Yukari Quest II - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Yaersulf]

>So, it appears that we could climb down the chasm?

[Hello Purvis]

>So, it appears that we could climb down the chasm?

>You believe so.

>_

[Yaersulf]

>Let's attempt  to climb down then.

[Hello Purvis]

>Let's attempt  to climb down then.

>You begin to lower yourself down to the slope below.  It is a bit difficult, as you have to drop down a few feet onto a slope and keep your balance in the process. You end up scooting over toward the wall and keep a hand on it to keep balance while you lower yourself.  Even then, descending it not a pleasant thing, you more or less make a barely controlled fall into the slope below and catch your feet on a fold in the crystal to keep yourself from tumbling down.
>Once you've gotten a stable footing, you look around the chamber. The ceiling is low, but not to the point that you'll need to make any especial maneuvers to avoid hitting your head.  At the bottom of the slope, some yards down, you can see there is a tunnel that opens into a section of wall at what passes for a corner here, running along the outer edge of the chamber.

>_

[Mr. Sacchi]

Phew, finished reading.

Now, this is something that has been bugging me.

> To the parser, how exactly does the Insight Points system differ from simply asking if we (as in, Yukari) know of a certain thing?

[Hello Purvis]

> To the parser, how exactly does the Insight Points system differ from simply asking if we (as in, Yukari) know of a certain thing?

>You can get away with asking a very general question and get reasonably specific information. It is designed to help with insights players might not have made themselves. It is always why, if you're reasonably close, the point may not be used.

>_

[O4rfish]

>Insight: how long until we reach a populated area?

[Yaersulf]

>Make our way carefully down to that tunnel.

[Hello Purvis]

>Insight: how long until we reach a populated area?

>This is a difficult question to answer. So far, you've seen almost no sign of animal life, let alone anything that might conceivably have a civilization as you might easily recognize it. You've not heard a single bird cry or insect hum, or seen anything that suggests to you that civilization exists. There are two real exceptions, and you're not entirely certain what to make of them.
>One is the door that lead you hear, which is clearly artificial in nature. However, while artificial, it feels that it wasn't built in any normal manner. It may be a magical construction, or it might have been something created out of then air by the act of a god or a similar being, while has never physically been to this place. Even more weirdly, it may not be "artificial" at all, but arose as "organically" as this place has. With things as they stand, you've seen no signs of anything that might have built it in any normal manner, even making exceptions for the fact is connects to someplace else.
>The other thing that might have suggested intelligent beings here are the unfinished statues that you save in the caverns. They...could have been the work of some being or beings. But, aside from those statues, you haven't seen any sign that anything intelligent lived there. It seems to suggest that they might not be proper statues at all, and may have origins similar to the doorway. Another more disturbing possibility is that they aren't truly statues, but beings that have been turned into stone. Or, possibly, stone that has made some steps toward becoming a being. Right now, you cannot really answer that particular question.
>With regards to a populated area, the closest thing you can really say is that you don't expect to find one in any of the places that you have visited. If there is one to be found, likely it would be through a gap that you have yet to traverse. Even then, you don't feel very optimistic about finding such a thing. You feel well and truly alone here, more than you can easily remember being.

>Make our way carefully down to that tunnel.

>You make your way carefully to the tunnel, moving step by step and taking care to keep your balance. As you reach the edge of the tunnel, you can see it curves rightward, sloping further downward and seemingly following along the edge of the shapeless mound that the bubble rests upon and reaching deeper into it. After a moment, you think you catch the hint of a lone noise down the hall, a single distant sound on the edge of your hearing. After a moment, you hear another one like it, confirming that you weren't just imagining it.

>_

[Mr. Sacchi]

> Can we say what it sounds like?
> Assuming that by "the hall" you mean "the tunnel", proceed onwards, being careful as always.

So... anybody got any ideas or plans? Especially now that we used one of our insight points? Ultimately I don't think the information given is very useful for us right now, but can be useful later.

As far as I could see the Purple Light back in the caves is the way to go, though we have to make reality more stable for that, and if this is anything like Metroid, we're gonna need all of our tools to do the job. So far, I'm inclined to believe the entire quest will be spent in this... whatever sort of broken reality it is.

Hmm... Actually.

> Is there anything resembling a border between what exists and what doesn't?
>> If so, could we be somehow trapped in a place that's stuck between what exists and what doesn't? Consider this on all places we've been to, especially the Flower Field.

>Activate GameShark to get all of our tools back.

[Hello Purvis]

> Can we say what it sounds like?
> Assuming that by "the hall" you mean "the tunnel", proceed onwards, being careful as always.
> Is there anything resembling a border between what exists and what doesn't?
>> If so, could we be somehow trapped in a place that's stuck between what exists and what doesn't? Consider this on all places we've been to, especially the Flower Field.

>Activate GameShark to get all of our tools back.

>You think it reminds you of the dripping water. The timing is the same, at least.
>Hall and tunnel are largely synonyms. >=|
>You proceed down the tunnel. It reminds you of the others you have followed, but as it continues to curve rightward, you believe it is spiraling downward.
>Nonexistence and existence are odd things when compared to each other. In particular, nonexistence can't really have a border, as it does not exist. What passes as a border is strange and difficult to find and understand.
>That sounds like it could be plausible. If nothing else, the emptiness in the sky lends much credence to this line of thought; it is...possible you may have slipped outside of the universe entirely, which may explain why this place is so strange and seemingly unconnected with everything else. But from that it would naturally lead to the question of what this place actually is, if not a part of reality. Regardless, the idea certainly has merit.
>You have no idea where to plug it in.

>_

[O4rfish]

Assuming Kilga is right, at some point we'll return to a mostly normal Gensokyo. It seems like that will be quite a few months from now, near the end of this quest.

[Mr. Sacchi]

> Can we tell if time is actually flowing in this place?

> Proceed onward, keep close track of the sound and where/when we hear it, see if we can identify a similar pattern as the infinite corridor from before.

[Yaersulf]

I've actually been meaning to take a second look at that statues place the next time we're in rooty cave place. We didn't really get a good look at it thanks to how creeepy it was the first time.

[Hello Purvis]

> Can we tell if time is actually flowing in this place?

> Proceed onward, keep close track of the sound and where/when we hear it, see if we can identify a similar pattern as the infinite corridor from before.

>You seem to be moving, and you have at least heard water flow and seen plants sway. But, you aren't certain how this relates to everything else. Nominally, at least, you seem to feel that it is.
>You proceed onward, listening to the sound and confirming it is a dripping noise. It is more distant now, and it seems to have more of an echo to it. It does have the same pace as last time, a drop every few seconds. It continues to grow steadily more clear, and you aren't able to detect any signs that the borders here are particularly awry outside of the usual. The corridor itself continues to spiral downward, growing more and more narrow, but not enough to force you to have to crawl or turn sideways. After a few full circles downwards, the corridor comes to an end at a hole in the floor. A faint light glows from it, almost imperceptible save for the lack of other lights to compete with it.

>_

[Yaersulf]

>Attempt to discern whether this light has to do with one of our tools.

[Hello Purvis]

>Attempt to discern whether this light has to do with one of our tools.

>You don't think that it is; it doesn't seem to be as bright as the light your screwdriver was broken into, and it only seems to be one color; a pale yellow.

>_

[Mr. Sacchi]

> Approach and get a closer look at the light.

> Does it feel in any way similar to that Purple Light back in the caves?

[Hello Purvis]

> Approach and get a closer look at the light.

> Does it feel in any way similar to that Purple Light back in the caves?

>You approach the hole and look down. It is difficult to see very far, a rough natural bridge of crystal stretches below a few feet and blocks most of your view. A large crystalline stalactite runs along the left side of the hole, the bridge merging into it. Around the bridge, you can see empty air. and get the impression there is quite a drop, and more crystal. You cannot see the source of the light, but is is somewhere below. You can hear a drop of water echoing beneath you.
>You don't feel this light is the same as what you felt before, in the especially unstable area.

>_

[Yaersulf]

>Attempt to get a look down the hole.

[Hello Purvis]

>Attempt to get a look down the hole.

>You move and stretch, and try to get a better view in general. Just outside the edge of your vision to the right, you think you can see another stalactite that the crystal bridge connects to.  With some effort, you can get a better view around the bridge, and can make out other such structures below.  As well, you can see more stalactites extending downward, branching and splitting into new stalactites, sometimes meeting with others and forming what seems to be a rather intricate lattice. You cannot see the source of the light, but you think it is below and close to the middle of the hanging structure.  You are unable to see the floor below, too much of the structure gets in the way, but you can see it has to be at least a couple dozen yards down.

>_

[Yaersulf]

>Ah, it must be that room from earlier.
>Could we drop down onto the bridge safely?

[Hello Purvis]

>Ah, it must be that room from earlier.
>Could we drop down onto the bridge safely?

>This feels like a safe assumption.
>You think you can, as long as you are reasonably cautious about it.

>_

[Yaersulf]

>Drop down onto the bridge with reasonable caution.

[Hello Purvis]

>Drop down onto the bridge with reasonable caution.

>You have a seat at the edge of the hole and let your legs dangle, then gently lower yourself onto the smooth crystal below. The hole is now just above your head; you should be able to leap up and drag yourself back up if you want to, though you imagine the whole ordeal would look and certainly feel very embarrassing. Numerous stalactites of crystal hang from ceiling, making it difficult to see very far at this elevation. Looking downward, however, you can see quite a bit better. As the stalactites split and encounter each other, a number of bridges and platforms can be seen.  One in particular catches your attention among the forest of overhangs; the light originates from here, maybe fifty feet below you, coming from what looks like a small lump of glass. You can't quite make out it what it is, but is is distinct from the rest of the crystal. It sits where two bridges cross each other and make a kind of natural pavilion, for whatever value of natural there is here. Many stalactites hang near this crossing, creating a rough and incompletely ring around it, which doesn't really obscure it all that well from this angle.

>_

[Yaersulf]

>Are there any bridges or platforms withing dropping distance?
>Begin spying out a safe path down to the light.

[Hello Purvis]

>Are there any bridges or platforms withing dropping distance?
>Begin spying out a safe path down to the light.

>The safest path would probably involve using your screwdriver to make one. This aside, you can see another bridge that runs largely beneath this one, a couple yards down. You could probably drop onto it safely if you were willing to dangle yourself down. Alternately, you could try to climb down the left stalagmite, though this would be less climbing and more sliding down an uneven pole.
>You think you can discern a way to climb down to it. You would have to climb down to the bridge below, then follow it rightward until it crosses over with running perpendicular to it. This one arcs downward a little, and past a stalactite lattice you ought to be able to use as a crude natural ladder down to where it meets with another large stalactite. From there, you can leap down to another bridge, which runs parallel to the ones you're currently on, and and it should bring you to one of the bridges that the light is resting upon.

>_

[Mr. Sacchi]

>You think you can discern a way to climb down to it. You would have to climb down to the bridge below, then follow it rightward until it crosses over with running perpendicular to it. This one arcs downward a little, and past a stalactite lattice you ought to be able to use as a crude natural ladder down to where it meets with another large stalactite. From there, you can leap down to another bridge, which runs parallel to the ones you're currently on, and and it should bring you to one of the bridges that the light is resting upon.

> Proceed with that plan, then, be extra careful though, can't have ourselves getting hurt.

> Remind me, out of the statues back at the cave, was there any we thought was particularly special? And if so, why?

[Hello Purvis]

> Proceed with that plan, then, be extra careful though, can't have ourselves getting hurt.

> Remind me, out of the statues back at the cave, was there any we thought was particularly special? And if so, why?

>None of the statues seemed to be especially noteworthy to you, compared to any of the others. The main noteworthy things you recall were a pair of localized oddities in the border, one of which you are certain was a gap that is presently and irritatingly beyond your ability to access.
>You proceed to lower yourself toward the bridge below. This is a rather awkward task, as you have to take care to land on what little bit that overhangs past the bridge you are on, then not slip on the smooth crystal. Your lack of socks is helpful with the latter part, however close to numb that your feet are.  This bridge arches downward, making it a little more difficult to keep you balance and Making your way along the bridge, you easily reach the lattice of stalactites. There seem to be three major ones in a triangle formation, which branch into each other at odd intervals. While some of these branches are too small and fragile to support your weight, there are enough thicker ones that you should be able to descend down nicely. You do so, taking care with each step downward and making certain each handhold is solid enough to feel confident in. The smoothness of the crystal does not help matters, but it is generally small enough to get your hands around. Again, being barefoot is a boon here. 
>Soon you are able to reach where this lattice meets with a divide from another large stalactite, and can stand where the the two intersect. From there, it's a short hop to the next bridge, and then you lower yourself onto your destination. Ahead, you can see the source of the light. Closer now, you can see it is an oblong lump, about the size of your hand, with a divot in the middle that makes it vaguely bean shaped. At a glance, it seems to be clear as the water below, but you can catch various kinds of iridescence playing along its surface. As close as you are to it, maybe eight yards away, you can also sense an aura of definite power around it. You cannot tell more than that, which is unusual. Typically there is some kind of flavor to them, some meaning of what their purpose is, but you don't feel this here.
>Some distance below, you can feel a gap along the lattice.

>_

[Mr. Sacchi]

> Have we ever encountered this lack of flavor/purpose before? Do we know anything of it?

> Can we safely get closer to the light?

> A gap directly below us? Listen again for the water's sound, is it particularly loud? Does it seem to be coming from below us?

> Are we close enough to the gap that we could affect it from here if we so chose?

> ...How likely is it that this entire crystal "palace" is actually one of our tools? We had to manipulate several gaps to get the first one back, we're basically doing the same here.