Let Your Fists Do The Talking! Akyu Quest Continued!

[Hello Purvis]

>Gather self. Small thoughts are hard!
>Think: "Can be found?"

[Fightest]

> No.
> The single thought resounds so strongly with charged emotion that Satori winces.
> She quickly composes herself.
> Come.
> Grand designs.
> She floats towards the door to the cathedral area, sending a single glance towards Utsuho, whom Rin is busily fussing over.

[Hello Purvis]

>Follow.
>Assess physical condition.
>Ponder if we got any score for those last actions.

[Fightest]

>Follow.
>Assess physical condition.
>Ponder if we got any score for those last actions.

> You've got burns and bruises everywhere, but it's probably nothing that a liberal application of healing goop won't fix.
> Your Standing has improved to 960. Your inflated score was what probably prevented you from getting more points off Utsuho.
> When you go outside into the cathedral area you are met with an impatient-looking Shikieki, her arms crossed, her foot tapping against the polished stone. When she sees you, she furrows her eyebrows and starts talking in a rush.
> "Congratulations with your victory, Participant Akyu of the Hieda clan, Your points have been recorded into the Tournament Record, The Exalted Administration of the Seven Heavens wishes you great success in your battles, andmayyoufurtherachievegloriousvictory there. Done. You're quite hard to get to - first you're in the middle of everything exploding, then you're in that room that is so... weird!"
> It appears that not even a Judge is above discomfort at having to curb their mind's ambitions and submit themselves to the humility of small thoughts - do not mind the weird room's inhabitants, though - I am sure their completely unreasonable state of being is utterly unlike spending one's days surrounded by the spirits of the deceased, avoiding all contact with others.
> Shikieki sighs, and gives Satori a short bow.
> "Your point is well-made. My apologies for the insult I have given you - I was out of line. I will leave the two of you be, unless I can help you with something, Akyu?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Please accept my apologies for being so hard to find. And, just one question. That shadow, is she acting within the tournament, or outside of it? As well, are you able to tell me what became of her?"

[Fightest]

>"Please accept my apologies for being so hard to find. And, just one question. That shadow, is she acting within the tournament, or outside of it? As well, are you able to tell me what became of her?"

> Shikieki scratches her head awkwardly.
> "I... was not being entirely serious, no apologies needed. The contestant you refer to as the shadow, if I understand correctly who you are talking about, is entirely bound by the rules of the tournament. They have trodden on the line very often, but never broken it - they cannot, fundamentally. I am not at liberty to tell you where they are, but, well, I am certain you could find a skilled Scroll reader to find them for you. This I will tell you freely, as they need a good what-for to put them in their place! Er, off the record, of course."

[Hello Purvis]

>"I think I concur wholeheartedly. You may place that on the record as you like."
>Let the Enma be on her way, then allow Satori to elaborate.

[Fightest]

>"I think I concur wholeheartedly. You may place that on the record as you like."
>Let the Enma be on her way, then allow Satori to elaborate.

> The portal closes with a low hum, and you and Satori are left alone in the cathedral.
> Raising her arm with a lot of effort, Satori slowly rubs her eyes, then floats down to eye-level.
> Someone stronger than I would have the understanding and patience required to renurture over time memories lost forever like tears in the rain, but I am not such a person.
> While the memories that Utsuho lost cannot be found again, I am of the belief that they can be reforged - rebuilt from nothing but my own and Rin's recollections and put where they belong, forcefully and intrusively.
> I do not ask you to understand or agree with me, but merely beg that you consider my request - seek out my sister, Koishi, on the great mountain, and ask for her help on my behalf.

[Hello Purvis]

>Ponder for a moment.
>"...This sounds oddly like getting a child a new dog when the previous one had run away, if I am understanding you right. You're going to make a set of replacement memories that wouldn't actually be hers?"
>"Not that I won't help, just I want to understand what you're trying to do."

[Fightest]

>Ponder for a moment.
>"...This sounds oddly like getting a child a new dog when the previous one had run away, if I am understanding you right. You're going to make a set of replacement memories that wouldn't actually be hers?"
>"Not that I won't help, just I want to understand what you're trying to do."

> Satori grits her teeth. You can see tears welling up in her eyes.
> I will do anything to give Utsuho the life she needs, but I am not above indulging my own selfishness - I want to see a smile when she sees my face, not a blank stare devoid of recognition, devoid of the emotion that should by all rights be there - she is now not as she was, and I swear by anything that I will see her as she used to be, as she was before so much of her was taken against her will.
> Yes, I will have my sister make a collection of replacement memories - but they are Utsuho's by right, they are hers to begin with, just as her arms and legs, her eyes, her heart are hers and only hers!

[Hello Purvis]

>Consider arguing further, as such memories wouldn't actually he hers, they'd be someone else's and not match with what she experienced.
>Disregard it, we'll help either way and hope it just doesn't go wrong.
>"Tell me more about her."

[Fightest]

>Consider arguing further, as such memories wouldn't actually he hers, they'd be someone else's and not match with what she experienced.
>Disregard it, we'll help either way and hope it just doesn't go wrong.
>"Tell me more about her."

> It is indeed a bit of a sticky conundrum.
> She is impossible to explain to someone who has not already met her in the flesh, metaphorically speaking, and speak in metaphors is all I can do as she tends to defy many sensibilities that so many take for granted.
> All I can say about her is that she thinks, therefore she is, and she is so potently that others often find themselves unconsciously thinking her for her - in that sense she is most comfortable when she can be in open spaces, and, as such, detests coming underground, where the mind is almost physically constrained by walls on all sides.

[Hello Purvis]

>"And where would I find her on the mountain?"

[Fightest]

>"And where would I find her on the mountain?"

> It would be like her to spend time at the shrine there - I am told open space is in abundance there, plenty of room to let herself wander.

[Hello Purvis]

>Nod.
>"Very well. Would she know me upon, well, sensing me as you have? Is there something I could do to get her attention. What does she look like, exactly. Her name was Koishi, yes?"

[Fightest]

>Nod.
>"Very well. Would she know me upon, well, sensing me as you have? Is there something I could do to get her attention. What does she look like, exactly. Her name was Koishi, yes?"

> Koishi, yes, she holds a natural curiousity towards strangers and the strange in general - you will find yourself thinking her soon enough.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Before you said the goddess went down there; but I never saw her. Did she come back out?"
>Are we smart enough to connect the deity mentioned in the past with the one on the mountain? Presuming so, add in:  "If I'm going to the mountain, I suppose I should be wary of her."
>Regardless, finish with: "And the phantom? Did she come back?"

[Fightest]

>"Before you said the goddess went down there; but I never saw her. Did she come back out?"
>Are we smart enough to connect the deity mentioned in the past with the one on the mountain? Presuming so, add in:  "If I'm going to the mountain, I suppose I should be wary of her."
>Regardless, finish with: "And the phantom? Did she come back?"

> Neither the goddess - whom you should indeed be wary of - nor the shadow came back through the path I know - perhaps they have the knowledge of another means to enter and leave the underground, not that it matters now.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Hm. What a pain. Can you tell me about the goddess? I've...never dealt with her before. And, if they do come back, is there a way you can alert me?"

[Fightest]

>"Hm. What a pain. Can you tell me about the goddess? I've...never dealt with her before. And, if they do come back, is there a way you can alert me?"

> Their returning is not even something that I had considered, and there seems little reason for it now that the solar furnace has fallen, yet I cannot deny the spite of mortals and immortals - take her, take Utsuho with you, protect her and find a way to petition for her immunity in this forsaken tournament, that she might have time to rest and recover.
> I can tell you nothing more of the goddess that you do not already know.

[Hello Purvis]

>"When I said come back, I meant from below, not above. If they do return from above, I couldn't protect Utsuho any better than you could. Perhaps Marisa could. As for exempting her, all she needs to do is surrender when challenged. That is will let her aggressor get her points and hopefully be satiated."

[Mr_Bob]

>"...theoretically that should be correct, but the rambunctious or hot-blooded would want to fight, stopping because of a surrender would be illogical for them. Likewise, the foolish or arogant may see such a surrender as weakness and attack regardless, believing themselves superior. I know not what asylum the mountain could provide, if any. Even if such safety existed, the price to be paid may be heavy. If Utsuho were to come along, I fear it would be a great toll on her, when what she may need now is recovery.

[Fightest]

I've only just noticed my avatar is now a kitty how can I be taken seriously when there's a kitty? This are serious thread with serious fightans.

>"When I said come back, I meant from below, not above. If they do return from above, I couldn't protect Utsuho any better than you could. Perhaps Marisa could. As for exempting her, all she needs to do is surrender when challenged. That is will let her aggressor get her points and hopefully be satiated."

>"...theoretically that should be correct, but the rambunctious or hot-blooded would want to fight, stopping because of a surrender would be illogical for them. Likewise, the foolish or arogant may see such a surrender as weakness and attack regardless, believing themselves superior. I know not what asylum the mountain could provide, if any. Even if such safety existed, the price to be paid may be heavy. If Utsuho were to come along, I fear it would be a great toll on her, when what she may need now is recovery.

> "Eh, I could look over the kid for you," Marisa says, walking over from somewhere amongst the cathedral's columns, "'s no big deal, but she'll have to stay at my place 'til the whole thing blows over, or 'til Akyu here finds a better solution with that immunity thing."
> My gratitude to the two of you would know no bounds if you agreed to this course of action, for it is not retribution that I fear, but the single-minded desire to recreate again this absurd solar furnace scenario with Utsuho again as its sole, unwilling victim.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Did you encounter the goddess down there, Marisa?"
>Did Yamame mention that Marisa brutalized her?

[Fightest]

>"Did you encounter the goddess down there, Marisa?"
>Did Yamame mention that Marisa brutalized her?

> "Nah, only that stupid shadow-thing and the crow kid."
> Yamame said, and I quote:

> "Strong. So strong. Did not fight, just flung me, flung me like a broken doll."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Wonder where she was, then?"
>Shrug.
>"I suppose I am ready to leave when you are. To be honest, I'm not looking forward to climbing that wall again, so a lift would be much appreciated."

[Fightest]

>"Wonder where she was, then?"
>Shrug.
>"I suppose I am ready to leave when you are. To be honest, I'm not looking forward to climbing that wall again, so a lift would be much appreciated."

> Marisa nods vigorously.
> "Ready to help! Don't think I coulda gotten my Hakkero back without your help back there, so you're good people in my book!"
> She sticks her fingers in her mouth and makes a deafening whistle that echoes around the cathedral space. Within moments, Marisa's broom is hovering diligently at her side.
> "You make yourself comfortable, I'll go get the crow kid - Utsuho, right? - and we'll be on our way!"
> Satori nods, and Marisa jogs into the back room and soon enough comes back out, a somewhat confused Utsuho slung over her shoulder, followed by Rin.
> Satori gives Rin a pointed glance, who whispers a few words to Utsuho. Still confused-looking, she nods.
> Marisa sets Utsuho down on the broom, straddles it herself, and looks back at you.
> "Ready?"

[Kasu]

> "Yep."
> Turn to Satori.
> "Leave this to us."
> Get on the broom.

[Hello Purvis]

>Once we've departed.
>"I have a question. What did you do to Yamame on your way down here? She was practically a wreck."

[Fightest]

> "Yep."
> Turn to Satori.
> "Leave this to us."
> Get on the broom.

> The broom lifts off and, with a rush of speed, the three of you jet out of the Palace and into the vast cavern.

>Once we've departed.
>"I have a question. What did you do to Yamame on your way down here? She was practically a wreck."

> "You mean that spider girl in the caves up ahead? I, well, kinda sorta might have maybe run her over a little. I was in a rush, wasn't really paying attention! Is she all right?"