Yukari Quest III - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> Put on a light, as-not-sinister-as-possible tone. The last thing we want to do is make her think we're here to get her.
> "Hello, dearie."

[Hello Purvis]

> Put on a light, as-not-sinister-as-possible tone. The last thing we want to do is make her think we're here to get her.
> "Hello, dearie."

>She starts, then immediately flops around to face you.
>Maribel's hair is a mess, her hands are face are streaked with dirt, and her lips are dried and chapped. Her nightgown is frayed in some places and dirt-stained beyond mundane repair. The socks on her feet are practically dirt-colored, and torn in several spots. Honestly, she looks about as bad as you probably are.
>"Yukari?" she says in a small raspy voice, heavy with sleep. "Thank god! Please, I want to go home!"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Give a sympathetic smile and start moving toward Maribel again.
> "I am working on that, dearie, trust me. You look such a state. How long have you been away from home?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Give a sympathetic smile and start moving toward Maribel again.
> "I am working on that, dearie, trust me. You look such a state. How long have you been away from home?"

>Maribel sits up as you approach. "Working on it?" she rasps, frowning, "I don't want to stay here any longer! It's been nearly two days now... Please, let's just go home."
>Drawing close to her, you can sense there is something...off about Maribel. There is some kind of aspect around her now, something about her aura, for lack of a better term, that feels slightly off.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Her aura is off? Is it possible this isn't really her?

[Hello Purvis]

> Her aura is off? Is it possible this isn't really her?

>It's possible. The difference is only a minor thing, but it's enough that you can notice it. You aren't quite sure what it means.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Believe me, if that was possible, it would be done already. As things are, I need your help in making it possible."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Believe me, if that was possible, it would be done already. As things are, I need your help in making it possible."

>"What?" She says. You think she might well be trying to hold back tears. "Well...I, I guess I can help. Do you have any water?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I know where some is, and how to get there from some number of places. This place here is new to me, though. I'm sorry to say that some exploration is necessary to find a way out."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I know where some is, and how to get there from some number of places. This place here is new to me, though. I'm sorry to say that some exploration is necessary to find a way out."

>"Oh," she says, sighing and looking crestfallen. "I haven't managed to find any since I woke up here."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Yes, 'here'. This current location. Is this where you first woke up? Or was it somewhere else, like those floating islands?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Yes, 'here'. This current location. Is this where you first woke up? Or was it somewhere else, like those floating islands?"

>"You've seen the islands?" she says. "Well, of course you have. But yes, I woke up there. I couldn't find any water there, either."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> We didn't see any water there either, did we?
> Nod.
> "I've passed through there, yes. It is how I came here. You did a number on the gap between the places, by the way. How did you do that?"

[Hello Purvis]

> We didn't see any water there either, did we?
> Nod.
> "I've passed through there, yes. It is how I came here. You did a number on the gap between the places, by the way. How did you do that?"

>You did not, but you suspect you didn't explore it thoroughly.
>"I just found it on top of that mountain," she says. "I wasn't sure what it was, but I felt there was something there. I tried a few experiments, like pushing it with my stick and stuff. Then, I tried to put my hand through it it, and ended up in this barren hell."
>She sighs and looks downward. "I...couldn't find my way back."

>_

[O4rfish]

>"Well, we can't go back through that one, but I'm sure we'll find another gap around here somewhere."
>Do we know how to teach people about gap ... using?

[O4rfish]

>How closely related are black magic and summoning to gap using?

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, we can't go back through that one, but I'm sure we'll find another gap around here somewhere."
>Do we know how to teach people about gap ... using?

>How closely related are black magic and summoning to gap using?

>She nods. "I haven't found any others yet, though."
>Gaps are not something that can be normally taught. It is an ability unique to yourself.
>The two things are not really related at all outside of being supernatural abilities, but magic can something mimic the less subtle effects of your abilities. Magical teleportation works much differently then you opening a gap, but the general effect is the same.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "How much of this area have you searched?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "How much of this area have you searched?"

>"I don't know, honestly," she says, before giving a gasping cough. "I spent a day here, probably. What is this place, anyways?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Look wistfully up at the moonplanet.
> "A good question indeed. I wish I had an answer for you."

[Hello Purvis]

> Look wistfully up at the moonplanet.
> "A good question indeed. I wish I had an answer for you."

>You look up at the intertwined moon and planet, noting that the bloodlike fluid seeping from the planet's wound has grown a bit thicker since you first laid eyes on it.
>"So...you don't know?" she says. "How did I get here then?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "The same way I got to the cavern I woke up in, I imagine."

[Hello Purvis]

> "The same way I got to the cavern I woke up in, I imagine."

>She frowns and sighs.
>"Do you know anything thing? I can't imagine you're completely clueless, Yukari."

[Kilgamayan]

> "I have learned a few things over the past couple of days. The present problem is that you are very good at asking questions whose answers I fear will frighten or discourage you more than you already seem to be."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I have learned a few things over the past couple of days. The present problem is that you are very good at asking questions whose answers I fear will frighten or discourage you more than you already seem to be."

>"That's less than promising," she says with a sigh that gives way to another cough.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Quite. Before we go on, however, I must know something. When you first came to Gensokyo, you were met with many potential paths for a supernatural life, each with its own consequences. You made your choice, and after you made it, I gave you a sort of housewarming gift that was indirectly related to one of the paths you did not choose. What was that gift?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Quite. Before we go on, however, I must know something. When you first came to Gensokyo, you were met with many potential paths for a supernatural life, each with its own consequences. You made your choice, and after you made it, I gave you a sort of housewarming gift that was indirectly related to one of the paths you did not choose. What was that gift?"

>Maribel blinks. "It was a potion," she says. "I don't have it with me, we've kept it in the cabinet upstairs. I would have drank it already if I had it."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "And what did it do?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "And what did it do?"

>"Well, I never actually tested it," says Maribel. "But it's supposed to make you bigger, right? We've been saving it in case we ever needed it for something."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Exhale and look back down at Maribel.
> "Good. I suppose that is the best I can do for the time being to make sure you are really you and not someone else in disguise."