Maribel Quest Latterly - A Z-Machine Adventure

[DracoOmega]

>That's probably Parsee's bridge. Let's change the topic, quickly.

>Seems unlikely, given that it's underground

[E-Nazrin]

>Seems unlikely, given that it's underground

>Are there fairies underground? I guess we didn't see any, but it's possible. And it's unlikely for there to be TOO many bridges in Gensokyo.
>Either way - fairy saying that we shouldn't be talking about this without realizing that it's already been given away = reason to talk about other things.

[Kilgamayan]

> "What does Dai not want people to know?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Where's the bridge?"

>She points to the Southeast.

>That's probably Parsee's bridge. Let's change the topic, quickly.
>"Oh. That's a good reason."
>"Hey, you know what a bellows is?"

>That bridge was wooden, as you recall.
>The first faerie nods, scowling away.
>"That's what you do when someone steps on your toe." says the scowling faerie, with a satisfied nod.

>Are there fairies underground? I guess we didn't see any, but it's possible. And it's unlikely for there to be TOO many bridges in Gensokyo.
>Either way - fairy saying that we shouldn't be talking about this without realizing that it's already been given away = reason to talk about other things.

>You didn't see any, come to think of it.

> "What does Dai not want people to know?"

>"...I dunno. Maybe someone's looking for her?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"A bellows is also this big object you can squeeze smaller and larger, and when you do, air blows out one end of it. Seen anything like that lately?"

[E-Nazrin]

>"Man. I hope it's not a mean person looking for her. Lemon Drop doesn't deserve to get in trouble for that."

[Hello Purvis]

>"A bellows is also this big object you can squeeze smaller and larger, and when you do, air blows out one end of it. Seen anything like that lately?"

>"Oh. Um..." she scowls hard enough that you wonder if it's possible to sprain one's face. "That's a weird thing. I don't know about weird things."

>"Man. I hope it's not a mean person looking for her. Lemon Drop doesn't deserve to get in trouble for that."

>The scowling faerie looks at you with wide eyes. "There's someone after Lemon Drop!?"

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"I dunno! Maybe Dai does. Should I tell her to look out for it?"
>"As for the weird thing - it's probably a shaped woody thing like they have in the human village and stuff. Someone lost one, so I'm looking around for it."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I dunno! Maybe Dai does. Should I tell her to look out for it?"
>"As for the weird thing - it's probably a shaped woody thing like they have in the human village and stuff. Someone lost one, so I'm looking around for it."

>"Maybe..." says the Scowling faerie, trying to cross her arms harder.
>"Oh, I don't go to the village. It's got dogs. Maybe you could ask the people down by the mean night sparrow's stand? They go there sometimes."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Ok, I'll keep that in mind. And thanks for all the help. I hope Lemon Drop will know something about what happened to the maids."
>Wave goodbye
>Head southeast. Keep an eye out for a bridge

[Hello Purvis]

>"Ok, I'll keep that in mind. And thanks for all the help. I hope Lemon Drop will know something about what happened to the maids."
>Wave goodbye
>Head southeast. Keep an eye out for a bridge

>She drops the scowl and crossed arms completely. "Watch out for angry deer!" she warns.
>You wave; several of the faeries return the gesture.
>Heading southeast, you draw closer to the lone cottage you noticed before, then pause. In front of it in an immense blonde woman, huge enough to easily dwarf Byakuren, carrying a pair of gigantic swords, moving around stiffly. After a moment, you notice some odd things about her face and hands, and quickly conclude she has artificial joints...she's not a person at all. Almost as an afterthought, you notice a normal-sized blonde woman in a blue dress standing near the artificial giant, making strange gestures. She doesn't seem to have noticed you yet, as you are some distance away.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Continue in the direction we're going
>Continue to observe. No need to interrupt her concentration

[E-Nazrin]

>Is there a convenient way around this giant and her friend?
>If not, greet from afar to limit misunderstandings/chance of getting ambushed.

[Hello Purvis]

>Continue in the direction we're going
>Continue to observe. No need to interrupt her concentration

>You continue southeast, drawing a little closer to the cabin and the curious person in front of it, but not enough to make out much new detail or attract any attention.
>As you reach the tree line, the artificial giant vanishes, with a light "foom" noise that you can hear from the distance.
>Checking the edge of the forest, you can see a few places where you can push through further without much trouble.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Still no sign of a bridge?
>If not, keep pressing southeast

[Hello Purvis]

>Still no sign of a bridge?
>If not, keep pressing southeast

>Not yet, but you're really not begun to enter the forest and look around.
>You press into the forest, and find yourself in a spot where the brush is rather thick. You take to hovering over it, happy for the high tree canopy, and proceed onwards. After a time, you come to a fallen tree, which seems to be blocking off an old animal path. To the south you can see the walls of the Mansion's fence. Obvious exits are South, East, West, and North.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Go east

[Hello Purvis]

>Go east

>You continue eastward.
>The brush isn't so thick here, and you're able to settle to the ground. There's a fair amount of fallen and rotten trees here, and attendant fungi. You think you may be in an older part of the forest. At one point, a rabbit scurries away from you as you pass by. Soon, you come to a stream, about eight feet across. Looking to the north, it seems to curve toward the mountains. Looking south, you think you see a bridge in the distance. Obvious exits are North, South, and West.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>Any more striped/star mushrooms?... wait, Marisa's busy.
>Does the bridge match a path or something? Is there any indication why it's here?

[DracoOmega]

>And in any event, head towards the bridge.
>Keep a lookout for any appropriate nearby bushes

[Hello Purvis]

>Any more striped/star mushrooms?... wait, Marisa's busy.
>Does the bridge match a path or something? Is there any indication why it's here?

>At a glance, you do not recognize any of the mushrooms here.
>You're too far away to tell, but you don't feel like it would be. You assume it's here to get over the stream. Maybe there used to be more activity out this way?

>And in any event, head towards the bridge.
>Keep a lookout for any appropriate nearby bushes

>You trek toward the bridge, walking along the stream banks and keeping an eye out for bushes. Along the way, you notice the stream seems to have a number of small fish in it, mostly from when they swim away as you approach.
>With a few yards left until you reach the bridge, high-arced structure made from stone blocks, you spot a tea bush on the opposite side of the stream, boarding a small clearing.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Move towards the bush
>"Lemon Drop? Are you home?"

[E-Nazrin]

>Wonder if she's acting as the local bridge troll.
>Anything else in/around the clearing?

[Hello Purvis]

>Wonder if she's acting as the local bridge troll.
>Anything else in/around the clearing?

>You look under the bridge, and see no faeries.
>You don't see anyone around, but having a closer look, you think you notice something in a tree on the far end of the clear strip where the bush is, some dozen or so yards away.

>Move towards the bush
>"Lemon Drop? Are you home?"

>You approach the bush and call out.
>"No," answers a feminine voice from within the bush. "Wait, yes!"

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"If you're there, then how are you doing?"
>Move a little closer and try to figure out what that thing in the tree is.

[DracoOmega]

>"I just wanted to talk to you for a bit, if that's ok. One of the other faeries said you were the person to ask about this."

[Hello Purvis]

>"If you're there, then how are you doing?"
>Move a little closer and try to figure out what that thing in the tree is.

>"Just dandy!"
>You move a bit closer and look at the somewhat less distant tree.
>....Is that a small house up there in its branches?

>"I just wanted to talk to you for a bit, if that's ok. One of the other faeries said you were the person to ask about this."

>"Did you bring me a present?" comes the voice in the bush.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"Uh, maybe? Do you have a present?"
>inventory

[DracoOmega]

>Well, the other faeries seemed to think the random mechanical bits were valuable. Maybe she might, too...

>"I might. But I need to you help me solve a little puzzle, first. Ok?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Uh, maybe? Do you have a present?"
>inventory

>"That's not how this works! Are you a solicitor?"
>Your Inventory Contains
>Mop Hat (Worn as Hat)
>Red Robe (Worn as Clothing)
>White Hakama (Worn as Clothing)
>Branch
>Floating Stone
>Ingredient List
>Box of Eight Empty Flowerpots
>Garden Trowel (borrowed)
>Handful of Gold and Silver Parts
>3 Star Mushroom
>Striped Mushroom Potion of Enhancement
>Starlight Incantation Slip.
>Purple Messenger Bag
>Geode
>Everyday Life in Ancient Egypt by Jon Manchip White
>The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

>Well, the other faeries seemed to think the random mechanical bits were valuable. Maybe she might, too...

>"I might. But I need to you help me solve a little puzzle, first. Ok?"

>They did think that, from what you understand.
>"That's now how this works!"

>_