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DISCLAIMER: This CYOA was created out of frustration towards a certain 2D sidecrolling MMO. Expect frequent asspulls, headcanon fire, and general nonsensicalness. This is not meant to be a serious story, but I at least want it to be an enjoyable one. Any and all criticism is appreciated.
MARISASTORY: A CERTAIN MAGICAL INTERNET
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/337147/MarisaStarsHalfSize.jpg)
picture source (http://safebooru.org/index.php?page=post&s=view&id=1050521)
> Your name is MARISA KIRISAME, and you are the best goddamn magician in all of Gensokyo!
> Okay, maybe you aren't the best just yet, but you're pretty high up on the list. You've been studying magic since your childhood, after running away from home and getting involved with the ghostly MIMA. You two were pretty tight; she considered you a daughter, until a certain shrine maiden confronted the two of you. On that day, you realized it was a very bad idea to cause an INCIDENT, or work with anyone causing said INCIDENT, so you parted ways with Mima for the sake of your well-being. It's all good though, you prefer working alone anyways.
> ...That was, until the day you met ALICE MARGATROID. You remember it well: out of boredom, you joined forces with MIMA, YUUKA KAZAMI and of course REIMU HAKUREI to investigate a demon invasion. Well, Reimu called it an invasion, but it was just some rowdy tourists coming from the demon city of MAKAI. Very noisy, intrusive and obnoxious demon tourists. They had to be taught a lesson for messing up your spell practice sessions. Alice was none too pleased with you invading her hometown, so she tried to kill you with the magic of an ANCIENT GRIMOIRE. It didn't work out well...For Alice at least. She couldn't handle your MAD MAGICAL SKILLZ and ran off crying. You never saw her again until a couple years later, when Gensokyo was suffering from severe bout of SPRING DEPRIVATION. Alice appeared to have mellowed out by this point, and even got stronger since you last met her.
> Since then, the two of you have become close friends and rivals (frivals???), and the two of you share a small house in the FOREST OF MAGIC. Alice considers you be SELFISH, a TRICKSTER, and at times CONDESCENDING, but you always tend to be UPBEAT AND CHIPPER. Your HARD WORK ETHIC is what impresses her the most, you always seem to be working on crafting a new spell (or emulating the spells of others), and gossiping with the other girls in Gensokyo. On the other hand, Alice tends to KEEP TO HERSELF, but is USUALLY PRETTY FRIENDLY with visitors, and you see her as a CALM YET SERIOUS individual. Alice's dolls help her out with various tasks around the house when you're away; you usually don't do a good job of cleaning the house, and it gets on her nerves sometimes. You two are truly an odd couple, but not to the point where you're dating or anything. That'd be weird...But still...BLUH! You don't have time for such thoughts!
> It's been some time since Alice moved in, and since then you've helped solve a variety of INCIDENTS, including some crazy YOUKAI REBELLION instigated by SEIJA KIJIN. Ugh, you don't want to be in the same room with that whack-job anymore. She disappeared after you defeated her cohort, SHINMYOUMARU SUKUNA, whom is currently under Reimu's custody, but you could give any less of a fuck about Seija's whereabouts now. Your thoughts turn to your agenda today...What were you doing again? Oh right, Alice wanted to show you SOMETHING AMAZING...Not that you guys managed to get an INTERNET CONNECTION running to your computer, you were working on that for months!
> You recall it quite clearly: The KAPPA have been reverse-engineering the MYSTERIOUS DEVICES that have suddenly cropped up in Gensokyo over the years, and have started creating their own COMPUTER NETWORK. Soon, their followers suddenly had internet access, and were able to browse the fun (yet dangerous) digital frontier established by the outside world. This did not go unnoticed, of course. The EIENTEI crew have used LUNARIAN TECHNOLOGY to make their own computer network, YUKARI YAKUMO'S been dabbling in it as well, and now you've heard rumors that the TAOIST and BUDDHIST factions are getting in on the action as well...Hell, you wouldn't be surprised if Reimu suddenly made her own server farm, her shrine could use the business.
> The thought of a more "modernized" Gensokyo would have bewildered you ages ago, but as you ponder its possibilities, a voice calls to you from downstairs...
> "Oy! Mari! You awake yet?"
> Alice is baconing beckoning you. You get out of bed and assess your room...It's a bit of a mess, but you can still see the floor at least. What will you do now?
> _
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> "Gimme five more minutes."
> Flop back into bed.
> Get thrown down staircase by doll.
> Give Alice pre-coffee "good morning" grunt.
> Lurch half-dazed self towards coffee machine. Start day with morning pot of coffee.
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> "Gimme five more minutes."
> Flop back into bed.
> Get thrown down staircase by doll.
> Give Alice pre-coffee "good morning" grunt.
> Lurch half-dazed self towards coffee machine. Start day with morning pot of coffee.
> "Yeah, sure, of course," Alice replies in a sarcastic manner.
> You flop back down on your nice, comfy bed, and try to fall back asleep.
> Just as you're about to drift off again, a fleet of Alice's dolls come in, pull the sheets off, and carry your sleepy ass downstairs.
> You grunt as you're unceremoniously dropped on the couch in the living room. Sadly, it is nowhere near as comfy as your bed, so you're forced to get back up. Seriously, this thing is as lumpy as hell. It's ok to sit in, but not sleep on. Alice says she got it from her mother, SHINKI. You suspect this couch is about as old as Shinki is.
> You shuffle towards the kitchen in a rather zombie-like matter. Through your half-awake vision, you navigate to the coffee machine, and turn it on. Thankfully, it's programmed to recognize whomever is using it, and automatically brew a cup to their specifications. You wonder where you'd be without this device; PATCHOULI KNOWLEDGE gave it to you as a bribe to keep you out of her library. Once the coffee's done (you love it when the coffee's done), you take a sip and start to feel slightly more awake. It'll take a bit for the coffee to work your way through your system.
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> Make plans for day.
> Include stealing Taoist internet connections in plans.
> Find out what Alice's amazing thing is.
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> Inventory
> What is this inter net? Don't we already have the tools needed to catch fish or butterflies?
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> Make plans for day.
> Include stealing Taoist internet connections in plans.
> Find out what Alice's amazing thing is.
> You make a mental list of tasks you should do for today...
> Quest Added: It's All In The Cards -- The new girls on the block (Parser's Hint: anyone from HM/DDC/TD) have some interesting abilities you might be able to exploit. You've seen their techniques in action, now you need to figure out how to replicate them...You should start with your magical book collection, or raid visit the library at SDM for more info.
> Quest Added: Connection Lost? -- It's gonna be tricky to leech internet from the Taoists, since their base of operations is well-hidden. Still, if you can find a way to hack into their network, it'd lead to quite a few benefits. First, you need to either find an access port to their ISP, or figure out where Miko set up shop.
> Quest Added: Alice's Surprise -- Alice wanted to show you something after you got up. You should talk to her about it ASAP.
> That being said, you look over at Alice, who's reading the paper and munching on some toast, and ask her what she wanted to show you.
> "I was wondering when you'd ask," she says with a grin. "I've taken the liberty of signing us up for one of those 'Morepig' games I've heard so much about. We should be getting our access keys via email soon." Oh yes, Alice was talking about those last night...You don't really care much for video games, but you'd feel like an asshole if you didn't spend some time with her. She hasn't really been up to participating in any incidents since Tenshi literally shook things up a while ago.
> Inventory
> What is this inter net? Don't we already have the tools needed to catch fish or butterflies?
> You're holding CUP OF COFFEE in your hand; it's 95% full and piping hot. The mug itself is ceramic and has a star design on it, it's your favorite mug. You are also wearing your PAJAMAS right now.
> You recall what the INTERNET is. As far as you know, it's a connected series of computers designed to share and transmit data. Originally created by the outside world for military use, it was eventually brought to civilians for personal and commercial use. "Data" consists of everything from simple documents, to things called "programs" which do a variety of things. So far, you're decently familiar with the internet, and the computers that power it, but Alice seems to have a firmer grasp on it than you do. The mere thought of this makes you a tad jealous.
> _
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> When did we start getting emails? Did Alice fix that internet thing up for us?
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> When did we start getting emails? Did Alice fix that internet thing up for us?
> Actually, BYAKUREN HIJIRI herself helped you set up the net shortly after the Ten Desires incident. At first, you thought this was a campaign to win over followers (moreso Alice than you), but when you saw how incredibly cheap HijiriNet was, you jumped aboard immediately. Unfortunately, cheap internet is not always good internet; your transfer speeds are less than half of the other ISPs in Gensokyo.
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> Ponder whatever you know about mumopurgers.
>Also ponder your overall gaming skills! Are we gonna suck?
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> Ponder whatever you know about mumopurgers.
>Also ponder your overall gaming skills! Are we gonna suck?
> Alice said they were like make-believe towns, where monsters are commonplace, and everyone is like a superhero. So, kinda like Gensokyo in a way. She also mentioned something about obtaining "fat loots," which you assume is treasure, and that's always a good thing.
> It depends on the game. You don't always play games, but when you do, you prefer games that exercise your brain. The RPG, strategy and puzzle genres fit your needs pretty well in this regard. You'll try action games now and then, but most of the time you stop playing because they make your hands hurt. Maybe you should see Eirin sometime about this, you kinda need your hands...But for now, you're feeling confident enough to play this new game, whatever it's called.
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> Become "The One".
> What, we don't have a spell for that?
> Well, what'll happen if we try making a "USA adapter" for our mini-hakkero? We have wires, jamming one into our hakkero is bound to do something cool, right?
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> Become "The One".
> What, we don't have a spell for that?
> Well, what'll happen if we try making a "USA adapter" for our mini-hakkero? We have wires, jamming one into our hakkero is bound to do something cool, right?
> You have no idea what "The One" is, nor do you have the ability to become it.
> In your groggy state, you wonder what'll happen if you connect your Mini-Hakkero to your computer...You assume it'll act like a power source, and extend the life of your battery...In fact, that's not a bad idea, you should try it sometime! After you have some more coffee and a proper breakfast. Seriously, you're out of it right now, so you take a sip (mug is 90% full now).
> Alice takes notice of your groggy stupor, and quips "Are you okay? Did you not sleep well last night?"
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>"Mmmrphurghh."
>Continue ingesting Marisa fuel.
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>"Mmmrphurghh."
>Continue ingesting Marisa fuel.
> Alice pauses for a moment before replying, "I'll take that as a no..." and goes back to reading the paper.
> You continue drinking the coffee, until it's about halfway full. However, coffee alone won't keep you going; you should think about eating breakfast soon as well.
> _
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> Proceed to the cupboards and search for food.
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> Proceed to the cupboards and search for food.
> You muster up the leg power to go to the cupboard, and the arm power to open it. A variety of boxed, bagged and otherwise packaged foods sit before you. Most of it is yours, as Alice doesn't eat that much. Alice giggles a bit as you stare blankly at your potential breakfast choices.
> _
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> Anything good in the cupboard?
> What kind of things can we find on the inter net?
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> Scarf down whatever happens to be in front, we have things to do.
> We might not have decided what those things are yet, but we definitely want to start doing them!
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> Anything good in the cupboard?
> What kind of things can we find on the inter net?
> Cereal, crackers, chips, dried fruit, that sort of thing; the more perishable stuff is in your ICEBOX.
> Pretty much anything!...Some things more desirable than others. You usually use it to look up magic-related things, plants, and keep tabs on everyone's blogs. Maybe an e-book or two, a new silly game to play, and then you come across this strange site called "Tee Vee Traps." You're not sure why, but time seems to pass much faster while you're browsing that site...Part of you suspects it might be a time machine of some kind.
> Scarf down whatever happens to be in front, we have things to do.
> We might not have decided what those things are yet, but we definitely want to start doing them!
> You grab the nearest bag of granola, and start eating it a handful at a time. Usually, you have this with a bit of milk and dried fruit, but hindsight's only 10/20 when you're half-awake.
> That is why you jotted down those quests earlier, yes? You should at least think about that game Alice mentioned, and see if you can swipe a book from Patchy later.
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> First, let's go check our email for "Eminem Oh" stuff! Go outside and look in mailbox.
> Hook up Hakkero to computer. Make computer love powered.
> Attempt to use computer to program more power to master spark.
> We may need to steal some rams for Hakkero hacking. Make a mental note of local shepherds.
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> First, let's go check our email for "Eminem Oh" stuff! Go outside and look in mailbox.
> Hook up Hakkero to computer. Make computer love powered.
> Attempt to use computer to program more power to master spark.
> We may need to steal some rams for Hakkero hacking. Make a mental note of local shepherds.
> Screw breakfast, it can wait. You're feeling slightly more awake, so your shuffle has become more of a slow gait.
> "Sheesh, you're really out of it today, aren't you?" Alice quips as you make your way to the study, where your computer lies. "Don't trip!" Thankfully, you fail to do so and sit down at your computer desk successfully.
> The computer in question is actually a laptop model, which the Kappa have humorously called the KAPPTOP. Yours has a black upper half and a white lower half, and the cases is decked out with--big surprise--stars. You even have a mini-constellation of your adorable mug flashing a victory sign on the case! You also have a wired mouse attached to the device, with a similar color scheme. A charging cord runs from the computer to a nearby outlet, so your Kapptop is always charged and ready for action. You rarely take it with you while traveling; you don't want it getting blasted by danmaku if a SKIRMISH comes up.
> You open up the Kapptop, and it wakes up immediately. It takes you a second to locate the email program (eBottles) and open it, but once you do so, you hear Mimi-chan (http://en.touhouwiki.net/wiki/Minor_Characters#Mimi-Chan)'s voice tell you "Mail's here!" followed by an explosive sound effect. That always makes you crack up (and make Alice jump a bit in her seat).
> Your inbox has several new messages in it, most notably the aforementioned ACCESS KEY Alice mentioned earlier.
> You left your Hakkero upstairs! Thankfully, you always keep it under your pillow in case of a sudden SKIRMISH (heaven forbid you actually use it indoors, though).
> You're not sure how to do that. You do have a program that'll let you design spell cards, but it's kinda useless without a printer. You prefer to draw them yourself, anyways.
> Stealing RAM would be beneficial, but you wouldn't know how to install it. You usually have NAZRIN take care of hardware and technical stuff; she'll give you a discount on her services since you're a HijiriNet customer. As for actual sheep and sheeplike creatures, the HUMAN VILLAGE has a few farms where livestock is grown. You'd have to be pretty desperate (or be Kagerou) to steal mutton from the villagers, though. :V
> _
that was a lot more fluff than i expected, hope that's not a problem for you guys
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Fluffy quests are good, but it would be easier to read when you place line breaks between bullets a bit more and put the part of the command corresponding to an action immediately above the action it corresponds to, instead of putting all the commands from a single quote at the top of a post.
> Collect hakkero, just in case. What if there's a surprise fairy ninja attack?
> Note that your concern over fairy ninjas felt much less stupid in your head.
> "Let's see what the hoopla over this game is."
> Character creation: Vote for "black mage" class, name "Alice Dumbledore".
> Get the sense that Alice doesn't completely approve of your naming choice.
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> Collect hakkero, just in case. What if there's a surprise fairy ninja attack?
> The thought of ninjas in Gensokyo surprises you, you haven't seen one anywhere in spite of the setting. Then again...You seen numerous residents (mostly Yukari and her two companions) use kunai and knifes in their attacks, and Sakuya certainly fights like a ninja...The thought of this makes you just paranoid enough to dash upstairs and snatch your Hakkero from your pillow.
> Item Acquired: Mini-Hakkero -- Your not-so-secret weapon that powers your Master Spark attack. It's too powerful to use as a focus for your other spells, but you wouldn't be caught dead without this bad boy.
> Note that your concern over fairy ninjas felt much less stupid in your head.
> Yeah, I mean, what're the odds that a fairy is going to suddenly master ninjitsu? You've been around the forest long enough to know that most fairies will stay away from you and Alice, and the higher level ones pose no threat. Except maybe Lily...Thank god it's not Spring.
> "Let's see what the hoopla over this game is."
> You hustle back downstairs; your recent paranoia has given you a small adrenaline rush, so you feel a lot less like a zombie. You open the email and are greeted with the following message:
To: risingstar82@hijiri.net
From: no-reply@maneki.com
Subject: GUILDIES! Access Key
Good day, RisingStar82!
Thank you for your interest in our game. Enclosed in this message is a link that will let you download and install GUILDIES! to your computer. As you know, we're giving out Early Access Keys to certain individuals, so they may try our game before its official release. Please keep in mind that this is not a beta, it is an official release and should be treated as such. Feel free to give us feedback on your experience, and if you're a member of the press, review it! Don't hold back! Tell us straight from your heart how much you liked or disliked our game!
Please do not share this link with anyone else, as it's a violation of our Terms of Service. You may read the ToS by clicking here.
To begin your download, please click here. If something happens during said download, please contact our Technical Support Center.
Enjoy your time in GUILDIES!
Sincerly,
The GUILDIES! Development Team
> You click on the desired link, and a new tab opens up in your browser...Only for it to be replaced with a dialog box confirming the download. You click "Begin Download." Estimated time to completion...
> ...Son of a bitch, it's gonna take at least two hours and 15 minutes, and you know it's only going to go up thanks to how shitty the estimator is. What a mood-killer.
> Character creation: Vote for "black mage" class, name "Alice Dumbledore".
> You'll definitely look into the "Magician" branch of classes when the game finally downloads. That being said, GUILDIES! doesn't have a regular class system: it just gives you one of several archetypes to work with, and you can model your character however you like from there. As for the name...Ugh, what ridiculous thought possessed you to come up with that name? You must still be out of it to be resorting to punny names like that. That being said, you guess it was kind of clever.
> Get the sense that Alice doesn't completely approve of your naming choice.
> Alice would actually find this amusing; she seems to appreciate puns a little more than you do...And by that she'll rub bit in your face when she feels it's appropriate.
> "What's the matter, Mari? Feeling a bit disconnected?" she says, followed with a hearty chuckle.
> _
yeah this looks way better, thanks capth ^.^b
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> Wait.
> Then start game.
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> Wait.
> Then start game.
> Wait for two-plus hours doing nothing but sitting at the computer? You could be doing a lot of other stuff in that time, it's unlike you to just idle.
> "I guess I should start my download while I'm at it," Alice says as she accesses her computer. "You're not gonna sit around in your PJs all day, are you?"
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You two are truly an odd couple, but not to the point where you're dating or anything. That'd be weird...But still...BLUH! You don't have time for such thoughts!
> Not really in the mood to steal things...
> "Hey Alice, wanna make a kid?"
> Note Alice's expression, then correct self.
> "I meant work on Shanghai's sentience."
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> Not really in the mood to steal things...
> "Hey Alice, wanna make a kid?"
> Note Alice's expression, then correct self.
> "I meant work on Shanghai's sentience."
> You express your current mood, and unusual desire to make a child...A sentient child based on one of Alice's dolls.
> "Well, I have been working on it over the years. Shanghai and Hourai have developed personalities, but...They don't really talk and act on their own, unless I'm directing them." Alice sighs, and looks out a window. The sun is peeking in through the magical forest's canopy. "If only I had that one Medicine doll to study...Whatever happened to her after that one flower viewing incident?"
> Ah yes, MEDICINE MELANCHOLY. A living doll that came to life after years of sleeping in a field of poisonous flowers. She is accompanied by a miniature version of herself, though you're unsure which one is the "core" personality of the two. Either way, you remember she was invited by Reisen to come to Eientei; her knowledge of poisons has helped Eirin greatly in her medical research. You relay this info to Alice.
> "I see...Maybe I'll go visit her at Eientei, then. Though...I'm nervous about going alone." She has a point, the Bamboo Forest is a thoroughly controlled by the local INABA, who love to play pranks on unsuspecting visitors. There's no telling how Kaguya will take a second visit, you haven't seen her since the Imperishable Night incident. And then there's Mokou to worry about too...Still, it's something to consider while waiting for GUILDIES! to download.
> Quest Added: Doll in the Shadows -- Alice wishes to speak to Medicine at Eientei. The journey will be a bit dangerous, but it's important for Alice's doll research.
> _
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> Get dressed.
> Go to Eientei.
> Add Mokou to party at first possible opportunity.
> Wonder if visiting Medicine is a good idea. Doesn't she want to kill all the humans?
> Not that something so trivial would stop us.
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> Get dressed.
> You finally decide to stop lollygagging and get some clothes. You tell Alice you'll be ready shortly, which pleases her.
> Outfit Equipped: EVERYDAY OUTFIT -- This is your typical day-to-day outfit you wear most of the time [Parser's Note: like the one in the intro image]. It's comfy and easy to wear!
> You also grab your SPELL CARDS and BROOM, you never leave home without these.
> Item Acquired: Deck of Spell Cards -- Your ultimate weapons in the case of solving Incidents and fighting off enemies in Skirmishes.
> Item Acquired: Riding Broomstick -- Your main mode of transit around Gensokyo. It can also be used as a focal point for your basic attacks, be it shooting danmaku or smacking people upside the head.
> And last, but not least...
> Item Acquired: BAG OF HOLDING -- This looks like an ordinary handbag, but you enchanted it to hold almost anything you could stuff in it. You could probably carry someone inside this if you wanted to!
> Wonder if visiting Medicine is a good idea. Doesn't she want to kill all the humans?
> Not that something so trivial would stop us.
> You ask Alice if this is a good idea, and she replies "Of course it is...For me, at least. If it gets too problematic, I'll just let her return home."
> You also ask Alice if Medicine is harboring a grudge towards any humans. "I'm not sure. Maybe Mokou, but I think that's more mob mentality than anything else."
> Go to Eientei.
> Add Mokou to party at first possible opportunity.
> Believing you're fully prepared, you decide to head out for the House of Eternity, but you get stopped by one of Alice's dolls, whom is holding a bag lunch. "Oh, that's right, I made sandwiches for us the other day and we didn't eat them!" Alice chuckles. "You can have this one, Mari. I think you might need it." You don't admit it openly, but you always appreciate it when Alice makes a meal for you to eat on the go.
> Item Acquired: SANDWICH -- A simple sandwich, chock full of tasty meats and veggies to restore your health.
> Ok, NOW you're ready. The two of you step out and take flight over the woods, and head for the Bamboo Forest. It's mostly clear and sunny day, the temperature is warm without being stifling hot. It's been getting considerably cooler over the past week or so, meaning that Fall is just around the corner. Within minutes, the Bamboo Grove is in sight. It's just as cluttered as you remember, but you also start to recall something else... Just as you and Alice suddenly fall out of the air like pair of de-winged fairies, thankfully, you're able to catch yourselves before your fall causes any serious damage.
> "Ugh, I forgot...This is a Low-Fly Zone," Alice quips. You recall that Eirin possesses a device called an ANTI-GRAVITY NEGATOR, which knocks out any means of flight, levitation or similar over Eientei's airspace. You suspect they did this so potential intruders would have to work through the traps set up around the grove by Tewi and Reisen.
> You now stand at the edge of the Bamboo Grove, what next?
> _
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> Walk forward and pray.
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> Walk forward and pray.
> You're not much of a religious person, but considering how devious Tewi's traps can be, a little prayer wouldn't hurt. You mutter a small prayer to your (ahem) Lady and Savior Hijiri, and Alice does the same.
> Once you're done, you enter the forest proper...A few feet in, you can feel the ground sag a bit. Your gut tells you this might be a (poorly designed) pitfall trap, but you can't be sure.
> _
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> You're not much of a religious person, but considering how devious Tewi's traps can be, a little prayer wouldn't hurt. You mutter a small prayer to your (ahem) Lady and Savior Hijiri, and Alice does the same.
> Once you're done, you enter the forest proper...A few feet in, you can feel the ground sag a bit. Your gut tells you this might be a (poorly designed) pitfall trap, but you can't be sure.
> _
> Step back a foot.
> Aim hakkero at ground. Shoot ground.
> Aim hakkero straight ahead. Shoot straight line through bamboo forest.
> Avoid any holes. Continue walking.
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> Step back a foot.
> Aim hakkero at ground. Shoot ground.
> You step back, and fire a low-powered laser shot at the ground, tripping the trap. A net springs up, catching nothing but leaves and sticks, and the area below it collapses into a pitfall. A net to trap intruders and a pit to catch them when they try to escape...Clever, Tewi.
> Aim hakkero straight ahead. Shoot straight line through bamboo forest.
> Avoid any holes. Continue walking.
> Alice sighs as you prepare to take aim. "I thought you'd be a little more restrained than this. I don't think blasting a path through the forest will win us any favor with the rabbits. What if we hit the mansion?"
> She has a point. A hit with a non-spellcard Master Spark would damage much of the forest and punch a hole in the mansion. You opt to hold off on the heavy ordinance for now, and press onward, keeping an eye out for any more pitfalls. As you walk, something brushes your hat and drags it off your head. You look up to see what could have unseated it from your head, but you see nothing.
> _
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> When have we ever restrained ourselves?
> Get paranoid about hat. Call out into forest. Blast forest if no one responds. Check hat from traps. Then put on hat.
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> When have we ever restrained ourselves?
> The Subterranean incident comes to mind. Okuu's birdbrained planning, Kanako's involvement and your immense dislike of caves pushed your patience to the breaking point. Both Reimu and Alice (whom was spiritually connected to you for support) had to talk you out of raiding the Moriya Shrine (again), but if given the chance, you'd probably give Kanako at good whack in the face with your broom. What kind of idiot just leaves that kind of technology sitting around?!
> Get paranoid about hat. Call out into forest. Blast forest if no one responds. Check hat from traps. Then put on hat.
> You turn and look at your hat, in an accusing matter. Is it conspiring to murder you in your sleep? Alice looks on, worried, and a quick glance at her face makes you snap back to your senses.
> "Are you feeling all right, Mari?" Alice asks. "If this is too much for you...We can head back."
> While you consider your response, you retrieve your hat and brush the debris off it. You don't see any traps or the like on it, so you put it back on.
> _
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> "The hat getting knocked off bothers me, I think there's definitely something nearby. Don't really want to turn back, but can't think of a better way to clear all the booby traps than to blast a path to Eientei. Seriously, what kind of doctor lays booby traps for all the incoming patients?"
> "I guess we could try finding Mokou instead, she's probably used to this kind of thing. Unless you have a different plan?"
>_
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> "The hat getting knocked off bothers me, I think there's definitely something nearby. Don't really want to turn back, but can't think of a better way to clear all the booby traps than to blast a path to Eientei. Seriously, what kind of doctor lays booby traps for all the incoming patients?"
> "I think it's moreso the rabbits' doing than the doctor...I assume her regular patients have a safe route to follow," Alice says.
> "I guess we could try finding Mokou instead, she's probably used to this kind of thing. Unless you have a different plan?"
> Alice shakes her head. "I have a better idea." She asks some of her dolls to spread out and look for traps. Surely enough, they trip over nigh-invisible objects, making an erratic melody of *TWING* noises in the process. You surmise that there are trip wires around the area, which might explain your hat being dislodged from your head.
-
> "I suppose your way will get us in less trouble."
> Be disappointed that Alice's way doesn't involve any explosions whatsoever.
> Have Alice take point and continue to Eientei.
-
> "I suppose your way will get us in less trouble."
> Be disappointed that Alice's way doesn't involve any explosions whatsoever.
> Alice smiles a bit. That smile...You find it both adorable and smug at the same time. You hate it when she one-ups you like this.
> At any rate, Alice uses a lot more finesse and trickery when she fights, but she's willing to pull out the big guns when she has to...You know that scenario all too well.
> Have Alice take point and continue to Eientei.
> You reluctantly let Alice take the lead, making your way through the maze of wires and pitfalls. Eventually, you see the HOUSE OF ETERNITY though the trees. The mansion looks as pristine and well-kempt as you remember, no doubt to Kaguya's magic and the mass of rabbits in charge of it. You can hear a light hum of electricity in the air...Various antennae and receptors emerge from the uppermost rooftop, as evidence of the Lunarian devices at work here.
> _
-
> Knock on door.
-
> Knock on door.
> You knock on the door. There's silence, then the door opens up a bit. On the other side is a familiar-looking Usagi, who meekly asks "Uh, can I help you?"
-
>"We'd like to see Medicine."
>"The doll, I mean."
-
> Wonder when Sailor Moon started working at Eientei.
> Wait, this is a different usagi, isn't it.
> Do we know the rabbit's name?
-
>"We'd like to see Medicine."
>"The doll, I mean."
> "O-Oh, may I ask why?" the usagi replies, her meekness fading once she realizes you're not hostile.
> Wonder when Sailor Moon started working at Eientei.
> Wait, this is a different usagi, isn't it.
> Do we know the rabbit's name?
> You should know this rabbit's name, it's REISEN. You've seen her a few times, once during the Flower Viewing incident and again during Tenshi's MISCHEVOUS RAMPAGE. She looks meek, but you know better not to mess with her...Those eyes, man. Those Lunatic Eyes.
-
> Respond in best bored voice, "Doll army recruitment drive. Today Gensokyo, tomorrow the world."
> Let Alice explain it. She understands this stuff better than us anyhow.
-
> Respond in best bored voice, "Doll army recruitment drive. Today Gensokyo, tomorrow the world."
> Your monotone voice catches Reisen off guard, but the surprise doesn't last for long. "You do realize I'm partially psychic, right? If you were really a doll, you wouldn't have a mind to read." Reisen chuckles a bit. You know she merely jests.
> Let Alice explain it. She understands this stuff better than us anyhow.
> You and Alice explain what's going on. "Ah, so you want Medi-chan's help? Well, she has been getting bored as of late...Maybe a bit of fresh air will do her good," Reisen muses. "I'd rather let Eirin-sama know of this first, why don't we go talk to her together?"
> _
-
>Respond to her with a lazy, bored voice " Ffiinnne" XsighX.
>Follow Reisen to Eirin.
-
> "Sure."
> Let Alice handle all the diplomacy stuff with Eirin, she's better at those few things in life which don't involve explosions, giant lasers, or burglary.
-
>Respond to her with a lazy, bored voice " Ffiinnne" XsighX.
>Follow Reisen to Eirin.
> "Sure."
> Let Alice handle all the diplomacy stuff with Eirin, she's better at those few things in life which don't involve explosions, giant lasers, or burglary.
> You sigh sarcastically and let Reisen escort you in. The mansion is just as corridor-heavy as you remember: doors upon doors lead to other hallways, and those lead to more hallways...You get the sneaking suspicion that Kaguya is using the same space-bending magic that Sakuya uses on the SDM. You even considered if Sakuya was a Lunarian at some point, but you quickly debunked that theory.
> Despite the mazelike design, it doesn't take you very long to reach EIRIN YAGOKORO'S LAB/INFIRMARY. Compared to the old world design of the mansion, the room itself looks anachronistic. Technology akin to what you read about on the net can be seen all over the place, from fancy-looking analysis equipment to a medical chair that looks like something out of an episode of Star Trek. Eirin herself, as well as Medicine, are staring at an X-ray plastered on a light-up wall in the back of the room. Reisen calls for her sensei's name, which seems to snap her out of her train of thought.
> "Ah, sorry..."
> Eirin turns to her, as does Medicine. "Actually, I'm glad you came back...My brain was running in circles trying to figure out what just happened."
> Reisen looks concerned. "Has there been another...Accident?"
> Eirin nods. "I'm afraid so. Fourth one this month...But we can discuss this later," she says, looking over at you and Alice. "What brings you here to my lab?"
> "Your assistant, Medicine." Alice says. "I was hoping we could borrow her for a bit."
> Medicine crosses her arms and looks sternly at you two. "Can't you see we're a bit busy right now? I don't like having to be called away from work..."
> While Alice tries to convince Medi that her intentions aren't malicious, you look up at the X-ray. You can't see it fully, but it looks it was taken from an inaba.
> "Oh, you're curious about what happened, I see," Eirin says, stepping aside so you can get a better look. "I don't blame you, you kinda caught us in the moment here. Something's been happening to our staff here at Eientei, but...I'm not sure if I should discuss it with you. You know how rumors and gossip attract those vultures." You assume she's talking about the gossip-happy tengu. You're not entirely sure what's going on here, but your CURIOSITY COUNTER is ticking up pretty damn fast...
> _
-
>What happen.
>Did someone set up us the bomb?
-
> The parser would like to apologize for the lack of updates lately, he has been consumed by a rampant Etrian Odyssey addiction.
>What happen.
>Did someone set up us the bomb?
> You ask Eirin a simple question, and she sighs. "I guess I can't hide anything from you, huh? You have to promise us not to breathe a word of this to anyone." You assure her that a magician never reveals her secrets, and she chuckles. By this point, it seems Alice and Medicine have finished their conversation, and have turned to join in with you and Eirin.
> "Anyways...Ever since we've opened up our LunarCast network, the tech support staff have taken to browsing the net and playing online games during downtime. I'd normally discourage this sort of thing, but the inaba's work ethic is...Amazing. You ask them to do something, and they do it, but I'm getting a bit off track here." Eirin pauses for a second, as if thinking about what to say next. "About a month ago, Kaguya-sama started playing some online RPG...I didn't catch the name. And since then, she's been playing non-stop. As in...She doesn't eat, she doesn't sleep, she hardly if ever leaves her room; even during a regular gaming session she at least stops to get some fresh air once in a while...And pick on Mokou."
> "Sounds like they're still feuding," Alice chimes in.
> "Not as much as they used to," Eirin replies. "They seem to have gotten over their little dispute and now they just pick on each other for fun...But now and then..."
> "There's a reason why we have a fire extinguisher in every room," Medicine says.
> "Yes...Good point, Medi. But back to what I was saying earlier..." Eirin continues with her story. "I tried to separate her from her computer many times...But Kaguya has literally sealed herself in her room, it's impossible to get in. So I've been working with Medicine on a special acid that can destroy Kaguya's door. In the meantime, I attached a life monitor to her window to keep an eye on her."
> You ask Eirin why an immortal like her would worry about her health, when she could just die and reincarnate again. "Well, for some reason she hasn't. She's like a zombie. Her body's been put under immense strain by the Hourai Elixir to stay intact...The problem is, it's slowly driving her mad. Her vitals are getting worse by the day. Even if she can't die, she could lose her sanity due to the pain her body's being put through...I think whatever game she's playing is to blame, and that brings me to this." Eirin motions to the X-ray behind her.
> "Once the staff caught wind of what game she's playing, they started playing it themselves. At first, nothing strange happened aside from a dip in productivity...But once a couple of the staff started to pass out, I got worried...Even moreso when I saw this." She points to the head on the X-ray, specifically a suspicious-looking mass in the patient's brain. "It's some kind of tumor...These started showing up just after the fainting spells began. I've judged the tumor to be benign and non-fatal, but I have a sneaking suspicion this has to do with the game Kaguya-sama discovered...And possibly Kaguya-sama's madness herself. So far, I've devoted most of my time to destroying this tumor, but my efforts so far have been fruitless. Now do you see why I don't want this getting out?"
> You nod in agreement. But a question appears in your mind, and you ask it: what's the name of the game Kaguya discovered?
> "I believe it's called Guildies...Have you heard of it?" Eirin replies.
> _
-
>Look to Alice. "Well, looks like we'd better give up on that huh? If it really is causing a mess like this, then even I'm not crazy enough for that."
>Then turn back to Eirin. "As for the whole sealing herself in her room thing, maybe I can fix that too. After all, there isn't an obstacle I've run across yet that can stand up to me."
-
>Look to Alice. "Well, looks like we'd better give up on that huh? If it really is causing a mess like this, then even I'm not crazy enough for that."
> Alice looks unsure. "I dunno...I don't think we should ignore this."
>Then turn back to Eirin. "As for the whole sealing herself in her room thing, maybe I can fix that too. After all, there isn't an obstacle I've run across yet that can stand up to me."
> Eirin grins. "Considering your firepower, feel free to give it a shot...Just don't blow up the second floor when you do, okay?"
> _
-
>Grin at Alice. "Since when did I say I was giving up on this mess? I was talking about playing Guildies. If it really is behind this, then we'll just have to figure out who's behind it and give them a bit of the old 'Gensokyo Hello', know what I mean?"
>Then look back to Eirin. "Well, I'll do my best, but I can't guarantee the area won't have at least some collateral damage. If it comes to it, I might need to use my strongest spell to bust through."
>Shrug. "Alternatively, we could find some way to remove that room itself from this place, and then I blast a way in. I bet someone with a brain like yours could figure something out."
-
>Grin at Alice. "Since when did I say I was giving up on this mess? I was talking about playing Guildies. If it really is behind this, then we'll just have to figure out who's behind it and give them a bit of the old 'Gensokyo Hello', know what I mean?"
> "Oh!" Alice perks up. "The way you worded it said otherwise...But I'm glad to hear you say that." Alice smiles at you.
>Then look back to Eirin. "Well, I'll do my best, but I can't guarantee the area won't have at least some collateral damage. If it comes to it, I might need to use my strongest spell to bust through."
> You propose Eirin your usual tactic of overcoming barriers (that doesn't involve flying right over them) ...
>Shrug. "Alternatively, we could find some way to remove that room itself from this place, and then I blast a way in. I bet someone with a brain like yours could figure something out."
> ...And a method that sounds like something Yukari would come up with. Eirin puts a hand to her chin and thinks. "That is a possibility...Kaguya-sama's magic preserves the time of something, but not its space. I wonder..." She looks to Reisen, who's been standing patiently off to the side this whole time. "Reisen, do you have that emergency teleporter from your ship, still?"
> "I think so!" Reisen eagerly replies.
> "Could you go get it, please? I think we can extract Kaguya from her room with it."
> Reisen nods and heads off, then Eirin turns back to you and Alice. "We may need your magical expertise for this, would you mind?"
> _
-
>Grin. "No problem, I was originally doing this to kill time, but it looks like I've beaten Reimu to the punch in finding a possible incident for once."
>How does Reimu take the fact of people beating her to the punch in Incident Resolution?
-
>Grin. "No problem, I was originally doing this to kill time, but it looks like I've beaten Reimu to the punch in finding a possible incident for once."
> "Hmmm, I wonder how she's doing as of late..." Eirin muses, but shakes her head and pushes aside the thought. "Why don't we meet up outside Kaguya-sama's bedroom? Medicine can escort you up there." She looks at her other assistant, who isn't exactly enthused by the prospect, but she nods in agreement.
>How does Reimu take the fact of people beating her to the punch in Incident Resolution?
> You recall Reimu having mixed feelings about it. She doesn't like the idea of being watched by the world, since she feels it puts too much pressure on her. On the other hand, she needs the exposure to gain followers and donations for her shrine. You recall her telling you what Aya told her: "You can save Gensokyo as many times as you like; no one's going to take you seriously without some kind of proof." In spite of that truth, you believe that there are still people out there who hold Reimu as their savior, otherwise Reimu's powers would have faded away by now. While you do enjoy solving incidents with Reimu, you usually let her take the lead; you only get involved if there's something in it for you, or if you're bored out of your skull. Sometimes, it's both.
> _
-
> Use cell phone to create video proof of incident resolution on future incidents.
> Starting with this incident.
> Go to Kaguya's room.
-
> Use cell phone to create video proof of incident resolution on future incidents.
> Starting with this incident.
> You don't have a cell phone! In fact, the only person you know of that has one is Hatate...The Kappa and Lunarians tend to use bulky-looking walkie-talkies, which you find somewhat unappealing. If you could get a cell phone, you would, but so far no one is making them yet.
> Go to Kaguya's room.
> You express your interest in helping out, and Eirin smiles. "I'm glad to hear it. I'll see you upstairs, I need to see if Reisen needs any help with the teleporter." With that, she leaves, and Medicine beckons you to follow her. Her tiny counterpart, Mini-Medicine, follows as well.
> After being led through a series of corridors, and up a staircase, you arrive near Kaguya's room. A set of double doors, decorated with Kaguya's signature pink flower pattern, marks the entrance to her lair. As you approach, you can feel an immense magical pressure. It's like being in the presence of static electricity, except your hair doesn't stand on end. You suspect this is because of the seal spell Eirin mentioned earlier.
> _
-
> Proceed.
-
> Proceed.
> The parser assumes you mean through the door, and you try to open it. Your hand feels numb, like when you accidentally sleep on it, and it feels like your arm is being suspended by invisible cushions. You reach the door without harm, but your attempts to pull it open are fruitless; the door refuses to budge.
-
> Do something helpful.
> Have difficulty thinking of anything.
> Have Alice do something helpful.
-
> Do something helpful.
> Have difficulty thinking of anything.
> Have Alice do something helpful.
> You try to figure out how to open this door...
> ...But your limited knowledge of Kaguya's magic (and time magic in general) stumps you. Where's Sakuya or Yukari where you need them?...Not that you'd ask for their help of course, a person of your awesomeness doesn't just request Deus Ex Machinae like that.
> You turn to Alice as a new thought pops into your head, why not use that Grimoire she's had sitting around? Alice nervously objects, she wouldn't want to risk it. "This book is more powerful than you could possibly imagine, even my child self couldn't unlock its full power..."
> Footsteps divert your attention as Reisen and Eirin enter the hallway. They're carrying with them a cube-shaped device with glowing lines running over it. This, you guess, was the EMERGENCY TELEPORTER they talked about earlier.
> "It works!" Reisen says with a smile as she and Eirin put it down. "There's just one problem...It's meant to teleport the pilot towards the nearest planet in the case of an emergency ejection in space. Since we're already on a planet right now...Yeah, we're not sure how to reprogram it without taking it a part, and it's a total pain. Maybe you two have some ideas...?"
> _
-
>Taking stuff apart and putting it back together...Isn't Nitori good at that?
-
>Taking stuff apart and putting it back together...Isn't Nitori good at that?
> You think of Nitori as you look at the device. She could potentially take it apart, but you're not sure how good she is with Lunarian technology.
-
>"Hmm...I don't really know how good she is with this sort of tech, but the first person I think of if it involves a gadget of some kind is usually Nitori."
>After all, for us, breaking things is easier than fixing them, right?
>Then look to Alice. "Unless you think you might be able to do the job with all those dolls of yours."
-
>"Hmm...I don't really know how good she is with this sort of tech, but the first person I think of if it involves a gadget of some kind is usually Nitori."
> Reisen perks up at that. "Isn't she the head engineer behind those KappaTops?" You explain to her that you've gotten to know her better after the Mountain of Faith incident, and that she's pretty handy with tech. In fact, it was because of her that you and Alice got your laptops. "Wow, that's really nice of her! I wish we had someone like her on hand, the only one with any sort of mechanical skill is me, and I'm not that advanced." Reisen pauses for a second. "Besides...I wouldn't want to drag her away from her busy schedule just for this."
>After all, for us, breaking things is easier than fixing them, right?
> Totally! However, that's not to say you can't think of a more finesse-worthy solution to a problem. You just haven't found a good reason to. :V
>Then look to Alice. "Unless you think you might be able to do the job with all those dolls of yours."
> On the other hand...Alice might provide some insight, so you say the above to her. "Hmmm, we could try a beacon spell to direct the teleporter's destination...Didn't you study those in the past, Mari?"
> _
-
> Did we study those in the past?
> "Well, I suppose if we knew how it identified planet locations, we could trick it's sensors. Make it believe the nearest planet is a couple miles overhead."
> "Or I could stick my Hakkero to the back of a hammer and hit her room at Mach 4."
> Make sure to "borrow" a hammer and some glue from Eientei.
-
> Did we study those in the past?
> You started studying those after the IN incident. With so many youkai and humans working together, having something to direct the others to the "hot zone" would only help in the long run. Many types of beacons exist, though the one that comes to your mind for this situation is an ATTRACT BEACON, which can pull spells and other magical phenomena towards it.
> "Well, I suppose if we knew how it identified planet locations, we could trick it's sensors. Make it believe the nearest planet is a couple miles overhead."
> Reisen thinks for a moment. "Well, that's possible, but tricky. It won't transport you to a barren asteroid with no life on it. The target planet has to be able to sustain life, and the teleporter checks for that before committing to the teleport."
> "Or I could stick my Hakkero to the back of a hammer and hit her room at Mach 4."
> Reisen sweatdrops. "I-I'm not sure that's actually...Viable, but I guess it's an option?" Eirin doesn't seem pleased with the option; Medicine is doing her best not to laugh.
> Make sure to "borrow" a hammer and some glue from Eientei.
> So far, you haven't gotten a chance to pilfer anything. Security has tightened a bit since you last visited; you've spotted security cameras throughout the halls and in Eirin's Infirmary. You might be better off just asking for the items...Aw, who're you kidding, you could totally swipe those goods right out of their noses! You saw a supply closet earlier, that'd be a good place to look for the glue...For the hammer, if you want something hefty to smash open that door, you may need to sneak downstairs and swipe one from the rabbits' workshop.
> Crafting Challenge Unlocked: Hammer Time -- Possibly inspired by Dedede from Super Smash Bros Brawl, you decided to try and affix your Hakkero to a large hammer and turn it into a weapon of rocket-powered destruction. DISCLAIMER: Crafting Challenges are completely optional and not required to finish the game, though they can help you finish it...Or completely screw it up. Think carefully before commiting to one!
> REQUIRED ITEMS: Lunarian Super Glue x1, Any Heavy-class Hammer x1, Mini-Hakkero x1
-
> "It knows this planet is viable. How does it know the exact coordinates? I think we could trick it into getting confused about the coordinates while keeping the same target."
> We need to make an excuse to collect things from the supply closet while we're still helping, then plan a route when we leave that takes us past the rabbit's workshop. Then run like hell.
> Or we could ask nicely. But where's the fun in that?
-
> "It knows this planet is viable. How does it know the exact coordinates? I think we could trick it into getting confused about the coordinates while keeping the same target."
> Reisen explains how it works...In surprising detail. Basically, it uses existing starchart data to calculate the position of the planet, as well as its speed, orbit, distance from the sun...It's a lot to take in. At least you got an idea of how it works.
> We need to make an excuse to collect things from the supply closet while we're still helping, then plan a route when we leave that takes us past the rabbit's workshop. Then run like hell.
> Or we could ask nicely. But where's the fun in that?
> You could always go with the classic "I need to use the restroom" ruse. The problem is that you probably need an escort to get to one, given how labyrinthine Eientei is.
-
> "Well, if it's using starchart data, I imagine it would need to compare the data to a clock to get the locations right. So it ought to calculate wrong if we slow down it's clock a second or two. Sound about right?"
> Expose device to door magic for a few seconds.
-
> "Well, if it's using starchart data, I imagine it would need to compare the data to a clock to get the locations right. So it ought to calculate wrong if we slow down it's clock a second or two. Sound about right?"
> "Hmm, yes, time plays a large role in the calculations..." Eirin says. "What did you have in mind?"
> Expose device to door magic for a few seconds.
> You say that you have this cunning plan, and ask if you could borrow the teleporter for a second. At first, the two hesitate, but they allow you to take custody of the device briefly. You try moving it...It's about as heavy as a fully-packed storage chest. Alice assists you in the movement, and the two of you position the teleporter cube next to the door.
> "Lunarian tech is heavy..." Alice moans once the device is in place.
> "Well yeah, what did you expect?" Medicine says, though Eirin shoots a stern look at her for doing so.
> "I have to say, this never crossed my mind," Eirin says. It seems she's pieced together what you were plotting. "Throwing off the teleporter's internal clock by using Kaguya-sama's own magic? That's pretty ingenious of you." You thank her for the comment, then wait for about five seconds before you and Alice move the teleporter away from the door. "I just hope it works." You assure her it will.
> With time thoroughly besmirched for the clueless teleporter, Reisen sets it to lock onto Kaguya, and hits the "go" switch. There's power up noise, then a flash of light, and a loud POP noise. As you recover from the brief loss of hearing and sight, you can see Eirin looking at some kind of handheld device. It looks similar to the walkie-talkie Reisen has, but it's bigger. You go in for a closer look.
> "Kaguya-sama's vital signs haven't changed, but her position has. She's on the roof," Eirin says, trying to hold back a chuckle. "I can assume she won't be happy about us interrupting her gaming spree."
> _
-
> "She's gonna have to pass by us to get back to her game, right?"
> "Let's get some super-glue on her doorknob. It oughta keep her still while we blast the tumor. Agreed?"
-
> "She's gonna have to pass by us to get back to her game, right?"
> "Actually...I'm not sure if Kaguya-sama is well enough to move from her spot on the roof," Eirin says with concern on her face. "Perhaps we should go up and retrieve her."
> "Let's get some super-glue on her doorknob. It oughta keep her still while we blast the tumor. Agreed?"
> "We can worry about the tumor after we get her to safety!" Reisen says suddenly, but quickly shrinks back after her outburst. "Sorry. I'm just as worried as you all are."
> _
-
> "I think a tumor is a bigger deal for a girl like Kaguya than falling off a roof, don't you?"
> "Time for a shortcut."
> Be stopped from blowing roof off of Eientei by Alice.
> Begrudgingly decide to take the long way.
-
> "I think a tumor is a bigger deal for a girl like Kaguya than falling off a roof, don't you?"
> Reisen quietly nods in agreement.
> "Time for a shortcut."
> You start to raise your Hakkero to blast a hole in the ceiling. However...
> Be stopped from blowing roof off of Eientei by Alice.
> ...Alice promptly stops you, and suggests the less violent alternative of going through the window.
> Begrudgingly decide to take the long way.
> You decide to follow Alice's suggestion, and fly out the window to the rooftop.
> Upon arrival, you see Kaguya laying there on the rooftop. The position she's in is much like an action figure removed from its toy vehicle, and left on the floor unattended. Kaguya's fingers still twitch and move as if they were typing on an invisible keyboard, and she mumbles to herself all the while. Her face is gaunt and pale, her eyes bloodshot and surrounded by visible black rings. Kaguya also gives off some rather pungent BO, a result of neglecting her hygiene. You and the other girls can't help but wince in shock at this development...Will you suffer the same fate as her?
> _
-
Will you suffer the same fate as her?
> "Haven't seen her this bad since Skyrim came out. Guildes must be amazing."
> Perform laser surgery on the tumor. With the master spark.
> "Hey Kaguya, can I join your guild?"
-
> "Haven't seen her this bad since Skyrim came out. Guildes must be amazing."
> Reisen frowns. "You don't wanna know how much time she spent playing that game."
> Perform laser surgery on the tumor. With the master spark.
> You suggest that you just blast the tumor out of Kaguya's head. For once, Eirin doesn't immediately shoot you down. "If it comes to killing her, we can do that, but I'd rather get a sample of the tumor first. I've never seen a malignant specimen like this before."
> "Hey Kaguya, can I join your guild?"
> Kaguya pauses for a second, and stares at you with a blank expression. "Marisa...? When did you start playing?"
> _
-
> "Still downloading. But in a couple hours, I'll be able to grow my own magical tumor."
> Turn to Eirin. "Give me a chainsaw, and I'll get you that sample in a heartbeat."
> "Eh, or we can do it the proper way. "
-
> "Still downloading. But in a couple hours, I'll be able to grow my own magical tumor."
> Kaguya blinks at you. "Is that some kind of plant?"
> Turn to Eirin. "Give me a chainsaw, and I'll get you that sample in a heartbeat."
> Eirin shoots you a scolding look...
> "Eh, or we can do it the proper way. "
> ...Then goes to Kaguya. "Just relax, you'll be back on your feet in no time."
> "Do my feet have those +7 boots I just found?" Kaguya says suddenly, as Eirin picks her up. "They're so comfy..." Eirin doesn't give you so much as a second look as she floats back inside the mansion.
> "Sorry..." Reisen finally speaks up again. "She really cares about Kaguya-hime and doesn't want to hurt her more than she should...Even if she is immortal. I hope you'll understand."
> _
-
> Follow Eirin.
> "So, can you tell me how the game gives people tumors? I want to know if wearing sunglasses would block it, if it affects animals, if it'll harm anyone in the room watching or if you have to play it, if it's the soundtrack..."
> "I need to know how it spreads before I accidentally give myself brain cancer."
-
> Follow Eirin.
> "So, can you tell me how the game gives people tumors? I want to know if wearing sunglasses would block it, if it affects animals, if it'll harm anyone in the room watching or if you have to play it, if it's the soundtrack..."
> "I need to know how it spreads before I accidentally give myself brain cancer."
> You follow Eirin inside and ask her about the tumor.
> "...It seems to be affecting the victims on a telepathic level," Eirin says in a strict tone, she seems to be upset at you still. "It only seems to affect the person playing the game directly, so any bystanders aren't affected...Unless they're playing too, of course."
> Reisen chimes in. "We're trying to figure out a way to mentally shield ourselves from the game, but so far...No luck. Whatever technology they're using to affect the rabbits is overriding ours...Isn't that a scary thought!"
> "Hardly." Medicine rejoins you as you walk through the corridor. "I don't have a brain to begin with."
> _
-
> "Medicine, have you played Guildes?"
-
> "Medicine, have you played Guildes?"
> "Nope, and I don't plan to. Video games are a waste of time for me."
> _
-
>"Hey Alice, think it'd be botting if we had Shanghai play for us?"
-
>"Hey Alice, think it'd be botting if we had Shanghai play for us?"
> "Um, I don't see a problem with it, but...I don't think her hands are big enough for the keyboard." Alice giggles.
-
>"Telepathic...Hey, isn't that how the moon rabbits communicate? Maybe there's something to that."
-
>"Telepathic...Hey, isn't that how the moon rabbits communicate? Maybe there's something to that."
> Alice nods in confirmation, but oddly enough, Reisen doesn't speak up. As you try to figure out why, you come to a stop right outside Eirin's infirmary once again.
> "Thanks for your help," Eirin says in a begrudging tone. "I won't stop you from providing further aid, but...Don't try to go overboard, ok?" Her tone seems to soften up a bit, as she ponders for a moment before continuing. "As much as I would love to let Reisen assist you, I need her right now to take care of the princess. You are, however, free to take Medicine with you, as promised."
> "Wait, what?" Medicine exclaims. "You're seriously letting me go with these two? After all the crap the black-white witch pulled?"
> Eirin smiles and replies in a calmer tone. "Of course not. Alice-san needs you for her doll magic studies."
> Medicine pouts and crosses her arms, while her mini-self does the same. "Fine...But I'd better be compensated for this."
> "We'll work something out...Provided you return without poisoning them," Eirin adds.
> "Geeze, why not just throw me back in the fields, why don't you..." Medicine shoots back, muttering to herself. Eirin doesn't seem to offended in the slightest by this remark. You're not sure if Eirin's glad to be rid of her (and possibly you and Alice), or if she's glad that she can finally get to treating Kaguya's tumor. Regardless...Medicine reluctantly joins your party.
> "Stay safe, you three!" Reisen says as she joins Eirin in the lab. "If you feel unwell, let us know, ok?" You nod in acknowledgement as Reisen steps into the lab, and closes the door. The light above the door then turns on, with the word "OPERATING" in bright white letters. Unlike most operating room lights, this one is half red, half dark blue, a personal touch no doubt added by Eirin herself.
> Quest Completed! (Doll In The Shadows) -- Alice looks happier now that she has a new subject to study on...Perhaps a little too happy, but that's just your paranoia talking.
> _
-
> Whisper to Alice, "I saw that, what are you planning? And don't say 'nothing', I know you too well."
> "Before we take her home, how do you think she'll react to the hundreds of dolls you have 'enslaved'?"
-
> Whisper to Alice, "I saw that, what are you planning? And don't say 'nothing', I know you too well."
> "Oh come now, Mari. I'm just excited about the breakthroughs I'm gonna make! You really need to stop worrying...See what happens when you don't eat a good breakfast?" Alice giggles. You know she's just playing with you, but still...Sometimes she really gets on your nerves.
> "Before we take her home, how do you think she'll react to the hundreds of dolls you have 'enslaved'?"
> "I'm right here, y'know." Medicine says, bringing your attention to her. She looks at Alice. "So long as you're treating your dolls like people and not toys, we're kosher."
> "Ah, but of course. Each doll is like family to me...Who knows, you might find a friend or two there!" Alice says with a smile.
> Medicine looks a bit taken aback, then she averts her eyes for a bit. "I...Never thought of you as that kind of person..." Medicine rubs her arm. "I never had friends with any other dolls before..." She seems almost apologetic towards Alice, given her tone. Her mini self on the other hand...Mini-Medi points to her eye with one hand, then points at Alice, as if warning her "I'm onto you."
> _
-
> Oops, meant to whisper that too.
> "She's not joking about the family thing."
> "And I mean she's really not joking about the family thing. You know, making a kid would be easier."
> Alice is scowling, isn't she.
> Consider the dolls Alice packed full of gunpowder to be a problem. Wonder how to coordinate what to do with them with Medicine right next to us.
> By that I mean wonder how you should coordinate hiding them. Don't actually coordinate with Alice while Medicine is right here.
-
> Oops, meant to whisper that too.
> The parser accepts your intent, but would like to point out that Medicine overhearing you was played mostly for comedic effect and had minimal impact on the story. So far.
> "She's not joking about the family thing."
> "And I mean she's really not joking about the family thing. You know, making a kid would be easier."
> Alice is scowling, isn't she.
> Alice looks more perplexed than anything. "How would having a child be easier? I could make a doll in my sleep if I wanted to..."
> Consider the dolls Alice packed full of gunpowder to be a problem. Wonder how to coordinate what to do with them with Medicine right next to us.
> By that I mean wonder how you should coordinate hiding them. Don't actually coordinate with Alice while Medicine is right here.
> You recall Alice's exploding dolls, which she's used a couple of times in the past. This would be problematic if Medicine found out...Except for a couple of things. First, Alice never keeps the gunpowder around the house (or the forest for that matter), due to it being a major fire hazard. Second, she never makes them "just in case" something happens; if something warranting the proper firepower comes up, Alice makes the dolls then and there. Any extras she doesn't use get disposed of safely. Still, you make a mental note to tell Medicine about this should it come up.
> "Uh, okay then..." Medicine attempts to break up the awkward situation. "Look, I just want you to treat me as human and not an object."
> "I understand," Alice says, holding out her hand. "You have nothing to fear."
> Medicine hesitates for a moment, but smiles and shakes Alice's hand. Mini-Medi does not copy this motion, and instead sticks her nose up as if to say "hmph!"
> _
-
> "So, uh, Alice, you wanted to ask Medicine some things?"
-
> "So, uh, Alice, you wanted to ask Medicine some things?"
> Alice perks up. "Oh, right...I can ask her everything when we get back home, I think we should get back and investigate that game, don't you think?"
-
> Alice perks up. "Oh, right...I can ask her everything when we get back home, I think we should get back and investigate that game, don't you think?"
> "...Not sure."
> Wonder if Alice has an ulterior motive for wanting to go home.
> Consider pros and cons of investigating from here versus from home.
-
> "...Not sure."
> "Is something the matter?" Alice asks, perplexed yet again. You don't answer right away as you go into PONDERING MODE.
> Wonder if Alice has an ulterior motive for wanting to go home.
> The most obvious thing that sticks out to you is her wanting to study Medicine. However, you also recall that Alice wanted to play Guildies with you, and you promised you would do that. That brings up a predicament...Does she want to play the game for fun, or to solve the INCIDENT developing at Eientei?
> Consider pros and cons of investigating from here versus from home.
> You mentally weigh the options in your head, whilst doing that thing people do with their hands as if they were a scale...Seriously, why do humans do that, humans are terrible scales! If you had the choice, you'd use an actual scale; accuracy is very important to a magician...But whatever, here's what you came up with:
PROS:
++ You'd have quick access to a computer, and possibly be able to log onto your account from someone else's client.
++ Internet speeds are much faster here, reducing the possibility of lag while playing the game.
++ If Eirin discovers something about the tumor, she can report to you directly. Furthermore, if something happens to you, she can treat you (assuming you stay on her good side).
++ Kaguya's knowledge of the game can be a tremendous asset. If she's in a guild, you can have the help of her fellow guildies too.
++ Getting on Kaguya's good side may also earn the respect of the other residents. Having people in your debt is never a bad thing!
CONS:
-- You don't have your Kapptops with you, so you and Alice would have to borrow a couple of computers.
-- Eirin may not like you hanging around so much, given your...Direct approach to solving problems. You'll have to tread lightly around her. Anger her too much, and she might just use you in one of her crazy experiments!
-- There's always the risk that Tewi might prank you, hindering your investigation. Prank wars with Tewi never end well...Not for her at least.
-- Reisen is fairly docile, but you don't want her as an enemy either. A full power assault from her eyes can leave you in the looney bin for eternity.
-- Since you're HijiriNet customers, hanging out in the headquarters of LunarCast might cause complications. They might accuse you of trying to steal their technological secrets if you mess around too much.
> WH47 NOW?
> _
-
> So basically, if we stick around Eientei, there's a high probability we'll annoy someone. Either Hijiri or Eirin or Reisen or Tewi.
> This is true. We are quite good at annoying people.
> Eh, if Alice wants to go home, might as well.
-
>As hinted, we can always start off 'botting' with the non-tumorable dolls at home if self-treatment is a concern.
>Who made Guildies anyway? Figuring out the origin would be a big hint for who to Spark for brain damage.
-
> So basically, if we stick around Eientei, there's a high probability we'll annoy someone. Either Hijiri or Eirin or Reisen or Tewi.
> You forgot to put Hijiri on the list of potential cons earlier, but knowing her, she's probably not gonna be upset with you for interacting with a rival. Hijiri is so chill, she makes Cirno look like a half-melted ice cube!
> This is true. We are quite good at annoying people.
> Alice isn't as annoying, though some consider her practices to be...Unusual. You'd (probably) never practice doll magic, but you admire what she does with it.
> Eh, if Alice wants to go home, might as well.
> You tell Alice that you were just deep in thought, and ask her if you wish to return home. "If we're done here, then sure, we can leave."
>As hinted, we can always start off 'botting' with the non-tumorable dolls at home if self-treatment is a concern.
> That, or use Medicine to play for you if need be. You'd have to convince her it's worth the effort, though. You also wonder how Alice is able to "program" her dolls to--NOPE, NOPE NOPE NOOOOOPE, you mentally stop yourself from pursuing the subject further. You've mimiced (read: stolen) many techniques over your adventures in Gensokyo, but Doll Magic is something you can't copy so easily. You've also feared that if you start learning Alice's techniques, you might become just like her...You'd rather say true to yourself as long as possible.
>Who made Guildies anyway? Figuring out the origin would be a big hint for who to Spark for brain damage.
> The only clue you have is the email that was sent to you, from "Maneki.com." You assume that is the web domain of the company that made or sponsored the game...Aside from that, you don't know much else about the creators of Guildies.
> _
-
> Any chance we can swipe some glue on the way out?
> Lunarian super glue sounds sounds pretty useful.
-
> Any chance we can swipe some glue on the way out?
> Lunarian super glue sounds sounds pretty useful.
> It is entirely possible to steal--I mean borrow some super glue. You just have to be sneaky. Your gut tells you that you have a 71% chance of getting away with it.
> _
-
> How bad is our kleptomania anyway?
> Is it an OCD thing?
> Because if it is... eh, might as well scratch the itch.
-
> How bad is our kleptomania anyway?
> Is it an OCD thing?
> Because if it is... eh, might as well scratch the itch.
> You're not that obsessive about stealing. If you were, your house will be full of stolen knick-knacks. :V You only steal what you need, or whatever you think would be cool or useful. In this case, the glue...You think you saw a supply closet somewhere near the entrance of the mansion.
-
> So because our knick-knacks are valuable treasure, we can't possibly be obsessive kleptomaniacs!
> And that is more than enough reason to borrow glue without asking.
> We'll work out the logic behind that later, time to steal another useless knick-knack borrow glue.
-
> So because our knick-knacks are valuable treasure, we can't possibly be obsessive kleptomaniacs!
> And that is more than enough reason to borrow glue without asking.
> We'll work out the logic behind that later, time to steal another useless knick-knack borrow glue.
> The parser manages to pull himself from his 3DS long enough to update this thread. Anyways, you beckon your cohorts to follow you, and head for the supply closet. It looks just like any other closet, except it's got a sign on it that says "SUPPLY 1" on the door. Your first thought is to just open the door and abscond with the glue, but you stop yourself. If the security is as tight as the others say, you'll need to be fast...Or clever. Perhaps both!
> _
-
> Can't think of any good way to get glue without opening supply closet door.
> Well, we could ask for it or buy it. But that's something Alice would do.
> Any cameras? Is the exit far away?
> Consider whether snatching the glue then running like hell is a good strategy.
-
> Any cameras? Is the exit far away?
> The Exit is just a short walk from the closet. There's a camera in the atrium's ceiling, but you can't see which way it's looking--it's one of those upside-down black domes.
> Consider whether snatching the glue then running like hell is a good strategy.
> You're pretty fast on your feet, and on your broom. You shouldn't have any problem reaching the door. It's getting away from the house itself that might be an issue...
> _
-
> We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
> Steal glue.
-
> Steal glue.
> You just decide to forgo the finesse (like you usually do) and snatch the glue from the closet.
> Alice takes notice. "Mari, what're you doing?"
> You explain to her, and Medicine chuckles. "I don't think the rabbits are gonna care if one thing of glue is missing. They have loads of the stuff."
> "...I still think it's not nice to steal without asking, but...Whatever," Alice says in a defeated, pouty tone.
> Item Acquired: Lunarian Super Glue -- This stuff ain't your run-of-the-mill glue. Made from only the finest moondust, this glue will ensure that whatever sticks to it stays stuck. As such, it is difficult to remove without an equally powerful solvent, and it's a bit on the toxic side. Handle with care.
> _
-
>Go home.
-
>Go home.
> You book it out the door. The traps you passed through/over have been reset, but with Medicine's help, you dodge them and get out of the Bamboo Grove in one piece.
> The sun is high as you return to your forest home. Not much has changed since you left. Medicine comments on your home, saying "Wow, this is nicer than I expected," as the three of you step back inside.
> _
-
> "Sorry about that. Alice insists on prettying it up."
-
> "Sorry about that. Alice insists on prettying it up."
> "Well, you did a nice job regardless," Medicine says with a smile. "Eirin-sama would be proud of your cleanliness."
> "Just don't go into Mari's room," Alice says, smirking. You make a snide remark about it, and you all have a good chuckle. "Now that this errand is over...Shall we look into Guildies? I assume the download would have finished by now."
> _
-
> "Safety first."
> "Do what you want, but I'm not sure we should be in the room when you do it."
-
> "Safety first."
> "Do what you want, but I'm not sure we should be in the room when you do it."
> "Uh, I'm not sure I follow," Alice says, confused.
> _
-
> "I'm saying go ahead and start the game."
> "Remotely. Unless you have a better plan."
-
> "I'm saying go ahead and start the game."
> "Remotely. Unless you have a better plan."
> "Oh!" Alice's face lights up. "I can do that, easily. You want me to start up your game as well?"
-
> "Eh? You can have both our games on at once?"
> "Sure, whatever. Sorry, our visit to Eientei really killed my enthusiasm for it."
-
> "Eh? You can have both our games on at once?"
> Alice chuckles. "You forget...I'm a master of puppets."
> Your PUN ARMOR takes a hit. She must've overheard you listening to Metallica a while back. I-It's not like you like it or anything, you just found it while browsing Youtube!
> "Sure, whatever. Sorry, our visit to Eientei really killed my enthusiasm for it."
> "I understand. It's just...I really wanted us to play this game together, you know? Even if it is solving an incident. I just...Wanted us to do something together. You and I usually don't do things like this these days..." You can see the forlornness in her eyes and hear it in her voice...You can feel your MOE AEGIS slowly crumbling under the intense d'awww she's emitting right now.
> _
-
> Awwwwwwait a second.
> "I suppose we can try saving Gensokyo through video game playing."
> "So, is this you're first time playing Guildes?"
> Wait for Alice to turn her back, then whisper to Medicine, "Think she's infected?"
-
> Awwwwwwait a second.
> For whatever reason, your gut is telling you something is wrong...Or maybe you're just hungry.
> "I suppose we can try saving Gensokyo through video game playing."
> Alice smiles. "That's what I was hoping for. I know it's risky, but playing the game may reveal more than we know already."
> "So, is this your first time playing Guildes?"
> "Indeed it is," Alice replies, before tilting her head out of curiosity. "What made you think otherwise?"
> Wait for Alice to turn her back, then whisper to Medicine, "Think she's infected?"
> A couple of chimes emit from your laptops. You recognize it as the "download complete" sound your browser makes when a file's done downloading.
> "Ah, looks like they're done...Lemme go set up the dolls, then!" Alice heads upstairs to her room. You assume she's going to need several dolls for this.
> While she's away, you voice your concerns about Alice towards Medicine. "I kinda doubt it. She seems more enthusiastic than anything. Is she always like this when you two do something?"
> _
-
> "Nah, she usually lets me be the reckless one."
-
> "Nah, she usually lets me be the reckless one."
> "The way you two act, it's like you two are sisters or something...Are you two really related?" Medicine asks.
> _
-
>"Not yet."
>Wink playfully.
>"Ya gonna watch while we try out Guildies, or something else you wanna do here with Alice distracted?"
-
>"Not yet."
> "What do you mean by--"
>Wink playfully.
> "Oh." Medicine replies in the flattest tone possible. She remains stoic, but her mini-self just facepalms.
>"Ya gonna watch while we try out Guildies, or something else you wanna do here with Alice distracted?"
> Asking Medicine this seems to break up the awkwardness a bit. "Uh...Actually, I was thinking of playing, myself...I mean, what would you do if you both got infected?"
> _
-
> "If you think you're immune, go ahead."
> "You've been around Eientei a lot, is there anything in particular that seems... off about the game? Besides it's effects, I mean."
-
> "If you think you're immune, go ahead."
> "You've been around Eientei a lot, is there anything in particular that seems... off about the game? Besides it's effects, I mean."
> Medicine doesn't respond at first, she seems to be thinking about something. You give her a moment to process her train of thought, then you ask your question.
> "...I have watched a couple of inaba play the game. It doesn't look out of order, in fact it looks like that one 'Castle Vein' game Kaguya likes to make fun of when talking about the Scarlets. There must be something about the game that I'm missing..." Medicine goes silent for a bit, but then perks up. "Oh, I was gonna suggest something to you. You know how you linked with Alice through her dolls a while back? Maybe we can do something similar...I can play the game on your behalf, but you'd be able to...Er...Control me and see through my eyes." Mini-Medicine looks on disapprovingly as you listen to this.
> _
-
> "That's a neat trick."
> Can Alice do that with her own dolls?
> Sounds like something Alice would kill to do. Possibly literally.
-
> "That's a neat trick."
> Medicine looks down at the floor. "I'm not exactly proud of it...But...I figured I'd look into it. Y'know...Just in case."
> You're getting the feeling that if Medicine were human, she'd be blushing by now.
> Can Alice do that with her own dolls?
> You're not sure. Usually, when the dolls have something to report, they come and tell her directly. However, you'd be surprised if Alice didn't have access to this ability already.
> ...
> ...
> Great, now you're feeling doubly paranoid over the fact that Alice may be spying on you, and the fact that you might have to take a page from her book to safely play this game. This day just keeps getting better by the hour!!
> That being said...You haven't "borrowed" any techniques from her yet. Perhaps you could do this just this once, to satisfy your completionist urge.
> Sounds like something Alice would kill to do. Possibly literally.
> It'd take a lot to drive Alice to that point. After that Grimoire incident, she's exercised a lot of restraint not to use that power again. Power corrupts, after all.
> Speaking of which, you can hear Alice coming back down the stairs. "I'm ready! How about you, Mari?"
> _
-
You don't need a book to commit murder! :D
> "I guess."
-
You don't need a book to commit murder! :D
Books are the number one murder weapon used in Gensokyo, right after knives!
> "I guess."
> "Well, ready or not, I'm gonna log on and play. See you in...Um...Whereever the game takes place in...?" Alice shrugs, and sits next to her desk such that she's not looking directly at the screen. She then directs her dolls to manipulate the keys and the mouse while she gives commands.
> _
-
> And now we wait.
> Get popcorn.
-
> And now we wait.
> Get popcorn.
> You'd have to check to see if you have any corn to pop!
> Your computer bleeps. It's not a download bleep, it's an Instant Messenger bleep.
> _
-
> Answer IM?
-
> Answer IM?
> You take a look at the username, and smile. It's your friend "Starbroker495," aka FLANDRE SCARLET.
"Hiya, Mari! I finally got my computer back, lol ;)"
-
>Did Medicine want us to be able to keep up with Alice? That seems awfully generous for her...
>What're our usual online antics with Flan like? How'd she lose computer access, or have we heard the story (for this particular instance)
>Reply with our usual antics!
-
> "Hey, stay away from this new Guildes game, it seems to be some form of mind control and causes magical brain cancer, and, well, both things are bad."
> "Incidentally, can you surgically remove tumors with kyuu?"
-
>Did Medicine want us to be able to keep up with Alice? That seems awfully generous for her...
> You think she's doing it to protect you from the game's effects, while still investigating it. You liken it to putting on a hazmat suit, except less clunky.
>What're our usual online antics with Flan like? How'd she lose computer access, or have we heard the story (for this particular instance)
> Since you normally don't chat with her in person, you just talk about things like any normal person would. She's always curious about what you're doing in Gensokyo. As for the computer, well...
>Reply with our usual antics!
risingstar82 said: What have I told you about breaking your toys, ze? =P
Starbroker495 said: Not to break them in the first place? ^^;; uguu
risingstar82 said: Laptops are very expensive, ze!
risingstar82 said: Keep this up and I might not be able to talk to you again! That'd suk, ze!
Starbroker495 said: Ok I get it, who are you, my muther XP
risingstar82 said: I ain't goin' there, ze. Just be more careful, eh?
Starbroker495 said: mebbe I should ask patch to put a null magic field on it or sumthing :X.
Starbroker495 said: Wat do u tink? o-o
risingstar82 said: That's not a bad idea, ze! But you gotta make the outer shell magic proof, not the innards. Savvy, ze?
Starbroker495 said: But of course, monamie! XD I ain't stupid! =P
risingstar82 said: Lol. Again, not going there, ze.
Starbroker495 said: You go everywhere else...To places, I mean. >_>;; What've you been up to?
> "Hey, stay away from this new Guildies game, it seems to be some form of mind control and causes magical brain cancer, and, well, both things are bad."
risingstar82 said: Alice and I discovered this new game, ze. It's called "Guildies!"
risingstar82 said: Yes, it is spelled like that, ze.
risingstar82 said: The problem is, that people have been getting sick from it...
Starbroker495 said: Ehhhh?! But I've been playing it and I'm just fine ._.
Starbroker495 said: I didn't even get motion sickness or nuthin' >_> Who got sick?
risingstar82 said: Some rabbits at Eientei. But don't go blabbin' about this to anyone, ze!
Starbroker495 said: Okie-dokie! ;) Your secret is safe with moi, lol! XD
> "Incidentally, can you surgically remove tumors with kyuu?"
risingstar82 said: ...Silly question, have you been practicing surgery, ze?
Starbroker495 said: o_o
Starbroker495 said: That is a silly question, ROFLMAO!!
Starbroker495 said: Y do u ask? :V
risingstar82 said: Well, this sickness is giving people tumors, ze...
risingstar82 said: Eirin might not be able to remove them all!
Starbroker495 said: That's pas terrible! But...
Starbroker495 said: I'd probably just blow their heads off and be done with it >u>a
risingstar82 said: That's your solution to everything, ze!
Starbroker495 said: Sez the witch, lol. XP
risingstar82 said: Touche.
> _
-
> "Alright, if Eirin fails, we'll use head-splosions as plan B."
> "Um, Flan, is it possible for you to stop playing the game?"
> "I'm not asking you to stop or anything, I'm just asking, if you wanted to get out of the house for a bit, put the game down for a day, could you? The thing turned Kaguya into an emancipated insomniac pretty quickly, worried you might not be noticing its effects."
-
> "Alright, if Eirin fails, we'll use head-splosions as plan B."
risingstar82 said: Ok, we'll use your method as a last resort, ze.
Starbroker495 said: Oui! :)
> "Um, Flan, is it possible for you to stop playing the game?"
> "I'm not asking you to stop or anything, I'm just asking, if you wanted to get out of the house for a bit, put the game down for a day, could you? The thing turned Kaguya into an emancipated insomniac pretty quickly, worried you might not be noticing its effects."
> You express your concern to Flan.
Starbroker495 said: o_o *le blink*
Starbroker495 said: I understand what you're saying, but...
Starbroker495 said: I'm not THAT obsessive when it comes to gaming, lol! XP
Starbroker495 said: Methinks monamie doth worry too much!
risingstar82 said: Maybe, ze.
risingstar82 said: I've been having fits of paranoia more than usual.
Starbroker495 said: Maybe you're the one that needs to have their head examined o-O
risingstar82 said: Yeah, right, ze!
Starbroker495 said: Srsly >_> Now I'm the one that's worried.
Starbroker495 said: Are you playing alone or with Alice?
risingstar82 said: With, duh. Medicine's also here, ze.
Starbroker495 said: The giant dolly? OMG, I wanna meet her :3 The only dolls I ever see are patch's defensive dolls
Starbroker495 said: ...Whom kinda creep me out, tbh. Don't tell her I said that! >:X
risingstar82 said: Not a chance, ze. ;P
> _
-
> Are we acting too paranoid?
> Also, is everyone out to get us? We have stolen a lot of things from a lot of people.
> To Alice: "Feel like giving the young lady a puppet show some time?"
-
> Are we acting too paranoid?
> You've had bouts of sudden paranoia recently, but nothing that has begun to overwhelm you, save your thoughts about using doll magic.
> Also, is everyone out to get us? We have stolen a lot of things from a lot of people.
> Nope. Not even Patchy, the one person you have stolen the most from, doesn't try to hunt you down. If someone wants something back, they'll ask for it back, they won't try and push things by starting a fight with you (most of the time). On the flip side, if you come to someone with the intent to steal, that's when the real fireworks begin, so to speak...Assuming you get caught in the act.
> _
-
> To Alice: "Feel like giving the young lady a puppet show some time?"
>Preface this with "Hey, Alice, I got Flan on IM."
-
> To Alice: "Feel like giving the young lady a puppet show some time?"
>Preface this with "Hey, Alice, I got Flan on IM."
> You tell Alice what you've been doing. "Oh, uh, I never considered it. I suppose I could put something together...The question is, what?" She puts a hand to her chin as her dolls continue tapping the (plastic) ivories, as it were.
> _
-
>"Think it'd be a bad idea to play off her gratuitous French?"
>Who else do we usually chat with online, anyway?
>Stretch and take a moment to think. Is there even an extra machine for Medicine to play on around here?
>... and do some casual research. Gensokyo's gotta have a search engine somewhere. Look up that group behind Guildies real quick.
-
>"Think it'd be a bad idea to play off her gratuitous French?"
> "I don't think she'd be offended.." Alice says, still in thought.
>Who else do we usually chat with online, anyway?
> Your buddy list consists of a variety of contacts: Reimu and Sakuya are givens, since you usually work with them on incidents. Yukari and Koishi are on there, but they're usually not online. Sometimes you talk to Ran and Chen, Suika sometimes talks to you in a drunk stupor, Patchy refuses to add you (for obvious reasons) but you sometimes bug her, and Kourin you chat with now and then since you're both close friends and all. Oddly enough, you never bothered to add Kaguya to your buddy list. Hijiri and Nitori you have on hand not only because they're both cool people, but they also provide useful tech support. You haven't been able to get in touch with the Netherworld crew, the Taoist faction or anyone related to the Shining Needle Castle incident. You also chat with Satori often, she's become quite the social (network) butterfly as of late.
>Stretch and take a moment to think. Is there even an extra machine for Medicine to play on around here?
> You take a nice, long, stretch, almost bonking Medicine in the face with your outstretched hand.
> "Ah, sorry for hovering..." she says as she backs off a bit. Was she eavesdropping on you? You shrug it off, there wasn't anything sensitive being displayed on your comp.
> Sadly, the only computers you have at the moment are the ones that you and Alice own.
>... and do some casual research. Gensokyo's gotta have a search engine somewhere. Look up that group behind Guildies real quick.
> Thankfully, the ever-present Google is there to assist. You type in "Maneki.com" and come up with a blank domain site with several hits, including the company site itself, some preview articles and videos about the game, and some fan-made forums dedicated to Guildies itself.
> _
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>"Whoop. Sorry, you must be bored stiff, huh Medi? Guess I should probably take you up on that offer, but gimme a minute to see if a little searchin' digs up anything we should know."
>Spend under five minutes digging around the interwebs for more data on Maneki: Where are they located, who owns the company, what else have they done... and try searching the first two pages of results for player comments for important sets of keywords like "Guildies addiction" - see if anyone else has had serious problems with the game, rather than just standard MMO addiction.
-
> Check the headlines for Guildes while we're at it, it ought to be in the news.
-
>"Whoop. Sorry, you must be bored stiff, huh Medi? Guess I should probably take you up on that offer, but gimme a minute to see if a little searchin' digs up anything we should know."
> "Sure, go ahead. I'll keep an eye on Alice...I guess?" She turns to Alice, whom seems to look like she's dozing off. "Whoa, are you ok?"
> Alice yawns. "Sorry...The spell I'm using to control the dolls splits my consciousness a bit. That's why I feel sleepy...This is normal, I'll be fine."
> "I hope so," Medicine replies.
>Spend under five minutes digging around the interwebs for more data on Maneki: Where are they located, who owns the company, what else have they done... and try searching the first two pages of results for player comments for important sets of keywords like "Guildies addiction" - see if anyone else has had serious problems with the game, rather than just standard MMO addiction.
> Check the headlines for Guildes while we're at it, it ought to be in the news.
> You start digging around one of the fan forums for more info. Nothing seems out of the ordinary...All the posts and info you can find don't mention a single instance of "addiction." There are some complaints about other gameplay stuff here and there, but nothing implying some kind of epidemic.
> _
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>Have we seen Alice do this with her dolls before and get tired like this? If so, reassure Medicine.
>After finding little of interest news-wise, mutter "Wonder if it's just Eientei..."
>Work out how to get the linking thing working with Medicine. Try and sneak in asking whether her mini-me's really alright with it.
-
> Ask her if the pocket-medic(ine) is a separate consciousness or if her inner self is just really tsundere.
>_
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>After finding little of interest news-wise, mutter "Wonder if it's just Eientei..."
> Has this become an isolated incident? As you think about that, Flan's IM window bleeps and blinks. You consider answering it, but a noise distracts you...You turn to see Alice has fallen asleep sitting up, snoring a bit. Medicine looks a bit concerned.
>Have we seen Alice do this with her dolls before and get tired like this? If so, reassure Medicine.
> You haven't seen it in person, but you have heard Alice talk about it before. You assure Medicine that Alice knows what she's doing (for the most part). Medicine has no comment, but she looks a little less anxious.
>Work out how to get the linking thing working with Medicine. Try and sneak in asking whether her mini-me's really alright with it.
> Ask her if the pocket-medic(ine) is a separate consciousness or if her inner self is just really tsundere.
> Pocket-Medic, haha...Medicine hears you say that out loud, and you explain the joke...She finds it amusing, her mini self less so. On that note, you ask Medicine what her little companion is like. "Um...You know what? I have no idea. Mini-me does reflect what I think sometimes, but I can't tell if she's a separate entity or what." At that point, Mini-Medi decides to rest on her bigger counterpart's head and yawn (though no voice comes out). Medicine smiles. "All that floating around must've taken a lot out of you, huh?" Mini-Medi gives her a look that says "what do you think, dummy?"
> After that exchange, you address how to establish the aforementioned link with Medicine. "We both have to enter a state of meditation, and let our minds sync while a specific magic phrase is cast." You remember doing a similar thing with Alice, not only in the SA incident but also the Imperishable Night incident, but those were pretty easy to pull off since you are both magicians. Medicine on the other hand...You express how difficult this would be, and Medicine replies "If Alice can control a small army of little dolls, you can work with one very large doll. Come on, live up to your reputation," while winking and sticking her tongue out.
>_
-
>Retaliate with tonguesticking of our own!
>"You bet, ze. But I better let Flan know what I'm up to first."
>Finish up the talk with the devil's sister - let her know what we're up to, unless she's got important news - and get going with Medicine's mindsyncing.
-
>Retaliate with tonguesticking of our own!
>"You bet, ze. But I better let Flan know what I'm up to first."
>Finish up the talk with the devil's sister - let her know what we're up to, unless she's got important news - and get going with Medicine's mindsyncing.
> Medicine nods, and you go back to your conversation with Flan.
Starbroker495 said: You still there, Mari? o_o
risingstar82 said: Yeah, sorry, talking with Medicine about some stuff, ze.
Starbroker495 said: Ah...Sorry to interrupt. >_<
risingstar82 said: What's up?
Starbroker495 said: If you're still gonna play...I won't be on for a bit.
Starbroker495 said: Something happened to Sakuya and Remi's freaking out about it.
risingstar82 said: ...Ze? What exactly happened?
Starbroker495 said: Something about stairs... ._.;;
Starbroker495 said: Gah, I gotta go, Remi's banging on my door! >_<* ttyl
risingstar82 said: Oh, ok. See you later, ze.
* Starbroker495 is now "Away From Keyboard"
> _
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> Um... the thing with Sakuya, is that a thing that needs investigating?
-
> Um... the thing with Sakuya, is that a thing that needs investigating?
> You're not sure. For all you know, it could have just been an accident. You could leave it be, or leave a message with Flan asking what's going on. Or take up spelunking! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHHZPmEKfQ8)
> _
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>Resist urge to ask about Sakuya losing her pads.
>To Flan: 'I'm gonna try out Guildies anyway - we might have a workaround. I'll be busy with that, but lemme know if that Sakuya problem's something serious!'
>Set IM status to busy/away/whatever.
>Okay NOW get going with Medicine.
>... come to think of it, is it odd that she's aware of our doll-linking thing during the underground incident? Or does word about things like that get around pretty fast if anyone cares?
-
>Resist urge to ask about Sakuya losing her pads.
>To Flan: 'I'm gonna try out Guildies anyway - we might have a workaround. I'll be busy with that, but lemme know if that Sakuya problem's something serious!'
>Set IM status to busy/away/whatever.
> You know for a fact that Sakuya does NOT use pads, a lady like her is naturally endowed, what're you thinking!
> You leave Flan the message (don't forget the "ze!") and set your status to "Playing a Game."
>... come to think of it, is it odd that she's aware of our doll-linking thing during the underground incident? Or does word about things like that get around pretty fast if anyone cares?
> Considering that you haven't spoken with her after the (first) flower-viewing incident, you decide to ask her.
> "I...Think I found out about it in Bunbunmaru? I'm not sure," Medicine answers. "Rumors fly around as easily as fairies in this land." Somehow, you're not sure if she's lying or telling the truth, but there's no time to play Sherlock Holmes with your friends now.
>Okay NOW get going with Medicine.
> With all that other stuff out of the way, you say you'd like to link up with Medicine, whom smiles. "About time you asked...It's like Eirin says, 'an ounce of prevention is a pound of cure!'" You're not sure how that statement came to be (the math is clearly off on that), but you see what she means.
> Medicine asks you to relax, take a few deep breaths, empty your mind of all thoughts. She then asks you to hold out your hands, and you do just that. You can feel her clasp hands with your own, and she goes silent. After a bit, you start to hear Medicine mumble magic words you've heard Alice mutter in the past. In fact, this spell sounds very similar to the one Alice used...But you keep your mind clear as Medi's spell takes its effect. You can feel the magic flow around you as you see an image in your head...An infinitely-spanning field of purple flowers, which you recognize as the poisonous SUZURAN. Purple spores and petals litter the black sky above this field. A gentle wind blows, as the petals and spores swirl and start to take shape. A bigger flower forms from this swirling mass, and as it blooms before you, your vision fades to light...
> "Keep your eyes closed for a bit, please." You do just that as the light starts to form into an image...It's blurry at first, but after a few seconds, it sharpens, revealing a familiar image...It's none other than yourself! Or rather, you as you're standing there, eyes closed, and holding hands with Medicine herself. Mini-Medi peeks over Medicine's head, looking you directly in the eyes while upside down. "Looks like it worked, you can open your eyes now!"
> You open your eyes, and your vision blurs a bit before snapping back to normal. Now you're looking at Medicine, whose mini self looks up as well from her previous position. "That's all there is to it. I'm...I guess you could call me your familiar now?"
> More like a slave, says a second voice. It echos within your head, and sounds very much like a younger, more sarcastic Medicine. We didn't have to do this, y'know.
> "...Sorry, you'll have to put up with my counterpart's complaints while we're linked. She doesn't talk...That much." Mini-Medi just sticks up her nose and silently "hmphs!" again like earlier. "At any rate...You can guide me simply by closing your eyes and imagining my body as if it were your own, you should be able to move me naturally."
> Geeze, that sounds so wrong on so many levels...
> "Oh, hush you!"
> You established a Puppet Pact with Medicine! -- You can now issue commands to her as well as Marisa. You can also have Mari control Medi directly, even if you're separated, but Mari can't act while she's guiding Medi!...The parser probably didn't need to tell you that, but there ya go.
> _
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>Wait we've seen Sakuya topless? Did we squeeze to make sure?
>So, can the pocket medic hear my thoughts, if I can hear hers?
>"This' a neat new trick. Could take some gettin' used to, though."
>Test out Medicine by having her walk over to the meditating Marisa and pinch her cheeks. Damn we're cute.
-
>Wait we've seen Sakuya topless? Did we squeeze to make sure?
> Of course not, you (9)! You're a lady, you can judge these things just by observation...Besides, if you grabbed her like that, she'd probably ZA WARUDO you on the spot.
>So, can the pocket medic hear my thoughts, if I can hear hers?
> "Does this answer your question?" Medicine answers, her voice echoing inside your head now.
> Because adding quotes to something definitely makes it easier to tell us apart, Mini-Medi adds. You can smell the sarcasm in the air, but she has a point.
>"This' a neat new trick. Could take some gettin' used to, though."
> Just don't blather out anything you don't want others to hear. Simple.
>Test out Medicine by having her walk over to the meditating Marisa and pinch her cheeks. Damn we're cute.
> You close your eyes and focus on Medicine. It takes a moment for the two of you to sync up, but you effortlessly reach out to your face and pinch it. You can feel it being squeezed, but you don't feel the pinching sensation. It seems that you can feel what Medicine is feeling through this method.
> _
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>Couldn't feel a thing... Gotta be careful with the main body, huh?
>If it'd be easy to seat Marisa behind the computer to keep an eye on her, move over there just in case.
>Alright, enough paranoid screwing around! Let's give Guildies a spin. Though uh... try not to give away any of our passw--oh now we're thinking of them damnit. Mental note: Change them later.
>Guildies.exe
-
>Couldn't feel a thing... Gotta be careful with the main body, huh?
> "Yeah, though I imagine if someone stabbed you, you'd probably snap out of your trance." Mini-Medi's laughter echos through your mind.
>If it'd be easy to seat Marisa behind the computer to keep an eye on her, move over there just in case.
> Sadly, the desk is up against the wall, but you can seat yourself to the right of the desk. So, Medicine does just that. Aren't you comfy? :3c
>Alright, enough paranoid screwing around! Let's give Guildies a spin. Though uh... try not to give away any of our passw--oh now we're thinking of them damnit. Mental note: Change them later.
>Guildies.exe
> Like we'd try to hijack your craptop...The comps at Eientei would eat yours for breakfast. Not even breakfast...It'd barely be an appet--OW! Having enough of Mini-Medi's ramblings, you gently flick her off of Medi's head. The poisonous doll laughs as Mini-Medi rights herself. Rude much?
> Still, changing your password wouldn't be a bad idea. Medicine types it on a Virtual Sticky Note and saves it on your desktop for later reference.
> Your minds are one. Your knuckles are cracked. Mini-Medicine sits off to the side, scowling at your semi-conscious body from across the desk. You're as comfy as your chair will allow. YOUR BODIES ARE READY.
> With a few clicks, you summon forth the Guildies! client. It has a list of events and stuff going on ingame, but you don't care much about that. It's time...To play. You click on the "Start!" button in the cilent, and...
> ...Have to wait about 20 more minutes for the game to update. Gah. Patches. You kinda wish you had a time machine right now.
> 15 minutes left. You decide to disengage from Medicine for a bit to take a bathroom break.
> Ten minutes left. As you come back, you take out your Sandwich from earlier. You have a feeling you might need it.
> Five minutes. You wonder how Alice managed to pass the time during this long wait.
> One minute. 30 seconds. 15 seconds. The anticipation is killing you...Like a spell card about to time out during the last, intense wave of danmaku...
> T-minus ten seconds.
> Five. Four. Three. Two. One...
> ...
> ...
> The words "Not Responding" flash on the window for a moment, but only a moment, before a little dialogue box appears with the words "Update Complete!" FINALLY. You click OK, and a second later, the screen goes black.
> ...For a moment, everything goes black. Did it get overcast or something? Sure, the Forest of Magic is dark, and you didn't have any lights on at the moment, but the darkness is a bit of a surprise to you. It doesn't last long, a couple of company logos display before a brief animated intro plays, with snippets of gameplay thrown in for good measure. Brave warriors of magic, might and munition fight against evil monsters! Screenshots of powerful weapons appear, their absurd stats running up like a pinball score counter! Intimidating boss monsters roar and taunt you to come and challenge them! All this is so exciting! You wish it wouldn't end, but it soon does...And the intro seamlessly transitions to the title screen, with a login prompt. A pleasantly relaxing, yet stirring music theme (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAD-lmHZDP4) plays as clouds roll by in the background.
> You input your password and username, and hit "Login." The screen quickly pans down to what appears to be a park of some kind, and before you lay four pedestals. Text appears onscreen...
*** Welcome to Guildies! ***
Before you begin, you must create a character.
Click on one of the pedestals to begin the Character Creation.
> _
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>We don't play anything other than DPS, do we?
>Proceed.
-
>We don't play anything other than DPS, do we?
>Proceed.
> But of course! Sometimes you do healing on the side, but it's easier to keep your enemies dead than to keep your allies alive.
> You aim to click on the leftmost pedestal, but your mouse fidgets and you click on the second one from the right. Oh well! The game zooms in on the pedestal, and several character creation options appear: Hair, eyes, face, clothes, gender, etc. The game has already generated a random female avatar for you, though you're welcome to change it.
> At the bottom, however, there are four buttons with various class names. Hovering over them reveals more details:
Knight -- Armored melee class. Fights using swords, axes, polearms, etc. Can buff allies' defense and/or attack power, and summon "Soul Armor" to fight alongside you.
Magician -- Mentally sound spellcaster. Can fight using wands, staves, and other enchanted weapons. Can blast enemies with elemental magic, heal allies, and summon "Elemental Spirits" to fight alongside you.
Ninja -- Agile, yet frail melee attacker with some magical prowess. Uses swift, precise strikes with melee and ranged weapons, ninitsu for magical support, and can summon "Guardian Animals" to fight alongside you.
Gadgeteer -- Tough, yet slow heavy weapons user. Weapons can use either physical or magical properties. Can build machines to aid in combat, and summon "Robotic Helpers" to fight and maintain these structures.
> It goes without saying that once you've committed to a class option, there's no changing it easily, so choose wisely! (The parser probably knows what you're gonna pick anyways)
> _
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>You wanna make a case why I shouldn't go Magician, ze?
>It is doubtful there will be an adequate argument.
>Fiddle with the appearance options a little. See if you can make any demented monstrosities.
>Have we played male characters before?
>How much do we actually flirt with Alice, usually?
-
>You wanna make a case why I shouldn't go Magician, ze?
> "Uh...A change of pace is always nice? I always found just clobbering things with a sword or something better than shooting at a distance. It's just so..."
> Satisfying?
> "I guess you could say that."
>It is doubtful there will be an adequate argument.
> Medicine's trying her best, cut her some slack. Maybe a change of pace would be nice...You could be blasting enemies with laser guns instead of magical lasers instead! Same effect, different feel, right?! :D
>Fiddle with the appearance options a little. See if you can make any demented monstrosities.
> You hit the "randomize" option a few times, and get a rather eccentric selection of young females. One of them even looks like... KIJIN~! Dear gods, she has that exact same shit-eating grin and that maniacal look in her eyes...And that hair...THAT FUCKING HAIR. You can feel your vision invert already...You hit the randomizer button again and get someone that looks like a younger version of Shaundi from Saints Row (but kept the sex appeal).
>Have we played male characters before?
> Only if you're forced to. You always pick the fairer option whenever possible, ze!
>How much do we actually flirt with Alice, usually?
> What is this "flirt" you speak of? The parser kids. You sometimes tease Alice a bit, but you're not really in the mood for a full-blown relationship yet. In fact, you haven't even considered any sort of relationship, except maybe with Kourin, but you feel he's just too close to love you right now. Still, you have a handful of people you remotely consider friends, and possible suitors:
Alice -- Definitely a viable option, but your inner feelings of jealousy towards her can drive a wedge between you two. It'd be like Red dating Blue from the Pokemon manga.. Speaking of which you need to finish that shipfic sometime.
Patchy -- This'd be as tsundere as hell, she would rather see you drown than date you. Still, if you can court her, you might be able to get her out of the house a bit more often, and she'd be a little more accepting of your antics. Good luck making that happen, though.
Reimu -- You've known her for years, but she's become pretty cynical and bored with life in general. She feels resigned to her fate of protecting Gensokyo forever, and her lack of faith isn't helping matters. Reimu can also be pretty money-grubbing at times too...So while pursuing her is a worthwhile option, it may be a costly one.
Flandre -- She's been the Tails to your Sonic, she practically idolizes you and loves hearing about your adventures. While dating her would be fun, relationship would feel rather awkward...Mentally, she's more like a 10-year-old than an adult, and making her upset would be...Dangerous to say the least.
Hijiri -- You kinda-sorta admire Hijiri, not only for offering you your internet and your laptops, but for mastering the delicate balance between mind and matter. You'd love to be able to master that sort of magic, and getting closer to her might help with that. However, her discipline might not work well with your more...Violent approach to solving problems.
Nitori -- She's the most tech-savvy youkai you've ever met, and she's been a big help when you have a computer problem. Nit's shyness around humans is natural, but she's more comfortable around you than most. If you had the chance, you'd probably date her, if you can tear her away from her work long enough. Her being under the umbrella of Suwako and Kanako might also put a damper on any potential romance.
> You could keep adding to this list, but it'd probably go on for a while, and long lists always annoy you!
> ...
> *CLUNK*
> That was the sound of the parser headdesking. So many ships are gonna sail tonight.
> _
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> List of people we would not flirt with. It's probably shorter.
> See, the problem is that we're the heavy of the magician world.
> We're also kind of ninja-ish in our theft, so lets go knight and play lawful evil. We never get to play knight, lawful, or evil, so it's like 3 for the price of one.
> Note that this would be a good time for someone to jump in and explain why our choice might not be the best idea before we go with it.
-
>Wait a second... magician uses elemental magic? Does that even include lasers? Maybe we should leave that to Patchouli. Wonder if we'll get the chance to tease her in-game.
>Any clear indication of which classes would have that in some capacity? Even just with the familiars. No way we're not having a Spark if we can get away with it.
>Hmmm... wonder if the Knight has a joke broom weapon...
Here's an argument for playing Magician or at least something relatively like that: We're trying to investigate Guildies, right? Which means we should try to be able to see as much of it as possible. As an MMO a lot of that is probably grind-based, but for whatever part of it requires skill, we should stick with a role that we can do well if we want to get to the 'later' parts of the game faster. So...
>How much experience have we had dabbling in other class roles for kicks? Done much better or worse in other games?
-
> List of people we would not flirt with. It's probably shorter.
> Aside from Patchy and Kourin...Pretty much all the tengu are off limits due to being huge gossips, Cirno probably wouldn't get it, Youmu's pretty much bound to Yuyuko for life, Mokou seems very close to Keine, Sakuya and China Hong don't trust you, Seija can go die in a fire, and Yukari...Yeah, not an option.
> See, the problem is that we're the heavy of the magician world.
> Oh yes, you're just as much of a magnet for people as you are for bullets. If this were a high school drama, you'd be a candidate for "Most Popular Student" for sure.
> We're also kind of ninja-ish in our theft, so lets go knight and play lawful evil. We never get to play knight, lawful, or evil, so it's like 3 for the price of one.
> This idea...It sounds odd, but no one would be able to tell it was easily you. And if the Magician description is anything to go by, you could collect magical weapons to make up for your lack of range...Perhaps some more research is in order?
>Wait a second... magician uses elemental magic? Does that even include lasers? Maybe we should leave that to Patchouli. Wonder if we'll get the chance to tease her in-game.
> You assume it would, you've seen fire, ice and thunder beams in other games...While it is true that magicians usually learn elemental magic, you don't know much else about this class.
> You also consider the liklihood that Patch would play this game...Not likely, but it's not impossible. She usually stays away from games, due to the whole "they rot your brain" myth.
>Any clear indication of which classes would have that in some capacity? Even just with the familiars. No way we're not having a Spark if we can get away with it.
> You've seen at least a couple of "big friggin' laser" attacks: the Gadgeteer had a laser bazooka, and the Ninja had some kind of Hadouken-esque attack. You think that the Knight wouldn't have such an attack, but considering that swords can fling laser beams of their own sometimes, it's more likely than one might think.
>Hmmm... wonder if the Knight has a joke broom weapon...
> Better than a frozen tuna. Seriously, who came up with that? Mini-Medi quips.
>How much experience have we had dabbling in other class roles for kicks? Done much better or worse in other games?
> Well, in games that allow party customization, you wouldn't get very far without some meatshields to take the hits. Spellcasting classes in general tend to be very squishy, to balance out their generally high damage output. "Swift" classes like archers, thieves, gun-users, assassins, bards and the like also need some support to be effective. However, it'd be pretty silly for an MMO to not allow any class to play solo, so you surmise that even the squishy classes have some element of survivability to them.
> You recall what Medicine likened it to a "Castle Veiny" game, which seems to revolve around a lot of jumping, hitting things, and dodging things that hurt you. You have played games like this before, but they usually are tough on your hands. However, since you're channeling your actions through Medicine, this is less of an issue!
> Note that this would be a good time for someone to jump in and explain why our choice might not be the best idea before we go with it.
> While you're pondering your character selection, a little "bwip" sound catches your attention. In the upper left corner, you see this message:
MasterOfPuppets7 wants to befriend you!
> Looks like Alice has taken notice of you logging on!
> _
-
>Probably Sakana.
>Aww, we won't get to surprise Alice.
>Accept the friend request; if possible, message her back with 'Aw, you caught me, ze!'
>Check if she went the obvious route and went Gadgeteer.
>To be more specific: When playing other MMOs, how well did we do compared to the average player when filling different roles in the party like healer, damage, tanking, or buffing? Leveling solo early on is standard in these, but aren't endgame bosses usually at least a tricky six-person ordeal?
-
> Yeah, might as well ask. How good are we at video games, and what is our best class.
-
>Probably Sakana.
> Your fish is in another network!
>Aww, we won't get to surprise Alice.
>Accept the friend request; if possible, message her back with 'Aw, you caught me, ze!'
* MasterOfPuppets7 has been added to your friends list!
risingstar82 said: Aw, you caught me, ze!
MasterOfPuppets7 said: Forgive me, but it's not nice to keep a lady waiting.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: I had to pass the time by mining ores in the starting town. Repeatedly.
risingstar82 said: Geeze, sorry. We got hung up, ze. Stuff and things happened.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: If my dolls are anything to go by...
MasterOfPuppets7 said: No matter! The game is now afoot!...Or will be once you get off that bloody character select screen.
risingstar82 said: Ha! Patience, ze. You know how meticulous I am about character customizing.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: Quite right, quite right. I think I can assist in this regard, I read the wiki before I started playing.
risingstar82 said: Why do people insist on those silly things? I like a little surprise, ze!
MasterOfPuppets7 said: I don't like playing games blind if I can help it. Especially with the reputation this game has...But enough about that.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
>Check if she went the obvious route and went Gadgeteer.
>To be more specific: When playing other MMOs, how well did we do compared to the average player when filling different roles in the party like healer, damage, tanking, or buffing? Leveling solo early on is standard in these, but aren't endgame bosses usually at least a tricky six-person ordeal?
risingstar82 said: Didja go Gadgeteer by any chance, ze?
MasterOfPuppets7 said: Ha, you read my mind. Yes, the Gadgeteer tickled my RTS bones. They get a lot of interesting stuff: forcefields, turrets, tesla towers...And little robots that can attack and heal. So adorable~!
risingstar82 said: Lemme guess, you wanna start a robot collection now?
MasterOfPuppets7 said: Oh, sod off.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: ...That being said. Yes. I do.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: If this game has any merch, I'm going to buy it ASAP.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: That is, once I get some proper funding.
risingstar82 said: I can help with that, ze~
MasterOfPuppets7 said: >proper funding.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: I swear, you're like the Catwoman to my bloody Batman!
* risingstar82 chuckles.
risingstar82 said: You wouldn't have it any other way, ze.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: I suppose not.
risingstar82 said: Anyways, did you decide on a role yet for your character, ze?
MasterOfPuppets7 said: As if you need to ask. Set up defenses, keep the enemy from getting too close while we pick them off. So, I'm probably gonna focus on turrets, tesla coils, forcefields, and pump up the Healbots as much as possible.
risingstar82 said: Sounds pretty solid, ze!
risingstar82 said: Better you do that than me, I tend to get bored when I'm not blasting something.
risingstar82 said: I mean, I could toss a heal in here and there, but I'd rather spark the enemy so they don't kill us in the first place, ze.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: So you'd rather focus on DPS with a bit of support thrown in?
risingstar82 said: Pretty much.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: In that case, I'd recommend Knight or Magician.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: Knight can buff, do a bit of healing, and throw their weapons like a norse god. And I guess smash things in melee combat.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: They do get a few ranged attacks, via magic weapons and enchantments. Reminds me of Chrysalis a bit.
risingstar82 said: Holy ze, I loved that game! Thunder Sword ftw.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: I figured you would like that, heh.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: Magician is...Well, pretty typical. They can also heal and buff, but do it slightly better...And by better I mean they seem to have like 50 million buffs. Stuff to raise your elemental power while lowering the enemy's resistance, give allies a chance to steal health and mana on hit, summoning minions on enemy death...The list goes on and on.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: They're also a bit more durable than I expected, which is a nice change.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: They also get quite a few options. You can just use elemental damage to hit enemy weaknesses, or stick with non-typed damage to hurt all enemies equally. You basically only have to worry about magic defense, really.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: Knights get a similar option, but I think it'd be a good idea to invest at least in the elemental enchantments, since a lot of enemies in this game will have at least one weakness to something.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: Magicians can also use magic weapons too, but you probably knew that. So you could carry an elemental weapon hit people with that if you like...Sorry for rambling.
risingstar82 said: S'okay, ze. Knowledge is power, after all!
risingstar82 said: What about the ninja?
MasterOfPuppets7 said: Er, you wouldn't like it. The only buffs they get are self-target only, they mainly use debuffs.
risingstar82 said: Ewwwwww. Can they at least kill things?
MasterOfPuppets7 said: They are swift killing machines. They're pretty good at DPS, though I think it's about equal among all classes depending on what you're doing.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: ...But really, who pays attention to DPS charts?
risingstar82 said: Nerrrrrrrrds.
risingstar82 said: Damage is damage, ze!
risingstar82 said: That being said, which class has the best "button pressing in, damage out" ratio?
MasterOfPuppets7 said: Gadgeteer and Magician are at their best when setting up for damage, and the setup takes a bit. Ninja and Knight only need like, one or two (de)buffs and they're good to go.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: Oh, one more thing!
MasterOfPuppets7 said: Classes also have a guard button in this game, it reduces damage, but it can be specced to reduce more physical or magical damage.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: Thought you ought to know.
>tl;dr You you like dealing damage mostly, but you can heal/buff in a pinch. Tanking or non-tanking depends on who's got the better defensive skills; Alice seems to have this covered. Debuffs are a turnoff for you.
> _
does anyone know how to properly line break stuff in code tags, I'm kinda tired of seeing broken tables here
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>Sounds like Magician was practically made for us, then! Voting on that, then. We got more pressing things to worry about than learning an alternative playstyle.
>'Is there a laser skill tree, ze?'
>Ah, what the hell. Go for a self-insert look. Does Alice usually do that?
-
> Does magician have magic missile, giant lasers and a broom? Because if it has that, I suppose we could go with magician.
> We need ebony black hair with purple streaks and red tips that reach our mid-backs. We also need icy blue eyes like lipid tears, and we need to look like Amy Lee. We need all our clothes to be in the hot topic style. That's what our OC would wear, anyway, which we'll name... "Ebony Dark'ness Dementia Raven Way".
> Wonder why Medicine looks like she's about to throw up as we think up our character aloud.
Come to think of it, what is Marisa's OC? I'd like to look like that.
-
> Does magician have magic missile, giant lasers and a broom? Because if it has that, I suppose we could go with magician.
>'Is there a laser skill tree, ze?'
> Without having to use a fancy text log, Alice confirms that there are magical projectiles available. Sadly, she has not seen any brooms. This troubles you, what kind of self-respecting witch doesn't use a broom?!
>Ah, what the hell. Go for a self-insert look. Does Alice usually do that?
> Alice either bases her appearance off herself, or one of the dolls. Depends on her mood.
> We need ebony black hair with purple streaks and red tips that reach our mid-backs. We also need icy blue eyes like lipid tears, and we need to look like Amy Lee. We need all our clothes to be in the hot topic style. That's what our OC would wear, anyway, which we'll name... "Ebony Dark'ness Dementia Raven Way".
> Wonder why Medicine looks like she's about to throw up as we think up our character aloud.
Come to think of it, what is Marisa's OC? I'd like to look like that.
> Unfortunately, your badfic reference is too long for the text box (max is 20 characters), and the hair editor is a--gasp--premium feature. But if you pay 50 Maneki Tokens ($5 USD), you can unlock it right now!! Medicine does mentally look at you funny for coming up with that, and questions what you've been smoking as of late. Mini-Medi chuckles.
> Your OC is loosely based on your older appearance: she has red hair, blue hat and robes, and uses a variety of "Essence Magic" to attack her enemies. Her name...JULIA MILD, DETECTIVE FOR THE MAGIC POLICE!
>Sounds like Magician was practically made for us, then! Voting on that, then. We got more pressing things to worry about than learning an alternative playstyle.
> VOTES FOR MAGICIAN: 1
> The Parser will also be holding votes/suggestions for either a self insert appearance, or an OC look. Use the keywords "LOCK VOTE" to confirm your selections; locked votes cannot be changed, so pick wisely!
> _
-
>Mushroom potion fumes are amazing. And do you have any idea what Alice uses to finish making the bodies of dolls?
>We're probably joking with that. Probably.
>Hairstyles have to be randomized without paying? Maaan. Or is it just limited freebie options and the only good one for our little joke isn't?
>From what we can control, throw together looks based on ourselves and on Medicine; see which works better. Or whichever shows up first on random, if we're stuck with that. Hopefully appearance changes are easy enough if we do get into it.
>How are our finances, anyway?
-
>Mushroom potion fumes are amazing. And do you have any idea what Alice uses to finish making the bodies of dolls?
> Medicine remains silent and decides not to push the issue. Mini-Medi is rolling on the desk, (silently) laughing her arse off (she has no voice box).
>Hairstyles have to be randomized without paying? Maaan. Or is it just limited freebie options and the only good one for our little joke isn't?
> To clarify, you can pic from multiple hairstyles and colors (the latter uses a color picking too similar to Photoshop), it's just that if you want to make your own style or go for a more detailed dye job, you need to buy the Hairstyle Editor. You can also unlock more premade hair styles by paying Tokens.
>From what we can control, throw together looks based on ourselves and on Medicine; see which works better. Or whichever shows up first on random, if we're stuck with that. Hopefully appearance changes are easy enough if we do get into it.
> The little "Help" button says that you can change your appearance in-game by spending gold coins or Tokens at Salons in almost every town.
> You fiddle with the settings a bit. You manage to find both a black and white dress for yourself, and a black and red dress for Medicine, complete with a matching bow. Sadly, there's no little witch hat for you, but you're surprised to find a "long blond hair with single braid" style. Medicine seems to have won out in terms of avatar accuracy, tho.
>How are our finances, anyway?
> Decent, you have some cash in your bank account, but it barely surpasses $100 USD. The parser would like to apologize for not bothering to convert between Yen and American Dollars. You're carrying about $15 in your wallet right now, for the record.
> _
-
So dirt poor is decent. Got it.
Favoring the Medicine look as a tribute to our assistant along with aesthetic appeal... then again, this isn't her class of choice. Maybe if we make a knight alt? Bah, capth, call it.
-
> We shall be the Magus Knight! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8YMPTGtFOM)
> I think that would be the class that can weild fireswords.
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> We shall be the Magus Knight! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8YMPTGtFOM)
> I think that would be the class that can weild fireswords.
<capth> In skyrim, it would probably be closest akin to launching fire from your left hand, whacking things with a sword in your right, with absolutely no defense besides offense and backing away.
> You consider your options carefully, and bounce your ideas off Alice and Medicine. Alice suggests that going as a Magician with some points in Magic Weapon Mastery would be best for you,
Parser's Observation: So far, you have an avatar based off of Medicine (with no name yet), and plan on making her a Magician with some skill in magic weapons. Preferrably fire swords and variations there of. Is this an acceptable role for you guys?
-
I can live with that.
>Finalize and breeze through the inevitable tutorial. Assuming we ever do that.
-
Sure.
> Die in tutorial level.
(Thinking is, if you are going to die, you should do it in the tutorial level where you don't have anything to lose anyway. Find out what the consequences of death are there, instead of finding out you'll lose your super armor 50 hours in.)
-
(And because fucking with game bugs is fun.)
-
>Finalize and breeze through the inevitable tutorial. Assuming we ever do that.
> You didn't pick out a name yet!! Thankfully, you come up with one completely not influenced by the parser one bit and call her Suzu-tan. Medicine finds the reference cute and clever.
> With your avatar in place, you're treated to another brief cutscene: apparently, your character is on a cruise with their parents, whom bare a slight resemblance to Suzutan. Suddenly, a storm hits your ship, and you are tossed overboard into the sea...Suzutan awakens on the shore of what appears to be a deserted island.
> "Guildies!" Quest Received: Lern2Sirvive -- A whale of a storm has washed you upon this mysterious island! You should find a weapon, and some shelter, if you're to make it out of here alive.
> You take a moment to get used to the controls and menus, tweak the settings to your liking, and start playing. The perspective of this game is that of a standard platformer, but the graphics are rendered in only the finest polygons. The music isn't quite as good, but it helps set the mood a bit. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVjQCRGOwtA) You head right towards the inland jungle, but are blocked by dense foliage. Crap. You head left instead, and see an old shipwreck behind you. Exploring the shipwreck leads you to find a Rusty Cutlass. With this, you...
> Die in tutorial level.
> ...Act like a ⑨ and jump off the stern of the ship, into the water. Suzutan flails about, apparently unable to swim, before an octopus enemy comes up and whips her to death with its tentacles. AVATAR DEATHS: 1
> Guildies! Achievement: "Phish Phood" -- Die while swimming. (++Swimming Speed)
That [Octopus] says you were delicious!
(Respawn in Current Map) -- 0 coins
(Respawn back in town) -- Unavailable
> What. Why would you even DO that?!...Die like that, I mean!
> _
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>Testing! Maybe they didn't expect you to die in the tutorial. Then I'd get to see some weird stuff. And it let me know that dying mostly costs coins. Well, so far. Let's see if I kept the cutlass.
>Respawn and play smrtar this time. Head over to hack into that jungle.
>Achievements give benefits, huh? Maybe we should ask Alice whether there's any we should try to get before the main game.
>Is this 2D or 3D platforming, for the record?
-
> Wait, so if we jump into the ocean this time, we'll swim?
> And we get achievements for creative suicides?
> Quick, jump into a sword!
> ...Pocket Medi(c) is glaring at us, isn't she.
-
>Testing! Maybe they didn't expect you to die in the tutorial. Then I'd get to see some weird stuff. And it let me know that dying mostly costs coins. Well, so far. Let's see if I kept the cutlass.
> I guess. Still looks stupid, though.
> You kept your cutlass, thankfully. You highly doubt that the game would leave you in such a roadblock. Only silly programmers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbbS_XwRj34) would allow such things (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H_ocs-dlUA) to happen!
>Is this 2D or 3D platforming, for the record?
> Good old 2D platforming, ladies and gents! gotta stay true to the source material
> Wait, so if we jump into the ocean this time, we'll swim?
> You kinda doubt it. You couldn't move very well in the water beforehand; left and right movement was slow, jumping up and swimming down was impossible. Perhaps you can learn to swim later?
> Quick, jump into a sword!
> ...Pocket Medi(c) is glaring at us, isn't she.
> Sadly, the only sword you could find is no longer there, as you just picked it up. :V There is also a distinct lack of sharp objects on the beach. Mini-Medi is glaring at you with the utmost contempt her beady eyes can muster.
>Respawn and play smrtar this time. Head over to hack into that jungle.
> You respawn in a rather amusing fashion: the game rewinds itself like a cassette tape, and you reappear on the deck as if nothing happened. At any rate, you head right, and slice through the foliage to access the next map...Which has wild boars in it. A brief explanation of combat is presented, which amounts to little more than "swing sword, hurt enemy, block or jump to avoid damage." A path leads to the right through the jungle.
>Achievements give benefits, huh? Maybe we should ask Alice whether there's any we should try to get before the main game.
> You consult with Alice on the matter...
risingstar82 said: So like...
risingstar82 said: Are there any special hidden achievements I should be aware of, ze?
MasterOfPuppets7 said: Not really. Besides, it's not like you can permanently miss any of them.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: You do realize the game has an achievement list, right?
risingstar82 said: ...Apparently not, ze. It was sitting there in the corner. =P
* MasterOfPuppets7 smugface.
> You click on the list. It has...A rather massive set of achievements, but only the ones relevant to your place in the game are currently displayed:
Run Over -- Get killed by a charging attack. (++Defense and ++Dashing Attack Damage)
Boar Hunter -- Kill 100 Boar-type enemies. (++Drop Rate and ++Gem EXP when killing any boar)
Boar Slayer -- Kill 1000 Boar-type enemies. (++Drop Rate and ++Gem EXP when killing any boar)
Head Trauma -- Bump your head against the ceiling 10000 times. (++Upward Attack Damage)
Item Hoarder -- Have 2000 total items in your inventory at any time. (Free Inventory Expansion Coupon)
Death From Above -- Kill 500 enemies with Downward Attacks. (++Downward Attack Damage)
Weed Whacker -- Cut down 1000 plants. (++Drop Rate when harvesting plants)
Millionaire -- Have 1000000 gold coins on you at any given time. (++Coin Drop Rate)
> Of course, you could scroll down and/or toggle the options to display more achievement goals, but...The thought of being weighed down with all these tasks kinda overwhelms you. This feels more like a shopping list than anything.
> _
-
>Probably not many we can do right now anyway, let alone ones worth rushing to at the moment. Nothing we can permanently miss, thankfully, so let's keep at it. We'll get what we get for now. Leave the specific hunting for later - we need to catch Alice!
>Rewinding, huh? Can Sakuya do that?
>Try and off two or three boars to get a feel for it and peek at some of the other basic mechanics, then move on.
-
>Rewinding, huh? Can Sakuya do that?
> To your knowledge, no. That sounds more like something Kaguya or Keine would do, you'd think...But eh, you'll address that problem later.
>Try and off two or three boars to get a feel for it and peek at some of the other basic mechanics, then move on.
> You decide to go boar hunting! The experience is fruitful, though it takes you some time to get comfortable with movement in combat. You'll have to look up that "Castle Veiny" game sometime and see how similar that game is to this. At any rate, you learn it's better to not let the boars charge (or jump the hell over them if they do), and that they die fairly easily otherwise. You also start getting random drops from them, usually body parts such as Boar Tusks and Boar Pelts. You're not sure how you're able to recover these items intact, but whatever, it's a game, ze!
> After reducing the Wild Boar population a bit, you progress onwards...You also notice that your health slowly refills over time when you're not being accosted by enemies. Gotta love that health regen in RPGs. Anyways, you progress, and come to a part where there's very few enemies, but lots of vines, platforms, and spiky thorns covering parts of the jungle path. Looks like this is the "learn to jump, climb and not get killed on sharp things" part of the tutorial.
> _
don't forget to set your clocks back by 1 hour, guys
-
>Hopefully that noncombat HP regen scales with max health.
>Any indication how far along we are to a level or whatever from that murder spree? Skim the stats and advancement in the menu if it's readily accessible.
>Are there any funny descriptions or details about the items we picked up? What's the inventory system like - are items stacking, is there a set number of slots, do the use up finite space by size like Diablo, etc? What's our sylladex
>Poke some thorns to see how much they hurt, then start attempting the climb. Same types of enemies here, right?
-
> "So, uh, should we try to get killed by a boar charge in the tutorial? You know, for the achievement?"
> Attempt to not get killed on sharp things.
What is the source material anyway?
-
>Hopefully that noncombat HP regen scales with max health.
> You're not entirely sure if that's the case or not. On that note...
>Any indication how far along we are to a level or whatever from that murder spree? Skim the stats and advancement in the menu if it's readily accessible.
> You look at your UI, and see nothing that resembles an EXP bar. In fact, if you look at your character's level, so far it's at ZERO. :wat: Determined to find more details, you look at your character stats...Pretty straightforward, it uses a familiar-ish STR/INT/DEX/LUK system, but you also find another button called "Arcane Statistics." You click on it, and you're greeted with a more detailed stat list: Your min/max damage, your HP regen/sec, how many steps you walked, etc...But still no EXP bar to be found. Or MP bar, for that matter! What kind of sorcery is this?
>Are there any funny descriptions or details about the items we picked up? What's the inventory system like - are items stacking, is there a set number of slots, do the use up finite space by size like Diablo, etc? What's our sylladex
> Items stack, like in Minecraft or Torchlight, and you can have a certain amount of items per slot. The rollover text even shows how many items you can carry per slot.
> Speaking of which, you decide to see what goods you have on hand...
EQUIPS
- Rusty Cutlass -- One Handed Sword, Unbreakable, Quest Item (respawns where you found it if dropped) -- Attack +10
An old cutlass you found in a shipwreck. Despite it's age, it's still intact...The maker must've put a lot of effort into this.
DROPS
- Boar Pelt -- Craftable Material, Common -- Sells for 10 coins
You skinned this from a Wild Boar when you killed it. How you managed to keep it intact is a mystery. - Boar Tusk -- Craftable Material, Common -- Sells for 15 coins
These tusks are so tough and sharp, that some hunters use them as spearheads or daggers.
>Poke some thorns to see how much they hurt, then start attempting the climb. Same types of enemies here, right?
> There's some Pistol Plants that shoot seeds at you, but the plants are stationary, and while the seeds don't hurt that much, they have quite a bit of knockback to them. The thorns themselves hurt for about 10 damage (you have 100 HP), so you try your best not to get skewered too much.
> As you travel, you see what appears to be some cracked rocks in the jungle floor, between two columns of land. You jump down and try smacking them with your cutlass, but they refuse to crumble. You might have to come back here later.
EDIT: Darnit capth XP Didn't see your post
> "So, uh, should we try to get killed by a boar charge in the tutorial? You know, for the achievement?"
> If you want to look like a brainless fairy, then be my guest. Medi's inclined to disagree. The boars do a hefty amount of damage, too, between 12-15 damage.
> Attempt to not get killed on sharp things.
> You decide, for funsies, to suicide yourself on the thorns. Sadly, an achievement doesn't pop up for your brazen acts of experimentation.
What is the source material anyway?
A good magician doesn't reveal their secrets. ;) All will be explained in due time...Assuming we get that far.
> _
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> Ignore the rock smash rocks. Continue adventure into unknown.
-
>Maybe advancement's all equipment, or you raise the base stats directly? Guess that's a departure from the norm, at least.
>Bonk ourselves off on a stray boar if we encounter more in the near future, just to get that over with. But keep moving, we need to catch up a little!
>.... oh yeah, and take a look at the emotes. We need to find the most amusing way to greet Alice.
-
> Ignore the rock smash rocks. Continue adventure into unknown.
> You fail to ignore the rocks, and stare at them longingly. Those fissures...That texture! It makes you wanna take one of them hooohahahahah sorry I can't do this it's just way too silly. You continue on your way.
>Maybe advancement's all equipment, or you raise the base stats directly? Guess that's a departure from the norm, at least.
> You consider asking Alice about this...
>Bonk ourselves off on a stray boar if we encounter more in the near future, just to get that over with. But keep moving, we need to catch up a little!
>.... oh yeah, and take a look at the emotes. We need to find the most amusing way to greet Alice.
> ...After you catch up to her. ADVENTURRRRRRE!
> You try to kill yourself on a Boar, but the RNG decides to screw you over by making the Boar miss and kill itself on some thorns. How lame! So, you decide to mess with the chat interface instead. There is a healthy amount of emotes, including some hidden ones that you must either purchase, or earn from drops. Sheesh, what WON'T these monsters drop?
> _
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Sheesh, what WON'T these monsters drop?
>Experience, apparently.
>Since asking Alice about whether any of the intro enemies drop emotes would ruin the surprise, pick out a few silly, flirty ones to accost Alice with while continuing on and taking out boars along the way. Abuse regen times for experimentation.
>Where's that darn first town?
-
>Since asking Alice about whether any of the intro enemies drop emotes would ruin the surprise, pick out a few silly, flirty ones to accost Alice with while continuing on and taking out boars along the way. Abuse regen times for experimentation.
> You pick out a lipstick-wearing emote that winks, and an emote holding a rose in its mouth, waggling its eyebrows. Very subtle, game.
>Where's that darn first town?
> Right about...Here, as a cutscene triggers and an NPC spots you. A shiver runs down your spine as you see it's another octopus, but it's decked out in a safari outfit and pith helm, carrying a magnifying glass.
* Professor Otto *
"I say! You're a new face! What brings you to this fine settlement?"
> _
-
>Liking the rose one more. Perhaps a pithy comment will be in order. We shall see.
>'Depends on what you can do with those tentacles, Squidsworth~'
>Oh wow, they really give you a chance to input during this? Well, we know what we fight with: Love!
-
>Oh wow, they really give you a chance to input during this? Well, we know what we fight with: Love!
> You're allowed to freely interact with the real world, why should video games be any different?
> The parser asks for a bit of clarity on this: did you want to hug the doctorpus, smite it, or do something else?
> _
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>Oh, not a text input. Fiddle around wildly with character motions for a bit, then try just talking to it. If they've actually gotten a word out, it's only polite to exchange words before exchanging danmaku. We can nuke and/or shank him in short order, if need be.
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>Oh, not a text input. Fiddle around wildly with character motions for a bit, then try just talking to it. If they've actually gotten a word out, it's only polite to exchange words before exchanging danmaku. We can nuke and/or shank him in short order, if need be.
> You flail around a bit more, which only earns you a stymied glance from the octopus.
"Clearly, you must've been through a delirium-inducing ordeal. Why don't you come with me back to the village, eh wot?"
> _
hopefully this'll look a bit better, you can still do commands outside the game or whatever
-
>Are they gonna try to eat me like the guy in the ocean?
>Head for the newbie village, but be wary!
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>Are they gonna try to eat me like the guy in the ocean?
>Head for the newbie village, but be wary!
"Of course not! We're a civilized folk! Cannibalism is not in our nature, as the goddess Erda forbids it.
Come, let me show our wonderful home."
> Otto escorts you to the first "town," which looks like less of a town and more like a temple of sorts. This is ERDDITE TEMPLE, a lush settlement carved out of an ancient ruin. You can see multiple houses set within the walls and buildings of this place, and the residents consist of mainly animal-like creatures (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z09iRo44Mcs), though there are a few humans. A towering statue of the aforementioned Erda watches over the area, though she (and most of the ruins) are covered in plants and moss. Despite that, the townsfolk have taken good care of this place, and turned it into a thriving location for trade and commerce.
"Quite impressive, is it not? I myself came to study this place's ancient catacombs...
Why not have a look around, and come back to me when you're finished?"
> Quest Updated: Lern2Soshulize -- Talk to the vendors in the following places: General Store, Jewelery, Armory, Inn, Guild Hall.
> _
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> Whelp, only one thing to do.
> Put the 'mania' into kleptomania- uh, I mean talk to people.
> We'll rob them in their sleep.
-
>If the game displays local text chat bubbles above our heads, find a congregation of various animal-people in the same location and get a screenshot of us saying "HEDONISTIC FURRIES!" in the middle of them.
>What's the Erda statue look like? We should have some idea of what the final boss will be. I mean, obviously.
>Get that socialization thing out of the way, especially if there aren't any other players visible here. Instanced, presumably? Start with whichever's closest, or the Armory if it's difficult to tell.
>Take a glance to make sure not-Medi-Mari hasn't exploded or anything real quick.
-
> Whelp, only one thing to do.
> Put the 'mania' into kleptomania- uh, I mean talk to people.
> We'll rob them in their sleep.
> Sadly, this isn't a conventional JRPG, you're not gonna find ancient artifacts stored in someone's flower pot (http://adventurers.keenspot.com/d/0062.html)...But you do find some coins, and random gem ores in some of the pots/boxes/whatever container has a sparkly thingy on it. It's like Golden Sun all over again!
> npcs never sleep what the hell are you talking about
>What's the Erda statue look like? We should have some idea of what the final boss will be. I mean, obviously.
> The statue itself has short hair tied up in a bun, wears a toga, and has her arms outstretched forwards as if to offer someone a hug. Sappy, but you kinda get the feeling that Erda's the loving, caring type instead of the "SMITE ALL HUMANS" type. The statue also has patches of moss and other plant life growing on it.
>Take a glance to make sure not-Medi-Mari hasn't exploded or anything real quick.
> You try to do this, and your vision blurs a bit. It takes a second for your mind and eyes to re-adjust to the lightning in the room. How long were you staring at this game, anyways? It feels like hours...At any rate, you look at yourself. You're still sitting peacefully in a trance, which is surprising to see. You look to the left to see what Mini-Medi is up to, but she's not there.
> Up here, Link.
> Ah, Mini_medi's perched on Medicine's head again. How adorable!
> What, it's comfy up here.
> You chuckle to yourself and wheel around. Alice is firmly asleep, slumping back in her chair, while her control dolls type away at the keyboard.
> "I'm surprised she didn't fall out of her chair yet," Medicine quips. "But, I think she'll be fine, right?"
>If the game displays local text chat bubbles above our heads, find a congregation of various animal-people in the same location and get a screenshot of us saying "HEDONISTIC FURRIES!" in the middle of them.
> It just so happens that the game does use little text balloons while chatting! You locate a group of local children playing innocent card games, shout your phrase aloud, and take a screenshot.
(CHAT WINDOW)
nyanNekoamata1313 said: Hey, nyow! I take offense to that, nya!
> Now would be a good time to mention that towns are not instanced, unless otherwise noted. :D
>Get that socialization thing out of the way, especially if there aren't any other players visible here. Instanced, presumably? Start with whichever's closest, or the Armory if it's difficult to tell.
> In an effort to escape the cat-affiliated user, you make to duck into the nearest building, which happens to be the armory. Tons of weapons, armor and other stat-boosting gear are on display, and a burly bear of an NPC is standing behind the counter. No, seriously, the owner of the store is a bear. Just like that octopus is a professor of some kind...An Archeologist, maybe?
(CHAT WINDOW)
nyanNekoamata1313 said: You're not good at this hiding thing, are you nyow?
> Oh shit. She(?) followed you in.
> _
-
>Blame Reako
>'I'm not, but I don't care much about apologizing for mean jokes, ze!'
>Neglect the tantruming catgirl to talk to the bear NPC and get this quest advanced. And get some idea of what our equipment situation will be like, presumably.
>Hopefully that goddess won't be too important if she's that boring.
>Were those card-playing characters NPCs, or players? Does nyancatgirl have an actual catgirl character, or is that just the name?
>How does that time-passing exhaustion from turning away compare to typical I'm-playing-more-than-I-should-cause-it's-fun experiences we've had?
>Check a clock either way, to get an idea of how long it's been. Compare likewise.
>Make sure it's possible to get up and stretch.
-
(CHAT WINDOW)
nyanNekoamata1313 said: You're not good at this hiding thing, are you nyow?
> Oh shit. She(?) followed you in.
> "Fine. We'll settle this like gentleman."
> Time to bring out the children's card games.
-
(CHAT WINDOW)
nyanNekoamata1313 said: You're not good at this hiding thing, are you nyow?
> Oh shit. She(?) followed you in.
> _
>Get ready to D-d-d-d-ddddd Duel!
-
> "Fine. We'll settle this like gentleman."
>Correction: 'We'll settle this like gentlemen. And women. And women who dress like men!'
>Gilgamesh pose
-
> "Fine. We'll settle this like gentleman."
> Time to bring out the children's card games.
>Correction: 'We'll settle this like gentlemen. And women. And women who dress like men!'
>Gilgamesh pose
>Get ready to D-d-d-d-ddddd Duel!
> You try to issue a duel challenge to Miss Easily Offended here, but to your horror, it's disabled!
* nyanNekomata1313 blinks.
nyanNekomata1313 said: A level zero player issuing a PVP request? Do you even know how to play this game?
>Blame Reako
> Who is this Reako you speak of
>'I'm not, but I don't care much about apologizing for mean jokes, ze!'
nyanNekomata1313 said:
nyanNekomata1313 said: Marisa, is that you?
>Neglect the tantruming catgirl to talk to the bear NPC and get this quest advanced. And get some idea of what our equipment situation will be like, presumably.
> You speak to the bear, whose name is HAMMER.
"...Another human? Yeesh, it's like they're migrating...I keep hearing stories about a boat lost in a storm, and
judging by your hair and smell of sea water...Well, at any rate.
"I run this here armory. I sell weapons and armor for adventurers to use. I can even craft new stuff, with the right
materials... But I'm getting ahead of myself. I can't do business with anyone that doesn't have a [Guild Liscense].
It's against the law. Come back when you've gotten one, then we'll talk...And make sure you bring a full wallet, this
stuff ain't cheap."
>Hopefully that goddess won't be too important if she's that boring.
> Just for that, the NPCs will mention the gods ten times more frequently while you're playing. PRAISE ERDA!!
>Were those card-playing characters NPCs, or players? Does nyancatgirl have an actual catgirl character, or is that just the name?
> They were just NPCs, though nyanNeko herself is an actual player avatar. Speaking of which, she's pretty much hovering behind you now, while you're busy talking to a weapon-smithing bear.
>How does that time-passing exhaustion from turning away compare to typical I'm-playing-more-than-I-should-cause-it's-fun experiences we've had?
> You haven't really experienced something like that before. You're not sure if it's a result of being linked to Medicine, or the game affecting you.
>Check a clock either way, to get an idea of how long it's been. Compare likewise.
> Let's see...You got back around noon, and the clock on your computer says...3:50 PM.
>Make sure it's possible to get up and stretch.
> You can, though you feel so light and carefree with this spirit link going on. You deliberate on whether you should actually get up or not...
> _
-
>DO YOU KNOW HOW POPULAR HE IS IN THE MMORPG COMMUNITY?!
>To she-that-is-possibly-Chen: 'Go farther and fare worse, eh?' (http://en.touhouwiki.net/wiki/Perfect_Cherry_Blossom/Story/Marisa%27s_Scenario#Stage_2)
>In the future, we will light Erda's statue on fire.
>Does it usually take us four hours to get this far into a game? That's suspicious, even with the time we spent beforehand. It's like there's some sort of time manipulation in effect... that rewind effect may have been a hint. Make a note to check the time before and after the next in-game death.
>... something happened to Sakuya according to Flan, right? Maybe that IS important. Keep tabs on her window for word on that.
>How quickly does the game run? Is the action particularly slow-paced or anything? If it's going at three frames a second and using time tweaking to look like it isn't...
>That said, take a moment to get off the chair and stretch as Medicine, to make sure it's possible to move away from the screen. Let's try not to get her trapped if we can help it.
-
>DO YOU KNOW HOW POPULAR HE IS IN THE MMORPG COMMUNITY?!
> Apparently not, Google failed to return anything of use to me >_>
>To she-that-is-possibly-Chen: 'Go farther and fare worse, eh?' (http://en.touhouwiki.net/wiki/Perfect_Cherry_Blossom/Story/Marisa%27s_Scenario#Stage_2)
nyanNekomata1313 said: OMG, it is you, nya!
nyanNekomata1313 said: I dunno if I should hug you or scratch you! How've ya been?
>In the future, we will light Erda's statue on fire.
> Your inner vandal plots to set the statue of Erda on fire. A perfectly reasonable goal!
>Does it usually take us four hours to get this far into a game? That's suspicious, even with the time we spent beforehand. It's like there's some sort of time manipulation in effect... that rewind effect may have been a hint. Make a note to check the time before and after the next in-game death.
> Nah, you just got a little too click-happy with the character creator and looting the first town. :V Time flies when you're having fun!
>... something happened to Sakuya according to Flan, right? Maybe that IS important. Keep tabs on her window for word on that.
> You switch over to Skype to see how Flan's doing. She hasn't said anything since you last talked, but she appears to be online.
>How quickly does the game run? Is the action particularly slow-paced or anything? If it's going at three frames a second and using time tweaking to look like it isn't...
> No, it's running pretty smoothly, even on your connection. The action is about as fast as you'd expect from a platforming game; the closest comparison you can make is Kirby's Return to Dreamland (just with less inhaling things and floating around).
>That said, take a moment to get off the chair and stretch as Medicine, to make sure it's possible to move away from the screen. Let's try not to get her trapped if we can help it.
> You do just that, even dolls need to stretch after all.
> That being said, Medicine's been oddly silent...You give her a mental poke.
> "Bwuh? Are we done playing already?"
> _
-
Oh, just back from Eientei. Somehow they all got brain cancer at once. Weird, huh?
> Wonder if there is a place we can take a laptop and play video games with people in the same room.
-
>Okay, more seriously, probably not done, but I'd rather not get you stuck if I can help it. Maybe that link thing is working after managing to get up and look away for a bit.
>Does the Pocket Medi(c) approve of igniting Edna?
>'Depends on whether you let me rub your tummy'
>To Chen: 'Eh, nothing too special, ze. Howsabout you?'
>What're our relations with the Yakumos like? And how Alice handles them?
>Is it unheard of to find Chen browsing the interwebs?
>See if we can look up Chen's character profile.
-
Oh, just back from Eientei. Somehow they all got brain cancer at once. Weird, huh?
> Wonder if there is a place we can take a laptop and play video games with people in the same room.
nyanNekomata1313 said: o.o I'll say, nya! How does that happen?!
> The first place that comes to mind is Eientei, but good luck getting anyone there to play with you now. The Human Village is a possibility, as well as Myouren Temple, where HijiriNet is located. You MIGHT be able to get access at Yukari's place if you can find it, and the Earth Spriit Palace is...Out of the way, but doable. Taoists are out of the question, as are the Scarlet and Youkai Mountain crews. You're not sure about Reimu, you haven't talked to her since the Shining Needle Castle incident.
>Okay, more seriously, probably not done, but I'd rather not get you stuck if I can help it. Maybe that link thing is working after managing to get up and look away for a bit.
> "Aw, thanks for thinking of me. I think a break might be nice for you as well."
>Does the Pocket Medi(c) approve of igniting Edna?
> Um, you're asking me if I'd like to light a statue of a goddess on FIRE. How the hell would I NOT pass this up?!
>'Depends on whether you let me rub your tummy'
> Chen's COMFY COVERING takes a hit at the prospect of a nice tummy rub
>To Chen: 'Eh, nothing too special, ze. Howsabout you?'
nyanNekomata1313 said: We've been trying to get our own private server running, nya!
nyanNekomata1313 said: But it's a lot harder than it looks...I had to learn a lot of coding and whatnot from the kappa.
nyanNekomata1313 said: It was like relearning magic all over again, nyaaaaa... XwX
>What're our relations with the Yakumos like? And how Alice handles them?
> Aside from you and Reimu beating the ever-loving crap out of Ran and Yukari for messing with the boundary years ago, they've been..Affably neutral. Yukari won't help or hinder you unless she has a reason to, she usually bothers Reimu most of the time. Ran and Chen pretty much stick with Yukari; Ran acts as the counterbalance to her master's antics, and Chen is the cheerful tagalong kid that wants to be a part of whatever's going on. You don't have a particularly close relationship to the trio, but they're always willing to socialize if you cross paths with them. Alice tries to act polite around them, but they seem to put her on edge, especially Yukari. You recall Alice acting nervous around Yukari every time the Harvest Moon rolls around, and the youkai gather to celebrate...The Yakumos always attend that. However, you have no idea why Alice is nervous around them, and she never answers your questions about them when you ask.
>Is it unheard of to find Chen browsing the interwebs?
> Nah, you friended her on Skype ages ago, but you don't talk very much. One of the conversations you did have, though, involved the ratio of funny cat pictures to funny human pictures...That was the chattiest you've ever seen her at.
>See if we can look up Chen's character profile.
> No problem, a double-click on her character shows she's a Level 0 character just like you. She seems to have the cat ears thing going on her character, but no tail, though she managed to find a cute black and blue dress.
> _
-
>Didn't Eirin want us to keep that emergency a secret...? Oh well, too late now...
>Hey now, I'm not a COMPLETE jackass. Though I think I'll hold off on breaking until we can at least find Alice. Which means shaking off Chen sooner or later, so not out of the woods yet.
>To the catgirl: 'Private server, eh? Anything special ya planning to do with it, ze?'
>Remind her that there is no Darwin Awards for cats, summarizing where all the funny human pictures went
-
To double medis: > Hey, Chen here's talking about a private server for Guildies. I'm thinking if the problem right now's server-side, then their idea to get a gensokyo private server up and running might just work for the whole mess right now. Your thoughts?
-
>Didn't Eirin want us to keep that emergency a secret...? Oh well, too late now...
> ...Craaaaaaap, the parser you totally forgot about that. Looks like the cat's out of the bag now.
>Hey now, I'm not a COMPLETE jackass. Though I think I'll hold off on breaking until we can at least find Alice. Which means shaking off Chen sooner or later, so not out of the woods yet.
> "Oh, right, that. Sorry...I'm not much of a people person unless I have to be. Alice mentioned something about mining ores, right?"
>To the catgirl: 'Private server, eh? Anything special ya planning to do with it, ze?'
>Remind her that there is no Darwin Awards for cats, summarizing where all the funny human pictures went
> Chen is heartbroken, this was her thesis, she spent months researching it
nyanNekomata1313 said: It's just a LAN server, I think...Yukari-sama didn't want to connect to someone else's net...
So she made her own, nyah.
nyanNekomata1313 said: She's also been testing games and stuff on her network, so she can play online with others.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Ran-sama says it's against the law to have your own network access without paying for it, but...
Since when has Yukari-sama played within the law, nyah?
risingstar82 said: She makes her own laws, ze!
nyanNekomata1313 said: >w< Hehehe, good point!
To double medis: > Hey, Chen here's talking about a private server for Guildies. I'm thinking if the problem right now's server-side, then their idea to get a gensokyo private server up and running might just work for the whole mess right now. Your thoughts?
> "Did she actually say that? I don't recall her saying anything about Guildies specifically..." Medicine has a point, so you ask her about it.
risingstar82 said: Quick question while we're on the subject...
risingstar82 said: Is Yukari interested in Guildies at all?
nyanNekomata1313 said: Hmmm? owo
nyanNekomata1313 said: She was looking at it, nya...But since you told me about the brain cancer stuff...I dunno if I
should.
nyanNekomata1313 said: If I do, she may mark it as a you-know-what and go bug Reimu-chan about it.
nyanNekomata1313 said: I dunno about you, but this game doesn't sound that bad, nya. I want to keep playing without
those mikos walking all over everything... >m>
nyanNekomata1313 said: I wonder...Are you investigating this game too?
risingstar82 said: For the most part, yes. But I'm having more fun than I expected, ze!
risingstar82 said: I spent a good hour or so just tinkering around with my character. XD
nyanNekomata1313 said: Geeze, you too?! I was almost tempted to buy the hair style editor! But then I realized I had
to spend money for it so...Nyo. -m-
> _
-
>wait there are laws in gensokyo other than the spellcard rules
>Knowing Yukari, it's entirely possible that she expected this mind-messing thing somehow... the timing of her attempts is slightly suspicious, as well. Though maybe she's just being stingy. Uncertain!
>'Don't worry, ze. I'm already here, and if Armpits doesn't know about it already, I'll steal the glory this time! Just gotta figure out who to Spark.'
>'So, are you on a different connection somewhere, or does Yukari's network already work for this?'
>During lulls in conversation, move character to try and look like we're chewing on nyanNekomata's cat ears.
>Briefly ponder the merit of learning programming enough to fiddle with our own magic. Maybe we can upsurp Alice with that... and maybe Patchouli, even. Well, maybe later. Or have we fiddled with programming before already?
-
>wait there are laws in gensokyo other than the spellcard rules
> Only the laws of physics
>'Don't worry, ze. I'm already here, and if Armpits doesn't know about it already, I'll steal the glory this time! Just gotta figure out who to Spark.'
nyanNekomata1313 said: Mew! That's good to hear! *purrs* It's been a while since you did anything big.
risingstar82 said: What, that duel against Cirno wasn't big enough for you? =P
* nyanNekomata1313 chuckles.
nyanNekomata1313 said: I'll keep this between us, then! ^w^
risingstar82 said: That's a good kitty, ze.
>Knowing Yukari, it's entirely possible that she expected this mind-messing thing somehow... the timing of her attempts is slightly suspicious, as well. Though maybe she's just being stingy. Uncertain!
> Your mind boggles with possibilities. However, one thing sticks out...How long has Yukari been working on this server? Has it been recently established, or has it been worked on over the past few months? You decide that...
>During lulls in conversation, move character to try and look like we're chewing on nyanNekomata's cat ears.
>'So, are you on a different connection somewhere, or does Yukari's network already work for this?'
> ...It's time to get it straight from the horse's cat's mouth. You try to butter her up with a virtual ear scratch/nibble, but it's hard to do without the proper emote.
* risingstar82 scratches behind the ears, somehow.
* nyanNekomata1313 purrs regardless.
risingstar82 said: Since we're swapping secrets already...
risingstar82 said: How long have you been working on this server anyways.
* nyanNekomata1313 mrowrs?
nyanNekomata1313 said: A couple months, nya.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Yukari-sama was gonna do it before this internet think happened, but she never got the
inspiration to do so. Nyow she has a good reason, nya!
risingstar82 said: Just in general?
nyanNekomata1313 said: Nyes...You sound kinda suspicious of me. owo
risingstar82 said: I just want to rule out that she might have been watching us all this time.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Wow, you're acting really paranyoid lately, LOL!
nyanNekomata1313 said: Just chillax, nya!
risingstar82 said: I guess I should...But can you blame me?
nyanNekomata1313 said: I guess nyot. -w-
>Briefly ponder the merit of learning programming enough to fiddle with our own magic. Maybe we can upsurp Alice with that... and maybe Patchouli, even. Well, maybe later. Or have we fiddled with programming before already?
> Not once have you considered any serious programming. That set of skills would come in handy in today's increasingly technological society, but you're not sure where to start.
> _
-
So. Open question. Is risking proximity to Yukari (and thus, Problems) worth offering Chen earscritches for advice picking up programming to try and surprise Alice with?
-
So. Open question. Is risking proximity to Yukari (and thus, Problems) worth offering Chen earscritches for advice picking up programming to try and surprise Alice with?
I'd say it is. Even if Yukari would find out, she might just write it off as "Marisa being Marisa."
-
Thing is I'm not sure how much it's in Marisa's character to openly ask for advice like that... well, I guess it isn't immediate anyway.
>'Y'know, now you got me curious about the programming stuff, ze. Where'd you get started with that, once I got time to play with it?'
>'And for later, I'm tryin' to meet up with Alice in-game; last I heard she was mining or somethin'. I bet I still gotta sit through the rest of the tutorial, but where d'ya think I should head after that?'
-
Thing is I'm not sure how much it's in Marisa's character to openly ask for advice like that... well, I guess it isn't immediate anyway.
This is just me, but I'd think that Mari would ask about something beyond her understanding. Computers are complex things. :V
>'Y'know, now you got me curious about the programming stuff, ze. Where'd you get started with that, once I got time to play with it?'
nyanNekomata1313 said: Where do ya think, silly? The kappa!
nyanNekomata1313 said: Specifically. Nyitori-sama.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Nitori* >w<;; Sorry, force of habit, nya.
risingstar82 said: Ok, I knew she was pretty smart, but I didn't know the limits of her smartness, ze.
nyanNekomata1313 said: You know that backpack she carries?
nyanNekomata1313 said: She figured out how to fit more stuff into it than normal, nya.
nyanNekomata1313 said: That got Yukari-sama's attention, so she asked how she did it.
nyanNekomata1313 said: But...We're not supposed to talk about that, nya. >w>;;
risingstar82 said: Lemme guess.
risingstar82 said: It's a Youkai Mountain secret?
nyanNekomata1313 said: Pretty much, nya.
nyanNekomata1313 said: But damn if I'm gonna keep quiet about it!
risingstar82 said: That's what I like to hear, ze!
nyanNekomata1313 said: It'll take me a while to dig the documents out tho, nya...
nyanNekomata1313 said: Yukari-sama put it on her Dropbox account.
risingstar82 said: Oh shit. That's gonna be a nightmare to nyagivate, ze.
risingstar82 said: ...Now you got me doing it, lol. My catness has increased!
nyanNekomata1313 said: LOL!!
nyanNekomata1313 said: Dun worry about it, I can figure it out.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Somehow. >w>;;
risingstar82 said: =P
>'And for later, I'm tryin' to meet up with Alice in-game; last I heard she was mining or somethin'. I bet I still gotta sit through the rest of the tutorial, but where d'ya think I should head after that?'
nyanNekomata1313 said: Well, according to the site...
nyanNekomata1313 said: Mining spots are usually in hunting zones, like the catacombs here. Did you try using the /find
command?
risingstar82 said: Nope.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Just type /find (Alice's name) and you'll find out where she is, nya!
risingstar82 said: Got it. Thanks for the tip, ze.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Hey, since we're both newbs right now...Why don't we team up?
nyanNekomata1313 said: Maybe we can even join a guild together or something! owo
risingstar82 said: Hmm...Lemme think about this, ze.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Okie-dokie!
> _
-
nyanNekomata1313 said: A level zero player issuing a PVP request? Do you even know how to play this game?
>... didn't think Chen was completely new to this game. Huh!
>'Y'sure? I got the impression you were a bit ahead of me, ze!'
>'This spot was my first visit for the newbie quest, so you'll be sittin' through me doing that, but I guess we can stick together for a bit! Bearbutt over there said I need a guild card to get anything, so I'm guessing that's something you get later in the newbie quest line?'
>If nothing of importance comes up, head out (with Chen tagging along, presumably) to the next stop we're supposed to go to! Or check out those card-playing NPCs on the way. Whichever.
>Go ahead and /find Alice's account to get an idea. Hopefully it's something we'll be able to reach in short order.
-
> Find Alice.
-
>... didn't think Chen was completely new to this game. Huh!
>'Y'sure? I got the impression you were a bit ahead of me, ze!'
nyanNekomata1313 said: I'm only ahead because I read up on the game, silly! >w<
nyanNekomata1313 said: There's a little how-to guide and everything!
nyanNekomata1313 said: I got into the habit once we started playing other online games. Yukari-sama wanted us
to see what's good and what's crap.
risingstar82 said: Ah, no wonder.
risingstar82 said: I thought there was a beta before the beta.
risingstar82 said: Like, an alpha, ze!
nyanNekomata1313 said: Sadly, I didn't make it in, mew...
nyanNekomata1313 said: Probably for the best, because if what you said is true...
risingstar82 said: What bugs me is how the afflicted got sick to begin with.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Nya? How so?
risingstar82 said: From what I heard, the inaba were dropping like flies before they really got into the game.
risingstar82 said: Kaguya-sama on the other hand, she played it for so long without stopping...
nyanNekomata1313 said: Omg, is she ok?!
risingstar82 said: Yeah, we got her to Eirin's lab and she's undergoing treatment, ze.
nyanNekomata1313 said: ...I hope something like that doesn't happen to me, mew...
risingstar82 said: I can't guarantee anything, but if you start feeling...Strange, I'd suggest logging off ASAP.
risingstar82 said: I dunno how long or even if it'll affect me and Alice, ze. We're taking precautions.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Like what? ono
risingstar82 said: Dolls, ze. We're letting them be our eyes and ears while we control them.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Ooooh! ouo
nyanNekomata1313 said: That's pretty nyeat!
nyanNekomata1313 said: Maybe I should try that myself sometime, I've been wanting to learn some new magic
for a while now!
nyanNekomata1313 said: But Ran-sama said I shouldn't push myself too hard, or my brain would explode.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Not sure if she's joking or not... >w>;;
risingstar82 said: Heh, well if you need any help learning some magic, I'm your girl, ze.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Sure! *purrs*
risingstar82: So, are we actually gonna form a party or whatever?
nyanNekomata1313 said: Nya! Of course!
* nyanNekomata1313 sent you a party invite! Accept? (Yes) (No)
* risingstar82 joined nyanNekomata1313's party.
nyanNekomata1313 said: So what do you have to do now, nya?
>'This spot was my first visit for the newbie quest, so you'll be sittin' through me doing that, but I guess we can stick together for a bit! Bearbutt over there said I need a guild card to get anything, so I'm guessing that's something you get later in the newbie quest line?'
nyanNekomata1313 said: Oh, that's easy.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Once you visit all the vendors and talk to Otto...Well, lemme show you!
> Chen leaves the armory, and you follow her. She heads for the jewelery store next.
>If nothing of importance comes up, head out (with Chen tagging along, presumably) to the next stop we're supposed to go to! Or check out those card-playing NPCs on the way. Whichever.
> You start to follow her, but the card-playing kids catch your attention again.
* Children Playing Card Games *
These kids are playing the latest card game to hit the Guildies world...MONSTER CRUSH!
You ask them if you could join their game, but they just ignore you...
Perhaps if you had your own Monster Cards, they'd be more inclined to listen to you.
> Find Alice.
> You input Alice's username into the text box, and find out she's in "Erddite Catacombs B2F."
> _
-
>Guess we'll probably be headed to the graveyard for our first dungeon, then!
>Follow nyanChen into the jewelry store. There was a special spot for that in our character stuff, wasn't there? Maybe they're used for skills?
-
>Guess we'll probably be headed to the graveyard for our first dungeon, then!
> Better than a goddamn cheerful forest or grassy plain. Those kinds of intro levels always annoyed you, because they're fucking EVERYWHERE.
>Follow nyanChen into the jewelry store. There was a special spot for that in our character stuff, wasn't there? Maybe they're used for skills?
> Yeah, you have an inventory just for Gem Ores. Clearly, they're important, so you decide to ask Chen how important they are.
risingstar82 said: So these gems, what're they for?
risingstar82 said: I saw something about "Gem EXP" while looking at the achievements, ze.
nyanNekomata1313 said: You seriously don't know? o~o
nyanNekomata1313 said: They increase your stats, among other things.
nyanNekomata1313 said: And when you make one, it gains EXP while you're questing and stuff.
nyanNekomata1313 said: I'm sure that surprised a few folks when the game originally said "no level grinding-based
gameplay!" >w<
risingstar82 said: Aren't all RPGs just big grinds?
nyanNekomata1313 said: Nyot really! Lol.
risingstars82 said: I was joking with you, ze.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Of course. XP
risingstar82 said: Besides, you know me, I learn by doing, not just by reading, ze.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Eh, you gotta read to know what to do first...But I can see what you mean.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Here we are!
> You're standing outside the jewelery store, so you and Chen go in and talk to the clerk there. Unlike the last NPC, he's human.
* Robert *
"Oh, welcome! Come to buy something, I bet?...No? That's a shame.
Why can't people keep their money in a bank account like sensible people, instead of
letting their funds get washed out to sea? It's baffling, I tell you! People these days...
"At any rate, I sell gems here, as well as gem molds. You can use the ores you find to
make new gems, which increase your stats and even add new skills!...Sometimes.
However, only those with a [Guild License] are allowed to craft gems. I humbly apologize.
Come back later, won't you?"
> _
-
>Obviously, there is no choice to heckle the shopkeeper about where you'd get a Guild License, so he is useless to us for now.
>'Kourin, stop parroting what Chen already told me!'
>'Definitely more helpful than these bozos! What should we expect from the next one, ze?'
>Let's get this NPC talk quest over with!
-
> Our net total assets are one rusty sword.
> Attempt thievery.
-
> Our net total assets are one rusty sword.
> Attempt thievery.
> Two things are stopping you from doing that: A, most of the stuff in the store is just graphical assets, and B, stealing from shopkeepers usually results in extremely painful death.
>Obviously, there is no choice to heckle the shopkeeper about where you'd get a Guild License, so he is useless to us for now.
>'Kourin, stop parroting what Chen already told me!'
*Robert* said: I beg your pardon, there's no need to be so rude! And who is this "Kourin" you speak of?
>'Definitely more helpful than these bozos! What should we expect from the next one, ze?'
nyanNekomata1313 said: Pretty much the same "this is what I do, but you can't do anything unless
you join a Guild" nyonsense. You don't have to listen to these guys if you don't want to, nya.
>Let's get this NPC talk quest over with!
> WARNING! A HUGE CUTSCENE IS APPROACHING FAST!!
> You take Chen's advice to heart and skip over the NPC dialogue. The General Store sells consumable items, the Inn allows you to rent a house for you and your party members, and the Guild Hall lets you start and manage a guild. It also serves as a training ground for each of the four classes, to help you get more accustomed to them.
> Just as you turn to leave the Guild Hall, you notice Professor Otto enter. How convenient! Now you Chen can turn in the quest.
*Prof. Otto* said: Oh good, you're here, Miss Suzutan! Sorry for giving you the runaround, but did you
visit the places I mentioned earlier?
risingstar82 (Suzutan) said: Yeah, ze. So what was the point of all this, aside from info dumping?
*Prof. Otto* said: Well, to be frank...We're in a bit of a bind. Things have been progressively getting worse in
our humble corner of the sea. At first it was just a minor quake or two. Now, we're hearing reports of
storms, wildfires, plagues and famine...Not to mention hordes of monsters and wild animals getting
more aggressive by the day!
...
By any chance, did you know what your parents did for a living?
risingstar82 (Suzutan) said: Um...Not really, ze! I thought it was just a normal cruise!
*Prof. Otto* said: I see...Well, they were first-class explorers. I used to work with them back in the day,
as I researched ancient ruins around the world. I can't really fight on my own, you see, so I hired them
as bodyguards. They were a fine young couple, and tough as nails when it came to fighting, but after I
finished my expedition, I paid them for their services and we parted ways. Years later, I heard rumors
that they got married and had a child...I had no idea that child was you! Looks like they raised you well!
risingstar82 (Suzutan) said: Uh, yeah! I spent years learning magic and how to swing a rusty sword, ze!
*Prof. Otto* chuckles.
*Prof. Otto* said: Everyone has to start somewhere, eh wot! Speaking of starting...
*Prof. Otto* said: When I heard that you and your parents were coming to Erddite to visit, it was almost
perfect timing. The disasters were getting worse, and by now we asked any and all worthy adventurers
to come to the Thousand Islands to aid us...Someone organized a special cruise for adventurers only,
and your parents were invited. The cruise was meant to be incognito...But sadly, it looks like the storms
got to you first.
risingstar82 (Suzutan) said: So this wasn't a vacation at all, ze?
*Prof. Otto* said: They couldn't leave you behind...Not in these dangerous times. Your parents thought
you could stay in the hotel while they were out "sightseeing."
risingstar82 (Suzutan) said: Geeze, my parents must've been really lousy to come up with a plan like
that...
*Prof. Otto* said: I must admit, I wasn't keen on the plan either, but I heard the mainland wasn't any
better off...But let's get down to brass tacks. You must join a guild, and help us get to the bottom of
this incident! It's the only way to unlock your true potential...Something about "levels" and "divine
protection," but I think it's a poor excuse to grant you protagonist immunity, if you ask me!
*Prof. Otto* said: ...I humbly apologize for breaking the fourth wall, there.
risingstar82 (Suzutan) said: No skin of my back, heh.
risingstar82 (Suzutan) said: So can I get a damn Guild License now?
> The Guildmaster you spoke to as part of the previous quest turns to you now.
*Guildmaster Carrot Top* said: But of course. However, you must either join a guild, or establish
one of your own. It is the law of our land, passed down for many years...But enough about that! Talk
to me again when you're ready to begin.
(CHAT WINDOW)
risingstar82 said: Sheesh, no wonder you suggested I skip the dialogue, ze.
risingstar82 said: The story is absolute crap!
nyanNekomata1313 (Cheeeeeeeen) said: It's called being self aware, nya.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Most MMO stories aren't good anyways, so I think they're embracing that.
risingstar82 said: Eh. I think it could have been executed better, but whatevs. At least we can interact with the NPCs.
nyanNekomata1313 said: IKR? It's fun!
> Suddenly...!
* Starbroker495 wants to be friends with you!
> _
-
>The hell? Star...broker?
>Look up the character, if we can from here. Ask Chen how if it isn't immediately obvious. Who do we know that might use a star theme? Eirin? Kaguya? That one fairy?
>MEMORY. FUCKING MEMORY.
>A moment of puzzlement, then revelation! Flan's joined up? Huh! Go ahead and accept. Send her a ':rose-emote: ooo la la' in retaliation.
>Remain surprised that the NPC responded to our quip. Most games don't pull off that sort of stuff!
>Let's find out what Flan's doing and warn her about Chen and our current questing before trying to juggle the guild acceptance stuff as well.
-
>Remain surprised that the NPC responded to our quip. Most games don't pull off that sort of stuff!
> Yeah, how does that even work? Is the AI smarter or something? You ask Chen about this, but she's just as befuddled as you are. Either way...You decide to address Flan's request.
>A moment of puzzlement, then revelation! Flan's joined up? Huh! Go ahead and accept. Send her a ':rose-emote: ooo la la' in retaliation.
> You're such a flirt when you put your mind to it. ;)
* Starbroker495 has been added to your friends list!
risingstar82 said: :rose: Ooo la la, you found me, ze!
Starbroker495 said: LOL! Bonjour, monamie! How's the game so far?
risingstar82 said: It is...A thing.
risingstar82 said: And I haven't even finished the tutorial yet, ze!
Starbroker495 said: XD You haven't even gotten to the best parts yet!
Starbroker495 said: But I won't spoil it here. :X Did you get into a guild yet?
risingstar82 said: Not yet. I need to ask Alice if she's in her own guild or what, ze.
Starbroker495 said: o.o Por que?
risingstar82 said: Because I have no idea otherwise? I was just about to search for her guild...
Starbroker495 said: Save yourself the trouble, she already joined mine! =D
risingstar82 said: What? Aw shit, so much for us teaming up.
Starbroker495 said: Yeah, she sounded a wee bit upset when she joined...But maybe thinks will get
better!
Starbroker495 said: things*
Starbroker495 said: Come to think of it, I haven't heard a peep from her. Is she ok? o_o
risingstar82 said: She said she was mining for ore, and she was using those dolls...It wouldn't be unusual
if she kinda spaced out while doing so.
Starbroker495 said: Well, you can sort it out on your own terms, she is your roomie after all. Just search for my name
and you'll find my guild on the list thingy! Savvy?
risingstar82 said: Yeah, I got it covered, ze.
>Let's find out what Flan's doing and warn her about Chen and our current questing before trying to juggle the guild acceptance stuff as well.
risingstar82 said: Speaking of people missing in action...Is Sakuya ok, ze?
Starbroker495 said: Merde...I thought you wouldn't ask. -___-
Starbroker495 said: Sakuya fell down and broke her crown.
risingstar82 said: Oh no, is she ok?
Starbroker495 said: Patchy said she suffered a skull fracture...And possible brain damage.
Starbroker495 said: But she stopped the worst of it with a heal spell, all that's left is for her to recover.
Starbroker495 said: I really hope we don't have to turn to Eirin for this.
risingstar82 said: I hope not either, ze. Hmmm.
risingstar82 said: Maybe I should get in touch with her later, and see how Kaguya's doing.
risingstar82 said: On that note, I have a favor to ask you, ze.
Starbroker495 said: Oui?
risingstar82 said: Yukari's cat is accompanying me, she knows about the weird things going on with the game, but...
risingstar82 said: I'd rather not let the old hag herself get wind of this, ze. So please try to keep this to yourself.
Starbroker495 said: VIVA LA JAPAN! Your secret is safe with me, monamie! >u<7
risingstar82 said: (chuckles) You're so adorable when you act all gung-ho like that.
Starbroker495 said: LOL, thanks. :3
risingstar82 said: What level are you, ze? I'd like an idea so we can catch up.
Starbroker495 said: Niveau dix! I mean, level 10.
Starbroker495 said: It's not too bad, the questing goes by faster than one would think.
Starbroker495 said: And before you ask, I'm a mage!
risingstar82 said: Eh, that shouldn't be a huge issue, ze. I dunno what Chen is, but knowing her, she might be a
magician too, ze.
Starbroker495 said: It's not a huge deal! XD We can cover our bases later. For now, just focus on catching up!
risingstar82 said: Will do! o/ And...I pray Sakuya gets better.
Starbroker495 said: Me too, monamie. Me too. (hugs)
* risingstar82 accepts le hug.
> _
-
> A bunch of talking animals panicking over natural disasters. Are we playing pokemon mystery dungeon Explorers of the MMO?
That isn't a criticism; I enjoyed that game and actually want to know if we can recruit cute little talking animal NPC companions to our party.
> "Hey Flan, does this game have pets?"
> Join the thieves guild (As soon as possible).
-
>Sakuya getting injured isn't good! But it doesn't make much sense for that to connect to the game? Maybe just coincidence? Ahh, whatever.
>Guess we're going too slow to really surprise Alice at this point. Darn. Maybe we should just PM her again and apologize for overestimating our haste.
>Yeah, let's tell Flan that we'll try to catch up and do that!
>Join up in Flan's/Alice's player guild and see if Chen's already also there, or somewhere else. We'll think about factioning into a real mage's guild after the Gensokyo crew gets established!
Capth if it makes you feel any better we can make a point to steal the entire house of whoever's responsible for this; in-game mechanics are rarely kind to indiscriminate robbery!
-
>Sakuya getting injured isn't good! But it doesn't make much sense for that to connect to the game? Maybe just coincidence? Ahh, whatever.
> While part of you says it's just coincidence, it does sound pretty suspicious. Sakuya's got an incredible sense of balance and dexterity, the ability to fly, and even teleport short distances. So what the hell happened...?
>Guess we're going too slow to really surprise Alice at this point. Darn. Maybe we should just PM her again and apologize for overestimating our haste.
> You decide an apology is in order, so you shoot Alice a message...She doesn't respond immediately. Understandable, you think.
> ...And then you realize you're texting from a few feet away. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=xcalV-Cmyd8#t=144) Shame on you!
> A bunch of talking animals panicking over natural disasters. Are we playing pokemon mystery dungeon Explorers of the MMO?
That isn't a criticism; I enjoyed that game and actually want to know if we can recruit cute little talking animal NPC companions to our party.
> It's more like Animal Crossing style-wise, but yes...The similarity is totally unintentional, though. :V
PMD is also way harder than AC :sadfaec:
> "Hey Flan, does this game have pets?"
Starbroker495 said: Why yes!
Starbroker495 said: I haven't seen any yet, though. >.> I'll let you know if I do!
risingstar82 said: I'll see about sorting things out with Alice, too.
Starbroker495 said: That's good. :3 Friends like you two should stick together!
risingstar82 said: Heh, that's true I guess.
>Join up in Flan's/Alice's player guild and see if Chen's already also there, or somewhere else. We'll think about factioning into a real mage's guild after the Gensokyo crew gets established!
> Join the thieves guild (As soon as possible).
nyanNekomata1313 said: Sooooo...
nyanNekomata1313 said: Didja find a guild yet? owo
risingstar82 said: Yes! In fact...We can both join it, it's run by a friend of mine, ze.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Alice?
risingstar82 said: No, Flandre.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Oh, you're friends with her??? ono
nyanNekomata1313 said: This I didn't know, is she friendly?
risingstar82 said: Yeah, she has her fits now and then, but she's not gonna kill ya.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Ran-sama said she was dangerous...But...If she trusts you, I feel safer already!
nyanNekomata1313 said: ^w^ What's her usernyame, nya?
risingstar82 said: Starbroker495, ze.
> You're not sure about establishing a guild of magi or thieves yet, but right now it's a guild of FRIENDSHIP. Because FRIENDSHIP IS--nope. You can't say it. You just can't. Not with the weight it carries. Not here. Not now. Not in front of all these people. You forbid it! FORRRRRRRBIIIIIIID IIIIIIIT. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdbyR5zcrHU)
> ...
> You can feel the dolls staring at you mentally, so you decide to get a move on.
*Guildmaster Carrot Top* said: So, what do you want to do?
> Join Guild
*Guildmaster Carrot Top* said: Very well, then! Here's the list of available Guilds...
> Search by Player: Starbroker495
* This player is the leader of RAINBOW_NIGHT.
* Send an request to join?
> Yes
* Your request has been sent. Please note that the player may not respond to you right away.
> In spite of that warning, Flan replies to you lickety-split. And soon...
> GUILDIES QUEST COMPLETE! "Lern2Soshulize" -- You're now the member of a Guild! This qualifies you for a Guild License!
> In-Game Item Acquired: Guild License -- Important Item, Cannot Be Dropped -- This ID allows you to gain levels from quests and be recognized as an official adventurer of Guildies!
> There's a surge of power around you (and Chen, whom just got her license). Sparks fly up above your head, and form together into a large, golden "+1" above your head. The number zooms over to your level indicator on the UI, and increases it by one. You are now Level One.
> Another button lights up on the UI now, it's the "Skills" button.
*Guildmaster Carrot Top* said: You feel that? That is the power of SKILL POINTS flowing through you!
*Guildmaster Carrot Top* said: You earn Skill Points by gaining levels; you currently have six of them to spend.
*Guildmaster Carrot Top* said: Open up the Skill Web by clicking on the "Skills" button, and see what you can
learn! Don't worry, you can reset your skills for free!
*Guildmaster Carrot Top* said: I must warn you, now that you're an Adventurer...If you die, you lose coins, and
your equipment durability goes down (cosmetic items are not affected). You'll also loose any buffs, Gem EXP or
Motivation you had active at the time of death, so be careful!
*Guildmaster Carrot Top* said: Feel free to use our training halls to hone your skills before heading out. If you
want to get on with your adventure, speak with Professor Otto, he knows more than I do about what's going
on.
> Quest Received: Dangerous Depths -- Speak with Prof. Otto about what's going on here on the island.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Meowwww! That felt so good! I'm not a newb anymore!
nyanNekomata1313 said: Did you feel it too when you leveled up?
risingstar82 said: I guess? It was nice to get out of that tutorial, at least.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Yeah, you have a point.
> _
-
>Hey now, Alice contacted us like that too...! And she's asleep! Talking in the room wouldn't work too well!
>Thankfully the junk cutlass we have is unbreakable, so that's a little less to worry about. I guess.
>What do we have in the way of in-game cash? Could we sell off those drops yet?
>'Finally, time to get to the magician's guild and start blowing things up! What were you planning on, Chen?'
>We probably have a guild chat now. Use that if we can, and see if there's any chatter there already.
>If nothing of importance, head for the mage's guild/teacher/whatever to cash in those skill points, or however that system works. We need more ultraviolence.
-
>Hey now, Alice contacted us like that too...! And she's asleep! Talking in the room wouldn't work too well!
> D'oh, I--er, the parser missed that. You should ask Alice if she has any plans to put hearing and voices into her dolls...
>Thankfully the junk cutlass we have is unbreakable, so that's a little less to worry about. I guess.
> Too bad it's probably the weakest wepon weapon in the game right now. At least you can poke things to death with it!
>What do we have in the way of in-game cash? Could we sell off those drops yet?
> You have a grand total of zero coins! Maybe you should sell off those drops, ze!
>We probably have a guild chat now. Use that if we can, and see if there's any chatter there already.
> You can access the guild chat as easily as the friend chat. So far, the only members are you, Chen, Alice, Flan, and... "EdwinaHeartmann8?" He or she is offline right now, however.
>'Finally, time to get to the magician's guild and start blowing things up! What were you planning on, Chen?'
nyanNekomata1313 said: I'm a ninja, I'm a kitty ninja, nya!
nyanNekomata1313 said: I think I'll mess with my skills a bit, I haven't decided what I wanna do yet.
risingstar82 said: Aight then, ze. Lemme know when you're ready to go.
nyanNekomata1313 said: K~!
>If nothing of importance, head for the mage's guild/teacher/whatever to cash in those skill points, or however that system works. We need more ultraviolence.
> You can use or refund the skill points at any time through the skills window, the guild hall is more or less for practice. And Challenge Levels ala Smash Bros or whatever that test specific skills you don't have yet.
> So, you head to the guild hall, and see four doors. In front of each doorway is a ghostly NPC, each representing a different class. There is Thomas the Knight, Loraine the Mage, Shinobu the Ninja, and Archimedes for the Gadgeteer. Talking to one of them brings up a list of training exercises for you to try.
And since someone is going to ask what is available in the Skill Web, I'll just explain how it works: it's basically the Sphere Grid from FFX. You can learn new skills, or increase your stats, using skill points. It is recommended you learn your skills first before earning stat boosts. You can refund skill points at any time, but anything that has a prerequisite will be unlearned.
Now for the "fun" part...Actually listing the skills we have available! I'm not listing every single skill (or stat increase) in existence here, for two reasons:
A- You need to level up and collect certain skill books to learn new skills
B- This skill list is pretty much made up on the fly Leaving out certain skills will make their discoveries more EXCITING! :D Don' worry, I'll let you know when new skills become available or what is required to unlock them. Or try to at least.
Elemental Magic -- Classic fire/ice/elec/etc magic. There are 12 elements available for you to blast your enemies with.
* Fireball -- Shoot a firey projectile forward, damaging enemies on impact.
* Iceball -- Shoots a ball of ice forward, damaging enemies on impage.
* Thunderball -- Sadly, this is not related to a Bond movie. Shoots an electric ball that damages enemies.
* Gustball -- Shoots a swirling orb of air forward, damaging enemies on impact.
* Earthball -- Shoots a rock forward, damaging enemies on impact.
* Darkball -- Shoots a shadow ball forward...You get the idea.
Destructive Magic -- Nonelemental magic that inflicts status ailments as well as causing damage.
* Power Bolt -- Shoots a magic blast forward, damaging enemies.
** Power Flare -- Creates a wall of flame that travels across the terrain, damaging enemies and doing some DoT.
** Power Flash -- A burst of light blinds enemies, lowering their hit and evasion rates on top of damaging them.
War Magus -- Specializes in using magical weapons. This means magical swords, bows, hammers, etc; staves and wands are magical by nature. Magic Weapons use your Magic Attack stat to attack the enemy's defense instead of Physical Attack (Staves and Wands do damage to Magic Defense instead).
* Summon Weapon -- Summons a random magical weapon if you don't have one equipped. The weapon summoned depends on the user's level, and cannot summon certain kinds of weapons (like Legendary Epic Unique Swords Of Planet Cleaving). The weapon vanishes if you log out, die or if you cast the spell again.
** Magic Weapon Mastery -- Increases damage, hit rate, and critical rate while using a magic weapon.
** Wand and Staff Mastery -- Same as above, but for the obvious.
** Mana Strike -- Toggle-able Buff. Use your mana to supercharge your normal attacks, making them do more damage. A small portion of mana is consumed every time you hit someone with a normal attack, based on how much damage you do.
White Magic -- Healing, buffing and similar abilities.
* Heal Scratches -- A weak AoE healing spell.
** Heal Ailments -- Removes some ailments from your party members.
** Aegis -- Increases defenses for a short time.
Spirit Summoning -- Allows you to summon Elemental Spirits to assist you in battle. May require skills from other trees to use.
* Elementals -- Allows you to summon Spirits that do elemental damage to enemies. Requires some investment in Elemental Magic.
* Undead -- Summons spirits of the deceased, that do nonelemental damage and status affects. Requires some investment in Destructive Magic.
* Guardians -- Divine Spirits that heal, buff, and attack. Requires some investment in White Magic.
> _
-
>How bad an idea would it be to 'triclass' with dabbling in destructive magic, war magus, and cleric...?
>I'm thinking Power Bolt and Summon Weapon for starters to have both ranged and melee options; uncertain about the rest. We can probably pass on healing for now, but once we have a party a little bit will be good. We usually use a broom instead of a wand, but can choose which to go for once we've had more experience with 'em.
>Let's not waste any time on the challenges for now; we've got people waiting for us! Though... let's stop by the armory to sell off our junk and see if we can buy anything interesting, now that the inventory is actually visible. Check the jewels real quick as well.
>How's armor work in this game? Hopefully it won't interfere with looks too much...
>If we can't afford anything useful, go find Otto again and meet up with Chen.
-
>How bad an idea would it be to 'triclass' with dabbling in destructive magic, war magus, and cleric...?
> That's actually not a bad idea. You'd be pretty versatile while not sacrificing too much power.
I'd personally just go with Elemental Magic and Healing first, I like picking at enemy weaknesses to elemental attacks. I also like specializing in one thing early on, then branching out to other areas as I go.
>I'm thinking Power Bolt and Summon Weapon for starters to have both ranged and melee options; uncertain about the rest. We can probably pass on healing for now, but once we have a party a little bit will be good. We usually use a broom instead of a wand, but can choose which to go for once we've had more experience with 'em.
> To unlock one of the skill trees, you need to spend an SP (for instance, War Magus would cost one SP, but it'd unlock all the skills after that). So, it'd take 2 SP to get Power Bolt, and 2 for Summon Weapon, leaving you 2 out of 6 SP left over.
> The parser apologizes in advance for A- not making this more clear, and B- not planning ahead and actually making an appropriate graphical chart for all this. :V
>How's armor work in this game? Hopefully it won't interfere with looks too much...
> You can equip any armor that's equal to or lower than your level, OR if you raise the appropriate stat. You can also toggle the appropriate cosmetic item to appear in place of the armor (or weapon), or make it invisible if it's a helmet or some other head ornament. Obviously, you can't do this with your shirts and pants. :V Even adventurers have to dress decently!
>Let's not waste any time on the challenges for now; we've got people waiting for us! Though... let's stop by the armory to sell off our junk and see if we can buy anything interesting, now that the inventory is actually visible. Check the jewels real quick as well.
>If we can't afford anything useful, go find Otto again and meet up with Chen.
> You let Chen know what you're doing, and ask how her "training" is coming along. She's doing fine, Chen tells you, but the challenges don't give up much aside from personal experience with the skills...For the time being at least. Chen also tells you to consider holding on to some of that stuff, as you can use it to craft weapons, armor and gems at the armory and jewelery shop. The shopkeepers can give you a tutorial if you wish.
...However, I'll just break the fourth wall for a moment and tell you how it works myself. Can I get a code window, here!
*PFOOF*
Fabulous!
Ok, this is what a Monster Drop or Gem Ore looks like when you examine it in your inventory:
OOO
O
Small Sapphire Ore -- Type: Blue Gem
+2 bonus to MagicAttack when using a Water or Ice skill.
And this...Is a mold.
XXX
XXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
XX XXXXX
XXX XXXXX
XXXXXXX
XXXXXX
XXXX
XXXXXX
XXX XXXX
XXXX XX
XXX
XXX
Wooden Sword -- Slashing Weapon, Melee, Low Durability -- Bonus: Wood or Plant
* A primitive, but useful starting weapon.
To craft a gem or piece of equipment, you must purchase a mold from the appropriate vendor (they're pretty
cheap). You then select the mold from your inventory, and fill it with the pieces you've collected. Please note
that you cannot craft any items from a mold until your mold is COMPLETELY filled, but once you do, you can
pay the vendor a fee to craft your newly assembled item!
Of course, you can find equipment and gems via drops, quests and other places, and you can sell them, but
you can also have them dismantled at a vendor to get extra monster drops/ores. However, you will always
get less pieces than what was used to make the item, so don't get too excited when you Disassemble an
item. The exceptions are Boss Pieces: these can be used either gems or equipment, and you will ALWAYS
get them back if you dismantle the item.
"What about gems? Aren't they important too?" Of course! To add a gem to a piece of equipment, you
must add a Socket to it. You can add (or remove) one by using either a Socket Kit, or paying a vendor to
do it for you. A single piece of equipment can have up to four slots. You craft gems in the same way as
equipment: buy a mold, fill it with gem ore pieces, pay the vendor to craft it. However, gems have levels!
A bigger gem will have a higher max level, and as you play the game you will gain Gem EXP to increase
a gem's level, and thus the effectiveness of your gems.
One more thing: Each mold has a Bonus. If you use a type of piece that matches the bonus, that piece's
stat boost will be doubled.
And that concludes my somewhat lengthy tutorial. I'll toss out pieces where appropriate, and if you want
to craft anything using the pieces you have, feel free to grab Legos, graph paper, or MSPaint and go nuts.
All I ask is that you label (and maybe color code) which pieces are which; I'll provide a list of what pieces
you have when crafting is being discussed.
Oh, I almost forgot, you can rotate pieces too while you're assembling an item. Hope that helps!
> On that note...Click here to see what pieces you have so far! (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/337147/MarisaStory/MarisaStoryInventory1.txt)
> Furthermore, you only have 54 coins at the moment so far, and that's barely enough to buy anything. Awww... :( Dejected, you decide to speak with Otto after realizing you're lacking anything useful to craft with.
*Prof. Otto* said: I say, young lady! Why the long face?
risingstar82 said: Me not having any money for anything, ze. Do I have to slaughter Boars for the next
eight hours now?
*Prof. Otto* said: Heavens no! In fact, to commemorate your guild's recent founding...
*Guildmaster Carrot Top* said: ...We pulled our funds together to buy you some equipment and supplies!
*Guildmaster Carrot Top* said: We even had some money left over!! Please, take this!
> OBTAINED THE FOLLOWING INGAME ITEMS:
- Apprentice Wand -- One-handed Wand, Medium Durability, Set: Apprentice Magician
+20 MagAttack
A high-quality wand given to students of magic. It's more than capable of withstanding magical backfires, throws, drops, or blugeonings. - Apprentice Gloves -- Glove, Medium Durability, Set: Apprentice Magician
+15% Elemental Damage, +4 PhysDef, +10 MagDef
A pair of durable, yet comfortable gloves. You could probably feed these to a dragon and they'd still make it out in one piece...Just wash them afterwards. - Apprentice Robe -- Overall, Medium Durability, Set: Apprentice Magician
+10 Elemental Defense, +10 PhysDef, +25 MagDef, +5 to Health Regen
A robe made of the most comfortable fabrics you can imagine. Its therapeutic properties make it easy for students to relax while studying...Sometimes a bit too much. The Thousand Island School District is considering banning these robes because students keep falling asleep in class! - Apprentice Shoes -- Footwear, Medium Durability, Set: Apprentice Magician
+2 to movement speed, Slightly reduces skidding when stopping or turning, +2 Physdef, +6 MagDef
A pair of tough, but comfortable pair of shoes. While they protect your feet against heat and cold, it is advised that you do not walk on lava while wearing these! - Apprentice Circlet -- Headgear, Medium Durability, Set: Apprentice Magician
+5% to critical chance, +6 PhysDef, +18 MagDef
A circlet worn by students to help them focus their magic. Or maybe it's just a scammy product made by Digitalogists to mooch money from magical students and faculty alike. - Apprentice Magician Set Effect: +5% HP and MP per item
2 Items: +10 MagAttack
3 Items: +10 to MP regen
4 Items: All magic damage taken is reduced by 5%
5 Items: +15% critical chance
> Oh, you also have an MP meter now. Thought you ought to know that.
> ...Shit, the parser forgot something else.
> YOU ALSO GOT 5000 GOLD COINS YAYYYY.
> YOU ALSO GOT 20 SMALL HEALTH POTIONS AND 20 SMALL MANA POTIONS YAYYYYYYY
risingstar82 said: Wow, thanks ze! =D
*Guildmaster Carrot Top* said: Use it wisely, equipment and supplies aren't cheap...But enough about that!
*Guildmaster Carrot Top* said: We ask you, as a new Guildie, to help us investigate the Erddite Catacombs.
*Prof. Otto* said: Yes, quite. There have been numerous tremors coming from the underground as of late,
and we fear it may be related to monster activity...Or something far worse.
*Prof. Otto* said: We'd investigate ourselves, but we're scholars, not fighters.
*Prof. Otto* said: That said, if you find anything suspicious, please let us know ASAP! You might want to
bring a friend or two along with you, as well...
*Prof. Otto* said: Good luck!
> Guildies! Quest Received: Catacombs Catastrophe -- There's something weird, and potentially dangerous going on in the Erddite Catacombs. Go down to B3F of said Catacombs and find out what's threatening the temple.
*collapses*
> _
-
capth wants the magic weapons, I want the lasers pew pew pew, we'll need healing support sooner or later. That struck me as a compromise!
>Download the nude hack
>... oh, the wand is part of the set? Darn. Maybe magic weapon would be better to hold off on for now... but we'll definitely screw around with it later to see what kinds of weapons it can call up! That should be interesting.
>Most of our crafting items look physically-oriented, which is useless to us... except maybe in armor? Would Alice use guns? Those seeds might be useful to her, at least.
>If we're short on inventory space, sell off some of the Flat Garnets and Boar Tusks; they look bulkier than they're worth. Odds are good they'll get outclassed quickly anyway...
>Equipment set with bonuses right off the bat may be hard to top for a while! How's it look on us?
>Is anything in the shops really comparable for magic damage output right now?
>Have we met Koishi on the internets before?
>Are there any equipment slots we could fill with gear from the shops, or should we just save our cash until after we see how much the 'real' game wants you to use potions or other gear? May want to use gold respawns on the way to finding Alice.
-
> Adventure into the catacombs, inspiring what little fear is left in the undead with our mighty war cry:
> "SPOOOOOOOOOOON!"
-
capth wants the magic weapons, I want the lasers pew pew pew, we'll need healing support sooner or later. That struck me as a compromise!
Compromise is never a bad thing!
>Download the nude hack
>Please input the 30-digit password to download this hack
>... oh, the wand is part of the set? Darn. Maybe magic weapon would be better to hold off on for now... but we'll definitely screw around with it later to see what kinds of weapons it can call up! That should be interesting.
> Blame the game for not giving you an appropriate weapon...Or more than one weapon. :V You hope you can fix this with a random drop or a quest reward.
>Most of our crafting items look physically-oriented, which is useless to us... except maybe in armor? Would Alice use guns? Those seeds might be useful to her, at least.
> Such is the nature of the Random Number Gremlins. Yes. Gremlins. Blame them for your crappy drops!
> Considering the Gadgeteer is all about BIG FRIGGIN' GUNS, you're pretty sure they would be of more help to her than you or Chen.
>If we're short on inventory space, sell off some of the Flat Garnets and Boar Tusks; they look bulkier than they're worth. Odds are good they'll get outclassed quickly anyway...
> You can carry a ton of shit, but selling off some of the lesser ore pieces might not be a bad idea. You can always get more with mining.
>Equipment set with bonuses right off the bat may be hard to top for a while! How's it look on us?
> The outfit is mostly silver with patches/stripes of pink and blue, the circlet is bronze/brass colored, and the wand itself is of a steel color with a blue gem on the top. Your pick if you think it's fashionable or not, the parser isn't the best at fashion...ing.
>Is anything in the shops really comparable for magic damage output right now?
> A quick check shows there might be something you could cobble together, but shops rarely, if ever, have set equipment, and if they do it's usually pretty damn expensive. BALANCE! And even if you did, the nicer stuff is several levels out of your reach for the time being.
>Have we met Koishi on the internets before?
> You haven't seen her since you crossed paths at the Moriya Shrine, or that recent incident with Kokoro. It's very hard to pin Koishi down, she just does whatever the fuck she wants. Also, she turns invisible a lot. Good luck trying to find her.
>Are there any equipment slots we could fill with gear from the shops, or should we just save our cash until after we see how much the 'real' game wants you to use potions or other gear? May want to use gold respawns on the way to finding Alice.
> You have two ring slots, two earring slots, a necklace slot, a face tattoo slot (yes, those exist), four "wrist" slots (two bracelets and two anklets), and a "back" slot for stuff like capes. Quite a bit of stuff to fit in there!
Face tattoos cannot be crafted and cannot be given sockets. However, they can be given enchantments ala Diablo or Torchlight II. Most earrings require a single gem to make; some of the fancier ones have some...Interesting molds, but for the most part they are just single gems.
> Adventure into the catacombs, inspiring what little fear is left in the undead with our mighty war cry:
> "SPOOOOOOOOOOON!"
> You try to head off to the catacombs, but your bumming around the various shops randomly has made Chen appear out of nowhere, like the ninja she is.
risingstar82 said: Kya! You surprised me, ze!
nyanNekomata1313 said: I was just messing with my skills, hehe. What've you been up to? owo
risingstar82 said: Dumbing around the shops, ze. The equipment they gave me is nice, but...
risingstar82 said: It ain't what I'm lookin' for. I need a blazing sword, dammit!
nyanNekomata1313 said: ono That sucks. You have to understand there haven't been any "official"
builds yet since the game just released, nya.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Do you want me to help ya with a build?
risingstar82 said: I was aiming for War Magus and Destruction Magic, ze.
risingstar82 said: With a bit of healing on the side.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Well, I'd focus on Destruction Magic first, maybe get that first heal spell at least.
nyanNekomata1313 said: You recover mana fairly quickly as a mage, since you have a buttload of more
MP, nya.
nyanNekomata1313 said: You'll find some magic weapons later, especially if you fight bosses and rare
monsters. Don't despair, nya! *purrs up against you*
risingstar82 said: Heh, I'm not, just a little frustrated.
risingstar82 said: It doesn't help that the first pieces of gear you get pretty much outclass anything the
shop has to offer.
nyanNekomata1313 said: o.o
nyanNekomata1313 said: I'd stay away from the shops, unless you have to restock on pots, or craft...
nyanNekomata1313 said: Unless you wanna invest in a portable crafting box.
risingstar82 said: A what now?
nyanNekomata1313 said: It lets you craft stuff while away from the shop, nya! It's expensive, and it breaks
after you use it enough times, but it's worth it!
risingstar82 said: Ok, but why does it have the abbreviation "PCB?"
nyanNekomata1313 said: I dunno, nya. But we can't just sit around here all day, don't worry about gear now!
nyanNekomata1313 said: Just put your points into something and let's go!
risingstar82 said: Ok ok, but color me curious...What build are you going for?
nyanNekomata1313 said: Katanas and elemental ninjutsu, mainly. I played Ninja Gaiden a while back and
I really liked how the combat flowed. Didja ever play it?
risingstar82 said: Heck no, ze! That game would eat me and my fingers alive!
risingstar82 said: Alice can't even get past the first boss.
nyanNekomata1313 said: =P Practice makes perfect, nya. But I can understand.
nyanNekomata1313 said: But we need a little less conversation and a little more action!
> Chen proceeds to jump around and attack randomly while you ponder your next move...
> _
-
> Who is Chen randomly attacking?
-
> Who is Chen randomly attacking?
> The air, apparently. Or the nigh-invisible flies above your head. Or some zombie goasts. Either way, you can tell she's getting tired of waiting.
> _
-
> Go to catacombs with Chen.
> Discuss ideal war cry with Chen while going to catacombs.
> Side with the legendary French war cry, "Ich ergebe mich!"
-
>Get Heal Scratches, Power Bolt, and whatever we can still afford of Power Flare/Power Flash to start off. Stabbings can afford to wait, if Chen thinks healing will be more helpful at this point. Guess accessories or gear will have to wait.
>/find Alice again to make sure she hasn't moved from... B3 was it?
>Focus on progression instead of thorough exploration for the Catacombs areas, if it's reasonably safe, and find Alice again!
-
>Get Heal Scratches, Power Bolt, and whatever we can still afford of Power Flare/Power Flash to start off. Stabbings can afford to wait, if Chen thinks healing will be more helpful at this point. Guess accessories or gear will have to wait.
Skills unlocked:
* White Magic > Heal Scratches
* Destructive Magic > Power Bolt > Power Flare + Power Flash
6/6 SP spent. More skills will be revealed soon...
>/find Alice again to make sure she hasn't moved from... B3 was it?
> B2, actually. She still hasn't moved...Alice must really like digging for ores.
> Go to catacombs with Chen.
> Discuss ideal war cry with Chen while going to catacombs.
> Side with the legendary French war cry, "Ich ergebe mich!"
risingstar82 said: Oy, Chen, we're leaving, ze.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Nya?
nyanNekomata1313 said: Great! We're heading to the catacombs then?
risingstar82 said: Duh, ze! Sorry I kept you waiting. I am...Really indecisive about freeform leveling
like this.
nyanNekomata1313 said: I can understand. =3 Don't let it get you down, nya.
> The two of you head for the entrance to the catacombs, which is flanked by a pair of guards. They step aside at your approach, allowing you to step inside the atrium of the dungeon.
nyanNekomata1313 said: I just had a cool idea!
nyanNekomata1313 said: We should shout something as we enter and take a picture of it! X3
risingstar82 said: Huh...Oddly enough, I thought of a similar idea, ze.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Nya? owo Are you psychic?
risingstar82 said: Hardly. =P
nyanNekomata1313 said: Well, what did you have in mind for a war cry?
risingstar82 said: Lemme see if I can remember this...Alice taught it to me a while ago.
risingstar82 said: "Ich ergebe mich!"
nyanNekomata1313 said: ...
nyanNekomata1313 said: LOL, did she tell you want it meant?
risingstar82 said: She said it was supposed to strike fear into the hearts of my enemies, ze! Does it work?
nyanNekomata1313 said: Unless you're planning on faking out a surrender strategy, not really! X3
risingstar82 said: The hell are you going on about?
nyanNekomata1313 said: You really have no idea what it means? ono
nyanNekomata1313 said: It means "I surrender."
risingstar82 said: ...
risingstar82 said: I sometimes wonder if Alice was just playfully trolling me, or if she hates my guts, ze.
risingstar82 said: But I'm gonna stick with it, ze!
risingstar82 said: It'll confuse our enemies and give us a confidence boost!!
nyanNekomata1313 said: owO? Ooookay then, nya.
nyanNekomata1313 said: I guess it works now that I think about it!
nyanNekomata1313 said: You're the party leader, so...Lead the charge!
risingstar82 said: Aight then!
risingstar82 said: Ich ergebe mich!
nyanNekomata1313 said: Ich ergebe mich!
> With that, you rush into the catacombs proper. The dungeon is appropriately dank and creepy, with the occasional drips of water and patches of plant life here and there. That ends pretty quickly, as the plants are replaced by spider webs and some weird...Scum you don't want to know the origin of. The music is appropriately creepy as well. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epoINGeaKUs)
Welcome to...
ERDDITE CATACOMBS
The Vein of Carrot Island's Lifeblood
>Focus on progression instead of thorough exploration for the Catacombs areas, if it's reasonably safe, and find Alice again!
nyanNekomata1313 said: Mew...This place really sends shivers through my spine.
risingstar82 said: I haven't felt like that since I decided to head down to Makai.
risingstar82 said: Don't tell me you're a scaredy-cat, ze!
nyanNekomata1313 said: Th-That's not funny! >m<
nyanNekomata1313 said: Let's just hurry up and find Alice.
risingstar82 said: All right, all right. ;P
> The first room slopes down slightly, but it only has a few spike pits that're easily jumped over. The passage eventually takes you to a larger room that looks like a maze of blocks, not unlike something you'd see in a Mario game. Here, your Power Flare skill starts earning its keep already, as spiders crawl around the blocks and try to bite you. Chen uses streams of fire and extended sword slashes to cut down the ones you miss. As you travel around the room, you see passages running off to the left, right, and below to different parts of the dungeon.
> _
-
> I guess if we're trying to go down, we should go down.
> Light up the lower passage with fireballs.
EDIT: > er... power flares.
-
>Do the blocks react to being hit/bumped at all?
>Jump down unless it turns out to be an obvious trap. Please tell me B2 isn't a maze with multiple entrances and sections cut off from one another... this is only the first dungeon!
-
>Do the blocks react to being hit/bumped at all?
> Not really, they're inert. The maze isn't that complex anyways.
> Light up the lower passage with fireballs.
EDIT: > er... power flares.
> You send a Power Flare or two to light up the area...Until you realize that the area is well-lit to begin with in spite of there being no torches. Video game visibility!
> You don't hear any hit-sounds, so there don't seem to be any enemies down there, at least.
> I guess if we're trying to go down, we should go down.
>Jump down unless it turns out to be an obvious trap. Please tell me B2 isn't a maze with multiple entrances and sections cut off from one another... this is only the first dungeon!
> Only way to find out for sure! GERONIMOOOOOOOO--BOING. Turns out you landed right on top of a spring in the next room. At least you can get back up...After maneuvering around the spring while falling, you and Chen head to the right, and see a large Golem in the way. You could try to go around it, or fight it. The passageway to B2F lays beyond.
> _
-
>Is there an easy way to gauge our relative strength compared to an opponent without provoking them? Does mouseover reveal a level or anything?
>Are there other Golems visible in other sections of this cave region, or is it clearly blocking our way like it's supposed to be a barrier or midboss or something?
>Or actually, is it just an NPC?
>If it isn't, like, 10 levels higher than us, ask Chen whether we should try to snipe it down; if she's unafraid, give it a go, but be willing to retreat if it's too much.
>If our cohort doesn't want to risk it, work on finding a way around. Is there a clear way to climb over the area the golem's patrolling?
Brings back memories of getting through the snowfields
>During a lull, peel ourmedi eyes away from the screen long enough to glance at Alice and make sure nothing bad happened.
-
> How effective would sneaking up behind it and backstabbing it be?
-
>Is there an easy way to gauge our relative strength compared to an opponent without provoking them? Does mouseover reveal a level or anything?
> Yeah, a mouseover shows the monster's level, health and icons depicting its resistances and such. You also have a more detailed Bestiary button on your UI for all the monsters you killed.
>Are there other Golems visible in other sections of this cave region, or is it clearly blocking our way like it's supposed to be a barrier or midboss or something?
>Or actually, is it just an NPC?
> Monsters *could* be considered NPCs, but no, it's more like a miniboss.
> How effective would sneaking up behind it and backstabbing it be?
>If our cohort doesn't want to risk it, work on finding a way around. Is there a clear way to climb over the area the golem's patrolling?
> Stealthing your way around it isn't really an option, as it's precognizant of your presence like most simple-minded AI enemies are. :V You can jump over it or just dash through it, taking collision damage, but who does that?
>If it isn't, like, 10 levels higher than us, ask Chen whether we should try to snipe it down; if she's unafraid, give it a go, but be willing to retreat if it's too much.
> It's only level 3, you and Chen can take it. You both fling spells at it, while dodging the occasional Rock-it Punch, but it collapses before too long. You're a bit worse for wear, but a couple of heal spells fix that.
> Upon the Golem's defeat, it drops a large sack. Chen runs and picks it up, and it is added to both your inventories. She explains that it is a LOOT BAG; it's dropped by tougher enemies within dungeons, and they (usually) contain nice things like gear and crafting parts.
>During a lull, peel ourmedi eyes away from the screen long enough to glance at Alice and make sure nothing bad happened.
> As you take a moment to lick your wounds, you take a look at Alice. She's still in the same state as she was before.
> _
-
>Well, not worse is fair enough.
>Take a moment to contemplate the most amusing way to waken her if it becomes necessary.
>Take a quick look at our loot from the golem before pressing onwards!
>Are there any other players in the dungeon, or are these instanced?
-
>Take a moment to contemplate the most amusing way to waken her if it becomes necessary.
> You can always try tickling her or making her sneeze with a feather...That always gets a rise (and shine) out of her.
>Take a quick look at our loot from the golem before pressing onwards!
> You get...
- Steel Spiked Helmet of Electricity -- Headgear, Semi-Low Durability
+10 PhysDef, +6 MagDef.
+5% to MagAtt when using an Elec skill.
Does +10% of your Magic DPS in Elec damage when jumping up into an enemy, or using an Upward Attack skill.
Originally used on convicts when sentencing them to death by electrocution. Sadly, these fell out of style quickly when said convicts developed a sudden ability to absorb and control electricity.
> Chen gets...
- Absurdly Hot Kunai -- One-handed Throwing Knife, Low Durability, Fire Magic Weapon
+5 PhysAtt, +7 MagAtt.
Can be used with certain skills involving throwing weapons.
20% chance to ignore 15% of the enemy's defense when attacking with this weapon.
A throwing knife dropped by some careless ninja, left at the mouth of a volcano, in the harsh sunlight, where a red dragon goes regularly to heat up her eggs when they're incubating. Oddly enough, the handle itself is safe to touch.
>Are there any other players in the dungeon, or are these instanced?
> Aside from you and your fellow Guildies, there's barely anyone else here. You're not sure if the dungeon itself is auto-instanced per guild, or if it's just having a slow day.
> _
-
> Would Alice notice if we started drawing on her face?
> Don helmet. Become the Dovahkiin. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnlUfPlLjKs)
-
> Would Alice notice if we started drawing on her face?
> Depends on how hard you push down with the marker. Alice would probably realize if was you anyways the instant she looked into a mirror. :V
> Don helmet. Become the Dovahkiin. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnlUfPlLjKs)
> Sorry, you need at least a level 20 "Steel Downward Curved Horn Helmet" to achieve that look. And maybe a breath attack or two to back it up.
> _
-
> Flip coin to decide between mustache, goatee, and monocle or big deep dark panda eyes. We'll blame it on mini-medicine. Mind you, she probably won't believe us.
> We'll have to find one of those fancy helmets and a couple breath attacks later. For now, onward to victory!
> Or certain death! Either/or really.
-
> Flip coin to decide between mustache, goatee, and monocle or big deep dark panda eyes. We'll blame it on mini-medicine. Mind you, she probably won't believe us.
> You flip a coin and get heads. Facial hair and monocle combo it is. Mini-Medi approves of your mischief and doesn't mind taking the hit for you. ;P
> We'll have to find one of those fancy helmets and a couple breath attacks later. For now, onward to victory!
> Or certain death! Either/or really.
risingstar82 said: Hey Chen.
nyanNekomata1313 said: mrowr? owo
risingstar82 said: If you find any helmets with horns on them, lemme know, ze.
risingstar82 said: I have the strangest urge to become Dovakiin now.
nyanNekomata1313 said: ...
nyanNekomata1313 said: Do that.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Become the savior of Guildiesrim!
nyanNekomata1313 said: Just don't saddle me with carrying all your shit, nya.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Eeep! Sorry I cursed!
risingstar82 said: What? I swear like a sailor all the time!
nyanNekomata1313 said: Ran-sama says it's impolite to curse. T~T
nyanNekomata1313 said: But...What she doesn't know won't hurt us, right?
risingstar82 said: Exactly.
> Passing by the former stomping (lol) ground of the Golem, you find the passage to the next floor...The's a bit of a lag spike as the map loads, and you see why: it's PACKED with players! Most of them are huddled around sparkling points in the scenery...A little help message tells you these are Mining Spots, and you can get ores from them. Amidst the sea of red dots on your minimap, a blue one sticks out: it's your fellow Guildie, Alice!!
> As for the map itself, it's horizontal, and it consists of two paths: You're on the upper path, where most of the players (and enemies) are; the lower path is submerged in water and is pretty threadbare compared to the upper one. There's a door at the far end that takes you to B3F, where your "main" destination is.
> _
-
>Save the mean surprise for after we find her in-game and start getting ready to take a break to avoid brain problems.
>Probably not worth actually USING that helm until we get other gear upgrades worthy enough to make up for losing the newbie-gear set bonus. Hang onto it for now, of course, but probably not worth switching off the Tiara for, unless it looks waaaaay better. We aren't even using electric attacks, for crying out loud!
>Oh, did any of the tutorials say whether items could be repaired when their durability gets low, or do they eventually break permanently?
>Head on down and start looking for Alice. If our map name's the same as her /find, start exploring thoroughly; otherwise, dart around until it is!
>Holy balls. Swim through the sea of players better than the sea of water, and rose-emote next to Alice's character before PMing her "Did you miss me?"
-
>Save the mean surprise for after we find her in-game and start getting ready to take a break to avoid brain problems.
> Yeah, you probably should take a break soon...Right after you finish this quest.
>Probably not worth actually USING that helm until we get other gear upgrades worthy enough to make up for losing the newbie-gear set bonus. Hang onto it for now, of course, but probably not worth switching off the Tiara for, unless it looks waaaaay better. We aren't even using electric attacks, for crying out loud!
> The RNG is a fickle mistress. But having electrical attacks would be neat, both ingame and in Gensokyo. Seriously, the only youkai you know who actually uses them doesn't even have the appropriate-looking danmaku!! How unstylish is that!
>Oh, did any of the tutorials say whether items could be repaired when their durability gets low, or do they eventually break permanently?
> You can repair them at shops, or by using a Repair Powder Kit on the afflicted items. If an item breaks, it stops giving you the bonus effects and its attack/defense boosts become +1.
>Holy balls. Swim through the sea of players better than the sea of water, and rose-emote next to Alice's character before PMing her "Did you miss me?"
> You sidle up to Alice (after fighting off a few bats) and greet her...But she doesn't respond at all.
> _
-
> Check for petrify status ailment.
> Continue prodding Alice.
-
>If Alice doesn't seem to respond, glance over at her screen to see what the dolls are doing. Maybe the mining minigame (presumably) is really involved and she needs to concentrate?
>Well, that or we're lost in the message spam of the five thousand other people here.
>Give her a few seconds while keeping an eye on her real-world actions. If there's no response for a bit, ask Chen if she knows anything about the mining process or why else Alice might be occupied.
-
> Check for petrify status ailment.
> Nope, she's not grayscale, and her character is still idly animating.
>Well, that or we're lost in the message spam of the five thousand other people here.
> You're using the Friend Chat with Chen, but thankfully the "All Players Chat" doesn't flood into that. Serverwide announcements appear as a non-intrusve marquee above your minimap, buffs, etc., and official announcements come as notes directly to the players. See, why couldn't the source material be like this?!
> Continue prodding Alice.
>If Alice doesn't seem to respond, glance over at her screen to see what the dolls are doing. Maybe the mining minigame (presumably) is really involved and she needs to concentrate?
> You keep spamming messages until the chat bars you from spamming for a few seconds. She doesn't budge at all.
risingstar82 said: ...I don't like the look of this, ze.
nyanNekomata1313 said: ono
nyanNekomata1313 said: She's with you still, right? Try seeing what she's doing.
risingstar82 said: I was just about to do that, ze.
> You finally get up and stretch a bit, before looking at Alice's screen. Her dolls are still clicking away, and you can see why...She's been working that Mining Spot repeatedly, collecting ores. From what you can gather, it works like one of those "click and remove" puzzle games (Collapse, Big Money, Pet Rescue Saga, etc). Remove groups of similarly-colored rocks to earn ore pieces; bigger matches give you rarer ores. After a certain amount of clicks, you're put on a cooldown for a short time, and the wait between mining gets longer and longer. However, it seems multiple players can access the same mining point at the same time. Alice is not giving a damn about the cooldown, the instant it runs out, she's back at it again, collecting ores like a blue hedgehog collects rings.
> _
>Give her a few seconds while keeping an eye on her real-world actions. If there's no response for a bit, ask Chen if she knows anything about the mining process or why else Alice might be occupied.
> You watch Alice play for a bit, and see the dolls celebrate a bit with giddy dance and some high-fives whenever they see a particularly rare ore pop up. You decide to tell Chen about this.
nyanNekomata1313 said: How is she?
risingstar82 said: Like a zombie...Or a robot.
nyanNekomata1313 said: o~o
risingstar82 said: Or a zombie robot. Robot zombie? Whatever!
risingstar82 said: This isn't good, I think she's suffering from Shiny Addiction Disorder.
nyanNekomata1313 said: XD
nyanNekomata1313 said: Wait...That's an actual thing?
risingstar82 said: Know how fairies obsessively collect pointless trinkets, ze?
risingstar82 said: This is kinda like that.
risingstar82 said: I'm not sure how to snap her out of this, ze. I don't wanna give her a heart attack or anything!
nyanNekomata1313 said: Sheesh, you worry too much. What would the Marisa-chan I know, do? owo
> _
-
>'Mischief, of course! Be right back.'
>Get up and apply the mustache/goatee/monocle to Alice's face.
>If that doesn't wake her up, poke at the dolls (as Medicine, for simplicity?), and give them a pointed look. "Having fun?"
-
>'Mischief, of course! Be right back.'
nyanNekomata1313 said: I'd say "add some cat whiskers," but that'd be silly! >w<
>Get up and apply the mustache/goatee/monocle to Alice's face.
> First, you go up to your room and retrieve a MAGIC MARKER (it is totally magic, shut up). Then you go down and start scribbling on Alice's face. You somewhat inadvertently end up drawing a mashup of Snidely Whiplash and Garfield on Alice's face, with a side of Rainbow Brite for good measure. God you love old cartoons.
>If that doesn't wake her up, poke at the dolls (as Medicine, for simplicity?), and give them a pointed look. "Having fun?"
> Alice's face twitches a few times, but she doesn't budge. One of the dolls does, however, tap you on the shoulder to get your attention before slapping you across the face. It's as ineffective as you would imagine.
> You ask Murky Green Number Seven here if you're having fun, and she shrugs, miming herself typing on the keys like crazy, digging up something, and wiping the sweat from her eyebrow.
> _
-
>"Hard work, huh? Think you can stop to go back to the main game, now? Or is Alice bein' insistent?"
>If this isn't getting through to her, it's tickle time. Though... how violently does she react? It may be fairer to try and keep Medicine from taking the brunt of the abuse.
-
> If that doesn't work, unplug Alice's computer.
-
>"Hard work, huh? Think you can stop to go back to the main game, now? Or is Alice bein' insistent?"
> The doll looks at Alice, then back at the other dolls. She seems to "talk" with them for a bit before they all look at Alice, and she begins to stir.
> "Uhhh...Mari, was that you...?" Alice yawns and stretches.
>If this isn't getting through to her, it's tickle time. Though... how violently does she react? It may be fairer to try and keep Medicine from taking the brunt of the abuse.
> She actually takes tickling pretty well.
> "Sorry about that..." Alice says, rubbing her eyes. "Using multiple dolls causes me to split my consciousness up, and sometimes..." She pauses for a second before looking at her hand. It's smudged with magic marker ink. "Why is there Sharpie on my face."
> _
-
>"Why wouldn't there be? You were asleep, and I'm not about to stop the pocket Medi from having fun."
>Bonus: 'Pocket Medi' could mean either of them. Technically not a lie!
>"You okay? Dolls seemed on autopilot doin' that mining thing even when I tried to message you in-game."
-
> "Sorry about that..." Alice says, rubbing her eyes. "Using multiple dolls causes me to split my consciousness up, and sometimes..." She pauses for a second before looking at her hand. It's smudged with magic marker ink. "Why is there Sharpie on my face."
> "Magic Marker. Not Sharpie."
> "You split your consciousness up, and sometimes... what, exactly?"
-
> "Magic Marker. Not Sharpie."
> "Whatever, it's all the same to me," Alice complains.
>"Why wouldn't there be? You were asleep, and I'm not about to stop the pocket Medi from having fun."
> "Somehow, I'm not surprised." Alice asks one of the dolls to fetch her a wet washcloth from the lavatory. "But it's worth it in the end, I think."
>"You okay? Dolls seemed on autopilot doin' that mining thing even when I tried to message you in-game."
> "You split your consciousness up, and sometimes... what, exactly?"
> "Oh, uh...Sometimes my mind gets so fragmented due to controlling so many dolls, I kind of lose control...And they end up doing the last thing I asked them to do before my mind blanks out," Alice explains. "This was the first time I used them like that, so...Thanks for snapping me out of it, Medicine."
> _
-
>Heh, she missed the 'I' there.
>"Think it'd be a good time to take a break, then? It looks like Marisa's character is about caught up now."
-
> Splitting your own mind until it breaks cannot possibly be healthy.
-
> Splitting your own mind until it breaks cannot possibly be healthy.
> Probably not, but you're not exactly the person to talk about the dangers of splitting your mind like splitting a diamond.
>Heh, she missed the 'I' there.
> Oh yeah, Alice's unaware of your little spirit pact thing...
>"Think it'd be a good time to take a break, then? It looks like Marisa's character is about caught up now."
> ...And you intend to keep it that way. For now, at least. You do your best to shield the background from view, like a visual novel NPC.
> "Yes, yes I suppose it would. Did anything interesting happen in your playthrough?"
> _
-
> Probably not, but you're not exactly the person to talk about the dangers of splitting your mind like splitting a diamond.
> We oughta learn, especially if this is common.
> "How long would that trance have lasted if I hadn't woken you up?"
-
>Would it be a bad idea to let Alice know about our doll pact or whatever it was shenanigans, or should I just save the explanation for after whatever prank I can pull off?
>"Nothing especially unusual happened in-game. It looks like Chen and Flandre joined up in the same guild, right?.."
>Oh, wait! "Although... one of the NPCs seemed to react in detail when he was insulted. That's not normal, is it?"
-
> We oughta learn, especially if this is common.
> But where would you start, is the big question.
>"Nothing especially unusual happened in-game. It looks like Chen and Flandre joined up in the same guild, right?.."
> "Oh yes, Flan invited me to join her guild, and it looks like you and Chen followed soon after," Alice summarizes. "That's good, we can do more together than on our own...Do they know about the, um, incident yet?"
> You explain to Alice what you discussed with them ingame. "Good...We can't have this getting public just yet."
>Oh, wait! "Although... one of the NPCs seemed to react in detail when he was insulted. That's not normal, is it?"
> Alice raises an eyebrow at that. "I did notice the NPCs acting more...Organic while playing, maybe this is part of the gameplay?"
> You agree with Alice, but you're just as puzzled as she is. :itisamystery:
> "How long would that trance have lasted if I hadn't woken you up?"
> "I'd be out for a while, apparently. I might have woken up on my own, but it'd probably be nightfall before that happens."
>Would it be a bad idea to let Alice know about our doll pact or whatever it was shenanigans, or should I just save the explanation for after whatever prank I can pull off?
> "Ehhhh..." Medicine finally perks up after being mentally dormant. "I'd rather not. I can't trust Alice with that info."
> _
-
>She ain't bad, but I getcha. Remind me to suggest having you take care of 'waking her up' if somethin' like this happens again.
>"I hope it's benign, at least. I did also peek something about Flandre saying Sakuya was hurt, but... it would probably be easier to let the others know we need to stop for now to avoid distractions."
>Weasel our way into each getting back onto our machines to close up shop. Make sure our guildmates know to take a break if they need it. And maybe tease Alice for zonking out on autopilot.
-
>She ain't bad, but I getcha. Remind me to suggest having you take care of 'waking her up' if somethin' like this happens again.
> "Oh, all right."
>"I hope it's benign, at least. I did also peek something about Flandre saying Sakuya was hurt, but... it would probably be easier to let the others know we need to stop for now to avoid distractions."
> "I'm...Not sure I follow about Sakuya, but it wouldn't hurt to take a break. I'm starting to get a bit of a headache..." Alice says, rubbing her forehead a bit. "I think I might need some...Medicine." Alice grins slightly as both you AND Medi cringe at the pun. You mumble a curse while Alice makes her way to the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. She directs one of her dolls to attend to her computer in the meantime.
>Weasel our way into each getting back onto our machines to close up shop. Make sure our guildmates know to take a break if they need it. And maybe tease Alice for zonking out on autopilot.
> You sit back down and tell Chen what's going on.
risingstar82 said: ...And that's why Miss Sleepyhead here was idle for so long, ze!
nyanNekomata1313 said: XD!
MasterOfPuppets7 (RizenMaiden) said: Hmph! You didn't have to be so blunt.
risingstar82 said: It's what I do, ze. ;)
risingstar82 said: At any rate...Alice and are gonna take a break.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Already? ono
nyanNekomata1313 said: But we're not even halfway through the dungeon yet...
MasterOfPuppets7 said: Our apologies, but I honestly feel like taking a nap than taking another stab at this game.
nyanNekomata1313 said: All right... T3T
nyanNekomata1313 said: I suppose we can pick up later. I'll still be logged on in case you wanna resume our journey.
risingstar82 said: What're you gonna do in the meantime?
nyanNekomata1313 said: Eh, boring house chores, server maintenance, maybe run an errand or two. I dunno.
nyanNekomata1313 said: But do contact me when you wanna jump back in! owo I'm honestly enjoying this. Being a
ninja is fun, nya!
risingstar82 said: Well, don't forget to take a break now and then, you don't wanna get cancer like Kaguya did.
nyanNekomata1313 said: Don't worry, nya! I'm more careful than that. >w</ Cya later.
risingstar82 said: Same to you, ze.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: Farewell.
> The two of you log out, and close down Guildies. Alice's control dolls leave the room and return to her bedroom, their job finished for now. Speaking of which, you open your eyes, and attempt to disengage with Medicine, but for some reason, you feel a lot more groggy than usual.
> "Had a nice nap?" Medicine whispers to you as you try to focus your vision. She's standing right in front of you, smiling. Like, right in front of you. Personal space much? You attempt to voice your state of mind, but all that comes out is a mumble and a yawn. "No? Then let me help..." Medi puts her hands on your shoulders and breathes a cloud of poisonous spores in your face. You cough and spit and flail, but the spores' effect is immediate: your eyes water up and you start to feel numb in the face. Soon, your eyes clasp shut from all the irritants, and your body starts to lose all feeling. As you start to black out, a familiar-looking flower appears in your mind's eye. That once pretty and docile Suzuran turns into something that looks like a Rocky Horror Picture Show reject, and its now-toothy blossom lashes at you, as if to devour your very mind!
> ...
> ...
> Darkness. Darkness everywhere. That's all you remember, perhaps all you ever knew...
> ...No.
> That's not true. There's no way that's fuckin' true.
> You have a name, an identity.
> What was it again?
> Oh yes...It's MARISA KIRISAME, BITCHES!!
> ...Bitches is most definitely not a part of that name, but still. Marisa doesn't sit around on her ass and get gassed by some oversized plastic toy. Why the hell did she do that, anyways? Did she kill you?
> Considering you're laying on your back, feeling the cold smooth ground beneath you, probably not. Furthermore, since you are able to make that statement, your mind and body are functioning as well.
> You sit up. Ugh, you feel as stiff as a board. How long have you been sitting in that chair? Last you checked it was around 4 PM, and sunset wasn't too far off...Damn Fall messing up the night and the day. Anyways, a quick check of your body and pockets reveals the following: You are fully clothed, you have your mini-hekkero and your broom, and nothing else. Not even the sandwich Alice made for you...Blast! You wanted to each that sandwich sometime...Oh well.
> Self assessment complete, you get to your feet and look around. Everything is black, except the parts that aren't. You're...Not sure how to describe this, really. The world itself is black: black walls, black floor and ceiling, etc. But the walls themselves are patterned with evenly-spaced gray dots, and the points where said walls/floors/ceiling meet consist of dotted lines. In front and behind you are passages covered in some kind of grid-like pattern, and the only thing in the room aside from you is...
> ...You rub your eyes again, just to make sure you're not seeing things.
> Nope. That thing you're looking at is a giant question mark. It lays on the ground, flat as a piece of paper.
> ...You're almost tempted to conjure up a massive question mark of your own in response to all this bullshit. Now what?
> _
-
>Oh goddamnit, even after we were trying so hard to play nice!
>Avoid the question mark for now. Go poke at the dotted lines to try and make an opening, or what the walls might be made of.
-
>Oh goddamnit, even after we were trying so hard to play nice!
> Well, you know what they say, "nice guys finish last." Still, you're not gonna take this lying down. There has to be a reason for Medicine's treachery!
>Avoid the question mark for now. Go poke at the dotted lines to try and make an opening, or what the walls might be made of.
> You poke at the dotted walts. They feel solid, but you're not sure what material they are, if any. Marble, maybe? Plastic? Glass? It's hard to place, it makes a sound similar yet very dissimilar to anything you've encountered or heard before.
> _
-
> Check question mark.
-
> Check question mark.
> You look at the question mark, and with great hesitation, you pick it up. It doesn't bite or explode in your hands. In fact, it feels like it's made out of paper, a parchment specifically. It feels old and worn to the touch.
> _
-
>Huh, don't see one of these every day. Maybe it marks something!
>Check where the question mark was put, because if we follow typical game logic, that means there's something important down there!
-
>Huh, don't see one of these every day. Maybe it marks something!
>Check where the question mark was put, because if we follow typical game logic, that means there's something important down there!
> On a hunch, you examine the floor where you found the question mark. At first, it doesn't feel special, but then you start feeling what appears to be seams in the floor, you get suspicious. Is it a trapdoor or a switch? You ponder whether or not if you should trigger it.
> _
-
> Trigger it.
-
> Trigger it.
> You start tapping the door or whatever with your broom. Nothing gives. So, you start stomping on it, then jumping up and down. Eventually, something DOES give and you find yourself falling...Well, sort of. You fell out of the room into some kind of void, but you find yourself weightlessly floating as if you were in space. Except you can breathe. All around you, in the distance, you can see more of the abstract-looking area you're in. Corridors made of dotted lines and walls spread out as far as you can see, and brightly-colored symbols can be present in a few of them.
> One of those brightly-colored symbols, looking like a giant lowercase "a," floats past you, making a low buzzing noise. It's huge, almost as big as your head! You watch it fly over to a large swarm of these letters, swirling about in a storm of activity.
> _
-
> Sigh.
> "Please tell me I'm just having a bad trip."
> Check out letters before applying The Marisa SolutionTM.
> The Marisa SolutionTM being lasers. Lots and lots of lasers.
-
> Sigh.
> "Please tell me I'm just having a bad trip."
> Sadly, there is no one around to confirm or deny this odd occurance.
> Check out letters before applying The Marisa SolutionTM.
> You get closer. The 'a's seem to be collecting around another room, which you can see is covered in what appears to be yellow percentage signs. Are they trying to make a nest here or something? If that's the case, attacking the swarm might do more harm than good...
> The Marisa SolutionTM being lasers. Lots and lots of lasers.
> ...On the other hand, that buzzing is getting quite obnoxious. You concentrate, mutter your spell, take aim at the annoying swarm, and unleash your annihilation of love! 90% of the swarm is destroyed; burnt 'a's and percent signs float gently into the void below. The remaining ten percent of the swarm takes offense to this, and charges at you!
> _
-
> Blast away the remaining letters.
> Smile, in a vaguely threatening way.
> "Medicine, we're gonna have a party~"
-
> Blast away the remaining letters.
> Smile, in a vaguely threatening way.
> "Medicine, we're gonna have a party~"
> Oh yes we are...A party of stars, lasers, explosions, and Karmic Punishment wait that's Youmu's thing. Note to self: figure out a way to copy that spellcard.
> Anyways, you off the remaining letters, though a couple of them manage to charge and hit you. An intense stinging pain erupts where you were hit, not unlike a bee sting. In fact, you daresay that this looks almost exactly like a bee sting...
> Just as you're trying to make sense of the situation, you hear another loud buzzing noise...You turn to your left to see another swarm of the yellow letters, including one very large purple 'a" in the middle of the swarm. Looks like they're mad over their friends getting sparked into oblivion!
> _
-
> "Yeah, bad trip."
> Use acid trip logic to conclude that we must have master sparked an A-hive, and the big A must be the queen of the alphabets.
> Master spark the Letter Queen! "Ain't nobody gonna give me no education!"
>_
-
> "Yeah, bad trip."
> Use acid trip logic to conclude that we must have master sparked an A-hive, and the big A must be the queen of the alphabets.
> Yup. That's an Ass Hive all right, because it's full of asshats that sting you, and one very large asshat that wants you dead.
> Master spark the Letter Queen! "Ain't nobody gonna give me no education!"
> You vehemently declare your aversion to basic literature, and spark the hive again. Sadly, it's only half as effective since the swarm is much larger, and it only makes the swarm even angrier.
> Oh, and you're out of Master Sparks now. Being stuck at two spell charges a level day is really inconvenient! Most things die after one spark...And the things after that...And the things you were unintentionally aiming at...The point is, you've got an angry swarm of letters to deal with now. What do?
> _
-
> Option A: Demonstrate our cunning by whacking the purple one with our broom.
> Option B: Demonstrate our bravery by running away.
> Take option B while childishly taunting the angry letters.
-
> Option A: Demonstrate our cunning by whacking the purple one with our broom.
> You consider giving that purple a what for, but...
> Option B: Demonstrate our bravery by running away.
> ...Considering the massive injuries you'd incur as a result the stinging...
> Take option B while childishly taunting the angry letters.
> ...You simply flip them a double deuce and fly off in the opposite direction at high speed. That'll teach them some respect! You don't diss Marisa Kirisame!
> You can, however, shoot bullets at her.
> ...Wait, WHAT?
> You turn your head back as you hear the familiar "pew pew pew" noises of bullets being shot...Those 'a's are firing triangular bullets at you!! And the swarm is catching up to you!
> ...Wait, WHAT?
> That can't be right...Can it?!
> You try doing some strafing movements. Yup, those work. You're moving like you should: fast or slightly less fast. You can move forward and back, but it doesn't feel like you're gaining or losing ground any faster. It's like the local area around you is stuck in a bubble, and slowly forced along a rail...
> ...Wait, WHAAAAAT? You've only seen a phenomenon like this in Gensokyo! How is this possible...?
> You have no time to think about that now. The swarm is closing in...If you don't do something fast...!
> Nope, you got this. YOU ATTACK TEH DARKNESS WITH MAGIC MISSILES. And hit the letters in the process. They pop like you'd expect enemies to pop, and familiar green, red and blue objects float towards you. Thanks to your prior experience with Alice and the Youkai Mountain incident, you attract the items towards you and absorb their mystical goodness.
> CH-WING! You feel a surge in power, and just in time...That big purple a is still standing, and it's bearing down on you with guns(?) blazing. A pair of MAGIC ORBS are now at your sides, and you use their added firepower to blow apart the last letter and claim its goods, including a valuable SPELL STAR. You now have ONE(1) SPELL CHARGES to use for your Master Spark.
> There's just one thing missing...
Stage ???
A Sea of Errant Thought
"So I wake up and find myself surrounded by text...Not books or signs, but symbols.
These look like the ones on my keyboard...Is this the dream of someone who headdesks
their computer too many times?"
> That's better. Mission One, START.
> _
-
> Hit the thing with the magic until the thing is dead.
> Don't get hit.
> If this is a dream, I suppose we could try telling ourselves that, seeing if that wakes us up.
> Or dying. Dying usually works too.
> On second thought, let's put off the dying idea until later.
-
> Hit the thing with the magic until the thing is dead.
> What thing? You don't see any...Oh wait, more a's are coming in. And they're flying in formation, too. Their attack is a bit less lax than the ones you previously destroyed, but whatever, ze!
> Don't get hit.
> You'd have to be a kindergartner to let yourself get hit by this kiddy stuff. Ok, it is slightly difficult, but it's nothing you can't handle.
> If this is a dream, I suppose we could try telling ourselves that, seeing if that wakes us up.
> Or dying. Dying usually works too.
> On second thought, let's put off the dying idea until later.
> It's hard for you to tell if a dream is real or if reality is dream under one of four circumstances:
* You're in the Dream Realm, aka Yuuka's turf. You don't wanna be there.
* You're knocked out cold, aka what Medicine did to you earlier. You hope it's just this and not something worse.
* You're dead, aka adios'd, TKO'd, six feet under, buying the farm, etc. You definitely don't want to be this.
* You're drunk. All things considered, you'd rather be tanked than totaled.
> You don't feel tipsy, nor do you feel numb or weak (those stings from earlier notwithstanding), and you certainly don't feel like you're having an out of body experience. Therefore, you MUST be in the Dream Realm, right?
> ...Right??
> More a's fly in and attack you, this time from the sides. The fiends!
> _
-
> Keep up the magic and lasers and stuff until we can find the escape key.
* You're dead, aka adios'd, TKO'd, six feet under, buying the farm, etc. You definitely don't want to be this.
> Be annoyed that Yuyuko makes death look so fun.
-
> Keep up the magic and lasers and stuff until we can find the escape key.
> Sheesh, we're gonna make her do all the thinking? Fine. You dodge to one side of the enemy line and shoot up everything there, while the other line shoots at you before retreating.
> Be annoyed that Yuyuko makes death look so fun.
> A lull in the combat makes you think about the ghost princess...How does she cope with death, anyways? Yuyuko always struck you as someone who embodies the saying "ignorance is bliss," is it because she has accepted her fate as a ghost? Is it because she can enjoy food without gaining weight, like Reimu does? Or is the variety of ghosts she meets as they pass through the netherworld gate? Whatever the reason, she's one of the happiest people you've met in Gensokyo, and you envy Youmu's patience and loyalty towards her.
> You also envy the fact that she doesn't have to deal with ANGRY LETTERS THAT WANT YOU DEAD, ARGH, can't they just go away already?! That sting is really starting to hurt now...And that buzzing keeps getting louder...
> ...Wait, that's not another swarm, but...What is that huge thing up ahead?
> Oh, it's just another letter a, but it's 20 times bigger and it's surrounded by a swarm of smaller bees. If this were DoDonPachi, you'd be as good as dead. Your MAGIC SENSES reveal to you the monster's name and life force...
Hibachi-kun
========================================================================================================================
> Rings of danmaku shoot out, as the smaller a's dive directly at you and fire shots as well (though not at the same time, that'd be silly). Orders?
> _
-
>If we ever get breathing room, try to keep track of whether this resembles anything we've encountered before. Maybe on the computer? That's a lot of letters for no reason.
>Shoot down some of the smaller a's to shut them up. If they seem unreasonably durable or seem to be arriving endlessly, focus more on the giant bastard.
>Play it a little safe, this is a weirder situation than we usually fight in.
-
>Shoot down some of the smaller a's to shut them up. If they seem unreasonably durable or seem to be arriving endlessly, focus more on the giant bastard.
>Play it a little safe, this is a weirder situation than we usually fight in.
> You do a little of both, focusing (lol) on the dodging while keeping track of where the monster is. The smaller a's die fairly quickly, but they respawn a second to two later. Not a huge deal, your constant fire quickly reduce's the monster's health to nothing. A bunch of point items and a LIFE FRAGMENT explode from the beast as it expires.
> Something--or perhaps someone--catches your eye after you destroy the giant a. Is it a nameless fairy? Either way, you just catch a glimpse of the figure as it floats away from the carnage, and soars away...Past more waves of yellow a's, and a few giant purple a's. Lovely.
>If we ever get breathing room, try to keep track of whether this resembles anything we've encountered before. Maybe on the computer? That's a lot of letters for no reason.
> You get all of two seconds to think about this before you're being attacked again. You've seen lots of text before, some of it colorful, but nothing arranged like this. Is this art? Is it architecture? Or is it something your poison-addled mind concocted on its own? Too many possibilities, and too many letters shooting at you to figure things out. If you ever make your way out of this alive, you're gonna start looking for answers.
> _
-
>Someone? Presumably humanoid, unlike everything else we've been fighting here? Likely our culprit, and possibly setting this all up as an illusion. Let's save a Spark for them.
>Get the purple ones down first, and get plenty of power ups. Do we have any sense how useful the point items might be for extra lives/health? Collect the safe ones if it feels like a good idea. Is autocollect working yet?
-
>Get the purple ones down first, and get plenty of power ups. Do we have any sense how useful the point items might be for extra lives/health? Collect the safe ones if it feels like a good idea. Is autocollect working yet?
> Autocollect's been in effect since you got here. So far, you haven't felt a big surge of power other than collecting the powerups and spell/life fragments, but who knows? Just to be on the safe side, you collect as much as you can from the remaining waves of enemies.
>Someone? Presumably humanoid, unlike everything else we've been fighting here? Likely our culprit, and possibly setting this all up as an illusion. Let's save a Spark for them.
> The only things you can make out were that the figure had a black dress on, and sported a pair of wings. You decide to have a word or two with this person once you meet them...
> ...Which is right about now, in fact. The swarms of letters have stopped coming. In the distance, you see that figure sitting on the outside of one of those rooms you were in earlier. Now you can see her appearance: short, matty black hair, a slightly less black (and slightly tattered) dress, and skin that's the color off-white snow. Her wings are like that of a bat's, with a thin...Stick or bone holding up the membrane, which looks like it was made from spider silk. Her mouth is what surprises you the most...She literally seems to have taken the term "zip your lip" quite literally, her mouth is replaced by a dull metal zipper; the slider part dangles at the right side of her face. Her black eyes gaze at you as she smiles, giving off that look of welcoming yet off-putting creepiness at the same time.
> Without opening her mouth, she speaks to you. How she's able to broadcast her voice without speaking or using telepathy mystifies you, but it sounds natural and not at all mechanical.
> "I didn't expect you to find me...I'm at a bit of a loss for words. How about this...How are you?"
> _
-
>Cheat and Spark her before her healthbar starts filling
>"Probably a little baked. Yourself?"
>We get names without introductions in these situations, don't we?
-
>Cheat and Spark her before her healthbar starts filling
> You end up breaking the script and freezing the game. You're trapped here for all eternity!
>We get names without introductions in these situations, don't we?
> I guess? How DO Touhou characters greet each other (aside from the obvious)? At any rate...
Skella
~ The Voice of Death ~
> There ya go.
>"Probably a little baked. Yourself?"
> "Oh, I can't really complain...Other than the fact that you tore through my bee army in less than five minutes. I knew I should have picked a tougher enemy." Her smile falters a bit as she says this.
> _
-
>"Bees? They looked more like A's. A-holes, perhaps."
>"I don't suppose you'd have any aspirin?"
-
> "Hey Skella, are you and your zipper mouth really there or am I just having poison spore hallucinations?"
> "...Again."
-
>"Bees? They looked more like A's. A-holes, perhaps."
> Skella shrugs. "This world has a strange way to rendering things. I don't bother questioning it.
> "Hey Skella, Are you and your zipper mouth really there or am I just having poison spore hallucinations?"
> "...Again."
> ALERT: The parser has detected Out Of Character knowledge, and has omitted it from the command. I'm pretty sure that the name and title cards are for our eyes only, not Marisa's, so forgive the enforcement of tradition here.
> In the unlikely event that Marisa breaks the fourth wall, only then will she be allowed to partake in OOC knowledge. :V
> Ahem. Anyways...
> "If the bees exist, I exist. Simple as that," Skella responds. "Where else would the Stage Spellcard come from?"
>"I don't suppose you'd have any aspirin?"
> Skella chuckles. "The only illness I treat is life...And the only cure for it is death."
> _
-
>"Ahh, that's a shame. That's not the kind of medicine I was looking for."
>"Now, are you going to stand aside, or should I give you a checkup, doctor?"
-
>"Ahh, that's a shame. That's not the kind of medicine I was looking for."
> "Funny you should say that...Given who put you in this situation in the first place. I wonder how she'll react if she sees you again..."
>"Now, are you going to stand aside, or should I give you a checkup, doctor?"
> Cue boss music.
> "I'll be the one giving the diagnosis here. And it shall be this... Marisa Kirisame, age 18, died on September 8th, 2023, at 7:23 PM due to tremendous injuries." Skella chuckles again. "Want me to make your epitaph while I'm at it?"
> Parser's Note: You can continue the witty banter for a bit or jump right into the fight.
> _
-
>Well, signs are pointing to 'not dead yet.' That's... probably good?
>"Nah. I'll just give you a referral to the Yama. I'll send you the bill."
>... with violence, if she has nothing interesting to add!
-
> Sigh. "Fine."
> Use normal magic. Set girl on fire.
> "Lemme know when you've had yer fill. We've got some talking to do."
-
>Well, signs are pointing to 'not dead yet.' That's... probably good?
> It beats being a pincushion for bees.
>"Nah. I'll just give you a referral to the Yama. I'll send you the bill."
>... with violence, if she has nothing interesting to add!
> Use normal magic. Set girl on fire.
> "Lemme know when you've had yer fill. We've got some talking to do."
> "You're as cheeky as your reputation makes you out to be." Skella spreads her wings and floats up to confront you.
> You attempt to set Skella on fire, but normal magic isn't allowed in spellcard duels! These rules were made for a reason!!
> ...Then again, a wise man once said, "Screw the rules, I have money!" The only problem is you don't have much money, either on you or in this realm, but you do have magic spells. You shoot some fireballs at Skella, who in traditional spell fashion just stands there and takes the punishment.
> "Ha, I've dealt with worse pain. You on the other hand...Are going to beg for your demise!" Skella attacks by sending needle-like danmaku at you (waves of aimed shots, and random shots that fall straight down).
> _
-
> "Yeah, yeah,"
> Shift slowly to the left, dodging the random shots until we get close to a side, then make a big movement to the left, then start shifting slowly to the right while dodging the random shots. Repeat until Skella stops shooting.
> "We must still be in Gensokyo somewhere, or the spell card rules wouldn't hold, right?"
> "Because that's pretty much the only thing stopping me from setting you on fire with normal magic."
-
> "Yeah, yeah,"
> Shift slowly to the left, dodging the random shots until we get close to a side, then make a big movement to the left, then start shifting slowly to the right while dodging the random shots. Repeat until Skella stops shooting.
> Your tried and true strategy works, and Skella declares her first spell card.
> "Pain Sign [Needle In a Haystack]"
> Shots rain down, and some of them hide needle bullets (they stick out from behind the falling shots, though). When one passes by your horizontal position, the needle shoots at you.
> "We must still be in Gensokyo somewhere, or the spell card rules wouldn't hold, right?"
> "Because that's pretty much the only thing stopping me from setting you on fire with normal magic."
> "I wouldn't know anything about a Gensokyo, though I have heard a few of the locals mention it. What's it like?"
> _
-
> "Like this place, but with a different texture pack."
> Same strategy as before, except shifting up and down to dodge homing shots, with an occasional left or right correction to dodge the shots that fall directly overhead.
> "So if this isn't Gensokyo, why are you using spellcards?"
>_
-
> "Like this place, but with a different texture pack."
> "...What kind of texture? Is it fuzzy, smooth, rough, what exactly do you mean?"
> Same strategy as before, except shifting up and down to dodge homing shots, with an occasional left or right correction to dodge the shots that fall directly overhead.
> It's a little trickier, but it's not like you're in danger of getting hit right now.
> "So if this isn't Gensokyo, why are you using spellcards?"
> "...That's a good question. I guess the locals found out about them and started using them, and their popularity spread." Skella chuckles. "Things like that happen very easily in this realm."
>_
-
> "...What kind of texture? Is it fuzzy, smooth, rough, what exactly do you mean?"
> "All of them, in varying amounts."
> "If ya wanna talk, talk. If ya wanna shoot, shoot. And if ya wanna stop, I could really go for a beer while I tells ya all about Gensokyo."
> Wonder when she'll get bored of shooting at us.
-
> "All of them, in varying amounts."
> "R-Really?" Skella seems to strain a bit as the timer on her spell card runs down...
> "If ya wanna talk, talk. If ya wanna shoot, shoot. And if ya wanna stop, I could really go for a beer while I tells ya all about Gensokyo."
> Wonder when she'll get bored of shooting at us.
> "I can't stop! That'd be improper! There are rules for this, you know!"
> You assure Skella you know of the rules quite well...Including the part where her spell card is about to run out.
> PTCHUUUUUN, BONUS FAILED, etc.
> "Argh, that was cheap, getting me to waste my spell like that..." Skella grumbles was she winds up for another regular attack. Rows of needles fall down random while regular bullets appear and fire directly at you.
> _
-
> Use the old back and forth trick again.
> "Cheap? I survived every wave of your spell card without even hitting you once!"
> "...screw it. I'm done being nice."
> Shoot girl until she stops moving attacking. Blast way through final spellcard before she really even gets an opportunity to start it. Use that trick we used during the Imperishable Night incident where we used lasers with magic missile for double damage. Keep power level between 3 and 3.95 and blast her away with repeated unfocused shots.
-
> "Cheap? I survived every wave of your spell card without even hitting you once!"
> Use the old back and forth trick again.
> Your comeback is rendered moot, as your standard back and forth tactic fails you. You get hit and lost a life (2 left). Skella cackles at your failure.
> "...screw it. I'm done being nice."
> Shoot girl until she stops moving attacking. Blast way through final spellcard before she really even gets an opportunity to start it. Use that trick we used during the Imperishable Night incident where we used lasers with magic missile for double damage. Keep power level between 3 and 3.95 and blast her away with repeated unfocused shots.
> You pick off Skella's last nonspell with what firepower you have remaining, and the instant the little twerp declares her next spell, you Master Spark her. We don't even get a chance to see the title of the card before Skella explodes in a cloud of zeroes and ones. :V
> Of course, despite all that violence, Skella survives, albeit worse for wear. Her hair's a mess, there's a few holes in her dress, and one of her wings looks like a bear tried to maul it off. Yet, in spite of all that, Skella manages to continue talking in her affably disturbing manner.
> "Crap...So much for killing you with this spell card system. You win this time, but when we cross paths again, you're going regret ever meeting me!" With that, Skella vanishes...And so does the rest of the scenery around you. You start to loose consciousness again...
> ...
> From somewhere, a transmission... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebkcTZM0RnQ)
> "...What've I been doing? Why do you ask?...Oh, you saw me playing Rogue Legacy? how many hours? Oh, that's just...Wait, in one day? No, no, you got it all wrong, I can stop any time I want...Once I get all the upgrades. And the equipment. And beat the game a second time...It's not an addiction, ok?! I'm just very invested in--ok, that was just uncalled for. I don't hassle you about your gaming habits, you shouldn't do the same with me..."
> ...
> You can't hear the message anymore. It sounds like a man...or a boy? You couldn't tell.
> Feeling starts to return to your body. Your vision blurs a bit as you open your eyes...And see Mini Medi staring you right in the face!
> Welcome back, sleepyhead, she says, grinning. Had a nice nap?
> You grumble and brush her aside for the moment as you get your bearings. You seem to be back in your room, on your bed. Things look unchanged since you here last time, barring the fact that it's much darker outside. Nighttime is approaching fast.
> You ask Mini Medi what the hell happened after Medicine poisoned you, and asked why she's still here. I'd could, but it's best you see for yourself, Mini-Medi says, directing you towards your bedroom mirror. One look explains why it'd be hard to explain...Somehow, you're inside Medicine's body! You try to pinch yourself, to see if it's all just a dream, but you find it impossible; doll plastic isn't exactly flexible.
> Well, look on the bright side...At least we match. Mini-Medi giggles as you facepalm at this development.
> _
-
>Write down what we can remember about that 'transmission' and the whole mess with Skella before we forget anything. Probably something important in there. But... only one stage? What the hell?
>Medi, I hope you're in here so I can torment you!
>Find Alice.
-
> "Damn doll's smarter than she looks. Hard to kill someone when they're you."
> "Now you wanna tell me what's going on?"
> Making the appropriate threatening facial expressions is gonna be hard with an inanimate face.
-
>Write down what we can remember about that 'transmission' and the whole mess with Skella before we forget anything. Probably something important in there. But... only one stage? What the hell?
> You're not sure why that dream of yours happened, but you decide to file it away for future reference in your journal. Which is at the bottom of your dresser. Locked behind a magical cypher wheel. And encased in a forcefield. And is written in rot13. You're kind of thankful Nitori told you about the one thing that you don't need a computer for when you solved the Youkai Mountain incident.
> On that note, you add in a couple of other things as well...
> Journal Entry Added: Alice's Adventure Addiction -- You think Alice is eager to go back into incident solving again, but she seems...Hesitant. You tried asking her about it, but she just smiled and brushed it off. This was written before you started playing Guildies with her.
> Journal Entry Added: Tumors Terrorizing Kaguya's Cohorts -- Upon visiting Eientei, you discover that the rabbits are playing a new MMO called "Guildies!" Yes, it's spelled with an exclamation point. Somehow, it's making the inaba of Eientei sick, but you've yet to discover the true cause of it.
> Journal Entry Added: Medicine's Mental Mayhem -- Somehow, Medicine got you stuck in her own body. How the fuck does that work?! On a related note...
> Addendum: Digital Dreaming Deathtrap -- While you were unconscious, you drifted through a sea of ASCII characters and almost barely got murdered by some skeletal fairy person thing. You also heard a mysterious voice in your travels...Who does it belong to?
>Medi, I hope you're in here so I can torment you!
>Find Alice.
> Medicine doesn't respond. In fact, you can't feel a connection with her anymore. You ask Mini-Medi about what's going on. Isn't it obvious? She swapped bodies with you and took off. Alice was nice enough to put you in your room for safe keeping before she gave chase. I have no idea where either of them are now.
> "Damn doll's smarter than she looks. Hard to kill someone when they're you."
> "Now you wanna tell me what's going on?"
> Blame Medicine. For years, she's wanted to become more human...So she looked up a body-swapping spell while working under Eirin. She was just looking for someone to practice it on when you two showed up...Life has a funny way of sneaking up on you, huh?
> Making the appropriate threatening facial expressions is gonna be hard with an inanimate face.
> Your face is actually quite emotive. Somehow, your face is able to move just like a human's in spite of being made of plastic...Magic is a wonderful thing sometimes.
> _
-
> Change clothes into a proper witching outfit and give ourselves a braid.
> ...So we no longer feel pain and alongside Medicine's body we probably gained the lifespan that goes with it. Wonder why Medicine gave herself such a raw deal.
> No wait, we're pretty sure being forced into someone else's immortal body is a bad thing. We've got to get our old body back! For reasons we will now go over in our head.
> Check with the pocket medic whether medicine usually has weird dreams.
-
> Change clothes into a proper witching outfit and give ourselves a braid.
> You search through your outfits and find at least one that fits you. Unfortunately, Medicine is a bit shorter and smaller than you are, forcing you to take up one of your older outfits. (http://en.touhouwiki.net/wiki/File:Th04marisa.png) At least Medi's hair color is similar enough to yours to keep the look you adore so much.
> ...So we no longer feel pain and alongside Medicine's body we probably gained the lifespan that goes with it. Wonder why Medicine gave herself such a raw deal.
> No wait, we're pretty sure being forced into someone else's immortal body is a bad thing. We've got to get our old body back! For reasons we will now go over in our head.
> If your encounter with Kaguya, Eirin and Mokou was any indication, you have deducted without a shadow of a doubt that IMMORTALITY IS OVERRATED. And painful. Seriously, you can only imagine what Mokou goes through every time she has to reincarnate...That being said, magicians tend to live for much longer than normal humans do, Hijiri can vouch for that. You'd rather live a long, happy life than one that lasts forever, but you haven't quite cracked that secret yet.
> That'll have to wait for now, why would Medicine do this? You pose this question to your miniature cohort, and she responds, Why else? She wants the satisfaction of being human on her own, even if she has to put up with the icky organic parts. Is that not the purpose of life? To live?
> Check with the pocket medic whether medicine usually has weird dreams.
> While you mull over what Mini-Medi said (the parser will probably just call her MM from now on), you also ask her about these dreams. You're joking, right? Medi's never had a true dream, much less along the lines of the one you just described. MM grins. Yeah, I watched you jot it down in your diary. Be thankful I can't talk, ze.
> The joke's on her, this diary is strictly for magical research!...At least you think it is. You keep so many diaries that it's hard to know which one contains which.
> _
-
>For fuck's sake, you'd think Eirin would be able to get her a better solution than this.
>I thought Medicine hated humans, anyway? Or is that one of the things you two disagree about?
>Well, at least Alice saw through it. And if she gave chase, then we just need to figure where Medicine's trying to hide.
>How possible does it seem for our pocket medic to lie to us given the mental linking involved?
>Would anyone see 'Marisa' flying away to ask about where 'we' went, or will we have to predict Medicine's habits and guess?
-
>For fuck's sake, you'd think Eirin would be able to get her a better solution than this.
> I dunno, Eirin doesn't seem like the type to dabble in that sort of thing. Said it was "ethically unsound," MM explains.
>I thought Medicine hated humans, anyway? Or is that one of the things you two disagree about?
> She hated them at first, but her time with the Eientei crew changed that, ze. Now she's more tolerant of them.
>Well, at least Alice saw through it. And if she gave chase, then we just need to figure where Medicine's trying to hide.
> Heh, she knows you all too well. Once she saw "Mari" was acting strange, she started pressing questions...Then Medi panicked and ran, she didn't want to fight her if she could help it, MM explains further. I have a feeling Medi might be heading back to Eientei, that's where she'll feel the safest...But getting to her will be a challenge, ze.
>How possible does it seem for our pocket medic to lie to us given the mental linking involved?
> While you have a telepathic link, you can't see her actual thoughts. However, you see no reason why MM would lie to you, she may be just as concerned about Medi as you are. Or she just wants to see you suffer.
>Would anyone see 'Marisa' flying away to ask about where 'we' went, or will we have to predict Medicine's habits and guess?
> Considering the time of day...It would be a tad suspicious for you to be out at this hour; you're usually home studying and relaxing unless otherwise. Most humans by this point are heading in for the night, but maybe a youkai or two might have spotted her.
> You take a moment to think about Medi's possible hideouts. The only other place you know she'd go aside from Eientei would be the Suzuran Field, but it'd be dangerous now that she's in a human's body. There is the possibility that she might have gone someplace unexpected to throw you off, as well...Ugh, it's times like this that you wish you just stayed home.
> _
-
>Maybe playing nice wasn't a complete wash...
>I'm thinkin' maybe moonbrain shoulda made an exception. Did Medi even bring it up with her?
>And what're you 'ze'in' for, ze? Don't tell me you're pickin' up my habits too!
>Gather up whatever combat gear we have lying around; it's violence time. Hopefully the body snatcher didn't think to take our mini-hakkero.
>Head for Eintei; it's obvious, but there's no other good choices. And if she did go to the fields and got sick, Alice would save her sorry ass. We have a backup broom, right?
>If we run into anyone reliable on the way there, flag 'em down and ask where 'Marisa' went.
-
> And worst of all, she made us short(er).
> The doll is pure evil. We have to put her in a woodchipper. For the children.
> "I have to wonder how welcoming Eientei will be of a thief in the night. We should find her before she kills me."
-
> And worst of all, she made us short(er).
> The doll is pure evil. We have to put her in a woodchipper. For the children.
> You have half a mind to spark Medicine once all is said and done...Where the hell would you get a woodchipper, though?
> "I have to wonder how welcoming Eientei will be of a thief in the night. We should find her before she kills me."
> The thought of Medicine being mistaken for you makes you worry. Time is of the essence!
> Quest Added: Bad Medicine -- Medicine has stolen your body and absconded off to Eientei. Find Medi and stop her before she does something stupid.
>I'm thinkin' maybe moonbrain shoulda made an exception. Did Medi even bring it up with her?
>And what're you 'ze'in' for, ze? Don't tell me you're pickin' up my habits too!
> Nope, she didn't. I even suggested it to her, but she said she'd rather not get Eirin in hot water...What is if with humans and their reluctance to clone themselves, ze? They think they're breaking some kind of Unthinkable Natural Law... You look at MM funny after that last part. What?
> Awkward silence ensues, then you ask MM why she's copying your verbal tic. That's a good question...The way I--we were created, I was to serve as Medi's inner conscience of sorts. The thing is, I had no...Soul of my own, I guess you could say, I had to live off of Medi's soul and mind and base my thoughts and actions off of her, ze...Since you took her place, I'm thinking off of what you're thinking. I'm like a computer, and Medicine is the software, I can't really function without the latter, ze. You should be flattered I'm emulating you, since you think so highly of yourself, MM says with a big grin on her tiny face.
>Gather up whatever combat gear we have lying around; it's violence time. Hopefully the body snatcher didn't think to take our mini-hakkero.
>Head for Eintei; it's obvious, but there's no other good choices. And if she did go to the fields and got sick, Alice would save her sorry ass. We have a backup broom, right?
>If we run into anyone reliable on the way there, flag 'em down and ask where 'Marisa' went.
> Sadly, she did take your Mini-Hekkero. At least you have a backup broom or five. You head out of the house, making sure to lock the door on the way out (as if nothing else bad would happen to you), and just as you're about to take off, you hear...Singing? Wait, you know that song...
> _
-
> Sing-along time!
-
>How much of that hardware/software explanation made sense for us?
>Grin back. Guess I am, ze! Just dunno whether it'll have any weird effects once we get all this fixed.
>... wait, we forgot to do something useful!
>Given the opportunity, stop back in real quick to sound the alert to our buddies online about the situation. Flandre, if no one else. They might not realize as easily as Alice...
>Who's singing? What's that song? Is Mystia doing the pokerap?
-
>How much of that hardware/software explanation made sense for us?
> About 80% of it. You know that computers need software to run, otherwise they're just useless hunks of plastic and metal.
>Grin back. Guess I am, ze! Just dunno whether it'll have any weird effects once we get all this fixed.
> At the least, I'll have the memories I shared with you, ze. But it's not like I'm gonna blather to Medi about anything if we get reunited again.
>Who's singing? What's that song? Is Mystia doing the pokerap?
> Sing-along time!
> It is MYSTIA LORELEI, but she's not singing the Pokerap; she's singing "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen. You decide to sing along with her to get her attention. Mystia's sitting in a nearby tree as she looks at you and asks, "Mari? Izzat you? You look...Shorter."
> You explain what's going on as best as you can, which makes the night sparrow's eyes go wide. "Jegus, that's rough. I guess that explains why I saw Alice tearin' through here earlier...I tried to see whom she was chasin' after, but whoopsie doodles, I missed her!"
>... wait, we forgot to do something useful!
>Given the opportunity, stop back in real quick to sound the alert to our buddies online about the situation. Flandre, if no one else. They might not realize as easily as Alice...
> You tell Mystia to hold on for a sec, while you go back inside and dash to your PC. Chen and Flan are still online...But something else catches your attention: a friend request from one "FlowerPowergirl4444."
> _
-
>Ohhhhhhh shit. Yuuka noticed us, didn't she.
>Exactly how bad is our relationship with her? How bad can she get?
>Well, whether she's allied with Medicine and asking for Alice ransom, mad about the dream world thing, curious, or what, she'd be handy to get ahold of... is there a way to message her without necessarily adding her to our friends list or making her able to tell whether we're online? Is that likely to be a problem with her?
>If Yuuka knowing our online status wouldn't be a problem, accept and ask whether it's her, ze.
>Give Flandre the abridged version and... we can probably ask her spread the word as best she can; Medicine causing trouble impersonating Marisa would probably be about as big a problem as having some of the power players trying to take advantage of the situation. Get Chen in on it too, though it would be nice to not have Yukari interfering. Anyone else that might be in a position to help? From Eintei, perhaps?
I don't know what to do about abandoning Myschi like that sadly.
>How annoyed is Mystia likely to get if we take a while? Is it normal for her to be near our house?
-
>Well, if Yuuka's giving us friend request, then things can't be all bad between us, right? After all the fun times together like that time we beat up Alice's family.
>Huh.
>Well, that's assuming this is Yuuka and not someone else entirely.
-
>Ohhhhhhh shit. Yuuka noticed us, didn't she.
>Exactly how bad is our relationship with her? How bad can she get?
>Well, if Yuuka's giving us friend request, then things can't be all bad between us, right? After all the fun times together like that time we beat up Alice's family.
>Huh.
>Well, that's assuming this is Yuuka and not someone else entirely.
> It's actually pretty decent, though you barely see her much. Ages ago, Yuuka tried to harness the power of the dream world to make herself stronger and try to take over Gensokyo, but failed when you and Reimu intervened. She showed up some time afterwards, to stop all the rampaging tourists visiting her home, and once again during the Flower Viewing incident of August 2015. Yuuka hasn't shown up since then.
> You're not sure why Yuuka did what she did, but she said that she was unhappy with Gensokyo at the time, and wished to change it. Then she tried to spark you in the face when you tried to press the issue. Yuuka seems to have some anger issues, but hides them with a sickeningly sweet and polite demeanor...If she were any more genki, she'd be tickled pink. That's all there is to say on the matter.
>Well, whether she's allied with Medicine and asking for Alice ransom, mad about the dream world thing, curious, or what, she'd be handy to get ahold of... is there a way to message her without necessarily adding her to our friends list or making her able to tell whether we're online? Is that likely to be a problem with her?
> You have heard her talk about a thing called a "telly fone" once...But you don't have one handy. Sending her a letter isn't exactly the best idea because it's really easy to get lost in the dream world, so the internet is probably your best bet.
>If Yuuka knowing our online status wouldn't be a problem, accept and ask whether it's her, ze.
> You accept, and immediately she starts IMing you.
FlowerPowergirl4444 said: I sense a great disturbance in the force...
FlowerPowergirl4444 said: Was that you, Mari? >:T
risingstar82 said: I have no idea what you're talking about.
FlowerPowergirl4444 said: Well, I felt *something!*
FlowerPowergirl4444 said: In fact, the somethings have been increasingly more and more common over the past few weeks.
FlowerPowergirl4444 said: Ever since I got my laptop, my dreams have been punctuated with this loud screeching and ringing
noise...Then I heard the familiar sound of a Spark being fired off.
FlowerPowergirl4444 said: Unless someone *else* has been copying my spell, it had to have been you!
risingstar82 said: I may or may not have sparked someone, ze.
risingstar82 said: Seriously, I've been having weird dreams too.
FlowerPowergirl4444 said: O RLY? =) Do u wanna share?
risingstar82 said: I could but...I'm kind of on the clock here. I have a guest outside, kinda.
FlowerPowergirl4444 said: Oh, my bad then! LOLZ. I'll let you take care of him or her, then.
FlowerPowergirl4444 said: Just do me a favor, dearie...I'd start keeping a dream journal, just in case! You never know if it'll be
handy. ;)
risingstar82 said: I'll think about it, ze. Thanks.
>Give Flandre the abridged version and... we can probably ask her spread the word as best she can; Medicine causing trouble impersonating Marisa would probably be about as big a problem as having some of the power players trying to take advantage of the situation. Get Chen in on it too, though it would be nice to not have Yukari interfering. Anyone else that might be in a position to help? From Eintei, perhaps?
> You consider IMing them on Guildies, since you can talk to them at once, but you decide to leave them messages over Skype. Flan is...Understandably confused and worried about this development, but she says she'll keep an eye out and warn the others as well. Chen doesn't respond, she seems to be away from the computer at the moment.
> As for people who might be able to help, you decide to stay away from Reimu for the time being. As much as you trust her, she'd probably just follow the crumb trail back to what it is you're doing, and you don't want that. Hijiri's too busy to help, but Keine and Mokou might be able to assist, so you shoot them a line as well. You also think about people within Eientei itself...Reisen might be able to spot Medicine's behavior right off the bat, but you don't exactly know her contact info, and you're not sure if she'd be willing to turn Medicine in. Kaguya's probably out of the question for obvious reasons, and forget Tewi...Looks like you might be going solo on this one.
>How annoyed is Mystia likely to get if we take a while? Is it normal for her to be near our house?
> That is, if a certain bird youkai wasn't politely knocking on your door.
> "Oy, is everythin' okay in there? You've been inside for a while!"
> Mystia is usually pretty friendly with you despite her punkish attitude; she knows not to mess with you after that Imperishable Night incident. She does, however, live within your vicinity, in a part of the FoM known as the "Night Grove." It is called that since out of all the places in the forest, it is the darkest, so nocturnal creatures love to live there.
> Either way, if you're gonna dismiss her or indict her, it's best to do it now before she starts singing. You don't want to be the target of her singing, especially at this hour.
> _
-
>Well, we were a half-step ahead of Yuuka's advice, at least...
>While it'd be nice to grill the flower girl for any information about Skella or whatever the fuck happened there, we ARE on a clock and we don't want to let the Medicine trail get too cold. Set up an away message and get back outside to Mystia.
>"Yo, sorry about that, ze. Realized I had somethin' important to take care of before I left and forgot!"
>"I should be rushin' off to help Alice, though, so I probably shouldn't stick around to chat. Where was she headin'?"
-
>Well, we were a half-step ahead of Yuuka's advice, at least...
>While it'd be nice to grill the flower girl for any information about Skella or whatever the fuck happened there, we ARE on a clock and we don't want to let the Medicine trail get too cold. Set up an away message and get back outside to Mystia.
> You go ahead and do all that (and lock the door, heaven help you if your house gets broken into).
>"Yo, sorry about that, ze. Realized I had somethin' important to take care of before I left and forgot!"
> "Happens to me all the time, heh," Mystia replies. "Usually when I finish an album and prepare to take it to the Prismrivers for printing."
>"I should be rushin' off to help Alice, though, so I probably shouldn't stick around to chat. Where was she headin'?"
> "Uh, I think she was headin' off towards the moon princess' mansion? I think it's in that direction, right?"
> _
-
>Frown. "That's what I woulda guessed. Thanks, Myschi. I'm gonna try and catch up; go ahead and let people know about the whole body-swap mess, if ya feel like it. Later!"
>Head for the House of Eternity!
-
>Frown. "That's what I woulda guessed. Thanks, Myschi. I'm gonna try and catch up; go ahead and let people know about the whole body-swap mess, if ya feel like it. Later!"
> "Uh, you sure you're gonna be ok by yourself?" Mystia asks. You assure her you can handle things yourself. "Well okay...It's just...The bamboo grove has been awfully quiet as of late, so be careful...Bye!" Mystia then flies off without another word. What the hell was that about?
>Head for the House of Eternity!
> You head for the aforementioned Bamboo Grove, remembering to fly low due to the anti-anti-gravity generator. You also recall the traps you have to navigate...Ugh. At least you have Mini Medi at your side.
> As you fly into the grove, an eerie silence hits your ears. The place is almost devoid of the regular wildlife noises you're accustomed to. Even at night, there's a soft cacophony ringing through the air, but now...Something doesn't feel right, and you hesitate to continue.
> _
-
>Well, that's not good.
>Look for any poisoned wildlife that would normally be making noise. Or Spark marks, or downed Alice dolls.
>Failing that, there's probably some other new threat with a silencing ability, and hopefully not one of Skella's friends. She was creepy enough.
>Shout out a 'ze' to see if that does anything. Pity the yamabiko's a bit outta the way...
>If nothing of interest happens, proceed with caution.
-
>Look for any poisoned wildlife that would normally be making noise. Or Spark marks, or downed Alice dolls.
> You search and you search as you climb up the walls but nothing seems to stick out. However, you see lots of cut ropes and trip wires all over the place, whomever was here must've wanted these traps out of the way; the inaba usually recycle their ropes and stuff. You don't see any traces of poison, but apparently Medicine's eyes have the ability to "see" toxic material; plants, animal droppings, etc. It seems that whatever went through here scared away all the animals.
>Failing that, there's probably some other new threat with a silencing ability, and hopefully not one of Skella's friends. She was creepy enough.
> You wonder about something with the ability to silence things...In the vocal sense, not the lethal sense. The only thing that comes to mind is Nitori's half-sister, but she doesn't like talking about her very much.
>Shout out a 'ze' to see if that does anything. Pity the yamabiko's a bit outta the way...
>If nothing of interest happens, proceed with caution.
> You call out into the forest. Rapid flapping of wings and scurries in the distance imply that not everything in the forest is MIA, but still...You don't hear anything calling back at you, so you move on to the mansion.
> The lights are out. The faint hum of electricity you normally hear from this place is absent. The front door is wide open, mostly due to said door being torn off and tossed to the side. Footprints mar the normally clean porch and atrium floors. You can't tell how many individuals forced their way into this place, but it must've been a lot, and they were wearing heavy duty boots or similar footwear.
> Well...This is a fine sight to come back to, ze. Shall we go in and say hello?
> A low moan can be heard inside.
> On second thought...Maybe not.
> _
-
>Boots? Isn't Alice practically the only one in Gensokyo to wear heavy boots? But there wouldn't be twenty of her... someone else was here. The hell has Medicine gotten us into?
>Any indication this might have something to do with the Lunarians? Did those moon rabbits from when that moon princess ate our danmaku have boots like that?
>The voice behind that moan is unfamiliar, presumably? Was it of pain, or more like a zombie?
>If not a zombie, approach cautiously to try and help/question.
-
> We've charged blindly into hell and beat up a nuclear god. And we are currently made of plastic, so zombies can't eat our brains anyway. So hopefully, this shouldn't be TOO bad.
> Not that we're saying Eientei was eaten by zombies.
> Steal everything we can while they're distracted. Uh... I mean, enter the house and see if everything is alright. Yeah, let's go with that.
-
>Boots? Isn't Alice practically the only one in Gensokyo to wear heavy boots? But there wouldn't be twenty of her... someone else was here. The hell has Medicine gotten us into?
> Alice does indeed wear boots, but these aren't her footprints...At least, from what you can make out, it's kind of a mess.
>Any indication this might have something to do with the Lunarians? Did those moon rabbits from when that moon princess ate our danmaku have boots like that?
> From what you remember, the Lunar Defense Corps also wore boots, but they didn't have much in the way of treads. These boots, however, have a much more textured tread on them. In fact, the boots remind you heavily of Nitori's boots...Could she have been part of this? No, that wouldn't be her style. She's a gadgeteer, not a Navy SEAL.
>The voice behind that moan is unfamiliar, presumably? Was it of pain, or more like a zombie?
>If not a zombie, approach cautiously to try and help/question.
> We've charged blindly into hell and beat up a nuclear god. And we are currently made of plastic, so zombies can't eat our brains anyway. So hopefully, this shouldn't be TOO bad.
> Not that we're saying Eientei was eaten by zombies.
> Steal everything we can while they're distracted. Uh... I mean, enter the house and see if everything is alright. Yeah, let's go with that.
> As much as you would like to pilfer the mansion of all of its valuables, you lack anything to put them in; Medicine swiped your entire inventory when she swapped bodies with you, that little pest. You resolve to get to the bottom of this, and beyond it if you have to. But first, you address the moaning...
> ...Which is not zombie-like at all. Even if a zombie couldn't eat your brain, it could still hurt you, but thankfully this is not the case. In fact, the voice producing the moaning is familiar to you--it's Tewi's voice. You can just make out her dress and trademark black hair as she lays on the ground, cringing.
> _
-
>"Am I gonna regret asking what happened, ze?"
>Don't tell me this was a kappa mob attack from Maneki...
>touch fluffy tail
-
>touch fluffy tail
> No one must know of your rabbit tail fetish.
>"Am I gonna regret asking what happened, ze?"
> Tewi strains to look up at you. "Marisa...? Oh gods, it was awful...A bunch of soldiers in masks stormed the place...We tried to stop them but...They were too tough for us."
>Don't tell me this was a kappa mob attack from Maneki...
> You have no clue if it was even the kappa or not, but you decide to ask Tewi who was responsible. "I...I don't know. They never took off their masks...And when they spoke, they sounded like robots. I think...Urgh, my everything still hurts."
> As you speak to the inaba prankster, you hear heavy footsteps from another hall.
> _
-
> Pretend to be inanimate.
> Follow robots home to their master. Or wait for the master to come to the robots.
> No sense fighting the small fry when the head honcho's just gonna make more, right?
> Note that this plan does assume that robots distinguish between living beings and inanimate dolls.
-
>Eat Tewi whole to conceal the evidence
>Well, at least we're recognizable as ourselves instead of our impostor!
>Robots? That still points at mechanics which points at kappa, but... the hell?
>And Alice certainly wouldn't do this, would she?
>Is it clear which hall the footsteps are coming from? Set up an ambush directly above them if so! If not, can we easily scoop up Tewi and fall back so she won't get caught in the crossfire? Plan C: Stand guard and see what of our usual firepower we can pull off..... if they don't assume we're an ally.
-
>Eat Tewi whole to conceal the evidence
> you don't even have a stomach wtf is wrong with you
> Pretend to be inanimate.
> Follow robots home to their master. Or wait for the master to come to the robots.
> No sense fighting the small fry when the head honcho's just gonna make more, right?
> Note that this plan does assume that robots distinguish between living beings and inanimate dolls.
> Your attempt at playing dead fails miserably. The figure walks up to your inert form, kicks you to make sure you're still alive, then shrugs and heads off...Then they chuck a sticky bomb behind them and detonate it, reducing you and Tewi to cinders. Let this be a lesson to you. (http://wiki.teamfortress.com/w/images/6/6b/Demoman_specialcompleted08.wav?t=20100625221820)
> BAD END FOUND: "You play dead, you play for keeps!"
> Meanwhile, back in the alpha timeline...
>Is it clear which hall the footsteps are coming from? Set up an ambush directly above them if so! If not, can we easily scoop up Tewi and fall back so she won't get caught in the crossfire? Plan C: Stand guard and see what of our usual firepower we can pull off..... if they don't assume we're an ally.
> The footsteps are coming from the hallway behind you, IE the one to the left of the entrance as you enter. You float up and out of sight, and judging by the lack of a quickening pace in the footsteps, they didn't spot you. The footsteps get louder and louder as they approach you...Eventually, you see someone, clad in a black jumpsuit and armor, wearing a mask. The owner carries a rifle of some kind and has clawed gloves; the rifle seems to be built specifically to accommodate their clawed paws.
> Tewi moans again, which gets the gunman's attention. This worries you.
> "Still hurting after that?" the gunner says, approaching Tewi. Their voice doesn't sound quite as robotic as Tewi recalled, but it doesn't seem natural either. "Too bad for you. Rabbits aren't known for their pain tolerance...Don't worry, though. It'll all be over soon..." the figure snickers.
> Not wanting to give this person a chance to make good on their threat, you pounce. The parser would like to take a moment to point out that all of your brooms are made from Manabirch Wood, a dense but still light lumber that makes great material for dolls or broomsticks. Getting hit with this would be like getting hit in the head with a bat, which is basically what you do to this unsuspecting soldier. A satisfying WHUNK is heard as broomstick meets noggin, and the soldier collapses...Right on top of Tewi. The impact causes the poor rabbit to scream in pain, and curse at you for not thinking this through better. Whatever, she's still alive, right?
>Well, at least we're recognizable as ourselves instead of our impostor!
> The limited light and your silhouette were enough for Tewi to tell it was you.
>Robots? That still points at mechanics which points at kappa, but... the hell?
>And Alice certainly wouldn't do this, would she?
> Nope. You don't think she's up to some crazy mastermind of a scheme. Furthermore, just because something sounds like a robot doesn't mean it is, so this deserves some more investamagations.
> _
-
>Well, considering the circumstances, Medicine somehow coming up with an invasive doll army sounds like the right alley to peek down.
>If the gunner is unconscious, good. Otherwise, kick the gun away if we can't grab it from our victim easily, knock it off of Tewi if possible, and keep the pressure on so they can't get up. Break the mask if we can!
>If the soldier IS unconscious, push it off Tewi and yank off the mask to get a look at what we're dealing with. Dolls? Golems?
>... wait, masks? Wasn't there that one girl with a bunch of those?
-
>Well, considering the circumstances, Medicine somehow coming up with an invasive doll army sounds like the right alley to peek down.
> You wouldn't put it past Medicine to make small army of dolls, but the question is, would Eirin even approve of such a thing? As much as you would want to punish Medi for her backstabbing you, you'd rather see some solid evidence first before going after her.
>If the gunner is unconscious, good. Otherwise, kick the gun away if we can't grab it from our victim easily, knock it off of Tewi if possible, and keep the pressure on so they can't get up. Break the mask if we can!
>... wait, masks? Wasn't there that one girl with a bunch of those?
> Kokoro? Yeah, she had a whole collection of 'em, but this mask looks nothing like the ones she has. This looks more like a traditional gas mask.
> You pull the soldier off of Tewi, who still chews you out for letting that happen in the first place, but you ignore her. You confiscate the gun, and with a bit of effort, the mask as well...What you see is something rather unexpected. The soldier in question looks like a male, a young man perhaps, but his buck teeth, pointy nose and whiskers give off the impression that he's a rodent of some kind. Judging by the googliness of his eyes and his tongue hanging out, you knocked him out but good. So much for the doll and kappa theories.
> _
-
>Rodents? Rats?... Nazrin? This is just getting weirder and weirder.
>"Guess I could have struck sooner, ze, but it doesn't look like I'd be able to overhear anything useful with him like this."
>Turn the zonked-out rodent for Tewi to see. "Any idea what this is supposed to be, ze?"
-
>Rodents? Rats?... Nazrin? This is just getting weirder and weirder.
> As far as you can tell, this rodent-man doesn't look a thing like Nazrin...Then again, male youkai usually don't, but how often have you seen one of them aside from Kourin (who's half youkai), and Genji (who's a bloody flying turtle)?
>"Guess I could have struck sooner, ze, but it doesn't look like I'd be able to overhear anything useful with him like this."
>Turn the zonked-out rodent for Tewi to see. "Any idea what this is supposed to be, ze?"
> It was either knock him out, or risk Tewi becoming rabbit stew, ze.
> Speaking of which, you present the soldier to Tewi. "How should I know...?" Tewi grumbles. "He looks like a...A mole-rat or something. Look...You best get out of here while you still can...If they catch wind of you breaking in, you're toast."
> _
-
> It's the invasion of the mole men! Clearly Satori is behind this. We must
rob tease stop her!
> Annoyingly, the rabbit is probably right. We don't have our big spells with us.
> "Alrighty then! See ya!"
> Can our Medicine body form Chlorine Triflouride (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorine_trifluoride)? What about Dioxygen Diflouride (http://what-if.xkcd.com/40/)?
-
>Before leaving, ask Tewi if she saw Medicine arrive!
>But where the hell else would we go? Maybe molemen means underground, maybe it doesn't, but who would know about them? Well, maybe the city would be a good spot to start getting info, at least...
-
> It's the invasion of the mole men! Clearly Satori is behind this. We must rob tease stop her!
> Could Satori be behind this? You file her under your list of possible suspects.
> Annoyingly, the rabbit is probably right. We don't have our big spells with us.
> "Alrighty then! See ya!"
> You may not, but that doesn't mean you can't improvise...
> Can our Medicine body form Chlorine Triflouride (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorine_trifluoride)? What about Dioxygen Diflouride (http://what-if.xkcd.com/40/)?
> ...Considering that you could potentially form both of these chemicals using stuff from Eirin's lab. Any magician worth her sodium chloride knows a thing or two about alchemy and what one can make from it.
>Before leaving, ask Tewi if she saw Medicine arrive!
> You ask Tewi about Medi's whereabouts. "Uh...I haven't seen her...since she left with you and Alice...I did overhear she came back, though. What's going on?"
> You explain in the vaguest of terms that Medicine did you wrong, and you want revenge. "Tch. Good luck...Eirin-sama won't let one of her pupils come to harm. She's probably somewhere in the mansion...Knowing the guards, she's probably been locked up somewhere. You can't really knock out a doll..." Tewi's pain sitch seems to be improving a bit, given the infrequency of her pauses. "I did catch a sight of Alice earlier...Is she here for Medicine too?"
>But where the hell else would we go? Maybe molemen means underground, maybe it doesn't, but who would know about them? Well, maybe the city would be a good spot to start getting info, at least...
> Revisiting Former Hell might not be a bad idea, but the journey there wasn't exactly the easiest. You could ask Patchy or Hijiri about the youkai you saw, or be daring and attempt a counter-infiltration...Or something. Better than sitting on your ass playing video games all night.
> _
-
>"Alice here for Medicine?" Chuckle darkly. "Probably, ze. Where did she go?"
>Well, that's another reason to find whoever's behind this and blow them up...
>Do we have any way to magically locate the mini-hakkero? We really need that back, and if Medicine's here, either she has it and she's allied with these assholes or she's been captured as well.
-
>"Alice here for Medicine?" Chuckle darkly. "Probably, ze. Where did she go?"
> "Alice might have gone to the lab, but...Don't quote me on that."
>Well, that's another reason to find whoever's behind this and blow them up...
>Do we have any way to magically locate the mini-hakkero? We really need that back, and if Medicine's here, either she has it and she's allied with these assholes or she's been captured as well.
> You could try a locator spell. You've made it a point to "mark" your magical items by attuning them to your aura, kinda like how people use ID collars on their pets. However, it might not work as well given that you're in a different body.
> _
-
>Is there any indication that anyone else is approaching our position? For as long as it's safe we need to milk this for info so we know what we're getting into.
>Ask Tewi whether the fight ended up going into the lab and how safe it would be to check in. And where it is, if necessary.
>How rare are men in Gensokyo? Should the suggestion of the rodent's genitals be perplexing?
>How are we feeling in terms of combat ability? Did Medicine's form-o-change-o interfere much with our magic magic, even if the Hakkero's MIA?
>If it's safe to do so and wouldn't take long, make an attempt at the Hakkero finding... unless it would make the Hakkero respond in a way that whoever has it would notice.
-
> Well, if we have a locator spell we should use it.
Wonder why we didn't think of that before.
> Fight temptation to play matchmaker for Nazrin.
> At some point, we should really go over our current 'love interests' if any, as well as what we're looking for in a love interest.
-
> Well, if we have a locator spell we should use it. Wonder why we didn't think of that before.
> REASONS. That's why.
> Fight temptation to play matchmaker for Nazrin.
> You successfully repel the urge. You barely even know this guy, how would they be a match, if at all?
> At some point, we should really go over our current 'love interests' if any, as well as what we're looking for in a love interest.
> You made a list of potential interests (http://www.shrinemaiden.org/forum/index.php/topic,15529.msg1038132.html#msg1038132) earlier, and so far you don't have a firm set of guidelines. You'd at least like someone that can keep up with your energetic spirit of yours, and is fairly patient with your antics.
>Is there any indication that anyone else is approaching our position? For as long as it's safe we need to milk this for info so we know what we're getting into.
> You keep a sharp ear out for any more soldiers. That hit probably attracted a couple, but if they heard it, they're taking their sweet time getting here. You don't hear anything...Yet, which makes you a little more uneasy.
>Ask Tewi whether the fight ended up going into the lab and how safe it would be to check in. And where it is, if necessary.
> "I...I'm not sure. But I did hear them talking about staying away from Kaguya-sama...Maybe...They locked her in or something."
>How rare are men in Gensokyo? Should the suggestion of the rodent's genitals be perplexing?
> They're common enough to keep up the gender balance, at least. However, you've rarely seen any men with powers comparable to the ones you and your acquaintances have. The only ones you can think of are Youki conpaku and Myouren Hijiri, Youmu's father and Byakuren's brother, respectively. Kourin's well-known, but hardly a fighter.
>How are we feeling in terms of combat ability? Did Medicine's form-o-change-o interfere much with our magic magic, even if the Hakkero's MIA?
> It pretty much screwed with your magical abilities completely. Medicine hasn't "memorized" the same magic as you, aside from the common spells any magician should definitely be using. However, while your spell arsenal has changed, some things feel familiar to you, such as focusing to fire more powerful shots and charging up more powerful spells. It's like someone took all your moves and changed what they did, but didn't change the button inputs. It's just a matter of finding out what does what.
>If it's safe to do so and wouldn't take long, make an attempt at the Hakkero finding... unless it would make the Hakkero respond in a way that whoever has it would notice.
> It shouldn't. The locator spell only directs you to the aura, and unless you combine it with a beacon spell it shouldn't activate it.
> That being said, you have taken a spare deck of blank spell cards...You'll have to remake Medicine's arsenal on the fly, but with your aptitude to copy spells, it shouldn't be an issue. You mark the Locator Spell on the spell card, using the spell circle to key in your aura's resonance. The spell card activates and lights up, turning into a compass of sorts...It's pointing ahead of you, but also downwards and slightly to the left. Perhaps Medicine is underground?
> "Hey!" robotic voice calls out to your right this time, and you can make out the outline of another soldier. "Drop that card!" he or she shouts as they point their weapon at you.
> _
-
>Time to go... pitched battle with unknown opponents is a bad time to relearn our moves! We'll find another way in.
>If there are any simple or common spells that would be good to briefly distract or disable the molerat, fire it off to distract him. Try a standard magic missile if nothing good comes to mind and hope that it doesn't do anything too unexpected.
>Have our defense shield thing ready if he manages to get a shot off. We just need to get outta here!
>How hard would it be to bring Tewi out of here? Would she probably be hurt too badly if we just dragged her out? If it'd be safe, grab her before scramming!
>We gone! Out of Eternity and escape the bamboo forest for now.
>Once back to safety, make sure to consider whether the Hakkero was located in the Underground we know of where Satori lives, if the angle was shallow enough to be in Eintei's basement, or if it had to be in a different underground location where the molerats probably came from.
>Is there anywhere in Gensokyo that might make weapons like those rats are using?
>Experiment with some of our skills if we get the chance to get an idea of how we'll need to fight, since it looks like we will.
-
>Time to go... pitched battle with unknown opponents is a bad time to relearn our moves! We'll find another way in.
> You decide that discretion is the better part of valor...
>If there are any simple or common spells that would be good to briefly distract or disable the molerat, fire it off to distract him. Try a standard magic missile if nothing good comes to mind and hope that it doesn't do anything too unexpected.
> ...And blast the gunner with a smoke ball of poison spores. They real back, coughing, struggling to get the mess off their mask, but it's too late--the poison gets to them quickly and starts making them flip the fuck right out. You are both impressed and scared at the poison's efficiency.
>Have our defense shield thing ready if he manages to get a shot off. We just need to get outta here!
> You form a GUARD BARRIER against any wayward gunshots, but thankfully the gun doesn't misfire.
>How hard would it be to bring Tewi out of here? Would she probably be hurt too badly if we just dragged her out? If it'd be safe, grab her before scramming!
> You unceremoniously heft Tewi over your shoulder...
>We gone! Out of Eternity and escape the bamboo forest for now.
> And abscond with her out the front door. You don't stick around to find out if any more guards were willing to show up; you keep going all the way back to your house, just to be safe.
> "Geeze...You didn't hafta do this for me," Tewi groans. "But thanks, I guess." You leave Tewi to rest in a chair in the living room and quickly brew her some tea.
>Once back to safety, make sure to consider whether the Hakkero was located in the Underground we know of where Satori lives, if the angle was shallow enough to be in Eintei's basement, or if it had to be in a different underground location where the molerats probably came from.
> Thankfully, your locator spell gives you an estimate on how far away your designated item is. Judging from it, it's not underground, thankfully. It is, however, in Eientei's UNDERGROUND WAREHOUSE/BUNKER that Eirin and Kaguya built with the help of the inaba in the off chance they needed to stave off a raid or something.
> ...What, don't tell me you didn't know that! They needed the space to build the fake moon they were using during the IN incident! ...INcident? Bleh. Your mind is kinda shot right now after all that adrenaline rushing.
>Is there anywhere in Gensokyo that might make weapons like those rats are using?
> You've never seen weapons like those before, and the only race that comes to mind are the kappa...But you still don't know why they would have anything to do with this.
>Experiment with some of our skills if we get the chance to get an idea of how we'll need to fight, since it looks like we will.
> There's always those nameless fairies you use for target practice...Mystia's flown the coop, so to speak, so she's not a viable target.
> The sun is barely visible over the horizon. Night is immenent. What a horrible night to be cursed with a poison doll's body...
> _
-
>Inform Flandre that her sister is a monster and does not belong in this world
>"I think it woulda been bad if I left you there after what that first guy said, ze. 'sides, we ain't finished talking; I wanna know what I'm fightin' before going in too deep, considering the situation."
>Grill the rabbit for details on the attack: Where'd those molerat marines come from? How did the fight go? What are their weapons like? What about Alice/Medicine/'Marisa'? Did that Guildies mess seem to be related at all?
>See how long it takes Tewi to notice our little body-swap problem. Consider telling her if it takes a while.
>If this fight seems outside of the scale of easily handling on our own, raise the alarm online so the SDM, Human Village, and any other population centers are aware of the attack. We... didn't see anywhere else that got hit like that on the way to Eintei, did we?
>Any noteworthy messages left for us via internets?
>Would we be able to borrow (with or without single quotes) some of Alice's stuff now that we're here and know we're getting into a bigger fight?
>Rehearse explanation for Reimu if we end up with the Stage Four problem again.
>Any mischief-making fairies nearby we could use for target practice? We need to reacquaint ourselves with any changes to our combat style Medicine forced on us.
-
>"I think it woulda been bad if I left you there after what that first guy said, ze. 'sides, we ain't finished talking; I wanna know what I'm fightin' before going in too deep, considering the situation."
> "...Really? These guys are like Splinter Cells, they aren't to be messed with...They got some kinda weapon that can...Paralyze you and leave you in pain...Just like me."
>Grill the rabbit for details on the attack: Where'd those molerat marines come from? How did the fight go? What are their weapons like? What about Alice/Medicine/'Marisa'? Did that Guildies mess seem to be related at all?
> You give Tewi that look Gibbs (http://ncis.wikia.com/wiki/Leroy_Jethro_Gibbs) usually gives his comrades when he's serious about something.
> "...Tch, you'll gladly charge into any rabbit hole at this point, huh...Heh. Why waste your life so recklessly?" Sadly, the reference is lost on you, but you cross your arms to cement your intentions. Mini-Medi does the same. Tewi sighs in resignment. "They attacked through some kind of optical camoflauge. They cut through our traps, slipped by our mechanical defenses unnoticed...And swarmed the place like ants. Anyone who resisted got knocked out...Just before I passed out...I overheard that Eirin wanted to negotiate a surrender...So they captured her and...That's it. That's all I remember. I don't know what happened to your roommate. As for the soldiers...Their weapons were of technology similar to our own...Well, not quite, Lunar tech is pretty beefy...But it was way beyond anything I've seen elsewhere in Gensokyo."
> You pause for a moment and wonder...This whole mess started not long after you started playing, so you ask her about Guildies. Tewi looks a bit taken aback at the question. "You think...You think this is all about some shitty little video game? You're mad!" Tewi cringes a bit. "Sorry...Muscle cramps suck...But still. That's a bit far fetched...Whatever these guys want...They wanted either a person...Or something else in our home. They could be after the princess...But I really don't know. Either way...I'm worried as fuck right now." Tewi sips her tea. "If you're going to do something about this...You best do it quick."
>See how long it takes Tewi to notice our little body-swap problem. Consider telling her if it takes a while.
> Tewi stares at you as she sips her tea, and her expression changes from frustrated concern to puzzled. "What the hell's with your eyes, did you get new contacts or something...? And why is Medi's little buddy following you?" You decide to spill the beans and explain what Medicine has been up to. "Holy shit, really? I heard she came back but I didn't see her...Even then...I'd have thought you completely lost your mind...
> Tewi takes a moment to compose herself as best she can. "I wasn't a huge fan of that doll either. Someone who can poison you...Just didn't sit right with me. I was worried she might turn against Eirin and the others...So I kept an eye on her...When I suddenly heard you wanted to borrow her, I smiled on the inside. Good riddance, I thought...So I relaxed and took the day off for a nice nap." Tewi sighs. "That...Was a mistake. She could have done that to any of us...And yet...Eirin welcomes her with open arms...Why? What makes her so special? I barely know what's going on in her lab 80% of the time...And she's got Reisen, why does she need some fucking plastic mind to--" Tewi gasps and cringes again. "Shit, my jaw, my neck...Why are these muscles here?!" She rubs her chin and neck carefully as she does her best not to spill her tea.
>If this fight seems outside of the scale of easily handling on our own, raise the alarm online so the SDM, Human Village, and any other population centers are aware of the attack. We... didn't see anywhere else that got hit like that on the way to Eintei, did we?
> Hmmm. You managed to destroy an entire city of demons with the help of Reimu and the others...It was difficult, but you could have managed it on your own. Still...You figure it'd be prudent to warn some of the lesser locals about this. You dare not mention this to Reimu, if she so much as catches a whiff of this...You tell whomever is on your buddy list to keep an eye out, but to keep it hush-hush.
>Any noteworthy messages left for us via internets?
> You have messages from MoonlightTeacher2 (Keine) and UnderwaterWelderH20 (Nitori). The latter was left earlier in the day, while Keine's message arrive shortly after you posted that APB.
>Would we be able to borrow (with or without single quotes) some of Alice's stuff now that we're here and know we're getting into a bigger fight?
> You and Alice agreed to let each other borrow their stuff in times of crisis like this. Considering Alice is missing, Medicine has your body and may or may not be getting it shot to ribbons, this is fairly crisis-level stuff.
>Rehearse explanation for Reimu if we end up with the Stage Four problem again.
> You find it doubtful that Reimu will come after you, but if Medicine manages to con her somehow...You decide not to take that chance, and come up with the most convincing explanation you can think of...
> "DOLLY STOLE MAH BOD!"
>Any mischief-making fairies nearby we could use for target practice? We need to reacquaint ourselves with any changes to our combat style Medicine forced on us.
> You cackle as you consider the possible targets. Cirno's bound to be around given the colder weather...And while they're not fairies, the Aki sisters might be just as viable for target practice...
> *SWOOSH*
> There it is again. Ever since Fall has started, you've heard someone--or something--zipping through the trees like Aya chasing down someone for an interview. However, this entity is too big to be her, judging from the sounds...It must be smaller...Did Lily get a hold of one of Kourin's energy drinks or something?
> _
edit: it's Aki not Ahi past me, stahp making dumb typos
that being said I'd like to try seared ahi sometime
-
>"'Our' Lunarian weapons? You must be Tewi II, a spy from the moon! Prepare to die!"
>"Also it's right in the thread title why wouldn't I suspect Guildies"
>What were the full implications of that Splinter Cell line, if we got the reference?
>... have we been feeling typical pains and such while out and about in Medicine's body? If those weapons work by activating nerve endings for pain...
>"Was Eirin messing with Medicine's mind before any of this happened, ze? Or no idea? I thought it was kinda weird dollface wanted to have a human body, let alone Eirin not wantin' to help make her one."
>... it'd be bad if that weird noise was the molerats coming by to try and shut us up. Is there an automated defense system for the house we can activate? Surely we have something like that for driving off fairies while we're out, at least...
>... but it'd be worse if we missed important info from Nitori and Keen about the situation if they cut the power. Ask Tewi to keep an eye on the door, set up the alarms for a minute if it wouldn't slow us down, and at least skim those two messages, starting with Nitori's.
>After all, if they ARE coming to pick a fight, then we'll have some volunteers for practice away from the main army...
>... but if we do get the chance before they strike, go through a mental listing of stuff around the house that'd be worth taking on a serious raid.
-
>"'Our' Lunarian weapons? You must be Tewi II, a spy from the moon! Prepare to die!"
>"Also it's right in the thread title why wouldn't I suspect Guildies"
> And thus an epic fight broke out, destroying the fourth wall and all of Gensokyo in the process. Nice job breaking it, hero.
>What were the full implications of that Splinter Cell line, if we got the reference?
> You get the impression that these soldiers are highly skilled, if not genetically altered, but that'd be more like Metal Gear instead of Splinter Cell. Either way, these guys seem to be very good at getting in, getting what they want, taking out anyone in their way, and getting out, and staying silent...Well, the last part may or may not be true, given how you caught them in the act.
>... have we been feeling typical pains and such while out and about in Medicine's body? If those weapons work by activating nerve endings for pain...
> Well, barring the obvious inner biological workings, you can feel the regular pains and sensations the world offers you. You also seem to be more resilient to damage, but some things like taste and smell are a bit muted.
>"Was Eirin messing with Medicine's mind before any of this happened, ze? Or no idea? I thought it was kinda weird dollface wanted to have a human body, let alone Eirin not wantin' to help make her one."
> Tewi shakes her head. "Like I said...Eirin-sama had no idea. I'm surprised myself, but...The only person that knows the truth is Medicine herself. I can only speculate."
>... it'd be bad if that weird noise was the molerats coming by to try and shut us up. Is there an automated defense system for the house we can activate? Surely we have something like that for driving off fairies while we're out, at least...
> Your house has been enchanted with an anti-youkai barrier, but it's not foolproof. At the most, it keeps fairies and wild animals from vandalizing your home, but higher level youkai can enter provided they've been invited first. Otherwise, the house is pretty tight security wise...Alice does have an intruder deterrent system in the form of several SECURITY DOLLS, but she usually doesn't activate them unless you're gonna be out of the house for days at a time.
>... but it'd be worse if we missed important info from Nitori and Keen about the situation if they cut the power. Ask Tewi to keep an eye on the door, set up the alarms for a minute if it wouldn't slow us down, and at least skim those two messages, starting with Nitori's.
> Thankfully, all one has to do to activate the Security Doll System is to mutter a password to a Protection Spell while within the house. It's a word only you and Alice know, so there's little chance of (de)activating it accidentally. You also tell Tewi to watch the door, and if something happens, there's a hiding spot in the pantry. Tewi gives you a dissatisfied "All right..." while you address the messages.
UnderwaterWelderH20 said: *THIS IS AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE.*
UnderwaterWelderH20 said: Preorders for our new RIBBIT phones are now available!
UnderwaterWelderH20 said: Enjoy the convenience of a Kappatop with the portability of a handheld!
UnderwaterWelderH20 said: Please visit this link for more details: http://www.kana-corp.net/products/phones/RIBBIT
UnderwaterWelderH20 said: *THIS HAS BEEN AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE.*
MoonlightTeacher2 said: Um, is this some kind of a joke? You know I dislike false alarms...
>After all, if they ARE coming to pick a fight, then we'll have some volunteers for practice away from the main army...
>... but if we do get the chance before they strike, go through a mental listing of stuff around the house that'd be worth taking on a serious raid.
> You're not entirely sure if they'd go out of their way to catch up with you, despite being in Medi's body you've managed to beat a hasty exit. Still, you go over what's worth protecting...There's those books; Patchy would be upset if you lost them, but how the hell would you protect them all? On the subject of books, there's your diaries...Oh gods what if they got their hands on those where did you put them all you gotta get them now before--
> *PEW PEW PEW*
> HOLY SHIT HIT THE DECK THEY'RE ATTACKING!!!!
> ....After hiding under the kitchen table, Tewi reminds you those are danmaku bullets, not gun bullets. You breathe a sigh of relief. You hear a sudden whoosh, much like the one you noticed earlier, followed by more pews. Something's buzzing the house, it sounds like.
> _
-
>Damnit Nitori, giving us false hope for an explanation! Sigh.
>Commander Keen can worry about sincerity on her own; it's just a warning and she'll get confirmation either from an attack or whatever mess we leave at Eintei. Hmm... would Mokou want to... help... or would she arrange this? Damnit all.
>How much would we be able to trust Tewi alone in here for a few minutes? Or a night or two, if this turns into a full takedown?
>To specify, 'for a raid' would be anything that would be useful for helping our ability to blow stuff up or win fights: Surely there's more than the Hakkero kicking around, isn't there?
>Perfect defense of the house isn't worthwhile at this point; better to get out of here so we aren't a simultaneous target for the place, and get this mess finished with!
-
>Damnit Nitori, giving us false hope for an explanation! Sigh.
> You can't fault her entirely, she's a busy kappa. You do plan on grilling her when you get the chance.
>Commander Keen can worry about sincerity on her own; it's just a warning and she'll get confirmation either from an attack or whatever mess we leave at Eintei. Hmm... would Mokou want to... help... or would she arrange this? Damnit all.
> You can't decide on whether to accuse Mokou or ask her for help. That being said, you find it a little odd for her MO...She usually just comes in blazing with no help from weapons or anything.
>How much would we be able to trust Tewi alone in here for a few minutes? Or a night or two, if this turns into a full takedown?
>To specify, 'for a raid' would be anything that would be useful for helping our ability to blow stuff up or win fights: Surely there's more than the Hakkero kicking around, isn't there?
> Tewi can hold her own, as evidenced by her resourcefulness during the IN raid. However, in her condition, and unfamiliarity with the house, she might be in a spot of trouble should things go south. You decide to tell her where the magical WMDs are located.
> "Thanks, I can take it from here," she says with a sly grin. "I'll make that house from Home Alone look like a walk in the park."
>Perfect defense of the house isn't worthwhile at this point; better to get out of here so we aren't a simultaneous target for the place, and get this mess finished with!
> Enough fooling around! Time to give this intruder what-for. TALLY-HO!
> ...For what it's worth, taking a simple step outside the house is a lot more intense when you're faced with a threat like this. Speaking of which, you take a look up and see a blue brown blur zipping around your house like an electron orbiting an atom. The dolls try to shoot it down, but fail, as the figure weaves around their shots with ease. Occasionally, you see the blur strike one of the dolls and knock it from its perch. All this happens in a matter of seconds, and soon, the bullet fire stops and the blur comes to a halt.
> "Maybe you should consider investing in a spread-shot instead!" the figure calls to you. You look up to see a fairy in a brown dress, with a matching hat and long brown hair. You think of Lily White at first, except this fairy's hat is modelled after a maple leaf, and she is carrying a paintbrush and palette in seperate hands. "Seriously, even Cirno could outrun those dolls' aim...Sorry about the mess, by the way."
> You look at the fallen dolls and see them smothered with streaks of paint.
> "On the bright side, the paint just washes right off with water. Want me to paint your little friend to match?" she says smiling, though Mini-Medi takes refuge under your hat at that remark.
> _
-
>go back to 2006 you monster
>Is this one of the Ahi sisters?
>"Think I'll pass, ze, but I DO need to thank you for volunteering!"
>Mix it up while smacking down this dumb fairy, to get a feel of how our magic's been changed. Most likely something from Medicine's repertoire will be able to slow her down, if that's a problem. Didn't she do that a lot even back when we first met her?
-
>go back to 2006 you monster
> IT'S NO USE!
>Is this one of the Ahi sisters?
> She doesn't look like them, and considering they're spirits and not fairies, it doesn't look like they're related either.
>"Think I'll pass, ze, but I DO need to thank you for volunteering!"
> "Eh? For what?" she asks, tilting her head slightly.
>Mix it up while smacking down this dumb fairy, to get a feel of how our magic's been changed. Most likely something from Medicine's repertoire will be able to slow her down, if that's a problem. Didn't she do that a lot even back when we first met her?
> You respond to her question with a barrage of poisonous arrows. A few of them tag her, but she dodges most of them.
> "Ack! Hey! Lay off, I was just getting some painting practice in!"
> You do remember those EX Poison Clouds she used, but this isn't a Versus Duel like the one you originally faced Medicine, so you don't know how to summon them yet.
> _
-
>Maybe we should back up a half-step and review how spellcarding and fights normally work?
>Presumably it's fine to just go ahead and smackdown the painty nuisance. Test out some of our other moves! Did Medi do anything to our broom rush and such?
>"And I'm gettin' some practice incident solvin' in! Good timing!"
-
>Maybe we should back up a half-step and review how spellcarding and fights normally work?
> There currently three types of Incident Resolution Systems active in Gensokyo:
- TYPE I: Traditional Danmaku Face-Off -- This is the system you're most familiar with, established by Reimu shortly after the Makai incident to reduce casualties. A renowned scholar by the name of Muffin has written up a summary of the system (http://dizzy.pestermom.com/?p=danmaku) in recent years.
- TYPE II: Melee Hybrid Danmaku Duel -- A system designed by Suika of all people, for those who want the thrill of a fisticuffs battle while still using spell card physics (to an extent). Players can use melee and danmaku attacks in these fights, as well as make usage of a Spirit Gauge to augment special attacks or defend themselves. Such duels are usually a best two out of three affair, with both sides being able to use one spell card per round as a sort of "Super" attack.
- TYPE III: Versus Phantasmagoria Danmaku Duel -- A rarely-used system typically reserved for tournament-style events. This was developed Professor Yumemi Okazaki during the Dim.Dream incident, to test the magical prowess of Gensokyo's inhabitants. It was apparently liked well enough to be used again during the Flower Viewing incident years ago; it works by setting opponents up in separate fields and having them summon danmaku attacks upon one another. Such duels attract lesser youkai (nameless fairies and the like) as well as wandering spirits, which can be shot to trigger EX Attacks. Even Lily shows up to cause some trouble! Much like the Melee Hybrid Duel, it's a best of two out of three affair.
>"And I'm gettin' some practice incident solvin' in! Good timing!"
> The fairy frowns. "Not for me, I don't have time to play games with you! I have to get back to work painting the leaves! Fall is upon us and I'm way behind schedule!"
>Presumably it's fine to just go ahead and smackdown the painty nuisance. Test out some of our other moves! Did Medi do anything to our broom rush and such?
> Ignoring the fairy's plight, you decide to get medieval on her. You don't get a chance to combo her into submission however, as the fairy flutters out of your reach. "Fine then...If you want to play that way, I just have five words for you: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN!"
> With that, the fairy absconds like a midboss while painting something. She drops the finished object as the flees into the forest, and you feel a familiar sensation of forced movement...Upon closer inspection of the object, you see it's a larger-than-usual spell card painted onto a sheet of paper. That darn fairy just pulled you into another stage!
> Generic puffballs pop out of thin air and start peppering you with bullets.
> _
-
>Hell yes! Finally we can catch one of those fuzzballs to keep as a pet!
>Well, I guess that works, too! Let's hope this doesn't lead us too far astray.
>Shoot the lil' pests down with basic shots. If we have room to experiment with different types of shots, see what our options are like right now. Any indication what our spellcards or bombs would be like at this point?
>Hm, maybe we could bully that fairy into trying to find those rats while she's out and about, once we punish her for ruining the dolls' paintjob. She should be able to cover a lot of ground if she's that fast, at least...
-
>Hell yes! Finally we can catch one of those fuzzballs to keep as a pet!
> Sadly, you lack Poke Balls.
>Well, I guess that works, too! Let's hope this doesn't lead us too far astray.
> Fairy hunts always lead you into some kind of trouble. First it was Cirno, then Lily, then some random fire fairy made the Forest of Magic into the Rainforest of Magic for a few days...You always seem to have bad luck with fairies.
>Hm, maybe we could bully that fairy into trying to find those rats while she's out and about, once we punish her for ruining the dolls' paintjob. She should be able to cover a lot of ground if she's that fast, at least...
> If she's aware of them, that is. Fairies aren't always on the up-and-up about current events, but you might as well ask her while you're at it.
>Shoot the lil' pests down with basic shots. If we have room to experiment with different types of shots, see what our options are like right now. Any indication what our spellcards or bombs would be like at this point?
> You aren't sure what bombs you have access to, but you seem to have a rapid-fire poison arrow shot as your normal attack. The focused version is a spread shot. Both pierce enemies for a short distance before fading, and seem less stronger than your usual bullets. In spite of that, you take care of the Puffies handily.
Stage #9C670C
The Rocky Road of Art
"What kind of fairy takes up painting?
Danmaku is an art in and of itself already!
I'll show her the true meaning of art!!"
> While you feel forced along like you usually do in a stage spell like this, there's one thing you notice immediately: huge rocks your path, that're unnmoving and impervious to your shots 9and the enemy's shots. Enemies spawn along the path as you travel, they stay in line with the stage as opposed to moving independently of it. So far, the path is mosly open; Puffies and the occasional fairy swarm appear and weave around the rocks, like some kind of Youkai Centipede. Alice told you about that movie, it was...Disturbing to say the least, but in a good way. You must take care while fighting in such close quarters...
> The first formation of rocks is arranged like an X, with spaces between the corner rocks and the center rock to allow movement. Fairies orbit the rocks while puffies remain stationary.
> _
-
>Correct the parser's bbcode
>Reversed focused/spread, eh? Ah well, we'll live. Wonder if they do damage over time as well...
>Clean out what enemies we can safely, but focus on making a clear route through one segment. Let the rotation lead them towards you before needing to sneak through the X obstacle.
-
>Correct the parser's bbcode
>Dem closing tags, mang.
>Reversed focused/spread, eh? Ah well, we'll live. Wonder if they do damage over time as well...
> Sadly, that's hard to tell on these weaker enemies, since they die after a few hits.
>Clean out what enemies we can safely, but focus on making a clear route through one segment. Let the rotation lead them towards you before needing to sneak through the X obstacle.
> You stick to one of the inner "lanes" as you move between the rocks, and shoot up everything that crosses your path. Point/power/etc items fall and bounce off the rocks, and eventually enhance your shot. Your shots fire more bullets at a time, and Mini-Medi becomes an orbiting satellite that fires smaller shots at a slower rate.
> _
-
>Huh, so the lil' gal IS useful in a fight. Good.
>Clear out and gather what we can. Our power got reset, didn't it? Autocollect is a little too dangerous under these conditions, probably...
-
>Huh, so the lil' gal IS useful in a fight. Good.
>Clear out and gather what we can. Our power got reset, didn't it? Autocollect is a little too dangerous under these conditions, probably...
> Mini-Medi smiles. Let's just hope I don't get dizzy.
> You don't have the auto-collect your other body used to have, so you focus and grab what you can that way with the mini-collect.
> *CREAK*
> *CRASH*
> A tree falls down before you, creating another obstacle. Thankfully, it doesn't block the entire path, otherwise that would suck! Another tree falls down just ahead on the opposite side of the path, and beyond that, two more tres fall down to create a narrow passage ahead...That fairies begin to pour through.
> _
-
> No problem. We've played Star Fox 64 before. (Unless we haven't in which case, we should play star fox 64 sometime after we've gotten our body back and stuff)
> Although this is arguably much easier since we aren't forced to go forward at the same time to maintain altitude.
> Don't run headfirst into trees.
> Oh, and we suppose we can shoot stuff while we're at it too.
-
>Use mini-medi as a record player
>It's not common for trees to just fall over in the Forest of Magic, is it? Hmm...
>Was there any indication where those tree obstacles were going to appear before being a threat? Hopefully there's no dick moves coming our way...
-
>Use mini-medi as a record player
> You and Mystia make a collab album and make millions selling copies. You happily retire from Incident Solving at the age of 56.
> No problem. We've played Star Fox 64 before. (Unless we haven't in which case, we should play star fox 64 sometime after we've gotten our body back and stuff)
> You haven't played Star Fox in a while, but you liked it. You had to stop playing it because you kept confusing Ran and Fox McCloud with each other, and Alice was sick of you quoting the game so damn much. Whoopsie doodles! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQcbWDe-y9s)
> Although this is arguably much easier since we aren't forced to go forward at the same time to maintain altitude.
> And you don't have to deal with 3D danmaku. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09ngfE279uk) You still have to move foward at least. :V
> Don't run headfirst into trees.
> Oh, and we suppose we can shoot stuff while we're at it too.
>It's not common for trees to just fall over in the Forest of Magic, is it? Hmm...
>Was there any indication where those tree obstacles were going to appear before being a threat? Hopefully there's no dick moves coming our way...
> You shoot through the incoming enemy incursion until the fairies stop spawning. So far, you can somewhat tell which trees are going to fall because they're a different color from the rest. As far as you can tell, they're just really big bullets in the form of trees.
> As for dick moves, surely this fairy would create a perfectly fair and challenging difficulty curve as you chase her through the woods!
> *CRRRRAAAAAASH! CRRRRAAAAAASH!*
> Or should could minimize your playing field by causing two trees to fall alongside you, stop the stage from scrolling and summon a painting miniboss to attack you with lasers and paint splotches. It takes a moment for the laser to fire directly at you, but the paint splatters are random.
> _
-
>Well, that's more annoying than dickish.
>What's it a painting OF, anyway?
>If we have space, try to fake out the lasers while dodging the less predictable paint. Take advantage of the spread if we're forced away from our favored location blasting it in the face.
>The rocks are indestructible, but what about the trees? Just goes through 'em?
-
>Well, that's more annoying than dickish.
> It's worse on Hard and Lunatic. :V
>What's it a painting OF, anyway?
> Terrafin (http://spyro.wikia.com/wiki/Terrafin), apparently. Alice has been collecting these Skylander figures since they started appearing in Gensokyo.
>If we have space, try to fake out the lasers while dodging the less predictable paint. Take advantage of the spread if we're forced away from our favored location blasting it in the face.
> What, no spread-shotgunning shenanigans? How very un-Marisa-like! Oh well.
> You victory is not without flaws, though. The randomness of the shots catches you off guard and you lose a life, but the midboss immediately drops one right afterwards. (3 left, for what it's worth, and you still have a spell charge left)
>The rocks are indestructible, but what about the trees? Just goes through 'em?
> Funny you should mention that...First off, yes, the trees block your shots too.
> With the boss defeated, the path seems clear for a bit with just a few rocks and trees here and there. Sadly, this is a farce. Several trees fall down from both the middle and within the stage iself, creating barriers and paths you must weave through. However, some of the trees crack in the process of falling, and some of the rocks look fragile as well.
> Oh, and there are puffies spawning in some of the compartments. This stage just keeps getting more fun by the second!!
> You have three possible paths advancing forward: left, right and middle. Choose your poison!...The parser apologizes for such a terrible joke.
> _
-
>Have Kasen summon Ripto
>Usually can't outdamage these guys before getting blasted by their own undodgable point-blank attacks! Bah, oh well. Keep an eye out for patterns that don't have attacks coming directly from the boss in the future, then.
>Keep shooting and see if the busted trees/rocks can be broken through while keeping the puffballs under control. Favor whichever path would open up the most options if they can.
-
>Have Kasen summon Ripto
> You can't summon Ripto, he fell into a pit of lava at the end of Spyro 2. No, the games outside of the PS1 games don't count.
>Usually can't outdamage these guys before getting blasted by their own undodgable point-blank attacks! Bah, oh well. Keep an eye out for patterns that don't have attacks coming directly from the boss in the future, then.
> Your SIGHTREADING SKILL has increased by 2!!
>Keep shooting and see if the busted trees/rocks can be broken through while keeping the puffballs under control. Favor whichever path would open up the most options if they can.
> Thankfully, said cracked objects are breakable. You take the middle path, believing it to be most wide open, and your intution is correct. It almost means the puffies can take shots more easily at you. :| You could wait for them to shoot, then charge in, try to charge past them, bomb them, or...Something else? Dennis? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIfv_PENj2Y)
> _
-
>ship dennisxrinnosuke otp
>If it's possible to just clear off one side of the easy path of fuzzballs that would get close, clean off one side and use it for cover so we only have to dodge through shots from the other side. If that's too dangerous, hold back and see how bad their shot pattern is - getting blindsided is bad. Be ready for a (death)bomb if it's more than we can handle comfortably.
-
>ship dennisxrinnosuke otp
> S-rank Romantic Support established. Paralogue 69x "What, Really?" is now available on the world map.
>If it's possible to just clear off one side of the easy path of fuzzballs that would get close, clean off one side and use it for cover so we only have to dodge through shots from the other side. If that's too dangerous, hold back and see how bad their shot pattern is - getting blindsided is bad. Be ready for a (death)bomb if it's more than we can handle comfortably.
> They just shoot simple spread shots, which surprises you, but theres enough space to weave around at least. You manage to clear out the left side, giving you more space to kill the rest and advance.
> The middle path narrows, and fairies spawn in the middle (though they don't shoot). Puffies appear in alcoves on the left and right walls, firing bullets straight across the passage. This doesn't seem too ha--oh wait the fairies are shooting large bubble bullets straight down the shaft. Shit.
> _
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>And this is why you never stop shooting.
>See if we can assassinate the side fluffies (don't forget the spread!) and hide on the sides of the path away from the fairy bubbles until they stop and/or die; but we should probably just bomb this at the first sign of trouble. Starting to get intimidating!
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>And this is why you never stop shooting.
> Except when fighting green-eyed bridge trolls.
> Kill everything with magic so we can get back to our Rinnosuke threesome daydreams.
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>And this is why you never stop shooting.
> Except when fighting green-eyed bridge trolls.
> Or Orin...You pray you never have to fight her again, those zombie fairies give you the jibblies.
>See if we can assassinate the side fluffies (don't forget the spread!) and hide on the sides of the path away from the fairy bubbles until they stop and/or die; but we should probably just bomb this at the first sign of trouble. Starting to get intimidating!
> Considering you're in the latter half of the stage, you decide to exercise caution and unleash your last bomb...A hugeass poison cloud covers the area, rapidly damaging anything it touches (while doing the standard autocollect and bullet erasure things). The path is more or less clear that this point...Though you realize you could have slipped around the large bubbles because their hitboxes are much smaller. Whoopsie doodles! (NO SPELL CHARGES LEFT :ohdear: )
> Kill everything with magic so we can get back to our Rinnosuke threesome daydreams.
> Having fulfilled the former, you think about Rinnosuke for some reason. You hope he's ok with all this craziness going on...At least he's got Tokiko helping him out hahahahaha sorry, you can't finish that sentence with a straight face. Toki might as well be a large fairy at this point, even Kourin is stronger than she is...Much stronger actually, thanks to his Shopkeeper class perks (which you pray you're not on the receiving end of). You sometimes wonder why Kourin accepted her into the shop in the first place after you beat her up that one time...Is Kourin losing interest in you?! Well, considering you don't hang out with him all that much, and you usually don't hang around the shop out of fear of making him upset...Maybe you should try to patch things up with him at some point. Take him on a date, get him out of the shop for a bit...Toki can manage things on her own. of course, there's the whole matter of getting your body back first...
> Getting back on task, the paths eventually merge and the stage widens to a much more open space with a few enemies. After wiping them out, there's a lull...That fairy must be ahead.
> "Damn, you're persistant...I'm surprised my trees didn't crush you already!" she quips as you approach.
> _
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>You think we'd be used to judging when those larger bubble bullets are leaving good amounts of space by now... bah!
>"Funny, they seemed to be pretty easily crushed themselves. Maybe you should work on your lineart."
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>You think we'd be used to judging when those larger bubble bullets are leaving good amounts of space by now... bah!
> People panic, it happens.
>"Funny, they seemed to be pretty easily crushed themselves. Maybe you should work on your lineart."
> "How dare you! I put my heart--and my art--into that spell card! People don't make obstacles very often, so I decided to give it a shot. Say what you want, but it worked pretty well, I think."
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>"Well, I'll give you it was different, but it looks like we're still here, ze."
>"After all, I AM the main character!"
>"Now, you gonna apologize for givin' us the trouble of fixing Alice's paint jobs, or am I gonna have to pummel it outta ya?"
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>"Well, I'll give you it was different, but it looks like we're still here, ze."
> "In that case, I'll plant some more trees...You should always sow what you reap!"
>"After all, I AM the main character!"
> "And I most definitely not an OC made to fill in the gaps ZUN left behind with Cirno and Lily!!"
>"Now, you gonna apologize for givin' us the trouble of fixing Alice's paint jobs, or am I gonna have to pummel it outta ya?"
"Geeze, lighten up! You act like someone's after you...Is that why you had those defenses up? Like I said, they're not very good..."
> _
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>"I thought that was the Aki sisters. Or do you have three seasonal goddess buddies?"
>"... you don't even know who you're talkin' to, do ya ze?"
>... we don't really have a way to back out of this fight, do we? Those nameless scrubs may have been enough warmup to get a feel for how we're working.
>If no graceful backout comes to mind, "And right now it's more like I'm after someone for puttin' me in a situation where I need a little practice before gettin' into a real fight. So like I said, thanks for volunteering~"
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>"I thought that was the Aki sisters. Or do you have three seasonal goddess buddies?"
> "All in due time, young fourth wall scaler!"
>"... you don't even know who you're talkin' to, do ya ze?"
> "Your dialect implies that you're Marisa...But you neither look like Marisa, sound like Marisa, or use spells like Marisa, so I am led to believe you're some kind of imposter or fangirl. Possibly both."
>... we don't really have a way to back out of this fight, do we? Those nameless scrubs may have been enough warmup to get a feel for how we're working.
> You could try some fancy sequence spell breaking, but you're not sure how to go about it. You could also reload your save too but who would do that
>If no graceful backout comes to mind, "And right now it's more like I'm after someone for puttin' me in a situation where I need a little practice before gettin' into a real fight. So like I said, thanks for volunteering~"
> "I'm warning you right now..."
Maple
~ Autumn's Little Picasso ~
> Cue music change.
> "You're in for a rocky fight if you challenge me!" she says, putting away her painting tools and assuming a battle stance. If you have an escape plan, now's the time to follow through with it!
> _
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>... nah. This is too interesting; those scrub fairies weren't enough of a warm-up for a real Incident!
>"Looks like we're dancin' around the truth, ze. I might not quite be myself right now, but..."
>Strike a pose and prepare for battle! "I'm the REAL Marisa Kirisame!!"
>Make with the magic.
-
>... nah. This is too interesting; those scrub fairies weren't enough of a warm-up for a real Incident!
>"Looks like we're dancin' around the truth, ze. I might not quite be myself right now, but..."
>Strike a pose and prepare for battle! "I'm the REAL Marisa Kirisame!!"
>Make with the magic.
> Maple is not amused by your badass boast, and sends rocks and round bullets at you. Kinda reminds you of one of Patchy's--OH CRAP ACTUAL ROCKS ARE FALLING. Like, they're those breakable rocks you encountered in Yamame's cavern. And they're everywhere. So you shoot them as you shoot the fairy, or try to.
> ...
> Somewhere, a progress bar (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSJiz4sQTFg) ticks up...
> _
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>See if the focus spread shot does enough damage to the rocks to cut down on the spam; no bombs, so play safe.
>Are any shots coming directly from fairyhead, or passing by/through her? Sneak up and shotgun if the rocks/bullets aren't passing through/behind her. Did we eat our Yoloats this morning
>Don't forget about her regular shots, even if the rocks are easily kept under control.
>... and if they AREN'T, focus on staying alive! Hopefully shotgunning will keep safe at least...
-
>See if the focus spread shot does enough damage to the rocks to cut down on the spam; no bombs, so play safe.
> The rocks are fairly fragile, they're mostly of the smaller variety.
>Are any shots coming directly from fairyhead, or passing by/through her? Sneak up and shotgun if the rocks/bullets aren't passing through/behind her. Did we eat our Yoloats this morning
> Half of them are shooting directly down from her, the other half are being shot in arcs (like the shots from one of Suwako's spell cards).
> Sadly, you didn't have much of a breakfast today, but since that Yoloats bit was in strike tags you don't incur any penalties. Don't get any ideas; players abusing strike tags will BANHAMMERED on sight.
>Don't forget about her regular shots, even if the rocks are easily kept under control.
>... and if they AREN'T, focus on staying alive! Hopefully shotgunning will keep safe at least...
> You manage to stay alive long enough to trigger Maple's first spell card!
> "Artistry [Stalagtite Splatter]"
> Maple paints a streak with her brush, and several rock spires shoot out of it in multiple directions. Upon contact with the edges of the screen playing field, they shatter into rings of triangle bullets.
> _
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>Don't tempt me homeboy
>Ahh, that's a bit more conventional. Focus on damage from a distance (unfocused!) to start, but move to the sides when/if it gets dangerous.
>How do the rings operate upon hitting? Do the triangle rings always come out in a set arrangement, with each shot at the same angle from point of impact each time, with at least one at a 90 degree angle that's easy to read? If so, don't be afraid to resort to using the spread to hit her from the edge of the screen if necessary; dodging is easier when dealing with straightforwardly-moving shots!
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>Don't tempt me homeboy
> GIVE INTO YOUR ANGERRRRR
>Ahh, that's a bit more conventional. Focus on damage from a distance (unfocused!) to start, but move to the sides when/if it gets dangerous.
> You keep a fair distance from Maple, as well as the edges of the screen, you need the room to dodge.
>How do the rings operate upon hitting? Do the triangle rings always come out in a set arrangement, with each shot at the same angle from point of impact each time, with at least one at a 90 degree angle that's easy to read? If so, don't be afraid to resort to using the spread to hit her from the edge of the screen if necessary; dodging is easier when dealing with straightforwardly-moving shots!
> The angles of the stalagtites and the rings are randomized slightly. It'd be pretty boring if they all fired at the same angles!
> You duck to the edges now and then, but with the bullets flying everywhere, you can't afford to stay in place for took long. There's enough space to slip between the bullet rings (and plenty of space between the stalagtites), but if you get stuck between a rock and a hard place, well....Consider yourself mincemeat.
> Thankfully, your skills are sharp enough to carry you through the spell card. Now Maple is launching more rocks everywhere, along with regular bullets in rings. The thing is, the rocks bounce off the walls, and exit out the bottom of the playfield, so you gotta be careful where you bob and weave.
> _
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>You usually can't hold still in a danmaku battle anyway!
>Are these rocks feeble enough to be taken out by our spread shot? If so, stay relatively low to make sure we get most of them while mainly dodging the shot rings.
>Presumably they're more durable than that at this point, though: Then, just consider them full obstacles and avoid as needed. Consider unfocusing when it isn't crowded nearby to tack on damage and get to clear/will-be-clear areas faster. Prediction is important!
>Presumably shotgunning is not an option again.
-
>You usually can't hold still in a danmaku battle anyway!
> Which makes you wonder why certain spellcards (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kCc_yrrQWg) exist...
>Are these rocks feeble enough to be taken out by our spread shot? If so, stay relatively low to make sure we get most of them while mainly dodging the shot rings.
>Presumably they're more durable than that at this point, though: Then, just consider them full obstacles and avoid as needed. Consider unfocusing when it isn't crowded nearby to tack on damage and get to clear/will-be-clear areas faster. Prediction is important!
> Sadly, your shots pass right through them; they must be considered "big" bullets like Unzan's fists. You play it safe...
>Presumably shotgunning is not an option again.
> ...Until you see an opening and decide to go for it. Maple gets a face full of poison for her troubles. You can't keep up the fire for long, as you have to duck back, but you repeat the process until the card goes POOF.
> The playfield shakes, and rocks start rolling down. Leaf-shaped bullets also fall, weaving back and forth like actual leaves, as Maple flings waves of paintballs your way.
> _
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>Certain nitwits leave blind spots (in a fit of delicious irony!) but it's unlikely to find them so quickly on first encounter!
>Test the rocks again; how dense are they this time around? If they're going in more-or-less straight lines and aren't easily destroyed, favor moving toward areas with fewer leaf shots instead of fewer rocks; the floaters will be harder to predict. And stick around longer.
>See if Maple's personal paint shots are aimed; exploit the direct fire to point them away from being a nuisance if they are. It's not good to have them blocking an escape route!
>Otherwise, just take it safe and avoid shotgunning this time around, unless the paintshots are really REALLY easy to misdirect and a good opening appears, which is unlikely.
-
Won't lie, can't even begin to fight a text danmaku duel.
> Continue shooting her and try not to die.
> Call her out on the paintballs. Unless paintball guns are allowed.
Edit:
> Wonder why we never thought of paintballs before. Be a little jealous of the genius there; it has to be a hundred times easier to chuck handfuls of paintballs at someone that blast them with our complex spells. We will need to steal her paintballs from her as soon as we beat her.
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>Certain nitwits leave blind spots (in a fit of delicious irony!) but it's unlikely to find them so quickly on first encounter!
> Let's face it, danmaku isn't as good as it used to be. You blame Kanako and her followers for lowering the bar.
>Test the rocks again; how dense are they this time around? If they're going in more-or-less straight lines and aren't easily destroyed, favor moving toward areas with fewer leaf shots instead of fewer rocks; the floaters will be harder to predict. And stick around longer.
> They're pretty durable, so you focus on dodging the leaves while staying out of the way of the rocks. Fun fact: on Lunatic, they go on slight diagonals instead of straight down, and they explode into bullets when destroyed. =D
>See if Maple's personal paint shots are aimed; exploit the direct fire to point them away from being a nuisance if they are. It's not good to have them blocking an escape route!
>Otherwise, just take it safe and avoid shotgunning this time around, unless the paintshots are really REALLY easy to misdirect and a good opening appears, which is unlikely.
> They travel pretty fast, and Maple even tries to aim a bit ahead of you to try and catch you off guard. They're still aimed directly at you, though, so you wait until she fires before dodging.
Won't lie, can't even begin to fight a text danmaku duel.
Then you must unlearn what you have learned, young padawan. people still like text-only adventures right
> Call her out on the paintballs. Unless paintball guns are allowed.
> You cry fowl foul on Maple's paintballs. "Excuse me, but as far as I know, paintballs are perfectly fine as bullets, just like my trees. What, are you expecting Reimu to come charging out here to defeat me on a technicality?"
> Wonder why we never thought of paintballs before. Be a little jealous of the genius there; it has to be a hundred times easier to chuck handfuls of paintballs at someone that blast them with our complex spells. We will need to steal her paintballs from her as soon as we beat her.
> You continue your cross-examination, saying that the paintballs aren't magic bullets, they're actual paintballs. "I can assure you that these are legitimately magic bullets, and not paint. I don't even know where to get real paintballs!" You then suggest she make them herself. "Uh...I guess? Maybe? Whatever, don't distract me!"
> Continue shooting her and try not to die.
> It's very unlikely that anyone actually dies in a danmaku duel (Eirin, Kaguya and Mokou are exceptions). But you keep up the pressure and start her next spell card...
> "Earth Sign [Titan's Fist]"
> ...Which sends a rocky fist right at your face. Roll to Dodge!
> _
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[19:51] <capth> @dice 1d20
[19:51] <Keine-tan> capth: 9
So... is that a hit or a miss?
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[19:51] <capth> @dice 1d20
[19:51] <Keine-tan> capth: 9
So... is that a hit or a miss?
> You get punched right in the...
Dec 15 17:37:26 <ThirdEyeLem> @dice 1d26
Dec 15 17:37:29 <Keine-tan> ThirdEyeLem: 19> ...Neck, which is sadly part of your hitbox. PTCHUUUUN! (2 lives left)
> Once you recover from something that'd normally break a person's neck, you analyze the attack. Fists punch the bottom of the playfield, sending rocks and bullets everywhere. Kinda like one of Ichirin's cards, but the fists alternate between aiming directly at you, and aiming to the sides of you.
> _
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>Kanako didn't do shit IN came before her
>Buggers are learning not to always aim directly at your target...
>Did we get any bombs back after that death, or is the system being cruel today?
>This sounds like a card we might be able to shotgun some, if those fists are telegraphed enough. If they are, stay a little high and try to redirect a few off the sides of the screen if that breaks the card. Or do they only track vertically?
>If they're hard to predict, stay medium-low and weave through the shots, keeping an eye out for opportunities to unfocus and dart to a different location to dodge the (direct) fists.
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>Kanako didn't do shit IN came before her
> Hey, don't knock IN's danmaku, that game was awesome.
>Buggers are learning not to always aim directly at your target...
> Maple seems to be smarter than any other fairy you've met. How much smarter, you don't know, but you have to give her credit: she's put more effort into her attacks and spell cards than most fairies who go "oooh! random human! time for a danmaku prank!" You pray that the rest of the fairies don't follow her example (that would make one hell of a Bad Ending though).
>Did we get any bombs back after that death, or is the system being cruel today?
> You got back...Four bombs? Wow, that is a lot. You guess it's because Medicine is less focused on power, much like Marisa. (4 spell charges left)
>This sounds like a card we might be able to shotgun some, if those fists are telegraphed enough. If they are, stay a little high and try to redirect a few off the sides of the screen if that breaks the card. Or do they only track vertically?
>If they're hard to predict, stay medium-low and weave through the shots, keeping an eye out for opportunities to unfocus and dart to a different location to dodge the (direct) fists.
> The fists appear in the same column you're on (they fall down rather slowly, as opposed to the "appear then punch" MO of Unzan's fists), or the two adjacent columns, and the card alternates between the two. If a fist would spawn outside of the playfield, it spawns next to the other fist within the playfield instead.
> In any case, the shrapnel from the fists is kinda dense, so shotgunning is risky. You play it safe and before you know it...Maple asplodes in a shower of--surprise, surprise--maple leaves.
> Maple floats to the ground, battered and tattered. "Haaa...You're tougher than you look. Ok, so maybe there's a shred of truth to your words...But if you really are Marisa, what on earth is happening to make you take such defensive measures?"
> _
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>"Well... short version would be, Medicine pulled some body-swap bullshit, and some buncha mole-rat splinter cells are attackin' Eintei while I'm trying to find her and wring her neck. Felt I needed some practice before I blew through 'em. Don't suppose you've seen anyone like that around, ze?"
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>"Well... short version would be, Medicine pulled some body-swap bullshit, and some buncha mole-rat splinter cells are attackin' Eintei while I'm trying to find her and wring her neck. Felt I needed some practice before I blew through 'em. Don't suppose you've seen anyone like that around, ze?"
> Maple looks at you with a bewildered expression as she sits down on a rock. "No...I saw Mystia fly through the forest earlier, but that's about it. Were those mold rats the reason why you set up those awful defenses?" You assure Maple that the defenses were grade-A, top of the line dolls that you and Alice set up, though she doesn't seem convinced as she giggles in response. "Sure, whatever you say...But I don't blame you. I'd be worried too after a stunt like that."
> After that statement, Maple's expression changes to a look of horrific realization. "Oh my gosh...If I disabled your dolls, then someone might attack your house...Augh, I'm so sorry! Ugh! I am such an idiot!" You reassure Maple, telling her that Tewi will be fine. "That's good, but even then...Hmmm." Maple crosses her arms; you can tell she's putting her thinking cap on. You dismount your broom and sit down next to her as she ponders.
> Eventually, Maple speaks up. "I'm not sure if it'll be of any use, but...In your state, you're gonna need every advantage you can get." She turns to you. "How would you like a bit of an upgrade to your arcanic arsenal?"
> As you ponder your answer, you start to notice an unusual feeling...Like you're feeling wired and strained mentally at the same time. It's minor, but you recognize this feeling. You recall spending long nights studying magic, usually after an SDM raid, trying to concoct some new spell. In spite of your previous fatigue, you'd keep working, only to crash and be awoken by one of Alice's dolls late next morning. The mental fatigue is settling in, but not the physical. You take a glance up at the sky, and see that nighttime is settling in after the fading sunset.
> Still awake there, Mari? If I were you, I'd consider calling it a night...But who am I to tell you what to do, ze? Mini-Medi pauses. Oh right, I am you. Sort of. But not quite, ze. Just do whatever I guess!
> _
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>Dangit, we stayed up all night to deal with Kaguya that other time, why are we getting tired now?!
>Maybe Medicine's body doesn't have our mental endurance. However that works... how troublesome. Well, better to discover now than later...
>I'll consider it, ze. But first...
>"What sort of upgrade, ze?"
-
>Dangit, we stayed up all night to deal with Kaguya that other time, why are we getting tired now?!
>Maybe Medicine's body doesn't have our mental endurance. However that works... how troublesome. Well, better to discover now than later...
> It's more like your mind itself is getting tired, that happens normally to humans, right...?
> Meh, what does the parser know, don't waste your time on it, it's already a voice inside your head...Wait that's Mini-Medi's job. Ha.
>I'll consider it, ze. But first...
>"What sort of upgrade, ze?"
> All this thinking isn't helping you in your tired state. You won't, however, pass up an opportunity to improve your "Blast Everything To Pieces With Magic" skills.
> "Well...I can't guarantee the upgrade will even work, it's more of an experiment right now. You know how you can normally only use one type of shot in spell card duel? If this works, and if it's stable enough...You can use up to three at once, and combine them for different effects!"
> Mixing and matching shot attacks? Sounds a lot like what Patchy was working on...You recall the notes you stole transcribed from in a previous raid years ago, but not many...
> You close your eyes as you try to remember...
> ...
> The parser said...Try to remember!!
(http://www.qotile.net/blog/images/static2.gif)
source (http://www.qotile.net/)
> Oh for the love of...WORK, DAMN YOU!
> *insert multiple sounds of button-clicking and dial-turning here*
> Ah, I see...We're getting a picture, it's...It's...
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/337147/PatchyLibraryHalfsize.jpg)
source (http://safebooru.org/index.php?page=post&s=view&id=1128045)
> Um, er...That is not you. That is PATCHOULI KNOWLEDGE, the local librarian of the SCARLET DEVIL MANSION, but you knew that already. Patchy comes from a line of magicians that have been GIFTED WITH IMMENSE MAGICAL PROWESS, but at the cost of their health, and Patchy suffers from ACUTE ASTHMA ATTACKS. Dedicating her life to the study of magic, Patchy eventually became a TUTOR for the Scarlet siblings, and their (very) hands-off motherly figure after their parents were killed. Patchy spends most of her time in the Scarlets' massive library, which contains MORE BOOKS THAN EVERY BARNES AND NOBLE AND AMAZON STORE COMBINED.
> So, naturally, Patchy hired some help to keep the books in order. She summoned a demon named KOAKUMA to act as her assistant and protege, and recently recruited THREE MISCHIEVIOUS FAIRIES to assist as well. They tend to just sit around and chatter instead of doing actual work, but the chatter is a welcome change from the constant silence.
> ...And the occasional chaos caused by yours truly, who is more than willing to barge into the library unannounced, shoot up your defenses, steal a book or five, and blast off with a hearty "Thanks for the books, ze!" Damn, you're good.
> You're feeling hot under the collar for some reason. Seeing yourself is making you angry, frustrated, upset, short of breath...Very short of breath. It feels like you can barely breathe at all! You instinctly reach for your inhaler and use it...There, that's better.
> You're pretty certain things didn't start like this. Memories of yourself start with you, not an asthmatic magician in a very large library. But ignoring this obvious flaw in your past experience, you ASSESS your surroundings...
> Ah, this must be the LOUNGE area you usually retire to when you're reading, practicing magic, reading, eating, drinking, reading, talking with the other residents, reading, sleeping...Usually in a chair like the one you're sitting in now, but you do have a bed in the southwest corner, isolated by curtains. A large table sits in the middle, surrounded by various chairs, while a side area (to the east) with a coffee table and chairs serves as a general socialization area. The main table (which you jokingly call the ROTUND TABLEAU) is covered in books, scrolls, and other reading material and various notes. It's a mess, but you have a system and you refuse to let anyone else reorganize it. An open area to the northwest serves as your testing area for new spells; you've taken great care to fortify this area with numerous wards to keep it from going up in flames. The southeast part of the lounge has a mini kitchen for when you get a case of the munchies. A lavatory lies hidden just north of your sleeping quarters behind a rotating shelf.
> In short, you have pretty much everything you need to live here for the rest of your days, if need be.
> The lounge also acts as a hub to the library. The main entrance is to the south, past a hall of bookshelves, while the rest of the library is split into seven portions: Solar, Lunar, Flame, Forest, Frost, Iron and Mountain. It'd take you ages to sort out every single book in the library, so you just mark the most useful ones using magic markers (regret nothing, the parser does), and put them back in their spots when you're done. You have a system! YOU HAVE A SYSTEM!
> ...You also have a book in your lap, a rather sizable one. A quick look reveals that it is a VOLUME OF ELEMENTAL FUSION, by one Jiden Yoki. He's kind of a hero to you, he was a master elemental mage and loved tinkering with the elements. Why, one time, he tried to grow a tree on his head after he lost all of his hair...And then he set it on fire while trying to figure out how to manipulate lava. Ahhh, such good stories...
> "Milady?"
> Your attention is diverted to the voice. It's KOAKUMA, whom is carrying a stack of books.
> "I brought you the Molecular Manipulation series like you requested...Um...Shall I put these on the table or...?"
> Shit. What would Patchy do? You have no idea how her side of events went, or even what day it is. If you're going to relive this memory, you better think...Like a magician.
> The best goddamn magician in all of Gensokyo.
> _
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> Glance up from your book and say, "Hm? Ah, yes, that will do." Then return to where you left off.
> What killed the Scarlets' parents?
-
> Glance up from your book and say, "Hm? Ah, yes, that will do." Then return to where you left off.
> Koa nods, and makes to turn away, but stops to address you again. "Oh, I almost forgot...Your brother is coming to visit today. He'll be bringing Zakuro with him."
> Ah yes, your younger brother MONARDA KNOWLEDGE said he'd be coming to Gensokyo. You rarely see any family these days, since most of them are located in Europe, but you keep contact with them at least. If you recall, Monarda was also researching the whole Elemental Fusion deal and wished to swap notes with you in person.
> On that note, you're ankle-deep in the chapter named "Crystalization and You!"
> What killed the Scarlets' parents?
> Murdered would be more accurate. It is rumored that a hunter by the name of Belmont slew Lady and Lord Scarlet while they were travelling abroad. Despite Remilia's grief, she didn't wish to pursue revenge, and instead focused on taking control of the family business and trying to live a healthy life in Gensokyo. So far, it's working, Remilia has become much happier in recent years. At times, you feel like the surrogate mother Lord Scarlet intended you to be, as Remi sometimes confides in you when she can't turn to anyone else. Flan, not so much, she has such a bubbly personality that you're surprised she was able to forget being cooped up in the basement for the past few decades or so. That doesn't stop her from bugging you now and again for the hell of it, tho.
> But enough backstory, what would you like to do?
> _
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> Uh... This is all just a memory, right?
> Who is Zakuro?
-
> Uh... This is all just a memory, right?
> Yes, and yet somehow you've been projected into Patchy as she experienced that memory herself. You'll have to reconstruct it by playing along if you want to find out what's going on.
> The parser has no idea why this happened and apologizes for the inconvenience.
> Who is Zakuro?
> Zakuro is Monarda's familiar, much like Koa is to Patchy. You haven't seen him much, but you've heard that he's a skilled swordsman who enjoys challenging others to various competitions. Monarda described him as a "calm, yet passionate protector."
> _
-
> Hm... Maybe we should find out what happens when we do something as un-patchouli like as possible.
Quick, murder Koakuma!
> "Ah, right."
> Dismiss Koakuma. Get up. Put on some non-pajamas, something appropriate for expected visitors.
-
> Hm... Maybe we should find out what happens when we do something as un-patchouli like as possible. Quick, murder Koakuma!
> That'd cause a MEMORY PARADOX and kick you out of the current memory, causing you to forget whatever it was you were trying to remember in the first place. That would suck!
> "Ah, right."
> Dismiss Koakuma. Get up. Put on some non-pajamas, something appropriate for expected visitors.
> You ask when Monarda is expected to drop by. "He should be here in about...Ten to twenty minutes, I think?" she responds. You suggest that she prepare some tea and biscotti, Monarda loves biscotti.
> You then proceed to your sleeping quarters to change into...An exact same copy of the outfit you were wearing earlier, just cleaner. There's no need to wear anything special, he wears the same pajama-robes you do...Just in shades of blue instead of pink. You save your fancier attire for formal events, parties, that sort of thing.
> As you get changed, you notice something off on your bed...Or rather, it should be be something on your bed, but it's a ghostly, transparent image of a...Hat? You recognize it as the hat that one of the autumn spirits wear, but it has no decorative fruit on it. Very strange...You try to pick it up, but your hand passes through it harmlessly. You consider telling Koa about the unusual object, but with company expected so soon, you brush it aside and return to the lounge.
> You have a bit of time before Monarda arrives, what will you do?
> _
-
> We probably asked Koakuma to retrieve that stack of books for a reason. Read the new books. See if any of them are relevant to subjects we want to discuss with our brother.
-
> Behold, the wonders of what happens when the parser completely forgets the details they wrote down just a few posts ago! :V
> We probably asked Koakuma to retrieve that stack of books for a reason. Read the new books. See if any of them are relevant to subjects we want to discuss with our brother.
> You take a look at the stack of books, and indeed they're all parts of the Molecular Manipulation series written by Edmund Alric. The list of titles include:
- How The Flame Eats Our Planet
- Prying the Eye of The Storm
- Solticquinox
- Dangerous Plants and Other Flaura
> _
-
>... but WE'RE the best magician in all of Gensokyo. Bah.
>Hm, let's take advantage of this! Are there any books 'we've' refused to show Marisa? Perhaps they would make good reading to share with Monarda during his visit; presumably his interests are similar to 'our' own, right?
>Prepare cold water spraybottle for if the two familiars start making out
-
>Prepare cold water spraybottle for if the two familiars start making out
> Koa only has eyes for Daiyousei
>... but WE'RE the best magician in all of Gensokyo. Bah.
>Hm, let's take advantage of this! Are there any books 'we've' refused to show Marisa? Perhaps they would make good reading to share with Monarda during his visit; presumably his interests are similar to 'our' own, right?
> Don't worry, you'll prove yourself soon enough...
> ...As soon as you figure out where you keep your super-secret stash of books pretaining to Ancient Forbidden Magic. You have several caches of such books hidden throughout the library, and thankfully, none of them have been found by Marisa. You keep track of such grottos using a map...A map you hae taken painstaking attempts to obscure in case Marisa kidnapped you. You reach into your robe pocket and open said map...Which is blank. What, you thought a treasure map that important would be easy to read? :P
> _
-
>This says nothing about Zakuro
>Certainly, we will need to make sure they are secure before we are distracted by dear brother's arrival!
>Decode the secrets, preferably in a matter that will not dispel until we do so 'ourselves.' After all, there's no way Marisa would arrive to mug us right this second, would she?!
>please get it please get it please get it
-
>This says nothing about Zakuro
> To be fair, you never met the dude in person, so you don't know what his tastes are like. But you get a spray bottle ready just in case, lol.
>Certainly, we will need to make sure they are secure before we are distracted by dear brother's arrival!
> You know those smuggling compartments from Star Wars? Those are where the books are. They're secured by powerful magic locks; even Marisa wouldn't be able to break into them without knowing the code. You have the codes hidden in a different pocket of your robe.
>Decode the secrets, preferably in a matter that will not dispel until we do so 'ourselves.' After all, there's no way Marisa would arrive to mug us right this second, would she?!
>please get it please get it please get it
> You try taking a page from Harry Potter and say "I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good," while putting your finger to the paper (who needs wands, anyways). You get shocked as a result. The map adds insult to injury by materializing letters onto the paper...
"Nice try. Manage your mischief elsewhere, Marisa."
> Well, you remember programming that in, that's for sure...You rack your brain for an answer, it's been ages since you touched this map.
> _
-
>snort some floo powder
>Hmm. About when was it that we made this? Would we incorporate our interests of the moment into the design of a security feature?
-
> Um... try phrases at random? "Open Sesame. Bah Humbug. Koakuma. Philosopher's Stone. I am the Law. I am the One. I am god. Mukyu. Koakuma, get me my asthma medicine. God damn it scroll, open up already, how many other purple-haired pajama-wearing anemic asthmatics do you think live in Gensokyo anyway?"
> Go through the list of common passwords we use.
-
>Try 'I love Marisa.'
>In all seriousness, perhaps 'Fiddlesnap' or 'Open, Damn you!'.
-
> Um... try phrases at random? "Open Sesame. Bah Humbug. Koakuma. Philosopher's Stone. I am the Law. I am the One. I am god. Mukyu. Koakuma, get me my asthma medicine. God damn it scroll, open up already, how many other purple-haired pajama-wearing anemic asthmatics do you think live in Gensokyo anyway?"
> Go through the list of common passwords we use.
> You mull over possible passwords in your head, but nothing seems to be quite right. Brute forcing it would only cause you personal agony and pain.
> Going through all the passwords you can come up with, you remember something...You sent your MAGICOMPUTER off to be repaired. And it has all your password information on it. Dammit.
>Try 'I love Marisa.'
> The map feeds you a rather sarcastic reply...
"Let me go send out the wedding invitations, then."
>In all seriousness, perhaps 'Fiddlesnap' or 'Open, Damn you!'.
"You're not even trying at this point, are you? Even Hong would have an easier time figuring this out."
>snort some floo powder
>Hmm. About when was it that we made this? Would we incorporate our interests of the moment into the design of a security feature?
> dat's sum gud floo
> You sit down and actually think for a second, instead of shouting at a piece of paper that doesn't know any better. You recall that Patchy made this map about ten years ago, on a Sunday in August. You remember that day clearly, because it was when you and Reimu attacked the mansion for the first time. A couple days later, you revisited to subdue Flandre, and Patchy was caught off guard by your arrival. It was then that she tightened security, and decided to re-read The Hobbit to blow off some steam. Better to watch some furry-footed midget get chased by dragons and ogres instead of having a Master Spark launched at your face...
> Now that you think about it, didn't that book have some kind of secret map too?
> _
-
>... watch? The hell? Let us not desecrate Tolkein by doing anything but reading the book.
>If necessary, retrieve The Hobbit to review likely password/theme. Try moon magic imitating the different phases of the moon for an August Sunday, especially if we recall the exact phase that day.
-
>... watch? The hell? Let us not desecrate Tolkein by doing anything but reading the book.
> The parser meant to say read. :V Please to be forgiving this grievous error.
>If necessary, retrieve The Hobbit to review likely password/theme. Try moon magic imitating the different phases of the moon for an August Sunday, especially if we recall the exact phase that day.
> No need, you know that book pretty well and you remember the phase needed for the spell. You hold a copy of your Silent Selene card aloft and chant a few select words. The appropriate moonlight radiates from the card, bathing the paper in a silvery blue glow.
"You chose....Wisely. Don't forget this next time."
> The snarky map's letters fade away and reveal a (surprisingly detailed) map of the library, with all the secret caches marked. You try to count them all...10, 20, 40, wow that is a lot of forbidden books! There's a total of 54 caches, and most of them have notes telling you which books are in which cache. You really wish you had a pen and paper handy right about now.
> _
-
>Hopefully Marisa saw that.
And our ass.
>Get a pen and write it all down... might as well make it a thorough check. Note off any particularly powerful ones brother may be interested in.
-
>Hopefully Marisa saw that. And our ass.
> You do your best to memorize the items as Patchy looks them over. Somehow, this seems familiar to you...But you're not sure why.
>Get a pen and write it all down... might as well make it a thorough check. Note off any particularly powerful ones brother may be interested in.
> This does, however, ring a bell. Some of the more interesting caches include:
#3: Killer Vegetables, consider reading this in case of a zombie attack
#5: Songs of the Old Ones. Don't play these around humans.
#17: Lethal Gases That Can Corrode Diamonds...How does that even work
#20: Books That Are Also Legendary Animals, feed them once a week
#36: Soul Devourer series, this has to be the worst hentai I have seen, don't show this to the sisters
#39: Cosmic Ghosts, a star chart depicting ancient spirits sealed within outer space
#51: The Killer Lives, Memoirs of an Assassin: Possessed, do not open under any circumstances
> You're not entirely sure how these are useful, but hey, knowledge is free. Making use of it costs much more.
> _
-
>Do any of those strike Marisa as particularly familiar?
>When's the last time we checked on the legendary animals? How tame are they?
>We DID just fiddle with moon stuff, perhaps the star chart would be good to check out.
>Heck, check in on stuff on the way, if it'd be easy to tell when Bro arrives.
-
>Do any of those strike Marisa as particularly familiar?
> Only #3 and #20 strike you as familiar, as they're the ones you find the most useful. #17 might have some use, if you can reverse-engineer Medicine's poison, but that might be a bit overkill.
>When's the last time we checked on the legendary animals? How tame are they?
> They're pretty lax. As long as they're fed and watered, they won't cause trouble. You're supposed to feed them tomorrow, so you might want to see if Sakuya has any meat on hand.
>We DID just fiddle with moon stuff, perhaps the star chart would be good to check out.
>Heck, check in on stuff on the way, if it'd be easy to tell when Bro arrives.
> Yes, a literary walk might be a good idea. You set off to retrieve the Starchart of Cosmic Ghosts, appropriately located within the Lunar Wing of the library.
> The aisles of books are quiet. Normally, you have your Magicomputer set up to play classical music via a broadcasting enchantment, but that's not happening right now. Only the creaking of the floorboards under your feet can be heard as you walk. You've gone down these aisles countless times, a newcomer would feel lost and helpless amidst all these books. At least they'd have something to read.
> *THUD*
> ...Provided some clumsy fairy doesn't knock it on your head first.
> "Sunny! Be careful! What if Patchy saw this?!" says a voice through a bookshelf to your left.
> "It's just a book, it's not like it's a glass or anything..." a second voice says.
> You recognize the two Mischievous Fairies, but their third cohort is missing. They always travel together...You could investigate this, but it'd take time away from your book hunt.
> _
-
>Whatever that fairy's doing, it will probably end up being Sakuya's or Koakuma's problem in the end. Let's not waste time on the idiots.
>Although... if we could get away with lighting the two on fire from here before leaving, it would be fair retaliation for their mistreatment of knowledge.
>What's the book that landed on 'us,' out of curiosity? Put it back if convenient/wise.
>Unless the fairies go on to something completely unforgivable, continue to the starchart's home.
-
>What's the book that landed on 'us,' out of curiosity? Put it back if convenient/wise.
> The parser intended this to be on the other side of the shelf, but ok, let's go with this.
> The book in question is called "The Origami Thriller," a Japanese-themed spy novel. You've never read this before, so you add it to your INCREDIBLY DEEP ROBE POCKETS.
>Whatever that fairy's doing, it will probably end up being Sakuya's or Koakuma's problem in the end. Let's not waste time on the idiots.
>Although... if we could get away with lighting the two on fire from here before leaving, it would be fair retaliation for their mistreatment of knowledge.
> You decide to tease the fairies by magically amplifying your voice, and telling them that a thousand years of misfortune and darkness will plague them for desecrating the books. They scream and fly away in terror. Heh, that never gets old.
>Unless the fairies go on to something completely unforgivable, continue to the starchart's home.
> Aside from bonking their heads against a shelf while fleeing, they cause no further damage. Fair enough. You do find their conversations amusing when they're not causing you cranial trauma. Anyways, you press on, with little else of note happening aside from the cleaning fairies doing their regular dusting.
> Eventually, you come to a wide open aisle with a rug sitting on the floor. It is of the finest craftsmanship, in the design of one of many constellations in space. A shame that it must be exiled here, but you use it as a marker to tell you where the Starchart is hidden. You lift the rug up, and surely enough, you see the seams of what appears to be a secret hatch. You manipulate the enchanted gears and motors with a wave of your hand, chanting the combination as you do so. With a click, the door slides open, and into a dark chamber. There is no need for a ladder, you simply levitate down.
> A chilling atmosphere engulfs you as you descend. This is normal, the books in this cache are of a supernatural nature. Anything on ghosts, ghouls, liches, zombies and other malignant spectres can be found here. You cast a light spell, using the moon crest on your hat as a light source, and see yourself surrounded by shelves of books. A faint cackle can be heard from some of them as you cast your light...Are the books possessed? Are the books ghosts themselves? You have little time to answer those questions, as a lavender glow catches your attention. The glowing object is one of many books marked by your magical bookmarks, and it is the one you are searching for. The Starchart of Cosmic Ghosts sits tightly between "Otherworldly Ocotopi" and "Demonic Dice: A Story of Chance." Your wandering gaze tempts you to go into BROWSING MODE, and perhaps find another book or two to check out, as dangerous as it would be.
> _
-
>What constellation is on the rug?
is it the axe wound or hooded warrior this may be important
>Hmm, what did Mondara want to talk with us about, again? Elemental Fusion, right? Does he have much interest in ghosts or astronomy, and what here would be handy for that?
>... browse for a bit to see if the name Stella Skella reminds us of anything.
>Might as well grab one or two generally-useful rare starcharts while we're here...
-
>What constellation is on the rug? is it the axe wound or hooded warrior this may be important
> The constellation is the good ol' Big Dipper. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Dipper) You're not sure why you picked that rug in particular, maybe it's because you like to dip into a good book? *shrug*
>Hmm, what did Mondara Monarda want to talk with us about, again? Elemental Fusion, right? Does he have much interest in ghosts or astronomy, and what here would be handy for that?
> Off the top of your head, you don't see a direct connection...But considering ghosts like (Captain) Murasa can wield the elements, it's worth looking into.
>... browse for a bit to see if the name Stella Skella reminds us of anything.
> You scan the books for a bit, but fail to find anything pretaining to Skella and her existence. Perhaps it'd help if you knew what she was; for all you and Patchy know she could be a robot ninja biplane spider and none of us would be able to tell.
> You do, however, find a book called "Disasterous Deaths," a book about people who died in the most astounding ways imaginable. Patchy's intuition isn't quite as hyper-sensitive as Reimu's, but you get the feeling this book is useful, so you take it.
>Might as well grab one or two generally-useful rare starcharts while we're here...
> Your thinking about Star Charts reminds Patchy of something she wrote down years ago...Looking at the back cover of the book, you find some numbers scribbled on here: 20, 10, and 14. Those numbers pretain to scrolls you keep in the lounge area, including some Star Charts you often consult. Glad you remembered those! (as Patchy, that is; as Marisa you know where most of her important documents are at any given moment)
> With the pair of tomes in tow, you decide now is a good time to ASCEND from the depths of this grotto and return to the warmth of the library. You're surprised you didn't start catching a cold by now. You seal up the cache and lock it up before replacing the rug, and head back to the lounge.
> As you walk, excited voices from those Meddling Fairies reach your ears. You can hear them several aisles away, but you can't hear what they're exactly talking about. You can listen in, or go about your business.
> _
-
>Is the third one here this time?
>Well, considering how the parser apparently really wants us to get involved with them we ran into them a second time so quickly we might as well overhear a little bit about what the nimrods are up to. Maybe find a way to chase them off again if necessary.
>... if only while taking a moment to consider our next destination. Would those other star charts be closer than the legendary animal books from where we are now?
-
>Is the third one here this time?
> As a matter of fact, she is.
>Well, considering how the parser apparently really wants us to get involved with them we ran into them a second time so quickly we might as well overhear a little bit about what the nimrods are up to. Maybe find a way to chase them off again if necessary.
>... if only while taking a moment to consider our next destination. Would those other star charts be closer than the legendary animal books from where we are now?
> DISCLAIMER: The parser does their best to leave all options available, it is up to the players to decide on the best course of action.
> The Star Charts are closer than the Legendary Animal Books, but thankfully you remembered that you have a TELEPAD set up to warp you there. You just have to figure out where it is...
> While you contemplate that, you overhear the fairies' convo.
LUNA: So like, isn't a guest coming over today or something?
SUNNY: I thought there was! I wanna meet them!
STAR: What if it's just Kaguya-sama again? That's not exactly exciting...
SUNNY: Still! It's always fun when she's around. I wonder what she's been up to recently.
LUNA: Probably playing one of her "com-pooter" games again. I'll never understand how those work.
STAR: Yeah...It seems like everyone's talking about those these days, even Patchy-sama has one. I don't think I'm
ever going to own one of those, they're too heavy!
SUNNY: Aren't they making smaller ones too? I know the head maid has one...
STAR: Well, they are kind of expensive, aren't they?
SUNNY: We'll just have to take multiple jobs, then. Maybe Kourindou is hiring!
STAR: Don't be silly, it's a small shop. They'd never consider us.
LUNA: ...Maybe they'll open a chain store sometime...?
STAR: Oh, oh! Better idea! We open up our own shop!
LUNA: That's brilliant!
SUNNY: Yeah! And with all these books here, we can become crazy good business fairies! We'll be famous and rich! Even
Reimu will be in envy of us! Come on, let's go do some research!
LUNA + STAR: Hai!
> And with that, the fairies leave. You're not sure if their endeavours are a good or a bad thing, so you leave them alone.
> _
-
> Wonder if Kaguya could pass herself off as Star Sapphire. (http://safebooru.org/index.php?page=post&s=view&id=202118)
-
> Wonder if Kaguya could pass herself off as Star Sapphire. (http://safebooru.org/index.php?page=post&s=view&id=202118)
> You wonder about it, and believe that Kaguya would absolutely be able to pull it off. Poor Sunny and Luna wouldn't know what hit them!
> _
-
> Wait a second, Sunny suggested doing research. She must be an imposter. Expose her!
> Wonder what's taking our brother so long.
-
>If we have a way to contact Koakuma, inform her that the business section may become a mess in the near future due to fairy dumbness. If there IS a business section...
>Does the telepad lead to the Legendary Monsters or the Star Charts? Head for whichever we don't have an easy alternative for while trying to recall where the warper would be. We don't have a recent library map anywhere, do we...
-
> Wait a second, Sunny suggested doing research. She must be an imposter. Expose her!
> You consider doing that, but any moment not spent with you is one you're happy with. Besides, this'll be a good learning experience for them.
>If we have a way to contact Koakuma, inform her that the business section may become a mess in the near future due to fairy dumbness. If there IS a business section...
> Oddly enough, there is. Remi asked you to organize all the business-related books a while back, into a convenient shelf near the lounge.
> ...Crap. this might not work as well as you expected.
> You sigh as you pull out your MAGINOTES (sticky notes made from magical parchment) and scribble a warning to Koa. It vanishes and reappears on bulletin board back in the kitchen; recent notes glow to separate them older ones.
> Wonder what's taking our brother so long.
> A lot of things, potentially...First, he has to pass through the Hakurei Shrine, then fly across the countryside (while avoiding getting shot down), fly across the Misty Lake (while avoiding getting frozen or lost), and remind the security fairies who he is before heading inside. And heaven help him if Flan manages to strike up a conversation with her...Oh well, he'll get here when he gets here.
>Does the telepad lead to the Legendary Monsters or the Star Charts? Head for whichever we don't have an easy alternative for while trying to recall where the warper would be. We don't have a recent library map anywhere, do we...
> The pad warps to the LM cache, and now you remember...The pad you use to warp there to begin with is in an alcove near where the Star Charts are located, so you head there first. You remember having to move it there because people kept accidentally stepping in and warping through it.
> You have a map in your pocket, but you've been around the library so many times that you don't need it. This also means the parser doesn't have to bother with drawing the map
> So, where to, boss?
> _
-
>Stash some of those Star Charts for reference.
>We don't have a way to magically peek out into Gensokyo for him and see where along the route Bro is and whether he needs help, do we?
>How upset would Remi be if Koakuma and Sakuya don't manage to keep those fairies under control and it ends up a mess for a little while?
>Would Monarda understand if we met up in the business section in order to keep tabs on the fairies and/or take potshots at them when they act up?
>Gain +4 Sadism points!
>Barring any urgent decisions to be made, head through the warp to check in on the legendary monster books.
-
> Back from the not-quite-dead, it is I! Gandalf! YOU SHALL NOT PASS! (staff whack)
> ...
> Sorry, let's return to our regularly scheduled fanfic--I MEAN story.
>Stash some of those Star Charts for reference.
> You head for the Scroll Storage and add Charts #10, #14, and #20 to your inventory. You recall these have to do with Cosmic Ghosts book you picked up earlier.
>We don't have a way to magically peek out into Gensokyo for him and see where along the route Bro is and whether he needs help, do we?
> Patchy does, but it takes a lot of magical power to do so. The enchantment that dictates the manor's layout makes it almost impossible to see through, so Patchy just decided to invest in some security cameras instead. Sadly, she needs her Magicomputer to gain access to those. Patchy laments the lack of a tablet or other handheld device, while you snicker at the prospect of hacking into said security.
>How upset would Remi be if Koakuma and Sakuya don't manage to keep those fairies under control and it ends up a mess for a little while?
> As long as it's confined to the library, she's cool with it. Remi doesn't have to contend with cleaning up book-related messes after all :V
>Would Monarda understand if we met up in the business section in order to keep tabs on the fairies and/or take potshots at them when they act up?
> You might want to inform Koa first, so she can tell you when he arrives.
>Gain +4 Sadism points!
> Your totally existent SADISM level goes up!
>Barring any urgent decisions to be made, head through the warp to check in on the legendary monster books.
> No time to lose, you step through the nearby Telepad and appear in a large, circular area. In the middle of the floor is a MAJESTIC LION RUG, marking the location of the Legendary Beast Book cache. You can hear faint growling from below...Dem beasties are hungry.
> _
-
>Magic another note for Koa about Bro and our shenanigans collecting stuff for him.
take a moment to ponder our self-insert Homestuck erofic
>Should the books be hungry at this point? How bad an idea would it be to head in there without tribute? Where would we be able to acquire some, if need be, and how long would it take?
-
>Magic another note for Koa about Bro and our shenanigans collecting stuff for him. take a moment to ponder our self-insert Homestuck erofic
> you are struggling with Roxy's characterization dear gods why is she so hard to write for
> You scrawl out another note, asking Koa if Monarda's arrived yet, and send it to the bulletin board.
>Should the books be hungry at this point? How bad an idea would it be to head in there without tribute? Where would we be able to acquire some, if need be, and how long would it take?
> Judging by their growls, yes, they are quite hungry. Walking in right now would be tantamount to suicide unless you're collecting all the Bad Ends. Sakuya's in charge of collecting the human meat for the two Scarlets as well as your menagerie, so you should have a bundle in your pockets somewhere...
> ...Except you do not. In your recent researching rampage, you forgot to grab the aforementioned meat. Damn. You'll have to go out to the kitchen and acquire it.
> *PING!*
> Huh? It takes you a second to assess the sitch, but it seems Koa has replied to one of your notes, and it has appeared in one of your pockets. You take it out and read it.
"Funny you should say that, he and Zakuro just arrived. And they've come bearing gifts!"
~Koa
> _
-
>The gift... of being food! MWAHAHAHA!
>Damn. Oh well. Guess we won't be bothering with the monsters for now.
>Go greet brother dearest.
>GEE I SURE HOPE MARISA DOESN'T SHOW UP TO ROB US WHILE BRO'S VISITING HUH
-
>GEE I SURE HOPE MARISA DOESN'T SHOW UP TO ROB US WHILE BRO'S VISITING HUH
> IT SURE IS BORING AROUND HERE
> We didn't even get to introduce him yet, at least wait until something important happens :V
>The gift... of being food! MWAHAHAHA!
>Damn. Oh well. Guess we won't be bothering with the monsters for now.
>Go greet brother dearest.
> You make haste via telepad back to the lounge.
> Upon arrival, you can see Patchy's brother and his cohort. Monarda is dressed in dark blue PJs with lighter blue wear underneath, has short brown hair, and dons a sun crest on his hat. Zakuro has spiky orange hair and a purple-and-block outfit befitting that of a samurai; he also has an appropriate sword sheathed at his side, and is carrying two rather large packages. One is a large box, the other is more lumpy and rounded.
> "Sorry I couldn't get here sooner, I thought I'd stop by the mountain and pick up your computer for you," Monarda says with a smile. "Miss Sakuya also asked us to deliver the meat for your, um, pets."
> "Bloody things must eat like Snorlaxes," Zakuro complains. "Can I put these down, please? My arms feel like they're about to snap."
> You grant Zakuro's request, and he gently but begrudgingly places the food and computer on the table, causing it to shake. Thank goodness this thing has so many legs!
> "I'm gonna go sit down for a bit..." Zakuro drags his exhausted person to a couch and flumps down on it. Koa awkwardly glances at the flaming-haired samurai before remembering she has to prepare some more tea for the two of them.
> Monarda chuckles as he turns to you. "Remind me to get a Bag of Holding one of these days, if I keep having him carry things, I think he might quit on me. That being said...How've things been for you?"
> _
-
>Oh my. Were we expecting such generosity in his task-providing?
>How difficult would it be for us to acquire a Bag of Holding, perhaps as a gift for him as thanks for the assistance?
>How HAVE things been? Has Bro heard about the various Incidents we've been at least tangentially involved in and the white-black rat that keeps stealing our precious things?
-
>How HAVE things been? Has Bro heard about the various Incidents we've been at least tangentially involved in and the white-black rat that keeps stealing our precious things?
> To an extent. The last thing he heard you were directly involved in was the Scarlet Weather incident; since then you've been dabbling in various projects: Polymorphing and Transfiguration, Mind Control, Long-Distance Teleports, and Magical Television Streaming. However, due to Marisa going on her own magical research spree, you've had to up your anti-witch countermeasures a bit, and the Elemental Fusion was a part of that initiative.
> You tell Monarda what you've been doing today. "Going into overdrive, I see? Well...You'll be please to know that I've been extensively researching an interesting technique...Freezing energy." You reel back a bit in surprise. "I know, it's a bit far-fetched, but it is quite possible! I'd love to share this info with you...If you're willing to listen," he says, eyeing the package of human meat. "Of course, I assume you wish to feed your pets as well..."
>Oh my. Were we expecting such generosity in his task-providing?
> As you ponder what Mon has said, you ask him what's in the box. "Oh, that's your magicomputer. You told me it was being repaired, so...I decided to pay the kappa mechanic a visit. Zak wasn't keen on the offer, but I greased his palms with a few extra pounds, if you get my drift..." Zakuro snorts and mumbles in response to this.
>How difficult would it be for us to acquire a Bag of Holding, perhaps as a gift for him as thanks for the assistance?
> Kourin usually has them in stock. You're not entirely sure where they come from, but you have a sneaking suspicion that Yukari's been crafting them in her spare time. The problem is paying for one; a quality BoH is akin to a designer handbag in the outside world.
> _
-
>Burn Monarda for his energon
>How bad would it be to leave the monsterbooks hungry for a little longer? If they can deal with a few hunger pangs, hear Brother out.
>Actually, would Koa be able to take care of feeding once she gets back from tea? Butchery isn't exactly our profession.
>How valuable is the magicomputer relative to a Bag of Holding? How do our usual finances operate?
-
>How valuable is the magicomputer relative to a Bag of Holding? How do our usual finances operate?
> Extremely valuable. Like, 20 times more valuable. While your computer is capable of gaming, you don't use it for that; you use it for graphics design, music, photo management...And of course some intense magical programming. It's way easier to craft complex spells with this thing than it is to do it by hand. You've also programmed/enchanted this thing with a loudspeaker spell, so you can play classical music across the library. Not too loudly, of course; you want to relax, not rupture your eardrums. In short, this computer is built for magical purposes, and you'd be damned if you're going to give this thing up. You should probably set this thing up if you're going to do any serious magical business with Monarda.
> As for your finances, you pretty much live off of Remi's rather vast fortune and income, you're still her tutor after all. You have enough money to get by and take care of upkeep around the library, including your PC--you paid Nitori up front for the repairs, so there's no need to worry about payment. You've also started charging fees to those who borrow your books...Marisa is gonna have a hell of a bill to pay when she's about to kick the bucket (she isn't gonna need that money in the afterlife anyways). Koa is bound to you by blood, so she doesn't need to worry about payment, though you slip her a few bucks now and then. The fairies' only payment is not causing trouble, they're pretty much free help (and yes, they have learned how to read by now).
>How bad would it be to leave the monsterbooks hungry for a little longer? If they can deal with a few hunger pangs, hear Brother out.
>Actually, would Koa be able to take care of feeding once she gets back from tea? Butchery isn't exactly our profession.
> Eh, you usually don't need to butcher anyways, the monsters will tear into any meat with ease. That being said, Koa conveniently comes back with more tea and cookies. You ask her if she could handle the feeding duties for today, and she agrees to take care of it. Koa also takes a glance at the half-asleep Zakuro, and giggles before heading off.
> You discuss the topic of freezing energy with Monarda as you set your computer back up. The teal-colored case is of an interesting design--the monitor and keyboard fold up and attach to the side of the desktop case, so it's all in one nice package (everything's still connected by cords, though). Mon suggests it'd be easier to show you with a simulation instead of with words, so you fire up MAGA (it's like Maya but for 3D spellcrafting). Mon produces a flash drive that contains his simulation, and plugs it in for you to see. It's kind of hard to explain, but it's less "freezing" the energy and more like trapping it in a crystalline form. Humans have been trying this in the outside world with laser light. The trick is to create a crystalline molecular structure that lets light and energy in, but not out. However, Mon has been having problems creating just the right formula for such a crystal, and was hoping your expertise with the elements would help him find the (ahem) magic formula for his experiment.
> Yes, the parser is fully aware that none of this makes a lick of sense when it comes to actual physics, just bear with it :V
> _
-
>Make sure to thank Bro for his assistance and generosity. Perhaps we should reward his muscle servant as well.
>Would Monarda be aware of Bag of Holding availability at Korindou? Do we have any idea what his money situation is like?
>Where does Remi get her money from, anyway?
>Was that Koa flirting or just amused? HMMM.
>We use plenty of crystal-like attacks, at least... how much experience do we have with such fine precision, for the energy trapping?
>What books (especially from our special caches~) would be handy in looking up similar topics?
-
>We use plenty of crystal-like attacks, at least... how much experience do we have with such fine precision, for the energy trapping?
> For all your expertise, it's hard to make quality-cut crystals that aren't formed from danmaku. It takes time, concentration and a steady hand to craft a crystal, and even then, you're not sure you can pull it off. However...
>What books (especially from our special caches~) would be handy in looking up similar topics?
> There is one special cache of TALKING BOOKS that has a couple of Geology-related tomes. It's hidden in, appropriately, the Mountain Wing, but you don't remember its exact location right now.
>Make sure to thank Bro for his assistance and generosity. Perhaps we should reward his muscle servant as well.
> That you should! You mention your findings and expertise to Monarda. "Ah, no worries. I'm sure if we put our heads together, something resembling a solution should pop out." You chuckle at this, and thank him for helping you. "No thanks are necessary...Though Zak and I wouldn't mind a place to stay for a day or two, that barrier takes a lot out of you," he says, putting his hand over his chest.
> Patchy recalls that Monarda has a weak heart, so you'll have to keep this in mind while you're reconstructing this memory.
>Would Monarda be aware of Bag of Holding availability at Korindou? Do we have any idea what his money situation is like?
> Mon runs a book store in the outside world. From what you can gather from Patchy's recollection, business is running smoothly. You mention the bag of holding sitch to him. "Hmm? The man's still kicking around, huh? Sure, I guess I could pay him a visit...You might need to give me directions, I don't know this place as well as you do." You agree to do just that, and Mon looks pleased.
>Where does Remi get her money from, anyway?
> Remi's father was a successful entrepreneur before he died, and has several businesses still running to this day. Remi has since taken over, and is trying to get--of all things--a cellphone company off the ground. As long as said businesses are running, you don't think she has anything to worry about moneywise...
> "Hey...Hey you awake there, blondie?"
> Shit, your thoughts about the cellphone thing made you think about Nitori's auto-IM, and it's disrupting your RECOLLECTION TRANCE! You need to UNDISTRACT yourself to avoid complete and total MEMORY DESYNCIFICATION!
>Was that Koa flirting or just amused? HMMM.
> You chuckle as you think about Koakuma for a second, refocusing back on the memory...You never thought of her as the flirty type, but for all her prim and proper, she's a bit of a teenager still. Perhaps you should tease her about it when you get the chance...
> Speaking of which, here she comes, screaming in absolute terror!
> ...Wait WHAT?
> Koa skids to a stop, catching her breath. "The mon...The monster...The monster books....All gone, tried to feed, heard a noise...Turned around and...Oh my Shinki, I forgot what running felt like..." she says, collapsing into a nearby chair.
> _
-
>... did 'we' leave it open? What the hell? How?!
>"Breathe, Koa. What was it?"
>Check the security cameras. If it's the rat...
>Does Mon's bad heart mean he shouldn't risk getting involved in this mess if he can help it? If so, where would be safe?
-
>Blame Marisa.
-
>Blame Marisa.
> As much as you'd like to do so, you'd rather make sure it's actually her before you start throwing accusations.
>... did 'we' leave it open? What the hell? How?!
>"Breathe, Koa. What was it?"
>Check the security cameras. If it's the rat...
>Does Mon's bad heart mean he shouldn't risk getting involved in this mess if he can help it? If so, where would be safe?
> You're pretty sure you locked that hatch up tightly...
> ...But just to make sure, you ask Koa what the heck happened.
> "Ok...So...I went to the hatch, just like you asked me to, I opened it...Then I heard something whoosh by me. I thought it was just one of the fairies, but they aren't that fast. Then I heard growling, and something was leering up at me from the darkness...I got spooked and ran for my life. Sorry..."
> You check the security cameras around the library, and sure enough, there are several Legendary Monster books prowling the halls. While you don't blame Koa for self-preservation (let's face it, you'd probably do the same thing), you are curious as to what distracted her. You don't see anything else out of the ordinary...Yet.
> "Sheesh, those monsters look fierce. Perhaps I should lend a hand..." Mon suggests. You ask him if it's ok for him to do this, especially after that long trip. "Perhaps you're right...I'll stay here and protect the entrance, maybe you can take Zakuro and round up the beasties?"
> _
-
>Put Mon anywhere that would cause a time paradox
>When was the last time we opened the legendary beasts' hatch? What could have survived being stuck in there and darted out so fast? Maybe a recent addition to the collection with unexpected skills?
>How much of a fight can the monsters put up out in the open like this? How difficult would it be for Bro to hold his own?
>How bad is his heart condition? How quickly would he need help if something went wrong about it?
>Would it be appropriate to request help from Sakuya or other competent members of the household to handle this, or is this strictly a library problem?
>Skim the cameras to get a headcount on the escaped beasts and their locations. Can we remotely close it to keep in anything that hasn't escaped yet, if any are left?
-
>Put Mon anywhere that would cause a time paradox
> You guide Mon outside the lounge. On the enemy phase, he gets critted by a Chimera Codex and dies. Damn, you gave him all the S-Rank magic tomes too!
>When was the last time we opened the legendary beasts' hatch? What could have survived being stuck in there and darted out so fast? Maybe a recent addition to the collection with unexpected skills?
> Last week, when you had to feed the beasties. You haven't added anything since you got that Story of Snakes book a year or so ago; it was a gift of good will from Kanako.
>How much of a fight can the monsters put up out in the open like this? How difficult would it be for Bro to hold his own?
> They're about as dangerous as any other wild animal, and just as unpredictable. However, like most mythical creatures, they are weak to elemental attacks, and both you and Monarda are perfectly capable of using them. Just don't let them get too close unless you're well-protected.
>How bad is his heart condition? How quickly would he need help if something went wrong about it?
> Mon's heart can usually recover if he stops to take a breath, but if something goes wrong, you have several CARDIAC PENS handy to get his heart back in order. of course, if his heart takes too much stress for too long, he'll suffer a heart attack, and that could cost him his life...You'd best keep those monsters away from him if you can.
>Would it be appropriate to request help from Sakuya or other competent members of the household to handle this, or is this strictly a library problem?
> You might as well. The door guard would be an asset here as well. It'll take time for the two to arrive, however, so you'd best ping them ASAP. The sisters are asleep and thus unable to help you right now (it is daytime after all).
>Skim the cameras to get a headcount on the escaped beasts and their locations. Can we remotely close it to keep in anything that hasn't escaped yet, if any are left?
> Four beasts are roaming the halls:
- Chimera Codex in the Flame wing
- Octopedia in the Forest wing
- Aviary Almanac in the Mountain wing
- Story of Snakes in the Lunar wing
> ...And if you wanna close the hatch, you'll have to do it yourself, locking spells only work at close range (so as to avoid abuse). The three Potentially Endangered Fairies are spooked by the monster noises and are hiding under the Rotund Tableau like scared children. Can't say you blame them.
>_
-
>invoke hyadain (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1keUIXDa4EE)
>... would we be able to get away with using the fairies as bait or decoys? Would they be helpful to keep an eye on Bro or more of a stressor/liability for him?
>Which of the four beasts would Sakuya or Meiling be particularly helpful against? Ping them either way to play it safe, but don't play it up as a complete emergency; just if they're available. Chinagirl may not be, because doorguard.
>Which sorts of spells would Koakuma be able to handle? Does Zakuro have an elemental specialty we're aware of? Ask Bro if uncertain.
>Also inform Monarada about which four are known problems; both him and us should prepare the necessary spells to take care of them, offensively and defensively.
-
>invoke hyadain (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1keUIXDa4EE)
> You try to invoke Hyadain, but you mistake your pistol for your Evoker and shoot yourself in the head. MEMORY PARADOX
>... would we be able to get away with using the fairies as bait or decoys? Would they be helpful to keep an eye on Bro or more of a stressor/liability for him?
> Maybe, if you can convince them to come out and not flee in terror first. Having at least one of them to keep an eye on you bro might be a good thing, though.
>Which of the four beasts would Sakuya or Meiling be particularly helpful against? Ping them either way to play it safe, but don't play it up as a complete emergency; just if they're available. Chinagirl may not be, because doorguard.
> Sakuya's fast, so she might be able to keep up with the bird and the snake, but she might be better off with disarming the octopus instead. Hong is actually quite capable in melee combat, she's just lousy with the danmaku. :V
> You send each of them a magical note (with different stationary no less) casually asking them if they're busy.
>Which sorts of spells would Koakuma be able to handle? Does Zakuro have an elemental specialty we're aware of? Ask Bro if uncertain.
> Koa can use some low-level magic, at least. Zakuro...As far as you know, he's good for cutting things and heavy lifting (in spite of his complaining). He has no elemental skills to speak of.
>Also inform Monarda about which four are known problems; both him and us should prepare the necessary spells to take care of them, offensively and defensively.
> You totally do that, so far as to include him in the security camera skim not two posts ago. We can't leave him hanging, after all!
> Your best bet is a PROTECTION spell, which reduces physical damage, and the FEEL-FINE FORCEFIELD that stops status effects. Offense wise, the bird and octopus are weak to elec; the other two are weak to ice. You should also bring NULL FIRE as well; just because the library is fireproof doesn't mean you and the others aren't.
> _
-
>How vital will elemental advantage be in restraining each of the books?
>Would Bro's little swordsman be as capable of handling the octopus as well as Sakuya, considering he has the bigger slicer? Try not to fantasize about tentacle yaoi
>How difficult will it be for us to keep up with the bird and snake? And the others available?
>Would it be a bad idea to let Monarda keep tabs on the camera system and guard the entrance to try and make sure they don't get out and cause further hassles?
>What do we have in the way of remote traps in the library that could help contain them?
>How vital would it be to keep Meiling on the front door compared to handling this problem?
-
>How vital will elemental advantage be in restraining each of the books?
> Stunning the books with an attack they're weak against will make things easier. Furthermore, those elements can paralyze/freeze, so you have the advantage here.
>Would Bro's little swordsman be as capable of handling the octopus as well as Sakuya, considering he has the bigger slicer? Try not to fantasize about tentacle yaoi
> There's nothing his blade can't cut!...Or so Zak claimed. The only problem is waking him up, he's still snoozing in spite of the chaos.
> The other problem is that you failed at fantasizing this situation spectacularly (http://www.nerfnow.com/comic/588)
>How difficult will it be for us to keep up with the bird and snake? And the others available?
> The Aviary Almanac is the only one that can give you real problems. The snake can get into some sneaky spots, but it's not too hard to reach: the challenge is getting it out of a hidey-hole if it decides to take up shelter. The chimera is agile, but not enough to really do much, and the octopus...Yeah, nothing will help this beast's situation, unless there's a sudden flood in the library (don't laugh, it has happened before).
>Would it be a bad idea to let Monarda keep tabs on the camera system and guard the entrance to try and make sure they don't get out and cause further hassles?
> You pose this suggestion to Monarda, and he agrees to do monitor duty. This should help tremendously.
>What do we have in the way of remote traps in the library that could help contain them?
> Oh geeze, you almost forgot about the security system. You have various forcefields, electric and laser fences, and SLOWING SMOG that you normally use to keep Marisa at bay. However, they should be able to keep the beasts contained long enough for you to return them to book form. And if worse comes to worse, you can break out the good ol' PatchCon...
>How vital would it be to keep Meiling on the front door compared to handling this problem?
> You figure it's more important to keep stuff from getting out than getting in; Remi won't notice...Unless the beasts overwhelm you. It's like you keep telling Remi: "Here's a solution to our intruder problem, it's called a door lock."
> To which Remi would reply "I'll lock the front door once you figure out how to keep that black-white burglar out of your library," chuckling all the while. This would often leave you flustered.
> ...That is, if you were actually Patchy and not Marisa, so you find this doubly funny. :D
> "Are they gone yet?" Luna meekly asks from under the desk.
> _
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>dang whippersnappers
>"Not yet. But you may want to stick with Monarda if you don't want to be a fairy snack."
>Ask Monny about whether Zak would be able/willing to help, and/or if he'd be safe if left napping here.
>Warn him about Marisa as well, just in case things get even worse.
>What would the downside be to breaking out PatchCon? Marisa already stole that and presumably gave up on it/got tired of it, right?
>Is the Forest wing particularly prone to flooding?
>We have a good way to communicate with Bro while recollecting the books, right? To coordinate what defenses should be up/down for us to travel and keep track of where the books are, for starters.
-
>"Not yet. But you may want to stick with Monarda if you don't want to be a fairy snack."
> "G-Good idea..." Luna resumes cowering. Useless Meddling Fairies.
>Ask Monny about whether Zak would be able/willing to help, and/or if he'd be safe if left napping here.
> "Oh, I'm sure he would...He just needs a bit of a wakeup call. An airhorn spell usually works," Mon suggests.
>Warn him about Marisa as well, just in case things get even worse.
> "I doubt she'd show up, but...One can't be too careful,"Mon says, as a gust of wind flows over the lounge. You don't know if that was the bird book or...Something else, but it's making you edgy.
>What would the downside be to breaking out PatchCon? Marisa already stole that and presumably gave up on it/got tired of it, right?
> Other than flooding the library with clay dolls? No drawbacks whatsoever! :D
> Ok, that's a lie, you need to have some kind of resource to build more dolls if you don't have enough, but you usually use your own mana for that. Doing that would leave you in a potentially dangerous sitch, however. Mon could do it, but he has the same problem, Koa doesn't have nearly as much mana as you do, the fairies...Ehhh, you'd rather not trust them with it, but you might not have a choice.
> Also, to clarify, Marisa stole the plans for it, she couldn't actually steal the device itself. It is a portable magic circle after all, you'd have a heck of a hard time stuffing that into a Bag of Holding.
>Is the Forest wing particularly prone to flooding?
> Not really, though there's not much stopping it from being flooded in the first place. Besides, it's an octopus, not a water dragon, you think it'll be ok.
>We have a good way to communicate with Bro while recollecting the books, right? To coordinate what defenses should be up/down for us to travel and keep track of where the books are, for starters.
> You keep some walkie-talkies in the mini-kitchen in case of emergencies, so those may be of some use.
> _
-
>Glance up for that wind. If that's what spooked Koa...
>Check the recent feed of the cameras from where we are right now to see if they caught anything.
>Would Koakuma be able to handle any one of the books on her own? Or should she tag along or invoke Patchcon?
>If there's no immediate emergencies, ask Bro to handle waking up his partner and asking whether he can handle fighting an octopus while we and/or Koa get the walkies. We DO keep recordings right
-
>Glance up for that wind. If that's what spooked Koa...
> You don't notice anything out of the ordinary right now, but you can't take anything for granted.
>Check the recent feed of the cameras from where we are right now to see if they caught anything.
> So far, the beasts haven't changed their positions. In fact, they each seem to be settling down for a nap.
> On that note...They seem to have ignored the food, which is surprising.
>Would Koakuma be able to handle any one of the books on her own? Or should she tag along or invoke Patchcon?
> You may be better off having her invoke Patchcon, just in case. Koa's not the most ideal person to use it, but having a few security dolls is better than no dolls.
>If there's no immediate emergencies, ask Bro to handle waking up his partner and asking whether he can handle fighting an octopus while we and/or Koa get the walkies. We DO keep recordings right
> "Oh, very well," Mon says. He preps his magical airhorn and uses it to wake up Zakuro. You plug your ears as the noise travels through the library, much to the beasts' annoyance (thankfully they stay put).
> "Oy, whaddya want? I was having an amazing dream..." Zak complains, finger in one ear.
> "My sister requires your assistance," Mon explains. You tell him the details.
> "A monster hunt, eh? Good thing we didn't arrive later!" Zak says, chuckling. "Just point me to the beasties and I'll handle the rest."
> _
-
> Where are pokeballs when you need them?
> Point Zak at monsters.
> "Have fun."
(Zak wouldn't happen to look anything like this (http://danbooru.donmai.us/posts/886099?tags=zaraki_kenpachi), would he?)
-
>... what would typically cause the books to nap? Are they just lethargic or does that usually happen after they eat? Was that a new ghost we missed...?
>Or maybe someone's manipulating them. Would their current positions be useful for some sort of larger magic circle or whatever?
>Would it be worth watching and waiting until they pass out to ambush or would it not make much difference/risk something else going wrong?
>Once Koakuma (presumably) returns with the walkie-talkies, hand them out and ask her to get some dolls up as support.
>More specifically, direct Zak at disarming the octopus. It won't be much of a danger as it is and he has the specialty to handle it.
>Which other beast is the octopus closest to? We should try to be in a position to save Zak's ass if something goes wrong. And/or vice-versa.
>If Koakuma can handle enough dolls, have some keep tabs on each of the monsters, with a few extra supporting Zak and perhaps fewer helping us. If she can only handle a small group or they're difficult to split up, favor helping Zak and/or us; Bro can keep at least a delayed watch on the other ones.
>We do have a way to activate the library traps if he warns us it would be wise, correct? Or he'd be able to do so himself through the magicomputer?
>If all preparations are in order, head off to the non-octopus option to begin subduing the books.
-
> Remember kids, Notepad is your friend.
(Zak wouldn't happen to look anything like this (http://danbooru.donmai.us/posts/886099?tags=zaraki_kenpachi), would he?)
> Nah, he looks more like Asch (http://aselia.wikia.com/wiki/Asch) with spikier hair ala this guy. (http://bobobo.wikia.com/wiki/Don_Patch)
> Where are pokeballs when you need them?
> Not here, apparently, otherwise this INCIDENT would be resolved too quickly!
>... what would typically cause the books to nap? Are they just lethargic or does that usually happen after they eat? Was that a new ghost we missed...?
> They usually take a nap after eating. It looks like they tore apart the package the food was in before bolting.
> The chances of ghosts being around are unlikely, you made sure they wouldn't slip into the library unless it was the entrance. Even then, they need permission to enter.
>Or maybe someone's manipulating them. Would their current positions be useful for some sort of larger magic circle or whatever?
> Not really, their locations are ill-suited for any sort of magcial shape.
>Would it be worth watching and waiting until they pass out to ambush or would it not make much difference/risk something else going wrong?
> A Monster Book of Legendary Monsters will fold back up into book form when it goes into a deep sleep, so they're easier to collect...Well, "easier" if you take in the fact that if you accidentally wake them up, they'll probably be none too happy with you handling them, so you must be super-careful.
>Once Koakuma (presumably) returns with the walkie-talkies, hand them out and ask her to get some dolls up as support.
> Good timing, Koa just came back with the walkie-talkies. You thank her and give Koa her new orders.
> "Um, you sure about this? The PatchCon hasn't been used in a while..." Koa says, with a twinge of concern. You assure her that the device still works, and that makes her feel a bit better. Koa heads off to set up the dolls.
> The four of you each get ONE (1) KAPPA-BRAND WALKIE-TALKIE.
> Point Zak at monsters.
> "Have fun."
>More specifically, direct Zak at disarming the octopus. It won't be much of a danger as it is and he has the specialty to handle it.
> "Haha, thanks...I'll try." He heads off to the Forest Wing, katana in hand.
>Which other beast is the octopus closest to? We should try to be in a position to save Zak's ass if something goes wrong. And/or vice-versa.
> The Aviary Almanac is closest to the calamari, so that's your best bet for supporting Zakuro.
>If Koakuma can handle enough dolls, have some keep tabs on each of the monsters, with a few extra supporting Zak and perhaps fewer helping us. If she can only handle a small group or they're difficult to split up, favor helping Zak and/or us; Bro can keep at least a delayed watch on the other ones.
> Koa can handle about 40 dolls before her mana pool gets strained. Speaking of which, Koa just returned with the PatchCon: it's a massive solid magic circle about the size of an average trampoline. Koa sets it down gently, and begins chanting. The circle glows, indicating it's ready to accept orders.
> You can make a doll based on any of the SDM members, the two Mikos, or the Eientei Crew at the moment. You need to-re-acquire the magical "code" for anyone else, as the PatchCon has limited memory. One of these days you need to update this thing and integrate it with your MagiComputer...
> Right now all you need to do is specify how many of each doll you want, and where they should go (to Patchy, to Zak, to Sentinel Duty, or someplace else). Oh, and you can issue commands to Zak, Koa or Monarda now, the fairies are too frightened/stupid to accept commands at the moment.
>We do have a way to activate the library traps if he warns us it would be wise, correct? Or he'd be able to do so himself through the magicomputer?
> Oh yes, all you need to do is make a GLYPH GESTURE to activate something. Mon can also activate the traps using the comp's security controls.
>If all preparations are in order, head off to the non-octopus option to begin subduing the books.
> Koa tells you it'll take some time for the dolls to synthesize, before heading out. She and Mon bid you good luck as you head for the Mountain Wing.
> One thing you're proud of doing in the library, is adding a subtle aesthetic theme to each wing. The Forest Wing is adorned with green rugs, lamps, and the occasional plant. The Mountain Wing on the other hand, has picturesque landscapes on both its wall hangings and rugs, and various rock sculptures are sprinkled about (mostly from failed experiments or from the sisters' artistic work). It's a nice way to break up an otherwise monotonus library.
> Silence blankets your ears once again, as you traverse the halls. Only your footsteps can be heard, and if you listen carefully, your heart. You try to keep calm as you scour the halls for the Almanac's whereabouts...But a little magical "Bwoom" sound startles you. It's another magical sticky note in your pocket.
Big Bird should be on the shelf to your right.
~Mon
> You look up at said shelf. Fittingly enough, it's filled with tomes on spelunking and mountain climbing, with the occasional atlas thrown in for good measure. The shelf towers above you; you estimate it's at least three stories tall. There's no open spaces on the upper shelves, your target must be sleeping on the very top of this structure.
> _
-
Curating Conjurer:
>If safe and easy to do so, thank Mon for the support.
>Do we have any quiet but effective spells that we could lob up there and have land on the bird for a stealthy one-shot sealing? Or at least, slow it down significantly? Like, gravity-affected ones? Or a way to have it curve in a similar manner once it gets to that height without alerting it to our presence?
>What aiming/targeting restrictions would be in place for our most effective lightning spells against the birdybook? Move to be close to a position optimal for taking advantage of it without alerting it.
Satanite Samurai:
>Locate octopi. Engage violence.
>And/or emulate Luka for Patchouli's enjoyment
Miniature Impette:
>We ARE familiar with the dolls' abilities and weaknesses, right?
>Is friendly fire a concern with the ranged or bomber dolls? Presumably not.
>Sakuya dolls can slow down their target and are good against fliers, or even for general use; send... let's say ten to support Patchouli. Let's just ignore that Reisen's ranged confusion is comically overpowered for the time being
>If friendly fire is not a concern, send some long-range artillery to support Zak. Remilias would probably be easiest... but Eirin may help keep him healthy. Ten and five, perhaps? But if those might mess him up, instead send some throwaway melees to help distract his victim(s); since Mokou and Chinas may explode, a mix of Tewi and Flandre would work better... five and ten, though, since that luck aura won't help much here.
>Kinda a shame we don't have Cirno's code for the ice-weakness ones... and how do we still have the mikos' codes, anyway?
>Dolls will ultimately be most useful for hunting down the snake if it tries to hide, but let's wait on actually going on the offensive until some of the others are handled and we can have a bigger squad on the job; in the meantime, send some Mokou dolls to be intimidating and punish it for trying to eat them. Five should be plenty.
>The Chimera is the hard part to handle... some more Sakuyas to distract it may be the safest option. We COULD go for ten, but five staying at a distance and keeping some mana reserves in case something unexpected comes up may be safer. Let's start with that.
>If our dolls don't make it to help Patchouli or Zak before they finish with the one they're handling, send the remainder to help handle the chimera. The snake can wait for last, unless Patch insists we redirect the dolls exclusively to take it down. How big a squad would be safe for that? 25+ would probably be enough to keep it interesting.
>For now, avoid actively picking a fight with any of the books until one of the real hunters has begun the match.
>If the dolls need to be fabricated one at a time, start with a single Mokou to annoy the snake, then get half of Zak's backup prepared before helping Patchouli and getting some watchers for the Chimera.
Solar Shaman:
>Tighten the forcefield/etc nets around the octopi and aviary almanac as the hunters close in to limit escape options.
>If easy/safe to do so before Patchouli enters combat, ask her if she wants to activate Slowing Smog in her area to help with the bird, or if it would interfere with her too much.
>Make note of the others' positions and easy ways to guide the hunters to them, or ways to ambush them when the time comes.
-
> The parser apologizes for the absurd delay, but regrets nothing. ;)
Curating Conjurer:
>If safe and easy to do so, thank Mon for the support.
> You send him a quick thank-you note while you ponder your next move.
>Do we have any quiet but effective spells that we could lob up there and have land on the bird for a stealthy one-shot sealing? Or at least, slow it down significantly? Like, gravity-affected ones? Or a way to have it curve in a similar manner once it gets to that height without alerting it to our presence?
> You have been experimenting with a Lock-On Lightning spell, which can lock onto targets if you have a line of sight to them. Otherwise, it just homes in on the nearest "living" thing.
>What aiming/targeting restrictions would be in place for our most effective lightning spells against the birdybook? Move to be close to a position optimal for taking advantage of it without alerting it.
> If by "effective" you mean "most powerful," it'd require you to be outdoors with heavy cloud cover to summon a Mighty Thunder spell. Otherwise, as stated, your Lock-On Lightning should work out just fine; hitting an elemental monster with an element they don't like stuns and weakens them for a few seconds. Of course, there's defenses to take into account, but you're more than poweful enough to cripple foes with even the weakest spells.
> You float up silently, and hover over the bookshelf across from your prey. In the distance you can see a large book, its pages fluttering as it snores. This is the Almanac you've been looking for!
Satanite Samurai:
>Locate octopi. Engage violence.
>And/or emulate Luka for Patchouli's enjoyment
> Who is this Luka you speak of?!
> Anyways, you wander the halls of books, and hear a faint crumpling and scraping of paper. It's close...Very close...In fact...IT'S RIGHT ABOVE YOU TO YOUR LEFT! It looks like the critter's on the hunt still, and it's gunning for you...Or, it would be, if your reflexes weren't lightning-quick. You leap up and slash at the beast's tentacles as it lunges at you, but you only succeed in lopping off a couple of them. Now the Octopedia is flailing around on the ground as you cling to the bookshelf, but it manages to right itself and spew a cloud of ink as it "swims" through the air, out of sight. Ugh...Who knew ink had such a smokey smell to it?
Miniature Impette:
>We ARE familiar with the dolls' abilities and weaknesses, right?
> Surely you jest, player! (http://en.touhouwiki.net/wiki/PatchCon/Characters)
>Is friendly fire a concern with the ranged or bomber dolls? Presumably not.
> Not really, their shots just bounce off of each other harmlessly.
>Sakuya dolls can slow down their target and are good against fliers, or even for general use; send... let's say ten to support Patchouli. Let's just ignore that Reisen's ranged confusion is comically overpowered for the time being
> You actually had to nerf Reisen's bullets to just having an explosive effect; all the crossfire was confusing the other dolls and causing problems.
> You queue up TEN (10) SAKUYA DOLLS with intent to SUPPORT/PROTECT PATCHY.
>If friendly fire is not a concern, send some long-range artillery to support Zak. Remilias would probably be easiest... but Eirin may help keep him healthy. Ten and five, perhaps? But if those might mess him up, instead send some throwaway melees to help distract his victim(s); since Mokou and Chinas may explode, a mix of Tewi and Flandre would work better... five and ten, though, since that luck aura won't help much here.
> You designed the dolls specifically to damage Marisa's aura, so they won't hurt him. You queue up TEN (10) REMILIA DOLLS and FIVE (5) EIRIN DOLLS with intent to SUPPORT ZAKURO.
>Kinda a shame we don't have Cirno's code for the ice-weakness ones... and how do we still have the mikos' codes, anyway?
> You were intending to get Cirno's code, but with the cold weather and Halloween on the horizon, you felt it was more trouble than it was worth. You'll have to get it from her sometime.
> The reason why you have the miko codes is because of their sealing/dispelling abilities, they do a good job of weakening threats so the other dolls and subdue them. And seeing as these two are the resident youkai exterminators, why not have them? You're still trying to get used to Sanae's MO, so her AI is a bit...glitchy at the moment, she's prone to just sit around staring at things, and examine them like a curious child instead of actually fighting.
>Dolls will ultimately be most useful for hunting down the snake if it tries to hide, but let's wait on actually going on the offensive until some of the others are handled and we can have a bigger squad on the job; in the meantime, send some Mokou dolls to be intimidating and punish it for trying to eat them. Five should be plenty.
> You queue up FIVE (5) MOKOU DOLLS with intent to SEEK AND OUST.
>The Chimera is the hard part to handle... some more Sakuyas to distract it may be the safest option. We COULD go for ten, but five staying at a distance and keeping some mana reserves in case something unexpected comes up may be safer. Let's start with that.
> You queue up FIVE (5) SAKUYA DOLLS with intent to...Well, you don't know just yet, so you put them under OTHER TASKS for now.
>If our dolls don't make it to help Patchouli or Zak before they finish with the one they're handling, send the remainder to help handle the chimera. The snake can wait for last, unless Patch insists we redirect the dolls exclusively to take it down. How big a squad would be safe for that? 25+ would probably be enough to keep it interesting.
> Potentially, yes, but at the moment you're at 35 of your 40 doll limit...Actually no, make it 50, the MANA AUTO-ASSESSER of the PatchCon updated your UPPER DOLL LIMIT. Patchy can easily crank out hundreds of these dolls if she poured all her energy into it, but 50 should be enough for all your tasks at the moment.
>For now, avoid actively picking a fight with any of the books until one of the real hunters has begun the match.
> You ask for a status report on Patchy and Zak's progress. "Zak's got a lock on the ock, sis is about to engage the eagle...At least, I think it's an eagle? I'm not sure."
>If the dolls need to be fabricated one at a time, start with a single Mokou to annoy the snake, then get half of Zak's backup prepared before helping Patchouli and getting some watchers for the Chimera.
> You get to work on the dolls, producing the Mokous first, then five Remis and two Eirins. Thankfully, the PatchCon puts seperate dolls in their own queues, so multiples can be made at once, though each doll takes slightly more time to make as you add more queues. Sadly, the three dolls you requested are also one of the most time-consuming ones to make (higher base cost = longer spawn time), so it takes them close to 20-30 seconds each. The Eirins roll of the line first, followed by the Remis, then the Mokous.
> Now you just have to figure out what to do with the remainder of your alotted mana...
Solar Shaman:
>Tighten the forcefield/etc nets around the octopi and aviary almanac as the hunters close in to limit escape options.
> You do so for the latter, blocking off its forward escape. You also form a "bubble" of sorts around the former since you don't know where it'll fly once Patchy attacks.
>If easy/safe to do so before Patchouli enters combat, ask her if she wants to activate Slowing Smog in her area to help with the bird, or if it would interfere with her too much.
> "I can protect myself from it, so go ahead if you want to, bro."
>Make note of the others' positions and easy ways to guide the hunters to them, or ways to ambush them when the time comes.
> The snake is hiding under a reclining chair, the chimera is asleep in the middle of of the Flame Wing. You suggest to Koa that the lone Mokou attack the snake from behind, so it doesn't bite back; the chimera should be attacked from the high ground so the dolls can get away quickly.
> As you scan the chimera's resting place, you see a bit of a distortion in the background...You're not sure if it's a glitch in the camera or something else, but it fades away just as quickly as you spotted it.
> _
-
Spellbinder Bibliothecary:
>If it can be constrained to this area and/or the dolls would also be immune to it, have Monarda fire up the slowing smog, since presumably it wouldn't awaken the book. Warn Zak if necessary. Otherwise, nevermind for now; Koa should remain relevant if needed.
>Though that odd thing we saw... well, no. One problem at a time.
>Zot.
Private Pagan:
>Clever girl. Bleh, how annoying.
>Try to track it. Stay on the alert, if it's still looking for a fight.
>Do we have a good way to handle that annoying ink? Maybe some kind of wind spell? Wave/slash away what we can safely if all else fails.
Pint-sized Succubus:
>Get the Mokou into position ASAP but avoid engaging unless it starts the fight; send each over individually as they finish.
>Send what we've got of the Zak squad over to help him out.
>If it would take longer in total to get 3-5 Sakuyas out before finishing Zakuro's support squad, finish with his team first and send the rest. If it would be more efficient to get them started now, start on producing the maid squad to help Patch and send the first set of five off to join her once they're done.
>Again, Chimera can wait... and the remainder of our mana reserves can be kept waiting until the necessary groups are ready, to more quickly respond to anything else that comes up. Patchouli could probably handle most of this on her own if she had to, right?
Solaris Sorcerer:
>Follow Patchouli's advice on the Slowing Smog.
>Aid our demon bro with finding his quarry, if he's having trouble after that inkjet.
>Humor thoughts of yaoite rewards if he does well
>If nothing's going wrong, keep tabs on the chimera's screen, or an eye out for that weird distortion. If it keeps happening, ask about it, preferably during a relative lull.
-
Spellbinder Bibliothecary:
>If it can be constrained to this area and/or the dolls would also be immune to it, have Monarda fire up the slowing smog, since presumably it wouldn't awaken the book. Warn Zak if necessary. Otherwise, nevermind for now; Koa should remain relevant if needed.
> Your shield spell should protect you from the smog, and the dolls are non-living entities, so they should be ok. You ask Mon to fire up the smog; a lavender-hued fume shoots up through some hidden vents in the floor and surrounds the area. It smells a bit odd, but you should be fine.
>Though that odd thing we saw... well, no. One problem at a time.
>Zot.
> You give the Almanac a nasty wakeup call with a bolt of lightning. It screeches in pain and anger, and unfurls into its fully-feathered form. Its well-drawn eyes lock onto you, and then the bird lets out a fowl shriek that sends you flying into another shelf. Ow. The bird takes off with some difficulty, it shouldn't be that hard to track thanks to the smog.
Private Pagan:
>Clever girl. Bleh, how annoying.
>Try to track it. Stay on the alert, if it's still looking for a fight.
>Do we have a good way to handle that annoying ink? Maybe some kind of wind spell? Wave/slash away what we can safely if all else fails.
> You're not Youmu, but you're almost as good at cutting things that shouldn't be cut...Like inexplicably floating clouds of ink. You slice through the smokescreen with ease, but are jumped by the octopus as it leaps through the cloud...It was using it as a makeshift cover to attack you! You soon fight yourself up to your shoulders in tentacle-y bits...If the girls see this you'll never be able to live this down. Think, orange! Think!
> ARE YOU HAPPY NOW, PLAYER
Pint-sized Succubus:
>Get the Mokou into position ASAP but avoid engaging unless it starts the fight; send each over individually as they finish.
>Send what we've got of the Zak squad over to help him out.
> You send the lone Mokou off to pursue the snake, and set a waypoint for the rest to follow.
> You managed to get three Remis and a couple Eirins off the line, so you send them to find Zak. Good thing, too, it sounds like he could use the help.
>If it would take longer in total to get 3-5 Sakuyas out before finishing Zakuro's support squad, finish with his team first and send the rest. If it would be more efficient to get them started now, start on producing the maid squad to help Patch and send the first set of five off to join her once they're done.
> Sakuyas don't take as long, but Zak is kind of in a bind (literally), so you put his group higher up on the queue and start cranking out a few Sakuya dolls.
>Again, Chimera can wait... and the remainder of our mana reserves can be kept waiting until the necessary groups are ready, to more quickly respond to anything else that comes up. Patchouli could probably handle most of this on her own if she had to, right?
> So far, she's engaged the bird, and assuming nothing bad happens, she should be fine. You're more worried about the snake. You're hoping the dolls can incapacitate it while Patchy's fighting the eagle. Is it an eagle? It looks like one...Ugh, all this thinking while multitasking is a pain.
Solaris Sorcerer:
>Follow Patchouli's advice on the Slowing Smog.
> You access the Security Controls and spray smog into Patchy's sector. She's protected, but that bird sure as heck won't be.
>Aid our demon bro with finding his quarry, if he's having trouble after that inkjet.
>Humor thoughts of yaoite rewards if he does well
> He's having less trouble with the ink and more with the octopus itself...Yeesh. You try to stifle a chuckle as you figure out how to get that beast off of him...Oh, that reminds you, you know those lamps scattered throughout the mansion? They're actually well-disguised magic turrets. With a press of a button, you command the nearest one to shoot a low-powered magic missile to get the octopus off. This spooks it, and it slithers off.
> Geeze you need to lay off browsing your sister's stash, and Koa's for that matter
>If nothing's going wrong, keep tabs on the chimera's screen, or an eye out for that weird distortion. If it keeps happening, ask about it, preferably during a relative lull.
> You take another look at the chimera's resting space. It's still sitting there, sleeping. Nothing unusual there. It's surprisingly quiet.
> ...That is, until you hear something fall over. It spooks you for a moment, but you turn and see it's just some loose papers on the table falling over. Your sister really needs to get her "system" back in order!
> _
-
Curator Enchantress:
>Sonar attacks? That's a bit unexpected. What else should we expect from this nuisance?
>Pursue and continue lightningspamming it into submission, if feasible.
Fiendish Fencer:
>NEVER.
>Okay, maybe we should be less aggressive! Damnit.
>Focus on weakening it for now by removing a tentacle at a time, and fall back if it does the ink again. Stay in sight of the lamps if we saw where the support shot came from.
Goblinic Clerk
>Continue with the current doll generation and distribution plan. Focus on getting Zak's crew prepared...
>Try to herd the octopus toward Zak and/or the support lamps, with the squad(s) that arrive there. Move as a group to make the dakka more intimidating and keep Eirin's healing up if it tries to rush - which would leave its back open to Zak, of course...
>Once we have five Sakuyas, send them off to help Patchouli; their goal is to ambush the Almanac and land the slowdown effect from a knife volley so the boss can finish the job. Try to be sneaky if we can.
>The Mokou group should mill about to contain the snake's mobility if it wakes up. Make a loose circle around it once at least three mokous get there, but try not to wake it up until we can spare more dolls to swarm it with. We'll split off some of the other squads once at least one of the others is contained.
Shining Wizard:[/u]
>Hmm. Try to keep half an eye on that set of papers, or just for things nearby; if that distortion meant anything, the source might be near here for now.
>Give the occasional shot of supporting fire for the two ongoing fights to keep the books off-guard, if only until Koakuma's dolls arrive to help.
>Wait they have a stash?!
-
Curator Enchantress:
>Sonar attacks? That's a bit unexpected. What else should we expect from this nuisance?
>Pursue and continue lightningspamming it into submission, if feasible.
> As you recover, your question is answered when the bird flaps its wings, creating gusts of wind that whip you around like...Whips. Yeah, they hurt. Hose else do you think wind spells work in Fire Emblem? Anyways, you counterattack with another lightning spell, shocking the bird for a moment and stunning it (and yes, it is frozen in midair).
Fiendish Fencer:
>NEVER.
>Okay, maybe we should be less aggressive! Damnit.
>Focus on weakening it for now by removing a tentacle at a time, and fall back if it does the ink again. Stay in sight of the lamps if we saw where the support shot came from.
> You think you're so clever, say good bye to your save files forever!
> You give chase. The octopus tries to distract you with another ink cloud, but you're ready this time with another long-range slash. You lop off two more tentacles and dispel the cloud, leaving the mollusk quite exposed...Or as much as it can be, as it tries to stuff itself under a table to avoid further attack.
Goblinic Clerk
>Continue with the current doll generation and distribution plan. Focus on getting Zak's crew prepared...
>Try to herd the octopus toward Zak and/or the support lamps, with the squad(s) that arrive there. Move as a group to make the dakka more intimidating and keep Eirin's healing up if it tries to rush - which would leave its back open to Zak, of course...
> Just as the octopus thinks its found a good hiding spot, its flushed out again by a tiny platoon of spear-wielding vampire dolls. The creature tries to beat it by climbing up one of the nearby shelves.
> Zak's injuries are minimal at best, but the Eirin dolls on the scene patch him up anyways.
>Once we have five Sakuyas, send them off to help Patchouli; their goal is to ambush the Almanac and land the slowdown effect from a knife volley so the boss can finish the job. Try to be sneaky if we can.
> The Sakuyas are up and off like a herd of turtles!...Very fast, teleporting turtles. :V Either way, they arrive just in time to assist in disabling the Almanac, a flurry of tiny knives plink into the bird's skin and knock it out of the air, further stunning it. Good timing, now all that's left is for Patchy to seal the bird.
>The Mokou group should mill about to contain the snake's mobility if it wakes up. Make a loose circle around it once at least three mokous get there, but try not to wake it up until we can spare more dolls to swarm it with. We'll split off some of the other squads once at least one of the others is contained.
> Unfortunately, the snake's hearing is more keen than you expected: it attacked the Mokou doll that tried to sneak up on it. The doll was able to dodge the bite and cling to the beast, but now the snake is thrashing about, trying to unload its unruly hitchhiker. A couple more Mokou dolls show up and engage the beast, though its flailing about makes it hard for the dolls to get in any good hits on it.
Shining Wizard:
>Hmm. Try to keep half an eye on that set of papers, or just for things nearby; if that distortion meant anything, the source might be near here for now.
> Now your attention is on full alert. Someone or something is around...Is someone watching you? Ugh, this stress isn't good for you, so you decide to pour yourself some more tea...
>Give the occasional shot of supporting fire for the two ongoing fights to keep the books off-guard, if only until Koakuma's dolls arrive to help.
> ...While you set some of the Magiturrets to "auto" so they can continue assisting. Patchy's prey is subdued, Zakuro has the mollusk up against the wall, and the snake...Is busy making a mess of things. That one will be hard to track, but you have no time to work on that now; a steady hand is always accurate, but a panicked mind will press the wrong button and accidentally open or close the wrong program.
>Wait they have a stash?!
> Ugh, this brings you to the time where you accidentally discovered the girls' pr0n stashes...Never before have you seen so much Morrigan and Freiza pictures in one place, and none of them are safe for work. Or humanity, for that matter.
> Hopefully some more tea will calm your nerves...As you take a sip, you make a startling revelation...
> There was some tea in this cup. BUT IT'S GONE NOW.
> This is the WORST. POSSIBLE. THING.
> WHO TOUCHED MY TEA?!
> ...Ok it wasn't specifcally my tea but goddammit I wanted to drink that.
> _
-
Bibliophiliac Thaumaturge:
>Ugh! How irritating. Will we be okay in a battle of attrition against this thing?!... Oh, there's the dolls, good. Thank you, Koa.
>Seal the damn birdbook.
>Update Bro on the situation, thank our familiar, and see if Zak needs backup.
>Right, next. Would the octopus be on the way to the snake? How far away are the other books from where we are now?
Warrior Incubus:
>THERE'S the cavalry! Are... those ones healing up that molestation damage? Nifty.
>Though like hell we're letting octodad that stupid book get away! Time for more violence. We can afford to be aggressive again; trim it down and trap it!
>Contemplate pocketing discarded tentacles for later
Magical Dark Souls Reference:
>Ergh... okay, we're stressing out a little much over this. Chill, Mon, chill. Take a deep breath.
>We DEFINITELY had tea in there, right? Who the hell steals tea? And how'd they do it that fast?
>Update Patchouli when she asks.
>Ask Koa if she could provide a few dolls to watch our back for peace of mind. All this is getting us nervous!
Petite Pagan:
>Don't worry too much about the Mokous having trouble subduing snakebutt offhand. Just keep it busy, and have the dolls stay close; the on-death selfdestruct should punish it plenty for picking a fight. Try and keep three on it at all times. If it's easy to spare the effort, micromanage spare injured ones away for a moment to heal so we don't have to replace them as often.
>And if it woke up that easily, let's try not approaching the chimera until we're ready for it. Redirect the Sakuyas we had planned to watch over that to help out with the snake, now that subtlety has failed.
>If Mon's concerned, guess we should give him a variety of defensive support... queue up one each of Tewi, Reimu, Sanae, Eirin, and... Flandre to discourage things from messing with him.
>How surprising are the Meiling dolls' self-destruct? If it's unlikely to stress out Monarda, send him a set of five to tank. Keep him surrounded by friendlies.
-
Bibliophiliac Thaumaturge:
>Ugh! How irritating. Will we be okay in a battle of attrition against this thing?!... Oh, there's the dolls, good. Thank you, Koa.
>Seal the damn birdbook.
> Time to put this bird back in its place. And what better way to do that than with a BINDING BOOKMARK? Reimu gave these to you as a sort of "olive branch" gift after Flan was brought under control; they're meant to contain spirits within books or the books themselves. With a well-placed toss, you slap the bookmark onto the Aviary Almanac, causing it to cry out before it shifts back into its hardbound package. Now it's mostly harmless...Save for a beak-shaped corner that most likely represents its mouth. At least it can still eat!
>Update Bro on the situation, thank our familiar, and see if Zak needs backup.
>Right, next. Would the octopus be on the way to the snake? How far away are the other books from where we are now?
> You wave at the nearest camera, letting the two of them know you're still in one piece. Before your ponder your next move, another sticky note is sent to you.
"Mon's a bit busy right now...I think, he's not at the computer right now." Zak's dealing with the octopus, but the
snake is kinda on the loose at the moment."
> Going by the layout of the library, you estimate the locations of each beast are as follows:
Lunar (Mo) | Flame (Tu) | Frost (We) | Forest (Th) | Iron (Fr) | Mountain (Sa) | Solar (Su)
Snake Chimera Mollusk Bird
(CAPTURED)
> ...That being said, if you don't do something about the snake fast it could cause problems for Koa and Monarda, or sneak into the Chimera's territory. And that would be bad.
Warrior Incubus:
>THERE'S the cavalry! Are... those ones healing up that molestation damage? Nifty.
> The wonders of magical science always amazing. Damned if you're actually going to learn it, though.
>Though like hell we're letting octodad that stupid book get away! Time for more violence. We can afford to be aggressive again; trim it down and trap it!
>Contemplate pocketing discarded tentacles for later
> You consider pocketing the loose legs for a tasty snack later...Except these are made out of paper and probably wouldn't taste very good.
> You will, however, demonstrate one of your talents--while you're opposed to magic, you are capable of unleashing elemental attacks from your sword. In this case, a bolt of lightning from your sword to shock the squidling out of hiding. You then disarm your foe with a series of quick slashes, and the Remi dolls pin it with their spears. Mission accomplished, I'd say!
Magical Dark Souls Reference:
>Ergh... okay, we're stressing out a little much over this. Chill, Mon, chill. Take a deep breath.
>We DEFINITELY had tea in there, right? Who the hell steals tea? And how'd they do it that fast?
> You inhale and exhale a few times. Now's not the time to freak out over a spot of tea...That being said, when you go to check your cup again as well as the teapot, you notice something...A clear plastic drinking straw sticking out from the spout. Someone sipped the tea right out, and probably did the same to your cup when you weren't looking...That's just a wee bit unsavory, you think!
>Update Patchouli when she asks.
> Just when you're about to check back on Patchy, you hear it...A faint giggle. You look around wildly for the source, but it eludes you.
>Ask Koa if she could provide a few dolls to watch our back for peace of mind. All this is getting us nervous!
> You're about to ask Koa that, when you look at her location and realize...She's gone from her post. Did she wander off? This is unlike her.
> You call out for Koa's name when you hear another giggle, this time much louder...
> "You're so cute when you look flustered."
> That voice...!
> Your realization is cut short when you feel a sharp hit to the back of your head. Then, nothing but black.
> *LOUD STATIC NOISES*
> *SILENCE, FOLLOWED BY LOUD MODEM BEEPS*
> *B-WHIP*
> ...
> Memory Resyncification Complete. You remember this part.
> Continue following the memory to achieve Perfect Resyncification. Put your thinking cap on!
Petite Pagan:
> *MORE STATIC*
> When you regain control, your perspective is still focused on Koakuma, but this time from a third person persective. You are still able to give commands to her and the others (minus Monarda at the moment) in your memory.
>Don't worry too much about the Mokous having trouble subduing snakebutt offhand. Just keep it busy, and have the dolls stay close; the on-death selfdestruct should punish it plenty for picking a fight. Try and keep three on it at all times. If it's easy to spare the effort, micromanage spare injured ones away for a moment to heal so we don't have to replace them as often.
> The snake isn't really capable of hurting anyone unless it bites, and since the dolls are mostly inorganic...
> Wait...Why is it rearing back like that with its mouth open?
> *FFFFSSSSSSSSSHHHHHH TINGLE TINGLE TINGLE*
> Oh. That's why...Apparently the snake has ice breath. Two of the three Mokou dolls are frozen, and the snake flicks its tail to get them off its body. They smack against a shelf and fall to the ground in a daze, unable to move or attack fast enough.
>And if it woke up that easily, let's try not approaching the chimera until we're ready for it. Redirect the Sakuyas we had planned to watch over that to help out with the snake, now that subtlety has failed.
> Yeah, about that...The snake is now fleeing out of the Lunar Wing and towards the Flame Wing; you better act fast before--oh wait, the Sakuyas arrived. Yay!
> They stall the snake from leaving the area, but if you have any hope of stopping it, you might need some bigger firepower.
>If Mon's concerned, guess we should give him a variety of defensive support... queue up one each of Tewi, Reimu, Sanae, Eirin, and... Flandre to discourage things from messing with him.
>How surprising are the Meiling dolls' self-destruct? If it's unlikely to stress out Monarda, send him a set of five to tank. Keep him surrounded by friendlies.
> He's aware of the Meilings' exploding ability, though why they have it is a mystery to him (and you). You queue up the appropriate dolls. It's funny, you're giving orders to a lesser demon who's giving orders to a bunch of dolls. I don't think I need to mention the joke here.
> The pieces are falling into place...You remember now...You snuck into the library for your usual book stealing run, and a little extra...But what, you don't quite remember. And despite being in plain sight, they haven't spotted you. It's also a bit odd to be looking through all these events out of order; you have to figure out a way to get them to link up properly. You should probably start with getting Koa away from her post, but who am I to tell you how to do things? ;-P
> _
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Bookie Spellblaster:
>Pocket the bird, if it's safe.
>Bro's busy? Was playing support still too stressful? Bah.
>Exactly how bad would the Chimera and Snake being in the same place be?
>Would stopping by with Zak be significantly out of the way to reaching the other books?
>How difficult/out of the way would it be to get around the Chimera to help with the Snake, or will we have to go through it either way?
>If Zak would be more or less on the way to the others, stop by to check in, get the book, and discuss strategy. If it would take time away, head to the snake if we can avoid the chimera, or beetail it to the chimera to start getting that out of the way. Inform the others of the plan.
>If the chimera would be our next destination, direct the dolls that came to support us to sneak/rush past to handle the snake instead.
Demonic Blademaster:
>Snack? That's not where it'd go, bra
>Pack up the punk. What would it be able to do now, anyway?
>Do we have a way to seal it properly, or will this do?
>Get ahold of Boss and his sister to determine where to go next. What's the last we heard on the snake/chimera situation?
Impette in Lexconna Minor:
>Ah shit. Are any Mokous near its neck? Wrapping around the back of that could work a little... but this is not a good sign.
>Will those frozen Mokous thaw out quickly (hopefully moreso due to fire nature), or should we consider whether it'd be possible to order one to self-destruct to defrost the other, if that would work?
>Block off its exit however we can!
>What IS Monarda up to? Would we be able to get him to block off the route the snake's trying to use?
>Magus Monnie: Wake up tied to Marisa's bed
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> It's been a week since the last update? Unacceptable! ACTIVATE BRAVELY SECOND!!
>Magus Monnie: Wake up tied to Marisa's bed
> You succeed in getting yourself trapped in a shipfic, which gets rave reviews on Fanfiction.net. BAD END
Bookie Spellblaster:
>Pocket the bird, if it's safe.
> Aside from the possibility of if nipping at you, you're fine. You stuff the SEALED AVIARY ALMANAC into your ABSURDLY LARGE POCKETS.
>Bro's busy? Was playing support still too stressful? Bah.
> You lament your brother's heart condition, but quickly stop. It's not his fault he was born that way...He probably just got distracted.
>Exactly how bad would the Chimera and Snake being in the same place be?
> Annoying enough to be dangerous. You focus on the Chimera, you risk getting bitten by the Snake. You focus on the Snake, the Chimera rips your head off. It's probably in your best interest to keep the two seperated.
>Would stopping by with Zak be significantly out of the way to reaching the other books?
> Nah, if anything it'd be on the way to the other two.
>How difficult/out of the way would it be to get around the Chimera to help with the Snake, or will we have to go through it either way?
> The snake'll probably be within the Chimera's territory by the time you reach it, so your best bet would be to draw the Chimera away somehow.
>If Zak would be more or less on the way to the others, stop by to check in, get the book, and discuss strategy. If it would take time away, head to the snake if we can avoid the chimera, or beetail it to the chimera to start getting that out of the way. Inform the others of the plan.
>If the chimera would be our next destination, direct the dolls that came to support us to sneak/rush past to handle the snake instead.
> You start to make your way towards Zak's location as quickly as you can, and ask the dolls to support containing the snake.
Demonic Blademaster:
>Snack? That's not where it'd go, bra
> Sorry, #Fetish-Meido closed down some time ago. :V
>Pack up the punk. What would it be able to do now, anyway?
> Spew ink up at your face? Nah, you got a solution to this...
>Do we have a way to seal it properly, or will this do?
> ...A solution involving you sitting on it. The Remi dolls look at you with a perplexed expression, but the Eirin dolls find it amusing.
>Get ahold of Boss and his sister to determine where to go next. What's the last we heard on the snake/chimera situation?
> You scribble a note out to the two of them, and find out what Patchy already did: The Chimera and snake are dangerously close to one another. Patchy suggests the two of you try and lure the Chimera away, but is open to ideas.
Impette in Lexconna Minor:
>Ah shit. Are any Mokous near its neck? Wrapping around the back of that could work a little... but this is not a good sign.
> One bravely manages to leap to the Snake's throat and clasp down on it. This does not, however, keep it from flailing around like a maniac.
>Will those frozen Mokous thaw out quickly (hopefully moreso due to fire nature), or should we consider whether it'd be possible to order one to self-destruct to defrost the other, if that would work?
> You have a slightly less violent idea--have the Mokous use their flame-charged hands to melt the ice. After a few seconds, they're back in the action, if a bit wet from the melted ice.
>Block off its exit however we can!
>What IS Monarda up to? Would we be able to get him to block off the route the snake's trying to use?
> You ask Mon to try and trap the snake, but you don't hear a response. In fact, it seems he's completely missing from the computer terminal! Ugh, of all the times to go and take a potty break...!
> You go to ask the Terrified Fairies what happened to him, but in all their excitement, they seem to have fallen asleep... Useless little--! >:(
> "What's the matter?"
> Koa perks up at the voice...That annoying, conniving voice that's haunted her for--
> "If you're that upset, you can join them in dreamland, ze!"
> WHAM. A hard hit to the head makes Koa fade to black.
> "Heh, this is almost too easy...Hmmm, I've got some time to kill before they take care of that last monster..." you mumble as your eyes turn to the cluttered ROTUND TABLEAU.
> _
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>Miniaturized Succubus: Wake up after tying Moarda to the bed.
Magical . Bibliophile:
>Is Zak's butt enough to contain/seal the octobook? We heard about that, right? If not, ask him to stay put until we can properly seal and secure it. If he'd be more helpful going ahead of us to divert the other loose books, send him off and we'll grab it on our way.
>Is there a good way to flank the chimera and/or snake if they end up in the same place? Would they be hostile to one another?
>What would be a good lure/deterrent for one and not the other, if using that to separate them would be the better plan?
>The snake uses ice breath and bites, what about the chimera?
Satanite Samurai:
>Well, we could try to split them up after we get there... there ARE two of us, after all. And there's the dolls. If we don't need the ones here, send them off to uh... do whatever Patch advises. She knows what's going on here.
>Do the same with her advice on where we should be, unless we know we have a way to pack up this dumb octopus for later and go on ahead to start handling the last two.
-
> Do we have some kind of magical map of the library we can use for coordinating this kind of thing? Something that would let us command all our dolls, familiars, friends, and associates from the comfort of our favorite chair?
-
>Miniaturized Succubus: Wake up after tying Monarda to the bed.
> So we're making this a threesome, eh? Good, this fic gets twice as many (re)views and even gets made into a published book that sells millions. You happily retire to Englandand live out the rest of your days from your earnings. GOOD END?
Magical . Bibliophile:
>Is Zak's butt enough to contain/seal the octobook? We heard about that, right? If not, ask him to stay put until we can properly seal and secure it. If he'd be more helpful going ahead of us to divert the other loose books, send him off and we'll grab it on our way.
> You figure it'd be more prudent to get the octopus out of the way first, so you head off to assist Zak. You've heard stories about him being able to stop a sword with his butt, then grab it with his buttocks and snap it like a twig, but you'd rather not see that for yourself.
>Is there a good way to flank the chimera and/or snake if they end up in the same place? Would they be hostile to one another?
> The snake might try to bite the Chimera, but it's not gonna stand a chance if it pisses it off. If anything, the Snake will try and stay out of the way and attack anything that comes near it. The Chimera behaves very much like the big cat that's dominating its M.O., so once it gets your attention, expect a dangerous hunt/chase. At least the shelves and such will keep the Chimera corralled somewhat, but heaven forbid if it reaches the front door...
>What would be a good lure/deterrent for one and not the other, if using that to separate them would be the better plan?
>The snake uses ice breath and bites, what about the chimera?
> The Snake is too small to eat humans, so maybe a bit of that human meat may be a good deterrant...There was a still a chunk left over from the package, perhaps it's not too late to go grab it.
> The Chimera is armed with fire breath and a poisonous snake tail, as well as hypnosis and paralysis inducing gazes. The snake tail thankfully can't use it, but you wouldn't want to attack it from that angle anyways.
Satanite Samurai:
>Well, we could try to split them up after we get there... there ARE two of us, after all. And there's the dolls. If we don't need the ones here, send them off to uh... do whatever Patch advises. She knows what's going on here.
>Do the same with her advice on where we should be, unless we know we have a way to pack up this dumb octopus for later and go on ahead to start handling the last two.
> You ask them to go seek out Patchy, and they do so. It doesn't take long, though, as Patchy soon reaches you.
> "...Funny time for you to be sitting down on the job," Patchy playfully jokes. You tell her to shut up and seal this thing, it's still moving. "Fine, get up."
> You jump off and stand back as Patchy applies another BINDING BOOKMARK, reducing the already disarmed octopus to a quivering mass of paper. The corners flail about ever so futilly as Patchy pockets the mollusk.
> So, now what do you want to--
ERROR: ZAKURO CAN NO LONGER RECEIVE COMMANDS.
ERROR: NEITHER CAN MONARDA, KOA OR THE SLEEPING FAIRIES.
ERROR: SUCKS TO BE YOU, DON'T IT?
> do...?
> You can hear giggling in the distance...And then growling.
> Do we have some kind of magical map of the library we can use for coordinating this kind of thing? Something that would let us command all our dolls, familiars, friends, and associates from the comfort of our favorite chair?
> Sadly, this is not Harry Potter, you don't have an interactive and sarcastic map available to you. You'll have to get on that sometime...But it's not a huge deal, you know the library well enough to estimate where everyone is at any given time. You're gonna need that info very soon, you imagine...
> Disregard, the parser totally forgot about the cache map. It doesn't show everyone in the library, but if you could figure out a way to enchant it, that would be a great tool to steal I mean use to hunt down the Chimera.
> _
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>That's Marisa's voice, isn't it.
-
>That's Marisa's voice, isn't it.
> Considering this is your memory and all, you're 100% sure it is Marisa's voice. Er, your voice. Mrgrgr, writing in multiple perspectives is hard, ze! Let's go shopping!
> _
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>Why now, of all times...!
>Succumb to lust and throw ourselves into her arms, the temptress
>Blast her. Was that growl one of the books threatening her? Might as well blow that up too. COMMENCE OPERATION FUCK EVERYTHING
-
>Why now, of all times...!
>Succumb to lust and throw ourselves into her arms, the temptress
>Blast her. Was that growl one of the books threatening her? Might as well blow that up too. COMMENCE OPERATION FUCK EVERYTHING
> You have a way of screwing over Patchy's day at just the right time. Why, it'd be just great if she had something helpful to assist you on your main quest! That being said...What the hell was with that ghostly hat on Patchy's bed, you definitely don't recall that, and even if you did, why would she have it...?
> You throw yourself onto Marisa's pile of magical weapons like a kid in a ball pit. It hurts, but it hurts sooooo gooooood.
> Ok, back on task. You first have to locate the little witch bitch before you can blast her, and with Monarda MIA that would be tricky.
> _
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> Attempt a tracking enchantment for Marisa on our magical map via an item from our secret stash of Marisa's personal effects.
> Wait, does Patchouli have a secret stash of Marisa personal effects? Because that would be really, really creepy. We'd need to have a word with her after this is all done.
-
> Attempt a tracking enchantment for Marisa on our magical map via an item from our secret stash of Marisa's personal effects.
> Wait, does Patchouli have a secret stash of Marisa personal effects? Because that would be really, really creepy. We'd need to have a word with her after this is all done.
> Why on earth would you steal from Marisa? That'd make you no better than she is...If you had to, you'd start with all the books she took from you, and perhaps take her Mini-Hekkero so she's a lot less dangerous...Actually, that's not a bad idea...You make a mental note to do so while you try to track Marisa. You take out the map and scribble some choice words onto the map, and it starts pinging much like a radar screen...So far, it has detected the Chimera (it's slowly heading through the library towards you), but no Marisa.
> _
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>That doesn't make sense... would she have been able to hack into it, genius that she is?!
>Well, at least we have a good idea of where the Chimera is. What'd the best spell be for distracting that thing so we can separate these problems?
>... unless she's riding the Chimera? How closely did we examine that?
>Evasive maneuvers, most likely!
-
>That doesn't make sense... would she have been able to hack into it, genius that she is?!
> If you mean Marisa, then it's unlikely, you installed an anti-tampering system to prevent that very thing from happening.
>Well, at least we have a good idea of where the Chimera is. What'd the best spell be for distracting that thing so we can separate these problems?
>... unless she's riding the Chimera? How closely did we examine that?
>Evasive maneuvers, most likely!
> You could probably distract it with a loud noise or push it away with a rain cloud spell or something? Or a snowstorm! Or a thunderbolt! Oh, the possibilities are endless! You're so glad you specialized in all the magic. All of it. Though the Ablinks with your friends are helping out just as well...
> Wait where were we going with this? Oh right, you're supposed to save Norende or something...Norende being the library. Of course.
> ...
> THE PARSER CAN STOP AT ANY TIME THEY WANT, THIS IS NOT AN ADDICTION
> _
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Librarian of Wonders:
>Is the snake anywhere nearby on that? We should turn them into Marisa's problem until we can get ahold of the situation.
>Fall back and stay alert! Set up good close-range, all-around shields if Marisa's experimenting with some new cloaking tech or something.
Purloining Starblaster:
>Mwa ha ha ha! If we're this difficult to catch, let's molest Patch swipe that stuff she's got on her!
-
Librarian of Wonders:
>Is the snake anywhere nearby on that? We should turn them into Marisa's problem until we can get ahold of the situation.
>Fall back and stay alert! Set up good close-range, all-around shields if Marisa's experimenting with some new cloaking tech or something.
> The Snake is holding its position, and even if you were to turn it on Marisa, it wouldn't last that long...In fact she could probably fry it right then and there, and you'd be out one rare book. :< And that's terrible. (http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/lex-luthor-took-forty-cakes) The most you can do is stand back-to-back with Zak and activate whatever nearby defenses you can.
> You can hear the beast approach you, but for whatever reason it doesn't attack you. Instead, it climbs a bookshelf, and leaps across your position...What the hell is it chasing after?!
Purloining Starblaster:
>Mwa ha ha ha! If we're this difficult to catch, let's molest Patch swipe that stuff she's got on her!
> Now where's the fun in that? You love playing mind games with Patchy, she's so easy to fluster. Besides, you're starting to remember where this is going anyways...Yesssss.
> You're hovering above her position. All you have to do now is swoop in, disable the shields, and--
> Wait, what's that growling noise? You look to your left, and...
> Awww, shit. That wasn't supposed to happEN!! GAH! DOWN BOY!
> Turns out, you disturbed the Chimera from its sleep with a well-placed broom prod (complete with a weak shock for good measure), and thought it was chasing after Patchy when it was really chasing after you. Dumb cat must've caught your scent...No matter, you can work your magic once Patchy comes to subdue the creature.
> _
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> Things are kind of chaotic right now. Summarize current happenings in head.
> Also, save Marisa or something.
> Does Marisa(/Do we) remember this day from her(/our) perspective?
-
Unmoving Lunarhat:
>Tha... okay, it's chasing after something we can't see. Marisa is here and we can't see her. Is it chasing her somehow?
>... but it'd be bad to have it get blasted. Would Marisa listen if we asked her not to blast it, or would that be a bad idea? Damnit, she's here somewhere!
>Get the icy blasters prepared. Anything we can take advantage of there?
>... we don't have a way to sound an emergency alarm for the rest of the mansion, do we?
Star-crossed Robberette:
>Okay, WE need the evasive maneuvers!!
>What would be able to shake it off?
>Or would it just be easier to kite past Patchouli so it at least looks like it's going after her?
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Unmoving Lunarhat:
>Tha... okay, it's chasing after something we can't see. Marisa is here and we can't see her. Is it chasing her somehow?
> As long as she's giving off some kind of scent, then yes.
>... but it'd be bad to have it get blasted. Would Marisa listen if we asked her not to blast it, or would that be a bad idea? Damnit, she's here somewhere!
> What a conundrum! Letting her know not to blast it would save the book, but it'd not only alert her to it being a book, it'd also alert her to your suspicions!
>Get the icy blasters prepared. Anything we can take advantage of there?
> ...That being said, you have the perfect chance to disable the book and perhaps seal it, but it's risky--you pretty much have to rely on an extremely rare MAGICAL CRITICAL for the freezing effect to take hold.
>... we don't have a way to sound an emergency alarm for the rest of the mansion, do we?
> You do, but that's only in case the INCIDENT spills from the library and into the manor itself. You really hope you don't have to do that, because you'd risk losing the beasts, and as much as you'd love to see Marisa suffer, you'd lose her as well...
> Then again, if she died, that means you'd get all your books back. So there's that to consider.
> However, this is all pretty moot, because...
Star-crossed Robberette:
>Okay, WE need the evasive maneuvers!!
>What would be able to shake it off?
>Or would it just be easier to kite past Patchouli so it at least looks like it's going after her?
> ...You know exactly how this encounter plays out.
> First, you did an ACROBATIC FUCKIN' LOOP DE LOOP to avoid the Chimera's leaping, and giggle to yourself as it struggles to cling to the bookshelf it landed on. Unfortunately, you failed take into account its fire breath, and you're forced to beat a hasty retreat a plume of flame is sent towards you. The library may be fireproof, but you sure as hell aren't!
> [Water Sign "Quick Freeze"]
> You also learned that day how quickly you could cool (or heat) something by applying an extreme amount of opposing magical energy. The Chimera's fire breath is snuffed out, and somehow the cold air goes all the way back into the Chimera's innards, freezing it from within. MAGI-CRIT SUCCESSFUL!
> PETA DISCLAIMER: Don't worry folks, it'll be fine. It's not an actual animal. :D
> Patchy quickly flies up and applies the third BINDING BOOKMARK to the beast's head, returning it to its original form...Which is basically a frost-covered book covered in fur and teeth. Only one more to go!
> ...That is, once you deal with this pest...Zakuro instinctively jumps up to another bookshelf to try and catch Marisa.
> Too bad he caught you a little too late. You land next to Zakuro and focus your energy into your broom, then rear back and take the best home run swing you can muster. The force of the strike sends Zakuro careening into Patchy (just as she pockets the third book), knocking them both off the shelf and to the ground, knocking them out.
> This also has the added benefit of disabling the PatchCon dolls: without a conscious commander to cater to them, they enter a stasis mode and become more or less harmless. You take the time to fly over to the PatchCon and disable it for now...You wish you could steal it, but this isn't what you're after.
> You produce from your pocket what appears to be two things: a cloaking device loaned to you by Nitori, and a length of rope that looks like it was weaved from the starry sky itself. You gather up the unconscious library denizens and tie them up in the middle of the lounge.
> ...Which is where you, as Patchy, find yourself now. Sitting on the floor uncomfortably restrained by a series of ropes. Try as you might, you can't muster up a spell to cut yourself free; it feels as if your power is blocked. You can see Koa to your right and Monarda to your left, with the fairies behind you.
> "Good afternoon to ya, ze!" You perk up and see the now-visible Marisa sitting on the ROTUND TABLEAU in front of you, looking as smug and confident as ever. "Now what would an upright stiff such as yerself be doin' with this handsome son of a gun?" she asks, nodding her head towards Monarda.
> You are seriously glad that Monarda isn't awake now, he's rather shy around women. Especially the flirty kind...
> _
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> Patchouli: "Marisa, meet my brother, Monarda. And yes, he is single."
> "Say, Marisa, you like shy guys, right?"
Yes, I am trying to set up Marisa with Monarda. It seems like the Marisa thing to do.
-
>Roll for seduction.
-
> "Say, Marisa, you like shy guys, right?"
> Marisa looks at you quizically. "They're...Not exactly whom I have in mind, but why do you ask?
> Patchouli: "Marisa, meet my brother, Monarda. And yes, he is single."
Yes, I am trying to set up Marisa with Monarda. It seems like the Marisa thing to do.
> Marisa grins. "I see what you're doin', ze. Tryin' ta buy your freedom with a possible suitor for moi?" Marisa chuckles. "You're too kind. Though...He seems to be a bit out of it at the moment, my bad."
> The fact that Mari knocked out your brother makes you rather hot under the collar. Hell, the fact that she'd have the capacity to hurt anyone in this mansion angers you...They're your family, and you'd be willing to protect them--
>Roll for seduction.
> By any means necessary!
> You tell Marisa that she has something more useful than any book she has at the moment, living or otherwise. This gets her attention.
> "Do enlighten me, ze."
> You tell of her of a special spell card she was working on, as part of the whole "Elemental Fusion" project you and Monarda were working on. It was to allow the player to switch between shot types on the fly. It's unfinished, but it allows the user to use five different basic shot types.
> Yes...You remember such a card...In fact, that may be just what your fairy companion needs! But first you have to finish this memory...If only that stupid hissing noise would stop!
> Patchy gasps. "Damn, I forgot about that snake...!"
> You perk up at the sound, and see the snake sneaking up to Patchy and her comrades. You should probably stop that thing.
> "Quickly, my top left pocket!" Patchy urges. You reach in to grope her to grab a BINDING BOOKMARK. You remember seeing these, Alice uses one to keep herself from using her Grimoire...Man, you hope she's ok.
> That'll have to wait, with a quick toss, you tag the snake with the bookmark is it lunges at the nearest fairy. The snake curls back up into its book form, one little tassel at the top rattling like a rattlesnake.
> Patchy breathes a sigh of relief. "That's the second time you've been helpful...If only you could be as helpful in returning my books!" You give her a politely snarky reply, as everything seems to slow to a freeze-frame...
> MEMORY SUCCESSFULLY SYNCED.
> COMPILING HAT.EXE...
> Hat? What the--
> "GAH ACK!" you hear Maple scream. "I'M BLIND!!"
> You finally snap out of your memory trance. You were gonna share something relevant and important with the earth fairy, but Maple seems to be under attack by what appears to be a mummified hat.
> "MARI, GET THIS THING OFF ME!"
> Things are kind of chaotic right now. Summarize current happenings in head.
> Sheesh, what a night...You try to get your thoughts in order while you assist Maple.
It all started like any other day...Wake up, get coffee, listen to Alice blather. Gensokyo had entered the digital era somewhat, almost everyone you know has some form of computing device. You and Alice were to play a new MMORPG called "Guildies!" but were sidetracked by Alice's other desire to make a fully-sentient doll. The two of you pay a visit to Eientei to recruit Medicine, seeing as she's a living doll to begin with. Things almost got sidetracked when you discovered Kaguya and several inaba develop cancerous tumors, but there wasn't much you or Alice could do about it. With Medicine in tow, the two of you returned home to play Guildies! at last.
The game seems normal at first, but its surprisingly lifelike characters raise questions. Does this game have highly advanced AI? Is it another world? You don't get to answer these questions properly, unfortunately, though you do manage to make some progress with the help of Alice and Chen. Not enough progress, though; you don't even get through the first major dungeon before you have to take a break. You and Alice suspect that the game is responsible for those tumors you heard about earlier, but you don't have any proof to support that theory. So, you decide to sleep on it...That is, you would have if Medicine didn't come in and poison you first. The end result was a rather unusual dream where you fought letters and a bone-winged fairy in a very unusual place...Oh, and your body got swapped with Medicine's. That's just fantastic.
To make matters worse, Alice gave chase after Medicine, and when you tried to follow her, you ended up stumbling upon a sting operation occuring at Eientei! Apparently some rat-faced youkai, clad in guns and armor, stormed the place and kidnapped not only Medicine, but Alice as well. They also seemed to be after something else, but you were chased away before you could continue investigating. While you contemplated your next move, Maple decided to bother you, and you chased her through the forest. Maple was willing to help you with her problem, but then you had a weird memory flashback that seemed to go on for far too long. At least you figured out what Maple wanted...Though at the same time you also somehow summoned a mummified sun hat into the real world.
> Maple somehow manages to get the hat off of her at least. "Where the heck did that come from?! Did you have something to do with this, Mari?"
> _
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>... sun hat? MUMMIFIED sun hat?
>... did Patch's bro die after that?
-
>... sun hat? MUMMIFIED sun hat?
> Yes. Muffinfied Mummified sun hat. It's identical in shape and size to the one you saw in your memory. Why you would have such a thing is beyond answering right now.
>... did Patch's bro die after that?
> Heavens no! Although it was not shown, you recall Monarda making a smooth recovery...Though a flirty remark in his direction may have made him blush a bit. Sadly, you weren't able to see him again after that; Sakuya and Patchy tightened security after that Incident, and he left about a week or two after arriving in Gensokyo. He seemed nice enough, at least.
> _
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>Oh, sunhat itself, rather than hat with a sun on it. How silly of us.
>"Dunno, ze. I kinda remember seeing that around a while ago, but no idea how it got here now."
>Unless it's related to that girl we dream-fought or whatever...
>How well would we be able to pull off the shot-type switching right now? Wait, weren't we already using that during the underground incident? Damnit, that flashback was pointless.
>Grab for the zombie hat.
-
>Oh, sunhat itself, rather than hat with a sun on it. How silly of us.
> Waking up out of a memory trance can mess with your judgement a bit.
>"Dunno, ze. I kinda remember seeing that around a while ago, but no idea how it got here now."
>Unless it's related to that girl we dream-fought or whatever...
> "Well, I sure don't want it," Maple says with a grossed-out look. "Maybe your roommate would...If it didn't look like it was looted from a tomb or something."
>Grab for the zombie hat.
> You take the hat and somehow stash it in your MODERATELY DEEP BUT NOT ABYSSAL POCKETS.
>How well would we be able to pull off the shot-type switching right now? Wait, weren't we already using that during the underground incident? Damnit, that flashback was pointless.
> No it wasn't what're you talking about >=| You used Alice's dolls during that incident.
> You could use the spell card now, but it'd weaken your shots considerably. Thankfully, you had it stashed away in your backup deck of spell cards, which you have on you now.
> "So...You still want that upgrade or what?" Maple asks whilst tilting her head.
> _
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>"Like ya said, I could use whatever I can get right now... 'n I'm thinkin' I might have heard of somethin' similar I could try and combine it with."
>She did say (http://www.shrinemaiden.org/forum/index.php/topic,15529.msg1055769.html#msg1055769) combine, didn't she? And if that powers them up further, well... heheheheheh.
-
>"Like ya said, I could use whatever I can get right now... 'n I'm thinkin' I might have heard of somethin' similar I could try and combine it with."
>She did say (http://www.shrinemaiden.org/forum/index.php/topic,15529.msg1055769.html#msg1055769) combine, didn't she? And if that powers them up further, well... heheheheheh.
> "Oh? What did you have in mind?"
> You show Maple the card. Upon reading the inscriptions, the fairy's eyes light up with joyous epithany!
> "This...This is perfect! Please, you have to let me use this, I--"
> A rustling in the bushes suddenly diverts the attention of the two of you...Or should I say three, your looking around for the source of the noise causes Mini-Medi to be disloged from your head, it seems she was sleeping up there.
> Oy, that's the big idea, ze!
> You may or may not have company, you reply to her. Maple huddles next to you out of fear. There is a path leading to the East, the rustling came from the West, while the path you took to get here is South. What will you do?
> _
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>Where would East lead to? South would be at least vaguely back towards the house, right?
>How loud is the rustling? Did they hear us talking already?
>Favor hiding towards the South side to try and observe; if they're hostile they might be heading for the house, and that way we'll be able to block their way if they've already noticed or ambush them from behind if they haven't.
-
>Where would East lead to? South would be at least vaguely back towards the house, right?
> Yes, you'd be right. East would lead you deeper into the woods; to the West is the Night Grove, and to the Southeast is Kourindou. Further south is the Mushroom Grove where you usually pick your mushrooms, you haven't gotten around to mapping around/naming the other areas yet.
>How loud is the rustling? Did they hear us talking already?
> It's pretty quiet, like a predator stalking its prey.
>Favor hiding towards the South side to try and observe; if they're hostile they might be heading for the house, and that way we'll be able to block their way if they've already noticed or ambush them from behind if they haven't.
> You glance towards the south route. Your stalker hasn't moved since you noticed them. Perhaps they're waiting for you to make a move?
> _
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>What's at the Night Grove?
>How likely is it that our Splinter Cell problem would be behaving like this?
>Have the weapons ready; from that reaction it's pretty obvious we already know they know and acting dumb won't help.
>Molest Maple as a distraction
>Whisper to Maple, "Watch our back."
>Do we have a non-fatal method to light up the area we heard that rustle and flush out whatever caused it?... oh right, medicine body, not sure of total effects. Goddamnit. Maple wouldn't be able to paint up a working floodlight, would she?
-
>What's at the Night Grove?
> As Mystia mentioned, lots of nocturnal youkai, such as herself and Rumia. It gets its name due to the fact that almost no sunlight peeks through the grove's branches, and as a result it's perpetually dark. You also consider it the "back alley slums" of the woods (if that makes any sense) due to it being unruly, and a good place to lose your valuables or your lives. Mystia does hold concerts there now and again, however, you can sometimes hear her singing on a mild spring or summer evening. Then you put on your earplugs and resume sleeping, because holy crap how can anyone with ears withstand that singing oh my glob.
>How likely is it that our Splinter Cell problem would be behaving like this?
> Considering that they haven't shot you yet, unlikely. However, assuming they're unarmed would be a bad decision.
>Have the weapons ready; from that reaction it's pretty obvious we already know they know and acting dumb won't help.
>Whisper to Maple, "Watch our back."
> You get your broom and a spell card ready, just in case. Maple hovers behind you nervously, her eyes darting about.
>Do we have a non-fatal method to light up the area we heard that rustle and flush out whatever caused it?... oh right, medicine body, not sure of total effects. Goddamnit. Maple wouldn't be able to paint up a working floodlight, would she?
> While you do have the ability to cast a basic light spell, you motion to Maple for a light instead. She thinks for a moment, then perks up, as she summons a glowing crystal rock from the ground to light up the area.
> Almost instantly, something charges out of the brush with a somersault kick. You catch flashes of red and silver-blue as a foot catches you firmly in the chest, and pins you to the ground. The impact hurts less than you'd expect, but damn that still smarts. You can then feel a presence of heat as the assaulter's hands arm themselves with fireballs, one aimed at your face and one aimed at Maple, who was just about to stage a counter-attack. You manage to gaze past the flaming orb to see the face of a young woman with silver-blue hair, wearing red suspenders and adoring her clothing with numerous paper amulets. Yup, it's FUJIWARU NO MOKOU all right.
> "Funny how I see you running out just as a bunch of armed troops are coming in," Mokou says flatly with a hint of hostile suspicion. "Mind telling me what the hell's going on, dolly?"
> _
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>How hostile is Mokou to non-Eienteis under normal circumstances?
>"I'd like to know the same thing, ze. I'd also wanna know where Medicine went with my body after swapping into it."
>"Stay cool, Maple, this might work out."
>Summarize the relevant portions of the day's events for her, especially if the rat-faced part of the attackers is new to her.
>Provide details only Marisa and Mokou would know (say, from their face-off after the endless night incident) if she has trouble believing the bodyswap bit.
-
> I didn't know we could feel pain.
> "Funny how I see you running out just as a bunch of armed troops are coming in," Mokou says flatly with a hint of hostile suspicion. "Mind telling me what the hell's going on, dolly?"
> That is a very good question. What is going on anyway.
> "If you're looking for Medicine Melancholy, well, the doll's not in right now, but I can take a message."
> "Now if you're wanting the loveable thief Marisa Kirisame, well, let's just say a bit of body snatching's left me short a few inches, and the mole men aren't making fixing the problem any easier. Let me know I've got a master spark waiting for me if you see me."
> "You seem a little on edge tonight. Something troubling you?"
-
> I didn't know we could feel pain.
> Just because you're wrapped in plastic doesn't mean you still can't feel...Things. :V
> That is a very good question. What is going on anyway.
> The parser wrote a short recap of events several posts ago, you can read it here (http://www.shrinemaiden.org/forum/index.php/topic,15529.msg1075896.html#msg1075896) if that'll help.
>How hostile is Mokou to non-Eienteis under normal circumstances?
> She's usually pretty tolerable, if a bit gruff at times. At least she's friends with Keine, and on good terms with the Human Village, and by extenstion, the Buddhists. Mokou only really sports animosity towards Kaguya herself; the actual Eientei staff she doesn't give a flip about unless they get in her way.
> "If you're looking for Medicine Melancholy, well, the doll's not in right now, but I can take a message."
> Mokou looks at you with a raised eyebrow...
> "Now if you're wanting the loveable thief Marisa Kirisame, well, let's just say a bit of body snatching's left me short a few inches, and the mole men aren't making fixing the problem any easier. Let me know I've got a master spark waiting for me if you see me."
> "Whoa, back up a second there, kiddo," Mokou says in a gravelly voice. Sounds like she's been smoking again. "What's this about Mole Men, now? I thought they didn't venture anywhere above ground..."
>"I'd like to know the same thing, ze. I'd also wanna know where Medicine went with my body after swapping into it."
> "...Invasion of the body snatcher, huh?" Mokou powers down, though she doesn't step off of you just yet. "This I gotta hear in more detail."
> "You seem a little on edge tonight. Something troubling you?"
> Before you get to that, you ask Mokou why she attacked. "I found it mighty suspicious that you were fleeing just as those soldiers arrived. You're not...Involved with that lot, are you?"
> Maple opens her mouth to object...
>"Stay cool, Maple, this might work out."
> ...But you reassure her you've got everything under control. You have an absurdly high AFFABILITY stat, after all!
> "All right..." Mokou says, letting you up at long last. "Let's hear your story."
>Summarize the relevant portions of the day's events for her, especially if the rat-faced part of the attackers is new to her.
>Provide details only Marisa and Mokou would know (say, from their face-off after the endless night incident) if she has trouble believing the bodyswap bit.
> You do just that. Mokou raises an eyebrow more than a few times at your story, but she seems to comprehend it all.
> "Looks like a shitstorm's a-brewin'," Mokou says, producing and lighting a cigarette. "Keine was raising a stink about your message to her, but I thought I'd check things out just to be sure..." She inhales and lets out a puff of smoke that splits in several dozen smaller bullet-like shapes. "Looks like my gut was right."
> "But...Why bother coming out at all, I thought you hated Kaguya-hime," Maple asks in a timid voice.
> "Meh, that was a long time ago. Now we just troll each other for fun. Sure, she gets on my nerves, but hell if it doesn't liven things up a bit. It's like having a really annoying roommate..."
> "You don't need to tell me twice...Hermia-chan can really get on my nerves too, but...I'm sure you two would rather get to the bottom of this rather than hear me blather."
> "Depends," exhales Mokou. "You're not planning on going in there as you are, right?" she says while looking at you.
> _
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>"'fraid the damn doll took my best gear when she ran off, ze. 'n without any more leads I was plannin' to do a bit of sparrin' to see what I can get away with in this body - thanks for 'volunteering,' Maple - before bargin' in as usual, but I'll sure as hell welcome help if you're offering."
>"Speakin' of leads, you know about those mole-men? They were all uniformed up and tough to ID, but I still dunno where the buggers came from. Care to spill?"
-
>"'fraid the damn doll took my best gear when she ran off, ze. 'n without any more leads I was plannin' to do a bit of sparrin' to see what I can get away with in this body - thanks for 'volunteering,' Maple - before bargin' in as usual, but I'll sure as hell welcome help if you're offering."
> Mokou grins. "If it means I get to tease Kaguya some more, sure...I haven't heard from her in a while. I mean, she's not dead, I know that much..."
> Your AWKWARDNESS METER ticks up a bit...In fact, it ticks up twice-- you seem to have forgotten about Maple's offer after this sudden development, and you're not sure how Mokou's gonna take to hearing that Kaguya's basically got a tumor in her head...Good luck with that!
>"Speakin' of leads, you know about those mole-men? They were all uniformed up and tough to ID, but I still dunno where the buggers came from. Care to spill?"
> You do, however, manage to ease the pressure a bit by asking about the Mole Men.
> "Well, from what I gather, they're under Suwako-sama's protection...Which makes sense, seeing as she's an earth goddess and all that...But if you ask me, I think Kanako-sama convinced her to take them in as spies moreso than citizens. That's just my take on it, but...It's might convenient, don'tcha think?" Mokou puffs out another intricately-pattern smoke cloud as she speaks.
> _
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>Nod. "Guess that makes sense, ze. But where would they be, and what would the Moriyas want with Eientei anyways?"
>"Maple, you wanna tag along for this or just take care of that multi-shootin' thing and be on yer way?"
>We'll cover the Kaguya thing in a bit, especially if Mokou gets hesitant about wanting to help... having a braindead troll-rival would be much too boring.
-
>Nod. "Guess that makes sense, ze. But where would they be, and what would the Moriyas want with Eientei anyways?"
> "I'm honestly not sure what they'd want, but...I bet if we paid a visit underground we might be able to learn something. I'd rather see what these whisker-heads have done to Kaguya's place, and if she and the others are still OK."
>"Maple, you wanna tag along for this or just take care of that multi-shootin' thing and be on yer way?"
> "Um...I was just gonna leave you be after that, but after thinking about it...I-I think having an eyewitness to these events might help! I'd love to tag along!" Maple seems equal parts nervous and excited at the prospect of resolving an INCIDENT.
>We'll cover the Kaguya thing in a bit, especially if Mokou gets hesitant about wanting to help... having a braindead troll-rival would be much too boring.
> So, you have a few options:
- Go get Maple's experiment, then go to Eientei
- Go get Maple's experiment, then go Underground
- Head straight to one of the aforementioned places
- None of the above
> The power choice is yours!
> _
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>"Considerin' how I'm pretty sure Medicine and the Hakkero're at that underground thing at Eientei, I'm thinkin' that's the better place to start for now, ze."
>"But just ta be safe, let's take care of that little experiment of yours real quick first, right Maple?"
-
>"Considerin' how I'm pretty sure Medicine and the Hakkero're at that underground thing at Eientei, I'm thinkin' that's the better place to start for now, ze."
>"But just ta be safe, let's take care of that little experiment of yours real quick first, right Maple?"
> Maple nods. "You won't regret it, I promise! My home is to the North of here, just follow me," she says as she heads towards the East path, beckoning you to follow her.
> Mokou looks a tad skeptical. "What...Kind of experiment is she talkin' about, Mari?"
> _
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>"Maple here was gonna try and help me out with somethin' about switching and combining shot patterns, ze. Made me remember about something I ah, heard from Patchouli a bit ago. That card does somethin' similar, so between the two of 'em it could be a good power-up to make this mess simpler."
>"Lemme guess, ya left the stuff you need for it at home, ze?"
>Tag along with Maple. Yell at her if it starts taking a while.
>Inventory
-
>"Maple here was gonna try and help me out with somethin' about switching and combining shot patterns, ze. Made me remember about something I ah, heard from Patchouli a bit ago. That card does somethin' similar, so between the two of 'em it could be a good power-up to make this mess simpler."
> "Huh, that does sound nice...Not that I need it, but whatever helps...Because you sure as hell could use it, shorty." Mokou chuckles and pats you on the head. Mini-Medi-Mari glares at her in response.
>"Lemme guess, ya left the stuff you need for it at home, ze?"
> "It's not so much that I left it at home, I just can't carry the darned thing to begin with!" You ask her why. "It's a stone tablet, that's why..."
>Tag along with Maple. Yell at her if it starts taking a while.
>Inventory
> You follow Maple as you take inventory of your belongings and party members...And since the parser forgot to mention it earlier, Maple and Mokou have joined the party for the time being. Also, (E)s indicate equipped items.
- ONE (1) Classic Purple Witch Dress (E) -- One of your older garments from your youth. It looks nice, but you honestly prefer black and blue much better.
- ONE (1) Classic Purple Witch Hat (E) -- No matter what color it is, you'll never be without your good old witchy hat.
- ONE (1) Slightly Used Witch Broom (E) -- One of many backup brooms you have on hand for combat and transportation. It also makes for a good whackin' stick, apparently.
- ONE (1) Deck Of Spell Cards -- Since you have no need for your Laser-oriented attacks at the moment (you need the Mini-Hekkero for those), you fell back to your less-often used Magic Missile/Napalm deck. Still packs a punch.
- ONE (1) Mini Medicine Doll (E) -- Medicine's eternal companion and wiseacre. She takes on the mannerisms and speech of whomever's soul is inhabiting her body at the time. Permanently bound to you.
- ONE (1) Medicine's Garments -- Medicine's outfit. Why you're carrying this around, you have no idea.
- ONE (1) Mummified Sun Hat -- An old, possibly decrepit hat wrapped up in bandages. Despite its age, it doesn't seem to be that old. A chilling aura comes from it.
- ONE (1) Diary -- You sure as hell don't want to miss a moment of silliness going on, so you brought a pocket diary with you to record all your INCIDENT solvings.
- ONE (1) Quest Log -- It's a huge log that has a lot of words carved into it. You're not sure why you have this, but it seems to keep track of your accomplishments and current events. Is this what people used before Twitter came along?
> _
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>"Guess that'd explain it, ze. Did ya find it or make it yourself?"
>"Yeah, I wouldn't be waitin' to take care of this if dollbutt hadn't screwed me over. But hey, what can ya do?"
>If Mokou mutters about wasting time, point out Kaguya's problem and ask if she wants to go on ahead for now. Do we have a way to communicate with her on the fly once we get there?
>Examine ghost sunhat in the meantime. See if Mokou has any ideas.
-
>"Guess that'd explain it, ze. Did ya find it or make it yourself?"
> "A little of both," Maple explains. "It's a tablet carved from Magicka Stone, a rare rock found underground. As you can guess, it amplifies magical power and is sometimes used in alchemy...But, when I asked Patchy-sama about it, she warned me it sometimes has unstable effects. So...I'm a little nervous about giving it to you, but...At least it's not your body taking the hit, right?" Maple smiles awkwardly.
> Mini-Medi just shrugs in a hopeless sort of fashion.
>"Yeah, I wouldn't be waitin' to take care of this if dollbutt hadn't screwed me over. But hey, what can ya do?"
> "Set their hair on fire?" Mokou grins. "Solves most of my problems."
>If Mokou mutters about wasting time, point out Kaguya's problem and ask if she wants to go on ahead for now. Do we have a way to communicate with her on the fly once we get there?
> Mokou's actually pretty patient, but you file it away in your mind under "BACKUP PLANS."
> As you wonder about that, you also wonder how to to contact Mokou...Ugh, if only you had one of those Walkie Talkies or Magical Sticky Notes from your memory!
> ...And as you wonder about that, you think about Nitori's automated message...It's as if she had foreseen this coming. That little troll...You begin to wonder if she has a time machine, which wouldn't be too far fetched given her technological savviness.
>Examine ghost sunhat in the meantime. See if Mokou has any ideas.
> To alleviate your frustrations, you decide to take a look at that hat you suddenly acquired. Granted, it doesn't look at all ghostly now, but it still feels cold to the touch and sends chills down your spine. You're starting to suspect this thing might be cursed. On a whim, you show it to Mokou and ask for her opinion.
> "Geeze...If I were you I'd get rid of that thing ASAP, it not only gives me the creeps and the chills, it also smells awful. Where the hell did you even get that?"
> _
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>"I'd like to know the same, ze. Maple's attack-switchin' idea reminded me of when I got my version from Patch, and I got caught up recallin' that for a bit... then that thing appeared. Dunno how, or why. Though I guess it looked a little like somethin' I saw back then? But it was more ghostly. I dunno."
>Too bad Nitori wasn't time-travelling deliveries instead of preorders...
>How often do we deal with 'unstable effects' in our own magical works? Is Patch just being an overly-cautious wimp, or should we be worried about this?
>What do we know about curses and lifting/deciphering them? That might tell us something about the hat... or make it more useful.
-
>"I'd like to know the same, ze. Maple's attack-switchin' idea reminded me of when I got my version from Patch, and I got caught up recallin' that for a bit... then that thing appeared. Dunno how, or why. Though I guess it looked a little like somethin' I saw back then? But it was more ghostly. I dunno."
> "...Maybe you accidentally magic'd it into existence?" Mokou suggests. As she speaks, a poofy trail of smoke trails from her mouth as the three of your travel. "I've heard of people casting spells in their sleep."
>Too bad Nitori wasn't time-travelling deliveries instead of preorders...
> Now there's an idea...Kinda like that one movie with the predictive aliens and the police cop on the run, only a lot less dangerous. The only problem after that is storage...
>How often do we deal with 'unstable effects' in our own magical works? Is Patch just being an overly-cautious wimp, or should we be worried about this?
> She's not without reason; an improperly crafted spell may as well be a live grenade. As reckless as you are, you take the time to make every spell is working properly before using it in real combat, though about ten to twenty percent of your creations tend to explode in your face (and sometimes Alice's face). You've never heard of this rock before, you may have to look into it some more when you get the chance.
>What do we know about curses and lifting/deciphering them? That might tell us something about the hat... or make it more useful.
> Ugh, curses are a bitch and a half to lift, in your experience. You usually get Reimu or Hina to lift them instead. Casting, lifting, or deciphering curses tends to end badly for you. Maybe you're cursed with the inability to deal with curses! :V
> _
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>Would Hina be willing to help if we brought it to her? How out of the way would it be en route to youkai mountain later?
>How plausible is the magicing it into existence suggestion?
>"Huh, you've met Patch, Maple? She tell ya anything else about that rock?"
-
>Would Hina be willing to help if we brought it to her? How out of the way would it be en route to youkai mountain later?
> Not too far, you could fly over the woods to reach Kourindou...Hina's actually been hanging out there a lot recently, you she's trying to get a position there. The only problem is trying to find an open clearing, the canopy along this path is very thick.
>How plausible is the magicing it into existence suggestion?
> Plausible, but very difficult. CREATING things from your very mind sounds like something Yukari would do, something a god would do...But even the gods of Gensokyo have yet to master such an ability. And yet you've APPEARIFIED this hat as if it was nothing...There's so many questions to ask and no answers to match them to!
>"Huh, you've met Patch, Maple? She tell ya anything else about that rock?"
> So, you ask Maple a question instead!
> "Oh yeah, I have...I visit her now and then, but recently she's been even busier than usual...The last time I asked, she told me the rock was unstable at times, but before I could ask her how unstable, those so-called "Great" fairies caused an accident and I had an appointment to get to. If i ever go there again, I'll ask about it, but it might take a while."
> _
-
>
Speaking of APPEARIFY, How difficult would it be to warp something over from a different location? If it already existed somewhere...
>What's she mean by 'Great' fairies? Cirno and that other one she hangs out with? Or something else?
>"I'm thinkin' we're a bit too hurried to worry about that right now, ze. Let's take a look and see what my chances are."
>"I'm guessin' that appointment wouldn't be relevant to our situation, would it?"
>How common is it for fairies like Maple to seek out Patchouli's help, or otherwise be this competent?
-
>Speaking of APPEARIFY, How difficult would it be to warp something over from a different location? If it already existed somewhere...
> You'd have to know the item you're transporting, its location, as well as the distance. Why Patchy never brought up the hat with her colleagues in the past is a mystery...Maybe...It wasn't even there to begin with! OOOOEEEEEOOOOOO!
>What's she mean by 'Great' fairies? Cirno and that other one she hangs out with? Or something else?
> She's probably talking about the Three Mischievous Fairies.
>"I'm thinkin' we're a bit too hurried to worry about that right now, ze. Let's take a look and see what my chances are."
>"I'm guessin' that appointment wouldn't be relevant to our situation, would it?"
> "It was just an art commission for one of Mystia-san's concerts," she explains. "As for the tablet...We're almost there!" She stops in front of a suspiciously tall hedge between two trees. "Just follow me!" Maple passes through the hedge as if was nothing, though leaves and branches still rustle as if it were the real thing. An illusion spell, perhaps?
>How common is it for fairies like Maple to seek out Patchouli's help, or otherwise be this competent?
> It's rare, but the ones that do are usually competent enough to learn from her or seek assistance. Otherwise, they just end up as maids or security for the SDM. It does make you wonder how many more of these "greater" fairies exist, and just how smart they actually are.
> _
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Would it be difficult to make something like the summoning scrolls from naruto? A mega hakerro summon would be convenient.
-
Would it be difficult to make something like the summoning scrolls from naruto? A mega hakerro summon would be convenient.
> Summoning is more Yorihime's thing (and Reimu's thing, if she wasn't so lazy). As it stands, you know barely anything about how to summon.
-
>That, or the hat had something to do with how elaborate that reminiscing seemed to be. Hmm... a shame now's a bad time to barge in and ask Patch. Maybe after we get the Hakkero back, before raiding the rats' base.
>We've never seen anyone with that hat around before, have we?
>Kinda neat way for Maple to hide her place. Make a mental note of where for later razing
>Peek through the illusionary bush before going through. Do we have a way to look 'through' illusions we know are there, or is it more a matter of experimentation?
>commence makeouts
-
>That, or the hat had something to do with how elaborate that reminiscing seemed to be. Hmm... a shame now's a bad time to barge in and ask Patch. Maybe after we get the Hakkero back, before raiding the rats' base.
> You make a mental note to get the hat examined by Patchy. Perhaps Maple can help with this, seeing as you're not exactly welcome there... [/cptnobv]
>We've never seen anyone with that hat around before, have we?
> Not really, not even Suwako or Iku have a hat as big as this one...Or do they? You're not sure. You're almost tempted to unwrap the hat and get a closer look, but you can't bring yourself to do so.
>Kinda neat way for Maple to hide her place. Make a mental note of where for later razing
>Peek through the illusionary bush before going through. Do we have a way to look 'through' illusions we know are there, or is it more a matter of experimentation?
>commence makeouts
>you naughty naughty doll
> You make your way through the bush, with Mokou following you (and being considerate enough to snuff her cig before doing so). Upon reaching the other side, you see a rather amazing sight: a massive tree whose branches are as thick as tree trunks, and sprawling horizontally across the clearing you entered. The tree itself twists and turns up towards the canopy, and all along its surface you can see numerous doorways set into the wood, some of them adorned with proper porches and glowing 'shrooms to act as lights. And all over the place, you can see fairies of various sizes and colors, though none of them bigger than what you're used to.
> "This...Is my home. Welcome to Knottingham, humans!...Or human and dolls, I should say," Maple says in an awkward tone.
> "Yeah, we get it..." Mokou says with a hearty snicker.
> Who names their home such a corny fashion? Mini-Medi quips.
> "Anyways...My home is up here, on branch three," Maple says as she flies ever higher, towards a door adorned with pained leaves around it. "Hope you don't mind the decor...As you can see, I'm a bit of an artist."
> "Yeah, a craptastic one!"
> You and the others look up at the voice, but are blinded by a flash of light and the sounds and smells of gaudy rock concert smoke effects. Above Maple's abode, you spot two more fairies, one wearing a yellow dress and the other wearing a purple dress (with hair colors to match); both fairies' clothing seems to be fashioned from flowers and leaves from the local flora here.
> "Glitter, Glimmer, what the heck do you two want, I'm busy!" Maple complains.
> The one in yellow speaks first, and seems to be the one who instigated this exchange. "You haven't updated your front door in ages, dear. Isn't it time you got rid of those crummy old leaves..."
> "And got something, like, more fabulous?" the purple one says, while waving her hand and scattering a glittery substance all over the place. Whether or not that's just fairy dust or actual glitter, you're not sure. "Like, you totally could use an update...Might attract more visitors, Titi knows you could use some!"
> The two of them giggle while Maple just looks flustered. It's then they take notice of you and Mokou."
> "And like, who are these two wingless wonders?" the purple one flies up to you and gets uncomfortably in your face. "Is she actually one of your friends?"
> "Must not be a very good friend," the yellow one chimes in. "Especially if her eyes look that glazed over!"
> They both guffaw rather loudly. It's not your fault your new doll vessel has remarkably fresh plastic in her eyes...What will you do?
> _
-
>Fairies, apparently.
>Oh wow. A fairy village? This isn't just Maple's doing, then. Holy shit.
>Were we at all aware of such a thing being possible, let alone existing? How competent are most fairies, because this is fairly impressive for a bunch of complete nitwits.
>Does 'Titi' ring a bell at all?
>Flick at Purple's forehead with a finger. "We ain't here to play interior decorator, ze. Open 'er up, Maple, we can do the sparkly thing later."
>Try to ignore the time-wasting fairies and get into Maple's place without them.
>How dangerous would it be to sic Mokou on them to kill time while we get shit done with Maple?
-
>Fairies, apparently.
> Mini opens her imaginary mouth to argue, but decides not to.
>Oh wow. A fairy village? This isn't just Maple's doing, then. Holy shit.
> While you wouldn't put this past her, Maple seems strictly rooted (lol) in the "rocks and dirt" part of her earth element.
>Were we at all aware of such a thing being possible, let alone existing? How competent are most fairies, because this is fairly impressive for a bunch of complete nitwits.
> There's always the theory that ten thousand monkies can write the works of Shakespeare...But on a more reasonable note, someone must've overseen this tree's growth, be it a hundred fairies or a giant with an epic bonsai hobby.
>Does 'Titi' ring a bell at all?
> Given the context, you suspect they're referring to the fairy goddess Titania. (http://megamitensei.wikia.com/wiki/Titania)
>Flick at Purple's forehead with a finger. "We ain't here to play interior decorator, ze. Open 'er up, Maple, we can do the sparkly thing later."
> You haven't the time or the patience to deal with prissy fairies, so you literally give Ms. Purple the finger.
> "OW!" she screeches, holding her head. "You little bitch, that was like, totally unnecessary! You almost took my eye out!"
> Yeah right, you didn't even hit her that hard. What a drama queen.
> Ms. Yellow sneers. "Don't worry, once we report these two to the boss lady, they won't bother us again..." She then shoots a wicked glance ad a crooked smile at Maple. "And you'll be the one who gets punished!"
> Maple just raspberries in defiance.
> "So childish...Let's go, Glitter," says Ms. Yellow.
> "Right behind you, Glimmer," replies Ms. Purple. The two ABSCOND and ASCEND.
> "...I wouldn't worry about those two, so long as you're not causing trouble," Maple says somewhat dejectedly.
>How dangerous would it be to sic Mokou on them to kill time while we get shit done with Maple?
>Try to ignore the time-wasting fairies and get into Maple's place without them.
> You'd rather not risk that. Even though Mokou's far from a pyromaniac, she can have a bit of a temper if pushed too hard, and BURNINATION would a pretty nasty way to reach a BAD END.
> Instead, you suggest Maple lead them on to her place, and comment on how pretty the entrance looks.
> "Thanks...I know it's not much, but...I care about my art! I have to put my all into it, otherwise the leaves will never change color...It is almost fall, after all." Maple sighs. "But, you came here for a magical item, not an art lesson, so...gimmie a sec." She enters her abode and calls out to "Hermia-chan!" while you wait outside.
> _
-
>What's Titania like? Considering that this is Gensokyo, she can't just be a
lesbian legend.
>"Think I'd rather not make more trouble than I need to right now, ze. Except for those rats. Let's keep this quick if we can."
>'Hermia-chan' is unfamiliar, no doubt?
-
>What's Titania like? Considering that this is Gensokyo, she can't just be a lesbian legend.
> You've heard mixed accounts. Titania's often seen as a kind, motherly figure, but some accounts put her in a negative light thanks to her fling with Oberon. Despite Titi being "legendary" in the eyes of most humans, she has not been seen in Gensokyo at all from what you can gather.
>"Think I'd rather not make more trouble than I need to right now, ze. Except for those rats. Let's keep this quick if we can."
>'Hermia-chan' is unfamiliar, no doubt?
> Mokou nods. "I have to say though, this is not a bad place to relax in...Too bad I'm a little too tall to be considered one, haha."
> You suspect Hermia is Maple's roommate. You can hear Maple talking to someone who sounds like they just woke up from a nap...Man, what you couldn't give for a nice nap right about now.
> _
-
>Ergh... damnit... we don't have time to spare for a nap... again, maybe after we take out the Eientei problem. Though it wouldn't be easy to find us here, would it?
>Have we taken breaks during other Incidents?
>Review the implications of Oberon.
>Any fairies we could reasonably suspect of being the leader alluded to, aside from Titania and, say, Cirno or Daiyosei?
-
>Ergh... damnit... we don't have time to spare for a nap... again, maybe after we take out the Eientei problem. Though it wouldn't be easy to find us here, would it?
> As far as you know, you and Mokou are the only humans who know of this grove. Though you'd much rather sleep in your own bed, away from all the fairies that could easily prank you...But hey, any port in a storm.
>Have we taken breaks during other Incidents?
> Sometimes, you doze off on your broom while flying from place to place...But that's not exactly a good thing to do, especially in a hot zone that's the epicenter of an incident. If you had to lump the main incident and the "Extra" incidents together, then yes, it definitely helps to take a rest.
>Review the implications of Oberon.
>Any fairies we could reasonably suspect of being the leader alluded to, aside from Titania and, say, Cirno or Daiyosei?
> You assume that Titania would have had children with him, and that he obviously existed as well at some point, but he seems just as elusive as Titania.
> Whomever the leader is, it's not Maple, unless she's pulling off an elaborate ruse akin to Zero from Code Geass. :V You really need to lay off the anime torrents...At any rate, you could say hello to the leader by following Glimmer and Glitter, but that would require dealing with them and you're not sure if Maple would need any help lugging that tablet out.
> _
-
>Let's stay out of fairy politics if we can... let Maple drag her roommate out of bed and we'll see what we're getting into.
-
>Let's stay out of fairy politics if we can... let Maple drag her roommate out of bed and we'll see what we're getting into.
> Speaking of dragging...You can hear shuffling from within Maple's abode. She and a green-clad fairy with hair similar to Youmu's (except it too is green) are lugging out a small, yet surprisingly heavy stone tablet. It appears to be square in shape, with rounded corners, and it has a triangular glyph upon it with the kanji for A, B, and C written on the corners.
> "Here...It is!" Maple says with a mighty sigh as she and her roommate lug it over the door jam. "This is it...My project...The Radiant Tablet. I know it doesn't look like much, but...It should help you somehow."
> _
-
> Poke the rock.
-
> Poke the rock.
> You poke the rock with your broom, then your finger. It doesn't seem to react much.
> "I still dun see how this is supposta help your 'friend here,' Maple," the green fairy comments, scratching her head.
> "She'll figure it out!" Maple says with a smile. "Oh, I should introduce you...Hermia, these two are Mokou and Marisa, they're out to solve an Incident!"
> "Izzat right?" Hermia looks at you two curiously. "Funny, I imagined you a lot taller, Mari."
> _
-
> ...We don't know anything about the rock, do we?
> "So, tell me what you've tried."
> Look over the rock. Try to determine if there's some sort of conduit to put magic into the rock. Try to think of things a fairy wouldn't think to try.
-
> ...We don't know anything about the rock, do we?
> Aside from what Maple's told you already, not really. You're curious about how you're supposed to activate it.
> "So, tell me what you've tried."
> "W-Well, I asked some of the locals to lend me their spell cards for testing purposes...I managed to get...Some of the attacks to work, but they weren't very good. Like, I tried Cirno's Perfect Freeze, it looked more like someone exhaling on a cold day instead of a torrent of ice bullets." Maple sighs. "If only I was more proficient in more elements..."
> "Hey, you had me to help, right?" Hermia says with a smile.
> "Yeah...Until we almost burned our house down."
> Hermia sweatdrops. "Oh yeah..."
> Look over the rock. Try to determine if there's some sort of conduit to put magic into the rock. Try to think of things a fairy wouldn't think to try.
> The circles seem to be just large enough to perfectly mount a spell card apiece. You run this by Maple as the intended mode of operation.
> "Yeah, that was the idea...But none of us fairies could get enough power flowing through it to get much of an effect. Maybe you might have more luck."
> _
-
> Glance at Mokou. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"
> Wonder if 3 spells go in, new spell comes out.
> "Power is easy. Safety is hard."
> Attempt to avoid blowing anything up. People don't appreciate it when we accidentally blow them up with our experiments. Put rock someplace where we won't accidentally blow anything up with it, then try putting 3 different spell cards on it.
-
>We don't have a way to examine the magic/runes on there without taking major risks first, do we?
>What spellcards do we have on hand?
>How long would a worthwhile nap take?
>Since we ignored Hermia, let's actually answer: "I usually would be, ze. But something dumb happened and I'm not quite myself right now. Don't worry about it.
>Are there any instructions hidden on the rock's surface? Maybe the other side or something?
-
>We don't have a way to examine the magic/runes on there without taking major risks first, do we?
> If by "major risk" you mean "picking up something that weighs about as much as a motorcycle" then you should be fine. You kneel down and look at the tablet closely. You can tell there's magical lettering on the lines making up the tablet, but most of it is undecipherable. You ask Maple about this.
> "Uh...Funny story about that. When I discovered that rock and decided to take some home, I felt the uncontrollable urge to create this tablet...I actually don't remember carving those letters into it."
> "I guess that's what they call being possessed by a fey mood?" Hermia chuckles. Maple just glares at her.
>Since we ignored Hermia, let's actually answer: "I usually would be, ze. But something dumb happened and I'm not quite myself right now. Don't worry about it.
> Seeing as Hermia brought attention to herself, you answer her question from earlier.
> "Well, if you shrink any further and grow fairy wings, you'll be right at home here!" Hermia's sense of humor is nothing if not a bit lighthearted. Maple just rolls her eyes in response.
>Are there any instructions hidden on the rock's surface? Maybe the other side or something?
> None that you can see. You flip the rock over (with Mokou's assistance) to double check, but nothing strikes your eye.
>What spellcards do we have on hand?
> You have your Stardust Reverie and Milky Way cards, as well as whatever you could cobble together in response to Medicine's body-snatching scheme (Poison Pincushion and Deadly Mists). You also have about a dozen blank cards to spare.
>How long would a worthwhile nap take?
> That depends...You sometimes feel like dozing off, yet you're not feeling tired enough to actually do it. Really irritating, that...It'd probably take you an hour at least to fall asleep and a couple more to feel like it was worthwhile, so about 4 to 5 hours.
> Glance at Mokou. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"
> Wonder if 3 spells go in, new spell comes out.
> Maple looks a bit unsure. "I'm not certain that's how it's supposed to work...I think it just combines the effects of the cards together. Creating a new spell card from three different ones sounds...Dangerous."
> "Power is easy. Safety is hard."
> Attempt to avoid blowing anything up. People don't appreciate it when we accidentally blow them up with our experiments. Put rock someplace where we won't accidentally blow anything up with it, then try putting 3 different spell cards on it.
> "Bwuh?!" Maple begins to protest, but you can't hear her over the spinning gears in your head. At the very least, though, you'd figure you might as well try this out in a place where you're not liable to destroy the fairies' community.
> You ask if you could get a hand with moving this tablet outside Knottingham. "Oh...All right," Maple says, having finally giving up on her little spiel. It takes some effort, but the four of you manage to transport the RADIANT TABLET outside the town entrance, and set it down with a hearty THUMP.
> Now the question remains: what cards will you place on the tablet? You'll need one for A, B, and C...Maple also commented that she tried a fourth card on the middle space once, and while she could sense its effect, she wasn't able to do anything special with it, so there's that to consider. The group also agrees to let you (ahem) borrow one card from each of them: Hermia and Mokou have fire-based cards, you've seen Maple's earth/stone cards, and you have the poison and pure magic-based spell cards.
> Choose wisely, players!
> _
-
>Presumably our current selection of Marisa cards don't rely on the Hakkero? Might as well reduce the chances we won't be able to use it right now...
I'm thinking stars that burst into poison clouds? Perhaps flammable poison clouds, with a third fire card? Any ideas?
-
> Um, well, lets take one of our laser cards, one of Medicine's poison cloud cards, and one of Mokou's "Hax sign: Burn everything" cards, put the three on the triangle corners, and put a couple blank card in the middle of the triangle.
> ...So one day the fairy woke up and decided to create an artifact of power, without a clue how the thing she was making worked. There's something odd about that story.
-
> ...So one day the fairy woke up and decided to create an artifact of power, without a clue how the thing she was making worked. There's something odd about that story.
> Well, it's not uncommon to be possessed in Gensokyo...But you're not entirely how a "fey mood" is supposed to work either. Might as well throw that onto the "MYSTERIOUS" pile.
> Um, well, lets take one of our laser cards, one of Medicine's poison cloud cards, and one of Mokou's "Hax sign: Burn everything" cards, put the three on the triangle corners, and put a couple blank card in the middle of the triangle.
> ERROR: Please specify which should go on A, B, and C. (yes this matters. no the parser won't tell you how much it matters.)
> ERROR: Too many cards on the center region. Please remove one and try again.
> _
-
>We don't have Witch Leyline, do we? Having a dual mobility use could be nice...
>See what happens if it gets four blank spellcards.
I'm thinking A - Milky Way, B - Poison Mists, and one of Mokou's phoenix cards for C. If we don't know what the order means (yet?), then it doesn't really matter at this point.
... though if they go in order, A-Milk B-Phoenix C-Mist resulting in poison-trailing birds could be neat
-
>We don't have Witch Leyline, do we? Having a dual mobility use could be nice...
>See what happens if it gets four blank spellcards.
I'm thinking A - Milky Way, B - Poison Mists, and one of Mokou's phoenix cards for C. If we don't know what the order means (yet?), then it doesn't really matter at this point.
... though if they go in order, A-Milk B-Phoenix C-Mist resulting in poison-trailing birds could be neat
> You try setting in four blank cards, just for the hell of it. Nothing happens. =P
> You do have Witch Leyline on you, actually! You always keep one in every deck you make, because ramming into enemies with your broom at high speeds is just so much goddamn FUN!
> ...
> Place Witch Leyline in center slot (Y/N)?
> _
-
> ...
Place broom at center of rock. No that's a terrible idea. We place Witch Leyline in the center of the rock and see what happens.
> THEN we place our broom in the middle of the rock.
-
>Let's try not to break it, please. Though if we could enchant the broom by touching it there... maybe once we see what happens with the spellcards.
>Try that aforementioned A-Milky Way B-Phoenix C-Mist combination.
-
> ...Place broom at center of rock. No that's a terrible idea. We place Witch Leyline in the center of the rock and see what happens.
> THEN we place our broom in the middle of the rock.
>Let's try not to break it, please. Though if we could enchant the broom by touching it there... maybe once we see what happens with the spellcards.
>Try that aforementioned A-Milky Way B-Phoenix C-Mist combination.
> This rock is pretty damn hard, it'd have to take a lot for you to even scratch it with your current items and spells. Not like you'd want to break this thing anyways...Then again, try to break it might be a good way to test the limits of its power...
> At any rate, you place the cards on the appropriate slots, and just for the hell of it, you put your broom on the rock as well. You've got plenty of 'em back at the house, and it's not like--
> VWOOOOSH. The rock and the room glow with a blinding light, as sparks shoot up into the sky.
> ...Like you were trying to say, it's not like you expect anything interesting to happen, but apparently this proved you wrong. Maple is speechless, Hermia's all "wow, this is cool!" and Mokou's all like "huh, this is interesting." Mini-Medi-Mari is a bit mesmerized by what happens next.
> The items and the cards lift up into the sky, then start to dematerialize into a finer swirling mass of particles. Then, the particles shoot into your very being, and you can feel something being hitched to your very soul...It doesn't hurt or anything, but it does feel weird. What feels even weirder is the mass of magical energy surging through your soul and body, coalescing into your hands...It takes on a shape. A long shape, not unlike that of a bo-staff or polearm. There is another flash of light and magic, and you can feel something tangible in your hands. It is a long, wooden staff that is finely carved into a perfectly round rod, and the top is a rectangular box that seems to have three glowing gems set into it. The topmost one is a bright, almost white and blue color, the second is a flaming red, and the third is a dull, smokey purple. The wood on the staff itself seems like it's identical to the ones you use to make your brooms, and despite its heft it's surprisingly lightweight.
> Congratulations, you just managed to make the RADIANT ST--
> "There they are, Vina-sama!"
> Oh, what now?! You look up at the source of the voice, it's that annoying yellow fairy from earlier and her purple friend. GLIMMER and GLITTER, if you're not mistaken. They are accompanied by a (s)lime green fairy that you assume is VINA; she has her hair done up in a ponytail, wears a pair of glasses, and is donning a set of green and brown dress robes. She also has remarkably intricately-patterned wings and seems to be slightly taller than the other two fairies (though she still seems shorter than you). The trio flies down from their perch above to stop atop Maple's abode.
> Speaking of which, Maple gasps and shrinks back with a horrified look on her face. Hermia just glares at them and says "What do you two want?"
> "Like, can't you count?" Glitter chides. "We were totally serious when we said we'd tell the boss lady what's going on."
> "I would like an explanation for all this, after all," Vina says in a politer tone. "Especially after you materialized that...Weapon, I guess, in your hands."
> "See?! I told you they were up to no good," Glimmer blurts out.
> Vina, however, just holds up a finger to Glimmer and continues to address you. "If it's not too much trouble, I'd like you all to come up to my abode and tell me what you're up to...I'd rather not incite a panic if we can help it."
> _
-
> Didn't we move the rock outside?
> "We're performing science- magic- er... magical science on the rock. We can move the rock farther away if that's the problem."
> Mokou's probably going to want a turn, and I we want to see what abomination of excess fire, power, and firepower comes out.
-
>Whoa. That was more interesting than anticipated. Wonder how well we'll be able to use this once we're back to normal... and hopefully Medicine doesn't steal too much of it back once this is over with. Well, she won't know where to get the rock to use anyway...
>But we've got more pressing issues. Look between the assembled fairies with a slightly exasperated expression.
>"... I'm thinkin' it might not be worth the time to head all the way back in, ze. You want me at your place for privacy or security reasons, fancy fairy?"
>If she's willing to hear at least some of the explanation here and now, "The vague version'd be that there's some panickin' going on over going on at Eientei, but Knottingham'll probably be safer with us gettin' outta here to take care of it soon, ze. I'm thinkin' we didn't need to get much aside from trying out Maple's magic rock, right?"
-
> Didn't we move the rock outside?
> Er, yes, you did. The parser apologizes for this oversight. You still got spotted by the fairies, though.
> Mokou's probably going to want a turn, and I we want to see what abomination of excess fire, power, and firepower comes out.
> You'd be willing to let Mokou experiment, if it weren't for the following: A-- your prior engagement at Eientei, and B-- if you had any idea how to revert the blasted staff back to its original state.
>Whoa. That was more interesting than anticipated. Wonder how well we'll be able to use this once we're back to normal... and hopefully Medicine doesn't steal too much of it back once this is over with. Well, she won't know where to get the rock to use anyway...
> You'd be more than willing to fight for control over this thing once you get your body back, but you have a feeling that shouldn't be too hard anyways.
>But we've got more pressing issues. Look between the assembled fairies with a slightly exasperated expression.
> "We're performing science- magic- er... magical science on the rock. We can move the rock farther away if that's the problem."
> "Hence why this was brought to my attention...I want to know you're just fooling around or if you're secretly youkai terrorists." Glitter and Glimmer snicker at that line.
>"... I'm thinkin' it might not be worth the time to head all the way back in, ze. You want me at your place for privacy or security reasons, fancy fairy?"
>If she's willing to hear at least some of the explanation here and now, "The vague version'd be that there's some panickin' going on over going on at Eientei, but Knottingham'll probably be safer with us gettin' outta here to take care of it soon, ze. I'm thinkin' we didn't need to get much aside from trying out Maple's magic rock, right?"
> At that statement, Vina raises an eyebrow. "In a rush, are you?"
> Indeed you are, you explain. You don't feel she needs to know about the body-swapping shenanigans just yet.
> "Hmmm, you bring up a good point. If that's the case...I'll let you go on your way if you let me examine the staff, surely that's fair?" Vina asks. You figure it wouldn't take more than a second, and you hold it out to her...At which point Vina grabs the staff and flies away quicker than you'd expect from a fairy.
> "H-HEY!" Maple calls out, but her shock suddenly turns to relief (and the smiles quickly disappear from Glitter's and Glimmer's faces) when the staff suddenly teleports itself back into your hands.
> "Da hell?!" Hermia and Mokou exclaim as Vina comes back, the latter bearing a satisfactory grin.
> "It's just as I thought," Vina explains, "this weapon is Soulbound to you, Miss...Kirisame, if I'm not mistaken?"
> "Whoa, like, SHE'S the all-powerful fairy exterminator?" Glitter says in a flabbergasted tone. "No way!"
> "I refuse to believe this, this...Stupid doll is a high-level witch, and even if she was..." Glimmer stops to catch her breath, but is once again silenced by Vina's finger.
> "I've seen enough to know it's her. Besides..." Vina turns back to you. "Anyone who talks like Marisa-san must be the genuine article."
> Maple exhales, as if she was holding her breath, and bows. "Th-Thank you, Vina-sama...I was afraid this sitch was going to get out of control."
> "It's nothing," Vina says reassuringly. "I don't know what circumstances brought forth whatever incident you're dealing with, but should you need my help again, come seek me out...The name's Ivyina, but you've heard my nickname already, yes?" She chuckles. "Good luck in your errand." She then turns to Glitter and Glimmer. "Girls, I think it's time you turned in for the night, it is almost curfew after all."
> Glitter and Glimmer look none-too-pleased with this. They shoot you dirty glances as they return to the village.
> "O-On that note...Vina-sama, if it's ok with you, I'd like to travel with Marisa-san and Mokou-sama here," Maple pleads.
> Vina nods. "That's fine, but what about your roommate?"
> "I'm gonna stay here and keep an eye on those two," Hermia replies. "I have a feeling they're up to no good again. Besides...They already got a fire user on their team, and I'm bushed just from moving Maple's big ol' rock around."
> Vina chuckles. "Still as lazy as ever, I see." Hermia just sticks out her tongue at her, then turns to Maple.
> "Just be careful out there, all right?"
> "I will," Maple says. The two then share a hug, before Hermia flies back to town with Vina.
> Sheesh, too much conversation and not enough action, I say!
> _
-
>S'place for both of 'em, ze. Wish we'd been able to just sneak through that mess instead, though.
>"Looks like my reputation precedes me, ze. Though I guess they didn't recognize the outfit."
>Although... let's tease the fairy. "Should I be askin' about you giving me - san and Mokou -sama, Maple?"
>It's rare for fairies to be that level-headed or mature, isn't it? Ivynia may be worth keeping in mind the future.
>Experiment with the staff's weight and see how it 'feels' now that we have a moment unmolested.
>... there's no good way to magic up relief from this sleepiness problem of ours, is there?
-
>S'place for both of 'em, ze. Wish we'd been able to just sneak through that mess instead, though.
> Yeah, it's like this doll body of yours gives a penalty to stealth or something.
>"Looks like my reputation precedes me, ze. Though I guess they didn't recognize the outfit."
> "...You used to wear that thing?" Mokou says with an eyebrow raised. You sternly reply that you were still a teen at the time and you thought purple was cool, ok?! "Geeze, chill out, I'm not the fashion police...Though black does look better on ya."
>Although... let's tease the fairy. "Should I be askin' about you giving me - san and Mokou -sama, Maple?"
> "Oh, I just use honorisms out of habit...If it gets annoying, I can stop," Maple replies.
>It's rare for fairies to be that level-headed or mature, isn't it? Ivynia may be worth keeping in mind the future.
> Indeed, Vina seems to have a good head on her shoulders. It's not just her intelligence, either...Her very appearance and mannerisms exude polite authority. You think back to the book Akyu-chan wrote about Gensokyo's various residents (http://en.touhouwiki.net/wiki/Perfect_Memento_in_Strict_Sense), perhaps she would reward you with the extra information about the fairies...It's a long shot, but hey, might as well give back a bit, ze!
>Experiment with the staff's weight and see how it 'feels' now that we have a moment unmolested.
> It feels like your typical bludgeoning staff, though knowing the gems at the top, you probably don't want to hit people too hard. You decide to give it a few twirls and swings before the others vocally announce that you need some proper practice. This thing is way heftier than a broom, after all.
>... there's no good way to magic up relief from this sleepiness problem of ours, is there?
> You could have used a sleeping potion or fairy dust to induce sleep, but seeing as you're inorganic at the moment, that'd be rather ineffective, you think. Maybe some hypnosis would do the trick instead?
> _
-
>"Yeah, it ain't quite my usual outfit, but there aren't THAT many other people goin' around in witches' gear, are there, ze?"
>grumble about the youth of today
>"No big problem about the honorifics, Maple. Just wonderin' why you seem to be thinking Mokou's the boss, ze. Or am I missing something else?"
>On to more practical matters... presumably the staff would be a useful focus for magical skills in some fashion?
>And the act of sleeping isn't the goal; it's relief of the symptoms of sleepiness and its impact on our ability to handle this Incident that are the problem. Well, at least we have backup...
-
>"Yeah, it ain't quite my usual outfit, but there aren't THAT many other people goin' around in witches' gear, are there, ze?"
>grumble about the youth of today
> "Good point," Mokou mentions, though it doesn't seem to make you feel any better. Back in your day, witches MEANT something! THEY were the masters of magic, now everyone and their baby sister can do it! That's why you want to become the best goddamn magician in all of Gensokyo, to show what you and your fellow witches are capable of.
>"No big problem about the honorifics, Maple. Just wonderin' why you seem to be thinking Mokou's the boss, ze. Or am I missing something else?"
> "Oh, uh, well isn't Mokou-sama supposed to be of noble blood?"
> Mokou looks down. "Depends on what you mean by "noble..." You have heard about my backstory, right?"
> "Well yes, but...Still, I respect you, it's not often a human ascends to your kind of level," Maple says with a smile.
> Mokou smiles back. "Thanks...I guess I did do some good after all."
>On to more practical matters... presumably the staff would be a useful focus for magical skills in some fashion?
> Yeah, now that you mention it...How were you supposed to activate the spells on this tablet once you get them seated?
> You pose this question to Maple, whom responds with this: "Er, I just thought about the spells on each letter glyph and they came out...Sometimes I did two at a time, and they created some interesting effects! I...Never tried doing all three once, not after I tried it with one of Hermia's cards..." Maple pokes her fingers together. Perhaps this was what caused the fire she hinted at earlier...Still, this is nice info to know.
>And the act of sleeping isn't the goal; it's relief of the symptoms of sleepiness and its impact on our ability to handle this Incident that are the problem. Well, at least we have backup...
> Coffee always managed to wake you up in the morning...You don't know how Medicine manages her energy, but...Perhaps finding some kind of power source is how she manages to stay "awake?"
> _
-
>... fairies knowing about Mokou's backstory? Maybe we've been underestimating their intelligence... definitely worth investigating Knottingham after this. Who knows, maybe some other fairies had useful fey moods to buddy up with? Or rob, of course.
>Well, if it's about our body-snatcher, we do have one useful source here... Oi, uh, you noticed I'm kinda zoned out, right? What's Medicine do for food and sleepin', ze?
>Find a good open spot to test in and give the staff's may-gick a whirl.
-
>... fairies knowing about Mokou's backstory? Maybe we've been underestimating their intelligence... definitely worth investigating Knottingham after this. Who knows, maybe some other fairies had useful fey moods to buddy up with? Or rob, of course.
> If anything, they heard rumors of her throughout the centuries...But that's normal in Gensokyo. On that note...You think it would be bitchin' epic if you could take credit for this discovery instead of that newshound Aya. Hmmm...
>Well, if it's about our body-snatcher, we do have one useful source here... Oi, uh, you noticed I'm kinda zoned out, right? What's Medicine do for food and sleepin', ze?
> Oh, that's easy, ze. She usually just recharges in a field of flowers. Eirin was aware of this and prepared a field of Suzuran for her in Eientei's underground...Of course, that means we gotta go back into the lion's den, ze Unless you want to be a zombie doll type of person...
>Find a good open spot to test in and give the staff's may-gick a whirl.
> You take Mini-Medi-Mari's words to heart, but you might as well test out those combos first. After some experimenting (and unintentional destruction of a tree or three), you discover the following things with your current setup:
- A (Milky Way) shoots out a spread shot of stars, kinda like Reimu's traditional spread shots.
- B (Flying Phoenix) fires a slow moving, but piercing fire bird that leaves behind damaging flames. Low fire rate.
- C (Deadly Mists) unleashes a short range, but omni-directional cloud of gas that poisons and damages enemies. Fires as fast as you can
press the button cast it. - A + B shoots slow moving fireballs that explode on impact, damaging surrounding foes. Somewhat low fire rate.
- B + C deploys mines! When they explode, they damage enemies and leave behind a small, poisonous cloud. They fire at a slow but set interval.
- A + C fires four poison bubbles in an 'X' pattern, they bounce off of obstacles (and the edges of the screen) a few times before they explode for good. Rapid-fire, but weak.
- Casting all three at once consumes a bomb and makes you rocket across the screen, leaving a poisonous cloud...Then an afterburner kicks in and ignites the cloud, exploding everything onscreen for massive damage.
> You're welcome to name any of these abilities if you feel like it.
> _
-
>Is that flower field she used to be in still around, ze? How far outta the way would it be, ya think?
>Lots of fun spells there. Good to have some flexibility!
>How easy is it to mix up spells of different cooldowns? Like, can you spam the poison bubbles without interfering with mine production?
>How many of these could cause friendly fire problems?
-
>Is that flower field she used to be in still around, ze? How far outta the way would it be, ya think?
> Of course, it's a bit far but I can point you in the direction of it, ze. If only because the parser couldn't be bothered to draw a proper map
>Lots of fun spells there. Good to have some flexibility!
>How easy is it to mix up spells of different cooldowns? Like, can you spam the poison bubbles without interfering with mine production?
> You can switch between spells with minimal slowdown, but you can't spam two spells at the exact same time. You can alternate fire between the poison bubbles and fireballs, for instance, but you can't shoot fireballs and bubbles with the same button press. TASers would not have this kind of problem.
>How many of these could cause friendly fire problems?
> Pretty much all of them, except maybe the fire ones in Mokou's case. :V How would a multi-person danmaku battle work anyways...Regardless, you'd better be careful where you aim and bomb and fart, because that is magic too.
> _
-
>So, combat variation will cost some attention to use well... fair enough. That should make life more interesting!
>The Eintei underground would probably be after all the fighting, rather than a pitstop on the way... damnit. And they mighta torched it anyway... that'd be really bad.
>Although... ... think it's the Suzuran specifically, or would some other kinda poison or flower work, ze?
-
>So, combat variation will cost some attention to use well... fair enough. That should make life more interesting!
> Or you can just spray and pray like you usually do. Never fails!
>The Eintei underground would probably be after all the fighting, rather than a pitstop on the way... damnit. And they mighta torched it anyway... that'd be really bad.
> That would be a problem, but there's no way to confirm it unless you go back to the mansion.
>Although... ... think it's the Suzuran specifically, or would some other kinda poison or flower work, ze?
> Suzuran will "recharge" you the fastest, but regular flowers would also work, I guess. On that note...You remember the Nameless Hill, right? That's far to the Southeast...But there's plenty of flowers ground around the Human Village, especially near Buddhist's Shrine, ze.
> _
-
>How about magic flowers, ze?
>There HAVE to be some sort of flowering plants in the Forest of Magic... think, Marisa, think!
>How far off's the Human Village? It'd probably be better not to go there if we can avoid it, but...
-
>How about magic flowers, ze?
> Ooooh...For those, you might have to pay a visit to Yuuka. Yeah, I know, great fun, right?
>There HAVE to be some sort of flowering plants in the Forest of Magic... think, Marisa, think!
> You think, think, and think some more...There is that one clearing of flowers you found while picking mushrooms. Just thinking about it gives you an uneasy feeling, yet at the same time, it feels comfortingly nostalgic...
> *KSSSSHHHZZZZZT!*
> ...And that was the sound of your brain hitting a brick wall while trying to remember something. Damn, but that feeling hurts.
> ERROR: "Memory2.txt" has been changed, moved or deleted. Would you like to direct this shortcut to
"MLPmusicvideo.mp4" instead?
>How far off's the Human Village? It'd probably be better not to go there if we can avoid it, but...
> Not so far off that you can't make a short flight to it. It's to the east of the forest, past Kourindou and a relatively harmless but winding trail.
> _
-
>... mental error messages aren't normal, are they?
>Ask Mini-Medi-Mari if the previous one encountered them.
>If the parser is just trying to be a wiseass, ask the others if they've seen any accessible patches of flowers around anywhere else, now that we have a plan not involving passing out for extended periods of time.
>... presumably drawn flowers from Maple do nothing.
-
>... mental error messages aren't normal, are they?
> Most definitely not. Perhaps you've been hanging out on the computer too much.
>Ask Mini-Medi-Mari if the previous one encountered them.
> Yuuka? Yeah, we crossed paths before...But we decided it was a bit too risky to actually stay with her, ze.
>If the parser is just trying to be a wiseass, ask the others if they've seen any accessible patches of flowers around anywhere else, now that we have a plan not involving passing out for extended periods of time.
>... presumably drawn flowers from Maple do nothing.
> Sadly, this is not Scribblenauts, so no, Maple can't really help with that. You do ask her about any other patches of flowers, though.
> "Well, there was a garden Vina-sama was working on, but...I'd rather not get in trouble with her, eheh...That being said...We could pay the Aki sisters a visit..."
> "Or even that old ghost princess," Mokou suggests, presumably talking about Yuyuko. "Though that might be a longer trip than what it's worth..."
> _
-
>No, no, ask Mini-Medi-Mari about the error messages. Is that a thing with medicine's body, the mind-swap, or what? This is getting weirder... could Medicine be a robot?
>... wish we'd figured this out earlier, then we could have asked the fairy leader if help would be available. But she's gone by now. Damn.
>Describe what we can remember about that uneasily nostalgic patch for the others, see if their memories jog better than ours.
>Which of these options would be least out of the way to Eintei?
-
>No, no, ask Mini-Medi-Mari about the error messages. Is that a thing with medicine's body, the mind-swap, or what? This is getting weirder... could Medicine be a robot?
> GAH! The parser profusely apologizes for this blunder.
> What error message, ze? All I heard was your brain stopping...Maybe you need that recharge more badly than I expected.
>... wish we'd figured this out earlier, then we could have asked the fairy leader if help would be available. But she's gone by now. Damn.
> Well, it's probably not too late to go and ask her, but that probably might be more trouble than it's worth, especially with Glitter and Glimmer now aware of your meddling.
>Describe what we can remember about that uneasily nostalgic patch for the others, see if their memories jog better than ours.
>Which of these options would be least out of the way to Eintei?
> The patch of flowers you are thinking of is probably the closest...And yet...Why is it that when you think of it, you hear....Something in your head...It's static-y, but you can make out...Singing? Sadly, most of the words are lost to you. Perhaps if you visited that clearing again if might jog your memory. It's up to you.
> _
-
>"Looks like I'm havin' a memory block, ze. I'm thinkin' there's some patch of flowers nearby in the forest of magic, but I just can't remember where. Somethin' about... singing and static, maybe? Though I also get a bad feelin' of sorts... could be a little risky. Sound familiar to any of you?"
>Which would be next closest? We should probably make this detour if we're getting this out of whack. Hopefully the others won't be too annoyed.
-
>"Looks like I'm havin' a memory block, ze. I'm thinkin' there's some patch of flowers nearby in the forest of magic, but I just can't remember where. Somethin' about... singing and static, maybe? Though I also get a bad feelin' of sorts... could be a little risky. Sound familiar to any of you?"
> Mokou has no clue, but Maple perks up. "I know the flower patch you speak of! We usually call it the "Spore Garden" because it's so close to the mushrooms there. Hmm...Maybe you accidentally smoked a mushroom while you were there?" Maple asks with an innocent, jesting tone.
>Which would be next closest? We should probably make this detour if we're getting this out of whack. Hopefully the others won't be too annoyed.
> The next best thing would be the Buddhist's flower garden. Surely Byakuren would understand...Provided Captain Murasa doesn't get to you first, she's very...High strung when it comes to intruders.
> _
-
>"I'm doubtin' that one, ze. I use mushrooms for my magic all the time... unless I made a stupid mistake? D'ya know what the mushrooms there look like? Anyone live around there?"
>ID if possible, see if it jars our memory any.
>We don't particularly need to breathe as dolly, do we? If it's just weird spores there, we'll probably be okay... and if they're poisonous they might actually help.
-
>"I'm doubtin' that one, ze. I use mushrooms for my magic all the time... unless I made a stupid mistake? D'ya know what the mushrooms there look like? Anyone live around there?"
> Maple shrinks back a bit. "I-I wasn't doubting you, it's just...If your memory is a little fuzzy, perhaps...Perhaps you mistook a bad mushroom for a safe one?"
> Hmm, that does seem possible, you think...
> "That being said...The ones near the flowers are purple, and I think they're poisonous. But it's not like they spew spores everywhere to hurt people, you just...Don't wanna eat them!"
> Then again, you don't remember a thing about purple mushrooms.
>ID if possible, see if it jars our memory any.
>We don't particularly need to breathe as dolly, do we? If it's just weird spores there, we'll probably be okay... and if they're poisonous they might actually help.
> You do however recall reading about the amantia cranium, a purple mushroom that adorns a skull-like marking on its cap. You run this description by Maple and she confirms it's the same species. "Did that help any...?"she asks out of curiosity. So far, you don't feel your brain returning any more unusual errors or whatever, but you at least know where the grove is located. You also suspect the poisonous nature of the 'shrooms might help with the recharging process a bit, like a Breloom with Black Sludge equipped...Oy, you need to stop browsing those Pokemon sites so much.
> _
-
>"S'alright, Maple. Maybe that's just the part I forgot, ze... feels like it was a long time ago, anyway. Though if you two wanna hold back while I'm seein' if that recharges this doll body so I can think again, just keep an eye out for any trouble."
>Head for the flowers and death mushrooms. Keep an eye out, as advised.
-
>"S'alright, Maple. Maybe that's just the part I forgot, ze... feels like it was a long time ago, anyway. Though if you two wanna hold back while I'm seein' if that recharges this doll body so I can think again, just keep an eye out for any trouble."
>Head for the flowers and death mushrooms. Keep an eye out, as advised.
> "Yay, we get to play bodyguard," Mokou says in a half-enthusiastic, half-sarcastic tone.
> You make your way southward, past your home, through some winding paths, and eventually reach the MUSHROOM GROVE. True to its description, there are RED SPOTTED MUSHROOMS everywhere, though you don't see the purple mushrooms anywhere at the moment...
> In fact, you can't see anything at the moment. You know it's dark but it shouldn't be THIS dark!
> _
-
>... there are flowers here though, right?
>"Okay, am I going blind or is it crazy dark here, ze?"
>Are these Mario mushrooms?
>..... wait, could that be Mystia's singing?
-
>... there are flowers here though, right?
> You see (or rather, saw) flowers scattered here and there, but nothing resembling what you're looking for.
>"Okay, am I going blind or is it crazy dark here, ze?"
>..... wait, could that be Mystia's singing?
> You can't hear Mystia at all. Besides, she at least has the decency to at least leave an area around you such that you can see. Here, the dark is so dark you can't even see your hand in front of your face.
> You can hear Maple whimper out of fear. "Meep...I'm getting a baaad feeling about this, girls..."
> "Oh, quit your bellyaching and leggo of my arm, it's not a flagpole...It's probably just some chump casting a low-level darkness spell.
>Are these Mario mushrooms?
> You mean the Amanita Gigantis? Heavens no, if that was the case you'd be as big as a Mega-Sized Suika! By that logic, the Amanita Liliput doesn't grow here either.
> _
-
>Well, it's not just us, then.
>Do we have a good counter to said generic darkness spell...?
>Does this resemble Rumia's M.O. at all?
-
>Do we have a good counter to said generic darkness spell...?
>Does this resemble Rumia's M.O. at all?
> Yes, and yes. You have the option of either "Dispel The Darkness By Casting A Generic Light Spell" or "Dispel The Darkness By Way Of Blasting It With Magic Missiles." Or you can turn around and blow off this entire incident. :V
> _
-
> Does no Mystia mean no Rock-off?
> Ah well, I suppose we might as well shoot everything like usual. Scorch the earth!
> Attempt to not shoot friends while scorching earth.
-
>Goddamnit Rumia now's not the time.
>... if it'd be possible to talk our way out of a fight with her, solve the problem with a light spell. If we'd have to blast her anyway, ask for the mountain dew go ahead and get started to light 'er up.
-
> I suppose we should use the light spell first. But mark our words, we'll be blasting something to smithereens tonight even if that something has to be ourselves! Which it very well might be.
-
> Does no Mystia mean no Rock-off?
> Sadly, no. At least you'd win in vocals.
> I suppose we should use the light spell first. But mark our words, we'll be blasting something to smithereens tonight even if that something has to be ourselves! Which it very well might be.
> Congrats on stealing the 600th reply. Here's a non-existent medal!
> On a more serious note, you consider just casting a light spell to light up the area.
> Ah well, I suppose we might as well shoot everything like usual. Scorch the earth!
> Attempt to not shoot friends while scorching earth.
>Goddamnit Rumia now's not the time.
>... if it'd be possible to talk our way out of a fight with her, solve the problem with a light spell. If we'd have to blast her anyway, ask for the mountain dew go ahead and get started to light 'er up.
> ...But your plastic gut is telling you that Rumia is a-lurkin', so you decide to solve both problems at once with a barrage of Magic Missiles.
> You just manage to catch a glimpse of Rumia's scary grinning face before she gets blasted a good distance away. The explosions dispel the darkness a bit, revealing the dark diva. It may just be the bright light, but the poor girl looks paler than usual; Rumia's hair's a mess and her clothing is covered in food stains. And judging by the wincing and nose-pinching of your party members, she hasn't bathed in days.
> Oh, and Rumia's hair amulet is gone. Isn't that just prime? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37-hxMgMAZE)
> "Owwww..." Rumia moans, rubbing her eyes. "Ya dinn't haveta do that! It makes me...ANGRY!" Rumia them proceeds to jump to her feet and come at you, teeth and claws bared. Oh no, whatever will you or your party members do.
> ...
> Psssst, that means you can give commands to Mokou and Maple now.
> _
-
Magi (http://bot)doll Stargal:
>How bad is non-ribboned Rumia? Goddamnit.
>What kind of food are we talking here? People-bits or meat or what?
>There's no clear indication that any of our new attack types would have knockback, is there?
>Give her a phoenix to chew on, if there isn't a way to just push her away.
>Get some space and keep an eye out for those flowers.
Not Quetzalcoatl:
>Well, this is both more annoying and more interesting...
>Falcon Kick the little darkness ruffian in the chest if she doesn't back off from our peeps.
Bottleable Momiji:
>AHHHHH OH SHIT OH SHIT OH SHIT
>Paintball her in the face so we can run away!
-
> Marisa: Well this is a good a time as any to test Medicine's abilities. Gas her with something that'll make her vomit or give her diarrhea. Preferably both. It's hard to fight someone from the bathroom.
> If that works, we may owe Rumia an itty-bitty apology afterwords for using her as a guinea pig. Later. When she's not trying to eat us; right now she deserves a bit of food poisoning.
-
Magidoll Stargal:
>How bad is non-ribboned Rumia? Goddamnit.
> The good news is that she only ranks as about a Stage 3 boss.
> The bad news is that you know several Stage 3 bosses that're capable of kicking your ass if given a chance.
> ...Goddammit.
>What kind of food are we talking here? People-bits or meat or what?
> More like snack foods. Judging by the color and texture, she's eaten the following:
- Cheetles (cheese crackers in the shape of beetles)
- Purpl Stuf (grape juice notorious for leaving nigh-permanent stains)
- Ninchips (salted and fried potatoes cut to look like shuriken, they come in various flavors)
- Cirno and Letty's Chocolanche Ice Cream (chocolate ice cream with malt balls, gummy worms, and coffee beans)
- Veggie-Max Smoothie (all-natural vegetable smoothie, Kourin likened to the ancient soft drink "Mountain Dew" minus the caffeine)
>There's no clear indication that any of our new attack types would have knockback, is there?
> Your fire-based projectiles tend to give good knockback, as do your missiles (as you clearly demonstrated). Poison...Doesn't have that same punch, sadly. It's just mist and bubbles.
Bottleable Momiji:
>AHHHHH OH SHIT OH SHIT OH SHIT
>Paintball her in the face so we can run away!
> Only you lightning-fast painting reflexes save you and Mari from a terrible fate!...Not that you were in major danger, but still. You'd rather not get bitten, so you frantically swing your brush and splatter Rumia with a streak of paint.
Magidoll Stargal:
>Give her a phoenix to chew on, if there isn't a way to just push her away.
>Get some space and keep an eye out for those flowers.
> You let loose a phoenix shot while Rumia is literally a painted target. The end result? You realizing that Maple's paints are actually FLAMMABLE. Good to know!
Not Quetzalcoatl:
>Well, this is both more annoying and more interesting...
>Falcon Kick the little darkness ruffian in the chest if she doesn't back off from our peeps.
> Little Miss Dark And Shadowy wouldn't mind her personal space, so you Tat...Tattoo...Tatsunami...Ah! Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=LJ-kWvBy_Eo#t=714) her right into a tree.
> "Overkill much?" Maple says in utter shock.
> "Hey, you're the one that flung the paint onto her," Mokou chides back. Maple does not look pleased.
> Thankfully, the fire doesn't last long, as Rumia picks herself up, realizes she's on fire, and runs over screaming to a small pond nearby. With a SPLASH, she puts herself out (but not out of her misery).
> "Son of a..." Rumia spits some water out. "Geeze, da lengths I havfta go through justa get a Guildies account...Ya couldn't have just stood there and took it, ya had to fight back!"
> Rumia laments some more as you look beyond the pond she's soaking in...There you see it, a clearing of white flowers surrounded by purple mushrooms; the treelines (and Rumia's darkness must've obscured it from view.
> Marisa: Well this is a good a time as any to test Medicine's abilities. Gas her with something that'll make her vomit or give her diarrhea. Preferably both. It's hard to fight someone from the bathroom.
> If that works, we may owe Rumia an itty-bitty apology afterwords for using her as a guinea pig. Later. When she's not trying to eat us; right now she deserves a bit of food poisoning.
> Of course, you can't really use this thing while Rumia's breathing down your neck, so you decide to teach her a lesson...
> "A coupla angels appeared and said if I kidnapped someone from tha beta, they could get me in...I really wanna play, I saw some videos of it on da Youtubes and I'm addictied! ADDICTED, I TELL YOU!" Rumia yells at you, even reaching to grab you, but you just exhale some LAXATIVE VAPOR into her face. Immediately, Rumia stops in her tracks, then cringes as you can hear her colon gurgle in discomfort. She then curses at you and crawls away rather fast, determined to relieve herself. That's one obstacle out of the way!
> "You want I should make sure she doesn't come back for a second round?" Mokou asks.
> _
-
Ms. Ordinary Dolljoints:
>Laxative vapor? Oh man. We could really have fun with this if we had the chance.
>But not right now... though Rumia being involved in Guildies is interesting.
>"Eh, no need to pummel her too much, ze. But I've been wonderin' what the deal is with Guildies - heard about some weird stuff goin' on with it. Maybe just keep an eye on her and see if you can get her to explain those 'angels.'"
>... actually, if we could make some sort of truth serum and pass it off as an antidote... or would we need to recharge with the flowers first?
Burning Cellphone, er, Cockatrice:
>Do we make a better good cop or bad cop in interrogation?
>What kind of 'angels' have we heard of or encountered in the past?
Fall Fae:
>That was a relief, but also really mean! Scary! Humans are scary!
>What are the limitations on our painting creations? How tough was it to make that Skylander miniboss?
>If we're fairly frail, maybe sending a few of those off to help might be a better idea...?
-
Mokou:
> The toe bone's connected to the foot bone~ - well, in about 30 seconds Rumia's won't be if we don't like her excuse.
Pinocchio:
> "You really think she's going to come back after I did THAT to her?"
> "...Yeah, you're right, she would."
Maple:
> "Who's giving away free Guildes accounts for beating us up?"
> Hyperventilate. We don't want to be beaten up! It sounds painful!
> Also remember to never get on our allies' bad side. Wonder if surrounding ourselves with scary people (read: slightly criminally insane extra bosses) was a good idea.
-
Ms. Ordinary Dolljoints:
>"Eh, no need to pummel her too much, ze. But I've been wonderin' what the deal is with Guildies - heard about some weird stuff goin' on with it. Maybe just keep an eye on her and see if you can get her to explain those 'angels.'"
>... actually, if we could make some sort of truth serum and pass it off as an antidote... or would we need to recharge with the flowers first?
> You contemplate a truth serum, but...You also remember why you never did it to begin with. Neither you nor Alice made such a recipe, Eirin and Patchy probably have it under lock and key, and if anyone were to get their hands on it, the risk of it being misused would be absurdly high. So, you pass on it. Hypnosis is usually better for pulling the truth out of others anyways.
> Instead, you ask Mokou to keep an eye on Rumia and ask her about the angels if possible, and see if she can't get some names from them. "You got it, boss lady."
> Boss lady...Ok, Mokou was probably being half-sarcastic with you, but still...You like the sound if it.
Burning Cellphone, er, Cockatrice:
>Do we make a better good cop or bad cop in interrogation?
>What kind of 'angels' have we heard of or encountered in the past?
> In theory, you should be a bad cop and punch the truth out of someone, but you're a little more intimidating than forceful. Hitting someone with the hard facts is just as effective as hitting someone in the face...Of course, you don't know a whole lot about this Guildies thing, aside from Keine calling it a "digital waste of space." Which sounds kind of silly, I mean, digital space is infinite, right? At least, that's what Byakuren told you when she hooked you up on HijiriNet...You only have Marisa's word to go by on this matter, but it's not like she'd try to deceive you, why would she? She's trapped in a doll's body for God's sake...
> Heh, how fun it is to backtrack when you let your mind wander...That's what happens when you're immortal, with nothing but time on your hands, it's easy to think and lose yourself...Right. The angels. You have heard something about them in the past, one of 'em even came from the sky with a flaming sword and--wait. That's Tenshi. Wrong angel. Damn.
> You rack your brain for a bit until you remember something one of the townspeople told you...A pair of sisters who posed as angels but were really demons in disguise...You don't remember much of the conversation, perhaps your smoke-addled mind robbed that of you, but you remember their names starting with G and M.
Fall Fae:
>That was a relief, but also really mean! Scary! Humans are scary!
> In terms of Mokou: Yeah, they're scary sometimes. In terms of Rumia: she makes the rest of them look innocent. Sometimes you wonder if Rumia was ever human to begin with...At least she's out of your hair for now, but you can't help but worry about a comeback attack.
>What are the limitations on our painting creations? How tough was it to make that Skylander miniboss?
> Hmmm, minibosses are a tricky business. You usually have to have someone else stand in for them, such as a familiar or a close friend, but in some cases you can use yourself as the midboss, and attack like you would at the end of a stage...Just with a lot less dialogue. In this case, you just enchanted a painting with a "Generic Midboss Automation" spell and the Spellcard took care of the rest. Since it was a generic object like most danmaku, the original painting is safely tucked away in your home, where it belongs. Oh, but how you would love to bring a painting or something similar to life...It'd be almost out of your scope of power (you're usually considered a Stage 2 or 3 level boss), but if you could pull it off...!
>If we're fairly frail, maybe sending a few of those off to help might be a better idea...?
> Ah, but you're getting ahead of yourself. The nice thing about the "Earth" part of your being an Earth Fairy is that you're a bit more durable than most other fairies. So you might as well check in Marisa yourself...But just to be safe, you pull out a spell card and summon three more of those painting familiars to your side to act as extra sets of eyes.
> "Quite the gallery ya got there, eh kiddo?" Mokou seems impressed with your handiwork, which makes you happy. You float off to join Marisa.
> You and Maple now stand in the heart of the "Purple Mushroom Flower Grove," which you named just now. Maple questions your unnecessarily long naming scheme, and you say it's a placeholder for later. "Whatever," she says. "I'll just keep watch until Mokou-sama gets back."
> This bed of flowers is looking mighty comfortable...And while you can't smell them, you can still sense the relaxing aura the purple mushrooms give off, almost like an incense stick.
> ...And yet...Staring at this makes you no less wary...The last time you fell asleep, a bone-winged fairy tried to kill you.
> Um, y'know, it's not too late to go to the Human Village...
> _
-
Salem Superstar:
>Man, now the whole social thing is even weirder! Oh well. That's the Rumia milking covered. We haven't met many angels ourselves, have we?
>You got that uneasy feeling too, huh? Does Medicine usually need to nap to recharge, or can I get away with just appreciating the flowers for a bit, ze?
>Did that skeleton-fairy fight actually seem to wear us out, or was that more of a metaphysical battle?
>If that staff is 'soulbound,' we'd probably be able to use it even in a dream... right?
>How dangerous are the purple mushrooms, under normal conditions?
Chestnut-roasting Chickadee:
>Hmm. Might as well let Marisa know about that demon impersonator bit, at least... have one of the familiars deliver the message, if we're too far out of the way. If they can't and we aren't near enough to tell her with a shout or something, oh well.
>Keep tracking ms. Darkness down. Give her a quiet glare and squeeze her for details.
Gravel Graphiceteer:
>Marisa's usually human too, right? They're both scary!
>Although... maybe she'll feel she owes us a little after this if we help out on the way? Maybe she could help get one of our paintings off the canvas?
>Oh, that would be great..! But we're getting ahead of ourselves, aren't we? Keep an eye out, for now.
-
> Marisa: Would going underground like we planned lead us to Satori? A mind reader would be useful in a duel against Freddy.
-
Salem Superstar:
>Man, now the whole social thing is even weirder! Oh well. That's the Rumia milking covered. We haven't met many angels ourselves, have we?
> No, but you have met two sisters who dressed like angels... Huh, G and M. It's been so long it almost feels obscure...And then you hear a familiar song... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btfb7MLbBD8)
>You got that uneasy feeling too, huh? Does Medicine usually need to nap to recharge, or can I get away with just appreciating the flowers for a bit, ze?
> W-Well, yeah, it'd help, it should only take a few minutes...I'm just mirroring your subconscious, ze. You're worried...Have you always been this paranoid?
>Did that skeleton-fairy fight actually seem to wear us out, or was that more of a metaphysical battle?
> Not really. If you actually "died," it would have shocked you awake and you'd think it was a bad dream...And bad dreams usually leave you unable to sleep the rest of the night. But seeing as your body got replaced by a rogue doll, it's kind of a moot point.
> Still...Your brain could definitely use the rest.
>If that staff is 'soulbound,' we'd probably be able to use it even in a dream... right?
> Possibly! You have no idea how the hell that works, but you won't question it!
>How dangerous are the purple mushrooms, under normal conditions?
> If you keep your distance, you should be fine. It's only when you sniff them up close/touch them/eat them/etc that you're at risk. It's advised you wear gloves and a protective mask when handling the Amantia Cranium.
Chestnut-roasting Chickadee:
>Hmm. Might as well let Marisa know about that demon impersonator bit, at least... have one of the familiars deliver the message, if we're too far out of the way. If they can't and we aren't near enough to tell her with a shout or something, oh well.
>Keep tracking Ms. Darkness down. Give her a quiet glare and squeeze her for details.
> You decide to tell Marisa about the demons later, you're still wary of psychotic predator loli.
> ...And judging by the pungent smell that just hit your nostrils, you probably found her.
> "I swear, if I ever see them again I'll--"
> You'll what, you ask as you part the brush and see Rumia floating not too far from the scene.
> "Uh...Hi, I didn't see ya."
> Why am I not surprised, you respond, as you pull Rumia in for questioning. Since it's on the front of your mind, you ask about the "angels" she met up with.
> "I...Well, they didn't seem very...Angel-like, they didn't glow or come off as annoyingly friendly...They were more like...Peddlers, I guess. Ya know the ones with the trench coats and the stuff inside them and the 'whaddya buyin' accent."
Gravel Graphiceteer:
>Marisa's usually human too, right? They're both scary!
>Although... maybe she'll feel she owes us a little after this if we help out on the way? Maybe she could help get one of our paintings off the canvas?
>Oh, that would be great..! But we're getting ahead of ourselves, aren't we? Keep an eye out, for now.
> Scary as Marisa can be, she's at least amiable enough to hang around. She's not afraid to get her hands dirty, much like Hermia...Except she's a lot less lazy. You figure that if you help Marisa, she might be willing to return the favor...Maybe. For now, you just keep an eye out over the grove as Marisa stands there, trying to make a decision. It's hard to imagine someone so impulsive and reckless can be so stoic and thoughtful...Marisa-san's so cool, it even makes you a bit giddy!
>
-
Not A Bio Spell:
>I got my moments, ze. I mean, I'm a fighter after all... gotta be a little careful to survive that way!
>Are we ACTUALLY hearing that song, or is it just a distant memory?
>If we're not actually hearing it, that's probably us drifting off... and we're probably in alright enough condition to handle another dream brawl. Maybe we'd even find something out from the next one... even if it's those angels again.
>If there really IS music from ages past accosting us, look around and alert Maple, presuming she can hear it too. One problem after another today...!
Inferno Archeopteryx:
>Show me on the doll where the bad angels touched you
>"And I'm guessing they were offering something about that Guildies thing, right? What was the deal?"
>"Did you get their names?"
>"The hell do you see in that game, anyway?"
Leavened Canvasser:
>Roll for seduction. Well, mentally, at least.
>What's the area around here look like? We can at least get an idea of where it'd be easiest for someone to sneak in here from...
-
Manic Magician
> Gauge whether it will be possible to meet up with Satori Komeiji before our next dream brawl, and how far out of the way she is.
> This is becoming a frequent problem. Who do we know that can intervene in dreams? Are they on the way?
-
Manic Magician That Is Not A Bio Spell:
>I got my moments, ze. I mean, I'm a fighter after all... gotta be a little careful to survive that way!
> Yeah, you have a point...At any rate, if you're gonna do something, do it, unless you wanna stare at the mushrooms all night!
>Are we ACTUALLY hearing that song, or is it just a distant memory?
>If there really IS music from ages past accosting us, look around and alert Maple, presuming she can hear it too. One problem after another today...!
> You're pretty sure you're hearing the music in your head...Just without the lyrics. (Parser's Note: And without the chiptune aspect too). Great, now it's stuck in your head...It should pass though, so there's no need to worry Maple.
>If we're not actually hearing it, that's probably us drifting off... and we're probably in alright enough condition to handle another dream brawl. Maybe we'd even find something out from the next one... even if it's those angels again.
> Mmm, you are starting to feel a bit heavy...
> Gauge whether it will be possible to meet up with Satori Komeiji before our next dream brawl, and how far out of the way she is.
> This is becoming a frequent problem. Who do we know that can intervene in dreams? Are they on the way?
> ...But you're held up a bit by possibility of someone else invading your dreams. Satori might be able to reach you, but she has no idea what's going on at the moment. The most likely folks that can reach you are Yuuka, Koishi and...Yukari. Damn. You really hope it's Yuuka for once. Koishi and Yukari could blow the whistle on your plans if you're not careful.
Inferno Archeopteryx:
>Show me on the doll where the bad angels touched you
> Tonight on this episode of "To Catch A Predator..."
>"And I'm guessing they were offering something about that Guildies thing, right? What was the deal?"
> "They...They told me Mari was playing the game...They said I could take her place in the beta if I killed her." Rumia smiles. "Isn't revenge just gorgeous?"
> You decide not to dignify that question with a response. After all, you tried that path before...
>"The hell do you see in that game, anyway?"
> Rumia chuckles. "It's something ya wouldn't understand...The wealth, the power, the fame, the adventure...Haven't ya once wanted ta jump into another world, just for one day, to escape your mundane life?
> She has a point...After all the crap you went through, maybe, just maybe...Keine might not approve though, she'd call it a waste of time and berate you for it.
>"Did you get their names?"
> While you ponder your response, you ask for their names. Rumia frowns a bit. "I can't think on an empty stomach. Gimmie something to eat...Like that fairy over there!" Rumia nods at Maple. "She's small, but...She'd be a nice holdover snack."
Leavened Canvasser:
>Roll for seduction. Well, mentally, at least.
>What's the area around here look like? We can at least get an idea of where it'd be easiest for someone to sneak in here from...
> You try to get senpai to notice you, but you fade into the background too easily! TOO BAD! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6KOEMJKdEI)
> It looks like a typical forest clearing, the brush is thick but it's not impossible for others to slip through it. You always wondered why the treelines were so thick, yet the regular paths are almost clean of any foliage. Still, if Rumia could get through this brush, others could, so you take the initiative and set up some paintings around the area.
> _
-
Marisa:
> What would Yuuka know about dreams?
Mokou:
> Would Keine approve of wastes of time if they got us away from Kaguya murder?
> Answer Rumia, "Well, I suppose fairies can heal. But not the whole fairy, I kind of like her."
> "Hey Maple, can you give me a hand?"
-
Arsenic Witch:
>Hmm... what was Yuuka's relationship with Medicine, again? Ask Mini-Medi-Mari for a refresher if necessary.
>There's not much we'd be able to do about the others, is there?
>Try and relax a little bit... we've gone a little far to back down now.
Incendiary Ibis:
>Or maybe we can skip trolling the fairy and consider offering our own. Which is probably still a terrible idea.
>Inventory? We don't have anything edible on us, do we?
>How bad of a person would it make us to give her a cigarette? Nicotine suppresses appetite, after all...
>Probably not worth giving the nuisance much of anything, anyway...
>Actually, what's our full body of knowledge on these virtual game things? Aren't there other, similar ones? Ask Rumia what makes this one so special.
>How much have we actually been warring with Kags lately?
De-Chlorophylling Fairy:
>Scary!!
>Back away from the scary burny girl! And the scary fairy-eating lady!
>... do WE have any food? Paintings wouldn't work, would they?
-
Arsenic Witch:
> What would Yuuka know about dreams?
> Considering the chat you had with her (http://www.shrinemaiden.org/forum/index.php/topic,15529.msg1045896.html#msg1045896) not a few hours ago, quite a bit. She does live in the Dream Realm still :V
>Hmm... what was Yuuka's relationship with Medicine, again? Ask Mini-Medi-Mari for a refresher if necessary.
> Medi approached Yuuka as a possible roommate, but was probably scared off by her power and reputation. Can't say you blame her.
>There's not much we'd be able to do about the others, is there?
>Try and relax a little bit... we've gone a little far to back down now.
> If you mean Koishi and Yukari, not really. They come and go as they please. If you mean Maple and Mokou...Huh...Marisa. Mokou. Maple. You're the TRIPLE EM BRIGADE! Or something. The thought of this makes you giggle...And yawn.
> Wait. Yawn? When dafuq does a doll YAWN?!
> Before you can answer, it seems your body has made a decision for you...You fall over facefirst into the patch of flowers, because seriously, it's 10PM going on 11 and you should be asleep!!
> ...Mari? You still with us, girl?
> Sorry, let's adjust the picture again...
> *PERCUSSIVE MAINTENANCE*
> There we go. You are...Well, you're apparently dreaming, because you've felt this floaty, out of body sort of thing before. What you're doing right now is the opposite of floating, however. You're face down in a patch of flowers much like the ones you encountered, but...A quick glance around the area shows you're not in the Mushroom Grove anymore. In fact, this part of the forest looks a lot more open to you, you must be in the TRAIL TO THE OUTSIDE that connects the the FOREST OF MAGIC to the HUMAN VILLAGE and the BAMBOO FOREST. You still have your RADIANT STAFF and all your other dream self stuff you had since you were last here (spell cards, lives, etc).
> As you take in your surroundings, you hear something coming from the not-too-distant south...Music? Very upbeat, very vivacious, very much like a car*LOUD HONK*
> ...Let's try that again, a car*EXPLOSION*
> ...Car*EXTENDED FART NOISE*
> Oy...Let's try this. Cir*ELEPHANT TRUMPETING*
> Are you fucking kidding me? Is someone futzing around with the soundboard or something?! The parser has to go choke a bitch or two, go ahead and do whatever.
Incendiary Ibis:
> Would Keine approve of wastes of time if they got us away from Kaguya murder?
> Keine would probably snark and say that you're wasting your time in a different way. Besides, you kinda buried the hatchet with Kaguya a while ago, now you're just more playful frienemies...Which Keine says isn't much better but whatever.
> Answer Rumia, "Well, I suppose fairies can heal. But not the whole fairy, I kind of like her."
> "Hey Maple, can you give me a hand?"
> You bacon beckon Maple over, but she sees what you're doing and furiously shakes her head. "I need to watch Marisa-san anyways! What if she sleepwalks or something?!"
> Huh, the witch finally fell asleep? Maple nods. Damn, she must've been really desperate. Oh well. Time for plan B...
>Or maybe we can skip trolling the fairy and consider offering our own. Which is probably still a terrible idea.
>Inventory? We don't have anything edible on us, do we?
> All you have are your CIGARETTES (Vampire Brand), your SPELL CARD DECK, and THE CLOTHES ON YOUR BACK.
> You consider offering yourself as a meal to Rumia, I mean it's not like you can't come back from digestion...But you'd rather go through some less painful and vore-tastic ideas first.
>How bad of a person would it make us to give her a cigarette? Nicotine suppresses appetite, after all...
>Probably not worth giving the nuisance much of anything, anyway...
> Eh, it's not like you can't get any more. Kourin gets them regularly at his shop, but he's kept mum on his supplier. You try offering the Lady In Black (http://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02527) a smoke.
> "...You're kidding me, right? I haven't had a proper meal in months." You ask her to define a proper meal. "Ya know, like...Meat. Any meat, really. But human meat is the best, really." She smiles. "Of course, you'd know that by now..."
> So you ask her the obvious: why didn't she get any proper humans to begin with?
> Rumia frowns. "It's all dis lousy junk food that keeps winding up in my house. I dunno how or why it's there, all I know is that the instant I see it, I eat it, because I'm that hungry and I need something to keep my stomach calm. It's been days since I ever sunk my teeth into a human...Did something happen to the village or somethin' I'm not aware of? Because if it did...I'm gonna plunge Gensokyo inta darkness, I swear! No one messes with my meals!" She struggles a bit, but you manage to restrain her with little violence, and she stops.
>Actually, what's our full body of knowledge on these virtual game things? Aren't there other, similar ones? Ask Rumia what makes this one so special.
>How much have we actually been warring with Kags lately?
> Oh, this is a story you're gonna love...Kaguya actually approached you one day, and in the most brilliant (sic) of moves, apologized. Yeah, I know, shocker. But while you kinda gave her the business when she said it, you did admit you were tired of the fighting. Even immortals can get bored. But Kaguya said that there was a way to "settle" the score and keep things fun at the same time...
> She told you about these things from the moon called "Video Games," which were considered contraband within the Lunar Capital. Once she showed you a few, you could see why: they were often violent, stereotypical, and just plain surreal. Some of them even came from Japan itself...You sometimes wonder if the humans were smoking the best crack ever (and wondered where you could get some). But as dumb as they looked, you were impressed by the technology, it was nothing like you had ever seen before. Once she had your attention, she uttered the following...
> "Why don't we take our duels to the digital realm? I mean, I have a bunch of multiplayer games...If you can best me out of, say, five or so of these, I can consider our duel resolved and one of us will feel good about some form of closure."
> Of course, she said that with that clever smile you're all too familiar with...Kaguya has something up her sleeve, and chances are she played these games to complete mastery some ages ago. You would most likely lose...If it weren't for the fact that you have the deftest hands in all of the ancient world. Your father suggested taking up ninjitsu training in he case you were ever captured...Who knew those finger exercises would make holding a controller so much easier?
> After spending a week or two getting used to these games, you agreed to the challenge, and the first test was none other than Guildies. You thought it wouldn't be too hard, until Kaguya somehow surged way ahead of you. Partially because Keine kept trying to drag you away from the computer, but the other part...You can't explain. Kaguya was always confident that whatever challenge she issued would never be beaten, but this...?
> It wasn't until you heard from Marisa about Kaguya's condition that you realized how far she was willing to go...This makes you worry ever so slightly. Perhaps Keine was right, revenge, no matter what its intensity, might not be worth it after all...
> ...But is it worth it to keep a rival in the running? Are you the Batman, while she is the Joker?
> Crap, don't you get all sentimental on us now, this wall of text is tall enough as it is!
De-Chlorophylling Fairy:
>Scary!!
>Back away from the scary burny girl! And the scary fairy-eating lady!
>... do WE have any food? Paintings wouldn't work, would they?
> Sweet merciful Oberon this is getting too much for you to handle! Marisa-san just passed out right in front of you, Mokou-sama contemplated feeding you to Rumia, it's getting dangerously close to midnight, and you could have sworn you heard something in the brush just now!
> Ok Maple, breathe. It's just your imagination running wild...You haven't even had dinner yet, you were so busy scouting out the magicians' household that you forgot to eat something! Thankfully, you have a SACK OF NUTS* and a FLASK OF BERRY JUICE** on you, so you nibble a few nuts and throw back some fluid. There...That has lowered your NERVOUSNESS stat a bit.
> You still back the hell away from these two though. Mini-Medi just stares at you with a "really?" look.
* Anyone making the obvious joke will be electrocuted.
** Anyone making a less obvious but still noticeable joke will be given a slap on the face and a stern lecturing.
> _
-
Psuedogeneric Starburst:
>Ohhh, that feels good. Get up and stretch now that we can do some back to normalcy.
>... hmm. Yo, ya there, mini-mari-medi?
>What's been going on at the village lately? Not that dreamworld antics would tell us anything useful or have any effect on the real world... right?
>Although maybe if we head to Eientei and Medicine's asleep as well...
>What would be to the south? Have we heard music like this before?
>Poke the parser for contraband c-words.
Pyro Peacock:
>... eating people, huh? How much trouble would she be in if we mentioned that to Reimu, or is that pretty routine for youkai these days? Things have been less deadly between humans and youkai lately, right? Or did Akyuu just fuck that up completely?
>Pulling off a finger or arm probably wouldn't be enough to shut her up, would it? And still pretty awful...
>Have we encountered that sort of junk food before? Could it be having any effect oh her, somehow? Kinda weird to just show up after all...
>Keine's probably just hiding the village again... and even if that isn't routine overnight, maybe she got wind of the Eientei attack and decided to play it safe. But this punk doesn't need to know that.
>And it's looking like we've got a good reason to care about Guildies, all in all... but that still doesn't explain why Rumia cares about that game in particular. There are lots of other, similar ones, aren't there? Ask her why she really needs an account for this particular game.
>Mental note: Get Marisa to back us up on Guildies after this mess; it's clear she has an account and she's gonna owe us after this. Assuming we don't win over Kaguya by saving her sorry ass, at least...
Soil Sketcher:
>Stick our tongue out at the little doll and keep snacking, keeping an eye out. Hopefully we won't end up regretting this...
-
Marisa:
> "Car-"*honk*.
> "...toon."
> *Insert cacophony of obnoxious noises*
Mokou:
> Marisa just passed out. That is probably a bad thing.
> *sigh*
> Carry the witch to Keine's place. Looks like we're gonna have to babysit her.
> ...At least tonight isn't boring.
> "Hey fairy, you're looking skittish. You sure you up to this?"
-
Fujiwara Wren:
>No, don't move Marisa. She's gotta be by the flowers to recharge with that doll body mess going on, right? Besides, we're not done with Rumia.
-
Marisa:
> "Car-"*honk*.
> "...toon."
> *Insert cacophony of obnoxious noises*
> [player "capth" was banned for bypassing half-assed word filter] (no not really)
Psuedogeneric Starburst:
>Ohhh, that feels good. Get up and stretch now that we can do some back to normalcy.
>... hmm. Yo, ya there, mini-mari-medi?
> You do just that, and it does indeed feel good to have somewhat of a body back again. You also ask around for Mini Medi's presence.
> Uh duh, like I said, I'm your subconscious. Kinda. Not exactly.
>What's been going on at the village lately? Not that dreamworld antics would tell us anything useful or have any effect on the real world... right?
> Nothing much, it's pretty quiet...The harvest moon is coming up but that's still a week or so away.
>Although maybe if we head to Eientei and Medicine's asleep as well...
> Knock out Medicine and take your body back? That's not a bad idea, but it'd be difficult to pull off. This is another self-contained dream memory anyways, it wouldn't work...Or would it?
>What would be to the south? Have we heard music like this before?
> Yes you have, in fact...It's becoming more clearer the longer you hear it. Funny, you haven't heard of this music since after that since after that Disappearing Giant (http://en.touhouwiki.net/wiki/Touhou_Hisoutensokuhttp://en.touhouwiki.net/wiki/Touhou_Hisoutensoku) incident...
> ...Oh crap. You know what dream this is supposed to be of.
> As if on cue, you start to feel the familiar pull of that Stage spell card...Time to saddle up!
Stage ****
Old Friends, Old Enemies
"I've heard this music before...It was when that cir*** came into town!
Oh man, seeing this again would totally kick ass...Or it could be dangerous,
or it could totally suck. Never stopped me before."
>Poke the parser for contraband c-words.
> You prod the supposedly nonexistent camera with your RADIANT STAFF a few times...And accidentally knock it off its support in the process. Great, now the angle's all skewed!
> Hmm...Actually, hold on a sec...
> *LOUD TOOL NOISES*
> There, that should do it. This stage is now HORIZONTALLY ALIGNED.
> Unfortunately, this sudden RULESET CHANGE has caused a few side effects...One is that your inventory has suddenly gone and grown A SPELL POWER-UP BAR. The second is that your SLOW KEY is now a POWERUP SELECT KEY instead. Collect red P-CAPSULES to advance the power bar, and press the SLOW KEY to activate the currently highlighted powerup! You can sill use bombs as normal.
[SPEED UP] [PHOENIX] [POISON] [M.MISSLE] [MULTIPLE] [BARRIER]
> You begin to slowly drift to the right, towards your goal. A couple squadrons of MINDLESS FAIRIES weave towards you. What will you do?
Pyro Peacock:
>... eating people, huh? How much trouble would she be in if we mentioned that to Reimu, or is that pretty routine for youkai these days? Things have been less deadly between humans and youkai lately, right? Or did Akyuu just fuck that up completely?
> Much like theft, eating humans is frowned upon yet people still get away with it. Reimu would love to lay the smackdown on Rumia...But you haven't heard anything about her exploits lately.
>Pulling off a finger or arm probably wouldn't be enough to shut her up, would it? And still pretty awful...
> Probably not. Knowing Rumia, she'd just want more.
>Have we encountered that sort of junk food before? Could it be having any effect oh her, somehow? Kinda weird to just show up after all...
> Encountered it? Geeze, it's hard not to these days...It just shows up out of nowhere in the most random places, even on the corpses of the most recently slain. You have no idea how the fuck that works or how to make it go away, but you've yet to hear about a junk food addiction this bad. Then again, it's Rumia, she's not that smart, so she's probably drowning herself in the instant satisfaction of it more than anything else. Either way, most of the humans and higher "authorities" in Gensokyo only eat these snacks in moderation like any good person should. Eirin has said they were bad for you, after all...And that's saying something, you usually stay away from her.
>Keine's probably just hiding the village again... and even if that isn't routine overnight, maybe she got wind of the Eientei attack and decided to play it safe. But this punk doesn't need to know that.
> Definitely not. But as far as you know, Keine didn't actually conceal the village yet. Which would be bad, seeing as the moon isn't full tonight...Still, there will be hell to pay if anyone so much as sets foot in the villages without you or Keine's consent. It's your home, and the humans have come to accept you both as their guardians.
>And it's looking like we've got a good reason to care about Guildies, all in all... but that still doesn't explain why Rumia cares about that game in particular. There are lots of other, similar ones, aren't there? Ask her why she really needs an account for this particular game.
> You run your logic by Rumia's face, and she perks up. "Other...Games? Other games?! Are you insane?! Guildies is one of a kind! All the cool 'kai are playing it, and if I don't get I'm gonna die from uncoolness!" She pauses for a second. "Besides...I heard there was a...Contest going on in that game..."
>Mental note: Get Marisa to back us up on Guildies after this mess; it's clear she has an account and she's gonna owe us after this. Assuming we don't win over Kaguya by saving her sorry ass, at least...
> Having the witch in your debt would not be a bad thing in the slightest. And knowing Kaguya, she's probably gonna wage war on you in any way she sees fit, and you could use some allies. You'll have to ask Mari for her contact info later.
Soil Sketcher:
>Stick our tongue out at the little doll and keep snacking, keeping an eye out. Hopefully we won't end up regretting this...
> Mini-Medi just shakes her head and you pop another nut into your mouth. Man, you hope Glitter and Glimmer aren't causing trouble for Hermia...She can get quite cranky (and pyro happy) if she's disturbed from a good nap.
> Nothing out of the ordinary here...Marisa seems to be safe and sound...Man, being a guard is kinda boring. You almost wish you could have your own HAPPYTIME FAIRY FUNVENTURE instead!
> _
-
Non-Barbie Sorceress:
>fucking gradius how does it work
>Cool. Don't suppose you can keep me updated if anything happens out in wakeyland, ze?
>Has this happened before?
>Shoot down the little nuisances with our basic shot. Dodge any flak/retaliation and experiment with what abilities we can use without expending Power.
>Collect as necessary. Does autocollect exist?
>Without having to use them all, do we have a good idea of how our shots will each work in this system?
>What happened the last time the ah... form of entertainment associated with gymnasts, lions, and clowns came to town?
Fujiwara Firebrand:
>How much consequence of violence would we be justified in meting out on Rumia for so much as suggesting that she intended to get away with eating people?
>Does anyone have any idea why the junk food keeps showing up? When did it start, or at least we first heard of it?
>Is Rumia simply being childish about the coolness part or does it seem like she's being manipulated in some other manner?
>Odds are good Kaguya would try to stack as many players in the game as possible against us, right? Would she even go so far as to try and manipulate the game's mechanics or developers as well...? How grand in 'political' scope has she gone to get at us in the past?
>What do we know about this contest? 'Politely' ask Rumia for details.
Groundly Graphicist:
>Wait, is midnight of particular significance for us?
>Maybe there's something we could do with that littler doll... wait a second, there was something in the bushes, right? Around where?
-
Non-Barbie Sorceress:
>fucking gradius how does it work
> You shoot things, collect things, then use those collectable things to shoot more things. And then you die because your ship is made out of eggshells. Gradius mang, it is fuckin' hardcore.
>Cool. Don't suppose you can keep me updated if anything happens out in wakeyland, ze?
> I guess I could, ze. Right now Maple's kinda looking around like an owl who drank too much coffee. Fairy girl needs to chill, ze!
>Has this happened before?
> The blatant Gradius ripoff? No. But you're pretty sure you remember this set of circumstances...Just not quite like this. You're pretty sure this stage spell was called "Stage 1: Tickets, Please" instead of a bunch of asterisks.
>Shoot down the little nuisances with our basic shot. Dodge any flak/retaliation and experiment with what abilities we can use without expending Power.
> So far, you get a basic rapid-fire shot that goes straight ahead. Pretty typical. You move pretty slowly compared to what you're used to though, but you're able to shoot down the two waves before they escape. Destroying a formation leaves behind a glowing red capsule with a white "P" inside it.
>Collect as necessary. Does autocollect exist?
> Sadly no, but it's not hard to collect the goods anyways. Your SPELL POWER METER advances to the [PHOENIX] segment.
>Without having to use them all, do we have a good idea of how our shots will each work in this system?
> The parser decides to throw you a bone and spoil what each thing does. Note that the weapons can be upgraded by powering them up multiple times. All weapons lose a level of power when you die, except speed.
- Speed Up: This is kind of obvious, it increases your speed a bit, up to six levels of speed. After that, it becomes SPEED DOWN and lowers your speed by one level if you use it, then when it bottoms out it goes back up again.
- Phoenix: Shoots a flaming bird upwards at a 45-degree angle. When it hits a non-vertical terrain, it travels across it, only stopping until it hits a wall or an enemy. Level 2 makes the birds explode when they expire. Level 3 makes the birds leave flaming trails across the terrain.
- Poison: Adds slower, but more powerful poison blobs to your main shot. Level 2 makes the blobs do damage over time. Level 3 adds a poisonous cloud every xty ticks the fire button is held down, damaging enemies that come in contact with it. WARNING: UPGRADING THIS WILL CAUSE IT TO OVERRIDE M. MISSILE!
- M(agic) Missile: Upgrades your main shot to your classic explosive projectiles. You kinda wish you had your lasers, but whatever. Level 2 makes the shots bigger and more powerful. Level 3 adds two bigger and slower Magic Napalm shots to your main attack, which fire up and down at varying angles (between 30 and 45 degrees). WARNING: UPGRADING THIS WILL OVERRIDE POISON!...Stupid arbitrary SPELL POWER METER rules!
- Multiple: Adds one MAGIC ORB to your arsenal. By arbitrary default, the orbs are set to SNAKE, which means they will follow your movements like, well, a trailing snake. You can have up to four orbs at a time, and they will fire Level 1 versions of whatever weapons you have available. Be warned, however: a MULTIPLE THIEF will appear at regular intervals to steal your orbs if you have the maximum amount, except during boss fights.
- Barrier: Adds a force field around your hitbox that blocks THREE (3) hits. The downside is that this makes your hitbox 2.5 times bigger until the Barrier breaks, so watch out!
>What happened the last time the ah... form of entertainment associated with gymnasts, lions, and clowns came to town?
> Good question...Your memory of this is kinda fuzzy. How convenient, the players and audience can learn about a past incident! You do, however, recall meeting at least a couple of interesting characters on this route.
Fujiwara Firebrand:
>How much consequence of violence would we be justified in meting out on Rumia for so much as suggesting that she intended to get away with eating people?
> As much as you'd want to punch Rumia in the face for her human-eating habits, this isn't really your deal. After all, you have no proof of her being caught in the act...Even Reimu would be more likely to punish her just for making it too dark before she got on he case for eating humans. Still...Violence can be a powerful motivator if used just right...
>Does anyone have any idea why the junk food keeps showing up? When did it start, or at least we first heard of it?
> It started sometime when Hatate started appearing in the media circuit, though it was kind of a rare occurrence at the time. As the years went on, though, this junk food started popping up more frequently in the oddest places. At first you were kind of "wtf, man" about it, but now it's no more exciting than finding a lost coin on the forest trails. If you had to guess why the junk food is appearing, it's probably because the outside world stopped eating this kind of crap and started eating some slightly healthier crap instead.
>Is Rumia simply being childish about the coolness part or does it seem like she's being manipulated in some other manner?
> If she was being manipulated, you couldn't tell right now. Still, Rumia's got the intelligence and maturity of a single-digit child, she's just following the current trends and wants to be the center of attention. Makes you wonder why she's aiming so high to begin with...
>Odds are good Kaguya would try to stack as many players in the game as possible against us, right? Would she even go so far as to try and manipulate the game's mechanics or developers as well...? How grand in 'political' scope has she gone to get at us in the past?
> ...Speaking of lofty goals, Kaguya, for all of her sneakiness, believes in a fair fight. If she will engage you, it'll be on equal footing, though she never goes out of her way to make this happen if it's too much effort. She is a princess after all (and technically, you are too perhaps)! Why get your hands dirtier than necessary? If Kaguya wants a duel, she'll come to you for it, send you a message, or even send an assassin after you. But she never puts you at odds to feel like it'd be "unfair," she says it takes all the fun out of it...You kind of suspect she wants to see you squirm and struggle more than anything else, and if it's one thing you're good at, it's putting up a fight!
>What do we know about this contest? 'Politely' ask Rumia for details.
> And if there's one thing you learn about fighting, is that if an enemy leaves themselves vulnerable, you strike. Rumia left herself plenty open with this contest thing, so you ask her about it.
> "Pffft, if I told you about it I'd just have another rival to deal with! I'm done, I'm invoking the fifth assessment or whatever."
> Is that right?
> *KER-SNAP*
> "OWWWWWWWWOWOWOWOWOW!!" Rumia screeches as you snap her left pinky finger backwards. "You bitch, what's da big idea dislodgin' my digit like that?!"
> It'd be a shame if you couldn't play this game with a broken hand, you explain calmly, yet firmly. It'd put you at a disadvantage, someone may win this contest before you do...What's at stake?
> "I ain't saying anything to ya! I don't even need my pinky!" Rumia says defiantly. You decide to drive the point home by breaking her left thumb. "ARRRRRGH! OK, OK, JUST FUCKIN' STOP IT ALREADY!" Rumia winces. "It's...It's a war between the guilds...It hasn't been announced to the public yet, but...Gengy said that...That it's a points race. Guilds who sign up earn points for everything dey do...Especially PvP. It'll be cutthroat...And the prize...Is an artifact of incredible power..."
> You stop her right there. All this for some lousy trinket?
> "It's not just a lousy trinket...It's a real thing! It's called The Nexus...And it not only gives the winner a lifetime discount on premium items, it's supposed to give them the power to create whatever they wish...Kinda like dat Philosopher's Stone Patchy has, only eighty times stronger..."
> In spite of Rumia's pain and tears, she somehow manages to get the grit to smile.
> "Haven't you ever wanted ta restore your life...? Ya got immortality, but ya lost so much...Your family, your friends, your reputation...Your innocence...Your sense of closure...Ya know what I'm talking about. Your life was destroyed just as mine was. I was human, just like you...Until some green-haired whore with an umbrella killed my parents...My anger and darkness overcame me...I wanted to kill...To avenge...To set things right...But a Hakurei sealed my power and memory away. I managed to get it off after hell knows how long..."
> Rumia's smile falters a bit, as she looks up at you, almost out of desperation.
> "Do ya have any idea how painful it is, to see those horrific memories come at you all at once? I never want to experience that again...I want it to all go away...The Nexus can undo all that...I can be happy again...You can be happy again, Moky!"
> Moky? What the hell kind of name is that? Regardless, Rumia forms her smile into a shockingly wide grin and tightens her grip on your hand just a bit.
> "You can have your life back...You can finally wipe Kaguya off the map...You'd never have to be sad or upset or angry again...If you help me...I promise...I can make it all better!"
Groundly Graphicist:
>Wait, is midnight of particular significance for us?
>Maybe there's something we could do with that littler doll... wait a second, there was something in the bushes, right? Around where?
> Not really, but you're usually asleep by this time. But you've pulled all-nighters before...You'd be surprised how tiredness is inversely proportional to creativity! Maybe you could draw or something while you wait...That doll seems like a good place to start.
> However, the nearby rustling in the bushes catches your attention. You turn to the source, and for a split second, you see something with silver-white hair peeking at you through the foliage. The entity, whatever it is, lets out the tiniest of "squees" and vanishes out of sight.
> _
-
Milky Way Mannequin:
>If everything about this is censored, clearly we can get away with running around naked! Strip down and mock the bastards!
>No way to tell her that right now, ze. Just try not to let her do anything stupid for now.
>Did we get our ticket stamped for the return visit? Well, hopefully it won't be too long a pit-stop. Let's get this going.
>Hm. This slow we'll want a few levels of speed early on... but since we're here, grab that first level of Phoenix now to restart the meter and give us some flexibility without sacrificing shot type options... for now.
>No charged shot, right?
Anthropornis Arsonist:
>Ah yes, random stuff does land in Gensokyo. Guess those aren't the odd part here.
>Does Rumia's slip of 'Gengy' help prod our memory any?
>Nexus? Philosopher's stone? Are these terms familiar? What sorts of things would that be capable of? How possible is that sort of power, even? Who in Gensokyo would be able to pull that off?
>How upset are we about our circumstances now, actually? We've had a long time to get numb about the immortality thing... and there's still Kaguya. Rumia's probably making this offer to the wrong girl...
>Do we have any way to re-do that seal so she can clear her memories, if that's what she's really worried about? Or would she need Reimu to redo that part in particular?
>'course, we shouldn't give her too positive a response even if we're interested...
Loamy Illustrator:
>Huh? Do we know about anyone with silver hair? Aside from that Mokou girl, at least.
>"Hey! Who's that?!"
>... if there's no response, take just a quick peek at where she was to make sure she left? We don't need to chase her away, just make sure Marisa's safe, right?
>If all is peaceful, ponder what to doodle. Perhaps we can lay claim to Marisa by inscribing a threesome with her, us, and Hermia on her forehead Well, no, that might be a bad idea. Maybe we can use the little one? What sort of patterns do we like putting on stuff, usually?
-
Milky Way Mannequin:
>If everything about this is censored, clearly we can get away with running around naked! Strip down and mock the bastards!
> You are arrested by Officer Kotohime for indecent exposure. Not even Gensokyo is lawless!
>No way to tell her that right now, ze. Just try not to let her do anything stupid for now.
> I doubt it's in her style, though she did see something that spooked her...I'll try not to let her wander off at least.
> The parser actually remembered to italicize MiniMediMari's line this time!
>Did we get our ticket stamped for the return visit? Well, hopefully it won't be too long a pit-stop. Let's get this going.
> You check your DREAM INVENTORY and see you don't have a ticket...Yet. If you recall correctly you're supposed to get one later. How much later however, you do not recall.
>Hm. This slow we'll want a few levels of speed early on... but since we're here, grab that first level of Phoenix now to restart the meter and give us some flexibility without sacrificing shot type options... for now.
> You add PHOENIX LV-1 to your arsenal.
>No charged shot, right?
> Sadly no, you don't have any chargeable attacks.
> What you DO have, however, are more enemies...Oh goddammit it's those BEES again. Actual BEES this time, not letters that behave like BEES. At any rate, there's six of them in total, two of them are red in color. And they're converging on your position!
Anthropornis Arsonist:
>Ah yes, random stuff does land in Gensokyo. Guess those aren't the odd part here.
> Stranger things have happened...Though why they wind up on freshly knocked out/killed bodies is a mystery.
>Does Rumia's slip of 'Gengy' help prod our memory any?
> Not your own, but Marisa might know something. You guess it has to do with those "angels" Rumia mentioned at least.
>Nexus? Philosopher's stone? Are these terms familiar? What sorts of things would that be capable of? How possible is that sort of power, even? Who in Gensokyo would be able to pull that off?
> Whoa, slow your speed of consciousness down, kiddo. Let's take this one step at a time...You DO know that Patchy is in possession of the Philospher's Stone, but it's tiny and it's the reason why she looks so young. You recall the gate guard saying once that "If you had all the life and money in the world, what would you look forward to?"
> Thinking that now makes you wonder about Rumia's offer more seriously...But as for the other question, this is the first time you've heard of a Nexus referred to as The One And Only Thing Of Its Kind. A Nexus can be anything, but it's mainly a focal point of power. However, such a power of creation and wish-granting is something mainly within the realms of the gods...Or in the case of the Philosopher's Stone, very difficult to create. There's a reason why such things are protected...
>How upset are we about our circumstances now, actually? We've had a long time to get numb about the immortality thing... and there's still Kaguya. Rumia's probably making this offer to the wrong girl...
> ...And why Iwakasa (http://en.touhouwiki.net/wiki/Iwakasa) was ordered to destroy the Hourai Elixir 1200+ years ago. It was too dangerous to fall into the wrong hands.
> It makes you wonder if you were meant to abuse it...
> But did you, really?
> Were it not for the elixir, you'd have lead a miserable life with your disgraced father, and have never met the one girl who can sympathize with your position...
> Heh, were it not for the elixir, you'd have died out long before Kaguya ever did, and your rivalry would have ended then and there.
> You enjoy outsmarting Kaguya as much as you enjoy socializing with her.
> In a way, she knew you better than Keine ever did...
> You chose this path with intent to spite, and you got that already...
> And now you have something even greater.
> It'll be a cold day in all nine levels of Hell before you say "Yeah, I'd like to take it all back."
> This is your life, and you're going to make that adamantly clear to Rumia in just a second.
>Do we have any way to re-do that seal so she can clear her memories, if that's what she's really worried about? Or would she need Reimu to redo that part in particular?
> Sadly, you can only make seals that ward elements. Even if you did make a memory-sealing amulet, the metaphorical cat is out of the bag, and it'll probably be impossible to erase Rumia's memories again on your own. Sealing her power would keep her in check, but if she could remove it on her own it's probably not worth the effort.
> Furthermore, it seems Rumia doesn't just want her bad memories gone, she wants to bring her family back by any means necessary. Time travel, resurrection, that sort of thing. Both things are technically taboo, you've heard all too many stories about how such things end up in tears...Even if this Nexus thing is real, there has to be some kind of catch. There always is.
>'course, we shouldn't give her too positive a response even if we're interested...
> You give her exactly the opposite, with a stern "No." This makes the smile disappear from Rumia's face pretty quickly, though she still stares at you with that wide-eyed gaze.
> "You...You're a fool, you know that?! I offer you a chance at infinite power, and ya flip it off! Fine, who needs ya, I'll get that Nexus myself...And if you cross my path..." Rumia's eyes flash red. "I swear I will destroy everything else you hold dear."
Loamy Illustrator:
>Huh? Do we know about anyone with silver hair? Aside from that Mokou girl, at least.
> Mokou's hair is more blue, really...Sakuya's and Eirin's hair are more in line with the actual silver part. However, this person is way too short to actually be either of them.
>"Hey! Who's that?!"
>... if there's no response, take just a quick peek at where she was to make sure she left? We don't need to chase her away, just make sure Marisa's safe, right?
> You hear another "Eep!" and decide to check it out. Through the brush, through a hidden passage in the foliage, you can see a little girl running away, only pausing to look back to see if she's being followed. Longish silver-almost-white hair, green eyes, huge blue-rimmed glasses, and a purple dress. However, the most striking feature is her skin, it's a deep sky blue.
> Time seems to freeze for a second as her spooked image solidifies into your mind...Before she trips over backwards, rolls over and gets up before dashing off. You resist the urge to give chase.
>If all is peaceful, ponder what to doodle. Perhaps we can lay claim to Marisa by inscribing a threesome with her, us, and Hermia on her forehead Well, no, that might be a bad idea. Maybe we can use the little one? What sort of patterns do we like putting on stuff, usually?
> That encounter gave you just enough inspiration to doodle! You're not Akyu-sama, but when it comes to doodling things on the fly, you are the absolute queen. You get to work on the mysterious blue-skinned girl's picture.
> As for patterns...Anything floral, plant-like, earthy and the like do the job quite nicely. Of course, that's not to say you're not opposed to other styles and patterns. You tend to draw minimalistic backgrounds, because who has the time to draw all those details, especially with your busy schedule? If you draw someone or something, you like to draw a patterned border around the subject to help break up all the negative space. Sometimes you go a little overboard and fill in a lot of negative space with an elaborate "ivy" pattern...You love doing that, tee hee!
> Mini Medi hovers over to you while you're drawing. Huh, maybe you can sketch her in as well...But it looks like she's trying to tell you something? Huh, how do you even speak doll...Wait, nevermind, she's pantomiming that you should stay put for the time being. Fair enough.
> _
-
Star Figurine:
>Thanks, ze.
>Make sure there's some space behind us and back off directly when they get close so we can mow them down in our crosshairs. Make a point of offing the red ones; they probably have the power-up items.
>Get two levels of speed from this if we can.
Moakoua:
>Guess junk food is considered 'phat loot.' For some reason.
>What sort of agreements to limit collateral damage do we have with Kaguya, and how long have they been in place? Has she ever gone after friends we had, and have we tried to meddle with hers? At this point the rabbits and Keine aren't targets, naturally, but...
>Chuckle darkly. "I'd think that my situation would be a good warning about things like that backfiring in the end, but I guess you aren't looking to listen to that kind of advice, are you?"
>Do we have any way to mark her or otherwise keep tabs on her, or will we just have to warn Kaguya and Keine that Rumia wants to give us trouble? Perhaps a branding would be appropriate...
Pixie Painter:
>Wait, where were we carrying that canvas? You mean we don't have to use Marisa's face to paint on?
>Hm... would we be able to make a miniboss out of this picture? It wouldn't inherit anything about her personality or powers if we did, would it?
>Make it nice and pretty!
-
Star Figurine:
>Thanks, ze.
>Make sure there's some space behind us and back off directly when they get close so we can mow them down in our crosshairs. Make a point of offing the red ones; they probably have the power-up items.
>Get two levels of speed from this if we can.
> You thank Mini Medi and get to work on the BEES. You miss one of them, and it gets past you, but you don't care. You got the two red ones and get their capsules, powering up SPEED to LV3. Now you're a good bit faster!
> The trail narrows a bit. The "ceiling" gets a bit earthier, and large stumps protruding from the top and bottom of the path obscure your travel. occasionally, you see some plants on the path spit deadly SEEDS at you, you'd best be careful as you weave through here. You do, however, notice a piece of log floating independently from its associated stump, how strange.
Moakoua:
>Guess junk food is considered 'phat loot.' For some reason.
> Perhaps a boon from the gods after a tough fight?
>What sort of agreements to limit collateral damage do we have with Kaguya, and how long have they been in place? Has she ever gone after friends we had, and have we tried to meddle with hers? At this point the rabbits and Keine aren't targets, naturally, but...
> For the most part, you and Kaguya try to keep others out of your affairs...But such wasn't the case before the Imperishable Night incident, and Keine was adamant on protecting you. As time went on, though, it seemed Kaguya was bored with sending assassins after you and started coming after you herself. You prefer a straight up face to face fight anyways, and eventually you started having regular duels for a year or two before settling on your little game challenge.
>Chuckle darkly. "I'd think that my situation would be a good warning about things like that backfiring in the end, but I guess you aren't looking to listen to that kind of advice, are you?"
>Do we have any way to mark her or otherwise keep tabs on her, or will we just have to warn Kaguya and Keine that Rumia wants to give us trouble? Perhaps a branding would be appropriate...
> Rumia snarls and makes a motion to bite you, but you jump away just in time. "Don't test me, birdbrain!"
> Hey, you're the one that came after us first, you reply.
> "YOU SHOT ME IN THE GODDAMN FACE!!"
> Oh please, there are much more painful things in life...Like this spell card!
> "Temper [Branding Iron]"
> You fling the card right at Rumia's head like a ninja tossing a shuriken, and it sticks. There's a piercing shriek as Rumia screams in agony for a bit, as the card's fire bullets embed the lettering representing your surname onto her forehead.
> Now you can look at the mirror and be reminded whom not to mess with, you say to Rumia with a hint of satisfaction.
> "Oh, go to hell!" Rumia says, cringing in pain. "I'm done with this crap..." She forms a ball of darkness in her hands and throws it at the ground. It explodes like a smoke bomb, covering the area in shadow, but it quickly passes. When the light returns, Rumia's gone.
> But you accomplished your goal...That marking on her head will act as a beacon, and you can trace it if you so desire.
Pixie Painter:
>Wait, where were we carrying that canvas? You mean we don't have to use Marisa's face to paint on?
> You carry a sketchbook with you when you're travelling, taking a full set of paints and a canvas is a little tricky. You wish you had a BAG OF HOLDING but those things are expensive!
>Hm... would we be able to make a miniboss out of this picture? It wouldn't inherit anything about her personality or powers if we did, would it?
>Make it nice and pretty!
> Sadly, you can't make the portrait do much aside from basic bullet patterns. You'd have to learn more about that mysterious girl's habits and personality in order to make it a full blown entity.
> That being said, you can at least make an effort to color her in a bit, so you break out the colored pencils and get to work. Ahhh, this is gonna look so lovely.
> _
-
Astral Effigy:
>Is our speed comfortable at this point? Fast enough to evade attacks without ramming into things too often? Or should we go for one more?
>Start saving up for... maybe one level of phoenix, then get one or two multiples/familiars. We'd lose it all if we die in this mode, right? So a barrier would be a good idea once we have enough to be worth protecting.
>Try shooting the log, if there's a safe opportunity. If the shots go through it, try collecting it; probably a weird powerup. Otherwise, stay away.
>The seed-shots can't be shot down, right?
Emberous Jeholornis:
>Sheesh... little idiot.
>Looks like we're done here, unless she's planning to head straight to attack Keine... which she can't with the village apparently gone as far as she can tell. Eientei's already in trouble and we'll catch up there anyway...
>How difficult is it to keep tabs on her general location via our brand-tracker? How much would she notice our doing so?
>We can probably afford to hands-in-pockets and walk back to the mushroom clearing, now. Best not be too far off if someone tries to bother the witch.
Loess Lesbian Leprechaun:
>We are totally gonna make this the bestest!
>If anything gives us trouble memory-wise, check the place where we saw her again.
-
Astral Effigy:
>Is our speed comfortable at this point? Fast enough to evade attacks without ramming into things too often? Or should we go for one more?
> Level 3 Speed is about the same as your default speed, so you should be fine.
>Start saving up for... maybe one level of phoenix, then get one or two multiples/familiars. We'd lose it all if we die in this mode, right? So a barrier would be a good idea once we have enough to be worth protecting.
>Try shooting the log, if there's a safe opportunity. If the shots go through it, try collecting it; probably a weird powerup. Otherwise, stay away.
>The seed-shots can't be shot down, right?
> Your shots are ineffective against the log and the smaller shots. Why danmaku can't shoot down other danmaku is a mystery to you. Either way, you try to fly into the log for some reason, but you fly between it and the stump instead. Suddenly, a giant number "5000" appears out of the air and deposits itself into your inventory. YOU GOT FIVE THOUSAND (5000) UNIDENTIFIED POINTS!
> Not a whole lot happens from this point, aside from larger plants that shoot larger seeds and spread shots at you. What a boring stage!
> "AHEM!"
> Whoops, spoke too soon. And look who decided to suddenly show up, it's your old pal Skella!
> "You seem to be having fun," she says in a condescending tone. "Maybe you should take up gardening instead, if that's more your speed."
Emberous Jeholornis:
>Sheesh... little idiot.
>Looks like we're done here, unless she's planning to head straight to attack Keine... which she can't with the village apparently gone as far as she can tell. Eientei's already in trouble and we'll catch up there anyway...
> Yeah, Rumia's no threat to you right now.
>How difficult is it to keep tabs on her general location via our brand-tracker? How much would she notice our doing so?
>We can probably afford to hands-in-pockets and walk back to the mushroom clearing, now. Best not be too far off if someone tries to bother the witch.
> Although this is technically OOC knowledge, your BRANDING BEACON works the same way as Marisa's beacons, you can see her position and distance on your Spell Card's "radar."
> You decide to rejoin Maple and the others, and see...Medi sitting on Maple's head?
Loess Lesbian Leprechaun:
>We are totally gonna make this the bestest!
>If anything gives us trouble memory-wise, check the place where we saw her again.
> You've got it covered, mostly. The only distraction is that Mini-Medi decided to use your head as a resting spot. She must be bored. Heh, maybe this'll be the next scene you draw!
> "Looks like this party's gettin' crazy," Mokou says in a charmingly sarcastic tone.
> _
-
Plainly an Action Figure:
>So are we talking unidentified as in Nue is screwing around again, or unidentified as in they don't resemble the points we could gather for extra lives in a few of the previous incidents?
>"And maybe you'd like to explain what's going on, ze? Unless getting shot down is more your speed."
>She isn't the real boss for this stage, is she?
Clay Fae:
>How shy are we about showing off works in progress?
>Give scary burny lady a pouty look.
Genyornis Fireball:
>Shrug.
>"Got Rumia under control for now. She ain't happy, but she won't be able to bug us for a while."
>Keep half an eye on her location. Does she seem to be going anywhere we'd recognize?
-
Plainly an Action Figure:
>So are we talking unidentified as in Nue is screwing around again, or unidentified as in they don't resemble the points we could gather for extra lives in a few of the previous incidents?
> Definitely the latter, it'd take quite a bit for Nue to invade your dreams and memories. It seems these are raw, straight up points that haven't been condensed into any notable form yet (kinda like peanuts before they go into peanut butter).
>"And maybe you'd like to explain what's going on, ze? Unless getting shot down is more your speed."
>She isn't the real boss for this stage, is she?
> Your BOSS-O-VISION reveals she only has one health meter, but it's tinted red. She must have a Spell Card ready.
> "What's going on is that you're still alive...I can't allow that. I'm surprised that humanoid chicken didn't immolate you yet. The smell of burning plastic would have cleared my sinuses nicely." Skella grins after saying that.
Clay Fae:
>How shy are we about showing off works in progress?
>Give scary burny lady a pouty look.
> You shoot Mokou a >:T look and show her what you've been working on.
> "Who's this? Never saw her before..." You explain to her what happened. "Curious...But not enough interest to pursue her, probably just another youkai."
> It's at that moment you remembered another detail about the picture that almost slipped your mind...You ask Mokou to hold on a sec while you scribble something down...
Genyornis Fireball:
>Shrug.
>"Got Rumia under control for now. She ain't happy, but she won't be able to bug us for a while."
>Keep half an eye on her location. Does she seem to be going anywhere we'd recognize?
> "Well that's good," Maple says quickly as adds something to her sketch. "She still frightens me a bit."
> Heh, can't blame ya. But she's just a low-level youkai, she's heading back to the Night Grove where she undoubtedly belongs.
> "Good...Ah, done!"
> Maple shows you the sketch again. Ok, that's--wait, what the hell?!
> "Do you see it?"
> You'd be blind not to. The girl Maple just drew...She has a spiral-looking horn poking out of her forehead. You ask her if this is come kind of prank.
> "Why would I lie? I just forgot that detail in the initial rush when I was sketching her...But she has the horn, all right! Cross my heart, hope to get shot down!"
> If that's the case, then...Well, it wouldn't be too far fetched, but...Maple looks at you quizzically as you mumble.
> "Is...something the matter?"
> Ok, you might as well level with her. That girl she just saw might have been a young unicorn.
> Maple looks a bit dumbstruck as the realization absorbs into her. "You serious?! You could tell?"
> Let's just say you had a fateful encounter with one many centuries ago, you explain to Maple. It's just a hunch, but that style of horn makes you 90% sure that is some form of a unicorn.
> Maple seems to be at a loss for words, but then she chuckles. "Gensokyo's just full of amazing creatures, isn't it?"
> Yeah. Listen, do me a favor, you ask of Maple.
> "What is it?"
> Let's not tell too many people about this, all right? And that goes double for you, Little Miss Mini.
> Mini Medi just shrugs and nods in a very "whatever" sort of way. You have half a mind to tell her off, but you let it slide for now.
> _
-
Bane Blastess:
>How many points will it take to make these particularly useful?
>"Mokou's pretty chill if you aren't tryin' to kill her, ze. I ain't planning to die too easy! What'd you want that for, anyway?"
Terra Faira:
>Ooo! A unicorn! Wait until we tell Hermy about this!
>What would we expect from a unicorn girl, then?
Ashen Archaeopteryx:
>Was our previous encounter with a unicorn a good or a bad thing?
>It's not worth trying to pursue her at this point, is it?
-
Bane Blastess:
>How many points will it take to make these particularly useful?
> A lot, probably. You're not even sure if the points matter much or not.
>"Mokou's pretty chill if you aren't tryin' to kill her, ze. I ain't planning to die too easy! What'd you want that for, anyway?"
> "The voices of the world have spoken...They want you dead. And I'm more than happy to oblige!"
> "Scream [Piercing Wail]"
> Skella unzips her mouth and unleashes (bullet) hell on your ears. Laser beams, wavering musical notes and aimed triangle shots rain down at you, what do?
Terra Faira:
>Ooo! A unicorn! Wait until we tell Hermy about this!
>What would we expect from a unicorn girl, then?
> Tell your roommate something Mokou explicitly told you not to blather about? OK THEN! :D
> All you know about unicorns is that they possess powerful magical and healing abilities...
Ashen Archaeopteryx:
>Was our previous encounter with a unicorn a good or a bad thing?
>It's not worth trying to pursue her at this point, is it?
> ...The latter of which helped save you at one point in the past. While the phoenix that gave you your fiery powers also gave you the ability to reincarnate, neither could help stave off illness. While you were adjusting to your new powers, you underwent a terrible case of Scurvy, which opened the door for other illnesses to take over your body. (http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2009/09/18/penny-arcade-by-kris-straub) Just when you were about off yourself to be free of these awful malodies, a mysterious figure approached you. You remember her well...Her hair was blond with orange highlights, her robe was a sparkling blue, her skin had a wonderful complexion, and she an an impressive (but not so long as to be obtrustive) horn growing from her head. She also had a pair of feathery wings with a similar color scheme to her hair, if anything she might have been a pegasus...Or was it an alicorn? You can never get the two right.
> Either way, this woman approached you, seeing you in pain. You beckoned her to leave you, warned her that you were deatlhy ill, but she smiled warmly and said "I do not fear your sickness. Let me help you."
> And help you she did. She fed you a few drops of her own blood, and stayed at your side until you felt better. You asked for her name, and she said "My real name is a secret...But given how some refer to me as such, you can call me Panacea." You felt it was appropriate. You told her your story, and Panacea told you hers. "My race has been forced into hiding...My fellow unicorns and pegasi were hunted down and slaughtered like cattle, all just so others could prolong their own lifespan...It was terrible. That is why I must remain hidden...And why you cannot utter my existence to anyone else." You agreed to do just that as thanks for her help. Once you felt better, Panacea departed and hasn't been seen since.
> That being said...You figured it'd be best to leave the poor blue-skinned girl alone. If she stumbles into you again, that's her own damn fault, but it'll be a very cold day in hell before you endanger her existence.
> "Uh, Mokou-sama, you've kind of been staring into space for a while..." Maple peeps up.
> _
-
Salem Superstar:
>Whose scorerun is it anyway?
>"What world, ze?"
>Man, who knew we were THAT unpopular...? The hell's her problem?
>Dodge and weave while we fire back! Be careful not to box ourselves in with the aimed shots.
Phlogiston Longipteryx:
>"... thinking about the last time I met one. Listen... I'm serious about not telling anyone, kid. Think of it like people wanting to eat fairies to look prettier. Really don't want her getting attention."
>... she mighta been able to help Marisa if she wanted to, maybe, but it's not worth it. Especially right now. If she shows again we'll consider it, but having a proper Eientei raid party ready is more important.
>"... we should probably get rid of that picture, too. No need to suggest she's around."
>Offer a hand to take and burn it.
Wolf-shield Illustrator:
>E... eating fairies?! Okay, maybe not then... scary!!
>Hand over the picture if it wouldn't be soul-destroying to lose it... that's pretty important!
>... now what? Maybe we'll draw our little party striking a pose...
-
Salem Superstar:
>Whose scorerun is it anyway?
> Scenes from a hat: Rejected Midboss Characters. Go!
>"What world, ze?"
>Man, who knew we were THAT unpopular...? The hell's her problem?
> Skella can't answer you now, she's busy expectorating danmaku all over you. She's probably just looking for an excuse to kill you after last time...Though now this begs the question of where these "voices" are coming from to begin with. Could someone be out to get you?
>Dodge and weave while we fire back! Be careful not to box ourselves in with the aimed shots.
> Despite the random spam of this attack, you're still on "easy" street right now, so it's nothing you're not accustomed to.
Phlogiston Longipteryx:
>"... thinking about the last time I met one. Listen... I'm serious about not telling anyone, kid. Think of it like people wanting to eat fairies to look prettier. Really don't want her getting attention."
> "Er...Right, not the analogy I'd think of but ok...I understand. I swear I won't tell a soul."
>... she mighta been able to help Marisa if she wanted to, maybe, but it's not worth it. Especially right now. If she shows again we'll consider it, but having a proper Eientei raid party ready is more important.
> You're not even sure what that girl's intention was. Was she a spy? An assassin? A passing salesyoukai? There's too little to go on, so you put it aside for now. However...
>"... we should probably get rid of that picture, too. No need to suggest she's around."
>Offer a hand to take and burn it.
> ...You can't risk having Maple run around with that picture, so you politely ask for it.
> "Wh-What? It's not like I go flashing my sketchbook around! Ok maybe a little bit, but..." You give Maple a stern look. "Oh, all right, fine...It wasn't that good of a sketch anyways." Maple rips the page from her sketchbook and reluctantly hands it over. You assure her it's for the best before you set it ablaze.
Wolf-shield Illustrator:
>E... eating fairies?! Okay, maybe not then... scary!!
> Sheesh, what won't youkai go through to make themselves more powerful? That sounds less pleasant than youkai stealing fairy wings and snorting the dust off them to get high...You LIKE your wings, they're like a mix of nylon and stained glass, you'd be horrified if you lost or broke them!...Thank Titania you have Wing Insurance though.
>Hand over the picture if it wouldn't be soul-destroying to lose it... that's pretty important!
>... now what? Maybe we'll draw our little party striking a pose...
> You've thrown away drawings before, but...There was just something about the unicorn girl that you captured that you would hate to lose. That look of fear and timidness on her face...What was she even doing? Spying on you? Plotting an assassination or theft? Was she lost? Or maybe...SHE WAS TRYING TO SELL YOU SOMETHING!! Augh, wandering youkai merchants are the worst...
> Huh? Oh right, the picture...You hand it over and Mokou burns it. Pouty Sadface Time.
> ...At least, it would be if you didn't enchant your sketchbook to duplicate any sketch you ripped out of it. And you worried that enchantment would fill up your sketchbook too fast, ha!
> ...Best not to let Mokou know about this, tho. Mini-Medi continues to give no fucks about what you're doing. You sigh and decide to draw some kind of pose of the three--er, four of you sitting on a log. Surely that's acceptable!
> _
-
Witch of Venom:
>Try not to fall asleep while ending her pattern. Keep an eye out for any powerups, perhaps.
-
Witch of Venom:
>Try not to fall asleep while ending her pattern. Keep an eye out for any powerups, perhaps.
> The only person(?) that's sleeping here is the Skella, and she's sleepin' with the fishes...Ugh, remind yourself not to use that pun around Wasbi Wakasagihime. Despite your slight lack of firepower, you blow the banshee to pieces, and she disappears without another word. Typical midboss behavior.
> Skella is nice enough to drop FOUR (4) POWERUP CAPSULES and a BOMB at least, spend them as you see fit.
> The rest of the stage is...Uneventful, really. It's almost as if this stage was cobbled together at the last minute by some inexperienced--
> "Ahoy there, Mari!" Just up ahead you see Yuuka waving at you.
> ...Did we mean inexperienced? We meant talented, wonderful, attractive and all around intelligent spell card designer! :D;; Hiii, Yuuka, what in the nine hells are you doing here in my dream?
> "Oh, uh, why not, I thought we could, you know, have a bit of fun? Or...Something, yeah. Perhaps a danmaku duel!"
> Yeah...You'd rather play cards at this point, really...But something doesn't feel quite right, even though Yuuka kinda talks with that ditzy teenage girl "accent" online, she never speaks like this in real life. Maybe your dream is playing tricks on you.
> _
-
Star-crossed Sorceress:
>Four? What would that get us again? Eh... go for a Multiple, or Magic Missile. Or more Phoenix if all else fails. Save the rest to get more for those goals.
>Has Yuuka been trying to change her image lately? Or maybe someone else is impersonating her. Considering how we've already got one other punk invading our dreams lately...
>Let's test that. Refer to something that only she and us would know that isn't TOO embarrassing.
-
Marisa:
> "Sup, Yuuka? Are you real, or are you a product of my imagination? I swear it's impossible to tell on this side of unconsciousness."
-
Star-crossed Sorceress:
>Four? What would that get us again? Eh... go for a Multiple, or Magic Missile. Or more Phoenix if all else fails. Save the rest to get more for those goals.
> Four capsules would push you up to Missile, yeah. You also collected enough capsules during the second half of the stage portion to get a Multiple, so you have that now. Yay.
> "Sup, Yuuka? Are you real, or are you a product of my imagination? I swear it's impossible to tell on this side of unconsciousness."
> "Of course I'm real, why wouldn't I be?" Yuuka says with an alarmingly wide smile.
>Has Yuuka been trying to change her image lately? Or maybe someone else is impersonating her. Considering how we've already got one other punk invading our dreams lately...
>Let's test that. Refer to something that only she and us would know that isn't TOO embarrassing.
> You ask this Yuuka construct why you're here. Even the real Yuuka doesn't just randomly challenge people to duels without reason.
> "Uh, I want to see how far you've come as a magician! That is a nice staff you have there...May I take a look?"
> Welp, that didn't take long to figure out what she really wanted. You smile and say you'll let Yuuka have a look...If she can tell you what your favorite flower is.
> Yuuka opens her mouth to speak, closes it, thinks for a moment, then mumbles "Crud. You got me."
> There is a sudden POINK sound and a puff of white smoke, before Yuuka is replaced by a young girl with dirty blonde hair, a blue sweater and well-worn jeans. But the most striking features are her black "burglar mask" markings around her eyes, and her large gray-and-black ringed tail. The umbrella has been replaced with a bo staff that seems to be able to split into multiple parts, like some kind of oversized nunchuck. You recognize this girl, but the name escapes you at the moment.
> "That's the last time I ask a couple of angels for detailed info on the wanderer of dreams! I swear, when I see them again I'm gonna rob 'em blind!"
> _
-
Salem Superstar:
>"For what it's worth, they probably deserve it right now, ze."
>Looks like some street-kid tanuki. Makes enough sense.
>What should we expect from that staff as far as the inevitable danmaku battle goes?
>Wrack that memory. Who are these angels?
-
Marisa
> "Impersonating possibly the most dangerous person I know to try to steal from the most dangerous thief I know; myself? You certainly are a brave little idjit."
> Since this is a dream duel, can we imagine up a Yuuka for the little dream invader to play with? A really, really dangerous Yuuka just like the one we know? I mean, she went through all that trouble, it's only fair we give her some pointers on a proper Yuuka impersonation, giant lasers and all.
-
Salem Superstar:
>"For what it's worth, they probably deserve it right now, ze."
> "Maybe...But at least it wasn't a total waste comin' here. I meant it when I said that was a nice staff, my treasure senses are going crazy just looking at it!"
>Wrack that memory. Who are these angels?
> Despite the inevitable about to happen, you manage to put aside some brain power into thinking about these wannabe angels. The only one that comes to mind is--oh, right, her. Despite being a scam artist, she and her sister actually put up a helluva fight...
> But what business would Gengetsu and Mugetsu have in your mind? The mind boggles...
> Don't think too hard, now. I think I smell smoke. *giggle* You want I should let Mokou aboard your train of thought?
>Looks like some street-kid tanuki. Makes enough sense.
>What should we expect from that staff as far as the inevitable danmaku battle goes?
> More like a run-of-the-mill raccoon, actually. Her tail's not quite as mofu-worthy as Mamizou's, which kinda makes you give off a resounding "meh."
> As for the fighting style, you wrack your brain for the answers, but don't come up with much. The raccoon scrunches her nose up at that.
> "You look like you have a headache or something...Hangover? Sickness? Stayed up too late watching movies? Shoot, I hate it when I do that...Hey, if it's a bad time, I can, like, come back or something..."
> "Impersonating possibly the most dangerous person I know to try to steal from the most dangerous thief I know; myself? You certainly are a brave little idjit."
> Call-out Sign [AWW, SNAP!]
Umami
~ The Thief of Everything ~
> "Seems like you've forgotten about my reputation...If I can lay eyes on it, if I can even touch it with my own hands...I can make it mine! You steal books, I steal memories, feelings, powers, and everything intangible! I could even steal your life if I wanted to, but that wouldn't be much fun now would it? Now let's have that staff!"
> Umami seems to be waiting for you to act first...
> Since this is a dream duel, can we imagine up a Yuuka for the little dream invader to play with? A really, really dangerous Yuuka just like the one we know? I mean, she went through all that trouble, it's only fair we give her some pointers on a proper Yuuka impersonation, giant lasers and all.
> Sadly, your CONJURING level is in the pits, just like your SUMMONING level is, so that's out of the question.
> _
-
Voodoo'd Witchery:
>I'm thinkin' I won't be able to talk once the fireworks start, but feel free s'long as I can concentrate on not getting shot.
>Waiting to steal our first attack? Nope, we saw Alice 100% FFV. Wait her out like Gogo.
-
Voodoo'd Witchery:
>I'm thinkin' I won't be able to talk once the fireworks start, but feel free s'long as I can concentrate on not getting shot.
>Waiting to steal our first attack? Nope, we saw Alice 100% FFV. Wait her out like Gogo.
> You can virtually feel Mini-Medi nodding in response. As for this Umami gal, you decide not to give her the chance to counter you. This may have been a mistake, because Umami dashes at you with surprising speed and swings her bo-staff right at your face!
> ROLL TO DODGE! Pick an action, and depending on the action (and the result of a d6 roll) you'll either succeed gloriously or fail miserably. May the RNG be with you! :D
> _
-
Black-White Barbie:
>Or smacked, apparently! Damnit Mima!
>Duck away from the attack, preferably in a direction where we can retaliate with a phoenix shot. It won't have knockback in this scenario, will it?
-
Black-White Barbie:
>Or smacked, apparently! Damnit Mima!
> Mima, one of the few foes with a charge that's deadlier than Bald Bull's.
>Duck away from the attack, preferably in a direction where we can retaliate with a phoenix shot. It won't have knockback in this scenario, will it?
> You roll the virtual dice:
(https://www.random.org/dice/dice4.png) (https://www.random.org/dice/dice4.png)
(dice shamelessly taken from Random.org)
> ...And successfully get out of the way, even getting into place to shoot Umami with some fire birds.
> "Ow! That's it...You're gonna get bitten!"
> Umami makes (broken) columns of bullets that travel across the screen, and she throws in aimed spread shots for good measure.
> _
-
Witch of Stardust:
>"So, you rabid or just scruffy, ze? When's the last time you ever shampoo'd that thing?"
>Make with the pew pew. Try not to get boxed in; navigate through the columns after misdirecting one of the aimed shots to separate the problems.
-
ANNOUNCEMENT!
I will be out of town from the 17th to the 20th, there will be some internet access at the camp site I am visiting but I don't know how good it is. If it is functioning, I'll be able to still update and reply to posts. ;) We now return you to your regularly scheduled Boss Fight.
Witch of Stardust:
>"So, you rabid or just scruffy, ze? When's the last time you ever shampoo'd that thing?"
>Make with the pew pew. Try not to get boxed in; navigate through the columns after misdirecting one of the aimed shots to separate the problems.
> "I always keep my tail like this! Geeze, you don't know the first thing about raccoon tail care, do you?"
> This pattern's easy enough, though Umami tries to be a dick about it and charges at you on occasion. Once you deplete her health, though...
> "Pickpocketing [Sticky Fingers]"
> ...A cloud of bullets fills most of the screen, though it becomes less dense the further left you go. Umami then summons what appears to be a giant magical hand, swats it through the the bullet cloud, and said bullets stick to the hand...When then proceeds to try and Falcon Unzan Punch you. Once the hand crashes into the boundary, the bullets scatter and the hand vanishes, only to repeat the process.
> You never did like these random bullet patterns...They're just that--random!
> _
-
Milky Way Magician:
>This looks like a fair pattern to bomb on. Go for it if we get nervous.
>Don't get too aggressive outside of invulnerability frames from bombing. If we can get through without that'd be better.
-
Milky Way Magician:
>This looks like a fair pattern to bomb on. Go for it if we get nervous.
>Don't get too aggressive outside of invulnerability frames from bombing. If we can get through without that'd be better.
>implying we get nervous to begin with
> HA! You forgot who you are! You're Marisa Motherfuckin' Kirisame, you've faced worse bullshit than this! Light it up!* (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkIWmsP3c_s)
> "Afterburner Sign [Nagasaki]"
> Aww yeah, nothing like laying down a poisonous cloud and setting everything on fire with a gigantic laser...Wait a second, what's that screaming?
> Oh, it's just Umami running around the screen because you set her tail on fire.
> And she's leaving a trail of fiery bullets, while at the same time flinging bullets from her staff randomly while flailing her arms around.
> ...
> You ponder if it's not too late to suggest she stop, drop, and roll...
> _
*this is probably the only fall out boy song I like out of all the ones I've heard
-
Stonehenge Warlock:
>Whoopsie. Looks like it's gonna need more than shampoo now~
>Keep our distance while whittling her down. Was this specifically a bomb counter or is she just highly flammable?
-
Stonehenge Warlock:
>Whoopsie. Looks like it's gonna need more than shampoo now~
>Keep our distance while whittling her down. Was this specifically a bomb counter or is she just highly flammable?
> You know, now that you think about it, this sort of thing shouldn't happen in a danmaku battle...You've been showered with fire, ice, knives and laser beams, and you haven't seen this sort of interactivity before. Interesting...You'll have to experiment with this on other bosses sometime.
> For now, though, you just keep shooting at Umami until she stops attacking. The poor raccoon girl twirls in place and falls down with an audible squeak noise.
> "No fair...I almost had you, too!"
> _
-
Magician of Venom:
>"Yeah, I get that a lot, ze. What was the deal with those angels, huh?"
-
Magician of Venom:
>"Yeah, I get that a lot, ze. What was the deal with those angels, huh?"
> Umami sighs. "They must've overheard me looking for my next score...So they told me about your staff and how to slip into your memories to steal it. At first I was all "what?" but then it made more sense when they told me it was Soulbound."
> _
-
Doll-jointed Spellstealer:
>... memories? Aren't these dreams...? Or is there a lot of overlap? That's probably how those angels are keeping tabs on us, right?...
>"How to slip in, huh... and how would that be, ze?"
>Re-pilfering Medicine at our leisure would work even better!
-
Doll-jointed Spellstealer:
>... memories? Aren't these dreams...? Or is there a lot of overlap? That's probably how those angels are keeping tabs on us, right?...
> It's a dream inspired by a memory. A flashback, if you will...A very twisted flashback, because while you definitely recall meeting Umami here, you don't recall having this conversation with her.
>"How to slip in, huh... and how would that be, ze?"
> Umami shrugs. "Hey, if you can get into Mugenkan, so can I. We're both thieves, right? we have a knack for finding ways into places we're not supposed to."
>Re-pilfering Medicine at our leisure would work even better!
> Are you referring to when you borrowed her from Eientei? Huh...Interesting thought.
> _
-
Galactic Warlock:
>More mugging her mind to get our body back, as we contemplated a bit ago. But, later.
>"Heheh. True that, ze. Izzat where you ran into those angels?"
>We DO know who those probably are by now, right?
-
Galactic Warlock:
>More mugging her mind to get our body back, as we contemplated a bit ago. But, later.
> Oh right, thanks for the reminder. Just so we don't lose our train of thought, let's make it an official quest! why the parser didn't think of this earlier is a complete mystery
> Quest (Finally) Added: Mindjacker -- Medicine knocked you out and swapped bodies with you after she helped you and Alice with Guildies. While her motives are unclear, one thing is certain: there's gonna be hell to pay when you finally catch up with her. Medicine was last spotted in the depths of Eientei's underground warehouse.
> Quest (Also Being) Added: Rodent Raid -- On that note, what the hell is going on at Eientei? Some well-armed (and armored) mole-rat people just up and stormed the place! Medicine and Alice are there too, so you pray they don't come to harm...One has your body and the other may as well be your older sister. You need to infiltrate the mansion again and find out what the raiding party is up to.
> Quest Added (Because Why Not): It's Game Time...? -- You started playing Guildies this morning with Alice, but you've heard from Eirin that the game might be harmful to some. While playing, you have noticed a bit of separation from reality, but not enough to let yourself be fully engrossed. Once you get this bit with Medicine sorted out (and hopefully being Alice safely back home), you need to get back online and get to the bottom of this anomaly. Surely, a video game can't actually be dangerous, right?
> Quest Feature Added: Potential Leads! Talk to or visit the following Characters or Places to receive more quests!
-- Reimu hasn't been heard from in quite some time...
-- Nitori just announced her new mobile phone, but it's up to you if you're interested in it or not...
-- You wonder what Maple and Mokou are up to while you're dreaming...
>"Heheh. True that, ze. Izzat where you ran into those angels?"
>We DO know who those probably are by now, right?
> Oh, Gengetsu and Mugetsu! Surely that was obvious to begin with! :V On that note, you ask Umami where you met those two.
> "Well yeah, they spotted me casing Yuuka's joint...I was gonna steal from her, but they told me about you and the rest just took off from there. Heh...Would you believe I thought they were cops at first? Of course, my gut told me otherwise, but...Eheh...I was too scared to actually call them out on it...Look, I'm a thief, not a con-artist, ok?"
> _
-
Milky Way Magician:
>Casing Yuuka's place, huh? Bet she'd like to know that. Maybe it'd make up for freaking her out with these dream incidents.
>How long ago was our 'real' run-in with Umami?
>"The main cop I've heard of is a bored princess, ze. Unless you were afraid of runnin' into Reimu..."
-
Milky Way Magician:
>How long ago was our 'real' run-in with Umami?
> A few years ago, specifically around the middle of November of 2009.
>Casing Yuuka's place, huh? Bet she'd like to know that. Maybe it'd make up for freaking her out with these dream incidents.
> It may, or may not. Aside from Skella, there's no connection between this dream and the previous one you had...Then again...Hmmm. This is something you should consider discussing with her if you get the chance.
>"The main cop I've heard of is a bored princess, ze. Unless you were afraid of runnin' into Reimu..."
> Umami shudders. "Neither of those two would make my day...Then again, those two angels seemed kinda creepy too, the older one seemed to have a crazy look on her eyes...Like she was gonna murder someone." Umami pauses for a moment. "That reminds me...They also said something along the lines of "If Marisa is still alive after you beat her, would you mind finishing her off? We'll pay you extra!" I scoffed at the idea, I'm a thief, not a murderer...But the extra reward wouldn't be--"
> You fail to catch the rest of Umami's sentence, as your consciousness becomes conscious again. Everything fades to black as Umami mouths something along the lines of "Hey! I'm not done with you!" but your body has other ideas. About time too, you think, too much time has been spent not investigating Eientei and possibly saving Alice and Medicine from those mole people.
> You awaken back within the mushroom grove, in the flower bed you plopped down in earlier. Mokou is leaning up against a tree, taking a smoke. Maple is doodling while Mini-Medi-Mari snoozes on her head. What will you do?
> _
-
Salem Superstar:
>Assess mental recovery. Get up if there's been any meaningful improvement so we can get this taken care of!
Earthen Artisan:
>How's our drawing going?!
-
Salem Superstar:
>Assess mental recovery. Get up if there's been any meaningful improvement so we can get this taken care of!
> Well, you certainly feel refreshed. It's not as good as regular sleep but you feel a lot more focused and alert now. Where's a Five-Hour Energy when you need it?
Earthen Artisan:
>How's our drawing going?!
> It. Is. AWESOME! You even slipped Mokou-sama into the picture too! The three of you look so chill together. You even started on a sleeping Marisa, but it's only-half done so far. Oh well, maybe later.
> _
-
Ceramic Conjurer:
>"Ahhh, that helped, ze. I miss anything?"
Cinder Confuciusornis
>"Not much. Got Rumia under control. You ready?"
>Let's not advise the fairy about the Nexus stuff, especially at this point. Don't need distractions for her...
>And make sure SHE doesn't encourage Marisa bleeding unicorns.
Loaming Illustrator:
>Show off our picture!
>Try not to blurt out too much about that unicorn visitor. Right?
-
Ceramic Conjurer:
>"Ahhh, that helped, ze. I miss anything?"
> The parser scrambles to conjure an answer to this, but...
Cinder Confuciusornis
>"Not much. Got Rumia under control. You ready?"
> It looks like the player(s) have it under control. :V Marisa nods in readiness.
>Let's not advise the fairy about the Nexus stuff, especially at this point. Don't need distractions for her...
>And make sure SHE doesn't encourage Marisa bleeding unicorns.
> You shoot a glance at Maple, whom was putting the finishing touches on one of her pictures.
Loaming Illustrator:
>Show off our picture!
>Try not to blurt out too much about that unicorn visitor. Right?
> Your lips are sealed...Metaphorically speaking. You show Marisa the picture like an eager kindergartener, and she smiles in approval.
> "Not bad, ze. You got Mokou's good side."
> "I have a good side?" Mokou replies with a chuckle.
> _
-
Pentacle Exorcist:
>"Well, it's at least the side that ain't settin' people on fire!"
>Start the march off on a beeline for Eientei. We've delayed long enough!
Pyro Palaelodus:
>Keep an eye out for an opportunity to give Marisa the full story about Rumia when the fairy's distracted.
>On a similar note, try to keep the squad from running into her without reason.
-
Pyro:
> "Hey fairy, distract yourself for a bit. I have some stuff I need to tell doll girl I'm sure someone like you wouldn't be interested in. Wouldn't want smoke coming out of your ears."
> "I think I see a distraction up ahead. Go look at that."
> Wonder if Cirno would fall for that.
-
Phlogistinator:
>Hey now, we can be more subtle than that. Maple doesn't seem to be a complete moron and seems to respect us, it's probably worth keeping it that way.
>... actually, we can probably be a little more blatant about wanting privacy, considering that much.
>"... yo, uh, Maple. While we're on the way, I wanna talk to Marisa personally for a bit. Mind heading up and watching the skies for a little while?"
-
Pentacle Exorcist:
>"Well, it's at least the side that ain't settin' people on fire!"
>Start the march off on a beeline for Eientei. We've delayed long enough!
> Mokou laughs heartily as the three of you backtrack through the woods. It's time to take the house of eternity back.
Pyro Palaelodus:
>Keep an eye out for an opportunity to give Marisa the full story about Rumia when the fairy's distracted.
>On a similar note, try to keep the squad from running into her without reason.
> However, you feel it's prudent to tell Mari what Rumia revealed to you, about the Nexus and all that. An item of incredible power like that shouldn't be in others' hands...And to be fair, probably not hers either, but you figure if things go south, you can just take it from her. Surely, Mari would understand!
> "Hey fairy, distract yourself for a bit. I have some stuff I need to tell doll girl I'm sure someone like you wouldn't be interested in. Wouldn't want smoke coming out of your ears."
> "I think I see a distraction up ahead. Go look at that."
> Wonder if Cirno would fall for that.
> Maple chews you out for insulting her intelligence like that. The tongue lashing is severe enough that you all don't pay attention to where you're going, take a wrong path into the Night Grove, and end up being eaten by ravenous youkai. BAD END NUMBER...WHATEVER
>Hey now, we can be more subtle than that. Maple doesn't seem to be a complete moron and seems to respect us, it's probably worth keeping it that way.
>... actually, we can probably be a little more blatant about wanting privacy, considering that much.
>"... yo, uh, Maple. While we're on the way, I wanna talk to Marisa personally for a bit. Mind heading up and watching the skies for a little while?"
> "Oh, sure! I can do that!" Maple flies up through the branches and into the night sky.
> "What was that all about, ze?" Marisa asks.
> >
> Mokou tells you about what Rumia said....The Nexus, the impending competition over it, Gengetsu and Mugetsu's involvement...Everything. Mokou has this pensive look about her as she speaks, which is unusual. You don't recall her being this serious before.
> "So yeah...I dunno about you, but this reeks of all kinds of foul play," Mokou says while puffing her cigarette. "I couldn't keep it to myself...If it were me, I'd grab that Nexus and throw it into that Orin's personal incinerator. That thing is simply too dangerous to exist...That is, if it's existing to begin with. (sigh) I don't know, it sounds a bit ambiguous as well, what do you think?"
> _
-
(http://i.imgur.com/kMRO8LY.png) "So wait, ze. You're saying someone's offering phenomenal cosmic power for being really good at beating people up in a video game?"
(http://i.imgur.com/2uRbQ7b.png) "That's what Rumia heard, apparently. Not sure I buy it. Don't think it's a good thing, either."
(http://i.imgur.com/kMRO8LY.png) "Does sound kinda excessive, ze. M&G're probably lying, but... hmm. Maybe I'll have to think about makin' my own guild, then..."
(http://i.imgur.com/2uRbQ7b.png) "Careful. Remember who you're talkin' to when it comes to easy wish-granting."
(http://i.imgur.com/kMRO8LY.png) Frown. "I don't think I'd be asking for straight-up immortality, ze."
(http://i.imgur.com/2uRbQ7b.png) "Then what would you ask for, and what problems wouldn't you see with it, huh? Rumia was giving me her sob story about turning into a youkai 'cause her parents got killed and saying she wanted them back. I didn't bother telling her 'cause she wasn't gonna listen anyway, but given her whining about people meat I was gonna suggest she'd end up eating them."
(http://i.imgur.com/kMRO8LY.png) "C'mon, I'm not gonna be that stupid..."
(http://i.imgur.com/2uRbQ7b.png) Stamp out a cig. "That's what everyone thinks. Doesn't mean it's true. These things always come with a catch. Watch for it."
(http://i.imgur.com/kMRO8LY.png) "Yeesh, fine. I'll be careful, ze. That all ya worried about?"
(http://i.imgur.com/2uRbQ7b.png) "Mostly. I'm in on Guildies to compete with Kaguya on there. Considering the help I'm giving during naptime..."
(http://i.imgur.com/kMRO8LY.png) Do the math. "... sure, we can team up after this."
(http://i.imgur.com/2uRbQ7b.png) "Right. Thanks."
(http://i.imgur.com/kMRO8LY.png) "Though... now I'm wonderin' if that M&G pair has it out for me, ze. Did I tell ya about the Skella dream-memory things I've been gettin'? While I was out I had one about some raccoon punk I met a few years ago. Apparently those stupid 'angels' tipped her off to try and steal this." Brandish staff. "No such luck of course, but if they're the ones sicing Rumia on me over this 'Nexus' too..."
(http://i.imgur.com/2uRbQ7b.png) "Considering the whole incident solving business, I don't think people after you is that unusual."
(http://i.imgur.com/kMRO8LY.png) "Yeah, but that Nexus thing might be a reason to see whether Guildies mess is related to the dream world they're from, ze. Closest thing we got to a lead if those rats at Eientei don't cough up anything useful."
----
>Discuss any further revelations or vetoes from this dissemination of information and call Maple back down if nothing profound arises. Maybe we can at least let her in on the part with the dreams and angel-demons messing around, at least.
-
Mokou and Marisa:
> On the topic of great powers coming with catches, discuss catches/conditions behind Marisa and Mokou's powers (specifically the fire powers in the latter case, since immortality has multiple clear downsides, whereas the downsides to wielding fire, if any, are not clear).
-
(A/N: From now on I'm just gonna type my replies in
NotePad Editpad, that's like the third time I lost a post because I'm a fucking moron who can't control his own hands. This is not IRC, you idiot! (headdesks through the planet))
>Discuss any further revelations or vetoes from this dissemination of information and call Maple back down if nothing profound arises. Maybe we can at least let her in on the part with the dreams and angel-demons messing around, at least.
Mokou and Marisa:
> On the topic of great powers coming with catches, discuss catches/conditions behind Marisa and Mokou's powers (specifically the fire powers in the latter case, since immortality has multiple clear downsides, whereas the downsides to wielding fire, if any, are not clear).
> While you're busy discussing the nature of supreme power and immortality, the very world starts to bend and warp around you...It seems your conversation is causing a singularity that's dissolving time and space, and it's causing existence to eat itself! Pretty soon, everyone will be reborn...
(http://cdn2-blog.hwtm.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/monster-cupcake-face.jpg)
source (http://blog.hwtm.com/2012/10/silly-scary-monster-halloween-bash/)
> AS ONE-EYED CUPCAKE MONSTERS!!! RAWWWWWWR!
> (hyperactive childish giggling)
> Oh gods...That was priceless! The look on your face...!
> (STATIC NOISES)
(http://safebooru.org//images/816/bc271a5bb3f0d7a9ee44b3e9dfa8fca0d2f16efd.png?822317)
source (http://safebooru.org/index.php?page=post&s=view&id=822317)
> I wish I had a camera so I could take a look at your stupid-- (finally notices the viewers) I mean, stupid handsome faces! Hehe...Damn, I thought I had you fooled completely. (giggles) No, I'm not The Parser, but I am Tewi, local prankster and all-around lucky rabbit of Gensokyo! Nice to meetcha!
> Hmm? What've I been doing since Marisa left me here? Well I certainly haven't been hiding under Mari's bed like a coward, no sir! In fact I was...Conducting important surveilance operations with Alice's dolls! Gotta keep an eye out for those bogies and whatnot. And boogies. Yes, boogiemen exist in Gensokyo. I'm not making this up.
> How'd I recover? Well, funny thing about non-lethal injuries...They're easy to spring back from. But I gotta say, that hit to the Solar Plexus hurt like hell...It's like those armored goons set my nerves on fire! Good thing Mari was there to save me, I owe her...Don't tell her I said that, though. I know where you live.
> ...With all that malarky outta the way, you may be wonderin', "Tewi, you adorable little diva! Why did you hijack the story and how did you manage to do it?!" Well, I can't say how, that's my little secret, and "hijack" is such a strong word...It's more like, you run into a commerical break on TV, so you switch to another channel for a few minutes so you can keep your brain from being turned into a fruit smoothie by the blades of corporate capitalism. In other words, those girls are gonna be in the forest for a while, so why watch them when you can watch me? :D
> Oh, don't give me that look. Let's be honest--Mari's hogged the spotlight for far too long. Mokou had her shot and no one cares about a dumpass hipster fairy artist. Or that silly unicorn girl for that matter. She's not gonna show up in the story again, no sir! Let's just give her a break from all the hustle and bustle of incident solving and just relax, just the two of us...Or however many are here, I can't quite tell.
> ...
> "I'd be able to tell if I got out from under the bed?" Pshaw, I can see just fine from under here...I gotta say, Mari and Alice have good taste in floor molding at least. Very Victorian-era.
> Ok, fine, put the cattle prod down, geeze! I'll get up if you want me to. But I'd rather not, I heard some angry movement noises outside and that's not boding well. At least Mari has my Blessing of Good Luck since she technically caught me...From the Jaws of Death that is. I owe her, but don't tell her I said that--gah, I'm repeating myself!
> Whatever, I'm tired of sitting around doing nothing anyways, so...Whaddya want me to do?
> _
-
> Tell us a tale.
-
>Touch fluffy tail.
>Be Doc Scratch.
-
>Touch fluffy tail.
>Be Doc Scratch.
> Hands off the goods, bucko!
> Doc...Scratch? Who in the hell are you talkin' about ???
> Tell us a tale.
> (grins) Oh, I have so many stories to tell, you don't even know. Whaddya in the mood for?
> _
-
> Tell us the story of the world where angels and demons live in harmon-no, wait, that's been done before.
> Tell us the story of the clever earth rabbit who lived with the lunatic princess.
-
>LUKAQUEST.AVI
>Tell the tale of Medicine's return and our valiant efforts against the molerat robots.
>Share the story about how you hacked into Alice's dolls.
-
>LUKAQUEST.AVI
> "If this was Yuka instead, I'd laugh. But instead, I must merely chortle," Tewi says as she does just that. "And look, I got the Narrative Framework to...Work!"
>Tell the tale of Medicine's return and our valiant efforts against the molerat robots.
> Tewi stares at the audience with a flat expression. "Maybe this was a bad idea...If this was TewiStory instead..."
>Share the story about how you hacked into Alice's dolls.
> Tewi perks up at this. "Oh! That's not very hard to do. I gotta say, Alice's security network is lacking, I've already figured out how to bypass her main security controls...Like this!" Tewi presents a spell card, which has various lines and nodes running across it, branching from the central spell circle pattern used to create the spell. "See, with this I can easily look at one of the letters on the card..." Tewi taps a node, which enlarges a section of magical lettering on the circle. "...And edit it as I please." Tewi then drags a letter out from the highlighted section, rewrites it with her finger, and then drags it back into place. "I just commanded one of the dolls to go clockwise around the house instead of counter-clockwise," she explains. "Ain't magic magnificent?" :D
> Tell us the story of the world where angels and demons live in harmon-no, wait, that's been done before.
> Tewi tilts her head. "I know of a story at least...It's called The Gray Garden. (http://vgperson.com/games/graygarden.htm) The story itself isn't that great, but the characters are hilarious. Yosafire's such a goofball!" Tewi chuckles a bit more, then sneezes. "Bless me...Sorry about that. Mari needs to clean up her room, seriously!"
> Tell us the story of the clever earth rabbit who lived with the lunatic princess.
> Tewi grins. "I could tell you about myself, but you guys seem to know enough about me for now...How about I tell you about our warren mother?"
> _
-
> What's a warren mother?
-
>Roll for seduction.
>Conjure mirror.
>Hug doll for comfort.
-
>Roll for seduction.
> "I can roll around seductively, would that work?"
> What's a warren mother?
> "...Slept through biology class, didn't you? Ok, I'll explain. Our Warren Mother is--or was--the eldest female inaba in our group, they're usually in charge of all the big decisions and stuff. Our mother's name was Getrude. She was a kind old gal, but you didn't wanna cross her...She'd get back at you in a big way. Just like me! (chuckles) In fact, if it wasn't for Gertrude-sama I might not be the loveable prankster I am today." Tewi's normally cheerful expression softens into a more somber one.
>Conjure mirror.
>Hug doll for comfort.
> Tewi pulls out a hand mirror she pilfered from Mari's dresser. "Gertrude saw a lot of me in her...Said I was a lot like her when I was her age...I may not be her blood, but she treated me like her own daughter all the same..." Tewi sniffs and huggles a spare doll she swiped from Alice's room. "I sometimes wonder if she made the right call...What would she think of me, sitting here like a scared child, hiding from all these monsters outside?" It looks like Tewi's getting a bit misty-eyed over this.
> _
-
>To be fair, maybe you need time to recover? Feeling any better yet?
>So was she eaten by a fox or what?
-
>So was she eaten by a fox or what?
> "N-No...She passed away peacefully at the age of 231. Her body's still around, actually...In return for giving us rabbits a proper home, Gertrude-sama volunteered her body towards Eirin's medical research. At first...The other inaba were against it, but she wouldn't hear a word of it. I remember her words well..." Tewi wipes a tear from her eye. " 'I'd rather continue to keep helping my children, instead of becoming compost.' Heh, she really was a selfless leader..."
>To be fair, maybe you need time to recover? Feeling any better yet?
> "Oh, don't worry about it. I just got nostalgic, is all...I'll be fine."
> Tewi takes a moment to compose herself, before daring a peek out from under Mari's bed. Not much has changed, save for the still-open wardrobe filled with Marisa's outfits. A quick (albeit nervous) peek out the window shows no threats, just an almost completely black forest. Tewi shudders, she isn't used to this kind of darkness.
> "This is so stupid..." Tewi grumbles as she closes the shades on the window. "I shouldn't be sitting here cowering, I should be getting stuff done! Mari can take care of herself." Tewi stares at the floor in thought for a moment, then looks back at the audience with a grin. "Maybe you guys have some ideas?"
> _
-
>We did some recon work with the dolls, right? Anything interesting from that?
>What's in the other direction from Eientei from here? They're gonna be headed there, probably, but maybe we can get some help from the other sides of Gensokyo... or jump a step and try to investigate the molerats. We got a way to go underground?
>Actually... have we hacked into their computers yet? I mean, obviously we're making the desktop backgrounds images of Alice and Marisa making out, but there might be something useful on the 'net too, right?
-
>We did some recon work with the dolls, right? Anything interesting from that?
> Tewi scrunches her face as she thinks of a response. "How should I say this...There's something--multiple things, probably--that're out there, but I can't tell what they are yet. Every time the dolls come back with a visual, all they show me is blackness. Either our "guests" are invisible, or some kinda chameleon ghost robots or something."
>What's in the other direction from Eientei from here? They're gonna be headed there, probably, but maybe we can get some help from the other sides of Gensokyo... or jump a step and try to investigate the molerats. We got a way to go underground?
> "Let's see...Eientei's to the East, right? As far as I know...The west is kind of uncharted territory if it hasn't been taken over by the woods already. I've heard some nasty stories though, stuff about a bloody lake and passages to the demon kingdom. Not really places worth visiting unless you're on vacation, eh? Eh?" Tewi grins and wiggles her eyebrows in a sarcastic manner.
>Actually... have we hacked into their computers yet? I mean, obviously we're making the desktop backgrounds images of Alice and Marisa making out, but there might be something useful on the 'net too, right?
> "I haven't even considered that yet!" Tewi says, stroking her chin while also grinning. Somehow you're getting the feeling she was wanting you to ask her about this. But when she speaks again, her grin kinda fades. "Then again, I was still messed up after Mari brought me back...So I had the dolls make me some tea and I took a short nap. I haven't had the time to do any serious hacking yet. Besides...Snooping around in the witches' personal stuff feels like I'm betraying them. I mean, Mari saved my life for god's sake! I can't violate her trust like that!"
> This justification warms the audience, but come on, we all know what she's thinking. Knowing this, Tewi's concerned scowl twists and contorts into a burst of laughter.
> "Oh gods, who am I kidding, I'm gonna delve so deep into their PCs, I'm gonna hit the gooey molten quad-cores!" Tewi laughs for a bit more before composing herself. "Sure, we can take a look at their Kappatops...Unless you had something else in mind?"
> _
-
>Sounds like optical camo. Time to investigate Nitori.
>If we want to play nice(ish), we could always just log off the accounts of whoever we fuck with, or at least admit in IM that it's us while investigating. Of course, it's not like we won't leave them some interesting surprises... heheheh.
>Get crackin'.
-
>Sounds like optical camo. Time to investigate Nitori.
> Tewi ponders with a skeptical look on her face. "Kappagirl's pretty shy as of late, actually...She hardly ever visited Eientei in the past, but she hasn't appeared much at all since she started spearheading KanaKorp's technology division. Still, might be worth checking out, she is friends with Mari after all."
>If we want to play nice(ish), we could always just log off the accounts of whoever we fuck with, or at least admit in IM that it's us while investigating. Of course, it's not like we won't leave them some interesting surprises... heheheh.
> Tewi grins. "I like the way you think, player! But I'd rather leave Mari with an actual working computer. She probably needs it more."
>Get crackin'.
> As this is all going on, Tewi descends back into the living room, and heads for Alice's Kappatop. "Alice on the other hand...She's probably not gonna need this where she's going."
> Tewi opens up Alice's Kappatop, and it springs to life from its standby mode. The screen boots up, revealing a picture of Mari and Alice in a field of flowers together ("Crap, she beat me to it!") and several Shimejis wandering the desktop. Each virtual construct is based off of one of Alice's dolls, but what's more, each of them is named after a specific program. "Huh...The demon actually figured out how to turn these things into program shortcuts, neat! Too bad it's also kind of impractical. And a bit taxing on the CPU...Seriously, I could probably cool off a bowl of soup at this fan's speed."
> Notable programs include:
- Skype
- IRCUdere (IRC chat program)
- Full Moon (web browser)
- Dragon Mail (email client)
- WinAMP (music and media player)
- RollIt! (movie player and editor)
- Spell Card GET! (spell crafting editor)
- Loose Leaves (multipurpose text editing suite ala OpenOffice)
- Cool Timer (stopwatch program, can count up or down from a certain time)
- Steam
- Desura
- Origin (lolwhat)
- Danmaku Solitaire (a card game/RPG/STG)
- 3D Pinball
- 3D Ultra Pinball
- Paint.net
- Various 3D modeling and posing programs (presumably to design new clothing and dolls?)
- RPG Maker VX Ace Tri Hardcore Gold Xtra-Large Game Of The Century Edition (now with a not-fake 3D engine and editor!)
- Various emulators and gamepad programs (IE Joy2Key)
- Shortcut to GUILDES! Beta
> _
-
>Guildies beckons. Let's get brain cancer.
>Is there anything left open right now, or is it just the dolls burning CPU? Or anything running in the background?
>Well, we can definitely leave traces of Inaba in a spellcard or two, but that can probably wait until after we play nice. Or while waiting for responses...
>Try and log in on one of the instant messaging programs and see who we can guess at from the contacts. Don't beat our head TOO hard against any passwords she didn't leave lying around... if that's even a problem. There are other ways to look!
-
>Guildies beckons. Let's get brain cancer.
> "Do I even need to put a bad ending here?" :P
>Is there anything left open right now, or is it just the dolls burning CPU? Or anything running in the background?
> "Hmmm, there's this one Dropbox folder open...I wonder if there's any pr0n in it!" Tewi giggles. "Oh, and the IRC cilent is open too, I guess. People always leave these on."
>Well, we can definitely leave traces of Inaba in a spellcard or two, but that can probably wait until after we play nice. Or while waiting for responses...
> "Why bother waiting? I can slip a bug in, no problem. Heh..."
>Try and log in on one of the instant messaging programs and see who we can guess at from the contacts. Don't beat our head TOO hard against any passwords she didn't leave lying around... if that's even a problem. There are other ways to look!
> "Nah, this is a piece of cake. I can use this..." Tewi takes out a spell card, which has nothing more than a simple rectangle on it. "...To read the bytes being sent, and figure out what the credentials are." Tewi hits the "login" button on Skype without entering anything, and Skype returns the traditional "login failed" error. A quick glance at the spell card reveals the data that was meant to be entered, data that won't be posted here. Even Tewi knows not to share someone's password with anyone!
> A list of contacts open up as Tewi logs in correctly this time. "Who are these people...? Trick question, I know who they are already, heh. Looks like Hina, Mystia, Yuyuko-sama, Wriggle, Wasabi--Wakasagihime, Chen and Parsee are online. Huh...The vampires aren't though, they must be busy. Chen seems to have left a message for Alice, though."
> _
-
>Snoop on the recent messages, both IRC and Skype.
>Dropbox we can prank with but probably won't have anything we can help at Eintei with... just leave her some Marisa porn, if she doesn't have some already.
>Any sign of Nitori contact readily available?
>How well do we know the people currently logged in on Skype?
-
>Snoop on the recent messages, both IRC and Skype.
> "IRC...It's just inane chatter about this thing called "Eee Three." No idea what that is, don't really care. Chen has left a few messages though..."
* nyanNekomata1313 is now online.
nyanNekomata1313: I'm back! :3 Turns out the server just had a few rodents in it.
nyanNekomata1313: Anyone wanna play Guildies some more?
nyanNekomata1313: ...Hello?
nyanNekomata1313: TnT No one's at their keyboard...Mew...
nyanNekomata1313: ...I hope you guys are ok...I miss you.
* nyanNekomata1313 curls up in front of computer, falls asleep
> "Sad kitty is sad. What a shame. The least the witches could have said was "hey ya'll, we're about ta bust some rat asses, leave a message, pardner!" or something. But what do I care? I'm just an Easterpionage Bunny...Ugh, that sounded terrible, where did I come up with that?!"
>Dropbox we can prank with but probably won't have anything we can help at Eintei with... just leave her some Marisa porn, if she doesn't have some already.
> Tewi grins. "Even if it's not useful now, it might be useful later. And I know just what to do..." Tewi's fingers go into a flurry of activity, as she pulls up some racy pics from Danbooru and laces them with a hidden bug from her carrot-shaped USB. "Even if Alice deletes this, the bug'll still be in her computer. Surely she won't mind!"
>Any sign of Nitori contact readily available?
> "Not since she sent out that automated message. That phone is probably an overpriced piece of crap anyways...I'm sure not gonna buy it!" Tewi says while puffing her cheeks. "What're you looking at! I-It's not like I'm jealous or nothing..."
>How well do we know the people currently logged in on Skype?
> Tewi opens her mouth to speak, only to be interrupted by a message ding.
Green_Ray_Snacker said: Amazing what you can sense over the internet these days.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: Parsee?! Have you been probing this network?!
MasterOfPuppets7 said: That's not cool, yo!
Green_Ray_Snacker said: Neither is hijacking someone's computer, wabbit.
Green_Ray_Snacker said: And I didn't probe, I just followed the faint scent of jealousy.
Green_Ray_Snacker said: You totes want that new phone KanaKorp is rolling out soon, admit it. Everyone's doing it!
* Green_Ray_Snacker posts "Everyone's doing it!" repeatedly.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: Whether or not I want or need a new phone is none of your business, bridge troll. Why Alice is
even friends with you is a mystery to me.
Green_Ray_Snacker said: You have Alice's computer, yes? Why not do some log diving? Or would you rather be sawing logs?
* Green_Ray_Snacker makes a sawing noise for a few seconds.
MasterOfPuppets7 said: Shouldn't you be guarding a portal to the Subterranean Realm or something?
Green_Ray_Snacker said: Oh, this is a zero-effort job, wabbit. I even took the liberty of setting up some proper
defenses...You could learn a thing or two from this.
* Green_Ray_Snacker posted a Youtube link: [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxWbodl1rBA]Bloons Tower Defense 5 -
Hard Mode - Track 1 - No Lives Lost[/url]
MasterOfPuppets7 said: Was that supposed to be an insult?
Green_Ray_Snacker said: Considering your reaction, yes. I take it something happened at Eientei?
MasterOfPuppets7 said: That's none of your business.
Green_Ray_Snacker said: I'm taking that as a yes. Go on, do enlighten me...Or would you rather let your seething
emotional data do the talking for you? :smugface:
> Tewi's furiously fuming at this point. "Urge to hack...Rising...Must not relent...Feeding the troll ensures their victory..."
> _
-
>Hacksaw off our foot for good luck
>Warn Chen not to set her fur on fire, or get too much in the keyboard. Does she have a laptop? Oh well!
>Leave Nitori a message about being interested in purchasing some optical camo. Implications of spying on Marisa optional.
>How time-consuming would bricking Parsee's computer be? Can we just block her and call that trolling Alice's contacts? Or maybe we can go a different route and see if her logs with Alice provide blackmail material...
>Is Alice trying to make an RPGMaker game?
-
>Hacksaw off our foot for good luck
> "Like hell I am! Sheesh, where do you come up with these ides?!"
>How time-consuming would bricking Parsee's computer be? Can we just block her and call that trolling Alice's contacts? Or maybe we can go a different route and see if her logs with Alice provide blackmail material...
> "Bah, not worth the effort. I'm just gonna ignore her...And send a virus her way." Tewi pulls up a virus-sending program from her USB and attaches a nasty payload to it.
> do.send(toadinthehole)_
MasterOfPuppets7 said: I got yer "seething emotional data" right here!
Green_Ray_Snacker said: Trying to send me a file, are you? That's cute.
Green_Ray_Snacker said: My computer is well protected from such--
Green_Ray_Snacker said: ...Oh gods, what is this?!
Green_Ray_Snacker said: What'd you do to my wallpaper?! It's...Turned obscene!
Green_Ray_Snacker said: What are these oni doing to me?!
* MasterOfPuppets7 cackles. "Never underestimate Eientei, troll. Or should I say, ex-troll?"
Green_Ray_Snacker said: You think this virus is gonna stop me?
MasterOfPuppets7 said: Give it a couple sex I mean secs.
Green_Ray_Snacker said: You cheeky little...!
* Green_Ray_Snacker has disconnected due to an error.
> "Another satisfied customer!" Tewi says, giggling. "That virus should shut her up for a few days or weeks."
> "Now, back to business..."
>Leave Nitori a message about being interested in purchasing some optical camo. Implications of spying on Marisa optional.
> "Placing an order while masquerading as Alice? Sounds like a plan to me!"
MasterOfPuppets7 said: As interested as I am in your new phone, I'm more interested in your...Covert wares. Perhaps
we could discuss a deal? Poor Marisa could use a guardian angel these days, wouldn't you agree?
>Warn Chen not to set her fur on fire, or get too much in the keyboard. Does she have a laptop? Oh well!
MasterOfPuppets7 said: My sincere apologies, Chen. Circumstances beyond my control have arisen...Please do be
careful around your computer, you don't want to sully it or set it ablaze. That would be just awful. Send my regards to
the ladies of the house, won't you?> Tewi can't help but continue cackling as she types this all out. She's having a hard time keeping her typing straight as she does this.
>Is Alice trying to make an RPGMaker game?
> This sudden question snaps Tewi out of her giggling fit, and she looks at the audience with a curious look. "Well, I guess there's one way to find out..."
> Tewi opens up RPG Maker. "File, Recent Projects...Card-Nival?" Tewi loads the file. "Huh...Hmm, it looks bare bones but it looks like Alice is trying to make some kind of card game? Interesting...Didn't take her for an indie. Then again, indie developers tend to be the artsy, pretentious types, so I guess this suits her. Let's hope she doesn't end up like the legendary Darksided Phil Fish."
> _
-
>Not necessarily placing an order, but if they ARE using camo, then we have an excuse to ask if anyone else's been wanting it...
>Make sure there's an inaba card in that game of hers. For now, at least.
>Is there a site for online orders of Kappatech? Let's see if the camo is available there... or a counter to it.
>What did we know about where the ratfaces came from and what they wanted, again? Or Marisa's situation, for that matter...
-
> As long as we're pretending to be Alice, order the following from Nitori:
> A pregnancy test
> A single coat hanger
> Heck, lets order embarrassing items for Alice from every site we can.
-
>Not necessarily placing an order, but if they ARE using camo, then we have an excuse to ask if anyone else's been wanting it...
> "Ah, sorry about that. This is what happens when you let someone control your thoughts and emotions I mean what."
>Is there a site for online orders of Kappatech? Let's see if the camo is available there... or a counter to it.
> "Ah yes, there is! I'll take a look at it in juuuust a sec...But first."
> As long as we're pretending to be Alice, order the following from Nitori:
> A pregnancy test
> A single coat hanger
> Heck, lets order embarrassing items for Alice from every site we can.
> "Let's have some fun...She doesn't need that money where she's going, anyways." Tewi then proceeds to KanaCorp's site and orders as many awkward products as she can click on. Sex toys, useless health care items, that sort of thing. Alice's bank account suffers a loss of about 350 USD in the process.
>Make sure there's an inaba card in that game of hers. For now, at least.
> "I shecked, she got it covered. But that picture could use a facelift..." Tewi decides to hack her own image into the game's tileset, using a picture from her own USB. "There's only room enough in this world for one competent inaba after all...And no, Reisen doesn't count. She's from the moon, and pretty strong in her own right. So quit picking on her already!" Tewi says with a giggle. "I kid, I know you guys love her."
>What did we know about where the ratfaces came from and what they wanted, again? Or Marisa's situation, for that matter...
> Tewi crosses her arms and pouts. "I see what you're saying. You're tired of me already and you wanna get back on to the title character's arc. Well, I'm not gonna stand for it, because from this day forward, this is gonna be called Tewi Qu--"
> Unfortunately, Tewi's declaration of a hijack is sadly cut short, as someone knocks on the front door.
> "Oh, for the love of Carrotus, now what?!" Tewi stomps on over to the front door, though the doll she was cuddling earlier suddenly flies over to her. "Cuba, not now, I'm very upset." The doll known as Cuba seems to be preventing Tewi from reaching the door, as she togs on her ears, her limbs, anything to keep her from reaching the front door. "Ack! Ow! Stoppit! Don't make me shut you off!"
> *Creeeeeeeeeaaaaaak...*
> The front door opens on its own. Outside, in the darkness, stands an angel-winged figure with malicious-looking eyes.
(http://safebooru.org//images/1037/c9f5b890f65d6ba76cd38633c7c9fe300ba0ab23.jpg?1074204)
source (http://safebooru.org/index.php?page=post&s=view&id=1074204)
> "Uh..." Tewi freezes mid-struggle and lets go of Cuba. "Can I...Help you?"
> "Yes...You can surrender the computers or you can surrender your life," the angel-alike says in a calm yet intimidating voice. "Your choice."
> Tewi stands there, dumbfounded, before glancing at Cuba and finally speaking up. "This was what you were trying to remind me about, weren't you?"
> Cuba nods, then smacks Tewi upside the head.
> "Ow! Now's not the time!" Tewi rubs her head before looking up at the intruder with a smile. "Well, you see, the thing is..." Tewi also casts a glance at the audience, as if to say, "I could use a bit of help here, you guys!"
=====
> Game: Suspend.
> Creating Suspend Save, please do not turn off the power...
> Your game has been suspended. When you resume play, the suspended data will be deleted.
I've mentioned this to a few people in IRC, but I might as well make it official--I'll be out of town for a few days this week, from Tuesday to Friday to be exact. I also need some time to refocus my vision of MarisaStory, I can't lose control of my own plot or else it'll die like so many other quest threads did. I'm not really calling this a hiatus in spite of that, I just need to clear my head and figure out what to do next. I'm excited, nervous and humbled that anyone even gave a damn about this quest, and I hope it's entertaining for anyone who's read or participated in it.
See you next post!
-
> Reboot computer and start from latest save point.
-
>I was just fishing for information! I didn't mean for it to end this way! Damnit rabbit.
>I mean you keep hinting that Alice is dead or something but
-
Welp, that hiatus was somewhat pointless...I just spent my time playing video games, as usual. :( But when I think about it, sitting down and planning a game like this is...Kind of counterintuitive. I won't say I won't do it at all, because I won't, but given the scope of what we're doing, I don't think I have to plan that far ahead just yet. We still have a little over 300 posts to go before the thread autolocks, anything can happen during that time.
Besides, I just had an awesome idea and I'd feel bad for just sitting on it, so let's...
> Reboot computer and start from latest save point.
> Game: Continue.
> Loading suspended game...Please do not turn off the power.
> Deleting suspended file...Done.
>I was just fishing for information! I didn't mean for it to end this way! Damnit rabbit.
>I mean you keep hinting that Alice is dead or something but
> Tewi's grimace turns to a grin. "The thing is...There's a bit of a gas leak I have to take care of."
> Gengy's expression softens a bit, turning into one of confusion. "Gas? I don't smell any gas..."
> "You will now!" Tewi whips out a grenade, pulls the pin, and lobs it at Gengy's face. The payload explodes, covering Gengy in a thick, choking gas that clings to her like soot. Tewi then bails while the angel wannabe is left coughing and wheezing.
> "G-GET BACK H-HERE, YOU LITTLE--" Gengetsu coughs and tries to give chase, but she stumbles and falls flat on the atrium floor. "Ugh...S-Sis, you better-- (cough) catch that f-f-fairy...Gah..."
=====
> You are now Marisa again. To briefly recap, you and Alice decided to play an MMO called Guildies!, and found out said MMO was causing health problems for certain people. Your investigation into the game seems to have triggered some unfortunate Minor Incidents, including but not limited to:
- getting your body swapped with an animated doll's body,
- rescuing Tewi from a SWAT team invading Eientei,
- fighting off and befriending an Earth Fairy and an Immortal,
- and finding out at least three youkai want to hijack your Guildies! account in a violent fashion.
You assume this has to do with The Nexus Rumia told you about, but whether or not it's just a powerful ingame item or an actual artifact of power is still unknown.
> What is known right now, is that Eientei is still being held by those SWAT Team Mole Rats, and that Medicine and Alice might still be in the mansion's depths. Alice is trying to get to Medicine because the latter was the one responsible for hijacking your body. You're not even sure if either of them are still in one piece, but your intuition tells you they're ok...For now.
> You recently discussed a possible alliance (http://www.shrinemaiden.org/forum/index.php/topic,15529.msg1095899.html#msg1095899) with Mokou once you get this Eientei thing solved. As you ponder about heading over in that direction next...
> "MARI! GET THIS CRAZY MAID OFF ME!!" Maple's voice jars you out of your train of thought, as you look up through the trees to see Maple being chased by a girl in a blue dress and blonde hair. You could have sworn you've seen that girl before...
> Audience, what do?
> _
-
>Convenient! Let's rock and roll.
>Rush for the maid. That's not Sakuya, is it?
>Encourage Maple to retreat or distract. She's got to be paintsplattering already, right?
-
> Countermaid maneuvers activate!
> Who care's if it's not Sakuya, we must abuse the OCD perfectionism that any proper maid named Sakuya enjoys. Make a mess in the woods for her to clean up!
> Wait, she's not bothering with the already messy woods. Uh... screw it, just hit her with lasers and other shiny things.
-
>Convenient! Let's rock and roll.
> As much as you'd like to ROCK OUT, your current equipment setup renders that rather inconvenient. You'll have to figure out way to change your Radiant Staff into a Radiant Instrument.
>Rush for the maid. That's not Sakuya, is it?
> You recall that Sakuya bonked her head earlier today, (http://www.shrinemaiden.org/forum/index.php/topic,15529.msg1041444.html#msg1041444) so that can't be her. Besides, this maid has blonde hair, not silver, leading you believe it's none other than...
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/337147/AlphesMugetsuCropped.png)
source (a/n: not enough creepy pictures of her, grrr) (http://safebooru.org/index.php?page=post&s=view&id=764429)
> ...Mugetsu. You haven't seen her in ages, and you wished you could have kept it that way. She and her sister Gengetsu tried to trap and rob you of your valuables after subduing Yuuka, by posing as distressed Incidentees. Yes, that's a term you and Reimu use to describe people having an Incident they need solved. It's kind of your in-joke with her.
>Encourage Maple to retreat or distract. She's got to be paintsplattering already, right?
> Oh, she is! It may be dark, but you can see streaks of paint in the night sky. You also see the two trade bullets as they try and shoot or avoid one another, though Mugetsu clearly has the upper hand. Demons have higher base stats than fairies, after all.
> You suggest that Maple try using her fancy plant attacks on Mugey, and she agrees by summoning a storm of leaves to attack Mugey. As one might expect, the leaves are quite sharp and cut Mugetsu several times, but she doesn't seem phazed by the attack at all.
> "What, you thought using a leaf blower on me was gonna help? Dream on, pipsqueak!" Mugey then charges at Maple and tries to grab her, but the fairy quickly evades. "Hold still, dammit!"
> Countermaid maneuvers activate!
> You consider using some fancy-shmancy manuvers against Mugetsu, but considering you haven't fought her in a while, you just vouch for flying up and keeping Maple out of the demon's reach...Or you would if Maple didn't panic and fly away at high speed at the last moment, making it that much harder to actually save her.
> Who cares if it's not Sakuya, we must abuse the OCD perfectionism that any proper maid named Sakuya enjoys.
> Any good thief worth their salt has at least a few backup plans in place. Should you have to fight with Sakuya during any of your library raids, you know for a fact that she can't stand lasers. Light travels at 671 miles per hour after all, Sakuya would have to have absurdly good timing to dodge them, even with her time-stopping ability. However, you don't have the time or the resources to set up a proper laser ambush...
> Uh... screw it, just hit her with lasers and other shiny things.
> ...So you decide to set up an improper one instead. First step: you ask Mokou to sit at the front of your staff. She obliges.
> Second step: you ask Mokou to flare up. "Wait, what? You sure about this, I might incinerate you too." You assure Mokou that everything will be fine (for the most part, but you don't tell her that last bit), and power up as well.
> Meanwhile, Mugetsu is punching through some rock fists Maple has summoned to attack her. The irony!
> "Your lousy earth power can't match my demon strength!" Mugetsu dashes over and grabs the poor fairy by the arm.
> "Let go of me!" Maple smacks the maid lookalike with her brush, but Mugey just smacks it away and seizes her other arm. Maple yelps in pain as her wrists are squeezed. "Wh...What do you want with me?!"
> "A hostage, mainly. Mari has something my sister and I want...But chances are Gengy-chan already botched it up. I swear, if I weren't around she'd be helpless..." Gengy says in a sadistic tone. "You'd better pray that Mari comes for you, or--"
> "S-SHUT UP!" Maple bursts out. "Mari would never abandon me...Not...Not after I helped her..."
> Mugetsu's expression softens into one of disapproval "Stupid fairy...You don't know her like I do, she's selfish and self-centered."
> "You're the stupid one, you don't know what she and Mokou-sama are capable of!"
> The demon's eyebrows raise. "That ugly bird is with her?" Mugey's face then scrunches as she sniffs the air. "That explains the...Burning...!"
> [Flying Phoenix "Blazing Star"]
> Mugey looks for the source of the smell, only to suddenly get uppercutted by a flaming Mokou and Marisa from below. Thankfully, she drops her grip on Maple, whom is left spinning in the air, until the duo fly back around (whilst not on fire) and pluck Maple from midair.
> "S-S-See...That's what I mean!" Maple says in exasperated relief as you pull her onto the staff. "I didn't doubt you for a second."
> You can hear Mugetsu swearing as she suddenly flies back under the forest's canopy. You're not entirely sure where she's going, but it looks like her plan is foiled for now.
> _
-
> Taunt Mugetsu. "Why would you take a fairy as a hostage? You may as well threaten to kill Mokou while you're at it."
> Fairies come back when you hit them, right?
-
Toxin Trigger:
>We ain't done foiling! If she's desperate enough to show up personally, then she's giving us a giant honkin' target to beat the truth out of her! Among other things.
>Pursue! Keep her busy with sporadic rapid-fire in her general direction, especially if it'll improve visibility. Milky Way is probably the best choice of our staff's merged skillz. (http://www.shrinemaiden.org/forum/index.php/topic,15529.msg1079527.html#msg1079527)
>Now's a good time to use an aggressive bomb to catch her if we have the opportunity! This is NOT the time to let her get away with trying to get us killed!!
Thousand-degree Genyornis:
>That Shuryouken begs the question: Are we a shotokan or a shotacon? This is important.
>Make sure Maple's alright before tagging along a bit less aggressively. Maybe play a bit smarter and try to cut off the maid-demon if she gets predictable, so we can get this done and finally fucking head to Eientei.
Zeldasque Wolfgirl:
>Try not to have a heart attack.
>Um, do we have anything homing to maybe at least help show where the scary maid lady's running off to? As long as we stay close to one of the nice scary ladies we should be okay... right?
-
Mokou
>That Shuryouken begs the question: Are we a shotokan or a shotacon? This is important.
> Despite Mokou being on good terms with a lot of the Human Village's young male population, she's not a shota. That'd just be creepy. You're also pretty sure that Mokou doesn't know any martial arts, but that's something you can discuss with her later.
Marisa
> We ain't done foiling! If she's desperate enough to show up personally, then she's giving us a giant honkin' target to beat the truth out of her! Among
other things.
> Indeed. It's time you nipped this problem in the hitbox once and for all, but first...
Mokou
> Make sure Maple's alright before tagging along a bit less aggressively. Maybe play a bit smarter and try to cut off the maid-demon if she gets predictable, so we can get this done and finally fucking head to Eientei.
> ...Mokou speaks up. "I think I should split up for now and try to catch her if she does anything funny." She then looks at Maple. "You gonna be okay with Mari, kiddo?"
Maple
> Try not to have a heart attack.
> Maple takes a few deep breaths before responding "I'll be fine...She didn't hurt me or nothing, but I gotta say...I think I was more scared of the bomb than the demon herself," Maple grimaces.
> Mokou laughs and gives her a playful nudge in the shoulder. "We'll try and be more careful next time, ok?" She then floats off of Mari's staff and starts flying under her own power, as a set of flaming wings appear on her back. "Just don't shoot me while you're busy trying to pin that psycho-bitch down."
>Um, do we have anything homing to maybe at least help show where the scary maid lady's running off to? As long as we stay close to one of the nice scary ladies we should be okay... right?
> Maple perks up at that, as if remembering something. "I got it covered, don't you worry!"
> Mokou nods as the two of you split up: you are much faster than Mokou is, so you take the lead while she brings up the rear, with Maple riding in the back.
> ...Wait, did I say riding? Maple's standing up...Isn't that a bit dangerous? Furthermore, she's flapping her wings...You ask what the hell the Earth Fairy's trying to accomplish here.
> "Fairy dust has a lot of magical properties," Maple says as she gathers the dust into a swirling, sparkling orb. "One of them is revealing tracks in the woods. Just watch!" Maple flings the dust-ball like a volleyball, and it explodes, covering the area in sparkles. Pretty, but you raise a concern when the dust settles on the canopy before it has a chance to hit the ground. "Give it a second."
> Suddenly, portions of the scattered dust light up, as something moves through them at high speed. That must be Mugetsu!
Marisa
>Pursue! Keep her busy with sporadic rapid-fire in her general direction, especially if it'll improve visibility. Milky Way is probably the best choice of our staff's merged skillz. (http://www.shrinemaiden.org/forum/index.php/topic,15529.msg1079527.html#msg1079527)
> You decide to shed some light on the subject by raining down your trademark giant star bullets. They explode in brief but bright flashes, revealing the forest path and Mugey's fleeing shadow. Mugetsu's headed back towards your house, which is to the East.
>Now's a good time to use an aggressive bomb to catch her if we have the opportunity! This is NOT the time to let her get away with trying to get us killed!!
> Damn, if only you had your Master Spark...! No matter, a heavy hailstorm of stars will do just as well.
> [Magic Space "Asteroid Belt"]
> The stars fall in a thick but steady pattern, slowing down Mugey as she's forced to bob and weave through them. At some point, she just yells "Fuck it!" and starts punching her way through the bullets, breaking them into tiny pieces. Sadly, a broken bullet is not a damaging one.
> Given the sitch, Mokou's down on the forest path ready to intercept, while you and Maple are raining down death from above the forest canopy. You're not too far from yours and Alice's house at the moment...Hopefully this fight won't spill over into your residence. It's your move now, audience.
> _
-
>The fight will probably reach there, sadly. Hmm... well, at least Tewi's on alert. Would we be able to get ahold of her to set up an ambush...?
>Full-on aggro. We're taking her down here and now!
-
> Poison her. With our poison cloud attack. When Medicine does it, it seems to slow people down.
-
>The fight will probably reach there, sadly. Hmm... well, at least Tewi's on alert. Would we be able to get ahold of her to set up an ambush...?
> You don't have a way to contact her at the moment. You could send Maple down to give her some assistance, but you're not sure if the fairy would go with that idea.
>Full-on aggro. We're taking her down here and now!
> Poison her. With our poison cloud attack. When Medicine does it, it seems to slow people down.
> An idea forms in your head...If you form just the right poison, you can create an Explosive Gas Cloud that would Mokou could take advantage of, and blast Mugey down a few notches. However, this potentially has the awful side effect of setting the nearby forest ablaze. You don't have to worry so much about your house since you and Alice enchanted it (to protect against such a thing), but the rest of the forest residents might not appreciate it. You must think carefully about your next action...
> _
-
> Do we actually like any of the other residents of this forest?
-
>Whether we like them or not, we don't need them on our bad side so lightly. Especially with Maple right here to turn on us if we do something really assholish. Having all of Knottingham on our ass is not a problem we need right now.
>Not many good choices right now; keep stalling and chasing Mugy until Mokou can spring the ambush. Our odds will be better with her around, whether that finishes the job or not.
-
>Whether we like them or not, we don't need them on our bad side so lightly. Especially with Maple right here to turn on us if we do something really assholish. Having all of Knottingham on our ass is not a problem we need right now.
> Even someone as reckless as you needs to show some restraint, ze. Your mind comes up with a plan...
>Not many good choices right now; keep stalling and chasing Mugy until Mokou can spring the ambush. Our odds will be better with her around, whether that finishes the job or not.
> ...What if, instead of Mokou setting Mugey ablaze, she just punches the hell out of her instead? You could slow Mugey down with the poison and have Mokou move in...The problem is that the mist might slow Mokou as well. Hmm. You could go ahead with this plan or think of something else.
> _
-
>Do we have any shots we could sneak into the Milky Way spam that would hurt her if she tried to break them? The phoenix, maybe?
>What about concentrating some poison into one of Maple's paint shots as a confounding decoy? Do neither of us have tracking, damnit?!
>... it'd be too difficult to improvise something that bursts into a poison cloud when it gets attacked, wouldn't it? That would probably put most of the slowdown on our target.
-
> Run Mugey down while shooting her with magic glowing bullets.
> If we do set the forest on fire, can we blame Mugey for it? We DO have 3 witnesses.
-
Warning: this topic has not been posted in for at least 14 days.
Unless you're sure you want to reply, please consider starting a new topic.
NO FORUM NOTIFICATION IN THE UNIVERSE CAN STOP ME! LET'S DO THIS!
WRITING ROUTINE, SET! EXECUTE!!
> If we do set the forest on fire, can we blame Mugey for it? We DO have 3 witnesses.
> You could, but the collateral damage might not be worth it. So much for that idea...
>What about concentrating some poison into one of Maple's paint shots as a confounding decoy? Do neither of us have tracking, damnit?!
>... it'd be too difficult to improvise something that bursts into a poison cloud when it gets attacked, wouldn't it? That would probably put most of the slowdown on our target.
> ...However, looking at Maple gives you an idea. You run it by her...
> "Poisonous plants? Huh, that might actually work! Let's try it!" Maple smiles as she fires off a bunch of seeds. You fire off a bunch of poison needles, imbuing the potential plants with your poison.
> Run Mugey down while shooting her with magic glowing bullets.
> You keep Mugey pinned down with regular bullet fire while the seeds do their thing. The seeds land and sprout into poisonous vines that lash out and restrain the demon maid-alike.
> "Ugh...Let go of me, you stupid--"
> *PUNCHING NOISE*
> "GUUUHHHH!" Mugey has the wind knocked out of her by Mokou before she goes Jojo on her face. And chest. And gut.
> "Let this be a lesson for you, small fry!" Mokou then finishes off Mugey with an Obvious Shoyruken, launching her out of the Forest and into parts unknown. You ask Mokou if the lesson involved robbing people's houses. "More like, don't pick a fight you can't win." Mokou lights a victory cigarette, while you remind her that the house might still be in danger. "Don't lemme stop ya, kiddo." Mokou takes a puff.
> As if on cue, you can hear screaming coming from Casa de Kiri-Troid. Whether or not it's Tewi or someone else, you're not sure. You could go and check, or continue on your quest to Eientei.
> _
-
> Well, that was easy. Though damnit it would've been nice to grill her for intel.
> Since we're within hearing distance, might as well check the house. If not-tewi wasn't the screaming one already, we can probably fix that.
-
>
Our plot senses are tingling. Follow that plot!
> Go to the house. How dare someone go around terrorizing people! That's OUR job!
-
> Our plot senses are tingling. Follow that plot!
gdi you had to mention plot just when I was thinking of writing an MLP fanfic
gdi capth
g. d. i.
> Go to the house. How dare someone go around terrorizing people! That's OUR job!
> It's more "go around and steal anything of use/worth," but that can incite its own brand of terror. In either case, you land at the door to Casa de KiriTroid and see what appears to be a haggared angel, no doubt Gengetsu. She's laying face down in the doorway, covered in what appears to be bubble gum, darts and smelling strongly of fertilizer.
> "You...You gotta get me away from this, this, this PSYCHOPATH!" Gengy pleads, stretching out her hand towards you. "The things she's done to me...Are...UN. SPEAK. ABLE."
> You look up to see Tewi standing there innocently in the next room, waving with a huge grin on her face. Knowing her, she must've pranked Gengy in a particularly embarrassing fashion, bubble gum and potentially poisonous darts aside.
> Well, that was easy. Though damnit it would've been nice to grill her for intel.
> Shit, that would have been a good idea...But you're Marisa, not Kotohime! You always shoot first and ask questions later. After all, a defeated enemy is one that won't shoot you back in the face. Still, you figure you could get some info out the antagonized angel here. You tell Gengy that you'll agree to let her free if she answers a few questions.
> "Whatever, ok! Just get this crap off me...And...And...And...Keep HER away from me!"
> _
-
Toxin Magicin':
>"I dunno, ze, it looks like she was havin' fun with ya. It'd be quite rude to take that away from a guest..."
>"'sides, I don't remember this being your house anyways. Care to explain yourself?"
>Give her our best slasher smile.
-
> Have Tewi speak about the unspeakable things Tewi has done.
-
It has been [19] days since the last post. Oh, and I have a job now. :D
> Have Tewi speak about the unspeakable things Tewi has done.
> Huh, that's odd...The text for this portion of the post went missing. Oh well, moving on!
>"I dunno, ze, it looks like she was havin' fun with ya. It'd be quite rude to take that away from a guest..."
>"'sides, I don't remember this being your house anyways. Care to explain yourself?"
>Give her our best slasher smile.
> You roll for intimidation and score a BRUTAL AFFRONT CRITICAL SUCCESS. Gengetsu cringes and whimpers. "W-We just wanted to make a q-quick buck selling virtual g-goods online! I-It was all big sister's idea!"
> _
-
>"And how was she planning to do that, ze? My house isn't virtual, y'know!"
-
>"And how was she planning to do that, ze? My house isn't virtual, y'know!"
> Gengy looks up at you with an incredulous look on her face. "...You have no idea how digital goods work, do you?
> _
-
>"Let's say I don't. Tell me why you think I'd let you get away with robbin' the best thief in Gensokyo, ze."
>Keep smiling~
-
> "Hey, I steal TONS of stuff that I don't know the workings of. Now tell me where you keep your digital stuff so I can rob you of it."
-
>"Let's say I don't. Tell me why you think I'd let you get away with robbin' the best thief in Gensokyo, ze."
>Keep smiling~
> Gengy sweats a bit. Or, at least you think that's sweat coming out of the angel's messed-up mug.
> "Well, uh...Aren't you supposed to be doing something? You look rather busy...Besides!" Gengy grins. "It's been ages since you and I fought. I've gotten sneakier and stronger too!"
> "And yet you got yer ass handed to you by a cute little bunny," Mokou chimes in. Gengy does not look pleased.
> "A minor setback! Besides, you don't know what you're getting yourself into. This digital goods thing is serious business! Seriously!!"
> "Hey, I steal TONS of stuff that I don't know the workings of. Now tell me where you keep your digital stuff so I can rob you of it."
> "Hmph!" Gengy looks away with a pout on her face. "Even if I did tell you, there's nothing you can do with it. It's not like digital goods can be made real, you can't sell them at Kourindou or eBay."
> You get closer to Gengy's face and remind her of the little deal you two discussed. You wouldn't want to hand her back to Tewi for more humiliation, would you?
> This makes Gengy sweat a great bit. She fumbles and mumbles her words for a bit before suddenly blurting out "AHA! I'm saved!"
> Before you can ask her what she means, Mugetsu comes flying from above and hits you and your comrades with a roundhouse kick. Thoroughly dazed and concussed (despite you still being a doll), you can only watch as the demonic maid picks up her sullied sibling.
> "You idiot, what did you tell them?!"
> "N-N-Nothing, sis!" Gengy stammers. "Just get me out of here!"
> Mugey growls and stares at you as she lifts off. "This isn't over, witch! 'GUILDIES!' is going to be huge, and that means a huge market for us! Smell you buttbrains later!" And with that, the two sisters ABSCOND and ASCEND out of sight.
> You turn towards Tewi after pulling yourself and your comrades up to their feet. You ask her why she didn't bother trying to stop them.
> "I didn't bother because it was a bother," Tewi replies. "We have a more important mission on our hands, anyways...Don't tell me you forgot already!"
> You decide whether or not to dignify that with a response. Furthermore, you have to decide on your next course of action. You could chase after the two demons and find out what they're really up to, or return to Eientei to find out what that earlier raid was all about.
> _
-
Dollmage of Starpoison:
>Fume. "Fucking hell, ze! Got that lucky seeing her and puttin' in all that effort and we got nothing!"
Smouldering Mopsitta:
>"Guess we should get back to Eintei, eh?"
Earthen Fey:
>"Umm... I'm glad you saved me, at least?"
Magedoll of poisonstar:
>Sigh. "Yeah, ze. Guess we'll settle them later. Though..."
>How comfortable would we be with letting Tewi use our computer to try and digitally retaliate against the dream demons?
>Yes, there is dramatic irony involved.
-
Dollmage of Starpoison:
>Fume. "Fucking hell, ze! Got that lucky seeing her and puttin' in all that effort and we got nothing!"
> You start to visibly blow poison clouds out your earholes. You had a perfectly good opportunity to find out what these demons were up to and you ran out of time. Ugh. This is wrecking havoc with your OCD. You hate leaving a job unfinished. Or at least that's what Alice drilled into you when she started staying with you.
Earthen Fey:
>"Umm... I'm glad you saved me, at least?"
> Maple's attempt to console you does make you a little less angry. You may not care much for fairies but Maple has been a big help to you as of late. So you stare at her and nod before turning to Mokou.
Smouldering Mopsitta:
>"Guess we should get back to Eintei, eh?"
Marisa:
>Sigh. "Yeah, ze. Guess we'll settle them later. Though..."
>How comfortable would we be with letting Tewi use our computer to try and digitally retaliate against the dream demons?
>Yes, there is dramatic irony involved.
> You can tell Mokou wants to get back on the case, if only to ensure her rival Kaguya is still (mostly) unharmed. Just as you're about to agree to this, a though crosses your mind. You beckon Tewi closer.
> "What's up, buttercup?" Tewi asks. You ask her what the standard protocol is for dealing with enemies in a home invasion like this. "Oh, well!" Tewi grins. "The first thing you wanna do is make the most of your defenses...I had to turn your furniture into fortifications, hope that's ok. I can get it replaced!" You say it's not a big deal and ask her to continue. "Then, when the enemy attacks, you hit them with your full force of traps and offensive weaponry. In the event you capture a foe alive, we're to interrogate them and plant them with a tracking device." Tewi's grin turns into a full-fledged smile at this point. "What, you thought I'd let those con-artists get away that easily? Consider it my way of thanking you."
> This is great news. You could, by all means, pursue the demons and give them the proper drubbing they deserve. Or you could go back to Eientei...But the more you think about it, the more you believe it's going to be fine in some form or another. Alice is still alive, according to your tracking spell card, and she can hold her own in a struggle. Reisen and Eirin are very resourceful, and skilled fighters to boot, so they're not in any danger that you know of. And let's not forget the rest of the rabbits...They may have fallen to this first raid, but you know firsthand that they don't take to intruders that easily, and with all the advanced weaponry and the Lunarians brought, they stand a good chance of repelling the invaders if they haven't done so already. Kaguya's still out of the picture, most likely, but if worse comes to worse, someone could kill her and get rid of that virus-tumor she has (though Eirin would probably be upset about that in the end). So...Now that you think about it, there's no reason for you to worry about Eientei, unless you absolutely want to make sure that the rabbits' victory is secure.
> That being said...It would be nice to at least send some help to Eientei in the case things go south. You could send at least Mokou or Tewi to assist the rabbits, while the rest of you chase after the Demon Scammer Sisters. The power of choice is yours!
> _
-
Dollstar:
>Grin. Cackle. "Gyahaha! Are you kidding?! That's even better, ze! Now we'll never lose track of 'em!"
>Probably better to check in on Eintei at this point so we can actually know what's going on. We still don't know what Medicine's up to. Go for that!
-
> "It occurs to me that you aren't a fan of Eientei, Mokou. Shall we ignore their plight and chase after the demon scanner sisters?"
> Wait a sec, we need to find Medicine Melancholy. Where the heck is she?
-
>Don't be a moron. Mokou doesn't want Kaguya to completely collapse, and Medicine was last seen headed to Eintei, wasn't she?
-
> Marisa:
>Grin. Cackle. "Gyahaha! Are you kidding?! That's even better, ze! Now we'll never lose track of 'em!"
>Probably better to check in on Eintei at this point so we can actually know what's going on. We still don't know what Medicine's up to. Go for that!
A/N: This command has the added benefit of answering both your questions as well as progressing the story.
> Tewi smiles. "I take it you'll be heading to Eientei, then?" You nod. Tewi jumps up and down in excitement. "Good luck, then! You're gonna need it."
> "Ehhhh?! But..." Maple peeps. "This is your home we're talking about, don't you want to help too?"
> Tewi just chuckles and stares at the floor. "After what happened...I'd feel bad if your house was attacked again. Besides...I'm not that good of a fighter against those...People." Tewi frowns. "If you can even call them that."
> As for Medicine, yes, she is still somewhere in Eientei. Alice's beacon on your spell card hasn't moved since...A while ago, so that's reason to believe Medi hasn't moved either. Whether or not Medi's involved with the SWAT team from earlier remains to be seen. Only one way to find out now...
> _
-
>Tewi's holding the fort just fine against the dream threat. Let's settle the rat hash. Onwards!
-
>Tewi's holding the fort just fine against the dream threat. Let's settle the rat hash. Onwards!
>Tewi's holding the fort just fine against the dream threat. Let's settle the rat hash. Onwards!
> You reassure Tewi has been a big help so far, and that she shouldn't feel bad for what happened at Eientei. Shit happens, y'know? You pat Tewi on the head and ruffle her hair a bit while also giving her a big smile. "That's the Mari I used to know," Tewi replies with a look of relief on her face. She then unexpectedly hugs you around the waist. Mokou raises an eyebrow while Maple just giggles. "Uh..." Tewi blushes a bit before backing off. "I should probably go fix up the stuff that angel girl broke," Tewi says before rushing off. "Good luck!"
> "Wow, she really does care...Sometimes," Mokou says, puffing on a cigarette she's been smoking while you were tidying things up here. "But I think it's high time that we got this mystery over and done with." You nod to Mokou in agreement, then mount your Radiant Staff and take off with the two of them in tow. Destiny awaits you.
> playing "CDspinNoise.wav"
> LOADING...
> Sheesh, that was a long load time...It took almost all of four minutes!
> We now return to...Tewi? She's standing in Alice's room, holding a silver-haired doll. Tewi looks at the doll and says "You were right...About everything." Tewi's mouth twists downward into a frown. "If it weren't for you...If weren't for Alice...!" Tewi starts to tear up a bit. "It's not fair! Alice went to help Marisa and I out out of this jam and now look at where it's got her! She doesn't deserve this..."
> Tewi then looks at the viewers, with a pleading look on her face. "I...I know this is a bit much to ask...But please..." She then holds up the doll. On a closer look, it has oddly-colored eyes, the pupils are striped instead of circular, in shades of red, green and blue. "Won't you listen to her story? This...This may be our last chance to tell it."
> _
-
>You're asking that as if we have a choice.
>Touch fluffy tail.
-
>You're asking that as if we have a choice.
> The doll perks up at that point, and speaks in a rather haughty tone: "You've always had a choice. Implying otherwise is foolish and illogical! You could have left Marisa to her own devices, you could have lead her to her demise, but no, you had to let curiosity get the better of you. It always appalls me when people say they don't have a choice when the choices they have are nearly inf--"
> Tewi, with a disgrunteled look on her face, drops the doll to the floor.
> "Ow. That was uncalled for, missy!"
> "You're ruining the mood!" Tewi pouts. "I'm trying to build dramatic tension here!!"
> "Hmph, that's another thing I'll never get about you humanoids...You always have to blow everything out of proportion."
> "Datelle..." Tewi sighs. "Just run the damn program already.
> "Oh very well...Running Paradox Viewer now." The doll known as Datelle floats up to a nearby table, sits down, and her eyes glow a bright white before projecting an image of Alice onto a blank wall. "I'll need their cooperation to patch up the timeline, it looks like this memory has been corrupted as well."
> "Don't worry!" Tewi says in her typical cheerful tone. "If anyone can break or fix anything, it's these guys."
(http://safebooru.org//images/1292/b429af8492989703bd341ed565ae54a7b8c834bd.jpg?1345369)
source (http://safebooru.org/index.php?page=post&s=view&id=1345369)
> You are now ALICE MARGATROID, the most powerful magician in Gensokyo...
> Augh, who am I kidding, who even reads this crap anymore? By the time I get to part two it'll be the middle of 2025 and--what? We're rolling?! Oh crap...Um, forget what I've said. Anyways...No, there's no time for a strike tag!
> ANYWAYS. FROM THE TOP.
> You are now ALICE MARGATROID, the most powerful magician in Gensokyo...Or so the legends claim. You're the eldest child of SHINKI, GODDESS OF DEMONS, and you lived a mostly carefree and studious life until Marisa and her MEDDLING COMPANIONS crashed the party. After your hometown was raized and Shinki was badly injured, you swore revenge...And sought out the GRAND GRIMOIRE, a book of magical power so great that not even a goddess was able to handle it.
> So, naturally, you challenged Marisa to a duel while using this book and still lost. Smart move, that.
> Humiliated again, and unable to return home, you wandered Gensokyo for a while as a hermit. It was then you ran into a weakened Mima, her spirit weakened to the point of deterioration. She was not long for this world, but you had enough time to hold a small chat with her...
Alice: You're...You're that ghost who attacked my home!
Mima: That I am...What can I say, I don't like competition.
Alice: You've got a lot of nerve doing that, you dumb bitch! I...I should kill you where you lay!
Mima: So why don't you?
Alice: I...
Alice: I don't know.
Alice: I guess I'm too tired to.
Mima: Heh, you know what I think?
Mima: You're holding back...You feel sorry for me.
Alice: ...Why should I, you won, right?
Mima: It took every ounce of my power to stop Shinki's rampage...
Mima: But even that wasn't enough. I could only stall her until--
(Coughing)
Mima: Urgh...Until Reimu and the others could finish her.
Mima: You saw the flames...She was destroying the very city she
tried to protect.
Alice: ...
Alice: That wouldn't have happened if you didn't come in the first place...
Alice: So I tried to take on the survivors myself...
Mima: That explains why you look so ragged. (Cough)
Mima: And why you can't kill me, even in my weakened state.
Mima: So...I wonder...Why even talk to someone like me?
Alice: ...I don't know. I guess I'm just...Lonely.
Mima: Mmm...I know that feeling all too well.
Mima: But in a few minutes, it won't matter. Heaven or Hell, I'll be
surrounded by my fellow spirits...I'll be able to socialize again.
Alice: Why is that a good thing? What if you get sent to Hell?
Mima: You'd be surprisedat how nice people can be when they're in
jail, so to speak. Only the truly wicked act as such when they are
knocking on Death's door.
Alice: ...Are you wicked then?
Mima: (cough) Haaaa...Good question...I just...Wanted to be accepted
back into the Hakurei Clan.
Mima: I used my powers to earn faith and money the shrine desperately
needed. But my family... (cough) They saw it as robbery. Eventually...There was a disagreement and I was punished...Pfeh.
Mima: Humans will believe anyone's a monster...
(Long string of coughing)
Alice: So that's why you're like this...You feel the family wronged you.
Mima: Yessss... (breathing starts to become more difficult for her) I don't have much time...I wish...
Alice: ...Don't speak. Maybe...Maybe I can help you!
Mima: Don't be silly...My spirit itself is in tatters...No healing or voodoo magic can help me now.
Alice: But...! I can't just let you die! It's...Not right!
Mima: Hmmm? Why...The change of heart?
Alice: ...You may be my enemy but the upper world here sees you
as a savior now. To see you die after all that hard work...
Alice: It's just not fair!
Mima: Heh...Good point...But I'll still live on.
Mima: In the hearts and minds of those I touched...
Mima: My only regret...
Mima: Is not seeing Marisa become the next great magician.
Alice: ...
Alice: I don't care about her anymore...Or anything for that matter.
Mima: So...What, you just want to--(hack)--fade away too?
Mima: What what your mother think if you just...She'd be devastated!
Mima: I'm not a real mother but...If I saw Marisa fall, I'd...
Mima: She's...She's the only person who cared...
Mima: She gave my life...Purpose.
Mima: If she didn't put her powers to good use...
Mima: I'd truely fade away...
(And Mima's ghostly body does start to fade away, bit by bit)
Mima: Alice...Was it? I know this is hard to ask but...
Mima: Please, I beg of you, watch over Marisa!
Mima: If not for my sake, but your own!
Mima: She needs someone to look up to...With your power...!
Alice: ...Ok, fine, if it'll make you happy.
Alice: ...I'd rather see you leave this world with a smile on your
face anyways...
Alice: Because I sure as hell can't make a smile on my own.
Mima: Give it...Time...Your bond...Be it friendly or antagonizing...Will strengthen her...And you as well.
Mima: Good bye...Stay safe...
Mima: Tell...Mari...I...Loved...
(Mima fades into the ether.)
Alice: ...
Alice: Well, it's something at least, I don't have anywhere else
to go.
> Finding Marisa would have to wait for a bit, as you still had to survive in Gensokyo. You decided to take refuge in the Forest of Magic, since Marisa went there often to pick mushrooms. Once you finally caught up with her during the Perfect Cherry Blossom incident, you decided to test her skills...Marisa had indeed improved, but you did as well, having greater control over your mastery of DOLL MAGIC and a few other spells as well. In fact, that's pretty much what you did in your spare time once you got a shelter up, you read the Grand Grimoire not for use as a weapon, but as a reference for magic. You also made it a point not to use more energy than you should during a fight, since you didn't want to be broken-hearted again after your second duel with Marisa.
> Speaking of Marisa...Your time away from her has made you calmer, and more tolerable of Marisa's actions. While deep down you still kind of dislike her, you try to keep a smile on your face when you speak to her. It seems to have worked, though not in the way you expected...Your calm demeanor and knowledge of magic has kind of made Marisa a bit more of a rebellious teen than usual, and she somehow sees you as the antagonist of your...Relationship than you do of her. Honestly, Marisa needs to chill out. Being the best isn't all that matters...It is lonely at the top after all. That's probably why you made it a point to hang out with Marisa more often.
> But enough about her, let's talk about you! As stated, you're a master of DOLL MAGIC, but know a variety of attack, support and healing spells too. Your magical prowess rivals that of PATCHOULI and BYAKUREN, though you prefer to stick with DOLL MAGIC for most of your encounters. When you're not busy wrangling Marisa or solving an INCIDENT, you enjoy READING, COOKING, TEXILE CRAFTING, PLAYING VARIOUS VIDEO GAMES (you're better at action games than Marisa is), BLOGGING, and MODELING for magazines...Usually your hands (https://www.shrinemaiden.org/forum/index.php/topic,12111.msg876336.html#msg876336) are the ones that make the covers and photos. While you usually keep to yourself, you enjoy socializing with anyone you come across. You of course also enjoy MAKING DOLLS, MAKING CLOTHING FOR DOLLS, and your latest project was trying to make A SELF-SENTIENT DOLL.
> On that note, your latest attempt to build RELATIONSHIP POINTS with Marisa has revolved around a game called "GUILDIES!" which just hit beta recently (yes, it is spelled like that, deal with it). Your first session was short, but fun, but you had to stop due to eye fatigue. You and Marisa believe the game is somehow magic or whatever, since it's making addicts out of whomever is playing it, with disastrous results. (https://www.shrinemaiden.org/forum/index.php/topic,15529.msg1025737.html#msg1025737) Hopefully you're not affected...
> Right now you're laying on your bed in your room, which is decorated with various dolls and textiles. It is neatly kempt compared to Marisa's room, with workbenches for sewing, quilting, spellcrafting, etc. You always feel calm and relaxed in your room, so a little shut-eye wouldn't hurt...
> *TAP TAP TAP*
> Oh for Shinki's sake, what now? It sounds like something is assaulting your bedroom window. You were just getting comfy, too.
> _
-
>Examine chest for unusual growths.
>Have a doll take a peek. Preferably a defender/shieldy one in case they're hostile. If that can't communicate the situation to us, get up and check from behind it. Meat-er, woodshields!
-
>Examine chest for unusual growths.
>your boobs are fine ok you don't need to worry gosh
>Have a doll take a peek. Preferably a defender/shieldy one in case they're hostile. If that can't communicate the situation to us, get up and check from behind it. Meat-er, woodshields!
> You're too comfy to pull yourself up from the bed, so you summon Hourai to answer the call for you. With her little lance and shield at the ready, Hourai opens the window and braces for an attack...An attack that never comes.
> "Um...Alice? I take it you're home?"
> A young lady's voice greets your ears. Judging by her accent and age, she must be HATATE HIMEKAIDOU, the rather sheltered owner (and sole reporter of) KAKASHI SPIRIT NEWS. You turn your head to the window in question and indeed see Hatate nervously peeking in.
> "Am I...Interrupting something?"
> _
-
>"My rest, for one. To what do I owe this visit, tengu?"
>Best be dignified for the press. Get out of bed for now.
-
>Best be dignified for the press. Get out of bed for now.
>"My rest, for one. To what do I owe this visit, tengu?"
> You get out of bed to better address the tengu. Upon a closer look, Hatate seems to be extremely on edge, looking over her shoulder constantly and having a general look of anxiety about herself.
> "I...I needed to get this package delivered!" Hatate thrusts a small cardboard box in your direction. "Nitori-sama was too busy to deliver it...Just take it, please, I don't like this place." Hatate gasps and grimaces. "I mean, the forest, not your house! It's quite lovely actually!"
> _
-
>Blink. Did we order anything recently?
-
>Blink. Did we order anything recently?
> Not to your knowledge, and certainly not Marisa's. You ask Hatate whom the package is for, but she just puts the box on the table and says "Sorry, but Nitori-sama's instructions were to just take it to this place. You might get more use out of it than Marisa though...Right now I gotta go, bye!" Hatate then bolts for it before you ask her anything else.
> Sheesh, I know she's not the outdoorsy type but something's got her spooked... Hourai quips as she pokes the box with her lance. I mean, it's just a box, it's not like it's got a bomb in it or anything...Right?
> _
-
>"Hourai, have I scolded you about provoking the irony gods recently?"
>Is there anything Nitori might have sent us unprovoked? Is it rare to see Hatate as a courier?
-
>"Hourai, have I scolded you about provoking the irony gods recently?"
>Is there anything Nitori might have sent us unprovoked? Is it rare to see Hatate as a courier?
> Hourai grins. Not this week, you haven't.
> Cheeky as always...You just had to make a little troublemaker to balance out the "sweet little girl" Shanghai, didn't you?
> In any case, you rack your brain to see if Nitori's department released any interesting electronics as of late. While your mental search comes up with no results, you do recall a press conference KanaCorp held concerning their new line of gadgets. You have the video of said conference saved to your bookmarks for easy access...Heh, if you'd get your hands on one of those phones you'd really make Marisa jealous, perhaps get her to find a job so she can buy her own...Or she can just blow it off like usual and go back to being a lazy-ass bookworm again. Granted, you're no better, but you're at least a little more proactive about your studies! What would poor Mima think if she saw her grand student like this?
> Whatever, that's of little consequence now. The point is that you and Mari are spending time together...For the most part. At least you two are on speaking terms again, after her multitude of INCIDENTS she had to solve kept you two apart. And speaking of incidents, what was up with poor Hatate-chan earlier? That deserves immediate attention!
> You don't know Hatate personally, though she approached you for an interview after all that Scarlet Weather Rhapsody nonsense. Hatate seems like a nice girl, a lot more energetic and casual about her job than Aya ever was, but when she interviewed you about your Goliath Doll experiment, she wasn't anywhere near as quivery as she was just now. Either she was really spooked by the Forest of Magic or that package she just dropped off was extremely precious. Or maybe...!
> You quickly do a SPOT CHECK for ghosts, phantoms, apparitions, spirits, and the like. Thankfully, you don't see any inside your room or outside the window. The box may be a different story, however...You never know when a g-g-g-g-ghost might strike!
> _
-
>Sigh. Such naughty dolls.
>Should Marisa be informed of this box's arrival? What's she up to right now, anyway?
-
>Sigh. Such naughty dolls.
> Hey, you needed some companionship while you were surviving in the Forest of Magic! Some call it talking to imaginary friends. You call it socializing.
> ...
> You miserably fail your SELF-ESTEEM SAVE after thinking about that time after you met Mima. No wonder you turned to GUILDIES!, you need more friends! Everyone's so engrossed in their technological marvels that they can't even step outside and say "hi" to someone! What has Gensokyo come to these days? > You sigh. Then, you get angry. Then you consider writing a very stern letter to Nitori saying she was better off not discovering that stupid laptop--
>Should Marisa be informed of this box's arrival? What's she up to right now, anyway?
> Oh! You silently thank your brain reminding you of the box sitting on your windowside table. You should tell her about it, yes. Nitori is a friend of Marisa's and all...And she did get you hooked up with these Kappatops...You probably shouldn't rue Nitori-san yet, at least until you open up said package. Who knows, it might be useful!...Useful enough for Marisa to swipe it from you. But Mari's so engrossed in her game, she probably won't notice or care.
> On that note, the last time you checked, Mari (and her partner, Medicine) were taking a break from the game, just like you were. Or maybe she stepped back onto it, who knows!
> _
-
>Guess we wouldn't be interrupting anything, at least...
>Three main possibilities for a surprise delivery come to mind: Something benign but strange, something dangerous, or a prank by Marisa. Having Marisa know what's going on would help with the dangerous case, and maybe we can bully her into opening it otherwise. She... wouldn't swipe it IMMEDIATELY, would she?
-
>Three main possibilities for a surprise delivery come to mind: Something benign but strange, something dangerous, or a prank by Marisa. Having Marisa know what's going on would help with the dangerous case, and maybe we can bully her into opening it otherwise. She... wouldn't swipe it IMMEDIATELY, would she?
> You pause for a moment to think about the package again. What if it is a prank, a surprisingly elaborate one concocted by Marisa herself? While you can't rule out that possibility, why would she go through all this trouble when she can just prank you immediately? Unless...She has something more sinister planned...
> Then you remember what'd happen if your temper is pushed too far...You'd rather not have to throw the literal book at Marisa, not after she forgot to take out the trash for a whole two weeks while you were visiting your mother. It can't be a prank, especially not one involving a person who would very easily counter-prank her via embarrassing news.
> So that leaves the other two possibilities...Is it dangerous, or strange? You've always treated suspicious packages like they were dynamite, perhaps overly so. Maybe Marisa's paranoia's rubbing off on you. It's then you remembered that Mari has an item for taking care of such delicate packages...The only problem is that it's in Marisa's room, but it shouldn't be too much trouble to ask her if you could borrow her PACKAGE-SCANNING MAGIC CIRCLE.
> _
-
>This particular one's suspicious enough to warrant it. She can laugh about paranoia later. Let's go bug Mari.
-
>This particular one's suspicious enough to warrant it. She can laugh about paranoia later. Let's go bug Mari.
> Your decision to go and ask Mari about the package couldn't be better timed, as the instant you step out of the room, you hear a loud CLUNK coming from the living room. Sounds like someone fell and hit their head, oh dear! You rush down and ask what's going on, and see a rather perturbing sight...Medicine and her tiny charge are laying on the floor, lifeless and emotionless. Marisa on the other hand, looks just fine as she stands up and stretches.
> "Oh! Hey Alice! Had a nice nap?" Marisa says with a surprisingly chipper tone in her voice.
> Your nose wrinkles a bit as you detect the familiar smell of Medicine's poison in the air. It's nowhere near dangerous levels, but it's lingering around Marisa's computer desk. You ask her about this.
> "It's nothing. That lousy doll tried to gas me...Ze. (yawn) So I zapped her with an anti-mana field and she fell over like a stack of turnips. We should lock her up immediately before she wakes back up," Marisa explains, speaking in a rather relaxed tone. "Don't know what her deal is, but she's clearly too dangerous to keep around right now."
> _
-
>... something's not right here. Let's... lead her on.
>Tease/test her by recommending using some skill of ours to incapacitate the doll that would be plausible to someone that doesn't know us, but doesn't actually exist; see if she rolls with it.
-
>... something's not right here. Let's... lead her on.
>Tease/test her by recommending using some skill of ours to incapacitate the doll that would be plausible to someone that doesn't know us, but doesn't actually exist; see if she rolls with it.
> You ask Marisa to restrain the doll with a spell, just in case she decides to wake up.
> "Uh, wouldn't that be a bad idea? Spells are breakable, after all. I say we just get her some rope and tie her up, she's not very strong," Marisa suggests with a slight grimace on her face.
> _
-
>Marisa's usually more confident with her magic than that, isn't she...
>"I suspect ropes can be decayed with poison much better than it could stop magic."
>... come to think of it. "Where'd the gas go, anyway?"
-
>Marisa's usually more confident with her magic than that, isn't she...
>"I suspect ropes can be decayed with poison much better than it could stop magic."
>... come to think of it. "Where'd the gas go, anyway?"
> "Uh, I just opened a window and fanned it all out...Ze." Marisa smiles. "Nothing to worry about here!"
> You go back to the subject of the ropes.
> "Oh right...Well, I guess we could get some metal wiring or something, don't you have some in your room somewhere?"
> Come to think of it, you do have some anti-corrosive metal wire for puppeteering. You could run back up and get it, but you'd rather not leave Marisa or Medicine alone.
> _
-
> We have anti-corrosive metal wiring for our puppets? Is that overkill, or did something specific happen that made us upgrade, perhaps involving a certain poisoned doll?
-
> We have anti-corrosive metal wiring for our puppets? Is that overkill, or did something specific happen that made us upgrade, perhaps involving a certain poisoned doll?
> Perhaps, but it's what your mother suggested when regular piano wire wasn't fitting your needs. You managed to get your hands on the good stuff, from Lyrica of all people; she and her sisters run a music shop somewhere in Gensokyo (you never got the chance to ask them where it was).
> _
-
>"Are you sure you got all of it? Hmm... now I'm not sure whether we should leave a window open to make sure, or keep it closed to see if we can get a sample to figure out what it might have done..."
>ARE any windows open, right now?
>Send a doll up to get the wire. ... and station another at the door to the house.
>Do we know any decent chemists or whatever else might be able to pick out trace amounts of that gas from here, potentially?
-
>"Are you sure you got all of it? Hmm... now I'm not sure whether we should leave a window open to make sure, or keep it closed to see if we can get a sample to figure out what it might have done..."
> "That sounds like an awful lot of work..." Marisa objects, but you raise a finger and say it's important to investigate a crime scene like this. For all we know, poor Medicine might have been framed! "...You honestly put too much thought into that gray matter of yours, Alice," Marisa says flatly.
>ARE any windows open, right now?
> Just the ones here in the living room. Three, if this parser is to be believed.
>Send a doll up to get the wire. ... and station another at the door to the house.
> It's clear that Marisa here isn't being truthful, but despite her statements you haven't quite cornered her just yet. You decide to keep an eye on the witch while sending up one of your dolls to fetch the wire. You also silently cast a spell to put one of the Sentry Dolls outside to keep an eye on the front door.
>Do we know any decent chemists or whatever else might be able to pick out trace amounts of that gas from here, potentially?
> To your knowledge, only Eirin comes to mind. But you probably won't need your help, you've hung around with Marisa long enough to figure out how to ascertain toxins in the air. You just need to get the TOXIN INDICATION KIT from her room.
> _
-
> Lets get the toxin indication kit then?
-
>It's hers, Marisa should get it.
>... though we may want a doll by her window, if there is one. She isn't acting normal. She's usually the paranoid one, isn't she?
>But maybe we've caught her this time... she wouldn't forget what's in her room, would she?
>"Isn't the toxin ID kit in your room, though?"
-
> Lets get the toxin indication kit then?
>It's hers, Marisa should get it.
>... though we may want a doll by her window, if there is one. She isn't acting normal. She's usually the paranoid one, isn't she?
>But maybe we've caught her this time... she wouldn't forget what's in her room, would she?
>"Isn't the toxin ID kit in your room, though?"
> You figure now would be a perfect time to test Marisa's loyalty. You politely ask her to go and get the kit from her room. "Ok then, mom," Marisa says in an annoyed tone. Just as Mari passes you on the way to the stairs, something unexpected happens... (http://furiousrockets.deviantart.com/art/Marisa-s-Mighty-Butt-90860024)
> Yes, Marisa just buttslammed you. The force of her attack knocks you clean off your feet, though you manage to catch a glimpse of Mari dashing out the front door as you fall. Welp, that just answered most of your questions. Will you give chase?
> _
-
>Well, at least paranoia paid off once... maybe Medicine isn't our concern right now. Have one of the dolls keep an eye on her and chase down Marisa!
>It's too late to have the outdoor guards ambush her, isn't it?
-
>Well, at least paranoia paid off once... maybe Medicine isn't our concern right now. Have one of the dolls keep an eye on her and chase down Marisa!
>It's too late to have the outdoor guards ambush her, isn't it?
> Not really, though their bullets don't do much to stall her. You ask the doll who got the Toxin Kit to watch Medicine while you give chase. You spot Marisa heading...Um...Shoot where was it again... (flips through pages) East by Northeast or thereabouts.
> _
-
>What's in that direction
aside from Eintei?
-
>What's in that direction aside from Eintei?
> The SDM and Hakurei Shrine lay in that direction. Marisa must've been aware of this, as she's suddenly changed direction and is now flying right back over your house. What do?
> _
this is what I get for forgetting what gensokyo looks like according to himiko (http://hydrangeamaiden.tumblr.com/image/62096657107), thanks for letting me use this map as a reference =D
-
>Launch Mimi-chan
>Move to intercept. What would our best route be for trapping and containing her to figure out what the hell happened?
-
>Launch Mimi-chan
>Move to intercept. What would our best route be for trapping and containing her to figure out what the hell happened?
> Ye cannot get ye missile!
> Mari's moving more slowly than usual; she has her broom on her but doesn't seem to be using it to its full potential. Your best bet is to catch up to her yourself, and call the dolls you have as backup. If you can tackle Mari to the ground, you can subdue her easily--if there's one thing your demon heritage blesses you with, it's increased strength, both physically and magically.
> _
-
>Provide her estate with a boot to the head.
-
>Provide her estate with a boot to the head.
> You channel your inner Captain Falcon as you take flight. Once at a suitable altitude, you descend on Marisa and bequeath her noggin with the aforementioned boot, knocking her cleanly off her broom. Mari swears in pain and agony, but she's a big girl, she can take it. You recover from the recoil and dive on Marisa again, this time to tackle her into the ground, a good ways from your house.
> "W...What the hell, ze?!" Marisa stutters as you pin her. "It's me, dammit! Your roommate?!"
> You say that you may sound like Marisa, but you act nothing like her. You demand an explanation...Politely, of course.
> "I don't need to tell you anything!"
> That's not an explanation, you reply. You decide to refer to "Mari" by her real name... Medicine.
> "Wha...? How did you--"
> You say it's pretty obvious, given the inactive doll's body and the toxin you smelled earlier.
> "Oh...Crap." Realizing she's caught in a corner, Mari-Medi stops struggling and sighs. "I needed Marisa for something...I needed her body."
> You ask why. Medicine refuses to answer immediately.
> "I...I just...Want you to know that..." Medi's frown suddenly curls into a wicked smile. "That I have a very good sleight of hand!"
> Before you can ask her what the hell she means, you hear the flick of a spell card...Suddenly, you're blasted off of Medicine by an explosion of stars and lasers. You jump to your feet just as you hear a familiar charging sound right afterwards...You try to dive behind a tree to avoid the incoming Master Spark, but it's not quite quick enough--you're scorched by the blast and sent careening off of the forest path, behind some bushes. You lay there, twitching in searing agony, as you hear Medicine mutter "Good riddance," before the forest grows silent.
> You can't recall being in this kind of pain before. Sure, being humiliated by Marisa in combat is one thing, but this is something different...Flat-out betrayal. Medicine didn't seem like the most endearing type, but she was willing to help you...You wonder, was she ever sincere to you? Was she really just willing to help, or was this her plan all along...?
> You and Marisa didn't always get along, but you still cared about her and vice-versa...You knew she was jealous of your skill and you were jealous of Mari's charming social graces...And yet...You both completed each other in a way that brought you closer together...Yin and yang...Plus and Minus...Roger and Ebert...
> Your bond has been violated.
> The one person you truly care about in this world is in danger, as is your promise to Mima.
> Thoughts about what happened to poor Marisa fill you with anguish and anger.
> This isn't the same kind of rage you felt as a child...This is personal.
> You clench your teeth and grip the ground, expecting to grab dirt but instead capturing a rock. You crush it with your bare hands. If it comes to that, you'll do the same to Medicine...How DARE she betray you like this! All you and Marisa wanted to do was to spend some time together...
> You gasp. If you hadn't gone through the trouble to get Medicine while the game downloaded, this might not have happened...Your heart aches. For a second, your resolve wavers...
> No, you tell yourself. This isn't your fault. You'd never do this to Marisa personally.
> With that in mind, you growl (almost in an inhuman fashion) and try to get back on your feet. Your skin screams in pain, still charred from that laser earlier, but you don't care. Marisa needs your help.
> If guardian angels exist, you wonder...Why not a guardian demon...?
> With some effort and coaxing from your mind to not give into the pain, you slowly but surely get to your knees, then to your feet...Your legs feel like Play-Doh, with the very real possibility of keeling over...But you take that first step anyways.
> *SNAP*
> Was that a twig? it must have been, but...Suddenly, all has gone silent yet again. You can hear someone breathing...You turn your head to try and find the source of the noise, but see nothing. You ask if anyone's out there in a weak voice.
> "Uh...Yes?" a voice nervously responds. It's male, but it doesn't sound at all like Rinnosuke's voice. Said voice also sounds distinctly European in nature. "Are you human or are you beast?"
> You groan in reply, saying you're not entirely sure. You try and turn towards the voice, but your leg gives out as you step and you take a tumble through the brush, landing back on the forest path. You wince as you look up to see the owner of the voice...A young man in midnight-blue robes, but you can't make out the exact details; your eyes are all watery and your vision has blurred as a result.
> "My gods, what happened to you?" the man asks.
> You weakly reply with the words "Massive" and "Laser."
> "Hmm...Unfortunate, that. At least you're still alive." He pauses for a second, before speaking in a somewhat careful and deliberate tone. "Do you...Need a lift, or something of the sort?"
> _
-
>Tsk... we aren't really in a position to recover on our own, are we? Heading back home to find out what's up with Medicine's original body would be an excuse to recover some, but getting there might not be easy...
>... especially if this guy shouldn't be trusted. Still, our options aren't that good...
>"... probably, though I would... prefer to know your story first... I don't think I've seen you around here before."
-
>Tsk... we aren't really in a position to recover on our own, are we? Heading back home to find out what's up with Medicine's original body would be an excuse to recover some, but getting there might not be easy...
> If you can convince Mr. Mysterious here to take you back home, that would help a bit. As far as you know, you're not mortally wounded, just burned to a crisp. :V
>... especially if this guy shouldn't be trusted. Still, our options aren't that good...
>"... probably, though I would... prefer to know your story first... I don't think I've seen you around here before."
> You ask about the man's purpose here in the woods.
> "Oh, well...This is a bit embarassing, but my cohort and I were on our way to visit someone when we got shot down by some mushroom-headed girl. Thought it'd be funny to try and poison us...Poor Zakuro took the full force of her attack, and now he's paying for his act of chivalry. I need to get him to a doctor ASAP, but..." A look of worry crosses his face. "I don't know if I'll be able to make it in time. You wouldn't happen to know of a doctor in this wood, by chance?"
> _
-
>Pet Masha.
>Mushroom-headed girl? We don't know any mushroom-head girls, do we?
>Are we closer to Eintei or home at this point? Visiting Eirin ourselves... might help in theory, but if she's in on Medicine's scheme then that's walking straight into a trap. Maybe we should get backup...
>How difficult would it be to give directions to Eintei, or would we have to show these strangers there ourselves? Well, if Medi-Marisa is in better shape than us, she may make a better escort...
>Do we have any extra fighting gear we left back home in our rush to pursue?
>Unless we're way closer to Eintei than home, the best response is probably, "Hm... help me back to my place and I'll let you know how to get to the best doctor in Gensokyo."
-
>Pet Masha.
> Who's a good red mushroom youkai? You are!
>Mushroom-headed girl? We don't know any mushroom-head girls, do we?
> Not personally. You do recall Marisa talking about someone fitting that description from a previous incident, however...Could this have been the same one? You make a mental note to ask Mari about it later.
>Are we closer to Eintei or home at this point? Visiting Eirin ourselves... might help in theory, but if she's in on Medicine's scheme then that's walking straight into a trap. Maybe we should get backup...
> Your house is definitely closer. If this man's poisoned familiar is beyond your help, you can consult Eirin afterwards.
>How difficult would it be to give directions to Eintei, or would we have to show these strangers there ourselves? Well, if Medi-Marisa is in better shape than us, she may make a better escort...
> You could give directions, but at this time of night, it's probably safer to have an escort, especially considering one of you may have to carry this Zakuro fellow to Eientei anyhow. As for Medi-Marisa's condition, you don't know if she's conscious or not.
>Do we have any extra fighting gear we left back home in our rush to pursue?
> Plenty. Mari has some magic wands in the chest in her room, you have an assortment of daggers, short swords, spears...And of course a massive supply of dolls and puppet wire. You also carry a deck of spell cards on you at all times.
>Unless we're way closer to Eintei than home, the best response is probably, "Hm... help me back to my place and I'll let you know how to get to the best doctor in Gensokyo."
> The man nods. "Consider it done...Oh, where are my manners! My name's Monarda Knowledge, and you're..." You introduce yourself. "Alice? That's a lovely name, I thought it sounded familiar too..." He then proceeds to tell you how he met Marisa...Sort of. He was kind of out of it for most of that event. (https://www.shrinemaiden.org/forum/index.php/topic,15529.msg1075152.html#msg1075152) In any case, his sister Patchy filled him in on you and Marisa, which avoids most of the exposition but also irritates you to no end. Yes, it's true you helped Marisa on the occasional raid, but you're far from a thief! You're merely an accomplice! Geeze, when will she ever get it right?!
> "Uh, you're looking a bit flustered, there..." Monarda notices you talking to yourself. You say it's nothing and he doesn't push the subject further.
> You successfully guide Monarda-san back to yours and Marisa's cottage, and ask him to leave you on the couch.
> "Uh, all right then," Monarda complies, not fully aware of your intentions. That coming to mind, you ask him where his friend Zakuro is. "He's in a clearing not too far from here. I cast a protective shield around our makeshift campsite so he'd be safe...I hope I'm not too late. I'll be back soon!" And with that, he glides out the door.
> You summon a bunch of dolls to take Medicine's body up to Marisa's room. While she's unconscious, you can still feel Marisa's "essence" within the doll's form. The thought of Medicine swapping bodies with Marisa fascinates and terrifies you, but your thought is pushed aside by the sudden realization that you still need to be healed. Thankfully, this part is left to little detail; you are shuffled off to he downstairs bathroom so you can disrobe and heal yourself with the help of some Nurse Dolls. With a fresh change of skin and clothes, you emerge, still feeling a bit sore but otherwise ok.
> And what good timing you have, there's a knock at the door. You answer it and see Monarda carrying an orange-haired swordsman on his shoulder. This must be the one called Zakuro. A look at his face shows a rather pale, sickly green complexion, almost like that of a (non-asian) zombie. You beckon Monarda to take his comrade to the couch, and ponder just how you're going to cure this poor man.
> _
-
>Is there a reason we didn't get the toxin ID kit from Marisa's room while we were up there?
>While we're working on that, ask about what happened. "Can you tell me anything else about that mushroom girl? I'm not familiar with any, I'm afraid, but it might help..."
>And in case the zombie thought is relevant... "Did he get hit by anything else lately?"
-
>Is there a reason we didn't get the toxin ID kit from Marisa's room while we were up there?
> It totally had to do with the Parser making sure he was actually letting his players participate instead of just watching text-based cutscenes.
> It was because the dolls were moving Medi-Mari (or was it Mari-Medi?) upstairs while you were busy healing. Now that you've thought about it, you decide to save Eirin a bit of trouble and try to identify the poison yourself. You ask Monarda-san to wait a bit longer and rush upstairs to get the ID Kit, but are interrupted by Hourai coming up to you and miming "Hey. That package you got earlier today? It's movin'. You might wanna do something about that." Indeed, the package you got from Nitori is shaking every now and then, like an egg that's about to hatch from its egg. You say you'll deal with it later though, right now there's a poisoned shikigami on your couch that needs your help. You ask them to watch over the package in the meantime, as you head back downstairs.
>While we're working on that, ask about what happened. "Can you tell me anything else about that mushroom girl? I'm not familiar with any, I'm afraid, but it might help..."
>And in case the zombie thought is relevant... "Did he get hit by anything else lately?"
> "No, she was the only encounter we had that night...Aside from the typical flying pests around these parts. She was the only one that gave us trouble." Monarda thinks for a moment as you prepare to run the toxin screening. "If I recall correctly, that girl also had a package on her back...Some kind of log, I believe? Perhaps she was transporting firewood?"
> Hmmm...You vaguely remember someone of that description, but you need to ask Monarda for more details about her appearance and personality. Meanwhile, the Toxin ID Kit does its thing, you drew a sample of Zakuro's blood and it's analyzing it now.
> _
-
>Just one problem after another, isn't it, Hourai?
>While it's hardly polite to open a present while we're watching over someone, if we have downtime we might as well apologize and get it over with. If it's dangerous then we'll at least have backup, and if it's something living then we shouldn't leave it waiting. Maybe just out the front door, to be safe...?
>Wait on that. Go ahead and ask Monarda for details - who's this log girl?
-
>Just one problem after another, isn't it, Hourai?
> Hourai shrugs coyly. S'not my problem now, is it?
>While it's hardly polite to open a present while we're watching over someone, if we have downtime we might as well apologize and get it over with. If it's dangerous then we'll at least have backup, and if it's something living then we shouldn't leave it waiting. Maybe just out the front door, to be safe...?
> Probably a good idea. In fact...Now that you think of it, you ask Shanghai and Hourai to bring the package to the lobby, so you can open it later.
>Wait on that. Go ahead and ask Monarda for details - who's this log girl?
> In the meantime, you ask Monarda about the girl, mainly about her apperance. Monarda describes his assailant as a young girl--a few years younger than Marisa, perhaps--dressed in purple and black garb. She had brown hair done up in braids and green eyes, a pale complexion, and her headgear resembles that of a large purple button mushroom with a white skull imprint on it. If you recall, that's similar to the poisonous mushroom patch (https://www.shrinemaiden.org/forum/index.php/topic,15529.600.html) Marisa discovered some time ago.
> Something's bubbling to the surface now...Yes, you have the appearance, you just have to come up with a n--
> ACCESS DENIED: You do not have the right permissions to access this memory data.
Please contact the admin to resolve this issue.
> You reel back (both physically and mentally) as you are hit with this error message. Odd, this wasn't supposed to happen...
> "A-Are you ok, Alice?" Monarda asks in a surprised tone.
> You say you're fine, just a bit...Befuddled. You recognize the girl but can't think of her name (conveniently leaving out the error message bit). You say you'll ask about her later once this ordeal is all resolved.
> "I see...Well, you tried, at least. Can't hold you at fault for that."
> _
-
>If you want it to be your problem, Hourai, you can certainly do the honors later.
>... error messages shouldn't be happening, should they? What is going on here?
>A poisonous mushroom girl... perhaps Medicine has competition. And mushrooms aren't always chemically conventional... this might get more complicated. Fungal infections don't quite operate the same way...
>Did Marisa mention any properties about those mushrooms that might help us out?
>Would it be worth bringing over any nurse dolls to help?
>Has the toxin kit had any luck yet?
-
>If you want it to be your problem, Hourai, you can certainly do the honors later.
> Oh, won't that be a treat! Hourai says to you while you were deep in thought...And then the error message from earlier hits.
>... error messages shouldn't be happening, should they? What is going on here?
> Strange Magic (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJbzmryUN5Q), apparently. Hourai's a little perturbed by your sudden reaction as well. Now now, don't give yourself whiplash, one medical mishap is enough.
> Are you ok, Alice? Shangahi asks. You assure her it was just...Uh...A muscle twitch. Yes, that's it. O-Ok, if you say so...
>A poisonous mushroom girl... perhaps Medicine has competition. And mushrooms aren't always chemically conventional... this might get more complicated. Fungal infections don't quite operate the same way...
> You'd be correct (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycosis). Having worked with mushrooms in both magic and culinary instances, you know the signs, but also how to cure most of them. It's usually a home remedy of some kind, like dipping your toes into vinegar water to treat toenail fungus. Hopefully it won't be too serious...But just to make sure, you ask Monarda when you were attacked.
> "Uh, I'm not sure exactly, but it was at least an hour ago, perhaps more..." he says, rubbing his arm in anxiety.
>Did Marisa mention any properties about those mushrooms that might help us out?
> You recall that the Amantia Cranium also has some medical properties as well. If the mushroom is chopped and ground into a fine powder before being boiled in salt water, the resulting mixture can be used to cure certain ailments instead. Unfortunately, this medicine takes hours to prepare, and that's time you don't exactly have on your hands right now.
>Would it be worth bringing over any nurse dolls to help?
> Not really. They only know as much as you know, and their main purpose is to patch up wounds, treat burns, and remove unsavory things like gangrene and boils from the skin. If you assumed control over the dolls yourself (and had the proper training), you could do more complex stuff like surgery, but that's best reserved for people like Eirin and Rin Satsuki.
>Has the toxin kit had any luck yet?
> For the record, the kit itself is a tiny magi-computer inside a case, with various things like needles and Q-tips to gather samples. You place the toxic material on the magicomputer's spell circle, and it reacts by breaking down the toxin's substances and listing them in detail before coming back with a result. On that note, upon looking at the small readout on the top of the computer...
> ANALYSIS COMPLETE.
> TOXIN ORIGINATES FROM A SPECIES OF POISONOUS LEECH (Hirudo Tynatoxico), WHOSE BLOOD COMPOUNDS
ARE USED TO MAKE "WHOOPING GAS" GRENADES. SAID GAS CAUSES SEVERE FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS IN THE PATIENT, SOMETIMES LEADING TO PNEUMONIA IF NOT TREATED IMMEDIATELY.
> "Yes, yes that's exactly what happened!" Monarda says, upon reading the results of the test. "Zakuro was coughing up storm, poor man could hardly breathe..."
> A loud cough from the nearby sofa alerts you to Zakuro's presence. He tries to sit up as best he can, looks at Monarda and says "Gee, th-thanks for the concern..." and with another cough he flops back down on the sofa and groans.
> Monarda sighs. "Well, at least we know what's ailing him...What do you suggest we do?"
> _
-
>It doesn't even... well, I guess it's an ID kit, not a treatment suggestions kit. Do we have an easy way to look up more about that leech? Or those grenades, assuming the effect or active agent is similar? Maybe we can help some before bringing in Eirin.
>How safe would these two be getting to Eintei on their own, assuming Medicine isn't causing more trouble than usual on the way? Or us in our pursuit, of course.
>... is leech also a mushroom thing or does this mean the mushroom girl is using, like, blood-sucking leech blood somehow? Weird.
>"It does say treat immediately... pneumonia... let's at least get him a glass of water." Might as well get one of the dolls on that.
>Just how much freaking out is the box doing?
-
>It doesn't even... well, I guess it's an ID kit, not a treatment suggestions kit. Do we have an easy way to look up more about that leech? Or those grenades, assuming the effect or active agent is similar? Maybe we can help some before bringing in Eirin.
> You could search Marisa's room, she's bound to have a book about this sort of thing hidden in her stash. You don't know how long that'll take, however, and time is of the essence.
>How safe would these two be getting to Eintei on their own, assuming Medicine isn't causing more trouble than usual on the way? Or us in our pursuit, of course.
> It's dangerous to go alone at night! Especially when you're carrying a crippled familiar with you! Monarda seems to be a skilled enough mage, but one of you will have to run interference while the other carries Zakuro. You're unsure of Medicine's MO at this point, or unaware if the mushroom girl is going to stage another attack on Monarda.
>... is leech also a mushroom thing or does this mean the mushroom girl is using, like, blood-sucking leech blood somehow? Weird.
> On that note, you're not entirely sure. It is a poison, yes, but why a mushroom-themed youkai would be bothering with aquatic parasites is a mystery you can't answer at this time.
>"It does say treat immediately... pneumonia... let's at least get him a glass of water." Might as well get one of the dolls on that.
>Just how much freaking out is the box doing?
> You ask Shanghai to get Zakuro a glass of water, while you address the box. You turn to the front door and see that the box...Is not there. You turn to Hourai, who gestures at your feet. The box is there, attempting to nuzzle you like a lovesick puppy that's gone blind.
> Monarda raises an eyebrow at said package, but doesn't say anything.
> _
-
>"I'm about as confused as you are. That box is one of two issues I'd like to tidy up before escorting you to Eintei, though I'll save that one for second. Excuse me."
>Leave Marisa a note about the situation in case she recovers while we're out: That we know there's been a probable bodyswap, and that we're at Eintei helping out Patchouli's brother and his familiar. And maybe exacting further vengeance on the bodysnatcher. Do we have a way to leave her something to contact us with while we're out so we can know her situation?
>Gather up a good part of the arsenal. Though... automated defenses at home are probably worth leaving active, in case Medicine returns before Marisa recovers.
-
>"I'm about as confused as you are. That box is one of two issues I'd like to tidy up before escorting you to Eintei, though I'll save that one for second. Excuse me."
>Leave Marisa a note about the situation in case she recovers while we're out: That we know there's been a probable bodyswap, and that we're at Eintei helping out Patchouli's brother and his familiar. And maybe exacting further vengeance on the bodysnatcher. Do we have a way to leave her something to contact us with while we're out so we can know her situation?
> You excuse yourself to write the note which never got read. You and Marisa have the Beacon spellcards handy, so you can at least track each other, but you don't have a way to communicate with each other over such distances. Man, if only you had like...A phone or something. Oh well, this shouldn't take long anyways! These INCIDENTS never take more than a day or two to solve! Surely, Medicine will realize her mistake and willingly hand Marisa's body back once you apply enough pressure.
>Gather up a good part of the arsenal. Though... automated defenses at home are probably worth leaving active, in case Medicine returns before Marisa recovers.
> On that note, you proceed to arm yourself with the usual INCIDENT-solving stuff: the dolls, the spellcards, weapons-on-wires, etc. You also prep some LASER PROTECTION SPELLCARDS in the event that Medicine decides to go full-power again.
> While you're doing this, the package is hopping and bopping around like a hyperactive inaba downstairs. You can hear Monarda try and wrangle the object: "Now now, stop...You're not supposed to--OW! That was my foot! You little wanker...No, no, stop--OH GODS!"
> There's a moment of silence as you hear something hit the ground with a loud THUMP.
> "Whew, nice catch, that...This is some really fine china--OH, BUGGER!"
> More crashing and clacking noises can be heard, but you don't hear anything breaking. You come back down to see Monarda in the kitchen, catching and holding some dislodged dishes with a levitation spell. The package itself is bumping around under kitchen table in a frantic fashion.
> "Don't mind me, I've got this under control!" Monarda says, a strained look on his face. "Mostly."
> _
-
>"Perhaps I shouldn't have waited. Hang on - I'll try and get it outside. Follow me out once you have Zakuro ready."
>Lure the box outdoors before siccing Hourai on opening it to figure out what the hell is going on.
-
>"Perhaps I shouldn't have waited. Hang on - I'll try and get it outside. Follow me out once you have Zakuro ready."
> "Will do!" Monarda says as you try to pick up the package. It bounces around a bit as as you grasp for it, constantly jumping out of reach, then you decide enough is enough...You summon your strings to wrap around the little box. You struggle against the little hellion-in-a-box as you drag it outside.
>Lure the box outdoors before siccing Hourai on opening it to figure out what the hell is going on.
> You succeed in doing that, though the box almost manages to topple you over a couple times. Once out on the grass, you give Hourai the signal to open your little present...Gently, that is.
> Bah, you're no fun, Hourai says, taking out a tiny axe and hacking apart the side that says "THIS END UP."
> "Stop! Stop, you crazy barbarian!" a tiny voice says from the box.
> Hourai stops her assault, as does the box, as it's no longer shaking. You carefully go over to the splintered cell, and help pull apart what's left of the cardboard and styrofoam. Wrapped in tissue paper and other cushiony innards, a doll crawls out, only about twice as big as Hourai. She is adorned with spinach-green hair done up in pigtails, and wearing a silver dress. She looks exasperated, possibly from all the thrashing about from earlier.
> "Geeze...Did that kappa forget to slap a "handle with care" sticker on the box?!" the doll says, looking up at you in a disgruntled fashion. "You could have saved us a lot of trouble by just opening me right off the bat!"
> _
-
>"If you had spoken earlier perhaps I would not have had a reason to treat a shady delivery from a very nervous tengu like a potential bomb. Care to explain yourself?"
>... is that Ruukoto?
-
>... is that Ruukoto?
> She's way too small to be Ruu-chan! You're pretty sure she's still in the basement of the Hakurei Shrine or something.
>"If you had spoken earlier perhaps I would not have had a reason to treat a shady delivery from a very nervous tengu like a potential bomb. Care to explain yourself?"
> The doll hmphs. "I'd think my flailing around would have been enough of a clue, I couldn't even call out until your friend here broke the package open." Hourai silently giggles at that remark. "In any case...My name is Datelle. I am the first, top of the line, sentient Smart Doll!" She bows proudly. "I've been sent here by Nitori-sama for two purposes: One, to be field-tested by potential customers such as yourself. And two: to assist you in your little...Um...What exactly are you doing anyways?"
> _
-
>Blink.
>Just how significant has that goal been to us? How life-shattering is it that Nitori beat us to our goal?
-
>Blink.
>Just how significant has that goal been to us? How life-shattering is it that Nitori beat us to our goal?
> You blink in disbelief. Not the belief that someone beat you to the punch, but the fact that Nitori could insinuate she was capable of creating actual life. This makes you chuckle.
> "Um...Is...Something the matter?" Datelle asks.
> No, not really, you say. You just had the thought that someone else was going to beat you to the punch in doll-making (in this case, Nitori). And right off the bat, you can tell that Nitori has not succeeded. What she created was a tiny mechanical automaton, a machine, a gynoid. You can tell because Datelle herself doesn't have the same "soul" that a normal, hand-crafted doll would normally possess. That being said, you ask her what Datelle's purpose actually is.
> "Well...You're right on one thing, I am a machine...But I'm meant to be more than just a companion. I'm a data assistant, a computer, a sentient embodiment of what she would call a "Smart Phone." All she wants is to test me in the field and gather usage data, that's all. Make of it what you will."
> At this point, you can see Monarda coming out of the house, Zakuro in tow.
> _
-
>Well, that was frustrating for a moment. Perhaps we can study her as a base, as well...
>... but that would mean keeping her safe, and we're heading into what very well could be a serious fight. And she's not something we'd want to show off to the Eintei crew, either, is she?
>"... interesting. Now I wonder what Hatate was so nervous about..."
>"Unfortunately, this is a bad time for me to be doing much testing. I have more pressing matters to deal with at the moment. Would you be able to stay home and keep an eye on the dolls here?"
-
>Well, that was frustrating for a moment. Perhaps we can study her as a base, as well...
> Might not be a bad idea! Nitori-san said you only had to field test it, she didn't say anything against analyzing her work...Though you should probably keep that a secret from her. Come to think of it, why would she, someone working for Kana-corp, send you, a Hijirinet customer, a doll slash smart phone?
> ...Obviously, she's testing it to see if it'll work on your network so she can charge people thousands of yen to unlock it! Oh, Nitori you sly devil...You can't pull one over Alice! You laugh to yourself at the realization when you notice Datelle and the others are staring at you. You should probably get back on task.
>... but that would mean keeping her safe, and we're heading into what very well could be a serious fight. And she's not something we'd want to show off to the Eintei crew, either, is she?
> Your gut is telling you that bringing Datelle along would be a very bad idea, especially since she's a working prototype. You're not sure if Eientei would be interested in such a thing from Kana-corp's works, but it's better safe than sorry.
>"... interesting. Now I wonder what Hatate was so nervous about..."
>"Unfortunately, this is a bad time for me to be doing much testing. I have more pressing matters to deal with at the moment. Would you be able to stay home and keep an eye on the dolls here?"
> Datelle perks up at the mention of Hatate-san, but your next statement brings her back to ground level. "Oh, I see...Well, that's fine then, if it's just a short errand. Do come back safely, won't you?"
> _
-
>"I intend to. Stay out of trouble."
>Is there any particularly good place for her to hide/hang out while we're away? Is there anything we should lock up while she's effectively alone to avoid further complications in ISP politics?
>We don't really have the time to explain the Marisa/Medicine situation to her, so best just keep her out of the way until at least some of this madness settles down. Or we need her to solve part of it, whichever.
-
>"I intend to. Stay out of trouble."
>Is there any particularly good place for her to hide/hang out while we're away?
> You can have Datelle hide in your room; with all the dolls around, it'll be easy for someone like her to hide amidst the other dolls. Or just hide under the bed when the going gets rough. The basement is also an option, or even the bathroom...But considering you usually keep your window shades closed in the evening, it shouldn't be too hard for Datelle to stay out of sight since no one usually drops by your place that often.
> ...And in the event someone does visit, the dolls are instructed to: A- keep the house tidy and clean, and B- assist the visitor in any way they can, or repel them if they're an intruder. Furthermore, if someone were to see Datelle, they'd just assume she's another doll in your collection, as you make and collect dolls of varying sizes. Datelle could easily hide out amongst the "clean-up crew," as it were.
>Is there anything we should lock up while she's effectively alone to avoid further complications in ISP politics?
> Hmm, you usually keep the doors and windows locked anyways, but...Oh! Your Kappatops, you should probably turn those off and lock them down. You wouldn't want them to break into your personal data...Or worse, discover GUILDIES! and start doing something unscrupulous (like hacking your account). Why do you even bring that up, anyways? This is no time for games, you need to focus!
>We don't really have the time to explain the Marisa/Medicine situation to her, so best just keep her out of the way until at least some of this madness settles down. Or we need her to solve part of it, whichever.
> As mentioned above, you could have Datelle blend in with the other dolls and no one would really notice. Probably better than locking her up again in a box somewhere.
> _
-
>Thinking of the game out of the blue is a bad sign. If that continues, we may want to ask for help restraining ourselves...
>Tell Patchbro that we need to lock up, find a good harmless spot for Datelle to lurk, close down the machines (might as well log off ours, at least), and get to that escort job.
-
>Thinking of the game out of the blue is a bad sign. If that continues, we may want to ask for help restraining ourselves...
> Hopefully it won't come to that...But good luck trying to convince Monarda here that a computer game is trying to corrupt the minds of everyone who plays it. :V
>Tell Patchbro that we need to lock up, find a good harmless spot for Datelle to lurk, close down the machines (might as well log off ours, at least), and get to that escort job.
> You tell Monarda that you're gonna lock up and everything, and ask him to wait outside. He obliges, though the look on his face is still an anxious one. Time is of the essence.
> You tell Datelle to help the other dolls around the house with cleanup and such, and she's welcome to sleep in your room. "Thanks. And don't worry about charging my batteries for me, I can do that on my own," She says with a satisfied smirk on her face. You pat her on the head and tell her she's a good girl for being so responsible.
> Lastly, you go to shut down the computers. Marisa's logged out of GUILDIES!, but you have not...You were just going to take a short nap, after all. Thankfully, the game allows you to set your online status just like you would any other IM program, and you're set to "Away." As tempting as it is to log back in and keep playing, you're in no mood to play. Lives are at stake and you're sapping away electricity to boot. You shut off the game and close down the laptop with a heavy sigh...So much for a quiet game day with Marisa.
> ...
> With the house locked up and everything, you begin the long-ish journey to Eientei. The night is unusually cold despite it begin the first half of September...You can even see your breath as you travel.
> You're currently carrying Zakuro using the strings you brought along as a makeshift net. He doesn't find it too comfortable, but it's easier than you carrying him on your shoulders. A roving fleet of dolls hovers around you and Monarda as you travel, though it'll be a while before you finally reach Eientei. Perhaps you can strike up a conversation in the meantime?
> _
-
>"So, how often does he let YOU tie him up"
>"I presume you were here on the way to visit Patchouli? Any particular reason for the visit?"
>Do we have anything that would help keep Zak warm? The cold probably wouldn't help his condition.
-
>"I presume you were here on the way to visit Patchouli? Any particular reason for the visit?"
> "Well, I heard Sakuya-san took a nasty spill the other day, and now she's bedridden, so I thought I'd swing by and help around the house for a bit. I also wanted to discuss a breakthrough I made in a project of ours...Ooops, I probably shouldn't have said that. (chuckles) You're not gonna tell Marisa about this, are you?"
>Do we have anything that would help keep Zak warm? The cold probably wouldn't help his condition.
> Considering how cold it was outside, you decided to wrap Zakuro in a blanket before heading out. He should be fine, provided you keep moving towards Eientei.
> _
-
>"Knowing her, she'll find out on her own anyway."
>She probably even mentioned it to us if it showed up in that memory earlier, anyway...
>"... though if you see her around, do let me know. I need to have a talk with her about something from earlier today."
>To avoid him questioning that too much, "Have you been to Eientei before?"
>Keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary. Especially Marisa.
-
>"Knowing her, she'll find out on her own anyway."
>She probably even mentioned it to us if it showed up in that memory earlier, anyway...
> Monarda shrugs.
> As far as you know, Mari didn't tell you anything about her last visit to the SDM...All she did was come back tired and immediately flopped off to bed. You'll have to ask her about that later.
>"... though if you see her around, do let me know. I need to have a talk with her about something from earlier today."
>To avoid him questioning that too much, "Have you been to Eientei before?"
>Keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary. Especially Marisa.
> Monarda nods. "Sure...As for Eientei, no, we've never been there...But isn't that the bamboo grove just up ahead?"
> Indeed, you can see the edges of the forest up ahead. You recall that there is an anti-flight field in effect in this area...You'll have to land if you're going to progress further.
> _
-
>"Land. They have an anti-flight field up to make sure the rabbits' traps see use."
>Lead by example, and have the dolls clear a safe path.
>Keep an eye out for any troublemakers.
-
>"Land. They have an anti-flight field up to make sure the rabbits' traps see use."
>Lead by example, and have the dolls clear a safe path.
>Keep an eye out for any troublemakers.
> "Ah, I see...You think your little 'friend' would have tampered with these traps?"
> Only one way to find out, you say as you send some of your dolls to clear a passage through the bamboo. Unfortunately, the traps seem more or less unchanged since your last visit. In fact, it looks like they haven't been reset at all. Has Tewi been slacking?
> _
-
>"I did much of the tampering when we made a trip earlier today. Although... nothing seems to have been reset. That's unlike Tewi... either there's a special trap she's been busy with, or something's wrong with the rabbits."
>Frown.
>"... perhaps I should hand Zakuro over to you once we get closer. I have my own reasons for returning, but if it would be dangerous to go in and visit Eirin, you have less reason to stick your neck out investigating..."
>... probably worth being a little more thorough disarming things on the way there. Keep an eye out.
>If it wouldn't be dangerous, have one of the dolls test whether the anti-flight field is working properly. If that's broken it could save us some headaches and definitely mean something's up.
>Who would be the next best doctor to send Zak to, if things are rough here?
-
>"I did much of the tampering when we made a trip earlier today. Although... nothing seems to have been reset. That's unlike Tewi... either there's a special trap she's been busy with, or something's wrong with the rabbits."
>Frown.
> "That is a bit strange...Then again, such traps would take time to set up, would they not? Perhaps she just didn't have the time?"
> You shrug and say that is a possibility, but nothing more. The only way you'll find out is if you ask Tewi yourself.
>Who would be the next best doctor to send Zak to, if things are rough here?
> You could go to the human village and ask Byakuren's group for help. Surely someone there would know a thing or two about curing poisons, especially the head monk herself.
>"... perhaps I should hand Zakuro over to you once we get closer. I have my own reasons for returning, but if it would be dangerous to go in and visit Eirin, you have less reason to stick your neck out investigating..."
> Monarda grins. "Perhaps I could provide a decent distraction?" Zakuro groans in protest. "Oh come now, I was only joking. Besides..." He looks at you again as you hand Zakuro back to him. "You don't have any business with Lady Eirin, do you?"
>... probably worth being a little more thorough disarming things on the way there. Keep an eye out.
>If it wouldn't be dangerous, have one of the dolls test whether the anti-flight field is working properly. If that's broken it could save us some headaches and definitely mean something's up.
> Come to think of it, you never tried using your dolls in the anti-flight field...However, as you get deeper into the grove, you can see them struggle to keep themselves up. So you take that as a sign it's still working.
> As for the traps, the dolls scatter on foot and start poking around the trail you took last time you were here. There's nothing new along the path itself, though the dolls do trip some snares that were further off the beaten path...Some of the dolls getting broken in the process of triggering the traps.
> Monarda flinches. "Um...I see those were the expendable ones?"
> _
-
>"Expendable... so to speak."
>How big of a deal is that, actually?
>"You're right in that my business is not with Eirin, though I'm not sure she would approve of my investigation."
>How far away from Eientei are we now? Presumably the human village would be significantly further at this point?
-
ANNOUNCEMENT: I'll be out of town from the 26th to the 2nd, so updates may be a bit more sporadic than usual. :V
>"Expendable... so to speak."
>How big of a deal is that, actually?
> Considering that you often use dolls in your danmaku attacks, it's relatively easy for you to mass-produce clones. Making actual living and sentient dolls like Shanghai and Hourai takes a lot more work, but the end result is a doll that is far more durable (and thus easier to repair).
> You explain this summary to Monarda, who seems to understand it. "Interesting...I'll have to look into this sometime later."
>"You're right in that my business is not with Eirin, though I'm not sure she would approve of my investigation."
> "Even if she didn't, I doubt you'll let that stop you, huh?" he asks. You agree with him. "Then I say go for it, can't make an omelette without stealing a few eggs."
> Zakuro groans at that metaphor. "Oh, how I wish I could eat something...And not vomit afterwards."
>How far away from Eientei are we now? Presumably the human village would be significantly further at this point?
> You're very close. In fact, you're already at the front door. The Human Village would essentially be about double the distance from Eientei to your house.
> _
-
>Grin. "No, it wouldn't stop me, but it would be impolite not to warn you."
>Check briefly if anything else seems out of the ordinary, then head in.
>Keep an eye out for any hint of Medicine-Marisa in the region. Is it possible to give directions to Eirin's lab? Send Monnie there if we can peel off to take care of her without abandoning him.
-
>Grin. "No, it wouldn't stop me, but it would be impolite not to warn you."
> "Eh, fair enough," Monarda says as you step inside.
>Check briefly if anything else seems out of the ordinary, then head in.
> The door is properly shut, so no worries there. Once you do get inside however, you immediately feel a sense of...Emptiness. Usually, one or two rabbits are here to greet you...Are they all on break or something?
>Keep an eye out for any hint of Medicine-Marisa in the region. Is it possible to give directions to Eirin's lab? Send Monnie there if we can peel off to take care of her without abandoning him.
> You look around the foyer and spot Marisa's shoes sitting there. At the very least, she has the decency to take her shoes off. Maybe you should too, but then again, you won't be here for long.
> You can direct Monarda to the lab; just go straight ahead to an intersection, turn left, and it's the first door on your left.
> _
-
>Let's at least hover so we don't track dirt all over the place.
>... unless something's gone really wrong. And now that we're confident Medicine is here but the shoes give no clue as to where, might as well check in on Eirin first.
>Guide Monarda over to the doc, but keep an eye out. If something's wrong at Eientei we want him out of here before we continue the raid.
-
>Let's at least hover so we don't track dirt all over the place.
> You decide to hover a few inches off the ground so the rabbits don't have to worry about your mess. Monarda does the same. This is pretty easy to do when you're a magician, really.
>... unless something's gone really wrong. And now that we're confident Medicine is here but the shoes give no clue as to where, might as well check in on Eirin first.
>Guide Monarda over to the doc, but keep an eye out. If something's wrong at Eientei we want him out of here before we continue the raid.
> The worst thing you can think of is that someone everyone got addicted to GUILDIES! and they're all asleep trying to recover from the brain drain. Or something. Less theorizing, more mobilizing!
> Thanks to your hovering, it'll be a lot harder for anyone to sense your approach. Since you don't have a bearing on Medicine just yet, you decide to head to the clinic to find out if she's there, or if Eirin knows about her. However, as you approach, you start to hear voices on the other side of the walls...
> "...for one do not approve of this one bit! How's the mansion supposed to function now, without its staff?!"
> You recognize this voice, it's Eirin all right.
> "Sacrifices must be made in the name of science, you of all people should know that."
> This voice, however, doesn't sound anything like Marisa or Medicine. In fact, you're certain you haven't heard this voice at all. A colleague of Eirin's, perhaps?
> _
-
>... no rabbits? Sacrifices in the name of science? This... doesn't sound good.
>Would it be easy/appropriate to set up a doll as a messenger in case this gets out of hand? Monny probably has more urgent things to attend to...
>Speaking of whom, silently/quietly ask for the boys to wait and stay silent. Something's wrong. Have them watch for any trouble in the area.
>Eavesdrop. Watch your back.
-
>Would it be easy/appropriate to set up a doll as a messenger in case this gets out of hand? Monny probably has more urgent things to attend to...
> Yeah, you can deploy a Nameless Doll to send a message if you have to. It'll take time, but it's better than nothing.
>Speaking of whom, silently/quietly ask for the boys to wait and stay silent. Something's wrong. Have them watch for any trouble in the area.
>Eavesdrop. Watch your back.
> You tell the boys to wait around the corner, and move closer to the lab entrance to listen in. (A/N: The following exchange is color-coded for ease of reading.)
> "Dammit Rika, I'm a doctor, not a mad scientist! It's my job to save lives!"
> "Well, think of it like this...By letting us use your residents as test subjects, you'll be improving the quality of life for others in the future."
> "Oh, sure, and that means we'd end up losing Kaguya-hime too. I know her sister wouldn't approve of that."
> "She has a sister? Lovely..."
> "Wipe that grin off your face. And what of Medicine? You conned her into this mess, will she suffer as well?"
> "No. She'll be getting exactly what she desired. Perhaps more on top of that. It depends on what my boss needs."
> "Well, your boss can go to Hell for all I care. You're not going through with this."
> "Do you honestly think you can stop me, you old hag?"
> "Maybe not..." You can hear the tug of a bowstring. Is Eirin seriously going to shoot this Rika person at close range?! "But I know someone who can."
> "...You mean Kirisame-san? The odds of that happening are astronomically low. She may as well be dead at this point."
> "Don't underestimate a magician."
> "I won't. And I suggest you put your toy away." You can hear the sound of a gun being unholstered. "Mine's better than yours."
> _
-
>Welp. Sounds like time to intervene.
>To Monny, "Go to the village. It's not safe here. Hurry."
>If we can easily tell where he is in the next room, treat the kitten Rika to a dollsplosion to the face as a distraction. For now we just want to confuse 'em to get time to send off a doll to Marisa without Eirin getting shot.
>How dangerous are guns to a youkai like us? Or Eirin?
-
>To Monny, "Go to the village. It's not safe here. Hurry."
> You tell Monarda that a fight's about to break out, and he escapes. You pray they'll be safe...But for now...
>How dangerous are guns to a youkai like us? Or Eirin?
> You're a demon by nature, so any "divine" weapons will deal the most damage (silver, for instance). But since you're a magician as well, anything that's considered anti-magic (like Reimu's borders) will also hurt you. However, since you're not a human, your durability and resilience to damage is wayyyyy higher than usual, and if you are injured, you can recover from a lot of injuries with time.
>If we can easily tell where he is in the next room, treat the kitten Rika to a dollsplosion to the face as a distraction. For now we just want to confuse 'em to get time to send off a doll to Marisa without Eirin getting shot.
> There's a window facing the Western hallway here. However, it's closed. This does give you an idea, though...
> "...You know what, this isn't worth it."
> You peek up just enough to see into the clinic as Eirin speaks. You can see Eirin lower her bow, and the woman known as Rika accosting her. Rika has purple hair and a pristine white lab coat, as well as spectacles of some kind. She also seems to be holding some kind of high-tech blaster gun, straight out of an 80's sci-fi movie. Rika does not lower her weapon, but you can see her tilt her head in bemusement. You can also make out Kaguya, fast asleep on the operating table.
> "Whatever do you mean?"
> "This violence. Kaguya-hime's still ill, and if a fight were to break out here..."
> "Ah, I see what you mean...That won't dissuade me from carrying out my work, though. We're going to gather Medicine and--"
> POINK. You teleport once of your dolls onto Rika's head.
> "Nani?" Rika pats her head and feels the doll sitting there. Rika takes it off and examines it; it's a seemingly normal doll at first glance, but... "Why is this doll's hair on fire?"
> KA-BEWM!
> There's a thud, and sounds of objects clattering everywhere. You peek in and see Rika laying in the corner, dazed. Eirin is in the opposite corner, protecting herself with her arms crossed. Kaguya-hime is unharmed, and the blaster gun lays on the floor under the desk facing the window.
> "...What just happened?" Eirin says as she looks out the window, and sees you peeking in. She smiles. "What an unexpected surprise."
> _
-
>"Didn't ya see the bloody bombs?~"
>Contain Rika with a guard of dolls. Strap a few detonate-on-command ones around her neck, given the chance.
>Have one grab the gun or knock it as far away from Rika as possible. Or just break it, whichever works.
>To Eirin, "Less of a surprise after what Medicine's done, I assure you."
>"Though perhaps you've forgotten that there's more than Kirisame herself to be concerned about, Rika. Explain yourself."
>Get a messenger doll ready, just in case.
-
>"Didn't ya see the bloody bombs?~"
> "I failed my spot check...The dice stared at me with the gaze of a thousand angry nerds."
>Contain Rika with a guard of dolls. Strap a few detonate-on-command ones around her neck, given the chance.
>Have one grab the gun or knock it as far away from Rika as possible. Or just break it, whichever works.
> Sadly, seeing as these dolls are technically danmaku, it'd take a lot more of them to cause any serious damage to her...Regardless, you smother Rika with a cluster of dolls, then confiscate the gun for yourself. Hey, you never know when a gun like this will come in handy!
> OBTAINED SPACY LASER GUN.
>To Eirin, "Less of a surprise after what Medicine's done, I assure you."
> Eirin sighs. "I didn't expect her to go this far, but...Can you blame her? I'm sure we can work something out once this is all over."
> You said you'll consider it once you squeeze some info out of Little Miss Bill Nye here.
>Get a messenger doll ready, just in case.
> Actually...You came up with a slightly better idea. You produce a spell card simply named "DOLL POSSESSION," which allows you to directly control one of your dolls for a short time. The only drawback is that at this distance, you can only record a few minutes of conversation, so you'll have to pick your questions carefully.
> In player terms, you'd have about two, maybe three replies to get info out of Rika. Use them well!
>"Though perhaps you've forgotten that there's more than Kirisame herself to be concerned about, Rika. Explain yourself."
> Rika comes out of her daze with an annoyed grumble. "Bloody hell...You're just as annoying as she is! Do you have any idea what you're getting yourself into?!"
> You say no, that's why you're asking. You activate the card and explain that this conversation is being recorded, so you'd best answer truthfully.
> "Grrrr...Fine, I'll play along, not that it'll change anything," Rika says in a semi resigned tone. "Ask away." (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB61BpPqi8E)
> SPELL CARD "DOLL POSSESSION" IS ACTIVE.
> TIME REMAINING: 99+ SECONDS
> PLEASE SELECT EITHER SHANGHAI OR HOURAI TO DELIVER YOUR MESSAGE.
> DATELLE MAY RECEIVE LIMITED COMMANDS DURING THIS INVESTIGATION.
> READY? GO!
> _
-
>Inventory. Hah.
>"Who is responsible for this attack?"
-
>Inventory. Hah.
> Quite, I mean it's not like anyone's going to suddenly inherit this stuff right?
>"Who is responsible for this attack?"
> "Attack? Heh, you must be mistaken...I just did a few experiments on the inaba here. Of course, the princess herself got involved, so that was a nice bonus for my research."
> _
-
>Give Eirin a look to see if she agrees with that explanation.
>We wouldn't have a way to track/locate Marisa's body, would we?
>"Who is your boss?"
-
>Give Eirin a look to see if she agrees with that explanation.
> Eirin nods and says "She did come by before and ask if we wished to be part of an experiment...But Kaguya-hime refused. She didn't want her subjects to become lab rats, and I agreed with her decision."
>We wouldn't have a way to track/locate Marisa's body, would we?
> You can use a Beacon Spellcard to track down Mari's body, though you'll have to wait for the current one to break or run out first. The parser would joke about ironic this situation is, but time is of the essence.
>"Who is your boss?"
> "A powerful diety beyond your comprehension. You may know her, you might not..." You politely ask Rika to cut the crap and stop wasting your time. "Bah, so much for plan A...But I only speak the truth, this being is someone you do not know personally and it is not exactly native to Gensokyo. And if you must insist on a name..."
> You await her next word, but it doesn't come. Instead, Rika's next word is a garbled mess of noise, like someone taking a dial-up modem and running it through a Protoss' voice synthesizer. Rika is a bit flabbergasted at this revelation, but she just coyly smiles.
> "Well, at least you have that recorded, right?" Eirin comments. "It sounds like your deal with the so-called devil is more than what you bargained for, Rika."
> "All worth it in the name of science!" Rika says confidently. "Okazaki-san would have done the same!"
> _
-
>Mental note: We've been with demons. We may have a way to review that noise and figure out more than she thought we could. Not something Shinki mentioned that comes to mind offhand? We can consider it more later.
>"What's the goal of this 'experiment?'"
-
>Mental note: We've been with demons. We may have a way to review that noise and figure out more than she thought we could. Not something Shinki mentioned that comes to mind offhand? We can consider it more later.
> Hmmm, you don't know the noise offhand, but your mother has warned you about the so called "Old Ones" that use incomprehensible gobbldygook to drive others mad. Could this be it? You'll have to investigate this later.
>"What's the goal of this 'experiment?'"
> "The goal? Well, if you want the short version..." Rika's oversized glasses glint inexplicably. "My boss needs a vessel."
> Of what kind, you ask, just as you hear the sound of a pin being pulled. You turn just in time to see a small, grenade-type object get chucked in through the broken window, and a split second later...There is a loud bang and a flash of light. You wince and yell as a wave of anti-magic courses over you and your dolls, destroying them and dispelling your spell card. While it's not an attack spell card, its destruction only serves to shake you up further...So you feel the full force of a jolt of electricity run through your body when Rika zaps you in the back with a hidden taser she has on hand.
> ...Suddenly, you're now Tewi, watching this all play out.
> "Down she goes," remarks Tewi as she watches Datelle replay this scene. She then perks up when she notices the player(s) staring flabbergasted at the sudden scene change. "Flashbacks are quite a thing, aren't they?" Tewi says with a smile.
> Alice collapses in front of Eirin, though the nurse has lost some of her sight and hearing as well. She struggles to keep herself upright as Rika gets to her feet, seemingly unfazed by the blast. The door bursts open, and Eirin can see black figures carrying guns approaching her quickly. Eirin is ordered to stand down, despite not being armed, but in her deafened and weakened state she does not comply. So, Eirin's pinned to a wall and cuffed, not unlike so many criminals on COPS.
> "N-No, please..." Eirin begs. "The princess needs me! She'll die if I leave her alone for even a second!"
> "We can worry about her later," Rika remarks. "You on the other hand, are a threat." She then speaks to the soldiers in the room. "Cage this lunatic in here, we may need her later." She then departs, as the soldiers secure the lab and take Alice's limp body away.
> "This is hard to watch, but..." Tewi sighs. "As callous as it is, I can't feel the pain anymore."
> Alice is weakened, but not out cold. She does not take kindly to being treated like this. Her demon blood activates and gives her strength. Once she's out of the room, she lashes out, throwing her captors aside.
> "There's enough pain in this world already..."
> The soldiers fire on Alice, despite Rika's orders not to hurt her. But Alice gives no fucks, she simply sprouts a pair of wings akin to Shinki's and protects herself from the incoming fire.
> "So many other people have their own problems to worry about..."
> Alice, wings curled around her, dive-bombs the soldiers, then unfurls herself to attack the soldiers directly. They are helpless against her newfound strength. Rika unleashes a barrage of metal gears (no, not THOSE gears) at Alice, but she smacks them away like flies.
> "You still have your problems too..."
> Rika is forced to flee, but Alice quickly pursues and eventually corners the scientist. In an act of irony, Alice takes out the SPACY LASER GUN from before and cackles, preparing to fire. Thankfully for Rika, the shot doesn't come. Another figure, dressed in samurai armor with a demonic-looking mask, strikes Alice down with a sword slash to the back. The demon falls limp, motionless.
> Rika's emotions cycle quickly from shock to fear to rage. "You...YOU IDIOT! We needed her alive for--"
> "Oh, relax," the figure says in a distorted, yet feminine voice. "I just knocked her out. She'll be fine...But I suggest you put her on lockdown before you play with her again."
> "I know that!" Rika shouts. "Where the hell were you anyways?"
> "Looking for the last piece, duh. It's gotta be around here somewhere..."
> Rika hmphs. "Well, make yourself useful and carry Alice down to the holding cells."
> "Yes, professor," the samurai says in a sarcastic tone. She lifts up Alice with but one hand and leaves.
> "Isn't that right..." Tewi looks directly at the camera. "Marisa?"
(http://www.qotile.net/blog/images/static2.gif)
> ...
> ... ... ...
> ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
> "MARISA, WAKE THE HELL UP!"
> You can feel a hand slap you in the back of your plastic head. You open your eyes, and see yourself inside the first floor of Eientei. It's a mess. Armed soldiers are all over the place, as are blast marks and remnants of rocks and plants scattered all over the place.
> "What's gotten into you, woman?" You turn to see a disgruntled Mokou. "Don't tell me you got summa that PTSD goin' on now..."
> "Mokou-sama!" Maple flies up to her. "Give. It. A. Rest. Marisa-chan's obviously tired and stressed out."
> Eh? You asked what happened. Mokou just rolls her eyes, while Maple's look of concern intensified.
> Maple takes a deep breath before speaking. "You...You just lost it. Once you asked that one soldier where Alice-chan was, you..."
> "You just blew up like Mt Fuji," Mokou said, lighting up another cigarette. "And he sure blew up real good, heh."
> Maple shoots Mokou a stern look. You, on the other hand...Yeah, you remember now. You interrogated one of the soldiers about Alice's and Medicine's whereabouts, he said something along the lines of "I doubt they're even here now, they might even be..." Then he started laughing.
> And then you started shooting him up with poison. And using him as a literal dirty bomb against his comrades. Blew up good indeed.
> You were running out of time and patience. If anything so much as happened to your body, or Alice...Dammit, this isn't the time for that! Who the hell do you think you are, anyways?! A weakass doll who can't hold her own in a fight...
> Or the best goddamn magician in all of Gensokyo?
> _
-
>Growl a bit.
>"... guess the situation's gettin' to me a bit, ze. Looks like fightin' won't be a problem, though."
>Check the location spell for Alice, if it's safe enough to get away with. Otherwise, we have a lot of splinter cells to clear out.
-
>Growl a bit.
>"... guess the situation's gettin' to me a bit, ze. Looks like fightin' won't be a problem, though."
> "...Just...Be careful, ok?" Maple says in a quivering voice.
> "She'll be fine, she's got us to back her up," Mokou says before puffing her cigarette. "So now what?"
>Check the location spell for Alice, if it's safe enough to get away with. Otherwise, we have a lot of splinter cells to clear out.
> We go down, you say to Mokou as you check the Beacon spell card. Alice is somewhere below you, approximately two stories if Eientei's basement is to be trusted. Problem is, you don't know where the stairs leading down are located.
> _
-
>... and we don't have the mini-hakkero to make our own stairs. Damnit.
>Speaking of which, has that moved any, either?
>"Mokou, how far downstairs have you gone here, ze?"
-
>... and we don't have the mini-hakkero to make our own stairs. Damnit.
>Speaking of which, has that moved any, either?
> The Parser is fairly sure you didn't establish a tracker for that item...However, since you're so in tune with it, you can sense it's presence. You can't discern the exact location, but you're pretty sure the Mini-Hakkero is somewhere underground and in close proximity to Alice.
>"Mokou, how far downstairs have you gone here, ze?"
> Mokou grins. "You honestly think the rabbits would let me into such a sensitive area? I may be cool with them but they're not that trustworthy of me, kiddo."
> _
-
Porcelain Powercaster:
>"Then where haven't they let you go, ze? I don't think we have time to search blindly right now..."
>No way to contact Tewi from here, right?
>Point out the direction we're trying to go for the others in case they have any bright ideas.
Bullockornis Burner:
>Is it enough of an emergency to warrant blasting a straight path, at least partway? Would doing so cause enough structural damage to be a danger?
Marbleous Maple:
>Earth... would we be able to dig/move aside dirt fairly easily? Though that's probably not what's separating floors here, is it?
-
Porcelain Powercaster:
>"Then where haven't they let you go, ze? I don't think we have time to search blindly right now..."
> "Downstairs, up to the Kaguya's floor...So yeah, the first floor is pretty much the only place I can go. That's not to say I don't know where things are..." You ask Mokou why this is. "Let's just say a dissatisfied employee gave me the skinny on Eientei's inner workings. The second floor is where all the higher ups sleep, the first basement is the sleeping quarters for the rabbits, and the second one after that is their workshop and weapon storage for all their crazy Lunarian tech. If I'm not mistaken, that's also where they crafted the spell for the fake moon all those years ago...But that's old history, am I right?"
>No way to contact Tewi from here, right?
> Not at the moment. You don't have a communicator, and your computers are still shut off as far as you know. You'll have to use a magic spell to contact Mrs. Bugs Bunny, and that takes a bit of time to set up and send a message.
>Point out the direction we're trying to go for the others in case they have any bright ideas.
> Based on Mokou's intel, Alice should be in B2F. Of course your objective(s) would be on the lowest floor. Not that you mind, it'll just take slightly more effort to get there!
Bullockornis Burner:
>Is it enough of an emergency to warrant blasting a straight path, at least partway? Would doing so cause enough structural damage to be a danger?
> Considering time may or may not be of the essence, yes. Mokou tells you she can reach B1F easily by blasting through the floor with minimal casualty, but the floor between the two basements is almost impenetrable. Thankfully, Mokou knows where the stairs are, so she can lead you to B2F from there.
Marbleous Maple:
>Earth... would we be able to dig/move aside dirt fairly easily? Though that's probably not what's separating floors here, is it?
> Maple asks Mokou about the floor between B1F and B2F. It's an add-on to the mansion, as you'd expect, and said floor is made up of concrete and steel under the original basement's wood flooring.
> "C-C-Concrete?! How would anyone in Gensokyo make that?" Maple asks out of curiosity.
> "The Lunar Kingdom counts as the outside world too, you know. The egghead and Kaguya probably brought their own special blend of it from the Moon...Of course, how they'd make something so hard from something so soft as moon rocks is a mystery to me, but there ya go."
> Maple thinks for a moment. "If that's the case, I might be able to break it, but I'll need Marisa-chan's help.
> _
-
>Are we near the F1->B1 stairs? If we blasted straight down, how close would we be to the B1->B2 stairs? How long is the distance from the two staircases on B1?
-
>Are we near the F1->B1 stairs? If we blasted straight down, how close would we be to the B1->B2 stairs? How long is the distance from the two staircases on B1?
>Dear gods this is starting to turn into a trigonometry question
> Mokou says that if you burrowed down right from the main entrance (that is, where you are now), you'd be within walking distance to the stairs leading down to B2.
> _
-
>Let's get our blast on, then. Shortcut to B1!
-
>Let's get our blast on, then. Shortcut to B1!
> You tell Maple you're ready for her little plan, and the little fairy nods nervously. "It's time I lent you my power..." Maple starts painting up the design for a spell card, all the while you can feel a magical force tingling in the air. When Maple finishes the final stroke on the card, it glows brightly as Maple shouts "SPIRIT UNLEASH!" before exploding in a bright flash of light. When it's finished, Maple's visibly fatigued, but she is able to present to you the spell card. However, you can tell the design of the card's marking is much different than what you're used to.
> "That...Is a Spirit Card. A regular spell card won't work for this...Put it in your Radiant Palette and see what you can do with it."
> OBTAINED "UNMOVING EARTH" SPIRIT CARD.
> Of course, in order to do that, you'll have to replace one of your existing cards (https://www.shrinemaiden.org/forum/index.php/topic,15529.msg1078305.html#msg1078305) first.
> _
-
>... we can do that? When did THAT feature come up?
>And couldn't Mokou get us through the first layer on her own?
-
>... we can do that? When did THAT feature come up?
> You ask Maple how the heck you're supposed to change spell cards on your staff. "I, I don't know...Think about it and it just happens?"
>And couldn't Mokou get us through the first layer on her own?
> "Worry about your inventory management later, and stand back!" You and Maple do that, as Mokou powers up, and delivers an explosive punch right through the floor...With Mokou still in the middle.
> "A-Are you ok?!" Maple says, peeking downwards.
> "Yeah, no biggie," Mokou says, standing back up from the rubble. "Come on in, the water's fine!"
> _
-
>Head for the stairs and save a bit of strength for the main fight. Keep an eye out for an ambush; surprising them still might be worthwhile, but not just yet...
-
>Head for the stairs and save a bit of strength for the main fight. Keep an eye out for an ambush; surprising them still might be worthwhile, but not just yet...
> You drop down and follow Mokou down the nearby stairs. It's eerily quiet as you descend into the mansion's depths; you've never been down here before. The place feels almost like a base straight out of Metal Gear, with cold walls of stone and steel embracing you as you enter. Medicine and Alice around here someplace...You can feel it.
> Your Beacon spell shows that Alice is to the northeast from where you are standing (for the record, you're in the southwest corner of this floor). Ahead of you is a two-way intersection, one way goes NORTH, the other EAST. Which way will you go?
> _
-
>Preumably the two options look nearly identical and the others have no idea which goes where?
>If Alice isn't perfectly directly northeast, go with whichever direction she's slightly toward from our current location. If there's no real way to tell, uh, go with east I guess.
-
>Preumably the two options look nearly identical and the others have no idea which goes where?
>If Alice isn't perfectly directly northeast, go with whichever direction she's slightly toward from our current location. If there's no real way to tell, uh, go with east I guess.
> Alice seems to be N by NE, instead of strictly NE, so you go NORTH.
> As you do so, you hear footsteps, and a warped voice that seems to be...Humming? Yes, humming, somewhere around the next corner.
> _
-
>Person-throat humming, mechanical, or animal?
>We don't have a way to use a mirror or something to peek around and see what's there without exposing ourselves, do we?
-
>Person-throat humming, mechanical, or animal?
> Throat humming. You can vaguely make out the notes to "Alouette" as the figure approaches.
>We don't have a way to use a mirror or something to peek around and see what's there without exposing ourselves, do we?
> You could have Maple quickly conjure something up if you can tell her without giving yourself away.
> _
-
>It's not Marisa's voice, is it? Or Alice's?
>If they're coming towards us, motion to fan out and be ready to attack if they're hostile. If they aren't, sneak over to Maple and make a quiet request for a little diamond mirror or whatever so we can peek. Best not assume too much.
-
>It's not Marisa's voice, is it? Or Alice's?
> You can't determine if the voice is male or female yet.
>If they're coming towards us, motion to fan out and be ready to attack if they're hostile. If they aren't, sneak over to Maple and make a quiet request for a little diamond mirror or whatever so we can peek. Best not assume too much.
> You can, however, hear the footsteps getting closer...Then there's a slight pause as you hear them going away from you. Said footsteps seem to be going EAST from your position (you're at another NORTH/EAST/SOUTH fork again). You take this time to somehow tell Maple to summon up a mirror so you can peek at whom is around the corner.
> Maple summons said mirror, angles it towards the EAST, and almost drops it when you and she find out whom the footsteps belong to. A figure, clad in black samurai armor with red trim, boasting a rather intimidating helmet and sword, is walking away from your position at the most leisurely of paces. You haven't seen their face yet, but if you did, it'd probably be hidden by one of those traditional "oni" looks that most samurai wear to intimidate their opponents. You get the feeling you shouldn't mess with this person if you can help it.
> That being said, when you look at the sword they were carrying, you have to stifle a gasp...You've seen that sword before. You used to own it. How the hell did this Samurai...Person get their hands on the Blade of Kusunagi?
> Just looking at the blade, however, starts to trigger that "out of body" feeling you've been getting every time you start to have a flashback. (https://www.shrinemaiden.org/forum/index.php/topic,15529.msg1055769.html#msg1055769) You could go after this samurai and try to take the sword back, or continue on your way whilst risking detection. The choice is yours, and yours alone. (https://youtu.be/DTS5tCJgFPQ?t=1140)
> _
-
>Did the Kusunagi have any special properties that we were aware of? When did we lose it? And where did we originally... acquire it, anyway?
>Going east at the previous intersection isn't likely to bypass this guy, is it? He's on the move anyway... we shouldn't waste too much time.
-
>Did the Kusunagi have any special properties that we were aware of? When did we lose it? And where did we originally... acquire it, anyway?
> From what Rinnosuke could tell you, it was used to conjure up winds by its original owner. However, he didn't know much else besides the fact that "it makes a great watermelon slicer!"
> As for how you got it...You're not entirely sure. You've been saving up scrap metal to eventually turn into gold once you figure out how to steal Patchy's Philosopher's Stone. After months of keeping the scrap heap around, Alice said you should get rid of it, and wouldn't leave you alone until you did so. The Kusunagi was amongst the scraps, so as far as you know, some careless swordsman threw it away without realizing what it was.
> ...Now you wonder how this Samurai managed to reconstruct the Kusunagi. Rinnosuke used a part of the sword to repair your Mini-Hekkero a long time ago, so he may have since scrapped it instead of trying to repair it, unless...Gah, you don't have time to think about this!
>Going east at the previous intersection isn't likely to bypass this guy, is it? He's on the move anyway... we shouldn't waste too much time.
> You have no idea what the Samurai's thinking, or even if they noticed you, but for now you're pretty much out of sight, out of mind. For now you should focus on getting to the room where Alice is being held.
> _
-
>Guess we don't really need a SORD... right now...
>Do we have an easy way to set up a small alert if he/someone tries to follow us if we go north to try and bypass the samurai?
>Head north and set that up once we're out of sight if kusunagi kid doesn't challenge us. Hopefully we can get around him without it becoming a chase or something.
-
>Guess we don't really need a SORD... right now...
> Psh, who needs swords?! It's not like it's part of a vital quest or something.
>Do we have an easy way to set up a small alert if he/someone tries to follow us if we go north to try and bypass the samurai?
> Yes, it's called "listening."
> On a less sarcastic note, you could have Mokou or Maple act as lookout as you try to escape.
>Head north and set that up once we're out of sight if kusunagi kid doesn't challenge us. Hopefully we can get around him without it becoming a chase or something.
> You beckon Mokou to guard duty, seeing as she's immortal and all. You quickly run to the NORTH hall, Mokou following you soon after. You raise an eyebrow, wondering if you've been spotted; Mokou replies with a thumb's up. You're safe for now.
> So far you're near the NW corner, what now?
> _
-
>Enough sidestepping, head east to reach our main goal down here. Watch out for any southern corridors the samurai might wander through... or any other threats now that we're so deep into this mess.
-
>Enough sidestepping, head east to reach our main goal down here. Watch out for any southern corridors the samurai might wander through... or any other threats now that we're so deep into this mess.
> EAST it is. Maple and Mokou act as lookout and decoy respectively, but the Samurai doesn't notice you. Or maybe they have noticed you and they're just waiting for an opportunity to cut you in half. Gotta love that paranoia.
> You see a door in the SW corner of the room you suspect Alice is being held in. Unfortunately, it's got one of those key card locks on the handle. How will you open it?
> _
-
>How durable is it, and how durable is the wall next to it?
>What about the hinges, or however else the door's supposed to open?
-
>How durable is it, and how durable is the wall next to it?
>What about the hinges, or however else the door's supposed to open?
> It's your typical military-grade heavy metal door. The walls of the lower basement's rooms are made of concrete and steel. Your best bet for breaking open this door is slicing through the hinges and knocking it over.
-
>No real way to see through it or knock and realistically expect to hear a response, right?
>For shits and giggles, scan a blank spellcard.
-
>No real way to see through it or knock and realistically expect to hear a response, right?
> You're not even sure if anyone's in there. There is a window in the door, but it's closed by a metal shutter.
>For shits and giggles, scan a blank spellcard.
> You take out a blank card and swipe it through the key card reader. Nothing happens, not even an error beep. If only you could use this as some sort of fake key card...
> _
-
>There's no reason to believe we could guess at the spellcardy password for this, right Mokou?
>Get to work on the hinges. Try not to get crushed.
-
>There's no reason to believe we could guess at the spellcardy password for this, right Mokou?
> Mokou just shakes her head. Given the lack of time you have, trying to crack the code wouldn't be worth it.
>Get to work on the hinges. Try not to get crushed.
> You and Mokou start cutting apart the hinge. Even the best Lunarian metals can't withstand intense, concentrated heat rays.
> Maple keeps watch, though she doesn't stay calm for long--you can hear those footprints again, and the humming of that Samurai's voice...Is...Is it humming "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow?" Are they trying to mock us?
> The footsteps are getting louder. The door's almost open. However, you aren't sure if you'll all be able to get in before the Samurai catches you.
> Mokou, seemingly aware of this, engraves a simple message into the floor with her finger...
I'll hold them off.
> Maple opens her mouth to object, but stops herself and nods. After all, if anyone's gonna sacrifice themselves to an elite warrior, it might as be one that's immortal, right?
> The door tips forward as the last hinge finally comes undone. Mokou catches it, and Maple slips in, followed by yourself (while secretly thanking Medicine for having a small stature).
> Why thank you, dear. I'm flattered!
> You tumble to the floor, confused. Was that Mini-Medi's voice you heard in your head just now? You lift up your hat to check on your chibi charge. Poor thing is fast asleep. Must have been tired out from all the excitement.
> *CLUNK*
> You turn around to see the door slammed back into place, and a faint sizzling noise...Is Mokou welding the door back into place?!
> "M-M-Marisa-chan...Wh-What're all these?"
> You turn to the interior of the room, now. In front of you lay rows upon rows of towering capsules, each containing some random poor soul (most of them are inaba) who seems to be suck in a catatonic state while suspended in a sea-green liquid. Each capsule has a control panel connected to each one, perhaps to monitor their vital signs. Before you have a chance to investigate further, a voice distracts you.
> "Rikako, you don't need to slam the door every time you enter. It's bad for your stress and and the door frame.
> You recognize that voice...It's older, yes, but there's no mistaking it...A familiar red-headed individual crosses your vision as you try to pinpoint the source of the voice.
> "So what's the deal with--" YUMEMI OKAZAKI looks up at you as she speaks, before gasping and almost tripping over as she stumbles away from you. "M-Marisa?! The heck are you doing here?!"
> _
-
>Well, fuck. Hopefully Mokou's sealing it so sordbutt can't pursue... right?
>How much did we see of that exchange with Rika...?
>"I could ask the same, ze. What's up with the rabbits?"
>Stay ready for a brawl.
>Inventory.
-
>Well, fuck. Hopefully Mokou's sealing it so sordbutt can't pursue... right?
> That seems to be the case. Sadly, you are not a mind-reader, but considering she's immortal and you aren't, it's not hard to draw the conclusion.
>How much did we see of that exchange with Rika...?
> A little. All you know is that Alice confronted Rika; the rest of the details are fuzzy. Stupid non-dream-related blackouts.
>"I could ask the same, ze. What's up with the rabbits?"
>Stay ready for a brawl.
>Inventory.
> "I just...it's not what you think! I was forced to do this!" Yumemi blurts out while cringing. You ask her what the heck she was forced to do, but the good professor's a little too fearful of you to answer right now. You'll have to be delicate about this...Or you can just clobber her with your staff until she talks either way works.
> Since you have a moment, you decide to do a quick inventory check... (E) indicates an equipped item.
- ONE (1) Classic Purple Witch Dress (E) -- A dress you used to wear in the era before the Spell Card Rules were set. It's cute, but you've since grown out of it as a human, you only keep it as a keepsake. Good thing it fits Medicine's body! You'll have wash this thoroughly later to get all the poison particles out.
- ONE (1) Classic Purple Witch Hat (E) -- No matter what color it is, you'll never be without your good old witchy hat. Again, this is too small for you now, but you'll most likely never throw it away unless it gets burned or something. How do you keep your clothes in such good condition, anyways? Mini-Medicine likes sleeping under this hat.
- ONE (1) Radiant Staff (E) -- The unusual fusion of your Slightly-Used Broom, the Radiant Tablet and three spell cards (your Milky Way, Mokou's Flying Phoenix and Medicine's Deadly Mists). This device combines the power of the three spell cards used for a variety of powerful attacks (see your current set-up here (https://www.shrinemaiden.org/forum/index.php/topic,15529.msg1079527.html#msg1079527)). Permanently bound to your soul. If you were to change bodies, this item would follow you.
- ONE (1) Deck Of Spell Cards -- Your standby deck of spell cards, which use your Magic Missile/Magic Napalm attacks (and a few random spells you thought up when you had some downtime based on your comrades' abilities). Always reliable!
- ONE (1) Spirit Card: Unmoving Earth -- A gift given to you from Maple not too long ago. While this looks like the spell cards your accustomed to, its markings and energy are way different. You can't seem to use it like a typical spell card at the moment (IE, as an attack or magic spell), so you're not entirely sure what to do with it. It seems to resonate with the Radiant Staff, though...
- ONE (1) Mini Medicine Doll (E) -- Medicine's eternal companion and wiseacre. She takes on the mannerisms and speech of whomever's soul is inhabiting her body at the time. Currently, she's dormant. Permanently bound to you.
- ONE (1) Medicine's Garments -- Medicine's outfit. Why you're still carrying this around, you have no idea. It smells strongly of Suzuran.
- ONE (1) Mummified Sunhat -- An eerie hat you found after waking up from a sleep-induced flashback. It's cold to the touch and sends chills down your spine. You're 90% sure it's cursed or something, but for whatever reason you can't drop or otherwise get rid of this item now.
- ONE (1) Pocket Diary -- Exactly what it says on the tin; you've been keeping track of this INCIDENT since you started playing GUILDIES! today, and you have no intention of stopping now. Just don't let Aya get her claws on this.
- ONE (1) Quest Log -- It's a huge log that has a lot of words carved into it. You're not sure why you have this, but it seems to keep track of your accomplishments and current events. Is this what people used before Twitter came along? Permanently bound to your mind. It ain't goin' anywhere.
> _
-
>How have our experiences with Yumemi been in the past?
>Clobber her with the Quest Log
-
>Clobber her with the Quest Log
> The sheer mass of the Quest Log crushes Yumemi to death. BAD END due to DESTINY PARADOX.
>How have our experiences with Yumemi been in the past?
> You were a bit skeptical at first, to be frank. However, you wanted to study her tactics and see if her claims of science and magic were true, so you participated in her Dim.Dream "tournament" to confirm this. While Yumemi was far from any sort of goddess, she was nice enough to construct the sentient, self-reconstructing warhead Mimi-chan for you (and Ruukuto for Reimu). You haven't seen Yumemi since then, though you do converse via snail mail/email sometimes; your relationship was pretty neutral until this point. Now, you're not sure if you should feel pity or anger for someone as respected* as Miss Strawberry Crisis.
* Depends on who you ask.
> _
-
>Well, if she's been amicable enough in the past... let's try playing nice first.
>"I ain't looking to fight ya, ze. I just want to find Alice and Medicine and clean up this mess. Care ta point me in the right direction?"
>Where would Alice and the Hakkero be from here, now that we're probably closer?
-
Yes, I've been busy as of late, forgive me.
>Well, if she's been amicable enough in the past... let's try playing nice first.
>"I ain't looking to fight ya, ze. I just want to find Alice and Medicine and clean up this mess. Care ta point me in the right direction?"
> Yumemi nods and does just that, pointing in the direction of the tubes. You ask her what the heck she means when you hear Maple speak up.
> "Uhhh, Mari...Over here," Maple says in a tone of horrifying discovery. You go over to her and find a rather (subjectively) disturbing sight...Both Alice and Medicine are in these tubes as well (fully clothed of course), and appear to be in a state of suspended animation. You ask Yumemi what the hell they're doing in those tubes...Politely, of course.
> "...Everyone here is a test subject for a matter-to-data experiment," Yumemi explains in a shaky tone. "We're trying to find a way to access the digital plane."
> _
-
>"With Guildies or otherwise, ze? I'm guessin' that's why people keep going comatose..."
>Glare at Medicine's stolen body. So close, and yet so far...
>Wouldn't be surprising if this had something to do with our weird-ass dreams and memory blips, too...
-
>"With Guildies or otherwise, ze? I'm guessin' that's why people keep going comatose..."
> Yumeko perks up at that. "Oh, that computer game everybunny here is playing?" Her expression softens into a sad look on her face as she sighs. "I should have realized that sooner, but...I guess that's why I got roped into this, to keep me quiet. And now I'm tending to this test tube garden..."
>Wouldn't be surprising if this had something to do with our weird-ass dreams and memory blips, too...
> Before the professor sinks into an emo-fueled rant, you tell her about the dreams and memory problems you've been having as of late.
> "Really now?" Yumeko says with a raised eyebrow. "How curious...I wonder how that would have come about? So many theories, but...You know me, I don't like charging forth without a straight answer."
>Glare at Medicine's stolen body. So close, and yet so far...
> "I would love to study this more," Yumeko says as you look at Medicine's body. "But I'm guessing you just want your body back at this point...Or would you rather have your friend Alice first?"
> _
-
>"Think I'd rather make sure Alice is alright first, ze. 'specially since this doesn't seem like a good time to pummel Medicine, if ya even have a way to switch me back right now."
>"... has this matter-to-data stuff been harming the physical bodies any, ze?"
-
>"Think I'd rather make sure Alice is alright first, ze. 'specially since this doesn't seem like a good time to pummel Medicine, if ya even have a way to switch me back right now."
> Yumeko nods. "Fair enough. I'll get to releasing her..."
> *WHAM.* You hear a thud against one of the doors.
> "...It seems our resident mercenary is having a field day outside. Lovely..." Yumeko quips before attempting to release Alice from her pipe prison.
>"... has this matter-to-data stuff been harming the physical bodies any, ze?"
> Yumeko shakes her head. "Aside from potential atrophy if a subject is left in the digital space too long, there haven't been any potential side effects...That have been documented, at least."
> _
-
>"The samurai, I'm guessin'? Anything I should know about 'em if we need to back up Mokou, ze?"
>Let's not alarm Alice on release.
-
>"The samurai, I'm guessin'? Anything I should know about 'em if we need to back up Mokou, ze?"
> "Other than the fact she's an unstoppable powerhouse? No, not really," Yumemi quips as she undoes the final lock on Alice's containment.
>Let's not alarm Alice on release.
> Funny you should use that word, because an alarm is exactly what goes off the instant Yumemi hits the enter key.
UNAUTHORIZED TAMPERING DETECTED. COMMENCING EMERGENCY CONSCIOUSNESS UPLOAD PROCESS.
> "DAMN YOU, RIKA!" Yumemi shouts as she looks up at Alice's tube, which is glowing. "She put in a safety measure just in case...Poor Alice is about to be uploaded to the digital space!"
> "C-Can't we just...Unplug it, or something?" Maple asks.
> "That won't work, the pods each have their own power supply...However," Yumemi muses as a countdown appears on the console of Alice's tube. "If we can force an emergency shutdown, that'll stop the process immediately." She then turns to you and Maple. "Anything you have that can gum up the works of this thing?"
> _
-
>Damnit, every time!
>"Gum up like blow up, ze, or mud or poison or what?"
>Or maybe just a stick... how indestructible is our Radiant Staff?
>Does rockfairy have any bright ideas?
-
>"Gum up like blow up, ze, or mud or poison or what?"
> "Anything! Spray some fairy dust into it or something if you have to!" Yumemi blurts out, panicking.
>Does rockfairy have any bright ideas?
> She might, but right now, Maple perks up to respond to the professor: "E-Excuse me, fairy dust isn't that easy to make...Mari, maybe you can focus your poison dust into the machine, it has an air vent in there somewhere, doesn't it?"
> Yumemi perks up at that. "The air vents...That might work, but we have to work fast," she says as she looks at the control panel, reading 45 seconds and counting.
>Or maybe just a stick... how indestructible is our Radiant Staff?
> You're not sure. It's pretty hefty, but you haven't actually taken the time to see how much pressure it can take. Not that you'd want to right now, but it's something to keep in mind.
> _
-
>"I don't wanna poison Alice if that's all she'll be able to breathe, ze! Maple, please!"
>Give her two seconds. If she doesn't get on the jamming with something less dangerous, try and gum it up with whatever syrupy-but-mostly-harmless gunk we can. Would cough syrup count?
-
>"I don't wanna poison Alice if that's all she'll be able to breathe, ze! Maple, please!"
>Give her two seconds. If she doesn't get on the jamming with something less dangerous, try and gum it up with whatever syrupy-but-mostly-harmless gunk we can. Would cough syrup count?
> Cough syrup? Probably not. As far as you know, it's not exactly poisonous...At least in regular doses. Still, you run this idea by Maple, but she shakes her head. "It's probably out of your expertise. We need something else..." Maple thinks for a moment before she gasps and says, "MUD!"
> "Excuse me?" Yumemi asks.
> "Just trust me on this! Stand back, you two!" Maple flies down to the vent at the base of the tube, and sends a stream of mud into the machine with her earth magic. "This should be thick enough to stop the machine, but dense enough to not cause Alice harm!"
> "Brilliant!" Yumemi cheers. "I hope it works..."
> The mud goes in just as the timer ticks to 30 seconds. You watch as the timer continues to tick down, and the machine reacts to Maple's tampering by flashing warning screen after warning screen. Eventually...
CONSCIOUSNESS UPLOAD FAILED. REASON: GRIEVOUS MECHANICAL ERROR (COOLING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION)
SCANNING NOW FOR MENTAL INTEGRITY OF SUBJECT...
10%...30%..50%...70%...90%...
SCAN COMPLETE. NO ANOMALIES DETECTED. PLEASE REMOVE SUBJECT FROM VESSEL AND CONTACT MAINTENANCE IMMEDIATELY.
ENTERING STANDBY MODE...
> At this point, the tube powers down, and Alice's body returns to its normal state of suspended animation. You can't help but cheer a little at this, your friend is safe for now. Yumemi immediately proceeds to carefully drain the tube of fluid and remove Alice's body.
> "Come now, wake up dear," Yumemi says gently as she pats Alice's face. It takes a while, but the demon/mage begins to come to after a few coughs and gasps.
> "W-What...? Urgh, did I drown or something...?" Alice moans as she opens her eyes, laying them upon you and Maple. "Mari...? What's going on?"
> _
-
>Restrain sigh of relief at that working. Good fairy.
>"I saved your butt at Eientei again, ze~ Though we probably got some more problems to take care of before getting back at Medicine."
>Point out the doll and start explaining the situation. We're probably going to have a samurai to deal with shortly.
>Give Alice a chance to mention anything she managed to find out before whatever the hell happened.
-
>Restrain sigh of relief at that working. Good fairy.
> Maple sees the relief on your face and smiles a bit.
>"I saved your butt at Eientei again, ze~ Though we probably got some more problems to take care of before getting back at Medicine."
> "...I can see that," Alice says, taking a look around. "Who's this?" she adds, looking at Yumemi perplexedly.
>Point out the doll and start explaining the situation. We're probably going to have a samurai to deal with shortly.
>Give Alice a chance to mention anything she managed to find out before whatever the hell happened.
> Which doll--oh right, the one on your head. You tell Alice what happened since you left the house.
> "I should have known better...Sorry," Alice says, hanging her head. You say it's no biggie, we'll have her free shortly...Right, professor?
> Yumemi sweatdrops. "That's gonna take some time...Whenever an emergency shutdown like this occurs, the rest of the tubes enter stasis as well to keep the subjects intact. I'll have to reboot the system to get Medicine free...But on the plus side, when I do reboot the system, it'll give me a chance to bypass Rikako's security measures."
> "...Speaking of her," Alice asks as you help her to her feet, "Why on earth is she doing this in the first place? And why are you helping her?"
> "I was forced to," Yumemi replies, her voice wavering a bit. "Rika kidnapped poor Chiyuri-chan and said she'd kill her if I didn't help...I hope she's still alive, I can't stand the thought of...!"
> "Ma'am, please!" Alice does her best to keep the professor from breaking down, but it doesn't help that much. "Who is this Chiyuri anyways?"
> You explain on Yumemi's behalf that Chiyuri is one of Yumemi's students, and their purpose for visiting Gensokyo all those years ago.
> "So that's where you got that talking missile...Eheh, well then," Alice turns back to Yumemi, whom is still sobbing. Alice offers the professor a (somehow still dry) hankerchief to dry her tears. "Listen...If she's the one responsible for this incident we're investigating, we're going to have to stop her...But we can't do that unless you help us."
> Yumemi sniffs, looking at you and Alice. "I don't know...Can you?"
> _
-
>"You're talking to the best goddamned magician in Gensokyo, ze. Whatdya think?!"
-
>"You're talking to the best goddamned magician in Gensokyo, ze. Whatdya think?!"
> "Marisa has a point," Maple adds. "I may have been...Less than enthusiastic to join up, but...I simply couldn't Marisa-chan's plight. We won't ignore yours, either."
> Alice nods in agreement as well. Moved by this statement, Yumemi wipes the tears from her eyes and nods as well.
> "I guess I made the right decision to ask you lot," the professor says, sniffing. "I hope my trust is not misplaced...Anyways, like I said before, Rikako is trying to find out a way to access the Digital Space, a world comprised of all the data passed through our electronic devices. Rikako believes that since Gensokyo's residents connected to the internet in recent years, the data passing into our world may have opened a pathway to the Digital Space..."
> Alice raises an eyebrow. "How is that possible? Gensokyo is a land of magic, of fantasy, technology like this shouldn't be affecting it at all."
> "Ah, but that's the thing," Yumemi states. "It's already begun to affect us. We're using it, we're expanding on it, we're just as curious as our ancestors who discovered electricity and microprocessors. And with the advent of video games and other digital entertainement...Well, I think a certain website said it best: any highly advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Rikako believes this theory is the reason why the path to the Digital Space exists, and why she's determined to reach this world and study it."
> "So that's why she forced you and Eientei to work with her...But what is her real intention?" Alice asks eagerly. "What is worth taking you all hostage?"
> "Who knows, Rika hasn't said a word since--"
> *BLAM*
> One of the doors to this room swings open violently. A huge foot-shaped dent can be seen in its surface. And in the doorway itself is the rather imposing-looking samurai you saw earlier, her blade glistening with a blood-red tint. She raises the sword on your direction and speaks in her telltale warped voice, "I hope you haven't gotten too attached to that body, because I'm going to slice it to ribbons! Step outside so I can get a nice clean slice at you!"
> _
-
> Oh shit. Time to leave, and fast. That samurai's blocking the only exit, though...
>...unless we make an exit of our own, of course. Time to put that Spirit Card to use and make a quick getaway. Sure, it's a little counterproductive to go down when we're trying to go up, but this way we'll at least have a head start on the samurai.
-
>When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. A shame dropping the ceiling on her at the entrance would get us stuck, too. Not much choice but to fight this out.
>We should actually take her up on the stepping outside part, as long as we don't get ambushed at the door... have Alice lead with a doll to make sure. Maybe we can blast an obstacle down once she has to deal with all of us...
-
>We should actually take her up on the stepping outside part, as long as we don't get ambushed at the door... have Alice lead with a doll to make sure. Maybe we can blast an obstacle down once she has to deal with all of us...
> The problem with that is that Ms. Samurai is already standing in the doorway with you, so any ambush attacks wouldn't work. Sorry for not making that clear.
> Oh shit. Time to leave, and fast. That samurai's blocking the only exit, though...
>...unless we make an exit of our own, of course. Time to put that Spirit Card to use and make a quick getaway. Sure, it's a little counterproductive to go down when we're trying to go up, but this way we'll at least have a head start on the samurai.
> Who says you have to go down to get out? ;)
(http://33.media.tumblr.com/7e645d567f5e8071d45c29e6200b30a8/tumblr_nrcoemFPfZ1r8hguio1_1280.gif)
> ...
> Geeze, it's only been three days, why did it take so long to load?
> Anyways, it's clear the Samurai wants you to fight her on her own terms, which is something you're not about to do in your current state. Your thoughts turn to the Spirit Card set in your Radiant Staff...
> Hmmmm? A falsetto voice rings loudly in your head. Are you trying to tap into the powers of that card, dearie?
> Uh, yeah, you reply and ask who the fuck she(?) is.
> Ah, such language! I'll overlook it this time, as time is of the essence! If you're to defeat this foe, you'll need a weapon more befitting of a warrior...Place the Spirit Card onto your Radiant Palette to see what I mean!
> You take out the Unmoving Earth Spirit Card, which begins to glow as you set it on the handle of your staff...Somehow.
> "Eh? What's with the fairy?" the Samurai quips. Curious, you glance back at Maple, who's also glowing.
> With a smile, Maple says, "Don't worry about me, just go for it!"
> You grin back and give her a thumbs up.
> "Not if I kill you first!" The Samurai rushes forward with intent to cut you!
"SPIRITS, UNITE AS ONE! I, LAN CAIHE, RELEASE DAI GUI'S POWER! PROTECT US, STONES OF THE EARTH!" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcBjwqh7vjk)
> Maple's body becomes a glowing light, which zooms into you and grants you immense power. So much in fact, that the Samurai's incoming sword slash is completely deflected. You can feel the magic envelop not just your body but your soul as well, which feels...Weird, to be honest. When all is said and done, however, you're wearing an armored version of your typical dress, and Maple's leaf-shaped wings have appeared on your back. The Radiant Staff has changed to a lance with a large drill-shaped head, and the three lights representing your Spell Cards are set at the butt end of the lance's handle. Thus, you dub this weapon the Radiant Driller! It has a nice ring to it, don't you think?
> "...You honestly think that cheap getup will save you?!" The Samurai angrily replies, shaken but no less determined to kill you. "I'll slice that lance right in half!"
> Well, you're at least on equal footing somehow...You could fight the Samurai now, or try to flee with the others. The choice is yours, readers!
> _
-
> Who says you have to go down to get out? ;)
>Let's do both and GET DOWN (http://www.walfas.org/flash/yukari_get_down_loop.swf)
-
Shout at your opponent. In specific, this:
"It'll pierce your heavens!" ((at least I think that's the reference, anyway))
Then, stab the ground for good measure. Try setting it to maximum spin and see if you can't kick her.
-
>Let's do both and GET DOWN (http://www.walfas.org/flash/yukari_get_down_loop.swf)
> Your boogie is so good that is causes the Samurai to flee...And makes the game crash. Nice job breaking it, hero. (BAD END ???: CRASH AND BURN)
Shout at your opponent. In specific, this:
"It'll pierce your heavens!" ((at least I think that's the reference, anyway))
Then, stab the ground for good measure. Try setting it to maximum spin and see if you can't kick her.
> You loudly declare that you'll pierce the heavens, before doing the exact opposite and impaling the ground before spinning your drill. Your roundhouse kick doesn't hit the Samurai at first, until you disengage the drill and fling yourself at her, sending the Samurai flying into the hallway. She hits the opposite wall with a loud CRASH and stumbles a bit as you land from your attack, and recover your drill staff. At least the exit is...Mostly open!
> _
-
Abscond, and if blocked, threaten one of the rabbits. After all, if you guys wanted Alice, you're gonna want these helpless rabbits...?
Also, ask her if she was ever hired by Mima. You know of at least one female samurai hit(wo)man hired to take the Hakurei power of...
what was it again, strawberry scents? Cats? Bah, forget it! Just make yer move!
-
>Don't threaten the rabbits. They're useful research material for them, but probably easy to replace, so the powers that be won't care. We don't need to be dicks about it.
>Press the attack and get the doorway cleared so the others can get out and/or provide ranged support. Looks like we're the tank this match... thanks, Maple.
-
>Wonder if Maple is secretly a pokemon professor due to her name.
-
>Wonder if Maple is secretly a pokemon professor due to her name.
> How can you think of such a silly thing like this in the middle of a battle?! Besides, you've seen Maple's home; it's no Pokemon lab, that's for sure.
Abscond, and if blocked, threaten one of the rabbits. After all, if you guys wanted Alice, you're gonna want these helpless rabbits...?
Red card for not using proper command syntax!
> You contemplate threatening the rabbits, perhaps to get the Samurai off your back...
>Don't threaten the rabbits. They're useful research material for them, but probably easy to replace, so the powers that be won't care. We don't need to be dicks about it.
> ...But you decide it's not worth it in the slightest.
Also, ask her if she was ever hired by Mima. You know of at least one female samurai hit(wo)man hired to take the Hakurei power of...
what was it again, strawberry scents? Cats? Bah, forget it! Just make yer move!
> Meira? Reimu mentioned her once or twice before, but you haven't seen her since you worked under Mima. On that note, you ask the Samurai about Mima.
> "Who the hell is Mima? Don't distract me!" she angrily replies as she gets back up to attack you again.
>Press the attack and get the doorway cleared so the others can get out and/or provide ranged support. Looks like we're the tank this match... thanks, Maple.
> You mentally thank Maple for her little gift, then say to the Samurai that you're already a distraction, ze! You block the sword strike with your lance, and she pushes you back a bit, but you breathe out a cloud of poison at close range. This doesn't seem to phase her, but you get the feeling she can't see very well with the spores covering her mask. You use the Pheonix spell card to blast the Samurai way with a flame burst, then combo it into a flaming drill strike while she's still reeling. The resulting explosion tears through the air, blasting some of the Samurai's armor off, and knocking her through a wall. Dayyyyyaaaam, you wonder. This new mode packs a punch!...You say as you start to feel a bit drained after that last attack. If you're going to end this, you better end it quick.
> On that note...Alice and Yumemi can receive commands now, but their abilities will be limited.
> _
-
By Alice's combat capabilities, is she hand-to-hand/improv weapons right now? Try to get her flanked.
Keep saying random things: if we can at least get the enemy flustered, that'll throw the fight in our favor.
(Also, hope Sakuya's secretly watching, just so we can make Killing Doll jokes.)
-
Stardust Crusader:
>We burst out some space, but that took a bit of energy... better let the artillery finish the job. Play defensive and run interference if she tries to attack.
Prismatic Dollmaker:
>Do we still have that space gun we got from Rika? Test it on the samurai if we have the opportunity.
>Failing that, prepare an explosive doll and spear-wielder to try and flank her, preferably for a kamikaze ambush when there's an opening.
Scientifical Strawberry:
>Surely WE have a space gun to blast with! Or at least scientifical magic. Right?
Fahrenheit Archeopteryx:
>Rise from your grave. Again.
-
By Alice's combat capabilities, is she hand-to-hand/improv weapons right now? Try to get her flanked.
> Alice is a little too fatigued to be trying that right now. And if she was feeling Just Fine, her hand-to-hand isn't the best unless she turns demon somehow.
Keep saying random things: if we can at least get the enemy flustered, that'll throw the fight in our favor.
> You shout the first thing that comes to your mind: ARTICHOKES ARE DELICIOUS!
> ...Man it's been a while since you ate, huh?
> "Koff..." The Samurai pulls herself from the rubble, some of her armor having been chipped off to reveal she's wearing some kind of spandex underneath. "This...Isn't...Over!" she says as she grips her katana again. "I won't fail again!"
(Also, hope Sakuya's secretly watching, just so we can make Killing Doll jokes.)
> As far as you know, Sakuya's still in a coma, (https://www.shrinemaiden.org/forum/index.php/topic,15529.msg1041444.html#msg1041444) so the likelihood of that happening is quite low.
Marisa:
>We burst out some space, but that took a bit of energy... better let the artillery finish the job. Play defensive and run interference if she tries to attack.
> You assume a defensive stance and silently challenge the Samurai to come at you. There's a bit of hesitation in the air as the two of you stare each other down...Is the Samurai holding back because of a potential rebuttal by your fellow magicians?
Yumemi:
>Surely WE have a space gun to blast with! Or at least scientifical magic. Right?
> Yumemi has no weapons in her possession! What's worse, it seems like her magic has been sealed by an anklet Rika slapped on her earlier, just so she wouldn't cause any more trouble. How do you know all this? Well, technically this is player-only information, Marisa's unaware of Yumemi's handicap at the moment!
Alice:
>Do we still have that space gun we got from Rika? Test it on the samurai if we have the opportunity.
> Alice does, actually. She reachers into her still-soaked pockets and pulls it out...Yumemi takes notice of this and beckons Alice to hand the gun to her. Confused, Yumemi somehow pantomimes a potential plan to outflank the Samurai and hit her while she's vulnerable.
Alice:
>Failing that, prepare an explosive doll and spear-wielder to try and flank her, preferably for a kamikaze ambush when there's an opening.
> Alice thankfully catches onto this plan, and summons the two dolls behind her back. Good thing Marisa's distracting the Samurai right now, eh?
Mokou:
>Rise from your grave. Again.
> It'll be a while before Mokou respawns, and depending how the battle goes she may not revive in time to make much of a contribution.
> Mokou can only accept the commands "Turn to Ash" and "Breed Maggots" at this time.
> ...
> You can sense the Samurai's hesitation. You take advantage of this and slowly advance, making her retreat into the room you just busted a hole into. The room is dark, and quite large (for the record, it's in the NE corner of Eientei's lowest basement). Realizing she's potentially going to be trapped here, the Samurai gathers energy in her blade, and powers up for a sword slash...Which she swings in your direction in the form of a massive SWORD WAVE. You can try to deflect/block it or dodge it.
> _
-
Houyan Nyau: Turn to ash, become Fawkes.
Doll Dragoon: Dodge, deflect, split the wave.
(yes, that's actual Chinese there that I used for the Mokou.)
-
>Mokou:
>>Turn into Ash Ketchum
>>Feed Baggins
-
>Preferably, deflect it away from the allies behind us.
>This is also a good time for a doll shanking! Press the assault when she has to turn to deal with them, if the ambush isn't enough.
-
Many apologies for the lack of an update, everyone. ^^;; Let's continue!
Houyan Nyau: Turn to ash, become Fawkes.
>Mokou:
>>Turn into Ash Ketchum
>>Feed Baggins
> The parser praises Nefer's mastery of the Chinese language. ;)
> Who's Baggins? In any case, Mokou's body expires. It will revive soon, but not in time to help Marisa or the others.
Doll Dragoon: Dodge, deflect, split the wave.
>Preferably, deflect it away from the allies behind us.
>This is also a good time for a doll shanking! Press the assault when she has to turn to deal with them, if the ambush isn't enough.
> You sidestep the wave and use your lance like a baseball bat, hitting the wave back at the Samurai. This attack blasts off more of her armor.
> "NOW!" Alice calls out as several of her dolls appear behind the Samurai, skewering and slashing her in her vulnerable spots.
> And to top it all off, Yumemi fires the Spacey Laser Gun, knocking the Samurai back down and knocking off her helmet and mask (while also dropping her sword in the process).
> "ARGH!" the Samurai yells as she falls, her voice no longer garbled by whatever voice modulater she was using. "D-D-Damn you..."
> You try to investigate the identity of the Samurai, but your body suddenly feels quite heavy and drained. In a flash of light, your SPIRIT FORM expires, returning you and Maple back to normal. Maple herself looks quite tired as she picks herself up off the floor next to you. "Wh-What a rush..." Maple quips weakly.
> Yumemi and Alice help you both up as Yumemi turns on the lights. The room is stocked with munitions of all kinds; this must be the Inabas' Ammo Stockroom. Yumemi cringes a bit at this. "Good thing my aim was true, eh?"
> It sure was, you say as you stumble over to the now-unmasked Samurai. Huh...That blue hair looks awfully familiar...Tenshi, is that you?
> "Yeah, it's me," Tenshi groans as she struggles to grin. "N-Not bad for...A doll."
> _
-
Fireboid:
>Breed maggots in the shape of the word "butt." This shit gets boring.
Dolly Stardust:
>Headbutt. "Just 'cause dollface did that bodyswap stuff doesn't stop me being the best magician in Gensokyo, ze!"
Rainbow Stringer:
>"Care to explain what you thought you were going to accomplish with that?"
Strawberry Scholar:[/u]
>Try not to have a heart attack.
>... would we be able to use anything from here? Hmm...
-
> MARISA: Headbutt. "Just 'cause dollface did that bodyswap stuff doesn't stop me being the best magician in Gensokyo, ze!"
> You headbutt Tenshi as hard as you can, but the celestial is much more durable than she looks, and your attack just bounces off her. At least you're not bleeding.
> "Magician, yeah...Pugilist, hardly."
> Shortly after saying that, Tenshi's surrounded by several dozen sword and lance bearing dolls. Alice seems to have gotten her stamina back.
> ALICE: "Care to explain what you thought you were going to accomplish with that?"
> "Rika needed some muscle to protect her little experiment...I was bored, so...I took her up on her offer."
> Alice just barely manages to recall something about a sword and some pieces...Could that sword Tenshi dropped have something to do with that?
YUMEMI:
>Try not to have a heart attack.
>... would we be able to use anything from here? Hmm...
> "Oh gods..." the professor gasps, realizing she almost blew up a small ammo depot. "Good thing my aim wasn't off!" Maple just shakes her head at this.
> That being said, Yumemi is familiar enough with the Usagi's tech to make use of some of this ordinance. She probably doesn't need it, but hey, a few extra explosives wouldn't hurt!
> MOKOU: Breed maggots in the shape of the word "butt." This shit gets boring.
> Mokou mostly succeeds and ends up writing the word "BUTTER" instead. Damn, now this is making her hungry...
> _
-
Rainbow Dollmaker:
>Have a doll retrieve whatever Tenshi ditched. Maybe that'll jog our memory...?
>"Charming. Did you even listen to what she was doing?"
-
>Remilia: Charisma Break
-
>Remilia: Charisma Break
> ERROR: Remilia is not able to accept commands at this time.
Alice:
>Have a doll retrieve whatever Tenshi ditched. Maybe that'll jog our memory...?
>"Charming. Did you even listen to what she was doing?"
> "D-Does it matter? I was just...Looking for...Some quick cash. Besides...Not like I'm...Gonna tell you anything," Tenshi grumbles.
> "Not even about this?" Alice says, as a few of the dolls (carefully) pick up Tenshi's damaged katana. "I remember you wielding this earlier."
> Tenshi gasps. "What the hell did you do to it?!" The celestial cringes in pain as she glares at Marisa. "You...It was just fine before you went and broke it...!"
> You ask Alice to hand over the weapon, and you examine it. It's faint, but...You can see faint traces of the same metal used to craft the Blade of Kusanagi. You ask Tenshi where she got this weapon, but she remains silent. Maybe Alice knows something?
> _
-
>What does she know that we know that she knows that... fuck making sense of that sentence, information mindgames ahoy!
>"So Alice, anything special I should know about the Kusanagi, ze?"
-
>"So Alice, anything special I should know about the Kusanagi, ze?"
> "All I know was that Tenshi was collecting fragments of it. Obviously, she was missing a few, otherwise we'd be getting a face full of tornado right about now, correct?" Alice replies. "However, that's all I know--you told me about the Kusanagi after Rinnosuke told you about it."
> That is true. You only know of how a warrior used the sword to summon a powerful wind. Is Tenshi looking for a new sword, or is it payment for her services as a bodyguard? You could keep pressing the issue, but Tenshi seems adamant on staying silent.
> Meanwhile, Maple's looking over one of the pieces of the broken sword. Her face lights up as if realizing something important, and tries getting your attention.
> _
-
Marisa, then the others, one-by-one: Notice Maple flailing her arms about in an amusing fashion.
-
Marisa, then the others, one-by-one: Notice Maple flailing her arms about in an amusing fashion.
> You look over and see Maple's smiling face. You knew fairies loved shiny things but this is a bit odd, even for Maple, you say to the earth fairy. Maple just giggles and says, "This metal you found...It's very similar to the one I used to make your Radiant Tablet. I think that's how you were able break Tenshi-san's sword; it's like diamond cutting diamond."
> Tenshi groans in anger. "Bullshit, how could that have happened?"
> "The metal I used on the tablet was of a higher concentration than the one in your sword. How did you manage to forge that thing, anyways?"
> "I...I didn't," Tenshi stammers. "I just bought it off of two dumb angels who were peddling some weapons...Rikako asked me to, she said that'd be my payment for my services. Son of a bitch...If I find those two I'll murder them!"
> "Not until you and Rikako answer for your crimes," Yumeko says, her blaster still trained on Tenshi's head.
> "...You will too, red," Tenshi retorts with a smirk. "Science marches on indeed."
> _
-
Well then let's break out the Radiant Tablet...
> ... and have a swap-and-shop! Combine spellcards all night long!
-
>We... don't exactly have it on hand. Perhaps another time.
Madame Margatroid:
>"Answering by fixing the problems she caused, rather than whining about not getting her way. Yumemi, what should we do with her?"
Miss Marisa:
>"Those two again, ze...?"
>... let's leave it at that and see how Tenshi reacts before we see about sending her on a vengeancequest to dreamland so we don't have to.
-
Well then let's break out the tech...
> ... and have a swap-and-shop!
>> ... by getting Marisa back into her body!
-
Alice:
>"Answering by fixing the problems she caused, rather than whining about not getting her way. Yumemi, what should we do with her?"
> "We should contain her. I'm sure we can use one of the holding cells on this floor," Yumemi explains. Alice almost sadistically considers using one of the pods as a containment cell instead, but puts that thought aside for now.
Marisa:
>"Those two again, ze...?"
>... let's leave it at that and see how Tenshi reacts before we see about sending her on a vengeancequest to dreamland so we don't have to.
> "...What, you got conned by them too?" Tenshi asks, looking at you curiously.
Well then let's break out the Radiant Tablet...
> ... and have a swap-and-shop! Combine spellcards all night long!
>We... don't exactly have it on hand. Perhaps another time.
> Come to think of it, you never figured out how to un-transform this thing or add new cards to it...
> You decide to beat around the bush by ignoring Tenshi for a moment, giving off a grin as you do so, and ask Maple about the tablet.
> "Eh? Strange, I thought you could just do it at will...Maybe your doll body is hindering the magical interface process. We should put your soul back in your original body as soon as possible!" Maple says.
> You nod eagerly. About time you got your body back, you say. Maybe once you've all regrouped you can consider your next move...Which would be a perfect opportunity for "gathering" more spell cards to use for yourself!
> ... by getting Marisa back into her body!
> "H-hey...Wait a moment..." Tenshi says, straining to sit back up. "Wasn't...There like...A doll with you?"
> In the midst of this victory, you forgot about Mini-Medicine. She's not under your hat, but you can sense her presence in the containment pod room. What the hell is she up to now?
> _
-
> We're off to see... no, wait, we have the wizard here.
>That doll. What's it up to now?
-
>Knowing our luck, probably letting Medicine out to try and kill us again. Joy.
>Do we have a soul-connection check thing for mini-medi? Give it a quick try... otherwise, we should probably hurry over...
>"They've been being a pain for me today, ze..."
>Hint at where they live, even if we know they're out right now. Property damage wouldn't hurt...
-
...
Two months. Two. Freaking. Months.
It took me getting bodied by a Hell fairy's moons to make me remember that I'm still a Touhou fan, and I still have a story to tell you all.
I may get sidetracked.
I may get distracted.
I may have some catastrophic life event happen to me.
But so long as I live, breathe and type, I just have this to say..
THE DREAM IS NOT DEAD! (https://youtu.be/vvcWIkmDlHA?t=682)
I am the engineer on this train, and you are my passengers! I have a destination to take you all towards, and come Hell or high water, WE WILL REACH IT! IKU ZE~!!
> We're off to see... no, wait, we have the wizard here.
> That doll. What's it up to now?
> Multiple wizards, technically. You have Alice, you have yourself, you...Kinda have Yumemi here, and I guess Maple counts too???
>"They've been being a pain for me today, ze..."
>Hint at where they live, even if we know they're out right now. Property damage wouldn't hurt...
> You indirectly say that those two won't stay hidden for long, and grin as you do so.
> "Well, good, I guess...Sock 'em one for me."
> You say to Tenshi that you plan on doing just that, but...
>Knowing our luck, probably letting Medicine out to try and kill us again. Joy.
>Do we have a soul-connection check thing for mini-medi? Give it a quick try... otherwise, we should probably hurry over...
> ...You have a bigger problem to deal with. You still have a link to Mini-Medi, but it seems to have weakened in the past few minutes. You hustle past the others and head back to the containment pod room as quick as you can...
> ...Aw, crap. You come back to find your body on the floor, outside of an open pod, and Mini-Medicine's lifeless body next to yours. You might wanna do something about this, and fast.
> _
-
>"For fuck's sake, ze!"
>Grab the little doll. Shake it (gently at first?) to try and get a response.
-
>"For fuck's sake, ze!"
>Grab the little doll. Shake it (gently at first?) to try and get a response.
> You pick up Mini Medi and shake her a bit, demanding an answer. She does not react.
> Hmm? Wait a second, there's a piece of paper pinned to her back...
> _
-
>Does it say "Sucker"?
-
>Does it say "Sucker"?
> Not in the way one would assume...
"Thanks for letting me borrow your body for a bit. :) I know you're upset, but please understand...I was just trying to find my way home, that's all. Maybe we'll see each other online sometime? Take care~!"
> _
-
>"Maybe I'll believe you when you give it back, ze!"
>Check up on our body...
-
>"Maybe I'll believe you when you give it back, ze!"
>Check up on our body...
> Your body is still on the warm side, but it probably won't stay that way for long. You can't sense the presence of a "soul" or anything similar to it within your body.
> Yumemi is the first to arrive back in the pod room, and she gasps upon arriving. "Marisa, what the bloody hell happened?!" You explain as best you can. "...This is bad. We need to keep your body preserved until we can transfer your soul back...Then again..."
> _
-
>"Yeah, I'm thinkin' it'd be nice to do it NOW, ze...?"
>The how's the hard part?
-
>The how's the hard part, isn't it?
-
>"Yeah, I'm thinkin' it'd be nice to do it NOW, ze...?"
>The how's the hard part?
> "Er, right, I got a bit distracted. We'll have to go speak to Eirin, she's probably the only person that can help you right now," Yumemi suggests.
> _
-
>All: ERIN ERIN TASUKETE ERIN!!!
-
>All: ERIN ERIN TASUKETE ERIN!!!
> You consider shouting that popular meme out loud, but you have a feeling that'd cause more trouble than it'd be worth, so you hold off on that for now.
> THUNK KA-THUNK.
> Somehow, you're able to hear what seems to be a body falling down a staircase, followed by dozens of rapid footsteps. Looks like you have visitors, but are they friend or foe?
> _
-
Does Medicine have your Hakkero? If so...
>Take the Hakkero
-
Does Medicine have your Hakkero? If so...
>Take the Hakkero
> You find the Hakkero and your missing items within your MASSIVE BAG OF HOLDING, which Medicine no doubt stole from you when she hijacked your body. Thank goodness nothing got wet.
> The footsteps are getting closer.
> _
-
>Take aim.
>"Move and I'll shoot!"
-
>Take aim.
>"Move and I'll shoot!"
> "Mari, relax, its me--Eirin!" you hear from around the corner. You can see her shadow imposed on the floor as she approaches.
> _
-
Oh. Okay, way to kill the drama.
> Swap us. Now.
-
Oh. Okay, way to kill the drama.
Sorry...I have flubbed up consistently in this story, but at this point, the parser just wants to move on. Maybe part two will be better. ^^;;
> Swap us. Now.
> "...A bit eager, are we? Come out where I can see you and the others clearly. I won't shoot you."
> _
-
((Help, I don't know what to say!))
Um...
==>
(Just assume she stuck her head above the table.)
-
((Help, I don't know what to say!))
Um...
==>
(Just assume she stuck her head above the table.)
> The parser understands your plight and grants you a boon!
> You peek around the corner and see Eirin...As well as a small platoon of well-armed rabbits. You comment on how she wasn't going to shoot you.
> "You're right, I wasn't, but they sure as hell were ready to...Just in case." One of the rabbits chuckles at this, but Eirin shoots him a glare and he quickly shuts up. "Where are the others? Are they safe?"
> You ask Alice and the others to come out. Alice is carrying your body while Yumemi is carrying the still-injured Tenshi. Maple, however, looks a bit perplexed and asks "Whatever happened to those soldiers from earlier?"
> Eirin grins. "Good question...While the enemy had me locked up in the medical ward, I wasn't completely shut out from the outside world. I hacked one of my medical monitoring systems to connect to the mansion's security cameras. I saw you had engaged Rikako's hired help...And dispatched with her nicely, I might add."
> Tenshi growls.
> "Apparently, Rikako panicked at your sudden transformation, and sent all of her men to try and head you off before you could cause trouble...But that just left less security to to guard the rest of the Eientei residents. Reisen was able to free the others and stage a counter-attack; I went down here with a select few to back you up...Looks like it wasn't necessary."
> "Then that means Rikako is still around...We have to track her down immediately," Yumemi says in a grim tone. "She still has my assistant and I will not rest until I can get her back safely!"
> "She took her hostage?" Eirin asks, and Yumemi nods in response. "That's not good...Marisa, why don't you go with the professor and your friends to help Reisen? Chances are Rikako's still somewhere nearby. I can watch over your body and the celestial in the meantime."
> "I have a name, you know!" Tenshi declares before getting a bonk on the head, courtesy of Yumemi.
> "What about you?" Alice asks the brain of the moon.
> "I need to go back and keep an eye on Kaguya-hime, in case her condition worsens again," Eirin replies. "I'll leave you in charge of these rabbits here if you decide to go after Rikako," she continues, motioning to the rabbits behind her.
> Seems like this mission isn't over just yet...You could help Yumemi go after Rikako, or you can focus on trying to get your consciousness restored to your original body.
> _
-
Focus on yourself.
>Let's put the doll back in the doll.
-
Focus on yourself.
>Let's put the doll back in the doll.
> After a bit of thinking, you come to the conclusion that it's best to get your soul returned to its original body ASAP. After all, Medicine's body can't handle the same amount of magical power your body has been built up with over the years. You tell Eirin this.
> "...All right then, I see your point. Let's move your body up to the Medical Ward, then," Eirin asks as she returns to the capsule room. "I could use a hand or two, you want your friends to help?"
> Ah, that's right, Maple and Alice are still with you. You might want to give them something to do while Eirin's helping you with your soul transport. Yumemi looks rather cross at your decision, and she doesn't say a word to you as she takes command of the aforementioned Inaba Platoon and heads off to catch Rikako. You have a feeling she's going to remember your decision.
> Speaking of people being brought back, Mokou hasn't been seen since Tenshi sliced her up a while ago. You wonder if she's ok...
> _
-
(Please tell me this ain't dead, i love this and the parser (GM) i rate 9/10 needs more references)
>Ponder how long will Mokou take to come back.
>Consider sending Maple or Alice to assist Yumemi (I am the part of Marisa that is selfless and caring).
>Ask Eirin to be as quick as she can be, because you want to go help too, you just want to be done with this issue here.
(Now back to Fire Emblem, where the only thinks you can trust are the numbers 100, 0, and the Crit animations....Go Hector!)
-
(Please tell me this ain't dead, i love this and the parser (GM) i rate 9/10 needs more references)
Rejoice, for the game is still afoot! The game will keep going so long as players will keep, well, playing in it (otherwise the parser would have just made a fanfic about this adventure by now).
References can only take a story so far, but the parser is glad you find them amusing. ;)
>Ponder how long will Mokou take to come back.
> Usually, it doesn't take Mokou very long to come back...Less than a minute for her to burn up and reconstitute herself, usually. Mokou's absence after that last fight is worrying, and you suspect something may have happened with her rebirth.
>Consider sending Maple or Alice to assist Yumemi (I am the part of Marisa that is selfless and caring).
> While you do desire to return to your normal body, you feel a twinge of remorse at what you said to the professor earlier. You ask Maple if she can assist her with the rescue.
> "Eh?! Me? W-Well...All right, sure, we at least owe her for helping us out earlier," Maple replies. "I'll do what I can, and hopefully make it back in one piece!" You say that she will, and Maple giggles nervously at that before flying off.
> Maple has split off from the party. You can still issue commands to her, however.
>Ask Eirin to be as quick as she can be, because you want to go help too, you just want to be done with this issue here.
> As for the matter of getting your body back in place...You ask Alice to join you and her in the infirmary. Alice jumps at the opportunity to help with some unexpected enthusiasm. "Easy there, Miss Margatroid. Your friend's soul is still inside, after all."
> Alice smiles. "No worries, I have the utmost confidence we can sort this out. Shall we head to the infirmary then?"
(Now back to Fire Emblem, where the only thinks you can trust are the numbers 100, 0, and the Crit animations....Go Hector!)
And the letter A, don't forget that.
-
Gensokian Fairy Picasso:
>Look at the Inaba Troops.
>Keep an eye out for Rika and DON'T FORGET abot the anti-antigravity field.
>Should Rika be found help doing efforts to slow her down or snare her, we can't risk hurting Reisen if she has her.
Magidoll Talker-ze:
>Check Mari-Medi/Medicine on Marisa's body, if anything is wrong with it, charge money from her
>Put Hakkero near your body, we will change bodies again, so let's make sure our main tool is safe.
>Procced with Operation Soul Trader
>Wonder if Mokou got impaled on bamboo again (Purplequest strikes back!)
-
Gensokian Fairy Picasso:
>Look at the Inaba Troops.
> They seem like a capable bunch; they're wearing camouflaged versions of the combat helmets the Usagi usually wear. Their guns, gadgets and armor are less advanced than the Kappa tech you've seen before. One of the inaba, a young male with copper-colored hair, seems particularly nervous; the look on his face screams "I just want to get this over with."
>Keep an eye out for Rika and DON'T FORGET abot the anti-antigravity field.
> Maple flies ahead and tells Professor Okazaki that she's accompanying her on this rescue mission. "That's good," she replies in a flat tone. Maple thinks she's still salty about Marisa turning her down, but you're sure things will improve once her pupil is safe and sound.
> As for that anti-gravity field...Heh, no worries, Maple knows just how to exploit that bit of kit...
>Should Rika be found help doing efforts to slow her down or snare her, we can't risk hurting Reisen if she has her.
> Maple thinks that Reisen should be fine, but she keeps her guard up regardless. There's no telling what else this crazy scientist is capable of.
> LOADING...ERROR! ERROR!
> THE NEXT BATTLE SCENARIO REQUIRES A SPECIAL PLUGIN IN ORDER TO RENDER PROPERLY.
> SEARCH FOR AND DOWNLOAD PLUGIN? [Y/N]
Magidoll Talker-ze:
>Check Mari-Medi/Medicine on Marisa's body, if anything is wrong with it, charge money from her
> You and Eirin do a thorough scan of your body. You're aware of Medicine's venomous powers all too well.
> "Hmm..." Eirin hums to herself. "Your body seems to be in good shape. Rika did a good job preserving it...An almost immaculate job. You probably will need to eat a snack and drink some water before you get back up and running again, I'm sure you'll be hungry."
>Put Hakkero near your body, we will change bodies again, so let's make sure our main tool is safe.
> You tuck your Precious Thing into your BAG OF HOLDING, where it belongs. In fact, you go ahead and transfer your items from Medi-Mari's inventory to yours (except the clothing of course, even dolls have to stay decent).
>Wonder if Mokou got impaled on bamboo again (Purplequest strikes back!)
> You chuckle at the thought of this scenario happening, and Alice asks you what's so funny. You tell her what's on your mind.
> "Er...Uh...Well," Alice turns towards Eirin. "Has this happened before?"
> "Many times," Eirin says with a slight grin. "Bamboo make effective spike pits."
> Alice gulps. "Well then...I hope she comes back soon, haha..."
>Procced with Operation Soul Trader
> "Anyways..." Alice begins, composing herself. "I wasn't going to use this, but...Now's a good time to test it." Alice then produces one of the most intricate and ornate spell cards you've seen in in your life...The legendary SOUL DEPOSIT Spell Card. You've only seen this a couple times as Alice has reworked and improved this card in the past, with the soul sole purpose of giving life to a living doll. "I'm gonna need your help for this," Alice says to Eirin, whom nods.
> A Soul Transfer is not something to be taken lightly. Souls are delicate things, and if something goes wrong, the Soul could be lost to a hungry youkai, the Netherworld, or worse, be destroyed completely. However, you are confident that these two can get the job done.
> You lay yourself on the table next to your still body and close your eyes. You can hear Alice and Eirin shuffle into position, and then...
> "Ready?" Alice asks.
> "As I'll ever be," Eirin replies.
> You hear Alice chant a rather long and complicated incantation, something you've heard a few times before. Maybe you should commit this to memory later...
> The next thing you know, there is a great surge of magical power crackling through the air, and then a massive jolt hitting your body like a mighty DUNDABOLT. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k98exYIItM)
> And then, darkness and silence...
(http://www.qotile.net/blog/images/static2.gif)
> ...
> Is this the real life?
> Is this just fantasy?
> Caught in a landslide,
> No escape from reality...
> Open your eyes, look up into the skies and see... (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ9rUzIMcZQ)
(http://static.zerochan.net/Izayoi.Sakuya.full.1954375.jpg)
source (finding a good, non-action pose pic took way longer than expected) (http://www.zerochan.net/1954375)
> Here we go again...You are now SAKUYA IZAYOI, the ELEGANT PERFECT MAID of the Scarlet Devil Mansion. For as long as you can remember, you've been a loyal and faithful servant of REMILIA and FLANDRE SCARLET, carrying out duties such as CLEANING THE MANSION, SHOPPING, KEEPING OUT INTRUDERS, SOLVING INCIDENTS, and VCR REPAIR. While you are good at what you do, you have been known to succumb to COMPLETE DITZINESS at times, possibly as side effect of your most notable power: TIME MANIPULATION. You can stop time, speed it up, slow it down, or even erase moments in time altogether. Reversing time is is a bit trickier however; you can't restore the state of an object or person to a previous point in time, but you can change its position in time...In essence you could change SPACE as well, but that's more of MISS YAKUMO'S forte. In terms of non-magical combat, you usually rely on your throwing knives and agility to outsmart your enemy. They can't hit what they can't touch!
> You're currently in the HUMAN VILLAGE, having just finished up your GROCERY SHOPPING for the week. All that's left is to stop by KOURINDOU and pick up a few more odds and ends, you have a separate SHOPPING LIST for that. It's also currently getting close to DUSK; you'd best get a move on before the mistress wakes up tonight.
> _
-
Holy shit, Wolverine Sakuya! No wait, it`s just silverware. :V
>Check shopping list.
>Can you fly with the groceries ? And if so can you do it fast in order to get there faster ?
I was going to make a Pad joke here, but i like and respect Sakuya, so nope, i`ll let others do it.
(BTW that pic is missing Sakuya`s black strap with the knife on her left leg.)
-
Holy shit, Wolverine Sakuya! No wait, it`s just silverware. :V
shame, she could have had the ability to heal her wounds by reversing time on them
>Check shopping list.
> As mentioned before, your Grocery List is complete, so the parser won't go into detail here. If the pic is any indication however...It seems the mistress and her sister were in the mood for some chili? A strange choice, maybe, but Flandre insisted upon it. Said the "spiciness might help with her upcoming game session."
> As for the Kourindou Shopping List however...
- replacement reader for the VCR
- a copy of "So You Want To Be A Wizard" by Diane Duane
- inkwell refills
- AA batteries
- pink and red spools of thread
- chalk, lots of it
>Can you fly with the groceries ? And if so can you do it fast in order to get there faster ?
> But of course. Much like a certain black-white witch, you carry a BAG OF HOLDING to make your shopping trips a lot easier. Saves you the trouble of teleporting back and forth repeatedly.
I was going to make a Pad joke here, but i like and respect Sakuya, so nope, i`ll let others do it.
Good, you just dodged a knife-shaped bullet. Can others do the same? :V
(BTW that pic is missing Sakuya`s black strap with the knife on her left leg.)
Good eye! I thought that was just a fanon add-on, but nope, it's canon according to her picture from EoSD. I guess the artist didn't feel like drawing it, or was lazy. Or both. (shrugs)
> _
-
>Wonder how many times the VCR broke and why, did Flandre do it ?
>Fly to get to Korindou ASAP.
>Think about you and your relation with the other residents and "casual visitors" (Miss Lasers and Stars Borrowinger-ze).
-
>Wonder how many times the VCR broke and why, did Flandre do it ?
> Flan only broke the VCR once, which was when the machine ate one of her favorite tapes. Upset, Flan kicked the VCR into a nearby wall, but thankfully it didn't completely destroy the console. Most of the time, the VCR failures can be attributed to lousy parts. At least they're cheap and relatively easy to come by.
>Think about you and your relation with the other residents and "casual visitors" (Miss Lasers and Stars Borrowinger-ze).
> You know Marisa well enough to speak with her, but you don't know her on a particularly close level (friendly or otherwise). However, it's a different story when she's inside the mansion. Marisa constantly keeps you on guard, but with your regular duties to the mansion and the Scarlets, it's difficult to keep track of the witch's location at any given moment. Besides, it's not like she's targeted anyone outside the library...And Marisa knows that she'd rather avoid a fight than pick one when she's doing a raid. You could easily stop Marisa if given the chance, but that's the thing--she's memorized your routine to a T and knows when to strike when you're at your busiest. That's how she was able to strike the last time Patchy's brother visited. What a pain...At least you're not scolded for it like Meiling always is.
> As for the rest of the residents...You see Remilia as a sort of motherly figure, since she was the one who took you into the mansion in the first place. Flan is more of that "crazy yet cool" aunt, she's since calmed down from her usual destructive antics and has focused a lot on playing video games and collecting toys. While you'd object to this, you respect the little sister's decision and keep your opinions to yourself. Patchy is more of a mentor to you than anything, since she teaches you when you're not busy doing your rounds. Koa's more like a fellow classmate to you in Patchy's "class," that sort of girl that seems to be ahead of the learning curve, and is very helpful when studying. Meiling is your co-worker and subordinate, and while you do smack her around a couple times for failing to do her job, you do so with a gentle hand and treat her with a lot more respect than your mistress gives her.
> The Three Fairies of Light are working at the mansion for some odd reason and you wish you didn't have to put up with their childish antics. It's like having three Cirnos in the house!
> Expanding a bit outside the mansion...Your thoughts turn to MONARDA KNOWLEDGE, Patchy's brother. Like Patchy, he is incredibly intelligent but suffers from a medical condition, in this case a weaker heart. He's very curt, gentleman-like, and a lot more patient when it comes to dealing with those less versed in magic, and...You'll admit, he is handsome. However, you never say it to him directly, he always blushes like a tomato when he's complemented on his looks. His magical skill is on par with Patchy's, though he tries to use low-powered spells when he can to avoid overtaxing his heart too much. After all, the brain needs blood as well...Also, much like Patchy he has a familiar of his own, a swordsman named Zakuro. You're not sure what species he is, though he claims to have fought in many battles in the underworld. Zakuro is a lot more...Loose than his owner is, and isn't afraid of cracking a joke or chiding his master for his mistakes. In a sense, he's very much like a male Koakuma, if Koa was particularly sarcastic that day.
> Near the lake, you are aware of Cirno, whom you've had the misfortune of dealing with in the past a couple times. She never. Stops. Talking. Such tomboyish behavior and foolish decision-making make you glad that you're working for a prim and proper lady like Remilia. There is also a mermaid by the name of Wakasagihime that lives in the lake itself, but you barely see her. Perhaps she's a noblewoman as well? You'd ask more about her past, but your duties and Waka-hime's timid nature keep you from exploring the lake on your free time.
> ...Ah, all this wondering about your neighbors has caused you to lose track of time! You'd better get a move on!
>Fly to get to Korindou ASAP.
> No need to fly, though you do use your flying ability to make great leaps across the town, being careful not to land on anyone by accident. Normally, people would call you out for this (or make a catcall at a potential upskirt shot), but it's getting dark out, so there aren't many people out. You do, however, spot one of SEKIBANKI'S heads roaming the town's streets.
> You land at Kourindou's front door. Since it's dusk, there are no customers crowding the entrance. You shouldn't have a problem getting in.
> _
-
>Enter the shop and have a look around.
>Greet Rinnosuke if he's there and ask first about the VCR, the batteries and the Videotape.
>Why do we need the chalk and the spools of thread anyway ?
-
>Why do we need the chalk and the spools of thread anyway ?
> Patchy uses the chalk for magic circles and her blackboard. It's cheap, but considering how often the fairies swipe it, it might as well be as expensive as kneaded erasers.
> You use the thread to mend the sisters' clothing in case it gets damaged. In fact, you act as SDM's seamstress in case someone's outfit gets damaged, though Patchy and Hong are capable of working a needle on their own.
>Enter the shop and have a look around.
> The bell dings as you step through the doorway. An old record player is playing The Ink Spots' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ink_Spots) "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire," a song that you've taken a liking to for some reason.
> "Ah, just when I was about to close up early tonight..." Rinnosuke says as you enter. "You have the quirkiest timing ever, young lady."
> You take a moment to look around as Rinno unlocks the cash register for use again. You see a variety of knick-knacks, but for the sake of time you'll have to use the "EXAMINE" command to look at exactly what Rinnosuke has on display.
>Greet Rinnosuke if he's there and ask first about the VCR, the batteries and the Videotape.
> You smile and cut right to the chase--you need those VCR replacement parts and the batteries ASAP.
> "You sure you don't want that Laserdisc player instead? I could use the shelf space," Rinnosuke shortles, gesturing towards the massive device in the display window. "It still works, you know. I'll even throw in a copy of Cliffhanger for free!"
> _
-
>How much money do we have ? Does Remilia give us a great pay so we can buy our own neat personal things ?
>"First things first, Rinnosuke, i'd like to get the VCR reader and the batteries before thinking about buying that, so please get them for me will you ?"
>Examine Laserdisc Player.
>Examine items in display and describe each.
>Examine Rinnosuke.
>Examine the store to make sure no Yukari troublemaker portals are present.
>Examine Parser
>A Laserdisc might be better that the VCR in quality but i'm pretty sure it's hard to come around, so if it breaks it's gonna be hard to get another one or parts for one. If it is too expensive, decline.
-
The parser would like to preface this statement with two disclaimers:
-I'm using USD as the "universal" currency instead of yen, not out of disrespect for the Japanese yen, but it saves me the trouble of having to run to another tab to convert the value to another currency.
-I have no understanding of how prices are supposed to be set, so if anything seems BS-worthy, it probably is. :V Just remember it's only a game.
>Examine Parser
> YOU CANNOT COMPREHEND THE MIGHT OF THE PARSER'S EXISTENCE!
>How much money do we have ? Does Remilia give us a great pay so we can buy our own neat personal things ?
> Remi does pay you well, but you keep your paycheck cash separate from what you use to buy essentials. That being said, Remi gave you a surprisingly large amount this time around: after buying the groceries today, you have about $320 USD left over (produce is expensive these days). You wonder if Remi foresaw something like this and provided you the extra cash on purpose...?
>"First things first, Rinnosuke, i'd like to get the VCR reader and the batteries before thinking about buying that, so please get them for me will you ?"
> "Ah, of course," Rinnosuke says with a smile. "I haven't forgotten about that, give me a moment." He bends down to retrieve the items from under the counter.
>Examine the store to make sure no Yukari troublemaker portals are present.
> You stop time for a moment and take a look around. You spot a small portal in the back wall of the shop, but that's normal--Yukari has set up these small rifts for those who wish to connect to her private server. Rinnosuke normally avoids shady dealings with the gap demon, but in this case he made an exception. Being connected to the internet makes it easier to find goods, after all.
> Aside from the above, you don't see any other portals...However, you do notice what appear to be fine tears here and there around the store. They're not big enough to let anything through, but they give off a different aura from Yukari's gaps. Strange...You never saw a phenomenon like this before.
>Examine Rinnosuke.
> Rinnosuke is unchanged from his normal attire, but he has slightly more noticeable bags under his eyes. Thanks to the extra business from the recent Internet boom, he's been working a lot harder, but he's hired a few couriers to assist with deliveries. this is not at all inspired by or related at all to silverquest what're you talking about
>Examine Laserdisc Player.
> It's a Pioneer V2600 (http://www.amazon.com/PIONEER-CLD-V2600-LASERDISC-PLAYER-REMOTE/dp/B0007V9CU6) model, according to the display sign. When Rinno last told you about this device, it was in working condition, and pretty well-kempt despite its age. The asking price is $150 USD, but you have a feeling you could push the price lower if you really wanted it.
>Examine items in display and describe each.
(heavy sigh) The parser feels for anyone who has to add flavor text to every single thing in an RPG...here goes something.
> You also take this time to look at the...
<ThirdEyeLem> @dice 1d10
<Keine-tan> ThirdEyeLem: 4
> ...Four other items on display. whew!
> First up is a SELF-PLAYING CHESS SET. You're not entirely sure if this enchanted, possessed or what, but there is clearly some supernatural presence to it. The pieces are in decent shape, albeit a bit worn, and the board is intact. Everything is wrapped up in a nice, muhhhhhhhhHOGANY box. Rinnosuke has to put a restraining charm on it every few days to keep the box and the pieces from flying all over the place. It runs for $20 USD.
> Next up is a SWORD AND SHIELD SET THAT IS MUCH TOO SMALL FOR YOU. If anything, these weapons would be more suitable for one of the fairies...If they had the strength to lift these in the first place. Your PROTAGONIST SENSE tells you that the sword is a WORN SHORT SWORD +1, and boy does the "WORN" portion of it ring true. The sword has been through many battles, and is in desperate need of sharpening. The shield is a unique low-level TIGERFACE SHIELD, which...Has a tiger's face carved into the front. It too has seen its share of battles, but it's somehow in better shape than the sword is, it just needs to be buffed a bit. Since Rinno doesn't intend to get a good price from this set, it's all only selling for $10 USD.
> After that, we have a JAR OF YUUKA KAZAMI'S FEEL-GOOD HONEY. According to Rinnosuke, a few drops of this will cure most minor ailments--coughs, sniffles, itchiness, you name it. Pretty tasty considering the youkai who manufactures it. It only runs $4 USD.
> And last, but not least...We have, of all things...A DIAMOND SHOVEL. It's so shiny! It's so pristine! It's so...EXPENSIVE! $1500 USD for this gaudy thing? At least it'll never break!...Quickly.
>A Laserdisc might be better that the VCR in quality but i'm pretty sure it's hard to come around, so if it breaks it's gonna be hard to get another one or parts for one. If it is too expensive, decline.
> If you must, you can ask one of the Kappa to fix the Laserdisc player. Remi has a way of negotiating with others. Again, you can haggle the price down if you really want it.
> Your time stop wears off, and Rinnosuke returns with the box containing the VCR parts and batteries. "Here ya go," he says, putting the items on the table. "Does 25 sound like a good price for these items?"
> _
-
>
Ask the Parser his PAD..... NO! Not that kind of pad (??)....... ID Number
>Ask Hachi to use his Barter CO Power, get everything for Half Price, Profit !
>Consider If Patchouli would have use for the Self-Playing Chessboard.
>"Yes, i'll take it, i'll also take 2 jar of honey, and would you have an "So You Want To Be A Wizard" book here also, the one from Diane Duane ? "
> OOC:Tell the Parser that although Diamond is the hardest material known, it's hardly the toughest, as hitting a Diamond on certain angles would make it split if i'm right.
>Reflect your relationship with Rinnosuke, Marisa, Reimu, the other Mansion members, and the Fairy Maids that help out.
>Ship Rinnosuke with Were-Hakutaku Teacher Keine. Not even the Parser is powerful enough to counter facts.
>"... and also, that Diamond Shovel is a bit too expensive, maybe lower the price by 100 or 150, that ought to be more fair."
-
> OOC:Tell the Parser that although Diamond is the hardest material known, it's hardly the toughest, as hitting a Diamond on certain angles would make it split if i'm right.
That is true, thank you for pointing that out.
>Ask the Parser his PAD..... NO! Not that kind of pad (??)....... ID Number
> ERROR: The Parser does not play Puzzles and Dragons, he's strictly a Brave Frontier player.
>Ask Hachi to use his Barter CO Power, get everything for Half Price, Profit !
> ERROR: Sakuya is not a military official, and therefor has no CO influence! Therefore, we can't ask a fictional video game character to haggle the prices down for us!
>Consider If Patchouli would have use for the Self-Playing Chessboard.
> Patchy does enjoy an occasional chess game, but with so many predictable states, she gets bored pretty fast. However, the three fairies might enjoy it, possibly as an aid for teaching problem solving. Even a child can learn some things.
>Reflect your relationship with Rinnosuke, Marisa, Reimu, the other Mansion members, and the Fairy Maids that help out.
> You and Rinnosuke are on good terms, though he always gets irked when you exercise some of the business savvy that Remilia taught you. It's always satisfying to see his brow furrow when that happens. ;)
> As mentioned earlier, you're on good terms with Marisa when solving incidents, but when she attacks the mansion directly, it's another story. Reimu...You don't exactly get along with. She's far too uptight and serious, and talking with her is sometimes more of a hassle than it's worth unless you're both on a mission. Pick your poison indeed.
> You're on good terms with most of the mansion residents. Remi and Flan treat you as if you were family, Patchy is a good but strict teacher, Koa's polite (if a bit snarky at times), and Meiling makes mistakes but you respect her devotion and determination. The fairies always give you fits when they misbehave, but you know how to discipline them. This makes you wonder how you managed to put up with Remilia for so long...
>Ship Rinnosuke with Were-Hakutaku Teacher Keine. Not even the Parser is powerful enough to counter facts.
> If it's not on the wiki, it's not canon. :V Regardless, you think this is a cute ship, but you'll have to do more research to see if the two are legitimately compatible. You mentally mark this down on your RELATIONSHIP MATRIX as "Rinnosuke <???> Keine."
>"Yes, i'll take it, i'll also take 2 jar of honey, and would you have an "So You Want To Be A Wizard" book here also, the one from Diane Duane ? "
> You snap back to reality, realizing that time is short. You decide to add a couple jars of honey to that order, as well as ask about the book.
> "Ah yes, the leftovers from Keine-san's book sale...I can sell it for 12 bucks," Rinno says. "As for the honey, I'll give you a discount on that--six bucks for both jars sounds fair, doesn't it?" he adds with a smile.
> FYI, if you were to buy everything in your imaginary cart, it'd cost $43 USD.
>"... and also, that Diamond Shovel is a bit too expensive, maybe lower the price by 100 or 150, that ought to be more fair."
> While you ponder the curcent price of the items, you suggest the shovel price drop to Rinnosuke. His eyebrow furrows ever so slightly while his smile still retains its shape. "I'll consider it," he says quickly.
> _
-
It's always satisfying to see his brow furrow when that happens. ;)
I'm not sadistic, just kinda masochistic, i have no desire to intimidate or hurt anyone whatsoever, even if it's funny. (Well, except Seiga Dreamcast, but that's totally justified !)
>"That seem fair, i'll also take the chessboard, that makes it 63 bucks total."
>Get all the (bought) goods.
>"Thank you, i'll see you next time the VCR breaks again, or if i change my mind on that Laser Disc, whichever comes."
>Return to Mansion.
>Consider Koakuma x Patchouli Relationship, are they in good terms or on a little unstable ground ?
>Give a jar to Rafael (Me) then fix 4th wall, food poisoning isn't fun.
-
I'm not sadistic, just kinda masochistic, i have no desire to intimidate or hurt anyone whatsoever, even if it's funny. (Well, except Seiga Dreamcast, but that's totally justified !)
Well, keep in mind that these are Sakuya's thoughts, not the player's. The Parse does not see Rinno's torment as anything but a light jab, the only thing that's being hurt is his bank account (and let's be fair he's gonna make bank on that shovel no matter what price it is).
>Give a jar to Rafael (Me) then fix 4th wall, food poisoning isn't fun.
Sheesh, you too? I feel your pain, bro :( (though it's probably long since passed, sorry)
>"That seem fair, i'll also take the chessboard, that makes it 63 bucks total."
>Get all the (bought) goods.
> "R-Really? I was wondering when someone would buy that old thing..." Rinnosuke says with a sigh of relief. "Keeping an eye on that is like trying to maintain a flea circus. Allow me." He goes and gathers up the chess set, as well as all the items, and puts them in a cloth bag for you before ringing you up.
> OBTAINED BAG OF GOODS: OTHER! (total funds: $257 USD)
>"Thank you, i'll see you next time the VCR breaks again, or if i change my mind on that Laser Disc, whichever comes."
> Rinnosuke smiles as he hands you the GOODS, along with a RECEIPT FOR YOUR PURCHASE. "And thank you for your patronage. Tell the lady of the house I said good evening."
>Consider Koakuma x Patchouli Relationship, are they in good terms or on a little unstable ground ?
> It's about as stable as any sort of teacher-pupil relationship can be. Koa is quite loyal to Patchy, and while she can be mischievous, she is eager to learn and please her master...Even if it seems like the two don't get along. Then again, what relationship--romantic or otherwise--is perfect?
> ...Come to think of it, Patchy never really told anyone the purposes behind summoning Koa. Is she just a servant, or someone to fill in as a friend? Your attempts to get deeper into the issue have been met with a stoic replies and firm denials. You've already marked down this pairing on your RELATIONSHIP MATRIX as "Patchouli <Master-Underling> Koakuma." You're not sure if you want to press this issue or not...
>Return to Mansion.
> ...But you do realize you'll be in for it if you don't get back to the mansion soon! You bid farewell to Rinno again as you dash out of the store. The sun is barely peeking above the treeline as you leap to and across the rooftops, saving your spiritual energy for when you finally take flight over the Forest of Magic.
> The last of the sun reflects off of the Misty Lake as you soar over it. You're usually left alone at this time of day...The fairies that usually play with Cirno and Daiyousei have since fled to the woods.
<ThirdEyeLem> @dice 1d96
<Keine-tan> ThirdEyeLem: 21
> Tengu, however, are another story.
> "HIIIIII!" a dark-haired girl in a checkered print skirt comes up to you as you fly, brandishing one of those older flip phones. "Greetings, I'm Hatate Himekaidou of Kakashi Spirit News, care you spare an interview with me?" she asks with a big smile on her face.
> _
-
Oh HELL NO! *Ahem* I mean...
>"Ummm, i`m kinda busy right now, and i`m running on a tight schedule, come by later."
>Use our Time-stopping power to GTFO just in case she tries to persist.
>Wonder why people abandoned this.
>Arrive at SDM if PESKY TENGU REPORTER hasn`t stopped us again.
-
The only reason I abandoned this is because I was running out of ideas.
It was starting to devolve into [==>]
-
Oh HELL NO! *Ahem* I mean...
> Relax, at least it's not Aya.
>Wonder why people abandoned this.
The only reason I abandoned this is because I was running out of ideas.
It was starting to devolve into [==>]
Player's block? Eh, it happens. My hope is that once the new thread starts, it'll hopefully spark some interest, ze!
>"Ummm, i`m kinda busy right now, and i`m running on a tight schedule, come by later."
> "Really? Sheesh, talk about bad timing...Sorry about this, I'll contact you later," Hatate says apologetically. You assure her with a smile as you continue on your way.
>Arrive at SDM if PESKY TENGU REPORTER hasn`t stopped us again.
> You land at the SDM's Front Gate. Meiling is leaning up against the outer wall, snoozing peacefully. You recall that Meiling requested to take regular naps so she can stay more alert, and while you'd normally disapprove of such erroneous behavior, you understand it's for a good reason. It's probably best to let her sleep for now.
> _
-
>Well then, allow the poor guard to take a nap, as long as it`s a short one.
>Can we open the gate without making a sound loud enough to wake her ? If so, do it.
>Enter !
>Are there any other tasks left for today ? Cooking ? Cleaning ? Dishwashing ? Laundry ? Some random thing Remilia came with ?
>How much do the Fairy Maids contribute towards the mansion ? And are they troublesome or do they have some degree of discipline ?
>Okay, first things first, let`s go to the Library to find someone and leave the Chessboard for the Fairy Trio with them.
>Almost forgot, Check Inventory.
-
> Take Meling's hat and put it on backwards.
-
> Parser: Get distracted.
> You just got Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow the other day, as well as a New 3DS. You cannot resist the allure of such an awesome system, and proceed to play Pokemon Yellow for hours on end.
> ...
> THIS IS BORING! You decide to update MarisaStory instead.
>Well then, allow the poor guard to take a nap, as long as it`s a short one.
> You decide to let sleeping guards lie for now, Meiling deserves it. However...
> Take Meling's hat and put it on backwards.
> You get the sudden urge to try on Meiling's hat...But why would you do that? What if one of you has lice or something?! That's just plain nasty, yo!
> You instead settle for rotating Meiling's hat 180 degrees, as a sign that you came back safely while she was asleep.
>Can we open the gate without making a sound loud enough to wake her ? If so, do it.
>Enter !
> No need. There's a secret passage you can use that can only be seen while time has been stopped. You worked with Patchy to install a TEMPORAL DOOR on the outer wall of the mansion's grounds, allowing you to travel directly from the Gate to the Kitchen with ease. It's a carefully-guarded secret between the two of you, mainly because of a certain black-white witch you both happen to know. Others can access the gate, but they have to be holding hands with you to be able to share the time-stopping effect, and that takes a lot more energy to stop others than just yourself.
> Anyways, you stop time to open the gate and step through. You arrive in the Kitchen, which is just as immaculate as...You...Remember...It?
> WHO IN THE BLOODY HELL TRIED TO BAKE WHILE YOU WERE GONE?! The place is covered in eggs, flower and vanilla! Did those damn fairies try to make a cake? Egad, it's gonna take an eternity to clear this up!
> Siiiiiigh.
>Are there any other tasks left for today ? Cooking ? Cleaning ? Dishwashing ? Laundry ? Some random thing Remilia came with ?
> Aside from the gargantuan mess you just walked in on, you have to cook a feast for some guests that're coming over later. From what you recall, they're relatives of the Scarlets. if you work fast, you might be able to clean up and finish cooking before the guests arrive.
>Almost forgot, Check Inventory.
> Despite using a BAG OF HOLDING like most of Gensokyo's Incident Solvers, you tend to travel light. You possess the following:
* BAG OF GROCERIES (Key Item) -- This is all the food you purchased today, specifically for the aforementioned feast. How you managed to fit so many groceries into one paper bag without it tearing is one of your more elaborate space-time secrets.
* SILVER KNIVES (Tool/Weapon) -- Your trusty set of all-purpose knives, for cutting food, people and other objects. You use these as the basis for your danmaku attacks.
* VCR CASSETTE READER (Key Item) -- A replacement part for the VCR.
* SO YOU WANT TO BE A WIZARD (Book) -- by Diane Duane. This is the first in Duane's "Young Wizards" series.
* AA BATTERIES x16 (Power Source) -- KappaTech brand batteries. Always cheap, always reliable!
* FEEL-GOOD HONEY x2 (Recovery/Food Item) -- Yuuka's decided to put her green thumb to good use and start making and selling honey. You're not sure why she decided to do this, but hey, anything to keep her happy! This honey will cure most minor ailments like a runny nose, cough, etc.
* SELF-PLAYING CHESS SET (Misc. Item) -- An enchanted chess set whose pieces act on their own accord. The set is contained within a wooden box sealed by a paper talisman. You could open it and take a look inside, but that'd just cause all the pieces to scatter.
> ...Bloody hell, you forgot the Chalk, Thread and Ink Bottles in your haste. You'll have to go back to the Human Village first thing in the morning.
>How much do the Fairy Maids contribute towards the mansion ? And are they troublesome or do they have some degree of discipline ?
> The fairy maids as a whole are pretty obedient, if a bit clumsy at their jobs. The three Fairies of Light are the ones who are the troublemakers, and often convince the lesser fairies to misbehave. Regardless, you are only one maid, and you have to rely on the other maids to keep the Mansion in good condition. Good thing you're a patient leader!
>Okay, first things first, let`s go to the Library to find someone and leave the Chessboard for the Fairy Trio with them.
> You're gonna need an extra hand or six to clean up the kitchen anyways, so you may want to use the chessboard as incentive to get them to help you. With your powers to manipulate time and space, you can easily TELE-DASH around the mansion, and reach your destination quickly.
> *CLACK RATTLE ROLL*
> ...You hear something when you enter the Atrium. On the wooden floor, you see what appears to be a red 20-sided dice. The number 8 is facing upwards. Where did this come from, and who dropped it?
> _
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>Swipe the parser's Pokemon Blue Cartridge.
A D20..... Lem..... you're not adding RNG to this right ?
>Acquire D20 and inspect with caution, maybe it is a elaborate trap from Marisa.
>Star/Raf: Say sorry to parser again.
>Has any of the residents here been known to play tabletop games ?
>"Hello ?"
>What is the progress of Project "Help Flandre go Outside" aka teaching her how to not cause trouble out there ?
>Do we know anything about the internet and do we use it or own a PC ?
>Are we aware of Flandre's online activities ?
>Has Marisa ever come to the SDM to do something OTHER than "borrowing" books or getting that neat ass Coffee Machine ?
>Am i asking too many questions ?
>Okay, let's go find some certain fairies and prepare our inner Keine to make some Hard Lecture that will make the Sun cool down, the Moon to go dark and the Star to turn into a white dwarf.
>*Pant*One more, when you find them, show the Chessboard and tell them that if they clean up their mess, you'll give it as a reward.
>*Huff*......and ask about the dice.
>*Puff*........and watch out for the stairs. (We don't want Patchouli saying "I TOLD YOU ABOUT THE STAIRS !" to us.)
Whew... i feel like a Parser...... i like it. ^-^
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>Swipe the parser's Pokemon Blue Cartridge.
> Score! He has a Mew on his cart!
A D20..... Lem..... you're not adding RNG to this right ?
Oh ye of little faith...The RNG is an ever present force, like YouTube ads or free-to-play mobile games. besides I used a dice roller at least once I'm surprised you didn't notice that
>Acquire D20 and inspect with caution, maybe it is a elaborate trap from Marisa.
> It's a regular, run of the mill d20. Red body, white numbers, surprisingly pristine condition. You sense no unusual forces emitting from it.
>Star/Raf: Say sorry to parser again.
> You're forgiven. ;)
>Has any of the residents here been known to play tabletop games ?
> The Knowledges, Koa and Flan enjoy some of them. Remi thinks they're a waste of time, and Meiling is too busy guarding the mansion to really participate in such things. The problem is organizing a campaign, as most of the players who want to join are too busy to do so.
>"Hello ?"
> There's no response. This is most disconcerting...However, it's not cause for alarm. Due to the magic you worked on the SDM, and the nature of Gensokyo's border, items sometimes drop into the mansion. It's rare, but it has happened.
>What is the progress of Project "Help Flandre go Outside" aka teaching her how to not cause trouble out there ?
> It...Hasn't gone that well. The few times (http://en.touhouwiki.net/wiki/Flandre_Scarlet#Flandre.27s_Appearances) that Flandre was allowed outside, weird things happened. That's not to say she hasn't improved socially...
>Are we aware of Flandre's online activities ?
> Flandre was one of the first residents to get a PC, along with her sister. So far, it seems to have upped her spirits a bit, she's a lot more sociable around the mansion and a lot less prone to smashing or blowing things up in a fit of rage. Unfortunately, she seems to be a bit unaware of how to handle the seedier aspects of it, so you and Remi have had to enable Parental Settings on her computer to keep Flan and her data safe.
>Do we know anything about the internet and do we use it or own a PC ?
> Yes to all of the above! It was almost an insistence on Remi's part, once she realized how lucrative trading and shopping on the net can be. You own a PC as well, but you don't use it as often, aside from studies and web browsing. You did get hooked on this one game involving baking cookies, however...
>Has Marisa ever come to the SDM to do something OTHER than "borrowing" books or getting that neat ass Coffee Machine ?
> She did visit that one time you all went to the moon together...Or when she sought you out to pick a fight during a couple of incidents.
> As for the coffee machine...Marisa hasn't had much luck with that. The legendary COFFEELITH is a magical mocha marvel, capable of extracting flavor from the coffee grounds on an atomic level. The result is the purest, most decadent coffee you'll ever taste...You got this as a gift for Remilia and the others, but they rarely use it because the filters are so expensive to replace. Marisa can't steal it because it's too heavy, and she can't even sneak a cup of coffee; making even one cup causes so much noise and magical fallout that it'd alert everyone in the mansion.
>Am i asking too many questions ?
> The only wrong number of questions to ask is zero.
>Okay, let's go find some certain fairies and prepare our inner Keine to make some Hard Lecture that will make the Sun cool down, the Moon to go dark and the Star to turn into a white dwarf.
> You pocket the d20 for now and go to seek out the fairies. You check the Library first, since they spend most of their time there. You spot Zakuro sleeping on the couch while Koakuma is helping Patchouli and Monarda with another magical experiment. You spot the fairies floating around in the upper levels, and go to speak with them.
> "...And that's why ladybugs are so powerful! Not even a dinosaur could--OH! Sakuya-sama!" Sunny says, greeting you. However, her smile fades when she sees the stern look on your face. "Something wrong?"
> You tell the girls of the mess in the kitchen, and their faces go white. They then babble a bit about why they did what they did, until you silence them and ask them to speak one at a time in turn. It turns out that the fairies trapped and executed a wild Yukkuri that snuck into the mansion, and thought it'd be a good idea make a cake out of its filling. Unfortunately, they messed up badly and were looking for a magic spell in the library to undo the damage. You can tell them they can undo the damage the old fashioned-way, with elbow grease. You need the kitchen ASAP!
>*Pant*One more, when you find them, show the Chessboard and tell them that if they clean up their mess, you'll give it as a reward.
> The Fairies are too scared to do their job, since they're afraid they won't finish in time for the feast. You sweeten the deal with the SELF-PLAY CHESS SET, saying it will be theirs if they succeed.
> "...HUDDLE!" Luna Child shouts as the girls chatter amongst themselves briefly. Eventually, they desperse, and Luna says "Ok, we'll do it. But we'll need your help too."
> Of course, you respond. You wouldn't be much of a maid if you didn't help clean up, even if it's someone else's mess.
>*Huff*......and ask about the dice.
> While heading back to the kitchen, you ask the fairies about the d20.
> "Never saw saw that before," Star responds. "You sure it doesn't belong to someone else?"
>*Puff*........and watch out for the stairs. (We don't want Patchouli saying "I TOLD YOU ABOUT THE STAIRS !" to us.)
> You know this house like the back of your hand, there's no way you could possibly take a tumble down a staircase! :D
Whew... i feel like a Parser...... i like it. ^-^
Embrace the power. Make your own thread and make your story a reality! or die trying
> _
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Embrace the power. Make your own thread and make your story a reality! or die trying
And from the depths of his mind, a small inspiration of a Party Quest starts to grow at the side of his also small own fanfic story, he shall name thee.... FlandreStory ! No, that's kinda stealing ideas.... Flandre Quest ! Nope, too generic.... FlandreTale ? Nah, too close to Undertale.... Ugu, being original is hard. I'll just go with FlandreStory, not original, but i'm happy with it.
And i noticed the roll for the items to be displayed, i just thought that now i'd have to roll everytime i did something. Not that i would complain, i am a player of FE and RtD, as much as i hate RNG, i can't stay away from the suffering and pleasure it brings.
> Yes ! New members recruited for the party ! (https://youtu.be/O6UOa22akeY)
>Have our new partymembers come with us to the Kitchen, and get cleaning materials on the way there.
>Give them brooms, soap, buckets, and anything more they might need.
>Get our own asses to work hard, maybe mop the floor or something.
>"Keep cleaning, or else we'll be in trouble."
>Finish the cleaning and proceed to cooking.
>What are we going to cook anyways ?
>Go take a quick look at Patchouli, Monarda and familiars using teledashes.
>Scare Monarda and Patchouli with our timestopping powers.
>Go back to kitchen.
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And from the depths of his mind, a small inspiration of a Party Quest starts to grow at the side of his also small own fanfic story, he shall name thee.... FlandreStory ! No, that's kinda stealing ideas.... Flandre Quest ! Nope, too generic.... FlandreTale ? Nah, too close to Undertale.... Ugu, being original is hard. I'll just go with FlandreStory, not original, but i'm happy with it.
Considering how MarisaStory was inspired by a certain 2D MMORPG, I don't think anyone would fault you calling your story "FlandreTale" as long as you can make it interesting.
And i noticed the roll for the items to be displayed, i just thought that now i'd have to roll everytime i did something. Not that i would complain, i am a player of FE and RtD, as much as i hate RNG, i can't stay away from the suffering and pleasure it brings.
Dice are like booster packs, you may get useless commons but you'll always get something interesting! :D unless you're looking for rares
> Yes ! New members recruited for the party ! (https://youtu.be/O6UOa22akeY)
> SUNNY MILK, STAR SAPPHIRE and LUNA CHILD have joined your party as guest characters. They will follow your orders for the most part, but you cannot give them direct commands.
>Have our new partymembers come with us to the Kitchen, and get cleaning materials on the way there.
>Give them brooms, soap, buckets, and anything more they might need.
> You pass by one of the many convenient supply closets in the mansion and outfit yourself and the fairies with cleaning supplies. The parser won't go into specifics for the sake of time, but you end up carrying quite a bit of stuff in your Bag of Holding--this is going to be a big job and you'll need all the ordinance you can get. now I'm reminded of Dustforce all of a sudden
> Once you arrive in the kitchen, you spot a rather...Unusual entity (http://yukkuri.wikia.com/wiki/Yukkuri_Chen) licking up some sugar off the floor. It perks up at your presence, lets out a startled "CHEEEEN!" and darts out an open window. How a creature like that managed to get inside despite having no legs (http://epicbattlefantasy.wikia.com/wiki/NoLegs) is a mystery to you.
>Get our own asses to work hard, maybe mop the floor or something.
>"Keep cleaning, or else we'll be in trouble."
> You ask the fairies to clean up the higher reaches of the kitchen while you clean up the floor. Out of curiosity, you ask why the fairies tried to make a cake in the first place.
> "There's that feast tonight, right?" Star replies. "We thought it'd be nice to make dessert..."
> Hmmm...Dessert...You never considered that until now. You say you'll keep it in mind, but for now, you ask the fairies to stay focused on the cleaning.
> "Hai!" the fairies eagerly reply. They may be troublemakers, but at least they're trying to be helpful!
>What are we going to cook anyways ?
>Finish the cleaning and proceed to cooking.
> You recall that the guest of honor, Richard Bloodwood, is a huge fan of curry. So you decided to turn tonight's dinner into a Curry Showcase. Spicy, Savory, Exotic, you name it, you'll make it. Why else did you buy so much meat, veggies and spices over the past few days? Come to think of it, you might have bought a bit too much...Oh well. At least you won't run short when the time for the feast comes!
> Speaking of time...To ensure the four of you get done in less than an hour as opposed to three hours, you use a Spell Card to activate TIME DIALATION--in other words, for every minute that passes inside the kitchen, only a few seconds pass in the rest of the world. The only problem is that it requires a lot of spiritual power to activate for prolonged periods, so your time powers will be weakened until it recharges. Thankfully, you'll have plenty of time to settle down and catch your breath during the feast.
> It takes a while, but you manage to clean enough of the kitchen to start preparing dinner. While the fairies clean up what's left, you start on the curry and a few side dishes. Eventually, the fairies finish as well.
> "Ok...We're...Done!" Luna says, huffing. Sunny just smiles widely.
> "What's next on the agenda, boss lady?" Sunny asks.
> You smile at them and say now would be a good time to start working on the cake. Red Velvet should do nicely, you suggest.
> "Why am I not surprised..." Luna says, rolling her eyes. Star elbows her. "What! It's always red with these vampires! Non-stop red! Why not make a blue cake or a purple cake or a green one?!"
> "Green doesn't sound very appetizing...Let's get to work," Star says with a bit of urgency.
> TIME PASSES...
>Go take a quick look at Patchouli, Monarda and familiars using teledashes.
>Scare Monarda and Patchouli with our timestopping powers.
>Go back to kitchen.
> You manage to get to the point where you can let the curries stew for a bit unattended, but you ask Star to watch them just in case something happens. Sunny and Luna are in charge of the cake still; Luna's making the frosting while Sunny's baking the individual layers. You take advantage of this downtime to check in on the mages and see how their project is--
> KABOOM!
> ...Doing. You arrive at the library to find that Patchy's Magicomputer has exploded! Koa's rushing to snuff out the fires from the destroyed case before they spread.
> "...Mukyuuuuu, that was way too much for it to render..." Patchy gags, her face charred from the explosion. "Now I have to build a new one...
> "G-Good thing I'm here, then..." Monarda says, clutching his heart, trying to keep a straight face.
> "You gonna be ok?" Koa asks once the flames are smothered.
> "Just give a moment to breathe," Monarda gasps as he gets away from the central table. He takes a look at Zakuro, whom is still asleep. "Tch...He'd sleep through an air raid if he felt like it..."
> Perhaps now's not the best time to interact with the library staff right now...You are about to make haste back to the Kitchen when your cellphone vibrates. Yes, you and the other SDM Residents have cellphones. Whom could it be?
> _
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OMG so cute, thank you Lem. I must have a plushie to hug. ♡ Ehm, sorry, anyways.
>What does Patchouli use (or used) the magicomputer to ?
>What do we know about Monarda and his Familiar ? Other than the obvious stuff.
>Answer the cellphone, put away if it's some sort of telemarketing.
>"Yes, this is Sakuya, who is it ?"
>Use the dice to become the RNG Goddess with time powers.
Well ok then, now i must read more lore. Oh wait, exams, nevermind. :(
0 x Chain Combo.
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Holy crap, a direct link to NoLegs? My faith in humanity has been restored!
Kinda.
Somewhat.
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Holy crap, a direct link to NoLegs? My faith in humanity has been restored!
THE DEMON HAS BEEN DESTROYED--wait.
OMG so cute, thank you Lem. I must have a plushie to hug. ♡ Ehm, sorry, anyways.
ALL GLORY TO THE LEGLESS CAT! =3
>Answer the cellphone, put away if it's some sort of telemarketing.
>"Yes, this is Sakuya, who is it ?"
> It's actually a text message from Flan.
Starbroker495 said: I'm bored. Wanna play a game later?
>What does Patchouli use (or used) the magicomputer to ?
> She does it for intense spell crafting and research. Right now she's been working with Monarda to figure out how solidify magical energy.
>What do we know about Monarda and his Familiar ? Other than the obvious stuff.
> Monarda Knowledge is a magical teacher much like Patchy is, but he's a bit more sociable and friendly than his sister is. However, he tries not to get too excited or worked up due to his weak heart. You're not sure what Monarda does in the outside world, he doesn't talk his non-teaching activities much.
> Zakuro you don't know much about. You can't even tell if he's a youkai or not, but he does have a similar aura to that of Koakuma. You haven't been able to squeeze any information about Zak's past either.
>Use the dice to become the RNG Goddess with time powers.
> And just how would you go about doing that anyways? :V
Well ok then, now i must read more lore. Oh wait, exams, nevermind. :(
0 x Chain Combo.
Late, but good luck!
> _
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>Type in:"What kind of game ?
Will it give me brain tumors ?"
>Why don't we have a pet yukkuri ?
>Do we know why we recruited the pesk trio here ?
>Go back to the kitchen and see if everything is done.
> And just how would you go about doing that anyways? :V
Late, but good luck!
>By fusing the randomness element of the dice with our manipulation of time and space, then holding the D20 firmly to morph.
>Thanks ! I already did both, quite exhausting to say the least, 9 hours of time were spent on that.
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Apologies for the lack of updates this past week, personal problems arose and my brilliant intellect thought the best remedy for those would be to play Disgaea 3 for Vita non-stop. Clearly, this parser needs therapy.
>By fusing the randomness element of the dice with our manipulation of time and space, then holding the D20 firmly to morph.
>Thanks ! I already did both, quite exhausting to say the least, 9 hours of time were spent on that.
> So you've become a Magical Girl? :V Either way, hope you did well.
>Why don't we have a pet yukkuri ?
> Despite their cute appearance, Yukkuri are quite the trouble-makers and Remi won't stand to have them in the house. She's given you and the others permission to exterminate and/or devour any that dare invade the house. Flan takes great care in trying to catch them alive, if only to eat the delicious fiilling afterwards. disclaimer: the parser does not condone yukkuri abuse, their portrayal and use here is strictly for comedic and story-driven purposes
>Do we know why we recruited the pesk trio here ?
> We didn't really have a hand in their recruitment, Patchy did. The Fairies got bored one day and started visiting the library out of curiosity, and while they were irritating at first, Patchy got used to their presence and even felt compelled to teach them a thing or two about magic in exchange for working around the mansion. You got dragged into the mess when several of the fairy maids up and quit recently, either out of fear of the residents or out of sheer boredom (or the brilliant logic that they felt safer outside than inside). Even you can't comprehend the fairies' logic.
>Type in:"What kind of game ?
Starbroker495 said: it's one of those online RPG things with lots of monsters and loot! Some of my friends are already playing it, I'm even thinking of starting up a guild!
>Go back to the kitchen and see if everything is done.
> You ponder Flan's message as you return to the kitchen. The first cake layer is getting the first layer of frosting, and the curries haven't caught on fire or exploded yet, so everything seems to be going swimmingly so far. What next?
> _
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No problem for me, i can wait, personal issues come first and i agree that you should solve them before updating.
>Has Flandre, Remilia or us even encountered our Yukkuri selfs :V ?
>Do we know what a RPG is ?
>Type: "I might try it later, i can't guarantee that i will keep playing it. Who are your friends in the game ? And what is the name of the game ?"
>Take another peek at Mukyuu and co. Patchouli, Monarda and familiars, how are they doing ?
>Throw the dice, see if we can get a high roll. (ROLL TO DODGE!!)
>Examine Patchouli and the others.
>Go back and verify cake and curry progress, while examining the Fairy Trio.
>Pet Meiling and her Yukkuri counterpart.
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...
I ran.
Out of.
MR. GENCY EXITS. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OVv-J-LXQU)
So let's update MarisaStory!
No problem for me, i can wait, personal issues come first and i agree that you should solve them before updating.
Do video game addictions count as personal issues? I think they're the biggest hurdle for me right now.
>Do we know what a RPG is ?
> Yes, though it took some coaching from Patchy and Flan to fully understand the differences between video RPGs (Final Fantasy), tabletop RPGs (Gamma World) and live-action RPGs (Wizard Quest). You know enough to get around the genre, at least.
>Type: "I might try it later, i can't guarantee that i will keep playing it. Who are your friends in the game ? And what is the name of the game ?"
Starbroker495: Tres bien! :D
Starbroker495: It's called "GUILDIES!" by the way.
Starbroker495: And yes, it's spelled exactly like that, lol.
Starbroker495: Anyways, Koishi and Nue are playing too, surely that's ok?
>Go back and verify cake and curry progress, while examining the Fairy Trio.
> The cake is still being constructed by Sunny and Luna, they just added the last layer. Star's still watching the curry like a hawk, she's even gone so far as to turn off the heat for the curries so they won't overcook. For a bunch of fairies, they're surprisingly competent, though you have a feeling your CONSTANT VIGILANCE (http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Alastor_Moody) is keeping them in line more than anything.
>Take another peek at Mukyuu and co. Patchouli, Monarda and familiars, how are they doing ?
> You tele-dash back to the library briefly to check in on the bookworms. Patchy and Monarda are hunched over the central table, looking over blueprints for a more robust magi-computer. Koa has since swept the remains of the previous computer away and disposed of them; Zakuro's still fast asleep.
>Has Flandre, Remilia or us even encountered our Yukkuri selfs ?
> Sadly, no. The species of yukkuri you resemble are quite rare, but you're glad they don't show up. You have enough to deal with as it is.
>Pet Meiling and her Yukkuri counterpart.
> You always did like playfully petting Meiling for a job well done while she's asleep...You can't help but blush at that adorable sight.
> Meiling-tyle Yukkuri on the other hand...Probably not, they're always wanting to roughhouse with others.
>Throw the dice, see if we can get a high roll. (ROLL TO DODGE!!)
> You throw the d20 onto the hardwood floor of the hallway, but it still rolls an 8. A grunting noise startles you a bit as you turn and see Zakuro waking up. "Did someone drop something...?" he says groggily, sitting up and rubbing the sleeping dust out of his eyes.
> _
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You made me get a desire to try Disgaea 3 again, if i remember correctly it's should be like Final Fantasy Tactics or something like that.
>What do we think of Nue and the buddhists ? And how about Koishi ?
>Maybe we should offer those four something, any desserts available for them ?
>Get surprised by how a explosion didn't wake Zakuro, but a dice did.
>Type:"Well that's an unorthodox name to say the least, but i will try it later ? Any other people playing i might know ?"
>We're a maid, we use knifes, therefore we shall be a Ninja Maid obviously !
>Go back to the kitchen to check again on the fairies, if they're ok, pet them and congratulate them on the good work.
>Experiment : Check chest for usual growths.
> Pet parser and give him some Smoke Bombs from FF, those guarantee a successful escape !
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You made me get a desire to try Disgaea 3 again, if i remember correctly it's should be like Final Fantasy Tactics or something like that.
It's FFT with crazy high number inflation, and an equally silly storyline. You can get the games for PS3/4, PSP or Vita, and Disgaea 1 is available on Steam.
>What do we think of Nue and the buddhists ? And how about Koishi ?
> Nue's fine, you're pretty sure she's just a friend of the Buddhists and not an actual member herself, but you're wary of the Buddhist group, especially Miss Hijiri. You feel you can't trust someone who prefers to use magic to solve their problems over pure prayer.
>Type:"Well that's an unorthodox name to say the least, but i will try it later ? Any other people playing i might know ?"
Starbroker495 said: I'll ask Mari and Ali if they wanna join in.
Starbroker495 said: Want me to go up to your room and start the client download? Le t?l?chargement est vraiment grand!
>We're a maid, we use knifes, therefore we shall be a Ninja Maid obviously !
> Let's hold off on class creation until we actually see what we're getting into.
>Get surprised by how a explosion didn't wake Zakuro, but a dice did.
> Perhaps he was just in a deep sleep when it happened, and he snapped out of it after the explosion? Either way, Zak's taken notice of you. "Everything ok, miss?"
>Maybe we should offer those four something, any desserts available for them ?
> You say to Zakuro that eveything is fine, but you're worried about the well-being of the magi. Didn't Patchy have some snacks in her personal chill chest for such occasions?
> "Oh right, the ice cream sammies! I shall retrieve them posthaste!" Zakuro says as he dashes off.
>Experiment : Check chest for usual growths.
> While Zakuro's off in his fetch quest, you decide to head back to the kitchen. While you do so, you take stock of your "assets." You're as averagely endowed as any normal girl in her late teens.
>Go back to the kitchen to check again on the fairies, if they're ok, pet them and congratulate them on the good work.
> You return to the kitchen and find that the cake is...DONE! The curry's also intact, but the fairies look like they're bored. Maybe you should ask them to help you make the side dishes and other foodstuffs for the feast. After all, curry alone won't satisfy a fellow vampire!
> Pet parser and give him some Smoke Bombs from FF, those guarantee a successful escape !
> The parser happily accepts your praise and gifts and gives you a boon on your next post!
> _
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>Type:"Yes, i`d appreciate if you did so, just be careful not to do anything troublesome there."
>What about our opinion on Alice MargadroidMargatroid ?
>Did we get the dice, if not go back and pick it up again.
>Give everyone a pat in the back. "Nice work everyone, now, would you like to assist me in creating other meals for the feast ?"
>Maybe we should make a side dish on the taste of everyone who will take part of the feast, what does Flandre, Patchouli, Remilia and we like respectively ?
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> Make sure to Get That Damn Fairy out of the Kitchen! out of the kitchen.
> Check furniture for marshmallow fires. Put out the ones you find.
> Realize that the Mansion's running low on blood.
> After the meal, head for Eientei to pick up more blood.
Bonus points if you know what two fairies I'm referring to. The second one's from Being Meling (https://www.touhou-project.com/sdm/res/54956.html#54956), by the way.
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> Make sure to Get That Damn Fairy out of the Kitchen! out of the kitchen.
Bonus points if you know what two fairies I'm referring to. The second one's from Being Meling (https://www.touhou-project.com/sdm/res/54956.html#54956), by the way.
> Meep. The parser's OBSCURE CYOA KNOWLEDGE stat is not a high enough level to get the reference! Oh well, at least he'll have something to read in the meantime. As for you, there are no extraneous fairies around--HEY! I saw that, Cletus! (https://youtu.be/zl82fTGtZ4Y?t=645) Put those cookies back! You just earned yourself an extra day's worth of cleaning on your shift! Seriously, bloody fairies thinking they can hide from you with their simplistic illusion magic...
> Check furniture for marshmallow fires. Put out the ones you find.
> No one dares to start a fire after you and Remilia installed those smoke detectors after the Scarlet Mist incident, so there's no need to worry. You didn't even notice any smoke or flames while you were running around.
> Realize that the Mansion's running low on blood.
> After the meal, head for Eientei to pick up more blood.
> ...Oh bloody hell, you knew you forgot something: blood for four vampires. Ugh. You'll have to get some from Dr. Yagokoro ASAP.
>Type:"Yes, i`d appreciate if you did so, just be careful not to do anything troublesome there."
Starbroker495 said: Viva la nippon! Consider it done! :D
* Starbroker495 flies off
>What about our opinion on Alice MargadroidMargatroid ?
> Alice wants nothing to do with Marisa's little "visits," so you don't consider her a threat. There was that one time Patchy lost her mind and took over the library for a few days, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQPjv0i0iV8&index=1&list=PL4rAwcpJS4HPQ91mQP4Bu4mtJuVa_iDzx#t=1.2356) but her presence was justified. That being said, you and Alice sometimes get on each other's nerves for the dumbest of things, but after a while you two decided to turn this sudden rivalry into a test of wits, seeing which of you can outsmart the other with some playful, non-lethal "assassination attempts." Whosoever can mark their opponent first with a special Danmaku bullet (it behaves like a paintball humans use in the outside world), will win the contest and can request a favor from the loser (within reason, of course). Otherwise, Alice is one of those friends you're not necessarily close to but secretly grateful you have in your circle.
>Did we get the dice, if not go back and pick it up again.
> You picked it up after you rolled it, no way you were going to let it get away again.
>Give everyone a pat in the back. "Nice work everyone, now, would you like to assist me in creating other meals for the feast ?"
> "Might as well," Luna begrudgingly replies. "What did you have in mind?"
> You try to answer, but...
>Maybe we should make a side dish on the taste of everyone who will take part of the feast, what does Flandre, Patchouli, Remilia and we like respectively ?
> ...Your brain freezes up in realization of this fact. You never considered making side dishes in case everyone gets tired of the curry and other fixings you have planned. You know Flan likes the sweet stuff, Remi and Patchy like something more savory...But you have no handle on what Monarda or the familiars like...You know what, bugger it all, you might as well just ask them directly what they're in the mood for tonight (and no this is not because the parser is rushing to get this post done no sir). You should probably take care of that before you head out to Eientei.
> _
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Everytime a update comes out, i smile. (^w^)
>Are we able to make a mousse or a pudding ? If not how about a strawberry pie ?
>Do we have any Maracujas (almost forgot, it's Passion Fruit in Portuguese !) in stock ?
>What kinds of savory dishes are we good at making ?
>"Hmm, i'm actually not sure.... i'll have to ask our guests."
>"Say, since you three have been working so well now, maybe i could make a dish just for you."
>Go off to the Library's Rotund Tableau and find those four.
>Accidentaly break the border between reality and fantasy (aka Fourth Wall) and suck up all the parsers and players to Gensokyo.
>Put that Black Knife Holder Strap back on our leg, better stay prepared (and more faithful to EoSD canon).
>Skills
>Pet those Yukkuri Sakuyas and train them to act as Knife Throwing Cute Turrets.
Wow, this has over 30k views ? Nice !
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Everytime a update comes out, i smile. (^w^)
Or in this case, make a kitty face. Meow!
Wow, this has over 30k views ? Nice !
That's 30k more than I expected. :V Thanks for reading, everyone (if you still are or just peeked in)
>Accidentaly break the border between reality and fantasy (aka Fourth Wall) and suck up all the parsers and players to Gensokyo.
> Gensokyo suffers a critical overload of entities and explodes, destroying all myth and folklore forever. GREAT JOB! BAD END NO. 37812
>Pet those Yukkuri Sakuyas and train them to act as Knife Throwing Cute Turrets.
> You have no experience training animals, and you sure as heck have no desire to train these (admittedly cute) creatures. Besides, do you really want them throwing knives while the guests are here?
>Are we able to make a mousse or a pudding ? If not how about a strawberry pie ?
> But of course! Given Flan's sweet tooth, you've been training non-stop to make the ideal quick yet satisfying dessert. It's almost like a sport to you now...However, that alone won't be particularly filling, but the pie might be...Why not make a strawberry-rhubarb pie with a mousse topping? That might sit well with everyone!
>Do we have any Maracujas (almost forgot, it's Passion Fruit in Portuguese !) in stock ?
> You do have a few of them in stock, you don't buy them very often because they're so expensive...But they are getting close to the "point of no freshness" so if you are gonna use them, tonight would be the night. What did you have in mind?
>What kinds of savory dishes are we good at making ?
> Just about anything, really. You're no world-class chef, but Remi will eat just about anything as long as it's seemingly upper class. However, you refuse to touch anything you don't know about without doing proper research on it first.
> ...A thought crawls into the parser's your mind...Pasta with a curry sauce? Sounds weird, but...You might have to try that next time the Bloodwoods are over.
>"Hmm, i'm actually not sure.... i'll have to ask our guests."
> Luna pouts a bit. "Maybe you should have thought of this beforehand, Sakuya-sama..."
> "Luna, don't be rude," Sapphire chides her companion. "Go ahead and ask them, we can take care of things here!" Sunny nods eagerly to that.
>"Say, since you three have been working so well now, maybe i could make a dish just for you."
> You congratulate the fairies on a job well done, and decide to reward them with a dish of their choice. Sunny's eyes light up at this. "Anything we want?! Really?"
> "Let's not overwork our boss now..." Luna warns her companion as the three of them huddle for a bit to discuss what they want. Eventually, they settle on "mac and cheese with hot dog bits in them!" Sounds simple enough, you say, so you ask them to get the ingredients ready while you...
>Go off to the Library's Rotund Tableau and find those four.
> ...Seek the Elite Four, so to speak. Not much has changed, except Zakuro is fully awake now and watching the magicians discuss plans for Patchy's new magi-computer.
>Put that Black Knife Holder Strap back on our leg, better stay prepared (and more faithful to EoSD canon).
> Done and done. Your Attack Speed has been boosted a bit. You do this while time is stopped, you don't want someone catching you and getting the wrong idea. XP
>Skills
> Which skills? Passive, Active, spell cards? Or all of them? That'll probably take a while to compile. :V
> _
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Now my face is like this. (Also this is one of my PAD goals, the one true daughterfu !) (http://www.puzzledragonx.com/en/img/monster/MONS_1829.jpg)
>Approach the four.
>"Miss Patchouli, Mister Monarda." Bow. "....it seems you are on a rather.... curious situation... anyway, i have come to ask you two, Koakuma and Zakuro about your dish choices for dessert, or preferences if you can't decide specifically on it."
I am rather surprised that Kilga has yet to appear and put this, so i think i should honor him and the others like him.....
>Stop time briefly and check chest for usual growths.
>Resume time.
>Since we won't need much in spellcard terms, just check for our Passives and Actives. (Mercy for the parser ! Best kind of mercy.)
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Now my face is like this. (Also this is one of my PAD goals, the one true daughterfu !) (http://www.puzzledragonx.com/en/img/monster/MONS_1829.jpg)
Daughterfu? That's a new one.
I am rather surprised that Kilga has yet to appear and put this, so i think i should honor him and the others like him.....
>Stop time briefly and check chest for usual growths.
>Resume time.
> He has appeared, actually. Just not with that line. (https://www.shrinemaiden.org/forum/index.php/topic,15529.msg1018078.html#msg1018078) Anyways, your chest has not changed at all since you last checked. seriously stop that it's unbecoming of your position
>Since we won't need much in spellcard terms, just check for our Passives and Actives. (Mercy for the parser ! Best kind of mercy.)
> If we needed spellcards for cooking, this would be called "Great Foodie Wars" instead of MarisaStory. Anyways...Your skill sheet is QUITE long! Most of it is variations on "clean object" or "throw knife," but a few skills stand out:
PASSIVES
* Fast Feet -- You're more agile in terms of dodging and movement compared to other characters.
* Flash Step -- Your dash has a few extra frames of invincibility.
* Last Second -- If you are struck by an attack that would kill or otherwise KO you, you have an extra second to use a spell card and cancel the attack. This only works if you have bombs, obviously.
* Stealthy -- You gain a bonus to any Stealth Checks, making it more difficult for others to spot you while you sneak around.
* Markswoman -- You have absurdly high accuracy when throwing knives, and a slightly higher chance to crit when attacking.
* CQC -- You may not be that strong, but you can handle yourself in close combat when unarmed.
* Bouncing Blades -- Your knives can rebound off certain obstacles or the boundaries of the playfield.
* CLASS BONUS: Maid -- Your extra poise and appeal as a French Maid raises your CHARISMA stat by a good margin.
* CLASS FEAT: Cooking -- You have access to a variety of recipes with which to cook and prepare food, up to and including Human Meat.
* SOCIAL LINK BONUS: She's Mine -- As long as you are in servitude to Remilia and her family, no other vampire can drink your blood or claim you as a servant to them.
* TRIGGER WARNING: They're Not Fake -- This is straightfoward, your RAGE GAUGE increases a bit when someone proclaims your breasts aren't authentic. The higher your RAGE GAUGE climbs, the more likely you are to make an unprovoked attack of opportunity against the offender. Thankfully, due to your Maid class, this guage rises quite slowly...That's not to say you can't increase it at all, though.
ACTIVES:
* Time Stop -- You can stop time, plain and simple, for a few seconds at a time. The most you can stop time for any one use is currently 66 seconds. The longer you stop time, however, the longer you must wait for your ability to recover after using it, and spamming it too much diminishes its effectiveness (see Protect/Detect from the Pokemon series).
* Teledash -- A new ability you perfected during the IaMP incident. You can use your space-time powers to dash a short distance, allowing you to pass through certain objects or obstacles, or just get around faster. While it is a bit more powerful than a standard dash, using it too much will drain you, as well as lower the amount of time you can use Time Stop.
* Backstab -- Deal massive damage to an unaware enemy from behind by stabbing them. Twisting is optional.
* Assassinate -- Can only be used while you're still hidden from an enemy. Gets stronger the longer you remain hidden, up to a certain amount of time.
* Protect Ojou-sama! -- You're contractually obligated to protect Remi and Flandre from danger. If they're in the vicinity when they're attacked by a lethal strike, you can choose to take the attack with increased defesne and evasion/parry chance.
* Shape Mansion -- You can remodel the SDM to a degree using your powers, but doing so puts a lot of strain on your body.
> Your other actives are mostly attacks you already used from other incidents.
>Approach the four.
>"Miss Patchouli, Mister Monarda." Bow. "....it seems you are on a rather.... curious situation... anyway, i have come to ask you two, Koakuma and Zakuro about your dish choices for dessert, or preferences if you can't decide specifically on it."
> While the magi and demon ponder your question, Zakuro confidently smiles and simply says, "Beans."
> "Oh gods, not this again..." Monarda says with a groan.
> "Come now, you know a skilled samurai such as myself needs a steady diet of protein!" Zakuro says with a smile. Before Monarda can protest, however, you "ahem" and get everyone back on topic. "But yes, a simple can of beans will do."
> "...I'll just make do with a BLT, thanks," Monarda says in defeat.
> You begin to ask why the mages would want to risk clogging their arteries with fatty pig meat, but Patchy interjects, saying "That's the thing. We're craving something decadent like that. Besides...It's a special occasion, why not live a little?"
> Koakuma then whispers in your ear. "She's still grieving over her magi-computer...You know how she gets when she's upset." Patchy shoots her a stern glare as Koa steps away and smiles. "A fruit yogurt parfait will do for me," Koa requests.
> _
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Daughterfu? That's a new one.
Of course ! How can you not adopt this cute little innocent face and take care of her ? I`m a sucker for cuteness as i said before, and i really like kids.
Speaking off that...
(http://i.imgur.com/3Kv908x.jpg)
I got her ! ~(^3^)~ ....ehhhh *ahem*
>Relax a bit.
>"Hmmm, you shouldn`t be like that just for a computer, it can always be fixed or remade."
>Return to our professional, elegant and fashionabuhhh posture.
>"Nevertheless, what about your choice Miss Patchouli ? Or will you have the same as your brother (I thought they were cousins :V) ?"
>What is our opinion on Koakuma ?
>What is our relationship with her ?
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>Plan to bring EXTRA knives to Eientei tonight. Strap them to your leg, store them in your pads (it's where you keep them, after all,) bring an overcoat to store more?
>No, seriously. As an official Incident Resolver, your Incident-sense is going bonkers and it's still climbing!
>Make that two overcoats.
>And your Touhouvania getup, too.
>Oh, and empty your pads of anything first.
We don't need purses, we've got flat pads connected to a large safe in The Gap! (although they seem to pick up a lot of objects recently...)
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Of course ! How can you not adopt this cute little innocent face and take care of her ? I`m a sucker for cuteness as i said before, and i really like kids.
orz I kinda want to be a dad myself these days...But alas, that'll have to wait for another time.
>Relax a bit.
>"Hmmm, you shouldn`t be like that just for a computer, it can always be fixed or remade."
>Return to our professional, elegant and fashionabuhhh posture.
> Patchy sneers are you in her typical T^T fashion. "Mukyuuu...You have no idea how difficult it is, do you? It's not a regular PC. I need to align and calibrate the magical components and energies and--" Patchy takes a moment to catch her breath. "...It takes a lot longer to assemble than you realize."
>"Nevertheless, what about your choice Miss Patchouli ? Or will you have the same as your brother (I thought they were cousins :V ) ?"
Patchy and Monarda are siblings, yes.
> "mmm..." Patchy thinks for a moment. "You may be right....Bacon's not gonna be enough. Can we make those sandwiches into a turkey BLT instead?"
> Monarda nods. "That sounds much better, actually. We could use the extra protein."
>What is our opinion on Koakuma ?
>What is our relationship with her ?
> Koa's a hard worker, which you admire, but you're not that close with her. The most you do is have small talk with Koa when there's some downtime.
>Plan to bring EXTRA knives to Eientei tonight. Strap them to your leg, store them in your pads (it's where you keep them, after all,) bring an overcoat to store more?
>No, seriously. As an official Incident Resolver, your Incident-sense is going bonkers and it's still climbing!
>Make that two overcoats.
>And your Touhouvania getup, too.
>Oh, and empty your pads of anything first.
We don't need purses, we've got flat pads connected to a large safe in The Gap! (although they seem to pick up a lot of objects recently...)
> Pfffft, speculation and poppycock! Like anything bad would happen at this banquet. Everything will be fine.
> _
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>"It doesn`t matter if it`s a special PC or not, it`s still better than having the whole library on fire."
>Put on a focused face.
>"Is that all then ?"
>Stop time and take a quick look at the kitchen, then come back to hear the answer.
-
Oh hey, the servers are back up!
>"It doesn`t matter if it`s a special PC or not, it`s still better than having the whole library on fire."
> Patchy looks at you funny and says, "You do realize I fireproofed the place, yes?"
>Put on a focused face.
> You've had enough of Patchy's whining. You have better things to do than coddle her, and you make this perfectly clear with a well-placed Intimidation Check. It passes, though Patchy just gives you a pouty look in response. You at least got her to shut up for now.
>"Is that all then ?"
>Stop time and take a quick look at the kitchen, then come back to hear the answer.
> Patchy sighs and nods, knowing she's been defeated. You double-check to make sure you got everyone's orders right, then blur back to the kitchen to make sure the three fairies are behaving themselves. It looks like they got the ingredients ready for the mac and cheese at least.
> _
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/sys reset.
........rebooting system.
/res last program used.
....opening MarisaStory.exe
Yes i be back.
>Wow those three are actually behaving well.
>Help those three and start preparing their well deserved dessert.
>"If you work well like this every day, you can have a reward like this every once in a while too, not just today."
>How well does the young mistress fare with the fairy maids ?
>Did we ever consider getting that fairy Daiyousei to join the mansion cleaning crew ?
>Why is there a ton of yukkuri in here ?!? So many, there is even one Ran-type Yukkuri !
>Shoo them away with care cause they are too cute to be hurt, and keep the Ran one because those are rather smart and make great companions, and because fluffy tail.
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>Wow those three are actually behaving well.
>Help those three and start preparing their well deserved dessert.
> You rejoin the fairies in making...Whatever it was they were gonna make--oh right, the Mac and Cheese.
>"If you work well like this every day, you can have a reward like this every once in a while too, not just today."
> "Really?!" Sunny squeals. "Then we'll work extra hard, right girls?"
> "Eh..." Luna just shrugs, but Star eagerly nods.
> "As long as we're not overworked to death," Star says with a chuckle. It seems like your encouragement has gotten through to them!
>How well does the young mistress fare with the fairy maids ?
> Pretty well for the most part. A long time ago, Flan used them for target practice when she was in a bad mood, but over the years she got used to seeing them as actual people, and sometimes socializes and plays with them on occasion.
>Did we ever consider getting that fairy Daiyousei to join the mansion cleaning crew ?
> No. She hates the indoors, refuses to follow anyone but Cirno, and despite being considered a midboss she's not very strong in either physical strength or danmaku. Daiyousei, Cirno and the rest of the lake fairies are a rowdy bunch and they would much sooner wreck the SDM than clean it up.
> On that tangent, the reason why the fairy maids worked out so well is because you recruited them from the woods, not the lake. Land-based fairies tend to be easier to buy off with trinkets, while air and water-based fairies prefer to be bought off with food. Since sweets and meats aren't always cheap, Remi decided to work with the forest fairies instead.
> Your phone buzzes. Looks like you got a text from...
Starbroker495 said: GUILDIES! just finished downloading, I'm installing it now. Wanna give it a test run before the feast starts?
> _
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>Text her back: "Just a second, i need to finish up some last things."
>What does it seem like they need help with ?
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>Text her back: "Just a second, i need to finish up some last things."
Starbroker495 said: Oui! ;)
>What does it seem like they need help with ?
> It seems they're having some difficulty remembering the recipe, and Sunny and Luna are arguing over if the recipe calls for cups (the measurement) or cups (as in teacups).
OOC Tip: At this point, you can suggest recipe for them to follow, be from the internet, a cookbook, a home-made one or a completely fictional one.
> _
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> It was... two teacups of cheese, not one cup.
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I-I'm not done with the planning !!
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> Use an Extend! or a Continue on this thread
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>Make the good ol' variant of Mac and Cheese, but add in other sauces as options too ! Cream Cheese, ketchup, mustard, mayo, give them an whole arsenal to experiment on, but don't forget the regular.
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> Tell Sunny and Luna to go with cups (the measurement) and not teacups
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> Use an Extend! or a Continue on this thread
> Hmm? There's no need to expend such a precious resource, we have SAVE FILES!
> ...now you just need to find the damn thing...Egad, you have like 900 save files here, why did you enable autosave...
> Aha, here it is!
> Tell Sunny and Luna to go with cups (the measurement) and not teacups
> For some reason, you got the two mixed up for a moment. You're usually not this scatterbrained...Then again, working on this upcoming banquet probably frazzled you a little bit. You teach the fairies how to use the measuring cups, and they seem to understand them pretty quickly.
>Make the good ol' variant of Mac and Cheese, but add in other sauces as options too ! Cream Cheese, ketchup, mustard, mayo, give them an whole arsenal to experiment on, but don't forget the regular.
> Hmm, come to think of it, you did make more than you usually did...So you decide to let the fairies experiment with different kinds of sauces, provided they don't make a mess of things. The last time they made a mess...You had to uh, punish them for it, and you'd rather not do that again. It's bad for morale after all. You get out an assortment of sauces for them to experiment with; Luna in particular seems pretty enthusiastic about experimenting...This concerns you a little.
> BZZZ, BZZZ!
> However, that concern will have to wait. Your CELLULAR PHONE is vibrating, so you step aside to address it...It seems your mistress has sent you a text.
Remilia Scarlet: Crap in a handbasket...I forgot to do today's taxes. Can I bother you to help fill in the appropriate paperwork,
please?
> _
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> What is our experience with doing taxes? What are the consequences of not paying (Not that we are considering not paying...)?
> Can we use our Time-Stop ability to fill in the taxes and come back and continue where we left off with Luna? If yes then proceed to Time-Stop.
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> What is our experience with doing taxes? What are the consequences of not paying (Not that we are considering not paying...)?
> Thanks to Patchy's homeschooling and Remi's business knowledge, you can do them on your own with a bit of effort. Remi usually handles the more difficult paperwork.
> But why do we pay taxes at all? Well, you have Reimu and Remilia to thank for that. Remi saw the success of Yukari's ISP and thought she'd try her own hand at it. Before you knew it, Remi founded Scarlet Communications and amassed a handful of customers. However, word of this soon reached Reimu...And after a long, wordy debate on proper business practices, Reimu decided to start charging larger businesses a tax so they could be protected from fraud and monopoly. Missing a payment would cause you to lose that protection, so it's best you stay on her good side as much as possible.
> Honestly, you suspect it's just another attempt for Reimu to fill that stupid donation box of hers...And it annoys you that it's working out somehow.
> Can we use our Time-Stop ability to fill in the taxes and come back and continue where we left off with Luna? If yes then proceed to Time-Stop.
> Sadly, no. Your Time-Stop ability is best used in short bursts, as the amount of energy needed to maintain Time-Stop exponentially rises the longer you freeze time.
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> Where would the taxes/paperwork be located?
> Proceed to help Remilia finish taxes.
> Wonder how rich Reimu is now?
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> Wonder how rich Reimu is now?
> You contemplate just how much money Reimu made off of her little scheme...But the more you think about it, the more it frustrates you. It could easily be in the hundreds of thousands at the very least.
> This is aggravating you to the point where you're starting to get visibly upset, so you try not to think about it anymore. Don't want to make the fairies worry, after all.
> Where would the taxes/paperwork be located?
> Everything of that nature would be in Remilia's office, which is next to the Master Bedroom for easy access.
> Proceed to help Remilia finish taxes.
> You're about to leave when Sunny flutters up to you. "Boss lady needs you again, huh?" Sunny asks with a slightly pouty look on her face.
> _
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>Tell Sunny that it won't take too long and that you will be back to check on their progress and what they are making with the sauces you gave them. (and if they have made a mess...)
>Go to Remilia' s office and start filing taxes
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>Tell Sunny that it won't take too long and that you will be back to check on their progress and what they are making with the sauces you gave them. (and if they have made a mess...)
> Sunny's pouting intensifies, but she sighs and nods. "Just don't be late for the banquet," Sunny says as she turns back to the kitchen.
>Go to Remilia' s office and start filing taxes
> You head to Remilia's office as quickly as you can. The room itself is relatively neat, with most stacks of papers either filed away or in Remi's "IN/OUT" boxes. You can see diagrams placed about the room's walls, detailing plans for upgrading her service, fixing errors and such...You've always told Remilia that she shouldn't be doing this operation herself, but she says not to worry. That just makes you worry more.
> You put that worry aside, though, as you turn to Remi's computer. Oddly enough, the computer is not in sleep mode, most likely due to a notification that just popped up...It seems Remilia has emails she has not yet read!
> _
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> Sunny's pouting intensifies, but she sighs and nods. "Just don't be late for the banquet," Sunny says as she turns back to the kitchen.
> You head to Remilia's office as quickly as you can. The room itself is relatively neat, with most stacks of papers either filed away or in Remi's "IN/OUT" boxes. You can see diagrams placed about the room's walls, detailing plans for upgrading her service, fixing errors and such...You've always told Remilia that she shouldn't be doing this operation herself, but she says not to worry. That just makes you worry more.
> You put that worry aside, though, as you turn to Remi's computer. Oddly enough, the computer is not in sleep mode, most likely due to a notification that just popped up...It seems Remilia has emails she has not yet read!
> _
> Considering the importance of this day think about Net Neutrality, does it exist in Gensokyo ?
> (Considering Remi's computer nearby the thought comes to mind about reading emails.... but we wouldn't do that would we?)
> Search around for tax papers, would they be in IN/OUT folders or on the computer?