Yukari Quest - A Z-machine Adventure

[O4rfish]

>It seems like the Taoist Invasion played out much more calmly and amicably in Z-Machine than in TH13, at least from what we've heard.

[Hello Purvis]

> "I imagine the prince and the scarlet princess will be causing their own interesting troubles when they notice each other's presences." Tap our lip. "Come to think of it, if they both come we'll be their first meeting ground. An excellent match already in the making."
> "She might not be as bad as her reputation, that Seiga." Smile enigmatically. "After all, cultivating that kind of atmosphere is an art of it's own. I'll judge her motives when I see her for myself."
> "We could check over anywhere we wished to see right now, really. Did you have somewhere you'd like to spy on, dear Yuyuko?"

>"I do wonder if they are both up to date on the rules?" says Yuyuko. "It would be a shame if either were to hold out for a tile that doesn't exist anymore..."
>"Perhaps so," says Yuyuko as you mention Seiga. "But I feel my observations are sound."
>"Oh, let us see what Miss Ibuki is doing, shall we?" Yuyuko says, smiling. "She's always fun!"
>"What are they taking about with all the rules and stuff, Ran?" says Chen.
>"We're planning a mahjong tournament," says Ran. "Would you like to be a part of it?"
>"I don't really know how to play," says Chen. frowning as she talks through a mouthful of noodles. "All the ways tiles go together don't seem to make any sense."

>It seems like the Taoist Invasion played out much more calmly and amicably in Z-Machine than in TH13, at least from what we've heard.

>There was some sturm and drang at first, with people believing there was some kind of ghost invasion happening. And from what you here, Miko and her attendants were rather arrogant at first and fully intending to return to power. Then they found that the world had forgotten them and, you imagine,  there were more than enough factions in Gensokyo who wouldn't stand idly by. Miko instead decided to focus on refining her understanding of the Tao, which was for the best. Though she did make a rather humorous attempt to recruit Reimu, with predictable results.

>_

[Shadoweh]

> "That's a good point. We'll need to have written rules for the tournament." Think of who we can foister that responsibility off on.
> "I do trust your judgement. All the more reason to see what merit she has."
> Open spy gap to see what Suika is up to!
> Look to Chen. "I didn't think you'd wish to play. Ran could use your help taking care of cheering though."

[Hello Purvis]

> "That's a good point. We'll need to have written rules for the tournament." Think of who we can foister that responsibility off on.
> "I do trust your judgement. All the more reason to see what merit she has."
> Open spy gap to see what Suika is up to!
> Look to Chen. "I didn't think you'd wish to play. Ran could use your help taking care of cheering though."

>"We do?" says Chen.
>You could fob it off on Ran. She tends to serve as a method in your madness, so to speak, in any event.
>"Well, you have to try!" says Chen. "And, um, how do I take care of cheering?"
>Thankfully, Suika is not a hard person to spy on. There's usually only a few places she will be, and only one presents you with any challenge. You open a couple of tiny quiet gaps around the Hakurei Shrine and a particular island in the Celestial Realm, and quickly detect what must be Suika on the latter accompanied by several other people.  You can catch a distinctive "C'mon, drink it all up, now!" from Suika.

>_

[O4rfish]

>Would it make sense to compare Chen to a human child, and if so about what age ?

[Hello Purvis]

>Would it make sense to compare Chen to a human child, and if so about what age ?

>Not precisely.  Unlike a child, Chen can be left alone and she can take care of herself without any problems. She is also quite able to handle complicated degrees of metathinking that a child generally just isn't prepared to deal with. She is also quite a bit more independent than your average child, not really feeling the need to rely on anyone as a child does. However, she is reasonably naive, and she is not particularly educated, which makes her seem very child-like at a glance. She is sometimes able to use this to her advantage, as she also has no qualms about being sneaky. Misdirection tends to be her preferred method of tackling a problem.

>_

[O4rfish]

>"Well, let's see. It will be a prestigious sports event, with many attendees. The players will need encouragement from the crowd, but we don't want individuals shouting hints or insults or random things. I think it would be best I'd the crowd cheered for each player on their turn, with generic chants or even wordless shouting. The cheerleaders would lead the crowd in doing so. Do you think you and your friends could manage that responsibility?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, let's see. It will be a prestigious sports event, with many attendees. The players will need encouragement from the crowd, but we don't want individuals shouting hints or insults or random things. I think it would be best I'd the crowd cheered for each player on their turn, with generic chants or even wordless shouting. The cheerleaders would lead the crowd in doing so. Do you think you and your friends could manage that responsibility?"

>"I could!" says Chen. She frowns. "Um, I don't know about the others. Rumia is kind of...hard to understand. And Dai is sort silly, since she's a faerie."

>_

[O4rfish]

>"Well, I'm sure you can handle this task by yourself or with any helpers you recruit."
>"Now, I wonder if there's anything I'm overlooking. Oh Yuyuko, will you be playing or spectating? or something more involved...?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, I'm sure you can handle this task by yourself or with any helpers you recruit."
>"Now, I wonder if there's anything I'm overlooking. Oh Yuyuko, will you be playing or spectating? or something more involved...?"

>"You better believe I will!" says Chen.
>Yuyuko looks over from listening at the gap you've opened, and says, "It wouldn't do to just let anyone win."

>_

[O4rfish]

>Ask Ran to write the rules.
>Exchange pleasantries, then make our way outside. We have many things to do today!
>Oh right, offer to drop Yuyuko off somewhere.

[Hello Purvis]

>Ask Ran to write the rules.
>Exchange pleasantries, then make our way outside. We have many things to do today!
>Oh right, offer to drop Yuyuko off somewhere.

>"I suppose I can do that," says Ran.
>You finish dinner, with conversation largely falling to Chen telling stories about her and Rumia messing around in the Forest of Magic today. Every so often, Yuyuko goes on a tangent of her own every so often. Soon, however, the meal is concluded. Ran sets herself to dealing with the dishes, while Chen is assigned to sweep the floor.
>"Oh, I'll find my own way back," says Yuyuko. "It wouldn't do to skip everything in between."

>_

[Shadoweh]

Excellent, we've unleashed Yuyuko on Gensokyo.
> "Try to have an interesting trip!" Wave to Yuyuko.
> Alright, time to spy on everyone. Use gaps to locate both tengu's, Reimu and Maribel,  as well as look over all overworld locations to make sure the world isn't on fire. Hide disapointment if Eientei is not on fire.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Try to have an interesting trip!" Wave to Yuyuko.
> Alright, time to spy on everyone. Use gaps to locate both tengu's, Reimu and Maribel,  as well as look over all overworld locations to make sure the world isn't on fire. Hide disapointment if Eientei is not on fire.

>"Oh, I imagine I will," says Yuyuko, as she drifts outside, neglecting to close the door. Before Chen gets it, you notice that she drifting entirely the wrong way.
>You take some time to open a few gaps and get an idea of what is going around Gensokyo. Paying a bit more attention to the Hakurei Shrine, you hear Reimu in a light argument with her resident faerie. Thinks seem to be busy at the Scarlet Devil Mansion at first, but much of what you hear is Sakuya giving orders to faeries. From Human town, you find it is winding down for the day, but the tavern seems to be lively. Judging from what you hear, you think that Mokou is working there tonight. Checking in on the Myouren Temple, you find it too is quiet, you can hear some chanting and a couple whispered conversations. By contrast, the kappa village is rather lively, you think they are probably wrapping up the last catch of the day.  Moving upwards, you find that the tengu community is not quite so lively as the kappa, but there is some activity. It will be awhile before it winds down. You don't hear any activity that sounds particularly like Aya or Hatate, but they could be anywhere. The Moriya Shrine is peaceful, from what you can gather, they are having their evening meal, too.  You don't hear any activity in the Garden of the Sun, but this is not uncommon, Yuuka tends to keep to her mansion more when it is cooler out. Eientei is not on fire, nor is any place else that you check, but do you hear a fair amount of activity from the rabbits. You suspect they are probably preparing their evening meal. From Maribel's home, you hear the sound of scrubbing.

>_

[Shadoweh]

We're going to have to actually look for them, ew >_>
> Is Yuyuko actually lost or is she just going the wrong way for fun? If we can, keep a gap following her just in case.
> Do we visit the human tavern at all?
> Let's go visit Maribel. She seems like someone who might help us find those wascally tengus.

[Hello Purvis]

> Is Yuyuko actually lost or is she just going the wrong way for fun? If we can, keep a gap following her just in case.
> Do we visit the human tavern at all?
> Let's go visit Maribel. She seems like someone who might help us find those wascally tengus.

>You've know Yuyuko long enough to know that she's taking the scenic route.
>You don't visit the tavern often, but sometimes you feel like it. It can be a nice place to talk with someone if you don't feel like hanging around home. The food and drink are not particularly special, but they are not bad by any means.
>Will you be visiting Maribel in a polite manner, or simply inviting yourself to their front room?

>_

[Shadoweh]

> Neither of course. Attempt to find location of Maribel in house, then gap behind her and attempt traditional Yukari hugging entrance with a "Hello~"

[Hello Purvis]

> Neither of course. Attempt to find location of Maribel in house, then gap behind her and attempt traditional Yukari hugging entrance with a "Hello~"

>You take a few moments, and ascertain that she is washing dishes from the noises she makes. With this, it's easy to figure out where she is, and quietly open a gap behind her.
>Unlike Ran or Yuyuko, Maribel has not quite gotten used to your comings and goings. Thus, when you appear behind her and wrap your arms around her waist, her reponse is to startle violently and cry out. You have anticipated this, and move your head to the side to avoid being struck by the back of her head, while giving her a tight squeeze.
>"Damn it, Yukari!" she says in response to your greetings, "Do you have to do that?!"

>_

[Yaersulf]

>"Yes, yes I do. I wouldn't want to miss out on your hilarious reactions after all."
>Grin mischieviously.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yes, yes I do. I wouldn't want to miss out on your hilarious reactions after all."
>Grin mischieviously.

>"Well, you ought to have seen enough of them to be sick of them by now, geez," says Maribel. She squirms a little in your grasp.
>The two of your stand in the kitchen, which is reasonably sizable, and dominated by a large iron stove. Judging from the ingredients laid out on a counter to the side, supper has yet to be prepared. 

>_

[Yaersulf]

>"Hmmm, no you are endlessly entertaining."
>"But I did not just come here to tease you, there is going to be a mahjong tournament!"
>"I was wondering if you would like to participate."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Hmmm, no you are endlessly entertaining."
>"But I did not just come here to tease you, there is going to be a mahjong tournament!"
>"I was wondering if you would like to participate."

>Maribel groans. "I wish you'd find other things to be entertained by."
>"There is?" says Maribel, losing a bit of vigor in her squirming. "That sounds kind of interesting. Could you tell me more about it?"

>_

[Shadoweh]

> Excellent. Let her get comfortable in our maidenly arms as we tell her about our idea.
> "Oh, it's going to be quite the event. I expect all the heads of Gensokyo to attend. An antique scroll, painted by one of the great onmyoji of history, has been graciously donated as the prize for the victor who dominates the majhong table in front of the cheering audience. Wouldn't you like to be the one to claim that prize, darling?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Excellent. Let her get comfortable in our maidenly arms as we tell her about our idea.
> "Oh, it's going to be quite the event. I expect all the heads of Gensokyo to attend. An antique scroll, painted by one of the great onmyoji of history, has been graciously donated as the prize for the victor who dominates the majhong table in front of the cheering audience. Wouldn't you like to be the one to claim that prize, darling?"

>She does seem to have given up squirming. She always does in the end. It also confirms your suspicion that Renko isn't here; it takes her longer if Renko is around. You suspect she doesn't want Renko to barge in and see her not trying to get away.
>"That...does sound interesting," says Maribel. "I wouldn't mind showing something like that to the circle! Are there any other prizes?"

>_

[Yaersulf]

>Huh, we might need runner-up prizes. Or not, it we want a truly cutthroat struggle to the top.
>"Not that I know of, but there may be."

[Hello Purvis]

>Huh, we might need runner-up prizes. Or not, it we want a truly cutthroat struggle to the top.

>You could see the validity of either approach.

>_

[Yaersulf]

Holy fast response batman.
>"Not that I know of, but there may be."
>We'll have to decide before we get those pamphlets distributed.

[Shadoweh]

We have Renkodar. @_@
> "Mmm, if it isn't enough to attract your attention.." Affect a downcast tone. What kind of thing could we put as a runner up to the scroll that we have? Something simpler, perhaps a small piece of jewelry that looks pretty but is worth less in historical value?

[Hello Purvis]

>"Not that I know of, but there may be."
>We'll have to decide before we get those pamphlets distributed.

We have Renkodar. @_@
> "Mmm, if it isn't enough to attract your attention.." Affect a downcast tone. What kind of thing could we put as a runner up to the scroll that we have? Something simpler, perhaps a small piece of jewelry that looks pretty but is worth less in historical value?

>You'll figure it out in good time, you're certain.
>You affect a downcast tone, which actually brings a little giggle from Maribel. "Oh, I'll participate in your tournament, most likely. You don't have have to sound like that!"
>You could easily wrangle a nice bauble to offer as runner up prize. A dish from Mayohiga might attract some attention as well...

[Shadoweh]

> A dish, as in a piece of china, or Ran's cooking?
> Brighten up. "Oh I thought you would. It wouldn't be the same if you weren't there." 
> "That's not the only thing I came to ask you though. I'm looking for those reporter tengu, have you seen either of them today?"