Yukari Quest III - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>Ok then, gap to the entrance to the underground and walk off down some random tunnel.

>You open a gap to the cavern leading below Gensokyo, and step out in front of it. Set into a cliffside where the eastern mountains meet the Forest of Magic, the yawning cavern is at once impressively large, and oddly unassuming against the cliffside that it rests upon. Paying this or the natural splendor of the forest behind you little mind, you plunge into the darkened and sharply inclined cavern.
>The cool, pleasantly windy cavern makes its way deep into the earth, just as you anticipated. You don't quite recall everything that you saw here through Reimu, but things seem familiar enough. The walls and floor are reasonably smooth from the frequent wind, while worn stalactites stubbornly descend from the ceiling. After a time, you begin to see spider webs stretched across the walls, as the tunnel seems to widen to a chamber ahead. Ah yes, that was there too, wasn't it?

>_

[Yaersulf]

>Can we see any branching tunnels that we have no knowledge of?

[Hello Purvis]

>Can we see any branching tunnels that we have no knowledge of?

>Not as of yet. Where there branching tunnels, actually? Surely there must be? You weren't paying much attention to that when Reimu was here, but you are sure you saw one somewhere. Maybe up ahead?

>_

[Mr. Sacchi]

> Proceed onwards until we reach any branching tunnels.

> Do we have any knowledge of Kisume's tendency to mug people? If so, keep an eye out for falling buckets.

[Hello Purvis]

> Proceed onwards until we reach any branching tunnels.

> Do we have any knowledge of Kisume's tendency to mug people? If so, keep an eye out for falling buckets.

>You proceed onward, passing through the web-laden chamber and paying little mind to the earth spider who looks at you quizzically as you pass though.  You keep an eye on the stalagmite-laden ceiling, but see no signs of any thieving bucket-droppers. The tunnel continues onward for a distance, before you encounter a branch, one that extends forward, and another that meanders in a more northeasterly direction.

>_

[O4rfish]

Yeah, as exciting as this is, I doubt exploration is going to trigger any clues or memories. Why don't we try danmaku? Yuyuko should be able to surprise us with some nonspells or something.

[Kilgamayan]

> How many times have we been to Higan?

[Hello Purvis]

> How many times have we been to Higan?

>Very infrequently. You have had little business there, and messing with them seldom accomplishes much.

>_

[Shadoweh]

> How about the new area under the graveyard where the taoists are?
It seems like anything we aren't familiar with is in the plainest detail. I don't think Yuyuko's danmaku would surprise Yukari since they've known each other literally forever.

[Yaersulf]

Let's at least try a tunnel branch first.
>Northeast.

[Hello Purvis]

>Northeast.

>You take the northeast branch. The tunnel continues, descending downward at a notable slope. Here and there it makes twists and turns. It is all terribly uninteresting, but every so often you see a crag or the like before it becomes too monotonous.  After following it for a few minutes, you find a passage splitting off from it to the west.

>_

[Yaersulf]

>Do we notice anything odd?

[Hello Purvis]

>Do we notice anything odd?

>There doesn't seem to be anything odd, aside from the monotony of the tunnels.

>_

[Hello Purvis]

>Though in retrospect, perhaps the monotony of this place is odd? Thinking on it, you do seem to recall that it should be a bit more lively than this and varied than this...

[Kilgamayan]

Idea.

> Head back the way we came until we run across the earth spider again.

[Hello Purvis]

> Head back the way we came until we run across the earth spider again.

>You make your way back the same reasonably straight route, and return to the web-filled chamber. You find the earth spider is still there, clinging to a wall and previously fiddling with a web. She watches you as you come in, confusion written on her face.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Do we recognize her?

[Hello Purvis]

> Do we recognize her?

>You are reasonably sure she is the one that Reimu tangled with, back during that incident. It's hard to be sure, you didn't pay her much mind to be honest.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "You seem perturbed."

[Hello Purvis]

> "You seem perturbed."

>"You just keep kind of walking through here," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Smile.
> "Only a few minutes ago down the tunnel and now back up it. Surely that's not very strange?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Smile.
> "Only a few minutes ago down the tunnel and now back up it. Surely that's not very strange?"

>"You don't get too many people walking through here, you know," she says.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I suppose that's true. But that's what happens when you have business underground. Unfortunately, I seem to not remember my way to the Ancient City. Could you perhaps be a dear and help me out?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "I suppose that's true. But that's what happens when you have business underground. Unfortunately, I seem to not remember my way to the Ancient City. Could you perhaps be a dear and help me out?"

>You swear she has to think about it for a moment before she says, "I suppose so."

>_

[O4rfish]

>"Thank you, I appreciate it. Ready whenever you are."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Thank you, I appreciate it. Ready whenever you are."

>She clambers down the side of the wall and approaches your direction, though angling less for you and more toward the tunnel you much emerged from. "It's this way," she says.

>_

[O4rfish]

>Hours later ...

[Kilgamayan]

> Follow!

[Hello Purvis]

>Hours later ...

> Follow!

>You follow the earth spider through the tunnels. She says little as she leads you down the rather monotonous tunnels, continuing northward at the fork from before. You keep an idle eye on the ceiling, and catch a glimpse of the bucket dropper lurking among some stalactites. She doesn't move, but you're rather certain she gives you a nasty look. You imagine she's probably still a little mad her artificial friend had to be sent home, but there's nothing for it.
>The trip is a relatively easy one, and the tunnels never really vary all that much save for an odd crack or crag scattered here or there. As the tunnel widens into an immense chamber, things get quite a bit more lively. You can see the simple, serviceable bridge leading into the Ancient City, which bustles with noise and music and life, just the same as you remember it from your previous few visits for various things. Cobbled roof buildings fill practically the entirely chamber, crowded together in some places while spacious thoroughfares are visible elsewhere. In the distance, you can see the blocky and somewhat obscured form of the Palace of the Earth Spirits.
>"There you go," says the earth spider, gesturing toward the bridge. "Easy, ain't it?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Nod.
> "Indeed. Thank you for your assistance."