Maribel Quest Latterly - A Z-Machine Adventure

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, I don't know about unsavory, exactly... But I can certainly appreciate the drive to learn more and do more, and I've only just started. But on that topic, about the geode...?"

[Kilgamayan]

> "I do not think she would reject me, but I think it may cause a schism between us if it is something I could do and she could not. You are a scholar of magic, correct? Let's say one day that Meiling or Sakuya stumbled upon some ultimate magic inherent to them, which gave them great power and great joy, power higher than anyone else in this house. You study up on this discovery, and all conclusions point to you never being able to achieve the same thing, no matter how much research you do or effort you put in. Would you not wish you were capable of it as well, and possibly eventually wish it had been you instead of them? Or would you be able to accept that they would be more powerful than you for the rest of your days, and there isn't anything you can do about it?"
> "It is possibly my friend would indeed be able to cope with being inherently inferior, but it is not something I want to subject her to."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I do not think she would reject me, but I think it may cause a schism between us if it is something I could do and she could not. You are a scholar of magic, correct? Let's say one day that Meiling or Sakuya stumbled upon some ultimate magic inherent to them, which gave them great power and great joy, power higher than anyone else in this house. You study up on this discovery, and all conclusions point to you never being able to achieve the same thing, no matter how much research you do or effort you put in. Would you not wish you were capable of it as well, and possibly eventually wish it had been you instead of them? Or would you be able to accept that they would be more powerful than you for the rest of your days, and there isn't anything you can do about it?"
> "It is possibly my friend would indeed be able to cope with being inherently inferior, but it is not something I want to subject her to."

>"You think like a magician already," she says, grinning slightly. "To this I say, I am not as close to them as you appear to be with your friend, so perhaps my answer will be different. I would likely begrudge them, but I would probably learn to accept it provided that they weren't exceedingly obnoxious about it. You lead me to think you wouldn't be very obnoxious toward your friend."
>"That said, it is wrong to think there is any one almighty magic that any being of our stature, human or youkai, could hope to use. There's a weakness in all things. But this is beside the point you wished to make."

>"Well, I don't know about unsavory, exactly... But I can certainly appreciate the drive to learn more and do more, and I've only just started. But on that topic, about the geode...?"

>She nods. "Yes. I would like to give you a task, then, I shall happily supply this item. In particular, I want you to find out why our maids are running away. Is this acceptable?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Your maids are running away? Like, just up and vanishing entirely? And you have no idea why?"
>"Sakuya's in charge of them, right? Wouldn't she have some idea?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Your maids are running away? Like, just up and vanishing entirely? And you have no idea why?"
>"Sakuya's in charge of them, right? Wouldn't she have some idea?"

>"That Sakuya is in charge of them is why we know they are running away, as opposed to simply slipping away into the aether," says Patchouli. "This is about all we can confirm from those who've remained."

[DracoOmega]

>"So, she has no idea, either? Do the other maids? I probably should like to talk to her about it, in any case. If that's possible."

[Hello Purvis]

>"So, she has no idea, either? Do the other maids? I probably should like to talk to her about it, in any case. If that's possible."

>"The maids have simply told us they left. They don't elaborate on why, which, given faeries, suggests they don't really know why. And you may talk to Sakuya, at your own risk. She is rather unhappy with the whole state of affairs."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh yes, Meiling told me about that. Do you think it's possible for me to talk to her without getting attacked?"

[DracoOmega]

>"....at my own risk? I understand that she's upset, but..."
>"Is there any way to track them, maybe? Find out where they've gone?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Oh yes, Meiling told me about that. Do you think it's possible for me to talk to her without getting attacked?"

>"I wouldn't be able to tell you reliably. I suppose the best advice I can give is to treat her as though she were a very dangerous youkai."

>"....at my own risk? I understand that she's upset, but..."
>"Is there any way to track them, maybe? Find out where they've gone?"

>"Sakuya sometimes has difficulties with people who are not residents of this mansion."
>"In theory. I've been trying to research a way to do so reliably. I've never had to track a faerie before, you understand, and they are sometimes very slippery."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "What state of affairs is she unhappy with?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Yes, I can understand the slippery part, after meeting a few of them. Is there anything I could do that might help your research? Well, probably in terms of 'fetch me this' since I obviously can't help with anything complicated, yet."

>"I also had another question, unrelated to any of this. I understand that most, if not all the books here, at probably quite valuable, but would you know where I might be able to find an old one or two that no one wants or is willing to part with? It doesn't even matter what the book is about. I know that probably sounds like a strange request, but you see, I've met a youkai who I think is pretty new to the whole 'not being an animal thing'. She's really shy and reserved, but seems nice, and she really loves books, but has only ever been able to find two of them. So I kinda wanted to see if I could find another couple for her. If you have any ideas, I'd appreciate it."

[Hello Purvis]

> "What state of affairs is she unhappy with?"

>Patchouli frowns. "Did I not just explain it?"

>"Yes, I can understand the slippery part, after meeting a few of them. Is there anything I could do that might help your research? Well, probably in terms of 'fetch me this' since I obviously can't help with anything complicated, yet."

>"I also had another question, unrelated to any of this. I understand that most, if not all the books here, at probably quite valuable, but would you know where I might be able to find an old one or two that no one wants or is willing to part with? It doesn't even matter what the book is about. I know that probably sounds like a strange request, but you see, I've met a youkai who I think is pretty new to the whole 'not being an animal thing'. She's really shy and reserved, but seems nice, and she really loves books, but has only ever been able to find two of them. So I kinda wanted to see if I could find another couple for her. If you have any ideas, I'd appreciate it."

>"It is a matter of time and effort at this point, rather than supplies."
>She considers for a moment. "Hm. I do have have a couple duplicates I could part with. I have your word you will do what you can to get to the bottom of this problem?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Wait, so she's only unhappy because the maids are leaving? I thought it might be that the maids are leaving because she is unhappy, given how both yourself and Meiling have informed me people are to tread very lightly around her. I know I wouldn't want to work for someone that sounds as dangerous as you have described if she's in a temper, and I wonder why maids leaving would elicit the reaction you've described as opposed to a few other ones."

[DracoOmega]

>"I'd very much appreciate it. And I absolutely will, as best I am able to."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Wait, so she's only unhappy because the maids are leaving? I thought it might be that the maids are leaving because she is unhappy, given how both yourself and Meiling have informed me people are to tread very lightly around her. I know I wouldn't want to work for someone that sounds as dangerous as you have described if she's in a temper, and I wonder why maids leaving would elicit the reaction you've described as opposed to a few other ones."

>"She devotes herself to this household utterly," says Patchouli. "And with a mass desertion, she cannot run it as smoothly as she would like. I suspect it would be fine to say she is overreacting, but regardless..."

>"I'd very much appreciate it. And I absolutely will, as best I am able to."

>"Very well. Petit-!" she stops herself. "...Wait here, please."
>Patchouli stands up and hovers away quickly, seeming irritated despite her impassive expression.
>A minute or so passes before she returns, bearing a couple books and half of a rock a on top of them. "Here."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Thank you very much. Is this the geode then, too?"
>What are the titles of the books?

[Hello Purvis]

>"Thank you very much. Is this the geode then, too?"
>What are the titles of the books?

>"Yes."
>The books are: Everyday Life in Ancient Egypt and A Wind in the Willows.

>_

[Kasu]

> Thank Patchouli for everything.
> "I shall work on the task as soon as I possibly can."

[DracoOmega]

>"So, am I free to take them now, or will that wait for me to hopefully figure out the faerie issue? I mean, obviously I will be looking into it, either way."

>"I'm also looking for some ground ragewort, which I hear will require finding an alchemist. Do you know of one I could ask?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Thank Patchouli for everything.
> "I shall work on the task as soon as I possibly can."

>"You are welcome," she says. "And I shall await results eagerly. In the meantime, consider yourself free to roam the mansion if you wish to find Sakuya. I suspect she would be in the kitchen at the end of the west wing at this hour."

>"So, am I free to take them now, or will that wait for me to hopefully figure out the faerie issue? I mean, obviously I will be looking into it, either way."

>"I'm also looking for some ground ragewort, which I hear will require finding an alchemist. Do you know of one I could ask?"

>"Yes. I will trust you wouldn't incur my displeasure and all that it entails over something as simple as this."
>"You may wish to try Eientei, which is in the bamboo forest, but they may not receive you. If you are lucky, the kappa on the mountain may be using some for their own purposes. Alternately, perhaps you should check one of the herbalists in town or in the Ancient City?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"No, of course not. And I'm an honest person in any event. Thanks again."
>Take the geode and books
>"Byakuren said the one in town didn't have any. I'll make a note to check the other places later, though."
>"Well, I'm going to try talking to Sakuya, now. Wish me luck, I guess."

>Head towards the west wing, assuming we can figure out where this is

[Hello Purvis]

>"No, of course not. And I'm an honest person in any event. Thanks again."
>Take the geode and books
>"Byakuren said the one in town didn't have any. I'll make a note to check the other places later, though."
>"Well, I'm going to try talking to Sakuya, now. Wish me luck, I guess."

>Head towards the west wing, assuming we can figure out where this is

>"You are welcome," she says.
>You obtain: Geode
>You obtain: Everyday Life in Ancient Egypt by Jon Manchip White
>You obtain: The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
>She nods. "Good luck."
>You leave the library, and return to the foyer. Looking around, you can see two sets of double doors on the western and eastern walls. As well, two curving staircases lead to a grand balcony overlooking the hallway, where another such door can be seen. Off to the side, you see a smaller door bearing many magical-looking insignias on it. Obvious exits are North, South 1, South 2, East, West 1, and West 2.
>There is a faerie in a maid uniform here, dusting a wooden statue of a shiisha.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Um, excuse me, do you have a second?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Um, excuse me, do you have a second?"

>"Not really," says the maid, "Whacha need?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I'd just heard that some faeries were running away from the mansion, and I was wondering if you had any idea why? Or where they went?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I'd just heard that some faeries were running away from the mansion, and I was wondering if you had any idea why? Or where they went?"

>"Probably because they're a bunch of jerks!" says the faerie. "They left us all the work! And I don't know where they went, they just ran off in the middle of the night. Jerks."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Oh, did they all go at the same time, then? Do you actually see any of them leave? For that matter, were you friends with any of the ones that left?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Oh, did they all go at the same time, then? Do you actually see any of them leave? For that matter, were you friends with any of the ones that left?"

>"Well...most of 'em. Some left a little later. And, I didn't see 'em, but others did! And a few of them used to be my friends. Now I hope they get up the broadside from the Red White!"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, I'm sorry that you've ended up being overworked, now. Thanks for your time, though."
>Go west