Maribel Quest Perpetuation: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Kilgamayan]

That's harsher than intended.

If you have an alternate solution, go for it. Ultimately I don't care how it gets done, I just want it done.

[E-Nazrin]

I'm inclined to let that one slide as well, though I wouldn't much mind locking up a malicious ghost. The question there is whether the spirits underground would actually be useful for that.

The real issue at hand is coming up with a good cooling system, rather than the notion of AC itself. A better solution for that would be to talk to Youmu about allowing bored, friendly ghosts to hang out in occupied homes desperate for some cooling, but that's outside of the scope of this quest. Especially since the season is wrong as well.

EDIT: What exactly did you have in mind, Kilga?

[Hello Purvis]

>"Well, thanks again, and I guess I'll drop back in a couple days and see how things went. See ya!"
>Head to the tavern

>Consider the feasibility of material-creation or transmutation magic. Or other utility stuff... what would a magical version of a washing machine be like? For Science!
>"That's good, then. Thanks again, Ari."
>Withdraw and plan our next move. Glance around the town a bit while we're here, if only out of curiosity.

What's next on the agenda? Main quests are all underground, unless we specifically want to look for any of the suspects Kisume mentioned. Telling Reisen about Golden Silver might not be a bad idea, either. Or we can see whether Plum Flower got popped yet. What else was on Kilga's to-do list?

>"You do that," says Ari, "I'll see you then."
>You make your way toward the tavern, pondering what kind of transmutations may be possible. You really don't know, it's not a kind of magic you looked into at all. Perhaps it would be Patchouli's domain?
>Entering the Tavern, you see it is not too busy. The blue-haired barkeep is busy wiping down the bar. You can see a couple people at the booths; in particular you notice Yamame at one, with a large plate of noodles, and Nazrin at another.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

Also, this is a bit of idle speculation combined with the elephant in the room, but I would like to see us complete as many side quests (official or not) as possible, because outside of the money pile we have coming in several days, we have absobloodylutely nothing for our house. Four walls and a roof, and that's about it. If we're going to completely reset our lives and strike out on our own in a world that doesn't have a tenth of the outside world's necessities/conveniences that we're used to (electricity, gas power, indoor plumbing), we need to do some work to make this house a home. Especially if we're going to be entertaining a demigod for dinner this very evening despite merely serviceable cooking skills and no groceries between the two of us.

Fake edit: Oh wow, that's pretty convenient, one-and-a-half people I wanted to talk to.

> Inventory
> Check other bar patrons for any unique/distinguishable features.

[DracoOmega]

This very evening? I'd assumed it would be a fair bit later than that. We did specify 'after it was fit to have guests', which I imagine would include having some food, furniture, and some way to cook things. I don't imagine it's likely to happen until post-quest.

That being said, I think the amount of money you could expect to get from melting that construct down would still be quite sizable.

[Hello Purvis]

> Inventory
> Check other bar patrons for any unique/distinguishable features.

>Your Inventory Contains
>Mop Hat (Worn as Hat)
>Red Robe
>White Hakama
>Ingredient List
>Ring of Rhythm
>Starlight Incantation Slip.
>Purple Messenger Bag
>Blue Silk Flower
>65☼
>Silver Rabbit Figurine
>Purple Dress
>Wound Sign: Pain Flow Endlessly. (Captured)
>Kakashi Spirit News
>Frilly Dark Dress
>Green Yo-yo
>Dirty Bowl
>Sanzu River Water
>Essence of the Netherworld
>Mushroom Bracelet
>White Dress (Worn as Clothing)
>Amber Liquid of Growth
>You check the other patrons. Two of them seem like farmers, justing from the amount of dirt they have clinging to them. The other three seem to be various townspeople you cannot identify.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

Actually, that's also a few days of needing to be fed and such on our own. An odd job or two to make ends meet until then might not be unwise, especially if it can overlap with a little extra skill for Yukari's visit.

I wonder if Mystia would be overburdened with a little extra help?

[Kilgamayan]

Woo I missed the detail about "fit for guests". Damn you, game progression while I am at work that forces me to skim posts.

Or maybe I did see it and just assumed Yukari would decide for herself when our house is fit for guests.

Still, though, we need some shit, and we need it soon, since it'll be a few days before we have any money, and probably some more time after that before we have a consistent income. A pile of smelted coins is only going to last us so long. Renko's expedition ambition is cute and admirable but unlikely to be reliable, and who knows when that uni will get built (and if we'll even get a job there).

> Mental check: What do we know about Nazrin?
> Does Yamame look busy?

[DracoOmega]

My thought is, if Yukari decides for herself that it's ready when it isn't, that's her own fault, and she'll get whatever we can put together with what we have.

And honestly, in terms of things as minor as getting groceries for the next couple days, I think we can easily leave that for post-game. It's not like Maribel suddenly loses all competency in daily life just because we're not controlling her. We've laid the groundwork. They'll be ok.

[Kilgamayan]

You'll have to forgive me for being less than enthusiastic about winning a moral victory over an unhappy demigod. >_>;

My approach to Yukari is "better safe than sorry", and now that we've extended an open invitation to her, contingency or no contingency, I want to be as prepared for her as possible.

[DracoOmega]

What moral victory? It's just a matter of logistics. How can she honestly expect us to provide what we don't have? I don't think we need to rush ourselves just to make sure we don't disappoint her. I doubt Yukari would be seriously disappointed either way. And certainly not upset in the sense you seem to mean. Are you actually worried about dissatisfying her in some way?

[E-Nazrin]

Yes.

[Kilgamayan]

Yes, because it's Yukari.

Now, all that being said, I'm not thinking or saying we need to run around like a chicken with its head cut off. I don't think it's all that unreasonable to want to fulfill, at the very least, what's been actively presented to us. There are admittedly things I've tacked on (the jet, Yamame), but they have all been things we (okay, I) were reasonably sure we could do when they were suggested.

Getting Nitori her power source helps the jet sidequest along, and it might also have some side benefits for other things (most notably our living conditions), because Nitori is arguably the most resourceful reliable NPC we have.

[Hello Purvis]

> Mental check: What do we know about Nazrin?
> Does Yamame look busy?

>Not a whole lot. You know she's friends with Byakuren, and apparently has done work in the clinic in the Ancient City. You get the feeling is more rough around the edges compared to Byakuren and Ichirin
>She is ending her noodles, but doesn't seem occupied otherwise.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

Well, shoot, that eliminates the main line of conversation I wanted to use with Nazrin. Oh well, knowing she works at the clinic might be enough to drive it where I want it to go anyway.

(Note: I do not plan on accusing Nazrin of theft.)

> Did we ever explain the truth behind the mass dream to Yamame?
> Walk up to Yamame's booth and greet her.

[Hello Purvis]

> Did we ever explain the truth behind the mass dream to Yamame?
> Walk up to Yamame's booth and greet her.

>You're pretty sure you didn't. At least not to any great degree.
>You approach the spider youkai's booth and greet her. "Hey, buddy!" she says between mouthfuls of noodles.

>_

[E-Nazrin]

Getting Nitori her power source helps the jet sidequest along, and it might also have some side benefits for other things (most notably our living conditions), because Nitori is arguably the most resourceful reliable NPC we have.

Tangential complaint, but I'm pretty sure the ghost is to be used as a coolant, not a power source.

[Kilgamayan]

You know what I meant. :V

> "Hello! I didn't expect to see you here. How often do you get out this way?"
> Dumb question: is Renko still with us?

[Hello Purvis]

You know what I meant. :V

> "Hello! I didn't expect to see you here. How often do you get out this way?"
> Dumb question: is Renko still with us?

>"When I can," says Yamame. "Got some good money, gonna enjoy it, yeah?"
>She sure is. She is looking at Yamame curiously.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Did we not see Yamame any time we brought Renko down underground?
> "Oh, good. I'm glad to hear your advertising has paid off well."

[Hello Purvis]

> Did we not see Yamame any time we brought Renko down underground?
> "Oh, good. I'm glad to hear your advertising has paid off well."

>You don't think so. But it's been pretty busy lately. You haven't seen her today, at least.
>"Did pretty good with blood moss, too!" she says. "How's it been, buddy?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "We've been doing pretty good for ourselves. Found a place for us to live, which is very nice."
> "Oh! Where are my manners? Yamame, this is Renko, a long-time friend of mine from outside, and now my better half. Renko, this is Yamame. She's an Earth Spider that lives just inside the entrance to the Underground."

[Kilgamayan]

Look, Purvis, your Flanbot registered for our forums.

[Hello Purvis]

> "We've been doing pretty good for ourselves. Found a place for us to live, which is very nice."
> "Oh! Where are my manners? Yamame, this is Renko, a long-time friend of mine from outside, and now my better half. Renko, this is Yamame. She's an Earth Spider that lives just inside the entrance to the Underground."

>"Awesome," says Yamame. "Hope it doesn't flood!"
>"Hello," says Renko, bowing toward Yamame.
>"Hey buddy," says Yamame, then looks toward you. "Better half? She's pretty cute, nice job!"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Ehehe, uh, thanks!"
> Blush a little bit.
> "Ah! I just remembered. I've been meaning to talk to you about something important. Do you mind if we join you for a moment?"
> How much noise activity is there in the tavern?

[Hello Purvis]

> "Ehehe, uh, thanks!"
> Blush a little bit.
> "Ah! I just remembered. I've been meaning to talk to you about something important. Do you mind if we join you for a moment?"
> How much noise activity is there in the tavern?

>You stammer a thanks and blush a bit.  Renko just chuckles, whether at her or at you is a mystery.
>"Have a seat," says Yamame, gesturing toward the opposite side of the booth.
>It's pretty quiet at the moment. Nothing like last night.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Thank you."
> Have a seat indeed. Gesture for Renko to do the same, if she doesn't follow suit on her own.
> Lower voice voice pretty far. Lean forward if it helps. Given it's not very noisy, we have to be careful not to be overheard.
> If we lean forward, try not to get splashed in the face by noodles.
> "All right. What I have to say is pretty serious stuff, and it's not something that needs to be heard by or discussed with any random person we come across. I'm telling you because it's important that you know, okay?"
> "I assume you had that same mass dream that everyone else had, right? How much of it do you remember?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Thank you."
> Have a seat indeed. Gesture for Renko to do the same, if she doesn't follow suit on her own.
> Lower voice voice pretty far. Lean forward if it helps. Given it's not very noisy, we have to be careful not to be overheard.
> If we lean forward, try not to get splashed in the face by noodles.
> "All right. What I have to say is pretty serious stuff, and it's not something that needs to be heard by or discussed with any random person we come across. I'm telling you because it's important that you know, okay?"
> "I assume you had that same mass dream that everyone else had, right? How much of it do you remember?"

>You have a seat, Renko sliding in next to you. You lower your voice and lean forward. Yamame leans forward as well, getting a little too close for comfort.
>You explain this is serious, then ask her about the dream. "Well, it kind of a few days ago, buddy," says Yamame, talking in low tones. "But I kind of remember it real good. There were huge buildings and windows with moving pictures and all kinds of crazy stuff. And I worked at a store and things."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Yeah, I know it's been a little while, but it's still quite important. Do you remember anything from the dream about Utsuho?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "Yeah, I know it's been a little while, but it's still quite important. Do you remember anything from the dream about Utsuho?"

>She nods, frowning a bit; you think this may be the first time she has around you. "Yeah, kinda. We were friends and stuff. But how come you asked about her? That's kinda weird."

>_