Maribel Quest More - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>"Really? She didn't really exist? I doubt she could have come from my memories, since I don't know almost anything about her, but now that you mention it I... almost thought my guide was cowering behind me there, although I admit that I might be reaching."
>"I suppose that also explains the second encounter. It was with Mystia, who I actually do know a little, or at least someone who looked like her. She was offended when I doubted that she was really Mystia, despite her knowing things from my own memories that it would be nearly impossible for her to know."

>You guide slowly floats sideways away from you. You get the feeling this is something akin to a spectral sidle.
>"Oh, I wouldn't be surprised," says Youmu, glancing at the phantom. "Some people hide from things that frighten them. I think you are right about the Mystia you saw."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I... admit to being very unsettled by this young mistress, myself. You're certain there really isn't some entity out there waiting to usher in the end of all things?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"I... admit to being very unsettled by this young mistress, myself. You're certain there really isn't some entity out there waiting to usher in the end of all things?"

>"I can't say that for certain," says Youmu, frowning. "But, if there is, I do not know if it. And I don't think it would wear the form of Flandre Scarlet. I don't think Lady Yuyuko would allow such a thing in her realm."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Her personality was very strange. Serene, even. She said that it was the role she had been born into, and that she was meditating in an attempt to shed all attachments to the world. Flandre is her name, you say? She never called herself that. She said her name had been discarded long ago. Is that at all like her?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Her personality was very strange. Serene, even. She said that it was the role she had been born into, and that she was meditating in an attempt to shed all attachments to the world. Flandre is her name, you say? She never called herself that. She said her name had been discarded long ago. Is that at all like her?"

>"I've only see her at a distance, I am afraid," says Youmu. "It would be best to ask someone at the Scarlet Household."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Yes, perhaps I might talk with them... Although if, as you say, there was nothing real about it, perhaps there's no point. Forgive me, I think I may just have found it more unsettling than I realized."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yes, perhaps I might talk with them... Although if, as you say, there was nothing real about it, perhaps there's no point. Forgive me, I think I may just have found it more unsettling than I realized."

>Youmu frowns. "Well, I can't say I blame you. If you didn't know that she was not real, it is would be jarring to meet someone like that."
>She smiles. "Don't worry, though. It wasn't real. I'm sure if you ask nicely, they'll let you meet the real Flandre."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, that's a little reassuring at the least. Although I wonder the real the one would be made more or less disturbing now by contrast."
>"In any event, thank you for your assistance and those answers."
>Turn to the phantom: "And thank you as well. I would have lost my way without you."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, that's a little reassuring at the least. Although I wonder the real the one would be made more or less disturbing now by contrast."
>"In any event, thank you for your assistance and those answers."
>Turn to the phantom: "And thank you as well. I would have lost my way without you."

>"I cannot say, though I've not heard much bad about her. And, you are welcome for the assistance."
>The phantom, who has sidled himself to the other side of the courtyard, does a curious flip.
>"He says it was no problem," Youmu supplies.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, I should probably get back now. Have a pleasant evening!"
>Leave the Netherworld

[Solais]

>Thank the Parser for the Jeff cameo.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, I should probably get back now. Have a pleasant evening!"
>Leave the Netherworld

>"Alright," says Youmu, bowing toward you. "I wish you luck."
>You make your way down the stairs, passing a couple of phantoms whose general unsteady motions make you think that they are rather confused. Flying over the door is a little tricky, much like before, but you are better prepared for the feeling of unsteadiness and make your way over it without much difficulty.
>You are in a narrow mountain valley. Before you are four columns that reach many hundreds of feet into the sky. Behind you is the immense gate to the netherworld. sheer mountain walls make it difficult to see outside of the valley, save to the west. Obvious exits are East and West.

>Thank the Parser for the Jeff cameo.

> =]

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Did we ever ask Youmu what she was doing that she got sucked into the 'dream' world when Yuyuko didn't?

[Hello Purvis]

> Did we ever ask Youmu what she was doing that she got sucked into the 'dream' world when Yuyuko didn't?

>You did not.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Well fuck.
> What else was on that second enhancement list that we don't have?
> About how much time is left before sundown?

[Hello Purvis]

> Well fuck.
> What else was on that second enhancement list that we don't have?
> About how much time is left before sundown?

>Oh well.
>You need water from the depths of the Sanzu River.
>Judging from the stars overhead, you missed it by a little bit.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Go  the Sanzu River

[Kilgamayan]

> Well fuck. Again.
> How are we holding up?

So what now? SDM, Sanzu River (with possible Renko stopover), Byamazon or underground?

Fake Edit: welp,

[Kilgamayan]

On second thought:

> Don't go to the Sanzu River just yet.
> Head back to the forest again, looking for Renko.

[Hello Purvis]

> Well fuck. Again.
> How are we holding up?

>It did kind of creep up on you. Oh well.
>You're feeling pretty alright at the moment. A little tired, but you think you still have a couple of good hours left in you. Supper might be nice, though. But you're not quite ravenous yet.

>Go  the Sanzu River

O> Don't go to the Sanzu River just yet.
> Head back to the forest again, looking for Renko.

>You consider moving on to the Sanzu River but the need to see Renko again, and the allure of possible dinner, urges you toward the Forest of Magic instead.
>It's a longish trip, but it's nice to fly through someplace that isn't quite so...still. You hadn't really noticed it before, but there was no wind in Hakugyokurou; everything was still save for the phantoms themselves. It's almost relaxing to feel it again, and to see the varied landscapes of Gensokyo against Hakugyokurou's endless forests. As well, you enjoy the pink line of fading sunset on the western horizon; it seems you didn't miss it completely.
>Soon enough, you arrive at the Forest of Magic. Angling toward the western edge, you find the field at the edge of it and the bamboo forest easily enough. There's a fair amount of activity going on there, and a few dots of light that you are certain are campfires.

>_

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Look around for Renko

[Hello Purvis]

>Look around for Renko

>Even from above, Renko isn't too hard to pick out. Her colorful dress stands out even among the brightly-hued and often clashing clothes the faeries favor, as does her height. You see her standing near one of the campfires near the southern edge of the gathering.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Go land next to her
>"Hello again!"

[Hello Purvis]

>Go land next to her
>"Hello again!"

>You descend and land as close as you comfortably can to Renko without accidentally landing on her. She jumps a bit from the suddenness of your entrance, then turns and smiles at you. "Hey, Maribel. Things going well?" she asks, as she takes you by the arm.
>The faerie she was conversing with, a rather tall one with blue hair, a blue dress, and wings that look curiously like icicles, looks at you oddly.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Smile
>"Pretty well, all things considered. Still running all over the place. I must say that it's kind of nice to be back someplace more... normal. Kinda funny thinking of it that way now. I just got back from the far edge of the Netherworld."

[Hello Purvis]

>Smile
>"Pretty well, all things considered. Still running all over the place. I must say that it's kind of nice to be back someplace more... normal. Kinda funny thinking of it that way now. I just got back from the far edge of the Netherworld."

>"You were where?" Renko says, raising an eyebrow and grimacing a little.
>"Hey Other Dai," says the Faerie, "Ima go get some eats while you snuggle with your girl."
>Renko nods to the faerie, then looks back to you. "You were where?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Like I said, edge of the Netherworld. Was a... kind of disturbing place, really. Mist so think you couldn't see a foot in front of your face. Phantom images of people you know, but not quite the people you know. Giant whale things and winged serpents flying through the clouds."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Like I said, edge of the Netherworld. Was a... kind of disturbing place, really. Mist so think you couldn't see a foot in front of your face. Phantom images of people you know, but not quite the people you know. Giant whale things and winged serpents flying through the clouds."

>"You are definitely going to have to take me there when this is all over," says Renko.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I'm... not sure I can, to be honest. I had to get special permission of the ruler of the Netherworld to go there in the first place, and it was only because I had a specific errand to run; I had to collect something only found on the edge of the place."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I'm... not sure I can, to be honest. I had to get special permission of the ruler of the Netherworld to go there in the first place, and it was only because I had a specific errand to run; I had to collect something only found on the edge of the place."

>"We'll come up with a reason to do it again," says Renko, grinning. "But in the meantime, this mean you're done for the night? Or could you just not get enough of me?"

>_