Maribel Quest Adjoining: A Z-Machine Adventure

[DracoOmega]

>"No, I think it's past time to get this show on the road. I wouldn't want to miss it, after all."

[Hello Purvis]

>"No, I think it's past time to get this show on the road. I wouldn't want to miss it, after all."

>"Good," says Renko. "I don't know how much longer I can keep 'em together. Had to deal with three splinter groups in the past hour..."
>She shakes her head. "But anyways, I'll get things started here. Go tell 'em to put Flandre somewhere safe, and I'll get things ready here."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Splinter groups? I hope they didn't desert while you were waiting on me...."
>"And you wanted me to go contact them before the army is on the march?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Splinter groups? I hope they didn't desert while you were waiting on me...."
>"And you wanted me to go contact them before the army is on the march?"

>"A few, but not enough that it'll hurt things," says Renko. "And yeah. Once I get this mess started, I don't think I'll be able to tell them to stop and wait on you. I'll barely have enough time to issue a proper challenge, I think, and keep discipline."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Ok, I'll go deliver the message immediately."
>Give her a quick kiss
>"I'll be back as quickly as I can."
>Fly off to the SDM

[Hello Purvis]

>"Ok, I'll go deliver the message immediately."
>Give her a quick kiss
>"I'll be back as quickly as I can."
>Fly off to the SDM

>"Don't bother flying back," says Renko, after returning your kiss. "I'll be following you soon, enough. Just find someplace comfortable and out of the way to watch."
>With that, you fly off toward Scarlet Devil Mansion. The trip is uneventful and short. You fine Hong Meiling at her accustomed place, watching you as you approach. "It's a bad day to visit," she says as you approach. "We're expecting big trouble."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Yeah, I'm here to talk to you about that, actually. I don't suppose you can tell me what you know, and I can fill in corrections?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Yeah, I'm here to talk to you about that, actually. I don't suppose you can tell me what you know, and I can fill in corrections?"

>"It's kind of need to know," says Meiling, frowning as you land near her. "But the long and short of it is that unless it's life or death, I can't let you in. Sorry."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Ok, then I guess I'll just guess what you already know, and tell you what's necessary."
>"The fairy army is about to march. I've managed to dissuade their leader from her original objective. I am satisfied that she no longer has any plans to occupy the mansion, or loot its valuables. She simply wishes the battle as a contest between her forces and the mansion's. Her and her former youkai ally are no longer acting in tandem. If the youkai shows up, you can consider her a third party. I wouldn't be able to tell you what her plans might be if this happens."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Ok, then I guess I'll just guess what you already know, and tell you what's necessary."
>"The fairy army is about to march. I've managed to dissuade their leader from her original objective. I am satisfied that she no longer has any plans to occupy the mansion, or loot its valuables. She simply wishes the battle as a contest between her forces and the mansion's. Her and her former youkai ally are no longer acting in tandem. If the youkai shows up, you can consider her a third party. I wouldn't be able to tell you what her plans might be if this happens."

>She grimaces. "I dunno how you heard all that, but you know I can't just take your word, right? But I'll let 'em know you said they're on the move."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I understand why you might be reluctant to take my word on that, but I suspect Sakuya would believe me if you relayed it to her."
>"In any event, Renko also wanted to make sure that Flandre was safely out of the way for everyone concerned before any of this happened."
>"I will say again that the intent is not malicious. Please try to keep that in mind, if you can."

[E-Nazrin]

We should also mention Hatate and our involvement.

[Kilgamayan]

Eh, Hatate knows enough to not get involved, and I want to keep talking about our involvement to a bare minimum, just to leave open the possibility of getting involved in the actual battle (depending on the circumstances).

[DracoOmega]

Yeah, I know. I intend to get to our involvement. Just didn't want to say everything at once. Easier to gauge her reactions this way.
I don't know that mentioning Hatate is a good idea, though. I think tengu reporters already have a reputation for being where a story is, and I doubt the SDM will think she's there to join in. And it might not be best admit that we know she'll be there, either.

[E-Nazrin]

Guess there's such a thing as being too honest...

[Hello Purvis]

>"I understand why you might be reluctant to take my word on that, but I suspect Sakuya would believe me if you relayed it to her."
>"In any event, Renko also wanted to make sure that Flandre was safely out of the way for everyone concerned before any of this happened."
>"I will say again that the intent is not malicious. Please try to keep that in mind, if you can."

>She frowns, then shakes her head. "I'll tell her that, but frankly, I don't expect she'll believe you. She might think it's a trick."
>Meiling walks over to the side of the gate and fiddles with something.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Did we give Meiling our name, earlier? Give it to her, if we didn't.
>"Make sure you tell her who the message is from."
>What does she seem to be fiddling with?
>Wait for her to finish

[Hello Purvis]

>What does she seem to be fiddling with?
>Wait for her to finish

>You try to get a look at it. It seems to be a string or wire of some kind.
>It only takes her a few moments to finish.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"What was that? Signaling to someone?"
>Did we tell Meiling our name, earlier?

[Hello Purvis]

>"What was that? Signaling to someone?"
>Did we tell Meiling our name, earlier?

>"Yep," she says with a nod as she resumes her original position, "It's hooked up to some bells inside."
>You did. And got hers.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Should I wait for the message to be relayed?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Should I wait for the message to be relayed?"

>"Might not be a bad-"
>You jump there is suddenly motion out of the corner of your eye! A familiar voice says, "What is it?" Sakiya now stands on the other side of the gate.
>"-idea. Hey Sakuya, um, Maribel here has a warning for you"
>Sakuya looks at you, arms crossed and face inscrutable.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Hello, Sakuya. I'll repeat what I already told Meiling just then."
>"The fairy army is about to march. I've managed to dissuade their leader from her original objective. I am satisfied that she no longer has any plans to occupy the mansion, or loot its valuables. She simply wishes the battle as a contest between her forces and the mansion's. Her and her former youkai ally are no longer acting in tandem. If the youkai shows up, you can consider her a third party. I wouldn't be able to tell you what the youkai's plans might be if this happens."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Hello, Sakuya. I'll repeat what I already told Meiling just then."
>"The fairy army is about to march. I've managed to dissuade their leader from her original objective. I am satisfied that she no longer has any plans to occupy the mansion, or loot its valuables. She simply wishes the battle as a contest between her forces and the mansion's. Her and her former youkai ally are no longer acting in tandem. If the youkai shows up, you can consider her a third party. I wouldn't be able to tell you what the youkai's plans might be if this happens."

>You repeat what you just said.
>"Is that so?" asks Sakuya. "This is a very different situation than what you've said in the past. Why?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"The situation is different than what I relayed earlier because the situation itself has changed a great deal since then. I spent a great deal of time talking with Renko about this. That, coupled with a disagreement with her former ally, has led to her changing her mind on a number of key points, as I just mentioned."

[Hello Purvis]

>"The situation is different than what I relayed earlier because the situation itself has changed a great deal since then. I spent a great deal of time talking with Renko about this. That, coupled with a disagreement with her former ally, has led to her changing her mind on a number of key points, as I just mentioned."

>She nods. "Who is this ally, anyways?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"I know this is going to sound in bad faith, but I can't say. I've been sworn in a rather unpleasant way not to mention it. But if she takes no action, as she claimed she wouldn't, it shouldn't end up mattering."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I know this is going to sound in bad faith, but I can't say. I've been sworn in a rather unpleasant way not to mention it. But if she takes no action, as she claimed she wouldn't, it shouldn't end up mattering."

>"This does sound like bad faith," says Sakuya, frowning. "I don't suppose you have any way to prove any of this?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Trust me, I'd be more forward about this if I at all could. I'm really not at liberty to say, no matter how much I might wish to."
>"I'm not sure how I can offer proof of Renko's intentions. I could ask her to say as much when she arrives, but I doubt her word makes any difference at this point, either. If you can offer a suggestion, I'd be willing to entertain it."

[E-Nazrin]

>Inventory. Do we still have Sakuya's watch?