Maribel Quest Latterly - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

> "I must admit, I rather like being a human...but I suppose if there are youkai like you, then becoming one myself wouldn't be the end of the world."

[Hello Purvis]

>Well, we might know one person....

>"Reimu evidently thinks I have a high likelihood of becoming a youkai. Despite not even knowing that youkai existed a few hours ago... It's kind of a strange thing to be told."

>...That would explain all the animals there, wouldn't it?
>"Really?" she says, "Why is that?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Something about how I seem to be a really quick learner with magic, and such. Yesterday, I didn't even know for sure the stuff exists, and then Byakuren and Reimu give me a few pointers, and..."
>Sketch a little barrier

[Kilgamayan]

> "Where I come from, there's no magic or youkai or flying by yourself or anything like that. Just humans and technology. Imaging waking up in a world one day with no magic where you and all the other youkai had been turned into humans. Wouldn't it weird you out, too?"
> "Anyway, I must admit, I rather like being a human...but I suppose if there are youkai like you, then becoming one myself wouldn't be the end of the world."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Something about how I seem to be a really quick learner with magic, and such. Yesterday, I didn't even know for sure the stuff exists, and then Byakuren and Reimu give me a few pointers, and..."
>Sketch a little barrier

[
>You explain and sketch a little barrier.
>"Wow," says Mystia, "That is pretty impressive."

> "Where I come from, there's no magic or youkai or flying by yourself or anything like that. Just humans and technology. Imaging waking up in a world one day with no magic where you and all the other youkai had been turned into humans. Wouldn't it weird you out, too?"
> "Anyway, I must admit, I rather like being a human...but I suppose if there are youkai like you, then becoming one myself wouldn't be the end of the world."

>"Sounds like that dream," she says. "And yeah, it was weird."
>"Of course it's not the end of the world," she says. "You should do it!"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "That dream? You had that too?"

[DracoOmega]

>"I should do it? I wonder what it's like for a human? I mean, there's obviously a lot of difference between you and a sparrow. But from a human... The only human-turned-youkai I've met, that I know of, is Byakuren. Although she tells me that getting huge isn't a common side-effect of this process."

[Hello Purvis]

> "That dream? You had that too?"

>She nods. "I think everyone did."

>"I should do it? I wonder what it's like for a human? I mean, there's obviously a lot of difference between you and a sparrow. But from a human... The only human-turned-youkai I've met, that I know of, is Byakuren. Although she tells me that getting huge isn't a common side-effect of this process."

>"Sure, go for it! Isn't it just a waste if you don't? And yeah, I've only see her from a distance, and I've never seen a youkai like that. I bet that rumor about the huge youkai must have been her! I bet you could do it, too, though."

>_


>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"I've also been warned that becoming a youkai might make going back out of Gensokyo more difficult, and I'm not sure I'd like to make any strong decisions about whether to leave or not until I've found my friend, Renko. And I don't know what else it would imply..."
>"But... even Reimu didn't seem to mind the idea too much, and youkai certainly don't seem THAT different, so I guess we'll see. It's not something I have to do or decide immediately, I think."

>"What can you remember of the dream? I can't recall too much of it, myself, but I'd like to piece together what I can."

[Kilgamayan]

> "I...I'd have to think about it. I'd definitely need to find my lost best friend first, and see what she thinks. Not that I don't value your opinion, but we've known each other forever, and she'd have a stake in anything so drastic that I'd decide to do to myself."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I...I'd have to think about it. I'd definitely need to find my lost best friend first, and see what she thinks. Not that I don't value your opinion, but we've known each other forever, and she'd have a stake in anything so drastic that I'd decide to do to myself."

>"Well, okay. But I wouldn't let her tell you not to do it, myself, unless you didn't want to. I mean, if she's your friend, isn't she going to support you?"

>"I've also been warned that becoming a youkai might make going back out of Gensokyo more difficult, and I'm not sure I'd like to make any strong decisions about whether to leave or not until I've found my friend, Renko. And I don't know what else it would imply..."
>"But... even Reimu didn't seem to mind the idea too much, and youkai certainly don't seem THAT different, so I guess we'll see. It's not something I have to do or decide immediately, I think."

>"What can you remember of the dream? I can't recall too much of it, myself, but I'd like to piece together what I can."

>"Oh! That might be a problem. But it's not like you actually want to go back, right? It's way better here."
>She nods. "See? It's not that bad."
>"Oh, the dream? Um. I remember I had a couple of restaurants, in a big city with super tall buildings. It was interesting, I guess."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, Gensokyo is an amazing place, and there's so much more I want to see, here. But, well... you know people are always attached to where they came from. I... don't really know what I want to do about that, yet."

[E-Nazrin]

>"Being her friend means supporting her, too. And if she'd be worried about me becoming a youkai, I need to consider that. To be honest, though, from what I've seen so far in Gensokyo, I'm not sure she'd have much to worry about, if she wanted to stay as well."
>"There's some good points and bad points on each side. And there ARE things I left behind in that world... whether they're worth going back for, I haven't really thought about. But there's a few too many things on my plate today to spend much time on it."

>keep eating a bit
>"For example, I borrowed a spade from the human village's blacksmith earlier, actually. She asked me to look out for her good bellows; apparently some fairies got ahold of it. I don't suppose you have any ideas where I could look for that?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, Gensokyo is an amazing place, and there's so much more I want to see, here. But, well... you know people are always attached to where they came from. I... don't really know what I want to do about that, yet."

>"Well, I guess I could understand that, but it seems like a small price to pay, don't you think?"

>"Being her friend means supporting her, too. And if she'd be worried about me becoming a youkai, I need to consider that. To be honest, though, from what I've seen so far in Gensokyo, I'm not sure she'd have much to worry about, if she wanted to stay as well."
>"There's some good points and bad points on each side. And there ARE things I left behind in that world... whether they're worth going back for, I haven't really thought about. But there's a few too many things on my plate today to spend much time on it."

>keep eating a bit
>"For example, I borrowed a spade from the human village's blacksmith earlier, actually. She asked me to look out for her good bellows; apparently some fairies got ahold of it. I don't suppose you have any ideas where I could look for that?"

>"Well, you could support her better! And I bet she would love to stay here"
>"I suppose that makes sense.
>You know, once you get used to the texture, this isn't half bad.
>"Um, I wouldn't know about that," she says, "But...maybe if you looked around the lake? Faeries tend to play there."

>_

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"It's a start. Thanks."
>"Actually, I think a few fairies mentioned someone named 'Dai' - do you know who that is?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, you're certainly pretty gung-ho on the youkai idea. Is it a solidarity thing? Of course, half the youkai I've seen don't look much like the other half."

[Hello Purvis]

>"It's a start. Thanks."
>"Actually, I think a few fairies mentioned someone named 'Dai' - do you know who that is?"

>She nods.
>"That'd be Daiyousei, probably. She's a top dog among faeries. Her and Cirno."

>"Well, you're certainly pretty gung-ho on the youkai idea. Is it a solidarity thing? Of course, half the youkai I've seen don't look much like the other half."

>"I just think if you can do it, you should. It makes the world better, don't you agree?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"So the world's better with more youkai in it?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"So the world's better with more youkai in it?"

>"Of course it would," says Mystia.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"I'm not sure. I'd prefer to make sure humans and youkai get along, rather than just pushing for one or the other. And even if there are youkai that do that, there should be humans that help, too. I'm not sure I know enough about the situation to really decide yet."

>"Anyway, back to the fairies - Daiyosei and Cirno are 'top dog' among fairies? Howso?"
>"And who's Cirno? Another fairy, I'm guessing?"

[DracoOmega]

>"I get the feeling not everyone would think that, but it's nice to see such directness."
>Smile
>Finish up the lamprey

[communist unity (comm-unity)]

> "I wonder what type of youkai I would be, if I went through with it.."
> Do we have the time? Or can we give a good estimate on how late/early it is based on the sun's position.

[Hello Purvis]

>"I'm not sure. I'd prefer to make sure humans and youkai get along, rather than just pushing for one or the other. And even if there are youkai that do that, there should be humans that help, too. I'm not sure I know enough about the situation to really decide yet."

>"Anyway, back to the fairies - Daiyosei and Cirno are 'top dog' among fairies? Howso?"
>"And who's Cirno? Another fairy, I'm guessing?"

>"Who said it'd stop us from getting along? I'm not saying everyone should. But if you have that potential, you ought to do it."
>"Yeah, Cirno's an ice faerie. She's pretty strong, for a faerie. And, other faeries listen to them. I dunno why. I guess it's because they're pretty tough?"

>"I get the feeling not everyone would think that, but it's nice to see such directness."
>Smile
>Finish up the lamprey

>"Maybe, but they're just holding onto old fears and ideas if you ask me.
>You smile and eat up. You're a little sad it's gone, but you definitely needed that. A small loaf of bread and some butter just wasn't enough for all this.

> "I wonder what type of youkai I would be, if I went through with it.."
> Do we have the time? Or can we give a good estimate on how late/early it is based on the sun's position.

>"I dunno. Might be one of those kind they don't have a name for."
>You don't know for sure, but it feels like mid-morning. Around ten oclock or so. You've not seen any clocks at all to be sure.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, thanks again for the food. It was delicious. I might just have to stop back here again, later, and buy myself another one. When I find some money, anyway. But I have a bunch more exploring to do now, and errands to run, though, so I probably should be heading out. Nice talking to you!"

>Take the gears and bits
>Make sure we have the flowers and trowel
>Head back to the road

[E-Nazrin]

>Let's go check out Marisa's. Hopefully there's some space for flowers there.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, thanks again for the food. It was delicious. I might just have to stop back here again, later, and buy myself another one. When I find some money, anyway. But I have a bunch more exploring to do now, and errands to run, though, so I probably should be heading out. Nice talking to you!"

>Take the gears and bits
>Make sure we have the flowers and trowel
>Head back to the road

>"Sure thing," she says.
>Actually, there aren't any gears or such among it, it's all rods and odd connectors.
>You obtain: Handful of Gold and Silver Parts
>You make your way back to the road with little problem.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>Let's go check out Marisa's. Hopefully there's some space for flowers there.

[Hello Purvis]

>Let's go check out Marisa's. Hopefully there's some space for flowers there.

>You decide to collect your reward later, and continue down the road part Kourindou.
>The road shifts toward the east for a ways, then toward the south again. Soon, you sizable boulder along the side of the road. The trees here aren't so thick as other places. You note some small footprints in the road, presumably from a time when it was muddy. This seems like a popular faerie hang out, though none are here now. Obvious exits are North, South, East, and West.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Wait, what reward?

[Hello Purvis]

> Wait, what reward?

>You agreed to arrange for Rinnosuke's mealtimes in exchange for a bag to carry things. He told you he'd have it ready when you got back.

>_