Elly Quest - Reaper in Red

[Raikaria]

>".....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."

> "Yeah. So few people visit Yuuka I guess no-one knows of you."

> "I guess no-one sees you as a threat since they don't know you for causing trouble." Meiling muses.

[Hanzo K.]

>Slowly grin. "...I can use that then. I'll see you later once I've brought all the players back! Next stop, Youkai Mountain. And from there, Bhava-Agra!"
>Let's make for the mountain!

[GuyYouMetOnline]

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.

I'd prefer to do that playing as her. Hanzo's right; there doesn't have to be anything too serious going on. Hell, you could always just take the same open-ended approach you're taking here (actually, that'd probably work out pretty well).

Just my own thoughts on the matter.

[Raikaria]

>Slowly grin. "...I can use that then. I'll see you later once I've brought all the players back! Next stop, Youkai Mountain. And from there, Bhava-Agra!"
>Let's make for the mountain!

> "Bhava-whatar?" Meiling says as you fly off.


> Not a lot happens, besides some annoying fairies that you can tell are not even worth your time bothering you, as you get to the largest mountain in Gensokyo.

> You don't think you have the energy to fly to the level of the mountain's pea. The higher you fly above the ground, the more tiring it is. Unless you are something like a bird youkai, flying up a mountain in one go without a break is impossible. Skirting the mountainside uses less energy, but has more chance of running into trouble on the way, you presume.

[Hanzo K.]

>Well, we do need to keep sharp, so let's skim the ground to conserve energy.

[Raikaria]

>Well, we do need to keep sharp, so let's skim the ground to conserve energy.

> You decide to skin along the ground, and fly up the mountainside doing such.

> You you do so, someone appears before you, keeping up with ease.

> "I've not seen you around before, and you're carrying a weapon. State your business." the stranger says. The newcomer is wearing mainly white, with some red, with canine ears, and a tail to match. She has a sword in one hand, and a shield bearing a red maple leaf insignia in the other.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Name's Elly, this here's Malus. Say hello, arrite Malus?" Indicate Malus.
>"I got some business with a Celestial, and I gotta use this here mountain to get up to her."

[Raikaria]

>"Name's Elly, this here's Malus. Say hello, arrite Malus?" Indicate Malus.
>"I got some business with a Celestial, and I gotta use this here mountain to get up to her."

> The scythe wriggles a little.

> "Momiji Inubashiri. Wolf Tengu. I'm on patrol for the security of my village."

> "Last time the Celestials did anything there were earthquakes that damaged our village, and made the younger wolves panic. Not to mention the crazy weather making it dangerous for the crows to fly."

[Hanzo K.]

>Chuckle a bit. "Looks like Gensokyo's got a lot of gatekeeper-ish folks, huh? That girl at the one mansion, and myself as well. Ah, before you ask, I'm on vacation from my job, and figured I'd enjoy myself for a change. Boss's Orders y'know."
>"Anyhow, I don't think things will result in earthquakes this time around. I'll see to that." Indicate Malus once more.

[Raikaria]

>Chuckle a bit. "Looks like Gensokyo's got a lot of gatekeeper-ish folks, huh? That girl at the one mansion, and myself as well. Ah, before you ask, I'm on vacation from my job, and figured I'd enjoy myself for a change. Boss's Orders y'know."
>"Anyhow, I don't think things will result in earthquakes this time around. I'll see to that." Indicate Malus once more.

> "I'm hardly a gatekeeper. We hunt and we protect. That is the job of the wolves." Momiji says.

> "I'm not sure if you realize how powerful Celestials are. They're up there because they beat up Shinigami."

[Hanzo K.]

>Chuckle. "Same thing when you get down to brass tacks though. You protect, I protect, see?"
>Then grin a bit. "You underestimate me, I'm a lot tougher than you think due to how my boss is. I won't say no to a fight if you want firsthand proof of that."
>Laugh a little. "Not that I'm outright challenging you or anything, I just figured you'd want proof that I can handle myself up there, us guardian sorts are a lot alike in that regard after all."

[Raikaria]

>Chuckle. "Same thing when you get down to brass tacks though. You protect, I protect, see?"
>Then grin a bit. "You underestimate me, I'm a lot tougher than you think due to how my boss is. I won't say no to a fight if you want firsthand proof of that."
>Laugh a little. "Not that I'm outright challenging you or anything, I just figured you'd want proof that I can handle myself up there, us guardian sorts are a lot alike in that regard after all."

> "You think along the same lines I do. I guess we are akin in a way. For the safety of my village, I cannot just let you visit the Celestials and risk bringing another disaster like the Scarlet Weather Incident. I hope you understand why I cannot allow you to pass until I am convinced of your power. This may only be a spar, but prepare yourself!" Momiji says, taking a stance ready to fight.

*Note: If you had taken the sky approach you would have met with Aya instead*

[Hanzo K.]

>Grin, and take a stance ourself. "Make sure to put up a better fight than that other gatekeeper, she only went down after one spellcard."

[Raikaria]

>Grin, and take a stance ourself. "Make sure to put up a better fight than that other gatekeeper, she only went down after one spellcard."

> "Other gatekeeper? Ah who cares, it doesn't matter." Momiji says, before proceeding to knock her sword on her shield, which causes several tight rings of danmaku to eminate from it, and when she pulls her sword away with a flourish, spirals, not unlike shells, made of far larger bullets follow.

> You're kinda shocked this is just a nonspell.

[Hanzo K.]

>Let out a whistle at how impressive the nonspell is while we try to slip through the cracks. and return with a few sweeping shots of our own when we get the chance.
>"For a non-spell, that's some impressive stuff!"

[Raikaria]

>Let out a whistle at how impressive the nonspell is while we try to slip through the cracks. and return with a few sweeping shots of our own when we get the chance.
>"For a non-spell, that's some impressive stuff!"

> As you whistle, you try to slip through. You quickly realize that the trajectory of the shells is such that they will clip you if you don't move away from them within the thick shower of smaller danmaku, but you notice a spot and manage to slip into it, narrowly avoiding the shell. This leaves an opening for you to shoot back at Momiji, who manages to dodge your counter-attack too.

> "Well, I'm not the most magical Tengu, wolves get the force, crows get the magic, so I don't have many spellcards. I just decided to compensate for it by focusing on my non-spells, which require a lot less magical energy to use." Momiji says.

[Hanzo K.]

>Grin a bit. "That's it! You just helped me figure out a way to help that gatekeeper from earlier! See, she's not too good at danmaku, and nearly all her spellcards I've seen involve some variety of physical combat. So I'll have to tell her to try focusing on improving her nonspells like you have!"
>Then laugh a little. "Well, I guess I should try out one of these spellcards then. Let's see...Ah, this one should be good! Defender Sign: Floor That Becomes a Wall!"

[Raikaria]

>Grin a bit. "That's it! You just helped me figure out a way to help that gatekeeper from earlier! See, she's not too good at danmaku, and nearly all her spellcards I've seen involve some variety of physical combat. So I'll have to tell her to try focusing on improving her nonspells like you have!"
>Then laugh a little. "Well, I guess I should try out one of these spellcards then. Let's see...Ah, this one should be good! Defender Sign: Floor That Becomes a Wall!"

> Momiji looks a little confused, and then takes a defensive pose when you pull out a spellcard.

> Your spellcard launches a large amount of floortiles from nowhere, like a rain, falling at different speeds. You guess since this is a danmaku fight they are not real floor tiles. Momiji dodges quite well, and parries ones she cannot dodge [Hey, Youmu can cut danmaku in PoFV :V], until the formation of tiles happens to send a decent sized *wall* of tiles towards her, no gaps between them at all, and she is incapable of blocking all of them, so takes some hits, although, she remains airborne.

> Your spell times out after that.

[Yay for randomized bullet patterns that can sometimes say 'screw you' with walls.]

[Hanzo K.]

>Let out another whistle. "Man, There's a doozy of a card for ya, eh? On to the next one! Keeper Sign: Scythe that Shields Dreams!"

[Raikaria]

>Let out another whistle. "Man, There's a doozy of a card for ya, eh? On to the next one! Keeper Sign: Scythe that Shields Dreams!"

> You are about to declare your spell, but Momiji beats you to the punch.

> "Just because I don't have many spellcards doesn't mean I have none at all. Dog Sign: Rabies Bite!" Momiji declares.

> Two rather thick walls of danmaku trap you, with prongs of danmaku like teeth. They are closing in.

[Hanzo K.]

>Let off another whistle, and try to slip out of range a bit.
>Then fire off some shots when we feel we can spare the effort.

[Raikaria]

>Let off another whistle, and try to slip out of range a bit.
>Then fire off some shots when we feel we can spare the effort.

> It's not really possible to slip out of range when the attack started surrounding you, however, you spot gaps in between the 'teeth', which then nash together and stop.

> You see the danmaku jolt, as if they are about to keep moving a second later. Unless you find a way out of the maw you will be hit by several large oval danmaku.

[Hanzo K.]

>Take stock of the possible paths between the danmaku, and pick the best one!
>Failing that, try to cancel some of them out by swinging Malus at 'em.

[Raikaria]

>Take stock of the possible paths between the danmaku, and pick the best one!
>Failing that, try to cancel some of them out by swinging Malus at 'em.

> Upon inspection there are gaps between the ovals making up the 'gums' of the maw you are within. You decide to swing Malus to make the gap wide enough for you to slide through, just as the two sides of the mouth continbue their path, overlapping. You have to swiftly turn around and repeat the process to avoid being hit by the jaw that was above you.

> The spell then promptly stops. It seems like it was either a one-shot type of spell or Momiji just canceled it, deciding it wouldn't work or something, to save energy.

> "If you escape that the first time no way it'll get you, I'd just be wasteing my time to repeat the same pattern." Momiji says.

[Hanzo K.]

>Grin. "Little something I hit on by watching you handle my last card. I figured it might work for me too, and I was right. Now then, time for one more card on my part, eh? Scythe Sign: Slashes of Eight Directions!"

[Raikaria]

>Grin. "Little something I hit on by watching you handle my last card. I figured it might work for me too, and I was right. Now then, time for one more card on my part, eh? Scythe Sign: Slashes of Eight Directions!"

> Momiji looks a little impressed, before your spellcard starts.

> Malus shifts size and position several times, forming an Eight-Pointed Star of danmaku slices around Momiji, which then disintegrate into a shower of small, white danmaku, which flies everywhere. The flurry is thick, but not particularly fast. It is hard to tell if Momiji has been hit or not due to your own bullets.

[*The Eight Pointed Star is identical to that Youmu makes in her Stage 6 Spellcard in PCB*]

[Hanzo K.]

>Well, all we can do is hang tight until she calls for a halt, or our card ends.

[Raikaria]

>Well, all we can do is hang tight until she calls for a halt, or our card ends.

> You see Momiji managed to dodge the first wave, so repeat your attack. This time, when Momiji vanishes, you hear something.

> "Tengu Sign: Pride Slash!"

> There is a large white, sword-wave of energy which rips through your danmaku and heads towards you. This isn't a normal spellcard, this is a bomb!

[Hanzo K.]

>Try to dodge it as best we can! ...IF we can. "Whoa-ho-hoa! That's the spirit!"

[Raikaria]

>Try to dodge it as best we can! ...IF we can. "Whoa-ho-hoa! That's the spirit!"

> You try to dodge the slash, but it just follows you, so you shield yourself instead with Malus. The impact causes your spell to break.

> "He... that's something I've not even shown that blasted crow yet..." Momiji pants, before she starts to fall to the ground. It's clear she's not been hit, however. She seems exhausted.