Nue Quest: A Z-Machine Adventure

[Hello Purvis]

> "Well, it seems strange to me.  Someone took Satori's money without her detecting anyone.  If she can't detect her sister, then it seems to me that her sister or someone with a similar power might be responsible.  Then again, Ran did say that she suspects indirect magic.  I just know oni these days, so all I can say for sure is that I want to find who did this so I can get my damn money back!"
> Exhale.  "I don't know who to suspect since I'm kinda new to this whole investigation thing, but I figure that it's worth talking to as many people as possible, even if they turn into dead ends.  I can't really suspect Satori's sister since I imagine she would have mentioned her if she was to be considered a suspect."
> Sigh.
> "All I wanted to do today was run my bar like normal, now I'm trying to solve a mystery I have no idea about."

>"Satori and Koishi have some long-standing thing going on between them," says Reimu. "They don't talk about it. Anyways, I think I have a few ideas to investigate."
>"Oh I love it when you're all business-like!" cries the faerie, as she swoops down and hugs Reimu's arm, or rather clings to it like a raccoon on a tree. Reimu visibly tries not to acknowledge this.

> "Out of curiousity, what's your plan? Regarding this whole mess that you've just learned about, that is."

>"First I'm going to visit town," says Reimu. "Then I have a couple hunches to follow if that doesn't turn up anything."

> What do we know of Tenshi's hangouts, aside from the fact that she's from Bhava-Agra?

>She works at the tavern in the human town. But it seems she wasn't there today.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Huh. I don't you'd be up for sending me to any of those places? I kinda really wanna do this now for some reason."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Huh. I don't you'd be up for sending me to any of those places? I kinda really wanna do this now for some reason."

>"That reason being you were robbed too, of course," says Reimu. "Hmm. Personally, my suspicions lean toward Eirin or Patchouli messing around. Both are too clever for their own good, and could likely sidestep anything normal."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Huh. I actually made arrangement in town to head to Eientei later today, so I guess that works out."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Huh. I actually made arrangement in town to head to Eientei later today, so I guess that works out."

>Reimu nods, and starts walking toward the gate, still trying to ignore the faerie snuggling against her arm. "Honestly, as long as you're not making things worse, that's helpful enough."

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "I'll do what I can."
> Point at the fairy.
> "So who's your friend?"

[Hello Purvis]

> "I'll do what I can."
> Point at the fairy.
> "So who's your friend?"

>"That's Plum Flower," Reimu says, frowning a little
>"We're in love!" the faerie cries.
>"She helps out around the shrine," Reimu continues, not letting the faerie break into her speech.
>"We're going to have a dozen beautiful children!"
>"I don't have the heart to throw her out, especially since she's more useful than Suika ever was."
>"And we'll name the all Taiyaki!"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Grin.
> "I like her. She's bloodthirsty."

[Hello Purvis]

> Grin.
> "I like her. She's bloodthirsty."

>"You would," says Reimu.
>"I'm not a vampire!" the faerie cries. "...Am I?"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Turn to the fairy.
> "Don't worry, you're still you."
> Turn back to Reimu.
> "You're lucky. I wish I had one. I'd get Alice to make her a doll-sized weapon, and we could go around kicking some ass and taking some names. I could even keep her hidden, and then when we find our mark, I could pull her out and go 'Say hello to my little friend!' And we'd just go to town on 'em."

> Can we get a complete inventory-style list of the gems we currently possess, including count and estimated value?

[Hello Purvis]

> Turn to the fairy.
> "Don't worry, you're still you."
> Turn back to Reimu.
> "You're lucky. I wish I had one. I'd get Alice to make her a doll-sized weapon, and we could go around kicking some ass and taking some names. I could even keep her hidden, and then when we find our mark, I could pull her out and go 'Say hello to my little friend!' And we'd just go to town on 'em."

> Can we get a complete inventory-style list of the gems we currently possess, including count and estimated value?

>"Great!" says the faerie, looking visibly relieved.
>"Plum's no good in a fight," says Reimu. "I'd feel bad using her as a decoy like that."
>"Oh, you say the sweetest things!"

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Can we get a complete inventory-style list of the gems we currently possess, including count and estimated value?

> "Aww, I bet she could hold her own if given the proper motivation. Like if you were ever in trouble, she could grab a fork or something and just go crazy."

[Hello Purvis]

> Can we get a complete inventory-style list of the gems we currently possess, including count and estimated value?

> "Aww, I bet she could hold her own if given the proper motivation. Like if you were ever in trouble, she could grab a fork or something and just go crazy."

>Your gems are:
>Rose Quartz x2
>A common gem with a pinkish hue. Worth about 15-25☼.
>Black Pearl x2
>A rare and precious kind of pearl, easily worth 100-130☼.
>Red Spinel x2
>A lovely but low value gem that the uninitiated may mistake for a ruby. Worth 50-80☼.
>You are only a few minutes away from your pub by foot if you move quickly.
>Green Glass Bead x15
>Cheaply made, but kind of pretty. Worth 1☼. at most, and you'd quickly expect a bulk discount.
>Brown Jasper
>An ornamental gem worth 30-40☼
>Freshwater Pearl
>A common, low value pearl worth 7-8☼
>Aventurine
>A greenish stone that worth 20-25☼.
>Banded Agate
>A layered stone you would value at 7-11☼ 
>Carnelian
>A common brownish red decorative stone that you price at 7-11☼
>"I'm not crazy, you're crazy!" the faerie cries. "Look at those wings! Those are crazy person wings!"
>"Maybe someday," says Reimu.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> "Maybe."
> Turn back to the fairy and point at her.
> "You just keep on keepin' on, little lady."

[Hello Purvis]

> "Maybe."
> Turn back to the fairy and point at her.
> "You just keep on keepin' on, little lady."

>"You're still the crazy one!" says the faerie.
>Reimu nods, and resumes leaving.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> How close are we to the shrine donation box?

[Hello Purvis]

> How close are we to the shrine donation box?

>It's a few yards away.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

Any objections to heading toward the mountain?

[DracoOmega]

I think we need a convincing disguise first, though. Given the nature of events, I imagine the Tengu aren't even letting regular visitors through, and we need to have whatever look we're going with established before we head that way. Sanae would be an obvious choice, if we had a decent outfit to go with it, but we don't... Some place we can scrounge up some tengu getup and hope no one asks who we are, on the way?

Of course, I could be jumping the gun, but it would not at all be out of character for them to react that way. Tenma said that he wouldn't even necessarily let through specifically authorized people, in times of incident, remember.

[Kilgamayan]

I agree that it might be not easy to get into tengu territory right now, but, at the very least, I bet we could get Sanae to come to us, because she likes us. The tengu might also recognize an invite from the Moriya Shrine to us if we tell them we're helping Reimu investigate what's happening.

And, as a last resort, we can always tell the guard tengu we'll be happy to tell all the angry oni which race it was that denied us access to figuring out why all their cash was replaced with beads and rocks. <_<

[DracoOmega]

Asking for Sanae herself might be a decent idea. I guess if you want to try those things you mention, I have no objection. Would just be nice if we actually had a set of Sanae's clothes...

Actually, a random thought...

>Do we know of anyone who works at the Moriya Shrine aside from Sanae and the goddesses?

[Hello Purvis]

>Do we know of anyone who works at the Moriya Shrine aside from Sanae and the goddesses?

>You do not. You were only there once, after Sanae defeated you.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

I also worry a bit that the tengu might know where Sanae is, and if they see Sanae coming from a direction they don't remember seeing her going, they might get really suspicious.

> Do we have a change of Sanae's outfit in our possession?

[Hello Purvis]

> Do we have a change of Sanae's outfit in our possession?

>You do not.

>_

[GuyYouMetOnline]

Well, then, I say let's just go find a tengu patrol and ask for passage to the shrine (it wouldn't surprise me if Kanako made it quite clear that anyone bound for the shrine was to be allowed passage, although the tengu'll probably insist on sending an escort with us, but that's not a problem, right?). And if we're told no, then yeah, ask that Sanae be notified that we'd like to speak with her about the incident.

[Kilgamayan]

Eh.

> "I'll head toward the mountain to see what they know up top. Good luck in the village. Tell Byakuren I said hi and that I'm sorry for fucking up her speech."

[Hello Purvis]

> "I'll head toward the mountain to see what they know up top. Good luck in the village. Tell Byakuren I said hi and that I'm sorry for fucking up her speech."

>Reimu nods, as she takes off and heads westward. Plum Flower follows behind her.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> We're helping!
> Take flight and head toward Youkai Mountain.

[Hello Purvis]

> We're helping!
> Take flight and head toward Youkai Mountain.

>You take the air and head southward.
>It's not a short flight, but Youkai Mountain is easy enough to find from the shrine, just following along the range. Soon, you draw close to the forest along its foothills. It's rather like the one you were just in, but more vibrant from a distance.

>_

[Kilgamayan]

> Land and begin our ascent up the mountain path toward the Moriya Shrine.