Goddess says. "What'd it ever do to you, huh? There's fish in there! And hippos!"
>Daikoku gives a magnificently exaggerated shrug. "I warned you. Got a nice deal on that from this oni. You don't wanna tangle."
>The Hawk Goddess stamps her foot. "I'm telling Izanagi!"
>"You do that," says Daikoku. "Go cry."
>The focus shifts back to the mortals below. Mo Tzu places around the stage. "So, you got sorcerers, huh? Well sucks to your sorcerers. Let's see 'em do this!" She then does a little dance shuffle. Up on the scaffolding, Lord Daikoku picks up a bag and empties it with a flourish, sending slips of paper flying everywhere and out into the audience. One of them lands in your lap. Picking it up, you see it simply says 'Frog' on it. The players stay silent as the slips of paper settle, while people off stage begin to make croaking noises. Finally, the Empress says, "There are frogs everywhere." There is a lone cheer from the audience.
>Mo Tzu nods. "Yep!"
>"There are frogs absolutely everywhere!" the Empress says again, waving her arms. "Who's going to clean this up!? Do you have any idea how loud it's going to get?! There's a fucking frog in my wine!" She brandishes a chalice beside her chair.
>"Be a shame if something else happened," says Mo Tzu, folding her arms behind her head.
>The Empress throws her chalice to the ground; someone in the audience shouts angrily. "Fine! Fine! Go! Get out here! What is wrong with you?!"
>"See, that wasn't so hard," says Mo Tzu, walking up patting the Empress on the cheek. "We thank you for your courteous and speedy response."
>The focus shifts upwards, while Mo Tzu exits the stage. "Where'd you get those frogs," says the Hawk Goddess, leaning forward and giving Daikoku a look.
>"I got friends," says Daikoku as he idly examines his nails.
>The focus shifts downwards again. The Empress shifts in her seat and makes annoyed grumbling noises. Another player in simpler robes and carrying some papers enters the stage. "Empress," she says, "About letting Lord Daikoku's people go free?"
>"Yeah, what?" says the Empress.
>"Well, um," the player says, "It's just, uh..." She hands a paper to the Empress. "We're now slightly bankrupt."
>The Empress looks at the paper, then wads it up and throws it to the ground with vigor. "For fuck's sake! Fine! Don't free the damn stupid things!"
>Mo Tzu sidles back onstage. "I can't help but overhear that you are rescinding our business agreement. This is very troubling..."
>The same series of events plays out again, as Lord Daikoku plagues the Hawk God's empire with lice and flies, then steals all of their livestock. The Empress grows more desperate, citing economic reasons why the request cannot be granted. More disasters follow; outbreaks of boils (a rain of paper slips that read, 'You now have boils. Congratulations!'), scarlet weather issues, then an invasion of cicadas that next cease droning. Then Lord Daikoku covers the empire in darkness; upon which the rabbits block out all of the lamps in the room. Finally, the last straw comes, when Lord Daikoku declares "I'll give you an economic problem!" and runs off with all of the Empire's firstborn daughters. Finally, the Empress lets Lord Daikoku's people go free. She quickly changes her mind, and sends the army out after them. This leads to a climatic chase where rabbits flood the stage, running about two and fro hitting each other with sticks, as the Empress and Mo Tzu toss confetti 'danmaku' at each other.
>The crowd as a whole seems to enjoy it. In particular, you quickly learn to recognize Suwako's bellylaughs. Yorihime looks slightly scandalized by all the praise for a deity the Lunarians had a role in sealing away; which you suspect the rabbits intended. It ends to much applause and cheering, which quickly ceases when it is announced that the feast is ready.
>The rest of the night becomes a riotous but pleasant blur. The food, simply put, is delicious. Youmu and Sayuka, despite whatever emnity they may have from events in over the fall, have done an excellent job with the preparations. The oni have brought more than enough drink to keep everyone happy. While the Prismrivers have not shown up, a couple of oni and a few rabbits are able to provide adequate music.
>Things progress well from there. You are pleased to see that despite their issues, both Remilia and Yuyuko behave themselves; though Remilia periodically smirks at Yuyuko's back and gives you a wink at one point. While you have Eirin at your side when seated at the table, you find Yamame at your other side. She is all too happy to carry on about everything little thing on her mind, much of it being about all the people here. You hardly get a word in edgewise. You nearly trip over Nue while getting seconds, who is walking around with a lovely pair of rabbit ears and significantly shorter than normal. You have to admit that she would have blended in well if she had bothered to change out of her typical clothes. Alice and Hina, you note, seem to be talking about the play, the exposition items, and the feast in general between themselves. Finding Yuyuko, you hand her the bottle of Mare Nectaris Plum Wine, bringing a shriek of delight to the ghost princess' lips. And the whole time, Kanako is positively beaming.
>The lack of Prismrivers soon resolves itself as they, and a dozen more oni, march through the front door, still dancing and playing. Kaguya discretely orders the less hardy artifacts on display to be moved into side rooms as things grow more hectic. Dancing breaks out in the courtyard and the halls leading to it. There are a few near incidents. Those three faeries that you met after taking the back way out of Scarlet Devil Mansion seem to have found their way here, and are caught trying to run off with windless music box on display. Eirin decides to let them off with a lecture. At one point, a tough-looking oni with black hair tries to kidnap Sanae "for old time's sake", leading to a brief exchange of danmaku.
>The festivities continue far into the night (http://www.tindeck.com/listen/tjbi), as the skies clear and the auroras continue to shine. You have an excellent time, enjoying the food, the music, and a little bit of drink with Eirin's blessings; though not enough to really impair yourself. You and Eirin even dance a little bit, though you find that Eirin is not nearly so good a dancer as Iku was. You imagine that you both look a little silly, but with drunken oni and faeries around you blend right in. Eventually, though, the day simply takes its toll upon you. Eirin sees you off to bed, and you practically fall asleep before you hit the pillows.
>You wake up to find yourself in Eirin's chambers. For a short time, you wrack your memories, horrified that something might have happened last night. Or rather, that quite a lot of things happened and you've completely forgotten them. Eirin brings you breakfast, and despite this warning sign that the world has turned upside down, she assures you that nothing happened. Afterwards the two of you make up for lost time, and while you don't necessary cover quite a lot of things, you cover enough to leave the you both satisfied with the morning. The rest of the day is spent cleaning up after the play and the festivities, and chasing out the faeries who've not quite left yet. Yorihime leaves to do the inspections that they promised, you suspect it to avoid being part of the clean-up. Rise is not so lucky.
>There is some distressing news later that day when Patchouli sends you word that significant portions of the Construct are missing. You go to investigate, fearing the worst, and find the Construct collapsed into a pile of vaguely person-shaped mechanical components. You find a good portion of it is missing. Looking around, you quickly find that faeries trading the parts among themselves as a sort of barter good, cycling out much too far for you to be able to do much about. In the end, it is decided this is probably the best thing that could be done with the remains anyways; it will make it that much harder to bring them together.
>It has been said that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Within a couple days of your return, Eirin insists that your education will require her to have access to you at all times, and you are moved out of your room and into hers, which is more than spacious enough to accommodate the two of you. Tewi immediately seizes your old room. Coincidentally, you also find yourself being Tewi's victim much less often. Your lessons with Eirin take a much different tone, less formal now, and less strict. You find that you're not actually covering as much material as before, but Eirin brushes away this concern by pointing out there's no rush. You decide there is something to be said for a more relaxed pace. Eientei quickly adjusts to your and Eiren's newly discovered relationship; but for a couple days where you are subjected to an combination of surreptitious giggles and various words of bawdy congratulation
>Unfortunately the mystery of the Base Six Pair of Pants eludes you still. It may well take a lifetime to figure it out to your satisfaction. The wolf continues to hang around the Eientei. The events of the feast did a lot help adapt the beast to being around people, and there doesn't seem to be too much trouble with the rabbits; who quickly take to sneaking him out little treats when they think you're not looking. You quickly get used to Yorihime and the moon rabbits staying around Eientei; they fuse into daily life quite easily. When Yorihime has confirmed she could find no traces of any items connected to beings beyond the veil and the moon is full again, they return home and you find yourself missing them quite a lot.
>The gems remain with you, and you slowly grow accustomed to their precise and their influence. It is still strange to think of yourself being able to match either the Princess or Eirin. Still, you've proven yourself able enough without them when you matched the Construct in a battle of wills for them. You teach yourself how to better use them, with less collateral difficulties and better integration into your own style. Many of Eirin's lessons now revolve around moral aspects, and how to properly judge situations and to make good inductions.
>A month passes, and you are surprised to find Yorihime at Eientei's doorstep again. She seeks you out, and presents you with a small box. You open it, consumed by curiosity, and find a small silvery medal inside. You immediately recognize as the Platinum Mark of Eminence, the highest honor that the Capital has to give. She explains, while you listen speechlessly, it was decided your quick actions prevented several potential catastrophes and served the cause of purity. It was ruled as well that Patchouli, though her crime cannot be denied, would be exempted from punishment provided she does not try to do it again. But primarily, the jurists were impressed with your actions and your ability to handle the situation. Finally, she says, she's proud of you. Later, Eirin is all too happy to echo those sentiments. Life is good. (http://i42.tinypic.com/35n8nxw.jpg)
>You have gotten a Happy End!
>
>Credits:
>Original Inspiration: TranceHime
>Cover Art: Af
>Ending Art: Slaves
>Programming, Music, Typos, Database Errors: Purvis Hobotech
>Great Player: You!
>See you next quest!
-
Happy end for the win!
-
Score.
> So what was the one simple action we could have taken in ImaginationLand that would have brought us out of it immediately? I've been thinking on everything you've told me and I'm still stumped.
-
Score.
> So what was the one simple action we could have taken in ImaginationLand that would have brought us out of it immediately? I've been thinking on everything you've told me and I'm still stumped.
Wait what?
Also, I'd like to know what the BGM would be for the Reisen vs Statue battle in Imagination Land is if it isn't too much trouble.
-
>What were the physics of imagination land?
>BGM for each apparation battle
>BGM for each gem found
>BGM for courting Eiren
>BGM for gunwinking
I'm sure I'll remember more later.
-
> So what was the one simple action we could have taken in ImaginationLand that would have brought us out of it immediately? I've been thinking on everything you've told me and I'm still stumped.
Giving up the Gems comes to mind, actually, though it wasn't an obvious, or maybe even wise, 'choice.'
>final bladder capacity
-
> Did Alice and Hina wind up friends or friends?
-
Oh yeah.
> What was our completion percentage?
Giving up the Gems comes to mind, actually, though it wasn't an obvious, or maybe even wise, 'choice.'
Given some of the things Purvis hinted at to me (this was mostly post-ImaginationLand btw), that wasn't it.
-
BGM: Oni Eater Battle
-
Score.
> So what was the one simple action we could have taken in ImaginationLand that would have brought us out of it immediately? I've been thinking on everything you've told me and I'm still stumped.
>You did.
>There was no action that would have solved everything from the outset. Reisen had not been drawn into that by her own will. But, pondering why she had been drawn in there would have gone a long way toward not almost getting defeated ffrom the beginning. Instead, people just sort of panicked and tried things blindly.
Wait what?
Also, I'd like to know what the BGM would be for the Reisen vs Statue battle in Imagination Land is if it isn't too much trouble.
>Analysis of an unusual situation is a good idea.
>Reisen vs The Statue: Here comes the Climax! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEW6jpt_5X0&NR=1)
>What were the physics of imagination land?
>BGM for each apparation battle
>BGM for each gem found
>BGM for courting Eiren
>BGM for gunwinking
I'm sure I'll remember more later.
>Essentially, the battle was either in Reisen's mind, the statue's mind, or in the gems connecting them. Withing Reisen's Mind, she could affect herself as she wanted, or the world. However, she could have only a limited effect upon the Statue directly, depending on how strong her position was (that is, how much of herself and her world was intact). On the moons; that is within the gems, the two were roughly on equal footing. Reisen could affect herself to a large degree, the world to a very limited one (mostly just making extensions of herself). The Statue, having no real imagination, fought as it would have in reality, but better. Within the Statue's mind, Reisen's abilities were limited, but she could still affect it in ways it did not anticipate being affected.
>Apparition's Theme: Lurking in Broad Daylight (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVgQAKuAAKY&feature=related)
>Gem Theme: Got the Treasure! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGp0yOdKIto&feature=related)
>Courting Eirin: Baby Steps (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFbVhFlqt3k)
>Gunwink Theme: Lock'd, Load'd (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBefCcsAyrA)
Giving up the Gems comes to mind, actually, though it wasn't an obvious, or maybe even wise, 'choice.'
>final bladder capacity
>Had you been defeated, you would have lost the gems.
>Like a rock.
> Did Alice and Hina wind up friends or friends?
>Yes.
Oh yeah.
> What was our completion percentage?
Given some of the things Purvis hinted at to me (this was mostly post-ImaginationLand btw), that wasn't it.
>One hundred hojillion percent.
BGM: Oni Eater Battle
>Please wait warmly.
-
It was my first Z-Machine Adventure I read, Purv you're da man! I'll read every Z-Machine you write after this. So what about that Sanae and Daiyosei's Epic Beer Adven--
/me is shot.
I'm also curious about the Turkish version.
-
It was my first Z-Machine Adventure I read, Purv you're da man! I'll read every Z-Machine you write after this. So what about that Sanae and Daiyosei's Epic Beer Adven--
/me is shot.
I'm also curious about the Turkish version.
>Ah bless ye.
>None may know the next Z-Machine until it happens!
>The Turkish version is cancelled until the Turkish Government acknowledges the Armenian Genocide.
-
>Could we have beaten Yorihime without the gems?
>If the statue had gotten the gems, what would have happened?
-
>Could we have beaten Yorihime without the gems?
>If the statue had gotten the gems, what would have happened?
>Yes. It would have been very difficult to pull off without distracting the gods, and challenging if you had. But it would have been doable. Taking on Yorihime straight up without the gems, though, would have been the closest thing to a plot battle in any of these quests.
>You would have had to fight it the hard way. The gems would have been its vulnerable point, and would have almost certainly been destroyed in the process.
-
>Organizing the feast BGM
>Appealing to the gods BGM
>Exploring the lake shrine BGM
>Byakuren/Reimu feud BGM
>"Stealing" from Yuyuko BGM
-
> Did Nitori and Momizi get wind of the party and attend? I felt bad for leaving them out.
-
>Is Reisen still a useless bunny, only good for her sex appeal?
-
>Will we EVER find Aya's...collection?
-
>Organizing the feast BGM
>Appealing to the gods BGM
>Exploring the lake shrine BGM
>Byakuren/Reimu feud BGM
>"Stealing" from Yuyuko BGM
>From Zero to Party in Three Hours! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlUqmMshkDg&feature=related)
>Variable Radiance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHFvbft8E90&feature=related)
>This is part of a message... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POhGCEC4gN4)
>Holy Standoff, Reisen! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWoRyGToEKg&feature=related)
>Technically not illegal. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mq8KZdIAG8&feature=PlayList&p=C2D1EF173D0F13CE&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=23)
> Did Nitori and Momizi get wind of the party and attend? I felt bad for leaving them out.
>They followed Sanae.
>Is Reisen still a useless bunny, only good for her sex appeal?
>She beat the statue without the aid of the gems. She's proven herself.
>Will we EVER find Aya's...collection?
>Maybe someday.
-
>If both the statue and sword have been broken into fragments, then what would happen if one of the mini-statues got even a single sword fragment?
-
>If both the statue and sword have been broken into fragments, then what would happen if one of the mini-statues got even a single sword fragment?
>The Statue didn't break down into mini-statues. Just parts of the larger one.
-
>Theory concept stands, your honor.
>How's The Felt doing?
>What's Yukari think of all this?
-
>Theory concept stands, your honor.
>How's The Felt doing?
>What's Yukari think of all this?
>I'll concept your theory, fuckshit.
>It's still there. As for what happens, perhaps you will find out.
>She was not happy she slept through Yorihime getting beaten up.
-
BGM: Oni Eater Battle
Please? :3
Also, did Remilia ever find out we tricked her?
-
BGM: Oni Eater Battle
Please? :3
Also, did Remilia ever find out we tricked her?
>Please wait warmly. It must be uploaded. Tomorrow.
>Not as of yet.
-
>How did time flow in ImaginationLand? How long would we have to dither before Byakuren dropped the shrine?
-
>How did time flow in ImaginationLand? How long would we have to dither before Byakuren dropped the shrine?
>Only a few seconds passed between the beginning and the end of that sequence.
-
>Wow, that's impressive. And cool.
>So, what other ways did you expect us to defeat the statue in a puff of logic? (Or illogic. SUPER SPEED REISEN GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO~!)
-
>Wow, that's impressive. And cool.
>So, what other ways did you expect us to defeat the statue in a puff of logic? (Or illogic. SUPER SPEED REISEN GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO~!)
>I had foreseen four ways that could have been resolved. The first is the old fashioned way; beating it up and making it expend itself until it could no long wrestle you for the gems. The second and third are related; Reisen integrating herself into its mind, or absorbing it into hers. The former would have caused Reisen to awaken in its body, and her own to go comatose, while the latter would have made her wake up and the statute to start to fall apart. In either case, she would then have to deal with a somewhat schizophrenic destructive impulse until the situation could be rectified. The last solution would have been for Reisen to try make herself grow gigantic from her world and physically grab the moons; that is completely ignore the attacks and go directly for the prize. This would have lead to a sort of stalemate between the two of them, both waking, and shared control of the gems.
-
>So, option A appears to have been the best one. And to honest, it should have been one of the easiest given the rules.
> Did you envision and specific technique or do you generally consider that fruitless?
-
>So, option A appears to have been the best one. And to honest, it should have been one of the easiest given the rules.
> Did you envision and specific technique or do you generally consider that fruitless?
>I figured most things would fall under the brutalize it until it goes down method, as most would be directed against the statue itself.
-
BGM: Reisen Quest
What happened to the Spider monkey thing?
-
>Reisen Quest: Here Comes the Intro! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8Azf_48jew)
>It was eventually euthanized and dissected. The wolf enjoyed cleaning up the remains.
-
> How could we have gotten a bad ending?
-
>Getting killed. Letting the Statue run amok. Not stopping Yorihime from taking Patchouli.
-
>Ah, right, what would have happened with some of the "nonstandard" game overs? Like getting captured by Yorihime, letting Patchouli get captured, etc.?
-
> What would have happened with Eirin if we had pursued Hina for ourselves?
> Could we have gotten together with Hina?
-
> What would have happened with Eirin if we had pursued Hina for ourselves?
> Could we have gotten together with Hina?
> Or Alice, for that matter?
-
Oh yeah, it was Alice wasn't it?
-
>Ah, right, what would have happened with some of the "nonstandard" game overs? Like getting captured by Yorihime, letting Patchouli get captured, etc.?
>Getting captured by Yorihime would have necessitated your escape. Likely, then you would have been too late to stop her from striking SDM. If Patchouli got captured outside the plan that actually went down, they would have returned to either to base or to Eientei. In either event, they would have had more time to buckle down, and you would have had a harder time getting through due to them having the Tucker's Kobolds thing going on. One nonstandard path I had considered was actually joining with Yorihime. This would have put you at odds with Eientei and the like. However, I found this to be unlikely, and didn't plan it very thoroughly.
> What would have happened with Eirin if we had pursued Hina for ourselves?
> Could we have gotten together with Hina?
>Eirin would have presumed you weren't interested, and she would have become subtly more distant.
>In theory. Hina had no interest in Reisen, not really knowing her at all, so you would have to start at square one and likely would have not made nearly so much progress as you did with Eirin, with whom you knew very well and with whom there was a very mutual attraction. But who knows? This is one of those areas where I can be surprised.
> Or Alice, for that matter?
>About the same. Alice did know Reisen, but didn't especially like her. Though she thawed a little bit as the story progressed. She probably would have been more suspicious about it than Hina.
Oh yeah, it was Alice wasn't it?
>Yeah, but this didn't really stop you from going after Hina, either.
-
> So, were Alice and Hina on the road to lovers by the end or only friends?
> Why was the door to Alice's house locked earlier?
-
> So, were Alice and Hina on the road to lovers by the end or only friends?
> Why was the door to Alice's house locked earlier?
>Yes.
>Alice was in the middle of surgery. She mentioned this during a later visit.
-
Oh my god fine
> Were Alice and Hina lovers at the end?
> Were Alice and Hina only friends by the end?
-
Oh my god fine
> Were Alice and Hina lovers at the end?
> Were Alice and Hina only friends by the end?
>If I told you, I couldn't use it as a revelation in a later game.
>Okay fine, they were friends. You didn't meddle nearly enough to make anything romantic happen at this juncture.
-
> We need moar Reisen Quest and stuff. "IN GENSOKYO!" as someone said.
-
>If I told you, I couldn't use it as a revelation in a later game.
>Okay fine, they were friends. You didn't meddle nearly enough to make anything romantic happen at this juncture.
>And THANK GOD for that (nearly rage-quit at the bar scene during my epic read-through of Z-adventures from Barren Path to Okku Quest.)