(Skyseas of Gensokyo) Nazrin Quest (Part 6)

[Oldmansour]

>Follow the larger tunnel, slowly and quietly.

[Hello Purvis]

I wonder if calling out for the occupant would be a poor idea or not?

[Hanzo K.]

Dunno man.
Going by the scratches, I'd say it's some sort of tunneling animal, or Youkai.
I'm thinking either Badger or Mole possibly, leaning more towards Badger going by the damaged crate.
Moles aren't that strong, even a Mole Youkai wouldn't be much stronger than us right now.
But a Badger, or Badger Youkai would be able to bust through the crate and do what has been done.

And we all know how ill-tempered Badgers are.

[Oldmansour]

I've been thinking about that, myself. If she catches us slinking around her home, she won't be too happy to see us, I suspect. On the other hand, we already ARE sneaking around her house anyway, so announcing our presence might not do anymore harm than's already done.
Even if we find the wine, we're gonna need to find the thief, as well, or this'll probably just happen again.
I'm inclined to think Mole youkai, but, that seems the obvious answer, and I'm never inclined to believe the 'obvious'.

I think we should wait until Draco's next post, see what we can see, and then go from there.

EDIT: I might add, that, after the spider debacle, I'm really not looking forward to anymore trouble, so, if it's the choice between the two, I REALLY hope we get a nice friendly mole that we can tap, not a badger that'll tap us sideways with a forklift.

[Hello Purvis]

If there is a crazy nastyass badger in here, then it will be our job to recruit her toward fucking up spider burrows.

[Oldmansour]

Assuming there's any burrow left after Marisa's done with the place.

[Hanzo K.]

Agreed! The more muscle we have helping us, the better.
Plus, if the Badger's a drunk, we can pay 'em in booze! Why else would it steal wine, eh?

[Oldmansour]

Anyone wanna gamble that this is Mamizou's doing? 9 to 1 odds.

[DracoOmega]

>Follow the larger tunnel, slowly and quietly.

>You head down the larger tunnel slowly, happy enough to be back on your feet again. This proves to be a much shorter trip than either of the previous tunnels, though not much more eventful. The walls are unadorned, though carefully finished, and the space is empty of any objects that catch your notice. At least until you reach the end.
>In front of you is a small wooden door, painted green. From it hangs a heavy iron ring-shaped handle. The door is built directly into the earth around it, and has a rather rustic quality to it.

[Oldmansour]

Either that or a Hobbit.
I saw we just knock.

[Hanzo K.]

I didn't think Tanuki tunneled.
And plus, the most she does is Illusions. Illusions don't affect one's physical abilities, just appearance.

[Oldmansour]

That's what she WANTS you to think.
Still, I kinda do hope it's her. I haven't gotten to her in the game yet (and I never will, because she's an ex-boss, and I'm just not that good), but I like her. Anyway, back to the issue at hand.

>Give the door a rap.

[DracoOmega]

>Give the door a rap.

>You give the door a rap. At first there is no obvious response, but then you hear rustling from inside and what are almost certainly quiet footsteps, although they do not sound like they're approaching the door directly.

[Oldmansour]

>Do they sound like they're going in the opposite direction?

[DracoOmega]

>Do they sound like they're going in the opposite direction?

>No. Rather they seem to be moving quietly around the general space beyond the door.

[Oldmansour]

>Take a couple steps back, but not so far as to impede our hearing.
>"I can hear you in there. I just wanna talk."

[DracoOmega]

>Take a couple steps back, but not so far as to impede our hearing.
>"I can hear you in there. I just wanna talk."

>You take a couple steps back from the door and call out. The footsteps stop, but you get no response for several seconds. Then you hear a voice from inside answer meekly.
>"I- is someone there?"

[Oldmansour]

Definately not Mamizou. Unless she's already pasted.

>There's no pronounced smell of alcohol coming from behind that door, is there?
>"Only me."

[DracoOmega]

>There's no pronounced smell of alcohol coming from behind that door, is there?
>"Only me."

>There is not.
>"Who's... 'me'?" she asks tentatively.

[Oldmansour]

>"My name's Nazrin. And you are?"

[DracoOmega]

>"My name's Nazrin. And you are?"

>She is silent for a moment. "...what are you doing in my cellar?"

[nolrai2]

Hhm, this might be another victim.

[Hanzo K.]

>"I was hired to investigate some wines going missing, and I found a tunnel leading here from where the wines were taken."

[DracoOmega]

>"I was hired to investigate some wines going missing, and I found a tunnel leading here from where the wines were taken."

>She lets out a little squeak. "W- what?"

[Hanzo K.]

>Hang on, did the squeak sound like one a mouse would make?

[DracoOmega]

>Hang on, did the squeak sound like one a mouse would make?

>Not particularly. It sounded more like a note of startlement from someone with a timid voice.

[Oldmansour]

>"Did you know you had a hole in your cellar wall?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Did you know you had a hole in your cellar wall?"

>"Er, um... w- where exactly?" she answers nervously, her voice nearly cracking on the last word.

[Oldmansour]

>Does this door appear to be locked?
>Does it open in or out?
>"Would you mind letting me in first? Never liked talking through doors all that much."

[DracoOmega]

>Does this door appear to be locked?
>Does it open in or out?
>"Would you mind letting me in first? Never liked talking through doors all that much."

>You don't see any evidence of a lock on the door.
>You believe it opens towards you.
>"Oh, um..." She hesitates a moment, and then you can hear footsteps approaching. The door opens a couple inches and a small figure, probably slightly shorter than even yourself, peers at you through the resulting crack. She makes a sort of nervous-looking smile and attempts to sound pleasant.
>"Uh, hello?"