Maidens of the Kaleidoscope
~Beyond the Border~ => Rumia's Party Games => Mystia's Stored Games => Topic started by: DracoOmega on July 19, 2010, 04:58:20 AM
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>You are Keine Kamishirasawa. You are a were-hakutaku. Most of the time, you appear essentially human, but on the night of the full moon, you transform into a full-blooded hakutaku, growing horns and gained enhanced physical and magical abilities. Although you are a youkai, you have chosen to live as a human.
>You maintain a well-appointed dwelling in the human village, as well as running their only school. You prefer teaching history, but since other teachers are in short supply, you also teach other subjects as necessary.
>History is your passion, and there is little documented about the history of Gensokyo that you do not know. You also know a significant amount about the history of the outside world, gleaned from whatever books and information you've been able to acquire over the years. You contribute to the documentation of history where you can, and have written accounts of several important recent events, as well as some older forgotten ones.
>Your youkai abilities also reflect this connection to history. You have sometimes been called the History Eater due to your ability to 'consume' the past, but this is not a true manipulation of past events. Rather, it is a form of illusion that influences people's perception of history and thus their perception of the present, and even then suffers from a variety of limitations.
>In human form, your combat abilities are only on the order of a mid-level youkai, but this still makes you substantially more powerful than your fellow villagers, and you have used your powers to defend them from other youkai when necessary. In hakutaku form, you would likely be capable of holding your own against some of the stronger beings in Gensokyo, but you've rarely had opportunity to test this.
>Many villagers seem more comfortable forgetting that you are youkai, but this doesn't usually bother you. They have reason enough to fear youkai. It is enough that they feel comfortable around you.
>It is shortly after nightfall, in late summer. You are sitting at your desk in the upstairs room of your home. You have recently finished correcting yesterday's history exam, and are currently working on the next chapter of your chronicle of Byakuren's life prior to her sealing in Makai.
>You feel ill at ease, for reasons you do not fully understand. You think you can sense something... strange, some distance away from the human village, but you are not quite certain in which direction.
>_
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> Proximity of full moon.
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>Skills
>Inventory
>Quests
>Relationships
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> Proximity of full moon.
>Tomorrow night should have a full moon.
>Skills
>Inventory
>Quests
>Relationships
>Skills:
>You can use danmaku and spellcards of moderate power. You style focuses particularly on arrays of familiars. Your direct focused firepower is weaker.
>History concealment:
>You can hide objects by consuming their history
>This tends to create a localized effect, even if the consequences of a particular change in history should logically be more wide-reaching
>This does not also generally affect people's memory or knowledge of these events. If you were to hide the history of the village in front of someone's eyes, they would still see it vanish
>It is also very difficult to do if you're unfamiliar with what you're attempting to hide
>While in hakutaku form, this ability is heightened
>Were-Hakutaku:
>During a full moon, you transform into a Hakutaku, heightening all of your abilities
>Inventory:
>Writing brush (currently held)
>Pagoda hat (currently worn)
>Blue dress (currently worn)
>Quests:
>Investigate the oddity:
>You sense something strange not too far away. You don't know what it is, but you feel rather unsettled by it
>Chronicle the past:
>You are currently compiling the research you have conducted on Byakuren and her companions into a chronicle. You have most of the material you should need, but it will still take a great deal of time to write
>Remedial Education:
>The results of the exams you've just corrected suggest that a make-up class on the Warring States period is probably a good idea. The battle against ignorance never seems to end.
>Relationships:
>While you have a friendly relationship with most of the townsfolk (after all, it's a small place, and you've taught most of their children), you are close to only a few people
>You are good friends with Akyuu Heida, through your shared interest in history. You have learned a great deal from her Chronicles of Gensokyo and also contributed with information of your own (you do tend to get away from the village more than she does)
>You are romantically involved with Fujiwara no Mokou. She's a bit of a temperamental sort (to put it mildly), and it's taken a while for your relationship to get to this point, but she seems to soften when you're around. Still, she's been a loner for so long that it's hard for her to adjust to being around people. She still lives in the bamboo forest, away from crowds. You're trying to work on that.
>You have met many of the major figures in Gensokyo at least once, and have read about many of the rest. Despite her attacking you the first time you met, Reimu is on much the same terms with you as everyone else in the village
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> Stock up on spell cards. We've got a bad feeling about this.
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>examine pagoda hat
>get drunk
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> Stock up on spell cards. We've got a bad feeling about this.
>You decide that this isn't the sort of thing you want to investigate unarmed. You open one of the drawers of your desk and retrieve the small wooden case you keep your spellcards in. Unlocking it reveals a sizable deck; more than you would possibly have energy to use even across multiple battles. You've always found the process of scribing spellcards strangely calming, despite the time and focus required, so you tend to have more lying around than you probably need. But it never hurts to be more prepared than necessary.
>You retrieve a balanced assortment of cards and put them in your pocket. If there really is a threat worth confronting out there, you're as armed as you'll ever be.
>examine pagoda hat
>get drunk
>You examine your hat. It is a small navy blue hat, shaped somewhat like a small building with a large red ribbon affixed to the top. It may be rather unusual looking, but it IS distinctive
>You tend not to drink except on special occasions, somewhat to Mokou's chagrin. You do have a small amount of sake stored in the pantry downstairs, but now hardly feels like the right time to break it out.
>_
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>Grab anything else useful around that may be needed out of the house like our wallet/purse or any spare change lying around.
>Examine the spellcards we've taken.
>Go downstairs and outside.
>Try to sense the disturbance in the force strange thing, and where it is coming from.
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>Grab anything else useful around that may be needed out of the house like our wallet/purse or any spare change lying around.
>Examine the spellcards we've taken.
>Go downstairs and outside.
>Try to sense the disturbance in the force strange thing, and where it is coming from.
>You try to think of anything else around the house that might be useful in a pinch. This is made quite a bit more difficult by you having no real idea what you're even looking for. Unless it's a beast that can only be pacified by reading it historical documents, you're probably as prepared for combat as you can be. Although you're not even certain whether this is coming from a being or some other phenomenon. But you figure that taking your wallet can't hurt. You could always buy yourself a bowl of ramen on the way back if this turns out to be a false alarm.
>You obtain: wallet containing 1540 yen
>You take a quick look at your spellcards:
>Spiritual Birth "First Pyramid"
>Origin Sign "Ephemerality 137"
>Ending Sign "Phantasmal Emperor"
>Ambition Sign "Yoshimitsu Crisis"
>Land Sign "Three Sacred Treasures - Orb"
>Last Word "Emperor of the East"
>You left a couple of your most powerful spellcards at home, because you lack the power to use them except while in hakutaku form
>You descend the staircase and exit your home
>You are near the northwestern end of the village, towards the outskirts. Although it is after dark, you can still see some people milling around. There are brighter lights and more signs of activity to the southeast, towards the village center. There will still be some shops and eateries open at this time of night.
>You take a deep breath of the cool air and focus. The sensation you can detect is somewhat elusive, almost a bit like a half-remembered dream. But it is slowly becoming more distinct. You're not sure if that means it's getting closer, or if you're just getting a better grasp of it. You sense a feeling of subtle power. You think... but it's masked. It's hard to tell. However, as you concentrate, you become increasingly convinced that is coming from somewhere generally in the west, away from the village.
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>Head west.
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> Ponder on where Mokou is right now, if this gets really bad we may need her help.
> What is to the west of our current location, even in a general sense, that we know of?
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>Head west.
>You head west, and past the gates of the village. The terrain here is fairly open and there is farmland spreading out in the distance towards the north. There are some farms to the south, but beyond that lies uncultivated grassland for a distance. There are stands of trees here and there. f you follow the westward road, you will eventually connect with the Misty Lake.
>You keep your senses peeled as you continue westward. The presence is definitely getting more distinct, and you can pinpoint its direction more specifically: approximately west-south-west. You increasingly suspect this is a being of some sort, but something about how it feels is very different than the sense that you usually get from most youkai. You don't think it's anything you've encountered before.
> Ponder on where Mokou is right now, if this gets really bad we may need her help.
> What is to the west of our current location, even in a general sense, that we know of?
>You consider if Moukou would be able to lend a hand with this. It's true that she's generally quite a bit more powerful than you are, and convincing her to help would be straightforward enough. Sadly, the bamboo forest where she lives is in nearly the opposite direction of where you're headed, and a fair bit distant. It would be a significant detour to go and fetch her. At this point, although you get the sense that something is unusual, you aren't convinced the presence is directly hostile.
>If we keep heading West, we will eventually reach the Misty Lake. North of there lies the Scarlet Devil Mansion, and further West is Youkai Mountain.
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>Keeping going that way, wary of unusual things.
>Preemptively blame Tenshi.
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> Ponder if anyone from the Scarlet Devil Mansion would be capable of making us feel this strange feeling.
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>Preemptively blame Tenshi.
>You don't really think the celestial is responsible for this. It seems, well... too subtle for her. But you do get a certain degree of satisfaction from grumbling to yourself about her, anyway. You're sure there's probably SOMETHING she ought to be blamed for, at the moment. You profoundly sympathize with those who have to put up with her on a daily basis.
> Ponder if anyone from the Scarlet Devil Mansion would be capable of making us feel this strange feeling.
>Well, you suppose it's not impossible. Pathchouli's repertoire of magic is extremely extensive, although it is unusual for her to be this far afield. Remilia also has some subtle and difficult to define abilities. Can one feel fate being manipulated? No one tends to get straight answers out of her on that one, though. You've never been quite sure how much of that she could just be making up. Still, this isn't anything that readily reminds you of anyone that lived in the mansion.
>Keeping going that way, wary of unusual things.
>You continue in the direction of the unusual sensation, past the farms and the far outskirts of the village. You seem to be heading towards a moderately sized wooded area, crowded with densely-leafed trees. You're pretty certain that what you're looking for is in there, somewhere. Looking behind you, the village is still clearly visible, but fairly tiny at this point.
>The sensation was growing less fuzzy and more defined as you approached, and at first you thought this was simply because you were getting closer to it. But you've come to suspect that this was because the phenomenon itself was... manifesting, somehow. If one were to put it into words, at first it felt wispy, like something on the edge of consciousness, or a melody too faint to recognize. Now, however, it is clearly the aura of a being. It may not be a youkai, but it is clearly a magical creature of some sort. Curiously, even though you are certain it is fully 'there', it still feels muted and hazy. You have difficulty telling how powerful it is.
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>If it can be felt this far, it is probably pretty powerful. Be ready to try to talk it out, chances are fighting is just going to end poorly.
>How confident are we in our dodging skills?
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>If it can be felt this far, it is probably pretty powerful. Be ready to try to talk it out, chances are fighting is just going to end poorly.
>You consider the possibility that something giving off this much presence from a distance is out of your league. It's... distinctly possible, you have to admit. Still, once the presence 'solidified', it doesn't seem to have grown appreciable stronger as you approach it. Which is kind of odd in and of itself, now that you think about it. But it also doesn't feel like raw power emanating from it, either. There's something strangely... lulling about it, actually. You're still not quite sure what it is.
>But yes, you'd much rather resolve this without a fight if at all possible. There's a reasonable chance you'd be out of your league if it came to one.
>How confident are we in our dodging skills?
>You have relatively average agility for a youkai of your rank. On the plus side, the trees should provide plenty of opportunities for cover, assuming whatever it is can't just trivially blast through the trees entirely.
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>Into the forest!
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> Stay calm, despite the strange feeling. As someone in our position, we need to stay calm, it could just be a Youkai with a intresting power that didn't know it was affecting others. No matter how unlikly, we should keep peace as our first option and fighting as Plan B if talking won't help us.
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> Stay calm, despite the strange feeling. As someone in our position, we need to stay calm, it could just be a Youkai with a intresting power that didn't know it was affecting others. No matter how unlikly, we should keep peace as our first option and fighting as Plan B if talking won't help us.
>You are definitely not looking for a fight here, and still are reasonably hopeful that whatever is in this forest isn't, either. You admit to being nervous, but try to shake it off. You have no reason to suspect it is malicious. Simply very strange. You prefer to approach situations with a rational and analytical mind, in the first place. The false moon incident was an... unfortunate exception where you let your fear for the safety of the village affect your judgment, and jumped to incorrect conclusions with rather... painful consequences. You're still a bit embarrassed when the subject comes up, and in no hurry to repeat something like that.
>Into the forest!
>You're familiar with the terrain of the region and know that the wooded area is actually fairly small, barely more than a thicket. It would probably only take about 15 minutes to walk from one side of to the other. But it would still be plenty of room for something to hide in, and you're not getting any better sense of direction from the creature than 'nearby'
>You approach the point where the trees grow dense, and slip inside. Although it's a bright and clear night out, it quickly becomes dark as you enter. The moonlight filters down in scattered patches through holes in the canopy. Some areas are well lit by pools of moonlight, while others are almost too dark to see. The air is thick with a woody fragrance, and the dense undergrowth crunches beneath your feet as you walk.
>After a minute or two, you think you can make out the sounds of something moving through the trees a short distance to the west
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>Proceed west cautiously.
>Try to get a better idea where it is and what it is from the sounds.
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>Proceed west cautiously.
>Try to get a better idea where it is and what it is from the sounds.
>You proceed carefully to the west, trying not to make more noise than necessary. However, you're not exactly the most accomplished woodsman, and you think it's quite possible that if you can hear whoever it is moving around out there, they can probably hear you, too. Or at least hear something.
>From the sounds of motion, it does not appear to be moving very fast, nor does it seem very large. There are no heavy footfalls or other unusual sounds. It could even be human. It is fairly close and to the west, but you can't even be certain the sounds are coming from the presence itself. Its location is indistinct, although you're fairly certain it's in the woods. But would anyone else be wandering around in here at this time of night?
>Wait, what was that? You think you saw a flash of movement in the distance, towards the south. It was quick and indistinct, before you lost it in the trees again. It did not seem to make any noise.
>You stifle a yawn. It's not THAT late in the evening, is it? Maybe correcting those tests was even more depressing than you thought?
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>"Hello?"
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>"Hello?"
>You call out into the forest. You don't seem to get a response. You try again, somewhat louder. Still nothing. But then you become aware that you no longer hear movement in the west.
>After a few moments of silence, you hear a timid voice tentatively call out. "I-is someone out there?" You can barely make out the words. Whoever's speaking sounds a little frightened.
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>"Hi, I'm Keine. Are you alright? Don't worry, I'm not here to give you a hard time."
>Can we feel anything different?
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>"Hi, I'm Keine. Are you alright? Don't worry, I'm not here to give you a hard time."
>Can we feel anything different?
>You try to introduce yourself and assure whoever it is that you mean no harm. You get partway through 'alright' before you feel compelled to yawn. Your eyes are getting seriously droopy.
>You catch another flash of movement towards the southwest, moving generally towards where the voice is coming from. It's closer, now. Maybe it would be ok to just go to sleep here? It looks so cozy...
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> ...Wait, this is too weird. Aren't there stories, possibly even mentions in history, of enchantments that cause people to just sleep where they are? Maybe we should try to get away from here, no matter how nice it might be
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> ...Wait, this is too weird. Aren't there stories, possibly even mentions in history, of enchantments that cause people to just sleep where they are? Maybe we should try to get away from here, no matter how nice it might be
>You snap out of contemplating a nap on the forest floor with the realization that this is a very unnatural thing to be thinking at the moment. Something is wrong. You try to will yourself awake, and are at least moderately successful. The thought of pleasant dreams still feels awfully inviting, but that can wait until this is figured out. You yawn again, then slap yourself a couple times. It can wait!
>You consider the possibility of some enchantment on the area. While you haven't been this far into the woods before, it's not an unexplored area. This close to the village, you've no doubt that other people have wandered through here, yet you've never heard of anyone disappearing or having any other unusual experiences here. Unless it's new... Or maybe whoever's voice that was is doing it? She sounded more scared than hostile, though. Maybe it's a defense mechanism? Or is it some kind of trick?
>You think you can probably keep yourself awake if you concentrate on it
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>"What are you doing out here?"
>Stay awake. If this thing is causing us to fall asleep, we'll probably be better off trying to talk to it rather than making sudden movements like running away or something.
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>"What are you doing out here?"
>You call out to the voice again.
>"A- are you human?" she responds, still clearly nervous. From the sounds of it, she's probably no more than 100 feet or so away from you. You try peering in that direction, but it's impossible to make out any form through the trees at this distance if she's standing still.
>Stay awake. If this thing is causing us to fall asleep, we'll probably be better off trying to talk to it rather than making sudden movements like running away or something.
You think you're ok for the moment. You still feel quite drowsy, but not at immediate risk of taking a spontaneous nap unless you let yourself.
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> "Yes. I'm a teacher in the Human Village, but I'm not going to hurt you if you're a youkai."
> " What are you doing out here?"
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> "Yes. I'm a teacher in the Human Village, but I'm not going to hurt you if you're a youkai."
> " What are you doing out here?"
>"Y- Youkai? No, I'm human. I was just-" Her voice cuts off abruptly
>You catch another flash of movement to the west, as whatever it is passes through a small gap in the trees where the light was pooling. You think you see... wings? It was hard to be sure. It definitely seemed to be moving towards the source of the voice you were speaking with.
>After a moment, you think you can hear her speaking again, but it's very quite. And there is a second voice. You're too far away to tell what they're saying at this volume.
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>Pursue the voices.
>"Is there someone else there?"
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>Pursue the voices.
>"Is there someone else there?"
>You move quickly westward. You call out to the other voice, but don't get an answer from either of them.
>As you get closer, you can make out fragments of conversation, although you can only catch a few words at this distance. "...what are... why... I-" says the first voice, still tremulous. "...curious... are you.... or awake?" comes a new voice. It is also female, but somehow ephemeral, as though it were carried from a distance on a breeze. Strangely, it reminds you of a lullaby, although there is no melody to the voice.
>You feel a bit drowsy again, but you shake your head to clear it.
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>Continue approach, we need to know what's going on here.
>Pinch self to assure wakeness.
>"Excuse me, miss?"
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>Pinch self to assure wakeness.
>You pinch yourself. Ow! It might have helped a little.
>Continue approach, we need to know what's going on here.
>"Excuse me, miss?"
>You continue quickly towards the source of the conversation. The first voice seems to be growing increasingly upset, while the second remains calm and mellifluous. You catch something about a 'waking dreamer'. Then the first voice cries out and you can hear someone running through the forest. You catch a glimpse of her through the trees, no more than 20 feet away, running north. You call out after her, but she seems to be too busy running away in fear to notice you. She looks human, but it was too brief to make out many other details. She seemed to be wearing a dark-colored dress.
>Almost immediately after you catch sight of her, a second figure passes through the same small gap in the trees, moving much more quickly. Much of your view of this figure is obscured by great ivory wings. You angle towards it, but you have barely taken another step before you hear the first girl cry out, and... something happens.
>Something is wrong. Something is very, very wrong. You have no idea what it is, but you have never been more convinced of something in your life. It feels like the very world around you is recoiling. A jolt tears through you, like muted lightning. There is no pain, but you find you can no longer stand. You stagger to the ground, gasping for breath. It feels like the air around you is shattering into a thousand pieces. Your senses fail you. You can see things which are not in front of you. Places you recognize, and places you do not. You can hear whispers of countless different voices, but cannot make out the words. Something is being undone. And then you hear a single cry. You briefly see the face of a young woman in your mind who you do not recognize. Was it the woman you just saw?
>Your consciousness grows hazy and the world seems to slip away from you.
>You open your eyes again. You have a bit of a headache. You aren't sure how long you were out, and it takes you a moment to even realize what you are doing lying here. What... just happened?
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> Body parts check. Following, history check.
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>Examine surroundings. We still in the woods? Is there anybody around?
>Do we still feel that strangeness from before?
>Time of day?
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> Body parts check. Following, history check.
>You take a moment to check yourself for injuries. Other than a minor scrape on your leg where you fell to the forest floor, everything seems to be in one piece.
>You cannot innately 'sense' history in any detailed way. In human form, at best you can get vague impressions of things. Most of what you know about history you have learned in the old-fashioned way. It's true that something feels 'off', but you're still rather disoriented, so that could mean almost anything.
>Examine surroundings. We still in the woods? Is there anybody around?
>You are still in the woods, and appear to be in more or less the same spot that you lost consciousness. The woods do seem to be kind of less dense than you remember them, but you're not sure. You don't hear or sense the presence of others at the moment.
>Do we still feel that strangeness from before?
>You can sense no trace of the strange presence you felt earlier. You suspect it was coming from the winged woman. You guess she's long gone by now.
>Time of day?
It's hard to tell for sure. It's still dark out. You could probably estimate the time by the moon if you had a familiar landmark to get your bearings by. You aren't entirely sure which direction you're facing at the moment.
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> Do we still have all our spellcards?
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>Do you still feel that sense of wrongness from before?
>Is it the world that is wrong?
>Can you recall anything about those strange images of places before you were knocked out?
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> Take a deep breath.
> Look for any lights that may be coming from the village.
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> Do we still have all our spellcards?
>You reach into your pocket to confirm your spellcards. ...some are missing. You pull them out and examine them.
>Origin Sign "Ephemerality 137"
>Land Sign "Three Sacred Treasures - Mirror"
>Future "The Next History of Phantasm"
>Even more oddly, two of these were not among the ones you brought with you when you left your home this evening. You are not even capable of using the 3rd card in your current form.
> Take a deep breath.
>You take a deep breath and try to calm yourself. It... doesn't help a whole lot, to be honest. What you just went through has left you very shaken. And the spellcard situation doesn't exactly help matters. Something is wrong. Still, being agitated won't help solve it. You take another deep breath.
> Look for any lights that may be coming from the village.
>You are too deep in the woods to see the village from here. You'll have to exit before you could even see a distant hint of it.
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> Search the general area a bit for clues.
> Exit the woods.
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> Search the general area a bit for clues.
> Exit the woods.
>You spend a while searching the area near where you saw the other two figures. You don't find any sign of them, or anything else that looks out of place. Eventually you decide that there's nothing else to be found here other than dirt and plants, and head towards the outside of the woods.
>You're pretty sure you're not walking along the same route that you took in here, but the woods are shallow enough that you know it won't really matter. A few minutes in any direction and you will eventually reach open terrain.
>After 10 minutes of walking or so, the trees start to thin and you exit the woods. Judging by the hills and other terrain features, you have exited the woods through the south. The village should be to the northeast, although you can't see it from here, as the woods themselves are obscuring your line of sight.
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>walk around the woods to try and see the village and keep an eye out for any other landmarks or oddities.
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>walk around the woods to try and see the village and keep an eye out for any other landmarks or oddities.
>You circle around the woods, and head further northeast. The terrain is mostly open grassland, with a few small rolling hills. There are scattered stands of trees, here and there. Nothing looks especially amiss. Eventually the village comes into sight as a small black shape in the distance. It doesn't seem as well-lit as it was when you left, but you're not sure how long you've been out.
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> Approach the village.
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> Approach the village.
>You continue towards the village. As you get closer, the lack of lights seems increasingly conspicuous. Maybe you really were out until the middle of the night? Unfortunately, it's clouded over since you entered the woods initially, so you can't really tell what time it is.
>You reach the farmland on the southwestern outskirts of the village. It hadn't been obvious from a distance, but as you as walk past one field, you realize that it is overgrown with weeds. Maybe... that was just left fallow this year? You don't pay much attention to the village's agriculture. But then you pass several more in a similar state. Other places where you remember cultivated fields being seem covered in grass. You can't even find them under it.
>You try to choke back rising panic. Surely there's some kind of mistake, right?
>You arrive at the western outskirts of the village. The houses seem to be in basically the same place you remember them, but... something isn't quite right about them.
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>Examine houses.
>Consider a second history check.
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> Examine houses
> Check our head for our Hakutaku horns, we may have been out for more then a few hours.
> Consider possibility of Time Travel or a Youkai that can mimic powers.
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>Consider a second history check.
>Something definitely feels wrong, but other than that, you don't get any extra insights. If you were in hakutaku form, you might be more able to pinpoint this sensation, but for the moment you're going to have to rely on the rest of your senses.
>Examine houses.
>You walk towards a nearby house on the western edge of the village; a simple, thatched-roof dwelling. At first glance, it looks normal enough, but as you get closer, you realize that the roof is in very bad shape, and has several holes in it. The window is caked with grime. It doesn't look like anyone has maintained this place for a couple years, anyway. You try to peer through the window, but it's hard to make anything out in the poor light. The inside looks pretty empty, though.
>While the village is large enough that you don't know everyone who lives there, you're pretty sure there were no abandoned houses, here. You try not to reflect too hard on what this might mean, just yet.
> Check our head for our Hakutaku horns, we may have been out for more then a few hours.
>You reflexively run your hand through your hair, where your horns would be if you were in hakutaku form, although this gesture is unnecessary to tell that you aren't. There is a strength flowing through you when under the influence of the full moon that is absent now. You feel faster, sharper, more alive. It's truly invigorating, really. While it would be useful to be in hakutaku form right now, you take some comfort in knowing that the full moon will come tomorrow.
> Consider possibility of Time Travel or a Youkai that can mimic powers.
>You still don't know enough to know what happened for certain. It's hard to rule out even the more unlikely possibilities.
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> Head futher into the village, noting the houses as we go and the condition of said houses.
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> Head futher into the village, noting the houses as we go and the condition of said houses.
>You continue into the village. You pass by an increasing number of houses, and examine them as you pass. Some are in better shape than the first, and some are in worse. There are sagging beams and broken windows. Doors fallen off their hinges. Some houses seem to have sustained actual damage. You see one with several beams sheared off, half of it collapsed in rubble. A few houses look to be in nearly perfect shape, but even in those you can find no sign of inhabitants.
>It is extremely chilling to find the place that you have lived in all these years so desolate. It was only hours ago there were people talking and laughing and sharing drinks with each other. Tomorrow morning, you had every expectation of chastening some of your students for the disregard they give their studies, without much hope of them actually getting the message this time. Even that seems like a precious and dear thing, right now. This place feels hallow, and it almost hurts to be here.
>You are in the western portion of the city. Your house is northward. The market area is to the east, and further east lies the Hieda estate. There is farmland to the north of the village, and the graveyard is just past the outskirts to the northeast. Your school lies southeast.
-
> Head to your house.
-
>Check home. It's pretty clear either history has been altered dramatically, Keine's been out for years, or there's a whole helluva lot of illusions going on. If it's history, someone may have copied your powers and/or impersonated you at home.
>Then again, that might lead to a conflict with them without knowing enough...
>On second thought, head to the graveyard, but expect to see something horrible.
-
> Head to your house.
>Even though you feel you already know the answer to this question, you head towards your own home. You want to see it with your own eyes.
>You head north, and try to ignore all the abandoned houses you pass on your way. It's too much to take in right now, and your mind starts spinning horrible scenarios about what happened to them, whenever you let your eyes focus on them.
>You reach your house, and it's immediately clear to you that no one has lived in it for some time, either. It's actually in remarkably good shape. It was one of the more well-cared for homes in the village, after all. But even without getting close to it, you can see the changes. This is your home, after all. You can see practically every slat that's out of place. Still, you force yourself forward
>You open the front door, the hinges moaning loudly. Probably needs oiling. Yes, just a little oil, some fresh paint and this will all go away. Right?
>You step into the main room of the home. The layer of dust and cobwebs aside, it's actually pretty empty. There's still a few pieces of furniture around, but many of the objects have been removed. Still, if it was looted, they were courteous looters. Nothing is broken.
>There are exits to the kitchen/pantry and bathroom on the main floor, and steps upstairs to your study and bedroom.
-
>Investigate and gather anything of value that's left. It's at least technically yours, after all. Look for spellcards, in particular. This could get ugly.
-
> Consider where the nearest person we could go to lives, from our current position. Which would be closer, the Hakurei Shrine, or Mokou's home. We definately will need to team up with SOMEONE in order to fix this.
-
>Investigate and gather anything of value that's left. It's at least technically yours, after all. Look for spellcards, in particular. This could get ugly.
>You decide to search the house for any objects of value that are left. A search of the cooking areas reveals no food of any kind. There are a couple large pots and other utensils, but far less than the place would usually contain. The bathroom is entirely empty.
>You head upstairs. Your desk and bed are still there, although the bed has been stripped of any bedding. Both are covered in a thick layer of dust. You notice a solitary scroll case resting in the center of the desk.
>You open the drawer where you keep your case of spellcards, but the drawer is empty, too. A search of the other drawers finds only a few knick-knacks, a mostly empty bottle of dried ink and a writing brush splayed to the point that it probably ought to simply be discarded.
> Consider where the nearest person we could go to lives, from our current position. Which would be closer, the Hakurei Shrine, or Mokou's home. We definately will need to team up with SOMEONE in order to fix this.
>They're both roughly the same distance away, although in different directions. The Hakurei Shrine lies along the eastern edge of the boundary, to the far northeast of the village. The Bamboo Forest is in the southeast, but Mokou's house is in a section of it nearest to the human village. Actually, she might be slightly closer, now that you think of it.
-
>Mokou is probably a safer bet, considering that Reimu would probably only last a few dozen years, and the Hakurei line probably wouldn't have let the human village decay so much. If we've been out for an especially long time.
>Check out the scroll case, try and estimate whether it'd fall apart if opened/read
-
>Mokou is probably a safer bet, considering that Reimu would probably only last a few dozen years, and the Hakurei line probably wouldn't have let the human village decay so much. If we've been out for an especially long time.
>You consider whether Reimu is even still around. Either way, you figure whatever happened here can't have gone unnoticed by her. It certainly wasn't recent, by whatever timeline you're in. She may be lazy and prone to solving problems through unnecessary acts of aggression, but she seems to have an excellent intuition for when serious matters are at hand. You've seen several potential crises averted by her before you were even aware that they were brewing. You just wrote them down afterwards. Which makes you wonder how this could have happened in the first place... Maybe they just decided that the farming was better somewhere else? You haven't seen any signs of death, yet.
>As for Mokou, if nothing else she would give you a shoulder to cry on. You almost wonder why you haven't already broken down into tears. You're probably still numb with shock.
>Check out the scroll case, try and estimate whether it'd fall apart if opened/read
>It is a simple wooden tube and still in fine shape, although dusty like everything else. There's no way to tell whether whatever's inside it is in similar shape, but you have no reason to think that it wouldn't be. Nothing here seem that old.
-
> Check if scroll's inside, if so read scroll.
-
> Check if scroll's inside, if so read scroll.
>You open the scroll case, and withdraw the scroll from it. It actually seem fairly new, and is in good shape. You unroll it to read it... and your start to shiver when you recognize the penmanship of the first characters. Still, you force yourself to continue:
"It is with a heavy heart that I leave to join the rest. I have already stayed far longer than most. But the history of this village is my own, and I will preserve it, though the buildings turn to dust. It was never the buildings that made this place a home.
I do not expect anyone to read this message. There are few who still cling to this place. But I cannot help but leave some record behind. Perhaps it is a vice of mine.
I have done all I can, and it was not enough. From the day this started, it was never enough. Perhaps someday I will forgive myself. But I will never let history forget.
-Keine Kamishirasawa"
>The message is dated three years previous. At least to the year you thought it was this morning.
-
> This is ominous, check your house for anymore clues.
>Whether or not you found any, head to Akyu's house, she must have records of what happened here.
-
> Oh no, this can't be right.
> Check for anything that may be hidden, if we have a habit of storng somethings in places you might never look. Obtain anything useful that is found.
> Once this is done, head directly for Mokou's home, surely she will still be living in the same place... right?
-
> Once this is done, head directly for Mokou's home, surely she will still be living in the same place... right?
>If things have changed this much, then it's difficult to say.
>How easy is it to escape the Bamboo Forest if lost? By say, flight?
-
> Once this is done, head directly for Mokou's home, surely she will still be living in the same place... right?
> Yes check Moukou's home afters Akyu's, we need to find out whats going on here first.
-
> Oh no, this can't be right.
>No, this is very, very wrong. This is wrong in a way that nothing you have ever experienced has been wrong.
> This is ominous, check your house for anymore clues.
>You put the scroll back in its case and try to keep your hands from trembling. It should be impossible to read a message from yourself that you did not write. But the handwriting is unmistakable. You pray that this is all just some elaborate illusion, or a dream that you can just wake up from. You fail to convince yourself. This feels terrifyingly real. If history truly has been altered somehow, you resolve to discover the source of it and fix it. You have no idea how you could go about doing this, but you'll be damned if you don't try.
>You do another sweep of the house but fail to find anything else of interest. From the tone of the note, we probably packed up all our useful possessions and took them with us to... wherever it was that we went. At least it sounded like that was still somewhere for the villagers to have gone TO.
>Pronouns are a very strange thing when referring to a self that did not live the life that you remember...
> Check for anything that may be hidden, if we have a habit of storng somethings in places you might never look. Obtain anything useful that is found.
>You don't really have any out of the way spots that you keep your possessions. If this self was different in that regard, she's hidden them well enough that you can't find them.
> Once this is done, head directly for Mokou's home, surely she will still be living in the same place... right?
>As tempting it is to seek out the comfort of a loved one, you've grown increasingly worried that even this will have somehow changed in this timeline. Still, there is still a hope. You figure this is as good a destination as any when you've finished exploring the village.
>Whether or not you found any, head to Akyu's house, she must have records of what happened here.
>You decide to see of Akyuu's house has more detailed records of what took place here. You exit your home and head southeast.
>This takes you through the market center. Normally this would be the busiest area of town, crowded with open stalls and food carts. The town square is empty, now. Either everything was packed up into one of the nearby buildings, or people took it with them.
>Wait, is that a light you see in one of the buildings on the edge of the market circle?
-
> Go check it out
-
> Have hope! Someone is here!
> Head towards the building the light is coming from.
-
>Be ready to give them a faceful of spellcard, should they try some level 2 sleuth diplomacy on us.
>Evaluate the nature of the light, on the way.
-
> Have hope! Someone is here!
>Your spirits perk up a little at the first signs of life you've seen since you regained consciousness.
>Be ready to give them a faceful of spellcard, should they try some level 2 sleuth diplomacy on us.
>You are certainly prepared for the possibility that this presence will not be friendly. But you're hoping against hope to see a familiar face.
>Evaluate the nature of the light, on the way.
>The light appears to be something mundane, like an oil lantern. It's strangely comforting.
> Go check it out
>You make your way over to the building. It's a small tile-roofed structure, partially attached to the adjacent buildings. This was an herbalist's shop and home, the last you saw it, although the sign seems to have been removed. You note that it actually seems well tended to, even if the neighbors are in various states of disrepair. There's a small flower bed along the front of the building, enclosed in white stones. A small cherry tree is growing there, along with a few assorted flowers.
-
>Can we hear anything inside?
>Consider knocking on the door. It's less hostile than just barging in.
-
>Prepare to go into /Assault Mode in case the inhabitant is hostile.
-
>Can we hear anything inside?
>You listen at the door. You think you can hear something... bubbling? It kind of sounds like something boiling vigorously.
>Consider knocking on the door. It's less hostile than just barging in.
>Prepare to go into /Assault Mode in case the inhabitant is hostile.
>Well, it looks reasonably safe, anyway. You knock on the door, ready with a spellcard if the response is less than hospitable. You wait a little bit, but fail to get an answer. "Is anyone there?" you call out, while knocking again. Still nothing.
-
> Knock on the door once more, and call out again.
> Was whoever lived here elderly at all?
-
> Knock the door again, again and again
> If no one answers, check if doors unlock, if it is open it and look inside "Hello anyone here?, sorry for interrupting but the door was unlocked and no one answered"
-
> Was whoever lived here elderly at all?
>The store was run by a woman in her 30s who inherited it from her mother. While she was a friendly sort, she lived alone, as best you can recall.
> Knock the door again, again and again
> If no one answers, check if doors unlock, if it is open it and look inside "Hello anyone here?, sorry for interrupting but the door was unlocked and no one answered"
>You continue knocking at the door, but eventually figure that the inhabitants must either be deaf or absent. You try the handle and realize that the door was never actually looked. You call out a courtesy acknowledgment, although you figure that if they didn't hear all that pounding, they won't hear this either. Predictably, you get no response.
>What you can see of the front room from the outside looks fairly homey. There's lots of warm light dancing around the walls, and the house looks cared for.
-
>Walk inside, and examine the decor. See if it's possible to discern who's living here.
-
>Walk inside, and examine the decor. See if it's possible to discern who's living here.
>You step inside. This room would have originally been the storefront, and although the counter is still there, the shelves that would normally be full of jars containing herbs and other compounds have been replaced with an eclectic variety of objects. There are some vases with wildflowers, a fancy glass paperweight, an paper fan on a stand, a worn beach stone, a few decorative wood carvings, another scroll case, an assorted minutia.
>Through an archway to the side, you peak into the room that doubled as a kitchen and herbal preparation area. There seems to be a pot of... something boiling on the stove. Actually, it looks in danger of boiling over if it's left unattended much longer.
>There are stairs in the main room, behind the counter, the lead up to the sleeping area
-
>Head up the stairs.
-
>Head up the stairs.
>You head up the stairs. There's a moderately sized bedroom and living space here. The bed is unmade, and it looks like someone has been recently sleeping in it. There's another vase of flowers on the nightstand. In general, the room seems to be decorated in a tasteful minimalist fashion. There's small bottle of sake on the table. A wall scroll hangs in the corner... hey, wait, that was yours! Wasn't it? There's no sign of any inhabitants.
-
>Frown at the pilfered scroll, then head downstairs and into the kitchen.
-
>Frown at the pilfered scroll, then head downstairs and into the kitchen.
>You spare a moment to frown disapprovingly at the wall scroll. Then again, this was never one of your favorites. You hadn't hung it up in ages. Maybe you ended up leaving it behind here when you left? Assuming whoever this is didn't rob you blind while you were still living here, it's probably best if someone appreciates it, rather than letting it rot in an abandoned home.
>You head downstairs and enter the kitchen. The pot's really frothing now. It smells pretty nice, though, whatever it is. The kitchen seems pretty well equipped. The various pots and utensils you see around don't appear to match each other, but there's still a good assortment of them. A plate of mochi sits on the table.
-
>Try to identify contents of the pot, see if we recognize the recipe and whether it should be allowed to boil over like this.
-
> If it needs to be turned off, do so, in case whoever was cooking it is ever going to come back.
> Be prepared for anything that might make whoever was here not come back
-
>Try to identify contents of the pot, see if we recognize the recipe and whether it should be allowed to boil over like this.
>You try to skim away some of the froth and look at it. You think it might actually be soup. You don't recognize everything floating about in there, but some of them are definitely ordinary garden-variety vegetables.
> If it needs to be turned off, do so, in case whoever was cooking it is ever going to come back.
> Be prepared for anything that might make whoever was here not come back
>You figure whoever it is doesn't want this spilling all over the place. You take the pot off the stove, for the moment. It settles down fairly quickly.
-
>Examine mochi for freshness.
>Look around for other places to go.
-
>Examine mochi for freshness.
>The mochi looks quite fresh, actually. You're almost tempted to try some, but figure that it's the height of impoliteness to not only walk into someone's house uninvited, but nibble on their food.
>Look around for other places to go.
>Wherever the current inhabitant of this place is, you figure they can't have gotten far. You could search around the rest of the village for them, or continue towards Akyuu's house, which was your original destination. You've yet to travel through the southern, northern, or eastern regions of the village.
-
>Anyplace else in the shop, that is?
-
> If nothing else occurs, continue to Akyuu's.
-
>Anyplace else in the shop, that is?
>No, it's pretty small. Whoever lives here is clearly out at the moment.
> If nothing else occurs, continue to Akyuu's.
>You decide that you can always come back here later, and continue on towards your original destination, hoping to find a more detailed record of what happened here. You work your way east, taking a narrow road that curves through the southern section of the village and emerge into another more open area. You can see your school to the side here, looking much like the rest of the buildings at first. As you come around the corner fully, though, you realize that part of the building seems to have been destroyed entirely. The east end of it is collapsed into rubble, and there are scorch marks. Several nearby homes show signs of similar damage.
>Something catches your eye towards the southeast, like a bubble of blackness blotting out some of the houses in that direction. You think you hear... whistling?
-
>Stare the darkness. Try to discern whether or not it is a Darkness Youkai we know well.
>Recall what we know about said Darkness Youkai.
-
>Stare the darkness. Try to discern whether or not it is a Darkness Youkai we know well.
>Recall what we know about said Darkness Youkai.
>You stare at the sphere of darkness as it slowly wanders around. It does look like Rumia. At least nobody else you know of does that. She seems to whistling a simple children's rhyme. Then the sphere abruptly stops as it passes close to a house, and you hear a thud followed by a small yelp. Yup, definitely Rumia.
>You've run into Rumia a number of times. She seemed to like wandering around the outskirts of the village on occasion. She's a fairly simple-minded youkai, but also relatively harmless and easy to placate. You get the strange feeling she might actually have liked you, a little. It seems there were rumors of her actually eating people (not uncommon for lower level youkai), but you aren't sure how true some of these were. She seemed content enough to leave people alone if you just tossed her a cheeseburger, or something.
-
>"Rumia?"
-
>"Rumia?"
>You call out to her, but you think she may be too far away to hear you. She tends to be lost in her own bubble, a lot of the time. Figuratively, and literally.
-
>You call out to her, but you think she may be too far away to hear you. She tends to be lost in her own bubble, a lot of the time. Figuratively, and literally.
>Close in on her until either she notices us or we're just a couple yards away. In the case of the latter, call again.
-
>Close in on her until either she notices us or we're just a couple yards away. In the case of the latter, call again.
>You continue closer, but Rumia shows no signs of acknowledging your presence. But, as far as you can tell, if you can't see her, she can't see you, either. Makes you wonder why she bothers to walk around like that in the first place...
>Once you get close enough, you call out her name again. The bubble seems to disperse and you can see her standing back on to you. She turns around to face you "Hey, how'd you know it was me? Who-". She doesn't finish her sentence. Once she gets a look at you, her eyes go wide. She seems almost terrified.
-
>"Um, Rumia, I need to ask you a bunch of really weird things, and I bet you need to ask me some really weird ones, too. Okay?"
-
>"Um, Rumia, I need to ask you a bunch of really weird things, and I bet you need to ask me some really weird ones, too. Okay?"
>She continues looking dumbstruck at you for a moment, then starts gesturing wildly around her. You're not sure she's pointing at anything in particular.
>"It wasn't me! It wasn't me! They were all gone. Rumia didn't eat anybody! It hurts to eat people. Rumia remembers. Don't hurt Rumia again!"
>She turns and starts to run away from you, arms spread wide.
-
>She's afraid of us?
>"HOLD IT!"
-
>She's afraid of us?
>"HOLD IT!"
>You yell at her to stop, but that just makes her move faster. She takes flight, and the bubble of darkness appears around her again, almost as a defensive reaction. Not that it does much to disguise her actual location. You'd think she'd have figured that out after all these years....
-
>Indulge is some creative profanity no doubt gathered from our immense well of cultural knowledge. Then follow.
-
>Indulge is some creative profanity no doubt gathered from our immense well of cultural knowledge. Then follow.
>You decide to break out an oath that has not, to the best of your knowledge, been used since the fall of the ancient Sumarian empire. It is sometimes convenient to be able to draw upon profanities that no one else in your vicinity can understand. You have a reputation to preserve, after all. Mokou would probably laugh to kill herself if she knew.
>You take to the air and fly after Rumia. She's slower than you, and you close the gap between yourself fairly quickly. You're near the edge of the sphere of darkness, extending roughly 20 feet around her. Even though you can't see the slightest thing inside it, you know she's at the center of it, so it's not hard to tell where she is.
-
> "I JUST WANT TO TALK! I PROMISE I WON"T HURT YOU!"
-
> "I JUST WANT TO TALK! I PROMISE I WON"T HURT YOU!"
>You yell reassurances at her, but she doesn't seem to listen.
>Look below you, you're flying past the southeastern edge of the village. It's kind of hard to see where you're going, due to the sphere of darkness taking up much of your central vision with you this close to it. Then you hear a thunk and a squeal. The darkness seems to be falling towards the ground. As it falls away from you, you see a small stand of rather tall trees a few feet in front of you.
-
>Come to a halt!
>Or dodge around the trees if needs be.
>Then go tend to Rumia.
-
>Come to a halt!
>Or dodge around the trees if needs be.
>You aren't really going fast enough that the trees would be an obstacle. They aren't actually all the dense. Rumia just had the misfortune to aim straight for one of them, you think.
>You descend. The darkness seems to be dissolving a little. You can see Rumia lying face-first in the grass at the base of the tree, moaning a bit.
>"Are you ok?" You think she tries to reply, but you can't make out anything she's saying due to her talking into the ground.
-
>Help her up. Try to put on a friendly smile and stuff.
-
>Help her up. Try to put on a friendly smile and stuff.
>You reach down and gently pull her up. She spins around and slumps with her back against the tree, while you kneel over her. She looks kind of dizzy, and you think you can already see a lump on her forehead. You wince sympathetically.
>You try to look as friendly and disarming as you can. She seems to have a hard time focusing her eyes at first, but she eventually seems to realize you're practically right next to her face. She suddenly musters alertness from somewhere, and tries to back away. Of course, she's up against a tree, so this doesn't get very far. You can see her eyes dart back and forth.
>It seems to be getting darker again. Does she just do this on instinct?
-
>"Will you hold still you big sillybutt? If I were going to do something to you, don't you think I would have done it after you hit the tree and was knocked out? You're the first person I've seen since I woke up here, don't you know how much it hurts for you to have just run away like that?"
>_
-
>"Will you hold still you big sillybutt? If I were going to do something to you, don't you think I would have done it after you hit the tree and was knocked out? You're the first person I've seen since I woke up here, don't you know how much it hurts for you to have just run away like that?"
>She pauses and seem to consider what you're saying. "...you mean you didn't just club me over the head?"
-
>Show hands.
>"What club? You just hit that tree, dear."
-
>Show hands.
>"What club? You just hit that tree, dear."
>You try showing her that you're unarmed, but it's probably too dark for her to see the gesture, now. Still you hear her mulling over the idea of the tree attacking her instead. You hear her knock on the tree experimentally. "Stupid meany tree!" You hear another thud, followed by a tiny yelp.
-
>"Oh, that's not how you beat them, Rumia. Don't worry, we'll get it another day."
>"Now, why don't you tell me why you were so worried about me?"
-
>"Oh, that's not how you beat them, Rumia. Don't worry, we'll get it another day."
>"Hmm.... ok!"
>"Now, why don't you tell me why you were so worried about me?"
>"Well... you told Rumia to never come near the village again. You were a big meanie! Rumia was just hungry...."
-
>"When did I do that?"
>Politely assume she was just hungry for real food.
-
>"When did I do that?"
>"Ummm.... a while ago. Somewhere between yesterday and a really, really long time." She pauses, and you can hear her musing thoughtfully. "Before all the people disappeared!" she adds helpfully.
>Politely assume she was just hungry for real food.
>You try to give her the benefit of the doubt, but you have to admit it seems a little suspect, given that you apparently drove her away forcefully enough to leave her scared of you who knows how much later.
-
>"Let's focus on the disappearing. What happened to make everyone vanish like that?"
-
>"Let's focus on the disappearing. What happened to make everyone vanish like that?"
>"Um... I dunno! They were there, and you made me go away, and when I came back way later, everyone was gone."
-
>Frown.
>"Hmmm. Anything else happen since you were made to go away?"
-
>Frown.
>"Hmmm. Anything else happen since you were made to go away?"
>"Hmmm...." She considers this for a moment. "Well, it stopped being cold!"
-
> "Do you know who else is around still?"
-
> "Do you know who else is around still?"
>"Well, the green-haired lady lives here. Rumia doesn't really like her. Feels kinda creepy being near her. Hmmm... Rumia also saw a human walking around the other night. But she couldn't see Rumia. I was invisible!" She pauses for a moment, and hastily adds "I didn't eat her! I didn't even nibble!" You can almost hear her cringing.
-
> Hmm, Green-haired creepy lady is probably Yuuka.
> "Can you tell me what the human looked like?"
-
> Hmm, Green-haired creepy lady is probably Yuuka.
>Well, she certainly is green-haired and potentially creepy. You've never met her, but her reputation precedes her. You don't know how true the stories are, but a being with that much power could be quite frightening if she really were a loose cannon. Fortunately, she usually stayed to herself, far away from your own life. You wonder what could have brought her here...
> "Can you tell me what the human looked like?"
>"Hmmm.... well, she had brown hair and looked kinda lonely."
-
> Only one we know that has brown hair and human is Reimu......and maybe Byakuren.
>"Do you know where she lives?"
-
>"Do you know where she lives?"
>"Nope! Just saw her walking around up where the farms were, and watching the moon. Oh, and picking flowers!"
> Only one we know that has brown hair and human is Reimu......and maybe Byakuren.
>You contemplate who this mystery human could be. Frankly, brown hair's not a lot of description to go on, and anyone would be lonely living in this ghost town.
-
> "What was the person with brown hair wearing? Was is red and white?"
> "You mentioned that you remember me making you go away, and then it stopped being cold, then the village was like this. How long was it cold for? The same amount every year, or for longer?"
-
> "What was the person with brown hair wearing? Was is red and white?"
>"Nope! It was blue. Or was it brown? Purple? Rumia doesn't really remember... But it wasn't red and white. Red and white hurts...."
> "You mentioned that you remember me making you go away, and then it stopped being cold, then the village was like this. How long was it cold for? The same amount every year, or for longer?"
>"It was a lot longer! It was thiiiiiiis long!" You can imagine her making a gesture with her hands, but you're still in the middle of the blackness, so you can't see anything. "Everyone was all upset. Hmmm.... everyone says Rumia's memory is bad, but even I remember that. Did you forget? Ooo... or is this a game?" She claps her hands excitedly. "Ask me another one! Do I get a prize if I get them all right?"
-
> "Uh, maybe, so what did you do that made me be mean to you? And uh...how did I respond?"
-
> "Uh, maybe, so what did you do that made me be mean to you? And uh...how did I respond?"
>Her response sounds rather panicked again "Rumia was just hungry! Being hungry's not Rumia fault!" She seems to catch herself, and after a pause, continues somewhat tentatively. "Oh, is this part of the game, too? Well, you won't trick Rumia. I can get these right, too! Rumia tried to eat someone. You said no. Rumia tried to eat someone anyway. You said no, again. Rumia kept trying to eat people. You shoot looooots of danmaku at Rumia. You said that if you ever saw me again, you'd stop being nice. Rumia doesn't like being dead...."
>"How'd I do?" she asks excitedly.
-
> That is how you'd respond but Rumia stopped trying to eat people sometime ago, didn't she?
> "Uh....you did great" Smile
-
> "You did do good Rumia" If we can tell where she is pretty well, give her a pat on the head.
> "Was the creepy lady with the green hair holding anything?"
> A very long winter? Could she be refering to the incident prior to the fake moon incident?
(Side note, what would be the term for PCB anyway? IN was Fake Moon/Eternal Night, SA was Underground, EoSD was Scarlet Mist, ect.)
-
> That is how you'd respond but Rumia stopped trying to eat people sometime ago, didn't she?
>Well, she'd never caused much trouble you were personally aware of. Certainly youkai have historically preyed on humans, and Rumia has never been that far removed from her simpler instincts. If history had unfolded differently here, it doesn't sound outside the realm of possibility, no matter how unpleasant the thought might be.
> "Uh....you did great" Smile
> "You did do good Rumia" If we can tell where she is pretty well, give her a pat on the head.
>You give Rumia a small congratulations and reach out to give her a pat on the head. You think you catch the side of her face instead, but find her head soon enough. She giggles.
> "Was the creepy lady with the green hair holding anything?"
>"Um... don't think so! And don't I get my prize now?"
> A very long winter? Could she be refering to the incident prior to the fake moon incident?
(Side note, what would be the term for PCB anyway? IN was Fake Moon/Eternal Night, SA was Underground, EoSD was Scarlet Mist, ect.)
>It does seem possible.
>Akyuu's chronicles referred to this event as the Spring Snow Incident
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> Do we have anything to give her that she would like as a prize?
-
> Do we have anything to give her that she would like as a prize?
>You don't know that you're carrying anything particularly suitable, but Rumia always seemed easily amused
>Inventory:
>Blue dress (currently worn)
>Pagoda Hat (currently worn)
>Origin Sign "Ephemerality 137"
>Land Sign "Three Sacred Treasures - Mirror"
>Future "The Next History of Phantasm"
>Scroll case (containing a message from yourself)
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> Give her the Pagoda Hat
> Also ask about Reimu
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> Give her the Pagoda Hat
>With some reluctance, you take your hat off and give it to her. After all, if you can figure out how to fix... whatever it was that happened here, there's a good chance you'll find yourself spontaneously hatted once more
>You discover that handing someone an object in the absolute darkness is kind of difficult. Eventually you settle for dumping it in what you think is her lap
>"Ooo... what's this? Feels kinda funny." You can hear her poking it. "Ooo... the top is all pooky. Thanks! This is a great prize!" Evidently she's satisfied with a mystery object that even she cannot currently identify. Does it never occur to her to drop the whole darkness thing for a moment?
> Also ask about Reimu
>You inquire about Reimu.
>"Reimu? Oh, you mean the red white? Hmmm... Rumia hasn't seen her in a long time, now that I think about it... Good riddance! She was a meanie."
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> "What about Mokou? The girl with really long *insert proper color here* hair, says kinda mean things at times."
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> "What about Mokou? The girl with really long *insert proper color here* hair, says kinda mean things at times."
>"Doesn't ring a bell."
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> Ask her to take the darkness field down, It's kinda getting annoying talking into the darkness.
> Ask her about Marisa. If she doesn't know ask her about people you think she'd know about, like Cirno and Wriggle.
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> "Do you remember anyone who lived in the Bamboo Forest? What about a lady with long dark hair and pretty clothes?"
> "Rumia, do you want to come with me while I try to find some people. I'm not happy about what happened here, I'm sorry about having been mean to you, and I don't want to be alone right now."
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> Ask her to take the darkness field down, It's kinda getting annoying talking into the darkness.
>You ask her to take drop the darkness sphere.
>"It's cozy in here... but ok, since you gave me this pooky mystery box."
>The darkness vanishes. Well, it's actually still fairly dark, being an overcast night, but you can at least see again.
> Ask her about Marisa. If she doesn't know ask her about people you think she'd know about, like Cirno and Wriggle.
>You inquire about the status of various other people
>"Marisa? Hmmm... who's that?"
>"Cirno's Cirno." She says, as though she expects this answers your question.
>"Rumia doesn't see Wriggle too often. She lives over there." She sweeps her finger over an area that covers half of eastern Gensokyo.
> "Do you remember anyone who lived in the Bamboo Forest? What about a lady with long dark hair and pretty clothes?"
>"Rumia doesn't go there. Getting lost is fun. Getting unlost... not so fun."
> "Rumia, do you want to come with me while I try to find some people. I'm not happy about what happened here, I'm sorry about having been mean to you, and I don't want to be alone right now."
>"Hmmm...." She seems to be giving this a great deal of thought. Or whatever passes for thought for her. "Rumia forgives you," she declares at last. "Not sure she can help you find people, though... Rumia's sense of direction... is kinda bad."
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> "Could you come with me at least, with the village all empty, it's kinda lonely. I don't like lonely."
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> "Could you come with me at least, with the village all empty, it's kinda lonely. I don't like lonely."
>Rumia frowns. "Are you sad...? Rumia doesn't like being sad, either." She stands up and raises one hand in a dramatic gesture. "Rumia will help you be not sad!"
-
> "Thank you"
> Take Rumia's hand and head to Akyu's place.
-
> "Thanks Rumia. I don't like being sad, or others being sad." Give Rumia a kind smile.
-
> "Thanks Rumia. I don't like being sad, or others being sad." Give Rumia a kind smile.
> "Thank you"
>You thank Rumia for offering to tag along. She smiles back at you.
> Take Rumia's hand and head to Akyu's place.
>You take Rumia's hand and start heading back towards the village and the Heida household.
>Rumia looks somewhat curiously at the hat she's holding in her other hand, before eventually deciding that it should go on her head. The effect is rather... incongruous to say the least.
>After a short time, you reach your destination. The Heida are a family with a long and distinguished lineage, and their home is one of the largest dwellings in the village. You never knew the rest of the family very well, but were good friends with Akyuu and have been here many times. It's also in fairly good shape, considering. No obvious signs of damage, although it could use a little maintenance, like nearly everything else around here.
-
> Knock, Just in case
> If no one answers enter the house
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> Knock, Just in case
>You knock, more out of a sense of ritual courtesy than anything else. There are no signs of habitation and you do not truly expect an answer. You expectations are met.
> If no one answers enter the house
>You open the door and head inside. Rumia follows after you.
>You are in a medium-sized entry room, that has been stripped bare of all contents far more thoroughly than your own house had been. There are several hallways leading to other rooms in the house.
-
> Try to look for any thing that could help you figure out what happened
-
> Where would Akyuu normally be when we visit? Do we know where she might sleep?
-
>Call out: "Anyone in here?"
-
> Where would Akyuu normally be when we visit? Do we know where she might sleep?
>She could usually be found in the study, which also contained much of the family's archives. She slept in a separate room, although you also know where this is.
>Call out: "Anyone in here?"
>You call out. Perhaps it's just some thread of hope you're desperately clinging to.
>"Who're you talking to?" Rumia asks. "No one's been here for thiiiiis long."
>You get no reply
> Try to look for any thing that could help you figure out what happened
>You begin working your way through the household. Each room in turn looks mostly the same. Dusty and empty. Whoever left this place must have taken great care to bring everything with them. In fact you find no objects at all until you reach Akyuu's room itself.
>This room is also mostly bare, but there is a small altar against one wall, flanked by two candles. A wall scroll hangs above it.
-
> Go and read the scroll
-
> Go and read the scroll
>You take a look at the scroll. You try to pretend for a moment that it doesn't say what it appears to say.
>The scroll contains a simple traditional funeral prayer. There is an additional message written at the bottom:
"Heida no Akyuu, 9th Child of Miare
With each cycle, the thread of life grows shorter, but never so short as this.
History awaits your brush again. May you be reborn in happier times."
>You're not sure you can process this right now.
-
> Go sit down, clear your mind.
>After a while, contemplate what might have happened, if nothing comes up, think about going to Reimu's Place
-
> Go sit down, clear your mind.
>You just kind of slump against the wall and slide to the floor. It's hard not to cry. It's only the hope that you might be able to fix this all somehow that keeps despair from overwhelming you.
>After a moment, Rumia walks over to you and quietly puts her arm around your shoulder. It's such an unexpected and incongruous gesture from her that you almost laugh. And then you DO cry.
>After a while, contemplate what might have happened, if nothing comes up, think about going to Reimu's Place
>After a couple moments, you dry your tears and ruffle Rumia's hair. She smiles at you, and wanders off, puttering back and forth the hallway with her arms spread wide.
>You're still not really sure what happened here. Despite Rumia's implication that everyone spontaneously vanished, clearly care was taken in removing all this stuff. Unless all their stuff just spontaneously vanished with them, while leaving a coincidentally appropriate few items behind. Why everyone left, and where they went is still an open question.
>Reimu is the usual go-to person for any incidents, and this certainly counts as one. Although what Rumia said about not having seen her in a while leaves you feeling uneasy.
-
>"Hey, Rumia. Um, have you seen the Black White anywhere?"
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>"Hey, Rumia. Um, have you seen the Black White anywhere?"
>Rumia pokes her head back in the room when she hears the question. "Nope! Not since after all that misty stuff went away."
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>Reimu is the usual go-to person for any incidents, and this certainly counts as one. Although what Rumia said about not having seen her in a while leaves you feeling uneasy.
> Go to the Shrine anyway, If she isn't there maybe there is a clue of what happened
>Rumia pokes her head back in the room when she hears the question. "Nope! Not since after all that misty stuff went away."
> Maybe something changed during the Scarlet Mist incident?
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>"What misty stuff?"
-
>"What misty stuff?"
>"You know? That red misty stuff? Made it all dark during the day? Rumia kinda liked it, actually...."
> Maybe something changed during the Scarlet Mist incident?
>You consider it. Nothing Rumia seems to strongly suggest this event unfolded differently, other than her lack of seeing Marisa afterwards, which could be for any number of reasons. At the very least, the mist appeared, and eventually disappeared.
> Go to the Shrine anyway, If she isn't there maybe there is a clue of what happened
>You figure that heading towards the shrine might still be the best course of action. You say a small prayer at the altar, and then exit Akyuu's house, and head towards the eastern village outskirts. The shrine is a far distance to the northeast of here.
>"Where're you going?" Rumia asks, after you start to reach the last of the houses on the outskirts.
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> "I'm trying to find a friend... or anyone else really. Come on Rumia, let's go."
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> "I'm trying to find a friend... or anyone else really. Come on Rumia, let's go."
> If she thinks we're gonna see Reimu and freak out, calm her down, and say we'll protect her
> Head to the Shrine
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> "I'm trying to find a friend... or anyone else really. Come on Rumia, let's go."
> If she thinks we're gonna see Reimu and freak out, calm her down, and say we'll protect her
> Head to the Shrine
>You tell her your intentions to look for people, and she follows along, although she seems a bit more reluctant than before.
>You continue to head in the direction of the shrine.
>After a little while, Rumia stops. "You're heading for the red white's, aren't you? I don't want to go there. She's a meanie."
>You try to reassure her that you'll protect her, but she shakes her head. She doesn't really seem scared, but she's clearly not interested in heading that way.
>"Rumia doesn't wanna."
-
> Keep trying to convince her and if she still doesn't want to go ask her if she would wait at the Human Village for her(me?)
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> Keep trying to convince her and if she still doesn't want to go ask her if she would wait at the Human Village for her(me?)
>You continue trying to convince her, but it seems her mind's made up. "One pooky box isn't enough to make Rumia want to go to scary places. Not sure if anything enough to make Rumia want to go to red white's...."
>"Oh, Rumia'll probably still be here, anyway," she says, when you ask her to wait in the village for you to return. "Rumia likes it here."
>You wave goodbye and turn to leave. Rumia stops and looks at you before trotting back towards the village. "Good luck being not sad!"
>You continue east until the village recedes into the distance. The terrain here is full of shallow hills, dotted with scraggly patches of trees. You can see the Forest of Magic stretching off to the north and east in the distance. A small path continues eastward towards the shrine, eventually cutting through the easternmost edge of the Forest.
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>Shrineward!
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>Shrineward!
>You continue along the path that leads to the shrine. After a while, the path curves northeast and you cut into the edge of the forest.
>The path is fairly narrow here, and the trees shelter over much of it. This is one of (several) reasons that the shrine never got much traffic. While the effect would probably be described as scenic and even cozy elsewhere, the threat of feral youkai leaping out from the trees was more than enough to keep most people away from here. Reimu probably never even stopped to consider that. No lower level youkai could lay a finger on her.
>The path meanders a little, and the trees start to thin out. You're getting near the exit of the forest, and nearing the shrine.
>Suddenly, your foot catches on something and you trip, narrowly avoiding smashing your face in the dirt. Oww....
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> Get up and check what we tripped on
-
> Get up and check what we tripped on
>You pull yourself up again, and take a look at the ground. That's odd....
>There appears to be a crack in the ground; a long split like the kind you might see through dry caked mud, although the ground here is made of soil not at all conducive to such a thing.
It's probably about an inch wide, at this point. It's difficult to tell how deep it is, due to how narrow it is, and the poor lighting under the trees here. The crack seems to extend into the distance ahead of you, although you lose sight of it around a bend in the trees. It appears to grow wider as it goes, though. Looking behind you, you see that it extends for a fair distance behind you, as well, although it is narrower, there. It was probably too dark for you to notice it. It's a wonder you didn't trip over it sooner.
-
>"Oh dear."
>Stand up, dust self off, keep going forward. Mind the fissure.
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>"Oh dear."
>Stand up, dust self off, keep going forward. Mind the fissure.
>You stand up, and continue forward, keeping an eye on the fissure so that you don't fall a second time. Eventually, the path veers away from it and fissure continues on into the trees. It's probably nearly a foot wide, at this point.
>You continue along a couple more twists in the path, and emerge from the trees a couple minutes later. Normally, the shrine would be just a couple minutes past here. You might even be able to see it, if you peer into the distance. However, the landscape is different than you remember....
>The fissure emerges from the trees some distance to your left, heading in the general direction of the shrine, and widening massively. Secondary fissures splinter off from the main one at irregular intervals, twisting spider-like in all directions. The crevice absolutely dominates the landscape. The central portion has to be dozens of meters wide by this point, and it looks like it is still widening, although you can't see it all that well from here.
-
>"Damn it, Tenshi."
>It's probably not her, but it helps to cover ones bases with shrine destruction.
>Fly onward, a little bit above the ground. See what a wreck the shrine has likely become.
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>"Damn it, Tenshi."
>It's probably not her, but it helps to cover ones bases with shrine destruction.
>You vent frustration at the usual suspect for all earthquake-related mischief. Whether she has anything to do with this or not, it's nice to momentarily have someone to blame.
>Fly onward, a little bit above the ground. See what a wreck the shrine has likely become.
>You take to the air and head towards the shrine, or more likely what's left of it.
>From what you can see, the fissure is quite deep. You can't make out the bottom of it in this light. You think you may be able to catch a hint of motion, or... something odd in the depths. It's very slight and momentary, but you see it in several places.
>Moving further on, you see that the entire area where the shrine should be is shallowed by the fissure. No one would ever know that something human had been here. If there's any ruins left, you can't see them from this height. The fissure carries on for a a little distance past the shrine, branching into several paths before thinning out again perhaps 200 meters further on.
-
>Do we get any especial bad feelings from it, aside from there being a huge fissure where one of the big important parts of Gensokyo should be?
>If not, take a closer but cautious, look at that motion.
-
> Ready a spell card just in case
-
>Do we get any especial bad feelings from it, aside from there being a huge fissure where one of the big important parts of Gensokyo should be?
>Other than the obvious issue of where it's located, the fissure doesn't seem more threatening than any other hole in the ground at the moment.
> Ready a spell card just in case
Still, it can't hurt to be prepared for something lurking down there. You pull Origin Sign "Ephemerality 137" from your pocket.
>If not, take a closer but cautious, look at that motion.
>You cautiously descend towards the fissure. Walls of earth rise up around you as you pass ground level. It's still too dark to see the bottom easily, although the walls seem to be growing closer together as you go down.
>You're starting to get a strange feeling while you float here. There is something different about this place than the rest of Gensokyo. You're not quite sure what it is.
>Another glimmer of motion catches your eyes. You think you almost see part of the air glisten for a moment. And there is it again, elsewhere. It's sort of a subtle violet shimmer.
-
> "Who's there?"
> If no one answers, fire a normal Danmaku shot...somewhere, as warning
-
>Approach the shimmering. Or if it's too elusive, a spot that did shimmer.
> "Who's there?"
> If no one answers, fire a normal Danmaku shot...somewhere, as warning
>No danmakus yet; no one's bit us.
-
> "Who's there?"
>You get no response.
>Approach the shimmering. Or if it's too elusive, a spot that did shimmer.
>You move towards where you saw the first shimmer, but as you do, you see patches of it elsewhere. In fact, as your eyes get used to it, to can see that much of this area seems to shimmer similarly. It's very subtle and interment. Only occasionally does a patch catch the moonlight in such a way that it becomes obvious for a moment. It's almost like the light is refracting though the air, somehow.
-
> Observe refractions closely
-
>Check the wall, to make sure it is the air refracting, and not some trick of the earth.
-
>Check the wall, to make sure it is the air refracting, and not some trick of the earth.
>You put your hand to the wall of the crevice nearest you. Looks and feel just like ordinary rock to you. The face does seem surprisingly smooth, though. Whatever sheared it did so quite cleanly.
> Observe refractions closely
>You try to look more closely at the strange phenomenon. It's still kinda hard to see. It seems like very tiny slivers of nearly translucent violet that seem to appear and disappear, almost like dust swirling before a very bright beam of light. The whole crevice seems to contain them, although it's hard to see very far away from yourself. The light down here is quite poor.
>You're definitely getting a strange feeling being down here. ....disconnected, almost seems to be the right word for it. Like this space and the space above it do not belong to entirely the same place. There's definitely magic in the air, or a power of some sort. Or maybe just an echo of that power....?
-
> Head deeper into the fissure, stay alert for anything, and keep that spell card prepped
-
> Head deeper into the fissure, stay alert for anything, and keep that spell card prepped
>Keeping your spellcard at the ready, you descend further into the fissure. The walls continue to narrow until the fissure bottoms out. Nothing seems especially different down here. Looking back up at the sky, you figure you're at least 100 meters down. The shrine would have been another couple hundred meters to your east, from here.
-
> Keeping to the ground, head towards the location of the shrine
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> Keeping to the ground, head towards the location of the shrine
>You try to land, but the ground is very uneven down here, and walking becomes an exercise in balance and night vision. You decide to float up a little, again, rather than risk spraining your ankle.
>You continue towards the shrine's location, but don't notice any appreciable changes in terrain. Just the same smooth walls, and faintly shimmering air.
>You arrive at where you THINK the shrine would have been, approximately. You can't see any sign of it down here, though. No debris, no rubble, no trace of it at all.
-
> "...This is not good."
> Ponder trying to find Marisa or Alice. Do we know the specific locations where they live?
-
( I actually meant hovering bit above the ground :blush:, but whatever, hmmm was the saying 'keeping to the ground'......no, 'keeping low'......wait it was 'keeping close to the ground', yeah that was it, maybe)
> Head back to the human village and find Rumia then head to Marisa's house
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> Consider the possibility of the shimmering being from the Border.
-
> "...This is not good."
> Ponder trying to find Marisa or Alice. Do we know the specific locations where they live?
>Sadly, no. 'Somewhere in the forest' is a pretty general area.
> Consider the possibility of the shimmering being from the Border.
>It doesn't really look the same. The border is somewhat prismatic and more consistent looking.
> Head back to the human village and find Rumia then head to Marisa's house
>You don't know where Marisa's house is, unless you wanted to try wandering around the forest in hopes that you'd bump into something.
-
>Back to the village. Maybe Rumia knows where to find Alice.
>Ponder if all the human types are gone now.
-
> Ponder possibility of going to the Scarlet Devil's Mansion
-
> Ponder possibility of going to the Scarlet Devil's Mansion
Well, you know how to get there, at least. You haven't had a lot of contact with the people who live there, since they mostly keep to themselves. Aside from random acts of selfishness like the Scarlet Mist Incident. You did have a somewhat unpleasant encounter with Remilia and Sakuya during the Fake Moon Incident. You can't say you necessarily like them very much, but if you could convince them to let you in, Patchouli might know more about what's happened here. She doesn't get called the Great Unmoving Library for nothing.
>Ponder if all the human types are gone now.
>Well, Rumia did say she'd seen a human wandering around the village recently. You don't know who it was, but it seems that there may at least be some humans left somewhere.
>Back to the village. Maybe Rumia knows where to find Alice.
>You decide to head back towards the village, in the hope that Rumia may be able to give you some better directions. You can't quite believe it's come to asking HER for directions, but at least she can speak, which is more than you can say for anything else you've bumped into tonight.
>You fly out of the crevice and land back on the path to the village. After some time, you can see it come into sight in the west, again.
-
> Observe village
-
> Observe village
>The village looks much the same as it was an hour or so ago. You don't see any sign of Rumia from here, although she's probably still around somewhere.
-
>Head into the village. Keep an eye out for Rumia, or anyone else.
-
>Head into the village. Keep an eye out for Rumia, or anyone else.
>You head further into the village, keeping an eye out for movement or any other signs of life. You don't notice anything at the moment
>You are in the eastern section of the village, near the Heida household. Your school is to the south. The market area is west, and your home is further northwest. The graveyard and outlying farms are to some distance to the north, past the main body of the village.
-
> Go find Rumia
-
>Check the Market.
-
> Go find Rumia
>Check the Market.
>Since you don't really have any idea where Rumia has gone to, you decide that heading towards the market area is as good as anywhere else. As you get closer, you notice that there's still light coming from the old herbalist's shop.
-
> Go check if anyone's there now
-
>Knock first >=|
-
> Go check if anyone's there now
>Knock first >=|
>You go up and knock on the door.
>"Is that you, Hina?" comes a voice from inside the house. It has a sort of elegant, yet melancholic feel to it.
-
>"I'm afraid not. It's Keine. Don't worry, I'm not here to cause trouble."
-
> Do we recognize that voice?
-
> Do we recognize that voice?
>It almost sounds very vaguely familiar, almost like it reminds you of someone. But you can't place it.
>"I'm afraid not. It's Keine. Don't worry, I'm not here to cause trouble."
>You hear some footsteps and a woman opens the door. She has short brown hair and is dressed in a simple traditional robe, white with blue trim.
>"Oh, I am sorry. I don't get many visitors. It's rare to see another human in this place." She stops and stares at you for a moment. Actually, you get the feeling she's staring THROUGH you. It's a little unsettling, actually. "Oh." she says eventually. "Well, no matter. You're welcome to come in, anyway."
-
> Identify her, who is she?
-
> Identify her, who is she?
>You've never seen this woman before, to your knowledge. She would seem fairly ordinary, if it were not for the fact that she looks perfectly comfortable being the only living human in a ghost town. She does have kind of a strange bearing to her, though.
-
> How could her voice remind you of someone, yet she doesn't look familiar
> Oh wait were being rude standing out here after she invited you in "Thank you" enter house
-
> How could her voice remind you of someone, yet she doesn't look familiar
>You're beginning to think you must have been mistaken. You've certainly never met this person before. You wish you could figure out what it reminded you of, at first, though...
> Oh wait were being rude standing out here after she invited you in "Thank you" enter house
>You accept her offer and step inside the house. She closes the door after you, and heads towards her kitchen, retrieving various item from the cupboards. You note the same eclectic variety of decor and cookware as earlier.
>"Let me put on some tea for you. I have some fresh soup that I cooked a little earlier if you'd like some."
-
> Are we Hungry?
> If so politely accept offer for food
> Politely ask for her identity (I can't think of anything to say :()
-
>Observe person.
>Wait before asking her what she is doing in what would otherwise be a completely empty town.
>Do you think you can trust this person?
-
> Are we Hungry?
> If so politely accept offer for food
>You hadn't really noticed, with all that you've been preoccupied with this night, but now that the topic's been brought up, you do realize that you probably could use a decent meal.
>"Ok, let me just heat it up again a little." She takes the pot of soup and puts it back on the stove, while also preparing the tea.
>"I'm amazed this batch didn't burn on, actually. I went for a short walk earlier tonight, but forgot that I'd left it cooking. The breeze was just so lovely this evening, don't you think? So I sat and watched the moon pass behind the clouds for a little while. I guess the heat must have died out."
> Politely ask for her identity (I can't think of anything to say :()
>You ask her who she is.
>"Oh, where are my manners? Do forgive me. You've already given me your name, and it would be rude of me, as a host, not to do the same. You... may call me Shiouko."
>Observe person.
>You watch her as she moves about the kitchen. She seems rather graceful, but a little... odd. But you'd have to be to live alone out here, wouldn't you?
>Wait before asking her what she is doing in what would otherwise be a completely empty town.
>You choose to wait a little before asking any personal questions.
>Do you think you can trust this person?
>It's hard to tell, having just met her a few seconds ago. But she does seem like she's genuinely trying to be hospitable, despite her oddity.
-
> Did she just ask us to call her Shiouko, why not give us her real name?
> Ask whether she knows what happen to the village and the shrine
-
> Did she just ask us to call her Shiouko, why not give us her real name?
>Aside from her momentary hesitation, you have no reason to believe that this is not her real name. The phrasing is not an uncommon way for someone to indicate the degree of formality they wish to be addressed with.
> Ask whether she knows what happen to the village and the shrine
>"Ah, this village has a sad tale, but I'm afraid I do not know each chapter. My eyes have seen only what yours now see. Humans had already abandoned this place when I found my way here. But there was much suffering and death and hunger here. Terrible, endless hunger." Her eyes grow more haunted looking as she speaks. After staring mournfully in the distance for a moment, she seems to remember that you are here, and does her best to smile at you. "But that is a sorrowful tale to share a meal over. Come, let us speak of more pleasant things. I have not had a dinner guest since, well... In truth, I do not think I ever have."
>"As for the shrine, to which you referring?"
-
> "I am referring to the Hakurei Shrine, which as far as I can tell, no longer exists. The location I knew it to be at previously has been replaced by a rather large fissure in the earth, with no apparent trace of its original existence."
-
> "I am referring to the Hakurei Shrine, which as far as I can tell, no longer exists. The location I knew it to be at previously has been replaced by a rather large fissure in the earth, with no apparent trace of its original existence."
>"Hmmm.... I am not familiar with this shrine. I... do not often associate with other humans, I'm afraid. My apologies. I wish I could be more useful to you."
>"Although...." She pauses thoughtfully. "I believe I may have heard the name itself before. But... I do not think they could help you."
-
> "Ah, I see."
> Think for a moment
> "Do you have any idea if there are any other settlements that might exist, that I could find someone to talk to? If so, do you have any idea of their location?"
-
> "Ah, I see."
> Think for a moment
> "Do you have any idea if there are any other settlements that might exist, that I could find someone to talk to? If so, do you have any idea of their location?"
>"Someone to talk to? Does my company not suffice?" You start to protest, but she just chuckles softly at your reaction. "Do not worry, I am not offended. You are in search of answers that I cannot provide. That much is clearly marked on your face."
>"I have wandered much in the wild places of this land, and though I do not often seek the company of others, I still have seen the signs of their presence. There are humans living near the foot of Youkai Mountain, or at least there were when I last passed near it. The kappa and tengu live close by, as well. I have wandered close to them before, but being among so many people makes me... uncomfortable. The solitude of this place is more fitting for me, though I mourn for the souls who have and still suffer here. I keep vigil for them."
-
>"Souls? Can you please explain?"
-
>"Souls? Can you please explain?"
>She shifts uncomfortably. "It's just a figure of speech. People died here, and people left. And now, there are only two who pay respect to their graves."
-
> Hey wait, doesn't she have one of our things hear?
-
> Hey wait, doesn't she have one of our things hear?
>Yes, you noticed a wall scroll that once belonged to you hanging in her room upstairs.
-
> Confess to us having been into her house when she was away, then apologies
> Inquire about the Scroll that belonged to us
-
> Confess to us having been into her house when she was away, then apologies
>"Oh, I see." She pauses and stares wordlessly at you for a moment. "One could consider that quite an invasion of privacy, you realize. Yet... nothing was harmed, and you confessed without prompting or necessity. I suppose I cannot begrudge you your curiosity about who would live in such a place. I will let it pass." She pauses, and then almost, almost grins at you. "Thanks for minding the soup," she says, but her face has returned to being inscrutable before you can react to this comment.
> Inquire about the Scroll that belonged to us
>Inquire in what way? Do you wish to tell her that it belonged to you, or simply ask about it in general?
-
> Ask about it in general
-
> "When you say there are two people to pay respect to the graves, were you referring to me and yourself? Or is there another person living in this area as well?"
-
> Ask about it in general
>"Ah, you went into my bedroom, too?" She frowns. "Oh, well. But yes, I think it's a rather attractive piece, and it suits the decor, don't you think?"
> "When you say there are two people to pay respect to the graves, were you referring to me and yourself? Or is there another person living in this area as well?"
>"Yes, there is. I mistook you for her when you knocked, if you recall. As I said, it's very rare than anyone else comes here."
-
> "Ah, I was wandering where you got it actually"
> She called out Hina back then, could it be possible that the Curse Goddess lives around here?
-
>"I had to be sure no one was around."
-
>"I had to be sure no one was around."
>"Yes, well I suppose I can understand. Don't let it trouble you."
> "Ah, I was wandering where you got it actually"
>"The people who lived here took much of what they possessed and valued with them when they left, but some things remained. Either that they were not cared about, or there was no room to take them with them, I suppose. I collect the memories of these forgotten lives." She gestures to the collection of objects on the shelves. "Most of these things came from what I found left around."
> She called out Hina back then, could it be possible that the Curse Goddess lives around here?
>It does seem to imply that. Which seems rather odd, given that she was known to dwell in the foot of Youkai Mountain, but it wouldn't be the strangest thing you've seen today. Come to think of it, Rumia also mentioned a green-haired woman living here.
-
> Inquire about the other resident that lives here
-
> Inquire about the other resident that lives here
>"Her name is Hina. I think she's actually a goddess, although she's never made a show of it. She feeds off of people's misfortunes, which you'd think would make her a cruel and malicious person, but I she's actually a kind, if misunderstood, soul. We're both a bit alike, in some ways, I think. We did both choose to live here, after all. Ah, but look at me, claiming commonality with a goddess. Forget that I mentioned it."
-
>Nod. Examine this person a bit more closely. If she looks distantly familiar, perhaps she's someone we knew who got changed. After all, if Marisa disappeared after the Scarlet Mist, then who knows what else might have happened?
-
>Nod. Examine this person a bit more closely. If she looks distantly familiar, perhaps she's someone we knew who got changed. After all, if Marisa disappeared after the Scarlet Mist, then who knows what else might have happened?
>"Oh, I think the tea's ready."
>You take a closer look at Shiouko as she takes the tea off the stove and fetches some cups from the cupboard. Her movements are lithe and steady. Her brown hair is short and wavy, framing a soft face. Though she smiles at you, her eyes look undeniably sad. You get the impression she's haunted by some personal pain, but she seems to be trying her best not to let it show. Although you still get a vague sense of familiarity from her, you can't place quite her. She does not match the description of any human you know.
>"Here you go." She places a mug of hot tea in front of you, and one for herself. "The soup should be warm enough in another moment."
-
> "Thank you" Dink the tea
> Hmm, maybe she was the person you were investigation in the forest
-
>Consider former humans.
-
> "Thank you" Dink the tea
>You accept the mug and take a sip. It's quite good, actually!
>"I'm glad you like it," she says, noting your reaction. She stirs the soup, takes a small sample and seems to decide it's warm enough. She starts to spoon out a bowl for you. "I already had some earlier, but I think I might have a second helping. Would you like some mochi, too?"
> Hmm, maybe she was the person you were investigation in the forest
>You really didn't get a good look at her, at the time. The light was poor, and there were trees in the way. She sounded younger, though, and she was certainly wearing a different style of clothing. Western, rather than Eastern.
>Consider former humans.
>You try to enumerate youkai who you knew to be formerly human. It's a pretty short list, really. She doesn't look anything like Alice, at least. And given how much the village resembles the village you knew, you have your doubts that the distant past was altered in any fundamental way. Even small changes that far back can have cascading consequences on the present. You probably wouldn't even recognize the place.
-
> "Oh yes I would like to have some thank you"
> The change must have happened in the somewhat recent past to make things like this, perhaps something happened to Reimu? Perhaps the Shrines disappearance has something to do with this?
> Inquire about the Moriya Shrine
-
> "Oh yes I would like to have some thank you"
>You accept her offer of mochi, and after she puts out the two bowls of soup, she fetches the plate of them and puts it on the table. She starts to dig into her own bowl with gusto.
> The change must have happened in the somewhat recent past to make things like this, perhaps something happened to Reimu? Perhaps the Shrines disappearance has something to do with this?
>You consider events that might have led to the present being altered. Certainly the shrine's absence cannot be unrelated. If Reimu had disappeared, many events would certainly have unfolded differently. Of course, for all you know, the shrine disappeared yesterday. You'd need to narrow down a history of events to be sure. Interestingly, despite the shrine not even seeming to exist there anymore, Gensokyo doesn't seem to have imploded, and what you could see of the Border from there looked perfectly normal. Maybe the shrine wasn't as essential to the border's stability as people thought? It would probably be best if certain youkai never learned of this...
> Inquire about the Moriya Shrine
>"I did go there once. It's a fairly ostentatious place, although the view is breathtaking. I offered a small donation and said a prayer, with the other worshipers. The shrine maiden offered me Kanako's blessing as a pilgrim. I accepted her good will, but I do not worship her. But I am glad that she brings comfort and safety to others."
-
> Inquire about places and people that caused those past incidents in Gensokyo
-
> Inquire about places and people that caused those past incidents in Gensokyo
>You're going to have to be more specific than this
-
> (sigh) Inquire about the scarlet mist incident, the Mansion in the middle of the lake, the abnormally long winter, people in the bamboo forest, the Scarlet Weather incident and the UFO's
-
> (sigh) Inquire about the scarlet mist incident, the Mansion in the middle of the lake, the abnormally long winter, people in the bamboo forest, the Scarlet Weather incident and the UFO's
>You decide to get as much history out of Shiouko as you can manage, going through notable events one after another.
>"Scarlet mist? I... don't think I've ever seen such a thing. There is a mansion by the lake, but it looked guarded, and I was never invited. I don't know who lives inside."
>"I've never heard of anyone living the bamboo forest. Other than the rabbits, of course. Wouldn't people have a hard time finding their own homes, if they lived in such a place?"
>"What exactly would scarlet weather look like, anyway? Is that about that mist again? I don't think I know what a UFO is, either... You seem to think about a lot of unusual things."
>"As for the winter.... Well, I didn't experience it myself, but... I think I may have heard of it." She looks very uncomfortable, for some reason.
-
>"What about the Inicident when Makai's demons started coming here?"
-
> Ask her to elaborate about the Winter Incident
-
>"What about the Inicident when Makai's demons started coming here?"
>"Demons? No, thankfully I've never seen anything like that happen."
> Ask her to elaborate about the Winter Incident
>"I'd... rather not talk about it, if you don't mind. I do not know why it happened, but I know that it brought misery with it. Please leave it at that."
-
>"Well, alright. Do you know much of, well, anyone here? Aside from Hina, that is?"
>Where did we leave Rumia, anyways?
-
> Misery? there weren't much misery when that happened from what you remember, something definitely happened between the Scarlet Mist Incident and the Winter Incident, probably something to Reimu, Marisa and/or Sakuya
> Finish soup, and thank her for her hospitality, we need to go find Rumia then go to the Scarlet Devil Mansion, we could probably find out what changed there
-
>Long winter and short growing season? That's hell on the food stores. Misery aplenty.
-
> Yeah but Reimu, Marisa and Sakuya stop it before it got to troublesome, didn't they?
-
>"Well, alright. Do you know much of, well, anyone here? Aside from Hina, that is?"
>"Well, it's just the two of us who live here. The occasional visitor wanders by. I used to travel around, but I haven't seen many other people since I decided to call this place home."
>Where did we leave Rumia, anyways?
>You parted ways towards the eastern outskirts of the village. She wasn't there when you went back, but she's probably just wandering around in another part of the village. It mightn't be hard to find her if you took some time to look around.
> Misery? there weren't much misery when that happened from what you remember, something definitely happened between the Scarlet Mist Incident and the Winter Incident, probably something to Reimu, Marisa and/or Sakuya
>Long winter and short growing season? That's hell on the food stores. Misery aplenty.
> Yeah but Reimu, Marisa and Sakuya stop it before it got to troublesome, didn't they?
>You recall food stores getting disconcertingly thin during the incident. And you were forced to eat way, way too much millet. Ugh. But you're not sure you would have described it as misery. Just a bit unpleasant. But if it had gone on longer....
> Finish soup, and thank her for her hospitality, we need to go find Rumia then go to the Scarlet Devil Mansion, we could probably find out what changed there
>You finish up the soup and munch on some mochi. It's all quite good. Shiouko has at least as much as you. Afterwards you bid her farewell. "I hope you can find whatever you're looking for," she adds helpfully as you part ways.
>You are in the market center of the village. Your home is northwest. The Hieda estate is east. Your school is south. The graveyard is northeast, past the village outskirts.
-
> Where would Rumia probably be? hmmm, head to the school, maybe she would wait there since your connected to the school
-
> Where would Rumia probably be? hmmm, head to the school, maybe she would wait there since your connected to the school
>You have no idea where Rumia would be. You're not even sure she realizes you're connected to the school. But any direction is as good as any other at the moment. You head southward
>You come near the school again. It's still kinda painful seeing it in this state. The east end is collapsed, and parts of it are rubble. There are blast marks and similar damage to nearby buildings. It really looks like there was a battle of some kind, here, and no one bothered to repair anything afterward.
-
>Consider the graveyard, where roving Hinas might be hanging out.
>Call for Rumia.
-
>Call for Rumia.
>You call out after Rumia, but don't get a response.
>Consider the graveyard, where roving Hinas might be hanging out.
>You decide to head northeast, and cover some parts of the village that you haven't yet looked at. It might be useful to talk to Hina, if she does indeed live here, now. You wonder what might be brought her here. You're almost not sure you want to look at the graveyard. Even as a chaser of history, there are some things you wonder if you'd rather not know. Still, you realize that you probably can't afford to ignore any source of information, no matter how much you wish reality might be different. Besides, don't you intend to MAKE reality different? There must be some way to fix things....
>You wander through the village, keeping an eye out for mobile spheres of darkness. You enter the northern section of the village. You think you may be able to hear something to your east, a little ways. You're not sure what it is.
-
> Investigate sound
-
>Go east a bit, enough to get a better idea what the noise is.
-
> Investigate sound
>Go east a bit, enough to get a better idea what the noise is.
>You move towards the direction of the noise. Now that you can make it out a little better, it sounds like someone half-humming, half-singing to themselves. You think it's probably Rumia.
-
> "Rumia, is that you?"
> Go closer to the sound
-
> "Rumia, is that you?"
> Go closer to the sound
>You move a little closer, and see Rumia poke out from around a corner. She seems to be doing a cross between skipping and flying, knocking her hat up into the air, and catching it on her head every other jump. She notices you and smiles and waves.
>"Oh, hello quiz lady! Are you feeling not-sad, yet?"
-
> "Just a little bit now, I was wondering if you's like to go to the Mansion at the lake with me?"
> What can we do about getting more spellcards?
-
>Let's hit up that Graveyard first. The brown-haired girl said Hina honored the graves and all that jazz. And Hina would have to be a decent font of information.
-
> "Just a little bit now, I was wondering if you's like to go to the Mansion at the lake with me?"
>"Hmmm.... the lake's kinda pretty at night. Sure!"
> What can we do about getting more spellcards?
>That's a good question. You only have two on you that you're even able to use at the moment. The note from yourself suggests that the 'you' of this timeline left to go somewhere else. It's possible you have a stockpile at... wherever that is. You might also be able to scribe a few more yourself, if you had time and the appropriate supplies.
>Let's hit up that Graveyard first. The brown-haired girl said Hina honored the graves and all that jazz. And Hina would have to be a decent font of information.
>You decide to check out the graveyard before leaving for the mansion. As you head northward, Rumia bobs after you, humming quietly to herself.
>"The lake's not this way," Rumia adds helpfully after a couple minutes, but keeps pace with you anyway.
>You are past the northern outskirts of the village. Abandoned farmland stretches into the north as far as you can see in this light. The graveyard is a little further to the northeast. You can see the silhouettes of some of the grave markers from here. There... seems to be more of them than you remember.
-
> "I'm just gonna check the graveyard for a bit before we go Rumia"
> Check to see if anyone we know ended up......here
> Keep an eye out for other people
-
> "I'm just gonna check the graveyard for a bit before we go Rumia"
>"Sure!"
> Check to see if anyone we know ended up......here
> Keep an eye out for other people
>You slowly walk among the graves, trying to survey them as clinically as possible. This isn't easy, even for you. Much of the graveyard is the same as you remember it, but there is a considerable number of new grave markers in one section. There are... a lot of names you recognize here. People who you'd spoken to yesterday, even. People whose tests you'd just corrected. People you were getting ready to complain to about said tests, yet again. It's extremely chilling. After a while, you start to notice a pattern of dates. Nearly all of these people died six years ago.
>After a little while, you become aware of a silhouette kneeling underneath the shadow of a tree. How long had you been standing near it? You... think you forgot about where you were for a moment.
-
> "Hello who's there"
> Get a closer look at that silhouette
-
> "Hello who's there"
>"Oh, hello. I didn't notice you there." The voice is quiet and poised.
>The form stands up. She seems to be wearing a frilly dress with elaborate ribbons.
>As you walk closer to her, you grow increasingly uneasy, almost like you were walking into an emotional smog. It's a strange and off-putting sensation. Rumia stops following you after a couple steps and flies back a few feet. "The creepy lady makes Rumia feel funny. Rumia's gonna wait over here.". You see her land on a larger stone grave marker and dangle her legs over the edge, swinging them back and forth.
>You've never met Hina Kagiyama before, but you are familiar with her existence, and the figure before you matches depictions of her you've seen. That would also explain the sensation of ill ease you feel around her. It's apparently not unusual. She can't have a lot of people who'd want to stay close to her for any length of time, at this rate.
>"Greetings, stranger. A great deal seems to be troubling you. Can I help?"
-
> "Yes, er, I'd like to know what happened to this Village, if it's not too much trouble"
-
>"I am Keine Kamishirasawa. And...I'll try to explain the rest later. For now, just pretend I've been missing for years. It's easier that way."
-
> "Yes, er, I'd like to know what happened to this Village, if it's not too much trouble"
>"I am Keine Kamishirasawa. And...I'll try to explain the rest later. For now, just pretend I've been missing for years. It's easier that way."
>"Very well. Greetings, Keine Kamishirasawa. I am Hina Kagiyama. And this village is my home and my duty, and my sorrow."
>"I do not know all of its history, as I was not here to witness it. But I may still be able to tell you a little."
>"This village was abandoned 4 years ago. I came to know of it when the humans began their exodus to worship the new goddess of the mountain, and live in the shelter of her protection. This place was cursed to them. Not in the sense you might think of the word. No magic was placed upon it. Yet, the specter of tragedy can taint a place as surely as any magic. She offered them salvation, and they were grateful to accept."
>"I exist on the sustenance of people's misery and misfortune. It is an irony that my existence depends on the suffering of others, when I would wish for nothing more than that these people's sufferings could end. But that is why I am here, of course. Consuming misfortune is not just my lifeblood. It is my duty. There may be no place in Gensokyo where so much of it still lingers. I wish for the cloud of misery above this village to end, so that life could bloom here once more. This is why I am here."
-
>"Where did it start, this tragedy?"
>When did we leave? Post UFO/12.3 times?
-
>"Where did it start, this tragedy?"
>"I do not know for certain, but I suspect that the Year of Winter is what ended this village. That year was hard on many of us, but humans are so very frail. I imagine many of them simply starved to death."
>When did we leave? Post UFO/12.3 times?
>If you're asking if these events had transpired in our home timeline by the start of this, yes. You were currently engaged in writing down the history of Byakuren and her followers.
-
>Sigh.
>"You didn't recognize my name. That's...disturbing. Have you heard of the hakutaku at all?"
-
> Yes, now were definitely sure the change happened between the Scarlet Mist and the Winter Incident.
> "Would you know what happened to the Hakurei Shrine?"
-
> Yes, now were definitely sure the change happened between the Scarlet Mist and the Winter Incident.
>Yes. No one in the village you lived in starved to death, during the long winter. But it wasn't a Year of Winter, either...
> "Would you know what happened to the Hakurei Shrine?"
>"I had heard tell that it no longer exists, but I do not know if this is true. And if it is, I do not know what happened. The border seems the same as always."
>Sigh.
>"You didn't recognize my name. That's...disturbing. Have you heard of the hakutaku at all?"
>"No, is there some reason I should have recognized you name? And... are you hakutaku? Forgive me, you seemed so... human."
>She pauses, and then her eyes suddenly widen. "Did you live here?" she asks insistently.
-
>"Yes."
-
>"Yes."
>She stares at you for a moment, considering. Finally she speaks again. "I'd never known what to make of it. The human who is not human...."
>"Before I explain that, you said I should pretend that you have been missing for years. Why is that?"
-
>"Because, from everything I can tell, I have been. For three years. As well, much has changed..."
-
> "I have no memory of any of these events. According to what I remember, this village was still inhabited for the past four years, the Hakurei Shrine still exists, and none of this destruction happened. I even saw something in my handwriting, signed by me, from years ago, that I do not remember writing."
-
>Offer a shrug. Because, for reals...
-
>"Because, from everything I can tell, I have been. For three years. As well, much has changed..."
> "I have no memory of any of these events. According to what I remember, this village was still inhabited for the past four years, the Hakurei Shrine still exists, and none of this destruction happened. I even saw something in my handwriting, signed by me, from years ago, that I do not remember writing."
>Offer a shrug. Because, for reals...
>"That is... very strange. I do not know what I can say to that, but... I do not feel you are lying. The taste of your suffering is not like that of an old wound."
>"Very well, Keine Kamishirasawa. I will explain something to you that I have been told in confidence, but which I feel you should know. Perhaps all the more if you do not, yourself, remember. There is a woman who lives here in the village with me, whose sorrows number perhaps even greater than those buried here. I do not know what her own demons are, but... she can hear the whispers of the dead. There are many here who refuse to pass on. She tries to comfort them in a way that I cannot. Sometimes, she has shared with me what they have said. It is not like language that you or I use. Sometimes there are images, or impressions. She does not always know what she sees. But there had been a recurring image of a human, who was not quite human."
-
> "Oh geez... Also, the reason for this is most likely because I'm a were-hakutaku."
-
> "Did she tell you the description of that person?"
-
>Ponder if this sounds like anyone we know, a ghost talker.
-
> "Oh geez... Also, the reason for this is most likely because I'm a were-hakutaku."
>"Ah. This is possibly so."
> "Did she tell you the description of that person?"
>"I don't think there was a description to tell. Like I said, she cannot communicate with the kind of clarity we might have. But there were memories these people had. I think... I think you may have been one spot of hope in their desperation."
>Ponder if this sounds like anyone we know, a ghost talker.
>Well, it's certainly an unusual ability for one to have. Besides, the dead do not usually linger in the land of the living, as best you know. Most travel to the Netherworld for a time, until they are ready to pass on. ....wait a moment.
-
> Something must happened to the Netherworld since Reimu and co. weren't there to stop that incident
-
> "I think I know what happened... for what I remember, the Year Long Winter, was only about a month or two longer then normal, rather then the Year you said. Reimu Hakurei and Marisa Kirisame ventured into the Netherworld to bring an end to the abnormally long winter. But here, Reimu has not been around for at least 7 or 8 years I'd say, and Marisa apperently dissapeared after the Scarlet Mist incident, 6 years ago, if my assumptions are correct. A 3rd person, from the Scarlet Devil Mansion, also ventured to stop the long winter, but with all the differences, she might have never ventured out at all. No one to stop it, it claimed so many lives..."
> Let the tears start flowing, many people we knew are dead, including some of our students.
> After we calm ourselves again, "Hina, tell me, do you know of any of the following people? Fujiwara no Mokou, Yukari Yakumo, Yuyuko Saigyouji, Remilia Scarlet, Kaguya Houraisan or Eirin Yagokoro."
-
> "I think I know what happened... for what I remember, the Year Long Winter, was only about a month or two longer then normal, rather then the Year you said. Reimu Hakurei and Marisa Kirisame ventured into the Netherworld to bring an end to the abnormally long winter. But here, Reimu has not been around for at least 7 or 8 years I'd say, and Marisa apperently dissapeared after the Scarlet Mist incident, 6 years ago, if my assumptions are correct. A 3rd person, from the Scarlet Devil Mansion, also ventured to stop the long winter, but with all the differences, she might have never ventured out at all. No one to stop it, it claimed so many lives..."
>"That is.... how is it that you can claim to remember events which did not happen?"
> Something must happened to the Netherworld since Reimu and co. weren't there to stop that incident
>That does seem distinctly possible. Certainly, multiple things point to a change in events around this point in time
> Let the tears start flowing, many people we knew are dead, including some of our students.
>As you let the realization of how things must have unfolded here sink in, you find it hard to restrain your tears. So much needless death. So much... You start to cry freely. Eventually, you become vaguely aware of Hina's presence over your shoulder. She seems to be whispering gentle words of comfort. You hadn't even noticed her move. Eventually, you stop and dry your tears. You imagine you look like something of a wreck now, but you find you can't really care.
>"I am sorry for your pain. You have gained a great deal of misfortune in a very short time. Regardless of whether I believe you, it is clear that YOU believe you. People's pain cannot lie."
> After we calm ourselves again, "Hina, tell me, do you know of any of the following people? Fujiwara no Mokou, Yukari Yakumo, Yuyuko Saigyouji, Remilia Scarlet, Kaguya Houraisan or Eirin Yagokoro."
>"I'm afraid that I have always lived a reclusive life. My aura disquiets people. I have learned to accept it, and in some ways, it is better for everyone for me to remain at a distance. Still, it makes me sad that I cannot provide more useful information. Yukari is of course known to me, but her movements and motives are known to no one. Remilia still dwells in her mansion upon the lake. The other names mean nothing to me, I fear."
-
>Once we feel up to talking again: "There's another thing I'd like to ask. There was a youkai I met. I think it was a youkai, in any event. She had wings, and being near her made me very drowsy. Does this sound familiar at all?"
-
>Once we feel up to talking again: "There's another thing I'd like to ask. There was a youkai I met. I think it was a youkai, in any event. She had wings, and being near her made me very drowsy. Does this sound familiar at all?"
>"I'm afraid I've never heard of such a youkai. Perhaps someone else might be able to be more helpful."
-
> We still need to find out what happened at the Scarlet Devil Mansion to know what happened between then and the Winter Incident, say our farewell to Hina, lets go to the Mansion. Don't forget Rumia
-
> We still need to find out what happened at the Scarlet Devil Mansion to know what happened between then and the Winter Incident, say our farewell to Hina, lets go to the Mansion. Don't forget Rumia
>You bid farewell to Hina, and start westward. Rumia flies back over to you once you're a safe distance away from her.
>"You were all sad, again, weren't you?" She frowns. "Rumia will work extra harder this time!"
>You leave the western edge of the village, following the road. Rumia bobs along behind you. After some time, the lake comes into view in the distance. The visibility there is actually pretty good at the moment. It lives up to its name mostly around noon. Taking a quick scan of some of the landmarks, you have the strange feeling that the lake seems... further away than normal?
-
>If the lake is further away than it should be, try to figure out what is filling this extra distance between us and it.
-
>If the lake is further away than it should be, try to figure out what is filling this extra distance between us and it.
>It's difficult to tell, at first, so you move closer. The terrain in the area is mostly the same as it was closer to the village: gently sloping grasslands dotted with small stands of trees. But as you survey the land going from you towards the lake, the grass abruptly stops and is replaced with a bed of irregular rocks that continues for at least 100 feet until the water itself. The entire lakeshore, as far as you can see, is made of the same sort of terrain now.
-
> Hmm, looks like the lake drained or something, wonder what could have done that?
-
> Hmm, looks like the lake drained or something, wonder what could have done that?
>Yeah, it does look like the water level in the lake is quite a bit lower than what it should be. Now, the lake is still pretty sizable, but it would require a pretty massive amount of water to be moved from the lake to change the shoreline by that much. You aren't really sure what could have done that, or why.
-
>Can we see the Mansion from here?
>"Do you know what happened to the lake?"
-
>Can we see the Mansion from here?
>You can't see the Mansion from here, but you wouldn't expect to. It's further around to the north shore, and there are trees in the way.
>"Do you know what happened to the lake?"
>"Well, there was a big 'shkraaaa' and then the air went 'foooom' and the water went 'sloooooosh'" She punctuates her sound effects with various incomprehensible hand gestures. "Rumia wasn't there, but Cirno told her. She spent a whole week running around all grumbly. Said she was gonna 'find whoever broke her lake and mess them up.' " She puts a finger to her chin thoughtfully. "Rumia doesn't know if she ever found anyone."
-
>Well, that's something. There was a cataclysm of some kind.
>Toward the north shore!
-
> Hmm, from the sound of it, something drained the water, maybe a fissure appeared under the lake?
-
>Well, that's something. There was a cataclysm of some kind.
>It does seem possible. Something sudden and loud seems to have happened, anyway. Most of what you've seen of Gensokyo so far has been pretty physically intact, though. Aside from the giant crevice at the shrine.
> Hmm, from the sound of it, something drained the water, maybe a fissure appeared under the lake?
>That does seem like a possibility. A fissure like that down there could certainly drain a lot of water.
>Toward the north shore!
>You continue towards the north, along the grassy edge of the 'old' lakeshore. You reach the northern bank, and you think you can see the Scarlet Devil Mansion just barely come into view in the distance.
>You hear some kind of noise from the lake. It is someone's voice? It seems to be getting louder.
-
> Investigate noise, but don't give away your position
-
> Investigate noise, but don't give away your position
>Well, it's kind of hard not standing out when there's either flat land or water for a couple hundred feet around you. There's nothing obvious to hide behind.
>You turn towards the source of the noise, though. You think you can see a form over the lake, quickly heading towards your position. ...is it yelling?
>"....oooooooppp!"
-
> Quick, dodge
-
> Quick, dodge
>You try to sidestep away from the dive-bombing silhouette, but discover this is unnecessary when it stops of its own accord, a few feet from you. Unfortunately, she didn't let go of that syllable until she stopped moving, either. Wow, she can be loud when she wants to.
>Cirno points a finger accusingly at you. "Hey buddy, this is my lake. If you want to be here, you've got to pay the toll."
-
> "And what would the toll be exactly, Cirno"
-
> "And what would the toll be exactly, Cirno"
>She smirks at you. "What'cha got?"
>Rumia makes a small petulant noise
-
> "Nothing that you could find interesting"
> Actually since Reimu doesn't exis.....isn't here, is there a spell card system at all?
-
> "Nothing that you could find interesting"
>"Hmph... Maybe I could take the toll out of you, then. I might find that interesting."
> Actually since Reimu doesn't exis.....isn't here, is there a spell card system at all?
>Well, you still have spellcards on you. They don't seem any different than they used to be. You haven't to to use them yet, of course.
-
> Can spell cards only be used once?
> "Look, I'm trying to find some answers for somethings and one of them maybe connected to how your lake got drained"
-
>"So, we'll do this. Once I find out who and what it is, I'll tell you. It'll be like an investiment."
-
> Can spell cards only be used once?
>Spell cards contain a finite amount of energy. This does not necessarily equate to a single usage. If used briefly, energy may remain for additional usages. However, prolonged usage will expend the card. Damage sustained while using the card also expends this energy.
> "Look, I'm trying to find some answers for somethings and one of them maybe connected to how your lake got drained"
>"So, we'll do this. Once I find out who and what it is, I'll tell you. It'll be like an investiment."
>"You're just bluffing so I won't kick your ass. I know how that works. I let you go and you never come back here. Besides, what's this lake to you?"
-
> "It's not exactly this lake but the answers I'm looking for could be connected to what happened to this lake"
-
> "It's not exactly this lake but the answers I'm looking for could be connected to what happened to this lake"
>"Ha, that's pretty convenient. I looked everywhere for the the jerk who did this, and couldn't find a thing. It's been years now. Whaddaya think you can do, that even I couldn't?"
>Rumia seems to be scowling at her
-
>"So, are you challenging me?"
>If she says yes.
>"Very well, then by rights I get to pick the nature of the duel."
-
(Ask this first, if she still doesn't agree use Purvisens suggestion)
> "Did you try asking questions to people?"
> "Sigh, Look I'm on my way to question someone who would probably know something about what happened, you can come with me if you like if you don't trust me"
-
> "Did you try asking questions to people?"
>"Of course I did. I'm not stupid, you know. I found everyone I could find and asked, "Why'd you break my lake!?". And if they looked confused, I found someone else. Only the real villain would know what I was talking about, y'see?"
> "Sigh, Look I'm on my way to question someone who would probably know something about what happened, you can come with me if you like if you don't trust me"
>"Hey, I'm not falling for that one. You just want me away from here so other people can sneak by without paying, too!"
>"So, are you challenging me?"
>If she says yes.
>"Very well, then by rights I get to pick the nature of the duel."
>She starts to laugh. "You really don't know who you're dealing with here, do ya? But this ought to be worth a laugh. Go ahead, do your worst. There's nothing I'm not better than you at!"
-
>"Alright Cirno, time for a pop quiz. Outside history edition. Ten questions, you need a 50% or better to pass, and that's much more generous than my normal class."
>"First question: What is traditionally referred to as China's Sorrow?"
-
(That is just cruel)
> "Second Question: When was the Gensokyo barrier formed?"
-
(That is just cruel)
> "Second Question: When was the Gensokyo barrier formed?"
Outside history.
>"What was sacrificed to create the Great Barrier of China?"
-
>"Alright Cirno, time for a pop quiz. Outside history edition. Ten questions, you need a 50% or better to pass, and that's much more generous than my normal class."
>"You'll be lucky if you can trick me with even one of them. You'll see." She's wearing a very smug expression.
>"First question: What is traditionally referred to as China's Sorrow?"
>"Uh, she's that gatekeeper for the big house over there, isn't she? Umm... her job! Yeah, that's definitely it."
>"What was sacrificed to create the Great Barrier of China?"
>"Her social life."
-
>"That's two wrong. The correct answers are the Yellow River and the lives of the Emperor Chin Shih Huangdi's soldiers."
>"Third question: Who brought Buddhism to Tibet?"
-
>"That's two wrong. The correct answers are the Yellow River and the lives of the Emperor Chin Shih Huangdi's soldiers."
>Cirno scowls.
>"Third question: Who brought Buddhism to Tibet?"
>"Bah, you're just making this up, aren't you?" She grumbles a little, but still seems to be doing her best to think of something. "I dunno. Next question."
-
> We should probably make some questions that Cirno could probably answer, we don't want to make it look like we chose those questions for her to be wrong about
-
> We should probably make some questions that Cirno could probably answer, we don't want to make it look like we chose those questions for her to be wrong about
>Ain't our fault little punk don't study.
>"Not at all, I've been teaching it for ages."
>"Fourth question: Who began the Yuan Dynasty in China?"
-
>"Not at all, I've been teaching it for ages."
>"You teach boring stuff, then."
>"Fourth question: Who began the Yuan Dynasty in China?"
>"China's got a die-nasty in her? That sounds.... painful."
-
>"I'm talking about the nation, dear. And it's Kublai Khan."
>"Fifth question: When did Kyoto serve as the capital?"
-
>"I'm talking about the nation, dear. And it's Kublai Khan."
>"Bah, who are all these people?"
>"Fifth question: When did Kyoto serve as the capital?"
>"Uh.... 1837!" she answers defiantly.
-
>"Technically correct, but I was looking for a range of dates. We'll give you half credit."
>If she looks like she's about to try something funny, give her a headbutt.
>"Sixth Question: Why was the capital moved to Kyoto in the first place?"
-
>"Technically correct, but I was looking for a range of dates. We'll give you half credit."
>Cirno beams and make a triumphant motion with her arm. "Y'see?"
>If she looks like she's about to try something funny, give her a headbutt.
>She's ranged between smug, irritated, concentrated, and confused during most of this, but she doesn't seem ready to blast you just yet, anyway. You prepare to dish out a swift cranial reprisal if she tries anything.
>"Sixth Question: Why was the capital moved to Kyoto in the first place?"
>"Why does anyone move anywhere? Old place was too hot."
-
>"Rather, it was because the Emperor wanted to get away from the influence of the Buddhist clergy. You're down to the last one, Cirno."
>"Question seven: What conflict escalated into the Ōnin War?
-
>"Rather, it was because the Emperor wanted to get away from the influence of the Buddhist clergy. You're down to the last one, Cirno."
>"Ha, I'm not worried! I'm sure you're all out of the trick ones, now."
>"Question seven: What conflict escalated into the Ōnin War?
>"The Oni War? Aren't they always fighting, anyway? Ha, I get it! This is another trick question. It was probably a bar brawl or something."
-
>"Unfortunately, no. It was over who would take of the Ashikage Shogunate, a retired monk named heir or the prior shogun's infant son born after the monk was named."
>Despair over the state of historical knowledge in kids these days.
-
>"Unfortunately, no. It was over who would take of the Ashikage Shogunate, a retired monk named heir or the prior shogun's infant son born after the monk was named."
>"Bah, who wants to know boring stuff like that, anyway?" Cirno does her best to look indifferent.
>Despair over the state of historical knowledge in kids these days.
>You indulge yourself in a sigh about the state of general eduction around here. It doesn't help that Cirno doesn't seem to care, either. Where are these people's priorities?
-
>"Actually, that done with. Tell me, what did happen to the lake? Rumia gave me a secondhand description, but no doubt you'd know more."
-
>"Actually, that done with. Tell me, what did happen to the lake? Rumia gave me a secondhand description, but no doubt you'd know more."
>"Huh. Well, I was actually tryin' to sleep, when it happened. Woke up to this giant shattering noise. There was this crazy purple light coming up from the bottom of the lake. Felt like even the air was shakin'. After a few minutes, it just stopped, and there was this huge whirlpool, and the water just started going down. Don't know much else than that. No one else would tell me a bloody thing, even when I tried to freeze them."
-
>"Did you ever look at the bottom of the lake?"
-
>"Did you ever look at the bottom of the lake?"
>"Tried to. Too deep to see down there. And... I can't swim." She's doing her best to look as though swimming were beneath her.
-
>"Tried to. Too deep to see down there. And... I can't swim." She's doing her best to look as though swimming were beneath her.
>"It sounds like the water is still there, just a cavern or such was exposed and flooded."
-
>"It sounds like the water is still there, just a cavern or such was exposed and flooded."
>She chews this over thoughtfully. "Hey, I hadn't thought about that! Maybe you're not so dumb after all."
>"Hey, don't call the quiz lady dumb!" Rumia interjects.
>"I said she WASN'T dumb, loudmouth. Geeze..."
-
>"We all have our moments, I'm sure. What about the lake water itself? Has it been affected at all? Or anything living in it?"
-
>"We all have our moments, I'm sure. What about the lake water itself? Has it been affected at all? Or anything living in it?"
>"Uh, looks more or less the same to me."
-
>"Uh, looks more or less the same to me."
>"Does it taste the same? Has anything funny happened to anyone drinking it?"
-
>"Does it taste the same? Has anything funny happened to anyone drinking it?"
>"Uh, I hadn't seen anything odd. Still freezes the same as always."
-
>Frown, but leave it that that.
>Keep going!
>Is this, to our knowledge, supposed to be a major faerie hangout, or just Cirno's haunt?
-
>Frown, but leave it that that.
>Keep going!
>Is this, to our knowledge, supposed to be a major faerie hangout, or just Cirno's haunt?
>It does have a reputation as a bit of a faerie haunt, but they come and go as they please. You don't see any others at the moment, but they might be off causing trouble elsewhere, or sleeping. Cirno supposedly has a certain degree of authority among the faeries, but you're not sure how much that counts for with such a spastic and fickle bunch.
-
>"None of the other faeries have mentioned anything weird?"
-
>"None of the other faeries have mentioned anything weird?"
>"Oh, half of what they say is weird. Nothing you'd care about, though."
-
>"I might, actually. I haven't heard much of what's been going on at the lake for a while, and rumors are somewhere to start in order to find out."
>Swimming skill? Else, mental note to see about recruiting a kappa.
>Given the exodus to Kanako's shrine and Suwako's powers over creating earth... could they? Would they?
-
>How close are we to the mansion now?
-
>"I might, actually. I haven't heard much of what's been going on at the lake for a while, and rumors are somewhere to start in order to find out."
>"Eh, just faerie junk. They're easily amused. Not like me."
>Swimming skill? Else, mental note to see about recruiting a kappa.
>You're a competent enough swimmer, but you still can't breath underwater. It might be hard to get down far enough to see anything useful. And it would probably be very cold. Probably shouldn't be a problem for a kappa, though.
>Given the exodus to Kanako's shrine and Suwako's powers over creating earth... could they? Would they?
>Could they? Well, Suwako probably COULD, at any rate. As for whether she WOULD, you really can't be sure. She was pretty friendly and non-interventionist in your own timeline, but who knows what else might have changed here. You make a note to look into the possibility, though.
>How close are we to the mansion now?
>It's probably about 15 minutes or so away, at this point. You've covered most of the distance between it and the village.
-
>"That purple blast, did it do anything else that you know of? Did anyone else see it?"
-
>"That purple blast, did it do anything else that you know of? Did anyone else see it?"
>"Eh, some of the other faeries probably saw it. They'd just tell you the same thing I just did, though. If you could even convince them to talk sense for long enough."
-
>"One last question, then. Have you seen, or heard anything about, a youaki with wings that makes people near her fall asleep?
>How many wings was it? One pair? Multiple?
-
>"One last question, then. Have you seen, or heard anything about, a youaki with wings that makes people near her fall asleep?
>"Never heard of anything like that."
>How many wings was it? One pair? Multiple?
>As best you could tell, it was a single pair. You didn't get a very good look at the youkai, though.
-
> Okay lets go to the SDM
> "So, Cirno, you sure you don't want to come with us, I'm pretty sure what happened to your lake and the answers I'm searching for are connected"
-
> "So, Cirno, you sure you don't want to come with us, I'm pretty sure what happened to your lake and the answers I'm searching for are connected"
>"Psh... I already said I'm not letting you drag me away from here. You're lucky I let you off with a warning. And you better bring me back something interesting, or I'll kick your butt. Hear me?"
> Okay lets go to the SDM
>You leave Cirno and resume your trip towards the mansion. Cirno watches you walk off with a smug expression on her face. She seems to have found a way to rationalize her crushing defeat into some kind of victory in her own mind.
>After some time, you find yourself near the mansion front gate. Meiling is resting against the wall, staring up at the sky. She doesn't appear to have noticed you yet.
-
>"Good evening, may we come in?"
-
> "I'm investigating certain things and I believe the owner of this Mansion can help me"
> Be polite
-
>"Good evening, may we come in?"
> "I'm investigating certain things and I believe the owner of this Mansion can help me"
> Be polite
>You attempt to address Meiling and ask for her to let you through the gate. However, you've barely opened your mouth before she leaps upright and assumes a martial stance.
>"Aha! An intruder at last! Declare yourself!" She seems to be grinning, almost foolishly.
-
>"I've not intruded yet, Meling. Just petitioning at the moment. I'm Keine."
-
> "Uh... It isn't exactly intruding if I've asked you for permission to enter is it?"
-
> "I'm here cause I'm investigating certain events that your employer might know the answers to"
-
> "Uh... It isn't exactly intruding if I've asked you for permission to enter is it?"
>"I've not intruded yet, Meling. Just petitioning at the moment. I'm Keine."
>She seems a little crestfallen. "Well, you were thinking about it, weren't you? Weren't you?" She clears her throat and her expression hardens again. "State your intentions!" she barks.
> "I'm here cause I'm investigating certain events that your employer might know the answers to"
>"My employer is not a question and answer service, and our library is not open to the public. Everyone is currently quite busy with matters of far too much consequence to take time out of the day for... whoever you are. Unless... you want to force the issue?"
-
>"I'd prefer to leave force out of it entirely, to be honest."
-
> "Look, can you talk to them about letting me in, I'm just here to ask about the Scarlet mist incident, and the abnormally long winter, in fact can I ask you a couple of questions about those?"
-
>"I'd prefer to leave force out of it entirely, to be honest."
>"Hey, rules are rules. And I can stand around waiting for you to get bored or frustrated or go away a lot longer than you can stand around waiting for me, I'll wager. I've had a LOT of practice at it."
>After a moment, she leans towards you and whispers. "You sure you don't want to try flying over the gate? C'mon, be a sport?"
> "Look, can you talk to them about letting me in, I'm just here to ask about the Scarlet mist incident, and the abnormally long winter, in fact can I ask you a couple of questions about those?"
>"Y'see... going to talk to them would mean leaving my post unattended. And what self-respecting guard would do that? And I'm not supposed to fraternize while on-duty, sorry."
-
> "If you can't leave your post at least answer some questions for me, think of it as an interview"
-
>"I'm too tired and ragged to fight right now, Meiling. You wouldn't get anything out of it."
-
> "If you can't leave your post at least answer some questions for me, think of it as an interview"
>"Like I said, not supposed to do that without permission. I don't make the rules. I just follow them."
>"I'm too tired and ragged to fight right now, Meiling. You wouldn't get anything out of it."
>"Aw, damnit!" She sighs, then looks up and starts yelling at the sky. "Was a real intruder too much to ask for? Just one? Y'know, maybe every year or two?" She lets out another frustrated sigh. "Alright, alright, I'll get someone to ask if they care to talk to you. What did you say your name was again?"
-
> She should really be careful of what she wishes for, It might become true.....again
> "My name is Keine Kamishirasawa"
-
>"We could play cards while waiting, I suppose."
-
> She should really be careful of what she wishes for, It might become true.....again
>You get the impression that, at this point, she might even smile if a horde of angry oni showed up on her doorstep.
> "My name is Keine Kamishirasawa"
>"Ok." Meiling waves over a faerie that was fluttering around part of the courtyard and gives her instructions. The faerie flies off into the mansion.
>"We could play cards while waiting, I suppose."
>She pulls a spellcard out of her pocket with startling speed. "Hah! I knew it!" Then she pauses and looks at you critically. "....or did you just mean the plain old variety?"
-
>"Just the usual kind. Unless there's some sort of game for spellcards I don't know about?"
-
>"Just the usual kind. Unless there's some sort of game for spellcards I don't know about?"
>She slips the spellcard back into her pocket with a frown. "Don't get my hopes up like that. And I don't really play cards much. No tables out here, anyway."
-
> "Rumia, do you have any idea of what we should do to past the time?"
-
> "Rumia, do you have any idea of what we should do to past the time?"
>Rumia puts a finger to he chin thoughtfully. "Want to play toss the pooky box with Rumia?"
>Meiling sizes Rumia up for a moment. "Want to play 'Who can fly over the gate the fastest?' "
>"Sure!" Rumia says cheerfully and leaps into the air.
-
> Grab hold of Rumia and bring her down
> "She was just joking, you know"
-
> Grab hold of Rumia and bring her down
> "She was just joking, you know"
>You leap into the air, and grab a hold of Rumia's leg, trying to reel her back. She struggles to fly, anyway, gaining another inch or two of height.
>"No fair, that's cheating!" she cries, and tries to flap her arms.
>Meiling watches eagerly. Rumia's nose just barely edges over the top of the gate, before you finally succeed in yanking her back to the ground, where she falls on you in a heap.
>"Haha. Technicality!" Meiling springs into action, pulling a spellcard out of her pocket. "You have violated Scarlet territorial sovereignty. Rainbow Sign! Rainbow Wind Ch-" And then suddenly the spellcard is no longer in her hand. She blinks momentarily in confusion.
>"I expect a suitable explanation for all of this," comes another voice to your right.
-
>Look right.
-
> "Uh, hello"
-
>"Meiling seems to be a little eager to have reason to defend the gate, basically."
>"Rumia, you don't need to race her over the gate. We don't need a fight."
>look over at who is most likely Sakuya barring major timeline changes
-
>Look right.
>You push Rumia off of you, and crane your neck up to see the new voice... only to realize that she's standing practically right next to you. Gah! When'd she get there? Then you notice the outfit and it clicks. Still, it's damn freaky when Sakuya does that. Maybe you just get used to it if you live with her long enough?
> "Uh, hello"
>"Stand up," she says. "And tell me what you're doing here. When I was told you wanted to speak with the mistress, I didn't expect to have to break up a fight out here. Explain."
>"Meiling seems to be a little eager to have reason to defend the gate, basically."
>"Oh? Whatever her other failings, she's scrupulous about following procedure. And two uninvited youkai in the middle of the night could reasonably be construed as a threat. Justify your presence."
>"Rumia, you don't need to race her over the gate. We don't need a fight."
>"But the green lady told me to," she pouts.
>Sakuya turns to Meiling who just grins at her sheepishly. "Well, I was jus-" She shuts up abruptly and takes a step backward. You can't see Sakuya's face from here, but that must have been some glare... When she turns back to you, she's the picture of cool courtesy, however.
>"Very well," she says. "You may follow me. I will ask the mistress if she will see you."
>She turns back to Meiling again. "We will speak of this later." You marvel at how she can manage to sound so chilling without changing her expression at all.
-
> Follow Sakuya
-
>"The reason for coming here is a complex one, and I was hoping one of the wiser souls here could give me some insight into the problem at hand, which I fear has affected all of us."
-
> Follow Sakuya
>Sakuya leaves Meiling cringing by the gate and leads you towards the main entrance. Rumia floats along after you, seemingly oblivious to the implications of what just happened. Or almost happened.
>"The reason for coming here is a complex one, and I was hoping one of the wiser souls here could give me some insight into the problem at hand, which I fear has affected all of us."
>"Hmmm.... what problem is this? Things have actually seemed fairly ordinary these past few years."
>You enter the main gallery, and she leads you up a large and elaborate staircase and down a series of corridors. Paintings, vases and sculpture adorn the hallways. The decor is almost a bit overstated, but very opulent. And very, very red.
-
> "You may not know it but I can sense history, and someone changed something in the past, I'm trying to find out what changed and who changed it"
> "I believe one of the changes was something after the Scarlet Mist your mistress made"
-
> "You may not know it but I can sense history, and someone changed something in the past, I'm trying to find out what changed and who changed it"
> "I believe one of the changes was something after the Scarlet Mist your mistress made"
>Let's pretty this up.
>"Let us say I am sensitive to changes in the course of events. As well, I was attacked by a strange youkai. Afterward, I've detected some fairly major changes."
>_
-
> "You may not know it but I can sense history, and someone changed something in the past, I'm trying to find out what changed and who changed it"
> "I believe one of the changes was something after the Scarlet Mist your mistress made"
>Let's pretty this up.
>"Let us say I am sensitive to changes in the course of events. As well, I was attacked by a strange youkai. Afterward, I've detected some fairly major changes."
>"That is an... interesting story, but forgive me if I remain skeptical. Still, it is not for me to determine your credibility."
>You reach a small sitting room. "Wait here." Sakuya walks off through an adjoining door. It was kind of hard to notice before, but did she have a slight limp?
>After a few minutes, she returns. "The mistress will see you, now. Please follow me."
-
> Follow her in
> Take hold of Rumia's hand, we don't want her causing trouble
-
>See if we can discretely discern if there is a limp, or any causes to it.
>Recall what we know about Remilia's personality. Is she kosher?
-
>See if we can discretely discern if there is a limp, or any causes to it.
>It's subtle, but she does seem to favor her left leg slightly. You can't notice an obvious physical cause.
>Recall what we know about Remilia's personality. Is she kosher?
>She's self-centered, rather capricious, and surprisingly polite when she chooses to be. You've had a couple encounters with her. You fought during the moon incident, but you didn't have a whole lot of fight left in you after getting your ass handed to you by Reimu and Yukari a short while earlier. She also held the occasional party at the mansion, and you attended one or two of them. She would probably be less frightening if she wasn't so powerful. Power and capriciousness are an unsettling combination. Still, you don't expect her to try to spear your heart out unless something has changed drastically.
-
>Hope all drastic changes are for the better. At least people seem normal, so far...
-
> Could it be possibly rude if we asked about the limp?
-
>Hope all drastic changes are for the better. At least people seem normal, so far...
>There's a certain comfort in seeing known faces, even if none of them were especially familiar faces.
> Could it be possibly rude if we asked about the limp?
>It might be. Some people are touchy about that. You don't know her well enough to know for sure, but she's always seemed quite reserved.
> Follow her in
> Take hold of Rumia's hand, we don't want her causing trouble
>You take Rumia's hand, and lead her peaceably into the inner room. It is a small sitting room of sorts, tastefully appointed with tapestries in a range of scarlets and crimsons. There is a conspicuous absence of windows. Remilia is sitting at a table in the center of the room, reading a book of some sort. She smiles when you enter. Something about it is a little unsettling. Perhaps it's just the fangs?
>"It is such a rare thing to have a guest these days. And I hear you have a rather interesting tale, as well." She glances at Rumia. "Though you keep strange company. But still, I'm curious. It's a rare person who seeks to ask the Scarlet Devil for a favor. Convince me why I should indulge you."
-
> "I have reason to believe that past events transpired in a way that should not have been due to a discrepancy in the current timeline."
-
> Could it be possibly rude if we asked about the limp?
>Yes. Yes it would. And a real risk considering the personalities of the residents. The best we can hope for is Rumia asking on her own to cover with her childish innocence. But provoking her to do that would cause about as much trouble, so let her decide that on her own.
> "I have reason to believe that past events transpired in a way that should not have been due to a discrepancy in the current timeline."
>Subtlety.
>"As I mentioned, I am sensitive to changes in the course of events... the history, so to speak. I recently encountered an unfamiliar youkai in the woods and lost consciousness. When I woke up, things were very different. I believe I may have been unconscious for an extended period of time, or something happened while I slept that changed Gensokyo's history substantially. I ask you only for information about the events of the past few years to compare with what I remember and try to find the cause."
-
> "That is why I am investigating what has changed exactly and have pinpointed it to sometime after you made that Scarlet mist"
-
>Yes. Yes it would. And a real risk considering the personalities of the residents. The best we can hope for is Rumia asking on her own to cover with her childish innocence. But provoking her to do that would cause about as much trouble, so let her decide that on her own.
>You decide against asking about the limp for the time-being. No need to risk antagonizing anyone.
>Subtlety.
>"As I mentioned, I am sensitive to changes in the course of events... the history, so to speak. I recently encountered an unfamiliar youkai in the woods and lost consciousness. When I woke up, things were very different. I believe I may have been unconscious for an extended period of time, or something happened while I slept that changed Gensokyo's history substantially. I ask you only for information about the events of the past few years to compare with what I remember and try to find the cause."
> "That is why I am investigating what has changed exactly and have pinpointed it to sometime after you made that Scarlet mist"
>"I am not sure I even believe that history CAN be altered. The threads of fate weave an undisrupted course from the present to today. It is always so. One cannot reach into the past to change that who's fate is already sealed. And I am far more qualified to say this than most. Still, what you ask is harmless enough, and I am curious enough to assist with this, at least. First, though, tell me of this youkai."
-
>"How all-encompassing is fate? How much is left up to things other than fate?"
>Do we have much experience with fate in our full moon duties? Or does it not enter into the equation at all?
-
> Tell Remilia about our encounter with the youkai.
-
>"How all-encompassing is fate? How much is left up to things other than fate?"
>"Oh, everything in life is determined by fate. But this does not mean that free will doesn't exist. A lot of people seem to think this is a contradiction, but they don't understand fate like I do. All actions push against the weft of fate. Some of us can just push harder. But though you can shape the course of future events, things once woven are immutable."
>Do we have much experience with fate in our full moon duties? Or does it not enter into the equation at all?
>You're not entirely sure. It may be a different way of viewing the same thing, just like different cultures have described the manifestation of the same mystical forces in different terms. History has never felt quite the same as Remilia describes, although there are some parallels.
> Tell Remilia about our encounter with the youkai.
>You describe your encounter in the woods.
>"Wings, you say? And an aura of somnolence? Vampires have been known to possess such abilities although I know of no such ones here. A... newcomer to Gensokyo such as that would be quite intriguing. If you find her, I would be.... most interested in an introduction." She flashes her fangs at you again.
-
>"I suppose this leaves two possibilities. Either this world, or the one I knew, is fake. A dream or somesuch. Or, perhaps, both are real, and I have slipped between them."
-
>"I suppose this leaves two possibilities. Either this world, or the one I knew, is fake. A dream or somesuch. Or, perhaps, both are real, and I have slipped between them."
>"If either world is fake, it cannot be this one. I am quite convinced of my own existence, I assure you. To find that the life one thought they had lived was all a dream... Now THAT would be an intriguing dilemma. Although.... perhaps it is possible to slip between different possibilities? I am curious, though. What was I like in this other world?"
-
> "Exactly the same actually"
-
> "Exactly the same actually"
>We don't know enough to make this conclusion. Instead,
> "I wasn't closely acquainted with you, though we did once meet. You had a reputation for acting something like a spoiled brat, though being capable of being extremely polite at times as well. Naturally, I would not presume to make any assumptions that you are such here."
-
> "Exactly the same actually"
>Although this seems essentially correct, from what little you've seen so far, you decide to go with what you believe is a safer answer while knowing fewer details.
> "I wasn't closely acquainted with you, though we did once meet. You had a reputation for acting something like a spoiled brat, though being capable of being extremely polite at times as well. Naturally, I would not presume to make any assumptions that you are such here."
>"Spoiled brat!? Be thankful that I'll give you the benefit of the doubt about whether you're implying this about myself as well. The fear our name inspires is well deserved. Hmph... your world disappoints me. I'd hoped for triumphal marches in my honor, and the fear and respect due someone of my blood, but I- Hey, don't touch that!"
>You notice Rumia has wandered away and is currently poking a small marble bust set on a pedestal."
-
> Hmm, yep, definitely the same
> "Rumia stop touching that and comeback here"
-
> "I know little except what I have heard, and I meant no disrespect. What reason do I have to believe that you are truly the same person in such respects? I haven't even heard what those here think of you, and I have just met you here."
-
> Hmm, yep, definitely the same
>Yes, that definitely sounds like the Remilia you know. It almost brings a smile to your face, despite the stimuli being a person you find dislikable being dislikable.
> "Rumia stop touching that and comeback here"
>She makes a sort of pouting noise. "Why do you keep spoiling Rumia's fun?" She stops poking it, however.
> "I know little except what I have heard, and I meant no disrespect. What reason do I have to believe that you are truly the same person in such respects? I haven't even heard what those here think of you, and I have just met you here."
>"I will magnanimously excuse your poor choice of words. Still, if you are interested in comparative history, I think Patchouli may be able to entertain you better than I. I give you leave to speak with her."
-
> "Thank you for your assistance, but before I leave, what exactly happened during the time you mad the Scarlet Mist?"
-
>We don't know enough to make this conclusion. Instead,
> "I wasn't closely acquainted with you, though we did once meet. You had a reputation for acting something like a spoiled brat, though being capable of being extremely polite at times as well. Naturally, I would not presume to make any assumptions that you are such here."
See this is what I mean about subtlety. Insults, even when true, are rarely a good idea. =(
>Note that the Scarlet Mist may never have happened.
>"This may sound odd, but in the timeline I recall, there was a time when you summoned some scarlet mist to try and darken the day, which led to a bit of conflict with a few others in Gensokyo - what do you remember of it?"
>On the other hand, Patchouli's around and well. That's good.
-
>Note that the Scarlet Mist may never have happened.
>You seem to recall Rumia mentioning something that sounded very much like it.
> "Thank you for your assistance, but before I leave, what exactly happened during the time you mad the Scarlet Mist?"
>"This may sound odd, but in the timeline I recall, there was a time when you summoned some scarlet mist to try and darken the day, which led to a bit of conflict with a few others in Gensokyo - what do you remember of it?"
>She grumbles. "It was an experiment, and I changed my mind. I have nothing further to add on the topic. Now, if you would be so kind as to let Sakuya escort you to the library, Patchouli may be able to provide you with some of the information you request. On other topics." The last words are said with particular firmness. She motions to Sakuya, who opens the door and gestures for you to follow.
>On the other hand, Patchouli's around and well. That's good.
>Every bit that's still the same is one more bit to be happy with. And one less problem to fix....
-
>"Thank you for your time, Miss Remilia."
>follow Sakuya
-
>"Thank you for your time, Miss Remilia."
>"Let it not be said that I am without kindness. I wish you well with your inquiries." She turns back to her book.
>follow Sakuya
>You follow Sakuya as she leads you back towards the main gallery, and then down a separate corridor on the main level. A few confusing twists and turns later you find yourself in the library.
>It is a massive room, easily two stories in height. The walls are lined with bookcases, and the floor is divided into isles by bookcases. There is a mezzanine level that runs around much of the room, containing yet more bookcases. Although many of the tomes concern magical subjects, and thus topics outside your normal area of expertise, you can't help but marvel at it. As a scholar, you can't help but appreciate this much concentrated knowledge in one room.
>Moving past some of the isles, you see an area with several desks and worktables covered in various pieces of magical and non-magical devices. Patchouli seems to be standing over a metallic cube of some sort, while intensely reading a tome laid out on the table besides it. She makes gestures above the cube with one hand, and tiny sparks fly from it.
-
>Wait until Patchouli notices/addresses us - this may be something delicate. Especially if Sakuya's still here to provide introductions.
-
> Observe what she is doing
-
> Observe what she is doing
>Wait until Patchouli notices/addresses us - this may be something delicate. Especially if Sakuya's still here to provide introductions.
>Since Patchouli seems occupied, you decide to wait before addressing her, and observe what she is doing. Several more magic circles appear in the air around the cube and you can see what appears to be a tightly constricted tornado made of lightning extend from the top of the cube. Patchouli seems to be concentrating furiously. Suddenly the lightning arcs in a thick bolt towards the ceiling, and appears to collide with a ward of some sort above the table with an angry crashing sound. A couple nearby faeries shriek and take off like a shot. You think you heard Rumia squeak, too. When it hits the ward, the lightning splinters into tentrils that trace the surface of the ward in all directions. A dome in the air above Patchouli shimmers pale green as the lightning dances upon it. And suddenly everything is dark.
-
>Don't panic. Because that may not be good.
>"Rumia, was that you making it dark?"
-
>Don't panic. Because that may not be good.
>"Rumia, was that you making it dark?"
>"...yes." comes a timid voice.
>"Then kindly refrain from doing such," comes another voice, sounding rather irritated. That much be Patchouli. You imagine Sakuya is probably glaring at someone right now. You're kind of glad there's not enough light to see it.
-
> "Rumia, there's nothing to be afraid of, okay, I'll protect you if there was, so you can drop the darkness now"
-
> "Rumia, there's nothing to be afraid of, okay, I'll protect you if there was, so you can drop the darkness now"
>"Hmmm.... you'll keep the magic lightning lady away from me? Well, okay..." The sphere of darkness contracts, and you can see again. Patchouli sighs. "You hear that?" Rumia says. "Quiz lady can be really scary and painful, too, so you better watch out!" Patchouli eyes you appraisingly.
>"If you cannot restrain your.... companion's enthusiasm, I will be forced to ask you both to leave," says Sakuya.
-
>"Rumia, don't do that anymore, please."
>To Patchouli, "I apologize for the interruption."
-
>"Rumia, don't do that anymore, please."
>"Sorry..." Rumia sort of hangs her head a little.
>To Patchouli, "I apologize for the interruption."
>Patchouli sighs again. "As if this were not tedious enough already." She turns back to her book.
>"Lady Patchouli," Sakuya interjects. "This is Keine Kamishirasawa. The mistress asks that you answer some questions for her."
>"Does she now?" Patchouli doesn't even bother looking back up at you.
-
>Give Rumia a reassuring head pat.
>Tell Patchy the story of the winged sleep-inducing youkai, waking up in the forest, different world/history, and all that.
-
>Give Rumia a reassuring head pat.
>You give Rumia a pat on the head, and she giggles a little.
>Tell Patchy the story of the winged sleep-inducing youkai, waking up in the forest, different world/history, and all that.
>You begin to launch into exposition, and Sakuya quietly withdraws. At first, you're not even certain Patchouli is listening. She's still reading that book, and not paying any attention to you in an obvious way. Once you reach the point in the story where you wake up again, you see her grimace. "Fine, fine! If you won't go away, then I suppose I can spare you a minute or two. Can you describe this youkai again?
-
> Describe the youkai.
-
> Describe the youkai.
>You relate what few details you were able to pick out about the youkai: the white wings and the sense of profound sleepiness you experienced while near it.
>Patchouli nods thoughtfully. "Although there are perhaps an infinite variety of possible youkai, being manifestations of both the tangible and intangible, among the major classes of youkai there are only a few known to possess wings of the style you describe. They sound too large to belong to a faerie. Crow tengu wings are almost invariably black. The same can be said of vampires and demons, although these are encountered less often, and there are certainly variations that have not been recorded. It is a pity you did not get a better look at her."
>"This aura of somnolence intrigues me, though. Sleep-based magic is an unusual and complex thing. Few have dabbled in it, and fewer still could be capable of what you describe. Its power was minimal, given that you were able to will yourself to remain awake. But the range was unusually great for such a thing. And you say that this youkai did not interact with you directly?"
-
> "Unless it did something after I fell asleep, then no. I don't believe it interacted directly with me in any way."
-
> "Unless it did something after I fell asleep, then no. I don't believe it interacted directly with me in any way."
>"Ah, you see, that is the most unusual thing about this. While it is difficult enough to ensorcel someone to sleep in a direct and focused way, doing so in an unfocused area-based effect would be even more difficult. Perhaps this is some new youkai? A manifestation of sleep? Such a thing is not impossible, though I've never read of such a creature."
>"Still, carry on with your story."
-
> Continue where we left off.
-
> Continue where we left off.
>You attempt to describe what you experienced immediately before you lost consciousness, although it is hard find words adequate to the task. Patchouli says nothing, but her brow furrows ever deeper as you continue. Then you reach the point where you discover the changes in the village and she stops you.
>"Are you saying that you truly believe this village was inhabited until your encounter with this youkai this evening?
-
>"Most strongly so, yes. I could go into great detail about what it was like, if you'd like."
-
>"Most strongly so, yes. I could go into great detail about what it was like, if you'd like."
>"Please do."
-
>Describe village life! Talk about the people we know, our goddamn hippy neighbors, the marketplace, the school, public houses...
-
>Describe village life! Talk about the people we know, our goddamn hippy neighbors, the marketplace, the school, public houses...
>You start to give a detailed account of the minutiae of village life, and some events you remember from the last week or two. The aspiring flutist who lived down the road from you, the chronicle your were working on, the disappointing history exam, the watermelon incident.
>After a little while, Patchouli raises a hand for you to stop. "That's good enough. Either you are capable of assembling an inordinately detailed falsehood, or you truly believe what you say. Of course, that does not preclude the possibility that you are simply delusional... Nevertheless."
>"I had considered the possibility that you were still suffering from disorientation as an after-effect of your experience with this youkai. Melding true memories of your own past in the village into the present. Forgetting what had transpired between that time and now. It is not without precedent for such things to happen as the result of mind-affecting magic. However, your tale includes events that I know for certain never occurred. No magician sealed in Makai ever attempted to build a temple at the village. Hmmm... perhaps this youkai implanted false memories into you, in addition to disorienting your recollection of the true past? I cannot vouch for the veracity of the other individual details you provide. My contact with the village was always limited, even when it was inhabited."
-
>"...What purpose would that serve?"
-
>"...What purpose would that serve?"
>"I do not know. It may not have even been a conscious action, if the characteristics of this somnolence are as you describe. Some youkai cannot help but express their nature. If this youkai were some embodiment of sleep... or that which is associated with sleep. Perhaps dreams? Perhaps the happy village that you remember is the product of these dreams? I cannot fault one for wishing that their history had proceeded otherwise. We may stand at a distance from human affairs, but I am not indifferent to the tragedy that befell them."
>"I hope you understand that it is difficult to accept any theory which involves the only reality I have ever known being the result of some alteration of history. And convenient that you should be the only one to be aware of this. Still I can answer some questions that you might have. I am curious of this youkai's identity myself, now."
-
>Nod.
>"I would be skeptical of it myself, were not for my own connection to history. Your idea does have some merit, but it is difficult to accept that false memories would be this good. Especially when I find little to no trace of myself living in this world, be it reality or otherwise."
-
>Nod.
>"I would be skeptical of it myself, were not for my own connection to history. Your idea does have some merit, but it is difficult to accept that false memories would be this good. Especially when I find little to no trace of myself living in this world, be it reality or otherwise."
>"I agree that this interpretation is still problematic, and I mean no disrespect. We can put that issue aside for the moment, if you like."
-
>"Alright. I do apologize for dropping all of this on you, but I think you understand why it is so important for me. I need to figure out what I'm going to do next..."
-
> Do we sense wrongness in the history here, because if so tell her about our powers
-
> Do we sense wrongness in the history here, because if so tell her about our powers
>Your ability to sense history is very muted while in human form. You can feel a vague sense of misalignment, and you're pretty convinced this isn't some sort of elaborate illusion, but it's difficult to pin down more than that at the moment. Figuring out where the timelines diverged will probably have to be done using mundane senses and sources of information.
>You inform Patchouli that you have an innate connection to history, and are fairly certain that history is in fact what is wrong.
>"Hmmm... some texts have hinted at the potential existence of such abilities, but they are understandably difficult to confirm. Still, I will try to give you the benefit of the doubt."
>"Alright. I do apologize for dropping all of this on you, but I think you understand why it is so important for me. I need to figure out what I'm going to do next..."
>"Well, if you are insistent on pursuing the theory that this world is the result of an alteration in the past of the world you remember, I could perhaps answer some questions about how events have unfolded, so that you could compare them to your own recollections. Even in the case of memory alteration, we might find some pattern in the discrepencies that may explain the youkai's purpose. Or it may be possible to attempt to track down the youkai itself in some fashion."
-
> Ask Patchouli how the Scarlet Mist and Long Winter incidents played out and compare them to the original events.
> Ask about the giant fissure at the Hakurei Shrine and the MIsty Lake's water level while we're at it.
-
> Ask Patchouli how the Scarlet Mist and Long Winter incidents played out and compare them to the original events.
>"...Remilia prefers not to speak of the Scarlet Mist incident, so I shall be brief, and you will make no mention of my discussing it. Remilia used vampiric magic to spread mist over Gensokyo, for the express purpose of allowing her to move about during the day. There are any number of problems and selfishnesses inherant in this plan, but I will say no more of them. In the end, the Hakurei shine maiden defeated her, and forced her to terminate her spell. I am glad she has not used her absense to attempt such a plan again. But her pride was injured, and she prefers to think the decision to stop was her own."
>"The Year of Winter? Well, it was much as the name would indicate. Winter came, and spring failed to follow. As did summer, and fall. It was not until the follow year that the cycle of the seasons was restored. We never fully discovered how this was done, or for what purpose. Our attempt to investigate was... inconclusive. The fallout of such an extended winter was logical and predicatable. Extreme food shortages were the norm, everywhere. I am glad that I do not require food for sutenance."
> Ask about the giant fissure at the Hakurei Shrine and the MIsty Lake's water level while we're at it.
>"Ah, yes. That is something else I cannot fully explain. I am not certain when it happened, nor how or why. But as far as anyone can tell, the shrine simply disappeared overnight. Remilia discovered it when she attempted to visit the shrine maiden one evening. I think she had taken something of a liking to her, for whatever reason. In any case, a search for any trace of her or the shrine was entriely unsucessful. Remilia herself scoured the area, and.... insisted that we all assist her. I discovered traces of a magic that I did not recognize there. I have cross-referenced it with almost every resource I have at my disposal, but have been able to discover little of its nature."
>"The lake's water level? I think it's possible that some sort of magical surge may have opened up a natural cavern beneath the lake. The lake itself runs along a ley line, so it's not implausible it was a natural phenomenon. I did not sense any magic when I took a look at it, and nothing unusual has happened there since."
-
> "How about the Witch that accompanied the Shrine Maiden, Marisa, what happened to her"
-
> "How about the Witch that accompanied the Shrine Maiden, Marisa, what happened to her"
>"Ah, her. I have not seen her for a great length of time, either. I cannot say I am entirely ungrateful for this. She seemed to have laid her own claim to the contents of this library despite my strenuous protests. That she decided to extricate herself from our lives is most welcome."
-
>"Hmm, could you tell me about some of the other incidents I remember? The disappearance of the moon? The flower incident? The coming of the Moriya Shrine, and subsequent troubles underground? From what I hear, the treasure ship never appeared..."
-
> Darn, we didn't learn much of anything here, it went exactly like it did before. Our best bet currently is to find Marisa, maybe she'll know something
-
We've not asked much of anything, either. Give it time, space cowboy.
-
> I was actually hoping to find the cause of the change not effects it had but then again we could follow the ripple back to the source
-
>"Hmm, could you tell me about some of the other incidents I remember? The disappearance of the moon? The flower incident? The coming of the Moriya Shrine, and subsequent troubles underground? From what I hear, the treasure ship never appeared..."
>"The moon... Sometimes I forget about that, actually. It almost seems normal, now, doesn't? Remilia took that one rather personally, but to no avail. Evidently, the moon was altered somehow as part of a sealing spell to isolate us from the Lunarians. The scale and complexity of this feat is well beyond anything my own resources detail. Remilia has gone searching for the perpetrators several times since, but we've been unable to relocate them since the night it happened. She doesn't much care when someone mentions this incident, either..."
>"The flower incident? I assume you are referring to the unseasonal blooming we experienced a few years back, although I would hardly describe it as an incident. Apparently there was a backlog of souls waiting to cross the Higan. I find both amusing and vexing that even the afterlife suffers from administrative issues. But the flowering was harmless and went away in good time."
>"The Moriya shrine arrived on Youkai Mountain several years ago, now. I am not sure how this feat was performed, either, but divinities sometimes play by different rules than the rest of us. The goddess who lives there quickly attempted to spread her reach from the local youkai outward. She's been quite well recieved for the most part, although not all have accepted her. In some ways, the Moriya Shrine has fulfilled the place left absent by the disappearance of the Hakurei. Kanako offered fertile lands, abundant harvests, and protection to the humans of Gensokyo, and after what they'd just lived through, most were eager and more than willing to accept. She now reigns ascendant from her peak, and from what I know, she has fulfilled the promises she made. I have had little contact with her, however. We still live outside her domain, and do not especially desire to change this fact."
>"I don't know much about what transpired underground. Evidently some creature of great power emerged from the Blazing Hell, and was defeated and sealed by Kanako. Supposedly their battle left quite a few scars on the terrain."
>"I know of no treasure ship."
> I was actually hoping to find the cause of the change not effects it had but then again we could follow the ripple back to the source
>Yes, it would be nice if Patchouli was aware of the point of divergence, but given her own perception of an unaltered timeline, you fear it's wishful thinking. How would she seperate the important from the unimportant?
> Darn, we didn't learn much of anything here, it went exactly like it did before. Our best bet currently is to find Marisa, maybe she'll know something
>You consider trying to find Marisa after you've finished here
-
(Anyone else has any questions, cause I don't)
-
>Youkai Mountain (Mount ' Nako?) might be a better goal. We know there are people there. Possibly including ourself.
>"Hm, do you know much of Yukari? I recall her being very vested in the lunar incident. Oh yes, and the Scarlet Weather, as well?"
-
>"Hm, do you know much of Yukari? I recall her being very vested in the lunar incident. Oh yes, and the Scarlet Weather, as well?"
>"I have heard the name before, although I have never met her. A youkai of boundaries. Supposedly very enigmatic, even to those who have interacted with her. Her name shows up now and again in history, although I can tell you little more than that. And this weather incident of yours is not familiar to me."
>Youkai Mountain (Mount ' Nako?) might be a better goal. We know there are people there. Possibly including ourself.
>You consider another possible destination. What would it be like, having the chance to meet a you who is not you? You aren't sure whether her (your?) presence there would be reassuring or just eerie.
-
>Nod. "Hm. Yukari was moderately active in the world I know. Interesting. I suppose that is all I have to ask for now. May I have your leave to return when I have better questions to ask? Perhaps there is something I may do for you in turn?"
-
>Nod. "Hm. Yukari was moderately active in the world I know. Interesting. I suppose that is all I have to ask for now. May I have your leave to return when I have better questions to ask? Perhaps there is something I may do for you in turn?"
>"Very well. I'll make sure that Meiling is aware that I have authorized your presence. I am interested in elements of your story, even if I do not yet fully accept the underlying premise. I would be most interested in any more information on this youkai, and there may be some resources in the library that could assist with that."
>"As for services you may provide for me..." She looks at the cube on the table that she was working on earlier and frowns. "I doubt you can be of any assistance in this manner, but the current task that I had been occupied with when you entered revolves around finding a stable way to harness lightning. Evidently Kanako and the Kappa have been developing techniques that work on a similar basis and Remilia has been... rather insistent that I find a way to recreate them without the use of their resources. I have tried telling her that it is an ineffecient way to achieve some of the ends that they have, but..." She sighs again.
-
>"But?"
-
> She is refering to electricity, right?
> "On topic of the moon incident, I remember that the culprit lived in a large mansion, Eientei, deep within the Bamboo Forest."
-
>"But?"
>"But she insists that I do it, anyway." She shakes her head. "While I am not adverse to a challenge, and magical research is a primary interest of mine, this feels like a pointless endeavor. Why should I bind lightning to produce heat to create light, when I could simply create the light itself directly, with far less energy expended? Lightning is not even within the normal domain of the elemental magic I command, and it is certainly far easier for any mage to bind stable light than stable lightning. It is nothing but stubborn foolishness." She pauses, and her eyes narrow. "But you will not repeat that."
> She is refering to electricity, right?
>It is possible. You think you have heard this term used in connection with Kappa engineering before, but you are not familiar with the mechanics of their work in any detail.
> "On topic of the moon incident, I remember that the culprit lived in a large mansion, Eientei, deep within the Bamboo Forest."
>Her eyes narrow, and she looks at you critically. "You remember this? I would like to know how you are aware of this in the first place. I most certainly did not just mention this. In fact... we were not aware of its name ourselves."
-
> "The Lunarian Princess, Kaguya Houraisan, and her loyal servant who is supposedly the most brilliant mind out of all Lunarians, Eirin Yagokoro. Assuming the events of that incident have not changed, those two will have been the source. Neither are by any sense weak, and will likely put up quite a fight."
-
>"I recall this because in my timeline, they opened up to the world somewhat after the... incident they were involved in, and sometimes visited others or allowed visits to their home. The moon rabbit even sold medicine in the human village..."
>To ask: If there are any other 'incidents' she might be aware of, and maybe (very carefully do not be blunt about this or press her about it if she doesn't want to talk) about Sakuya
>In the weather incident, who was it that was associated with snow via the Sword of Hisou? Or does that closer match the time of Yuyuko's silliness?
>Similarly, Tenshi's association with the destruction of the Hakurei Shrine and keystones (and thus leylines) leaves her extremely suspicious at the moment.
>Wonder if that youkai that led to all this was a youkai of nightmares, rather than dreams...
-
> While we're at it, explain how the Winter incident went down in our timeline.
-
> "The Lunarian Princess, Kaguya Houraisan, and her loyal servant who is supposedly the most brilliant mind out of all Lunarians, Eirin Yagokoro. Assuming the events of that incident have not changed, those two will have been the source. Neither are by any sense weak, and will likely put up quite a fight."
>"Yes, Remilia and Sakuya encountered this Eirin on the night they travelled to... Eientei, you called it? She led them into an illusion she had prepared, and away from the true moon. I think they might have won, if not for the completion of the sealing ritual. In the end, I understand Eirin accomplished exactly what she set out to do. Kaguya... I have not heard of."
>She pauses and looks away thoughtfully. "Although, if you are aware of this kind of information, perhaps there is some credibility to your own theory of events..."
>"I recall this because in my timeline, they opened up to the world somewhat after the... incident they were involved in, and sometimes visited others or allowed visits to their home. The moon rabbit even sold medicine in the human village..."
>"That is certainly a different outcome than the one I'm familiar with. And it sounds like a rather more pleasant one all around, to be honest."
>In the weather incident, who was it that was associated with snow via the Sword of Hisou? Or does that closer match the time of Yuyuko's silliness?
>You aren't entirely certain all the details of that incident, although Patchouli seems to indicate that it either did not happen here, or she was not aware of it. The Year of Winter everyone describes does seem to match up to the time of the Spring Snow incident in your own world.
>To ask: If there are any other 'incidents' she might be aware of, and maybe (very carefully do not be blunt about this or press her about it if she doesn't want to talk) about Sakuya
>"Incident is a pretty broadly defined term. Life does not neatly parcel itself into such things, most of the time. But still, I believe you have inquired about a significant majority of major events of the past few years."
>You consider asking about Sakuya, although are undecided about how this question should be asked.
>Similarly, Tenshi's association with the destruction of the Hakurei Shrine and keystones (and thus leylines) leaves her extremely suspicious at the moment.
>The fissure at the Hakurei shrine does resemble earthquake damage in some ways, although this doesn't explain the lack of any physical sign of the shrine, nor the traces of magic found there. As for the possible blast under the lake, it's difficult for you to say.
>Wonder if that youkai that led to all this was a youkai of nightmares, rather than dreams...
>It certainly feels more like a nightmare at the moment...
> While we're at it, explain how the Winter incident went down in our timeline.
>You explain how the Winter lasted only into late spring in your own world, and the netherworld's involvement in this, to the best of your knowledge (the exact details of how Reimu resolved the incident are not fully known to you, although you understand she was instrumental in doing so). Patchouli listens thoughtfully.
>"This is now two matters about which you possess knowledge that I am surprised that you can. We are aware of the netherworld's involvement in this, but I do no believe there are many others who were." You can detect just a hint of seething beneath her voice as she mentions the netherworld. Although, you'd probably be plenty resentful of them, too, if events had played out this way in your own life. Why would they desire to bring such suffering to Gensokyo?
-
>"That seems to be all I can think of to ask at the moment, unless you have more questions for me?"
>Have a look at Patchy's lightning array, try to figure out what it is supposed to do and see if any epiphanies come.
-
>"That seems to be all I can think of to ask at the moment, unless you have more questions for me?"
>"Actually, would you permit me to scan you for enchantments? I would like to see if I can detect any latent trace of the magic that affected you. Or may still affect you."
>Have a look at Patchy's lightning array, try to figure out what it is supposed to do and see if any epiphanies come.
>It appears to be a fairly plain looking cube, made of dark metal, with a hollow rounded cavity in it. There are some sigils inscribed on it, but you don't know quite how to read them. Although magic isn't your forte, as near as you can tell, she was trying to use some sort of ward to contain active lightning inside this cube. Possibly to use a power source? Given the rather alarming display earlier, it clearly doesn't seem to be working quite right. However, Patchouli admitted that lightning was not her forte, and binding enchantments like that can be fairly complex work, anyway. While you certainly don't have the knowledge necessary to assist her, perhaps someone else might?
-
>"You may scan me"
-
>"You may scan me"
>Patchouli nods and traces a small pattern in the air before her with a finger. Light follows the tip of it, tracing a small glyph in the air. She frowns.
>"This will be somewhat more comprehensive than usual. It may feel a bit strange, but it should not be uncomfortable."
>She gets up and retrieves a couple items from a box on a nearby table.
>"Koa, could you please fetch the Gimoire Agnosco?" she calls out towards the back of the library. Then she walks over to you, and passes her hand over a small metal disc, about the size of a large button. A circle etched into this disc glows green. "If you could hold this, please?"
-
> Take the disc.
> "You might want to stand back a bit Rumia."
-
>"This won't hurt, will it?"
-
>"This won't hurt, will it?"
>"I already said it wouldn't, did I not? Now, do try not to distract me."
> "You might want to stand back a bit Rumia."
>You tell Rumia to stand back, but then notice that she's no longer standing next to you, anyway. Did she slip away while you were distracted? You quickly relocate her in the air in one of the far corners of the library, though. She seem to be playing tag with a couple of the faeries.
> Take the disc.
>With perhaps some trepidation, you take the disc. Patchouli says another incantation, and something akin to a faint green aurora begins to form around you. Your skin starts to tingle a little.
>You see a red-haired demon float out from behind one of the bookshelves, and hand Patchouli a small leather-bound tome. She nods in acknowledgment and starts to read from it. The air around you starts to feel very crisp, and wisps of other colors of light dance across the aurora.
-
>Try not to move.
>Or sneeze.
-
>Try not to move.
>Or sneeze.
>You try to remain calm and still. Really, the lightshow is rather pleasant, even if you feel like something of a human guinea pig. Just be still, and don't move and... oh god your nose itches. Wait, your everything itches. The tingling you felt earlier seems to have grown exponentially stronger. It's all you can do not to squirm madly in the chair. You think you might actually have twitched a little, but Patchouli looks too absorbed in what she's doing to notice. She raises a small pendant of a three-pointed star in her free hand, and holds it in front of you, talking too quickly for you to hear. And just when you think you no longer have any choice but to start flailing madly, the light dissipates.
>Patchouli staggers a little and supports herself against the table with one arm. She seems to be breathing heavily.
-
>Deal with residual itching.
>"Are you okay?"
-
>Deal with residual itching.
>You spare yourself a scratch. Ahhhhhh.... Thankfully, it's mostly fading away on its own. You suppose it technically wasn't painful, per se, but...
>"Are you okay?"
>"Yes.... I'm.... okay...." She seems to be struggling for breath a bit. "Harder... than... I expected... that's all...."
>She flops back into her chair, and Koakuma floats over and starts fanning her with a giant paper fan that seems to have somehow appeared in her hands while you weren't looking. Patchouli gives an annoyed groan in her direction and tries to shoo her off.
-
>Give Patchy a bit of time to recover her breath and think out what she wants to say.
-
>Give Patchy a bit of time to recover her breath and think out what she wants to say.
>You sit patienty in your chair and wait for her to recover. Koakuma eventually wanders off. You can hear Rumia and the faeries giggling somewhere else in the library, although you can't currently see them.
>Eventually, Patchouli pulls herself upright, again. She still sounds rather winded, but at least she can speak normally now.
>"I apologize for that. Some days are better than others. In any event... that was both less illuminating and more perplexing than I had hoped, although perhaps not a complete loss."
-
>"Go on."
-
>"Go on."
>"I admit, my primary intent with this was to determine the presence of any enchantment that could explain memory alteration. I found no sign of anything obvious like this. If it's there, it's too well masked for me to detect it like this. But you do have small traces of several different kinds of magic lingering on you. I can't separate them all, precisely. I think there may be traces of a curse of sorts, though very faint, and well as an energy similar to what I detected in the Hakurei fissure, perhaps due to your recent presence there. That is not the most unusual thing, however."
>"The melange of different magics aside, there seems to be something fundamentally... odd about you. No offense intended. I'm not sure what to make of it, but you do not seem as though you are entirely here. Well, that's not really a precise way of putting it. You are certainly physically here, yet something about your 'here-ness' is different from me, or from the rest of this room. Almost like you, yourself, are not physically anchored to reality in the same way. I wish I could articulate this better."
-
> "Maybe it has something to do with me being a were-hakutaku?"
-
> "Maybe it has something to do with me being a were-hakutaku?"
>She shakes her head. "No, I think it is something more than this."
-
>"Might it suggest I am from another world?"
-
>"Might it suggest I am from another world?"
>"I... have to admit it is possible. It is even possible that your idea of altered timelines might cause such an anomaly, if you are still somehow part of the one you remember. I'm... not sure I care for that possibility, to be perfectly honest with you, but, as a scholar, I will not deny its existence."
-
>"I wouldn't care for it, either, if I were you. Mutliple worlds would just make things get messy. Thank you very much for your effort, though. Is there nothing I could do for you in turn?"
-
>"I wouldn't care for it, either, if I were you. Mutliple worlds would just make things get messy. Thank you very much for your effort, though. Is there nothing I could do for you in turn?"
>"You're welcome. I find myself intrigued enough by various facets of your dilemma now that you need not worry about simply compensating me for what I've already done. However... you may be able to do something which would be mutually beneficial to us. I wish to know more about this youkai, and have the chance to study its unusual magic."
>She goes and fetches another object from a box on her worktable. It is a small crystal lattice in the shape of a pentagon. She hands it to you.
>"If by some chance you encounter it again, you can use this to gather a sample of its magical energy for me to analyze. Whether this will end up being helpful to you or not, I cannot say, but it can't hurt to try, can it? As a simple artifact, it can only store a small amount of this energy compared to more directly invoked means, but it should be usable by a non-magician."
>"As for other favors...." She glances at the metallic cube again. "If you somehow find anything that might assist in this endeavor, I would be greatly appreciative."
-
>"Alright. I'll see what can be done with both of those. Thank you."
>If there's nothing else, take our leave and head toward either Youkai Mountain or Casa de Kirisame. Whichever we think is closest.
>Don't leave Rumia behind in the mansion.
-
>"Alright. I'll see what can be done with both of those. Thank you."
>"You're welcome."
>If there's nothing else, take our leave and head toward either Youkai Mountain or Casa de Kirisame. Whichever we think is closest.
>Marisa's home would be closer, but you also don't know where in the forest it is
-
> Do we know anyone that might know where it is?
-
> Do we know anyone that might know where it is?
>Reimu would be the obvious answer to this question. Unfortunately that's a bit of a moot point at moment. Alice would also know, but her location is similarly unknown to you. This Patchouli at least knew OF her, but it doesn't sound like she knew where she lived.
-
>Let's hit up the mountain. They're harder to lose.
-
> Make sure Rumia is with us before we leave.
-
>Let's hit up the mountain. They're harder to lose.
> Make sure Rumia is with us before we leave.
>You thank Patchouli again for her assistance, and go fetch Rumia. Patchouli has Koakuma show the two of you out, again. Meiling sighs and shakes her head as she opens the gate and lets you out.
>You continue westward, around the edge of the lake and towards the river that eventually leads to Youkai Mountain. After flowing from the west for a while, the river curves northward, and becomes more rapid. The shore grows rocky, and you are forced to shift into the trees a short distance from the riverside.
>After a short while, you become aware of a sound of some sort, seemingly far away. You feel a little disoriented.
-
>Consider the sound.
>Consider time of night.
>Does it sound like birdsong?
-
>Consider time of night.
>It should be getting close to dawn by now, but it's still dark
>Consider the sound.
>Does it sound like birdsong?
>It's actually kind of hard to tell what it is, at first. It's almost like your sense of hearing is being muddled. You can't even tell how far away it is. One minute it seems close to you, and the next, far in the distance. But, after a bit, you think that there's a good chance that it is indeed birdsong
-
>Take a gamble!
>"Rumia, is that Mystia?"
>_
-
>Take a gamble!
>"Rumia, is that Mystia?"
>You call out to Rumia. You hear some sort of response back, but can't understand it. She sounds far away. Where'd she wander off to that quickly? You turn to where she was a moment ago and it feels like your head is swimming. Shouldn't it be getting lighter, not darker?
-
>Can we see Rumia? Does she look disoriented, too?
-
>Can we see Rumia? Does she look disoriented, too?
>You think you can see her to your left, a few feet away, but the light seems very dim, and it's hard to make out whether she's disoriented or not.
>You see a flash of bright green, and movement in the rightmost corner of your peripheral vision
-
>If the green is coming toward us, get out of its road.
>"Mystia! Knock it off!"
-
>If the green is coming toward us, get out of its road.
>You dive out of the path of motion, and a stream of green danmaku whiz past you.
>"Mystia! Knock it off!"
>"Is that all you have to say?" The voice comes to you remarkably clear and crisp, despite how hazy everything else sounds. "Don't think I've forgotten. You're outside her domain now, and that means you're fair game."
>You think you see another stream of danmaku incoming at a slightly different angle from the first, although it's kind of difficult to judge distances at the moment.
-
>"Forgotten what?"
>Stay vigilant, and try to judge the angle of that danmaku.
>And you know what? It's been a long, shitty day. Summon up some familiars. It's time to make an excuse to brew a pot of tea.
>_
-
>"Forgotten what?"
>"And don't mock me like that, either."
>Stay vigilant, and try to judge the angle of that danmaku.
>Despite your vision swimming a little, the trajectory of the danmaku is fairly easy to read, and you carefully maneuver past the second wave
>And you know what? It's been a long, shitty day. Summon up some familiars. It's time to make an excuse to brew a pot of tea.
>You decide that you just don't have any more patience for this kind of nonsense at the moment. You conjure a ring of familiars around yourself. If she insists on starting this, you're prepared to finish it.
-
>"Let's pretend I have amnesia, and you can start from the beginning. Because I kinda have amnesia, see?"
>In the meantime, put the familiars to work and fill the air in the direction of her voice with as much drama as we can muster.
>_
-
>"Let's pretend I have amnesia, and you can start from the beginning. Because I kinda have amnesia, see?"
>"You know, I'm not sure if I should feel smug or disappointed that you're trying to talk your way out of fighting me. But you know what? Even if you're not lying, I don't even think I care right now."
>In the meantime, put the familiars to work and fill the air in the direction of her voice with as much drama as we can muster.
>Your familiars launch a spray of danmaku, filling the air with twisting patterns. Although you're pretty sure you're aiming in the right direction, you can't actually see Mystia, and the trees are blocking a lot of your danmaku.
>Several more lines of green danmaku fly from that direction, with familiars following, leaving a trail of blue bullets in their wake
-
>Ascend away from the tries, and hopefully them danmakus.
>"Well, you'll be telling me all of it anyways, so you might as well get to it before you're all sore."
-
>Ascend away from the tries, and hopefully them danmakus.
>You sidestep between the incoming waves of danmaku and take to the air. As you slip between the stationary blue bullets, they suddenly begin to move again. One clips you in the leg, but you grit your teeth silently, and keep flying. You're nearly above the trees, now.
>"Well, you'll be telling me all of it anyways, so you might as well get to it before you're all sore."
>Mystia laughs. "Now, that's a little more satisfying. But the night is my time."
>More waves of green bullets and familiars fly at you from the trees
-
>Has the change in distance affected our perception at all?
>Can we destroy familiars?
>How much does firing (or ordering familiars to fire) affect our maneuverability, or ability to discern patterns?
>Regardless, try to slip between the green shots if they're still coming in columns, and snipe the familiars with we can.
-
>Has the change in distance affected our perception at all?
>It may have made a little difference, but not a great deal. On the other hand, you haven't moved a great deal further from her. You can still see, but things are dim and hazy and you feel a bit dizzy.
>Can we destroy familiars?
>Some are tougher than others, but this is definitely possible
>How much does firing (or ordering familiars to fire) affect our maneuverability, or ability to discern patterns?
>Many of your techniques require a fair amount of concentration to control your familiars, and significantly hamper your ability to make quick aerial movements. However, you are still capable of shifting while maintaining the pattern. The interlocking pattern of bullets can partially obscure incoming bullets, but this should probably only be an issue for close range or chaotic attacks. So far, Mystia's attacks have been fairly easy to read.
>Regardless, try to slip between the green shots if they're still coming in columns, and snipe the familiars with we can.
>You shift between the next waves of green shots, and bullets from your familiars tear a swath through the incoming familiars. It seems these are rather fragile. Most of the ones headed directly for you are destroyed, although some survived on either side of you, laying down dense trails of lazily drifting blue bullets.
-
>Keep drawing back and upward, and keep an eye on the spheres. Hope it'll lure Mystia out to keep up the offensive.
-
>Keep drawing back and upward, and keep an eye on the spheres. Hope it'll lure Mystia out to keep up the offensive.
>You pull backwards through the gap between the bullets left by Mystia's familiars. After a few feet, the trails of blue bullets suddenly scatter in all directions. You think you can see another green wave incoming, at a distance.
-
>You pull backwards through the gap between the bullets left by Mystia's familiars. After a few feet, the trails of blue bullets suddenly scatter in all directions. You think you can see another green wave incoming, at a distance.
>Can we hear any sign of Mystia flying about?
>Have the familiars do their thing and flak up the air a bit in the direction of the green stuff and around it. When the green shots get too close, slip between the columns.
-
>Can we hear any sign of Mystia flying about?
>No. It looks like the shots are still coming from the trees. She seems to be taking advantage of the fact that her shots are better able to penetrate the tree cover than yours are.
>Have the familiars do their thing and flak up the air a bit in the direction of the green stuff and around it. When the green shots get too close, slip between the columns.
>You continue firing with your familiars and disrupt the next wave of familiars even more fully than the previous one.
>You shift between the columns of bullets, but some of the blue spheres from the last familiar wave are perilously close to you, now. Many of them scattered harmlessly away, but others flew in your general direction, and it's hard to read where all of them were going.
-
>"This is how you get even? This is the most boring revenge ever, and I know more revenge stories than you have feathers. Seeya later."
>Fly away from the source of the shots; try not to fly into anything we've already dodged.
>Do keep an eye out behind for any new shots, too, especially if they come from an angle that suggests she's left the trees.
>The familiars fire behind us, right?
-
>"This is how you get even? This is the most boring revenge ever, and I know more revenge stories than you have feathers. Seeya later."
>Fly away from the source of the shots; try not to fly into anything we've already dodged.
>After goading Mystia, you turn and fly in the opposite direction. Most of the blue spheres fly harmlessly past you, and you slip around a few more that come close. However, with all the bullets in the air, one manages to slip in past your peripheral vision and clip your shoulder rather solidly. You try not to be too audible about this.
>"Hey!" you hear Mystia cry.
>Do keep an eye out behind for any new shots, too, especially if they come from an angle that suggests she's left the trees.
>You think you may see some more waves of green from the trees, although you can probably be past their effective range soon, if you stop firing and dash. The bullets from the second wave of familiars is starting to move, although these are somewhat further away from you than the first wave's were.
>The familiars fire behind us, right?
>You can be somewhat selective about this if you wish to, but they are capable of providing an equal amount of fire in any direction
-
>Don't worry about shooting back, just move and dodge everything we can. There's nothing for it until she gets out of cover.
-
>Don't worry about shooting back, just move and dodge everything we can. There's nothing for it until she gets out of cover.
>You stop firing and move as quickly as you can away from the shots. You slip between the incoming green waves, and are well past the residual blue ones when they scatter. It should be pretty impossible for her to hit you from this distance, now. Your vision seems to be clearing a bit, too.
>You soon see a form fly out from the trees and take to the sky after you. It's hard to make out at this distance, but it's probably Mystia.
>"Running back to Kanako, are you? Don't think you can get away just like that!"
-
>"Oh, now you come, after you don't have a prayer of catching me. Is this what they mean when they talk about saving face?"
-
>"Oh, now you come, after you don't have a prayer of catching me. Is this what they mean when they talk about saving face?"
>"You think you're faster than I am? How well do you think you can run away from someone you can't even see?" She pulls out a spellcard. "Night-blindness: Song of the Night Sparrow!"
>Very quickly, she fades from view, and you have a hard time seeing anything at all more than 5 feet in front of you. You can hear the sound of more shots being fired.
-
>"You think you're faster than I am? How well do you think you can run away from someone you can't even see?" She pulls out a spellcard. "Night-blindness: Song of the Night Sparrow!"
>Very quickly, she fades from view, and you have a hard time seeing anything at all more than 5 feet in front of you. You can hear the sound of more shots being fired.
>Slow down, get ready for some desperate dodging.
>"Is this so I can't see you run away?"
-
>Slow down, get ready for some desperate dodging.
>You slow down, and keep your eyes peeled for suddenly incoming bullets. At least you can still hear them, a little.
>"Is this so I can't see you run away?"
>Mystia just seems to screech a little in frustration. You can hear more shots being fired, from closer now. You can get a very rough sense of where she is from the noise.
-
>"Was that a yes? Okay, I'll record it next full moon"
>Listen for them, then when they are visible, move!
-
>"Was that a yes? Okay, I'll record it next full moon"
>"Full moon? What kind of joke is that?"
>Listen for them, then when they are visible, move!
>You see two familiars enter your field of vision, one at the far extent of your sight to the left, and another very close to your right. You shift away from the one next to you. They leave a trail of small blue shots which split into a burst of red arrows and converge on you. It's fairly simple to evade the ones near you, although more clusters of them appears to be flying at you from the edge of your sight range, and you can hear more familiars incoming.
-
>"Full moon? What kind of joke is that?"
>You see two familiars enter your field of vision, one at the far extent of your sight to the left, and another very close to your right. You shift away from the one next to you. They leave a trail of small blue shots which split into a burst of red arrows and converge on you. It's fairly simple to evade the ones near you, although more clusters of them appears to be flying at you from the edge of your sight range, and you can hear more familiars incoming.
>"A joke like you, of course! Only with better delivery."
>Go through one more cycle of this, to get comfortable with it. Then open fire.
-
>"A joke like you, of course! Only with better delivery."
>"If it's a joke, I don't get it."
>Go through one more cycle of this, to get comfortable with it. Then open fire.
>You find a spot to slip between the incoming arrow clusters. Fortunately they're not moving very fast. Then another set of familiars passes you by. Since these were shot at closer range the angle between them is much narrower than before. It's easy enough to dodge the familiars themselves, but the arrow clusters are becoming more claustrophobic. Still you manage to scrape through them.
>Deciding that she's probably close enough now, and you have a window before the next wave, you open fire. Your familiars spray bullets towards Mystia's direction, and you add a few shots of your own. You don't hear any sounds of impact yet, though.
>She laughs. "I know you're firing blind over there. But I can still see you easily. How much closer do you think I need to get before you run out of room to slip past, hey?" You hear the sound of more shots being fired.
-
>"If it's a joke, I don't get it."
>You find a spot to slip between the incoming arrow clusters. Fortunately they're not moving very fast. Then another set of familiars passes you by. Since these were shot at closer range the angle between them is much narrower than before. It's easy enough to dodge the familiars themselves, but the arrow clusters are becoming more claustrophobic. Still you manage to scrape through them.
>Deciding that she's probably close enough now, and you have a window before the next wave, you open fire. Your familiars spray bullets towards Mystia's direction, and you add a few shots of your own. You don't hear any sounds of impact yet, though.
>She laughs. "I know you're firing blind over there. But I can still see you easily. How much closer do you think I need to get before you run out of room to slip past, hey?" You hear the sound of more shots being fired.
>Is she making vocal noises? Aim at them while she's taking! Trust the spray to deal with familiars.
>"I'm sorry, all I hear is:
>Adopt a mocking tone: "Stop laughing at me, Keine, I can't help I'm a joke without a punchline. God this dress makes me look fat!"
-
>Is she making vocal noises? Aim at them while she's taking! Trust the spray to deal with familiars.
>You try to direct your shots towards where Mystia's voice seems to be coming from.
>Another wave of familiars flies in. These seem to be sturdier than the ones she was sending with her last attack, although you do manage to destroy a couple before they pass by you. Still, there's a lot of arrows to dodge.
>"I'm sorry, all I hear is:
>Adopt a mocking tone: "Stop laughing at me, Keine, I can't help I'm a joke without a punchline. God this dress makes me look fat!"
>She screeches again, shrill enough to make you want to cover your ears. "You're just digging yourself a deeper grave!" she adds, mercifully lower-pitched.
-
>Try to slip between gaps to get some horizontal motion going and spread the bullets around, do so by slipping between the red arrows when the opportunity presents itself. Take it easy, though. Let her whip herself into more of a tizzy and get sloppy while we stay on defense.
>"Digging a grave? Should you be talking about things you can't spell?"
-
>Try to slip between gaps to get some horizontal motion going and spread the bullets around, do so by slipping between the red arrows when the opportunity presents itself. Take it easy, though. Let her whip herself into more of a tizzy and get sloppy while we stay on defense.
>You take advantage of the openings created by the destruction of Mystia's familiars to shift horizontally and add a little more complexity to your bullet patterns. You can probably keep up dodging an attack of this level for a while. You hope that you can provoke her into a mistake before that.
>"Digging a grave? Should you be talking about things you can't spell?"
>"Ha, who cares about books, anyway?"
-
>Keep the horizontal motion coming, provided its safe, unless we feel that we pass her voice by, then go the other way.
>"Everyone smarter than you, for starters. Which...is pretty much everyone. I mean, c'mon, even Cirno can spell her own name."
-
>Keep the horizontal motion coming, provided its safe, unless we feel that we pass her voice by, then go the other way.
>You continue moving and laying down fire. She's getting pretty close now. It might be hard for you to dodge what she could throw at you at point-blank range.
>"Everyone smarter than you, for starters. Which...is pretty much everyone. I mean, c'mon, even Cirno can spell her own name."
>"Cirno's a moron. And I can still spell- what the hell!?"
-
>If she gets point blank, it's time to move in and headbutt her.
>Throw some more of them danmakus at her, while she is apparently distracted.
-
>If she gets point blank, it's time to move in and headbutt her.
>You decide that if she shows herself, you'll put your well-honed educational discipline skills to tactical use.
>Throw some more of them danmakus at her, while she is apparently distracted.
>You fire some more danmaku at her and are rewarded with a small cry of pain. And another. A few more shots fly your way, but end up pretty wide of you, and you have no trouble evading them.
>"What are you doing, you moron!?" She sounds rather irritated.
-
>"What was that? I couldn't hear you over you not being able to spell."
>Keep up the fireworks. If she's firing less, move more to spread the love.
>Hope, if Rumia's out there getting involved as it sounds like, it won't hit her.
-
>"What was that? I couldn't hear you over you not being able to spell."
>Mystia doesn't respond, although you can hear her grumbling angrily.
>Keep up the fireworks. If she's firing less, move more to spread the love.
>Hope, if Rumia's out there getting involved as it sounds like, it won't hit her.
>You pour out more danmaku. There are definitely far fewer things coming in your direction, so dodging is relatively trivial, now.
>You hope that you can avoid hitting Rumia, if Mystia's reaction was indeed to her, but you can't even really tell where she is at the moment. For that matter, you aren't certain if Mystia got hit by your danmaku earlier or hers.
>You hear a few more shots hit Mystia, and then a small yelp from Rumia. Hopefully that wasn't from one of yours. And then the spellcard breaks, and you can see Mystia again. Or, rather, you can see the large globe of darkness where Mystia's voice was coming from.
-
>"Sorry about that, Rumia! Thanks for the help!"
>"So, you about ready for tea, Mystia?"
-
>"Sorry about that, Rumia! Thanks for the help!"
>"So, you about ready for tea, Mystia?"
>"You knucklehead, get off of me! Why are you defending her?"
>Some more danmaku fly from the cloud, both Rumia's and Mystia's. Neither come anywhere near where you are, though.
-
>"Rumia, let me handle her."
-
>"Rumia, let me handle her."
>You call out, but you're not sure she's listening to you. Another burst of yellow bullets fly out from the cloud in all directions, followed shortly by Mystia, scowling downwards at where she emerged from. She seems a little the worse for wear, but not terrible.
-
> "Gonna give up Mystia, or do you want another round?"
> Ponder how many people know of our status as a Stage 3 Boss and EX-Stage Mid-boss.
-
>If Mystia still wants to scrap, would it be possible to conjure up some more familiars for extra drama, or are we at the limit?
-
> "Gonna give up Mystia, or do you want another round?"
>She looks and you, then back at Rumia again, and then at the light beginning to grow over the horizon. It seems she hasn't made up her mind yet.
> Ponder how many people know of our status as a Stage 3 Boss and EX-Stage Mid-boss.
>You're not sure whether Mystia knows about your hakutaku form or not in this world. It's possible, but a moot point at the moment, sadly. If you were a hakutaku right now, this battle might already be over.
>If Mystia still wants to scrap, would it be possible to conjure up some more familiars for extra drama, or are we at the limit?
>You could possibly conjure a few more, but maintaining fire from that many would make it difficult to move at all.
-
>"Let's just say I owe you tea, okay? So I can apologize for all the terrible things I was saying."
-
>"Let's just say I owe you tea, okay? So I can apologize for all the terrible things I was saying."
>"A-apologize? What are you-" You seem to have taken her off-balance, a little, although she recovers her resentment quickly enough. "Why should I let you get off that easy? I'm lucky I didn't DIE because of you, you know! A little tea isn't going to make that all better!"
-
>"You're the one who rushed me, Mystia. And, I was serious about the amnesia. I really don't know what happened between us, or when."
-
>"You're the one who rushed me, Mystia. And, I was serious about the amnesia. I really don't know what happened between us, or when."
>She just keeps staring at you, scowling.
>"Quiz lady seems nicer now," Rumia adds helpfully. "She gave Rumia this neat pooky box, see?"
>"No, of course I don't see, you dunderhead," she snaps at her. "And you don't, either!"
-
>"Calm down, Mystia. You just lost. It was no biggie."
>"Now, seriously, are you going to tell me what happened, or am I just wasting my time here?"
-
>"Calm down, Mystia. You just lost. It was no biggie."
>"Now, seriously, are you going to tell me what happened, or am I just wasting my time here?"
>She sighs and looks at you, again.
>"Damnit!"
>She turns around and takes off, away from you.
-
>"I'll try to have the tea next time!"
>Wave.
>Continue on toward Youkai Mons
>"Rumia, are they going to let you into Youkai Mountain at all? Mystia's making me think you wouldn't be welcome."
>_
-
>"I'll try to have the tea next time!"
>Wave.
>You wave Mystia off, and she's quickly little more than a spec in the distance.
>Continue on toward Youkai Mons
>"Rumia, are they going to let you into Youkai Mountain at all? Mystia's making me think you wouldn't be welcome."
>You resume traveling towards the mountain.
>"Why wouldn't Rumia be welcome? Rumia is welcome eeeeeverywhere. Except where she's not."
-
>"Is that one of the places you're not?"
-
>"Is that one of the places you're not?"
>"Ummm.... dunno! Never really go there."
-
>"Well, if they try to hurt you, just run. I'll find you later."
>Onwards.
-
> "Rumia... their may end up being someone their who looks a lot like me. She will probably have a "pooky box," the hat I gave you, so if you someone who looks like me, the one without the hat is one you've been with all this time, ok?"
> Hope that their is not another Keine at the new human settlemeant.
-
>"Well, if they try to hurt you, just run. I'll find you later."
>"Sure, ok!"
>You continue along the river for a while, and the sun slowly makes its way over the horizon. It's actually a very picturesque dawn, despite everything. After some more time, the river widens, and the trees give way to grassland for a good several hundred feet away from the river. You can see some kappa dwellings in the distance, squat round buildings nestled close to the river.
> "Rumia... their may end up being someone their who looks a lot like me. She will probably have a "pooky box," the hat I gave you, so if you someone who looks like me, the one without the hat is one you've been with all this time, ok?"
>She seems a little confused by this, but after a moment smiles and nods, anyway. "Ok!"
> Hope that their is not another Keine at the new human settlemeant.
>Well, that could certainly complicate things...
-
>Frightened? No! Meeting OtherKeine would be great! Finally, someone to talk about the Meiji Restoration with! And maybe we can finally see what our back really looks like!
>Keep going! Look down below, are there any kappa around?
-
>Frightened? No! Meeting OtherKeine would be great! Finally, someone to talk about the Meiji Restoration with! And maybe we can finally see what our back really looks like!
>On the other hand, meeting one's self would be a pretty one-of-a-kind experience, too. You're not certain whether to hope or worry.
>Keep going! Look down below, are there any kappa around?
>You continue onwards. You can eventually see more kappa structures, further along the river, and clustered closer together around the base of the mountain. The place seems a little more developed than you remember. You don't see any kappa milling about, but there's a good chance most of them are probably just sleeping.
>The river branches near here, with the bulk of it descending from the mountain in a great cascade of waterfalls, and another major stream moving off to the west, through grassy flatlands. The tengu live further up the mountain, on a scattering of small plateaus that would seem inhospitable to most but them.
-
>Check around for more newish architecture, if the humans moved up here, they would have to had built homes, and they would be relatively new compared to everything else.
>_
-
>Check around for more newish architecture, if the humans moved up here, they would have to had built homes, and they would be relatively new compared to everything else.
>Kappa architecture is pretty distinct in style compared to human architecture, unless the humans really did just move into the middle of kappa territory, but that seems unlikely, and more than enough to sour the deal for a lot of people. Youkai are still a pretty scary thing for most people. It's something of a marvel that they'd move this way at all. Kanako must have been awfully convincing. Of course, she probably had a desperate audience, too....
>However, looking more closely, to think you may see some more structures in the distance along the secondary branch of the river, to the west.
-
>Follow the western branch!
>....Was that branch there before?
-
>....Was that branch there before?
>Yes, part of it curves off around the other side of the mountain. No one ever lived over this way, to your knowledge, though.
>Follow the western branch!
>You travel further down the river in that direction. After a while, it becomes clear that the houses hear at least resemble the ones in the old village, although there are some differences. And far fewer of them, for one thing.... The village also seems to be oddly bright, for this time of the day.
-
> Continue towards it, and hope for the best.
-
>How is it bright?
-
> Continue towards it, and hope for the best.
>You continue towards the settlement, keeping your metaphorical fingers crossed.
>The houses are laid out near the river, with farmland running along it. It is perhaps half the size of the old village, but this still accounts for a great many houses and other buildings. You can see a waterwheel of sorts, along the river. The architecture isn't quite the same as before, although it is in the same general style. Different building materials, perhaps? Actually, some of it looks like it may be better constructed.
>How is it bright?
>It just seems better lit than lanterns usually provide. It's not quite dawn yet, so that's still noticeable.
-
>Look around; can we see anything like a school?
-
>Look around; can we see anything like a school?
>You scan around the buildings. Sadly, a school of the size you ran is not an immediately distinctive building. Larger than a normal house, but not large enough to distinguish from other public buildings at this distance. And given how many of your students are now dead, judging by the graves, it might be even smaller.... You see several buildings which could potentially qualify.
-
> We are in the village, correct?
> If so, let's start wandering around until we find someone to talk with.
-
> We are in the village, correct?
> If so, let's start wandering around until we find someone to talk with.
>You're still quite some distance from the village. Just close enough to make out a few details from the air.
-
> Let's continue approaching the village.
> Be on the lookout for anyone moving around.
-
>Be careful not to look threatening: Avoid any behavior that would have alarmed the people of your village. Actually, behavior that would have alarmed them ten years ago; best be careful after so much has changed.
>Such as flying. Do many of them fly?
>Watch your back - they might try to ambush with Rumia around.
>Shoot for peaceful contact, primarily.
-
>Land outside the village, preferably where no one can see, and walk in. Make sure Rumia lands, too.
-
>Land outside the village, preferably where no one can see, and walk in. Make sure Rumia lands, too.
>You land and gesture for Rumia to land as well, and then continue quietly towards the village. You don't think anyone saw you, although it's always possible someone was looking out of a window where you couldn't see them.
>Be careful not to look threatening: Avoid any behavior that would have alarmed the people of your village. Actually, behavior that would have alarmed them ten years ago; best be careful after so much has changed.
>Watch your back - they might try to ambush with Rumia around.
>Shoot for peaceful contact, primarily.
>You aim to look as disarming as possible, and keep an eye out for any hostile reactions to Rumia.
>Such as flying. Do many of them fly?
>While a number of villagers possess some minor degree of magical or spiritual power, there are very few of them who could fly. However, at least in your own timeline, they should have been perfectly aware that you could.
> Let's continue approaching the village.
> Be on the lookout for anyone moving around.
>You continue on foot towards the village, passing by some fields, suffused with verdant growth. It looks like there will be an exceptionally bountiful harvest this year. A bit further in, you start to pass by houses. No sign of their inhabitants, and there's no light coming from inside, but they're clearly maintained. The occupants are probably just asleep.
>You're at the eastern edge of the village proper, now. A wide path leads west, towards an open area that might be the town square. Smaller paths leads south and northwest, between the houses.
-
>Go Northwest, and look around at the houses. Try to identify occupants from things around the houses, if possible.
-
>Go Northwest, and look around at the houses. Try to identify occupants from things around the houses, if possible.
>You continue northwest, and try to see if you can notice anything personally distinctive from the houses. This is... harder than you'd hoped it would be. It occurs to you that even if you do have a house here, you'd probably be unable to find it this way. You never had an ostentatious design sense. Could you have already walked past it, even?
>You see something odd, along the path ahead. It seems to be a tall metal pole with... well, you'd say it was a lantern, but the light seems quite a bit more solid than any regular lantern you've seen. The light of the approaching dawn makes it stand out a little less, but you think it would be very bright during the night. Rumia flies up to have a look at it.
>You are near another intersection. A path runs south, connecting with what appears to be the same open area that was west of the village entrance. The river is to your north. You think you can see a fairly large building to the west.
-
>Examine that light.
-
>Examine that light.
>You go and take a better look at the light. It is a straight metal pole, with a flared base, and some sort of glass and metal case at the top from which the light is emanating from. You try to look inside, but it's really too bright, and all you succeed in doing is temporarily blinding yourself. Rumia pokes her face against the glass and yelps. "Ahhh, hot!". You think you can see a similar object or two to the south.
-
>"I suppose it must be the goddesses work."
>Head west and get a look at the large building.
-
>"I suppose it must be the goddesses work."
>Head west and get a look at the large building.
>You head west, and Rumia eventually disengages from the light and follows after you.
>The building isn't tremendously larger than some of the houses, but it does have the look of a public rather than private building to it. Oh, look, it's kind enough to have a sign on it, too. It seems this is a school.
-
>Yay, a triumph!
>Have a look around it. Assess its capacity and anything interesting about it.
-
>Yay, a triumph!
>Have a look around it. Assess its capacity and anything interesting about it.
>It's probably somewhat smaller than the old one, but definitely more precisely constructed, and clearly quite new, like the rest of this. The building is roughly l-shaped, with a second story on the smaller part of the l. There seems to be a small fenced-in grassy area around the side with a couple swings and a table or two.
>You almost can't help but smile. It looks like a pretty nice place.
-
>Examine that second story, try to discern its purpose.
-
>Examine that second story, try to discern its purpose.
>You fly up and try to have a look in the windows of the second story. The lighting is terrible, and you really can't see much, but it looks like it might be offices. You think you can see desks with papers and such, and some cabinets.
-
>Good enough. Back to the ground.
>Anyone out yet?
-
>Good enough. Back to the ground.
>You land again.
>Anyone out yet?
>Not that you can see from here, just yet.
-
>Any signs of activity on the first floor?
>If not, let's go back to that lamp and head south.
-
>Any signs of activity on the first floor?
>You poke around the first floor windows, and don't see anyone there, either. The classrooms look pretty nice, though.
>If not, let's go back to that lamp and head south.
>You go back and head south. A few houses later you emerge in an area that resembles the old market square in many ways. There are buildings which are obviously shops of various kinds, and some outdoor stalls, although no products are currently arrayed on them. There are also a couple lamps similar to the one you saw earlier. You see one of them wink out. It's gotten a fair bit brighter here, even over the last few minutes. It looks like it'll be a nice morning.
-
>Any people about?
-
>Any people about?
>You don't see any right this moment, but it wouldn't surprise you if some people started to set up shop soon.
-
> Wander a bit to see what kind of shops there are.
-
> Wander a bit to see what kind of shops there are.
>You decide to browse some of the buildings around the square. There's a tailor and a carpenter. An herbalist, judging from the name on the storefront apparently run by the same person who runs the one you know. A few more shops selling various kinds of dry goods. You recognize the Kirisame General Store. There's also a tavern, although no signs of any activity in there now, either. Further west is a more unusual-looking building with a brightly lit sign proclaiming "Rika's Garage" and claiming to sell... batteries? Whatever they are. And... lawn mowers?
-
>Do we know a Rika?
-
>Do we know a Rika?
>No, the name is unfamiliar to you.
-
>Consider other places to roam.
-
>Consider other places to roam.
>Well, there appear to be more houses and farmland to the west, and some denser development to the south and southeast.
-
>Well, there appear to be more houses and farmland to the west, and some denser development to the south and southeast.
>Head south.
-
>Head south.
>You follow the road along the south, past some more houses. You think you may be able to hear some quiet conversation in the distance. After a time, a very different kind of building comes into view; one which you're not used to seeing in the village. It appears to be a small shrine.
-
>Look toward conversation, see if we can note who is conversing.
>Check shrine's decor for Yasakaness. Or Moriyaness
-
>Look toward conversation, see if we can note who is conversing.
>You look back towards the source of conversation but it seems to be too far away for you to see anyone. They're probably among the houses to the northwest, somewhere. Or maybe someone in the marketplace?
>Check shrine's decor for Yasakaness. Or Moriyaness
>You move closer to get a better look at the shrine. It's a fairly simple structure, with fenced off grounds lined with neatly trimmed trees and a torii over the entrance. You notice a coiled serpent motif along some of the pillars supporting the shrine itself. No signs of anything frog-related, however.
>You also notice someone in a simple blue and white robe sweeping the shrine grounds. She's currently back-on to you.
-
>Approach the Shrine Maiden. Does she resemble the infamous Green White?
>"Ah, good morning."
-
>Approach the Shrine Maiden. Does she resemble the infamous Green White?
>Her outfit does look quite a bit like Sanae's, although perhaps somewhat simpler. And her hair is black.
>"Ah, good morning."
>She turns around and smiles at you. "Oh good morning, Keine. You're up awfully early. And it really does look like it'll be a good morning, doesn't it?"
>Then she seems to notice Rumia, and her smile goes flat. She doesn't seem to know quite what to say.
-
>"Don't worry, Rumia's with me. And she's been a good girl. She even helped me when I was attacked earlier."
>Pat Rumia on the head.
>"Do you have some time? I need to ask a series of incredibly stupid questions."
-
>"Don't worry, Rumia's with me. And she's been a good girl. She even helped me when I was attacked earlier."
>Pat Rumia on the head.
>You try to reassure the shrine maiden. Rumia giggles a little as you pat her. After a moment, the shrine maiden turns back to you, but her facial expression changes little, and she continues to eye Rumia suspiciously.
>"What do you mean, attacked?"
>"Do you have some time? I need to ask a series of incredibly stupid questions."
>She lets out a little laugh despite herself. "That brings back memories. Ooops, did I say that out loud?" She makes a playful gesture of covering her mouth with one hand.
-
>"Apparently. And, I had to fend off Mystia on my way to the village. Rumia kept her busy."
>pat Rumia again and give her a smile.
>"Still, I'm going to make sure she behaves herself here."
-
>"But with no further ado, let's get to the stupid questions. And yes, it'll tie into why I was outside. Firstly, I live here, right? Where?"
-
>"Apparently. And, I had to fend off Mystia on my way to the village. Rumia kept her busy."
>pat Rumia again and give her a smile.
>"Still, I'm going to make sure she behaves herself here."
>She looks and Rumia and nods hesitantly. You're pretty sure she's not happy about it, but she's willing to let it go for now.
>"On the way to the village? I wasn't aware that you'd left. Where did you go?"
>"But with no further ado, let's get to the stupid questions. And yes, it'll tie into why I was outside. Firstly, I live here, right? Where?"
>She pauses and just stares at you. It seems she really has no idea how to answer that sort of question out of the blue.
>"Um, what? I'm not sure what you mean by that."
-
>"Just pretend I have amnesia. It'll be simpler that way."
-
>"Just pretend I have amnesia. It'll be simpler that way."
>"Uh.... is this some of a joke? Somebody put you up to this?" She wanders towards the edge of the shrine grounds and looks around to see if anyone is hiding just out of sight. Then she turns back to you "Wait, do you even know HOW to pull a prank on someone, Keine?"
-
>"If it helps to think I'm pulling a prank, that's fine. Just humor me."
-
>"If it helps to think I'm pulling a prank, that's fine. Just humor me."
>She sighs. "Oh, ok. But so help me, if someone jumps out from the bushes at me or something, I swear I'll make sure you draw nothing but bad fortunes from here for a whole year."
-
>"If someone jumps from the bushes, I'll pound them myself. So, where do I live?"
>Keep a discrete eye on Rumia to make sure she doesn't end up needing a pounding.
-
>"If someone jumps from the bushes, I'll pound them myself. So, where do I live?"
>Keep a discrete eye on Rumia to make sure she doesn't end up needing a pounding.
>"Towards the northwest end of town, near the water."
>Rumia just seems to be wandering around harmlessly, looking at the trees and torii, without getting too far away from you, thankfully.
-
>"Thank you. This will all make sense later, I promise. Sorry to give you such a weird thing to deal with in the morning."
>Head off toward the watefront, make sure Rumia follows. Make haste!
-
>"Thank you. This will all make sense later, I promise. Sorry to give you such a weird thing to deal with in the morning."
>Head off toward the watefront, make sure Rumia follows. Make haste!
>"Uh, ok..."
>You gather Rumia and head of towards the waterfront.
>"Are you sue you're ok?" the shrine maiden calls out after you, as you leave.
>You travel along the road you just came, back towards the marketplace and then north. Someone seems to be setting goods out on one of the stands. He turns to wave and then stops and stares. You hear a few other people starting to mill about.
>You head north of the market and then follow the road west, past the school. More houses continue in this direction, and the river curves a little closer to the settlement at this point.
-
>Look around for houses that look like something we'd live in. There's gotta be something we'd do to distinguish our home...
>Also, keep a look out for ourself.
-
>Look around for houses that look like something we'd live in. There's gotta be something we'd do to distinguish our home...
>Also, keep a look out for ourself.
>You stroll down the road, trying to find a house that looks like it could be yours. Really, your taste is pretty plain and ordinary in a lot of ways, so you doubt that any of them will yell 'Keine lives here!' But you decide to take the perspective of 'If I was going to choose to live in one of these houses, which would I choose? After a while, you settle on a quaint yet stately low-roofed home. There are a couple other possibilities, but you have a fairly good feeling about this one.
-
>You stroll down the road, trying to find a house that looks like it could be yours. Really, your taste is pretty plain and ordinary in a lot of ways, so you doubt that any of them will yell 'Keine lives here!' But you decide to take the perspective of 'If I was going to choose to live in one of these houses, which would I choose? After a while, you settle on a quaint yet stately low-roofed home. There are a couple other possibilities, but you have a fairly good feeling about this one.
>Have a closer look at it. Peek into a window if we can do so discreetly, and see if there's anything that can be recognized.
>If there's no more examining to be done, knock on the door.
>_
-
>Have a closer look at it. Peek into a window if we can do so discreetly, and see if there's anything that can be recognized.
>If there's no more examining to be done, knock on the door.
>You walk over and try to peer in through some windows. You see a kitchen, with the usual implements. Actually, looks kind of fancier than yours. A living area of some sort. That does look like an almost exact replica of a vase you own. Was always one of your favorites. However, the next room practically seals the deal. Bookcases, scroll racks, writing implements. If this isn't your place, then someone has amazingly similar tastes and interests.
>You go and knock on the front door. You don't appear to get an answer.
-
>Knock some more.
>If there's no answer, try opening the door.
-
>Knock some more.
>If there's no answer, try opening the door.
>You knock some more. Still no response.
>You try to open the door, but it seems to be locked.
-
>"Rumia, have a look through the windows and see if anyone is in there, would you? I'll stay by the door."
>Consider where we might hide a spare key.
-
>"Rumia, have a look through the windows and see if anyone is in there, would you? I'll stay by the door."
>"Ok!" Rumia flies off and starts circling the building, mushing her face up against each window in turn.
>Consider where we might hide a spare key.
>That's... a good question, actually... Your memory is good enough that you hadn't found much need for spare keys. You did give one to Mokou, but you don't know if there's anyone here you'd have similarly trusted.
-
>Consider how long we'd have to wait for the normal-peoples' wakeup time.
-
>Consider how long we'd have to wait for the normal-peoples' wakeup time.
>Well, a couple seem to be up, now. A great many more should probably be waking up over the next hour or two.
-
>Consider the wisdom of playing patty-cake with Rumia on the streetcorner.
-
>Consider the wisdom of playing patty-cake with Rumia on the streetcorner.
>Well, Rumia would probably enjoy it. However, given how the shrine maiden reacted, you imagine you'd draw a lot of strange and disapproving looks after a while.
-
>Are we typically an early riser?
-
>Are we typically an early riser?
>Relatively, although certainly not THIS early. Actually, now that you think about it, you're quite tired. You've been trekking all over Gensokyo all night...
-
>Wonder if you can crash on your own couch.
>Best not take it too easy for now, lest Keine falls asleep and misses herself!
>Take a walk around the, uh, block and see what else is going on. Make sure Rumia stays close.
-
>Before leaving: "Do you see anything, Rumia?"
-
>Wonder if you can crash on your own couch.
>Well, she (you?) might let you. There's a good chance she'd be understanding about the whole history business, anyway.
>Best not take it too easy for now, lest Keine falls asleep and misses herself!
>Well, you're not tired enough to nod off just yet, but you mightn't mind finding a place to crash soonish. History's not going anywhere.
>Before leaving: "Do you see anything, Rumia?"
>"Just house stuff! No people stuff."
>Take a walk around the, uh, block and see what else is going on. Make sure Rumia stays close.
>You wander around some of the areas that you haven't been so far. There are some more houses westward, before they thin out to more grassland and eventually forest. You realize that you're actually relatively close to the western edge of Gensokyo itself from here. Then you head south, along the edge of the village. You can see a couple farmers heading out to their fields in the distance, and hear the occasional snippet of people talking. You loop around and find yourself near the marketplace, again. There are a few more people here, now, but you don't think they've noticed you, yet.
-
>Any familiar faces in the crowd?
>"Did you see a bed in there, Rumia? Did it look like it had be used?"
-
>Any familiar faces in the crowd?
>You think you might. No one you know especially well, but people you've certainly seen around.
>"Did you see a bed in there, Rumia? Did it look like it had be used?"
>"Ummm.... what's a bed?" she asks cheerfully.
-
>"It's those mats on the floor that people sleep on, or the mats with the four legs on them that they sleep on. They have the blankets and such on them."
-
>"It's those mats on the floor that people sleep on, or the mats with the four legs on them that they sleep on. They have the blankets and such on them."
>"Oh, yeah I saw one of those. Was all neat and tidy."
-
>"... I... see."
>So, perhaps we woke up as the other Keine. How disturbing. Or it could have been a guest bed, we'll see.
>inventory, do we have a key anyway?
-
>"... I... see."
>So, perhaps we woke up as the other Keine. How disturbing. Or it could have been a guest bed, we'll see.
>It... might be possible. You've never really been in a situation quite like this before.
>inventory, do we have a key anyway?
>Blue dress (currently worn)
>Origin Sign "Ephemerality 137"
>Land Sign "Three Sacred Treasures - Mirror"
>Future "The Next History of Phantasm"
>Scroll case (containing a message from yourself)
>Crystal Lattice
>Unfortunately, no keys
-
>Also possible that she's lost, or we swapped places. Man, she's probably sobbing in joy by now.
>Try greeting someone milling about.
-
>Also possible that she's lost, or we swapped places. Man, she's probably sobbing in joy by now.
>Almost feels cruel to have to drag her back if that's the case....
>Try greeting someone milling about.
>You walk up to the person nearest you, who seems to be laying out goods on one of the stalls - some small wooden carvings and similar items - and greet him. He turns around.
>"Ah, good morning, Ke-" He stops when he sees Rumia. He doesn't look happy.
-
>"She's with me, don't worry. She's been behaving nicely. Even saved me from Mystia earlier."
-
>"She's with me, don't worry. She's been behaving nicely. Even saved me from Mystia earlier."
>He doesn't stop scowling. "Saved you? From her?"
-
>"I guess it could be better described as 'helped me with,' but yes, she's been behaving fine. I'll make sure she keeps it up."
>"Can I ask some incredibly stupid questions?"
-
>"I guess it could be better described as 'helped me with,' but yes, she's been behaving fine. I'll make sure she keeps it up."
>"Can I ask some incredibly stupid questions?"
>He still keeps eying Rumia with a mixture of resentment and distrust. You actually wonder if he might just run up and kick her if you weren't there.
>"First, what the hell was Mystia doing here?" he says, ignoring your question. "She knows the rules."
-
> "I had to check on something outside the village, and Mystia decided to attack me. But it is true, Rumia did help me out, if she didn't help me at all, I would be in much rough shape then I am now."
-
> "I had to check on something outside the village, and Mystia decided to attack me. But it is true, Rumia did help me out, if she didn't help me at all, I would be in much rough shape then I am now."
>"Look, Keine, you know I respect you and all. But you shouldn't have brought her back here. I don't care if she did help you."
-
>"Let's set that aside for now."
>Nix the stupid questions, it's clear we don't need this one being suspicious.
-
>"Let's set that aside for now."
>Nix the stupid questions, it's clear we don't need this one being suspicious.
>He gives a gruff note of acknowledgment.
>You wonder if it's already a little late for avoiding looking suspicious to him
-
>What would be a good place to ask Rumia to wait for us? Clearly it's going to be more trouble than it's worth to bring her around here.
-
>Consider the carvings.
>"How has business been, lately?"
-
>What would be a good place to ask Rumia to wait for us? Clearly it's going to be more trouble than it's worth to bring her around here.
>It might be hard to give her directions to some place outside the village and expect both of you to end up in the same place by following them. You could perhaps take her somewhere and ask her to stay there. Maybe she even would. You worry about leaving her anywhere in the village unsupervised, though. That might end... poorly.
>Consider the carvings.
>There are a variety of figures, many of them based on animals, and a few of buildings. You recognize a couple with a coiled serpent motif, similar to the serpents you just saw at the shrine. They're competently executed, but nothing masterful. You think you've seen his work before.
>"How has business been, lately?"
>"Oh, you know. Not so great, but at least it's a little extra money. Don't suppose anything catches your fancy?"
-
>"I don't think I have any money on me, I'm afraid. The night has been strange..."
-
>"I'm just browsing for things to get later."
-
>"I'm just browsing for things to get later."
>"I don't think I have any money on me, I'm afraid. The night has been strange..."
>"Well, if you find anything you like, I can put it aside for you. I know you're good for it."
>You think you can hear murmuring from other people in the market. A few people seem to be staring at you, now. Or rather, at Rumia.
-
>Find something appealing and not to expensive looking, and ask him to set it aside.
>Take Rumia's hand, and move on.
-
>Find something appealing and not to expensive looking, and ask him to set it aside.
>Take Rumia's hand, and move on.
>You find a small carving of a dolphin in mid-leap out of the water and ask him to set it aside. He nods and takes it off the display. "It'll be here whenever you're ready."
>You take Rumia's hand and quickly head away from the growing group of onlookers. They seem to be talking among themselves, but keeping a safe distance from you at the moment. You move west, and soon find yourself towards the outskirts of the village, once more.
-
>"Um, Rumia, could your wait out there for me?" Gesture toward the trees. "I'll see if I can get you something to eat in the meantime, alright? And if anyone gives you trouble, just tell them I asked you to wait there, okay?"
>Try not to feel like a jerk.
-
>"Um, Rumia, could your wait out there for me?" Gesture toward the trees. "I'll see if I can get you something to eat in the meantime, alright? And if anyone gives you trouble, just tell them I asked you to wait there, okay?"
>Try not to feel like a jerk.
>You go over to the nearest patch of trees outside the village, which is actually a reasonable walk westward, and ask Rumia if she can stay there, out of sight. You feel a little bad, but figure this is probably for the best for everyone concerned.
>Rumia seems uncharacteristically downcast. "Village people don't like Rumia, do they? Quiz lady didn't like Rumia, either.... Rumia couldn't help being hungry. Not Rumia's fault everyone so tasty..."
-
>"Well, it is your fault you tried to eat someone who could talk back... But, let's not worry about it for now. I'll come back for you when I can. And, I'll try to bring a little something for you to eat as an apology, okay?"
>God we're such a jerk...
-
>"Well, it is your fault you tried to eat someone who could talk back... But, let's not worry about it for now. I'll come back for you when I can. And, I'll try to bring a little something for you to eat as an apology, okay?"
>God we're such a jerk...
>"Umm... ok." She tries to look a little cheerier.
>You can't help feeling a little guilty about this, just the same.
-
>Pat her on the head. "There's a good girl. I'll try not to keep you waiting too long."
>Head back into the village if no problems with Rumia present themselves.
-
>Pat her on the head. "There's a good girl. I'll try not to keep you waiting too long."
>She smiles as you pat her on the head. "Ok."
>Head back into the village if no problems with Rumia present themselves.
>You head back towards the village. You can see Rumia start to playfully skip around some of the trees as you walk off. You doubt anyone could see her from the village, though, unless she decides to wander off again...
>You reach the western edge of the village, again.The shrine is southeast. Your home is north. The school is northeast. The market area is east.
-
>Let's head northeast. Mostly to see whether or not it is a school day. Or to see if our theoretical other manages to show up.
>_
-
>Let's head northeast. Mostly to see whether or not it is a school day. Or to see if our theoretical other manages to show up.
>You head back towards the school. You pass another person or two on the way, and exchange greetings. Things seem rather friendly and normal around here, actually.
>There doesn't seem to be anyone around the school at the moment. Although, if the schedule here is anything like the one at home, it wouldn't be ready to start, yet. Just the early birds up and about so far.
-
>Check the doors. Surely no one would break into a school and thus necessitate locking be-oh who are we kidding? Check it anyways.
-
>Check the doors. Surely no one would break into a school and thus necessitate locking be-oh who are we kidding? Check it anyways.
>You check the doors. As great as it would be if they were open, they sadly are locked, too.
-
> Lets go wait at our home, we don't really have any money to buy anything yet
-
>And...maybe discretely check the windows to see if we can crawl in, in there's no activity.
-
> Lets go wait at our home, we don't really have any money to buy anything yet
>You decide to head back towards your house.
>And...maybe discretely check the windows to see if we can crawl in, in there's no activity.
>It still seems fairly quiet here. You go around and have a look at some of the windows. You don't see any signs of life inside. There's a couple windows that might be large enough to get through, although they're mostly closed from the inside. One is open a crack. It might be possible to pry it open, with some effort.
-
>Work that window open and climb in.
-
>Work that window open and climb in.
>You squeeze your fingers in around the window and give it a pull. It seems to be one of the style that cranks open from the inside, and the mechanism protests your attempts to open it in this fashion. It's certainly more solidly constructed than your old one, but you put a little more muscle into it and eventually get it most of the way open. Of course, now you realize that there's still a screen in the way.
-
> Well that's a bust, lets go home....I mean our other selves home
-
> Well that's a bust, lets go home....I mean our other selves home
>That's the place whose windows you're currently trying to open
-
>Examine the screen, see if it can be removed from the outside for cleaning purposes. Not like screens are meant to stop burglars.
-
>Examine the screen, see if it can be removed from the outside for cleaning purposes. Not like screens are meant to stop burglars.
>You take a closer look at the screen. It seems to have a catch on the inside, probably more to keep it from falling out than to keep anyone from taking it out. It wouldn't be hard to pull it out if you could find some way to grip it. There isn't really any place at the moment for your fingers to find purchase.
-
>Could be it prised with a stick or some other improvised too?
-
>Could be it prised with a stick or some other improvised too?
>It might be, if you can find something thin and sturdy enough. A stick of the right size might work.
-
>Look about for such a stick! Or other thing that may work.
-
>Look about for such a stick! Or other thing that may work.
>You scan around the nearby area. You see a couple sticks, but they look too thick. However, there are a couple small trees near here. You could probably tear off a branch that might be suitable.
-
> Should we really be breaking into our own house?
> Find a small enough stick anyway
-
> Should we really be breaking into our own house?
>Well, at least it's probably better than trying to break into someone ELSE'S house. Or so you tell yourself.
> Find a small enough stick anyway
>You find a suitable sized branch and snap it off in such a way to try and leave a point you could wedge in between the window screen and the window frame. You then trim off the excess leaves. This should probably do.
-
>Go jigger that window.
-
>Go jigger that window.
>You go back to the window and try to force the screen open. After a few failed attempts, you manage to leverage the stick correctly, and the screen pops free.
-
>Allow a small moment of pride.
>Now proudly crawl/fly through that window and break into our own house.
>Afterward put the screen back in and close the window.
-
>Have that note from ourself handy as evidence if we meet ourselves.
>Try to come up with a better pronoun selection for this situation.
-
>Have that note from ourself handy as evidence if we meet ourselves.
>Try to come up with a better pronoun selection for this situation.
>Sadly, human language was not designed with the task of addressing alternate universe selves in mind. An unfortunate, but perhaps understandable oversight.
>Allow a small moment of pride.
>Now proudly crawl/fly through that window and break into our own house.
>Afterward put the screen back in and close the window.
>You smile at your handywork. Not bad if you do say so yourself.
>You hoist yourself up into the window and try to squeeze through. Unfortunately, it's not a large window, and consequently a tight fit. You wiggle and make a little more progress as the window frame scrapes somewhat painfully against your sides. You think you're at least halfway in, now.
>Suddenly, you hear someone laughing behind you. "Well, that's not something you see every day."
-
>Do we know the voice?
-
>Do we know the voice?
>Not well, but you think it's one of the village farmers. Ichirou? It might help if you could turn to see him, but you're currently wedged in the window, and unable to twist to see anything outside of the house itself.
-
>"Yes, and I'll thank you for not treating yourself to anything you shouldn't be seeing! I forgot my key!"
-
>"Yes, and I'll thank you for not treating yourself to anything you shouldn't be seeing! I forgot my key!"
>"Sorry, it's just funny seeing someone try to break into their own house. And don't worry, your modesty is still fully preserved. Your dignity on the other hand..." He laughs again. "Ah, don't mind me. Need a hand?"
-
>"...Please. A push would be most welcome."
-
>"...Please. A push would be most welcome."
>"Sure thing."
>You hear footsteps, and then feel him grab your legs firmly and push. You try to pull yourself forward with your arms at the same time, and soon land on the floor beneath the window in an unceremonious heap. Owww... your side hurts. But that probably could have been worse.
-
>"Thank you... Let us never speak of this again."
-
>"Thank you... Let us never speak of this again."
>"Aww... you're always too serious, you know that? But... ok, fine. See ya around!" He smiles and waves goodbye to you and continues onto wherever he was going in the first place. You collect yourself and stand up, again.
>You appear to be in a dining area. There's a reasonably sized table here, and a small cabinet with some dishes. You recognize some of decor in the room. Mostly smaller objects that were not among the things left behind in your old abandoned home. The kitchen appears to be off to one side, and another doorway leads east.
-
>"Have a good day!"
>Fix the window.
>Once this is done, roam the house, look for signs that anyone was here recently.
-
>"Have a good day!"
>Fix the window.
>You wave goodbye then retrieve the screen from the ground outside, and pop it back into place. There, good as new!
>Once this is done, roam the house, look for signs that anyone was here recently.
>The dining area looks tidy and well-cared for, although no signs that anyone was just eating or sitting there. The kitchen is in similar condition, although there is fresh fruit in the pantry, implying that it hasn't been there too long, at least. You move past the dining area into a hallways, and past that into a bedroom. The bed appears to be neatly made since the last time it was slept in, at any rate. You can, again, see a couple decorating touches that you recognize. Finally, you move into the study. On the writing desk is a document in your own handwriting. It stops abruptly in mid-character. A writing brush lies discarded atop the paper, the ink from it having made a large messy blob underneath it. It appears to be dry, now.
-
>Read the document.
-
>Read the document.
>It is mostly incomplete, but it appears to be something of an inventory and requisition. It seems the school is running low on notebooks, and one of the desks needs repair.
-
>Check the ink container.
-
>Check the ink container.
>Seems to be good quality ink. The container is mostly full, although the lid is off.
-
>Recap it.
>"Guess you did disappear. Oh well."
>Look around for a key, this is our house now.
>Also consider some Rumia snacks.
-
>Recap it.
>"Guess you did disappear. Oh well."
>You put the cap back on the ink bottle, and sigh at your apparently vanished counterpart. Despite all the pronoun difficulties it might have entailed, it really would be a rare opportunity to get to meet 'yourself'. You wonder what kind of a person you might have been, here....
>Look around for a key, this is our house now.
>On a hunch, you pull out the top-left desk drawer, where you usually kept your keys at home. Success! Almost makes you feel like a mind reader of sorts. The keyring has a number of keys on it. You don't know what they're all for, but there's a very good chance that one of them works on the door, here. You pocket them.
>Also consider some Rumia snacks.
>There appeared to be plenty of food of different kinds in the pantry, when you scanned the place. You don't really know what kind of food she prefers (other than human...), but you think you could probably find her something she'd be willing to eat, at any rate.
-
>Get some bread. Everyone likes bread.
>Look around the house for anything else of interest. Or signs of Mokou.
-
>Get some bread. Everyone likes bread.
>You head back to the pantry and easily find some bread. It's quite fresh, too. You take some for Rumia, and much on a bit, yourself. Wow, you hadn't realized how hungry you were until you finally bit into something.
>Look around the house for anything else of interest. Or signs of Mokou.
>You go back and scan the rest of the house for things of interest. You find a variety of minutia, but not too much that stands out at first. You notice an odd small box on the table next to your dresser with large red lights in the shape of numbers on it. And another object which kind of reminds you of a lantern, but not quite. The glass enclosure is smaller, and there appears to be nothing in it to light. Just a small coil of wire. There seems to be a couple more objects like this in the other rooms of the house, as well.
>Your study is the least spartan of any of the rooms in the house, as usual. The bookcases are filled with titles you remember well. It seems that your collection was one of the things you made sure to entirely transport from the old village. This doesn't surprise you terribly. If you could only take one thing, this would be it. Furniture is replaceable, but some of these documents are literally one of a kind.
>You do notice a number of absences, though. Books you acquired after the Spring Snow Incident, and quite a few that you wrote yourself. You guess you didn't have as much chance to take time to do that, here. There appear to also be recent school records and other administrative documents. And some historical accounts dated more recently, as well.
>You rifle through the desk. Aside from the regular clutter you might expect to find in one, you locate two more spellcards, and a diary. The dairy was in the bottom of the bottom drawer, under a great deal of other stuff. It also appears to be locked.
>Sadly, you find no indication that Mokou was ever here. Of course, she didn't necessarily have a lot of stuff that she carted around with here, but still... You really wouldn't mind just laying up against her, right now... maybe fall asleep in her arms.
-
>Did we keep any portraits or anything of her around back home?
>If so, anything like that around?
>Check the keyring for a likely diary key. If there is one, we have some reading to do.
>Have some of that fruit, too.
-
>Did we keep any portraits or anything of her around back home?
>If so, anything like that around?
>You tried to convince Mokou to pose for one of you together, a couple times, but she never seemed too keen on the idea. Said she didn't go for all that sentimental stuff. You're pretty sure she was just fronting for feeling embarrassed about it, though. There were a few mementos she gave you over the years, but you don't see any of them around. Or any spare change of her clothes, which she often kept at your place.
>Check the keyring for a likely diary key. If there is one, we have some reading to do.
>Unfortunately, none of the keys you have seen to be the right size or shape
>Have some of that fruit, too.
>You sit down and bite into an orange. Fresh and juicy!
-
> Where would we keep a dairy key?
-
> Where would we keep a dairy key?
>You're not sure. You've already rifled through the obvious places. You never actually kept such a thing in your own timeline.
-
>Contemplate removing the lock from the cover. Discard this idea of book desecration at once!
>Check around the desk. We couldn't make too much of a pain to get at, or we'd never update the thing.
-
>Contemplate removing the lock from the cover. Discard this idea of book desecration at once!
>It shouldn't be too hard with determined effort. It's pretty solidly constructed for a lock of this type, but it's still just a dairy lock. You could saw through it with the proper tool. You might even be able to carve the cover out around it and slip the lock off. You cringe at the idea of taking cutting implements to a poor defenseless book....
>Check around the desk. We couldn't make too much of a pain to get at, or we'd never update the thing.
>You search through the desk in a more comprehensive fashion. Then under the desk. And behind the desk. You still don't see anything resembling a key. And, for the most part, the study is kept quite tidy.
-
> Check the bedroom
> Examine Spellcards
-
>Curse our own cleverness. Check around the bedroom. Nightstands and all that. Perhaps we wrote in it in bed and replaced it in the morning.
-
> Examine Spellcards
>Including the two new ones you just acquired, you now possess:
>Spiritual Birth "First Pyramid"
>Creates familiars which orbit the caster and spray bullets in an intricate pattern, while ocassionally launching targeted energy blasts, forcing the enemy into the denser parts of the pattern to evade them.
>Origin Sign "Ephemerality 137"
>Repeatedly launches clusters of familiars which explode into a spray of bullets upon contact with any solid object.
>Land Sign "Three Sacred Treasures - Mirror"
>Sends out spreads of orbs, accompanied by a cascading sprays of bullets which fan out, and then return, attempting to box the target in from all sides.
>Ending Sign "Phantasmal Emperor"
>Creates several rotating arrays of familiars which fire an interlocking pattern of lasers, while launching concentric rings of projectiles from yourself. Creates a dense omnidirectional pattern to navigate, but limits your own movement.
>Future "The Next History of Phantasm"
>Uses familiars to create a web of interlocking bullets, and then launches an intense spray of larger bullets which curve to track enemies. Very powerful, but you lack the capacity to use this outside of Hakutaku form
> Check the bedroom
>Curse our own cleverness. Check around the bedroom. Nightstands and all that. Perhaps we wrote in it in bed and replaced it in the morning.
>You check around anything in the bedroom that could possibly be concealing the key. Fortunately, you don't have a very cluttered house. Other than the usual clothes and such, you find a few to-do notes to yourself, and a small purse with some money in it. No sign of a key, however.
-
>Snag the purse, read the notes.
-
>Snag the purse, read the notes.
>You take the purse. There seems to be 2350 yen in here.
>You read the notes:
>One seems to be a grocery list, reminding you to pick up pears, daikon, and salad greens.
>Another is a reminder to find an interim assistant teacher while Yumiko is on maternity leave.
>A third seems to be shorthand reminders about some school topic. Possibly things to include on an upcoming quiz.
>The last is a generic reminder about festival preparations. You're not sure what festival it's referring to, or what you're even supposed to be doing to prepare for it
-
>Do we know a Yumiko?
-
>Do we know a Yumiko?
>Yes. She was a fairly bright student of yours at one point. Would probably be in her early to mid twenties, now. It's always easy to remember the good ones. And the bad ones, unfortunately.... But she never taught anything, although when you stop to think of it, she would probably have been capable of it. Last you knew, she was helping out with the family business.
-
>If she was helping out with the family business back home, it would probably explain why she's assisting here. Well...hopefully the maternity leave bit is good news for her.
>Check the time. Is it close to when school would be starting?
>Scrutinize the lesson plan notes. Try to decipher them.
>If possible, hunt up the recent lesson plans, too. Sounds like we'll have to bluff our way through this.
-
>If she was helping out with the family business back home, it would probably explain why she's assisting here. Well...hopefully the maternity leave bit is good news for her.
>Yes, hopefully.
>Check the time. Is it close to when school would be starting?
>You look out the window and try to judge the time from the sun. Hmmm.... probably at least an hour or so, yet. Assuming this is a school day. And assuming that the schedule hasn't changed along with everything else.
>Scrutinize the lesson plan notes. Try to decipher them.
>If possible, hunt up the recent lesson plans, too. Sounds like we'll have to bluff our way through this.
>The notes don't seem to be lesson plans, as such, but quick jot notes of things to remember to include in a lesson plan. Maybe you'd even just scribbled them down while heading to bed one night?
>You presume that the lesson plans are probably among the documents in your study, where you'd normally keep such things. You go and have a little around. It doesn't take long to locate them.
-
>Have a look at them. Maybe there will be hints to how things changed, too?
-
>Have a look at them. Maybe there will be hints to how things changed, too?
>You read through your lesson plans and curriculum notes. It's fairly standard stuff, but thankfully well organized.
>The class lists, asides from being noticeably... shorter... than the one's you remember, consist of mostly the same names you remember, with the odd exception. You see to have two other assistant teachers on your staff: the aforementioned Yumiko and another teacher who worked with you before. You're understandably not currently teaching the same topics you were yesterday, but all of it is fairly basic material (to you, at least), and you should have no trouble teaching it without more than a quick scan to see what you have and haven't already covered this year, thus far.
>There are no obvious indications of changed history other than this, but it's fairly procedural stuff
-
>Familiarize self with where we left off.
-
>Familiarize self with where we left off.
>You sit down with your notes, and read over them, while continuing to munch on bread and fruit. After a little while, you feel comfortably up to speed enough that you could probably wing it. Fortunately, your notes contain some already prepared exercises, as well.
-
> Try and see if there's anymore things that could help us
-
> Try and see if there's anymore things that could help us
>There's any number of mundane household objects that might be useful for SOMETHING, if you put your mind to it. Aside from that, there's a plethora of documents of various kinds, if you had some idea what you were looking for. You don't notice anything else that jumps out at you at the moment, though.
-
> Scan through those Documents
-
>Look for documents that seem to involve town affairs.
-
> Scan through those Documents
>Look for documents that seem to involve town affairs.
>Searching through the bookshelves for a bit, you find what seems to be a brief history of the town, compiled by yourself. It's still more in draft form than a completed document, but it still has a list of a number of events in the town's brief history.
>Essentially, it corroborates much of what people had already told you, in more detail. After the great famine during the Year of Winter, the old village was struggling to simply carry on. Shortly thereafter, Kanako arrived with the Moriya Shrine, and promised the villagers bountiful harvests and her protection if they would worship her. The village was soon relocated at the foot of Youkai Mountain, within the heart of Kanako's domain, where she could watch and shelter them more ably. Some people were understandably reluctant to leave their ancestral homes at first, but times were grim and Kanako offered much and asked comparatively little in return. And with the Hakurei Shrine vanished, there was no other spiritual center for the humans living here.
>There were several waves of migration. Many people left eagerly with whatever they could quickly transport. Some tried to remain in the village, but it became increasingly hard to sustain a life there as more people left. The new village was constructed quickly, with some assistance from the kappa in terms of tools and materials, and Kanako's divine powers blessing their endeavors. Since the Moriya Shrine itself was at the summit of the mountain, and difficult for the humans to reach, a branch shrine was established in the village. Evidently, the head Moriya shrine maiden holds ceremonies there on a regular basis, as something of a liaison with the village.
>Although relations with the nearby youkai are still not essentially close, they're friendlier than they would have been in time's past. Kanako ensures that humans are protected from hostile youkai, and has tried to foster co-operation between those who dwell in her domain. With her help, kappa technology is becoming increasingly common in the human settlement, and she appears to be highly motivated to industrialize Gensokyo, as best she can with the available resources.
-
>Feel satisfied with this explanation.
>Consider time, would there be enough time to get to Rumia and to school without an unreasonable delay on the latter.
-
>Feel satisfied with this explanation.
>Well, it's always nice to have hearsay corroborated with detailed records. And really, if you can't trust yourself, who can you trust? That still leaves quite a few bits of history unexplained, but at least this corner of Gensokyo seems accounted for.
>Consider time, would there be enough time to get to Rumia and to school without an unreasonable delay on the latter.
>You're pretty sure you have enough time for this
-
>Gather up food for Rumia, and head out to meet her.
>Double check to make sure we have the keys.
-
>Gather up food for Rumia, and head out to meet her.
>Double check to make sure we have the keys.
>You gather up a few more bits of food for Rumia and head out, making sure not to forget your keys in the process.
>After a few minutes, you arrive back at the woods you dropped her off at. You don't immediately see her. Hopefully she hasn't wandered off too far...
-
>"Rumia? Are you there? I brought you a snack!"
-
>"Rumia? Are you there? I brought you a snack!"
>"Yay!" Her voice seems quiet at first, but rises steadily in volume as she apparently zooms closer, while sustaining that one note. You finally catch sight of her, practically dive-bombing at you from high in one of the trees.
-
>Be ready to sidestep if she maintains velocity.
-
>Be ready to sidestep if she maintains velocity.
>You move out of the way as Rumia zooms towards you, not certain whether the impact would be good for your solar plexus. She does seem to slow down as she gets close, but still overshoots you and ends up taking a tumble in the grass. Still, this doesn't seem to phase her too much, and she leaps back to her feet with a smile. A somewhat dirt-stained smile, but still...
-
>Offer her the bread. "I hope this is good enough?"
-
>Offer her the bread. "I hope this is good enough?"
>She looks a little crestfallen. "Awww.... Rumia wanted a hamburger." But she still takes the bread and digs into it.
-
> "Rumia, I was wondering if you could stay out here for a moment, I have to take care of the other mes job but I promise I'll come back sometime in the afternoon, okay?"
-
> "Rumia, I was wondering if you could stay out here for a moment, I have to take care of the other mes job but I promise I'll come back sometime in the afternoon, okay?"
>Belay this.
>"Rumia, if I let you in my house, could you behave?"
>We're done being a jerk >=[
>_
-
> "Rumia, I was wondering if you could stay out here for a moment, I have to take care of the other mes job but I promise I'll come back sometime in the afternoon, okay?"
>Belay this.
>"Rumia, if I let you in my house, could you behave?"
>We're done being a jerk >=[
>You consider asking Rumia to remain out here for another part of the afternoon, but in addition to the issue of her possibly getting bored and wandering off, you feel bad about forcing her to stay out there when she's been nothing but innocently cheerful for most of the day.
>"I guess so...." Then her eyes light up as an idea forms. "Do you have hamburgers there?"
-
> "I'm not sure, why don't we find out?"
> Take Rumia with you to our house but try to be discreet
-
> "I'm not sure, why don't we find out?"
> Take Rumia with you to our house but try to be discreet
>"Ok!"
>You head back towards your house, and try to keep a low profile. This is harder than it was earlier, considering a lot more people are up and about, now, but it helps that you live in the outskirts. You manage to get back to your house without anyone seeing you from close enough to really identify Rumia.
-
>Head inside.
>"This is it. Um, have you been inside houses much?"
-
>Head inside.
>You test out a likely candidate on your key ring and successfully unlock the door, No more window-related shenanigans for you! You walk inside.
>"This is it. Um, have you been inside houses much?"
>"Rumia used to poke into the leftover houses in the old village sometimes. They had funny stuff in them. Lots of dust, too. Not much dust here, though."
-
>"Well, this is a lived in house, so you have to be very careful not to break anything. Um, are you tired at all?"
-
>"Well, this is a lived in house, so you have to be very careful not to break anything. Um, are you tired at all?"
>"Ah, ok. Rumia understands. ...Rumia thinks she understands. And nope!"
>You wish you could say the same about yourself.
-
> Lets go check what we have to eat
-
> Lets go check what we have to eat
>You go and have another look at the pantry. There's some fruit and more bread. There's a few fresh vegetables, a large amount of rice, and smaller amounts of flour, sugar and other staples. You seem to have a few onigiri already prepared. There also appears to be a little beef in the icebox. It might be possible to cook her something close to a hamburger, if you had the time.
-
>"Okay, I need to go do some things, Rumia. Just wait here a bit."
>Give her some blank paper, ink, and a pen. "Here, um, you can draw while I'm gone. Just don't spill the ink or splatter it anywhere. Try not to make any messes."
>Demonstrate penmanship, if needs be. Then hurry off to school.
-
>"Okay, I need to go do some things, Rumia. Just wait here a bit."
>Give her some blank paper, ink, and a pen. "Here, um, you can draw while I'm gone. Just don't spill the ink or splatter it anywhere. Try not to make any messes."
>Demonstrate penmanship, if needs be. Then hurry off to school.
>You go fetch some writing supplies and set her up on a surface as far away from fragile and valuable things as possible. You give her a small demonstration, and she quickly seems rather taken with it. She immediately tries to imitate what you just wrote with.... well, you can cut her some slack, you guess. At least she didn't upend the ink all over the paper. She seems more than content enough for the time-being, though.
>You gather the necessary materials and quickly head off towards school, locking the door behind you. Soon, it comes into sight, and you can see a number of students slowly trickling into it, varying considerably in age, from those being guided by their parents to those old enough that they could probably be out working, instead, if they chose to. The village never had enough population for strict grade segregation, and you imagine that's even more true now.
-
>Head inside. Acknowledge any greetings.
>Look for teaching assistants.
-
>Head inside. Acknowledge any greetings.
>Look for teaching assistants.
>You head into the school, exchanging brief pleasantries with a couple people along the way. It's a good thing that you still know most of these people. It actually feels strangely normal, compared to most of what you've been doing since this all happened.
>The entryway connects to a short hallway. As near as you can tell, there appear to be three small classrooms, and then stairs towards the second floor where you observed the offices from outside, earlier. Students are filtering into two of these rooms of their own accord.
>You notice one of the assistant teachers from your own village. Perhaps this won't be so awkward, after all?
>"Well, I suppose I had to show up before you at least once, hey?" she says, smiling at you.
-
>Nod and return the smile.
>"Actually, I have a question for you. How comfortable do you think you'll be leading the class today?"
-
>Nod and return the smile.
>"Actually, I have a question for you. How comfortable do you think you'll be leading the class today?"
>"Um, I'm not sure what you mean."
-
>There are three classrooms now, aren't there? Damnit.
>"I've had a rather strange and sleepless night, so I'm not really at my best. What was the plan for today, again?"
-
>There are three classrooms now, aren't there? Damnit.
>"I've had a rather strange and sleepless night, so I'm not really at my best. What was the plan for today, again?"
>Yes, three classrooms. Although, you notice that you only see students filing into two of them at the moment. At least the ones which are filing in as opposed to hanging around somewhere outside until the last moment.
>"Wow, you sure you're ok, Keine?"
-
>Sigh. "Not particularly, no."
-
>Sigh. "Not particularly, no."
She frowns and walks over to you. "What's wrong?"
-
>"It's a long story, but suffice it to say I've been up all night over it. That's why I was hoping to pass my class off..."
-
>"It's a long story, but suffice it to say I've been up all night over it. That's why I was hoping to pass my class off..."
>She frowns again. "You know we're understaffed as it is, until we can get someone to fill in for Yumiko. Keine... look, I know is none of my business, but this isn't like last time, is it? I thought you'd let it go."
-
> Oh *beep*, another thing we don't know
> "No, I'm pretty sure its not like last time" I mean how many times does history get changed
-
>"I've let go a lot of things, actually. My memory's pretty addled after last night, though I think I can guess what you mean..."
>"Still, this probably isn't the time. If you could remind me what the lesson plan is for today and help me out a little more than usual, I'll probably last the day."
-
Don't we already know the lesson plan?
-
Don't we already know the lesson plan?
It's good to collaborate it, and she might have details that weren't "important" enough to go into the notes. Especially if it involves changed history like those weird lights and whatever other changes came from moving to the mountain.
-
> Oh *beep*, another thing we don't know
>Yeah, that's getting a little tiring. It would have been nice if you'd been furnished with a set of timeline-appropriate memories when the world changed around you. On the other hand, would you have even been able to realize something was wrong, then....?
> "No, I'm pretty sure its not like last time" I mean how many times does history get changed
>"I've let go a lot of things, actually. My memory's pretty addled after last night, though I think I can guess what you mean..."
>"Still, this probably isn't the time. If you could remind me what the lesson plan is for today and help me out a little more than usual, I'll probably last the day."
>She grows even more concerned looking, if such a thing is possible. You think you catch her subtly trying to smell your breath.
>"I... don't really know what your lesson plan was. At least not in any detail. I mean, early Edo politics, and geometry and, well... what did you want me to do to help?
-
>Does this corroborate with our notes?
-
>Does this corroborate with our notes?
>Well, the detail is rather skeletal compared to the notes, but at least it doesn't contradict them.
-
>Nod.
>"To be honest? I'm half tempted to just give them a three page report and leave it at for the next few days..."
-
>Nod.
>"To be honest? I'm half tempted to just give them a three page report and leave it at for the next few days..."
>She manages to have a small chuckle, despite herself. "I'm not sure if they'd love you or hate you for that."
-
>"They could do it at home, so there's that. And I think I'm really going to need the time..."
>Consider this temptation's side effects!
-
>"They could do it at home, so there's that. And I think I'm really going to need the time..."
>"Need the time? What is this really about, Keine? Is it anything I could help with at all?"
>Consider this temptation's side effects!
>Well, you are essentially in charge of the school, so you could probably get away with it, even if it raised some eyebrows. There might be some dissatisfied parents, and there's a very real possibility that people might gossip about it, and WHY you did it. You have to wonder what she was referring to, before... It might also be a bit unfair to your fellow teacher, if you're already down 1 of 3. But nothing's stopping you from doing it anyway.
-
>Frown and shake head.
>"I don't if you'd believe me, really, to be honest."
>Sigh.
>"Let's just say...it's a kind of incident I need to deal with."
-
>Frown and shake head.
>"I don't if you'd believe me, really, to be honest."
>Sigh.
>"Let's just say...it's a kind of incident I need to deal with."
>She gives you a long look and slowly nods. "I'll respect your privacy, if that's what you want. Just... don't feel like you have to deal with this all on your own. There's a lot of people who care about you, Keine. I hope you don't lose sight of that, again."
-
>If she doesn't stop taunting up with that, she's getting fired >=[
>"I know, I know, it's just, I'm fairly certain it would only be asking you all to risk too much. I spent most of last night outside the village, looking for answers. I'll probably head out again once I'm rested. Had a run-in with Mystia, too..."
-
>If she doesn't stop taunting up with that, she's getting fired >=[
>You may be feeling snippy after the events of the day, but you still feel guilty even contemplating this. Poor Saki's only trying to be helpful...
>"I know, I know, it's just, I'm fairly certain it would only be asking you all to risk too much. I spent most of last night outside the village, looking for answers. I'll probably head out again once I'm rested. Had a run-in with Mystia, too..."
>The seems to get her attention. "Mystia? Here? I didn't think even she was that foolish. Kanako will want to know about that, you realize, if she doesn't already. Does she know about... whatever it is that you think is an issue?"
-
>"She wasn't in the village, don't worry. Or even near it."
>"I don't think she would..." Frown again.
-
>"She wasn't in the village, don't worry. Or even near it."
>"Oh, well. You really did go for quite a walk then, didn't you..."
>"I don't think she would..." Frown again.
>"Look, if it's really as important as you seem to think it is, maybe you should talk to Sanae about it? She should be here later this morning. Not everything is your responsibility, you know."
-
>"Maybe I should... At least she might know something."
-
>"Maybe I should... At least she might know something."
>She smiles and gives you a little pat on the arm. "There, that wasn't so bad, was it?"
-
>Nod.
>"It's just the issue is very personal, you know, so I don't want it to spread around..."
-
>Nod.
>"It's just the issue is very personal, you know, so I don't want it to spread around..."
>"Don't worry, I'll respect your privacy."
-
>"Thanks, Saki. Now...what am I gonna do about this class?"
-
>"Thanks, Saki. Now...what am I gonna do about this class?"
>"Well, you could actually teach it, you know... But if you're really in no state for it, I suppose I could try to come up with something. But you know how people are. If you're buzzing around town instead, people will start talking."
-
>"I'll force it, I suppose. Do you think I'll still be able to catch Sanae?"
>How long to classes tend to last?
-
>"I'll force it, I suppose. Do you think I'll still be able to catch Sanae?"
>"Well, she should be here from around lunch until after the evening purification ceremony."
>How long to classes tend to last?
>More or less all of the morning, and some of the afternoon. You do have a lunch break, though. Assuming it still works the same way as your old place.
-
>"Thanks for the talk, I needed it."
>Go fake it. If an excuse can be made to nip off toward home and keep Rumia from starting fires, take it =[
-
>"Thanks for the talk, I needed it."
>"No problem. If you ever want to give me the whole story, you know where to find me." Which isn't entirely true, but you figure it's probably best if she doesn't know that...
>Go fake it. If an excuse can be made to nip off toward home and keep Rumia from starting fires, take it =[
>You head off towards the classrooms. Fortunately, they actually do have the teacher's names on the door, preventing you from having to admit another embarrassing lapse in memory.
>You assume your position at the head of the class and try to look as though you actually belong here. Oddly, once class starts, you almost forget about the oddness of your situation. Sure, you're tired, but this actually feels natural and comforting, like a slice of the life that you're supposed to be living. Even the requisite attempts to marshal the attention of the disaffected faction of the classroom. The faces are familiar, the topics are familiar. It's not the same, but for a moment, you can almost pretend that it is. Sooner than you realize, it's time for lunch break. The students quickly file out of class again.
-
>Dash home as quickly as possible without arousing suspicion.
-
>Dash home as quickly as possible without arousing suspicion.
>You quickly head towards home, and arrive there a few minutes later. At least it doesn't seem to be on fire, or engulfed in some conspicuous black sphere. So far so good...
-
>Enter.
-
>Enter.
>You go back into your house, and find that Rumia is... exactly where you left her. You have to restrain your surprise. She looks up at you and waves. >"Hi!"
>The floor around her is littered with the pieces of paper that you gave her, and she seems to have been busily working on another one when you walked in. She seems to have ink on her hands and... her face, somehow, but amazingly not on anything else, as far as you can see.
-
>"Having fun?"
>Do we have a guest room?
-
>"Having fun?"
>"Yup! Rumia's never done anything like this before. Look at this!" She holds up one of the pieces of paper proudly. You... can't really tell what it's supposed to be.
>Do we have a guest room?
>It doesn't seem so.
-
>Do we at least have a spare bed, or couch.
>"Oh, that looks nice. What is it?"
-
>Do we at least have a spare bed, or couch.
>You do have a couch. There's probably a spare futon in the closet, too.
>"Oh, that looks nice. What is it?"
>"Oh, you can't tell?" Rumia takes the drawing and looks at it critically. "Rumia's not very good at this.... Quiz lady's drawing was so much prettier." She shows it to you again. You THINK you may be able to make out something vaguely humanoid. Or possibly a camel. And... is that a tree? Or a volcano? It's honestly hard to tell.
-
>"I'm not very good at looking at pictures."
>Do we have time to make good on that threat of hamburgers from this morning?
-
>"I'm not very good at looking at pictures."
>"Oh, you can be good at making them and bad at looking at them?" She stares at you a little dubiously, but eventually decides to be satisfied with that. "It's quiz lady and Rumia," she says, pointing at each of you in turn. Oh, was THAT what the giant ink blot was supposed to be? You hope that even after what you've been through today, you're not quite THAT disheveled, just the same.
>Do we have time to make good on that threat of hamburgers from this morning?
>You should have enough time for this.
-
>"Ah, now I see. Anyways, I'll get lunch ready."
>Make good on the threat of hamburgers. Hopefully we have some idea how to make them!
>Also check the closet for a spare futon when the food can be unattended for a moment.
-
>"Ah, now I see. Anyways, I'll get lunch ready."
>"Yay!" Rumia smiles at you, and then gets back to drawing, again.
>Make good on the threat of hamburgers. Hopefully we have some idea how to make them!
>You go to the kitchen, and take the beef out from the icebox. There isn't much, but there should be enough for a burger or two. Sadly, you have no real way to grind it, but so it won't be exactly authentic. Hopefully Rumia won't notice or mind that bit, though. You get the meat cooking, and slice some bread for the buns.
>Also check the closet for a spare futon when the food can be unattended for a moment.
>While the meet is cooking, you take a look at the closet. There does indeed seem to be a spare futon there.
-
>Set it out away from a window. Also preferably someplace not underfoot.
-
>Set it out away from a window. Also preferably someplace not underfoot.
>You try to find an appropriate place to set up the futon. Unfortunately, there are a shortage of places which are both away from a window and not underfoot. You settle upon a corner of the sitting area, and make up the futon there.
-
>"Rumia, when you get tired, you can sleep here."
>Get that meal finished.
-
>"Rumia, when you get tired, you can sleep here."
>"Rumia's not tired," she responds.
>Get that meal finished.
>You finish up the almost-hamburgers, and season them as appropriately as possible. You don't have any ketchup, but there is some mustard and pickles, which you chop up and put on top. They look pretty decent, actually.
-
>"When you do, that is."
>We'll pretend they're rib-eye burgers. Good burgers only need mustard anyways, if that much.
>"Mealtime!"
>Serve. If she's been using the dining room table for drawing, clear it off a bit.
-
>"When you do, that is."
>"Will Rumia really be here that long?"
>We'll pretend they're rib-eye burgers. Good burgers only need mustard anyways, if that much.
>"Mealtime!"
>Serve. If she's been using the dining room table for drawing, clear it off a bit.
>You announce the presence of food and present it on the table. Rumia quickly gets up from what she's doing and grabs a seat. Well, after you explain that the table is not for sitting on, at any rate... She eagerly digs into the burgers.
>You had set her up on the floor, rather than risk her getting ink all over the table and other things on it
-
>Have some lunch.
>"Um, you asked about staying here this long. I should have considered, but, do you have other things you want to do?"
-
>Have some lunch.
>You join Rumia and grab a burger. Not your favorite fare, perhaps, but they're pretty decent.
>"Um, you asked about staying here this long. I should have considered, but, do you have other things you want to do?"
>She looks up from her burger for long enough to answer you. "Helping you is fun. Normally, Rumia just wanders around, but today Rumia's won this great pooky box, and played with magical inky stuff, and even ate hamburgers! And quiz lady's still sad... Rumia can tell. Rumia keeps her promises!"
-
>"Alright. You can stay here for now, then. I just didn't want to think I was keeping you away from something important."
>Check time.
-
>"Alright. You can stay here for now, then. I just didn't want to think I was keeping you away from something important."
>" 'kay~!" She bites into the burger again.
>Check time.
>Seems to be a little past noon. You have a few more minutes before you need to get back to class, anyway.
-
>Finish lunch leisurely, then.
>Afterward, bid Rumia farewell and head back.
-
>Finish lunch leisurely, then.
>Afterward, bid Rumia farewell and head back.
>You finish up the burgers and take a moment to lounge. It's amazing how quickly this has started to feel like your place. You guess it's because it's really almost exactly how you would have arranged things if you were living here. Well, probably because it IS exactly that. You find yourself almost nodding off in the chair.... woah, wait, can't do that just yet.
>You get up and start to head back to class. You can probably still manage to drag yourself through the afternoon.
>As you start to leave, Rumia calls out. "Can I have some more paper?"
>It appears she's gone through every single sheet you gave her, and probably drawn over half of them, again. It's really hard to tell from the crowding of brushstrokes and blobs on many of them.
-
>"Oh, sure!"
>Set her up with some more. The cheap stuff.
-
>"Oh, sure!"
>Set her up with some more. The cheap stuff.
>You go and fetch some more paper from your study. You always keep a substantial supply of this and decide to be a little more generous with the quantity than last time, seeing how much she seems to enjoy it. If it's that effective at keeping her out of trouble, you're getting a bargain on the deal. And frankly, you're pretty sure she couldn't tell the cheap stuff from the good stuff unless someone explained it to her.
>Rumia accept the new stack of paper with a smile and sets about working on it immediately.
-
>Give her a pat on the head, and head back to class.
-
>Give her a pat on the head, and head back to class.
>You give a pat on the head to your resident burgeoning artist, and head back to the school.
>Things are much like they were in the morning, although you're somewhat less late. Saki nods to you as you enter and go to your classroom.
-
>Teachify
-
>Teachify
>You go through the afternoon's lessons. This seems to drag quite a bit more than the morning's, probably because you're becoming increasingly exhausted, but it still isn't too terrible. Just the same, you're probably even more glad than some of the students when the lesson is finally over for the day. A bed sounds like a much more interesting subject than the Tokugawa Shogunate right about now...
-
>Talking to Sanae for the first time while exhausted is just asking for slips and trouble.
>Then again, it's also an excuse for seeming completely out of it so that they're more benign and less suspicious.
>At the very least, check out the shrine and see what it's like right now. Maybe we can at least watch this purification ceremony to see what it entails.
>Rumia totally needs hugs and rewards for being such an incredibly good girl today.
-
>Talking to Sanae for the first time while exhausted is just asking for slips and trouble.
>Then again, it's also an excuse for seeming completely out of it so that they're more benign and less suspicious.
>At the very least, check out the shrine and see what it's like right now. Maybe we can at least watch this purification ceremony to see what it entails.
>You debate the wisdom of having an important conversation in your current state of not-all-there. Still, you decide it's probably better to go have a look at the shrine now, rather than risk sleeping through Sanae's visit here.
>You head southeast and soon arrive at the shrine. There are a few people milling around here, now. You recognize Sanae talking with a couple of them, while others walk up to the altar to leave offerings and say small prayers. You don't see the shrine maiden you were talking to this morning at the moment.
>Rumia totally needs hugs and rewards for being such an incredibly good girl today.
>She really has been an unexpectedly pleasant traveling companion today. And she didn't get ink all over your house! That alone probably deserves a hug.
-
>Wait for Sanae to have a free moment, then approach and cruelly steal it from her.
-
>Wait for Sanae to have a free moment, then approach and cruelly steal it from her.
>Some of the people she's talking with move off, either to exit the shrine or leave an offering, but others seem to quickly take their place. It seems she's probably just small-talking with visitors. Still, you eventually manage to find a small opening and move towards her.
>"Oh, hello Keine," she says, noticing you as you approach. "It's rare to see you here."
-
>"I wish there were better circumstances to this, but I need some of your time, to talk with you privately."
-
>"I wish there were better circumstances to this, but I need some of your time, to talk with you privately."
>"Oh, of course. That is one of the things I'm here for, after all."
>She leads you towards part of the grounds near the back of the shrine, away from people.
>"You can speak freely here. What's bothering you?"
-
>"I'm not the Keine you know.
>Give her a moment.
>"I am not sure what happened, but, I'm not from here. I am not sure how to explain it other than that. I'm not from this world. I come from one where things are vastly different. And now I'm stuck here, in this world I don't know. And apparently, I've lead a life I don't know..."
>Allow a brittle smile.
>"This is the part where you call me crazy. Go on, let it out. You'll feel better, and we can proceed."
-
>"I'm not the Keine you know.
>Give her a moment.
>"I am not sure what happened, but, I'm not from here. I am not sure how to explain it other than that. I'm not from this world. I come from one where things are vastly different. And now I'm stuck here, in this world I don't know. And apparently, I've lead a life I don't know..."
>Allow a brittle smile.
>"This is the part where you call me crazy. Go on, let it out. You'll feel better, and we can proceed."
>You decide to cut to the chase. Sanae listens silently, but her face broadcasts her emotions; first confused, and then increasingly concerned as you continue. At least she doesn't seem to think you're just being a moron. When you stop, she remains silent for a moment. She seems to be considering.
>"I- I'm not sure what to say to that."
-
>"I just told you what to say. Don't worry, let it out. I'm well prepared."
>Whether or not she does. "I don't know if history has changed, or I'm in another world, or what? But...so many things have gone differently since the winter sorrow, or whatever people are calling it. It was stopped, you see. I could go on, if you like."
-
>"I just told you what to say. Don't worry, let it out. I'm well prepared."
>"I... don't think it's my place to call you crazy."
>Whether or not she does. "I don't know if history has changed, or I'm in another world, or what? But...so many things have gone differently since the winter sorrow, or whatever people are calling it. It was stopped, you see. I could go on, if you like."
>"It was... Another world...? Are you-" She looks like she really has no idea what to think, but then suddenly her eyes narrow. "Please remain where you are." Her voice suddenly has a forceful edge to it. She pulls her gohei out of her robes.
-
>"It may be. Or perhaps the past has changed. And what are you doing?"
-
>"It may be. Or perhaps the past has changed. And what are you doing?"
>"If you are who you say, you have nothing to fear. And if you are not, it is already too late to run."
>She swiftly traces the shape of a star with her gohei, and lines of light follow the path that she draws
-
>Sigh.
>"If I were going to do something weird, would I really have come up to you and said all this? Oh well, do what you will. Though...I might well be different from the Keine you know in one important sense."
-
>Sigh.
>"If I were going to do something weird, would I really have come up to you and said all this? Oh well, do what you will. Though...I might well be different from the Keine you know in one important sense."
>While she may have heard you, she gives no acknowledgment of this.
>She raises her gohei towards you, and makes a seal with her other hand.
>"Purification: Yasaka's Will!"
>You feel a wave of something powerful pass over and through you. It's a little overwhelming for a moment. And then the air around you suddenly feels crisp and clear. And so do you, actually. You actually think you feel a little more awake, although perhaps that's just from being startled by so much magic being flung in your direction.
>Sanae's shoulders sag. "My apologies."
-
>"If you thought I was a youkai in disguise, I understand."
-
> "Ah, yeah, no problem, what was that suppose to do?"
-
> "Ah, yeah, no problem, what was that suppose to do?"
>"If you thought I was a youkai in disguise, I understand."
>"It was a exorcising invocation. And yes, that was one possibility that occurred to me. Or that you might be possessed. Or cursed, or something." She sighs again. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be disrespectful. And you don't seem to be any of those things, if it's comforting to hear. There was some residual magic on you, but not enough to mean anything."
>"And what did you mean about being different from the Keine I know in one important sense? What sense was that?"
-
>"Thinking on it, I doubt it would be different. But I don't think she would have told you about it, if I intuit things rightly. She wasn't fully human."
-
>"Thinking on it, I doubt it would be different. But I don't think she would have told you about it, if I intuit things rightly. She wasn't fully human."
>"What? Who wasn't?"
-
>"Me. Or rather, the me you knew."
-
>"Me. Or rather, the me you knew."
>"Are you referring to your hakutaku aspect?"
-
>"Oh good, she did tell you. Give how unwelcome many youkai seem to be, I was worried. That makes things much easier. But, we're getting sidetrekked. Do you believe me at all?"
-
>"Oh good, she did tell you. Give how unwelcome many youkai seem to be, I was worried. That makes things much easier. But, we're getting sidetrekked. Do you believe me at all?"
>"Youkai are not unwelcome simply because they are youkai. After all, the kappa and tengu live within Kanako's domain and pay respect to her. What has given you that impression?"
>"And..." she sighs. "I might. Or, at least I don't think you're trying to lie to me, whatever else you might think."
-
>"I've spoken with several, and none of them seem to regard this place well. But very well. That's my story. All the proof I can really offer is an coherent understanding of history as I know it."
>Maybe stretching the truth a little.
-
>"I've spoken with several, and none of them seem to regard this place well. But very well. That's my story. All the proof I can really offer is an coherent understanding of history as I know it."
>Maybe stretching the truth a little.
>"And who have you spoken with that has said this, then?" She eyes you a little suspiciously. "All Yasaka-sama asks is that everyone respects the rule of law in her domain and not do harm to each other. Some youkai are unwilling to accept this. If they would choose differently, they too would be given her protection. The decision is and always has been theirs."
>"But, proof aside, why did you come to me with this?"
-
> "I'm trying to get back to my world, I have a feeling that if I can find the person who caused the difference between my world and this one, I'll be able to get home"
-
>"And there's the off chance you might know something about a particular youkai involved with this."
-
> "I'm trying to get back to my world, I have a feeling that if I can find the person who caused the difference between my world and this one, I'll be able to get home"
>"Hmmm.... well, if you really are from another world, I'd like to help if I can. But I'm not sure I follow your idea of how you can get back. Do you have any idea how you even got here?"
>"And there's the off chance you might know something about a particular youkai involved with this."
>"Which youkai would this be?"
-
>Describe Wingly. We've probably gotten into a particularly groove for explaining it succinctly by this point.
-
>Describe Wingly. We've probably gotten into a particularly groove for explaining it succinctly by this point.
>Sanae nods along to your description, then sadly shakes your head. "I've never heard of a youkai like that, I'm afraid. And you think she's connected to all this?"
-
>"She was the one I was investigating before falling asleep and waking up in this world. Time. Whichever it is."
-
>"She was the one I was investigating before falling asleep and waking up in this world. Time. Whichever it is."
>"Ah. Well, I feel fairly certain that she has not strayed within Yasaka-sama's domain, at the least. I could ask Yasaka-sama herself about this, though. Her gaze does not stop only at the borders of this mountain. It's possible she may know the youkai you speak of."
>"I'm curious, though. Do you think that if you can find her again, you can somehow use her to return?"
-
>"At the very least, shake her until an explanation falls out."
-
>"I don't know. I know very little about her, aside from an apparent aura of somnolence. But it's quite likely she would be able to provide some insight into how it happened."
>"At the very least, shake her until an explanation falls out."
-
>"At the very least, shake her until an explanation falls out."
>"I don't know. I know very little about her, aside from an apparent aura of somnolence. But it's quite likely she would be able to provide some insight into how it happened."
>Sanae has a small chuckle. "Well, I can keep you apprised of anything I find. Is there anything else I can do to help?"
-
>"You can help me re-learn what this world is like and what the Keine here is supposed to know so that I don't worry people too much with this. Or help me come up with a way to break the news that won't lead to too much trouble."
-
>"You can help me re-learn what this world is like and what the Keine here is supposed to know so that I don't worry people too much with this. Or help me come up with a way to break the news that won't lead to too much trouble."
>"Re-learn? I'm not sure I'd even know where to begin without a frame of reference. And wouldn't our Keine be more qualified to tell you what she's supposed to know than I am?"
-
>"That's what I thought at first. But she wasn't home today, and I don't know where she is. At this point, I'm inclined to believe that either we swapped places or I 'woke up' into her life with different memories. So I'm not sure it's an option. If she's around, though, finding her would be a huge help."
-
> "If only she, the other Keine, was here. I visited my, er her home, and it was empty. No one. Some parts looked like they were being used, then she left in a hurry."
> Wait, if I am in a whole other world, and the Keine that should be here is not...
> "Oh dear... I may have just figured something out, the Keine from here... may in fact be in the Gensokyo I am from, and if she is, she will be just as confused as I am."
> Talking about alternate selves is REALLY weird and difficult.
> How much do we know about Sanae, assuming all the important about her is still the same?
-
>"As for a frame of reference for the times I need to relearn, well... basically everything that happened during the long winter and afterward. Perhaps farther back than that, depending on how the scarlet mist incident before that went. I have an okay idea of what happened in general, but not too many specifics."
-
>"That's what I thought at first. But she wasn't home today, and I don't know where she is. At this point, I'm inclined to believe that either we swapped places or I 'woke up' into her life with different memories. So I'm not sure it's an option. If she's around, though, finding her would be a huge help."
> "If only she, the other Keine, was here. I visited my, er her home, and it was empty. No one. Some parts looked like they were being used, then she left in a hurry."
> "Oh dear... I may have just figured something out, the Keine from here... may in fact be in the Gensokyo I am from, and if she is, she will be just as confused as I am."
>Sanae looks very troubled. "Woke up into someone else's life....? I'm sorry, but I can't say that I like either of those scenarios. And if our Kiene really has vanished... In any case, Yasaka-sama must know of this. When I return to the Moriya Shrine, I will speak with her of this at once."
> How much do we know about Sanae, assuming all the important about her is still the same?
>You've met Sanae a number of times before, although she tended to have less contact with the village than Reimu. She seemed like a fairly well-intentioned person, although a little out of place for a while. But that's not really surprising given that she literally WAS out of place, for a while. She seemed hard-working, but not always that perceptive. This Sanae seems a little more... well, 'commanding' is too strong a word, but her bearing seems a bit more forceful. That might come from actually being the day-to-day face of a god in charge.
> Talking about alternate selves is REALLY weird and difficult.
>It's kind of difficult wrapping your head around the separation of her and you and we...
>"As for a frame of reference for the times I need to relearn, well... basically everything that happened during the long winter and afterward. Perhaps farther back than that, depending on how the scarlet mist incident before that went. I have an okay idea of what happened in general, but not too many specifics."
>"Those events of which you speak happened before I arrived in Gensokyo. Honestly, if anyone else were to ask questions about that, I would send them to you. Even if you... uh, she... isn't here now, her records would still be the best source of information on this, I'd think. Even the other villagers might be more useful than me. I know what effect it had on people, but only after the fact. They lived through it all."
-
>"I'll have to review those records more carefully, then. Still, it doesn't help in understanding the day-to-day life here. This is not... the location of the human village I know, and the subtle differences can be the most jarring... to myself and others."
-
>What can we remember about the other person who was there, last night, with the youkai?
-
> Do we know that Sanae is from outside Gensokyo, beyond the border? *is shot*
-
>"I'll have to review those records more carefully, then. Still, it doesn't help in understanding the day-to-day life here. This is not... the location of the human village I know, and the subtle differences can be the most jarring... to myself and others."
>"I... wish I could help you, but I'm not sure how I could tell you what things are different than you remember, without being inside your own mind. I'm not trying to be stubborn, but to me, all of this is normal. I have no idea which details might possibly be different, especially subtle things like you speak of. You look and sound normal to me. Well, other than what you speak OF, of course. And the hat. But that's neither here nor there."
>What can we remember about the other person who was there, last night, with the youkai?
>She was a human girl, who sounded young and frightened. She didn't seem to recognize your name, and you didn't recognize her voice, either. She was wearing a dark-colored dress of some sort, but it was hard to make out much more than that given the poor lighting, and trees in the way.
> Do we know that Sanae is from outside Gensokyo, beyond the border? *is shot*
>Yes. The circumstances of the Moriya Shrine's arrival in your own Gensokyo are well known to you.
-
>"Well, to start with, the lights in the village are... different from what I remember. How do lanterns shine so brightly with just that little wire in them?"
>"As for the hat, I guess you could say I lent it to someone on my way here in exchange for some help on the road... for a while I hoped it would help differentiate me from my twin in this world, but perhaps I should reconsider."
>"While I doubt it's changed, do you know the usual school schedule here? I need to know what days I may have to myself to investigate this."
-
>"Well, to start with, the lights in the village are... different from what I remember. How do lanterns shine so brightly with just that little wire in them?"
>"Ah, those?" She smiles. "They're electric lights. They're based on technology from the outside world that we've been developing with the help of the Kappa. Gensokyo has had limited technological infrastructure, so it's been taking some time to get things up to speed, but our production capacity increases all the time, and the real fun stuff should be happening soon.There are a lot of bright things in everyone's future, I expect. Uh... pun unintended. Really, better lights are about the least impressive of Yasaka-sama's projects. The Kappa village has a lot more of the prototypes floating around than here. Some of the villagers have been a little reluctant to adopt things produced by youkai. But it's an old superstition. It'll pass."
>She pauses as she considers the implication of this question. "Do you mean that the village you remember did not have such things?"
>"As for the hat, I guess you could say I lent it to someone on my way here in exchange for some help on the road... for a while I hoped it would help differentiate me from my twin in this world, but perhaps I should reconsider."
>"Ah, I see. Well, it's hardly THAT anomalous looking, really."
>"While I doubt it's changed, do you know the usual school schedule here? I need to know what days I may have to myself to investigate this."
>"Well, I would assume it's during the weekdays, but it's not really something I'm involved in, I'm afraid."
-
>"If I were to search for this youkai, where would you recommend looking?"
-
>"If I were to search for this youkai, where would you recommend looking?"
>"I'm not sure I know. As I said, I will ask Yasaka-sama if she knows anything. Other than that, you're probably best off looking further away from Youkai Mountain. If something as unusual as that were here, I'm pretty sure we'd already know about it."
-
>Tell her the region we saw it, so she can forward that to Kanako
-
>Tell her the region we saw it, so she can forward that to Kanako
>Sanae nods. "It is a fair ways outside our domain, but she may still have felt it."
-
>"Or know who might be good to ask for help investigating it. Thank you so much, Sanae."
>"And the village I remember did not move to this place. Or, I think, at all, since the long winter ended before becoming disastrously late. I don't know if that was a direct cause of what's different here, but..."
-
>"Or know who might be good to ask for help investigating it. Thank you so much, Sanae."
>"There are other youkai who live closer to the place where this happened. I don't know if they'd be able to help you or not. I'm afraid that I don't get much chance to wander, with all the duties I have here."
>"And the village I remember did not move to this place. Or, I think, at all, since the long winter ended before becoming disastrously late. I don't know if that was a direct cause of what's different here, but..."
>"The Year of Winter did not last the whole year, you say? That would be a blessing, certainly. I've often felt sad that we didn't arrive in time to prevent the suffering it caused. Still, we can at least ensure that nothing like that happens again. The old village was some distance from the mountain, though. Did Yasaka-sama's domain reach even that far in this other world?"
-
>Explain the religious circumstances of our human village: The influence of the Moriyas, Byakuren's temple, and... Reimu.
-
>Explain the religious circumstances of our human village: The influence of the Moriyas, Byakuren's temple, and... Reimu.
>You explain how religious matters were in the village you remember. In truth, the village was not especially religious. The Hakurei shrine was respected mostly in name only. Very few people actually ever went there. The Moriya shrine had very little involvement with humans, being impractically distant and surrounded by youkai. Byakuren was a new addition to the mix, but seemed to be gathering some worshipers among humans as well as youkai. You think this was probably more due to Byakuren's personal nature than anything else. She was the kind of person even a stranger could often feel comfortable confiding their problems in. There was very little devoted worship in any corner.
Sanae listens to your explanation rather impassively.
>"I've heard of the Hakurei Shrine and its disappearance from the villagers. As I understand it, though, the shrine was rarely attended, and its god clearly not strong enough to safeguard the village. I've never heard of this Byakuren."
-
"It doesn't seem Byakuren was unsealed here. That happened due to events underground a few months before."
-
"It doesn't seem Byakuren was unsealed here. That happened due to events underground a few months before."
>"Hmmm.... I see. Well, I haven't heard of anything happening underground since the hell raven burst to the surface a couple years ago. But the underground is pretty isolated."
-
>"Utsuho was stopped in her crazy schemes before trying to reach the surface in my times, by the Hakurei shrine maiden and a witch from the forest of magic, both with some distant support from youkai they'd met before. The geysers that led to them being noticed released fragments of a holy relic, that ended up being disguised as small UFOs due to... what amounts to a prankster. A 'treasure ship' appeared in the sky as some of Byakuren's followers tried to gather them to release her, and three major figures of Gensokyo went off to investigate it, ultimately assisting in releasing Byakuren themselves. Those three were the Hakurei maiden, the same Forest of Magic witch... and you."
>"I don't know whether they're still sealed underground, if the incident went differently this time, or if they're... just dead. But if that sounds similar to anything that's happened from what you've seen..."
-
>"Utsuho was stopped in her crazy schemes before trying to reach the surface in my times, by the Hakurei shrine maiden and a witch from the forest of magic, both with some distant support from youkai they'd met before. The geysers that led to them being noticed released fragments of a holy relic, that ended up being disguised as small UFOs due to... what amounts to a prankster. A 'treasure ship' appeared in the sky as some of Byakuren's followers tried to gather them to release her, and three major figures of Gensokyo went off to investigate it, ultimately assisting in releasing Byakuren themselves. Those three were the Hakurei maiden, the same Forest of Magic witch... and you."
>"I don't know whether they're still sealed underground, if the incident went differently this time, or if they're... just dead. But if that sounds similar to anything that's happened from what you've seen..."
>"M- me? I helped unseal her?" She seems a little flustered. "That sounds like quite an adventure. But no, I've never seen anything around here that I'd call a UFO. And no signs of any flying ship from the underground. If they're even there at all, I have no idea."
-
>Given we were just researching Byakuren, do we know where the Palaquin Ship was buried?
-
>Given we were just researching Byakuren, do we know where the Palaquin Ship was buried?
>Not precisely, but it would presumably have been near where the geyser erupted. As for how you'd actually get to that same spot underground, you're not sure.
-
>"Hmm... actually, do you know about Marisa? The witch I mentioned. She might know something about this as well, considering the influence she had in events from my memory."
>Even if she did beat us up that one time. Bleh.
>"Oh... and the bamboo forest. There was a mansion of rabbits there, and another girl that guided lost travelers..."
-
>"If you were to get a map, would you be able to show me where the hell raven emerged?"
-
>"Hmm... actually, do you know about Marisa? The witch I mentioned. She might know something about this as well, considering the influence she had in events from my memory."
>"Sorry, that name doesn't ring a bell."
>Even if she did beat us up that one time. Bleh.
>Reimu was the one who did most of the beating up of you that night. And to be fair, that was at least partially your own fault. Honestly, most of the time you like to forget that who mess even happened...
>"Oh... and the bamboo forest. There was a mansion of rabbits there, and another girl that guided lost travelers..."
>"A mansion in the bamboo forest? I thought the place was basically uninhabited. Well, other than rabbits and some faeries and such. Sorry."
>"If you were to get a map, would you be able to show me where the hell raven emerged?"
>"Sure, that wouldn't be a problem. Or I could even just tell you. It's... still visible from a long way off, I'm afraid."
-
>"Alright, if it wouldn't be a problem."
-
>"Alright, if it wouldn't be a problem."
>Sanae gives to you directions. The location in question is far to the south of Youkai mountain, and slightly to the east, perhaps about halfway between here and the Garden of the Sun. You've been given enough landmarks to find your way there, and the environs are fairly open that you should apparently have little difficult finding the specific spot once you're near it.
-
>Would it be a long trip? It's getting close to konking-out time, most likely. And we've still got to figure out what to do with Rumia...
-
>Would it be a long trip? It's getting close to konking-out time, most likely. And we've still got to figure out what to do with Rumia...
>It's probably nearly as far away from here as the human village was. And yes, the thought of walking that far at the moment is.... not so pleasant.
-
>"Alright. I'm exhausted, I think I need to go home and get some sleep. When will you be around next?"
-
>"Alright. I'm exhausted, I think I need to go home and get some sleep. When will you be around next?"
>"Well, after today's rites, not for another several days, anyway. But you can always reach me at the Moriya Shrine. Everyone's welcome there, it's just that the climb is a bit beyond most of the villagers. That's not a problem for you, of course."
-
>"Don't be surprised if I visit tomorrow to ask about this. Thanks, Sanae. I'm going to go get some rest."
>Bid farewell and head home! Next challenge: Rumia.
-
>"Don't be surprised if I visit tomorrow to ask about this. Thanks, Sanae. I'm going to go get some rest."
>"Of course. We'll figure out what happened, Keine. Your counterpart was a valued member of this village, and the Moriya Shrine will not stand idly by during this, I promise."
>Bid farewell and head home! Next challenge: Rumia.
>You say goodbye and head back towards your house. More people seem to be arriving at the shrine. It's actually kind of odd seeing this degree of religious devotion, but you suppose it's understandable given the circumstances. The village as a whole is pretty active now, with a great deal of hustle and bustle in the market area. Soon, though, you reach the relative quiet of your house and step inside.
>The dining area floor is almost literally covered in paper, now, and Rumia sits happily in the middle of the mess, smiling and rocking her feet. She's certainly had no shortage of enthusiasm for this whole drawing thing. She looks up at you as you enter. "Welcome back!"
-
>"Hi Rumia. Do you think you could live off bread for now? I need to sleep rather badly. I'll make something better when I get up."
-
>"Hi Rumia. Do you think you could live off bread for now? I need to sleep rather badly. I'll make something better when I get up."
>"Sure. Rumia's not really hungry now, anyway. Those burgers were really yummy!"
-
> "Thank you for the compliment."
> Smile a bit.
> Head for bed.
-
> "Thank you for the compliment."
> Smile a bit.
> Head for bed.
>Rumia smiles at you, and for the moment seems content to just sit among the piles of her handiwork, occasionally picking one up to stare at it from different angles.
>You head off towards the bedroom, and now that you're finally not attempting to push past your tiredness, it fully hits you how tired you really are. It has been an emotionally and physically exhausting day. Really, you're almost surprised you're still going.
>You quickly switch into some nightclothes, pull the covers of the bed aside and collapse onto it. Sleep rushes over you before you've barely closed your eyes.
>Your sleep is deep and dreamless, and seems to cling to you even when you open your eyes again. With some effort you crane your neck towards the window. It's dark out. The sheets feel leaden upon you. You also have the nagging feeling that something isn't quite right.
-
> Examine this feeling.
> Can we tell anything about it?
> Get up and look around a bit
-
>"Rumia?"
-
> Examine this feeling.
> Can we tell anything about it?
> Get up and look around a bit
>You're not really sure. But then again, you're also not really awake yet. It feels kind of like a nagging itch at the back of your mind, like something you're not quite remembering, but should.
>You yawn and drag yourself out of bed.
>A cursory inspection of the room doesn't show anything amiss. Everything seems just as it was when you went to sleep. Only darker.
>"Rumia?"
>You don't get an answer.
-
>Check the house.
-
>Check the house.
>You shamble towards the other rooms of the house, looking for anything out of place. Rumia's drawings remain scattered over the dining room floor, but she doesn't seem to be there, anymore. Wait, is that something in your handwriting, on top of the one of the piles? There appear to be several extremely crude copies of it next to it, in what can only very generously be called Rumia's handwriting.
>You can hear thumping noises of some sort coming from the kitchen.
-
> ...Great. Rumia raided the kitchen.
> Go check it out.
-
> ...Great. Rumia raided the kitchen.
>You cringe at the thought of what Rumia might be doing. Although, to be fair, the rest of the house still seems intact, and you DID say she could get herself something to eat.
> Go check it out.
>You poke your head into the kitchen. Rumia appears to be intently playing a variant of bowling designed for use with fresh fruit. She rolls an orange into a cluster of other fruit, some of which does not appear to be shaped in a way that even allows it to roll anywhere. You hear another thump as the orange barrels through two peaches, sending them flying into the side of the cupboards, before bumping into a banana, which slides about a half-inch and then stops lamely.
-
> "Rumia? Can't you sleep? Rather than, um... Whatever this is?"
> Glance around, did she do any more damage than just scattering a few fruits around?
-
> "Rumia? Can't you sleep? Rather than, um... Whatever this is?"
>"Oh, hi!" She goes and gathers up some of the scattered fruit into a small pyramid. Part of the bottom rolls out from underneath as she tries to do this. "And Rumia isn't tired," she continues, still working on the fruit. "Rumia doesn't need to sleep much."
>Satisfied that the pile of fruit is stable enough, she steps back to the side of the kitchen, with the orange. "And this is Ker-smacky!" She beams at you. "It's Rumia's own invention. Isn't it great? Just watch!" She throws the orange into the pile with some force, toppling most of the fruit over, and sending one pear several feet into the air. "Ker-smacky!" She cheers. "See?"
> Glance around, did she do any more damage than just scattering a few fruits around?
>Other than some freshly squeezed fruit juice adorning the floors and cabinetry, everything else seems intact.
-
>How much more of a mess is this than the results of her drawing?
-
>How much more of a mess is this than the results of her drawing?
>The drawings would only need to be picked up off the ground. Unless they're all hiding giant ink stains under them... You shudder at this thought. The kitchen, however, would require a cloth and a small amount of cleaning. And... maybe it would be best if you just let Rumia eat some of those, instead of you... But, all things considered, it could be far worse.
-
>"You shouldn't do that with fruit. It kind of ruins them. Here, why don't you finish these ones off before they go bad."
>Hand her some of the damaged ones, and get to cleaning up the mess.
>Contemplate dindins.
-
>"You shouldn't do that with fruit. It kind of ruins them. Here, why don't you finish these ones off before they go bad."
>Hand her some of the damaged ones, and get to cleaning up the mess.
>"Aww.... " Rumia frowns, but takes the fruit you hand her and bites into them. "Oh well."
>You take a cloth and clear up the various fruit splatters. Honestly, the mess isn't that bad, once you get to it.
>Contemplate dindins.
>You don't feel like preparing anything right now, so you take out a couple of the onigiri that your counterpart had already prepared and bite into one. Hmmm... seems like a plum in this one.
-
>Offer Rumia an onigiri. Supplement with some fruits. Its not warm, but it'll do.
-
>Offer Rumia an onigiri. Supplement with some fruits. Its not warm, but it'll do.
>You hand her an onigiri, but she still seems to be busy with the fruit you already gave her. You decide to just leave it next to her.
>You sit down and have another onigiri and some fruit. It's honestly not a bad 'breakfast', considering.
-
>Once breakfast is done, say, "I'm going to head out tonight. Would you like to come along?"
>Is that weird feeling persisting?
-
>Once breakfast is done, say, "I'm going to head out tonight. Would you like to come along?"
>You finish up eating, and ask Rumia if she'd like to tag along.
>"Ok. Rumia's not used to being inside this much, anyway. Quiz lady's house is fun, but kinda small."
>Is that weird feeling persisting?
>You'd actually forgotten all about it while eating, but now that it occurs to you again, yes. Something is off. Not in the way that the whole world is off. You really feel like you're forgetting something.
-
>Make a mental checklist. If we can't determine what we're missing, at least guess at what it isn't.
-
>Make a mental checklist. If we can't determine what we're missing, at least guess at what it isn't.
>Now that you're a little more awake, you wrack your brain for what the issue could be. You reach through your pockets. Oh, wait, all your stuff is still in your day clothes. You really should get dressed before you head out. And, really, what else do you have to miss? You run a hand through your hair, absent-mindedly.
> ....wait. Wait, wait, wait. There was something that should have been there, but wasn't. Tonight's the night of the full moon. It had slipped your mind, with all the events of yesterday, but you're absolutely certain of it. Your knowledge of moon cycles is almost instinctive. And yet, you are still in human form. You fight back a sudden wave of fear.
-
> Its nighttime right? Check the sky to ensure that this timeline's moon isn't somewhere else in it's cycle.
-
>Recall that Mystia didn't know about the moon.
>Presume Eirin pulled off the sealing.
-
> Its nighttime right? Check the sky to ensure that this timeline's moon isn't somewhere else in it's cycle.
>It's definitely night. You dash to the nearest window and look out. The moon seems to be a sliver away from being full. In fact, it looks almost exactly like it did last night...
>Recall that Mystia didn't know about the moon.
>Presume Eirin pulled off the sealing.
>Patchouli mentioned something about that, too, but you guess that you failed to think of this particular consequence of that, among all the other information you were trying to digest at the time. When Eirin attempted to seal the moon in your own time, her fake moon looked wrong, somehow. This one doesn't. At least not in a way that was visible to you. Was that what Patchouli meant when she said that it almost seemed normal, now?
>This... frightens you. Not only does it feel like part of you has been chopped off, but you'd figured that your ability to manipulate history in that form was your best chance to fix all this. Without it...
-
>Did our hakutaku part split off, perhaps? THAT would be weird. But where would it go?
>It's technically not COMPLETELY full. It might be worth putting off a full panic until it actually starts waning...
>Who else would have an affinity for history?
>... where's Akyu?
-
>
Prepare to form a team up and go into the countryside to kick some ass of the moon doctor person
>Contemplate approaching Patchy and/or Remilia to head to Eientei to remove this problem. Maybe link up with Mokou too.
>"Rumia, I don't suppose you found a key while playing around, did you?"
-
>Did our hakutaku part split off, perhaps? THAT would be weird. But where would it go?
>You still FEEL normal. But your internal clock saying 'full moon' and there not BEING a full moon makes you feel very uneasy, like a limb was shackled somehow.
>It's technically not COMPLETELY full. It might be worth putting off a full panic until it actually starts waning...
>While this is true, you're rather convinced it's more than that.
>Who else would have an affinity for history?
>You don't know of anyone else who has powers similar to your own, in that respect.
>... where's Akyu?
>Akyuu, sadly, seems to have died during the Year of Winter. You said a prayer for her at the shrine which was left in her old residence. You guess her family let it remain there when they left the place. Unless they all died later, too.
>Contemplate approaching Patchy and/or Remilia to head to Eientei to remove this problem. Maybe link up with Mokou too.
>Remilia at least might be interested in fixing this. Although she might have simply lost interest in it by now. Patchy said that she'd tried to return there several times after the original incident, but unfortunately, she also said she was never able to find Eientei again. If Mokou is anything like her counterpart, you can't imagine her turning down a chance to cause trouble for Kaguya, whatever the reason.
>"Rumia, I don't suppose you found a key while playing around, did you?"
>"Nope! You told me not to touch anything, except the drawing stuff, and the food. So Rumia didn't!"
-
>"Alright. Let's head back to Scarlet Devil Mansion. It's time to fix up the moon."
>Recall all datums about Mokou's peculiarities and how to get to her house. We'll definitely want her firepower if it comes to blows against Eientei, and we may have to pull out some tricks to make it happen.
-
>"Alright. Let's head back to Scarlet Devil Mansion. It's time to fix up the moon."
>Rumia trots over to you. "Back to the big red house again already? What do they have to do with the moon?"
>Recall all datums about Mokou's peculiarities and how to get to her house. We'll definitely want her firepower if it comes to blows against Eientei, and we may have to pull out some tricks to make it happen.
>The Bamboo Forest itself is to the southeast of the old human village. Mokou's house is near the western edge. Over the years, you've learned how to detect the subtle landmarks and find your way there. Assuming the terrain itself hasn't changed, you shouldn't have trouble getting there.
>Mokou herself is stubborn, blunt, sometimes temperamental and really very kind under it all. A lot of it simply comes from living alone for multiple centuries, fixated on her own resentment. You've managed to soften her a bit, but given the seemingly large possibility that you were never involved with here here, she might be somewhat harder to deal with. But, honestly, as long as you can convince her that you're not part of some Eientei trick, she'd probably be willing to lend firepower in Kaguya's general direction, whether she knew you or not. Getting her to exercise restraint on the other hand...
-
>"Allies, Rumia. We'll be going someplace dangerous tonight, and I intend to be very well prepared."
-
>"Allies, Rumia. We'll be going someplace dangerous tonight, and I intend to be very well prepared."
>"Dangerous?" She frowns. "Why do you want to go someplace dangerous?"
-
>"Because something is very wrong, and we need to make it right."
-
>"Because something is very wrong, and we need to make it right."
>She seems to consider this for a moment. "Rumia will help!"
-
>"I thought you would, dear."
>Headpat.
>Exeunt! Time to hit up SDM.
-
>"I thought you would, dear."
>Headpat.
>Rumia giggles as you pat her on the head.
>Exeunt! Time to hit up SDM.
>You move to leave, and then realize that you're still dressed in a nightgown. After taking a moment to change and retrieve your stuff, you leave the house, Rumia in tow.
>The town is still pretty active. It mustn't be too late at night, yet. You can still hear plenty of people in the general direction of the market. Those electric lights really do brighten up the place compared to what you're used to. It's kind of nice.
-
>One way it might be possible to convince people to help is if they were better off in 'our' timeline, making returning to that better for 'them.' Our Sakuya doesn't have a limp, and our Remilia might be more known/respected... but it's difficult to say.
>As such, possible negotiation fodder at the SDM: What do we know of Flandre, and what was she like in our time?
>While it might be nice to check out the changes to the town, we've been in enough trouble for having Rumia around. Head out, and watch out for Mystia this time.
-
>One way it might be possible to convince people to help is if they were better off in 'our' timeline, making returning to that better for 'them.' Our Sakuya doesn't have a limp, and our Remilia might be more known/respected... but it's difficult to say.
>It does seem like a sound negotiating tactic. But it requires that they believe you really can alter history. Remilia quite flatly thought that was impossible, last you spoke.
>You don't know that Remilia was any more respected, but she certainly seemed better known. If Meiling was to be believed, virtually no one visits there, ever.
>As such, possible negotiation fodder at the SDM: What do we know of Flandre, and what was she like in our time?
>You've never met her, but what little you knew of her was more than enough to make you glad you hadn't. Even when Remilia would host a gathering, Flandre was kept at a safe distance from the gathering. You know that Reimu and Marisa at least have had some contact with her, and evidently survived the encounter. But such a dangerous power, and the moral awareness of a six year old is an unsettling combination, to say the least.
>While it might be nice to check out the changes to the town, we've been in enough trouble for having Rumia around. Head out, and watch out for Mystia this time.
>Heeding the reactions Rumia received earlier today, you take the long way out of the village, treading around the outskirts. You see a few people, but don't think anyone noticed your companion. Eventually you reach the fields on the eastern edge of the village. No one appears to be out here now. The fork in the river is further to the east. From there, the kappa village is northeast, the mountain itself north, and the path out of Kanako's domain to the south.
>You try to keep an eye out for Mystia, but you suspect that if she decides to attack again, you're not going to have much chance of seeing her coming.
-
>Onward to SDM.
>Fly high, to make ambush harder.
-
> Consider the possibility that our inner-clock that tells us it should be a Full Moon, is based on our Gensokyo, and doesn't mean that it would be accurate here.
-
>Consider taking some sort of electric light with you to offer to Patchouli to help her research?
-
>Onward to SDM.
>Fly high, to make ambush harder.
>After putting some distance between yourself and the village, you take to the skies, staying far above the treeline. This also allows you to take a somewhat more direct route to the Scarlet Devil Mansion. A sea of trees passes by underneath you as you descend from the gently elevated terrain immediately around the mountain. You can see the edge of the lake in the distance, due to the way the moonlight reflects off it. No sign of Mystia, although you can see a few faeries flittering here and there.
> Consider the possibility that our inner-clock that tells us it should be a Full Moon, is based on our Gensokyo, and doesn't mean that it would be accurate here.
>This might be possible if you had not gotten a good look at the moon last night. It really should be full now, unless the moon phases are happening much, much more slowly here. And even that would be a problem.
>Consider taking some sort of electric light with you to offer to Patchouli to help her research?
>Patchouli said that Remilia wanted her to replicate with without using actual kappa technology. Of course, this probably doesn't preclude using them as references, but it's still a moot point in reference to the outdoor lanterns you saw. They were taller than you, made of metal, and affixed to the ground. There's no way you could carry one with you. It's possible there are smaller variants somewhere, though. It might be worth a look when you return.
-
>Leave the faeries alone, head toward SDM.
-
>Leave the faeries alone, head toward SDM.
>You leave the faeries to their own inscrutable business, and continue onward. Eventually, you are almost past the trees, and Youkai Mountain is far in the distance.
>Suddenly the air around you starts to feel charged. You think you can feel your hair starting to stand on end, and your skin tingles.
-
>Stop.
>Try to identify the cause of all this this tinglyness.
>Should danmaku be seen or heard, be ready to move.
>Try to make sure Rumia doesn't crash into us.
-
>Stop.
>Try to identify the cause of all this this tinglyness.
>Should danmaku be seen or heard, be ready to move.
>Try to make sure Rumia doesn't crash into us.
>You stop and quickly scan everything within sight. Given how high up you are, this covers a lot of ground, but you can't see among the trees at all. There appear to be no signs of danmaku at all, nor any unusual sounds save a quiet static hum. Wait... it's getting louder. Even Rumia seems to sense it, if her sudden confused expression is any indication. Your limbs are beginning to feel a touch numb.
-
>"Land. Now."
>Follow this advice! Unless the feeling gets so markedly worse that its clear we're heading into the epicenter.
-
>"Land. Now."
>Follow this advice! Unless the feeling gets so markedly worse that its clear we're heading into the epicenter.
>You call out to Rumia and descend. The feeling does grow stronger, but not so much that it feels like you're flying directly into it.
>Then you suddenly hear an enormous cracking sound, and a backwash of energy rushes into you, throwing you off course. Everything goes black.
-
>Are we still awake? If so, make a concentrated effort not to fall.
-
> "Gah!"
> Try to regain ourselves and restore our vision.
> "Rumia, are you their?"
> Are we in any pain? If so, which area's of our body are in pain?
-
>Are we still awake? If so, make a concentrated effort not to fall.
>You're definitely still awake. You just can't see anything. It feels like you're in some sort of windstorm, though, and your whole body feels like it's quivering with some sort of energy.
> "Gah!"
> Try to regain ourselves and restore our vision.
>You cry out and try to right yourself, bracing against... whatever force it is that's pushing into you. You still can't see anything, though.
> "Rumia, are you their?"
>"Uwaaaaaaa!~"
> Are we in any pain? If so, which area's of our body are in pain?
>Despite the myriad of unusual and unpleasant sensations you're getting, none of them are what you would describe as actual pain, fortunately. Although you're a bit concerned it could turn that way shortly if this keeps up.
-
>Take inventory. Can we move?
>If so, can we control our flight at all? Or cancel it?
-
>Take inventory. Can we move?
>Inventory:
>Blue dress (currently worn)
>Origin Sign "Ephemerality 137"
>Land Sign "Three Sacred Treasures - Mirror"
>Spiritual Birth "First Pyramid"
>Ending Sign "Phantasmal Emperor"
>Future "The Next History of Phantasm"
>Scroll case (containing a message from yourself)
>Crystal Lattice
>Purse (containing 2350 yen)
>Diary (locked)
>Set of keys
>You are still capable of a full range of motion, it's just that there is a strong and chaotic pressure pushing on you from the north, and your limbs feel a little funny
>If so, can we control our flight at all? Or cancel it?
>You can still fly, or cancel your flight. However, canceling it from the top of the trees without being able to see the trees, or the ground is probably ill-advised.
-
> "Rumia, are you making it dark? If you are, please stop, it's hard to see."
-
> "Rumia, are you making it dark? If you are, please stop, it's hard to see."
>She still sounds like she's whimpering, and doesn't acknowledge you.
-
> "Rumia, it's ok, it's all ok, calm down. It's ok Rumia, come here." Pull out a sweet motherly sort of tone, assuring her child that everything is ok, you know the one.
-
> "Rumia, it's ok, it's all ok, calm down. It's ok Rumia, come here." Pull out a sweet motherly sort of tone, assuring her child that everything is ok, you know the one.
>"A- Are you sure? What's going on?" Her voice is still a bit unsteady, but you think you can hear her moving closer to you.
-
> "I'm not sure what happened, but everything will be ok, don't worry."
> "You can stop making it dark, I'll keep you safe Rumia."
-
> "I'm not sure what happened, but everything will be ok, don't worry."
> "You can stop making it dark, I'll keep you safe Rumia."
>You try to reassure Remia. And yourself in the process, for that matter.
>"O- ok...." The darkness around you dissolves, and you can see, again.
>A giant wall of violet light is rising from the forest floor, a couple hundred feet north of you, rising above you into the air and for several hundred feet at least in either direction. The top edge of it is wavy, and shimmers like an aurora. Everything around you is suffused with a harsh purple glow from it.
-
>Are we stuck inside, or looking along the outside?
>Can we see anything especial contained within this field?
-
>Are we stuck inside, or looking along the outside?
>You definitely appear to be outside. The edge of it is still around a hundred feet away from you.
>Can we see anything especial contained within this field?
>The light and energy are practically solid at the moment. You can't see what might be inside, nor can you tell how thick it is to the other side, at this angle
-
>Give it wide berth for now. Go around it and try to get a peek inside. Also try to recall if there's anything here as far as we knew in our world.
-
>Give it wide berth for now. Go around it and try to get a peek inside. Also try to recall if there's anything here as far as we knew in our world.
>You try to fly around the other side of the energy field, while keeping your distance. It takes quite a bit more effort than usual, due to all the energy you're being buffeted with. The glare kind of hurts your eyes, too.
>To the best of your knowledge, this is just uninhabited woodland. Nothing special about it.
>Then, nearly as suddenly as it appeared, the light vanishes. It takes a moment for your eyes to adjust to the sudden darkness again. In the area where the energy burst from there is now.... nothing. No trees. No grass. It looks like a jagged black void, in this light.
-
>"We'll...not go this way again."
>Onwards to SDM.
-
>"We'll...not go this way again."
>Onwards to SDM.
>With a shudder, you decide to get as far away from this place as quickly as you can. You think you can still see some slivers of violet shimmering in the depths of the blackness as you pass it by.
>It doesn't take a great deal more time to crest the edge of the forest. Then there's some more grasslands, and the lake. You land near the gate to the Scarlet Devil Mansion, deciding not to tempt provoking an incident by taking the more direct route.
>Meiling looks up from contemplating her shoes and gives a tired little sigh. "Back already?"
-
>"That we are. We've decided to do a little something about the moon being broken. I was hoping Patchouli or someone might like to tag along and lend support."
-
>"That we are. We've decided to do a little something about the moon being broken. I was hoping Patchouli or someone might like to tag along and lend support."
>"Good luck getting Patchouli to go anywhere. But she did say to let you guys back in if you wanted, so you can go waste your breath if you really want to."
>She opens the gate and stands off to the side.
>"No wandering around in there, understand? Straight to the library and straight back, unless someone tells you otherwise."
-
>"Of course. Isn't that right, Rumia?"
>Head inside and go for la biblioteca.
-
>"Of course. Isn't that right, Rumia?"
>Head inside and go for la biblioteca.
>"Yup!" Rumia nods and follows you as you head into the mansion. You retrace the path that you followed yesterday, although given the twistiness of it, this involves a few false starts and doubling back. Hopefully that doesn't annoy anyone. Soon enough, though, you arrive in the library. ...has Patchouli even moved since you saw her last?
>The contents of the table have changed, anyway. The cube is nowhere to be seen, and a variety of other, presumably magic, implements is scattered across it instead. Patchouli is partially obscured by several tall piles of books, stacked on the desk, while her face is buried in another. She doesn't appear to have noticed your arrival.
-
>"Hello Patchouli. I had a look at one of those lights for you."
-
>"Hello Patchouli. I had a look at one of those lights for you."
>"Interesting," she replies calmly, but without looking up. Maybe she noticed you, after all, and just hadn't deigned to indicate this? "And did they indeed function as they are said to? What quality and quantity of light did they produce, and with what expenditure of energy?"
-
>"They are much brighter than a good torch, with a somewhat more harsh glare. I'm not sure how much energy they use up. I had a look inside one, there is a glowing wire. They also give off a fair amount of heat, poor Rumia burned her face on one."
>"As well, I would like to request you assistance with a matter. I'm going to fix the moon."
-
>"Hmmm... brighter than I might have expected, given their methods. I admit, I had my doubts as to their capabilities. Heat... may be an unavoidable byproduct of the forced conversation of destructive into non-destructive energies. Inferior to traditional magic lighting, but still... the process may have other applications, and if..." she trails off into her own mind. You can practically hear the gears turning. Then she suddenly drops her book and gives you an incredulous look. "Wait, what did you say?"
-
> "The moon. I wish to fix the moon. I was wondering if you would aid me in this endeavor."
-
> "The moon. I wish to fix the moon. I was wondering if you would aid me in this endeavor."
>Patchouli puts a hand to her head and sighs. "And how exactly do you propose to do this?"
-
>"We find Mokou, and join forces with her. She knows the Bamboo Forest better than anyone. She'll almost certainly go after their princess, which just leaves us Eirin to handle. Do you know anything about Mokou?"
-
>"We find Mokou, and join forces with her. She knows the Bamboo Forest better than anyone. She'll almost certainly go after their princess, which just leaves us Eirin to handle. Do you know anything about Mokou?"
>"I know of no one by that name. And I think you fail to understand a critical flaw in this 'plan'."
-
>"Enlighten me."
-
> "Well if the forest is anything like it was back in my timeline the terrain shouldn't be too different. Or is there some other flaw?"
-
> "Well if the forest is anything like it was back in my timeline the terrain shouldn't be too different. Or is there some other flaw?"
>"Enlighten me."
>She sighs again. "I will do my best not to begrudge your ignorance, given your situation. But the terrain of the forest is not the main issue with reaching... Eientei, you said it was called? True, it is not called the Bamboo Forest of the Lost for no reason, but that is a mundane sort of lost. The trees may do much to obscure visibility and confuse one's sense of direction, but there are other landmarks which are less changeable."
>"Earlier, I had said that Remilia attempted to return there several times after the original incident and had been unable to find it again. I do not believe this was because she wandered the wrong paths, but that she was MADE to wander the wrong paths. I believe that after Remilia and Sakuya invaded their home during the night of the sealing ritual, they took steps to ensure that they would not be breached again."
-
> Oh yay.
> "So if we wanted to breach, we would have to find a way to dispel or break through the magic correct?"
-
>"Have only Remilia and Sakuya tried it? Or have others, to your knowledge?"
-
> Oh yay.
>Nothing's ever easy, is it?
> "So if we wanted to breach, we would have to find a way to dispel or break through the magic correct?"
>"Dispelling it would be wonderful. Unfortunately, I'm not even certain it is possible. Whoever has constructed these sealing spells is exceedingly competent. The spell is woven subtly over a large area, without any central point to dispel that I have observed. Trying to remove it with conventional methods would be like trying to put out a house fire with a teaspoon. It is difficult enough to detect that an enchantment is even present. An average magician would never even notice that they were being mislead, nor suspect that something was hidden. Still... I expect no spell can be infallible. I am just uncertain what this one's failing is."
>"Have only Remilia and Sakuya tried it? Or have others, to your knowledge?"
>"To my knowledge, it has only been them. I lent them some assistance with spells and magical items on subsequent trips to aid their progress. Some of the observations I made using these is the main reason why I am convinced that it is not simply a fault in their navigational ability."
-
>"My hope is that it wouldn't affect everyone, but only those who got too close in the past. That said, if it does,..I may know a weakness, but I am uncertain if we can exploit it."
>How good is our knowledge of the Underground?
-
>It'd probably be good to bring up that... purple barrier thing we ran into on the way, eventually.
>"If nothing else, it sounds like something that would need more investigation... knowing HOW it works would be a big help. What methods have you tried to get around the magic in the forest?"
-
> "Also, assuming that The Princess still has a feud with Mokou here, like she does in the Gensokyo I remember, she would likely make certain that either she could get out freely, or that Mokou could still get in. For what I remember, they have been killing each other for a rather long amount of time, decades easily."
> Ponder how long we know Mokou and Kaguya have been fighting for in our Gensokyo.
-
>"My hope is that it wouldn't affect everyone, but only those who got too close in the past. That said, if it does,..I may know a weakness, but I am uncertain if we can exploit it."
>"I'm not certain it works that way. But what weakness did you have in mind?"
>How good is our knowledge of the Underground?
>You haven't been down there before, but you are familiar with the most notable inhabitants, even if you haven't met them all in person.
>It'd probably be good to bring up that... purple barrier thing we ran into on the way, eventually.
>Yeah, it's possible Patchouli might know something about that.
>"If nothing else, it sounds like something that would need more investigation... knowing HOW it works would be a big help. What methods have you tried to get around the magic in the forest?"
>"As near as I can tell, the spell manipulates space in such a way that, from the traveler's perspective, there is no abrupt change in scenery, yet objectively, they do not end up traveling in a straight line. I've tried basic dispels, and methods to test for weaknesses in the warding field, or for paths that remain unwarded. We've tried using something that could crudely be describe as a self-writing map, but there does not appear to be any obvious consistency in the way the false paths bend. Or at least, the pattern is complex enough that I hadn't been able to discern it."
> "Also, assuming that The Princess still has a feud with Mokou here, like she does in the Gensokyo I remember, she would likely make certain that either she could get out freely, or that Mokou could still get in. For what I remember, they have been killing each other for a rather long amount of time, decades easily."
>"Killing each other... for decades? How is that supposed to work?"
> Ponder how long we know Mokou and Kaguya have been fighting for in our Gensokyo.
>You don't really know, precisely. They didn't actually discover that they were neighbors for some time, the bamboo forest being how it is. But still, it's been quite a while now. You've gotten the impression that it was rather more bloodthirsty in the past, although there's certainly still no love lost between the two of them.
-
>"Killing each other... for decades? How is that supposed to work?"
>"Do you know about the Hourai Elixir?"
-
>"Do you know about the Hourai Elixir?"
>"Only in the context of myth. Are you saying that such a thing actually exists?"
-
>"From what I recall, both Mokou and the Princess of Eintei drank the Hourai Elixir long ago. Since then, the two have pursued revenge on each other, but since they come back each time they die, it never really ended. I'm doubtful that that much has changed from the timeline I remember."
-
>"From what I recall, both Mokou and the Princess of Eintei drank the Hourai Elixir long ago. Since then, the two have pursued revenge on each other, but since they come back each time they die, it never really ended. I'm doubtful that that much has changed from the timeline I remember."
>"That sounds like an... unpleasant cycle to be trapped in, to say the very least. But I suppose a true immortal has all the time in the world to waste, no matter how useless their pursuit may be. I suppose you expect that this Mokou would help us because the princess is our mutual enemy? Do you really think someone who would murder another over and over again in the name of vengeance is... trustworthy? She sounds... unstable."
-
>How much did it take to mellow her out in our timeline, if that even happened?
-
>"She would do it just to spite the Princess. But, that being said, we may be able to persuade her toward more wholesome motives."
>"My idea is that we try to approach the Bamboo Forest from underground. You may recall the Hell Raven came from there; there should be an extensive network of tunnels there that run under much of Gensokyo. Hopefully, we can hire a guide to show us the way to go."
-
>How much did it take to mellow her out in our timeline, if that even happened?
>Honestly, she was never really a bloodthirsty serial murderer, even when you first met her. Death just takes on a more casual meaning when you're immortal, you guess. Sure, she had it out for Kaguya, but she never actually seemed what you would call violent, generally. Though she would never admit it to your face (and you'd never be rude enough to suggest it), you think it had become something almost like a game, by now.
>"She would do it just to spite the Princess. But, that being said, we may be able to persuade her toward more wholesome motives."
>"Hmm... if you say so."
>"My idea is that we try to approach the Bamboo Forest from underground. You may recall the Hell Raven came from there; there should be an extensive network of tunnels there that run under much of Gensokyo. Hopefully, we can hire a guide to show us the way to go."
>Patchouli looks momentarily stunned. "That... that is an angle I had not considered. And it is quite possible their wards do not take that into account, either. Still...." she continues, her cynical look returning. "What makes you certain that tunnels run under the specific place that we're aiming for? And even if they do, how do you propose getting back up through it?"
-
>"If we are lucky, there will be an opening into the Forest. Which is entirely possible. If we're less lucky, I expect that is where your talents will come in to make one."
-
>"If we are lucky, there will be an opening into the Forest. Which is entirely possible. If we're less lucky, I expect that is where your talents will come in to make one."
>"I suspect that if there's an opening into the forest itself, it will either lead into the middle of their wards, at which point we are left with our original problem, or the wards were designed to account for attempts from underground. I cannot imagine that anyone capable of constructing those wards in the first place would leave an open passage to their interior."
>"And although I am well-versed in earth magic, shifting potentially hundreds of feet of rock to create a stable passage is a.... monumental task, to say the very least. I doubt I would have the capacity to do something on that scale."
-
>"Would the original ward work in a constrained passage? It is hard to lead one astray when the only way to go is forward or backward. And, would the caster have to know about the openings to affect them? I would imagine, if she is trying to make a powerful and subtle ward, she would want to focus where she knows the problems is going to to be, not where it may potentially might be. As for making a way in, perhaps you know of something that may help? Or...perhaps we might get lucky and be able to hire an oni to assist us. They live down there, or at least they did in my world."
-
>"It might be a stretch to think, but locating the space directly beneath the mansion and finding a way to get directly to it from below would catch them completely by surprise. But there are many ways to conceal one's location..."
>Did we ever mention Marisa to anyone at the SDM before?
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>"Would the original ward work in a constrained passage? It is hard to lead one astray when the only way to go is forward or backward. And, would the caster have to know about the openings to affect them? I would imagine, if she is trying to make a powerful and subtle ward, she would want to focus where she knows the problems is going to to be, not where it may potentially might be. As for making a way in, perhaps you know of something that may help? Or...perhaps we might get lucky and be able to hire an oni to assist us. They live down there, or at least they did in my world."
>"It may still be possible for it to work even in a constrained passage. You think you're moving forward, but find yourself somehow returning to the entrance again. Then again, it might not. Still, I was thinking more along the lines that once you emerged in the forest, unless you were right on top of Eientei, you might immediately find yourself misled again."
>"As for making a passage, I suppose the oni might be capable of helping. If you could manage to convince one of them. I imagine they're still down there, although one hasn't been seen above ground for a very, very long time."
>"At the very least, I may be able to assist you in finding the correct spot, while underground." She gets up and retrieves a small device from a nearby worktable. It has a triangular frame, made of thin beams of sculpted metal. In the hollow space in the middle of this frame is suspended a thin, deep green crystal. "You can think of it as a magical compass, of sorts," she says. "You can set an anchor point, and the crystal will continually point in the direction of this anchor."
>"It might be a stretch to think, but locating the space directly beneath the mansion and finding a way to get directly to it from below would catch them completely by surprise. But there are many ways to conceal one's location..."
>"True, and I cannot guarantee that this will work, even if you overcome the various technical challenges inherent in such an endeavor. Still, I think it may be worth the attempt."
>Did we ever mention Marisa to anyone at the SDM before?
>You asked Patchouli. She had not-so-fond memories of her, although she stopped coming to the mansion a few months after the Scarlet Mist Incident. She has had no further contact with her since.
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>"I do not think she would do that to the whole forest. It would make getting food and the like much more difficult. And while the hourai immortals may not need to eat, their servants do. Creating exceptions to a blanket spell seems like too much work in comparison to focusing it on keeping things out."
>"This all said...would your mistress or the head maid be interested in pursuing this? I will most certainly need allies"
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>"I do not think she would do that to the whole forest. It would make getting food and the like much more difficult. And while the hourai immortals may not need to eat, their servants do. Creating exceptions to a blanket spell seems like too much work in comparison to focusing it on keeping things out."
>"That's assuming that the spell is indifferent to the person triggering it. It would not surprise me at all if the residents of Eientei themselves could come and go as they pleased, while everyone else was kept out. Still, this is all academic. There's no way to be certain without actually testing the theory."
>"This all said...would your mistress or the head maid be interested in pursuing this? I will most certainly need allies"
>"Remilia... might be interested. Certainly, she took the moon incident as a personal slight. ...not that this is terribly unusual, but no matter. However, she'd probably need to be convinced that the plan was viable before she'd agree to take part in it. And I'm afraid I cannot give her any guarantee that it will be. As for Sakuya, she'll go where she is told to go. If Remilia goes, she will probably accompany her. But I doubt she would act independently."
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>"... actually, about Sakuya... this is rude, so we can drop it if you prefer, but I'm wondering if anything happened to her during those previous incidents she's been involved in?"
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>"... actually, about Sakuya... this is rude, so we can drop it if you prefer, but I'm wondering if anything happened to her during those previous incidents she's been involved in?"
>Her eyes narrow. "Happened to her? Do you care to be more specific?"
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>"It's subtle, but when I first entered, I thought I saw something odd with her legs. I'm concerned that she might have been injured somewhere along the line, and it didn't heal properly."
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>"It's subtle, but when I first entered, I thought I saw something odd with her legs. I'm concerned that she might have been injured somewhere along the line, and it didn't heal properly."
>Patchouli takes a deep breath and stares at the ceiling for a moment. "I assume that this didn't happen in your recollection of events, then?"
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>"Correct."
>Save game.
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>"Correct."
>She draws another deep breath. "Well, I suppose there's no harm in speaking of it. It happened early in the Year of Winter, during the beginning of what should have been spring. Sakuya went to investigate the cause of the unusually lengthy winter, and ended up pursuing a trail into the Netherworld itself. And there she was confronted by a swordsman of inhuman skill. They fought to a draw on the edge of the great gardens of Hakugyokuro. A very bloody draw. Somehow, Sakaya managed to withdraw and make her way back here. To this day, I do not know where she found the resolve to do so. She was injured terribly, and despite our best efforts, never fully recovered. I can only hope that Youmu suffered similarly for her actions." There is a palpable bitterness in her last words.
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>"Do you know if the Hakurei maiden and Marisa were also involved in that investigation? And if they were....."