Maribel Quest Abridging - A Z-Machine Adventure

[DracoOmega]

>What, they're behind us, now, too?
>Do there seem to be any obvious open routes left? What about those with the least density of spirits?

[Hello Purvis]

>What, they're behind us, now, too?
>Do there seem to be any obvious open routes left? What about those with the least density of spirits?

>Behind in the sense that if you look below and behind, you see them there as well.
>You can go in any direction at the moment. But looking down toward the oncoming spirits, it seems that northwest toward the pub district, and east toward the wall are least dense. They are most dense is south.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>Which direction is the exit, south?
>Briefly wonder whether these have minds to speak of. Or if it's the danger of getting through that ruled out this route for Satori.
>We can handle this. After that robot, this should be nothing.

[DracoOmega]

>Shake fist at Keine
>If we go east, is the a path around the spirits towards the bridge that doesn't just get us wedged into a corner?
>For that matter, what direction is the bridge from here?

[Hello Purvis]

>Which direction is the exit, south?
>Briefly wonder whether these have minds to speak of. Or if it's the danger of getting through that ruled out this route for Satori.
>We can handle this. After that robot, this should be nothing.

>It is a little south and west of your current position.
>If they're anything like ghosts, they probably do. But likely it was the danger that matters.
>You think you can handle this! Even if you're a bit worn out.

>Shake fist at Keine
>If we go east, is the a path around the spirits towards the bridge that doesn't just get us wedged into a corner?
>For that matter, what direction is the bridge from here?

>Don't blame keine for dyslexia ;_;
>You don't know. But it seems like there's a lot of potential to get hemmed in.
>A bit south and west.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

>And due west would lead where?

[Hello Purvis]

>And due west would lead where?

>Over more burnt out area, then over warehouses, then the bridge.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Head west at good speed, making sure Satori is keeping pace with us. Skirt a little bit northward, if the spirits start to encroach too much.
>Keep an eye out for incoming fire.

[E-Nazrin]

>"Let me know if we get too close to the main city for comfort..."

[Hello Purvis]

>Head west at good speed, making sure Satori is keeping pace with us. Skirt a little bit northward, if the spirits start to encroach too much.
>Keep an eye out for incoming fire.

>You head west! The evil spirits continue to ascend and follow, while those to the west continue to rise up to meet you. More of them. You can see about ten ahead of you. A few fire some danmaku in your general direction.

>"Let me know if we get too close to the main city for comfort..."

>"Alright," says Satori.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Shift out of the way of the incoming fire
>Continue moving west
>Fire back at the ones most directly in our path as we move

[Hello Purvis]

>Shift out of the way of the incoming fire
>Continue moving west
>Fire back at the ones most directly in our path as we move

>You shift out of the way of the incoming fire and keep moving west. Thankfully, it's not too hard to dodge, compared to what Alice threw at you.
>You fire back upon the evil spirits. They begin to circle out of the way of your shots, but you manage to hit one, causing it to fade into a cloud of mist.
>"Shots from behind," Satori says.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Descend out of the way of the fire behind us.
>Glance back quickly to make sure nothing more complex is coming
>Keep moving, while firing upon closer targets. The goal is just to reach the bridge, not necessary to beat them. Just give them a little disincentive.

[Hello Purvis]

>Descend out of the way of the fire behind us.
>Glance back quickly to make sure nothing more complex is coming
>Keep moving, while firing upon closer targets. The goal is just to reach the bridge, not necessary to beat them. Just give them a little disincentive.

>You descend to escape the coming shots. Luckily, it is nothing complex.
>Unfortunately, descending means that those coming from behind are now that much closer; you have shots coming at you from that angle as well!

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Angle a little north
>Once the original shots from behind pass by, ascend again
>Keep pushing westward at top speed
>Fire on nearby targets as the opportunity presents

[Hello Purvis]

>Angle a little north
>Once the original shots from behind pass by, ascend again
>Keep pushing westward at top speed
>Fire on nearby targets as the opportunity presents

>You angle north and try to keep moving westward, getting you out of the way of the current shots. You can hear an awful lot of firing behind you, as well as see more from the nine in front of you; again targeted on you. You are certain there is more from below as well.
>You take a few more shots of opportunity, and hit another of the spirits ahead of you. It fades, but rather than leaving a cloud of mist, it explodes into a burst of speedy danmaku!

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Shift abruptly to the north to evade the incoming burst
>Then angle gently back to the south, while continuing west. Make sure not to angle back into the waves of fire coming behind us, however

[Thaws]

>"Is Orin close enough for us to seek help from?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Shift abruptly to the north to evade the incoming burst
>Then angle gently back to the south, while continuing west. Make sure not to angle back into the waves of fire coming behind us, however

>You move north quickly, almost enough to jar yourself, then angle back toward the south. You find, though, that going back south isn't really wise, as more shots from the west fill that void.
>The evil spirits to the west are now only a couple yards away, and you are heading for them at top speed!

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Cut western momentum for a moment
>Fire wide spread bursts on the spirits to the west
>Move back to the north afterwards to evade possible deathbursts from them

[Thaws]

Why are we still shooting the spirits when they spawn bullets on death?

>How dense are the danmaku fired by the spirits?

[DracoOmega]

Why are we still shooting the spirits when they spawn bullets on death?

Largely because they're in the way, and still firing conventional bullets at us. It seems the lesser of two evils.

[Hello Purvis]

>Cut western momentum for a moment
>Fire wide spread bursts on the spirits to the west
>Move back to the north afterwards to evade possible deathbursts from them

>You think you've figured this out. You stop moving west, and attempt to fire a spread.
>Your attempt works decently; giving you a few fairly close together columns that fan out over a seventy degree radius or so!
>It catches a few of evil spirits, two of them exploding into bullets. You immediately juke left, and can feel a bit of charge as their shots pass much too close to you for comfort.
>There is now a gap in their line, and you are reasonably certain holding still has only made you a target for the rest of the evil spirits.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Is this gap large enough to dash through?
>If so, move it!
>Otherwise, continue northwest, and take out a few more spirits as we move, to widen the gap

[Hello Purvis]

>Is this gap large enough to dash through?
>If so, move it!
>Otherwise, continue northwest, and take out a few more spirits as we move, to widen the gap

>You dash through the gap, feeling the shots behind you fly past much too close for comfort, and pass by the evil spirits.  The way to the west is now clear!

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Keep on going until we're out of their territory
>Satori is still close to us, correct?

[Hello Purvis]

>Keep on going until we're out of their territory
>Satori is still close to us, correct?

>You keep going. Soon, you are flying over some warehouses.
>Satori is following you. Thankfully, the evil spirits focused more on you than her, so she wasn't too hard pressed by the attack.

>_

[DracoOmega]

>Continue towards the bridge
>Are all the evil spirits safely behind us now?
>If so: "Well, that was unpleasant... but I hope that it was less stressful on you than flying over the inhabited parts of the city?"

[Hello Purvis]

>Continue towards the bridge
>Are all the evil spirits safely behind us now?
>If so: "Well, that was unpleasant... but I hope that it was less stressful on you than flying over the inhabited parts of the city?"

>You continue onward.
>Looking back, you see the evil spirits are not following you anymore.
>"it was, I think," says Satori. "I really can't feel the minds of the dead. I know that they are there, but they are like empty boxes. Normally, I don't even consider going that way, since I cannot sense them, my danmaku is not up to the task of holding them off. There are still more than enough oni here, but it is tolerable..."

>_

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, we should be past the city soon, and there won't be any more crowds from there until the hot springs, I'd imagine. Maybe a few fairies..."
>"You know, I was just thinking how far I've come since the last danmaku fight I was involved in down here, with you. Didn't have a clue about anything at the time. And now, after all I've gone through this morning, those spirits seemed almost tame."
>"....not that I wouldn't mind a long break from that sort of thing, just the same. Especially after this morning."