Let Your Fists Do The Talking! Akyu Quest Continued!

[Fightest]

>"That would be Koishi. I felt it would be best to let her introduce herself as she desired. I'll be taking her to help out Utsuho, once things get properly settled here."

> With a sly wink, Koishi introduces herself to Akyu's visitors with an elegant bow.
> "Then I will treat... her... with the same courtesy as you," says Kaguya. "What business do you have to discuss?"

[Mr_Bob]

>"Well, last time I was home, I set off to Scarlet Devil Mansion to do business with the headmistress, which included solving some interior problems.  Afterwards, I traveled up to Youkai Mountain, and met with Koishi, who has agreed to help us with restoring Utsuho.  Thereafter, I came upon the Moriya Temple and did battle with their ace in the sleeve, Tewi.  After defeating her, I spoke to the deities at length regarding the circumstances of the tournament.  It was quite informative, as their had much insight into the workings due to being judges, and as such we may have come up with a way to peaceably end the tournament.  The main perpetrators behind this charade are the celestrials, namely Tenshi.  As such, I will have to go up to heaven and confront them there.  In the meanwhile, if we can get everyone in Gensokyo to simultaneously reject the very idea of the tournament, we should be able to throw off the yoke.  The main problems currently, are me securing access to the upper reaches of the sky, and the rest of the Genoskyians understanding the folly of the tournament."

>"Other issues are: we still need to help Utsuho, solve the mystery of two hakkeros, report our success to Remilia, and what Eientei wants to do about Tewi."
>"When you do begin to experiement with the reaction again, make sure my life's work is safe."

[Fightest]

"me securing access to the upper reaches of the sky"

> Kaguya nods. "We would be happy to help you get wherever you must."

>"the rest of the Genoskyians understanding the folly of the tournament."

> Applying plot-expedition protocols.
> A gale erupts in the living room, sending everything that's not nailed down tumbling every which way. It recedes as quickly as it appeared, revealing at the centre of the tumult a lanky figure with black crow wings. There is probably nobody in the land that does not know her, whether they like it or not - Aya Shameimaru, self-styled reporter and publisher of rumours and questionable facts in her personal tabloid paper.
> "Folly? Rest of Gensokyo? News to be spread?"
> She buzzes with excitement, seeming to be in several places at once as she bombards you with questions, untiringly scribbling away in a little notebook.
> "You know about the tournament? Have you really spoken with the judges themselves? What do you know about the grand prize? Is it true that the world will end if the tournament ends? How far does the rabbit-hole really go? What is your favourite insect?"

>"Other issues are: we still need to help Utsuho, solve the mystery of two hakkeros, report our success to Remilia, and what Eientei wants to do about Tewi."

> "Tewi can find her way back," says Kaguya. "Otherwise, we will hold down the proverbial fort while you finish off the rest of your business before we head to Heaven."

>"When you do begin to experiement with the reaction again, make sure my life's work is safe."

> Eirin nods sagely.

[Mr_Bob]

> "Folly? Rest of Gensokyo? News to be spread?"
> She buzzes with excitement, seeming to be in several places at once as she bombards you with questions, untiringly scribbling away in a little notebook.
> "You know about the tournament? Have you really spoken with the judges themselves? What do you know about the grand prize? Is it true that the world will end if the tournament ends? How far does the rabbit-hole really go? What is your favourite insect?"

Do these need to be answered, or does the plot-expedition protocol^TM solve that?

[Fightest]

Do these need to be answered, or does the plot-expedition protocol^TM solve that?

> She probably needs to be dangled a few facts if you want her news-report to at all go in the right direction.

[Hello Purvis]

>Lead Aya away, somewhere where an interview can happen comfortably.
>"Before I begin, may I ask you to tell me what you know? It's much easier to fill in the gaps when I know what they gaps are."

[Fightest]

>Lead Aya away, somewhere where an interview can happen comfortably.
>"Before I begin, may I ask you to tell me what you know? It's much easier to fill in the gaps when I know what they gaps are."

> You find space and seating in your back garden. Aya remains airborne, her buzzing excitement unabated.
> "Tricky Tournament a Torment! Surprising Prize Presented! Corrupt Karate Crosses Constraints in Calamitous Campaign!"

[Hello Purvis]

Bob. You know what we forgot to do? We forgot to crawl up the Deities' asses for bombing Eientei. Fuckdamnit =[

>Nod, and take a moment to decode all of that.
>"You seem to have the basics, at least. What I can tell you is that it was arranged by a certain personage in the Heavens, who has been very sloppy about it. In particular, there's no way to actually win this tournament, short of there being but one person left standing. This is a significant problem. Every one of the judges I have met, which amount to more than half of them at this point, are not happy with this situation in the least. As well, you can see the amounts of collateral damage it caused. So in short, we're destablizing our home for nothing at all, really."
>"As such, I have decided to gather up as many of the peoples of Gensokyo as I can, and present our collective outrage at this in the best manner we can, marching to the doors of heaven itself and peacefully refusing to have any part of this as one entity. If the goal is to cause chaos for some silly reason, then let us respond with harmony in turn until such a time as they realize the futility of their desires."

[Fightest]

>"As such, I have decided to gather up as many of the peoples of Gensokyo as I can, and present our collective outrage at this in the best manner we can, marching to the doors of heaven itself and peacefully refusing to have any part of this as one entity. If the goal is to cause chaos for some silly reason, then let us respond with harmony in turn until such a time as they realize the futility of their desires."

> "Peaceful Protest Proceeds to the Pearlies! Gensokyan Gathering Goads the Gods! A story! A great story! The lands will know all! Closing Comments from the Careful Co-ordinator?"
> The girl's buzzing intensifes as she grins at you.

[Hello Purvis]

>"I would like for those interested to contact me. As I tend to travel around, a lot, it should be fine to just leave a message at my home. At some point, I'll have to gather everyone. If I could count on you to announce that when the time comes, Miss Shameimaru?"

[Mr_Bob]

Bob. You know what we forgot to do? We forgot to crawl up the Deities' asses for bombing Eientei. Fuckdamnit =[

Ah, that's true.  Though we did go, "You ain't sellin' yous'lves freelance no more sugah, you be MY wenches now."

This makes me think of a harem ending, what with the ass crawling and the wench slapping.

[Fightest]

>"I would like for those interested to contact me. As I tend to travel around, a lot, it should be fine to just leave a message at my home. At some point, I'll have to gather everyone. If I could count on you to announce that when the time comes, Miss Shameimaru?"

> "News reaches all! The story, everpresent! Ready Reporter will Rally Resistance!"

[Hello Purvis]

>"That will be most helpful, thank you. I presume I can count on you to be here yourself when the time comes?"

[Fightest]

>"That will be most helpful, thank you. I presume I can count on you to be here yourself when the time comes?"

> Aya flashes you a huge grin and beats her wings, whipping up a small tornado around her, sending dirt and debris flying everywhere. She shoots up into the sky and, in moments, vanishes among the clouds.

[Hello Purvis]

>With this done, contemplate the time, the distance to Marisa's house, and how hungry we are.
>Also see if any faeries are hanging around, Cirno needs to be filled in.

[Fightest]

>With this done, contemplate the time, the distance to Marisa's house, and how hungry we are.
>Also see if any faeries are hanging around, Cirno needs to be filled in.

> It's early morning.
> Marisa's house is a few hours' walk from the village.
> You are feeling quite peckish.
> There's always a fairy hanging about areas where people live. You get the occasional wave or a salute when they zip by.

[Hello Purvis]

>Do we feel wakeful enough to actually make the trip as is?

[Mr_Bob]

>How far is Marisa's House from the Scarlet Devil Mansion?

[Fightest]

>Do we feel wakeful enough to actually make the trip as is?

> Yes, provided the trip isn't stressful.

>How far is Marisa's House from the Scarlet Devil Mansion?

> The opposite direction.

[Hello Purvis]

>Oh well, let's go deal with Utsuho now. Satori's probably beside herself with worry and grief.
>But first, get something we can eat on the road, and flag down a faerie and make sure she has Cirno find us.
>And make sure Koishi's still following us when we set out.

[Fightest]

>Oh well, let's go deal with Utsuho now. Satori's probably beside herself with worry and grief.
>But first, get something we can eat on the road, and flag down a faerie and make sure she has Cirno find us.
>And make sure Koishi's still following us when we set out.

> You wrap yourself a lunchbundle.
> The fairy salutes and zips off.
> Koishi wonders to herself whether she should play at being offended - she might be a free spirit, but she was no slacker.
> After some deliberation, she adopts a haughty pose, and tosses her silky hair indignantly at Akyu's apparent lack of trust, covertly watching Akyu out of the corner of her eye for her reaction, and trying her best to hide a mischievous smile.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Slacker? Of course not. But curious? This seems much more likely, wouldn't you think?"
>Linger around a bit to see if Cirno is going to show up. "Would you like something to eat, too, Koishi?"

[Fightest]

>"Slacker? Of course not. But curious? This seems much more likely, wouldn't you think?"
>Linger around a bit to see if Cirno is going to show up. "Would you like something to eat, too, Koishi?"

> Koishi lets out a dissatisfied hmph, but quickly bores of the little play and assumes her usual carefree demeanour.
> She thanks Akyu for her gracious offer, but declines, still enjoying the warmth that the herbal blend had infused in her.
> Some time passes, and a fairy - possibly the same one you had flagged by earlier - zips up to you.
> "Commander! The General says that she'll be around in a bit!"
> The fairy fidgets a bit.
> "Are we going to fight again, Commander?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"Not if we play our cards correctly."
>Wait for Cirno to show up.

[Fightest]

>"Not if we play our cards correctly."
>Wait for Cirno to show up.

> Some more time passes as the day slowly creeps on towards late morning.
> Eventually you start to hear a whistling sound that gets louder and louder before the ground several dozen metres to your right explodes in a plume of dirt, grass and flying shrubbery.
> From amidst the explosion you hear a gleeful "Yeah!"  that quickly turns to coughing and spluttering.
> A dirt-covered Cirno stumbles out of the debris cloud, rubbing her eyes and spitting bits of grit out of her mouth.
> She finally spots you and flies over.
> "Ey!" she says.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Are you alright?"

[Fightest]

>"Are you alright?"

> "Mostly!" she says, with a thumbs-up and a wide grin.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Perhaps you should tell me what happened."
>Let her explain, can Cirno really surprise us anymore?
>After that, inquire about how the faeries are doing as a whole, and try to probe to see if the army has held together at all.
>Once all this is done: "I've learned some things about the tournament. Cirno. In particular, it's not possible to really win. The person who made the thing didn't put in a way to do it. You can get the most points, but that wouldn't end it, because someone else could always take them away. We've been tricked."

>_

[Fightest]

>"Perhaps you should tell me what happened."
>Let her explain, can Cirno really surprise us anymore?
>After that, inquire about how the faeries are doing as a whole, and try to probe to see if the army has held together at all.
>Once all this is done: "I've learned some things about the tournament. Cirno. In particular, it's not possible to really win. The person who made the thing didn't put in a way to do it. You can get the most points, but that wouldn't end it, because someone else could always take them away. We've been tricked."

>_

> "Oh, I was a-thinkin'-a makin' a cool entrance, yanno? Ain't too sure 'a what happened exactly, but that had ta look awesome! The smashin' and the ground explodin' and the dust cloud and all that, I mean!"
> Cirno pauses.
> "It did look awesome, right?"

> You inquire about the condition of the fairy mob.
> "The gang's mostly fine, we're tough! Dunno about mow-ralle, many ain't lookin' too chuffed and just wanna get back to trick-'n'-treatin'."

> Cirno looks taken aback at your revelation.
> "No winnin'? Then how're we supposed ta, yanno, win?"

[Hello Purvis]

>"There can only be one person in the competition standing. At all. Which...well, I think you understand the problem with that."