Yukari Quest - A Z-machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

>For that matter, let's review our opinions of some of Gensokyo's 'Movers and Shakers', as the people of the Outside put it.

> For this mental exercise, restrict our dwelling to those upon whom we have not dwelled in the past couple of minutes.

'Tis a nifty idea, but we got a lot of information early on, and I'd rather see new stuff than see that repeated (especially since that's happened once already).

[Hanzo K.]

Fair enough man, I was aiming for that sort of thing anyhow, I just assumed Purvis would exclude those we've already reflected on.
Depending on how things go, I might have an idea on how to kill a little time.

[Hello Purvis]

>Well, let's review what we do for fun aside from messing with people, hm?
>For that matter, let's review our opinions of some of Gensokyo's 'Movers and Shakers', as the people of the Outside put it.

> For this mental exercise, restrict our dwelling to those upon whom we have not dwelled in the past couple of minutes.

>You find the Scarlet Devil amusing in her own way. It's certainly possible her ambition or arrogance could lead to her being a real problem, but you regard her as mostly harmless at the moment.
>While not precisely in Gensokyo, you hold a fair amount of respect for Shikieiki Yamaxanadu. She seems to regard youkai as something other than a thing to scorn, which is quite an improvement over many of her predecessors.
>Likewise, while she has little influence in Gensokyo, you regard Shinki on reasonably friendly terms. By and large, you keep out of her way and she keeps out of yours. Social calls do not happen, and it is likely for the best. You imagine if you took the whim, you could probably call upon her and expect to be served. If she came her, you would definitely have to invite her to Mayohiga rather than your significantly more humble residence here.
>You regard both the Devas of the Ancient City well, and from a distance. While the old agreement is gone, and youkai from underground and from the surface travel freely between the two places, you are generally not willing to visit the Ancient City yourself without a good reason.  You think the Devas likely appreciate that.
>As far as fun goes, you do what your whims carry you to do. Sometimes you go visit Pandaemonium's marketplaces, sometimes you bother Reimu or Maribel. Other times you visit Yuyuko. Once in awhile, you visit the outside world to indulge some curiosity or desire. Other times, you will go to visit other places, though you tend to shy from Avalon, the differences in the flow of time there make it terribly annoying. It is a pain to spend a few hours there and return to find a week has passed. When you're in a simpler mood, you'll spend time with Ran and Chen. Once in awhile, you'll cause a small amount of trouble to amuse yourself.

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>Wait, isn't Avalon the other way around?
>Let's go visit Yuyuko, then.

[Hanzo K.]

>Have we ever found anything particularly interesting at Pandaemonium's Markets?
>For that matter, did we ever encounter Shinki going incognito there, as 'royals' are so oft to do?

[Hello Purvis]

>Have we ever found anything particularly interesting at Pandaemonium's Markets?
>For that matter, did we ever encounter Shinki going incognito there, as 'royals' are so oft to do?

>You've found a few interesting trinkets. Like that potion you gave to Maribel back when she was considering undergoing Byakuren's enhancement ritual.
>If you have, she was well disguised enough that you didn't notice.

>Wait, isn't Avalon the other way around?
>Let's go visit Yuyuko, then.

>Time in Avalon is completely unconnected to time elsewhere. Sometimes it's faster, sometimes its slower. You have a feeling that its history is not quite solid, either, but you've never really taken the time needed to ascertain that.
>You could do this. How do you intend to do so?

>_

[Hanzo K.]

>Well, Shinki's a clever one, just like ourself really.
>Perhaps that's what we need to rekindle our interest in Mahjong. We need to find new opponents aside from just Yuyuko! Mahjong's no fun if you keep playing the same people over and over again after all.
>"I'll be off to visit Yuyuko for a bit dear, see you when I return~"

[capt. h]

> Get good bottle of wine.
> Gap to Yuyuko's front steps and knock on door.

[O4rfish]

Hanzo, that's brilliant. Instead of a UG Security Council, we can just form a Mahjongg Club.
>Consider forming a Mahjongg Club among the mature youkai.

[Oldmansour]

Edit: Disregard. Sour needs to read closer.

[O4rfish]

>We don't happen to have a highly powerful fourth-wall-breaking musket in our house, do we?

[Hello Purvis]

>Well, Shinki's a clever one, just like ourself really.
>Perhaps that's what we need to rekindle our interest in Mahjong. We need to find new opponents aside from just Yuyuko! Mahjong's no fun if you keep playing the same people over and over again after all.
>"I'll be off to visit Yuyuko for a bit dear, see you when I return~"

>You imagine she at least has some low cunning.
>This might work, if you could find someone willing to play with you.
>"You went through all that just tell me this?" says Ran, as she reaches down and squeezes you hands that you've clasped around her waist. "Well, don't let her spoil your dinner too much."

>We don't happen to have a highly powerful fourth-wall-breaking musket in our house, do we?

>You find firearms much too distasteful to employ or keep around. They give people ideas.

>Consider forming a Mahjongg Club among the mature youkai.

>You wonder how many of said youkai would actually be interested in doing so, or how many you'd be willing to endure? Certainly there'd be no place for Yagokoro, and you doubt either of the Moriya deities would be interested.

>_

> Get good bottle of wine.
> Gap to Yuyuko's front steps and knock on door.

>Why would you do something so crass as grab one when you already have access to all the liquor you would ever need?
>You open a gap, and step through it to appear on top of the stairs leading to Hakugyokurou. The air here is a tad chillier, and the sky cloudy. Before you stretches an immense palace, a virtually self-contained city of walls, courtyards, and pagoda-style towers; likely several forests worth of wood would be required to replicate it. The walls are white, clean and brilliant as if they had just been whitewashed early today, while the roofs are made of dark blue tile. Beyond and around the palace stretch thick forests, already lushly green. And everywhere you look, you can see phantoms flitting around.
>The front doors open before you can approach them, and the familiar green-clad form of Youmu hurries out. "Lady Yukari!" she says, between pants for breath. "Welcome!"

>_

[O4rfish]

>Smile gently. We're intruding unannounced.
>"Hello dear. I hope you are well?"

>Recall data on Watatsuki sisters.
>Mentally compare handsomeness of notable males in Gensokyo: shopkeeper, cloud, tengu mayor, Youmu's relative, any others.

[Hello Purvis]

>Smile gently. We're intruding unannounced.
>"Hello dear. I hope you are well?"

>You give her a smile and some sympathy.
>"Ah, yes, quite well," she says. "I presume you've come to visit Lady Yuyuko?"

>_

[O4rfish]

Heh sorry for editing on you.
>Recall data on Watatsuki sisters.
>Mentally compare handsomeness of notable males in Gensokyo: shopkeeper, cloud, tengu mayor, Youmu's relative, any others.

[Hello Purvis]

>Recall data on Watatsuki sisters.
>Mentally compare handsomeness of notable males in Gensokyo: shopkeeper, cloud, tengu mayor, Youmu's relative, any others.

Happens!

>You don't like the Watatsuki sisters at all. Frankly, there's no hell deep enough for either of them as far as you're concerned. But, getting past that, you imagine that Yorihime is probably the less loathesome of the two. Toyohime is certainly all too happy to voice her opinions of people living on Earth. Then again, you've also never directly pulled the wool over Yorihime's eyes like you did with Toyohime, so that may be a wash.
>Rinnosuke was a handsome man, but as he gave in further to his obsessions, it took a toll on his body. From what you understand, his physical health has recovered in the care of the Myouren Temple.
>You've had only only brief encounters with Unzan, but he is a lovely old chap. You imagine he is the envy of many a septuagenarian just as you are the envy of practically everyone.
>You've actually never seen Lord Tenma's face, but you recall that he does have a lovely voice from your experience with him.
>Youki Konpaku used to have a cocky samurai's kind of handsomeness, back in his prime. But as he aged, this left him. You've not seen him for awhile, so you don't know if he's eased into anything different.
>Mr. Kirisame might have a kind of harsh attractiveness to his features for some, but you think he looks rather like an angry axe.
>Genjii is a turtle with a beard. He is quite dignified, you think.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Where would Letty be right now, if anywhere?

[Hello Purvis]

> Where would Letty be right now, if anywhere?

>She would be in a place where winter is oncoming; likely tied to the southern hemisphere of the outside world. Where winter goes, the yuki-onna follows.

>_

[capt. h]

>You give her a smile and some sympathy.
>"Ah, yes, quite well," she says. "I presume you've come to visit Lady Yuyuko?"

> "Naturally."
> "Hakugyokurou is as lovely as ever."
> Is it weird that the foliage is green instead of pink with cherry blossoms? Recall that the perfect cherry blossom incident also occurred right at the end of our winter nap.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Naturally."
> "Hakugyokurou is as lovely as ever."
> Is it weird that the foliage is green instead of pink with cherry blossoms? Recall that the perfect cherry blossom incident also occurred right at the end of our winter nap.

>"She'll be delighted, I'm sure," says Youmu. "Follow me, please."
>"Thank you, Lady Yukari," she says as you compliment the landscape. "We all do our best."
>It is not weird.  There's quite a bit more to its floral than cherry trees; and you did avoid taking the path in that has them.

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>Follow Youmu.

[O4rfish]

>"Thank you, Lady Yukari," she says as you compliment the landscape. "We all do our best."

>Try to recall anyone currently living at Hakugyokuro besides 1.5 ghosts.

[O4rfish]

>Kenku are quite adept at mimicking other people's voices. Is this an ability of tengu also? If not, anyone we are aware of?

[Hello Purvis]

>Follow Youmu.

>You follow Youmu as she leads you inside.
>The halls of Hakugyokurou are as you remember them, long and quickly becoming labyrinthine. Even when you used to visit here frequently, you had a hard time keeping all of it straight. The decorations, at a glance, seem overwhelmingly Japanese at first. Certainly the style of the palace is such. But you can spy little bits of art here and there from other cultures, and know that there are galleries and halls in some of the wings that devotedly largely to such things. However, it's no mistake to say that Heian era things have the majority, for they are what Yuyuko is most comfortable and pleased with.  Phantoms flit around, attending to whatever business that they have. You've long grown used to them, and pay them little mind; their business is not yours and vice versa.

>Try to recall anyone currently living at Hakugyokuro besides 1.5 ghosts.

>Living is a strange misnomer. Anyone who comes into Hakugyokurou may be numbered among the dead. Yuyuko most certainly is, while Youmu's status is questionable. You're certain if you ran her through, she'd die, but there's not really a need to test that. Beyond them, there are the myriads of phantoms that dwell here, going about their afterlifely business until it is time for them to reincarnate, or the odd one manages to move on to a higher state.  Only those who are fully aligned with the dead are able to truly see them as their selves Others such as yourself see them rather as wisps of ghost-stuff, unless you choose to seek out a gap in that barrier. Aside from them, there are also faeries that dwell in Hakugyokurou, as a consequence of there being forms of nature here. They are not much different than faeries in Gensokyo, but you think they have a tendency to be a bit more peaceful in accordance with the nature of this realm. Sometimes.

>Kenku are quite adept at mimicking other people's voices. Is this an ability of tengu also? If not, anyone we are aware of?

>There are no kenku that you've ever heard of. Tengu as a people don't have a talent for it, but you imagine there are some who have developed it to a degree. However, there are certainly youkai who are good at mimicking voices in various situations. Yamabiko, for instance. As well, there are youkai from other places who are talented at it.

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>Youmu probably still appears as herself because she's only half-dead (or something), but what about Yuyuko? Why is she visible as herself, rather than just as an ordinary ghost?

[Hello Purvis]

>Youmu probably still appears as herself because she's only half-dead (or something), but what about Yuyuko? Why is she visible as herself, rather than just as an ordinary ghost?

>In Yuyuko's case, it is partially by virtue of her power and position as ruler of Hakugyokurou. You suspect it is also partially because unlike most of the deceased, she has no desire or intention whatsoever to move on.  You have heard that some ghosts, as opposed to phantoms, can manifest themselves fully to people who were very important to them by virtue of the connection between the two of them. You've never experienced this yourself, however.

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

>What's the difference between ghosts and phantoms?

[Hello Purvis]

>What's the difference between ghosts and phantoms?

>It's a fuzzy thing. The easiest way to describe it is that phantoms are remnants that move on toward the afterlife, while ghosts are unable to. However, a person's death can also release other spectral remains that are able to operate in a manner like a proper departed soul, but are really just fractions and remnants of other parts of the deceased person's being. These are called ghosts as well, largely because only highly knowledgeable channelers and some specialized magicians and the like can tell the difference. As well, because they are exorcised and driven off the same way.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>As we continue along: "I trust things have been well here since last I stopped by?"
>Did we know Yuyuko while she was still alive?

[Hello Purvis]

>As we continue along: "I trust things have been well here since last I stopped by?"
>Did we know Yuyuko while she was still alive?

>"There's always small things," says Youmu. "But, things have been well on the whole. We've been spared most of the problems that affect Gensokyo from time to time."
>You did know her while she was alive.  She is probably one of your oldest companions, and easily one of the oldest who is still around.

>_