Maribel Quest Succeeding - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>If it's in the open right now, a fast and accurate enough shot might end this right now...
>But that's probably not an option.
>Ask the oni to cover the chamberpot, and cover the dresser exit personally. If the rodent doesn't run by then and there's a clean line of sight, try a quick shot at it. If there's no good way to see, summon/retrieve a familiar to fire from a better angle to startle it.

>It's somewhat in the open, but not perfectly so.
>"Got it!" says the shopkeeper, as she moves into position.
>You look behind the dresser, and see...the rat appears to be pushing through the wall? Weird...  It doesn't seem to be in a position to dodge at the moment.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>Give it a quick shot before it gets away!

[Doll.S CUBE]

> Is there a possibility of blocking off potential exits with our barrier making skill?

[Hello Purvis]

> Is there a possibility of blocking off potential exits with our barrier making skill?

>You don't feel you could do it fast enough, especially since the rodent is in the process of making its getaway!

>Give it a quick shot before it gets away!

>You conjure a shot, and hit the rat on the hips as it starts to slide through. It gives a squeal and stops moving. The shopkeeper quickly extracts it and shoves it in the basket. "Cheeky bastards, aren't they?" she says. "They just found a loose spot and slipped through it!"

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"Can I leave it to you to get that sealed up, then? Of course, there might be another entrance around, too... unless you're sure those are the only rats here?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Can I leave it to you to get that sealed up, then? Of course, there might be another entrance around, too... unless you're sure those are the only rats here?"

>"I ought to," says the shopkeeper, as she sits the basket on top of the dresser, and moves it more firmly into the corner. Wow, you didn't think she could do so much with those skinny arms. "Well, I owe you one," she says. "Go and you pick something out of the stock for yourself, eh?"

>_

[Doll.S CUBE]

> Examine the stock

[E-Nazrin]

>"I'm not sure the dresser will be enough in the long run, but you can probably open up shop now, right?"

[Hello Purvis]

> Examine the stock

musical instruments, pots and pans, small arty items such as carvings and wallscrolls, and so on. You notice a couple of interesting-looking item as well, a geode in particular

>The pawnshop has:
>Eight vases of varying quality
>A couple of flutes and brass instruments, drums, and some instruments you don't recognize immediately.
>A few pots and pans of various shapes and sizes.
>A few arty items, wooden carvings and wall scrolls.
>An Emerald Necklace
>A Geode
>An armlet painted with stars

>"I'm not sure the dresser will be enough in the long run, but you can probably open up shop now, right?"

>"First, I'm gonna hawk these rats," she says. "Then fix up the wall tonight."

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>Dismiss thoughts of what would be done with those rats. Wait, no, live ones are sold as snake food at home anyway. Huh.
>Consider using frying pan as weapon.
>examine emerald necklace, starry armlet, geode

>"I apologize for being a bit of a jerk after all this, but after that, do you think you'll be able to pay Yuugi soon? She sent me here to look into that, even though I'm... not entirely sure what she wants payment for."
>Though considering her style, there's a few guesses...

[Hello Purvis]

>Dismiss thoughts of what would be done with those rats. Wait, no, live ones are sold as snake food at home anyway. Huh.
>Consider using frying pan as weapon.
>examine emerald necklace, starry armlet, geode

>"I apologize for being a bit of a jerk after all this, but after that, do you think you'll be able to pay Yuugi soon? She sent me here to look into that, even though I'm... not entirely sure what she wants payment for."
>Though considering her style, there's a few guesses...

>You...hope that snakes are popular here.
>You could use a frying pan as a weapon, you think, but it might not mess well with danmaku. Then again, there was Deva K with her sword...
>Emerald Necklace
>This is a necklace set in silvery metal with a few small emeralds studded in it. You feel it would compliment both your current clothes and your normal dress.
>Geode
>This is a hollow rock with pale crystal formations inside of it. It is quite pretty.
>Star-Covered Armlet.
>This is an accessory for being worn on your upper arm, colored black and painted with little stars that have constellation lines between them. It wouldn't suit your long-sleeved clothes.
>"I'm hoping to roll this junk over in a few days," says the thin oni. "Don't worry, I'll be good for it."
>You could think of several reasons why this oni owes, or "owes" Yuugi money.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Hmm..."
> Pick up necklace and armlet to see if they affect us at all.

[Hello Purvis]

> "Hmm..."
> Pick up necklace and armlet to see if they affect us at all.

>You pick up the accessories, and don't feel anything particularly special about them. They do look nice, though.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>Wonder if the star-covered armlet would look good on Renko.
>become Paula
>examine instruments - are we good with any?

[Hello Purvis]

>Wonder if the star-covered armlet would look good on Renko.
>become Paula
>examine instruments - are we good with any?

>She might appreciate it. It'd go with her hat, at least.
>Ness is not here to save you from the Happy Happyists. You die
>You learned to play saxophone in high school, and are terribly rusty. It seems there is one here! It would be a pain to carry, though.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>vow to upstage Merupo
>Take the emerald necklace, unless our oni friend seems reluctant to let it go.

[Doll.S CUBE]

> If we can afford it, also go for the armlet

[Kilgamayan]

> We're only getting one freebie, though.

[Hello Purvis]

>vow to upstage Merupo
>Take the emerald necklace, unless our oni friend seems reluctant to let it go.

> If we can afford it, also go for the armlet

>You cannot handle the curvy lasers
>You obtain: Emerald Necklace!
>"Oh, you want the armlet, too?" asks the shopkeeper. "Let's call it 100☼. That's wholesale, since I need the money now."


>_

[Doll.S CUBE]

> Pay for that armlet, Renko would probably like

[Hello Purvis]

> Pay for that armlet, Renko would probably like

>You decide wholesale is good enough
>You obtain: Star Armlet!

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>Wholesale also means getting her off the ground despite Yuugi's... payments. Cost a good bit, but...
>"Thanks a bunch, miss, uh..."

[Hello Purvis]

>Wholesale also means getting her off the ground despite Yuugi's... payments. Cost a good bit, but...
>"Thanks a bunch, miss, uh..."

>It does help. She should be able to eat off this for awhile.
>"Aisha," she says. "Didn't mean to be rude, only I was worried about the rats..."

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"No, it's alright. I certainly could have asked earlier, as well. My name's Maribel. But I think I should get going again - there's more to do today."
>bid farewell and head out!
>We should probably check in on Satori and report and/or see if we're still allowed to crash at her place tonight once all's said and done - head to the Palace if there's nothing else important to visit that's closer.

[Hello Purvis]

>"No, it's alright. I certainly could have asked earlier, as well. My name's Maribel. But I think I should get going again - there's more to do today."
>bid farewell and head out!
>We should probably check in on Satori and report and/or see if we're still allowed to crash at her place tonight once all's said and done - head to the Palace if there's nothing else important to visit that's closer.

>The Palace of the Earth Spirits isn't too far from here. You can see it in the distance after stepping out from the store.
>It's not long walk to the Palace. Entering it, you find Satori is the front room, sweeping and surrounded by cats. A pigeon is perched on her head. "Hello, Maribel," she says as you enter. "It seems you've been busy."

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>Allow a brief moment of amusement at the pigeon on her head.
>Wonder if that was rude. Acknowledge embarrassment.
>"Yes, very. Er... how... much of it could you read offhand?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Allow a brief moment of amusement at the pigeon on her head.
>Wonder if that was rude. Acknowledge embarrassment.
>"Yes, very. Er... how... much of it could you read offhand?"

>"Oh, don't worry about Fluff." Say Satori, grinning. "She'd doing it to be a pest."
>"Well, it seems you've been busy in the city...and the surface. My."

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"In retrospect, that was extremely hasty of me, but after our encounter with Deva K this morning... I didn't feel especially comfortable."
>... how much should we really be worrying about the risk of becoming a youkai...?

[Hello Purvis]

>"In retrospect, that was extremely hasty of me, but after our encounter with Deva K this morning... I didn't feel especially comfortable."
>... how much should we really be worrying about the risk of becoming a youkai...?

>"Perhaps, but you've done well enough, it seems. We'll not worry about it."
>"Well, how much do you think you should worry? I think you've seen enough of Gensokyo and met enough of its people to have some idea how to feel about the issue."

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>"I'm... not particularly worried, honestly. But I still think finding Renko is a priority before making a strict decision on that, one way or another. Have I been overusing magic to any risky extent so far?"
>Consider petting Fluff.