Yukari Quest!

[Metaflare]

> Gap to your home. Hopefully Ran or Chen will be there.

[Dormio Ergo Sum]

> Gap to your home. Hopefully Ran or Chen will be there.

>You open up a gap between your current location and Mayohiga. It still takes a lot out of you, and it's still slightly smaller than normal, but you hide your discomfort in front of others.
>Sanae bows at you before she moves to pick up your cup as you step through the gap.
>You close the gap behind you once you're in Mayohiga.
>Nobody appears to be around, as usual.

>_

[Yukarin]

>Time for the next gap?
>Walk around, see what's happened to Mayohiga since you were gone.

[Dormio Ergo Sum]

>Time for the next gap?
>Walk around, see what's happened to Mayohiga since you were gone.

>Like last time, you'd guess that you need around an hour to gather enough strength to safely open another gap.
>You begin to wander around the streets of Mayohiga and a low growling noise begins to run through the streets.
>You ignore the noise and continue to walk around, nothing much appears to have changed.
>The closer you get to your home, the louder the growling gets.

>_

[BT]

> Is this growling... familiar somehow? Or am I imagining things?

> No one here? Am I sure?

[Dormio Ergo Sum]

> Is this growling... familiar somehow? Or am I imagining things?

> No one here? Am I sure?

>You're certain that you've heard this growling a long time ago.
>Evidently, whatever is growling at you is here.

>_

[Momijibot]

>Can we remember how long back? Is it Ran or Chen, perhaps?
>Call out for Ran, a la "Ran!"

[Dormio Ergo Sum]

>Can we remember how long back? Is it Ran or Chen, perhaps?
>Call out for Ran, a la "Ran!"

>You recall this growl from before you had Ran as a shikigami.
>You believe that it belongs to Ran.
>You call out for Ran, and the growling stops.

>_

[Metaflare]

> "Ran, is that you?"

[Dormio Ergo Sum]

> "Ran, is that you?"

>You see a fox's head, Ran's, poke out from behind one of the buildings to watch you.

>_

[Wolfsbane706]

>Approach carefully, no telling what's happened to Ran to make her growl like that.
>Anything we can duck behind in the ulikely case that Ran strikes?

[Dormio Ergo Sum]

>Approach carefully, no telling what's happened to Ran to make her growl like that.
>Anything we can duck behind in the ulikely case that Ran strikes?

>You slowly approach Ran.
>Ran watches you for a moment before she steps out from behind the building.
>Her steps seem odd, as though she's about to fall over at any moment.
>The cause becomes apparent once you can see Ran in full, one of her front limbs is missing.
>Ran limps towards you and rubs herself against your legs for a short moment before lying down next to you.
>She lets out a small bark, and soon a black cat with two tails, Chen, starts approaching.

>_

[Metaflare]

> Well at least someone appreciates your return.

> Can you communicate with them in their animal forms?

[E-Nazrin]

>"Goodness, Ran, what happened?"
>Kneel down a bit to get a better look at her. If appropriate, give her a comforting pat.
>Is Chen in good shape?

[Dormio Ergo Sum]

> Well at least someone appreciates your return.

> Can you communicate with them in their animal forms?

>It feels good to know that somebody was waiting for you.
>You believe that they can understand you, but the reverse does not hold true.

>"Goodness, Ran, what happened?"
>Kneel down a bit to get a better look at her. If appropriate, give her a comforting pat.
>Is Chen in good shape?

>Ran looks up at you and whines.
>You kneel down and examine Ran in more detail. Her body has several scars running along it hidden behind the fur, and her arm appears to have been cut off quite a while ago.
>You give Ran a pat, and she licks your face in return.
>Meanwhile, Chen tries to fit herself in between yourself and Ran. Chen appears to be fine.

>_

[Wolfsbane706]

>Let Chen come up between you and Ran, give her a comforting scratch on the head.
>Try to figure out just what cut off Ran's arm, and when.
>Time until next available gap?

[Dormio Ergo Sum]

>Let Chen come up between you and Ran, give her a comforting scratch on the head.
>Try to figure out just what cut off Ran's arm, and when.
>Time until next available gap?

>You make a bit of room for Chen, who jumps onto your lap and lies down, purring.
>You examine Ran's arm again, it looks as though it happened a few months ago, at the latest.
>Even without your strength, Ran was rather strong by herself. You aren't sure of what could have cut off her arm.
>You should probably wait for around an hour before attempting to open up another gap.

>_

[Blitzer]

>Can we change them back to humanoid form?

[Dormio Ergo Sum]

>Can we change them back to humanoid form?

>You aren't sure, but you think that renewing your shikigami contracts should be enough to return them to their humanoid forms.

>_

[Blitzer]

>What is the process for renewing a shikigami contract?

[Dormio Ergo Sum]

>What is the process for renewing a shikigami contract?

>It is a rather simple process, you need only meet a few conditions. You, as the master must be willing to share your partner with your to-be shikigami and your partner, as the to-be shikigami, must be willing to follow any and every order you give. Both parties must be completely trusting in the other.
>The ceremony itself is of little importance and can be as grand or humble as you wish it to be.

>_

[Tamashii Kanjou]

Ok you guys, this would probably help us in the long run if we have Ran back; arm missing or not.

It shouldn't really need a discussion, but if someone has a good point to say otherwise, then go ahead; otherwise, we'll get Ran back, and possibly Chen too.

[Momijibot]

>Would renewing the shikigami contract heal any injuries (i.e. return arms)?

I'm all in favour of reuniting the crew.

After that, we should get the full story and then do what must be done. After that, should we check up on Alice?

[BT]

Definitely no reason not to renew. We might actually learn something of note, too.

After this I'd propose some groundwork above anything else. For that, though;
> What places worth inspection are nearby?

[Dormio Ergo Sum]

>Would renewing the shikigami contract heal any injuries (i.e. return arms)?

>It would not.

> What places worth inspection are nearby?

>Mayohiga is rather isolated, placed near the edge of Gensokyo. The only nearby area of note is Hakugyokurou.

>_

[yuyukos]

>Renew our shikigami contract with Ran. No ceremonies necessary.
>Ask what happened to Ran and Chen.
>Afterwards, time until we feel like we can gap again?

Let's see what they say and then decide where to go next.

[BT]

Well if we're renewing with Ran we should also
> Renew contract with Chen

unless there's some kind of restriction or whatever, although there shouldn't be.

Since there's apparently not too much to do here and a whole hour until we can portal again, finding something out from the info they have is the obvious way to go.

[Dormio Ergo Sum]

>Renew our shikigami contract with Ran. No ceremonies necessary.
>Ask what happened to Ran and Chen.
>Afterwards, time until we feel like we can gap again?

>There's no need for a fancy ceremony, you decide to keep things simple.
>Chen gets up and backs away as you begin talking to Ran.
>You ask Ran if she's willing to serve under you again, she nods in response.
>As you outline a verbal contract with Ran, you feel several bonds forming between the two of you.
>Soon, the two of you are connected and you feel your strength flowing into Ran.
>As this happens, Ran slowly regains human form.
>Ran's transformation finishes as you feel the balance of power between the two of you stabilizing.
>Ran picks herself up off the ground, faltering slightly as she gets used to standing on two feet once more.
>Without any fur, several scars are clearly visible on her body, and her half of her right arm is missing.
>You're about to ask about what happened, but Ran speaks first.
>"Master, where have you been all this time?"
>You should rest for around fifty minutes before you try opening a gap again.

> Renew contract with Chen

>You never had a contract with Chen.

>_

[Blitzer]

>"For a while, I've been stuck in a void for who knows why. My gap powers are weakened as well."

[BT]

Almost knew I was making a fool out of myself there. Ah well.

> "I have a lot of unanswered questions, but goodness, what happened to you?"