Remilia Quest Dh?

[Oldmansour]

>"For the most part at least. She's quite a capable fighter herself, and from what I understand of them, they rather dislike it when relations go sour."
>Fistpalm. "Ah, before we progress any further on that line, I have a music-related question for you, Nyx. You know how to play Air with the G String, yes? I'll need you to play that while I'm...Ah, 'Disciplining' Pride. I'll also need you to cancel out the sounds of said 'disciplining', Reisen. Normally I wouldn't bother with that sort of thing, but I'm feeling lively enough to go that extra mile."
>Smirk. "After all, I like to make such things an art form in and of themselves."

>"They weren't here before." Nyx says.
>"They're new arrivals, only been here for a year or so." Reisen informs her. "But they've had a pretty big impact since they arrived."
>"Air, air, air....." Nyx thinks aloud, her tail swishing in thought. "Ah yes, that Bach piece." After a moment's thought, she grins. "You sure know how to pique a demon's curiousity." She seems rather impressed by the idea.
>Reisen, however, does not seem quite as interested as the demonic nurse. "I'll pass, thanks."

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh. "Such a pity. It would've had a better effect. Unless of course, there's someone else who can cancel out sound in a specific area."

[Oldmansour]

>Sigh. "Such a pity. It would've had a better effect. Unless of course, there's someone else who can cancel out sound in a specific area."

>Nyx points her tail towards the bullet-firing Leraije above. "Leraije can drown out pretty much anything you can think of." she offers. "And she's a demon like me, to boot."

[Hanzo K.]

>"Well, I was looking for something in the breed of muting the sound completely. Similar in effect to what Reisen did by limiting the noise's area."
>Smirk. "It's no fun if I can't hear 'it', after all. It makes it too boring otherwise, like punching a tree."
>Come to think of it, shouldn't Patchouli have a spell that does that? Goodness knows she needs some quiet time every now and again, what with the fairies, Flandre, and Marisa invading every now and again.

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, I was looking for something in the breed of muting the sound completely. Similar in effect to what Reisen did by limiting the noise's area."
>Smirk. "It's no fun if I can't hear 'it', after all. It makes it too boring otherwise, like punching a tree."
>Come to think of it, shouldn't Patchouli have a spell that does that? Goodness knows she needs some quiet time every now and again, what with the fairies, Flandre, and Marisa invading every now and again.

>"There's always the dungeons, for a quiet place." Nyx suggests. "Isn't quite the same, I know, but, you'd have your privacy down there."
>Patchy, to your knowledge, has tried a time or two to create a zone of silence spell, or something to that effect. But she's never been able to get the execution quite right. Either it ends up muting the area she's in as well, which she says is a distraction and an irritant, or it interferes with spellcasting in the area. Some mages use such techniques, you know, when they have other skills to offset their impeded casting, such as hand to hand combat. This being Patchouli, however....
>She does have a soundproof chamber in the northern part of the library, though, which she uses for conducting very sensitive experiments, or when she's suffering from migraines.

>Shou and the woman called Celes exchange words after taking in the triple battles going on in front of and above them, then head towards the northern side of the courtyard.

[Hanzo K.]

>Hmm...Well, the Soundproof Room's no good, as that would entail the other sin spirits entering as well, and we can't have Lust, Wrath, or the others get too close to Flan after all. Who knows what will happen!
>Sigh. "I prefer to make a show of things like that. I was thinking about how having no sound but Air would heighten the impact of it all."

[Oldmansour]

>Hmm...Well, the Soundproof Room's no good, as that would entail the other sin spirits entering as well, and we can't have Lust, Wrath, or the others get too close to Flan after all. Who knows what will happen!
>Sigh. "I prefer to make a show of things like that. I was thinking about how having no sound but Air would heighten the impact of it all."

>Nyx nods in agreement. "It's your classic harmony of dissonance. Or whatever they call that in Gensokyo."
>"Yeah." Reisen says in a quiet voice. "I know all about it." With no further warning, she takes flight and drops down to the courtyard floor beneath her, and glides towards Shou and Celes.
>"What's her problem?" Nyx asks you.

[Hanzo K.]

>Shrug. "I haven't the foggiest. Let's follow her, shall we?"
>Let's follow after her.

[Oldmansour]

>Shrug. "I haven't the foggiest. Let's follow her, shall we?"
>Let's follow after her.

>"Keep your head down." she advises as she takes off, beating her wings, yourself not far behind.
>This proves to be sound advice, between Merlin's multi-directional lasers, Youmu's streams of red circles and Sei's flaming shrapnel. Fortunately, Ranka and Leraije's danmaku don't stray that far off their own height.
>You and the demoness pause once each to avoid being struck by Merlin's lasers en route to Shou and Celes. During this interval, you watch Honoka evade the spherical danmaku between Merlin's lasers with relative ease and then rakes her hand back and forth, conjuring forth two erratic lines of fireball danmaku and sending them forth. There is no pattern to these bullets, but they move only at moderate speed and have relatively obvious gaps to use. Obvious to you, at least, but it seems Merlin didn't miss them either, at least one of them, and passes between two shots before discharging more lasers. Seems to be her thing.

>Ahead of you, Shou and Celes turn to see Reisen approaching them. Shou gives Reisen a nod, but Celes eyes are drawn beyond the lunar rabbit. Towards you. Her green eyes narrow and she springs forward past Reisen and grips her saber.
>Nyx holds up her right arm and waves her hand. "Whoa, hold on, Celes, she's not an invader."
>The green-eyed woman does not remove her hand. "Declare yourself, vampire." she demands of you.

[Hanzo K.]

>Smirk slightly. "I am Remilia Scarlet, the 'Scarlet Devil'. I came to reclaim Sakuya for the most part, though I've found other interesting matters in the process."

[Oldmansour]

>Smirk slightly. "I am Remilia Scarlet, the 'Scarlet Devil'. I came to reclaim Sakuya for the most part, though I've found other interesting matters in the process."

>Celes' hand tightens around her saber, and then relaxes within a second. "The Countess has awaited you."
>"Then why are you so on guard?" Reisen asks her.
>"Because as her oldest servant, and Steward of her Keep, her safety is my responsibility above all others." The way she says it is virtually identical to what Sakuya to say is she was in the woman's position. "And we did not know enough of the Scarlet Devil to tell how she would arrive, or what her mood would be."

[Hanzo K.]

>Smirk a bit. "Well, at first I was rather cross with all of you for having inconvenienced my plans. But I'll settle for taking it out on just Pride for now."
>Add an edge of gleeful malice to the smirk. "I've already got just the punishment in mind for Pride having...'borrowed' My own second-in-command."
>Then laugh a bit. "Oh, but don't worry, you'll still have Pride around. It's no fun going that far, better to leave them alive to remember it, you know?"

[Oldmansour]

>Smirk a bit. "Well, at first I was rather cross with all of you for having inconvenienced my plans. But I'll settle for taking it out on just Pride for now."
>Add an edge of gleeful malice to the smirk. "I've already got just the punishment in mind for Pride having...'borrowed' My own second-in-command."
>Then laugh a bit. "Oh, but don't worry, you'll still have Pride around. It's no fun going that far, better to leave them alive to remember it, you know?"

>Celes hmmms thoughtfully, briefly, and you note her grip on her sword relax almost completely, now resting on the holt more than a combat grip. "And once you get Sakuya back, and settle up the score with Pride, that will be the end of it?"
>"Think preacher'll go for it?" Nyx asks her.
>"She may. But then, she may not have to. Is she still in the chapel?" Nyx nods. "You should inform her that the Scarlet Devil has arrived, and that I am escorting her, and some of her companions, to the Countess."
>"You are?"
>Celes looks at you with a glimmer of hope in her eye. "I hope so."

[Hanzo K.]

>"I've also heard some conflicting information regarding the seal this keep and it's inhabitants are under. In addition to the fact that the Countess has been a mite under the weather, which I suspect is related in some way to the conflicting information. A matter involving fate is of great interest to one with such abilities as I, you know."
>Kyrie said that they weren't due up to unseal for another 200 years, yes? How long did Yuzuriha(Or whoever else it was) say was left when we told her about this mess?

[Oldmansour]

>"I've also heard some conflicting information regarding the seal this keep and it's inhabitants are under. In addition to the fact that the Countess has been a mite under the weather, which I suspect is related in some way to the conflicting information. A matter involving fate is of great interest to one with such abilities as I, you know."
>Kyrie said that they weren't due up to unseal for another 200 years, yes? How long did Yuzuriha(Or whoever else it was) say was left when we told her about this mess?

>Celes looks around at the ongoing danmaku battles above and behind you. "Perhaps we should go inside before we discuss that further?"
>Kyrie did not mention anything in terms of specific numbers. She used the phrases 'years to come' and 'some years', but did not elaborate on her own, and you did not inquire for more specifics. Yuzuriha, however, said that the seal was set to expire in two months.

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "Indeed. Let's go find the Countess to discuss this matter with all the important actors in this performance then, hmm?"
>Let's go!

[Oldmansour]

>Nod. "Indeed. Let's go find the Countess to discuss this matter with all the important actors in this performance then, hmm?"
>Let's go!

>Celes leads the way north, towards an open alcove along the promenade.
>Reisen falls in next to Celes. "You two exchanged some fire?" she asks her.
>"Only a little. She wanted to see what I was capable of before taking me to see the Countess."
>"Do you think she'll do that for me, or Remilia?"
>"Maybe for you, but I doubt for Remilia. I got the impression she knows what a vampire is capable of plenty enough."

>The area beyond the alcove extends east and west again, and is even more sparsely decorated than the areas you've been before.
>Seeing your eye note this, Celes smiles a touch apologetically. "The Keep was open to looters and theives for quite some time." she informs you as she leads you down the western corridor, away from the quieting sounds of danmaku-fu. "We've only starting to put the place back together the past few days, and the Countess wanted the guest quarters taken care of first."

[Hanzo K.]

>Smirk slightly. "Quite alright. Truth be told, my own abode is in a bit of a state due to Sakuya's absence. Fairy Maids are so hard to control you know, and Sakuya's the only one I know who can manage that."
>Then chuckle a bit. "Perhaps when all this is wrapped up, and the Countess has recovered, I'll have a few sparring matches with her. I'm rather interested in seeing what she's capable of, given how Rei has much potential. oOu know, she actually managed to make a close copy of one of my own techniques, Servant Flier. The mere fact that a two-month-old fledgling could copy a technique used by one such as I, whose legend began in the 16th Century, is quite impressive."
>We'll keep following along.

[Oldmansour]

>Smirk slightly. "Quite alright. Truth be told, my own abode is in a bit of a state due to Sakuya's absence. Fairy Maids are so hard to control you know, and Sakuya's the only one I know who can manage that."
>Then chuckle a bit. "Perhaps when all this is wrapped up, and the Countess has recovered, I'll have a few sparring matches with her. I'm rather interested in seeing what she's capable of, given how Rei has much potential. oOu know, she actually managed to make a close copy of one of my own techniques, Servant Flier. The mere fact that a two-month-old fledgling could copy a technique used by one such as I, whose legend began in the 16th Century, is quite impressive."
>We'll keep following along.

>"Thank you for the advice." Celes says with a nod. "After we're all back to our old selves, we probably might need some help getting the Keep ship-shape again. If we look for some Fairy help, I'll know what we're in for."

>From outside, you hear Leraije's voice yell "Guns of the Sky: Lightning Cannon!" followed closely by Ranka's voice saying, "Freedom: Whimsical Wind!"
>Reisen winces faintly and shoots you a slightly abashed look. "I silenced her danmaku, not her voice." she explains.
>When she finishes, the Steward of the Keep pauses and turns. "Are you a servant of the Scarlet Devil?"
>Reisen shakes her head. "I serve Eirin Yakogoro and Princess Kaguya. and my name is Reisen Udongein."
>"Ms. Toramaru mentioned your name." she says, drawing a nod from Shou. "You are here to see Rei?"
>"And find out how she became a vampire, and what will happen to her now. Remilia's told me that the early days of a new vampire's life are chaotic, at best."
>"The Countess will be able to tell you more." She turns to you and adds, before turning back around and continuing down the hall, the four of you following behind her. "It might interest you to know that the Countess is also impressed by the young lady. I did not, however, know that Rei was capable of mimicking the technique of an elder vampire. We knew she was a quick study, but that's beyond what I had assumed."

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "Indeed, I've taken quite an interest in her abilities thanks to that, and I feel that she needs additional teaching to truly grasp her full power."
>Then fistpalm. "You know, you are rather like Sakuya, so there is a good chance that any you recruit might obey you."
>"At any rate though, it seems that we're nearing the truth of the matter. And since this is Gensokyo, I have a feeling that Rei's life will be a fair sight better than most new Vampires. Particularly with both the Countess and myself providing education and training."
>Let's continue onwards!

[Oldmansour]

>Nod. "Indeed, I've taken quite an interest in her abilities thanks to that, and I feel that she needs additional teaching to truly grasp her full power."
>Then fistpalm. "You know, you are rather like Sakuya, so there is a good chance that any you recruit might obey you."
>"At any rate though, it seems that we're nearing the truth of the matter. And since this is Gensokyo, I have a feeling that Rei's life will be a fair sight better than most new Vampires. Particularly with both the Countess and myself providing education and training."
>Let's continue onwards!

>"I would agree with you there. And I'd wager that it won't take her all that long, either."
>The green eyed woman blinks. "I am?" She doesn't seem entirely sure how to take that.
>Reisen evidently picks up on that cue. "That's quite the compliment coming from her."
>"Ah... Well, thank you."

>The corridor ends ahead of you and turns right, leading to another corridor and a flight of stairs to the left leading up. Nyx flits up into the air, "The chapel's upstairs, so, I'll be seein' you folks later." She flies on past you all, but as she passes Reisen, her tail slithers up and brushes the lunar rabbits derriere. Reisen stiffens ever so slightly, prompting a devilish little giggle from Nyx as she flies up the stairs.
>"My apologies." Celes offers Reisen. "She is a succubus..."
>Reisen shakes her head slightly, sighing quietly. "Believe me when I say, I've had worse."
>"We do try to keep her on her best behavior with guests, but, things aren't normal yet."
>"That's all right, don't worry about it."

>From the courtyard behind you, you hear a pair of sounds which catch your ear, beyond the continuing sounds of danmaku. One is the sound of a thick cloak fluttering in flight, which probably means Honoka is following you. The other sounds, for all the world, like energy-charged flesh hitting flesh, a sound you're rather familiar with between yourself and Meiling.

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh. "Looks like Gensokyo's going get a lot noisier...Between Her, Ranka, Lust, and the other Sin Spirits."
>Then shrug. "But a Succubus entering a Chapel. There's something ironic about that."
>One has to wonder, no?
>Then chuckle a bit. "It would appear that things back in the courtyard have gotten noisier. Perhaps Honoka has already finished her battle? Let's wait a short while to make sure."
>Let's wait for roughly two minutes.

[Oldmansour]

>Sigh. "Looks like Gensokyo's going get a lot noisier...Between Her, Ranka, Lust, and the other Sin Spirits."
>Then shrug. "But a Succubus entering a Chapel. There's something ironic about that."
>One has to wonder, no?
>Then chuckle a bit. "It would appear that things back in the courtyard have gotten noisier. Perhaps Honoka has already finished her battle? Let's wait a short while to make sure."
>Let's wait for roughly two minutes.

>Celes offers you a wry smile. "Perhaps you could consider it an opportunity to invest in thicker walls?" she suggests dryly.
>"Is that unusual?" Reisen asks about Nyx in the chapel.
>"Traditionally speaking, the undead and demonkind are unable to enter holy ground, such as a church or a chapel, or other consecrated places." Celes informs her. "But our chapel hasn't been that for centuries."
>Shou frowns. "Your temple was unhallowed?"
>"Chapel, Ms. Toramaru." Celes corrects her politely. "There's a difference. But, yes. As a matter of fact, this entire Keep was once unholy ground. We spent a great deal of time working on undoing that status before we were sealed." She reaches out and lightly touches the bare wall to her left, looking at her fingers after. "Setsuka and Tsumiko tell me there's something about Gensokyo that helps in that process, as well."
>"I'd agree there. I can't sense a thing."
>"You can detect unholy auras?" Reisen asks her.
>"I'm a devotee of Bishamonten." Shou answers by way of explanation. "One of His gifts to me was a sense for unhallowed things or places. But it's not strong, not like a true priest, but if this place was still defiled, I'd think I could sense it while standing in the middle of it."
>"It is also possible that an Eastern God might not sense the vileness caused by a Western source." Celes postulates.

>As the three of them speculate, Honoka does indeed float into view, and by the looks of her, Merlin never landed a shot on her. Honoka glances back and forth and heads in your direction. She is not alone, however, as she is followed by a blonde girl wearing clothes similar to Merlin's, but colored black, with white and red trim, and while Merlin carried a horn, this one has a violin floating next to her. That would be the leader of the Prismrivers, Lunasa, you believe her name was.

[Hanzo K.]

>Chuckle a bit, and nod towards Lunasa and Honoka. "Yet another of the Prismrivers. Seems they've scattered throughout the keep."
>Then laugh a bit. "Although the whole business about demons and the like being unable to enter temples and the like doesn't hold much water in Gensokyo, given how I was able to be on the premises of the Myouren Temple, and I often go visit the Hakurei Shrine, to make she she's not being too lazy."
>Smirk. "After all, she's one of the few who have managed to defeat me. I won't stand for her getting too lax after all, given that matter. I have my pride to keep after all."

[Oldmansour]

>Chuckle a bit, and nod towards Lunasa and Honoka. "Yet another of the Prismrivers. Seems they've scattered throughout the keep."
>Then laugh a bit. "Although the whole business about demons and the like being unable to enter temples and the like doesn't hold much water in Gensokyo, given how I was able to be on the premises of the Myouren Temple, and I often go visit the Hakurei Shrine, to make she she's not being too lazy."
>Smirk. "After all, she's one of the few who have managed to defeat me. I won't stand for her getting too lax after all, given that matter. I have my pride to keep after all."

>"Honoka couldn't have beaten Merlin that quickly." Reisen says. "They're not that weak individually."
>Celes nods. "There's a number of rules that hold true in the outside world that don't here, just as I'd wager there's a number of rules that apply here that don't in the outside. Gensokyo is a strange and wondrous place."
>"I've yet to meet a vampire that didn't." Celes says dryly with a faint smirk.
>The Steward's smirk drops off her face as Honoka draws close. "Scarlet Flame." she breathes.
>Honoka's nods grimly. "Dragon Rider." she says by way of greeting. The air between the two noticeably drops in temperature.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Well, this is interesting. Judging from the sharp drop in temperature, Would I be correct in assuming there's a bit of bad blood between you two?"
>Chuckle a bit. "Then again, Honoka did demonstrate a rather surprising knowledge of Vampire lore, so I suppose it shouldn't come as much of a surprise."

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, this is interesting. Judging from the sharp drop in temperature, Would I be correct in assuming there's a bit of bad blood between you two?"
>Chuckle a bit. "Then again, Honoka did demonstrate a rather surprising knowledge of Vampire lore, so I suppose it shouldn't come as much of a surprise."

>"I wouldn't say 'bad blood' precisely, Scarlet Devil." Honoka replies. "The Dragon Rider and I met once, centuries ago. And she attacked me."
>You and the others give the Steward a look, and the hint of a scowl tugs at her lip. "What that abbreviated line fails to mention is that Honoka here was working for the Red Tide at the time."

>You think on that name for a moment, then your memory kicks in. About a year or so ago, Patchouli acquired an old, somewhat damaged, book detailing a few of the more notable vampires in Gensokyo's past. The Red Tide was a vampire that dwelt in Gensokyo up until about 125 years ago, her true name lost. If the book ever contained it, it was unrecoverable. She was one of those vampires that specialized in controlling and dominating other living beings, and she had sorcery to match the mesmeric power of her eyes. She had a vast army of servants and slaves, both humans and youkai, and used that army to spread her power across the northwestern part of Gensokyo. Among her most notable servants were a quartet of powerful youkai, each bearing the power of one of the four Greek elements- earth, air, fire and water. According to Patchy's research, all of those four had great power, but not power enough to resist the influence of the Red Tide.
>The tome Patchy found told of how the Red Tide terrorized a quarter of Gensokyo, conflicting with both vampires and non-vampires, until one night when her ambition grew too great. She attempted to expand her territory to include the home of one Yuuka Kazami. The book did not tell of the meeting between the two, at least not in any surviving page, but the Red Tide was never seen again in Gensokyo after that night. Considering the reputation surrounding Yuuka Kazami, it isn't hard for one to figure out what happened to the over-ambitious vampire.

>"Enslaved, you mean." Honoka counters.
>"When a vampire like her's involved, it amounts to the same thing." Celes glances between you and her. "Does this vampire hold you now?"
>Rather than answer her question directly, Honoka's expression actually lightens slightly. "Time has changed you, Dragon Rider. A century ago, you'd have accused us both of that, instead of asking. But to answer, no. No vampire holds control over me now, not since my former owner was destroyed."

[Hanzo K.]

>Shrug. "I don't bother with such things, it isn't my forte either. Though she does at least consider what I suggest at times, such as before, when we split up for a time."
>Grin slightly. "But to think that I've been traveling with two of her former underlings. It's rather amusing really."
>Nod. "At any rate though, there will be time to catch up on things later. I'm rather pressed for time, so I'd like to recover Sakuya as soon as I can."

[Oldmansour]

>Shrug. "I don't bother with such things, it isn't my forte either. Though she does at least consider what I suggest at times, such as before, when we split up for a time."
>Grin slightly. "But to think that I've been traveling with two of her former underlings. It's rather amusing really."
>Nod. "At any rate though, there will be time to catch up on things later. I'm rather pressed for time, so I'd like to recover Sakuya as soon as I can."

>"One." Honoka corrects you. "I assume you are thinking Ranka was the air spirit she'd bound. She was not." Wisps of flame escape her eyes. "As a matter of fact, it was Ranka's elder sister, or at least, that is how they regarded each other. But as you say, that is a story that can wait for another time."
>"So why ARE you here?" Celes demands.
>"Come now, Rider. If I was an enemy of yours, you would have known of my presence here long before seeing me here. I am here for the same reason Shou is, because of the activities of the Sin Spirits. And no, I'm not here to destroy them, or the ones behind them, if that's what you're worried about. I simply wish to investigate the matter myself."
>The Steward does not looks nearly comfortable with the presence of Honoka, but Reisen steps forward and says, "Celes-san, if Honoka was under the influence of another vampire, then one of us would have detected it by now, either Remilia, Shou or myself. And none of us have."
>The green eyed woman exhales, and rubs her right temple briefly. Reisen offers her a sympathetic smile. "And Remilia has a good point. The sooner we see the Countess and get to the bottom of this matter, and settle the outstanding issue of Izayoi-san, the sooner we can all be on our way."
>Celes sighs again, then turns and heads down the hallway before her, waving you on behind her.

>"Well spoken, Reisen." Honoka commends the lunar rabbit as the group of you follow behind Celes. "I hadn't expected to see her here, and I was expecting her to try and force me out, if not worse."
>Reisen shakes her head. "I believe Celes-san is a reasonable person. But I also think she's got something else on her mind. Probably Reimu, if she's still here."

>"And you, Lunasa?" Celes calls back from her lead position. "Why were you with the Scarlet Flame?"
>"I was not." the dour-looking Prismriver replies in a somewhat dull voice. "I just wanted to check with the Countess on a liability issue."
>"Liability?"
>Lunasa nods. "We came here to perform, not start firing danmaku in a courtyard. I want to hear where the Countess stands on Merlin acting like a fool."

>"Have you heard of this Red Tide vampire?" Shou asks you.

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "She was spoken of in a book. Apparently she had been quite the ambitious sort. Too ambitious even. Her last attempted conquest was a lovely little place called 'The Garden of The Sun'. I assume you know of the Garden's most infamous occupant, Yuuka Kazami? Well, suffice it to say that Red Tide has become a bit of a cautionary tale so to speak."
>Chuckle in a slightly grim way. "Nobody ever really knows what happened to her. None but Kazami that is. Though it doesn't take an expert to figure out what likely did, considering the evidence."
>Then smirk in our usual sort of way, and continue onwards!