Maidens of the Kaleidoscope
~Beyond the Border~ => Rumia's Party Games => Mystia's Stored Games => Topic started by: Hello Purvis on November 20, 2010, 08:04:29 PM
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>You are Iku Nagae, Gensokyo's premier messenger and dancer, and the sky has fallen!
>You do not know how, or why, but Bhava-Arga has fallen from the sky and now hovers scant yards over the surface of Gensokyo. This has caused numerous problems. On top of this, Tenshi has run off after stealing the Sword of Hisou. This has made her a primary suspect in the eyes of many. including yourself at one point.
>You are an oarfish youkai in service to the Dragon Palace. As a resident of Bhava-Agra, you bear a status similar to that of a Celestial, and are considered a minor functionary in the Celestial Bureaucracy that makes certain the known universe runs as it should, with all the rights privileges, and duties that come with this position. You are in the service of The Dragon, who reigns quietly as the highest god of this realm, and is among the highest beings in the universe. It regards you well, and you think of it as a guardian.
>While your duties and position suggest your place is in Bhava-Agra, you have a tendency to roam to other places. You somewhat blame this on Tenshi Hinanai, whom you have unfortunately been charged with keeping out of significant trouble, and her tendency to visit Gensokyo whenever possible. You are well-know for your love of dance, and excellence in performing it; oftentimes you've been asked to star in performances given at the Dragon Palace. Others have styled you the Dance Empress, particularly those who would try to claim that title for themselves. You are, as far as you know, well regarded by everyone you know and are welcome practically anywhere in Gensokyo, save perhaps for Higan. The only real black spot in your days is periodically having to deal with Tenshi's chicanery.
>You have been tasked by The Dragon in dealing with this incident. You have taken some stock of the damage surrounding the fall. You have found that Bhava-Agra's food supply has been badly affected by these events; you defeated a tsuchinoko on Minoirko's behalf in hopes of alleviating this. You have delivered messages for Patchouli. You have had bad run ins with Marisa and Reimu; and nearly had one with Sanae. You have found Tenshi hiding in the Ancient City, became convinced of her innocence, convinced her to join you, and have had several spats with her. You've been hearing a lot about a search for some thing called the Brocken Spectre. You've learned that Yamame is apparently missing. You've been given a hit list by Yuugi. You've released Aya from prison after a rather confused encounter. You've discovered that the islands of Bhava-Agra do not cast proper shadows; nor does Nitori, who is now practically dead to the world.
>You are now leaving the jail in tengu town, while arguing with Tenshi over who is the real pervert following that episode.
> "C'mon, let's get to Yukari's before we get shanked."
>"Okay, fine," says Tenshi. "But you're still really weird."
>_
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> Does Aya's camera have a lens cap? If so, put it on.
> If Aya's camera is not powered down, power it down.
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> Does Aya's camera have a lens cap? If so, put it on.
> If Aya's camera is not powered down, power it down.
>It does not.
>You reverse the steps she showed you and turn it off.
>_
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> Is the lens at least covered while the power is off?
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> Is the lens at least covered while the power is off?
>No.
>_
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> Take flight and head toward Yukari's.
> Is the camera at least small enough to put in our purse without risking damage to either? If so, put the camera in our purse and seal the purse as best can be done.
> If there are no interruptions, a minute or so into the flight, say "Hey, Tenshi?"
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> Take flight and head toward Yukari's.
> Is the camera at least small enough to put in our purse without risking damage to either? If so, put the camera in our purse and seal the purse as best can be done.
> If there are no interruptions, a minute or so into the flight, say "Hey, Tenshi?"
>You take to the air and begin flying toward the Yakumo Household once more.
>You are able to fit the camera into your purse well enough. It might not hurt to get some cloth to wrap it in, if you intend to put many other things in it.
>"Huh?" says Tenshi, glancing over toward you.
>_
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> "What's your life philosophy?"
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> "What's your life philosophy?"
>"...I don't know?" says Tenshi, frowning.
>_
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> "Well, let's try breaking it down. What things are important to you? They can be people, objects, concepts, anything."
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> "Well, let's try breaking it down. What things are important to you? They can be people, objects, concepts, anything."
>"What?" Tenshi says. "Why are you being so weird?"
>_
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> "I'm not trying to be weird, I'm trying to learn more about you. I want to be closer to you as a friend."
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> "I'm not trying to be weird, I'm trying to learn more about you. I want to be closer to you as a friend."
>"Who wants to be friends with someone so weird?" asks Tenshi, scowling a bit. "Maybe if you acted a bit more natural or something, geez..."
>_
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> "Come now. What I have done today I have done in the interest of helping our people. And I'm certainly not proud of some of it, especially not what just transpired...to be perfectly honest, I'm disgusted with myself for some of the things I thought of in that room. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and our people are in desperate times."
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> "Come now. What I have done today I have done in the interest of helping our people. And I'm certainly not proud of some of it, especially not what just transpired...to be perfectly honest, I'm disgusted with myself for some of the things I thought of in that room. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and our people are in desperate times."
>"...Okay, but still," says Tenshi. "No one just asks that kind of thing out of nowhere. It's weird. And I don't think you were bothered by that stuff nearly as much as you're saying, anyways."
>_
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> "A proper delivery was necessary to at least try to convince Aya I was being serious. But I think I see what you may be getting at."
> "What I was truthfully most disgusted with myself for was my intentions. We've both suffered indignities at her hands, and that was definitely on my mind when you first said her name. She was right; I did have revenge in mind. I wanted to humiliate her, just as she had humiliated us. That drive combined with the dire straits our people are in, and..."
> Look away.
> "I...I was going to blackmail her into doing what I wanted her to do. Something as petty, as disgusting as blackmail had crossed my mind, and I was actually entertaining it."
> Pause momentarily.
> "When I realized what was going on, that was all I could think about. How terrible it was. How disappointed the Dragon would be in me, should he ever find out. Next to that, the fact that I had just ordered a fellow woman to strip naked in front of me was barely even registering. Especially since she put up no fuss about it."
> "So...yes, I think you are right to a degree. I had a naked tengu in front of me, at my request, and it didn't bother me as much as it should have. For what it is worth, however, I would say, in my defense, that I was preoccupied with something worse."
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> "A proper delivery was necessary to at least try to convince Aya I was being serious. But I think I see what you may be getting at."
> "What I was truthfully most disgusted with myself for was my intentions. We've both suffered indignities at her hands, and that was definitely on my mind when you first said her name. She was right; I did have revenge in mind. I wanted to humiliate her, just as she had humiliated us. That drive combined with the dire straits our people are in, and..."
> Look away.
> "I...I was going to blackmail her into doing what I wanted her to do. Something as petty, as disgusting as blackmail had crossed my mind, and I was actually entertaining it."
> Pause momentarily.
> "When I realized what was going on, that was all I could think about. How terrible it was. How disappointed the Dragon would be in me, should he ever find out. Next to that, the fact that I had just ordered a fellow woman to strip naked in front of me was barely even registering. Especially since she put up no fuss about it."
> "So...yes, I think you are right to a degree. I had a naked tengu in front of me, at my request, and it didn't bother me as much as it should have. For what it is worth, however, I would say, in my defense, that I was preoccupied with something worse."
>"Well, okay..." says Tenshi. "I mean, I guess I don't blame you for that too much. And it was kinda funny, looking back on it."
>_
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> Smile.
> "Yes, it is a bit amusing in retrospect. I bet she didn't wake up this morning expecting that to happen to her."
> "But still, I must apologize for happened in there. For however much I made you feel uncomfortable, Tenshi, I am truly sorry. It was not my intent."
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> Smile.
> "Yes, it is a bit amusing in retrospect. I bet she didn't wake up this morning expecting that to happen to her."
> "But still, I must apologize for happened in there. For however much I made you feel uncomfortable, Tenshi, I am truly sorry. It was not my intent."
>"Don't worry about it, I guess," says Tenshi. "I guess it wasn't bad, just weird."
>_
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> Smile and nod.
> "Thank you. Hopefully I won't have to come to something like that again today."
> Did we ever tell Tenshi about Koakuma coming on to us?
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> Smile and nod.
> "Thank you. Hopefully I won't have to come to something like that again today."
> Did we ever tell Tenshi about Koakuma coming on to us?
>She nods.
>You have told her. It's kinda weird she didn't bring it up.
>_
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> "Is there anything else you wish to know?"
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> "Is there anything else you wish to know?"
>"Not really," says Tenshi.
>_
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> "May I ask my original question again, then? Or do you still find it uncomfortable?"
> What do we already know about Tenshi, anyway? We know she loves her family, dislikes being looked down upon, seems to like combat, and is, well, a bit slow at times. What other details have we gleaned in out time looking after her?
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> "May I ask my original question again, then? Or do you still find it uncomfortable?"
> What do we already know about Tenshi, anyway? We know she loves her family, dislikes being looked down upon, seems to like combat, and is, well, a bit slow at times. What other details have we gleaned in out time looking after her?
>She shrugs. "...Guess I don't have a good answer for it."
>You're pretty sure that she's fairly competitive, which likely extends from her dislike at being looked down upon. You're pretty sure she takes a sort of joy in being contrary, which seems to extend into a lot of what she does. She's definitely proud. She honestly seems to enjoy what she does on the surface, which she describes as 'giving people point,and they put it in their faces'. She's also easy to taunt, but goading her has a tendency to backfire if she figures it out.
>_
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> Do we know what she does for a social life? Anyone she considers a friend?
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> Do we know what she does for a social life? Anyone she considers a friend?
>She used to socialize with other celestials, but that came to a predictable end a while ago. You're pretty sure she has a few acquaintances in Gensokyo, particularly among the people in town, but you do not know how close. You suspect her tendency toward mischief likely impedes that.
>_
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> "I see."
> Pause.
> "That sounds like a challenge. I think we need to find one."
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> "I see."
> Pause.
> "That sounds like a challenge. I think we need to find one."
>"Huh?" You are getting very used to Tenshi giving you confused looks today.
>_
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> "Find a good answer to the question for you."
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> "Find a good answer to the question for you."
>"Oh," she says.
>_
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> "Yeah. In fact, I think we could try a little bit right now. Of course, if I ask something that you're uncomfortable answering, just say so, and I'll drop it, okay?"
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> "Yeah. In fact, I think we could try a little bit right now. Of course, if I ask something that you're uncomfortable answering, just say so, and I'll drop it, okay?"
>"Sure, I guess," says Tenshi.
>_
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> "All right."
> "What is it you enjoy doing more than anything else?"
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> "All right."
> "What is it you enjoy doing more than anything else?"
>"Have fun, I guess," says Tenshi. She shrugs. "I like what most people do, winning things, talking with people, you know. Fun stuff."
>_
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> Nod.
> "That makes sense, yes. I can definitely see those in you. Is there any specific activity you derive fun from? Something more specific than socializing or general competition. Like how I have The Dance, Alice has her doll-making, Aya has...well, you know."
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> Nod.
> "That makes sense, yes. I can definitely see those in you. Is there any specific activity you derive fun from? Something more specific than socializing or general competition. Like how I have The Dance, Alice has her doll-making, Aya has...well, you know."
>"I guess I don't have one any one thing," says Tenshi. "I guess I like pulling pranks on people a lot."
>_
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> "That works. Do you think you could quantify what it is about a successful prank that makes it so satisfying?"
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> "That works. Do you think you could quantify what it is about a successful prank that makes it so satisfying?"
>She shrug. "I dunno. Knowing you got someone? It's just fun."
>_
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> "Sorry. I understand this can be a little hard. It's not something many people think about too much. One just likes the things they like, as far as one is concerned, right?"
> "Let me try one more question. Is a successful prank made better if the person reacts negatively, or is it better if they laugh along with you? Or does it not matter?"
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> "Sorry. I understand this can be a little hard. It's not something many people think about too much. One just likes the things they like, as far as one is concerned, right?"
> "Let me try one more question. Is a successful prank made better if the person reacts negatively, or is it better if they laugh along with you? Or does it not matter?"
>She shrugs. "I dunno, probably if they didn't like it, because it means you got them better, right?"
>_
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> "So it is similar to the thrill of victory, as you mentioned earlier. The knowledge that you have established dominance in a given situation, that you are better than your opponent. Does that sound accurate to you?"
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> "So it is similar to the thrill of victory, as you mentioned earlier. The knowledge that you have established dominance in a given situation, that you are better than your opponent. Does that sound accurate to you?"
>"I dunno, maybe?" says Tenshi. "What're you asking me for?"
>_
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> "Why you specifically? Because they're your feelings. No one would know them better than you."
> "Why ask it at all? Well, I explained that earlier."
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> "Why you specifically? Because they're your feelings. No one would know them better than you."
> "Why ask it at all? Well, I explained that earlier."
>"I suppose," says Tenshi. She shrugs. "I don't care about all that stuff you're asking, though. I just try to do what I want."
>_
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> Nod.
> "I understand. And, really, it's not something you should care about too often, if ever. The important thing to you is that you like what you do, as it should be. I was merely curious as to why you want the things you want, and I believe I have found that answer."
> "I think this has been pretty productive, actually. I'm willing to set it aside and return to it later, since it is, admittedly, a difficult exercise."
> "There is one other different thing I am curious about, however. Now, what I am curious about, I do not intend with any ill will, okay? And like I said before, if you don't want to answer, just tell me to stuff it."
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> Nod.
> "I understand. And, really, it's not something you should care about too often, if ever. The important thing to you is that you like what you do, as it should be. I was merely curious as to why you want the things you want, and I believe I have found that answer."
> "I think this has been pretty productive, actually. I'm willing to set it aside and return to it later, since it is, admittedly, a difficult exercise."
> "There is one other different thing I am curious about, however. Now, what I am curious about, I do not intend with any ill will, okay? And like I said before, if you don't want to answer, just tell me to stuff it."
>"Yeah, just ask already," she says.
>_
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> "Do you get uncomfortable when I try to get closer to you?"
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> "Do you get uncomfortable when I try to get closer to you?"
>"Kinda," says Tenshi. "You're too tall and take up too much space."
>_
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> Angry face.
> "Height aside, you best not be saying I'm fat."
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> Angry face.
> "Height aside, you best not be saying I'm fat."
>"And if I am?" says Tenshi, smirking.
>_
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> How far apart are we?
> Is either of us ahead of the other?
> "Then we have a big problem on our hands."
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> How far apart are we?
> Is either of us ahead of the other?
> "Then we have a big problem on our hands."
>There are a couple yards between you, you are both neck and neck.
>"Naw, just you," says Tenshi.
>_
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> Make our expression a little angrier.
> "Maybe I should start throwing my weight around, then!"
> Start moving toward Tenshi; not too slow so that it looks half-assed, but not too fast that she can't react before we're right on top of her.
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> Make our expression a little angrier.
> "Maybe I should start throwing my weight around, then!"
> Start moving toward Tenshi; not too slow so that it looks half-assed, but not too fast that she can't react before we're right on top of her.
>You close in on her. She moves away, cackling.
>_
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> Give chase! Be sure only match speed and not actually overtake her, though.
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> Give chase! Be sure only match speed and not actually overtake her, though.
>You chase, matching her speed, while she continues to bank away, still cackling. "Too slow!"
>_
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> "Rrrrr!"
> Speed up juuust a little bit.
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> "Rrrrr!"
> Speed up juuust a little bit.
>You speed up just a little. She matches after a moment, still cackling, but you do close a half foot or so.
>_
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> Keep gradually increasing speed.
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> Keep gradually increasing speed.
>You bank after her, she banks away. You're a little faster than her, and are certainly more agile in the air.
>Regardless, you've banked in nearly half a circle now, but you're closing in. She is cackling still.
>_
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> Reach out and grab for a leg once she is in range.
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> Reach out and grab for a leg once she is in range.
>Being about neck and neck, grabbing her by the leg would take some course adjustment and-oh look, she just descended.
>_
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> After her!
> While chasing, try to position ourselves so a leg would be more easily grabbable.
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> After her!
> While chasing, try to position ourselves so a leg would be more easily grabbable.
>You chase her. She dives toward Minoriko's forest, then levels out suddenly. You easily catch up, and...there's your chance!
>_
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> Grab her!
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> Grab her!
>You grab onto her ankle!
>"Gah! Get off me!" She cries.
>_
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> Grab onto her other ankle with our other hand.
> "Looks like you've just gained some extra weight!"
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> Grab onto her other ankle with our other hand.
> "Looks like you've just gained some extra weight!"
>You grab her other ankle. It is easier than the first one, until she tries to kick out of your grasp.
>"Leggo!" she cries.
>_
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> Oh God we're probably staring straight up her dress
> Is Tenshi ticklish?
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> Oh God we're probably staring straight up her dress
> Is Tenshi ticklish?
>Naw, you're a bit too high for that.
>You don't know. Though her boots would certainly get in the way of finding out.
>_
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> Cackle back at her.
> Hold our grip a bit tighter.
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> Cackle back at her.
> Hold our grip a bit tighter.
>You laugh back and tighten your grip. She kicks harder now; you can keep it under control, but if you lose your grip, there's a fair chance you'll get a boot to the face.
>_
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> "Am I still fat?"
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> "Am I still fat?"
>"Well you're slowing me down!" she calls back, still struggling.
>_
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> "Maybe I should drag you down to the ground and SIT on you, then!"
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> "Maybe I should drag you down to the ground and SIT on you, then!"
>"Okay fine, you aren't fat!" she says, struggling harder.
>_
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> Cackle again.
> Lean head back as much as we can to get it out of the range of kicking feet.
> Let go of Tenshi's ankles while simultaneously flying back away from her as fast as we can until we're definitely out of range.
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> Cackle again.
> Lean head back as much as we can to get it out of the range of kicking feet.
> Let go of Tenshi's ankles while simultaneously flying back away from her as fast as we can until we're definitely out of range.
>You give a good cackle, lean back, and let her go while flying back.
>Her foot passes much too close to your face as she does, but you are well out of harm's way as you fly back, while she goes heels over head from the sudden shift in force. It takes her a moment to correct herself.
>_
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> Give Tenshi a visual inspection to make sure she's okay. Check the air around and below her to make sure she didn't drop anything.
> Assuming Tenshi is all okay, check our purse to make sure Aya's camera is okay as well.
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> Give Tenshi a visual inspection to make sure she's okay. Check the air around and below her to make sure she didn't drop anything.
> Assuming Tenshi is all okay, check our purse to make sure Aya's camera is okay as well.
>Tenshi seems a bit piqued, but otherwise alright. Checking the camera, it seems fine.
>_
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> Small smile.
> "I think you may be on to something. That is pretty fun."
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> Small smile.
> "I think you may be on to something. That is pretty fun."
>"Meh!" Tenshi says, fixing her hat.
>_
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> "No, I mean the whole thing, not just the end there."
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> "No, I mean the whole thing, not just the end there."
>"Only because you won," says Tenshi. "But yeah, I told you."
>_
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> "Well, there's a bit of that, but it answered my question a bit, as well."
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> "Well, there's a bit of that, but it answered my question a bit, as well."
>"Oh, good," says Tenshi, though her frown most clear says she doesn't quite get what you're talking about.
>_
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> "Well, when I asked the question, I didn't mean it in a physical sense. I was asking if you've felt uncomfortable when I've tried to get closer to you emotionally."
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> "Well, when I asked the question, I didn't mean it in a physical sense. I was asking if you've felt uncomfortable when I've tried to get closer to you emotionally."
>"It's kinda weird," she says. "But I guess it's not that bad some of the time."
>_
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> "I guess I have some work to do toward myself as well."
> "C'mon, let's keep going."
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> "I guess I have some work to do toward myself as well."
> "C'mon, let's keep going."
>She nods, and resumes following you.
>_
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> Continue on toward Yukari's
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> Continue on toward Yukari's
>You continue on toward the Yakumo household. You find Yukari is still laying in the grass, having shifted over again to stay in the sunlight. She doesn't seem to have taken notice of you yet.
>_
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> Alight on the ground at a respectful distance.
> Visually check to see if Yukari is awake.
> If she is, say "Good day again, Yukari."
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> Alight on the ground at a respectful distance.
> Visually check to see if Yukari is awake.
> If she is, say "Good day again, Yukari."
>She seems to be gazing toward the sky, still.
>"Ah, hello again," says Yukari, not looking toward you. "And you as well, Tenshi dear."
>"Uh, hi," says Tenshi.
>"What brings you to my doorstep again?" Yukari asks. "Oh, and did Renko like her present?"
>_
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> "Um...she was....very impressed you knew her sizes."
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>"As for why I have returned... in your sky-gazing, I don't suppose you've happened to notice the oddity with Bhava-Agra's shadow?"
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> "Um...she was....very impressed you knew her sizes."
>She chuckles. "It's not really a secret."
>"As for why I have returned... in your sky-gazing, I don't suppose you've happened to notice the oddity with Bhava-Agra's shadow?"
>"I've hardly paid any attention to them," she says.
>She sits up for a moment and glances at the shadow of the island near her home. "Hm," she says, reclining again.
>_
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>"As you can see, they're much fainter than they should be. We think this is directly related to why they've fallen: some part of them has been taken away. We've been unable to find out where they've been taken or how, however."
>"Moreover... we've also discovered a person similarly affected. Someone with no connection to Bhava-Agra. Whereas the islands simply fell, losing her shadow has nearly severed her conscious connection to the world. Whatever this phenomenon, it is having much wider repercussions than an unexpectedly populous sky. And it seems plausible that its effect will continue to spread unless we can isolate the root cause. I don't want to see another person in her condition."
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>"As you can see, they're much fainter than they should be. We think this is directly related to why they've fallen: some part of them has been taken away. We've been unable to find out where they've been taken or how, however."
>"Moreover... we've also discovered a person similarly affected. Someone with no connection to Bhava-Agra. Whereas the islands simply fell, losing her shadow has nearly severed her conscious connection to the world. Whatever this phenomenon, it is having much wider repercussions than an unexpectedly populous sky. And it seems plausible that its effect will continue to spread unless we can isolate the root cause. I don't want to see another person in her condition."
>"Hm, that does sound rather serious," says Yukari. "Shadows shouldn't be lost lightly. And it would rather unsettle me if you did want to see someone else like that."
>_
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>"It would unsettle me if anyone did. But clearly something has precipitated this. Whether it is a person or an inanimate phenomenon, I cannot say. I was hoping you might be able to provide some insight; most who I have spoken with have been at a loss to explain any of this, or even usefully theorize."
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>"It would unsettle me if anyone did. But clearly something has precipitated this. Whether it is a person or an inanimate phenomenon, I cannot say. I was hoping you might be able to provide some insight; most who I have spoken with have been at a loss to explain any of this, or even usefully theorize."
>Yukari puts a finger to her chin. "Hm. I could think of a couple phenomena that would lead such a thing, but I would also have known about them a while ago. So, I want to say we can rule out that it's just a happenstance."
>_
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>"Meaning that this is likely a deliberate act by someone? Even if perhaps not all of its consequences might have been expected or intentional."
>"Who do you know who could do such a thing?"
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>"Meaning that this is likely a deliberate act by someone? Even if perhaps not all of its consequences might have been expected or intentional."
>"Who do you know who could do such a thing?"
>"Or the side effect of such," says Yukari, as she folds her hands behind her head again. "Though if it only caught this person you mentioned, it would be oddly localized, then oddly widespread, wouldn't you agree?"
>"I could think of a few people that might potentially do it. Any of the magicians, save my neighbors, the Moriya Shrine, Eientei... Possible even the princess of Hakugyokurou. Now, who do I think is likely to do it? Well, I am tempted to remove the Moriya Shrine from the list. They have nothing to gain by upsetting the natural order when they profit from it as they do; not to mention we had a little chat over tea in the wake of their last escapade. Eientei...it's possible. They've certainly dabbled into odd things in the past. I don't believe Yuyuko is behind it, she tends to warn me when she's going to play. Any of the magicians are possible, though I would suggest Patchouli is by far the most likely. Byakuren second most. I doubt any of the others would cause this kind of problem. Alice might surprise me, though. Does that help?"
>_
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>"I have spoken with most of the people you mention already. Some of them at length. Kanako was the one who first pointed out the unusual shadows the islands were casting, and Suwako attempted to search for the missing shadow. It was due to her efforts that I feel comfortable that parts of these shadows have been taken elsewhere. Given their assistance alone, it would seem unlikely they're behind it."
>"I spoke with Patchouli on the subject in detail, as well. She claimed not to have a great deal of knowledge on such shadow magic as this, although did try to speculate as much as she could, with what little information I could provide her. If she played a role, she disguised it convincingly."
>"Why did you think she's most likely by far, in any case? Although I suppose she does seem the most likely to risk fallout, or ignore repercussions in the pursuit of her craft. Given Byakuren's reputation, I would find it hard to see her knowingly causing such harm to others."
>"What would anyone have to gain from this, I wonder? I could think of some reasons in connection with Bhava-Agra itself, perhaps, but this other person renders most of them invalid. Moreover, they did not occur at the same time. Her shadow went missing a couple days ago, now."
-
>"I have spoken with most of the people you mention already. Some of them at length. Kanako was the one who first pointed out the unusual shadows the islands were casting, and Suwako attempted to search for the missing shadow. It was due to her efforts that I feel comfortable that parts of these shadows have been taken elsewhere. Given their assistance alone, it would seem unlikely they're behind it."
>"I spoke with Patchouli on the subject in detail, as well. She claimed not to have a great deal of knowledge on such shadow magic as this, although did try to speculate as much as she could, with what little information I could provide her. If she played a role, she disguised it convincingly."
>"Why did you think she's most likely by far, in any case? Although I suppose she does seem the most likely to risk fallout, or ignore repercussions in the pursuit of her craft. Given Byakuren's reputation, I would find it hard to see her knowingly causing such harm to others."
>"What would anyone have to gain from this, I wonder? I could think of some reasons in connection with Bhava-Agra itself, perhaps, but this other person renders most of them invalid. Moreover, they did not occur at the same time. Her shadow went missing a couple days ago, now."
>"Why would I suggest Patchouli?" asks Yukari, "For exactly the reasons you said. Not to mention she is quite convinced she has nothing to lose in regards to her own soul, and feels the heavens hold nothing for her. As well, she may be acting at the behest of another. But, perhaps you are right. As for Byakuren, she may feel her own need to tinker with the fabrics of reality in a well-meaning but not fully considered aim."
>"Well, if one is usurping something from Bhava-Agra," says Yukari, "Then Patchouli is another likely culprit. She would do it simply for the sake of power. Really, any magician might, even my own proteges that I exempted earlier. As well, it's quite possible Eientei may do the same. Perhaps, though, it's more useful to trace things from the incident with your friend?"
>_
-
>"I agree, since she seems the far less likely target. Suwako couldn't find where her shadow was, however. All she could narrow it down to was: not on the mountain. Kanako said she'd also heard other hints of disrupted shadows on the winds. I suspect there may already be more in her condition. I'm not really sure where to look, though. I've canvassed much of Gensokyo already this morning. To be honest, I don't even know that it would be in a form I could recognize, if I even passed near it."
-
>"I agree, since she seems the far less likely target. Suwako couldn't find where her shadow was, however. All she could narrow it down to was: not on the mountain. Kanako said she'd also heard other hints of disrupted shadows on the winds. I suspect there may already be more in her condition. I'm not really sure where to look, though. I've canvassed much of Gensokyo already this morning. To be honest, I don't even know that it would be in a form I could recognize, if I even passed near it."
>"Mmm, there's quite a bit more than can be explored in one morning," says Yukari. "And if you hear talk on the winds, you should go where people talk, don't you think?"
>_
-
>"I realize there's quite a bit more. I'm simply saying that I've covered much of the more obvious or notable places, beyond which would be akin to searching almost aimlessly. And for potentially something quite small. It would simply be helpful if I had something more to go on."
>"As for places people gather, Kanako assures me it was not on the mountain. And Tenshi is satisfied that if there'd been any talk of it in the human village, she'd already have gotten wind of it by now. There are a few places left to examine, of course."
>"I simply came here because you tend to be aware of a great many things, quite a few of which others are not."
-
>"I realize there's quite a bit more. I'm simply saying that I've covered much of the more obvious or notable places, beyond which would be akin to searching almost aimlessly. And for potentially something quite small. It would simply be helpful if I had something more to go on."
>"As for places people gather, Kanako assures me it was not on the mountain. And Tenshi is satisfied that if there'd been any talk of it in the human village, she'd already have gotten wind of it by now. There are a few places left to examine, of course."
>"I simply came here because you tend to be aware of a great many things, quite a few of which others are not."
>"Well, if you have those two eliminated," Yukari says, "that does narrow it down. And, I suppose I could answer some more of your questions, if you like."
>_
-
>"You said that you could think of a few phenomena that could cause this sort of effect. Does that mean you have some understanding of the mechanics at work here? Do you think that a person's shadow, separate from itself, would still be in a recognizable form? Or would it likely be subsumed in something else?"
>"On a related note, do you know of any method or means I could use to track it? Something other than sight, perhaps? Something that might be able to point in the right direction or tell me if I were close; anything, really."
-
>"You said that you could think of a few phenomena that could cause this sort of effect. Does that mean you have some understanding of the mechanics at work here? Do you think that a person's shadow, separate from itself, would still be in a recognizable form? Or would it likely be subsumed in something else?"
>"On a related note, do you know of any method or means I could use to track it? Something other than sight, perhaps? Something that might be able to point in the right direction or tell me if I were close; anything, really."
>"A little," says Yukari, "But it is a bit removed from what I do. Shadows frankly aren't very interesting. As for a separate one, that would depend, I think, on how it was separated. The more violence used, the more mangled it would be. I suppose, if it were stuck onto another object, over time it would lose its shape."
>"Tracking it? Hmmm..."
>_
-
>"Might that suggest you have an idea on how it might be done?"
-
>"Might that suggest you have an idea on how it might be done?"
>"I'm not sure, yet," says Yukari. "Hm. Ask me some other things, I'll ponder it a bit."
>_
-
>"Very well. I suppose this is simply academic, until we can actually find them, but do you think that these shadows can be... properly reattached? Would a person so affected be able to return to themselves again?"
-
> "Also, on a completely unrelated note, do you happen to know where Yamame Kurodani is? Her friends have lost track of her."
-
>"Very well. I suppose this is simply academic, until we can actually find them, but do you think that these shadows can be... properly reattached? Would a person so affected be able to return to themselves again?"
>"Why, I have no idea," says Yukari. "But I would like think it would."
> "Also, on a completely unrelated note, do you happen to know where Yamame Kurodani is? Her friends have lost track of her."
>"I've not seen her," says Yukari. "But perhaps you should consider where she was last, and start from there?"
>_
-
> "That was my next plan, yes. I figured it was worth asking, though."
> "And that actually neatly segues into the other people I meant to ask about. Yamame was last seen at Renko and Maribel's, but I'm pretty sure they're not home right now. Do you happen to know where they are?"
-
>Was there an island of any appreciable size near Renko and Maribel's house?
>"Yes, I suppose the alternative doesn't bear thinking on. Whatever is responsible needs to be found and stopped before others are harmed, regardless of what we can do after that point."
>"I don't suppose you have any idea what it could do with a shadow? Patchouli seemed to think drawing on them as a sort of power source would be terribly inefficient, but she didn't really know what uses they could be put to, either."
-
>Was there an island of any appreciable size near Renko and Maribel's house?
>"Yes, I suppose the alternative doesn't bear thinking on. Whatever is responsible needs to be found and stopped before others are harmed, regardless of what we can do after that point."
>"I don't suppose you have any idea what it could do with a shadow? Patchouli seemed to think drawing on them as a sort of power source would be terribly inefficient, but she didn't really know what uses they could be put to, either."
>There was.
>"I think I can agree. Though to be honest, I don't find this so bad." She makes a lazy gesture toward the nearby island, "Though I suppose it would be a problem for the realms to mix."
>"I've heard some things," says Yukari. "I am certain if you can steal someone's shadow, you can use it to affect or manipulate them. Of course, if you can do this, likely there are more effective methods at your disposal. Patchouli has a point, but likely she knows there are better ways to do that kind of thing. I've heard stories of a sorcerer, quite dead now before you ask, who would take shadows as payment for services and use them as familiars. Much to the chagrin of those whose shadows were taken."
> "That was my next plan, yes. I figured it was worth asking, though."
> "And that actually neatly segues into the other people I meant to ask about. Yamame was last seen at Renko and Maribel's, but I'm pretty sure they're not home right now. Do you happen to know where they are?"
>"She has not come this way, at least," says Yukari.
>Yukari smiles. "Sure you don't believe I am watching them so closely I would know where they are at any given time?"
>_
-
> Small smile.
> "They were brand new to me this morning, and you're the only person I know that looks like one of them while knowing the three sizes of the other."
-
>"No, there are at least arguments for why the islands remaining here is not a terrible thing. But what has happened to them is quite different than what seems to happen to people affected by this. And if it spreads, or already has, well..."
-
> Small smile.
> "They were brand new to me this morning, and you're the only person I know that looks like one of them while knowing the three sizes of the other."
>"Well, I can hardly be held accountable if you are tragically behind the times, and I didn't need all three of them." says Yukari. "I am not sure where they are, I've not bothered to check on them today."
>"No, there are at least arguments for why the islands remaining here is not a terrible thing. But what has happened to them is quite different than what seems to happen to people affected by this. And if it spreads, or already has, well..."
>"Quite so."
>_
-
> "And I can hardly be blamed for lack of information when the great lot of you simply vanish into thin air for several months before reappearing just as suddenly. What happened with that, anyway? I can only presume their arrival here was a direct product of it, since I understand they are from the outside world, and they were distinctly not here before it happened."
-
> "And I can hardly be blamed for lack of information when the great lot of you simply vanish into thin air for several months before reappearing just as suddenly. What happened with that, anyway? I can only presume their arrival here was a direct product of it, since I understand they are from the outside world, and they were distinctly not here before it happened."
>"Hmm, we'll say the short answer is yes," says Yukari, "And there's little need to worry about the rest of it."
>_
-
> "It's getting harder and harder to not worry about a months-long mass disappearance when no one is willing to tell me anything about it, but I guess as long as it has nothing to do with what's going on now, I can beat my head against that wall later."
-
> "It's getting harder and harder to not worry about a months-long mass disappearance when no one is willing to tell me anything about it, but I guess as long as it has nothing to do with what's going on now, I can beat my head against that wall later."
>"I can assure you they are not related," says Yukari. "I have taken precautions to make certain that if a similar thing occurs, I shall be well informed before it is a problem. Perhaps, if no one who knows is telling you, which would include The Dragon, unless the years have caught up to it, then it likely isn't a problem."
>_
-
>"Fair enough. I suppose having one mystery on one's hands simply reminds one of others. And there is a certain frustration in having most of one's efforts result in only questions, but no answers. To say nothing of all the people who believe this is some sort of invasion on our part."
-
>"Fair enough. I suppose having one mystery on one's hands simply reminds one of others. And there is a certain frustration in having most of one's efforts result in only questions, but no answers. To say nothing of all the people who believe this is some sort of invasion on our part."
>"Isn't it?" asks Yukari. "I've seen quite a few of your people running around lately."
>_
-
>"An invasion of a different kind, perhaps. I am glad to see them exploring peaceably, though, where this is possible. Marisa's already torn through two settlements, Remilia's indentured the population of another island, and I've diffused a battle elsewhere. There are probably other altercations I'm not aware of, to say nothing of the injuries sustained in the fall itself. If we can simply co-exist peaceable for as long as Bhava-Agra remains here, I will be glad of it."
-
>"An invasion of a different kind, perhaps. I am glad to see them exploring peaceably, though, where this is possible. Marisa's already torn through two settlements, Remilia's indentured the population of another island, and I've diffused a battle elsewhere. There are probably other altercations I'm not aware of, to say nothing of the injuries sustained in the fall itself. If we can simply co-exist peaceable for as long as Bhava-Agra remains here, I will be glad of it."
>"Not particularly surprising," says Yukari. "Though I wonder, if it is okay if celestials explore here, is the reverse true? Chen had quite a tale to tell about her experiences with that this morning."
>_
-
>"Yes, I think there was something of a misunderstanding. Or rather, some Gensokyoans did not realize that it was someone else's property, and the orchard's attendants came to its defense too vigorously. Remember, it was mere minutes after the island's fall. Everyone was quite shaken up, and they are rather less familiar with Gensokyo's inhabitants than I am. Perhaps they truly thought they were under attack? I did my best to dissolve the fighting as soon as I saw it."
-
>"Yes, I think there was something of a misunderstanding. Or rather, some Gensokyoans did not realize that it was someone else's property, and the orchard's attendants came to its defense too vigorously. Remember, it was mere minutes after the island's fall. Everyone was quite shaken up, and they are rather less familiar with Gensokyo's inhabitants than I am. Perhaps they truly thought they were under attack? I did my best to dissolve the fighting as soon as I saw it."
>Yukari nods. "Perhaps, it is a thing to keep in mind. But I think things have calmed down in that regard, don't you?"
>_
-
>"A great deal, yes. Visitors have been coming and going without incident, I believe. We may be here for some time, at the very least while we attempt to resolve this incident. It's in everyone's interests that we peacefully co-exist. I only wish I could get that through Marisa's thick skull..."
-
>"A great deal, yes. Visitors have been coming and going without incident, I believe. We may be here for some time, at the very least while we attempt to resolve this incident. It's in everyone's interests that we peacefully co-exist. I only wish I could get that through Marisa's thick skull..."
>"Ah, I recall my time with that," says Yukari. "What was it...? 'If the night goes on, youkai will stuff themselves til they blow up,' I believe? I daresay she's gotten better about it."
>_
-
>"I avoided her the first time, escaped from her the second. And, well, she just finished beating Kanako up a few minutes ago. I managed to miss that one entirely. At first, I did not want to fight back, as a protest of my innocence. But she has her mind made up, and nothing I have said has made any difference. And she's involved enough innocent people in her crusade against me. At this point, I think stopping her would be a service to other bystanders who may end up collateral damage."
>"I am pleased Sanae proved far more reasonable about this, at the least."
-
>"I avoided her the first time, escaped from her the second. And, well, she just finished beating Kanako up a few minutes ago. I managed to miss that one entirely. At first, I did not want to fight back, as a protest of my innocence. But she has her mind made up, and nothing I have said has made any difference. And she's involved enough innocent people in her crusade against me. At this point, I think stopping her would be a service to other bystanders who may end up collateral damage."
>"I am pleased Sanae proved far more reasonable about this, at the least."
>"I would just stay out her way," says Yukari. "She can be a handful, and it would be a shame to miss the real culprit due to being unconscious, don't you think?"
>"Sanae was the reasonable one? Things have turned upside down, haven't they?"
>_
-
>"At least she let me speak before she tried to attack. In the end, I managed to convince her without any shots exchanged on either side. Marisa's a great deal more bull-headed, though. And it doesn't help that she's managed to find what she believes it incontrovertible evidence of my guilt. I will certainly be just as happy if I can get through the day without being fired on again. I'm not holding my breath, but it would be nice. It's not like there's any shortage of other things to find stressful without being attacked every half hour or so."
-
>"At least she let me speak before she tried to attack. In the end, I managed to convince her without any shots exchanged on either side. Marisa's a great deal more bull-headed, though. And it doesn't help that she's managed to find what she believes it incontrovertible evidence of my guilt. I will certainly be just as happy if I can get through the day without being fired on again. I'm not holding my breath, but it would be nice. It's not like there's any shortage of other things to find stressful without being attacked every half hour or so."
>"I suppose I'll try to talk some sense into her if I see her," says Yukari. "Though I am curious about this evidence of her's."
>_
-
>"Eirin more or less acquiesced to Marisa's allegations of us being in league in order to get her to stop her attack on the celestial village that Eirin was visiting at the time."
-
>"Eirin more or less acquiesced to Marisa's allegations of us being in league in order to get her to stop her attack on the celestial village that Eirin was visiting at the time."
>"Hm," says Yukari. "That seems a little odd for Eirin."
>_
-
>"Apparently she was trying to deflect Marisa away from rampaging through Eientei in person. I suppose it doesn't help matters that Reisen is evidently under the weather at the moment, too."
-
>"Apparently she was trying to deflect Marisa away from rampaging through Eientei in person. I suppose it doesn't help matters that Reisen is evidently under the weather at the moment, too."
>"Ah, that makes a lot more sense," says Yukari. "She has a way of going soft when Reisen is involved. Assuming it's not a cover, in any event."
>_
-
>"For what it's worth, she did stay and tend to the various wounded on the island after Marisa left. And apologized profusely for what happened. She didn't seem to be especially hiding anything, but I'd be more willing to admit the possibility where she's concerned than with some people. Still, there doesn't seem to be an obvious motive for her to be responsible, either."
-
>"For what it's worth, she did stay and tend to the various wounded on the island after Marisa left. And apologized profusely for what happened. She didn't seem to be especially hiding anything, but I'd be more willing to admit the possibility where she's concerned than with some people. Still, there doesn't seem to be an obvious motive for her to be responsible, either."
>Yukari nods, and seems satisfied with that.
>_
-
> "Hmmm...what do you know about the Brocken Spectre?"
-
> "Hmmm...what do you know about the Brocken Spectre?"
>"Chen and her friends have had great fun chasing after it," says Yukari. "It does seem to have become quite a thing; all sort of people are running around the forest looking for it. I wonder if the faeries are alright with it, though?"
>_
-
> "I don't suppose it could have anything to do with the major problem at-hand? Or would you have known about that already?"
-
> "I don't suppose it could have anything to do with the major problem at-hand? Or would you have known about that already?"
>"It might," says Yukari. "But if such a thing is, assuming it's there, then it would be doing so in a way that doesn't attract my attention."
>_
-
>"Well, whoever is doing this, wherever they are, must be doing it in a way that doesn't attract your attention, mustn't they? I get the impression you had no idea anything was amiss until the islands suddenly feel below the clouds."
-
>"Well, whoever is doing this, wherever they are, must be doing it in a way that doesn't attract your attention, mustn't they? I get the impression you had no idea anything was amiss until the islands suddenly feel below the clouds."
>"Quite so," says Yukari.
>_
-
>"In any case, I'm not sure I can think of anything else to ask right now. Have you perhaps had any more thoughts on the idea of tracking these shadows?"
-
>"In any case, I'm not sure I can think of anything else to ask right now. Have you perhaps had any more thoughts on the idea of tracking these shadows?"
>"I have little that is definite," says Yukari. "I do wonder, if a separate shadow means that a person is in two places at once, what would happen when you try to track her through mystical means? Well...I imagine it would be quite useless, but I am hardly a magician."
>_
-
>"Hmmm... Suwako did say that she appeared to be in two places at once, although she could tell little other than that. Apparently she was somewhat hindered by her not being a devoted believer in her. That should matter little for magical methods, I assume, but I'm not sure they're as strong in the first place."
-
>"Hmmm... Suwako did say that she appeared to be in two places at once, although she could tell little other than that. Apparently she was somewhat hindered by her not being a devoted believer in her. That should matter little for magical methods, I assume, but I'm not sure they're as strong in the first place."
>"I would be surprised if any magician around here could match Suwako on a good day," says Yukari. "But matters of faith can be a problem. I wouldn't expect much better than that, would you?"
>_
-
>"Well, all Suwako could tell me was 'not on the mountain'. But looking for something the size of a shadow across all of Gensokyo is quite the proverbial needle in the haystack. So, perhaps not expect, so much as hope."
-
>"Well, all Suwako could tell me was 'not on the mountain'. But looking for something the size of a shadow across all of Gensokyo is quite the proverbial needle in the haystack. So, perhaps not expect, so much as hope."
>"I would count on more mundane methods, first," says Yukari. "I can't imagine tracking would be a speedy process at the best of times."
>"We could split up," says Tenshi.
>"Ah, I was afraid you were struck mute by the majesty of the day," says Yukari.
>"I was just keeping out of the way, geez!"
>_
-
>"Splitting up would certainly let us cover more ground, and we may have a great deal of ground to cover at this rate. On the other hand, I would be glad if we were both in the same place at the same time if Marisa decides she hasn't beaten up enough people already today."
>"I wonder what Sanae's investigated since we parted? I wonder where she is, now..."
-
>"Splitting up would certainly let us cover more ground, and we may have a great deal of ground to cover at this rate. On the other hand, I would be glad if we were both in the same place at the same time if Marisa decides she hasn't beaten up enough people already today."
>"I wonder what Sanae's investigated since we parted? I wonder where she is, now..."
>"I suppose you're right," says Tenshi.
>"I've not see her, either," Yukari says.
>_
-
>"Even if she hasn't found anything, that at least narrows down where we should search ourselves. I was thinking it an advantage that at least she can travel without fear of being accosted, but given that Marisa just took it upon herself to attack Kanako, I wonder if Sanae might be a target herself now. Apparently we're co-conspirators. Along with Eientei, and who knows who else at this point."
-
>"Even if she hasn't found anything, that at least narrows down where we should search ourselves. I was thinking it an advantage that at least she can travel without fear of being accosted, but given that Marisa just took it upon herself to attack Kanako, I wonder if Sanae might be a target herself now. Apparently we're co-conspirators. Along with Eientei, and who knows who else at this point."
>"I don't think she would have found anything," says Tenshi. "She doesn't even know about Ni-Uh...about the person missing her shadow.."
>"You really do seem quite indignant at what is a very reasonable explanation for all this, when you look at it objectively," says Yukari. "Do you really thing you're that far above suspicion?"
>_
-
>"Forgive me if I do not consider Marisa's reasoning that 'we're both from the sky' is enough to assume we were in league with Eientei as sound. Perhaps one could suspect the island's descent was an intentional act at first, but it should take no more than a cursory glance at their occupants' conditions to make clear that it's as much a surprise to us as it is to everyone down here."
>"And it is not simply that I was suspected, but that I was judged and condemned absolutely, in absence of any real evidence of guilt beyond my obvious association with Bhava-Agra. Marisa went as far as to attack Kanako simply because Sanae did not shoot me out of the sky herself. I have taken no hostile actions towards people on the surface. In fact, I have gone out of my way to disarm hostilities towards them. Yet I am fired upon in lieu of a greeting, and everything I say is assumed to be a lie, despite significant evidence supporting my words. So no, I cannot consider these actions reasonable."
-
>"Forgive me if I do not consider Marisa's reasoning that 'we're both from the sky' is enough to assume we were in league with Eientei as sound. Perhaps one could suspect the island's descent was an intentional act at first, but it should take no more than a cursory glance at their occupants' conditions to make clear that it's as much a surprise to us as it is to everyone down here."
>"And it is not simply that I was suspected, but that I was judged and condemned absolutely, in absence of any real evidence of guilt beyond my obvious association with Bhava-Agra. Marisa went as far as to attack Kanako simply because Sanae did not shoot me out of the sky herself. I have taken no hostile actions towards people on the surface. In fact, I have gone out of my way to disarm hostilities towards them. Yet I am fired upon in lieu of a greeting, and everything I say is assumed to be a lie, despite significant evidence supporting my words. So no, I cannot consider these actions reasonable."
>"Really, I've not seen any evidence that you aren't the cause," says Yukari.
>"Aside from claiming to be caught up in it. What I do see, however, is you roaming the countryside in the company of one of the most suspicious people of them, condemned by the unfortunate testimony of another very likely suspect. At the same time, it's no secret your people did fight with ours, nor is it any secret that Bhava-Agra has been a problem before. On top of this, you seem to be forgetting not quite everyone is on the same level of enlightenment that you are, and in fact do have feelings and fears which have a way of driving them in uncertain situations. If you should be mad at anyone, I would say there are three people. One being right beside you there for making Bhava-Agra suspicious to begin with, one being in Eientei, and one being the real culprits. Marisa, on the other hand, is doing much the same as you, grasping at whatever straws she can to deal with this problem. It's merely an unfortunate fact that you are a very suspicious straw indeed, moreso thanks to Eirin."
>_
-
> Wait, when was Bhava-Agra as a whole a problem to the rest of Gensokyo?
-
> Wait, when was Bhava-Agra as a whole a problem to the rest of Gensokyo?
>You certainly don't remember this occurring.
>_
-
> Frown.
> "Momentarily ignoring everything else in that explanation I object to, you seem to imply Bhava-Agra, as a whole, has been a problem to Gensokyo in the past. I must admit I don't remember any such incident."
-
> Frown.
> "Momentarily ignoring everything else in that explanation I object to, you seem to imply Bhava-Agra, as a whole, has been a problem to Gensokyo in the past. I must admit I don't remember any such incident."
>"I remember quite clearly when Bhava-Agra was a problem to Gensokyo," says Yukari. "I had sun showers following me for weeks."
>_
-
>Raise eyebrows.
>"What happened?"
-
> "And when was this?"
-
>Raise eyebrows.
>"What happened?"
> "And when was this?"
>"Um," says Tenshi, "I think she's talking about me..."
>"Just so," says Yukari.
>_
-
>"You can't hold all of Bhava-Agra accountable for just Tenshi's actions."
-
>"You can't hold all of Bhava-Agra accountable for just Tenshi's actions."
> Belay this, it risks damaging our budding rapport with Tenshi by throwing the blame onto her.
(Sorry, Blitzer. I appreciate the sentiment, but I'd like to dance around Tenshi's past transgressions as much as possible.)
> "Which is why I made sure to specify Bhava-Agra as a whole, and not one or two individuals from it."
-
> "Which is why I made sure to specify Bhava-Agra as a whole, and not one or two individuals from it."
>"Hmmm?" says Yukari. "Are you denying that Bhava-Agra is a united entity, rather than a number of distinct autonomous regions? Are you perhaps claiming Tenshi is in fact not a part of Bhava-Agra, and in fact holds a position of some repute there? Are you indicating that Bhava-Agra didn't let her have that weapon, or that you didn't stop her from using it until well after the problem was known? I'm afraid I don't see where the problem lies."
>Tenshi is glaring daggers at Yukari.
>_
-
> "Are you asking these me things because you actually want proper answers to them, or just because you want to rile both of us up?"
-
> "Are you asking these me things because you actually want proper answers to them, or just because you want to rile both of us up?"
>"I am merely presenting what you seem to have forgotten," says Yukari. "It is up to you to acknowledge it or not. But do keep it in mind when you wonder why people are inclined not to trust you whether you acknowledge or not, particularly while casting aspersions in the company of others."
>_
-
> "I do not believe I have forgotten whether or not the citizens of Bhava-Agra are a hive mind, for one, which seemed to be one of your founding questions. But that is beside the main point."
> "I do understand that I am not particularly trustworthy in this case, but I do not understand condoning the act of assuming guilt until innocence is proven. You say there is no evidence that we are not at fault. I submit that there is no evidence we are at fault. No concrete evidence, anyway. I suppose there is circumstantial evidence for both theories, but I cannot imagine the strength of what suggests we may be at fault outweighs the strength of what suggests we may not be at fault, especially not to the point where beating up innocents is considered a proper course of action. And I am not referring to Eirin."
-
> "I do not believe I have forgotten whether or not the citizens of Bhava-Agra are a hive mind, for one, which seemed to be one of your founding questions. But that is beside the main point."
> "I do understand that I am not particularly trustworthy in this case, but I do not understand condoning the act of assuming guilt until innocence is proven. You say there is no evidence that we are not at fault. I submit that there is no evidence we are at fault. No concrete evidence, anyway. I suppose there is circumstantial evidence for both theories, but I cannot imagine the strength of what suggests we may be at fault outweighs the strength of what suggests we may not be at fault, especially not to the point where beating up innocents is considered a proper course of action. And I am not referring to Eirin."
>"Hm," says Yukari. "if you wish to misrepresent me, then I believe all that needs to be said has been said."
>_
-
> "Did you mean something else when you said 'Bhava-Agra is a united entity, rather than a number of distinct autonomous regions'? I admit I may have misunderstood your intentions."
-
> "Did you mean something else when you said 'Bhava-Agra is a united entity, rather than a number of distinct autonomous regions'? I admit I may have misunderstood your intentions."
>"You really have hit your head quite hard, haven't you?" says Yukari. "Would you say that the Scarlet Devil Mansion and the Palace of the Earth Spirits acknowledges the same master or works toward the same goals? Would you say the same of any two places in Bhava-Agra? The answers are quite obvious. Your realm works with a unity of purpose, and acknowledges the same authority. As such, it seems very odd to decry the actions of one of your own as not of Bhava-Agra, especially in light of the fact you allowed it to happen and allowed it to continue. "
>_
-
>How long were we aware of what Tenshi was doing before she was stopped?
>What effort was directed towards retrieving the sword, or putting an end to her troublemaking?
-
>How long were we aware of what Tenshi was doing before she was stopped?
>What effort was directed towards retrieving the sword, or putting an end to her troublemaking?
>You personally didn't figure it out for some time, you were busy delivering tidings of the coming earthquake, not realizing that Tenshi already caused it, and dealing with the influx of people trying to make their way into Bhava-Agra.
>There wasn't much, honestly. You drug her back from Gensokyo some time before Yukari tore down the Hakurei Shrine again, but she managed to return and cause some more mischief before she was fully satisfied. You're not sure if other knew what to do or not, and this caused some slowdown.
>_
-
>Presumably it was known that Tenshi had taken the sword, some time before this all occurred?
>And it was not realized that the coming earthquake was at her behest?
-
>At the time, it wasn't a problem that she had it. No one really expected her to actually use it.
>It was not.
>_
-
>"Even if Bhava-Agra is as one community, we are still individuals, fully capable of disagreeing with one another, and acting independently. Not every action is a reflection of collective will."
>"And as for allowing it to happen, while that may be strictly true, this was not out of apathy towards Gensokyo, but unawareness of what was taking place there. Call it our mistake if you will; perhaps this is so. But it was not an act of malice or indifference."
-
>"Even if Bhava-Agra is as one community, we are still individuals, fully capable of disagreeing with one another, and acting independently. Not every action is a reflection of collective will."
>"And as for allowing it to happen, while that may be strictly true, this was not out of apathy towards Gensokyo, but unawareness of what was taking place there. Call it our mistake if you will; perhaps this is so. But it was not an act of malice or indifference."
>"None of this really changes what I've pointed out, has it?" Yukari says. "In particular, the people who were on the receiving end will find that the fine details do not change the result. But as I said, it is yours to accept the truth or not, merely keep it in mind when you wonder why things are like they are. Now, have you anything else to ask?"
>_
-
I'm out of questions. Finding Renko and Maribel seems like our best bet at this point.
But holy goddamn is this game frustrating.
-
>Is it really worth talking to Yukari now? You're probably only going to get somewhat biased answers.
Eh, our best bet is to Hannibal Lecture find the truth rather that attempt to convince anybody at all at this point, but I figure this is obvious.
-
I'm out of questions. Finding Renko and Maribel seems like our best bet at this point.
Probably still worth asking Rinnosuke if he's heard anything, first.
>"Frankly, it is no more comforting to see an origin for their actions in half truths they hold about us. A closed mind is still just as closed. And it saddens me if this is how we are seen on the surface. But yes, I think that will be all. Thank you for your time and assistance, Yukari."
>Leave and head towards Kourindou
-
Also, I'm curious about that hairclip that lets one see invisible things. I wouldn't be surprised if this plays into the shadow business. We still haven't picked up a single new valuable in all our time since the last time we were at the shop. Might be worth trading a spellcard for, though.
-
>Is it really worth talking to Yukari now? You're probably only going to get somewhat biased answers.
>So it seems. This is much more like the Yukari whom you dealt with during the Scarlet Weather Incident. It's rather annoying that she was the one that directed you toward Tenshi...
>"Frankly, it is no more comforting to see an origin for their actions in half truths they hold about us. A closed mind is still just as closed. And it saddens me if this is how we are seen on the surface. But yes, I think that will be all. Thank you for your time and assistance, Yukari."
>Leave and head towards Kourindou
>"We'll leave it at that, then. You will find things easier if you keep the facts I have told you at heart, though."
>You depart, and head for Kourindou. How will you be going there?
>"You okay?" Tenshi asks.
>_
-
>Sigh
>"Just frustrated. And tired. Tired of defending ourselves to deaf ears. I'm sure Yukari is probably right. This is probably the basis for much of what it happening. That doesn't make it any more pleasant to hear. This would be a trying enough day without any of the hostility and suspicion that has followed us since its start."
>Head along the road. Try to keep an eye towards the sky. May as least try to get an early warning of any further problems the day decides to furnish us with.
-
>Sigh
>"Just frustrated. And tired. Tired of defending ourselves to deaf ears. I'm sure Yukari is probably right. This is probably the basis for much of what it happening. That doesn't make it any more pleasant to hear. This would be a trying enough day without any of the hostility and suspicion that has followed us since its start."
>Head along the road. Try to keep an eye towards the sky. May as least try to get an early warning of any further problems the day decides to furnish us with.
>"Welcome to my pretty much every day," says Tenshi.
>You follow the road. Thankfully, as you head into the forest, you don't see anything other than a rogue faerie skittering off on her own business. You reach the old house that is home to Kourindou, looking practically unchanged. The island floating near it, where Tenshi's sister is supposed at, also seems rather placid.
>_
-
>Smile faintly
>"Then I can at least be fortunate enough to have someone to share it with. And thank you for asking."
>Enter Kourindou
-
>Smile faintly
>"Then I can at least be fortunate enough to have someone to share it with. And thank you for asking."
>Enter Kourindou
>Smile faintly
>"Then I can at least be fortunate enough to have someone to share it with. And thank you for asking."
>Enter Kourindou
>"Heh, I guess," says Tenshi.
>You enter Kourindou, and things seem almost normal in the world. It is practically unchanged from any time that you've been here before the sky fell. You see Rinnosuke sitting at the counter with a small lump of clay and a few tools. "Miss Nagae, Miss Hinanai," he says absently.
>The store contains
>Broken Sword Handle
>Iron Key
>Introductory Nuclear Physics by Kenneth S. Krane.
>Copper Bracelet
>Nightlife (Extended)
>Lacquered Chopsticks
>Loaf of Wheat Bread
>3 Caramels
>Turtle Statue
>Vial of Sand Grains
>Red Gem
>Bag of Mushrooms
>Large Ball of Yarn
>Stethoscope
>Rusted Wakazashi
>Set of Marbles
>Figurine of a Master Lichen
>Pocket Clay Sculpting Set
>String Performance: "Guarneri del Ges?"
>Stuffed Platypus
>Statue of a Robed Black Man
>Can of Alphabet Soup
>Bath Towel
>Bottle of Soil
>Pale Green Plant
>Empty Box
>Blunted Javelin
>Celestial Shawl
>Set of Wolf Ears
>Bag of Glittering Powder
>Glass Bottle
>_
-
Aww... so much for that. The hairclip's not even here, now.
>"Good day to you, Rinnosuke. It certainly has been quite a day so far."
>Examine copper bracelet, red gem, rusted wakazashi, celestial shawl
-
>"Good day to you, Rinnosuke. It certainly has been quite a day so far."
>Examine copper bracelet, red gem, rusted wakazashi, celestial shawl
>He nods, and you take to examining the goods. Tenshi wanders off to look at things as well.
>Copper Bracelet
>A simple band of copper, with a few geometric etchings on it.
>Red Gem
>A cut gem with a red hue; you can see through it slightly.
>Rusted Wakazashi
>A scabbard-less short blade bearing the weight of many years.
>Celestial Shawl
>A shawl favored by many celestials, light enough it floats in even a weak breeze.
>_
-
>"Out of curiosity, are there any unusual properties to this gem and bracelet?"
-
>"Out of curiosity, are there any unusual properties to this gem and bracelet?"
>"The gem, it's just a piece of glass," says Rinnosuke. "It looks pretty, so there's some value to it to the right person."
>"The bracelet is an interesting item. It is enchanted to allow its wearer to eat much more than their usual capacity; I believe it was made for magicians engaging in long or particularly draining rituals."
>_
-
>"Hmmm... that is an interesting property. I don't suppose any of the rest of these items have any non-apparently properties, aside from the ones which were already set out here early this morning?"
-
>"I suppose it depends on what you mean by non-apparent," says Rinnosuke, as he cuts into the clay with aching slowness. "Practically everything has a property that isn't apparent."
>_
-
>"Well, let's say magical, then."
-
>"Well, let's say magical, then."
>"Hm, if we narrow it down that way," says Rinnosuke, "That sword is enchanted to cut through weeds, and only weeds. I suppose you might consider that bottle magical, although it really isn't. It contains a song that has yet to be sung."
>_
-
>"Contains a song yet to be sung? I'm not sure I understand what the means."
>"As for the sword, does that mean you could sweep it through a garden, and it would not damage any of the cultivated plants at all? That sounds most convenient."
-
>"Contains a song yet to be sung? I'm not sure I understand what the means."
>"As for the sword, does that mean you could sweep it through a garden, and it would not damage any of the cultivated plants at all? That sounds most convenient."
>"Did I say something unclear?" says Rinnosuke. "There is a song inside it which has yet to be sung."
>"Quite. Though the definition of weeds is rather broad, as I understand it."
>_
-
>"Does that mean that if the bottle is opened, it would produce this song?"
-
>"Does that mean that if the bottle is opened, it would produce this song?"
>He nods, as he carves off a bit of clay, and sets it aside gently.
>_
-
>"Oh, I see. Do you have any idea what kind of song it is?"
-
>"Oh, I see. Do you have any idea what kind of song it is?"
>"Unsung," he says, contemplating the clay again.
>_
-
>"I see..."
>Except, not really
>"On another note, I wonder if you may have heard anyone speak of unusual shadows recently?"
-
>"I see..."
>Except, not really
>"On another note, I wonder if you may have heard anyone speak of unusual shadows recently?"
>"Unusual shadows?" Rinnosuke asks. "Hmm, well, Miss Renko was in here earlier, and she mentioned something was odd about the shadows the fallen islands were making."
>_
-
>Nod
>"Yes, I'm aware of that. We think it may be related to why they've fallen. I'm told there's been talk that there are other shadows similarly odd, however, but nothing specific. I was sort of hoping you might have heard something."
-
>Nod
>"Yes, I'm aware of that. We think it may be related to why they've fallen. I'm told there's been talk that there are other shadows similarly odd, however, but nothing specific. I was sort of hoping you might have heard something."
>"I've heard nothing else," says Rinnosuke. "At least, not from my customers. However, a large number of the forest's inhabitants do not darken my doorstep, so it is quite feasible there has been talk and it simply has not reached my ears."
>_
-
>"Yes, of course. I simply figured that since you do get a variety of people through here, there was always a chance. I really have no idea where this was spoken of. Only that it was. I guess I'll have to keep searching."
-
>"Yes, of course. I simply figured that since you do get a variety of people through here, there was always a chance. I really have no idea where this was spoken of. Only that it was. I guess I'll have to keep searching."
>"I would suggest asking the faeries," says Rinnosuke. "They know the forest better than anyone."
>_
-
>"Fair point, although I don't know that it was even near the forest at all. Still, I suppose it can't hurt to try, just the same."
-
>"Fair point, although I don't know that it was even near the forest at all. Still, I suppose it can't hurt to try, just the same."
>"Forgive my presumption," says Rinnosuke. "I assumed if you were asking me, you were intending to look around the forest."
>_
-
> "Granted."
> "While I am thinking about it, did Renko happen to say where she was going when she left?"
> Does the Celestial shawl look familiar?
> Inventory
-
> "Granted."
> "While I am thinking about it, did Renko happen to say where she was going when she left?"
> Does the Celestial shawl look familiar?
> Inventory
>"She merely mentioned that she was going to explore the islands a bit," he says.
>It does not.
>Your inventory contains:
>Wide-brimmed hat (worn as hat)
>Exceedingly Stylish!
>Flamenco Dress (worn as dress)
>Allows both modesty and freedom of movement
>Pink Shawl
>A shawl that represents your status as a part of Bhava-Arga and allows you to defend yourself with devastating techniques.
>Large Black Purse
>Exactly what it sounds like. It holds all your stuff
>Spine Sign: "Acanthodii of the Thunder Clouds"
>This spellcard engulfs you in a shield of electricity. It can be broken with enough force, and only lasts for a short time before it must be renewed
>Light Orb: "Dragon's Gleaming Eyes"
>This recreates an image of one of The Dragon's physical manifestations in lightning and sends it out.
>Cloud Realm: "The Thunder Court in the Sea of Abstruse Clouds"
>Fills the air with webs of lightning, but leaves you motionless.
>Dragonfish: "Dragon Palace's Messenger Swimming Shot"
>Sends electricity spiraling out from you, but leaves you defenseless.
>1☼
>This is 1☼
>Gnawed Mushroom Stalk
>The remains of a tsuchinoko's dinner.
>Jail Key
>The key to the tengu jail.
>Aya's Primary Camera
>She'll be very angry if you break this.
>_
-
> "Hey, Tenshi, see anything you like?"
-
> "Hey, Tenshi, see anything you like?"
>"That glass is kinda pretty," says Tenshi. She gives the Blunted Javelin a look. "But I don't even get this thing."
>_
-
>Examine blunted javelin
-
> To Rinnosuke: "Is there anything special about that javelin, other than not being very pointy anymore?"
-
>Examine blunted javelin
>You have a look at it.
>Blunted Javelin
>The head of this Javelin seems to have been replaced with a strange hemisphere about a hand span in diameter that tapers down into a sort of cone, made of some flexible black material.
> To Rinnosuke: "Is there anything special about that javelin, other than not being very pointy anymore?"
>"It is what you see," says Rinnosuke, as he frowns at the cut he made into the clay block.
>_
-
> Is there a solid circular surface made of the black material at the end of the javelin, or is it a hollow hemisphere that forms a ring?
-
> Is there a solid circular surface made of the black material at the end of the javelin, or is it a hollow hemisphere that forms a ring?
>The inside seems hollow, but the cone bit at the end obscures it.
>_
-
> How long is it?
> Have we ever seen something like it before?
> "Where did this come from?"
-
> How long is it?
> Have we ever seen something like it before?
> "Where did this come from?"
>A little longer than your forearm.
>You have not, this is the weirdest javelin you've ever seen, perhaps it is for melee training?
>"It's an outside item," Rinnosuke says.
>_
-
Awesome, we found an Ice Wand.
> "Outside...I wonder if Renko would know what purpose it served there. It...doesn't seem well-suited to normal javelin tasks."
-
> "Outside...I wonder if Renko would know what purpose it served there. It...doesn't seem well-suited to normal javelin tasks."
>"She might," says Rinnosuke. "I felt no need to hassle her about it, she seemed in a hurry."
>_
-
> Examine the stuffed platypus, the statue of the robed man, the bottle of soil, the bath towel, the pale green plant, the set of wolf ears, and the bottle of glittering powder.
-
>What does the haft of the javelin seem to be made of?
>Which side of the hemisphere is affixed to the haft? The flat or rounded side? Does it taper towards a cone as it approaches the haft, or on the other side?
-
> Examine the stuffed platypus, the statue of the robed man, the bottle of soil, the bath towel, the pale green plant, the set of wolf ears, and the bottle of glittering powder.
>Stuffed Platypus
>This is a small, adorable stuffed animal in the shape of everyone's favorite joke of nature.
>Statue of a Robed Black Man
>This a ceramic statue of a dark-skinned man in robes, with his hands folded in prayer. There is an aura of peace and sagacity around him.
>Bottle of Soil
>A bottle of loamy dirt. You think you can see some signs of worm burrows in it.
>Bath Towel
>A common towel.
>Pale Green Plant
>This small potted plant features broad droopy leaves with a slight sheen to them.
>Set of Wolf Ears.
>A hairband with two cloth wolf ears on them.
>Bag of Glittering Powder
>A silken back full of coarse greenish powder that sparkles in the light.
>What does the haft of the javelin seem to be made of?
>Which side of the hemisphere is affixed to the haft? The flat or rounded side? Does it taper towards a cone as it approaches the haft, or on the other side?
>Wood, sanded to a smooth finish
>The rounded side is affixed to it, and it tapers away from the shaft.
>_
-
>If the rounded side is affixed to it, would that mean that it also flares out before tapering into the cone-like point?
>About how long is this hemisphere + point?
-
> Examine String Performance "Guarneri del Gesu"
> Do we know anyone who might use such a spellcard?
-
>If the rounded side is affixed to it, would that mean that it also flares out before tapering into the cone-like point?
>About how long is this hemisphere + point?
>That it does, though it does not come to a proper point. Instead it ends and leaves an opening, which is how you could tell it was hollow inside.
>About five or six inches
> Examine String Performance "Guarneri del Gesu"
> Do we know anyone who might use such a spellcard?
>It is a spellcard that seems to be made for use with a violin.
>You are quite certain this would be the possession of Lunasa Prismriver, originally.
>_
-
> To Tenshi: "We'll need to ask Renko about that javelin once we catch up to her."
All I'm seeing in our inventory that I'm willing to trade is the jail key, and I have no idea what we could get for it. I want to keep spellcards on-hand for the Marisa battle, and I especially don't want to turn the key and a spellcard in at the same time because we're all but telling any investigative tengu that wanders by the shop that we were the ones that let Aya out.
Is there anyone that is unwilling to part with the jail key?
-
>About how large is the opening at the tip of the cone?
Honestly, I'd probably just as soon not trade the key, either. Or even let on that we have it. Sure, Rinnosuke's lips are sealed on anything we trade in, but still. In fact, it may have been better to simply leave it where we found it; I hadn't realized we'd kept it.
Was there anything in particular you wanted?
-
Well, since we took the key anyway, we might as well leave it with Rinnosuke. Silence is golden, and all.
I'm curious as to what the Prismrivers might do for us if we returned their spellcard, but there's probably more practical things we could do with the credit.
-
> To Tenshi: "We'll need to ask Renko about that javelin once we catch up to her."
>She nods. "Wait...why are catching up with her?"
>_
-
> "Oh, did I forget to tell you? I'm sorry. Renko is the last person I know to have seen the missing Yamame."
> To Rinnosuke: "Unless you've seen her recently?"
-
> "Oh, did I forget to tell you? I'm sorry. Renko is the last person I know to have seen the missing Yamame."
> To Rinnosuke: "Unless you've seen her recently?"
>"Oh," says Tenshi. "and why're we looking for Yamame? She's not a suspect, is she?"
>"Not today," says Rinnosuke.
>_
-
Well, since we took the key anyway, we might as well leave it with Rinnosuke. Silence is golden, and all.
Or we could just dispose of it elsewhere. Even if we can trust his silence, I don't see that we need to tell him, either. Not that I expect a key is worth a great deal in any case. Unless we have an immediate or obvious use for something here, which I don't currently see, I think we may as well wait in the hopes that we find something more suited to trade. I can agree with hanging on to our spellcards at the moment, unless something important comes up.
>"Oh, yes, sorry. I don't suppose I mentioned that either. But apparently she was supposed to meet up with Utsuho earlier today, and hasn't shown up. Given other circumstances, I must admit that's left me vaguely nervous."
>About how large is the opening at the tip of the cone?
-
>"Oh, yes, sorry. I don't suppose I mentioned that either. But apparently she was supposed to meet up with Utsuho earlier today, and hasn't shown up. Given other circumstances, I must admit that's left me vaguely nervous."
>About how large is the opening at the tip of the cone?
>"Oh, okay," says Tenshi. "I was going to say, Yamame's just a little goofy, she probably didn't do it."
>A couple inches across.
>_
-
>"Yes, I can't imagine she has. Still, it would be good to find her, I think, and it's always possible that Renko or Maribel may have bumped into something else in their explorations that would be helpful. The more sources of information, the better."
-
>"Yes, I can't imagine she has. Still, it would be good to find her, I think, and it's always possible that Renko or Maribel may have bumped into something else in their explorations that would be helpful. The more sources of information, the better."
>Tenshi nods. "So, are we buying anything or what?"
>_
-
>"I'm afraid I don't really have much of any value that I'm at liberty to trade, aside from my spellcards. And I fear I may well require them before the day is out."
-
>"I'm afraid I don't really have much of any value that I'm at liberty to trade, aside from my spellcards. And I fear I may well require them before the day is out."
>"Well then," says Tenshi.
>_
-
>"Tell you what, if I can manage to get my hands on anything suitable, I'll come back later and pick up that crystal for you, if you'd still care for it."
>When we last parted with Renko, did we see which way she headed off to?
-
>"Tell you what, if I can manage to get my hands on anything suitable, I'll come back later and pick up that crystal for you, if you'd still care for it."
>When we last parted with Renko, did we see which way she headed off to?
>"Really?" says Tenshi. "This isn't a trick, is it?"
>You think she was heading toward either the western forest, or possibly here.
>_
-
>"No, no tricks. I'd do it now if I had anything on me I could reasonably trade for it."
>So, not to any of the nearby islands?
-
Was there anything in particular you wanted?
herp missed this
Nothing beyond the two things Tenshi mentioned. The gem for the obvious reasons, and the Ice Wand because it's a goddamn Ice Wand and I feel inadequate next to the Sword of Hisou. :(
-
What IS this Ice Wand of which you speak, anyway?
Edit: I realize you're referring to the 'blunted javelin', but I have no idea what you seem to think it is
-
>"No, no tricks. I'd do it now if I had anything on me I could reasonably trade for it."
>So, not to any of the nearby islands?
>"Okay. Thanks, then," says Tenshi.
>She didn't seem to be going to any of them directly.
>_
-
Although in thinking on the rest of the description I'm no longer sure it's actually an Ice Wand.
(The Ice Wand is a plunger, read more Hole of Yago :<)
-
Oh, hmmm.... A plunger occurred to me also, but I'm not sure what to make about the tapering cone on the end of it. I might just be visualizing it wrong, though.
In any case, in absence of any suitable valuables, I guess we head off after Renko now, and by extension Yamame?
-
No problems here. I also want some more alone time with Tenshi so I can get her involved on Aya pantyshot hunting without anyone around to hear, and the flight will provide a good excuse for that.
-
Actually, it occurs to me that it's probably been a nice while since we last dropped by Renko and Maribel's place, isn't it? We've had time to visit Patchouli, then travel to Hina's, meet with Nitori, leave the village entirely, the fly all the way back to the shrine, drop in on Aya, and come back down this way. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to try knocking on their door again before we wander around the forest looking for them?
>About how long has passed since we last saw Renko?
-
>About how long has passed since we last saw Renko?
>It's been awhile, it's well into mid-afternoon now.
>_
-
>Smile
>"You're welcome."
>"In any case, we should probably start looking for them. I think it might be worth briefly dropping by their house in case they've returned, rather than wander among the forest or islands in hopes of bumping into them. We can always do that later, if it proves necessary."
>"Thank you for your assistance, Rinnosuke. My apologies for being a proverbial window shopper twice today. Hopefully I will have something suited for trade the next time I come here."
>Leave Kourindou and head towards Renko and Maribel's via road
-
>Smile
>"You're welcome."
>"In any case, we should probably start looking for them. I think it might be worth briefly dropping by their house in case they've returned, rather than wander among the forest or islands in hopes of bumping into them. We can always do that later, if it proves necessary."
>"Thank you for your assistance, Rinnosuke. My apologies for being a proverbial window shopper twice today. Hopefully I will have something suited for trade the next time I come here."
>Leave Kourindou and head towards Renko and Maribel's via road
>You smile and tell Tenshi she's welcome. She doesn't really respond.
>"Okay," says Tenshi as you suggest the next course of action.
>"I shall keep your assurances in mind," says Rinnosuke, as you depart.
>You follow the road back to Kame House Renko and Maribel's home. It is not a long trip for you. As you approach the house, you notice someone standing by the door in a black dress with blue trim. Her hair is white, and cut rather short. Her back is turned to you, displaying smallish wings, but she has an aura of familiarity about her.
>_
-
> What color is her hair?
-
>What is she wearing on her head, if anything?
-
> What color is her hair?
>It is white, and somehow got merged into the previous description, which was supposed to be a dress with blue trim. The writer responsible has been sacked.
>What is she wearing on her head, if anything?
>Nothing.
>_
-
> Fly in closer to the house, trying to sweep into the girl's range of vision unless that would require a huge detour.
-
> Fly in closer to the house, trying to sweep into the girl's range of vision unless that would require a huge detour.
>Well, we're walking as it is, and she's already be the door. Just walk up to her.
>Does it seem to be Tokiko?
-
> Fly in closer to the house, trying to sweep into the girl's range of vision unless that would require a huge detour.
>It would take you a bit out of the way, you're approaching her from behind.
>Well, we're walking as it is, and she's already be the door. Just walk up to her.
>Does it seem to be Tokiko?
>You decide to approach her.
>You've only seen Tokiko from the front, and while she was huddling under a futon, but you're reasonably sure this is her.
>As you approach, she starts then whirls around. You confirm it is Tokiko. She looks at you for a moment, wide-eyed and blank-faced. "Oh, it's you," she says.
>_
-
>"Good afternoon, Tokiko. I was just looking for Renko and Maribel. Are they not home yet, then?"
-
>"Good afternoon, Tokiko. I was just looking for Renko and Maribel. Are they not home yet, then?"
>"I don't think so," she says, giving the occasional glance toward Tenshi. "I was hoping to stop in and have some tea."
>_
-
>"Ah. They went off exploring the islands, but I was hoping they might have stopped back for a bit."
>"In any case, Tokiko, this is Tenshi. She's a fellow celestial. Tenshi, Tokiko."
>"Did you have a chance to stop by the orchard afterwards, by any chance?"
-
>"Ah. They went off exploring the islands, but I was hoping they might have stopped back for a bit."
>"In any case, Tokiko, this is Tenshi. She's a fellow celestial. Tenshi, Tokiko."
>"Did you have a chance to stop by the orchard afterwards, by any chance?"
>She nods, "That sounds a little too risky, don't you think?"
>"Um, hi Tenshi," Tokiko says as you introduce her.
>Tenshi nods back. Was she staring?
>"Not yet, no..." she says. "Is it too late now?"
>_
-
>"Oh, the islands themselves are largely harmless, in truth. The inhabitants, where there are any, are quite peaceful. Although I get the impression that even if they weren't so tame, the spirit of curiosity in them would compel them to look, nonetheless."
>"And no, it's not too late at all. I was just curious if you had or not."
-
>"Oh, the islands themselves are largely harmless, in truth. The inhabitants, where there are any, are quite peaceful. Although I get the impression that even if they weren't so tame, the spirit of curiosity in them would compel them to look, nonetheless."
>"And no, it's not too late at all. I was just curious if you had or not."
>"I see," she says. "They're really bad about that."
>"Better go quick if you want 'em, though," says Tenshi. "They're probably running thin."
>Tokiko frowns.
>_
-
>"I should hope we're not running too thin. We do need some left after all this, after all."
>How picked over did they seem to be last we dropped in?
-
>"I should hope we're not running too thin. We do need some left after all this, after all."
>How picked over did they seem to be last we dropped in?
>"I guess," Tenshi says.
>"Does this mean I shouldn't after all?" asks Tokiko, frowning.
>You didn't check. But the celestials did say there was a lot being taken.
>_
-
>"Oh no, not at all. Don't worry yourself about that, truly. I said it's fine, and the orchard is my responsibility."
-
>"Oh no, not at all. Don't worry yourself about that, truly. I said it's fine, and the orchard is my responsibility."
>"Oh good," says Tokiko. "It'd be kind of a pain to make the trip for nothing."
>_
-
>"I can understand that, although perhaps sooner may be better than later, in any case."
>"That being said, if Renko and Maribel aren't here, I guess I'll have to go search for them. Unfortunately, I don't really have a very good idea where they went, but there's not much that can be done about that, I suppose."
-
> "Oh! Have you seen Yamame Kurodani recently? She was in this house this morning."
-
>"I can understand that, although perhaps sooner may be better than later, in any case."
>"That being said, if Renko and Maribel aren't here, I guess I'll have to go search for them. Unfortunately, I don't really have a very good idea where they went, but there's not much that can be done about that, I suppose."
>"...Sorry," says Tokiko as you finish your lament.
> "Oh! Have you seen Yamame Kurodani recently? She was in this house this morning."
>"I think I know that name..." says Tokiko. "She's the spider youkai, right?"
>_
-
>Nod
>"That's right. We're sort of looking for her, as well."
-
>Nod
>"That's right. We're sort of looking for her, as well."
>"Um, I didn't see her, as such," says Tokiko. "But I was sneaking past some faeries, and they were talking about about a spider youkai."
>_
-
>"Oh? Where was this? And do you know what were they saying?"
-
>"Oh? Where was this? And do you know what were they saying?"
>"That way," says Tokiko, pointing southwest. "I didn't hang around to listen, I was trying not to get seen."
>_
-
>"Fair enough. And thank you, Tokiko. I wish you a pleasant afternoon."
>Head in the indicated direction
-
>"Fair enough. And thank you, Tokiko. I wish you a pleasant afternoon."
>Head in the indicated direction
>"You, too!" says Tokiko.
>You depart, heading into the forest. The leaves crackle underfoot, and there is a dry odor in the air. The leafy carpet makes the forest floor a little hard to see, but not so much that you feel in danger of tripping over anything. Tenshi takes to kicking at natural clumps of them. The trees themselves still have a fair deal more to give, but the canopy is thin enough you can usually see above yourself, and should obscure your from the air.
>"She's kinda weird, isn't she?" Tenshi says.
>_
-
>"A bit, but she seems like a nice enough person"
>Did we learn about Tokiko just recently becoming youkai?
-
>"A bit, but she seems like a nice enough person"
>Did we learn about Tokiko just recently becoming youkai?
>Tenshi nods, kicking at another leaf pile.
>Mystia said something about her being new, at least.
>_
-
>"Although she seemed downright normal compared to when I first met her, cowering under her futon for fear of the sky falling. It made me feel oddly protective of her, to be honest."
>Continue into the forest, looking for signs of faeries. Or anyone else, for that matter
-
>"Although she seemed downright normal compared to when I first met her, cowering under her futon for fear of the sky falling. It made me feel oddly protective of her, to be honest."
>Continue into the forest, looking for signs of faeries. Or anyone else, for that matter
>Tenshi cackles. "Wow, that's probably the smartest thing anyone down here did!"
>You continue onward, picking your way through the forest. You keep your eyes open for faeries, but it is curiously quiet around here. Maybe they've all gone-Oh crap you're falling!
>"Urameshiya!" comes a voice from above as leaves close up around you with a loud crackling; you think you hear Tenshi cry out as well. You close your eyes reflexively as you feel solid earth under your feet after a jarring fall. There are leaves; or what you imagine to be leaves, all around you and in your mouth.
>_
-
>Try to right ourselves and ascend again
>Get clear of the leaves, and get them out of our mouth if necessary
>Scan around for people
>What familiarity do we have with Kogasa?
-
>Try to right ourselves and ascend again
>Get clear of the leaves, and get them out of our mouth if necessary
>Scan around for people
>What familiarity do we have with Kogasa?
>You are graceful enough that you landed on your feet. You rise up into the air, leaving the majority of the leaves behind and spitting some out of your mouth. The flavor and some crumbs remain...
>You look around as you free yourself from the leaves, and see that you have fallen into a pit. Looking around, you see a teal-haired youkai with an eggplant-colored umbrella in hand, standing amidst a pile of leaves she was apparently concealed in. You also see Tenshi charging at her with the Sword of Hisou.
>You know Kogasa by reputation. You are pretty sure that was her distinctive cry a moment ago.
>_
-
>"Tenshi! Easy!"
>Move to angle between the two of them, although don't put ourselves directly between, yet
-
>"Tenshi! Easy!"
>Move to angle between the two of them, although don't put ourselves directly between, yet
>You cry out and move to interpose yourself, but Tenshi was already in motion when you noticed this. She bears down on the umbrella youkai, the youkai stumbling back from a wide slash and falling onto the ground. This puts her in an unfortunate position as Tenshi closes in.
>_
-
>Keep closing in, ourselves. Try to move between them, if we can
>"Tenshi, stop! There are better targets to vent on today!"
-
>Keep closing in, ourselves. Try to move between them, if we can
>"Tenshi, stop! There are better targets to vent on today!"
>You close in, throwing yourself between the two.
>"What're you talking about!" Tenshi cries. "She came after us!"
>_
-
>"And you've got a right to be pissed. Especially on a day like today. But I don't think this was personal."
>Turn to Kogasa, with a somewhat pointed expression: "And I don't believe she'll be doing anything more to us right now, will you?"
>To Tenshi: "So there's no need to hurt her, however satisfying that might be after everything."
-
>"And you've got a right to be pissed. Especially on a day like today. But I don't think this was personal."
>Turn to Kogasa, with a somewhat pointed expression: "And I don't believe she'll be doing anything more to us right now, will you?"
>To Tenshi: "So there's no need to hurt her, however satisfying that might be after everything."
>"Fine! Whatever!" Tenshi shouts. "I don't even care anymore!"
>"Wah..?" says the umbrella youkai, her eyes wide.
>You turn back to Tenshi and find her storming off.
>_
-
>Spare another glance back at Kogasa: "You might want to be more careful who you do that to."
>Quickly catch up with Tenshi, and try to follow quietly, a polite distance to the side
-
>Spare another glance back at Kogasa: "You might want to be more careful who you do that to."
>Quickly catch up with Tenshi, and try to follow quietly, a polite distance to the side
>The umbrella youkai nods vacantly. "Uh."
>You catch up with Tenshi and follow at a polite distance. "So what'd I do wrong this time?" she spits. "Am I talking too wide steps or something?"
>_
-
>"What you did wrong? In fact, what you did was quite understandable, I think. I'm not meaning to pass judgement like that."
-
>"What you did wrong? In fact, what you did was quite understandable, I think. I'm not meaning to pass judgement like that."
>"No, you stopped me, so clearly I'm wrong yet again," says Tenshi, staring ahead determinedly.
>_
-
>"Do I have to be telling you you're wrong just because I didn't want you to beat her up?"
-
>"Do I have to be telling you you're wrong just because I didn't want you to beat her up?"
>"Obviously."
>_
-
>"Is it wrong of me to not want to see any more people hurt today than necessary?"
-
>"Is it wrong of me to not want to see any more people hurt today than necessary?"
>"...I guess not."
>_
-
>"And that is all there is to it, Tenshi. There's already been enough injuries and fighting today. And there's almost certainly going to be more before it ends, no matter how much I try to prevent it. I wish there was more I could have done for what's already happened..."
-
>"And that is all there is to it, Tenshi. There's already been enough injuries and fighting today. And there's almost certainly going to be more before it ends, no matter how much I try to prevent it. I wish there was more I could have done for what's already happened..."
>"Fine, but I'm still mad..." she mumbles.
>_
-
>"Fair enough. I'll accept that."
-
>"Fair enough. I'll accept that."
>Tenshi hmphs.
>_
-
>Give her a few moments
>"When you feel ready, I think we should resume our search."
-
>Give her a few moments
>"When you feel ready, I think we should resume our search."
>"Isn't that what we're doing right now?" says Tenshi. "I could have gotten some information out of that stupid karakasa, but you had to let her get away before I could knock it out of her!"
>_
-
>"We could also have asked. I think that would have worked just as well, to be honest."
>"Perhaps she's even still near where we left her. I could always go back and check."
-
>"We could also have asked. I think that would have worked just as well, to be honest."
>"Perhaps she's even still near where we left her. I could always go back and check."
>"No she isn't, she's long gone now," says Tenshi. "And she would've run off before you could ask anything anyways."
>_
-
>"Perhaps so. In any case, things are as they are now. We'll just have to keep looking on our own."
>Keep walking, and looking for signs of people. Angle generally towards the direction Tokiko indicated.
-
>"Perhaps so. In any case, things are as they are now. We'll just have to keep looking on our own."
>Keep walking, and looking for signs of people. Angle generally towards the direction Tokiko indicated.
>Tenshi mumbles something and follows along.
>Being a little ways from your prior course, you don't find the forest to be much changed from what what you saw before. Faeries and the like are still scarce, given what you just experienced, this isn't terribly surprising.
>You notice a tree with some odd-looking marks on it. Nearby, you see the leaves are churned up a little. It appears there was some activity here.
>_
-
>Examine marks on trees.
-
>Examine marks on trees.
>You have a look at the tree. It is a normal and unimpressive tree, as from the damage on it. The damage is a number of irregular gouges the bark, eleven or so, some of them deep enough to tear into the wood itself. They are about the size of a finger joint and around chest level in height; though it's closer to stomach level for you. You are reasonably sure these would be the result of danmaku, which is unusual as many people do not have danmaku that inflicts physical damage like this.
>_
-
>Who do we know of that has danmaku capable of inflicting this kind of damage?
-
>Who do we know of that has danmaku capable of inflicting this kind of damage?
>You know that Patchouli can, and are reasonably sure that Sakuya could do it if she liked. Yukari as well. Tenshi could do it, but her keystones aren't this small. There are probably others. People whose danmaku tends to have more physical-style manifestations or whose danamku is just more forceful could probably do this. That would rule out most faeries. Most people would be careful enough not to leave damage in their wake, though. It's too inelegant.
>_
-
> Only most faeries? Which ones aren't ruled out by the previous assessment?
-
> Only most faeries? Which ones aren't ruled out by the previous assessment?
>You don't know. You were just leaving yourself some wriggle room in case there are faeries who could. You suspect that Cirno probably could, but you have no proof.
>_
-
>Can we see impacts in any other trees nearby? Or any other signs of a struggle?
-
>Can we see impacts in any other trees nearby? Or any other signs of a struggle?
>The leaves seem to have been churned up a little. Unfortunately, you and Tenshi have already walked over them, so what evidence you might get from them is muddled. Looking around, you notice a couple of other gouges in the trees here and there, nothing as deep or obvious as what you first saw.
>_
-
>Can we determine a possible path of the battle, from the locations of the impacts?
>For that matter, can we estimate how recent the damage is, by the discoloration of the exposed wood?
>No signs of footsteps, is there?
-
>Can we determine a possible path of the battle, from the locations of the impacts?
>For that matter, can we estimate how recent the damage is, by the discoloration of the exposed wood?
>No signs of footsteps, is there?
>You don't think you can reconstruct it with what you have.
>The wood doesn't seem to be discolored, you suspect this was within the past couple days at latest.
>You think you see what might have been some footsteps in the leaves you and Tenshi haven't trampled over.
>_
-
>Are they too disturbed to tell anything about direction, at present?
>"Hmm... I wonder what happened here?"
-
>Are they too disturbed to tell anything about direction, at present?
>"Hmm... I wonder what happened here?"
>Depends on what is meant by direction.
>"I think there was a fight," says Tenshi.
>_
-
>Can we tell what direction anyone came from? Or perhaps more pertinently, left in?
>"Yes. I'm curious as to who was fighting, though. The damage is rather more physical than you'd expect."
-
>Can we tell what direction anyone came from? Or perhaps more pertinently, left in?
>"Yes. I'm curious as to who was fighting, though. The damage is rather more physical than you'd expect."
>"Yeah, someone was being really sloppy," says Tenshi.
>Looking around, you think you some irregular footprints either heading toward and coming from the north, and another set doing the same from the south. Unfortunately, leaves do not take footprints nearly as well as dirt, so they are not very good for determining much else.
>_
-
>"Or perhaps the situation was rather more desperate? In either case, it's a point of interest, and we don't have much else to go on here yet, so I think we ought to follow one of these trails and see if it leads to anything."
>"Do you have a preference as to which?"
>If not, follow the track leading north
-
>"Or perhaps the situation was rather more desperate? In either case, it's a point of interest, and we don't have much else to go on here yet, so I think we ought to follow one of these trails and see if it leads to anything."
>"Do you have a preference as to which?"
>If not, follow the track leading north
>"Yeah, that's probably not a bad idea. And, um, if that one keeps going north, I think it'll take us into the bamboo forest, wouldn't it?"
>_
-
>Assuming this appears to be true, nod
>"Although it isn't clear whether someone arrived from that direction, or departed that way."
>For that matter, what's to the south of here
>And how far north is the bamboo forest from our current position, approximately?
-
>Assuming this appears to be true, nod
>"Although it isn't clear whether someone arrived from that direction, or departed that way."
>For that matter, what's to the south of here
>And how far north is the bamboo forest from our current position, approximately?
>Thinking on it, you're pretty sure Tenshi has gotten her directions mixed up. It wouldn't be the first time. North from here should be the fields and then human town, southward should be the general vicinity of the lake and Scarlet Devil Mansion. The Bamboo forest should be to the west; you assume Tokiko's home would be northwest, but you may have veered off course enough that it's difficult to tell.
>_
-
>"Actually, I think the human village is to the north of here. The bamboo forest should be more to the west, I believe."
-
>"Actually, I think the human village is to the north of here. The bamboo forest should be more to the west, I believe."
>"Oh. Well...dammit." says Tenshi. "Whatever, then."
>_
-
>Follow the trail northward
-
>Follow the trail northward
>You follow the trail, such as it is, northward. It meanders a bit, sometimes going east or west. After a few dozen yards, you lose track of it.
>_
-
>Examine our surroundings carefully. If we can see no sign of the trail, can we see any other sign of someone's passage? Or anything else amiss for that matter?
-
>Examine our surroundings carefully. If we can see no sign of the trail, can we see any other sign of someone's passage? Or anything else amiss for that matter?
>You look around carefully. You don't see anything you can reasonably say is the sign of the trail-makings passage. There's a few things that could be; a broken twig here and a bent bit of underbrush there, but that could be caused by anything. You think the leaves just didn't catch enough to leave a proper trace.
>_
-
>"Oh well. Doesn't seem to be much more to see this way."
>Head back to the damaged tree, and follow the southward path
-
>"Oh well. Doesn't seem to be much more to see this way."
>Head back to the damaged tree, and follow the southward path
>"Stupid leaves," Tenshi mutters.
>You find your way back to the damaged tree, and follow the southern path. This one meanders as well, but it quickly angles toward the east, where the foliage grows more dense.
>"Faeries to the left," says Tenshi in a low voice.
>_
-
>Nod
>Look towards the faeries
-
>Nod
>Look towards the faeries
>You look over, and see a group of three smallish faeries, hovering some distance away over a dried out thorny bush, talking among themselves.
>_
-
>Try to listen in on their conversation, if we're close enough
>If not, try to quietly approach, although not so close that it would startle them if they suddenly noticed us there
-
>Try to listen in on their conversation, if we're close enough
>If not, try to quietly approach, although not so close that it would startle them if they suddenly noticed us there
>They are all chatting at once, and you can't really follow it. But they seem to be worrying about whether they'll have enough of something.
>_
-
>Continue listening for a few more moments, and if we still can't make any sense out of it, try approaching
-
>Continue listening for a few more moments, and if we still can't make any sense out of it, try approaching
>You think you catch some concerns about being late, but aside from that
>You approach, the faeries quickly notices your presence and their conversation comes to a halt. "There's people here!" one of them cries.
>_
-
>Smile
>"Good afternoon. I couldn't help but overhear that there seems to be some sort of problem?"
-
>Smile
>"Good afternoon. I couldn't help but overhear that there seems to be some sort of problem?"
>You smile and inquire.
>"Nothing!" one of them cries.
>"We're getting a pet!" says another at the same time.
>_
-
>"A pet? That sounds interesting. What kind of pet is it?"
-
>"A pet? That sounds interesting. What kind of pet is it?"
>"Nothing!" the first faerie says again.
>"We don't know yet," says one who has yet to speak.
>"Haven't seen it yet." says the second fidgeting a bit.
>_
-
>"Haven't seen it yet? Then what do you think it is? And, uh, how do you know about it if none of you've seen it?"
-
>Brocken Spectre, huh?
-
>"Haven't seen it yet? Then what do you think it is? And, uh, how do you know about it if none of you've seen it?"
>"Nothing!" the first faerie says, waving her hands.
>"Because Sullen Plummet say she was selling it!" says second faerie. "And it's going to be great!"
>Brocken Spectre, huh?
>That'd be some pet.
>_
-
>"Oh, I see. I wonder what it could be... Did she give you a hint, at least?"
-
>"Oh, I see. I wonder what it could be... Did she give you a hint, at least?"
>"Um...not as such." says the second.
>"Nothing!" the first faerie cries again.
>"But a whole lot of people are going to be after it!"
>_
-
>"Oh, are they? What's she selling it for?"
>Look to the first faerie: "And if you're worried, I'm not interested in getting a pet for myself, or anything like that. I'm just curious about it, that's all."
-
>"Oh, are they? What's she selling it for?"
>Look to the first faerie: "And if you're worried, I'm not interested in getting a pet for myself, or anything like that. I'm just curious about it, that's all."
>"It's gonna be an auction," says the third faerie. "That's why we're teaming up."
>You give the first faerie your reassurances. "Okay, but if this is a trick, I get to kick you in the knee!"
>_
-
>"Oh, interesting. Sounds fancy. When's it going to be?"
>To the first fairy: "And it's a deal."
-
>"Oh, interesting. Sounds fancy. When's it going to be?"
>To the first fairy: "And it's a deal."
>"Real soon," says the second faerie.
>"I still think we're late..." the third says.
>_
-
>"Well, if you think you're running late, what's keeping you?"
>"Mind if I come along and have a look at it myself?"
-
>"Well, if you think you're running late, what's keeping you?"
>"Mind if I come along and have a look at it myself?"
>"We had to be sure how much we had!" says the first faerie.
>"Yeah okay," says the third.
>"Um, I thought we weren't supposed to have animals up in Bhava-Agra..." says Tenshi.
>_
-
>Is this true?
-
>Is this true?
>It is. Bhava-Agra is supposed to be a place for enlightened beings, of which standard animals are decidedly not. Animal youkai are another matter, of course.
>_
-
>Does this mean that islands have no fauna at all? No birds, etc.?
>"I said that I wasn't planning to get a pet, myself. But it does sound like there'll be quite a few people gathered there."
-
>Does this mean that islands have no fauna at all? No birds, etc.?
>"I said that I wasn't planning to get a pet, myself. But it does sound like there'll be quite a few people gathered there."
>They do not. Birds might be a problem now, though.
>Tenshi nods.
>_
-
>How do plants manage to get pollinated, then, in a total absence of any animal life?
>"You think you're about ready to go, then? What're you planning on bidding, anyway?"
-
>How do plants manage to get pollinated, then, in a total absence of any animal life?
>"You think you're about ready to go, then? What're you planning on bidding, anyway?"
>You have no idea! But presumably, they take care of it.
>"I suppose..." says the first faerie, dragging out the last syllable.
>The three faeries begin to fly eastward.
>"We got all kinds of neat rocks!" says the second faerie.
>"The neatest!" says the first.
>_
-
>Follow along
-
>Follow along
>You follow the trio eastward. They lead you through various bits of brush and bramble, thing that they can easily fly through or around, but someone of your height has difficulty with. Still, you manage to keep up, more or less; periodically discovering more leaves in annoying places after you time in the leaf pit. After a few minutes, the faeries lead you across the main road into the eastern forest.
>You can hear the activity before you see it, faeries shouting and laughing. Then you come a small clearing with a couple dozen faeries of practically every description, gathered closely together in a half-circle. In the center of this chaos, standing on a stump, is a small faerie in a blue dress, her blonde hair a mass of ringlets. Laying on the ground beside her, her hands and feet bound and looking decidedly bored and annoyed, is the familiar face of Yamame.
>"Do I hear seven thimbles? Seven?" says the ringlet-bearing faerie.
>"One saw-horse!" shouts a faerie in the crowd.
>"We're late!" cries one of your guides.
>_
-
>Spare a rather incredulous look with Tenshi
>Make our way to the circle, as discretely off to the side as possible
>See if we can make eye contact with Yamame without disturbing the gathering, yet. Concerned and curious expression.
-
>Spare a rather incredulous look with Tenshi
>Make our way to the circle, as discretely off to the side as possible
>See if we can make eye contact with Yamame without disturbing the gathering, yet. Concerned and curious expression.
>You give Tenshi a rather incredulous look. She shrugs.
>You start to make your way around the circle and do not need to take any especial action to catch her attention; few people stand out as much among a gathering of faeries as you do. She tries to say something, but you can't hear her very well over the faeries shouting and bidding. Taking a closer look, though, the damage on her clothing and the marks she bears suggests she was on the wrong end of a danmaku battle.
>_
-
>Frown
>Kneel down and try to move a little closer so that we can hear her. If at all possible, don't do this in a way that would make the fairies think we're trying to grab her and run off with her or something
-
>Listen for the current bid.
-
>Frown
>Kneel down and try to move a little closer so that we can hear her. If at all possible, don't do this in a way that would make the fairies think we're trying to grab her and run off with her or something
>You are not close enough that kneeling down would help. As it stands, you are near the edge of the crowd and still a few yards from her.
>Listen for the current bid.
>The current bid seems to be five shiny rocks. No, now it's pair of boots.
>_
-
>Man, youkai are going cheaply these days...
>Move closer to Yamame
-
>Man, youkai are going cheaply these days...
>Move closer to Yamame
>Perhaps faeries in Gensokyo have a particular appreciation for fine footwear?
>You try to get closer to Yamame. "Hey!" shouts a faerie near you. "She's trying to make off with the goods!"
>The mood of the crowd darkens considerably as the cries for bids change to shouts of outrage.
>_
-
>Stop
>Put hands up in a gesture of 'Wait a moment; I'm not doing anything.'
>"I was simply trying to hear what she was trying to say."
-
>Stop
>Put hands up in a gesture of 'Wait a moment; I'm not doing anything.'
>"I was simply trying to hear what she was trying to say."
>You stop and throw your hands up, but you're pretty sure the crowd didn't hear you. Or they did and are no less vocally irate about it.
>_
-
>What do they seem to be doing? Just standing there yelling at us? Do any of them seem about to do something more hostile?
>How securely does Yamame seem to be bound?
-
>Where is Tenshi in all this?
-
>What do they seem to be doing? Just standing there yelling at us? Do any of them seem about to do something more hostile?
>How securely does Yamame seem to be bound?
>Lots of yelling and angry gesturing. There's a fair chance things may be getting uglier.
>You suspect it was secure enough to keep Yamame from getting away.
>Where is Tenshi in all this?
>She stayed back when you went forward; she's near the edge of the crowd, completely ignored at the moment.
>_
-
>Secure enough to keep her from getting away, yes, but is she bound in ways that would be difficult to cut through quickly from the outside?
>Take a step or two back. By ready to defend ourselves quickly, if necessary
-
>Secure enough to keep her from getting away, yes, but is she bound in ways that would be difficult to cut through quickly from the outside?
>Take a step or two back. By ready to defend ourselves quickly, if necessary
>You could cut through them quickly if you didn't mind the risk of cutting her arms and legs very badly in the process.
>You back away. The crowd does not seem much mollified, with cries of "Such nerve!" and "Outrageous!" coming your way.
>_
-
>How quickly do we think they could be cut WITHOUT harming Yamame in the process?
>Is the crowd looking firmly at us, to a faerie? If so, try to slowly back up and shift away such that neither Yamame or Tenshi is in their field of vision.
>Hope that Tenshi gets the hint.
-
>How quickly do we think they could be cut WITHOUT harming Yamame in the process?
>Is the crowd looking firmly at us, to a faerie? If so, try to slowly back up and shift away such that neither Yamame or Tenshi is in their field of vision.
>Hope that Tenshi gets the hint.
>No idea, you've never cut someone out of ropes before. Probably a few moments.
>You back away slowly. "She's gonna pull a runner!" cries one of the faeries. "Get her!"
>_
-
I'm wondering if whipping out a spellcard might not be such a bad idea right now. Use it to threaten - or to bid.
-
>Determine if we are completely surrounded by fairies.
-
I'm wondering if whipping out a spellcard might not be such a bad idea right now. Use it to threaten - or to bid.
I'm not sure they'll listen to anything we have to say. Or even literally be able to hear it over their own noise, if past posts are an indication
>What are the effects of our present spellcards?
>Do the fairies seem to be getting ready to surge, or did that one just cry out a suggestion?
-
I'm pretty sure the volume of noise won't stop them from seeing the thing.
-
Well, I assume that if we just whip out a spellcard, they'll assume we're starting to attack, and will immediately swarm us.
-
>Determine if we are completely surrounded by fairies.
>You are not completely surrounded, but they do have your front cut off, and would cut you off if you tried to go left.
>What are the effects of our present spellcards?
>Do the fairies seem to be getting ready to surge, or did that one just cry out a suggestion?
>You spellcards are:
>Spine Sign: "Acanthodii of the Thunder Clouds"
>This spellcard engulfs you in a shield of electricity. It can be broken with enough force, and only lasts for a short time before it must be renewed
>Light Orb: "Dragon's Gleaming Eyes"
>This recreates an image of one of The Dragon's physical manifestations in lightning and sends it out.
>Cloud Realm: "The Thunder Court in the Sea of Abstruse Clouds"
>Fills the air with webs of lightning, but leaves you motionless.
>Dragonfish: "Dragon Palace's Messenger Swimming Shot"
>Sends electricity spiraling out from you, but leaves you defenseless.
>They aren't surging yet, but it seems imminent in the next few seconds if something doesn't happen.
>_
-
>Look up.
-
>Look up.
>You look up.
>The sky is slightly cloudy and free of shrine maidens and magicians. You think you see a tiny island overhead; it wouldn't be more than a couple yards across.
>_
-
>Fly upwards, and fast.
-
>Fly upwards, and fast.
>Up you go!
>From the cries and sounds of danmaku, you are quite certain this has goaded the swarm into action.
>_
-
>Is Tenshi following?
>Send out wide arcs of danmaku that can hit multiple opponents at once.
>Graze the danmaku in an unspecified way, because you can't usually graze nonillustrated danmaku in a specific way.
>Holy shit are they forming a Guy Made of Fairies?
-
>Keep ascending, and try to shift laterally to lead the fairies away from the people still on the ground
>Look back down to the fairy swarm, and gauge incoming fire in preparation to dodge
>Are all the fairies following us?
>Try to get some distance and hopefully spread the swarm out before returning fire
-
>Is Tenshi following?
>Send out wide arcs of danmaku that can hit multiple opponents at once.
>Graze the danmaku in an unspecificed way, because you can't usually graze nonillustrated danmaku in a specific way.
>Holy shit are they forming a Guy Made of Fairies?
>You glance down, and don't see Tenshi following. You do see a couple dozen faeries swaming up at you, and a lot of random danmaku leading the way.
>Unfortunately, you're not so good at wide arcs of danmaku. You can send out some widish curtains of lightning, but they aren't nearly so good as a thick screen of danmaku.
>You may have trouble with that, the stuff coming is hard to read.
>There's a hivemind for ya.
>Keep ascending, and try to shift laterally to lead the fairies away from the people still on the ground
>Look back down to the fairy swarm, and gauge incoming fire in preparation to dodge
>Are all the fairies following us?
>Try to get some distance and hopefully spread the swarm out before returning fire
>You keep going up and try to lead them away a bit.
>Looking down, you can see there isn't a lot of fire coming your way, but there's no real pattern to it. Trying to read may not work so well.
>You...think so. At least a majority are.
>You keep ascending. As you expect, the faeries fan a bit to try and fire on your more effectively. Then you see a couple keystones tear through their numbers from below.
>_
>_
-
>Scan for the closest fairy that is also near others and launch a bolt of chain lightning
>Keep an eye on incoming fire. If it's hard to read, then try to tune out bullets that don't seem to be coming especially close to us, and try to use quicker movements to evade the fire that comes in closer
>Try to shift such that they can't fan out all around us. Try to sweep out to the side against their efforts to encompass us.
-
>Scan for the closest fairy that is also near others and launch a bolt of chain lightning
>Keep an eye on incoming fire. If it's hard to read, then try to tune out bullets that don't seem to be coming especially close to us, and try to use quicker movements to evade the fire that comes in closer
>Try to shift such that they can't fan out all around us. Try to sweep out to the side against their efforts to encompass us.
>Most of the faeries are near others, it isn't difficult to send some chain lightning at them. Unfortunately, this also takes a moment to prepare, during which both the faeries and their danmaku closes in. Still, you feel a bit of satisfaction as the bolt hits one, and arcs on to zap a few more, knocking them from the sky.
>You keep an eye on incoming fire, but your previous activity has given it time to catch up with you, a couple of bullets hit your legs painfully before you can get a good enough idea of how to move to avoid the rest. Regardless, your tactic serves you well afterward.
>You keep moving sideways, which does make it harder for them to surround you. In the meantime, more keystones fly through their thinning ranks; and the fire, while still random, is less threatening than before.
>_
-
>Continue our evasive tactics
>Pick another cluster, wait for a momentary gap in fire directly around us, and fire another chain lightning
-
>Continue our evasive tactics
>Pick another cluster, wait for a momentary gap in fire directly around us, and fire another chain lightning
>You keep evading, as the faeries close in from below.
>There isn't much in the way of clusters now.
>_
-
>Then switch to tagging individual fairies with swift lightning bolts
-
>Then switch to tagging individual fairies with swift lightning bolts
>You sent out a couple of lighting bolts, striking a couple of faeries.
>The bullets are thinning out now, and as another keystone knocks out another faerie, they are clearly having second thoughts.
>_
-
>Keep up the offense/defense
>If the fairies start to scatter, let them leave and do not pursue
-
>Keep up the offense/defense
>If the fairies start to scatter, let them leave and do not pursue
>You keep up the offensive, gliding around a couple bullets, and the remaining faeries seem to have had enough, as one flees, a couple more follow, and the rest are quickly doing the same.
>_
-
>Descend towards Yamame
>Swing towards Tenshi on our way down
>"Thanks for the hand."
-
>Descend towards Yamame
>Swing towards Tenshi on our way down
>"Thanks for the hand."
>You descend back toward the clearing, and give Tenshi your thanks. "Well, if guess if you're going to piss them and get all the attention," she says, "I had to help out somehow."
-
>"Nonetheless, I appreciate it. I'd hoped they wouldn't get agitated quite so quickly, but I guess this is one way to deal with it."
>Go over to Yamame
>"Are you alright? What happened?"
-
>"Nonetheless, I appreciate it. I'd hoped they wouldn't get agitated quite so quickly, but I guess this is one way to deal with it."
>Go over to Yamame
>"Are you alright? What happened?"
>You go over to Yamame. She is currently laying on her side among the leaves.
>"Hey thanks, buddy," she says. "I'm okay, just I was heading that mountain, and then those guys were everywhere doin' everything."
>_
-
>"The faeries, you mean?"
>"Tenshi, could you cut her loose, please?"
-
>"The faeries, you mean?"
>"Tenshi, could you cut her loose, please?"
>Yamame nods. "Yeah, buddy. Guess that's what happens when you fly around during an incident."
>"Huh?" says Tenshi. "Okay." She walks over to Yamame and kneels by her.
>"Figured what'd I do," Yamame continues, "Was let 'em do their thing, then when one of 'em one, get her to let me go loose, then walk off after a bit."
>_
-
>"Yes, I suppose that would probably have worked as well. We were actually looking for you, believe it or not. Utsuho was concerned that you hadn't showed up. Although, I will say this isn't quite the circumstances I expected to find you in. I'm glad you're alright, in any case."
-
>"Yes, I suppose that would probably have worked as well. We were actually looking for you, believe it or not. Utsuho was concerned that you hadn't showed up. Although, I will say this isn't quite the circumstances I expected to find you in. I'm glad you're alright, in any case."
>She frowns, while Tenshi starts working on Yamame's wrist bindings. "Yeah...kinda let her down. See, uh, actually I was kinda hungry, so I figured I'd get some lamprey, you know?"
>_
-
>"Weren't you meeting up with her for lunch in the first place, though?"
-
>"Weren't you meeting up with her for lunch in the first place, though?"
>She fidgets a bit. "Yeah, but I was hungry, buddy..."
>_
-
>"In any case, I wouldn't worry about letting her down after this. I'm sure she'll be happy enough that you didn't come to harm."
-
>"In any case, I wouldn't worry about letting her down after this. I'm sure she'll be happy enough that you didn't come to harm."
>Yamame nods, as Tenshi finishes cutting her hands free. "Yeah, she's good like that."
>_
-
>"Where was it they attacked you, out of curiosity?"
-
>"Where was it they attacked you, out of curiosity?"
>"Uh..." Yamame frowns. "Out somewhere, buddy. Don't know things all that well up here. Up over the trees and stuff."
>_
-
>"So not inside the forest itself?"
>"Then I guess whatever battle damage we saw earlier was from something else."
-
>"So not inside the forest itself?"
>"Then I guess whatever battle damage we saw earlier was from something else."
>"Sorry, buddy," says Yamame with a shrug as she massages her wrists.
>"Yeah," says Tenshi as she finishes cutting the bindings on Yamame's legs. "It was on the wrong side of the forest, anyways."
>_
-
>"This might sound like an odd question, Yamame, but I don't suppose you've heard anyone talk about strange shadows lately? Maybe some of the faeries, even?"
-
>"This might sound like an odd question, Yamame, but I don't suppose you've heard anyone talk about strange shadows lately? Maybe some of the faeries, even?"
>"Uh...maybe," says Yamame, as she slowly gets to her feet, then starts to smooth her disheveled hair. "I think maybe one of the faeries said something about weird shadows, buddy."
>_
-
>"Do you know what it was she said? It may be important."
-
>"Do you know what it was she said? It may be important."
>She stares upward for a moment, crossing her arms. "Uhhh...not really. I think it was something about seeing it yet, whatever that means.. You could ask her, but you kinda shot her up there, buddy."
>_
-
>Sigh
>"And to think, my reason for coming to this gathering in the first place was to see if any of them had heard tell of this. Oh well... not much that can be done about that now, I suppose."
-
>Sigh
>"And to think, my reason for coming to this gathering in the first place was to see if any of them had heard tell of this. Oh well... not much that can be done about that now, I suppose."
>"Don't worry, buddy," says Yamame. "Gotta be someone else who knows, yeah?"
>_
-
>"Yeah, I'm sure there probably is. Just a matter of finding them."
>We didn't follow the southward trail from the tree to its end before getting sidetracked by the fairies, did we?
-
>"Yeah, I'm sure there probably is. Just a matter of finding them."
>We didn't follow the southward trail from the tree to its end before getting sidetracked by the fairies, did we?
>You did not, but you got the feeling it was going to wear thin. Also, you aren't sure if you can find your way back to it very easily.
>_
-
>"Well, is there anything else we can do for you?"
-
>"Well, is there anything else we can do for you?"
>"Think I oughta be okay, buddy," says Yamame. "Uh, you need anything?"
>_
-
> Quests
-
> Quests
>You quests are:
>The Sky Has Fallen
>Bhava Agra has descended into Gensokyo. The Dragon has tasked you with finding out why and fixing it. You have discovered something is very awry with its shadow.
>Brocken Spectroscopy
>What is the truth behind the Brocken Spectre? Does it really exist?
>Nitori's Shadow
>Nitori seems to be missing her shadow. This has left her a shell of a person. Why?
>Bringing the Ruckus
>Yuugi has requested you deal with several people in the Ancient City, violently, and gave you a hit list.
>_
-
> What do we know about Yamame?
-
> What do we know about Yamame?
>You know she lives underground, along the path to the Ancient City. You know she has a penchant, well deserved in your opinion, for being a little weird. You know she has some knowledge of the tunnels around the Ancient City, and apparently makes some money as a supplier there. You also know that she does some work for Rinnosuke. She seems to be friends with Utsuho, you didn't expect that since she never struck you as all that social.
>_
-
> Did Utsuho or Parsee mention that Yamame knew about Nitori?
> "I can't think of anything off the top of my head.Tenshi, do you have any ideas?"
-
> Did Utsuho or Parsee mention that Yamame knew about Nitori?
> "I can't think of anything off the top of my head.Tenshi, do you have any ideas?"
>They did not say anything to this effect. As you recall, in fact, you're the only one they told.
>Tenshi shrugs. "Ask her something about one of those other things you're doing? I dunno."
>_
-
> "I suppose I could. Yamame, what do you know about the Brocken Spectre, if anything?"
-
> "I suppose I could. Yamame, what do you know about the Brocken Spectre, if anything?"
>"All kinds of people are looking for it, buddy," says Yamame. "It's kinda a big deal around the forest. Dunno if there actually is one, seems kinda like a thing to sell papers, when you think about it. Utsuho's girl is into that kinda thing. Hey, you gonna start looking for it, too?"
>_
-
>"Ordinarily I would say no, but I find myself at least a little curious at the moment. We're searching the area for answers to other mysteries as it is, though I doubt if such determined efforts have found nothing that a casual one would meet with any greater success."
-
> "Anyway, I suppose we could at least take you to Utsuho. You have anything you need to take care of?"
-
>"Ordinarily I would say no, but I find myself at least a little curious at the moment. We're searching the area for answers to other mysteries as it is, though I doubt if such determined efforts have found nothing that a casual one would meet with any greater success."
>"You wanna talk with Renko or Parsee about it then," says Yamame. "They're both way into it, buddy. Mayeb Hatate, since she gets all the pictures. Some of the faeries are really into it, too. But they're a little crazy, yeah? Maybe the best though, since they live here."
> "Anyway, I suppose we could at least take you to Utsuho. You have anything you need to take care of?"
>"You don't hafta do that," says Yamame. "I'mma just head up and right for the mountain, buddy."
>_
-
>"Ok, if you're sure you'll be fine."
-
>"Ok, if you're sure you'll be fine."
>"Yeah, I oughta be alright, buddy," says Yamame, "So longs as I don't get too close to the trees."
>_
-
>"Very well. Good wishes to you, then."
-
>"Very well. Good wishes to you, then."
>"Seeya," Says Yamame, as she takes to the air, waving behind her, "And I owe you one, buddy!"
>"What's next?" asks Tenshi, as she looks through some of the stuff that the angry faeries had dropped on the ground.
>_
-
>"Well, I'd say we pick up where we left off. What happened was unfortunate, but Yamame's right that if one fairy was talking about odd shadows, it's quite possible that other fairies around here have heard something as well. They are rather chatty, after all. I see nothing better than to keep wandering in hoping of finding someone else to ask."
-
Where did we leave off, though? The only reason I wanted to hunt Renko down was because we wanted to ask her where Yamame was. >_>
The only thing I can think of at this point is heading to Mystia's to meet up with Aya.
EDIT: Though I do also want to have a couple of other conversations with Chiko.
-
Well, I thought we'd just wander around, looking for another fairy. Trying to pick up that old trail we were tracing is probably pointless, but it at least gives us a direction to walk in, while we hope to find someone to speak with.
-
I guess that could work.
-
>"Well, I'd say we pick up where we left off. What happened was unfortunate, but Yamame's right that if one fairy was talking about odd shadows, it's quite possible that other fairies around here have heard something as well. They are rather chatty, after all. I see nothing better than to keep wandering in hoping of finding someone else to ask."
>Tenshi nods, and idly pockets something. "Yeah, but there's a good chance most of them haven't calmed down yet. Oh well, shouldn't be too hard to find more."
>_
-
>"Yes, hopefully."
>Try to head back in the direction of that tree / trail that we were following earlier, as best we can remember the direction
>Keep an eye out for any sign of fairies
-
>"Yes, hopefully."
>Try to head back in the direction of that tree / trail that we were following earlier, as best we can remember the direction
>Keep an eye out for any sign of fairies
>You depart, Tenshi following behind, trying to retrace your steps from before. This quickly becomes a futile effort, you were simply too busy trying not to get left behind by your guides to really not the terrain.
>It does not take long to you to find another faerie, however. You come to part of the forest where mushrooms grow between the trees, and find moderately tall strawberry blonde faerie in a red and white dress picking a few, regarding them with a critical eye.
>_
-
>Approach
>"Good afternoon."
-
>Approach
>"Good afternoon."
>"Ah!" cries the faerie, jumping and whirling on you. "You'll never take me alive!"
>Despite this, she does nothing more threatening then clutch her basket of mushrooms with both hands.
>_
-
>"I'm sorry if I frightened you. I just wanted to ask you a question or two, that's all."
-
>"I'm sorry if I frightened you. I just wanted to ask you a question or two, that's all."
>"I don't know anything about a missing basket!" she says.
>She doesn't seem quite so tense as before.
>_
-
>"Well, that makes two of us, actually."
-
>"Well, that makes two of us, actually."
>"Right, yeah. Exactly." says the fearie, nodding with enough force to send the pigtails at the sides of her head swaying wildly.
>_
-
>"I don't suppose you've heard anything about odd shadows?"
-
>"I don't suppose you've heard anything about odd shadows?"
>"What do you mean by that?" she asks.
>_
-
>"Like shadows that don't look quite right, for example. I'd heard there was talk of something like that around here; I didn't know if you might have heard it, too. Or see something odd, even."
-
>"Like shadows that don't look quite right, for example. I'd heard there was talk of something like that around here; I didn't know if you might have heard it, too. Or see something odd, even."
>In practically the blink of an eye, the faerie has dropped her mushroom basic, zoomed through the air toward you, and grabs you by the front of your shirt.
>"Who told you about the tree?!" she shouts, inches from your face. "Who!? Was it Star?! Huh!"
>Despite this, you have some difficulty being intimidated, given you are a bit more than twice as tall as she is.
>_
-
>"Um, no one, actually. But we've been having shadow problems of our own. Someone overheard some fairies say something about odd shadows here, so I came to investigate. I don't know which fairies they were, I'm afraid, before you ask again."
>"Could you tell me what exactly is wrong with this tree's shadow? Any information you can share would be appreciated, and I'd like to do what I can to help you, in turn."
-
>"Um, no one, actually. But we've been having shadow problems of our own. Someone overheard some fairies say something about odd shadows here, so I came to investigate. I don't know which fairies they were, I'm afraid, before you ask again."
>"Could you tell me what exactly is wrong with this tree's shadow? Any information you can share would be appreciated, and I'd like to do what I can to help you, in turn."
>"Oh, so it wasn't Star?" says the faerie. She lets you go and floats back to her basket. You can almost detect an aura of sheepishness about her. "Um. It doesn't have one anymore."
>_
-
>"At all? Not even a faint one?"
>"When did this happen?"
-
>"At all? Not even a faint one?"
>"When did this happen?"
>She shakes her head. "Nope! It's not there!"
>"Uh..." she frowns for a moment. "A couple weeks ago is when we saw it."
>_
-
>"That's... much earlier than the others...."
>"Did it disappear entirely overnight, or something? No one saw it happen, did they?"
-
>"That's... much earlier than the others...."
>"Did it disappear entirely overnight, or something? No one saw it happen, did they?"
>"I think it did," says the faerie. Then she shakes her head. "And nope."
>_
-
>"Have you seen anything else like that, in all the time since? Any other things without shadows? Or any shadows that look wrong?"
>"Or anything else unusual at all, around the forest."
-
>"Have you seen anything else like that, in all the time since? Any other things without shadows? Or any shadows that look wrong?"
>"Or anything else unusual at all, around the forest."
>"Umm," says the faerie. "There's been a much of weird people and Other Dai running around lately."
>_
-
>"Other Dai?"
>"And what kind of weird people?"
-
>"Other Dai?"
>"And what kind of weird people?"
>"Yeah, Other Dai! She's like Dai, but the other one." The faerie frowns. "She has the hat, you know? And did the thing with mansion."
>"All kinds of weird people who don't live here! They walk around in groups and stuff. Been trying to think of a good way to get them..."
>_
-
>"I don't suppose those are people looking for the Brochen Specter, perhaps?"
>"What do you know about that, anyway?"
-
>"I don't suppose those are people looking for the Brochen Specter, perhaps?"
>"What do you know about that, anyway?"
>"Oh, that's what they're doing!" says the faerie. "Huh, I never thought of it that way."
>"Um, I know Cirno and her friends are gonna catch it. I hope I get to ride on it when they do!"
>_
-
>"Do you have any idea what it is? Do you know if anyone has seen it?"
-
>"Do you have any idea what it is? Do you know if anyone has seen it?"
>"It's supposed to be some really big youkai! Or a metal doll, maybe? All kinds of people think they've seen it, though."
>_
-
>"A metal doll, that's a new one"
>Have we heard about anything involving metal dolls? or anyone that might have heard about it?
-
>"A metal doll, that's a new one"
>Have we heard about anything involving metal dolls? or anyone that might have heard about it?
>You think the kappa made something like that, a while back. It was part of some fair, if you recall correctly.
>_
-
>"But you don't know of anyone that's gotten a good look at it, before, then?"
>"For that matter, if it's supposed to be in this forest, with all the fairies that live here, wouldn't you expect someone to have seen something by now?"
-
>"But you don't know of anyone that's gotten a good look at it, before, then?"
>"For that matter, if it's supposed to be in this forest, with all the fairies that live here, wouldn't you expect someone to have seen something by now?"
>"Maybe the paper girl?" says the faerie, frowning.
>"Well no one sees Kogasa setting her traps," says the faerie. "So I guess it's really good at hiding."
>_
-
>"I would guess it would have to be, to stay hidden at all against such determined searching."
>"I wonder if it's worth asking Hatate? Actually, I suppose Aya hasn't even had a chance to take her own stab at this, has she? Given that it's only resurfaced fairly recently."
>"Tenshi, I don't suppose you know when abouts these newer sightings started being published in the paper?"
-
>"I would guess it would have to be, to stay hidden at all against such determined searching."
>"I wonder if it's worth asking Hatate? Actually, I suppose Aya hasn't even had a chance to take her own stab at this, has she? Given that it's only resurfaced fairly recently."
>"Tenshi, I don't suppose you know when abouts these newer sightings started being published in the paper?"
>"That's what everyone thinks its trick is, yeah," says Tenshi.
>"She has all the pictures," says the faerie.
>Tenshi frowns ask you ask her when it started. "Uh, I don't pay mention attention to the paper. Um...I think one of the groups mentioned it started a couple months ago at their meeting? So I guess around the time that Scarlet Devil Mansion got raided?"
>_
-
>"And again, it's just your tree that's been affected? Nothing else in the forest that you've seen?"
>"Does anything else seem off with it, now that its shadow's gone? Other than the shadow itself?"
-
>"And again, it's just your tree that's been affected? Nothing else in the forest that you've seen?"
>"Does anything else seem off with it, now that its shadow's gone? Other than the shadow itself?"
>"It's not my tree, but I think it's the only one."
>The faerie frowns. "It's kind of really sick. We've been trying to help it, but it just don't want to get better, no matter how much loam and fertilizer we give it!"
>_
-
>Frown
>"Oh, I see... Do you think you might be able to take me to see it?"
-
>Frown
>"Oh, I see... Do you think you might be able to take me to see it?"
>The faerie eyes you suspiciously. "This isn't a trick to lower our defenses, is it?"
>_
-
>"Absolutely not. I'm just very concerned about these shadow problems."
-
>"Absolutely not. I'm just very concerned about these shadow problems."
>"Well, okay..." says the faerie. "Wait!"
>She gives you another suspicious look.
>"You're not just trying to mooch a free dinner, are you?"
>_
-
>"No, not at all."
-
>"No, not at all."
>"Good, I won't be having any of that!" she says.
>With that, she leads you southward. Thankfully, her pace isn't nearly that manic, compared to the one that the trio from before set. But at the same time, given you didn't really know where you were to begin with, you aren't sure you'll be able to retrace this path to begin with. Still, you catch a glimpse of the lake as she starts to veer a bit toward the east.
>Along the way, your guide chatters aimlessly about anything and everything that pops into her head. You learn that she, Sunny, lives with two other faeries, Star and Luna. As far as you can tell, they are at once best friends and dire nemeses. You get more than an earful of various daily intrigues, which seems to amount to squabbling over what to do for the day, working on meals, and in general being faeries. You're also certain her stories contradict themselves at least three times.
>As you carry on, going into what you think are the regions east of Scarlet Devil Mansion, you see more signs of faeries; the occasional house in a tree, or trapdoor in the ground left open. From what you've heard, they have homes hidden all over the forest, it would take some dedicated work to find the ones purposefully hidden.
>Soon after crossing an old stone bridge, Sunny stops and points to a particular tree. "That one," she says.
>_
-
>Nod
>Examine the tree
-
>Nod
>Examine the tree
>You examine the tree. It is part of a small stand of trees, glancing at it you would be hard-pressed to notice its missing shadow, as the rest of the trees provide their own. But you can tell that it is not doing well, where the other trees still hold onto its leaves, it has none. Its bark is a paler shade than the rest, and seems not to be so strongly attached. The soil around its roots has been churned up; perhaps part of the treatments the faeries were trying?
>_
-
>"Yes, it does not look well at all."
>Despite not being obvious, can we still tell the absence of its shadow if we look more carefully?
-
>"Yes, it does not look well at all."
>Despite not being obvious, can we still tell the absence of its shadow if we look more carefully?
>"It looks sick," says Tenshi. "Can trees even get sick?"
>It takes a moment to separate out everything else from where it's shadow should be, but you see it is missing.
>_
-
> "Is this tree special somehow, relative to all the other trees?"
-
> "Is this tree special somehow, relative to all the other trees?"
>"Well it's a very nice tree," says Sunny. "And it's missing a shadow, that's pretty special, don't you think?"
>_
-
> "Was it particularly special before it had lost its shadow? Maybe it belonged to someone, or it was a source of magic, or something? Anything beyond looking pretty?"
-
> "Was it particularly special before it had lost its shadow? Maybe it belonged to someone, or it was a source of magic, or something? Anything beyond looking pretty?"
>"Oh, nothing like that," says Sunny.
>_
-
> "That's very bizarre, then. I was hoping for some sort of connection between things that had lost their shadows, but...just a random tree? That's not helpful at all."
> "Does Other Dai know about this tree?"
-
> "That's very bizarre, then. I was hoping for some sort of connection between things that had lost their shadows, but...just a random tree? That's not helpful at all."
> "Does Other Dai know about this tree?"
>"That's kind of mean to it, don't you think?" says Sunny, frowning at you.
>You ask if this Other Dai person knows about it. She shrugs. "Probably not."
>_
-
> "Well, I say that because there are other things that have lost their shadows, and if we could find a connection between them, we could find what's responsible and stop it."
-
>"I don't mean that it isn't a nice tree, but that it doesn't seem connected to the other missing shadows in any obvious way."
>"Well, since we have this, it might be useful to take a couple photos as reference, in case we need to inquire with other people about it."
>Take a couple pictures of the tree, from various angles. Try to make sure that the lack of shadow is as obvious in them as we can make it.
-
>"I don't mean that it isn't a nice tree, but that it doesn't seem connected to the other missing shadows in any obvious way."
>"Well, since we have this, it might be useful to take a couple photos as reference, in case we need to inquire with other people about it."
>Take a couple pictures of the tree, from various angles. Try to make sure that the lack of shadow is as obvious in them as we can make it.
>"Oh. What happened to the other ones?" asks Sunny. "Because I bet that's what happened to this one!"
>You take some pictures. As you do, a bit of stiff paper comes out with a whirring noise for each one. At first, they are just dark, but the image slowly appears on them. Tenshi and Sunny watch the process with obvious interest. Looking at the pictures, you are satisfied with them, the missing shadow is visible in them, but hard to pick out.
>You obtain: 2 Pictures of Shadowless Tree
>_
-
> What did Sunny say about herself specifically when she was talking to us along the journey to the tree?
-
> What did Sunny say about herself specifically when she was talking to us along the journey to the tree?
>Not a whole lot. You have gotten the feeling she is quite the prankster; or at least aspires to be one. Also, you suspect she has a sweet tooth.
>_
-
>"Oh. What happened to the other ones?" asks Sunny. "Because I bet that's what happened to this one!"
>"I'm afraid we don't know. I was hoping we could figure out what happened to this one, so that we could use that information to find out about the others. In each case, everything was normal, and then one morning it wasn't."
>"Were you the one who first discovered that there was something wrong with the tree?"
-
>"I'm afraid we don't know. I was hoping we could figure out what happened to this one, so that we could use that information to find out about the others. In each case, everything was normal, and then one morning it wasn't."
>"Were you the one who first discovered that there was something wrong with the tree?"
>"So you're saying it happened at dark?" asks Sunny.
>She shakes her head. "No, Luna did."
>_
-
>"Well, it was light out when the islands fell. I suppose we don't know if the symptoms happened immediately when the shadows were taken, or if it took some time to develop."
>"Hmmm... and I don't suppose she found signs of anything strange around here then, other than what we can see now?"
-
>"Well, it was light out when the islands fell. I suppose we don't know if the symptoms happened immediately when the shadows were taken, or if it took some time to develop."
>"Hmmm... and I don't suppose she found signs of anything strange around here then, other than what we can see now?"
>"Oh," says Sunny. "Wait, what does that have to do with anything?"
>"She...uh...um..." Sunny frowns. "I didn't ask..."
>_
-
>"What does what have to do with anything?"
>"And might it be possible for us to ask her? Just in case there was something?"
-
>"What does what have to do with anything?"
>"And might it be possible for us to ask her? Just in case there was something?"
>"The sky falling," she asks. "I don't know why you brought that up..unless..."
>Her eyes go wide. "Was it you that took it?! Are you returning to the scene of the crime like they always do!?"
>_
-
>"No, no, not at all. But the islands have lost parts of their shadows, too. It's why they fell. They've gotten sick, like this tree has. Someone or something stole the shadows from both places."
-
>"No, no, not at all. But the islands have lost parts of their shadows, too. It's why they fell. They've gotten sick, like this tree has. Someone or something stole the shadows from both places."
>"Oooooh..." says Sunny. "That makes sense."
>She frowns. "Um...You wanted to see Luna, right? Um..."
>She cups her hands to her mouth. "Hey Luna! Get out here!"
>There is silence.
>"Luna!"
>"She's not here!" comes a voice from a bush nearby.
>"Okay!" says Sunny. She looks to you and says, "She's not here." She gives a sage nod, crossing her arms.
>_
-
>"Hmm... do you have any idea where I might be able to find her, then? If she noticed anything else, it could be rather important to fixing both our problems."
-
>"Hmm... do you have any idea where I might be able to find her, then? If she noticed anything else, it could be rather important to fixing both our problems."
>"She might be out looking for more moon stuff..." says Sunny, rubbing her chin. "No, she only does that at night. Um... Maybe she's fishing! ...No wait, she doesn't like fishing. Uh...I know! She's at the lake! That's where all the cool people are."
>She nods sagely again, then starts westward.
>_
-
>Follow along
-
>Follow along
>You follow Sunny westward, back over the stone bridge, and through some thicker parts of the forest. There's some faeries about along the way, but not so many as you would expect. You see the walls of Scarlet Devil Mansion not too far from you at one point, and think you catch a glimpse oft the back of Alice's home.
>Soon, you emerge near the northern banks of the lake, reasonably sure that you can trace your way back to the shadowless tree from the ground. Looking around, you can see a ground of faeries on the ground near the western shore of the lake, engaged in some kind of general roughhousing.
>_
-
>"So, does it look like Luna's here?"
-
>"So, does it look like Luna's here?"
>Sunny scruntizes the group of faeries. "Uh...no, wait yes! Wait...maybe...Oh, there she is. Yeah, she's there."
>The faerie points to another faerie, about the same size as she, with blonde hair and wearing a white dress with black ribbons. "Hey Luna!" Sunny calls, "Come over here for a moment!"
>Said faerie approaches, giving you a curious look. "Do you have a new plan, Sunny?" she asks.
>_
-
>"A new plan? To do what?"
-
>"A new plan? To do what?"
>"Oh just-" Sunny begins
>"For the next big prank, of course!" Luna says.
>_
-
>"Did you... have a particular big prank in mind? Or were you just wondering if we did?"
-
>"Did you... have a particular big prank in mind? Or were you just wondering if we did?"
>"I was just wondering if Sunny had a new idea that involved you somehow," ays Luna, frowning.
>_
-
> "No, we've only been asking her about that tree with no shadow."
> "But if it's a prank idea you're looking for, I may have an idea..."
-
> "No, we've only been asking her about that tree with no shadow."
> "But if it's a prank idea you're looking for, I may have an idea..."
>"Oh," says Luna. frowning.
>Sunny looks up at you with a small frown. "What, really?"
>_
-
>"I may, actually... there were a couple things I wanted to ask first, though."
>"Luna, you were the first one who noticed that the tree's shadow was missing, right? Did you see anything at else odd around there, at the time? Signs that anyone strange had been there? Anything out of the ordinary, really."
-
>"I may, actually... there were a couple things I wanted to ask first, though."
>"Luna, you were the first one who noticed that the tree's shadow was missing, right? Did you see anything at else odd around there, at the time? Signs that anyone strange had been there? Anything out of the ordinary, really."
>"I think I saw a ghost around there," says Luna.
>"Wait, you did?" says Sunny. "Why didn't you tell us?!"
>"You never asked!"
>Sunny puts a hand to her head, mouth slightly agape and eyes staring at nothing around her.
>_
-
>"A ghost? Really? What did it look like?"
>"Did it seem to be doing anything?"
-
>"A ghost? Really? What did it look like?"
>"Did it seem to be doing anything?"
>"Um, it was one of those ghosts that looks like people," Luna says. "She had white hair, and weird sort of fancy clothes. She looked like she was thinking about something, she was just sitting in the middle of a bush, so I left her alone."
>_
-
>"And this bush was near that tree?"
>"Are you sure she was a ghost?"
-
>"And this bush was near that tree?"
>"Are you sure she was a ghost?"
>"It was kinda close by," says Luna, "And yeah, she was a ghost! But not the normal kind, the kind that look more like people."
>_
-
>"I'm curious; if it looks like a person, how can you tell?"
-
>"I'm curious; if it looks like a person, how can you tell?"
>Luna frowns at you. "You can just tell, can't you?"
>You've not had much experience with nonstandard ghosts, to be honest, save for meeting the princess of Hakugyokurou and her servant. You did recognize Yuyuko as a ghost right away, but she wears her ghostly nature on her sleeve so to speak. Youmu, she attacked before you had time to determine much.
>_
-
>"Hmmm... do you think you could give me a more detailed description of her? And the clothes she was wearing, possibly?"
-
>"Hmmm... do you think you could give me a more detailed description of her? And the clothes she was wearing, possibly?"
>Luna grimaces. "It was a really long time ago. Um...she had white hair, and it was cut kind of short. I couldn't really see what she was wearing, there was a bush in the way."
>She wrings her hands. "Um...her clothes looked fancy. I think they were blue. ...Or was it green? Maybe... It wasn't a very bright color, at least. And I think she had a collar with the fancy sewing on the edge, um..."
>"Brocading?" Sunny says.
>"What's that taste like?" asks Luna.
>_
-
> "You saw her hair. Did you see if she had anything on her head?"
-
> "You saw her hair. Did you see if she had anything on her head?"
>"I don't think so..." says Luna. "Maybe it was small? Or she took it off? I didn't pay much attention."
>_
-
>"And she was just sitting inside a bush, doing nothing in particular that you could tell?"
>"Did you ever see human-looking ghosts in the forest at other times?"
-
> "Tenshi, what do you think? There's a couple of people I can think of with short white hair, but you're more familiar with this land than I am."
-
> "Tenshi, what do you think? There's a couple of people I can think of with short white hair, but you're more familiar with this land than I am."
>Tenshi nods. "Yeah, that could be one of the Prismrivers, or Youmu."
>_
-
> "That would certainly fit the ghost description, yes. Merlin has short whitish hair, doesn't she?"
-
>"And she was just sitting inside a bush, doing nothing in particular that you could tell?"
>"Did you ever see human-looking ghosts in the forest at other times?"
>Luna nods in response to your first question.
>"Yeah, sometimes! But not much. But sometimes!"
> "That would certainly fit the ghost description, yes. Merlin has short whitish hair, doesn't she?"
>"One of them does," says Tenshi.
>"Hey, you said you had a prank idea!" says Sunny.
>_
-
> "I do. But the first step in any prank is proper preparation, right? So I'll need to know what we have with which to work. What makes you two such good pranksters? Is there anything special you can do, like how I control lightning, or Tenshi here can create keystones?"
-
> "I do. But the first step in any prank is proper preparation, right? So I'll need to know what we have with which to work. What makes you two such good pranksters? Is there anything special you can do, like how I control lightning, or Tenshi here can create keystones?"
>"I can make things invisible," says Sunny. "Luna can keep things from making sound."
>_
-
> Give a surprised look. That's awfully convenient.
> "...Really? Like, could you do this for a whole person?"
-
> Give a surprised look. That's awfully convenient.
> "...Really? Like, could you do this for a whole person?"
>You start to wonder why these two aren't renowned as terrors throughout Gensokyo now.
>"Easily!" says Sunny.
>"Well I guess," says Luna at the same time.
>_
-
>"How does it work, exactly, anyway?"
-
> "That's actually very useful! No wonder you two are so good."
> "Do you think we could test this out now, just to make sure it works?"
-
>"How does it work, exactly, anyway?"
>"I make light not touch stuff," says Sunny with a curt nod and a grin.
>Luna shrugs. "I just do it it..."
> "That's actually very useful! No wonder you two are so good."
> "Do you think we could test this out now, just to make sure it works?"
>"We're the best," says Luna with a smile.
>"Um...could you look away?" asks Sunny. "It's easier."
>_
-
> "Wait, are you going to test it on me? Do you really need me to look away for that?"
-
> "Wait, are you going to test it on me? Do you really need me to look away for that?"
>Sunny shakes her head. "You're too big, it would be a pain. I was gonna do it on us!"
>_
-
>"Make light not touch stuff... I'd actually been wondering about how an object could cast no shadows. I mean, the tree still looks solid, and feels solid, so why doesn't it seem to block the light like normal trees do? If you know how to make light not touch things, do you have any idea if this could be something similar?"
>"How large a thing have you made invisible, before, anyway? Does it just get easier to see things as they get larger?"
-
>"Make light not touch stuff... I'd actually been wondering about how an object could cast no shadows. I mean, the tree still looks solid, and feels solid, so why doesn't it seem to block the light like normal trees do? If you know how to make light not touch things, do you have any idea if this could be something similar?"
>"How large a thing have you made invisible, before, anyway? Does it just get easier to see things as they get larger?"
>Sunny shrugs. "I dunno. I never tried it before...in fact...bye!"
>Before you can say more, she takes to the air and flies away at top speed.
>Luna blinks.
>_
-
>"W- what?"
>Where's she going?
>Scan around. Can we see anything that would have made her run off like that?
-
> Pat our purse to make sure both it and the camera are still there.
-
>"W- what?"
>Where's she going?
>Scan around. Can we see anything that would have made her run off like that?
>You express your dumbfoundedness.
>"I wonder where she's going?" asks Luna, as you wonder the same thing. Tenshi shrugs in response.
>You look around, and see nothing that you imagine would cause someone to run off.
> Pat our purse to make sure both it and the camera are still there.
>At a glance, it seems all your possessions are in place and intact.
>_
-
>Can we still see her, flying off into the distance?
-
>Can we still see her, flying off into the distance?
>You can. She seems to be heading back into the Southeastern Forest at quite a good pace.
>_
-
>Was that the part of the forest where we originally met her? Or where the tree was at?
-
>Was that the part of the forest where we originally met her? Or where the tree was at?
>More toward the latter, but she doesn't seem to be heading directly that way, just generally that way.
>_
-
>"Do you... have any idea why she ran off like that?"
-
>"Do you... have any idea why she ran off like that?"
>Luna shrugs. "Maybe she left the something on the stove?"
>_
-
>"Hmmm... is your home in that direction, then?"
-
>"Hmmm... is your home in that direction, then?"
>She nods. "Kinda."
>_
-
> "Well...you're still looking to pull a prank on someone, right?"
-
> "Well...you're still looking to pull a prank on someone, right?"
>Luna looks away from watching Sunny's wake and nods, smiling.
>_
-
>"Did you have a particular person in mind?"
-
>"Did you have a particular person in mind?"
>"Not really," says Luna. "A lot of times, we don't go for any particular person. Just whoever we can find."
>_
-
> "I actually have a particular person in mind. In her case, though, it would be helpful if you could silence someone larger than yourself."
-
> "I actually have a particular person in mind. In her case, though, it would be helpful if you could silence someone larger than yourself."
>"I might be able to do that!" she says.
-
> "Should we give it a try right now, to be sure? We don't want to get to the crucial moment and have something go wrong."
-
> "Should we give it a try right now, to be sure? We don't want to get to the crucial moment and have something go wrong."
>"What do you want me to do?" asks Luna, frowning a bit.
-
> "Can you make my movement silent for about five seconds?"
-
> "Can you make my movement silent for about five seconds?"
>She nods. "That won't be hard, as long as I am close."
>_
-
> "Let's try it right now, then. How close to you do I need to be?"
-
> "Let's try it right now, then. How close to you do I need to be?"
>"Okay," says Luna, "There."
>You don't notice anything.
>Tenshi suddenly starts cackling. "Oh wow, I know what you're plotting!"
>_
-
>Try taking a few steps
>To Tenshi: "Can you hear me?"
-
>Try taking a few steps
>To Tenshi: "Can you hear me?"
>You take a few steps. Nothing seems awry.
>Tenshi nods to you.
>_
-
>"Hmmm... so, no silence?"
-
>"Hmmm... so, no silence?"
>"Yeah there is!" says Luna. "I did just right! Nobody can hear us now!"
>_
-
>"Oh, all three of us at once, then?"
-
>"Oh, all three of us at once, then?"
>She nods. "Yep."
>_
-
>"How far away from you does it work?"
>"Would someone be able to hear us if they got close enough?"
-
>"How far away from you does it work?"
>"Would someone be able to hear us if they got close enough?"
>"You can't get too far away," says Luna. "And...um...maybe?"
>_
-
>"Hmmm... let's test that. Tenshi, hum a little something, would you? Or just talk; anything that makes a sound."
>Start to walk away from Tenshi and Luna. See how far we get before we have trouble hearing them
-
>"Hmmm... let's test that. Tenshi, hum a little something, would you? Or just talk; anything that makes a sound."
>Start to walk away from Tenshi and Luna. See how far we get before we have trouble hearing them
>"Kay," says Tenshi, who starts to hum a little tune.
>You walk away; after a moment, Tenshi's humming vanishes entirely.
>_
-
>We can still see her humming, though, correct?
>How far away from Tenshi and Luna are we at the moment?
-
>We can still see her humming, though, correct?
>How far away from Tenshi and Luna are we at the moment?
>You can. And, a couple yards.
>_
-
>"Well, this seems to be about the edge of its effect, right here."
>Walk back inside
-
>"Well, this seems to be about the edge of its effect, right here."
>Walk back inside
>You return.
>"Oh, nice," says Luna.
>_
-
>"Although, I suppose that also means that anyone that wanders within that range would be able to hear us, too?"
>"Luna, can you change the range of it at will? At least, in terms of making it smaller? Or does it pretty much come as it is?"
-
>"Although, I suppose that also means that anyone that wanders within that range would be able to hear us, too?"
>"Luna, can you change the range of it at will? At least, in terms of making it smaller? Or does it pretty much come as it is?"
>"Maybe," she says, frowning. "But that sounds like it might be a little hard. So, what's the prank going to be?"
>_
-
>"Might be a little harder if Sunny doesn't want to lend a hand, but... I don't suppose you know who Aya is?"
-
>"Might be a little harder if Sunny doesn't want to lend a hand, but... I don't suppose you know who Aya is?"
>Tenshi stifles another cackle while Luna frowns, then says, "Um...maybe. She's..."
>The faerie shrugs after a moment.
>_
-
>"She's a tengu reporter. Likes to go sneaking around, taking pictures from up under people's skirts. She's done it to more people than I care to think on. Well, this time, we're going to turn the tables on her."
>Show the camera
>"She probably thinks it can't be done; I intend to prove otherwise."
-
>"She's a tengu reporter. Likes to go sneaking around, taking pictures from up under people's skirts. She's done it to more people than I care to think on. Well, this time, we're going to turn the tables on her."
>Show the camera
>"She probably thinks it can't be done; I intend to prove otherwise."
>"Oh her!" says Luna. "You know, it's been a long time since I've seen her. But okay, that sounds like it could work, if a little weird."
>_
-
>"What better than to get someone at their own game, right? Do you think we might be able to convince Sunny to help, too, though? Aya's really good at spotting people."
-
>"What better than to get someone at their own game, right? Do you think we might be able to convince Sunny to help, too, though? Aya's really good at spotting people."
>"Maybe," says Luna. "If she's not busy."
>_
-
>"Want to see if we can catch up with her? If she did dart back home, that is."
-
>"Want to see if we can catch up with her? If she did dart back home, that is."
>"I have to finish up here, first," says Luna. "Why don't we meet up somewhere?"
>_
-
>"Well, we're planning to meet Aya by Mystia's, a little later. That's where we'll pull this on her. So, maybe somewhere near there, but out of sight? Is there a good place sort of close by there?"
-
>"Well, we're planning to meet Aya by Mystia's, a little later. That's where we'll pull this on her. So, maybe somewhere near there, but out of sight? Is there a good place sort of close by there?"
>"How about the turtle house?" says Luna.
>_
-
>Nod
>"That sounds fine."
-
> Recall known information on this 'turtle house'.
-
> Recall known information on this 'turtle house'.
That would be Renko and Maribel's place ^^;
-
> Recall known information on this 'turtle house'.
>You are reasonably sure Renko and Mary live in said house.
>Nod
>"That sounds fine."
>Luna nods, and flies off toward the other faeries.
>_
-
>"So... what's next, then? The ghost that Luna mentioned is a lead worth following up on, even if we don't have much to go on. Perhaps it's not directly connected, but I'll take what I can get."
>Do we know where the Prismrivers can usually be found?
>We do know our way to the Netherworld, correct?
-
>"So... what's next, then? The ghost that Luna mentioned is a lead worth following up on, even if we don't have much to go on. Perhaps it's not directly connected, but I'll take what I can get."
>Do we know where the Prismrivers can usually be found?
>We do know our way to the Netherworld, correct?
>"Yeah," says Tenshi. "No matter how you look at it, ghosts like that are weird."
>You aren't certain where they live.
>You know how to get to the Netherworld. It'll be something of a trip from here.
>_
-
>"Hmmm... do you have any idea where the Prismrivers live?"
-
>"Hmmm... do you have any idea where the Prismrivers live?"
>"Kinda," says Tenshi. "They have an old mansion up around the Netherworld entrance, but I don't really know where"
>_
-
>"Well, it wouldn't be the first time today that we were looking around for something with only a vague idea. And it's probably worth visiting the Netherworld in any event, so we wouldn't be going too far out of our way. Luna's description doesn't seem to entirely match either Youmu or Merlin, although it is similar, but well... she may not be the most reliable of informants. And even if this ghost is neither of the two you mentioned, Youmu or Yuyuko may still know something of the comings and goings of ghosts in Gensokyo that would help us. At least I don't have any better idea on how to follow up than to go and ask them. Do you?"
-
>"Well, it wouldn't be the first time today that we were looking around for something with only a vague idea. And it's probably worth visiting the Netherworld in any event, so we wouldn't be going too far out of our way. Luna's description doesn't seem to entirely match either Youmu or Merlin, although it is similar, but well... she may not be the most reliable of informants. And even if this ghost is neither of the two you mentioned, Youmu or Yuyuko may still know something of the comings and goings of ghosts in Gensokyo that would help us. At least I don't have any better idea on how to follow up than to go and ask them. Do you?"
>Tenshi frowns. "It's pretty obvious, when you think about it. If that ghost was here, why would we ask there?"
>_
-
>"Well, it was here two weeks ago... I didn't think it was still here."
-
>"Well, it was here two weeks ago... I didn't think it was still here."
>"Well, I guess..." says Tenshi, though she doesn't sound convinced.
>_
-
>"It was supposedly near the tree. We didn't see anything while we were there, and Sunny mentioned spending a fair bit of time trying to help the tree, and she'd never seen it either. I figured this meant that there was a good chance it had moved on."
>"That being said, I suppose it mightn't hurt to look around there a little, just the same."
-
>"It was supposedly near the tree. We didn't see anything while we were there, and Sunny mentioned spending a fair bit of time trying to help the tree, and she'd never seen it either. I figured this meant that there was a good chance it had moved on."
>"That being said, I suppose it mightn't hurt to look around there a little, just the same."
>Tenshi nods. "Yeah! Just because it's not at the tree doesn't mean it's not here."
>_
-
>"Very well."
>Head back to the tree, then start to search the area around it for any signs of said ghost
-
>"Very well."
>Head back to the tree, then start to search the area around it for any signs of said ghost
>You make your way back toward the tree, Tenshi following along. This isn't too difficult, you suspect as long as you can find the stream that the bridge crosses, you can find your way there.
>Reaching the tree again, you begin to look around the area. You don't find anything unusual immediately, but you do hear the sound of a broom coming from a nearby bush.
>_
-
>Investigate this bush
-
>Investigate this bush
>You look around the bush, and see a small hole in the ground with a ramp dug into the dirt. A little doorway hangs open. You might be able to fit your head down there, but unless you decide to dislocate a shoulder, you wouldn't be able to fit.
>_
-
>Lean down towards it
>"Hello?"
-
>Lean down towards it
>"Hello?"
>You lean down toward the hole and call in.
>"I don't want any," answers a voice from within. You are reasonably sure it is the same voice that answered Sunny a little while ago.
>_
-
>"I'm not selling anything. This may sound like a strange question, but I was just wondering if you might have seen a ghost around this way over the last week or so. One who looked like a person."
-
>"I'm not selling anything. This may sound like a strange question, but I was just wondering if you might have seen a ghost around this way over the last week or so. One who looked like a person."
>"No goats around here!" the voice in the hole calls back.
>After a moment, she adds, "Oh wait, ghosts? Yeah, I saw one of those. What's it to you?"
>_
-
> "I'm interested in solving the mystery of this tree's missing shadow. I think that ghost may be related."
-
> "I'm interested in solving the mystery of this tree's missing shadow. I think that ghost may be related."
>"Okay, what to you want to know?"
>_
-
>"Well, for starters, when did you see it last?"
-
>"Well, for starters, when did you see it last?"
>"A couple weeks ago, when it parked its stupid ghost butt on my bush!" comes the voice.
>_
-
>"Oh? It was sitting on your bush? Do you know what it was doing here?"
-
>"Oh? It was sitting on your bush? Do you know what it was doing here?"
>"Being stupid and reading some book," says the voice.
>_
-
>"Did it say anything?"
-
>"Did it say anything?"
>"No, books don't talk! Well...this one didn't, anyways."
>_
-
>"No, the ghost, I mean."
-
>"No, the ghost, I mean."
>"Oh, no, not really. Maybe she was mumbling something to herself once in awhile, but I was down here, so I didn't hear anything."
>_
-
>"So, she just showed up, sat on your bush reading, and then left?"
-
>"So, she just showed up, sat on your bush reading, and then left?"
>"Yeah, after a while," says the voice. "She was there when I woke up from my nap."
>_
-
>"Did you try to talk to her?"
-
>"Did you try to talk to her?"
>"What, no! She was sitting in my bush, what do you even say to someone who is doing that? There's nothing, that's what."
>_
-
>"Well, you could have asked her to leave, perhaps?"
-
>"Well, you could have asked her to leave, perhaps?"
>"It would have been rude, and only three lefts make a right, you know."
>_
-
>"You said you haven't seen her since. Had you ever seen her around before? Or hear of anyone who had?"
-
>"You said you haven't seen her since. Had you ever seen her around before? Or hear of anyone who had?"
>"No. Wait, yes! ...Maybe... I don't think I've seen her..."
>_
-
>"You sounded a little unsure, there. Did you think you might have, for a moment?"
-
>"You sounded a little unsure, there. Did you think you might have, for a moment?"
>"...I don't remember."
>_
-
>"Hmm... well, could you describe what she looked like?"
-
>"Hmm... well, could you describe what she looked like?"
>"Way too big, like most of you people," says the voice. "She had white hair. Really pale skin. Oh, and a fancy blue coat."
>_
-
> Oh you did NOT go there for a Big Bad, parser.
> "How long was her hair?"
-
> Oh you did NOT go there for a Big Bad, parser.
> "How long was her hair?"
>Bitch shut that TvTropes bullshit up before I turn this text adventure around.
>"It was short, I think..." the voice answers.
>_
-
>"Do you have any idea how long she was here?"
>"What time of day was it then, anyway?"
-
>"Do you have any idea how long she was here?"
>"What time of day was it then, anyway?"
>"A little while, maybe a couple hours?" says the faerie, her tempo slowing.
>"Dark."
>_
-
>"Hmmm... I'd like to be able to find her and speak to her, but if you haven't seen her since..."
-
>"Hmmm... I'd like to be able to find her and speak to her, but if you haven't seen her since..."
>"Nope," the faerie says.
>_
-
>To Tenshi: "Well, at least it corroborates the description. Can you think of anything else to ask?"
-
>To Tenshi: "Well, at least it corroborates the description. Can you think of anything else to ask?"
>"Hey," Tenshi calls down into the hole, "What was that book she was reading?"
>"How should I know?" the voice says, "Who even reads books besides stupid ghosts?"
>_
-
>"A great many people do, actually."
-
>"A great many people do, actually."
>"Meh," says the voice.
>"I got nothing else," says Tenshi.
>_
-
>"I don't suppose you saw where she was heading when she left?"
-
>"I don't suppose you saw where she was heading when she left?"
>"Uh...that way. Toward the big magican's house and the bird stand and the forbidden kingdom."
-
>"The... forbidden kingdom?"
-
>"The... forbidden kingdom?"
>"Yeah," says the voice. "That way."
>_
-
>"I'm not sure what you mean by that. What's the forbidden kingdom?"
-
>"I'm not sure what you mean by that. What's the forbidden kingdom?"
>"It's a wonderful place full of treasures and wonder, but we can't go there because the king eats faeries. He's even worse than the Scarlet Devil! He's worse than three Scarlet Devils!"
>_
-
>"Oh, I understand."
>What did Rinnosuke do to inspire such fear in fairy-kind, I wonder?
>Are the three places indicated all in the same general direction?
-
>"Oh, I understand."
>What did Rinnosuke do to inspire such fear in fairy-kind, I wonder?
>Are the three places indicated all in the same general direction?
>You cannot conceive of what he may have done to inflect such widespread fear in faeriekind, especially given their tendency toward spotty recollection.
>They would all be varying flavors of Northwest from here; though very broadly so.
>_
-
>"Well, thank you very much for your time."
>To Tenshi: "I suppose it can't hurt to look a little bit more in that general direction, but I'm not holding out much hope at this point."
-
>"Well, thank you very much for your time."
>To Tenshi: "I suppose it can't hurt to look a little bit more in that general direction, but I'm not holding out much hope at this point."
>"I still don't want any!" says the voice.
>Tenshi nods. "I think we got enough to ask some good questions. So where're we going?"
>_
-
>Pick a direction roughly the average to the three named places and point there
>"Well, this direction is probably as good as any, at the moment. And if the ghost passed this way, maybe someone else saw it along its way?"
>Head in said direction
>Keep an eye out for anything unusual, or any other fairies
-
>Pick a direction roughly the average to the three named places and point there
>"Well, this direction is probably as good as any, at the moment. And if the ghost passed this way, maybe someone else saw it along its way?"
>Head in said direction
>Keep an eye out for anything unusual, or any other fairies
>"Kay," says Tenshi, as she falls into step behind you.
>You make your way in that direction, flying over the stream when necessary. The going is not easy; there's not many paths in the foilage you can follow, and often times, the trees are simply too thick you let you make your way across. Many times, you have to take detours. In the end, you are certain it's probably faster to just go west then go north.
>Faeries seem to be rather scarce, you get the feeling most of them are out doing various kinds of mischief in the wake of events. However, as you pass through a copse with a fair share of mushrooms, you think you see someone ahead; a slender person with short blonde hair.
>_
-
>And this person is not a fairy, correct?
-
>And this person is not a fairy, correct?
>She'd be the tallest and most wingless faerie you've seen if she were one.
>_
-
>Do we think we recognize who it might be?
-
>Do we think we recognize who it might be?
>Taking a closer look, you notice her small, conical hat, which makes you quite certain this is Lunasa Prismriver, whom you know of and are briefly acquainted with from her days playing in The Felt.
>_
-
>What does she seem to be doing?
-
>What does she seem to be doing?
>Walking westward, looking away from you at the moment.
>_
-
>Approach
>"Why, hello there."
-
>Approach
>"Why, hello there."
>You approach and call out to Lunasa.
>She looks over, her eyebrows raised. "Oh, uh, hello Iku. I didn't expect you. Or Tenshi."
>_
-
>"We've been all over Gensokyo today, looking for some clues as to why Bhava-Agra has fallen. What brings you out this way?"
-
>"We've been all over Gensokyo today, looking for some clues as to why Bhava-Agra has fallen. What brings you out this way?"
>"Well, it's just..." she says, "Things are weird, and I was just thinking, maybe it'd lure the Brocken Spectre out to see what's wrong. And, um, there's a bunch of celestials at the house...it's hard to think."
>_
-
>"Wait a moment... lure it out to see what's wrong? Are things weird in some way other than Bhava-Agra's sudden descent this morning? And why do you think that finding it would help?"
-
>"Wait a moment... lure it out to see what's wrong? Are things weird in some way other than Bhava-Agra's sudden descent this morning? And why do you think that finding it would help?"
>"No, it's just that," Lunasa frowns. "Maybe it would wonder what's happening. And not hide so much."
>_
-
>"Well, I suppose we don't even know what it is, or why it's hiding in the first place."
-
>"Well, I suppose we don't even know what it is, or why it's hiding in the first place."
>"It's probably, you know, afraid," says Lunasa. "That's why I'm alone, kinda."
>_
-
>"I suppose that's possible. Although I wonder if there's more to it than that, given the time it's been here. That's a long time to hide in fear from every inhabitant, as non-threatening as most of them are."
>"There are some other strange things afoot in the forest, though. I don't suppose you'd noticed the peculiarity with the islands' shadows?"
-
>"I suppose that's possible. Although I wonder if there's more to it than that, given the time it's been here. That's a long time to hide in fear from every inhabitant, as non-threatening as most of them are."
>"There are some other strange things afoot in the forest, though. I don't suppose you'd noticed the peculiarity with the islands' shadows?"
>"Maybe," says Lunasa, frowning a little. "Just, well, maybe it thinks we're going to do something bad if we find it? That's what I think."
>She shakes her head. "Not as such, no."
-
>"Well, the shadows are much fainter than they should be. We think this is connected with why they fell. And there is also a tree in the forest whose shadow disappeared around two weeks ago, we believe. The tree itself seems to almost be dying, now. We're not sure how, but I think they must be related."
-
>"Well, the shadows are much fainter than they should be. We think this is connected with why they fell. And there is also a tree in the forest whose shadow disappeared around two weeks ago, we believe. The tree itself seems to almost be dying, now. We're not sure how, but I think they must be related."
>"That's pretty weird," says Lunasa.
>_
-
>"Indeed. There was also a humanoid ghost spotted near that tree around the time its shadow vanished. Apparently it simply sat in a bush, reading a book, and then left several hours later. The fairies who saw it say it hasn't returned since."
-
>"Indeed. There was also a humanoid ghost spotted near that tree around the time its shadow vanished. Apparently it simply sat in a bush, reading a book, and then left several hours later. The fairies who saw it say it hasn't returned since."
>She nods. "Huh."
>_
-
>"It mightn't be connected, of course, but it would be nice to be able to find it just the same. Unfortunately, I don't have very much to go on. I mean, the last I know it was seen here was around two weeks ago."
-
>"It mightn't be connected, of course, but it would be nice to be able to find it just the same. Unfortunately, I don't have very much to go on. I mean, the last I know it was seen here was around two weeks ago."
>"That does sound like it would be nice. Um, I've not seen any ghosts. But, it's just, that doesn't sound like a ghost, what you said there. More like, um, a poltergeist? Or something else, like Murasa."
>_
-
>"Perhaps I don't know the proper term. And, well, it was fairies who were conveying this information, although I got it from several of them independently and they were quite insistent that it was a ghost, by their own view of such."
>"She apparently had short white hair, pale skin, and a very fancy blue coat, with some sort of brocade collar."
-
>"Perhaps I don't know the proper term. And, well, it was fairies who were conveying this information, although I got it from several of them independently and they were quite insistent that it was a ghost, by their own view of such."
>"She apparently had short white hair, pale skin, and a very fancy blue coat, with some sort of brocade collar."
>"It's just that, some people call everything a ghost," says Lunasa.
>She nods as you describe the ghost. "Um..." She looks away. "Maybe I saw someone like that..."
>_
-
>"Oh?"
-
>"Oh?"
>She fidgets with her hands for a moment. "...I don't want to talk about it."
>_
-
>"Lunasa... I do not mean to pry, but given present events, this may be important. I promise I will keep your confidence."
-
>"Lunasa... I do not mean to pry, but given present events, this may be important. I promise I will keep your confidence."
>"Um...it's just..."
>She fidgets some more.
>"I'd rather not..."
>_
-
>"Is there any information you feel comfortable sharing?"
-
>"Is there any information you feel comfortable sharing?"
>"...I think I said too much..." Lunasa says.
>_
-
>"Lunasa... whatever has been stealing shadows has done far more harm than sending the islands beneath the clouds. Someone is gravely unwell as a result of their shadow being taken from them. More people may follow. More may already exist. It is imperative that we find out what is responsible and put things right. This person is one of our only clues."
-
>"Lunasa... whatever has been stealing shadows has done far more harm than sending the islands beneath the clouds. Someone is gravely unwell as a result of their shadow being taken from them. More people may follow. More may already exist. It is imperative that we find out what is responsible and put things right. This person is one of our only clues."
>She fidgets some more. "It's just...I don't know."
>_
-
>Take a soft and reassuring tone, if we haven't been already
>"Lunasa, I respect your desire for privacy, and under ordinary circumstances would say no more than that. But these are far from ordinary, and I was not exaggerating when I said how important I believe it is that we resolve this incident quickly. I can barely hazard a guess as to why this topic is so uncomfortable for you; is there anything I do to reassure you that what you say to me is private and safe, if you wish it to be?"
-
>Take a soft and reassuring tone, if we haven't been already
>"Lunasa, I respect your desire for privacy, and under ordinary circumstances would say no more than that. But these are far from ordinary, and I was not exaggerating when I said how important I believe it is that we resolve this incident quickly. I can barely hazard a guess as to why this topic is so uncomfortable for you; is there anything I do to reassure you that what you say to me is private and safe, if you wish it to be?"
>"All that stuff for me, too." says Tenshi.
>Lunasa looks between the two of you. "Um...you promise you'll leave her alone?"
>_
-
>"I did wish to speak with her, if she knows anything at all about what has happened. Would that fall under 'not leaving her alone'?"
-
>"I did wish to speak with her, if she knows anything at all about what has happened. Would that fall under 'not leaving her alone'?"
>Lunasa frowns and wrings her hands a little. "Probably..."
>_
-
>"Is there some reason why it would be so bad for someone to talk to her?"
-
>"Is there some reason why it would be so bad for someone to talk to her?"
>"It's just...um...maybe?"
>_
-
> "I do not wish violence, if that is your concern."
-
> "I do not wish violence, if that is your concern."
>"That, um, might not be your choice."
>_
-
>"...what do you mean by that? Are you suggesting she would attack, herself?"
-
>"...what do you mean by that? Are you suggesting she would attack, herself?"
Lunasa chews her lower lip for a moment, then nods. "i saw her a few hours ago, I think. She was over around the west. It's just, she's not a ghost, she's a poltergeist like me. So I was curious. But, uh, she didn't want to talk or anything at all. She's not very good at danmaku, either."
>_
-
>Would that put their fight in the direction of the damaged tree we saw earlier?
-
>Would that put their fight in the direction of the damaged tree we saw earlier?
>Roughly.
>_
-
>"So what happened, then? Did she say anything at all?"
-
>"So what happened, then? Did she say anything at all?"
>"She, um, shouted that I should stop following her. Then, it's just, I tried to correct that. Then she, um, shot at me."
>_
-
>"You said she wasn't very good at danmaku. Did you shoot back at her? What happened after that?"
-
>"You said she wasn't very good at danmaku. Did you shoot back at her? What happened after that?"
>Lunasa nods. "It's just that, uh, she wasn't hard to dodge. And no, I went away."
>_
-
>"Hmmm... I wonder why she was so hostile. She didn't really say why, did she?"
>"Was she doing anything, when you spotted her?"
-
>"Hmmm... I wonder why she was so hostile. She didn't really say why, did she?"
>"Was she doing anything, when you spotted her?"
>"I think she just wanted to be left alone," says Lunasa.
>"She was, uh, walking around. Maybe she was looking for something?"
>_
-
Suggestion: Bring up the spellcard from Kourindou? Maybe we could figure out what she traded it for.
-
>"I wouldn't wish to intrude upon someone's space, but I may need to make an exception in this case. If she knows anything at all, I have to ask."
>"Can you point us towards where you saw her, more specifically?"
Suggestion: Bring up the spellcard from Kourindou? Maybe we could figure out what she traded it for.
I'd just as soon not, unless you have a reason other than idle curiosity. We're already pressing enough into her business as it is.
-
Just curious, really. Although "looking into unrelated things" is a broad term, so it might turn up something.
Still, I'll defer to you on this.
-
>"I wouldn't wish to intrude upon someone's space, but I may need to make an exception in this case. If she knows anything at all, I have to ask."
>"Can you point us towards where you saw her, more specifically?"
>"Not really," says Lunasa. "It's just...I'm kinda lost. Sorta. I know where I am, but not where I am where I am, you see."
>_
-
>"As in, you know it was somewhere over there."
>Gesture broadly westward
>"But not really any more specifically than that?"
-
>"As in, you know it was somewhere over there."
>Gesture broadly westward
>"But not really any more specifically than that?"
>She nods. "Um, I guess it was a bit more to the north? I just fly out of here when I'm done, you see."
>_
-
>"It's the simplest way, yes. It's very easy to lose track of where you're going, ducking around obstacles and such."
>"We bumped into the signs of a battle in here a little earlier. Someone had actually caused impact damage to a tree through their danmaku. I wonder now if it might have been her?"
-
>"It's the simplest way, yes. It's very easy to lose track of where you're going, ducking around obstacles and such."
>"We bumped into the signs of a battle in here a little earlier. Someone had actually caused impact damage to a tree through their danmaku. I wonder now if it might have been her?"
>Lunasa nods. "Yeah, that sounds right."
>_
-
>Is that tree also in the same general direction Lunasa indicated? Or can we not even tell, ourselves
>"I don't suppose you've noticed anything else unusual lately, though? Particularly involving shadows, but if anything else comes to mind, that might be good to know, too."
-
>Is that tree also in the same general direction Lunasa indicated? Or can we not even tell, ourselves
>"I don't suppose you've noticed anything else unusual lately, though? Particularly involving shadows, but if anything else comes to mind, that might be good to know, too."
>It is not. The shadowless tree is to the southeast.
>"Well, um..." says Lunasa. "I think I heard some faeries talking about how those islands had weird shadows, like some rock."
>_
-
>"You mean, they said there was some rock that also had weird shadows?"
>"Where were these fairies?"
-
>"You mean, they said there was some rock that also had weird shadows?"
>"Where were these fairies?"
>"They, um, implied it." says Lunasa.
>"Around Mystia's stand, I think. Not there, but around there."
>_
-
>Nod
>"Thank you."
>"And... thank you for sharing, about the poltergeist. I do appreciate it."
-
>Nod
>"Thank you."
>"And... thank you for sharing, about the poltergeist. I do appreciate it."
>"It's just...it really would be best to leave her alone."
>_
-
>"Is there something else bothering you about her that you haven't already said? I realize that she did seems to wish to be left alone and all, but..."
-
>"Is there something else bothering you about her that you haven't already said? I realize that she did seems to wish to be left alone and all, but..."
>Lunasa frowns. "It's just, I don't want people messing with her..."
>_
-
>"I will be as kind and respectful as I can, under the circumstances, I promise you."
-
>"I will be as kind and respectful as I can, under the circumstances, I promise you."
>She nods.
>_
-
>"I wish you well, Lunasa. May we both find what we're searching for."
>Leave and head in the direction Lunasa indicated she last saw the poltergeist.
-
>"I wish you well, Lunasa. May we both find what we're searching for."
>Leave and head in the direction Lunasa indicated she last saw the poltergeist.
>"Um, you too." says Lunasa.
>You start heading westward again.
>"You really think we're gonna find this thing?" says Tenshi.
>_
-
>"I have no idea. I would like to think so. Certainly a sighting a few hours ago is a lot more hopeful than one weeks old."
-
>"I have no idea. I would like to think so. Certainly a sighting a few hours ago is a lot more hopeful than one weeks old."
>"I guess," says Tenshi. "I dunno. I guess we have another suspect, even though it's still probably those people from the Ancient City."
>You head westward. There is an awful lot of west, and not much real indication of where Lunasa was talking about. How will you handle this?
>_
-
>Keep heading west, angling a little northward as Lunasa suggested.
>Look for any sign of danmaku marks, like earlier, or signs of an altercation
>For that matter, any obvious signs of someone's passage
>Also, keep an eye out for any fairies or other people who might also have seen her more recently
-
>Keep heading west, angling a little northward as Lunasa suggested.
>Look for any sign of danmaku marks, like earlier, or signs of an altercation
>For that matter, any obvious signs of someone's passage
>Also, keep an eye out for any fairies or other people who might also have seen her more recently
> Talk while doing these.
> "Hey, Tenshi?"
-
>Keep heading west, angling a little northward as Lunasa suggested.
>Look for any sign of danmaku marks, like earlier, or signs of an altercation
>For that matter, any obvious signs of someone's passage
>Also, keep an eye out for any fairies or other people who might also have seen her more recently
>You head west, soon crossing the road.
>The western forest, you find, is less thickly overgrown than the eastern half. You aren't sure if it's due to the presence or efforts of faeries, or if it's just how things are. But thankfully, it is easier to move around in, and you're not left with the feeling that the long was is faster. But comparatively fast is not something you can still call speedy, you still have to pick your way through things.
>You see no signs of danmaku battles as you look around.
>You do see signs of passage as you explore; as you explore. You get the feeling most of them do not belong to Lunasa or this other Poltergeist.
>So far, you don't see anyone about.
> Talk while doing these.
> "Hey, Tenshi?"
>"What?" Tenshi asks, while kicking at another pile of leaves.
>_
-
> Adapt a softer tone of voice for this.
> "I wanted to talk a bit about what happened earlier. With Kogasa."
-
> Adapt a softer tone of voice for this.
> "I wanted to talk a bit about what happened earlier. With Kogasa."
>"Yeah?" she says, her tone lowering a little.
>_
-
> "I wanted to clarify something about that. I know you don't like being told you're wrong about something, but...in a case like that? I don't think your reaction was anything more than a snap emotional response, which is perfectly understandable. I wouldn't call it 'wrong', just...I guess 'overzealous' or "clouded" work. I think there's a difference between an honest emotion-based mistake and the level of being wrong that you worry about. Because tempers flare. It happens. It happens to everyone. Just look at me. I can't say I haven't let my emotions get the best of me at times even just today."
-
> "I wanted to clarify something about that. I know you don't like being told you're wrong about something, but...in a case like that? I don't think your reaction was anything more than a snap emotional response, which is perfectly understandable. I wouldn't call it 'wrong', just...I guess 'overzealous' or "clouded" work. I think there's a difference between an honest emotion-based mistake and the level of being wrong that you worry about. Because tempers flare. It happens. It happens to everyone. Just look at me. I can't say I haven't let my emotions get the best of me at times even just today."
>"Those pretty much just...um..."
>Tenshi starts to make a quick rolling gesture with her right hand.
>"You know...words that mean other words."
>_
-
> "Synonyms?"
-
> "Synonyms?"
>"No," says Tenshi, glaring toward the ground. "Like that, but starts with 'u', I think. But yeah, like that. Those are just synonyms for being wrong, while trying to dress it up like something it isn't."
-
Do are just synonyms for being wrong
> What?
-
> What?
>You fuck dyslexic I'm.
-
> Hey, I could ignore the first one, but that one was a total enigma.
> "Ah, I think you're looking for 'euphemism'. At any rate, I'm...a little bit sad that you think so, since I think you're being too hard on yourself as a result. Let me try to explain it a slightly different way."
> "The distinction I make here is whether or not more rational thought would make a difference. In one case, one makes a choice in the heat and anger of a moment, but if they reflect on it later when they're calmer and realize that there is a better choice to be made. In another, one makes their emotion-charged choice, and they calm down and reflect on it later and still think they're right. I believe this is a very important distinction to be made, and that the first kind of being wrong is far less 'wrong' than the second kind."
> "Now, if you still disagree, then I suppose that is that, but I do believe you're being too hard on yourself, thinking that I thought you were horribly wrong. If it means anything, I certainly don't think any less of you in any way for wanting to beat Kogasa up."
-
> Hey, I could ignore the first one, but that one was a total enigma.
> "Ah, I think you're looking for 'euphemism'. At any rate, I'm...a little bit sad that you think so, since I think you're being too hard on yourself as a result. Let me try to explain it a slightly different way."
> "The distinction I make here is whether or not more rational thought would make a difference. In one case, one makes a choice in the heat and anger of a moment, but if they reflect on it later when they're calmer and realize that there is a better choice to be made. In another, one makes their emotion-charged choice, and they calm down and reflect on it later and still think they're right. I believe this is a very important distinction to be made, and that the first kind of being wrong is far less 'wrong' than the second kind."
> "Now, if you still disagree, then I suppose that is that, but I do believe you're being too hard on yourself, thinking that I thought you were horribly wrong. If it means anything, I certainly don't think any less of you in any way for wanting to beat Kogasa up."
>Don't make me do to Iku what Mus did to Alice; and will do to Alice.
>"Yeah, that's the word. And I'm not being too hard on me; I'm fine, I was right. You're the one giving me grief about it, and now you're just trying to dress it up like it's something else. And why would it bother me? I don't care what any of you think."
>_
-
> "Then that also makes me sad, because I do care about what you think."
-
> "Then that also makes me sad, because I do care about what you think."
>"Well don't blame me," says Tenshi. "If I still worried about what you people thought when there's no way I'll ever make you happy, I'd be a mess."
>_
-
> "What do you mean, 'you people'?" "What do YOU mean, 'you people'?!"
> "Well, you've made me happy plenty of times today. Again, for whatever that's worth."
-
> "What do you mean, 'you people'?" "What do YOU mean, 'you people'?!"
> "Well, you've made me happy plenty of times today. Again, for whatever that's worth."
>You could ask her about that.
>"No I haven't," says Tenshi. "When you've not ditched me, you've been yelling at me about how I'm doing everything wrong."
>_
-
>"I'm sorry you see it that way. I've hardly thought that everything you've done is wrong. We've had our share of disagreements today, true, but I hope that's not all you see out of this day."
-
>"I'm sorry you see it that way. I've hardly thought that everything you've done is wrong. We've had our share of disagreements today, true, but I hope that's not all you see out of this day."
>"Okay, maybe not everything," says Tenshi, "Just enough it might as well be everything."
>_
-
>"So the rest of it counts for nothing with you, then? It would just as well have not happened?"
-
>"So the rest of it counts for nothing with you, then? It would just as well have not happened?"
>"Rest of what?" Tenshi asks. "We just walked around, and you did weird stuff with Aya."
-
> "Is it that hard to believe that I appreciated and enjoyed your company?"
-
> "Is it that hard to believe that I appreciated and enjoyed your company?"
>"Yeah," she says, "Kinda."
>_
-
> How physically close are we to Tenshi?
> "Well, why do you think I asked you about yourself? Why do you think I've trusted you with secrets, or asked your opinions of things? Why do you think I asked Aya to leave you alone? Why do you think we've indulged in teasing each other? Why do you think I thanked you for your company earlier?"
-
> How physically close are we to Tenshi?
> "Well, why do you think I asked you about yourself? Why do you think I've trusted you with secrets, or asked your opinions of things? Why do you think I asked Aya to leave you alone? Why do you think we've indulged in teasing each other? Why do you think I thanked you for your company earlier?"
>A normal conversing distance, so she is only a couple feet away.
>"I don't know..." says Tenshi, scowling. "Okay, fine, whatever! I believe you! There, are you happy?"
>_
-
> Our voice is still soft, right? If not, make it soft again.
> Walk over to Tenshi while speaking.
> "No, because clearly I have not done enough."
-
> Our voice is still soft, right? If not, make it soft again.
> Walk over to Tenshi while speaking.
> "No, because clearly I have not done enough."
>It is.
>You walk toward Tenshi. Already being close, she takes a step back. "Wait, what?"
>_
-
> Smile.
> Hold our arms out slightly, with palms open and pointed up.
> "Oh, come back here."
-
> Smile.
> Hold our arms out slightly, with palms open and pointed up.
> "Oh, come back here."
>"What, no," says Tenshi, eyes a bit wide.
>_
-
> "Why not? I'm not going to hurt you, I promise."
-
> "Why not? I'm not going to hurt you, I promise."
>"You're being weird," says Tenshi.
>_
-
> "On the contrary, what I want to do is a fairly common and innocent thing."
-
> "On the contrary, what I want to do is a fairly common and innocent thing."
>"Yeah, but you hugging me is weird," says Tenshi, wrinkling her brow a bit.
>_
-
> "Oh? Why?"
-
> "Oh? Why?"
>"Because!" she cries. "It just is!"
>_
-
> Sigh.
> Drop arms.
> "Very well."
-
> Sigh.
> Drop arms.
> "Very well."
>You sigh and relent.
>"What has even gotten into you today?" Tenshi asks. "Did Eirin give you weird medicine or something yesterday?"
>_
-
> "No, not at all. It's...this is going to take some explaining, I guess."
> "I realized this morning that I'm just tired of being a chaperone. I expect we're both tired of it. So I've decided to try being a friend instead, and so far today, I certainly don't regret it. Especially not after you told me how you've felt for the longest time. To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure I agree with all of what you claim, but I still sympathize with you for feeling the way you do."
> "In addition, there's the fact that you're still here with me, despite each of us knowing what the other's ultimate goal is concerning this incident. We both know you haven't had to come with me today, but you have anyway. Believe me, Tenshi, I really do appreciate your being here. It's been a beyond-infuriating day for me, and you've said you're not too interested in helping our people, but you've stuck with me nonetheless. For this, I am very grateful."
> "I have enjoyed the time I've spent with you trying to be a peer instead of a chaperone. I want to continue this. This is why I have been trying to get closer to you; I hope you'll end up feeling the same way."
-
> "No, not at all. It's...this is going to take some explaining, I guess."
> "I realized this morning that I'm just tired of being a chaperone. I expect we're both tired of it. So I've decided to try being a friend instead, and so far today, I certainly don't regret it. Especially not after you told me how you've felt for the longest time. To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure I agree with all of what you claim, but I still sympathize with you for feeling the way you do."
> "In addition, there's the fact that you're still here with me, despite each of us knowing what the other's ultimate goal is concerning this incident. We both know you haven't had to come with me today, but you have anyway. Believe me, Tenshi, I really do appreciate your being here. It's been a beyond-infuriating day for me, and you've said you're not too interested in helping our people, but you've stuck with me nonetheless. For this, I am very grateful."
> "I have enjoyed the time I've spent with you trying to be a peer instead of a chaperone. I want to continue this. This is why I have been trying to get closer to you; I hope you'll end up feeling the same way."
>"Well...okay then," she says. "You're still being weird, but I guess it makes sense. Don't try to force things so hard, I guess."
>_
-
> Nod.
> "I will try my best."
-
> Nod.
> "I will try my best."
>She nods as well.
>"I guess I should thank you for trying or something..."
-
> Smile.
> "I am glad to do so."
-
> Smile.
> "I am glad to do so."
>"I guess," says Tenshi. "So, are we gonna find this thing or what?"
>_
-
Tagging out for the time being. I may take a crack at finding this yahoo once I read the goings-on when I'm not half-asleep and thus can actually parse them myself.
-
Or not!
> "Yes, let's."
> Press a bit more west.
-
> "Yes, let's."
> Press a bit more west.
>You continue a bit further west. Looking around, you soon come across what you are pretty sure are the tracks of something the size of an average youkai or human. As well, you think you hear some faeries talking, toward the north.
>_
-
> Where do the tracks lead?
-
> Where do the tracks lead?
>They seem to meander from the south to the west. Or maybe the other way around? It's really hard to tell when they're really just gouges in the leafy blanket on the forest floor.
>_
-
> Keep a bit of a low voice.
> "What do you think? Follow these tracks, or find out what those fairies are up to?"
-
> Keep a bit of a low voice.
> "What do you think? Follow these tracks, or find out what those fairies are up to?"
>You lower your voice.
>"Well, last time the tracks didn't last very long," says Tenshi.
>_
-
>How far off do the fairies sound to be?
>Do we think we could find our way back to these tracks easily enough, if we went to find them?
-
>How far off do the fairies sound to be?
>Do we think we could find our way back to these tracks easily enough, if we went to find them?
>No more than a couple dozen yards away, at most.
>You should be able to find your way back as long as you pay attention to where you are going.
>_
-
>"Well, I think it's probably worth asking them first, anyway. The trail isn't going anywhere. They might be."
>Head towards the fairies, while paying careful attention to the landmarks around us, so that we can find our way back here again
-
>"Well, I think it's probably worth asking them first, anyway. The trail isn't going anywhere. They might be."
>Head towards the fairies, while paying careful attention to the landmarks around us, so that we can find our way back here again
>"Unless it gets windy or something," says Tenshi.
>You make your way toward the faeries, taking note of the terrain. It is not particularly try land, you'll be able to find your way back over this distance with no worries.
>You find four faeries sitting in a tree, three largish ones, and one just a little over a foot tall. They are talking and cackling among themselves; you catch mentions of the Red White, and other bits you can't quite piece together properly.
>_
>_
-
>Give another moment to see if anything they say catches our attention
>If not, approach
>"Good afternoon."
-
>Give another moment to see if anything they say catches our attention
>If not, approach
>"Good afternoon."
>You try to, but they're not being very sensible, or doing a good job of not talking over each other, and can't really make out more of interest.
>You approach the group and call out to them. They stop talking, and look toward you curiously. "Hey you, Dance Empress!" says one of them, a blonde in a green dress with wings shaped like ovals, "Where does the Red White live?"
>_
-
>"At the Hakurei Shrine, to the <insert direction here>"
-
>"At the Hakurei Shrine, to the <insert direction here>"
>You give them general directions. They are listening to you intently now.
>"So, it's just east of the village, right?" says the small faerie.
>_
-
>Assuming this is correct, nod
>"I'm curious as to what brings you to ask."
-
>Assuming this is correct, nod
>"I'm curious as to what brings you to ask."
>You nod. "See, I told you!" the small faerie says to one of her companions, a dark-haired fair in a red gown.
>"We're gettin' even!" says the green-dressed faerie.
>_
-
> "With Reimu? Why?"
-
> "With Reimu? Why?"
>"She beat us up!" says the red-gowned faerie.
>_
-
> "Oh. Huh. Well, I suppose that's as good a reason as any."
> "I'll let you know, though. She may not be home right now. You all saw the sky come falling down, right?"
-
> "Oh. Huh. Well, I suppose that's as good a reason as any."
> "I'll let you know, though. She may not be home right now. You all saw the sky come falling down, right?"
>"That's just what we're counting on," says the last of the quarter, a faerie with short brown hair, a white dress, and curved wings.
>_
-
> "Oh. OH! I see what you're getting at now. Okay. Well, I'll warn you up front that she's not in a good mood right now. Whatever you do, be extra careful that she can't link it back to you somehow."
-
> "Oh. OH! I see what you're getting at now. Okay. Well, I'll warn you up front that she's not in a good mood right now. Whatever you do, be extra careful that she can't link it back to you somehow."
>"Don't worry!" says the small faerie, as the rest of the cackle.
>_
-
> Nod.
> "All right, I won't."
> "Actually, I'm looking for someone myself. Have any of you seen someone with white hair and a fancy blue coat recently? They have a brocade collar, too."
-
> Nod.
> "All right, I won't."
> "Actually, I'm looking for someone myself. Have any of you seen someone with white hair and a fancy blue coat recently? They have a brocade collar, too."
>You decide not to worry about this.
>"How recently?" asks one of the faeries.
>"I saw her a few days ago," says the small one.
>_
-
> "I heard she was somewhere near here a few hours ago, but if you've seen her at all, that's still good. When you saw her, what was she doing?"
-
> "I heard she was somewhere near here a few hours ago, but if you've seen her at all, that's still good. When you saw her, what was she doing?"
>"Um, I think she was just hiding, watching things," says the small faerie. "I think she's kinda like the karakasa, but without the pranks."
>_
-
> "Hmm, interesting. And no one has seen her since?"
-
> "Hmm, interesting. And no one has seen her since?"
>"Not me."
>"Uh-uh."
>"Nope. Maybe one else did?"
>_
-
> Nod.
> "All right. Thank you for your help, and good luck in your adventures with the Hakurei Shrine."
> Assuming no fairies try to stop us, head back south to the tracks we just spotted.
-
> Nod.
> "All right. Thank you for your help, and good luck in your adventures with the Hakurei Shrine."
> Assuming no fairies try to stop us, head back south to the tracks we just spotted.
>None of the faeries try to stop you, and you make your way back toward the tracks.
>"I guess she's not a big secret, is she?" says Tenshi. "So, what'd you think they're going to do, anyways?"
>_
-
> "Dunno. Here's hoping they don't actually run into Reimu, for their sakes."
> "Anyway, I'm perfectly happy with this stranger not being much of a secret anymore. The more we can learn about her, the better."
> Follow the tracks west.
-
> "Dunno. Here's hoping they don't actually run into Reimu, for their sakes."
> "Anyway, I'm perfectly happy with this stranger not being much of a secret anymore. The more we can learn about her, the better."
> Follow the tracks west.
>"I guess," says Tenshi as you share your thoughts about the faeries/
>"Yeah, I guess it's something to follow."
>You follow the tracks; they meander to and fro, drawing close to bushes and such, leading you to believe they belong to the same person you were following early today. Unfortunately, they are also as unreliable as the tracks from before, as leaves are not the best medium for holding footprints. After awhile, they fade out. Looking around, you have a slight sense of familiarity with this area.
>_
-
> Where do we seem to be?
-
> Where do we seem to be?
>You look around a bit more. Hmm, those three trees over there look kind of familiar. As does that rock...ah, this is where you met those three faeries who were looking to buy Yamame for a pet!
>_
-
>Can we see any other signs of larger people about? That were not, in all likelihood, ourselves?
-
>Can we see any other signs of larger people about? That were not, in all likelihood, ourselves?
>Not immediately. But you suspect, with a little effort, you could find the trail that led you to this place originally.
>_
-
>May as well have a look for it, then
-
>May as well have a look for it, then
>Now that you have some sense of your bearings, it doesn't take you too long to find the old trail. It looks more or less how you remember it.
>_
-
>Continue along the part of this trail that we never walked along, the first time
-
>Continue along the part of this trail that we never walked along, the first time
>You follow it as it meanders and loops eastward.
>Soon you find yourself some yards from where the second trail faded out.
>_
-
>Does that mean it appears that the two trails may be the remnants of a single connected path, just with this section missing?
>We started at the absolute end of this second path, as near as we could see at the time, correct?
>Have another search around our immediate environment
-
>Does that mean it appears that the two trails may be the remnants of a single connected path, just with this section missing?
>We started at the absolute end of this second path, as near as we could see at the time, correct?
>Have another search around our immediate environment
>This is what it seems to imply.
>If by second path you mean the one that was near the faeries plotting revenge, then no. It went southward. The one from the battlefield, you followed until it died out. You were pretty sure it wasn't the end of the person's course, just that you could find no more trail.
>You look around a bit, and find you and Tenshi have done a lot to unintentionally distort things.
>"You know," says Tenshi, "I don't think she's going anywhere in particular."
>_
-
>"Well, we haven't exactly been looking too much in particular, either. It just seemed like there might be a chance that one of these paths connected with where she currently was. It would be nice if we had a way to actually track her, but I don't see anything better than to wander about, do you?"
-
>"Well, we haven't exactly been looking too much in particular, either. It just seemed like there might be a chance that one of these paths connected with where she currently was. It would be nice if we had a way to actually track her, but I don't see anything better than to wander about, do you?"
>"I know, it just kinda hit me," says Tenshi. "But if she's not going anywhere, what the hell is she doing?"
>_
-
>"Wandering? Looking about? Searching for something herself, perhaps?"
-
>"Wandering? Looking about? Searching for something herself, perhaps?"
>"Maybe," says Tenshi. "But if she's just wandering or looking around, would she have wanted a piece of Lunasa so bad? Well, maybe. I guess we all have moods and stuff."
>_
-
>"I rather suspect there's something more to this poltergeist and what she's doing here that is apparent. Whether this ties in with why she drove Lunasa away so forcefully, I cannot say. I'm not sure I could even hazard a guess, to be honest."
-
>"I rather suspect there's something more to this poltergeist and what she's doing here that is apparent. Whether this ties in with why she drove Lunasa away so forcefully, I cannot say. I'm not sure I could even hazard a guess, to be honest."
>Tenshi nods. "Yeah. It's just these footprints are going everywhere."
>_
-
>"They do seem to meander a fair bit. Either she cares not where she goes, or doesn't know where she's going. I'm beginning to wonder if there's much to be gained by following them, frankly."
-
>"They do seem to meander a fair bit. Either she cares not where she goes, or doesn't know where she's going. I'm beginning to wonder if there's much to be gained by following them, frankly."
>Tenshi nods. "Yeah. It might be better to try and figure out where they end and go there."
>_
-
>Don't the tracks seem to go in more or less in no particular direction, though? With multiple paths heading differently?
>What points of interest do we know of, in the forest?
>Was the direction the fairy by the tree said the poltergeist left in, and the direction Lunasa said she encountered it, roughly the same?
-
>Don't the tracks seem to go in more or less in no particular direction, though? With multiple paths heading differently?
>What points of interest do we know of, in the forest?
>Was the direction the fairy by the tree said the poltergeist left in, and the direction Lunasa said she encountered it, roughly the same?
>You aren't sure if there's multiple paths, but they certainly have been going all over the place.
>You know of Kourindou, The Misty Lake, and Mystia's Stand as major points of interest. Marisa's House and Alice's House are there as well; and you've noted the Old Stone Bridge in the southeastern forest. Renko and Maribel's home stands just outside it, as does Scarlet Devil Mansion. You've heard stories of a few places filled with mushrooms, but you've not seen any of these yet. There are probably other interesting things out there, too.
>Very roughly; Lunasa seemed to indicate it was more west of what the Faerie under the bush did. But both were North Westish.
>_
-
>Are we currently still northwest-ish, as best we can figure?
>Are any of the mentioned places northwest-ish?
-
>Are we currently still northwest-ish, as best we can figure?
>Are any of the mentioned places northwest-ish?
>You think so, but you may be more central west by now.
>Not your knowledge. Renko and Maribel's home wouldn't be too far from there, but not quite there.
>_
-
>"I don't suppose you can think of anyplace they might end?"
-
>"I don't suppose you can think of anyplace they might end?"
>"I dunno," says Tenshi. "Got any idea what she's looking for?"
>_
-
> "Very little. There's not much in this area, presumably outside of fairy houses. And I'm having a hard time coming up with a connection between the things that have had their shadows stolen."
-
> "Very little. There's not much in this area, presumably outside of fairy houses. And I'm having a hard time coming up with a connection between the things that have had their shadows stolen."
[/quote
>"Well, maybe she's looking for something that isn't a faerie house?" says Tenshi. "And...well...I got no idea what those missing shadows have in common, either."
>_
-
> "The closest thing I can think of is Renko and Mary's house, but we were just by there. Do you remember anything unusual about it?"
-
> "The closest thing I can think of is Renko and Mary's house, but we were just by there. Do you remember anything unusual about it?"
>"Not really...Never been there, though, so there could have been something weird. And it's easy to find, anyways, just leave the forest. I don't think the trail would be all weaving around like a drunk if she was going there."
>Tenshi pauses. "Do you think she's drunk? Do poltergeists get drunk?"
>_
-
> "...I guess it's possible. It could explain why she decided to shoot first and talk later."
> What do we know about poltergeist biology?
-
> "...I guess it's possible. It could explain why she decided to shoot first and talk later."
> What do we know about poltergeist biology?
>Not a whole lot. But you don't think many people who aren't oni get staggering drunk by noon, if Lunasa's report on the time was accurate.
>_
-
> Thinking back to the place where we first encountered the trail the went from south to west and we could hear fairies to the north, have we since followed that part of the trail south?
-
>For that matter, are there any trails we have found that we have not followed to the point where they grow too faint to continue following?
-
> Thinking back to the place where we first encountered the trail the went from south to west and we could hear fairies to the north, have we since followed that part of the trail south?
>You have not.
>For that matter, are there any trails we have found that we have not followed to the point where they grow too faint to continue following?
>Just the one heading south.
>_
-
>"I wish I had some clue what she might be looking for, but really, nothing comes to mind."
>"As fruitless as these trails may be, I guess we might as well head back and check out the other end of the one we hadn't looked at, yet. Maybe a thought will strike one of us on the way?"
>Head back to said trail, and follow it south
-
>"I wish I had some clue what she might be looking for, but really, nothing comes to mind."
>"As fruitless as these trails may be, I guess we might as well head back and check out the other end of the one we hadn't looked at, yet. Maybe a thought will strike one of us on the way?"
>Head back to said trail, and follow it south
>"Yeah, I guess," says Tenshi. "I'm trying my best to think of something..."
>You follow the trail back; finding it somewhat easier thanks to knowing where to go and having your own tracks to follow. Soon enough, you reach where it bends toward the south that you noted before, and follow it into new territory.
>New is a bit of an overstatement; the forest itself doesn't change drastically. There are still leaves on the ground, still an appreciable but not impossible amount of forestry around. It is getting a bit more shadowy now; afternoon is getting later. This isn't a real problem for you, thankfully. Soon, you pass by a house in the woods; you suspect by process of elimination that it must be Marisa's house.
>"Hey, look," says Tenshi. She points a bit to the west. Looking over, you think you see another set of tracks, very similar to the one you are following, a few yards away.
>_
-
>Has the trail we're currently on ended?
>Go investigate these new tracks
-
>Has the trail we're currently on ended?
>Go investigate these new tracks
>Not that you can see.
>You move over to investigate the new tracks. They look pretty similar to the ones you've been following. These ones stretch from south to west, and might angle south again, you can't tell.
>_
-
>Follow these new tracks west
-
>Follow these new tracks west
>You follow the new tracks westward, and see that they do bend toward the southwest again.
>"Skipping ahead, eh?" says Tenshi.
>_
-
>Was the trail we were on a moment ago also heading southwest?
>"Well, since we don't know where she is, either trail is as good as the other. And west seemed better than otherwise. This is pretty much finger-crossing territory at the moment, anyway."
>Keep following this trail
-
>Was the trail we were on a moment ago also heading southwest?
>"Well, since we don't know where she is, either trail is as good as the other. And west seemed better than otherwise. This is pretty much finger-crossing territory at the moment, anyway."
>Keep following this trail
>More south by southwest.
>Tenshi nods. "Good enough."
>You continue to follow the trail, and come to a small almost clearing. The leaves seem to have been shuffled about quite a bit here; few of them are just laying naturally on the ground. There are also large patches that have suspiciously few leaves as well.
>_
-
>Suspiciously few? Does it just look like they were trampled aside, or like they were deliberately removed?
>Search around the clearing for anything else notable
-
>Suspiciously few? Does it just look like they were trampled aside, or like they were deliberately removed?
>Search around the clearing for anything else notable
>You suspect the latter, there just doesn't seem to be enough.
>You look around the clearing and see nothing else of real note inside it. But, a few yards past its eastern side, beside a fallen log, you notice a pile of leaves that seems to be too large to have occurred on its own.
>_
-
>Investigate this leaf pile
-
>Investigate this leaf pile
>There are many ways and styles of investigation. What will you do in particular to it?
>_
-
>Go have a closer look at it
>About how large is it?
-
>Go have a closer look at it
>About how large is it?
>You have a closer look. From the way the leaves are piled, you doubt they could have fallen this way.
>It is about six or seven feet long, three feet wide, and two feet high. It is roughly oval in shape, and is built up against the log.
>_
-
>Are there any loose branches or sticks nearby?
>If so, get one, and gently poke inside the pile
-
>Are there any loose branches or sticks nearby?
>If so, get one, and gently poke inside the pile
>It is not hard to find a loose branch.
>You poke it into the pile of leaves. You hit something soft but firm inside, far too soon for it to be the ground.
>_
-
>Use the stick to clear aside enough leaves in front of that part so that we can see what we hit
-
>Use the stick to clear aside enough leaves in front of that part so that we can see what we hit
>This takes a bit of time, the thing is buried under a fair amount of leaves and a poking stick does not make a good shovel.
>You get a glimpse of what you hit; it seems to be a bit of white cloth. After a moment, you conclude it is a sleeve; there seems to be an arm still in it.
>_
-
>Use our hands and brush away more of the leaves
-
>Use our hands and brush away more of the leaves
>You start to clear away the leaves, Tenshi quickly joining in.
>Soon you reveal a teal vest, a light aqua skirt, and then a face framed by short teal hair. This seems to be the karakasa that ambushed you earlier. Her eyes are closed, and she seems to be breathing slowly.
>_
-
>Sigh
>She must be a pretty sound sleeper...
>Ponder whether all the trails we've been following have been hers all along...
-
>What is Tenshi's expression?
-
>Sigh
>She must be a pretty sound sleeper...
>Ponder whether all the trails we've been following have been hers all along...
>You sigh. It really would be a pain if this was her trail the whole time.
>What is Tenshi's expression?
>You glance to Tenshi. She has a has a rather powerful grimace on her face, and her eyebrows raised.
>_
-
>Quietly: "Perhaps it really wasn't the poltergeist's trail we were following this whole time."
-
>Check Kogasa's shadow.
-
>Can we see where her umbrella is?
-
>Quietly: "Perhaps it really wasn't the poltergeist's trail we were following this whole time."
>"Maybe..." Tenshi says.
>Check Kogasa's shadow.
>She is still mostly covered in leaves, so you really can't see it so well.
>Can we see where her umbrella is?
>Not at the moment.
>_
-
> Raise eyebrows and an index finger.
> Pull out Aya's camera.
> Show the camera to Tenshi, holding it firmly in one hand.
> Point to Kogasa's skirt with the other. Look at Tenshi after doing this.
-
> Raise eyebrows and an index finger.
> Pull out Aya's camera.
> Show the camera to Tenshi, holding it firmly in one hand.
> Point to Kogasa's skirt with the other. Look at Tenshi after doing this.
>Tenshi's mouth falls open a little bit.
>"What....is your problem?" she says, her tone strained.
>_
-
> Shrug.
> "Thought you might still want revenge. Guess not."
> Put the camera back.
-
> Shrug.
> "Thought you might still want revenge. Guess not."
> Put the camera back.
>"You find someone knocked out in the middle of the forest, and this is what you think of!?" Tenshi says, "How in the world am I considered the bad one?!"
>_
-
>"I..."
>Frown, and look away a little.
>"You're absolutely right, of course. I'll not even try to justify this with an excuse about what a terrible day it's been. To think that I..."
>Shake head
>"It was an egregious error in judgment, and it shames me to think that, even for a moment, I would have thought otherwise. Think what you will of my actions; it is probably deserved."
-
>"I..."
>Frown, and look away a little.
>"You're absolutely right, of course. I'll not even try to justify this with an excuse about what a terrible day it's been. To think that I..."
>Shake head
>"It was an egregious error in judgment, and it shames me to think that, even for a moment, I would have thought otherwise. Think what you will of my actions; it is probably deserved."
>Tenshi frowns. "You're damn right. So, uh,"
>She gestures toward the karakasa.
>"What're we gonna do about Kogasa, anyways?"
>_
-
>Does Kogasa appear to be at all roughed up, or injured? Or does it look like she could have just nodded off while lying in wait for someone?
-
>Does Kogasa appear to be at all roughed up, or injured? Or does it look like she could have just nodded off while lying in wait for someone?
>She doesn't seem to be injured, from what you've revealed, but she is rather dirty from being in the leaves, which might conceal something.
>_
-
>"I wonder if she just fell asleep while waiting for someone to wander by, so that she could leap out and surprise them?"
>"I'd almost feel bad to wake her, but I'm selfishly curious to know if she's seen our poltergeist in all her wanderings"
>How concealed is Kogasa, still?
-
>"I wonder if she just fell asleep while waiting for someone to wander by, so that she could leap out and surprise them?"
>"I'd almost feel bad to wake her, but I'm selfishly curious to know if she's seen our poltergeist in all her wanderings"
>How concealed is Kogasa, still?
>"Oh, that could be it, couldn't it?" says Tenshi. "Yeah, wake her up. If she gives us any guff, I'll work her torso!"
>You've uncovered her face, right arm, and most of her torso.
>_
-
>Bend down
>Gently: "Kogasa. Wake up."
>If she doesn't respond, try again, a bit louder
>If still no response, put a hand on her shoulder and shake her gently, while calling her name again
-
>Bend down
>Gently: "Kogasa. Wake up."
>If she doesn't respond, try again, a bit louder
>If still no response, put a hand on her shoulder and shake her gently, while calling her name again
>Kogasa does not react until you shake her. Her eyes open, and she looks ahead; upward in this case. She doesn't seem to have noticed you.
>_
-
>Brush aside some more leaves and check her shadow.
-
>"Kogasa? Are you alright?"
>Lean over into her field of vision, if we haven't already.
-
>"Kogasa? Are you alright?"
>Lean over into her field of vision, if we haven't already.
>You lean into her field of vision and ask if she is alright. She does not answer, and her eyes don't seem to react to you leaning over her.
>Brush aside some more leaves and check her shadow.
>You move some more leaves. It would take a little time to clear them all away, but you are reasonably sure her shadow is not there.
>_
-
>"Oh god... Her shadow..."
>Try to gently pull her out of the leaf pile and sit her upright
-
>"Oh god... Her shadow..."
>Try to gently pull her out of the leaf pile and sit her upright
>"Crap..." Tenshi says.
>You guide her from the leaf pile and sit her upright. She doesn't resist you, and stays upright under her own power.
>_
-
>How long has it been since we saw her last?
>Sift through the rest of the leaf pile. Can we find anything else in there?
-
>How long has it been since we saw her last?
>Sift through the rest of the leaf pile. Can we find anything else in there?
>An hour, maybe an hour and a half at the very most.
>You sift through the pile, and find her umbrella. It is closed, and looks quite mundane.
>_
-
>Give the umbrella to Kogasa, and see if she will actually accept it
>Are we in a similar region of the forest to where the pit trap was, as best we can tell?
>"Hardly any time's passed since we saw her, and yet... I'd hoped fervently that I could keep things from happening to anyone else. And we still don't know a thing more about how it happened, do we?"
-
>Give the umbrella to Kogasa, and see if she will actually accept it
>Are we in a similar region of the forest to where the pit trap was, as best we can tell?
>"Hardly any time's passed since we saw her, and yet... I'd hoped fervently that I could keep things from happening to anyone else. And we still don't know a thing more about how it happened, do we?"
>You place the umbrella in Kogasa's hands. They wrap around it.
>You think you're about as far west as you were, but definitely further south.
>"I, um, guess that means whoever we're following did it, right?" says Tenshi. "So, what're we going to do about her?"
>_
-
>"I would like to think that the culprit is nearby. But an hour is plenty of time to be long gone, and we don't know if they have some ability to conceal themselves, move quickly, or even perpetrate this from a distance."
>"As for Kogasa... I do not know. We can't simply leave her here, as she is. We probably should bring her somewhere where someone can keep an eye out for her. At least for the short term. I don't think she'd be able to keep up with us on her own."
-
>"I would like to think that the culprit is nearby. But an hour is plenty of time to be long gone, and we don't know if they have some ability to conceal themselves, move quickly, or even perpetrate this from a distance."
>"As for Kogasa... I do not know. We can't simply leave her here, as she is. We probably should bring her somewhere where someone can keep an eye out for her. At least for the short term. I don't think she'd be able to keep up with us on her own."
>"Probably less than an hour," says Tenshi. "She had to get over here, right? And, I guess I could take her somewhere, if you wanna keep looking."
>_
-
>"I certainly do not intend to rest yet, while other people's beings are at stake."
>"Did you have some place in mind to take her?"
-
>"I certainly do not intend to rest yet, while other people's beings are at stake."
>"Did you have some place in mind to take her?"
>"Not really, but I'll think of something," says Tenshi. "Where you wanna meet at?"
>_
-
>"Well, we were supposed to meet up with Luna near Renko and Maribel's before meeting up with Aya. The reason for that feels a rather low priority given present circumstances, but it's probably as good a meeting place as any, and we probably shouldn't leave the fairies hanging, either. If I cannot find anything here in the next little while, hopefully Aya will have discovered something."
-
>"Well, we were supposed to meet up with Luna near Renko and Maribel's before meeting up with Aya. The reason for that feels a rather low priority given present circumstances, but it's probably as good a meeting place as any, and we probably shouldn't leave the fairies hanging, either. If I cannot find anything here in the next little while, hopefully Aya will have discovered something."
>Tenshi nods. "Okay, I'll meet you there."
>She walks over to Kogasa and grabs her by the shoulders. "C'mon, you little pain in the butt, let's get you out of here."
>Kogasa obliges her by standing up, cradling her umbrella.
>_
-
>Walk over to Kogasa, and clasp our hands around hers, and look her in the eyes
>"Kogasa, I am so, so sorry. I don't know that you'll ever remember I said this, but I swear that I will make things right again."
>To Tenshi: "Please be well, Tenshi. I don't want to have to see this happen to another soul."
-
>Walk over to Kogasa, and clasp our hands around hers, and look her in the eyes
>"Kogasa, I am so, so sorry. I don't know that you'll ever remember I said this, but I swear that I will make things right again."
>To Tenshi: "Please be well, Tenshi. I don't want to have to see this happen to another soul."
>You take Kogasa's hands in yours and apologize to her. She stares through you idly, you don't think she really knows you're here.
>"Don't worry," says Tenshi. "If I see any polterghosts around, I'll beat her up before they have the chance to do anything."
>_
-
>Nod
>"Just be careful."
-
>Nod
>"Just be careful."
>"You too," says Tenshi. "If you don't show up after nightfall, I'll get a search party going."
>_
-
>"Thanks. I appreciate it."
>"Well, we probably should get going. Here's to good fortune in both our endeavors."
-
>"Thanks. I appreciate it."
>"Well, we probably should get going. Here's to good fortune in both our endeavors."
>"Yeah, don't get beaten up," says Tenshi, as she takes Kogasa by the arm and starts to tug her eastward.
>_
-
>Looking around the clearing, are there any obvious signs of trails that we did not follow yet?
-
>Looking around the clearing, are there any obvious signs of trails that we did not follow yet?
>You look around the clearing. On the southern side, you find the trail again, leading south then meandering east.
>_
-
>Go follow it
-
>Go follow it
>You follow it.
>This one twists and meanders around much like the prior one. While it does go east from time to time, on the whole it drifts toward the west, periodically looping back on itself if you read it correctly.
>_
-
>Looping back in a similar direction, or literally looping back to form a circular path?
>Assuming we're not literally walking in circles, continue onward, keeping an eye out for any signs of people or other unusual things
-
>Looping back in a similar direction, or literally looping back to form a circular path?
>Assuming we're not literally walking in circles, continue onward, keeping an eye out for any signs of people or other unusual things
>Both.
>You note that there seem to be more signs of passage; foliage torn and in some cased ripped from the ground; leaves scattered as though kicked.
>_
-
>Does it look like a fight may have taken place here?
>Can we find a particular location where this seems most concentrated?
-
>Does it look like a fight may have taken place here?
>Can we find a particular location where this seems most concentrated?
>It is not concentrated, but rather things you are seeing along the path. They don't seem quite like signs of violence.
>_
-
>Does it seem like this might represent the path of a separate person, who's rather less careful of their surroundings than the previous trails we've followed?
-
>Does it seem like this might represent the path of a separate person, who's rather less careful of their surroundings than the previous trails we've followed?
>It could be, but you don't see any evidence to support or disprove this.
>_
-
>Were markings like this evident along the other trails?
>Were these markings evident for most of the length of this trail that we've been on?
>Despite the looping about, do we think that we can determine which way is still 'forward'?
-
>Were markings like this evident along the other trails?
>Were these markings evident for most of the length of this trail that we've been on?
>Despite the looping about, do we think that we can determine which way is still 'forward'?
>Not that you saw.
>They seem to be.
>In the main, it seems to be angling southwest.
>_
-
>Continue heading in that direction
-
>Continue heading in that direction
>You continue to head southwest. The trail continues to wend and loop with itself every so often.
>After a little while, you think you can hear something rustling the foliage up ahead.
>_
-
>Approach as quietly as we can
>See if we can tell what/who it is, ideally without making our presence obvious
-
>Approach as quietly as we can
>See if we can tell what/who it is, ideally without making our presence obvious
>You approach as quietly as you can, taking to the air and hovering toward it.
>Dry brambles, still missing some of their leaves obscure the way ahead; you see the trail goes around them. To the left, you can see the trees are somewhat thicker, while to the right the trees seem to have a few more of their leaves. How will you approach?
>_
-
>Take the path to the left, and try to avoid rustling against the foliage as best we can, as we approach
-
>Take the path to the left, and try to avoid rustling against the foliage as best we can, as we approach
>You work your way to the left, trying not to rustle against the foliage.
>Peering through the trees, you can see a woman in a blue coat, vigorously digging through a bush. Her hair is shock white, and she seems to be very irritated, given the intensity of the glare she is directing at the bush. Then she turns it toward you, as she catches sight of you, and gives a short, frustrated cry.
>_
-
>"Um, excuse me, but are you looking for something?"
>Be ready to dodge, if she reacts the same way she did to Lunasa.
-
>"Um, excuse me, but are you looking for something?"
>Be ready to dodge, if she reacts the same way she did to Lunasa.
>"You took my book, didn't you!" she cries.
>She is practically glaring daggers at you, you suspect she might try something drastic at any moment.
>_
-
>"I haven't even seen a book anywhere around here, I swear. When did you notice it missing?"
-
>"I haven't even seen a book anywhere around here, I swear. When did you notice it missing?"
>"None of your business!" she says, raising her hands in an obvious preparation to fire.
>_
-
>Put hands up in a disarming gesture
>"I'm sorry! I was only trying to be helpful!"
-
>Put hands up in a disarming gesture
>"I'm sorry! I was only trying to be helpful!"
>You try to calm things down.
>"Where is my book?!" the poltergeist cries, her hands still raised.
>_
-
>"I have no idea, I swear!"
>"I might be able to help, if you let me."
-
>"I have no idea, I swear!"
>"I might be able to help, if you let me."
>"How!" she says. "And why were you following me!?"
>_
-
>"How? A second pair of eyes, perhaps? Or, if you tell me what you know happened to it, I might be able to try to figure out where it went."
>"As for why I've been looking for you, well... I'm searching for the answer to a mystery. I'd hoped there might be a chance you knew something. I just wanted to talk to you about it."
-
>"How? A second pair of eyes, perhaps? Or, if you tell me what you know happened to it, I might be able to try to figure out where it went."
>"As for why I've been looking for you, well... I'm searching for the answer to a mystery. I'd hoped there might be a chance you knew something. I just wanted to talk to you about it."
>For a moment, you almost think you see her expression soft a little. Then she opens fire, sending a wave of purple bullets in your direction. It shouldn't be difficult to slip between them, but going around entirely may be a better course.
>_
-
>Did we get all of that out before she opened fire? If not, at what point did she interrupt us?
>Shift around to the side of the bullets
>"Why are you shooting at me?!"
-
>Did we get all of that out before she opened fire? If not, at what point did she interrupt us?
>Shift around to the side of the bullets
>"Why are you shooting at me?!"
>You got as far as "talk to you"
>You shift around the wave, and find that she is rapidly closing in on you. Some of the shots hit the trees with a rather meaty thump.
>"You know too much!" she shouts, throwing another wave of bullets at you as she closes in; this one is more like an undifferentiated cloud.
>_
-
>Shift backwards quickly. Try to keep a fairly wide distance between us and don't let her close it.
>As we do, angle away so that the cloud will pass us by
>"Know too much about what?! The problem I've had all day is that I know too little!"
-
>Shift backwards quickly. Try to keep a fairly wide distance between us and don't let her close it.
>As we do, angle away so that the cloud will pass us by
>"Know too much about what?! The problem I've had all day is that I know too little!"
>You back away and angle away from the cloud. You feel a sharp impact against your back; you sidled into a tree!
>She does not answer your entreaty, closing in on you behind the wave of bullets. A few of those bullets are poised to hit you.
>_
-
>Quickly glance behind us, and slip around the tree we just hit, so as to evade the bullets
>Is there some break in the trees above us that would permit a relatively speedy ascent to less crowded territory?
>In general, how crowded is the area we're in?
>How close is the poltergeist to us?
-
>Quickly glance behind us, and slip around the tree we just hit, so as to evade the bullets
>Is there some break in the trees above us that would permit a relatively speedy ascent to less crowded territory?
>In general, how crowded is the area we're in?
>How close is the poltergeist to us?
>You look back, then slip around the tree; the wave goes right past you; hitting the tree hard enough to send splinters flying.
>You don't know, but they don't seem so dense as to prevent it.
>It's crowded enough you can move around, but there is a good chance you'll find trees in your way in one direction or another in the course of a normal fight.
>A few yards and closing fast, while drawing her arm back!
>_
-
>Drawing her arm back fist-like? Or in the sense of reading to launch more danmaku?
>Take another quick glance behind us, and find open room to retreat along
>Dash backwards in this direction, while keeping an eye on her
>"Would you please stop? I don't want to fire at you, but I will if you keep this up. I just came to speak with you."
-
>Drawing her arm back fist-like? Or in the sense of reading to launch more danmaku?
>Take another quick glance behind us, and find open room to retreat along
>Dash backwards in this direction, while keeping an eye on her
>"Would you please stop? I don't want to fire at you, but I will if you keep this up. I just came to speak with you."
>More fist-like, but not quite.
>You retreat away diagonally, slipping between the trees. Unfortunately, you are finding that moving backwards it not quite as swift as moving forwards; your assailant closes the distance between you.
>"You know too much!" she shouts, and swings her fist at you!
>_
-
>Duck and sidestep her fist
>As we shift, lash out at her arm with our scarf and try to grab it
>If it fails to make full purchase, but still contacts, send a shock down it
>If it grabs her, and she moves to attack with the other arm, or fire more danmaku, shock her
-
>Duck and sidestep her fist
>As we shift, lash out at her arm with our scarf and try to grab it
>If it fails to make full purchase, but still contacts, send a shock down it
>If it grabs her, and she moves to attack with the other arm, or fire more danmaku, shock her
>You duck away from her fist, then send your scarf out to grab her arm. She does not to seem to have anticipated this at all, and you grab her arm firmly, throwing off her attack and causing her to cry out with rage.
>She comes at you with her other arm, and you send a shock down it, anticipating her action enough that your shock is able to ruin the attack before it began. She cries out again, this time in a much higher pitch.
>_
-
>"That's enough! You can stop and talk with me, or I can do that again."
>Be ready to repeat the shock if she does anything aggressive
-
>"That's enough! You can stop and talk with me, or I can do that again."
>Be ready to repeat the shock if she does anything aggressive
>"No!" she cries, quickly grabbing your shawl with her other hand, and throwing her herself against it.
>Her tug is a lot less than you anticipated, to be honest; poltergeists must not actually weigh much. But you still feel your scarf being wrenched from you.
>You try to electrocute her again, but you do not have much of a charge ready at the moment. The effect isn't enough to really throw her off like last time, but does cause her attempts to tug away your shawl to slacken for a moment.
>_
-
>Tighten our grip on our shawl with the hand that lashed it
>Fire a burst of danmaku at her torso with our other hand; take advantage of her limited mobility
>How close are we to a tree with trunk no more than a handspan or two around?
-
>Tighten our grip on our shawl with the hand that lashed it
>Fire a burst of danmaku at her torso with our other hand; take advantage of her limited mobility
>How close are we to a tree with trunk no more than a handspan or two around?
>You tighten your grip. As you do, she moves to the left, flanking you and making it a bit more difficult to tag her with off the cuff danmaku. Your grip is wrenched a little bit, but you still have a good hold on your shawl.
>Many of the trees here are about that thick; the one you bumped into a moment ago is just ahead of you and than size.
>_
-
>Try to shift our position towards a nearby tree, without either directly dragging against her, or letting ourselves get closer than we already are
>Move such that the length of scarf between our arm and hers is across the tree trunk, and try to shift around it, using the tree as a brace against her efforts to disarm us
>As we attempt to shift, take any opportunity that presents itself to toss some danmaku in her direction
-
>Try to shift our position towards a nearby tree, without either directly dragging against her, or letting ourselves get closer than we already are
>Move such that the length of scarf between our arm and hers is across the tree trunk, and try to shift around it, using the tree as a brace against her efforts to disarm us
>As we attempt to shift, take any opportunity that presents itself to toss some danmaku in her direction
>You approach the tree. As you do, she continues to circle you; she will soon go behind you if you do not attempt to stop her or turn to face her.
>_
-
>Turn ourselves to keep the poltergeist in direct line of sight, as she moves
-
>Turn ourselves to keep the poltergeist in direct line of sight, as she moves
>You turn to face her, moving to intersperse the tree between the two of you. She continues to circle; and will soon will have gone in a half circle from her prior position. You think she is also giving you a little slack, as well.
>_
-
>Giving us a little slack? Does that mean she's stopped trying to pull the scarf from us?
>Does she seem to be doing anything else?
-
>Giving us a little slack? Does that mean she's stopped trying to pull the scarf from us?
>Does she seem to be doing anything else?
>It seems so. And, she is grinning in a way you don't like as she move completes her half-circle and raises her foot.
>_
-
>Raises her foot?
>Quick, where is our shadow, relative to her?
>If her movement is bringing her inside or towards it, quickly move so that she isn't. If this means relinquishing our hold on her, do so.
-
>Raises her foot?
>Quick, where is our shadow, relative to her?
>If it's anywhere near her, quickly move so that it isn't. If this means relinquishing our hold on her, do so.
>You notice that she is standing right on it.
>You have to dive aside to get your shadow away from her, relinquishing your hold on her arm. As you do so, you feel a sharp pain in your leg, like you just took a kick.
>You land on your side hard, you right leg aching. The poltergeist approaches you; or more precisely, your shadow. Her prior confidence seems to have melted away into rage again.
>_
-
>Quickly get back to our feet
>Get some distance and try to move around her such that our shadow is behind us, rather than in front of us
>Throw a bolt of lightning at her as we strafe around
>"So it was you. Why have you done all this?"
-
>Quickly get back to our feet
>Get some distance and try to move around her such that our shadow is behind us, rather than in front of us
>Throw a bolt of lightning at her as we strafe around
>"So it was you. Why have you done all this?"
>You quickly get back to your feet, and try to open up some distance; as you do, she stomps on your shadow again, and it feels like you just got kicked in the gut! The pain is enough to keep you from calling up any lightning for the moment.
>"Where is my book!?" she shouts at you, drawing her hand back again.
>_
-
>Didn't we dive our shadow out of her range the first time?
>Regardless, try to get our shadow away from her. If there's any trees nearby we can use to block our shadow, do so. Stagger or dive towards them if we need to.
>"I told you, I don't know!!"
-
>Didn't we dive our shadow out of her range the first time?
>Regardless, try to get our shadow away from her. If there's any trees nearby we can use to block our shadow, do so. Stagger or dive towards them if we need to.
>"I told you, I don't know!!"
>She doesn't seem to have just stood there in the meantime, and you had to stand up.
>You stagger toward a largish tree, the poltergeist moving after you. The tree takes your shadow well, keeping it off the ground and away from the poltergeist.
>"Tell me where it is!" she shouts back, and she rains her hands and fires more danmaku at you; this time a moderately cohesive line of shots directed at your torso.
>_
-
>Shift aside from the shots, keeping close to the tree, and making absolutely certain not to expose our shadow
>Counter with a spread of lightning orbs
>"No matter how many times you ask that, I don't know the answer!"
-
>Shift aside from the shots, keeping close to the tree, and making absolutely certain not to expose our shadow
>Counter with a spread of lightning orbs
>"No matter how many times you ask that, I don't know the answer!"
>You hug close to the tree, and find that you'll have to either expose your shadow from moving back, or move away from the tree and allow more of it to fall on the ground between you and the tree.
>_
-
>Which of these two options places the shadow further from the poltergeist and least accessible to her?
>For that matter, is the tree to our back, or our side?
>Which direction is our shadow falling on, relative to both us and the poltergeist?
-
>Which of these two options places the shadow further from the poltergeist and least accessible to her?
>For that matter, is the tree to our back, or our side?
>Which direction is our shadow falling on, relative to both us and the poltergeist?
>Moving away from the tree would probably make it harder for her to get to it, but either way gives her an opening.
>The tree is at your left side at the moment; as is your shadow. The poltergeist is just ahead of you, so it would be on her right side a little.
>_
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>Shift to our right to move out of the way of the incoming shots
>Launch a spread of lightning orbs at the poltergeist as we do so, aimed to cover both the poltergeist and the gap we're opening up with our shadow
>If the poltergeist manages to close into melee range despite this, lash at her legs with our scarf. If we can catch her mid-stride, and cause her own momentum to trip her, all the better. Shock upon contact, whether a successful grapple or near miss.
-
>Shift to our right to move out of the way of the incoming shots
>Launch a spread of lightning orbs at the poltergeist as we do so, aimed to cover both the poltergeist and the gap we're opening up with our shadow
>If the poltergeist manages to close into melee range despite this, lash at her legs with our scarf. If we can catch her mid-stride, and cause her own momentum to trip her, all the better. Shock upon contact, whether a successful grapple or near miss.
>You shift to your right and avoid the shots with easy, leaving about a yard and a half between you and the tree.
>You try to cover both the opening and the poltergeist with some orbs. She moves between them, and rather than closing in, stops and sends another messy wave of shots in your direction. You may be able to move between them, but if you want to assuredly dodge them you will have to move further from the tree.
>_
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>Quickly glance about. Can we see another tree that would offer similar cover, and which we can get to while backing away from the poltergeist?
>If so, shift back that way, while keeping our eyes on her.
>Launch another wave of orbs as we retreat.
>If not, launch another wave of orbs from our current position and attempt to dodge between the incoming fire without opening up a larger gap between us and the tree
>Be ready to go for her legs if she gets close enough
-
>Quickly glance about. Can we see another tree that would offer similar cover, and which we can get to while backing away from the poltergeist?
>If so, shift back that way, while keeping our eyes on her.
>Launch another wave of orbs as we retreat.
>If not, launch another wave of orbs from our current position and attempt to dodge between the incoming fire without opening up a larger gap between us and the tree
>Be ready to go for her legs if she gets close enough
>You take a quick glance, and notice another such tree a bit to your left and behind you some distance, but the way looks moderately clear. You shift toward it, exposing your shadow and sending off another volley of orbs. The poltergeist stands there, glaring daggers at you and letting you escape for the moment.
>You reach this new tree safely. She still hasn't followed you, though she is still watching.
>_
>_
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>About how much distance is there between us now?
>Does the poltergeist seem to be doing anything other than glare at us?
>Do we have a relatively clear line of fire?
>"What will it take to convince you that I don't have your book? Is that why you attacked the others, earlier? Did you think they'd taken it as well?"
-
>About how much distance is there between us now?
>Does the poltergeist seem to be doing anything other than glare at us?
>Do we have a relatively clear line of fire?
>"What will it take to convince you that I don't have your book? Is that why you attacked the others, earlier? Did you think they'd taken it as well?"
>There's a good six yards or so between the two of you.
>At first, it doesn't seem so, but looking more closely, you see her shadow is moving and changing.
>You do.
>"They knew to too much," she says, her voice a growl.
>_
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> Does Aya's camera flash?
-
> Does Aya's camera flash?
>Yes.
>_
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>Does her shadow appear to be extending out towards ours?
>If she herself is remaining stationary, call down a bolt of lightning on top of her
>Then, if the shadow is approaching us, find another suitable tree and retreat a little bit more
-
>Does her shadow appear to be extending out towards ours?
>If she herself is remaining stationary, call down a bolt of lightning on top of her
>Then, if the shadow is approaching us, find another suitable tree and retreat a little bit more
>No, it seems to be contracting. It really doesn't look like a person at all anymore. More like a sizable rock.
>You call down a bolt from the blue. It strikes her full on. She winces, but doesn't seem to be especially perturbed by it. That's unusual...
>_
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>Launch the strongest, most concentrated danmaku we have in our repertoire at her, whether they're slow or not
>Continue to carefully watch both the poltergeist and her shadow. Be ready to react quickly if there is any sudden change in status
-
The fairies did mention a rock with no shadow, didn't they?
Bet this means she can imitate Nitori and Kogasa, too.
-
>Launch the strongest, most concentrated danmaku we have in our repertoire at her, whether they're slow or not
>Continue to carefully watch both the poltergeist and her shadow. Be ready to react quickly if there is any sudden change in status
>You give her your best. Unfortunately, concentrated means it is not particularly hard to step around, which she does. She's smiling again, a kind of smile you don't really like, as she begin to approach.
>The poltergeist is approaching. Her motions don't seem to be quite as fluid as before. Her shadow has stopped moving, and most definitely looks like a large stone.
>_
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The fairies did mention a rock with no shadow, didn't they?
Bet this means she can imitate Nitori and Kogasa, too.
Quite possibly. My concern is that, if she's manifesting an actual part of these people that was taken from them, injuring her while she's doing so might actually be harmful to them.
>Launch a fragmenting orb of lightning at her, timed to divide around the point it would get near her
>Try to keep our distance as she approaches, using trees as previously
-
If her motions aren't as fluid, it may be time to out-agile her. I'm guessing the shadow metamorph grants both strengths and weaknesses.
Sorry I can't help more, but I'm extremely limited availability for the next 12 hours.
-
>Launch a fragmenting orb of lightning at her, timed to divide around the point it would get near her
>Try to keep our distance as she approaches, using trees as previously
>You prepare and send out another lightning orb, while she closes some of the distance; jogging toward you. She does not bother to dodge it; the lightning touches her, and doesn't seem to do much to her.
>You draw back; there are three trees you consider to be good candidates. One is nearby and a bit toward the right; west if you have your directions proper. Another is directly behind and to the north amidst a fairly thick stand of trees. The third is a bit to the east, and some distance away.
>_
-
Some more musings, since I have the time.
- Aya's camera could be good for a temporary blinding if she gets too close. Given she's a rock right now, physical strikes to ssensitive areas may be the best action plan, such as poking her in the eyes.
- This girl is powerful, well-equipped and determined, but she's also simple and emotional. This will ultimately be a battle of wits more than anything else, because we're not going to win a slugfest. An idea I had was to taunt her while using book puns; hopefully getting her madder will cause careless mistakes and overly direct attacks, and a constant annoying reminder that her book is missing should do that trick nicely. I know we've been reluctant to do certain things throughout the game, but we're all in on this fight. We've seen what happened to Nitori and Kogasa - that cannot happen to us, both for our sakes and Gensokyo's.
-
>Can we use our scarf as a drill?
-
>Can we use our scarf as a drill?
>You do know this technique, but you have to be fairly close to use it well; and if you want to get the most out of it, it takes a few moments of preparation and leaving yourself open.
>_
-
>In which direction is our shadow falling?
>And presumably this girl is coming at us from that same direction?
>How long does it take to prepare Aya's camera for picture-taking?
Suggestion: Get around her so our shadow is not in her range.
-
>In which direction is our shadow falling?
>And presumably this girl is coming at us from that same direction?
>How long does it take to prepare Aya's camera for picture-taking?
>It is still to your left; toward the east.
>The Poltergeist is coming from the south, toward you more or less head on. For the time being, the tree has your shadow on it.
>A couple moments. You wouldn't have time to do this immediately.
>_
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This is just an idea:
Point behind her
"Is that a book?!"
Prepare camera
-
If we want to distract her, we should use that time to prepare a drill. I don't mind preparing the camera while she watches, she likely won't feel threatened by it regardless of her familiarity with it.
-
Well, I'm not sure how long she would be affected by the camera, if at all. If she is affected for a long time, then we could use that time to prepare the drill.
-
The idea with the camera is that it's a means, not an end. Using the misdirection distraction to set it up defeats the purpose. Ideally I'd like to see misdirection-to-drill and camera-to-something-else (eyepoke?).
-
>The force of our drill attack is still primarily electrical, rather than concussive, correct?
>Do we have anything in our repertoire that has greater concussive force, or could be altered to be so?
>How bright could we make a lightning strike, even if at the expense of other aspects of it? Enough to momentarily blind someone, if it struck right in front of their face?
>The poltergeist seems less agile than before, but is she also notably slower in terms of direct speed?
>Quickly glancing at our immediate surroundings, do we see any rocks that would have notable heft, but still be small enough to be throwable, even if this required both hands?
>If one or more suitable is nearer to one of the three candidate trees mentioned earlier, draw back towards that one
>Otherwise, draw back to the one to the north, amid the stand of trees
-
>The force of our drill attack is still primarily electrical, rather than concussive, correct?
>Do we have anything in our repertoire that has greater concussive force, or could be altered to be so?
>How bright could we make a lightning strike, even if at the expense of other aspects of it? Enough to momentarily blind someone, if it struck right in front of their face?
>The poltergeist seems less agile than before, but is she also notably slower in terms of direct speed?
>Quickly glancing at our immediate surroundings, do we see any rocks that would have notable heft, but still be small enough to be throwable, even if this required both hands?
>If one or more suitable is nearer to one of the three candidate trees mentioned earlier, draw back towards that one
>Otherwise, draw back to the one to the north, amid the stand of trees
>It's both; you're not sure what the actual ratio is, but there should be enough non-electrical force to make a decent attack of it.
>Your basic danmaku has some; and your physical attacks.
>You might be able to make a blinding flash; but you've never tried it before. You'd want to build up a good charge to try it.
>She may be a little slower; you've not had a lot of time to estimate.
>You are certain there are rocks to be found, but the leafy covering of the forest floor conceals them nicely.
>You draw back northward, giving yourself some more space. Unfortunately, moving backwards still is not optimally fast. She continues to pursue.
>_
-
>There are quite a few trees nearby now, correct? To facilitate quick shifting, if needbe?
>How would we go about gathering charge for a blinding bolt? Would this require us to be stationary for a time, or could it be done on the move?
>Would the charge expended on it render us unable to follow up with a drill attack?
>Fire a spray of basic danmaku at her; let's see if non-electrical attacks have any greater effect on her at present
-
>There are quite a few trees nearby now, correct? To facilitate quick shifting, if needbe?
>How would we go about gathering charge for a blinding bolt? Would this require us to be stationary for a time, or could it be done on the move?
>Would the charge expended on it render us unable to follow up with a drill attack?
>Fire a spray of basic danmaku at her; let's see if non-electrical attacks have any greater effect on her at present
>There are many trees here, but not all are suitable for keeping your shadow fully off the ground.
>You would have to direct a little effort toward doing it; akin to holding your breath while doing some other thing; though not quite so distracting. More time and effort focusing on it will speed the process, but it's not necessary; you can move about normally if you don't mind it taking more time.
>You should be able to follow up with a drill attack.
>You fire a spray at her; she steps between the shots and continues to approach.
>_
-
>Begin to gather charge
>Glance around for another candidate tree
-
>Begin to gather charge
>Glance around for another candidate tree
>You start to gather electricity, and look around for another tree. You find one to the left, but it is not very far away.
>Looking back to the poltergeist, you see her raise her hands, and sends a cloud of danmaku at you. You may be able to dodge through it, but going around would definitely be safer.
>_
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>If the tree to the left is far enough to be out of the way of the danmaku, shift in that direction
>Scan for a further tree to shift to, as we move
>If it is not, move far enough past it to be safe of the cloud, then return to the tree
>If she moves in on our exposed shadow during movement, send a spread of danmaku to cover the direction of exposure
>"Do you have no remorse at all for what you've done to Nitori and Kogasa? Regardless of whatever it was you think they knew, they were good, decent people, and now they can barely be called alive!"
-
>If the tree to the left is far enough to be out of the way of the danmaku, shift in that direction
>Scan for a further tree to shift to, as we move
>If it is not, move far enough past it to be safe of the cloud, then return to the tree
>If she moves in on our exposed shadow during movement, send a spread of danmaku to cover the direction of exposure
>"Do you have no remorse at all for what you've done to Nitori and Kogasa? Regardless of whatever it was you think they knew, they were good, decent people, and now they can barely be called alive!"
>"Oh, you're kinda busy," says Maribel, popping out of the boughs of a tree and putting her knife away. "I'll come back later."