Elly Quest - Reaper in Red

[Raikaria]

I wouldn't think so, it's hardly serious... regardless:

>Attempt to slash at her ankles. Aim for the tendons.

It's more that she's on guard since last time she tried to punch you right up she got counter-attacked.

> You swing your scythe like a hook, swinging it behind the gatekeeper before pulling it towards you, aiming for her tendons.

> Unfortunately you seem to have forgotten that people in Gensokyo are pretty good at flying. As soon as Meiling realizes what you are doing she just takes off to evade your attack, before performing a spin-kick in your direction.

[SirChaotick]

I seem not to have forgotten, actually.

>Duck below her leg if she's high enough to do so.
>Simultaneously, bring Malus up to catch her leg with the blade, and yank it back towards you.
>If we can't duck, just hop backwards. Her legs aren't extendable.

[Raikaria]

I seem not to have forgotten, actually.

>Duck below her leg if she's high enough to do so.
>Simultaneously, bring Malus up to catch her leg with the blade, and yank it back towards you.
>If we can't duck, just hop backwards. Her legs aren't extendable.

> She only went high enough to evade the sweep, so ducking is not an option.

> None the less, Malus re-shapes, going from the ground to around and above Meiling's leg, to catch it, and then pulls it down, grounding the gatekeeper.

> Hopping backwards is pretty pointless seeing as Malus stopped the kick.

> Meling's leg is cut quite badly, but, again, the bleeding stops very quickly.

> "Well, looks like melee isn't the right option against someone with a shapeshifting bladed weapon." she comments. You note a faint rainbow glow around her. "So I'll extend my range beyond simply melee."

[SirChaotick]

>"Two can play."
>Hover slightly above the ground.
>We are capable of some danmaku patterns, right?
>Do we know how exactly spellcards are formed? Seeing we don't have any.
>Do one of those sweeping patterns with rapid bullets. Directed at Meiling, of course.

[Hanzo K.]

>Hell, let's go all out with the Tile-maku.

[Raikaria]

>"Two can play."
>Hover slightly above the ground.
>We are capable of some danmaku patterns, right?
>Do we know how exactly spellcards are formed? Seeing we don't have any.
>Do one of those sweeping patterns with rapid bullets. Directed at Meiling, of course.

> "Hmm?" Meiling says as you start to hover.

> You are capable of danmaku, although yours are from the old days, before the spellcard rules. However, apparently if you don't have spellcards they form according to your powers when you enter a spellcard duel. From then on, more form as you develop your powers.

>Hell, let's go all out with the Tile-maku.

> You decide to use sweeping arcs of Tile damnaku, when Meiling cries "Haiya!" and launches a rainbow malestrom towards you from her fist.

> You don't think this is danmaku. You guess it's an attack using her Chi.

[SirChaotick]

Ooer, no danmaku. Wasn't seeing that coming.

>Dodge to the side!
>Keep flinging those tiles at her.

[Raikaria]

Ooer, no danmaku. Wasn't seeing that coming.

>Dodge to the side!
>Keep flinging those tiles at her.

> you dodge quite frantically to the side. The blast moves quite quickly, and catches your lower left leg still. Not much of an issue, seeing as you are in the air.

> Meiling seems to be catching her breath, so you use the advantage to begin to fling tiles out of nowhere at her. She raises her arms to block, and, unlike against the ice fairy, she doesn't seem *too* bothered, probably because she's tougher.

[SirChaotick]

>Tiles, more tiles!
>Do a boomerang Malus. Throw past Meiling, try to hit her when it comes back.

[Raikaria]

>Tiles, more tiles!
>Do a boomerang Malus. Throw past Meiling, try to hit her when it comes back.

> You keep spamming tiles, however, when you attempt to throw Malus, the scythe doesn't respond.

> "Uuuu... this is my only real way of counteracting ranged attacks, and I ain't that great at it." Meiling says, as she starts to slowly spin, unleashing rainbow arcs of danmaku. "Rainbow Sign: Rainbow Wind Chime" she calls.

> You feel some things fall into your pocket.

[SirChaotick]

>Try to identify these "things" by touch before the arcs reach us.
>Dodge to the best of our ability.
>Also tiles.

[Raikaria]

>Try to identify these "things" by touch before the arcs reach us.
>Dodge to the best of our ability.
>Also tiles.

> They feel like rectangular pieces of card.

> You quickly see a pretty obvious flow to fly between the bullets and do so.

> Your tile spam can't navigate the streams, however, and the tiles just break in the midst of the bullets.

[SirChaotick]

Ah, there they are.

>Pull a card out at random.
>Use the sweeps of small danmaku we used against Reimu and Marisa.

[Raikaria]

Ah, there they are.

>Pull a card out at random.
>Use the sweeps of small danmaku we used against Reimu and Marisa.

> You pull out the card at the front of your pocket, being the easiest to reach. It reads "Keeper Sign: Scythe that Shields Dreams". You feel three other cards in your pocket.

> You fire off some of your sweeping danmaku, but Meiling's spell easily blocks it. Not that it's hitting you. It seems to be a set pattern with channels to follow. Not hard at all.

> You are aware that you can stop spellcards in two ways; by waiting until they end, or by landing enough hits during them to break the spell trance. You are also aware that to use a spellcard you have to concentrate heavily, entering a 'trance' where you can do little else during it.

[SirChaotick]

>Do we know how to declare a spell card?
>Regardless, time out Meiling's spell.
>If we know how to declare it: do so immediately after the timeout.

[Raikaria]

>Do we know how to declare a spell card?
>Regardless, time out Meiling's spell.
>If we know how to declare it: do so immediately after the timeout.

> You presume you do it... by declaring it. Like Meiling called the name out before she started.

> Meling's spell does not last much longer before it ends, and as such, you declare your spellcard afterwards, causing Malus to glow a deep red.

> You lose control of your actions, entering the 'spell trance' and slash Malus through the air, a short distance from you a danmaku laser streaks like the swing of the scythe, and spawns a hail of crimson arrowhead-like bullets. Another swing in a different direction, and another hail. The swings ring out six times, each one with less delay than the last, and slightly further from you, each at different angles, before there is a small break, and you repeat.

> At the end of the second cycle, Meiling slips up and gets pelted, one bullet leading to another. She crash-lands soon afterwards from getting hit by a large amount in the following third wave, your spellcard ends when she lands, but it feels like you could have gone on longer.

[Note: Spell is kinda similar to Youmu's slashes that make danmaku, if you want a comparison]

[Hanzo K.]

>Let out a whistle. "So that's a spellcard....Heh, I bet I could do a lot with these now."
>Let's pull out the other three and take a look at 'em.

[Raikaria]

>Let out a whistle. "So that's a spellcard....Heh, I bet I could do a lot with these now."
>Let's pull out the other three and take a look at 'em.

> "Uuuuu..." Meiling groans in response.

> The spellcards are titled:

Scythe Sign: Slashes of Eight Directions
Defender Sign: The Floor that becomes a Wall
Malus Sign: Boomerang Scythe

You note that the final one listed has the name in a different color, a purple name instead of a white one. As you look at it, and connect the dots in your head of what this attack might be based from, it clicks, this is a survival spellcard, since it's based on your attack pattern which endows you with invulnerability for a short period.

[You just knew Elly would have a survival spell being the first boss to ever have a survival phase]

---

On a side note; partially due to knowledge that there was demand for it, and partially because I can't keep myself away for too long, I will be starting up another quest set in the Rumia Quest Universe soon. You won't be Rumia in it, seeing as she's a bit of a gamebreaker right now [Only Yukari, the Gods and Eiki could really match her now], but it'll still be set in the same universe, with the events of RC so far being canon.

Also, I realized something I never intended. I made Rumia, the first danmaku boss of the windows era, be arch enemies with the first danmaku shooter boss of the PC-98 era, Rika. [HRtP is not a danmaku shooter]

Totally not intended, but totally symbolic.

Elly Quest will not be effected by this decision. It will remain a separate universe, and, besides, this 'create your own incident and convince others to help' is fun too, at least for me to GM, as it's a lot more free form and less rigid than the 'There is plot planned beforehand' of Rumia Quest.

[Hanzo K.]

Oh sweet!

>Stick the cards back in our pocket, and go help her up.
>"You're pretty good, but you should work on your danmaku some.

[Raikaria]

Oh sweet!

>Stick the cards back in our pocket, and go help her up.
>"You're pretty good, but you should work on your danmaku some.

> You go to help up Meiling. You note a lack of actual injuries from the danmaku, despite her being pelted. You guess it's like Yuuka says, Danmaku simulates being hurt, but doesn't actually cause harm... which she loves since she can torture someone with the pain from danmaku and never actually cause life-threatening wounds.

> "I'm just useless at it. I tried to learn from Patchouli or Sakuya but they can't help me. Danmaku inherently draws from your magical powers and your abilities. I don't have an ability or much magical energy,and punching someone in the face is against the rules in danmaku. I'm pretty much incapable of being any better than I am now." Meiling says sadly.

> Malus shakes like it's saying 'no' when Meiling mentions she has no ability.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Malus here says you've got the potential. He'd know best of all I guess, given how he's tasted your blood."
>Grin. "Keep at it, and you'll get the hang of it eventually."

[Raikaria]

>"Malus here says you've got the potential. He'd know best of all I guess, given how he's tasted your blood."
>Grin. "Keep at it, and you'll get the hang of it eventually."

> Meiling looks curious at the scythe. "I wonder... you know, don't you..." Meiling says at the scythe.

> Malus actually responds to her, nodding... almost seeming like it's... bowing to her with how low it bends. You've never seen Malus bow.

> "Yeah... maybe." Meiling responds to your encouragement.

[Hanzo K.]

>Chuckle. "Malus here's a pretty sharp one, figuratively and literally. But either way, just keep at it and you'll get better. You didn't get that good at martial arts without a lot of time and effort, right? Danmaku's just like that."

[GuyYouMetOnline]

On a side note; partially due to knowledge that there was demand for it, and partially because I can't keep myself away for too long, I will be starting up another quest set in the Rumia Quest Universe soon. You won't be Rumia in it, seeing as she's a bit of a gamebreaker right now [Only Yukari, the Gods and Eiki could really match her now], but it'll still be set in the same universe, with the events of RC so far being canon.

I do think you should do another Rumia Quest eventually. We spent four quests getting her to where she is now; there should be another, if only as a slice-of-life sort of thing for what her life is like now.

[Raikaria]

>Chuckle. "Malus here's a pretty sharp one, figuratively and literally. But either way, just keep at it and you'll get better. You didn't get that good at martial arts without a lot of time and effort, right? Danmaku's just like that."

> "They say you don't know a person unless you cross swords with them. I guess that logic applies to the blade of any weapon and fists." Meiling says.

I do think you should do another Rumia Quest eventually. We spent four quests getting her to where she is now; there should be another, if only as a slice-of-life sort of thing for what her life is like now.

Who says you won't get to see what her life is like now from a perspective that isn't Rumia herself? Don't get me wrong, not playing as Rumia doesn't mean she isn't still an important character, she's just too powerful right now to be the MC unless I do something to bring her down from godmode status. Like Yukari Quest had something seal Yukari's gap powers for the most part.

[Hanzo K.]

Slice-of-life doesn't mean she'll be fighting though(Aside from a few good-natured sparring matches with some friends like Marisa.). I'd imagine she'd be more likely to just chill out with her friends, doing the usual. Maybe popping by Alice's for some socialization with a fellow Makaian. Enjoying life like she always has. (Slice-of-life means no Big Bad like the mainline quests after all, so there's room to screw around.)
And of course, acting as a Great Gazoo towards Rika. Just because you've overcame the inner chaos, doesn't mean you can't indulge in a little lighthearted goofing around. Just look at Yukari. Half her time's spent sleeping, or screwing around.

Incidentally, Shinki very much came across as a Bash Brothers sort of character. Comes in to save Rumia's can, and proceeds to get along with her fairly nicely after being proven that Rumia's 100% in control. Then proceeds to help open a can on the moonbroads.
Essentially, we were the Loki to Shinki's Thor/Odin. To use Norse Myths as an example.

>"Exactly. When your boss loves a good fight like mine does, you learn how to pick up on stuff like that."

[Raikaria]

Slice-of-life doesn't mean she'll be fighting though(Aside from a few good-natured sparring matches with some friends like Marisa.). I'd imagine she'd be more likely to just chill out with her friends, doing the usual. Maybe popping by Alice's for some socialization with a fellow Makaian. Enjoying life like she always has. (Slice-of-life means no Big Bad like the mainline quests after all, so there's room to screw around.)
And of course, acting as a Great Gazoo towards Rika. Just because you've overcame the inner chaos, doesn't mean you can't indulge in a little lighthearted goofing around. Just look at Yukari. Half her time's spent sleeping, or screwing around.

Incidentally, Shinki very much came across as a Bash Brothers sort of character. Comes in to save Rumia's can, and proceeds to get along with her fairly nicely after being proven that Rumia's 100% in control. Then proceeds to help open a can on the moonbroads.
Essentially, we were the Loki to Shinki's Thor/Odin. To use Norse Myths as an example.

>"Exactly. When your boss loves a good fight like mine does, you learn how to pick up on stuff like that."

Shinki was supposed to come across as a 'Well I don't like you much but I'm still motherly to everyone from Makai.' character. That and she had beef as a pusedo-goddess with Toyohime's use of various God's powers as if they were her own. Divine Retribution, as she put it. If Koakuma was in mortal danger she's probably show up for her too. Mess with Makaians[?] and you mess with her.

Not to mention the fight on the moon was never my intention. The whole finale was not planned that way at all, but I just went with it.

As for Slice-of-life... not my kinda style really. Even Mystcia 'Quest' had it's fair share of explosions. [Flandre v Mokou]

And everyone's a pain to Rika. She does kinda want to exterminate all Youkai, and doesn't care who gets in her way.

---

> "In Gensokyo, doesn't everyone like a good fight?" Meiling replies, before adding, "Your master is that Kanzami woman, right? I recall Patchouli doing research on her and mentioning a gatekeeper in red once."

[Hanzo K.]

Well, in the end, Shinki started warming up to our little Heroine. At least, that's how I saw it.
Besides, there can still be explosions of a sort, such as one of Rika's latest doohickeys backfiring on her in a comedic and slapstick way.
Kinda like the episodes of Tenchi Muyo when there isn't combat. Wacky hijinks, and generally good times. Basically, a lighthearted funtimes quest to balance out all the serious stuff like Yukari Quest.

>Grin. "That'd be the one, yeah. I guess even if people don't mention me by name, they still kinda know of me."

[Raikaria]

Well, in the end, Shinki started warming up to our little Heroine. At least, that's how I saw it.
Besides, there can still be explosions of a sort, such as one of Rika's latest doohickeys backfiring on her in a comedic and slapstick way.
Kinda like the episodes of Tenchi Muyo when there isn't combat. Wacky hijinks, and generally good times. Basically, a lighthearted funtimes quest to balance out all the serious stuff like Yukari Quest.

>Grin. "That'd be the one, yeah. I guess even if people don't mention me by name, they still kinda know of me."

> "The gatekeeper in red is apparently only mention once in all the books, and by the name. That said, how many people visit Yuuka?"

[Hanzo K.]

>".....Good point."
>Sag a bit. "Well, even if it's kinda depressing, it does mean I can pull off my plan easier that way. Just gotta get in touch with that one Celestial, and maybe a few others."