Maribel Quest Followthrough - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>Tell her what was next door

>"How much do you remember about the last few days there? I'm honestly curious. As far as most of Gensokyo is concerned, the isle is all a shared dream. Some people seem to be able to remember it better than others. And five people, at the very least, remember it just as well as you would expect to remember any event that took place a couple days ago."

>"Oh, an offramp. I was kind of right."
>"Um, some things. I remember the cat stuff pretty well, and Utsuho and Par-" she looks toward the bridge, and raises an eyebrow. "-...see. Well huh."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Yeah, that's her."
>Wave
>"Hey, Parsee!"

[Kilgamayan]

> "Funny how these things work out, huh?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yeah, that's her."
>Wave
>"Hey, Parsee!"

> "Funny how these things work out, huh?"

>"You set me up." she mutters, then chuckles.
>You wave and call out Parsee's name. She looks over and waves back. "If it isn't the glitter girls."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"How's it going? Just thought I'd show Renko around the place a little; drop in on Utsuho and all."

[Hello Purvis]

>"How's it going? Just thought I'd show Renko around the place a little; drop in on Utsuho and all."

>"About the same as the last time you passed through," says Parsee. "And sure, go on through."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Have a good one!"
>Carry on towards the city

[Hello Purvis]

>"Have a good one!"
>Carry on towards the city

>"You too!" Parsee says.
>"Wow," Renko says as you cross the bridge, "She's pretty chipper."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, I think she's got reason to be a lot more hopeful about a few things than she was yesterday."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, I think she's got reason to be a lot more hopeful about a few things than she was yesterday."

>Renko nods. Then takes to staring at the city ahead as you enter it.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"And here it is: the Ancient City. More oni than you can shake a stick at. Not that I'd suggest ever doing that if you value your health. They're kind of brusk, very direct, apparently faultlessly honest. Career drinkers."

[Hello Purvis]

>"And here it is: the Ancient City. More oni than you can shake a stick at. Not that I'd suggest ever doing that if you value your health. They're kind of brusk, very direct, apparently faultlessly honest. Career drinkers."

>She nods mutely, trying to look in every direction at once.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Smile and let her take in the scenery
>Continue towards the palace

[Hello Purvis]

>The trip is...about as peaceful as you would except for escorting a starry-eyed newcomer through a city full of oni. Renko's smart enough not to stare much, or brim over with possibly rude questions, but you can tell she would if she could. It's hard to blame her, it's difficult not to marvel at some things yourself even after several trips through here. She also moves a bit to the music as you walk, which is unusual for her. The oni, for their part, aren't very numerous. You see a lot of the shops have closed down for the day. Glance toward the tavern-lined street, you see those are still pretty busy.
>You reach the Palace of the Earth Spirits without incident. Renko pauses to admire it's ivy-covered walls. "This place looks ancient," she says.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I actually have no idea how long it's been here. Or even how old Utsuho and them really are, now that I think of it.... I kinda don't think youkai age the same way we do."
>Enter the palace

[Hello Purvis]

>"I actually have no idea how long it's been here. Or even how old Utsuho and them really are, now that I think of it.... I kinda don't think youkai age the same way we do."
>Enter the palace

>Renko nods as you enter.
>The front hall is empty at the moment. Renko looks at the paintings, then stares up at the ceiling, apparently looking at the columns.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh yeah, who was the band at the party earlier? They definitely weren't fairies."

[DracoOmega]

>Continue down the hallway

[Hello Purvis]

> "Oh yeah, who was the band at the party earlier? They definitely weren't fairies."

>Continue down the hallway

>"Those were the Prismrivers," says Renko. "They're a group of poltergeists musicians. I dunno where the faeries found 'em. But they were happy to do a set for 100☼, so I wasn't going to complain."
>You head down the hallway, and find yourself outside the sitting room. A tabby seems to manifest out of nowhere and begins to rub against your legs. Looking into the sitting room, you see Satori is there with her needlework, while Utsuho us stretched out on the couch, a few cats perched on her and apparently asleep.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Walk into the room
>"Hey, guys."

[Kilgamayan]

> Be sure to keep our voice relatively low.
> Think Satori, I'm no longer sure this is Koishi's doing, but can you check to make sure?

[Hello Purvis]

>Walk into the room
>"Hey, guys."

>You walk in. "Ah, hello Maribel. And Renko, I believe?"
>Renko looks around the room, while you try not to trip over your feline stalker. Then she stares at Utsuho "...She's got wings. When did that happen?" She glances away quickly.
>"No, it should be alright to look," says Satori to her. "Okuu would understand you're very shocked. Just don't be rude."
>Renko gives Satori a look now.

> Be sure to keep our voice relatively low.
> Think Satori, I'm no longer sure this is Koishi's doing, but can you check to make sure?

>Satori glances toward you, then to Renko. "It's alright, my child."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Oh, so Utsuho is the one asleep, and not just the cats on her? Blasted misreading things...

>"And I wouldn't say 'when did that happen' so much as 'that's how it always was until a little while ago'. A lot of people around Gensokyo Isle weren't really human. Or at least weren't supposed to be. It was a change imposed from outside. When things reverted, they returned to how they always were before Gensokyo Isle existed."

[Hello Purvis]

>Oh, so Utsuho is the one asleep, and not just the cats on her? Blasted misreading things...

>"And I wouldn't say 'when did that happen' so much as 'that's how it always was until a little while ago'. A lot of people around Gensokyo Isle weren't really human. Or at least weren't supposed to be. It was a change imposed from outside. When things reverted, they returned to how they always were before Gensokyo Isle existed."

>Renko nods. "Wow. She looks good with 'em."
>Then she looks at Satori. "And, how'd you know what I was thinking?"
>Satori frowns. "I was hoping Maribel would be kind enough to tell you, I can read thoughts. No, I can't step. I apologize. But please don't be embarrassed, I've read worse than yours."

>_

[Serela]

>"Oh, sorry Renko! I completely forgot..."

>Satori frowns. "I was hoping Maribel would be kind enough to tell you, I can read thoughts. No, I can't step.

So she's not only got stubby arms, she's no good at dancing either? And I thought that was only Minoriko.

[Kilgamayan]

> "Oh, God, and before you ask, no, she is not going to tell me who your benefactor is. That is too much of a breach of trust."

[DracoOmega]

>"Oh, sorry about that, Renko. I was a bit distracted mulling things over on our way here. This is Satori. She's Utsuho's... well, I'm not even sure the proper term, really. Guardian, you said? She saved me from being kidnapped by an oni shortly after I woke up here this morning."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Oh, sorry Renko! I completely forgot..."

>"That's some thing to forget, isn't it?" says Renko, giving you a lot.

"

> "Oh, God, and before you ask, no, she is not going to tell me who your benefactor is. That is too much of a breach of trust."

>"Wait...Crap!" Renko looks to Satori with wide eyes.
>"I won't tell a soul," says Satori. "If I did that kind of thing, the oni wouldn't have put up with me anyways. Though...maybe you should be a bit more forward about somethings?"
>Renko sighs and grumbles. "Okay, fine."

>"Oh, sorry about that, Renko. I was a bit distracted mulling things over on our way here. This is Satori. She's Utsuho's... well, I'm not even sure the proper term, really. Guardian, you said? She saved me from being kidnapped by an oni shortly after I woke up here this morning."

>"I guess it's okay," says Renko, as she sits down on a couch opposite of Utsuho. "Not like it would have changed anything..."
>"You're thinking astrolabe, Renko."
>"...You're good."
>"And yes, Guardian is the best word. And, really, it only went as well as it did because Maribel tricked the oni into a good position."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, you know... I think it was equal parts thinking and blind panic at the time, to be honest. But it was one hell of a thing to wake up to. Speaking of which, it's too bad Utsuho's nodded off. Although I suppose I can't blame her, after what's been going on."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, you know... I think it was equal parts thinking and blind panic at the time, to be honest. But it was one hell of a thing to wake up to. Speaking of which, it's too bad Utsuho's nodded off. Although I suppose I can't blame her, after what's been going on."

>"Well, it did save a prolonged fight I wasn't certain I could win," says Satori. "So I'll be happy to say that it was a cunning strategy on your part. And, yes. But, she's not been sleeping well the past couple days, so it is nice for her to get some rest."
>Renko looks between the two of you, while a gray cat jumps onto her lap.

>_