Maribel Quest Abridging - A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

>Weren't Renko and the fairies on the west side of the kitchen while we're on the east edge?
>How much fire is coming in our direction? Can we see a path at least a little closer if we dodge around?

>This is true. But neither side is really focusing their fire at the moment.
>There is a lot, coming from both sides. You may be able to find you way into it a little ways, but it would not be safe at all.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Is the fire dense enough that it would significantly impede our movement through it if time were stopped?
>And, assuming time were stopped, about how long would it take us to reach Alice at top speed from our current position?

[Hello Purvis]

>Is the fire dense enough that it would significantly impede our movement through it if time were stopped?
>And, assuming time were stopped, about how long would it take us to reach Alice at top speed from our current position?

>You...think you should be able to pick your way through it. If you time it right, you might even have a mostly clear path if you hug the wall. It would take two to three seconds at best to reach her.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Wait just a moment for a more optimal path
>Attempt to stop time
>If this works, take off for Alice as fast as we possibly can. Be willing to scrape by smaller shots rather than loose too much time to avoid them. Grin and bear it. This has to count
>Get up behind Alice, gripping the frying pan firmly with both hands
>Muster as much force as we possibly can, and swing the bottom of the frying pan against the back of her head like a baseball bat

[Hello Purvis]

>Wait just a moment for a more optimal path
>Attempt to stop time
>If this works, take off for Alice as fast as we possibly can. Be willing to scrape by smaller shots rather than loose too much time to avoid them. Grin and bear it. This has to count
>Get up behind Alice, gripping the frying pan firmly with both hands
>Muster as much force as we possibly can, and swing the bottom of the frying pan against the back of her head like a baseball bat

>You wait for it. Wait...wait... there!
>You try for it...and time comes to a stop.
>Runing as quickly as you can, you weave dash through the fire.  Your eyes are on the goal up ahead.
>One heartbeat. Two heartbeats. You can feel the building. She's only a little ways away now.
>Alice is looking at you. When you froze time, she was watching you. Does she know? Could she have figured it out?
>Three heartbeats. It's getting difficult to resist the pressure. You can't breathe anymore.
>Slipping around the Construct, you reach Alice! Frozen in time, she still looks in your direction.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Shift to the side of Alice if we don't think we have time to get behind her. Just try not to be directly in front of her when time starts again.
>Firmly grip the frying pan and swing it against the side of her head as hard as we can (if we can't reach the back of it comfortably)

[Hello Purvis]

>Shift to the side of Alice if we don't think we have time to get behind her. Just try not to be directly in front of her when time starts again.
>Firmly grip the frying pan and swing it against the side of her head as hard as we can (if we can't reach the back of it comfortably)

>You shift to the side, and swing the frying pan at the side of Alice's head.
>Four heartbeats. You cannot hold it nay longer.
>Time moves once again.
>Alice's eyes shift in your direction. She stands to move. Then the frying pan connects with a resounding "clang!" Alice falls to the ground.
>There is a fair amount of fire around you, but the Construct seems to be deflecting most of it.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Does Alice seem to be knocked out, or just stunned?
>If she still seems to be trying to move, hit her again
>Try to stay away from her front, just in case

[Hello Purvis]

>Does Alice seem to be knocked out, or just stunned?
>If she still seems to be trying to move, hit her again
>Try to stay away from her front, just in case

>Her eyes closed, and she doesn't appear to be moving. You keep away from her front just in case.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Has the construct stopped doing anything?
>If so: "Guys, she's down! You can stop shooting!"

[Hello Purvis]

>Has the construct stopped doing anything?
>If so: "Guys, she's down! You can stop shooting!"

>It doesn't seem to be firing anymore. But, it is still moving. Swaying oddly from side to side. The feeling it gives as though it were stretching its back in a strange way.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Does it look like it might be about to fall apart without Alice's spell to keep it together?
>Or could it just be reacting under the fire it's still receiving?
>If it doesn't appear to be doing anything hostile, yell for Renko and the fairies to hold their fire

[Hello Purvis]

>Does it look like it might be about to fall apart without Alice's spell to keep it together?
>Or could it just be reacting under the fire it's still receiving?
>If it doesn't appear to be doing anything hostile, yell for Renko and the fairies to hold their fire

>It does not seem to be falling apart.
>You aren't sure if the shots are affecting it or not.
>All it is doing at the moment is swaying. You yell for the others to hold their fire. The shots slacken a bit, but do not stop.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"C'mon guys, stop it!"
>"Renko, get over to it and try to pull that book out!"
>Keep an eye on Alice. Be ready to hit her again if she does anything.

[Hello Purvis]

>"C'mon guys, stop it!"
>"Renko, get over to it and try to pull that book out!"
>Keep an eye on Alice. Be ready to hit her again if she does anything.

>You cry for them to stop. "Stop firing, already!" Renko cries. This seems to do it, the faeries that are left cease fire, save for one. Renko walks over to her.
>"Is that safe?" Renko asks, as she grabs the last faerie to stop her from firing.
>Alice does not stir.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, Patchouli suggested it, didn't she? It doesn't seem to be falling apart, even though Alice is unconscious. I don't think it can attack without her controlling it. It didn't seem to, earlier."
>"Or you can come over here and keep an eye on her and I'll try it."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, Patchouli suggested it, didn't she? It doesn't seem to be falling apart, even though Alice is unconscious. I don't think it can attack without her controlling it. It didn't seem to, earlier."
>"Or you can come over here and keep an eye on her and I'll try it."

>"If it can still move, why can't still attack?" Renko asks, eying the Construct.
>The faeries leave, some heading into the pantry, others flying out the window.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>The construct is just swaying in place, isn't it? It's not actually moving its legs or arms, is it?
>Can we see any strings still attached to it?
>"I didn't think it had any independent will, unlike Alice's other dolls."

[Hello Purvis]

>The construct is just swaying in place, isn't it? It's not actually moving its legs or arms, is it?
>Can we see any strings still attached to it?
>"I didn't think it had any independent will, unlike Alice's other dolls."

>It is. Although upon closer inspect, it is keeping it's arms steady, rather that letting them flop about.
>The strings are still attached, though a few have been pulled loose by Alice's untimely tumbled.
>"Why wouldn't it?" asks Renko, approaching you, but still giving it a wide berth. "Isn't that kind of her thing?"

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"This thing is different. She recovered part of something that had been built by someone else. A long time ago, I think. She said it was powered by something forbidden and the her grimoire is serving as a replacement power source since her usual techniques wouldn't affect it. Patchouli said that her dolls are usually non-aggressive when Alice is unconscious in any event. Although... I can't blame you for not wanting to take chances with something that size."
>See if we can remove the strings. If not, ask Renko to bring us a knife, and cut them.

[Hello Purvis]

>"This thing is different. She recovered part of something that had been built by someone else. A long time ago, I think. She said it was powered by something forbidden and the her grimoire is serving as a replacement power source since her usual techniques wouldn't affect it. Patchouli said that her dolls are usually non-aggressive when Alice is unconscious in any event. Although... I can't blame you for not wanting to take chances with something that size."
>See if we can remove the strings. If not, ask Renko to bring us a knife, and cut them.

>"Yeah..." says Renko, frowning.
>How will you try to remove the strings?

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Well, how are they actually attached to her hand? Some already came off, correct? How did they appear to do that?

[Hello Purvis]

>Well, how are they actually attached to her hand? Some already came off, correct? How did they appear to do that?

>Looking closely, you see that they are connected to her fingers by a series of ring-like cloth bands.
>You weren't paying attention to the strings while striking Alice, but you suspect some got ripped off from it with her fall.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Try to slide these bands off

[Hello Purvis]

>Try to slide these bands off

>You slide the bands off her fingers with ease.
>This seems to change nothing.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Maybe you should go fetch Patchouli. Tell her Alice is down, but that we could use her expertise in dispelling whatever spell Alice has that's keeping that up. Maybe she'll know what to do."

[Hello Purvis]

>"Maybe you should go fetch Patchouli. Tell her Alice is down, but that we could use her expertise in dispelling whatever spell Alice has that's keeping that up. Maybe she'll know what to do."

>"Not until you get away from it," says Renko, watching the swaying Construct.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>The construct isn't actually facing us, though, is it?
>If we're still in swinging range of it, though, take Alice and drag her further away. Ask for Renko's help with this if she's hard to manage. Then move Alice to a spot a safe distance away from the construct, but still in a position where we can watch the two of them (as well as flee out the door if it really does go berserk or something)

[Hello Purvis]

>The construct isn't actually facing us, though, is it?
>If we're still in swinging range of it, though, take Alice and drag her further away. Ask for Renko's help with this if she's hard to manage. Then move Alice to a spot a safe distance away from the construct, but still in a position where we can watch the two of them (as well as flee out the door if it really does go berserk or something)

>It is not.
>You most certainly are. You try to drag Alice away, but she is an adult woman, and you are not very strong. It takes Renko's assistance to move her away.  Unfortunately, it is close to the door to the hallway, so fleeing that way will not be an option.
>You manage to get Alice to what you feel is a safe distance away.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Ok, just hurry and fetch her as quickly as you can."