Remilia Quest Dh?

[Oldmansour]

>Raise an eyebrow. "Well, that was certainly out of left field. I do hope we won't have to deal with the same issue as earlier, when I slew the first."

>Ranka nods rather gracefully. "I could do without that part, myself, if you mean the... Well. The red stuff." She points towards the smoking plant falling from the sky. "Do you think that was the Hakurei did that?"

[Hanzo K.]

>Shrug. "She was never much for that type of shot though. Now the black-white and her puppeteer friend, that's another story."
>Let's go get a closer look at things with our new ally.

[Oldmansour]

>Shrug. "She was never much for that type of shot though. Now the black-white and her puppeteer friend, that's another story."
>Let's go get a closer look at things with our new ally.

>"Black-white...." Ranka purses her lips in thought. "Ah, yes, that lovely blonde girl with the broom. And all the stars." She frowns slightly, rubbing her stomach almost unconsciously.
>The two of you fly north to investigate the goings on up ahead, but a less interesting and more annoying sight comes into view after a few minutes' flight. A river, likely a branch off the one you were following before. You'll need to find a bridge over it to reach the area where the second flower went down.
>There are a pair of figures flying south from there, generally in your direction.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Tch...I do despise a bridgeless river. But on a different note, it seems we have company."
>Indicate the two incoming figures.

[Oldmansour]

>"Tch...I do despise a bridgeless river. But on a different note, it seems we have company."
>Indicate the two incoming figures.

>Ranka nods, then cups her hand next to her ear. "Youkai, by the sound of them. One of them's a cat, a tiger, I think, or maybe a lion. Big cat of some kind. Afraid I don't know the sound of the other one."
>They're not quite close enough at this range to determine any definite features, but you think one of them has large, somewhat floppy ears, like a rabbit, on their head.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Hmm...I suppose we'll have to wait for them then, it could be Reisen and Shou."
>As irritating as it is, we'll have to wait for a time, until they get here.

[Oldmansour]

>"Hmm...I suppose we'll have to wait for them then, it could be Reisen and Shou."
>As irritating as it is, we'll have to wait for a time, until they get here.

>"Ohhh?" the blonde youkai drawls, curious. "More friends of yours?"
>You could fly forward for about another two or so minutes, but that would take you right up to the water's edge.

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "Somewhat. They're some of the group that's helping in my efforts to punish the Countess for daring to steal my Head Maid from me."
>Shrug. "Nevermind that they also have an investment in the matter themselves."
>Well, let's fly closer then, but stop just short of going up to the edge.

[Oldmansour]

>Nod. "Somewhat. They're some of the group that's helping in my efforts to punish the Countess for daring to steal my Head Maid from me."
>Shrug. "Nevermind that they also have an investment in the matter themselves."
>Well, let's fly closer then, but stop just short of going up to the edge.

>Ranka gives you a friendly smile, albeit one that seems somehow slightly... naughty. "It's always nicer to have friends helping you out."
>Venturing a bit closer to the river's edge, you close the gap between you and the oncoming duo. The rabbit ears and the long hair make one of them pretty clear, and the other one seems to have a large hoop of cloth on her back, as well as a polearm weapon in her hand. Certainly seems to be Reisen and Shou, all right, at least among the folks you know.
>The blonde youkai next to you narrows her eyes in Reisen's direction. "Are those bunny ears?"

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "She's a Moon Rabbit you know. So far, it seems to be them."
>Nothing for it then, let's keep cool until they rejoin. But keep an eye on 'em just in case.

[Oldmansour]

>Nod. "She's a Moon Rabbit you know. So far, it seems to be them."
>Nothing for it then, let's keep cool until they rejoin. But keep an eye on 'em just in case.

>Ranka licks her lips a little. "Oh, I do love bunnies." With no further adeiu, she flies out in front of you to intercept Reisen and Shou. This annoys you, but given the running water in front of you, there doesn't seem to be a great deal you can do about it.
>Reisen waves in your direction as she draws closer, then she and Shou exchange a word. The two fly a bit apart, the rabbit heading towards the blonde, while Shou travels in your direction. They both seem to be acting perfectly normal, at least which each other.
>"I wasn't expecting to see you out this way." Shou calls out to you as she starts to cross the water.

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh. Hopefully she knows to mind herself. Just because we can't cross doesn't mean danmaku can't. There will be time for self-indulgence after things have been set right.
>"Well, Reisen did say I was in the region, yes? I ended up following my own leads I'd found, and ended up here."
>Fistpalm. "Oh, do keep an eye on those two, I picked up that blonde along the way, and she's been a bit suspicious when she found out about what Reisen is."

[Oldmansour]

>Sigh. Hopefully she knows to mind herself. Just because we can't cross doesn't mean danmaku can't. There will be time for self-indulgence after things have been set right.
>"Well, Reisen did say I was in the region, yes? I ended up following my own leads I'd found, and ended up here."
>Fistpalm. "Oh, do keep an eye on those two, I picked up that blonde along the way, and she's been a bit suspicious when she found out about what Reisen is."

>Keeping a surreptitious eye on the long-haired blonde, you turn your attention to Shou.
>"Reisen did say that, yes." Shou replies, now on your side of the water. "But she wasn't sure how far you'd come after seperating."
>Shou glances back at Reisen and Ranka. The two of them are floating in front of each other, but nothing seems out of place, or overly enthusiastic. Yet. "Suspicious how?" Shou asks you.

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh. "As if she might be possessed by, or might be Lust itself. At the very least, I suspect she'll be quite susceptible, if this is simply the norm for her."
>Fistpalm. "See about getting those two over on this side, would you? This way I can react quicker."

[Oldmansour]

>Sigh. "As if she might be possessed by, or might be Lust itself. At the very least, I suspect she'll be quite susceptible, if this is simply the norm for her."
>Fistpalm. "See about getting those two over on this side, would you? This way I can react quicker."

>Shou's grip tightens just a bit on her polearm, but she doesn't immediately jet over to Reisen's side.
>Instead, she asks you first, "You wouldn't know if she'd had a bad reaction to a rather strange plant earlier tonight, would you?"

[Hanzo K.]

>Raise an eyebrow. "Why do you ask? And what do you mean by 'bad reaction'?"

[Oldmansour]

>Raise an eyebrow. "Why do you ask? And what do you mean by 'bad reaction'?"

>"Because Reisen and I destroyed one a few minutes ago. It seemed to be spreading some kind of mist, or dust, that caused terrible anger in anyone around it, or downwind. From what you and Byakuren told us earlier, we suspected it was the work of the Wrath spirit. And we know there were more than one of them."
>She points at the blonde youkai chatting with Reisen. "If she was affected by that anger, if there was a plant... Come to think of it, I haven't told you what that plant looked like, did I?"

[Hanzo K.]

>"Let me guess. large, bulbous, spinning metallic blades on the bottom in place of roots, and fins in place of petals, no? I slew one myself earlier. I found her and a few others locked in a rather heated battle in the nearby vicinity of it. When I disposed of it, everyone ended up purging their systems of the spores the best way their bodies knew how."
>Make a slightly disgusted face. "By vomiting."
>Then sigh irritatedly. "Even I could not escape that, having been somewhat affected by the spores myself. But this just adds to my desire to punish the Countess and her underlings."

[Oldmansour]

>"Let me guess. large, bulbous, spinning metallic blades on the bottom in place of roots, and fins in place of petals, no? I slew one myself earlier. I found her and a few others locked in a rather heated battle in the nearby vicinity of it. When I disposed of it, everyone ended up purging their systems of the spores the best way their bodies knew how."
>Make a slightly disgusted face. "By vomiting."
>Then sigh irritatedly. "Even I could not escape that, having been somewhat affected by the spores myself. But this just adds to my desire to punish the Countess and her underlings."

>Shou gives you an understanding look. "Yeah, that happened to us, too. And it wasn't just humanoids, even the animals were fighting each other in the area around that plant. And they vomited, as well." She shakes her head. "Nazrin would say, 'That was really revolting.', and I couldn't say it better myself."
>She points her spear back at Ranka. "But if that woman was affected by Wrath's flowers, I might think then that she hasn't been affected by Lust. I don't think one Sin would work against another, since they share the same master."

[Hanzo K.]

>Sigh. "Then this is normal for her. We'll have to make sure she doesn't encounter Lust then, things could get messy. And I don't just mean combat, if you know my meaning."
>"At any rate though, I've discovered some crucial information on locating the Countess and her lair. In the area, according to the blonde and her friends, there is an old Keep strewn with blue banners and standards. Until recently, it appeared to be abandoned. We've come to the mutual conclusion that this Keep is the place I seek."
>Then let out a slight growl of frustration. "But this accursed river bars my path! She's a clever girl she is, making her lair in a place where no other Vampire can travel easily."

[Oldmansour]

>Sigh. "Then this is normal for her. We'll have to make sure she doesn't encounter Lust then, things could get messy. And I don't just mean combat, if you know my meaning."
>"At any rate though, I've discovered some crucial information on locating the Countess and her lair. In the area, according to the blonde and her friends, there is an old Keep strewn with blue banners and standards. Until recently, it appeared to be abandoned. We've come to the mutual conclusion that this Keep is the place I seek."
>Then let out a slight growl of frustration. "But this accursed river bars my path! She's a clever girl she is, making her lair in a place where no other Vampire can travel easily."

>Shou ponders that for a moment. "Well, if she's a vampire like you, she'd have to have left herself room to leave. Nobody builds themselves their own cage, after all. So if she can get out, it stands to reason that you, another vampire, could get in."
>"Did they say exactly where this Keep was?"

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "There should be a waterfall downriver, the Keep is there, at the foot of that waterfall. We should let everyone know that the target area has been found I suppose."

[Oldmansour]

>Nod. "There should be a waterfall downriver, the Keep is there, at the foot of that waterfall. We should let everyone know that the target area has been found I suppose."

>"It will be good to know which waterfall. Evidently, Reisen found a mermaid a bit earlier who told her of no less than four waterfalls of different sizes not too far from here."
>As though beckoned, both Reisen and Ranka start to head towards you, the blonde seeming a touch more subdued than before.

[Hanzo K.]

>Gesture towards Ranka, then Shou. "Ranka, Shou here is wondering which waterfall in specific that the Abandoned Keep is at."
>Nod. "Once we reach the location, our next goal is to locate the entire group, and converge on the Keep. We'll strike in great number, and deliver swift punishment." Clench a fist in front of us for emphasis during the last part.

[Oldmansour]

>Gesture towards Ranka, then Shou. "Ranka, Shou here is wondering which waterfall in specific that the Abandoned Keep is at."
>Nod. "Once we reach the location, our next goal is to locate the entire group, and converge on the Keep. We'll strike in great number, and deliver swift punishment." Clench a fist in front of us for emphasis during the last part.

>The youkai with the excaptionally long hair points due south, along the river where the kappa village lies. "That way. I think." She pouts ever so slightly. "Hon would know for sure. I don't pay too much attention to buildings, when I can help it."
>"Why's that?" Shou asks her.
>Ranka runs a hand through her hair. "I don't really care for being indoors. It's too confining."

[Hanzo K.]

(Ironic then, that her FF2/FF4 counterpart is fought inside one.)

>Chuckle a bit. "You're like the wind, aren't you? Never stays in one place for too long, or goes inside a building for long."
>Nod. "Well, at any rate, we'll have to locate her. You know her better than any of us, so you should have an easier time of it. Lead the way."
>Let's roll!

[Oldmansour]

(Ironic then, that her FF2/FF4 counterpart is fought inside one.)

>Chuckle a bit. "You're like the wind, aren't you? Never stays in one place for too long, or goes inside a building for long."
>Nod. "Well, at any rate, we'll have to locate her. You know her better than any of us, so you should have an easier time of it. Lead the way."
>Let's roll!

That occured to me as well, aye. But I figured she made exceptions for seeing Kain.

>Ranka nods. "You got it, sweetie." she replies with a smile. "I'm just not myself unless I'm out in the open."
>"She's probably still back with that barge driver." Ranka theorizes. She moves up past the three of you, glancing behind her. "Follow me, then, pretty ladies."
>Not a lot of shame in this one, you muse quietly, as the blonde takes off back the way you came, the three of you following behind her.

>"We should probably keep an eye out for more of those flying plants." Reisen advises as you fly back. "If the Countess is behind their creation, then we'll probably see more of the things on our way there."

[Hanzo K.]

>Nod. "Indeed. I plan to eliminate them as they show up. Gungnir has quite a bit of range, and with my on-the-fly adaptation, can take them down in one pass. You should be able to see the work of my earlier skirmish as we fly, so I shall point it out when we get close. I think you'll be rather impressed."
>Let's keep going, and point out the wreckage when it's relevant.

[Oldmansour]

>Nod. "Indeed. I plan to eliminate them as they show up. Gungnir has quite a bit of range, and with my on-the-fly adaptation, can take them down in one pass. You should be able to see the work of my earlier skirmish as we fly, so I shall point it out when we get close. I think you'll be rather impressed."
>Let's keep going, and point out the wreckage when it's relevant.

>The wreckage in question comes into view only a few moments later. Or rather, where it SHOULD have been. The hunks of plant-life that had been strewn across the ground below you are now gone, and there are small black char marks left in their place.
>The presence of Honoka in the air above gives mute testament to the source of the char. Presently, she is facing east, towards the Kappa village. She starts to fly in that direction, but Ranka calls out to her with a wave, making the cloaked youkai pause.

[Hanzo K.]

>"Well, she's rather thorough. Isn't she?"
>Perhaps it has some sort of reanimation ability that prompted this. Let's follow along.