Remilia Quest

[Oldmansour]

>Smirk a bit. "Oh, you never know when you might need one. Besides, she's rather reliable. And what's more, even a powerful one such as myself may have need of one later on."
>Then sigh a bit. "But I suppose we aren't so different in a way. Back in the old days, in the Outside World, people tried killing me, and many of my kind. Simply because of what we are."
>Smirk just a tad. "Not that it did them any good against myself, given how powerful I am. I would show you some of what I used in the little tussle with the woman from earlier, but I fear that you might become a gibbering wreck for it. Most people tend to end up that way when a Vampire of my caliber uses such a technique. ...Or you might end up with terrible nightmares, I never did find out which happens most of the time."
>Note to Self: Remember to use Nightmare Auraform as a means of disciplining the Fairy Maids. Fear is an excellent motivator!

>At the prospect of seeing a vampire's powers in action, the young man actually seems curious. "Don't you worry 'bout me, Scarlet Devil. Meeting youkai and seeing all of their world's another reason I left home. It'd be an honor to see what you can do." After a moment, though, he adds, "But, uh, gimme a sec, first."
>He turns and kneels again, and brings some water to his face, in an effort to clean the blood from around his nose. He adds as he does so, "I'd heard, though, that vampires were one of the strongest youkai races, that's why they're feared here. Was that true for the outside world, too?"
>Your aura arm that you'd snaked back into the forest finally brushes up against something that could be what you're looking for. It's not entirely easy to locate things this way, it's rather like searching for something purely by touch in an unfamiliar area. You'd passed over some bugs thus far but nothing of any notable size. Until now. It doesn't feel like a deer of any sort, though, it seems to be much larger, much thicker.

[Hanzo K.]

>Shrug. "Sad but true. I'm rather used to it by now though."
>Smirk a little. "Not to say that I don't enjoy using it at times. It's a rather effective motivator when the need calls."
>Raise an eyebrow, and send several more tendrils to get a better feel for it. "Ah? Seems I've found something in that forest over there. I do wonder what I've caught."

[Oldmansour]

>Shrug. "Sad but true. I'm rather used to it by now though."
>Smirk a little. "Not to say that I don't enjoy using it at times. It's a rather effective motivator when the need calls."
>Raise an eyebrow, and send several more tendrils to get a better feel for it. "Ah? Seems I've found something in that forest over there. I do wonder what I've caught."

>"Yeah..." the young man mutters as he wipes his face with his left sleeve. "But wouldn't it be cool if you could fix it?"
>Dispatching more tentacles out to try and ascertain what you've found, you probe the creature with your existing arm in advance of them. You feel the beast shift, and something strikes at your aura. Not hard enough to make it dissipate, but hard enough to knock it back a little bit. It's a strong best, that's for sure.

[Hanzo K.]

>Oh? Perhaps we should send a veritable swarm of tendrils then, a powerful creature like that isn't terribly common.
>"Well, sometimes, no matter what, things like that can't be fixed."
>Sigh. "It isn't my fault that I have to drink blood to survive. And despite being a perfectly reasonable lady, the village still wards me off like I was some sort of rabid beast."
>"Speaking of beasts, that creature I found in that little copse there seems rather powerful. It managed to strike, and knock back, one of my Aura Tendrils that I sent to probe for a little 'gift' for the woman from before. It can't be said that I'm not generous when need be after all."

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, sometimes, no matter what, things like that can't be fixed."
>Sigh. "It isn't my fault that I have to drink blood to survive. And despite being a perfectly reasonable lady, the village still wards me off like I was some sort of rabid beast."

>"Is Keine still that uptight?" the young man asks with a touch of disgust. "I haven't been back in a few years, but I was sort of hoping she'd loosen up a bit in that time." He shrugs. "I wasn't actually expecting it, but it would've been nice, 'specially with people like Mokou and my sister around. And she was thinking about letting that doctor in, as well, the one from the forest, uh... Yakomo, or something?"

>Oh? Perhaps we should send a veritable swarm of tendrils then, a powerful creature like that isn't terribly common.
>"Speaking of beasts, that creature I found in that little copse there seems rather powerful. It managed to strike, and knock back, one of my Aura Tendrils that I sent to probe for a little 'gift' for the woman from before. It can't be said that I'm not generous when need be after all."

>Indeed not. It might be a bear, or a similarly muscular animal, but most beasts you've known on the outside would flee from your supernatural appendages. But then again, this IS Gensokyo.
>Your generousity brings a smile to the young man's face.
>Your own smile, though, is a bit fleeting, as something else strikes the first arm your sent out. Something smaller than the beast, yet still quite solid, and, you think, magical. That arm dissipates completely.

[Hanzo K.]

>"She's never really changed since I've known her."
>Then make a somewhat amused, yet surprised d face. "Well, this is interesting. I wonder what that was, to strike and dispel a tendril? I almost feel tempted to personally investigate."
>Let's send several more tendrils, like the hydra. For every one it strikes down, three more shall replace it.
>This time, we're going after what struck the tendril.

[Oldmansour]

>"She's never really changed since I've known her."
>Then make a somewhat amused, yet surprised d face. "Well, this is interesting. I wonder what that was, to strike and dispel a tendril? I almost feel tempted to personally investigate."
>Let's send several more tendrils, like the hydra. For every one it strikes down, three more shall replace it.
>This time, we're going after what struck the tendril.

>The young man spits. "She should know better. She's not even a whole human herself."
>His surprised expression nearly mirrors yours. "Maybe it's a youkai? I camped there last night, but I didn't see anyone else in that stretch of woods."
>Nearly a dozen aura-form tendrils and tentacles lash out from your form, towards the mysterious force that was able to best one of them. As they pass beyond the treeline, however, the forest itself begins to react. The trees begin to sway, their leaves rustling, their bark creaking.
>Angling in towards where your first aura dissipated, your new invading tendrils run up against a barrier this time, definitely magical in nature. From that direction, a greenish light glows, and the howling of a wolf splits the night air. Moments later, the guttural growing of a bear joins the cacophony.

>"Whatever's in there, Scarlet Devil, I think you pissed it off." the young man remarks.

[Hanzo K.]

>A Wolf, a Bear, and a barrier? "Interesting..."
>Raise an eyebrow, and change to Bat form while canceling the tendrils. "I suggest you find someplace to take refuge while I investigate."
>Let's fly over to the borderline of the grove, but keep on the guard for anything off, such as a surprise attack.

[Oldmansour]

>A Wolf, a Bear, and a barrier? "Interesting..."
>Raise an eyebrow, and change to Bat form while canceling the tendrils. "I suggest you find someplace to take refuge while I investigate."
>Let's fly over to the borderline of the grove, but keep on the guard for anything off, such as a surprise attack.

>The young man nods, uncertainly. "Yeah, I'll hang back, but... I wanna know what's in there, too, and why I DIDN'T know before."
>In your bat form, you fly towards the treeline, and you hear the young man following behind you on foot moments later. Not at a fast pace, though.
>Wary of another attack, or something else, you are on guard as you approach the wood. But the green light fades with your tendrils, as does the shaking of the trees and the noises with in. By the time you reach the edge of the grove, all signs of what you witnessed before have vanished.
>Well, all signs but one. There seems to be a humanoid figure within the grove, heading towards the treeline, following the direction your tendrils came from.
>Correction. A humanoid figure on the back of a bear.

[Hanzo K.]

>Well, let's just act like a normal bat for now, and keep an eye on this person.

[Oldmansour]

>Well, let's just act like a normal bat for now, and keep an eye on this person.

>Hovering a bit high up to keep yourself out of the casual line of sight, the bear rider approaches. There's something... odd about the trees, though. You don't feel entirely comfortable this close to them.
>The rider is clad in a long brown raiment, trimmed with green at the waist and shoulders, dull yellow and brown at the cuffs and hem. Twig-like extensions sprout from the shoulders of the gown. A long green cloak billows behind her, trailing bits of green energy and red leaves, and she carries a staff of white wood with a carved sun atop it, and a pair of jewels dangling from it, an emerald and an amber. She wears a white circlet with feathers on the side and a single green gem in the center.
>There is a pronounced ruggedness to her complexion, but beneath her pale skin, auburn hair, blue eyes and freckles (been quite a lot of years since you saw freckles on someone), you judge she could be quite pretty, with a bit of refinement.

>The caped woman and her sizable brown bear come to a halt several feet from the border of the trees, in front of a thick old oak, and she looks around the area below you, her expression rapt and stern. She narrows her eyes when she sees the young man coming, but takes no action towards him. She merely tilts her head slightly to the side.

[Hanzo K.]

>Hmm...Perhaps a Druid, a Forest Spirit, or even a Goddess of the Woods.
>Well, we can look into this further after all this has been resolved. Let's act natural, and fly off in the direction of the young'n, and then perch on his shoulder.
>Then whisper; "I suspect she could be a Forest Spirit, or even a Druid."

[Oldmansour]

>Hmm...Perhaps a Druid, a Forest Spirit, or even a Goddess of the Woods.
>Well, we can look into this further after all this has been resolved. Let's act natural, and fly off in the direction of the young'n, and then perch on his shoulder.
>Then whisper; "I suspect she could be a Forest Spirit, or even a Druid."

>Speculating on the nature of the woman, you perch yourself upon the young lad's left shoulder, advising him of your theories.
>"Pretty, too." the young man adds.
>The cloaked woman dismounts her ursine steed, giving it a pat on its nose, and takes a few steps towards the treeline. A pair of field mice run across her path, followed by some insect life in front of them. The woman jabs her staff into the ground hard and looks directly at your companion. "Be proud, boy. I had no prior sense you were in league with an undead."
>The young man throws up his arms. "Hey, now, I'm not in league with nobody."
>"Then why is there an undead perched on your shoulder, whispering in your ear?" she demands.
>The young man winces. "I only met her ten minutes ago! But if you must know, I'm helping her find someone important to her."
>The woman's eyes narrow. "Is that why you and it were attacking this grove?"

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh, and unperch, then return to normal. "I was merely interested in that grove. When one of the auraforms I sent to inspect it was dispelled, I chose to send more to continue it. This time, to investigate what dispelled it. So it could hardly be called an attack when they were intended to gather information."

[Oldmansour]

>Sigh, and unperch, then return to normal. "I was merely interested in that grove. When one of the auraforms I sent to inspect it was dispelled, I chose to send more to continue it. This time, to investigate what dispelled it. So it could hardly be called an attack when they were intended to gather information."

>The woman's face hardens. "A vampire." she breathes, hefting her staff, and holding it before her in both hands. "That this day should be mine...."
>The young man shakes his head. "Funny how we were just talking about that." he mutters to you.

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>Examine her with all our senses. Is there any sign that she's posessed?

[Hanzo K.]

>If she isn't possessed then say; "Calm yourself, would you? I am not the vampire to be concerned with, there is another out there that I've been seeking out to punish for her transgressions. Also, a friendly warning. 'Beware the Cobalt Countess, and her Spirits of Sin'. She is the one I seek to punish for attempting to steal my treasured Head Maid. Good help is so hard to find, and I've grown rather fond of having Sakuya around, being the ever-reliable sort she is."

[Oldmansour]

>Examine her with all our senses. Is there any sign that she's posessed?

>Drawing on your past experience with Envy and Sloth, you attempt to gauge whether or not the woman before you is possessed by Sin. But nothing seems out of whack with her, and that feeling of discomfort you felt before faded when you moved away from the treeline. If she is possessed, you cannot determine it definitively.

>If she isn't possessed then say; "Calm yourself, would you? I am not the vampire to be concerned with, there is another out there that I've been seeking out to punish for her transgressions. Also, a friendly warning. 'Beware the Cobalt Countess, and her Spirits of Sin'. She is the one I seek to punish for attempting to steal my treasured Head Maid. Good help is so hard to find, and I've grown rather fond of having Sakuya around, being the ever-reliable sort she is."

>The mention of the Countesses' title makes the auburn haired woman's eyes raise in surprise. She looks between you and the male next you, silent for a long moment. "Every vampire is my concern." she starts. You notice, however, that her grip on her staff relaxes a little. "But it IS possible I may not need to be immediately concerned with you. If the Blighter is not your target."

[Hanzo K.]

>Raise an eyebrow. "I do wonder what that is. Well, I can always look into it later on, as it seems like something worth learning about, if only for novelty's sake."
>"At any rate, do be careful, those Sin Spirits can possess people and youkai alike, though Vampires are quite resistant to that. Which, ironically, makes those like myself the perfect means for combating them. Amusing, is it not?"

[Oldmansour]

>Raise an eyebrow. "I do wonder what that is. Well, I can always look into it later on, as it seems like something worth learning about, if only for novelty's sake."
>"At any rate, do be careful, those Sin Spirits can possess people and youkai alike, though Vampires are quite resistant to that. Which, ironically, makes those like myself the perfect means for combating them. Amusing, is it not?"

>"Very amusing." the woman replies flatly. "But if you're seeking the Countess, then why were you trying to slay a denizen of this grove?"

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>"A youkai wanted to eat my friend, here. I wasn't about to allow that, so she left to go hunt elsewhere, but even so, I thought I'd see if I could find her a meal."

[Hanzo K.]

>Smirk a bit. "Have to make it up for interfering after all. It's only the polite thing to do. That, and this was the only wooded spot in the area."
>Chuckle a bit. "Besides, in this land called Gensokyo, even Vampires are a part of the natural order of things. As here, we're just another form of Youkai. Which I must admit, does wonders for one's social life. It was terribly droll, not being able to enjoy myself with any parties and the like. Once I arrived here so long ago though, I've actually been able to host parties for those I consider associates and friends. Which is a rather pleasant breath of fresh air compared to the Old World."
>Then smile enigmatically. "If you wish to blame anyone for there being more Vampires, blame the one who turned me all those centuries ago."

[Oldmansour]

>"A youkai wanted to eat my friend, here. I wasn't about to allow that, so she left to go hunt elsewhere, but even so, I thought I'd see if I could find her a meal."

>Smirk a bit. "Have to make it up for interfering after all. It's only the polite thing to do. That, and this was the only wooded spot in the area."

>The staff-wielding woman seems somewhat impressed. "Generous of you. But this grove is protected. You'll have to find somewhere else to acquire a meal."

>Chuckle a bit. "Besides, in this land called Gensokyo, even Vampires are a part of the natural order of things. As here, we're just another form of Youkai. Which I must admit, does wonders for one's social life. It was terribly droll, not being able to enjoy myself with any parties and the like. Once I arrived here so long ago though, I've actually been able to host parties for those I consider associates and friends. Which is a rather pleasant breath of fresh air compared to the Old World."
>Then smile enigmatically. "If you wish to blame anyone for there being more Vampires, blame the one who turned me all those centuries ago."

>"Vampires may be youkai, but a vampire is still an undead." the young woman counters. "And I'm not sure how things were outside Gensokyo, but here, things were not always.... peaceful, between vampires and the rest of the world. And not everyone has forgotten that."
>"Regardless, I am not an unreasonable woman. If what you seek is not the Blighter, if you mean no furthur harm to this grove, and you have some quarrel with another of your kind, then I see no reason for us to do battle."

[Hanzo K.]

>Smirk a bit. "Good that things ended up like this then, haven't seen freckles in quite some time after all. Almost reminds me of the Old World."
>"Besides, the Spellcard Laws are in effect these days. I myself being one of the many restricted by it for the most part. Though I can use combat that's far more 'traditional'. I rather prefer Spellcards, as they allow one to continually face a powerful foe time and time again."
>Smile in a slightly enigmatic way. "Which, I must admit, is a great improvement over the Old Ways."
>Fistpalm. "Judging from your behaviors, I take it you are either a Forest Priestess, or a Druid, or a Hermit, or a Forest Spirit, or a Forest Deity. No?"
>"At any rate, I have no reason to bother with this grove now that I know what's within."

[Oldmansour]

>Smirk a bit. "Good that things ended up like this then, haven't seen freckles in quite some time after all. Almost reminds me of the Old World."
>"Besides, the Spellcard Laws are in effect these days. I myself being one of the many restricted by it for the most part. Though I can use combat that's far more 'traditional'. I rather prefer Spellcards, as they allow one to continually face a powerful foe time and time again."
>Smile in a slightly enigmatic way. "Which, I must admit, is a great improvement over the Old Ways."

>The woman nods, slowly. "I'm inclined to agree. And much less damaging to the surroundings, as well."
>The young man joins in his concurrance. "Any way youkai can settle things among themselves without hurting each other is a-okay in my book. And with non-youkai, as well." he adds, almost as an afterthought.

>Fistpalm. "Judging from your behaviors, I take it you are either a Forest Priestess, or a Druid, or a Hermit, or a Forest Spirit, or a Forest Deity. No?"
>"At any rate, I have no reason to bother with this grove now that I know what's within."

>"I am the current Guardian of the Grove. That's all that matters about who and what I am. It's what I was born to do, and all that I am. No more, no less. Even my name, Baraki, is immaterial compared to what I am."
>The auburn haired woman considers your words, then, slowly, lowers her staff to the ground. "And you?" she asks of the young man beside you.
>"Like I said, I'm helping her find someone she cares about." he replies, with a smile. "Helping youkai is what I do, every chance I get. Vampire, Guardian, or anything in between."
>"Commendable." she says approvingly. "But don't be TOO casual. Not all youkai would as appreciative or welcoming as others."
>"I can handle myself." he replies confidently.

[Hanzo K.]

>Smirk a bit. "If you look past the fact that your power brought some harm to you. But as I said before, I think someone I know can help you get a handle on it."
>"But regardless, it's been a rather good day if you look past my Head Maid being in a bit of a situation with the Countess, I've gotten to enjoy a few non-lethal battles with a few others, found so many promising younglings that deserve a shot at becoming stronger, and much more."
>Smile slightly, in a warm way. "I even found some information that may well bring closure to a goal I've had for almost 500 years..."
>Yeah..If that works out as planned, Flan will finally be healed...

[Oldmansour]

>Smirk a bit. "If you look past the fact that your power brought some harm to you. But as I said before, I think someone I know can help you get a handle on it."

>The young man smirks. "I've had worse."

>"But regardless, it's been a rather good day if you look past my Head Maid being in a bit of a situation with the Countess, I've gotten to enjoy a few non-lethal battles with a few others, found so many promising younglings that deserve a shot at becoming stronger, and much more."
>Smile slightly, in a warm way. "I even found some information that may well bring closure to a goal I've had for almost 500 years..."
>Yeah..If that works out as planned, Flan will finally be healed...

>The young man gives you a friendly clap on the shoulder. "Glad to hear it, Scarlet."
>"I'll claim no joy over the realization of a vampire's goals." the young woman counters as a large raven descends from a nearby tree and lands on the back of her bear. The bear doesn't seem to care. "But something you said puzzles me. The Countess you speak of has been sealed for nearly two centuries now. What makes you think she's active again?"

[Hanzo K.]

>"Someone unsealed her before she was meant to be. I know not who, but that seems to be the main issue. I procured this info by way of my prior skirmishes with two of the Sin Spirits, and a meeting with one the local Oracle. That, and I happened to run into a young lass who she turned approximately two months ago."
>Smile a bit. "She was rather happy about the change though, she gets to enjoy a longer life than most, and she has a special someone she cares about that would have normally soon outlived her."
>"At any rate though, I know better than most about how nasty things could get if someone dies before they're fated to. Nasty, nasty thing that. Wide-reaching repercussions for eons to come you know. Not a good thing at all. The countess wasn't fated to awaken for another 200 years, I can only assume that whoever freed her could also gaze at the threads of fate, and could be directly aiming for such a thing."
>Smirk. "Besides, if my goal's achieved, then things will be that much safer for everyone. And not just vampires either, but humans and youkai alike. When you look at it, I'm ostensibly one of the nicest vampires you'll chance to meet."

[Oldmansour]

>"Someone unsealed her before she was meant to be. I know not who, but that seems to be the main issue. I procured this info by way of my prior skirmishes with two of the Sin Spirits, and a meeting with one the local Oracle. That, and I happened to run into a young lass who she turned approximately two months ago."

>It was weeks, not months.

>"Someone unsealed her before she was meant to be. I know not who, but that seems to be the main issue. I procured this info by way of my prior skirmishes with two of the Sin Spirits, and a meeting with one the local Oracle. That, and I happened to run into a young lass who she turned approximately two months ago."
>Smile a bit. "She was rather happy about the change though, she gets to enjoy a longer life than most, and she has a special someone she cares about that would have normally soon outlived her."
>"At any rate though, I know better than most about how nasty things could get if someone dies before they're fated to. Nasty, nasty thing that. Wide-reaching repercussions for eons to come you know. Not a good thing at all. The countess wasn't fated to awaken for another 200 years, I can only assume that whoever freed her could also gaze at the threads of fate, and could be directly aiming for such a thing."
>Smirk. "Besides, if my goal's achieved, then things will be that much safer for everyone. And not just vampires either, but humans and youkai alike. When you look at it, I'm ostensibly one of the nicest vampires you'll chance to meet."

>"Certainly one of the most talkative, too." the snarky woman comments.
>"But what do you mean, 'local oracle'?"

[Hanzo K.]

>Weeks, months, they all go by like blips to one such as us.
>"Oh, my mistake, it was two weeks, not two months. Well, it doesn't matter so much, seeing as time flows a bit differently for people such as myself. Days blend into weeks, weeks blend into months, months blend into years, and before you know it? A full century's gone by. That's the problem with being long-lived, your grasp of time starts getting skewed."
>Nod. "As for the Oracle though, I happened to encounter her further back on my path tonight. It was thanks to her that I even know which direction to go now. Rather nice woman really, I simply must remember to invite her over for tea sometime. And perhaps find out her secret to looking as nice as she does, I do enjoy being charismatic after all."
>Smirk. "It's why I'm wearing the outfit I am now. I rarely get a chance to use it, so confronting one of my peers is as good an excuse as any to do so."
>" At any rate, she said that the Countess had made her base somewhere in the Waterfall Basin in this area."