Maribel Quest More - A Z-Machine Adventure

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, I admit it's nice to see you again. But there was still at least one or two more tasks on my life for the day. That's actually one of the reasons I came back here. I'm headed to the Sanzu River on some business. You said earlier that you were interested in seeing the place?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, I admit it's nice to see you again. But there was still at least one or two more tasks on my life for the day. That's actually one of the reasons I came back here. I'm headed to the Sanzu River on some business. You said earlier that you were interested in seeing the place?"

>Renko nods. "Well, I guess I could slip away from these guys for a little while," she says. "What're you up to, there?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I just need to collect some water from the depths of the river. Another spell component and all. That's what I was in the Netherworld for, too, actually. The only issue is getting water from that deep in the river. Byakuren said it needed to be at least 4 fathoms. And... the river is inhabited by sea monsters, so diving's not a good idea. I've got a bottle for it. I was wondering if I should try to rig up a way to open it from the surface, or if Komachi might know some way to get it."
>"How've things been here, anyway?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Things have been good here," says Renko. "The faeries have kept themselves occupied making dinner, so I just had to sort out a couple of little things. They're starting to slow down on the whole, they've been busy all day, and are getting a bit tuckered out. And, I assume Komachi is someone who lives there? Maybe we should ask her?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"She the one who ferries the spirits of the dead across the river. I thought I mentioned her already?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"She the one who ferries the spirits of the dead across the river. I thought I mentioned her already?"

>"Maybe you did," says Renko with a shrug. "Probably just got lost in the whole rush, you know?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Oh, I hear ya. It's certainly been an incredibly busy day for me, too."
>"Shall we get going, then? Shouldn't take too long, I hope."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Oh, I hear ya. It's certainly been an incredibly busy day for me, too."
>"Shall we get going, then? Shouldn't take too long, I hope."

>"Sure," says Renko. "Just give me a moment to make sure Dai knows about it."
>She disengages from your arm and heads toward one of the campfires. You never really lose sight of her, but it is hard to see who she is talking within. After a minute, she makes her way back, carrying a small bowl, which she offers to you. It is filled with some kind of blackish soup-like concoction. "Here, have some dinner," she says. "It looks a bit weird, but trust me, it's really good."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"What is it exactly?"
>Sample a little bit

[Hello Purvis]

>"What is it exactly?"
>Sample a little bit

>"Some kind of pot luck soup," says Renko. "They just throw whatever they can get their hands on into it. There's three different batches, and they're all pretty distinctive."
>Having no spoon, you take a sip from the edge of the bowl. You notice a fair amount of rice floating in it, as well as a couple of irregularly chopped vegetables. You think you see some bits of fish, too. The broth is fairly spicy! Not enough to burn your tongue badly, but more than you expected! It's...actually kind of tasty.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"This is actually pretty good. I suppose there's no cutlery or anything around, is there?"
>Assuming not, just drink up some more

[Hello Purvis]

>"This is actually pretty good. I suppose there's no cutlery or anything around, is there?"
>Assuming not, just drink up some more

>"You might be able to get some chopsticks somewhere. But I figured you would want to eat it on the road."
>You drink some more. Ready for the spiciness this time, you can better appreciate it. The rice sounds up the flavor well, too.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, I suppose I can."
>Head off towards the river, drinking as we go
>"I met Plum Blossom again on my way to Reimu's. Managed to convince her to work up the courage to speak to Reimu. Well, more like confess her everlasting adoration, in the end... She was both utterly adorable and frighteningly exuberant."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, I suppose I can."
>Head off towards the river, drinking as we go
>"I met Plum Blossom again on my way to Reimu's. Managed to convince her to work up the courage to speak to Reimu. Well, more like confess her everlasting adoration, in the end... She was both utterly adorable and frighteningly exuberant."

>You decide that is the way to go, and set out for the Sanzu River again. The soup is really hitting the spot! Maybe you were more hungry than you thought?
>"Did Reimu shoot her down?" asks Renko. "Literally, that is?

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"No, thank god. I was kinda worried she would, to be honest. She did seem rather annoyed about the whole thing, and tried to shake her off. Plum Flower had, uh, kinda just clamped onto her leg. But I think I eventually convinced Reimu that it would be ok to indulge her a little. Maybe let her help out with any sewing that needed doing. Last I left them, Plum Flower was curled up quietly in Reimu's lap."

[E-Nazrin]

>"No. Nor figuratively, yet, at least explicitly. Though it's pretty clear Reimu's not too fond of the extent of Plum's enthusiasm... do you have any suggestions for what might get her to calm down, lastingly?"
>"Either way, Plum said that she could sew, so I suggested she stay there for a while and see if she can help Reimu out with that. Reimu didn't throw away the idea, at least, so we'll have to see how that goes."
>"Last I saw Reimu'd agreed to let Plum lie in her lap to get her to calm down. Rather catlike, and pretty cute."

[Hello Purvis]

>"No, thank god. I was kinda worried she would, to be honest. She did seem rather annoyed about the whole thing, and tried to shake her off. Plum Flower had, uh, kinda just clamped onto her leg. But I think I eventually convinced Reimu that it would be ok to indulge her a little. Maybe let her help out with any sewing that needed doing. Last I left them, Plum Flower was curled up quietly in Reimu's lap."

>"No. Nor figuratively, yet, at least explicitly. Though it's pretty clear Reimu's not too fond of the extent of Plum's enthusiasm... do you have any suggestions for what might get her to calm down, lastingly?"
>"Either way, Plum said that she could sew, so I suggested she stay there for a while and see if she can help Reimu out with that. Reimu didn't throw away the idea, at least, so we'll have to see how that goes."
>"Last I saw Reimu'd agreed to let Plum lie in her lap to get her to calm down. Rather catlike, and pretty cute."

>"Better than I expected, then," Renko says. "I suppose we'll see what happens. And about the only way to calm down an overenthusiastic faerie is to frighten her or distract her with something else. And that does sound like it was pretty cute."
>You reach some of the fish chunks in the soup, and they are tasty indeed.
>"So is this water the last thing you need?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Yeah, I think so. Or, at least, the last component I have to go out of my way to get."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yeah, I think so. Or, at least, the last component I have to go out of my way to get."

>"That's good. After all this runaround, I hope this whole thing ends up worth it."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, I'm choosing to look at it as a great way to get to know the corners of Gensokyo, whether anything came of it or not."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, I'm choosing to look at it as a great way to get to know the corners of Gensokyo, whether anything came of it or not."

>"That's a fair point," says Renko. "Still, though. I hope it ends up worthwhile for you in the end as well as during the trip."

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>Wonder how Byakuren was going to obtain that immortal's blood.
>... or does that mean she's immortal now, herself?

Also, it might be worth figuring out how the afterlife here actually works now that there aren't a dozen conflicting versions. It'd be good to understand the full implications of what Byakuren's been saying about karma and reincarnations.

Also, it's worth noting that Renko openly asked about whether the other enchantment would cause a size change - I think she might be put off by that. And this version WOULD include that, as Byakuren mentioned. Helping Renko accomplish the same would at least keep things proportionate, which might work, but proving herself to Byakuren and company might be tricksey.

... why are we so hung up on getting that promptly, anyway? I'd think finding a safer alternative for Renko's antics would be a more pressing matter.

[Hello Purvis]

>Wonder how Byakuren was going to obtain that immortal's blood.
>... or does that mean she's immortal now, herself?

>That is an interesting question. Perhaps she is?

>_

[DracoOmega]

In terms of Renko's antics, I guess I felt that the battle she's proposing is fairly harmless at this point. She doesn't intend any theft or lasting harm to them, and such battles don't seem to be frowned upon too strongly in Gensokyo. I'm not sure there will be lasting negative consequences if we leave things as they are. Renko's already given us a sizable concession.

In terms of what Byakuren's saying about karma, I get the impression from her that even people in the know don't agree. She said others disagree with her assessment, and that only the Yama would really know. Even Yuyuko, who ought to know quite a bit more about the afterlife, said that Byakuren tended to be too serious. Patchouli outright thought Byakuren was wrong. I figure 'karma' is a subtle enough thing that it leaves room for interpretation in terms of how and why it's affected, for most people (again, possibly outside of the Yamas)

I understand the size change aspect is a downside to this. Byakuren said it would be a fair bit less pronounced than her own, however. Still, we never actually committed to it, and it doesn't hurt to have the option open.

[Solais]

It's not really my decision, but I throw up here that I don't think this is a good idea, this stronger enchantment. It feels too easy and fast to me. There has to be more downsides to this. Not to mention it feels pretty... egoistical against Renko. I mean unfair.

[DracoOmega]

It's not really my decision, but I throw up here that I don't think this is a good idea, this stronger enchantment. It feels too easy and fast to me. There has to be more downsides to this. Not to mention it feels pretty... egoistical against Renko. I mean unfair.

I very much doubt Byakuren is holding back any information on downsides other than what she's already told us.

As for whether or not it's fair to Renko, well... I can see an argument for that, but she also didn't seem put off when we talked about the consequences of the lesser enchantment, which would have also tipped the scales of power between Maribel and Renko. She didn't appear to even be concerned about that aspect. I realize the magnitude is greater, but it is not different in kind. Nor do I think that becoming stronger at something is necessarily unfair to one's partner, anyway. I mean, that's true for more mundane things all the time.

My personal opinion is that, aside from the potential size issue, there's really no obvious downsides to the stronger enchantment. Becoming a youkai may very well happen in any case, with the lesser enchantment, or even without one, so I don't feel that's a tremendous downside.

Nevertheless, we may as well get the last ingredient. Nothing's going to happen yet, in either case.

>Continue to the Sanzu River

[UncertainJakutten]

I think that we SHOULD bring it up with her regarding the size change. To not do so WOULD be rude to Renko.

[DracoOmega]

Of course, I agree. I was planning to, once this is finished.

[communist unity (comm-unity)]

I'd say go for it. Considering Alice isn't exactly a chump, and if we've done anything to earn her anger (we have), we're going to need one hell of a boost to even think about matching her. Renko's pretty much Maribel's BFF, so she won't harbor any negative thoughts about the enchantment. (we could -probably- convince Byakuren to agree to power up Renko as well. but that may require a lot of convincing)

[Hello Purvis]

>Continue to the Sanzu River

>You continue toward the river in relative quiet. It's a lovely evening, really. There's only a sliver of the moon in the sky, which makes it fairly difficult to see, but you your eyes have adjusted well enough that you think you'll be okay. You finish your meal along the way, feeling quite refreshed and rather wanting seconds.
>You pass over the forest at the end of the northern road soon enough, and pass over the field of flowers leading to the banks of the river. You find yourself frowning at the field; wasn't it larger before? Up ahead, you see the docks. They are presently empty, but you see a shadow against the river that looks like a boat.

>_